Ben's 30th Birthday

We got Mark to reserve the room for us and he said it is going to be a surprise, okay, here we are, at the 785sqft City Suite, charging at SGD850/night. As expected, the service is excellent! How do I put it? " THEY NEVER SAY NO TO MY REQUEST "..so far.. Oh, they make me feel like a bride again! Hahahaa..

See this, I wanted to give Ben another surprise at the cafe, I secretly told the waitress, Lily to get me a piece of cake with a candle while Ben was away. Ben was so sharp, he didn't hear our conversation but he read my "sign language"! Before he blew the candle, Lily immediately took out a digital camera and took a picture of us. We thought they will send the photo to our suite later BUT she actually handed it to us after 5 minutes! We were delighted and she even bother to find out each customer's name, yeah, she addressed me as Mrs. Goh when I was requesting my cake. We compliment Lily for her outstanding service.

After a sumptous dinner, we went back to our tidied room and found a bottle of red wine. Hmm, I don't remember ordering any so Ben called the receptionist and found out that Mark reserved the suite under "wedding anniversary" and the wine is for celebration..how thoughtful..

This is going to be the first time for me to create movie this way, I ripped the song from my favourite CD and created this movie especially for the man of my life, Ben. I love you baby and I promise you, no matter how, I'll stand by you, forever...

Have I ever mentioned Ben lost his wedding band months after our wedding day at Orchard? We couldn't find it and I thought, it is okay because I don't want him to keep blaming himself for missing the band and we didn't get it replaced until today, yeah after a good 1.5 years, Ben said he wants to wear and he even said it is fine to spend 2k .... hmm, what is he thinking?

I'm Yours ! --- Jason Mraz

Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
Now I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I'll be giving it my bestest
And nothing's gonna to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some

But I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment, maybe sing with me
All - ah peaceful melody
And it's our God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love loved

So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

Scooch on closer dear
And I will nibble your ear

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and laughed
I guess what I'm be saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

Well no no, well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find that the sky is yours
Please don't, please don't, please don't
There's no need to complicate
Cause our time is short
This is out fate, I'm yours

Eucerin for Ben

dry dry dry, Ben has very dry skin esp. over the four limps and trunk. I've decided to get the shower oil from Eucerin and I hope it will help. Will review this product in 2 months time.

3 Surprises Again!

Ben's 30th Birthday is around the corner.. like last year, I am going to give him surprises and YES, 3 surprises again.. Baking?? NO WAY, that's an super old idea, way too ordinary and I am not going to "copy" it.

#1 - Mandarin Oriental Hotel, he knows about checking-in but he is not aware the types of the room we are going to stay. this or this (photo below)? We stayed here on our wedding day and now the cost per room is SGD950! So, are we coming back to the harbour suite?

#2 - Dinner, Mark was kind enough to make a reservation for 2 of us on that night and it will be on the house. Shall we go for Cherry Garden or MELT ?

#3 - Singapore Flyer! Ben is totally clueless about the #3 surprise ..hahaha.. He keeps telling me not to buy anything for him and he keeps thinking that I am going to hire a sexy girl to dance naked in our room! *fat hope*

Why did I post this when it should be a surprise to him? Oh, have I ever mention Ben doesn't read my blog?

Been There, Going There, Wish to Go There...

What was on your mind when you see this poster/advertisement? Ben and I saw it on the train and both of us started to talk about our past holiday and of course, our future holiday.

Hope to visit Japan in 2009, Europe in 2010 and India, when his paaji, Chakra gets married.

Oyakodon 親子丼

I was asking Ben out for lunch this afternoon but Ben said he had lunch appointment with Mr.Katsuki. As expected, these guys went for Japanese food and Ben shared with me about the dish he ordered today, Oyakodon 親子丼.

When comes to "don", everyone knows it has to be a bowl of rice but what is "oyako"? Katsuki said it means "parents"or "親".
See the egg? It represents the child and the chicken represents the parents. I believe many of us have tried this Oyakodon before but how many of us understand the meaning behind? Interesting, huh?

Exract from Wikipedia
Oyakodon (親子丼, Oyakodon), literally "parent-and-child donburi", is a Japanese donburi, or rice bowl dish, in which chicken, egg, green onion, and other ingredients are all simmered together in a sauce and then served on top of a large bowl of rice. The name of the dish, parent and child donburi, is a poetic reflection of the fact that both chicken and egg are used in the dish. In Japan, oyakodon is often served in soba restaurants and other traditional Japanese restaurants.

The donburi simmering sauce varies according to season, ingredient, region, and taste. A typical sauce might consist of dashi flavored with shoyu and mirin. Proportions vary, but usually there is three to four times as much dashi as shoyu and mirin. For oyakodon, Tsuji (1980) recommends dashi flavored with light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and sugar.

To make oyakodon, cut chicken and other ingredients into bite-sized pieces. Heat 1/4 cup simmering sauce in a small frying pan. Add chicken (and sliced yellow onion, if desired) and simmer until chicken is cooked. Then add green onions and other ingredients. When all ingredients are cooked, slowly pour 1-2 lightly beaten eggs evenly over the whole dish. When eggs are nearly cooked (edges set), slide the topping from the pan onto hot cooked rice served in an oversized bowl. The hot rice will finish cooking the eggs.

Several other Japanese dishes pun on the parent-and-child theme of oyakodon. Tanindon (他人丼, Tanindon), literally "stranger bowl", is otherwise identical but replaces the chicken with beef. A dish of salmon and roe served raw over rice is known as sake oyakodon (鮭親子丼, sake oyakodon).

Only Invited Readers

Updates : I've send out invitations to those who emailed me today. *nice knowing you all* You all may continue to come to my blog with your email addresses but then I think you need to register with blogger.com

With more than 100 readers a day, I thought this blog was only browse by those I know and those who want to know me. *maybe*

After blogging so many stuff over the past few years, Ben said I should limit my blog readers and of course, not so much of "exposure" as we should have some privacy over our own lives. *yup, stop telling people what I am doing daily or else more people will tell me my blog is "so boring"*
All right all right, to all my silent readers out there, my blog is open to invited readers only, wef from coming weekend. If you want to continue browsing my blog, email me at koala_bare@hotmail.com

Library...

is always a good place to borrow travelling books.

Knock Knock..

for outerwear.... When we went to Shanghai during winter seasons, we didn't bother to check out the types of outerwear in the market. We got only a coat and down jacket as we were told to. This time round, we were told there is no need to prepare a down or thick heavy coat but a stylish outerwear so we headed down to the city today to get them. Most boutiques are displaying fall/winter outerwear and types ranging from peacoats, trench coat, wool jackets, free jackets, vests to hoodies. YEAH, SO MANY types!! but we had too little time to shop so we ended up got only 3 hoodies.

Updates : 2 for Ben and 1 for me. Ben really looks very boyish with hoodies.

It's Zero

To control our calories intake, Ben and I
- eat McDonald's' once every 2 months
- drink carbonated drinks once every 3 weeks
- drink sweetened drinks once every week
- reduce 30% of our rice intake daily

To be physically fit, Ben and I
- swim at least once every week
- exercise at least 3 times every week

But there is something.. something we just started to taste it and fall in love with... and thank god it doesn't contain sugar, carbo, fat...

2nd Dose of S/C Doramectin

TREVI PM

Okay, I am not angry anymore as Ben said he will get me this if I did not overspent in State.

I AM FUMING !

It is my weekend and I normally enjoy my weekends. It has been so long since I felt this way, YES I AM FUMING!! Damn, does it look intentional? Hate it when my window doesn't have chinese character that I have to trouble Ben to type this and send it back to me, 赔了夫人又折兵 ! and I... * see photos *

Singapore News

Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, October 18

SINGAPORE: Starting from October 24, SMRT will add 112 train trips duringweekdays to ease morning and evening peak hour rush.

SMRT says this is the fourth significant train service enhancement it has made since February 2008.

However, this enhancement is not applicable to public holidays that fall on weekdays.

With the latest improvements, SMRT will have added about 900 extra train trips per week.

— CNA/yt

So now Ben doesn't need to leave the office at 7pm when he is suppose to leave by 6pm because he will definitely able to board the train. There were days he couldn't "squeeze" into the cabin and eventually he "missed" 3 trains.

Channel NewsAsia - Wednesday, October 15

SINGAPORE: Travel agencies are already anticipating the slowdown in the economy will affect travel plans.

One Singapore travel agent plans to slash non—peak season rates by a further 20 per cent, and says five—day tour packages tend to appeal most to holidaymakers.

Deputy general manager for outbound tour at Hong Thai Travel Services, Peggie Chung, said: "For the next year, we plan for a few different countries for special packages to Singaporeans, like S$500 to S$600 tour fare to Taiwan and Vietnam... — all these
packages to fit for Singaporeans.

"I think for this (past) ten years...for Singaporeans, they feel that it is part of their lifestyle... so maybe they are willing to try to keep to their budgets for tours to other countries."

Travel agents catering to a more upmarket segment do not expect their customers to cut back on holiday plans significantly, but say these customers expect quality for the price they pay.

Vice—president for leisure at UOB Travel Planners, Eileen Oh, said: "Overall for Singaporeans, they are in—bred bargain hunters, so they would expect airline prices, tour packages costs to come down during such trying times.

"And as travel agents, we must be ready to take advantage, as such offers from the airlines and hotels... will be low—inventory and short—lived.

"We also foresee that such servicing via online portals escalates. And with this, we will be launching our travel portal by November. Customers can expect a five to ten per cent savings when they do their travel arrangements online."

Oh expects strong demand for high—growth destinations such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Bali and Malaysia in 2009.

— CNA/yt

Our 2009 Taiwan Family Trip is 70% confirmed going!

WARAKU Ladies Night

Calling my ladies makan kakis !!!

Going to...

And my target is 10 laps tonight.

Household Chores

What can I say? I am truly a blissful wife.. *tearing* When Ben wanted me to be a full time housewife, I knew it is because he doesn't want me to get bullied at work. When I promised him I will try my best to become one, I knew he was very happy and felt appreciated.

When I became bored at home, I told him I want to get back to healthcare industry but on part time basis, he agreed. I told him I will be able to juggle the household chores as well as my work but I soon realised I couldn't but he didn't blame me and now, he even plans a timetable to do the household chores.
Monday - MBR
Tuesday - Study Room
Wednesday - Guest Room
Thursday -Dining Room
Friday - Family Room
Saturday - Laundry + Kitchen
Sunday - Bathrooms

From now onwards, he uses one hour each day to clean up the rooms and I just need to settle the 2 boys' war zone.

Pursuit of Happyness

There is no " Y " in happiness?

There is no why in happiness....got it? =)

After watching the trailer again, I have to apologise to Ben for being discouraging sometimes.

Octorber - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Singapore. In this month, many local agency and organizations (hospitals and polyclinics)will have seminars and workshop for the public to attend so to encourage everyone to do regular breast screening or BSE (breast self examination). Go to KKH now for 30% off walk-in digital mammogram rates or Call 63948076 for more information.

I hate my LongChamp "Les Pliages"

I notice there are actually more and more people started to "appreciate" Longchamp from France. When I started to carry mine in 2006, only one of my friends know about this brand because she owns one herself. In fact, she was surprise that I have it and she even asked if it was a gift from Ben(maybe because of my pathetic pay, she doesn't think I can afford it and YES I was the junior sn back then. Nowadays, MORE AND MORE aunties are carrying it (I really mean it, aunties in their late 40s or early 50s) and more and more people are telling me they got it for few bucks!

I feel like puking when I heard that, seriously! An authentic medium tote's price tag is at least SGD200 and above and these people get it for few bucks! On top of that, YOU CAN'T REALLY TELL IF IT IS REAL OR FAKE!! Unless of course, take a closer look at the leather flap, zipper pull and then pour out everything from the bag to check on the reinforced snaps! Damn...will people think I am carrying a fake longchamp les pliages?

Here is a guide to SPOT THE FAKE from ebay guides and this info are only for those who afraid to get con as there are funny people out there organising BP for longchamp! *faint* and some innocent people are believing they are getting the real stuff

extracted from ebay :
These tips below apply to the Les Pliages line of folding canvas bags (not to Planetes or the leather bags).
I have here pictures of two bags. The blue medium with long handles one is real, and the pink and tan shown are fake. They are "better" than a lot of fakes out there and is a lesson that you have to inspect carefully and ask lots of questions to make sure the bag you are considering is authentic. Many of the fakes I saw on eBay are more obvious than the one here.

Sorry photos are blurry....

GENERAL

The fake is on the left, the real deal on the right. Right away, notice the left bag looks too shiny and the handles don't look right: too short for long handles, and too long for short-handle variant.

Before buying, eyeball the dimensions, check the measurements, then compare with official Longchamp website. Longchamp new colours of the canvas bags 2 times a year (for fall-winter and the spring-summer) but the leather trimming is same always.

Leather
There is contrast stitching on the leather parts of the bag, which is a different colour than the leather itself on the visible side (and same colour as the leather on the back of the flap). Many Pliages I have seen have plastic tubes in the handles, because the leather is soft and not very durable. Real Pliages have no plastic tubes and are made from durable, high-quality leather.

The fake leather looks like a fish-scale pattern, with clean lines of even depth. On authentic bag, it is almost a diamond pattern, and grain is not embossed as deeply as the logo.

Leather Flap

An authentic bag has a jockey logo embossed on both the leather AND the snap. If there is no logo at all..... beware!!!

OLD LOGO: (shown above) There is a jockey on a horse impressed down into the leather, and a straight line underneath. On the knock-off, the logo is not centered above the snap, the lines of the impression are not as clean as on the real, and the horse is lacking details like hooves.

NEW LOGO: (not pictured): Longchamp has introduced a new logo on the leather flap,though on my most recent trip to the shop they had the same bags with different versions of the logos. The new logo has the jockey and horse embossed, so the logo is raised up above the leather. There is _no_ line underneath, and if you look at the back side of the flap there will be a mark where the logo is raised.


The bag above is real. The back of the flap has writing above the stitching. This may, however, vary from bag to bag. On my "shopping" totes the words modèle déposé and made in france are between the lines of stitches (see arrow). Longchamp, Pliages and the name of the bag are above.

Among my real bags, there are variants. On the backpack I saw, the writing is all above the seams. Some say Pliages, some say Le Pliage..I have also heard that Longchamp does not make all bags in France.

Model Name
On my fake, the words modèle déposé are missing the accent marks. In any case, I think you have a fake for sure if the name printed on the back flap does not agree with actual model or it just says the word "type" but not _which_ type:
sac a dos - backpack
type L - large tote, short handles
type M - medium-large tote, short handles
type S - small tote
"shopping" - large tote, long handles; medium tote long handles
cabas - rectangular, no zipper

Reinforced Snaps

An easy one! Real bags have their snaps reinforced with clear plastic discs that extend beyond snaps on the inside of the bag. The foldable Pliages also have snaps near the bottom.

Fabric and Lining
Bags should have crisp seams, and perhaps creases from the original folding. Your bag should fold nicely and the two parts of the snap meet easily. The fabric on fakes I saw is too shiny and texture is much smoother compared with real. If a bag looks too shiny in a photo (see top photo!), you may want to double-check it's other features.

Inside, the plastic coating that lines the bag feels like plastic but not rubbery. For pastel bags (i.e., light blue, pink, etc.), lining should be WHITE, not same color as outside. The tan fake above is lined in tan, when it should be white. Dark colors are lined with black or brown.

Zipper Pull

Longchamp Pliages have round logo zipper pulls, which can be gold or pewter depending on what shape the bag is. The real one is extremely detailed, and on the fake the bodies of the jockey and the horse blend together. Longchamp use YKK zippers, and you can see the letters on the zipper above.

Backside of Flap

Fake bag leather looks hairy and the edges jagged. Real one is also raw but is smooth and clean. On the snap itself, the fake has the words "guang tong" and real says, "ORIGINAL."


Other Bags
From what I've seen on eBay and at places selling knock-offs, the Pliages totes seem to be copied the most, especially small tote, medium shopper with long handles, and large shopper with long handles. But that doesn't mean others aren't. Please notice, this guide does not apply to bags outside the Les Pliages line. The advice stated here is entirely my own personal opinions. Happy shopping!

Guide ID: 10000000006532305Guide created: 04/06/08 (updated 10/07/08)