Training in Penang -31st July to 4th Aug
Didn't take many photos during the whole trip which was highly unusual(I think so too!) because PH takes photos of anything and everything.
Firstly I think I was pretty tired after the training everyday so taking photos didn't come naturally to me at all even though I brought my camera around everywhere I went. Secondly, there really wasn't much to take. since most of the time was spent training in the ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel except for the evenings where we got to roam around. Thirdly, most of the time was spent with people I didn't know so well...so shy PH felt paiseh about showing her true shameless self.
Day 1 - Orientation and Games
We arrived at the airport at 6 am. Took the 8.05 am SQ flight to Penang. Then a coach to Sheraton Hotel Penang. Ushered into ballroom and given "Welcome" talks by 3 partners of the firm. Lunch, buffet style at the hotel restaurant (which we had for the rest of the week as well). Back to ballroom, formed teams and played some games of which sent messages about teamwork, communication and trust. My team won the trust game and were rewarded with notepads. =p
Everything ended at about 5.30pm and we were told to return to our rooms. But as usual, mishaps always happen to PH. When I returned to my room, I realised my luggage was not sent to my room. So I went down to the reception and checked with the bellboy. He told me that he left my luggage in Room 1410 and told me to get it from there. But when I went up to the room, there was no sign of my luggage. So I tried calling the reception hoping to speak to the bellboy and was directed to a customer service officer instead who had no idea about my luggage. Decided not to waste my time repeating the whole story again and went to the reception again and looked for the bellboy again. He reassured me that the luggage should be somewhere in the hotel and told me to go back to my room whilst he conducts a search for it. Met a few of the trainers and HR pple and told them about my situation. They casually joked that there were enough (E)(Y) polo tees to last me for the rest of the week if I really lost my luggage. Went back to my room and got a bit worried about losing the luggage(even though I was pretending hard not to be) since all my chargers for my camera and PDA phone were there and it would a hassle to replace them. Of course, not forgetting the clothes and shoes for the rest of the week. Thankfully, the bellboy managed to conduct a search on the whole of my floor and found the luggage in another room. Phew! Couldn't imagine what the rest of the week would be like without my luggage.
Anyway, this is the hotel room I shared with this girl from NTU called Von. Room's very cosy and comfortable even though you can't exactly see it from my messy bed.
After getting my luggage, I went for dinner with the fellow (S)(M)(U) group at Prangin Mall. Had some hongkong style noodles and shopped around the place. Lotsa clothes and shoes there. Then we shared cabs back to the Hotel and turned in early for the night.
Day 2 - Training
This was a day of intensive training on audit concepts and it was mentally tortorous. Imagine 9 hour lecture! Training ended at 6pm and (C)ien, (J)ackie and I decided to check out the hotel gym. Lucky for us, we wore shoes on the first day so we could get into the gym. Pretty small and enough for us to get a good cardio workout. After that, had dinner at some zi-cha stall nearby. Then played cards in (S)ay (E)ng's room.
Day 3 - Training
Full day of training again which I shan't elaborate too much.
Then it was dinner at the supposedly the famous food stalls beside Gurney Plaza. Looks a bit like Glutton's bay beside Espanade. Had char kway teow, asam laksa, rojak, cuttlefish, bbq stingray, wanton noodles, claypot rice etc. Don't know why I forgot to take photos. Tsk. But anyway food was so-so lah. Then some shopping at Gurney Plaza which is similar to the shopping malls in Singapore.
Went back at 8.30 pm cos I had to meet my teammates to discuss the presentation on "What we have learnt" that was due the following day. Brainstormed and came up with a skit in 3 hrs which was pretty amazing actually. Had a lot of fun and laughter with my team through the whole process. Turned in at about 1 am which was unlike the past 2 days where I slept at 10 pm and 11 pm respectively.
Day 4 - Final Day of Training + Presentation
Goofing around with (C)ien, (Y)anxian and (S)ayen(g) during one of the tea-breaks, all looking pretty shagged from the previous night of preparation for presentations.
Presentation started at 4pm. My team was the first out of the other 9 to present our skit. Managed to get very good rapport from the audience and we were immensely pleased with the way our skit turned out. Amazingly, our team clinched the highest votes from the audience for the skit and we won a key chain each.
Dinner was a cosy affair in (Y)anxian's room where we just ate and chit-chatted.
Day 5 - Free N Easy
Last group photo before boarding the flight back home, Singapore.
Ok my longest entry ever I think. Sleep.