Sunday, June 30, 2013

Haze Haze Go Away!

I'm glad that the haze situation in Singapore is getting so much better thanks to the change of wind direction. 谢谢老天爷! 

When I finally get to see some clear blue skies and go for my usual jog, I appreciate the clear blue skies and fresher air more than ever. Everyday after work just go home and siam from the haze is really very boring :(. I just want to go out sweat it out and have a good night sleep.

To be honest, during the haze period, I was not wearing any masks. I did not went to hunt down for overprice N95 and the cheaper alternatives are all sold out. There was one particular day when I was on the way to work, everyone was wearing masks except me. They look at me as though I'm some weirdo but the fact is, there's not enough N95 going around. 

Having said that, just imagine whenever We breathe in second hand smoke, it's actually much much worse than breathing in haze. So why freak out now when it's just haze? But I feel that those working outdoors really needed the mask more than anyone else who work indoors and they should probably stop working for half a day or so till the haze gets better. 

Derp and I feel that having to wear N95 make his styled hair messy and the straps squeeze out my face fats (I know, We are vain), We decided not to get any N95. 

Instead, We went to order the cloth type of mask. And reason being, it's definitely more save the earth!  I can't imagine using the mask and throw away and change a new one again every other day. So not 环保! I can't bring myself doing that. 


Ordered this 3M Mask from 65emall. It's definitely much more comfortable than N95 and chio-er. You can come tell me it's not effective or whatever, but at least my face fats don't get squeeze out! 

We ordered another 2 masks from G Market. I ordered the hotpink one for myself and it send me white one instead. -_-".


The quality was good, comfortable too just that the color is not what I wanted. :( Felt disappointed but still can use la. Derp and I can alternate between this 2 brands of masks.

We don't really have the chance to use it yet, and I sincerely hope We would not get a chance to use but We'll always put 1 in our bag just in case.

Haze please dont come back again to disrupt my exercise reigmen!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

MBS Staycation (14/06/2013 - 15/06/2013) - TCC @ MBS, Infinity Pool @ MBS, Garden by the Bay, Sweetspot @ MBS

I shall complete this post in the shortest possible time and wake up early tml for my lesson at SRC. And yup, finally TGIF! Lots to be done this weekend, train JLR2013, collect JLR2013 race pack. Okay, my life revolving around that for now because the run is just next sunday! Thanks to the haze, I think I'll probably chui during the race. -_-". *sigh* Don't want think so much, just treat it as Sunday morning exercise. 

Derp and I went for a staycation at MBS exactly 1 week after We are back from Taiwan.


We had lunch at TCC in MBS. They were having 1 for 1 mains promotion for member and as for non member, as long you order your first main, the 2nd main will get 50% off :). They are having GSS promotion.

Scallop Pasta in Jap Sauce and Fish Roe. 

It's too sweet for Derp's liking but I like it leh lol. It's really very Jap. The scallops from TCC are really awesome! 

Seafood Aglio Oilo.

I prefer the more garlic type Aglio Olio like those in Pasta Mania, but I must say their scallops are really awesome. The next time when I finally cooked prawn aglio oilo (I've been saying it for a million times and not get down to do it yet), I shall add in scallops and try hehe! More effort needed, got to cook separately first. But I guess it will be worth it as long the scallop is properly cooked. :) 



Our Dessert - Chocolate Molten Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Derp and I are into chocolate lava cake lately, whereby the chocolate sauce will be heated inside the warm cake and eat it with ice cream. It's like heavely for us, probably because We ate something similar which is super awesome at Dozo for Valentines' Day celebration :).

We can only checked in after 3pm and our itinerary was to check out the infinity pool at the 57th level after We check in. 

View from our room. 

Trust me, the view brought back all the memories(nightmare?) from Nike She Run 2013. I was busy pointing out to Derp "neh neh I run from here to there, and then you see that small bridge, so narrow and super congested can??!"


Our bed.

The shower room, with no bath tub cause this is Tower 3. 

Btw, We should have wore the bathrobes provided in the wardrobe of the hotel room but We didn't. So We wore a singlet and fbt shorts(with our swim suits inside) up to 57th level, which actually We can just wrap ourselves with the robe with only our swim suit inside. Feel so dumb when We saw everyone with their bathrobes at level 57th. Oh well..

I forgot to mention there were already a slight haze during this staycation, but no one know it will be so bad which it did on the following week. ~_~




I used all my calf strength to tip toe so as to prevent my hair from touching the water so that I will look better in photos. #vainme. I only bun up my hair thereafter to enjoy soaking water in the infinity pool.





The experience at the infinity pool was really good! :):). very relaxing and chilling. And ya I finally figured out what happen outside the edge of the pool lol. Like "will we really see what's going on below?" If possible, it will be really scary especially when you come to the edge. Just imagine if it's transparent all around.


:):)

After our soaking, We went back to change and head on out for dinner! I've had sudden craving for popeyes and since Singapore flyer is so near, We decide to slowly stroll there for popeyes! #fatdieme






After our super filling dinner at popeyes, We went to take a walk at Gardens by The Bay when I got sting quite badly at there. #itchydieme. We didn't walk the whole Gardens by the Bay and plus it was so damn dark, We rather head back to the hotel room.





The track that go wrong all this plants on top are for visitors to walk but I guess that's the pay-money zone. Actually, my company have subsidies to Gardens by the Bay. I'll probably visit there one fine day during the day time because at night, you'll really see nothing! 



Found a good spot and faster take photo before We zoom back to our room. Just in time to watch Avengers on HBO :):):) Btw, those spots(mainly my legs) whereby those whatever insect bite me, it's god damn itchy by then. 





Night view from the room. I think not bad leh. :) 



We only had to check out at 12pm hence We were able to sleep in a little longer :)

I did a little research before this staycation to see what are the nice stuff not to be miss out at MBS. Ladyiron chef recommended the Sweetspot's macaron which to him, it's worth a try. 

We went down thinking to dine in at Sweetspot (it's at MBS tower 3 area), but the cafe was quite packed with people. Hence, We packed back our sandwiches and 1 Macaron for me to try. Seems pathetic I know but Macarons just belong to the #fatdieme category. 


Our brunch.

I love their sandwiches!! :) We ordered the smoked salmon wrap and spicy chicken breast sandwich. And to match it with tea, it's nice lor! lol. The tea is the complimentary TWG tea from MBS. So yea, my favorite tea of all time. The verdict of the Macaron, really not bad lor. It belongs to those Macarons that are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside :).

I'll get more Macarons and maybe also their cakes when I go back there the next time. Their desserts look good too.

And there goes my short staycation with Derp at MBS. We treat it as a getaway(I know We just came back from Taiwan lol) before he start work the following monday :)

I'm definitely looking forward to our next getaway in Nov!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Taiwan Trip Day 4 Part 2 (03/06/2013) - 台糖五分車, 乳牛的家 The Cow's Home, 赤崁樓 Fort Provintia , Kao Shiung Crowne Plaza Hotel

Continuing from my previous entry on Taiwan Trip Day 4 Part 1...

After our lunch at Nan Tou, our tour went on to 台糖五分車. We were there to take the 五分車 train ride to 乳牛的家. I didn't know our tour would bring us to a mini animal farm and We had the chance to feed animals and have real close contact with the animals and left the place feeling like a little kid once again.

台糖五分車

小火車載著甘蔗在軌道上行走,小孩子在水車後面啃著甘蔗的畫面,對於新新人類來說彷彿是一幅畫,但是對於年長的一輩而言,卻是深刻回憶,五分車懷舊之旅將帶領新、舊人類在嘎吱嘎吱的火車聲中,回味過往時光。

而什麼是「五分車」?五分車指的是兩個鐵軌之間的距離,國際標準的軌距是143.5公分,而台糖的小火車的軌距只有76.2公分,也就是說只有標準軌距的一半,因而稱作五分車。

Source: http://guide.easytravel.com.tw/scenic.aspx?CityID=17&AreaID=231&PlaceID=1560

If you can't read Chinese, 五分車 is called 五分車 because the gap between the cabins are actually half of the length of the actual train gap between normal trains. This vehicle is definitely a old school and yet nostalgic type of train for the older generation in Taiwan.

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One of the old train that were used before.
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Another type of train.

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We were brought to sit this train ride which eventually bring us to stop over at 乳牛的家! When the train reached junction, a loud "poot poot" will goes off. Really very old school! 

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We enjoyed this train ride because of the agriculture which We've seen along the way. Many many types of different veggies and fruits which is not seen locally. We've seen many farmers along the way and they are very friendly! They wave and smile to us :)

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We were brought to stop over which is at 乳牛的家 and We fed animals there! hehe. We bought 2 tickets at 30TW each and chose the milk bottle and grass. When We spotted so many pigs, We know We have to feed them lol. 

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Derp feeding the pig.

BTW, I was the one who fed them first but guess what? They keep snatching to suck the milk bottle. -_-". Don't ask me why they so hungry but I think that's their nature by default. Born with it. Btw, even Derp got pek cek after awhile because it's impossible to feed properly.

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Went to took photos of these chickens while Derp was still struggling to feed the pigs lol.

The host saw our difficulties handling the pig and he let 1 pig out. The lucky one. He opened a small gap and only 1 pig manage to escape from their cage within the crowd of pigs. lol.

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Derp continue feeding with the greedy pig. And yup, the pig finish the milk super fast. -_-". Seriously, got so hungry ma???!! 

Enough of the greedy pig, We exchange our ticket for grass this time. Time to feed the cow. 

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The cows must be hating me because they can't reach the grass and I'm taking my own sweet time taking photo of Derp. Seriously, I question myself again why even the cows are so hungry? lol.

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Since the cows in the previous photo have their own food and cant be bothered with me, I went to feed the baby goats.

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Btw, this greedy pig ran off after Derp fed it. We thought it went to find his goat's bff. But to our surprise, it went there not to find friend.

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It ran over to eat goat friend's food. -_-". Okay maybe pigs are just hungry by default. 1 bottle of milk also not enough, lol. Or should I say 2? Because there's another little girl who feed this pig too. 

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We didn't notice there were mini pigs around who were far behind, if not We would have fed all this mini pigs.

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Turkeys.

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This rabbit is super shy and timid! Derp think it looks like Esther's rabbit, dusty. It ran all the way to hide when it see us approaching.

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More rabbits.

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With a super big cow.

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Had some cow's milk ice cream after feeding the animals.

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For more info regarding 乳牛的家 click  here

Our last stopof the day before dinner, Fort Provintia in Tainan

Fort Provintia

Sakam Tower, formerly Fort Provintia, in West Central District, Tainan City was built in 1653 by the Dutch during their colonization of Taiwan
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Provintia

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Statue of dutch surrendering to the Taiwan guy call Koxinga.

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More dragon turtles carrying heavy stones on their back filled with words left behind from many years ago.

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Part of the fort. Of cause they did rebuild part of it, not everything inside there is left behind by them.

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A photo of my tour group people. :)

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With our tour guide, andrea and carl. :)

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It was a very short tour trip, We basically went in to walk one round and came out, maybe cause it was damn hot.

Dinner was famous cuisine in Tainan

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擔仔麵 aka Dan Zai Mian! I ate this before in Singapore and came to realise it originated from Tainan.

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棺材板! I didn't know it's from Tainan too, have always thought it originated from Taipei. It's like cream soup in toasted bread. :) I've ate a much bigger 棺材板 in Singapore before, first time eating such a small one, and it's so cute!

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The woman behind all the 擔仔麵.

Our tour mates suggested all of us to go eat shaved ice which is located just opposite Fort Provintia. We saw it when We were on the 2nd level of the fort, spotted the big banner of the shaved ice. Since We were heading to hotel after dinner, not much activities so why not?

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 Mango shaved ice with mango ice cream! It costs us less than $3 sgd. So worth it.

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:)

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Super big mangoes!!!

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The shop banner which We spotted from afar.

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Their menu.

It was another 1 hour journey or so to Kao Shiung Crowne Plaza Hotel. We napped on the way there and  woke up by the sight of the big ferris wheel. 

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Probably the prettiest hotel/ atas hotel that We've stayed throughout this trip. The breakfast was god damn good! Will blog about it in Taiwan Trip Day 5 :)

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The toilet have surround sound system which means you can hear what's going on on the TV while you are in the toilet.

Since the night is still young, after We check in, We decide to go ahead walk E-da Outlet Mall before it close that night. We were given the whole of the next day to walk the shopping mall and theme park. 

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E-Da Outlet Mall is super long! You get what I meant? lol. Probably need 5 minutes to walk from 1 side to the other.

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Xiao Zhu again! He's the ambassador of this brand of watches, Morris K.

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Greek statues found in the shopping mall itself.

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Pic taken at the flea market area outside E-Da Outlet Mall.

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Walking back to our hotel after getting some necessities from Watsons.

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Outside our hotel. :)

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:):)
Read about my Taiwan Trip here:

Taiwan Trip Day 1