This is My Life......

I Just love CApe Town!!!! Never i will expect myself to enjoy south africa so much.

The place is beautiful.
The people are interesting, friendly and warm.
The winter weather was perfect.

The International HIV conference presentation went smoothly for me. Received lots of encouraging compliments from the audiences after my presentation on my HIV project.

This is the first ever International AIDS conference tat I get to attend; my 1st biz trip; 1st presentation done in front of the professionals; 1st trip to Africa;... 1st...; just too many first time- happening in this trip...

IAS conference 2009:

During the conference, I was stunned with the pleasant nature of all the staffs and local volunteers displaying to all the delegates and speakers at the conference. They are always making sure that we are doing well and not left out in anyway. Never forget the big smiles i saw as I walked down the conventional hall. People ranging from medical doctors, researchers, social worker, NGOs and even those who lived with HIV gathered at this IAS conference to share the latest technology or research studies that they have found for the past 1 year. We all went with a common agenda, that is to give ppl with HIV in terms for medical, social and ecomical supports. One of the eye openers for me during the conference was how open the people are regarding their HIV conditions, they seems to know that only by been frank to the professional help there, they are benefitting. So much different from what is happening in Spore, where HIV is still a stigma in the society and ppl living with HIV are forever living in the dark.

My support for the HIV patients was rapid diagnostic tool tat is able to perform viral load detection in a miniaturized form so as to increase accessibilty to ppl even in resource poor areas. People came up to me after the presentation and told me that i am doing a great job to help the HIV patients. They are definitely in need for such rapid kits. Their words indeed encouraged me further to continue in the HIV field. Meeting different ppl at the conference opened up my horizon. It was like a bringing a singapore girl out from her little kumpong to the real complicated, colorful city. People with different backgrounds, agendas, needs and also approaches and their rationales behind what they do. All these taught me the important lesson of taking a wider approach to whatever I am doing. Meeting the HIV patients was the bonus for me. Getting to hear them speak about the problems and their needs was definitely a great help for what i worked on. Producing something to meet their needs. That's what technology is about: meeting people needs.

Safari Trip:

Apart from work, I managed to go for a one-day Safari tour to see the wildlife reserve in south africa.

As Dr Arlene still had some lectures that she needs to attend, I went ahead with the engagement tour that Ismail, the Compass Travel agency's boss arranged for me. It was this trip that I met many interesting ppl: Belgium gay, who is also the director for the AIDS awareness group in Belgium, 2 really lovely old couple from Australia, a brazil guy who was there for holiday, some americans, a MD professor from Puerto Rica. Despite coming from the diverse background we cliqued pretty well. WEll, i cliqued with the belgium gay and the brazil hot guy.... hehehe... Most of us were there took a day off from the conference to enjoy the great wildlife of Africa. hehhe... we all know the best combination of work and play~

Cape Point and Peninsula day tour:

On our last day in Cape town, both Arlene and I took a day off from the conference to explore the wonderful Cape Town.

First stop was shopping along Long Street and Wall street, where we bought the African handicraft. Arlene has her fancy over the doctors figurines, African tribal masks. Well, I go for the handmade bags and jewelery. Generation Gap. haha.. That's what explain our different taste for shopping items. hehe.. We bargain our way through the items. but it still seems pretty expensive. But since we are already in Africa... We didnt care more. After the long morning shopping at the street market, we went ahead to FOrks, one of the highly recommended resturants in Cape Town for African and western fusion food. A Tapas taster plate, a glass of wine and coofee costed only R60.. Good food, good price and excellent service. Sitting by the window, Arlene and I chatted about the experience we had for this Trip, we realized the advantages that it has brought for us and how it has broaden my vision... We enjoyed each other's accompany. Arlene was like a mother to my during the trip, cooking breakfast for me, making sure i am safe when i go out. But we cliqued well like sisters, we talked about alot of stuff ranging from my future to her daughter. She inspires me. The things she did and her envisions. She taught me alot about HIV medical issues which were really useful for my research work.

I am really glad to have gone with her to this Cape Town trip.

After lunch we went back to the hotel and await for our Half day Cape Point group tour that we have signed up with Ismail. To my surprise, instead of the group tour, we were given a private tour with our own chauffeur cum guide in a Mercedes Car.. WOoHoo~ THanks to Ismail for the special arrangement... Hehe.. (p.s i checked the tour price list, we paid S$90 but we enjoyed a S$300 value private tour) I am so freaking lucky that whenever i go oversea, unknowingly, i will meet some bosses and be close friends with them.

Along the way to Cape Point, we drove past the coastal line and the Atlantic ocean view was magnificant. CAmps Bay Beach, the surfers favorite spot. Clifton Beach. Hout Bay.

The main tourist spots that we went were Cape Point, the southern-most point of South Africa and also Simon's Island where we saw the cutest African Penguins that had returned from their day hunt to the beach. They were so close to me that with a sretch of my arms, i could feel them them. But Arlene said they will bite so i kept my hands to myself... or just constantly snapping the pics of the beautiful scenery, hoping to keep the best as memories.

YueN signing off... Starry starry nite...