Yummy Teriyaki Burger!

The city of Tokyo is filled with many interesting stores and huge buildings with glaring billboards and signs everywhere. Whether it's a huge colourful signboard or cheap yard signs, they're all equally interesting and hard to ignore.

When I first spotted this huge Becker's sign outside this restaurant in Tokyo, I was immediately captivated! Bright and cheery, the sign lured B and me to venture in for a quick bite after walking around the city all day. Inside, it was just as inviting with warm lights to keep the mood cosy and simple clean decor for dining comfort.

The menu was extensive and everything sounded delicious. After much thinking, we finally settled for a Grilled Chicken Teriyaki burger, which came with a generous portion of fries. I had my usual iced coffee on the side. Sweet and juicy, this is by far the most delicious Teriyaki I ever had and to have it come in a form of a burger was a delicious bonus!

We dined at Becker's twice during our Tokyo stay and both visits saw us ordering the same item. Looking at this picture now, all I want to have for lunch today is something Japanese! Does anybody know where I can get a yummy Teriyaki Burger around here?

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
RIZAL
SHEMAH

Tip-Top Tokyo

I sometimes feel like I belong in Japan; maybe that's why Tokyo is one of my favourite cities in the whole world! What I loved most about being in Japan last month was the efficiency I enjoyed EVERYWHERE we went.

Throughout our stay, we took the public transportation of course; cab rides in Japan are very costly. B did an awesome job of being our official tour guide, deciphering this map; which if you ask me, is oh so confusing! But then again my sense of direction has always been bad.


Anyway, the trains never fail to arrive on time, and commuters queue up when boarding. There is no need to push or cut queues; Japanese are well-behaved and respectful. Seats in trains meant for the elderly are rightfully occupied and the trains are always spic and span inside.


Dining in restaurants and fast food outlets is also a pleasant experience. With impeccable service and everything in place for your complete convenience, dining in Japan was memorable! Patrons diligently return their trays and trash empty boxes according to the where they should be discarded and again; we were always promptly served. I also have to stress on the politeness of Japanese; something we Malaysians can't shout about when it comes to customer service.

It seems like everything from customer service and high-quality products to efficiency and even factory maintenance, Japan has it all covered. Is it a wonder then why Japan remains in my heart?

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

LADYJAVA
AYIE
TEKKAUS

Coffee Haven!

We arrived at Washington Hotel in Shinjuku, Japan early in the morning. There was no such thing as "early" check-in for the hotel so we had no choice but to leave our luggage at the hotel with three long hours to kill. Usually this would not be a problem for me but having just spent more than 12 hours travelling, all I wanted to do was check into my room, get a hot shower and a little relaxi-taxi before exploring the city!


Unfortunately, thanks to the no early check-in policy, B and I together with the three friends travelling with us had to reluctantly start exploring the city at the ungodly morning hour of 10am! Back home, I wouldn't be up at this hour but hey, I was on vacation so I guess a change was necessary.


After walking around aimlessly for twenty minutes, we were relieved to discover a nearby Starbucks; practically the only familiar sight so far! I so needed my coffee especially since I did not sleep the whole night and day prior to our flight from Malaysia. I did not sleep on the plane either. So our very first stop upon arriving in Japan was none other than everybody's beloved coffee place, Starbucks!

Coffee time at good old Starbucks!

I love coffee, don't you? In fact I just started my day and am having my first cup for the day. Coffee keeps me sane and I seriously can't and refuse to function normally unless I get my cuppa of love first. Addicted you say? Definitely!

One of the things I loved about Japan was the abundance of drink vending machines, scattered everywhere throughout the cities. There were all sorts of cool vending machines at every corner, which was so interesting to see. My favourite vending machines are the coffee machines of course. If you're a huge coffee lover like me, you'll definitely be spoiled for choice with the many different types of coffee available in a single machine. I'd spend at least two minutes deciding what to have and B will always have to remind me to make up my fickle mind already!

Coffee and more coffee

I think I had coffee every day while I was in Japan. That's nothing new you might say, but it was simply because I had the luxury of choosing a different type of coffee at each vending machine that caught my eye! And trust me, there were plenty to choose from. Mariuca was in coffee haven for a week!

And speaking of coffee, have you seen the new Keurig Single Cup Coffee Maker yet? Available in black and white, you will enjoy FREE delivery, FREE shipping and FREE K-Cups when you make your purchase. Flavoured coffees are also available like my favourite New Orleans Style French Vanilla and Double Chocolate! Apparently suitable for home-offices especially, I am totally enticed by this new cool coffee maker. I'm going to check it out now; feel free to do the same, if you're a coffee lover like me that is!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
DEBBS
NESSA

Which Asian Country Should You Visit? **

It's been a while since I had a Blogthings quiz here and I found the most appropriate one for me this cool Wednesday morning. According to Blogthings, the Asian country I should travel to is ... Japan LOL!

Streets of Shinjuku

I could not resist posting this one seeing just how accurate the result is for me. Have fun with this one peeps and do share your results with me. I'd love to know your Asian travel destination too. Have a great day!

You Should Travel to Japan

From freak sightings in Harajuku to awesome sashimi, you'll love Japan. And who knows? You might end up on Japanese TV!

What Asian Country Should You Visit?

MARIUCA LOVES

Mexico Getaway!

It's a little crazy to be thinking of another holiday so soon after my recent Tokyo trip, but I just can't help it! I've been on vacation mode ever since my return and frankly, all I want to do right now is get back to when work and other stressors were the furthest from my mind as I totally soak up the uniqueness of my vacation.

You too would be imagining a wonderful vacation in a wonderful exotic location if you see what I have in mind for an unforgettable getaway in the beautiful luxurious Villa La Estancia Vallarta Spa Resort!

The first thing I plan to do after checking in is enjoy a nice luxurious body massage; perhaps get a whole day SPA package treatment as well. A girl's gotta look radiant on her vacation right?

Once rejuvenated and relaxed from this ultimate beauty pampering session, B and I will enjoy a nice early dinner by the poolside; taking in the beautiful view that surrounds this beautiful resort. Mexican food is my favourite so I can just imagine all the yummy spicy delights I'd be ordering!

A romantic leisure stroll by the pool side will follow our scrumptious dinner. It's been a while since we visited a beach as beautiful as the one Villa La Estancia has to offer.

Returning home to our spacious and cosy bedroom suite would be something I'd definitely look forward to. Wouldn't you sleep like a baby in this beautiful luxurious room?

And waking up the next morning to an expansive beautiful view of the sun-kissed beach would be simply breath-taking! I am picturing myself enjoying a lovely Mexican breakfast from the patio of my luxurious suite.

Well now that you've seen all the exciting wonders awaiting you at Villa La Estancia, don't you feel like getting away for a while as well? I've never been to Mexico and from what I've just seen, it's definitely an ideal vacation spot for the adventurous and those looking to indulge in luxury pampering in the beautiful resort of Villa La Estancia.

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
SHEMAH
ANE

Revenge of the Fallen: Red Carpet Event! ***

It's Saturday and what better way to kick off the weekend than taking you to the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Red Carpet event B and colleagues attended on our recent Tokyo trip!

Happily in attendance Khairy (8TV), Kazen and B (TV3)

The scene that evening at Roppongi Hills was one filled with excitement. Despite not understanding Japanese, it was obvious from the excited buzz surrounding the carpet that Tokyo was ecstatic and in full anticipation of catching an up-close and personal glimpse of their favorite movie stars all the way from Hollywood!

Australia Today chatting up a Japanese celebrity

You see the really tall lady in the picture below? Well she's Miss Vietnam and she's apparently a host for one of the TV talk shows in Vietnam; also invited to the red carpet event. According to B and gang, despite her sneaky discreet moves, it was obvious that she was slowly but surely inching and squeezing her way to their spot (each crew set was given a small space for them to stand at the red carpet) in order to get more space for her crew! The guys refused to give in to this beauty queen of course and stood their ground; guarding their small but precious spot!

Miss Vietnam looking almost ghost-like, towering above everyone else!

Tyrese Gibson was the first to walk down the red carpet and he was a pleasure to watch! Looking every bit the movie star, he was such a good sport; perpetually laughing and joking with the Press. The MC of the event made a blunder when all the cast were called up on stage and announced this super star as Tyrese Wilson, which he made light of before running on stage to join the rest of the cast!

Fast becoming one of Hollywood's most promising young actors, Ramon Rodriguez who plays Leo Spitz in the movie was simply wonderful! Both friendly and funny, his smile was contagious throughout the event.

The much-awaited Megan Fox did not disappoint and was totally easy-going and bubbly. She was a terrific sport too! Caught up in the excitement and glitz and glam that Tokyo had in store that night, the cast were put up in the lovely Hyatt Park Hotel. I hear the bathroom alone is as big as my entire hotel room in Shinjuku!

As expected, Josh Duhamel looked oh so hot that evening! Despite his publicist was hurrying him through the Red Carpet walk, he was all smiles.

A picture of complete composure, Michael Bay was very cool, calm and collected; taking his time to answer questions hurled his way. He did mention a particular scene in the movie, the pyramid scene if you will, as the most challenging one to shoot so keep a lookout for that one!

And finally the hero of the movie arrived, accompanied by the loudest cheer and screams from the throng of fans and press crowd! Shia Labeouf appeared a little intense (probably from the heat that night) but was still very friendly, polite and attentive to the Press. Good for him!

Shia a great sport with his endorsement for TV3!

Michael Bay presented with a replica of Optimus Prime

The international Press were later treated to a delicious dinner at Gonpachi Restaurant, which was where a bloodbath scene was filmed for the movie Kill Bill.

B really enjoyed the movie and will definitely be watching it again with me later. Action-packed throughout, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen apparently is even better than the first one. The guys found the romance part between Shia and Megan a little corny but overall it was a movie deserving of a standing ovation. I'm so glad B got to watch the movie and attend the Red Carpet event too. What an exciting memorable experience for my darling!

MARIUCA LOVES

Where Is Mariuca? ***

As you're reading this I am probably sleeping on the plane, dreaming of the brand new day awaiting me when I touch down at my travel destination! I will miss my cats dearly and all my wonderful Mariucans of course and I have prepared scheduled posts here as well as MPG and MD for your chopping pleasure so you won't miss me too much. On top of that, I am also leaving you with a cool new contest here at Wishing on a Falling Star!

I have a few simple rules of course so please follow them to be in the running to WIN a cool souvenir from my travel location. I have no idea what this cool souvenir will be just yet, but it will surely be a wonderful memento of Mariuca's vacation in......!

Read carefully before you start commenting; hints will be included throughout my post. No-following rules will NOT WIN.

To WIN, all you have to do is answer correctly. Before that, let me tell you the reason behind this trip. I am following my darling B who will be attending the World Premiere of the much anticipated Michael Bay movie. I am so thrilled for B to be one of the first few people to watch this movie. He's overworked and this is indeed a wonderful work reward for him. Mind you he will still be working during our stay, but we decided that me tagging along would make it a perfect vacation for us!

I will have to stay out of the way while he's working but that's only for the first 2 days or so and then it'll be time for me to have some fun! I love this city that I'm returning to after 3 years. On our last vacation there, I had the best time ever and wrote all about it as my very first post here at Wishing on a Falling Star.

So, if you go back to my first post, you'd be able to see where Mariuca is headed. You can also see all the cool sightseeing spots I visited. For this trip, we're planning to visit several new places, those we didn't get a chance to visit on our last trip and this time it will be Spring instead of late Autumn so the weather should be awesome!

Rules

1. This contest is open to ALL MARIUCANS. To become a true Mariucan, please subscribe to Mariuca.
2. International entries are allowed.
3. Answer the following correctly to win. FIRST person to follow the rules and answer BOTH questions correctly WIN!
4. Comments will be on moderation until Wednesday.

- Where is my travel destination?
- Name the movie title of the world premiere B will be attending.

Good luck and have FUN!

MARIUCA LOVES

Vacation Confirmed!

Mariuca will be going on a vacation yeeha! Finally, after months of slaving away at work and at my blogs, slowly earning and saving towards my Vacation Fund; I am truly ready to take off for a wonderful vacation somewhere far away and I'm so thrilled!

I've paid for my ticket and got my Visa settled today. Actually B settled my Visa for me, so thanks love! My ticket will be delivered to me sometime this week, which means my flight details for this vacation are all taken care of already. Lucky for me I'm not travelling with little children or babies so I don't have to worry about any baby travel needs. For those of you planning to travel with babies, feel free to check out the baby travel link here. You can get more information and assistance on where to stay, baby travel products as well as travel tips when travelling with babies.

I apologize for not disclosing my travel destination or anything much about this vacation simply because I might just have another Where is Mariuca contest for you guys to have fun with during my absence. So if anyone has any idea as to where I might be headed, please keep it to yourself so you won't spoil the fun for my other readers yeah? All I can say for now is that I am just so excited and this vacation is also one of the reasons I have been busy with work last month. I needed to get all my pending work out of the way so I can travel in peace this month!

I have so many things to do before my trip including booking our accommodation at out travel destination, which is what I'll probably be doing tonight. So if you don't see me at your blogs happily commenting away there, that just means Mariuca is busy preparing for her upcoming vacation. I can't wait for the big day, stay tuned folks!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
LADYJAVA
SHEMAH

Vacation Mode!

I am pulling an all-nighter again tonight. Despite not sleeping for the last 24 hours, I am feeling ambitious to stay up and work! I know, it's crazy right? I've been working really hard lately. I'm saving up for a vacation you see, so work has been uppermost on my mind this month.

I don't know exactly know where my next destination will be but I am not going to be too mingy on this vacation. I won't be lavishly spending either but I refuse to worry excessively about money. What good is a vacation if I stress over how much I'm spending all the while right? I might as well just stay home and do my worrying here!

New York would be a great vacation destination for me of course! I'm more of a city shopping vacation kind of gal as opposed to enjoying a fun in the sun by the beach vacation. So the Big Apple is where I can see myself having a wonderful vacation. I'd shop the whole time and dine in all the best restaurants, B in tow. And I'd love to visit Six Flags again, that would be terrific! I hear Charter bus NYC is offering special packages to Six Flags Great Adventure and Dorney Park, which fits in perfectly with my dream vacation.

All this will have to wait of course. I need to add more funds to my Vacation account, which means it's time for me to get back to work. It's Annual Report season right now, so that's what I've been busy working on lately. I'm also feeling very sleepy after writing this post so maybe I'll sneak in a cat nap first before resuming my new job. Good night folks!

-FC Scoreboard points await my first three commenters-

LADYJAVA'S LOUNGE
RAMBLINGS OF THE PHAT
LIFE ACCORDING TO ME

Baby on Board

One of the things I love about my blog is how it allows me to provide some very useful information to my friends and readers. For instance, do you remember my trip to Bandung last year? Well, thanks to my post, two of my friends decided to make Bandung their next travel destination. This I thought was very cool; it tells me my writing and thoughts are heard.

My friends DD and Dommie are planning separate trips to Bandung sometime this month and they needed first hand information and details on what to expect, where to shop and dine, the best accommodation and tourists spots and so on. I was more than willing to assist of course. Reliving my Bandung moments to my friends by detailing the information they wanted was great. It brought me back to my own fond Bandung memories. Plus, it feels really nice to be able to give your opinions and suggestions to those who actually need it.

The one thing I neglected to mention to them was baby travel tips when travelling by plane. Though I don't have babies of my own, it is still very good information to have for my mommy friends who plan to travel anytime soon. Since both DD and Dommie are bringing toddlers on their respective trips, I thought I'd give them three thoughtful tips before they depart for some excitement in the shopping haven of Bandung!

• Most airlines will let your child fly free on your lap until age two. Nonetheless, it is still a good idea to start buying a separate seat for your child upon reaching 12-18 months. Your child needs his or her space too so this is a good option if your baby likes to wriggle and squirm.
• Pack your child's favourite snacks and plenty of liquid. Air pressure changes could make your child cranky and ensuring plenty of liquid for your child can prevent or lessen the discomforts in ears and tummy.
• Keep your toddler busy and happy by asking for a window seat. You can also bring along fun toys such as colouring books and etch-a-sketch to keep your child delightfully distracted.
  

To DD and Dommie, I hope these tips will come in handy. Have a wonderful vacation and don't forget to bring me back some of those delicious Bandung Brownies!

PS. FC Scoreboard points await my first three commenters, go for it!

LADYJAVA'S LOUNGE
LIFE RAMBLINGS
FIRST TIME DAD

Vacation For Me?

5 very good reasons for Mariuca to go on a holiday hopefully soon!

1. To celebrate a special occasion
Having recently celebrated our 7-year anniversary, a short holiday would make a wonderful gift for B and me! Anniversaries only come once a year so a little indulgence to rekindle and reminisce our 7 years together is a great reason to celebrate.

2. To improve our state of well-being
Vacationing out of town or to an exotic island somewhere will be a welcomed change from our current hectic lifestyle. It's been a while since we went on an island getaway. The fresh air and change of scenery from fast-paced to laid-back will definitely help refresh and enhance our well-being.

3. To enjoy a little RnR
All work and no play makes Mariuca a dull blogger! We both need to take some time out and smell the roses. As it is, we're getting a little burned out here. Even weekends have been work related lately so a short break in a serene fun location will definitely alleviate our work stress.

4. To escape
Ridiculous deadlines, working weekends and life's daily stress have taken its toll on us. With our daily routine becoming almost a chore, it is indeed the right time for us to escape into the excitement of a fun-filled vacation. All we want to do right now is forget our dreary routine and pamper our weary souls with a change of climate, scenery and pace of life. A little rejuvenation goes a long way after all.

5. To pamper the kids
A vacation for B and me will provide Benji, Chubbs and Phoebe with the purr-fect opportunity to socialize with other furry fluffy friends when we check them into the Pet Hotel. As usual, Benji is bound to make more human friends than cats. Phoebe will grace the stay with her charm and cuteness while shy Chubbs will maintain a low profile; staying away from all the glitz and glam all the while curious with his new surroundings.

Now that you know my reasons for needing a break, do you feel like going on a holiday too? Where would be your ideal vacation destination and what's your reason for a getaway? If you're serious about taking a much-needed break, feel free to check out ULookUBook and browse through the many Cheap Holidays, discount hotels and thousands of bargain holiday destinations available there. With so many affordable options to choose from, you will be spoiled for choice. Have fun making your travel plans and enjoy your weekend!

MY PIECE OF PARADISE

Weekend in Bandung

When B told me that he had two tickets to Bandung and he was whisking me off for a shopping and dining vacation in exactly one week, I was more worried rather than happy! I was in the midst of a huge translation job, which was still ongoing at the time B surprised me with this trip. Despite working on it for the past two weeks, I was still nowhere near done, and with my client bugging me about it practically every day, I did not feel like it was the perfect vacation moment for me; I'd be too distracted thinking about unfinished business at home.

I was reluctant to leave my home office unattended but B assured me that a weekend of shopping and dining was exactly what we needed to get our mind of things after all that has happened to us this year. Moreover, he too needed to release some steam after working so hard himself and so, that was how we ended up in Bandung one fine weekend! We figured we'd turn it into a typical weekend of shopping and dining, which is how we usually spend our weekend here. The only difference was that we had to take a plane to get to our shopping destination! ;)

The day before our flight, I started feeling sick. I had a headache, my nose was acting up even worse than usual and I was feeling cold throughout the day, despite the sun shining brightly outside. The fact that I was working until the very last minute didn't help either. We still had to pack and send our kitties to the Pet Hotel so I got through the day by popping Panadols, which worked but was not enough to help me regain my strength fully. I didn't sleep the night before for fear of missing our flight which was at 9.50am so after I finally finished packing, I took an early shower at 6am and got ready for our trip!

It was my first Air Asia flight, so I was quite apprehensive at what to expect. Fortunately, everything turned out okay but I had a very uncomfortable flight due to my cold, and though it was a mere two hours to reach our destination, I felt like it was more than that. By the time we reached Bandung, I was feeling really sick and all I wanted to do was to get to our hotel and take a nice hot bath before I could even think of doing any exploring.

We got a cab at the airport to take us to the Grand Preanger Hotel and were told that it would cost us 40,000 Rupiah (Rp). I was glad to finally reach our hotel but had a complete change of mood when the cab driver shortchanged us of 5,000 Rp for this journey. Taking it as a one-off "oversight" by the cab driver, we decided not to make a fuss. I was also sneezing non-stop by then so there was no time to argue with the cab driver. Since we arrived at the hotel 1 1/2 hours before check-in time, we were told that we had to wait for our room, which did not bode well with me at all. I was already very grumpy (sorry love!) from my uncomfortable flight, my non-stop sneezing and from being cheated by the cab driver and was about to resign myself to a miserable wait when B told me that he somehow managed to get a room for us earlier and within 15 minutes we were escorted to our room.

Grand Preanger Hotel

We didn't do much on our first day in Bandung. After we freshened up in our hotel room, we had our welcome drink at the hotel lounge before taking a cab from the hotel to visit several factory outlets. I was excited to see just how much shopping I'd end up with but was surprised to find myself not shopping till I drop! Perhaps it was my cold and the lack of sleep, but I was in no mood for shopping that first day.

Bandung weather was surprisingly cooler compared to KL so walking the streets of Bandung was a delight. I didn't have much appetite to eat however, and though B got a taste of the durian ice-cream which seemed to be in abundance everywhere, my blocked nose did not permit me to really savour the yummy ice-cream! :(

Durian ice-cream

Paintings sold on the streets of Bandung

Factory Outlets we visited on Day 1

We returned to our hotel early and after a simple dinner, fell asleep at 6.30pm! I guess all the traveling and my lack of sleep days before the trip finally took its toll on me. This actually turned out great, because the next day I was up and dressed for breakfast by 8am, a major accomplishment for me. I was feeling much better than yesterday and though still feverish, I was not going to let my cold keep me back from rocking the streets of Bandung! ;)

The early bird all ready for breakfast!

A little chess before we head out shopping

Finally, we're good to go...waiting for our ride to take us on our shopping spree!

Our ride for the day

We decided to hire a driver to take us to all the places we wanted to go. It cost us 50,000 Rp to get to our first destination and following that, we would be charged an hourly rate. Our driver was friendly and extremely polite. He took us to wherever we wanted to go and suggested famous local attractions to visit. Our first stop was a Batik boutique but we did not buy anything much there as the prices were rather high in this particular home boutique he took us to. Plus, both B and I are not huge batik fans.

The rest of the day was spent shopping at the remaining Factory Outlets on our list, while our driver waited for us outside. He'd pounce on us as soon as he sees us coming out, immediately taking our shopping bags from us to put inside the car. At one of our stops, he had to wait for almost 2 hours in the hot sun while we did our shopping! He was paid handsomely for his services though and by the time he sent us back to the hotel he was 450,000 Rp richer! :)

Told ya I didn't shop much!

Stocking up on the famous Bandung Brownies

Later, B and I both agreed that our favourite shopping spot in Bandung was the Cihampalas Walk and Rumah Mode. I think I did most of my shopping there where I found several favourite brands like Esprit, Zara, Calvin Klein and Guess at great low prices. I was however, disappointed that I did not find any Victoria's Secret items for sale in any of the Factory Outlets we visited. Before my trip, I had made a mental note to myself to check out Farah's Bandung post to find out where she got her Victoria's Secret stuff from, but it was a hectic week for me and in my haste, completely forgot to do so. I remembered Farah mentioning that she had a blast grabbing all the VS stuff she could find in her size but unfortunately, there was no grabbing for me that day! :(

Restaurants and shops at Cihampalas Walk

Soto Madura, a Bandung speciality

Taking a break after shopping at Rumah Mode

On our last night in Bandung we had a relaxing cosy buffet dinner in the hotel, served al fresco on the terrace, with a band for entertainment. Though her vocal prowess did not impress me much, the singer did sing some of my favourite Indonesian songs so that was cool. The food was just okay but once again, I have to blame my lack of appetite in Bandung on my not being 100% well!

Dinner on our last night in Bandung

Our last cab ride back to the airport was smooth and speedy but we were upset once again when the cab driver demanded 100,000 Rp for the ride instead of the 40,000 Rp initially quoted. It was a good thing we still had some Rupiah with us and since we didn't want to leave on a bad note, we paid the driver and proceeded to check-in our luggage, where we discovered we had to pay more service charge. By the time we paid all the stuff needed paying, we were down to about 75,000 Rp. While discussing what to do with the remaining cash, an air stewardess came running up to us, asking if we'd prefer to sit in the Executive Lounge while waiting for our flight. It would cost us 30,000 Rp per person but we would be seated in a comfy room with free food and drinks to snack on instead of being stuck in the noisy, crowded airport. You could also get a foot massage if you like, for an additional cost of course! It sounded like a pretty good deal so that's where we were until boarding time. :)

Despite my cold while in Bandung, we tried to make the best of our trip. Though exhausted from our shopping weekend, we were nonetheless happy that we got to experience the better part of Bandung before we flew back home. To my Bandung friends Trinity and MXY, I'm sorry our paths did not cross during this vacation, but I am sure there will be another opportunity for us to visit Bandung again. Until then, thank you for having us in your lovely city. I had a blast and Mariuca will definitely be back! :)

Where is Mariuca?

As you are reading this, B & I are happily on board a plane, heading for our much-needed vacation! YAY!! Finally, I am going to get away for a while and leave behind all the worries and work stress that have been plaguing me these last few weeks! My bags are packed, my kitties have been sent to the Pet Hotel during our absence and all I want to do right now is indulge in some major shopping & dining at this destination we are headed for.

I'll miss all of you during my vacation and hope you will be thinking of me too. To my regulars like LJ, Roxy, Jean, Sushi, Emila and Bobby, do take care of Mariuca and MPG during my absence. Keep them spic and span and sweet-smelling always okay?

While I'm away, I'll be leaving you with a little something to have fun with. Just guess where Mariuca is headed for her vacation this time and you will WIN a souvenir from the destination I am headed for! I don't know what is it yet since I'll have to scout around for it during my vacation, but it will be a great reminder of me and my vacation!

Leave a comment here with your guess on my travel location. International entries are allowed. You can guess as many times as you like but the first person to get it right WINS! Easy yeah? So have some fun here while I'm away. I'll be back on Sunday night and hopefully, we'll have a winner by then! I'll be having this same contest at Mariuca's Perfume Gallery as well so that means I'll have 2 different winners and you will get more chances to win! Here are some hints for you to ponder upon, good luck!

1. My vacation spot is located in South East Asia.
2. The city I'm headed for is nicknamed "Kota Kembang" or "Flower City", which refers not to the plants but rather the women here, claimed as the most beautiful around.
3. I have never been to this destination before so I have not mentioned it in any of my travel posts here.
4. Another nickname for this city is "Tourist Shopping City".
5. This city is famous for its Factory Outlets.

Ticket to EURO!

When B first told me about his Euro Trip several weeks back, I was all for it! He's been working so hard and a nice football trip was exactly what he needed. The purpose of the trip was basically for him to watch the Quarterfinal watch between Germany and Portugal. It wasn't even a work assignment, more like a free vacation for him, so how could I not encourage him!

He on the other hand, wasn't as enthusiastic about the trip as I was. His main concern was the travelling time it would take him to reach Zurich and all the waiting around in airports, which was bound to be tiring. It would take him one whole day to get to Zurich, the following day would be spent travelling to Basel for the match, and the next day he would already be on his way home to KL before he could even say the word jet lag! Just one day to soak up Switzerland and no time for any major shopping or sight-seeing. Furthermore, this trip would see him travelling abroad by himself, with no friends or colleagues to keep him company. Being alone in a strange country no matter how experienced or old you are, is always somewhat scary albeit exciting. I guess it was a ball of mixed emotions for B.

Anyway, I was all for his EURO trip and continued to psyche him up so he would actually look forward to the trip. Football is his number 1 passion and this would be an excellent opportunity for him to get away for a while and be a part of the EURO fever that takes over the world every four years. I was truly excited for him and encouraged him to go without me. After all, it was a work-sponsored trip, so with a free flight and accommodation thrown in with the match, why not?

But that was all before "the incident"! When the incident happened, he was less than a week away from taking that flight to Zurich. I never expected a terrible tragedy to happen right before his trip and I was suddenly very sorry at how gung ho I had been about his Switz trip. It was definitely not a good time for me to be home alone, especially when all I could think about was "the incident". So I was very depressed and moody that whole week; worried sick at the thought of being alone after what we had just gone through. It was already too late for him to cancel and I wouldn't dream of asking him to - I wouldn't want to be responsible for making him miss one of the greatest football moments of his life! We even tried to see if we could get a flight for me to Switz, but since it was all very last minute, there were no available flights. So after much tossing and turning, we finally got me a "baby-sitter" who kept me company during B's absence. You know who you are, THANK YOU! :)

When B got home from his EURO trip and showed me all the wonderful pictures he took, I knew I did the right thing by encouraging him to go. He was extra lively and extremely animated as he related his experience to me. Not usually the chatter-box, he couldn't stop telling me everything that he did, saw and experienced; as usual trying to bring back his destination to me, so I wouldn't feel left out at being Left Behind! ;)

Before he left for his trip, I reminded B to get me a fridge magnet and to take as many pictures of Switzerland. I think he did a great job this trip, capturing his best moments in Zurich and Basel. And of course, I'd like to share another one of his amazing adventures (without me!) here with my blog friends. I hope you'll enjoy the pictures as much as I did. Maybe one day I'll get to visit Switzerland too but until then, I'll have these great pictures to keep that dream alive!

Oh yeah, I'd also like to show some special love for Jean, LJ and Debbie for "keeping me company" online during B's absence - you ladies are the best! And I'm sure many of you will be staying up to catch the finale between Spain and Germany early tomorrow morning. B and I are rooting for Spain, how about you? Happy watching to some of my football friends here like Faizal, Nick and Adrian! :)

Spectacular art intervention in Basel. International artists created art works on tent sheets which are hung across the streets of the city centre.

‘Fan Zone’ at the Kleinbasel bank on the Rhine, the matches can be seen in a unique atmosphere on two giant screens on the Mittlere Brucke.

TV interviews with Germany fans in the city.

B making friends with the Portugal fans as he was supporting Portugal for that particular match!

A giant inflatable ball for Portugal fans to sign, leaving their mark from all over the world.

Apparently B was a Portugal fan that day! ;)

Waiting for fans to fill up St. Jakob Park stadium.

Ronaldo, Deco & co warming up before the match.

Portugal fans settling down for the match.

Germany fans showing off their colours as the players walk in.

Germany celebrates after a goal...

while fans celebrated with a giant Germany jersey.

B getting into the game!

Giant footballers towering over visitors at one end of the train station in Zurich.

My Lil' Blunder

Hola! I've been down with a fever since Monday morning. So if you have not been seeing me around in the blogosphere lately, that's the main reason. My head hurts, my nose is all red from the sneezing and my eyes are all puffy and watery - definitely not a sight for sore eyes!

Yesterday saw me in an extra cranky mood. Firstly, I woke up to a blinding headache. Secondly, I woke up to the incessant ringing of my cell phone, which apparently had been ringing since early morning. So by the time I dragged my self out of bed, I was definitely not feeling very nice!

There was no way I could function properly and work was the last thing on my mind. After my morning coffee, I quickly checked and answered my urgent emails, before popping another 2 Panadols and settling down on the sofa to rest. My mind was numb from the pain and I was feeling quite drowsy from my medication. I was about to doze off when my phone rang...again! I tried ignoring it but it continued ringing, adding to my already throbbing headache. Totally agitated, I dragged myself away from the comfy sofa, and staggered into the kitchen, which was where I thought I left my phone. As luck would have it, bad luck that is, my phone was nowhere to be found, which only infuriated me further.

I finally found my phone on my desk, hidden underneath a stack of papers. By that time, I was certainly in no mood to talk to anybody but grudgingly answered the phone anyway. I was inside my home office (the one room in our home that gets terrible Maxis reception) so I couldn't really hear what the caller was saying. All I managed to catch was that he got my number from a friend and he was from X Worldwide. My immediate thought was that he must be another pesky insurance agent or a salesperson trying to sell me something...and that was when I lost it! I rudely interrupted the guy, saying that he'd better quickly get to the point cause I was really sick and was in no mood to listen to him drone on and on about some silly product! I was about to say something even nastier, when he halted my fury by saying that he was actually calling from an advertising agency and was looking for a copywriter! YIKES! It hit me then that I had just mistakenly snapped at a potential client and not the insurance nobody I initially thought he was! :(

Unsure whether to laugh or cry, I was completely horrified and stumped on what to do next! My fever momentarily disappeared and I forced myself to think clearly, trying to salvage a terribly awkward situation. I apologized profusely to my caller, citing my fever as the source of my temporary lapse in judgment! Though he was a great sport about the whole thing, and even laughed heartily when I told him that I mistook him for an insurance agent, I think that the damage has been done! Of course, that is not how I usually treat my clients. Unfortunately for him, he caught me at the wrong time and on a very sick day too. I know that's no excuse but it's the only one I have to offer! ;)

Anyway, I felt terrible about what happened, so immediately after this embarrassing blunder, I did the only thing I could do and call B to whine LOL! He managed to console me and even cheered me up by reminding me about our upcoming vacation. And since we are still undecided about our travel plans, he suggested I work on our vacation instead of stressing myself silly over my blunder for the day.

So that's exactly what I did! I spent the rest of the afternoon checking out some of the most beautiful Paris Hotels, London Hotels, Birmingham Hotels and Manchester Hotels. Picturing us shopping, dining and visiting some of London's cool attractions like the BFI London IMAX Cinema and the British Airways London Eye was exactly what the Doctor recommended! I ended up feeling much better and my headache finally disappeared. Oh and my research was fruitful as well. If we decide to make London our vacation spot, I'd love to check-in to the Draycott Hotel. Among all the wonderful hotels I checked out yesterday, this one caught my eye! Although a tad pricey at $316 per night, it's simply too beautiful to resist. What do you think? :)

Virtual Vacation, Join Me?

The one and only time I was ever in Vegas, I was just nine years old. Imagine that...there I was in the city of entertainment, filled with an abundance of nightlife entertainment and all the glitz and glam one could possibly soak up, and I was too young to enjoy any of it. There was no casino, no nightlife, no dancing...nothing! Things would definitely be different if I were to visit Las Vegas now. Unfortunately, I'm not that lucky and here I am; still wondering when I'd get to revisit Vegas.

My friend Zeff on the other hand, recently went on his dream vacation to LA and Las Vegas! He was away for more than a week and of course, was excited to share his pictures with us upon his return. As expected, they were gorgeous! If I have not said it before, I'm saying it now...Zeff is a wonderful photographer! Naturally talented, he takes amazing pictures so vivid and lifelike, you can't help but feel you're right there along with him in these pictures. So thanks to him, I'm able to take you on a virtual vacation to LA and Vegas! Are you ready?

Heading into LA...what a view!

Our first stop - Universal Studios

Heading into Wisteria Lane to visit Bree & gang!


Does this movie scene look familiar to you?


Nothing to be afraid of, it's just Jaws! ;)


A visit to the Kodak Theatre followed by a little shopping

Chinese Theatre

And now...Las Vegas, here we come!

Monte Carlo Hotel, which according to Zeff, is actually somewhat old-fashioned. The casino looks like a scene from an 80s movie. All I could think of when looking at this picture is the fact that I'm in Vegas and I love the 80s, so this hotel sounds just about right! ;)

A special invitation to the Trump Hotel & Casino from The Donald himself!

Magical

New York, New York!

Las Vegas Boulevard

And that's the end of our mini vacation in LA & Vegas! I hope you enjoyed this virtual vacation with me and if you're keen to experience the real thing, here's a great easy to book site for you to check out the best deals for Hotels in New York, Hotels in Rome, Hotels in Barcelona, and many MORE other locations worldwide!

And to Zeff, thank you for bringing back LA and Vegas to me; I had a blast! :)

Left Behind

As much as we love travelling abroad together, B’s job does not always permit me to tag along on his many overseas adventures. So far, he has been to a number of places without me. His Sydney, Shanghai, Chiang Mai, Bali, L.A. and Manchester trips saw me being home alone, wracked with envious thoughts of him being in a foreign country and having a grand time without me. Though he tells me all the time that it’s work and not just fun, the mere thought of shortly escaping from life's daily stress is enough to make me feel a little left out whenever I'm left behind.

Apparently, another trip to Japan is in the pipeline for B. Unfortunately, this one is strictly business as well, so my chances of tagging along are somewhat slim. Speaking of Japan, our last Tokyo trip together was simply amazing; both a hectic yet FUN week for us. I felt utterly rejuvenated and inspired that entire month after we got back home. In fact, that was the reason I started blogging! Tokyo was truly fantastic and the vacation made me feel like an entirely new person; one that I simply had to share with my closest friends and eventually the rest of the blogosphere.

Since I have been there and done that at Tokyo, I guess I do not really mind being staying back for this coming trip. Of course, it would be an entirely different story if B were going to New Zealand, a country I have yet to visit and would love to one day! A friend of mine honeymooned in New Zealand and came back with rave reviews of this beautiful country. I hear there is a great wildlife park in Christchurch called Orana Wildlife Park, which is an open range sanctuary for endangered animals, providing them with enclosures that closely resemble their natural habitat. Over 400 animals from 70 different species are displayed. I wonder if it is half as cool as the Melbourne Zoo we went to during our Melbourne Adventure 2002, where we managed to capture some really cool pictures of some of the coolest animals there!

Sleeping Koala

Making Friends

The Red Panda

Perhaps I'll end up in New Zealand one fine day but if you are planning a trip to New Zealand sometime soon, don't forget to send me a postcard from one of the many New Zealand Hotels, Auckland Hotels, Wellington Hotels and Christchurch Hotels where you’ll be staying. I’d love to hear all about your little adventure in New Zealand!

The Heritage Hotel, Christchurch NZ

Melbourne Memories

Melbourne Adventure 2002 brings back many fond memories as the trip was a many first moments for me. It was the first time B and I visited Australia, and it was the first time we celebrated New Year overseas. More importantly however, it was our first vacation in a foreign country as newlyweds. :)

Squeezing in a hug!

We spent an entire 2 weeks in Melbourne at our buddy Zeff's beautiful home. I really have to thank Zeff again, for being gracious enough to accommodate our room and board throughout our entire stay. Despite his busy schedule, he made sure we saw and experienced everything of significance in Melbourne!

Sunday at Queen Victoria Market

B, Me & Zeff

Fun Fair Luna Park, St. Kilda

The 2 weeks in Melbourne was truly one of the best times for me. We bought a new digital camera just for the occasion and ended up bringing home more than 600 photos back home with us! Zeff was our photographer for that trip and he made full use of his photography skills to come up with such awesome pictures; everyone who saw them was very impressed!

City Centre

Lost in Melbourne Zoo

Found the Park Rangers!

South Bank, Yarra River

What I loved most about this trip was the fact that Zeff, B and I got to rekindle our friendship after a long time apart. I dare say the trip brought all three of us even closer than before. We ended the trip on a sombre note; all three of us were teary-eyed when saying goodbye on that last day. Our favourite picture from this Melbourne adventure is unanimously the one below. Aptly captioned, it serves to remind us of the moments we spent in Melbourne and our respective chosen drinks throughout that trip. What's great about this picture was that it was a candid shot taken by another mutual friend (in the picture above). We were exhausted after a day out in Melbourne and were definitely in no mood to smile...and yet the picture came out perfectly somehow!

Coffee, Iced Choc and a Latte later...

Our next destination in Australia, one that we'd love to visit is Gold Coast! From the theme parks and attractions to the shopping and dining available there, Gold Coast has all the makings of a fun vacation for us and one of our goals this year is to make that trip happen.

Since Zeff is already back home in Malaysia, we'd need to find a reasonably priced hotel to stay when we visit Australia again so I've already started my research on the best available hotels in Gold Coast. If you're interested to visit other parts of Australia, you can also check out these great deals on hotels in Surfer's Paradise, hotels in Adelaide and Perth hotels as well. In the mean time, enjoy the pictures of my Melbourne Adventure 2002. If all goes well, you'll get to feast your eyes on more great pictures from our Gold Coast Adventure soon! :)

B in Manchester!

B’s latest work adventure took him all the way to Manchester, England. I thought it was most appropriate, as it presented the perfect opportunity for him to revisit the country he once called home for 3 years when studying in Coventry. His mission this time, was to do some coverage on My Team's visit to Manchester. My Team by the way is a reality show on TV 3, which aims to revive football in Malaysia whilst uncovering new talents in this sport.

This was no ordinary trip mind you; it was a dream come true for football fans, especially if you’re a Manchester United supporter. Aside from B and a handful of others, the entire group comprised hard-core MU fans, who couldn't wait to get down to the trip’s agenda, which included a visit to Old Trafford and MU dressing room, meeting some of the most renowned names in football as well as watching a live match between MU and Roma at Old Trafford!

Although it began as an MU affair in every way for B, the trip turned out to be a wonderful experience for him. By the end of his one-week visit, the Liverpool-fan B grudgingly admitted that he had a whale of a time in Manchester. Besides indulging himself in an uninterrupted week of his favourite sport, he also enjoyed a wonderful football shopping spree and even managed to make a short trip to Liverpool, which was a mere 55 minutes away by train.

So while we were looking through his Manchester pictures last night, B & I started reminiscing about our last trip to Tokyo, which we both truly enjoyed. We love to travel and have been planning another vacation for quite some time now. Unfortunately, our conflicting work schedules make it difficult to settle on an agreeable date. And the more we reminisced, the more we realized that we’re in dire need of a nice relaxing vacation. The thought of going away to some exotic faraway land for some R&R got us so excited we ended up browsing through the Internet for hours, in search of possible travel destinations for our next holiday.

One of the hotel reservations sites that really caught our eye was Hotel Reservations.com. As we scoured through an endless array of great destinations and fantastic packages available here, we were pleasantly surprised at their very competitive rates. Besides providing essential planning information and great travel tips, Hotel Reservations.com also includes a comprehensive listing to the most suitable hotel, motel, condo or resort that accommodate every budget. Plus, it guarantees you the lowest Special Internet Rates online. So if you’re planning a vacation, look no further as I assure you that this is the only site you’ll need to visit!

After exploring all the possible vacation destinations awaiting us at Hotel Reservations.com, we still couldn’t settle on one; there were just too many cool places to choose from! We did however have a wonderful time conjuring up images of all the great things we would see, do and experience at our next vacation. So we decided to keep this site bookmarked and will visit it again when our vacation date draws nearer but in the mean time, feast your eyes on B’s pictures in Manchester. I bet, after seeing his wonderful memories in Manchester, you'd definitely want to take a vacation yourself and make your own memories too! Enjoy! :)

B was all smiles to be pictured with his idol, Shebby - a renowned football pundit for ESPN-Star Sports.

B with Ron Atkinson, former Man Utd manager at Man Utd’s training ground, Carrington.

“So..this is how it feels..”, B sitting at the Man Utd dug out.


Enjoying the live match between MU and Roma!

Smiling happily with Anderson, MU’s newly recruited Brazilian.

B in MU's dressing room.

Standing proudly in front of Anfield Stadium, Liverpool.

Hanging out with Bakar Atan from TV3.

Old Trafford

B Meets HSM2 Cast!

When B told me he had to go to LA for an office assignment, I was overjoyed, thinking that this would be the ideal opportunity for me to tag along and enjoy the view and some retail therapy in a city I once resided in for 2 years. I was already envisioning a week of fun, shopping and dining when he interrupted my reverie by saying that he'll be going there with a colleague and their sole mission is to interview the cast of High School Musical 2 at Disneyland!

Imagine my crestfallen face as images of me happily dining and shopping in LA turned into me being home alone as he enjoys himself in Disneyland, Universal Studios and the glitz and glam of Hollywood! He tried to pacify me by saying it won't be half as fun without me there, but these pictures seem to say otherwise. He obviously had a blast during his assignment, see for yourself!

It's okay love, I won't hold you to it, but make sure your next trip will have some pictures of ME ok? :)

B & Sher getting ready for broadcast lockdowns at Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle Forecourt

Zac Efron “Troy” & Vanessa Hudgens “Gabriella" fumbles as B questions their rumoured off-screen romance!

Interview with Lucas Grabeel “Ryan” and Ashley Tisdale “Sharpay”

B listens intently to words of wisdom from Emmy award winning director and choreographer, Kenny Ortega

Ever the gentleman, Zac obliges his fans and reporters with a few words

Rick Schroeder walks down the Celebrity Carpet near AMC Theatre, Downtown Disney District

Having a ball at the HSM2 Premiere Poolside Party @ Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel

Yummy delights served at the Poolside Party!

B bonds with Lucas Grabeel at the HSM2 Premiere Poolside Party