Eipobie Website Pics

I've not posted on my blog for ages! Here's a start...


Discovered this pretty fashion line. Screen caps from their website, enjoy!



Eipobie Fur Trim peach top


The clothes are featured in a nice romantic European-style setting. Nice sofa and fireplace! The decor showcases the fashion very well.


There's even a fireplace behind.

In the closeup pic, the details on the fur-trim top and the jeans can be seen.










Eipobie Denim & Flower suit


Pretty wallpaper (and outfit of course). Wallpaper matches the little cupboard and everything complements the denim outfit.

In this close-up pic, the nice lace detailing on the denim jacket is more apparent.

The flowers at the side of the jeans leg are an unusual feature.
























Eipobie Romantic Top... .... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... and Eipobie Flower Jacket & Cardi Combi



Pink Elaborate Pea Coat

And this coat jacket, when worn, would surely evoke a feeling of being in a 16th Century French palace!

The high-necked white sweater that's worn inside has little pink flowers sewn on, to go with the outer wear.

However, the mini-chandelier-looking lamp looks suspiciously like it's purchased from.... IKEA!!!

Peach Trench Coat

This is a simpler version of the coat jacket.

Not as elaborate, but still pretty and sweet.

I like the mirror...

but that weird vase that looks like an Egyptian replica antique just does not go with the French/European theme!

Food Places in Saigon

Here's a list of my favourite eating places in Saigon. They are all in District 1, for easy access. The Viet restaurants (with the exception of Phở 24) get very very crowded around meal times. So go before or after the usual eating times. These Viet restaurants are SUPER popular with the tourists and locals, a sure sign that the food is great! Price is very reasonable too.

When in Vietnam, a must-try would be the fruit smoothies!!! Super nice and refreshing. Try them in the restaurants, more hygienic than in the road side stalls (duhhhh!).

Vietnamese
1)Bún bò Huế Vietnamese Huế Noodle (Quan An Hue Truyen Thong)
39A Ngô Đức Kế
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bun_Bo_Hue
- The restuarant is located at the side road leading off Ðồng Khởi, near the Saigon River end.
- This is my new favourite restaurant! Way better than Phở 24, and the menu is good. Fruit smoothies are cheaper and just as nice here. Must try the Sapoche (chiku), soursop, mango, avocado...
- Try the mix pork and beef combination near the middle of the menu. It is sort of like fish balls/cakes, except that meat instead of fish is used.
- The Huế style of cooking is very similar to traditional Chinese cooking, so it's very easy on the palate.
- Add on the other types of meat 'cakes'.
- After a meal, do go over to Bố Già Ice-Cream to sit down and relax. When you exit the Bún bò Huế restaurant, turn right and it is a few shops down.

2)Quán Ăn Ngon (Marché-style Viet food)
138, Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa
- From this restaurant, you can easily walk to Diamond Plaza for shopping. Just ask the waiters/waitresses for directions. When you exit Quán Ăn Ngon, just turn left and walk down and later turn right.
- Super extensive menu. You could walk around the stalls to have a look, then order from the menu.
- DO NOT EVER ORDER their phở noodles. The soup stock is not nice and the noodles are not nice. You're better off having Phở 24 noodles. The fresh spring rolls are hard and NOT tasty.
- The bun noodles are not bad, try the Mekong Delta style bun noodles.
- The lemongrass steamed clams are really nice. Must order the seafood hotpot for 2 also. YUMMY!!!! Lots of veggie and fresh seafood.
- I prefer the Phở 24 and Bún bò Huế fruit smoothies. If you're at Quán Ăn Ngon, mango smoothies are the safer bet. Soursop is okay too. If it gets too sweet or concentrated, just ask for ice.

3)Phở 24
- Located everywhere!
- The fruit smooties are a must try. Strawberry is nice, so are the usual avocado, soursop, Sapoche (chiku), MANGO!!!!!
- Do try the fried spring rolls. But avoid the yoghurt unless you have a sweet tooth.

4)Café Central
At Sun Wah Tower, junction of Nguyễn Huệ and Tôn Thất Thiêp
- More for hanging out for snacks and drinks, and people watching. Great view of traffic and the sidewalk.

5)Temple Club
29-31 Ton That Thiep, Located right next to Fanny.
- Occupying a former Chinese temple, the place looks ordinary from the outside but is impressive once you've entered.
- The fresh / steamed spring rolls are highly recommended by my Viet friend "B".
- She said that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ate here as well!

6)Ice-Cream
a)quán kem Bạch Đằng at 26 & 28 Lê Lợi.
- Ask to sit on the 3rd or 4th Floor. A great view of the busy intersection, view the hectic traffic in the air-conditioned comfort.
b)Bố Già Ice-Cream at Ngô Đức Kế, a few shops away from Bún bò Huế restaurant.
- Supposedly the best ice-cream in Saigon. Literally, "Bố Già" (pronounced Bo2 Ya3), means 'godfather' as in the mafia.

Italian
7)Santa Lucia Trattoria Italiana
14 Nguyễn Huệ, this road is parallel to Ðồng Khởi and near the 'Lucky Plaza' shopping centre that's on Ðồng Khởi.
- Order the freshly made pasta if you want something more chewy.
- The clam pasta in white wine sauce is great for 90,000 VNÐ (less than S$9), but the pasta is not the freshly made type.
- As in all restuarants in Vietnam, tipping is not required but much appreciated. Can just leave small change behind, it is up to you.

8)Italian Restaurant at The Continental
- The Continental Hotel along Ðồng Khởi was the setting for much of the action in Graham Greene's famous novel, The Quiet American. It is next to the Opera House.

French
9)Augustin
10 Nguyễn Thiệp, this is adjacent to Ðồng Khởi Road.
- When you see "Gloria Jeans Coffee", just walk into the side road, Augustin is down the road on your right. There is a famous bread shop on the left.

Shopping Centres / Areas in Saigon

Here are the top shopping centres in Saigon. They are airconditioned, but standards vary. If you're tired of the traffic, heat, rain, dust and just need some respite from the outside, do pop in to one of these places. I've also included the key shopping areas as well - markets and streets to explore for the interesting shops and eateries.

High End Shopping
1)Diamond Plaza
34 Le Duan, Dist. Near Notre Dame Cathedral, intersection of Le Duan and Dong Khoi
- This is nice, with Levi's and most international brands here, with even a Ferragamo boutique on the 1st floor. There is a KFC, food court, small supermarket and bowling alley on the top floors. It is increasingly popular for the locals to hang out here.

2)Zen Plaza and Nguyễn Trãi Area
54 - 56 Nguyễn Trãi Street, District 1
- Designer boutique wear showcasing Vietnamese designers. There are small shops along the road outside, selling rather nice unique clothes and accessories.
- Food garden in Zen Plaza, 7th Floor, 54-56 Nguyễn Trãi St, Dist 1, HCM City
"Walk along HCM City’s fashion street, Nguyễn Trãi, and you’ll easily find a restaurant suiting your taste and budget following a guilty – but pleasurable – spending spree. One of the best places in the area is the Food Garden on the seventh floor of the shopping centre Zen Plaza, where the decor and style of cooking appeal to both Vietnamese and foreigners. If you’re a fan of traditional Vietnamese cuisine and are looking for affordable prices, Hoang Yen Restaurant should be your first stop. On offer are traditional Hanoi and Hue dishes, such as nem or cha gio (fried spring rolls), bun bo (vermicelli soup with beef) and goi cuon (fresh spring roll wrapped with rice paper and stuffed with vegetables, meat or shrimp). Prices are VND5,000-24,000 (US$0.48-1.50)," writes Anh Thu in The Vietnam News.
- "This swanky shopping mall houses 10 levels of sheer shopping pleasure. When you get tired, you can even stop for a meal at the numerous resaurants within Zen Plaza. It may be a bit up-class for the locals but the clothing and food are reasonably priced. You can also have your fastfood Pho - Pho 24. Zen Plaza is also a good place to buy local food stuff here, also if you want to buy foodstuff to cook, this is also the place. What To Buy: A varied amount of items from clothing to children wear, to food and even daily needs and what's best, there's no need to bargain as prices are shown as it is." (Taken from VirtualTourist.com)

Mid-to-High Range
3)Ðồng Khởi Road
- The equivalent of Singapore's Orchard Road and Hong Kong's ... erm... Causeway Bay? (not really!)
- Mostly catering to tourists, the better quality embroidery and range of goods can be found here.

4)Saigon Tourist Department Store (now more known as Parkson - the Malaysian retailer)
- Intersection of Ðồng Khởi and Lê Thánh Tôn Streets, Dist. 1
- There is a higher end small supermarket on the top floor, together with a food court. I like to buy the fizzy La Vie mineral water from here, because it's cold and nice, and you can sit at the food court area too. Unfortunately, the Phở 24 in the food court does not serve the fab fruit smoothies that's available in the other outlets. :-(

5)Tôn Thất Thiêp Road
One main street away from Ðồng Khởi
- Cool and unique Vietnamese items here on this street. There is also Fanny ice-cream (not my favourite though) and some hip restaurants and hang outs here.

Low-to-Mid Range
6)Saigon Center (Sedona)
65 Lê Lợi , Dist. 1 - Intersection of Lê Lợi and Pasteur, next to the Hyundai car showroom.
- This used to be within walking distance from Diamond Plaza (see point 1). Now it's relocated to be somewhat nearer the Bến Thành Market. - Great to start out here to have an idea of what to buy first. Mostly Abercrombie & Fitch, and other made-in-Vietnam clothes. Not sure if authentic, but workmanship and quality mostly good. Very good in fact, for the prices. There is a little lingerie shop on the 2nd floor, tucked away in the corner. Worthwhile popping in for their export items. Bought a nightwear top there, brand is "sophie b.", label looks like something similar to Victoria's Secret, looks like it's sold in USA.

7)Tax Department Store
Intersection of Nguyễn Huệ and Lê Lợi Streets, Dist. 1
- I do my grocery shopping at the supermarket here, wider variety, but you have to check in your bags at the counter before you can go in. That's good, because you can then shop around without carrying heavy items. I've tried depositing my things there, then shopping around, then coming back here to collect everything before returning to the hotel. Saves a trip going back to the hotel!
- There are small little shops all contained in this shopping centre. The embroidered pouches are quite similar to those found in Bến Thành Market, but usually of higher quality. Prices are fixed, and bargaining is usually of no use!

8)An Ðông Plaza
Intersection of Trần Phú & An Dương Vương
- I like shopping at this area in Chợ Lớn District (District 5). It is enclosed by street stalls, and there is An Ðông Market, An Ðông Plaza and Windsor Plaza Hotel all in the same area. Some parts are interlinked, but as I've only been there twice, I've not quite figured it out yet. For restroom breaks, Windsor Plaza Hotel is the place to visit.
- It's such a cool discovery. Start first at the Market (it's covered, and several floors high). There is a actual wet market in the basement, and food stalls. Fun to take photos there. After exploring the clothes and accessories shops, and you're ready to faint, proceed on to the Plaza.
- It can be overwhelming, so many shops, so many clothes, so little time!
- Market can be quite dusty and hot. But still interesting to take a look. On the top floor, you can do your souvenir shopping. Good buys include wooden or bamboo chopsticks, with mother-of-pearl inlay.
- Plaza has higher end or better quality clothing... but not all shops are nice. Quality really varies, but you can come across hidden gems. Like made-in-Korea (supposedly) clothes with embroidery, the quality and design are superb, all for S$26 for short denim skirt. It fits! But too short to wear.
- Windsor Plaza Hotel is supposed to have great buffet meals. For me, I prefer to eat non-buffet. But it's a good place for refuelling when you're stuck in Saigon's Chinatown and don't know where to eat. It can be a headache especially when it's very hot or raining, and most decent food places are far away.
- Don't get conned by the cab drivers hanging outside the Plaza. They will try to charge US$5 for a ride into District 1. But by meter on the Comfort Delgro owned yellow cab, it's about 26,000 VNÐ or about S$2.50 to get to Phạm Ngũ Lão. And about 35,000 VNÐ or less to Ðồng Khởi. Take a metered Comfort Delgro owned yellow cab! New, safer, less dodgy.

9)Bến Thành Market
At the cross roads of Lê Lợi, Lê Lai and Trần Hưng Ðạo, Just say "chợ Bến Thành / Bến Thành Market" and the taxi drivers will know.
- Be prepared to bargain. At least 70% off the quoted price, and that would be the realistic price to pay. I used to settle for 1/2 price, but my Viet friends were shocked that I was ripped off!
- Most of the mass-produced hand embroidered pouches can be bought here.
- The markets in Vietnam close early, so do be there before 6pm. After that, the area around the outside of the Bến Thành Market will be transformed into a night market & road side stall eating area. Great photo opportunities, do see what's for sale.
- Buy the Vinamit dried fruit chips here, they are cheaper than in the supermarket. But rarer chips like Apple Chips would have to be obtained at the supermarket.

Not explored yet:
10)Saigon Superbowl
43A Truong Son. Tan Binh Dist.

Authorized Money Changer in Saigon

Here's the best deal for changing money that I've found so for in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon. It's also legal, so you won't have to worry about getting fake notes.
- 4C Lê Lợi Street (along the same row as the Tourist Centre)
- 161 Ðồng Khởi Street

I usually go to the one on Lê Lợi, it's quite visible.
The exchange rate for 23 November 2007, Friday was US$1 to 16,070VNÐ.

1)Only clean, newish notes for US$ are accepted. This rule doesn't seem to apply to Vietnamese currency though.
2)US$50 and US$100 notes will get a better exchange rate. I usually change US$50 at a time for short stays, and if I have a US$100 note, I ask for them to return a US$50 note, and the remaining to be changed to local currency, BUT AT THE HIGHER RATE. They will understand. Do check, sometimes they try to give you less money or round down, but when you point it out to them, they will (grudgingly) return the small change.
3)If you want to break your US$5 or US$10 into the US$1 notes, you can do so here. This is for easy use at the market and shops, when buying small items. Because many places also charge in USD, but they may return the change in VNÐ if they don't have enough USD.

Saigon Holiday With Cousin Ernie

This is a long overdue post, about my holiday with Cousin E in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam.

That's a pic of me and Cousin E, I'm the one on the left. ===>>>
At first, we thought of going to Hanoi, but since I was more familiar with Saigon, we ended up planning our trip there. We were there in time for the Vietnamese Independence Day Holidays, over the 1st of May 2007.

I went with my dad first, then he left and Ernie came over. I wisely did my shopping first, so it would be just pure relaxing, eating and sightseeing when Cousin E arrived.

*Ta-daaah*...

This was what Ernie wore for his Saigon Holiday... NOT! Actually, he was dressed in the typical backpacker style of worn t-shirt, bermudas and mocassins.

I could never travel light like him

But it was a clever move on his part, because then he could carry back lots more mango fruits, Vinamit fruit chips, heavy bags of roasted cashew nuts... Lots more goodies in his huge haversack!

So if you ever travel to Saigon, do travel light, with an as empty a suitcase as possible. It would help you pack back more things. Food stuff and clothes are really worth buying from Vietnam, good and cheap!

Here's a post on where to shop in Saigon.
It was a laidback trip indeed, filled with fruit shakes, beef noodles... and more food.

Mineral Makeup - Alima Venetian H C

Venetian Holiday Collection

I got this from a CozyCot spree! It looked so nice on the website, I had to order one set for myself!

I thought that the "Leone" (described as 'sparkling sand') would be a nice nude brown colour for the eyes. But when my set arrived, I saw that the eyeshadow was too golden. Applied on my eyes, it is goldy and strange. I don't think I would wear it on its own. However, when I mixed it with Alima's Lilac eyeshadow, it transformed the dull dead purple brown into a lighter, sparkly taupe brown colour, suitable for everyday use!

(Taken from the Alima website)
Escape the dog-days of summer with this gorgeous holiday in a box. This complete color kit is ideal for summer travels, with everything you need for a simple but elegant face. (With no liquids, its also airline-friendly!) The set consists of a blush, a shadow, a liner and a tinted lip balm, but as always with Alimas gorgeous mineral products, they can be worn in many different ways.

Leone - the lion is the symbol of Venice, and this sparkling sand that bears it's name may well become your signature shadow.
Rialto - the famous bridge is complex and beautiful, the colors of the stone difficult to categorize. You'll see them reflected in this eyeliner's deep shimmering grey with hints of green. Rialto can also be used as a contour shadow.
Sospiro - named for the Bridge of Sighs, this shimmering blush is a rich pink with golden highlights that will make you sigh. Sospiro can also be worn on the eyes.
Bellini - like the sparkling, fruity cocktail that bears its name (and was created in Venice), this lightly shimmered, muted pink lip balm is ideal for a leisurely afternoon in a sidewalk cafe whether in Venice or Main Street, USA. It comes in a skinny little tube that slips easily into a pocket or handbag.

Mineral Makeup - Lightening

I've been asked on CozyCot Forums about light coloured Mineral Makeup Foundations. How do you make sure that the foundation is light enough for you, yet you don't end up looking chalky or unnatural?

Here's my take. The solution depends on the reason why the foundation is not light enough for you.

1)Not light enough because face is oily underneath / oxidisation.
What works is a primer or makeup base (with or without colour). If you don't already have those Japanese brands (they have 'white' base primers), then what Chiaberry said is really good advice: "Why don't you try 100% silk powder? In the summer, apply this as a primer before your foundation, so that it can act as a buffer to lessen the effect of oil on the foundation itself."

If the MMU you use (Everyday Minerals or others) oxidise, check if it's your skin, or the MMU. I just hate it when I go to cosmetics counters, and they tell me that it's because I didn't use their brand's primer/base for face or eyes, that's why my foundation darkens, or eyeshadows don't stay on. Such an excuse for not making good quality and pigmented products! You're better off experimenting to find a better brand. But of course, if your skin is super oily, then you would have to use oil-control skincare or a primer/base. :P

Also, do remember to put loose powder (MMU or otherwise) on top to help the foundation stay on. Some people don't do that, and the foundation will darken after a few hours, or slide off.

2)Not light enough because the foundation colour is not suitable.
- Email to the MMU company to explain the problem. If you like the formula and continue to buy from them, ask if they could LIGHTEN the foundation for you. Or CUSTOM BLEND if the colour is not quite right. Do offer suggestions so it's easier for them to help. Of course, this works only if you're buying full-size. :) Alima didn't lighten for me, but Skin Story (Central at Clarke Quay) helped me ask Alima for lightener and blended for me. Can also check if they will sell just the lightener to you.

- If you don't intend to buy anymore, but don't want to waste what you have, you have no choice but to
a)Mix with existing lighter foundation.
b)Order an untinted base, to lighten the colour you have. It should be a neutral or untinted colour.
c)Check with Skin Story if they sell samples of Alima's C-0 foundation colour ($2 for a small container). It would work in lightening because it's almost colourless. BUT! Note: I tried mixing Alima's Cool (C-0) which looks colourless with my N-0 and W-0 foundation. However, the cool tone made the foundation look very chalky and fake on me! This method is for those who have very yellow dark foundations, it should work.
d)I tried mixing White eyeshadow from Alima with my foundations. It seemed to work. Then I checked in sunlight - I look fair, BUT CHALKY! Heh... I solved this by adding Alima's light golden eyeshadow ("Leone") to the foundation. It made it more Asian/Yellow toned and natural. Surprisingly it works (but add just a bit). It looks shimmery in the container, but can't see any sparkles on the face.

If you don't want to waste what you have bought, you just have to mix until it suits you.

Cosmetics Puff & Sponge Cleaner

My must-have item is the Cosmetics Puff & Sponge Cleaner.
It looks something like this (I got this photo from the Hi Japan website, it's a Taiwan site selling lots of cool Japanese makeup, skincare and accessories.).

It removes dirt, residue and colour better than any shampoo, shower gel or even detergent when you use it on your cosmetics sponges, puffs and applicators. I also use it on my brushes.











But you don't have to pay a high price, buy online or travel to Japan, Hong Kong or Taiwan to purchase this handy little bottle.

You can just get a similar 80ml bottle for $2 at Daiso! Like the original cleanser (which I have bought and tried), it is fairly concentrated, fragrance-free and cleans really well.

It has a similar packaging to the sold-in-Taiwan bottle. I've included a pic (on the left) so that you can recognise it. It's found in the cosmetics section in Daiso. It's usually sold out, so I usually buy at least 2 bottles when I see it.

In Taiwan, they have also have the Brush Cleaner! Unfortunately, they don't have the equivalent in Daiso yet.

I suppose they would include some conditioning properties in the Brush Cleaner, so that your makeup brushes stay soft?

I use the Daiso Puff & Sponge Cleaner on my brushes too, but I'm not sure if this makes the hair more dry and coarse. So I follow up with a conditioning shampoo as a final wash, just in case.

Daiso

Daiso, Always $2 in Singapore, 100 yen in Japan!
The Daiso outlets in Singapore have such a mind-boggling selection of items! I especially like the Sanrio Hello Kitty products, home care items and food stuff.

26 Aug 2007 Sunday - Food Items
Bought some food items from Daiso at VivoCity. It is on the 3rd Floor, located above the PageOne bookshop.

I had bought a pack of Cha Soba dried noodles from the Plaza Singapura outlet on Saturday, and this started my quest to prepare Japanese food!


From left to right:
1)Bonito flakes in the orange packet, far left.

2)Wasabi-flavoured seaweed mix flavouring / topping for rice, noodles & soup, in the green & yellow stripe packet.

3)Dried garlic bits in packet with yellow label.

4)Cinnamon sugar in purple-blue bottle.

5)Garlic paste in the pink box.





My review:
1)Bonito flakes: (check back later)

2)Wasabi-flavoured seaweed mix: Mmmm...! I like this one! Main ingredients are seaweed, bonito flakes, sesame seeds and wasabi bits. The wasabi adds a nice little kick to the mixture. It's quite salty, but such Japanese food items are meant to be salty. I tried those mixtures imported from Japan, same saltiness and very expensive. I added the seaweed mix to my brown rice dinner, and I could finish everything up. Very appetizing. About 1 flat tablespoon would do. Definitely would repurchase, and will try the other flavours! Saw Tamago (egg) and other fishy flavours as well.

3)Dried garlic: The flakes are crispy enough to break like potato chips when you bend them. When you actually bite into them, the flakes are softer than expected. So nope, you can't pretend these are potato chips. There is the 'bite' of pungent garlic. Put them in soup, warm rice, gravy, and the moisture will turn the flakes slightly yellow. Cook them if you want to get rid of the garlicky bite. Otherwise, just sprinkle a bit of them on rice or fried rice for an added kick to your meal!

4)Cinnamon sugar: This is rather nice with butter on toast. Don't add too much, or your food may be too bitter. I add on extra sugar to make it sweeter.

5)Garlic paste: (check back later)

Mineral Makeup - Meow

Oooh... Was so happy to receive my Meow Mineral Cosmetics today in the post. Click on the hyperlink to see their website. http://www.meowcosmetics.com/ Bought samples because the shipping is cheaper. It came in a cute animal print cotton drawstring pouch, with 2 free samples!
Click on the photos, and then click on the 'expand' function to see the words on the samples.

Here are my foundation samples... all in the lightest colours (0). Took 2 photos with my Canon Digital Ixus 75.

The first photo was taken in a darker setting. The second was taken by the window in the setting sun. I chose all the lightest range. Finishing powders at the end.
They are all very light, yellow-based colours in the (0) lightness, rather suitable for Asian skin tones. I'm surprised that the colours are this light. Normally, even the lightest cosmetic store colours seem a little dark in the container.

Inquisitive Siamese (in Pampered Puss formula) seems the darkest and most brown of the lot. Even though I ordered the lightest in all the colour tones. Inquisitive Angora (in Flawless Feline formula) is the most yellowish, almost gingery yellow.
And here are the eyeshadows (top row) and blushers (bottom row) that I had ordered. Together with the free drawstring pouch!

Eyeshadows - Crouching Tiger Hidden Kitty is shockingly Goober Grape Purple! Don't know how wearable the colour is.

I love the blush colours! Peddle Pink is a bit too orangey coral for me though. But I love the cool (but not purplish) pinkness of Flirt and Tickled Pink!

Meiji Snacks - Cacao XX%

Don't quite like this one. I bought the Cacao 80% box of individually wrapped chocolate. There are little flakes of... something... inside the chocolate. I found it too bitter for me. That's a surprise, 'cos I thought I preferred dark chocolate over normal milk chocolate any day. However, the Cacao 80% was not sweet enough, so all I tasted was bitterness and bitter bits. No added dimension to the chocolate. It isn't a bad chocolate, it's just not to my liking. Cacao also comes in 72% and 86% concentration of cocoa. Won't repurchase. :(

Meiji Snacks - Pucca

Oh boy, I like Pucca biscuit snacks.
It's one up from the Hello Panda chocolate-filled biscuits. I like the super dark chocolate ones: chocolate flavoured biscuit with dark chocolate semi-liquid filling. If you need a chocolate substitute, this is it! Currently, the only product pictures I can find are the standard Pucca chocolate biscuits. It's just normal milk chocolate, not super dark chocolate. The Pucca biscuits I'd like to try are the cream cheesecake (?) ones. It was reviewed very favourably in the Urban supplement that comes with The Straits Times. So far, I haven't found it in any supermarket. I've been to Meidi-Ya and the usual Japanese supermarkets. No sign of this Pucca range... Wonder if they'll be as nice as the super dark chocolate Pucca. I like the filling so much... And the biscuit casing is not sweet too. Very nice flavour. Mmmmm!

Dreaming of Pucca cheesecake flavour...

Meiji Snacks - Chelsea

I asked my cousin R what I should blog about today. He suggested...
"How about the Japanese snacks you always buy?"

This is one of the first Meiji sweets I recall buying... Chelsea Butter Scotch was the original butter-y flavoured candy I tried, way before Werther's Original.





Meiji came up with other flavours in the same little push-out box. I like Yogurt Scotch too, though the flavour is a little 'thin' compared to the nice mellow medium-richness of butter scotch.

The Green Tea flavour tastes a little strange to me - milky and slightly bitter.

Then Meiji came up with their Dessert Mix flavours... Simply wonderful!

They have a Crème Brûlée flavour that is amazingly like.... the dessert itself! Down to the slightly baked, smoky crust taste on the outside of the sweet. A nice custard caramel taste. Can't believe that they can replicate it so well!

Chelsea packaging and flavours from 1971 to today: http://www.meiji.co.jp/sweets/candy_gum/chelsea/package/package.html



Please click on the picture to view the full size.

The Rainbow Connection

The Rainbow Connection song, featuring Kermit the Frog...


"The Rainbow Connection" written by Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams
Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it,
And look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

All of us under its spell,
We know that it's probably magic...

... Have you been half asleep?
And have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name
.... Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm s'posed to be...
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

Laa, da daa dee da daa daa,
La laa la la laa dee daa doo...

Hột vịt lộn - Fertilized Duck Egg

"A balut (Trứng vịt lộn or Hột vịt lộn in Vietnamese, Pong tea khon in Cambodian) is a fertilized duck egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell. They are considered delicacies of Asia and especially the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam."
~ taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut

Anthony Bourdain - Fetal Duck Egg (Hột vịt lộn)

Oh wow, I wonder if Anthony Bourdain (celebrity chef and author) actually liked the taste of that dish! Looks like the video was filmed in chợ Bến Thành (Ben Thanh Market in Saigon).

I have not had the appetite to try this 'delicacy' and street food when I was in Saigon, Vietnam. Cousin E didn't have the stomach for it either!

See pic on the right. That basically sums up our reaction to this hột vịt lộn dish that we saw on the streets outside Bùi Viên in Phạm Ngũ Lão (Backpackers' area)...

"*gasp* What's that!"
"Do you think it's what I think it is?"
"Are those feathers I see in the egg?"
"No way on earth am I eating that!"

Since neither Cousin E nor myself wanted to even go near these eggs, I had to get photos from the Internet. What we saw was what chef Anthony Bourdain ate in the video above. So far, I haven't seen any eggs like the following... ... (Neither do I wish to see such things in real life!)

15 Day balut egg boiled for 15 minutes, ready to eat. Floating in a mixture of hot sauce and patis. (I don't know what 'patis' is, but it does NOT sound good!)

The Vietnamese prefer their balut matured from 19 days up to 21 days, when the chick is old enough to be recognizable as a baby duck and has bones that will be firm but tender when cooked.

This dish - also known as the "treat with feet" and the "eggs with legs" - makes for a great Fear Factor stunt.

Since I have not had the *ahem* appetite to try this dish, here's a link to give you a better idea of the taste...

Deep End Dining
(please click to read)

Bleah... Suddenly I've lost my appetite for eggs... and ducks... and chicken for that matter!
Oh wow, chocolate and Hột vịt lộn / Balut. What an irresistable mix.

I'm sure this would be a nice surprise for kids - Cadbury Chocolate Hột vịt lộn / Balut Egg!

Map of Vietnam

As you can see, the country of Vietnam is 'S'-shaped, and is longer than neighbouring countries Cambodia and Laos combined. It is not land-locked like Laos, and thus has beach resorts in Phú Quốc island, Vũng Tàu, Đà Nẵng and most famous of all, in Nha Trang.

The distance between the capital Hà Nội (Hanoi) and Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh / Sài Gòn (Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon) is about 1,800km.

The very brave or foolhardy would attempt to take a bus to and fro. For the rest, there are planes and trains that would take you to the cities and the major cities in between.

Here's a Wikipedia article on the country:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viet_Nam

Saigon (HCMC) vs Hanoi

A Guide to Sài Gòn and Hà Nội

I've been asked on quite a few occasions, which place to go to in Vietnam, Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City, or Hanoi. It all depends on your preference. Do you prefer the more cultural, historic and sleepy city of the capital Hanoi in the North? Or the frenetic energy, intense traffic, more capitalistic, hip and happening big city of the South?

Let's compare, and then you can decide for yourself. But first, here's some explanation on the 2 cities:
Saigon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saigon & http://wikitravel.org/en/Ho_Chi_Minh
Hanoi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanoi & http://wikitravel.org/en/Hanoi

City Scape
There are definitely more tall buildings in Saigon. The tallest is Saigon Trade Centre, also known as Prudential Tower. Very modern, with high end offices, it is 33 storeys high. Visitors can go to the 32nd floor restaurant, and view from there (set lunches are worth it), or pay US$2 to view from the 33rd floor cafe. Or have drinks there.

Saigon City Scape - Taken from Sheraton Saigon

This has got to be the tallest hotel in Saigon... and the whole of Vietnam for now. I think they can be considered a hotel of truly international standards.

Definitely more tall buildings, as can be seen from this rooftop view.
Hanoi City Scape - Taken from Sheraton Hanoi

I prefered the Sheraton Saigon though, service, ambience and location cannot be topped!

Hanoi is famous for her lakes, and there are many to be found within the city centre. The lakes and colonial buildings (and light rain and colder weather in Winter) impart a dreamy romantic quality to Hanoi.



There are fewer old buildings in Saigon, largely due to the Vietnam-American War. With the Đổi mới (renovation) / economic reforms initiated by the Viet government in the mid 1980s, the spirit of capitalism is well and alive, translating into bigger, taller, newer buildings - hotels, offices, government buildings etc.

In contrast, Hanoi has preserved its past very well. The French influences in architecture can be seen in many colonial buildings. Ancient Chinese influences are also present in some parts of the city, and I like the Temple of Literature for this. Some of my friends commented that it is a little like old Paris, if they close their ears (to ignore the traffic sounds), they can imagine themselves to be in some part of France!


People
I'm still trying to figure out if there is a 'typical' Vietnamese appearance. On the whole, the people of the South are more tanned, and those in the North where there is Winter, have a more fair complexion. The weather of the South can be really hot, while in the North, it is similar to Hong Kong's weather (which means it is ultra hot and humid in Summer, more hot than even in Saigon at times!).

The Saigonese look more Thai Cambodian to my untrained eye, though quite a few look quite Chinese. The Chinese in Saigon's Chinatown (Chợ Lớn) don't really look that Chinese, possibly because of the weather? As for Hanoi, the people there look more Chinese or Thai Chinese, and they are generally taller than their fellow Viets down South.
People on Motorbikes, Saigon

Got this from another website, "You Know You're Vietnamese If..." "After you come from the beach with a tan, they say that you look Cambodian."

"Guys: You sit on your butt all day.
Girls: You do everything while your man sits on his butt."

Heh, from what I observed, in both Saigon & Hanoi, it seems quite true, women really do have to take care of the men!

Couple on Motorbike, Hanoi

They look like a very charming and photogenic couple, don't they?

This pic was taken in Winter, which accounts for the warmer fashion they have on.

I can't quite figure out their 'look'... I mean, it is an Asian look, but can we easily classify people into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai, Malay etc races?

If a person is distinctively from a certain race, then yes. Other than that, it is not easy to tell. Hence the fun in guessing :)




Here's a close up of the pic, so that you can see their features more clearly.

This post from a forum says it all:
"I think the term 'Asian' is being banded about too easily in this thread. Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Indonesian, and Taiwanese people have differences in build, skin tone, and facial features much like Scottish, French, German, and Greeks, and Spaniards of Moorish decent have differences. Save Japan, they also different ethnicities within their countries."


Climate
The weather in Saigon is hot and humid all year round (seems to average around 30°C or more), although from November to February, the rainy, monsoon season makes it a little cooler to visit. Hanoi is more or less like Hong Kong in terms of weather. Summer is really hot and humid, while Autumn and Winter is really pleasant and cool (15 to 20°C, can go to 10°C and below). Although it means that shops in Hanoi sell wooly or thicker Winter clothes in the November to February period, while it's light and summery clothes all year round in Saigon!

Though strangely enough, there is a little shop in the Ngô Dúc Kê road near to main shopping area of Ðồng Khởi, which sells only ultra thick winter wear. The joke is that it is for the Vietnamese who are going to Russia. No other way to explain why the Saigonese would need such thick hot clothes in the hot humid weather!


Shopping
Saigon has a more developed shopping scene than in Hanoi, but Hanoi does seem to have more charming, specialised hand embroidery products. Here's what their main shopping streets look like.

Shopping Street, Saigon
This is at 135 Ðồng Khởi in Saigon. Ðồng Khởi is the most famous shopping street in this city. It is synonymous with high end (for Vietnam) shopping, and the top hotels are located here. Gucci and Louis Vuitton would be opening soon... Yes, in Vietnam!

This picture was taken pre-2007, and that Café/Restaurant on the left is now replaced by a Gloria Jean's Coffee. There are new developments all the time in Saigon, and shops that you used to frequent may not be there, the next time you visit!

Shopping Street, Saigon
This picture was taken near the end of Ðồng Khởi. Walk around a little bit more, and you will see the Malaysian-owned Parkson Department Store.

Parkson is an upmarket shopping destination (as is Diamond Hill Shopping Centre) in Saigon. I like the food court on the top floor. The small supermarket is nice for browsing, but I prefer to shop at the supermarket located at the nearby Tax Department Store (more down-market, but better prices and a much wider variety of goods).

Shopping Street, Hanoi
This is in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Hàng Gai is the street that's known for silk shopping.

The tube houses translate into very narrow shops, even more narrow than the ones in Saigon.










Shopping Street, Hanoi
This is another shopping street in Hanoi's Old Quarters. Western brand names aplenty in Vietnam. Genuine goods or not, your guess is as good as mine!