Steakhouse Satou

Located on an un-inspiring but surprising crowded crossroad of the unassuming streets of Kichijoji, littered with colourful personal care stores, sits the place I named my Holy Grail for beef. If I haven't mentioned this earlier, I rank Matsuzaka beef higher than Kobe because it simply tastes more like beef. Kobe is just this slab of melt in the mouth beef which feels kinda like... Butter? But I love butter! Then again, I prefer beef over butter.

So I went to Tokyo (yes, again) earlier this month and chose to stay in Kichijoji to be nearer to my favourite shop in Tokyo. And being away from the main city area means I will have a supermarket nearby. Without sounding like some Auntie, you can discover so much about a culture by taking a walk down the aisles of the supermarket. But more importantly, I can stock up on my Kuzukiri noodles and Goma dip.

Back to Steakhouse Satou - Many blogs spoke of their disappointment and the different pricing of the different cuts. To make things easier, I'll mention them according to their price tags.

Many like me would trek all the way there and feel that "I must have the best since I've travelled so far..." which is the 10,000 yen slab. To be fair, it's super awesome when I first ate it. The beef just melts in your mouth and slides down your throat like butter but yummier. It does lack some quality of real beef, like a good slab of USDA Prime. But I hate to compare the Japanese and American beef because they are just in their very own classes.

This time around, I got to try to 5000 yen and 3500 yen one. The 3500 one felt less sophisticated and definitely more meaty. But it does retain a good balance of meat vs fats ratio. Do not expect the super beefy taste like the American or Aussie beef. Even at 5000 yen, it still feels that the ratio of fats to meat is still overwhelming. But to me, the 5000 yen one has that perfect balance. If you want meat, go get yourself some American beef. If you want that marbling and smooth texture (Read: Melt in your mouth), now this is the one. No one is going to stop you if you're still going for the 10,000 yen one (for 150g mind you) since I once felt I HAD to try it. But if it's too much for your tongue, you have been warned.

Different strokes for different folks.

But of course, if you order the 10,000 yen one, you will be treated like royalty. They will bring you the beef and show it to you like bringing a live snake to you in a Chinese restaurant. Feel free to take photos with it for bragging rights. Then it happily slides down your throat with your pocket alot lighter. Sure it's an experience. I'm not even saying it's not worth the while. But if I get to choose, I would pick the 5000 yen one and if I'm not in the mood for such a heavy meal, I'll go with the 3500 yen one. Yes, 150g of beef is not heavy to me at all.

So... Do yourself a favour if you're Tokyo. You must go to Steakhouse Satou. Just ANYTHING on their menu. Go straight up to the second floor and skip the queue for the menchi katsu. You can find directions in one of my earlier posts.

放不下你是我活该

Having some understanding from my male friends, it seems that closure is not something they would seek. For a woman, it eats me up everyday. Maybe the remaining womanly part of me always want THE chat and what we're really hiding from the public eye is the minute belief that reconciliation is in the books. If you, the woman, are asking yourself the question when you have a tiny nagging feeling that no is the answer, then believe me and believe yourself that it's a bit fat NO. Looking the other way is never a solution. It's as good as sweeping the bigger problems under the carpet.



我梦到那里你都在　怎么能忘怀
你那神秘的笑脸　是不是说　放不下你是我活该

Skin Deep Life Enhancing Saviors

Pretty early on in my life, I have concluded that to successfully hide a few years off your face, is to pay more attention to my skin. 

Some may think I'm blessed with above average skin but in actual fact, I suffer from bouts of eczema though granted, I don't get terrible acne, I still get the stubborn black and white heads. I refused to slack off and have tried so many products, I have to constantly clear my graveyard of skincare products. I must qualify that there is no one single solution for everyone. 

In this post, I just like to share what works for me. Note: This post is not sponsored, neither is my site. 

1. Shu Uemura Skin Purifier - Holy Grail of Make Up Remover

To me, all the variants work the same way. I picked green just because they told me it's anti-aging and I'm a sucker for such marketing. I am into my 12th bottle over many many years and this is one constant of my skincare regime. 

Having had enough of complicated steps of removing makeup with several products, what this cleansing oil offers is a one step solution. All my makeup, including stubborn eye makeup, will melt away. I usually take about 30 seconds to massage the massage onto my skin and after emulsifying the oil, I clean my face off with a sponge. It is not drying and felt rather mild. One big plus, it smells good too. However, in our hot climate, the oil also tend to turn rancid after a couple of months. Hence, the dilemma of whether to buy the small or big bottle. But I always always end with the big ass one anyway. 

I must say I'm not really a fan of some Shu Uemura products including the much raved about mousse foundation. But I am very much loyal to that kryptonite looking bottle of pleasant smelling oil.  

2. Clarisonic Mia 2 - Sonic Skin Cleansing System

When I first came across this product, I refused to give two hoots because once upon a time, I owned a similar product and it was utter rubbish. But having read much reviews raving about this products while my skin is plagued with excessive and persistent blackheads, I decided to give it a try. Yes, I'm a sucker.

On the first day of using it, I could already feel the difference but decided to extend the monitoring period. It's been a while since I started using this product religiously everyday, I can see my skin starting to glow. It WILL NOT remove all your blackheads but there is significant improvement as far as my skin condition is concerned. Breakouts are fewer and further between, skin feels far more balanced. 

It even comes with a travelling case which is really convenient to travel with. Recently, I brought it to Bangkok and didn't even have to bring my charger as a fully charged Mia 2 can last for at least a week without having the need to recharge it. 

3. Philosophy Purity Made Simple

Some might ask why recommend a cleanser with make up removing capabilities and then rave about another cleansing oil. That is because I don't like the feeling of having the remnants of the cleansing oil on my face so I will always have the extra step of cleansing my face after. They are usually mild and not necessarily a make up remover. 

Prior to Purity Made Simple, I was using a product from Luxe which I adored. While the cost of every bottle is not high, it runs out a little too fast for my preference. That worked out to be an extremely expensive cleanser. Just after reading reviews after reviews on this miraculous cleanser, I decided to give this a try. And bring the crazy person that I am, I shipped a 32oz bottle from the US. Thank God the effort was worth the while.

Firstly, I'm a bit undecided when it comes to the smell of the product. Sometimes I love it and find it refreshing, sometimes I feel like I'm smearing chemicals on my face. But in all, this cleanser doesn't strip my skin off its natural oils and leaves it feeling rather moist. Like I mentioned, it's my secondary cleanser so I don't use it to remove my makeup and even when I'm cleaning my face with this after a round of make up remover, it still gives me a refreshing feeling without being damaging. 

4. Dr Organic Manuka Honey Rescue Cream

My eczema doesn't only affect me on my cheeks but my eyelids. Which means you have a good chance of catching me with one extremely swollen eye with quadruple eyelid. I scoured the internet for solutions and found this...

It works and I have even started to use this as a moisturiser on drier days. However, living on the equator will mean, very rarely. I have also used this rescue cream as my regular eyecream. Be warned that this is very rich so if you have oily skin, I wouldn't recommend this. But for dry skin, this might just be your savior. And whenever I spot a scabby part of my body, I will slap some on and give it 2 days, you will see a world of difference. Best part? It is highly affordable and if you're residing in Singapore, you can find it at Holland & Barrett.

5. Nuxe Crème Prodigieuse

Stumbled upon this moisturiser when I gave up on the expensive creams. Firstly, this smells sooooo good and I feel so pampered every time I'm moisturising my face. You will be able to tell the difference overnight from your first use. I'm actually very reluctant to share this little secret but I'm feeling rather generous today. Only problem: It comes in this small tube and runs out too quickly. I have recently picked up the night version as I have another product I'm using for the day. This brings me to my next recommendation.

6. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

This is no hidden secret and is a favourite for many women around the world. I picked it up because it's a fuss free solution for my morning regime. The moisturiser slides on so smoothly, you don't really have to tug on your skin. As for its moisturising effect, I have to admit I can't tell.

But upon application, my skin looks healthy and flawless which removes the need for foundation altogether. And because it's really only a moisturiser, it doesn't stress out the skin like make up would. With SPF 20, that would remove my need to have to slap on yet another layer of product. My skin can finally breathe and feel light throughout the day. 

Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door...

“They say when you are missing someone that they are probably feeling the same, but I don't think it's possible for you to miss me as much as I'm missing you right now” 
Edna St. Vincent Millay

And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time

Trust that you are smiling in your space, enjoying every step you take and occasionally reminiscing the little moments we once shared. In this time, I've learnt that it's about time for me to grow up and let time slowly consume me. The reluctance and inertia reminded me that is just not me. I would have been the person you wanted me to be but I wouldn't be the same person you wanted and loved. What I wanted has never changed and what I have always wanted to do hasn't begun to depart from the starting point. 

This sounds silly and it probably is - Even when you know Coke is bad for you, you yearn so much for it. You stay away and you suffer from withdrawal. They are capable of making you feel good for a minute but very quickly, they will bring out the worst in you. But without it, life is never the same. You spend day and night thinking about it but consciously reminding yourself how bad it is for the body. Slowly but surely, your soul slowly disintegrate and you're a walking zombie with a desire for life. One day, you might be able to completely forget about it. For now, the pain consumes you by the minute. 

Little did I realise how much I would miss those ten minutes, those ten minutes in which I lived an entire lifetime.

I understand now that tomorrow will never come. Facing reality isn't quite my forte. I hope you are well. 

My steps have always been conducted by rhythm and melody. Today, music wets my eyes. My heart no longer skips a beat and life goes on...

And I can't...

"Her name is 'Trainee'... Look!"

And I laughed...

 

 

 

And I cried...

 

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Getting Older...

Birthday celebrations infamously last for a month. Previous years, my birthday was often forgotten because it's way too early in the year and everyone is still struggling with the very little rest they get in between public holidays.. Other years, I will usually have dinners with family, friends, colleagues, more dinners and then even more dinners. Not that much different this year but there is some highlights worth a mention.

As my cousins were heading back to the States for the new school term, we had our reunion dinner early which fell on the eve of my birthday. Dinner with the extended family always leaves a warm fuzzy feeling. Dad is the traditional Chinese father and has never, in the past 30+ years, given me a kiss nor hug. Despite that, I know he loves me. On the other hand, my affectionate Uncle, who is so full of love, would give me a kiss on my forehead occasionally, I just will feel like a little girl all over again. It is especially heart warming when he's the only one who would actually ask how I'm doing and will always reminds me... "Because we're family..."

Part 2 of the night was at Timbre@Substation. Since they don't take reservations, I was really close to having to find an alternative venue although I really wanted to catch 53A again. And out of the blue, a friend texts me and told me, he has requested to put me on priority waiting list. Some really good friends turned up, including "The Roommate" and even "The Brother". My army of girls were just army and we had a blast. Lone ranger, Racebred, turned up and was our official photographer. I'm just so glad the live music kept him entertained. He was the first the turn up and the last to go.

My most unique birthday present has got to be from "The Honey Bear". He's my best friend and I don't get to see him often and as expected, he didn't turn up for my party which I can totally understand. But the way he "passed" me my gift, has got to the be the first in history but I'm not letting on more.

On the day itself, I managed to catch Notre Dame de Paris and if you want me to review on the musical, please raise your voice. It was nice but... Dinner was... Nothing to shout about. Went home for cake number 2. And yes, peaceful birthday. For an OCD person who needs everything planned and scheduled, I did wish the dinner was a little more memorable. I didn't feel special maybe that's cuz I'm not.

Oddly enough, a client/friend found out about my birthday and wanted to buy me dinner. He asked what I wanted to eat earlier that day and promptly decided that we should go to this Japanese steakhouse due to my preference for beef (as usual). After work, he came to pick me right in front of my office. We had such a wonderful, intelligent and stimulating conversation during dinner before we got ourselves some drinks at Dempsey. At the end of the night, he sent me home. Like door to door or rather, doorstep. Just a simple "I'll walk you up". No ulterior motive and he ended the night by saying, "Hope you enjoyed the night." That was by far the most sincere birthday dinner. It wasn't the cost and definitely not the romance (We have known each other for years and I know there's no romance!). It was really nice. No hearts, no clouds, no bubbles, no flowers, no chocolates, no gifts. Just as friends. Great conversation, awesome dinner and too much laughter. He made good on his promise from many months ago "You're a girl and you deserve to be treated like one. Some men should learn how to appreciate you as one. One day, I'll show you how a woman should be treated". Thank You!

If you think the celebrations have ended, far from it. Watch this space!

The Holy Grail of Beef

This comes very late since I've been busy with my new job right after my Japan trip. Before my trip, I researched on the best beef you can find in Japan (eg. Kobe, Matsuzaka). 

In Osaka, I trekked for hours until I found Steak Ron before I was told that they don't serve Kobe beef for lunch. So I hung around Umeda which was painful because they were all uninspiring malls which are dime a dozen even here in Singapore. Like all meals you get in Japan, they all come in sets. For the first time in my life, I had sushi and for many people, beef sushi. And if you're wondering, yes, a raw slice of beef sitting on a ball of sushi rice. The garlic was heavenly but the beef was a let down. To be fair, it is decent but definitely not mind blowing. Interesting experience but not worth the trekking. 

After arriving in Tokyo, I headed straight to Imahan. My hotel was right smack in the middle of Shinjuku, so is Takashimaya. Plus it's time to eat something more Japanese instead of steak... Right? Since I didn't have a budget for my food expedition, I didn't think twice which I should have. Imahan does shabu-shabu and sukiyaki. When they served the beef, it's got to be the most beautiful 5 marbling on beef I've even seen in my life. But for that price, I felt ripped off. I had to drop by Lawson to grab myself instant noodles after my dinner. Most expensive and least satisfying meal. 

So you're wondering "where the heck is the Holy Grail"?

*drumroll*

Tucked in the little town of Kichijoji, about 15-20 minutes train ride from Shinjuku, sits an inconspicuous steakhouse on the second floor of a shophouse. The first floor is the Satou Butchery and you wouldn't miss it as there's a perpetual queue for their deep fried stuffed beef balls which I didn't have a chance to try. I will do so in March when I visit Tokyo again. 

So how do you get there?

Once you arrive at Kichijoji JR station, leave the station via the North exit. Cross the road, stop for a cigarette, and follow the smell of the beef. After you crossed the road, turn left and you will see an alleyway of shops. At the end of the alleyway, you will come to somewhat of a cross junction. On your left, you will see Steak House Satou. Do not join the queue on the first floor. Go to the side, you will see another queue on the stairway. Join that queue for the best experience of your life. The restaurant is very small and can seat probably between 14-16 people which explains the queue. There are various cuts and options but I headed for the 10000yen beef without batting my eyelid. The service there was impeccable. The friendly waiter even brought my perfectly marbled steak out for a photo opportunity. A photo which I wouldn't post because my eye was swollen from eczema. 

Japanese beef doesn't taste quite as "beefy" as their American counterpart but the marbling just means the juices of the beef will explode in your mouth. It's extremely smooth and tender. 

For my next trip there, I will try the regular matsu and update you guys. I can't wait!!!

My Song Know What You Did In The Dark (Light 'Em Up)

There's a burning suspicion that a little rock girl lives in me but really, my collection of music is rather eclectic. Never been a fan of a specific genre nor an artiste or a band. But every single time I hear a Fall Out Boy song, it makes me go... "Who is that?" 

They are not super distinctive like you will go "that's Katy Perry" but their songs ALWAYS ALWAYS makes me go... "Wow, that's such an awesome piece!" It's a great feeling when you hear something that makes your body dance when you're alone in the elevator. 

Like many people out there, I first heard it on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and now, my songs know what you did in the dark. The last song that was periodically on loop even years after was "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" even though I struggled to understand what it really meant.

Light 'em up!

Writers keep writing what they write
Somewhere another pretty vein just died
I've got the scars from tomorrow and I wish you could see
That you're the antidote to everything except for me

Time for something more upbeat than Say Something. 

And I will swallow my pride
You're the one that I love
And I'm saying goodbye

Restaurant Week: My Winning Pick

Before I go on writing about my food adventure in Japan, I believe there's a restaurant that needs to be acknowledged. In the past week, I've booked myself for several dinners. The quality of food was generally decent but most of them aren't spectacular so I didn't think they are worth an exceptional mention, but Gaia.

To begin, Goodwood Park Hotel always held a special place in my heart. When I was a child, I would spend my weekends with my family stuffing our faces in delicious Teochew porridge in this colonial hotel. In my limited memory, I can still clearly remember running up and down the steps leading to the lobby in some lacy, floral girly frock. But I had half a mind to not pick Gaia because I thought Goodwood Park Hotel would be so old as compared to the other restaurants in the list. I am glad I stuck to my guns.

Gaia was the only restaurant that served us a 5 course meal as compared to the usual 3. I'm very sure they made a loss but they have earned my heart. If they are planning to put the main course I picked on their ala carte menu permanently, I'll dine there at least one a month.

So, the meal began with Fresh Tuna Fish Tartar. Which was above average but nothing to shout about. Everything is fresh, in the right proportion but nothing surprising.

Next was the Carrot & Basil Cream Soup. For those who know me, I have a carnivore living in me and that wouldn't even tempt me to taste it but I did. I was so good!. Right level of creaminess and not a tinge of that awful raw veggie taste. Very well-balanced.

Malloreddus Sardinian Pasta came next but I highly suspect my expectation was set too high when the waiter highly recommended this dish. I thought it was good but again, not something that would make me go ga-ga over.

By now, you might be thinking if I'm serious about giving them a positive review. For the main, I picked the Slow Cooked Cod Fish Vicentina style and my friend picked the Braised Beef Cheek in Forest Mushroom sauce. The beef was so soft and tasty. But the cod was definitely the night's winner. The light lobster bisque reduction that the cod was sitting on was as perfect as I will ever remember a sauce like this to be. The cod was baked to close to perfection although it was a tad dry. The kaleidoscope of taste exploded in my mouth and the aftertaste was so hard to let go. I wish they can put this item on their menu so I can enjoy it again.

Dessert was the Warm Apple Strudel with Vanilla ice-cream. I must say perhaps I was too stuffed, I couldn't fully enjoy it hence I'm not in the position to fairly comment on it.

Given the disappointment I sat through over the past week with the other restaurants and of which, one gave me a bad tummy, I will highly recommend Gaia. Service standard was a little random. Long in short, the male staffs were friendly, polite and knowledgeable. The female staffs look like they are PMS-ing and weren't very responsive.

I give them a 8 out of 10 and 8 to me, is very high!

Maverick In Japan

Japan is always talked about, so accessible from where I am and absolutely gorgeous. Oddly, I have never step foot on sakura land. The time arrived when my life went into a voluntary roller coaster ride and I needed that "ME" time to put a closure to the last chapter of my life. I have absolutely no plans of boring you with depressing details to my life. However, I will over the new couple of weeks, show you my path in Japan and share various reviews of hotels, restaurants and places of interest.

The trip began in Osaka and ended in Tokyo. For a single traveller who doesn't speak much Japanese apart from Ohayo Gozaimasu & Arigato Gozaimasu, I embarked on the trip with intense nervous anticipation. Before I left, I did a tremendous amount of research and I will also share some tips with you.

 Firstly, as a modern traveller, we will very likely need our indispensable mobile phone and as such, 3G/4G services are extremely important. But with data roaming, I will effectively donate part of my bank account to the mobile service provider. After doing much research, the most value for money solution for a single traveller will be the data SIM card. you will be able to find more information from b-mobile. If you're travelling as a group, you might wish to consider the MiFi i.e. mini wifi i.e. pocket wifi. But because it needs to be charged separately and I didn't wish to carry yet another gadget on me AND have to return it by the end of my trip, I opted for the SIM card option. Please note that I had some issues trying to activate the SIM card and although it eventually worked, I was left very frustrated for the first hour upon receiving the card from the hotel's reception. To add on to my frustration, the English speaking helpdesk is only open from 7-10am on selected days, which is absolutely ridiculous! The good thing is that they can send it directly to your hotel which is what they did for me.

To kickstart my trip, I planned to meet my guide at my hotel the very morning I arrived via the red eye flight. Not the brightest idea... Anyhooooo, as I had previously liaised with Ikuko via email, I knew almost immediate (while I was fiddling with the SIM card) that the middle-aged ladies beside me were her and her sister-in-law. The services of these goodwill guides are free but you are responsible for their travel expenses and admission fees. If you are planning to have a meal with them, you're required to pay for them as well. But trust me, Japanese in general, are very considerate and the last thing they want is to impose on you. You can find more information here: Japan National Tourism Organisation For Osaka, I contacted the Osaka Goodwill Guides Club and they assigned my guide to me. They are mostly retirees and in my case, Ikuko is a part-time English teacher and is semi-retired. I only have good things to say of Ikuko and her sister-in-law.

好好說再見

Such beautiful quality.

Such beautiful voices.

Such beautiful words.

Such beautiful endings.

Such beautiful impossibilities.

The only way to say goodbye is to recognise your own mistakes and stand up to it. Then let time take over the healing. We all deserve proper closures.

你是否也像我一样在想你

Was it you who spoke the words that things will happen but not to me... Oh things are gonna happen naturally.

And I wonder if I ever cross your mind... For me it happens all the time.


Lonely train rides have a way of disintegrating one's strength. When you're feeling like titanium, all you need is a long, quiet train ride, together with the trusty iPod, to wear it all off. The pain wasn't so much from not having my own set of wheels any more nor was it about getting stuck in a cabin full of stinky shirts, but how life has transformed for me.

When you trust so much and believe too much, you sink and before you know it, the quicksand consumes you in entirety. For some reason, AppleBaby sent me this song the other day and I felt all emotional again for no apparent reason. Maybe I did have a reason... Not that I matter anymore.

hey 　我真的好想你   现在窗外面又开始下着雨
眼睛干干的　有想哭的心情   不知道你现在到底在哪里 
hey　我真的好想你   太多的情绪没适当的表情
最想说的话我该从何说起   你是否也像我一样在想你 

如果没有你　没有过去　我不会有伤心 但是有如果还是要爱你
如果没有你　我在哪里　又有什么可惜 反正一切来不及　反正没有了自己

hey　我真的好想你 不知道你现在到底在哪里

hey　我真的好想你   现在窗外面又开始下着雨
眼睛干干的   有想哭的心情   不知道你现在到底在哪里 
hey　我真的好想你   太多的情绪没适当的表情
最想说的话   我应该从何说起   你是否也像我一样在想你

你是否也像我一样在想你

Maybe it is just me... Words, especially lyrics in songs, have a way of getting to me.

Time stopped during that rainy day, standing in the queue for cabs...
Time stopped during that fine evening, the only dinner that mattered...
Time stopped during that summer night, the smell lingers...

The Soliloquy - You & I Both

Jason Mraz is probably one of the best live singers I have ever heard. It's also amazing how the words can touch people through music & lyrics...

Was it you who spoke the words that things would happen but not to me

Oh things are gonna happen naturally
Oh taking your advice and I'm looking on the bright side
And balancing out the whole thing

Pepper Potts: I got you! 
Tony Stark: I got you first! 

The magical moment when some one tells you that things will be fine and you gave yourself away in whole. Without thinking, you trusted... Not knowing that you might just be the silly one, engaging in this soliloquy. Ironman says, "Everything will be just fine".

Tony Stark: I just want to talk to you for a minute, well, make that 30 seconds... 
Pepper Potts: Okay. 
[looks at her watch] Pepper Potts: 29, 28, 27... 

Oh but at often times those words get tangled up in lines
And the bright light turns to night
Oh until the dawn it brings
Another day to sing about the magic that was you and me

If you know you can do more than words, you would. But with this pair of useless hands, what can be done? What would you have done? What would you do?

'Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
Others only read of the love
Oh the love that I love, yeah

See I'm all about them words
Over numbers, unencumbered numbered words
Hundreds of pages, pages, pages forwards
More words than I had ever heard and I feel so alive

Maybe with words, it's the only way you know how to. You yearn to be accepted with the mere and only words you have. Words are afterall, the only thing you can hang on to given the lack of warmth.  

'Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
And if you could see now

Oh love, love, you and I, you and I
Not so little, you and I anymore

And with this silence brings a moral story
More importantly evolving is the glory of a boy

You and I... Not so little anymore. The pain is not so little. The hurt is not so little. The words weren't so little... The stinging words weren't so little... The not so little things jolt people from their stupor.

Pepper Potts: Don't! 
Tony Stark: It's okay... 
Pepper Potts: I'm hot, I'll hurt you! 
Tony Stark: [touches Pepper] No, you won't. See? Not hot. 
Pepper Potts: Am I going to be okay? 
Tony Stark: No. You're in a relationship with me, nothing will ever be okay. But I had this twenty years ago when I was drunk, I can sort it out. I fix stuff. 

'Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
And if you could see me now

Well then I'm almost finally out of
I'm finally out of...
Well I'm almost finally finally
Well I am free, oh I'm free

And it's okay if you had to go away
Oh, just remember the telephone
Well, they're working it both ways

But if I never, ever hear them ring
If nothing else I'll think the bells inside
Finally found you someone else and that's okay
'Cause I'll remember everything you sang

The one way telephone will have to stop at some point. The phone will ring if you truly matter. Stop the soliloquy now, Pepper Potts. 

'Cause you and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
And if you could see me now

Well then I'm almost finally out of
I'm finally out of....
Well I'm almost finally, finally out of words

Out of words. 

Tony Stark: I thought we were having a moment. 
Pepper Potts: I was having 12% of a moment. 

Love, Sweets...

Cut The Chase

The dust is settling although life is left pending. Not knowing when the next bout of haze is going to cripple me but I stand strong. The tide may be against me but I will emerge stronger.

You can take everything I have 
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper, like a skyscraper

Then a tornado comes and sweep you off your feet. Before long, you're brought back to the ground with clothes all tattered and torn. Everything within seems to have broken into a million pieces. The energy wavers but the strength to wipe away the tears remain. There's still hope. 

Back to basics, following the instincts of an animal and welcoming the mating dance. The mind is exhausted and body becomes reluctant. So much more to give and although one can recognise that giving and taking will never be equal, endless giving will just empty out the soul. 

The world starts revolving and emitting beautiful colours when you finally mean something to someone. I don't know if my world will ever revolve again... When you truly matter to someone, things will fall in place. 

Everything will be just fine. Everything will be just fine... Just fine...

Second Chance

Tell my mother, tell my father I've done the best I can
To make them realize this is my life, I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance

There are times in life when we have to make difficult decisions. They are difficult because apart from the fact that we all want our cake and eat it, regretting a decision has got to be the worst feeling in the world.

The thoughts of jumping from an absolutely comfortable and stable spot in the world and into that of the unknown, it is extremely disconcerting. But were we not born such? Exploring space and heights, learning from the pain and at the end of the day, what brings happiness?

It is in my nature or rather due to the education that I have received, my choices tend to be more rational. Emotions come a close second but nonetheless, in the back seat. In many situations, I find myself following the mind rather than the heart. I wouldn't say it's always the best decision but for the risk adverse person that I am, I would have picked the safer of all the given options.

To begin with, I have never bought any shares nor traded any goods. For crying out loud, I don't even have a CDP account. I haven't invested anything in my life in hopes of good returns. I make my money cent by cent and they sit in my savings account. I'm not a prudent person by nature and I have rather lavish expenditures but nothing could make me take more risk than buying lottery.

When the heart finally bled, it was like an abandoned child crying out for attention. The battle between the mind and the heart felt like everything is in a flurry, almost like a tsunami has invaded this laid back town. In life, we all need little triggers or impulses to kick us out of our deceiving bed of roses. Going back to the basics, what is it that all of us humans are chasing after? We're so caught up in the daily rat race that we forget what is the most important thing to us.

Picked up this quote some years back and it's still applicable till today and in fact, this should be the basis of our every decision making process.

The greatest joy of life is to love and be loved.

All Girls Bangkok Trip

Almost like an annual pilgrimage, this trip to Bangkok is to renew my wardrobe and getting myself some relaxation which the body yearns for. Like most of my trips, I did extensive researches on the places to go for food, massages and everything else in between. So it's time for me to give it back and also pay it forward! The scene in Bangkok is always changing and there's always something left to be discovered. In recent years, there's almost always a new shopping mall to explore during every trip. In fact, by my next trip, a new mall in Siam Square (along the BTS track) should be operating by then. I will be providing individual reviews on some of the places I have visited during this trip.

Erawan Shrine
The port of call for many tourists, religious and non religious people alike. This place is always packed with an enthusiastic crowd. From personal experience, DO NOT buy anything from the peddlers located just OUTSIDE the premises of the shrine. Without saying too much, let's just say I got hounded and harassed, felt obliged to buy overpriced goods from them and ended up feeling threatened if I didn't do so. If you're not convinced, feel free to try it at your own risk. You can choose to buy sets of incense, flowers and gold leaves of different value from inside the temple. Having read negative comments from selected tourists, I must say you are subjecting yourself to a combined high level of heat from the sun, the crowd and the incense. It is extremely smoky, clearly from the incense. You will feel terribly uncomfortable because there's really nothing much else to do except people watch. But it's an eye-opener for people who are interested to take in a bit of the culture and checking out how amazing this shrine is and the reverence the visitors from all over the world exude.

Lavana
What I love about this place is that it feels so calm and serene when you step in. Also, you can make bookings on their website and they are pretty good with the responses. The thing is, the massage is not that bad, definitely above average but it's not memorable. Having said that, I find myself going back on the first day of every trip because booking it is so easy. This time around, my massage was at max, so-so. This is going to be a reminder for myself to try other places for my next trip.

Healthland
I discovered this place last year and it has become a must-go for me. In fact, I chose my hotel based on the location of this Healthland. Booking it in advance is always challenging as you will need to call. My fluency in Thai stops at haggling at the markets. In addition, some treatments on the menu requires deposit which you have to pay at the branch physically. No electronic payments yet but I do hope they take bookings by emails.

We went twice during this trip and during both times, I chose Aromatherapy Body Massage. By local standards, at 850 baht, it's definitely on the expensive side. If you ask a Thai, they wouldn't pay more than 350 baht for it. Then again, you do get 2 hours of Thai massage for 500 baht here so I reckon it's the oil that's costing me my arm.

We went on Day 02 in the afternoon. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD. We decided we'll tip those masseurs generously. Every little detail were meticulously looked after and it felt like such a luxurious affair. We were determined to go back the next day. Afterall, Healthland is just right opposite our hotel.

Day 03, we took the last appointment of the day. Looking back, it was a BIG MISTAKE. The massage was passable but like Lavana, it wasn't memorable. It was half-baked, done half-hearted. The masseurs were clearly uninterested and it didn't give us any encouragement to book a last massage before the plane takes us home the next day. The next time I'm going to Healthland, I'm going in the afternoon.

Healthland has several branches but by far, this is my favourite.

55/5 Sukhumvit 21 Rd. (Asoke),
Khlongtoeinuea, Wattana,
Bangkok 10110

 

Som Tam Nua

It's not uncommon to spot a queue during peak hours so I like to come here during odd meal times since I'm usually hunting down food in between intense shopping activities. Meal times were long forgotten. Food is generally above average but there's one dish I will go back for. If you're in Siam Square, head to Soi 5. The small streets can be confusing but there's there huge round sign with the number at the beginning of the street. That should help hunting down this place.

 

The Grilled Pork Neck is to die for! Many raved about the Fried Chicken Wings. Well, the chicken wings are well marinated, crispy and absolutely delicious. But the Pork Neck is just out of this world. Please order a beer and a few plates of the pork neck and I can ensure you will spend the next hour a satisfied diner and even if you die the next minute, life is worth living for. I went back the last day with the intention to smuggle some home but as God wants be to be a better person, I was told the heavenly item was sold out. Absolutely nada!

 

Since we were there, we just ordered the fried fish. I have never had such crispy fried fish but the inside is still so sweet and moist. I almost hated the staff for missing my order during my last visit.

 

Ironically, the som tam (papaya salad) was not to my liking. It was wayyy too spicy and sour but I blame my own inability to take super spicy foods. Oh but trust me, just a couple of plates of pork neck is sufficient to please me.

 

Many reviews spoke about the glutinous rice but it was nothing special, not to mention it gives me a bad tummy. Not about the hygiene but just the glutinous rice even if Mom were to cook it, my body reacts the same way. I'd go for the steamed rice in a heartbeat.

 

Mae Waree

The best Mango Sticky Rice of my lifetime. It's on Soi55 near Thong Lor BTS station. I I remember correctly, get off Exit 3 and at the turn of the corner, it's right there with a big red signboard, completely in Thai. You can recognise it by the display of fruits, mainly mango, right outside the shop. It was so tasty, I forgot how much it cost me. The coconut milk was fresh and not too thick. The rice is slightly savoury and totally brings out

 

We were supposed to spend an evening along Soi55 and I grossly underestimated the length of Soi 55. The original intention was to have dinner at Niyom Pochana, dessert at Mae Waree and spend the night partying away at Iron Fairies. Due to some hiccups, we had to miss our dinner at Niyom Pochana but I insisted on passing by Mae Waree before heading to Iron Fairies. The best decision of this trip but I'm about to regret what happens after. I thought since it's on the same street, I should just walk. After 30 minutes of walking, we succumbed and flagged down a cab. We were going in circles and finally gave up. I stopped at some Irish pub and checked with a farang, only to discover Iron Fairies is closed for renovation. We board another cab to head to another spot where my colleague is at but 5 seconds into the trip, the girls spotted the place like 3 shop fronts away. Totally hilarious. And nope, wouldn't recommend Wine Republic at all but interesting selection of fruit beers though.

 

Laem Chareon

 

ARGal's local friend from her secondary school days brought us there. Before I go on and on about how charming that guy is (coupled with a wicked sense of humour), he's married.

 

Stuck in a corner of the 3rd floor of CentralWorld, sits this branch of a massive chain. I never liked chains. While many love MK, I didn't like it at all. Now, Laem Chareon is entirely different. The quality of food was AMAZING. I don't really know what some of those dishes are called but the memorable dishes are Tom Yam Goong, Thai styled Otah, pickled crab. This is one place I know I'll be back for the food.

 

Fusion Suites

 

It was definitely a good deal for the location it is on. It's on Soi 21 of Sukhumvit, walking distance to the MRT and BTS stations. Located right opposite Healthland, it is just where I want to be. However, that area is located around drains that smell like sewage. It is alright when you're inside the hotel but when you step out, especially in the sweltering heat, the smell just isn't funny.

 

The hotel is really dark. The elevator is dark with some funny running lights that changes colours but still, it's completely dark. I stayed on the top floor, it's always hot. The ac took some time to cool down. The girls stayed on the 2nd floor and their floor was so cold. It was just really inconsistent. Half the lights in my already dark room wasn't working and I could only pack my luggage during the day when the daylight helps me see what I'm actually bringing along with me.

 

The ac doesn't seem to work very well. Don't get me wrong. It got really cold at night but no matter whether I turn the fan speed to high, med or low, it's always blasting high.

 

The vanity space in the bathroom was incredibly small

 

I love Bangkok and I want to return soon. I never knew I could spend that many days in Bangkok but now I think I can actually live there and bring up my kids the simple way.

Running Man

All along, I have been very adverse to the invasion of the Korean wave aka Hallyu and very reluctant to accept that they are becoming part and parcel of our lives. In fact, my body finds kim chi repulsive until today. When everyone was raving over Dae Jang Geum 大長今, I was busy catching up on my American sitcoms.

Until recently, I've begun to slowly accept Korean dramas but I'm still not as obsessed as to watch them when I'm on the train every morning on my way in to work. As geeky as this may sound, I still very much prefer to be reading a book, distracting myself from the daily real life version of Les Misérables, packaged into what I call the 'train sandwich'.

With the permanent re-runs on the cable, I found myself looking forward to the next episodes of some Korean dramas including 大長今. However, I knew I wouldn't die if I don't watch it (you know how some dramas make you feel like if you are not there for the ending, your life is completely ruined?).

But increasingly, I find myself interested in those faces which I still cannot decide if they are good looking. It's not like looking at Hugh Jackman and we'll unanimously go, "WOAH, that's illegally HOT! Blazin' Baby!" Look... Some of the men are incredibly irresistible and some are just... questionable. Women tend to mostly look the same and I swear if I were to go for rhinoplasty one day, I can probably mail order the Korean pop star nose. The only ones that look wrong would be those whose surgery had indeed gone wrong. Otherwise, what's the excuse of looking anything lesser than superficially beautiful. That said, I want one of those noses as well and I'm serious... Since there's very little I can do about my height.

And it didn't help that on a very personal level, some random ex-boyfriend cheated on me on some Korean chick and she's not even pretty. He also went on to knock her up. The rest is history.

All you KPop fans out there, before you go post this on Facebook and condemn me, I would like to state that this is just my opinion and I have a second part to this article. 

Months and months of hearing it from almost everyone I know, I finally (by accident) caught an episode of "Running Man" on TV. It's a South Korean variety show featuring a race (akin to Amazing Race) in/at a certain landmark. Even then, I wasn't in a hurry to find out more. It was only until Watziznehm heard about it from his friends, we just decide that we should sit through an entire episode. Then it was episodes after episodes... Before I knew it, I found myself addressing each of them by their names or nicknames and getting well-versed with commonly used terms in the show (in Korean of course).

Kwangsoo, the Giraffe, never fail to make me laugh. The camaraderie amongst the fixed cast is just amazing. And as I got more and more addicted to the show, I (like most of you fans) think I know these people and how they are really like. Kim Jong Kook, better known as Kookie or the Commander or even the Tiger or ... (I can easily take up another paragraph here)... is just so gentle with women. As long as you're a woman, likelihood is that you can bully him all you like. That characteristic just softens me and as much as I don't like beefy men, here's an exception. Like many schoolgirls, I am ever-ready to scream "awww soooo cuuute" but no... He's definitely not cute. His face belongs to the questionable category but there's so much more to him (spoken like a true old buddy). He makes me want to be the little woman quietly following and watching him. The show makes me so interested that I believe my right foot is already in the Korean language school, had it not been my hectic schedule.

Week after week, I find myself trying to get my hands on the latest episode. The recent ones featured them in Macau & Vietnam and there was even a special episode featuring Jackie Chan! Meanwhile, I'm now friends with Kim Jong Kook on Facebook. Believing that it's the real him (I'm the one who chooses to believe Piscine from Life of Pi was genuinely stuck with a Bengal Tiger as a castaway), I enjoyed following every little bit of information that pops up on my NewsFeed every now and then.

The show in itself has evolved and it is still changing every now and then. I must say the producers are incredibly creative with the games simply getting funnier. The last I read, Singapore TV stations are interested to purchase the format. But can I just say, it will not be the same without this cast. And really, Singaporean stations just kill everything they put their hands on. Just leave Running Man alone...

Meanwhile, everyone goes by Oppa, Unnie and Dongsang...

Help! Bone Marrow Donors Required

Now, here's a sad piece of news. Vince, whom I met during my trip to New York some years back, has become a close friend over the years. We try our best to keep in touch and Facebook, naturally, became the best tool after I gave up on Gtalk.

Vince is the middle child and has an elder brother, Marvin, whom I associate with a really cute doggy, Popcorn. We also know his younger brother, who is the baby of the family, William, gets alot of his love and attention. Recently, William has been hospitalised and eventually diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia that is very difficult to treat and a bone marrow transplant is the primary treatment option.

William’s leukemia is in remission after a series of chemotherapy treatment at the University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, and his doctors are now searching the bone marrow registries for a potential donor for a bone marrow transplant to ensure William remain cancer-free. Both his brothers, Vince and Marvin, are not matches, so we need your help to grow these registries so that there is a better chance of finding matched donors for William and others who need bone marrow transplants!

You can find out more on how to go about taking the first step...




Vince and Marvin have created this website - http://www.supportwilliam.com to help with spreading the word. You will be able to find information on how to help William. You can register and order a donor kit via the Bone Marrow Donor Programme. Or, you can also proceed to the following locations:

Primary Donor Centres

Bone Marrow Donor Program
Address:	46 South Bridge Road #03-01, Kingly Building Singapore 058679
Tel:	(65) 6327 1344
Opening Hours:	Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 6.00 pm Closed on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays

National University Hospital
Address:	Blood Donation Centre Level 1, Main Building 1 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road Singapore 119074
Tel:	(65) 6772 5356
Opening Hours:	Monday to Friday: 8.00 am - 5.00 pm Saturday: 8.30 am - 12.30 pm Extended hours on Wednesday until 7.30 pm. Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays

SGH Haematology Centre
Address:	Singapore General Hospital Block 7, Level 2 Outram Road Singapore 169608
Tel:	(65) 6321 4722
Opening Hours:	Weekdays: 9.00am to 4.00pm Saturdays: 9.00am to 12.00noon

Feeding Hundreds

Wedding shopping is dreadful. Shopping for a venue is even more dreadful and at this point in time, it's the most crucial decision we have to make before the venues are all snapped up. I wanted to be chill about this whole affair but I couldn't because the dates we thought we wanted, are all taken up! After planning a special day to visit a slew of venues, we finally just went to one and decided the very next day i.e. today! We have yet to confirm the spot. The hotel doesn't look super impressive on the outside but it's really cosy and pretty grand once you step in. We have also heard the food is great. Once that's cast in stone, everything can take their own sweet time.

Prices have gone up in the span of a few months and I'm pretty worried that I might break the bank for this. That said, as long as the food is good and if my guests enjoy themselves, then I'll be happy.

The Dress

Every girl wants to look stunning on her big day and that’s a fact!

Many have to manage a budget and is often stuck with very limited options. It doesn’t help that holding a wedding and renovating a house usually occur around the same time. At least, it’s almost true for us. We have been informed that the house will likely be ready by Q1 2014 and if we’re any lucky, it should be done by the end of this year. I do not have a budget but that doesn't mean the sky’s the limit. It only means I don’t know where to start in terms of budgeting until I meet with my wedding planner.

Being the super impatient person that I am, I emailed some of the most renowned gown designers in Singapore and mostly, their portfolio reflects what I want. THE DRESS has got to be simple but the simpler the dress is, the more important is the cutting and workmanship of the gown. Due to some unique circumstances, I have already met with the coordinators of Bridal Veil (by Michelle Huimin). An email also went out to Tan Yoong but his coordinators aren’t half as professional. I have always wanted to be a Tan Yoong bride and I’ve always told myself that as long as I can afford a Tan Yoong gown, nothing can make me compromise. I was wrong. I understand from many ex-Tan Yoong brides that he’s very patient and is a very nice and talented chap and I do not doubt that at all. But it seems that his coordinators aren’t very keen or either that, they’re too famous to entertain one more.

I am likely to go with Bridal Veil but I am not, by any means, settling for less. The moment you email them through the website, they respond within a couple of days. No one else has responded even until today, more than a week after I enquired. The Bridal Consultant sat down with us and patiently entertained the emerging streaks of a bride-zilla from me. She explained the packages without being pushy at all and allowed me to try a couple of gowns, just to see what I like. I felt very comfortable with them and I think they is crucial especially if you want your gown to be Made To Measure (MTM). The material and workmanship from Bridal Veil is among one of the best you can find in Singapore.

This review is not final and there will be more to come…