Pick Pocketed!

I was so naive...so the other night I was walking home from work on 34th Street and it was more crowded than normal. I felt a little uneasy but just brushed it off. While I was walking, I was listening to music on my iPhone which was in my purse unzipped. At one point I was trying to untangle the earphone wires thinking it may snag the earphones out of the phone which has happened to me before. As I was crossing 10th Avenue, i felt a tug and I thought my iPhone did snag and I was searching my purse of the phone...didn't find it. Then I was thinking, hmmm, maybe I dropped it on the other side of the street. So I wait for the light to change and look on the ground for the phone...nothing. Finally, I come to my senses and realize that I had just been pick pocketed and my iPhone had been stolen! How stupid of me.

So I go home and call AT&T to suspend my services and then ask them a bunch of questions about the phone, including, how could someone who stole my phone be able to reactivate it when it's registered under my name. But they were no help at all! Sorry, we can't help you. We do nothing with that information. Anyone can activate an iPhone over the internet or phone. Crazy!!! Then I go and ask about getting a new phone, the customer service guy goes on to say the best way is to sign up for a new line so that I can get the discount. I was asking him how much the would cost me extra and he goes on to say about $25 with more minutes (which I do not need) and less data. That's stupid! He then goes on to tell me that I could save money if I discontinue my Canada calling plan. I'm trying to explain to him that it is not an option but it's like he's not listening to me. So frustrating...when he's finally done, I'm sitting there saying, so over 2 years, you want me to spend $600 in services that I don't need just so I can recieve a $400 discount now? He was like, yes, that's worth it! Does he think I'm an idiot??? I tell him that I want to buy it without a contract and he then goes to tell me that he can not help me with that and that I have to go into an Apple store to do that! What? Why is it that hard for me to get a new iPhone but it's soooo easy for the guy that just ripped me off to reactivate my phone?

I then go on to try to call the police to report the incident...no answer. I call many times but no answer...I finally call 311. They answer but they tell me that I should call the local police, go to the station or call 911 and they will send someone to me to file a report. That's crazy. I decided not to report it as it does me no good, it's not like I have insurance or anything.

The next night I go to Apple. The guy there was so helpful!!! Finally...through this whole process, nothing helpful but when I got to the store he was very nice and understanding. When I got the phone, he ended up telling me that AT&T was going to give me a $200 discount for being a valued customer. That was great!

So new iPhone in hand...haven't started to listening to music while walking again but have kept my purse zipped up!

Very expensive lesson learned!!!

Update....2010

Wow, 2010 was such a great year! Yes the economy had not fully recovered but for me, I got to take time off work and travel and think. What an adventure it was. Amazing enough though, although I was gone for 3 months in Asia, I only really travelled for 1 1/2 weeks on my own...the rest of the time, I was fortunate to have friends or family join me. What a great learning experience it was. I'm so glad I did it and I would love to do it again but I'd do it differently next time. I'd pick just a couple of locations and stay at each location longer to get to know them. The moving around every 3-4 days was tiring. I can't believe I also went Bungee Jumping!!! 2010 was definitely a year of no regrets!!!

It was also the time for me to reflect on what next...where should I go and stay. I had thought there was a possiblity of me moving to HK but in the end I realized that I no longer want to move around at this point in my life and start my life over again...not saying I won't do it in the future but at this point, I want to stay in NYC! I even contemplated Vancouver for a while but really NYC is a great place to live.

I'm now in the process of buying a Co-op in NYC and boy it's a pain. I first found the apartment in September and now in December I still do not know if the Board has approved me yet or not. I'm hoping I'll find out before Xmas but who knows. I don't think there is any reason that they would deny me but I hear that you never know here. Fingers Crossed!!!

I'm hoping that 2011 will be a better year than 2010...but it's going to be hard to top. It's also so strange that it's the end of 2010 already...this year has really flown by and now 2011 is just around the corner. Hopefully I'll be moved into my new place just a little after the new year!!!

Just 7 hours to go...Asia here I come!

Wow, it's been almost a year since I've been to HK...how time flies! Now I've taken 4 months off work and am going to travel Asia for 3 months. What an adventure it'll be. I get to start off my trip with my sister for a month and we'll hit, HK, Shenzhen, Cambodia and Vietnam...then going to meet my friends in Thailand and then maybe go to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia on my own. After that, meeting some friends in HK to go to Beijing and Tokyo. How fun! Time is going to fly by so fast! I can't believe it. 3 months really is not enough time to visit Asia...I need more time and I haven't even gotten there yet...

Careers

A friend of mine (lazyass friend), yes the one that went to bartending school, at one point was wanting to change careers...we all know that he was just bsing but he was set on becoming an airtraffic controller...well maybe not as high up as that...but they must still be called air traffic controllers...he basically wanted to be one of those guys at the airport that wave the glowy lights at the plane to direct them to the gate. Who knew he was on to something...look at their average salary...not so bad huh?

Career #6: Air Traffic Controllers
Direct mid-air traffic and keep airports running safely and efficiently as an air traffic controller. These skilled workers come from a range of fields; some have flying or military experience, while others work directly out of school. Education is required for most air traffic controllers, who need to have work or college experience before enrolling in a dedicated controller training program.
BLS mean annual wage: $108,090
Top paying states: Illinois, New Hampshire, Minnesota, California

Early Retirement

Lately, all that's been going through my mind is when am I going to be able to retire? This working all day and then going home thing is really a pain...it takes up most of your day and then by the time I get home, I'm kinda tired and have little time to do stuff that I like or to just relax. What is the "Ideal" age to retire?

I remember one of my friends, long time ago, said that he wanted to retire at the age of 32...needless to say, he's 38 and still working in the Bay Area...but he is coasting at his job.

We go to school for 16+ years of our lives and then work after that...I've been working now about 12 years...and it seems like a long time...yet my parents managed to work at practically the same place for most of their career and still work till they are 60 or so...where I've only been working 12 years at 3 different jobs and I'm already talking about needing to retire.

I think we just all need to brainstorm on how to get us to that income level that will enable us to retire now rather than another 10-30 years. If anyone figures it out, please let me know!

Adventures in HK

Wow, what a trip! Am I beat...Had an awesome time there.

Landed there at 2pm on Friday and went to drop my stuff off at my friend's place and then went with Tim to Grant Thornton to see some others that I used to work with in the Bay Area...caught up with them and then met up with Sabrina. Sabrina had to drop by a bar to talk to the manager so we had a couple of drinks there. We then headed to a Pole Dancing class that Sabrina had signed us up for...boy was that hard...I applaud the dancers! After the class with snacks and drinks, we went to Lan Kwai Fong to hang with my high school friend, Ron and Sabrina and Tim...wow, what a first impression of HK...been there a night and felt like I wasn't really there since most weren't Chinese. Couldn't sleep from jetlag and excitement so slept maybe 3 hours.

Saturday - went for a western breakfast with Tim and Sabrina...yummy and then hung out at a wine tasting with Sabrina...boy was it pouring rain! Crazy. After went back to get ready for dinner...went for hot pot with everyone and Alyson and Johnny (my brother) came in for dinner...we finish a yummy dinner and then go to play pool downstairs...after a while, we decide to find a bar...first bar we find, we are going to! Bar San Francisco!!! Too funny...it's a strip bar...it's empty and the girls are not even dancing...and now Sabrina is asking to show some Pole Dancing moves but the owner doesn't go for it. haha. We leave to go to a Whiskey Bar...the whiskey bar was a little weird...felt like a sports bar to me...very casual but relaxing...we hang there for a while and have some whiskey. We decide to head back to Sabrina's to play Mah Jong. How fun! We get back around 2:30 and Tim and I head to McDonalds for a snack...when we get back, Sabrina has given away their room to Johnny and Alyson cause they were tired...Tim tired too leaves to go to a hotel to sleep...terrible!!! We continue with Mah Jong and finish around 4:30. What a night.

Sunday - get up around 7 and wait for Sabrina to get up so we can go to Macau. We meet up with Ron at 12 to take the Ferry over...boy was it a rough ride...didn't think I'd get seasick but I did...terrible wind and rain! We head for Portugese food...yum. We walk around Macau and explore the churches and square...it was nice...they are building some new hotels there too which should be done by next year. Next thing you know it's like 6:30 and we should go to dinner...we head to Wynn - Okada. Sabrina has the hook ups as she used to work in Las Vegas at Okada and knows the Executive Chef. Great Food! We realize our ferry is leaving soon and have to run out and we make it just within a minute...running to make sure we dont' miss it. Get home around 11:30.

Monday - wake up at 6 to go meet my Goo Poh at 7:30 at the train station to head to ShenZhen to meet Alyson and then head to GuangZhou. We get to GuangZhou and head to the small village that my mom grew up in. We stop at a friends place to have lunch and for them to open up the house for us...since it has not been occupied since 1963! It's crazy...no light, no water, just stone. We bow to my Great Grandfather and check out the room that my mom was born in and my Grandma's pillow. We head back to GuangZhou on a bus since now it's pouring rain and we can't find a cab...it takes an hour to get back and now we head to Yuexiu Gongyuan where we hike up stairs to see the 5 Rams Statue and a tower...we leave the park and see the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. All the time, Alyson and I are wondering how these 70 year olds are so fit and can do all this and not be exhausted like we were. We head back to Say Sook Goung's Place and have dinner...another yummy meal. Then we head back to the train station and head back to Hong Kong and get back around 1.

Tuesday - Alyson and I get up around 7 but leave around 10 to go explore Central area (near Sabrina's) up until Causeway Bay. Nice walk and did some shopping and eating on the way...cheap food! We meet Goo Poh around 4 and we walk around for wonton noodle soup and then head towards Sha Tin where she lives. We go to have dinner and then head to the Night Market on Temple Street to check it out...not worth the hype...we hang out for 1/2 hour and then leave for Mong Kok to meet up with my friend, Howard for dessert and just to walk around the area. We head back around 1:30. Kristi has arrived and we catch up with her.

Wednesday - Kristi, Alyson and I leave around 10 and head to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha...what a hike! We check it out and eat lunch up there and then head back to Sabrina's to rest...get back around 5:30 and have to meet Sabrina at 7. We meet up to have dinner with her co-workers - outdoor bbq. We then head to a Gay Bar with her boss (Paolo) and a co-worker (Louisa). We get a bottle of vodka and polish it off in 1/2 hour. Louisa is waiting for a guy to come meet her but Sabrina is drunk and needs to go home...so Sabrina and Kristi leave and Alyson and I wait with Louisa. An hour later, we leave to go home (around 1:30) but when we get there, with Mc Donalds in hand, we are locked out with a double lock...oh no! We end up trying to find a hotel and almost check in and then get a bright idea to go to a 24 hour foot massage place...we call Louisa to find out where it's located and meet up with her...she gets us to go into a club and then we felt bad to leave after...we finally get out of there at 4 all tired and ready to sleep since 3. We get in a cab (Louisa's own private cab driver) and head to Louisa's (we didn't know it was like 1/2 hour away). We crash and then get up at 9 and head back to Sabrina's.

Thursday - We have breakfast with Sabrina and Kristi at this Congee place...it was good Congee! Then they leave for Penang and Alyson and I head towards ShenZhen. We get to ShenZhen around 3...but the immigration line is long!!! Takes us like 30-45 min to get through...cause they are testing everyone for the Swine Flu! We finally get across and meet Johnny...we go to the mall and I go up to the Tailor section cause Sabrina recommended someone. I go in planning on buying one suit...I walk out 1 1/2 hours later with 5 suits, 2 dresses and 1 dress shirt later...probably got ripped off but still cheaper than getting it here. We then walk aroudn the mall a little more and then head to Queen's Spa around 7...thinking we'll get 1 1/2 hour treatment and go home and have dinner. Little did we know...non of us have been there before...we get in, hang out and have some free fruit and drinks and then decide to get our massage...we get out and then decide to order some food, then decide to go to the rest areas to get a la carte services (head, neck, foot and hand massages). We finally decide it's time to go to dinner...since it's probably around 11 or 12. We shower up and head to the check out...oh wow, it's 4am!!! how did that happen...9 hours later. Was so nice but time sure flies. The cost ended up being a little over $300 for the 3 of us!!! Johnny decides to get a member card so he will return every week. We head back home and get to bed around 7.

Friday - We head to lunch and walk around ShenZhen...buy some Lychee for less than $1! After we head back to pack up and head back to HK so that we can meet up with our friends. We end up back in HK around 5:30...meet up with Ron for drinks and then meet up with Candy, Ben, Robyn and Shervin for dinner at 8:30. After dinner, we hang out in Lan Kwai Fong and are drinking...Johnny is all red...Ben conviinces us all to go to a club...waste of money cause we only stay for 1/2 hour...we then go eat at the chinese denny's and head home...think we got home around 4.

Saturday - We get up and go to meet my Goo Poh for Dim Sum at 11:30...it was really good....we walk around a little more and then go back to get my luggage and back to the Airport Express station where I am sent off to the Airport! Hang at the airport for last minute shopping and then get on the plane home.

Boy am I exhausted just reading what we did! Not enough time...definitely need to go back soon!

Hong Kong

ok, so I'm getting really excited about my trip to HK!!! This will be my first time there...I didn't actually get nervous about the whole trip until a friend of mine said, you should get some masks...the Swine Flu is a big deal here...oh no!!! I can't get sick before this trip or I can ruin my whole trip and be contained for 7 days!!! So now I'm super paranoid.

This girl at work was sick last Thursday and I was sitting in the office with her and all I could think about was I hope I don't get sick...and then the A/C is cranked up in the office and I'm starting to sneeze...great...what I really don't need. But now I'm one day to go and I think I'm good...but my poor friend that is going to Japan and then HK/China is sick...she's all congested and it's terrible...she leaves on Thursday night so she has a little more time to get better but still...that's not going to be an enjoyable flight.

I'm counting down the hours till get to leave work and get ready for my trip...I haven't even finished packing yet...yah!!!