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Lou Hei at the peak of Singapore! At Singapore Flyer!

First of all, I'd like to wish everyone Happy Chinese New Year (CNY)... Hope you find prosperity, good health, happiness and loads of fun in this new year of the Rabbit.

Small digress here but please don't buy rabbits just cos it's rabbit year!!

Ok, moving right along, so with CNY, traditions are always to have Lou Hei and big reunion dinners. This year, my very first Lou Hei was with the good people at the Singapore Flyer.



I know, you're going like, Lou Hei? Singapore Flyer?! Are you kidding meeeee?!!!

Well, nope I'm not!

See this year, the Singapore Flyer presents to all their Signature Auspicious Trail which promises to harness the right Chi or the cohesive flow of position energy that guarantees prosperity, good fortune and longevity.


Extracted from their website:

"Visitors will receive Heaven Chi when their capsule hits its peak of 165 metres. After the 30-minute flight on the architectural marvel, be blessed with Earth Chi at the Wishing Well. And complete the Auspicious Trail by tossing coins and sounding the Lucky Gong to improve Human Chi.


This triple blessing of Chi will ensure that you leap into the Year of the Rabbit filled with prosperity, wealth and happiness!

Guests who want to usher in the Year of the Rabbit with the traditional Lo Hei can do so in specially-arranged capsules. So do bring your family members or office colleagues to toss “Yu Sheng’’ in style and when you’re literally on top of the world!"

Bloggers gathered to view the auspicious preparation of the Yu Sheng.

How fun right!! Well, if you're interested to take this up, here are the details!! I heard it's $1,888 nett for up to 26 guests!

Thanks to the wonderful organisers, my maiden trip up this Flyer was really quite a wonderful experience. Here are some pictures to remember the event by:

Isn't this view from Singapore Flyer just breathtaking? Like what stock image libraries like Inmagine would sell for like $800-$1,000!!


Yummy Yu Sheng with a truly lovely view of the Singapore Night Scene as a backdrop.


They really did manage to fit 2 of such tables into a cabin for Lou Hei!

Another awesome photo of Singapore. And all I used was my humble Samsung EX-1!

Here are GREAT reasons why the Singapore Flyer is a must-visit this CNY!

1) TAKE GREAT PICTURES!
The facade of the iconic waterfront attraction will be teeming with festive spring flowers, an 83-metre “Chun Dao’ light-up, a 12-metre inflatable giant Cai Shen Ye and various entertainments such as the traditional lion dance and a roving God of Fortune.

2) CHECK OUT THE SG FOOD TRAIL
Enjoy a wide selection of dining opportunities for all at the Flyer’s new lifestyle waterfront dining promenade, as well as, the Singapore Food Trail - a food fiesta that seeks to tell the Singapore food story by transporting visitors back to the 1960s, when Singapore gained independence.

Themed street food stalls and kiosks will be offering the most popular of local fare such as Bak Kut Teh, Satay and Bak Chor Mee!

3) FESTIVE GOODIES AND PROMOTIONS!
Festive goodies await all full-paying flight ticket holders. Receive a Signature Auspicious Trail booklet, red packets, a return 1-for-1 voucher and a chance to win $888 in Singapore Flyer capsule treasure hunt.

Usher in the year of the Rabbit at the Singapore Flyer! Check out their website for more information on their various events and ticket prices!

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Posted by Ju Ann at Saturday, January 29, 2011
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Tours in Bali: Mr Smiles

MBA tours (although recommended) seemed to be a bit too pricey so we headed off to find another operator.

Walking along Poppies Lane I, we stopped at a friendly looking guy with a nice smile. His company name is Mr Smiles.

Young chap. Very reliable and sincere. Doesn't beat around the bush with pricing. His name is Opin. Speaks great English too.

Yup that's Opin!

Here's what we got from him:
- Rp400,000 for trekking up Mount Batur
- Rp200,000 for 1hr snorkelling, visit to turtle island, parasailing, and our transport was in a glass bottom boat.
- USD26 with 10% discount (USD26-10%) and free transport to Waterbom Water Theme Park

Stay tuned for an update on how our tours were with Mr Smiles!

(Rp6,500 = SGD1)

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Posted by Ju Ann at Tuesday, January 25, 2011
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White Water Rafting at Bali


Adventure day! So Bali's a great place for loads of water sports and inland adventure activities. One of things we did when in Bali was White Water Rafting. It was awesome man..

I booked my tour with MBA tours and for 3 of us, the price was Rp300,000 (USD32/SGD42) each.

There are 11 such companies offering this experience and MBA booked us on with Bali International Rafting.

From Kuta beach, the minivan ride was comfortable and took 2 hours thereabouts.

We were all ready to have fun!!

Once there, we had a guide named Malé. His love for fun made our trip really entertaining. He has had 15 years of experience, taking tourists like us on a 2.5 hour rafting experience everyday.

Yes this would be my very cute friend with a leaf, in her helmet

And that's major. If he weren't that experienced, I think our raft would have been stuck a lot among the rocky rivers.

The experience was superb. I'll do it all over again in a heartbeat. Can't believe I missed out on this all those times that I was in Phuket/Krabi!

The best part of the whole thing had to be the 5m high drop that he skillfully manevoured us through! :p

So if you find yourself in Bali, do check out White Water Rafting. :)


Here's an awesome shot of us 3!! Hahaha

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Posted by Ju Ann at Monday, January 24, 2011
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Hello from Bali!


Hi! Greetings from Bali, Indonesia!

Yes, I'm on my maiden trip here and so far, I'm really loving it.

Am staying at the Poppies Hotel at Kuta beach and it's way awesome!

Check out some quick photos here:

Me and my girlfriends are all bunked in a little quaint cottage. Yup, all three of us in single beds.

Very cozy and very comfortable!

Stay tuned for more updates from beautiful Bali.

Here are me and my traveling buddies, Shan and Angeline.

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Posted by Ju Ann at Thursday, January 20, 2011
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A Photo Post To Remember My Cousins' Trip to Singapore!

So we went to NEX mall @ Serangoon MRT. Huge place! Was completely lost in there. Finally tried Freshness Burger from Tokyo but wasn't impressed with it.

Photos are taken with LOMOLOMO iPhone app. I think this app is the BEST lomo app ever! Free in App Store!

Here's (L to R) Sophia, My Sis and Leena








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Posted by Ju Ann at Monday, January 17, 2011
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Interviewed and Featured

This was like so many months back! But it's pretty cool. :)



Original post here

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Posted by Ju Ann at Saturday, January 15, 2011
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Embrace the Present.

I was floored to have realised this. And I thought, I have a blog and I really need to share this with you all. Please spare some time to read this.


You know how sometimes, we tell ourselves, I will spend time with my kid tomorrow. Or I will go start that healthy regime when I have time.

Well, stop that!

NEVER put off doing things that are important to your well-being and satisfaction to a later time.

Live fully, TODAY. Not later, not when you win the lottery, not when you have time.

A lot of us fool ourselves into thinking...

⁂ I will be a better husband/father/wife/mother when I have enough money.
⁂ I will a more loving husband/wife/daughter/son when I am less busy.
⁂ We'll get married when we have saved enough money because that's when we'll be happy.
⁂ I'll go for that dance class when I have time.

I have, in my life thought of all of the above. And I regret. I always put off enjoying life till I have the luxury of money/time.

When will money ever be enough? When will I ever find enough time?

I wish I could have done a lot of things differently. But I hope I'm not too late to start changing my life right now.

Today, my friends, is the day you seize the moment and live a life that truly satisfying. Today, you live the way you want and harvest your dreams.

Here's an extract from a great inspiration book called The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari:

"Few things are as meaningful as being a part of your children's childhood. What is the point of climbing the steps of success if you have missed the first steps of your own kids? What good is owning the biggest house on your block if you have not taken the time to create a home?

LIVE IN THE MOMENT.

Don't mull over the past. Don't put off things you want to do. Never, never sacrifice happiness for achievement. (If you are reading this, you know who you are, I wish we knew this earlier)

So today, I am thankful for the family that I'm surrounded with. I'm thankful for the time I spent with my cousins over dinner. I'm thankful for the meal we shared and I'm thankful for having all of them. No matter what happened before, or will happen tomorrow, I am grateful for today.

I'll be honest that although this is very inspirational, it is not easy to change the way I live overnight. Instead, what I promise myself is that I will be working very hard to change my thoughts and the way I live. This will not be easy but it will definitely be beneficial.

I end to say, today is the day to live fully.

Don't let your entire life pass by in front of your eyes and miss out on the chance to enjoy it.

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Posted by Ju Ann at Tuesday, January 11, 2011
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Fortune Telling in Singapore

When the future seems bleak, what do you do?


Image credits to jlascar


Yup. I did what I have never done before. I headed to the Guan Yin Temple along Waterloo Street and prayed for some sign.

The guan yin temple said this about my fortune in 2011:

"As long as I can remain calm in a dilemma, to my rescue comes a saviour I can trust. Don't move with haste and recklessness. Matrimony succeeds and pregnancy leads to a birth of a baby boy. The guest you are expecting has already started on his journey. This lot shows that anyone who can take it easy in times of trouble will find relief from grief and sorrow."

It was a good lot.

I also asked about my love in 2011 which oddly talks about a expected visitor who is also on his way. So weird huh? Out of all 100 lots and I got 2 such similar lots.

I was not convinced and when to hunt down the other lots. DO ALL THE LOTS TALK ABOUT an expected visitor?!

Here you can read the lot interpretation in full here.

(The usual practice is $2 donation)

***

I also decided to have a little more fun and headed for yup, the parakeet fortune tellers!



Here's what the parakeet said.

"I will be married at 28. Don't marry before that. I will have 2 kids. I will lose my bag, wallet, IC and money this year. The house I am living in now is good. I used to be with someone but we're no longer together. Money that I lend to others, I will not get it back."

(I paid $3 for this short one-way conversation-type of reading)

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Posted by Ju Ann at Sunday, January 09, 2011
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Profound much?


If a man wants to work, he first needs to raise his head: referring to the process of writing the word 夫.


He needs to do so in order to be a fully grown man. 夫 = man.


Only a man who possesses his own family, is a real man. 丈 ＝ husband


One, capable of carrying out a big task. 大 ＝ great things

大丈夫

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Posted by Ju Ann at Saturday, January 08, 2011
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An Everlasting Relationship

Check out my dear grandparents.

They've been together for 55 years. That's a lot longer than the entire duration of my life. They have their squabbles and definitely their own fair share of trials and tribulations throughout the course of the life they spent together. They've been through good health and bad health.

They argue about the smallest things now but at the end of the day, you still see sweet moments like these where my grandma feeds my grandpa a little ice cream.

Will I find someone I, too, can depend on and share everything with?

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Posted by Ju Ann at Friday, January 07, 2011
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Excited to be going away for awhile


Been awhile since I had business to attend to in KL, Malaysia. Glad to be going back for the weekend.

When I come back, it'll be the real test. The real beginning of what it means to be independently dependent on myself.

These days I'm quite the confused soul. What am I doing? What am I feeling? Why am I doing the things I am doing? But I know time will sort things out for me. I'll find my way. Someday.

If I lived a life that required me to fly to different places often. I think it has it's own form of loneliness. Waiting alone in airports, eating alone, working alone, sitting alone on planes and always looking at the horizon...

Just like how new things, new environment and everything new will help mend broken hearts, the familiar will often twist these wounded hearts with memories.

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Posted by Ju Ann at Wednesday, January 05, 2011
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Welcoming 2011


Hi Everyone!

It's my first post for this brand new year. And it's going to be raw and honest.

I was really secure and happy for many, many years. I wasn't afraid of all that will come my way. I didn't even care because I always felt secure.

A new year just meant being older (adding a year to the damn application forms that I fill up).

But this year, it means so much more.

This year of 2011 brings with it a lot of fear, hope and uncertainty. This year, despite all that I feel and am scared of, I only have one path and that is, forward.

I have to hone my willpower to remain positive at all times.

Andrea, the sweetheart, told me "God will not give me more than I can handle".

What will be at the end of the road for me? I'm just like any other, feeling insecure for there's no sight of what my future will be like.

But I tell myself. Every thing happens for a reason. There can be happiness even through bad times. I need to know how to embrace happiness. From the littlest things to the biggest things. Saying yes to the smaller things in life gives me the courage to say yes to the bigger things.

Hopes and dreams can be destroyed. It takes much courage and strength to start anew. I will not let anything beat me down. I will survive this for there is happiness at the other end of the rainbow. I just have to make the journey there. And I have to start as soon as possible.

Along the way, I may fall, I may have some mishaps, I may even do things that cause me to take a few steps backward to misery. But at the end of every day this year, I must know that there is a goal that I am walking towards and forward is the only way to getting there...

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Posted by Ju Ann at Monday, January 03, 2011
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