From London to Paris and back to REALITY (Part 1)

I've recently returned from my trip to both London and Paris. This is my very first time there and I was so excited, that I had to force myself to sleep for a couple of hours during the flight so that I am awake enough upon reaching London.

(I guess all the late nights and owl-ly hours I observe in Malaysia did pay off a bit as I was not super jet-lagged as I thought I would be.)

Anyway, the experience started out even before I was going to the airport. Unable to contain my excitement, I was at the Pandora store in Tropicana City Mall earlier in the evening (my flight was a midnight flight) and got myself 2 dandy looking charms to commemorate the trip!

The Eiffel Tower and London Bus charms!

Then, "tragedy" happened when he-who-shall-not-be-named got his credit card - the very same credit card that was gonna be used during our holiday in the UK - swallowed by one of the ATM in the mall, when trying to set pin / withdraw money / whatever. That spoilt the entire evening as he-who-shall-not-be-named spent the rest of the evening calling the bank to get it sorted out. Luckily for him, the banks has this special service where they can replace to a temporary card as soon as possible, and in this case, a temporary card to be sent to our hotel in London when we arrive. Phew!

So, then. A couple of girlfriends was kind enough to send us off, luggages and all to the airport. Thanks girls! Boo rewarded them with Coffee and Mocha for their efforts. :)

Thanks to the Ho-Lee charter service for the airport ride!

So, as usual, UJ, my faithful travelling companion wasn't left behind - he even got to ride with me in the cabin :)

UJ and his beeeeeeg smile!

See UJ enjoying himself with my neck pillow and a beer on flight!

"This is the life" says UJ.

So then, we reached Heathrow - and took the Underground from the airport right till King's Cross Station - where our hotel is nearby.

Baggage claim. Belt number "0".

Go down to catch the Underground.

Tune Hotel Kings Cross

Paid a little extra for an early check in but as we were a wee bit too early even for an early check in, left our luggage in the hotel in search for our first London meal. And where did we end up?

McDonalds! OMG! I've been telling people no matter where I go somehow McDonalds seems to always be the first place I have my meals.

Boo ordered pory-licious bacon roll.

I had the BIG breakfast!

After breakfast, checked into our room, freshened up a bit (lazed around a bit) - we were off exploring. 

To be continued...

The April Rain...

It has been quite a hectic but slow month. Started off with end March where it was the period of Cheng Beng - a time where we revisit our dearly departed at their resting place.My Singaporean counterparts decided to do a few days trip up North to Teluk Intan and then Ipoh, my maternal grandparents last resting place.

So it was a lot of driving for me that weekend, as I decided at the very last minute on Friday to surprise Boo who was in JB for a working weekend trip by showing up at his hotel room door at 2am in the morning, after about 4 hours drive alone from Putra Heights. Then on Sunday afternoon, drove back home to pick sis on the way before making our trip to Teluk Intan - where we met up with everyone else.

Come Monday morning, we convoy-ed in 3 cars to Ipoh, where we paid our respects to Kong-Kong and Por-Por.

Kong2 + Por2's Tablet & Urn

Lots of praying...

Wanted to "predict" my luck and reading but...

The "reading" machine rosak wor...

The following weekend, I visited late mum and dad as well as Kong2 (my paternal grandfather) at the Buddhist temple in Jalan Gasing.

Late Papa & Mummy's resting place...

We brought some of Papa & Mummy's favourite food.

Well, that was all I did for Cheng Beng. The planning wasn't rocket science, but we always do the basic and simple as that was what Papa & Mummy likes keeping it simple.

One of the weekdays after that, Boo and I met up with Donna and her rascals for dinner. One of the agenda was to pass her birthday presents - and I think she loved them!

Boo with the lil' rascals.

Now, my woogies' antics. Whenever I say the word "mamam" this is the state of alertness I get from the two of them...

"Mamam!"

Of course, most of the time it wasn't a bluff...

My woogies eat almost anything!

Random shot...

Bobbi Ho's big foot!

Just last Friday on rainy evening, was on the way home from work when I decided to open my sunroof to capture a shot.

Instagrammed!

Went for a movie "Oblivion" that night with Boo and asked him to go enrol in Monsters University!

Can you spot the not?

Random posting...

One Saturday evening in Ikea Cafe...

Crazy loads of humans!

Next up! I can't wait for my very first trip to London... and Paris! So excited! And will come home very broke (am broke even before I go lah) so will start looking for free lunches (and dinners) when I get back! :)

A Bunny-licious Birthday Party!

Preparing for someone's birthday was not an easy task. Especially if:

1. You have less than a week to plan (coz suddenly decided to go ahead with it after some looong thinking).
2. You are a bit on the OTT type to work on themes, concept, favours, decor, etc.
3. Trying to pick out selected and close friends of the birthday person so that no.2 does not become such a heavy task.
4. Trying to keep it a surprise (especially for some).

So - I can say with all that, a "surprise" party was sprung upon the birthday boy, quite successfully, with the help of some friends (and sister+1).

11 March 2013 : Preparation of the party favours.

Sneak preview of the bunny tail.

Many bunny tails.

The bunny-marshmallows, complete with tail.

14 March 2013: Cupcake Mission!

Well, while that was being done, decided to spring a pre-surprise to birthday boy at his office. His birthday falls on a Saturday, and he was out for a a day trip on Friday, so the surprise was done on a Thursday. After much hassle and begging to a friend to be my delivery gal, mission accomplished!

Thanks to Mama-D for being my super last minute delivery gal!
Photo courtesy of Mama-D.

Birthday Cupcakes! Mission accomplished!
Photo courtesy of Mama-D.

16 March 2013 : The Birthday Day!

Off to a quick lunch. Then a quick massage. Then quickly home to prep for the "surprise" - me, I mean...

Birthday Boy (Man)!

Then later in the evening, at Marche, The Curve for some bunny-licious goodness...

Setup.
Photo courtesy of Mindy.

Surprise!
Photo courtesy of Mindy.

Polaroid-frenzzzy...
Photo courtesy of Jess Lee.

More polaroid-frenzzzyyy...
Photo courtesy of Mindy.

Polaroid-whorezzz...
Photo courtesy of Jess Lee.

Birthday cake!
Photo courtesy of Mindy.

Bunny-licious Butt Cake! Slightly dis-butt-figured :(
Photo courtesy of Jess Lee.

Bunny-licious Butt Cake! Top View.
Photo courtesy of Mindy.

Thanks to friends who made it!
Shot by Mel Ho (who of course is not in picture).

Special thanks to:

1. Donna who became my last minute delivery gal to birthday boy's office. :)
2. Mel and Terence who became our un-official polaroid and digital photographer. Unpaid but then, dinner was on me! Hehehe... Oh, and they also became my balloon collectors and decor setup assistants...
3. Joe for becoming the decoy. Was a bit anxious when my decoy man was not answering his phone when it was time...
4. Birthday Boy's friends for coming to celebrate together-gather!

So Birthday Bunny Boy - did you have a blast?!?

February 2013 Update...

Just a quick update on life. It's getting harder and harder for me to write about anything so I'll resort to having small pictorial updates for now, till I find my mojo back...

Happy CNY Day#1
Photo courtesy of Karen Findlater

This year, did not do the annual thing and "balik kampung" for Chinese New Year. So this is the first time (ever in my life) that I'm in KL celebrating with friends instead... Different feeling altogether...

Money! Money! Money!

The only moolah session I had this year. Did not make at all! Hmph!

Happy Hokkien New Year Godmama!
Photo courtesy of Karen Findlater

Though was not feeling well, went for a quick makan-makan at Jess Lee's place. Nyums...

Randomness. A brand with my name on it!

Randomness. Bobbi Ho being peaceful...

Tic Tacs in a Tic Tac.
My Valentine Day's project for friends.

A Majestic Valentine's Day dinner by #BBoo.
Delayed to the weekend coz I was sick :)

One night when Bobbi Ho was hyperactive.
#BBoo says he's on steroids - Haha!

Shaun the Sheep recently took residence in my Sportage!
Thanks #BBoo for the addition!

Pretty sad right. Need to take more photos to compensate the lack of writings.

Inspiration! Please come!

Melaka Getaway

Took a day off on Friday last week, and I had an accumulative of 5 days off including the weekend and public holidays. So, thought of a quick road trip to Melaka with Mel, Jeff and Jess.

Managed to book a night's stay at my favourite economical lodging option in Melaka, Fenix Inn (which is like a stone's throw away from Dataran Pahlawan and Mahkota Parade, and it's actually walkable to the A'Famosa and St. Paul's Hill, as well as the famous Jonker's Walk. But we, being old and lazy, decided to drive for Satay Celup and also Jonker's walk later after that.

I did not take much photos of the trip, so some of them are taken from Jessica's photo album :)

#UJ all packed and ready to go!

1st road trip with my new wheels!
Photo courtesy of Jessica.

The road trip gang!
Photo courtesy of Jessica.

Arrived at our night's stay.
Photo courtesy of Jessica.

Jess was not very happy about the "Heritage Charge".
Photo courtesy of Jessica.

#UJ booked his spot first! Oi!

Dinner! Satay Celup. Nyums!

Chicken Rice (Balls) for lunch the next day.
Photo courtesy of Jessica.

Mel discovered a quaint coffee place at Jalan Tokong.

Us having coffee before we hit the road home.
Photo courtesy of Jessica.

Should do more of this Cuti-cuti Malaysia lah. Where to next eh?