Burj Al Arab

21st International Autumn Trade Fair 2006

2nd day of exhibition

Today was the second day of the exhibition and there was much more action with more visitors coming to the booth. In fact, there were times where there were too many people and we were actually ‘understaffed’ for a while, as I was only partly staff … haha … I explained the materials, which were only in the brochures, but when it comes to too technical details or the cost of the product, then I am stumped. I look around and if the other staff were busy then … erm … keep introducing new material until they were free to talk.

“You get along very well with the big time folks, because you act like big time also.”

That’s what I told my dad, when he asked me what he think of him as a salesperson. I then told him that that was something that I was really not good at. I fail to have connection with people at all levels. He said that I was creating a barrier for myself and that I should let down my obstructions and use sincerity to connect to people. I guess, I must learn to reach the level that I feel that I would not lose anything and that I can just talk to anyone and not feel afraid or afraid to lose.

After the exhibition from 11 am to 7 pm, there was a dinner organized by the organizers for the exhibitors at the JW Marriot. It took 1 hour to travel from the World Trade Center to the Marriot du to the traffic jam. The jam in Dubai is terrible. It was disgusting that such a short length of road could take so long to cover. While on the mini bus, there was also too much jerking because of the jam and the bus trying to cut through the crowds. It causes queasiness in the stomach.

Dinner at the Marriot was from 8 pm to 12 midnight, but the dinner only started about 9 pm (which is 1 am Singapore time) and only after a few belly dancers tried to work up our appetites. Buffet style food, meant mayhem with people from all nationalities – Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and China. It was chaotic as all the hungry Asians rushed for the food. No doubt the food served at the dinner was good.

After lots of wine and food and belly dancers, we concluded dinner at about 11 pm Dubai time. Most people had already left because it was considered very late by Asia’s time.

So, day 2 of the exhibition and day 3 of the Dubai trip was a good day as there was very good ‘harvest’ at the exhibition.

I need to check my mail soon, and by which time I would have already gotten and paid for my expensive internet access to upload this blog and check my mail. Looking forward to a few more days in Dubai. Though not too much really exciting stuff have been happening here so far. Maybe my time of fun is not so mindless. I enjoy conversation with close friend much much more than just empty chats with sweet nothings. Maybe it’s people I’m not with? haha …

Anyway, there is a girl from IE, very young looking and sweet looking though I must say she got a ‘lian’ look too …  mq maybe interested … ah … haha … ok … no offence to anyone anywhere …

It’s 4 am in Singapore and 12 midnight here … feel so full from the wine and the food … that I can’t sleep yet … anyway, night people.

Landed Dubai

After a 7 hour flight which felt like eternity because of the lack of sleep on the flight, we landed in Dubai. The ‘center’ of the world. The flight was not good, but the pilot’s landing at the Dubai International Airport was brilliant. It was the first time that I did not even feel the touch down on the runway.

The Dubai International Airport was very very large and there were so many shops open even at 1 am, the local time that we arrived in Dubai. Singapore time is about 4 hours ahead of the UAE and therefore it was really tiring when we landed.

The hotel we stayed at was callled the Admiral Plaza Hotel. The hotel was 3 stars in ratingg but actually 2 start in reality. It was decent, but not brilliant. After another 5 hours of sleep, and a decent breakfast, we went to Gold Souk – the gold market where there were rows after rows of shops that sold gold, gold, gold and jewellery.

While shopping at the place, we stopped over for a drink of fruit cocktail and the shopkeeper cheated us. Serene was lividly mad. She was upset that the shopkeeper had charged us the price for the large drink after they had informed him that we only wanted the medium size drink. So, we got cheated of about 10 Dirhams (1 SGD = 2.38 Dirhams)

After walking around at the gold souk, we headed towards the World Trade Centre to set up the exhibition booth. Lucky there were 5 of us and we got most of the stuff done, including setting up the posters, preparing the brochures, setting up the models,etc … nonetheless, it was tiring … perhaps it was due to the lack of sleep.

After setting up everything, we went to Diera City Centre, which was this huge mall, really huge, Vivocity seems like a baby in comparison. Walk until tired. Ate fast food cos’ could not find a decent local place to eat anything. Oh well …

After more browsing and waiting about an hour for a taxi, we got back to the hotel, rested for a bit and headed out to the Royal Ascot Hotel across the street to get a drink. I’m back in the hotel now, tying away, but without an internet access, so I am not sure when exactly, I will be uploading this post.

Anyway, just as a comment, I’m puzzled by the companies that IE Singapore had brought to Dubai for the exhibition. Without even beginning the exhibition, Singapore’s products here seems to have paled in comparison to our neighbours in the exhibition – China. How do we compete with them, on such low cost and none high tech products. Sighs!

Ok, time to sleep.

Kuala Lumpur

The trip was good, though missed out on quite a lot of sight seeing due to the heavy traffic all over Malaysia.

This was the closest I got to seeing the Petronas Tower.

This was at Francis’s Wedding. Very traditional, and old school wedding. There was even a match maker or mei po (professional one) to do the ceremony, provide entertainment, etc … Too bad everything was in cantonese and so could not understand what was happening most of the time.

All the photos are at: KL (Dec 2006)

Long productive day

Though, I must admit that it was not productively spent on studying. eh!

I’m sleepy … I wonder why and it’s so early still.

Hope tmr’s trip will be a smooth one and a fun one and an exciting one and a fruitful one!

Dubai

Just to cheer myself up …

I should be able to see this in person in December … can’t wait …