Back in the days when J+J weren’t born yet and my MaMa was still alive, the four of us (parents, Jana and I) – towed with plenty of comfy pillows and bolsters – would drive to KL for CNY every year. Since then, things have changed. The family has gotten so big and there are people I barely know but whatever, it’s a getaway nonetheless.

P.S. I read somewhere that in order for this year to be lucky for me, I have to travel. What a good excuse!

Our lovely hotel stay at Sunway Resort

At one of our mega breakfast buffets

Back at home on Chu Er. James has really grown!

Mummy dearest

We're a real bunch of monkeys!

Mission Ang Pow - Accomplished!

Decent photo to mark CNY 2012 :)

1. 30 year old drug smuggler gets sentenced to death. He’s remorseful and now a religious man but the drugs he’s been smuggling have indirectly killed many teenagers who have consumed them.
2. A father is caught with a mistress who he’s been dating for two years. Children are devastated upon hearing the news. He begs his wife to forgive him and promises to end it with the mistress.
3. Father has physically and verbually abused daughter all her growing up years. She’s now 18 and wants to move out. Father has cancer, is dying and needs home aide. He’s apologetic, would like daughter not to move out, look after him and use this chance to make up for the past 18 years.
4. BF cheats on GF and gets caught by GF. This is the first time he’s cheated (can also be the other way around).
5. BF lies to GF. This isn’t the first time.

Here’s what I think/would do.

1. Life in prison, drug rehabilitation as well as chance to work with young people, explaining to them the harmfulness of drugs.
2. Wife and him should go for marriage counselling and try to work things out for the sake of the vow that they took and as well as for their children.
3. Forgive. Blood is always thicker than water and he’s your father at the end of the day.
4. Most definitely end it. But we’ll see again if that happens *touchwood*
5. End it.

#1 – Lapland

Lapland is located in Northern Finland and is well known for being Santa’s home. It’s truly a Christmas destination and where auroras/Northern lights fill the sky. If I ever go, I’m definitely gonna stay at the Hotel Kakslauttanen, just check out their website! Again, I’m not selling my client but to get to such an exotic place in Finland, only FINNAIR gets you there.

#2 New York

Ok, I really really want to go to New York… Concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there’s nothing you can do. I want to munch on hotdogs, go to Times Square, Rockefeller Centre, Tiffany &Co., Saks, Macys, Madison Avenue, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the NY public library (SATC!!), catch a musical, the list goes on.

#3 – France

C’mon, everyone wants to go to Paris! See the Eiffel Tower, take a romantic stroll along the Seine river or sit by a cafe with a glass of wine. But of course, there’s also all the marvellous factory outlets in France that I’ve heard about… Balenciaga, Chanel… Dreamy sigh.

#4 – Barcelona

This is what I know of Spain – Zara, Paella and Soccer. Yes, in that order, so hopefully actually going there will change my impressions. Plus I’ve heard soo many wonderful things about Barcelona!

#5 – Greece

Mamma Mia! How can I resist ya! Yet another far place that I’ve heard so much about but have no clue what to expect upon arrival. All I know is that Greece is beyootiful. Clear blue waters, the sun, island hoppng, tzatziki.. Bliss :) But of course, I also can’t forget how a Singaporean Duke-NUS Grad Med Sch student went over last year for a conference and has been missing ever since. Yikes..

#6 – Tokyo

After having gone to Kyoto and Nagoya, I really really really need to get my arse to Tokyo. I love Japan, the food’s awesome but most importantly, the place is friggin clean! It’s as if everyone has OCD there and I really like that. Japan’s not extremely far from Singapore too and because they speak a total different language, it’s pretty damn exotic. Not forgetting, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.. Hur hur… Fast cars… ;)

#7 – London

No compelling reason to go, YET. BUT! I want to go to London.. Maybe it’s to shop, or maybe it’s to catch Broadway, but all I know is that, I want to go.

Phew! So what are some of the places you’d like to go? And tell me more, tell me more about the cool, exotic and exciting places you’ve been to :)

Photo of the BFF (who insists she’s going to be my daughter’s godma after a visit to the fortune teller.. Don’t ask. It’s an entire story on it’s own) and my baby sister. Two monkeys in my life BFFs :)

Mucking around with a balloon jellyfish that the resident Brussels Sprouts balloon man made. We were thinking of something really difficult for him to make.. Think sea urchin, durian etc. And we thought a jellyfish would be rather difficult. Well, as it turns out, nothing is too difficult for the mighty balloon man!

Hmm, please ignore all the people crazily pointing behind.

I’m not.

It’s not just loyalty to my company. In fact it’s not really loyalty. It’s the work that I do, the clients and people that I work with. The passion in what I do and what I want to see grow. Honestly, it’ll take a lot for me to leave.

Tickets in tow and all set to go!

Cold morning in Venice

An evening in Venice

Selling vegetables in a gondola. Like in Bangkok, only cooler

This place is dangerous.. Think Prada and Miu Miu. Real as can be but half the price.

Maple leaves in Florence

Christmas lights in Florence

Yet another dangerous place. Think Prada and Miu Miu with lots of friends. Real as can be and at half the price (maybe even more)

Being really poseur-ish outside THE Ferragamo store/building. THE Ferragamo store!! Musuem included

What a disgrace but such a happy chappy!

Lights in Rome

Fontana de Trevi or simply put, Trevi Fountain in Rome

Beautiful trees

Chillin on the way to the Vatican

The Colosseum

Had lots of coffee in Italy. Why not?

In Helsinki! 0 deg and totally lovin it. This was taken at about 4pm btw

P.S. Thanks again Finnair for the awesome deal! I love working on your account not only because of the flights but because I genuinely love how different and creative you are. Cross my heart x