Tuesday, 29 July 2008

My First Love - Part deux

SO!
Here's my first love...


found this bag sitting on the floor when I woke up. You see, my husband is not that creative when it comes to delivering surprises. I was so excited when I saw it. Of course instantly I thought of THE BAG. I was feeling a little weak.

By the time I took out the box from the paper bag, I was shaking. I took a moment to regain my composure, took the box over to the dining table, sat myself down and told myself to stop hyperventilating.

Tada! There you have it! The Chanel Classic Flap Bag! Most often referred to as the 2.55. Yes, this is my first love.

My First Love

I met my first love when I was about 15. I never could be able to let go since then. People said that you were way too old for me, but I didn't care, I still choose to stay hopelessly in love with you. Staying at the back of my mind quietly, but constantly. I have decided that it shall just remain a dream and I was contented that it remains a dream, a desire sometimes bordering on obsession. It is such a painful relationship.
Just when I have learn to let go, it comes back to haunt me. I am glad that it did! After fifteen years, my first love, is finally truly mine.
Will elaborate tomorrow. I am too tired. First loves are overwhelming things.

Wednesday, 23 July 2008

What to do in Singapore

Most people in Singapore I know complain that there is nothing much to do on the island. I got to admit, I do that too sometimes. Other than eating and shopping, are there other things to do? The weather has unfortunately prevented a lot of us from venturing outdoors. Hot and humid means people stay indoors more. Let me try to come up with as many options as possible.

Visit the parks. We have the nice Botanical Gardens that has nice cafes and spots to rest. Stroll in the early morning or late afternoon. Au Jardin serves a wicked Sunday brunch! Fort Canning is full of history, though, admittedly, I don't fancy it so much. Oh, and now we have the park connectors, linking several parks together. Start walking from the Mount Faber all the way to West Coast, or cycle in Eastern Coastal park connector network. Try going to Sungei Buloh, seeing migrating birds and big fat monitor water lizards.

Like to get away from all things urban? Hop on a boat and head to one of the offshore islands. The most popular being Sentosa! HAHAHAHAHHAHA. Please ignore the last sentence. The second most popular then, will have to be Pulau Ubin. It has a very laid-back rustic air about it. Most visitors seem to cycle around the island but we opt to walk the last time we went. There is Chek Jawa which is pretty fascinating, and you can join this tour in the morning which allows you to walk around with a guide below the boardwalk. Pulau Ubin is great for spotting wildlife. We saw a hornbill and some wild boars! We got so excited, being the city slickers than we are. Other than Ubin, there is St John's island, Kusu island, Sister's Island. This is the most remote and rural as far as Singapore goes.

We have museums! Not exactly the Museum Mile, but I love the new National History Museum. It is very interactive and plenty to learn. It is my favourite museum in Singapore. Art buffs can head down to Singapore Art Museum, which in my opinion, isn't that fantastic, with exhibits pretty badly presented without putting in too much effort, in a haphazard fashion. I like the Asian Civilisation Museum too. Very well, put together and pretty interesting. There is a Philatelic museum that houses stamps dating back to the early 1900s. Haven't been there, but I should, since I like looking at stamps (yet another of my nerdy indulges). Next to it, is the new Peranakan Museum which tells you all you need to know about the Peranakans. That said, there is a Malay Heritage centre in Kampong Glam, and the Hua Song Museum inside Haw Par Villa (yes the place is still there), which showcases the rich heritage of the overseas Chinese.

We have a lot of little museums scattered around the country. There is a toy museum, a design museum (Red Dot), a few of history museums like the Memories at the Old Ford Factory and Reflections in Bukit Chandu. There is some kind of SAF museum somewhere I think, and a Navy one too! Oh, I remember seeing some kind of Sun Yat Sen memorial of sorts in Ah Hood road, just off Balestier. I would love to see more art museums. I love looking at paintings, for now, I guess I can just go to Opera Gallery. Talking about galleries, there are quite a few around, Husband and I even stumble upon one in Little India.

It is nice to break away from the usual town area and explore the other parts. I love walking about in Little India, so much things to see, and so unsingaporean! I was in Chennai a couple of years back and read this article in a magazine saying that our Little India is pretty darn authentic. I am quite surprised how many of my friends have never been to Mustafa centre let alone walk around Little India. There are hidden gems around that part of town, with nice eateries and such. My favourite Briyani place is there - Blue Diamond and they serve a mean cup of teh.

I used to visit the Geylang Serai market when I was still living in Eunos. It is very interesting. I heard there is a renovation, can't be sure, can anymore clarify? When Hari Raya is around the corner, I would walk to Eunos MRT station to meet a friend and we will start walking through the pasar malam. So much stuff to eat! I like the buzz, and the crowd. It is the same reason why I visit Chinatown near Chinese New Year, buy some food, enjoy the crowd and to soak up the festivities. As much as how "ethnic" it is, Chinatown doesn't feel as authentic, more like a tourist spot.

Know how we visit places of worship when we are holidaying? We can start visiting ours. There is Thian Hock Keng Temple, the Hajjah Fatimah Mosque, the Armenian Church, the Maghain Aboth Synagogue - yes there is one here! The Sri Mariamman Termple, St Andrew's Catheral and so many more.

If all that doesn't rock your boat, can always catch a performance at the Esplanade, or the Victoria concert hall, the DBS auditorium, even Fort Canning. Be it a musical, a play or dance or an orchestra or some free performance. There is always something going on.

We do not need to get to Bintan or Batam to go for spas. Just go to Spa Botanica. Most times, it is pretty quiet. Apart from the spa treatments, it has a pool with what looks like a waterfall, for you to soak in, a swimming pool, a mud treatment outdoors. There is a jacuzzi too indoors. Why then, do you need to go Batam and Bintan for massages???? Unless you are going to Banyan Tree or Club Med or the seedy ones. But we have the seedy ones here to!

I can go on and on, but it may take me ages, I might as well write for the tourism board. I haven't even touch on the zoo yet! Sometimes, we just need to put in that little bit more effort to find the things to do in Singapore.

Sunday, 13 July 2008

Miffy Madness



I love that little bunny with a cross for a mouth. Too cute!
This is a photo from some time ago. My brother bought all these from HK for me. So sweet eh?

Friday, 11 July 2008

Haute Haute Haute!

I hop over to style.com every now and then to peek at the seasonal collections that designers have come up with. Well, they are always things I can never afford, one can always gawk and dream right? My favourite will definitely be haute couture. Never mind how unwearable it is, it is all about being dramatic and over the top. Like being transported into fashion wonderland, with all fluff and fantasy. The first designer I always always checked out will be Christian Lacroix. I was hyperventilating so bad, I needed to calm down first before going over the other collections!


Seriously, can you beat that??? Why can't people wear haute couture everyday?


Okay, so I am biased, I love love Lacroix. Even my husband who knows close to nothing about fashion knows that. Do you know that there are 2 Lacroix designed Evian bottles? I need to get my hands on those babies.

The haute couture is such a keeper, whereas the pret-a-porter bottle would be just perfect for parties!


Sunday, 6 July 2008

Hair Cut

I am itching for a hair cut. This is the longest I have gone without a hair cut for some time now. The weather's not helping too. I hate my hair. I look bad with hair that is long enough to reach below my ear.

In the past, when I am feeling down, I would go for a hair cut. I would feel a lot better after that. Of course it must be a great cut lah! It is way way better than retail therapy. I was stuck with my regular hair stylist for 12 years! That is some kind of hairdresser-client relationship don't you think? The first time I met Arthur was in the first Toni & Guy salon that was in Pacific Plaza. I was seventeen, just got into SHATEC. ( Now you know where all my allowance went ) I was really comfortable with him, he was funny and decent, and he was daring. He was one of the few back then who suggested chopping off alot off, ( actually he did not suggest, he just went on and chop it off ) leaving me enough hair to cover my scalp. I loved it. Moreover he doesn't use any off those barber shavers which I hate. I hate the buzzing sound coming out of that appliance. I feel like my ears are in danger of being clipped off, ala Holyfield. He doesn't recommend nonsense like colour, perm or treatment. None, unless I asked or if he thought it was a good idea.
So since 1997 I went to him constantly, straying just a few times. Every time I strayed I felt bad, and a lot of times when I strayed, I end up looking bad. So I would go back to him eventually. After a while being in Toni & Guy he decided, yeah, why not open my own salon? He did and I followed. It was a few months ago that he decided to fold up the business. It wasn't because he wasn't doing well, he felt that it was time to move on and do something else. He did mentioned that I could call him anytime for a house call. I can't do that, he should go ahead and do whatever he wants and we shall just remain friends.

So,

I am left without a hair dresser. How how? It is hard for me to trust someone else after coming out from a relationship that lasted for more than a decade. It will take some time for me to learn to trust someone again. Sigh, it feels not unlike a marriage that has broke down suddenly and I am starting to date again. I am getting out of my comfort zone, having to know new people and start with all those ice breaking kinda conversations.. I do no know how long and how many bad hair cuts it will take until the next right one comes along.

I do not think I can stand it any longer. I DO need a hair cut. I want something short and blunt..That sounds like Toni & Guy again, but recently the hair dressers from the salon don't seem as well trained. I don't know, maybe I am just biased and un trusting. I go to Shunji a few times - yes I strayed to Shunji - but he is perpetually not available and I have to book him 2 weeks in advance. Yah, if Mr Shunji Matsuo is a bag, he will be a Birkin, waiting list damn long one!

So how? Should I or shouldn't I? I need a great hair dresser, anyone has anyone to recommend?