I Hate I'm Not Capable & Poor + Ibis Hotel Opening Ceremony

Last night was nagged by my parents-in-law about that 3 room house we saw just near where they stayed. I know the convenience of the house but I really think is not value for money. They keep said they'll help us to pay the COV and never ask for return. I know I'm poor and not capable but I won't take a cent from them even I go to borrow from others. Because I felt that "Money" is always a very sensitive item. I don't want we quarrel about the money in the end so I'm thinking how to be a polite way to reject their offer.

Anyway last night, my parents-in-law couldn't stayed at Ibis Hotel and they asked me and my wife to stayed. When we inside the room we saw a letter on the table. It was a opening ceremony invitation letter from Ibis Hotel but I never read the details because I knew when we wake up will be at noon time. Just now woke up and went down for check out and had our "brunch". They opening ceremony speech like just over and all the guest are there enjoyed all food and beverage served by Ibis Hotel. Here is some of the photo I took by my handphone so not that clear. =)

Stage

See! A lot of guest are caucasian.

You can check-in yourself through these Kiosk System.

Their advertising on SBS bus.

Food & beverage

Door gift

Look delicious but never get one and try. =(

I Had Decided.

Today woke up at 12 plus in the afternoon and checked my handphone and saw my 3rd sister Cheryl had smsed me. She wanted to inform me that we'll be celebrating mum's birthday at her house so to make sure that we make ourself free on that day.

Suddenly I thought of asking for her opinions, so I gave her a call to ask how much she had spent on their house renovation. Surely she would know better than us. She told me that she saw my Facebook status and that the valuation + COV for that 3-room flat is too expensive. My sister and bro-in-law had only spent S$20,500 for a brand new renovation for their house. Why do we need to pay so much cash over valuation for a 7-years-old renovation since the valuation of that house is already higher than other 3-room flat? I would rather pay lesser cash for a 3-room or 4-room for the COV and spend more cash for a brand new renovation to our liking.

So I called another property agent Nick to check the valuation of the 3-room flat that we had viewed the other time. I need to find out the current valuation of a 3-room flat around this area and make comparison. But he told me that the valuation is still in progress so we have to continue our house-hunting while waiting for his update. Anyway that owner asking for so much cash is because they want to upgrade to a 4-room flat and the cash is for them to renovate their new house. I'll not be an idiot to let them take advantage of the situation. I had decided I'll never pay a cent for that 3-room flat if I manage to find a 3-room flat at quite a good location and its valuation is between S$210,000 and S$220,000.

Maybe my parents-in-law will feel unhappy about my decision because they thought it's a good buy as it's very convenient for us. I felt so sorry to my wife about this situation and decision that I had made.

SO SORRY~!

House Viewing

At 1015, my handphone alarm rang as I had an appointment for house viewing at 1200~! Turned it off but still felt sleepy so just laid in bed to rest for a while more. Suddenly my handphone rang again. This time it was a phonecall from the property agent Esther. She asked me where was I. OH MY GOD~! It was 1156 and I thought she was already there waiting for me. I told her I'll be a bit late (anyway the block is just behind my parents-in-law's condominium). Luckily she told me that she'll be late too and will only reach at 1230. =p I hurried up to wash up and wake my wife up.

Met Esther at 1230. She looked like a small kid because of her height. The unit was just next to the lift and before we stepped into the house, we could already see from the outside that the house is nicely renovated. Inside, the house was really in a move-in condition which we like alot.

Valuation of this unit is S$238,000, which is quite reasonable if you compare with other 3 rooms flat with little or no renovation. We are very keen to get this unit because it is very convenient for us. After we left the house, I asked the property agent how much COV (cash over valuation) the owner was asking. Esther told me someone had offered S$10,000. That would mean this unit costs S$248,000. What the hell? A HDB 3-room flat costs about the same as a 4-room flat!

After this unit I had another appointment at 1630. This will be a 4-room flat (106 square meters) which is much bigger than the 3-room flat (73 square meters). Valuation of this 4-room flat is only S$260,000 but definitely need to do some light renovation. However, the only thing I like about this unit is that it is big enough and has more space. At night I had discussed with my parents-in-law for some opinion. They also agree that the 3-room flat is more convenient and better for us. Anyway I also doubted what the property agent had told me about someone offering S$10,000 for that unit.

Today I just tried my luck to called this agent Esther.

Me: You told me someone had offered S$10,000 for that unit right? Does that mean that I need to offer higher amount if I wish to buy this flat?

Esther: Yes!

Me: If that's the case, then never mind. Thanks!

So I just hanged up the phone. A while later, Esther called back and asked how much I was able to offer. I replied that I can only offer a few thousands. Since their unit valuation is already higher as compared to other 3-room flats, why should I have to fork out so much cash for the unit? Esther told me that the owner was actually looking for S$300,000 as asking price as they had spent alot of money for the renovation! But if the person offered S$10,000 she'll consider too. What the hell? Now the 3-room flat's valuation is averaging at S$220,000. This unit has a higher valuation means that the renovation works have been taken into consideration during valuation. Which means their renovation costs about S$18,000. Furthermore, this house was renovated 7 years ago and do you still expect the renovation to be still 'worth' S$18,000?

My wife and I talked to her mum about all these so she said she wanted to take a look at the flat too and she'll try to negotiate for us. Anyway she has more experience and much better at negotiating, so I just give her the property agent's contact number and let her arrange with the agent to view the house. We really do like the house but I just think it's a bit unreasonable to fork out so much cash especially with the economy being quite bad at the moment.

I think I need to pray hard. Hopefully I can get this house. Gold Bless Us...

4 Days Stayed At Ibis Hotel Only Cost S$1.20? =p

My wife called me after she checked out from Ibis Hotel. Due to some problem they couldn't deduct the charges from my card so they requested that she pay by cash. We had stayed there from Monday night till Thursday night inclusive and total amount of charges should be S$4++ but end up they only charged my wife S$1.20. They really given to us a BIG BIG BIG discount. Hahaha... *LOL* But perhaps they have already deducted the first 3 nights' stay from my card. So I probably need to print my bankbook to confirm if any payment was deducted form my account.

Actually we had wanted to try their buffet breakfast to see if it's good or not. But too bad, we always wake up just in time for work, so no time to enjoy the buffet breakfast. My wife seems to have fallen in love with the Ibis Hotel so she had booked another few more days in March. I know one of the reasons why she likes to stay at the hotel is because it's very near her office. She can even walk to work in 10 minutes time though she's lazy to do so and will take the bus instead. But it's only 5 mins away from her office by bus.

Ibis Hotel, I'll be back to try your buffet breakfast and I'll take some more photos and upload them here. =) Hopefully the food will not disappoint as I also quite like the hotel overall. =)

My First Wedding Photography

One day, I received an email from my secondary schoolmate Irene. I'm so surprised she asked me as her photographer on her actual wedding day because she saw one of my photo I had uploaded to friendster.

Here is the photo she saw:

She told me she likes the feeling of this photo which is why she asked me to be her photographer. I told her honestly that I didn't have any experience in taking photos for an event, including actual day wedding. She didn't mind me being inexperienced and still believed in me and encouraged me to be her photographer.  I am thankful that she so readily give me a chance to be her photographer and let me build up my portfolio. Luckily she likes the photos that I took on her wedding day and here are some of the photos that I had taken. =)

More photos

IBIS Hotel @ Bencoolen Street (part 2)

NAFA Campus 3 is just opposite IBIS HOTEL

IBIS HOTEL's lobby

IBIS HOTEL's drinks & dining area

IBIS HOTEL's Sign

My wife love their furniture very much

If you would like to come and look for me. Take note, you better call me and go down to lobby and bring you up. If not you have to wait for guest who going up because you can only press 4th floor and above after you slot in and remove the access card. Good security system right?

Here are some other informations

BREAKFAST at TASTE (Level 1)

Early riser: 0400-0600

Buffet: 0600-1000

Late Riser: 1000-1200

TASTE: An innovative Asian tapas style restaurant serving authentic Singapore flavours

All Day Dining: 1200-2230

THE BAR

Opening: 1200-2300

24 HOURS BEVERAGES

Vending machines available at all guest floors

Charges for breakfast, lunch & dinner is S$15++ but we haven't try any yet. May try their breakfast buffet if we can wake up early. =p

To be continue...

IBIS Hotel @ Bencoolen Street (Part 1)

Today I left the office at 5pm and headed down to IBIS Hotel at Bencoolen Street. At first, I couldn't find the hotel location. Finally I called the hotel and found out that the IBIS Hotel is located at opposite of NAFA Campus 3 or Summerview Hotel. If you search from streetdirectory.com, it'll be showed as Under Construction. See Map!

Finally I reached the IBIS Hotel. When I first stepped into the hotel, it gave me the feeling of 'modern living'. It is nicely designed and decorated with a mod concept. For me, complimentary access to internet in the comfort of your own room is one thing that attracted me. I think most of the Hotel you'll need to pay if you want to use their wireless access.

Here are some pictures of the room:

Our room 802 (Huat ah)

 

To be continued... Now going out~!

All These Contests Are Like B***shit

Just now met up with some friends for a drink. Suddenly we talked about the OMY couple look-alike contest and she told me the results was out yesterday. She only felt that the first winner are reasonable to win the prize, but the 2nd and third prize winners are couples who do not look alike at all. The only things that look alike is the colour of their clothes.

Actually I think so. Not because I'm one of the contestants. From the beginning of the TOP 10, I was very sure that contestant number 2 will win this contest. Couple look-alike 40 marks, fashion 40 marks and accessories 20 marks. They look so alike, as if photocopied from the copier machine and they also wear-alike. But why is it that they don't even win a prize? What's going on? Any relationship between the winners and judges or the couple number 2 are not good-looking? Anyway winner list was out and I also can't do anything to change it. Just let all the people out there to judge for yourself if the winners are deserving of the title of Couple Look-Alike.

Participant In A Lot Of Contests

Last week, out of nothing better to do, I visited this blog which lists a lot of different contests. I had participated in a few of the contests.

First, Love Stories by MediaCorp whose prizes are sponsored by Hewlett Packard. The winners' list was out but I didn't feel their stories were touching enough to win.

Second, Couple Look-Alike by OMY website. We are lucky to be selected by the judges into TOP 10 for second round competition. As long you have more friends and supporters to vote for you and you'll win the prize. I really hope that I can win a prize for my wife. It is a 3D2N Bintan trip, a pair of necklace worth few hundred dollars and a five hundred dollars bouquet voucher.

Here is the link if you want to help vote for us - Couple #5: OMY Couple Look-Alike Contest. You can vote as many times you wish as voters also stand a chance to win jewellery, bouquet vouchers and even a Bintan getaway!

Other than these two contests, we also participated in few others similar contests.

Lastly, Anna (my wife's younger sis) told us there is a new Ibis Hotel at Bencoolen Street which is having a promotion. You can pay what you want for booking a room there during their promotion sale period. So in total we had booked for 5 night's stay there. Heehee~!