13 December 2008
I didn't make it for the tea ceremony part in the morning of cousin Angie's wedding. I accompanied mum to town to run some small errands and bought some necessities that I left back in KL. Of course you can argue that 2 pairs are heels shouldn't be considered as part of my list of necessities, but I'll beg to differ.
I couldn't even make it to Sri Inai's last gathering before it closed down for good :(
Just look at the details on the tail of her dress.
Ah, sold! I'm definitely looking for a dress with a train for my future wedding dress!
Her hair was very nicely done too. But I didn't get a close shot of it.
With the bride, right before the wedding dinner started.
Can I actually have a real cake made for my wedding? Like how you see in Western weddings? All 4 tiers of it? And it's gotta be chocolate inside those layers of white frosty icing too!
The stage.
Aren't the graphics nice?
Candid shot.
Before cousin Sandra left.
We made them kiss while the rest cheered to a toast - til she was breathless!
Bubbles time!
Cousins (& nephew).
Siblings :)
My parents had a turn of tea after the dinner ended.
Final NG family portrait.
I just had to take another photo with her before I left.
Last photo of the night :)14 December 2008
Dinner with my family at Flying Chillies, Gardens. I only find it average and it just makes me miss Ying Thai even more.
18 December 2008
My family headed to KLIA in the morning and boarded a flight to Japan. Arrived and were transferred to Narita Airport Hotel for a dinner buffet before we called it a night.
19 December 2008
Boarded a plane to Hakodate, which is one of the most beautiful port cities of Japan.
Lunch time!
Rice cooked with scallops.
Fish stew with mushrooms and bean sprouts.
Sorry, I just couldn't resist :P
Piggy hat ^@^
Just messin' around. Mum thought it was inappropriate of me to ask my bro to take this photo for me haha. I found all these toys at the Old Port Store Street.
Potato, Me, Dad & Mum.
The view from where we were standing.
Day view from hilltop - Mt. Hakodate
Night view - overlooking the city and the fine natural harbour.
Our room for the night at Yunokawa Hot Spring Resort - tatami style.
Thinking whether to strip bare naked and relax at the hot spring bath.
After dinner, our beds were ready. I'm dressed in a yukata, which we all wore to our dinner buffet.20 December 2008
Hakodate Morning Market - Japan's biggest seafood wholesale market.
A wild rascal we found during a pit stop. I think it comes regularly, hoping tourists would feed it.
I forgot the name of this place, but it was on our way to Rusutsu Ski Resort.
We bought these cream cheese cakes from Snaffles yesterday at the Old Port Store Street. It was soooooo good. Easily one of the best cheese cake I've ever had. I really hope Isetan has them.Lunch wasn't covered so we just had a simple lunch in the food court - miso ramen!
I didn't ski. So this was the alternative. I must say it was fun. No wonder kids love it!We had coupons to dinner buffet at Octoberfest - one of the restaurants in the resort.
Night view outside the resort after it snowed.
Corn Almond Florentin - one of the yummiest among the many snacks we bought from Japan.21 December 2008
While our luggages were being loaded onto the coach.
Isn't the view covered with snow just absolutely beautiful?
I secretly took photos of the view as my brother were driving the snow mobile.
The view in front of us (on top of my brother's helmet haha)
Then, it was my turn to drive back to the camp.
Dad looked so cute here. Taken at some souvenier shop we stopped for awhile at Lake Toya.
This was one of my favourite lunch throughout the whole trip. In such a cold weather, having hot udon noodles with meat, tempura and the freshest egg I've ever tasted in my life was very satisfying. I think the egg tasted fantastic because it was apparently cooked with spring water.
You were suppose to walk up the hill to see the volcano from afar. But since it's been snowing, you could hardly see anything.
And so, I just took a photo at the bottom and refuse to walk all the way up there for nothing.
Then, it was time to feed the bears at Bear Range.
Aww, they were all curled up in the cold.
They stood on their feet and waved at you for food if you waved an apple while looking at them. Some even showed you the hand gestures of 'Gong Xi, Gong Xi' haha. Look, one was so lazy that it rested on the slide while waiting for us to throw apples at it.The tour guide took us to Jigokudani (Hell Valley) but I just rested in the coach because I wasn't really interested to see it and was feeling way too sleepy. Then we checked into Nororibetsu Hot Spring which was one of the most famous spa town in Hokkaido. I took my brother to walk around the shops at the lobby before rushing to the hot spring bath before dinner.
Yes, I found more penguin soft toys! I bought the middle one :D
Part of my dinner buffet.
And it was only my first round of servings. >_<" 22 December 2008
We were taken to a factory outlet in the morning. But only for one and a half hour! How can that be enough for me?! The place looked nice and clean, and reminded me of the outdoor one in Las Vegas.
I managed to get a couple of stuff from GAP and 2 jeans from Levi's, which were most probably one of my more expensive purchases throughout the trip. Regretted not getting another pair of flat boots with zippers which were only 3000 yen! I thought it might be just an impulse purchase, but it's not often you get knee-high flat boots with zippers. Ugh, why am I so dumb?? *bangs my head against the wall*
Teppanyaki lunch at Miyanomori.
Candid shot of parents.
I liked the lamb meat best.
I think this is the Otaru Canal behind us. It was snowing pretty heavily at that time.2 hours were spent at Otaru Handicraft Street - music box shops that gave out great ganaches (that were ever so yummy!) as gifts, glass handicraft shop, cream puffs & hot coffee and more melon ice-cream before we checked in Ramadan Hotel at Sapporo.
We had abit of time to walk around the city before having miso ramen noodles for dinner. Sigh, I didn't manage to get anything. Not the make-up remover I was looking for, nor anything else for that matter. I was contemplating on getting a bag from Burberry Blue Label, but nothing caught my eye. The only one that looked good for casual use, was too similar to what Maggie had :(
23 December 2008
Former Government Building.
Odori Park - venue for ice carving festival & the 4 seasons park
My parents - heading up on a cable.
Where are we?
The Olympic Ski Jump at the Okurayama, I think - used for Winter Olympic Games in 1972.
On our way back down. Oh, those flats were the only pair I wore throughout the whole trip. So, I think alot of people from my trip thought that I was supergirl or something haha. They kept asking if I didn't feel cold.Well, of course it starts to feel cold if your feet gets covered with snow!! But hey, just shake them off and walk out of the snow area when they get a lil' pink and I'll be just fine. I think some felt I was underdressed, but I'm just not the kind that would wear layers of long johns under jeans and stuff. Don't they feel really hot indoors???
Looking a lil' pensive.
Massive crab!
The Ng Family.
Seafood Gala Lunch - Cod Fish.
Grilled Crab and Abalone.
Crab Congee.
Crab Broth.
Sake on the house! :)
At the airport - penguin earmuffs!! I didn't get them tho' since I doubt I'll have much use with them :( Cute hor?? Now I feel a pinch of regret as well. I did get that tiny penguin that is hiding in its igloo at the back haha.
The beautiful view from my window seat.After checking into Kansai Airport Hotel, we had slightly less than an hour to shop at another factory outlet near our hotel. I managed to get more stuff from GAP. Grr, that was the only store I managed to shop in because everywhere else closed after that. Mum kept deciding whether to pay by card or cash -________-". Moms.
24 December 2008
Morning came and it was time to head to the airport. Time really flies~ Bought more food snacks and miscellaneous stuff from the airport before we boarded the plane. We all rested at home for the rest of the night.
25 December 2008
I spent the day resting at home until it was time for dinner with Angeline , Elena, Jia Ann & Shu at Delicious, Bangsar Village 2.
Angie. Elena. Ann.
Me. Shu.
A toast to a great year ahead :) And many great friendships.26 December 2008
Since Shu was on leave, I met her at 1u and had late lunch together. Angeline curi tulang-ed and joined us for drinks as well.
Christmas decors.Since Angeline had dinner plans, Mei Kee came and join us for a simple dinner at Canton i.
Enjoying her peanut paste dessert.
Me. Shu.
Mmm.. I love egg tarts.
Congee. I wish they didn't ran out of Lau Sar Pao :(
Threesome buddies.
When you see a christmas tree, you should camwhore :DAnyway it was quite a productive day. I bought:
(1) accessories (Diva & byKelvin)
(2) a top (byKelvin)
(3) coat (F21)
(4) lip gloss (Shu Uemura)
(5) Mamma Mia premier ticket
Since Kurt said it was really funny and entertaining, I just HAD to go watch it. I intended to shout my dad a ticket, but he didn't think the premier tickets were worth it. Everything else were sold out. I ended up buying a single ticket because MK took forever to decide to accompany me (and when she agreed, the last two seats together were sold out >_<") You haven't heard the best part yet. When I got home, mum announced that Lexus sent us a letter, offering 2 premier tickets to the musical but we've missed the RSVP date. -______-"
27 December 2008
Met up with Michelle in town today.
Lunch at Zang Toi, Sg. Wang - Spicy Pasta (but not one bit spicy!). I sure loved the chocolate banana cake that came with the set :)After some shopping, we decided to take a break at Michaelangelo's.
Her trying my strawberry smoothie - not her cup of tea, but surely mine! I loved how it tasted so refreshing. You could feel a mixture of sweet and sourness tantalising your taste buds.Somehow the waiter kept asking if we were pure chinese because he thought we were of mixed parentage. How can that be?! We, especially I, are as cina as you can be! Well, not our language, maybe. But our looks, for sure! He claimed that our drinks were a lil' more special. I'm not sure how but I guess my smoothie did look really 'tall' -_-"
Unfortunately, our desserts weren't as 'special'. Look at her face, and you'll know haha.
Michelle's Tiramisu.
My Chocolate Cake w/ Ice Cream(?). It was quite nice when its middle chocolate filling were still warm.We proceeded to shop some more. Or rather, SHE did :P I bought NOTHING at all. Just fell in love with a Burberry bag. Sigh. Probably because I overspent the day before.
29 December 2008
Khai Siang, right before he had to rush off.
Lok Chin - someone I haven't seen since sometime in college.
Mei Kee. LokChin.
LC. Shu - I like this photo of them :) Maybe it's the lighting, without the stupid flash.30th December 2008
I called up Lexus to see if I could still RSVP on behalf of my dad. Yes, I could! Not only that, I managed to grab an extra ticket too :D See, it pays to be thick-skinned (if it's not under your name, that is. LOL)
Was gonna head to MV for lunch since my mum wanted to buy a list of things, but Ju-ju couldn't leave work (of all days, when he claims to be really flexible!!). Man, I woke up and got ready before noon just because you said you eat early lunch, and this is what you to do me *grumbles*
Ended up going to Mei Kee's shop since she looked like she could do with abit of extra help. It was kinda fun helping out. At least, I could spend more time with her, and check out what stock she has that I would be interested in :D We worked til 5pm before we had lunch.
My family had Hakka cuisine for dinner at Kota Damansara with some family friends.
Hakka Appetizer.
The rest of the dishes that the uncle ordered. My dad claims that it's pretty authentic. My grandma used to cook some of these dishes when she was alive. Ah, I miss her :(
ABC w/ Durian @ Pappa..something.31 December 2008
I'm going to blog about NYE later when I'm done gathering more photos from friends. But yeah, it was a good night. Dinner at Alan's place. And then partayyyy at Goddess Couture (Solaris), Mont Kiara. Alan booked a VIP area as post-birthday dinner celebrations. Bumped into some old school friends, college mates and met a bunch of new friends. Sounds like 2009 might head off to a good start (hopefully). I can just FEEL it! :) A part of me still wished that I could spend this night with my other loved ones though :(
Heaps of pictures were taken as usual. I'm guessing many candid shots and mostly ugly ones. I can predict a massive tag-a-thon coming up on FB!
ANYWAY, it's been an interesting year - 2008. Before I go, here's a meaningful text I received, that made me reflect on the memories of 2008 before welcoming the new year.
The year is gone but it has also made you strong.
The path was long but you walked it with a song.
There were fears and tears
But you also had reasons for cheers.
So however 2008 was for you, I'm sure you have at least learnt something.
Now, let's bid goodbye and welcome the new year with new hopes and dreams. I can't guarantee all of you a great year ahead, but hey, let's just be a little more optimistic about it at the moment. The last thing I need is for someone to tell me it's going to be a horrible year on the very first day of 2009. So deal with it, because you've still got another 364 days to go.
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