What To Buy In Tokyo.

While Bob was in Japan, 

I did some Googling and found out that there are really good brands of make up stuff and beauty products that I needed (the youtube people said).


Okay, there are actually tonnes of things that you should/can/must get from Japan. So I did some research and narrowed it down to the common items that most/all the sites were raving about and...

"If you see any of this stuff, can get for me?"

*proceeds to spam Bob with pictures of stuff I want*

Some face scrub, face foamer, lip balm, mascara...you know things like that that men generally shop for.

"Oh okay ^^ "

It was over whatsapp, but I'm sure his eyes were like that ^^.

-

He got back yesterday and I said,

"Soooo, what did you get me? hehehe *straightens halo* did you manage to find anything?"

"I found everything!"

"You found everything?!"

"Ya! Like going on treasure hunt"

He empties out his bag;

"I found this guy, I dunno what this thing is...but I found it. What is this thing, what does this do??" 

He looked very confused hahahah!

"It's a foamer! ^^" I said.

Not him. I know the eyes confused you there for a bit.

"Oh" he nods.

Yea, he probably didn't get it.

"Then I got you this, mascara. But they didn't have the type you wanted, I got this one instead"

The type I wanted? 

"The one you wanted was the long one that makes your eyelashes like that *makes a shhhhh sound and gesticulations that look like eyelashes growing*..

Oh there are types. The youtube lady didn't say, I thought there was only one type. I mean, the package I saw online was in Japanese...but I didn't tell him that la you know, I just said..

"Oh, it's okay ^^"

"..but they didn't have anymore so I got you this one that's the split out type. It makes your eyelashes go like shhhhhhhh! *more gesticulations with fingers stretched apart*"

"Then this one you wanted! The lipstick" Bob says.

"Oh! which colour is this?"

"Heheh *shrugs* I also dunno"

"Is it like red? Or like pink? or Orange?" 

"Hmm, it's like a bit red and a bit orange...but quite pink also

.....It's somewhere in between. Ya, somewhere in between those colours ^^"

Did he just name all the colours I mentioned? Maybe if I said purple he would've said in between purple too ahhaha!

"Oh okay! ^^" I said.

Not him. Just, you know, clarifying.

Things you need to get:

Cure Aqua Gel | 

face scrub in a gel form that doesn't leave your face dry. Must try. Srsly.

Pickled Sakura | 

for my txcooking. I was very excited about it!

Canmake Stay-On Balm Rouge | 

super lasting lipbalm in Flowing Cherry Petal, a shimmery pink tint! No orange or red.

Kanebo Bubble Net | 

Turns any facial wash into foam. Magic!

Shiseido Integrate Mascara | 

You know, splits out eyelashes.

Rohto Lychee Eyedrops | 

Recommended by Sue Ann & Anne. Makes you happy putting on eyedrops. Really.

He even brought back the dried sakura I asked for and some ugly Lazy Egg stickers <3

Okay la, like you. Think I'll keep you  :*

x

Whatchu laughing at huh?

Oh don't pretend...

that you've never forgotten your contact lens case before!

x

Nihao from Taipei!

x

The American Diaries | Episode 11 - Kayaking in Newport Beach

"You know how people always say Californians are tanned, into organic food, soy, the beach and are always wearing slippers? That stereotype was born right here in New Port."

It was a 2 hour paddle around the bay and swanky houses with yachts and private docks.
The plan was to go for a hike but somehow, we ended up going kayaking and I'm glad we did...
even if I was dressed in a tank and joggers.

New Port was gorgeous. Everything about it was gorgeous. 
So so gorgeous.








"One day I'm gonna own a yacht, what are you gonna call yours?"
I ask because I'm sure mine was better #kiasu

"Probably something like...The White Wonder. You?"

"The Hummer or maybe Mustang Sally"
Told you guys *smug*

"I'm gonna live in that house next time, maybe I'll be neighbours with Kobe" 

because where else am I going to put my yacht right guys? I need a dock!

The guys are hardcore Kobe Bryant fans and almost had a panic attack when the thought I didn't know who he was. Apparently he lives somewhere around here....and eats boiling crab.

Stopped by for lunch here after. Best fish rice bowl I've ever had 

(and I'm one of  those people who NEED to eat rice. So this is legit!). 

I don't even know what they put in there! It was so yums!

If you're in LA. You really do have to stop by New Port okay?
Promise me you will! *holds out pinky*
x

The America Diaries | Episode 8 - Boiling Crab

"We're going to Boiling Crab on Friday. Don't plan anything."

It was still the beginning of the week when Shaun sent me this text. Like it was serious business.

Haha and yes, of course, in my journey of discovering California, food is what we'd cover first (...and last ...and in between.) The Malaysian is strong in this one.

"Oh I forgot to tell you to only wear clothes you don't like. You're gonna smell of it after. 

Are you wearing anything you like?"

"I'm wearing everything I like!"

The boiling crab is cajun seafood.
You can order crab, shrimp, corn, sausage, etc  and it'll arrive in a plastic bag filled with sauce...

...that you eat off the table...with your hands. So that's pretty interesting. *I don't eat with my hands*

But dammmmnnn the food is soooo good!!!

We ordered shrimp and crab and corn and French fries. 

French fries are the best! Esp dipped in the sauce.*cholesterol level spikes*

If I lived there, I would go again and again...
..and again and again!!*cholesterol level spikes double time*

I really liked this place. Probably one of the best meals I had while I was there!
You need to try it if you're there okay? It's worth the wait. :D

 sigh, not everyone is good at taking polaroids. 
But this will do.

The America Diaries | Episode 6 - M&M donuts

"You have to eat M&M donuts it's sooooo good!"

We stood in line half an hour before it opened to get the donuts...and it was cold!

The first 2 times we went, I got sleepy so we headed home. You see, it only opens at night and closes in the wee hours of the morning.

"Why does it take so long?" I grumble.

"There's only one man who makes the donuts and he only has one oven. He bakes it batch by batch."

"I bet he's Chinese"

"How did you know?!"

"Haha because he's stinging on man power and doesn't wanna buy more ovens....

it's okay that I say it, I'm Chinese too"

-

We were the 3rd in line when it opened and waited over an hour!

When we finally got our donuts, I was pretty excited.  Everyone I met was raving about it since I arrived in LA.

I took a bite. 

"Do you like it??" 

A hot fresh-out-of-the-oven donut in the cold weather. It was the best donut I had ever eaten. 

Worth the hour in line, in the cold, in the winter, in the night, freezing. 

It was bliss...

...or it was supposed to be. 

It sat in my mouth, I couldn't swallow it. It was so oily. It was so sticky.

I was really having a hard time here.

"Uhm....it's alright"

Omg this is so gross!! Should I spit it out? 

Should I pretend to drop it??? Or just tell him I want to save it for later?

What do I do with the rest of this in my hand???!!!

"Actually uhm...it's really oily"

"You don't have to finish it, it's okay."

"No it's okay, it's okay"

I took a few more quick bites. 

Squish squish squish. Aghh sooo gross!

I chewed and swallowed as quickly as I could.

Like a band aid. The faster you get it over with, the less you'd taste it. Well..you get what I mean.

Ack ack ack! So gross I can't! I can't!

With every bite, I felt more and more oil gush out of the donut.
Even as I write this, I can almost feel my arteries are cringing at me.

"I can't do this anymore! I really don't like it! I'm really sorry!"

-

When I got back, I told Keane there was a dozen and he could help himself;

even finish it if he wanted. I wasn't going to eat any.

"How can you not like it!?" he was gobsmacked.

"I just don't. It's really oily"

With a donut in hand, he walked by me and said,

"Shame . on . you"

The American Diaries | Episode 5 - The Hollywood Tower of Terror

"We're not pressuring you to do drugs, we're pressuring you to have fun."

I'm a big chicken when it comes to roller coasters. 

I'm the one who usually offers to hold the bags, take pictures and wave at you while you wait in line...

like your parents.

That's why, no matter how many times I've been to Disneyland.
I never. Never! Go on the Tower of Terror.

"If you don't like it in the beginning we can leave"

What a liar!

We left only to get back in line awhile later.

"Look at the building! It's so beautiful!"

" ........Shaun, I can hear people screaming all the way from the street"

"Nah, not all the way from the street! Only from the entrance of the ride"

That's great. I feel better......not.

"You can sit between us, we'll protect you!"

" From what Kyle? The height!?"

-

Okay that's good, 
I can't see the bottom and maybe it's not so high. Maybe I can leave..maybe...

"Are you scared?"

"Shut up!"

..it's only a few storeys drop anyway.....in the the night. But I'm sure it's not so bad.

I'll just hold on to the sides and...Oh shit we're moving! 

"Uhm Shaun..I'm just gonna... hold onto you here." 

and I clutched onto his arm for dear life. I'm not even ashamed about it.

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!! 

" OPEN YOUR EYES! LOOK AT THE VIEW!!"

Open my eyes? He must be cra...AaAAahHhHHHhhHHHHh!!!!!

AAAaAaaaAHHHHHhhhHh!!!

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

AAAaaAAAaAHHhhhhhHHHHH!!!

*re-read for at least 3 minutes*

-

"How was it? Did you like it?!"

" **** you guys."

Look at me on the top right. I'm clearly terrified.

Look at Kyle next to me. He is clearly not.

First and last time. No. Really.

The America Diaries x What Mother Says | Episode 4 - P.F. Changs

"Oh look there's a P.F Changs here. We'll go there for dinner" mum says.

What's that?

"It's angmoh Chinese food."

 (American chinese food)

Why do we wanna eat there? o.o

"When I went to visit a friend in San Francisco out of all the places to go, you know where he brought me?
 P.F Changs. 

When I came back to LA I saw another friend, you know where she brought me?

P.F Changs.

Now we're in Pasadena, you know where I'm gonna bring you? 

P.F Changs."

-

"This place is the atas Chinese food, it's really popular among the Americans.
You notice there are no Chinese in here."

Well yea, if I can eat legit Chinese at home why do I wanna pay to eat American Chinese food?

That's like going into Italiannies and saying there are no Italians in here.

-

What are egg rolls mum? I always hear angmohs talk about it.

"Aiyah it's that roll we always eat, the fried one."

What?! You mean popiah? There isn't even egg in it!

-

In true American Chinese fashion, I got a fortune cookie at the end of my meal!

Btw, everyone knows that fortune cookies are not Chinese right? They were made in California....

just like Chop Suey.

A pony.. Joseph Gordan Levitt...Tom Hiddleston...
..either one on a pony!

The America Diaries | Episode 2 - ChapStick, sometimes isn't really ChapStick

Shaun was looking high and low for his "ChapStick" the other day.

"Oh! it's in my pocket!" 

he said and pulled out the little lipbalm tube.

"That's not Chapstick Shaun. That's Burts Bees."

"Yea. It's Burts Bees ChapStick."

"Isn't Chapstick a brand?" I am clearly confused here.

Well yea, this is just a different brand of ChapStick. What would you call it then?"

On second thought, maybe he's the one that's confused.

That's two different brands..right guys, right right?

"Uhmmm lip balm? Isn't that like a completely different brand?"

"Yea, but like Kleenex. No one says pass me a tissue,
they say pass me a Kleenex even if it's a totally different brand"

What I learnt :

1. Just accept it. It doesn't make much sense. 

2. This ad is strangely accurate.

..even when it isn't really.

The America Diaries | Episode 1 - The Toilet

The other day, I was in Nordstrom looking high and low for the toilet. 

I needed to pee desperately and I couldn't find it!

I did the usuals, you know, pacing back and forth from one display to another, 

looking up at all the signs (dressing room?..nope not it) and trying to stand on my tip toes in search 

for a door that might have that symbol with the little person on it.

Maybe I'll just ask someone, I think to myself. 

Or maybe I'm not looking for the right sign. Okay whatever I'll ask someone. 

Damn! What do they call it again? 

I pace up and down again and...

Lo and behold! I find -what must be it- a sign that said Ladies Lounge. 

It's hard enough trying to consciously remind myself not to call it a toilet, 

now I find it's also called Ladies Lounge? What do ladies do in there? ...Lounge?.. hang out maybe?

So I see a door but instead of seeing the usual symbol on it, 

(you know, the little bald lady wearing that triangular dress) there's only a disabled sign.

So uhm...where's the non-disabled toilet then? I try to search and I see a cleaning lady.

"Hi! So, I'm looking for the *10 second pause to use the correct term* ...bathroom?" 

I manage, trying to make sure I don't just go on the floor. Really. Needed. To. Pee.

She looks at me for a brief second (but long enough for me to sense her annoyance) and says,

"The restroom? It's in here!" she points at the door with the disabled sign.

Okay. My bad. So I guess disabled sign doesn't mean only for disabled. 

It simply means, disableds are welcomed as well. 

That's nice.

Three things I learnt:

1. Don't call it a toilet. It's called the Restroom...

 or the Ladies Lounge if you feel like being fancy with your pinky up and all.

2. Disabled sign does not mean only for disableds

3. Go to the toilet before you leave the house.

That is all.

How to cram Siem Reap into 2 days | Day 2 : Temples and temples.

Read about Day 1 here

"OMG KEN YEANG!!! THIS IS SOO SCARY!!!! &%^%&@!!! I SHOULDN'T HAVE CLIMBED UP HERE!!! OMG OMG OMG!!!"

Poor Ken Yeang,who had to deal with me while I was freaking out at the top of the temple, being such a girl. Shameful! Especially while Munyi, who was like an asian Lara Croft, was practically leaping off the steps making her way down from the Bayon Temple library.

You see, it wasn't as scary on the way up. Okay actually it was, but it didn't look AS scary as it did on the way down!

 All smiles, little did I know.

Almost wanted to tell them to go on without me! Call a chopper or something to pick me up hahah! But it was really worth the heart-dropping-to-my-ass, because the view is pretty awesome and you get to see a whole lot of Bayon Temple from up here!

I wonder why there are so many pictures of me climbing down. Ken Yeang must have thought this very funny, was probably too polite to laugh at me so he decided to take pictures instead. Thanks Ken Yeang, you're a real friend. haha!

Munyi did it this way, I thought I could too!

Clearly not.

After I got down, I felt so accomplished, haha. It is soooo steep! There's nothing but 900 year old stone - and in case you fell, 900 year old stone to cushion your fall - which isn't very assuring la. How did the monks do it in their robes I wonder.

---

Day 2 started really early, like 5 in the morning early. This was because ,

"Guys, we need to see the sunrise in Angkor, apparently it's the most magical thing in the world as the sun rises over the temple" I say.

When we got there it was pitch black! We waited for almost 2 hours and we saw it...

...the sky get brighter without a proper sunrise. Just like the day before, it was an extremely cloudy day and the sun rose behind the clouds.

"I don't think we're gonna see the sun is rising, it's already so bright..and almost 8!"

I felt almost cheated! haha. Moral of the story is that August is not the best time to visit Cambodia, especially if you really want to catch the sun rise and sun set, as it's the beginning of rainy season. Oh poop.

But I did manage to catch a really nice sunrise.... from the hotel room window on the day we were leaving.
Cambodia -1 , Trixha - 0.

We hired a half day tour after that took us around the main temples.