Rethink

Definitely not proud of how I have left this space barren and untouched for such a long time. But lately, I have been wondering why I do such things and the reasons for blogging/vlogging/posting on any social media site are for all the wrong reasons. Don't get me wrong, I love uploading and sharing bits and pieces of life but it became such a chore I wasn't happy doing it. After listening to industry veterans on why they do what they do, I start to rethink about my reasons for doing all these. The first change was with instagram. I did not bother about how many likes I get or whether this photo fits my feed. I post pictures that made me feel happy on that particular day. Hopefully this step will allow me to not care so much about how others view me and focus more on my self confidence and personal development. My reason for blogging/vlogging is to hone my documenting, writing, editing and photoshop skills. I am going to stick with that and do myself proud, for once.

Thankful!

Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I am so thankful for the love and care my friends and family has given me. Every time, this year, I am showered with everyone's undivided love as they celebrate my existence on earth. I always wonder what I did to deserve each and every one of them. Though a handful, they light up my world like nobody else (pun intended). I am never one that is good with cheesy words but do know I love y'all to infinity and beyond!! 

Cheers, to being 22! 

Midnight Thoughts

We are almost 1 week into my favourite month of the year!!! I am suppose to be feeling happy and excited because the holidays are coming. Well, I am. But not as much as I hoped to be. Somehow I still feel I have not accomplished as much as I wanted to. For example, this space. I committed to writing at least 1 post a week but see how that turned out. I totally neglected this space. I let laziness got the better  of me. I feel horrible. I want to say I will make this change from this month onwards but I am too afraid to make any promises. I do not want to give false hopes. Hopefully I will get my life back on track by this weekend. Till then...

Thought Process

It's only when you've exhausted all other avenues, you seek penning your thoughts as a form of relief. I have been thinking about life and how far I have progressed since graduation. 

Honestly, not very good. I still have yet to adjust to leading a 8.30am-6pm job, every single day. I'm still very much attached to social media. And all I can think about is when is my next travel. I want to do more when at work, but procrastination and laziness took the better of me. I want to prove I am worthy for a place in the company but have too little motivation. I want to start paving my glorious journey when working for the company but where do I start? I have been selected for something rather important but I often wonder why I was even chosen. Am I worthy?

Friends and relationships are the other aspect that I have been thinking about, a lot. I try my very best to maintain a healthy friendship with my dearest friends but sometimes I feel some aren't as appreciative as others. Do I give up on those that aren't? I don't want to. I give them benefit of the doubt. But sometimes, it's too draining. I don't wanna lose anymore. I hate that growing up means being occupied with more personal commitments/woes that friends become secondary. What happened to the time when friends are your top priority? When I have zero plans on a Friday night and whatsapp is unusually quiet, I tend to think about it. 

Looks like only when I get to terms with the fact that this is part and parcel of growing up, will I be able to fully grasp the meaning of being an adult and taking it in my stride. Till then, I still hope for the day I am able to find someone brave enough to go on a 1 year adventure with me to find the calling of life. I yearn for new experiences in a foreign land where all I can rely on is myself and the companion. I don't want to just survive.  As much as I love this concrete jungle I live in, I want to disconnect and find new ways to live. 

#MellyEats || Karafuru Desserts

Y'know when you are just so caught up in life that you want to do anything and everything to escape from reality, that's what I've been up to. Since the start of my working life, I get so worried that I won't enjoy my weekends as much as I used to that I have been packing them with activities that I hardly have time for myself. Thus, the lack of sleep, vlogs and blog posts. 

Today is one of the rare days where I just want to be isolated from the world and just chill in my pjs with a good bowl of dessert. Sadly the dessert part will be a figment of my memory that took place last Thursday. 

Along with my dear friend who is gonna fly 1024950383 miles, again, for her new school term, we went to Karafuru Desserts for our last one on one together. This new kid in the area exudes a modern take of a Japanese cafe; minimalist, clean and very inviting. 

Once in, I was immediately drawn to the beautifully and neatly displayed eclairs at the counter. My ocd self is very much pleased to see they were all evenly spaced out. The design of the different flavoured eclairs are simple yet very instagram-able. It was hard to pick from the wide array. In the end we went for a safe option; jasmine matcha eclair. First bite, it isn't like the usual eclairs I've eaten. This base is slightly flaky with a tad too little cream feeling inside. The matcha flavour is light and tasteful, just right for people without a sweet tooth. I like that it's not too sweet but I'm not used to that texture. 

Another signature dessert offered is the yogurt parfait, which comes in six different flavours. Curious to find out what each flavour offers, the staff passionately explained to us and paired a flavour that suits our palette. We settled for Daizu 大豆 parfait, original flavour of the lot. Apart from that tall yogurt swirl, it comes with a slice of cake, a melt-in-your-mouth pudding and mochi. Recommended for two, it's totally worth every penny paid! Step aside bingsu, parfait is coming for you!

Just a 10 minute walk from Bugis mrt station, it is definitely the place to hide from the blistering afternoon sun. Little tips; the place has limited seats so go during odd timing and avoid driving (very little parking lots). 

Karafuru Desserts
8 Jalan Klapa
1pm - 10pm

Last Weekend || SHINE Festival

Last week, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by so many talented individuals from around the world. Be it Singaporean, Korean or American, the atmosphere at the SHINE Festival was amazing. I met Arden Cho, actress who plays Kira on Teen Wolf!! I was totally blown away when I saw her in person. She's flawless! She is as real as it can get, on and off camera. (My fan girl side is losing control!!) Sadly, I could not take a selfie with her but managed to watch her perform and be featured on her instagram!!! I guess that's good enough considering she could have been at Comic Con in San Diego instead of performing in Singapore. Other YouTube creators like Juncurryahn, Jrodtwins and David Choi were also present to perform. It was a night of amazing raw talent and good company.

Speaking of, I am thankful for my companions of that night, especially James and Jean. It was such a last minute thing but I'm so glad to have them as company. I also met new friends who has similar interest and that made me want to focus more on the creative side of things. It's kind of difficult, now, because I've a 9 to 5 job but I'm not going to let it stop me from creating and learning. I believe this work in progress will flourish. 

Snippets of last weekend can be seen above. (Watch it on YouTube itself for more clarity and maybe subscribe too!)

#AdventurerMelly || Harry Potter Studio Visuals

First of all, I apologize for the drastic colour differentiation in the pictures. The studio has wacky lighting and I've tried my best to colour correct the pictures. Also there are very little pictures of myself with the artifacts because I went alone and honestly, people there can't really take pictures.

Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the studio. It was so surreal to be on the same ground where the cast of Harry Potter shot most of the scenes for 10 years. Everything is "alive", 3D (not 2D like seen on theatre screens) and within reachable distance. It was like as though I was part of the film, my childhood dream came true! Most of the story's significant moments were displayed and briefly explained. Renting an audio guide will provide more in depth understanding of the different scenes and the mechanics behind the set. I personally find it really helpful and informational. I love how the studio also incorporated some interactive elements to some sets. For instance, in the Wesley's family kitchen, members of the public can chop the carrots by swiping their hands over a sensor. These little inputs really helped inject some fun in the tour. Of course I could not visit the studio without trying the ever so famous BUTTER BEER! My verdict; it's an ordinary creamy soda, nothing special. Sorry to burst any of your bubble but it was definitely worth a try. 

Unknowingly, I took more than 4 hours to finish the whole tour. I was so exhausted after all those walking. It was so much bigger than I've expected. I am glad I took time to visit it and tick it off my bucket list. For Harry Potter junkies, it is definitely worth an experience.

Word of advice:
1. Allocate at least half a day for this tour (journey from central London to studio: 1.5 hrs, studio tour: 4 hrs, journey back to central London: 1.5 hrs)
2. Buy Harry Potter Studio tickets 1 week beforehand to avoid disappointment (there is a visiting quota everyday)
3. Buy train tickets from London Euston to Watford Junction beforehand (studio is located out of central London so Oyster card is not usable)
4. Bring snacks (the journey is gonna be long) 

#MellyShares || Thank You SEA Games!

Here's me trying to justify the reason of my hiatus; I was heavily involved in one of Singapore's biggest event in 2015, the 28th SEA Games. 

Basically, Singapore was fortunate to host this event that is held once every 2 years, among the South East Asian countries. Athletes from the SEA region will gather to compete in various sporting events. Initial thought was to give it a go since I've never participated in any national event and, in the process, I can meet the Singapore athletes. Little did I expect to leave with an invaluable experience, knowledge and wisdom and loads of new friends/connections. I was introduced to a sport called Equestrian. It's such an interesting sport where the athlete and their horse work together to win. I am always intrigued, maybe some what envious, by the genuine and immense connection one has with their animal. It makes me think about the possibilities of me creating a pure connection with anyone.

Apart from all these deep talk, I obviously had lots of fun and a few fan-girl moments when I saw the national swimmers UP CLOSE IN PERSON. I was lucky enough to catch the final day of the swimming competition; smelling the chlorine water, cheering for Team SG's swimmers and proudly singing the national anthem. It was one of 2015's most satisfying nights. 

Another amazing experience was the opportunity to attend the closing ceremony of the SEA Games. I am ever so thankful to have Carmen as my partner-in-crime. We created so many joyful memories together; spotting/taking pictures with/asking for autographs from the athletes. I can't wait to share our experience in Carmen's upcoming vlog!

That said, I'll insert visual memories and a vlog I made to wrap up this meaningful experience. 

#MellyShares || Yogurt bowl

An alternative to the somewhat tedious smoothie bowl will be a yogurt bowl. It requires less cleaning but equal satisfaction. 

The main ingredient is a yogurt of your choice. My all time favourite is the Thick and Creamy from Diary Farmers. Due to its sugar percentage, it is definitely not as healthy as original greek yogurt but I am still trying to get used to the sourness of greek yogurt. My sweet tooth still cannot handle it. You see, it's the little changes that makes the journey exciting. For instance, switching from fresh milk to almond milk. So, do not rush yourself, enjoy the process.

Then the other ingredients added into the bowl will be your favourite fruits, superfood and crunch (cereal/granola). I love adding cereal as it brings added texture to the mix. I like it when I have something to munch on. My cereal choice is the Nestle Fitnesse chocolate which is wholegrain, contains fibre and satisfies my chocolate addiction. 

It is definitely very yummy, some what healthy and satisfies my stomach. 

#MellyShares || Acai Bowl

This whole journey started when I was experiencing some sort of quarter life crisis with the direction I am heading in life and body image. All this while I knew a person's physical appearance relied heavily on 80% food intake and 20% exercise. But how long can one lazy and stubborn person, like me, keep up with all the eat clean plans and what not that can be found readily on the internet? To be honest, it only lasted a week. I went back to old habits and nothing changed. 

That's when I stumbled upon Ella and Niomi Smart, who both changed their diet to plant based and saw significant changes to their body, both physically and mentally. As I follow their story on instagram and YouTube respectively, I got motivated to do the same. I mean, if someone who is about the same age as me despite living half way across the whole can do it, why can't I? However being a stubborn bull, I did not want to bid farewell to my red meats just yet. I limit myself to them and severely cut down my intake of soft drinks and substitute them with water.

It can get tricky sometimes when you crave for an iced cold sweet drink on a hot and humid day. Having a sweet tooth, trust me, I know. To solve that problem, I turn to eating fruits and drinking smoothies/juices. Fruits are a natural sweetener with many other health benefits so it's a win win for your sweet tooth and body. Obviously there are times I rebel but having a chocolate cube every alternate day is fine, just not the whole bar. 

So, I have here with me my all time favourite home-made Acai smoothie bowl. There are a ton of different recipes online but I learnt mine from here. After discovering it, I have been living by it! Here's some reasons why:

Easy to make - You do not need any skills to make it. You just need a blender, your favourite fruits, acai pack, superfood (optional) and water. Don't bother getting a Nutribullet because a cheapo Taiwanese brand (like the one I'm using) can do the job. The fruits I usually use are frozen banana, kiwis, cherries and mixed berries. They are mostly high in fibre and antioxidants (to flush out body toxins) and really good for the eyes (especially helpful if you use the computer 24/7). I buy the acai pack from Project Acai, in Holland Village. It's definitely a lot cheaper to buy them and make a bowl at home rather than spending close to $13 for a large acai bowl. The reason why I put acai in my smoothie is it has many health benefits like controlling cholesterol and reducing signs of aging. Sometimes I will add a dash of chia seeds, a nutritional powerhouse, into the mix. This website tells you in detail the benefits of chia seeds. 

Fills you up easily - A bowl, as seen in the picture, can fill me up till lunch time. It gives me energy to start the day right and I do not crave for snacks.

Wallet friendly - Like I said earlier, buying a smoothie bowl/drink can easily cost more than $10. Making one only takes up 10 minutes of your morning to prepare, blend and clean and will definitely cost less than $10. 

Everyone's road to a better self and self satisfaction is different. It took me many tries to stay on track and keep pushing. I hope by documenting this journey, I will be able to carry on and not give up.

#AdventurerMelly || Weekend Madness 1

In light of creating more content and honing my creativity skills, I have decided to start on a project called 'Weekend Madness". Basically, it's me recording the fun moments I have during the weekends with my love ones. Not only will it allow me to do more and spend time with my friends and family, it will also allow me to record beautiful memories for my future 40 year old self.

This all started last week when one of my close friends decided to invite my group of friends to a staycation at MBS, one of Singapore's prestigious hotel. It was not possible to decline such a sweet deal and the company of my friends. Party mood was on baby! We had sinful midnight snacks (Rocher tau huay!!!) while playing mind boggling card games that could potentially wreck the friendship and laughing hysterically at one another. The night could not get any better when our tired souls got the better of us. The next day was a relax and rewind day by the infinity pool (the famous roof top pool that overlooks the Singapore skyline). If you are ever staying in MBS, you have to go up to the 57th floor as it is not open to public. The view of Singapore is incredible and picturesque! I am lucky to call her my home. Also, thank you to my dearest friend for the invite! 

Sunday, being Mother's day, I had a mini gathering with my relatives at Two Bakers cafe. There isn't any pictures of the food we ate (it was a little awkward when relatives are looking) but I did feature the Crabmeat Vongole Linguine in my vlog. That dish is superb, definitely recommended! One of Two Bakers' selling point is their pastries, made by Le Cordon Bleu graduates. Considering we had so many people, I tried almost every single pastry on display. My favourites were key lime tart, passionfruit tart and le chocolate noir (rich burst of chocolate goodness). 

It was a refreshing break from the mundane week of endless work! And I am sure there will be more to come! I am determine to find interesting things to do in this small island.

#MellyEats || West-side cafe: Flock Cafe

Can I just say how excited I am when I found a decent cafe in the west! Being a west-sider most of my life, I am always jealous of how most cafes flock to the north and east but never the west. This definitely resulted in me having to travel a distance for good food and a place to chill. That's not the case anymore! With the growing development in the Jurong East area, high speed rail, second business district and what not, more and more people are looking to be a part of this increasing hype.

Only 20 weeks old, Flock Cafe opened their second outlet at Ghim Moh, 5 minutes walk from Bouna Vista station. Being the first cafe around the area, potentially monopolizing the area, it's able to attract adults working nearby, students from Singapore Polytechnic and many excited west siders. 

My first impression of the cafe is its modern and minimalist design concept and the huge glass panel that fills the communal space with warm summer light. My friend and I were also greeted by the friendly staff. It's very inviting. The black and white contrast between the chalk board menu and the walls was a creative touch to the place. What an innovative way of displaying the menu, avoiding clutter on the tables and counter top. The brightly lit space is suitable for people trying to get work done but you may have a problem finding powerpoints.

Food wise, we ordered Pork Cheek Rigatoni and beer battered fish & chips. It was a hit and a miss respectively. I would definitely return for another plate of rigatoni anytime! The pork was tender and flavourful while the pasta was cooked within the right time. However, despite its beautiful plating, the fish and chips dish was lacking in flavour and the fish was a little raw for my liking. I prefer my fish to be well done. Coffee beans are from Liberty Coffee so you can expect a good quality cup of coffee.

Overall, I had a good catch up with my friend over lunch. The experience would have been better if we ordered something else other than the beer battered fish and chips. You can find Flock Cafe at Blk 21 Ghim Moh Road #01-213 S(270021).