A Professional Responsibility

How would you feel if your facialist is a perfectionist who makes sure every pore is treated?  How would you feel if she goes all the way to make sure your skin looks the best it can be? Every time you visit?

This is exactly how I feel whenever I meet the experts at GLOMAX Aesthetics ever since last year – treasured & relieved they understand extremely high standards of sophisticated consumers. & this April, my facialist not only reached these expectations, she blew me away with the pride she takes in her work. She wasn’t feeling well the day I visited, not only did she

• not cancel my appointment – what a relief. It was time for my monthly routine & my face was desperate for some intense help already. Plus have I ever mentioned the appointments at GLOMAX Aesthetics are pretty crazily hard to get?
• She still performed a stellar job at removing all the junk from my skin, not missing out a spot as usual.
• & she gave me an absolutely unforgettable face & shoulders massage! You know how sensitive a massage is, one lift of the finger or wrong pressure or a second of inattentiveness or even the wrong energy the therapist sends to the receiver becomes so enlarged it affects your entire vitality. But with Evon, even though she was ill, it was sincere, every touch was a meaningful, powerful strength that deeply moved me with gratitude & vigour.

Expertise In Machines & Techniques

The treatment I did was the Sonic Cleansing Energie Care 80mins $108. With just $108, I got to enjoy advanced techniques such as the Sonic Cleansing to vibrate off grease & superficial inflammation, High Frequency to heal open pores, Ultra Sonic to penetrate more effectively a specially blended cocktail of vitamins all for brightening purposes, which include Green Tea, Vitamin C, Pentawhite. & lastly a Cold Mask to calm the skin & a memorable massage. My skin came out very clean, my acne stabilized & I’m very satisfied!

So if you’d like to treat yourself & still stick to your budget, I highly recommend you to try out the Mothers’ Day Promotion Combo – which includes two treatments at a special price of $138 (UP$288)!

The Combo includes: Sonic Cleansing Energie Care Facial 80 mins UP$108 & Power Rejuvenating Treatment 20 mins UP$180. Revitalize & regenerate your cells with the award-winning IPL technology for a natural cell-healing process for stronger skin. Details below.

I’m excited. I’m excited to finally find a buffet in Singapore that is worthy to go back for more.

I hate buffets. & in certain circumstances where I can’t get out of it, it’s always painful to have to eat through the bad quality & have people judge the amount I eat. I like the article on Forbes which discusses The Economics of All You Can Eat Buffets. Go check it out if you think the economic theory of adverse selection of buffets should not exist.

So back to Shin Minori, thank goodness it’s an ala carte buffet AND a Japanese one. The restaurant has offered us superb food-focused food! They have such a wide selection of items – at least 5 menus & I’m definitely going back for their salmon sashimi, garlic chicken, sweet potato fritters, kimchi with pork, & garlic fried rice.

Shin Minori
81 Clemenceau Avenue
#03-15/16 UE Square
Singapore 239917
T: 6733-2272

LUNCH
11.30am – 2.30pm
Last order: 2.15pm

Lunch (MON to SUN) Adult: S$32.00++
Child: S$22.00++

DINNER
6.00pm – 10.30pm
Last order: 9.45pm

Dinner (SUN to THU) Adult: S$36.00++
Child: S$24.00++

It’s been some time since I stuffed something black in my teeth & go “EEE” to my eating companions. Mostly to my innocent canteen friends decades ago.

I shall end the post right about here on how satisfying it is to find one of my favorite Cedele cakes on the counter (I learned it’ll be out every Thursday. Too bad this time round it tasted of a lower quality than its norm.) Bye bye for now I shall jump into bed & wrap myself in a book!

Clogged pores & going for professional facials?

I enjoy my beauty routine – once a month, I pop in to GLOMAX Aesthetics & walk out with all my white/blackheads, the greasiest of grease, mountain of acne pus detoxed out from my skin. But last month, because of Chinese New Year preparations, I missed my cherished facial! So…if you’re suffering from a face of oil plantation like mine, you’d know I went through a breakout.

A breakout it was, but to my surprise, it wasn’t as horrible as my skin used to be. If I’d 10 cystic acne on my skin all the time before my first ever treatment at GLOMAX Aesthetics, this time round, my consequence of skipping a facial month was having about 4 cystic acne. & during my course with GLOMAX Aesthetics, my skin is stabilized to about 2-3 cystic acne. VERY HAPPY.

So this time round, also a powerful treatment that provides clarity for my skin and helps to prevent acne well beyond the treatment.  Cleanses & purges the skin of acne, blackheads & clogged pores, combined with Sonic Cleansing (a type of machine exfoliation), extractions (skillfully done to prevent inflammation), High Frequency (repairing & sanitizing extracted pores) & a special cooling machine designed to switch the skin’s temperature so that it can more effectively take in a concentrated infusion of  Vitamin A, C & E. A huge chunk of great benefits! & of course, the wonderful treatment is none other than: Super ACE Anti-oxidant Treatment.

If your skin is reacting differently than you’re used to because you’ve neglected it longer than you’ve hoped, don’t panic. Help is here! It’s been my 9th treatment at GLOMAX Aesthetics & I only have good words for this salon & will forever be loyal to the dream team here who have done such an ace job at stabilizing my troublesome acne condition! If you’d like to try, (which I highly highly recommend), you get to enjoy the Super ACE Anti-oxidant Treatment 90 mins at only $88 (UP$180) if you quote “Blogger Hazel” when making appointment!

GLOMAX Aesthetics
12 Eu Tong Sen Street
#06-168 Soho 2 (Beside Swissotel Merchant Court)
T: 6225-5193
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If there’s one flaw I desperately want to treat on my skin, it’d be my acne marks! If most of your time is spent on concealing your marks, read this ^^

If there’s a treatment or product that claims to do that, or brighten, lighten, enhance overall radiation I’m in.

GLOMAX Aesthetics has a new & powerful brightening treatment, & I say powerful because once you hear the name, you’d go “Wow, really.”. It’s called – Ultimate Bright Enlightenment Treatment. Right?

It started by freshening up the skin with Microdermabrasion, then intensifying the detox results with Sonic Cleansing. What an interesting step to me; Microdermabrasion first followed by Sonic Cleansing. & according to Evon, Director of GLOMAX Aesthetics “This combination of removing the top layer of oil (Microdermabrasion) then vibrating off deeper-rooted congestion (Sonic Cleansing) will give you your glow back ASAP.” Whichever it is, I just want blinding brilliant brightness.

I’d extraction as usual, & to heal any open inflammation after extraction, the wounds were sterilized & the healing process was sped up with High Frequency. & since the humidity season is almost all year round, besides sticking your face in the freezer, GLOMAX Aesthetics has a better solution. Cool down & sculpt your face with an intensive calming solution and advanced Vitamin C + Collagen treatment to correct degenerative skin. I ended off with an oxygen mask that worked up the cell metabolism so well that I emerged with like the name suggests, an ultimate glow from within. I’ve a photo of myself on instagram (Hazelhearts) if you’d like to see. My shiny, Korean-esq skin lasted for two days, then came back after two weeks for a few days. If you’re looking for something potent, the experts at GLOMAX Aesthetics, who have been my go-to for skin disasters for the past year, promise that “The Ultimate Bright Enlightenment Treatment will leave you automatic, immediate radiance and gives you grownup working girls some refreshing baby skin again.”

What: Ultimate Bright Enlightenment Treatment

Price Tag: $250, 90 minutes. Quote “Hazel” & pay only $88 if you’re a first time customer!

Benefits: Boosts luminosity, activates microcirculation, promotes fibroblasts for wound healing, stimulates cell metabolism, increases blood flow, creates new collagen and elastin fiber cells to fight aging, suppresses inflammation (acne, post-laser irritation).

For Who: All skin types

If you’ve always wanted to change your connecting tone, or deciding to make a small donation, check out the video above! Only takes a minute.

By changing your connecting tone at $2.14 donation fee – the same price you’ll pay for a Bruno Mars connecting tone, all of this money goes directly to Samaritans of Singapore (SOS). On top of that, StarHub pledges to match dollar-for-dollar for every tone donated.

This non-profit mobile service is brought to you by StarHub. Good deal?

The problem: I’ve a new foe; wrinkles. Wrinkles! & I’m only 26 this year. Given extremely oily skin, even around the eye areas, I did not expect wrinkles to appear so soon at the corners of my eyes. Sun exposure, pollution, make up, sweet diet, & my late nights. Other than this, true to the beauty rule that ageing starts at 25, the other areas of my face is more lax now. Oh what to do?! I consulted my favourite experts at GLOMAX Aesthetics. They really are my favourite people to ask about my problem skin, because they always have good, honest solutions for me.

The solution: I was recommended the Eternal Lifting Treatment and Eternal Lifting Eye Treatment, both using a super advanced non-invasive technology using three Radio Frequencies (RF) that target different tissue depths, from superficial layers of the skin to the hypodermis. Wow. & also a fourth mode – multi-channel mode – which creates a stronger, more accurately distributed thermal response that travels through all skin layers.

The result: Improved the skin elasticity, enhanced collagen secretion and production of pro-collagen for long-term effects. All great, because all these came with no pain at all, just a warm, soothing non-invasive machine which took a few minutes to iron out the lines on the corner of my eyes! It has been about two months since I last did it & my eyes are still wrinkle-free! I’m so ready to have a great Chinese New Year!

This treatment is for all skin types except congested skin. You’re going to be satisfied. I’m glad I combated ageing early. To look younger longer, right?

Eternal Lifting Treatment (60 minutes $400) and Eternal Lifting Eye Treatment (45 minutes $200) are available at GLOMAX Aesthetics.

GLOMAX Aesthetics
12 Eu Tong Sen Street
#06-168 Soho2 S059819 (Beside Swissotel Merchant Court)
T: 6225-5193

I’ll swear to it. This is the best green tea cake I’ve had. Damn. It reminded me of the chocolate cake from Dona Manis. If you’ve had that one before, it’s magically buttery smooth to a point almost like an ice cream cake. Intense. & I love what it did to me; whisked me away.

I almost didn’t order this cliche; green tea & red beans. I don’t think the restaurant used Japanese green tea, but doesn’t matter because it so good it sits on my legendary list of cakes. If you’re having a bad day, this fine baby would turn you around.

Mezzanine
Grand Hyatt Hotel

Did you see me out of touched with the blog? Late bloomer as I always am. I’m finally addicted to instagram (hey it even rhymes?).

You see that editorial-ready picture of a pasta above? Taken with my iPhone 4. Yea. I love this roast meat place. & I don’t even usually love meat. Too many reasons; my meat has to be cooked to perfection. & I mean perfection. Right? If not, it’s a sad, wasted piece of dead flesh. Plus we’re not born to digest meat. It’s too acidic & some other reasons.

But I continuously surprise myself by re-visiting this restaurant. The beautiful brick wall, very generously high ceilings & oh so amazing long, open kitchen always hypnotizes me into a state where I’m in a vacation home. Oh & the lighting? So inspiring on my iPhone 4 camera.

The first time I’d a tiramisu. The Bomb. I think I mentioned it on the blog before, if not instagram/twitter. & I couldn’t resist, so I went back for more. & more! So the pasta that you see here is very… Profound. I realized this is the only adjective I can come up with to describe the food here. They’re such master pieces they leave me in awe. & I know what you’re thinking. How good can pasta get? Oh baby, you gotta try this one out. & their roasts! & their tiramisu!

SQue Rotisserie & Alehouse
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#01-70 Outside Central facing river
T: 6222-1887

Having seen stellar results of my cystic acne clearing up at GLOMAX Aesthetics, the salon generously offered us customers a 10% OFF a range it claims to be hero products. How could I resist?

Priori is a skincare that is new to me & I am impressed to know from GLOMAX Aesthetics that the founder scientist behind Priori is more than just an expert in the field. The bomb is that this man is the one who developed & launched the word’s first AHA. Do I hear a wow? It might not be a brand which is highly accessible, since it’s only retailed at top salons in the world. Together with GLOMAX Aesthetics’ stamp of approval, I’m thinking it’s gotta be good enough for me.

I’ve used 5 products from Priori’s Advanced AHA range for at least 4 months now & it’s really interesting to know how unique Priori’s Advanced AHAs are. The Advanced AHAs come in different sizes; targeting different layers of skin + the antioxidants in its Multi-Functional Antioxidant Sequence are time-released; intelligent molecules which know when to be released into our skin after application. Another round of applause please?

So my skin problem is my over-productive oil glands. I’ve quite fallen in love with what the Priori range can & has done for me. Exfoliating & marks-reducing, but normalizing too.

Every morning I start with Priori Gentle Facial Cleanser. The clue is in its name; Gentle. I was always skeptical of the effectiveness of a non-foaming, what more, gentle cleanser. So I’m surprised something so delicate, so foam-less can leave my nasty oily skin not oily but balanced too.

The Priori Invigorating Face & Body Scrub came with the discount pack that I recently bought, so I’ve only used it three times so far. Haven’t seen any dramatic results yet but I love love love the texture! Really tiny, really fine & like the rest of the Advanced AHA range, it has multi-skin layer renewal, antioxidant protection & advanced hydration for radiance. The experts at GLOMAX Aesthetics also recommended this star product for scrubbing underarms, inner thighs & buttocks. Hello baby skin.

I hate using a moisturizer on my skin, & thank goodness for the advanced science behind Priori, I’m spared from it! Perfect. After cleansing my skin, I use the Priori Perfection Gel, a home ‘treatment’ unclogging pores & minimizing my breakouts (I never knew any skincare could do this till Priori). This is probably my favourite Priori product. It is strangely hydrating in an extremely comforting way & amazingly smooths out my uneven skin.

When I first started out using Priori Barrier Repair Complex, & Priori Skin Renewal Cream (they’ve similar texture; one night, the other day application), I exhausted one full pump in one application, obviously too much, too ‘glide-y’ (it contains fatty acids to strengthen skin’s barrier). Now that I reduce it, it can be absorbed & my liquid foundation stays on well. & I find this is the product in the line that has the most exfoliating effect on me. Love it because that means together with the other Priori poducts, my therapists at GLOMAX Aesthetics noticed my acne marks have faded slightly. When they pointed this out to me, I started to see the minor difference, my marks are less angry & dark. It’s quite relieving & I’m still continuing to observe this.

We cannot give up SPF, & unfortunately the Priori Daily Defense SPF30, has too much of an ‘oily’ sheen that my liquid foundation doesn’t sit well with. But to summarize Priori’s Advanced AHA line suitable for all skin types, I’ve to agree with its tagline:

Priori, discover the science in skin transformation.

 

I hope there are still stocks for you for the 10% discount Priori Advanced AHA pack: $296.10 instead of $329 for Gentle Facial Cleanser, Invigorating Face & Body Scrub, Perfection Facial Gel, Barrier Repair Complex. Sending you readers with problem skin my best wishes!

Priori is retailing at GLOMAX Aesthetics. 12 Eu Tong Sen Street. #06-168 Soho 2 (Beside Swissotel Merchant Court). Singapore 059819. T: 6225-5193.

Leaves me begging for more!

If you’re the ultimate dessert fuss, & not so impressed with most of the chocolate cakes here, good news! I’ve finally found my Prince Charming chocolate cake. Yes, this is the creme de la creme, The One you’ve waiting for to sweep you off any bad ass moments.

Never ever did I think a multi- texture like Othello (left) was possible until I found the true charm of chocolate at Glacé. & I’ve been devoting my tea time to this Japanese confectionery happily ever after.

Please please order one, nobody would be able to stop you after.

Patisserie Glacé
9 Raffles Place
#01-16 Republic Plaza
Singapore 048619
T: 6536-0169
Mon-Fri: 11am-7pm

For more outlets, delivery, choices at MBLM, Icon Village, Chinatown Plaza, visit cakeglace.com

On a beautiful morning, I woke up to my favorite aunt’s visit & a plate of fresh, organic sweet potatoes that she brought along. I’ve always loved my sweet potatoes, & now I’ve a whole new respect for the organic ones! It’s exactly the kind of brunch that succeeds in feeling special, despite its simplicity.

I felt like a baby; the flesh, a beautiful light orange was soft like cotton & the skin excitingly clean! Now I really want my own garden.

& did you know that sweet potatoes have abundant antioxidants & a low GI (body absorbs glucose slower than foods with high GI) so they’re great for diabetics. & for anyone who is looking for a healthier digestive tract/ bowel syndrome/ reduce potential risk posed by heavy metals, find some organic sweet potatoes & be as creative as you like! Smoothies, sandwiches, tapas etc.

How expensive does your skin cost you each month? $100? $400? $2,000? How different does your skin look after 1 month?

Have you done your calculation? I’m sure many of you spend more than $12,000 over a ten year period on your skin; that cute packaging, the smooth-talking consultant, that desperate moment to salvage the skin disaster or the 失心疯 stocking up.

My own disaster started when I was 15, & lasted through my teens to adulthood. Physically & emotionally painful, for 10 years, I couldn’t find a cure to treat my acne & I thought I’d to bear this scar my whole life.

If I were to calculate how much I’ve spent on skincare to treat my acne, a rough gauge would be $12,000 over 10 years! I know I’ve been writing & raving about this particular haunt that has transformed me from severe cystic acne to stabilized skin! & I understand that many of you would want every dollar you’ve spent to give you some sort of positive results. So, let me share my Return On Investment with GLOMAX Aesthetics over the six facial sessions I’ve done.

Facial 1

Condition: Cystic acne all over my face. Extremely stubborn no matter how strong my acne cream was. I’d an average of at least 10 big, angry, painful acne at any point of time; pre-period, post-period, lasting.

Improvement: Immediate! After just one facial, my skin was cleansed, smooth like never before. Most importantly, it stayed 90% clear for 6 months!!!! 6 WHOLE MONTHS! I’ve never experienced clear skin for even a day, let alone months! This was when I knew how skillful the therapists truly were & I started to rave about it to all my acne friends about this quality facial!

Cost of investment: $58 for first timers (UP$168)

Facial 2

Condition: After a few months of clear skin, a small portion of acne came back. I knew it was time to visit GLOMAX Aesthetics again.

Improvement: Immediate! 99% of my acne was extracted & my skin felt 10% less oily which was a milestone for me! & as advised by the experts at GLOMAX Aesthetics, I started using a skincare range developed by scientists called Priori, to renew my skin in a multi-layer mode.

Cost of investment: $150 (facial) + $420 (Priori)

Facial 3

Condition: Blackheads, whiteheads & small amount of acne surfaced to the superficial layer because of Priori, which works on a multi-depth exfoliation, the inflammation which was all hidden deep inside my skin became more visible now, as intended. I was very excited to see such results.

Improvement: Immediate! Pores were 5% smaller, 95% of acne was extracted out & I was left with clear, radiant skin again!

Cost of investment: $150

Facial 4

Condition: Still on Priori (Advanced AHA skincare) so I experienced blackheads & whiteheads surfacing from deeper layers of skin. Because Priori is so effective, some of these inflammation were pushed so much to the surface they naturally dropped out! Dramatic but awesome!

Improvement: Instant as usual & my face was at its smoothest of all time. Experienced 70% less acne than before.

Cost of investment: $120

Facial 5

Condition: 70% clear & just the occasional break out.

Improvement: Instant! Now 80% clear and only have 2 acne around period. Acne also subsides very quickly with the continued multi-depth cell turnover with Priori. Major improvement from the usual stubborn cystic acne.

Cost of investment: $150

Facial 6

Condition: Instead of big angry acne like before, I’ve very tiny pimples which disappear using Priori. No need for acne cream except for bigger ones which subside much faster than pre-GLOMAX Aesthetics & pre-Priori. Just 2 small cystic acne around period days. Which is a conservative 80% improvement from before! It’s stabilized so I’ve ‘upgraded’ to be able to do lifting anti-aging treatment (will write about this soon) now! Which explains the price increase.

Improvement: Skin felt supple & less loose after 3-7 days. More than 85% acne-free!

Cost of investment: $250

Conclusion:

If you’re suffering from acne, I want you to know that help is at GLOMAX Aesthetics. I’m highly recommending you to try out at least one treatment because you’re going to see a dramatic improvement & never going back from there. All my friends who have been suffering from acne are also converts & the results I’ve seen for myself is incredible, from huge, severe cystic acne that was visible on photos, they’re now under control & I can even go without concealer! I’m so so thankful to the skillful therapists, amazing machines &  superior products at GLOMAX Aesthetics!

Thank you Peishan, Evon & Sun for giving me beautiful skin I’ve been dreaming of!

GLOMAX Aesthetics – The Face Artistry
12 Eu Tong Sen, Singapore
#06-168 Soho2 (Next to Swissotel Merchant Court)
T: 6225-5193

You know what. I almost never eat Rojak. Rojak to me is like durian to a foreigner. Flee! & just recently, I discovered rojaks come in white!

A white rojak is one that has your usual ingredients but without the fish sauce! This vendor here must have a secret recipe for me to become a convert, I’ve tried both white (photo above) & black rojaks of his & I’ve to say, they’re my ultimate crutch on a dead heat year round Summer!

He has a few types of rojaks to offer; youtiao, taupok, cuttlefish, century egg, fruits. My current favourite is the rainbow of fruits & one sauce to dress it; spicy-tart peanut!

Cold fruits my ultimate crutch during the dead heat of year round Summer & finally, a fresh rojak that doesn’t taste fishy!

West Plaza
Pasir Ris Street 72

I’ve found something else more addictive than a DIY extraction; a professional extraction! & here’s how I got clear skin.

The title says it all. If you haven’t been following, I’ve been on a wonderful journey of (almost) acne-free skin & this is my fifth visit to GLOMAX Aesthetics. (By the way, I’m not paid to review this)

While other facials are relaxing, exfoliating & involves a lot of steam, the facials at GLOMAX Aesthetics – The Face Artistry is a different story. They can be uncomfortable but they also require a much higher level of expertise. During my 10 year battle with acne,  I’ve tried several facial salons but they failed to treat my acne. Why? The difference is extractions & machines used.

If you want to clear up your acne, you will need very good extraction. & very good extraction requires a very skillful esthetician as not all estheticians are equally skilled. Finger or tool placement angle, appropriate pressure, & popping technique are all makes or break an extraction. What’s more, the skin must be properly prepared before beginning extractions. While others use a lot of steam, GLOMAX Aesthetics – The Face Artistry uses a device called Sonic Cleansing to vibrate off the superficial congestion from your pores first.

Extractions performed well, can really lead to clearer skin. But extracting incorrectly, such as with pressure that’s too firm or in the wrong direction, can lead to increased irritation, broken capillaries & more inflammation -> possible scarring. If you have been getting your extractions done professionally & still have acne, your esthetician may not be skilled enough to extract out the entire inflammation from the root! If this is the case you should consider changing a salon she is allowing inflammation from a half past six extraction spread, causing more unnecessary breakouts.

Thankfully for me, I have Sun, who is such a master in extractions & has a fountain of knowledge. After every facial treatment with her, all possible types of inflammation (blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, cystic acne etc) are always thoroughly detoxed from their roots. I recently had a giant acne on my nose (such an awkward place) & was really worried about getting scarred. But Sun did such a brilliant job in getting out the huge inflammation with such precise expertise that I don’t even need to apply concealer to cover the fresh mark! & it is completely flat. Thank you, Sun!

It is funny that I never knew good extractions could clear acne since the previous salons probably did such a bad job at it that I never recovered in 10 years. 10 years! Until now! Make sure your after extraction care is done correctly too. I have never encountered any other salon which provide such an intense & beautiful job at treating post-extractions like GLOMAX Aesthetics – The Face Artistry;

First Sun used High Frequency to minimize & heal the open wounds. Then Intense Pulse Light with the ideal power was shot at my skin, killing the bacteria that causes inflammation & also re-balances my sebum level; lesser oil, lesser congestion. Of course, the treatment always ends off with an intensively thick cold mask that calms my redness, plus customized products that follow. Sounds like a really worth-while session, right? Love how quick my acne got treated because of the expertise here. My acne skin is almost stablilized! Thank you GLOMAX Aesthetics!

Oh yes, what happens to the marks after extraction? If you have deeply rooted acne like me, even without squeezing, it leaves a mark. After extraction, I use Priori, a skincare range developed by scientists to fade them. Will review Priori if I see results! So far according to the eagle-eye estheticians at GLOMAX Aesthetics my marks have lightened slightly!

If you are considering of visiting too, I hope the below table helps you in making a wise choice. You can also quote “Hazel Hearts blog” to enjoy Intensive Acne Medic Treatment 60mins at $68 (UP$150). To flawless skin! You can own it!

To read my improvement on my forth visit to GLOMAX Aesthetics, click here.

GLOMAX Aesthetics – The Face Artistry
12 Eu Tong Sen, Singapore
#06-168 Soho2 (Next to Swissotel Merchant Court)
T: 6225-5193

When I was a kid, my mom banned me from yam because according to her, it’s a vegetable that only adults know how to appreciate. So for the past two decades, I naturally despised it. Until recently, something in me clicked with this beautiful purple flesh.

So whenever there’s a chance to order a little yam-something now, I jump at it! Kind of amused I found this ‘bruschetta’ at the suburbs (Woodlands). Satisfying browned skin with a semi-soft centre.

Sheng Kee Dessert
Causeway Point B1-24
T: 6892-9795

In a cupcake coma; had too many cupcakes which didn’t have any depth. Frostings were mostly good but the cake bases only consisted of either vanilla/ chocolate; Predictable. Boring.

So if it’s a strawberry cupcake, be prepared to have a & kid-dy tasting strawberry frosting on an above average but plain vanilla cake base instead of a deeply fudge-y cake loaded with mashed strawberries, you know?

There was only one cupcake that stood above the rest; brandy cherry (not in above photo). At least this had cherry-filled cake base which made it moist & dreamy.

To be fair, they are better than most other bakeries but overhyped by their playful name, eye-catching designs & celebrity status.

Twelve Cupcakes

Tickets all sold out! One of my readers get a kick ass chance to see the band’s live showcase at Avalon on 20 September, 9pm sharp. Be the first to comment why you should see the band live & score a ticket! -updated on 20 September 12:20pm.

With hits like ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ & ‘We cry’, the Irish boys are coming to town this September for a private showcase to promote their new album, #3! & one lucky reader of mine will score a ticket too see the band live showcase at Avalon!

Autograph session:
Date : September 21 2012, Friday *updated*
Time : 4pm *updated*
Venue: Bugis Junction, Bugis Square Level 1

*Only the Singapore edition of The Script’s new album #3 will be signed.

Showcase:
Date : September 20 2012, Thursday
Time : 9pm sharp
Venue: Avalon at Marina Bay Sands

* Score tickets to the showcase by purchasing of the #3 Fan Pack at HMV 313@Somerset or HMV Marina Square ($88, while stocks last). In addition to a showcase ticket, the fan pack also contains the Deluxe 2 CD Edition of the album and a chance to win a backstage meet and greet with The Script!

A buffet that blew me hot & cold

Dessert at The Rise looked so luxurious they nearly changed my mind about buffets having the worst dessert.

But a bite of each piece put me right in my belief; they really disappoint. The only one that I finished whole was the pine nut tart.

Everything else here on the plate (creme brûlée, pistachio puff, Portuguese egg tart, fig tart & madelaine were bad & beyond). There was a chocolate raspberry ice cream that impressed though.

For savoury, there were a couple of moments hard to forget. First was the salmon sashimi, seriously stunning & I found myself loading up on this fresh flesh (never before at a buffet). If you’ve a good sense of the sashimi you’re eating, you’d know this is top grade. Surprising for a buffet.

I also fell instantly in love with the potato roulette. I don’t know why it has potato in the name, I couldn’t find any of it in the dish. But instead, I found chunks of some of my favorite vegetables & they also happen to be some of the most versatile; pumpkin & chestnut! Such a clever invention; sweet pumpkin & chestnut chunks with a judicious lacing of one of the flakiest pastry.

The Rise
Marina Bay Sands
Hotel lobby tower 1
T: 6688-5525
$48 for buffet lunch
$68 for buffet dinner

Feel how extraordinary feels like. Have a rocking rewarding time at Climbers Laboratory!

Forever ago, I saw rock climbers on TV & thought to myself; that’s hot, I gotta try it some day. Yesterday, while strapping my gear on & looking at some of the rock climbers scale the incline walls before my eyes at Climbers Laboratory, I thought; that shouldn’t be so tough. Let’s do it.

& so I did. After 2 hours in a group of 4 amateurs, it was such an enlightening experience I didn’t want to leave. It gave me a lot of unexpected returns which I never thought I was going to get through this sport. & even if rock climbing has never crossed your mind, you just might love it too once you’ve tried! Plus, it’s only $42 (adult)/ $36 (student) for 12 month membership. Here’s why I think so:

Discovering your body & mind

I enjoyed the fact that the only thing my trainer, Eugene told me before my virgin climb was how to strap my gear on. & up I climbed! Without much thoughts! Because while at it, I realized I was using my own muscle strength & instinct as I figured out which stone to step/ hold. Eugene only pointed out some techniques on how I can reach higher after the climb which was great because I think each of us has our own unique way of using our bodies to work our way up. So instead of giving answers of where/ how to hold on, there was a lot of self-discovery.

Learning to strategize naturally

& when I was seriously stuck, though I get advice from down below (Eugene), I might not see the rock he’s pointing out, but by grasping & feeling the contours of each rock available to me was kind of like a hands on experience. I felt I’d to decide within seconds the best route to get up (before my strength got depleted while holding up) & I followed my instincts. If this rock didn’t work, what else was the next best alternative? Which I personally felt was a perfect learning ground for learning to seek golden opportunities around obstacles in real life. Just that in rock climbing, we normally overcome a rock situation very naturally based on our natural reflexes. So if we could rock climb on a regular basis, I’m sure it cultivates our ability to take life’s challenges with more stride & intelligence rather than being absorbed in an unfavourable situation.

Exciting every second

Once you grab on, your journey of exhilaration begins. Because every route is a puzzle, you’d be dying to try out a different rock just to solve it! & there are so many different levels/ courses at Climbers Laboratory, no matter which stage you’re in, you’re bound to be excited. For me, I tried about 4 levels & each level brought me to different heights of awareness. & the courses change every six months, so you’ve six months to train & conquer a particular course! It’s definitely a life long skill, an enjoyable one.

Unlike other sports which I’ve done in moderation before, I was surprised how exhilarating rock climbing is! There’s absolutely nothing boring in this sport!

• Yoga – One word. Yawn.
• Tennis – My favourite & I think rock climbing might just have beaten it since it works out my entire body. Unlike tennis, which I’d a bigger right arm.
• Running – Too much pressure on the knees & womb.
• Blading – Risks of falling & leaving scars.
• Swimming – Calming & therapeutic, just not challenging/ exciting enough.
• Gym – If this can be counted? Monotonous even with earphones on. Basically I don’t feel YAY while doing weights/ crunches, you know?
• Cardio classes – So fast going with the music that I don’t think I’m doing the movements right, which hurt the spine.

So compared to exercise, rock climbing is pleasurable every second! & I feel like I’m developing myself through play! No chore!

& finally, you shape up

Lean, toned & sexy. You want it? You rock-climb for it. Kristen Stewart, Jennifer Anniston, Lea Michelle & Kristen Bell are some of Hollywood’s A listers who love a climb. You know what’s the best part about this? It’s so easy to tone up with rock climbing. Unlike other sports where you need certain techniques, here you just use your body & mind to find a comfortable way up! & a day after my climb, as I’m typing now, I feel some pretty intense soreness on my arms. Much more soreness than other work outs I’ve ever did. Superb because it burns 550 calories an hour & increasing my entire body muscle strength!

Did you know because rock climbing is one of the best total body work out, it boosts performance of your other sports too!

You’re too weak/ young/ old to climb?

What I find absolutely beautiful about rock climbing is that you don’t need any skill/talent to kick start your first climb! ANYONE who can walk can do it! I didn’t have a clue about what rock climbing was & look at me! If you’ve kids, as long as they can walk & listen to your instructions, they’re good to climb.
Instead of having thrash birthday parties for my kids (when I’ve them next time) at Macdonalds, I’m going to bring them & their mini friends rock climbing! When you’re up there & facing a rock-block, it’s the willingness to accept the challenge & ability to quickly work a way around for the most ideal route for you which makes it such a precious lesson & memory. Similarly in life, if my kids can see past a challenging math problem & think of an out of the box solution, then naturally as they grow up, they’d naturally embrace tough situations & find hidden opportunities in seemingly bad times without avoiding or even breaking down! All these life-long skills are actually learnt through fun! Through rock climbing. Not through lecturing/ nagging/ text books. If kids are open to such fun learning at a young age, I strongly believe they’d be invincible through life with what this sport has taught them.

& if your kid is shy (like me), this might be the perfect sport for him. Since any kid who can walk & listen to instructions can rock climb, as he successfully completes, he feels great about himself & it boosts his self-confidence! Which I can totally testify. There was a particular yellow rock that I kept falling off for, a total of 3 times! But it just made me calm down, plan & push myself harder the next try. & finally at my forth try, I made it! & I felt incredible that with the right mentality, I can achieve greater heights. Or if your kid is autistic, as he learns to reach & stretch to grip on the rocks, he naturally learns how to balance, coordinate & concentrate without you teaching/ forcing. & trust me, when you’re climbing, you think nothing else other than how best to use the rocks to move up. Isn’t it great to have such therapy disguised as play here?

& of course rock climbing builds the overall physical strength. From fingers, arms, back, stomach, to the thighs, calves & feet. Because the rocks change (every 6 months at Climbes Laboratory), the mental discipline to conquer different challenges is no joke. Which is why I think makes it such a multi-dimensional & beautiful sport for all ages.

You might not have been interested in rock climbing before, but if you want to feel how extraordinary feels like, then you must try this! Even if you think it might be too ‘manly’ a sport, give it a climb first, the experience might just blow your mind. More rewarding than you’d ever expect.

Lastly, don’t worry. Indoor rock climbing is a risk-controlled sport. You’ve good weather always & no bugs or insect nests to distract you like the outdoors. & if your love for it is so great (which I really think you’d once you’ve tried), you can always take it into mother nature.

Just bring yourself, socks & tights! Equipments, climbing shoes & friendly, honest trainers are available at Climbers Laboratory! $42 (adult)/ $36 (student) for 12 month membership.

Climbers Laboratory 1
48 Toh Guan Road
East Enterprise Hub #05-152
Singapore 608586
T: 6515-9363
Operating: Mon-Sat 10am-10pm. Sun 10am-7pm
Parking available at the building

Directions: Take SBS Bus 183 from Jurong East MRT or Clementi MRT and alight at Enterprise Hub when the bus turns into Toh Guan Rd East. Take the Lobby 1 elevator up to the 5th Floor. Click Map here.

Climbers Laboratory 2
66 Kampong Bugis
Kallang Rivergreen Building #08-02
Singapore 338987