Just to share some pretty pictures taken over this special weekend, where my dearest friends came together to celebrate for me ^-^
Part 1~ Dinner at TCC @ Keppel Island
Beautiful view of Keppel Bay
Birthday belles - combined celebration for me & my dear SQ buddy Jie Wei^^ Jie Wei's birthday falls on 8th June...
Group pic^^ From left: Yvonne, Me, Amalia & Jie Wei...
Our food spread~*Yummy*
Enjoying our feast ^-^
And Michelle finally came... chance for a bigger group pic^^
After dinner, we walked out to further explore this up&coming hangout place in southern Sg...
The scenery is really beautiful^-^ Just like how the online review describes - an "out-of-Singapore feel"...
Tried to capture some scenic photos below, but pity too dark... (shall pay another visit when sun is almost setting, shld be able to get prettier shots^^)
Interesting sail-like architecture~
Tried my best to capture w/o flash - posh yachts against the beautiful Caribbean condominum & the lovely illuminated Bridge...
Wanted to try out the Prive outdoor bar for drinks but it was so packed that we would have to wait for 30mins without reservation...
Decided to head to Vivocity and chose Baker's Inn for my birthday cake treat^-^ their strawberry shortcake is really delicious^^ (my lovely Baker's Inn photos will be posted soon...)
Part 2~ Had a sweet mini cell group celebration at Tampines IKEA the next day too^^
Loved the yummy mini Tiramisu birthday cake from Copthorne Orchid Hotel~
Love u guys...^-^
Precious you
8:16 AM
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
JL660 (CAN-NRT) 04Jun (one-night stay at Tokyo)
JL723 (NRT-KUL) 05Jun
Had been looking forward to this 1 night stay in KL, being last pit-stop of my first-time, super tiring '8 legs within 7 days' pattern..
Reached KL about 9pm, was dead tired upon arrival at my 4/5-star suite at the Seri Pacific Hotel (Jalan Putra, KL):
View of the hotel lobby
My lovely suite, really comfy~
View of the Mall opposite my hotel which i wld usually go w other crew for our favourite Malaysian Kenny Rogers, Secret Recipe treats etc. Not much to shop there though...
Day 2, woke up bright & early. My senior wanted to stay in again so i went ahead for my day trip out to explore KLCC mall & the Petronas Twin Towers...
Breakfast at Mall's Chicken Hut before KLCC. i really love Malaysian's ayam (chicken) whenever i visit Malaysia. Ayam outlets are everywhere, yummy~
My Butter Chicken Rice set, super delicious~ (RM7=SG3plus)
Tried Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll for dessert (RM4.50=SG2plus). Saw the outlet in New York but first-time try in KL. Very nice^^
Street scene outside my hotel
Back to hotel. Hotel provides free shuttle bus to KLCC (but so sad one-way only so i wld have to find my way back myself).. Shots of the Petronas Twin Towers & KL Tower while on the shuttle bus...
Inside SURIA KLCC - a huge 6 storey mega shopping mall, that i don't believe can finish exploring in a day man..
Quite easy to lose your way so i find it quite useful to keep their so-called 'essential guide booklet' at hand..
Inside views of SURIA KLCC:
Shot of their interesting ceiling architecture
Me happy shopping around the mega mall ^-^
Quite sian after walking around a bit, nothing to buy..
Guess it's not Malaysian sale season afterall, or i'm just quite tired already after exploring different parts of Asia for the past 6 days ^^
Decided to catch a movie since i got quite some time before evening flight. Been wanting to watch the Narnia sequel: Prince Caspian...
The cinema theatres on Level 3
Quite crowded on a Friday afternoon
Thrilled to discover that its so much more affordable to catch movies in Malaysia!
Each ticket is only RM10=SG5plus (daily)~^^ if only everyday movie-going can be this cheap in Sg...
My ticket to Narnia~
Even their popcorn set is only like RM5.50=SG2plus. Bought it to enjoy with the movie hee
The movie was awesome! ^^
Next on to view the Petronas Twin Towers upclose in all its splendour:
Got to chat with a nice Malaysian lady who is working in Singapore but currently on vacation to visit her parents in KL..
She was so nice even treated me to the 'already-extinct-in-Sg' A&W's rootbeer float...
Our yummy rootbeer floats - so nostalgic~
Parted with her to get back to hotel & get ready for my flight show up at 7pm. Took a taxi back alone...
OK, my advice to my dear girl friends out there reading this is NEVER to take a taxi alone in Malaysia, it is supposedly VERY DANGEROUS. Heard many horror stories that cld have happened><
For my experience, the hindu driver was quite friendly. Even gave me advice on some should-visit places in KL, such as Batu Caves, cheap shopping at the SOGO, Pertama & Campbell Complex around Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, and even cheap seafood at a place called Paradise Seafood along Jalan Conlay...
Think i was a little over-friendly chatting w the driver though. He actually offered to be my 'personal tour adviser' and ask me to leave him my contact number. Thankfully that was when i had reached my hotel & i quickly got off the cab..
Phew~
Actually, the true horror was more of the cab fare - came up to (my gosh) RM34.40= SG16plus for quite a short distance! Either it's to do w some new meter they installed (so i believe) or as the driver explained, the recent fuel price hike..
Food-stop at the Mall before night flight back home (JL722 KUL-SIN 06Jun)~
My favourite Kenny Rogers 1/4 chicken meal (only Malaysia's version comes in black pepper sauce, with a selection of 3 muffin flavours - vanilla, chocolate or banana). Costs RM18.90=SG9plus, actually not much cheaper than Sg's...
But very satisfying^^
Precious you
1:41 AM
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
JL661 (NRT-CAN) 03Jun
My 2nd time to China, 1st time was like almost 9 years ago during Secondary 4 school trip to Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou...
Flight reaches Guangzhou about 1pm. Only 1 night stay, had to rush out for my day trip in all my attendant makeup & hairdo (so yup no photos of me hehe)^-^
My Guangzhou Hotel - China A Marriott Hotel
Seniors recommended taking a cab to town (about RMB20=SG4). But i discovered that the metro station is actually just outside the hotel. Super cheap~(RMB2=SG0.40)
Inside the train station (Yue Xiu Gong Yuan)
The metro ticket - an interesting round plastic token for scanning (not for keeps)
Waiting for the metro train to my destination 2 stops away (Gong Yuan Qian station)
Fellow crew's advice is to visit a famous shoppin stretch there called Beijing Lu...
At Gong Yuan Qian underground station, mega 3 storey shopping mall (Dong Man Xing Cheng). Very Far East Plaza like.
Quite tempted to go in but decided to visit Beijing Lu first...
Exit to Beijing Lu and MayFlower Plaza
Beijing Summer Olympics 2008 billboards/posters all around the station
Reach MayFlower Plaza, quite a typical multi-storey shopping mall, everything quite pricey so nothing much to see or buy...
There is a movie theatre on the top storey, so went to check out how much a movie ticket costs in China. Wah.. super expensive~ (about SG10plus)
Maybe that explains why the theatre is deserted...
Fellow crew mentioned one of Guangzhou's must-try - Xu Liu Shan's Mango Ball Cream Sago Dessert..
Was afraid i might not find it until... it just APPEARED right before my eyes as i stepped out of MayFlower Plaza towards Beijing Lu... heh so fated...
Desserts Galore... *Yummy*
My delicious Mango & Cream Sago with Grapefruit & Mango Juice Ball (RMB22=SG4.40)..
Really heavens~^-^
Went on to Beijing Lu...It's basically a very long, bustling shopping street, with some 2 level shops concealed into lanes on both sides of the main thoroughfare.
Some street scenes...
Passed by a (yes Coca-Cola sponsored) showcase of footpath relics dating back to ancient dynasties...
Open Plaza w Big Advert Screen - saw a touching advert to seek people's support for the Sichuan Earthquake victims. Didn't manage to catch it on film though..
Talking crows fascinating some passer-bys
Hungry, i started to look for an interesting place for lunch, wanted to try like Guangzhou roast or some sort (since i'm in Guangzhou afterall) but surprisingly not v easy to find (saw in some rundown backlane eateries, didn't dare to try)...
Finally chanced upon this lovely, very comfy-looking cafe/restaurant - Xian Zhong Lin:
And i went in without further thought after i saw they got 'swing' benches!
Super comfortable & soo much fun ^-^
Inside view of restaurant
Their menu:
Really love their drinks menu especially, soo many choices for tea concoctions, my favourite~ ^^ felt like trying everything...
Decided to try the small Rose Milk Tea (RMB22=SG4.40). Some very fragrant dried rose petals are used, so it tasted really nice ^-^
And its pink hee~
My main course - Teriyaki Chicken in Japanese paper pot set (RMB35=SG7plus). Looks quite good but taste ok only..
Dessert time - Frozen cheese balls in bread crumbs (RMB18=SG3plus). Interesting taste...
Really a very comfortable cafe/restaurant, great place to relax & 'swing' away, watching the world goes by Beijing Lu beneath ... will come back again ^-^
Felt quite sleepy after food, planned to go back to hotel early if i don't find any interesting thing to do...
Shops' stuff along Beijing Lu are rather expensive to me... Seemed like Guangzhou has nothing much to do/buy also, mainly eating i guess...
But the neon lightings are really pretty~
Seriously wanted to give up on my shopping ambition & head back to hotel, until i chanced upon this place called 'Ginza Fashion Plaza':
My gosh, the clothes are going like RMB50 to RMB100 (SG10 to 20)! Got some really Jap-kawaii designs too, happy~ Bought like 2 dresses here, less than SG30 hee..
So glad i didn't give up hope on shopping in Guangzhou^-^
Back to Yue Xiu Gong Yuan via Gong Yuan Qian Station, popped by the earlier-mentioned Dong Man Xing Cheng. Stuff like not v cheap too, until i chanced upon this one shop at the exit where they got some really pretty tops going for only RMB50 to RMB80! So i wld say there are good shops here but must hunt a bit..
Went back hotel to get ready for next morning's flight. Didn't sleep v early also hee, cos Guangzhou got so many fabulous chinese TV channels to watch! Watched a couple episodes of some (undubbed) Hong Kong drama serials ^^
Heard Guangzhou is also famous for cheap massages, but i didn't have time to try.. Maybe next time~
Precious you
8:04 PM