Fuchsia Lane Musings

Mama Mia!

2009-10-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

Hi there, sorry I have not blogged for so long. i know many must have been chiding me for my absence. But it is really crazy trying to juggle 3 fashion shows! I promise I will become stronger and better designer after surviving all these. :)

Anyway, here's a little dish that Gary prepared for me on Sunday that is really YUMMY. Looking at the picture is enough to make me hungry again. These are spaghetti with baby abalone and squids in white wine. His food is ultimate indulgence and comfort for me when I am tired. Spaghetti al dente with garlic chopped finely, sprinkled with white wine, and served with generous chewy fresh abalone plus FAT squids. The aroma of the white wine and garlic already greet me before I taste them. Mama mia! If one day he opens a restaurant, I will be the first in line.

Look at that!

2009-09-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

Nothing is too weird in Tokyo. We have all heard of the legendary used panties vending machines though I didnt chance upon that. And we have also heard of the ridiculously expensive cabs which I painfully experienced. Walking in the streets, you can see people dressed in a style of their own. And no one would raise an eyebrow even if you wear purple and yellow socks on different feet. From absurd to refined, no one dresses plainly there so it is exciting people watching there.

These ladies are very tanned and colourful. Some kind of Indiana look.

While yellow pants is associated with "bengness" in Singapore and no decent guy will be caught with yellow pants here. This guy looks rather stylish in his mustard pants. Is it the culture, the way he wears it or the environment he is wearing in?

Buildings are built v densely in Tokyo.

Even with a very tiny space, they managed to squeeze a building in there.

Train is for ladies only during certain hours.

Me in Shibuya station.

Hmm..when can we see such orderly queue in MRTs?

During the peak hours. And they have these people at platforms for order.

The trains are very silent there. With sweet melody to remind people doors are closing. So no one speaks loudly on the phone there. Ah so peaceful.

They have lockers in the train stations. At first me and my friend wondered why will anyone use it. But one day we had extremely heavy shopping bags from buying fabrics and books, so we instantly recognise the usefulness of these lockers as we had to go back the train station again.

But we reached the station at 12.10 midnight. And we had to pay another 400 yen as they go from 12am-12pm usage! argh!!.

I know what you are thinking! Yes we slog like a dog everyday in today's modern world.

You are supposed to strap your child to this while you pee.

This is not so funny. Animals are kept in such cubes in a pet shop. Not good!

Fainted...

The sign outside a kitchen.

Have you seen oval watermelon?

Nice car!

Cab fare start at 710 yen ($10sgd)and meter jumps 90 yen ($1.40sgd)! There was 1 night me and my friend missed the last train. Luckily there were 2 of us and so we spilt the cab fare. But for a 10 minute ride, it costs a whopping 1890 yen which is almost 30sgd! Not for the faint hearted. No wonder the cabs are always empty there.

Tokyo cuisine

2009-09-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

Actually to be honest, most of the time I didnt know what to eat or what I was eating. There are no English words, the staff speak zero English and the only clue was the pictures on the menu and some food sense. When I had craving to eat spicy food, I had to choose image of ramen with a darker and redder soup base hoping it is hot and spicy. But always I didnt get what I expected. But the food was still enjoyable. And 1 bowl usually costs $10 bucks at least. I think Japanese do not really fancy foreign food. I seldom see any foreign cuisine except 1 indian restaurant in the 3rd day and pasta is probably the most well loved imported cuisine there. The Japanese pasta there are "tomato-nised" and very creamy.

We arrived very late in Tokyo and was really famished. I chanced upon this ramen shop in Shibuya with my friend. And both of us are amazed that we have to order our food from the vending machine.

A ticket with your meal is dispensed out.

After which, you wait for food to be served. Well this is really salty and it is not spicy as I hoped. 780 yen

This shop was closed to our disappointment but their desserts display is surely very enticing!

Lunch was 45 minutes before we had to rush back to gather. So we found this sushi restaurant at Otomosando and hoped right in.

Thats what we ordered based on some food sense. And I like the one on the left and chawanmushi.

Chawanmushi is different from Sg. It doesnt have chicken meat but it has prawns. And when it is gulped down hot, it is really comfort food at its best.

This seafood pasta with soup is very yummy! The pasta was al dente. The seafood so fresh and the soup so creamy but not sticky. I discovered this while exploring on my own. It was so good that I brought my friend to eat it the next day and she relished it too. 1100 yen

One night there was a dinner hosted by Spring and Parco. And our responsibility was just to eat whatever they ordered.

However, all Japanese sushi comes with Wasabi in the rice which I dont really fancy the taste. So I just ate what was on top! :)

I like the green tea cake or do you call this mochi aka Japanese kueh? It is very light and refreshing.

Pasta chain there. I like it clean and fast and the pasta are very presentable. I had to gulped down my hot tomato pasta in 15 minutes. Lunches there are always so rush as we have to gather with a big group at a certain time to move to another place.

On the last day, we came upon this restaurant and it was the most satisfying and memorable meal experience! It is like Ma Maison but the food is 10 times better and 1/3 the price.

too hungry to wait for photo taking. Appetisers. We had a meaterian meal.

My friend Chantal ordered this and it came sizzling on a hot plate. The beef was dancing on the gravy.

I ordered this combo sizzler which was 1 side chicken and another side pork I think. I never regret it. Although I was kinda worried about what I will be served as the waitress didnt seem to understand me and I could only do hilarious sign language with her. We were dead tired after 1 whole day of walking. But I could find myself dancing on cloud 9 after eating this. The gravy poured on the Japanese rice was heavenly. If there is one last food that I must eat, this must be it.

Cosy space. Regretted not taking their namecard. I hope I can remember how to get there the next time I go. It is outside Shinjuku station.

A Private Birthday

2009-09-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

Birthday is the time when I can spend the day enjoying whatever I like to do without feeling guitly. Almost. Although in the earlier afternoon, I was still busily replying work emails. Anyway, nothing beats a more happy birthday than having a private celebration with Gary.

He turns up with a bouquet of fresh pink roses. Even though everytime I told him not to waste money. But he always replies as long as you like it. *Smilezz* He came with groceries for my home and more milk to make my daily milo. Other than managing my design label, I am quite hopeless in managing other daily aspects of my life. While Gary will always know what is running out in my house. *Smilezz"

Then in the evening, he brought me to this very cosy Italian restaurant La Noce which we have not been before. This was very refreshing to me. Even 3 years in the relationship, he still pays attention to what I say. As I told him recently, we should hunt for interesting eating places as I am getting bored with the usual suspects. *Smilezz*

The restaurant is not lavish but I like the homely feel of the restauarant with its brick walls, shelves of wine and warm lighting. As though you have been invited to dinner to the house of an Italian friend. I heard Gary said the cuisine is done in Southern Italian style. *Smilezz*

Carpacio di Manzo. Tender beef shredded to amazingly thin slices with balsamic dressing

Zuppa di Pesce. My favourite!! The soup packs a punch and the flavour still lingers in my mouth.

Linguine Della Zio. Seafood pasta in aglio oglio. I find it a tad too sticky

Gnocchetti di Patate al Formaggi e Noci. Italian dumplings in potent mix of cheese. Gary's order.

Panna Cotta. Taste is just nice without being overly sweet. Will be better if it is heartshape :)

And after the dinner, we went to watch the movie I have been waiting for. Coco Before Chanel. It really gave an insight into the designer Coco Chanel's private life. A pity not many designs are shown in the show.

I went home at 4am that night with some midnight shopping at Mustaffa! Because Gary says we can go back however late I want and enjoy myself on my birthday. The only thing missing for the night was him in a dashing suit and bow tie. *Smilezz*

That warm feeling in the tummy

2009-08-24T12:18:00.001-07:00

Sorry for my slow updates as I can hardly breathe preparing for my new fashion showcase, upcoming design trip, new collection for fashion design incubator @ Japanese Parco next year and a queue of custom make orders. Not to mention I have to constantly come up with new arrivals before my customers "complain". :P

Anyway, I was so happy that tonight I got to savour Gary's cooking again. Sometimes I think he is a food genie coming up with fantastic creations whenever I wish for it. His seafood soup packs a oomph with the most generous serving of seafood I will ever get. Will be perfect with mussels and pasta. There was once he even served it with toasted garlic bread oozing with garlic goodness for my family. And my whole family was relishing it. So unforgettable.... The dishes he whips up always get cleaned out when served in gatherings!

And he prepared a bottle of milo just the way I like it with milk and not hot water that can last me for 2 days of breakfast. My mum moved to my sis house temporarily to take care of my new born niece. I felt a warm cosy feeling in my tummy as I bade him farewell tonight.

Seafood soup with generous servings of prawns and clams.

Served with meeee...

Satisfy your craving for Penang food

2009-08-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

Char Koay Teow. I chomped it down readily.

Penang Curry Mee. Soup is not too thick and prawns are big.

My mum was a Penangnite and when I was a kid, we always made what seem to me an annual "food" pilgrimage back to Penang. What made me excited during the long ardous journey back was the promise of koay teow thng (flat rice noodles in duck soup with bouncy fishballs, char koay teow (fried rice noodles with prawms and clams), Penang laksa, loh bak (assorted fried meat) and oh jian (fried oyster ommelette) when we arrived. The list goes on. Even now I make sure I go back every year to visit my aunts and alas Penang food with my loving bf. He will make the trip back with me every year even though Penang is not the most exciting isle on earth.

I never quite seem to find Penang food in Singapore that satisfies my craving. Even Penang buffets in big hotels dont seem quite near to Penang standards. But if the craving kicks in, I will visit this humble hawker store in ABC Market which is near to Ikea Alexandra. It is called Jason Penang Cuisine, Block 6, #01-113, Jalan Bukit Merah. It is closed on Monday.

A plate of hot piping char koay teow is only $2.50 with big prawns and springy koay teow plus clams! So is the curry mee with flavoursome soup and tau pok that squirts curry as you bite into them. They serve many Penang favourites like laksa too. Looking at the pictures make me salivate again. As portions are not big, you can actually order 3 dishes with a friend and savour them All!

Romance is ...

2009-08-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

As you mature, romance takes on a new meaning especially when time becomes a luxury commodity other than money. 5 years back, flowers and fancy dining in a posh restaurant wld send me over the moon. I even received flowers air flown from London before. Now it still makes me smile but perhaps the impact it has on me is not as great.

Romance now to me is being able to enjoy wine over board games after work.
Romance is exploring recipes and baking cakes together during a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Romance is holding hands in a foreign land like you just knew each other yesterday.
Romance is dancing in each other's arms.
Romance is gazing at the moon together on a beach without having to rush for the last bus.(I even painted this image before on a canvas!)
Romance is about accompanying him to look at fishies and asking him 101 questions even though they are boring.
Romance is writing and reading poetry together.
Romance is falling asleep on his tummy while he watches Discovery Channel. (I like falling asleep on people whom I trust:))))
Romance is painting the wall of your new house with a bear and bunny watching the moon together.
Romance is exploring something new together with a flower in your heart, in this world of uncertainties and insecurities.

Most importantly, romance is being able to face life together everyday positively despite all the challenges. Because romance like companionship should last a lifetime.

Italy

2009-08-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

Even at this time, I cant really believe I am going back to Italy again. Well, many deciding factors come into play like finances and my extremely busy schedule. I was invited to participate in a design and art event in Verona Italy by world renowned artist Thomas Diego Armonia. Famous for his figurative art, his works have been showcased in musuems from Milan, Paris to Shanghai. Thomas has also showcased in luxury fairs alongside Porsche and Chopard. The venue for this event is a church in the heart of the city, where international press and buyers will be present. And I will be the only local label out of 11 other European luxury labels.

Verona is the city where Shakespear's characters Romeo and Juliet were based. A city bustling with artistic legacies that when you visit Juliet's house, you can even imagine Romeo serenading to Juliet under the balcony.

Italy is a place of bittersweet memories for me. I once studied in Milan when I was in the university. It was a period of drama, romance, excitement and freedom. I remembered jumping out of a moving train to shut someone up before. Eating gelato in freezing winter. Being pursued over a few streets by an Italian romeo. Visiting a friendly lonely old man in a city's outskirts. Roaming picturesque Firenze (Florence) and the art museums alone with my camera and enjoying being alone doing nothing. Taking a midnight train alone. Mistaking the police car for a taxi. sunbathing at Italian island-Sardegnia. Going to class initially and pretending to understand when everyone only spoke Italian. Working on retail projects with amazingly talented people. Eating my favourite 2 euro pizza after school. I probably came across as a gusty and aloof oriental girl.

All these precious memories are locked up inside my heart. And when I left Italy then with a heavy heart, I always wonder when will I go back and if I do who will I go back with.

Taken at Torino, dreamy river Po.

The Best Beef Horfun

2009-07-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

doesnt this make you salivate?

I seldom use the word "best" when it comes to describing something as it is quite impossible to have the best for something. But this is really the best beef hor fun I have ever tasted in my life. The black bean gravy is thick and flavoursome, the horfun is springy and tasty. There is a generous serving of beef and the slices are so big that you can probably "slap" someone with it. And yet it is so tender that when you sink your teeth into the beef, it melts in your mouth.

Only $6 for a plate which is big enough for 1 person. Served in restuarant Moi Lum at Peck Seah Street which is just beside my fashion suite @ Red Dot Building.

Asking For Help.....correctly

2009-07-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Many people have asked me how do I get so many press features and how do I manage to get sponsors for my fashion show. Sometimes I get a little angry when I hear this. Because their tone seems to suggest that I was plain lucky and "help" just fell like rain from the sky.

Perhaps I was blessed with abit of luck. But more importantly, perseverance,and wit is essential to getting help successfully. I suffer demoralising rejections too. For every "yes" that I get, there are numerous numerous rejections which people dont see. Asking help is an art itself. Some people dont ask and wish for help so they never get it. Some people ask for help wrongly and they get ignored. Excluding loved ones and friends, people will only help you if there is a reason and usually there must be something in it for them. And you must provide the reason for them to help you.

When I approach sponsors, first I study their organisation and their clientele and find out why they have to help me and what I can offer them. The proposition must be compelling and summarised as sponsors are BUSY. Then when you are ready, the scariest thing is making a cold call. And if you are lucky, they grant you a meeting to hear you out. But this is only the beginning of a marathon. There are many layers of approvals in an organisation and you must pass thru them where each have different agendas. This process will take few months at least and rob you of your strength and stamina. The faint hearted will have given up by now. But the determined will perservere and tackle every meeting with wits till you win the battle. So this is how some people get sponsors eventually and some dont.

Applies to press features also. I have to analyse the magazine and think of interesting news angles to pitch to reporters. I write all my own press releases as I have no budget to hire PR firm which charges arm and leg. And the most exhausting part is follow up, follow up, follow up every few days with the reporters, maintaining a thin line between perservering and pesky. And I do get ignored, chided too. This is reality. But when you get a good feature, you taste the sweetness of success

There was once a film student approached me to sponsor outfits for her graduating work. I asked her why she approached me. And she said she like my outfits and thought I could reach out to the students in her school. And when I asked her what's her film about, she emailed me a script more than 30 pages long. She did 3 mistakes. Liking something is not a reason for the person to sponsor you. My clientele are mostly working executives not students. And I do not have time to read a 30 page script. And needless to say, I did not sponsor as it just did not make sense for me.

High On Dancing

2009-07-18T10:51:00.001-07:00

Today I went for 60 min non stop latin jam. You have heard of people getting high on alcohol and drugs but have you heard of people getting high on dancing? Well I am.
I think dancing is in my blood. It is a therapy for me where I can get away from the stresses of modern world and get lost in this fantasy world of my own.

I started dancing when I was 5 years old. Yea. I remembered wearing the aloha skirt and bikini and dancing in the kindergarten concert. The teacher told my mum I could really shake my bon bon which made my mum so happy that she enrolled me in ballet when I was 7 years old. I also took Chinese dance and gymnastics. I loved ballet lessons and thought I will be a dancer when I grow up. But when I was 14 years old, I had a very bad sprain accident that made pointing my toes unbearably painful so I had to stop. By then I have already taken a couple of exams certified by the Royal Ballet Academy in London.

However, my love affair for dance did not stop. I will relish every chance to dance and when I was in university I love clubbing at Zouk. Some people go clubbing to drink but I go clubbing to dance. I could dance from 9pm-3am! God knows where I got all this stamina. And undeniably I am drawn to guys who can dance well like Aaron Kwok(yes I am from that era). And when I started working, I took up Salsa and really love it. In fact, latin like Rhumba is my favourite. I also like Bollywood dancing and I really hope to learn pole or belly dancing even though Gary cant stomach it maybe due to his conservative nature? I can embrace all dance forms but I personally dont really fancy hip hop, jazz or contemporary.

Now my latest endeavour is ballroom dancing. Waltz, cha cha, samba, rhumba, ooh la la. I am waiting to learn Tango with TTB. I am lucky to find Gary. He has probably not danced before in his life before meeting me unless probably the macarena?? And after 1 year of persuasion, he finally went dancing with me. And for 2 years, we go dancing once a week! I am the happiest when we go together for Ball which is organised by our dance teacher. He is unusually charming and dashing in his suit and bow tie. And now I wait for him to come back from his hiatus!

At Raffles Hotel Ball

Isnt he cute in his bow tie? :))

Hopefully no matter how busy we get over the years, we can keep dancing together till we are old and frail :)

Little Bubu's Antics

2009-07-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

My nephew little bubu never fails to cheer up my day. I find myself rushing home sometimes so that I can play with him before his bedtime. I like reading stories to him and I am amazingly patient towards him.

Today when I told him " bye ..yee yee is going to work", he immediately went to the door and put his hand on it to stop me from going out.

Do I look like double cheese BUBUger?

Aint I cuddly?

Where are you posting me to?

Shhh... I am practising yoga in my sleep

Bubu's first reading lessons...

The leader of tomorrow.

When bubu is only 2 months old. See how tiny he is and how he has grown now.

Long Time No See

2009-07-13T09:03:00.001-07:00

I was really glad recently when my old customer and friend came knocking at Fuchsia Lane again. I fell in love with Yiwen's designs the same time she fell in love with mine. And she is really one of the sweetest ladies I have seen- funny, kind hearted and supportive of her friends. She was one of my earliest customers when I didnt have a suite then.

I remembered when she was 4-5 months pregnant, she helped out at my solo fashion showcase last year steaming clothes for my models. Although I was so terribly busy that Opening Night, at the corner of my eye, I could see her steaming clothes with her big beautiful belly. And I was really touched and felt calmer with the support of my friends. For a long time, I didnt see her and thought her taste in clothes had changed. And last friday when she visited my suite and tried on my clothes, she still look so yummy after giving birth to a cute baby boy!

Yiwen in Sapphire Lagoon French Silk Top & Charlston Lace Skirt-Turquoise. Do you believe she has just given birth to a baby boy?

Yiwen radiates in this Tifanny dress with white lace trimmed scarf. Simple yet graceful.

If you like sorbet colours, dainty and feminine designs in semi precious stones, you will fall in love with her heart-made creations at Oriental Rose.

TTB is back!

2009-07-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

Finally after 2 weeks being posted to a work trip, Gary is back.

These are the stuff that he bought for me. :)
My favourite Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist. Rose is my favourite scent! This mist is really refreshing and moisturising in this heat. But I realise it is so much cheaper in Australia which costs $33Aud in the airport. If you buy it in the dutyfree shops in the airport elsewhere, it costs $50+sgd.
And whereever I go, I like to buy fashion magazines especially bridal ones. So he knows. :)

The very next day, Gary is busy whipping up dishes in the kitchen again. Nothing too fussy but full of warmth. I like the ham cut to strips of this thickness. Ham noodles anyone?

It is chicken soup with noodles, ham and eggs. The noodles are really springy and the chicken soup is bring to the boil with real chicken breast meat. really nourishing.

My favourite-Sunny side up!

Relaxing @ TCC

2009-07-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

It was one of the rare times when I could go out for a walk and relax at a cafe to read magazine and recharge my thoughts.

I ordered Spic Chic and Lichit Yoghurt. Nice!

The delectable juicy chicken in bite size portions are more satisfying than nuggets and melt in your mouth when dipped with the tangy orange mayo sauce. The orange mayo sauce has a light tinge of orange flavour that makes it light and refreshing.

The lychees in youghurt are surprisingly very light and thirst quenching. It has the right tinge of sweetness and sourness that leaves you craving for more.

TCC Cafe is one of my favourite haunts as compared to other coffee joints. I like the fact that all the cafe boutiques are furnished with much thought from the choice of furniture to the colours to the paintings. Every cafe is different yet you can tell it belongs to TCC. My favourite is the one at Robertson Quay which even has a swing! Compare this to the other coffee joints where every joint looks THE SAME. Borringg...

You can tell they design their food with much thought as well. The items never fail to delight your palatte and they change quite regularly which is bad if you fall in love with any of their dishes. I really love their potato balls few years back but they have since revamped their menu.

Their service is quite impeccable as well. Qudos to a coffee joint chain that turn into a gourmet cafe.

TCC is having 1 for 1 pasta/main dish for July for their members. Just accumulate $80 of receipts to be their member.

5 Ways To Survival in A Business

2009-07-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

There was a recent newspaper article which reported several local labels have closed their stores or ceased operations totally. One retailer even reported this year's sales was their worst and they could no longer afford to have their store. And they now only sell on consignment in stores. Such reports are really saddening.
I am not a guru in business but I certainly hope to celebrate Fuchsia Lane's 50th anniversary and beyond. So here are my thoughts.

1. Treat your customers as friends
There is a saying treat your customer as king but I feel this is too pandering. I prefer to treat them as friends so I always recommend what looks best on them and what not to get. I remember their names, their purchases, their birthdays, their stories about their childern and hubbies. I put on a big genuine smile whenever I see them like I see a friend. I sms or call them occasionally. And they can feel it I believe. And vice versa I also share with them my difficulties in being a young start up and many of them understand.

2. Be Creative and Proactive
Everywhere now I see stores slashing their prices. I feel that consumers have become immune to storewide discounts. And if you only give discounts all the time, it seems to mean you have nothing to give your customers except discounts. For myself, I try to value add, address my customer's needs better and keep coming up with unique designs that flatter a woman's body.

Naughty Nights Retail Therapy came about becuase I realised my customers are occupied with working or taking care of the kids during normal hours. So I tried late night shopping which was more relaxing. People tell me I am mad as the area my store is in is deserted after office hours but the idea worked and it was fun! And we proactively look for sponsors who supported our Naughty Nights idea.

3. Surround yourself with supporters
Surround yourself with people who believe in you, rally around your cause and will help you. This creates positive energy. No one can do everything alone and dont be afraid to ask. Gary is my biggest supporter. He provides advice when I am perturbed, design ideas from a guy's point of view and is the carpenter, the driver, the delivery man and the list goes on.

Many of our sponsors of our first "In Love With Passion" fashion showcase last year agreed within a few days! Our Presenting Sponsor On Cheong Jewellery sponsored us cash as they believe in my talent and the branding potential that comes with supporting a young designer. Thank you to all! These people allow me to go further.

4. Be Firm
When you are young and a new start up, everyone tries to "eat" you. It is a vicious world out there and you need to stand firm to command respect. Dont be afraid to walk out if the other party offers you unfair terms. I must have earned myself a reputation for being a chilli padi over these years.

I rejected a prestigious hotel as the terms offered were unfair even after months of discussion. The hotel initially offered to do a direct purchase of my items which really sent me over the moon. After 2 months, the manager told me the management changed decision and decided to consign my items instead at their shop. And they would not be responsible for any items lost, stolen or damaged. I cant imagine that behaviour came from an international luxury hotel who earned billions in a year. They told me other "suppliers" have readily signed it. Well I decide how I want to be treated.

5. Guard your cash
Cash is the blood of businesses. Many profitable businesses close becuase of lack of cash. I go weak in my knees when I see catalogues of pretty laces and trimmings and I want to buy them all. But stocks "eat up" your cash. Pay only when you need to, delay your purchases when you need to and do a cash flow projection. I am still trying to learn this.

Naughty Night With Fuchsia Lane - A Great Success!

2009-07-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

As dusk falls on 3rd July, we had a continuous stream of customers coming in to our suite. I was very happy that despite not situated in a crowded shopping spot, there were many people who came to this event. We even had customers who came all the way from Tuas after they knock off and regulars who brought their friends and cousins and sisters and wives. Gals were chatting excitedly in the suite and my customer turned friend Sabbie also launched her new line of jewellery at my suite.

We were so overwhelmed by the crowd that it slipped my mind to take pictures. And only managed to take pictures when the crowd was thinner. The customers came non stop and the last one left after midnight! Thank you to all who supported this event.

Sabbie supported me the first day I sold my designs @ Maad. She bought a tee embellished with mandarin buttons which meant alot to me at that time. She loves feminine pieces and she is wearing The Sabrina which is named after her.

Sabbie is launching her dainty jewellery with semi precious stones too @ my suite which goes well with my pieces for daily wear. And oops someone has just bought the champagne skirt on the mannequin and we havent change it yet. Naughty Naughty..

Nicole is one of my sweet customers! She has been buying all my dresses and this one on her is the rose tango silk dress!

Pretty earrings with semi precious stones from SabbieW.

Baoling my jc friend came to support me with her boyfriend. And she looks really gorgeous in this Ruby Blossoms lace cheongsam top which she of course bought it in the end. :)

Bishan has been my loyal customer and we have been customising bustiers in different laces for her. She bought this new Snow White bustier top in cream duchess satin and our black charlston lace skirt. She looks so demure in this.

More lovely necklaces from SabbieW. You can buy them from our fashion suite now!

A tree glowing with bags and swarovski studded capes

Everyone went home happy with their purchases and catching up with their friends @ the pubs downstairs Red Dot:) Thank you Boulevard, Otto Ristorante and Artery for sponsoring the drinks and wines and fabulous discounts.

It takes 1 second to say I love you and 1 lifetime to prove it.

2009-07-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

Recently, my friend wrote that on facebook. The truth of this sentence really struck me.

I have been with Gary for 3 years and now and then I complain that he doesnt do things that take my breathe away. I will complain he should lose some weight and dress more dashing. But whenever that happens, I remember the little things he do which add up to be significant.

When Gary is free, he will cook for me every weekend. When I am in the fashion suite on weekends, he will go to the supermarket to buy the ingredients. He seems to be able to read my mind on what I want to eat. And he will come to fetch me, drive me to my house and start to busy in the kitchen shelling the prawns, washing the mussels, chopping the garlic to the thickness I prefer, all by himself. When I "offer" to help, he will shoo me off to " go and play or watch tv". After 30 minutes or so, the piping hot food will be ready, presented nicely on a plate. I always relish that as it is full of love. He usually finishes before me and then he go about clearing the plates and washing the stove. I try to "offer" help again and Gary will say No need. I know he doesnt want to tire me.

Gary doesnt walk out on me when we argue but prefers to painstakingly explain and calm me down till I can absorb reason in my head. He seems to remember the smallest thing about me even though I cant remember when I expressed it.

I have my fair share of drama-mama relationships, but never have I experienced love that is expressed in such simple honest ways that matter the most. Thank you TTB

Christian Lacroix- The Fashion Maestro

2009-07-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

I like going to fashion exhibitions and everytime there is one in Singapore I get very excited. I get excited looking at fabrics esp LACES, drapes, folds and sketches. I like designers with a message and when they design, you see their heart and mind in it. It stands out and shines like a star in the black sky. Christian Lacroix is one of them.

Below are the pictures that I took in the Christian Lacroix Exhibition at National Museum. It was so good that I brought my tailors on a tour there as well. Good inspiration for them.

The costumes on exhibition are those that he designed for various theatre productions like Carmen and Cinderella. And what's amazing is he did that out of inexpensive fabrics as he said production fashion design is different from couture design. Cost is a factor. This proves that creativity can transcend all barriers!

Curry Fish Head Ooh La La

2009-06-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

The best eating places sometimes are those that are hardly posh or even noticeable.

There is a hawker centre above Beauty World. And right at the corner is a zichar stall that is always full of customers during weekend nights. It is a place where my boyfriend brought me to eat the unforgettable Curry Fish Head. Food is cheap and good, service is prompt and stall owner uncle is always full of smiles. Just a bit warm if the day is hot.

The stall is Fu Gui Chun. And you can see my boyfriend doing the ordering. i always leave the ordering up to him. He seems to have a knack for sniffing out/cooking/delivering yummy food.

The tofu was dancing on this sizzling hot place. As you bite into the tofu, the flavoursome gravy spews out. The plate is lined with a thin layer of omelette that is cooked just nice and not charred which always happen with hot plates.

The assam curry fish head is their specialty. And whenever I eat with Gary's family, I never have enough of it. The sourness of the gravy packs a punch but it is not weighed down with the greasiness of coconut milk. It actually sends your tastebuds singing ooh lala. The fish meat could be softer.

The kangkong is crunchy and spicy without being overwhelming. A few prawns or shrimps would have made this dish perfect.

Everything was finished! A testamount to how tasty the dishes are.

All these for only $33. Cant wait to be back again.

The 3 Misconceptions About Starting A Business

2009-06-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

1. You need lots of capital to start a business.
That's what everyone thinks. But if you are creative, you dont unless you are building a hotel or some mega project. And I think the more $$ you have, the more you are afraid to venture and lose it. I started with less than $3000 with no financial help from my parents who spent what they had on my education. Yes you heard it right. Start small and build up.

When I first started, I couldnt afford any physical space. And I sold online. Whenever anyone was interested, I will lug around my big bag of clothes in various sizes for the customer to try. I developed a chronic backache as a result. I will meet customers in shopping centres or hotels or their houses. Some of my earlier customers will have remembered that. I remembered once when a rich tai tai called me to bring as many designs as possible to her apartment after seeing them on my web. There was no lift and I climbed up the whole stairs with my luggage bag. In the end, she told me my clothes are expensive for her as she could invest in designer togs instead. And I climbed back down the stairs with the big luggage bag. And she lived on top of a slope.

2. You need lots of experience
I didnt had any former fashion education or experience. But what helped me was my experience in the creative field and marketing communications, it helped me market Fuchsia Lane effectively. I created a unique story angle for my press releases and Fuchsia Lane was featured in the papers for more than 30 times. You need to know what you are getting into but you dont need years of experience. And be prepared to fall and learn.

3. You can do whatever you want as a boss.
That is so not true. As your business grow bigger, you take on more obligations and responsibilities. Fuchsia Lane has the obligation to the staff and their families. I have to make sure they get fed even if business is bad. They get paid first. I have a responsibility to my customers to make sure they are getting what they pay for. All my designs get finalised after destroying many samples which explains the price. I cant stop working or declare myself a holiday just because I feel like it. I think I work 16-20 hours a day. My head is full of stuff like creating new designs, making sure my staff are working hard and happy, attracting and retaining customers, thinking of new ideas to increase business in these times.

Pasta by the River-Da Mario Pizzeria

2009-06-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

Da Mario actually started as a humble joint which served very homely pasta and pizzas. Last year, when I visited them again, they actually moved to a bigger restaurant with a slightly more posh feel but still retaining the cosiness associated with family pizzeria. I love supporting such places where you can see their business grow over the years due to the hard/heartwork of the team.

I ordered the Spaghetti al Cartucio and Pizza Rustica.

This is made of Italian sausages, cheese and rustica.

The picture says a thousand words isnt it. The piping hot gooey cheese and sausages were a heavenly mix. I can still remember the taste when I sank my teeth into the pizza. The crust was made just the way I like it, it wasnt too thin or thick and there is a freshness to it as I think they made the pizza in house. The portion was just nice for 2 people.

This seafood pasta is cooked with white wine, tomato sauce and garlic and then wrapped in "paper" which sealed in the flavour. It usually takes about 20 minutes to prepare. So be patient. $18.

The spaghetti was infused with the flavour but I found it a wee bit too wet and soft. But the consistent texture of the savoury sauce saved it and the really hearty serving of fresh seafood. I lost count of the prawns that came with it, there were 2 mussels at least, scallop and lots of clams and squids. $22.

The waiters are friendly and many have been there since day 1 which is a testamount to the fact that the boss is nice. This pizzeria is diagonally opposite Gallery Hotel at Robertson Quay. I will recommend it as a place to chill out with your friends or your boyfriend on lazy Sunday. But reserve in advance on friday nights

Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

2009-06-26T10:27:00.000-07:00

Entreprenueurship has surged in these difficult times when almost someone you know is retrenched. When the job market becomes saturated, more and more people start to think about starting a business. To test whether you are suited for starting a business, I have deduced 5 qualities every entrepreneur should possess based on my own experience.

1. Passion
This is the most important ingredient for starting any business. The course of business never quite run smooth. Almost 95% of your friends and families will dissuade you and not believe in you. You must believe strongly in what you do especially when times are bad, and when you are not making money and your bank account is falling everyday. When I first started my business, my parents didnt believe me, my closest aunt didnt either, it was painful. If I didnt have the passion in what I do, I will have given up many times.

2. Stamina
Unless you intend to start a business, get a quick buck and end in 2 years, you need stamina to build your company, your brand, your empire. You need to slowly gain the trust of your customers, staff and even your family members who initially objected to you starting a business. It is a marathon that can span as long as you live. I want to be able to celebrate Fuchsia Lane's golden anniversary.

3. Vision
Create a vision of what you want your business to be in 1 year, 3 year, 5 years and 10 years' time. My vision is for Fuchsia Lane to become a global designer label with strong artistic and cultural roots and everything I do now is to take baby steps towards this big vision.

4. Proactive
You are the driver of your business. If you wait for things to happen, nothing will. You have to actively pursue it, make things happen, create miracles everyday. Go out and make yourself known. Close a deal proactively. Actively seek for help if you need it. Your business face threats everyday and you must think of innovative ways to overcome it. If you dont advance, your business dies.

5. Strong financial sense
No money no talk. Cash is essential to survival. I am still learning to master financial control. Every business exists to make money. You either bring the costs down or sell your goods high. But it is not a simple equation. There are many things that will affect your financials like a sudden economic crisis, months of bad business, hikes in supply prices, a deal didnt go through.

Window Inspirations

2009-06-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

Being a designer means I have to be inspired constantly with fresh new stuff. Everything can be an inspiration from travels, to spending a day at the museum and even window shopping.

I like looking at CK Tangs window displays. It has a strong theme, changes frequently and you can see there is really a professional team behind. Recently, I walk past Tangs and saw this mobile unit outside and all the below you are going to see is the work of design school students!

I like the pop colours + vintage feel. The bags are inside the cage.

Brollys can be displayed in a eye catchy way too.

I like this chair! Any idea where I can get such boudoir looking chairs?

Watches need not be displayed in glass showcases.

Cool isnt it?!

Cheap and good pasta

2009-06-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

When I was in Milan during university days, I developed a palatte for pastas since it is the national food. Even Italian classic beauty and actress Sophia Lauren once said whatever she had today she owed it to spaghetti.

But when I came back to Singapore, alas Italian food is really expensive cuisine. So having just started work then, whenever I had pasta craze, I will go to Pasta Mania which also just started! But over the years, as my palatte grew more sophisticated, I also found that the quality between different outlets seem to differ. Some outlets are good whereas another outlet's offerings can be barely satisfactory.

But I ate at the Cineleisure outlet few days ago, and I really fell in love with it again. After almost 2 years of not visiting Pastamania, they have added alot to their menus like even Japanese based pastas and fanciful drinks. But I always only go for the traditional ones. So I ordered the good ole aglio olio with prawns.

The spaghetti was al dente and not overly soft. The spaghetti absorbed the favour of the olive oil with chopped garlic. There was a fragrant burst of flavours in your mouth. Last time they used to serve whole prawns generously but now they only served prawns chopped in tiny bits. But one cannot expect too much from a pasta dish that cost less than $9.

The cream of tomato soup was so yummy that I actually drank it halfway before I remembered to take pictures. I dipped the prawns in the tomato cream soup to make them flavoursome. The soup has the right tinge of sourness which sent my tastebuds in euphoria for a while. My boyfriend did comment they could improve the soup's appearance by putting parsley and sprinkling chopped garlic on it while adding tomato chunks to improve the texture. He is a cookaholic! But well the bowl is only $2.30.

And 2 of us finished 3 bowls! The bowl should have been bigger.

15% off if you have their discount card. Of course you can't expect fine dining standards here, but good enough to satisfy your cravings for cheap and good pasta.

Lord of The Fries!

2009-06-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

Kim Gary's Fries Selection. $3.60 per basket.

I hate to admit it. I love fries. Even though they are unhealthy and fatty. Thats the truth even though all the fast food chains claim they use the healthiest fries. I am the kind who will walk to the nearest macdonald when they have the SHAKER/SAMURAI fries! YUMMY.. And I will reject fries served that are lifeless and
COLD!

So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered a restaurant that offers a wide variety of fries in different flavours. Cool! they have mayo fries, beef sauce fries, seaweed fries and blah. So far I only tried the beef sauce fries and the seaweed fries and I think the former tastes really good with its gooey beef sauce. It just makes you want to keep eating them even though your subconscious mind tells you to stop as they are fatty. I tell myself just one more two more three more and soon they are all gone.

The restaurant is Kim Gary- one of the HK cha chan teng in Vivo City. The service was only so so as I went an hour before they are closing and they seem more interested shutting down the place than serving you.

Kim Gary's Seaweed Fries with the bowl of Nissin Noodles served with egg and luncheon meat.

I can never cook instant noodles that good. The texture of noodles is very important to me and I love their springy noodles. It costs $5.80 per bowl.

I will be back ... for more fries!

The Curse of Flat Feet

2009-06-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Like every little girl, I dreamt that I will be strutting my pretty gowns with my dainty glass slipper waiting for my prince charming. That was until I found out I was born with the curse of FLAT FEET!

This meant standing 5 mins in heels is enough to send every cell in my calves, heels and arch reeling in pain. If I choose to ignore the pain, it will then travel up to my lower back. And after a day, I will probably toss and turn in bed for an hour with my achy legs till I can fall asleep. Even flats are not totally good for me, as most of these shoes are too narrow for my flat feet and I deduced I need footwear with arch support. All these years, sadly, I have not managed to find pretty heels designed for flat feet souls. But there are some comfy shoe brands which are catered for the flat feet.

When I am not meeting my clients, I will wear my pink Rockport sandals courtesy of my boyfriend. They are not pretty but they are really god sent comfort with their thick padded in soles that support my arch. New Balance has wide shoes and arch support for flat feet which made me feel I am walking on sunshine..ooh yeah.. And there are the Everlast canvas shoes that are wide enough for my feet and can go with jeans.

If one day, you ever see my shoes mismatched with my clothes, please forgive me. It is my archilles heel!

The Great Watsons Sale

2009-06-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

I cant believe how cheap some items are going at this sale.
The Nivea Anti Cellulite Slimming Silouette Gel is going at half price which is 2 for $45 when 1 originally costs $45!

I stock up bottles of the ZA Cleansemax gel which removes make up as they are going off at 20% and come with small samples which are great for travelling. I dont spend much on cleansers as long as they can fulfil the job of keeping my face clean and not leaving my face dry.

I bought 2 bottles of the Maybelline eye/lip make up cleanser. I swear by this as my waterproof mascara comes off easily with 1 wipe unlike other gentle eye make up remover cleansers. They were originally selling $11.90 and now there is $3 off!

There are also some anti-deodorant rolls which are going at bundle price. Great for the sweltering weather. You dont want to suffer from wet pits or have stains on your shirt.

And there is $5 voucher for every $50 spent! End 1st July when I enquired with the staff. Maybe back again to stock up more.

My Fashion Suite-the Labour of Love

2009-06-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

My new fashion suite has been opened for 2 months. And everytime I look at the wall paper, I am reminded by how many afternoons Gary has burnt trying to attempt amateur wallpapering. While he is cursing and swearing and sweating as he did it, I could see he did it really out of his love for me. Oh yes, mushy but it is the truth.

Before that I pulled him shopping with me for the wallpaper at Laura Ashley. And days we spent shopping in Malaysia and Singapore and doing our sums considering whether we should buy the piece of furniture for our suite. The wooden shelves, the drawers,the tables were assembled and drilled on by him and everytime I have to bear with his nagging. But not to forget this is the man who went shopping with me for stuff, moved, carried the stuff, drove me around, installed everything and sometimes even paid for them. All these precious time he could have spent sleeping in or playing games or feeding his fishies but he didnt.

The gorgeous chandelier was given to me by my aunt who is extremely close to me. I felt such a relief as she started strongly opposing me in setting up a business. This chandelier was a symbol of her well wishes and support and accepting my journey from a little girl to a business woman. Everytime I switch on the chandelier I can feel her smile beaming.

I will never have journeyed so far without the support of these loved ones. Thank you.

Malaccan Flavours

2009-06-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

Those are not fishballs. They are Malacca's famous chicken rice balls. Ate them in Farmosa Chicken Rice Balls Store. Ooshi..salivating as I see this.

The biggest pineapple tart in the world. The shop actually entered Guiness World Records for that!

See this highlighted doll. It is so cute. I can imagine my little nephew bubu in it though he hates anything attached to his head.

This shop sells papercutting that is done by an inhouse artist. Heard he is quite young.

My boyfriend was so amused that he had to take this toilet paper dispenser

San Shu Gong serves really delicious durian chendol. Thirst quenching and refreshing. And this is coming from someone who never really like eating chendol. My boyfriend and I ate this for 2 days straight!

This famous Malacca river seems to remind me of Venice.

There seems to be a fascination for clogs in this little town. Every touristy shop sells them from actual size to magnet size.

Batik painter patiently painting his works. I love the vibrant flowers and how deftly he paints.

Taken from this little shop called Lim Trading @ 63 Jalan Tokong. The cute roosters caught my eye. But the closed toe design didnt really suit me. Although the shop is hardly well furnished, you will find a fine array of beaded and even potong shoes made with love.

Pictures all taken by my boyfriend Gary.

Peranakan Culture

2009-06-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

Given all the popularity with peranakan culture nowadays, I visited a restored Peranakan mansion when I was in Penang. And to my pleasant surprise, the mansion happened to be the place where MediaCorp did the filming for their Little Nonya drama.

This place was previously the home of a Chinese official Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee who settled in Penang and married local women. It was in the ruins after decades of neglect but it was bought over and restored to its former glory few years back.

The main hall

The dining hall was on the 2nd floor where the whole family had their meals.

I find these colourful tassels very inspiring. They are everywhere in a Peranakan household from beds to bridal head gears. And they may even inspire my next collections.

Bridal head gear for the groom and bride.

Missy's bed

Some of these embroidery were actually done by the ladies themselves where they had the time to do it from day to night.

I went for their conducted tour. And it is really worthwhile as the guide was very knowledgeable about the different aspects of the Peranakan lifestyles, their history and it made us feel we were living their life at that moment in time!
Check out their website www.pinangperanakanmansion.com.my

My love for the Peranakan culture started a few years back before the show became popular. This was taken few years back in the famous Penang Blue Mansion which is also a restored Peranakan mansion. I heard you can even stay in it now.

Penang

2009-02-16T06:35:00.000-08:00

Penang was great! It is a lovely Valentine's gift from my dear boyfriend who knows I have a fondness for this place. Penang is my mum's hometown and I spend my childhood holidays growing up in this tiny unpretentious town with lotsa good food and a doting aunt.

Char koay teow, koay teow thng and the pillow like gluntinous rice are my favourite.
Last time my dad used to drive us 12 hours from SIngapore to Penang but it is really a pukey ride. Luckily now, we can afford SQ. :)

Gary has booked a 4 day 3 night stay at G hotel, one of the most stylish address in town so it is called. And yipee it is beside my favourite shopping centre " Gurney Shopping Plaza" where I can zip to.

I must say it is one of the best hotels I have stayed at. The room is really spacious and stylish with my favourite 4 poster bed and the mood right. But the service is only so so as they took more than 20 mins to attend to your request when I asked for a marker pen. And I was quite shocked when no one at the reception answered the phone.

But one of the rewards of the trip is that I actually found a lady skilled in Peranakan beading. Her works are really fine using the tiniest quality beads (even smaller than the beads I use for sequin sewing). I was so fascinated by her "heartworked" crafts and we seem to click immediately. And if everything goes well, you will see these exquisite beading soon in Fuchsia Lane's designs. Keep your eyes peeled. :)

I also visited the finest Peranakan mansion in Penang. And it was used for the shooting of the famous "Little Nonya" Be patient while I upload the photos shot with my boyfriend's pet camera.

Shopping Treasures from Melbourne!

2008-11-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

Ok here's my finds in Melbourne. Bearing in mind the shops close at 6 and I never managed to wake up early than 9am, I skipped lunch to walk thru as many shops as I can in the little lanes, shopping arcades and musuems.

Am a fan for tin cans! I collect them in all shapes and sizes. Arent these nostalgia sewing kit and baking kit cans cute? The black one is actually shaping underwear thats keeps your fat tummy in. It is like a leotard. And the pink one is a panty liner packaging.

Book of erotic postcards that remind us of our teenage years reading Mill and Boons.

I fell in love with these vintage lace umbrella. But cost $89AUD! will display it in my showroom one of these days.

Inspirational postcard.

Plates with a cute bear face. I had to get it when I saw this because my boyfriend is nicknamed The Bear as well. So I gave it to him :)

all the sandals I bought in Oz. I have flat feet so any kind of heels make me crimp in pain.

The Melbourne ladies wear this fascinator and dressed to the nines while attending Melbourne Cup. It is annual horse racing event. The ladies are really a joy to behold on this day as they walk down the streets in groups in brightly coloured feminine dresses. I heard some even make their own dresses and fascinators. Perhaps more ladies here should dress up too.

Red glossy key pouch

Candles in yummy bottles. Smells heavenly.

One of my favourite brands there. I bought this socks as a gift for my girlfriend-Sabbie

Dining in Melbourne-Seafood Ahoy!

2008-11-15T10:46:00.000-08:00

Dining in Melbourne is an expensive affair. Even if you just want to eat hotdog roll. It costs as much as a large plate of fried rice here or even more. The one I ate costs about $6-$10. And most pizza and pastas seem to be the staple of melbournians.

I may have fashion sense but I certainly dont have much food sense. My boyfriend always say I should be more adventurous in trying out food, but I am contented to eat the same tried and tested thing everyday as I know I wont go hungry if the food doesnt taste nice. So I am happy to eat seafood pasta -which is my favourite- everyday and the difference between the pasta in Singapore and there is the seafood is so much fresher, fatter and succulent and the pasta is indeed flavoursome. It seems a bite can release a burst of flavours in your mouth.

But on a few occasions, I did made a brave decision to try something else. So here goes.

Day 2 At The Verge which is recommended by Melbourne Secrets

I tried this so called Australian cuisine at this ex restaurant.. geesh was really ex and I hate the fact that they don’t put menus right outside. When u go in, u r trapped! But the food was good. Thinking abt it now makes me salivate. Australian seafood are best, big and fresh, the name of the dish I took was really long and fanciful but in actual fact, it meant there are dory fish, clams, mushrooms and dashi FOAM.. first time I heard of dashi foam, and was really foamy,, the mushrooms melt in ur mouth. And the clams spewed juice when u bite on them. I almost wanted to drink the sauce from the shell.

Dining is a pleasurable affair there. People take time to eat, and restaurant owner create their menu and place with pride. Each of the dining place I went has such a character of its own.

This is a place called Babble @ Greville Street , Prahran.

I tried this appetiser called Ginger salmon with Asparagus. Salmon is actually my favourite which i cant live without. The name of this appetiser sounded odd but I tried taking a bet. It did taste abit strong for me with asparagus embeded inside the salmon. I still managed to eat almost everything and when the waitress cleared the plate, she said " You did well!"

The menu is lovely isnt it!

One day when I was so tired from the shopping along Chapel Street, I came by this eatery. It is really interesting. They have all kind of noodles In A Box. Even Singapore noodles and laksa. At first, I thought it is a gimmicky thing, but the hot and piping noodles did taste yummy and it was surprisingly filling for such a small box. The Chef told me the small box holds 500g of noodles! woah.

I tried their Thai noodles with chicky. Really ooishi! Thinking about it makes me hungry again.

On the last day I went to this Greek restaurant called Stalactites with interiors like those of limestone caves. I think it is really the most adventurous choice I made. I have never tried Greek food before. As I look at the menu, I hardly know what to order as they sound really " Greek" to me.. So I asked the waitress what her recommendations are. After her list, I said ok I just want fish soup with rice. At least that sounds vaguely familiar.

The fish soup is something like the salty vegetable tofu soup we have except it is 10 times more sour! Ooh lala.. my boyfriend will have love it given his extremely sour tastebuds.

Every tourist must try this - Colonial Tramcar Restaurant

2008-11-12T08:35:00.000-08:00

Ok this is not for the faint hearted! Why? Because this is really expensive. The colonial tramcar restauarant is a real restored tramcar that serves you meals while you sit inside the tramcar and tour around the suburbs. They serve luncheon, early dinner and late dinner. The early 3 course dinner I went for is a whopping $70 for 1 person! Geesh.. But you will get all your worth if you go with your date - cos it is romantic or if you drink alot as wines on board are covered in the charge and you can drink all you want- red wine , white wine, spirits ahoy!

Well but I guess all tourists to Melbourne must try it for once at least. The mahogany tramcar is really beautiful and sitting inside to dine is a real experience! It gives you an old fashioned experience of being back in time eating on board a real tram, as it moves slowly across Melbourne's fringes taking you to the parks and the famous St Kilda Beach. And the crew on my tram really looked like celebrity chefs Anthony Boudain and Jamie Oliver! They serve you like authentic waiters of 5 class restaurants-with flair and finesse.

Cream Liver and Cognac Pate, roasted red capscium dip with assorted crisp bread.
The appetiser sure sounds "cheeem" but they are quite delectable. Makes me want to eat the crackers dipped in the sauce again and again.

Prime Eye fillet of beef resting on potato and herb rosti.
I told the waiter that I will like to have my beef tender but not bloody so he ordered medium rare. But it is still abit tough, but i like the sauce though. It made the whole dish really savoury.

White Chocolate and Passionfruit Mousse with praline and vanilla rasberry syrup.
I am not a dessert or chocolate fan but this is really really heavenly-sweet with abit of yoghurty sourness. Melts in your month and I really wish I had more of this. The best dessert I ever tasted in my life!

Doesnt he look like Jamie Oliver?

A home away from home @ Somerset Gordon Place, Melbourne

2008-11-12T07:09:00.000-08:00

This is a cliched advertising line which almost all hotel ads use. But few live up to this promise. But at the Somerset Gordon Place which I stayed in Melbourne is truly an enjoyable abode to return to after a day's of adventure. It is actually part of the Ascott Group that is from Singapore and co-incidentally the CEO is also Fuchsia Lane's customer. :) But of course what I said is unbiased.

The apartment is a beautiful red brick old heritage building that is restored, right smack in the city centre. The train station is less than 5 mins walk. When I reached there at 12pm, the staff checked me in immediately despite the check in time was 2pm. That was a relief as I just had a weary midnight flight. And the studio apartment is clean and cosy with its own bathroom and kitchenette. The bed is full of plush pillows and warm sheets. Those that you see and you just want to sink in. I am especially impressed by the pillow menu which has different pillows for you to choose from a good firm support pillow to a down feather European pillow. The set up is just nice for one person like me who is travelling alone.

And the staff are so ever ready to help you. They are not impatient to explain to you how things work in the hotel, how to get around to a destination. Whatever they do not know, they will try their best to find out for you. They even post the letters for you and always greet you with a big warm smile! A particular staff I like to commend is the Australian Asian counter staff - Rochelle who is always so bubbly. She is like your friend in an unfamiliar land.

The only bad thing is there are no movie channels and you have to pay for internet usage which is either per hour or daily. Oh well, but that is something I can lived with. I will still go back the apartment again if I am back in Melbourne!

Melbourne's Great!

2008-11-10T20:38:00.000-08:00

Melbourne's great.. that is if you can stand not shopping after 6. It is difficult for someone like me who came from a city where people complain the shops close at 9 and not 11 or 12 like Hong Kong. BUT in Melbourne, the atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried, the people are generally more friendly, the air is fresher, weather is cool. The people believe in living a quality life balanced with after work enjoyment, hanging out with friends and family and exercising.

There are no impatient honkings from rude drivers. In fact, the cars will almost always stop to let you pass even if the pedestrain light is RED. People have time to stop and greet each other. And there are so many asians in the city like Hongkies, Singaporeans, Malaysians and Indonesians that as an asian I dont feel left out at all.

And what is worthy to mention is the glorious seafood! Oh my! Fat succulent prawns, clams that spew juice when you buy on them, a burst of flavours. When you taste seafood there, it will never be the same again. But then again food is generally more expensive than in Singapore. There is no concept of hawker there, the cheapest hot dog roll or sandwich will set u back at AUD $6-10! A plate of noodles from an eatery will cost $10+ which is cheap for their standards. An average meal cost $30 per person and a very good meal cost $50-$60 Per person. And the tramcar colonial restaurant which I went (and which I will talk about late) is a whopping $70 Per person! Oh well, but at least they dont have service or entertainment tax. What u see on the menu is what u pay.

But oh well, people are paid high there. One of the sales assistant told me the average retail pay is $20+ per hour, and $35/hr on sundays! But most prefer to work only 4 days a week. Imagine if you are a hardworking chap, you can earn over $2500
just being a store assistant-a far cry from here.

Now for the transport. You dont pay by fare per trip. You either buy 2 hours pass ($3.50)or 24 hours pass ($6.50) and you can take as many rides as you want. So no matter you take only 2 rides or 10 rides within 24 hours, is still $6.50. Flinders Street Station is the main train interchange. And it has 14 platforms! A good workout for me trying to run up and down to find which platform goes to the destination I want.

Except for the closing early part, the city is lovely with its intricate shops, charming laneways, you can see lotsa of effort goes into decorating every nook and crannny of the shop. Every small little lane has a treasure trove of shops. There is no cookie cutter shops and every shop is unique. The sales staff are smiley and not pesky. Their opening line is a booming" Hello! How are you today!" It is ok if you dont buy after trying, it is not a problem for them. But they dont have concept of giving discounts. It is either you buy or dont buy. Try haggling and they will probably think you are weird.