Singapore Garden Festival 2006

Been busy at work and usually leave the office just a little before 7pm and only reason am out of the office cuz the lady who normally locks up the place will be walking pass my office several times, trying to hint to me to GO HOME AND GET A LIFE! *laughs*

I needed to get some things today so decided to spent some time with me and started the day early and headed to Suntec to check out the Singapore Garden Festival 2007. Heard about it and wanted to see it. Last day for the exhibition is 25 Dec but I am pretty sure it will be super pack on that day. Lots of pretty displays and you have to see in person to truly appreciate. No pictures can do justice but have tried to take some shots and put them up on my flickr page so pop there to take a look. Have selected a few to post on the blog - just my favourite ones.
This one was done by a Canadian and I really like centrepiece. Am just hoping that the antlers came from a moose who died of old age rather than one hunted down during hunting season.

Had an urge to fly to Bali or Thailand when I saw this next display. I can image a garden just like this with the seats at the back, perfect for massaging or just lazing around with a drink at hand.

Odd how when put lots of these prickly fellas together in straight rows, the whole design looks pretty and it was quite a challenge trying to figure out how to take a shot of them all.

Level 6 had displays done by award-winning designers. You start there first and once you're done, head down to Level 4 where you can see a variety of orchids. Lots I've never seen before and I was just in awe by how many types there are out there.

If you want to see more pictures, pop over to here. Better still, head down to Suntec and take a look at the awesome displays!

A girlie trip to K.L. 2006

Back in December 2005, Jas and I spent a few days in Kuala Lumpur and had a good time doing things that a couple of girls would normally do such as going for hair cuts and treatments, facials, pedicures and manicures, shopping and lots of makan.

And this year, again we went to Kuala Lumpur for about 4 days and did enough damage to our pockets again. Spoilt by the last trip, we stuck with TRANSTAR TRAVELS to get us to Kuala Lumpur in their luxurious first class coach. Unfortunately, we had two really bratty kids who sat right behind us and they really irritated the hell out of us. The parents of course had no control over them and thankfully, they slept after an hour of misbehaving.

We stayed at Hotel Nikko which was really close by the KLCC. The staff were really nice and the service fantastic. Room was nice and big (though we didn't have a great view but never mind, can't have it all ya). The bathroom was also huge and had an interesting loo that I just had to take a pic of. Yes, I seem to have a fascination for toilet seats but this one just HAD to share with everyone.

If you look at the the picture, the toilet has an integrated bidet that has two options - depending on what you were doing (big one or little one I think). Depending on which you select, the water will shoot out differently. Not that I figured out the difference but I was still fascinated that such a thing existed. Love the bidet!!! :o)

After a long and tiring day out, when we got back to our rooms, there will always be complimentary fruits waiting for us. Usually we expect it on the first day but everyday? Yup, we got it everyday...bananas, oranges and even yummy mangoes. We were impressed (yes, we're also easily impressed by little things like this!)

SHOP, EAT AND MORE SHOPPING ...

I like Suria KLCC. It's huge and expensive but I like it. I can't afford like 80% of the things that they sell there but I still like it. They were all done up for Xmas and everyone's busy shopping. And below is the decoration for the huge Xmas tree that they had there.

There are lots of eateries to choose from and we did our fair share of eating there. We had some yummy unagi rolls at Nippon Tei. Must try! Also ate at the food court but got to go there early cuz the lunch time crowd is horrid and lunch can stretch till 3pm. So go early. We also rewarded ourselves with the chocolate fondue from Haagan Dazs. It's slightly cheaper than in Singapore but the spread is pretty similar.

Below a picture of me pigging out and nope, I didn't finish everything on my own. Shared it with Jas and I only took my half *grins*

And of course, I had to take an after shot of our chocolate fondue. We finished the mini scoops of ice cream and fruits but were too full to finish the biscuits and other dry stuff.

We managed to do some shopping at Isetan (Ms Read & Total Woman) and their Marks and Spencer really impressed me. They had a lot more variety and stuff we didn't know even existed cuz the Singapore branches don't carry them. Quite a shame actually cuz they really had nice things and I noticed they had larger sizes too. Good on them for bringing in the variety for us larger ladies!!!

Lot 10 was a waste of time for me I think. I remembered it being so much better before but after this visit, I would probably not head there the next time. Can definitely afford to give it a miss.

Mid Valley Megamall was good and we actually took the local train to get there cuz it was so convenient. We went to Ms Read boutique and checked out Isetan and a few other places. It's really excellent for kids' clothes cuz of the discounts, you get them at a steal. Can understand now why parents lug their lil children there!

Sungei Wang Plaza is good if you want cheap Ah Lian clothes. Sorry Sungei Wang Plaza fans but that's what I saw. Lots of ah lian wear there. But we did manage to get some CDs and DVDs (and yes, got some Korean OST cuz it was much cheaper there). Somehow audio compilations are alot better in Malaysia than the ones we get here.

Jusco was a surprised cuz they actually had lovely (and cheap) clothes, even for larger sizes. Go for Scarlett, Passion, A Plus and Big Brown Bag. The last two are a little bit pricer cuz I think it's imported clothes but Scarlett is a local brand (am guessing here) and you can get a nice top for like RM49.00!

1 Utama Shopping Centre is a new mall that we unfortunately didn't get to go. I would definitely want to head there next time cuz that seem to be the only other place to check out Marks and Spencer! And also they have Ms Read Boutique there so this is a MUST VISIT for 2007!

SELF PAMPERING ...

This time round we skipped doing pedicures and manicures cuz it wasn't that fantastic the last time. And we tried Clarin's the last time for our facials so this time round, we went for Leonard Drake at Suria KLCC. They use dermalogica products which are suppose to be good for sensitive skin so we went ahead and signed up for a facial on Day 2.

Unfortunately, it didn't turn out to be a great experience for me at Leonard Drake. I did mention to the girls that was analysing my skin that I had really sensitive skin and I couldn't use alot of the products from different make-up brands. And even mentioned that I was on Differen and Dalacin which made my skin really dry. I stuck my head into a rather cook gadget that showed how hydrated my skin was and after that analysis, I was told I needed one of their soothing facials. Fine by me. Disaster struck about 30 minutes after the facial ended and both my checks turn painfully red. It was horrid and I was shocked as it looked like the skin was burnt. Went back to Leonard Drake and was told that it wasn't THAT bad. Trust me, it was bad and they took me in to do damage control by using some cold compress on my skin. They felt very satisfied that the redness went slightly down but once I hit outdoors and started perspiring, the redness was all back and it was stinging like hell! Why don't people believe me when I say my skin is hypersensitive. Usual reaction I'll get is a pat on my shoulder and a look that says 'we all have sensitive skin'. And when my skin flares up like that, all I get is an 'OH'. No sorry, no admiting that they made a mistake, just an 'OH'.

Anyways, no more facials for me the next time. The girls at Leonard Drake did their best to help but I ended up paying even more to buy their products to repair the damage done. No extra discount nothing. And when I asked for more samples to last the next few days so that I don't have to buy three other expensive Dermalogica products. I was told they can't give more cuz the CCTV will be recording their ever move. Isn't this an exception for giving them samples? But nope, had to fork out more Malaysia Ringgit *shakes head* Will go for the hair treatments instead cuz it seems to be less painful than them facials. Don't want to spend my time putting lots of aloe vera on my face to sooth it in between shopping. No thank you.

Anyways, let's move on. We also had a haircut at SAW Hair Salon @ Suria KLCC. If you want to pamper yourself some and don't mind paying RM170, ask for Edwin Saw. We did and we loved our hair cut (but of course it was a different story the next day when we washed our hair and it didn't look as nice as before. We want Edwin Saw in Singapore!!!). While I was waiting for Jas to finish her haircut, I saw Siti Nurhaliza and her hubby walk into SAW Hair Salon. Yup, Siti Nurhaliza had her hair done there. So Edwin wasn't kidding when he said he was Malaysia's top hairstylist! And they had a VIP room for such celebrities that us mere mortals were kept out of.

Talking about famous people, we crossed paths with another 'celebrity'. We were waiting for the shuttle bus outside KLCC and saw a huge car that looked like a tanker. I later learnt that it was a Porsche Cayenne. What caught my attention was not only the size but the license plate 'MM1'. And that's like real unique and we were wondering who would have such a car. We were so engrossed in trying to figure out the license plate that we didn't realise the owner had gone into the car. We asked a Suria KLCC staff what 'MM1' stood for and she smiled and said 'Mahathir Mohamad' and we were like 'oooohhh'. We took a look and yes it was him. And he looked well and was driving the car himself. We couldn't wave cuz had too many bags but he was smiling and waving. Really cool day we had!!!

This time round we TRIED to have a budget and stick to it. Did we manage to stick to it. Not successfully. But we tried to cut costs and did better this time round compared to the last time. So what did we managed to do right this time round:

Have a heavy breakfast. Yes, that's usually included with the room so make good use of that. We tucked in during breakfast and that meant that we could have a light lunch (pie or something light) and then have a nice dinner. Makes better sense than having three huge meals which could get to be costly!

Ask if the hotel provides shuttle service to the shopping centres. We were lucky cuz Hotel Nikko had a shuttle service every hour to KLCC and Lot 10. So we used that fully and saved so much cuz we usually ended up getting ripped off when we take the local cabs. The other way is to use the local train system which is like the MRT. Very clean and regular and more importantly, CHEAP! From KLCC, there was a straight train ride to KL Sentral. And from there, take the KTM to Mid Valley Mall which was just a stop from there. We ended up spending like RM5 each getting to Mid Valley Mall and back. Only thing is got to make sure you are not on the train when people going or coming back from work cuz it will be just too pack.

Here's a picture of a little bridge found IN the train station to help you cross the tracks.

At Mid Valley Megamall, we ate at Nando's for lunch. There's a huge variety at the basement and at Nando's they serve huge portions so please be warn if you are a light eater! And their soup came in a huge plate so make sure you're very hungry if you're going to try soup and main meal here.

Anyways, for any trip, got to get oneself a souvenior and this time I got these pair of Risis (Singapore company btw) earrings of the Bunga Raya (Hibiscus) which is Malaysia's national flower. Very pretty I think. Also got myself a lovely work bag and a Monopoly set Malaysian Edition. It's something I do, each new country I visit, I try to get the local edition of Monopoly. Still have to catch up on that collection (yes, another collection that I have) cuz don't have sets from some of the places I've visited.

I had a good trip in KL and manage to eat and shop some. And now it's back to work :o( Here's to the next trip to KL hopefully sometime in 2007!

Stripey and Curly the Elephants

We finally completed the elephants! And yes, they can stand on their own four feet. It was such a challenging task cuz am used to making elephants that were meant for hugging thus no need to stand on their own. But we had a request for one that could so it meant several attempts at them elephants before we got it right.

I made this one and I like the vertical stripes on him. Also tried to make him with droopy eyes but they didn't end up looking so droopy in the end. Am tempted to add some other embellishment but right now, I kinda like the clean look on him so will not add anything else to him

My Dad made this one below and added some extras to the elephant. Looks alot more garang compared to the one above. First time for him and I think it will be a long while before we make another elephant like this. Wasn't easy trying to sew the different parts together. We even ended up studying toy elephants when we came across them when we're out shopping. These two are about 14 inches in length and about 9.5 inches in height. We though the toys being bigger, it would be easier to sew them but we were wrong ... it was just as hard. And I have NO IDEA how people sew them tiny toys. I have a greater appreciation for such complicated soft toys now.

Anyways, am taking a break from toy making. Am going to head to Kuala Lumpur for a few days to recharge before starting work all over again. Last year about this time, Jas and I were also in Kuala Lumpur for a tai-tai trip and we hope to do the same this time round.

Speaking of which, I have about 5 more hours to sleep and pack. We're leaving in the morning so that means sleeping on the bus. Alrighty, nitey nite one and all!

That Bazaar @ Clarke Quay

There is a new weekend bazaar that has just started recently at Clarke Quay called That Bazaar @ Clarke Quay. I checked it out today and it was rather quiet in terms of the crowd at the bazaar. One possible reason could be that many are not aware of this bazaar just yet. Am keeping my fingers cross that they continue to keep it 'atas' and not bring in the pasar malam vendors like what happened to Stadium Cove which eventually had to close down.

As for this bazaar, they have too many vendors selling jewellery and could do with a lot more variety. The write-up (see extract below) I found about this bazaar claim to have an international base of 45 budding entrepreneurs and trades...well didn't see all 45 on that day. Am hoping that they will make an appearance at the next bazaar in January.

Anyways, here's the write up about That Bazaar @ Clarke Quay. Do pop over to check it out in January. They might have more things set up then.

"Clarke Quay has collaborated with up-market bazaar organizer, This and That Bazaar, to present an international base of 45 budding entrepreneurs and traders with unique and high quality products to sell. They comprise of original works of design, from fashion and jewellery to art and home accessories.

Known as THAT BAZAAR @ CLARKE QUAY, the bazaar will be a premium bazaar that will offer the shoppers high quality and unique products in a beautiful ambience by the Singapore River. THAT BAZAAR @ CLARKE QUAY will be held every last Saturday and Sunday of every month from 12 noon to 9 pm (except December when it is held on 9 and 10).Situated under the beautiful and colourful ANGEL CANOPY at the Central Square Fountain, the partners of THIS & THAT BAZAAR have personally scouted the entire country to bring together these entrepreneurs and designers selling exquisite products not sold at department stores."

Tagged

Dear Bernie tagged me and had to check with Fiona what that exactly meant. Nothing painful. Just have to answer these three questions and then have the pleasure of tagging another person. And who is that person...who else...sorry Mag!

(Q1) Have you ever cheated while playing a board game?
Yes I have cheated when I was much much younger cuz that was the last time I think I played them board games. Cheated to help a friend cuz an obnoxious girl was bragging on how well she was doing again and again and again (we were playing monopoly) and I had enough of it so decided to cheat to help another friend win so that the girl can just SHUT UP. I was real young. Would I still cheat now? Yup, probably would *grins*

(Q2) Have you ever said an ugly baby was cute to be kind to the mother?
Yes I have cuz I just didn't have the heart to tell the mommy otherwise. She was somebody I just met and don't know her well enough to tell her the truth and hey, babies are SUPPOSE to be cute so who am I to say otherwise.

(Q3) When was the last time you called someone a "bitch"?
Hmmm...good question. Compared to college days, I am a saint now and use it sparingly and only for the truly deserving sort. Trying to recall who was the last person I called a bitch ... oh yes! I called an acquaintance a bitch in November. Wow, that's a long time ago!!! I am so losing it. Not good, not good at all.

Chomel the Elephant

Was talking to my Dad about a new order I have - to make a standing toy elephant. I have not made one that can stand before and I always love the challenge. My Dad got excited about it too and we started looking up some books that I got from Sydney in June. I was too impatient to read the books and tried to modify a pattern I came up with for another elephant and two hmmm...unelephant-like looking toys, I gave up and decided to do some research, something I should have done earlier so that I won't waste them cloth.

But my Dad approached the project in a different manner. We studied the patterns and discussed how we would have to sew the parts together. He then spent the whole evening making a paper version of the elephant.

And this is from a man who has never made any toy before and sewing was limited to patching up clothings or sewing buttons on his shirts. So this is like a big deal and yes, he's pretty much hooked. Yay!! Cuz the next evening, he made a felt version and it turned out rather cute. This is a toy a grandpa is making for his grandson so it's pretty awesome I think. Infact his looks more like a elephant than mine which resembles a COW!

Then last night, he used a clean towel to cut the pieces up and made another elephant and it's getting better. And now that we made enlargement to the patterns, he will be making another one real soon and I have YET to start on my third try.

Here's a shot of his elephants look like. It's work in progress but we're all real proud of his work! And I've bought a huge bag of polyfill stuffing cuz there's two people in the family who are into making toys now :o)

My tribute to MBA!

Alrighty ladies (as in MBA), we have a write up about MBA on Fi's blog and pictures from our college days on Bernie's blog and it didn't occur to me till last night at 11.15pm that we have glam shots of MBA that we took some years back! It was really fun doing them studio shots and ladies, we definitely need to do this more often. So here's my tribute to MBA! And why a tribute now and not during MBA day? Well, it's one of those just cuz I guess :o)

First we paired up to take some shots and there are just too many to choose from, so Fi and Bernie, hope you both don't mind this one that I picked.

Both ladies looking gorgeous here with their smiles and that's just them, beautiful inside out!

Mag and I paired up and like Fi and Bernie, we had our fair share of feather boas and funny posing that the cameraman INSISTED that we did despite alot of protest from us. But this is the one that I picked of Mag and myself. Mag, hope this is okay :o)

It was the first time for me doing something like that and it wasn't easy being infront of the camera, especially if like me you're camera shy. The cameraman tried hard to make us comfortable but it's hard to be 'natural' when you have a camera right in front flashing away.

And finally, we had a proper MBA shot and I think they used this picture as part of their promo album at the shop back then. Guess we should be flattered and hopefully others will want to do what we did cuz it was a lot of fun.

Here's a group shot of MBA and I love this picture.

We've gown up alot since our college days and it's amazing how we are still good friends. We don't get to meet up as often as before but I know that I have MBA who will always be there if I ever need help or people to turn to.