Beauty care products used at the moment...

Something I have been meaning to write for a long time... I want to share which one works for me and which one does not ... And I want to know what works for you and what doesn't too!

OK, you're ready - cos it's a lot, but yea..I wasn't born with the best skin condition... so I work with what I have!

•  Shampoo: I just changed to Rene Furterer (Especially for hair loss)
• Verdict: I just purchased yesterday and I just used it literally this morning, because I noticed I lost quite a lot of hair, not sure whether this one works or not, but previously I was using Aveeda Shampure which somehow always gave me dandruff... (It's damn expensive and still give me dandruff...at least here in Singapore it's very expensive, it's about 40 bucks for the biggest bottle)

• Soap: Dove 
• Verdict: After using the baby soap Johnson and Johnson (because of the smell), I can't resist but going back to Dove... I just love Dove!

• Make up remover: For eyes, I am using virgin olive oil, for face I am using Bioderma (which is wayyy cheaper in Hong Kong, so I asked my cousin to buy for me)
• Verdict: I have nothing much to say about the olive oil, it's cheap and you can get it anywhere in the drug stores... after using the expensive Shu Uemura oil (I am still using for special circumstances), I am pretty happy with the cheap olive oil. For Bioderma, needless to say, it's like water but is able to remove your make up

• Face cleanser: Origin Check and Balance (Earth day edition)/ Liz Earle (Only available in UK, so I am only using it under special circumstances)/ Garnier Pure cleanser
• Verdict: Liz Earle is the most gentle out of all but works wonder, especially because of the hot cloth but it's only available in the UK (Don't worry, the price is pretty reasonable)... Garnier and Origin are so-so for me...

• Toner or whatever liquid I put after I cleansed my face: SK II lotion and essence
• Verdict: not sure why it's called lotion, while it's liquid with water-like consistency, but the essence is definitely the one that works wonder! Even my gay friend recognised the difference... so it's gay-approved! Yet the smell is something that you have to bear with...ohh and the price! It's around 190 SGD per bottle (only for the essence), the lotion is way less expensive. How to work around it? Always buy them in combo and in the airport (no tax!)

• Serum: I am using Kiehl Midnight recovery concentrate
• Verdict: I am only using this at night, honestly not so regularly, but 2 drops are enough for your whole face, so it is very long lasting... the price? eeghhh.. I think 99 bucks, but it's really long lasting, a little goes a LONGGGG WAYYY

• Moisturiser: Currently Laneige waterbank 
• Verdict: it's very gentle and moisturising, this is my second jar, but I think I may explore other brands after this... I tried La Mer before (it was a full jar, gifted by the client! The benefit of being a consultant!) but for me it was okay, it also makes your foundation goes smoothly, but the effect is not like WOW...Only the price makes you go WOW!

• Foundation: I am currently big on foundation! I just recently purchased the infamous Make Up Forever HD foundation, and a few months before that I purchased La Mer foundation upon my cousin's recommendation.Before that, I was running low on my Channel Vitalumiere foundation. Other than this, I also have MAC Sculpt Foundi and now I asked my cousin in HK to buy me NARS  sheer glow
• Verdict: My fave foundie with most fave finish is hands-down Channel Vitalumiere, though it is not long lasting.. I have not much to say about MUFE HD yet, as I am not sure how it is performing compared to others, since I only tried it for today. For me La Mer foundation is very streaky, hard to work with and I think you have to work with a sponge (Damp sponge) to make it less streaky. 

I think that's about it... I currently stop using under eye serum, due to my laziness.

In terms of make up, of course foundie is not the only thing I use, but well.. I have a whole lost of eye shadows, etc. etc... I think you will be dying to reach the end if I list them down. 

Mumbai update..

So..in the end, I was lucky at least I went to a mall and bought 2 pieces of clothing... because someone stole my money, he (yes I am sure it's a he, because I only left my bag in the viewing room while I was moderating the first group and all staff there are males) took my money from my wallet...

Not much, but it made me angry enough and promised myself, I would never go back to India, unless (1) for work or (2) it's already the last ressort....

My colleague today said India is a country that you would probably like to visit while you are still young... because how difficult it is to get around and all that happens (could happen) there... you know what I am talking about...

Anyway, it was a good experience... and it was a lesson to learn to always appreciate what you have...
Going back to Singapore has never been happier :)
I don't need to be so paranoid about the cleanliness, theft, rudeness...

Blogging from Mumbai

Hello y'all, greetings from Mumbai!

Yes, I am in my hotel room sitting here, doing nothing... I am a bit skeptical of going out after sunset, primarily because many said it's unsafe. Anyway, let me tell you my experience in the incredible India so far...

I arrived last night at around 09:00PM India time and lucky my admin arranged for a shuttle from the hotel, so as soon as I went out of the airport, I looked for my name and thanked God the guy who picked me up seemed to be very credible and so was the car. The hotel name is written all over, so I felt safe.

Oh well, I should have started the story with the plane journey... just one thing came across my mind, "I was flying with SQ and this was it.. I couldn't believe if I had to fly with other airlines..."

The ride to the hotel was around 30 minutes and along the way, I was like,"Oh dear, so many constructions, but maybe because it's the area near to the airport, maybe the city is more cultural..."
Anyway, my hotel was a chain hotel, under the Crowne Plaza, but the building seemed a bit old..I was a bit unhappy, but well.. this is a company trip, so I have not many choices.

In the morning, after having almost no breakfast (because I literally didn't know what to eat). All the advises from people such as don't drink water that you don't know where it's from, don't even drink the hot drink, only drink water from sealed bottle of water, don't eat cut-open fruits; all echoed in my head and left me with no options as all foods are served openly and I don't see any bottle of mineral water.
So I ate only half slice of bread with cheese and left for my meeting.

After the meeting, I purposely asked the person I met up with about the nearest mall, hoping I could get a safe food like Mc Donalds or whatever sounds familiar to me. So yea,I went to a mall near my hotel, and to my surprise, Mumbai is not even close to Indonesia, the roads are very messy, even messier than Indo, the malls are very dodgy and you know what?! I saw rats on the street. And everyone is honking like there is no  tomorrow on the road.

Anyway, once I to there in the mall and saw Mc Donalds signage I was like a kid in a candy land... when I stood in front of the counter, I was like.. "Ey.. how come there is no cheeseburger meal?!?" Maybe because the Mc Donalds counter is pretty small, they have not enough place to put up in the signage, so I ordered anyway...and for a split second I was like, "Damn..this is India, of course they don't sell beef!" So I settled with chicken (which I don't usually do - I don't eat chicken burger)

Anywayyy... I saw Indian clothing section in the dept store, so being a shopaholic that I am, I just needed to take a look at it... and yea that time, I was really in a candy land... I love ethnic stuff, so I just had to buy 2 sets of clothes, really really nice and now while typing this, I think I might be going back for more, for my mom, I know she will love it!

OK,so wish me luck, tomorrow is a working day for me, I will be back to my nest on Sunday super super early in the morning.
And the moral of the story today is... I am grateful that I live in where I live now, this trip really opens my eyes... hopefully, it gets better and who knows..maybe I will come back here someday, to visit the Taj Mahal...

Ciao

baby and I are embarking on iPhone love journey...

Yes, today we both are embarking on iPhone 4S journey, after I bought it in the morning today, my baby decided to buy himself one, as we can call each other via Skype/ Face time..

Plus, we don't need to play "draw something" over the freaking internet... :)
Mine is white and his is black..

Living in Xin Jia Po

I think back then I did a similar post about living in Holland.. the pros and cons...
now, after moving here for about 2 years: I think Xian Jia Po deserves a post by itself... :)
Here are the pros:

1. Closer to my parents (for me..) - there is a direct flight to my hometown and my parents, especially my dad, travels here oh so frequently (I think this one can be moved to the cons part) :P
2. Shopping heaven - self explanatory...if you have never been to Singapore, try for yourself or just take my words for it..this was why I always wanted to move here!
3. Massage, maids all the help you can think of... - obviously! Services like massage, spa, facial, hairdressers, domestic helpers, even IKEA installation and deliver are cheaper in Singapore than in Europe... All these are the things that you won't be able to ge so easily and so cheaply in Holland..
4. Foods - Foods and restaurant meals are considered cheaper also compared to Europe (not alcohol beverage tho... don't try to go clubbing here, you will go bankrupt, unless you want to drink water!)
5. Cabs - oh gosh... I think I am addicted to taking cabs! The luxury you will never have in Europe! Taking cabs anywhere, anytime!
6. So amazingly organised and efficient - like no joke! I don't know how they do it, but my employment pass was out in 2 weeks (exactly 2 weeks, no delay) and my bank pass was issued in like 10 minutes after application... so unlikely in Europe that these things can happen this fast (without bribery)
7. Low tax - Seriously.. this really can't be compared to Europe... You can even get a relief if you are foreigners like me and you have insurance (investment and life insurance) from Singaporean based companies... 
8. Everything opens until 10!!! Or later!! Not like Europe where stores are closed at 5 or 6PM... here, all the shops are open till 9 or 10PM even banks are open on Sunday (Yiayy for OCBC!)

Now... here comes the cons!!!

1. They think we are all miracle workers... even when timeline is impossible, they will somehow make it happens... I mean... work here is very demanding, highly competitive - If you refuse to do it, somebody else will do it..so you'd better take it!
2. Only 15 days of leave! Europe can give you a month leave!
3. Housing price and car price are so up in the tree...maybe not in the tree, since you can still climb..maybe it's up in the sky! But I paid so so so much higher than Europe for a tiny little flat in Singapore...hhhh To buy a car, you still have to pay for the certificate of entitlement of 50K SGD on top of the car price... how crazy is that???
4. Though Singapore is a hub by itself, the choices of going out of the countries for a weekend getaway are limited.. let me point out to you... Bali, Hongkong, Bangkok, Krabi..where else? Johor? Bhutan? Nepal? If I am in Rotterdam, I can still go to Brussel or Cologne..
5. In SG, medical expenses are so much higher and medical insurance is not obligatory. In EU, since taxes are high, medical expenses are guaranteed and covered under insurance... we don't need to pay medical expenses if we have to see a doctor, the doctor will claim directly to the insurance companies... how convenient.

Let me continue later..

Blabbing...

Yes, I am so no in the mood, my projects at work are piling up and this always ALWAYS happens when I am about to go on leave... somehow!
But I don't care, I have informed all people in the office... I am on leave!! Though I am still gonna be in Singapore, my boyfriend will come. And you know..we only meet each other every quarter, just like a freaking tracking project...

Well.. anyhoe.. he is coming in about 3 weeks time, I just have to go through this week, the week after (In Mumbai) and then the week after.. and we will be meeting each other! Hooray!

By then, he most probably will already be in Italy... and somehow *ssttt* I am secretly happy that he moves there, though I know he hates it..because I have an excuse to visit him and go to fashion outlets :)
*Baby take note!*

Hmm.. ah ja, I finally got my hands on the YSL arty ring, not the one I always wanted, but I am happy enough.. a milestone, I never had something by YSL other than make up products :)

OK.. enough impulse buying, I will consider the ring as my birthday gift (yes, from myself) - this month I had been shopping like a crazy person so I'd better save money (for the Great Singapore Sale in June-August..Ooopss)

Well.. so looking fwd to welcoming June, though it means that I am getting old.. but I'm going to celebrate my birthday with the boyfie (we are birthday twins!!)
OK ciao ciao for now

Blessed

Today I woke up and felt so thankful to have such a patient boyfie..
:)

Date a girl who travels... :)

Lately, I have been seeing this article a lot in my facebook wall...

“Date a girl who travels. You’ll recognize her by the backpack she always carries. She won’t be carrying a dainty handbag; where will she put her travel journal, her pens, and the LED flashlight that’s always attached to her bag’s zipper? In a small purse, how can she bring the small coil of travel string, the wet tissues, the box of cracker, and the bottle of water she’s always ready with, just in case something happens and she can’t go home yet?
Date a girl who travels. Make her feel safe, warm, and secure. Make her believe that no matter where she goes, and however long she’s gone, you’ll always be there for her, the one that she can call home.
Find a girl who travels. Date her, love her, and marry her, and your world will never be the same again.” - Source: Here

Well, I am a girl who loves travelling, but I don't do backpack :P
I am so lucky that my boyfriend and I are on the same page when it comes to travelling! We both value fine things in life, which for me is not wrong at all, especially if you can afford it. We both love to travel by ourselves and we don't really do hostel.

That said, I am open for a unplanned, spontaneous trip.

Last Xmas, my boyfriend and I went to Turkey - we went to Istanbul and Capadocia. Capadocia is definitely one place that should be in everyone's must-visit list. Well, I could easily opt for a fancy hand bag, but I chose to go to Turkey instead.

Anyway, both of us travel quite a lot, and both are very busy, which is a good thing, because he then understands when I have to work late, or when I have to travel for work. My job is demanding but he knows I love my job. Over certain period, my job requires a hell lot of travelling. If my boyfriend was a traditional, typical Asian one.. I think I would have gone mad...Lucky, he is not.

Next month, I am going to Mumbai for a business trip and I need a visa. The funny thing is..in the form, they ask me to list down all the countries I have been to in the last 10 year?!?! I am like..what the hell, man?! Is there anyone who don't go out of the country at all in the past 10 years.. I mean my list would definitely be long...
If I can list what I remember - not in particular order....

Indonesia (well.. a lot of cities, impossible to list down), Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam (HCM), Thailand (BKK), France (Paris), Germany (Berlin, Koeln, Dusseldord, Obberhausen, Bochum, Dortmund, Frankfurt AM), Netherlands (A'dam, R'dam, Den Haag, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Groningen, Maastricht), Belgium (Brussel), Italy (Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice), Switzerland (Zurich), Spain (Barcelona), UK (London), China (Xi An, Shanghai, Beijing, Gvelin, Hang Zhou, Su Zhou, Guang Zhou, Hainan), Hong Kong, Turkey (Istanbul, Capadocia), Czech Republic (Prague), Liechtenstein, Middle East (Dubai)...

I think that's about it... around 19 countries so far. Currently in my must visit list..I have Iceland (where the Sinterklaas' village is - influenced by the boyfie), Maldives (Male), Nepal, Peru and Las Vegas...
hahaa..I realised that somehow I am not to keen on visiting North America - not so sure why..I guess I sort of have the perception that there is not much culture to see... But, I am sure one day when the time has come, I will definitely pay a visit to the US and Canada..  :)

these pics do not belong to me..

Well.. the point of this post is... I sold my DSLR... I think photography is not my interest and definitely not my cup of tea... haha... so I leave it to a good hand, my boyfriend's hand...
It's pretty embarrassing to know that I bought the DLSR first, but I couldn't even produce anything..

But never mind...
Some of my most favourite photos that he's taken thus far are as follows...
I think most were taken in Cologne, except for the first few photos... taken in Turkey when we had Xmas holiday :)

If I had to pick one and only one... I think I'm going with the artists... the last one in this post :)
Good job babe!

Hello..some update about my life these days

Been a while since my last update... well, life has been great, I know the boyfriend wants me to keep our stories more personal... but I just can't help to write them down, so I, the one with selective memory, can go back and read this post... :)

So..so...so...
Work life has been great, finished all the reports and soon, starting a new project, quite exciting (of course the most exciting one - the previous post - is still on going), because I need to make a trip to Mumbai.
I heard horror stories about going to India, but I hope it will be all right.

In June, the ever so lovely boyfriend will come and pay a visit to Singapore.. We will celebrate our birthday together :) we are birthday twin, if you don't know..so our plan is to celebrate in Marina Bay Sand - having some fine dining at Savoy :)

In August... he will come back to Singapore and we are going to Krabi - oh yeaa!! All booked, hopefully the tsunami warning (in Aceh, Thailand and India) will be gone by then... *keep my fingers crossed*

In December, if nothing is on the way... I am planning to pay my boyfriend a visit in Europe.. by then, hopefully he already settled down in Italy.. :) Honestly, so looking forward to going back to Milaan..and also visit Firenze.
And of courseeee... I can't possibly go back to Europe and not visit the Netherlands, right?
I just have to go back to Amsterdam and Rotterdam to see some old faces.. I just miss them all so much - the friends, the foods, the ambience...

Well.. long distance relationship still sucks, we still can't figure out who's gonna move to where...
The funny thing is..though we both are sort of geographically mobile..our travel plans and opportunities never cross each other's path... Though I don't mind moving back to Europe (be it Italy, Germany or Holland...)  and he also doesn't mind moving to Singapore (well..maybe he did.. a little :P)
but..we shall see....na..ja...