Moments In My Life

Sunrise Bistro & Bar at Big Splash, East Coast Park Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 10:51:00 +0000

I was invited for a food tasting session at Sunrise Bistro & Bar at Big Splash, East Coast Park and was a little hesitant to go at first. You see, I'm currently pregnant and in my first trimester. And this pregnancy is more difficult than my previous one. I have been puking and feeling nauseous on most days and the idea of eating doesn't really entice me right now. Somehow, I discovered that I can stomach more if the cooking is great. So, I decided to give this food tasting session a go. Afterall, the restaurant is helmed by Chef Vincent Teng who has 22 years experience with The Dining Room, Table 66, Skyve & The scarlet Hotel.

Sunrise Bistro & Bar has a rather casual layout, giving it a relaxed, by the beach feel. The decor was minimal and kept simple. We were served the Festive Communal Dining Set specially put together by Chef Vincent for Christmas 2015.

First up was the Chilled Assorted Seafood Platter with Freshly Shucked Australian Coffin Bay Oysters, White Wine Blanched Live Prawns, Australian Blue Mussels, Venus Clams & Salmon Sashimi.

When I saw the oysters and sashimi, I was like. "Oh man, I cannot have these... Oh well." Hubby tried the oyster first and he egged me on to try it. Yes, my hubby is THAT chill about both my pregnancies. Only after finding out that these Australian Coffin Bay Oysters were freshly delivered on that day itself did I eat one. And it was mind blowing. Yes, it felt just like that to me. The oyster was slightly creamy and not briny. The flesh wasn't that creamy until I wouldn't be able to take more than a few. For this one, I can imagine wolfing down 10 or so easily. It was easy on the palate and really tantalizing. I was surprised I didn't feel queasy eating raw oysters despite my terrible morning sickness. In fact, it left me wanting more. The Australian Blue Mussels are also worth raving about. It was fresh and not powdery nor tough. They went really well with the Roasted Tomato Dip that came along with the platter. The rest of the seafood were fresh too but these 2 were my favourites. I definitely won't mind going back for more oysters after giving birth. :P~~

The next dish took quite a while to be served. The Orange Cointreau Fizz ($28+++) helped and hubby was telling me he liked it more than the usual Cointreau drinks.

The main course was the Meat Platter with Whole Red Snapper & Cereal Crust, BBQ Black Angus Beef Ribs & Crispy Pork Belly With Five Spice Salt. It came along with Potato & Pumpkin Mash, Seasonal Sauteed Vegetables and also Truffle Fries with Salt. The condiments for this course were pretty interesting, consisting of Homemade Apple & Smoked Tomato Ketchup, Sweet Chilli & Pineapple Salsa and Honey Mustard Sauce.

I reached for the beef first and oh mine, it was so succulent and tender! It was infused with flavours... Chef Vincent specialises in Sous Vide style of cooking and his skills really showed up with this course. The pork belly was equally delicious with a superbly done skin that was crackling as I bit into it. The red snapper was meant to be paired with he Pineapple salsa but I find that it went very well with the delightful Homemade Apple & Smoked Tomato Ketchup. This sauce tasted somewhat like sambal instead and has an Asian twist to it. The taste was pretty unique and intriguing.

While waiting for the extra dish to be served, the guys at the table mentioned that they would have preferred if the whole platter consisted of meat that were more Western style instead of having the fish which made it somewhat Asian. I felt differently though. The fish was light and balanced off the meat platter for me. I guess the guys just can never get enough of meat. :P

Asian Five Spice Duck Leg Confit ($28++) was next and this is not part of the Festive Communal Dining Set. It is Sunrise Bistro & Bar's signature dish and Chef Vincent wanted us to have a try. I am not a fan of Duck Confit but I can see why this is their signature dish. The meat was really tender and juicy, unlike most duck confits that are usually a little drier. Of course, this was cooked using the Sous Vide technique too for 8 hours and that's how the juice gets retained in the meat, giving it its softness. It went well with the passionfruit sauce served with pomegranate and Mandarin orange. I would have liked this dish better if there was more of the passionfruit sauce or if the taste of the Asian Five Spice was stronger.

By then, all 4 of us at the table had our fill already and were ready for the exciting dessert, Salted Egg Yolk & White Chocolate Fondue.

The fondue came with with Banana, Strawberry, Marshmallow, Panettone & Cookies. And the salted egg chocolate went surprisingly well with all these, except for the banana, which tasted kinda weird to me. I am not one with a sweet tooth so this dessert had the right pairing of savoury and sweet flavour for me. As the chocolate fondue got heated up, it didn't get sweeter as it thickened, so yeah!

The whole dining experience was lovely. The food was great and well done. The portion sans the Duck Confit & Orange Cointreau Fizz, was surprisingly sufficient for 2-3 pax . In fact, I would think that it's a little filling for 2 pax. With the fantastic seafood platter, I find the set at $99++ really worth it. It's really good food with a price that's easy on your pocket. With the communal set, it'll be a great way to share a good meal while catching up with your loved ones this holiday season!

For those who enjoy Asian cooking with a French flair, Sunrise Bistro & Bar is really worth a try this festive season!

Sunrise Bistro & Bar

Add: 902 East Coast Parkway

Block B #01-05

Singapore 449874

Tel: 6440 9090

Website: www.SunriseBistroBar

To make reservations online

My Wedding at Halia Restaurant, Raffles Hotel, (Blessed-i Photography & Digio Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 05:49:00 +0000

I've been missing in action. Taking really long to reply all of you who have written to me because I was so caught up the last 2 months of so with my life. Yes, a momentous period in my life, that's why. It was my transition to a Mrs.

Our Humorous Solemnizer, My Alex Tan Boon Yan

Well well, I didn't turn out to be the bride-zilla that some thought I'd be. Tsk! In fact, I enjoyed the whole wedding planning down to the day itself. It was beautiful holding our wedding at Halia Restaurant, Raffles Hotel. I've always wanted a simple wedding with elegance. No change of dress, just 1 Made To Measure Gown in, no cheesy music march-in and a cozy affair with closed ones. And I've never thought I'll freak out or turn into a demanding monster on my wedding day. Like I told my hubby, I am "Little Mis-understood". : :D

I didn't, however, expect to enjoy myself this much. It as a beautiful day to me. I shall let the pictures speak for themselves.

With My Parents

One Of My Fav Pics

My Cute Tea Dress From Digio Bridal

Private Moments With My Bridesmaids Kept Me Sane

Sunny Wedding Morning

Our Display On The Ozone Table in Halia Restaurant, Raffles Hotel

Halia Restaurant Elegant Display With Our Personal Touches

My Superb Make-Up Artist Who Gave Me A Glam Smokey Eye Look That I Love, Love, Love!

Wedding March-In With My 2 Little Loves

Giving Our Thank You Speech

Hubby Singing To Me

I have been asked several times how my life has changed after getting married. Well, day to day, it hasn't. The transition when we first stayed together was greater than formalizing our marriage. Still, I love being married. It brings along a settled feeling and a sense of commitment that I've never felt in my previous relationships. One that publicly announces and signifies you're in this for the long haul and a reminder of the decision we've made.

Yet another FAQ was how did my wedding day go and how best to keep calm. This special day was made more heartwarming by the love I felt from my family and friends, in whatever way it was expressed. There may be some who will become the monster-zilla instead so it's important to remind yourself that THIS IS your day and allow no one to take your joy away from you.

Completed Artwork From The Combined Effort of Our Guest On Our Wall

**A special thanks also to the people below who are passionate & excellent in their works!**

-Blessed-i Photography Yeow Ming, who captured so many beautiful Actual Day "in the moment" pictures. He was jovial and was always non-intrusively snapping away.

-Chris, my wonderful make up artist who gave me so many gorgeous hairdo for my hard to style short hair & non-traditional make up on my actual wedding night. I absolutely love my smokey eyes and drama look that night.

-Vanness from Digio Bridal who snapped so many beautiful pre-wedding pictures of us. He is so experienced and made the whole shooting process fast and fun!

Here's a few of my pre-wedding photo shoot pictures:

DHC Collagen 7000mg Drink Review, Results

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 08:26:00 +0000

And so my vain pot urges took over 2 weeks before my wedding photo shoot. I grabbed 3 packs for DHC Collagen 7000mg drinks from Watson's at a total of less than 100SGD and beamed away at my good buy.

I tested 1 bottle for allergy reaction before bedtime and it seeemed alright. I then put them aside to drink 2 weeks before my wedding photo shoot. The only discomfort I felt was the thirst the morning after drinking it. Even this didn't deter me as I was so looking forward to filling up my skin with more collagen. :P

DHC Collagen Drink tastes better chilled than in room temperature. It is much less sour when chilled. Also, when compared to Fancl Tense Up, it is sweeter and has a very lovely fragrance when the bottle cap is removed.

4 days into drinking this collagen drink, I got a tiny bump on my right cheek and I hardly ever get pimples or bumps on my cheeks. I thought it was a pimple and went to my facial lady but was told that it is the precursor of pimple. Hhhhm...

Anyway, my thirst went on and I never drank so much water in half a week before. It's like a constantly-on-the-verge-of-having-sore-throat feeling.

See, So Sad...

Yet at the same time, I felt that my skin was smoother when I put on make up. It seemed like it, at least.

And into my 5th day, I noticed more bumps in the mirror under the sunlight! Argh!!! I am going to stop taking DHC Collagen Drink.

It's not working for me. I'm letting my mum try it instead, maybe it'll add some glow for her. Hehe...

Well, I'm glad I tried it before my photo shoot and not before my actual day wedding. Oh well, this product doesn't work for me. And my skin isn't usually that kind that reacts to new products in a negative way. This one just works in a bad way. Boo...

Fancl Tense Up works much better. You can read about my previous post here. Meiji powder and Fancl pills didn't have much effect on me but at least there was no adverse reaction.

So, my verdict is... I will not buy it ever again. I'll continue my hunt to look for ways to shine, only after my photo shoot. Jut to be safe. ;)

Redmart.com Review, Online Grocery, Online Supermarket Shopping in Singapore

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 01:46:00 +0000

The first thing I did this morning after getting my coffee is to shop away! Online, that is. Redmart.com supermarket shopping for pasta coking this weekend. Even before I got my own place, I've always relish the thought of online grocery shopping. So, within the first 2 weeks of getting my keys, I've already given Redmart.com a try.

Secure Packaging

What a treat for my miserly arm muscles!

It used to be free delivery for purchases of $79 and above but there's a current promotion that delivers for free with every $49 and above spent. Valid until 31 August 2013 only.

Of course, I jumped at the chance and ordered 2 more rounds. Haha..

What's more, enter the promotional code of likeredmart and get to enjoy additional 10% of your purchase and this 10% applies to even items already on sale!

You'll get to select your preferred delivery dates and the next day slot is usually available.

Payment is also a breeze with online credit card option, credit card upon delivery or through Paypal and you're done! Easy peasey and hassle free.

The past 3 deliveries were pleasant and on time. Once, the deliveryman was running 10 mins late and he called me on my mobile hone to inform me beforehand. This is what I call good service! Redmart's pricing is like other supermarkets. Some thing are more expensive, and some are cheaper, especially those on sale.

I'm so glad that grocery shopping is made so much easier these days with online shopping. I'll no longer need to lug heavy household items, especially detergent, rice, oil and such. I'm loving it and getting hooked!

Mid Century Modern, Vintage, Wood Furniture, Designer Chair in Singapore Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 07:05:00 +0000

So, I have been furniture hunting. Fiance and I started out agreeing that we do not want the modern and contemporary kind of look that feels cold to us. We both love wood, he is more of a retro and vintage guy who loves the curves of things. "Sexy", he would call it. :P As for me, I am more of a traditional person who love warm furniture like wood and fabric. It was a breeze agreeing on what would go into our new house. We both dislike metal and glass so material was readily agreed upon.

Since we have been spending so much time going around searching for our ideal pieces, I thought I'll share where to get some of the mid century, vintage and wood pieces that we've came across.

Furniture pieces that caught our eyes were mainly mid century pieces like the following:

Grant Featherston Contour Lounge Chair

The first piece of furniture that caught my eye even before we got the keys to our place. The sky blue colour is just so cute!

Jeremy Pyles Glass Lights

Ok, so these lights aren't exactly mid century pieces but they do give off the vibe, yah?

So, you get the idea on the pieces that move our hearts. Here's a list of the places we went to and a brief review for each one.

.WOODY WOODY, ALL THINGS WOODY & LOVELY.

1. Journey East

315 Outram Road, #03-02 Tan Boon Liat Building S(169074),

Tel: 6473 1693

Journey East at Tan Boon Liat Building has a collection of refurbished vintage pieces and also new teak furniture which are more rugged looking. The pricing is reasonable and the pieces are cute. They remind me of my grandparents' homes. An era long bygone, our childhood past.

We got this 1950's teak dining table from Central Java. The legs show Scandinavian influences, probably by the Dutch.

Pieces here seem to be more from Asia due to the material, teak. I'm not sure whether they have pieces from Europe. Anyway, when there, you can help yourself to the coffee and drink by the counter and speak with the friendly people from Journey East to find out more.

2. Mountain Teak

315 Outram Road, #07-02 Tan Boon Liat Building S(169074),

Tel: 6244 7176

In the same building, there's another teak shop called Mountain Teak on the 7th floor. As the name suggests, it's mainly teak pieces in there. New pieces, not pre-owned ones. Pricing is also reasonable and there's many simple and classic pieces available.

This is one cool bookshelf that we're drooling at.

3. Originals

896 Dunearn Road, #02-03 Sime Darby Centre S(598472),

Tel: 6471 9918

We also traveled all the way to the West to take a look at Originals. The wood furniture here has a more modern feel. Many are also in the distressed wood style. Sturdy and good quality pieces but pricing is on the high side for us.

4. Like That One

2, Bukit Batok Street 24, #01-02 Skytech S(659480),

Tel: 6560 9168

Even further westward was a charming shop called Like That One. You won't miss it as you drive in with its brightly lit signage. A great place to hunt for vintage accessories and small pieces to pull the look together. In addition to wood pieces, they have many interesting mid century industrial furniture too. Pricing may be a tad higher than what we were prepared to fork out but they do have a few snazzy pieces that may tempt you. All pieces are refurbished and pre-loved. By the way, they also serve great coffee.

It was here that we fell in love with an extravagant piece. Our 1960's Maple Wood Mobile Bar retrieved from the UK. It is now serving a dual function as our console table and mobile bar to make our money's worth. Hehe...

Isn't it a cute, gorgeous piece? It's real cool with secret compartments that made us swooned. The wood grain is oh so pretty. It's my favourite piece at home now!

5. Franc Franc

1 Habourfront Walk, #02-41/42, VivoCity S(098585)

Tel: 6376 8077

And there's the store that many knows about in VivoCity, Franc Franc. It is a Japanese store and I only found out when I decided to buy 2 pieces of Ashwood furniture there. Most pieces are interesting, cute and contemporary. With a burst of colours there, you can easily pick out something that'll add a splash of brightness to your home. Service is good and pricing is reasonable when they have sale. :P

Most pieces are made of MDF but there are some others that are a few made of solid wood.

We wanted the TV console in lighter wood and Franc Franc ordered it al the way from Japan for us. Check this place out if you're looking for fun pieces with clean lines.

6. Restore Living

124 Tanjong Pagar Road S(088533)

Tel: 6222 3105

For small vintage pieces like chairs, stools and coffee table pieces, you may want to check out Restore Living. I find this store more of a place to go if you want to get that 1 interesting piece of chair. They do a lot of refurbishing of old furniture. And the items available here have a pretty local feel to them. It is also a cafe by the way.

7. Commune/Koda

9 Raffles Boulevard #02-51/52 Millenia Walk S(039596)

Tel: 6338 3823

Another great place with contemporary wood pieces is Commune at Millenia Walk. Delivery is prompt and service is good. the delivery guys even have feedback forms for customers to fill in! I find the furniture there easy to match and very likable. Too bad the extendable dining table we wanted in walnut colour was made of veneer. Hence, we settled for the sofa only.

Of course, there are many more shops that we didn't have the time to visit even though we shortlisted them. Some just weren't suitable.

8. Others & many more...

Mid Century/Vintage

Room of Woods - Furniture looks good but didn't get a chance to go.
Lorgan's - Heard that it is pricey so didn't make our way to the other side of the island for it. All new items I heard.
Second Charm - Looks good too and they carry vintage furniture.
Hock Siong & Co. - I want to check it out one of these days still. Carries vintage furniture too.

Contemporary Wood

Ethniccraft - Very helpful and responsive people but somehow didn't get a chance to visit them due to schedule. Need to make appointment before going over.
We Love Air - Some pieces are nice but out of budget too.
Grafaunkt - Out of budget and didn't really find anything that caught our eyes.
Pomelo Home - Beautifully designed contemporary pieces but really way out of our budget.
Scanteak - Safe, expected pieces, good for basics. They have a range where they worked with a Japanese designer and that's quite cute.
Picket & Rail - There's wood pieces and designer inspired pieces too.
Air Division - Looks nice on website but didn't manage to find time to make it there too.
Barossa Furnishing - Didn't manage to travel to Woodlands for a visit for teak dining table. Read that the furniture are solid and of good quality.

For my Grant Featherston chair hunt, we went to quite a few shops. It was a pretty tiring hunt where I was about to give up. Mainly because most of the shops in Singapore use wool or wool blended material for the chairs. Fiance and I definitely do not want to sweat in our lounge chair so we went on and on asking about colours and material. We were insistent in getting a blue lounge chair.

In the end, I resorted to calling the shops and asking about the material and pricing before heading to the store to take a look.

.DESIGNER CHAIRS THAT MAKE US GO OOH-LA-LA.

1. Comfort Furniture

10 Eunos Ave 7, Comfort Design Building, S(409573)

Tel: 6747 4809

Comfort furniture has 2 storeys of furniture and numerous designer inspired pieces. This is the shop where we finally found the right material for our armchair. Sadly though, they didn't have it in the cute sky blue we wanted so we ended up with a darker shade of blue.

We choose the 2nd blue from the bottom. Didn't want our chair to have the faded look so we kept to a brighter blue. I think the chair is slightly smaller than the original design but we're cool with it. It also has the best pricing among all the shops we went to.

The best thing about this place is that the material are more suitable for Singapore's warm and humid weather and they have a wide variety of products to choose from.

2. Lush Lush

73 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Centro Bianco, #03-01, S(534818)

Tel: 6858 5882

Lush Lush had the chair we wanted and many more other designer inspired chairs. But the Grant Featherston chair only comes in the hot wool material. We were willing to buy from here if we couldn't get the piece we wanted in mind. They also have many contemporary and lively art pieces.

3. Standard of Living

34, Khandahar street, S(198892)

Tel: 6298 2349

Standard of Living may be a small shop but it carries a wide range of fabric. I was shown several plain and print fabrics and had the option to choose from polyester, nylon etc. This may be the ideal shop if you want a upholstery that is unique and not so commonly found. Their selection is indeed wide.

The journey of home building for me is not over yet. It's exciting to hunt for the ideal furniture. And even more exciting when you discover a gem that is pre-loved. I find myself wondering about its history. Vintage furniture has a mysterious charm to them, don't ya think?

Anyway, I hope my feedback has helped and do share more in the comment box below.

Men 100% Leather Messenger Bags - Vagabond Traveler Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:10:00 +0000

It's hard to find a nice men genuine leather messenger bag in Singapore that doesn't make you feel like you're paying through your nose. And it's even harder to find is one that is well built, looks rugged with a raw finish that cost below 500SGD. I couldn't even find anything I like at this budget.

I have cracked my head for more than half a year before I realised I have yet to explore my online options. Somehow somewhere, Vagabond Traveler caught my eyes on ebay.com. Good reviews were posted on other sites and replies were prompt from the seller.

I decided to go ahead since it'll only cost be less than half the price (inclusive of shipment) of what I was prepared to pay. I opted for Fedex shipment tracking since Vagabond Traveler ships by Fedex.

And eagerly waited....

And got impatient at times...

When it finally arrived in about 2 week's time!!!

It was neatly packed into a flat box.

Ta-da!!! The bag I hunted for so long in the rugged leather finish I wanted.

It is made of oil tanned leather and is in freedom style.

Vagabond Traveler even packed a holder along with it to make it more presentable for gift giving.

Am I a satisfied online shopper of Vagabond Traveler? Yes, I am. At a fraction of the price in Singapore, I am getting a quality product made of genuine leather.

Vagabond Traveler even packed a holder along with it to make it more presentable for gift giving.

The only drawback? My fiance's light coloured pants get chocolate stains when he uses it. At first, we were perplexed and thought the stains came about from his greed in chomping on chocolate bars. Later on, he figured that bag rubs off brown stains on light coloured pants.

We were told that since this is an oil tanned leather that was tanned with colour and wax in raw leather finish, we would have to wait it out for the bag to stop bleaching eventually... :( For now, my fiance just keep to dark coloured pants.

If you intend to purchase from Vagabond Traveler, it may be worthwhile to note that it's cheaper to buy directly from their website instead of from ebay.com or amazon.com.

Good luck in finding the perfect messenger bag!

Sweep Me Off...

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:47:00 +0000

Sweep me off..

Bratislava Trip & Skaritz Hotel & Residence Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:12:00 +0000

It's always nice to blog about my trip 'coz it gives me a chance to relive my happy-away-from-home moments. Sadly, I don't seem to have much time this year to do so and this is inversely proportionate to the amount of travelling I've done the past year.

Well, at least I can squeeze some time out for Bratislava, Slovakia, only because there was nothing much that caught my attention to write in detail.

Town Square

This lesser known city was a last minute insertion to our itinerary since we were only going to 3 other cities in 2 weeks. We thought that Bratislava is en route from Krakow to Budapest and we could just take the overnight train and wake up in Bratislava. Wrong! It was, in a way... but we had to change train in the wee hours of the morning at 2am at a station called "Bohumin". Bad idea as I was woken up about 5 mins before arriving at the transfer station and all toilets were closed for the day. There was only 1 seedy looking snack-BAR at the deserted station.

At least we saw 2 policemen patrolling and the connecting train arrived 20 mins earlier. What a relief to board the train early and head back into slumber land.

We arrived in Bratislava around 6am and it was rainy and cold. The weather in Central Europe was still bad and I was pretty reluctant to head to our hotel in the foul weather.

To reach Skaritz Hotel & Residence, we had to buy a 70-cent ticket each (from the yellow ticketing machine at the bus stop) at the bus station located right in front of the rail station and board Bus No. 93 which comes every 10 mins or so. After validating the ticket in the ticket marker on the bus, just alight at Hodžovo nám which is 2 stops away and walk to the hotel. The map can be found here: http://goo.gl/maps/cQisI

It was such a joy when we found it! Warm & toasty it was and we were offered coffee and hot tea while waiting to check in.

And the best thing was they allowed us to check in at 8+am once the room was ready! This is the earliest I've ever checked into a hotel. Naturally, I was happy. It was the only hotel we stayed in for this trip as Slovakia has the cheapest accommodation comparing to Prague, Krakow & Budapest. We stayed in apartments for the other 3 cities.

2 thumbs up for Skaritz Hotel & Residence service and stay!! It is located in a convenient location in the heart of the old town, near to the various tourist attractions.

Summer Archbishop Palace in Sweet Pink

For the 1st day, we visited the castle, ate some good Slovakian traditional cuisine like dumplings with sheep's milk cheese and Kapustnica (sauerkraut soup with sausage), which is now my fav. =P~~

Potato Dumpling with Sheep's Milk Cheese

Kapustnica

Here's some pics of the castle which we found sterile and a tad boring.

Stairs to the Castle

Bratislava Castle Grounds

Castle Courtyard

This was how bored we were when we started to pose in front of the mirrors in the castle.

It was only on the highest level that we read that parts of the castle were destroyed by a fire in early 2012. There were only some exhibits on display; so little that they could all pack into a room. We headed back to the old town for coffee and went back to laze in the hotel before googling for good dinner spots in town.

The next morning, we went out early to The Church of St Elisabeth which is on another side of the old town. When I saw the cute blue church, it brought a smile to my face.

Designed in Art Noveau architectural style, the curves and colour look really adorable for a church.

It was well worth my morning walk before we left for Budapest.

One day in Bratislava was enough for me. The old town is small and it is pleasant to stroll around. One thing stood out was the high number of Sushi bars in this small area. After reading about their economy, I realised they must have quite a few business dealings with Japanese for their car manufacturing & electrical engineering industries.

Weird take away info for my Bratislava trip...

My Best Poker Session Ever: Marriage Proposal From My Love!

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 04:04:00 +0000

Bf proposed last night! And in the way I absolutely love love love, which is original and filled with surprises!

It was meant to be a regular poker session and I felt so lucky to have pocket Queens in the first round. The 1st three cards on the table were Queen, X & Jack. As it went on, 3 players went all in with bf being 1 of them. *Woo hoo* The pot was getting big enough and gave me an adrenalin rush!

When it was my turn to make a call, I hesitated before going all in. I really didn't want to lose all our chips in the first hand even though the odds were in my favour. And so the showdown began... with 2 pocket Queens from me and 2 pocket Jacks from bf and 1 other player that was significant. Hehe....

My heart was pumping when the 4th card opened and it showed a Jack. "That's fine", I thought, "at least the money is going back into bf's pockets" and I still stand a minute chance. With poker, there's always this element or luck, no?

The trash talk went on and when the last card opened, I was stunned for a while. It was a Queen and I've won! But.... why was my winning card so dirty with all those scribbling?? Huh???

It was a split second before I caught the word "MARRY" and I beamed away. What a way to propose! A climax on top of a climax! Bf is so cool!!! :D

He went down on his knees, took out the custom made ring and gave me the flowers. Of course I said yes. Yes, yes, yes and a million times yes!

The Lovely Bouquet of White Roses

It was a moment of blur and flurry. His thoughtfulness and effort makes me beam from ear to ear. The thoughts that went into the ring design, the flowers he got me, the way he orchestrated the whole poker session with friends.... Yes, I'm truly touched.

❤ Thank you baby! I really do feel so so lucky to have met you and have you in my life. ❤

The ring is designed with an infinity love symbol on the side. BF insisted on having this on the ring and he used my tattoo drawings months ago as the reference.

Infinity Love Design On Side Of Ring

I was still contemplating getting the tattoo yesterday when I eventually feel up for it someday. Now, I'll wear it on my engagement ring instead. How meaningful!

I have not told bf this before. He was my inspiration for the infinity love design and I felt so strongly for him at one point, I almost added one more tattoo to my body. But my rational mind got the better of me. Tats really aren't cool when I am older. Haha...

It wasn't the easiest allowing myself to fall in love with him, to bare my soul and just let the feelings flow. I had hoped that our relationship will go on forever but I was hesitant. I wasn't sure he felt the same way then and whether he wanted the same things in life as me.

Yes, this isn't the end of our journey and I know it'll get better because we both want it so.

Last Pic For The Lovely Night

❤ Baby, you're the best bet in my life. Muacks! ❤

Permanent Laser Hair Removal - Lumenis, Most Effective Hair Removal I've Tried!

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:47:00 +0000

I've been so busy lately but I just have to review my most recent hair removal experience coz it was really good! By that, I meant the effectiveness and the comfort level throughout the session.

Ok, so here it goes...

About 2 months back, I was invited for a trial laser session using the LUMENIS LightSheer Duet machine.

I didn't know what to expect and whether it would feel any different from my regular underarm and bikini line IPL sessions at Musee Platinum.

When I arrived at the location, I was asked to go into the treatment room which was neat and filled with several machines.

I was also given a loose-fitting navy satin gown to wear as I was doing a bikini hair removal :P

This was my view while lying down and waiting for my treatment to start. I felt a little nervous not knowing what to expect. And of course, not knowing whether this form of hair removal will hurt a little, especially it was at a sensitive area.

Somehow, the treatment bed with the extra support at end, near my feet there, made me feel like it was more professional. It seemed more comfortable placing my feet on the support to prop my legs up.

I had to first put on the goggles below before starting my treatment. Looks funny eh?

I was informed that the treatment was about to begin the moment the machine hand-piece was placed on my skin. Immediately, I felt this weird sensation on my skin but I couldn't quite make out what it was. Every 1-2 seconds, the hand-piece was moved. After a while, I badly wanted to know what was giving me that unusual sensation and found out that the Lumenis LightSheer Duet machine has a vacuum assisted technology that gently pull and stretch the skin before applying the laser energy. So it was a suction feeling on my skin. No wonder, I didn't feel much pain from the laser.

I was told that the vacuum suction allows for a better and smoother hair extraction as the hair follicles are pulled closer to the surface with each suction. I think the suction distracted me from feeling the laser at work too, hence the distraction/reduction in discomfort. It was a plus point for this hair removal treatment! Not only does it reduces discomfort, it also increases efficiency since the vacuum assisted technology reduces the amount of hair removal time required.

At one point, I felt a slight pain and a slight burnt smell. I voiced out my discomfort and a shave was promptly given. Apparently, I didn't shave cleanly and this attracted more laser energy to the area, causing the pain. So, take note to shave properly on treatment day itself. ;)

Well, the whole process was really fast. The whole session was over in less than 10 mins! There was no need for gels or whatnots. Just the shaved skin and the machine, so it was really much less messier than my regular IPL. This is one of the reasons why the whole session was so speedy. Time is shaved off from applying numbing gel before the session and from applying the post treatment cooling pad and soothing cream.

You can do lunch and have your hair removal session all done with no hassle. It's that convenient and speedy.

Yes, this is the wondrous machine....

My verdict? Hair did not grow out for a month after the treatment in most areas. I was almost hairless! Now, after 2 months, the hair growth has slowed A LOT for most areas and I'm impressed by the results. If this goes on, I think I'd only need a few more sessions to be completely hairless! It's more effective than the other bikini IPL I've tried. It's fast, not messy and the discomfort level is low. Moreover, there's no need to remind myself to shave a few days before treatment.

If you want to find out more, drop me a note or email me at mei.journey@gmail.com. Give it a go and experience the effectiveness yourself.

Bike Tour In Ubub, Bali, A Fantastic Way To See Ubud

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:38:00 +0000

I started 2013 in the way I like! First to Bangkok then to Bali for some me time. =))

Bestie invited me to bunk in with her at Bali and bf promptly bought me air ticket to send me off. Whee... And it is to Ubud this round in Bali.

Since I had the daytime free to myself, I signed up for some activities to get to know Ubud, Bali a little better. And one of it was the bike tour organised by Bali Eco & Educational Cycling Tour.

It was a pleasant start with prompt replies to my emails to ensure a beginner like me can handle biking in a foreign land.

I got picked up by the tour really early at 7.15am to have breakfast with a view... of Mt Batur, an active volcano.

The whole group was of a comfortable size of only 10 people.

It was a simple meal to start the day and the view was gorgeous. If only bf was with me...

The black soil area is where the lava flowed from Mt Batur's last eruption in 2000. The friendly guide went on to tell us a bit more about this area and also the spiritual significance of the calm lake besides Mt Batur.

Next up was a short educational tour about some Balinese native spices and plants and also a brief history of how some other foreign spices like Vanilla came to being on this sunny island.

Coffee Luwak Beans On The Left Looking Prettier

We were introduced to a live civet cat that poops out the very expensive Coffee Luwak beans. We were told that the coffee beans is foreign to Bali, hence, it was by accident that the civet cat ingest these beans and poop them out.

Shortly after, we had a break and was given a tray of samples of ginseng coffee, lemongrass tea, Balinese coffee etc.

The guide managed to find a big spider out of nowhere and showed it to us. Reminds me of uni days.

Just as I thought that the tour felt more educational and cultural, we were driven to pick up our mountain bikes for the real cycling deal.

It was a breeze cycling as it was mainly downhill on wide roads.

We stopped by a Balinese family house to take a look.

The guide went on to introduce their way of life and how this family makes their living by producing bamboo products.

The next part of cycling was through the padi fields; Something I was really looking forward to.

We rode through these fields with the blue sky above.

See how beautiful it is....

The only problem for me was that the cycling path was a tad too narrow. It was more of a psychological issue when I cannot see where the edge of the path was. I was moving slower than usual and before I knew it, I was in the waters after going over a broken concrete patch. Talk about embarrassment. Thank goodness all I got was a refreshing soak for both my feet with no injuries.

Then came the uphill stretch where a true bike beginner like myself had to dismount and push all my way uphill. There was a guide behind the last person (yours truly) and he offered to push my bike when he saw me struggling. But I managed to get through it, and boy, what a work out it was on my first day in Bali.

We rested under a 500 years old Banyan Tree where the guides brought out bananas for snack. The whole time, there was a van following us, except for the stretch through the padi fields where it couldn't go. So, no worries if you don't have much stamina like me, which is highly unlikely. :|

At this juncture, we were asked whether we wanted to continue with a 40mins downhill cycling route or a 40 mins uphill one.

Of course I opted for the downhill route where a van would be waiting to send us uphill for lunch. We were handed cool towels at the end of our ride too. The bulk of the people opted for the challenging uphill route.

This is the view from the van with the rest working out hard under the hot sun. 1 person gave up midway and the guide took over her bike.

Before long, we arrived at the lunch venue and the uphill cyclists streamed in one by one, totally drenched in the humid weather.

The tour ended with a delectable lunch. I can't decide whether this lunch or the one from my cooking class is better.

Either way, it was a fantastic way to start my holiday in Ubud, Bali. For 360,000IDR, I really like this tour. The whole program was well paced and totally enjoyable. Despite me falling into the waters, I had a really good time that day!

Parador de Carmona, Carmona Town in Seville Spain Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:41:00 +0000

What a stay, what a trip! Yes, whenever I recall my stay in the Parador de Carmona, it brings a smile to my face. It has become one of my favourite hotels.

Rolling Hills Of Spain

We had rented a car in Cordoba and drove to Seville, Zahara, Rhonda before ending off our road trip at Granada. So, bf suggested to stay at the restored state owned castle hotel, Parador Carmona, for 2 nights since we could easily drive out to Seville with the car; Seville is just a short drive of half an hour away.

We arrived at the charming town of Carmona, driving through the cobblestoned streets to reach the majestic Parador Carmona, a castle enlarged by King Pedro, sitting atop a hill.

Paradora de Carmona Gate

Free Parking Spaces Are Readily Available

There's shuttle bus service available from the town centre to Seville. Just check with the reception for the bus schedule. We found it more convenient to drive though. The only challenge was to find parking lots in Seville.

I really love the moorish designed tiles in the lobby and courtyard. The motifs are so beautiful. The place somewhat transported me to a time ancient enough.

Hotel Lobby With Gorgeous Tiles

Courtyard With A Fountain...

...So Gorgeous That Even The Pigeons Gather To Drink From It

The restaurant has an open area that has this marvelous view of the Andulusian plains. And our bedroom had the same facing too. It was oh so lovely!!!

Hotel Room Corridor

The room was huge and once again, the tile flooring brings me back to the ancient times. It's felt wonderful to be staying in a building that has so much history to it. And it's not just any history, but one that was once lived in by the royals.

My favourite part of the room was by the windows with the view of the endless plains.

Watching The Sunrise

My Favourite Spot In The Room

How can one not fall in love with this view?? It's so calming and you can see miles and miles away from your room.

It was cool in the daytime in October but I found the waters too cold to enter. So, we just strolled around the hotel grounds taking pics.

View From The Pool

Resident Cat That Followed Us Around The Pool Area

We spent 2 nights in this charming town and the lastd day, we took it easy and went for breakfast at a Creperie.

Carmona Town

It was just perfect that our last day at Carmona fell on a Sunday.... because...

sitting at our outdoor tables, we saw a group of funeral mass goers and wedding guests all decked out in their fancy wears.

And I was surprised that the small town of Carmona has a little restaurant that serves excellent food. I think that it's because were in Spain; Almost every meal we had was a good one. Oooohhh... how I love the food in Spain. :P~~

La Almazara Restaurant

We ordered 2 starters and the anchovies can hardly go wrong here in Spain with their fresh olive oil. But the dish below was simply divine.

It is the one of the few appetizers I'll remember for a long time. Each piece was serve on a chip and has melted baked cheese coasted shrimp. The flavourful taste just burst with each bite and the cheese was so soft and warm. Even though there was 12 pieces, we cleaned up the plate really fast.

I really enjoyed my stay in the Parador Carmona in Andulusia. And to spend a full relaxing day in the small town of Carmona make this part of my trip memorable.

If you intend to visit Seville, you should consider the Parador Carmona. And if you can spare the time, extend a day in this charming town. You'll love love love this place loads!

iHerb.com Singapore, Eurasia Express, Now Joint Support Powder & Avalon Organics CoQ10 Wrinkle Defense Serum Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:36:00 +0000

I'm a big iherb.com fan now!!!

Use my code VEW578 or click here to enjoy a 5USD off for purchases below 40USD and for purchases above 40USD, you'll get an instant discount of 10USD!

I tried their Eurasia Express Shipping which was made free in October 2011 for purchase of 60USD and above and was smiling broadly when my purchases arrive. It took them a mere 7 days to have my items delivered into my hands. And this is inclusive of the weekends too. I'm impressed and delighted! =))

I bought 6 items back then and 1 of them was the Avalon Organics CoQ1O Wrinkle Defense Serum which was disappointing. I expected to see visible results but none whatsoever. However, my facial lady and her staff did comment that my eyes look better and it might just be this serum...

The good thing was that the serum is non greasy and it's good for a base to pile on other eye creams.

The Avalon Organics Eye Serum also comes in a pump bottle and it can be a little messy on the caps. You can see the white serum on the inside of my bottle cap above.

Now, I'm on the hunt of a more effective anti-wrinkle eye product. Do recommend me if you know of one.

Another new product I tried this round was the Now Joint Support Powder. I got 1 for bf since he has knee problems and this product had a better value than Viatril-S. But boy, the smell is a killer... It has a a strong shellfish smell that cannot be masked even when I put it into my fruit juice. :(

We can't tell whether it works because it's such a drag to take it on a consistent basis. :P

The cute thing about iHerb.com is they give away free samples or freebies with every purchase. Lately, I've been receiving stationery and it's cute. That's a pen and a highlighter above.

I've shopped with them 8 times and have never encountered missing parcel.

So, if you're convinced, do use my code VEW578 or click here to

Enjoy a 5USD off for purchases below 40USD and enjoy a 10USD discount for purchases above 40USD
Earn commission when you refer new customers who use your code so that you can buy more iHerb products cheaper or maybe even for FREE!
Enjoy their many promotions & hot deals.

Click here to find out more about their rewards.

Read more about my other iHerb.com reviews here:

1st iHerb.com Post

2nd iHerb.com Post

Santi Mandala Villa & Spa, Bali Ubud Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 08:14:00 +0000

I'm doing this review at Santi Mandala's restaurant now. Thought I better write whenever I can as I'm traveling faster than I can spare the time to blog these days. And it's so good that it's raining in hot Bali now. :P

Well, you see, my best friend signed up for a yoga retreat and since her hubby didn't come along this round, she invited me to stay with her in Bali, Ubud. I've always wanted to visit Bali Ubud and preferably stay at a villa facing the padi fields, so I grabbed the chance and accepted the invitation with less than 2 week's notice. As it's a free stay, I'm not complaining even though this villa isn't surrounded by the padi fields! ;)

At least I have this bunch of padi keeping me company at my table now. Haha..

Santi Mandala Villa & Spa is situated about 25 mins away from Ubud Town Centre by car. Hence, it's a quiet and relaxing place that's away from the crowd. It's also rustic and surrounded by lush greenery.

We arrived late at night with the hotel transfer arranged by Santi Mandala at 250,000IDR one way.

You'll come through this bridge before arriving at the hotel lobby below.

Some days, the locals will come by here to catch fishes in the late afternoon.

And here are some pictures of the hotel grounds.

Full of greenery and peacefulness, it's definitely a place to come for rejuvenation. They also conduct biking, hiking, cooking and yoga classes for those interested.

View Of Pool From Across The Bridge

It's a quiet villa without many guests and much noise in the daytime. Probably it's because of the distance from Ubud Centre and everyone is out and about during the day or chilling in the comfort of their rooms.

Infinity Pool

View From The Pool

The room is comfortable and well worth the money. It's rather private and integrate nature into its design.

The villas each come with a main door to a small garden leading to the room. We stayed in the Garden Villa which was the most basic one available at less than 150SGD per villa per night. My friend paid only 130SGD per night for this stay.

The Romantic Bed

The balcony opens up to the view of the pool and faces the east so that you'd be able to catch the beautiful sunrise.

Welcome Fruit Basket

The washroom was great with an open air shower and a bathtub overlooks the hills down to the pool. People may actually see you when you get out of the bathtub or when you're using the loo if they look hard enough. Just draw the curtain and all problems solved.

Although I really love the open concept of this bathroom, this place does have a lot of insects and even mosquitoes! The sink itself will have at least 7-8 insects unlucky enough to be trapped by water droplets and drowned when we get back every evening.

And the worst thing is geckos do climb in!! Eeekks!!! It gave my friend a hard time falling asleep every night.

Breakfast is available at the restaurant daily and it's a good thing they change the menu everyday.

Now, there's 3 things I really don't like about Santi Manda Villa. One is the lack of wifi in their basic rooms and it's only available daily from 7.30am to 10.30pm at the restaurant. I know this would help in giving you no choice but to disconnect and relax. But hey, I don't need to disconnect to relax and enjoy nature. And even so, they should at least leave it on the whole day because the restaurant area is open and people who need to hook up to the net can still drop by at night.

The second thing is the transport to Ubud Centre. It can be quite a pain in the ass. They only have shuttle services out at 10am, 2pm, 4pm,8pm and 10pm. The return service is half an hour later. So, if we need to get out or get back at a different timing, we'd have to pay 80,000IDR. And if you're located just a short walk of 15 mins away from the town centre, you'll need to pay a total of 100,000IDR which I found ridiculous. We almost had to do that for our massage appointments every night in the town centre as Santi Manda; Villa Spa closes at 6pm!! But some spas offer transport at a much better rates. Some spas and day tours even do pick up and drop off for free!

I'll review the different spas and day tours I went to in Ubud in my other posts.

Lastly, the food isn't fantastic. And Balinese food can be really tasty. The first time we ordered Soto Ayam and Tom Yam Goong, we almost died from overdosage of salt!!

This afternoon, I was craving Yum Woon Sen from my Bangkok trip a few days back and just had to order this.

It was oily and bland but after asking for some lime and soya sauce with chilli padis, it tasted better. Maybe it was because I asked them to make it less salty...just in case.

I then asked the waitress to recommend a Balinese dish that is good. So Ayam Bakaka so it was and it was delicious! Once again, I highlighted that I didn't want a salty dish.

Overall, Santi Mandal Villa and Spa is really a value for money place to stay in Ubud. Especially so if you don't intend to go to the town centre much. But then again, I wouldn't want to eat at the villa every night. I'd rather venture out for some good Balinese food.

Oh and regarding the geckos, my friend spotted a huge one crawling across the wall the first night and freaked out after that. After that, we saw another 2 and had to get the staff to remove 1 last night 'coz it took over our bathroom. :|

At night, little frogs come out to play and mosquitoes are present even with the insect repellent available in every room.

So, if you ain't afraid of these creepy crawlies, insects included, and love nature, this place will be ideal as a value for money and peaceful villa in Ubud, Bali. As for myself, I rather try a new hotel the next round.

I Believe... It's Important To Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:50:00 +0000

I believe it's important to dream, for dreams to spring alive!

On Familiar Grounds

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:02:00 +0000

Ever felt that you're back on familiar grounds? Where the only thing that has changed is time that inevitably brings with it, experience and hopefully wisdom.

Only this time around, it's bittersweet.

To know what you've lost and what could be gone. For everything like time, is fleeting...

Let It Go...

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 16:10:00 +0000

It's so easy to say let it go. But I've come to realise an easier way to let it go.

Do the right thing and not worry about what may come. Do the right thing and you'll be able to live with your life choices. The only thing left now is how to not worry. Hhhmmm...

Taroko National Park, Taroko Gorge, Leader Village Hotel - Highlight Of My Taiwan Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 06:26:00 +0000

It was my first trip to Taiwan, and also my first trip with my hunny. We tried sheep innards and Chou Tofu aka Smelly Tofu for the first time.

And so it was a trip of many firsts!!

To me, the highlight of this Taiwan trip is our visit to Taroko Gorge, a national park situated at the northern-eastern part of Taiwan. It was beautiful and we stayed at Leader Village Taroko Hotel for 3 days 2 nights. It really was the best part of my trip.

We took a train from Taipei to Hualien and rented a car from Hualien. Our initial plans were to stay at Taroko Gorge for 3 days before driving across westward to Taichung. However, due to the typhoon and the dangerous road conditions, we decided to head back to Hualien after our stay in the gorge. :| Nonetheless, it was still a fantastic stay.

Here's some pics on our way into Taroko National Park.

We first headed towards Qingshui Cliff before checking into the hotel. The sight of the Pacific Ocean was gorgeous.

The water was crystal clear and I'm sure that's where its Chinese name 清水 (Qingshui) came from. It was a perfect drive with the azure blue sky above and crystal blue waters besides.

In case you're wondering where Qingshui Cliff is, here's a map of Taroko Natinal Park taken from their official website.

Basically, we drove in from Hualien (bottom right of map) and headed straight all the way to Qingshui cliff before turning back to enter the National Park.

Our next stop was the Eternal Spring Shrine. It was break time for a cuppa of ice-cream!

To show you how bad the weather conditions were, here's a pic of the muddy river; a result of the heavy rainfall from the impending typhoon.

The last stop before checking into the hotel was the Swallow Grotto Trail. We had to drive past the Leader Village Hotel to reach it.

The Swallow Grotto Trail spot has one of the most amazing sights to me.

Look at that teeny weeny waterfall. ;)

It was drizzling and extremely windy by the time we reached Swallow Grotto Trail. But the weather was still good enough for us to walk around.

White helmets for protection are available for loan as you take a walk through the trail.

Gorge Erosion From Huge Boulders

It's my first visit to a gorge and somehow I really love it; much more than the ocean. It brings about a totally different set of emotions.

When I was in the gorge surrounded by the mountains and mist, I was immersed in a sense of calm that I have never felt before when by the sea. I felt small as I was awed by the grandeur of nature...

As the rain pelted down, we headed to the hotel. It was a winding drive up to the Leader Village Hotel @ Buluowan.

Hotel Entrance & Driveway

How not to fall in love with this view and the thought of more relaxing days to come?

Hotel Entrance & Lobby

The rooms look simple but it was well designed and thoughtfully planned. It has everything you'll need for a comfortable stay. I really love how they integrated the natural look and feel with the stony flooring in the shower.

It was pure enjoyment with the rain and cool air at night; hugged by the mountains as, we slept our cares away.

My Morning View With Misty Mountains in Sight

After settling down with a short nap, we took a stroll around the hotel grounds.

And I'm thankful for times like these. It's when time slow down that you'll notice and enjoy the simple thing of life. Like this furry worm we spotted:

And the view of the river from a pavilion...

with a signage showing our exact thoughts!

"What a spectacle except for the dam."

So funny. Heh!

Breakfasts and dinners are all provided for in the Leader Village Hotel and we had bbq wild boar meat on the first night. Boy was it good! Another lasting impression this hotel left me was the delicious meals it serves. That night, we had a really gratifying dinner that warms both the heart and tummy in the cool and wet weather.

After dinner, we were told to gather at the activity room for some performances. However, we were too worn out and wanted to laze the night away in our room. So, we quietly sneaked off...

Our Delicious Breakkie With Local Food

We started the next day with a hearty breakfast. And I came to realised that it was a good decision to stay over at Taroko National Park as we could have a slow morning. Moreover, the area is quieter early in the morning with less tourists. At many attraction spots, we were the only one there to take in the sights as we drive around after breakfast.

We went to Cihmu Bridge, Tiangxiang and even this museum that explains the how the gorge is formed. Soaking in all the breath-taking sights and enjoying the serenity it brings.

When we got a little bored, we went to check out the grander looking hotel in Taroko National Park called Silks Place Hotel. Basically, there's only 2 options for hotel if you intend to stay in Taroko National Park.

Grand looking it was and it cost about 100SGD more per night.

Rooftop Swimming Pool Surrounded by Misty Mountains

But I still prefer the humble looking Leader Village Hotel that gives a more indigenous feel.

With the rest of the day available, we just went back to the hotel to do some leisure reading until dinnertime. Once again, we were treated to a delectable dinner.

BF was impressed that they managed to serve some good steak.

Rice Wine In The Little Boar Cup

To drink the rice wine, we had to kiss the boar. So cute right??! Haha...

On this second night, the hotel had a smaller group of guest as it was a weekday night. This time around, we couldn't sneak off to our room before the night performance starts. And I'm glad we didn't.

The hotel staff put up some interesting performances that showcase indigenous music. In fact, most of the hotel staff are Taroko aborigines. And the singer above is one of the few remaining Taroko aborigines that has kept the tradition of facial tattooing.

After this, we went on a discovery trail led by the hotel staff to show us the fauna and flora of the area. It was interesting but scary at the same time. 'Coz frogs and toads were hopping around! Argh!!

One thing I strongly remember was the glowing tree branches. The staff picked them up and when they switched off the torched, the tree branches actually glowed in the dark; in luminous yellow! It was so unusual... He explained that these glow-in-the-dark bacteria are very fragile and can only survive in places where the air quality is very clean. They're like living indicators of superb air quality. 0_0

The night ended with that educational nature tour before we went back to our cozy room. I'm impressed by how the hotel makes our stay so personal yet not intrusive. It's self-contained with simple comforts, adding to us the wonderful memories of Taroko National Park in Taiwan.

I strongly recommend a visit to this National Park and staying overnight if you can. I simply love this place!

Not Happy, Not Smiling

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 08:34:00 +0000

For the first time this year, I'm plagued by the gloom bug.

I need space, I need air and I need something exhilarating.

How Not To Be Afraid Of Death

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 01:23:00 +0000

I guess I'll do this. So that when my time is here, I can look back and know that I have lived my life in the best way I knew and could. And step into the unknown with total peace.

DUSK Jewelry, My Love

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 03:17:00 +0000

Know what's one of my loves? It's a range of handmade semi-precious gemstone collection designed by me. It's called DUSK Jewelry.

I decided to call this range DUSK because of the beautiful stone colours that we work with. Combined with the gold wire and chains. it reminds me of the wondrous colours of sunset. The myriad hues that descends the sky at dusk.

Rutilated Quartz Necklaces

DUSK Jewelry is available online too.

One of My Favourite DUSK Earrings with Pearl & Rutilated Quartz

Matchy Eyeshadow with My Blue Dusk Earrings

One of My Favourite DUSK Necklaces

Soothing Mix of Colours

Quartz Ring Designed by Myself

Here's the blog and facebook page. It'll make my day if I see a new like for DUSK on facebook if you appreciate this collection too. =)

I Want To Be A Princess

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 03:37:00 +0000

What do you do when your dream is to be a princess when you grow up?

What do you do when you are neither a brunette nor a blonde?

What do you do when you hardly get to wear a full gown?

What do you do?

What would you do??

Princess Hands

Then you'd just pose like one whenever you have the chance to. Haha... so cute.

Le Petite Cancale @ Duxton Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 03:56:00 +0000

Fantastic meal @ Le Petite Cancale with bf that made me go ooo..lala...

The crab was creamy (in bf's words), the whelks was fresh and succulent.

The oysters were divine.

The Salted Butter & Caramel Lava Cake was heavenly. And even the bread was good.

The weather was perfect and the company was everything I've always wanted.

As I sipped away on my wine, I felt...

**Bliss**

The Explorer Hotel Malacca, Melaka Malaysia Review

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 02:55:00 +0000

I found The Explorer Hotel, Malacca for my weekend stay last week through a last minute promo deal on agoda.com.

It is currently only 3 weeks old! A very new hotel indeed! Take a look at the spanking new hotel lobby.

Somehow, the hotel gave me a chalet feel as we were walking to our rooms.

The room was small and neat. Nothing fancy but good enough. The toilet was also small but it really was a steal at around 50SGD! Very value for money and this 143 rooms hotel is located right next to a few shipping centres. Perfect for me!

Overall, I would say that I had a great stay there. Namely for these few reasons:

1) Their customer service is great with very prompt response. They even have a facebook page and you'll be able to get replies really fast by posting on the wall.

2) For a fee of 5MYR, you can have unlimited entries and exits from their sheltered carpark. And if you're lucky, you may be able to find a lot right in front of the hotel entrance like we did (2nd pic above).

The main road carpark entrance wasn't in service when we were there last week. To enter, you'll need to make a big u-turn around Mahkota Parade and enter from the back entrance.

3) The great location of the hotel. There's 2 shopping centres next to it. One, across the street called Dataran Pahlawan and that has my favourite Vincci shop.

Dataran Pahlawan

Mahkota Parade

In fact, I think the area The Explorer Hotel is located will eventually develop into a shopping area with more shops! Currently, it's really new and the shop space are all vacant.

As a sidetrack, I got all 3 pairs below for about 60SGD only!! So happy with my cheap buys! I love shoes...

4) The hotel is situated about 10 mins walk away from the main Jonker Street in Malacca, which is across the river. It was a shorter walk than I have expected. And not at all bad if the weather is fine.

5) The hotel also offers 10MYR McDonald's voucher and there's 2 McDonald's in the 2 shopping centres mentioned above. It's really convenient to grab a Mc breakkie or supper.

And I had a yummilicious Chicken McMuffin breakfast with the complimentary vouchers.

Well, well, do grab the cheap deals for hotel stays in The Explorer Hotel, Malacca while it's still on. You won't regret it. ;)

I Need This Real Badly...

noreply@blogger.com (Mei) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 05:15:00 +0000

Lately.... I need a breather... real badly.