Dear Bloggie,

I.. set this up!!

http://mycookiecottage.blogspot.com/

With the help of my IT Friends... My Cookies Cottage is up!

Please help spread words of it...

Have a great weekend ahead yar!! Muakz... =)

Dear Bloggie,

X'mas Celebration - Four + Five

(X'mas Day)

And so.. it is finally X'mas. Despite sleeping at 5am the night before, I woke up early and got all dressed up for the X'mas Party @ Granny's.

My fringe getting longer...

All the pressies I lovingly prepared for all my Love Ones.. SSFF came by to send me down to Granny's.. He had a X'mas Party @ Yishun but made a huge detour to send me down to Granny's @ Pasir ris first.. And he bought me my new favorite - KOI bubble tea from AMK. =) X'mas Tree at Granny's... Look at all the pressies~~*

The Spread for the Party~* How to not get fat you tell me... keke. The kids hanging around the X'mas Tree waiting for their pressies.. After which I played another round of Mahjong (Yupz... mahjong again) before SSFF come pick me up. SSFF's pressie to me... this reminds me of the 'Little something of everything' that I gave to DT a decade ago.. =) But the best of the lot in the bag is that little Yellow notebook. =) And.. that's not all.. Yellow Roses... =) Pretty~* He bought movie tickets for a 9+pm show at Bishan; and since its still early we head down to Mind's Cafe for some Board Games. Remind me to NEVER play Blokus with him ever again.. He is damn good at it loh.. tsk tsk.

(Boxing Day)

I collected all my Pressies (Well.. almost all. Some are still at the Office, still got a couple gatherings to go and a couple I already opened up) and open up everything on Boxing Day!! Many many pressies this year!! The 'huat ah' SSFF gave me... keke. Mum thought it looks good on Toffee.. but I took it back from Toffee... its mine you know.. :p It was raining in the evening and I drove down to Sengkang to meet up with Besties.. we did our groceries shopping and we head back to Bestie's house.. Finally after a long wait, we did our X'mas exchange! We all manage to keep our lips tight this year.. zero leakage on who is the secret santa for who this year. In the end, I got this cute Hippo from QH with a Agnes B bag charm.. And she likes the Ferragamo HP Strap I bought and said will find ways to hang it on her iPhone. Steamboat Pary~~* Weird for X'mas but perfect for a rainy December day.. And it is pure bliss having Steamboat with Besties all round a table. After dinner, we did what we did best again - Mahjong.

This is one of the Best X'mas I ever had.. Thanks for everyone for spending time for the fabulous food and preparing the pressies. I still got a couple more X'mas gatherings (okie.. post-x'mas) so more of it coming up. =)

Dear Bloggie,

X'mas Celebration - Three

Office released us at 12.30am on X'mas Eve~~* And I headed on for a much needed nap after work. Uncle Loh picked me from Home around 6pm; yupz.. Uncle need to work. Headed down to Dempsey for Dinner... but before that, we had my all-time-favorite Ice cream~*

Dinner was at this Alfresco Spanish Restaurant tucked away at a nice cosy corner at Dempsey. Uncle Loh made reservations and the waiting staff all greeted him by name; service is very good~*
Loti loti... I didnt eat this; but Uncle Loh ate quite a bit... so I guess it must be nice. Ordered some Mushroom Tapas to share - this is real yummy~* Night is falling.. the ambience of the place is good. Anyway... while waiting for our Main, I opened my Present~* Err.. seriously; I never had anything from Swarovski before... A Poodle Stap with many bling blings~* This is hanging on my Camera now.. =) Err.. some Seafood rice. It is not bad; but I still prefer my good old Chinese Food. =) I made a little Boo Hoo with the movie booking; but eventually we caught the Alvin & the Chipmunks at Bugis.. After which we headed down to Bliss @ Ponggol to meet Bestie and a couple of friends~* Bliss.. is crowded. Very dark; photographer lousy ah... =( But Merry X'mas Darling~~* A year ago, we counted down next to this Stinky Orange Dustin @ Hongkong.. A year later we counted down together @ Singapore... We'll count down together for the next 30 (or make that 50) years ah~* The night is still young.. so we did what we did best - Mahjong. I won quite a bit that nite!! But the high-light for me is this 小三元~* The night ended at 4am and Uncle Loh sent me back.. I am still so awake that I still manage to catch an episode of the TVB Drama before I drift off to bed at 5am. =)

Dear Bloggie,

X'mas Celebration - Two

On 23rd December, meet up with a couple of my Favorite People from Poly - HL, TT and JN. Yupz.. 2 days before X'mas but we were brave enough to meet in the Heart of Town - Orchard. =) HL made reservations at Soup Restaurant as I am still on my Chinese Food craving.. Dinner~~* And you know what's the best part.. I forgot to take a Group Photo and the pressies. But its nice catching up with them as its been ages since I last saw HL..

Dear Bloggie,

Just some random photos in my Camera.. It was 冬至 yesterday and we cooked some 汤圆 in the Office..

I only had these 2.. coz the soup base is Ginger and I absolutely hates that. =( Active.. surprisingly, gave us X'mas presents this year~* This whole bag is to be distributed out to my Department people but most of them were on leave this week. So I shall just keep it with me till next week. Some Sales Director ordered in some yummies yesterday to celebrate the Festive~* I am full like dont know what but yet the Hot Mama got me a couple of puffs.. Well, thank God Yawyaw came over at the right time and I gave the big one to him.. Brought a bottle of the Mini Oreo that Uncle Loh bought me to the Office today.. It is really MINO Oreos... cute~* See~* really is Mini.

SSFF picked me up from work on Monday for more X'mas shopping.. I like this photo~* There is Mr. Sunny + 黄黄的小黄 + Me with new haircut~*

I am feeling so tired today.. But theres a gathering tonight. =(

Okie.. ending here.

Cheers~*

Dear Bloggie,

4 Days to X'mas~*

Surprisingly.. no X'mas party for me over the weekend; busy with my Hair and Baking you see. But well, at least all my X'mas 'must-do-tasks' are completed. I can sit back and enjoy my sweet fruit of harvest~*

Meet up with SSFF after work on Friday... he bought me more AKK~* Got PKK (okie.. our silly joke) too leh; mai xiao xiao ah~* Anyway... this is some famous AKK from the west side of the island, and it is really yummy.. me loves~* The journey to Orchard took us close to 1hr 30min.. Super jam. But nevertheless, I did my X'mas shopping and picked up a little (okie.. not that little) X'mas present for myself. =) Meet up with JT and he passed me my 2008/2009 X'mas present! But didnt manage to hang out with him for long as I had to head down to Plaza Singapura to pick up more stuff (no.. I didnt walk down.. we took a train down). Left Orchard at 10plus.. And we headed to Bishan for Avatar. Noone told me the show is 2hour 40min~* And I fall asleep half way through.. keke, so that speaks alot for the show. But nevertheless, there are some funny bits. SSFF bought me this at the Petrol Kiosk.. we still thought what's inside; turned out to be... M&M loh.. what else you expect. =__= Okie.. my X'mas present from myself to myself. =) Yupz.. more Prada. I Love Prada you know~* Not one box.. but 2 box. Xin is a very happy girl~* =)

慢慢拆。。Ta dah~* A wallet and card holder. I like things in a set you know~* Let me try it out and see if the coin compartment is sufficient; if not I'll head back for a coin purse too.. =) I spend Saturday at the Salon doing my hair.. Meet up with SSFF again for Dinner at AMK. And oh.. the Koi Bubble Tea is really yummy~* I like the 小珍珠.. =) Sunday I am super productive; I wrapped up all my Presents and finished up all my baking. See~~* I prepared many many presents and its all nicely wrapped up waiting to be given away!! Sunday I was super productive.. In total I made 3 dough and churn out 3 big bottles, 9 small bottles and 22 small packets~* Super tired can.. And lastly.. a new look for a new year. =)

Have a fantastic week ahead friends~*

Dear Bloggie,

X'mas Celebration - One

Not sure if there'll be Two and Threes.. coz I have been rather lazy with taking photos when I'm out for gatherings (no photos for SS's house-warming; no photos for Primary School Girls meet-up)..

Anyway... I was working hard on these since I got home last evening.

15 bottles of home-made cookies~* All fresh and yummy out from my oven... =)
I underestimated that 15 glass bottles of cookies.. it is heavy (make that VERY heavy). Thank God I had the good sense of mind to put it into the SKII paper bag which is very sturdy, and the Office exchange pressie and pressies for my own Department people in the other more flimsy one. Anyway.. I was doing these till 11++pm; way pass my 9pm bed time. Woke up this morning to a rainy day.. struggling with 2 paper bag (which consist of 1 VERY heavy content). Anyway.. the sad part. I stack the glass bottles in the paperbag like a pyramid.. and along the way, the pyramid topple and Nope.. the glass bottles did not crack. But instead.. the cookies got smashed. I am upset kae... terribly upset. But my colleauges were all very nice.. they all said its okie and tell me even thou its smashed up, but the cookies are still very yummy! That seriously warms up my heart.. a couple of them still cant bear to eat it (they are munching on other's cookies) and want to bring back and share with their kids. =) Just finish a minor celebration in the Office.. and these are all the pressies I received.. =)

Dear Bloggie,

It is the 17th December and X'mas is about 1 week away!!

I am basking in X'mas mood right now and I guess I cannot get any happier~~*

Receieved a bigbig parcel when I stepped into Office this morning.. Open it up and there are more there lies a smaller box and a card...

My frist greeting card of the year~~*
Greetings all the way from Selb, Germany~* I am so touched can... He is the Director of Procurement for the whole of Germany and he seriously dont have to do this. Just a card is more then enough... but he added a little X'mas gift too. I was so excited in opening up the pressie that I forgot to take a photo of it (in fact this is the first pressie I opened this year... I wanted to collate all and open it up on Boxing Day)... I guess its some light ornaments (he got me some tea-light metal fixture last year) and wanted to fix it up... but the instructions are in some language that I could not read...

But nevertheless... I got it all fixed up!! Isn't it beautiful... but hor, hang where ah?? Keke... its the thought that count. I am so touched can... that I am in the thoughts of a Director far away in Selb. Look at my Office drawer... I have a whole drawer full of pressies - from my colleauges to me. I am still working on pressies for my colleauges, I'll have to finish off everything tonight and will start distribution tomorow...

I Love X'mas~~* Its more then a season of giving and recieving Blessings. It also lets people knows that you are in their thoughts and are silently saying a little prayer for them... Happy Holidays frewns; and great tidings to you and your Family~*

Dear Bloggie,

.Random.

[1] Earthquake

Can't recall when is the last time I ate this... But 8 scoops of Ice-cream shared among 2 is pure bliss. =) After SS's house warming on Saturday night, SSFF picked me up at her place and we head down to the only place that still sells Ice-cream at such unearthly time - Changi Airport. After all the yummies from SS's warm hospitality, 8 scoops proved to be a little too much for me. I didnt manage to 'clinkclink clankclank' the glass cup like the gentleman at the next table (scooping up all the last melted bits of the Ice-cream) but we manage to polish off all 8 scoops.. Keke, 肥死我。。

[2] New Agenda

It is time of the year once again... 2 more weeks to bid 2009 a warm Good-bye~* I have just changed my Agenda filling to 2010. *sings - 时光已是永不回，往事。。只能回味~* Kind of sad that another year has passed..

[3] Ang Ku Kueh (AKK)

I am so craving for AKK on Monday... and has posted the craving on my MSN.

SSFF had wanted to come all the way down from NUS to meet me for Lunch and pick up some AKK for me on the way. Its kind of crazy to travel from 1 end of the Island to the other; so I rejected it... But SSFF is on leave yesterday~* And we meet up for Lunch and I got my AKK~* And like he said.. 你要的时候，他们全部都躲起来。AKK just decided to and played 'Hide-and-seek' with him yesterday.. There are none at AMK's market, none at 2 Bangawansolo... but now, he finally found AKK's secret hidding place.

DQ is very sweet too~~* He suddenly called yesterday before Lunch and asked me what flavor do I want... I am seriously puzzled.. What flavour is he talking about. Then he said he is now at Expo and has just wrapped up his work; so he want to buy me the AKK since he is near by. Well... I rejected his kind offer as SSFF is already buying. I dont want to get an AKK-overdoze.

But this is the power of MSN!! 你们真的是宠坏我了~~*

[4] More Candies

Uncle Loh picked me up after work last evening and we head down to Vivo for my X'mas Shopping... We're at Candy Empire buying chocolates and candies (X'mas pressies) and as we're walking around the shop... I pointed out to my 'Favorites' in the shop. So I walked around, gathered all the stuff I wanna buy, and went to queue for the cashier. So after all the shopping, I happily went home.. It was only when I was unpacking my shopping and wrapping up the stuff, I realised I've got 1 extra bag of candies. Uncle Loh actually collected all my 'Favorites' and bought me 1 whole bag of 肥死我's yummies... 你们。。真的是把我给宠坏了。

[5] Conclusion

So... it is of no surprise that with the Hectic Schedule of late (with all the Gatherings and X'mas Shoppings and all the X'mas Party coming up), I am not been exercising. The situation has been made worst with all the Good Food and all the 'Cravings' and 'Favorites'...

我。。又肥了。

Dear Bloggie,

I got white hair... many many white hair.

How?

-sad-

Dear Bloggie,

.Random.

[1] I am having a mirgraine now... The Office is un-usually warm for the whole morning at 28.8 degrees; I called the Security Guard up after 2pm and realised the a/c tripped and has been off the entire morning. Being stuck in the stuffy and warm Office for more then 6hrs resulted in a mind-bogging mirgraine now. =(

[2] Craving for Ang Ku Kueh now...

[3] 风云II is very nice... but 11.20pm Marina Square got no cab. The bus journey home is torturing... =(

[4] 2 Baby Shower and 1 House-warming on Saturday... Busy busy day. But I only went for Baby Caden's Baby Shower (had a great time catch up with the Girls) and SS's House-warming. A Big big thank you to all that pick and send me to and flo... =) The Swenson Earthquake @ Changi is a great way to end my Saturday...

[5] Baking day on Sunday~~* Its time now to fullfilled all the earlier orders... busy baking days ahead!

[6] Its the time to send out Xmas cards in the Office... Passive ask me to write my name on the card before signing off. My name... is long de loh. =( Suddenly brought back memories of the school days... where I am always rushing to pen my name down on every piece of exam script.

[7] Head pain pain... dont want to continue.

Dear Bloggie,

I took close to 500 photos for the 3D2N in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.. It took me quite a substantial amount of time to filter our the photos and to upload it all onto the blog. But well... all uploaded! This is a photo-intensive post~*

Day 1

Uncle Loh picked me up at my house at 6 in the morning, and send me down to the Budget Terminal. Very very kind of him to wakie at such unearthly hours.. =) Did not know that they have Mac'donald's at the Budget Terminal... Had my favorite hotcakes~*Checked-in.. and this is my luggage for the next 3 days. And guess what: TT's luggage is heavier then mine. =_=In the lobby while waiting for TT.. I am damn tired.. TT is not the best travel buddy I ever encountered; but not the worst.. But I am thankful for the fact that even after I start to attitude after an 'episode', he manage to keep his cool and hence we manage to pass that 3 days in peace. And with that.. we proceed to our gate for boarding. And with tat.. we're high up in the air~*I was out the nite before hence packing was a rush. job. Grab an old book to keep me occupied for the trip. A short flight.. 1h 35min +/-. And with that.. I'm in Vietnam~*Landed~* Dont know its the mist or the air is misty (reads: very polluted).Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City!!JC and his wifey NC is at the airport waiting for us.. after meeting up with them, we took a cab to the hotel. Ermm... HCM is still rather backwards. Their main form of transport appears to be motorbikes. They are everywhere in huge quantities.. needless to say, the drivers all seemed to be rather 'license-less'.The hotel that I will be at for the next couple of days... I noticed in HCM, all the Hotels have a pledge like this just outside. How many stars a Hotel deserve are not self-determine by the Hotel, but rather... their tourisim board. This standard is good... me like. JC and NC doing the check-in procedure for us.. My humble abode for the next 2 nights... fot USD 40/ nite, I think this is pretty decent. At least.. it is clean. =) My attire of the day... didnt realised its so dark. Anyway... TT ask me a damn classic question: why is your top so long? I totally speechless. This is a babydoll top.. too short for a dress so i wore it with jeans. I mean, how you want me to answer that? And worst.. he went on by saying my dress sense is weird, different from Bestie and QH. Why do I have to be the same? You thought still in school wearing uniform ah. This is USD 100 worth of Vietnam's currency. I am a multi-millionaire there~* And guess what.. it is only USD 100 worth of local currency, and even after 3 days of good food, cab rides here and there.. I didnt manage to spend all. And with all that... I am ready to hit the town!Walking around the town...This is considered their most high-end shopping centre.. like our Singapore's Palais.This is the most up-scale market (their context of market is more then just vegetables and meat; they actually mean a place that sells things).. coz this comes with Air-conditioner. But having said that.. this is not even our Far East Shopping Centre standard. Maybe more of Bangkok's Platinum Mall, but just way smaller and much more messier. I left that place in no time.. and went to this Ice-cream place highly reccomanded by JC. They served this... yellow berverage which I got no idea what is it. I only took a sip.. the taste didnt even manage to register. I had Yam Ice-cream~* This is damn old-school loh.. its like some Ice-cream palour that our parents will go to back in the 70s, After the Ice-cream break.. we walk around a little more. It is close to 2pm Singapore time and I'm getting hungry.. I only had 2 pcs of hotcake at 7am.. at this time, TT promptly declared that he only eats 2 meals a day. =( On the way back to the Hotel.. I saw a Bakery and drag TT in. I insisted in buying a couple of the cakes coz they are cute (but actually its more of I am hungry). This is the 2 I bought.. but to say they are cakes is an over-statement. They are more of.. 2 pieces of CREAM. So.. totally un-edible (reads: Xin is still hungry.)So a grouchy and hungry me stay in the room and Chanel-surf.. oopz! Not me.. Hipopo holds on to the controller and refuse to let me know it. =__=So around 3pm Singapore time, we set off for our half-day City Tour! First destination - Some Temple. This is the first temple in HCM (I think..), nothing significant.. BUT, this is where the Mossie Feast started. I got no idea why, but I am the only one that got bitten. Some.. pond in the temple. Alot of tortise 'piggy-backing' their little tortise. Quite cute I think. =) Then we hit the road again.. this time to Independence Palace. The tour guide did give us a brief idea, but I cant remember anything about it now. :x Some houses we pass by along the way.. they still have those 'atap' houses. Look at what the motorbikes have on board.. This is actually 小儿科, there is even 1 bike carrying 2 huge roman columns or 4 people on board 1 bike.

Next destination... some Church. This is the First Church in HCM; but once again.. nothing fantastic. :xThen we got onto some Trishaw-look-alike-thing for a tour round China Town. Travelling on the very dusty and dirty road together with the Cars, Lorries and Motorbikes... Yeeks! Their real market... okie, I'm going to keep my comments to myself as they will all be pretty negative. You can go figure it out... :xIf I'm not wrong.. these are Fighting Rooster, on sale in the middle of the road. Come to think of it... it is pretty dangerous. This is the main market in China Town. We took a quick tour around, nothing significant that I can remember. Then the Tour Guide brought us to the Final Destination - some handicraft centre. We walk through it half-heartedly and return back to the van. Then... they sent us back to the Hotel. Me is so tired. =( The group (JC + Wifey and his extended family) assemble at the Hotel Lobby in the evening and we proceed to Saigon Port (I'm impress that I still remember!!) for a Dinner on a Cruise. Err... the Cruise is rather cheesy-looking. But nevertheless... its quite decent inside. With the blissful couple~* I mean JC and NC... not us of coz. I am famished remember... so when this arrived, I almost wanted to jump down and swim back on shore (1. I dont eat veg remember, 2. Nope, I'm kidding... the sea water is even dirtier then our Singapore River). I thought we ordered a Hotpot??!??Indeed is the Hotpot, just that the Seafood arrives much later... This is my first try of Vietnamese Food (remember I got a travel buddy that lives on air).. and they never disappoint! The Seafood is fresh and the Soup is damn good.. better then the Hotpot I had in Hongkong and Taiwan. A little cruise trip down the River/ Sea... After which... we tried to take a cab back to the Hotel coz I am toooo tired, but the Cabby refuse to take us as the distance is too near. So... I took a long walk back. After a shower, I thankfully join Hipopo in bed. =)

Day 2

Its the Wedding Day~* I wore a Flowery Dress... Did not sleep well the night before; my right leg suddenly cramp in the middle of the nite.. the acute pain woke me up and I had a hard time going back to bed. The Brekkie at the Hotel... me love toast! We reached~~* This is the main entrance of NC's Aunt's Hotel... A decorated arch at the main entrance~*

After gathering at the Hotel Lobby, JC has arranged for transport to bring us to NC's Aunt's Hotel which is near her home. And upon arrival.. the ceremony officially begins. There are 7 'wedding trays', each with some symbolic items placed in it. JC and his parents.. and extended family. After making a grand display of handing the hand bouquet over to JC, the parents need to cover the metal trays with the lid and the red fabric. There are in total 7 trays... each holding some symbolic items. JC and his band of 'Brothers'... Each Brother got to hold 1 tray, and the 8th to hold the suckling pig... All the Brothers are NC's friends and cousins. Parents handing the trays over to the Brothers... Brothers with their Red covered Trays... All done!! A final picutre before we move off to the Bride's House... The old lady in black is NC's 外婆.. She is here to represent JC's elder and to coach us with the procedure... The 花车... Braving the horrible traffic to NC's house... NC's 'Sisters'... All dressed in Vietnamese traditional atire in various colors~* Take your pick guys... they are more then willing to marry a Singapore Man. And looking at NC... I can assure you that Singapore Girls really pales under comparison - if you are looking for a 贤内助. The 'Wedding Acrh'.. The Brothers standing neatly in a row opposite the Sisters... And as uniform as the army... they hand the items over to the band of Sisters... Ta dah~~* All these under the hot hot sun. Both elders of the family started going through the motion about some tradition proceedings... but it sounded more to me like casual greetings... After much ado... the Bride finally make her appearance! Her pretty pink dress is one of the items in the Red Trays... 先拜祖先.. 在拜天地. Or is it the other way round?? All done~~* Lets give the couple our blessings! A group photo with both sets of family... Its really sweet to see the union of 2 family with a marriage. =) Me back in the car... time to head to the Event Hall for the Lunch Reception. Haiz... braving the traffic once again. =( Okie... at Vietnam standard, this Event Hall is very atas. Their wedding portay... Comparable to Singapore standard right... but in terms of Veit's standard, this is damn high-class. Me in the toilet~~* See.. they even have the center flower placing... very Singapore standard. TT and me~~* Before the couple's first march-in, they have 6 dancers doing this ballet dance... very cheesy. The couple finally make their appearance. NC has changed out of her traditional outfit... in fact, she is changing after every dish the entire night... At least 4 times. The Vietnamnese places great emphasis on their parents.. The parents' role in a wedding there is more crucial as compared to Singapore (JC's mum said that). JC's mum is happy that they still hold parents with such high regards, this imply filial piety.. 交杯酒。。First dish... some cold dish. The Groom also had a change in outfit... JC with me~* All these while... there is a 4 piece band (piano, saxaphne, violin and guitar) playing.. Next dish up is Chicken Soup... which is damn good. I realised all the Vietnamese did all the Soupy dishes well. Prawns... TT peeled all the prawns for me on this trip... speaking of which, we are the only one who are peeling the prawns. The locals sharing the table ate the whole prawn (head and shell) and are staring at our plates of shell like we are some idiots. Some veg... This is some Fried Pork dish... Initially... I aw the lady next to me separating the skin + fats away from the meat.. So I follow suit~* No way that I'll put that layer of fats into my mouth. So I ate the meat, then I notice the lady ate the skin + fats. =_= So she is saving the 'Best' for the last... So I separated the skin and fats and ate abit of the skin... that futher strengthen their beliefs that these guest from Singapore are weird. Hotpot on a wedding recep~~* This damn good. Me love! This is the veg - thou it looks more like a flower to me... I checked with NC - yupz... they do eat that. Finally... the deserts. White fungus with water chestnuts. After the wedding recep... JC arranged for transport to send all of us back to the Hotel first. I am tired can... An hour later... I called TT (coz he went out for a stroll) and found him at a Eatery with JC. JC was walking around through out the entire wedding.. he didnt even have a seat - not to mention have a proper meal. After we bid good-bye to JC... he went back to rest at the Hotel while TT and myself explore District 1 a little more on foot. Yupz... they have an LV. And Gucci... but no Prada. Walked around a little more... and we settled for Dinner at a Fast Food Joint - Lotteria. This is a Korean chain... Then i notice something weird... I've got no idea why you can find KFC there, but not MacDonalds. The chicken is good.. especially the grilled on. Juicy and tender. =) After dinner... we took a stroll back to the Hotel to meet up with the rest. Suddenly alot of horning and blaring of engines... I turned and look and realised there are MANY bikes gathered together and are going around making a din with the Vietnam Flag... They will stop at a Landmark and do a grand display with the flags (and more horns and engines blaring) and will move off together to the next destination. I thought its some rioting... but it turn out to be: Vietnam just won the Football SEA Games Cup! Congratulations~~* Somehow... their patriorisim touched me. =) Back at the Hotel... I washed up a little (I've been doing that everytime I return to the Hotel... You have no idea how filthy is the air) and together with the extended group, we went for a Water Puppet Show. The show is near Independence Palace... We have an unpleasent episode with the Cabby who tried to over-charge us... I told him to on the meter and when he refuse, I told him to stop coz I am getting off the cab. He reluctantly on the meter... The meter reads 32k when we arrived, we gave him exact but he kept holding us back... He pointed to the 50k in my hand and said he wanted that. I told him no way and I simply walk off... TT stayed in the cab and I got no idea what he told the Cabby. I was furious I tell you... why even bother to explain to the fxxking Cabby... The show... was cultural. But it is in Vietnam's language so I got no idea what it is all about... I almost doze off towards the end. And you know what's worst... the cab ride back to the Hotel is 22k. Go figure that out yourself... I am utterly disgusted by that Fxxking Cabby. Back to the Hotel... my last night (albeit an angry one) in Vietnam. Hipopo supervise me packing...

Day 3Toast with Butter and Sugar... me like! We took a walk to this Market.. which should be the biggest one I think. They sell almost everything you can think of. But I am so not amaze when the store owners grab my hand (not one kae... its everyone down the aisle) and ask me to check out their stuff... I was in there for barely and hour and I told TT its time we should move on... We walk to a Food Court in a Shopping Centre - we wanted to buy the couple a meal for having us over on this eye-opening trip! This is some Vietnamnese Sweet Desert - err... its just like Chendol loh. And this is Vietnam's famous Pho - once again, the soup is damn good. =) My last meal in Vietnam... I wanted Hotpot again before I go. This once again never fails to disappoint. The Tomyum is sour and yet not spicy, while the other one is simply fantastic~* TT wanted the Claypot rice (which comes with plenty of ginger inside - me no like) and I order a Spring Roll to share... Me and NC... I got to know her alot better after this trip. She is more then just JC's wife to me now; but more of a friend. She is such a nice girl~~* Groupie Photo~*Then we head back to the Hotel and checked out... We have time to spare before we proceed to the Airport... We bidded Goodbyes to the newly-wed. and walk to a cafe to chill out. Guess what.. they have Wifi there! =) After the drink.. we took a cab to the Airport... Seriously, their Airport is nicer then I have expected... Better then Taipei's actually. But.. just their Airport. =) At the check-in counter... I bought this packet of milk at the super market... Its so cute! Its only 110ml! TT looking for the toilet... At the departure lounge waiting for the flight back... for once, I am waiting for the flight back home after a holiday with a longing heart - to go back home. And this.. is the Xmas pressie for my Bestie - not telling who I picked out, but I'm sure she will like this. =)

And with that... this is my 3D2N at a new country - Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. =)

Dear Bloggie,

I'm finally back in Singapore.. the first time ever that I am more then happy to be back in Singapore after a holiday. Well... that pretty much sums up my trip. Some has already heard of my 经历 there... But for those that has not.. fear not. I'll post it up here when I've sorted out the 500 photos..

A little preview... anyway, I've spend the past few days in Ho Chih Minh, Vietnam. I'm pretty sure the Viets did not invent motorcycle, but they truly are the Land of Motors. It is EVERYWHERE in huge QUANTITIES. So just imagine the air pollution, rude road users and chaotic traffic. But where they are Cons... there definitately are Pros too. I am a Millionaire there! The standard of living is pretty low... I've only changed USD 100 to their local currency and I instantly become a 阔太 there. But then... not that there are much to buy. I thought I'll spend the days in Vietnam eating grass... but on the contary, they have rather yummy food there. One of my Favorites - Hotpot. Its usually in Seafood with plenty (read: really many many) Vegetables... but the soup is damn good. And lastly... attended a Traditional Vietnam Wedding and we became the VIPs since we came from abroad. Its truly and eye-opener and somehow... A big Thank-You to Justin and Chau for having us at the Wedding... and I truly awaits the day Chau will come over to Singapore. I'll bring you for yummy Singapore-style steamboat and Chilli Crabs~* A Teaser~~* I finally figure out who is my secret pal (and I'm not telling!!) for X'mas Exchange with Besties... I bought a little something in a Little Red Box from DFS. I am sure she will be elated by just looking at the box... =) And Bestie... our budget is SGD 75 or SGD 100? I hope its the latter coz this Little Red Box cost way more~~* =)

Dear bloggie,

I am in vietnam now.. Its really a culture shock.. The people here are so different from us. Well.. Cant say i'm not having a good time here. At least there is wi-fi in my hotel room and i'm not complaining. Food wise, as expected.. I'm having serious problem.. And made worst by hqving a travel companion who is constantly not hungry and kept saying u're fat when u start looking for food.

I'm so looking forward to home...

Dear Bloggie,


.Misc.


[1] Active and Passive are both away for the past 2 days... this means I am damn free in the Office. Really very free..


[2] I've been feeling pretty down the entire week... it might be my PMS at work and it might be some other reasons... But nevertheless, I thank the Friends around me who has been extra nice to me. Thankie to Bestie for calling during Lunch just to check on me... Thankie to DT for the chocolate Loacker to cheer me up and not even saying much when I spill bubble tea in his car... Thankie to FFSS for coming all the way down from the West to Tampines just to pick me up after work and send me home as he thought its raining...


[3] Bestie is jetting off to Phuket today... have fun Darling!! We'll catch up again when we're back in Singapore~*


[4] Remember... I fix a trip a couple month back. Yupz... I'll be flying off tomorrow to a place that I have never visited before. But deep down.. I am thinking of visiting the Land of H&M, Esprit and yummy Mango. Can someone just bring me over to HK...


[5] X'mas is my Favorite time of the year... I have yet to do my X'mas Shopping and am feeling a little anxious about it. X'mas gatherings are all rolling out and I'm getting excited...


[6] December is a busy month of the year... After I return from my trip, I've got a Baby Shower and BBQ on the 12th, a pending Poly X'mas gathering on the 13th, an appointment with my Hair Stylist on the 19th, a X'mas Party on X'mas Eve, the Annual X'mas Party @ My Granny on X'mas Day, Besties' X'mas gathering tentative on Boxing Day... and I have not even factor in my X'mas Shopping.


[7] And... I have not factor in the time for my X'mas baking. I've got several orders to fullfill and that will take up almost 1 full day!


[8] I'm down on the track jogging about 3x a week... Thou my target is 5x a week, but its hard to find the time to do so. The weather is kind of unpredictable (and poor someone is eating too much Yam and Apple Pie as offerings to 天公 for good weather) and I've still got to maintain a healthy social circle (with all that sinful dinners). But nevertheless... 3x a week is stil better then none right. =)


[9] I... lead a boring life. Cannot think of an additional point but I want to make it 10.


[10] And for the last point of the day... I want this for X'mas!

亲爱的日记，

好几个月前，在某个红绿灯。。我抓住了幸福。

就像美丽璀璨的花火，它是如此的短暂。。一转眼就消失得烟消云散。
谢谢你这些日子以来。。带给我的美丽回忆。
虽然无法细水长流，可是我珍惜曾经拥有的。

再见了。。

祝：
安康。

Dear Bloggie,

The post are getting more and more boring... It somehow lacks the "feeling" part and I am just updating on the photos - me no like. But well, this will be the last for today. After a long haitus, I'm back to 蜻蜓 with the Girls...

Bestie why are you posing with that sotong ball... tsk tsk. And our 幸福的小女人 with her Guy... Can really feel all the happiness oozing out from her now. =) Then... we started to play 5/10... very very wrong move. This is the before photo... And this is after... keke. I didnt drink alot... but I drink rather fast. I'm all red and ugly like a lobster... Coz QH kept winning and I kept drinking... She is indeed the Best Friend that poke eye and make me drunk.. tsk tsk. Saw 阿莲姐 there too... been ages since I last see her! The next day I realised she lost her whole clutch bag at DF... so we should not get complacent and leave our things around in clubs thou we're nearby. Okie... I was a little high and not drunk.

I knew I made noise saying I am hungry and wanted Ponggol Nasi Lemak.

I knew I sang out loud at the cab.

I knew.. I cant remember what else I did.

But anyway... it was a night of Good Fun with all the Girls~* Loves... =)

Dear Bloggie,

I just realised I should have put all the photos in 1 post instead of breaking it down into 4... But coz I have the habit of filing my photos into individual Folders with their own labels; hence I blogged according to the Folders... Well, its alright. =) Was out having KL's Birthday Dinner on Thursday night... went for a little joy ride in Pumkin coach as I forgot that it is a Thursday night (it felt like a Saturday) and head down to Ponggol Nasi Lemak only to realised that it is not open. But its okie... I'm not hungry - just felt bad that someone had tear himself away from Mahjong just to send me back. Anyway, I still manage to wakie early on Friday morning for my morning jog and head down to Pasir Ris for KTV with my beloved Aunties and Cousin~*
It was indeed a 旧情绵绵的早上，the younger ones were too shy to sing; while the older ones are churning out oldies after oldies... We adjorned for some Coffee after the KTV session... I asked my baby cousins if they wanted any munchies; all said nope except for one. And when my fried wanton came... all are gone in a flash! I didnt even manage eat 1. =( I was real sleepy from the late night and the early morning... So I took a cab back home at 3+pm for that much needed beauty sleep... FFSS swing by at 6+pm and we headed down to Tanglin for Dinner...还真的是大鱼大肉。。This place is nice; Bestie we can head down there for the next Birthday Dinner... Had wanted to meet up with Bestie... but somehow the timing could not meet. Hence we head down to Island Creamery for Ice-cream! Okie.. me from mountain - coz this is my first visit there. They have rather unqiue Ice-cream like Teh-tarek and etc... the peanut butter chocolate one is good, but I still love my good old vanilla. Too early to call a night, we head to Serangoon Gardens for some drinks.

A slow and easy evening... me like. =)

Dear Bloggie,

29th December is the Birthday of KL... So last Thursday after work, we meet up for a dinner as an early celebration for her. Bestie came much much later as she had to work...

Dinner was at The Queen & Mangosteen @ Vivo City... was hoping the food will be fit for a Queen with all the fantastic reviews, but we're all in for a disappointment.

QH ordered this Clayfish dish... and we all thought it will be served in the regular "Chinese" way (reads: chopped in half). But when the server open up her dish and reveal 6 baby Clayfish all intact, we're in for a big surprise. You tell me... how to eat. She wanted a friendly hand-shake with the Clayfish before she dismember it. It does not comes with the kiap kiap that usually comes with crabs; and the shell is too hard to be shelled like regular prawns.And this is my Grilled Chicken that taste all wrong... the only saving grace are the Rosemary Roast Potatoes. But that is pure carbo so I didnt eat much. Had our regular Girly Talked over glasses and glasses of Juices, Cocktails and Beers while waiting for Bestie to arrive at 9+pm... The bill came up to $240.00 and Bestie got a fright and gave us a damn classic look and ask what did we eat.

The night ended with us being Cinderella - leaving at 12midnight and with our Pumpkin Coach coming down to pick us back home... *sweet*

Dear Bloggie,

Last week has been one busy week for me... with the Supplier coming in for installation for 2 afternoon and both Active and Passive are travelling and the itinerary is all screwed up. But nevertheless, let's keep our fingers crossed and hope this will be a better week. =)

Office has been real cold lately... It manage to hit at new low. =(Remember... I had wanted to eat this for the LONGEST time ever. This has been posted on my MSN for like... weeks? And finally... I've got to eat it sometime last week. 我的最爱。。香香的饭，滑滑的豆腐。。赞！鸡肉腌制入味，顺滑的口感。。配搭上粒粒分明的饭，真是绝配！
So.. the night ended with my favorite Ice-cream at Parkway... and another 12 beautiful white roses. =)