Never pay retail again

I made my annual pilgrimage to the COACH store at Vacaville Premium Outlets today, and there was a SALE on! Hoooraay!

I discovered the wonder of premium outlets during my first trip to San Francisco in 2006. All the brand names are lined up side-by-side and offer 30- 60% discounts all year round! And the designs are only half a season behind...how wonderful is that?! Although I've been cynical of American culture in the past, this is one practice that's worth embracing.

Aunty Jo-Jo is a COACH-aholic and proud of it!

It's good to see that I'm not the only one who's caught the shopping bug. The COACH store was filled with people scouring shelves, and rummaging through clearance bins. Even my sister finally gave in, and bought her first COACH handbag. Who wouldn't when a gorgeous purse is reduced from US$200 to US$70? An absolute bargain!

Aunty Jo-Jo sneaking back into the apartment with all her shopping!

As you can see, I also stopped at the Clarks outlet and picked up 3 pairs of ultra comfy shoes. Also visited the GAP and Ralph Lauren stores but didn't find anything interesting. Thank goodness...my bags are already packed to the brim. Hmmm...maybe I should visit the Samsonite store...

Long live premium outlets!

O the joys of jet lag

As I sit staring at my grilled jalapeno-cheese sandwich at 4am this morning, it's not difficult to diagnose the cause: jet lag. Wikipedia has a definition that goes like this:

"Jet lag is a physiological condition which is a consequence of alterations to the circadian rhythm. Such disturbances result from shift work, daylight saving time, altered day length, or as the name implies, transmeridian travel as on a jet plane. They are known as desynchronosis, dysrhythmia, dyschrony, jet lag, or jet syndrome. The condition is generally believed to be the result of disruption of the "light/dark" cycle that entrains the body's circadian rhythm. It can be exacerbated by environmental factors."

What a mouthful!

All I know is that it's a common condition that plagues road warriors and everyone of us has our own way of dealing with it. My remedy this morning is a grilled jalapeno-cheese sandwich!

Other antidotes I've used in the past include:

• Reading
• Watching CNN or whatever movies are on at 3 am
• Re-arranging furniture or wardrobe
• Potting & watering plants
• Baking muffins
• Bubble bath
• Sleep..lots of it whenever I like! (only applicable on holidays though)

And another obvious new addition to the list is BLOGGING :-)

"All my bags are packed...

...and I'm ready to go" are the opening lines of the 70's hit song entitled "Leaving on a Jet Plane". When I learnt to the sing it as a child, little did I know that it would turn out to be the story of my life :-)

So after a quiet 6 weeks, I'm finally back on a plane heading for San Francisco. This time it's a little more interesting because I'm flying out from Changi Airport's brand new Terminal 3 ! I've been curious to find out if the new facility lives up to all the media hype and publicity.

Aunty Jo-Jo at the SIA check-in counters, Terminal 3

(Psst...check out the new Gucci tote)

The first thing I noticed was that there were more T3 service staff in orange t-shirts than passengers. One of them (a friendly "uncle" ) asked me where I was going and helpfully pointed me in the check-in counters after re-assuring himself that I was at the right terminal.

This warm reception at the kerb contrasted sharply with the mood once I stepped through the main doors. The terminal was BIG, BRIGHT and EMPTY. There was no one around at 4pm! I couldn't find any fellow passengers to take a photo, so I went back outside to ask the friendly uncle for help. He obliged and I got my historic photo of T3.

The mass of marble, steel and glass is modern and stylish - albeit a little cold. The same goes for the check-in and immigration process - it was clinically efficient.

The very big and quiet Terminal 3 of Changi Airport

Once inside, I noticed almost all the shops were open, but the patrons were few. It was a breeze finding my way round the duty-free shops. One of the sales people finally explained why it was so quiet - it's because the new terminal is only operating at 60% capacity. The business class lounge also had low occupancy but the buffet spread was much more interesting than the facility at T2. One thing that I didn't like were the common-hold areas at the terminal gates. Passengers waiting to board their flights have to share seating areas, and it gets a little chaotic when boarding calls are made at the same time.

So, what's the final verdict?

Changi Airport has always been my favourite but I'm a little ambivalent about the new facilities. The old Terminal 2 had a familiar identity - despite the musty carpets, narrow corridors and gaudy orchid gardens. T3 just feels cold and impersonal despite its sleek, sophisticated facade. I could be at any airport anywhere in the world.

Almost home

Yes, I'm KL-born and bred, but Penang is also special. It's my father's hometown and this is where my parents have chosen to retire. The laid-back island lifestyle, heavenly food and close family & friends are the main attractions.

Penang is almost home because there are so many scenes that stir up familiar and comforting memories for me.

Let's take the canopy of century-old trees along Scotland Road as an example. They seem to whisper secrets of a genteel past; a capsule of nature that hints of a bygone era.

Then there's the Buddhist temple in Ayer Itam which I visit once a year. This is where the memorial plaques of my paternal grandparents are placed. I usually bring some flowers to place in front of the memorial cabinet, while others around me burn joss-sticks. My Christian faith requires that I show respect in a different way, but my visits are no less sincere.

My parents and their family at Bayan Baru Methodist Church, Penang

There's also a wonderful sense of community and "kampung"ness in the warmth of Penang people. I'm especially pleased that my parents are surrounded by a family of believers at the Bayan Baru Methodist Church. I've never seen them so happy, engaged and involved in church life. Seeing these pictures of Dad & Mum heartily embracing their brothers and sisters, clearly God is good.

And last but not least, Penang has always been about family. This is where most of my closest relatives live. So this is where we all return to for the Chinese New Year reunion dinner.

This is where my memories are made.