Dong Dong Qiang!

It's the eve of the eve of Chinese New Year and boy, do I feel festive. Maybe it's the in-store music, maybe it's the bombardment of all that red everywhere.

Nonetheless, it's great to celebrate so wishing everyone a prosperous year ahead. Huat ah!

Things I Learned This Weekend

It's been a great weekend spent with my brother and his family, and I'm glad I decided to come over to Penang to catch up with them before they go back.

It was a little different from the type of holidays I'm used to though.

For one, holidays with children means that food and activities will be centred around what they will or will not eat, and what will keep them entertained.

They had booked themselves in a hotel that had a big-ish pool so that the kids could play in the pool in the afternoons. The downside was that the hotel was a little far from town, and nearby food options were quite limited.

My first meal in Penang? MacDonalds. Lol. Which, of course, the kids loved. We had tze char from the nearby coffee shop for dinner that day.

The plan was to explore the street art along Armenian Strert in Georgetown so we booked a taxi to head down. It was a very nice and pleasant walk around, looking for the street art and exploring the town.

After having roti canai for breakfast, we walked around and took the free shuttle bus, and went hunting for the famous Penang assam laksa.

The shop was packed and we had assam laksa, rojak, char kuey teow and cendol while the children ate bread buns.

Took the bus back to the hotel, an hour's ride but really convenient. Spent the rest of the afternoon napping while the kids played in the pool again.

Dinner was at a nearby western restaurant because the kids wanted spaghetti. Lol.

Had dim sum the next morning while my brother went to MacDonalds to pack breakfast for the kids. Then we headed back to the hotel to pack.

I had originally booked an extra night in the same hotel as my flight was the day after my brother left. But after chatting with +3 we decided to book me in a hotel that was actually in town so that I could easily find food and walk around easily. (Gotta love +3!)

Took the bus to town again and checked in. Am so glad that I changed my room! Walked about, had the assam laksa again, went to the market, got back when it got hot. Went out again in the evening, had a ramlee burger, and back.

Location really does make a difference hehe. I enjoyed my walk about last evening- there are so many beautiful old buildings around.

Anyway I am having the hotel buffet breakfast now, leeching off their wifi, and planning my day. Back home today!

Penang!

I've booked my first trip of 2014! Was chatting with my brother (who is *still* on holiday) and the last leg of his trip will be in Penang over the weekend, before they all head back to Perth.

It's been a lull period in the office and I've been itching to book a trip so decided to join them in Penang.

How exciting! I'm so pleased that I will be able to see the kids again and I don't think I've been to Penang, unless it was when I was a child.

Looking forward to the good food and playing with the kids. Wheee!

My Quest For The Perfect Pair Of Shoes

There's a saying that goes something like this- In this world there's no such thing as an ugly girl, only a lazy girl.

What this means is that any woman, regardless of how she looks, can become beautiful if she puts in the effort. And how true this is. The internet is full of before and after pictures of plain janes who transform to beauty queens with the magic of make up.

Unfortunately (or fortunately?), I'm a lazy girl when it comes to my looks. I barely use any make up, can't be bothered to dress up, and can happily leave the house with messy hair (ask my mom).

Of course, I can't deny that I am blessed. No acne or scars that need covering up, nothing about my face that I do not like or would want to change.

I do have moments where I feel girly and want to dress up, but those moments are few and far between. Usually I'm quite content to just be comfortable, walking around in flip flops (fit flops to be exact, hur hur).

Thing is, I was snooping around on the corporate website and found an article about dress code in the office. Bla bla bla about looking professional and then I saw the line that said "No flip flops or sandals."

Say, what?

Ok la, I can't say I didn't know flip flops were too casual for the office, I just didn't really care. But that got me thinking.

Wouldn't it be nice to find the perfect pair of shoes? One that is comfortable enough to walk long distances, of good enough quality to last a while, basic enough to match anything I wear, and decent looking enough to pass off as almost professional (ok, to pass off as NOT casual. No need to be professional haha).

I'm sure such a pair of shoes exist. I added the bit about quality because there are these ballet flats-type of shoes that are comfy, match almost anything and can pass in the workplace, except they tend to fall apart after a month or so.

So that's what I am going to look out for this year. Me? Shopping? Wish me luck.

Happy 2014!!!

What a perfect way to usher in the new year, high on the caffeine buzz from our new Nespresso machine and surrounded with family and loved ones.