22 Sept 2015
Frankly I'm tempted to stay with HSBC Visa Infinite. Wait... Let me check on the expiry of points.
Ok so the points last 3 years, expiring at the commencement of the 4th year.
The reasons I'm tempted is because firstly, it only costs me S$30,000 in deposit to enjoy most of the benefits, plus $5k spend per quarter for the airport limo, in contrast to $200k for Citigold plus S$3k spend per quarter in foreign currencies. Secondly, it's unlimited one-way airport transfers, meaning it's available for abuse. $5k spend in three months really isn't hard when I can shop for both her and myself and sometimes my brother. Thirdly, it's got better offers at Cathay Pacific. Fourth, it's got complimentary Meet and Greet, luggage clearance and expedited immigration service at selected airports with that minimum spend. Fifth, the Priority Pass that came with it expires in 4 years instead of one year that Citibank gives me.
However, after reading part of the Terms and Conditions while checking the point expiry just now, I'm totally turned off.
First, the limo can only take two guests and myself. Second, there's a small surcharge if I need it between 12am-6am. Well, sometimes I do come back or go off during that period.
Other than these reasons found in the T&C, there is the fact that the points expire in three years. That's a major turn-off since the unending validity of the points with the Prestige card was what drew me to it. Another reason is that the complimentary Meet and Greet and stuff are off little use to me even if it's available at all airports.
As of this moment, I believe I shall stick to the original plan to cancel the HSBC Visa Infinite once the miles are received.
I have been tempted. This is undeniable. Google results tell me this is normal. But I will stick with her. Despite all her flaws, she has a combination of good points that I love that I don't believe I will find in the same configuration in anyone else.
One thing I've figured out is that a relationship is as permanent as the two make it - a possible breakup is only a breakup if neither wants to patch up.
24 Sept 2015
So I was sold.
I went to Spa Rael and I was sold. The therapist there was just better than the one at SkinLab.
This was just a free facial courtesy of Citigold as one of my birthday perks, but it showed me what it can be like, and how bad some of the therapists were at SkinLab.
I'm not saying SkinLab is bad, because there has been one so far who gave me a similar massage for the whatever ampoule they were using; what I am saying is that they provide an inconsistent level of service that can be as bad as... no massage - one simply covered my face with it and left it at that.
Since the place was my first, I thought that was normal. Clearly, I was wrong.
Fortunately, I can request specific therapists so it's not a major issue, but I'm going to move to Spa Rael once my package at SkinLab is finished.
The level of service was one reason, and the other reason was that they gave me more perks - the final package included one extra facial session and four sessions of ANYTHING in the catalogue. I was curious about whether the packages were fixed, so I gambled a little and asked for an extra session (I was actually thinking about asking for a few extra sessions but somehow what came out of my mouth was different). The result was that she said that the manager was in that day so she went out to consult him/her, before returning to tell me she could add an extra facial session (I was thinking about the session of ANYTHING though).
But hey, it's a new lesson for me. Actually, two lessons so far. First, the packages are negotiable. Second, saying that you already have a package at another place gives you additional negotiating power.
So I wonder. I wonder if I should finish my package at SkinLab first, or alternate between them, or go for Spa Rael first.
Probably alternate between them.
25 Sept 2015
Another reason I like Spa Rael that I've only just recalled is that the therapist cleared my nose pimple without me feeling anything other than a slight vibration as if she poked it lightly. At SkinLab, the last time I went with a pimple I was told it had to "mature" before she can do anything about it.
So the gears have arrived in the country making the Halfbike II that I backed earlier on at Kickstarter. The delivery schedule is coming soon! Can't wait!
The haze is improving. It was so bad yesterday my sinus felt sore and I had to wear the N95 all day except in the hospital where I trust the air is filtered since the windows are closed.
It's not just about the dust particles but also the gases produced by the Indonesian fires. Normally, when trees burn, we only consider the smoke and dust, but the fact is that there are a number of gases produced in small quantities that are practically negligible if we're talking about just a small area getting burnt.
However, with the huge swathes of land on fire in Indonesia, and with the winds blowing everything in our direction, those gases are no longer in safe quantities for the weakest of the population.
Was checking out my subscriptions on Youtube when I noticed TokyoGastronomy again. It has been a while since their last video so I thought I'd just look around to see if there's any discussion going on there.
No comment at all, but in the process I looked through their old videos again and found one that was on strawberries.
Since my gf is studying culinary management and loves desserts, I thought it would be of interest to her.
It was like an undergrad looking at post-doctorate work. All the stuff in class she's been telling me about, they were nothing compared to that single strawberry that took over half the day to make.
Dat strawberry. Seriously.
So the health screening clinic at NUH is considered a private clinic, so any referrals to a specialist will get no subsidy. The only way to get that is to go bring their referral letter to a polyclinic and get another referral from the polyclinic.
Unfortunately, polyclinics don't provide comprehensive health screenings so if this is the same with all public hospitals, I'll just suck it up and go to NUH.
That is, unless Raffles provides a roughly similar deal in terms of price vs number of tests. I'll have to do a excel sheet later.
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