Feb is all about foodie trips

So this is where we went at the start of Feb for a quick getaway. The last time we went to Bangkok, it was in 2006. 6 YEARS AGO... *gasp*

So to "re-live" the moment, we decided to go back to Siam Novotel, where we stayed then. But this time, we took the premier club room. What is the difference?

You get a kinky see-through bathroom!!! A touch of a switch, you can see the room from inside the toilet!

It's pure raw honey!!! You cut the honeycomb with your knife and you get pure awesomeness honey for your waffles/pancakes!!!

Very random photo of myself. Just want to show the sharpness of my normal digital camera. Hehehehe....

And the eating fest begins!!!!!

This is a very random shot but I assure you it was no easy task. Especially with a 慢三排 hubby, we failed to take a decent photo with the water fountain until like xxxxx-th time.

Tom yum goong - Checked

Pad Thai - Checked

Mango Sticky Rice - Checked

EQUALS VERY SATISFIED ME!!! :D

I am ashamed to witness that 50% of the time and photos, my mouth is open.... Heh. Not a very nice sight but who can resists good drool-worthy food at drop-pants price!!! Of course, other than eating, eating and more eating, we also did what every tourists would do - massages, combing The Platinum Mall, Chatuchak, making tailor shirts, joining the Naraya frenzy.

There were also 2 significant things that happened twice when we were overseas. While we were in Bangkok, we had an offer to our house, the buyer was so eager, they came to our house the moment we touched down!!! Count our blessings, we sold our place with a reasonably good offer. :)

Perhaps that explains the severe shopping damage below...

In the pink

And so another year older has gone for me. I cannot be more than grateful than to have lived another year unscatched, healthier and happier.

I did say I wanted a low profile celebration this year. But this group of friends had never failed, rain or shine, to keep this day free just for me. And this year was another surprise again. They arranged to go to a long lost poly friend's restaurant. Four of us used to hang out together, after lectures, skipping lunch to go to one of their houses for a quick nap and long coffee chats at Starbucks after school. Those were the days... ...

Definitely felt like a superstar that night!

Superb Japanese fushion food! I am salivating as we speak!

Thanks my dear friends for having me in your thoughts as always! Of course, not just the gifts but all the yummy treats as well! I can certainly feel the tightness in my pants now.

Ok, after all the appreciation, it's time to show off. Please bear with me. Bleah.

Gift no. 1: Goyard St Louis GM
Gift no. 2: Classic Chanel logo necklace in Swakorski crystals

Got the hub to get the Goyard St Louis when he was in London. Super happy as we didn't had the time to go to the boutique in Paris. :D
Yes, another bag. *yawn* But bags of different shapes and sizes, patterns and colors, suits for different occasions. So how will one complain about having an extra accessory right? :D

Gift no. 3: Loewe Amazona boston bag in blue slate color

Ok. This was never part of the gift plan. But I'm sure people will understand love at first sight. *goes on digressing and indulging* After having a few shoulder bags, I felt the need to get a hand carry boston bag. And this color, according to the SA is a limited edition shade.

That was it. She said the magic word - LIMITED EDITION. Just take my credit card!!!

Gift no. 4: Gucci zip-around wallet

This was part of the scheme. But after I got Loewe, it was slightly forgotten until I saw this. Similiar shade with my Loewe !! How to miss right! *sigh*

Gift no. 5: Tory Burch belt

This was an impulse buy. I have never own a belt for more than $30. But but but the material was soft, the design was pretty and it was on sale, blah blah blah.

Alright.

So after all the impulsive self indulgent and getting the limelight, it is also time to reflect.

2010 was a rather traumatic year for me.

I contemplated whether or not to share my life on a public blog. But I thought it served as a good reminder as well and not to take things for granted.

I discovered something and went to do the necessary tests. Thankfully, the results came back negative but the doctor could not pin down the cause of it. It was a constant nightmare having to wonder what was wrong and if the diagnosis was really benign.

After almost what felt like a year, I took up the courage to seek a 2nd opinion and decided to get rid of it from my system. The process was swift but excrutiating. I really hope that is the last of it.

So now, being in the pink of health is my life's priority. I cannot be more thankful that I'm still here receiving love from people who cares about me.

On another note, work has become extremely up my neck. They say with greater power comes greater responsibilities. I got my promotion and a handsome remuneration package. Now I just need the time to spend it. :p

Summer vacation

After pinning months and months for our Europe trip, it was well over and done. That was 2 months ago.

Our hearts started to itch.

Where shall we go again?

Having missed Hong Kong last year due to Dylan's new job, I decided that I have to do a good tour shopping around the land of 买东西，吃东西 .

This time I did my homework. And planned a full itinerary for our 5 days. We will leave no stones unturned, no streets unwalked.

We took Cathay Pacific on the red-eye flight. Reached HK at an unearthly hour. And since we couldn't check in to our boutique hotel yet, we made full use of the time for a day trip to Macau.

30 bucks for one-way per pax for the jetboat to Macau! Dylan and I were still cajoling each other to bet $120 on the table to recoup our transport losses.

First stop. Our favourite restaurant in Venetian. They serve one of the best honey char siew that melts in your mouth. Even better than Yung Kee I must say.

If you come to Macau, it is a sin to go back not getting their pastries and snacks. They have quite a few popular brands but we both personally like Koi Kei. I cannot imagine having to spend 100+ on snacks to bring home. I even lamented to Dylan that we should have brought a trolley bag along.

Other than eating and shopping, one must take photos to look like tourists. Having been to Macau before, we decided to forgo visiting the rest of the attractions due to tight schedule.

But it didn't long for us to be back to eating again. We ended the first day with a bagful of Macau snacks, probably 1kg heavier and 100% stomach satisfcation! :D

Despite the hotel room rate included breakfast, we decided to give it a miss as the spread was really mediocre. We were very thankful there was an awesome breakfast place just downstairs our hotel. I had toast, eggs and milo dinosaur almost daily!

And there begins our shopping journey. We went to Space Warehouse, Horizon Plaza at Ap Lai Chau. Decided to be adventurous and commuted by bus. So morning was spent shopping at factory outlets, come afternoon, it's back to the luxury streets.

We stumbled on this nice ramen restaurant at IFC mall called Wakayama. And me posing with my 1st birthday gift from Dylan - St Louis Goyard all the way from London. *beams*

Since being in HK, one must know how to live the yum cha life. So how can one miss not having dim sum at Maxim Palace? Surprisingly, other than the egg yolk custurd bun, the rest of the items wasn't really sensational.

This is where I found my 2nd love... ...

And here I am again, posing with my birthday gift I got for myself. Hehe. I was telling Dylan how I didn't own a hand-carry boston bag and how ESSENTIAL it was for different functions, waving my arms in excitment while I explained to him the context of my purchase. I don't think he ever understood a single word.

So if you can't talk sense to the man, you talk to his stomach... ...

This place opens till 1am daily! It serves a myriad of food and desserts and pretty affordable prices.

As you can see it, I am not proud of my impulsive purchases. But then again, a holiday is a time where you buy some happiness back with you right? RIGHT? :P We brought 2 large luggages along and we were still short of space! I am also secretly appalled by the husband's sudden vanity. He bought 2 pairs of shoes! And I didn't even get one!

At first, I thought 5 days were too much to spent in HK. I was SO WRONG. We only covered the main areas of Hong Kong Island. We did not even venture to Kowloon.

So with that very valid reason, I am sure we will be back in HK again soon!

Grainy no more

I contemplated for the longest time to get a DSLR for many obvious reasons - too expensive, too high maintenance and the sure killer was too bulky.

"You must get a DSLR for your Europe trip", came a voice ringing in my head. I thought my trusty Panasonic LX-3 semi-pro camera would do the trick until I saw C's photos. The scenaries were breath-taking.

It didn't help much that there was an IT fair that had to come just a couple of weeks before my trip. "Is it a sign?" I asked myself. I applaud myself when I tried to push that idea out of my head and convinced myself that I didn't need this baby. That was until I test-run on Dewi's new toy - the EOS 600D. That is it.

Like they say, let the pictures do the talking. Of course, with my star model.

Now even with a bad photographer, with a bad angle, the quality looks good!

Jayden with his score chart.

The context behind is that the boy has to do something independantly, like brushing his own teeth, wearing his own clothes, keeping his toys and he'll be rewarded by 1 sticker. Collect 10 and he gets his favourite toy.

Jayden is pretty proud of his score chart and beams at the fact that he's just 2 sticker short of getting his prize. Keep it up son!

That 1 year itch

Apart from the almost-weekly-sinful retail shopping, I realized I have a terrible habit. It usually comes as a yearly itch that I find it hard to curb.

I thought I would have made it this year without any new purchases but this was too hard to resist...

Balenciaga Classic City 10th Anniversary Edition in Lizard Embossed skin

Interior fabric is in animal print

So will I break the curse next day? It is undeniably a challenge considering that we'll be going to Europe in March!!! *beams* How is it possibly acceptable to come back from Europe EMPTY-HANDED?! (as I typed this, the hub in background is shaking his head)

Of course, how can I miss X'mas not buying gifts for the two boys in my house? Then again, isn't X'mas supposed to be a season for spending, spending, spending? :P

FOOD

is the only activity we do these days... ...

And I am embarassed to confess that I have never tasted nor knew its existence until recently. How can one miss out on benedicts for almost half her life?!? It is the awesomest thing I have ever tasted! No more sunny side up for me from now.

So we finally went to Rider's Cafe after weeks of postponing and the lack of space - it was always FULL HOUSE!

It was a pity that Dewi and family had to pull out due to family commitments. Jayden enjoyed the food whilst watching the horse galloping around. Yes, the place was just beside a stable! Didn't manage to take photos of the horses as it was raining.

I have a date

I cannot remember the last time we went out as a couple. Yes, just two of us without the third party. It used to be a weekly ritual but we realized that weekends are short and precious and hence preferred to spend it as a family.

And so to 'celebrate' the happy things that are going around us lately - Dylan getting a new job, me getting my bonus, I decided to plan something (because Mr Boring husband will not plan anything) to pamper ourselves for I think we truely deserved it.

The day started off with preparations in the morning. We were to whiz Jayden to my in-laws place as it's going to be a full day activity. Everything had to be planned seamlessly as no time should be wasted.


1115am - Dropped the Son at in-laws place (running late for 1130 appointment!)

1130am - Dashed to Cathay cineplex to get tickets for 2pm movie

1145am - Called Equinox and said will be late by 15 mins

1200pm - Brunch at Equinox


BRUNCH @ EQUINOX

Dylan and I were recalling the number of times we have been to Equinox - 3. And all 3 times were treated by me (smelly smelly stingy hubby! :p) First time, I was heavily pregnant with Jayden, 2nd time we brought Jayden along and told ourselves we'll never bring him again to buffets. And the 3rd time, we finally had some time to savour the good food.

There were heaps of fresh oysters, scallops, live prawns, crayfish, sashimi and my all time favourite saliva dripping FOIE GRAS.

Yummy food - munch munch munch!!!

MOVIE - THE CONFUCIUS

After a 2-hour calorie stuffing activity, we realized it was time to adjourn to our movie. I have always been a follower for English movies and will never watch a Mandarin show unless it has cinematic effects worth watching. The husband being a fan for military warfare, I compromised to watch "The Confucius" which proofed to be flat boring.

It was SO BORING, I told the man that we should have just caught a cold comedy instead and have a good laugh. Nonetheless, some quality time spent with each other is good too.


SPA ELEMENTS



And the finale of the day, would be to rest our tired body and have a good long-awaited knead at the spa. Alas, good times are always short-lived. And it was time to go back to pick the young man, who had been calling us all day and nagging over the phone to come home. -_-

Ahhhh....such a relaxing day to get lazy and fat together. We should do it more often.