Monday, November 30, 2009

Comfy Homes

After 2 days, I'm still trying to adjust to the mode of life in Singapore. Wish time can come to a standstill and I can wake up every morning to aromatic breakfast served in room or to see sweetie still lying in bed next to me. Sweet. Nevertheless, the first day back, I did indeed feel like I was still in Neverneverland. A spotless house greeted me and sweetie. All thanks to the service rendered by Comfy Homes, I didn't have to worry about the dust which piled up whilst I was away. It felt like I was still in the villa and a well-housekeept room welcomed me each time after a massage session at Jln Sultan or a stroll by Kuta Beach. For that matter, I didn't have to worry about the dust at any point in time. Neither did I have to lift a finger to scrub off the grimes in the toilet (ok, this gruelling task isn't undertaken by me most of the time...*blessed*) No matter the situation, they'll have the right solution! Just think, they managed to spring cleaned my mom's place last year during Chinese New Year! That's a magnificent feat for those of you who know how unkempt mom can get in terms of housekeeping. Life is so much simple with extra help from Comfy Homes. You should try them today!


Quality, Service, Trustworthy, Cleanliness and Value!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Bali Rhapsody


To rest is to walk a longer journey. This time, we are journeying to an Indonesian island called Bali. Couldn't afford anything more extravagant or exotic like Seychelles or Maldives since our Kris Flyer miles were limited, thus Bali seems a good place to spend an intimate week at.
Am always enthusiastic about boarding SQ coz of the food and free drinks! On the palate, flavouring pan fried fish, chicken rice and of coz Bailey's on the rockz. Wasn't too pleased with the service though. Apparently, they stopped giving out towels two seats before me. The stewardesses (who were caked up with tons of makeup) were probably more interested in entertaining some Koreans who were seated rows in front.

Arrived at approximately 709pm. The trip was a mere 2hr 10 mins. It's amazing how near we are to Bali compared to BKK, yet the amount of miles required for redemption isn't proportionate. Anyhow, prior to arrival, we were told that the villa was overbooked and we had to look for alternative accommodation on the last night, but were pleasantly surprised by the front office who told us that we were upgraded to a 2 bedroom villa (w one room locked) and private swimming pool (instead of simply a jaccuzi). Imagine the joy I had! The villa was meticulously decorated with rose petals. Felt like it's my second honeymoon!
Stylish bedroom slippers!
Spent a bomb even b4 embarking on the journey

My first La Mer buy! FINALLY! For the sake of vanity, I gave in to temptation, gave up thriftiness and bought this puny bottle of eye concentrate. It will supposedly help in reducing dark eye circles, puffiness and fine lines. Major concern these days! Trying not to smile too much! Apparently, many swear by it. I hope the price justifies coz at $254 (@ the airport mind u), it's a hefty amount to pay for just a small pot!Well, for spending well over $350, VISA had a lucky draw and guess I was "lucky" enough to get myself a Snowman.

Lounge and indulge! Even before we saw daylight, we could not resist the private pool which was calling out to us. Night swim under the stars amidst the cacaphony of sounds made by crickets and possibly frogs (sweetie spotted one apparently!). There wasn't much to do after moon-gazing and settling down, thus we ventured to the streets. Lighting wasn't quite sufficient and perhaps we were located at a more secluded part of Bali (Seminyak), thus the shops were pretty far off. Fortunately for us, we chanced upon a roadside stall selling satay. SEDAP! 10 sticks for a mere 10,000 Rupiah. That's like SGD1.50! True foodies would appreciate its aroma. I didn't dare buy a whole lot coz of hygiene reasons, but regretted the moment I sank my teeth into it! Coupled with beer, it was the most amazing thing I had the whole day!


The next morning, we woke up bright and early. Couldn't sleep well the night before as the bed was a tat too soft. Nothing beats SERTA at home. Was awoken by a menacing mosquito who decided I was supper at 3am. However, these did not dampen my mood. The leaves crunch merrily under my feet as I make my way through the terrace. Sun-tanning at my private terrace, swimming in my private pool, enjoying my favourite magazine, that's ultimate indulgence!
The day progressed with a little shopping spree. A holiday wouldn't be complete if one does not shop. Unfortunately, we couldn't find much. Perhaps too skeptical and "trained" by the Thais and Chinese, we were afraid that we'd be fleeced thus did not buy anything. Even at the Surf Factory Oulet which was offering discounts up to 70%, there wasn't anything that caught our eyes. Some of the items there were old and dusty, not to mention out of season.
Grocery shopping excites me much more. With the large array of instant noodles, we had a good time grabbing almost every other flavour on the shelf! We stocked up on booze (mainly for him) and chips (salmon Teriyaki flavour was awesome) Oh, did I mention, I felt thoroughly healthy that I had fruits with every breakfast! NO MORE CONSTIPATION!Lunch was at this little coffeeshop called Warung Italia. Recommended by D, I thought it wasn't gonna be all that crowded but I was wrong! The Carbonara which i ordered was amazingly thick and tasty and the Calamari (not your typical fried ones), was stuffed with ingredients which will blow your mind!
Dinner was at Jimbaran Bay. Being foreigners, we had to do what other tourists did. Get fleeced! haha...however, it was truly an experience to embrace. soaking in the panoramic sunset views whilst indulging in BBQ seafood along the beach, this was a first for the both of us.
Couldn't resist taking a picture of this lonely Ja-gong (corn) cart on the beach!
Was trying to be artistic with photography whilst waiting for the sun to set. Somehow, the sun sets very slowly over there.


White beaches, turquoise waters boasting an array of beautiful natural corals etc, what more could I ask for! THe ridiculous thing however was, we managed to get "front-row" seats and were staring at the sunset the whole time. I was almost blinded. Fortunately I had my shades with me!

The next day we were whisked away to various places of attractions. First up was white water rafting at Ayung River. Despite it not being a very steep slope, the adrenaline was pumping for me. Adrenalin junkies may not agree with me. My muscles might have had the most exercise in years from the climb down and up from the river to base camp. I'm still aching all over despite the many massages we went for. The forest was dense and the whole time i was so afraid I'd trip and tumble down! My hairs were standing on their ends literally when we finally arrived at the bottom of the river. The ride was rather bumpy but fortunately we were paired up with a Russian couple who were pretty strong. The competitive streak in the Russian guy came on later on and we stroked our way to beat two other teams! nice Fun! Later, our driver drove almost 2 hours to Kintamani which is an active volcano and Lake Batur next to it. The rice terraces were amazingly geometrical over at Tegallalang.
Went over to Pasar Ubud, hoping to get some good buys. Wasn't impressed by the price and variety. Everything seems to be from the same factory. There was a clear lack of creativity. At the end of the day, we merely bought a tissue box for 30,000 rupiah. The seller wanted to charge us 80,000! Siao! Do we look like Carrots? Across the street was the an ancient King's Palace. little girls were practising their traditional dance moves in the compound. The place is characterised by its rich culture and heritage.
Tanah lot was the last stop of the day...it boasts an ancient temple on the sea. It's supposedly the best place for sunset. Pity it was high tide then, thus we could not cross over. Nevertheless I hope the Gods heard my prayers!
Hugeass bat we saw at Tanah lot!
Had our sinful dinner at Mama's German restaurant along Legian. Several Caucasians were streaming to the place so I guess the food's pretty good? I'd say for that price (abt SGD40 for two), the food's very decent. The mash potato could do with more flavour but they redeemed themselves with the onion rings. Sweetie had pig neck's steak!
Even during non-festive periods, the street boasts a small but vibrant nightlife scene. A memorial was erected to commemorate the bombing which happened 2002.

The 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. The attack was the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia, killing 202 people, 152 of whom were foreign nationals, and 38 Indonesian citizens. A further 240 people were injured.

The attack involved the detonation of three bombs: a backpack-mounted device carried by a suicide bomber; a large car bomb, both of which were detonated in or near popular nightclubs in Kuta; and a third much smaller device detonated outside the United States consulate in Denpasar, causing only minor damage.


Crazy people in a crazy world!
Ahhhh...soaking in the sun once more. The many villas in Bali up the ante on the idyllic white sand getaway with generous options of culture, adventure and food! You can totally bask in the sun without the hordes of tourists!

Rented a motorbike on the last day for a mere 50,000 rupiah (SGD7.50) for 24hours and ventured along Kuta Beach. Many dreamy restaurants were littered along the beach and one could lounge around and have afternoon tea. It's also a launch pad for beginner surfers. Strolling along the area, we later bumped into a promoter who was trying to "sell" his hotel. Seeing that he wasn't hard-selling, we entertained him quite a bit. There was apparently a lucky draw happening and guess what? I won myself a wk's stay either at Bali, Phuket or Goa! Sweetie on the other hand got himself 2 T-shirts ..haha...For 2 hours, we had to listen to their presentation and go for site inspection. At the end of the day, naturally they wanted us to join their holiday ownership program. It sounds like a feasible plan should you holiday a whole lot. The accommodation and package prices were unbelievably attractive. Especially for longhaul trips, it's definitely worthwhile. However, given our lifestyle, time and budgetary constraints, we could only reject and simply take the prize! Lunch had to be postponed to 4pm due to the presentation. Was dying to have some local delicacies, thus we tried out Made Warung as recommended by our driver Rode. Turned out almost every dish we ordered came with rice! The inconsiderate waiter did not pre-empt us! Either that or he thinks we are gluttons! Quality of food was passe.

The last night ended with a good break backing (literally) Shiatsu massage at Griya. Was a little annoyed that the therapists kept chatting and that the couple room was awkwardly spaced. Nevertheless, the body felt relaxed. Didn't feel like coming back, but then again, staying too long will make a person lethargic. oh, guys, do remember to keep spare change when you are departing. We were taken aback when we had to pay 150,000 rupiah for airport taxes! knowing that tourists would not have spare cash, they ingeniously placed their Money Changer nearby. We ended up changing SGD10. Silly.

Back home. Lounging comfortably in my swan chair. Received excellent news. This year, no one marred my reputation. All my PSLE students attained excellent results. Out of which, several scored A* for English. A subject typically tough to score an A*. Despite Math being tough this year, several also saw As or A*. I'm proud of you guys!!! Over and above, I received my scores from The College of Teachers. I've attained a DISTINCTION for my course in Creative Writing no less! *SMIRK SMILE*

There's more to life than increasing its speed. Get your rest. Slow Down. I know I have done so, Have you? Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. :)

PS: my eyes are damn blur after blogging for hours! Horrendously long post!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Wedding mayhem

Love is in the air!

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
One of the milestones in life is marriage. Taking the wedding of cousin P as an excuse, I pampered myself to mani and pedicure at a home salon. Had to drag myself to Pungol @ 8+am in the name of vanity as there was no other slots. Nice cosy room (complete with aircon which is a must in sunny Singapore) with TV and even a bed should your other half be tired. Served by two pretty sisters, Homenails made me feel at home. Wasn't able to make up my mind as to what sort of nails I wanted -- Gel, Acrylic, Gel overlay, Extensions...oohhh...those jargons simply drove me nuts. Fortunately, elder sister H kept it simple for me and did gel over my natural nails, complete with BLING BLING! All the glitter just makes me happy!

The day started at 730am when the groom was scheduled to arrive. Strangely, the night before I could not get to sleep till 2am! I wasn't this excited on the eve of my own wedding! The wait was long and I had to self-entertain, forcing everyone to take pictures with me! Sigh, a little depressed to see the amount of weight I've piled on! Alritey, I'll start doing something (I hope) after my holiday!


Coco is all dressed for the occasion too! She seems to know that it's a remarkale occasion.
It's traditional for the groom to go through a tedious list of torturous games conjured by girlfriends of the bride. I'm sure the groom and his brothers were mollified by what the girls came up with. I was particularly bowled over by the part where he said " You are the tunnel and I am the train....You are the cave and I am batman!"...muhahaha....how original!

The all important Roasted Suckling Pig! An important tradition especially for the Cantonese. Though in this case the bride isn't Cantonese, the custom still prevails.


The spectacular celebration was a simulation of the Oscars, thus I dressed to kill! Wks before the event, I had my dress tailor made. M extremely pleased with the outcome. Definitely less than what I'll spend getting something off the rack! Cloth was merely $24 for 3 metres! Makeup would accentuate one's looks. was almost late as I was busy painting my face! Fortunately, the JP himself was late. Probably excited by the whole event, the first screw up of the night was that both mommy and daddy of the bride forgotten to bring their ICs! Daddy dearest was all ready to be the stand-in witness should they b unable to get their ICs down to the hotel on time. Fortunately, we could all wipe away the anxiety when Father of the bride zoomed back on time to the hotel! Blessing that the JP was late!


Accessories of the night! Was completely sold when I saw those shoes months ago! It's so Cinderella!

It's a bittersweet session (especially for parents) as the couple crosses into the realm of marriage. The reception area was not well designed and was choked with people. Suffocated by the crowd, we moved in and started devouring the canapes -- Smoked salmon, Fried lobster meat (or so they claim) and cherry tomatoes (VERY SOUR!). The coke not only tasted flat, it seemed to be heavily mixed with tap water. The chlorine smell was simply unmistakable. Talk about being cheapo for a 5 star hotel!

The highlight of the night was the stunning couple who has been together for 11 yrs! Unbelievably long! Perhaps it runs n the family! haha

The secret of love is seeking variety in your life together, and never letting routine chords dull the melody of your romance.
SEATING ARRANGEMENT -- The air was thick with excitement. Prior to the banquet, mayhem started. Some were not too happy with the seating arrangements whilst others, for some strange reason did not have a seat to sit! The seatingarrangement was pretty screwed up, probably due to communication breakdown. I tried to help check out the situation on behalf of the stranded ones but could find no one who was in charge of the seating arrangement. A point to note for wedding couples => ensure that you have someone in charge of seating arrangement. Preferably one for the groom side and another for the bride. Also, there should be ushers to lead guests, particularly the distinguished relatives to their seats to prevent problems from arising, like in this case. In addition, have a key person to coordinate with the captain of the banquet and ensure that the MCs and captain coordinate well. On the part of the MC, the "Yum Seng" session wasn't well executed in my opinion as minimal blessings were given to the couple. Typically, the MC will say something auspicious and lead the crowd to a Yum Seng Cheer. In this case, he probably didn't have many idoms in English. Anyhow, back to the seating mayhem. Little cousin P came to the "rescue". Poor her, was put in a dilemma as several complaints started pourin in. There were a multitude of comments like "how could you sit my so and so at a different table from me?" To magnify the problem, those "affected" were important relatives. Daddy was visibly disturbed and his voice went up a notch when he learnt that his guests did not have seats! It didn't help that the guest list little cousin P was holding on to was listed according to alphabetical order and not table number. She had to plough through the list which looked alien to her. Something for all to learn. Flipping the pages frantically, I must say little cousin P did a good job at maintaining her composure. However, at the end of it, both siblings of the bride had to be scattered at various tables, sitting with people whom they hardly talk to! :( To add to the mayhem, friends of the bride came despite not rsvp-ing. Not one, not two, but a whopping 12! Two reserve tables had to be used coz of that! Am not in a position to say who's at fault, but proper rsvp-ing and followup by the couple must be done! In retrospect, I'm glad that my wedding went smoothly. Daddy put down his feet as to where everyone should sit. If you are not happy about it, TOO BAD. Daddy was also a great help as he called every single guest and got them to rsvp, thus offending some relatives in the process. Don't understand the logic, but the political scene in my family is rather complex. However, due to these authoritative acts, my wedding went smooth with most of my tables well filled with people. Inevitably, some had last minute commitments, but most were generous enough to cover my cost.

FOOD -- nothing to shout about. Was in fact a tat disappointed as many have raved about Shangi-la's food. First dish was a suckling pig. As impressive as it was, it wasn't my cup of tea. The twin garoupa was also not warmed to satisfaction. The prawns and scallops would have tasted more succulent if they were warmer too. Kindof tasted like salad. herbal chicken was probably one of the better dishes. Fried rice wasn't palatable enough too....was relishing the fried rice I had at Thai Sharksfin Village some time back. U noticed there was no mentioning of Sharks fin? well, that's becoz there were none! Environmentalist would definitely be happy, but traditionally, Chinese banquets have been associated with Sharks fin, thus some were pretty sore about it. In the words of a guest (NOT MINE) " U can probably get the same sort of food at a Zhi Cha stall at a coffee shop" As mean as that may sound, the hotel should probably review their standards and not charge exhorbitant rates for common items. Sweetie and I were relishing the dishes served at the Mandarin Oriental 2 years ago for our wedding........Miss the teriyaki Cod Fish, Deep fried spare ribs and of coz the crispy mini buns with chilli crab sauce. I give them two thumbs up! Till today, many are still talking about it. Am glad.

FAVOURS -- To redeem the night, the favours were a pleasant distraction. One teacup for each with nice rose buds for tea making. Adore the box which came with it too.


Marriage--a book of which the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters written in prose.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Perhaps

Time is seemingly disappearing at an immeasurable speed. These few days, I've been dragging my feet at blogging. It's becoming a little daunting. Started out with enthusiasm and then run out of steam. Not sure why. Perhaps the lack of direction and topics. Perhaps coz nothing interesting is happening these days. perhaps...okok..I've come to the conclusion that I may be just plain lazy!

The last couple of days were good. Felt like a dedicated housewife. Wonder when I'd be a dedicated tai tai (rich housewife) or a dedicated mom? I secretly wish that all motherly urges would be expunged from me coz I'm constantly in battle with myself and ________. It doesn't help that we have conflicting ideals in life. It doesn't help that there's a lack of enthusiasm and support too. I ask myself -- are we ready to suffer through years of sch exams, relationship woes, pimple outbreaks and demands for bigger allowances? To top it off, he'll be riding out his rebellious teenage years when I'm hiting 60. More importantly, are we ready financially? Perhaps coz as a child, i had to manage mom's mood (which i still have to), whose swings between loving and mild-mannered (once in a blue moon) one hour and shouting and angsty the next. Perhaps that's why I grew up having loads of concerns. However, would really like to put down "being a mom" to my list of life's achievements and relish every aspect of it one day. Hope the frequency gap will be bridged soon and we'll both see it in the same light. It doesn't help that I seemingly want it more than him. The clock is ticking too fast. Guess he's your stereotypical child-averse individual.
With both our cholesterol levels tipping the marginally high scales, I decided to whip up a healthy meal on Sunday. Did the grocery at 4pm and was home by 5pm! Efficiency at its max! Sweetie pissed me off by not wanting to help me buy a pack of rice. Kept throwing the ball to others which pissed me to no end. Men. Typical? I guess so, after being together for too long. This was attested by couz P who later swung by to pick up her storage boxes. 'A', her soon- to-be husband and bf of a gazillion years, sat comfortably in the car, not moving a muscle! URGH.....Been making nice sandwiches for sweetie.....day one -- Chicken mayo sandwiches; day two -- Cheesy hot dog; day three - hmm perhaps tuna sandwich? Mundane as it might seem, it does give me joy in expressing my love through food!

On other aspects of life, excitement heightens as cousin P's wedding draws near. Perhaps it's our family. There's bound to be endless quarrels during preparation for weddings. First it was my wedding, now it's P. haha, I empathize with you totally! Finally collected my dress from the tailor's. The freshness in its design isn't like a daisy anymore, after so long, but I must say, it's pretty! I'm sure no one will have the same outfit as me! :) Now, I've gotto settle my manicure. It frustrates me to no end when people do not reply sms or emails timely. They are either too busy with work or simply don't know how to run a business! Hopefully I get a better timing, else I'd have to drag myself to the appointment at 8am this Thursday! I really dread that! But in the name of vanity, I fear I'll have to do it!

Lastly, not sure if I shared, but I was recently fined for parking near a junction. admittedly, it's my fault but that neighbourhood didn't have a single public carpark! The compound of the landed properties are all too small for the residents to park, thus most would park along the road. As a result, i had no space to park! With safety in mind, I followed the crowd and parked along the same side of the road. The lane is so narrow that only a bus and a mini abreast could pass through. Thus, a letter of complaint was issued by yours truly, asking the authorities to review their parking strategy. Should I park slightly away from the junction, I'd be hitting a single continous white line, which would land me an offence no less. If I park slightly further up, I'll hit a bend, which is highly dangerous! So I questioned them, WHERE SHOULD I PARK?? And the above was their reply. Sweetie was reading it and asked me why was the word "disclosed" used in this manner. hmm...good question. I guess it's their way of being lucid and expressive. Hate it when they get all pompus! n note that last line " conscious effort to comply...". I'M OFFENDED! Have I not made myself clear of the situation? There was simply no other way out! Seriously, can't these people just simply admit their mistakes?? Perhaps pride is the culprit. Perhaps....perhaps....

Thursday, November 12, 2009

In Reverie

Thursday.

My mind is in a state of dreamy mediation or fanciful musing. In reverie, if you will. I curled up into a ball on my bed and refused to drag myself out of bed. But I did, with the help of a phonecall. Today is a perfect day. It's a day for me, myself and I. At long last! There had been a serious case of exam overdose over the past few wks and I was up to my eyeballs with work. There was absolutely no time for personal space until now...

The below are just some of my "achievements":

1. Went to Palais and had my hair cut. Love Mink to the max....his snipping skills is just magical. Was complimented for looking slimmer after the cut. hmmm...I think the excess hair must have weighed a ton! haha

2. Cleared my bookshelf. Though a trivial task, (coz there's really nothing much to throw out! I need more space!!) albeit mundane, I managed.

3. Cleared my wardrobe. A massive task which has been under procrastination for the longest time. I've come to the conclusion that if I don't clear, I won't be able to buy new stuff! Not that I had to, but mysteriously, loads of Tees are shrinking! before you start thinking that I've piled up on fats (which inevitably I did), those basic tees are shrinking in terms of length! A common problem it seems with a lot of girls. Thank goodness I'm not alone! Bought a few new basic tees and upon comparison, I found that the shrinkage was about 2inches or more! Now I've gotto go through the exasperating task of washing.
As daunting as it was, I chugged on. I wasn't kidding when I said I had heaps to clear!Ended up with three big bags of clothes to give away. Any takers?


4. Bought a new dress online which is insanely suitable for CNY!

5. Did heaps of filing and threw away mountains of papers. So sorry to global warming! I did try to salvage my sins by sending them for recycling. That should amount for something!

6. DIY Pedicure. The concoction of ethanol and apple aromatherapy essence was rather intoxicating. Was experimenting with a new nail art pen. Shamefully, I've failed miserably.


Gotto catch up with more compilations, readings and chores. Somehow, when one is in a state of euphoria, mundane chores suddenly seem invigorating! It's a bittersweet session I guess.

A day back....Wednesday.

Mother-in-law's birthday was apparently on Sunday and seemed like none of her children remembered! Talk about filial piety! When "confronted" by me, sweetie even said that he had given her the best present -- No cooking for the day! GOSH! Anyway, being a member of the family, I decided to do my part and coordinated a surprise dinner for MIL. It's no easy task to get everyone together much less put on an act! Big bro was Best actor of the night as he squeeze his way through with excuses like going to the toilet to shit when he bumped into MIL and SIL!


MIL was obviously trying to contain her glee when she entered the restaurant and three familiar faces welcomed her! She was busy taking a picture of her birthday cake. Hmm..wonder when was the last time her children bought her a cake! Even though she's not an advocate of sweet stuff, her heart must have melted when she saw our sweet gesture.


It was many years back when i ate at Thai Sharksfin Village. Somehow, it didn't taste as good. Though the fins were thick and succulent, the broth was a tat too starchy. Sweetie was reminiscing the sharks fin at our wedding -- The best ever, he said.
Like all families, they must have had their share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements. At the end of the day when you think about it, family is one of nature's masterpieces

Alright, gotto carry on lounging in my living room with a cup of Camomile tea in one hand and a great book in the other!
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