Irene Yap

2011-04-12T20:06:00.062+08:00

Last weekend, we celebrated the birthdays of two people who are dearest to me, Alvin & Veron at once. I reserved an executive suite in the heart of the city for 2 nights so that Alvin and I got to spend some quiet time together. Ironic? Yes! Despite being in the city center, the weekend was still a relaxing one because we didn't even have to leave the hotel. We ordered take-out from GoGourmet and chilled in the bathtub with a bottle of the high-maintenance pinot noir. Pure decadence!

[Bag - Mango; Belt - Moschino; Watches - Omega (Mine) & Tag Hauer (Alvin's); Clutch - H&M; Gold Bangle - Forever 21; Owl Ring - Forever 21; Nail polish - O.P.I]

We met Veron, Calvin and the rest at Luna Bar. At night, the roof-top pool of the hotel is transformed into the coolest hang-out place fit for any stylish KLite. I've always wanted to go to Luna Bar but since I'm not a party girl who is into drinking, I never found an excuse to hit the place.

A birthday celebration is never complete without a cake (or cakes). I got them customized overly sweet (literally) cup cakes which says "Happy B'day Veron And Ken" instead of the conventional and boring birthday cake. Although he's so accustomed to people calling him Alvin, I like calling him by his chinese name because if he's Ken, then it makes me a Barbie. :)

My Style Scrapbook

2011-02-20T18:39:00.006+08:00

I've mentioned that I'd like to revamp my blog. Although I'll still be blogging about personal stuff like special moments with family and friends, I'd like to steer towards a creative direction; my sartorial journey and fashion photography. Some may find it frivolous but these are the things I'm passionate about, just like people collecting stamps or coins. So, here is a recap of my outfit photos that I've compiled. You can say that my blog will be my style scrapbook from now on. :)

More Tiffany

2011-02-18T20:57:00.021+08:00

I've been neglecting and revisiting my blog for the umptenth times. The reason I've not been updating is simply because I'd like to give it a major revamp. There are way too many editing tasks to deal with and I'm not a PC literate kinda girl. Here is the first post of the year, a sampler of what's more to come:

My boyfriend got me this Elsa Peretti open heart necklace with an aquamarine for Valentine's Day. A new addition to my collection of Tiffany's jewelry. Isn't he the sweetest?

And my sis got me this organizer in the same shade from Korea with "Paris, Je t'aime" written on the sleeve. Don't you just love how pretty the Tiffany box is?

Like The Princess In A Fairy Tale!

2010-10-15T18:29:00.066+08:00

When my sister announced the date of her wedding reception, I was determined to find a stunning evening dress for the day. It's not everyday that I get to attend an event comparable to the Oscar. Alright, maybe not Oscar but it should have been a black tie event or something close to a black tie event. Besides, I've always wanted a custom-made Zang Toi evening dress. It's the closest thing I get to couture. The designer at Zang Toi suggested a long black velvet dress. The design was indeed very sophisticated and elegant but I wanted something princessy. I didn't get a Zang Toi dress though.

Then, I found that perfect dress. The moment I saw it, I knew it was the one. It was "Love At First Sight". Priced at RM1099, it was rather expensive, considering it wasn't Zang Toi. It was neither BCBG nor Bebe. Once I've put it on, I didn't want to take it off. The dress totally worth the hefty price tag. Of course they had to temporarily pin me into the dress to fit my petite frame. After some minor alterations, it fits like a glove.

Although I didn't get myself a Zang Toi dress, I managed to score myself a pair of Zang Toi diamante stilettos

Stunning Dress - Check

Killer Heels - Check

Still, the look wouldn't be complete without a trip to Celeb Trendz. The day of the wedding reception was very hectic for everyone in the family. Once we were done with the traditional ceremony during the morning session, we had to rush to Tropicana Golf & Country Club for the dinner. I barely had time to get my hair done. I went knocking on Jimmy's door at Celeb Trendz for help. I was there earlier than my appointment, worrying I might not be able to make it to dinner on time. He was so accommodating that he put me and my mom in a special room full of privacy even though his schedule was full. He even slot my mom in without an appointment. He's my life saver. The day wouldn't be the same without him.

Jimmy suggested I pulled my hair up for a sleek look but I was too caught up with the princessy look that I insisted on letting my hair down. I should have listened to him. I really think I would look better with my hair up in a sophisticated way. Nobody knows my hair better than him, not even myself.

I compiled those moments in a video and published it onto Youtube for the first time. With the dress and stilettos fit for a princess, it felt like a fairy tale. Hence the title of the video.

I made it into a HD video, so it might take some time to load. Click the pause button and let it load prior viewing.

Thanks for viewing!

Hen & Cock Night (Pun Intended)

2010-10-14T20:55:00.054+08:00

Last Sunday was the wedding reception of my sister. It was so successful that it deserved a standing ovation. I'm just glad that she is happy. Backdated two days before, she held a hen night party. She rented a one room suite in the heart of the city just in case someone passed out or got so drunk that she couldn't drive home. We checked in at 7pm and camwhored a little while waiting for other girls to show up.

While waiting, we went to grab some Italian pizzas nearby and several caucasians hit on us in less than 30 minutes. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Tak malu! An Australian guy (judging by his accent) at the restaurant was super friendly and later a guy who claimed he's an Italian in the lift back to our hotel was super chatty. I wondered why caucasians get super friendly at night. I suspected they were suggesting.....well, never mind. We grabbed our pizzas and bolted once the lift doors opened.

The party ended up a hen and cock night party when more guys showed up. My sister invited her girlfriends and colleagues. They were seriously the life of the party. My responsibility on that day was to babysit her and made sure she reached the hotel safely. I love dancing and get a little naughty when I go partying but I am all about strictly no cigarette and minimum alcohol. Her friends might seem wild and crazy but they are actually very responsible people and very very friendly too. I really had nothing to worry about.

Tenue du jour:

(Dress - Topshop; Jacket - H&M; Shoes - Oscar by Oscar De La Renta; Earrings - Juicy Couture; Bracelet - Juicy Couture; Watch - Omega)

Joyeux Anniversaire!

2010-10-03T22:38:00.045+08:00

When you're no longer 18 or 21 years old, birthday is just a reminder that you're another year older. Like previous years, this birthday was well spent with family and friends, having dinners and drinks. The part I anticipate most about celebrating my birthdays is receiving gifts from my family. The best gifts are always from my parents (because I get to choose them) and my sister (because it's always a pleasant surprise). Last year, I got my 15" Macbook Pro. This year, I get a little bit of everything I have been wanting for some time.

Because my parents were not able to be with me on the day itself, they got me the gifts earlier. I kept them wrapped in their original boxes and paper bags until my birthday. I have self-control!

Non-Halal Post!

2010-09-22T22:36:00.059+08:00

Considering I was born on the 15th day of the 8th month of some twenty-over years ago (according to the lunar calendar), Mid-Autumn Festival should have a significant meaning to me. I didn't pay much attention to Chinese culture. As I grow older, I begin to appreciate my root more and more. I secretly long for a genuine fête de la lune, complete with old-fashion paper lantern and tons of candles. I used to have this really beautiful white deer lantern made of fine fabric. I wish I still have it. What I miss the most are those "red eggs" my mom would make for my birthday (chinese calendar) when she was still living in K.L. Yes, I celebrate my birthday twice a year. Simple luxury! I used to take things like this for granted, thinking they were kinda lame. Now that I don't have them anymore, those little gestures actually mean a lot to me.

So, this year, my sis brought me to Crystal Jade at The Garden. I heart Chinese food, ever since I resolve to eating only healthy food.

Honestly, I don't really know the right way to hold a pair of chopsticks

or the arrangement of the tablewares

All I know is chopsticks will always be on your right. According to ancient Chinese tradition, eating with your left hand at a round table is considered ill-mannered. And I'm a leftie. FML??

Our appetizer......suckling pig!!

P/S: To all Muslim readers, I'd like to apologize on the content of this post as I wouldn't want to appear insensitive. I hope you won't find it offensive.

My parents and my sis are huge fans of suckling pig. I prefer all my meal to be skinless, be it chicken or pork or fish. Yes, I don't eat chicken skin even if it's fried chicken. Somehow, I've grown to like suckling pig because there really isn't much fat on it. Come on, they are babies. How much fat can they have? Well, the answer is.....a lot

The dish came looking like this:

If you're on a diet, try reading this post over and over again. I bet you'll lose your appetite.

We left it practically untouched. You can probably tell from my facial expression.

Usually, the plate would be so shiny I can touch up my make-up with it. Well....the waiter had warned us when we placed our order that there will be some fats on it but we didn't expect some fats to be.... a lot of fats. Anyway, other than that fat pig, the meal was rather nice.

No lantern this year but still tons of mooncakes I can stuff my face with. I'm gonna end this night with a wish upon the full moon so I can have lanterns next year. Nite!!

Mane Thing!

2010-09-20T21:19:00.060+08:00

Judging by the frequency of my updates, I can consider my blog “defunct” by now. I really should be more consistent on updating my blog but I've just been too busy enjoying life, watching Casablanca with a good cup of chocolat chaud.

They say, “Your hair is your crowning glory”. I couldn’t agree more. It doesn’t matter how gorgeous your make-up is or how stunning that 100% silk backless evening gown looks on you when your hair looks like a beehive that has just been attacked for its honey. It will ruin your look completely.

Looking for a great hairstylist couldn’t be easier than looking for a husband. A husband should be able to make you feel good about yourself but a hairstylist should be able to (not only) make you FEEL good but also LOOK good.

Then, there is this thing called “trust”. I have a problem with trust when it comes to a complete stranger or even an acquaintance I’m not very close with. So, you can imagine how far I can go with trusting a hairstylist. Getting my hair done used to be a dreadful chore. I would be shifting uncomfortably in my seat with tons of “what ifs” questions racing through my mind. “What if my hair turns out purple?” “What if it’s too short for my liking?” or “What if I look funny in the new hairstyle?”

It all changed after I met Jimmy Cheng who is probably the most important man in my life (well…after my dad of course and my dermatologist is the most important woman in my life...after my mom). With Jimmy, I know I am in good hand. I get compliments every time I get a hair makeover from him. He has this magical touch that transforms my hair from “blah” to “wow”. It’s that kind of trust and bond that keeps me going back again and again.

Real story: I was at a bank once and my mom overheard a girl saying that I could pass off looking like a doll if I remain still. Awww! I’m flattered!

My two cents: Once you’ve found the perfect hairstylist, stick to him. Apply adhesive substance i.e. elephant glue if necessary.

I’ve been having my long wavy hair since…. well forever. Chopping them off, I feel like weight has been lifted off my shoulders, literally. It's a good change. So, this is how I look like now:

The master at work:

I just had to grab him for a vain pic before letting him go fetch his lunch at 4pm. Yes, I'm heartless like that.

Jimmy is a director and co-founder of Celeb Trendz at Solaris Dutamas. His works have been featured on television and magazines. He doesn't just style the stars, he makes everyone a star. The salon is called Celeb Trendz for a reason. Now, you too can look like a celebrity. Even the salon looks like the backstage of a fashion show with those light bulb mirrors.

Talking about fashion show, you know they are good stuff when they had their own Redken hair show at Pavilion even before their grand opening. Here are some pictures, courtesy of Celeb Trendz facebook fan page for you to drool at:

Location: Click on link to view

http://www.propwall.my/dutamas/solaris_dutamas/map

Take the escalator next to Papparich, 2 floors up and the salon is on your right.

Chanel X Tiffany

2010-07-07T15:05:00.025+08:00

After reading too many posts by Italian fashionista, Chiara, I realize I’m very much into the same designer brands as she does, namely Chanel and Tiffany. Here’s how I wear the new Chanel nail polish in the shade of Tiffany boxes. It's called Nouvelle Vague!

These pictures were actually taken about a month ago when I was still preparing for my DELF exam. It was a random act out of boredom. I tried on all the different rings I got from Forever 21.

This one with diamante-embellished frog is my favourite. I wonder if it will turn into a prince if I kiss it?

Sadly, the manicure lasted only for 2 days and my hands are obviously in some serious need of TLC. You can call me a hygiene freak or you can call me crazy but I have this sad syndrome of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) where I constantly need to wash my hands. I can’t help it. I keep imagining creepy crawly bacteria on my hands. I have the entire range of Dettol stuffs. Wipes! Sprays! Sanitizers! You name it, I have it and I bring them everywhere I go. They are my can't-live-without items and probably more important than my cell-phone.

Family Time!

2010-07-03T22:18:00.037+08:00

I eat out at least once a week with my family but with our crazy schedules recently, something simple like a meal together can prove to be difficult. Despite our own agendas, we managed to find time for an afternoon high tea at Shangri-La Hotel this evening.

Check out how funnily small the macaroon is and how the scone is weirdly huge. Strange!

My cute little sister busy at perfecting her photography skill

She is such a doll!

Awww! How sweet!

Tenue du jour:

Dress - H&M

Bag - Inge Christopher for Stuart Weitzman

Pumps - Oscar by Oscar De La Renta

Have a great weekend, everyone! Au revoir!

Summer Break Vol. 1 by Youth Asia!

2010-07-01T19:01:00.125+08:00

Baby, I'm back!

This long post is all about a youth program that I went on last weekend. It was called Summer Break Volume 1 and it was organized by Youth Asia in collaboration with Firefly. As much as I like the concept of bringing youth between ages 18 – 35 together for a healthy dose of activities by the beach, the trip was kind of a let-down. Don’t get me wrong, I fully support the messages Youth Asia is trying to get across, speaking out to youths all across Asia. I just thought the program could have been better. I had really high expectation on it.

We gathered at Skypark Terminal of Subang Airport and waited for our coaches.

Can you spot my luggage?

After what seemed like eternity, we reached Pangkor Island Beach Resort (PIBR). Not to confuse with the highly publicized Pangkor Laut Resort Hotel. Still, PIBR is actually quite pleasant.

Our trip didn’t start off well. As we reached the hotel, we were assigned to our rooms. The committee members called out our names at the top of their lungs, trying not to mispronounce our names over a noisy crowd. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was chaotic. We got to our room and thought we could finally shower and freshen up, a girl of the committee (I choose not to disclose her name as this is not a personal attack to anyone in particular) barged in and ordered us to move to another room without a single word of apology. Well, she probably did apologize but even if she did, I swear it wasn’t a sincere one. I certainly don’t appreciate someone ordering me around. I thought I was in an army camp for a second. I have zero tolerance on people who are ill mannered. It doesn’t require high intelligent quotient to learn the code of etiquette. It’s not rocket science to be courteous. I mean, come on, the attitude one portrays directly reflects and effects the organization he/she represents. These behaviors call for some serious attitude adjustment, unless that’s the image they would like to impose on Youth Asia. I’m not saying all of them are bad guys. In fact, most of them are nice. All in all, they are good people.

Well, I did have some fun, lying on chaise lounge next to the sweet Amalina, doing nothing but to take in the beautiful sea view

watch innocent little kids having fun

hanging by the pool

There's even a pool bar

Amalina is the most mature 21 years old you can find. Her maturity easily defeats anyone above my age. Started out as a trainee under my supervision, she soon became a great friend of mine.

Damn those black roots. Time for salon appointment!

Highlight of the trip was probably the beach party. There were DJs from Germany and Australia accompanied by some spectacular tribal performances involving fire.

Below are more amazing pictures from the trip, courtesy of Youth Asia fan page and my new acquaintances.

Do check out the Youth Asia website and fan page on facebook. It really is an interesting organization.

Signing off,

My First Magazine Feature!

2010-05-11T20:26:00.044+08:00

Have I mentioned that I've just done a photoshoot for Elle Magazine (Europe Special Edition) which is available at newstands worldwide? It has been my childhood dream to grace the covers of leading fashion magazines such as Elle and Vogue. The advertisement for the latest issue of Elle is all over the place, which means my face is on banners, buildings, bus stands, train stations and even on the Parisian Tour Bus. I'm excited!!

Here are some pictures I got from my agent:

Here's the magazine cover:

This feature came about after my endorsement deal with L'Oreal. Here's the advert:

It's hard to believe, isn't it? Of course! Because it's not true. Even the pics are not real. I was just playing around with the effects. GOTCHA!

Well, a girl can dream, can't she?? I dream of being the face of Estee Lauder

and Dior

I know I know! I should be blogging about shopping in Tokyo (something I've been procrastinating since I came back) but I'm just having so much fun dreaming about being a famous supermodel. I really like these pics though. Gotta get back to doing my French essay. Next post on shopping in Tokyo. Promise!! au revoir!

J'en ai marre!

2010-05-09T00:18:00.071+08:00

I used the acronym FML for the first time ever. I've always thought this acronym is irrelevant to my life. What can I say? Sh*t happens when you least expected it. I made a list of things that irritate me recently:

1. I was in the shower after a long day, happily lathering some foam, then, the water went burning hot and stopped running completely. Did I mention that I had foam all over me? If that was not bad enough, it happened two days in a row. FML!

2. I dragged myself out of bed and into the office on a beautiful Saturday morning, sleep deprived, to find out the internet connection was dead. No facebook for several boring hours. FML!

3. A friend who had stopped contacting me for quite a while started to make an arrangement for a drink together, only to find out she's an insurance agent now. FML!

4. I was trying to make my credit card payment, unfortunately, only one of the many tellers worked and the queue was awfully long, ran around to several other branches and the payment is still not settled. FML!

5. I've drafted a blog post and was ready to publish it, then, god knows what happened, I pushed the wrong button and deleted it. FML!

Hopefully, this will be the first time and the last time I swear with this acronym. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope this bad energy will go away.

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On a different note, we celebrated Mother's Day at the Bavarian Bierhaus.

I know it's an odd place to celebrate Mother's Day. We did not make advance booking at any other restaurant, so most places are full. It was our second time dining there. We simply love pork knuckles, white sausages and Paulaner.

My mom compared the pork knuckle with those she tried in Heidelberg some time back @_@ Yes, my mom is difficult to please like that but she appreciates having this dinner together as a family. Look at how happy she is...Awwww!!!

The German in my sis prefers Hoegarden. She used to speak some lousy German but don't start talking German to her now. She has forgotten 90% of it.

Me and my Malibu drink, another odd choice

I don't really know what's in it coz I'm not really that into alcoholic drinks. I used to drink when I was out partying with my friends back in college but I just drank whatever they ordered for me. I'd take one or two glasses max. I prefer to stay sober. I still take some wine occasionally although I don't really like it.

Tenue du jour: I chose something casual and not too fussy for the night

Silk Romper - Topshop

Satin Clutch - H&M

Pumps - Oscar by Oscar De La Renta

Bracelet - Juicy Couture

Oh My! It's 2 a.m. Gotta go get some beauty sleep. Tips on shopping in Tokyo next. au revoir!

Shopaholic Abroad (Tokyo)!

2010-04-20T21:22:00.083+08:00

Here's the shopping post as promised!

Next, I'll show you WHERE to shop. As if you don't already know.

I was going through some boxes when I was tidying up my room to make space for the new dressing table which will be delivered soon. I found a mountain of stuff I bought in Tokyo, still in their original gift wraps and paper bags, untouched. Can you believe it?? Let me show you some of them. I don't know if you'll find this frivolous but this is not just some no-brainer shopping post. I consider it a fashion and beauty post. I love fashion. Fashion is my passion. I'll be doing some fashion posts with these clothes pretty soon.

I got myself a nice Burberry cashmere scarf and a Tiffany pendant at Narita Duty Free. I love Tiffany & Co. If a man propose to me with a Tiffany diamond ring, I'm so going to marry him. So are gazillion other girls.

Some handkerchiefs from Matsuya at Ginza. I like to use them as scarfs, around the neck and the handle of a bag

A pair of leather gloves by Anna Sui. I bought it, only to find out later that I had no outfit to go with them. What a waste! I swear I'll find a way to wear them the next time I'm going somewhere freezing cold!

I love how the Japanese pays attention to simple things like the boxes and paper bags. Everything you buy in Japan comes with a pretty packaging.

I always stock up on cosmetics and beauty products I can't get in K.L whenever I'm abroad. Love these Bourjois products

especially these mini Bourjois. I can hang the lipgloss on my iPhone and reapply after every meal. How convenient!

I got some DHC samples from an American magazine I bought back then and got hooked. So, no reason not to stock up.

The greatest part of shopping abroad is definitely H&M. Why don't we have H&M in K.L? I just don't get it. I go crazy every time I'm in a H&M store.

I've never really been a huge fan of Japanese fashion but I'm totally in love with Liz Lisa. Their stuff is just so feminine. Apart from the brocade coat, I got myself a brocade halter dress and a jeweled tank top. Some berets in pastel colors. They are kinda pricey but totally worth it.

My greatest purchase of all? A Uniqlo cashmere top. It's 100 % cashmere. For a small price tag of 3990 yen, it was a steal.

I have to keep rummaging because I remember buying more than just these. Or else, why was I so broke? Gosh! Guilt sets in. @_@

P/S: Picked up some Japanese Vogue, Elle and Bazaar at the airport while waiting for my flight.

Gotta dive back into the books. Later!

Francophile!

2010-04-17T20:24:00.002+08:00

I'm officially a francophile! I can't really explain why but my eyes automatically lit up at the sight of all things french including cute accessories and room decors. I must have been possessed by a french spirit or if you believe in reincarnation, I was probably a french lady in my past life.

Evidence:

I bought all these accessories in one day! (Except the huge la Tour Eiffel pendant)

I was trying to photograph the la Tour Eiffel earring I was wearing but I guess my photography skill really sucks. :(

I especially love these brooch buttons. One of them even has a famous quote from Coco Chanel

"A girl should be two things: Classy and Fabulous" - Coco Chanel

A mon avis (In my opinion), Chanel is synonymous with France. Alors, my eyes lit up at the sight of everything Chanel too. I don't think I can wait too long before I get myself a 2.55. In the mean time, I'll just get myself a limited edition fake tattoo from Chanel.

Happy Birthday, Sis!

2010-04-14T22:00:00.019+08:00

Updates have been slow simply because life has been really hectic for me. I can only decorate my room a little at a time and I'm still waiting for the dressing table my mom has ordered for me to be delivered. I have piles of french homework waiting to be done and Daniel is very particular about me finishing them. He is very meticulous and detail-oriented. It's nice of him to emphasize that I stressed on certain consonants when I speak so I don't sound like a robot. He said when a non-French learns to speak french that way sounds very romantic. Isn't the language itself romantic enough? Guess he's preparing me more than just being able to speak french. It's like he's training me to be a glamour lady who can charm a french man. Well, then french kiss should be in the syllabus, no? (*_-)

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We celebrated my sister's birthday last week. She's such a gem!

My sister and I went to the same middle school, the same high school and even the same college. We practically grew up together (up until that stage), then we grew apart. My sister was a rebel queen and she never followed the rules. She made her own rules. I, on the other hand, never strayed from the rules. So, we headed for a different direction in life.

Although we lived under the same roof (we still do), I never really knew her back then, what were her likes and dislikes. Only a few years ago, she liked the teddy bear I bought her at the Dubai airport when my flight landed for stop-over. Suddenly the year after that, the gifts I bought for her became too cutesy. When she announced she's getting married, I realize she's a grown up woman now. She's no longer the "little" sister I used to know.

Recently, we started to bond again. It's nice when she would come to me when she's happy and annoyed. Well, she's annoyed most of the time. I begin to listen carefully and I can finally hear her inner voice. You know how it's like when you wanna tell your best friend something, all you have to do is look at her and the information is immediately transferred from your brain cells to hers?

This year, I don't have to struggle to think of what I should get for her birthday. It hits me like a thunder and guess what...... the gift turns out to be something she's always wanted and no... she has never mentioned it before. She's happy with the gift but I'm much happier that she does. I know this may sound cheesy but I only have one sister, so, "Sis, we love you and have a wonderful birthday".

If picture is worth a thousand words, then I have a few thousands below:

Land of Rising Sun (Part 9)

2010-03-29T21:56:00.119+08:00

I promised myself to blog at least twice a week but last week was another busy week. I was re-decorating my room, AGAIN! I'm a Libran and it's not unusual to find me changing my mind constantly. Anyway, I can't wait to post pictures of my newly decorated room. So, hopefully I'd able to finish with the final touch-up by this weekend. Here's a hint on how it'll look like.

It's inspired by:

Le Jardin

(think birds chirping away and fresh bouquets)

and

Marie Antoinette

the movie, not the queen

(think flower prints in soft pastel colours)

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As for now, here's a highlight of what I like and what I think you'll like about Tokyo as a recap of the trip.

1. Pachinko and slots

2. Vending machines

They even have vending machines for flowers. If you've forgotten your girlfriend's birthday, you can just buy a bouquet at the metro when you're on your way to her place. Just pray that she wouldn't smack you on the head with that same bouquet.

Vending machines for hot food:

(Well, you don't really get food from the machine but a coupon instead. Hand the coupon over the counter and you'll get your food within 10 minutes max, I think)

Vending machine for ice-cream and it's Haagen Daz!!! It couldn't get any better than this.

3. Strip clubs and porn cinemas

Something cheeky which I believe the guys will kill for:

4. Everything cute and girly

Something cute which I believe the girls would die for:

Giant comic figurines are everywhere. These are located in front of BanDai office in Asakusa.

Even the transports are so kawaii.

My personal favourite?

5. The colourful billboards:

Especially the digital ones

P/S: To all shopaholics out there, I'll be blogging about all the great places to shop in Tokyo to wrap up this trip. I'm getting a little bored writing about this trip. Besides, I've forgotten a lot of the details anyway. So, yes, the next one on Tokyo would be the finale! Ermm..next two posts just in case I can't sum it up in one.

Land of Rising Sun (Part 8)

2010-03-18T19:23:00.069+08:00

Most tourists will refrain from visiting Gotemba Premium Outlet even if they are dying to because of the distance. The bus ride from Tokyo Station takes approximately 100 minutes. So, what else was left for us to do other than camwhoring?

"Gotemba Premium Outlet is the largest outlet mall in Japan with approximately 180 stores of international brands. Premium Outlets were initially developed in the U.S. and Gotemba Premium Outlet is actually owned by U.S Chelsea Premium Outlet. The extensive grounds in view of Mount Fuji was designed to resemble the historic streets of a North American town."

We expected more out of the trip. I thought I would be able to see the Mount Fuji and take extremely gorgeous photos of it. That would be like one stone kills two birds. To my disappointment, it rained. We were in Tokyo for 10 days and it chose to rain on that particular day? Another freezing cold day and no view of Mount Fuji. Just my luck!!

The ferris wheel was still in sight though. The premium outlet has its very own 50-meter high ferris wheel. How lovely!

We were starving the moment we reached Gotemba. Of course we were. The bus ride was more than 1 1/2 hours. There's this food court which looked like it was arranged for Oktoberfest in Germany.

We ordered hotdogs from the beer bar but no beer to go with it.

There are also several counters selling noodles.

After days of eating nothing but noodles and sushis, I just couldn't take it anymore. No more Japanese food for me!

I just couldn't wait to get my butt out of there and started to shop. When it comes to shopping, I take it like a duck to water. Gotemba has all my favourite labels.

Everything from Prada

To Barneys New York

and many many more

We shopped the entire day, from dawn till dusk. Well, I exaggerated. We weren't there since dawn but we were definitely there till dusk.

Well, we couldn't possibly took a 100 minutes bus ride there and shop only for a while, right? I shopped for the whole day and ended up with nothing for myself. I wanted to buy a pair of Ferragamo flats so badly. It was on a deep discount but my dad was like "You're not gonna spend thousands of ringgit for something so you can step on it, right?". I guiltily said, "Of course not" when I secretly said "Yes! Yes! Yes!" in my heart. This trip wasn't very satisfying but I did shop up the storm at Narita Duty Free.

So, here's tenue du jour (outfit of the day). I've been waiting for so long to be able to finally wear this buttery soft leopard print faux-fur coat.

Leopard Print Coat - Zara

Scarf - Fendi

Sweater - Mango

Sequin Shorts - Cotton On

Tights - Topshop

Boots - Zara

Bag - Zara

Land of Rising Sun (Part 7)

2010-03-10T19:41:00.143+08:00

I bet you've heard of the rainbow bridge in Tokyo and how it's tastefully done, a must-see, blah blah blah.

Try crossing the bridge on a freezing cold day. The bridge is 918 metres long in total length and yes we walked from one end (Shibaura) to the other end (Odaiba) on an effing cold winter day with only a thin layer of short-sleeved cotton shirt and pleated mini-skirt underneath my Liz Lisa brocade coat. I don't remember how long it took us to cross the bridge but it felt like forever.

The bridge is built with two decks;

One with the regular road (the one we walked on) and monorail, the other with an express highway.

Look harder at the picture above. See the monorail? Why didn't we take the monorail instead? Our brains must have been frozen because I simply have no good excuse to justify our impaired judgement.

I kept asking my dad "Are we there yet?" on a 10 seconds interval for the entire journey.

If you don't mind bracing the cold, taking in the view from the deck can be a marvellous experience.

After walking for what seemed like forever, seeing the ferris wheel was like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. With the ferris wheel in sight, it could only meant one thing. Yes, we had arrived in Odaiba! Like FINALLY!

Odaiba, the large artificial island in Tokyo bay is the most beautiful sight-seeing destination. It's popular among both tourists and locals.

Tokyo, due to its close proximity to Hong Kong is a popular holiday destination among the Chinese. The familiarity of the chinese chatting away in cantonese put me at ease. At least I don't feel like a total alien. There is a food theme park with none other than "little hong kong" as the theme in the Decks Shopping Mall, probably to cater the vast number of chinese tourists. Ahhhh!! The taste of home. Well, they don't exactly have nasi lemak but dim sum could temporarily curb my homesickness.

In the same mall, the arcade in this picture below reminded me of an episode of Doraemon shrinking Nobita and Sizuka so they could wander around the miniature city. The arcade really brought us down the memory lane. Those were the days when our imaginations ran wild and knew no barrier. Don't we all just love Doraemon? Well, the Doraemon I know is probably different from the one you know because the one I know speak Malay. :P

P/S: If you've notice there are very few picture with me in it, it's simply because I refuse to post any picture of me looking like a Barney (Yes, Barney the purple dinosaur). When I'm cold, I turn into the unflattering hue of purple.

Land of Rising Sun (Part 6)

2010-03-01T23:04:00.025+08:00

I've been back in K.L for a month and I'm still not done with my Tokyo travelogue. So much for increasing my efficiency and productivity at managing tasks as a new year resolution. Third month into the the new year and the resolution has gone down the drain. At least I still keep one of them. Taking chances. I've never been the one to act on a whim. I plan everything I do because I hate uncertainty. Everyone says I can never be spontaneous. Now, they can eat their words.

So, last weekend I went for brunch with my best mate, Rosie and she mentioned about getting her hair done after that.

Rosie: Wanna come along?

Me: Where's the place?

Rosie: Klang!

Me: I can't go there!

Rosie: Right! You have a special driver's license and it allows you to drive only to work and malls.

Me: Come on. You know I'll get lost in Klang.

Rosie: I tell you what. Why don't you just cruise around and see where your heart takes you.

Me: That would be going home.

Rosie: Trust me, you can be more street wise that way. You have to stop counting on people to drive you around.

Me: Hey, I drive myself to work everyday. Bummer!

I paid the parking fee and headed home. Halfway to my house, I did a swift U-turn. 30 minutes later, I ended up at a friend's house in P.J. I wasn't even sure if he would be home. When I was about to reach his place, tons of questions raced through my mind. What if he's not home? What am I gonna do then? Drop him a note and say "Hey, I was here. Too bad you're not home"? I kicked myself, asking "Irene, what on earth were you thinking?".

Still, I gave myself a pat on the shoulder. It was pure gratification.

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We celebrated dad's birthday in Tokyo. Not like he would be super excited or anything. He had been there for a gazillion times. We celebrated by having him spending money on us. He bought my sis a Nikon DSLR and my mom a Louis Vuitton bag. You must think we're some cold-blooded reptiles. We're not! We love him! It's not like he doesn't already know but sometimes all of us need a little reminder. Telling your love ones how much you love them every other day is the best health supplement.

We brought him for unagi (his favourite) as lunch and sashimi (another favourite) as dinner. Unagi and sashimi, I like none of them. As long as my dad likes them, that's what we'll have.

1. The Unagi Lunch

I seriously don't think I can live in Tokyo. I would die of claustrophobia. Everywhere I turned, I was bound to hit something. I'm accident prone like that.

Then, we went strolling at this place which looked very much like chinatown.

Erm... I have a feeling this sign should be read the other way round.

Fresh seafood was everywhere. It was a market after all. We saw some gigantic crab legs. My dad suggested that we bought some back to the hotel and cooked them with boiling water. We didn't get any though coz we were not sure if we would like it plain like that. I still prefer chilli crab.

Rows and rows of stalls selling fresh seafood.

They had dried ones too. When I was a toddler, my dad would buy tons dried scallops so that my mom could make me porridge. More than 20 years later....I still like it.

They had stalls selling seafood (fresh and dried), souvenirs, hair accessories, wallets and oh my gosh..... UFO catchers too (a.k.a claw vending machines).

My mom together with my dad won us this very adorable stuffed toy. My sis and I were jumping around in excitement, screaming "A little to the left! No, right! Almost there!" Everybody else gathered around us to watch. They too were cheering for us. The Japanese are such good sport.

Then, we wandered around till it was time for dinner.

2. The Sashimi Dinner

Ordering at Japanese restaurant was a real challenge. I could totally comprehend when there was no english menu but no illustration too? We had to stand in front of the restaurant, pointing at the mock-ups of udon and ramen under freaking cold weather.

More pictures on this outfit, simply because I love it so much. It's simple and not too much fuss.

Outfit:

1. Coat - H&M

2.Knit Scarf - Forever 21

3.Sweater - Mango

4.Jeans - Mango

5.Leather Glove - Mango

6.Bag - Zara

7.Tights - Topshop

Land of Rising Sun (Part 5)

2010-02-08T19:55:00.161+08:00

This post is for all fans of Konnichiwa Kitty. When I was in pre-school, my dad would buy tons of Hello Kitty stuff for me and my sis every time he went on a working trip to Japan. My sis and I usually stayed up late, even on school nights to wait for our dad to reach home from airport with the souvenirs. I had everything from Hello Kitty lunchbox to luggage bag. I might have grown out of it but I think I still have the luggage bag hidden somewhere.

So, how could we go to Tokyo and not pay a visit to Kitty's home in Sanrio Puroland?

If you want an honest opinion, Puroland was kinda disappointing. It was just a "been there, done that" kinda trip.

If you insist on going, what can you do in there?

1.Visit Hello Kitty's house, of course:

2. Drive Hello Kitty's car:

3. Photograph with Hello Kitty....(or her friends). We didn't get to photograph with Kitty. I couldn't remember why. She was the reason we went there. @_@

Guess which one of us is the real Melody. Duh!

Cinnamonroll and mocha

4. Watch performances by Hello Kitty and friends:

The performance didn't exactly deserve a standing ovation but well......it was good enough if you want to kill time.

5. Shop Hello Kitty stuff. That was probably the best part.

If you really are a Hello Kitty fanatic and you collect her stuff, this place is for you. Some Japanese would pay the entrance fees just to shop there.

If you miss that certain someone at home, buy him a postcard and mail it on the spot.

I bet he'll hurl when he sees the card. No guy in this world can tolerate Hello Kitty.

6. Dine at Cinnamonangels Garden cafe:

One cinnamon roll and mocha, s'il vous plait! What a perfect combination.

Order a dessert in the mug of your choice because the mug is all yours to bring home.

If you like the vending machines on the streets of Tokyo, wait till you see those in Puroland. They have machines for everything.

Popcorn

Ice-cream

My fave snack

Trinkets and souvenirs

Children in Japan worship Hello Kitty like a goddess. There was a sacred room dedicated just for Angel Kitty. It's called the Bell of Happiness. Write down your wish, kiss it, envision it and wait for it to come true.

The merchandises kept calling out for me, very tempting. I kept asking myself before I put anything into the shopping basket, "Will I ever use this"? So, I ended up with just these items and most of them were souvenirs for friends.

More pictures as usual

2010-02-05T19:30:00.103+08:00

This post is a short break from my Tokyo travelogue. Last weekend, I flew to Singapore for my best friend's birthday and I was there for less than 24 hours. Therefore, no time to shop at my favourite cosmetic mecca, Sephora. :(

It was a BBQ party by the beach at East Coast Park.

We arrived at the BBQ pit early. While waiting for the caterer, Yves taught us some tricks on taking great pictures with his DSLR.

I totally love the effect this picture. Actually, I wasn't really running. I just posed like I was and it made all of us looked retarded. We were laughing so hard that I thought my stomach would burst.

I was not sure if Yves was trying to capture the image of the golden retriever or that man in sexy short shorts. LMAO!

The party was fantabulous. We had

1. Great view:

2. Great food:

and 3. Great chefs:

What more could we ask for?

Most of us were in for a big surprise as it was more than just a birthday party. He was proposing to his girlfriend (now fiance)!!! It was very thoughtful of him (in collaboration with some other great friends) to come up with a creative gimmick. They added some solid carbon dioxide (dry ice) into the ring box to make it look magical. The idea came from one of the scientists, of course! Credit goes to Mr Wu!

Yves was so nervous that he started to break out in cold sweat when he asked "Think I should kneel?". We were like "Totally" and he did. He went down on his knee and asked for her hand. Aww, sweet!

In order to protect their privacy, I choose not to disclose anymore pictures that are as personal as those.

Now, the best part was that yours truly a.k.a me went.......CAMPING! Yes, I roughed it out to get down and dirty for a night by the beach. The sea breeze was our natural air-conditioner and the mosquitoes were our alarm.

It really was a life-changing adventure, considering that I am a hygiene freak. I never leave home without a pack of Dettol wipes, a bottle of Dettol instant hand-sanitizer and a can of Dettol spray. What did I get out of this experience? Well, I ended up with

1. unkempt hair

2. backache

3. sleeping under the stars

4. a great new friend, Sue.

and 5. a whole lot of FUN!!!

Seriously, it made me appreciate my friends even more. The best feeling in the world is to know that your family and friends will always have your back. Then, you can really let yourself go and try things you never thought you could. Thanks, Yves. Thanks, Sue! It really was fun meeting French who didn't speak French and non-French who actually spoke the language. It felt like a meeting of the Alliance Francaise alumni. *Wink*

Land of Rising Sun (Part 4)

2010-02-02T22:48:00.031+08:00

It's been almost a week since my last update. I flew to Singapore over the weekend for a very important event (more about that later) and to catch up with my friends. The trip was rather tiring but a very satisfying one indeed. Back to my travelogue.

Disney Sea in Tokyo Disney Resort is the only one in the world. Yeap, they don't even have it in Florida. It is also the most expensive theme park ever built.

To enter Disney Sea, you need a separate ticket, but I guarantee you won't be disappointed. For the price of an entrance fee, you can be in different countries in just one day. When I entered Disney Sea, I was like "This is not Tokyo. This is Europe."

Welcoming us at the "Mediterranean Harbour" were Mickey and friends with their perfectly choreographed dance moves.

The "Mediterranean Harbour" led to the European-looking buildings and gondolas. Suddenly, we were in Europe. Ciao, Italy!

View from the gondola ride:

From Italy, we walked to.............the United States of America! Wow! I never knew one can walk from Europe to America.

My shoes were beaten up after walking halfway across the world. Time for shoe shine and everybody wanted one.

Me: Vyroxy, what are you looking at?

Vyroxy: That American is gorgeous

Me: No, he's Japanese

Vyroxy: No? I thought we're in America

Me: (Rolled eyes)

Cost of the shoe shine? 5 cents. Place? Across Liberty Fish Market

Time to board the ship to watch the stellar performance by the crew members, starring none other than Mickey and Minnie.

Disney Resort = Parade Show. You can never say you've been to Disney Resort and not watch the parade just like I did in Hong Kong Disneyland. My virginal experience at Disneyland (Hong Kong) was a complete disaster.

Parade at Disney Sea was somewhat different from what they had in Disneyland. It took part at the park's waterway. With the fireworks and water pageants, the parade was spectacular.

After the parade was over, my eardrums were still vibrating from the loud music and my lungs were compressing real hard, trying to force out the smoke from fireworks.

Despite the minor setback, I kept walking, until we reached......ermm was that Germany? England?

The place looked more like a scene from The Lord of The Ring.

Kept walking.

Vyroxy: Look!

Me: What

Vyroxy: Treasures!

Me: Where?

The sun started to sink but we still had a lot to cover. That place was insanely huge. If I was to compare the size of Tokyo Disney Resort to the United States, then Disney Sea must be Texas. We kept walking until

Me: We are in Arab

Vyroxy: How do you know?

Me: That camel is staring at us

At night, the Arabian Coast looked magical. I was dying to go to Dubai and Egypt.

I've been around the world in a day and I missed home already. Not so fast! We still had Sanrio Puroland to visit.

I'll end this post with my favourite family potrait:

and some random pictures:

Souvenirs I got from Disney Sea? Duffy, of course!

P/S: The dialogues were all made up by me in order to add a sense of humour to this post. Even though you might not find it humorous at all.

Land of Rising Sun (Part 3)

2010-01-26T19:10:00.225+08:00

Every girl secretly believes in fairytale and meeting her prince charming, no matter how mature or realistic she is. I am no different and I have no problem admitting it. I believe that someday my prince will come, sweep me off my feet and whisk me to the castle. Yes, it sounds very naive but I've met him............ at the magical kingdom of Disneyland. They say dreams do come true at Disneyland. I couldn't agree more.

Erm....prince charming was taller than I've imagined.

Where was my fairy godmother when I needed her? She was supposed to transform me into a pretty princess. To my disappointment, she had completely forgotten about my dress. Must be Alzheimer. Sigh!

Well, guess I had to rely on my (not so) little friend to sew me a dress.

I've probably watched Cinderella and Snow White for a million times. Dopey has always been my favourite dwarf and I was not very sure if that was Sleepy or Bashful at the back. Both of them looked very similar to me. Actually, all of them looked the same to me, except Dopey. I guess that's why he's my favourite. LMAO!

I felt like Cinderella or maybe Snow White for a day, minus the evil stepsisters and the wicked old witch. A girl can always dream, can't she?

Well, enough of day dreaming. A trip to Disneyland is incomplete without meeting the Disney all-star, Mickey.

Seriously, I don't know much about Mickey except for the fact that he's a very famous stuff toy. I've never even watched a single episode of the cartoon. Don't get me wrong. I love Mickey but I just don't know much about him except that he was very flirtatious. When we met, he came full on and started hugging & kissing us. We really knew how to make Minnie jealous.

Let's take a virtual tour of Mickey's house.

He invited me to chill out with a big mug of chocolat chaud.

Then, I returned the favour by helping him with the laundry.

It was getting late. I was hurrying out but I couldn't seem to find my way and ended up in his garage. His house was enormous.

Driven by guilt, we visited Minnie at her house. I've always thought she and Mickey lived together.

Knock! Knock! She was not at home. We wandered around her house anyway and here's a virtual tour:

Her room was so girlish, just like mine.

Her kitchen:

She was baking. Her oven was turned on but she wasn't there. Kinda irresponsible but that was so not her! She was famous for being such a domestic goddess.

I was starving and thought maybe I could try rummaging through her fridge and what was in there? Cheese! Tons of them. Of course!

Mickey and Minnie's houses were fun but if you've been to Disneyland, you sure know the best thing about it is actually the parade where kids wave excitedly at all Disney characters. I managed to snap some pictures despite the huge crowd.

Talking about pictures, my blog also serve as a photo album. I don't have a flickr account. So, here are more random pictures before I sign off. By the end of this post, I'm sure you'll die from overdose of my face.

P/S: Despite rows of quaint and fanciful shops selling souvenirs, I found nothing decent to buy.

Most of the items were for pre-schoolers. I only managed to snag an Alice In Wonderland charm and a glass perfume bottle with my name engraved on it.

This charm is so Juicy Couture! I love it so much but I'm wondering if it'll be too cutesy to go with a Chanel quilted bag I had my eyes on.

2010-01-26T18:45:00.008+08:00

I've just discovered Backstreet Boys' music video, "bigger" on MTV. A sense of nostalgia crept up in me. Apparently, the video was shot in Tokyo. Find the temple at the background familiar, anyone?

Watch it here:

Land of Rising Sun (Part 2)

2010-01-24T09:34:00.003+08:00

Sensoji temple, also known as Asakusa Kannon is the oldest and most popular temple in Tokyo. It's in every guide book, from Lonely Planet to Frommer's. Very famous among tourists indeed, both asians and westerners. Eye candies were everywhere. When I mentioned eye candies, I meant the cute blonde-haired-blue-eyed guys wandering alone around the temple area. You should've seen those curious faces when they were fidgeting with the fortune sticks. 200 yen for the fortune sticks and the prediction was a downright bad year for me. Just what I needed for the new year. :(

The temple was under renovation and covered by scaffolding. However, the temple grounds and the interior of the main hall can still be visited.

Us at the Thunder Gate, entrance to the temple:

The second gate is Hozo Mon, the "Treasure House Gate". Beyond it is the temple main building and a pagoda. The stately five-story pagoda and the main hall is devoted to Kannon Bosatsu (Goddess of Mercy):

My favourite part of the temple is Nakamise-dori, the street leading to the Thunder Gate and it was the perfect place to shop for the love ones back at home. This place was packed with rows of tiny little shops selling every kind of omiyage or souvenirs you can imagine. Yukata, folding fans, and my favourite....Japanese traditional snacks.

Souvenirs I got for all my love ones:

I love how cute the pastries looked, all wrapped up in pretty boxes.

Now, before I wrap up this post, you might wonder what's around Sensoji temple. Take a peek:

We had no idea what was so special about this advert for a spectacle shop but we were just so drawn to it.

A cute tour bus:

It makes me wonder why all tour busses in K.L are so boring.

Some shop selling weird figurines:

I find those characters very disturbing.

Allow me to post this picture below again. Definately my favourite outfit of the entire trip. I love pairing black with white. It's so French chic!

Coat - Martina Pink

Bottleneck Sweater - Mango

Pleated Skirt - Zara

Tights - Topshop

Gloves - Dorothy Perkins

Boots - Zara

Bag - Zara

P/S: I saw this vanity case at the corner of a little shop at the Nakamise-dori and felt in love with it immediately.

I hesitated to buy it on my first trip there. It costed 4000 yen. With the exchange rate, it was rather pricey. Then, I just couldn't get it out of my head. I knew I had to have it. So, I went back there to get it. That explained 2 different outfits at the same place.

Well, what's inside? All my trinkets or junks according to my mom:

Besides, it wouldn't hurt to go there again for the eye candies.

Unfortunately, there were also tons of sleazy old men. A man volunteered to help take photo for us, me and my sis. We thought nothing of it coz most of the Japanese we met were very friendly people. He asked "You from Hong Kong?" and we were like "No". "Taiwan?" "Nope". "We're from Malaysia". Then, he asked if he could take a photo of us using his camera. He thought we looked so kawaii. As if! We were like "He's so freaky" but we let him took a photo of us anyway, unwillingly. If that was not bad enough, he asked if he could take a photo with us. He was practically cam-whoring WITH us using his camera. Ewww!!! Gross! Don't ask why we let him did that. Disgusting. Disgusting.

Will post on Disneyland and Disney Sea soon.