I just realised I am already 23 this year.

Last week I was filling up a lame online form and when it comes to “Age”, without hesitation I wrote “21″.

Horrifying realisation smacked me right in the face.

I am 23 this year!!!!!!!

God. In another words, I had been living in my own world?!

Oh well, WE ARE YOUNG!

A trip down to Shanghai. Takes alot of guts to fly and made my way around China all by myself.

Finally reached the hotel after 6 hours since I left Singapore and I am already missing home.

A knitted cap to cover those sleepy eyes.

A glimpse of Shanghai cityscape.

Did some un-packing before I headed for dinner!

First meal in Shanghai was somewhere nearby as I am so tired from the flight.  And I barely remember what I had for dinner!

Appetisers. Smoked duck.

Appetisers. Fried fish with very interesting sauce.

How can I forget Xiao Long Bao when one is in Shanghai!

I think this is a sort of mushroom. I don’t remember the name but it does taste GOOD~!

Pork Tendons with Prawn Roe.

Softshell crab with Seaweed.

Decided to hit the Carrefour and stock up yummies to tide me though the cold nights in Shanghai.

They do have Lay’s. But I would prefer Lay’s classic flavours.

Interesting yah?

And I spotted this! GOD! I had this when I was young! But I didn’t see it in Singapore anymore. Anyone would tell me where to get this in Singapore?

HAHAHA… I know, I know.

Well, I hit the streets of Shanghai on the very next day!

What amazed me was the urban plans they got. Temple in the mist of tall, modern buildings.

This place is huge!

The start of the famous Nanjing Road. The main shopping street of Shanghai.

Traces of history and culture can be easily found on the architects.

A tram which save you the walk of 十里. Yes, that is how long Nanjing Road is.

This is saviour when freezing cold wind hits us hard.

Another side of Nanjing Road.

Beyond this point, we would hit The Bund. And I save it for the next day as it was way TOO cold for me!!!

It was a slightly warmer day. Perfect for outdoor activities!

Decided to visit 朱家角古镇。

Don’t you feel like you just stepped into some Kung Fu movie sets?

That’s me and my chub face.

Note: Photo heavy contents coming up.

The whole town has quite a fair bit of bridges which gives you plenty of “kodak-moments”.

The famous pig trotters.

♥ this picture.

Seriously like Kung Fu movie settings.

=]

After the trip to 朱家角, made my way back to hotel and layer more clothes as I am hitting the famous spot in Shanghai.

A cruise along Huangpu River will allow me to have a good eyeview of  Pudong skyline.

Here I go. Revealing the amazing organisation which I am working at.

I am so proud to see DNV’s logo everywhere in the world.

The famous 东方之珠. Oriental Pearl Tower.

Headed to 新天地！Xin Tian Di) It’s like the higher end clubbing spot in Shanghai.

First, I need to fill up my tummy. =]

How can I miss out 鼎泰丰 when I am in Shanghai?! Of course, I choose the finest. *beams*

Chinese cold cut beef. HAHAHA…

The famous pork cutlet.

Here they come. Those hot piping little buns.

Decorated with prawns too.

A local veggie. On the bitter side but ends with a sweet note.

There is a reason for the “orangey” soup.
This pork dumplings comes with crab roe. =]

See those bits of orange crab roe?

I like to “strip” my pork dumpling naked. And watch them sit in my spoon, swimming in the soup.
Weird huh.

Yummy.

Hit the streets of 新天地！(Xin Tian Di)

Look at the amount of taxis.

Visited Brown Sugar. This place is called “Brown” as all their singers are mostly “Brownies”. Trust me. They rocked the place. I love live bands and I wasn’t disappointed with this place.

A great way to end the night.

It’s the last day in Shanghai! Wanna yum cha before I fly.

I stayed at Millennium Hongqiao Hotel. So there is a famous restaurant nearby.

I think it’s a must to visit 苏浙汇 (Su Zhe Hui)

Appetisers.

Black pepper beef.

Hahaha.. 小笼包again.

Steam Rice Rolls with cha siew.

XO Pan-fried carrot cake. My favourite. =]

Yam Puffs.

Fried roll with mango and prawns.

A table filled with food. Which costed SGD40?

Oh well, as much as I want to stay. Eventually I have to head home.

Lately, too much unsettling issues are hovering. 

 I re-classed my priorities and worked hard on them. I mean, I tried and apparently it’s wasn’t as easy as I thought. 

 I’ve got a fantastic and wonderful distraction. Hence, things were much easier on my side. 

 A short getaway to KL and Malacca over a weekend. Nothing fanciful, just relax and enjoy. 

 Driving into the sunset. 

 

 

 Christmas lights were everywhere. 

How can I miss out the ever cheerful Christmas tree?! 

 =] 

And, hello Ritz.   

 

 

  

Enjoying heart-warming breakfast at Ritz. 

Did quite a fair bit of shopping at Pavillion. And the craving for having steak kicked it. 

 It was an unforgettable dinner at Angus. 

 

 Juicy, fresh oysters. 

 With dedicated service and never-ending serving of side dishes, I was 80% full when my 150g of Wagyū was served.

 

  Sweet and tender. 

 Ending it with a sweet note.

The symptoms are

1. Drowsiness
2. Lethargic
3. Aching shoulders and back
4. Headache
5. Tired and teary eyes
6. Increase in appetite

And they always visit me when exams are near.

Dining along the riverside of Clarke Quay, on a Friday evening where all I want to do is to relax and enjoy the weekend.

It’s been a while since I pampered myself, should reward myself once in a while.

 

I love Sashimi. One of the items are calling out to me!

Sashimi Moriawase & Unagi Kodon (Assorted Sashimi and Mini Grilled Eel Rice Bowl) – S$25.80

Fresh and tender sashimi!

With hot steam rice topped with  juicy grilled unagi.

Did I mention that I am a sushi lover?!

Chicken Teriyaki & Aburi Salmon Roll (Grilled Chicken with Teriyaki Sauce & Halk-broiled Salmon Sushi Roll) – S$24.80

Out of curiosity (and hungry, of course), I ordered a side dish to go along.

Okonomi Yaki (Mixed Seafood & Sliced Pork Pancake) – S$12.80

Smoking hot, hot, hot!

I just wanna popped them into my mouth!

Out of curiosity (and hungry, of course), I ordered a side dish to go along.

Okonomi Yaki (Mixed Seafood & Sliced Pork Pancake) – S$12.80

A disappointing dish, it was so dry and the only yummy thing was the mayo that was garnish along.

Overall, I love the ambience and the location of the restaurant.

Do call and make reservations if you planned to dine in alfreso way.

 

 

 

I wished I can get through my exams with confidence.

I hate to be mugging away while everyone is doing Christmas shopping.

I love to make yummies on a rainy Sunday noon.

How I wished I can eat something now and will not pass them out in 30 minutes.

A family visit to SAFTI!

My brother who has been enlisted to OCS and SAF planned this visit for the cadets’ family members.

My ever-excited Mum.

A photo in his bunk first.

A walk around SAFTI.

Dining Hall.

Family shot.

When I took this photo I can’t decide which one is the focus, the dining hall or them.

And I spotted my Dad behaving like a child.

Kodak Moment!

I honestly don’t know what is he laughing, but I know I got to snap this shot.

A decent photo of my parents.

Spotted a pink dragonfly!

And I seriously don’t believe there is such a HUGE snail living in the pond.

A random shot of my brother and his friend.

My brother and me who just recovered. (Looking like sh*t)

For the past 22 years of my life, I never ever slept away THREE precious days away.

I had food poisoning which comes with fever. Is that serious? I’m not sure.

But I am dead sure that I was puking my life away and hugging the toilet bowl. Literally.

And I refused to be hospitalized cause I prefer MY OWN BED.

I was living on isotonic drinks and pills for the past 3 days. I never felt so crap before.

My dear Mum actually bought lots of Roast Pork, Cha Siew and Roast Duck back home and claimed it’s for me as I am actually malnutrition for the past 3 days, looking at those plates of greasy meat; the familiar nauseous feeling overwhelmed me, of course I went to hug the toilet bowl again.

Sometimes, I don’t know if I should be at least happy that I have a Mum who actually cares. In a wrong way, obviously.

This week of ordeal I learnt 3 lessons.

1. Never try to do a “half-cooked-seafood-like-the-Japanese-way”.

2. Never to self-medicate.

3. Never to believe that coffee makes me feel better.

I will never want to go through this again.

 

*P.S For those who called or texted, thanks for the ever endearing, sweet concerns. Pardon my late replies as most of the time I was in hibernation.