Here now at Nirwana Gardens

We are here now at Nirwana Gardens Bintan, Indonesia. Amazingly, I'm able to blog not because of the hotel's internet connection but through our internet connection at home. Yes, you read it right. I'm connected somehow to our secure internet in Singapore. I don't know how my genius husband did it but it works!

Anyway, we decided to get away from city life for the weekend. Eating out and watching movies felt like a weekend routine already and it's the last thing we wanted to do for our 2nd wedding anniversary. I think everyone will agree that this island's nearness (along with Batam) to Singapore is the main reason why city dwellers prefer going here over Thailand, Malaysia or even Bali.  Going here require's less effort and that's what you're paying for.

It's our first time at this resort hotel and so far we are enjoying it (except for the food but that's another story that deserves a separate entry). Their customer service had minor hiccups at first but we forgot all about it as soon as we saw this amazing and relaxing view.


Forget their lobby. All you need is this view and unlimited sweet and salty fresh air.


After the stressful process of checking-in we were greeted by this lovely living room. Check out the rattan carpet and reading chair.


And then we saw our bedroom. So ROMANTIC!


The TV can be rotated. Hence, you can either watch from your bedroom or  living room. Nice idea eh?


The bathroom was clean and so spacious. Toilet and shower room were separated. I also love the sliding door.


His and her sink plus huge mirror!

Can i stay here for a week? For free?

 

 

 

 

Forever 21 = Cotton On

Have you ever noticed how some dresses, skirts and tops at Cotton On are very similar to that of Forever 21’s? Well today, I went to Forever 21 and  this top immediately caught my eye.

Why?

 

 

 

 

Because I already have the same top. I didn’t buy it from Forever 21 though but from Cotton On. It was on sale last February for S$10SGD only. F21 is selling it for S$35 (as far as I can remember).

Can anyone tell me whether these two are under the same company? Why do they sell the same exact clothes?

Happy Hearts Day Everyone!

 

Happy Chinese New Year Singapore!

 

Cookies  and reds everywhere!

Aunties and Uncle can’t get enough of the goodies…

 

 
Uncle can not decide eh?

can’t wait for my hong bao…(woot! woot!)

P.S. Bakit parang walang tikoy dito at puro cookies lang?

1st Day of 2010

Totally slipped my mind

While I was enjoying the sunset of Boracay and stuffing myself with all the pinoy foods I could get in to, my colleagues had been busy registering for the 2010 elections. I hate hate myself for forgetting to register before I went off for vacation. It would have been my chance to finally vote and I just let it just slipped away (sigh…).

Voting didn’t interest me before. I haven’t experienced voting for national elections ever since I became of “legal” age. During the past elections, I felt at that no one among the past candidates deserve my vote. However, after watching the ANC forum last June on TFC my point of view changed. On the show, I got the chance to get to know the people vying for THE position. I like Richard Gordon’s ideas best.

 

“What is important is leadership by example,” he stressed, adding that constituents only follow what they observe a president does. “A president should be hands-on. You cannot move [a nation] just by yourself. It should be both inspiration and perspiration.”

I would want to vote for him if only I was given another chance. Sayang talaga!

And you know what? I chanced upon him on our way to Boracay! I even gave him a handshake! It was now or never I thought because who knows, HE might be the NEXT president.

   
                                           Gordon just arrived in Aklan Airport

It’s been a while now…

Hello there.

I guess I’m back to the blogging world. Not for good that I’m sure. It’s been a hectic 4 months. I’ve been everywhere (literally). I’ve lost and gained and gained and lost a few pounds. I still feel I have to loose more. A lot of my clothes still doesn’t fit me the way it used to 2 years ago. What to do, what to do. I do my best to exercise at least twice a week. A little bit of stretching here and there. I drink lots of water and juice. I eat 2 big meals a day (as in a cup of rice and ulam). No snacks. No dessert. No coke and less sugar on my coffee and milo. BUT it still not WORKING! Could it be because I couldn’t give up RICE? I can’t. I really can’t. HELP Me…

I just spend an entire paragraph about my diet dilemma. I wasn’t planning on talking about that here but it just came out of nowhere. Oh well.

So why I’m here (again). I couldn’t sleep. I’ve been awake for 18 hours now. A lot of things are going through my mind including this blog. I feel like writing today so I took the opportunity to update this neglected blog of mine.

What have I been up to?

May 2009 – nothing really major happened. I was just not in the mood to write. I’m a moody blogger hehehe

June 2009 – same as above.

July 2009 – This was my busiest MONTH of the year. In fact, this was the busiest month I’ve ever had in my entire adult life!

1. 
   
   My ma, sister and youngest brother came all the way from Wales to attend my cousins wedding and to have a vacation in the Philippines. Airfare from UK to Manila isn’t really cheap so they had to squeezed in all their activities in one month. I on the other hand only had 3 weeks. Our first 2 days was spent in our home in Pangasinan. We all miss that place so even though we were all tired from our flights we forced ourselves to travel (by bus) 5 hours just to be there and be with my brother (middle child). We bonded for 2 days. Ate pakbet, bangus, pansit and many more. Even though I eat these here in Singapore, there’s this weird happy feeling of eating them in the place where we all grew up. It still is the PLACE to be when I’m with my family. In fact, up to know nothing could top the Christmases and New Years we’ve had in that place. We went back to Manila two days after to prepare for the wedding. We shopped for our shoes, had my hair permed, my sister had her hair rebonded. Ma had a her hair trimmed and all 3 of us had pedicure. It’s our one thing in common when it comes to being vain hehehe. My youngest brother on the other hand had facial (yes, as in facial sa Let’s face it). I kid you not, he’s the vainest of us all but that’s another story.
   Bro and sis with Ella


2. 
   
   Two days before the wedding we went to Libis for a night out and the day after we had lunch at my Uncle’s place in Cainta. Our place is in Paranaque so our travel to these places had been really a challenged. We don’t have our own car so just imagine the things we have to do and endure just to reach those places. Truly a nightmare!
   
   
   In Libis with the whole gang!                              Sis, ma and my tita’s


3. 
   
   My (dearest) cousin’s wedding. My sister and I were one of the bridesmaid and my brother was one of the groomsmen that’s why we had to prepare a just LITTLE. The wedding was successful. We were a little emotional while the bride was walking down the aisle but that’s expected right?-at least for us girls. The reception was a lot of fun. There were games, a little dancing and or course eating! I was just disappointed with myself as I wasn’t able to fully enjoy the food due to my “just right” dress. There was no extra space for a big tummy in that dress so after a few bites I was so full already (what a loser) that I didn’t have the chance to go back for another plate.
   
   
   The newly weds                                              Fun fun fun!


4. 
   
   Boracay trip. This was the highlight of our vacation. I’ve been to Boracay a long long time ago. I only had a few pictures and didn’t get a chance to try the “Things to do in Boracay” activities. So it was still like a new place for me. Just check out our pictures!
   
   Boracay Jumpshot                                         cliché Sandcastle shot
   
   
   Boat ride to banana ride and Island hopping                       Merienda
   
   
   Overlooking Boracay Island                                                  ATV! I survive
   
   
   Happy!                                               Manny Pacquiao’s Place
   
   
   Helmet Diving                                   It wasn’t really painful, she was just acting
   
   
   Sunset shots


5. 
   
   Butuan trip. A day after Boracay my ma and I went to Butuan City. It’s my ma’s hometown. We went there with my cousin and other relatives to visit their Farmhouse and my grandparent’s grave. We stayed there for 2 days then back again to Manila. (I told you it was the BUSIEST month).
   
   It was raining so we had to wear botas                        With cousins


6. 
   
   Ma, sis’ trip to Singapore. A day ( yes, the day after arriving from Butuan) after our trip from Mindanao was our flight to Singapore. Two weeks of my vacation was spent in the Philippines and the third week was spent here to give my ma and sister a little tour of my work place. We brought them to Sentosa, Suntec, Orchard, a few malls and the Merlion park in Esplanade.
   
   

Whew! That was a long entry.

Until next time!

Summer delight

Mango Snow Ice with Condensed Milk @ Hongkong Cafe

Blog backlog

Hello there!

It's been a long time since I've updated this blog. I was thinking of work as an excuse (again!) but I'll just admit it. I've been LAZY this month. Did'nt even play badminton, exercise, read a book or even shop except when I heard about the CK sale. I figured it will be a first time for me and my only chance before this year ends. And so I went and burned a couple of hundred bucks. Tee hee!

Anyway here's a list of what I've been up to this month of November. I think this will be my longest post so far.

- Went to the Asian Food Expo in Singapore expo (where else!)

All I can say is it was pure gluttony. We came out full, grossed out (some weird foods), and penny less. We came to the expo unprepared. We forgot to withdraw some money before going. We only found out that we only had $20 dollars when we were already inside!

- Put up our Christmas tree after all souls day. The light came in late but was right on time for my big day.

- Made my first home-made puto with the help of my favorite food blogger’s recipe.

It turned out good actually. I didn’t have beater so yeah, my arms hurt after beating the egg whites. She did gave a warning about it but I didn’t have a choice. I wanted to eat puto so badly that night so I had to make sacrifices.

- Went to Charles and Keith sale. Bought 6 bags, 2 pairs were of the same kind but in different colors and a shoe and a belt for Leng

- I had a surprised birthday party at the office. I received a pair of shoes as a birthday present enclosed in a cute yellow shoebox which only cost 2 dollars according to my officemates. I’m now planning to buy more of them for my other lovely shoes (woot woot!).

 

Officemates and friends, you are all so sweet. Again a big thank you!

- Celebrated my birthday with friends and officemates again on my actual birthday. We were supposed to be on a holiday in Thailand but our trip was cancelled (boo hoo!) due to… I don’t want to talk about it. So we resorted to inviting everybody in our team for a small dinner and for videoke session here at home. My birhtday handa were Beef Caldereta, Chop-Suey, Pansit Bihon, Lumpia, Embutido and Buko Pandan for dessert. We (Adette, Jong and Leng) started cooking around 12pm and was finished by 4pm. Guests started arriving around 7pm (filipino time, nyek!). I had a fun night. I enjoyed every bits of our laughing, singing, story-telling and eating session. Although I was very exhausted by the end of the day, I figured I will probably do this again next year. 

Thanks to all those who came and to those who remembered my birthday! and to those who forgot hehe.

- And lastly, today I made my first ever doughnut coated with Sugar and Cinnamon.

Can anyone remind me to buy a doughnut cutter next time?

***That’s all folks!