zuanqing extraordinaire

Friday, June 21, 2013

Rounding up London with woggers

Yes. I know I haven't been blogging in the longest time. Haiz it's really hard to upkeep a blog. Kudos to my sissy Yina . That's...

Yes. I know I haven't been blogging in the longest time. Haiz it's really hard to upkeep a blog. Kudos to my sissy Yina. That's why she is with Nuffnang and I am not. Hahaha.

Anyways, I actually have tonnes of things to blog about. Just no time and will power to do it!

I will try harder to blog more frequently. For now, just to round up my London trip with photos of the woggers! Everybody loves looking at photos right? :D

Fish & Chips before our musical

Jump shots as we were coming down from the observatory

Queueing up to see the Prime Meridien Line

At Harrods

Dwarfed by Harrods bears

Stupid bad that broke on me as I was making my way to the airport

At Portobello Market

Enjoying the most delish red velvet cupcakes in the cold!

Woggers go to Portobello

Lunch at Four Seasons

Okay. Promise to blog again soon! Prolly before the haze clears up HAHA.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

London - St. Paul's Cathedral & Phantom of the Opera

I'm finally on to my last blog entry on my London/Amsterdam trip! HAHA I actually spelt Amsterdam as Amsterdamn... Damn. Hope this blo...

I'm finally on to my last blog entry on my London/Amsterdam trip! HAHA I actually spelt Amsterdam as Amsterdamn... Damn.

Hope this blog isn't getting too dusty yet.

As I was making my way to St. Paul's Cathedral in the morning, I was amazed by its backdrop of a cloudless blue sky.

I wound up at the wrong entrance. Lol.

One sneak peek of the interior of the Cathedral. It was really breath-taking and beautiful.

View of the first floor from don't know how many stories above

The Stone Gallery

Panaromic view from the Golden Gallery which was 582 steps up! pant pant

Outside the main entrance of the cathedral

Definitely one of the best sightseeing place I went to in London

Chilling at a cafe opposite the Cathedral as I was waiting to have lunch with Mish

The moment I touched down from Amsterdam, I grabbed a quick lunch before rushing to catch Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre! Tix were booked online before hand :D

Maybe because I watched the 25th anniversary performance screened at GV 2 years back, I was expecting quite a bit and was a tad disappointed with the performance. But it will always be my favorite musical. Can't wait for the show that is coming to MBS in July!

After the musical while still carrying allll my barang, I went to Regent Street and Harrods for some last minute shopping for friends and relatives before heading back the next day.

Kudos to this bride baring it all in the freezing cold weather

There was some kind of celebration going on at Harrods and I arrived just in time for the fireworks

the iconic bear of Harrods

It was this fateful night that I *almost* became a target of pickpocket.

I posted the status below on FB detailing what happened that night:

Man behind me on escalator going down to tube platform: Do you speak English?

Me: yes?

Man: you were being followed by the woman with a head scarf.

Me: really? How did you know?

Man: I saw. It's because of your bag. Be careful.

(Now I'm not sure if he was referring to the ultra big Burberry paper bag I was carrying or my satchel slung on the same shoulder being pushed behind by the Burberry bag which I guess makes it an easy target for pickpockets- totally let my guard down cos I was tired & carrying so many things: Burberry bag, my satchel & travel bag from Amsterdam)

Me as I cross slung my satchel in front of my chest: thank you!

Man: that's why I was standing behind you. Be careful.

Omg super nice soul in London! Most unfortunately I suspect he's gay cos he was dressed in a bright yellow trench coat.

I reached the platform & sat down. Shortly after, a woman with a head scarf took the empty seat next to me.

I glanced at her, stood up, and walked away.

Thank God for keeping me safe, really.

Forced myself to sit down and pack my luggage as I was heading back the next evening.

Some of my loots hehe

The next day I decided to head to Bicester Village where the outlet stores are located. I made a big booboo finding my way there and almost didn't make it there! But eventually I did and I'm glad cos the shopping was pretty fab :D

I bought a Prada bag for mumsy and a cardholder for myself, a GA polo tee for daddy, and a Bally bag and a pair of Tod's shoes for myself :D Good thing I was rushed for time and didn't get to stay long... else I'm quite sure I would have maxed out all my credit cards!

My story of making my way from Mish's apartment to the airport was epic. My luggage was so heavy and stuffed and I had another bulky runaway bag bought from Portobello Market a few days back. And I had to walk from the apartment to the subway station which proved to be too much for the flimsy runaway bag and the handles broke!

I was already huffing and puffing from the weight of it all. When I finally made my way to the tube station (I was planning on taking the tube to the airport), I was at quite a loss cos I have no way of carrying a broken bag and overweight luggage by myself.

Thanks to the free wifi at the station, I contacted Mish (who was away for a school trip) and booked a car to the airport. So I was waiting in the cold, getting worried that I won't reach the airport in time. After quite a wait, the car finally arrived. It was one of the most 不划算 item I spent on the trip - it cost 70 GBP which at that time converted to about SGD140. HEART PAIN.

But never mind, that's not the worst. When I arrive at the airport I was about 2 hours ahead of my flight. I went to queue at the VAT refund counter and the queue was so long it stretched from inside the room out into the cold. But I thought I'll give it a shot still since I had time. But the people in front of me bought like 10,000 items and each person took such a long time to process that I didn't get to reach the counter before the SIA personnel came in and threatened us to check in else they would take off without us.

So I had to leave the queue to go check in with just a few more people to go ahead of me! Urgh.

Remember earlier on I said my bag handles broke? After rushing to check in I rushed to a shop to buy a new hand carry. The only suitable one I could find was like Tommy Hilfiger and I paid over 200 SGD for it. HEART PAIN x 2.

And I didn't get to claim my tex refund. HEART PAIN x 3.

Hai. That being said, it was still one of the most awesome trips of my life. For the first time, I travelled solo to the Europe continent and even went sightseeing by myself and survived by myself. (Y)

I even made a new friend on the plane. Hehe.

Most people will know me as being spoilt and extremely dependent on others so here's a pat on my back for taking care of myself. Haha.

And it is always good to go home to people who care.. and of course to my buddies :)

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Amsterdam

Hello party people! What are all of you up to on a Saturday night especially in this long Easter weekend? Hope you peeps are enjoying your w...

Hello party people! What are all of you up to on a Saturday night especially in this long Easter weekend? Hope you peeps are enjoying your weekend so far :D

And yesssss-ahhh I am finally back to blog! Previously I was away in Bangkok for a week and just before I left my lappie broke down and I had to bring it for servicing only when I came back from BKK and right now it's currently back as good as new in my care :)

This MBA is very precious to me and I was so heart broken when it wasn't working.

So yes, one x lousy excuse of why I haven't been blogging haha. Am here to round up my trip to Amsterdam!

My stay in Amsterdam was short hence I didn't have time to do many things. I guess one thing that cannot be missed is to visit their windmills! (and no I didn't smoke any weed when I was there tho I was "encouraged" to haha)

After a much needed night of rest Edwin and I woke up bright and early to head to Zaans Schans to explore.

Passing by a lot a lot a lot of bicycles as we made our way to the train station

My ticket!

photo credit to best friend

Bored while waiting for the train...

and our train is here!

Best friend

me!

artistic shot by best friend

Walking to where the windmills are - it was such cold weather but with lovely sunshine

spotted this cute owl in a display window

I love the picturesque views of such water bodies in Amsterdam

spot the windmills!

hello!

House of Miffy

clogs museum

giant clog

such intricacy

clogs making demonstration

a cloggy christmas tree

Dutch pancake

awesome tree-lined path

my favouritest photo from Amsterdam

check out the traffic light for cyclists!

After having seen enough windmills, we headed back to the apartment for a short rest and then best friend took me cycling around Amsterdam! He rented a bike for me :)

I was perpetually eating his dust

taking in the beautiful sights on our rides

Famous landmark of Amsterdam - Iamsterdam

I scaled it!

Spotted giant chess at play as we roamed around the streets

Ended the night with a drink at a local pub

Best friend sending me off at the airport the next morning - thank you for a great visit to Amsterdam!

Sorry for the image heavy post! Didn't realize I took so many photos in Amsterdam haha. And I also realized I missed out on one day in London where I visited St. Paul's Cathedral! Will be back very soon to round up my trip.

Have a kickass Easter Sunday tomorrow everyone!