Carpe Diem!

2012 年唯一的期望

2012-01-21T06:41:00.000+08:00

找到我要的幸福。

一个喧闹中的平静和方向。

안녕하세요, Return to Kimchi Land

2011-12-26T07:57:00.000+08:00

An average Singaporean travels 3.4 times a year, with city-destinations within a 7-hour flight range topping the charts. The usual (culprits)? China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea. And since we have the annual NATAS fair to drive attractive promotions as such, how can my dearest Boon not get hooked?

So, for our precious annual trip this year, I visited (freezing-our-butts-off) Korea for the 3rd time running.

**

Honestly, I never had a pleasant memory attached to this country, or rather Seoul as a city since I've only ever been there. Probably attributed to the fact that we follow tours ALL THE TIME that require us to follow a grueling wake-up-at-SEVEN-AM routine. Annoying thing is, despite my pleas, B still followed a tour this time round. GRAH!

**

Anyhow, Jeju Island has this really unique place called the Trick Art Museum.
Everything's painted on, so I'll let the pictures do the talking :)

Classic.

Love the feet-sticking-out shadow effect (smells)

!!! And he still smiles..

The missing piece of perfection in Da Vinci's.

He must be rebelling in heaven, hoho!

You can touch it, but you can't have it!

Go Figure! :)

After studying so much about Ames' Room, I FINALLY get to experience one!

We had much fun playing around in there, but this is probably the only attraction worth visiting in Jeju Island. Apparently they did try to open one in Singapore, but it failed... prolly due to the exorbitant rental cost!

The rest of the days were spent wandering around Seoul for (what else?)

Food Glorious Food.....

Cheerful Omma at the street food stall.
Boon thinks I'm addicted to rice cakes in Korea... Half truth.

What you will find in a Korean luggage bag.

They supposedly bring this everywhere they go, just so a meal doesn't go by without their precious KIMCHI!

Hippies' Kimchi Baked Rice Cake. Not a bad concoction!
(Taken @ Pomato)

The really obscure Kimchi (Fish) Roe

Chicken with Tang Hoon and Rice Cake. Similar to the Chinese 大盘鸡.
Had this in a little restaurant at Insadong.

Famous Korean BBQ!!! Mwahhaaha. It's everywhere, and anywhere.

Quaint restaurant @ Insadong...

... that serves the weirdest looking puke-inducing bowl of alcohol.
Quite an experience, I'ld say!

Random sweets that look too sweet for human consumption.

Real Korean food at a local wet market, I think it's the Kwang Jang Market..
I think. =\

What is added in the hotpot. And I always wonder what that black thing is. Sausage anyone?

Sochu - Some weird tasting pure alcohol. Do not try on the rocks.

Korean pancake. Oily and mediocre.

Everything (including meat, fishballs, vegetables) are allll Kimchi flavored alarming RED. This was taken our final night there so it really made my stomach flip.

Ok, time to sign off. I'm going for a food hunting tour over CNY so that will be real exciting! <3

작별

I miss Bali...

2011-09-14T07:39:00.001+08:00

If there's actually a destination I can visit over and over again, that'll be Bali :)

First we enjoyed the fancy Nusa Dua,

During my 2nd visit we partied hard in KUTA (!!)

And now..... time to experience the arts centre,

Ubud.

Our beautiful villa booked by Esther :) @ Barong Resort.

Our private pool (which was cleaned everyday) though we only stayed-in the first night -.-
We even had our own cleaning crew, so what's there to complain about?

BIG, Clean and pretty toilet which is sadly also animal (frogs) friendly... but being a toilet freak this one kept my stay really satisfying :)

***

DAS FOOD. Murni Warung was brunch-ish dining by the waterfalls - pardon me our cameras ran out of batt before the food came - good relaxing meal to kick off our stay.

Food's average but they make it up with the ambience.

But being the true-blue travelers, Bryan and Est brought us to eat the REAL "holiao" - Naughty Nuri.

REMEMBER: Your Nuri must always be naughty enough 'cos there's heaps of imposters around!

Didn't really like the much talked-about Bebek Bengil (Dirty Duck) but they're alcoholic cake was super YUMS. I sneaked one out in our take-away box, in a failed attempt to "surprise" boon for his birthday.

Became more of a joke, with that icing plastered to the cover.

Babi Guling - Rollin' Pork - is perhaps the most retro sounding dish that makes my throat dance the cha-cha whenever I visit. Do not fret, it is super sinful and filled with pork oil and pure fats.

But man, is it heavenly......... (drools)

Just have a look at this guy's face and you'll know I'm not kiddin.

Okay, enough of the food for the lack of it is making me severely depressed.

***

So recently there's been much talk about this happening place near Bali called The Gili Islands. Sounded interesting, so we decided to visit.

Basically Gili comprises of 3 islands - namely Trawangan, Meno and Air. Both Trawangan and Meno require deep-sea diving, so we visited Air, the only island conducive for shallow-water scuba.

This is how it looks on commercial...

But in reality...

This was what we got.

It's not that bad, honestly, cos there're still living, swimming things in the sea and the absence of the monstrous sea urchin is a huge relief. However, I read somewhere that some freak weather changes caused by a certain ENSO has effectively destroyed the first 20m-depth of sea life....

So, there's still not much there.

Then again, we only visited Air, so maybe Tadawang or Meno have more stuff?

***

WATERBOM - It's da Bomb man!

If there's ONE PLACE in Bali you can't miss, it's Waterbom

You can call it a water theme park, but it promises exhilarating FUN for your company. (I sound like the damned commercial already!)

Ok, I'll give you an example of the RIDE.

Superbowl....

BOOMERANG

SMASHDOWN

(freaking 60 degrees 8-storey slide)

and, last but not least.......

CLIMAX

(gotta love the person who did the namin' for this rides though, haha)

***

Anyhow this trip was a real fun with my lovely drinkin' golfin' hangin' buddies & nicely planned by Esther ^.^v

Till the next trip again....

(my hair is all over the place but it's our only grp pic -.-)

Back to School...

2011-08-05T21:00:00.000+08:00

As part of my new job, I'm supposed to be in-charge of something called, Corporate Social Responsibility. Or maybe, corporate community work?

Anyhow, we worked with a secondary school to kick-start this programme with laboratory visits to teach (exclamation mark!) chemistry (oh-my-gawwdddd). Just in case you haven't noticed, I hate teaching, and I hate chemistry even more. Pfft.

**

Surprisingly, It didn't turn out that bad! You see, I just learnt there are two key qualities a teacher should possess.

1. The ability to project your voice like a loudhailer
2. To control young crowds and be stern. (I kinda overdid the stern part)

So teaching isn't that tough, given that the teacher-in-charge chose the creme of the crop for us.. the most well-behaved students in school. :)

**
Haha, but seriously, it's no simple feat. You can't speak to them like Adults, cos they're really just beginning their teens, and you can't speak to them like kids, cos they are too intelligent for that.

AND THEY ASK YOU CHEEKY QUESTIONS! Like... is your company the only one selling this product?!!

-_________________-''''

**

So I salute all teachers out there, who brave through daily storms with our young minds.
Who manage to inspire amid all the perspiration.
Who love students they don't really know.
Oh, who climb stairs and work in non-airconditioned environments.

And darling, I will not mock at your profession again. ;)

Bintan Getaway

2011-05-08T23:00:00.000+08:00

I detest getaways with rainy days.
All you get to do is stay home, watch the mini-telly and WAIT. GRAH!

Anyhow, that's what happened in Bintan. It rained, like, 80% of the time and the only time I had out at sea was to do the water sports. Which was lucky for him, cos it scared the livin daylights outta me. -.-"

Banana boat, I'm sure everyone's familiar with. They'll capsize you at the shallow end of the sea........ and I hurt my tailbone =(

Great Big Mable (?), a seemingly harmless ride. NOT! U constantly feel like there's g-force pushing you off the ride and you're gonna fall off the mable (?) at high velocity... or something like that.

Ladies, pls seat in the middle 'cos you need the guys as heavy weights at the sides.

You can find a video of this thing in action here

http://www.invodo.com/SportsStuff-Great-Big-Mable-Towable-Ski-Tube/p/1RXGYI8R

Flying Fish, if properly executed, is apparently the most exciting ride in the pack.

Luckily for us, the operator must have seen the 2 girls frightened out of our wits and added a big... (not gonna say fat).. huge guy in the middle.

He was like an anchor to the machine, so it didn't "fly" up as it was supposed to do this....

*GASP!*

Spirited Away

2011-03-25T08:39:00.000+08:00

They say movies are a reflection of life, and a perfect way of escapism. While the West have their fancy Hollywood - and since big honchos like Dreamworks only intend to invest in India - I guess the best bet for Asians in our part of the world is a mixture of American pop culture and Taiwanese plus HongKong drama?

***

I've been hooked on Sex and the City Season 1 - 6 recently and it's been a little surreal watching these New Yorkers being so comfortable in their own skin.

Then I face Singaporeans who are unwilling to venture out of comfort zones, unsatisfied with the current situation. And for the fear of Lord, I realize I'm becoming one of them CONFORMISTS.

***

The Asian media goes frenzy over issues like family ties, blissfulness in marriage and the whole "you complete me" emotional blackmail. In Singapore you get all the propaganda about a perfect Asian life that goes by the tune of "married with 2 kids, nice car plus a house".

Everyone in my neighbourhood has that, if not more - but they still seem grumpy, unsatisfied and anxious about everything from the weather to lychee seeds.

Perhaps the brunt of the worry comes from "MARRIAGE"?

***

I think I'm caught in a Limbo between the Western perception of happiness and Eastern societal expectations of a couple. Here in Singapore everyone I know seems to be reaping the emotional benefits of getting married... security (commitment), sense of belonging and somewhere to actually call Home.

But perhaps that's just not me?

Valentines' oh sweet Valentines.

2011-02-18T23:12:00.000+08:00

Boon & I never had the habit of giving presents (aside from the rock-hard cookies I stuff down his throat), so this Valentine's we decided to make it special by having a little gift exchange.

NB: My precious gift to him cannot be shown here due to copyright restrictions. :)

***

Bouquet of Champagne Rose reached my office at 11am in the morning - the receptionist was a lil puzzled wondering who's Olivia Wang? And being one of the typical aunties, she gave me a stern look... just missing the *tskkkkk* heh :P

Dinner was at a Mexican Dining Place, Rascals Gone Dining, along Purvis.

They made the whole place pretty and romantic on the night itself, will nick the pics from Boon sometime soon. Loved the ambiance, but over and above, my partner was fantastic. He's not a fan of romantic-ness or fancy dinners, and this time I insisted, so he obliged. And I thought that was very sweet!

His hand-made gift and Angry Bird... My colleagues and I have decided that Mr. Angry Bird appears too unhappy and we're having a hard time mimicking his expression, so we made minor changes ^^

Edit: I was just reminded how blind/oblivious I can be in a relationship.... so although this might / might not seem special to you. It's significant enough for me to blog about! :)

***
Lastly...

Drunk and Happy Little Bunny

2011-02-08T01:51:00.002+08:00

If 2010 was the year of gambling and poker addicts,
then in 2011 I must have reconciled with my very best friend, alcohol.

***

After my multiple drinking escapades, I have come to conclude that drinking reveals one's true nature.
Like my dad - he talks about Chinese history, girls, pretty girls and talking to pretty girls.
Boon - asks for more alcohol and after that falls asleep.
Chiew - hugs everyone. (motherly love, hehehe!)
I - ask the most daring questions and actually coerce the answer out of everyone.

Think I scared the hell outta our new "addition" Mr Tarzan.
Oh well, I guess he just have to get used to it. HEH.
***

《谢谢你的不珍惜，让我学会了放弃》

2011-01-18T00:42:00.001+08:00

Was just getting feedback that this blog is not being updated when I came across this poem.
Dedicated to all Females out there. And the Men who always don't get it. =P

《谢谢你的不珍惜，让我学会了放弃》
一个女孩上自习,太凉了,
她发短信让男朋友去送衣服给她,男孩打游戏拒绝了.
这件事让她郁闷了两天然后气消了,
虽然是件小事,不会影响两人以后, 但是她说,
她会记住, 以后自习一定会带衣服,
如果哪天忘记了, 即使冷死,也不再会叫他送.

我很能明白这种感觉.
很久以前,一个女孩某天夜里,
心情特别低回,特别想念某个人的安慰,
然后半夜时分,打电话给他,说很想听他说话,
电话那头的他从睡梦中醒来,不耐烦的敷衍她.
从此以后,她再没有伤心无助时给他打过电话.

我发现女孩身上有一种猫性.
小猫在撒娇或者做错事的时候,需要别人的安慰和教导,
如果这时主人打击了它,它会狠狠记住,不会再犯.
女孩,有着猫一样的自尊.特别是陷入爱情里的女孩...
在别人看来无关紧要,其实需要呵护,
因为爱,已经让她的心变得柔软.
她的这一点自尊,其实是要你对她的在乎.

我看过一句特别经典的话,
有时候女孩需要一个男孩,就像逃机者需要降落伞,
如果此时此刻他不在,那么以后他也不必在了.
真的,就是这样！

如果哪天猫咪用坚定的眼神看着你说我可以的时候，
那么猫咪已经做好了离开的准备了!
女孩是要独立，
但是独立到不再会对你不讲道理的撒娇任性，
不再会无厘头的缠着你，
你觉得你对于她同路人还有多大区别呢?

女孩的猫性不是每个男孩都有幸看到的，
因为喜欢你，在意你才对你发出特有的咕噜噜声，
其他人只能听到猫喵喵叫，
而这一声咕噜噜只是为你而生，
有几个人会明白呢？？

我们爱折腾
只是爱折腾他而已。
如果有一天
我们慢慢发现自己可以一个人玩都不觉得闷
很久不捏他也不会手痒
只是静静的待在他旁边
不再想着法儿去玩它
谁能知道那时的我们该有多难过呢

男孩总会说女孩无理取闹
说女孩没事找事
说女孩不讲道理
说女孩不可理喻

为什么不去想想
她在对待别人的时候
为什么不是这样的态度

没错
如果有一天
她不再对你撒娇
她不再对你任性
她不再缠着你跟你要这个要那个
她不再因为你的任何事情微笑或者皱眉

那么
你就永远的失去她了

***

Food for thought.

Reminiscence

2010-12-08T00:53:00.002+08:00

It's been 2-3 years since I've been back; just flipping thru the photos and came across a few interesting bits of memory.

Young and Innocent we were! It was the first (or second?) week of Uni, I don't think makeup was in the dictionary yet, so most of the stuff we had - makeup, accessories, hair dryer, etc. were all borrowed, robbed, given. I think I still have that necklace from Jing.

Three of us as housemates! Just cos I can be a lil tardy+forgetful we decided to have a whiteboard next to our door.. and yes, we made full use of it.

When 3 千金大小姐s move into a house with the (somewhat) help of our in-house Doc, things kinda become really hilarious. We were afraid the garbage collectors will refuse to collect our stuff if they're not strictly "INSIDE" the bin.... hence this jenga build-up of boxes on top of our recycling bin.

Damn suaku =.=||

I shall not go into details of this disastrous hobby.

MY BFF! Haha. I got into this whole catfight with this lady on the right, but I can't remember what really happened that kick-started the chain of events. Or did I even know......? Hmmmm..

Love it when my fav monkeys try to act cool and still look so dumb!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA..

Just before I left Syd we adopted a stray cat - Meeko! Dre (the only time I thanked god for Engineers) created a lovely house for her out of this cardboard. :)) Powerful!!

Gosh, it's 12.40 already! I'm not even 10% through with the time in Syd..Typing all these out was a super stress reliever, but it also made me miss everyone (good, bad, ugly... BFF - a little..) and look forward to meeting the ones visiting S'pore even more ^.^

But perhaps more than anything it's a good indication that all things fade with time and I'm finally able to face everything (or everyone) peacefully, even BFF!!

*yawns* It's time to head back to reality and off to work tomorrow. Maybe there'll be dreams of the (happier) times in Sydney.

Rawa Island

2010-11-22T01:13:00.003+08:00

NB: This post is super-belated cos the blog owner is super lazy hehe..
Monsoon season in Rawa now, please do not visit till Mar '11.

****

Continuing on from the Pulau Besar trip and my insatiable appetite for quiet lil Island trips, decided to intro Esther & gang to Rawa Island :))

Since it was a 2D1N trip, the itinerary was really packed (ahem) and also due to ineffective budgeting I realized we were overcharged.... *ahem*.

Leisurely, peaceful and tranquil. :)

The biggest diff between Rawa and Besar is the underwater landscape - Besar has a relatively flat landscape while Rawa is steep (as in a sudden drop in depth and hence the presence of coral and fishies close to shore)..

We were actually wading through the water to feed these fishies :)

Clear waters!! Something S'pore can never have, and it's all over our neighbouring states! Damn it.

Us on a snorkelling trip! Since it was last minute they organised for a... fisher trawler? haha. Its whole engine was exposed btw.

Oh and the person who manned the equipment rental store was super knowledgeable!
Firstly, he spoke purrfecttt mandarin - although he's a Malaysian Malay.
And, he has travel and read widely, shares stories from history to science to sports..

I actually googled some of his stories to see if they were actually factual mehehehe. They were, of cos. :)

Ah.. and yes, the hammock is always available for an afternoon snooze :))

****

Been doing a lil research on fish farms etc, I'm starting to wonder if I shld consider that as a retirement plan at all..

****

Being S'porean

2010-11-22T00:13:00.001+08:00

I really hope I do not get caught up in this stupid rat race.
What about the future, the prospects, the opportunities, SALARY, CARS AND HDB FLATS =_=|||

Lesson learnt today; it's more important to stay rooted and like what's happening at the moment.

The double dozen

2010-09-08T01:20:00.002+08:00

24, and none the wiser, so the phrase goes.

***

It's been a depressing week lately, and hopefully with the new lunar month being ushered in things will be changing for the better. ♥

***

8 years ago I didn't understand what it meant, but slowly, Mum's mantra of “材米油盐酱醋茶”is creeping into the picture as I age.

And what a trouble it can be.

Home

2010-08-11T00:19:00.003+08:00

Beats me going on&on about the breathtaking view from MBS.

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

**pics nicked from Esther's lovinskipping.blogspot.com :)

Pulau Besar

2010-08-09T23:48:00.002+08:00

Malaysia should have an Islander card, 'cos I'll be their #1 fan and their popularity will trash Sentosa's hands-down! (Sorry Jun)

Story goes I've been struggling with post-Bali syndromes and kept whining about the crystal clear water and fine sand between my toes. Finally got Boon to cave in post-practicum and off we went to Malaysia on the (National Day) long weekends. I still love you Singapore!

Pulau Besar - "Big Island" in translation - is situated off the coast of Mersing Jetty... about 2 hrs' drive away from S'pore.

However, since we left on a Saturday morning during a longgg weekend, there were many patriotic Singaporeans accompanying me on the infamous Woodlands jam =___=||

Boon well-fed after a 5-hr "adventurous" ride awaiting to board the ferry.

Due to miscommunication / error on my part, I missed the last ferry from Besar.. But the staff at Aseania were kind enough to permit one free ride and took the hassle to pick us up. ♥

Thank you Aseania team!

***

Anyway, the most important part - THE ISLAND.

"Just a book in hand, sit back and relax," as I was told :)

Sounds like a plan!

Uncle Boon was very thrilled to learn of the Jacuzzi right outside our room..

Aseania Resort - View of our room.

OFF TO ISLAND HOPPING!

(sorry no pics here) Loved the snokelling trip; we virtually saw the same coral reefs one could see in Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) or anywhere else in the world.

Beware of Sea Urchins！

They seem to be everywhere under these shallow waters and someone on our boat actually got pricked. Can make a grown man cry.

"If you don't cover your head you might go bald!"

Weird but better-safe-than-sorry Boonism.

AHHHHHH I LOVE THE ISLANDDDDDD.

http://www.pulaubesar.net/

Cost: Around 350 MYR per couple per night.

Opening: Mar - Oct

Love

2010-07-28T00:20:00.001+08:00

Love is patient; love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

***

The world needs more of this stuff.

Uluwatu ♥

2010-07-12T01:19:00.002+08:00

BALI WAS CRAZY!!!

What a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious weekend with the ex-shalomees of the world!! ♥v♥

(from left) Navin, Elisa, Hsien "puki", Daniel, yours truely, Chiew "xiaozhu"

***

This is one of those trips I go on, not knowing WHAT to expect, and this time WHO to expect as well. HEH. I knew Daniel was planning a trip, and I was freeeeee~~

Chiew and I didn't know what Airline to book cos bloody Jetstar and Air Asia were charging sky-high prices for budget Airlines. And the only two remaining were full-fledge airline which cost lower than budget air.

HOW DUBIOUS, I thought.

I was WRONG! KLM not only has impeccable service, the food was fantabulous (Shoo, SQ!!) and there was in-flight Glee-ness! Wahahahahaha. I couldn't help raving about this fat offer even 2 weeks after I'm back

This is the pool from our hotel room *blissful look* but.............
Who goes to Bali without a bathing suit? MEEE!!!
I wanted to kill myself looking at this pool and the bloody M'sians / Indos having the time of their lives. BOOHOOO! :((

Kuta BEACH on the first day of holiday~~~ ^.^~** All other photos include me jumping around like a super hyperactive mad woman and Niel pushing me into the sea, so you shall be spared.

Not very impressive beach, but fantastic company :))

SENI GUWANG - The place where my 0.5% understanding of Bahasa Indonesia actually saved some IND rupees. Cheap thrill.

The famous beach-sunset-dining place! I remember the last we went it cost a BOMB - like 2 million rupees (my total expenditure from this trip) for 5 pax. So I was apprehensive, but it's apparently a must-try and locals get a cheaper price..... TOTALLY! This meal cost like what, $10 sing per pax?

Love my crazy indo monyets :))

***

SOMETIME AFTER DINNER, WE WERE SHIPPED OFF TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION.

A super-exclusive hotel & pub for ... what you call it? THE RICH TAI-TAIS.

Everyone, (emphasis: EVERY-O-N-E), were in their gowns / baju kebaya / shiny silk thingys etc. and there we were, 6 tourists, looking super out of place in our......

T-shirt and shorts :(

This is the hotel room, which, I insist is BIGGER than a HDB 3-room flat. What is the world coming to, with the walk-in wardrobes of the world and the flower-pelt bathtub!!

***

Lastly, (sorry for the abrupt ending, am heading off to bed), I shall leave you with our DREAMLAND photos.

Better stories next time!
Till then... ♥

A little speck of Sydney

2010-06-19T01:15:00.002+08:00

The title on SMH seemed like a joke on its own
Singaporeans asked to chew on their manners

Sometimes I'm relieved that we have enough self-esteem to mind our own business and not be bothered by these stupid journalists who are out to create sensational news (aka trouble).

And to the bloody Sydney-sider who claims that "They don't feel that anyone else exists outside this tiny island", perhaps you guys should turn your heads up north and observe where the rest of the world is moving.

Moreover, we're not the ones who are left in a secluded corner of the world - YOU ARE.

PAINTBALL (and the bruises)

2010-06-08T10:17:00.001+08:00

All thanks to Wilson, Ken & Bing Feng, we (or rather they) managed to put together a 45-pax strong team to head into Malaysia for some PAINTBALL ACTION!!!

Someone taking pictures when I was sleeping...
From the blur (or rather curious) faces (look at the back row!), I don't think anyone knew where we were heading.. except for Wilson, I hope. HEH.

THE WAR BEGINS!!

(evil laughter in the background)

TEAM 5! Note that Boon is on tip-toes and WeeKiat is slouching.
And Ken is wearing RED - all ready to be our sacrifice. Haha.

Our first battle against HengSwee & team

According to Bryan.L I have to do a leopard crawl + flip a few rounds + some ninja stunt to get to the flag. WHAT A LIAR! WeeKiat (who is bloody 183++cm and is a super hard-to-miss target) pranced to the middle of the field and easily got the flag lah!

Our first game ended in like, 3 minutes, so we made him run s...ll....ooowww...errr.... =.=||

& guess who we met! Mehehe. Jingxi is our old... JC classmate (I think?) who is also a friends'-of-friends'-of-friends' of Wilson.

Wilson you can form a SDU/Facebook of your own soon. :P

Weapons - tried smiling at the staff there so he'll give me more pellets.
DON'T TRY IT. My round ended quicker than anyone else's. IDIOT.

The very complicated scoresheet Boon & Chiew were working out. Finally soccer betting comes in handy!
At the very bottom RHS, you can see that WE WON #3 HAHAHA. YAY! :)))

***

FINAL AND MOST IMPORTANT PART.

DINNER @ DA MA XI HUAYUAN.

OMG It's super yummyilicious - a must-have for anyone entering JB.

Considering the last time I ate at a non-citysquaremall place was at a restaurant which totally didn't justify my coming into M'sia. So Suaku!

The (aftermath) of our dinner spread. All these for less than $15 per head. *lip smacking goodness :)

Butter / Cereal crayfish. Crispy on the outside, succulent on the inside. OOHHHLALAA.

The other table (greedy people over there) order the XXL size of this dish and the guys walloped everything. A MUST-HAVE!

Thought the fried-oysters were pretty good as well. Although after blogging about the crayfish I've totally lost interest in this dish. IT'S THAT GOOD. I need to return to JB for my crayfish-craving.

***

Signing Off with a group picture - new friends and thanks for the enjoyable day!

Everyone else - remember the guy sitting in the middle with the army-looking uniform. He is the future of SDU and Facebook.

Flash Mobs (Dances)

2010-06-03T10:05:00.006+08:00

Belgium

Recently found this link on Facebook - a flash mob at the Antwerp train station, WITH KIDS! What's more people can dance along to the Do-Re-Mi tune wahahaha.

There was actually one comment which went,

If people just did this every day, got out of bed, set aside a few minutes to dance,

I bet you, I BET YOU, there would be less crime, and the world would be happier.

LOL. No harm trying?

**
London

When Girl Power and Beyonce comes together,

Just look at those men! Haha.

**

Singapore

The whole world is dancing to their tunes of flash mob, how can kiasu Singaporeans be left out?

Spot the uncle wahahahah!
**

Chronography aside, I think it's still important for the audience to participate... which rarely happens in stale and boring Singapore.... Zzz

Poo-La-uhhhh Ooooh-BIN

2010-06-02T11:18:00.002+08:00

Tucked away in a mosquito-infested end of Singapore lies the tiny little Pulau Ubin. Seldom visit this end of Singapore, but Chiew & I decided to have a little adventure during her two-week break :)

Tiny might be an absolute understatement, considering it took us 15 mins to cycle across half the island =.=||

**

We met everything we didn't want to!

I know it's the wildlife and what-nots, but..

THIS! is definitely not part of the attraction at freaking ubin. =__=||

A 1.5m red-bellied poisonous snake was lazily sunning itself in the middle of the road and waiting for us to agitate it - I swear we both lost ALL FATIGUE and peddled for our life!

GEEZ. And there were horny monkeys doing their business in the middle of the road as well.

***

Maybe I'm just not a fan of mangrooves and swamps, more of a beach person youknowwhatImean?

Singapore Fine Dining for the Pauper

2010-05-19T11:34:00.010+08:00

After the high-tea with Gracie ytd at Mandarin Oriental (which took 4 hours ahhaha) , I'm totally addicted to all these degustation and Fine Dining stuff in SG. MEHEHHEE. Not to mention the guys are heading to Tetsuya (not Waku Ghin) this Friday. BOOHOO!

All the bargains that these top-notch high-class places have when all the tai tais are still asleep and their hubbies are slogging hard at work (hopefully)

Selected a few places!

***

#1 White Rabbit

Been hearing great reviews about this little place that sits in Dempsey.. which has a quirky name and an even more intriguing webbie :)

Apparently it's heaps better compared to Au Petit which serves cold steak and has lousy service! HRMPHZXS.

2-course set lunch $30
3-course set lunch $38

Which includes a Grilled Angus Ribeye Steak (choice of béarnaise, shallot or pepper sauce), that might actually be cheaper than what Jack's Place is charging.

#2 Garibaldi

Italiano! A Piacere! Staccato!

No I don't know the language but Garibaldi is really one of the best and most awarded fine dining restaurants in Singapore. I think they recently clinched something at the World's Gourmet Summit as well.

Sunday Sit-down Brunch
$48 for free flow soft drinks or
$78 for free flow sparkling wine

UOB Chef's Creation Menu
$68++ for 2

However, I don't think both of these menus serve the Angel Hair Pasta or Carmelized Pearl Onions :(

#3 Forlino

Better known as the Xiaxue's wedding restaurant, Forlino actually gives the best deal.

Four-course Set Lunch $38
with option of signature Veal Ravioli with Black Truffle

#4 Les Amis Au Jardin

We accidentally entered Les Amis @ Shaw not too long ago hahaha.

Dad was realllllyyyyyyyyyyy hungry and wanted to eat A LOT of meat. And Les Amis miraculously appeared at Shaw Centre! TADAHHHHH.

My first taste of the legend :)

Don't remember it being so chio though. >.<||

Anyway, been wanting to try the other branch @ Botanic Gardens called Au Jardin.

Set in colonial (I think?) setting and serving French Luncheon doesn't seem like a bad idea at all :) Moreover, I have heard some good reviews about the place, atmosphere and all.

Four-course Friday Luncheon $45
Sunday Brunch Buffet $78

Would luuuurrrveeee to try the Sunday Brunch just to compare it with 789's offer a year back :)

***

Of course there are other places like The Cliff, Iggys, Prive and others but I thought these were the most worthy bargains!

Any more to intro?

P/S: Can't wait for Tetsuya!! I mean, erm.. Waku Ghin. :P

Star City

2010-05-14T11:07:00.006+08:00

URGHZXS. Now clearing up the mess post-star city drama.

(Star City is the only Casino in Sydney and so we decided to try our luck on the last night of our stay)

At around like 10pm-ish we entered with our passports etc..

After snooping around for a bit I left to pass Beng & Ah Ma their duty-free ciggies.

THEN AFTER THAT I MET THIS IDIOTIC BOUNCER.

Bouncer: Can I have your ID please?

Me: (Takes out my International Driving License & Singapore NRIC)

B: I'm sorry, I cannot allow you entry as we do not recognize these documents.

M: OK. My passport is upstairs in my friend's waistpouch. Is it possible for you to escort me upstairs and I can show you my passport.

B: THEN WHO'S GONNA GUARD THE ENTRANCE, HUH?!

M: Well, can't you find a replacement or someone else? Otherwise how am I going to show you my ID?

B: Well that's your business ISN'T IT?!

M: *deep breath* I left my passport in my friend's pouch upstairs, is there anyway I can retrieve it so you can allow me entry?

B: You know what, I don't even trust my wife with my passport. If I were you I wouldn't even leave my passport in someone else's care.

Passport's with Boon FYI. And how you have trust issues with your wife is seriously beyond my control! Of cos I called his supervisor and promised to complain about his unreasonable behavior.

(Who actually explained it's really hard to tell who's real and who's fake)

Well, not an excuse to be bloody rude!

Urghzxs. So many reasons not to go Star City and this notorious bouncer just tops it off.

Fat Russell

2010-05-13T11:31:00.003+08:00

"You're not giving me the wombat?" :(

Aussieland - I forgot!

2010-05-12T11:36:00.005+08:00

Photos courtesy of Wilson....
I need to get a camera QUICK.

Aussieland - Sydney

2010-05-12T11:10:00.007+08:00

I really have nothing much to blog about Sydney anymore, except for the fact that I think people there have gone past the crazy-clubbing stage where cigarettes and alcohol define your life.

Or maybe that's just me.

Not many people left, and I failed to contact Edmond Tanu & Edmund Poony~ Met up with Lydia, Meimei, SBS, Uncle Johnny, Jiemei, Beng & Ah Ma.

Jaime pangseh-ed me! >.<''

***

Perhaps the only thing I really missed was life @ Borrodale :)) Hope the (new) crazy housemate, who is really bonkers, can start doing more intelligent things. Hahaha.

Went karaoke with the guys, Lyd and Meimei, and even the green box is no longer there! I think everyone was more restrained given the fact that they didn't know each other.

And I was the only crazy person dancing there. :\

***

We also visited Wilson's Bro, Royston, and his family staying in Kellyville, a place in North Syd.

With two beautiful ladies and his charming wife! Wilson adds there's one more upcoming baby, FYI. They whipped up a meal of stewed pork, chicken curry and nonya veges - local food which we missed a lot! Thank you! <3(Boon swore off Fish & Chips for two months upon returning)

Might seriously consider going back if I had a family like that. Life's family-centric, laid back, weather's good. But on another note, I'm not intending to have kids so that would mean an accident which is not really ideal :\

***

Towards the final two days of our stay, we ran out of cash so Boon had to live on the edge of (my version of) poverty, which I am very familiar with.

We shared this seafood pizza for dinner @ Manly, which was part romantic and mostly pathetic.
And there's the boy staring at the pizza with indignity.

***

Returned home to Singapore the day after, we promise to return at the age of 40.
So I won't be visiting down under (except for work visits) for a long, long time.

Aussieland - Tasmania

2010-05-12T09:03:00.009+08:00

Tasmania has nothing except for breathtaking views and hopping little roos. Hopefully you don't meet the devils anywhere. So if you're looking for DFOs (direct factory outlets), go somewhere else!

It was a loonnnnnnnnnnng road trip (2 hrs on first night, 6 hrs the next day and 5 hrs the last) I think slightly attributed to my error in planning. Sorry!

First stop was Bicheno, where we met several friends :)

Returned to Bicheno Backpackers after my first visit there; thought it was rather cosy and close to the penguin lookout... more importantly it costs 28 bucks per night. HAHA.

Our first meal (dinner) was instant noodles I brought over from Singapore.. Chu Qian Yi Ding~ Missed the last shop that closed at 8pm. Opps!

The new friends we met @ Bicheno! Mini Asian UN of Japanese, Taiwanese, Hongkees and S'poreans (that's US!) There's this Japanese girl who's really sweet named Nana (after the comic character?) from Fukuoka and she's apparently coming to SG soonish :P

Wilson noticed a few angmohs who were living in Room 3 - whom we totally left out! :S

I don't think they managed to take pictures of any penguins as well... Perhaps the best time to be @ Bichenos is actually in Spring? We went there arnd Sept-Oct the last round and there were heaps of penguins squabbling around. But the guys did see some penguins though.

Wilson & Ken at Wineglass Bay Lookout... Ideal location for couple shot, not very sure about buddy shots though?

A little note from the guys: Don't proceed down to Wineglass Bay - it's a long and tiresome hike and definitely not worth the while. Here's a snapshot of the view from below.

There are times I thank god for my laziness.

Ken-san pumping petrol :) We've had several stop and there's a particular petrol station in Perth (in Tasmania) that sells really good chicken wings.

***

Second stop: Cradle Mountain

As you can most probably guess, it's freezing cold up there on Cradle! It's the most beautiful thing in the whole of Tasmania, and I'ld most probably attribute a whole day to the place if I could plan the trip all over again. :)

Ken & myself on a log at the carpark. This day probably showed that I had the most well-insulated body cos the guys were freezing while I was erm.. prancing around.

Shadows of the guys running away from the cold =o=

This is part of the Enchanting Walk - which I thought was straight out of the "Little Red Riding Hood" :) Lovely for kids and families.

Our cabin @ Cradle - cosy and CLEAN (very important) for $30 a night. Love it!

Right next to our accommodation @ Cradle was this Tasmanian Devil Park.. which is pretty cool cos these devils are rather wild and still fight for their food.

We went to another "wildlife" park in Sydney - where the kangaroos were too lazy to prance around and practically lied on the ground waiting for feeding time the whole day.

Like my dog.

***

Last stop: Horse-riding

I thought the cost at $96 for 3 hours was pretty reasonable - Saddle Club charges $100 per 45 mins for non-member OMG.

My female horse is called Possum and she's around 18 I think? Quite middle aged for a Horse.. with the attitude of a teenager ARGH!

The whole experience is quite fun if u dared to allow your horse gallop.. which will most probably result in the ride bouncing up and down and giving your sores on your bum. ouch.

Horse riding in M'sia, anyone?

Aussieland - Melbourne

2010-05-12T06:20:00.016+08:00

Melbourne is actually the city I lurvee the most in the whole of Aussieland.

The city is organised in grids and columns, easy to navigate around! And then there are the Chocolate Cafes - Koko Black, Haighs, Lindt, Max Brennan.. Yumyum!

(Inside grey box) Melbourne City map - You don't have to be there to know it's well-planned.. :)

Waiting for Ken-san's arrival.. we were super tired following two nights of sleep deprivation :S

Ken-san arrives!! :)) Prior to that there was a mix-up of terminals 'cos he took a flight to Sydney and changed to a domestic flight there.. so we were happy we found him YAY!

Thanks to Ken-san we were living right next to Queen Victoria Market - the best and biggest market in the whole of Aussie (I think..) I remb the last time I was there I kept calling it QVM - in light of QVB in Sydney - to annoy Guoyan teehee!

The push-cart Churros, My Love! Even the guys (they make great food critics =P) thought it was good! :)) Didn't get to take a photo of the product cos we gobbled them up.

First stop - Melbourne Gaol. A random patch of (warm) green grass.. I think we were so tired we slept on this. But.... we didn't get to enter the building! *coughs*

Ventured down Swanston Street and was welcomed with this... random march! Initially thought it was a protest of some sort, but NO! It's a random gathering of "internet friends" to march down Melbourne CBD as zombies.

P/S: We are still in debate if they are a gathering of "internet friends" or some uni students. Still very random!!

Signature Koko Black hot chocolate - supper with Evan Tanu~...who allowed us to use his parking lot despite the early sms and unannounced arrival :P

I think Tanu was very amused by Ken-san LOL.

And while we were sipping hot chocolate at the cafe, guess what were the guys doing!

That pile of chips, btw, was a result of a singular $5 note. They actually maxed at $120 before losing it all away. :\

The rest of our holidays was spent on the Great Ocean Rd so here are some scenery pics for you to enjoy!

The two first-timers on mountainous Great Ocean Road.
At the background was me being pedantic and screaming like a mad woman.

Ken-san looking very biker-like and introspective..

12 Apostles~ The famous 12 stones... there were only 9 visible from our sight.

Note: Visitors should allow a one-nighter along Great Ocean Rd unless you have super enthusiastic friends as drivers

Us along the Yarra River before rushing for the 3pm flight to Tassie (I'm not acting cute, everyone calls Tasmania "Tassie") :P

Aussieland - Perth

2010-05-12T04:56:00.008+08:00

Right, so after like many eventful decisions (@Nicholas =.=||)... Instead of heading to Europe, we headed off to second homeland down under.

29th April I embarked on my our journey to Perth-Melbourne-Tasmania-Sydney, not too long after I swore off the island-continent for a long, long time.

Tasmania being the highlight of the trip (since I was travelling with 3 other guys!)

Have to admit this was a totally different experience travelling with a huge group of people from other nationalities, or a group of mixed-gender Singaporeans or just the girls.

Not fans of shopping? Hehe.

***

Perth (correctly pronounced pur-er-th, as Mel would have it) is traditionally the land of luck providing for the whole of Aussie - the gold, the minerals, you have it. But for a tourist (no, you don't have access to the minerals they are selling China), I think a less-than-24hour trip like ours would suffice.

Note: Won't be showing faces on the day photos cos we look like zombies >.<||

PERTH ITINERARY

SIN CHANGI QF 0078 29APR 0725P OSALESG 29APR 29APR 23K OK TERMINAL:1 PERTH                       ARRIVAL TIME: 1230A

*points up* because we took a night flight and reached there a little past midnight.

Thankfully we had Wilson's Aunt and her partner to pick us up.. and happily housed us in her huge & comfy bungalow. Mehehehe!

(From left) Boon, Wilson's cousin-in-law, Cousin Jerilyn, Aunt & Partner, Wilson & myself

Not only that, she also treated us for dinner, super paiseh. This place's called Sienna, and they serve spagetti the triple the size of PastaMania! And apparently I was the only one who could finish the food...

But of cos I left a spoonful of it on the plate, just to appear less of a glutton.

***

Fremantle Fish & Chips were the most talked about, and we decided we MUST pay a visit to Cicerello's, apparently the best Fish and Chips in town. (Introduced by some random M'sian we met at the Fremantle market)

The food sucks! Fish and Chips was dry, some random fish was totally stinky... and I bet my maid can cook better.. Well at least this looks good on picture. Sighx.

There's also the Fremantle market (with Boon & Wilson) which is more interesting :)) There's a soap shop that sells erm... soap for dogs? People in Aussie are really big on dogs & pets etc. which is pretty cool :)

****

Test

2010-04-24T14:18:00.001+08:00

Test blog from iPhoneeeee... Why is it that I'm only able to blog text?

I want my iPhone!!

2010-04-18T23:30:00.007+08:00

Starhub sms-ed me the other day for a $200 voucher if I promise to stick with them for another 2 years and not hop over to Singtel or give in to the lure of EPL (not going to happen with dad)

Anyhow, so what does 200 bucks contribute (on the scale of BBs and iPhones)?

3G SmartSurf 300
12GB bundled data
500
inclusive SMS/MMS
300 minutes
anytime minutes

*points up* Apparently with this plan I can get an iPhone (3G) at ~~268~~ 68 bucks! WOOHOO so after a 10-second contemplation,

I'm getting my iPhone! HAHA!

In your face KUMAMA, stop showing off your (stinky) iPhone coolness, I HAVE ONE TOO!

***

And what is iPhone without its fascinating applications, right?

I actually set off to look for those games (like the one where James tosses paper in the wastebasket, and the Traffic Jam or something like that) - but what I found is that iPhone Apps can be a huggeeeee way to improve my life!

Seriously.

***

Mobile Navigator

I think my mum called iPhone and requested for this.
***
Period Tracker

WA this is super cool lor. It explains PMS in a cute and *pinkish* interface. Like it tells you..

1. your body is going to ache today -> you are going to be moody -> stay away from emo decisions

2. bloating occurs -> big tummy -> wear loose clothes.

P/S: there's a MEN-app where you can sync to warn your spouse HAHAHA

And there's flowers for ovulation, hearts for intimate, redness for period and green for fertile. Perfect for women preparing to house a soccer team I guess.

A super cute app. And it's only 1.99!

***

Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock

This app claims to wake you up in the most natural manner by measuring your REM / non-REM sleep. So you don't feel like you have been startled awake or anything & feel fresh for the day ahead. Pretty miraculous and much more useful than that bugger mocha!

But given my bangonthedoor+firedrill+loudhailer alarm clock experience (afterwhich I still remained asleep) I don't think this is my cup of tea.

***

Urbanspoon

Lavi was telling me about this the other day (guess what topic we were discussing);

Basically you just key in your location (1)

Price (2) in terms of the number of $ signs

and Cuisine (3) you prefer.

Shake the iPhone randomly and taadaaaahhhh! You have a restaurant recommended in your vicinity. But it's only available in the USA.

WHICH MEANS it's a business opp for Asians! Snatch the American's creative ideas and localize it! WOOOTTT... Any IT gurus out there interested?

***

AHHHH I can't wait!! Although people are already moving onto iPAD and iPhone 4G or whatnots... and there's a recent wave of BBness, but I cldnt care less!

All these bargain at a freaking 68 bucks is just too worth it...

iPhone HERE I COME!!!

What a stalker..

2010-04-06T09:28:00.003+08:00

Yesyes, to fuel my curiousity on certain queries I have - like whether Mr Toh's parents like me, I have resorted to stalking! Wahahaha. (I'm sorry :S) Unfortunately I've found it to be quite an unfruitful trip and failed to find anything I didn't already know. bleurghzxs.

So I conclude that either

1. My SEO skills are not up to standard

2. There is insufficient information on the web

3. I am perceived as a perfect saint in the eyes of my future in-laws.

Third being highly unlikely, I think (1) and (2) should improve so I can stalk. HAHA!

***

EDIT: I must be feeling very bored / unwell for I've finished reading 3 years' worth of entries while the Z-monster is right next to me.

Need. to. test. anti. snoring. device!!!!

Farm Galore!

2010-04-04T21:05:00.003+08:00

Visited Qianhu today - and it dawned upon me that;

Entrepreneurship is something whereby you either have it or you don't.

It's like guts and having balls, certainly can't grow them.. ;P

(And irregardless of which industry you're in, there's certainly opportunity for you to make the MOOLAH!)

Anyhow I was reading this article (among the wall of Qianhu articles plastered everywhere -.-) on the top 7 local firms with the potential to go global... whenever this was written. Well before I was literally pulled away by Mr Toh, these include Creative, OSIM, Hyflux, Qianhu, HTL - the rest I dont recall.

Mentally ticking them off the list -

Creative seems like a has-been now,
It's been said that if you bought OSIM stocks you wld be twice as rich post-correction, so it seems they're up and coming.. but I wonder what other tricks can massage chairs pull up their sleeves to garner more attention...
Hyflux I love but is super expensive now. and
HTL I didn't even know what a Singapore Inc product (apologies for my ignorance)
And then there's the Qianhu.. seriously I didn't know that Singapore is the largest producer of ornamental fish till Bryan mentioned it today!

So I guess there's lots of research to be done before I put the dollar into any of them HAHA.

Also while we were having dinner at the vegetable restaurant in the vegetable farm, there was the song:-

Used to be really troubled by the lyrics & tune, by the mixed emotions it evokes, and the old story that comes to mind. But now it is a feeling of ambivalence - with a tinge of warmth. Just like meeting an old friend from the past... a semi-forgotten past.

Which tells me I'm comfortable with a certain aspect of life for now,

that my prayers for a calm and peaceful life has been answered.

For that, I'm really glad :)

***

Benjamin Button

2010-03-27T01:49:00.001+08:00

For what it’s worth,

it’s never too late to be whoever you want to be.

There’s no time limit... start whenever you want...

you can change or stay the same.

There are no rules to this thing.

We can make the best or the worst of it - I hope you make the best of it.

I hope you see things that stop you.

I hope you feel things that you never felt before.

I hope you meet people with a different point of view.

I hope you live a life that you’re proud of and if you find that you’re not,

I hope you have the strength to start all over again

****

2010-03-18T12:04:00.001+08:00

Ever felt the need to do something different?

Something EXCITING

Something YOU ARE PROUD OF

Something CHALLENGING

I will embark on my search this month.

Rebirth

2010-03-13T20:11:00.000+08:00

I was reading some of my past entries and noticed it was filled with negative lingo & apprehension. Didn't like it at all, so made a decisive move to delete all my entries (ouch) - and VOILA! here's the revamped site.

Since I don't keep a diary and usually have heaps to comment when it comes to work, current affairs & holidays/adventures, my resolution for 2010 is to blog at least three times a week~

Off to do up the itinerary for the Aussie trip now - watch this space!

Carpe Diem!

2012 年唯一的期望

안녕하세요, Return to Kimchi Land

I miss Bali...

Back to School...

Bintan Getaway

Spirited Away

Valentines' oh sweet Valentines.

Drunk and Happy Little Bunny

《谢谢你的不珍惜，让我学会了放弃》

Reminiscence

Rawa Island

Being S'porean

The double dozen

Home

Pulau Besar

Love

Uluwatu ♥

A little speck of Sydney

PAINTBALL (and the bruises)

Flash Mobs (Dances)

Poo-La-uhhhh Ooooh-BIN

Singapore Fine Dining for the Pauper

Star City

Fat Russell

Aussieland - I forgot!

Aussieland - Sydney

Aussieland - Tasmania

Aussieland - Melbourne

Aussieland - Perth

Test

I want my iPhone!!

3G SmartSurf 300

500

300 minutes

What a stalker..

Farm Galore!

Benjamin Button

Rebirth