Apr 28, 2009
Something's missing
It's getting warm in Taiwan. So today, for the 1st time in months, I ditched the leggings. All of a sudden, my clothes look boring, my legs look naked... something is missing. It was then I realized how much I have relied on leggings to jazz up my boring office wear. A pair of leggings in differet colour or print changes the entire look. Now I have to wait till the next leggings season, provided that I'm still in Taiwan to enjoy it.
Apr 26, 2009
Edgy over Sappy
An sad love song with an edge. I really like it.
Give me this over the sappy you-don't-love-me-amymore-so-i-lie-down-one-corner-and-cry-beautifully-while-dying-of-sadness/some sort of terminal illness aka Fish Leong type songs anytime.
證據 By Faith Yang
Give me this over the sappy you-don't-love-me-amymore-so-i-lie-down-one-corner-and-cry-beautifully-while-dying-of-sadness/some sort of terminal illness aka Fish Leong type songs anytime.
證據 By Faith Yang
Apr 18, 2009
Au Natural
April issue of French elle featuring Monica Belluci makeup-free. No photo-shop or air brushing either. Why can't I look stunning without makeup.. why why why???!!
Apr 17, 2009
Random Taiwan photos
Came across some random photos I took with the folks in Taiwan while sorting my files. They are in chronological order, can actually see my weight change over time haha
Mar 28, 2009
Moon Influences
Thanks to Cindy, I am now hooked on astrology. In the past I've never believed in astrology - I'm a libra & I can only identify with half the libra traits. So to me astrology is crap.
AND THEN...
I was educated on the Moon Influences.
To know more about your Moon, find out what is your time of birth. Then you can input the data in this website http://astro.click108.com.tw/ (chinese!) & you can get your entire astrology analysis - where is your sun, your moon, your mars, venus etc etc. The Taiwanese are totally into this by the way. They devote entire talkshows into astrology.
And back to the Moon
In astrology, the Moon is indicative of personality, individuality and the unconscious. It represents instinctive reactions and the side of an individual that will respond to a given situation without prior thought or consideration. In many respects, the Moon personality is one which a person keeps hidden, it's an individual's inner core.
I'm a Libra with my moon in Capricorn. The traits of such a combination are incredibly accurate:
> The Capricorn Moon is an unemotional Moon, rarely exhibiting feelings in an outward manner.
> Nonetheless, the Capricorn Moon is ambitious and eager to learn, usually putting such knowledge to excellent use.
> ...a self-sufficient Moon which has difficulty in expressing spontaneous emotions.
> ...conservative, competitive and rigid regarding feelings.
>....desires control...ambitious thoughts being the driving force...and material success is extremely important.
> .... invariably displays a cool exterior and is very difficult to predict
> ...boundless energy, a lack of control in certain life areas and oftentimes, trouble with the opposite sex.
> ... enduring, brave and do not shrink from less-than-pleasant tasks, if a sense of duty is perceived.
> There may be a tendency toward shyness in some individuals in which case, they are apt to be reserved and not given to spontaneous outbursts of emotion.
The inherent tendencies of Libra & the Capricorn are contradictory to one another:
Libra is essentially outgoing and unrestrained while Capricorn is restrictive and exhibits an abundance of seriousness.
The most accurate of them all:
Hence, a Libra native governed by a Capricorn Moon less like the typical social animal associated with Libra characteristics. Still, this does produce a very warm and reliable personality and these individuals do come across well to others, though not particularly extroverted.
The traits I haven't been able to identify with as a Libra are "Charming", "Sociable", "Out-going". These are not traits that I typically show to others. YET, I know I have these traits deep inside me, but I only display them to people I know well.
Now I know, it's that darn moon in Capricorn.
Self-discovery is always fun.
AND THEN...
I was educated on the Moon Influences.
To know more about your Moon, find out what is your time of birth. Then you can input the data in this website http://astro.click108.com.tw/ (chinese!) & you can get your entire astrology analysis - where is your sun, your moon, your mars, venus etc etc. The Taiwanese are totally into this by the way. They devote entire talkshows into astrology.
And back to the Moon
In astrology, the Moon is indicative of personality, individuality and the unconscious. It represents instinctive reactions and the side of an individual that will respond to a given situation without prior thought or consideration. In many respects, the Moon personality is one which a person keeps hidden, it's an individual's inner core.
I'm a Libra with my moon in Capricorn. The traits of such a combination are incredibly accurate:
> The Capricorn Moon is an unemotional Moon, rarely exhibiting feelings in an outward manner.
> Nonetheless, the Capricorn Moon is ambitious and eager to learn, usually putting such knowledge to excellent use.
> ...a self-sufficient Moon which has difficulty in expressing spontaneous emotions.
> ...conservative, competitive and rigid regarding feelings.
>....desires control...ambitious thoughts being the driving force...and material success is extremely important.
> .... invariably displays a cool exterior and is very difficult to predict
> ...boundless energy, a lack of control in certain life areas and oftentimes, trouble with the opposite sex.
> ... enduring, brave and do not shrink from less-than-pleasant tasks, if a sense of duty is perceived.
> There may be a tendency toward shyness in some individuals in which case, they are apt to be reserved and not given to spontaneous outbursts of emotion.
The inherent tendencies of Libra & the Capricorn are contradictory to one another:
Libra is essentially outgoing and unrestrained while Capricorn is restrictive and exhibits an abundance of seriousness.
The most accurate of them all:
Hence, a Libra native governed by a Capricorn Moon less like the typical social animal associated with Libra characteristics. Still, this does produce a very warm and reliable personality and these individuals do come across well to others, though not particularly extroverted.
The traits I haven't been able to identify with as a Libra are "Charming", "Sociable", "Out-going". These are not traits that I typically show to others. YET, I know I have these traits deep inside me, but I only display them to people I know well.
Now I know, it's that darn moon in Capricorn.
Self-discovery is always fun.
Mar 23, 2009
The M Rules
Ok for a start... thank you to all my friends. The past few mths have been tough. Now things are more stable, at least for the next 3 mths. So....
I HAVE BEGIN SHOPPING AGAIN
For a start, I am official a MAQuillAGE fan. Was at the mall & passed by "live" makeover session by the jap makeup artist. 5 mins later I was pulled on stage & the makeup artist was telling all the colours that would be "perfect" for me.
I HAVE BEGIN SHOPPING AGAIN
For a start, I am official a MAQuillAGE fan. Was at the mall & passed by "live" makeover session by the jap makeup artist. 5 mins later I was pulled on stage & the makeup artist was telling all the colours that would be "perfect" for me.
3D Face Creator - suppose to give me killer cheekbones jaw line aka Angelina Jolie. well one can always dream...
Neo Noble eye palette:"so suitable for a stylish lady like YOU!!" gushes the beauty advisor...
Verdict:
- I don't look anything like Angelina Jolie & my hint of a double chin is still there BUT my face definitely look more "3D"
- I now wear stunning eyeshadow to work everyday... It's so easy to use that I actually bother!
- Best of all, they costs only SGD46 each & thrill they bring me? Priceless!!
Pictures from http://www.shiseido.com/maquillage/sg/index.htm
Mar 10, 2009
March 09 2009
Black black monday. Things will never be the same again. Hope all the changes will be for the better.
Feb 23, 2009
25 random things about myself
Posted this on facebook after being tagged by Bobo. Decided to recycle the material.
1. I love my family to bits. I complain & bitch about them all the time. But I'll hammer anyone that dares to bad mouth them.
2. I too, have 4 friends whom I feel completely comfortable with. We annoy one another all the time by flashing our panties, rolling our eyes at stupid jokes, making fun of our various idiosyncrasies. But most importantly, we will stand by one another through everything. I love you {()}s!!!
3. I have another friend, linked to 1 of the 4 friends above. We don't flash undies at each other, but we have shared some great memories together & we will always be there for each other. I will always admire her courage to pursue her happiness & not conform to society norms.
4. The smell of car fumes always remind me of Tainan, where I was born.
5. My favourite perfume is Chance by Chanel.
6. I fulfilled my dream of visiting the Red Square in Moscow in 2006, when I backpacked thru Berlin, Moscow, St Petersburg & Tallin alone. My next dream is to visit Siberia via the Tran-Siberian railway. Alone.
7. I love solo travelling. I do whatever I like. No compromises.
8. I was a size 38... long time ago
9. I have never been to the US.
10. I hate tour groups & hope I'll never be forced to join one.
11. I envy my married or soon to be married friends for having found the one & also the happily married-with-kids people I know. I often wonder if I will ever have that.
12. No offence to people with kids, but I do not like kids. Toddlers that have not learnt how to speak are acceptable. Infants are too fragile, I always feel that I might kill one by accident. Kids that talk scare me.
13. Sometimes I fantasize about quitting my job & moving to a poor 3rd world country & be a volunteer, or a globetrekker host.
14. I was a part time estee lauder counter gal aka beauty advisor for 5 years. I will always cherish those memories.
15. I love George Clooney ever since I was 13. He was Dr Ross in ER. The eternal bachelor that no woman could tame. I still adore him & I still want to sleep with him.
16. Sometimes I like being alone. I enjoy having a cup of coffee in a nice cafe, no phone, no book, just staring into space. I'll pop into the movie theatre & catch a movie alone. I can in my apartment for the entire weekend & not speak to anyone.
17. I love tofu & red bean. I can eat them in any form, maybe except raw.
18. I am beginning to find Singaporeans rude, compared to the Taiwanese.
19. I miss having a ciggie after a heavy meal or over a cup of coffee, in a nice outdoor cafe, during winter.
20. I almost flunked out of NUS during my 1st year - I stayed in hall & partied too much. I moved out after year 1.
21. I have been molested on the MRT before. I fell asleep & felt some asshole touch my knee.
22. When people tell me that I am tall, I resist the urge to retort: "Wow is that right? I never realized that!" I will never go up to a short person & say "Wow u are so short!" Or go up to a fat person & say" Oh my, you are fat..." What make people think that it's alright to comment on tall people?
23. I love Germany. Berlin is my fav city in the world.
24. I am a WWII buff. Nazi Germans declaration of war in europe, the holocaust, operation barbarossa, siege of leningrad, Stalingrad battle, Jap occupation... And I love WWII movies, especially european ones.
25. I am fascinated by russian history... from Ivan the terrible to Catherine the Great to Stalin to Lenin.
1. I love my family to bits. I complain & bitch about them all the time. But I'll hammer anyone that dares to bad mouth them.
2. I too, have 4 friends whom I feel completely comfortable with. We annoy one another all the time by flashing our panties, rolling our eyes at stupid jokes, making fun of our various idiosyncrasies. But most importantly, we will stand by one another through everything. I love you {()}s!!!
3. I have another friend, linked to 1 of the 4 friends above. We don't flash undies at each other, but we have shared some great memories together & we will always be there for each other. I will always admire her courage to pursue her happiness & not conform to society norms.
4. The smell of car fumes always remind me of Tainan, where I was born.
5. My favourite perfume is Chance by Chanel.
6. I fulfilled my dream of visiting the Red Square in Moscow in 2006, when I backpacked thru Berlin, Moscow, St Petersburg & Tallin alone. My next dream is to visit Siberia via the Tran-Siberian railway. Alone.
7. I love solo travelling. I do whatever I like. No compromises.
8. I was a size 38... long time ago
9. I have never been to the US.
10. I hate tour groups & hope I'll never be forced to join one.
11. I envy my married or soon to be married friends for having found the one & also the happily married-with-kids people I know. I often wonder if I will ever have that.
12. No offence to people with kids, but I do not like kids. Toddlers that have not learnt how to speak are acceptable. Infants are too fragile, I always feel that I might kill one by accident. Kids that talk scare me.
13. Sometimes I fantasize about quitting my job & moving to a poor 3rd world country & be a volunteer, or a globetrekker host.
14. I was a part time estee lauder counter gal aka beauty advisor for 5 years. I will always cherish those memories.
15. I love George Clooney ever since I was 13. He was Dr Ross in ER. The eternal bachelor that no woman could tame. I still adore him & I still want to sleep with him.
16. Sometimes I like being alone. I enjoy having a cup of coffee in a nice cafe, no phone, no book, just staring into space. I'll pop into the movie theatre & catch a movie alone. I can in my apartment for the entire weekend & not speak to anyone.
17. I love tofu & red bean. I can eat them in any form, maybe except raw.
18. I am beginning to find Singaporeans rude, compared to the Taiwanese.
19. I miss having a ciggie after a heavy meal or over a cup of coffee, in a nice outdoor cafe, during winter.
20. I almost flunked out of NUS during my 1st year - I stayed in hall & partied too much. I moved out after year 1.
21. I have been molested on the MRT before. I fell asleep & felt some asshole touch my knee.
22. When people tell me that I am tall, I resist the urge to retort: "Wow is that right? I never realized that!" I will never go up to a short person & say "Wow u are so short!" Or go up to a fat person & say" Oh my, you are fat..." What make people think that it's alright to comment on tall people?
23. I love Germany. Berlin is my fav city in the world.
24. I am a WWII buff. Nazi Germans declaration of war in europe, the holocaust, operation barbarossa, siege of leningrad, Stalingrad battle, Jap occupation... And I love WWII movies, especially european ones.
25. I am fascinated by russian history... from Ivan the terrible to Catherine the Great to Stalin to Lenin.
Feb 22, 2009
blogging break
A lot going on in the office now. Not in the mood to blog. Prefer to spend my free time staring into space. Hope I get over this phase soon...
Jan 7, 2009
1st week of 2009
Back flew back to Spore on 31st Dec & count down to 2009 with some of my best friends.
So happy :)
My luggage this time is the heaviest ever. Had to hand more then 10KG onto the plane (in a backpack so dun look so unglam). I think it's the 4 big bottles of Shu Uemura cleansing oil that I happily offered to help people buy (fabulous deals!!), the bag of rice, vinegar, hair spray, shampoo, yummy assortment of Taiwanese sauces...
But I miss the Taiwan weather. It's cold enough to justify buying lovely winter wear but not so cold that we need to bundle up like bah chang. So can still look good & feel cold.
In view of the recession I had sworn NOT to shop. But being clothes starved in Taiwan, the land of tiny women, I could not resist. I fit the clothes here!! It's been a long time since I stepped into a shop & tried on clothes without feeling like a whale.
Beige-Brown Mango Jean/Pants
Price: $49; Picture not available
Charles & Keith pumps
Price: $14 (after using my $25 voucher from std chart)
Picture not available
Topshop tunic dress
My sisters bought the grey & black ones AND naturally as their oldest sis, it's my right to borrow. Then I decided that I look too good in them (so slim...!!) to not get one for myself.
Price: $46
picture below:
Dress from Far East.
Price: Paid-too-much-$$
Thanks to the evil csb & nono. They practically forced me to buy the dress! How can a girl resist being lavished with words like "slim" "pretty" & "chio" from your best friends?? True friends tell the truth!!
Picture below:
Longchamp Bag - small size, Chocolate
Price: $85
My mom had permanently "borrowed" my yellow one so I NEED a small, everyday carry, simple bag. Moreover I got Bobo to buy it from Paris so it's CHEAP!!
THATS IT. NO MORE SHOPPING!!!
So happy :)
My luggage this time is the heaviest ever. Had to hand more then 10KG onto the plane (in a backpack so dun look so unglam). I think it's the 4 big bottles of Shu Uemura cleansing oil that I happily offered to help people buy (fabulous deals!!), the bag of rice, vinegar, hair spray, shampoo, yummy assortment of Taiwanese sauces...
But I miss the Taiwan weather. It's cold enough to justify buying lovely winter wear but not so cold that we need to bundle up like bah chang. So can still look good & feel cold.
In view of the recession I had sworn NOT to shop. But being clothes starved in Taiwan, the land of tiny women, I could not resist. I fit the clothes here!! It's been a long time since I stepped into a shop & tried on clothes without feeling like a whale.
Beige-Brown Mango Jean/Pants
Price: $49; Picture not available
Charles & Keith pumps
Price: $14 (after using my $25 voucher from std chart)
Picture not available
Topshop tunic dress
My sisters bought the grey & black ones AND naturally as their oldest sis, it's my right to borrow. Then I decided that I look too good in them (so slim...!!) to not get one for myself.
Price: $46
picture below:
Dress from Far East.
Price: Paid-too-much-$$
Thanks to the evil csb & nono. They practically forced me to buy the dress! How can a girl resist being lavished with words like "slim" "pretty" & "chio" from your best friends?? True friends tell the truth!!
Picture below:
Longchamp Bag - small size, Chocolate
Price: $85
My mom had permanently "borrowed" my yellow one so I NEED a small, everyday carry, simple bag. Moreover I got Bobo to buy it from Paris so it's CHEAP!!
THATS IT. NO MORE SHOPPING!!!
Dec 26, 2008
Nov 13, 2008
One year
03 Nov 2008 marked my 1st anniversary in Taiwan. But nope, no nostalgic post for me because I'm not feeling any...
But I am going to move out of my current apartment & into slighter cheaper, but just as nice one downstair. I won't save a whole lot of money, but I really wanted a change of fengshui. Not that the fengshui of my old apartment is bad... or that the fengshui in my new pad is good. It's just a feeling I have.
My mom used this yet another excuse to visit taiwan & is now happily ironing my clothes. Love u mummy!
But I am going to move out of my current apartment & into slighter cheaper, but just as nice one downstair. I won't save a whole lot of money, but I really wanted a change of fengshui. Not that the fengshui of my old apartment is bad... or that the fengshui in my new pad is good. It's just a feeling I have.
My mom used this yet another excuse to visit taiwan & is now happily ironing my clothes. Love u mummy!
Nov 5, 2008
Ah Bao in Taiwan
The FIRST jiemei to visit me in Taiwan. So fun to do nothing but eat, shop & sing Karaoke!
You must come again next year!!
Oct 25, 2008
It is ok, I still love u fatass
Anik cancelled her Taiwan trip at the 11th hour. Needless to say I was terribly disappointed. All that planning gone to waste. Hours spent researching B&Bs (in trad chinese websites!), googling forums for reviews (in trad chinese!!), planning hualien roadtrip route (borrowed GPS!!)... all my beautifully laid plans put on hold. For a while all I could feel was my own disappointment.
Then i told myself to snap out of it. SELFISH BITCH!!
Anik: I know this is much harder for you then it is for me. You were looking forward to Taiwan just as must as me. It's ok. There will be a next time. You may feel overwhelmed right now. And helpless. And even alone. But you can survive this. Just remember: No point keeping the rotten fingers!
Then i told myself to snap out of it. SELFISH BITCH!!
Anik: I know this is much harder for you then it is for me. You were looking forward to Taiwan just as must as me. It's ok. There will be a next time. You may feel overwhelmed right now. And helpless. And even alone. But you can survive this. Just remember: No point keeping the rotten fingers!
Oct 20, 2008
Lake Jiaming 嘉明湖
Lake Jiaming: A tiny meteor lake some 3310m above sea level. Formed after a asteroid collision thousands of years ago.
To get to the lake we had to trek through some really gruelling terrain - hours of steep uphill-downhill-uphill-downhill climb like this...
and this...
But it was definitely worth the effort
But this trip was also somewhat spooked by the disappearance of a female hiker just one week before I went (eve: the weekend you wanted to go!!). Apparently she got separated from her group & simply disappeared. And many are convinced that she was "taken".
It was then that I was told that Lake Jiaming has one of the highest casualty rates among all the mountains in Taiwan. Mainly because the area is prone to extreme weather changes. But some also say it's because the place is haunted...
Years ago a Jap plane carrying an American POW crashed around Lake Jiaming. The Jap amy sent in search & rescue to try & locate this American POW. However that year Lake Jiaming snowed & the entire team died in the freezing cold. A 2nd team was sent in & they too perished. Hence till today many locals believe that the Lake is haunted.
I felt my hair stand when I was told this story. But for me, this piece of history merely added to the mystical appeal of the place.
To get to the lake we had to trek through some really gruelling terrain - hours of steep uphill-downhill-uphill-downhill climb like this...
and this...
But it was definitely worth the effort
But this trip was also somewhat spooked by the disappearance of a female hiker just one week before I went (eve: the weekend you wanted to go!!). Apparently she got separated from her group & simply disappeared. And many are convinced that she was "taken".
It was then that I was told that Lake Jiaming has one of the highest casualty rates among all the mountains in Taiwan. Mainly because the area is prone to extreme weather changes. But some also say it's because the place is haunted...
Years ago a Jap plane carrying an American POW crashed around Lake Jiaming. The Jap amy sent in search & rescue to try & locate this American POW. However that year Lake Jiaming snowed & the entire team died in the freezing cold. A 2nd team was sent in & they too perished. Hence till today many locals believe that the Lake is haunted.
I felt my hair stand when I was told this story. But for me, this piece of history merely added to the mystical appeal of the place.
Oct 19, 2008
I went I went I really went!!!
Just came back from a 3 day round trip hike to Lake Jiaming - a place I have been DYING to visit. Damn shack. But the terrain is beautiful, very different from my other hikes. Will post my beautiful photographs later. Now need to do laundry. LOADS of it.
Oct 13, 2008
My blog is NOT dead
It just that I was back in Spore heehee
One month flew by just like that. Back to UCL I go...
One month flew by just like that. Back to UCL I go...
Sep 22, 2008
Time flies
omg, didn't realize it's been so long since my last entry... in the meantime i have:
- visited Kee Lung (too hot to go in this weather!!)
- played tourist with psze. Revisited ximenting, 101, cks memorial hall.... the works
- discovered Jimmy (Taiwanese cartoonist/artist)
- escaped the biggest typhoon that landed in Taiwan this year
Now back in Sunny Spore. Will be here for a month. Already one week has passed.
- visited Kee Lung (too hot to go in this weather!!)
- played tourist with psze. Revisited ximenting, 101, cks memorial hall.... the works
- discovered Jimmy (Taiwanese cartoonist/artist)
- escaped the biggest typhoon that landed in Taiwan this year
Now back in Sunny Spore. Will be here for a month. Already one week has passed.
Aug 31, 2008
3 weeks down. 9 more to go
My marathon grand plan is NOT going well... I am so sick of my UCL running route.
Can't wait to go back to Spore & run!!
...
...
And bossie told me to make my next trip back to Spore a long one.
We are now on travel budget control so I can only make 1 trip back this Q instead of the usual 2.... so may as well make the best out of this one trip. Yippie!!!
Can't wait to go back to Spore & run!!
...
...
And bossie told me to make my next trip back to Spore a long one.
We are now on travel budget control so I can only make 1 trip back this Q instead of the usual 2.... so may as well make the best out of this one trip. Yippie!!!
Aug 29, 2008
Fatcat's calling?
We had our quarterly Asia team meeting this week. 3 full days.
3 weeks before this meeting fatcat was arrow-ed to do a 45mins presentation on : "Email communication in English".
Apparently bossie say Fatcat writes fantastic emails to "high level mgt" so team-mates must learn from her wor...
So as usual fatcat procrastinated & procrastinated. All the way until the night before the presentation.... and started doing the slides at 10PM all the way till 2AM... AND only managed to complete 70% of the slides. Luckily the presentation was in the afternoon & fatcat used her lunch break to complete it.
Guess what... despite the last min effort, everyone was DAZZLED ha.
Fatcat has found her calling.
3 weeks before this meeting fatcat was arrow-ed to do a 45mins presentation on : "Email communication in English".
Apparently bossie say Fatcat writes fantastic emails to "high level mgt" so team-mates must learn from her wor...
So as usual fatcat procrastinated & procrastinated. All the way until the night before the presentation.... and started doing the slides at 10PM all the way till 2AM... AND only managed to complete 70% of the slides. Luckily the presentation was in the afternoon & fatcat used her lunch break to complete it.
Guess what... despite the last min effort, everyone was DAZZLED ha.
Fatcat has found her calling.
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