Tag Archives: golf

Several Shades Darker

1 Jul

Like I have said it was going to be a long day for Day 5 of the trip and it was. I got home pass midnight yesterday and settled into bed only after two. Yawn…

After the last round which was so tiring, I have become several shades darker. 

The sun was out in full force and despite my slapping on sunblock, it wasn’t enough. But then again, I have this bad habit of not reapplying a second time protection. It’s not so obvious on the face because I tanned out evenly but the hands. Oh dear.

For the last three games, I stopped wearing even my left glove, playing with both hands gloveless and it’s evident in the shades. Just look at my left hand! I wear a wraparound wrist brace (to prevent the old injury from recurring) and you can see the two tones. I couldn’t help it and took my Pantone chart out to find a match to the two shades. You can see the original skin tone, looking almost like a Pantone 7514U whereas the exposed part of my hand, a Pantone 7585U, several shades darker.

The right hand is also a Pantone 7585U because it was gloveless. And it stops at this shade when the sleeve starts, just slightly above the wrist. I sure look funny with such uneven tan lines here and there especially on the hands.

Well, the golf break had been good but good things always must come to an end. I am back in the office today.

   
 

Tags: , , ,

Day 5: Goodbye Ho Chi Minh City

30 Jun

Four rounds of golf is so taxing even though there is enough sleep and rest. The spirit is willing but the body is not. By the time we finished our last game today, everyone is so tired. Thank goodness we are leaving this evening.

All in all, it has been enjoyable. I made some new friends. Played some decent golf and terrible golf too. What can I say? This is my standard.

Looking forward to going home.

Tags: , ,

Day 5: Last Day in Ho Chi Minh

30 Jun

We had a long day yesterday. The journey to the golf club took rather long or rather it felt like it. First, we had to wait for the water and fruits (for our golf game) to be delivered, then it was the slow traffic crawl. But I think we got there on time considering the golf club is 20km less and closer than the first two.

Vietnam Golf and Country Club was very crowded and our tee off was very haphazardly arranged. Everyone was ushered to different tee boxes rather than starting on the first tee or the tenth tee. My flight started on the 12th tee. Pace was slow, every hole we had to wait. The sun came out, it became hot. Then it rained. On our last two holes, the skies opened up. I had to take out my rain jacket only to keep it after the super quick downpour before we got to the last hole.

We didn’t lunch at the club but came back to the hotel and had a quick bite during the complimentary high tea session. It was unsatisfactory so we ended up going to the Street Food Market again for lunch. Yesterday was a day of shopping on top of golf. I certainly exceeded my walking quota.

Today is our last day and we check out shortly, have a good breakfast before heading to Tan Son Nhat Golf Club for our last round. It was be another long day.

Tags: , ,

Day 4: Not 5.00am

29 Jun

It’s nice when we don’t have to wake up in the wee hours of the morning for golf. I had a late night somewhat. It was fun.

The Sky Deck gave us an awesome all round view of the city. And after that, we went to the Helibar on the 52nd Floor for a nice cold beer. There was even live music but was too loud for us to chatter. We left shortly to head to Bui Vien Street.

The place is booming with people, both locals and tourists. We didn’t walk as much but chose to sit at Crazy Buffalo, a prime junction bar and restaurant to have another drink. This time a mojito and snacked on some appetizers.

There was satisfaction after this, maybe it was the food and walked back to the hotel which wasn’t that far.

Today we play at Vietnam Golf and Country Club. I looked out the room window and the skies looked good. It will be another good day today!

   
    
   

Tags: , ,

Day 3: Excellent Weather

28 Jun

Although Royal Island is closer to the hotel than Jeongsan Golf Club, it felt as though we took longer to get there. Maybe because the road en route had a lot of trucks and big vehicles, we just couldn’t go any faster. Plus the fact that our tour guide came late, we lost a good 20 minutes before the journey started.

When we arrived, it was pass our tee off time so this had to be resolved quickly. Thank goodness it wasn’t crowded and soon, everyone was off!

Today my flight mates were new friends (having just met them on this trip) except for one whom I know prior. I had a really good time because the company was good and the weather excellent. Not once did I take out my umbrella. The wind posed a much stronger challenge but I took it in stride. Yes, I played slightly better today. Although the caddies today lacked course knowledge, it was the language barrier that cause more frustration. Sigh…

After the game, everyone had a quick bite at the clubhouse before heading back to the hotel to enjoy the complimentary high tea spread. And from here on, the group decided to split the activities.

The majority has opted for the river cruise with dinner thrown in while myself together with three others are planning to check out the Sky Deck. It should be interesting.
   

    
 

Tags: , ,

Day 3: Golf Again

28 Jun

Woke up on time and was ready quickly. Was downstairs by 5.40am but the hotel staff didn’t allow us to start until six! 

So we wait.

This is the first time I find hospitality staff bordering on rudeness. From all my travels, I have never encountered such behavior. I could see the frown and disbelief on his face when we told him we were allowed to start earlier as our golf group has a schedule to follow.

Oh well. Royal Island Golf Club… Here we come.

Tags: ,

Day 2: 5.00am

27 Jun

I got to face it, when off for golf trips, waking up at 5.00am is a must.

Groan… The bed was too soft, the pillows were not comfortable, there were noises and my bedside light could not switch off. But I am on a golf holiday so does it matter? Sigh…

The breakfast spread was good. By 6.30am after the usual golfer’s breakfast, we made our way to Jeongsan Golf Club, a good 60km away and we had to beat the morning Monday traffic. 

It was cloudy and I would say the weather was perfect and we managed to finish our game just before the first drop of rain came down.

A quick lunch at the clubhouse and a hot shower after that, I think the plan is to head back for a massage.

Life is good.

   
    
 

Tags: ,

Hello Vietnam!

26 Jun

The last time I visited Ho Chi Minh City, I wasn’t such a golf freak and coming here for golf. It was many years ago when I came with my office staff, rewarding the team with an incentive trip for working so hard. It was a good time then.

This time around, I am here for golf with 15 others! 

Although MH758 departed ten minutes late from KLIA, it was on time upon arrival. The chicken murtabak wasn’t too bad and soon we arrived to humid and drizzling conditions – weather that golfers don’t like. Ugh. But better to rain today than tomorrow when we play our first game.

With a boisterous bus load of 16 adults behaving like kids on a school excursion, we made our way through the busy streets to the hotel, Grand Silverland Hotel & Spa.

Checked in and freshened, the group decided to an early dinner and most likely an early night because tomorrow, we have to wake up early for our first game.

The fun begins now…

 

Raining – view from our room

 
 

Home for the next four nights

  
 

Tags: , ,

And Off I Go!

26 Jun

It was unplanned and the next thing I know, here I am at the airport with the usual suspects for yet another golf escapade! Unfortunately this time, it is without hubby. Maybe next trip, he will come along.

Where are we off to? Not to Bangkok this time but to Ho Chi Minh City instead. At the airport’s Premium Lounge now and having a cold Carlsberg before our flight at 2.45pm. Looking forward to it!

Tags: , ,

My Bathroom Scale Hates Me

27 May

The past two nights, I have been eating out instead of at home. When friends invite, we must be polite and don’t decline if we can make it, right? I had a golf game on Wednesday, followed by dinner after the game. Then on Thursday, another game and another dinner.

Tonight, yet another big feast awaits. A friend is buying dinner because she played well in a golf tournament recently. And as if these nightly dinners are not enough, a 21st birthday celebration dinner was slotted in unexpectedly for Saturday night! Four days in a row and this is culminated with yet another dinner on Sunday night to conclude my Club’s Annual Championship tournament which I participated two weeks ago.

With such frequent hearty intakes, I reluctantly stand on my bathroom scale and I can feel its disapproval. It hates me to no end. I have let it down by succumbing to all these feast. And I don’t even eat a lot. Then again if every morsel is tried in moderation, it’s still a lot and subconsciously, I can feel my waistline expanding. Not good. My personal trainer will most like have a field day grinding me to a pulp next week if she sees any change in my contours. Gulp!

We mortals are weaklings when it comes to food. A girlfriend said to me, she is on a ‘see food diet’ which is exactly what it is. Whenever she sees food, she eats because that’s her diet. I laughed so hard at her matter-of-fact explanation and wished if only my bathroom scale shared her sentiments. Sigh… my bathroom scale hates me.

 

The Wednesday feast

  

Highlight of Thursday’s dinner

  

The Thursday spread

 

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →