30 is the new 70

My friends are determined to celebrate all birthdays this year with longevity peaches. 

Can't get enough of Japan

Was in Japan for about 24 hours, but when you take into consideration time required for rest and time spent at airport, there's really not much time to shop and eat.

Japan is HOT right now. The Japanese summer is real.

Kyoho and champagne grapes, in one picture. Note the difference in size. Kyohos are huge grapes, and champagne grapes are tiny grapes. Your common seedless grapes are somewhere in between.

Since it's summer, I took on the arduous task of bringing home a few bunches of succulent Kyoho grapes and champagne grapes as well. I tell you these are not real, man. How anything natural can be so sweet is beyond me. It was hard to carry these back without damaging them. Grapes aside, I can't think of any fruit harder to fly back than strawberries and peaches.


And since I cannot get enough of Japan, yours truly is going back there again on Friday.

Of Rhone, Yarra, Nappa and Casablanca

Over the last two days, I've been learning about wine regions, grape varietals, characteristics of wines and the aging and maturation processes of wines and spirits. 

Yesterday was truly dry. A few times I fought to stay awake in class. Today I went home happy and tipsy, and smelling a bit like I was in a different time zone (happy hour started a wee bit early). 

The wine that I found truly interesting was a New Zealand Gewürztraminer. Originally a grape varietal from Alsace, the Kiwis are trying their hands at this too. Unlike its European counterpart which has a stronger floral aroma, this one started off smelling like a can of sardines. Uh huh, sardines. The whole class started laughing because more than half of us indeed agreed that it smelled like sardines. And since it had a slightly metallic smell too, what did it smell like? A sardine can. 

However after allowing the wine to air a little, that pungent smell went away and it started to smell a lot better. And the surprise? It tasted really good and extremely different from how we first nosed it. 

After today's class I will definitely appreciate my next glass of wine a lot more. 

Meanwhile I hope I don't stumble and fall in tonight's game of laser tag. 

Stalking an ex

By the name of Pluto. 

Durians

So much durians in just three days! 

In BP, there was a major durian feast going on at #24. Two buckets of durians every night at least. And back in Singapore, there are durians too at Markus'. 

To be honest, durians stink. They taste really good, but they stink. 

I've figured how to let foreigners know how durians smell, in case they're all curious about the fruit. 

First, squeeze some white heads from the crevice between your nose and your cheek. Flatten those stuff between your fingers and smell it. 

Next, using the same finger(s), dig your navel that you haven't cleaned in the last 24 or more hours. Smell that finger again. That's what durians smell like! 

Birthday again

Before I went to London, the boyfriend treated me to lunch at Equinox. It had the most wonderful view of Singapore, and we did have a very enjoyable lunch. My guess is, we are going back there again soon. :P 

There wasn't a cake then so he made it up to me on Thursday night - the day I touched down from London and the night before I had to fly off to Frankfurt to work. 

I laughed so hard when I saw the cake!!! 

I would have been too shy to collect this! I'm sure the cake shop person would have told him to double-check the words before he collected the cake... O.O

His 脸皮 (skin) is quite thick, I must say. 

30 looks like it's gonna be a blast

30 and luvin' it! Or has 2015 just been such an exceptional year? 

The first European holiday with the folks this summer has been great. Showing the parents places that Lynn and I talk of, food we eat and gush over, the problems that the great London City can never seem to overcome (transportation), etc...And as with all things great, it had to end yesterday. So I left for Heathrow alone while they stay on a wee bit longer. Of course I felt torn. Leaving family behind, leaving London behind, back to work and back to reality. Of course, someone else was waiting for me on the other side of the world.....

Probably the heavens knew it so I was bumped up to Business Class for my flight home. How wonderful. Probably the only time I'll ever get to travel Business Class with The Company on a long-haul flight because I'll never be able to afford the exhorbitant tickets T___T

This is a gleeful me. 

When I got back to my place, the feeling of dread kicked in. The amount of laundry I've to do, my nails were not painted yet, my announcement texts haven't been updated, I've to unpack and pack for tomorrow's flight.... Argh the dread. 

Then when I opened my room door, I found a letter slotted underneath the door. 

A birthday card!! 

A card that made me laugh and cry at the same time. 

So emotional these days lah, I cannot take it. 

 

Looking forward to the days ahead. 2015 and being 30 both work well for me. 

So good to be back in Deutschland

It's just been two hours.

Asked a few people for directions and general inquiries, and those brief moments of contact with people when I paid for my duty-free shopping and food... all I can say is, it's bloody good to be back in Germany!!!!! 

What's up with the Austrian attitude?!?! Everyone acted like we owed them something. Even shop owners. Wtf. It was quite miserable to be honest. Yes the scenery is breathtaking but I really don't want to deal with THAT attitude again. So no, I will not be back there anytime soon. 

Dear Germans, despite the world calling you cold (like how we generalize Americans as being loud and obnoxious), you really aren't. Ich liebe dich!

I get this for S$4 in Japan and Amazon sells it for £17?!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005LIMESW/ref=tsm_1_tw_s_uk_nr8cid

I'm ready to take orders at $17 a piece. -__-

Camera is injured

Had to stick plaster on it. Poor thing. 

Heading back to London tomorrow. Wheeeeeee, duck rice!!

Summer 2015

2015, probably the best ever year!

Spring has come and gone, and it was wonderful as mentioned before. 

Summer is great as we speak! One week into my summer holidays and I do have a slight (unintended) tan already. 

Salzburg is so beautiful!!! But what's wrong with its people???? So hard to come across a friendly Austrian! 

Friendly Germans were everywhere but wow, cross a border and the people have got their noses right up there with the mountains. 

Haven't many pictures to show because they're mostly in my camera. 

Wolfgangsee, surrounded by mountains green with snot. 

And then it snapped

More Miu Miu woes. 

I brought this bag which I do not think is precious anymore with me on my Europe trip so that I can use it in the rain on wet days. 

On my first clear day, it rained in the morning. So I used the Miu Miu bag and the HARDWARE gave way just as I was stepping out of the house. 

Wow. Leather sucks, hardware also sucks. 

NO to PRADA & MIUMIU!

Yet another reason, on top of all that I've said before. Snapped for no good reason. I mean, who tugs at the clochette? 

Serious quality issues.

I rest my case. 

 

Hello Music.

Apple Music is here!!! 

Allowing one to access the iTunes Store library, Apple has made it especially sweet for us to pay $9.99 for its service. I've been using Spotify Premium for some time now and the next three months could be a make or break for Spotify. Many Spotify users will be looking for a reason to stay with Spotify for the same price. What makes Apple Music an even better option is that for $14.99, you can sign up for a family package (up to 6 Apple IDs), so that means I can share the cost with a few friends!

Unfortunately I am having trouble getting used to Apple Music's layout. I thought Spotify was confusing, but one probably needs a PhD when it comes to using Apple Music.

Listening to S Club 7 and miming to the songs now. I forget that S Club songs are so fun. 

Don't judge me. -_____- 

P/S: who remembers the hotness that is Rachel Stevens?