quachee's blog

Dreaming Of A White Christmas

2009-11-26T12:34:00.006+08:00

It's the time of that year once again... where the happy & merry mood takes place.

And this is really the time for holidays especially with the 2 long weekends ahead (Christmas & New Year).

I was tempted to go to somewhere cold this year, especially after experiencing such cool weather in Shanghai last year. And the fact that it snowed in Beijing this year!

But then, unless I take a long holiday, even the long weekends don't make it so possible. And that's something I can't do this time round due to work commitments.

But that is fine with me. I'll most likely spend some time at the malls - that at least gets me closest to the cold if not white Christmas haha.

How bout you? Have you made any holiday plans? :)

Oh or Wow... Malaysia (Some Serious Thoughts)

2009-11-24T21:27:00.009+08:00

I've been having this thought about beloved Malaysia for a while now, and thought I'll just share this...

Before I started my travels the past few years, I've always thought that Malaysia is huge. Afterall, we always compare our country with Singapore... 26-28 million vs 4-5 milion. Of course, that makes us rather big lah.

But then I started to travel to our other neighbours - to the likes of Thailand, Indonesia & the Philippines. And what I realise is that we are not so big afterall... Even the smallest of them all, Thailand, has a population of double of ours (at about 60million Thais).

Now, though size matters, but that's not all. In our already not so huge population, we then get a very segmented country. We have our 5 major races (Ibans are no 1 in Sarawak while Kadazans are no 1 in Sabah).

While this is all nice for our tourism campaign where diversity is cool (truly Asia), but then some parties would say that this is actually an disadvantage as well. For when we want to sell something, we always have got to ask - who are we selling it to (more specifically, which race?).

Go even further, divide us by language... and then we have the urban-ites, some of who like you and me, speak English. Taking the Chinese as an example, we now have the English educated Chinese, the Mandarin speaking Chinese, etc.

So, our already not so big country now becomes even smaller when one is in the media business. Now, let's take the media industry for example. How many (race A) watch (race B) movies or listen to (race B) music? Or for that matter, are there any successful 1Malaysia movies, ever? (pls see the word successful).

This makes me envy our neighbours. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but in overseas, it's just the Thais (speaking Thais), the Indonesians (who all speak Bahasa Indonesia fluently), the Pinoys (Tagalog), etc. When you come out with a movie - it's for the nation. So is the music.

I've always believed in this as a disadvantage. And apparently, I'm not alone. I've heard others complaining the same. And so did one CEO from one of the most popular internet news portal in the country, who voiced his views in a forum forum I attended recently.

But then, like they say, the grass is greener on the other side. The chairperson from USA mentioned that despite all these (which he says actually is just swirling in our heads), he points out that benefits of working in a smaller country is huge.

One, we get to work with the big players/ brands much easier. Plus, the fact that we are so multi lingual, we can reach global with more ease (language wise). So he asks us to use this 'disadvantage' and turn it around to a good one.

While I agree with him on these points, but the one question remains... can any of our things (think movie, music, website, other media) ever reach to a wide audience in Malaysia - a true blue 1Malaysia thing?... Is there, or should we resign our fate to keeping things targeted just for 1 race each time?

*I have 3 different language stations preset in my car. Some people wonder why... I wonder why not? (Wei shen me bu ke yi ah? Tak salah kan? Can one mah) :)

Filipino Food!

2009-11-17T21:11:00.016+08:00

In my Philippines trip, I sure had a good share of Pinoy food. Here are some of them.

Aristocrat Chicken Barbeque

My very first meal was this restaurant with a tagline - 'home of the best chicken barbeque in town'.

When you have a tagline like that, it comes with high expectations. It was not bad - but I'm not sure if it really is the best in town?

However, what I like here - trying the pork dinuguan (pork blood stew!). Minus the name aside, the stew is quite tasty actually. And so is the mango juice - my first in the Philippines, but definitely not the last!

Fruitas

Talking bout mango juice, the one I enjoyed most is from this fruit juice chain - Fruitas. The mango juice comes with a good thick serving of pure fresh mango... just so suitable for the tropical weather in the Philippines!

Jollibee Hamburger

Like the Fruitas, this is one food chain every visitor must try. The queues in the Jollibee outlets are always so long... I was surprised that Megamall has 2 big outlets at 2 different levels!

This is really heaven for hamburger lovers... it's one of the best burgers I have ever eaten! The beef pattyt is cooked just nice reatining its juice yet well cooked. Double thumbs up!

Andok's

I tried a fair bit of their local Pinoy food chains. This one is Andok's - famed for its grilled chicken. The food was alrite for a quick bite.

Greenwich Pizza

I even tried their pizza from this quite popular restaurant chain. Look at the toppings!

Red Ribbon Cake

I was very amazed with all the local food chains in the Philippines - and was also game to try the cake at this shop. This shop was crowded and the cake - yummy!

Kamaiyan Saisaki Dads Buffet
One of the recommended buffets in town is the Kamaiyan Saisaki Dads Buffet. It boasts of 3 different types of food - local Pinoy dishes, western & Japanese. This sure made me full! What I like here? The lechon (roasted pork)!

SM Food Court (Pinoy Food)

As they all say, the Philippines sure is the pork gourmet nation. And one of my last meals was more lechon plus other local Pinoy food at the food court at SM Marikina Mall. Oh yes, there's the pork blood stew again! :)

Cafe Juanita
I was fortunate to have visited this restaurant as well - known for its local Pinoy dishes & also for its antique decorations...

There are actually 2 restaurants here - both by the same owner. One is the simple food at the counter while the other, dine restaurant style.

Larry's Cafe & Bar

I tried some very good cake at this bar cum cafe, located in Serendra. The atmosphere in the place is cosy as well. Truly a must come back visit!

Balut!

Of all the food I tried, this one tops them all...! I've roughly heard about the balut & dare not try at first. Afterall, balut is the nearly developed embryo of a duck... and some friends mentioned that one might actually see the duck embryo while eating the egg. But then again... anyway, I tried it and was lucky that mine wasn't that raw. Taste - delicious!

Well, there it is - the final piece of my Philippines travel this year :)

The BIG Bibik: Feature & Reviews

2009-11-11T19:35:00.010+08:00

Here are some reviews we've had with The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas show. As usual, any feature or review gives a nice feeling & a proud moment :)

A feature by Malaysia's lifestyle magazine - I.M. I've always liked this magazine and to be featured by a magazine you like - that is double thumbs up! :)

Malaysia's national paper - The New Straits Times. I'm happy for this full page review... plus the fact that this is my first time my works is featured in this newspaper. Truly, the power of believe :) (full article at Bibik Is Back).

Over the causeway, the entertainment magazine, I Weekly (1st October 2009 issue), did a recipe feature.

This is also the first time my works have been featured on this entertainment magazine.

Not sure if there are more to come, but am keeping my fingers crossed :)

*To the journalists from IM Magazine, The News Straits Times & I Weekly, here's a big thank you :)

Dreams Are Achievable

2009-11-07T21:15:00.005+08:00

Every now & then, there comes a reminder that dreams are not just dreams in the clouds/ air... but something achievable & attainable.

It's always amazing that I receive these reminders when I need them most... here's a video I just watched recently while in the midst planning ahead. Though I've watched this before, this is a good reminder.

This video sees Charice, a Pinoy from Philippines, Asia - at a young age singing a duet with her idol, Celine Dion.

Charice just proves that age is no barrier to our dreams (and so are all the other excuses). And the fact that Asians can make it in Hollywood... really, the future is ours to create :)

From Friends To Heroes

2009-11-05T18:47:00.010+08:00

One of the few things I look forward each day apart from visioning my dreams is watching drama series.

Actually, it has been a very long time since I watched drama series... it was only recently I started watching & at times rewatching Friends. The last time I was hooked to drama series would be watching Friends itself during the university days. But even then, I wasn't following up with the show weekly.

But now, I can proudly say I've covered Friends in full from Season 1 to the finale in Season 10!

As much as I wished there is Season 11, but well I have to move on (and life goes on? lol). Anyway, I don't think rewatcing it anytime soon is a good idea... especially not when I need to see what's popular in the media hub of the world - Hollywood.

Then, I have heard of Heroes - and I thought it does look appealing. So, I bought my first Heroes DVD box set this year! (I know it's now already Season 4 and here I am just finished watching Season 1... there sure is lots to catch up with USA media!).

I find the whole Heroes concept very cool. Superpowers & superheroes have always been cool plus the fact that Heroes do have quite an interesting storyline & characters. I particularly like the double character of Niki-Jessica & also the current Hiro-future Hiro, who I think both acted very well showing very different characters despite being the same person. Overall, very creative I must say.

However, I'm not sure if it's because of tiredness or late hours, but at times I do fall asleep while watching Heroes. Some friends say they are confused on Heroes, while some say there's a lot of talking. I find the jumping of scenes makes the show not a very smooth watch.

But still, for it's high USA ratings, I think 'it's my duty' as someone in the media industry to watch the series... just like the Heroes have a mission "Save the cheerleader, save the world". hehe :)

Intramuros

2009-10-31T17:57:00.012+08:00

From Manila Chinatown, I headed off to the old area of Manila - Intramuros.

From the calesa, this time the ride was the jeepney.

The first stop was the Manila Cathedral, all majestic & grand. All around the church grounds were yellow ribbons - for interestingly, that is the final day of the late Corazon Aquino's wake.

The atmoshpere was serene and very there is that feeling of greatness of the leader and I felt honoured to be there, at that time. The only setback - I didn't get to enter one of the most important churches in the Philippines, as it was closed.

Not too far away, I visited the former military headquarters of the Spanish colonial government - Fort Santiago. It is quite well maintained - and apparently has been restored.

The small drizzle made the weather very cool, and the walk around the fort very nice. Of course it helps that the fort is quite huge as well - one of the bigger forts I've been to.

I particularly like this wall - the almacenes reals. Simply perfect for a location shoot!

Moving on from the fort, I headed next to this road behind the Manila Cathedral... and to another church - the San Augustine Church.

I've seen many churches lately and this is one of the more beautiful ones. Rather grand indeed.

Apparently, this is the oldest stone church standing in the Philippines & is also listed in UNESCO under Baroque Churches of the Philippines.

Opposite the church is this house turn museum showcasing the Intramuros home - Casa Manila. It's a pity too that I missed this. I would have loved to see how grand the interior is, and how lavish the owners used to stay.

And finally, the day ended with one parting shot of the new Manila city opposite and beyond the golf course.

And that brings me to near the closing of this Philippines & Manila visit. The final post about Philippines - food! :)

Help Nominate The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas

2009-10-30T19:13:00.005+08:00

Just chanced on this awards... there's a section for Best Web Series. And I am nominating The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas on it.

If you have Facebook or Twitter, do help us nominate too. Would really mean a lot to all... (click on the pic below) :)

The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas: Episode 8 - Bloopers

2009-10-26T23:44:00.004+08:00

It's time to bring down the curtains to Season 1. Looking back, it is one big experience - learning productions, getting to know the cast & team better... shooting in Malacca once more.

Definitely some good memories. Here are some of them...

Let's hope the show will have a chance to be back :)

Manila Chinatown

2009-10-26T17:55:00.013+08:00

The journey to Manila's Chinatown started with quite a style - where I got on to this kelesa (horse carriage). I found this very unique and proud that this mode of transportation is still very much alive in the Philippines.

The ride was smooth and fresh (after the rain). I was then headed into the gates of the oldest overseas Chinatown in the world! (established in 1594 - wow!).

The Chinatown here is similar to most Chinatowns I've been - extremely busy and a little bit cluttered. But it is these that gives the Chinatown its atmosphere. The one difference is the horse carts and the tricycles around. Plus the mixture of Tagalog & Chinese words.

And again, like most Chinatowns, there were many shops selling variety of things from jewelery to dried food & fruits. There was also a temple which had a Chinese opera. That sure tops the Chinese-ness of this Chinatown :)

Apart from sightseeing, the must do thing here is obviously to try some local Chinese food. Tried the noodles at this Ling Nam Wanton Parlor restaurant. However, it was the pau that I was more interested in. Firstly for its sheer size (it's as big as the plam) and secondly, it's quite yummy! They sure know what is tua pau - big pau!

Though somewhat full, however, after some bit of walk, I made another food stop at the Ongpin Manosa restaurant to try out more goodies (apparently this restaurant was featured somewhere, hence a should-try). But, like it says - food won't taste that good when one is full.

The trip to this small (only 1 square kilometer) but unique Chinatown was a good eye opener to see how distinct yet adaptable the Chinese are whereever they migrate to.

The Chinatown gives that feeling of Chines-ness yet it's a rather different feel from the more familiar Chinatowns back home... which most likely is because of that touch of Filipinas :)

Who Is The Dreamer?

2009-10-24T12:28:00.002+08:00

Thought I'd like to share a recent conversation I had with an acquaintance, who I met in the Frankfurt Book Fair recently.

Well, first about the fair. It's the largest book fair in the world and is the place for all industry players to be there – from publishers, printers, agents and distributors. And though I've been in the publishing industry for 4 years now, it's only my first time going to the fair (despite being a few years late, that to me is already an achievement – it's my first time out of Asia & first time going for such an international fair).

Going to the fair was a big eye opener. Like I said, it was the place for all to be. It was huge – having 6 halls, many of which covers a few levels each.

More importantly, I get to see the global way of the business. There, I get a chance to meet all the other foreign publishers – mainly from the close to heart Asia (though South East Asia is quite clearly unrepresented), Europe (from the more common countries to even smaller Eastern Europe countries), South America, and of course the cannot-miss UK & USA publishers.

Seeing the European & South American publishers (and even publishers from the Middle East/ Central Asia) exposed me that the world is not that small after all. And that there is more than the usual markets we always focus on (or at least the usual 1^st world countries I only know in my fingertips).

The second thing that inspired me in the Frankfurt Book Fair is how some companies can focus on just 1 book, participate in the fair with it, and most likely will be a international hit. It dawns on me on what I've done before – participating in fairs with just my first book (Batik Inspirations).

However, the road of fairs is a tiring one – and not to mention an expensive one. Well the prices for the ones I've participated is no where compared to this book fair, but still it is a cost that may not generate enough returns. That plus the effort of carrying the bulky boxes of books & preparation in advance & packing up later all makes the effort of having a booth in a fair not so worthwhile at times. That is one reason why I ruled out participating in any fairs for the 2^nd book (50+1 Malaysia).

At the fair, I also understand that international publishers plan way in advance for the books. For example, I've seen some publishers announcing their 2010 & 2011 titles. One publishing company has also focused on that 1 book of theirs since 2 years back – and it's not just 1 book, but instead a full campaign with it.

Having being 'blown away' with such relevations only get me thinking of my conversation with the acquaintance at the fair. The conversation revolved mainly on he telling me about one continuing to publish good books and keep believing that it will eventually bring the returns – if not immediate, but in the future.

And there I was telling him, that while I agree on that, but there are a few things that make one (especially local publishers on local content) to consider otherwise – first there is the high publishing costs involved and secondly, it's hard to get our local content books out in the market... I added that it's easier to get overseas content into the country than otherwise.

But he kept persisting on his belief. And while I know myself as the dreamer and always believing in one having big dreams that come true, I do also believe that we may need to tweak our strategies at times to suite the market demands to achieve our dreams. Hence, I told the acquaintance that I agree with him – but only if our local publishers have a more international content or at least a mixture of local & international, can we go global (and with that I mean is that having our books converted to different languages and selling a few million copies).

As strong a point I have (or so I would like to think), however, the acquaintance didn't buy it.

After the conversation, it just got me thinking... has the 4 years in the media industry changed my mindset somewhat? And should people stick to their route planned for their dream? And really, who is the Dreamer (in good sense) here? :)

A Bit About The Cast... Michelle S. Ng

2009-10-21T18:34:00.009+08:00

Allow me to introduce the 2nd cast of The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas Cookshow - Michelle S. Ng (who plays Na Na).

Michelle was the 2nd Little Nyonya to be casted - and she hails from the Lion City, Singapore.

Though still a student (she studies in Republic Poly), Michelle already has quite a fair bit of things under her belt. An actress (& model at times - she prefers acting way more), Michelle was initially casted for a fourth role in the show. But things changed and she was soon the next Little Nyonya.

Though we would have loved to made her play the role she was casted for (thinks she fits the garang/ fierce girl), but she did fit as one of The Little Nyonyas too.

And that is the interesting part of Michelle - she can look very different by different styles - something we got to find out... from pretty girl next door to...

and...

This if not wrong, is her in the S Factor Competition - a reality TV show in Singapore searching for the Sweet, Sexy & Smart woman.

Michelle has set her dream on Hollywood. Like she says - "My passion is to act. My dream is to be successful in it and actually earn a living out of it".

Well with her strong determination & passion (& not to mention good looks), she might just be the next big thing from the island! Go & make Singapore & Asia proud! :)

*Michelle says she can cook too - we have yet to try haha.

The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas: Episode 7

2009-10-19T23:54:00.003+08:00

The 2nd last video for Season 1 sees the continuation of the friendly cook fight to see the real Peranakan chef! Enjoy! :)

Tagaytay

2009-10-19T23:25:00.013+08:00

Roughly about 2 hours drive or so from Manila, lies a rather serene and quiet holiday destination - the hill resort of Tagaytay.

The journey south was fun in some ways, especially when stopping at the shops along the way - amongst the many is this Maria's Coffee 2 Go shop.

This shop was recommended by some friends - for its famed wild cat coffee at reasonable prices (for those of you who are new - apparently, the wild cat coffee comes from the dumps of these wild cats who eat only the best coffee berries! - yes, you read it right!).

Nearby the shop lies a row of shops selling fresh fruits - all big & juicy! (just look at the jackfruit!)

And if that wasn't enough - came a seller selling some very fresh big crabs at very decent prices.

Then the journey continues to the view point where one has the option to change to the jeepney and take a ride to the top hill.

A short ride (less than 5 minutes) and then one gets to see the view of Tagaytay city.

Was supposed to be able to see the Taal lake as well, but the fog was thick... but I wasn't complaining! haha. The weather was cold & chill - and really cool (pun intended) when the wind blew!

Then came lunch at one of the most famous/ popular must-try restaurants in Tagaytay (and maybe even the Philippines) - Leslie's. The restaurant was packed, lovely ambience and good music (now, that's Philippines!).

All of the food was yummy and tasty especially the bulalo (Filipino stew with bone marrows). It was like trying the best of the Philippines food there!

Another draw for the restaurant - the view of Taal Lake & valcano... and that was just picturesque, ending the trip on a high :)

*Apparently, one can also visit the Taal valcano - crossing the lake by boat and go horse riding to the top! I think I'll be back for that next time!

The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas: Episode 6

2009-10-13T00:54:00.002+08:00

It's now already the 6th week of this Nyonya cookshow webisodes... and the Little Nyonyas have just gotten better at cooking. Time sure flies...!

Synopsis:
Now that the Little Nyonyas have learnt the art of Peranakan cooking, they are ready to battle it out with The BIG Bibik - to see who is a better Nyonya cook! Let the showdown begin!

The next episode will be up on 20.10.09!

*Sorry not been able to blog much recently - too much other work in hand. Truly overstretched in business. But I do keep updated Facebook decently enough - do join me there :)

The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas: Episode 5

2009-10-05T23:48:00.005+08:00

We've reached the halfway mark of this Nyonya cookshow series... hope u all are enjoying it in someway or rather.

Btw, here's the 5th episode and a simple dish: sambal bendeh (sambal ladies fingers). This is one of the easier Nyonya dishes around - I'm stunned it's that simple too! haha :)

For recipes, go to Big Bibik & Litte Nyonyas Recipe.

*If any of u are into cooking and have tried the dish, let me know how it went :)

Boracay Island Hopping!

2009-10-02T12:22:00.010+08:00

What is island holiday without island hopping, right? I learnt bout this while 'island-ing' the past few trips.. and obviously, I did it in Boracay too!

All the island hoppers first gathered at the Bulabog beach - the beach at the opposite side of the island from White Beach. The sea was much more calm here.

The island hopping activities were similar in most cases - like the name says 'island hopping'! There was the usual snorkeling activities in the deep blue sea, which always fascinates me. And after the snorkeling, there was the coconuts which came right from a seller from another boat.

One different activity however - was to try reef walking for the first time... where we put on the astronout like glass cover, then go down into the sea and then start walking - under the sea! Yes, with fishes swimming around (give them bread & they will come!). That was one unique experience! For a while, you can just imagine it's like in the movie haha!

Time flew (very fast when having fun) and after all the activities, it was time to head to one of the smaller nearby islands for some lunch...

...that came with a fantastic view!

And to top it up, with good home cooked food! (simple yet yummy!)

I don't mind having lunch here everyday...

Anyway, a bit more of this little island... I saw some roosters who the villages said were being trained for cock fights. Ah, the nice feeling of being in a village... :)

And then I had the option to visit this bat cave on the island. A short walk uphill and there was the cave with its stalagmite & stalactite. However, I didn't go in - not so much a cave lover when you have the sea not far away!

Anyway by then, it was already early evening and time to head back to the hotel... with beautiful pictures and wonderful memories.

*There's still much more of Philippines to come!

The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas: Episode 4

2009-09-29T00:17:00.003+08:00

The Little Nyonyas learn how to cook Ayam Pong Teh... but not first by getting some good old advise & a bit of scolding (kena maki) from the BIG Bibik!

Next episode up on 06.10.09! :)

Btw, have you tried ayam pong teh? One of my favourite Nyonya dish! hehe :)

Dtalipapa Boracay

2009-09-25T22:32:00.013+08:00

I was told to visit the market while at Boracay... also known as Dtalipapa.

Along the way there, I saw this tree house. First time seeing a tree house - and quite a well built one too.

A short walk in the lane, and I finally arrive - to the market. Some may wonder why I was there... but I had a mission.

There were lobsters & prawns but these were not what I was looking for.

There were also clams - still not what I was looking for.

More lobsters & more prawns...

Also some fish.

Then I saw the white coloured flesh of the squids... yes, the sotong! Looks big & juicy! I chose one with the eggs.

Then, I brought it over to the restaurant just beside the market. For a small fee, the restaurant cooks these fresh food for the day. And I had a coconut while waiting... all the while anticipating for the 'big prize'!

However, alas, the squid wasn't what I expected. The squid was cut into pieces and the egg was gone... My aim of reliving the squid I ate at KK didn't materialise... I think I should have told the chef how to cook the squid...

That made me a lil disappointed and my appetite for the squid diminished though I still finished it. For most of the time, I felt like eating rubber...

However, the disappointment wasn't for long... after all, it's only a squid & I was still on the beautiful island of Boracay! No squid can spoil the mood of being on the island!

There were so many more things to look forward to - and that's up next! :)

*One way to head to this market is by walking by the White Beach & find the sign board: D*Talipapa.

Treasure At Vivo

2009-09-25T21:38:00.004+08:00

The time is 8am - on a Saturday. Yes, that's what you need to do if you want to stand in the running to win the treasure hidden in Singapore's largest mall - Vivocity!

The chances may be slim, but this is certain: at least 1 person who wakes up early tomorrow will get SGD10000! Imagine that is you... wow!

And you don't need to go into a jungle or stay in a remote island for this... instead go to the mall. lol :)

Fat Chance? Well...
But anyway, for those who want a more certain win, there's the goodie bag (I know Singaporeans just love goodie bags!)... for this, just be the first 1000 to arrive (now I wonder how many will come in at 6am?).

And Malaysians can compete also... lah
Btw, this is open to anyone in the world (it says on their Facebook message: Anyone who is a fan of The Great Singapore Treasure Hunt on Facebook is allowed to participate. Also, you either need to be a Singaporean, a PR, an EP holder or a holder of any legitimate travel and/or work documents. There is no age limit).

Ah, what an open country huh. People from other countries may not fly all the way for this, but for some Malaysians, we can - it's just a drive away!

So, for the Malaysians in town or planning to make their way to the island, why not give a shot of that dollars? You just might get lucky! :)

*Those keen, register at VivoCity Terrace, Level 3 on 26th September 2009.

*I wonder who will be that lucky winner & how does he/ she planned for this hunt :)

The Great Singapore Hunt

2009-09-24T09:29:00.008+08:00

Remember we use to have some treasure hunt back in Malaysia? I never thought it can be such a big thing, especially when you are hunting in Singapore...!

But well, the island is apparently big enough for a hunt & loads of treasures...

There are treasures hidden in Clifford Pier...

Then there are also treasures hidden in the beach at East Coast Park (wish it was there the last time I visited the park lol).

And more treasures on to another park - the Bishan Park...

And erm, yes, Little India too has treasures.

Apparently, all these 'smaller hunts' all over the island are to prepare all for the big big hunt of $10000 on 26 September 2009!

Frankly, I'm not a fan of running around for treasures, but if you are, well, get the updates on where to find the next treasure on Facebook! You never know, the big prize might just be yours...

*btw those who say Singapore is small, I think they should try too... I bet the island won't look so small after all the running around haha :)

A Bit About The Cast.... Charlene Meng

2009-09-23T22:13:00.004+08:00

I thought it will be fun to share a bit about the cast and their journey with me on The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas Webisode... so I'm starting off withCharlene Meng (who plays ehem, Meng Meng).

Charlene is in fact the 3rd & final one who we casted. At that time, we already had the other 2 Little Nyonyas, but finding this 3rd one was not easy... especially when time was running out, and the shoot just a few days away.

But as usual, I just believed for the best... and sure enough (and with God's help), came this resume - by Charlene. Her photos look good, but then again, I've learnt that photos alone can't judge someone especially with the age of Photoshop.

I called up all the potentials including Charlene, and right even on the phone, I knew she had it... but still, I had her to come down for the audition.

True enough, on audition day, Charlene had all that energy & liveliness to fit that oh-so-bubbly Meng Meng. It was really a no brainer on who to choose that day.

Btw, besides her personality, I have always felt that Charlene do have a slight resemblence to Malaysia's pop princess, Siti Nurhaliza. U can call her like the Chinese version...

So, finally, we had 3 Little Nyonyas... It was great to have Charlene on set as she was really lively throughout... as she says "on set, I'm giving my 100%... but when it's all over, I'm exhausted & done".

You can see that in most pics, she really is one lively person!

Besides her bubbliness, I'd also remember Charlene for always being polite. I guess her Malaysian roots (she is from JB btw) are quite strong in some ways... where she'll always wish the rest of the crew & cast to 'makan' before eating her food (she btw likes onde onde & kuih kosi lots!).

And though I would have prefered to show Charlene's long hair, that was not possible in this show, as all the Nyonyas had to have their buns.

Nevertheless, she still look good especially her profile shots - just see that shiny smile. She is such a natural in front of the camera!

Well that's my short write up on Charlene, an aspiring actress & dancer. With her talent & politeness, I'm sure this Little Nyonya will be somebody big someday :)

*To know more about Charlene & her interview, go to The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas (under Who's The Cast)

Boracay White Beach

2009-09-22T19:02:00.008+08:00

After the rounds through Boracay D*Mall, I finally ended up at the world renowned white beach. However, the weather was not in its 'best mood', and was very windy.

The winds were pretty strong that the stall owners at the beach have already come prepared with all the block of stands. The full white beach was divided with these stands which somewhat spoilt the view, but I guess are necessary precautions.

But for those willing to walk beyond the stands, the view was simply breathtaking... the beach was one big stretch of fine sand facing the beautiful blue sea (apparently some say it is 5 colours of sea).

No doubt the strong winds are still around, but this is really a walk into a postcard... and for the island lover, it's like 'giving water to the fish'.

The beach was simply inviting... ! Sea, sand, sun... and these relaxing chairs! Truly, an island holiday... if only everyday can be this :)

And then comes the best part - the sunset. Though I missed the blue-purple-red sunsets for the not-so-great weather, but what I saw was stilll something memorable. The wide beach played a big part that any sunset would make it beautiful...

The evening & sunset was a big draw and the crowd began to come out.... many of which were headed to the 'twin peaks' here - something I think is a must-take photo shot to say "Boracay... I've been there!".

Actually to me, that plus the full day of walking by the beach says not just that... but also, "Boracay, I will be back!" :)

*More things to do in Boracay up next!

The BIG Bibik & The Little Nyonyas: Episode 3

2009-09-21T23:51:00.003+08:00

In traditional boot camp fashion, the girls are learning cooking from the bottom up, beginning with cleaning the kitchen.

Then Bibik announces that they are going to the market. The girls however, see it as a shopping opportunity. Bibik educates them on the basic ingredients of Peranakan cooking. Vanessa is taught how to choose blue ginger. Will she understand Bibik’s explaination?

The next episode will be up on 29.09.09

Boracay DMall

2009-09-18T15:45:00.010+08:00

Some might be wondering why am I talking about the mall here in this beach island... well, initially, I too was a bit surprised that I was told to heading to 'D*Mall' as my first stopping point in Boracay island.

I was to find that out later... but anyway, here's somethings I noticed at this 'open mall area'.

Found this quite a nice souvenir - get your name painted on a tshirt! (some names like the one above can be bought directly).

Anyway what I like about the mall is the unique shops & their interesting fronts & designs... giving the 'welcome- you're on a holiday' feel.

One of the more beautiful restaurants - especially on photo! Btw, I realised that this restaurant was also shot in one of Korea's drama DVD - Romantic Island.

And when on the island, how can one miss the bars. The drinks on the island was incredibly cheap compared to home - for example, a glass of alcohol is only about 60-70 pesos! So when I was at the bar at early afternoon, the lady just said "Ain't it a lil early for a drink?" lol :)

As I was walking out of the mall area, I came across - another souvenir shop... selling soaps! This shop is no 'factory' like the one I visited, but nevertheless this shop is still quite something. Btw, the soaps are cheaper here (about 50 pesos/ bar).

Though I enjoyed the mall area, but the one reason to come to Boracay is non other than the already so famous long White Beach... and this is what I saw after passing through D*Mall:

Now, that's when to say Mabuhay! :)