San Francisco: Day 1

One of my favourite place to visit in the US is San Francisco. Heck, it should be on everyone’s itinerary!

I’ve been to San Francisco only twice, but I have fond memories of that place.

The first time was on a school trip. I roomed with my best friends and we formed such vivid memories that we now have classic jokes - and we still get tickled by the jokes all the time. The second time was when I was on exchange.

The only difference between the two trips? On the second, I unleashed the shoppaholic in me, and I just adored the shopping streets of San Francisco!

Taken at the Old Cheesecake Factory overlooking Union Square.

What is there not to love about the F21 store in SF? Way before F21 took Singapore by the storm.

So as luck turns out, when you are in SF, there might be a mini parade of some sort.

Before heading off to Fisherman’s Wharf, we took lunch at the Old Cheesecake Factory.

I’ve been thinking about this place since I left SF and have been harping on it for eons. I heard that the standards have wavered, but I still would like to take my lunch there someday.

Glorious cheesecake. If only those in Singapore were half as good or half as generous with the whip cream (not that I eat any of it, but it makes this dessert visually very appealing) and strawberries.

A familiar sight on the streets of SF is the tram. I don’t know if this is truly a economical or efficient way to get around the city, but it’s definitely part of the heritage. When I took the tram, the tram kept stopping. It sometimes is faster to walk to get to your destination.

But when you see this…

Perhaps taking the tram was a wise idea.

We opted to take a leisurely stroll throughout the entire day of sightseeing.

My geeky student self. I’ve since learned that concealer, eyeliner and mascara are essential items in any girl’s make-up pouch. Age does wonders as well. Thank goodness I was never crazy over loosing weight when I was young. As one ages, the baby fats on the face really do disappear and you don’t understand where they could have gone to!

The Transamerica Pyramid.

The Belle Tower.

The Crooked Lombard Street.

As the sun started to set, it was a mad dash to Fisherman’s Wharf.

Almost there!!!

It’s a pity that the number of seals at the Wharf is dwindling.

It’s also a pity that my camera could not take proper pictures at night… So till the next post, have a good PH everyone!

Kota Kinabalu, Part 3.

In between napping and staring outside, this peculiar looking house caught my attention on day 1. I was so keen on capturing it on my camera that I stayed awake for 30 minutes staring out at the window on day 2.

Turns out that, hey this has become a tourist destination in Sabah. It was even featured in Straits Times 2 days after my return. To think I thought I struck gold.

It’s a house built to look upside down. Even the garage is upside down.

Up the slopes to see Kota Kinabalu!

Do you see the peak shrouded in white clouds?

It was a race against time to reach the market as the peak will be covered within 40 minutes. It was going to rain.

Within 20 minutes we reached the market. Yes!

But of course, the attraction for the day is not the fish. It’s the peak of Kota Kinabalu!

I did not get the chance to trek up to the peak of Kota Kinabalu. But this is satisfying enough for me.

And sure enough, the moment we left. It rained.

Crossing over to the other side of the mountain we drove through to Kundasang.

Rumbling meadows, misty clouds. I felt like I was not anywhere in Malaysia. Even though it was about 20 odd degrees, I felt like it was 10 degrees. I love the feeling of being so close to clouds!!!

And so you spot what I see? Your eyes are not playing tricks on you.

It’s a cow.

Hey to a city girl, seeing livestock in their natural environment is quite a comforting sight. Beats seeing them in the market, hung. Ha!

I know I look pretty pale in this. But this is me with almost zero make-up. I’m always slightly possessed by the lazy-bug when I go travelling. I was way much worse when I was younger.

The reason why I saw so many cows was because I was at a dairy farm. Not that I’ve not visited one before. I have! On a farm in Australia, and I got the chance to milk a cow! And… drink the milk that I milked!

Not this time round though. I had to buy. As I said, I don’t know what I was possessed with, but being lactose-intolerant I can’t imagine why I would willingly shell out money to buy 500ml worth of fresh milk to drink by myself. 100 ml worth of chocolate milk is good enough to send me packing to the bathroom.

I lasted… 250ml. And let’s just say that lunch was an uncomfortable affair.

If you are in the area of Kundasang, you should take some time to visit the war memorial park.

The war memorial park was in disarray before Mr Sevee Charuruks stepped in to fund the restoration with his retirement fund. The war memorial park has been restored to its former glory and it is quite an educational trip for Singaporeans.

It is a place to remember the Australian troops who fought for Singapore before we fell into Japanese hands. It is a place to commemorate those who lost their lives who bravely stood to the end for the integrity of Singapore, choosing to walk the hardest path. Even though… they knew death marked the end of their doomed destination.

Things they never told you in our history books. I have great respect for these soldiers who fought so hard for a country that was not their own.

Thank you.

The misty road home.

Thanks for reading my blog everyone!

Kota Kinabalu, Part II

Hello everyone, so sorry about the month-long wait. I’ve fallen ill so many times in the past month, I’m left jaded… again! And not to mention, I’m now a little tired of visiting the doctors entirely.

Anyway, back on my adventure in Kota Kinabalu.

Malaysia really has a lot to offer. Up north, brimming with corals. Down south, full of lush forests and biodiversity.

If you are in Kota Kinabalu, you can opt for a homestay programme instead of staying in a hotel. There, you get to experience a different type of lifestyle. Serene, away from the bustling city life…

I walked past paddy fields before reaching the bridge that I was to cross.

The homestay programme also offers you to experience the daily livelihood of the villages. That includes trudging through a paddy field (watch out for snakes!) and risk getting bitten by army-trained mosquitoes.

I will never be a good rubber-tree tapper.

Back at the village, the sun was scorching. I felt relived that I have put sunblock on my ears. If only I had layered even more sunblock on my arms.

But the nightfall over the village was gorgeous…

In the next post, experience the cold air up closer to the peak of Kota Kinabalu and Kundasang.

Kota Kinabalu, Part 1.

I took some time off and headed to Kota Kinabalu. If retail therapy doesn’t kick in some excitement, perhaps being in a different place would help.

The ride to Sabah was rocky. Lightning flickered through the overcast sky, the rain poured angrily over the tiny plane. I was pretty glad to have landed safely in Kota Kinabalu.

For many reasons, Kota Kinabalu reminds me of Kuching. A relatively clean city where the pace of life is enjoyable. Till this day, I do remember the taste of ABC ice kachang fondly.

City life in Kota Kinabalu is made up of two different worlds. You have the modern buildings standing comfortably side by side to old monuments.

Kota Kinabalu overlooks the South China Sea. The sun was feeling generous and shone so brightly, I really regretted not having put on more sun block.

I was rather tickled that the map given by the hotel had the “fishing boats” starred as tourist attractions. Seriously?

If you’re wondering. These are a bunch of fishermen / fish-sellers doing their daily business. An innovative way to do business.

A short walk away, you will enter the central market.

Long gone are those days of wet market in Singapore where you will see fresh pork hanging on hooks and dripping with blood. No longer are you able to get curdled blood of pigs.

But here in Sabah? It’s pig trotters’ heaven!

And every time I went to the market with my parents on Saturdays, my daddy will always sing this to me…

To market, to market to buy a fat pig. Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.

Ahh… those days.

Being half Cantonese, I grew up eating roasted pig. I really contemplated on bringing this home.

Another sight that stuck in my memory of the market shopping trips that I did with my parents was the barbaric killing of chickens.

Chickens were kept in coops till they were chosen by the buyer. The stall owners will proceed to slit off the neck of the chicken and let the blood flow into metal bowls. Of course, this was not always successful and the floor was splattered with blood from time to time. The smell of the blood was not something that I’m really fond of.

Then, the owners will go through the daunting task of plucking off all the feathers from the chicken.

Am I glad that we have technology to process chickens. It seems more humane.

The Central market spans across three major sections - meat, vegetable & dry goods.

The vegetable section looks the same in most countries so I shall not bore you with the pictures that I took. But the dry goods section… Heh, sure brought me back to my childhood.

Who can ever forget those days where you purchase coconut shavings the old school way.

More pictures in the next post!

Life is a whirl.

There are days when I wake up and I feel that I can conquer the world. There are days when I wake up and I feel like a truck just came and ran over me. It’s terrible to think that I’ve hit a dry spell for such a prolong period of time!

I think I know what I have to do. I need to ring up the hairstylist and get my hair chopped. Perhaps the heaviness of the hair is weighing down my thoughts and renders me inspiration-less.

The only saving grace. Thank goodness for instagram to save the day to colour my mood.

It’s Valentine’s Day. Wishing up a storm.

So it’s Valentine’s day. And one can only wish for all the goodies in the world…

Oh the glitter. The glam. And the rock.

Of petals, dreams and loubs.

Hiding in the shell of the long-gone hermit crab, 2012 came along and I was still snuggling sweetly. Heck I even missed my usual birthday post.

It suddenly dawn on me that Spring is almost gone and of course I had to muster the strength to take a peek.

2012 brings in a fresh scent of gardenia whipped with orange.

I love the smell of excitement.

It’s all about floras says the Hedgehog. And no more winter cold.

Shedding the shell of 2011, come 2012, I strive to be a it more adventurous and walk out of my comfort zone. Be a little more health conscious (as a start I got myself a blender for making fruit slush!) and be a bit tad crazier and happier than I was in 2011.

But to get the tone right for 2012…

Indulge in guilty January fever.

I love sashimi. =)

My sweet high school friends bought me slices of cakes after they couldn’t find me a big cake. Such delight.

I love presents! Who doesn’t?

Cakes, cakes and more cakes! I don’t fancy green though. But I ain’t complaining. This is a unique cake indeed.

And of course the winners for making my January so extra special? The princesses.

Hooray for 2012!

The elves and the shoemaker

Remember my confession on trying to read more in March 2011? My fairy God mother must have been listening to all my confessions or she has been reading my blog.

Two days ago, I waltzed into Kinokuniya to get the book One Day and found myself spending more time at the fashion section.

Sitting quietly on the tables was the latest book by Camilla Morton’s book. After romancing Lacroix’s whimsical dresses, she makes you fall in love with Blahnik’s tastefully designed shoes. I didn’t even know she has launched a new book!

These fashion designers sure know how to draw for pages after pages were brilliantly coloured illustrations.

Drool… Just drool…

Now I just can’t wait for her next collaboration with Diane von Furstenberg.

Of coffee, good friends and autumn leaves

November came and went… silently… December has arrived.

As I score zero on the shopping chart - after all, did you hear that Chanel has increased prices once more? And my 2.55 has doubled its value (and slightly more) in just merely two years? - I did set my eyes on meeting good ol’ friends this festive season.

Everyone loves a meet up over Starbucks. Proof that we are all Starbucks addicts. All drinks were on the house (13th cup).

This Christmas (rather pre-Christmas) I gifted my friends with this lovely cup from starbucks.

One wish I have to get granted one of these days is to drink a cup of coffee mix with eggnog.

Though having felt extremely guilty for bursting my shopping budget time and time again… I did succumb to adding this little number to my closet. I usually steer far away from prints, but there is just something about these that I just fell instantly in love with.

Remind me when 2012 comes, I ought throw out some clothe, reinvent my wardrobe and blog more often.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Dreaming of Loubs…

I’m so deeply embarrassed by my lack of post - October came and went just like that! How do those bloggers keep up to date with their blog despite their hectic schedule? I wonder.

Finally decide to archive some of my photos… and these made me smile.

There is just something so dreamy about those Loubs that I want to pinch myself every time I wear it.

It goes well with work wear, evening wear, a date. I just love these nudes so very much.

I can’t say much for the taller black version of this Pigalle. The fit drove me nuts. The erratic sizing of Louboutins is true to the tee. I had bruises of my feet less than 20 minutes of wearing them… at home!

Digging into the archives deeper…

The little treats in life.

How’s November coming along for you? =)