going to the movies

It's New Year's Eve!

I've been wanting talk about the EXPENSIVE movie tickets here in Shanghai! The price ranges, depending on the cinema u go to: if u wanna hear phones ring, people talking etc etc... It can be up to 100rmb/S$20/ticket!

Anyway, we went to our FIRST movie here on the eve of Xmas Eve. It was 'Curse of the Golden Flower' starring Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li & Jay Chou. Our ticket is 80rmb/S$16 each. But, we were given a VIP card that entitles us to 50% off next time! WOW! Not bad after all! Price will be comparable to Singapore's! Yeah! We can go to the movies again! (but aint DVDs only 5-10rmb???!!!)

Anyway, here's our movie experience... It started really on time. We went in 5 mins later than screentime, and it had already started. Okie..... We sat down & took off our jackets. Soon, i was feeling really hot coz the aircon was off (so was the heater). There is absolutely NO ventilation! Then, people started talking, laughing at i duno what...but what really got to me was the air (if any). It's soooo stuffy! I found a piece of paper in my bag and started to fan myself for the next 100 mins. Ok, time to buy that cute Hello Kitty mini fan i've been eyeing...or the My Melody one...hmmm.... Aint it winter now??

And since we're talking about the temperature, i just received a lovely gift from Elvis! It's this AnnaSui-lookalike metal container. It's about the size of a palm. Can u make a guess what it is?

Heehee...it's a warmer! Just add lighter fluid, and the heat can last for about 12 hours. I can put it in my pocket when i'm feeling cold. WAH!!! So nice & shiok, right? I love it! Will use it when we go out tonight!

Happy New Year!

what a bitch!

(refer to previous day's complain)
I went shopping alone today coz Elvis had to work. Halfway, i got a call from that Filipina's bf, asking me if i can go out with his gf today. Like Elvis, he also has to work. I said ok, and he asked me to call her on her mobile. I called immediately, and i cant get through (coz there's no call waiting service here). So, i SMS her to call me coz i cant get through. She replied my SMS, telling me i can also reach her at her home. So...i called, and again, no one answered! I wonder, "DAMN IT! If u can reply my SMS, why cant u CALL ME using your HOUSE TELEPHONE! Are you procrastinating???"

So...i decided to stop trying. If she wants, she'll call me. It's never going to be the other way around! BITCH!

Besides, she's only here on holiday for 1 month...and she's only got 1 more week left! It's her loss. Not mine! Haha!

Perhaps she can do online shopping here instead: http://www.cafepress.com/fuckthisstore

(i am a sweet girl, but dun push your luck!)

back to everyday life

Damn! My internet is not working! Well, almost...my MSN & my email is down. But this Blogger is up. Elvis said it could be the earthquake...

Anyway, i'm back to my everyday life. Elvis has to work late nights again, and probably the weekend too. I think it's time to go back to my knitting, tv, DH season 3 and korean soap. Fortunately, it's getting more exciting now after the lead actor "came back from the dead".

Ok ok, truth is i wanna complain a bit... Actually, when Janis was here, i was supposed to show a "guest" from the Philippines around Shanghai. Janis & i discussed about it...and decided it was probably a tad uncomfortable with a stranger around. We also had to arrange our schedules with Janis' colleagues etc. So, i guess we gladly forgot about her after a while. Then 1 fine day, the Filipina's bf MSN Elvis that the gf is very bored at home. Janis was due to go back 2 days later, and i had to do some real cleaning & prep before our party... So, i SMS that Filipina that i'll meet her AFTER Xmas. She replied that it was great! I know she might have problems getting around without speaking the language, so I suggested to her that she could always take a cab to the many shopping centres along Huai Hai Road. There, she would have no problems getting around, food etc. Was that sweet of me or what??? I'm certain she could survive out there when there's so many angmohs on the streets of Shanghai - shopping, bargaining, eating... She's an Asian, so what's the problem!

Anyway, when i SMS her on Xmas to meet up on 26 Dec 12pm, she said she'll let me know the next day!!! I waited at home for her reply till 11am...then SMS her again to ask if we're coming out or not??!! She finally replied at 2pm that she cant make it!!!

WAHLAO!!! The more i think about it, the more pissed i am! I feel she's playing "hard to get" coz i kinda played her out the previous week. (Note: Initially, she did not have a contactable mobile number. And she could have gotten my number from another friend. So what is she mad at now?!) Anyway, i've made up my mind NOT to meet her at all! Period. Am i sweet or what???

our 1st home party

It was Christmas eve & we're hosting the 1st party in our house!
Elvis invited his team (he's their boss).

L-R: AD Xiazhen the "China Ah Beng", Writer Nikki the flasher, Intern Alex the quiet guy (with the 3D mole), Snr AD Leo the poser, Writer Michelle the fish (see the bubbles...), Writer Nemo the playful one, ACD Lesley the Daniel Chan lookalike, AAD Armani the Korean wannabe, AAD Susie the super tall baby & sweetie pie, CD Elvis the big head Uncle.

It was supposed to start with a game of table tennis at 4pm...but as usual, everyone was a perpetual latecomer. We too were late coz we went to buy a cake. Surprisingly, Nemo arrived before us (Elvis said he's always the latest at work). People started pouring in at the strike of every hour... By the time they were ready to go to the clubhouse, the table had been taken. So, they decided to play basketball instead. It was freezing, but they had a good game sweating out in the cold.

We cooked spaghetti, fruit salad, ordered pizza, cheese sticks, chicken wings. We were glad it was rather simple to prepare! Kekee...

Then they started to play the "Killer" game, "Sequence" game Eg. name the types of fruits, vegetables, stationery... The penalty was really crazy! I wanted to faint!!! Lick someone's feet, 3D-mole...

They moved on to their favourite game of "chai quan" (Guessing Fist) of 5/10/15/20...and the improvised versions McDonalds: shu tiao (fries), han bao (hamburger), yu mi (corn); Action stars: lee xiao long (Bruce Lee), si tai long (Syvester Stallon), huang fei hong (Master Wong Fei). See the movement in the photo!!! Haha... These kids really know how to play! The noise level was also ground-breaking! Everyone had a great time!

When they left, some courteous ones thanked us for everything, and in return, we said they were welcomed to come again (we really meant it). Fortunately, Elvis & i didnt take long to clear up the mess (no broken glass, no spilled food/drinks), and we were glad it was all in good cheer!

Xmas was merry
& here's to a very happy new year!

count my blessings

Every time this year, many people will think about how time REALLY flies...and it's almost the close of yet another year. I decide to count my blessings for 2006 this Sat morning (before Elvis wakes up from his night of partying)...

Hmm...too many things happened to me this year. The biggest thing is i'm MARRIED! It was not on the cards, but i'm glad married life is good. We are still the happy couple & will still go "pak tor" on weekends. Elvis has also proven himself to be a perfect husband - though i could deal with him working less hours. Thanks for being such a great "lao gong" who didnt complain about my shopping, not cooking etc. =)

Being married has also brought me away from my family & friends in Singapore. That's the 1 thing that is missing in my almost-perfect life. My family misses me more than any other time in my life. I cant wait to see them again during Chinese New Year. Will be back on 15 Feb 2007, Thursday!

I was also very thankful for all friends, bosses, ex-bosses, colleagues, ex-colleagues who came to share in our joy on 30.6.06 at Marriot. It was like a recognition for me even though we hardly get together (on normal days). For this, i will remember you all. Thank You.

I am also thankful i had the 'normal' wedding dinner at a very nice hotel (coz i always say i wont wanna get married if it was held at a Community Centre/"chin chiong" Chinese restaurant).

Sometimes, i will miss the times at work & my colleagues. People who have worked with me will know that i like working. However, i'm surprised how i'm not missing this part in Shanghai! Haha... Frankly, i keep thinking that working here is far from easy, and kinda dread it. Since Elvis didnt complain, i gladly ignored it! Kekee... I wonder if i'm just avoiding things, preferring to bum around... =X (Foreigners say that i have to work in order to live a 'normal life' here in Shanghai. Locals say that i should just relax.)

The other wonderful thing is getting the chance to travel more than ever in a year. For this, I'm thankful to my loving husband.

Perhaps being a housewife is also a blessing for now. Besides, i am a young "tai tai"! Haha... ^_* And we've finally found a part-time maid for 2007! No more mopping floor & washing toilet! Yippie!

1.5 days to Christmas...
1 day to our Xmas party...and time for Elvis to wake up!

this is NOT a toy. for adult collectors only.

These are the tin toys we bought the other night. They are gifts for friends coming to our house on Xmas eve.
I have wrapped them in silver paper with bright pink ribbon! Looks so pretty under our small tree! Elvis was so excited when he saw the Pingpong toy, and immediately wanted it! (I just knew it!) I had bought the skiing tin toy from another place last week coz its hair resembles Elvis'. Kekee...

2 days to Christmas...

shanghai is good

Janis is a teacher, and she would go for holidays every holiday.
It's definitely the best way to destress after having to deal with her students and their annoying & ridiculous parents for the whole term! For this year-end school holiday, she had plans to either go to Bangkok or Bali. Shanghai might be way down the list, coz she was also worried there's nothing much to buy here in winter. Actually, i was half expecting her to go to Bangkok. Knowing how the both of us loved SHOPPING!!!, i knew she would choose Bangkok over Shanghai anytime! (I would too) Heehee... So, her trip to Shanghai was indeed a very pleasant surprise...
(This is the reason why i've stopped writing for a while)

I had 11 days to show her the Shanghai i've known. We started with shopping, followed by shopping, and more SHOPPING!!!...


DAY 1 - breakfast in an interesting place 8Bridge's Backyard, SHOPPING, gelato ice-cream in a bookshop, SHOPPING, NanJing Pedestrian Road, SHOPPING, The Bund
DAY 2 - SHOPPING, SHOPPING, mini lobster feast w Yoon&Meifong, SHOPPING
DAY 3 - JingAn Temple w Yoon&Meifong, SHOPPING, Sakae Sushi sashimi feast, SHOPPING, hi-class Plaza 66, SHOPPING
DAY 4 - Shanghai Shooting & Archery Centre, SHOPPING (at Sports Supermart!!! Haha!)
DAY 5 - SHOPPING, traditional Shanghainese dinner (which i didnt get to eat at all coz i was sick & vomitted by the street - squatting!)
DAY 6 - our weekly DimSum brunch at Crystal Jade, Yu Garden w Yoon& Meifong, SHOPPING, dinner w Elvis' colleagues (followed by karaoke which we gave it a miss)
DAY 7 - Rise & Shine to Hangzhou: West Lake (XiHu), SHOPPING, SHOPPING
DAY 8 - Hangzhou: LongJing Village farmer's house & plantation, SHOPPING, silk factory, SHOPPING
DAY 9 - Hangzhou: Silk Museum, Pottery Museum, LeiFeng Pagoda (Legend of the White Snake). Shanghai: dinner at my fav soup restaurant Grandma's Kitchen
DAY 10 - SHOPPING, SHOPPING, dinner at Restaurant 1931 of nostalgic Shanghainese feel, SHOPPING
DAY 11 - back to Spore

In between, we met up with her colleagues for 2 days of scurried
chop-chop shopping. Miss Chan (Yoon) & Miss Wong (Meifong) were here on "business/field trip", and were probably deprived of the chance to see more of Shanghai due to the tight schedule. We also visited them in the Shanghai Shooting & Archery Centre, and even got the chance to see some real action (rifle & pistol) + an Olympic coach! I was amazed at how professional these Sec 1-3 students looked. Ironically, some of the students thought that Miss Jo looked "pretty interesting" and i heard they had a small discussion the following day with Miss Chan. Kekee... BUT, when they knew that i was married, their reaction was 'HUH??!!'. Made me wonder why married women have lost their value. Does that mean it's better to remain an old maid? Hmm... That's something to ponder...

Janis & i took a 3D2N trip to Hangzhou for the last few days. Upon arrival at the hotel, we were refused at the front desk coz we didnt bring our passports. A photocopy wasnt good enough. We finally managed to get a room after our Shanghai friend faxed over her ID. Phew... The hotel room was also much better than i had expected. Anyway, besides the magnificent XiHu, one of the highlight was our visit to the LongJing tea plantation where we met a friendly lady farmer. But the turn of event afterwards wasnt what we had expected. We were taken for a joy ride - literally. We took a private taxi to a Chinese temple, and the lady driver dropped us off halfway to see some pearls while she went to "pump petrol"...and she ended the ride!!! She said the temple was just a turn on the left...but we walked 1.263km UNDER A DARK MOUNTAIN TUNNEL...only to realise that it was another 30 mins walk! (This reminded me of Bangkok's unscrupulous 'tutu' drivers.) We detoured to Retail Therapy street. All in all, we were also amazed how modern Hangzhou was! We spent the last of our monies. Sob sob...

On the last night, Elvis brought us to a lovely restaurant with a very nostalgic Shanghainese feel. Everything was perfect except that the food tasted too "home-cooked" (which i couldnt decide was good/bad). We took a walk and chanced upon an interesting shop around the corner that sells collectors' tin toys. The people there were totally friendly, and we went home happily with 16 Xmas gifts.

I know that after this night, it'll be back to the 2 of us. But i'm sure we'll (i'll) make it alright.

It's always nice to have friends come visit Shanghai. In these 6 months i'm here, besides our parents, i've met up with friends like Vivienne & Elvina here in Shanghai - friends whom i hardly get to meet in Singapore. We have such great time here - shopping & eating! But nothing beats having a great shopping kaki this December. Despite my bugging flu & cough and lack of rest, i really enjoyed myself. It's the best Xmas gift for me!

For those who are still deciding on Shanghai for your next holiday destination...Shanghai can be as GREAT as Bangkok - even in winter! (NOTE: Janis said she could live here. Viv is bidding for SHA flights, and is coming twice next month for more mini lobsters!!!) Hurry, dont think too much lah. Besides, u get a part-time tourguide - that's moi!

3 days to Christmas...
http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?cont=1&hdr=0&pv=XS00EN

Xmas came early!

My Xmas wish came true & early too! My good friend, Janis, flew in to visit Shanghai and we had lots of fun shopping again! She is my all-time-shopping kaki back home! And as always, we ended up very broke for the rest of this month - perhaps for the next month too! Haha...

We also met up with her colleagues who came here with some students for shooting (rifle) lessons. Got the chance to see some action too! Cool! For the past 11 days that Janis stayed with me, i didnt have to do any housework, MSN etc...
So will have to do some thorough winter cleaning now in preparation for our Xmas party! I cant wait to get more gifts! Kekee...

Will update more next time!

Good Night!
4 days to Christmas...

prescription

It's pretty scary to see a doctor here coz there isnt any private GPs clinics like in Spore. You have to go to a hospital to see a doctor, and somehow the thought of going to a 'hospital' seems pretty intimidating for me. To make things worse, the usual prescription is to put you on the drip (ouch!) - even for a fever. So, I ALWAYS have reservations about that, and prefer going to the many pharmacies here. Even then, the many many medicines are equally disturbing. The entire hospital procedure is extremely confusing too, and i wonder how can a patient walk around so much when he's sick.

Here's the works:
1. Register your name
2. Go to a counter to pay $ (for the consultation)
3. Go to another Level/Dept/Room to see the Doctor...who will ask you to do a blood test/xray. (review: the room is very bare and 'open'. Other patients will always try to cut in even when the doctor is talking to you. There is no system whose turn it is. Other doctors/nurses will also come in to do 'duno wat'.)
4. Go back to the 1st floor to pay $ (for the tests)
5. Go to another Level/Dept/Room for blood test/xray. Repeat if there's more tests
6. Go back to see the Doctor with the results....but usually nothing is wrong with your blood/organs etc
7. Go back to the 1st floor to pay $ (for the medication)
8. Go collect your medicine (which will be always be THROWN at you)
NOTE: All signages in the hospitals are in Chinese. So it's MORE confusing!

O ya! Elvis & i am sure that if anyone wears a white long coat in the hospital, he can definitely go into ANY room! All the doors are so open - even the more "specialised rooms" like CT,ECG, what have you...

Once, i had do do an ultrasound scan in my stomach. I was lying on the bed...and a few nurses came into the room to change into their clothes to go home! WOW! Apparently, their staff lockers are in the same room. (???!!!)

Today, i went to the hospital for cough, flu & sore throat that had gone on for a week. I had to do a blood test + Xray! The blood test was done with much force applied to my ring finger! OUCH! For the xray, i was told to hug a thin metal frame-like structure, and i wondered if i'll be eletrocuted! I really dont understand the need for such treatments. Anyway, my xray was pretty cute in a small A5-sized film! So i'm going to keep it as a souvenir. =)

Elvis once went to see the doctor for a stiff neck problem that was bugging him. He had to take a blood test & xray too...and his flim was HUGE! It was bigger than A3-size and i have problems storing it away! Haha...

fever!

I can never tell if someone is having a fever just by touching the forehead, throat etc... So i decided to buy a thermometer last month esp since there's 4 seasons here so should be quite difficult to just touch the forehead mah. It has come in handy coz i am running a fever now. 3 hours ago, it was 38.54 degrees and now it's down to 37.58 after my nap. I hate falling sick...but now, being alone at home & sick is "WORST"!

Back to my cute thermometer in a sweet Hello Kitty-like pink! Deciding on which one to get was a headache too coz there's so many models. But mine is a 'special thermometer'. It has 2 decimal points and is able to measure women's ovulation. Well, something like that lah (please correct me if i'm wrong)... So when we decide to have a baby, i can measure my temperature to see if i'm furtile! So in the long run, i'm actually saving money buying a slightly more expensive thermometer! haha...

gtg! need to measure again + make my dinner + panadol + zzz...

cinderella's dream come true

I just turned 33 yesterday and i spent my 1st birthday here in Shanghai! I guess will spend a few more here too. Hmm...i must say that my life has somewhat changed rather drastically in the past 5 months. Sometimes, i feel i'm living a life like Cinderella's! But thank god i'm still much younger than Cinderella - who is 56 years old this year!

Some days i do housework, some days i do lots of shopping...
and some days, i find myself in a pumpkin carriage!



My life is certainly full of surprises!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & MAY ALL MY DREAMS COME TRUE!

Which Disney Princess Are You? I'm most like Jasmine! (Click on any Princess > Games)
http://disney.go.com/princess

what a happy day ♥

pleasure or not?

Is this nice? I'm not talking about the Junya Wantanabe X Comme des Garcons jacket...it's the green scarf! I KNITTED IT!

QUOTE
(from some website):
"Knitting will give you a lifetime of pleasure & relaxation. You can create handmade knits for yourself and people you love. When you give a lovingly knit gift, part of you goes into it. Your time, talent, the yarn and colour you select - even the thoughts and feelings you have as you work - are part of your knitted gift."


Hmm...here's my long story:
A new Indonesian friend here told me about this knitting shop in Nanjing West Road with nice stuff, and I went to check it out. 2 days later, I went there again, bought 4 yarns and got started! I was surprised how expensive it was! Anyway, the teacher was a little fierce but she was patient with me and taught me the basic knit. After that, i started to knit the pattern i wanted. The ONLY reason why i took up knitting is to kill time at home instead of watching TV. I remembered that Elvis had to leave for San Francisco, and asked if he will be able to see the finished scarf when he's back...n i said a loud & confident "CAN!". He had only seen my 1st day's effort - 3cm of the scarf. BUT nevermind, I remembered THE QUOTE. Little did i realise it was much tougher & sloooower than I had imagined...
This is going to be my first & last scarf.

I go to the knitting shop every day coz the teacher said it's better to have someone to help me in the beginning when i'm stuck. When i went there the 3rd time, 1 of the teacher (NOT teaching me) said something in Shanghainese and everyone laughed!!! I knew it was not a compliment. In my anger, i left. I joined another knitting class (becoz the teachers work every other day). The teachers at the new class were very nice & patient with me! She estimated 1 yarn-3 days (perhaps at my speed)...so it's 12 days to completion! Gosh! I wont be in time when Elvis comes home!

A few days later, i regretted getting started on knitting...but many people said that i'll feel VERY HAPPY when it's completed...n of course, it'll be VERY WARM ("wen nuan pai")...n i remembered THE QUOTE again! I WILL ENDURE! As i got more "skillful", i finished all 4 yarns in 10 days! BUT, the scarf was too short! I bought the 5th yarn...and it was still a little short. (That's when i took the photo above.) Then, we decided to use another colour at 1 end to match Elvis' individuality! Haha... I chose a brown. By this time, i was already quite frustrated coz the scarf is way too expensive! I can easily buy 10rmb/S$2 "lamb wool" scarves anywhere! But i remembered THE QUOTE! When i was almost done, Elvis took a loooong look at the scarf & said a "Hmmmmm..."
He thought the combination wasnt that nice! I could just strangle him with my UGLY scarf!!!

But i remembered THE QUOTE, and agreed to remove the brown bits & redo another colour. Elvis had to leave again for Bangkok. Before he left, we went to the knitting shop to choose a multicoloured yarn...but it was the day that the bad teachers were there & i didnt want to ask them for help. I went back the next day only to realise that i CANNOT join the 2 yarns coz there's a SLIGHT DIFFERENCE in the thickness!!! By this time, i was going crazy!!!

So i waited & waited...it was already the 3rd week now. When Elvis finally had a little time, we went to the knitting shop during his lunch break...and he decided that THE BROWN was the best colour! I'm sure the teacher was equally happy to help me to finish the ends.
And there was THE SCARF!

This is a photo of Elvis wearing it at work (NOW on a Saturday). He says it's his "wen nuan pai".

I dont mean to deter any budding knitting fans. Knitting dont always have to be so much work. Here's something i knitted "in the midst of being stuck". It is a '"thick-thin-thick-thin" yarn...& the teachers said that it can be completed in a day + only needed 1 yarn! So, I bought it w/o a thought! Hmm...the finished work is not quite what i envisioned of a scarf...but it only took 3 hours of very slow work! So, i cant complain much after all the headache & heartache i went through.


Knitting is really very hard work for me...and i wonder about THE DAMNED QUOTE again.

BUT i'm starting on my 3rd scarf next week...only to realise i lost my needle (when i completed Elvis' scarf). DAMN IT!!! This is really going to be my LAST scarf! I definitely love the TV more!

This might be your inspiration to get started on knitting! Haha! http://www.lionbrand.com/

P.S. The green scarf's knit is called "yuan bao zhen" or the "golden ingot" stitch. We both felt that it was a bit too thick around the neck.

my gift. his gift!

When i first reached my new house, Elvis showed me a HUGE dustbin in the corner of the living room. It was the type that Oscar would stay all day in. And it was filled with goodies!!! Elvis doesnt snack, so it was ALL MINE! My 1st gift in Shanghai!

Every day, i will open this bin and search for something, anything! I'm soo thankful i live just opposite this HUGE supermart, so every time i go there, i will definitely buy something, anything - Lays potato chips, Pocky (a wide selection here), seaweed (weird it's so expensive here), Meiji chocolates, Kjeldsens cookies.............

My bin is never half empty or half full. Kekee...


Other things i will always stock up in my fridge are Coke, chocolate milk, Stephanie Sun's 500ml green tea/2L red tea & my favourite 2L grape drink. I recently discovered that there is a nice green tea here (hate all the NO sugar ones)! It's KIRIN Low Sugar Green Tea...tastes a little like our local Pokka green tea! But still cant beat that -it's the BEST! There's so much plastics i try to be a bit more environmental-friendly & sort my rubbish. I will leave the plastic bottles next to the (real) rubbish bin for the cleaners to "collect". Yes, the people here LOVE to collect plastic bottles on the streets. And the way they do it: walk by a rubbish bin, stick a mirror in & take a plastic bottle out! Wow! Amazing!

Actually, i'm not that a junk food person. Now, i've learnt to cook some things too! So these r the other things i will buy too - luncheon meat, hotdog, Nissin/ChuQianYiDing noodles, Campbell's soup, Heinz baked beans, Del Monte corn, CocoPops, spaghetti + canned sauce, potatoes (for my yummy rosti), eggs, dumplings (sui jiao) & dumplings (tang yuan)... I dont touch live/uncooked things, but coz of our love for PRAWNS! I will buy & peel them with a tweaked face...ohh so gross! Bravo! I can cook yummy prawns pasta! Even Elvis praised my cooking! Heehee... And that's my gift to him.

See? Told u i'm a good wife! =D

why

dime a dozen ~ so plentiful as to be valueless.

But this is MY blog and it's worth what i want it to be.