Received a phone call from an hotel representative today and at first I thought it was a sales call to arrange for a meeting. However, she said that she’ll like to invite me to HK as the HK Tourism Board is arranging a familiarization trip - Cathay Pacific will be sponsoring the air tickets and their hotel will do so for the accommodation!
However, I knew that this invitaion has to be approved by my direct supervisor, followed by our dept’s VP and also the legal dept. Our company has always been very strict about compliance issues and I know that this has only a 10% chance of approval.
Anyway to cut the story short, it was rejected from my direct supervisor even before she asked what the purpose of the trip is. She gave reasons of compliance issue etc etc...la la la
Why I am so not happy over it:
However, I knew that this invitaion has to be approved by my direct supervisor, followed by our dept’s VP and also the legal dept. Our company has always been very strict about compliance issues and I know that this has only a 10% chance of approval.
Anyway to cut the story short, it was rejected from my direct supervisor even before she asked what the purpose of the trip is. She gave reasons of compliance issue etc etc...la la la
Why I am so not happy over it:
1. You didn’t even know the purpose for this trip and you rejected it! After I told her that it’s an initiative from the HK touisim board, she gave another reason which goes “Oh… anyway we’ve selected the country’s hotel already etc etc ”
Don’t give me the crap la!!! This is not a invitation for site visit to the hotel, it’s from the HK Tourism board to introduce their country lor!!
2. I received a call that night and got to know that someone asked our vendor for F1 tickets!! Oooic..... so....
Invitation from a tourism authority = not compliance
Asking vendor for F1 tickets = compliance?!?!!!?
Well, I guess the bottomline is, it's always the case of who's invited and how that person is going to make the “invitation” compliant...
com⋅pli⋅ance
–noun
1. the act of conforming, acquiescing, or yielding.
2. conformity; accordance: in compliance with orders.
3. cooperation or obedience: Compliance with the law is expected of all.
**Definition of Compliance from Dictionary.com**
Along the way on the high speed railway, we saw the Mt Fuji which was awesome and I had my camera clicking away. Unfortunately, Mt Fuji was not on our itinerary for this trip. Will definitely visit it someday! 
The train journey took about 3 hours and we upon reaching our Osaka hotel (Comfort hotel), our luggage which we sent over at Narita airport has safely arrived. We rested for a while before heading to Dontobori where all the Osaka’s food awaits us! We didn’t try the Kani Doraku and went for street food - 2 servings of takoyaki balls and yakisoba which we enjoyed by the Dotonbori canal. 
After filling our stomachs, we walked along the canal and realized that we've reach the end of the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade which is also very near our hotel! (we acutally we took a train from Shinsaibashi to Namba). 
This is where the famous Glico Running Man sign and other neon lights shine up the night. Took some touristy pictures before walking down the shopping arcade and back to our hotel as Mummy was rather tired. 
A weekend pasar malam which sells pretty much the same things stall after stalls. And they do have quite a number of cool chill out bars /cafes in the alley. Gonna check them out on my next trip. 
I had a quick (cousin-ly) chat with Daphne and she shared with me that she's starting a new job the following week but has yet to tell Doris auntie *a small secret between us* Also, I cant wait to attend Jon-boy and Linah's wedding next year!! Linah is a very nice girl and I really feel the happiness for them.
