With a name like delicious, one would naturally have high expectations of what the cafe has to offer, especially when people make a beeline for it. Well, the decor was pleasant – simple, classy and most importantly, unpretentious and laid-back.
We were recommended the most popular dishes in the cafe, but both were not up to mark and certainly not value-for-money. The main courses here are reasonably priced at between $10-$20, but honestly, we felt that we could definitely do a much better job at cooking. Indeed, it is very disappointing that delicious cafe does not serve delicious food and its name is deemed a misnomer.
We left feeling immensely unsatisfied with the meal. If we were to head there again (hopefully not), I think we’ll just have drinks and maybe dessert. Besides its decor, the only other saving grace is its convenient location at Scotts Square. I’m sorry, but I would rather have my tasty hawker food any time. π
I blogged about Prague a long while back (you may wish to click on the Prague 2011 label below for my past entries), but I forgot to mention that Prague was well-known as a music hub eons ago in the classical and romantic era. In fact, during a time when Mozart was supposedly neglected by Vienna, the city of Prague gave him support and it was also in this city that Mozart premiered his world-renowned operas “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Don Giovanni”.
Mozart aside, Prague was home to other famous Czech composers such as Dvorak and Smetana. I know the photos above don’t seem to gel with the title of this post or music for that matter. Well, I was pointing at the painting because I was surprised that this art piece was done by Dvorak! I never knew that beyond his musical talent, he was a respected artist in his own right too.
I was fascinated by how the painting could portray sunlight streaming in from the window before bouncing off the face of the subject. It looked like a photograph! I can’t begin to tell you how much I adore the interplay of light.
Music is a central part of my life and whenever I travel to Europe, I will make a point to attend a concert or opera. I attend operas in Singapore as well, but personally, it feels a little odd to watch Asian opera singers singing in Italian.
While we were in Prague, we booked tickets to Carmen at the Prague National Opera House. It was such a popular performance, almost all the seats were sold out, hence we were extremely lucky to get one of the last few box seats!
The performance was magnificent and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Here’s a short clip of what the opera sounds like. I’m sure it’s a tune that everyone would be familiar with!
When I get back to Sydney, I hope to book tickets to watch an opera at the Sydney Opera House too!
Blackmores held a bloggers event at Cookyn Inc in mid March to celebrate the launch of Blackmores Radiance, their new skincare supplement, but I couldn’t attend as I was in Sydney then.
It was a pity but they were kind enough to sponsor 2 packs of Blackmores Radiance for me to try out when I got back to Singapore. I’ve to thank Karen for passing the goodie bag to me! The supplement came together with a pillbox and a nail buffer. How very thoughtful. π
Now, did you know that skin ageing happens from inside out? That’s pretty scary, because it means that creams, sunblock and facial treatments alone are insufficient to delay the effects of ageing!
Well, that’s where Blackmores Radiance comes to the rescue! Rich in marine collagen and antioxidants, Blackmores Radiance’s 24-hour anti-ageing formula works around the clock to ensure that your skin looks healthy and radiant all the time.
Each pack comes with capsules for both day and night use. The ingredients for the day and night capsules are different, so you can take both capsules together to save time. It’s great for busy ladies who are constantly on the go, juggling between work, family and friends.
When both day and night capsules are taken in combination, Blackmores Radiance will:
Reduce fine lines/wrinkles and tighten pores
Decease premature ageing effects of sun damage
Visibly reduce uneven pigmentation and skin tone after 12 weeks
Increase skin moisture and hydration
Enhance skin elasticity
Maintain integrity and structure of the skin
Assist with collagen production, skin regeneration and renewal
I started taking the supplement just two weeks ago and already, my friends have commented that my skin is glowing! I also feel that my skin feels more supple and my cheeks have a natural flush even when I don’t have any blusher on.
I have been leading a very hectic lifestyle since I got back to Singapore, with barely 6 hours of sleep everyday and I don’t use much make-up on my face (I only use eye makeup and a touch of blusher), so Blackmores Radiance has got to be the only reason why my skin is looking good!
Originally, I intended to blog about Blackmores Radiance only after finishing both packs, but the effects after 2 weeks and comments from friends made me so excited, I thought I should quickly share this information with my readers so all you lovely ladies can go get this fabulous skin-loving supplement for yourself too!
For those of you who are inerested, it retails at S$123 for a box of 56 capsules (28 day and 28 night) and is available at all leading pharmacies.
The title says it all. Small polka dots juxtaposed against big polka dots sounds like overkill but I’m glad the combination turned out fine.
I picked them out randomly when I was in a hurry to get out of the house as I was running late for an appointment. I know this sounds rather dumb but it was a momentous occasion for me as it was my first time driving in a long time and I decided to throw myself at the deepest end of the pool by heading to the heart of the city, Orchard Road, on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Traffic was horrendous, to say the least, but I made it to Paragon safely and convinced (actually I pleaded with him) the valet to park my car after he turned away the other 3-4 cars in front of me (valet was supposedly full). π You can’t imagine how grateful I was!
Anyway, back to the outfit. LOL. The cardigan was a bargain I snagged from City Plaza. It’s made of relatively thick knit material. I especially love the scallop polka dot collar which screams vintage preppy.
The polka dot skorts were from Bangkok. I love wearing swing skirts but when the wind blows, uh oh…that’s it. Skorts are the panacea to the problem! Even when it flies up when the wind blows, the attached shorts will ensure that there wouldn’t be any upskirt moments. How convenient!
The Franz Liszt Museum in Budapest showcases the beautiful single-story apartment that the composer lived in during the last 5 years of his life. Besides his pianos, you’ll also find manuscripts of his compositions, his pictures and several of his personal artifacts.
I was excited to visit this museum because Franz Liszt is another one of my favourite composers. Not only was he one of the best-looking composers of his time (haha!), his most famous work, Liebestraum, won the hearts of many, including that of yours truly.
The building which housed his apartment has since been converted into a music academy as well as a venue for concerts. It’s a must-go attraction for classical music lovers. π
Before this post comes to an end, I’m going to leave you with a video of Liebestraum performed by Evgeny Kissin. It’s a little dreamy, somewhat melancholic but oh so very beautiful.
The Budapest Castle District is a World Heritage Site deeply steeped in history. It is located across the river in the district of Buda and is home to a castle, museums, cafes and spectacular views of the Danube river and the Pest district in its full glory.
We arrived here by bus and took our time to walk around the vicinity. The tranquility and beauty of the Castle District has a calming effect which invigorates your senses and puts your mind at ease.
When your legs threaten to give way, you can always find a cafe and while your time away. It’s the perfect way to spend a leisurely afternoon!
Back to blogging about Europe and Budapest in particular. I can’t begin to tell you how much I love Budapest, especially at night.
Then night view is breath-taking and completely out of this world. Just look at the golden glow from the lighted buildings and streetlights which resemble twinkling stars and gleaming jewels.
JW and I stood across the river for a good half an hour just to take in the panoramic view of the magical city. You would too, if you were there. π
Paddy’s Market, also known as Sydney’s original market, has been around since 1834. It boasts an interesting mish mash of tourist souveniors, fruits and clothes. I would say it is the equivalent of the “pasar malams” in Singapore, except that if you were to head up to the higher floors, you’ll find factory outlets for Australian brands like Review, Dotti, Supre, Seduce, among others. It’s a great place for bargain hunting as the discounts can be as steep as 70%!
JW loves to go to Paddy’s because he’s infatuated with swiss knives, torch lights, umbrellas and nail clippers. I know, he is kinda odd, isn’t he? LOL
As for myself, it doesn’t take a genius to guess that I’m only interested in the factory outlets for Review, Dotti and Supre. π
I love pastel colours, even more so when I see them on my nails. I’m usually pretty lazy when it comes to painting my nails, but these pastel shades from Essie gave me the impetus to be a little more hardworking when I was in Australia.
I’ve come to realize that Essie is probably the only nail polish brand that offers such a wide selection of beautiful pastel colours. The pastel pink shade is called French Affair while the Lavender hue is called Nice is Nice. Both colours are from the Essie 2011 Spring Collection.
I saw the mini sized nail polishes at an Asian cosmetic shop at just $5 each, decided I couldn’t resist such a good deal and brought them both home with me. They may not the latest colours, but they’re gorgeous nonetheless!
DressAffection is one of the few online retailers around that offers apparel from established designer labels as well as up and coming new designers from Asia. Unparalleled quality and workmanship are key characteristics present in every new collection. The best part is, each design comes in limited quantities to ensure exclusivity, so you’ll never be caught dead in the same dress as someone else!
This lovely Black & Orange Pleated Dress sports a classic design in bold contrasting colours by Hong Kong designer Ju’s. You may not be able to tell from the pictures, but the quality of the material is absolutely superb!
The cut may look simple but the expert tailoring is the reason behind the evenly distributed pleats (extremely difficult to come by these days) and cascading flared skirt, which falls gradually before it opens up like a blooming flower, enveloping the female silhouette in a graceful manner.
I received nothing but praises when I wore this beauty out in Sydney. Great minds think alike, which explains why it’s currently sold out! Fret not though, for you can always click on the “bring it back” button to add it to your wishlist. π
Head on down to DressAffection today for more fantastic buys!
Hi! My name is Regina and I am a style, beauty and travel enthusiast who enjoys writing, photography and letting my creative juices flow.
My blogging journey has been nothing short of exciting. I was recently named the winner of Her World Magazineβs Estee Lauder Style Superstar Awards 2016. My blog was also awarded Best Fashion Blog (Grand Winner) at the Singapore Blog Awards 2014. The year before that, it won Best Online Shopping Blog at the Singapore Blog Awards 2013.
Additionally, it is listed as one of the 10 interesting blogs on Singapore by AsiaWeb Direct (http://www-singapore.com/blogs.htm). I was also featured on both local and international mainstream media for my views on style, fashion and online shopping:
The Straits Times (14 Oct 2014)
The Business Times (14 Oct 2014)
My Paper (13 Oct 2014)
CNBC ("Pricey Singapore: Savvy shoppers go online" - 28 Dec 2014)
For advertorials/partnerships, feel free to contact me at regina.chow@gmail.com.