Ageing well and pink courtesy of New Paper 15th Feb

1) A good skincare routine: tight skin means excessive cleansing.
I've experienced tightness. Guess I must let my skin take a break when that happens.

2) Wear less make-up.
I'm probably an oddball who doesn't put makeup before going out but now I can safely advocate this point. :)

3) Sleep well, drink more.
Yes, sleep is essential for glowing health, and for losing weight. Each time I weigh myself after having slept late the night before, my weight increases. Water too, is a miracle elixir. It cleanses our body system and gives us good skin.

Yeoh Wee Teck likes the colour pink too and I am reinforced in my liking of it. I've felt negative vibes towards my liking of this colour. Does it make me too cute and childish? Who has the right to comment on and dictate my tastes? See, even a guy likes it. He even recommended an Adidas watch in bright pink, which is similar to one I have and looks so cool. Eat your heart out!

National Geographic Museum

I went to this museum at Vivocity. It is a place of wonders, filled with history, landscapes and portraits. Little photography exhibitions and archaelogical discoveries are testimony to that. They even sell equipment meant for children, so that they can participate in the studies pertaining to the world's hidden wonders. Children can be egyptologists, scientists and underwater explorers through these.

I saw an exquisite medicine cabinet used to store Chinese medicinal herbs as well as photographs on the frog world. The latter was so visually spellbinding with their vivid colours and larger-than-life dimensions, courtesy of the photographers' skills.

This brings me to Solomon Lim's article on discovering. He laments on how locals go for tangibles and bargains as compared to enriching exhibitions on the wonders this earth has. I remember how people were goggle-eyed at the Siamese Twins and even at executions in ancient times. Being amongst the few appreciative people in the museum made me feel cultured but more importantly, it was a fruitful visit. My mind was exposed to the wonders of history and the natural world. My eyes beheld such awe-inspiring physicals and I learnt so much more about our earth. I definitely agree with him.

Aunty Elaine's house: full of treasures

A hanging ornament reminding me of a childhood game which used paper to tell my fortune; somewhat like origami. I like the patterns on the paper, very Japanese.




A Chinese knot ornament: the fan shapes make it more elaborate and unusual.










This was on a calendar and its simplicity struck me. The lilac background contributed to the simplicity.
"Chun" means spring and youth.




Bath, in England, is where the character the Wife of Bath in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales was based on. I would love to go there, a place so rich in literary history.








Another Chinese tasseled ornament: the paper lantern is reminiscent of CNY decorations my classmates and I used to make in school and those my late mum used to make for our home. She had always been an artistic lady.







Another Chinese ornament: like the pink flowers.










During CNY, the host uses her most beautiful cutlery for her guests and Aunty Elaine's no exception. This is really a small fork holder with small forks inserted into it. This is in the shape of a banana. I found it intricate and cute. Even the forks are designed in the shape of bananas!






These are in the shapes of a custard apple and a mangosteen!






My Chinese zodiac sign: a rabbit. This is one of the 12 animal ornaments she bought from Chinatown to decorate her pussy willows. According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, there are 12 years in a cycle and each year is allocated to an animal. People who are born in a certain year have certain characteristics of that animal and these can determine their future.


Another Chinese tasseled ornament: "Fu" means luck.










A CNY plant: pretty in design and colour.

Art gallery onboard Legend of the Sea!

A glass of champagne but painted amidst bold colours and graphics in the background, in an avant-garde fashion.









The death of Jesus and His Mother's grief portrayed in a sketch-like manner.










Love this landscape, so realistic, and the flowers look especially pretty. The ships in their cove look like a hidden paradise.







This looks so beautiful with the flowers adorning the place. Guess I have this thing about flowers.




Elegant ladies playing their musical instruments and sharing their melodies. I like the fashion in which this scene was painted, the colours give a New Orleans feel to it.




A very ethereal muse, in all her features; the purity of her face, the baby's breath in her hair and the chiffon sheath on her.









Appropriate for Valentine's Day, with hearts in the background highlighting a couple slow-dancing. The graphics used to paint the hearts make this painting post-modernist in style.







The colours combine to form this landscape, which is just so striking and gives off a velvety feel.





Such colourful flowers and clear blue skies surrounding a fountain; an idyllic landscape.






Yet another landscape painting where nature takes precedence. Love nature and so this painting is eye-catching. Wordsworth would second my opinion, I'm quite sure.

A different side of Earth

The horizon of the sea, made up of the meeting between the sea and the sky. Such a combination of blues can only be created by God. Seems like evening time, since the tones of blue are not so bright.



An even more beautiful view of the sea, as if the waves are rolling in their foam.






A lone vessel on the waters amidst a perfect alignment of the sea and sky.







A huge ship with its funnel spewing out smoke, which is something
we neglect to admire.







A trail of ships "playing the game Follow the Leader". Such an adorable thing to behold. :)

Towel folding class

A rabbit, my Chinese zodiac sign! :)









A dog, and I'm nuts about canines! Sigh...







An elephant, realistic! Like this one.










My disastrous attempt at an elephant. :S Obviously, I'm not the artistic type. Can't help laughing when I see this. Haha.










An alligator, apparently the simplest animal of all to fold.

Facilities onboard Legend of the Sea

Mini golf course











Spa pool: the umbrella-like shelter gives it an unusual touch and one of exclusivity.






Casino: money either to give you or to get from you. lol. We got a voucher for US$8, which could be redeemed for the cash. Our CNY present!






Bar counter stocked with cocktail ingredients






Video Arcade: this machine puts in value into your passcard for you to play the games











Video Arcade game: shooting bears with a gun. It was difficult.







Video Arcade game: getting stuffed toys with the claw. It was difficult. How did the Amazing Race Asia players get it done?





My bed in the cabin: comfortable; slept so well. We took a Larger Interior Stateroom.










Mini-bar in our cabin: I took about 2 bottles of mineral water, costing US$1.95 each















Nightclub for teenagers






Club especially for children: parents can rest assured that the people in charge are experienced and qualified. Saw a group of kids embarking on an excursion.










Ben and Jerry's ice-cream parlour: orders are not free though.





Internet corner: spent about $50 on the internet, blogging and checking emails. More expensive than my monthly bill. Looks like I am addicted to it. :S It costs US$0.55 a minute and you swipe your passcard to pay.




Live music provided at Romeo and Juliet Dining Hall: the melodious and soothing tunes enthralled me.




A therapeutic-looking water feature to beautify the ship.

My trip to Phuket

The last time I went there was back in 1983. It has been16 years.

The view from the cruise ship








The view of the hills from the cruise ship








Patong Beach with shops and eating outlets galore.






Patong Beach full of sunbathers. I even saw topless Caucasian women.








A rural area opposite the temple with the largest Buddha statue.