Inhale deeply the magical air of winter...: Travel tales...

Weekend has come and gone once again, but this weekend has been really eventful, especially when most of it has to do with travel ;)

Travel Tale #1: CHINA

Went to parents-in-law's place for lunch... they've returned from their China trip and my goodness, they sure did quite a bit of shopping there cos, according to them, everything's real cheap there. It was interesting listening to them relate their trip to China and looking through the pics they took. I really felt they were very lucky too because the Sze Chuan earthquake took place about a week after they left the area. Also learned from them that China's stuff are nice and cheap, but the food's not as nice. Apparently, the food there is super salty. MIL kept saying that the scenery's lovely, and weather's good even though summer's coming, and that we should visit the country one day. Hmm... don't think it'll happen. Call me prejudiced or something, but I simply do not wish to be in a country with people who'll eat just about anything under the sun. It's plain cruel and unnatural. *make a face*

But that aside, I think it is true that the scenery's beautiful, and shopping's great there with prices so low. And look what they brought back from the place too -- giant mushrooms!!! Haha... me being a huge fan of mushrooms, I just couldn't help but take a pic of it. Ahaha, was really amused by these.

TRAVEL TALE #2: TAIPEI

On Sunday, we went back to Bukit Timah and finally saw all the goodies that Beebee had bought home from her graduation trip to Taipei... hee, so fun! She bought quite a number of fun things for Hubby and me. Here's what we received each:

For Hubby --

* a colourful clown key chain

* a wacky cane with a little palm (Hubby says we can use that to whack our kids in future...hahaha...)

* another fun key chain in the form of a bull dog -- the type that's got teeth for you to press one by one and if you hit the right one, it'll just glare at you and clamp your finger in its jaws

* a mini candy in the form of dung

* a piece of white chocolate in the form of *ahem* breasts (I wonder what Beebee is implying -- that Hubby's horny??? Heh.)

* and a pair of adorable magnets in boy and girl tribal form, which is now stuck on our fridge. So cute cos their short little legs would shake each time the fridge door's opened or closed

For me (loads of pinkish stuff!) --

* small Hello Kitty backrest cushion (I'm resting on it now...)

* Hello Kitty recipe clip (already stuck on the side of the fridge)

* Charmmy Kitty shoes odour remover (though I can't bear to put them in my shoes...Beebee says cute so buy... maybe will just display them somewhere :p)

* pink and black oriental design camera case (which I'm using already!)

* lovely Japanese paper craft stickers (dunno what I'll do with them, but they're so sweet to look at)

* another piece of candy dung

* teeny weeny chocolate pudding

Lovely gifts! We had such fun looking and playing with some of the things. Thanks, Beebee... heehee. And check out the local goodies that she bought home too... she had to check in a big box of these... Realised that many of Taiwan goods are like those you find in Japan, with such attractive packaging. Beebee says no wonder cos they sort of follow the Japanese trend. In fact, many of the items Beebee bought for us are in the form of Japanese packaging with Japanese words on them. Looking attractive packaging makes me wanna try Taiwan/ Taipei too... heh. She also says the night market's really happening, with so many things to buy and at low prices too. Can shop till 2 or 3am. Plus the people in the retail line are really polite and make customers feel like kings/ queens... Beebee was really impressed by them...Wow... Taiwan/ Taipei, can consider!

TRAVEL TALE #3: SINGAPORE

Ok lah, I know very lame. We didn't go anywhere with our passports yet I call this part of the entry travel tale #3. Hehe. Never mind, at least while travelling about Singapore on Saturday (actually, it's mainly travelling around Orchard in Singapore), I got quite a few good buys too. :p

Was looking for another fruity fragrance to replace my previous Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, which I loved cos of its green mango and lotus flower concoction. Couldn't find any at DFS fragrance level, so went back to Hermes boutique, thinking maybe they have new fragrances there. Was about to buy the Un Jardin Sur Le Nil again when I was recommended a new Hermes fragrance named Kelly Caleche, a blend of jasmine, rose, iris and oak moss. Usually chose fruity scent over flowery type, but this one's really nice and special, not too overpowering. Also love the bottle it comes in, cos the tip opens and closes in a special way. So bought a twin pack for $190 and chose a bottle of 12.5ml male fragrance free for Hubby too. :) After this experience, I think I'll just stick to Hermes fragrances cos they really not bad.

Later on, at the toys store at Wheelock Place, I also found a whole series of Mickey Mouse themed mini food displays to add to my collection! Thought wouldn't be expanding my collection anymore till I came across this... couldn't resist cos it reminds me of Japan Disneyland where I enjoyed myself so much last Dec... So just bought it lor... ;)

In the evening, Hubby and I also discovered this new place at Far East Plaza, along the row of fast food restaurants eg. Carl's Jr. It's a cosy Japanese restaurant that allows you to place order for your food using machines. You also pay at the machines, like how you use a vending machine. Then you collect a receipt and wait for your number to be called before collecting your tray of food from the counter. Interesting... price is more or less reasonable for the main course, but might not be worth it topping up to a full meal cos you pay about $4 extra just for a small bowl of miso soup and chawanmushi which doesn't exactly taste fantastic anyway. Other than that, the main courses are quite tasty. Hubby ordered raw salmon with rice and I ordered fried dory fillet rice.