CHRISTMAS 2017

Christmas brunch with the girls as part of our yearly affair @ Firebake this year.

We practically spent half of our lives together and it's good having them around.

Our agenda up next: planning for HK!

And here's a little something with the family yesterday.
And one with Hans's family on the eve of Christmas.
This year's Christmas was one I looked forward to the most as compared to every other years. 
Like they say, as you grow older, you hold things dear to you closer to you.

Last week till the end of the year, and each year it's passing by quicker than the last.

And up till this point in time, 2017 has been pretty awesome for me.

I am counting all my blessings and should feel very contented.

The best choice I have made? I shall keep it to myself for now.

Hokkaido this week and i will check in here again next year. 
Till then ~

:)

LAST JB FOR 2017

Exams are finally over and well, it was horrible.

At least it's over, for now. 

JB today with Hans as requested but the jam was literally no joke.

F I v e h o u r s - that's how long we were stuck!

Nonetheless, thank you so much for giving in to me and still agree to drive me in.

JWC must be our all time favourite, and their tiramisu never fails.

This short getaway meant so much to me, especially after a tough paper.

A busy 2 weeks coming up leading to Christmas then Hokkaido!

Super excited to see the snow and my Instagram's flooded with people in Japan haha.

Wait for me, my favourite country 🏯

WEEK 46 OF 52

A quiet and busy month, where everyone is so stressed out at work due to peak, trying to meet deadlines, and here i am preparing for my exams which is exactly one month away from today.

Caught a few movies over the past weeks - Thor & ABTM 4, went to my favourite cafe twice with different groups of people, and the rest were trying-to-catch-up-with-my-studies time.

"Maybe its time i change a job"

"Have i made the wrong choice studying"

"What am i doing with my life here"

These were the thoughts i've been having for the longest time ever.

What if i give up halfway, how will people around me take it, where should i head to next?

One step at a time - this should probably be the way to go?

Can i fast forward everything please.

NOVEMBER

It's gonna be a tough month ahead.

Through it all, i know we are able to do this.. 

Less than 2 months to end of the year, less than 2 months to Hokkaido.

Can't wait.

BIRTHDAY IV: OSAKA

Hans and I embarked on my birthday trip to Osaka last week and it was amazing!
Japan has always been my favourite country, hence I was super looking forward to this trip, you can only imagine my excitedness ~

After checking in our Airbnb on day one, we explored a little on Dotonburi and chanced upon the famous Glico Man.
Having said, we couldn't miss a photo with this iconic man.
Osaka Aquarium was next, this place housed so many beautiful creatures we spent the second half of our day there.

Day 2 we took a speed train to Nara.
The deers were so tame and adorable! 
It's strange how they don't approach the counters that sell their deer cookies, but once a person buys these cookies, they will move towards them.
Those that Hans bought was KO-ed within 3 mins.
The streets of Nara was so captivating, I'm a sucker for old street houses so my camera now is filled with all the street shots.

Wakayama was up for Day 3, this little quiet city has so much to offer. 
Upon reaching we headed straight for lunch at Ido Shoten - where this is named one of the best ramen in Japan, you can see the queue before business commences and all of them were locals, I guess we found the right one.
Then we hopped onto their local bus and rode with the locals to Kuroshio Market, where we witness the tuna auction we didn't get to in Tokyo.
Beside this market nest Porte Europa, a small park with vibes of Europe.
Wakayama Castle was the last POI (at least I visited one castle cos I didn't get to visit Osaka Castle!), a pity I couldn't find the titled bridge.









The following day was Kyoto Day.
I had so many items on my checklist for this place but the weather and walking distance didn't allow us to do all.
Love how the people here were all decked in Kimonos, they blended in the cultural city so well!
We took a Sagano Romantic train to Torrokko where the surroundings were so breathtaking.
The drizzle didn't stop and we had to walk in the rain to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.
Majestic as it seems, it was worth finding to this place.
Last item was Kichi Kichi, the famous man and his omurice.









We spent the fifth day in Kobe, where Kobe Beef was a to-do.
Lunch was settle at Steakland, and it was one of the best meals throughout the trip.
Thankfully for the lunch set, we did not spend as much as we speculated prior reaching.
Due to time, we have Nunobiki Herb Garden and Falls a missed and headed for Mount Rokko.
It was 11 degrees up in the mountains and the freshness in the air was amazing!
Absolutely love the weather up there, I really did not want to leave if not for the nightfall.











USJ was booked in for Day 6.
It was surprising easy to get here as compared to Tokyo DisneySea, and I don't want to imagine the crowd on weekends given the ones on a Tuesday.
World of Hogwarts was first - Hans loved Harry Potter!
We spent at least half of our day (in total) at this space and the well-known Butterbeer was amazing!
Caught a quiet space where we were able to shoot this pretty castle away from the crowd.
Rides were amazing, but I hate Halloween and the zombies who were roaming around in the evening.







The 2 last days in Osaka were shopping days - Dotonburi-all-day-err-day.
Shopped a lot, ate a lot, A LOT.
Any food stalls in Japan are good, irregardless.
I have not had anything which was bad, that explains my love for this country.
Their culture, mannerism, people, everything.

& I told Hans when we were strolling down the streets one day - 
"Let's migrate here when we grow old, leave our kids to strive for themselves and we retire here."
Hahaha I'm probably a selfish parent but I would love to move to Japan with Hans when its just the 2 of us left.
Okay, its just #thoughts.

Back to the hustle and bustle of Singapore and so much has happened in these 8 days.
Jetting off to my problems now, but Osaka - you've left me with so much wonderful memories I wished you could hear my thoughts.

BIRTHDAY III: KEEPERS

🍴: Marriott Cafe

Birthday dinner with the girls last night at Marriott.

It was of good food, and good company.

I guess they say friends go a long way with you, and these two are definitely one of them.

Thank you girls for the present and everything.

Its amazing how people can come together again after years of separation, not meeting due to various reasons.

And how a simple occasion spark the thought of coming together once again.

Friends are hard to come by, and those who stay are even harder.

I will learn to cherish each and everyone who comes by and stay.

BIRTHDAY II: FAMILY

Home cooked food are always the best, and Mum decided to whip up a meal for everyone.

Having all my loved ones with me on my actual day was probably the best I could ever ask.

No full family photo this year, but it's all good.

And mum took a photo for Hans & I, I just had to post it cos I loved it so much.

Jerome being Jerome here, exploring my new camera hehe.

While I was making my wish, I missed grandma exceptionally so.

She would always sit beside me when everyone sings the birthday song, and she would smile so gently at me.

Twenty-Five; and I am ready for whatever that comes my way,

For I know there are those who will stay with me, and there are those who I should let go.

BIRTHDAY I: LASTRADA

Celebrated my 25th with H today at La Strada, Italian will never go wrong!

Thank you for the treat and everything, you're probably the best I could ever ask for.

And I am counting down to our trip in 4 days' time!

Every October H will suggest we go somewhere for a holiday, and the sole reason was that it is my birthday month.

To many, birthday could be "just another day", but for me, I choose to feel special, I choose to think that this is the day for me, and that it's the day I can bring everyone together.

Be it over a meal, a simple coffee talk, I know who are those who cared.

H is one of those people who knows how important birthday means to me, and he never fails to make me feel 'Today is just the day for you'.

And as I am typing these, the two most important boys are gaming in front of me.

8 more mins till 25, another year older, another year wiser.

& I know just how blessed I am.

HI THERE, OCTOBER

September was a pretty fast month.

Not much updates on this space for sometime now, but October will be a more fulfilling month, for sure.

And here are 2 of my favourites from September, captured with my new EOS M3!

Thank you Dad, Mum and dearest Bro for this on my 25th 💕

Look how 'squashed' Clover is haha, super adorable.
So much to look forward to in October, and this space will be livelier then!
I am ready for you.

JAS TWENTY FIFTH

🍴: Knots Cafe and Living 

Brunch with the girls today for Jas's birthday.

The place was so cozy and we were so glad there weren't much people there, nice and quaint place to hang out for sure.

As you can tell, our brunch was so full-filling!

Oh, and one more item off our checklist cos,

WE ARE GONNA PLAN A TRIP TOGETHER!

This may not be a huge thing for others but we have been close friends for the past 10 years and this is gonna be our first ever trip out together.

Really looking forward to this.

AND,

I am going Hokkaido year end!!!!

It's gonna be winter and there will be snow all over the place 😍

The night I booked my flight I could not sleep till almost 1am, on a Monday.

Can you imagine my excitedness that was overflowing!

One more month now to Osaka, I am already planning what I want to bring there ~