A month of vacationing in Manila is almost over. Time really flies so fast, I guess I have done mostly what I want to do. To sum it up, it seems like I've been bumming forever lol, but I didnt feel I miss working, such a lazy ass!
All this time I'm again confused, put myself at the crossroad (or did I actually intend for this to happen). Staying and leaving seem to be a decision I'm bound to make. Boy I've done it before, but things seem more difficult now.
When you know you are upgrading, choices probably could be much easier. Tinkering with the idea of 'downgrading' as they put it, it was like 'why why why'. What makes me so sure about what I want? Or sometimes I'm too chicken to admit what I want and stick to it. Or do I really know what I really want in the first place? I guess the answer is no hehe. I cannot answer a simple question with conviction - 'ano/saan ba talaga gusto mo'. Gosh I'm old for drama.
Sometimes I was thinking life could be all easier if I'm a normal girl. I want a normal life. But all I put myself into is some kinda dead-end situation. How can you want a normal life when you aren't a normal girl to start with lol. - that's what a good friend told me. It seems to make sense :(
It's probably easy to backtrack. But I have a lot of comforts and perks to give up. Sometimes staying put is the easier way. It's quite hard to plan your whole life ahead. Decision at this point matters.
Aww can I just fast-forward? Can I see more signs? Can someone shed some light and give me answers? All that I want is that at the end of the day, I could proudly tell myself 'at least I tried, and yeah I had no regrets'. whew. :)
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Highly Recommends Bikram Yoga!
The best thing that ever happened to me for September: discovering bikram yoga.
I never realized I would fall in love with Bikram Yoga. Loves the suffocating heat (40deg Celsius!) of bikram room. It's like every inch of my body is sweating so hard while performing the 26 poses within the 90minute timeframe. It's literally tagatak-pawis. You would feel relaxed and energized afterwards.
My body is stiff, I know I'm not the sporty type. The first bikram session got me dizzy that I had to pause and sit on my mat from time to time while class was going on. Never attended ballet classes, I cant do back bend or any flexible moves.
Out of the 26 yoga poses, the ones I initially hate the most are 'Camel' (kneel down, bend back, touch your feet) and 'Fixed Firm' (kneel down, drop back and lie flatly on your back sitting on your legs) poses, I couldnt figure out how in the world can people bend their body without hurting their backs and their legs. Only on the 7th session did I finally manage to do it and hold for a few seconds. Hoorah. (Refer to image #20, #22) Good progress. There are still several poses in the standing series that I cant do properly, anyway it takes time.
Cheers to the intro session of 10consecutive days at only 50sgd. I've attended 8 sessions, and the result - finally I'm able to fit in to my favorite old black dress! Kinda shallow right? :) I usualy do things with just a simple end goal in mind. Hmm like attending a makeup workshop to know how to put false eyelashes, and now attending bikram yoga to get rid of unwanted fats and finally fit into my old dress. Simple, but it works. Low expectations = high satisfaction. Aim on one thing and get it, rather than aim on so many and not getting even one. :)
The only down side I can think of for bikram yoga, is the price! It's kinda pricey compared to typical yoga and pilates classes. All I can say is that after having bikram yoga, I dont feel much satisfaction doing the usual yoga anymore, it's not 'it' when you don't sweat like hell. :p
For people who are lazy and not disciplined enough to go for regular gym and jogging like me, I guess bikram's your best bet. Always remember you need to exercise more when you age.
I never realized I would fall in love with Bikram Yoga. Loves the suffocating heat (40deg Celsius!) of bikram room. It's like every inch of my body is sweating so hard while performing the 26 poses within the 90minute timeframe. It's literally tagatak-pawis. You would feel relaxed and energized afterwards.
My body is stiff, I know I'm not the sporty type. The first bikram session got me dizzy that I had to pause and sit on my mat from time to time while class was going on. Never attended ballet classes, I cant do back bend or any flexible moves.
Out of the 26 yoga poses, the ones I initially hate the most are 'Camel' (kneel down, bend back, touch your feet) and 'Fixed Firm' (kneel down, drop back and lie flatly on your back sitting on your legs) poses, I couldnt figure out how in the world can people bend their body without hurting their backs and their legs. Only on the 7th session did I finally manage to do it and hold for a few seconds. Hoorah. (Refer to image #20, #22) Good progress. There are still several poses in the standing series that I cant do properly, anyway it takes time.
Cheers to the intro session of 10consecutive days at only 50sgd. I've attended 8 sessions, and the result - finally I'm able to fit in to my favorite old black dress! Kinda shallow right? :) I usualy do things with just a simple end goal in mind. Hmm like attending a makeup workshop to know how to put false eyelashes, and now attending bikram yoga to get rid of unwanted fats and finally fit into my old dress. Simple, but it works. Low expectations = high satisfaction. Aim on one thing and get it, rather than aim on so many and not getting even one. :)
The only down side I can think of for bikram yoga, is the price! It's kinda pricey compared to typical yoga and pilates classes. All I can say is that after having bikram yoga, I dont feel much satisfaction doing the usual yoga anymore, it's not 'it' when you don't sweat like hell. :p
For people who are lazy and not disciplined enough to go for regular gym and jogging like me, I guess bikram's your best bet. Always remember you need to exercise more when you age.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Life is again different now
When I was just new here in sg, I remembered having moments like waking up in the morning, and can't believe where I was, having this surreal feeling, 'Where am I again?'
The IB job got me into a different level of challenge and stress. I was dreading work, cursing almost everyday, 'PI!' you bet. Partly was also because of few assholes in the workplace. And yes, this is my 3rd gloomiest chapter. (2nd being the mini-accident during 2009). I dont want to elaborate on this gloomy chapter, all I can say is everything is part of life.
And now, what has changed. Finally after working for eight gruelling long consecutive years without any real breaks, I am finally having a break. Can you imagine waking up 10am on a weekday, without a need for an alarm clock, no sign-off for production, no freaking production misses. Can you imagine strolling Orchard on a weekday, attending yoga classes, doing more culinary experiments, catching up with friends, going on foodie trips, watching movies online. I seem to have all the time in the whole world now. Is this really for real??? What am I supposed to do with 24hours a day?! Never realized there are actually 24 hours in a day, if you get what I'm saying. Life used to be just Sat and Sun and holidays for me. (Or in some other previous jobs, even the holidays/weekends can be deprived occasionally) Now life has extended, omg.
Because of this unexpected yet expected break, I feel kinda pressured. Is this a sign, a sign of what? I have promised my mom to spend some time with her, at least during her birthday month. You bet, I will also have 24hours a day in Manila. Now the whole idea seems to excite and to scare me a bit. I always have a long and unaccomplished to-do list. I will now have time to squeeze them all in, if I'm good with managing my time. I can enroll in whatever fancy workshops, I can eat in whatever new resto or go to any cool place. I guess I have time to mend broken relationships/ties and unfinished businesses. But then again, I suddenly feel most of my friends have gone on with their own lives there. I hate to admit but yes, probably it doesnt make a big difference whether I'll be back or not :(.
I'm not as good in sugarcoating like some of my friends. To be honest, even if I'm happy about the whole idea, it's also freaking me out. The sugarcoating way of saying is 'sabbatical', the layman way is 'bum'. :)) I'm freaking because my resume will reflect real gaps now. I'm freaking because I still have to pay rent. -these are my honest feelings. But learning from people who are good in sugarcoating, I should label this as 'a period of self-exploration and self-improvement' :) I really need some light and strength right now. Aww God help me.
The IB job got me into a different level of challenge and stress. I was dreading work, cursing almost everyday, 'PI!' you bet. Partly was also because of few assholes in the workplace. And yes, this is my 3rd gloomiest chapter. (2nd being the mini-accident during 2009). I dont want to elaborate on this gloomy chapter, all I can say is everything is part of life.
And now, what has changed. Finally after working for eight gruelling long consecutive years without any real breaks, I am finally having a break. Can you imagine waking up 10am on a weekday, without a need for an alarm clock, no sign-off for production, no freaking production misses. Can you imagine strolling Orchard on a weekday, attending yoga classes, doing more culinary experiments, catching up with friends, going on foodie trips, watching movies online. I seem to have all the time in the whole world now. Is this really for real??? What am I supposed to do with 24hours a day?! Never realized there are actually 24 hours in a day, if you get what I'm saying. Life used to be just Sat and Sun and holidays for me. (Or in some other previous jobs, even the holidays/weekends can be deprived occasionally) Now life has extended, omg.
Because of this unexpected yet expected break, I feel kinda pressured. Is this a sign, a sign of what? I have promised my mom to spend some time with her, at least during her birthday month. You bet, I will also have 24hours a day in Manila. Now the whole idea seems to excite and to scare me a bit. I always have a long and unaccomplished to-do list. I will now have time to squeeze them all in, if I'm good with managing my time. I can enroll in whatever fancy workshops, I can eat in whatever new resto or go to any cool place. I guess I have time to mend broken relationships/ties and unfinished businesses. But then again, I suddenly feel most of my friends have gone on with their own lives there. I hate to admit but yes, probably it doesnt make a big difference whether I'll be back or not :(.
I'm not as good in sugarcoating like some of my friends. To be honest, even if I'm happy about the whole idea, it's also freaking me out. The sugarcoating way of saying is 'sabbatical', the layman way is 'bum'. :)) I'm freaking because my resume will reflect real gaps now. I'm freaking because I still have to pay rent. -these are my honest feelings. But learning from people who are good in sugarcoating, I should label this as 'a period of self-exploration and self-improvement' :) I really need some light and strength right now. Aww God help me.
New Glam Picture for 2011
I signed up for a discounted make-up workshop voucher with groupon. (My only intention then was to learn to put false eyelashes :p) I didnt expect that I'll also get dolled up after the workshop. :)
Thanks to my flatmate who turned her bedroom into an instant studio in 3 minutes, photography expert :) Here's one of my fave shots. I guess my shots seem to look better if I'm in my dont-look-at-the-camera and dramatic-emote expression. :)
Thanks to my flatmate who turned her bedroom into an instant studio in 3 minutes, photography expert :) Here's one of my fave shots. I guess my shots seem to look better if I'm in my dont-look-at-the-camera and dramatic-emote expression. :)
I played with Photofunia and put some caption. Aww you just stole my heart away and my eyes seem to get stuck on you, cant you see baby? :)) (practice lang)
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
My Predictions
Last year, Jul 2010, out of 'nothing to do', I consulted again a manghuhula in Manila who is highly recommended by a neighbor. :p This so far is my 3rd attempt.
The 1st attempt was sometime when I was around 23, the only thing I remembered - I was told I will only get married after 30 :p. Whuaw how's that, what a bad news. :p
The 2nd attempt was when I was tinkering with the idea of working in SG. It gave me a bad card, saying something like it's gonna be a very hard hard task if I continue with it. Being a pasaway, I followed instinct and flew here.
So now this 3rd attempt, what has it revealed to me? (tarot+palm)
-my palm says I'm a 'layas' meaning adventurer. Hmm accurate.
-I'm hard-headed and matampuhin at times. Oops I'm in denial. :)
-pag may ginustong bilhin, bibilhin mo. Hmm sometimes accurate.
-mapili sa kaibigan. Hmm yeah it justifies why I'm anti-social at times.
the more exciting stuff:
-career: hindi ka boss. hindi yan ang peak mo, magshishine ka pa lalo in your next. I ask him anong next. He said maybe try mo magbisnes. (my sister told me malamang lahat ng filchi na nagpapahula sa knya sinasabihan nya magbisnes lol) - how in the world did he know lol. That idea has been swinging in my head for years. Nope I'm not a born rich kid with a conglomerate to inherit. Where shall I start?! This sounds exciting. I will welcome the time I can move my ass out of the rat race and dip it into something different. Ok dreaming. Sometimes I feel like I am getting the signs though. I asked further pero ndi ko pa nasubukan. He checked my palm again and said, your palm says 'hndi ka maghihirap, wala kang problema sa pera'... Wow too good to be true. I still feel poor at times lol.
-lovelife: parang may hinihintay kang bumalik, pabayaan mo lang. Ouch leche!
You will be hurt twice, tpos na ba? I was like 'huh'.
You will meet someone during last quarter (Oct), but you wont end up with him. Holy cow yes I did meet someone last Oct, jackpot lol. Nothing interesting bloomed out, just that I discover more about what annoying means :(. I will probably blog about this when I have time. :p
The good hula is, I will still get married daw. (And I thought it's a hopeless case!)
Anyway, this is just a past-time. I really dont follow this religiously. I dont encourage people to go for this and later be frightened/disappointed. Take everything with a pinch of salt.
The 1st attempt was sometime when I was around 23, the only thing I remembered - I was told I will only get married after 30 :p. Whuaw how's that, what a bad news. :p
The 2nd attempt was when I was tinkering with the idea of working in SG. It gave me a bad card, saying something like it's gonna be a very hard hard task if I continue with it. Being a pasaway, I followed instinct and flew here.
So now this 3rd attempt, what has it revealed to me? (tarot+palm)
-my palm says I'm a 'layas' meaning adventurer. Hmm accurate.
-I'm hard-headed and matampuhin at times. Oops I'm in denial. :)
-pag may ginustong bilhin, bibilhin mo. Hmm sometimes accurate.
-mapili sa kaibigan. Hmm yeah it justifies why I'm anti-social at times.
the more exciting stuff:
-career: hindi ka boss. hindi yan ang peak mo, magshishine ka pa lalo in your next. I ask him anong next. He said maybe try mo magbisnes. (my sister told me malamang lahat ng filchi na nagpapahula sa knya sinasabihan nya magbisnes lol) - how in the world did he know lol. That idea has been swinging in my head for years. Nope I'm not a born rich kid with a conglomerate to inherit. Where shall I start?! This sounds exciting. I will welcome the time I can move my ass out of the rat race and dip it into something different. Ok dreaming. Sometimes I feel like I am getting the signs though. I asked further pero ndi ko pa nasubukan. He checked my palm again and said, your palm says 'hndi ka maghihirap, wala kang problema sa pera'... Wow too good to be true. I still feel poor at times lol.
-lovelife: parang may hinihintay kang bumalik, pabayaan mo lang. Ouch leche!
You will be hurt twice, tpos na ba? I was like 'huh'.
You will meet someone during last quarter (Oct), but you wont end up with him. Holy cow yes I did meet someone last Oct, jackpot lol. Nothing interesting bloomed out, just that I discover more about what annoying means :(. I will probably blog about this when I have time. :p
The good hula is, I will still get married daw. (And I thought it's a hopeless case!)
Anyway, this is just a past-time. I really dont follow this religiously. I dont encourage people to go for this and later be frightened/disappointed. Take everything with a pinch of salt.
Monday, September 19, 2011
A Little Thing Called Love
I saw someone posting this in FB, watched my first ever Thai movie, 'A Little Thing Called Love'
Aww so sweet, makes me wanna be young. :(
I dont know if most of the girls will agree with me. I think each of us has this moment, probably at least once. You seem to like someone a lot, so much that you want to change for the better, to improve in different ways. You change the way you look, the way you dress, the way you walk so that you can be physically attractive enough in his eyes. You want to excel so that you'd be someone worthy of having him. You just wanna do stuff (sometimes funny and obnoxious) to catch a little of his attention, a little of his time, a little of his concern, because simply doing so makes you happy. And seeing him smile makes you happy. And yet you keep holding back without telling him because you dont know what to say.
Aww God, pity these kind of ladies, help them get the man to do something instead, and not drowning in the pool like this poor charming lady.
Enjoy the OST:
Aww so sweet, makes me wanna be young. :(
I dont know if most of the girls will agree with me. I think each of us has this moment, probably at least once. You seem to like someone a lot, so much that you want to change for the better, to improve in different ways. You change the way you look, the way you dress, the way you walk so that you can be physically attractive enough in his eyes. You want to excel so that you'd be someone worthy of having him. You just wanna do stuff (sometimes funny and obnoxious) to catch a little of his attention, a little of his time, a little of his concern, because simply doing so makes you happy. And seeing him smile makes you happy. And yet you keep holding back without telling him because you dont know what to say.
Aww God, pity these kind of ladies, help them get the man to do something instead, and not drowning in the pool like this poor charming lady.
Enjoy the OST:
Sing a Song for You
This year's entry count is still very far from last year's! What else to write about?!! Shall I just upload my ktv recordings, dont blame me for bleeding eardrums.
Here's one sweet pa-cute cerfified every girly girl's must-sing song during KTV:
Love Story by Taylor Swift
http://www.youtube.com/user/ktvqueen716#p/a/u/0/EFbkfnn2rrk
oops I know notes are not accurate
And another one 他不爱我 by 莫文尉 (Karen Mok)
ohh so sad, title means 'He doesn't love me...'
Here's one sweet pa-cute cerfified every girly girl's must-sing song during KTV:
Love Story by Taylor Swift
http://www.youtube.com/user/ktvqueen716#p/a/u/0/EFbkfnn2rrk
oops I know notes are not accurate
And another one 他不爱我 by 莫文尉 (Karen Mok)
ohh so sad, title means 'He doesn't love me...'
Sunday, September 18, 2011
My Top 3 Fave Cheap Eats
Once a cheapskate, always a cheapskate. Here are my top choices to satisfy my cravings without burning a hole in my pocket.
My fave list may change from time to time, but for this season, below will be my top 3 favorite comfort food / places.
3rd place: Saizerya Ristorante
If I'm craving for cheap italian eats like pasta, gratin, risotto, steaks, salads etc, the best place to go is Saizerya Ristorante located in City Square (Farrer Park mrt). I've tried the Asari Clam Pasta, Bacon & Mushroom Risotto and their signature Doria (cheese-baked rice with chicken or seafood). Each dish costs as low as 3.90sgd and probably max at 5sgd. Food court-priced food at resto ambiance.
Below pix: first is the Risotto.
I dont have a pic of the Doria, grabbed a pic from net, source indicated in the pic as well.
2nd place: Seafood 21 @ Kovan
If I'm craving for my favorite creamy butter crab, the best place to go is Seafood 21 @ Kovan (Kovan mrt). So far this is the cheapest crab place I know, 3 small crabs for just 18sgd! (max at 21sgd) The taste is pretty much decent, tasty! The crabs are small yet the crab meat is firm. And for the fact that it's an enclosed place with aircon, the price is really a steal. (A big 1kg crab served in a resto would normally cost 35sgd at the very least, and you have to pay GST).
I'm actually tempted to put this as 1st place, just that crab is not something you can eat frequently (high cholesterol!). The sauce for creamy butter crab is made from: milk, butter, curry leaves, few red chilli. Best to order mantou (fried steamed buns) to dip into the sauce.
It's best to go with companions for hawker fare food like this so that you can order different dishes and share. After having a taste of creamy butter crab / salted egg creamy butter crab, you'd give pepper crab and chilli crab a break. I have already created successful converts who are now fan of this dish like me. :) I guess I will have to blog separately for all the nice places for trying creamy butter crab.
1st place: I Love Taimei
This year I've discovered my new cheer-up food at I Love Taimei at Bugis Junction (Bugis mrt), fell in love again with milk tea with pearls, and the taiwanese inspired fried crispy breaded chicken fillet. A lot of places selling this fried chicken fillet, just that the I personally prefer the aromatic flavor from Taimei. I've also found a new favorite side dish from them, their Tofu fries in seaweed flavor - very fresh concept for me, never imagined you can use tofu to make fries! A set meal of chicken+milktea+fries is roughly 8sgd. Yummy.
My fave list may change from time to time, but for this season, below will be my top 3 favorite comfort food / places.
3rd place: Saizerya Ristorante
If I'm craving for cheap italian eats like pasta, gratin, risotto, steaks, salads etc, the best place to go is Saizerya Ristorante located in City Square (Farrer Park mrt). I've tried the Asari Clam Pasta, Bacon & Mushroom Risotto and their signature Doria (cheese-baked rice with chicken or seafood). Each dish costs as low as 3.90sgd and probably max at 5sgd. Food court-priced food at resto ambiance.
Below pix: first is the Risotto.
I dont have a pic of the Doria, grabbed a pic from net, source indicated in the pic as well.
2nd place: Seafood 21 @ Kovan
If I'm craving for my favorite creamy butter crab, the best place to go is Seafood 21 @ Kovan (Kovan mrt). So far this is the cheapest crab place I know, 3 small crabs for just 18sgd! (max at 21sgd) The taste is pretty much decent, tasty! The crabs are small yet the crab meat is firm. And for the fact that it's an enclosed place with aircon, the price is really a steal. (A big 1kg crab served in a resto would normally cost 35sgd at the very least, and you have to pay GST).
I'm actually tempted to put this as 1st place, just that crab is not something you can eat frequently (high cholesterol!). The sauce for creamy butter crab is made from: milk, butter, curry leaves, few red chilli. Best to order mantou (fried steamed buns) to dip into the sauce.
It's best to go with companions for hawker fare food like this so that you can order different dishes and share. After having a taste of creamy butter crab / salted egg creamy butter crab, you'd give pepper crab and chilli crab a break. I have already created successful converts who are now fan of this dish like me. :) I guess I will have to blog separately for all the nice places for trying creamy butter crab.
1st place: I Love Taimei
This year I've discovered my new cheer-up food at I Love Taimei at Bugis Junction (Bugis mrt), fell in love again with milk tea with pearls, and the taiwanese inspired fried crispy breaded chicken fillet. A lot of places selling this fried chicken fillet, just that the I personally prefer the aromatic flavor from Taimei. I've also found a new favorite side dish from them, their Tofu fries in seaweed flavor - very fresh concept for me, never imagined you can use tofu to make fries! A set meal of chicken+milktea+fries is roughly 8sgd. Yummy.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Style Up Your Hair!
If there's one word NOT in my vocabulary, I guess it's 'boredom'. Because I can always find something amusing, interesting, unique, new, out of this world, anything that is worth a try. Or perhaps rather than complaining and dying of boredom, I am making a conscious effort to find something that makes me busy, makes life worth living, makes me sane. As simple as that.
Couldn't sleep one night, ended up browsing thru make-up tutorials and finally landed on hair styling tutorials. I don't have enough 'gadgets' to keep me going, borrowed my flatmate's hair iron.. and the rest is history. I need a strong spraynet though. Here are some of my proud first-timer moments lol. I couldnt find a suitable occasion to sport this up though.
This is my fave, soft interlocking braids, girly girl isnt it? :)
This one is for greek goddess look, as quoted by my flatmate.
I don't know what is this, a messy chaotic braid. One thing's for sure, I need a hand. My hands are not long enough to capture it! :)
The last one is another 'its complicated' do, trio bush.
Enjoy!
Couldn't sleep one night, ended up browsing thru make-up tutorials and finally landed on hair styling tutorials. I don't have enough 'gadgets' to keep me going, borrowed my flatmate's hair iron.. and the rest is history. I need a strong spraynet though. Here are some of my proud first-timer moments lol. I couldnt find a suitable occasion to sport this up though.
This is my fave, soft interlocking braids, girly girl isnt it? :)
This one is for greek goddess look, as quoted by my flatmate.
I don't know what is this, a messy chaotic braid. One thing's for sure, I need a hand. My hands are not long enough to capture it! :)
The last one is another 'its complicated' do, trio bush.
Enjoy!
Let's go Vietnamese
Joo Chiat - Never did like exploring food here, as I thought it's just another 'pok(2x) area' loaded with lots of Malay food. Never a fan of Malay food, never did like spicy food. But yeah, looks like I am wrong. You can get decent authentic Vietnamese food at very reasonable prices, again another one with long queue - Long Phung Vietnamese Restaurant.
Let's not talk about ambience, we're just in a simple restaurant with aircon - that is sufficient enough for me. You'll get some views of hot Vietnamese 'call girls' strolling across the street. (You can ask for their prices if you want to, but they're not included in the menu. :p)
New discovery: I again of course went for something not-so-conventional: the nutty tamarind juice, just nice!
Other dishes include Member Chicken (chicken pieces wrapped in wanton wrapper and fried) and some traditional Seafood rice noodle.
3 pax sharing, my overall damage is just 10.50sgd, winner!
Let's not talk about ambience, we're just in a simple restaurant with aircon - that is sufficient enough for me. You'll get some views of hot Vietnamese 'call girls' strolling across the street. (You can ask for their prices if you want to, but they're not included in the menu. :p)
Vietnamese dishes that will always be on my fave list: beef pho and vietnamese spring rolls. Ooh delicioso! Nothing much to comment, every dish below costs just about 5-6sgd per dish, I'm sold.
New discovery: I again of course went for something not-so-conventional: the nutty tamarind juice, just nice!
Other dishes include Member Chicken (chicken pieces wrapped in wanton wrapper and fried) and some traditional Seafood rice noodle.
3 pax sharing, my overall damage is just 10.50sgd, winner!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Breakfast is a lifestyle!
Never really fancied breakfast. To be exact, never had time to sit down, relax, drink some milk/coffee and eat sandwich for a relaxing breakfast at home.. on a weekday, for the last 4+ years. My typical weekday breakfast would be preparing a sandwich in a hurry, rush to office, then prepare my instant oatmeal drink and eat my sandwich in haste within 5 minutes on my table.
And much to my surprise, breakfast is becoming a fad nowadays. You have breakfast-all-day-concept from new restaurants in Orchard. Most of the food addicts will surely not give these 2 famous breakfast places a miss. So here I am, unfortunately joining the bandwagon. :p
Wild Honey
Interior speaks for itself. Ambience is expensive. White waiting for my food, I was given a Vogue magazine, cool. Been to a few western restaurants and I have made a haste (unreliable) conclusion, when you see menu written with chalk on a blackboard, you are 'in' and you can price high. Wild Honey serves breakfast all day.
Going back to my 'eggs', they were nicely and elegantly done, there were actually 2 of them, 2 egg yolks wrapped with salty bacon placed on top of toasted bread. However it's too late that I somehow realize I'm not really an egg person. It's actualy a little oily to have 2 big egg yolks in one sitting. I guess it's just one of those 'wrong orders' resto moments for me. I'm not putting the restaurant down.
Jones The Grocer
Another Australian resto, interior again is nice, with all those dangling classy glassy stuff. Again you'll see menu written on the blackboard.
This time we were lucky with the orders. Had their signature wagyu beef burger (26+) and jones club sandwich (13+). The beef burger had blue cheese and the beef was cooked medium rare. (blue cheese by the way is expected to taste like rotten sour cheese, well things you pay more usually have some kinda weird taste). Wagyu beef burger also comes with truffle fries. (again truffle oil is considered gourmet ingredient, tastes something like burnt oil) I personally prefer the club sandwich, the sourdough bread was quite firm and chewy (or was it just me?). It had some chicken fillet and fresh veggies, tastes quite tasty.
Next time you happen to pass by Mandarin Gallery in Orchard, you know how to be 'in' by stepping into these 2 breakfast places. Mind you the review comments for these places have circulated like crazy in the small community of Sg.
And much to my surprise, breakfast is becoming a fad nowadays. You have breakfast-all-day-concept from new restaurants in Orchard. Most of the food addicts will surely not give these 2 famous breakfast places a miss. So here I am, unfortunately joining the bandwagon. :p
Wild Honey
Like I normally do, I asked for what's the best-seller. I chose European breakfast which is nothing but Eggs Benedict (18+) paired with their signature Hazelnut Latte. It's the first (and probably the last) time of ordering gourmet coffee. Because unfortunately I could not really differentiate a Starbucks latte with an expensive latte. (actually not really too pricey, just 2-3sgd more than regular Starbucks price) Pardon my taste buds because I am not really keen on coffee. Coffee for me just serves one purpose: for socializing/for dates. :p I like it, I drink it, I enjoy it, but I am not addicted.
Gotta be tough to take me onto addiction level.
Going back to my 'eggs', they were nicely and elegantly done, there were actually 2 of them, 2 egg yolks wrapped with salty bacon placed on top of toasted bread. However it's too late that I somehow realize I'm not really an egg person. It's actualy a little oily to have 2 big egg yolks in one sitting. I guess it's just one of those 'wrong orders' resto moments for me. I'm not putting the restaurant down.
Jones The Grocer
Another Australian resto, interior again is nice, with all those dangling classy glassy stuff. Again you'll see menu written on the blackboard.
This time we were lucky with the orders. Had their signature wagyu beef burger (26+) and jones club sandwich (13+). The beef burger had blue cheese and the beef was cooked medium rare. (blue cheese by the way is expected to taste like rotten sour cheese, well things you pay more usually have some kinda weird taste). Wagyu beef burger also comes with truffle fries. (again truffle oil is considered gourmet ingredient, tastes something like burnt oil) I personally prefer the club sandwich, the sourdough bread was quite firm and chewy (or was it just me?). It had some chicken fillet and fresh veggies, tastes quite tasty.
Next time you happen to pass by Mandarin Gallery in Orchard, you know how to be 'in' by stepping into these 2 breakfast places. Mind you the review comments for these places have circulated like crazy in the small community of Sg.
Q culture & food
Yesterday was the sensational opening of H&M, where people queued overnight.
This weekend is another Comex IT Show, I did receive sms asking about when HP Touchpads will be selling at the price drop in sg.
Find this comment in yahoo quite amusing.
Spore loves to Q - this is our Q culture. We Q overnight for the birth of Apples's iPads, we also Q overnight for the death of HP's TouchPads, we Q at the Spore Expo at the burial of Borders (50% discounted books).
I don't like queueing, but sometimes I can't help to queue. But for food, yes, sometimes I'm guilty that the longer the queue, the more it makes me curious and the more I wanted to try a dish or resto out and see for myself. Whether it's good or bad, normally I wont come a second time (kakatamad mag-queue!) :)) If it's good, then i'll be happy and say 'Yes I conquer it'. If it's not, then nothing much to say because it will automatically be included in my 'forgettable' list.
I guess I'm bored. Or actually I'm never bored. Seems like I can always think of something new to do. Few friends have asked me why dont I just start a food blog with my fancy for food. Hmm I still dont have a dslr for food photography, which is a requirement for food blogging. I dont really wanna say 'uhmm I actually already have one since ages, just that I dont feel like revealing it to public, as this blog has become a scribble of most of my emotional outbursts and angsts, and I must say this is not very 'me', it's actually a 'negative' me which I dont like to be publicized :p. Anyway, I'll continue to blog about things that strike me, especially food.
One more thing. Usually I get attracted to food places where they have the most number of reviews online, (regardless good or bad). Reviews are subjective. Besides I believe that an object/subject worthy of review in itself already proves its value. Just like a celebrity, who would bother commenting on starlets and trying-hards? Another point is I dont know why people here put so much emphasis on service, like I rate this resto low bec my plates are not being cleared voluntarily eww, my empty glass is not filled automatically. Unless the service is really annoying, disrespectful, else, sorry I find it primadonna to just blabber about service quality. On another hand, yes service becomes important only if you are like paying 50sgd+ per head. Other than that, better shut up about these primadonna manners puhleez.
p.s. whether it's a blessing in disguise or not, I do have all the time in the world now. I have time to step back and smell the roses. Morever, I guess I have more time to blog.
This weekend is another Comex IT Show, I did receive sms asking about when HP Touchpads will be selling at the price drop in sg.
Find this comment in yahoo quite amusing.
Spore loves to Q - this is our Q culture. We Q overnight for the birth of Apples's iPads, we also Q overnight for the death of HP's TouchPads, we Q at the Spore Expo at the burial of Borders (50% discounted books).
I don't like queueing, but sometimes I can't help to queue. But for food, yes, sometimes I'm guilty that the longer the queue, the more it makes me curious and the more I wanted to try a dish or resto out and see for myself. Whether it's good or bad, normally I wont come a second time (kakatamad mag-queue!) :)) If it's good, then i'll be happy and say 'Yes I conquer it'. If it's not, then nothing much to say because it will automatically be included in my 'forgettable' list.
I guess I'm bored. Or actually I'm never bored. Seems like I can always think of something new to do. Few friends have asked me why dont I just start a food blog with my fancy for food. Hmm I still dont have a dslr for food photography, which is a requirement for food blogging. I dont really wanna say 'uhmm I actually already have one since ages, just that I dont feel like revealing it to public, as this blog has become a scribble of most of my emotional outbursts and angsts, and I must say this is not very 'me', it's actually a 'negative' me which I dont like to be publicized :p. Anyway, I'll continue to blog about things that strike me, especially food.
One more thing. Usually I get attracted to food places where they have the most number of reviews online, (regardless good or bad). Reviews are subjective. Besides I believe that an object/subject worthy of review in itself already proves its value. Just like a celebrity, who would bother commenting on starlets and trying-hards? Another point is I dont know why people here put so much emphasis on service, like I rate this resto low bec my plates are not being cleared voluntarily eww, my empty glass is not filled automatically. Unless the service is really annoying, disrespectful, else, sorry I find it primadonna to just blabber about service quality. On another hand, yes service becomes important only if you are like paying 50sgd+ per head. Other than that, better shut up about these primadonna manners puhleez.
p.s. whether it's a blessing in disguise or not, I do have all the time in the world now. I have time to step back and smell the roses. Morever, I guess I have more time to blog.
Monday, July 11, 2011
My First Cookfest!
I will never cook for anyone (unless it's my family or if he's a special someone lol) - that's what I initially thought :p
Nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin when I suddenly felt I needed some audience for taste testing. As they say, we have to start from somewhere. There's gotta be a first time. To bring it to the next level :p
Exclusive coverage photos from my flatmate:
My own verdict: just 70% passing! I was in a hurry, in a mess due to time pressure. Most of the dishes didnt turn out the way I expected them to be, or probably I knew I did cook better on previous attempts. I guess I'm more of a leisure cooker, cooking at my own pace. Iba yun alam mong may kakain, iba yun nageexperiment lng. I suddenly applaud the hawker chefs, how did manong manage to cook that plate of prawn hokkien mee with the same taste, same quality each and everytime, hindi pumapalya.
I suddenly feel there are people with fortunate jobs wherein they can work at their own pace without external pressure. Perhaps like recording a song (recording artist) or an author of a book, or even a photographer. I mean to some extent you have your personal space, and if u didnt like the output, you can always retry and retry until your craft reaches your own perfection.
Cooking is not easy, but I guess I have the passion. :)
Nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin when I suddenly felt I needed some audience for taste testing. As they say, we have to start from somewhere. There's gotta be a first time. To bring it to the next level :p
Exclusive coverage photos from my flatmate:
My own verdict: just 70% passing! I was in a hurry, in a mess due to time pressure. Most of the dishes didnt turn out the way I expected them to be, or probably I knew I did cook better on previous attempts. I guess I'm more of a leisure cooker, cooking at my own pace. Iba yun alam mong may kakain, iba yun nageexperiment lng. I suddenly applaud the hawker chefs, how did manong manage to cook that plate of prawn hokkien mee with the same taste, same quality each and everytime, hindi pumapalya.
I suddenly feel there are people with fortunate jobs wherein they can work at their own pace without external pressure. Perhaps like recording a song (recording artist) or an author of a book, or even a photographer. I mean to some extent you have your personal space, and if u didnt like the output, you can always retry and retry until your craft reaches your own perfection.
Cooking is not easy, but I guess I have the passion. :)
I Can Ride a Bike!
After 3 different trainers on separate attempts in my entire life, I finally know how to ride a bike!
A trainer's skill makes a big difference, especially on a stubborn and slow student like me. :) Previous tries just got me bruised all over, i think there is no balance within my system. Depende nga talaga sa nagtuturo. :)
A trainer's skill makes a big difference, especially on a stubborn and slow student like me. :) Previous tries just got me bruised all over, i think there is no balance within my system. Depende nga talaga sa nagtuturo. :)
And again it's july
The half year just passed by so quickly, and I'm not really eager to add one year to my age. I'm officially kicked off the twenty-something age range. Whuaaa! :p
Today I declared myself on sick leave, my mind is just flying.
Excited to see mama and here's what I've got. Bongga! (never thought I'd be able to buy this)
Today I declared myself on sick leave, my mind is just flying.
Excited to see mama and here's what I've got. Bongga! (never thought I'd be able to buy this)
Saturday, April 16, 2011
French Fries
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Njqzj8b-o All I can say from a marketing perspective: this ad is cool, very effective. The kids are just so adorable that I couldnt resist to buy my own fries. -See you attack a deeper layer into the emotions and get people to spend. Bravo. Cute.
As simple as this ad, I somehow remember the basic wants of a girl. Recently there was a catch-up with some friends. One of them was recently married and another was engaged. (It sucks when you reach this age when people around you start talking about wedding and you are still single hehe) It was a relief that there were still several singles in that crowd, I dont feel alone hehe.
Anyway, the topic was about their regrets and worries. One said she felt sad that her nanny passed away before her wedding and wasnt able to be there on her big day. She apparently was close to her nanny and said that if there's someone she wanted so badly to be there, it was her nanny. The engaged one said that she wished her grandmother would be strong enough, to be very much alive and kicking to witness her wedding. Then I asked, 'ay ndi ba parents yun pinakagusto mong andun?'. They were speechless for a while and then laughed, 'ay oo naman, pero yun nga lng yun mga regrets or fears kumbaga' Both of them have parents who are still alive.
I smiled and kept quiet. Onga naman that was a stupid question I blurted out.
Let alone the topic that there's no defined groom for me yet. I dont even have a dad to walk me down the aisle... Do you know how it feels?.......
Similar to the mcdo commercial, french fries lng naman ang gusto ko eh! :))
p.s. I dont really have much to say about this commercial being banned by the bishops. Mukhng wala talagang magawa mga tao. There are more important things to bother.
As simple as this ad, I somehow remember the basic wants of a girl. Recently there was a catch-up with some friends. One of them was recently married and another was engaged. (It sucks when you reach this age when people around you start talking about wedding and you are still single hehe) It was a relief that there were still several singles in that crowd, I dont feel alone hehe.
Anyway, the topic was about their regrets and worries. One said she felt sad that her nanny passed away before her wedding and wasnt able to be there on her big day. She apparently was close to her nanny and said that if there's someone she wanted so badly to be there, it was her nanny. The engaged one said that she wished her grandmother would be strong enough, to be very much alive and kicking to witness her wedding. Then I asked, 'ay ndi ba parents yun pinakagusto mong andun?'. They were speechless for a while and then laughed, 'ay oo naman, pero yun nga lng yun mga regrets or fears kumbaga' Both of them have parents who are still alive.
I smiled and kept quiet. Onga naman that was a stupid question I blurted out.
Let alone the topic that there's no defined groom for me yet. I dont even have a dad to walk me down the aisle... Do you know how it feels?.......
Similar to the mcdo commercial, french fries lng naman ang gusto ko eh! :))
p.s. I dont really have much to say about this commercial being banned by the bishops. Mukhng wala talagang magawa mga tao. There are more important things to bother.
One Face Fits All
After photofunia, this is the only time I tinker again with a photo crop application.
I think this look suits me, isnt it? :)
Another laugh trip picture:
Too bad April Fool's Day is over, I'm gonna send this to my sisters and tell them I have secretly married here in a quickie setup. I'm too sleepy to tweak it properly! And yeah I dont know who this groom is until I asked a friend, he's Siwon from a popular Korean band Super Junior (known for the song Sorry Sorry)... Hmm parang bagay ata kami noh? :))
Enjoy and play: http://www.faceinhole.com/us
I think this look suits me, isnt it? :)
Another laugh trip picture:
Too bad April Fool's Day is over, I'm gonna send this to my sisters and tell them I have secretly married here in a quickie setup. I'm too sleepy to tweak it properly! And yeah I dont know who this groom is until I asked a friend, he's Siwon from a popular Korean band Super Junior (known for the song Sorry Sorry)... Hmm parang bagay ata kami noh? :))
Enjoy and play: http://www.faceinhole.com/us
Time na?
Sometimes guys can be quite blunt, too blunt that you know they are not a bit interested in you that they dont think twice lol, no sugar coating.
Below is a narration of a sad fact of life, or rather it's actually a happy ending
I have a guy acquaintance whom I recently discovered to be married from facebook, I was soo surprised that I couldn't stop stalking virtually (read: virtual stalking is basic woman's instinct, or should i say even man's. In this virtual world, facebook knows best.)
I met this guy before coming to SG (probably sometime after I graduated). He's probably one of those extreme naughty guys from outer space, well I dont know if his stories were real though. His typical short encounters with someone he casually met from a bar, from work, from anywhere. In short, he wont 'hesitate' if there's an opportunity (that's the most I can describe in a wholesome post). I cant remember the exact details but seems like he had some bad break-up encounter before, and he did have quite high standards on women's physical appearance too. We lost touch until after I moved here. Out of the blue, he messaged me that he was here. We met up and again the humor popped up whether I wanted to be one of those 'girls'. Aba lakas ng loob. (Perhaps I dont have to tell what the response is, up to you to judge)
Sidenote: women are creatures who are hard to decipher.
If you get asked by someone you dont like, you'd feel nabastos ka.
If you dont get asked by someone you really really like, you'd also feel nabastos ka? It's a damn if you do, damn if you dont thing. Headache!
Anyway so after that, I dont know what happened to him until only recently when I saw his fb status and his wedding pictures. Basic woman's instinct again. The first thing you wanna know about such a naughty guy, so finally who did he end up with? Who is the lucky (or not-so-lucky) girl? :p How does she look like? And to my astonishment, it was such a surprise. For someone like him, I thought he'd end up with some pretty chinita. If I have to describe bluntly using his language, aba mas maganda pa katulong namin, seriously! Note: our househelper looks good because she does look like a kolehiala, much prettier than my other filipina friends). Sorry sometimes I can be cruel to people who are cruel :))
So back to the story, I greeted him over messenger and had a small talk. He strikes my curiousity. I wanted to know, why, why? :) So I told him, 'I didnt expect to see you married so soon. You're not the type of guy who will settle down'. He's in his early 30's btw. And again to my surprise, his response is bluntly 'Time na kasi'...
Did I hear correctly? I have the habit of asking the same questions consecutively when I dont get a satisfactory answer :)) Or actually sometimes when you keep asking, you dont get consistent answer. (Hmm sometimes it works for me like that hehe)
Then he added 'I still want to see my grandchildren'.
Wow how blunt is that. Deep inside, I am amused and laughing. See when guys are not interested in you, they dont really care to pick the right words. They just answer you bluntly.
Ok I am not expecting glamorous answers like 'I found the love of my life', or 'yeah we are so compatible, she's the one I'm waiting for'. But 'time na kasi'? Ouch. If I am the wife, double ouch. Ano yun, napilitan ka ata hehe just murmuring those in my head, I stopped asking before he finds me annoying.
Perhaps it is indeed true. Marriage is a state of mind. People who want to settle down will find a way to settle down. In the same way, people who dont want to settle down yet, will find a 100 excuses why not to. Anyway, I'm happy for him and wish him luck. I guess he's tired of playing too and wanted some serious stuff.
p.s. I still dont know who my prince is. I hope he knows where to find me.
Photo courtesy of faceinahole. Does princess style fit me? :)
Below is a narration of a sad fact of life, or rather it's actually a happy ending
I have a guy acquaintance whom I recently discovered to be married from facebook, I was soo surprised that I couldn't stop stalking virtually (read: virtual stalking is basic woman's instinct, or should i say even man's. In this virtual world, facebook knows best.)
I met this guy before coming to SG (probably sometime after I graduated). He's probably one of those extreme naughty guys from outer space, well I dont know if his stories were real though. His typical short encounters with someone he casually met from a bar, from work, from anywhere. In short, he wont 'hesitate' if there's an opportunity (that's the most I can describe in a wholesome post). I cant remember the exact details but seems like he had some bad break-up encounter before, and he did have quite high standards on women's physical appearance too. We lost touch until after I moved here. Out of the blue, he messaged me that he was here. We met up and again the humor popped up whether I wanted to be one of those 'girls'. Aba lakas ng loob. (Perhaps I dont have to tell what the response is, up to you to judge)
Sidenote: women are creatures who are hard to decipher.
If you get asked by someone you dont like, you'd feel nabastos ka.
If you dont get asked by someone you really really like, you'd also feel nabastos ka? It's a damn if you do, damn if you dont thing. Headache!
Anyway so after that, I dont know what happened to him until only recently when I saw his fb status and his wedding pictures. Basic woman's instinct again. The first thing you wanna know about such a naughty guy, so finally who did he end up with? Who is the lucky (or not-so-lucky) girl? :p How does she look like? And to my astonishment, it was such a surprise. For someone like him, I thought he'd end up with some pretty chinita. If I have to describe bluntly using his language, aba mas maganda pa katulong namin, seriously! Note: our househelper looks good because she does look like a kolehiala, much prettier than my other filipina friends). Sorry sometimes I can be cruel to people who are cruel :))
So back to the story, I greeted him over messenger and had a small talk. He strikes my curiousity. I wanted to know, why, why? :) So I told him, 'I didnt expect to see you married so soon. You're not the type of guy who will settle down'. He's in his early 30's btw. And again to my surprise, his response is bluntly 'Time na kasi'...
Did I hear correctly? I have the habit of asking the same questions consecutively when I dont get a satisfactory answer :)) Or actually sometimes when you keep asking, you dont get consistent answer. (Hmm sometimes it works for me like that hehe)
Then he added 'I still want to see my grandchildren'.
Wow how blunt is that. Deep inside, I am amused and laughing. See when guys are not interested in you, they dont really care to pick the right words. They just answer you bluntly.
Ok I am not expecting glamorous answers like 'I found the love of my life', or 'yeah we are so compatible, she's the one I'm waiting for'. But 'time na kasi'? Ouch. If I am the wife, double ouch. Ano yun, napilitan ka ata hehe just murmuring those in my head, I stopped asking before he finds me annoying.
Perhaps it is indeed true. Marriage is a state of mind. People who want to settle down will find a way to settle down. In the same way, people who dont want to settle down yet, will find a 100 excuses why not to. Anyway, I'm happy for him and wish him luck. I guess he's tired of playing too and wanted some serious stuff.
p.s. I still dont know who my prince is. I hope he knows where to find me.
Photo courtesy of faceinahole. Does princess style fit me? :)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Supermodel Dream
My previous post seems to have some sad undertones which I would like to take back. Today I woke up at the right side of the bed, started my day in good mood. :) In general, I just want to appreciate whatever comes my way and dont want to take the past 4 years worth of blessings for granted. Here's an entry to offset the vibes :)
2006 Shanghai, the first time I was approached randomly in the streets whether I wanted to join some modelling agency. (It should be among my very first few blog entries). I was on business trip then, didnt have much time to tinker with the idea to attend an interview. (I was partially afraid someone might ask me to strip off :p, well yeah in a place like China, I dont know)
So after 4 years, I was approached again randomly in SG by some agent, handed a namecard in the streets. She asked me for my age in Mandarin, I said 二十九. She clarified, 十九? I said no, 二十九. She was shocked and told me I didnt look like it. I was too shocked to be happy, come on, it was too much, I wanted to cry. :) Translation: she took off 10 years from my actual age.
p.s. I dont wear make-ups and I dress lousily when I'm strolling alone, and people my age here would normally dress up prim & proper, complete with make-up and false eyelashes - so probably that's why the confusion, the fortunate misleading confusion
It was Dec 18 Sat (the day when most of my friends are rushing home a week before Christmas, I was there rushing to go to this so-called agency). Before going, I've already researched online that this agency exists and they have wholesome clients from telco, food chain, insurance, banks, schools, etc, but there were reviews that they are quite notorious in their marketing schemes, or some call it modus operandi -and that is to make their candidates pay for their own training and pictorial fee which is an amount of like 1.2k (approx 36k). In a safe place like this, I am almost 101% sure that nothing really can happen to me, sa liwanag ng araw. Curiousity kills the cat. Ok I can kill an hour's time to hear what they have to say to me.
I was there, and then a lady in her 40's came up to me and did the usual business-as-usual money talks, I have to stress that it's in a 'cold' way. You know people here are so good in selling anything. They explained that I have to invest in myself as they invest on me. I have to pay this 1.2k to have them take photos of me, of which will be used by them when they advertise me to their clients who source models from them for print ads. I'm really awed how good this business is, they earn 1.2k from their models and then again another few hundreds or thousands from their prospective clients
Ok here's the fun part. I wounldnt go there without 'bala' right. I brought those glam shots that I have. I showed them a few samples and told them, cant these be counted as your portfolio pics? This lady finally stood up, adjusted her eyeglasses, and became very warm and friendly. She told me 'hey you have very nice shots'. - Her expression is worth a million, hah! Pagkatpos mo akong taasan ng kilay ha. Wow kahit papano, barely pasado ako for her consideration. :)
In general, I dont like it when people are too sigurista! Well it's supposed to be a mutual trust and collective effort of teamwork and taking risk together. Nothing is certain, so it's a bit strange to be put at the loose ends from the beginning.
Still she did some convincing powers to persuade me to sign but she didnt waive off this 1.2k. She said that I could earn that back anyway if I get picked for any ads.
Maybe if I am extremely bored, papatulan ko lol, I'm not. But then again, I dont want to be tied everyday hoping some company would pick me so I could recover my investment. Pano na mga weekends ko, matutulog pa ako, maglalakwasta. So goodbye to you.
http://www.createtalentsandmodels.com/
Here ends this fun dream of being a supermodel. Even if its totally insane, nobody dies from trying. :)
p.s. Ganon na ba kalayo in person and from the pictures! Ok ok I concede. It's not me. Fine. :)
2006 Shanghai, the first time I was approached randomly in the streets whether I wanted to join some modelling agency. (It should be among my very first few blog entries). I was on business trip then, didnt have much time to tinker with the idea to attend an interview. (I was partially afraid someone might ask me to strip off :p, well yeah in a place like China, I dont know)
So after 4 years, I was approached again randomly in SG by some agent, handed a namecard in the streets. She asked me for my age in Mandarin, I said 二十九. She clarified, 十九? I said no, 二十九. She was shocked and told me I didnt look like it. I was too shocked to be happy, come on, it was too much, I wanted to cry. :) Translation: she took off 10 years from my actual age.
p.s. I dont wear make-ups and I dress lousily when I'm strolling alone, and people my age here would normally dress up prim & proper, complete with make-up and false eyelashes - so probably that's why the confusion, the fortunate misleading confusion
It was Dec 18 Sat (the day when most of my friends are rushing home a week before Christmas, I was there rushing to go to this so-called agency). Before going, I've already researched online that this agency exists and they have wholesome clients from telco, food chain, insurance, banks, schools, etc, but there were reviews that they are quite notorious in their marketing schemes, or some call it modus operandi -and that is to make their candidates pay for their own training and pictorial fee which is an amount of like 1.2k (approx 36k). In a safe place like this, I am almost 101% sure that nothing really can happen to me, sa liwanag ng araw. Curiousity kills the cat. Ok I can kill an hour's time to hear what they have to say to me.
I was there, and then a lady in her 40's came up to me and did the usual business-as-usual money talks, I have to stress that it's in a 'cold' way. You know people here are so good in selling anything. They explained that I have to invest in myself as they invest on me. I have to pay this 1.2k to have them take photos of me, of which will be used by them when they advertise me to their clients who source models from them for print ads. I'm really awed how good this business is, they earn 1.2k from their models and then again another few hundreds or thousands from their prospective clients
Ok here's the fun part. I wounldnt go there without 'bala' right. I brought those glam shots that I have. I showed them a few samples and told them, cant these be counted as your portfolio pics? This lady finally stood up, adjusted her eyeglasses, and became very warm and friendly. She told me 'hey you have very nice shots'. - Her expression is worth a million, hah! Pagkatpos mo akong taasan ng kilay ha. Wow kahit papano, barely pasado ako for her consideration. :)
In general, I dont like it when people are too sigurista! Well it's supposed to be a mutual trust and collective effort of teamwork and taking risk together. Nothing is certain, so it's a bit strange to be put at the loose ends from the beginning.
Still she did some convincing powers to persuade me to sign but she didnt waive off this 1.2k. She said that I could earn that back anyway if I get picked for any ads.
Maybe if I am extremely bored, papatulan ko lol, I'm not. But then again, I dont want to be tied everyday hoping some company would pick me so I could recover my investment. Pano na mga weekends ko, matutulog pa ako, maglalakwasta. So goodbye to you.
http://www.createtalentsandmodels.com/
Here ends this fun dream of being a supermodel. Even if its totally insane, nobody dies from trying. :)
p.s. Ganon na ba kalayo in person and from the pictures! Ok ok I concede. It's not me. Fine. :)
Monday, April 4, 2011
Happy 4th
It's been 4 years since I moved here. Where did the time go?
As this number keeps increasing, I dont know whether it's a good or bad thing. I guess there are always 2 sides of a coin. At work, perhaps I dont have the right to rant about anything with what I'm paid. It's not really a lot, but for the lacking knowledge that I have, hell it's the first time you'd hear me saying 'ang hirap, d ko maintindihan, hndi kaya ng utak ko'. Would you believe I just worked on options trading. I blogged about options 3 years back, didnt expect to be working on it. The harsh atmosphere that I used to deal with has been replaced with a bearable/friendly one after more new hires came in. They probably felt I was too nice that they collectively gave me an Ipod nano as Christmas gift. :) Superb, never expected anything like it. I will just blog about these options and nano separately when I have the time.
My grammar has been seriously injured, so with the English accent. Almost 90% of the time, everything is present tense, plural form of a verb. My sister tells me I have no cure.
It's the first time when holiday is indeed a holiday, no one bugs me on holidays. Went to a few nearby countries, with Korea as my recent fave. Got mistaken for a Korean by local Koreans several times. I would love and choose to think it's a compliment.
Dont ask me about lovelife, because if I wont tell unless ... anyway common sense should probably tell you that if i have a deliriously happy one, I wont even have time to blog something worthless like this. Worst, I came to know my preferences. I am still who I am, so either you find me stunningly amazing or annoyingly stubborn.
---to be continued
p.s. couldnt help but to feel down today.. the only thing that cheered me up is the free take-home leftover goodie bag of creamy butter crabs by a flatmate.
As this number keeps increasing, I dont know whether it's a good or bad thing. I guess there are always 2 sides of a coin. At work, perhaps I dont have the right to rant about anything with what I'm paid. It's not really a lot, but for the lacking knowledge that I have, hell it's the first time you'd hear me saying 'ang hirap, d ko maintindihan, hndi kaya ng utak ko'. Would you believe I just worked on options trading. I blogged about options 3 years back, didnt expect to be working on it. The harsh atmosphere that I used to deal with has been replaced with a bearable/friendly one after more new hires came in. They probably felt I was too nice that they collectively gave me an Ipod nano as Christmas gift. :) Superb, never expected anything like it. I will just blog about these options and nano separately when I have the time.
My grammar has been seriously injured, so with the English accent. Almost 90% of the time, everything is present tense, plural form of a verb. My sister tells me I have no cure.
It's the first time when holiday is indeed a holiday, no one bugs me on holidays. Went to a few nearby countries, with Korea as my recent fave. Got mistaken for a Korean by local Koreans several times. I would love and choose to think it's a compliment.
Dont ask me about lovelife, because if I wont tell unless ... anyway common sense should probably tell you that if i have a deliriously happy one, I wont even have time to blog something worthless like this. Worst, I came to know my preferences. I am still who I am, so either you find me stunningly amazing or annoyingly stubborn.
---to be continued
p.s. couldnt help but to feel down today.. the only thing that cheered me up is the free take-home leftover goodie bag of creamy butter crabs by a flatmate.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
And I Miss You So
Test Shot:
Caption: Does it make a difference if I tell you I really miss you?... Psychedelic! :)
Aww mangoes from Thailand, better than SG or MY, but still not good enough as Ph.
Ok back to test shot feedback :), quality is not bad, the picture is clear. Yay!
My New Digicam
I realized that it is true digicams have a lifespan of 3yrs+. After having mine exposed in snow weather, the lens seemed to have depreciated at that moment, the shots then were blurry. When I got back here, it seems to be ok but I dont know for how long. Anyway, looks like it's time to retire my 3.5year old IXUS Cam, goodbye my beloved camera for giving me good memories, including an award-winning shot :)
It was IT fair second week of Mar, here's what I got.. still a Canon IXUS cam :)) It's from the new IXUS HS series which boasts of performing well in low-light. Mine is 115HS with these specs: 12.1MP, 4x zoom 28mm focal length, DIGIC 4 processor, several funky modes to play from including Movie Digest. And it only costs 299sgd with freebies like case, 2pc 8GB SD Card and flash
drive.
Dialogue:
Friend: Bkit yan binili mo, ndi man lng S95?
Me: ah dami ko ng spare batteries.. pumili ako ng kaparehas
Friend: Haha practical ka naman masyado
Me: at tamad mag-isip!
It was IT fair second week of Mar, here's what I got.. still a Canon IXUS cam :)) It's from the new IXUS HS series which boasts of performing well in low-light. Mine is 115HS with these specs: 12.1MP, 4x zoom 28mm focal length, DIGIC 4 processor, several funky modes to play from including Movie Digest. And it only costs 299sgd with freebies like case, 2pc 8GB SD Card and flash
drive.Dialogue:
Friend: Bkit yan binili mo, ndi man lng S95?
Me: ah dami ko ng spare batteries.. pumili ako ng kaparehas
Friend: Haha practical ka naman masyado
Me: at tamad mag-isip!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Red Alert
Japan's on the news everywhere, earthquakes and tsunamis have become frequent visitors nowadays.
I saw a few footage of this drastic calamity wiping out Japan, scary. It looks like a movie, no it's real.
My heart goes to the victims. I couldnt shrug off the feeling, hey what if I happen to be a tourist in Japan hoping to get a glimpse of cherry blossoms but yet was greeted by these natural disasters instead. I sense trauma. It could just be anyone. Risk happens everywhere. In the end, it's still fate, if you are meant to die, you will. The question is, are you ready?
I was reminded of the 2012 movie. Oh yeah the movie is quite memorable to me. Memorable in what way, you'll probably hate me for being blunt. I was on a date watching it (sometime 2009) and all I was thinking... hmm if this is my last day on earth, who would I want to spend it with, and yeah you're right, somehow an image of a different guy surfaced on my mind, not the one beside me. Dont you just want to bump my head?! Ok ok that's a different story. hehe let's just laugh at it...
Anyway, the point is, calamities are inevitable. You can never plan too ahead. Because someone above has His own plans and His will will be done. You cant fight it. Your will be done - I wish I could be more spiritual. I'm just an ordinary person, who probably goes to Church only every Christmas eve. I should do better than that.
I dont know what else to write, I'm not really good with words. I do hope everyone should learn and always be alert. You'll never know what happens tomorrow.
I saw a few footage of this drastic calamity wiping out Japan, scary. It looks like a movie, no it's real.
My heart goes to the victims. I couldnt shrug off the feeling, hey what if I happen to be a tourist in Japan hoping to get a glimpse of cherry blossoms but yet was greeted by these natural disasters instead. I sense trauma. It could just be anyone. Risk happens everywhere. In the end, it's still fate, if you are meant to die, you will. The question is, are you ready?
I was reminded of the 2012 movie. Oh yeah the movie is quite memorable to me. Memorable in what way, you'll probably hate me for being blunt. I was on a date watching it (sometime 2009) and all I was thinking... hmm if this is my last day on earth, who would I want to spend it with, and yeah you're right, somehow an image of a different guy surfaced on my mind, not the one beside me. Dont you just want to bump my head?! Ok ok that's a different story. hehe let's just laugh at it...
Anyway, the point is, calamities are inevitable. You can never plan too ahead. Because someone above has His own plans and His will will be done. You cant fight it. Your will be done - I wish I could be more spiritual. I'm just an ordinary person, who probably goes to Church only every Christmas eve. I should do better than that.
I dont know what else to write, I'm not really good with words. I do hope everyone should learn and always be alert. You'll never know what happens tomorrow.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
My Princess!
The latest Korean series addiction that's making me crazily and painfully waiting in youtube: My Princess
Starring oppa SSH from Autumn Love Story (Endless Love). His part as oppa in that series failed to move me unfortunately. After 10years, how come he still looks so young! and with 6packs.. you make me realize macho men are such eye candy.
Female lead is KTH from Love Story in Harvard. My goodness, she looks so adorable and pretty. Effortlessly and naturally pretty. She looks pretty even whe she cries. With or without make up, dolled up or not, she's so gorgeous.
Enduring 3 more weeks for the remaining 6 episodes. KTH is an innocent and cheerful commoner student turned princess whom the government/opposition parties have their own evil minds of using her for their own political benefits. SSH is a diplomat assigned as a tutor by the President with the intention to cause her downfall, he later ended up saving her and falling for her. Such a pretty onscreen couple and good chemistry. The plot is light and funny.
The last episode (epi 10) stops at SSH asking KTH.. 'Cant you not be the princess and just live as my woman?'... I want to answer 'Yes yes yes!' The surest yes in the world. Forget about ego, pride, national and political issues.. everything is negotiable. :))
Ok I cant sleep. Enough of this. Kamsahamnida! Saranghae oppa. :) Sorry fan mode on.
Starring oppa SSH from Autumn Love Story (Endless Love). His part as oppa in that series failed to move me unfortunately. After 10years, how come he still looks so young! and with 6packs.. you make me realize macho men are such eye candy.
Female lead is KTH from Love Story in Harvard. My goodness, she looks so adorable and pretty. Effortlessly and naturally pretty. She looks pretty even whe she cries. With or without make up, dolled up or not, she's so gorgeous.
Enduring 3 more weeks for the remaining 6 episodes. KTH is an innocent and cheerful commoner student turned princess whom the government/opposition parties have their own evil minds of using her for their own political benefits. SSH is a diplomat assigned as a tutor by the President with the intention to cause her downfall, he later ended up saving her and falling for her. Such a pretty onscreen couple and good chemistry. The plot is light and funny.
The last episode (epi 10) stops at SSH asking KTH.. 'Cant you not be the princess and just live as my woman?'... I want to answer 'Yes yes yes!' The surest yes in the world. Forget about ego, pride, national and political issues.. everything is negotiable. :))
Ok I cant sleep. Enough of this. Kamsahamnida! Saranghae oppa. :) Sorry fan mode on.
Friday, February 4, 2011
This is Me.. during full moon :)
I wish you are my favorite dress, so I can wear you everyday
I wish you are my shoes, so you can carry me all the way..
Ehem, it rhymes. :)
This is one of my fave pic from the modern set I did last year. Guess I never really posted any modern pic previously.
Good night world!
I wish you are my shoes, so you can carry me all the way..
Ehem, it rhymes. :)
This is one of my fave pic from the modern set I did last year. Guess I never really posted any modern pic previously.
Good night world!
CNY Menu 2011
Gong Xi Fa Cai. It's year of the Rabbit!
Cheers to 2 straight holidays every year during Chinese New Year. That makes it to a 4day long weekend. I simply love these bumming days. Days I can wake up latttttteeeeee. They say when one grows old, the appetite for sleep diminishes. But it seems to be happening the opposite for me, no idea. But I do feel one thing's for sure.. my metabolism has gone low. During my new year vaca in Manila, I suddenly remembered my fave dress. I swear to remember wearing it and fitting nicely exactly 3 years ago, and now I cant seem to slip myself in. Grrh. :)
Enough of the blabbers, here's showcasing what I experimented for CNY menu this year.
Chicken Gordon Bleu
This is one of my very first experiment recipes, something close to my heart.
Pumpkin Soup with Siomai & Japchae
One of those impromptu moments, something creative spins into my head. My pumpkin soup was lacking the color for my food presentation and I decided to drop a siomai into it. Weird concept? For a change, be unique! :) It's edible anyway. I hope I am the first originator of this, well I've never seen it anywhere yet.
Another is the japchae. I like this korean style potato vermicelli, more chewy.
Lastly, CNY wont be complete without bakkwa, sweet cake and puddings
Cheers to 2 straight holidays every year during Chinese New Year. That makes it to a 4day long weekend. I simply love these bumming days. Days I can wake up latttttteeeeee. They say when one grows old, the appetite for sleep diminishes. But it seems to be happening the opposite for me, no idea. But I do feel one thing's for sure.. my metabolism has gone low. During my new year vaca in Manila, I suddenly remembered my fave dress. I swear to remember wearing it and fitting nicely exactly 3 years ago, and now I cant seem to slip myself in. Grrh. :)
Enough of the blabbers, here's showcasing what I experimented for CNY menu this year.
Chicken Gordon Bleu
This is one of my very first experiment recipes, something close to my heart.
Pumpkin Soup with Siomai & Japchae
One of those impromptu moments, something creative spins into my head. My pumpkin soup was lacking the color for my food presentation and I decided to drop a siomai into it. Weird concept? For a change, be unique! :) It's edible anyway. I hope I am the first originator of this, well I've never seen it anywhere yet.
Another is the japchae. I like this korean style potato vermicelli, more chewy.
Lastly, CNY wont be complete without bakkwa, sweet cake and puddings
Food Lab: Soups for the Soul
It's not to late to be healthy. Havent written a Food Lab entry for so long.
Who would have thought I would stop eating rice for dinner (occasionally) :p Here's my new exploration: soups! My flatmate got a blender and I'm having fun using it.
Seafood Spinach Soup
short intro: My family and neighbor went for dinner and they were digging hard on this soup in the buffet (Yaki Mix), saying let's get more of those we cant cook ourselves at home. With that comment, I said hmm ok this has got to be in my experiment list. Really bought spinach from the market and threw it into the blender and this is the outcome, aint bad. :)
Minestrone
short intro: My english is bad :p, I used to pronounce this word incorrectly :)). Ok time for some tangy tomato-based soup.
Potato Mushroom Chowder
short intro: Small confession to make, I used canned soup to go with it. Yeah I am not one of those who wont compromise with instant mixed grocery goods. I know of someone who wont settle for cooking sinigang with instant mix. Oops I am lazy, sometimes I dont feel like reinventing the wheel. :)
Clam Soup
short intro: lastly I like this one. If you want an effortlessly and naturally tasty soup, clams would be your best choice.
\
Who would have thought I would stop eating rice for dinner (occasionally) :p Here's my new exploration: soups! My flatmate got a blender and I'm having fun using it.
Seafood Spinach Soup
short intro: My family and neighbor went for dinner and they were digging hard on this soup in the buffet (Yaki Mix), saying let's get more of those we cant cook ourselves at home. With that comment, I said hmm ok this has got to be in my experiment list. Really bought spinach from the market and threw it into the blender and this is the outcome, aint bad. :)
Minestrone
short intro: My english is bad :p, I used to pronounce this word incorrectly :)). Ok time for some tangy tomato-based soup.
Potato Mushroom Chowder
short intro: Small confession to make, I used canned soup to go with it. Yeah I am not one of those who wont compromise with instant mixed grocery goods. I know of someone who wont settle for cooking sinigang with instant mix. Oops I am lazy, sometimes I dont feel like reinventing the wheel. :)
Clam Soup
short intro: lastly I like this one. If you want an effortlessly and naturally tasty soup, clams would be your best choice.
\
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
One of those days...
Today is one of those days I want to dig a hole and hibernate...
My first ever handled release finally went into production after 2.5 agonizing months. Despite me and some folks babysitting it, I had a few dangling issues that bloated in production.
Sometimes no matter how I want to do things right, somehow, somewhere, something will go wrong. Dont you just hope you could have done better than that?
Just once, can I do things right in just one shot?
One of those few days when I start thinking why...
My first ever handled release finally went into production after 2.5 agonizing months. Despite me and some folks babysitting it, I had a few dangling issues that bloated in production.
Sometimes no matter how I want to do things right, somehow, somewhere, something will go wrong. Dont you just hope you could have done better than that?
Just once, can I do things right in just one shot?
One of those few days when I start thinking why...
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Time is a Good Friend
Last Christmas, company held a Christmas Party for the charity reading events.
I arrived late at the party, my first notion was to look for Elvin (I blogged about him long back, he's the first kid I taught last March and I never bumped into him again in suceeding reading events). I dont really expect him to remember me on just one encounter. I just thought of probably looking at him from a distance, curious to find out how he is doing after like 9 months. (oops dont tell me this is any motherly instict! I dont wanna be an auntie hehe, pwedeng achi na lng :p)
So I looked at the crowd of like 30kids+, I cant recognize him, no choice but to give up searching.
So there's a quick graduation ceremony, perfect, I guess there's only one Elvin around who'd walk up the stage. This is how he looks like now.
Oh my time really flies.. he's grown so so much, I wouldnt know it's the same kid. Binata na. And he's very far from the shy kid I remember, I can see some confidence and kulit energy from him, playing with his friends. Probably he doesnt need me or anyone like me anymore.. he's doing good. And I'm happy for him.
The power of time never fails to amaze me:
...it leaves footprints behind those we touched or have touched us in their small little ways
...it changes a person's outlook and aspirations, goals and priorities, hopefully in a good light
...it heals every imperfection, every wound, both literally and figuratively
...it makes you forget the bad, the ugly, if you want to
...it magically makes you remember the good, the beautiful when you look back
...it makes you realize how stupid you were with the mistakes you did and puts a smile on your face easily
...it makes you proud while recounting the accomplishments you've made
...it gives you some sour regrets for things you failed to do
...it makes you shudder how much of time passes without you feeling its passage
...it challenges you to make the coming days better than the elapsed days
...it gives you hope into the journey for the future
Yeah, just always give me some time, I just need some time perhaps. The right time at the right place, perfect timing.
Time will always be one of my best friends! Cheers to you :)
I arrived late at the party, my first notion was to look for Elvin (I blogged about him long back, he's the first kid I taught last March and I never bumped into him again in suceeding reading events). I dont really expect him to remember me on just one encounter. I just thought of probably looking at him from a distance, curious to find out how he is doing after like 9 months. (oops dont tell me this is any motherly instict! I dont wanna be an auntie hehe, pwedeng achi na lng :p)
So I looked at the crowd of like 30kids+, I cant recognize him, no choice but to give up searching.
So there's a quick graduation ceremony, perfect, I guess there's only one Elvin around who'd walk up the stage. This is how he looks like now.
Oh my time really flies.. he's grown so so much, I wouldnt know it's the same kid. Binata na. And he's very far from the shy kid I remember, I can see some confidence and kulit energy from him, playing with his friends. Probably he doesnt need me or anyone like me anymore.. he's doing good. And I'm happy for him.
The power of time never fails to amaze me:
...it leaves footprints behind those we touched or have touched us in their small little ways
...it changes a person's outlook and aspirations, goals and priorities, hopefully in a good light
...it heals every imperfection, every wound, both literally and figuratively
...it makes you forget the bad, the ugly, if you want to
...it magically makes you remember the good, the beautiful when you look back
...it makes you realize how stupid you were with the mistakes you did and puts a smile on your face easily
...it makes you proud while recounting the accomplishments you've made
...it gives you some sour regrets for things you failed to do
...it makes you shudder how much of time passes without you feeling its passage
...it challenges you to make the coming days better than the elapsed days
...it gives you hope into the journey for the future
Yeah, just always give me some time, I just need some time perhaps. The right time at the right place, perfect timing.
Time will always be one of my best friends! Cheers to you :)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Happy 2011!
It's 2011!
Have a good year ahead, everyone.
Not much new year's resolution, just that I need to hit the gym at least once a week! Better to start early than be sorry later isnt it. :)
It's been 4 years since I last stepped into a gym. Yesterday I had 50minutes of treadmill (not a bad start for a lazy person like me).. I need to burn down all the yucky accumulated fats the last holiday vacation + 4 years of pigging out. Wish me luck!
Posting one of my pix from the modern set, wondering when I'll get a free photoshoot again hehehe.
It's gonna be CNY soon... happy year of the Rabbit! :)
Have a good year ahead, everyone.
Not much new year's resolution, just that I need to hit the gym at least once a week! Better to start early than be sorry later isnt it. :)
It's been 4 years since I last stepped into a gym. Yesterday I had 50minutes of treadmill (not a bad start for a lazy person like me).. I need to burn down all the yucky accumulated fats the last holiday vacation + 4 years of pigging out. Wish me luck!
Posting one of my pix from the modern set, wondering when I'll get a free photoshoot again hehehe.
It's gonna be CNY soon... happy year of the Rabbit! :)
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