3 Weeks' Round-up

It's been a very long time. Scrapping and packing for the "Big Move" are taking up most of my time. This is aside from wedding details that still needs to be ironed out. I'll try to keep this as short and as concise as I can. :)

Last Week of September 2007.
- got to meet so many suppliers: caker, stylist (finally met him in-person), designer, venue/reception, printers, etc.
- hung out with my cutie nephew as I learn more cool things about him like his fear of crossing his house's doorstep (the "threshold") to go outside without holding an adult's hand. So adorable on how he would look at us with his "puppy dog eyes"...kids are always so cute!
- played the "mid-autumn dice game" with old high school friends before I left the next day to head back to HK.
- went house furnishings shopping with Ed to shortlist some choices or options that we shall need at our new place, which is still a work in progress.
- was also able to attend my extended family's weekly Sunday dinners this time around since I left Monday (Oct 01). It was good seeing the relatives but I didn't feel like much socializing. Oh, Ed went with me too. :)
- scrapping like crazy for a contest...5 more challenges to go.

1st week of October 2007.
- good friend, AJ came for a short visit. It was great remeniscing about old times and catching up on what people are doing.
- company bonding night: I played babysitting babies and little girls as I would check out the gambling table on who was up or down :)
- Swong and I hit the town for some fall fashion...nothing interesting...yet :P
- this week's layout came quick and fast, just how I like them to be. 4 more challenges to go.

2nd week of October 2007.
- training a few people at work...
- scrapped a bit for a swap then for the contest. I believe I'm getting the hang of scrapping underpressure. :P My last two entries came a lot faster than I expected. I hope this streak continues.
- will be having hairy crab (HK winter delicacy) on the weekend aside from trying to pack like crazy. I want to get my scrapstuff home first so as to clear up space for more boxes in the coming weeks. Wish me luck!

Big shoutout for my gal pal, TAM ~ Happy Happy Birthday!
I will see you really really soon!

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On some other news, I got into the CT that I recently applied for - digitalGinger. :)
I posted a new layout for the kit that I previously worked with. The site's up already. Make sure you come and check out the ever-growing kits available.

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Title: Cherish
Supplies: all by digitalGinger (original illustrations & designs by Bevin Dunn)
Kit Name: Marigold - Vintage Notebook
Stamp: Marigold - Vintage Frames
Buttons: Marigold Collection
Font: Simsun
Journaling: To cherish the love you have, cherish the life you live.
Program: PS7.0



Template: Birthdaylicious Mega Kit (Doodleboogs' contribution)
Doodle: Rhonna Farrer's Blue Title from Color My World Kit (2Peas)
Ribbons: Deanna Patterson's Tilly Kit (DigizinesDigitalDen)

Alpha "5" paper: Deanna Patterson's Tilly Kit (DigizinesDigitalDen)

Alpha "5": Jeri Ingall's Monogram with Numbers (Scrapper's Toolbox Kit - SBE's CT Xmas 2006 giveaway)
Font: Gungsuh
Program: PS7.0

Ed's September Visit

Thursday, August 29
A good friend of mine, LS, had a short business trip to HK and we hooked up to have dinner at Ricepaper (CWB).
This resto used to just be located across the island, Kowloon side, but I was happy to have learned that it branched out to CWB's World Trade. At last...
Food is contemporary Vietnamese but doesn't scrimp on taste. Decor is very clean and neat - white furnitures and quite roomy, for a CWB resto.
The resto is a Maxim's Group concept that gave us The Square (Exchange Square) and Lian (IFC), etc. A lot of the good noteable restos in HK are run by this restaurant group.
Recommedables: Softshell Crab Handroll and their Curries! Leave room for their really great desserts. Also, if you like hot apple cider...their version is quite neat!
Better book ahead since this place gets packed up so quickly due to the price, location and the good food. :)

Rice Paper
P413-418 Podium 4
World Trade Centre
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel 2890 3975

Ed arriving HK late that evening. We weren't able to hooked up till the following day.

Friday, August 30
I took day-off to fix some gov't paper work and bank stuff with Ed. It was basically "work". :)
We were done (thank goodness) by around lunch time and hooked up with Ed's brother, CW, to grab a bit at Bonheur near CW's workplace...so nice! Those lambchops were well-done and the soup (pumpkin and tomato soup) was just perfect.
Bonheur
6/F, The Pemberton
22 Bonham Strand,
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Tel: 2544.6333

The afternoon was spent hunging out with Ed and checking out his car parts around my area. Who knew that one of the Toyota parts dealership in HK is just behind my condo?!?
We had dinner at MOS Burger, Tai Koo branch...AWESOME!
This was a great highlight to Ed's visit...I'm still dreaming for these burgers!
They have so many kinds - chicken terriyaki, seafood, fish, tofu, etc

L-R: Cheese Burger with their sauce; Seafood Burger on Rice Patty
Mos Burger
Shop A1-A2 G/F
2 Hong On Street
Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong
Tel (852) 2568 1313

Saturday, August 31
CW, Ed and I had lunch at Crystal Jade as per Ed's request.
Ed love their chili dumplings there. :) I had to have only two before saying "no" since it was already numbing my tongue. :P
Around mid-afternoon, Ed and I picked-up the remaining car parts that Ed ordered yesterday from the car parts dealership.
Ed and I had dinner at Whampoa (Maxim's Group resto) with some friends then Hagen Daz around the area before splitting with the gang to hung out at LKF (Lam Kwai Fung), Ed got his Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey while we checked out the Saturday night scene
Our next aim: dinner at La Mer at LKF Hotel
La Mer Brasserie
1/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street,
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: 2523 0200

Rare that I need to boycott and announce something not worth your money so here it is....AVOID ATOMIC PATTY at LKF: if you are picky with your burgers and great fries...won't bother giving you the addy.
Just look at the sloppy looking curry fries that I think is made from instant-curries you get from supermarkets. If that's the case, why bother having one outside when you can get it inside?!?


Sunday, September 01
I went with Ed to checked himself in through Airport Express HK.
While waiting for Ed to finish, I was at the Starbucks stall next door and go to try the Blueberry Green Tea Frap...super yummy! (...and to think, I'm not big fan of fraps)
We then went to lunch with CW at Lawry's Prime Rib at Lee Gardens. Quite nice!
Lawry's The Prime Rib
4/F, The Lee Gardens,
33 Hysan Avenue,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2907 2218

After lunch, all three of us hung out a bit at CWB. Ed and his brother, CW, went to BMW to gawk at more cars before heading to IFC, Central.
It was still fairly early so Ed and I went for some afternoon snack (since we didn't have any more dessert at Lawry's). I had French macaroons at the below.
Le Goûter Bernardaud
Shop 2028-29
International Finance Center
Central, Hong Kong

I was lazy to think about cooking dinner after Ed went in through immigration so I had dinner alone at Spaghetti House, airport branch, as I wait for Ed's plane to fly off and before I head home. This is sort of the tradition that we go through...since we would talk on the phone as he waited to board his plane.

Monday, September 02
I had a craving for burgers...after MOS burger.
Thus, I proposed to my coworkers about Shake 'En Buns. They took the bait!
Food as simple but filling! I got Arizona peach tea...a rare American indulgence over here. :)
All 8 thumbs up from me and my friends who checked it out! :)

Shake 'En Buns
Causeway Bay Shop,
G/F, 5 Hoi Ping Road,
Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

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Kit: Mondays with Dah (available at Digizines Digital Den)
Designer: Deanne Patterson (Shabby Scrap Designs)
Program: PS7.0
Font: Engravers MT, Bernard MT Condensed, Freestyle Script
Journaling: Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends. (Author:ThinkExist.com Quotations. “Loyalty quotes”. ThinkExist.com)

Kit : Mondays with Dah (available at Digizines Digital Den)
Designer: Deanne Patterson (Shabby Scrap Designs)
Program: PS7.0
Font: CK Becky Higgins
Journaling: Endless Stories of old friends / Yot's visit.05
Notes: an old photo of an old high school gathering from way back.

Home Shopping of a Homeless...

Saturday, July 21
CityGate Plaza Visit
~ checked out a far new place...all the way at Tung Chung. This is is somewhat end to end for me - cost was HKD23 (roughly USD3) or double that for both ways. Check the map on the right side - from right to left in direction.
~ A lot of the local flight stewardesses stay in the Tung Chung Area since it's just a stone throw away from the airport and the environment is quite nice. It's just a disadvantage for them to head to the city since travel time takes up a hour or so.
~ the plaza is marketing to be the outlet heaven in HK for top name brands with bargain basement prices like Nike, Reebox, Lanvin, Polo, Vivienne Tam, Beneton, Laura Ashley, etc
~ tons of things to see and look...lazy to try on the hundreds of nice pants at Esprit...rubber shoes at Nike...shirts from Sisley --> fairly cheap
~ I believe I went there with no expectations so it was okayf or me.
~ ended up getting a nice throw from Laura Ashley for the house. I love the pasley design of it and it's in beige. It's still in great condition and at half the price, a great steal! (FYI: a throw is a light coverlet/blanket, such as an afghan, that is thrown over something like sofas or some furnitures. I know ... I know...it's so girlie but hey - I want to have some civilized items at my "new home" when the time comes. This is coming from someone who is quite cultured in the art of "high tea". Hahahaha!) I'll post a photo of the throw later on...or I can scrap it sometime later.
~ Oh oh...have you met Bobo yet? I was able to pick up my free Bo keychain since I entered their contest to find how many Bo's are on the left photo...can't remember how many now since I had to submit it through their site. That's why I went to CityGate - to get my freebee and check out what's the fuss with the place. :)

Sunday, July 22
CWB shopping & Agnes b
~ woke up late and basically just had dimsum lunch around my area
~ walked around CWB later in the afternoon...plan to have tea at Agnes b...things changed due to time constraints
~ visited Vivienne Tam (to pick up my discount card and discount coupon), Giordano Ladies (everything was 50% off so tons of girls running around), Club8 (final sales going on)
~ got two Drifters shirts at Club8...crapper...not part of sale because it's a new arrival...darn!
~ got one shirt (office like shirt) from Agnes b and checked out its home store, Agnes b La Maison at Leighton Street. I got a few more things there - legitimately for the house. It's the home concept store of Agnes b and they have their ceramics and tablewares. The floral shop is also at the same location. It's pretty cool since there's an outdoor terrace that you can sit and be surrounded by these lovely flowers and plants with a fountain as you look out on the 2nd floor. So cool...wish I can just sit there with some tea. :P
~ visited and chatted up with Teddy of Le Pain Grille...he offered me his "allocation" to buy stuff from any Agnes b store since he hardly uses it...it's like 50% off of merchandizes and clothing (!) bonus!
~ got some desserts for some people in the office since I got the buy-one-get-one-free-desserts coupon the last time I went there for dinner.
~ tried one of the new desserts offered by the cafe now - Rasberry White Chocolate Cake...forgot to take a photo!

July Visitors Update:
5.) My Aunt and Godmother Clarita and her daughter, Richie
6.) Ed's Pit Crew - Marty, Yeki and their respective SOs (Significant Others)
~Both groups will be leaving by Friday so I get the weekend to myself again. :)

This July has really been an interesting month, I have to say - I do want July to end! I'm counting the days and can't wait for August to start then by mid-August, I want it all to end.
September is my last month with the company before I prepare to packup and go back to Manila. It's been a stressful week especially in dealing with a long distant relationship. Ed wants me back home ASAP while my mom would tell me to stay a bit longer so I wouldn't be doing nothing in Manila or be bored. Hay...I feel like I'm being pulled from all sides on this.

I stumbled to an interesting and popular blog recently. It's called EastSouthWestNorth by Ronald Soong. The site deals with translated Chinese news in English. You can know more about Ronald and this interesting yet sometimes controvercial site at Onmynews. Take note, a lot of important foreign journalists visit and read this guy's thoughts.

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Template: Doodleboog's 12x12 Template Fourteen - Polaroidization (ScrapOutsideOfTheBox.com)
Paper: Mikki Livanos' Let Freedom Ring Page Kit (available at Scrapbook-Elements.com)
Program: PS7.0
Font: Party Balloons
Journaling: Happy Bday Jeremy
Photos: my brother, Jay







Kit Name:
Tilly(available at DigizinesDigitalDen.com)
Kit Designer: Deanna Patterson (Shabby Scrap Designs)
Program: PS7.0
Font: Agency FB
Author: Tamika Roberson
Journaling:
Defining Soul...is the spiritual nature of woman
The initial process of I can
It’s created by your thoughts and emotion,
It’s symbolized with caring and the right potion.
Afton though of as immaterial entity
The fact that I exist should be my identity
The conscious of man is the very essence of purity.
The meaning of character and individuality
Defining Soul is what you are,
The heavens and the stars
This is easy for me,
It’s what I am, it’s what I see!
Notes: a layout about me

Kit Name: Tilly (available at DigizinesDigitalDen.com)
Kit Designer: Deanna Patterson
Program: PS7.0
Font: Maiandra GD
Journaling: Helen Steiner Rice, author
A wee bit of heaven
drifted down from above
A handful of happiness
a heart full of love.
The mystery of life
so sacred and sweet
The giver of joy, so deep and complete.
Precious and priceless, so lovable, too,
The world's sweetest miracle,
baby,
is you.
Notes: Congratulations to Jean and Tony for their new family addition, Gavin!

- These are times when I just love what I do...to scrap wonderful and endearing photos...oh and friends who share photos with me. Check out some of the most recent reviews on this particular layout...even got a comment from a Garden Girl, Joy. :)

Pamper Me!

Friday was just a long day at work with triple the work and everything was due last month. :P
I always look forward to my HK Mag and THE LIST each week. The former is issued each week while the latter, once every two weeks. This week's issues were tough to find around HK since my usual Starbucks @ Alexandra House and IFC CitySuper has stop stocking these now. I had to go all the way to IFC's Pacific Coffee and Jardine House's Grappa's for my copies. Such a hassle!
Thus this weekend, I plan to go back-to-back on pampering as what THE LIST's Pamper Me Issue stated through my high tea adventures thus I had to stack up my reading materials.
I still think that massages and spas are more economical in Manila so I'll just reserve that when I get home.
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How you learn something everyday and remember the past...
A friend of mine just joined in the bandwagon of blogging, Angela, and I've been checking out her blog often. The blog is currently more of trends and fashion but will surely be more by the time she gets the hang of it. I recently stumbled upon something that my nephew has been wanting - soft shoes (online) and it was through Angela's site referral that helped me on this. It's soft shoes for my little JJ Jr through PiperLime. Rad stuff girl! Can't wait to see more of your postings. :)
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Ventured out of HK Island for some traditional high tea this weekend. Going "high tea hopping" ~ this weekend. :) **big grin** How I do love living the "single life" to the max. :)
As per recommendation by everyone (local) here in HK, Peninsula Hotel (Pen) in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) is the only place I can experience true "British" high tea in HK.
Afternoon tea starts from 2pm to 7pm (the longest one in HK as per date) and the lineups are surely record breaking because of it's quality/excellence and this week's weather was just perfect for this. :) I was lucky to have lined up a few minutes earlier than the crowd - a decent line-up, if you ask me. Check out the line after I sat down on my table!

Food was so-so. Odd though that even if I ordered for two persons' portions...most if the nice desserts like the petite cakes were all one pieces...even the salmon sandwich, which sucks since it would mean having to cut the piece for the other person. This shouldn't be the case!

The only thing I love is the ham sandwich - it's from their own deli & has a wonderful smoked taste. That's one I would go back for...though maybe just go buy some ham from their deli. :P

Tea selection is okay - got the Peninsula Afternoon & Cinammon...not really that memorable. I love cinammon and it smelled great but taste-wise, just okay.

Verdict: wouldn't really go back there again...not my thing...experience and all. Good thing that I tested it out else mom would surely tell me it wasn't worth it. :P

Just maybe a helpful comment to the management of Pen - do not argue with a customer in a line-up since it's quite visible to everyone standing & seated. If dress code is a problem, then maybe they should have an extra shoe or "correct slippers" for the customer to use since a lot of these customers really treck out to your lounge for the "famous high tea" and not being able to go - just because they are in Havaianas is just wrong. I think you will have to put your dress code on your site or something better than just informing them when they are already there!
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Sunday - I had it all planned out - get up late (perfect), run an errand soe Ali then have a different sort of high tea at Ritz Carlton (RC). Got up as planned but forgot that it's Father's Day and it would be best to book a table first ... oh well. I just played it by chance. :)
I phone and got a bit of a rude lady - who said that I can reserve a table (I thought they weren't full and can give me a table) ... only to find out that she couldn't confirm my reservation because they were full. Okay - what was all that information taking and saying I can book. She didn't tell me that she will just put me in her "wait list" and call me around 2pm to see if anyone else cancels out. It ticked me off a bit since I thought it was a done deal and she didn't inform me that she would call me either way - have or not have a table so I had to call her to clarify again. Frustrating as that...oh well...not much she or I can really do, if they are fully booked.
Thus, I had to wait till 2pm to get my confirmation for a 3pm afternoon tea buffet. Around half past 2pm, I made sure that my phone was beside me since I wanted to know if I was to run to another venue for my breakfast/lunch. Good thing she did call me at quarter to 2pm with good news - since I was looking forward to this all week and didn't know what alternative plan I was going to go, if this plan didn't fall through.
You might ask me - "What's so different with the RC for their high tea to the rest of the other high tea places I've been already ", right? The difference is that the RC offers afternoon tea buffet style!
I was able to finished off some errands at IKEA then off I went - to RC for breakfast/lunch and dinner! :) I had the choice of high tea (pictured above), which Ali took, or the tea buffet (pictured below)...guess I was super hungry and there was no one else at that time who ordered the typical high tea set - so off to the buffet table I went. :) No regrets!
It was pure food galore by the time I got started at 3pm. The buffet runs from 3 to 6pm but the servings cover everything - from Chinese to Singaporean, from Japanese to Malaysian, from American to British...it was pure fun! I had random things in one plate - see all the random photos. :P
It was fun to have so many choices - the dim sum choices were fresh and scrumptious. The English/British finger foods were flavor-full and fluffy, especially the mushroom puffs. There were Cantonese typical afternoon treats like chicken wings and dried scallop with abalone slices congee (the right consistency as how I wanted...yummy!!!). I like the fact that there is someone who is always on the floor and keeps an eye out to make sure that there is always tons of food available and would refill, if there is a need to. How's that for generosity! Sky's the limit!
It was good that I woke up late and this buffet was my only meal for the day, which was all I needed and by the time I really finished, I was too dazed out to know what the heck was going on. Good thing too that the seats were so comfy (couches for all) with sturdy arm-rests, and atmosphere was quiet, serene & with only one pianist playing good soft music! :P All this...for hk220 - what a steal!

Helpful tip: next time, gotta pace myself. I finished off 4/5 plates...cool stuff! I'm planning to bring my mom there, if time permits.
With all that food, I need to walk it all off else I would surely nightmares as per old folklore. :) Ali and I went to CWB and got the Rayure* shirt that I've been wanting for weeks. I was lucky to get the jacket to pair my blouse since it's already sold-out in HK and the size is a bit bigger for my mom and me...oh well - jackets are suppose to be bigger. :D
*Some Background: RAYURE was established in 1993 in Paris, France and is pure French with all shirts made in France by French designers and fabrics. It specializes exclusively in women's black and white shirts with styles that include casual, executive, sexy, classic and evening. For the last ten years, RAYURE has dominated the market as the shirt maker for the woman in all forms. Using white for purity and black for classic, the RAYURE shirt has proven to be timeless. With 2 seasons a year and over 100 styles per season, the black and white theme persists through all seasons and trends.

June 19 - Happy Tuen Ng Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) to you all!
I love this holiday since my aunt would always give me the triangular sticky rice or "ma-chang" with tons of special treats in the middle of the triangular rice mold like chicken, stewed pork, chesnut, etc in the middle, wrapped in special leaves all tied firmly in string. Cooking instruction: boil in hot water for about 30 min or so, depending on where the rice came from, fridge or freezer. :) Remember not to cut the string so the whole rice wouldn't be floating around the hot water pot as per experience...don't ask...just do it. :PDifferent parts of China have their own version of sticky rice - some with beans, some with meat, some with red bean...even eating it with either soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, catsup, etc. It's all great eats but I prefer my stick rice as a savory than a sweet one. :)
The tradition of the sticky rice is part of an old folklore tale about giving offerings to the dragon in the sea. My aunt does a real mean one. I'm saving a few to share with my mom, when she comes this week since she only gave me three pieces. :) It's all in the freezer - ready to be eaten!
To learn more about this festival and all the cool types of sticky rice that is made, you can read Discover HK and Wikipedia.
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Kit: Toffee Apple (DigizinesDigitalDen)
Designer: Deanna Patterson (ShabbyScrapDesigns)
Program: PS7.0
Font: High Tower Text & MS Serif
Journaling: Food Adventures 2007. Four Seasons HK. This is one of the best high tea experience I have gone through as per date in HK. It’s easy to see why - food, service & its little details are all out-of-this-world! There is so much “wow” factor oozing all over the place that makes this a great “adventure”!
Notes: This is one of the many wonderful experiences (and now frequent bad habit - hahahah!) that I've had the honor to go through living in HK - high tea at Four Seasons HK.

Thumbs Up & Down

Friday (June 8)
Did nothing...had to stay late at work.
Was planning to have a nice dinner at Bricolage but turned to nothing since work somehow piled up to weird proportions by 6.30pm!
Another Friday it is then...I need some good wine in my week.
--> THUMBS DOWN...not happy...gotta make up for this soon.

Saturday (June 9)
I headed to Causeway Bay (CWB) to meet up Donna & Michelle, her out-of-town friend, and had dimsum at Tao Hing. It was a good dimsum and cheap too! HK50/pax...I believe we chose the heavier dimsum orders so that made us all full quickly. Shopped around @ IKEA, Island Beverly Shopping Center (pictured), Giordano Ladies, G2000 Ladies, Coach, Club 8 (very similar to the band with the same name...my fav actually) and Times Square. I bumped into an ex-Citi pep at G2000 - Tish Dy of Greenhills CTB, who's now with Banco De Oro (BDO). The world is getting smaller by the days. Amazingly...I ended up with just one cheap/discounted dress from Island Shopping Center. Donna got one in grey/black while I got the black/grey one! We are so much like twins! It's a steal for HK100 (around Php700 or USD15)
--> THUMBS UP...with a deal like that...and unique clothing for 1/4th the price...who would complain?!?

Donna & Michelle had to head back and drop their purchases,mostly Michelle's, at home before coming back to CWB to meet up for dinner at CWB. :) Dinner was at Red Pepper Szechuan Resto at CWB, near Krispy Kreme, with ex-Citi pep like Peter Pantanco (still with Citi), his wife and Sonny Munoz (BNP). This place is basically known for their ever spicy hot dishes. We had the spicy chicken & cashew, the sizzling chili shrimp, stir-fried spicy string beans and fried chili squid. Oh...free ice cream at the end of your mean...definitely a must to neutralize the numbness of my tongue.
We then headed off to Soho's Portabello for some cheesecake and more catching ups.
--> THUMBS UP for the Chili Chicken with Cashew Nuts :)

Sunday (June 10)
Lunch @ Crystal Jade as a simple one since I wanted to prep myself for high tea with Ali. :) Line-up was long but good that it's just me...so getting a table didn't take me more than 10 minutes. These are the days when I love eating out alone. :P

After lunch, I headed A/X to inquire at IFC, exact branch as photographed, to check if I have a discount card since I've been getting their VIP mailers for so long now.
These mailers are normally for their VIP cardholders informing them of new arrivals and private sales. The most recent mailer I got was for a private sale last weekend. I thus had to check and see.
Lo and behold, I do have a discount card! The manager has informed me that they have phased out the physical discount cards and it's all done by giving your name and birthday, thus I do not have a discount card in my possession now. :P
I remember that I had one back 1999 and I didn't know that it's sort of a lifetime card for them. They do have a promo that if I have accummulated 10k points (10k spending) within a year, I get to have hk500 gift certificate. If you think about it it's a bit of a rip off since it's not even 10%...though remember, 10% is given upon each purchase already...so it's all a balance. :P
Upon confirming the details, I got to renew my card now since policies have been changing...meaning I should get something...not bad since I got 2 white shirts (my main color nowadays) that I really wanted a while back now plus with discount! I'm all smiles now.
A/X's styles are more appealing to me this season than CK so that's great. I'm happy and it all turned out well.
--> THUMBS DOWN for me not being able to stop buying things but THUMBS UP for my discount card still useable.

Isn't this a beauty? It's was one of the lace/pattern designs by Paul & Joe Couture that I was able to try on during my shopping expedition around Lane Crawford. It's one cocktail dress with a high collor...very vintage/Old English and has a inner dress since the lace was totally see-through. The style isn't really "me" so that is out. Good thing thought since the price was a bit...well...totally steep especially when I can only see myself use this only a few times only since it's a really fancy and definitely for party standards. :)
--> THUMBS DOWN for the dress not being "me" but THUMBS UP for the lace design.

High Tea at Hotel Intercontinental, TST
Ali and I planned to check out this hotel's high tea since she was informed that the hotel is one of the best and stylish hotels in Kowloon. It is the Asia-Pacific flagship for InterContinental Hotels & Resorts.
Verdict: not really what I expected with service, let alone the food. Kindly note that there are three criteria for me with regards to rating high tea in general:
(1) food
(2) ambiance/environment
(3) service
They are all important but if you only have one out of the three...it's not really worth the price you will pay since you are being charged for all three. Hong Kong is a mecca for food...why settle for anything less than what you are already charged for?
Food was okay...just satifactory. The portions are bigger but less refine to be called as high tea. Nothing noteworthy on the sweets or petite fours that were provided. The scones were not as nice as the ones at 4Seasons or even Mandarin. A bit disappointing for me...and the size is about the same but came cold already. I remember Cora would ask me if I would like freshly baked ones on my last two visits.
Weird thing that happened that needs pointing out: Ali & I asked for a tea set for two but the stuff that came seems to be only for one person. In 4seasons, they would have given us each two sandwiches so we can both enjoy the portion that we are entitled to...not here. Plus when we asked for two different teas (which should have been a dead giveaway that we ordered two high tea sets), and came up with only one we complained to the guy that took our order, who was also the head waiter/manager - he seems a bit annoyed and was holding his tongue on "other things he wanted to tell us" while telling us that we ordered only one tea for the two of us. This is dumb because I swear that we specifically ordered two very different teas. Nonetheless...even if we were wrong, he should not have said that we ordered one and we were to share this - what an insult! Right or wrong..."paying customer" is right and this is what we are paying them...the extra of superb service, which we didn't get. No refills & it seems that both of us had to make the set fit us in the end. The table we got was pretty small (can you see the tiny round table in the photo?) so understand...we had four pots (2 hot water pots, which I think they can do without & 2 tea pots,which at first was the same tea!!!), one tea set stand and that was it for us...nothing else could have fitted on our small circular table! Ali and I agree...not nice!
Service/environment was just not refine and "smooth" as what is expected from a 5 star hotel. Service could have been better in handling our "tea problem" and they should teach their staff not to try to be a typical "cha chan ting" (Cantonese canteen/restaurant) by having to pick-up two hot pots in one hand in front of their guests while balancing a heavy tray. The waiter could have just said that he would come back to pick the pots or have gotten a fresh pot on his way to drop off the heavy tray of cleared-up dishes then exchanged pots instead. No cramming us in his busy schedule while showing no flair. You see it vividly in the other waiter services or just asking them a question. One of the waiters almost smacked Ali in the face while he was refilling her tea! I felt the gush of wind on that one. It's quite sad to see that training is very much lacking.
Plus it's a bit noisier than the typical lobby lounge since they have a big band playing at the background. This is NOT a great place if you want to have a quiet tea or talk with friends.
View was spectacular...definitely something nice to visit and look at but I'm sure that I can have that view at another venuw, more worthy of my business.
After this experience, my mom said that maybe I should write a compliant letter on this hotel since it's quite rare for a hotel to have their staff be conducted that way. Oh well...I don't think I will bother...I'll just make a mental note not to go to their Lobby Lounge for high tea.
THOUGH - Ali recommends other restos of Intercontinental for EW and I to try out like THE STEAK HOUSE and NOBU (yep the same one as the NYC franchise by world-famous chief Nobu Matsuhisa..and I heard the interior is rocking modern - ust how EW likes it).
--> THUMBS DOWN...WAY DOWN...not even the THUMBS UP for the view can save this! You can go and visit...take photos of the view and maybe run to another place for high tea...4Seasons still tops my list.

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June 12 is Philippine's Independence Day!
Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy!
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Joining the YouTube bandwagon...my brother!
Enjoy some of my nephew's increasing antics. :) I'm so proud of him!
Love your own...THUMBS UP (way up) for my little nephew!
Tricks


Goodnight Gorilla ... love his laughter...or his hysterics


Kit: Toffee Apple (DigizinesDigitalDen)
Designer: Deanna Patterson (ShabbyScrapDesigns)
Program: PS7.0
Font: Script MT Bold/High Tower Text
Journaling: Balthazar Resto Experience. this was definitely a great highlight for our NYC 2006 visit. Located in Soho (NYC’s hippie district), it is a evocation of a typical Paris brasserie is all about, meaning crowded-next-to-each-other tables, busy-body waiters, loud, etc at the same time home to savory dishes! Noteworthy - French Onion Soup
The resto also has a superb bake shop next door. Mom & I were drooling over all the mouth-watering goodies on display. Too bad both of us were already full...but that doesn’t stop us from ordering somecakes home for our mid-night snacks! Can’t wait for our next trip to NYC again!
Notes: just a little reminder of the food adventure my family and I had on our last NYC trip. Can't wait to get back there again. :)

Up the Hill & Back

01 June, Friday
~ Went around on my lunch break for some white/beige dresses that could be used for the civil event as per my mom's instruction since she said that I don't have anything white or beige to use that's appropriate for the event. It was good timing since spring sales are up and new summer stuff are available too. It's shopping time...a justified shopping spree. :P I ended up with a nice wrap-around dress in Vivianne Tam though not for the civil wedding...oh well. My discount card has already expired and I couldn't find anything else there to renew the card...since I had to purchase more. I was able to avail 10% off though since it's private sale weekend. :)

~ Dinner was at Jo&KC's place for Jac-jac's birthday. Thai home-cooked food (Yati's back & I'm sure they are all happy!) and company was great just the experience of getting to the venue and how I got to the venue was just troubling.
Damn taxi lines and limited taxis on Fridays! In a city that supposedly never sleeps, HK didn't have enough taxis to sustain the people living in it!
Swong was too tired out of her mind to come and join us. It was a sad. Also Ali just had her tooth taken out by the dentist so she hardly ate since I know she's feeling tons of pain. At least the kids were all in good spirit with all this and Jac-jac was happy. :)
Happy Birthday, KC & Jac-jac!

02 June, Saturday

~ Visited Agnes b for new stock, deals or just plain browsing. Found out that they have a promo - buy a certain amount and get the limited edition wallet chain, which reminds me of the 90's belt chain that I had in high school that was the coolest things around to hang on your jeans. See...only a woman will fall something like this...not for a man. :P It's the same case for getting a discount card and/or free gifts, etc.
Yes, this won me over & I gotta have that chain!

I am still searching for the B&W stripe t-shirt/blouse but couldn't find it on this trip. Instead, I got some good polo shirts and one "rock n'roll is not dead" punker t-shirt that matches the wallet chain's theme quite well! BONUS!

~ Visa errands in the morning...enough said. After getting the documents straightened out and paid the fees, I felt better after seeing them and paying the full payment for my wedding date. All the stress of the week has somehow melted away. I rewarded myself with a high tea set at 4 Seasons IFC again. I didn't mind the wait since I was in no real hurry and didn't really want to go home just yet. Check out my previous rave about high tea at 4seasons.
Cora was there and was really nice to give me priority seating at a really nice area and the staff seems to be more attentive again to me due to my connections. Love the stuff...relaxing and definitely a nice place to just "chill". As per Cora's recommendation, I love the passion fruit chocolate tart...totally not very chocolatey but nice! You can see what it looks like on the left photo below and it's the chocolate dessert on the left side of the top most plate. It has a raspberry on top. Yummy!
--> refilling station for high tea set (right)...not sure if the cakes on display on the other side is available. The ones that was normally offered to other people are on the silver tray on the right. I will have to ask Cora about that. I love the tea box that technically everytime a customer comes and orders the high tea set, you are entitled to get the "spiel" of knowing the types of teas that 4Seasons offers. :) You gotta smell the tea leaves...so nice! And yes, to promote again - it's Tea Leaves from Vancouver! :) On this trip, I got to try the Hong Kong Shangri-la Tea Blend, which is suppose to be green tea
My verdict: nice but still lovin' the Harmony blend. Too bad that the gift shop doesn't have it offered for purchase.

<--my high tea set in detail (left) - the usual savory petite fours, scones (yey!) and sweet tarts & desserts (tiramisu) at the top section. For HKD190 for high tea set that entitles you to the the food and one coffee/tea, this is a real steal for me since it somehow caps my expenses and let me stop from running and rushing around all over the place. Oh, plus I get to catch up on some news and good light reading. :) I was seated by the window so I had the couches and a great view of the city. What a rewarding day after all the effort. :) I enjoyed this a lot...this is my type of R&R. I'm surely going to miss this sort of "loungin' weekends" when I move back since I won't have the luxury or the food options for these small pleasures. I better get as much out of these things as possible. ~ Upon getting home, I didn't have dinner anymore since the high tea was more than ample to keep me happy for the night already. Good that it did since I just learned around 11pm that I need to physically go back and fix something again!?!

03 June, Sunday

~ I had to go back to fix some visa paperwork again though it was quicker now since I just needed to show my passport and change some things on the form. By the time I was out, I was hungry since I dashed out of the house early for a Sunday and forgot to have breakfast. I wanted to check out lunch at 4seasons but it was so far away...instead, I opted for brunch at Mandarin's Cafe Causette. Got the Chinese Breakfast set - included soya bean milk, dimsum selections like steamed BBQ buns, veggie/shrimp/pork dumplings, friend noodles, chicken & abalone congee, and Chinese tea. I don't know but I only liked the soya bean milk that came with the set and the noodles...the latter one was the clincher for me to even order this set. I wouldn't order this again...maybe I'll try to order just the soy milk. It was nice since it was not too sweet but very smooth. :)

~ I love passing by Armani Fiori (AF), Armani label's florist store at Chater House. The arrangements/bouquets created by this store oozes variety and imaginative creativity through flowers. :) The cool thing about this store is that their decor/arrangements changes every few days. All of which are well-thought of and totally never the same thing. I always try to make my way there just to see what new arrangements are on display.
**Note that I'm not really a flower sort of person but seeing these lovely arrangements just puts a smile on my face, no matter how bad my day turns out to be. :)
Gary Kwok, gifted HK-based florist, was invited by Armani Group to be the store director in AF and to create the first Armani Fiori in Asia-Hong Kong 2002. Subsequently, she was requested by Mr. Giorgio Armani himself to be the Floral Consultant of Armani Fiori Milan and Armani Casa beginning 2006. More on Gary Kwok can be read on her website.

~ After shopping like there's no tomorrow yet again, I wanted to head to Agnes b Cafe to see friends (Ming & Teddy); but because I got there too late and the cafe was already preparing for their dinner guests, I wasn't accommodated anymore. With such a disappointment (I was already picturing my Monsiour Croquette and Moroccan Mint Tea), I was walking and wondering if I should just cook dinner and save some money for another day. Well...guess not since I passed by Lee Gardens, and remembered that there's a Cova Resto there...basically checked their menu since I wanted some pasta. The rest was history as pictured. :P I ordered the Spaghetti with Sea Bass in Dill Sauce. Love the sea bass and the pasta was cooked well...but the sauce...hmm...still puzzles me up to today.

~ Damage done for today: 1 VT dress, 1 VT t-shirt, 1 VT chinese knitted sleeveless top, 1 VT gold leather pouch, 4 RY shirts...all on discounted prices due to the seasonal sales. :)

Random Thoughts...
~ 天下烏鴉一般黑 (Tianxia wuya yiban hei)
"All crows under heaven are of the same black color."
Everyone is guilty of the same in iniquities - be they be corrupt, collusion, oppression or violence. No one, save the thickest of hides, can take the moral high ground. This saying was taken from Chapter 57 of the Chinese novel, "Dream of the Red Mansions", which is used to describe the idential nature of pawnshop receipts wherever they were issued. It is interpreted to be taken in negative overtones and is not used to refer to things or people tarred with the same unsavoury brush.
This was in an article I read at South China Morning Post this Sunday morning about a writer conversing with a Taiwan cab driver on his way to the hotel. The discussion revolved around colonization and Taiwan-China / Taiwan-Fuk Yuen Tribe.
I would like to think that a normal person would be good but then again, it's like everyone thinking that they the "right". It's a one-sided thinking. Sad at times especially when it's not only one type of people that makes up this world. Opinions and tolerance are key.
Only the Almighty can be the judge to anyone.

~ HK Magazine...my favorite weekend read. :) I always make sure that I get the latests one every Friday/Saturday so I can chill at a coffeeshop and just no have to worry about no reading material. :) I enjoy the articles and features...definitely read this inside out and sometimes dictates how next weekend's schedule is. :)
The issue pictured isn't the latest one this week nor is it last week's issue, but is significant to me. This was the issue that a friend of mine who was interning at the magazine at that time, requested me to wrote something on a particular section...my favorite section actually - Top 10 Picks. :) I have attached some photos below that you can click and see what I had to say for this article. My topic was Top 5 Business Lunches. :) The photo I provided is also the photo that MizzM did a layout of and used to be a photo on my old blog banner.


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Kit Name: Sent From Above (available at SBE)
Kit Designer: Sweet Sodypop Designs (Brenda Johnson)
Program: PS7.0
Font: Script MT Bold
For: SBE's Blue Moon Challenge

Journaling: Jeremy Eddie ...2...of the most important people in my life are Ed and Jj Jr. Before them, I was the independent and “baby” in the family. With the addition of a partern and a new member in our ever-growing family, I learned to open my heart to these changes and embrace life’s beauty even more!

Notes: for the Blue Moon Challenge at SBE, which is to scrap a major change or impact to you. :) It was a fun challenge. Thanks, Brenda!
TYFL!


Got Digizines Boutique Layout Feature for one of my recent layouts. For a better picture, please check out the entry.