Saturday, July 6, 2013

Trekking 101

Hello everyone! I went trekking last evening to our highest soil here in Singapore, of only 163.63m. The last time I went to Bukit Timah Hill was perhaps 10 years ago, so revisiting the place was quite exciting for me.

Two things that were a must on my to-bring list: 
1) Trekking shoes
2) Canon G15 camera to document my trip. Nevermind that I was perhaps the only person there with a camera slung across my body :p

From the very simple list above, close friends who went on cycling trips with me would be thinking that I had forgotten my Tiger Balm. Yep, I sure did! Anyway it didn't matter because insect bites I have not. :) I would surely bring it for my future trekking trips though.

Salomon trekking shoes are a must-have! I felt invincible with those worn. With the protection at the front that is similar to a safety helmet, any accidental kicking of rocks would not be painful. In fact, it is so good that you would not realise that rocks were in your way. My shoes cost only SGD 79, bought at a discount recently at the sportswear fair at Expo.



The starting point.


First stop: the toilet! 

We took on the green trail. 



Strong buttress roots

I think this tree has reached the emergent layer of the forest.




You wont be lost with the clear signs around

My trusty and happy navigator :)
That 'gate' reminded me Johnny English.

The converging and overlapping routes of the red, yellow and green trails

The stairs ahead is the shortcut to the summit. Only 0.2km upwards but it was sure tiring!
I guess I gotta train a lot more. :p

Monkeys can climb on barb wires?!

Sorry monkey, visitors are not allowed to feed you.





Is vertical ground not suitable for you? Try the PCN around the area then! :)
I will be going back to take on the other coloured trails even though Bt Timah Hill is sure quite far away from where I stay. Well, it is one of THE places to go to for trekking in Singapore. Have fun climbing it, folks! :)


Love,
Loraine





Monday, July 1, 2013

Dulcet & Studio, of Tampopo Group

Dulcet & Studio occupies a cosy corner of Liang Court, housing Japanese cakes and hot meals in a homely ambience. It is the only cake place I go to by choice because the cakes are just so awesome! Singaporeans, please do not start a long queue there... (I will not have enough time for any more queues after I join the wait for the minions at MacDonalds! haha).

The colours of the cakes are quite rich but do not be deceived. The taste is quite the opposite and light! Suits my tastebuds. :)


My Rose Chiffon. I loved the juicy bits of rose petals in the cake!
 

His Fruit Roll- wrapped with marshmallow-like cream.

Our simple high-tea.


#01-41/42, Liang Court, 177 River Valley Road
63389248
Opens daily from 10am-10pm.


Iced Ginger Lemon which was most extraordinarily weird to me.
Ginger drinks should be hot! 


The person who sat opposite me played with my food, drew me a message and made me smile :)



The ambience...

We were dining beside a 'kitchen'.





I've splurged, but it is so worth it :)


Love,
Loraine

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Diet Tips 101

First of all, I must say that I believe in accepting our own body shape and embracing what God has given us. However, for people who really need to lose that extra weight, here are some basic tips which might be useful.

1) Satisfy that craving.
Someone told me that when you have a craving, it is your body's way of saying that it is in lack of that type of food. Maybe the body needs the nutrients which that food can give. However, satisfy that craving in a small and controlled amount.
Also, it is better to finish your rice when you are hungry, rather than eating a quarter of your rice and end up binging on unhealthy stuff like chocolates and chips later.

2) Don't count calories or look at the weighing scale.
It is not as effective as looking at your body in the mirror. I can't remember the last time I weighed myself, simply because I find it more logical to base how I look by using a mirror instead of a weighing scale.
Also, if you ate too much in one meal or one day, don't beat yourself up over it. Just eat less the next meal or the next day. It works like magic for me.

3) Exercise.
It's a reminder to myself to exercise too. Sometimes we get so tired after work that exercising is that last thing we wanna do. However, the benefits of exercising go a long way. When you build up the muscles, your basal metabolism increases, meaning you burn more calories on a day to day basis, because you need more energy to maintain those muscles as compared to fat.

4) Choose healthier alternatives.
For example, boiled/ steamed VS fried. The choice is obvious if you want to lose weight. Remember not to neglect any food group though. So don't go salad dieting all the way. It is bad for your body as salads alone cannot give you all the nutrients you need. The key is to eat a bit from all food groups. Yes, I know, it is sometimes not feasible, but there's no harm in trying.

Finally, the most important of all .........

5) Choose clothes that flatter your body shape.
Everyone has a unique body shape and most people cannot wear anything and everything. We all need clothes to bring out the best of our bodies and hide the parts which are less flattering. I seldom wear peplum as I'm not a fan of them, but for girls looking to cover that tummy bulge, peplum cuts do the job really well.
 photo peplum2.jpg



Your results may vary when you do all that I've mentioned. It really depends. Some people are born naturally thinner than others, while some are born naturally thicker than others. If you are born naturally thicker, maybe you need to put in more determination and effort. However, nothing is impossible. Set your heart and mind to it. All the best! :)



xoxo,
Sherlene

Fusion Maia

While the haze was the main topic back in Singapore, I was having a great holiday in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Fusion Maia is voted as the best hotel/resort in Da Nang on Tripadvisor. It ranks higher than Crowne Hotel, Hyatt Hotel, etc. Being exclusive with few rooms, it provides a truly tranquil environment. Guests also enjoy at least 2 complimentary spa treatments a day in the huge spa house. Every guest room also boasts a private pool, a living room and a spacious bathroom!
A peaceful environment.

Poor photography skills shown here. oops!
That's the restaurant on the upper level.
There are more facilities like a table tennis table and pool table at the ground level.

Reception Area
Reception Area

One of the public toilets
I love the lush greenery that surrounded me wherever I went!


The Room...

The sitting area.

Wardrobe, storage space and a concealed door on the right side of the 'cube'.

A bed that is perfect for a honeymoon!

Two gold-plated sinks! This actually reminded me of the T.T. Durai incident.

The bathroom which is so huge!
It also has a TV that can swivel (not shown in picture).
The bathroom also overlooks to the private pool (also not shown in picture).

Toiletries for Him and Her.


Outside...
The infinity pool that overlooks to the North Pacific Ocean!



Private beach for hotel guests.



Breakfast: Anytime, anywhere.
This was at the poolside restaurant.
Ala Carte breakfast French cuisine that was so yummy!
Smoked salmon, poached egg, asparagus.

Selected cheese.
Selected pastries

I had a local Vietnamese dish called My Quang for one of the dinners.

At Hoi An, a UNESCO cultural heritage site which is about a 15 minutes drive away from the hotel...

An exclusive lounge for Fusion Maia guests!

Alfresco Dining area

Free bicycle rental for hotel guests
Facade of Fusion Lounge @ Hoi An


Fusion Maia is really more to all these pictures here. Many exciting pictures I took were not uploaded here so as to keep the mystery alive when you get there. :)

This place is really worth to stay in, I feel. No doubt it is voted as the #1 hotel in Da Nang! 


Picture taken from
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g298085-d1823746-Reviews-Fusion_Maia_Resort-Da_Nang_Quang_Nam_Province.html


Love,
Loraine