woke up late again. Am so tired that i turn off the alarm. For some reason, its hard to wake here! So i woke at 9am and rush out of the hotel skipping breakfast and all. I grabbed a banana muffin from starbucks and it was good!
Obviously i am late for Tsujuki Fish market. (Pictures)Walked around and saw lotsa small local stalls with sushi for breakfats or closer to lunch. Tried a local stall of hot noodle like those u have to bend over stand and eat. Pretty alrite but salty and that cost US $6 bucks!
went off to asakusa to sensoji temple (Pictures)by noon and the huge red lantern was of coz a sure canx miss sign. Walked along the street selling lotsa food and touristy things and the stalls were selling lotsa key chains too. I didnt buy anything as usual but i bought a red bean paste cake and it was delicious! It just taste so much better here warm and freshly baked! For a person who dun like red bean to say its good, u can imagine:) The sweetness is just rite and the bread was soft. ...Mmmmm....
I didnt find the temple or the pagoda very attractive honestly, Somehow temples in Tokyo isnt very attractive to me. Perhaps i have seen better ones elsewhere (eg: cambodia)...still, i like the serene, peace and quietness of the whole place. No one talks loudly for sure!
Speaking of which, i find that its generally quiet in Japan even in the train! There is even a sign that says to turn your hp to silent mode and i havent heard a single phone ring during my times in the train! Plus, they say no talking with mobile and i only see people sms. Its such a controlled environment! When i first landed at the immigration, what struck out as unusual was the quietness at the immigration counter! Usually you hear lot of background sound but at narita, all i hear is the guy directing people to the respective counter. The silence is like in library minus the shuffling of people in the Q. Amazing really.
Anyway back to my trip. I went off to Ueno and i verve of to this cypress wood built temple. (forgot name now). I was lucky coz i caught a budding cheery blossom tree! .
Got tired and sat in the park near Ueno park for a while... looking at the wilted lotus filled pond or lake.. Quite, peaceful and the weather was perfect. i didnt even need the warm gear. just my top and a jumper and scarf!
Headed off to akihabara to hunt for my manga stuff. Almost got myself off the wrong track coz i was getting tried and didnt read the map proerply and bought the wrong line. Of coz i could change back to hibiya line from ginaza but it was still a pain to walk. 2 hours of walking non stop for anime stuff! Plus i promise manwin i would hunt bleach figurine for him and so the whole stretch was left uncovered. What was really funny was i got lost coz i didnt have my map and i didnt know where to go. So i was walking aimlessly till i gave up. at 5pm, it was dark like 8pm in singapore. So i took a chance and went into this travel place and asked for directions.
The gal couldnt speak english and so i had to manage with my halting jap. Asking was easy, it was trying to understand what she said that was tough. Afterall, my biggest obstacle when i took JLPT 3 was listening. Luckily for me, i was pretty near the managa street and all i had to do was walk straight. Now walking straight and turning right (migi) was something i could understd n japanese.
When i saw the whole buildings row after row coverd with FMA anime characters, it was like BINGO! Then i went in to Animate and it was 7 storeys high, except that i didnt know the highest level was P0-rn, and i mean anime hentai gals P0-rn! I was wondering why all the gals stopped at 6th floor and the men looked a me weirdly being the only gal in the section.. all the naked b00bs and chained women in covers was too much for me....
I didnt find anything i like in the first few places, so i cross the road and went to yamagiwa soft (www.yamagisoft.com) and i found some bleach figurines! But they were in boxes and i had to randomly picked. I pray to god that i get ichigo please please please. Not the gal all the way from japan! Manwin, PRAY! Its ur present!
Then i went dwn and got myself the trinity blood cd soundtrack! its GOOD! (manwin, BEG ME! haa haa) Of ocz its bloody expensive. The anime soundtrack are very cute here, its not compiled. for every chapter of the anime, like epi 1-4, they will release a soundtrack. So u can imagine how much money they earn! I saw the tsubasa chronicles soundtrack and it cost me over 50 if i get it which is NO WAY. i like it but not in love.
By 7pm, i was dead tired not to mention hot! I had to take out all my sweaters and walking in my T-shirt. I am the ONLY one on the street doing that trust me. It was prob 10degrees but i was sweating like a roasted pig. The scarf was just nice coz no wind. cool but no wind.
I had to run off back to hotel and rush out again for my next dinner appointment at Ninjatv at asakasa (www.ninjatv.co.jp) . The meal was fantastic!! What was reall great was that the whole place was designed like a ninja clan underground and it was like a maze to get in and all the waiter and waitress are dressed like ninjas! The food menu is written in a scroll and the desseert is on a secret paper list that the ninja will burn it before u like a secret recipe. I ordered a bonsai ice cream and it turn out just like bonsai tree!!! I was truly impressed:) hee heee. It was definitely an experience worth going for! Plus we even had mid way entertainment by a shinobi! haa haaa. excellent recommendation by fenton again! It was a worth while trip not to mention food!
By the time dinner is over i was happy and satisfied. The ninja led us out and did a ninja stunt with a scroll saying thanke and come again
Back in hotel, i need my hot bath again to take away the fatigue. Tmw a long and rush day to Nikko. Forecast said it will rain but i pray it wont. wish me luck!
signing out frm tokyo, day2
Monday, January 30, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Tokyo- Meji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku - Day One
Woke up later than planned today. had intended to wake at 8.30am but ended up waking at 9.30am coz i forgot japan is one hour ahead of Singapore. by the time i got sorted out what i needed to do today, i was 1 hour behind schedule that i planned.
Hopped over to Roppongi for breafast at this place called Garbagnati next to hyatt. (@Metro Hat/ Hollywood Plaza B2F) Had this ciocolat bread and was really yummy! Decided to cut the time and took the cab to Meiji Shrine instead of the train. The boarding fee was 660yen (100yen =S$1.5) and cost about 1300yen to reach destination and luckily it was near the hotel coz each time the cab fee flapped, u can get a mini heart attack:) Was prob too tired last nite to notice when i board the taxi from Tokyo station coming from the airport.
Tokyo's Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji. In the Meiji period, Shinto was made Japan's state religion. Shinto priests became state officials, important shrines started to received governmental funding, Japan's creation myths were used to foster an emperor cult, and efforts were made to separate and emancipate Shinto from Buddhism. After WWII, Shinto and the state were separated.
The walk to Meiji shrine was gravel covered and i like the nice cool weather.
Shinto shrines are places of worship and the dwellings of the Kami, the Shinto "gods". Sacred objects of worship that represent the kami are stored in the innermost chamber of the shrine where they cannot be seen by anybody.
The sign on the left was talkin about he wooden "gate" entrance into the shrine area known as Torii. One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine. In this case, Meji has 2 before i hot the main building. They come in various colors and are made of various materials. Most torii, however are made of wood. The torii at Meji had golden crysa' crest at the top. Quite pretty.
Along the way, visitors will also see the stacked up sake containers. Unfortunately my Jap language isnt that great to translate but i suppose it is used as part of their ritual offerings? I didnt check it out but i took a pix of the sign description so anyone is welcome to translate and leave a message for me. :)
Before entering the shrine, visitors can "purify" themselves with the water. Found near the entrance, the water of these fountains is used for purification. You are supposed to clean your hands and mouth before approaching the main hall. What you do is you rinse your left hand then your right, an scoop water into your palm and rinse your mouth. Disgustingly, a lot of Hk and Chinese visitors rinse their mouth using the dipper! (despite the instructions on the wall). Guess some people just dun read signs...
Am still quite lucky today coz the weather is relatively mild to me. Only need my shirt and jumper over. Brought too much warm gear to Japan now i think..am only using the lighter ones but i think i will need my heavy duty on in Nikko...
Anycase back to Meji Shrine. Was vey lucky coz i caught a wedding procession! The groom is quite cute really:)
Depending on the shrine's architecture style, the main hall (honden) and offering hall (haiden) are two separate buildings or combined into one building. The main hall's innermost chamber contains the shrine's sacred object, while visitors make their prayers and offerings at the offering hall.
At the offering hall, throw a coin into the offering box, bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray for a few seconds. If there is some type of gong, use it before praying in order to get the kami's attention. In Meji shrine it differs a little. I didnt see any gong just offering box. The box isnt like those you see in SIngapore local temples. The wooden tray with gaps you see in the picture are the ones that people throw their coins into.
While i appreciate the culture and their deeply rooted belief, I didnt pray to any gods though i abide by some of the rituals like the water purification ritual despite the freezing water! For one, I'm not into spiritual gods though i love to read about the stories, believing in one is another. Secondly, I'm Chinese. The last thing I would do is to bow to any enshrined past Japanese Emperors. Not that i hold it against the current Japanses, but my history textbook isnt whitewashed and so its hard to bow to a country's reigning sovereign dead or alive, esp when the war criminals are still being enshrined and respected by the current govtment and the history textbook refuses to come out to the open about their past. While I may love Japan for its rich culture food and all, I didnt forget WWII and the thousands who died trying to protect or while living in Singapore. Which is the same reason why i avoided the controversial shrine that houses the War Criminals.
Shrine visitors write their wishes on these wooden plates and then leave them at the shrine in the hope that their wishes come true. Most people wish for good health, success in business, passing entrance exams, love or wealth. The wooden plates are called Ema.
Then Headed off to Shibuya area and before I left, the harajuku kids were out! All dressed up! Now the full force prob due to winters but check them out!!!!
Hopped over to Roppongi for breafast at this place called Garbagnati next to hyatt. (@Metro Hat/ Hollywood Plaza B2F) Had this ciocolat bread and was really yummy! Decided to cut the time and took the cab to Meiji Shrine instead of the train. The boarding fee was 660yen (100yen =S$1.5) and cost about 1300yen to reach destination and luckily it was near the hotel coz each time the cab fee flapped, u can get a mini heart attack:) Was prob too tired last nite to notice when i board the taxi from Tokyo station coming from the airport.
Tokyo's Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Meiji. In the Meiji period, Shinto was made Japan's state religion. Shinto priests became state officials, important shrines started to received governmental funding, Japan's creation myths were used to foster an emperor cult, and efforts were made to separate and emancipate Shinto from Buddhism. After WWII, Shinto and the state were separated.
The walk to Meiji shrine was gravel covered and i like the nice cool weather.
Shinto shrines are places of worship and the dwellings of the Kami, the Shinto "gods". Sacred objects of worship that represent the kami are stored in the innermost chamber of the shrine where they cannot be seen by anybody.
The sign on the left was talkin about he wooden "gate" entrance into the shrine area known as Torii. One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine. In this case, Meji has 2 before i hot the main building. They come in various colors and are made of various materials. Most torii, however are made of wood. The torii at Meji had golden crysa' crest at the top. Quite pretty.
Along the way, visitors will also see the stacked up sake containers. Unfortunately my Jap language isnt that great to translate but i suppose it is used as part of their ritual offerings? I didnt check it out but i took a pix of the sign description so anyone is welcome to translate and leave a message for me. :)
Before entering the shrine, visitors can "purify" themselves with the water. Found near the entrance, the water of these fountains is used for purification. You are supposed to clean your hands and mouth before approaching the main hall. What you do is you rinse your left hand then your right, an scoop water into your palm and rinse your mouth. Disgustingly, a lot of Hk and Chinese visitors rinse their mouth using the dipper! (despite the instructions on the wall). Guess some people just dun read signs...
Am still quite lucky today coz the weather is relatively mild to me. Only need my shirt and jumper over. Brought too much warm gear to Japan now i think..am only using the lighter ones but i think i will need my heavy duty on in Nikko...
Anycase back to Meji Shrine. Was vey lucky coz i caught a wedding procession! The groom is quite cute really:)
Depending on the shrine's architecture style, the main hall (honden) and offering hall (haiden) are two separate buildings or combined into one building. The main hall's innermost chamber contains the shrine's sacred object, while visitors make their prayers and offerings at the offering hall.
At the offering hall, throw a coin into the offering box, bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray for a few seconds. If there is some type of gong, use it before praying in order to get the kami's attention. In Meji shrine it differs a little. I didnt see any gong just offering box. The box isnt like those you see in SIngapore local temples. The wooden tray with gaps you see in the picture are the ones that people throw their coins into.
While i appreciate the culture and their deeply rooted belief, I didnt pray to any gods though i abide by some of the rituals like the water purification ritual despite the freezing water! For one, I'm not into spiritual gods though i love to read about the stories, believing in one is another. Secondly, I'm Chinese. The last thing I would do is to bow to any enshrined past Japanese Emperors. Not that i hold it against the current Japanses, but my history textbook isnt whitewashed and so its hard to bow to a country's reigning sovereign dead or alive, esp when the war criminals are still being enshrined and respected by the current govtment and the history textbook refuses to come out to the open about their past. While I may love Japan for its rich culture food and all, I didnt forget WWII and the thousands who died trying to protect or while living in Singapore. Which is the same reason why i avoided the controversial shrine that houses the War Criminals.
Shrine visitors write their wishes on these wooden plates and then leave them at the shrine in the hope that their wishes come true. Most people wish for good health, success in business, passing entrance exams, love or wealth. The wooden plates are called Ema.
Then Headed off to Shibuya area and before I left, the harajuku kids were out! All dressed up! Now the full force prob due to winters but check them out!!!!
Tokyo Day 1 - Part II: Shinjuku
COuldnt decide if it was cool or ugly.After Shibuya, we walked around Omotesando to look for blue label. Unfortunately the things in his burberry season isn that great and so i didnt get any bags for myself nor jasmine. While strolling, we saw this gal sitting outside this store while waiting for her mum (inside a children's clothes store sale). couldnt resist taking her pix coz she looked so stylo milo the way she looked back at you:)
Took train to shinjuku and headed to mark City for lunch. The junction was amazing coz it was like hundreds of people crossing the junction at the same time. Amazing:) The funniest thing i saw was the smoking booth. I mean there is a section dedicated just for smokers and there was even a sign that teaches you how to how you shld hold a cigarette?! Still everyone seem to abide by the "rules" and hang ard just puffing away:)There wasnt much i wanted to get from shinjuku or rather i was just pure tired and went off to Hanazono Shrine for a quick peek.
Went over to Takashimaya Square too hoping to gte some anime stuff but in vain. Still it was a HUGE mall of 12 stories (i think or was it 14). I walked over to Kinokuniya which was 7 storey building of books all by itself. Just mind boogling. Not to mention a whole floor dedicated to just Manga, jap comic books! Its a haven if i can read advance jap! Went to KabuyiCho too which is a red light district. I saw a shop that sold just fugu (puffer fish) and the fishes look so silly and cute. There were rows of shops with pic of gals for u to book and there were guys too! Was taking pix of this naked boobs gal and i accidentally triggered the motion sensor at the door. The minute the guy within the adult store responded, I ran for my life!
After seeing all the red lights and checking out the pretty gals in the red light district and their prices, Got too tired and decide to grab a cab back. Not to mention a dinner appointment at Tofuro at Hiro was waiting.Got back took a quick shower and headed out again. Had made a reservation from Singapore via the online booking and it works! Luckily i asked for private room coz there was no sharin of smoke with the smokers and that is impt to me. FRESH air. The food was very good and i was stuf! (pictures later. too tired to load now) I was thanking Fenton silently for his fantastic recommendation for the place. The service was excellent and though their english was limited, they really tried and luckily the menu is in english woith losta tempting pixs:)
All in all , a place worth visiting and wasnt realy that expensive too!Went back hyatt and had icecream dessert which cost me $40 bucks! Its just choc cake with vanilla icre cream! Talk abt expensive lifestye to life in japan!Okie... too tired. Need to sleep and rest for tomorrow! Another long tiring day. My whole back and shoulder is rock hard and aching like hell. I need my hot bath from a long hard day of walking!
Friday, January 27, 2006
Love from Tokyo
reached Tokyo in one piece:)
Plane ride was fantastic peaceful and i had the most glorious view of Mt Fuji and the sunset next to it when the plane was near landing. Best was having the ice crsytal on on window pane. It was like a faiy tale!
Am really lucky. The temp is 7 degree when i landed this eve. I almost board the wrong train.. ha ha ha. Luckily my instinct told me to ask the Jap lady for verification and luckily i asked! So i quickly jumped out before the train took off!
One thing is for sure. my JAP IS RUSTY like Hell!
I got to sit to a guy working for the dharma lama and he is a tibetian and very nice. he offered to bring me around tokyo if i like and so we exchanged numbers and email.
Reached Tokyo station and decide to grab a cab to Hyatt. It wasnt really that cold to me and thankfully the cab driver knew the way. However, coz i gave instruction in jap, he assumed i know japanese and statrted chatting! At first i could still understd and answer but gradually when he got too excited i lost track. Soooo embarrassing!!!! So much for my pre-adv jap course!
Went to roppongi hills for dinner at pintoka kaiten jap sushi place. It was really GOOD! and SUSHI ARE SOOOO FRESH!!! salmon taste like it melts in ur mouth and the crab sushi are sweet! The scallop sushi are seared on the outside and sweet!! No smell!! Not like those tasteless ones we have at home in singapore.
I was soo full by the time dinner was over.
They have a chip embeded within the dish and they use this scanner to just brush thru the stack plates and presto! Bill is now. Amazing. Everything in Japan seem to overwhelm me!!! :) I am sooo excited!
Am beat. Really tired and knots all over my stiff back. Gonna sleep. Long day ahead!
Love from Tokyo!
Plane ride was fantastic peaceful and i had the most glorious view of Mt Fuji and the sunset next to it when the plane was near landing. Best was having the ice crsytal on on window pane. It was like a faiy tale!
Am really lucky. The temp is 7 degree when i landed this eve. I almost board the wrong train.. ha ha ha. Luckily my instinct told me to ask the Jap lady for verification and luckily i asked! So i quickly jumped out before the train took off!
One thing is for sure. my JAP IS RUSTY like Hell!
I got to sit to a guy working for the dharma lama and he is a tibetian and very nice. he offered to bring me around tokyo if i like and so we exchanged numbers and email.
Reached Tokyo station and decide to grab a cab to Hyatt. It wasnt really that cold to me and thankfully the cab driver knew the way. However, coz i gave instruction in jap, he assumed i know japanese and statrted chatting! At first i could still understd and answer but gradually when he got too excited i lost track. Soooo embarrassing!!!! So much for my pre-adv jap course!
Went to roppongi hills for dinner at pintoka kaiten jap sushi place. It was really GOOD! and SUSHI ARE SOOOO FRESH!!! salmon taste like it melts in ur mouth and the crab sushi are sweet! The scallop sushi are seared on the outside and sweet!! No smell!! Not like those tasteless ones we have at home in singapore.
I was soo full by the time dinner was over.
They have a chip embeded within the dish and they use this scanner to just brush thru the stack plates and presto! Bill is now. Amazing. Everything in Japan seem to overwhelm me!!! :) I am sooo excited!
Am beat. Really tired and knots all over my stiff back. Gonna sleep. Long day ahead!
Love from Tokyo!
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Nikko Day One
Tuesday.
Day didnt start off right becoz i fell in the room and slammed my finger onto the wall and i heard my last finger cracked in a series of sound. I dun think I had fractured it but it sure hurts like hell and i was too stunned to move apart from like holding on to my last finger and hope i didnt break anything. It looks right and feels right so i rushed off to the train to try to get to the Tobu line at Asakusa, in time for my rapid train to Nikko.
It was about 2.5hr right to Nikko and i kinda dozed in and out of sleep on the way. Luckily i dressed light (as the metro trains are soo warm) coz the rapid train had the heater blasting away beneath the seat.
The sight along the way wasnt spectacular coz it was winter afterall. So everything is kinda dry and brown and withering. When i reached Kinugawa Onsen station, I was really really lucky as there was a welcome booth for foreigners due to welcome to Japan week. There was a gal who kinda spotted me as a Chinese and asked me if i could speak mandarin. Whoever complained about Singapore's bilingual lessons is the dumbest kid on the block coz Mandarin saved the day.
She explained to me about the maps, and best of all she gave me free to and return passes for the buses and told me where to get on the bus to the hotel direct. I didnt realise how lucky i was until i got to the hotel. For it was there and then that i realised that NO ONE speaks english here. No english signs, no english personnel. Not that i blame them or anything but i was really tired and the last thing i need was trying to get my brain to work harder in a foreign language.
Anycase, being typically "unrisky", i had already booked the room and payed for from singapore. However, I still needed to ask where the private onsen was and booked it and all those conversed in japanese. No bad huh :) I think that was the proudest moment in the whole trip. haaa haaa
So at about 5pm, I reached my hotel which oversees the kinugawa river in Nikko. After a quick snooze, i went off to the lobby and had the bus dropped me off the private outdoor onsen. It was a 2min ride but since it was drizzling, the hotel didnt want me to walk. Very considerate.
The onsen was 50mins and cost about $50 and i thot it was pretty reasonable. Weather in Nikko by the way is very cold comparing to Tokyo. the wind and the rain didnt help things. So imagine stripping down to nothing in prob -3 degreess is no joke. I had a quick rinse and jumped straight into the big hot inviting onsen bath tub! Sorry no naked pictures here! haa haa
As it was outdoor, i could see all the steam around me, with the orange lights shining on the trees. It was really romantic and serene. Of coz it was impossible to stick myself for full 50min in that hot bath and so i was hopping out periodically to cool down with the cool water.
By 40mins, i was done. I was totally refreshed and radiating heat, The cold didnt bother me one bit after the soak! The bus was on time to get me back to hotel and for my in room dinner. The dinner wasnt that fantastic honestly and i was so dead beat that i was really ready to sleep at 9pm! The guys came and fix up my futon/ tatami bed and it looked so pretty and inviting. heh.
So that was end of day one in nikko and tomorrow, Tobu Nikko here i come!
Day didnt start off right becoz i fell in the room and slammed my finger onto the wall and i heard my last finger cracked in a series of sound. I dun think I had fractured it but it sure hurts like hell and i was too stunned to move apart from like holding on to my last finger and hope i didnt break anything. It looks right and feels right so i rushed off to the train to try to get to the Tobu line at Asakusa, in time for my rapid train to Nikko.
It was about 2.5hr right to Nikko and i kinda dozed in and out of sleep on the way. Luckily i dressed light (as the metro trains are soo warm) coz the rapid train had the heater blasting away beneath the seat.
The sight along the way wasnt spectacular coz it was winter afterall. So everything is kinda dry and brown and withering. When i reached Kinugawa Onsen station, I was really really lucky as there was a welcome booth for foreigners due to welcome to Japan week. There was a gal who kinda spotted me as a Chinese and asked me if i could speak mandarin. Whoever complained about Singapore's bilingual lessons is the dumbest kid on the block coz Mandarin saved the day.
She explained to me about the maps, and best of all she gave me free to and return passes for the buses and told me where to get on the bus to the hotel direct. I didnt realise how lucky i was until i got to the hotel. For it was there and then that i realised that NO ONE speaks english here. No english signs, no english personnel. Not that i blame them or anything but i was really tired and the last thing i need was trying to get my brain to work harder in a foreign language.
Anycase, being typically "unrisky", i had already booked the room and payed for from singapore. However, I still needed to ask where the private onsen was and booked it and all those conversed in japanese. No bad huh :) I think that was the proudest moment in the whole trip. haaa haaa
So at about 5pm, I reached my hotel which oversees the kinugawa river in Nikko. After a quick snooze, i went off to the lobby and had the bus dropped me off the private outdoor onsen. It was a 2min ride but since it was drizzling, the hotel didnt want me to walk. Very considerate.
The onsen was 50mins and cost about $50 and i thot it was pretty reasonable. Weather in Nikko by the way is very cold comparing to Tokyo. the wind and the rain didnt help things. So imagine stripping down to nothing in prob -3 degreess is no joke. I had a quick rinse and jumped straight into the big hot inviting onsen bath tub! Sorry no naked pictures here! haa haa
As it was outdoor, i could see all the steam around me, with the orange lights shining on the trees. It was really romantic and serene. Of coz it was impossible to stick myself for full 50min in that hot bath and so i was hopping out periodically to cool down with the cool water.
By 40mins, i was done. I was totally refreshed and radiating heat, The cold didnt bother me one bit after the soak! The bus was on time to get me back to hotel and for my in room dinner. The dinner wasnt that fantastic honestly and i was so dead beat that i was really ready to sleep at 9pm! The guys came and fix up my futon/ tatami bed and it looked so pretty and inviting. heh.
So that was end of day one in nikko and tomorrow, Tobu Nikko here i come!
Monday, December 26, 2005
A whale of a time in melb
Been sleeping like a pig since xmas till boxing day. eat and sleep non stop. oh god. what a life. even the clear blue sea and ocean bath couldnt draw me away from my bed. Am just tired and i didnt have any sleep for the 7 hr flight, no thanks to some screaming brat. If i could murder a kid, that would be there and then. Even plugging my ipod at max vol couldnt drown her. Dunno why i so suay, always stranded with these irritating brats that doesnt endear me to them.
landed in sydney on xmas eve and omg, it was fking hot. It was like 38degrees of hot wind blasting into my face the minute i was out of the immigration counter!!! Jamie and Amy came to pick us up from the airport and we stop by the cafe and had a sandwich near coogi beach. the cafe was real hot and i never understd why they couldnt have installed a ceiling fan? but the next few days was much better and the heat was more bearable.
The next few days, Jamie and Amie Took the kids out to the beach and i manage to wake up in time to head down to the beach and see them cleaning up heading home for lunch. Played some monster fish game with thema and had both of them screaming and running all over and yet cming back for more. Kids are hell of a tiring business.
Headed out to melb to meet susie on boxing day!! God it was been AGES since we last met and it was just amzing how we just fall back into pace again as if the years never lapse. Eric still looked the same too and i was so looking fwd to their new place they bought.
Arrived at their huge house at Armadale abt 11pm. I love their house.
it was just BEAUTIFUL GOREGOUS to me. for A1.5Million, you canx even get a size of apartment less a house this huge back in sg. It was a period home and and the space and high ceiling was just fantastic. I WOULD pay 1.5mill for this place too if i had any money and business in australia! But of coz it wuldnt be possible in sydney still. But imagine scotts 28 would cost us a good 2.3Mill back in sg and this is a wholelot much better!!!
talk till 3am++ with susie this morn and Eric drove us out to T'Gallant vineyards for lunch. The veal loin and peach dessert was fantastic. the mussels were sweet and i wish i had a bigger tummy to host more food! We were for wine sampling at 2 bucks and brought home a carton.Then Eric drove us to another vineyarde known as Red Hill estate and we just sat in the vineyard grass enjoying the breeze, and watch the ocean and blue sky in the horizon and chat for couple of hours till they announce the gates were closing abt 6pm. Everyday should be this way.Susie reckon we should only wrk 3 days a week t really enjoy life. Boy i totally agree with her.
Afterwhich, we headed to richmond and had really good viet pho noodles. I needed soup after a really filling dinner!!!! Couldnt tell the name of the shop but sus recko the locals call it the chicken and cow noodle shop since they had a picture of chicken and cow outside. Funnie.
Then we past pacific House and supposedly they served fanastic rooasted meat etc. I would be drooling looking at the display if i wasnt that full.
And now, we are back home, lazing and chilling the box of moscato Eric grab back from the vineyard. Its a fraction of a cost compared to sg. We are so gonna drin ourselves red in the face later. Wine are dirt cheap here. By the time its imported to sg, everything cost twice or 3 times as much.
olrite folks.
Am hitting my bath and signing in tmw
landed in sydney on xmas eve and omg, it was fking hot. It was like 38degrees of hot wind blasting into my face the minute i was out of the immigration counter!!! Jamie and Amy came to pick us up from the airport and we stop by the cafe and had a sandwich near coogi beach. the cafe was real hot and i never understd why they couldnt have installed a ceiling fan? but the next few days was much better and the heat was more bearable.
The next few days, Jamie and Amie Took the kids out to the beach and i manage to wake up in time to head down to the beach and see them cleaning up heading home for lunch. Played some monster fish game with thema and had both of them screaming and running all over and yet cming back for more. Kids are hell of a tiring business.
Headed out to melb to meet susie on boxing day!! God it was been AGES since we last met and it was just amzing how we just fall back into pace again as if the years never lapse. Eric still looked the same too and i was so looking fwd to their new place they bought.
Arrived at their huge house at Armadale abt 11pm. I love their house.
it was just BEAUTIFUL GOREGOUS to me. for A1.5Million, you canx even get a size of apartment less a house this huge back in sg. It was a period home and and the space and high ceiling was just fantastic. I WOULD pay 1.5mill for this place too if i had any money and business in australia! But of coz it wuldnt be possible in sydney still. But imagine scotts 28 would cost us a good 2.3Mill back in sg and this is a wholelot much better!!!
talk till 3am++ with susie this morn and Eric drove us out to T'Gallant vineyards for lunch. The veal loin and peach dessert was fantastic. the mussels were sweet and i wish i had a bigger tummy to host more food! We were for wine sampling at 2 bucks and brought home a carton.Then Eric drove us to another vineyarde known as Red Hill estate and we just sat in the vineyard grass enjoying the breeze, and watch the ocean and blue sky in the horizon and chat for couple of hours till they announce the gates were closing abt 6pm. Everyday should be this way.Susie reckon we should only wrk 3 days a week t really enjoy life. Boy i totally agree with her.
Afterwhich, we headed to richmond and had really good viet pho noodles. I needed soup after a really filling dinner!!!! Couldnt tell the name of the shop but sus recko the locals call it the chicken and cow noodle shop since they had a picture of chicken and cow outside. Funnie.
Then we past pacific House and supposedly they served fanastic rooasted meat etc. I would be drooling looking at the display if i wasnt that full.
And now, we are back home, lazing and chilling the box of moscato Eric grab back from the vineyard. Its a fraction of a cost compared to sg. We are so gonna drin ourselves red in the face later. Wine are dirt cheap here. By the time its imported to sg, everything cost twice or 3 times as much.
olrite folks.
Am hitting my bath and signing in tmw
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
DInner at Opia (HK)
had dinner at Opia at Irving street around Causeway Bay area. The decor was pretty hip and a nicely small setup place with the typical low lighting ambience. Even the stairs up to the restaurant was nicely furbished with a very 70s touch. I didnt have any pre expectations since again it was riding on Bee's recommendation.
Its apparently an australian chef setup and so everyone there speaks proper English. I dun think they hired any HK waiter for a good reason, which is the main client are expats and very "westernised" locals. I couldnt decide what i want and so i had the degustation menu in the end which was a mix of every thing of their "specialty".
The starters was oyster shooters soaked in jap sake was surprisingly yummy. Good. I like anything in a shooters. The sake was sweet and it doused out any tinge of raw taste from the oyster. There was suppose to be wasabi in it but i honestly couldnt tell. Though i like it, it wasnt as clean a taste as the oysterin champagne i had in sydney - The Est. restaurant. That oyster dish had me asking for 3rd helping but tonite, it was really nice but not enuff for me to ask for another. Maybe i didnt like the sweet sake that become sticky on my hands real quick.
I canx really rem what came next and what went after but i guess it was an okay meal for $HK600 per head. I wont say it was hellva impressive since i couldnt even really rem what i had as there were many dishes and varieties but it certainly wasnt lousy. I just rem the scallop dish wrapped in a pasta wasnt exactly my favourite but the roasted duck and pork knock was pretty good. The pork knock was very very soft in texture and if u dun mind being sinful once in a while, the fatty juicy bits gave it some extra flavour annd sweetness since it was coated with some terikayki sauce or some sort.
what i liked best was the passion fruit sorbet as it delightfully brightens and refreshes the after tase. The crunchy honey fig was slightly disppointing but still pass off as a decent dessert. Donald, the assistant manager waived off the drinks, claiming it was on the house and though polite he was, i couldnt really feel an affinity towards him. Just something abt him makes it difficult for me to warm up to him or rather i should say, lack of connectivity. So i left the place very full and sleepy but seemingly missing a personal touch
Its apparently an australian chef setup and so everyone there speaks proper English. I dun think they hired any HK waiter for a good reason, which is the main client are expats and very "westernised" locals. I couldnt decide what i want and so i had the degustation menu in the end which was a mix of every thing of their "specialty".
The starters was oyster shooters soaked in jap sake was surprisingly yummy. Good. I like anything in a shooters. The sake was sweet and it doused out any tinge of raw taste from the oyster. There was suppose to be wasabi in it but i honestly couldnt tell. Though i like it, it wasnt as clean a taste as the oysterin champagne i had in sydney - The Est. restaurant. That oyster dish had me asking for 3rd helping but tonite, it was really nice but not enuff for me to ask for another. Maybe i didnt like the sweet sake that become sticky on my hands real quick.
I canx really rem what came next and what went after but i guess it was an okay meal for $HK600 per head. I wont say it was hellva impressive since i couldnt even really rem what i had as there were many dishes and varieties but it certainly wasnt lousy. I just rem the scallop dish wrapped in a pasta wasnt exactly my favourite but the roasted duck and pork knock was pretty good. The pork knock was very very soft in texture and if u dun mind being sinful once in a while, the fatty juicy bits gave it some extra flavour annd sweetness since it was coated with some terikayki sauce or some sort.
what i liked best was the passion fruit sorbet as it delightfully brightens and refreshes the after tase. The crunchy honey fig was slightly disppointing but still pass off as a decent dessert. Donald, the assistant manager waived off the drinks, claiming it was on the house and though polite he was, i couldnt really feel an affinity towards him. Just something abt him makes it difficult for me to warm up to him or rather i should say, lack of connectivity. So i left the place very full and sleepy but seemingly missing a personal touch
Friday, November 25, 2005
First nite in HK
slept the whole day away once i reached HK. I guess my body is still trying to recover from all the virus i have been combating the past week.
Anycase, decided to head to Hyatt Hotel for dinner instead of Kowloon coz i was too lazy to take the ferry across. Before that we headed to Pacific Plaza to grab some stuff. The new season of clothes were amazing, my favorites. Boots, black and greys. Ha ha.
Went to check out the cd store and surprisingly i found Herbie Fully Loaded VCD there! I couldnt find it in sg in both HMV and gramaphone back home and there it was, staring back at me when i was browsing thru the latest release.
The best part was, it was so much CHEAPER! It was gg for HK$108 for DVD and HK$98 for VCD. Back Home, i saw it for S$42 for a DVD! Its ridiculous isnt it? But strangely, not everything is cheap here. I think HK people just have different taste.... The nitwit Deuce Bigalow show cost HK$298! can you believe it???? And the LA March Penguin cost HK$298 as well!! In HMV, i could get the penguin DVD for only $24+. Its plain weird....
Anycase, dinner was good. The fish was springy and i really meant as if i could bounce it off. Its so fresh that it was just plain sweet! But of coz, the damn fish alone cost us $100! I had the hot and sour lobster soup for starters and i wast disappointed. Though honestly, i couldnt decide if it was lobster or prawn. I couldnt tell. I'm not that great an eater yet to be ablt to pew off tons of descriptions:)
I guess the best was the mango pudding! I havent tasted anything that tasted like REAL mango pudding back home. It came in a really big bowl for starters and all the fanastic mango bits... YUMMY! I was totally stuffed and i almost had to roll home:)
The cab driver i had today was just as chatty. I think its just me... He started off telling me about how HK is full of money etc etc...and then he went on to tell me his very sad story. Apparently just before HK was handed back to China, his wife took his kids to canada to try to set up a new home there. Next thing he knew, the wife eloped with a caucasian and left him. He never ever saw his kids again and his own mother was soo sad everyday and cry every nite. Such tragedy. How could some woman be so selfish? Maybe there is another side of the story, but tonite, my heart goes out to the poor cab driver. I wish life doesnt have to be so complicated and if only everyone could be happy.
Perhaps its true... Happiness is always just a fleeting moment, but anger and sadness always remains.
Anycase, decided to head to Hyatt Hotel for dinner instead of Kowloon coz i was too lazy to take the ferry across. Before that we headed to Pacific Plaza to grab some stuff. The new season of clothes were amazing, my favorites. Boots, black and greys. Ha ha.
Went to check out the cd store and surprisingly i found Herbie Fully Loaded VCD there! I couldnt find it in sg in both HMV and gramaphone back home and there it was, staring back at me when i was browsing thru the latest release.
The best part was, it was so much CHEAPER! It was gg for HK$108 for DVD and HK$98 for VCD. Back Home, i saw it for S$42 for a DVD! Its ridiculous isnt it? But strangely, not everything is cheap here. I think HK people just have different taste.... The nitwit Deuce Bigalow show cost HK$298! can you believe it???? And the LA March Penguin cost HK$298 as well!! In HMV, i could get the penguin DVD for only $24+. Its plain weird....
Anycase, dinner was good. The fish was springy and i really meant as if i could bounce it off. Its so fresh that it was just plain sweet! But of coz, the damn fish alone cost us $100! I had the hot and sour lobster soup for starters and i wast disappointed. Though honestly, i couldnt decide if it was lobster or prawn. I couldnt tell. I'm not that great an eater yet to be ablt to pew off tons of descriptions:)
I guess the best was the mango pudding! I havent tasted anything that tasted like REAL mango pudding back home. It came in a really big bowl for starters and all the fanastic mango bits... YUMMY! I was totally stuffed and i almost had to roll home:)
The cab driver i had today was just as chatty. I think its just me... He started off telling me about how HK is full of money etc etc...and then he went on to tell me his very sad story. Apparently just before HK was handed back to China, his wife took his kids to canada to try to set up a new home there. Next thing he knew, the wife eloped with a caucasian and left him. He never ever saw his kids again and his own mother was soo sad everyday and cry every nite. Such tragedy. How could some woman be so selfish? Maybe there is another side of the story, but tonite, my heart goes out to the poor cab driver. I wish life doesnt have to be so complicated and if only everyone could be happy.
Perhaps its true... Happiness is always just a fleeting moment, but anger and sadness always remains.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
City Space -Equinox
After dinner, headed to New Asia bar @ swissotel last nite but the place was packed and truly holy smoky. So manwin and I decided to head to the city space for a drink instead and a leisure chat.
Was quite a good choice since we got a really nice city view and there was little people to make a din. So i didnt have to shout over any music. Plus the heated cashew nuts were a bonus:)
I had a terrible drink. I order Equinox Blue and BIG mistake. I shld rem anything blue would never taste good. Yucks. Plus I am not a frequent drinker and so I get turn off by weird cocktails easily. However that being said, I liked the presentation, the slanted glass in which it came in. reminded me of the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy. Anycase, I didnt finish it and had Manwin finish the remaining half for me.
Was quite a good choice since we got a really nice city view and there was little people to make a din. So i didnt have to shout over any music. Plus the heated cashew nuts were a bonus:)
I had a terrible drink. I order Equinox Blue and BIG mistake. I shld rem anything blue would never taste good. Yucks. Plus I am not a frequent drinker and so I get turn off by weird cocktails easily. However that being said, I liked the presentation, the slanted glass in which it came in. reminded me of the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy. Anycase, I didnt finish it and had Manwin finish the remaining half for me.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Tsubasa Chronicles Sound track
I love the sound track! In fact this is the few anime after Evangelion that i think has the best theme songs and insert music!
If only they have the whole length instead of the TV series length.. canx get enuff!!!
If only they have the whole length instead of the TV series length.. canx get enuff!!!
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Asian Kitchen @Suntec
went strolling with jasmine on sunday after my pedicure at suntec. I canx believe the number of times i have been to this location for the past week!
I simply had to buy the choc chunk muffin ($1.30) from the baking boys at B1- suntec (near the escalator after you come down from the one opp giodarno) . They were really soft and good! I use to hate muffins. I guess i had been a guinea pig for the home-ed gals for too many sessions, so when it comes to confectionary as such, it was avoidance at all cost! Then i tried one muffin in UK once and i realise it wasnt all that bad. But its so hard to find good muffins locally in singapore!
I know there is a store at shunfu market that sells freshly baked muffins. The smell alone was suffice to make me drool! but the Q was always too long and i couldnt be bothered. I think its crazy to spend hour Q'ing for food, any food.
So i gave Baking Boyz a try and i was not disappointed. The crust was lighted toasted and slightly cruchy. The inner was warm and soft and i could taste the oozing choc moist in my mouth. But when i tried to get a second one with jas, the batch was sold out and i had to wait 10mins for teh new batch. I wanted to get some for breakfast for mon morn and so we decided to head to city link TCC to wait.
Then i got hungry. I wasnt very impressed by TCC's main menu and jas chided me for putting the poor waitress at a tight spot when i asked "is your main any good? how would u rate it" The poor waitress couldnt answer me at all and jas dragged me away. Jas's theory was that all waitress should sell their product but i beg to differ. Every store shld have their speciality for the waitress to recommend it heartily without guilt. However if there isnt, then perhaps the place should never sell food to begin with.
The problem with our local service industry esp food is that the waiters and waitress are not trained to know their food. They are unable to describe or even "share" their personal taste experience. I have been to place in australia where waitress is able to tell me candidly what they liked and what most customers would have liked to order. When they are willing to share such info, it gives a causual shopper/eater like me the courage to order. Even the waitress at Bakerz Inn (at Paragon) had once shared with me what she liked and so i tried and was happy with her recommendation. So if the waitress chooses to mutely stand there and waiting for the coin to flipped in their favor, then i wont patronise a store where their own staff are not properly trained or even know what the kicthen is churning out.
So i hoped over to Asia kitchen next to the crappy attitude Jap store at citylink. The menu look decent enuff and i decided to give the mushroom duck soup noodle a try. Before i handed my order over, I asked the waiter (i think floor manager since he was the only one in black) the same question, "do u think your food is anygood or if he had anything to recommed" He smiled and strongly recommend the minced prok noodle but if i like soup and dun mind beef, i could try the beef bisket. However, i didnt like beef and so he quickly pointed out the duck noodle. I smiled and gave him my order and told him "U passed":)
The noodle came out shortly and yes, much to my surprise, it smelled good. I took a sip of the soup and it was rightly fragranced and tasted rite. I dunno if there are any msg but if there was , i certainly didnt feel thirsty after the food and considering i didnt have much water after was a good sign. The duck pieces was meaty and visible and wasnt shred of stuff trying to pass off as meat. The mushroom was soft and the long stem vege was cooked just right. For a place i had expected average or even below average food, the outcome was surpringly good, except for the super diluted barley water which tasted like melted ice with lotsa solid barley within.
As i was paying, the very polite waitress asked me if i was satisfed with my meal. I told her it was good and i was happy that they gave proper chunky meat that i could identify as duck. She laughed. I took the card and decide that i have found another new fuss free eating place :)
I simply had to buy the choc chunk muffin ($1.30) from the baking boys at B1- suntec (near the escalator after you come down from the one opp giodarno) . They were really soft and good! I use to hate muffins. I guess i had been a guinea pig for the home-ed gals for too many sessions, so when it comes to confectionary as such, it was avoidance at all cost! Then i tried one muffin in UK once and i realise it wasnt all that bad. But its so hard to find good muffins locally in singapore!
I know there is a store at shunfu market that sells freshly baked muffins. The smell alone was suffice to make me drool! but the Q was always too long and i couldnt be bothered. I think its crazy to spend hour Q'ing for food, any food.
So i gave Baking Boyz a try and i was not disappointed. The crust was lighted toasted and slightly cruchy. The inner was warm and soft and i could taste the oozing choc moist in my mouth. But when i tried to get a second one with jas, the batch was sold out and i had to wait 10mins for teh new batch. I wanted to get some for breakfast for mon morn and so we decided to head to city link TCC to wait.
Then i got hungry. I wasnt very impressed by TCC's main menu and jas chided me for putting the poor waitress at a tight spot when i asked "is your main any good? how would u rate it" The poor waitress couldnt answer me at all and jas dragged me away. Jas's theory was that all waitress should sell their product but i beg to differ. Every store shld have their speciality for the waitress to recommend it heartily without guilt. However if there isnt, then perhaps the place should never sell food to begin with.
The problem with our local service industry esp food is that the waiters and waitress are not trained to know their food. They are unable to describe or even "share" their personal taste experience. I have been to place in australia where waitress is able to tell me candidly what they liked and what most customers would have liked to order. When they are willing to share such info, it gives a causual shopper/eater like me the courage to order. Even the waitress at Bakerz Inn (at Paragon) had once shared with me what she liked and so i tried and was happy with her recommendation. So if the waitress chooses to mutely stand there and waiting for the coin to flipped in their favor, then i wont patronise a store where their own staff are not properly trained or even know what the kicthen is churning out.
So i hoped over to Asia kitchen next to the crappy attitude Jap store at citylink. The menu look decent enuff and i decided to give the mushroom duck soup noodle a try. Before i handed my order over, I asked the waiter (i think floor manager since he was the only one in black) the same question, "do u think your food is anygood or if he had anything to recommed" He smiled and strongly recommend the minced prok noodle but if i like soup and dun mind beef, i could try the beef bisket. However, i didnt like beef and so he quickly pointed out the duck noodle. I smiled and gave him my order and told him "U passed":)
The noodle came out shortly and yes, much to my surprise, it smelled good. I took a sip of the soup and it was rightly fragranced and tasted rite. I dunno if there are any msg but if there was , i certainly didnt feel thirsty after the food and considering i didnt have much water after was a good sign. The duck pieces was meaty and visible and wasnt shred of stuff trying to pass off as meat. The mushroom was soft and the long stem vege was cooked just right. For a place i had expected average or even below average food, the outcome was surpringly good, except for the super diluted barley water which tasted like melted ice with lotsa solid barley within.
As i was paying, the very polite waitress asked me if i was satisfed with my meal. I told her it was good and i was happy that they gave proper chunky meat that i could identify as duck. She laughed. I took the card and decide that i have found another new fuss free eating place :)
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Nite at Balaclava
Happened to meet Manwin for dinner at suntec since his client was ard that area after my seminar. Had really crappy meal at hisatomo at raffles city. I dunno why the standard has gone from bad to almost inedible. So i suggest to head to TCC for dessert to wash off the horrid seafood aftertaste.
Eric called just when I was shopping and trying on some skirts. He was at Balaclava and asked if manwin wanted to join him. Manwin asked if i was keen and what the heck. Not like I have anything major to do. So I grab the skirt i was trying, and met him after our TCC choc cake.
When we got to Bala, oh my god, it was packed! And it was only wednesday!!!! The music was pretty good and the crowd wasnt some children trying to look cool. At least they are proper old people my age. haaa haaa.
Havent been to Bala and the place has changed so much!! I knew they took over Olio but i have never been inside the revamped Bala. So it was a plesant surprise at the changes. Only thing i wasnt comfy abt was the packs of guys who eye at every gal who walked past them. I could almost hear the silent numerical score tagged to me or any gal as a matter of fact.
We found eric on the other end of the bar and we started chatting. Halfway thru our conversation, Manwin nudged me and told me i had been eyed by the guy in white sitting opposite me. He said the guy had been staring at me since i arrived. I looked up and he was positively still staring. Ok, now this is creepy. While i am used to guys passing occasional look, having a guy opposite u and staring at me the whole time is unnerving. I wasnt trying to be snobbish and i certainly wasnt trying to snub him, but really, the whole thing just felt creepy. i felt like some prey to a praying mantis. So i choose to ignore his stares and talk away as much as possible and talk to Eric and Manwin instead. At the same time, hunting for a new spot to go to.
Luckily some caucasian came and stood between me and the white guy and shortly, the guy left.
Eric called just when I was shopping and trying on some skirts. He was at Balaclava and asked if manwin wanted to join him. Manwin asked if i was keen and what the heck. Not like I have anything major to do. So I grab the skirt i was trying, and met him after our TCC choc cake.
When we got to Bala, oh my god, it was packed! And it was only wednesday!!!! The music was pretty good and the crowd wasnt some children trying to look cool. At least they are proper old people my age. haaa haaa.
Havent been to Bala and the place has changed so much!! I knew they took over Olio but i have never been inside the revamped Bala. So it was a plesant surprise at the changes. Only thing i wasnt comfy abt was the packs of guys who eye at every gal who walked past them. I could almost hear the silent numerical score tagged to me or any gal as a matter of fact.
We found eric on the other end of the bar and we started chatting. Halfway thru our conversation, Manwin nudged me and told me i had been eyed by the guy in white sitting opposite me. He said the guy had been staring at me since i arrived. I looked up and he was positively still staring. Ok, now this is creepy. While i am used to guys passing occasional look, having a guy opposite u and staring at me the whole time is unnerving. I wasnt trying to be snobbish and i certainly wasnt trying to snub him, but really, the whole thing just felt creepy. i felt like some prey to a praying mantis. So i choose to ignore his stares and talk away as much as possible and talk to Eric and Manwin instead. At the same time, hunting for a new spot to go to.
Luckily some caucasian came and stood between me and the white guy and shortly, the guy left.
Hmm Balaclava, Not too bad a hang out, reminded me of WineBar at Zouk but that place has too much kids....
Thursday, November 10, 2005
A mobile "Tibits" Taxi...
I have always wondered, is it just me or generally all our cab drivers are really chatty?
This morn, no different from most morn, the cab driver will ask the usual "are u local". After i said yes, the morn chats will commence for the next 20mins. but what really strike as different is that this time, I was offered food! All sorts of tidbits and snacks.
Initially i was offered "Sour Plums". I politely declined as i was never into tidbits. Then he offered me some biscuits, followed by some more dates, mango slices, back to "sour plums" which he was trying to convince me that was sweet. I almost felt embarrassed about saying No to everything he offered. I felt obligated to tell him that its just a habit that i dun snack on tidbits but i appreciate his kind gesture. Not one to give up and as one would say "never say Die" attitude, he offered me a Halls Mint sweet. It was almost like he felt i wasnt comfy unless i am chewing. i was so amused.
I felt sooo bad that i had to say ok and take the one sweet early in the morn even before i had food in my tummy. It felt weird. Still he was so delighted that I finally accede to his offers that he started chatting away about how upset he was abt teh NKF saga, and how he had donated $2k thinking he was helping people only to find out abt the court case. He felt really cheated but like he said, we canx stop giving or the patient will suffer. Then we move on to other topics and more food was offered along my way. I felt like i was in a moving provision shop! haa haa
It occured to me then, does everyone else get such good treatment or have I just been extremely lucky? I guess I will never know, not that i have anything to complain abt:)
This morn, no different from most morn, the cab driver will ask the usual "are u local". After i said yes, the morn chats will commence for the next 20mins. but what really strike as different is that this time, I was offered food! All sorts of tidbits and snacks.
Initially i was offered "Sour Plums". I politely declined as i was never into tidbits. Then he offered me some biscuits, followed by some more dates, mango slices, back to "sour plums" which he was trying to convince me that was sweet. I almost felt embarrassed about saying No to everything he offered. I felt obligated to tell him that its just a habit that i dun snack on tidbits but i appreciate his kind gesture. Not one to give up and as one would say "never say Die" attitude, he offered me a Halls Mint sweet. It was almost like he felt i wasnt comfy unless i am chewing. i was so amused.
I felt sooo bad that i had to say ok and take the one sweet early in the morn even before i had food in my tummy. It felt weird. Still he was so delighted that I finally accede to his offers that he started chatting away about how upset he was abt teh NKF saga, and how he had donated $2k thinking he was helping people only to find out abt the court case. He felt really cheated but like he said, we canx stop giving or the patient will suffer. Then we move on to other topics and more food was offered along my way. I felt like i was in a moving provision shop! haa haa
It occured to me then, does everyone else get such good treatment or have I just been extremely lucky? I guess I will never know, not that i have anything to complain abt:)
Sunday, November 6, 2005
Just Like heaven
Havent step into a cinema for AGES and i mean AGES.
I'm not a great movie fan since there isnt alot of movies i wanna watch. Good scripts are hard to come by.
However, i decided that i wanted to watch the show "just Like Heaven" today. So i got the gals out and we head to P.S to catch it. My cursed Jeans made me run again. I took the wrong shuttle and i had to run for my life AGAIN! damn!
Anycase, the movie was not soppy or overly dramatic. I like it coz it was funnie and light hearted. It isnt like Ghost whose ultimate aim was just to squeeze a tear out of your duct. This is just pure romantic comedy.
I had good laughs mostly thru out the movie. Esp the part that went something like: "Alcohol are good! Alcohol are best social-lubricant. They made a man crave and a woman loose." I laughed so hard at it for some weird reasons.
Anycase, i wont say more since i dun wanna be a spoiler for anyone. But its a good to catch movie for anyone looking for a good laugh.
I'm not a great movie fan since there isnt alot of movies i wanna watch. Good scripts are hard to come by.
However, i decided that i wanted to watch the show "just Like Heaven" today. So i got the gals out and we head to P.S to catch it. My cursed Jeans made me run again. I took the wrong shuttle and i had to run for my life AGAIN! damn!
Anycase, the movie was not soppy or overly dramatic. I like it coz it was funnie and light hearted. It isnt like Ghost whose ultimate aim was just to squeeze a tear out of your duct. This is just pure romantic comedy.
I had good laughs mostly thru out the movie. Esp the part that went something like: "Alcohol are good! Alcohol are best social-lubricant. They made a man crave and a woman loose." I laughed so hard at it for some weird reasons.
Anycase, i wont say more since i dun wanna be a spoiler for anyone. But its a good to catch movie for anyone looking for a good laugh.
Saturday, November 5, 2005
"Socialite" T
Went shopping with jas yesterday and saw this T-shirt that had me laughing my pants off.
"Socialite" : Botox Junkie, Shrivelled Auntie.
A pix of a shrivelled prune at the the bottom.
the top just cracked me up!! ha a
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