Haw Par Villa

It has been weeks since I last had breakfast with my hubby on Sunday. He has been to JB with friends to enjoy Bak Ku Teh at Kota Tinggi or another part of JB to enjoy another type of breakfast delicacies, while I have been hitting the gym with fi.

The highlight of last Sunday was the visit to Haw Par Villa.

The statues of a tiger and cheetah (or leopard) are still clearly etched in my memory. I had a photo when I was about 4 or 5 years sitted on one of the animal statue. Therefore, this time I was determined to find the animal statues and take a photo with it so that I can compare the difference between when I was 4 years and 29 years old. Oh well ...... I will elaborate later .......


Haw Par Villa has always been an amusement park for many generations of children, including my parents. It was built by a rich businessman Koh Boon Haw who invented the Tiger Balm ointment. He bought the piece of land and built a villa for his brother Koh Boon Par on top of a hill. I'm not too sure is he the one who built the deity statues, etc. Don't know in which year, it became public and everyone can go and visit the park without any fee. That's also how the name of the amusement park come about.

At one time, the government or Singapore Tourism Board took over the place, refurbished it and charge an admission fee of S$ 16 !!!!! No one wanted to pay so much and the park deteroriated. Eventually, the govt or STB spend some money again to repaint the statues and again become a free admission park again. Now, there is even a museum and modern chinese restaurant in there.


See this car ! Cute ? It is one of its kind. Original one. It used to belong to the Koh Brothers. It is now a timeless piece 'parked' at Haw Par Villa for tourists to gawk at. hahaha...

We paid S$1 each to visit a walk-in cave where there are showcases of 10 Courts of Hell. It show how a person got their retribution or go to heaven according to what they have done in their life. If you have done many good deeds, they will go to heaven. If you have done bad deeds, then you will be sent to the respective hell levels to suffer. While going through, even the slightest bad thing (like cheat in exam) will send you to hell. Looks like the heaven must be everything empty. After the sufferring, you will be reincarnated back to human or animal depending on how bad your deed is.

Back to my cute tiger and leopard story...after walking under the hot sun for about 10mins, I finally found my beloved animal statues !!!! I was so excited and whipped out my camera immediately. You juz not going to believe me !!!! The camera FAILED me !!!! I kept sliding the phone so many time and it juz refused to activate the camera. I was fuming ..... by then, my 'ang' cannot tahan the heat and insist we are going back. I was juz so mad with the stupid phone.

While we left in the car, I juz realised I can actually activiate the camera by slecting the icons in the menu bar. By now, I'm even madder with myself ! I AM THE STUPID ONE instead !

I promised myself lor....I die die must go back there to take a picture with my beloved animal statues lor.....

My Little Red Shoes

See my red patent shoes !!!!!

I long wanted a pair of red shoes, especially bright red ones.

One fine staurday after gym with fi, we met up Jo and went shopping in Orchard Road. We went Heeren as there are many sophisticated individual shops there. While we chanced upon a shoe shop, I was attracted to this pair of shoes. Bright, Red, Shiny - it has all I wanted ! I tried another 2 pair of diferent designs on red shoes and finally settled on this one. Both my galfrens commented the peeka-bo looks retro. Size fit and I paid $25.90. I'm a happy gal !!!!

3 days later when I tried the shoes again, to my horror ! the shoes fit very tightly on my feet ! It really hurts the upper part of the feet, especially the left foot as my left foot is slight larger.

Not giving up on the shoes, last Thursday, I wore it to work. It was really a bad choice and I practically feel like going down to the mall to buy another pair of shoes to soothe my feet. In the end, I endured till home.

Sadly, I packed the Little Red Shoes into a nice plastic bag and donated it to the Salvation Army last Thursday......

I told myself, you gonna get out to hunt for a good pair of red heels again....

I did.....Zara, $145.00....... I'm waiting......

Contiki Resort Bali (14-16July)

This is a much delayed post, exactly 1 week late. Initially, I thought of doing it altogether when I receive all the pics from fi, after some thoughts, I decided to go ahead first before I get too lazy. Anyway, I can always do an update :>

The youth wing of the industry managed to sell 80% of the SIA group seats to Bali and the Getaway trip is 'borned' ! All main committee members were present and some trade friends came along. It was a short 3D 2N trip and all of us thoroughly enjoyed it ! Although all of us wish it could be longer.

Here are some photos to share with all of you !


This is Richard. Insight's intern for 2 months. He's is enjoying his 3 mth summer break and his dad thinks it will be good for him to join us for 2 mths to get a glimpse what the tourism industry is all about. Boss is nice to let him join us at the expense of the company. He was tasked to be our Tour Leader for the trip where he will earn a good 4 dollar........ no no no, rupiah for the job ! Ha ! Not only that, our good boy was 'arrowed' to dance on stage, violated by younger gals and big gals like Jo.......


This is Kuta Beach. Our first stop being a tourist on this beautiful island. Next, we wandered aimlessly in the streets for about an hour (I think) until our stomach grew hungry. We hopped into a chic internet cafe/restuarant to have our lunch.


This photo was taken in the cafe/restaurant while we are waiting for food. Nothing fantastic......unless I showed you the original one ! This pic has in fact being 'photoshop' by my dear Fi. Apparently, all 3 of us had deep eyebags hangng below our eyes. This showed that we had worked very hard before embarking on this trip ! Ha Ha !


We went back to resort after lunch as we had book oursleves for spa...... Sharon & Jo is trying the Chocolate Obsession treatment while I opt for Deep Blue Wrap. Chocolate sounds good to eat...but er....not with chocolate lotion ingering on your body.....Eeeeeee !!!!! I scared I will attract flies !!!!!!


Richard is having the Chocolate Obsession treatment too. But why his reaction is so different from Sharon & Jo? Both of them look enticipating, but he look scared ???? Hahaha....because he is going to be 'treated' by a male masseue.... He's stressed ! He scard the male masseue going to be naughty with his fingers !!!!


Jo carried to have her nails treated - manicure. See, does she look like a tai tai being pampered?


It's done ! I couldn't help but to take a picture of her sipping the ginger tea while waiting for her nails to dry. Just look at her pose.


This is the Contiki "lego' bus ! My ex-manager caled it that. Don't you think it is cute? It's our little transportation to almost everywhere in Bali. 'Swee' !


Nick brought us to this cool place called Ku De Ta....It is located beside Oberoi but it has nothing associated to it. It's a standalone restuarant by the beach. We reached there in time for the sunset. It's such a lovely place with the sea just beside you. Children are running around enjoing themsleves on the beach while adults look on from the restaurant. I promised myslef to go back there for lunch one day if I ever go back to Bali again. Not dinner because walking by the beach in the dark is scary !


Fi took a pic of me while I was enjoying this Berry Bellini. Everyone said the pic was well taken and I could be the poster gal....heeheehee.....so shy.........I asked Fi to 'photoshop' a bit so that I look better wth this naked look. 'wee'.....


We returned back to resort at about 7pm as they had prepared a BBQ buffet dinner that night. Jo & me was caught smitten by this table setting, isn;t it romantic to have candlelight dinner by the man-made beach? Unfortunately, it's for display only..... therefore, we grumbly moved to the actual table tey have set for us.


The dinner was good and we had an enjoyable night especially the painstakingly entertainment the resort GM has arranged for us, definitely with our participation, the night is young and full of laughter !

Keep posted !

What a day ! I fell.....

It's just so embarassing !

I fell today, right on my knees.

I went Marina Square after work to search for some corporate gifts required for an upcoming promo. I walked the stairs (opp Esplanade) like I always did whenever I visited M.S after work. I don't know what got into me today. My mind was wandering with many thoughts. The next second I knew, I slipped and plonked hard on my knees.

It must be quite loud as an Indian man in front of me (a distance away) turned back and saw me on the floor. I forced to picked myself up, smiled embarassingly at him & indicated to him I don't need any help. I didn't dared lift my heads as I heard people behind approaching - wondering did they witness 'a good show' - as they walked passed me.

I just stood there for a few moments as my left knees where numb. I tried to straighten my legs and finally forced walk to Esplanade bus stop. As I walked, blood trickled down a small cut on my right knee. It just wouldn't stop. Then, I got panicked and quickly hoped into a cab to head home.

Damm it ! the blood stopped. And I wasted $7.00.........