Universal Studios ~ Theme Park Wonderland! β™₯

I’ve always always loved theme parks. There’s a magical feel about them, and it’s like having your imagination spring to life. Although, I wasn’t too excited about Universal Singapore because Singapore is too hot(!), I’m so glad that I went because I had so much fun with the family!

Up bright and early, waiting for uncle, aunty and cousins with mum. They are late!

This is how the outsides look like… with that infamous globe.

There they are! Uncle Eddie checking the time…opps… (left to right) That’s Nic, Alex, Uncle Ed, Debra and Aunty Bong.


Everybody has to get a picture with that globe!!

Waiting outside the guest relations office. Because not all rides are opened, we get meal and shopping vouchers. (P.S I’m glad that mega rollercoaster ride is closed, cos’ I’m so afraid to ride it anyway! heehee.)

Hollywood Street!…where all the shops are. Reminded me of the shopping street in Disneyland Tokyo. Hollywood Street is the only place opened till 7pm. All other areas of the park close at 6pm. Too early!

Notice the walkway? That’s the Hollywood walk of fame! (Miniature version) I swear I remember the stars being bigger on the actual walk of fame.

You don’t have to win an Oscar’s to have an Oscar statue. You can buy an accolade of any kind here!

New York!! This is…the steps of the New York library? The place that Carrie Bradshaw was supposed to get married in Sex and the City? No??

“Rockefeller Centre”! Ooh I miss New York so. Take me back!!
(This is Daphne by the way!)

First ride we took at “Sci-Fi City”. It spins really quickly and gets you all dizzy.

Alex spinning the wheel and causing us to spin and dizz even more. It’s a good thing we didn’t have breakfast!

We queued really long for this ride at “Ancient Egypt World” that was so not worth it. You sit in this vintage car and it takes you around for a ride, quick ride. With nothing much to see.


View along the way.

Daphne is the youngest of all the cousins. πŸ™‚

The “Mummy” ride at “Ancient Egypt”. Freaked the hell out of me. We plunged into total darkness and lunged everywhere! I think I screamed till I had sore throat on this one. My cousins went back on it thrice!!!

“Lost World”… where we had lunch. Food is terrible at Universal by the way! Rawhhh!

“Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure”

Gets you soaking wet! Haha. Don’t skip the poncho!

My favourite churros! This one was terrible too by the way. How disappointing…:(

Waiting in line for Shrek’s 4D adventure.

Alex and Nic played silly painful games everytime they waited in line.

Look at how red and bruised their hands were!


“Far Far Away Land” Pretty castle!

We went back to the “Canopy Flyer” at “Lost World” and waited 55 mins!

Still waiting in line…I totally expected a leisure ride on this one, but no! It zoomed around really fast scaring the life outta me!

Snack break.

Very hot and tired by now. I’m so glad I brought my mini fans!

The hotdogs were disappointing too. 😦

Waiting for my cousins take some scary ride for the second time again.

Ooh! Love the popcorn car at Hollywood Street!
We did our final shopping here, and then headed back home.

β™₯

Although a little small (similar to the size of Hong Kong’s Disneyland), Universal Studios Singapore is definitely worth a visit!
πŸ™‚

One Fine Thursday

First ups. I’m bouncing back to the drama scene after a rather long, well-rested hiatus. I’m looking forward to playing something that is not the very usual me. Something a little bit more energetic, upbeat and ‘athletic’. It’s time to seriously hit those runs and all! Had my imaging session done this Thursday morning and ran off to play the rest of the day. πŸ™‚

This is a sneak preview of my erm, hair and face for this new show. Hahaha. Not very much to show I’m afraid… I didn’t snap any pictures during the fitting session!

Lunch at Canton-i with mummy and sister dearest. Love the interior of the place. It’s all pink and white. Pretty pretty, but the food is only satisfactory. 😦

My sister is all smarts. She’s a lecturer!

She got really excited seeing her name on a vitamin box.

I followed her around to various Osim shops as a ‘mystery shopper’. And I was sold by their ‘Usoffa petit’. I loveeee massages. I am so tempted to get this one in purple!!

Ran off to Vivo City after for a dash of steamboat dinner, movie and Daiso. I love shopping for random things at Daiso! The Japanese are so clever for their useless yet not little inventions.

I hate eating vegetables.
Caught the movie: Book of Eli. Most boring movie I’ve watched all year. (0 popcorn ratings from me.)

Domo!…snuggling up on my thigh. He does this a lot these days – rub his head on my legs so that I’ll ‘sayang’ him. Love him to bits. (I’ve probably said this too many times) πŸ™‚
Anyways, it’s a brand new week ahead. Have a beautiful one everyone!
-xxx-

Huat!

Chinese New Year is officially over! 15 days (almost) of feasting, visiting, gambling and fun. πŸ™‚ Did you all have a good one? I did! My ‘ang pao’ collection this year was exceptionally good (~whee!!) and I had so many ‘lou hei’ sessions this year (+pineapple tarts, my absolutely favourite!). 2010 is going to be ζ—Ί! πŸ˜€


Lou Hei 001

My family had our reunion dinner 1 day earlier because my sister is now married and has to go to her hubby’s side for reunion dinner on the eve.

My favourite bit of lou hei – the crispy ‘gold’. Yums!

“huat ah! healthy and prosperous tiger year, successful business, good health, lots of balenciagas, miu miu, chanels (did I say that out loud? opps.), sweet relationships etc etc.” In my family, auspicious words are all spoken in English. Haha. No one really knows the mandarin versions very well.

My grandparents in the picture are 80+ years old already! Still so fit and strong. πŸ™‚ (I’m wearing Pink Flare’s #Friday’s Child Playsuit in blue by the way.)

I went to Chinatown at 2a.m on new year’s eve. Everything was going at super duper discounted prices! I remembered staying up till 7a.m that day. Do you all know the superstition of staying up late on new year’s eve to ‘prolong’ the life of your parents? Mine are going to live till 100!

Lou Hei 002

Lou Hei with the extended family on New Year’s eve.


My big family! A lot of new baby additions these few years. I’m so glad my relatives are not the sort who asks when you’re going to get married, what are you doing now blah blah blah. πŸ™‚

1st day of New Year. My house is all decked out in red and we are doing the traditional shots by the pusiwillow. (Without my sis this year. Boo!!)

Domo is wearing his chinese traditional costume!

πŸ™‚

And Domo went to ‘bai nian’ with us. Darn nobody gave him ang pao. It would have made his ‘niang’ here very happy. ;P


And that’s my daddy’s dad. My grandfather who is 90+! Yes, I have grandparents who live till really ripe, old, healthy ages.


Lou Hei 003

1st day of New Year at Uncle Eddie’s place.

And another big family!


My best cards at blackjack. I got really lucky this year and actually won everytime I gambled!

Scooted off to John’s place to ‘bai nian’ on the 1st day. The theme for the party was ‘red’. And everyone was dressed in the colour. Very auspicious start to the new year!

Lou Hei 004
At my own home on the 2nd day. Mummy was very generous with the abalone.

Hehe. This is Domo’s guilty, ‘please don’t scold me face’. (He’s trying to keep very still here.) He ran out of the gates just before and got everyone panicking.

And soon he got tired of acting ‘guai’. And had to put his very heavy head on the table. He does this a lot! Props his head on everything he sees.

Lou Hei 005

At Cecilia’s place. (And wearing Pink Flare’s #Grecian Goddess!)

Bai nian-ing to the mistress of the house.

We had steamboat! Super yummy.


Cheers!!

Lou Hei 006

At James’s.

Biggest lou hei ever!



The party’s theme was ‘cat print’ to be in line with the Tiger year. Can you spot all the subtle prints?

Lou Hei 007
Teochew style lou hei with my family (again). I prefer the ‘normal’ ones.

Lou Hei 8

And lastly, lou hei with the sparkle girlies at Sushi Tei! Typing this is making me feel like having sushi tei again! I am super addicted to their food.

The lou hei was so huge for the 3 of us. We tried to eat and eat and eat, but it looked like we hardly touched the plate even after we were done and stuffed.


So that’s a grand total of 8 lou heis this year. All that tossing and muttering of auspicious words better account to something! Haha. Huat everyone!!

-xxx-

Birthday!

My birthday celebrations this year stretched from multiple dinners with family and loved ones to a trip to Bangkok, and even more celebrations when I got back. I truly truly feel so loved by everyone and I thank my lucky stars for surrounding me with wonderful people.
Dinner with the family was at Gyukaku Chijmes. My first experience with Gyukaku was in Tokyo, and the branch in Singapore is just as good…just alot more expensive. -_-
That’s a whole plate of Japanese wagyu. I love meat!!

Mummy dearest always taking on the role of “chef” in the house.

My dad and brother-in-law looking cute in their aprons.

Presents from the sister and brother-in-law! Love the cute wrapping paper. πŸ™‚

With sister dearest.

Ta-dah! Juicy Couture undies and bag organiser! This is brilliant. I’ll never lose my stuff in my bags again!

Strawberry shortcake!! My favourite!! πŸ™‚

I β™₯ my family

Made my birthday wish, blowing out the candles. Poof! It’s going to come true. (The power of positive thinking. Haha)

I made everyone do a funny face! That’s definitely a first for my parents. Haha.

xoxo


Singapore Idol ’09

I wasn’t too psyched when my sister first called to ask me to go watch the Singapore Idol finals at the Indoor Stadium. But, I thought it’ll be a great opportunity for some “sister bonding” time and agreed to go with her.
(Sylvia Ratonel was formerly from Temasek Poly where my sister now lectures. Hence the tickets.)
I’ve heard Sylvia sing a couple of times on TV and caught a couple of the finals trailer featuring her. I’ve even met and spoken to her in Mediacorp’s make-up unit. I think she’s really pretty and has Fantastic vocals. I love the huskiness of her voice! Obviously, we were all rooting for her in the stadium…she sounded great live and her strong vocals blew us away. We were really really disappointed with the results… 😦
My sis and I walked to Brewerkz before the show for dinner.

Me wearing the “Sunday Best” dress from Pink Flare!

These two little kiddos – Megan and Gabriel were strong supporters of Sylvia. Megan even drew a little banner in support. So cute!!!…and she cried when the results were announced. 😦

That’s Sezairi’s supporters in green on the left, and Sylvia’s supporters in pink on the right. We’re still hoping she’ll be picked up by a label for an album. This girl needs to be singing!