Jan 14, 2018

10 of My Ultimate Favourites in 2017




2017 has been a good year. Nothing bad happened and no drastic change as well. I like my life to be mellow and predictable like this. Maybe I'm growing old and my soul seeks calmness in life. In terms of material goods, I did certainly tried a lot of new beauty products, been introduced to a lot of new brands, gained some new hobbies and also made a lot good and lousy purchases. So, this post is dedicated to all the good stuff I've tried in year 2017 and I hope these material stuff will also bring joy to your life.

Skincare brand: Fresh

I bought the Fresh Black Tea mask just to try out. Then I added the rose moisturizer. Both the products deliver what it claimed to be. I was convinced and bought the third product, which is the soy face cleanser. All the three products were satisfactory and I'm planning to get the sugar face scrub on the next Sephora sale. If I were to recommend only one product for you to try, it would be the black tea mask.



Makeup brand: YSL

I only had YSL lipstick before this and I didn't have the urge to get any YSL beauty products before. Unexpectedly, my friend gave me the Kiss & Blush Baby Doll lip & cheek tint. I use it as cheek tint more than lip. It is extremely blendable with Beauty Blender. It gives a touch of red flush without looking like a doll.

Related post: YSL Kiss & Blush Baby Doll in 19 Corail Sulfureux 



Makeup tool: Breena Sponge

The Breena Pearl Blending Sponge is also a gift from a friend when we attended makeup class together. I've been preserving the sponge by cleaning it all the time. The sponge given by my friend will come to the end of the lifespan soon after using it faithfully for half a year. I've already stocked up some of it during my trip to the Play Up Advance Store. It gives the same quality of the Beauty Blender but the price is only a fraction of it. It's a good deal.

Related post: Makeup Sponge Comparison (Breena Beauty, Beauty Blender, Kioda)



Fragrance: Anna Sui Fantasia

Unicorn is my favourite mythical creature. Everyone who knows me in real life relates me with the unicorn and tagging me on FB post everytime a unicorn pops up on their feed. It is no surprise that the mister got the Anna Sui Fantasia perfume for me. Everything about this perfume is perfect for me. The bottle is extremely beautiful. The scent is relaxing and citrusy. If you dislike floral scent, this might be the perfume for you.




Hobby: Gardening

I love plants, but I didn't get into gardening until recently. On my backyard, there's a chili, potato, pandan, lime, and ginger plant. My goal is to have a mini edible plant garden and supplying it to my friends who need the vegetables. It will be like a no-frills market at my garden.

Gadget: Canon G7 X Mark II

It's been awhile since I have a compact camera. Recently my Olympus OMD EM10 Mark II was malfunctioning and I sent it over to the workshop for repair. Olympus didn't have the spare part of the broken parts and they weren't sure how long it will take for the repair. I bought the Canon G7 as a temporary replacement while I was cameraless. It turns out to be a really good buy. It fits perfectly in my mini bag and gives good quality photos. For those of you considering a compact, you should try this.



Food: Kewpie Roasted Sesame Dressing

The Kewpie Roasted Sesame Dressing can be used for anything. I have it as salad dressing, to marinate chicken and as a dip for fried food. It's available at any supermarket. You should try it with salad. It's super addictive. P/S: It's not a healthy food, but who cares... As long as it tastes good.




Design: Marjolica Majorca Tiles

I have a thing for nyonya tiles (exact term is Marjolica Marjorca tiles). I've made a little research on it, apparently, the tiles are originating from Spain. I'm planning to visit the Peranakan Tiles museum in Singapore and purchase the book to continue my research. I also plan to keep a journal of all the tiles I capture along the way.



Book: Capture Your Style by Aimee Song

This book gained me a lot of Instagram followers (not literally). But it gives you the science behind how to be Insta-famous. From a mere 2,000 followers, I now have 6,000 followers. Some tips I got from the book are the use of hashtags and how to make hashtag work for you. Also, there's the nine grid rule to follow. Read the book if you want to find out about the nine grid rule.




Music: Lo-Fi Hip Hop

Lo-fi is a term I got acquainted with when I was cafe hopping. And then I found out there's a music genre called Lo-fi Hip Hop. I particularly love listening to it while working. The mellow beat reminds me of a small alley coffee shop on a rainy day. I'm not sure how I come up with that illustration, perhaps it gives you a different picture when you're listening to it. I will end this list with a Lo-fi Hip Hop playlist for you to enjoy...


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Jan 11, 2018

5 Reasons Traveloka Is The Only Travel App You Need


If your 2018 resolution is to travel more, then you should be downloading the Traveloka App. I'm pretty sure you have heard of Traveloka since it is one of the popular travel-booking site. Traveloka is available on two platforms - App and website.

Related post: Escape with Traveloka to KL Journal Hotel


#1 - Installment Plan




Traveloka is the only site that allows installment plan. This special feature is eligible for Maybank credit card (Visa/Mastercard/American Express) issued in Malaysia. Select a 6-month or 12-month payment plan. We all know that low price tickets come in a blink of an eye. This feature is an opportunity for you to grab the best price when you haven't save up enough for the trip.


#2 - Payment by Cash


Besides booking directly with a travel agency, Traveloka is the only online travel booking site that allows you to pay by cash. All you have to do is to choose the payment option and pay by cash at the 7-11 store nationwide. If you're a student without credit card, this is a good way for you to book your travel tickets and accommodation.

#3 - Special Promo



Traveloka regularly features travel promotions on their app & site. You will enjoy best prices with the airlines & hotels that featured on the Special Promo. This week the special promo that Traveloka has is with Malindo Airline. You can travel to Bali with ticket as low as RM149 if you book Malindo flight via Traveloka.

#4 - Price Alert



The Price Alert feature is my favourite option in the App. You can immediate notification when the price of flight drops. All you have to do is to key in the destination and date you want to travel. You can also set the date as flexible. Once the price drop, you will receive a nudge from the app to book your flight. I have set my Bangkok trip on the app, so far the price dropped RM132 since I set the Price Alert.


#5 - Guaranteed Stay


Once you book your travel with Traveloka, your flight and hotel are guaranteed. In the event that the airline or hotel do not honor your booking due to overbooked, all you need to do is to launch the Traveloka App and it will recommend you the next best option. Otherwise, you can opt for your money back.



What I love about the Traveloka platform is the user-friendliness of the app. Besides the 5 points I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of small advantages of using the app.

First of all, I can store all my credit card details and immediately submit my booking once the price suits my budget. Low prices don't wait, so this is an extremely good feature to have.

Secondly, I can key in all my travel companions details and pick my travel partner for my different bookings. You can key in all your family members passport details in the app so that you don't have to keep referring to their passport details.

The app also comes with Malaysia public holidays. It is so convenient for all of us who wants to plan for long weekend or schedule for your annual leave.

You have to download the app or go to the website and experience it yourself. Try to play around with the app and you'll know Traveloka is the only travel app you need. 
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Jan 4, 2018

10 Ways to Cure Your Travel Hangover

If you just came back from holiday and can't function properly when back to your usual routine, you might be suffering from travel hangover.


Have you heard of the term "post-holiday disorder" or "travel hangover"? It is normal to go through travel hangover, especially when you had a good time exploring a new place. Getting back to your usual routine may not be a bad thing. Temporarily, you can try the options below to minimize your lethargic feeling.


#1 - Dine in your local restaurant that serves international food

I always associate food with the countries I visit. The week I came back from Bangkok, I book a dinner at a nearby Thai restaurant to keep me footed. Just a dinner treat for myself would bring me back to my experience in Thailand.

Sometimes, I can't find the restaurant that simulates my craving for the country I visited. For example, in Malaysia, we have lack of Greek food. In that case, I will cook the dish I enjoyed most during my travel.

Do try out PlateCulture.com for various choices


#2 - Start a travel journal

Keeping a travel journal is a good way to keep your memories alive. Simply jot down places you have visited or places you wish you have visited during your trip. Recipes, budget spent, facts, restaurant names, etc. are some of the content you can include in your travel journal. To make your journaling more creative, add some embellishments, doodles, washi tapes or stickers to your pages.


#3 - Read a book

They say a good book can take you to the location set in the story. When I travel, I like to visit the local bookstores and bring back books related to the country. The topic such as culture, history, local interest and local fiction are my usual picks. Reading the book not only will bring me back to the place, it also gives me a better understanding of the place I visited.

Related post: Book Haul from Europe and Beautiful Bookstores & Libraries: Must-visit for bookworms


#4 - Go through mementos & knick knacks gathered from your trip

Pretty sure you have brought back some travel maps, postcards, photos, souvenirs and some stuff from your trip. Going through the stuff you brought back can enhance your memories. You can also shuffle some photos to display at home or arrange your souvenirs for your friends and families.


#5 - Listen to songs

Just like reading books, listening to songs can also bring you to places related to the songs. When I miss Bali, I would listen to Degung Bali for relaxation. When I think of Paris, I would play Edith Piaf. Listening to Shamisen music, it will remind me of Japan.

#6 - Recreate the local dish

Taiwanese food, Thai food, Greek food and Mediterranean food are my favourite recreation. Sometimes suffering from wanderlust can be satisfied with a plate of homecooked food. So far I've mastered tom yum soup (Thai), zhar zhiang mien (Taiwanese), and pork gyro (Greek).

#7 - Make a drink

If you're not a good cook, making a drink works as well. When in Belgium, bring back some chocolate drink so you can make your own hot chocolate at home. In Japan & China, bring back some green tea leafs and France & Italy, some wine.


#8 - Plan a staycation

Weekend staycation is a good way to recharge yourself and tune your body to get back to your usual routine. You don't have to go far for a staycation. Be a tourist in your own town is also a good getaway if you don't want to spend too much time away. Visit your local museum or tourist spots.

Read: Escape with Traveloka to KL Journal Hotel

#9 - Getting life back in place

Always plan an extra day off after your trip. This is to readjust your biological clock if needed. A day off at home allows you to sort out your laundry, unpack your souvenirs and clean your house. Going through your travel knick-knacks will cure your travel hangover.

#10 - Plan for another trip

If everything else failed, planning another trip will set your wanderlust mood active. They say wanderlust is a DNA trait, if you are suffering from travel hangover, most likely you have the wanderlust gene.


The method that works all the time has always been related to food. Going to an international cuisine restaurant or learn to cook new dish are my usual travel rebound. How do you nurse your travel hangover, leave me a comment so that I can try it out myself.
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