Packing for 5 weeks

I love travelling but absolutely hate the idea of packing especially for a long trip. It will be Autumn in Denmark. Pros, at least don't need to bring too many clothes because when you don't sweat, you could always re-wear your clothing. Especially jeans! The Cons is that, to counter the cold and wind, you would need to bring an outer jacket, a wind breaker, sweater, scarves, cardigans, etc. I had to dig my closet for my autumn/winter wear and had them dry cleaned.


I may be a girl but I hate the idea of travelling heavy and lugging around luggages. I can live on the minimal, and do find having minimal items on a trip rather refreshing. However, I got a feeling its something I cannot avoid for this trip as there will be many souveniers and brochures to carry, not to mention my Murut costume which will already be taking up a few KG's. After all its not a holiday. It is a work/study/culture exchange. Sigh...

I will be leaving on Friday and still haven't started sorting out what to pack. Am currently working out the list on all that I have to bring, so I do not forget anthing.

In addition to that, I haven't gotten all my work done to prepare for the time I am away. I guess no time shall be sufficient because there will always work to be done if I stay put here here. The time the plane takes off to Stockholm from KLIA, I think I will begin to relax.

This may be my last entry for the next couple of days, will try to blog more about my travels and shall try my very best to be the best ambassador for SABAH and Malaysia =)

The Journey to opening of Vedablu Sandakan

With less then a week to the opening date of the Sandakan Vedablu franchised outlet, and awaiting completion of the renovation works, the anticipation grows. Those attending the opening and later be a regular patron will see the shop complete and in order, would not know realize the effort that some of my dedicate colleagues went through to get things in order for the opening. There has been alot of work going on in the background, items to order, compililation and alot of coordination with different suppliers. Today, the team working together, completed I would say 80% of the journey.

Ice Cream Display Freezer (500KG) already on, now to maneuvour the ice cream showcase freezer, steady does it.

The other 20% would be the unloading of all the goods that we sent from Kota Kinabalu on a 15 tonne truck, unpacking, arrangement, testing of all the equipments that has been tested here and programming done, final training, with all things in going through the operation & service flow of the outlet, duplicating our operating systems in Sandakan, etc.

Part of the chinaware...

I will not be there for the last 20% of the journey, but I am happy to be part of the team that did the most hard work. The team is not huge but consists of a few dedicated people who I think are amazing because they really went the extra mile. Christina (FC), Joyce (The PA, 8 mths pregnant and active), Laura (Production manager cum everything else when Im gone for 6 weeks), Kazumi (Acct Exec), Jairyn (Production Supervisor), Mamek and Jo (Production Asst), and the team whill be going there without me :( Nanie (Pastry Chef) and Siti (Team Leader). I know that you all be feeling the reward and satisfaction after all the hard work because we all share the same dream and nobody knows better then ourselves. There were so many little details...even the most petty details needed handling and I am confident you all will do well.

Part of the Vedablu printed packaging materials to be sent

Honestly, at times when I feel times are hard, I remember why we are doing this and look at your dedication and I am honoured to be associated with all of you. I don't think anyone else, inspite me documenting this here will know the 'difficulties' we all tackled.

Professional transporters/movers required for professional transporting needs

Tomorrow there is still the hurdle of the productions. As we really only produce on the last minute to ensure freshness. Tomorrow is again production day (on a sunday) to finish certain flavours that will leave on the freezer truck on Monday.

Although I will be flying off to Denmark for my study exchange and will not be able to participate in the opening, I am very excited and anxious for our franchisee and Vedablu. Wish I could be there but I have faith in the few team members and it will be the greatest outlet opening to date.

Alone Time

Once in awhile, I feel this need to have alone time. In this alone time, I will spend time doing things for myself and probably for my own sanity. I think its important for us to love ourselves and spend time on ourselves before we can continue helping and being there for others. Too much giving takes a toll on you sometimes.

The things I do in my 'alone time':-

1. Take a long drive somewhere to clear my thoughts
2. Have a long hot bath
3. Watch movies at home or in the cinema
   
4. Cook myself a good meal or bake a cake for my family
5. Shopping in a supermarket or malls
6. Personal grooming
   

No matter what, or how alone I may want to be there is one thing I don't like to do alone.

1. Eat alone ( so I either don't eat or buy some food go somewhere to eat alone without people around)

I think most men will not have problems eating alone, but I know a few ladies as well who hate to eat alone.


When do I need alone time?

1. When I am stressed out and need time to sort out problems
   
2. When I need space or privacy to be emotional
   
3. When I am just too too tired to even put on a smile or have a conversation

No matter how important the alone time is for me, there will always be a person or two who may be an exception that I always wish could be with me after awhile. They understand me well enough to know to be with me and make me feel better without me having to say anything. Some people just have a calming presence.

Vedablu Sandakan Opening August 31, 2008

Our Licensed/Franchised Outlet will be opening in Sandakan on Merdeka Day, August 31st. The two storey Vedablu Shop is located in Taman Utama IJM, beside Giant supermarket.

Enjoy the full range of Vedablu Premium Ice Cream products, fruit smoothies, specialty coffee, pastas, desserts and a selection of ice cream and gourmet cakes.

Sadly, I will not be there but our team from Kota Kinabalu will be there to celebrate this seventh opening of Vedablu outlet.

For Vedablu fans in Sandakan, look out for your local newspaper advertisements for cut out discount coupons and free scoop coupons for redemption!!

Craving for Chocolate

Chocolate...who doesn't love chocolate. For the past week or so I have been craving for chocolate. I love chocolate, but never had I have this kind of craving before. Worse, I eat more chocolate and drink more hot chocolate just before bed time. I have been having at least half of bar of chocolate (those large bars) and at least 2 cups of hot cocoa. I do not know if its stress or just body telling me to stack up the sugars because it needs it. After a week, I am starting to worry about the calories. =(

A Picture is worth a thousand words

Pictures are better then explanation or storytelling sometimes. While uploading some of my product pictures into photobucket, I thought that it would be a good idea to add a slideshow here. Somehow or rather the size is not right...hmm gotta figure out how to fix that another day.

I will have an early night tonight (if 1:36am is considered early. Good night~~

More to 8/8/8 then Beijing Olympic 2008

This event is so great and amazing that for a time there I expected the sales to be lower on 8/8/8 and maybe didn't really mind. Today during my meeting and briefing with my team leaders for the outlets they commented, " Jie, ( they call me big sis, I prefer that to boss), 8/8/8 punyala kosong, sebelah kita biasa penuh itu Old Town White Coffee pun kosong oh". Translation : "Jie, it was so queit on 8/8/8 due to the olympics, even Old Town White Coffe was empty".

I missed the opening because I attended my friend, Ben Liew's wedding dinner. However, would not have missed it for the world. You two are a beautiful couple Ben and Lindsay. Gorgeous wedding photos (featuring the long house and rice paddy fields of Sabah) and beautiful families the both of you. Ben joked and thank us for coming, actually full attendance at the 55 tables, because he only had to fight against the biggest event in the whole wide world. Then he said he chose 8/8/8 not because of its meaning to be rich or prosperous but because, his parents wedding falls on 8/8 and because her parents wedding annivesary also was 8/8. This was very touching. Then the two extra huge cakes were brought out and their parents cut the cake. It was really a surprise for their parents. Then Lindsay's dad sang Bob Carlisle's 'Butterfly Kisses' to her. I nearly cried. Yes yes... I am an emotional person. But moreover, I always told my mum, I wanted my dad to sing that on my wedding day. The best things about weddings though is you really get to hang out with old friends again. This is a picture of us who attended.

So the wedding ends... I reach home just in time to see the torch being lighted up. Amazing! I think China out done themselves. KUDOS! The next morning I saw the repeated telecast on Astro. I was more awed. Nobody could possibly have done better. The numbers and the discipline they have was extraordinary. They have really raised the bar to an unparallel level.

Incorporating their traditions and trade into the show

Delicate details and beauty of all their costumes

Globe and faces of people of the world depicting unity through one event

End of ceremony with fireworks display seen here from the inside of the "birds nest" Olympic Stadium.

More Weddings to attend, in this month. I joke to my friends, why wanna get married in 8/8/8? Shouldn't we be focused on 9/9/9. I would prefer 9/9/9 because it would mean everlasting love or marriage instead of marriage properity in monetary terms. When I mentioned this to my cousin who was married on 7/7/7 last year she said " Hey girl, to get married in 9/9/9 you must already be proposed to, made church bookings, hotel bookings, etc." Errr... ok I don't think I will make it... Just a thought getting married on 10/10/10 sounds very techie.. 101010 programming language. Lets not lose sight here... important thing in a marriage is not only the date but importantly to marry someone you love and want to spend your whole life with, that someone who feels the same way too. When you have this, the date is far from secondary.

A Little Of Everything (ALOE)

I do this posts when I have not updated this blog for two reasons, ONE, not time to blog, TWO too many things happening in a day to possibly blog about. So basically its a snapshot or summary of whats been happening with me.

August 2, 2008 : The 2nd Sabah Bloggers Meet

Picture borrowed from Chegu Carol

We were one of the sponsors and I think earlier sponsors. Jacq, one of the organizing committee met up with me as early as in March I think.

I think half of the bloggers there were like hesitant to approach us at first, with some of them asking "Jual kah ni?" ("Are you selling these?"). So my two cute staff were explaining that we are sponsoring meaning its free. Then more and more bloggers started coming for the ice cream. At the end, I think there were a few who didn't get their ice creams. We are sorry. We supplied 160 scoops for free, and first come first serve. Then there was a lady blogger, who came over, and took a photo of me and my display freezer. Then she asked me, "There I took the photo, can I have my ice cream?" I found that a little awkward (not in a bad way)... there was no ice cream left, only the few which I kept for the organizing committee but I gave her one scoop. The reason why I felt awkward was that it made me feel that she was forced to in a way take a picture of me and Vedablu in order to get the ice cream. That made me feel funny... because after all we are sponsoring. Of course it would be great if you really took a photo and post them out in your blog. Anyhow, if you happened to stumble on this blog, I hope you enjoyed your ice cream =)

I must thank you for the nice comments all of you gave on Vedablu on the multiple sites of bloggers I visited when I googled Vedablu and Sabah Bloggers Gathering. For those who have always been customers of Vedablu, we are happy to be giving back to you through these sponsored events.

I must also thank my team for setting up for the event, because I was so busy on that particular day, attending to the trainings and meetings. I honestly was buggered that night. Was a super busy week for me. Was so so tired hence my lack of cheery mood and you can see from the picture above. It was nice to see this event a success, and its a brilliant idea to see how it brings bloggers together.

Will post more photos up as and when the designated photographer hands me the photos.


Training For New Sandakan Franchisee:

For the past 2 weeks the training for the new franchisee was being conducted. I think both of them have graduated marvelously. It was nice being with them. They will still be with us till the 19th this month. Vedablu, Sandakan is scheduled to be opened on August 31, 2008. The out is located near Giant and IJM. This Vedablu Shop will be the biggest so far, with Ground Floor, 1st Floor (available for event bookings) and an outside seating area.



New Menu for Vedablu Shops:

In the next couple of days we will be introducing a whole new range of pies, cakes, ice cream cake and Pasta at our City Mall Shop.

Pies:Chicken Pie, Coconut Pie, Peach Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Banana Pie.

Cakes: Tiramisu & Passion Fruit Mousse Cake

Ice Cream Cake: Gourmet Ice Cream Cake (Layers of Chocolate Nutty Praline, Chocolate Mouse and Ice Cream)

Pastas: Chicken Bolognaise, Beef Bolognaise, Pasta Arrabiata, Pasta Marinara and Chicken Alfredo.

Watch out for the promotions!


My Group Study Exchange to Denmark:

The travel itinerary has been tentatively confirmed. I would be leaving on the August 29th and will be returning on October 6, 2008. This is longer then expected. However, I think it will be a good trip and a good change to scenery. Am also happy because I get to share with hundreds and thousands of people in Denmark about Sabah and of course Malaysia. In the weeks there I will be living with a few host families and I look forward to this because as I was growing up, we often hosted study and cultural exchange students.

There will also be a week of time dedicated of visiting and perhaps working in my vocation. Which is the ice cream franchise!! =) I will bring back more knowledge of ice cream and make Vedablu Ice Cream better. As the time nears, I am so worried about leaving work behind but at the same time excited with the thought of having new experiences.

I shall be bringing my lap top and hopefully will find the time to blog and post pictures of my daily adventures in Denmark.


Thats all for now...