day #7 in Seoul... Spring 2011

LAST DAY!

:(((

we're going to head off to Cheonggyecheon Stream for a morning walk in abit.

lovely place, Cheonggyecheon Stream.

i love just heading down there and taking long walks on my own.

people-watching...

waiting for the sun to set... in the evenings that is :p 

the sun is out this morning though, so we thought we'll get out there one last time before coming back to check-out and head for Incheon Airport.

so... yup, bye Seoul.

see You in... oh, October maybe? fingers-crossed.

# # # # #

so i know this blog is seriously lacking in piccies these days...

sorry!

the trusty 'ol camera is dying on me.

5 (going on 6) years now.

almost died a couple of years back but the good people at Camera Hospital helped 'bring-it-back-to-life' ...

reckon it's really about time it is laid to rest now though.

the camera function no longer works properly.

auto goes into video mode too -_-

am still desperately trying to make it last another few months.

another year maybe?? too much to ask?

sigh.

till then, piccies available only when i get 'em from the sisters (or some other kind souls' camera).

day #6 in Seoul... Spring 2011

Last (full) day here. Tomorrow doesn't count 'cos we leave at noon.

Nadia and i had to leave awfully early for the school.

So very tired! So very far away from the City area tooooooo!

But my gosh it was worth it.

The School grounds were lovely!

Perched hillside [am beginning to realize most of the International Schools are on some hill...] with beautiful views and fresh air...

The staff and kids at the School were warm and friendly...

Oh i especially like presenting to people who constantly ask questions! Makes my job easier i feel. 'Cos then i'm giving them information they want!
So anyways.
Once done with work, we headed back into the City.
Nadia is a lovely travel companion.
I first did a trip to China with her in 2008. One of my fav work peeps to go out with :)))
Always bubbly and fun.
Full of interesting stories to share.
Grrrrreat shopping companion! 
Hee!!
We talked the whole time we were in the back of the cab. 
Had intented to nap that 50mins ride back, but we just couldn't stop talking! Ha!
Oh.
Then the cab rounded a corner at the Jamsil Sports Complex Square.
And i gasped.
'Cos the all-too-familiar sight of The Big Top - all blue and yellow - stood right there!
Cirque du Soleil!!!
*criessssssssssssssssssssss
VAREKAI is in SEOUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [get tickets]
It opens next week and i'm leaving tomorrow!
*cries more
I would sOOOOOOOOoooooooo have extended my stay if this were not a work trip :(
CIRQUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Argh.
All you lucky people in Seoul.
GO WATCH VAREKAI! GO!!! [see reviews]
Ok now i'm all sad again.
Gonna get myself a shot of Soju.

day #5 in Seoul... Spring 2011

we decided today was do-major-damage-to-wallet day.

we got the work stuff out of the way by early afternoon and headed for Hongdae.

4 girls + pockets full of cash + plenty of time + VERY MANY absolutely gorgeous shoe shops/ dress shops/ stationery shops/ accessory shops = MAJOR SHOPPING!!!

:)))

it was madness!

we had a quick, (fairly) late lunch of Tteokbokki and a whole plate full of sinful deep-fried yums from a street hawker right outside Exit 8 of the Hongdae Stn, and then set off down the streets.

in and out the shops we went.

bags. shoes. dresses. bling-blings. bakeries. stationeries...... 

at every other shopfront, we were like, "很美！ 很可爱！！！快点进去！" and the 4 of us would then go into the tiny shops [think: The Lost Boys in Peter Pan doing 'following-the-leader'] and start to look-here-look-there, touch-this-touch-that :p

we walked hours before we realised IT WAS DARK! and WE WERE COLD! and HUNGRY!!

girls. sheesh! when there's shopping, we forget everything else. ha!

it was a VERY fruitful trip to Hongdae :)

another one of my must-go (shopping) places in Seoul.

♥

day #4 in Seoul... Spring 2011

So we had dinner at one of my favourite places in Seoul - Tosokchon.

***The website is in Korean, so unless you can read that... well...... anyways.

Tosokchon is one of my must-go places each time i'm in Seoul.
Their Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) is sOOOOoooooo good.
That whole spring chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, dates, chestnut, gingko... and that ginseng!!!
Made to a stew that's oh-so-tender... and oh-so-sweet!!!
Delicious!
Makes for a fabulously happy meal :)))
Well worth the walk from Insa-dong [past the Palace to the Chebu-dong]. In the cold hor! Helped work up an appetite that's for sure!
Not that we need much help working up an appetite here though... the girls and i have been eating so much!
I should probably find time to do a separate entry just on the food we've had (seeing as the food we eat are about the only kinds of photos i've been taking these days... besides, i've not actually been sightseeing. i has work you know.)
Anyways, it was a lovely evening with the sisters tonight.
Our conversation ranged from the benefits of ginseng (educational/ informational) to heated toilet seats (oh! wonderful inventions of mankind!) to singing the BINGO song (Louis-style. B-I-N-G-O and BINGO was his name-O!) to debating what to get the parents from Seoul (so filial. go holiday must buy present for the folks. ha).
It was a good Monday today.
No Blues to sing away :)

day #3 in Seoul... Spring 2011

ARTBOX makes me happy :)

It's such a lovely place to be in.

All that colour. 

All those cutesy stationery. 

All the little things that make me happy!!!

I love just being in their stores!

So much so that i went to 2 ARTBOX outlets today - @ COEX Mall and then to the one near Insa-dong.

We each bought a bunch of hair/beauty/home accessories.

I'm tempted to bring back a white + pink wall clock for our home.

Should i should i should i???

Wonder what the Hubs would make of a pink clock in our Living Room? Hehe.

*Yes i know we have ARTBOX back in SG, but everything cost like, double back home. Just cause it's imported. Wtf.

Wedding-Related: Videography

For months, we were undecided about getting a videographer for the SG Wedding Day.

With the KL one, we kind of agreed on not getting one right from the start of our planning.

But for SG, i've been quite torn between having, and not having one.

In the first few months, the ignorant 'lil me thought a videographer just kind of hung around taking random shots in the Morning when the whole Gate-crashing thingy took place, then putting together a 3-minute clip (aka Express Highlight), to be played during the Wedding Dinner.

 "I don't want to spend that kind of money!" i thought.

Then i found out that a good videographer would be able to capture much more on vidz than that Express Highlight.

In fact, when you engage a videographer, his/her charges don't normally include that Express Highlight! That normally comes at an additional cost! I've been quoted up to S$600 just for this O_o

So what does a good videographer do?

What does one actually get from engaging a videographer?

I did a fair bit of asking around for opinions on whether to get one or not...

Wah! Lagi confused. Dilemma max!!!

The usual videography package includes:

- Full day coverage of your Wedding events in HD by 1 videographer

- 2 (or 3) DVD copies

So that's what the deliverables are! The DVDs! Not the Highlight :p

And what goes into the DVDs?

Well, depending on the videographer, the DVD could include "interviews" with the Couple's family & friends, shout-outs, behind-the-scenes look at prep for the Gate-crash, moments not captured by the photographer from the Morning events, right till the Night ends!

"Wah, cool! Let's play around with our budget and see if we can get one too!" thinks me.

So... Research! Email for quotations! Ask lots of questions!!!

Team David

-- www.davidliu.com.sg

One of the first few we checked out.

Recommended by our Photographer.

Their works are nice alright, but waaaaaaaay out of our budget!

:(((

Next!

Simon Video (and Photo Service)

-- www.simonvideo.com.sg

Hmm... just wasn't impressed.

Derrick Yiu Videography

-- www.derrickyiu.blogspot.com

Not bad at all! Simple works of art. I quite liked and was almost going to go with him, but his (often) very slow respond to my emails did annoy me.

iStudio Video Production

-- www.iStudio.com.my

Another recommendation by the Photographer.

They were, however, already booked for Nov 12.

Ah well.

Fotowerke

-- www.fotowerke.com.sg

Read some great reviews for Celestine's works and were quite happy with what we saw.

But... money, money, money...

Then......

Mc Chia (aka our Photographer for KL)

He impressed us with his creative ideas... his genuine friendliness... his positive attitude... and willingness to accommodate us (and we all know i'm one picky princess/biatch [depending on mood] somedays. ha!)...

After we confirmed Mc as Photographer for KL, the Boy and i were still undecided about whether to, and who to get for our videography in SG.

Very many emails and much nego later, we've finally decided :)

Videography settled! YES!

Go look-see some of Mc's works @ http://vimeo.com/mcchia/

day #2 in Seoul... Spring 2011

so i'm sat here in the Exhibition Hall on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Seoul...

the weather outside is absolutely beautiful - glorious sunshine, constant breeze, nice cool temperatures...

but, there's work to be done :(

so, that's what i'm doing now.

*sigh

# # # # #

 
the sisters went to explore one of the Palaces today.

i've decided that after having been to two Palaces in Seoul last year, i'm going wait till the Boy comes visit Seoul with me before i go to another one :p

# # # # #

the girls and i will probably do a nice hot+spicy dinner later today in the City.

can't wait!

i'm torn between kimchi, kimchi, and more kimchi!

haha!

but seriously, i love kimchi. 

don't care if it's the good 'ol kimchi made of cabbage, or cucumbers and radish... 

whether it's kimchi stew, kimchi soup, noodles (ok maybe not so much the noodles bit cos i don't like noodles), kimchi as an appetiser... i love 'em all!!!

am so near the Kimchi Museum.

*fingers crossed i get some time to pop by this time for a look-see. i like to know where my food comes from :p

kimcheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

# # # # #

oh the randomness of this post.
abrupt end.

i ♥ Seoul

i do i do i do!!!

i ♥ Seoul

 the weather is lovely.

the people are friendly.

the food is yummy :)

the shopping is crazy!

and the best thing about this trip?

the sisters are here with me!

 triple the (shopping and feasting) madness!!

 ♥ ♥ ♥

"be more specific about your age"

You know those surveys that ask for your age group [below 18... above 18... blahblahblah...], then throw you another age-related question such as the above?

wtf.

I now fall under the 18 - 35 category!!!

*cries

how i chase away the Monday Blues #101

--- leave the office on 'da dot (yay!!) and buy myself a $300-something dress on the way home ---

i best be wearing that dress ALOT this year

:ppp

Glorious Penang Makan :)

So remember the week i was horribly sick in Penang?

Well.

Ok.

It wasn't all porridge we ate.

I confess.

We did cave-in and went for some yummy makan. 

Huhuhuhu.

No wonder i was so sick lah.

  Never did get a chance to fully recover did i? :ppp

So, here's some of that awesome Prawn Noodle we had one morning.

Oh look! Hun had Char Kway Teow one evening!

I swear i didn't touch any of that. And it's a good thing i DIDN'T! Or i might still be nursing that throat infection today!

Yam Cake that we had (twice!!!) from the stalls at Gurney Drive.

Oh! This! Wontan Noodles!

From a random corner coffeeshop next to the clinic i went to.

qing tang ok?

So simple. Yet, SO GOOD!!!

Ah, here's the apparently very-popular-come-penang-must-eat! Coconut Jelly.

We drove round (and round) looking for this hooookayssss?

Oh, ok. It was worth it.

IT'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!

See some people so happy :p

Roarrrrrrrrrrr! I'm getting hungry just thinking back on all that food!

Okokokok, last snap of food (cos everything else, i didn't take pictures of. most times by the time i remember to take pictures, i'm like, half way through all that food. duh!)

Good 'ol Hor Fun!

Penang-style!

This, from Kafe Goodall (i THINK that's how it's spelled...) opp PCGHS.

Waaaaaahhhhh!

I could do with a plate of that now.

And some Penang Rojak.

Oh that Japanese Sweet Corn from Gurney Drive too!

Huhuhuhu.

Maybe i should just psycho the girls to do a foodtrip to Penang.

Ha!

Oh lookie here.

Him, enjoying some yummy Prawn Noodles.

Bet he was thinking "thank goodness no porridge today."

:ppp

Wedding-Related: Food-tasting

Gosh.
If food-tasting alone is this tiring, imagine the actual Wedding Dinner!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So.
Food-tasting.
Nope, it wasn't mine.
It was Yuan's actually.
Yes, my darling Yuan is getting married too!
And yesterday evening, we went to Tien Court for a lovely 6-course dinner.
Gan Wong who is taking care of Yuan's Wedding at Copthorne King is truly a friendly and helpful fella.
We were most impressed by how he put everyone at ease (from my parents to the kids - Louis was in one of his moods and was very restless when we arrived at the Restaurant) and talked us through the table set-ups, the food, the room deco......
The Taiwanese "celeb" chef was friendly too! Coming round to meet with the bride-to-be (Yuan lah!) and shaking hands with my parents... mum was like, "Ni zai dian shi de!". -________-
Ok, so why do i say it was tiring just food-tasting?
Geez, we had no idea there were so many decisions to make!
It's not just about the food.
It's the tablecloth + dishes used + napkins + wedding favours + choice of condiments...... very many choices and decisions lor!
It wasn't even my own tasting session.
To think i have to go through TWO of 'em (KL and SG).
Oh but just thinking back on the absolutely delicious Or Nee  (Yam Paste with Gingko + Pumpkin --- Yuan's choice of dessert)... *drools.