I can has blog, wee

It has been three months since I wrote something and so much has already changed... well just the job but still.. here in Singapore nothing else is bigger than your job so to me that feels like my life now.

Had the chance to visit Phuket 3 weeks ago and it was incredible. I recommend you visit that wonderful paradise soon. Four days is not enough, there's so much more things left to do like diving and kayaking at Ao Pha Nga but maybe next summer we can go back again and spend maybe a whole week. Click here to see my pitcures from the trip! :)  

I'm contemplating whether i should shift my current website to Wordpress and just do micro blogging from there. You know, post interesting things I see everyday from different sites? Or maybe the world wide web is just full of that already.. what you think? Anyway.. I have not time to do it yet anyway. I'm cherishing the free time I have... until I have to work twice as hard again. :)

A bestfriend told me she's pregnant, and I am so very happy for her... realizing that I've known her for quite sometime and being there for her durign all those changes in her life and to see it... i just feel bad to not be there with her and her "husband" for now and I really really really miss them a lot. Sometimes I wonder wether I'm still their best friend or not. Hahaha. Oh well, i guess fate has a way of changing, even when you don't want it to.

My dear boyfriend and bestfriend also might be going home for good soon... and it's going to be another big change for me. Big big change... i don't know if i'll be strong enough to face it... I hope i will be. But we'll see.

It feels as if this rush of chic flicks sprawling in and out of cinemas is a way of getting back to all of those super hero movies where all our boyfriends brought us to (hehe, but hey i didn't say i didn't liked it). I'm just noticing since the release of SATC and this He's just not that into you that lady goers are finally given back the choice of watching smart and interesting chic flicks since 2003's Love Actually... that is not your typical happy ending romantic comedies but something that we can actually relate to and learn from.

Looking forwward to the Shopaholic franchise movies too, but I'm not putting my hopes up on it since I always know that the book versions are always way better than the movies. Yay.

Found two new interesting chic-lits today at the Kinokinuya bookstore over at Takashimaya mall this afternoon... Candace Bushnell's One Fifth Avenue and Emily Giffin's Love the one you're with. I have never read any books from both authors before, although I have religiously watched Sex and the City and have read quite good reviews about Emily Giffin's works.

I have been pulled into the Chic-lit books ever since I started reading Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series. Since I have already finished her last book (Remember Me?) and may take quite awhile for her to come out with a new one soon (since she seems busy with the new movie and all, which by the way I can't wait to see)... i thought while waiting I can try out other authors from the same genre hoping to find the same wit, humorous, and romantic little plots like Sophie's. Anyway, they all belong to the same genre so all ingredients must still be the same... heroines talking about life and love and so much more.  Can't wait to get started on either of them.

Ugh ugh ugh. I have long delayed witting this post for far more boring reasons than 'I'm busy'. Anyway, my year got me started by being really pissed at myself for having this silly and stupid fight with my mother (over a microwave oven and irresponsible behavior) which ended up in me staying in a hotel for 3 days near my friend's house. Then after that, when we got back in Singapore I got the news that Carl got layed off at work due to the economic crisis problem.

Not a good year for me I thought.

Luv luv Uniqlo and Muji

But anyway, I was glad i was still able to see my nephew, sister... my dad and all my friends during my christmas vacation. Hong Kong was awesome (and chilly) too, can't wait to bring my nephew to all the theme parks when he gets a bit older (at least let him learn how to walk on his own first).

Had a great time last night over at Eileen and Gino's house (Carl's ex colleague and friend), had the chance to eat Kare Kare, Adobo, and Afritada for dinner! Anna and JR's afritada really rocked, i was so surprised. Made me want to go beyond the frying (Chicken nuggets and Tempura Prawns) and really start to learn how to mix sauces and cook for real!

Had the chance to meet 2 new people too, and what a great way to bond with them than to play a game of Movie Trivias! That game is really ball bustingly entertaining! Although some movies that were shown were from far before even my parents met (TCM, black and white movies kind) so it was tough... good thing our new British friend is a true blue movie buff and have been giving us clues about which letter to press. Haha!

Their new dogs Piko and Peggy (Chihuahuas) also joined us the entire time. They were on Hyper run around and lick people mode.

Anyway, one and a half day more vacation for me! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Tomorrow is a picnic / tanning / drinking day over at Sentosa with ex colleagues - not yet sure If i'll be able to join, depends if I will be able to wake up on time for the meeting. Hehe.

Lx3_case_luigi01

Since I got me new cam, I've been on a prowl for a new leather case to replace the bulky free one i got. Was over at this website today and saw this lovely lovely case. Too bad it comes all the way from Rome, and he doesn't accept credit card payments. But it's really really beautiful! I would take the beige / green one. Oh well, on to my searching...

Carl and Nicc

It was quite a surprisingly fun day for me today despite all the awfulness of yesterday's erm... well... quarrels with some housemate. Anyway, had a chance to meet a talented artist today named Nicc who is Carl's good friend from i guess way back in the PW days. So yeah, we hanged out and had a chance to accompany him at the STAC's Retro anime thingie at the Expo.

It was my first time to visit the place and it was damn huge. Aside from the anime event thing, there was also this Buddhism thing going on which occupied more or less 10 halls! It was really huge. Anyway, we got to the Retro anime event and were surprised by how much cosplayers were around so i grabbed the chance to use my new cam and exercised by trigger hapiness. We were also able to see some really nice ball-jointed dolls also dressed in cosplay! I have quite a few pictures but I still have to extract them out of my camera.. so will do that tomorrow. Anyway, it was an interesting thing to see.

After that, we separated ways as Nicc had to prep himself for another meet up while me and Carl decided to catch up on a late night movie. We reached the ticketing booth at Cathay and were set to see 'All about women' as Carl and I thought it was the movie where Eva Mendez and Meg Ryan is in... the he saw Nick and Nora's infinite playlist - which i'm not really interested in watching since it's such an emo/teenage love movie and after seeing all the young people at the cosplay event i thought i've had enough of the teenage crowd in one day so I fought for the 'All about women' movie.

Neui yan fau pui

We got the tickets and had stayed in a Kaya toast shop to rest and pass the time. 30 mins before the showtime, we headed back to the theatre floor to go buy popcorn when lo and behold this huge poster of All about women showing three Chinese ladies holding umbrellas and have this huge Chinese character splashed on top of the titled and figured... "OH NO! This isn't what we're seeing right?!?!?!?!" Well, the poster was indeed right. I checked on the internet booth (luckily Cathay cinemas have this) about the real 'All about women' movie and it turns out - it really wasn't about Meg Ryan or Eva Mendez but about this three Chinese ladies finding true love.

It was such a shock that were going to see a Mandarin movie and was praying to God that there will be an english subtitle. Luckily, there was AND... the movie wasn't so bad after all. In fact, it made me appreciate Chinese cinema more than just the Chow Yun Fat, Zhang Zi Yi, and Stephen Chow movies. The editing was interesting, the plot was kinda predictable but still very funny for most scenes, and the actresses were awesome. Such a great way to also know more about cultures from other countries and to know that women in China definitely share the same problem as most women anywhere in the world have  - sexism, true love, and contact lenses.

I'm helping out a good friend here in Singapore to find a stockist in Manila interested to house and distribute his collections of shirts perfect for late night trawls.

His label is called Hooked Clothings.

Whether it's a scene from a movie or a verse from a poem, Hooked Clothings is able to draw inspiration from daily life and turn them into meaningful graphics. Besides experimenting with new technologies of print to ensure that the quality of products is best, Hooked is constantly exploring opportunities to bring the label to different parts of the world.

Hooked already have stockists from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Beijing.

Please contact me if you need more information (catalogue, price list) about his label.

...is what the theme was all about at the Ben & Jerry's Chunkfest last Saturday held at the Fort Canning Park. Was very much looking forward to it as I have not been on an ice cream fest before - and also that Carl and I haven't been to Fort Canning yet haha (I know, we've been here for 2 years now and still haven't been there).

Anyway, it was a slightly drizzly that day and there was that cool xmas breeze in the air. Went in to the park after eating a scrumptious lunch of steak at Astons. To our surprise, the ice cream fest was a hit and there was SO MANY people around. The people lined up to the ice cream booth was about more or less a hundred people! Anyway, it was nice to see the different stuff that they have like the floating heart shaped bubbles that stuck on the trees and bands and.. well others hehe. Check out he pictures! Had the chance to do some test shots for my new cam too.

Finally, omigod... I gave into temptation! And it was sort of kind of an impulse buy again since I snagged my new Panasonic Lumix LX3 in Harvey Norman in Hougang Mall around dinner time for a price of $799 (inlcuding a $59 tax, which i might be able to rebate in the airport when I go back home to Manila).

So well, anyway cut to the chase. I bought the silver colour camera which includes the following:

1. 8GB SDHC (memory card)
2. Mini tripod
3. Carrying case bag (which unfortunately happens to be an olympus brand)
4. LCD protector
5. 1 year warranty, lens cap strap, camera strap, charger and battery (which are default pieces in the box)

The uncle that sold me the camera was an 40s to 50s Indian salesman, and being a salesman that he is... he tried to sell me a lot more like additional 1 year warranty for $72 and cleaning kits. He even came to a point of giving me a free battery pack worth more or less 20 bucks if I decide to sign up for an additional 1 year warranty with them. Of course, i tried to keep my composure (i was hungry and was smelling hor fun from the opposite kopitiam), smiled at him and said "no thanks, pay now can?"

Anyway, I have yet to play around with it and do some test shots in broad daylight or wherever. Also, I need to learn how to use this camera like creatively with all the ISO's and white balance and what not so my 799 is fully maximixed. Hehe. 

Comments so far:

1. It perfectly fits on my minute hands
2. I love the brightness and sharpness of the LCD
3. The menus are damn easy to use and understand
4. It's quite heavy compared to other PS cameras
5. I love the vintage feel of it specially the pop up flash
6. Charger and camera itself are small

Further enhancements (if budget permits):

1. vintage straps and carrying case
2. telephoto lenses
3. viewfinder (I pray to God they make a white version of the pretty fisheye lomo looking viewfinder soon)

I've been feeling really unhappy and disappointed these past few months and have been wanting to make myself feel better by buying something I've always wanted to buy which is a DSLR. I've scouted a few stores and have set my heart on a Nikon D60. Yeah, Ashton Kutcher has one and definitely it's not because of him why I wanted it.

After just another argument this morning.. we head off to Pahang Street near Bugis to eat some tasty Lebanese food over at El Shiekh . We ordered Shish Kebab, Shawarma Rice, and Musaka for lunch and paid about $46.00. The food was delicious and the beef was scrumptious, it was juicy and was obviously marinated over some tasty sauce before grilling. The Musaka was a treat as well with it's slight spicy-sweet sauce matched with Pita Bread (almost like Butter Chicken in Indian cuisine). The fragrant rice was a tad bit strong with flavours that it almost over powers the beef but it's still great and tasty. It would have been a much more fun experience if Carl and I were talking.

So anyway, after lunch.. still not talking... we head off to Haji Lane. Finally! I've been wanting to visit the artsy-fartsy stores there although I know that they are just the same as the ones over at Ann Siang Hill. So anyway, yeah in just one street.. I've managed to snag 2 pretty pretty bags and one cute comfy shoe over at Bianca's. I have also been eyeing this Fred Perry Gingham High Top shoe over at UrbanOutfitters and they have it on sale (slashed about $30)! But UO is only shipping to US, UK and Canada... lucky my friend told me that I can use VPost which is a part of SingPost that lets anyone in Singapore shop on any web retailers online even those that only ship to US/UK/Canada/Japan and etc. using US / UK or Japan address provided by VPost. It's such a great opportunity to have that and it gives a more wide selection for shoppers here.

Carl was asking me why I suddenly became so interested in bags and shoes and clothing and I replied "Maybe, I'm just growing up". I am still learning who I am at this age and being a woman that I am now, i guess it's just time that I appreciate what is out there for me. I'm still saying NO NO to eye liners, lipsticks, and brightly colored dresses though. Hehehe.