Thursday, January 30, 2014

Happy Lunar New Year!

Finally got a time to blog away while waiting for dinner.
This year, my family decided to eat our Reunion dinner early than the Eve itself. Also, it's our first time eating outside!!!
Well, reason why is because my two brothers have their own family already, and often they have to go to 2 sides (abit paiseh if don't go). Not only that, my 2nd bro needs to help up in the evening as there will be many people going his house to pray and stick joss sticks.
So, we settled for last Sunday at NUSS Guild House.

The food was actually not bad! Quite good for such a ulu place. It's ulu to me cause I didn't know there's a Chinese Restaurant in Guild House. And, who would have thought of having dinner there??
But yes, cause my sis-in-law works there. She recommended. Surprisely, it was full house. haha.
Can go back next time again and try their normal dishes cause we took their set menu for CNY.


My first Lo Hei!!!! HUAT AH! Hopefully, this year brings good health & wealth!


We were too hungry that I just ate without taking any pics. haha.. cause we had to wait for my bro like 30min. Starving by then.

We also took this chance to celebrate Baby Lucas's Birthday who's turning 2 this Feb 5th!!!
Seeing him grow up, time really passes so fast that if you miss seeing him for a month, you probably missed out alot in his growing up stage.
Like now, he knows how to "Gong xi gong xi" and stretch out his hands!!!

Sesame Street birthday Cake! Isn't it nice?!?! It's from Pine Garden. And they have very good cakes. I personally like the Lychee Martini. Go try it!




So excited when we were singing birthday song. He loves to clap.. haha

The way he blow his birthday cake. Not looking at the cake. haha.

Well, enjoy this CNY well and HUAT AH!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

2 Degree Ice Art Exhibition & Equinox



And so, why I was so busy last week? Because my colleagues and I planned a trip to 2 Degree Ice Art Exhibition! Super excited!!! Actually, these tickets were a christmas gift for one of my colleague. So she brought us there! :)

Really excited because just months ago, I happened to see this on TV documentary on how they sculpt them in Harbin China. And, it's so cool that when I knew they were here in Singapore, I had to come!
Too bad GGH wasn't interested, so I decided to go with the rest of my Abbott kakis!


The ticket is quite expensive - $32 (before 10% discount for Mastercard). On top of that, if you are lazy to bring your winter clothing, you can rent there at $5, comes with free gloves.


This exhibition features ice art of many international land marks. Of course, the first one that greeted us when we entered was SINGAPORE MERLION! 
The picture doesn't look very nice, but everything inside is ICE!!! Damn cool! Just so amazing. 


Singapore flyer!


My favourite - France Eiffel Tower!!! Super love!


Many of the pictures we took was kinda blur because at this time, we were really getting cold even though we wrapped like dumpling. This is like just 5minutes after we went in.



The slide!!!! This, I think, is the highlight of the exhibition. You get to play the slide made of ICE!!!

There's this guy on top who uses all his effort to spin us down. haha... I kinda "flew" in the middle of the slide. Had so much fun!

Chue chue who initially didn't want to play cause she saw that guy who turn the rest so vigorously. I forced her into it. haha

The grand looking Dragon Wall in China.




Totally dunno what this is. Forgot to see the description. hehe.

Next, we went to 2 Degree Ice Bar which is next door. This is separate entrance from the one above.
This is where you can drink/ eat inside the cold room, and thereafter can smash the ice beer cup once you are done! Cool eh?!

In the afternoon, there's 1-for-1 for beer so worth to go. I opted for lime juice... didn't wanna drink beer at 3pm. hahaha.

Inside the "bar". You can choose to have your drink outside (normal air con), or come inside (they provide coats).
All the tables and chairs are made of ice, with just a cushion for the seats.
If you see below, the little house looking shape, that's where you smash your ice cups.


The ice cold cup, made of ice.



Esther & Chue chue's beer. Yes, they drink from the ice cup. Brrr....
I tried, my lips couldn't take it for long... haha..

My lime juice with straw. heng ah..

Cute hor?!

A group photo of us. Good shot.
GGH saw this, call us - The bathrobe girls. LOL.

Overall experience:
The exhibition itself was an eye opener for me who haven't experience winter, and of course, I do appreciate the ice sculptures and the one behind all these works.
However, the ticket price is too pricey because the exhibition is only a 15min walk.
I think the high ticket price is because they have high maintenance cost to keep the ice frozen.
If you are unwilling to pay the high ticket price, you can opt to just go for drink/food just for the experience being in cold country.
At least whatever you are paying, you are getting something (food/ drink).

The place is VERY VERY COLD. I was basically starting to freeze 10minutes after I went in, and 20min, I couldn't feel my nose and my fingertips.
Inside the ice bar, Sylvia & I walked in/out of the room in between the drinks because it was too cold to stay inside.
We couldn't feel our feet. But maybe because both of us were wearing pump shoes while Esther and chue chue were wearing sports shoe.
The aftermath - The next day I went to work, my cheeks were reddish and they said it's frostbite because like rashes and white spots. Until now, my cheeks still feel very dry even though I slapped on moisturizer every day.
Nonetheless, it's totally worth to go, in my opinion.
P/S: The ice bar serves congee. I think it's gonna be so shiok. haha...

After our event, we went for high tea at Equinox! Sat by the window. Beautiful scenery!!!
By then, my hp battery was going to be flat so this was the only picture I took. haha..
Recommendation: The laksa is good!!!!
The prata was surprising good too even though it looks thick.
They serve TWG tea. The down side is that the buffet is only from 3.30 - 5pm. So not enough time. haha 
There's 15% discount now for DBS/POSB card members.




Chye Seng Huat Hardware

Went for a brunch last Saturday!
Finally got to check this out after so much hype.
This is ... actually not the front door. But you will see this first.
You will have to enter by the side door which has a "No Parking" sign. That's the entrance.


The simple menu. The coffee is an art to order. We totally didn't know how to order. And so we just randomly tried, and got it wrong. haha. We ordered the Brewed coffee but it doesn't have milk and sugar.
But the coffee is apparently quite popular lah.


The pistachio cranberry cake which is refreshing!


The HUAT breakfast! It was so-so only. The croissant is nice, but the sausage and eggs is very normal.
Not something I would go back there to eat again.


My companion who brought me here :)

After that, we went to City Square to walk around and shopped since it's nearby.
CNY decors are up already! Pretty!


The Kopitiam at City Square also had a renovation and across the kopitiam has shopping area that has many unique old school stuff! Nice to walk!



This is so old school! Now, made in carpet size!



After that we went to play arcade before heading home. So long never play this dance revolution, and I made him play with me! hahaha.. so cute :)


Sunday, January 19, 2014

The start of growing sideways

My first 2014 steamboat happened last Friday night. 1hr30min of non-stop eating. OVERLOAD!!!
We went to Yuez house to eat steamboat, which is very suitable for these few days' weather. Windy these days, eating just feels so shiok. As I'm typing away, I'm still craving for steamboat. hahaha...

While waiting for the pot to boil, we ate french fries cause we were too hungry.. lol.
Also, NEVER BUY PORKY brand of sliced pork. Not nice. nono.




We, no, they started their paparazzi session until like 2am.... what girls can do when they get together. lol.
Crazy stuff. But, cannot deny, they are quite good. haha.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

January birthdays


January celebrations! This year, we have more people to join in the January birthdays.
Obviously, baby Velda is the highlight!!! Velda turns ONE!!!
We dine at Szechuan Court at Fairmont Hotel, and the food was good! Love the peking duck, the suan la soup, and the fried rice!!! Good quality, but pricey.  
As the parents were busy and me, busy closing too, we didn't manage to pre-order a cake for Velda, so we made do with Breadtalk Hello kitty cake. Lots of cream and it's tiramisu inside. Not very nice. haha.





The normal cake for the adults. haha.


All the January babies  (except Lucas, he's turning 2 next month).
Velda and my mum share the same date. :)


My family and 2nd sis-in-law family.  


Thursday, January 16, 2014

Kick Off Meeting @ Resorts World

Even though we hit our Plan numbers, we weren't allowed to go overseas due to Area saying budget cut. So... We ended up at Resorts World Sentosa.

The kick off meeting was from 10-12 Jan 2014. Friday morning was our meeting before checking in in the afternoon. It was bad bad co-ordination. Not sure if was MCI problem or Festive problem. But I suspect it's Festive.
The thing is, we actually did indicate the number of people going (we could invite immediate family members to stay), but at the end, some of us didn't have extra bed.. like me. I had 3 person including me, but I had no bed. So, they switched me to another room. And the room was worst than this below.
This is apparently the newer one (at 8th floor) which is brighter and cleaner. But this room cannot add extra bed. WTF.
After a big whooha with several people who got affected, we finally settled down like at 5pm.

Festive Hotel review: 

Bad service. Some beds are not clean. Smell like Genting. Quality like Genting. No 5 star feel.
Breakfast was... UTTERLY BAD. Worst ever breakfast. No much spread and not nice at all. I think I cook nicer.  
Will not stay there again for such a price. I think it cost about $350++.



After playing awhile of blackjack, it was time to go for our dinner which is at Universal Studios Singapore!
They open just for us. :)
Love this board. Very nice.


The red carpet inviting us in.


There was a pre-cocktail event at the threatre before the actual dinner. And they hired sesame street to hang around just for our event. Family members were invited for the dinner as well, so that's why I think they hired them cause got alot of kids.
In addition, the also extended the spielberg show for us.


And the dinner begins! Right in the middle of USS!! It's amazing. hahaha...
Side tracking...  
I think they spent alot of this event since we couldn't go overseas. So comfort abit lah. haha.
Not only they spent alot on this dinner, we also did receive RWS dining vouchers for $100 per person you have. Which means, I registered for 2 person, I have a total of $300!!! Imagine we have about 100 employees for ANI, that's a whooping $30,000!!! Just on vouchers!
Also, all registered person have free entrance tickets to what you have previously chose on the activites for Saturday. There were USS tickets, Aquarium, Adventure Cove. Imagine those tickets mutliply by the numbers of employees + kids + spouse. *sweat*

Overall, dinner was slightly better than lunch at Festive. But still, not worth paying.
Had buffet and also Spot award and achievement presentation. Whole event ended at 11pm.







The Stage

                                           Sweet GGH gave me this in the middle of the dinner.


The next day, my brother and sis-in-law came for swimming with baby Velda before heading to USS. Yes, I brought them cause it's Velda's birthday, and my eldest bro recently also already went to RWS as well. And, I also gave them the USS tickets. haha... I nua-ed at the hotel, swimmed, gym-ed, and people watch at Starbucks. Good life. haha. And I gave half of my vouchers to them to spend!!!! There goes my $150 :(:(
But oh well, I think Velda had a great time there so it's okay! :)


Grumpy?


At night, we surprise Esther which happens to be on 12th Jan!!! She's leaving us this Feb... sobs...
She's my qing ai de in office. :)



That sums up my kickoff meeting :) Oh ya, we have officially moved to IFO - International Finance Organisation. We no longer belong to ANI already. hahaha. dunno good or bad.