#762 - New Year Resolutions for 2016

For the past 7 years, I have been diligently reviewing on my blog my New Year Resolutions (NYR) the year before and checking if I achieved them. Then I would proceed to comment on what I did or did not do and then share my New Year Resolutions for the upcoming year. So I am here to share my NYRs for 2016.

Actually I did a quick scan and realised I didn't achieve much last year.

New Year Resolutions for 2015

- Higher GPA (this is gonna be my resolution till 2015) 
- Save up enough money for grad trip and also for the future (less F.A.M, friends please zidong and don't jio me out to eat, only budget one okay LOL) 
- Keep eating of fast food to a minimum (say at most twice a month?) 
- Lose 2kg
- Clear and sell away clothings I don't wear anymore and pack my bursting cupboard
- Get rid/be rid of toxic friends
- Initiate and go out more as a family (family hasn't been the close-knitted kind who has dinner together) 
- Clear all my travelogues (at least I know I will have something to strike out at the end of next year) - Be more disciplined in the things I wish to excel in
- Diligently apply beauty products

Sadly for the first NYR, I didn't manage to achieve it as my overall GPA decreased by 0.1x. :(

Saving wise I do try, but I ended up borrowing money from my brother for grad trip (lol so kelian one) but now that I am working, I managed to clear the debts! 👍 Less F.A.M. yes that is quite true, although I still do indulge once in a while. So I guess this NYR is like half completed?

I am sorry but I totally forgot about this fast food NYR. I don't remember having it a lot though.. Maybe only when it was Twister fries season and I maxed out the amount. 😂

Erm instead of losing 2kg, I gained 3kg wtf. Like that 2016 I must put "Lose 5kg" already is it. OTL

Partly done on this NYR! Managed to post up most of the items I want to sell up on Carousell! Have yet to pack my cupboard though. Omg I get lazier now that I have started work. Mon-Fri when you reach home you just feel like nua-ing. Sat-Sun only time to sleep and rest you just feel like nua-ing. I be gudetama sua.

Say easy do difficult. Some friends are just too close w you and not the type you get rid. Sometimes you just accept them for who they are and if they do those toxic shitz, heck or just steer away before you get like influenced/irritated lor.. Fuck care is one of my 2016's NYR. 😎

I didn't do this. 😭 My family seldom do dinners outside or even together at home because all of us have different schedules. That is so sad. Thinking to maybe bring them out for a dinner treat soon.

I just slapped myself w the words in the parenthesis lah. Only managed to blog till Day 4 of my Taiwan Dec 2014 Trip. 👏 Have not even sorted Hong Kong May 2015 photos yet. Need to stop procrastinating. Oh god. All my NYR like so incomplete thus far. 😳

Didn't really learn much new things I would like to excel in... unless you count learning how to read Korean words. I self learn from those websites online and it was really fun. 😁 Wish to take up Basic Korean lessons soon but they are so expensive!

Oh oh this one I got follow! 🙋 I apply like cleanser > toner > eye cream > moisturiser > serum > sunblock every morning and cleanser > toner > eye cream > moisturiser > mask (when I have the time) > essence or serum or sleeping mask every night. Oh and I exfoliate w black sugar scrub plus purged my blackheads/whiteheads and then bua clay mask once a week too.

*pats myself on the back* This one highly can overshadow the others one right. 😁

Although my NYRs were like mostly incomplete, it was still a rather good year. I was quite lucky lah, like I got lucky 20+ times in lucky draws this year and also managed to get a job in a place doing things suitable for me. All in all, it is not bad already. Looking forward to the New Year!!

New Year Resolutions 2016

- Pick up a new skill
I want to learn how to knit! Going to buy basic knitting tools and learn from my colleague how to knit. She showed me her projects which include stuff like scarves, mittens, baby shoes and beanies! Excited to know how to make my own unique beanies la! I wanna be those grandma next time knitting clothes for my grandchildren keke.

- Save up
Have plans to go on holidays w friends after I am being confirmed for my job and am entitled to the company's benefits! Currently looking at Boracay and New Zealand. And New Zealand air tickets for budget airline is about SGD800+ already, so I really need to save up man. Other than saving for the trip, it is also for saving in general! Shall not spend unneccesarily anymore!

- Keep fit
I want to like exercise at least 2 times per week? Maybe run once a week and take up cardio lessons like Zumba or strength conditioning lessons like Pilates! This also helps me to keep my weight from rocketing up since I am burning calories as I worked out which comes to my next NYR...

- Lose weight
5kg seems a little too much so 4kg it shall be. 😂 I want to cut down on my sugars and salt intake. I want to able to fit into some shorts/skirts that feels tight at my thigh/waist areas. I want to have 瓜子脸! Should I be ambitious and try BBG again? Boracay trip's is in May so I wish to condition my body so that I will not look like a penguin standing next to le skinny bitch friend Raine. 😂'

我会努力的. 💪 I have a source of motivation already.

- Sleep early
I wake up at 615am during weekdays so getting to bed before 12am is a must. My 2016 aim is to head to bed by 11pm latest! That gives me about 7hrs+ of sleep which is not exactly perfect but better than 6hrs or less! Been sleeping at 1130pm lately to condition le body. I will work harder hahaha.

- 保养 more
As I slowly approached the year where women start to age i.e. 25, I am starting to be more aware of the need to 保养. I see fine lines forming and I get really panicky. Must really work hard here also. Don't wish to age so fast. I want to look younger than my age and not be so chao lao. 😂 Less salt less wrinkles ahhh. But I will still have my maggie mee. 😁 Once a week maximum okay la.

- Bitch less and be less judgmental
Girls being girls always like to gossip and bitch here and there. I hope to find inner peace (ayg) and be less bitchy. Maybe give people BOD when they do something that people judge and bitch about hahaha. Like when people take those "I think I look very pretty" selfies and post on Instagram, I will not judge but just faster scroll up and see the next photo HAHAHA.

- Care/worry less
Okay this one doesn't mean like I care less for my loved ones. It's just that I shouldn't let what people do affect me that much. If they chose to be like that, let them be and it's their loss in the end not mine. Many a time, I find myself worrying for le friends who neglect their health or just spend money like they print them. I have the need to let them know what I feel is right.

Sometimes I see friends wanting to get something super expensive that is clearly not a need and I feel like just because you have the spending power, you shouldn't spend unnecessary.

Okay I understand that it is their money and they can do whatever they want but it is damn annoying when they come to me and complain they are broke after that? 自食其果. So I thought I'd give my view and hope they'd be more 长进 (lol say until like I very 懂事) but nah, these words sadly always fall on deaf ears. Health is so important but many people neglect it. I don't want to be so mean but what if something bad happens in the future? I'd be like "I told you so."

That being said, I will also 自动 and also not anyhow spend or not take care of my health by eating so much rubbish food la. Need to practise what I preach yo. 😎 Hahaha but cheatdays/indulgences are allowed 不然生活活得不痛快! 😜 I just feel there needs to be a limit if not how you grow old and live healthily and happily next time!

But anyway back to this NYR, I decided to fuck care anymore since words fell on deaf ears.

I may sound selfish but I don't like how I try to help someone and it is not being appreciated and the one feeling horrible worrying like shit in the end is me. Sometimes I get affected that I feel so moody. That is not what I wish for. I don't want any shit technically unrelated to me to ruin my day.

So yup, I am going to care/worry less. If someone needs a listening ear, I will still be there though! And I guess that's all for this year! Nothing special, just very typical NYRs.

Oh I forgot to add in 2 more NYRs.

- Clear my travel backlogs
Taiwan 2014/2015 and Hong Kong 2015 up on the blog by end of this year! 🙊

- Bake/Cook more
I want to try more recipes! To name a few, Mac&Cheese, sushi, baked pasta, creme brulee, salmon aburi, meringue pie, chocolate lava cake, burgers etc. Hope I won't be lazy!

And... that's all for my NYRs this 2016. Hope I will able to fulfill all if not most of them!

Thanks for reading, X

#761 - Taiwan 2014 Day 4 - 阿宗麵線 / 50嵐 / 鬍鬚張魯肉飯 / Wufenpu (五分埔) / Raohe St. Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市)

Day 4 of Taiwan and there weren't many photos taken! Still I want to document what I did down here.

Woke up early in the morning and had breakfast at the famous 阿宗麵線!

It was just a few minutes walk away from our hotel.

 阿宗麵線 大碗 (NT$65)

Shared this w my LMZ and I added super lots of garlic. Damn shiokkkk!

It's different from our Singapore's oyster meesua and they use large intestines instead of oysters. I ate them!! I guess only in Taiwan can I stomach innards hahaha.

My brother was telling me he ate the large intestines thinking that Taiwan oysters have a different textures. His friend lied to him haha.

I would definitely eat this again!

阿宗麵線

台北市万华区峨眉街8-1号

Nearest Station: 西門, Ximen Station, Line 5 (Blue Line)

Spent the day shopping and exploring 西門町, finally, after staying at the area for a few days.

Le cousin wanted to get a moomin and we ended up at this soft toy cum cafe place where there were a lot of softtoys.

 Clearly I am bad at posing.

Was told to delete the photos soonafter because we didn't order anything. Heck.

波霸奶茶 (NT$45)

So cheap for a big cup! Love the pearls, they are the small kinds and the milk tea is nice too.

Did my research prior to the trip and many said KOI is under 50嵐? Okay I just headed to the 50嵐 website to verify and yes KOI is under them. They have a lot of outlets everywhere!

50嵐
台北市萬華區漢中街136號
Nearest Station: 西門, Ximen Station, Line 5 (Blue Line)

Wandered into this 不起眼 underground shop at the same building as our hotel and they sell a lot of random tops and I found 2 affordable flannel top/jacket in my favourite prints!!

Those are my flannel top/jacket in that basket and me in something I probably wouldn't wear back in Singapore. HAHAHA. Jacket doesn't match I know... and I have already sold the pants! Hahaha.

Who goes to Taiwan without having their 魯肉飯 right!! So we turned up at 鬍鬚張魯肉飯 on our fourth day in Taiwan.

Initially our plan was to have it on our first day when we touched down for dinner at 金峰魯肉飯 but we didn't have time due to delays! It was one of the highly raved 魯肉飯 in Taiwan and claimed to be better than 鬍鬚張魯肉飯! Oh well.

苦瓜排骨湯 (NT$75)

水耕A菜 (NT$45)

I have no idea what veggies this was, but they taste like 油菜.

老皮嫩肉 (NT$24)

The sauce was a little cold. :(

魯肉飯 (NT$35)

Oooh loveeeee it! So much fats and that is usually what I hate when I eat pork, but this bowl was so good??? The pork fats just melt in your mouth. Also, it was very savoury! I can eat up to 3 bowls of this!

 鬍鬚張魯肉飯

台北市永吉路533號

Nearest Station: 後山埤, Houshanpi Station, Line 5 (Blue Line)

Go out from Exit 1.

We spent the afternoon roaming Wufenpu (五分埔), a wholesale market known for their clothings. That place is like a maze. @.@ So many twists and turns. Most of the clothes were those suitable for the weather/season then, many long sleeves and thick wool items so we left the place empty-handed. The prices weren't that affordable too and most of the time you have to buy more than 2/3 pieces to enjoy the wholesale prices.

After wandering a bit there, we were somewhat "lost" and lucky the shop sellers there were friendly and guided us out!

Maybe I would go back there again, at a different season, that is. Also read online that the best time to go would be on Fridays or Saturdays and at timings of about 3-4pm because most blogs stated that the shops open at 1pm plus. Many only said to avoid Mondays because that day is for wholesales only! Ohhhh and to bring lots of cash because they don't accept credit cards.

Wufenpu (五分埔)

台北市信義區永吉路

Nearest Station: 後山埤, Houshanpi Station, Line 5 (Blue Line)

Go out from Exit 1.

Decided to head to Raohe St. Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市) after that. It was a walkable distance from 五分埔 actually.

It was a wrong choice.

Perhaps it was a public holiday (New Year), the place was super crowded. We had to stop a few minutes before moving. It was that bad. D:

I didn't even get to eat the famous 福州世祖胡椒餅. :'(

骰子牛肉 (NT$

But we had these simple yet awesome beef cubes from 火焰骰子牛 in 玫瑰礦盐 flavour! Love it! The beef on its own is juicy.... and there wasn't a lot of tendon inside.

魷魚 (NT$

Then we had another yummy food too!

Squid in lemon and something flavour. I can't remember.

But the lemon gave it a zesty taste and went well together w the squid. Super nice!

十全大补湯 (NT$

We all had a bowl of hearty 藥才湯 to keep us warm too. Super rich and nice. Sorry my vocabulary is very limited hahaha.

So sad we didn't get to 逛 the place properly and try those best-sellers there. I saw a store 爆漿玉子燒 and the queue was like super duper long? Probably will take 30mins or so. My cousin and I were eyeing for it but our mums were the kind who hated to queue so no 爆漿玉子燒 for us. :'( It looked damn good lah!! We were saying, had we travelled alone, we'd have queued for it and headed back to the hotel late hahaha.

Raohe St. Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市)

台北市松山區饒河街

Nearest Station: 松山, Songshan Station, Line 3 (Green Line)

Ending this entry w my humble amount of loots for the day!

#760 - Taiwan 2014 Day 3 - 阜杭豆漿 / King Mango (芒果皇帝) / 燈籠滷味 / Shida Night Market (師大夜市) / 2015 New Year Countdown at Taipei 101 (台北101)

Day 3 in Taiwan had us waking up early and queuing at 阜杭豆漿!

It was highly recommended when I did my research on places to eat in Taiwan and therefore we couldn't miss it.

The queue was super long even though we reached quite early at about 8plus!

Took a video to prove my point lol. It stretched all the way to Level 2 where the eatery is!

The view along the way! 善導寺, train station here is named after it!

Being filial daughters, we queued while our mums sat at the seats available at the side. :D

Morning bloatedness and beady eyes. OTL

They even have a queue path! It really IS crazy.
I saw a few Singaporeans along the way but most of the people who queued were Taiwaneses. It must be really worth the hype uh!

When we entered the place, at the side, there was this glass panel and we could see the kitchen.

Like similar cooking style to naan?

Order and pay and wait for them to be put on the trays!

My advice is to get someone to queue and another to find seats while you are about to reach. This place is really packed.

We queued for like 1 and a half hour. :O

厚餅蛋夹油條 (NT$60) / 薄燒餅 (NT$22)

It's like any savoury 燒餅 you were expecting. Served hot so they were good. Doesn't look like it but they were really filling.

鹹豆漿 (NT$30)
This was one of their specialties, 豆浆 in the savoury version! Tasted like chawanmushi, I like! Best to eat when it's hot. :)

熱豆漿 (NT$25)
Their soya milk was rich in flavour and really warms the stomach!

Overall, I felt that the food was pretty decent but I don't think it's worth queuing 1 and a half hour for! I am unsure if it is because that day was a New Year's Eve which contributed to the super long queue but from what I recall reading from others' entries, they do have queues generally so come early! :)

 阜杭豆漿 (closed on Mondays)
台北市忠孝東路一段108號 (華山市場2F)
Nearest Station: 善導寺站, Shandao Temple Station, Line 5 (Blue Line)

Went to walk walk a little at 東門 area and then we stumbled upon this dessert place.

原创新鲜綜合水果冰 (NT$180)
We had this huge and awesome bowl of snow ice dessert w fruits! Super filling for 4 of us and they were really generous w the fruits. It was so good and the fruits were really sweet and fresh. We had it again the next day even though it was really cold.

King Mango (芒果皇帝)
台北市大安區永康街2巷2之1號
Nearest Station: 東門, Dongmen Station, Line 2 (Red Line)
Go out from Exit 5, head straight and turn right into 永康街 and walk a bit more. The place will be on your right.

Spend a while at this place too. A pity I wasn't into skincare products then or I am sure I would have gotten a lot of anti-aging stuff haha.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at 東區 (if I recall correctly) and then headed to 師大夜市 which is known to have more affordable stuff to shop since it was near National Taiwan Normal University (台湾师范大学), where prices were catered to the students.

Chanced upon this place selling steaming hot buns and we had to get 1 each for ourselves. Bought two big buns to share which were not bad!

We thought that it would be obvious that we are at 師大夜市 like it's a specific place just like 士林市场 but we were wrong. We asked so many people for the directions and many didn't know! Some told us wherever we stood was 師大夜市 already!

That was really unexpected. I really expected some signs or something hahaha.

We walked awhile more and stumbled upon such junctions. I guess we really are at 師大夜市already hahaha. There weren't much to shop at there since it was considered "winter" season and most of the clothes were long sleeves which are not suitable for Singapore's weather. D:

Managed to get some safety shorts and socks at a cheap price though!

Spotted this 燈籠滷味 stall and there were quite a number of people there and thus we decided to have it for dinner.

Assorted 滷味

Chose many items to share w the LMZ including stuff I don't eat/never eat before like eg. 大肠 and 猪血. It was a little like kwap chye kind of feel to me w all the innards? Also added normal stuff like 豆干 and 豆腐皮... and 王子面. Omy I love 王子面, it's so springy and nice!

Okay, I also tried 大肠 after the last time I had it (which was a bad experience) and surprisingly I could swallow it and it tasted pleasant! Also, 猪血 is quite nice?? Like salty and doesn't have a strong Iron taste unlike liver. I love it. I can't believe I actually tried 2 stuff which I usually will just be disgusted at. This time I just 豁出去了. Hahaha.

Oh, and I remembered vividly after ordering this, when we settled down, I had this really bad tummyache where it sent cold chills down the spine and it was on the edge (lol tmi) and I had to rush to a nearby restaurant's toilet. #justsaying Lucky the toilet had toilet paper! There were no lights in the toilet lor, but no choice, it was really urgent lol.

I really like the food here even though it wasn't something I'd eat back in Singapore (innards are still disgusting to me plus 猪血 is banned in SG).

燈籠滷味
 台北市大安區師大路43號
Nearest Station: 台電大樓, Taipower Building Station, Line 3 (Green Line)

There were some popular food recommendations at 師大夜市 which are 生煎包 and 可麗餅 but it was a pity we didn't find them!

Shida Night Market (師大夜市)
台北市大安區龍泉街
Nearest Station: 台電大樓, Taipower Building Station, Line 3 (Green Line)

Thereafter, we headed to Taipei 101 area to walk a bit before finding a good spot to settle down and wait for the countdown to begin.

Blogging about 2015 New Year countdown 9 months late. #coollikethis

Slowly the crowd started to build up! Some even brought their rice cooker etc and set up their dinner there. (Y)

The night was getting deeper and it got colder as well. So glad we got 暖暖包 from 7-11 earlier on. You just shake it and it will heat up and keep you warm. The wind was quite strong and breathing through the nose kinda hurt after that so we were all in masks or had scarves wrapped around our faces.

Excited to count down in another country for the first time!
Plus eagering waiting for fireworks display! :)

So pretty! Stood up capturing this and ended up sitting down because my arms got sore. At one period in the video, I even asked my LMZ to support my arm hahaha.

Braving the cold was worth it! It was such a pretty sight. *.*
I cant never get sick of watching fireworks because no firework is the same!!

One of the items on my bucket list is to watch fireworks in Yokohama, Japan during their Fireworks Festivals. Their fireworks are out of the world!!

Is it too late to say Happy 2015??? HAHAHA. 9 months late to be exact! :X

Taipei 101 (台北101)
台北市信義路五段7號
Nearest Station: 台北101, Taipei 101 Station, Line 2 (Red Line) / 市政府, Taipei City Hall Station, Line 5 (Blue Line)
For Taipei 101 Station, go out from Exit 4/ For Taipei City Hall Station, go out from Exit 2 and walk for about 10 minutes.