My First Session at Fitness First

Okay, I have planned to actually have my first session last Saturday but, when I called them up, they told me that they were fully booked. Fitness First was supposedly be the one to call me and I did not received any call from them last week. Even so, I decided to agree with their proposal to have it today.

I was late in the office and the task that I have is to read and read and read. I am always getting sleepy while doing it the whole day. Good thing I finished the whole technical specifications with in the day. Though it was hard to remember everything, I managed to at least understood it in a snap. Hopefully it will proved useful to what I am doing.

Anyway, I was excited for the office hours to finish. I am planning to go out from the office at around 7pm. When the clock ticked at 6:55PM I just prepared and went out of the office. I walked around 7 minutes going to Fitness First which was just at Fusionopolis. The staff from the gym called me and was checking where was I already. I just told her that I was on my way. When I arrived at the gym, the personal trainer introduced himself. I went to the locker room to changed clothes and secure my things. After that, I had my physical examinations. The exercises then started. I had the warm up first with the tread mill then the weights. I had some crunches and some curl ups. After that, he explained to me the programs that I should take. It was very inviting at first but it was just too expensive for me. So I told him, that I will think it over. So that was it. I will be in my own in determining what to do or the routines to do. I think I will just do some reading and stuff.

I went home. Took my dinner and thanks to Olga for cooking dinner for us. After dinner, I went to a hot bath. It was very refreshing. I think I'm gonna have new routines and set of activities for the whole year round. Hope it won't be boring me and hoping that it will improve my health and achieve my desired finess.

I have enrolled at Fitness First

I have been wanting to join a fitness club or something and today I have decided.

Fusionopolis is about 5-8 minutes walk from the office. So I searched online of what fitness club was in that building since I've heard that there is a fitness gym there. So I then found out that its Fitness First. After office hours, Olga and I decided to go to this gym and check things for ourselves. It was located at the north wing of the build and is at the 23rd floor. We got to the reception and check their pamphlets. After checking the available services I had to check with the receptionist as to the price of their services. The staff had me sign a log form then requested me to sit at their available guest area. While waiting, I got to see the place from the outside and it was a great view of the area. Well after a minute or two of waiting, another staff approached us and she introduced herself as Azlina. She then began the tour and guide us to the second floor where main facility was located. Then she showed us the yoga room. Well it was kind of exciting to try yoga. After the yoga room, she showed us the third floor which was the rooftop already and it has the swimming pool. After the pool area, we went down to the second floor then checked the looker and changing area. After that, she showed us the stretching area then the cycling area. It wasn't spacious but it was really clean. After the whole tour, Azlani had to talk to us about the dues and stuff. Well, good enough since we come from Gemalto and they have this promo and the fees were waived. Basically, I did not have to pay the membership fee, the Admin fee stayed the same and the monthly due was also slashed. Well I will be paying only 98SG dollars a month which is more or less the same in the Philippines. So I was convinced and I signed up. They gave me a back-pack, a headphone then a face towel. They also gave me a 14day free of charge use of the facilities. I just thought again that its a good thing to invest in my health and stuff.

I'm so excited to start my first gym day! Hurray I'm gonna dance and flex my body and then tone my muscles and become more fit.

My Chinatown Singapore Adventure

I had to buy a gift for our new year's exchange of gifts for our team at work and so I went to Chinatown. My Indonesian friend went with me in going there as he knew the place and he will be checking some gifts too.

Our plan was to meet at Outram Park interchange at around 3PM. I arrived 1o minutes earlier and since I was wearing my new top-sider shoes, I felt that my feet won't survive for long walks. I can feel that I will have blisters after long walks. Moren sent an SMS to me that he will be a little late so I decided to locate the exit and asked the security staff as to where is the nearest shopping center. I got out of the station and hurriedly looked for the nearest shopping center. I did not bother what was the name of the mall because my primary concern then was where to buy a pair of foot socks. Well I walked around and felt lost again. At the far side end of the mall I saw a Giordano branch. I did not care even if the socks were priced at 7SG dollars a pair. After buying a pair, I looked for a corner where I could wear the socks and then walked towards the MRT station. This time it felt better.

I went to the Outram Park interchange and waited for another few minutes and Moren arrived. We then went to another station and rode a train going to Chinatown. Initially, we actually planned to go to Little India to visit the tourist center for maps but decided to just go directly to Chinatown.

We first visited the Handicrafts mall to look for some good buys. You see there were many choices but then nothing suits. There were beautiful crafts and interesting ones yet expensive and there were not too expensive but won't qualify as a gift. Anyway we both end up not buying anything in that mall. So we got out of the mall and went to the other one which was on the other side of the street. We went there and check things out and found nothing though the displays in the mall were very interesting - from ancient furnitures to beautiful porcelains and they are expensive. Moren bought some candies and some snacks in the mall in our way out and I didn't. We proceeded to another mall and found nothing. But the good thing was I found a queue of travels and tours centers. I just had an idea where to book my future travels to Bali or Phuket or Tokyo. Anyways, enough of those day dreams and we walked again and went to the Chinatown streets. There lots of goodies to feast your eyes. It's really great walking through the streets seeing interesting people and interesting goods. But none would qualify again as a gift. It's a little difficult because we would know who will receive the gifts minutes before the exchange of gifts would start. Anyway I just enjoyed the sights. We were getting thirsty so we bought fresh coconut juice. It was a real thirst quencher for 1.50 SG dollars.

Anyway, we continued to walk and took some pictures of the place. The gift hunting turned out to be site seeing and having fun walking the streets. Anyway we went to another mall and I bought a pillow since I don't have one yet. Moren bought a pair of gloves since he was allergic to soap. After we paid our bills, we decided to go home.

On our way home, Moren alighted at the Commonwealth station and I will be alighting at the next station. I was kind of daydreaming again about the food to eat for dinner and if there were people at home. I am supposed to alight at Buona Vista but, I just was not able to pay attention and was not able to get out of the train. It was funny and thank God I did not make a huge scene when my body reflex sent me towards the door. So I just alighted at the next station which is Dover then went to the opposite side of the platform and rode the train going to Buona Vista. I just bought dumpling noodle at the neared hawker for my dinner and also bought fresh orange juice. I got home at around 9PM already and had my simple dinner.

My first ever major buys in Singapore

My housemates and I would have wanted to watch a movie, "The Transporter", but then things changed. It was because of a review sent via SMS by one of my housemate's friends. Anyway, the whole plan was they are going to watch, "Twilight" and then "The Transporter". Olga and I will have to watch, "The Transporter" together with my housemates and their friends after they have an eye feast of the "Twilight".

Part of the plan was we are going to purchase a wireless router at IMM but plans has changed and we went to Vivo City.

We went to Vivo City, one of the malls here in the small country of Singapore at around 5 or 6 PM. The mall is very accessible because it sits beside the MRT station, HarbourFront. When we arrived at the mall, there was a mall-wide sale and they were from 10% - 70%. We went to gap to Levis Original where Olga and Analyn bought their tees, then the Guess shop. Since Guess was for girls, I had a chance to checkout a shope beside it called Aldo. My eyes were glued to their display and the prices were really high and some were inexpensive because they were on sale. And one of the item that had my eyes super glued was on this top-sider shoes. Well I called the sales staff and asked for my size which was 39. I was actually looking for the size 4o at first but then they don't have it and so I sticked to my original shoe size and they have it. I was hesitant because the price was really inexpensive and maybe it was just a joke but then in a few minutes I approached the sales guy and asked of the price and it was at 31.50 SG dollars. I was convinced that the shoes was for me and I mean I like the pair so I booked it on my bill.

After that major purchase, we were kind of hungry and so we went to "Food Republic" which was at the last floor of the mall like at the rooftop already. We managed to take some good photo session and that was it. But prior to that, there was this fitness center and so we got inside and inquired about their service and facilities. I am actually planning to be fit and healthy. They have yoga as one of their classes and it's inclusive of their package for 99 SG dollars a month. I got excited of the idea.

It was getting dark and we were hungry so we then proceeded to "Food Republic", a classy food court or hawker. I ordered rice with a slice of pink salmon for 6SG dollars. The food was satisfying except that the served rice was not enough. Olga shared her cooked rice and thanks for her my crave was cured but not totally. I got a hot and spicy sauce so I badly needed something cold to drink but then it will cost me around 2-3 SG dollars so I opted not to buy one and just get a drink from somewhere ... wahahaha ... which I don't even know where.

After that hearty dinner, we got out of "Food Republic" and went to the cinema to check for the schedule. When we arrived at the cinema after getting lost twice we followed the lead of Razel, it struck upon seeing that "Twilight" was not post on the "Now Showing" ad boards. Anyway Razel saw the moving ad screens that "Twilight" was to be shown at 12:20 AM and verified it at the movie counter. Razel decided to call her friends to tell about the schedule while we waited. She then said that it was agreed that they will be going to another mall at Dhoby Ggaut. She invited me or rather us but I replied I won't be going. My reasons are it's getting far and my intention of going to the mall was to check for a router and possibly buy one. After that short conversation, we found 7Eleven and so we decided to buy fruit juices. At last a quencher for just 0.80 SG cents. We then checked for a router in this computer shop beside Samsung's but then they dont have a "Linksys". It was time for Analyn and Razel to go and so we bid good-byes. Olga and I went to this eclectronics store. We found ourselves at the game area where we tried the PSP 3000 series. I am planning to buy one in one of these days. Hehehehehe. They are priced at around 300 - 400 SG dollars depending on the memory. We then proceeded to looking for a computer area and found ourselves trying out the Sony Vaios. They were a bit sleeky yet came with a huge SG sums. Olga is actually planning to buy one so we tried out some of the laptops and Olga went to talk with a sales guy about the laptops. After some 1o minutes of exploring, Olga did not buy the laptop and so then we continued our look for that "Linksys" wireless router. At last we found it at one corner. The wireless router was priced at 69 SG dollars and without hesitation, I got my credit card and paid the price tag. I was overly excited of going home already to set it up myself.

After the purchase, we got out of the electronic shop and went to look for another computer store and check other laptops and we found one. The price was from 999 SG dollars for a Compaq or an Acer but then Olga was looking for a Sony Vaio. Anyway we ended up leaving the store. We had a few strolls and checked some shops. Then we got tired and the store looked like they were closing already, and so then, we left the mall after our last check in a shoe shop.

We arrived at home around 10PM already and I just took my shoes off and then got my laptop and hurried to setting up the router. I was already a little familiar as to how it would be set up because of my first job so everything went smoothly. It was as easy as counting 1-1o and I also have set-up a security for our homepage and as well as the wireless connection. Upon testing everything went well and I began surfing the net and it spelled time to blog again :P

A New Year in Singapore

Happy new year to everyone! More fruitful life, more blessings to share to our loved ones, friends, and community, and a great journey to life for the new year 2009.

WOW, I love new years. Christmas is amazing but new year is fabulous. These two celebrations are unique but they mean different in our lives. Well I am not here to write and compare the two important celebration and jubilation but I want to narrate what has happened to my new year here in Singapore.

We actually have office work in Dec 31st but after work, Olga and I planned to purchase a piece of cake somewhere in Tiong Bharu. It was also Analyn's birthday so we thought of buying a cake for this celebration well this is also for the New Year (wink). We bought a black forest cake. We came home at around 5:30PM and Razel has prepared the pastas and chicken and other goody-foodies. It's going to be a mouthful feast.

At around 7PM, our housemates' friends arrived and the birthday celebration began. We sang the infamous birthday song then the blowing of candles. After that, it was dinner time. The spaghetti was yum-yum, the breaded fried chicken was really sumptuous and the rest of the food were all tasty, so much that I don't know how to get them inside my tummy - I mean all of the food. I was filled and stuffed. I thought everyone was:)

After the celebration, Olga and I decided to watch the new year countdown at the Marina Bay. So I took a bath to refresh and Olga had her ritual as well. We bid new years and greetings and we went out of the flat.

Olga and I had to walk from our flat to the MRT station for 5-8 minutes. At last we reached the station and there was no crowd at all. I just thought people have celebrated new year in the comforts of their labyrinths. Well I was wrong! When we arrived at Raffles interchange and alighted to get to the other train bound for Marina Bay, there was a crowd. Olga and I did not know where the place was so we just followed the pile of people traversing the pavement. Wahahahaha I had a feeling that we are going to be lost or already lost. Well we reached a park where people set up some picnics but there was no music or what. So we decided that it was not "the place". We went back and rode a bus going to the Marina Barrage but prior to that, we had to walk for like miles =)). The pounds that we stocked in our tummies an hour ago were slowly eaten up. Going back, Marina Barrage was a nice place but it wasn't "the place". I sent an SMS to my Indonesian friend and told me that we should have gone to the City Hall MRT Station and from there walk to Esplanade. So Olga and I decided to get out of the building and move our way to City Hall. It took us another 30 minutes of our time and the clock was ticking for the countdown. We arrived at City Hall at around 10:30PM. We just wanted to get there because there's this concert where River Maya will be playing and it spelt fun but it will cost us 19SG dollars so going to the concert was not the main point of going there but more of watching the fireworks display. We were greeted by a really huge crowd at the City Hall going our way to Esplanade. Olga and I just walked and walked. It was getting 12 midnight. We stopped in front of Mandarin Oriental and decided to wait there. After minutes of waiting, the crowd cheered. There were few balloons being flown out to the sky. Inside this stadium was the concert but it did felt like a party though. Anyway, the moment we have waited for arrived. It was the fireworks display already. To our surprised it took place just 300 - 500 meters away from us and we were just luckily situated in front. There was extreme elation when the first batch of amazing fireworks jumped from its bunk. There were cheers all over the place and claps. It was a 1o - 15 minute show. I forgot my digital camera but Olga did bring hers so it was capturing the moment time. Well I sent my SMS to the Philippines to my family and friends and I was getting a network busy tone. I did not stop until my messages went through. It was fun and great even if we had to walk far. We got back home after the fireworks display and the flood of people was getting visible.

Compared to the Philippines, the new year in my hometown is celebrated with free as in free street party with charity campaigns and the same thing, a fabulous fireworks display. The neighborhood will have to make a lot of noise like blowing horns and noisy firecrackers (I hate firecrackers). What I am trying to say is, it's more fun to celebrate new year in the Philippines. Anyway there is this cultural differences and I cannot expect more. It's more of finding meaning to what or how it is. I just enjoyed the celebration as much as I could.

We arrived home really tired and our housemates were actually drinking beer and champagne. I had a glass of wine and that was it. By the way, it felt so starving so it was another belly feast. Hehehehe. After some small chit-chat and fun debates about relationships and hearing drunk people having to debate which was really fun, I just felt sleepy. Lots of opinions and lots of things to learn from your housemates. There was even a mini sing-along using youtube live streaming. I felt tired so at around 2AM, I said my prayers and then I went to bed.

That was how my friends and I greeted the new year.