Covered in Stardust

Lunar New Year Market 2012 @ Chinatown

2012-01-13T13:23:00.046+08:00

So we went to Chinatown for the annual Lunar New Year Light Up, except that we went during the day, so it was just shopping and eating.

The boy wanted to get a lucky couplet for the office and a couple of luck (福) stickers for the house.

I was more interested in the food. We shared spicy cuttlefish on a stick ($3), bought a packet of garlic groundnuts, and spent $10 on a handful of preserved plums and jelly.

These preserved plums are delicious! I went back for more a week later and they were completely sold out :(

The one below is my favourite, as it was the most sour.

Sweet and mushy plum.

Some kind of chewy plum jelly.

The Lunar New Year Market is the same every year so I'll skip the pictures. You can refer to the 2010 post here :)

Famous Chicken Rice @ Changi Village Blk 5

2012-01-11T13:40:00.054+08:00

The boy and I would head to Changi Village for supper once in a while, but on very rare occasions, we would pop by for lunch at the famous chicken rice place opposite Cheers. Besides Hainanese chicken, they also serve a variety of side dishes like kailan, beansprouts and fried fritters. One of the better quality chicken rice in Singapore, with the only downside being the annoying houseflies that will buzz around your legs and table as you eat. That, and no aircon, which probably makes it a better location for dinner than lunch.

Includes free flow of soup (on occasion you'll get peanut soup!) which you can help yourself to, from a common pot. I normally order either a cold chestnut or lime juice to go with my meal.

Beansprouts in soya sauce, topped with fried ikan bilis and chopped chillies.

Fried cuttlefish paste dough fritters is one of my favourite foods, but sometimes these are over-fried till they're a tad too hard and oily. With sesame seeds and mayonaise for dipping.

After our meal, we'll take a leisurely drive to town via Changi Coast Road, with the airport to our right and the sea to our left :)

Naruko Oil Out Acne Tea Tree Targeted Treatment

2012-01-10T14:36:00.013+08:00

The Naruko Oil Out Acne Tea Tree Targeted Treatment comes in an amber glass bottle with a screw cap. It contains 2% salicylic acid and 0.025% sulphur which is effective against acne.

The opening is small enough for the salmon-colored, powdery liquid to be dispensed drop by drop, though if i have a bad flare up, I just drench a cotton pad with the mixture and swipe it over my entire face except the eye area. It smells predominantly of spearmint, and the menthol leaves a cooling sensation on the skin.

Like other products from Naruko, the Oil Out Acne Tea Tree Targeted Treatment contains phytoferulin, a blend of 11 different plant and herb extracts, and is free from parabens, artificial colors and scents, and is animal cruelty-free.

The box can be made into a pencil holder, but as always, I prefer to use it to hold the original product instead.

A bright mixture of greens to soothe tired eyes :)

Gryphon Tea: Straits Chai (Black Tea with Spices from the Orient)

2012-01-09T13:49:00.003+08:00

For the past two days, my favourite flavour from the box of Gryphon Tea's Treasures is the Straits Chai. The taste of spice is warm and robust, which is a nice change from teas that smell wonderful but taste bland.

I added goat's milk powder and a teaspoonful of honey to the tea for a full-bodied flavour, and it kept hunger at bay till dinnertime!

Lupicia Tea: Melon Oolong (HoneyDew!)

2012-01-06T13:02:00.009+08:00

I bought a couple of Lupicia teas during my trip to Taipei and my favourite would have to be the Melon Oolong. The melon pieces make the tea smell amazingly honey-sweet and mellow, though it does not add much to the taste. Which is a pity. Someone make some incredibly fruity tea please!

First time I've seen tea leaves all rolled up! A cute characteristic of oolong tea leaves.

In a minute or two, the oolong leaves unfurl completely and puffs up the teabag :) My first time making tea with rolled pearls and I was taken by surprise at how fat the teabag ended up. Time for some aromatherapy!

Something That Made Me Happy Today (16)

2012-01-05T13:41:00.003+08:00

I was browsing at Daiso when a bunch of kawaii purple grapes caught my attention. Not of the edible fruit variety, but it made me very happy nonetheless. I bought it just for fun, not knowing what I'd use it for. Coincidentally, I had been reading about ways to clean grout, and since Chinese New Year is fast approaching, it's time for yet another round of spring cleaning. I had tried using a toothbrush with soap, toothbrush with toothpaste, toothbrush with vinegar etc etc etc, and spent at least 2 days on each occasion, trying to get rid of the grime with rather unsatisfactory results. Then I read about a magic sponge that is being sold at Daiso and works like a dream and I remembered the grapes I had bought!

So here I am sharing the well-kept secret to sparkling grout :)

Happy Spring Cleaning!

Jill Stuart Fairy Garden Collection from the boy

2012-01-02T14:02:00.007+08:00

The Jill Stuart Fairy Garden Collection was one of the presents I received from the boy on Christmas day. I had in fact anticipated that it was this set that he bought.

The salmon-colored barrel pouch with a zip top and tulle flowers down the front, is only 13cm across, smaller than I had expected.

Included are two Jill Stuart-perfumed mini pillows for drawers, in pink and salmon.

The eyeshadow quad is the Jewel Crystal Eyes #104 Fragile Opal. I love how beautiful the case is, with flowers printed in the color theme of pink-white-salmon.

The case opens push-button style, with a mirror under the cover and a double-ended sponge tip applicator. The eyeshadows contain sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and rose canina fruit extract.

The Loose Powder N in #101 Twinkle Dust, comes in a plastic container with a screw-top cap and a puff applicator. It contains 5g of fragranced, light purplish powder, with the same three beneficial ingredients as the eyeshadow. It also contains nylon-12 to keep the shine at bay.

The Jelly Lip Gloss in #103 Crystal Kiss contains 9g of pink-colored gloss, enriched with sweet almond and rosa canina fruit oils.

The full ingredients list for the Jill Stuart Fairy Garden Collection.

So it looks like my boy was the Christmas fairy, and there were three days of happy moments when we exchanged our presents of love :)

Jill Stuart Bath & Body Travel Collection

2011-12-30T14:36:00.010+08:00

Since there were only two sets available at the Jill Stuart counter, the boy decided to get them both. One of it is the Jill Stuart Bath & Body Travel Collection, consisting of a body cream, a body milk, and a shower gel. The three items come in a clear mini tote with a rope handle, and the brand in repeat print.

I have already used a sample packet of the body milk, and I love it. It smells fruity and absorbs perfectly, unlike some body milks which leave the skin sticky or tacky. Perfect for our humid weather!

The full ingredients list for the Jill Stuart Bath & Body Travel Collection.

SKII Color Beauty Makeup X'mas Set

2011-12-29T10:17:00.009+08:00

The boy bought me a couple of presents for Christmas during his recent trip to Tainan. I was pretty touched by the fact that he spent the majority of the money he received on this trip in making me happy :*)

Besides two Jill Stuart makeup and skincare sets and a MAC travel brush set, he also surprised me with the SKII Color Clear Beauty set consisting of an eyeshadow palette, a blusher, a lipstick and a box of travel miniatures.

As he had a choice of colors, he picked eyeshadow palette #21, since purple is one of my favourite colors.

The main selling point is the eyeshadow base, which contains SKII's key ingredient, pitera.

There are another five colors available, and my appetite is already whet for #41, #71 and #81 :)

He got me the blusher in #11, Sweet Pink. Like the eyeshadow palettes, the blushers also come with a pitera base which serves to nourish the skin, enhance the color of the blush and help it last, as well as to give a 3D effect upon application.

There are five colors for the blushers. Every color looks delicious except maybe #41 :")

The moisture lipstick in #321 applies rather sheer and it also contains a center ring of pitera essense. The prices are rather exorbitant by my standards. Since it is a gift, I have no idea exactly how much the set costs, but it's roughly in the region of $250.

The set includes a rather large jewellery box with a mirror on the underside of the cover. I'm not liking this, as the cover will not stay open without something holding it up. Unless perhaps, you cut the two ribbons on each side and prop the cover against the wall.

Included in the box is a travel-sized bottle of Clear Lotion, Essence, Signs Signature Cream, and a sheet of the Facial Treatment Mask.

A totally unexpected and wonderful gift. Thank you love.

Ohayou Okusan with Silicon Baking Container January 2012 Issue

2011-12-27T14:18:00.002+08:00

Grabbed a copy of the Ohayou Okusan January 2012 issue from Kinokuniya last week. It comes with a 16cm silicon baking container with lid, and a diary.

This picture was what attracted me! I want to start baking bread again :)

Comes with a sheet of 50 New Year stickers.

A 2012 diary, perfect for recording household expenses. I don't need to keep drawing lines in a notebook anymore!

Everything isn't covered without a little pampering is it? Give yourself a treat with the un-fragranced sheet mask after all the hard work :)

Gryphon Tea: Earl Grey Lavender

2011-12-26T13:00:00.001+08:00

If you didn't know, I live above a crazy neighbour. I had to deal with his madness again today and made myself a cup of hot Earl Grey with Lavender to clam myself down. The scent of lavender was strong, and it helped greatly in soothing my ruffled feathers.

A pity I didn't have any pastry or chocolate on hand though.

Something That Made Me Happy Today (15)

2011-12-24T05:28:00.006+08:00

The boy bought me lunch!
(Included: an extra packet of green chillies)

Thank you love.
Am going to bed now.
Tomorrow will be another wonderful day.
It's Christmas Eve!
And what better way to spend it than with the person you love :)

The Adventures of Tintin Exhibition @ The Singapore Philatelic Museum

2011-12-23T15:08:00.006+08:00

We loved the movie! The rendering is so real and life-like, even with the cartoonish characters, I forget it's an animation at times. The current exhibition at the Singapore Philatelic Museum is also a real treat. Next open house is on Christmas day.

The Adventures of Tintin
Date: 5 November 2011 - May 2012
Singapore Philatelic Museum
23-B Coleman Street
Singapore 179807

Gryphon Tea: Hanami (Japanese Sencha with Cherry Blossoms)

2011-12-22T17:40:00.002+08:00

Finally managed to make my way to Culina at Dempsey before they close for the day, to get myself a box of Gryphon Tea's Artisan Selection, Treasures. This is a good way to sample ten different varieties of their tea, without having to commit to buying entire tins.

There are two packets of each flavour, packaged in the colors of the rainbow.

There are three different categories of tea - green, black, and herbal. The flavours are Hanami, Marrakesh Mint, Osmanthus Sencha, Pearl of the Orient, British Breakfast Tea, Contessa Grey, Earl Grey Lavender, Straits Chai, Chamomile Dream and Lemon Ginger Mint.

I chose Hanami today. It is a Japanese Sencha with Cherry Blossoms. The flavour is very mild, and somehow I keep thinking I smell peach or vanilla for some strange reason.

Suits the Starbucks Sakura Collection cup perfectly, don't you think?

Cross-stitched A Christmas Card for my Love

2011-12-20T16:11:00.001+08:00

So the boy finally opened his mailbox and got the card I painstakingly cross-stitched for him a couple of months ago. He called excitedly to say he loves it!

And that makes me happy :)

Before Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 The Movie

2011-12-19T03:14:00.016+08:00

Was queueing to get popcorn and drinks before watching The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, and the wait triggered yet another of my cold jokes.

I wanted to ask the staff, "How long is 'a while'?" (If you've watched the spoof on Youtube, you'll get the joke).

They'll probably say "shortly". Well, how long is 'shortly'? "Miss, you're the fifth person in the queue". Like that helps.

:"S

Making Ang Ku Kueh @ Singapore Philatelic Museum

2011-12-17T15:52:00.027+08:00

Another weekend spent visiting museums.

It was our first time visiting the Singapore Philatelic Museum, and prodded on by me, the boy showed off his artistic skills by making an ang ku kueh magnet.

Thereafter, I sent the boy off to the washroom and put the finishing touches on it with dainty hands the boy didn't have.

Stay tuned for highlights from The Adventures of Tintin Exhibition, now on till the end of May 2012. My love, if you are reading this post, the pictures please.

Agnes B GWP & Laura Mercier E-Mook

2011-12-16T03:07:00.021+08:00

The boy is finally back from Tainan. I was too sick to squeeze onto public transport and fetch him from the airport, not to mention busy cleaning the house :S

Nevertheless, he surprised me with the Marie Claire magazine that comes with an Agnes B fast drying nail polish and either a whiteboard or a notebook, and the Laura Mercier E-Mook (with oil-free foundation primer, cream smooth foundation, sponge and pouch) which I had been eyeing, but decided was too expensive to get.

The rest of the presents will be saved till Christmas day. I can see Jill Stuart on the paper bag and I think I've got an inkling what it'll be. Can't wait. Thank you love.

Something That Made Me Happy Today (14)

2011-12-05T17:00:00.001+08:00

A beautiful sky the boy and I enjoyed together, as we played in the wide open field and strolled by the sea.

4 Fingers Crispy Chicken Korean Style

2011-12-03T14:55:00.001+08:00

Since we started frequenting the basement food area at ION, we couldn't help but notice the 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken that many people were eating. It had to be good, given its popularity. The price however, was off-putting.

We finally had a chance to try it for a couple of dollars off the retail price, and I insisted on finding out just how good it is.

There is a choice of two flavours, garlic soya or spicy, and I opted for both. Spicy for myself, and garlic soya for the boy, in case he finds the spicy version too hot for his liking. The garlic soya flavouring was a little too salty, and the taste of garlic rather mild. The spicy flavouring was much better, in my opinion. A combination of sweet, spicy and sour. Somehow garlic soya with tabasco sauce comes to mind. The chicken however, was hard and dry, and tasted like yesterday's leftovers. Which is a pity, as the sauce will somehow manage to grow on you. If only the chicken had been done perfectly, I wouldn't mind having a box delivered to me right now.

Afterthoughts on Taipei

2011-12-02T20:01:00.000+08:00

To be honest, the boy and I never intended to travel to Taipei. We had assumed that it was just some boring old city. The original country we had planned to visit was Korea, and in our discussions months before, Taipei came up merely as a place of transit. Unfortunately, for certain reasons, we could not make it to Korea, but as we badly needed a trip, we decided that Taipei would be a cheaper and nearer alternative that will do for the moment.

As I looked out of the bus on our way to the hotel, a mix of Johor Bahru and Tokyo came to mind. Old and drab looking buildings interspersed with large areas of undeveloped land and forests.

The city center is a little more developed, with modern shopping malls among traditional shops fronting office buildings. More Bugis and Chinatown than Orchard Road, of which the closest match would be the Xinyi district where Taipei 101, Hankyu, Eslite, and the 4 Shinkong Mitsukoshi buildings are.

Transportation wise, the subway and railway will conveniently take you to the most visited places and attractions in and around Taipei. Failing which, the taxi is a reasonably priced alternative. Start up fares average NT70 (S$3), and the distance between two to four subway stops would set you back less than NT200.

Trains arrive within 1-3 minutes of the last, and as such, you don't find people packed like sardines in a tin even at rush hour. The Easy Card is a convenient form of payment to use on the subway. Initial purchase will cost you NT500, inclusive of an NT100 refundable deposit, and it entitles you to 20% discount off single ticket fares. The card can be bought from the ticketing machine or control station at any subway station, and functions as a tap and go, just like our ezlink card.

One thing we had a relatively hard time getting used to was the unspoken rule on how one should position oneself when riding the escalator. In Singapore, everyone keeps to the left when standing still, so that those in a hurry may walk up or down on the right. However, it is not a hard and fast rule. In Taipei, it's the exact opposite, and almost everyone follows it rigidly. Now back in Singapore, I find myself still keeping to the right when standing on the escalators.

As in Singapore, there are a couple of reserved seats in the mrt for the elderly, pregnant, those with children, and the disabled. People in Taipei tend to avoid occupying these seats even though the train is crowded and nobody in need of these special seats are in sight.

Our experience with bus drivers wasn't too good. They do not seem to like answering questions, and when they do on occasion, the reply is a gruff retort. The only cordial reply I've seen, is to a local lady who pandered to the driver, making him feel like he's boss. It makes me wonder if their attitude is the result of how a bus driver's job is being perceived in Taipei, that is, lowly.

The weather in late October is slightly bonkers, cool one day, or even part of the day, then sweltering the next. Sunny one day, then rainy the next. It got a little confusing when deciding on long pants versus bermudas, umbrella or not. Late November and December would probably see nicer (in my dictionary, it means cooler) and more consistent weather.

Street food, like those you find anywhere else, is best approached with caution. I did not notice gloves being used when handling food, but even in Singapore, you occassionally see vendors preparing food wearing gloves, then handling money with the gloves still on! That said, we did not end up with food poisoning after consuming whatever little street food we dared to try. Our best dining experiences weirdly, were in cafes and restaurants.

A mildly, or sometimes greatly annoying quirk, especially when your hands are full, is the habit shops have of not giving out plastic bags to carry your purchases in, except when the item in question is a pack of sanitary napkins. In the beginning, we had no idea we could purchase one for just NT1, and had to precariously balance two hot boxes of freshly microwaved bentos and two bottles of drinks in the only free hand we had, back to our hotel. Thankfully, it was just across the road. I also realise that receipts do not have itemised breakdowns on them, except Watsons. You end up with just the total amount spent, which isn't helpful at all in remembering what you bought. I'm guessing there is a 'no returns' policy in Taipei? How would you be able to get a refund or exchange when the receipt given to you does not even indicate what item(s) you bought.

There are quite a number of night markets in Taipei, and we went to four of them, namely, Shida Night Market, Shilin Night Market, Raohe Night Market and Ximending Night Market. My fave would be the Shilin Night Market for the sheer quantity and variety of food and clothing, whilst Raohe Night Market would be the most interesting. Shida, with its mixture of small air-conditioned independent boutiques and regular shops, is a little different from the two markets just mentioned. Somehow, it reminds us of Arab Street. Ximending, on the other hand, fared the worst as a night market. The area is an extremely nice place to shop in during the day, but come nightfall, only a handful of pushcarts selling uninteresting foodstuff and random knick knacks line the street. It was the only night market where we saw the vendors running off due to a false alarm that police had been seen in the area, so perhaps there has been frequent crackdowns in Ximending?

We had a couple of really nice day trips to Danshuei, Beitou Hot Spring Area, Qiufen, Shifen and Yehliu. If I had to pick just two places, it would be Qiufen/Shifen and Yehliu, but I'm glad I had the chance to visit all of the above spots.

So that wraps up my short experience with Taipei. Yours might differ of course. If you happen to be a local, I hope my post gave you a unique insight into your country as seen from the eyes of a particular foreigner.

A Review of City Inn Hotels, Taipei

2011-12-01T15:06:00.005+08:00

A month before our trip to Taipei, and there weren't many available rooms left that fit our budget. It was fortunate that we managed to get rooms at CityInn, which was highly recommended by others on the internet. We stayed at the CityInn II on our first night in Taipei, as there was no available room at the branch in Ximending on the first night. Our only gripe was that we had to lug our two luggages all the way to the hotel, which was a 10 minute walk from the Taipei Main Station.

There is a PC with internet connection at the lobby area.

We were lucky to get a twin room, as their double bed is a queen size, and a wee bit too small for the both of us, given the boy's generous body size.

The room was clean, there is a study table with a hot water flask and cups and a couple of sachets of tea. The television was a flat screen of good size, and the bathroom was big enough for two. The shower stall is just nice for one person though, and there's no bathtub.

In my opinion, this is the better hotel of the two that we stayed in, although both rooms do not have windows. There are rooms with windows, so if you happen to be claustrophobic, be sure to request for a room with one.

We only managed to get a double room at CityInn Plus as the twin rooms were fully booked.
We had originally been given a room with a bathtub and a huge bathroom, but no sofa. Given that we had no need for a bathtub, but preferred a bigger room space to navigate in, we asked for a change of rooms and the management was extremely accommodating. It helped that we arrived at noon and stayed till 3pm to make sure we were satisfied with our room.

There is a lounge in the basement where the laundry room is. You can watch television while waiting for your laundry to be done, and the service is free of charge. Wireless internet is available in every room and included in the price.

The bathroom is rather similar to the one at CityInn II. There is a sofa, a luggage stand, and a study table. The television is a flat screen, but as with CityInn II, there is no closet. Instead, you may hang your clothes on the clothes hanger attached to the wall.

A major gripe I had with this room was the stained bed skirting. It was not the kind of stain that could not be washed away, but a result of an unwashed skirting. Most likely someone had spilled some food on the skirting and the hotel does not change the skirting for the beds.

Location-wise, I couldn't ask for better. CityInn Plus is located just across the road from FE'21, a 2 minute walk from entrance 3 of Ximending Station, and a 5 minute walk from the Ximending shopping district and night market.

The staff at the reception are very polite and nice. They greet guests on every entry and exit, and are more than willing to answer your queries on attractions and transportation around Taipei. Do take note though, that your room key needs to be surrendered to the counter each time you leave the hotel, and that rooms at CityInn hotels are being let out for two hour blocks whenever available. Somehow, our local Hotel 81 comes to mind.

Something That Made Me Happy Today (13)

2011-11-30T18:32:00.001+08:00

Yes, a packet of tissues. Albeit one with such adorable prints >0< .

Taipei: Dinner @ Wine de Kanpai Yakiniku Bistro

2011-11-30T09:30:00.001+08:00

We shopped at Breeze Center till closing time, then realised that there was nowhere to have our dinner. Fortunately for us, the boy discovered this lovely restaurant that was still open for the night.

You won't fail to notice these cooker hoods that look like gigantic pepper grinders above the tables.

Heating up the coal for our BBQ.

I had a calpis soda and the boy had a beer. In fact, we had two.

The dish for your cooked slices of meat also carries the soya and lemon-based dipping sauces. There's also a dollop of mustard and salt and pepper.

Our selection of meat for the meal. The quality was good, and our happiness was upped a hundred-fold as we had thought we were going to end up eating takeaways from a convenience store yet again.

Mixed Butter Cheese Vegetables wrapped in foil, for a balanced meal.

As expected, I couldn't resist it when I saw that they had kimchi soup on the menu. Unfortunately, the soup was disappointing. It wasn't the least bit spicy, and there was so little kimchi in it, it tasted like anything but.

We loved the place though, with it's dim lighting that made our dinner experience all the more romantic. Although service can be improved, we talk of going back for more. I guess that says a lot.

Address：台北復興南路一段39號GF (Breeze Center, Fuxing, Ground Floor)
Business hours: 11：00 ~24:00 (Last order 23:00)

Taipei: Agnes B Cafe

2011-11-27T20:01:00.004+08:00

Feeling tired after all the shopping, we decided to have a quick bite at the Agnes B Cafe on the ground level of Hankyu departmental store in the Xinyi District, before walking over to Eslite.

You can see the cafe from outside the building.

We shared a beef with mustard sandwich which was surprisingly tasty. I would have had another except that we had a buffet dinner planned for later.

I had a Kiwi Fruit Juice, and the boy had a Vitamine Fruit Juice, which was predominantly watermelon. Aside from the Sweet Fruits Tea from Afternoon Tea Cafe, this was the other drink I wished I could bring a carton of, back home with me. Sweet, pulpy and cold. It was heaven.

Taipei: Afternoon Tea Cafe
Taipei: Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe
Taipei: Dazzling Cafe