Lunar New Year 2016

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

Lunar New Year this year feels pretty short probably because 初一 and 初二 which is our official public holiday falls on Monday and Tuesday. That means we gotta start work on the third day of CNY. Oh well.

Usually on the first two days, I would be rotting the remaining hours away at my grandparents' place after visiting, waiting for my parents or sis to finish their mahjong game before we can head home. and that seriously suck. I don't mind if my niece or nephews are around because they kinda keep me entertained, but they never stay till late.

You may be wondering why I can't just go off on my own. Yeah I can actually. But the fact that we are at Jurong and I still need to take a bus to the train station usually keeps me hesitating till I couldn't take it anymore. By then it'll be quite late already and so I must well just continue waiting right. Lol~ That's me being too pampered living in the central where most places are convenient and accessible, I really hate long journeys alone.
Anyway, thanks to Esther and HSY my CNY this year is less boring!

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1st February, advance Birthday dinner for Crystal at Your Woul Korean Restaurant.

Their signature dish is the Kam Ja Tang (Pork Ribs Potato Stew)

and YES IT IS REALLY GOOD!

but my favourite is the Seafood Pancake and the sauce that came with it. YUMZ

After dinner, I went to NEX to find Esther and HS, watched them eat and then did a little cny shopping with E.

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4th of February is 立春, the day everyone crazy queue at banks and atms to deposit their money at their auspicious hours.
I wanted to join in the craze but changed my mind and decided not to believe in it.

Went home and changed to my new Paul Frank bed sheet. HEHEHE damn cute.

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5th of February, our last day of work before CNY, we were released early from work. I met up with Jo for dinner at Saveur.

Then to our manicure appointment at Little Nails Castle.

I LOVE my Pusheen cats!

So obsessed with it that I only realized the 春 is written wrongly when I got home. Lol.

But nobody else actually notice anything wrong until I told them xD

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On the eve of CNY eve, family reunion dinner and after that met Esther, CW, and HS for a little drink. We wanted to go to FIVE Bar but it was closed!! Then we walked and walked and walked to another bar which HS recommended. Closed too! So then we continued walking and ended up chilling somewhere at Boat Quay.

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CNY eve I slept till late afternoon then headed upstairs to Granny's place for another reunion steamboat dinner. and after that was left alone at home, forgot what I was doing but I slept pretty late cuz trying to 守夜.

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初一 I overslept a little and went to my ahma house a little late before heading to Jurong. Then the usual blackjack game with cousins. Everyone is so big now it feels like our round gambling table had shrunk.
I am very kiasu always don't dare to play too big and forever setting a limit like if I lost a certain amount I would stop playing. So yeah, that was what happened for the past few years and I never really had the winning luck in gambling and always had to leave the table like super fast then I end up with nothing to do again. Hahaha~
But this year luckily it wasn't too bad. I managed to stay in the game for as long as it last and won $6. Teehee.

Late night, we went over to HS' place to Bai Nian and ended up playing blackjack and talking overnight. Good luck stayed with me and I won another $8. Lol!
Mac breakfast after and then catching the super early bus home.

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This year 初二 I decided to just stay home to sleep and watch drama. Chillax and replenish energy for the tiring week.

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Yesterday which was 初三, I had to drag myself out of bed. SIGH. Work day starts again.
Impromptu dinner with Esther & HS after work. The two shiok ones who have no work or school on 初三...

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Oh ya anyway, just recently, I registered for my first Korean language class at Ganada Korean Language Centre and went for two lessons already. It was pretty fun though the classroom is really really small and cramp.

Thanks to Daryl I took this new step to learning. I've been saying that I want to learn for so many times but was too lazy to take any actions. So suddenly one day D asked if I have any school to recommend and I asked him to register me in together when he found one. Shun bian right! Hahahahaha~ & I made a new friend too! :D

Food and Fun and Celebration

Sup sup sup. I'm back again. Been late on updates because didn't really know what to blog about, then I remember I went to Legoland.

Lol~

Think I spent quite a lot this month, don't even dare to check.

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4th Jan
Went out with Estherbunny to get Birthday present for Joelle.
We had dinner at Sho Teppan and ate a little too long that we had to rush to Funan Mall. The shops were all closed and thankfully there was a fair downstairs. So we ran over as they were keeping the stuffs already.

Nom nom nom nom nom~

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5th Jan
We surprised Jo at Canopy Garden Dining. Simple dinner and handed our Birthday gift for her.
End up realized the sports earphone we got was not compatible to her phone! So had to bring back to change.

We ordered this Crab Cake and it was Yuck.

-Do Not Order-

So every time I get the "You and your salmon again" from my friends. Lol

This was quite okay. Yea, just okay.

WH ordered this Hot Berry Cake for Jo, special but not fantastic.

It was nice on the first few bite though, warm warm cake mmm~ But we were all too full.

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8th Jan
Dinner with girlfriends at Burp Kitchen & Bar,
We came for their Salted Egg Tofu Fries (which I have no photo of). It was a little disappointing.
The paste was not bad but too little. The tofu fries just so-so. Rochor Beancurd House's still my favourite.

We also ordered Salted Egg Chicken Wings.

This one not bad!

My main - Burp's Beef

Is yummy but a little too much, should have shared with Joelle since we ordered the same.. haha

My pretty girl with her cheesy tortilla wrap.

\

Shag faces, and I have no idea whats with my hair in the centre but this is like the best we have. Lol wtv.

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9th Jan

So WH decided to bring Jo to Legoland for her Birthday, and we decided to tag along!
First with me surprising her at the bus stop downstairs, and then heading to Jurong East to take the CW bus to JB.
Esther was on the same bus as us but Joelle didn't even realised. HAHA.
So she was surprised again when Estherbunny suddenly popped out at the custom.

Gave the new Birthday present to her again. Changed it to wireless earphone, and she love it!
Hehehe surprise success!
Except the part where Esther's colleague who drove us to Legoland blew it when he confirmed our itinerary in front of the Birthday Girl.

It's my second time at Legoland. Still freaking hot here (duh.)

Thankfully there wasn't any crowd or queues like they used to have before.

& if you want to take a full group photo, look for the Legoland photographers around.

They carry a DSLR with them and will gladly help you take your photos with both your phone/camera and his. Then they will give you a tag so that you can buy your printed photos at their photo counter if you like.

Choo choo~

Fun and tiring day phew!

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15th Jan
After work headed to Five Bar (FIV五) for dinner and a little drink before our KTV session at Kampong Chai Chee KTV.
We had five person so took UberXL to travel around. Very good no need to split cab!
Been using Uber and GrabCar for awhile. It's really smart and convenient, and also better service from the driver as compared to taxi as we get to rate their service at the end of the trip.

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16th Jan
Shopping day with Jo and Esther.
I met Joelle first while waiting for Esther to get off work. We wanted to go and have our hair trimmed but then end up couldn't decide where to do it.

So even though supposed to wait for Esther to dine together but I was hungry and pulled Jo to The Sushi Bar. Planned to have just some small bites but you know, when you go in to one of your favourite restaurant, there is definitely some dishes that are the MUST ORDER. Right? So I didn't care and just ordered whatever I want.

Shiok level maximum. HAHA. Small bite became $61 bill.

So when Esther came, we accompanied her to Wild Honey at Mandarin Gallery where both Jo and I just ordered a drink and a scoop of ice cream each.

Actually went to Wild Honey a few times before but the service that day was SUPER BAD. Their whole service crew was quite cui (or maybe just all those who served us).

Disappointing. Wild Honey used to have long queues all the time, we actually made reservation before going.

Reached there on time and they say we reached early... huh?

Jo was considering whether to order cake or not so we asked for a waitress recommendation.

J: "How is your Orange Chiffon Cake?" 

Waitress A: "Oh, it's just orange chiffon cake."(?!?!) 

J: "Okay.... so what cake do you recommend?" 

Waitress A: "These are all the cakes we have."*points to the cake menu*

Wow okay....

Seriously?

We were so speechless.

Another one.

Not sure Manager/Supervisor: "Sorry your order is unable to be served without onion and garlic, the sauce is pre-mixed."

E: "Okay then which can you make without onion and garlic?"*Pointing and looking at the vegetarian menu*

Not sure Manager/Supervisor: *Think for very long* *Suggests a Salmon dish*

E: "How about this? Is this possible?"

E: "Maybe you can check with your chef?"

Not sure Manager/Supervisor:*Suggests something from the meat menu*

J: "Err.. She's vegetarian."

Not sure Manager/Supervisor: *Surprised* "Oh, let me check and get back to you."

Sigh. I thought we had mentioned.

So anyway, our salted caramel ice cream came first, followed by our food.

No drinks.

J: "Hi, can we have the drinks we ordered?"

Waiter B: "What drinks did you order?"

Us: *Too stunned by his reply*

J: "I forgot, can you go check?"

Waiter B: *Walks away*

J: "How are they going to bill us if he don't know what we ordered?"

ikr.

There were other small things but lets not go into details.

Overall it was shit experience at Wild Honey that day. Probably not going back again.

and FYI, we actually used to really like dining at Wild Honey.

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Realized all these dates that I mentioned are all with Esther LOL.

Estherbunny everywhere! Siao liao she's officially part of me already.

Hiccups on my Korea Trip

I was on half day leave and rushed home, grabbed my baggage and headed off to the airport. Our flight both to and fro are at shitty timing but well, its cheaper.

It was close to midnight by the time we arrived at Incheon airport, lucky us there was still airport bus available and so we managed to save the taxi fee. That was a good S$50+- savings man.

Finding our hostel was a challenge. It was a distance from the bus stop and being unfamiliar around, we spent some time being lost and pulling our baggage along hoping to see the hostel at every next step. And when finally we found the hostel, I didn't know what to do. There was no elevator and so we had to carry the heavy baggage up to the fourth floor. It's crazy.
Well, end up Hubert and a helpful stranger did the job.

When I first saw our room, it was disappointment. I suggested finding elsewhere for the following days but after a day stay, I adapted to my first hostel stay experience. It wasn't too bad actually, just that I expected differently. But definitely if I were to come back to Korea again, I wouldn't book One Hostel because carrying the heavy loads up and down the stairs is insane. Would recommend for backpackers though.
The Hostel is situated at a bustling street of Hongdae, usually quiet in the morning and very lively at night surrounded by restaurants, cafes, clubs, and full of youngsters.

and so there was a weekend night where I went down to get supper with bare face and looking like shit, everyone else was all in party clubbing wear all dressed up. Omg @_@ Haiiiiiis

Never mind, moving on.

Our Korea trip this time focus mainly on food, and I'm glad we managed to try so many different Korean food! I will not talk about it here because there's another post with the food photos.

you can view My Korea Food Journey

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Day1
(Seoul)
Kwangjang Market > Ihwa-dong Village Museum > Bukchon Hanok Village > Ganjang Gejang Alley > Express Bus Terminal Underground Shopping Centre

Day2
(Seoul)
Gyeongbokgung > Gwanghwamun Square > Insadong > Myeongdong > Dongdaemun

Day3
(Seoul)
Everland > Hongdae

Day4
(Jejudo)

Rental Car > Black Pork Street > Kimnyong Maze Park > Manjang Cave > Mone Guesthouse

Day5
(Jejudo)
Jeju Female Diver Museum > Seopjikoji > Jeju Folk Village Museum > Sunrise Peak

Day6
(Busan)
Dynamic Guesthouse > Gwangalli Beach

Day7
(Busan)
Taejongdae > Jagalchi Fish Market > Gamcheon Culture Village > Busan Station

Day8
(Seoul)
Nami Island

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Along the way there were a few hiccups especially on our trip to Jeju and Busan.

Our Jeju flight flew off little earlier and so we missed the flight and had to wait for the next flight which is little more expensive than the ticket we bought. Sigh

On our way to Mone Guesthouse, we got our rental car tire punctured. It was late night and so the guesthouse host said to call the mechanic next day morning.

When morning came, it was raining and we had to wait till they open before someone picked up the phone. It took some time before the mechanic came to save our day... So then we decided to use the small spare tire because buying the normal size one would cost a lot. and that means we couldn't drive too fast or go too far. Whole morning wasted.

We didn't go to a lot of places in Jeju due to time constraints. But anyway, overall our stay in Mone Guesthouse was a good one.

The Korail Pass to Busan was a little pricey but all was good until the day we were going back to Seoul. Regretted not booking the return ticket in advance because when we ended our day early and was all happy being able to go back Seoul earlier, we got to the station and was told the train tickets were sold out. Had to wait more than four hours for the next available train! Damn it. So we wasted our time rotting at Busan Station. What's more? The Busan Station though indoor, was somewhat open air. I was freezing while waiting for time to past. ~_~


Well, even though with some of these hiccups along the way, we had our fun in Korea too.
That's what made up our Korea Trip 2015 :)