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!
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!
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!
J’adore my very first vintage Chanel
As I lament how rough the stocks have been doing in the last two months, let me say that it has been an equally rocky ride on Chanel stocks - the price of the bags that is.
As people watched to see the US markets free fall, eBay bidders watched the price of Chanel yo-yo. Everyone adopted a watch-and-wait attitude.
For the longest time ever, the bids for Chanel were surprising low, I gawked and almost slapped myself at seeing a Jumbo Maxi XL go for a minimal USD$1600. Yes, the same bag that you see glorified on Richie’s and Beckham’s arms.
Or, how about that clutch bag that vintage classic lambskin that I saw auctioned for USD$800?
Comparing to the current Chanel price, that is great divide.
Those days of Chanel eBay hunting were one of the best past times ever. The exchange rate was in my favour, coupled by low bid rates. Hey, I think I was close to Chanel heaven.
Well, I confess, I got lucky and score myself this beauty for a really affordable price.
I fell in love with this bag on first sight when I saw it on eBay. What is there not to like about the golden logo, something so different from the usual CC turn-locks or the mademoiselle lock.
It’s really tiny, but manages to store my essentials - phone, lip balm, wallet, car keys. And over sometime, the purse softened, expanded and became more charming then when it first arrived.
The chains can be tucked in, and voila, it becomes a nice clutch with character.
After owning one semi-vintage Chanel, I have gotten over my fears of owning some old lady’s purse. Vintage Chanel prides itself for being extremely well made for its time. And its true. Some of the vintage Chanels are far superior than current seasonal (and classic) Chanels.
So here sits the mini lady that is 30 years old. She was born from 1980 - 1985. Pretty fine for her age.
J’adore, j’adore, j’adore.
C’est tu?
The Pendulum.
Swinging like a pendulum.
Immersed in a stack of never ending pile of thick solidified tree pulp.
The urge to cut it all off, dye it neon pink; drink some banned liquor and party till the night go down.
Such is the conflicting interest of life.
‘Till the dusk no longer sets at 22 00′, I say.
And away I go, furiously painting red all over town.
Hong Kong: 山和水
Kowloon Hong Kong
We like Hong Kong
That’s the place for you
Walking down the street full of joy
Come here come here richshaw boy
Take me down the street Chop Chop Chop
A Habba Habba Joe Ding How Ding How
Kowloon Kowloon Hong Kong
We Like Hong Kong
That’s the place for you
There are a few places in Hong Kong that you must explore.
The first on anyone’s list, should be causeway bay.
Visit at about 19 00 and wait to catch some junk boat and the light show at 20 00.
The light show runs daily and spans across both sides of the water body.
Along the bank, spend some time to walk the avenue of stars - a spin off from that of Hollywood.
It is along this stretch of road that you would come across the Olympic torch.
The other popular tourist site is the peak.
Pay a nominal fee to board the monorail or spend 2 hours odd climbing the steep slope. I do recommend taking the monorail. It is quite an experience.
I liken this experience to walking down lombard street.
The peak provides an unblock view of Hong Kong.
Those condominiums’ rent are one of the highest in the whole of Hong Kong.
Although, this house that is situated right at the peak of Hong Kong, must be the most expensive of them all.
I’m almost certain it has appeared in several Hong Kong dramas because…
This street (that is located just next to the house) has!
So has this!
One of my favourite shot of the entire trip. Never realised that my nose can look so sharp!
And why would I leave you without another food post!
Ice-cream for you?
The wanton noodles at Mak’s is really good.
Are you hungry yet?
The streets of Hong Kong
Seriously, travelling on a road trip with best pals you have known for a decade is a crazy affair. No cat fights, but tons of shopping.
HELLO STREETS OF HONG KONG!
What I wore: Bysi ruffled top and Zara leggings. Balenciaga triple tour, turqoise necklace from River Island and Asos leather bag.
Day two, we hit Ocean Terminal and Pedder Street to check out the fuss.
In many ways, Hong Kong reminds me so much about Singapore. At every turn in the city, you will see a luxurious brand.
But of course, my heart never strays far away from…
Unfortunately, it turns me off that I have to wrangle my way through the thick crowd to get into Chanel. So, goodbye my love. I’ll see you in Singapore.
I did, find the time to check out the first Shanghai Tang shop in the world at Pedder Street.
While the exterior looked Eastern and promising, the shops in this building failed to impress. With exception of this…
In typical Singaporean style. Spot the slippers.
Moving on, I did find a shop that I was drooling over.
I’m a huge fan of Nars’ blusher. My favourite colours are Orgasm and Deep Throat. While I had no qualms about buying another blusher, I had difficulty parting with their $80 Kabuki brush. If only I hadn’t cave into my Chanel make-up indulgence…
To balance beauty shopping, there is always a need to buy some clothes!
Way before H&M decided to come to Singapore, there was H&M in Hong Kong. And boy was it fun!
I love my girlfriends.