One Night in Beijing.

I was recently in Greater China and having a bit of a Facebook withdrawal syndrome. No friends fawning over my pictures or status updates that is making me feel kinda depressed (but i think it's the weather).

Well, i read from the Wall St Journal that Facebook makes people fat. I guess the miles i'm walking in -20 degree is keeping me from being fat.

While i spent 72 hours in Beijing city, i suppose you can do the best bits within 24 provided you walk & absorb quickly. If you're a non Mandarin speaking tourist, be sure to have all addresses in Mandarin as taxi drivers cannot read alphabets.

1) Forbidden City

If you didn't see Imperial Palace, you can't say you've been to Beijing. Built in 1406 - 1420, this was the permanent residence of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. All those period dramas we've seen on TV comes to life as i walk through the imperial grounds. Hire a guide if you're on your own, they usually function like touts on ground. I hear hiring a guide is worthwhile as they reveal more secrets of China's history, a pity i only knew this later.

You'll also see people hawking maps of the place for 5 yuan (sgd 1), it is not necessary to buy it because you get it free once you pass the entrance with a ticket.

One thing i appreciate about China is that despite these tourist destinations being extremely popular, ticket prices are VERY affordable (SGD 6 - 10).

Directions: TianAnMen East Station 天安门东
Note that the Imperial Palace is not called Forbidden City but labelled as The Palace Museum 故宫. You'll pass by the gates of TianAnMen first where's there's another museum, the Imperial Palace is further in. I bought the wrong ticket initially but was able to refund it.

Lunch
Disappointedly, I didn't find too many hilarious English translations. China have indeed improved and caught up with the world. While our fast food are Western (KFC, Pizza, MacD etc), they have Chinese fast food. Fast like the no shadow kick.

2) Art District 798

Is a huge former warehouse district that now house numerous art galleries (free to enter), cafes, design shops and stores with kitschy things. The area is big so if you see something, don't hesitate to buy it for you are unlikely to retrace back your steps.

                  

Directions: The nearest station is San Yuan Qiao 三元桥. Take a taxi after.

Afternoon Snack

Travelling is about wandering into random spots. Some times you get pleasant finds, most times a new experience.

This was a themed cafe right out of the sitcom FRIENDS. You can order drinks (from SGD 6) that's like in the sitcom, sit around and watch.....FRIENDS. No prizes for guessing right.

I didn't think it was a great deal, despite being quite stoked about it when i found it online. It is packed with locals and scores of new patrons were turned away, i don't understand why it's such a popular cafe. It didn't give me much "feeling". Not worth hunting it down for but if you must...

Directions: ChaoyangMen 朝阳门Station. 6 Chaoyangmen Outer Street, Chao Wai SOHO Building A, Level 6-16. 朝外大街6号朝外 . It's in an office looking building.

This is a Nestle peel-able banana ice-cream. You can buy it for a dollar in convenience stores. The banana "skin" is jelly while it's banana-vanilla flavoured popsicle inside.

The local's xiao long bao, is more like a meat bun rather than those with a thin skin and soup inside. I chanced upon this small shop, walked in, sat and ate with the locals. Ridiculously cheap, SGD 2 for 10 buns. 

3) See a Hutong

Kill two birds with one stone, or in this case, ducks by eating authentic Peking duck in a hutong. Hutongs are the old houses of Beijing, like our colonial shop houses VS skyscrapers. 

               

Follow the ducks on the wall and you'll find the spot.

Expect to pay SGD 80 for 2 diners but it's well worth it.

Directions: Qian Men 前门station
北京市东城区北翔凤胡同11号 LIQUN +86 10 6705 5578

4) Visit a Sex Store
It's only amusing because we wouldn't otherwise know sexual descriptions in Mandarin.

The first store sprung up in Beijing capital in 1992. Since then, there're about 2000 more. There would be one almost every corner i turn. The one i walked into, it was quite an experience. It was a very tiny shop, almost like a cell. Glass display cabinets filled the shop from floor to ceiling, every product had Mandarin on it. Suddenly, an old lady in a PINK NURSE UNIFORM walked out from a back room. I peeped into the room and all it had was a really old bed frame and a ratty mattress. Later i learned that most shop owners (mostly from the village) live permanently in that tiny shop with their sex toys. Selling them from 10am but you can make a private viewing after 11pm.

From all the adult stores i've visited around the world, the ones in Beijing have a lot more oral or applied medication for various functions. Some pills are touted to prevent diseases (i'm skeptical). The other toys are not something i hadn't seen, but there was a dildo that could be filled with water to "ejaculate" like a real dick. That, raised my eyebrow. I remember the first thing that raised my eyebrow was in Tokyo where i saw a robotic life sized arm for sale. It is modelled after a Japanese porn actor legendary to make girls squirt.

Visit one so you'll be more knowledgable and not be like the reporter who mistook an adult toy as a mushroom and made a fool out of herself and the TV station.

5) DonghuaMen Market

Find cheap stereotypical Chinese souvenirs and knick knacks to bring home, other than the street food and its oddity. I've read online to be wary of the hygiene though, i was really tempted to try out the creepy crawlies but it's no fun doing it alone. 

Finally, you retire for the night and you get these collectibles slipped under your hotel door.

One Night in Beijing, 我留下许多情。

How to Keep Warm (for a Singaporean)

As Singaporeans, we don't experience the four seasons. We can get pretty ignorant when it comes to winter.  I've experienced living in winter, but that's Australia where it isn't as harsh as say, China which i recently experienced. 

Travelling and exchanging tips with friends, i am wiser in winter gear, especially doing it the CHEAPER WAY! 

1. Inner Wear

A decade ago, my parents would buy Long Johns from departmental stores like John Little and Robinsons starting from $80. They are usually gaudy, thick and in black or beige. It's as much as a turn-off as granny panties.

Today, we are spoilt for choices at UNIQLO with her wide range of skin tight Heat Tech. They are extremely affordable too, starting at $16.90 or so. Inner wear used to be with high collars, today they have scoop necks, v-necks, solid colours or with lace and designs.

Wear them at home before heading out.

2. Outer Wear
I'll put on a sweater made of wool or fleece, which again UNIQLO offers.

Followed by a jacket. If you can hold out, go to that country to find cheaper, better and nicer designs! No, i detest the puffy jackets despite how "warm" people say it is.

Bought this for SGD 50 in London

Bought this for SGD 30 in Taipei

2. Accessories
Only in a really cold winter, do i bring out the hats, scarfs and gloves. Gloves that has detachable finger pockets are the most practical.

These gloves were bought for SGD 8 in Taipei.

Someone told me about the heat packs. These little sachets that when opened will heat up. They last for about 8 hours and is really nice to hold or place around the body. I first found them in ColdWear store for $9.90 for a pack of 5. Here's a secret...get them from Daiso for $2 for 5!

They typically look like this.

Winter boots should be a size bigger because you'll need to wear your Heat Tech and thick woollen socks. We don't live in winter so we can be quite ignorant with the types of fur available. I was quite confused buying boots.

My sponsored Timberland leather boots while looking the most sexy and fashionable, it is unfortunately not weather-proof and it can start to hurt after walking the entire day.

SGD 400 for fashion

My boots from Australia were the nicest and the most comfortable, unfortunately they've all worn out. It really makes sense to get your winter gear overseas, where winter comes about. Except for UNIQLO, get your stash here.

I bought my final pair of boots equipped for snow from Beijing. It wasn't easy. So many sales girls were telling me how theirs is better than the next, and i can't quite tell the difference which keeps me warmer. I was really not discerning at all!

Finally i settled on this pair of mean looking ugg boots, turns out the sole really is non-slip on snow/ice so i didn't quite get cheated.

SGD 120

So long as you remember rule of thumb is to keep the hands, neck, ears and feet warm, you'll be ready to rock and roll. 

In the snow. 

Like a three layered pork.

Forbidden City

Picked up by Porcelain Face Spa

It's a love-hate relationship for me with facials. While it does improvements to my skin in the long run, i dread it because it's a painful affair with extraction. Porcelain Face Spa offers no extraction facials for those with agliophobia (fear of pain).

I just returned from -20 cold in Beijing so a pick-me-up facial to rehydrate was necessary! 

The Imperial Palace glistening in snow.

Using a milky cleanser that is oil and paraben free, the pick-me-up facial starts with double cleansing. Then a skin refining gentle scrub, finished with a cucumber jelly mask while enjoying a shoulder massage and having a special LED shone on the face to boost collagen.

All in 25 minutes, a quickie to improve skin clarity, brighten skin tone, refine pores and smoothen skin! Winter don't have to mean.

Pick me Up in 25 for $60, make an appointment here.

Win $100 voucher from Club Couture

The risk about online shopping is you never know if it looks exactly like how it looks like on the model, if the quality is good and if the size would really fit you. Especially when you're a stickler for fit and quality, like me.However, my purchases from Club Couture have been very reliable thus far. I recently bought the draped satin dress from it's premium range. It looked like this online.

It looked like this in real life.

The quality was impeccable, i felt the weight of the satin. It is the perfect choice for a wedding, or any other feasting/ date that involves eating because it isn't figure hugging yet sexy enough with that draped satin top or ribbon cross-back!

One lucky reader gets to win $100 credit to shop on Club Couture!

1) 'Like' ClubCouture on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/shopclubcouture and 'like' their latest page update

2) Follow me on Instagram @ Chrispytine

3) Check out ClubCouture http://www.clubcouture.cc/, choose your favourite item and email me the link with your screen shots of the above

Sorry with the numerous steps, but it'll be worth it :) 

P.S When you've won the $100, it is not necessary to buy the piece you choose in step 3. I will be picking the winner based on fulfilment of the above steps and then at random.

Contest ends 1 Jan 2013.

I'm travelling again.

This time, to Greater China and i've been told its freezing there. I feel like i'm packing for war and i'm almost done, in 90 minutes.

I never travel without my training shoes. Running is a great way to familarize with the neighbourhood and allows more bandwidth to eat everything in sight.

Got the latest FW12 RealFlex footwear engineered with improved individual flex nodes. It's lightweight and not chunky like the regular shoe too. The shoe promotes flexibility of the foot which makes it super versatile as a travelling shoe. I can trek, rock climb or even wear it to club/dance!

Watch this space, I'll bring you stories of Greater China in my Reebooks ;)

2012

This year have been good. Every year must have been good except i probably forget when another year passes.

Thanks to the Wright brothers and blessed i am to have the opportunity to experience all seasons this year despite being Singaporean, we have no seasons.

This year is not about the travels (although i like showing off my holiday photos), this year is about knowing God and finding self.

This is my own movie, Life of P Moi.

My birthday this year was memorable because for the past years, i've always planned my own birthdays for fear that no one will do it for me. I had my first birthday party at 12 and planned one every year till i was 15. That guaranteed presents.

Then, i cried on my 16th because there was nothing and for the 17-20th, i convinced myself birthdays were nothing. For my 21st, even though i had a boyfriend, i went about planning my own birthday. I threw a steamboat party.

Truth be told, although i try hard to convince myself birthdays are nothing, disappointment creeps in unexpectedly when there's REALLY nothing.

For the first time, without planning ANYTHING in 2012, friends asked me out for birthday treats and i had two weeks of feasting. A different person every night for 14 days, i was a slut. I was loved. And then, there was THAT surprise.

It made me realise that life don't follow plans. We can and should attempt to plan but i've micro managed my life. It had made me labour to get what I've planned but someone knows better. I'm humbled.

I look at the empty expressions on the morning train today while everyone's staring down at their phones. Everyone's in a routine, going to work, finding satisfaction in material wealth, probably all married, go home and repeat.

What is life? What is our life purpose? I thought i knew. To love and be loved.

Have I loved? I've always found it hard to say "i love you" to lovers but only because I won't say it unless i mean it. Yet there were times I'd say it to avoid awkward silence. I was quite the faithful and dutiful girlfriend, but is that love? Then I got an epiphany. I found it easy to say "I love you" to friends and it's not because i don't mean it (i do), but because there were no expectations out of our friendship. It's this feeling i get sometimes with certain dear friends that makes me want to say "I love you".

With no expectations comes no disappointment. I tried hard to honour that but i can't help but to still have expectations of a lover. That, made it hard for love to flow. Then came another epiphany. While i didn't exactly experience that "head over heels in love" feeling, love to me are with tangible characteristics and i honoured that.

My mum is the best in the world (maybe biased but i think not, heh) but because of her expectations, she makes herself miserable. She expects us to score well in school, she expects us to earn a salary, she expects us to get married and have kids.

This expectation makes us want to get outta home as quickly as we can. It is an unbreakable bond between mother and child, but i think it can be deeper if not for the expectations.

Every relationship takes a piece of you away, i get that now. While i can count mine with one hand and less, i am as messed up as most people are.

Life of Moi is very much like Life of Pi.
It's about letting go and having faith.

P.S I Love You, the leaked sex video.

Some weeks ago, i heard through the grapevine that Holly Jean has her sex tape leaked online by a revengeful ex. Without seeing the video, i felt sorry for her and was worried enough to call up a friend who's a lawyer. After consulting him, i passed on the advice of how she could file for an injunction to prevent the video from being leaked.

 

Alas, it was still leaked. When it leaked, i felt like a fool!

 

It's a very deftly executed tactic to tell the online community about Durex's P.S. I Love You - Safe Sex Tape Video Competition.

 

The compeition was initiated because of Durex Global Findings that Singaporean youths are less likely to use protection during their first time compared to global youths. Participants were required to film a three to five minute video, educating youths on the importance of safe sex, while incorporating the phrase “P.S. I Love You”.

I was invited by Durex to 开房 at Majestic Hotel.
 

A giant packaged condom awaits me.

It was a private viewing of the Top 10 Finalists and I participated in scoring them. The top 3 videos will win over $10,000 in cash and prizes. I had a duty.

 

If you don't already know, like with gadgets, skincare and health products, go with a reputable brand.

Durex is durable, doesn't break and come in various sizes and enhanced functions as in my previous post. If you're doing it, do it right.

Fits an elephant. No breakage.

No leakage.

Sorry Singapore, i know you need more citizens but I've got to play safe.

You can also have a chance to influence the decision for the winning video. Vote for your favourite on Durex's Facebook Page. My favourite is the documentary styled one. Hilarious!

I've been mulling about what love is lately (will have another post). While I haven't quite had an answer but i know enough that

If you love yourself, you'll insist on protection.
If you love your partner, you won't want to ruin his/her life.
If you love your child, you'll teach them safe sex.

Play Safe, I love You.

Helpful Skincare Tips For Teenagers

Teenage is a time when all of us have issues with our skin, isn’t it? The reason this happens is because our bodies change, develop or evolve the most during teenage years. The changes our body goes through in these years (13 – 19) are hormonal changes.

At times these hormonal changes in turn give rise to skin problems. For example, acne is a problem mostly all teenagers suffer from. Due to such problems, or because you don’t want to face such issues, skin care is a must. Skin care measures, again, differ depending upon age and sex of a person. If you take care of your skin right from the beginning, there is no reason why you shouldn’t have a clear and healthy skin throughout your teenage years. The natural skin care tips mentioned in the paragraphs below are simple, yet very helpful. Simple hygiene at times can do wonders for your skin, and protect it from all problems, even in later stages of life.

Understand Your Skin Type

Understanding your skin type is the first step towards taking care of your skin. The other skin care tips will depend solely on what type of skin you’ve got and so will the type of cosmetics you pick up. Your skin type will also determine the skin problems you are prone to, and also the intensity of care you need to take. Usually it’s not difficult to know your skin type. You can know if it’s oily or dry just by observing it for a few days. If you are still unsure, you can contact a skin specialist.

Cleansing

This is one of the most important skin care tips for teenage girls, and for all other women out there too. Cleansing your face is very important, at least two to three times a day. Cleansing helps clean all your pores and all the dirt from your face. If this dirt gets settled on your face, it’s going to block your pores and lead to black heads. It’s even worse if your skin type is oily. In that case, you will have to cleanse your face at least 4 times a day with cleansing milk and then wash it with face wash. Using a scrub once in a while will add to clearing of pores and eradication of settled dirt.

Diet

Following a good diet is also very important if you want to have a clear skin and is perhaps the best skin care tip for teenage girls. Teens tend to fall prey to bad eating habits and devour a lot of junk food, but you need to learn where to draw the line. Drinking a lot of water will surely benefit you in more ways than one. It’ll help in keeping your skin clear and smooth. Some foods also help in fighting acne, such as apricots, carrots, oranges, broccoli and strawberries. Foods like these contain vitamins that are essential for good skin.

Exercise

Exercise is another important factor that helps to maintain good skin. Though this isn’t one of the direct skin care tips, it is very important if you see its benefits for healthy skin. When you exercise, you sweat and in this process, you let out a lot of toxins. If these toxins stay inside your body, they’re bound to show their effects on your skin which is not what we want, do we? So, exercise a little throughout your teen years to add to skin care.
Now that you know these skin care tips for teenage girls, you can start taking care of skin soon. Remember, skin problems can turn into serious issues if you don’t take care of them in time. Maintaining hygiene at all times is necessary if you want to stay away from all these problems, or if you have them and want to bid them a final goodbye.


The above is a repost from http://porcelainfacespa.com/blog/, a good source for skincare and beauty tips!

Skincare for Winter

Experiencing winter is not what we Singaporeans are used to. Rain is the closest we'll get & it's the only chance to take out the sweaters. Wellies, not ugg boots is what we'll wear. 

I don't normally experience harsh winter conditions even during my travels, so i was very ill-equipped when i visited UK early this year. It was towards the end of winter, and i thought my regular skincare would suffice.

I was SO wrong. My skin was SO dry, probably that's why i didn't have a holiday fling (anyone would be afraid of my skin flakes falling on them like snow).

At wit's end in UK, April with my dry skin.

I made a quick trip to the pharmacy and bought travel sized facial scrub and mask. Alas, they didn't help. I was so desperate that i contemplated shelling SGD 300 for a facial when i was in Switzerland. I decided to hold out to return to Porcelain Face Spa in Singapore.

My second winter trip in the year, i was a little more well-equipped. I learnt that a very rich moisturizer is essential in winter. What i use daily in Singapore is not sufficient because due to our climate here, we need skincare that is not oily.

I also felt that the scrub i was using while travelling was too harsh for winter. I thought i was sloughing away the dead skin, but in fact that dehydrates my face even more!

My skin was abit more hydrated in Finland, October this year.

After my return, i learned a new skincare tip! 

Porcelain's REVIVE contains beads to physically scrub away impurities with an advanced formula that makes use of natural enzymes to dissolve dead skin cells. While the motion stimulates microcirculation as i massage my skin, it gently lifts dissolved impurities and at the same time, pump nutrients deep into the skin. It is a non abrasive exfoliator, good for winter!

$98 for 50ml

I'm going to experience my third winter this year. This time, China where it's -8! Let's hope i'm three times wiser!