Fujitsu for sale!

Since I'm switching to Mac (thanks to my friend Akwasi's generous help!), I'm planning to sell off my Fujitsu laptop.

• Intel Pentium M Processor 753 (Ultra Low Voltage) - 1.20 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 400MHz FSB
• 512MB DDR333 Memory (Upgradeable to 1GB)
• 60GB Shock Mounted Hard Disk Drive
• DVD/CD-RW
• 10.6" XGA Superfine TFT LCD Monitor
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 with DVMT
• Finger-print Recognition Technology + Embedded TPM
• Built-In Memory Card Slot
• (3) USB2.0 ports
• Firewire Port (IEEE 1394)
• Intel PRO/Wireless 802.11 a/b/g Wireless LAN
• Built-In Bluetooth technology
• PCMCIA Slot
• S-Video + VGA Out
• High Capacity 6-Cell Battery
• Licensed Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Recovery Disk set
• Black Fujitsu sleeve to protect laptop

Good as new. No scratches or dents. Color Black. RMB 9,000.

Please let me know if you're interested or any of your friends is. Thanks!!!

Mail me at saritacious@gmail.com

Shangri-La Qingdao's 10th Year Anniversary

It was indeed a long day for me. Woke up at around 12 noon to prepare for the final rehearsal with the ex-comm members (executive commitee - hotel management team) for their performance for the anniversary party.

It's not really a staff party, but rather an appreciation party for the hotel's clients and regular guests and friends. An appreciation party for the support for the past 10 years.

And forgive me I didn't blog about this, but I was asked to teach the management team a song. Actually, it took them quite a while to decide which song, debating on its significance to the occasion. They suggested the Beijing 2008 Olympic song, "We Are Ready". But I thought it was too long and would bore the audience. So I suggested, why not take a part from the Olympic song then segue it to a party song so that the mood will be better. Then I suggested to just take a part from the song by the Black Eyed Peas, "Let's Get It Started". It was really a great idea.

Teaching them the dance steps was kinda awkward. I mean, they're all my bosses! But I was glad that they weren't too bossy to be corrected when I taught them the dance. We had fun during our rehearsals with the "hip thrusting" move that I taught them. And it was really funny to see them try. Another amazing experience was the transition of them as they walked out of our rehearsal venues (ballroom or function room). Like the moment we exited the door and wore their coats, they wear their badge as bosses. It was kinda funny to see it.

Another funny experience was when we had our hands on our props - light sticks - during our final rehearsal. It's supposed to be light sticks people wave at concerts. But when it was handed over to us, we all laughed. They're actually toys! Looks more like retractable sword/umbrella sticks with light inside (switchable). So one of them pretended it to be a gun like Indiana Jones. One of them started stabbing another member who pretended hit by it & almost fell on the floor. They were fun to look at. My senior managers! Playing at last!

So the affair started a bit late than scheduled, but it went perfectly alright. The affair was attended by its regular patrons and clients. It started off with a fashion show from the much taller female staff of the hotel, wearing all Chinese costumes from Qing Dynasty. Followed by a dance production and lucky draw. Then us! It was a great performance and I congratulated them for having a great fun up on stage and therefore giving a great show. Anyway, it might have been short - 2 minutes - but it was remarkable. We also performed 3 songs, just before we went back to Q-Bar to perform. It was really a great time and great performance.

Our Friday night at Q-Bar was really pumping. We got the party weekend crowd and the people wouldn't want to stop dancing. Most of the people from the function (the anniversary party) had an after-party party at Q-Bar. Even our GM was dancing and grooving on the dancefloor!

After the show, I was so tired that instead of drinking with our VIP guest, I ended up sleeping on the sofa. Got home around 4AM.

It was a loooong day indeed!

Want a MacBook... actually... NEED IT!

I've been browsing on the internet and computer shops here in Qingdao. I've got an eye for THE black MacBook. Click here to find out more about it.

Anyone who has a good deal, please come to Mama! LOL

Lucky offday

It's definitely my lucky day! Being at Qingdao International Beer Fest is the highlight of the day! Too tired to tell you about it. Lemme rest then I'll definitely do my non-sense blabbering as soon as possible, ok? Tah-tah!

Happy Birthday, Marl!

It's his nth birthday and we had fun last night. Of course, everyone in the bar sang with us as the staff brought out the birthday cake for him at 12 midnight. After work, we just had a good time with friends at the bar for a while and we went to eat late birthday supper with the URB, Jboy and Lisa (lobby singer).

Happy Birthday, Beb! Hope you'll have everything you wish for and reach all your dreams and goals in life! Goodluck!

Umbrella

It's been raining the whole day of Friday. Fortunately for me, it stopped mid-afternoon as I did some little grocery at Carrefour. I bought my first umbrella in Qingdao. It's checkered brown, I like it. Guess I'll be needing it more often. Picked up some money at Western Union and walked all the way to Jusco to buy something then went back home.

We had to leave the house at 5:30PM because we have a function. And it was an opportunity to use my new umbrella since it was raining. Aside from the function, we also had to play 5 sets tonight being it a weekend. Pfffffttttt! We didn't have the usual weekend crowd that we have. In fact, it felt more like a weeknight with mostly new faces in sight.

After performance, we were ready to go home but... OMG! It's pouring heavily outide and there was no taxi. There were even couple of guests waiting for taxi. Luckily, Ian of Qingdao Magazine (formerly Redstar) was kind enough to let us hitch on his taxi ride back home. Thanks, Ian!

My umbrella is now resting & drying itself up near the main door... Getting ready for another rainy adventure...

Trip to Mt. Laoshan

It had been planned since last week, that on our next off, we'd go to Laoshan Mountain - even just the three of us. So Marl got up today at 9AM to check the weather as it was said on the forecast that it'd be cloudy with rainshowers. But the weather looked fine and woke us up. I had a fast coffee while staring blankly at the wall. I slept at 6AM and only had 3 hours sleep. And we're climbing up the mountain. This could be a suicide, I thought.

We just planned to go there, but no plans for joining any tourist buses or trips. We want to have an adventure. So what did I do? Before I went to bed, I researched online on how to get there by bus. I mean just by public bus. I also took note of some interesting facts about Laoshan and what to expect there. I have been there 5 years ago with some of our expat friends. But this time was different because we would be going there just on our own.

So anyway, we managed to get out of the apartment at around 11AM, just in time for a half-day trip, which for us could might as well be said a whole day trip since our day really starts at 2PM. We took a bus (bus #232) from Silver Garden to Carrefour. I didn't have enough Chinese yuan (RMB) with me so I had my US dollars changed infront of Bank of China. There are some money changers who are willing to buy or sell US dollars. We already have a "peng you" there who always beams with a big smile when he sees us walking towards the bank. I walked back to Carrefour to meet up with Jan and Marl.

Suddenly, the skies went dark. The sun was covered by gray skies. And as we were sitting at the bus stop waiting for the bus, it started to rain. But no tropical depression stood in our way. We were determined to go to Laoshan - rain or shine!

Our bus (bus #304) arrived and we ran towards it - with the rest of the crowd waiting at the bus stop! Oh my gawd!!! The non-aircon bus was crowded and I didn't have any seat during half of the trip - the whole trip lasted for an hour so I've been standing on a bus for 30 damn minutes! And the girl behind me got sick and puked!!! On a plastic bag, but still - she puked!!! And you know how a non-aircon bus would smell like inside plus the lingering smell of the puke... what a best way to start the journey... in other words, BINGO!!!

We arrived the toll gate at the foot of the Mt.Laoshan at 1PM where everyone got off the bus. From there, a taxi took us up to the south entrance of the mountain itself. We paid RMB70 for each person - which was quite a rip off - and we had to share the taxi with a family of 3, with the little girl on her daddy's lap. But that includes the entrance fee. And there's no way for us to get there inside except if we take a tourist bus. So what the hell! LOL

We got off the taxi at the entrance of the south route of Laoshan. The famous mountain can be accessed from 3 known directions: north, south, and middle. There 3 different routes have a lot to offer to a tourist like us. The treks are well paved and so it wasn't really what you can consider "trekking". Just lots of stairs. Boo hoo! Good toning for my butt! Hahaha!

So we took the the south route (Yakou) where we saw paved stairs... Laoshan spring... stairs... breathtaking view... stairs... vendors... stairs... stonehedges... stairs... trees... stairs... a Taoist temple... stairs... thousands year old trees... spring... stairs... hundred year old trees... vendors... stairs... another temple... huge rocks... stairs... breathtaking view... stairs... endless stairs... and more stairs. So see, it should be called Laoshan Stairs. And the last one, cable car... and stairs.

Midway through climbing, we bought our helpful souvenirs - very helpful... WALKING STICK! Hahaha! We felt so relieved having them to support our climb. But we felt a bit shy when we see elderly people, looking fit, coming down from the peak! LOL. And also, midway through climbing, we'd stop to take photos (I've got almost a hundred!!! ) and eat our packed snacks. Jan had her sandwiches, Marl had his tofu experiment (something he cooked I think) and I had my chocolates. What would you expect from a choc girl?!?

It took us more than 4 hours to climb the mountain to its peak from the southern entrance and go down with a cable car. By the time we arrived to the other entrance (think it's North route), there were no more buses as it was past 5PM. There were couple of private cars offering us a ride for a fare. But we insisted walking back to the toll gate, thinking it's just near. But damn it was far! And luckily, we were approached by another private van who offered us RMB 8 per person. It was well worth it because it was a 20 minute drive downhill. Damn, we could have spent another 2 hours walking down the mountain and by then, it would have been dark (and dangerous). Yeah, I'm scared of ghosts! Laugh all you can! LOL

We got on the bus (bus #304) from Laoshan to Carrefour and paid only RMB 3 for an hour trip. Jan and Marl were flat tired and they were sleeping throughout the trip back. I wasn't. I'm afraid somebody might steal my walking stick! Hahaha!

It was a good experience, eh?

NEXT DESTINATION ON OUR OFF: The Qingdao Beer City (hopefully)

Poured

It poured for merely 5 minutes just now. Strong winds and heavy rain. It just passed by. Hmmm, where is it going to?