The best thing about taking a Cathay Pacific flight to Tokyo is they transit in Hong Kong and on the way back we can stay there a little while. The comparison is unbearable. They are rude, easily annoyed and so impolite. Hey, I don't need to be treated like a queen, just a basic human being interaction dude. Start from the taxi driver has been smoking inside his vehicle, people in the airport (I'm talking staff here) are careless and ignored passengers that asking for directions, bad hygiene in toilet and almost anywhere in the city, seriously, if it haven't been for the cheap stuff (busted) I'm not here. The perfumes are a lot cheaper, not that fake one, the one that sold in reputable store, like can be 45% cheaper than in Singapore. Luggage that sold in Giant (Singapore) can be 50% cheaper there, but not the food. The food there is expensive. Instant noodle with spam cost like 6S$. That's 2x the price from Singapore. But the good thing is, people in Hong Kong make Singaporean seems a lot nicer, at least most of the staff at the mall gave me direction to the toilet with decency and sometime a smile, with them, you got a big inhale, avoiding eye contact and really want to shoo-you-out attitude. Here are some of the view in Hong Kong during our visit. The first one is taken at Avenue of Stars, 2nd one is from Victoria Peak and last when we are taking Star Ferry to the Central.
Hong Kong itself for me personally is a beautiful place to visit, their land is nothing like I used to stay in, many hills side, tall buildings and really a busy town 24/7. It's just the people that need to be a bit (nope! A LOT) nicer, the only nice people we met is those people in our hotel, the staff there is pretty much helpful and I have no complain against them in the front line staff. And surprisingly those in the cheap market (like at the Ladies Market) some of them are nicer that the sales person at malls. I thought air conditioner supposed to make people more comfortable, maybe Hong Kong people hate cool air and get irritated easily by that...hey, it's just thought?!
In June 2010, me and my family were in Japan. Buckled with experience from our previous trip to Seoul in 2007 we make sure, we've done our homework this time. But, against all odds ;p many can speak English well, and we found no meaningful hardship there.
This is the map to Sanrio Puroland, a place where it's not as famous as Disneyland and only locals were found visiting the place during our visit. It was a real treat for anyone who love Hello Kitty or anything that got to do with her, including her friends and stuff.
There's not many rides inside, mainly shows, visitor can ask for an English based schedule, but since the show is presented in Japanese language, we're just goo goo ga ga about how pretty the dress is or how cute KeroKeroKeroppi jump. information and details about the place can be found on their website. Don't forget to print out a discount coupon if you want to go there. Here are some things that you must see and check in this place: 1.Their restaurant on the 2nd floor, every meals purchased is included with the container you can bring home, we go the Hello Kitty container with separator for rice and dish. 2. Kitty Lab, check the opening time, and enjoy a fun adventure. 3. Their shows. It is fun to watch and see how high spirited Japanese people are.
Sanrio Puroland closed at 5 pm, and whether we like it or not, it is time for us to go. It is pouring rain outside and near the exit they sell balloons, very cute and I really regret not buying one.
We ate ramen near the train station, and any other place where we ate in Tokyo (and surrounding) water are free and they provide cups too. Japanese people are very polite, it feel like 180 degree so different from local people here in Singapore.
The next day we visited Mt.Fuji, and thank God the weather is clear and we can see the whole thing in clear view.Then Hakone which just about 1-2 hour bus ride.Apparently this tour is really worth paying since it's almost impossible for us to went there all on our own since we have no access. The thing I love about our trip is there's never a dull moment and everywhere I go the amenities is right around the corner, either food, a convenient store, or things to see. So many vending machine, it's like wherever you go, there it is.
On the way back to Tokyo we took Shinkansen, which, well, it's not as 'cool' as I thought, the feeling inside is really just like taking other train....without any bump and sound, since they didn't touch the ground (so it does cool a bit). Our next destination is Disneyland, we visit Tokyo DisneySea on Sunday, there are crowds but not so much, I meant not so overwhelming. The queue on each ride still under an hour. For us it is quite okay, since there are many things to see around here...and eat. They have popcorn in containers that collectibles and so cute. Hard to resist since they have so many designs and inside each container got different flavor popcorn.
Then Tokyo Disneyland on the following day. It's Monday but the crowd is so much worst than the yesterday, one ride the queue can be as long as 180 minutes. But we are smarter and get more fastpass. Many shows to see, many things to eat and more ride that we enter this time, we really enjoy our time here in Disneyland.
Our trip in Tokyo-Japan was a blast and would really love to come back here again. For more info about Tokyo Disneyland and Sea you can visit their website or even book tickets there (which I think unnecessary) but there are 2 places in Disneyland that need pre -book online, so be sure to do that.
Time to visit Hong Kong again (or now, if you haven't been there), Hong Kong Tourism Board want to promote their exiting event a Dragon Boat Festival by..........giving us free game for iPhone/iPod. The purpose of this game is for everyone who want to know more about the event, there's a short video too. But the one that really lure me in is the game gave me a feeling what it's like to actually be involved in it. The application need about 4 minute to downloaded on my iPhone, when I click on it there's a picture of Festive Hong Kong 2010 followed by a loud sounds/music, so please turn the volume down before you play them except you want to get extra attention from those surround you.
There's for icon to be click, Start Game, How To Play, Ranking, Learn More. In the Learn More: 1. Dragon Boat Festival There's an explanation about the history, background and details about the festival, this year festival is on 23-25 July 2010 at the Harbour near Tsim Sha Tsui East. 2. Video For the Festival The video itself is very colorful and attractive, not just showing the boat race, but the happiness and joy everyone involved. It also showed the food that usually available during the festival (rice dumpling and the making of it). 3. Disclaimer
How To Play In here they taught you how to play, you can choose 3 music and 2 set of difficulties....I'm getting excited already.
Ranking Still empty now and divided into 3 music and 2 set of difficulty, so I guess each music bring their own rhythm and speed.
Start Game The Easy stage with music 1 is easy, I won (that definitely show that it is easy).
Overall after playing it for more than 30 minutes, I like this game, why? 1. Good Chinese music background 2. Very easy to play, I don't say I've conquered the game, but it is easy to play 3. It attract children just by the sound and animation 4. Those fiery eyes. You know you got it right when you see your players got those fiery eyes 5. Try the difficult stage, it is much more exciting :)
and if you see 'beebob' on the ranking page....that's me. I'm already so glimmering happy just by playing the game, I'm really curious how is the actual feeling on the spot....
I like the fact that I know every scoop of their ice cream are from fair trade products, they care enough for their customer so the ingredients used are a safe-to-eat and taste really good and yummy. I also like since they have so many unique flavors and name too, like Cherry Garcia, Turtle Soup and many more :)
I love how they like to treat customer with free cone day, discount, promo and contest. It's just too bad the contest sometime aren't that well organized with the local. Like when I want to redeem my rewards, the staff on the spot are clueless about the reward system from the contest and always ended up on my side are disappointment, have to wait more than 30 minutes just for the staff to check to their boss over the phone, and rejected. I hate going down to the south (the only branch we can redeemed) just to be rejected. Waste an hour of ride. I just hope next year the promoter have better coordination, even thou' I will not join anymore, enough with the bad experience.
Nevertheless I will still like consume Ben and Jerry wonderful ice cream like the New York Fudge. SO good!
Ben and Jerry is having their contest called A Cookie Affair. Check out their website for details. Last year they also have a contest involving customer (or anyone) to create new flavor, very interesting and may I say better that voting contest since Ben and Jerry themselves that choose the winner.
In this contest participant have to make a video (3 max), uploaded in their site, then after being picked as finalist they can ask friends, families, imaginary friends for a vote.
I got them for free and really enjoy the products. The problem of my hair is in the scalp that often oily (after all I am living in a very humid land). So I need a product that can penetrate and oversee that. This is one of my favorite shampoo, Redken Hair Advance Scalp Revive. It can refresh, rejuvenate, and have that tingling sensation that notify me of the working ingredients inside it.
I do feel my scalp is free-er from oiliness and can breathe again. Less oily and more growth. I also use the 'tonic' and I must say the applicator is really clever. I can sprayed it on the area needed and right through it. I love the fresh scent and the freshness it create on my scalp. Some other product that I used create more oily and the alcohol sting a bit, but with Redken I found no such problem.
Since LUSH product are nowhere to be found in Singapore so when I found out SkinFood have this amazing conditioner I blast myself to the nearest store. So at Jurong Point branch, a very nice staff explain the whole thing for me. And when she's not even finish explaining I know this is the stuff I needed. My scalp is oily and I hate how they easily turn limp, so when I used this product it gives the volume I want.
I use with the shampoo I already had in my home, then I apply a chunk of this wonderful thick gooey conditioner all over, yup, all over. Other conditioner are not allowed to touch the scalp while this one not just can but help my problem from root to the end. I love how it makes my scalp clean and my hair lusciously clean but not dry and frizzy. The hair is surprisingly glowing and hydrated perfectly.
You can check out their website for more details. Someday I'll buy the Salt Mineral Hair Wash and I'll sure to love it too, so far every time I visit them they either out of stock or just not there.
1 jar of Salt Mineral Hair Conditioner can last about 2 weeks if used daily.
The best thing about taking a Cathay Pacific flight to Tokyo is they transit in Hong Kong and on the way back we can stay there a little while. The comparison is unbearable. They are rude, easily annoyed and so impolite. Hey, I don't need to be treated like a queen, just a basic human being interaction dude. Start from the 
them, you got a big inhale, avoiding eye contact and really want to shoo-you-out attitude.
