Against the Odds

How I spent my 25th birthday: Part 1 - KLCC Skybridge

2012-01-30T15:44:00.000+08:00

Omg! I can't believe I'm 25! =O I don't feel 25.. I remember when I used to see 25 year old women when I was younger, they didnt jump around, they were mature, they werent lost, they were successful business women in suits.. Or at least, that's what it looked like to me..

A quarter of a century.. Have I lived for that long? What have I done? Not as much as I thought I would've, let me tell you. There's still so much to be done, so much I havent seen or achieved.. At 25 I should be well on my way, not just starting to pave another path, as I am now..

Omg, I'm getting old it seems.. Since when does a birthday make me think? About things other than presents and food of course.. ;p *shakes head vigorously* No! I'm not old yet! I'm only 25, and I'm gonna enjoy it! So enough with the rambling, this is how I spent my 25th birthday (like a kid!) ;p

Introducing The Three! Yes, that is what I am going to call us, The Three.Adrian: Best friend and minion. Nyahaha!
Oliver: Brother and pain in the you-know-what. ;p
Me! Also known as Calista. LOL. The birthday girl!! Whee..!! This means I got my way in (almost) everything that day. Haha! =D

We woke up crazy-early to join the endless line we knew was waiting for us to go up to the KLCC Skybridge.. Never been up there before and it was on my must-see list for KL, so why not on my birthday right? =)The ticket counter opens at 8.30am, so we reached just before 9am.. Cz we all had a late night the night before..
Zzz..
Anyhoo.
I still think we were pretty early.. But when we finally got to the counter, we were told to pick a time slot:And this is all that was left! =O
The 12pm slot was only available for 2 more people, so we took 12.15am..
...
...
...
What were we supposed to do in KL at 9am for 3 hours??? Sigh..
Since parking in KLCC is quite expensive, we decided to drive out and see if there was anywhere else to park. We also wanted to claim some frozen yoghurt that Oliver had bought via Groupon, at a shop called 9 Berries, which is in KL City Walk, a new place I just found out existed.. Lol.. According to their facebook page, it's Malaysia's first ever pedestrian strip mall and stretches approximately half a kilometre. It's actually quite a nice place, but since we were way too early, and there isnt anywhere to park around there, we couldnt enjoy it's potential.. Lol.. I know.. Sounds weird.. But true! =) There are boutiques there, cafes, bistros etc already there, and as they're located on Jalan P.Ramlee, right in front of Jalan Pinang and near KLCC + Pavilion, it looks like it could be the next hip and happening hangout!

With the Groupon voucher, we were entitled to 4 cups of FroYo plus toppings. Can't remember how much it was, but it was crazy cheap! And with Adrian waiting with the car out front, we couldnt stop long to take photos of the pretty yoghurt.. =( I can tell you though that there were 4 flavours: original, mango, strawberry and blueberry, all topped with fresh fruit. 9 Berries is owned by a Korean lady, who also sells cute Korean accessoriesThe earrings are only RM5 a pair!
gifts and original K-pop albums and souvenirs! I definitely do recommend you go and check it out if you love all things Korean! =)

After enjoying the yoghurt in the car, we decided to park at Fahrenheit and walk through Pavilion to KLCC. It was nearly time to go up, and we had to be there 15 minutes before to check in.We were greeted by a hologram video at the entrance
It felt so cool to walk through this.. Lol..

Then taken straight up to Level 41 - the skybridge.The BridgeThe View. On the other side, Batu Caves is also visible in the distance. Just Hangin'And Squattin'Adrian and Oli with their yellow visitors' passes (they use this to call you when they need you to regroup. As in "all yellow passes get yo asses back here NOW!" ;p)

The 41st floor is for visitors, and the 42nd floor is for staff. It's 170m from street level and is 58.4m long. The actual height of the Petronas Twin Towers is 451.9m, and is 88 stories high (trivia for the day!).
After being allowed around 15 minutes on the bridge (which unfortunately did not sway that day as there wasnt any strong winds), we were then ushered back to the elevator Look at all the buttons in the lift!

and taken up to the 83rd floor, where we then changed to a smaller lift, which took us up to the observation deck on the 86th floor.

Obviously the view from up here was even more spectacular! The tallest building you see in the photo? That's The Intermark.
You can see the opposite tower out the window! And when I say window, I mean these!I spy with my little eye...

We were only allowed in Tower 1 as Tower 2 is all offices.Apparently there is also a small exhibition room where you can sit in a chair that simulates the swaying of the building and also what happens if lightning strikes the building. We were not taken here. WHY??!! *alternate sad and angry face*

We didnt go outside to the KLCC gardens this time to take photos. Guess we took it for granted. But I did want to put up a photo of the towers from the outside, so here's one I took a few years back, during my first trip to KL:After we finished our tour, we were taken straight to the souvenir shop.. Things were a bit pricey so we didnt buy anything there. We went straight out to the mall, and straight up to the food court. We were starving by then! We had this incredibly yummy Teppanyaki beef rice.. I definitely recommend it if you're ever in Suria KLCC.. It's in the food court on the 2nd floor, and is 2 doors down from McDonald's. It's simply called Teppanyaki, and it's really nice, and they give quite a big portion. Not very expensive either, compared to the rest of the food available. Dont expect much from the service though. Lol.. Oh, and sorry again.. I didnt take a photo cz I was too busy stuffing my face.. =/

By the time we finished lunch and had a little walk-around, it was around 4pm, so we set off to get the car and go back to the other side of town - which I'll tell you about in Part 2 (I promise I'll be fast! ;p)
xxxxx

GAC Adventure, please change your website!

2012-01-22T15:05:00.005+08:00

For my 25th birthday, I really wanted to do something different. I'd heard of zorbing (orbing) and it sounded like something I'd really be able to enjoy, so I looked it up online, and found one company who does it in Malaysia. Their website looked promising, so Adrian, Oliver and I started to get excited. We decided we'd do water orbing and orbing downhill.

I tried to call their office number a few times, but it went into fax. Nevermind, I thought. On their website it says walk-ins only have to pay RM5 extra, so I guess we'll do that.We set out at noon on Saturday, a day after my birthday, as it was stated that the activities were only available on the weekends. From Kelana Jaya, we made our way to Serdang, where the stupid Nokia GPS took us in circles while in search for Hospital Serdang, which is supposed to be beside MAEPS. We ended up at UPM, where the guard gave us directions. And we finally found it.

MAEPS is a big place, so we couldnt find the GAC Adventure site. After asking about 5 different people (4 who were security guards), it was determined that NO one knew where this place was! So Oli suggested trying to call the office again.

To our surprise, we got an answer! Lol.. Unfortunately, this seemingly good news dashed our hopes within seconds, as we were told that the orbing is only available for advance booking, and their staff were all out of the premises. He could however, slot us in for some time after February. Great. I drove around in the hot sun for over 2 hours, and you're telling me that you havent changed your website, so I'm here for nothing? A second phone call also determined that GAC was no longer available at Titiwangsa either.
Obviously we were upset. I wasnt rude, but I'm sure he heard that I was extremely unhappy on the phone. The company's saving grace is only the fact that the guy who answered, a Mr CJ I think, was amazingly polite, and tried to be helpful. Unfortunately, his help was not of any help to us as I am now back in KK, and unlikely to ever try to go to GAC again. It kinda ruined my whole birthday, as I planned everything around the orbing.

So anyway. It's just a little complaint that I felt I had to write about to release my upset. Looking back at the website, maybe I should've noticed that there was also a mobile number I could've called, but still.

I suggest:

1. Any companies that have websites, please update it as often as you have any changes to your company policies. Misleading websites are annoying and inconvenient. They also render your website quite useless.

2. Please get an office phone, and an office fax. You waste a customer's time and money by having a number that goes into fax if your staff do not answer on the 3rd/5th (etc) ring. This will also cause you to lose potential customers. Having an office phone+fax plus an extra fax number doesnt make any sense to me either.

3. Have proper signboards to your location. When the security guards of MAEPS dont even know where your company (which is supposed to be on the grounds) is, there's something wrong. We spent about half an hour driving up and down looking for the place, and I still dont know where it is.

4. Employ staff like the aforementioned CJ. Polite and helpful staff may save your company from being ripped to pieces by unhappy customers. I cant imagine what I would've done if someone rude had come on the phone. Hot+disappointed=angry+irrartional. Lol!

So that's all I've got to say. Anyone else had good/bad experiences with this company? Or has anyone else been zorbing anywhere else before? Do let me know!
xxxxx

PS: Will be uploading a post of the HAPPY parts of my birthday next! Whee..!!

And before I forget, Happy Chinese New Year everyone! May the Year of the Dragon be a prosperous one! =D

My Christmas 2011!

2012-01-10T16:24:00.024+08:00

In anticipation of not receiving any presents on my birthday (until I get home and make mommy buy some, that is!), I decided to cheer myself up with a blog post of the wonderful Christmas I had, just 3 weeks ago! =)

Oliver and i woke up to our stockings, as we do every year. But this year, as (obviously) we dont have a fireplace, nor bed posts to hang them on, they were very nicely hung on...My wardrobe doors! Haha..Sneak a peek...Ta-daaaa...!! =)

Then, fast as lightning, we woke dad up and turned our attention to...
The pile of presents just waiting to be ripped in to! =DNo tree this year, so my bedside cabinet had to do.. ;p No space for a tree in my room in KL!

I was very happy with my pressies this year! I felt so spoilt! =D Wanna know what I got? Come on, you know you want to! =)

From mommy and daddy
Yay..!! Been wanting this for almost a year! =D Was recommended by.. Wait for it.. The girl at the SK II counter! Lol.. It must be good! ;p
As I couldnt take a nice picture of this mascara, here's the print ad for you to check out! =)
A Korean cardigan bought from KK.. =)

From Oliver, cz he knows just what I want! Woohoo!! =DFrom Adrian, who as usual felt the need to prolong the process and insert the element of surprise.. Lol! ;p
Eau de Parfum! =D

From Jovanni, who also came over for Christmas dinner! =DAnd last but not least, from S'mal! My first designer piece! =DGroup shot! ;p Thank you so much everyone! And I hope you liked your presents too! =D

All the excitement sure got our tummies growling, so while all this photography was going on, mom was in the kitchen whipping up a traditional Christmas breakfast! Yum!Bacon, cocktail sausages, fried eggs, bread, baked beans and tomatoes.. Ahhh.. Yes, dad was really hungry! ;p

After a little rest *burp*, it was time to get ready for dinner! Yes, festivities are all about food right? ;p So we went out to collect the turkey (which we bought on Groupon). The turkey was great, but the sides were barely enough for 2 people, let alone the 5 that was promised.. Hmm.. Luckily, Adrian had an oven, so mom also made some roast pork, and (omg yay!) ROAST POTATOES!!!! =D Yum yum yum yum yummy!! Jovanni and Adrian supplied the drinks (Calista wine = sparking grape juice ;p) It was the first time I actually really celebrated Christmas with Jov or Adrian, so it was great! =)

How was your Christmas? Filled with joy and love I hope? Do tell some stories! =)
xxxxx

Hennessey V.S.O.P. Privilege Collection NYX Launch

2012-01-09T11:22:00.024+08:00

First partay of 2012! And all courtesy to the Chan family! (Shoutout to Heidi, Mandy, Chloe and Adrian Chan - woohoo..!! ;p)

A by-invite-only launch party, the 3 sisters won tickets and were nice enough to let me in on the action by sparing me one! =D They registered at the Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilege Collection NYX Concept Space which was at the East Atrium Entrance of Mid Valley Megamall, where they collected their goodie bags which were limited edition bottles of the new Hennessey! The bottles are so pretty! They come in platinum and ultra-violet, and give you a surprise under black light! ;p

We were all given white gloves which were our "entry pass" into the "secret location". Space-age dressed ushers were positioned every few metre away to point us in the direction of the club, which turned out to be Bianco @ Vertigo Club, The Gardens!Upon arriving at the entrance, we were asked to take a group photo.It was suggested that we were white, as the club would be equipped with UV lights, so that's what most of us did!

The first thing to greet us as we entered the club, were glow-in-the-dark tattoo booths, where we all got "tattoos" in different places:
As we were in the middle of the club near the bar, we didnt get to see the start of the launch.. =( It was jam-packed! Plus, I cant exactly see over anyone's head, can i? ;p
We did get to see the models on the podium beside us though, so that was good!
Unfortunately, I still dont know who the emcee was that night, but she was pretty good!The DJ however.. Well.. Who doesnt know of DJ Blink? He's only one of the top DJs in Malaysia! And I can see (or rather hear) why! =DAnother good thing about our position at the bar was.. Camwhoring! Haha.. We got to take loadsa pix with the huge pretty bottle! =)I swear, it's bigger than my head!! I have to say, the drinks were really good! Even for a non-drinker like myself, I could taste how smooth the liquor was! There wasnt an overpowering alcohol taste to it either, and the cranberry ones were yum! As it was free flow from 8.30 - 10.30pm, someone had (more than) one too many! Not saying who, but.. Nyahahaha..!! Call this my revenge! ;pCheers everyone!

So that was my 5th day of the new year, how's yours so far? =)
xxxxx

Last post of the year!

2011-12-31T13:11:00.004+08:00

Goodbye 2011, and hello 2012!

So here it is, the last day of 2011. Has it been a good year for you? Or do you wish it could've been better? Whatever the case, I do hope you've learned from it, and will be bringing the best with you into the new year! Leave behind the bad, as it's only motivation for you to do even better tomorrow! =)

Today marks the end of a roller-coaster year for me. There's been good, there's been bad, there's been moments when all you can think is "huh?".. There's been the exciting moments, the boring moments, the just nice and cosy moments.. But what it really brings, is the end of an adventure.

I've had a great time these 2 years, living in Kuala Lumpur. I've met amazing people, built up friendships that I hope will last a lifetime, had some fabulous experiences, and learnt so, so much. But I guess there comes a time when you must return home, and returning to KK will be a new beginning for me in 2012. I have no plans as of just yet, but I hope that 2012, the year of the dragon, will be a year for advancement in life, of happiness, of decision-making and of more travelling! (That travel bug just wont quit biting! ;p)

I'm not one to make resolutions, but I guess my resolution for 2012 would have to be to find my path, and not be here, there and everywhere.. As I'll be 25 in about 2 weeks, I guess it's time to find some direction! ;p

Do you make resolutions every year? How many do you achieve? What's your resolution this year? Do drop me a comment, would love to know! =)

Happy New Year 2012 everyone.. Have a blast bringing it in, but remember, always party safe!
xxxxx

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

2011-12-24T16:54:00.004+08:00

It's Christmas eve! How's everyone doing? Shopping all done? Turkey defrosted? Invitations sent out? Presents all wrapped? =)

I foresee a good Christmas this year! Having two friends over for Christmas dinner with my family, we have a turkey, a pile of presents, and enough time for extra plans to be made! =) How about you? What are your plans?

I gotta run now though, gotta go squish with the rest of the last minute shoppers in KL!! Wish me luck guys!!
xxxxx

The Countdown...

2011-12-21T02:10:00.001+08:00

...To Christmas!!Omg, Christmas is in 4 days!! I foresee a very hectic week ahead, seeing as NOTHING is done yet!! =O

Spring cleaning to be done before the 'rents get here.. In 2 days!! Not to mention all the X'mas shopping that has to be done! *nail-biting*

Although we wont be having a tree this year,I know Santa will still be coming to townWith pressies galore for me and my loved ones!And after so many years, we'll be having Turkey!! =D
Too bad no roast potatoes though.. =( Although - latest news! - Adrian might be doing something about that!! =D=D=D)

I havent even planned the places we want to go after the 25th.. Hmm.. A few nearer-to-home places we've never been before? Or a road trip? Decisions decisions!!

How are your plans looking? Ready for a very merry Christmas everyone? =) Drop me a note, I'd love to know! And if you have any suggestions on where I should take the family, I'd LOVE the help! =D

'Tis the season to be jolly!xxxxx

Credits to Fame Cherry and Marcus Low for the awesome Santarina photos!

North Korea's Christmas Present to the World?

2011-12-19T23:51:00.001+08:00

Whether it's a gift or a curse, this has yet to be decided.

The announcement of North Korea's dictator Kim Jong-il death (by heart attack, aged 69) was met with joy, fear and uncertainty. To the North Koreans, if we are to trust the short video clips that were released, the sudden death of their "dear leader" was met with grief and anguish.What happens next, is anybody's guess. How will the unofficial successor in the form of youngest son Kim Jong-un decide to rule? Or will he even have the military support to become the "Great Successor", as he has been named? At only a rumoured 28 years old, will the powers-that-be give him any room to have his say? This is one of the main reasons the world (in particular, South Korea, the US and Japan) is on tenter hooks - for fear that the young and "untested" successor will feel the need to show military strength to help establish his position. An optimistic hope is that he will begin to lead the hermit nation to peace with the world, and in turn, help his starving people.

Kim Jong-il was known for his secrecy, unpredictability and harsh rule. He was ranked 31st in Forbes Magazine's List of the World's Most Powerful People in 2010, and is in the news often, mostly for threats of nuclear testing or attacks on South Korea.

North Koreans lead a surprisingly normal life, though famine is one of the main problems faced by the self-sufficient state. The state is also said to have one of the worst human rights records in the world. All media and telecommunications are controlled by the military, and phones and the internet are not available for the public. Even so, many North Koreans now illegally wear clothes listen to music and watch videos of South Korean origin. The majority of North Koreans are atheist, as freedom of religion does not really exist (though it is always "said" to). Despite the border separation between North and South Korea, the two still share the same language (though dialects may differ), and traditional culture.

Contrary to popular belief, tourism does exist in the state, though it is controlled. Every group or individual visitor will be permanently accompanied by a "guide", who usually speaks the mother tongue of the tourist. Getting a visa for South Koreans, however, is virtually impossible. Judging from photos that can be found on the internet, North Korea (also known as Democratic People's Republic of Korea) does seem like a beautiful place though. Take a look for yourself!
Baitou Mountain, TianchiLake Samilpo Pyongyang CityRyugyong HotelTomb of King Dongmyeong

And that was your little lesson for the day! ;p On a lighter note, let me leave you with an article that was sent to me. I personally find this hilarious, so read on, and tell me what YOU think of the man who was globally condemned for most of his reign..

xxxxx

Pushing the Boundaries of Fashion

2011-12-17T17:15:00.001+08:00

Pretty? This is the latest underwear ad for Dutch intimate apparel brand, Hema.

"What's so special about it?", you may ask. Well, this pretty "lady", is not actually a female model.

Andrej Pejic is an Australian androgynous male model of Serbian and Croatian parentage. The 20 year old model is represented by Storm Model Management. He is said to have been scouted when he was just 17, and has appeared in both male and female fashion shows, most recently for Jean Paul Gaultier, and Jeremy Scott.

His latest gig advertising this push-up bra that is said to enhance cleavage and make breasts appear 2 times bigger is causing controversy galore.
His biggest campaign to date seems to be the Spring/Summer 2011 Jean Paul Gaultier:And he's appeared on magazine covers such as L'Officiel UkraineAnd FollowAndrej has had editorial spreads in Vogue Paris, Italia, and Turkey, not to mention numerous more high fashion magazines every female model would kill to be featured in. Not only that, he is ranked #18 on a list of Top 50 male models, and was also ranked #98 on FHM's 100 Sexiest Women In The World 2011, and caused quite a commotion when a transphobic blurb was attached to his entry HERE.

A few more amazing photos:

So. The question is, dear readers, do YOU find that a man modelling women's initmates has perhaps crossed the line? Or do you think we should wholly embrace the gender-bending trend? Let me know! =)
xxxxx

Highly Anticipated! =D

2011-12-16T01:28:00.001+08:00

No words are needed to describe this photo. *swoon*

New single to his upcoming album "Trespassing" will be released next Tuesday! =D It's been way too long.. Just heard a snippet, and 30 seconds is all I need to know that "Better Than I Know Myself" is gonna be on repeat for days! xxx

Sexy-Lee

2011-12-15T01:45:00.000+08:00

Saw this on one of the walls in Sunway Pyramid.. Yummy!! ;p

Watch Out Old Klang Road!!

2011-12-14T01:46:00.000+08:00

A long mutant is in town!! =O

12 Days Til Christmas!!

2011-12-13T01:46:00.000+08:00

But the weather outside is frightening.. O wait. Not in South East Asia it's not! ;p

And the countdown begins! Rush, rush, rush to get all the Christmas shopping done, plans for the holidays, sometimes I dont even know where to begin! =D But 'tis the season to be jolly, and that, my dears, I will be! =D

What's on YOUR Christmas lists this year? Do share! =) One of the things on mine is a new hand phone.. Cz mine is way too close to being thrown at a wall! Lol..
xxxxx

Road Signs That Dont Make Sense

2011-12-12T11:26:00.002+08:00

Trying to get to One Rochester in Singapore.. Hmm..

Professional Photography? Hmm..

2011-12-01T16:07:00.007+08:00

So I bought one of the local fashion mags last month, the November 2011 issue of Cleo, and it came with a little booklet, the new catalogue from local shoe brand Vincci. Now, as you all know I'm kind of a shoe freak, so I immediately grabbed it and flipped through..

Unfortunately, it wasnt the shoes that caught my eye. Much to my surprise, good photos were ruined by a small detail that none of the editing team seemed to notice: unsightly wrinkles in the skin-coloured tights of the model!

Some were not so bad, like this one is barely anything:But then it gets worse:And the worst one is definitely this one:Out of the 9 images that featured the model (excluding the covers), 4 were crinkled! As an ad campaign, I would've thought small details like this would be important, it's not hard to smoothen out such a minor but distracting thing using photoshop! Not impressed Vincci, not impressed at all..

What do you think? Do you think it's a big deal? Should it have been dealt with before going into print? Or do you think it's fine to leave the wrinkles on the finished photo? Let me know! =)

xxxxx

Random Adverts

2011-11-21T20:30:00.003+08:00

Is it me? Or is this just not a very good photo to even take, let alone publish?This was taken in the cinema washroom at e@Curve.. There's a couple of different images, all pasted on the cubicle doors, and the entrance.. A guy version is on the men's room.. Hmmmmmmm... Lol..

The People Who Made My Phnom Penh Trip An Amazing One

2011-11-17T03:02:00.014+08:00

I guess I should really introduce the team properly before I go on with the Phnom Penh posts huh? =) Just realised I havent mentioned them properly.. Haha.. So here they are! Ready for fame guys? Lol.. Please say hi to -

Katherine - The reason I went to Cambodia in the 1st place! =)

Random fact: Kat is a fussy eater just like me!

Daryl - The team leader; Totally random!

Random fact: Daryl can come up with the random-est rhymes on cue!

Eddie - The psycho. 'Nuff said.

Random fact: Eddie writes as well!

Espie - The big-hearted grandma who overcame the odds; Hilariously funny!

Random fact: Espie's real name is Esperanza!

Jeannie - The doctor; Always up for a song!

Random fact: Jeannie is originally from Penang!

And our Cambodian hosts -

Kimmy - The translator; Heaps of fun!

Random fact: Kimmy LOVES ice blended coffee!

and her brother Singly - The tour guide; Never a dull moment!

Random fact: Singly likes K-Pop! (Yes, K-Pop is big in Cambodia too!)

And there they are! The small but larger-than-life group I had the honour of spending a week with.. A week that was over way too fast! =) Will be writing more about our adventures soon, so watch this space! ;p xxxxx

Transform Cambodia and Dorm Visits!

2011-11-14T23:28:00.000+08:00

To start off my trip with the team, we woke up on Day 3 to visit an NGO called Transform Cambodia.In the tuk-tuk on the way to Transform Cambodia with the Smiths - Jim, Karla, Katherine, and the twins Jamie and Joanna!
Transform Cambodia works to transform the country through education. There are 11 Transform Cambodia Centres, and at least 3 more coming up soon in different districts. In every centre, there are around 100 children enrolled, who otherwise would have no means of getting any education at all. But no child could ever concentrate on learning, even if it were free, if they were still going without food right? Transform Cambodia not only pays all their fees and costs of going to school, they also distribute meals and nutritional supplements when the kids are at the centre, and compensate the family with food, because the kids are unable to work and help the family.There are 10 staff members in each centre, and they are all Khmer nationals, although the founders are actually from a church in Australia. The classes are taught in English, to help the children have a better opportunity with international companies and sectors when they come out to work. So how does Transform Cambodia sustain itself? Well, sponsors are appointed for each child, and these sponsors help finance the operation, and encourage the children through letters and email. the unique part of this foundation, however, is that ALL the money given goes directly to the children and their needs, and not a cent is taken for any kind of administrative fees etc.

It was really heartbreaking to actually get to the centre, as it really is in one of the poorest parts of Phnom Penh. We were passing by dirt roads, stalls selling meat on the roadside, covered in flies, street kids running around without clothes on.. =( The amount of help the country needs is tremendous, and Transform Cambodia is helping from the root.
Ready for a short tour? =)The classrooms are spacious, bright and cool, and each one has a bathroom attached. There were about 4 classrooms if I'm not mistaken, and the whole ground floor is used for prayers, and meals. There's a kitchen where the staff cook all the meals, and also an office there too.

All the class rooms and hallways had pretty pictures on the walls, like these! Kat likes Kittys.. ;pCute right? =DA few of the kids who came out to bid us adieu!

To balance up our emotions, we set out for a hearty lunch at a restaurant called Bopha Phnom Penh at Sisowath Quay, right on the bank of the Mekong river. The Mekong river is the 10th longest in the world, and runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It was a really nice restaurant, and it was also a 'farewell' lunch, as The Smiths (minus Kat, as she was staying on to heal the world with her MA in Human Rights for another 6 weeks!) were leaving for Malaysia straight after.The food was amazing! Kat and I especially loved this beef rendang-y thing.. *sighs happily* Wish I knew what is was called!!!! Lol.. We didnt, on the other hand, like this beef loclac.. =/ I think it tasted and felt a bit too raw for my liking, even tho it wasnt..After sending my adopted family off (yes, I adopted myself as a Smith long ago, questions? ;p), I checked into the hotel that the team has been staying at, the Royal Palace. It was really comfy! And cheap too! My kinda place! Lol.. (Value for money, ka-ching! ;p) Then the boys wanted to check out the Adidas store, so off we went in 2 tuk-tuks, and promptly got caught in a sudden heavy downpour practically as soon as we stepped out of the store. Lol. Sheltering in a gas station, Daryl taught us this game called "Bom Chi Chi", or "Tongka Tongka", whichever you fancy. This turned out to be a game that confused us all, and was deemed unfit for the dorm visits we were going on that night. Hahaha! (Sorry, the excitement on Daryl's face every time he went "Tongka Tongka Tongka!!" was just hilarious.. ;p)

Anyhoo. As I just mentioned, we went on dorm visits that night. Now, I dont know whether or not I have my facts mixed up, but these dorms are provided by the New Life Foundation to about 40 men who come from different provinces, but work in Phnom Penh. They cant travel back and forth each day, so they stay in these dorms for free, and in return help out at the Foundation. The "car park" of the dorm also doubles up as a "classroom" for those who want night classes for English. This is where we dropped in to pay a visit and get to know some of the Cambodians. =)

We waited until their class ended, then got to know each other through a couple of games which left us all in stitches! Then we split into groups of guys and gals, and got to talk to each other a little more. There werent many girls, I think there was only about 8 of us, so after we had talked for a while, we got some of the snacks and drinks that we brought ready to pass around.It was like a big party! So much fun! And it was really great to just talk to them all, and learn more about their lives, hardships, and dreams. They're such a friendly group of people! And for me, it was also a time to get better acquainted with the team. Talk about a time for bonding! =)Ahaha!! Pastor Sothea's face!! ;p
By the time we left the dorm and went on our way to dinner, I felt I knew them a lot better than I had before! Which made dinner a much enjoyed experience. We went to a riverbank-view restaurant called Camory, which served a lot of western food. Unfortunately, Jeannie couldnt join us as she had to be up early the next morning for her medical mission (did I mention Jeannie's a doctor? Hmm.. I think I did, but anyway, she worked mostly with another team, all medical experts.. =)), but we filled ourselves up with all the yummy food.. Ngom ngom ngom.. Then it was off to bed for us as well, as we had a busy day ahead!

Too Racy? Oh Lola!

2011-11-10T17:04:00.005+08:00

I'm all for censorship and protection of children (and women in general, for that matter) etc, anywhere in the world, but in a country that does not even ban nudity/sex on TV, aren't they taking this a wee bit too far?

The U.K.’s Ad Standards Authority has ruled that the latest ad for Marc Jacobs' newest perfume Oh, Lola! is too provocative, and, after just 4 complaints, has banned the image from appearing again.

Here's a look at the ad:
Ok, I admit, maybe the bottle isnt resting in the best of places, and she does look pretty young, but honestly, before the ban was mentioned, did you see anything that made your mind fly to other places? She's wearing a decent dress, has tights on so not even her thighs are bared, and she just looks like she's leaning back, relaxing, holding an oversized perfume bottle on her lap! That's all I (and a slew of internet commentators, lol) see - a girl holding a perfume bottle! This makes me think that the people who complained just have their minds in the gutter. =/ I dont find this ad the slightest bit sexy even.. Don't you think you have to be looking for it to actually see it in such a perverted way? Hmm.. Actually, I dont think it's a very good photo at all, but who am I to judge ey? ;p Even the mention of the inappropriate flower on top of the bottle, well, every Marc Jacobs perfume bottle has a flower on top!

But who cares what I think, what do YOU think? Drop your thoughts in the comments box, I'd love to know! =)

The Enormous Gap between the Rich and the Poor

2011-10-20T15:56:00.000+08:00

A tuk-tuk parked next to a Camry

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, but driving down the street you will first notice the amazing amount of motorcycles and tuk-tuks on the road, and then notice that anyone who drives, drives a luxury car. From Toyota Camrys, to Range Rovers; Lexuses to Escalades, and even Humvees, Phnom Penh is filled with them. Their homes are either run-down apartments, or flashy mansions that look like they can be on the road to Beverly Hills.Yes, the contrast between the very rich and the very poor is obvious. There are slums right around the corner from one of the malls. But no one seems to bat an eyelid. What is running through the minds of the rich when the poverty that is right in front of their eyes can't be ignored?DIY baby-chair

Corruption is rife, not even the schools are spared. According to sources, the teachers are paid so little that they do not teach the students what is necessary to pass the exams. Instead, students are required to pay extra for "tuition". Many of these students dont have enough money to eat 3 meals a day, so they have no choice but to drop out of school, get low-paying jobs, and the vicious cycle continues. Police stop motorcyclists on the road, and demand money. If none can be given, they take the bikes instead. This is the reality of many Cambodians.How are people supposed to survive if the police take away the only thing they have?
Common scene on the roads of Phnom Penh

On a more personal note, I went out for lunch with Singly again as Kat was only scheduled to arrive around 7pm.. This time we had "safer" food:Cashew nut chickenGreen curry chickenYum-yum pineapple shake! Singly obviously loves it too.. Lol..

Then we went to Sovanna Shopping Center. I didnt buy anything, as things are surprisingly more expensive in Cambodia. I guess this is because they use USD. Interesting fact: There are no coins used in Cambodia; instead, the Cambodian currency riel is used for "change". Singly said that it's because coins are easily lost, and i can see why that would be a factor, as they mostly ride motorcycles, but I still ignored his comment.. ;p
We went to the arcade, where i discovered that boys everywhere really are the same. I could've been kidnapped for all Singly knew when he was watching this other kid play Street Fighters. Hahaha.. But I still smoked his ass when we played Air Hockey!! =D (Say it Singly! Say I rule!! Muahahaha.. ;p)I found out the NGO/church we were going to be working with is called New Life Centre which is just behind my hotel Basically, a ministry called Cambodian Outreach provides relief to the poorest areas of Cambodia, and The New Life Foundation, along with the humanitarian programme Children @ Risk are just a couple of their "branches". I got to visit the Children @ Risk office where we bought some souvenirs for friends, which is great cz they represent Cambodia, and at the same time we get to help these children make some money to sustain themselves.. I bought some braceletsand keychainsFor those of you who'd like to help without physically going to Cambodia, you could always sign up for their sponsorship program, details of which can be found here.

South-East Asian Adventures Continue!

2011-10-17T03:47:00.023+08:00

This time, Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

When my friend Katherine ('Sup girl? ;p) came back to KK from the UK a few months ago, she mentioned that she would be going to Phnom Penh in October, and asked if I'd like to meet her there.
(Background update: Kat and I have been friends since 2006, and were inseparable til she moved to the UK with her family in 2008. Since then, we've only been able to meet once when she came down to KK again, and then this time she came down in 2011, so yes, having the chance to meet up any where was good enough for me! ;p)

She was there with her parents and a team from Australia, on a mission trip. I was a bit anxious before I got there to be honest, knowing that her parents would be leaving 2 days after I arrived, and she'd be with a bunch of people I didnt know, while working. Would we have time to actually hang out? What exactly would I have to do while I was there? What if the team dont like me? What if I dont like them??

I was scheduled to arrive on 8/10, and to add the element of surprise to the trip, about 3 days before, I received mail from Kat saying she wouldnt be there when I arrived! =O She was in the villages on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, about a 5 hour drive away.. I was also stupid enough to book a 6.45am flight, but that a different story, lol. She'd arranged for someone to pick me up at the airport and a hotel room for me though, cz she knew I'd prolly get lost and just sit at the side of the road somewhere and cry if she didnt.. ;p

So. I arrive on Saturday, walk out of the airport, and see.. Nothing. No one with any signs with my name, no one who looked like they were there for me, nothing. (I dont know what I was expecting this "host" to look like, but yea.) Then all of a sudden, I feel a hand on my shoulder, and this Cambodian dude asks me "Are you Calista?" Whoa Kat, you must've given an amazing description of me! Hahaha.. Turns out his name is Singly, and we hop into a tuk-tuk and head to the hotel. (Yes, I did just randomly follow a Cambodian stranger as soon as I touched down in PP. The excitement that is my life.)

We got on pretty well, and took care of me before Kat arrived, taking me to breakfastPork noodlesDim sum
Before letting me go back to the hotel to sleep. (Being the dummy I was, I didnt sleep the night before for fear of missing my flight.)

Later in the evening he came back on his scooter (which is really nice btw) to take me for dinner. We went to this really nice place called Sleuk Chark.Walkway up to the restaurantTable settings (Those seats are really comfy!)

Singly asked if I'd mind him ordering, to which I said go ahead. Mistake!
He ordered sour soupginger chickenand.. Frog with quail eggs! =O And now, to all of you who complain about me being a fussy eater, I'd like to announce, that I did try it! One, but I did it! So there! *sticks tongue out*

It actually did taste like chicken, as so many people say, but psychologically I couldnt get over the fact that it was frog so.. =/ The quail eggs were mostly yolk as well, seeing as they're so small, so I only had one of those too.. I think he ordered it on purpose just to get the upper hand, cz SINGLY IS INSANE!! If only I'd known this before I spent 2 whole days with him.. *shakes head* ;p

After dinner he took me on a mini tour of this place called Diamond Island. Diamond Island is basically a concrete little place with gardens and exhibition/wedding halls on it. There are also a few shops and cafes and stuff, but it looks nothing like the islands you have in mind. It's also the location of the November 2010 Water Festival tragedy, where nearly 400 people died because of a stampede on the North Bridge. =(

Some photos I took there:Before going back to the hotel, we also rode down the riverside, and Singly told me about Cambodian popcorn. Of course I had to try it! ;p
It's not as sweet as normal caramel-coated cinema popcorn, but not as bland as the light/salted ones either.. It was good! =D

So that was the end of day 1! And I havent even really done anything yet! ;p Will be blogging about the village trips, our visit to the touristy spots, the killing fields and much more so please click the 'follow' button to make sure you get updated!

Love ya'll!
xxxxx

My last day in the Pearl of the Andaman!!

2011-10-09T18:50:00.000+08:00

Ok, what better way to complete a way overdue blog post about Thailand, when I'm sitting in my hotel room in Cambodia? Lol.. Don't make sense? It's ok. It's only cz I finally have time and thought about this as I'm lucky enough to be on another holiday! So before I can blog about Phnom Penh, I better finish blogging about Phuket, right? =) (Hey! Two P's! =D)

Anyway, our last day was a short one, as our flight was an afternoon flight. We woke up, and went to the mall down the road, Jungceylon, planning to have a look around and have breakfast. Unfortunately for us, the mall only opened at 11am!So we went into the one cafe that was open, where Ray, insane as usual, decided to order a mango ice-blended for breakfast *rolls eyes*I ordered proper food:Tom Khaa Gai, which, according to the menu, is "boneless chicken simmered in lemongrass, galangal, lime leaf, chilli and fresh coconut milk finished with fresh lime juice, chilli oil, and a side of steamed rice".

Yum! This cost 100Baht.

Then we walked around the mall. It was just normal, but what surprised me was the cosmetics counter was actually significantly more expensive than in Malaysia! I asked about a couple of things at Kose and Lancome, and the difference was about RM100! =/

What was fun was the gun simulator shop though! =) How do you like me like this?? ;p The guns actually gave me quite a sore shoulder for a while! And they're not even real! Pfft!

We also, upon the insistence of Ray, got our photo 3D lasered into a cube. It was quite expensive, but I cant quite remember how much.. It's a great souvenir though!Notice how it looks like we're looking at different directions just by a tilt of the cube? It's 3D from all sides!

A last lunch at our hotel before setting off for the airport of course included one last bowl of tom yam for me! Nyahaha.. Obsessed? Maybe. Don't judge unless you've had it! ;p
This virgin pina colada was heavenly as well.. *happy just thinking about it*Ray was boring, and had a club sandwich.. Haha..And that was it! The end of our Phuket adventures.. We had an amazing time.. And to be honest, I cant wait til our next one! But before that happens, I'll keep you posted on Phnom Penh! I'm here alone, meeting with my friend Katherine though this time, so a different journey awaits!

Til next time!
xxxxx

PS: Just a fun fact - I didnt see one cockroach or rat while I was in Phuket!! So Malaysia, work on it! ;p

CariBilik.com Renames Itself To iBilik.com

2011-09-09T16:37:00.003+08:00

Hey guys! I know it's been a while since I last posted, and I apologize.. Things have been go-go-go since August, but I'm not complaining! Think my body's trying to keep up though, as I've been really sick the past 2 days.. Could be another cause, but that's a different story altogether..

Well, let's get back to today's post, shall we? =)The title of this post pretty much gets straight to the point, but if you dont know what CariBilik.com is, you can refer to the post I did at the beginning of this year: http://petitemodel87.blogspot.com/2011/01/aunt-karen-this-is-for-you.html

Basically, caribilik.com is an amazing website that can help you find the best rooms for your needs. Unlike other sites, not only can you find rooms for rent, you can also find rooms for short term rentals, like home stays. This is good for those of us who do not plan to stay in a particular place for long, as most rooms come with at least a one year contract. Short term rentals are generally cheaper than hotels, and make you feel more at home than motels. For those on a budget, you can even search by cheapest rentals, just by clicking on a tab on the page! Save time and money!

Another thing that's great about this site is that it separates its locations very well, so not only do you get categories such as Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, or Selangor (states and federal territories), you also get more detailed locations such as Ampang, Puchong, or Damansara (different areas within each state)! This is great when you're maybe not too sure of the places surrounding the exact location you need to go.

So, as mentioned in the title, for those of you who are scratching your heads looking for rooms, or looking to rent out rooms, I'd definitely suggest checking out ibilik.com as they've not only changed their site name, they've also changed the design so it's now a lot easier to search through their 70,000 listings.

With a search button right on the home page, all you need to do is type in key words such as location, and what kind of room you're looking for, say "three bedrooms", and all the listings that match those particular words will come up. Each listing has detailed information, like size, price and contact details, and a lot of the posts also come with pictures of the room/apartment, and a sometimes even a map! ibilik.com also prides itself on having some of the best deals in Malaysia.
Bet you've seen these ads! =)

So whether you're looking for a room, a short term rental, or looking to put your property up for rent, register at ibilik.com today and your worries will be gone in no time! =)

Half Day City Tour of Phuket!

2011-08-08T19:58:00.000+08:00

As you can see, we were up bright and early and ready to go! Our day tour started with a trip to a rubber tapping estate......

Yes! Now that I'm back in KK, I can finally finish this post as I've gotten all these next photos from Ray's iPhone (lazy bugger refused to email them to me.. Pfft!)

Our guide for the day was Kevin (pictured below).He told us that the rubber tree was a very important source of income for Thailand, but that they brought the first rubber trees in from Malaysia (meaning they did not originate in Thailand). *proud moment* =)

Rubber tapping is the process by which the sap (rubber) is collected from a rubber tree. An incision is made in the tree's bark, which cuts through the planting cycle to optimise the latex yield.

Each night a rubber tapper must remove a thin layer of bark along a downward half spiral on the tree trunk. If done carefully and with skill, this tapping panel will yield latex for up to 5 years. Then the opposite side will be tapped allowing this side to heal over. The spiral allows the latex to run down to a collecting cup. The work is done at night or in the early morning before the day's temperature rises, so the latex will drip longer before coagulating and sealing the cut. (Info source: Wikipedia)

When the cup is full, the rubber tapper will collect all the latex and take it back to a small "factory", usually right next to the plantation. Then, it is poured into moulds and formic acid is added to coagulate the liquid latex. This transforms the liquid latex into a firm solid block of rubber, which is initially rolled using a wooden roller so that it is thin enough for it to be rolled by the mangle machine.
The rubber sheet is manually rolled using the mangle several times to make it thinner by squeezing out the water. This make it easier for the sheet to dry.
This machine is then used to texture the rubber.
Before it is sent out to be sold, it must be hung out to dry, like these sheets Ray is posing with! ;p

Next on our itinerary, was a visit to Three Beaches View Point, the best view in Phuket! You can see the beautiful bays of Kata Noi, Kata and Karon here, and let me tell you, the view really is spectacular! =D Sorry for the lamp post.. Lol..
As you can also see, it was windy too! Haha.. I have so many photos with my hair all in my face.. =.="

From there on, it was one breathtaking view to another!

We visited the Big Buddha on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata, and even donated a THB300 to get a marble slab with our 祝福语 (words of blessing) on the base of the statue when it is complete!
Please ignore the ugly handwriting...
After the donation booth, there's like a hall with the King's photos and writings of Buddha, which you walk through to get to some stairs which lead to the Big Buddha. As we were rushing (the whole reason I dont really like tours), I couldnt get any photos there.. =(
These are the steps. Yes, this is my expression every time I see a long staircase.
A photo of the bells that were hanging along the top of the staircase. Just because. =)The view is really pretty from the top of the hill, but my (crappy) camera couldnt capture it very well as it was getting ready to rain.. =/This is the 2nd Buddha that's on top of the hill. It's 12 metres high, made of 22 tons of brass and cost 8 million baht to complete.

According to www.phuket.com, about 10 years ago a group of friends were walking through the forest in the Nakkerd Hills when they stumbled upon a place with stunning vistas of both sides of the island – Chalong Bay lay in one direction while on the other they looked down over Kata and the Andaman Sea. It would, they thought, make a perfect place for a viewpoint – something that could become as well known as Phuket’s favourite sunset viewpoint, at Laem Phromthep.

As time went on, and as the friends discussed it again and again, the idea evolved. The place in the hills, they soon agreed, would be perfect not just as a viewpoint, but as the site for something much more ambitious and, to Buddhists at least, much more significant: a giant image of the Lord Buddha.

The project had its hiccups, not least of which was battling through a mountain of red tape required to get permits to build in virgin forest at a height above the usual building limit. But the paperwork was finally completed and construction began in February last year.

Funding for this massive project is coming entirely from donations, and is expected to cost about 30 million baht to complete. The Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha – to give it its official name – will be 45 meters high and 25 meters across at the base.

The smaller Buddha image, will be devoted to HM Queen Sirikit, while the big one will be devoted to HM King Bhumibol to celebrate his 80th birthday.

Interesting huh? The Thais are very respectful to their King, and you can see his face on banners and posters almost everywhere in Phuket!

Next up, we made a stop at the famous Wat Chalong, a Buddhist temple not far from Big Buddha. Our guide explained that a temple is not famous because of its beauty or whatnot, but it is famous because of the monks who stayed there. The 2 monks who made this Wat famous are Luang Pho Chaem (1827-1908) and Luang Pho Chuang (1875-1945). There are gold statues of them, plus another (Luang Pho Gluam) in the prayer hall, and many Thais stick gold leaves to these images to pay respect to them and ask for their blessings.

I also did the whole shake-the-tube-til-a-stick-falls-out.. Haha.. For the life of me I cant remember what it's called!! Argh!! Freaky thing is, nothing was happening for the longest time, until I thought to myself "Please just let me know what the next month will be like for me". Within seconds a stick with a number flew out! =O Apparently I'm only gonna have normal luck tho.. Nothing good nothing bad.. Haha.. Yes I know the girl next to me looks scary, and I apologize for the crappy photo. Ray is obviously not a photographer. Hahahaha..!!There were fire crackers going off in this stack outside the prayer hall. Apparently, this is to show gratitude for answered prayers.

Next up, we went to this wooden house which is air conditioned inside (so I satyed a few minutes more than necessary ;p) There are wax (very real looking) statues of the 3 monks in here too.The 3rd building on the site was this one:
The Grand Pagoda dominating the temple contains a splinter of Lord Buddha's bone and is officially named Phramahathatchedi-Jomthaibarameepragat (is that a mouthful or what?!). The pagoda is decorated with wall paintings depicting the Buddha's life story and also features various Buddha images.Unfortunately, we didnt have time to go up to the top. I heard the view is also amazing!

Then it was on to Wang Ta Lang, a gem factory, which of course I did not get to buy anything in! ;p Diamonds, rubies, sapphires.. *sighs with a smile*

Pornthip (I know, funny name) was our next stop, and Ray and I happily stuffed our faces with the many samples of local snacks. We also bought a lot, spent about THB800! Haha.. Yes, we like our food.. ;p I'd recommend the dried pork slices (they're crispy, like crackers), and also the dried mango.. Ray liked all the sotong (cuttlefish) stuff as well.. =)

For some reason, we seemed to have a lot of time here, as we were the 1st ones back to the van.. And guess what Ray was doing? Mm-hmm..
We also saw the Century-old Sino-portuguese buildings on Thalang Road, which look like the ones in Singapore to me, and then to a honey factory which makes really good honey.. Thumbs up! I wanted to buy some honey chocolate as well, but Ray kept looking at my tummy when I said that so.. =( No fat Calista then? Sigh..

Our last stop was a huge compound full of stores, called Premium Outlet Phuket. Every brand you could think of was there, with cheap prices on everything! Unfortunately, this was also our lunch stop so we didnt have much time at all.. =( We were both upset we couldnt shop, but I suppose Ray's credit card was happy.. ;p

And that was the end of our tour! It was really fun, and we packed a lot into 5 hours, as you can see! I was gutted we couldnt go on the elephant safari though, but that tour was twice the price.. This tour only cost us about THB600 per person if I remember correctly..

This was going to be my last Phuket post, but then I realised what a long-ass post this was, so to refrain from boring you, I'm going to separate this from my last one, which I (half) promise wont be as long! =) That one should be up soon so do keep reading k? =)

On a side note, I'm taking my JPJ (driving) exam tomorrow morning, so keep your fingers crossed for me, cz I really need to pass first try! ;p

Love you guys..!! xxx

Not Suitable For Audiences Under 18

2011-07-25T19:06:00.008+08:00

What do you think of this photo? Honestly. Just another random photo, right? Anything provocative about it? Guys, does it turn you on? Would it make your girlfriend jealous? Girls, would you feel offended by it? Here's a better view:Apparently, a photo of me on a photo shoot (theme: "sports wear"), wearing one of the loosest t shirts in my wardrobe, is now deemed "18sx". I'm not quite sure whether to feel flattered, or offended. Lol..

It was posted up on one of the photographers' walls on facebook, a couple of days after the shoot. This was a group shooting event by the way. I wasnt tagged or anything, but as he added me as a friend, I noticed a bunch of Chinese characters with a photo of myself, so I clicked to see what it was. This is what I was greeted with:

此图18禁？此图儿童不宜？此图让你女朋友看了会说你对不起她？
如此厉害？要我立刻删除？
兄弟，会不会过分点？

(Translation:
This photo is 18sx? This photo is not suitable for children? This photo caused your girlfriend to say you betrayed her when she saw it?
So powerful? You want me to delete it immediately?
Brother, isnt that a bit too much?)

Stunned? Me too. I never knew a photo of me in a t shirt could provoke such emotions and drama! Lol.. When I asked, the photog just said his friend asked him to delete cz the girlfriend wasnt happy. Why? For one, it's not his friend's photo. And secondly, JUST WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING WHILE LOOKING AT THIS PHOTO THAT MADE HER SO MAD??? I have a hundred photos that are a hundred times more provocative than this! This is a sports t shirt for crying out loud!! To label this as 18sx, well, would she pass out hyperventilating if she caught you looking at this one?As I said, I have no idea what went down, but I can think of a few omg situations.. How about you? Feel free to express your thoughts.. ;p I'm still totally flabbergasted!

Who needs such a big one???

2011-07-18T18:27:00.005+08:00

Seriously!

Now, I know you must be wondering about what I'm referring to. Well, it's this!Dont look too bad to you? What about now?I mean, I know I have a small head and all, but honestly, this is a bit over the top dont you think?

"For a heavy flow" it says.. How heavy??? Are you telling me before the invention of this massive thing women who have a heavy flow had to be in diapers??

I think the problem here is not how big the pad is, but the education on how to use one properly!

Meow! Drool-Worthy Stilettos!

2011-07-07T13:50:00.004+08:00

No words can fully describe what I feel for these heels..Sigh.. What I wouldnt do.. =)

Diving in Phuket!!

2011-07-05T15:21:00.000+08:00

We woke up early and got ready to be picked up by the diving company (All 4 Diving). The islands we were going to were quite far away, about a 45 minute drive, so we settled down and napped before arriving at Kata port, where we were all hauled onto the dive boat, the Similan Queen. We settled down, and got ready for a 2 and a half hour journey to the Phi Phi Islands.

We had breakfast (they provide lunch and a snack as well), and I went with another guy who was from Russia for a briefing, as we were not licensed divers. It was pretty simple, as I have dived once before, so we were sent to rest for the remaining time of the journey.On our way

Luckily for me, Ray's a sleeper. He can (and wants to) sleep any time, anywhere. So we spent most of the long, bumpy boat ride asleep. Why is this a good thing? Because the way the boat rocks on the open sea during monsoon season makes one feel very, very seasick. And I'm not even the type! I dont remember ever being seasick/car sick (except when I was young and stubborn and insisted on reading in the car, lol), but this was no joke.Not sure whether you can tell how rough the sea was, but it's a pretty pic anyway! ;p

I woke a couple of times, felt queasy, so promptly went back to sleep. The poor Russian guy was literally green in the face by this time. When we were woken up to get into our wetsuits and put our equipment on, I immediately felt queasy again, but it was bearable. Problem was, we were like the second last group to get into the water, so while we were standing there, all of a sudden I thought "oh no", and before I knew it (this is gross, but I'm gonna tell you anyway), my mouth was full of vomit. As always, I calmly poked my instructor's arm, and pointed to my mouth. He knew what it was and sent me to the side of the boat to let it all out.. Haha.. Told me the fishes would love it.. ;p Talk about immediate relief! I felt better as soon as breakfast was out of me.. Lol.. Apparently, Russian Guy had already thrown up a few times, poor thing. Take this as warning, those of you who are planning to dive in Phuket - get a seasick pill when you get on the boat, the crew will provide them, but you must take it before the boat starts moving as it doesnt quite work when you're already feeling nauseous.

We were told to get into the water asap after that, as we would feel better as soon as we got underwater. Russian guy had a little training session before we were allowed under, so I floundered around for a while and practiced what I'd learnt the last time, just in case. Then it was down, down, down! The underwater world is SO beautiful in Phuket.. We saw so many different kinds of coral, fish, and even eels! We were pre-warned to steer clear of sea urchins (there were loads of them) and lion fish, and not to startle the puffer fish (even though I would've loved to see one puff up, I suppose it wouldnt be fair to the fish ey?) The best part, I must say, was when I caught sight of a white tip reef shark! =D A only got a glimpse, as they're very shy and will run away from divers, but it was awesome! We were down there for the usual time of 45 minutes, and I think we went about 8m under if I'm not mistaken.And that was Phi-Phi Lay! =) Next, we went on a much shorter boat ride to one of the neighbouring islands, Koh Bida Nok, which was even more amazing if you can believe!SO beautiful!

We went down to about 12 / 15m, cant remember which and this time, we got to see a giant tutle! It was so cute! We spent a good 10 minutes with it I think.. =) We also saw what I thought was a dead fish at the bottom of the seabed, but when we surfaced I was told it was actually a fish which I think may be a scorpion fish, but I cant really remember the name.. If anyone knows, please drop me a comment to let me know! Thanks.. =) I was gutted we didnt have an underwater camera.. =( 1st thing on my list of things to buy (behind getting the actual licence and buying some of my own equipment) will be a good camera and underwater casing! (Will accept as a Christmas gift, if anyone's feeling generous.. ;p)Look how blue the water was!

The next dive I wasnt allowed to go on, as it was for licenced divers only. This was Koh Dok Mai, which literally means "flower island" in Thai. You wouldnt understand the name as you reach the island, as all it is is a big boulder in the middle of the ocean.The site is mainly a wall dive straight down to 30 metres. The reason for the island's name is the wall underneath the surface is covered with colourful flower-like coral, and I heard it is most breathtaking! Wish I could've gone down.. =( Apparently there are loads of little seahorses and octopus' around the wall as well, and Ray told me they even went into a cave! Jealousness!Ray in the water
See how rough the sea was? While everyone was having an amazing time in the water, I had a lovely chat with my instructor, who, if I remember correctly, was called Darren. He's Australian, and has been living in Phuket for over 6 months. Most interesting part about him though, was that he used to be a policeman! =D I guess sooner or later everyone finds their true calling and passion.. I had a very good time diving with him, he's a very good instructor, very highly recommended! Other than talking though, I also did what I do best - stuffed my face. Darren wasnt kidding when he said the pancakes the boat's cook made were the best! =D I think I had about 3 before I couldnt fit any more in.. Lol..Yum yum.. With Hershey's Chocolate Sauce!

After getting back to the hotel, we had about an hour or so to shower and change, then it was time to go to the famous Simon Phuket Cabaret!
We'd gotten VIP seats, which are nearer to the stage for about 600baht each, including transportation. We arrived, got our seat allocations, then went out to take some photos and have a drink at Simon Bar before showtime. =)The show was amazing! Definitely a must-see in Phuket.. The 'girls', and the guys did a really good job of dancing and lip-syncing, too bad no photos were allowed though.. There costumes were really good, and I suppose that's where most of the ticket money goes to.. They performed traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese etc songs, jazz numbers, and even a funny Barbie Girl performance! By ONE 'girl'! =D I had a really good time, though Ray got fidgety half-way through. He said he liked it, but I guess it was too long for him.. Lol..

As I was warned, the performers lined up outside when the show was over, and asked people to take photos with them for a 'tip'. How much this tip was I'm not sure, but we were being hurried to our van anyway, so I didnt have time. Managed to snap a few photos on the way out though: Funny thing was, one of the 'girl' performers actually looked like Jovanny, and one of the guys looked like Oliver.. Hahahaha...

We were very tired at the end of the night, but who's got time to rest while on holiday ey? The next day, we had to wake up early to go on the day trip! =)

Stay tuned!

สวัสดีค่ะ!! Sawatdee ka!!

2011-06-28T00:44:00.002+08:00

After much procrastination, here it is. Finally.

My first trip to Thailand! Phuket to be exact, and it was the best holiday I've had in ages, if not ever! =D Not that I've been on many holidays yet, but still.. Haha..

Like most things that happen in my life, the trip started out with me being mighty confused. The Air Asia tickets said we'd be flying at 4.15pm, and landing in Phuket at 4.35pm, while return was a 5.10pm departure and a 7.35pm arrival. Huh? I know right. Turns out, yes, it may be a faster flight from KL - Phuket compared to KL - KK, but it was an hour's time difference! Duh! Lol..

Anyway, we arrived, and got a taxi down to Patong, where our hotel was.. A Toyota Camry as our taxi! Felt more like we'd hired a car and driver! ;p After a 45 minute drive, we finally arrived.
As soon as we got out of the cab I was like "Oh no!". Directly across (unfortunately) was a girlie bar.. Sigh.. Should've been prepared for that, but I wasnt I guess. However, that was the ONLY let down of the hotel. Inside was worth every penny we paid! =D Reception and Lobby
Our room!
Nice riiigghhhhttt...? =D

Ray wasn't feeling too well the first night (liar, he's actually a lazy bum who wanted to sleep!), so we just went somewhere near for dinner, before calling it a night (much to my disappointment. I was hyper!). We went to this place called Elephant Cafe, where I had pineapple friend riceTo be honest, I prefer the ones served in KL.. =/
and Tom Yam Gaiwhile Ray had Tom Yam Goong with yellow noodles.It was nice! The tom yam in Thailand is very flavourful, but not omg-spicy like the tom yam you get here in Malaysia. In fact, it's not spicy at all really, I was having a ball! =D

The next morning, we had breakfast at the hotel (which was a bit expensive as it wasnt included with the room). To be honest, it wasnt very nice.. =/ We had cereal, pancakes, eggs, bread, the usual stuff you know. Then we rented a motorcycle to tour the city (naughty actually, seeing as Ray doesnt have a motorcycle licence, nyehehe). Damn cheap weyh..!! 150 baht (RM15) for 24 hours! And gas is only like 40 baht per bottle, which lasts a LONG time!!Too bad I didnt think to take a photo of the gas stands til it was too late! =( They're like wooden tables, like really old school.. Haha..

We went road Patong Beach a couple of times, went to a couple of market-type places (everywhere was so expensive!), and came across this:Why havent I been receiving any royalties????
There were TWO some more!! ... Lol.. I also came across a poster advertising a muay thai fight, which I really wanted to see, but the tix were so expensive! Ringside 1,500 baht, and stadium 1,300 baht (RM150/RM130)! =(

Then we decided to take a ride into Phuket town.As you can see, this is quite far away! ;p

We stopped halfway up a hill to take photos here:Yes, Ray's 自拍 skills are a lot better than mine.. ;p

We stopped by one of the malls that was on every map we had picked up:Uh-huh, he can find ways to park illegally anywhere! Hahaha..

Found out the cinema is more expensive there than in Malaysia.. Hmm.. We didnt walk for long as it had already been a long day, and Ray was scared of the shopaholic in me.. Nyahaha.. He's not too bad himself, what with almost giving in to temptation and buying an ipad 2! (Which are cheaper there by the way, in the Apple store as well!)

On the way back, we passed by this temple. The interesting thing about this temple is that not only is it on a hill, at a bend, but that nearly every vehicle that goes past honks! I was intrigued, so we went in and asked the lady, and she said it is to say hello to the gods. =)

Back in Patong, we stopped by a little coffee shop for a late lunch. Ray tried the iced Thai tea, and had Fried Rice USA (......).Helmet hair!I, being oh-so-predictable, had Tom Yum Gai with plain rice.. ;pNom nom nom..
I think it was the best Tom Yum I had there!

Then it was back to the hotel to rest (keep in mind Ray was in some discomfort from a boil on his hip). At night, we went out for dinner, and stopped over at a place suggested by the dive instructor from Manchester, whom we'd met while enquiring dive prices.The food was really good, and omg so cheap!! Tom Yum Gai (AGAIN)Beef fried in hot basil leaves, and choy sum

It was by the seaside, and boy was it windy! I actually wanted to show you guys photos of my hair being blown everywhere, but.. All ugly.. Hahaha.. So we'll stick to one of my fave photos of us:And that was Day 1 - 2!! Stay tuned, will be bringing you Day 2 - 5 real soon!! =D

Coming up: Diving, Simon Phuket, Day Tour!

Random Food Review - Canoodling!

2011-06-22T23:36:00.009+08:00

As I was flipping through Time Out KL last month, I suddenly saw the one '$' sign next to a restaurant. In Bangsar Village II. Really? I thought everything in Bangsar is over-priced.. Hmm.. What else was left to do but to check it out? =)Miss Jov and I went in first and were quite impressed with the whole ambience of the place.. We especially liked how we could draw on the 'tablecloth' with the crayons provided, which we promptly did as soon as our orders were taken.Like little children, I know

Jov ordered Red Curry Duck Confit Noodles, which is, according to the description on the menu: Charcoal noodles topped with Thai-styled red curry with lychees, finished with a whole crispy duck leg & fresh basil.
And yes, the noodles looked like this:
*wrinkles nose*
I did not like. Jov did though.. Haha.. And the duck was really nice! =D

I ordered Lam Mee. Because I am boring. And because I had never tried Lam Mee before. Also because my other option was fish ball noodle soup, a thought that was met with an I-will-smack-you look by Jov. Nyehehe..
This is "succulent poached prawns & shredded chicken in a thickened chicken broth, served over yellow egg noodles". Other than the fact it had bean sprouts in it (yuck), it was really delicious!! Definitely recommended. =)

Then Adrian joined us, and proceeded to stuff his face with the Dan Dan Mein.
Hmm.. Adrian said he'd give it a 6/10. It's worth a try, but maybe you can tell me what you think.. =)
Handmade noodles tossed in a peanut buttery spicy szechuan sauce with minced chicken heaped with curly cucumber & crunchy peanuts.

All in all, I think I'd give the whole experience a 7/10. The ambience is great, it's not too expensive (see below for prices), and the food is really not bad (for most of you. I'm just a really fussy eater. ;p) I'd definitely recommend it, as next up, we're going to their sister restaurant, which is right next door: Res米aurant! (For those of you who dont read Chinese, 米 means rice, which is what this place serves, as opposed to CaNOODL(E)ing!! ;p)

Prices:
Red Curry Duck Confit Noodles RM13.90
Lam Mee RM10.90
Dan Dan Mein RM11.90

Where have YOU eaten recently that you think is a must-try? Drop me a comment and let me know! I am always game for food!! =D

My 1st Indian Occasion!

2011-06-06T17:07:00.018+08:00

Yes! My 1st visit to an Indian temple, my 1st time attending an Indian engagement, and my 1st saree!! =D

It all started when I was out with Nalin a few months ago, walking aimlessly around Bangsar, when we bumped into a 3 of her family friends. They asked us to join them for a drink, and they started chatting while I tried to get Nalin in some awkward conversation spots, because i love her so much (muahahaha). So the conversation turned to marriage, and Malanee said she's getting engaged in a few months. I told them I'd never been to an Indian wedding. let alone an engagement, and Malanee said she'd invite me to hers! =)

To be honest, I did think that that was gonna be it, and didnt think about it until about a week ago, when I got a call from Nalin asking whether I'd be free Sunday evening. Yes! The theme was traditional Indian, in any shade of red, and as Nalin didnt have an extra red saree, we promptly arranged to meet in Masjid India to get me one!! (Keep in mind this was my 1st time in Masjid India too, so I was a very excited child.. ;p)

When we got there we were both starved, so to fully Indianize me we had Indian snacks at a coffee shop nearby.. I like how they always use a lot of potatoes! Nyehehe.. Then on with our search!

The 1st piece of info I received was that the thicker, silk cloth was mainly worn by older women, and younger women usually used softer cloth, as it shows off the silhouette more.Silk sarees, photo courtesy of swayamwara.com

A lot of the styles were very typical, lots of colour, lots of bling. They were all so pretty! I kind of liked a few emerald green ones, but wanting to stick to the theme, we looked for red and maroon ones. We both agreed red suited me better than maroon, and at our 3rd shop, found the perfect one:
I love that the flowers are black and gold!

So pretty riiiigghhhhttt?? =D And damn cheap too! RM39!! I asked Nalin about this too, as I'd previously heard that sarees cost a few hundred. She told me those were the fancier ones, for weddings etc, or designer sarees.

We also bought some Indian bangles (I still want glass ones!!) and earrings, with Nalin providing me the bindi.

On the day I went to Nalin's place a couple of hours before the ceremony, which was held at a temple near her place. She helped me tie the saree (quite complicated, but she said it'll get easier as I practice. She must not realise my middle name is butter-fingers. ;p), and her own, which is this retro-looking white-with-black-polka-dots-and-stripes-and-big-red-flowers saree:Do not underestimate this rock chick! She can tie her own saree ok?! =D

Her friend Sara picked us up, and after going to the wrong temple (haha) we finally reached the location. I didnt really know what was going on, and couldnt get close enough to get too many photos, so here's what I did get:
The future bride and I!Wedged between Nalin & Sara!Sara & a friend's husband (sorry, I forgot your name.. =/ *peeks out from behind Nalin*)
Decoration outside the temple hall =)
The groom coming in with the procession.The bride being blessed..
The groom being blessed..The obvious joy! =)Family portrait =)
The trays that were exchanged. Nalin explained that this is seen as an 'agreement' between the two families of the union of the two.

After the ceremony, we all went outside to eat. the caterers were Little Caterer, who according to Nalin are the most popular caterers for weddings etc. As it was in a temple, it was all vegetarian food, but very nice! Looking at this now, I realise I forgot that I wanted to get a tosai after the rice though.. =/

So to end this post, I'd like to say a very big CONGRATULATIONS to MALANEE & NAVIN!!! =D I wish you a blissful marriage, and happiness, health and wealth always.. =) Thank you for inviting me to be part of your special day!

xxxxx

The Twelve by MIFA, Thank You!!

2011-05-30T19:57:00.007+08:00

What am I thanking them for? Why, these babies!!
Yes! The Twelve by Mifa gave myself and another winner - Devi a RM200 cash voucher to use at Benson Chen's section in The Twelve, which is located in Fahrenheit 88 (next to Pavillion, Kuala Lumpur). How did we win these vouchers? Easy!All we had to do was update our facebook status telling of our love for shoes and Benson's designs, and 13 people were then chosen to get exclusive invites to the prestigious Benson Chen's Masquerade Madness Summer Collection Showcase. 2 out of those 13 were then chosen as winners for the vouchers! =D

Unfortunately, due to some very bad timing, I was unable to attend the event *kicks herself*. I've been following the reports and photos on facebook, and it looks like it was a major fantastic party! =( Sigh.. Let's just hope I'm lucky enough to be able to attend any future events they host ey? =)

To those of you who don't know, The Twelve is a concept store featuring 12 brands created by promising Malaysian designers. The chosen dozen are Bumiputera Design Association (BDA), JKhan, Key Ng (KN), PU3, Radzuan Radziwill, TAS Iman by Tom Abang Saufi, Young Designers' Arena (YODA), Zero To Ten (all apparel), Benson Chen (shoes), Sasha Rowena (bags), Shinju Pearls (accessories), and uREKA (art).

It's an interesting space each of them have in the store, definitely recommended to go check it out! They're not too pricey either! =) Come back and let me know which is YOUR favourite out of The Twelve, I'd love to know!!

xxxxx

Property Hunting - What Are Your Methods?

2011-05-30T19:16:00.001+08:00

When it comes to buying property, we all have our headaches. Which area is better? How can I get an unbiased opinion on different tamans, condos, apartments etc? Where can I get the best bargains? And the list goes on.

Most of us go through newspapers for ads, ask friends' opinions, or just drive around looking for areas that seem interesting to us. A lot of us nowadays also go on the internet and search through all sorts of sites looking at all the different places on offer. I, for one, like this method a lot, especially in the initial stages, and especially when you're looking for property in a different town or state.

Say for instance you were looking for property in Penang, and you were currently living in KL. All you would have to do would be to google "Penang Condo For Sale", and a million and one links would come up. How easy is that? =) The harder part comes when you need to sort through those links.. ;p One site I've visited even comes with a mortgage calculator, so you can calculate the exact price range etc that is available to you! =) Also available are satellite maps, and you can even ask questions and get real answers! Hmm.. Easier than the good old days when all you could rely on was word of mouth ey? ;p

Looking for a property site that has info listed about each location/development is also a good way to lighten your stress. Make sure you check out the facilities, tenure, build-up (square feet) etc to be sure of what you're getting yourself into.

Even though property sites are an easy way to check out more options, when you've narrowed down the choices do remember that not everything you read is true, and make a trip to check out those places in person. Buying property is no laughing matter; if you don't know for certain what you're getting yourself into, you could be left with a lot of unwanted debt. House hunting can be fun, so go on, whether for investment or for personal use, check out some of the available property in your dream area online.. Hey, your dream house could be just around the corner......

Moonlight Bay, Batu Ferringhi

So. My question for YOU is - What are your tried and trusted methods for searching / buying property? Drop me a comment letting me know! =)

xxxxx

Blogger Of The Year - Digi Wwwow Awards

2011-05-28T01:21:00.003+08:00

I WANT THIS TITLE...!!!

Hahaha.. Yes, i do. A lot. More than you know. And the only way i can achieve this? How else? With YOUR support of course!! =D Hey, no one can gain success alone right? =) And do you know how powerful you awesome people can be? Well, I posted on my facebook page today (Click Here) that I needed help with votes as I was ranking no. 104 (and that's a long way from no.1, *sobs*). And what did you do? Within 7 hours, my votes leaped to no. 88!! =D

So yes, there is hope! And as long as I have your support, I do believe I can grab this title and continue to blog to my heart's (and hopefully your eyes') content! =)

(Well, you know I'll blog even if I dont win, but hey, make me happy!! ;p)

Make me this happy, i dare you! ;p

You've all gotten me through a lot, and I know I ask for your votes for quite a few things, and you've never let me down! I just wanna say, that you guys are the best readers/friends I could ask for.. *big group bear hug*

Also, I'd love to hear more from you guys! Please, do leave me comments / questions / even constructive criticism!! I want this to be more than me blabbing (even though that IS a favourite past time of mine, nyehehe), i want to connect with you guys, know what you wanna read about, know what you guys like, know what you think is boring maybe.. Let me know!

So, I'll stop rambling now, as that also seems to be a hobby of mine, and leave you with the link to vote if you think i am worthy of the Blogger of the Year title.. =)

Just click on this: http://www.wwwow.my/Detail.asp x?cd=230511021204352

Register with your facebook account (you'll see this at the bottom of the screen print of this blog - Against All Odds), then that will be replaced with a box to type in two security words and a VOTE button. CLICK THAT TICK!! =D

You can vote once a day, until 20th June 2011, 11.59pm. If you'd be so kind, you can also share this out on your own facebook, twitter, etc.. =)

Thanks so much guys.. It really means a lot to me.. Modelling and writing are my passion, even though they dont necessarily seem to link with each other, and it's YOU who helps keep my dreams alive.. *teary eyes*

And it also seems i can be quite the drama queen ey? *wink*

Loves as always!

xxxxx

Carlsberg DJs Spin Party ft. Keli Hart!

2011-05-23T14:10:00.027+08:00

Now I know what you're thinking. Two things dont go here. One, Calista doesnt even drink, so, Carlsberg? Secondly, DJs? Yo, I thought you didn't like house music or whatever these DJs spin?

Well yes, you'd be correct. BUT. You'd also be forgetting that just because it was a Carlsberg party, it doesnt mean they're gonna force me to drink any.My Shirley Temple

Plus hey, my friends are Carlberg fans so, who am I to stand in the way of their fun right? (Selfless, I know ;p)Uh-huh. And that was just the beginning!

And Keli Hart has to be the exception to the DJ rule, cz she spins songs I listen to, and does a damn good mix of them!
As soon as she got up on that console, we were dancing and having the most fun I've had in ages! Which reminds me.. I havent mentioned who I went with have I? =)These crazies, that's who!

Arrived at Ecoba Restaurant and Bar, which is at the PJ Trade Centre with Sue, and proceeded to order mushroom soup and a latte, while I ordered potato wedges (surprise, surprise) cz we were starved.. This was my 2nd time at ecoba (The 1st when I did the Alfaparf shampoo launch), and I must say, I'm very impressed with the ambience of the whole place.
The soup is REALLY good! From the taste of it, I'd guess it's made with wild mushrooms. Definitely a must-try!

I was invited by a certain Tim ChewWith his team of Malaysia's Hottest Bloggers, and also photographer Andy KhoThen Adrian and Dennis showed up, as Dennis also knew one of the organizers.. So it was a real cool party! =DThe event started off with local DJ/Model Patricia Knudsen, who's Danish and super hot! (Well the event's tagline IS "Have A Blast With The Hottest Female DJs Around", so are you really surprised? ;p)Emcee of the night was none other than Channel [V] VJ Joey G, who isnt so bad to look at either! Lol.. Basically it was a night of eye candy for everyone! =D I was lucky enough to get photos with both of them! They're really friendly people, and if it wasnt for my usual awkwardness I'm sure I'd have had a longer conversation with them.. Sigh..Also spotted at the party were local celebs Jason Lo and Pietro Felix, but I didnt get photos with them...

Halfway through each segment, the Carlberg dancers also came out! We were sat right in front of the stage, so we got a good view (guys, be jealous! ;p). Here's what you missed out:
A very incriminating photo, no? ;pI think she might've been the best dancer.. =)

Around 12am, it was time for Aussie DJ Keli Hart! Keli plays House/Electro/Prog/Tech/Breaks (and yes, feel free to drop a comment to explain what the genres are, especially Tech and Breaks, lol.. All I know is I can dance to it! ;p), and is not only one of the hottest DJs in Australia, but also a producer with her own label Dolls House! You can check her out HERE.
So yes, she DID get the party started! You could literally see the club start moving (the seemingly unlimited supply of Carlsberg might've helped that along too ;p) and when two exceedingly tipsy guys are with two naturally crazy sober girls, this is what happens:These two were cracking themselves up!

We left around 1am, and went for some supper before going home to sober the two guys up before driving home. It was a really fun night, and it ended like this.Not saying anything more other than SOMEONE is Star Wars crazy! ;p

Til the next event!
xxxxx

Chicken Soup for the Sole

2011-05-17T21:23:00.000+08:00

Ok, so everyone who knows me personally will know I have a thing for shoes, especially heels -stiletto heels to be exact. I just can’t resist a slim, smooth, shiny black heel, the higher the better! I’m the type of girl who walks into places like Aldo and Guess just to drool at their latest collection. A lot of times, I have just the right amount of self-control not to spend hundreds of ringgit on these – quality heels aren’t cheap you know! Especially the 4 – 5 inch ones, which are my fave.. BUT. I also have my weak moments (mostly when I have money in the bank). So last month, what did I do? Yep. I bought TWO pairs of heels. Sigh.. Regret? Not really. Only when I peek at my bank’s balance, but then, only a twinge of it.. ;p So here I want to show off my latest, and highest so far – my 5.5” black heels from Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!! =D

Aren't they gorgeous? =D They were part of their bridal collection, so slightly more expensive than usual, but.. =D

The sole is non-slip, looks like a tyre! Hahaha.. They're a bit hard to walk in, but not so much because of the height but they rub slightly (I've never been able to take the pain, I plaster myself until shoes don't rub any more.. Haha.. I know a lot of girls go through with the pain to build up the skin so they don't hurt, but.. Not for me.. =/ I'm not gonna be walking much in them, plan to use them for shoots mostly anyway.. =) )

So I mentioned I bought a second pair, no? Well, these I got on sale at Robinsons in The Gardens.. Meet.. My Zang Toi heels!!

Ok, so they look much better on than off, haha..

But my favourite pair of heels are still my Guess heels, my 1st ever pair of expensive shoes.. I know they may not be anything out of the norm for some, but for me.. =O Haha..

These have been my trusty companion ever since I wore down my last pair of Emilio Valentino's.. Lol.. They're the comfiest pair I have right now so they come with me on castings, on shoots, on random occasions.. My very own best friends!! ;p

I mean, just look at them! They're so me!! 4.5" heel, black with a touch of goth with the transparent lace.. *hugs self while smiling* I bought these about a year ago, when it was literally love at first sight when I saw them in the window of the Guess store at Sunway Pyramid.. =)

So. What are YOUR type of shoes? Ballet flats? Sneakers? Running shoes? Wedges? Or are you a stiletto freak like me? =) Drop me a comment, I'd love to know!!

Til then,

xxxxxx

Smoking hot MODELS!! =D

2011-04-27T22:53:00.015+08:00

After seeing the video for Aldo's latest collection (see video here), I decided to dig around for some of the featured models' other campaigns:

Lily DonaldsonAldo Spring/Summer 2011
Burberry Beauty 2011 with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Nina Porter
Monsoon Spring/Summer 2011
Kenzo Fall/Winter '10/'11
Gucci Fall/Winter '08/'09
Lanvin 2005 "Symmetry as Perfection"

Lily is a British model who is the same age as me!! But way more successful, obviously.. Haha.. I just love her look!!

Sean O'Pry
Aldo Spring/Summer 2011
CK Accessories Spring/Summer 2011 with Liu WenGiorgio Armani Fall/Winter '09/'10DKNY Fall/Winter '09/'10 with Corey Baptiste, Mathias Bergh and Jake DaviesM Jeans Fall/Winter 2010ZioZia Spring/Summer 2010

Sean is only 21, but has more than a few campaigns under his belt! He's actually ranked as the world's second most successful male model as of 2011.. Smoking baby!! ;p

Stay tuned for more models soon..!!
xxxxx

Female Magazine / L'Oreal Hair Affair!!

2011-04-25T23:08:00.000+08:00

Courtesy of Female, I got two invites to the fashion show in Suria KLCC last Friday (22/4), and invited a fairly new (but long-time awesome) friend of mine to come along - Tasha a.k.a Sharifah ItashaThe hors d'oeuvres were catered by Delicious, and were yum yum yum.. Especially the weird looking drink.. Haha.. The prawn thing was a bit weird too, but terribly addictive.. We both kept our composure and didn't stuff our faces (which was our initial reaction - cant say no to food! Lol..), especially since we were sitting there for about an hour before the show started.. Hahaha..

But when it started, wow, energy til the end! Couldnt keep my eyes off the show! A pregnant Daphne Iking was the host for the night, and the night started with a few short words from Female editor Seema Visamanathan.
Stunning as always!

Every theme (there were 5 in total) was kicked off with a dance, and this was the starter:
First up was Topsy Turvy by Albert Nico, and topsy turvy it was...The dancers moved robot-like to clockwork musicAnd the 1st model came out..Followed by the topsy-turviest of them all!!May I sit on your chair? (Bwahahahahaha... Haha.. Ha.. No? Ok, fine.)

A theme after my own heart - Dark Innocence by Andy ChanThis dance is like my own personal fantasy *evil smile*Don't they look like something out of a sci-fi movie? =)

Magical Reality by Kevin Woo's introduction dance was a very giant doll-esque performance, and the models dressed exactly the same - like cute dolls!But check out the heels - nothing easy about walking in these!Though this girl especially made it look as though she was walking in normal 3 inch heels!!

Next up was Miko Au's Wonderland I really like this one, the hair, the outfit, the girl's look.. They all just seem to fit.. =)
And I love this girl's look:Her face is gorgeous, and the white make-up just made here look breathtaking.. =)After all that excitement, let's cool it down a notch and take a stroll through The Enchanted Forest with Simon Koh shall we..? Nope, sorry, nothing calming about this forest at all, Simon kept it hot, hot, hot!! =D

But the highlight of the night, was also the fact that Female was giving away a RM1000 hamper of L'Oreal products to the most fashionably chic reader.. And guess who that person was?=D
Sorry, I couldn't get a good picture of her on stage accepting her prize, as I was side stage, so here's a photo of Miss Best-Dressed herself with her equally fantabulous Russell Brand lookalike boyfriend, Amar after the show, with her hamper!! Congrats babes!! *hugs*

Just a little FYI, her hamper was so heavy, that when she passed it to me, Miss Genius over here totally disregarded the fact that it was a basket full of hair products, and grabbed it like it was a basket of cards, thus causing it to slip and snap my thumbnail right off. Let me tell you, please appreciate every finger, as you dont know how helpless you are when one's useless. *sobs*

It was an amazing show, and I really have to thank Female for giving its readers the amazing opportunity of being front row at a fashion week fashion show.. It was a great experience, so thank you!! (We would like more where that came from too please, cz you know, we're all a little greedy.. Sometimes.. Most of the time.. ;p) Plus the fact that we were all given a goodie bag containing not one, not two, but THREE different L'Oreal products!! =D What more could you ask for ey?

Oh! And if anyone needs a model for hair styling, they could also give me a call if they need an amazing amount of hair.. Look at this photo for instance; I have more hair than face!! Hahaha..And with that, I bid you adieu!

xxxxxx

My first fashion editorial!! =D

2011-04-21T16:55:00.013+08:00

Nope, this photo is NOT from any other ordinary shoot... ;p

During my three-week Chinese New Year holidays back in beloved Kota Kinabalu, I had the amazing opportunity of doing a fashion spread with the magazine of the Land Below the Wind - Breeze!!

Together with creative director Dinoza and the extremely talented Jeffie Jeff, it was decided that we'd do their first-ever accessories feature for their bumper issue (April 2011) - Due to a mix-up on the dates, we were left with very limited time to do make-up and hair, pick out outfits and accessories, and shoot. Keep in mind all this was done by Jeff and his assistant alone!! We started at 8am in Jeffie Jeff's studio, went on to Metrojaya, Suria Sabah at 10am, and had to be done by 2pm at the latest, or else yours truly would've missed her flight back to KL!! So what did we do? Even had time to make a Behind The Scenes vid, that's what! =D

Even though we were rushing here and there, it was crazy fun doing this shoot! There were 5 outfits in all, and a million and one accessories, and let me tell you, if you think I was excited, you should've been there to see Jeff's face - he was in accessory heaven! ;pTo everyone who wishes they had bee-stung lips, small lips can get featured too! =D

So, here they are! What do you think? Constructive criticism most welcome, and compliments, praise, and worshipping are all totally acceptable, because, you know, I like them. (I'm insane, I know. But people who know me know I'm psycho anyway. I promise I'm not as vain in person as I am when I write. ;p)Cz I was born to live luxuriously!This was my fave outfit.. =)Clutches are IT, baby!!My fave? Bottom right.. =)And to finish off? My favourite pic of all!! =D

So what are you waiting for? Go out and grab a copy of Breeze NOW!! I'll even autograph your copy for you.. You know.. So I can feel all famous and stuff.. Hahaha!!
(I know right? "Jeez, it's one shoot Calista, get a grip!" ;p)

I guess you can tell I'm really excited about this, and on a more serious note, I'll tell you why. As you all know, I am fighting an uphill battle to become a working petite model here in Malaysia. I'm not the best there is, and I lack more than one requirement of a "normal" model, but this is what I love. And this is what I shall continue to fight for to recognize my dream. It ain't easy, dont let anyone tell you it is, but as with all dreams, the falls are definitely worth it when you finally reach the step you were climbing to. It may still be a long, long way to the top, but one step closer is enough to make you feel proud of yourself, for that short while before you start climbing once again to the next level up. Being featured in a fashion editorial is a dream come true, and I really have to thank Breeze for helping me realise that. Thank you for believing in me! =)

And so, I shall leave you, while I go and prepare for the next step. Wish me luck, and keep on fighting for your dreams, no matter how impossible they seem! =)

xxxxx

Advertising success..?

2011-04-02T19:22:00.006+08:00

Why is it that whenever I see a Stuart Weitzman ad, I always get drawn to the outfit on the model, instead of what they actually sell - designer shoes and handbags? =/Isn't that a mega-hot dress?? Sigh.. And it's not the first time.. The first time I picked up one of their catalogues, I was looking all over the place to see whether they would mention where their outfits are from.. And no, I didn't find out.. Grr..

What are your thoughts?

Taxi Drama!

2011-03-28T16:53:00.004+08:00

After nearly 2 weeks of writers' block, something happened about an hour ago that I have to tell you about! Mind you, my writers' block had nothing to do with having nothing to write, 'cause, you know, I've never really mastered the art of shutting up, whether talking, thinking or writing; it was just that nothing seemed to flow right, and I didn't wanna post just random crap up that would leave you going "huh?". Trust me, you'd thank me for it. ;p

Anyway, I ramble.
So I got to the lobby of my condo, planning to walk to the bus stop to catch a cab to 1 Utama, you know, like usual.. But there was a cab waiting right there, and looking at me expectedly, so I went over and asked, "Are you on call?"
"Yes", he said.
"Oh, nevermind then, thanks", before I closed the door, and started walking to the guardhouse.

Then he rolled down the window and asked where I wanted to go, so I told him.
"If my customer isnt down here in 2 minutes, I can take you."
Hmm..
Feeling a bit naughty, I decided to wait n see, thinking the customer wouldnt be that long, then no harm done I'd just continue to walk out and burn in the way-too-bright sun.

About 4 minutes passed by. The taxi driver called me over, and said he's been waiting too long, so let's go. You've seen those cartoons, with an angel and a devil on each shoulder, arguing about what the person should do right? Well, the devil on my shoulder (Ooh, a Billy Talent song! =D) said "Just get in", and the angel was dying of heat stroke, so.. Nyahahaha..

I think he was enjoying being naughty as well, he kept laughing all the way, like he was skipping class or something, and halfway there the taxi company called, said the customer is downstairs and she cant see the taxi. So he said he cant see her either, blablabla, until he suddenly said, "Ok, customer in the taxi now". =O
Of course the company radioed back saying the customer said she still cant see the taxi, so who has he picked up? Was it a young woman?
So he looks at me, giggles, and says into the radio "Yes, it's a young woman."
The company then asks if he's sure he's got the right customer, is this customer going to Seapark? (I guess this is where the customer wanted to go.)
"Yes, we're nearly there already."
*gives me a surprisingly child-like mischievous look* This is an older Indian man! =)
"What is her phone number?"
"She said she was using her friend's phone."
"Ask her for her friend's number."
He then asks me to say my "friend's" number while he's on his radio, so I rattle off a random 016 number, and the lady on the radio goes "No, no, wrong customer. This one is a 012 number!"
"How should I know? She took so long to come down, this customer going to the same place, I thought it was her. Get her another taxi la, what to do?"

And that was that! Lol.. I did feel a bit bad for the customer, but hey, she took her own sweet time coming down right? (Yes, I say this to make myself feel better. ;p) And anyway, if that made the cabbie's day more fun, then it was all good! He was extremely happy even when I got out so.. =)

It Makes It All Worthwhile

2011-03-16T02:11:00.026+08:00

Remember the number the game that was happening on facebook last year?
You can go here to refresh your memory.. =)

Well, someone else was playing, a friend named Abigail, so I messaged her my number and what she wrote just made me feel all warm inside:

U are the first kawan orang putih (i mean half orang putih) yg saya perna make friends with..Seriously..
Kesian kan...haha..
Neways, u are extremely beautiful, pretty & gorgeous macam Mariah Carey..!!!
And also, u are the reason why I love my height.. =)

What about that was so special? The last sentence. When I know I have inspired or helped pull out the confidence of other girls like me, I know all the obstacles to become a petite model are worth it. At the end of the day, I may not become a supermodel, I may not even be remembered a few months down the line, but I fought for our rights, our right to be beautiful. It's not the modelling that's important, it's being comfortable in our own skin, it's being able to show the world that being small has it's benefits and it's about being able to shout out to the world that hey, I'm 5 foot nothing and I am beautiful and sexy, and no more smaller in presence than girls who are 6 foot tall! =)

One of my best friends, Sharin, is 5' 11". We go out together all the time, sometimes even when she's in heels and I'm in sneakers! Haha..

Two photos to show you how well tall and short complement each other:

With the emcee Moe Alkaff at an event

At the Ge Ling "Scruples" hair show we did together

So shorties out there, love what your mama gave ya, and work it!! =D

Heal The World

2011-03-16T02:11:00.020+08:00

What is happening to our world? It seems like it's one natural disaster after the other. We're only into the third month of the year, and already we've hadthe Brazilian floodsand the Australian floods
(January),

cyclones in Madagascar and the Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale (February)Even a house of God cannot be spared.

and now the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan, which caused a 10 metre Tsunami, not to mention the threat of nuclear emergencies.
How did you feel after seeing/reading the news of these tragedies? For me personally, I was exceptionally upset when I heard of the Japanese quake, because it happened on the exact same day as the YUM Champions were flying home from Singapore, after having such a good time at the 3-day recognition event (I was in Singapore at the time coordinating this event with Moezik, and got to know some of the Champions, who came from all over the Asia Pacific, including Japan and Indonesia, who also had Mount Karangetang (a volcano) erupt merely four hours after the horrendous devastation in Japan). Can you even begin to imagine flying home to such devastation? =(

I was even more upset when I got on facebook, and saw inappropriate comments by a few people on my newsfeed (who consequently have been deleted from my friends list). How can you say such inconsiderate things when so many people have died, lost family members, and are fighting to survive? I'm not going to repeat any of their remarks here, because they make me so angry, but please, find your heart before you call yourself a human being. You may think you're indestructible, but let me remind you that what happens to others, could always, one day, happen to you.

My heart goes out to the people in all of these countries. What can we do except watch helplessly as people struggle to survive? How many Earth Hours will it take to actually make a difference? Truth of the matter is, we have angered Mother Nature, and these are her repercussions. No, we cant stop natural disasters from happening, but we can do our part to help the victims, and help our world heal. I know I dont need to make a list of things we should do to help our environment, we're told all the time. But how many of us actually do them?

Take Earth Hour for example. Some of us poo pah it as being nothing but a trend to follow, others cant even be bothered to know. What we need to realise is, Earth Hour alone may not be able to turn our world around; one hour a year may not be significant in one household, but if, like last year, millions of people in 128 countries switch off the electricity for that one hour, how much energy will we save? The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur during Earth Hour 2010

Earth Hour was started to take a stand against climate change, as a symbol of hope for a cause that drastically needs our attention. It never promised that by participating in this, it alone would make up for the damage mankind has done, but it has succeeded in banding us all together to be a candle (no pun intended) of determination. I have already pledged to support Earth Hour 2011, and you can too: http://livegreen.wwf.org.my/register.phpThis year, Miranda Kerr has the honour of being the ambassador for Earth Hour 2011.Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, left with us songs like Earth Song (Did you ever stop to notice The crying Earth the weeping shores),

We Are The World (There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives),

Man In The Mirror (If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change),

and Heal the World(And the world we once believed in Will shine again in grace).

But celebrities alone cant stop what is happening. The fate of the earth lies within us, mankind. No other creature has ever left behind such destruction as we have. So let's try to do right by what we have done wrong. Let us all join hands against pollution and waste, and do our best, to heal the world.

Published! In a way.. ;p

2011-03-10T01:34:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, remember I wrote an article about candy bras a couple of months ago? Here it is if you need to refresh your memory:

http://petitemodel87.blogspot.com/2011/01/food-love-sexy-time.html

Well, they approached me to write an article for them, and they loved it! =) What do you think? Take a read here:

http://wearitononline.com/blog/2011/02/270/

or here:

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150151565713698&id=561843697&notif_t=wall#!/note.php?note_id=162980400418240

Leave me your thoughts! =D

xxxx

The Purpose of Dreams

2011-03-05T22:18:00.004+08:00

Ok.. The night after I wrote my last post, I actually got a really bad headache and fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.. I dreamt of the weirdest things, and woke up with a cramped arm and a very heavy head.. I could tell I'd been in a really deep sleep.. As with all dreams, I couldnt remember much, but the clearest part of the dream was me picking up an extremely small baby.. So what do I do? Dream Dictionary! =) And guess what?

To dream of an extremely small baby, symbolizes your helplessness and your fears of letting others become aware of your vulnerabilities and incompetence. You may be afraid to ask for help and as a result tend to take matters into your own hands.tp

=O That sounds almost exactly right! I've always found dream interpretation interesting, and really got into it when my friend Amal started lending me her dream book from time to time.. Then I stated looking them up online, and am still looking for my own personal dream book..

Dreams supposedly deal with problems we can't solve in waking life and offer solutions. The reason we have dreams, is because our minds somehow want us to figure out why we feel the way we do, or telling us things we subconsciously know, but are suppressing unwillingly. I once read somewhere that most people dream in black & white, and also that most people have silent dreams. I personally disagree with both these statements as I always remember having conversations in my dreams, and also remember different colours of things!

I like interpreting my dreams.. They always come out associated with something that is going on in my life, and how can I disbelieve something that proves itself again and again? =) It's always interesting.. And most dreams are always about the weirdest, most random stuff, that when you go deeper into it, always mean something totally sane and in tune with your life! I suggest you try it sometime.. You may be surprised.. ;p

What's the weirdest dream YOU remember having? Do share! =)

xxx

Poem of Sadness

2011-03-04T17:34:00.005+08:00

I wrote this a couple of months ago, in December I think.. Then everything was fine so I just tucked it away, until this week. It was written while lying in bed, unable to sleep, on my handphone, and hasnt been edited at all, so dont judge too harshly k? Not to mention I havent written any poems for years.. Lol.. =)

This week hasnt been a good one, most of it has been miserable.. The normal problems came along, worse than ever, and to top it all off, as I've learnt once again, there's a reason I never let anyone see me upset. Ever.

So here it is, on the internet, the only place I'm ever comfortable letting out some of my emotions..

Cold...
All alone...
I feel so lonely,
Feel like I’m on the outside looking in.

My pain...
Not visible...
But it runs deep,
Carefully concealed by the mask I'm so used to wearing.

Smile!
Laugh!
Let no one see the unhappiness...
Let no one see the ache in your heart...

Disappointments...
Life is full of them, oh yes...
But must you be the bearer of so much sorrow?
Are we so different that everything must hurt so?

Be gone!
Leave!
But wait...
My soul feels so empty without you...

Love...
Ah - love...
It twists our minds so,
Turning the obvious into a blur...

I feel it needs a better ending, but that's what came to me at the time, so that's what I'm posting up.. I dont want to over-edit and lose what I was feeling that night..

But yes, how I wish I could crawl into my big, lonely bed right now and curl up, cry my eyes out, and paste my smile on by the morning... Rather than getting to the edge of a cliff, and being pushed off the edge.. Cz really, when you need someone most, they're usually not gonna be there for you anyway.. Sigh.. I'm not as strong as everyone thinks I am, and trusting people has always been a problem for me, and it just seems the older you get the harder it is.. =(

Wow.. I think this is my most depressive / soul-bearing post yet.. Lol.. You can just ignore it if it makes you uncomfortable.. I just needed an outlet.. =) I had a lot of amazing support from some of you on facebook, and it really held me together.. Thanks so much for caring..
xxx

Of TVCs and Video Work..

2011-03-01T17:50:00.000+08:00

Well as I think EVERYONE has seen (it's been shown for almost a year now, and so many people have come up to me or asked me on facebook whether it was me! =O) the Daia Washing Detergent TVC I did last year, it's only right for me to talk about TV / video work I've done! These are even less than my shoots, but great experience and great exposure so.. Happy! =)

So here are some of the clips I could download:

Honda 'Green' In-house Video

Maybelline / Remaja TV3 "Jom Bermekap Bersama Liyana Jasmay" - BB Cream BFF Baru

Maybelline / Remaja TV3 "Jom Bermekap Bersama Liyana Jasmay" - Saya Sayang Bibir

Claytan Tableware (Shown on TV9)

Daia Washing Detergent (Shown on TV2, TV3, NTV7, 8tv, AEC, Wah Loi Toi...)

I was also an extra in a Standard Chartered TVC, a Johnny Walker TVC, and a Celcom TVC.. I also had a small part in an upcoming Mandarin drama called <追影。筑梦>. I was a secretary.. It's showing on 8tv as we speak.. =)

So what dya think? I know I know, I gotta work on my acting a bit, but hey, practice makes perfect as usual right? =)

Mind-boggling indeed..

2011-02-26T00:02:00.002+08:00

Now, I know a lot of people have beliefs, and what you believe, is very hard to change, right? But what about when something totally unexplainable pops up? Do you poopah it and say it's not true, and refuse to listen to any more 'nonsense'? Do you get intrigued and get so engrossed into researching further, that you end up learning way more than you ever imagined? I know both types of people, and I also know people like me (well, I know me la for one), who gets very interested in anything 'freaky' or 'unconventional' but totally fascinating and, although I dont believe easily in many things, sometimes, you just have to stop your head from spinning when you see things like this:

http://www.mindbendingvideos.com/389/

Go on, watch the whole thing, and tell me what you think! The Boy Who Lived Before? You have to admit, a 5 year old boy with uncanny memories has to make you stop and think! =) A word of warning though, this video is only for the open-minded! Enjoy!

A Birthday to Remember

2011-02-24T01:38:00.001+08:00

This is amazingly overdue, I know.. It was left half-finished for so long, and I'm sorry to neglect my blog again! But here it is, finished before I'll prolly have to neglect you guys for another 2 weeks as I'm currently busy in Singapore working on an event.. Please bear with me.. =/ This post is so long it should keep you going until then anyway! Long-winded biatch I am sometimes eh? ;p

Just a note before I start babbling =): I thought it'd be fun to answer any questions you have for me, as long as you leave them in the comment box below, on a post. I'll choose one or two questions and answer them in the next blog post I do. That way, we can get to know each other better, no? You can ask me random stuff, or something about the post, go crazy!! =D True, kinda stealing this idea from one Shane Dawson, but me wanna! And Shane Dawson is awesome.. ;p So please, leave me comments or questions! I like.. =)

Last post, BlooDripz asked me: "Can i smash your face with a cake on your next birthday? :D"
Hmm.. That's a tough one, I admit.. I guess it'd depend on how great your present is! =D

Haha.. So, on to the temples and presents I promised you!

Early the next morning, we all went out for breakfast, then decided to go back to Ipoh straight to explore more and meet a friend of Adrian's for lunch.. What actually happened was we got lost again, and went in more circles, before eating with his friend.. Haha.. Then it was getting pretty late, so we tried looking for the road we came on, cz I wanted to go to these beautiful temples we saw on the way down, built into the hills..

Nope. Got lost. It seems EVERY road in Ipoh goes to KL! Every sign u see says "Kuala Lumpur" this way or the other, and you drive and drive until it tell u to U-turn, and you end up where u came from! *screams*

When we FINALLY found it though, it was worth it! These temples are so fascinating!

Temple 1This was direct in the side of the hill! =)

The next one we went to was even better! I'm not too sure whether it's a temple or they make sculptures or what..
There were rows of these statues when we walked in:
Followed by loads of sculptures like these!Then we came to this Japanese Wishing Tree
Further down we found these Easter Island-looking flower pots..The name of the place is "Guan Yin's Cave". This is painted on the side of the hill..But it also has random sculptures like this.. Lol..I was actually scared to touch this one.. Was originally planning to hold the hand, but when I got near I kept imagining it coming alive and not letting go.. Lol.. Shh.. Adrian's gonna tease the hell outta me now.. ;p But it was completely quiet, we were the only people there! =/Real turtles! "Obedient Turtles, Clap Your Hands"You can climb up here, but Miss Bug-Phobia here aint gonna do that! ;p
There was a notice saying that this is the temple with the most statues of Guan Yin, there are apparently 200 white and bronze coloured statues, all standing at 6' tall ! =O
"The Unmoveable White Elephant"According to a notice next to this elephant, which upon 1st glance seems like a normal rock, it was pulled out of a small river using a small crane，and placed in this very spot. Before long, it was "in the way" and causing traffic jams and the sort, and so it was to be moved. Problem is, it refused to budge, even after 2 large cranes and a pair of "God Hands" (I dont know what they are either, lol..) came in, and weirdly enough, even snapped their cables! A calm and sunny day suddenly became windy almost like a small tornado, twisting around the bottom of the statue, worrying the people around.
After a few months, people started to notice there was an aura around the elephant, and it is said to have entered the dreams of masters from all around the world to come and visit it. Word spread like wildfire, and now countless countable (haha) worshippers have come to have a harmonious union with the elephant.
It's said that if you and the statue have fate, there will be a small tornado around the foot of the statue when you touch it or admire it. Through many High Masters, this has been proven to be "Wind Around the Buddha".
Intriguing eh? =)

The last statue we saw before leaving, was this frog!Now, it says that if you
Touch its head = It will grant you children and grandchildren.
Touch its tail = 年年剩家火 (Not quite sure what this means, if you do, please do let me know!)
Touch its foot = Your rice bucket will never be empty.
Touch its body = Your family will have a million happiness.
Touch its mouth = Eternal prosperity.
Touch its ear = Health will never leave you.

Guess which one I DIDNT touch? ;p

And that was it! Back to KL! =) And I got some awesome pressies this year, (still waiting for some though *cough*mom*cough*Oli*cough*) and one of my favourites is actually not material as such.. =)

It's from someone who is as close to being family as anyone can get.. My S'Mal!! =D (And yes, only I get to call her that! ;p)

I love it so SO much! I didnt tell you how much when you sent it to me, but you know I can get awkward with this kinda situation.. I'm always at a loss for words, and reactions! (Dont ask why, if anyone knows how weird I am, it's you!) But I do, it's absolutely fabulous, and it made my heart want to burst.. *teary-eyed hug*
And yes, to everyone else, I suppose it did appeal to my vainer side ey? ;p

Other touching presents were
From my new housemate from Indonesia, Nitta =)And this was from old old old old (true ma ;p) friend Wendy! =)

There's also another present, which you can see in the photos.. And you know who you are.. Love it so so much!! =D

So yes, I had an amazing birthday this year.. The only thing that wasnt so amazing was not having my family with me, but I guess, the older you get...... =(

Ciao for now,
The birthday bunny!
xxx

24th in Ipoh!

2011-01-27T16:45:00.000+08:00

No, not the 24th of the month, 24 years old people!! =D

Yep, I just turned 24.. Whew~!! How time flies eh? Omg.. I feel like I'm still in my teens, and I've been a young adult now for 4 years!! =O Should I start feeling old? Hmm.. Cz I dont! I still feel like the world is my oyster and I have a million years ahead of me! It could end up being one year left if 2012 comes around tho, hmm, but c'est la vie~!! Ahaha..

Anyway, since I wasnt in KK celebrating with my family, and thanks to some great timing, I spent my birthday in Ipoh with Sue and the Chans.. Sue got a call to debut her first single live at the Domino's Carnival there, and invited Adrian and I to come along.. Hell yeah~! Never been to Ipoh so I was all for it! =DWe left on the 12th, and it's only about a 2 hour drive so we got there at about 3pm. Drove round and round looking for food, n never found any. Hmm. We asked this uncle and he told us to tail his car, where we finally found the restaurants at the back of the town.. Erm.. Right.. Anyhoo. We had Ipoh's famous chicken rice, without the bean sprouts cz I no like no likey at all, then it was off to drive round in more circles to find Dataran Ipoh, or Ipoh Parade.
Omg, before I continue, I have to complain (I complained 2 days non-stop while we were there, but I dont care ;p) about the HEAT! Ugh! It sure did pick the wrong day to beat it down! We were sticky all the way, and the sun was shining directly on me the whole time throughout the journey! The aircon couldnt even cool down, it was that hot! Sigh.. Worst part is, the place I stayed at had no water heater, and I dont do cold showers, so I had to do the whole wet-wipe thing.. *sobs* And Ipoh is like all one-way roads, so you keep getting lost!! Sigh..

*end rant*

When we FINALLY found Ipoh Parade, just as we were going up the (amazingly dizzying ramp to the car park, I received a message saying the carnival wasnt there.
*smacks head on dashboard*
So Adrian and I just walked a few rounds, got a drink and a green tea ice cream, then left for the new place, Jalan Dr Nazrin Shah (or something like that.. Haha..) Directions sent to us said we had to go back through the KL toll, so we were slightly worried.. But luckily I am kaypoh (busybody), and noticed a bouncy castle and stage on the road about 10 minutes up from Ipoh Parade.. I then noticed a Domino's outlet there, and *lightbulb*, asked Adrian to slow down cz I thought it was the place.. True enough, a bus stop with the road's name came up, so we turned in! Phew! Luckily I am so observant! (Yes, I shall call my kaypoh-ness "observant" from now on. And you cant stop me!)
She belongs on stage.. =)
L - R: Sue, Adam J. Tan, Damian of VE

Sue did an amazing job! I felt so proud! I could definitely get used to having a singer as a friend! ;p The song is "Perang Tepuk Tangan", and it's now on the Top 20 charts on Era FM.. She's featuring, the main singer is Adam J. Tan, so look it up! I promise you wont be disappointed! =D You can also look up SusieLIEW and Adam Tan on facebook. =)

After the show, we went back to Adrian's sis' place in Kampar (Heidi and Mandy are both studying there). Had a yummy home-cooked meal by the Super 2, and even some herbal chicken soup! Yes, we were happy.. Muahaha.. Then we went out to 放许愿灯, which are basically Taiwan wishing lanterns.. You light it up inside, wait for the gas to fill up the lantern, and make a wish as it floats skywards! =) It was fun..Big right?It floated so high so fast, within a few minutes we couldn't see it at all!

Then I was taken for a lil walk by the lakeside, while, unknown to me, a birthday cake was brought out! =D Omg I was so surprised! Never expected that! =D I'm never good at expressing surprise.. =)Yes. My crazy eyes. Again.

The cake was so pretty as well, and actually yummy, not like some of those other sponge cakes.. They also put a trick candle on it *narrows eyes*, and I was ALSO tricked into getting my face smashed into the cake.. *screams*
Caught in the act!!... I know. ...

After a tour around Kampar (which randomly has a Lombong (mining) museum down the road from a McDonald's *scratches head*, it was beddy-byes, ready for a long day the next day......

*Hint for next post: Temples and presents!

Aunt Karen, this is for you! =)

2011-01-21T03:46:00.002+08:00

Since you're coming over to Malaysia soon enough (May!~ Whee~!!), I figured, why not do some slight research on where you can stay if you decide to come over to Kuala Lumpur as well as Sabah? =) One of the more popular sites I've heard of from my friends is called Cari Bilik, which literally means "Find Room" in Malay.. Haha.. My friends mostly are looking for rooms to rent, but they also have short term rental places.

I would suggest going for one of the KL Homestays, which is basically a short term rental. What's good about this site is that you can browse through each state, and it also tells you which part of the state under the description of the room, for example Puchong, Cheras, Kelana Jaya etc. You can save time by looking at these area names first, and skip the ones that are too far from where you want to be. (I can help you with that.. ;p)

Another thing is that they also have reviews from people who have previously stayed there, so you have a bit more insight on what you're getting yourself into.. Haha.. You can also make bookings via this site, so it's safer and easier than doing it through bank payments or waiting till you actually get down here. You'd want to look under Kuala Lumpur, and also Selangor as they're very very close.. People here basically consider it as the same place anyway, and most of the rooms on this site are from these 2 places! =)

They don't have too many options for Sabah, but I'm sure we can help you out there if you decide not to stay with us the whole trip.. =)

Hope it helps, I cant wait for you to get here!!
*does a little dance around her room*

It's going to be AWESOME~!! =D

Loadsa love and hugs,
Calista, your no-longer-7-years-old niece! ;p

Deck The Halls...

2011-01-18T21:19:00.000+08:00

...with family, food and gifts!! =D

Christmas 2010 was another awesome one, as all Christmases usually are.. =)

Christmas Eve

Was still running here and there looking for gifts.. Haha.. REALLY behind schedule this year.. And pressie ideas are getting scarcer by the year! =/ It all worked out in the end though.. =) Went clubbing at Firefly with Oli & co, and Ray was with his friends at the bar across from us.. So we were both running back and forth all night.. ;p Ray's really sweet when he's drunk.. Lol..Collage courtesy of Florence Thoong.. =)

Christmas Day

I love being 5 years old on Christmas morning! The excitement of seeing a full stocking, waking Oli's sleepy ass up so we can go through them together, and having Ray there laughing at us both.. Haha..The keychain has my birthdate, and my characteristics on it. Apparently I am "The Trailblazer" - "Explorer" "Organized" "Original" "Direct". Hmm.. What do you think? ;p

Then rushing outside to see all the colourful presents under the tree!! The only difference between now and my younger years, is I get more excited watching the reactions on everyone else's face when they open my gifts to them, than I do opening my own pressie! Haha.. We also get more creative nowadays.. As you'll see:
Yes. You see correctly.
The 1st photo is a drawn picture of a shoe, in a box, from my beloved mother.
The 2nd, is a very old phone, in a square box (to add weight), with "A Shoe" written on a piece of paper, from my brother, Oliver.
Why did they give me such creative, yet cheapskate presents? Nyahaha..
Because...
...those photos actually turned into these beauties!! =D
Meet my new Reebok Reetones! I asked for these, because they are apparently able to tone your butt and thighs AS YOU WALK. And you and I both know my lazy ass could use all the easy-toning it can get.. Hahaha.. I got the Easy-Tones, as they're meant for walking (and I do that a lot here in KL). They have these air-filled ball things at the bottom which is supposed to make you balance as you walk, so you dont feel the difference, but at the same time it does all the good in the world for your muscles! They also have ones for running, and for training, with different moving-air bobbles.. Let's see how it goes ey? I researched before buying, and have found nothing but good testimonials so.. =)

Other pressies received:
From Mom & Dad (I've actually finished this already.. I love Cecelia Ahern.. She's the author of P.S. I Love You, just in case you can't place the name.. ;p)

Just before X'mas, my Toshiba laptop's cooling system broke down. We took it to the service centre, but we hadnt sent the warranty out (stupid I know), and didnt know how long it would take to get it fixed. Now. If you know my boyfriend, and think he bought me a new laptop for X'mas, then congratulations! You would be correct! =DSometimes I dont know whether to hug him or slap him.. But I do feel loved.. =)

Dad had the best pressies this year though, with a drill from mom, a multimeter from Oli and I, and a car radio from Ray.. Everything he wanted! ;p

Mom got some lovely gold-plated REAL orchid earrings from dad, plus a tube of mascara, a voucher for a hair cut and colour at the prestigious Cut's Gallery in Palm Square (also Oli's workplace), and a Pakistani hand-carved bronze jug from Ray. =)

Oli got a Kose facial powder wash plus a glow-in-the-dark skull t shirt (which he claims is too rock, pfft!) from me, blue contacts from Ray.

Ray got Clinique facial wash, some speakers, and an ironing board (he asked for that.. Lol...)

After all of that excitement, we had a scrummy xmas dinner as usual.. Didnt get many pix this year tho as I was STARVING.. =( But we had roast pork (Ray's fave), roast beef, pigs in blankets (Oli's fave), stuffing balls (mom's..?), broccoli, mashed potato, roast potatoes (MY fave!!), and gravy. Along with Calista-wine a.k.a. sparkling grape juice.. Hahaha..

Boxing Day

Hams and cheese, with jelly, canned fruit and whipped (then spoilt) cream.. Lol.. Oli also got the evil eye from mom cz he didnt come home for it.. Ahahahaha.. So how was YOUR x'mas? I know this post is nearly a month late, but hey, I still wanna know how you spent your Holy Night! =) Drop me a comment, letting me know!

xxx,
The Smallest, but Always Jolly Elf