Category Archives: travel

Every Woman Should Get The Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm

Ever since a dear friend gifted me a Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm a few months ago, I was hooked.  I love the intense color and the creamy velvety texture of this lip balm.  She took out a handful of this lipstick in different shades and handed me a No. 20 Red Pepper which is red with a tinge of earthy tone.  She thinks it suits my skin colour and she is absolutely right!

I am not a fan of matte lipsticks because I find that they make my lips dry but let me tell you this.  Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm does not leave my lips feeling cakey and dry.  This cute little crayon type lipstick glides smoothly on my lips and the color is very lasting.

So when I was in Seoul, I searched everywhere for these Mamonde lip balm.  I find it strange that there are not many Mamonde shops in Myeongdong or other areas.  I see Missha, Etude House, Skinfood and Innisfree everywhere but not Mamonde.  On the last day of our shopping, we finally found the Mamonde stand-alone store in one of the streets in Myeongdong.   We were so happy and started to load up our baskets with lip balms and skincare.

We bought different shades as gifts for friends.  Of course, this lip balm is available in Malaysia (Mamonde stores or selected Watsons outlet) but it is half the price in Seoul.  I cannot wait to try on other shades and I just saw that they have come out with a few new shades called  Red Brownie and Chilli Pepper.   Check them out here.

If you cannot live without lipsticks like moi, I suggest that you give this a try.  You can buy the Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm from Watsons or Althea.

Book Xcess In Ipoh Is So Cool

So we checked out Book Xcess when we were back to Ipoh recently.  What intrigued me is that this bookstore is now inside a historical bank in Ipoh.  The 1st floor and basement of this premise have been renovated but you can still feel like you are in the bank.

Love the minimalist design on the first floor.

In the basement, the bank safety deposit boxes and bank vaults are converted into bookshelves.  How cool is that?  It brings back memories of my childhood, going to the bank with mom and walking into special secret room to check the safe deposit box.

The book store has many neon signs with tongue-in-chic messages too.

Don’t forget to check out BookXcess when you are in Ipoh, whether you are a bookworm or not.  It is now one of the most popular Instagram-worthy places here at the quirky Kong Heng Square.

Shopping Loots from Seoul

Besides the beauty products and the Korean earrings, that I bought during my vacation in Seoul, I also bought some clothes for myself.  How can I not shop eh?  I must say that some of the clothes are pretty affordable like 10,000 Won for a dress which is about rm35.  I have seen similar ones selling at RM80 to RM100 here.

Missy too got herself a few items such as a BlackPink t-shirt which cost about RM150.  It is only a black tee featuring Black Pink’s logo.  Well, what can I say? It’s Black Pink.

She also bought (I chose) a short front-tie t-shirt with fold-up denim pants and a set of purple t-shirt and shorts which she wants to wear to her K-Pop dance class.

Gosh, how I miss shopping in Seoul!

Shopping definitely has a positive emotional effect on individuals which is why shopping is so popular.  It helps to release stress and anxiety.  Have you heard some people say that they wish retail therapy is covered by their health insurance?   Retail therapy may be able to help a person overcome anxiety or depression symptoms but it is only temporary.

Instead of trying to fill the hole of depression by going all out to shop, which only provides temporary relief, it is best to address your problem properly  Find a counselor at Betterhelp and face the problem instead of avoiding it through retail therapy.

Starfield Library Coex Mall Seoul

One of the highlights of our holiday in Seoul is a visit to the instaworthy Starfield Library.  I have seen this lovely library from my Instagram feeds and when my sister told me that this library was in our itinerary, I was ecstatic.  Located inside the COEX Mall, the Starfield Library is an open public library which is home to more than 50,000 books and magazines. What is so unique about this place is the 13-meter tall giant bookshelves.

I tried a few times to go up the escalators and have my sister take a photo of me but failed.

Impressive eh?  It’s dramatic design and location which is in the middle of a huge mall attracted book lovers, selfie-takers and tourists from all over the globe.  There are also ample seating spaces for those who want to study and research.

The Starfield Libary in Seoul is an incredibly instagrammable place. Definitely a must-visit if you are in Seoul.   It is also situated right next to SM Town, a six-floor complex dedicated to Kpop artistes who are signed under SM Entertainment.   This complex includes a market, cafe, museum, musical hall.

The address of Starfield Libary
955-9 Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Bukchon Hanok Village In Seoul

On Day 3 of our holiday, we took a cab from our Airbnb to the Bukchon Hanok Village.  It is a Korean traditional village in Seoul with a long history located on the top of a hill between Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace and Jongmyo Royal Shrine. The traditional village is composed of lots of alleys, hanok and is preserved to show a 600-year-old urban environment.

Bukchon Hanok Village is a great place to experience a Korean village and see old houses in Korea.  This area has a fascinating collection of restaurants, tea houses, cultural centres and more.

A hanok is a home built in a traditional Korean style of architecture. Han means Korea, and hanok literally translates to Korean house. It is characterized by deep eaves which create shade in the summer (when the sun are higher in the sky) and allows sunlight to enter in the winter (when the sun is lower on the horizon).

Although Hanoks are similar in appearance to Japanese traditional houses, there are differences that make them uniquely Korean.

We rented a hanbok, traditional Korean wear for missy to wear while walking around Bukchon.  It cost about RM35+ for an hour.  It was rather hot for her to walk around the village in a hanbok hence she was making noises.   She wasn’t very happy with the number of photos we took of her because she had to pose for us *chuckle*

Anyway, I think it is a good experience for her and I am glad that we visited this place.  If you are in Seoul, it would be good to add the Bukchon Hanok Village in your itinerary.

What To Do In Hongdae, Seoul

Day 2 of our Seoul holiday was spent in a few places.  The first stop was to Ewha Womans University.  This is a private university for women and its campus has a very interesting architectural design.  Its campus is so beautiful which makes it a popular tourist destination.

After visiting the university, we walked around the shopping streets.  This place has many boutiques, restaurants and cafes.  It is well-known for affordable clothes.</p.

The second stop was to BAU House Dog Cafe located in Hongdae.  If you love dogs then this cafe is a must-visit.  All the dogs are clean, groomed and happy.   They have an area for big dogs, and another area for the smaller breeds.  There is an entrance fee to this dog cafe which includes one soda drink. We came here to get our dog fix as we miss the 2 rascals back home and we spent close to 2 hours here.   There are many breeds here such as schnauzer, big poodle, labrador, golden retriever and more.  Our favourite is the Malamute.

All getting ready for some snacks.  I heard that you cannot bring your own dog snacks just in case some dogs have allergies.  Visitors can buy the snacks from BAU House if they want to feed the dogs.

This  Schnauzer is just the cutest.

Look at us! We just cannot resist playing with the Malamute.

This dog cafe is not only for resident dogs but also for visiting dogs. Canine owners can also bring their own pets so they can interact with other dogs provided they abide by the house rules. The dogs go nuts each time a new dog arrives!

Address : 64 Yanghwa-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

The third stop is to Hongdae to check out the street performances.   This is missy’s favorite place too, besides the dog cafe.  She has been watching these street performances on Youtube and was thrilled to bits that she can watch them performing live on the streets in Seoul.

These boys were dancing to BTS “Boys With Luv”.  They are good.

This guy was singing an Ed Sheeran number.

The all-girls dance group.  Check out all the cameramen taking photos and recording the performances.  I wonder why they do that.

You can catch many performances along the street which is in front of H&M store.  Don’t think you can miss it.  After watching these performances, we walked around to check out the clothing and accessory stalls.  There are also many restaurants and food stalls around.

We were here until 9pm.  Most of the clothes sold in this area are quite expensive.  Nevertheless, it was a fun and tiring day for us.

Holidaying In Seoul

Sorry for the long silence.  I just went on a holiday with Missy and my 2 sisters.  This is missy’s and also my first visit to Seoul.  We had a great holiday.  I didn’t know what to expect before going because I am not a fan of K-drama or Kpop music.  I must say that Seoul is beautiful and I am glad that we get to experience a different culture.  We spent 5 days in Seoul and stayed in an Airbnb which is one stop away from Myeongdong.

We arrived in Seoul at 7am and by the time we left the airport, it was almost 10.30 after breakfast. We took the train from the airport to our Airbnb. The journey was almost an hour by train. As we didn’t know our bearings, we spent time walking around the train station trying to figure out what is the right exit and transfer to take. Lugging our luggage bags around the subway stations and then to our Airbnb for as quite a feat.

After putting our bags at the apartment, we headed to Myeongdong, our first stop to sightsee and shop. Myeongdong is a nice place to shop for beauty products. It has rows and rows of shops selling beauty products.  You can find brands like Innisfree, Etude House, Skinfood and more.  If you are a fan of Mamonde (just like moi), there is one big store here in Myeongdong. Actually, it is hard to look for Mamonde store. They are not common like Innisfree.

The busy streets in Myeongdong.

We spent hours here on Day 1 and returned to our apartment in the evening to rest. Then we walked to Dongdaemun for dinner and some shopping at Hello APM, a shopping mall that is something like the Platinum Mall in Bangkok.  I couldn’t breathe when I stepped foot on Hello APM because I was so excited.

First night dinner at a roadside stall near Hello APM mall.

Dongdaemun is a large commercial district comprised of traditional markets and shopping centers and the malls open till 5 am.  It is Korea’s largest wholesale and retail shopping district featuring 26 shopping malls, 30,000 specialty shops, and 50,000 manufacturers. All kinds of goods can be found here including silks and fabric, clothes, shoes and accessories, electronics, leather goods, sporting goods, office supplies, pet products and toys.  We left Dongdaemun at 2am.  Can’t believe we did that on the day that we arrived in Seoul.  Stay tuned for more about our holiday in Seoul.

A holiday is a welcome break from everyday life.  However, it can also be stressful because there is a lot to plan and organize.  For those who are depressed, this extra stress may have a negative effect on your mood.  Instead, try relaxation, spending time with friends and family, and getting lots of sunlight are all good for mental health.  Get some professional help from BetterHelp, a private online counseling service that offers access to licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists and therapists.

What to eat in Kuching

Most people are looking at properties for investment purpose. Although there are many properties available for sale in west Malaysia, such as condominium in Penang, the property investment sector in East Malaysia is blossoming as well. Malaysia has two regions known as the Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia, with a total of 13 states, where East Malaysia consists of two: Sabah and Sarawak. Sarawak is known as the Land of Hornbills as well. Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia, full of diverse culture with different ethnic groups including Malay, Chinese, Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, and Orang Ulu. There are also many amazing food you can find in Sarawak. This article will guide you through what you must eat when you visit Kuching.

  • Sarawak Laksa

The famous Sarawak Laksa that has been featured by Anthony Bourdain, is one of the must try’s in Kuching. No trip is ever complete without a bowl of Sarawak Laksa. Do not get confused Sarawak Laksa with Curry Laksa or Assam Laksa. The broth of Sarawak Laksa is usually cooked with the shells of prawns, or prawns head, to enhance the sweetness, shrimp paste, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, chilies, and finally coconut milk is added. The bowl of goodness consists of vermicelli noodles, shredded chicken, omelets strips, prawns, bean sprouts with a side of sambal belacan and lime.

Do try out the famous Choon Hui Cafe that Anthony Bourdain had visited. He loved the Sarawak Laksa so much that he revisited this eatery 10 years later. Do come early, as it is always crowded. Be there early to avoid disappointments as well, as it is usually sold out fast during the weekends or public holidays.

Choon Hui Cafe 34, Jalan Ban Hock, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

6:30am – 12:00pm (closed on Monday)

  • Kolo Mee

Kolo Mee is the signature all time favorites for Kuchingnite The curly springy egg  noodles, also known as Q Mee is tossed with shallot oil, soy sauce, pepper, and served with slices of char siew, minced meat and spring onions. Although only the simplest ingredients are used to create a bowl of Kolo Mee, the taste will definitely disappoint your taste bud.

There are several shops in Kuching that serve really good Kolo Mee and you should make a visit if you happen to visit Kuching. Noodle Descendants is one of the most popular shops that serve Kolo Mee. Do note that the wait could take up to 2 hours. However, do give it a try. The noodles are springy, served with a bowl of pork offal soup.

Noodle Descendants

Lot 18, Ground Floor, Jalan Padungan, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

7:30am – 3:00pm

  • Tomato Noodle & Tomato Kueh Tiaw

This is another dish that can only be found in Kuching, Sarawak. The fried noodles or kueh tiao is served in tomato sauce based gravy, topped with fishcake, chicken, seafood and vegetables.

Tomato noodles or tomato kueh tiao can easily be found at many wok fried stalls.

Ling Long Seafood at Top Spot

Taman Kereta, Jalan Bukit Mata Kuching, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

5:00pm – 11:00pm

  • Midin

Midin is a type of wild fern that can only be found in the jungles of Sarawak. It is one of the favorite dishes among the locals here in Sarawak. Midin is crunchy with a special taste to it, and is usually cooked with belacan or garlic. Some restaurants serve midin salad as well, where it is mixed with dried shrimps, chilies, onions, shallots, with a special mix dressings.

Midin can easily be found at most stir fried stalls or restaurants.

  • Manok Pansuh

Manok is chicken in the Iban language. Manok Pansuh is a traditional Iban dish where the chicken is cooked in a bamboo, along with garlic, ginger, shallot, lemongrass and tapioca leaves. The traditional way of cooking Manok Pansuh ensures the chicken remains juicy, tender and flavorful. Do try out the Manok Pansuh from Pinggai café, located at Carpenter Street.

Pinggai Café

37, China Street, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

8:00am – 4:00pm

  • Kek Lapis

Kek Lapis is also known as layered cake, is a must eat delicacy in Kuching. There is a wide variety of Kek Lapis for you to choose from. As the name suggests, the cake is baked layer by layer at a time. Interested patrons can visit Mira Cake House across the Kuching Waterfront. Customers can either go over by taking a boat ride, or drive to the shop. Samples are available for customers to try before deciding which Kek Lapis to buy. Most tourists usually buy a big box or Kek Lapis before they leave Kuching. They have an online store where you could make your order and have your cakes delivered to you via Pos Laju.

Mira Cake House

Rumah Merah Kampung Boyan

44A Tebingan Permaidani BGS, Kampung Boyan, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

In conclusion, Kuching is a travel destination worth making a visit. Kuching might not have the biggest mall, but it definitely has a lot of amazing food for you. Do plan a trip down to Kuching and experience the amazing food and beautiful attractions Kuching has to offer.

Kwai Chai Hong Petaling Street

Last Saturday, my family and I checked out the latest tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur.  It is the Kwai Chai Hong, a hidden lane between Lorong Panggung and Jalan Petaling.  A few weeks before Chinese New Year when I was in Petaling Street to buy my baskets, I spotted a row of bright yellow and blue shophouses just behind the Basket Shop.  They are pre-war shophouses which have been restored.  I didn’t check them out then but lately, I have been seeing many posts on Facebook about the Kwai Chai Hong so I couldn’t wait any longer.  Below is the excerpt about Kwai Chai Hong which I read online.

This April, Bai Chuan Management unveils Project ‘Kwai Chai Hong’, which involves the restoration of 10 storehouses and the laneway hidden in between Lorong Panggung and Jalan Petaling (mostly known as Chee Cheong Kai and Petaling Street).

Nestled among rich Chinese heritage in Kuala Lumpur city centre lies Kwai Chai Hong, which carries the memories of Malaysia’s Chinese community back in the 1960s. In the preservation of the cultural legacy, Project ‘Kwai Chai Hong’ turns the walls and building’s façade into interactive thematic murals, whilst staying authentic to their architectural characteristic.

The murals depict the daily lives around the Kwai Chai Hong neighbourhood, evoking the prosperous, harmonious scene during the golden era of Kuala Lumpur Chinatown – making it a superb Instagram location for all generations. Set to be the latest attraction to Kuala Lumpur, Kwai Chai Hong is the place to be for a quick weekend excursion and plenty of scenic OOTDs.

Here are some of the murals I took that day.

The attractive yellow and blue prewar shophouses.

This bridge connects the lane to Kwai Chai Hong.

A creepy crawler plant with roots exposed.

Lanterns in the air

This is the entrance to Kwai Chai Hong. The bird mural has been there for a few years.

A Visit To Pasar Karat Ipoh

Every time when we are in Ipoh, we would forget to drop by Pasar Karat which my hubby has been wanting to visit for the longest time because he used to follow his dad to visit this place when he was a kid.

So during our recent trip back to Ipoh,  we passed by the old Lido cinema and saw many sellers displaying their goods on the sidewalk.  It was already almost 11am and we quickly parked our car and went down to have a look.

Pasar Karat is something like a vintage flea market like Portobello Market in London and it is open every Sunday from as early as 6.30am until 1pm.   A visit to Pasar Karat will definitely take you down the memory lane.  There was so much to see and many things really brought back memories of our childhood.   If you like rare and secondhand items, then Pasar Karat is a must-visit.  Below are some photos I took on that day.

Old hand-held game consoles, boombox and cassette players.

So many people and it was such a hot day.

See the green makeup bag? I remember my aunt used to have one.

Ahh…the good old MasterMind board game.

The Pasar Karat stretches from Jalan Horley all the way around the former Lido cinema.  Check it out when you happen to be in Ipoh on a Sunday.