Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Finally the long waited travel post. Travel post always requires more effort than any other post. hehe. So, to rewind a lil, I went for a holiday with kareshi during July 19-23 to Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

We booked our flights through Jetstar. Air tickets weren't very expensive, return flight for 2 cost us $200ish. I was very excited as its my first oversea trip with kareshi. Destination is not the point, the point is travelling with him. With him, everything is perfect.

19.7.13

Okay, The first day! Our flight was 6.30 am in the morning, thanks Shavin for sending us to the airport at such an early timing. We reached HCMC around 8.30 am. Our first meal was expensive burger king fries at the airport. Just one regular fries cost 44,500 dong which equals to RM 7! I can already have a whole meal man!

At the airport, We bought a 1GB data sim card (for gps/ map purpose) which only cost 110,000 dong (RM 15). Its CHEAP! Malaysia 1GB data also cost RM 48. It's highly recommended to get a data sim if you are on free and easy or backpacking.

Seaweed Scalp Mask Review

Hey Hey~ I just got a new item! This time its not makeup nor skin care but hair care. Come to think of it, I think this is the first time I bought a hair care product. Kinda neglected my hair~ lol

I bought a Seaweed Scalp Mask. It was recommended by Pretty baby aka Nicole on her blog (Mandarin blog), and it sounds really good so I asked her to help me get one.

The reason why I wanted to try is because I have thick hair. Really thick hair. Every time after shower, my hair takes forever to dry up. And if hair aren't fully dried, it smells a kind. Get it? Although I use a hair dryer. But still, it takes more than 15 minutes to get my hair fully dried. Hands are really tiring and sore.And sometimes it still smells a kind. So I though this scalp mask will be good to help me clean my scalp because I think maybe it my scalp that's dirty and clogged. No harm trying!

So I got it the day before my birthday (treat it as my birthday present for myself! ahah). I can't wait to used it straight away.

It is made in Korea. There's clear indication on how to use it. Shampoo and rinse your hair well.

Apply the seaweed scalp mask to your scalp and hair (I only applied to scalp).

Massage into a rich and creamy emulsion. Leave it for 4-5 minutes (I wash my clothes while waiting, Never waste time haha). Rinse throughly until its really clean and DO NOT SHAMPOO again.

After I dried my hair, my hair is so smooth and silky! MAGIC WONDER! I didn't even apply it to my hair (sure will kena abit while applying to the scalp) but still my hair looks good, feels good and its really good! Thanks to Pretty baby's intro. I just found my NEW LOVE!

If you would like to know more...
Comment below to ask for the price~ ^o^

If you like this post, share the ish out for me, would you?

Don't forget to show me some Love~♥

♥~Live to Dream′Dream to Live~♥

Aud

I Am Loved

 Hello there! How are ya? Hope you enjoyed your August like I do! Coz its my birthday month! ^o^

Top and bottom are selfies from 12 Aug, day that I had dinner with babes. Top I wore is from Foruchizu.

Note: lashes are real, so I cant tell you where I bought them from.

So how do I celebrate my birthday? Actually, nothing much. Had an early birthday dinner with my babes on the 12th (you may find it here), and the day before actual day, mummy gave me a tiny surprised but I already feel I am so blessed.

14.08.13

I went home after work as usual, she came to my room...

Mummy: “女儿啊，不然我们去外面吃咯~”

(dear daughter, why not we dine outside today~) 

Me: "Okay~ where to?" 

Mummy: "I will lead."

So Mummy, my youngest bro Aaron and I went out for dinner. When we reached the place, she told the hawker...

Mummy: "Give her a dry rice noodle, its her birthday tomorrow."

I was a lil surprised honestly and touched. She remembers, despite how busy she was; she knows I prefer it dry (they serve in soup too)..

 

Its a non eye-catching shop which I have never been there. But surprisingly.. their rice noodle is good! I finished the whole thing in like 5 mins? haha~ its so nice plus its mummy's treat with full of love! Surely its nice~ Do you know that its Chinese's practice to have rice noodle on birthday but I don't know why, sorry. Will try to find it out and update later on. And I am sorry for the poor quality photo, it was dark and I only have my phone with me.

15.08.13

Harlo! Its my birthday!

During lunch hour, my cute colleague Rajes gave me a surprise my leaving this on my table. A Sweet treat from her! SHe knows I love oreo ice cream! Thank you!

She even ordered an Oreo Cheese cake from Secret Recipe for me for the office birthday celebration.

(I am allergy to egg, so the only cake I can eat will be eggless cake. According to SR's staff, this cheesecake contains no egg.)

Hello Birthday Girl! (Thank Alicia for these well taken photo. I seldom look nice in full body photo one~ These are really two out of a million!)

Make a wish! I hope that my love ones will be safe from harm, healthy, and happy. That's all I need. 

Rajes purposely lighted up all 28 candles.. gave me a hard time to blow them out. Guess you all will just have to eat my saliva and obey me! Hahah

Happy Birthday to Me!

I have a date with Kareshi but he is working so we agreed to meet up at Kranji Mrt station at 8.30pm. So to not waste time, I stayed in the office blogging. Manage to finish composing and scheduled three post. So satisfying! 

Anyway, kareshi thinks its time for me to revamp my blog and gave it a new name because he really thinks that the current blog name doesn't sounds positive but kinda blue~ which its kinda true. Haha~ so new name in progress.

I put on my Sky Blue circle lens from Rainbow Colorlens by Cheesie (got it from Sasa) before I left the office to meet my man.

Today marks a special moment so A memorable stamp of the year photo is a must have!hahaha..

I have no idea where kareshi was going to bring me to. I told him I don't want atas (Malay word which means high class) restaurant because I don't feel cozy. So without knowing where he is bringing me to, I ended up here.

Beaulieu House Restaurant located inside Sembawang Park.

We arrived around 9pm+, quickly ordered the food because both of us were starving plus their last order stops at 10.30pm. Food of the night as below!

  

Both of us had Thai Coconut as drink.

Fish slice with Onion and Ginger. Fish is fresh! The gravy is nice~

Deep Fried Baby Squid. This is good! Crispy, non stop munching it.

Handmade Jade Beancurd

Whole thing in green but this Beancurd is so GOOD!

Stir Fried Asparagus with Onions. Hmm, I never knew I enjoy eating asparagus. 

Kareshi complaining (not really complaining) that his coconut is too old as the flesh are hard. I share him mine, he fed me in return. lol

The night Beauliue Restaurant

I assume its their cat.Too good looking to be random stray cat. She (I think its a she) posted and look into my cam for me to take photo. what a model cat.

My Precious love~ When I was taking this photo, he turns back and say: " I knew you gonna take my back again.. >_<" 

Night view at Sembawang park

We took a short walk around Sembawang Park before we headed home to rest. Initially Kareshi suggested that we go somewhere else to jalan jalan but I was tired and he has to work early morning next day so we headed home instead.

Before we sleep, he gave me this. This is my second piece of collection. The first one was doves, now red wine glass (made by Kareshi). Kareshi always.. always surprise me. Never fail.

I cried reading it. TOo touching. My heart melts. but I'm also wondering what's inside the package~ lol... hmm.....

Tadah! Its Panasonic 6 in 1 styler! I really don't know how the hell kareshi knows that I have been wanting to buy one curler or styler since I was still in Makeup school. But I was in tough situation just to maintain my course fees that time and I have no spare money to get one. Now, He got me one! I never mentioned a word but he reads me. He really knows... ^_^

Thank you so so much my love! I love love love you so so so so so Muchie~ 

Overall, my 2013 birthday its simple. No exaggerate parties, no luxury gifts (I don't need these anyway), its just simple meals with love ones. And I am very happy with that. Simple bless which you can't asked for. Thank you 2013 has been good so far, Thanks for being my love ones in my life, and I am sorry if I ever did anything that upsets you, please do forgive me as I never meant it to be that way. You know I love you! 

Oh ya, how can I forget this lil Gift. This is from Hong Kong by Shavin~ Thank you so much! I love it! its PINK (actually its hot pink)! ^_^

At the end of the post, I just wanna say..

I am so Blessed and Loved.

If you would like to know more...
1. Sembawang park: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parks&id=32&Itemid=73

2. Beaulieu House: http://www.beaulieuhouse.com.sg/
Address:
117 Beaulieu Road
Singapore 759837
(Sembawang Park)
Tel: +65 62579234
Fax: +65 68537638
Email: enquiries@beaulieuhouse.com.sg

Operation Time:
Mon – Sat: 11.00am – 2.30pm, 6.00pm – 11.00pm
Sun: 11.00am – 11.00pm (2.30pm – 6pm only serving western)


Please Subscribe and Follow...♥

♥~Live to Dream ♥ Dream to Live~♥

Audrey

Ghosts' Season Ain't Ghosty

Its currently Lunar seventh month which commonly called the Ghosts' Season.
Every year this month especially (14th and 15th), parents, old folks will always say don't go near to water (as in sea, pool, etc), don't go out at night, don't do this, don't do that... Why?

It is because the common beliefs of the Chinese folks that spirits and souls which we called as Ghost are out from the hell, so it is not safe to stay outdoor. It was said that the gate of hell will be opened at 00:00 on 14 July and it will be closed at 00:00 15 July. Hence these two days are the most ferocious days which kids are likely to be grounded. lol So I basically grew up living with that term, Lunar Seventh Month = Ghost Month. I guess that's why I always feel uneasy during 7th month..

Until I met Kareshi.. Until I slowly know more about Buddhism.. Until few weeks back, I read a book.

After finishing , I understand how wrong was I for the past good 28 years.  

The story begins....

In India, the rainy season last for three months yearly from 15th of the 4th lunar month to 15th of the 7th month. It is inconvenient for Sangha to seek alms hence Buddha decided that all monks must practice diligently while staying indoor during the period.

3 months later, many of them obtain <The Way>. Thus, Buddhas rejoiced. It is also a day where all members share their progress so it is also the "Sangha Pravarana Day"

At the same time, Venerable Maudgalyayana (VM) who had just obtained the six spiritual penetrations remembered his parents who passed away years ago. He used his divine eye to search through the Saha world and found the mother suffering in the Realm of Hungry Ghost.

Venerable Maudgalyayana filled his alms bowl with food and went to save his mother.

When the mother put the food into her mouth, the food turned into burning charcoal and the flame burnt her! Despite VM had attained spiritual fruition but he can't save his mother so he went to seek for Buddha's help.

Buddha said: The bad karma your mother has committed in the past was way too heavy. You should prepare the best of daily necessities and offer them to the Great Virtous Sangha at the end if the Rain Retreat.

That time, all the Sravakas (the hearers), the Pratyeka-Buddha (the conditionally Awaken Ones) and the others will gather to receive your offering. Even Bodhisattvas will appear as Bhikshus to receive your offerings.

The merits and virtues of this offering are tremendous. Not only will the parents and relatives of numerous past life be liberated immediately from the lower realms of rebirth, even our present parents who are still alive will be blessed with health and longevity."

VM acted accordingly to Buddha's instruction. The Sanghas recite mantras and prayers, contemplate cultivation before accepting the food. At this time, all sagely Bhikshus and great Bodhisattvas were full of joy, VM's mother was liberated from the kalpa of the realms of hungry ghost.

Buddha said: "Whoever that wish to practice filial piety should make offering to the Sangha in the 15th of 7th lunar month at the end of the rain retreat.

They should prepare all kinds of food and place them in an Ullambana Bowl as offerings to the Sangha and transfers the merits to their present parents so that they will gain longevity and be freed from worries, illness and disaster, as well as transfer the merits to their parents of past seven lives so that they will be liberated from Realms of hungry ghost and born as human or heavenly brings to enjoy infinite blessing and bliss."

Recalling the painstaking efforts with which our parents brought us up, the best way to repay is to make offerings to the Buddha and Sangha during Ullambana Ceremony on the 15th of 7th lunar month each year.

The end.

So in short, 15th of seventh lunar month is not Ghosts' season. In Buddhism, it is "The Day of Filial Piety" which is also called 佛欢喜日 (Buddha Rejoice Day) or 盂兰盆节 (Ullambana Day).
It is a joyous day where everyone should be happy, be kind, be gentle, be filial, and just BE GOOD (not only this day, if can do it everyday will be better of course).

The Day of Filial Piety = 7th Lunar Month ≠ Ghosts' season

Besides that, Buddhism believes there is no special good or bad day that is good or bad to do certain things (marriage, house shifting, etc)..because Everyday is a Good day. If things fail or doesn't goes the way you wanted, it is your problem not the day you did it.


p/s: If there's really Ghosts, they will be anywhere, anytime, any day.. Not only 7th month.. ^_^


*Photos taken from the book "The Buddha speaks on the Ullambana Sutra- Is the 7th Lunar Month The Ghosts' Season?" by Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery Dharma Propagation Division


Sharing is Caring~


Please Subscribe and Follow...♥

♥~Live to Dream ♥ Dream to Live~♥

Audrey