Havent been updating the blog lately.  As some of you might know, I started interning at this stage production/theatre company just a couple days back. With the theatrical performance starting its run in 2wks’ time , you bet that it’s gonna be quite a busy and hectic time for me as I’ll be required to work almost every night. No Valentine’s Day celebration (first time ever!) for me either.   No complains though. I should be glad that one of my first tasks is to help out with the upcoming comical production … an eye-opening start to my internship.   It’s the eve of the lunar new year so gonna get ready for reunion dinner. Will blog more about the outings (involving a particular incident with 3 perverted Japanese guys) on another day.

Last Friday: Immersion of CNY festivity at Chinatown

Local delights at hawker places are always 1 of my favs. And I devoured them all ( chicken rice, nasi lemak, hokkein mee, sliced fish soup, tom yum, teochew porridge, etc) upon my return from the states. Trust me, no other food releases the greedy monster in me as much as hawker feast. Cheap and delicious, that’s really the best that anyone can ask for. MK and I call ourselves the “couple with weird eating tastes” (Loisa!) – we love sashimi, frogs’ legs porridge, pigs/chicken/cow organs dishes, oyster omelette, shellfish, basically alot of food stuff that others might not find appealing lol. We should win “Fear Factor” if it’s based only on the disgusting food section man.
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Snippets of girlie outings with friends // cherished moments.
~ olivia, christine, marie, chantelle ~



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Saturday: Sentosa Flowers 2009 “Colours of Spring”

If you didnt know by now, i ♥  flowers. That explains the many trips we made to the various flowers’ festivals and conservatories over the past year. Flowers have been used to express different forms of love and emotions since centuries ago and not surprisingly, it was at the Sentosa Flowers 2008 event that made me fall head over heels with MK.  So, how can we miss this chance to – as MK puts it, “fall deeply in love” again? For those of you who are interested, the flowers exhibition is on till 1st Feb … don’t miss this chance to view the award-winning flowers fiesta!

A year back : 2008

This year: 2009

Daffodils (unfortunately, they’re hardly available in Sg. Pre-order is a MUST) aside, lilies are my next favourite flowers.

Make A Wish. Our wishes for last year came true. Will our wishes for 2009 come true too? Well, only a visit down to the “Trees of Life 2010″ will tell… something tells me that this will become an annual CNY routine for us.

Colours of love

Haggard and exhausted after a day of sun, flowers and fun.

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Finally, Happy Chinese New Year to all! Enjoy the goodies, visitings and of course, everyone’s fav- the collection of ang bohs! loves.

Shout outs!
Juliet, Christine – good luck for your respective interviews!
Shermin – so proud of you and your very first architecture exhibition. you go, gal!
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 Gone are the days where I have the priviledge of bumming around at home but here’s to the upcoming, productive months. Great start to the week.

A week in the great company of girlfriends …
the TALK, alfresco dining at the national museum, a session of mani/pedi
life’s back on the go again.
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Frankly, Im pissed now. WordPress just ate up my entire chunk of text content that I wrote even though I clicked on the “SAVE” button. Screw them, seriously! What’s the point of having a “Save” function when it eventually doesn’t even save the content of my blog entry? Im pissed, really pissed … as you can probably tell from here.

Time flies. It’s been 3wks since I flew out of USA and back to Singapore… and frankly, I havent been doing anything much in the past wks. Unless you count bumming around and slacking something productive. Eve once mentioned in her blog that she will “always be stuck on Mizzou” and that she doesnt “see the need to get unstuck”. Initially, I didnt get it, my first thoughts were “Why get stuck onto something, that was in the past? Everyone needs to move on and look forward to what’s to come in the future.” Yet, now that I’ve been through a semester of an overseas stint myself, Im beginning to make sense to her statements. Being in UB brought about new challenges – having to get adjusted to new classes with MANY new faces, hold conversations and make new friends, live in a new tiny space with a stranger (who eventually become a close pal ), go on exciting excursions and trips, … Granted, there were days whereby I did nothing much either … but the overall vibe I got was that there was always something to look forward to, something unexpected and interesting that happens. Esp interactions with people. Coming back to Singapore, I feel as if life’s back to the rut again. There was a list of things that I planned to do upon my return yet truthfully, I felt lost and confused. Needing something to steer me in the right direction and to get my bearings once more.  I withdrew from many activities in the first couple of weeks ( including meeting up with friends, which used to fill up many dates in my daily planner). The same old days where you attend class, work part-time and meet up with various friends, having a blast together and party hard before return home … well, it’s fun – living life for the moment – but somehow, I just yearn for something more productive, stimulating and meaningful to do … Maybe, just a change, a deviation from the routine that I always led. After all, change is the only constant. What I might enjoy doing now might very well, not be my cup of tea in the future. Well, my first step was to finally stop procrastinating (Which i have been doing for ages), and start decluttering my study area. Mission accomplished – my desk table and cabinets are neat and organised now. Off to the major, almost impossible task – the studyroom, everyone’s nightmare!

Alas, life HAS TO move on … regardless, I will always hold close to my heart the memories that I shared with so many people back in the one place called UB. 
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Screw wordpress, Im no longer in the mood to continue on with what I just wrote. Perhaps, another time.

.Part 5- Still in NYC.

Part 5: Christmas in NYC

Finally, coming to the final few days of my trip. One that I didnt want to bid farewell to but alas, we just have to face reality someday.

Day 12. Christmas Eve. American Museum of Natural History. Macy’s. Rockfeller Centre.

American Museum of Natural History. NYC has nothing short of museums and art galleries … If you’re a fan of arts, this city must be heaven for you. However, fret not for those who have only a faint interest in the art scene … there’s always the American Museum of Natural History ( note: Night at the Museum movie) to entertain you! A wide collection of fossils of dinosaurs and extinct species, indulge yourself in learning more about biodiversity in the many Mammals Halls (African/Asian/American.etc), travel around the globe by absorbing all the new-found knowledge at the various Culture Halls (Pacific/Asians/Central America/Native Indians.etc), get in touch with our human origins by knowing more about the human evolution from our ape ancesters till the form that we are now today,  expand your grasps of knowledge about the outer space at the Rose Centre … To simply put it, u need more than a day to cover this comprehensive museum in detail.

Dazzling, Animated (yes! animated!) Christmas window displays over at Macy’s and Saks 5th Ave that kept all passers-by in awe.

A visit to the road-side caricuturist. Was quite an awkward experience as we had many people who stopped in their tracks and stared OR giggled at us. Honestly, while I appreciate the artwork … I however, dont see much of a resemblance lol. Nonetheless, a momento for keepsake.

The ever-popular Rockefeller Centre Ice-Skating Rink. Jostling with the crowd on a certain XMAS EVE.

Day 13. Christmas Day. Central Park. Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Central Park … the oasis of New York City. The one place that certainly enables one to experience a sense of soothing peace while being in 1 of the busiest city in the world. And thats where we spent our Christmas day morning at.

‘Romeo & Juliet’ Statue

Belvedere Castle

Romantic Bow Bridge

Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Truly, “the museum of the odd, the unusual, the unbelievable”. If you think you have seen the strangest and weirdest of things, try Ripley’s! Rmr to check out the wide collection of shrunken heads of the Jivaro tribe.

Day 14. Fifth Aveune. Palace Hotel. Top of the Rock Observation Deck. West Village.

Lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the TIMES SQUARE COWBOY. Yes, wearing nothing more than a pair of white briefs and cowboy boots in the cold winter!

A stroll along Fifth Aveune – Home of all luxury brands and boutiques. F.A.O. Schwarz, Apple Store, Bergdorf Goodman, Prada, Gucci, LV, Tiffany & Co. , Chanel, Trump Towers, The Plaza Hotel, etc … Not too different from Times Square, Fifth Ave is filled with crowds and hordes of people (many of whom are tourists, i suspect) all tempted by the ‘post-christmas’ sales, to do some damage to their wallets. Families hanging out at upscale kiddy stores such as FAO and DisneyWorld Gifts … Techno-savy peeps checking out the latest gadgets at the “oh-so-cool” transparent cube that leads down to a huge basement of APPLE products … Fashionistas toting new bags of purchases from luxury boutiques.

Friday at Tiffany & Co. Classic Tiffany Bow. Signature Blue Box. I  ♥  ♥ ♥  the birthday gift, baby boy.

New York Palace Hotel

To all the “Gossip Girls” fans out there, the ‘New York Palace Hotel’ should be a familiar sight as it is the hotel that the lead character, Serena Van der Woodsen lived in for a short period of time.  Funny how a popular series can make a place become an overnight chic destination.

Top of The Rock Observation Deck (72nd storey) offers unobstructed, sweeping views of Manhattan and the other boroughs from up above. We intentionally set our visit shortly before sunset so that we can enjoy both the amazing yet distinctive day and night views of the city. Some of the most prominent landmarks or sights include, Central Park, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Brooklyn Bridge and East River. A glowing city of lights!

Nothing short of spectacular!

Decided to venture into a neighbourhood that’s less touristy and that was what we exactly got over at West Village. Had japanese food at a corner diner as we gazed out at the streets, watching people as they breezed past us. West Village is unlike the many touristy places that we had been. Alot more laidback, a more authentic New York downtown charm to it. Plus, there’s a wide selection of restaurants for you to choose from. As quoted from a website (gonyc.about.com), “When you’ve had enough of Manhattan’s tall buildings and bustling crowds, Greenwich Village offers a great respite with its calmer, more manageable feel, and Greenwich Village’s shorter buildings allow more sunshine to reach the streets.”

Bleecker Street is definitely a must for those who enjoy quaint, indie stores (think: Haji Lane) … We even came across a store that had sample sales for some designer loots. Hear this: $400-500 Ralph Lauren shoes going for $75. Cheap Bargains (but nope,we didnt get any thing). Other than that, it was a night of strolling around the village. There’s Washington Square Park where we saw the Washington Arc (modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris), Magnolia Bakery of “Sex and the City” fame, Rocco’s bakery where we had heavenly tiramisu for dessert … and my fav hobby? Peering into the windows of the many townhouses and just admiring the decor inside of the homes.

Happened to come across a second-hand bookshop. Looked around for abit before settling on the perfect purchase ($6): “SHOES.SHOES.SHOES” – a book of illustration of countless of shoes and quotations by the one and only Andy Warhol.


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Oh, New York … New York! A city that never sleeps … I will always remember Manhattan – the glistening stunning skyline of skyscrappers, the melting pot of different cultures all living together in one city, a collage of broadway shows & museums …  All in the city, being a romantic tourist enthralled by the sights and sounds of the city. But to become an inhabitant of the city? Probably a no, just too overwhelming & hectic for my liking.

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What’s next? Many thoughts running through my mind but I shall leave that for another day to blog about. Meanwhile, school’s starting later and I guess, it’s back to the rut.     Tell me, why are I stuck in a rut now that Im back?

.Part 4- New York City.

Part 4 – New York City

Yes, that’s not all the luggages that we have. We had smaller bags of carry-ons that aint in the picture lol. So anyway, The Big Apple. As much as I would prefer to go off-the-beaten-track by visiting the less touristy places … it’s however my family’s first time to NYC and so… being 1 of the most visited city in the world, how is it that we don’t visit those acclaimed touristy spots? Now that I had seen NYC in the middle of summer, with the sorching sun and rising temperatures … I cant wait to see it in winter.

Ginnie & MK – the porters of the day.

Day 9. There’s plenty that’s being offered to everyone in Manhattan! Not wanting to visit some of its sights without knowing much about the history behind it, I thus spent the month leading to this trip researching more about each of the various buildings and places of attractions that we planned to visit. So, here are some of the sites:

New York Public Library. The main branch building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965. The site where Carrie Bradshaw of “Sex and the City” was orginally supposed to wed at. Both the exterior and interior of the library look just like a museum –> sky-with-angels painted ceilings, oil-on-canvas paintings and portraits, stone sculptures and of course, countless and countless of books , all stored along the 88 miles of shelf space!

Bryant Park. The location where designers showcase their latest designs, and where models strut their stuff for the bi-annual “New York Fashion Week fiesta. A walk through Bryant Park in the midst of Christmas season shouldn’t be missed. A cup of hot apple cider in hand, we strolled through the park … taking in the sights of New Yorkers and tourists rushing to do their christmas shopping at the holiday shopping fair … and also, to people-watch the many skaters ice-skating. People of all sorts – Parents who lead their lil’ kids … executives decked in biz wear … couples in love, holding hands … siblings trying to chase one another …

Grand Central Terminal. The world’s largest train station, with its 44 (soon to be, 48) platforms. The four-faced clock right in the middle of the main concourse is a familar sight as it’s often featured in many films and tv show. Made from opal, this recognizable icon is said to be valued somewhere between usd $10 – 20 million. There’re also secret tracks or basement right here in the Grand Central Terminal. According to wiki, ” A “secret” sub-basement known as M42 lies under the Terminal, containing the AC to DC converters used to supply DC traction current to the Terminal. ” In addition, there’s also another track that goes from the terminal right to the Waldorf-Astoria hotel – one that is closed down, but according to some, it’s still used by Presidents when they stay at the hotel. Just like any major sites in NYC, the terminal organises its yearly  ”Holiday Shopping Fair” at the Vanderbilt Hall, for those interested in some christmas shopping.

Do not miss the annual Grand Central Terminal Holiday Kaleidoscope Light Show. A spectacular light show display , ending with a fireworks fiesta, against the sky ceiling and walls of the terminal.

The “Grand Central Holiday Train Show” exhibit that continues to fascinate kids and adults through the years. Check out the NY Transit Museum.

Times Square. What’s NYC without a visit to the popular, and often-featured-in-TV/Films Times Square right? It’s quite an urban jungle of concrete and towers that scrape the sky. Americans and tourists alike, all on cloud 9 THOUSAND with their shopping … All that we saw were people loaded with bags and bags of christmas gifts. Tourists from all over the world (seriously, it’s the most cosmopolitan city I’ve ever been … i must have heard a dozen of languages being spoken each day) – a total kaleidoscopic array of people! Walking along the streets of Times Square first made us shuddered with a wave of pure anticipation and excitement but it soon became a bit too overwhelming and crowded for us.

A 3-storey ferris wheel and an almost live-sized T-rex right in Times Square’s “Toys R Us” .

M&Ms store, all 3 storeys of it. Filled with columns and columns of assorted M&Ms of all kinds. And that’s not all, there’s also countless of M&Ms merchandise for those avid fans – apparels, undergarments, accessories (earrings/necklaces and even, sunglasses!), utensils, school bags, u name it- M&Ms got it. Good job M&Ms, trying to capitalise on their unwavering popularity.

A chocoholic’s delight! First, M&Ms … then Hershey’s!

Hey, Look! What’s that? It states “MK & STEPH. EVER YOURS. EVER OURS.”  Seeing that we’re in the City, I was inspired by “Sex and the City” (original quote: Ever thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours).  My surprise Christmas gift for baby, 15mins of fame, right here in Times Square!

Day 10. Pennslyvania.

Took a day-tour to explore the historic Pennslyvania. There’s of course the must-go-to trip over to the Independence National Historic Park, where we saw the old, cracked Liberty Bell and the Independence Hall.

Honestly, I was about to comment that a day tour over to Penn state isnt really worth it. 5hours’ plus of travelling, and due to the lack of time, you can’t really absorb all that’s being offered. Trust me, you will be better off going on a free & easy trip, where you will get to enjoy the sights and sounds on your own pace. However, the trip to the Amish county really made up for it. Amish community (at Lancaster,PA) is indeed one that intrigues many. A community that continues to live by the olden ways like their forefathers did, even in our fast-paced and increasingly modern society. To them, “family” is top priority and so, they believe in staying close to their family members. As such, Amish families do not permit electricity or telephones in their homes – they believe that such modern technologies could be destructive to their family structure and their way of life as technologies like these would result in them drifting away from their community. In other words, they lead a very simple lifestyle (NO tv/internet/

1) Plain People – Only the simpliest and basic ornaments are allowed on clothing. That means – NO patterns on clothing, just dark solid colours (often black, navy blue or grey) … NO buttons – pins or hooks will do the job … In most cases, Amish women typically don solid-colour dresses (long sleeves and full length skirt), with a white apron at the front. Apparently, they are also not allowed to cut their hair.

2) Transportation – The “Old Order” people travels only in horse-drawn buggies. Horse-drawn buggies can only travel that far and so, this would forbid the Amish from travelling too far away from their families. They are however, allowed to ride in automobiles – just as long as they dont own them- (planes/cars/trains) though travelling too far a distance is  often discouraged.

3) Occupation – Most earn their keeps through farming as they believe that the rural working environment helps maintain their “Togetherness” within their community.

4) Education – Formal education are provided for the Amish kids through eighth grade and so, most of them only studied till grade 8th. Academic study takes place in a 1-room school-house and all students (from 1st to 8th grade) are taught by only 1 single, unmarried teacher.

Please google for “Amish” to read up more about them. Given that the world is becoming increasingly globalised and modern, i cant help but to totally respect the Amish people for standing by their beliefs and leading their lives as simple as they can be, even in this fast-paced and competitive society.

Here’s us with our Buggy ride driver. One of the main highlight was that we got to enjoy a 20mins Buggy ride around the fields and plains of the Amish village. Got the chance to interact with them and know more about the Amish and its culture.

MK, me and our lucky pennies! Yes, those many press-a-penny machines that dot America.. those that never fail to get either of us to try our hand at it. And now thanks to those machines, we have a small collection of pennies that display the different places of attraction that we had been to during our stay.

Day 11.  Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty. Radio City Christmas Show with the Rockettes.

At the historic but now-defunct Communipaw Terminal (also known as the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal). Abandoned buildings or terminals like this fascinate me (though, dont bet on me paying a visit to abandoned buildings by myself. I often assume that they’re haunted.).  The CRRNJ declared bankruptcy and so, the terminal ceased operations since 1967.

Ellis Island – the gateway to America for all immigrants during the period of 1892 to 1954. IMO, it’s a must-visit for all first-time tourist. There’s so much knowledge that one can absorb here – The changes that the island undergone since when it was first a 3.5 acre muddy island back in 1630 to the stage it is right now and the different processes that an immigrant has to go through in order to pass the check to migrate to USA. Audio guides are available to allow you to experience Ellis Island, just like an immigrant of those yesteryears. Yet, this remarkable and significant island was once left abandoned and uncared for … for almost 50 yrs. As quoted from a site, ” Sometimes called Ellis Island’s Forgotten Side, 30 hauntingly beautiful buildings, vacant, shuttered, and unseen by the public for well over half a century lay before me in dire need of repair”. Even up till now, the other buildings – Ferry Terminal, Hospital Complex and the Contagious Diseases Wards are not officially open for visits for members of the public ( permits needed).

Registry Hall. Statue of a young irish gal, Annie Moore - The first immigrant to be given the stamp of approval since Ellis Island was officially opened on 1st Jan 1892. Pictures of the once-ruined/abandoned Ellis Island/buildings – all in stages of decay.

Statue of Liberty. Need me say more? Remember to get your “Free first-come-first-serve tickets up to the Observation Deck” as early as possible. It’s worth the experience although I have to mention that you will not be in the statue itself, just the observation deck below it.  

156 steps to the Observation Deck, that opens up to an aerial 360 degrees view of Manhattan, New Jersey, Staten Island and the other NYC boroughs. Well – it was alot easier to climb up these 156 steps as compared to the rather slippery spiral steps up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The original old torch that’s now on display in the museum.  

A view from the bottom. The very narrow flight of stairs (12 storey) that leads up to the observation level at the Crown ( closed, ever since 911). There’s also a ladder from the Crown that leads up to the Torch – the highest point of the statue (closed, since 1916).

A mad rush over to Midtown to see the doc to get MK’s stitches out first before heading for our show. Broadway shows are often a must for tourists who enjoy watching musicals. Truthfully, I would have jumped at the chance to catch many broadway shows if possible ( Wicked! Mary Poppins! The Little Mermaid!). However, prices soar and peak   during Christmas season and also, due to the lack of time… we eventually settled on the famous Radio City Christmas show starring none other than the dazzling rockettes! The ideal show that would get our holiday spirits all prep for Christmas. Imagine a NYC Sight-Seeing bus drive in with Rockettes in tow … 3D effects … live animals (sheeps, camels, donkeys) … high-kick, tap dancing … all in a dizzying performance!

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Part 5: Christmas in New York (Im such a procrastinator. It’s already gonne be CNY soon and here I am, still blogging about Christmas lol!)

.Childhood Sweethearts Elope.

An adorable article for you guys to read:

Story Credit to:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1105769/Childhood-sweethearts-aged-6-7-try-elope-Africa-married-warm.html

The two sweethearts eloped at dawn, destination Africa. They dreamed of marrying in the blazing sunshine, surrounded by lions, zebras and perhaps the odd giraffe. The pair even took an accomplice with them to act as a witness in case no locals were available. Sadly, however, their romantic mission was doomed to failure – since the would-be bride and groom were aged seven and six, while their witness was only five.

The story began on New Year’s Eve when the family were watching a documentary about Africa and its wildlife. ‘From this, the children began to make plans for the future,’ said police spokesman Holger Jureczko. The two youngsters were ‘very much in love and decided to get married in Africa where it is warm, taking with them as a witness Anna-Lena’s little sister Anna-Bell’.

As the first dawn of 2009 broke, the trio packed three suitcases with all the essentials for the journey, including sunglasses, swimming trunks, a lilo, summer clothes and sandwiches made from chicken paste and processed cheese. While their parents slept, they crept out of the house wrapped up against the freezing weather and walked two-thirds of a mile up the road to a tram stop from where they caught the service to the central station. Waiting for a train to the airport 30 miles away, they attracted the attention of the guard, who contacted police.

Two officers managed to convince the young lovers that they would struggle to get to Africa without money or a plane ticket. ‘They were very put out that they couldn’t carry on their journey,’ added Mr Jureczko. ‘But they calmed down when they were promised a hot drink and some breakfast.’ As a further consolation, the children were given a tour of police headquarters where they were ‘especially taken with the detention cells’. Their relieved parents picked them up from the station, said Mr Jureczko, adding: ‘They can still put their plan into action at a later date.’

. Part 3- Barrie.

Part 3: Horseshoe Resort, Barrie

Days 5 to 8

The highlight of our trip. Well, first and foremost … it was our first time trying our hand at skiing and snow-tubbing (that is, if u exclude the attempt at Snow City). Certainly, a new and refreshing experience for each and everyone of us. Secondly, waking up every morning only to be greeted by fluffs and clouds of snow was definitely more than a delight. My camera failed to capture the awe and stunning beauty of the snow but truly, it was a breathtaking sight to behold. Finally, something terrible …. TERRIBLE happened. One that scared the shit out of us.

Day 5. Met up with my family (immediate big hugs & kisses from them! ) and we had our own chartered limo that brought us straight from Toronto to Barrie. Lazed around the resort and soak in the “White Christmas” ambiance before heading down to the slope for an hour of lession with out ski instructors. Cheers to our ski instructors who patiently taught us the basics of skiing – position, brake, tactics. Skiing might look easy but darn, it was probably one of the most energy-consuming sport I ever attempted man. Those ski boots must have weighed up to 4kg/pair … It was extremely uncomfortable and awkward to be walking around in those boots. Braking wasnt easy too, especially when you are accelerating down the slope and to suddenly stop … let’s just say it often ended up with me falling on either my arse or sides. Ginnie did pretty good, and MK baby – being the thrill-seeker that he is – got the hang of it rather fast too. Think we spent a good 3hrs (till 930pm) practising our new-found skills before calling it a night. Too exhausted and hey, we needed all the energy that we could get for a whole day of fun and ski the following day! 

Horseshow Valley offers night-skiing for those thrill-seekers yearning for some night adventure.

Day 6. Our day to hone our skiing skills. Started the day with a couple of hours skiing over at the Bunny Slope. Yes, the slope for beginners! Skiing - the adrenaline rush I got from skiing down the slope was awesome! Now, it’s quite contradictory but I love and am at the same time, quite fearful of SPEED. So, on one hand – While I will increase the speed of the skis; on the other, Im afraid of losing control and banging into things/people. Inevitable, I had a mini accident whereby I lost control of my speed and went zooming down, crashing straight into the netting barrier. Did a somersault and got my ski stuck in the snow. Immediately, the couple next to me shouted “OMG!” and asked if I was fine. No major damage done, just a bruise. Guess such sports will always come with its own injuries heh? Being the sweet bf that he is, MK would intentionally put a halt to his skis and fall on his side if he happened to see me falling down. That was his intention of keeping me accompanied.  :)  Uncle  CK and Yvette guided Gin and Amanda so they were in safe hands and having a ball of fun.

After lunch.  Seeing that our dad is partially handicapped, all of us were full of pride that he is both courageous and adventurous enough to attempt skiing. Off, he went off for his lesson with his ski instructors. And you know what? As embarrassed as we are, he actually had a better control of his skis ( for instance, doing the zig-zag turns) than we did. lol.

MK baby wanted something more exciting and so, off he went to attempt the beginners’ slopes ( note: there’s a difference between bunny and beginners’ slopes). It was at this point of time when all XXX . From where we were standing, my sisters and I noticed this man having much difficulty at mid-point of the slope (it was pretty far and so, we couldn’t be certain if it was MK). He was stuck there for about a good 10-15mins. Gut instinct told us that it was MK baby and so, we made the decision to trek up the slope to help him. Yet before we could even reached him, that figure disappeared from our sight … and cz ginnie was the first in line, she saw a man crushing straight into the netting barrier. Initially, we weren’t sure if it was MK but soon, we realised that our fears had turned into reality. I was horrified … seeing that his whole face was covered in deep, red blood that continued to drip onto his clothes. First thought that came to my mind was, “OMG! OMG! We have to get him to the First Aid Centre immediately!”

Chaos! The paramedics at the first aid centre reccommended that we rush MK to the hospital immediately to get his stitches done because the cut on his forehead was pretty deep and very raw. Thankfully for Aunite PN and family, we had the means to get out of the isolated valley into somewhere more civilized. Cz if not, we had to pay like $500 cdn or so just to get the paramedics to drive him over to the nearest hospital, which was about a 30mins drive away. Yes, that’s how far we were from the nearest town (population: 120,000). A long wait in the hosp before the doc attended to us. 4 stitches, and yours truly was present to see the process of stitching. Nothing too gross but still, not a sight for the faint-hearted. Im just so thankful that it was just a minor accident and that he is fine. I mean, the consequences could have been alot worser off … break a leg? handicapped? paralysed? death? . I would NEVER want to lose you, NEVER. So baby boy, hear this: Being reckless comes along with its own set of consequences too. I realised that I didnt explain the incident clearly but MK went smashing into the wooden poles that were holding the netting up. Yes, those wooden sticks that caused the gash in his forehead.
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Day 7. A day after the accident. The day that North America suffered tremendous snow storms that resulted many flights to be canceled or postponed. Huge clouds of snow billowed up, which obscured the sun in a hazy veil.  A less stressful day as compared to yesterday … Wandered around the resort, played with snow before going for the rounds and rounds of snow-tubbing down a 4-storey slope. Adrenaline rush, baby!

Weather at Barrie? Freezing cold, got as low as -16 degree celsius. No kid. And, that’s excluding wind chill. Frozen feet and fingers? YES. Seriously, if you aint skiing or snowboarding … all that you really wanna do is to coze up at home beside the fireplace. And yes, drinking hot chocolate too. How heavenly does that sounds?

Now that we are done with 3/4 of our destinations … where does it finally leave us to go to next? Well, Brace yourself for an adventure in The City!
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Part 4: New York, New York …

.Happy Belated 1st Year.

.1st Anniversary on 1/1/2009.

♥ With Love, ♥
MK & Steph

.Part 2- Toronto.

Part 2: Toronto

2hrs+ bus journey up to Toronto. Not quite as bustling & crowded as Tokyo or New York City (or rather, Manhattan) … Toronto reminds me of Singapore. Skyscrapers, Financial District, Shopping Malls, Restaurants, and crowds of people hitting its streets … yet at the same time, it’s not too overwhelming to the extent that you are always banging into someone within a 20cm radius range. Met up with some family friends and they treated us to a sumptuous lunch of dim sum. The best Chinese food I had since arriving in the USA. So much to the extent that I complained that MK’s breath smelled of dim sum! lol.

Day 3

When the sun sets… Walked along the wealthy street of Bloor-Yorkville. Home to all luxury brands – LV, Prada, Chanel, Gucci, Burberry, Tiffany & co, etc. Having stayed in Buffalo for the past 4mths, it was indeed refreshing to hit to a city where its people are decked in fashionable and stylish winter-wear. I marveled at the sights of the young and beautiful. That, plus the gorgeous Christmas decoration displays of the many departmental stores.

Impressive architecture of the ROM – nope, not the Registry Of Marriage but the famous Royal Ontario Museum.

Drinks at Paranoma Bar, Manulife (51st storey). One place that offers you the opportunity to sip a drink or two while basking in the spectacular views of the city and lights. Another alternative is of course, the CN Tower (that’s the CN Tower in purple in the background) which Im sure boost even more marvelous 360 degrees views … but hey, that comes with a heftier price too. Wasn’t able to take clear pictures due to the reflective nature of the windows.

Day 4

With only 1 day left to visit the sights and attractions of Toronto, you can be sure that it was hell of a packed day for us.

First stop – Casa Loma. Once, the biggest mansion ever built in North America. To some, it resembled a castle. In any case, it was home to 98 rooms, secret passageways, a stable, and even an 800-foot long underground tunnel. Like all grandeur homes, this house was located at the top of a hill (think: good feng shui) which thus offered its residents an amazing aerial view of downtown Toronto. A life-long dream of its owner, Sir Henry Pellatt. Though less than a century years old, there was however much history behind this remarkable building … enjoyed learning a bit more about it through our headphone guides. In the spirit of celebration with the coming Christmas, Casa Loma held a kids-oriented musical rendition of “Sleepy Beauty”. Think hi-5.  It wasn’t too bad, got us in a chirpy mood though it wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. I honestly believe that we saw about 300 or so kids right at Casa Loma. Kids watching the musical … running along the tunnel … exploring each and every inch of the historic mansion. Would you want to stay in a historical mansion like this?

School buses = time for excursion now, kids!

Allen Garden Conservatory

Well, visiting a conservatory is usually not on a typical tourist’s must-see list. However, being in a city can sometimes be rather overwhelming and so … this calls for a time to seek some sense of tranquility in a peaceful environment. And, there you go …

The popular Poinsettia flowers, also known as the “Fire Flowers of the Holy Night”. Did you know that the “Poinsettia has a built-in tome switch that causes the top leaves to change colour at the right time of the year- Christmas”? That’s the reason why it is fully embraced by many during the Christmas season!

Finally, last agenda of the day. Walked along Yonge Street – said to be the longest street in the entire world. Of course, the distance covered by us was only but a small fraction of the entire stretch. There’s Eaton Centre (an extremely huge shopping complex) , the world-famous Toronto Downtown Walkway (27km of underground shopping. Dont worry, u didn’t miss much. Quite similar to Citylink) and other smaller stores. Probably equivalent to our Orchard Road. Mainly just a time for us to people-watch ( well, it’s the holiday season so there’s plenty of people in a mad rush to shop for gifts for their significant others) and to enjoy the cold or rather, very cold climate together. Unfortunately, due to a shortage of time .. we weren’t able to do all that we planned. Had to miss out on Downsview Park Christmas lightings and Black Creek Pioneer Village.    Visiting Toronto was a good break, but boy were we all hyped about visiting Horseshoe Valley, Barrie next … time for some fun in the snow – ski, snowboard, snow-tub. But who would have expected that sometimes, not all goes well according to the plans..
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Part 3: Barrie, Oh Barrie! Whatever happened in Barrie, baby?

.Part 1- Niagara Falls,ON.

Part 1: Niagara Falls, ON

The day where MK and I reunited, after 4mths of separation. And so happened, it fell on my 21st Birthday … Possibly, the best gift I could ever received.    Off we head towards Niagara Falls, Ontario whereas my family remained in Boston for a couple of days of sight-seeing before we join them at Barrie.

Day 1
21st Birthday dinner at Rainforest Cafe … Once a favourite restaurant of mine, I was devastated upon hearing that the Sg branch of the cafe was closed down… for good. Rainforest cafe recreates a scene right out of a tropical rainforest with its indigenous animals such as the gorillas, snakes and elephants. Keep a lookout out for its sudden rain storms that never fail to keep all its patrons entertained. 

We initially wanted to head for the “Candle Light Stroll” event at the City Hall and so, enquired about the directions to get to there. Immediately, the waitress exclaimed, “Why would you wanna head to the City Hall? Are you both going to get married? ” LOL. In case if you don’t know, couples are required to head over to the City Hall to get the paperwork done in order to obtain their wedding license. That remark got baby and I pretty much blushing from embarrassment. Elope to Niagara Falls,eh? Doesn’t sound too shabby an idea. :p Nevertheless, we figured out that we were too late for the event anyway and opted to take a stroll along Clifton Hill.

A stroll along the stretch of Clifton Hill and its neighbouring streets to bask in the sparkling bright neon lightings. To some, Clifton Hill might seem a lil’ tacky with its many touristy attractions (haunted houses, wax museums, tourist shops, etc) but to us, it kinda reminded us of a tiny “Las Vegas Strip”. Wanted to try the “Nightmares Fear Factory” haunted attraction, which claimed in its website that over 95,000 pple had chickened out. But well, being the coward that I am, I decided not to go ahead with it cz somehow I have a feeling that I might end up getting half-paralysed in the midst of getting frightened. Instead, we had a ball of fun playing the good-old fashioned arcade games (air-hockey!!) over at Canadian Midway. That being said, Clifton Hill is probably your one-stop entertainment district to all leisure things … the rest of the town seemed laid-back and quiet in comparison.

Such a tourist trap but yea, we went ahead with the “Niagara Sky Wheel” which honestly offers scenic views of not only the illuminated falls but also of the brightly-lit Clifton Hill. With relaxing music playing at the back, you can say that it’s a romantic ride that overlooks the falls and its busy touristy-streets. Go with a loved one and it’s one of the best place for a romantic kiss. A great way to end a fantastic first day of our trip!

DAY 2

Niagara Falls. Needless to say, that’s the only reason why we decided to head to the town of Niagara Falls. As such, we spent both morning and sunset/evening taking a lovely stroll along the pathway. Here are some spectacular views of the massive, illuminated falls in the evening (Well, if you consider 4-5pm evening since sun sets at around that time during winter).

With Christmas just round the corner, Niagara Falls and its parkway was transformed ”into a winter wonderland of shimmering lights”. Display lightings of winter activities, candy canes, Disney characters … all of which that truly brought out the Christmas spirits in us. My favourite being the Enchantment of Disney animated displays - As childish as it might sound, I truly believe that Disney brings out the kid in *Almost each and every one of us. My next destination for Christmas? Florida’s Walt DisneyWorld.

Incredible views of the lightings that sparkle and twinkle when night falls.
 



If I didn’t know better, I definitely would have thought of this beautifully-decorated building to be that of a shopping mall or something commercial. But get this, it is a police station. On the stroke of 9pm, the building ‘magically’ came to life with a dazzling performance – whereby the snowflakes danced in accordance to the tune of “Carol of the Bells”. Well, seeing that Saks 5th Aveune has the exact same performance, only in a larger-scale, im sure that this one at the falls was inspired by the one over at NYC. Still, one would have never associated a christmas lighting performance with the law. !!

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Part 2: Done with the Falls and upward to Toronto!