Tuesday, February 17, 2009

short but fulfilling trip to Taiwan...

I went on a very short and last minute holiday to Taiwan the past weekend...it was short but very very fulfilling in many many ways...

Things went badly from the beginning actually - i lost my luggage. Yep! The first time in my entire traveling history..AND the only time that I did not get any insurance for that matter..I arrived at TaoYuan Intl airport..went through customs and went to collect my lugguage..something was not right when there were only 4 items left on the belt..haiz..went to report to the China Airlines CS and they were so comforting and friendly..* i had thought about this situation every single time i traveled* while waiting to fill in the forms the phone rang and I felt like God was shining on me..the person that took the luggage was outside at the arrival hall...we immediately rushed out to get my bag..the couple was Singaporean..their luggage was similar to mine with green ribbon (theirs had 2 ribbons actually and their luggage was blue..mine's black =P)..she kept apologising and I was only glad I got it back..hahaha...this was like the scariest thing that happened to me but at least I've learnt how to handle it..

My friend asked me..how to guarantee ppl won't purposely take away others luggage..I told this friend that that person would be you..since you are already thinking about it...

Anyway..we took a cab to TaoYuan High Speed Railway station..about 15 mins I think (too shocked to pay attn)...took a 750+pm rail to Tainan...it was really on the dot..even the arrival time into Tainan was on the dot too...I was amazed..it was like timed down...anyway..we met a Taiwanese lady..so nice..asked her to get tix for us and she was talking to herself that the 'reserved' seats were 1250ntd - she felt it was too expensive..she bought the 'non-reserved' ones - 1105ntd (..the whole journey she was apologising as it was pretty full and it was expensive (after 8pm there's a discount i think)..she was so cute..and she was 28 or 29..with 2 kids!! on the train she received a call..she told me that her friend working with her at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi 新光三越 was fired (they say ' fire diao le') and was told that becoz her sales wasn't good enough..she need not go to work the next day..this is how serious the recession is..

anyway..I didn't take much photos there as it was really short and I was going from place to place..here's some photos as well as minimal descriptions:

Day 1: arrival lor..than took train to Tainan..I was too shocked to think or even take photos..we had dinner from 7-11..alot of microwave-able food that are really tasty..next time..I will remember to eat 1 meal from their 7-11...also must remember to wei po it..or something..hahahaha...
Day 2: Shin Kong Mitsukoshi [lunch and shopping for Lush and Jill Stuart =) ] night was spent at Flower garden night market (花園夜市) as it was open on Sat night..there were so many games there..I was telling my friend that these games will flop in SG coz ppl here think about winning % that the game will not work..hhaha..no one will spend the money to try lor...haiz...



My lunch at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi 新光三越 台南新天地 it was beef ramen I think..so much that I could not finish it at all..only managed 3/4 I think..

Day 3: Went back to Taipei. Lunch was Sushi onboard...

There's english words - so still quite safe...this time we took the 'reserved' seating..was about 100+ntd more than 'non-reserved'.

Our seat no...like aircraft hor?

My lunch..8 pc sushi..only 100ntd about (S$4)..bought from the station..

ME! first picture of me..hahahah.....


=0>The view of the train ride..nothing like SG..all the mountains and greenery..just relaxing...and somewhat romantic too...the ride from tainan to taipei station is about 1 hr 30min I think...

Tainan's weather is similar to SG..rather warm I feel (was wearing T-shirt and jeans) in Taipei..its different..it was much much cooler..and with the wind..it was like air-coniditioned room..



Also, since taipei is city..high-rise buildings are inevitable..I tried to capture this..the light a-top the building seems to be a heart-shaped..but obviously my camera can't capture lor..


Checked into Burgary Hotel - this was just outside Ximenting area..about 3000ntd per night...
IV>After that it was shopping time..went to WuFenPu and Shilin Night Market..since it was a Sunday..it was pretty quiet..so advisable to go to the markets on Sunday..


'MRT' line...

MRT tokens..looks like carpark tokens hor?
My dinner..went back to XiMenTing..a japanese restuarant that I realised came to SG already (Azabu Sabo or something)..I was missing the dessert so I sort of insisted going back there...becoz...we wanted to eat xiao chi along the street..after ordering the chong you prata..i think the health officers or police came and the pushed the cart away..we went to get a drink at the 7-11 and when we came out we can't find the auntie..so I say to go eat at the restuarant...but...i think I am suay or something..the dessert I wanted was oos..haiz..so I still never got to eat it..think this Sat I want to go to Marina Sq to eat le...

Day 4: Burgary hotel offers breakfast delivered to your room..so why not..I woke up at around 8am to wait for breakfast although I slept at around 330am..was wondering what they'd deliver..the door bell rang and I opened..the auntie gave me 2 brown paper bag..I was like huh...it was KFC!!!



Very nice and yummy..its pita skin with sausage and egg..hehehe...very filling too...and came with a cup of orange juice (Aside to Ami n Mic - this was much much better than what we had in Rainbow..hahaha)

Entrance of the hotel..lobby..it is small..and alot of ppl stay there...alot of couples..I think due to the Vday weekend...



just outside the hotel...to the left will be XiMenTing's entrance....very cold day...maybe coz I was going back...the building in the photo is partyworld!!and its the whole building!!!Ami, Mic..we know where to go le!!!Went to NYNY for coffee..ahaha..our flight was at 630pm and checkout was at 12noon..so we decided to go 101..but..it was drizzling and it was foggy....

This was one of the clearer photos that when the fog/clouds cleared for 5 seconds that I captured..other than this it was like walking to a glass that contained smoke from dry ice??similar la..what I mean is you can't see anything lor..hahaha...oh..this was 89th floor..the lift took about 20sec???!!!damn cool and they turned off the lights in the lift..the CS there can speak like all sorts of language..english not that good la...EG:

This was a display..suddenly my friend saw the warning and I was like..hahaa..so evil that I took a photo on the spot and post it here...

The device that was giving us a free tour..but becoz we couldn't see the horizon that it was asking us to..it was kinda useless...nonetheless..it was good info...=)

101 was really tall so this was the damper that sort of stablises the building..I find that it looks like a honey container..the one that pooh has..we wanted to go 91st floor which is the outdoor observatory but due to the fog..it was closed..haiz..sad....


Outside 101..hiding from the freaking cold wind...it was drizzling actually...felt like it was snowing..hahaha..i think too much sometimes...we were deciding if we should head back to have lunch or eat there...decided to head back..just in case...

Lunch at XiMenTing's Fish House/Nest...my hot bubble tea!!!!I've been missing this for 2 years!!!!
Looks good right??my last lunch there...this was so freaking filling...
IV>Lastly, my loots from this trip..I spent alot..but mostly on Jill Stuart and Lush..not much clothes... and I did not even step into Watsons...hahahah

Food Stuff...




my Lush loots..ppl will think I am damn smelly..look at the amount of soap I bought!!! this was about 3000ntd (~S$150)



Skinfood loot...some was cheaper there..so bought some lor...

My most expensive loots...6000+ntd..Jill Stuart!!

Fragrance...I am totally in love with it...the scent..the packaging too!!
Jelly eye color...smells great!!



My receipt...and 2 eye cream..one's for Ami - my vday pressie to her...=)
Other stuff..that was all I bought..not alot mah...hahahaha....

Over the past weekend..my vday pressie from Ami arrived! And, it arrived on Vday!! My benefit blushers!!!


My own vday pressie to myself: Juicy perfume!





Thursday, February 12, 2009

Birthday Celebration at St James....

Well, we celebrated Skyy's birthday last week at St James..some photos...



Group shot of the ladies....part 1


Part 2....



The whole gang..or rather almost all the gang....

Bday mummy and me....

haha...teasing the groom??they were asking him to drink..drink and drink..hahah...
Guess who saved the day?hahaha....


It was so much fun going out with them...hopefully we can do it again soon...=) I sound like a kid...


Sunday, February 8, 2009

Early Valentines' Day...


Well..next Sat is Feb 14th..so that's Valentines' Day...Yong and me decided that it'll be too crowded and too expensive to go out..the food prices gets jacked up so much and you will not be able to order ala carte. So, we decided to do it this week..

I had wanted to go to botanic gardens for dinner since I read a review on Cleo..Yong wanted to go to 1 Rochester..in the end? We went to Dempsey Road's Red Dot..a brewery...it was drizzling when we went out at about 6...


I found a green card on my chair - looks like trash...I was..huh...so I read the card..it was a note from Yong...

Can't really read but at the last few sentences it was about "how could a Vday be complete without flowers...and the surprise look that he never fail to get out from me...here's 3 roses just to say I love you..." I was OK..so i looked around..where got rose?so I went back to read the card..maybe e drew roses for me *knowing him*...nothing...so i think and turned around..there it was!!

in between the 2 seats..a bouquet of 3 roses...hahah...that's him..not romantic but he never fails to surprise me and bring a smile to my face..think he's getting there le...

Ok..reach Dempsey Road..the place was very rustic...don't feel like you're in Singapore..more like Bali or Phuket..a lot of ang mos there..so it feels even more like you're not in Singapore...Started with drinks....Red Dot is a brewery so ordering beer is inevitable for Yong...

Before the beer came..just taking some pictures....they have this beer called 'Monster Green'...this is supposed to be a healthy beer..but i feel like it looks like wheat grass drink..haha...just look at my face...

haha..i was smelling the beer..yep..the glass of green drink is BEER! Yong tried convincing me too...

yea..it tastes like beer..don't let the color deceive you...hahahah...next up..starters....





I wanted to get the Red Dot salad but it was out..so I ordered the Caprese Salad...it has tomatoes, mozzarella cheese with pesto sauce and salad...the tomatoes were to die for..they were so juicy that even Yong who doesn't eat tomatoes converted..

Next up, our mains - hawaiian pizza and snowfish....the snowfish was cod fish actually..
'Pan-seared cod fish seated on mango sauce, tomato & mango salsa,
garnished with deep-fried leek, roasted cherry vine tomato,
salmon roe and caviar' this is yummy! when we get our own house I will try to replicate this..ahahha...like I can right??maybe a simpler version bah..

The pizza was cooked the traditional way..stone oven..the crust was just nice...Yong's favourite portion I guess...

Dessert!! last minute decision but I cannot leave this place without first savouring its dessert...I ordered their ' Tropical Creme Brulee' this comes with Vanilla ice cream....I have to say...this was heavenly..hahahaa.....I really enjoyed my early Vday dinner....but...it didn't end here...just as we were turning out of Dempsey...I saw a couple of cars whiz past us and there were 2 TPs behind...nope..not a car chase...I told Yong about it..so he was like 'you want me to chase ah?' hahaha..of course not la..as we moved off and to the next traffic light..they were there!

This was on Lornie Road already..sorry for the blur pic..I used flash..so afraid the TP would come to us and stop us...hahahaa

Yong say that it must be some big shots...as we were chasing I got more excited (never see before ma)..no cars were allowed to overtake them..and if the cars filtered in...they were 'asked' to go behind..Yong confirmed must be some big shot....so we 'tailed' all the way to Thomson Road...hehe...than the car was turning right and we were going straight..so I caught a glimpse of who was in the car...it was PM Lee in the flesh!!!!haha..oh..i exclaimed PM Goh until Yong corrected me..too excited...hahaha....first time in my 26 years I have seen any minister of that level travel so closely to me....OK la..maybe I exaggerated but it was such a shock...I half-believed Yong when he said that it must be PM, SM or MM that level to have 2 cars and 2 bikes protecting him..Be..sorry..I believe le...

So that was my paparazzi moment..us being the paparazzi..hahah...

HAPPY VALENTINES' DAY!!!

CoastalScents loot...

Last month, ami, diane and me shared a shipment from coastalscents..was due to the much raved about 88 eyeshadow palette...I am a MAC fan..so I use MAC potted shadows and pigments most of my time and of course their paint, paint pots blah blah blah... However, when I went to CS website and saw the palettes..I couldn't keep my hands off them..normal..hahah...my total damage: S$72.84..yep....normal right??
What I got:
3 pc Limited Edition Brush Set (US$9.95) - consists of 1 kabuki brush, 1 face/blush brush and 1 concealer brush
15 pcs Empty Palette 26 mm Pan Size(US$7.95) (got this to make my pressed pigments which I spent another $94 getting pigments from xuelint)
8 Pack 26 mm Empty Magnetic Pans (US$3.45) - Fits Our 4 pc Empty Palette (same pan size as MAC shadow) my spares actually..planning on selling them off on ebay..
78 Piece Makeup Palette (US$21.95) - decided to get this instead of the 88 coz there's blush and the eyeshadows are divided into shimmer and non-shimmer...haha..i just like more variety =)


Some pictures of the 78 palette and the brush set...


Look at the colors!!! OMG...can't wait to use them tonight...




The brushes..I've actually cleaned the brushes...the kabuki sheds and sheds..am hoping that it will not continue to shed...as for the blush/face brush..it was better..

yippee!!!! 2nd part will be FOTD and of coz the reviews on the brushes...=)

Opening of Linksys RMA Center...KTV..

Quite a while since I updated my blog and I was busy with a number of events since my last KTV session with Mei and gang....

Cisco announced their quarter earnings and it is obviously not that good...1500-2000 job cuts are expected...haiz...we just have to wait and see than...

Well, our RMA center in Funan was opened on the 6th Feb 2009...I was there to be kaypo..hehe..since it was a Friday and seemed good to get out of office...I also wanted to say hi to Angeline - lady outsourced to take care of the center...some photos of the opening...








And, that evening I went to KTV with Michelle, Ami, Beth, Elvin and Gem...Beth was having a sorethroat so we only managed to hear her sing 2 songs...haha...mic, ami and me went wild just singing and singing..hahahaha...some photos as well...






Everyone except us left around 10 as Beth wasn't feeling well...around 1115pm uncle elvin came back...was so kind of him to come and fetch us home...

Elvin took photos of us...hahaha..this was at 1130pm!!can you imagine how energetic we were??
This is the song stuck to my head since the last KTV session with Mei and gang...there's a cantonese version too....
林峯 & 泳兒 - 明天以後