Arrghhh...Shopping for dinner dress

My older bro's wedding's next month and I've yet to get myself a dress. My Mom informed that for the reception, I should get a long dress either in the shades of gold, cream or brown. To those who know me, you know it's difficult to see me in a skirt. Thus needless to say that it's the same for seeing me in a dress. What should I do? Rope in cousins for assistance :D

My cousins, Sandy and June offered to take me dress-shopping in Takashimaya after work today. After dinner in Ajisen Ramen (on me, of course...to thank them for spending time to find a dress for me, with me), my hunt for a dress began. Gosh, I think I tried close to 10 dresses, 4 tops and 4 bottoms within 2 hours! Oh, it also includes the day time attire...probably I'll go get the white top and light grey bottom from Elita tomorrow ;)

Cousins recommended Daniel Yam, however there weren't sizes that fit me...haih...then the nice saleslady informed us to try check out their boutique in Wisma Atria that may have wider range of sizes. We hurried there coz it was almost 9pm!

The nice sales lady at the counter suggested a few designs on top of trying the larger sizes of what I've tried in Daniel Yam's Takashimaya outlet. Gosh, I was really tired by then...but managed to FINALLY try a gold-purple dress that looks kinda good with a sheer black shawl.

Now I just need to get a pair of strappy & shimmering golden sandals to match my dinner dress. Shall post some photos of me in my new dress after Wesak Day weekend as my bro's wedding reception's on 17May.

Be patient :D

Shopping for my brother's shirts

Hello, with my older bro's wedding about a month away both my younger brother and I have not bought our respective attires. Since my younger brother hardly buys shirts, I suggested that we try check out Esprit (day time) and Raoul (dinner) in Vivocity. Sadly Raoul's does not have an outlet there.

Anyways, managed to get striped shirts from:
1. Esprit in the shade of black, white, brown and light blue
2. Zara Man in the shade of white, gray, brown and light blue
It took us a little more than an hour to get the 2 shirts and we went our separate ways after lunch.
(note: Siew Khee met up with us in Zara Man and helped to shortlist shirts. Appreciate it!)

Now all left for my younger brother's to get a pair or two of pants, probably belt and shoes. And for me to start shopping for my dinner dress!

Avatar The Last Airbender Weekend Maraton

I was influenced by my younger bro to watch Avatar the last airbender an original cartoon by Nickelodeon....well, actually I managed to resist for about 2 weekends before watching. Nope, I should say that I was glued to the screen for 2 seasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_the_last_airbender


Aang, the last airbender who's also the Avatar


As for the current season 3, I watched it on piecemeal basis ;) took me about 4 weeknights to finish 13 episodes! I'm looking forward for the coming episodes and next season :D

Touring the Marina (20080329), Holland Village & dinner @CCK

Siew Khee and I decided to visit the Merlion last weekend. But before that, I went to collect my freebie watches (Kenneth Cole and Timex) from Starhub outlet in Millenia Walk courtesy of POSB's MySavings Account (it's a forced-saving savings account for me). We met at Cityhall MRT and had lunch at Raffles City's Food Junction.

FYI, we were 2 smart gals without map to guide us to go to the Merlion!
Thank goodness we managed to get the last tourist map available at Raffles City's Information Counter. Armed with the precious map, we took the MRT towards Raffles Place MRT, walked towards Fullerton Hotel and then across to the Merlion :D

By the road side, next to Fullerton Hotel

Look at how strong the wind's blowing. We got kinda wet from the water :(

Across from Merlion's the Singapore Flyer and floating grandstand for F1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix come 28Sep08.

Me, trying to do a 'cute' look....think I failed to pull the look off :(

Since it was a sunny day and we were not in a hurry, Siew Khee and I relaxed with an ice blended drink from Starbucks outlet located at the underpass from Fullerton Hotel to Merlion.

After finishing our drinks, I suggested that we go for ice cream at Cold Rock in Holland Village. It was a 15 minutes long walk from Buona Vista MRT to Holland Village...but worth the effort.

Love my new jeans with my name embroidered ;)

That was not the end of the day for Siew Khee and I as we continued to do some shopping in Daiso @IMM, Jurong East. I was to meet up with Jodie, Johnny, Jessy and Jamie for dinner in Choa Chu Kang (CCK) and asked Siew Khee to join us. By the time we reached CCK Bus Interchange to meet them, it was already 8:10pm!

We took bus 172 (i think) to the 'dai chao' (Cantonese) place for honey-ed pork ribs, claypot fish and salted egg crab...yummy since we were all hungry!

After dinner we went back to CCK bus interchange and took bus#302 to Jodie and Johnny's place (in Yew Tee) for the night while Siew Khee took the MRT back to Bishan. The following morning I joined Jodie and her friend for breakfast before heading back to Tampines (via MRT to Khatib, bus #969 to Tampines bus interchange and finally bus #39 home).

Beware of rouge airport taxi drivers! (location: Hanoi)

Thank goodness Trixy informed me that the taxi ride from Sunway Hotel Hanoi to Noi Bai Airport should not be more than USD12!

As far as I'm aware, the Noi Bai Taxi (White and Yellow coloured taxis) is generally reputable and can be trusted to charge according to meter/ the going rate. However the taxi driver (he didn't speak much English) I had wanted to charge me USD15!

I insisted that the hotel people told me to pay USD12 only for the ride and repeated myself sternly & a little loudly. In a nutshell, he accepted my USD12 and helped heave my luggages out of his taxi's boot.

So make sure u ask how much to pay beforehand so that you are not overcharged (tho fuel price may be escalating..about USD105 now).

In my opinion, overcharging by taxi drivers happens frequently in KL too. It's only in Singapore that the taxi drivers charge according to the meter (including surcharges) as there is enforcement by the authorities.

Part 3-Hanoi on foot-what's for lunch?

Scenery along Hoan Kiem

I googled and found that the words on the monument 'Cam Tu Cho To Quoc Quyet Sinh' means 'Decide to die for the country to live'.
Shops opposite bakery in Old Quarter
Supposed place (Pho Bien Seafood Restaurant) to have lunch BUT the place was closing when we arrived @ 1:30pm (sob...sob...sob)

National Institute of Stomatology along Trang Thi St.

So Trixy decided that we should go to Quan An Ngon (http://jokhaw.blogspot.com/2007/07/dinner-quan-ngon.html) for lunch

Left: Quan An Ngon's entrance

Right: Em Clement ;D

Following pic were taken around where we were seating in Quan An Ngon:

Our lunch was kind bland as both Trixy and I were down with runny nose and sore throat:

Just before leaving the restaurant, go back to hotel to pack and go home.

Part 2-Hanoi on foot-towards Trung Tien then Old Quarters

Clement commented that the following's not a sight one would be able to see every day:

Fighting cockerels...vicious sport :(

On ground floor's Furla and on 2nd floor's Trixy's pampering place (where she does manicure and pedicure).

The Opera House, Hanoi:


Wonderful dessert kem (it's ice cream in Vietnamese!) at Trung Tien St.

After the 3 of us finished our kem, we went to a book store further down the road.

By then, we were near Hoan Kiem Lake @ Old Quarter so we walked half the lake to the bakery as Clement and Trixy wanted to buy bread for their breakfast.

King Ly Thai To's statue, and directly opposite's Monument of King Ly Thai To (http://jokhaw.blogspot.com/2007/07/city-walk-old-quarters.html)

Path to temple at the Hoan Kiem Lake

Part 1-Hanoi on foot-Hai Ba Trung

We got back to Sunway Hotel Hanoi late last night (22 Mar 2008), so slept in and met Clement Chen (ex-colleague from my days in Sunway and Trixy's friend/colleague) for breakfast about 10:15am.

On our way to have Wan Tan Mee, we passed the shop below:

Recommended Vietnamese 'chee cheong fun' near Sunway Hotel Hanoi. The restaurant looks cleaner than many restaurants as food's prepared at waist-level instead of knee-level.

Sorry, forgot to take photos of my Wan Tan Mee breakfast...it was ok-lah. The person manning the stall (owner, I think) speaks Cantonese :D

After breakfast, Trixy, Clement and I went to the local market...it's just to jalan2 ok :)

Look at the crabs! Unique way to tie up crab's claws...
We bought some fruits, one ciku and a bag-full of little mangoes

Then, we also dropped into the 'Barbie doll house' (nick named by Trix coz of the external facade colour and internal decor)...Ipanima retails clothes, bags and accessories near Sunway Hotel Hanoi.

Chilling out in Huong Giang Hotel

After the day tour, we asked to be sent to Dong Ba market. A mistake to go there but eye-opening as it's their local market, not some touristy place.

After half hour walk in the confined space and with 5 hours to 'kill' before our flight back to Hanoi, Trix called for a taxi to take us back to Huong Giang Hotel. We've checked out from the hotel before leaving for the day tour and our luggages were in concierge's storage.

After seating at connecting walkway, between the casino and lobby, for a while... we were still hot and sweaty. What is there to do to clean up?

We went for foot massage+jacuzzi :D With that we managed to 'kill' 2 hours and ended back in the sofa at the connecting walkway. Nice to feel clean again :D

one of the 3 bamboo portraits on the wall beside where we were seated

Out of boredom, i guess, Trixy took a pic of herself in my camera ;) love my 'trinity' ring...hahaha...




Then it was time to go look for place to have dinner...wonder what we'll have tonight...


Note: Combination of photos courtesy of Trixy Chua and Khaw Jo Anne

Hue Day tour Part 5 - Lunch break :D

Finally...a well-earned break for lunch at restaurant nearby :D Not that I'm famished, but love the place, don't u think so too?

Trixy at the entrance

Both of us waiting for food ;) As usual, drinks are not included...we both ordered Coke with salt.

Below are our lunch:

Left: Before

Right After, rice paper with pork and taugeh and dipped it in peanut sauce = yummy :D

Note: Combination of photos courtesy of Trixy Chua and Khaw Jo Anne