Monterrey, Mexico

From Chicago, we continued our trip to Monterrey, Mexico.

By fly, it was approximately 6 hours to reach it. We only visited one customer as the others were not confirmed with appointment.So, we spent one night and returned back to Los Angeles the next afternoon.

The weather was fine. It was not so cold and windy as in Chicago, but still, I loved to wrapped myself under my coat.

Our Mexican agent brought us to Mexican restaurant, El Tio, if I'm not mistaken. It was not so far away from our hotel. Yup, we were quite tired with all jumbo steaks and burgers. There was a recommended Mexican food we had. It was baby goat dishes. I regret to forget the dish's name. It was quite nice. I had mine wrapped under tortillas, while my superior had his in grilled. The size of serving was sufficiently filling so we could breathed during our nice and easy after-dinner conversation.

The next morning, we made our appointment with customers and talked all about business. The sun was so bright, it hurt my eyes.The coat which I carried around looked silly on me, since everyone else were comfortable in sweaters. Some even had short-sleeve shirts and pants. Ouch, excuse me ...

Finish with business by noon, we had plenty time to catch our afternoon flight to LA. We headed to Mexico Aeropuerto to have early check-in and some light lunches. It turned out that the check-in was not early at all. Understood we need to go thru x-ray check point before checking counters in all airports. However, in here, we had manual checking. None of this x-ray method whatsoever.

To be honest, I did not have any suspicious items within my two luggages. However, this manual checking by man was quite troubling us. I had locked both luggages so I had to re-open them for inspection. Towards end of trip days, my suitcases were not tidy enough and they started to feel overloaded by gifts and other business-related items such as film samples. In my hotel room, before I checked-out, I usually sit on the luggages as to properly close them. But, I had no choice when airport authorities requested us to open them for inspection.

I felt sorry for my superior. He had one big luggage and one medium box. The luggage was fine. It was easy to open and zip it close again. However, he must open the box to show them the inside. He had scotch-taped the box almost in every surface of it, to make it secure for check-in. He tried to bargain his position by saying the content were Lego's and some other toys for gifts, which he purchased earlier in USA. During the flight from USA to Mexico, they did not even bothered to open the box (yes, that because Americans was using their x-rays ...)

Nevertheless, the man said there was no other way for them to see what's inside than to open it, right? so he reluctantly allow the man to do so after being assured the officer had tape to put the box back in shape

Well, that counts as one of my-airports-experiences

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Fine dinings

During the trip, I had some fine dinings with colleagues and customers.

First, in Trattoria. From the name, we can learn it's an Italian restaurant. We didn't specifically search for it. We have walked on foot within substantial time then we decided to have something to eat. The sign name just caught us thus we got in.

It apparently located in the basement. Nice environment with coat check available. Three of us started to sit and learn the menu. We instantly knew this was a fine Italian dining. All of us went for veal dish with mushroom sauce. It was excellent. The wine was nice. I had this Italian white wine, pinot bianco (hope it's correctly named). It was in sweet flavour. One glass is enough.

I passed the appetizer and soup, in fear of their generous portion, however the main entree was considerably in medium size. But I couldn't resist the temptation of their dessert offer. At first I would like to have a slice of tiramisu. Came to think of it, I'd like to try something different. That was when I decided to have warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream on top. Ouch, it is sinfully delicious. I had no regret in squeezing my stomach to fit that pie in.

By this noon, I went out with a customer for a lunch. She took me to Grand Lux cafe in downtown. She said this cafe is in same ownership with Cheesecake Factory. The waiting time is approximately 30 minutes during lunch time. This time, I've tried Salisbury chopped steak. Yup, I passed the appetizer too. When taking our orders, the waiter had said that the portion will be generous and we can take the leftovers home.

Once again, the serving did huge. Accompanied with beans, carrots and mashed potato with gravy. I've managed to finish the steak itself and left those vegetables behind.

My guests ordered some baked apple pie (yes, I had it once again) with fine sugar around plate and vanilla ice cream on top, to share among us. It was nice, but I had to admit I prefer the one in Trattoria.

I will definitely gain much weight with this kind of eating pattern. This is not normally happen during my trip. To my other destination in Europe and Korea or Japan, the servings are much smaller and even healthier in Japan. And with no workout during trip ... ? Ouch ....

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Chicago

Today is the 6th day I am in suburb of Chicago.

One thing unbearable is the climate. During first and second days, the temperature were about 35 F. It was cold and always windy. No wonder people call Chicago as windy city. Especially since it is located by side of lake Michigan. Pheww ... for people like me who live in tropical country, this weather is cold. It is not up to snowing yet. Lately they have some showers and by coming Saturday, it forcasted to have snow flakes. My goodness.....

Fortunately I brought a thick winter coat. I bought at a very cheap price (around USD 7) somewhere near my office. I was in doubt to buy it since it looks so fluffy but it turned out to be very useful. Without it, I will definitely be frozen out there.

Towards 5 pm every day, the sky is darken and it feels like 7 pm for me. It makes gloomy feeling. Ouch ...

We manage to get the cheapest and most convenient means of transportation to get around. So, we take advantage of free hotel shuttle from hotel to airport or train station. We also take subway most of time, although sometime we gave up in searching the nearest subway station and put up our hands to hail a taxi. By all means, the transportation system is quite convenient. They have connected the airport to downtown by subway and to some other destinations to small cities nearby with railway.

At first, we were in consideration to rent a car. The cost itself is affordable. However, after thoughtful thinking, we realize there will be the cost for gasoline (unless the car will run on plain water) and parking fee. Average gasoline price in this state is USD 2.23 per gallon. We take a peek on parking fee. In downtown, it will cost USD 9 for 20 minutes or less and USD 19 something for one hour or less. Wow .... my finance will kill me for this. Perhaps in some other area, the cost is not this high and in certain area is even free to park. But hm ... in compare with my hometown, I can park 5 hrs in shopping centres for just almost one USD and sometimes, I still call it expensive (yes, when the stingy me poop in). Understood this is not a fair comparison of course.

Overall I enjoy the city and the ride with their train and metro. They are nicely scheduled. This is something that my city doesn't have it yet. Just overheard recently they are planning to increase the fare by early next year. After all, I will try to enjoy the city view and other things by this weekends before fly out on next Monday to Mexico.

One thing noticeable, is the serving of their foods in restaurants. For the first night, we dined out in a shopping centre. The restaurant was very crowded, full packed with people. We had to wait an hour to set a seat and they gave us a pager so we do not have to wait inside the restaurant ckckckck .... When we get the table and our food, we were quite surprised. The plate was quite huge for us and so was the food. We ate as much as we could then in the end admit the reality that the serving was too big for both of us.

For two days straight afterwads, we had pizza delivery to hotel. People said Chicago is famous for their pizza, so we give it a try. During first delivery, we ordered 14 inch thin pizza of all meat with extra cheese, add side salad and chicken wings. Both of us ate it until we were sick of it. It was too much. Ouch ...

The second delivery, we guessed 10 inch thin pizza of classic supreme should be enough with side order of onion rings. This time the plate came out clean but I am sure will not touch any pizza after I return back home, at least for a couple months or so. The problem is, we were visiting exhibition every day from Sunday to Wednesday and my lunch main menu was pizza. Don't get me wrong. The pizza in here taste good, but after have it everyday for almost one week, I am done with it.

This noon, we had lunch meeting of seafoods with customer. Yes, the servings were in extraordinary size for us. So as our dinner just now, half ribs with mashed potato and gravy, one piece of garlic bread and a plate of salad. Imagine the half ribs were big, mashed potato was a lot, garlic bread was long size and salad in medium-size plate. Gosh .... No wonder they are the biggest-size nation in the world. I will gain much weight during my trip this time.

Strange anough, I do not experience any jetlag. I hope I won't have it after the trip.

I have to sleep now. There will be a meeting still waiting for me the next morning.

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Changi Terminal 3

I am on business trip to USA.

Taking United Airlines, first transit to Singapore at 01.00 in the morning! before catch next connecting flight to Hong Kong by 7 am. Phew ....

I've arrived in terminal 3 of Changi airport, the new terminal.

Hm, since my job requires me to travel overseas, Changi is always my favourite airport. They are not huge, but it's in enough space for me to hang around in waiting of next flight. Besides, it's close enough from Jakarta. So during travel out, I feel I'm still not-so-far away from home. Then during travel back, I feel excited as it means almost to reach home.

Well, this terminal is as big as terminal 1 with some stores and facilities as in their two existing terminals. It's pity that I was arrived at dawn so not so many stores were open. Fortunately there was one store open, for me to grab one carton of cigarette which my boss asked me to get.

As it is near Christmas, they decorate a site with Mickey Mouse. I couldn't help myself in taking picture of it.

The airline gave me a voucher to sleep into Rainforest in level 3. Unfortunately their slumberette were full. Apparently, we can call to make a reservation before we arrive. I should do this by next chance. So, I took free flow high tea and use internet inside. Enough of it, I wandered around the quiet terminal until the crowds started to arrive in about 5 am. Then, it was about my time to catch my connecting flight.

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Twins to school

After we moved in, we started to consider in enrolling twins into school in neighbourhood.

There is a good catholic school around us. We gave it a try to check the institute since we aware the acceptance of new students were actually passed few months ago.

Well, the principal said there are some vacant seats for them in separate classes, of course, since they are twins. The twins took some tests as a procedural step and they admitted them into school (as long as we pay, of course)

Few days prior to their first day on school, my husband and I were anxious.

We concerned if twins may cry in the classroom, refuse to be separated from us or from each other, ... and the list going on as other parents have in delivering their kids to school in the first time.

Finally the first day arrived, we have given them enough overview about school activities and anything related to it. Here they are in uniforms. Cute, eh?

One funny story.

On the night before their big day, I was talking to Luna while preparing their water bottles and lunch boxes.

I said," I think I will have to bring you some snacks in addition of your lunch. What do you think?" because Jovann eats his meal in a portion of a grown up do but doesn't do much snacking. While Luna eats in a bite only but loves snacks. I was thinking, if I do not bring enough portion for him, he can eat his snack, also, if Luna will prefer snack over her meal

Luna answered me," I do not think my teacher allow me to bring snack into school"

I was puzzled," is it?" Never heard before any school forbid students in bringing snacks ...

She replied," Ya.... you meant ular (= snake), right? I do not think my teacher would say yes to"

I instantly laughed and remembered that few nights ago I teached them "snake" is the English word for "ular"

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Taman Safari ... again

2 minggu yang lalu, ke Taman Safari Puncak lagi

Bedanya, kali ini dengan Sebastian.

Weleh, dia excited banget dan berani pegang wortel untuk suapi zebra, lamma dan binatang jinak lainnya ... termasuk gajah...!

susternya agak takut karena binatang tsb mendekati jendela mobil dan keliatan giginya.

Bas malah pegang wortelnya sambil diketok-ketok wortelnya ke jendela mobil supaya binatang tsb mendekat (plus dia jerit-jerit)

Kalo dah di makan, dia mau cepat-cepat ambil wortel lagi.

gue dan daddy nya bilang ... "emang keliatan bakat nakalnya nih"

Kasi makan wortel dengan gue gendong di depan gajah, dia juga ga takut.

Termasuk ga nangis waktu naik gajah dengan daddynya.

Pas mau turun emang dia sempet nangis, itu pun karena gajahnya mengibas-ngibaskan kupingnya, mungkin dia takut.

nanti fotonya diposting yak ... masih ada sama daddynya

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