Journey to the West

Western Australia that is. But this time is a solo trip. The good thing about travelling alone is that one can go anywhere, anytime they want without wasting time. Food is also not a problem because you decide what you eat.

Hearty breakfast in a cold weather. Must eat my fill to accomplish bigger things - SHOPPING.

Perth CBD is really.... ...like a CBD. Everything closes right after 530. Sometimes, even finding dinner is a problem. Who eats dinner before 530???!!

So all the good food have to eat before the sun goes down. Forget about night life in Perth. So grocery shopping is also a form of night-entertainment.

And all of these were done in a day. Yes. All that snacks to bring home!! After all the merry-making, it's back to real work for the next few days... ...

Once upon a time in "Tiong Kok"

When I was young, I had friends telling me about their holiday experiences to China. The only thing that left an impression on me was that their toilets are perpetually filthy. So with that notion, I wrote the country off my list of holiday destinations for years.

This is until I had to go to Shanghai for a business trip in early May.

I love it when there's hardly anyone on the flight, even in the business class cabin. It meant that I could sleep and possibly snore without embarrassing myself.

So with an unimpressed feeling, I arrived at Shanghai, at the front door of my hotel - Langham, only to be awe-ed by the 5 star hotel decor.

Our hotel rooms in Singapore pale in comparison to this. And Langham is not even an international brand name. They had an elaborated walk-in wardrobe, the toilet floors are heated (mind you, not toilet seats but floors!) during winter, they had two toilet basins for god knows what, and even a personalized toilet bowl cleaner to wash your ass when you're done!

On top of that, all their hotel accessories are in pink! So chic!

I love travelling to countries during winter/spring. This is the time where I can be more adventurous in my dressing and not worrying to sweat under my armpits. So that's me camwhoring in front of the full length mirror. Must make full use of their walk-in wardrobe mah...

I'm pretty glad that I get to travel alone this time. So that meant some "me" time off work and I could venture around Shanghai at my own pace. For the first night, I visited the night alleys opposite the hotel. It was like a mini Holland Village.

I didn't dare to try their local restaurants so the best solution was to choose something familiar to home. I stumbled upon coldstone creamery and we had a franchise at 313 but it's always long queue! Their mud-pie coffee peanut combo mix really made every calorie intake worth it!

The 3rd night, my Shanghai colleague recommended to go to Yu Garden - something like our Chinatown version. So it's more camwhoring.

I only had time to shop at their factory outlets on the first day but look at what one day of damage could do!

And when you're cold, you just crave for more comfort food. So all these damage done during grocery shopping. *gulp*

Coming to Shanghai really changed my perspective although that are still some unhygenic places and seeing people spit in the shopping mall!!! is still something I need to get used to. But overall, it was a pleasant visit. And my co-colleagues treated me to Shanghainese cuisine where I had ducks tongue for the first time! *cringe*

I am secretly hoping that my job scope revert to Korea market. After all, that place is a shopping haven. :)

Celebrations

** Bon's ROM **

The long awaited day. Finally my girlfriend has tied the knot.

Bon is one of the few friends I grew up with. We shared almost every secrets together, exchanged gossips on the cutest guy in school, worked part-time during school holidays and did alot of silly naughty things.

We literally watched each other grew up, saw the guys we've dated and finally settling down. I cannot believe we've grown so old!!!

Obviously, the gal has a serious obsession with Cookie Monster since secondary school days. Everything was in blue! From the flowers, to the carpet (yes, people use red carpet but she used blue!), to the balloons, cake and even the ring bearer! Very innovative indeed.

Congrats babe! Looking forward to your customary one year later!


** Company D&D @ Fullerton Bay Lantern **

The D&D was nothing to rave about. I never really relish the idea of stand-up cocktails as everyone was everywhere and in a mess! However, having to go for an event meant that I needed a new dress to wear. Of course, also an excuse for myself to shop shop shop!

C's blogshop Modashoppe happened to launch a range of dresses days before the event. What appropriate timing! The best thing about it was I managed to get to wear the dress prior to their official launch! :D

Back to the D&D. I was aiming for the iPad that I was literally chanting under my breath. In the end I won a "$100 NTUC voucher" *gua gua gua* No iPad for my kid but still have free milk.

Hopefully I'll still be around next year to win some travel vouchers. *cross fingers*

The things that happened in August

Before I rattled about the fact that my boy is turning 3 soon in less than 2 months time, there were quite a handful of things that happened in August.

Having witness that Jayden could nicely sit through any shows/plays/movies, we brought him to a children's recital play in early August.

** UPSTAIRS IN THE SKY **

It was a low budget recital which compromises of only 2 ppl who created a story base based on whatever objects they could find on stage. It was mildly entertaining for the adults but the focused boy sat listened hard to understand what was going on.

Next up, Barney show in Sep. The boy has been harping to me non-stop on when Barney is coming and where he is coming from. I have instructed the inquisitive son to question the purple dinosaur himself. Let's see if that happenes.

** CHANGING THE PINK CARD **

I acknowledge that my birthday has passed nearly a month. I only got down to sending my new IC application before ICA sends me the penalty letter and ask me to stop living in denial - NO MORE PRIMARY SCHOOL PHOTO ok.

I used to laugh at how dorky I looked when I was 12, now I wished I was still that young. :(

** BUSINESS TRIP @ PERTH **

The last time I visited Perth - the land of boring town, I was the least impressed. Shops were closed even before I knock off from work. By 7pm, you had nowhere to go but hibernate in the hotel watching soapy Aussie dramas.

So this time, I decided to schedule my flight timings that allow my to check out the rest of Perth City.

Arrived around 2-ish, checked-in and dashed off to Harbourtown factory outlet. I'm so delighted that buses are FOC in Perth! :D

Did some shopping before proceeding to dinner @ Shilla's Korean BBQ restaurant. Sadly, although it was run by an authentic Korean family, the beef were nothing like that one I had in Seoul. :( And it certainly wasn't worth the trip out in the cold, windy evening to search for this place located at some ulu street. Well, it was recommended by a colleague so must at least try mah.

DAY 2 & 3

Woke up at 3AM!!! to fly off up north of Perth to visit our work sites. Nothing glamourous to begin with but it was good to put an image to the work I've been doing all these while.

I know Aussies like to drink ALOT, but having a fridge full of beers and spirits was kind of overwhelming for me.

Shall not delve on the rest of the work days - it was just more sites and acres and acres of brown land.

Day 4 & 5

Spent the last 2 days back in Perth and did more shopping including buying snacks that cost only 1/3 of what we can get in Sg!

Towards the end of Aug, starts my 8 days SAHM stint with Jayden. More on that in next post!

Seoul in 5 days

I've come to realize that flying in the midnight hour is no child's play. Arriving at the destination at an unearthly hour with an atrocious line of crowd is not amusing at all.

Arrived at Incheon airport at 7:07 Seoul time = 6:07 Sg time!! *yawn yawn* Not enough sleep. And look at the maddening queue! I wished a rain would chase them away. -_-

The very "not-so-funny" driver told me we would reached the hotel in 30 mins. I dozed off shortly after and awoke 1.5 hours only to find myself still stuck in the streaming morning jam. "How long more do we need to get to the hotel?" I asked. "30 mins" said the driver.

I realized later that "30 mins" was the only English word he knew. At least I thought so. -_-

Stayed at the Intercon and the room was HUGE.

The subway in Seoul was like a labyrinth! With no time to lose, I had to carefully pick the "MUST GO" places to get the "MUST GET" things on my long long shopping list from friends and family.

So first, it was to Jamsil - where Lotte Mart is and the nearest Toys R Us store I could find. Yes, toys for my boy first. He is priority!

They have cashiers moulded like trains, so cute! In the end, I bought 2 sets of the same things - one for Jayden, the other for Ziv's coming birthday.

Next, to the famous Dongdaemon. Sadly, there was NOTHING I could buy. Perhaps with limited time, it wasn't wise to comb through the flea markets - in the freezing windy weather.

Myeong-dong, on the other hand was livelier. And that's where the beauty frenzy starts. BB cream, face masks, foot masks, whatever cream/gel/moouse that you can slap on your face at crazily affordable prices! I bought so many facial masks, people must be thinking that I have a serious skin problem!

When the fun ends, it's time for real work - meetings, late nights and lots of drinking over a sumptous spread of dinner. Cel made me felt worst by saying that she goes to the gym everyday. *stare*

Hot shabu shabu for lunch

Cherry blossoms on the way to work!

And cheers to Apple Soju!

See. Eating like this everyday, how not to put on weight ah. *stares at erupting tummy*

And the rest of the week were spent like a recycled routine. Wake up, rush for meetings, talk, eat, drink, then crawl back to hotel late at night to get 4 hours of sleep. And tomorrow starts again. Kind of reminded me of late night feedings. *shudders*

The loots!

4 baggages and 2 more at the airport. I had no idea how I managed to lug them home.

I have never been happier to be back home, in the familiar heat and my personal slave aka Dylan to help me carry my shopping bags. Tee hee hee...