'Vintage me' series - uni and party all the same...

I was in my 1st year of uni, taking a trip to East Coast Singapore. I wore my hair long at the time, finally got it past my shoulder at least once in my life. But I'd soon realized long hair didn't suit me. Since then, I'm always spotted with short hairdo.

Year 1, a few days later the day I first came to Singapore. Taken with Annie (Tuyet Den's author! *hint, hint*) at Orchard Road, in front of Takashimaya Shopping Centre. It was the 3rd time I'd gone to Orchard. And believe it or not? Annie, Tracy and I had gone there real early. I still remember we'd left NUS by 8am and reached Orchard at about 930am. The shops hadn't even opened yet. So we went around and took pictures. The camera was a very lousy mechanical one which Tracy had won in some bazaar. The photos came out so dark that they looked like we'd taken them after the sunset even it was all sunny at the time. Anyway, we had real fun then.

This was taken at Jurong Bird Park (Singapore). In year 2. I must admit I looked very demure myself. Maybe it was because I was with my dad that time. My weight was like 47 -48 kgs at that time. Sigh... How long will it take me to come back to this weight? No, I'm not obsessed with my weight. It's just that I can't stand how I always feel all the times now.

Year 2, sem 2. With Tracy. We looked so much different then. Time flies, people change. For the better or worse, I don't know. But I'm doing what I've chosen myself. Again, let time speak itself.

My convocation. With Ha, a very good friend of mine. Life after uni has gone on but our friendship's still going strong. Thank you, my dear friend for all the time we've spent together and I hope we'll have more wonderful moments in the future (GSS, remember? Hheheh!!!)

Ooh!!! I'm shopping and I'm at home!!!

Yes! I'm talking about online shopping! After a year, now this shopping hobby is re-surfacing!

It's so damn easy. Just browse the websites, i.e. VS, OPI, Drugstore, etc. Then click to order. Next is typing my CC number. Click again. There I go! Wait for purchases being shipped back to my address. Well, that's nothing new and it's not happening! As a shopaholic, I want discount and want to save shipping cost which I have to order a big amount of goods in order to get. Hmm, what should I do?

I join spree! And together with me, Tracy joins as well. Since yesterday, we have ordered from OPI and VS, spent nearly $100. And we felt so happy. Because we think we will have to buy OPI sooner or later and if we buy at the shop in Vietnam, we have to pay double the price we get to pay online. For VS stuff, I have to say, we could buy its products just for no reason. I'm a VS girl through and through.

Spent $100 but we've got some discount which would only apply if we ordered $150 - 250. That's the beauty of this spree thingy. Also, because we share with other people, the shipping cost is lower which helps us to feel less guilty! But the spreeing speed is so fast! It's open in the morning and the next thing I know, it's close at night as people all queue up for order and payment! Spree for VS is usually capped at 250USD and no matter how many sprees are open, they are closed as quickly. Scary and exciting at the same time! I'd missed 4 batches before I managed to place mine this afternoon!

Now it's waiting time!!!

My shoes are killing me!!! Literally!!!

More precisely, my dance shoes!!!

I've just got back to my latin dance class today, after one and a half months taking a break which was taken after one month taking lessons! I know what you are thinking, heheh! I'm lazy! Tet and that biz trip back to Singapore didn't help at all!

Anyway, today I wore my pair of dance shoes which had been bought about more than 4 years ago . That was when I first started learning international-leveled ballroom dance. At that time, my passion with the art was very strong and fresh so I didn't hesitate forking out $150 for a pair of shoes. And the shoes have a name, too. It's Lorraine. My gosh! Thinking back then, I was so... (speechless!!!) But it's quite a blessing for me now for I'm taking dance lessons again. No need to go around and find a good pair of shoes without emptying my purse. I had left it in Singapore when I was back to Vietnam last year and I got it back the last biz trip. However, I needed to buy heels protectors for my shoes as the classroom has only brick/stone floor, not your average wooden floor in those fabulous dance studios. Those were the days... And in case you are wondering what the hell I'm talking about, here are the pictures for the heels protectors

Yeah! I came back to the dance studio where I had bought my shoes. First I didn't know there were 2 types of heels - flare and slim. Second, I didn't bring my shoes along (I went there after work, you see!) So I just based on those shoes displayed at the studios and got the flare heels protectors. Went back and tried on my shoes. Hah, wrong shape! Came back and changed to the slim type. Phewwww!

Back to the main topic. With the newly-retrieved shoes, I was happily back to the dance class. This month's step is Samba. It's a very lively and rhythmical dance with a lot of knee-bending and hip-swaying movements. Very good exercise for me at the moment! I've gotta admit! Wow, with a correct pair of dance shoes, my practice was much easier and the class felt more exciting! But it came with a price! My feet felt like they were on fire and when I took off my shoes, a little bit of my skin went with them. A bit gory but that was exactly what happened. I felt like an idiot as I had been through this before and I totally forgot. Sigh... I have no one to blame, except myself. I don't know if I can put the shoes on tomorrow but I'm bringing a pair of socks with me to protect those wounds.

Meaningless Kiss - Music and Lyrics soundtrack

I know that when talking about soundtracks of "Music and Lyrics", "Way Back Into Love" is normally mentioned. I love the song alright, but after a while, I feel a bit too much. Whereas "Meaningless Kiss" is growing on me. Especially when I link the song with those scences where Hugh Grant's character had sung it. It has a bittersweet taste to me. It means that fame is not everlasting. Now I understood why some celebrities try to do all sorts of things just to gain publicity and fans. Because these fading stars need something to keep them focused and feel secured. It's a sad life, isn't it?

Meaningless Kiss - Hugh Grant

I saw you across the dance floor
Out of the corner of my eye
I felt the connection
I don't know how, I don't know why
I shouldn't of stayed when I saw you there
With another man
But as we slipped away
I thought I heard you say
This wasn't part of the plan

CHORUS:
Just a meaningless kiss
It wasn't suppose to end up like this
Just a meaningless kiss
Oh ohh
Just a meaningless kiss
We knew it was wrong
But we couldn't resist
Just a meaningless kiss
Til I fell in love
With you

But you didn't want me to

Ohh no

Here we are two years later
Too late to turn back now
We gotta finish what we shouldn't have started
We've got to walk away somehow
But it's easier said than done
When two hearts beat as one
And three hearts are one too many
That's why we shouldn't have ever begun

CHORUS:
Just a meaningless kiss
It wasn't suppose to end up like this
Just a meaningless kiss
Oh ohh
Just a meaningless kiss
We knew it was wrong
But we couldn't resist
Just a meaningless kiss

We can't go on like this forever
When we're not meant to be together
So leave me here
On my own
From now on I guess I got to dance alone

CHORUS:
Just a meaningless kiss
It wasn't suppose to end up like this
Just a meaningless kiss
Ohh ohh
Just a meaningless kiss
We knew it was wrong
But we couldn't resist
Just a meaningless kiss
But I'm still in love
With you

No matter what I do

Recced for Kung-fu fans - Zhu Xian by Xiao Ding

I've been reading Zhu Xian, in Vietnamese. It's been a long time I read anything novel-length in Vietnamese. What I have been reading recently in Vietnamese were news and articles. Think what you'd like but I felt I hadn't had enough patience to spend time to read Vietnamese fictions. Too many moral stories lurking behind and they are exactly what I don't like to see in a story.

Anyway, back to Zhu Xian...

Is Zhu Xian captivating? Yes!

Is Zhu Xian your typical kung-fu novel? No!

It's a very angsty story with lotsa details and beautiful people. Well, except for the leading male character. Hah! An unusual detail in this type of novel, I dare say! But after while, I find myself not be able to care about that. About why? You must read the story to understand that.

One fact to let you know how hooked I am to Zhu Xian. I feel this is like Harry Potter. I can't stop reading it until I finish. And I'm a HP fanatic.

Just wanna share with you what's in my reading list now! Nowhere near achieving my resolution!

A friend-reunion weekend

Saturday - Attended Sis Audrey's ROM! Congratulations to the newly wed!
Sunday - A4 LHP reunion with Dat and Nam. Take good care of yourselves, both of you!
Time with friends is priceless...

6.3 richter...

... is the magnitude of the earthquake occurred in Sumatra, Indonesia. And certain parts in Singapore were affected. Then guess what?
I WAS THERE (in one of those certain parts being affected in Singapore, of course)!!!
First time in my life. And I've had it twice!!!
What did it feel like? As it was a tremor, I felt like I was on a boat! Shaking and swaying! In fact, the first time it happened, I thought I was dizzy from all the meetings I had been having! The second time, it was much clearer! My whole office then evacuated out of the building! It was a much needed break! Hheheh!
Quite an experience, I dare say!

Mung 2 Tet - Duong hoa Nguyen Hue Edition

Where would Saigonese go during Tet holidays? Nguyen Hue Boulevard? Yes, you guessed right. This year, Tet festival at Nguyen Hue lasts from 28th of the 12th month till the 3rd of the 1st month, lunar year. And it's really a joyous experience (and very hot... physically!)

As I'm too lazy to comment all the pics, I'll just post them randomly this time...

Boats of Tet fruits...

Calligraphy is honoured with a space of its own...

Art from clays and god-know-what-material...

Rows of colorful latterns...

Some snapshots from the countryside in the centre of Saigon...

Saigoneses try foot bridge...

What about a ricefield in the middle of the city?

And a large grain basket...

Now, back to admiring blossoming flowers...

One of the centerpoints of the festival... weathercock...

Lastly, some white sands in the middle of the delta...

26 Thang Chap - Tet Flowers Market

It's my family tradition to go to Flowers Market during Tet. We have kept this habit since the market was held at Nguyen Hue Boulevard and it has been 20 years. Wow, time really flies fast. It seems just last year I wore my favorite dress and walked around with a branch of apricot blossoms.

Therefore, last night's market visit held me a great expectation with all the memories from past years. Of course, with the economy booming throughout the years, people are more willing spending on flowers. And I wasn't disappointed, there were many types of flowers and trees which were both local and imported. It really made the Tet spirit here more pronounced.

Firstly, we had seas of daisies...

Then we've got rows of red flowers (sorry, I don't know their names)

One of the favourite flowers during this occasion... orchids in many variety...

"Dia Lan" have wowed their audience with their beauty...

A new year wish from the gardener...

Somewhere, sunflowers were standing tall and waving at everyone

A new comer from China, "Great Wall" flowers... so they called them...

Somehow they managed to bring in a small forest...

"Mai Chieu Thuy" scented the market with their sweet smell...

From far away Northern Vietnam, peach blossoms also had their shares of audience

You have known and eaten dragon fruits. But do you know how they look like on a tree?

What about aloe wood (tram huong)? Top-quality incense sticks were made from this. And this tree (could I call it tree?) was quoted USD 5k. Hmmm.... Not that appealing to me...

And lastly, no Spring or Tet market was truly perfect without apricot flowers...

Late night dinner...

Christmas is getting nearer and our outing is going at full force. Saigon streets at 9pm are still crowded as usual which encourages us more. And we ended up with a late night dinner in a cozy restaurant on Le Thi Rieng Street, Tiem An 48.

What had lead us to this situation while both of us are usually very bad at handling hunger and we were starved? It was a stupid grand opening of a coffee house.

As usual, our make-up learning session was on last night. When we finished, it was a little over 830pm. And our stomaches were grumbling noisily which made our priority at that time a hearty dinner. But I suggested us to go to MGM Cafe on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street which just opened on the very same day. Why, you might ask? Because I read somewhere that they would offer free fruit buffet during the first 3 days for everyone. Very kiasu of me, I know! But in case there was no buffet, I thought I could still order the cafe's food to eat and enjoy a drink over there. Anyway, when we reached, it was so crowded and noisy with loud music, the kind of coffee house that I do not like much. How does it look like?

Very grand and impressive, indeed. Actually the decoration and design inside are very modern and innovative. Espcially the menu is made into a magazine which is quite interesting. But you know what? Even though there were food in the menu, when we ordered beefstake, the answer was that they ran out of food at that moment. WTH? And you call yourself a coffee house cum restaurant. Bleh. So disappointed. But I had to admit the service was good with attentive staff. Just not my cuppa.

With our empty stomaches, we now focused on finding a place to eat. As our raving for Western food was triggered, I suggested us to go to Tiem An 48. That was where we had our late night dinner.

Don't its decoration and atmosphere look cozy and well-thought to you?

The wall is decorated with paintings which brings a relaxed feeling to diners.

We were seated at this table called Bordeaux 002. Cute right? And y'all know that Tracy and I are suckers for cuteness. What did we do? Pointing to the name plate, of course. And take photo, no guess!

This was even when we are famished! If not, you might find me walking around taking photos. Hhahaha! (Anyone sends me a good camera? It's on my wish list this year!)

Then the menu came out. The proof for Tracy's hunger was captured for your pleasure...

She flipped it quickly to see there was anything delicious. I wondered how she could read it! Apparently, she did for she ordered Com sua nau voi com va Chuoi. How about me? A vegetables pizza, please! Simple, right? But the restaurant needed 20 minutes to toast it golden. Who was I kidding? Of course I had to agree on waiting!

So here we had Tracy's order arrived first. And she was working on it very heartily...

Again, we had proof of Tracy's eating speed when she was starving. In this case, her spoon was blurring and she didn't even bother looking at me when I told her I would take her pic. When she was eating, there was nothing else mattered. Muwahahahahahah... (Her evil laugh, not mine, k?)

While she ate, I had nothing better than sitting there and dreaming about the Christmas' Eve party I was planning. That was why I did not notice Tracy took my BFF and snapped me a shot...

I was not sleeping, if that's what you are thinking. Just smiling and daydreaming. Well, Christmas was 3 days away, after all. My pizza did take a long time to come out but it was worth the wait...

Looked so delicious... and it tasted so yummy... Before I attacked the pizza, Tracy had had me posing and smiling... Did I look pretty?

Looked so demure, right? But not so when I ate my food. Because I was a firm believer in using hands when eating pizza. The food just tasted better that way.

Main dishes were finished but we still wanted to eat more. "I want some more" That was what was going around in my head at the time (Sounded like the vampire girl in "Interview with the Vampire"! Creepyyyyyyy). It was why deserts were there for us to order. This was where Tracy'd gone berserk with her fruit yoghurt...

How about my desert? It was pancake with cinamon apple and ice cream...

And I didn't go berserk like Tracy, I went for sexy look...

Hmmm... what do you think? Did I look sexy enough for y'all? I think I need to work on this pose again.

Christmas spirit is really in the air. The weather is so cooling that I can take out all my autumn wear to create a winter look. Yes, you read it right, autumn wear for winter! As winter to me is about coats and boots. But I think I've got the style well so far.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go
Take a look in the five-and-ten,
Glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in ev'ry store............