We both decided we needed a girl's day out and the best date was yesterday, 2 Sep.
She's the early riser, I'm not. So, we compromised and arranged to meet at the nearby coffee shop at my plc for breakfast at 10. I estimated that we’ll take about 30 mins and then from there, we can take a bus straight down to town and arrived around 11am.
What I did not predict was the sudden gush of wind that almost blew leaves into our drinks and food nor the slight rain that greeted us when we reached Far East Square. Other than that, we were right on time!
1st stop after the ride, CK Tangs! I wanted to check out the Benefits Cosmetics and she wanted to look around. Just as well, since we have almost the whole day, we’ll just come up with the plans along the way then. But we do have some “MUST do” before the end of the day. 1) Check out Benefits. 2) Check out the Mooncake Fair at Taka. 3) High Tea reservation at Carousel at 3.30pm. The in betweens, we’ll find it up when we come to it. =)
We could actually sit down on the counter stools at Benefit and try the items at our leisure with the SA giving us comments and explanations. No rush, no crowd, no squeezing and no need to fight for items. I LOVE this kind of shopping! After grabbing a copy of the local catalogue from the SA, we left and went upstairs in search of specifically, a Bday present for both our guys. Their Bdays are 1 year and a few days apart. So, Tri and I can shop together in the quest of the perfect present.
Anyway, we did not manage to get anything there and we went off to Taka. But, I did saw a nice pair of sandals at a whooping $59. Which I can’t get out of my head for the whole day after that.
Stores and stores of Mooncake, some very high class, some not so. I’m not a mooncake fan. I find it a waste of moolah to pay $50 for a box of 4 big lumps of “ling yong” which I don’t even enjoy! But the reality of the world is, regardless of whether hubby and I like it or not, we got to still buy 2 boxes for the parents.
Most of the time, I don’t even sample. I just look for the most reasonably priced packaged box, would be even better if it comes in some branded name. Else, I’ll just take whichever my friends / colleagues recommend. Anyway, my side is easier, as the entire family only eats the Yam Mooncakes. So, used to get from Crown Prince, but closed down ma. So, I’ve been getting from this bakery at Aljunied through Ah Teck.
This year, Jeff said his company is bringing in Maxim’s Mooncakes… so just as well, I’ll probably just get 1 or 2 boxes from him. Save me the hassle of going to sample, look, see and search. =/ All these mooncakes tastes the same lei. Got difference meh?
Still no signs of the presents for the guys all through Taka. But I got my favorite, 猪仔饼!
Every mid autumn festival, I only look forward to eating this! And must be this brand…
the rest not so nice. $4 each hor. Expensive lor. But I like it. Hubby said, he'll buy for me wan, so this $8, I'm going to do a claim. whahahahaha....
Crossed over to Paragon coz the girlfriend wanted to look at don’t know what. Forget already. And a good thing, we went in. Saw “RAOUL” and I finally bought Jer’s present. A shirt. I think quite nice la. Wanted to get a matching tie from there too though the tie costs a whooping $89! So, thank God, all the existing stock were not in good condition. A loose string or frayed something. So, just got the shirt and will get the tie from Tangs later.
Then we walked to Scotts for the high tea. And silly stupid me! Remembered the wrong time lei! We both walked so fast hor, reached there at 2.30pm and the person said only seated at 3.30!!!
PIANGZ!
So, the next best place, check out DFS lor. High Class place. We bought nothing, but we sure enjoyed walking into every stall and act Tai Tai! =) She saw a LV card holder. If I ever think that my COACHie card holder is expensive, it’s nothing compared to the LV one. It’s 4 times the price of my COACHie, at a very impressive $420.
Finally, finally, we managed to get our seats in Carousel. Rested our poor poor tired and aching legs. Luckily, there are having 1-for-1 with any DBS cards, if not for that I think it’s a waste of our time!
The food used to be very good. I’ve gone before. But now, the quality sucks! BIG TIME! There’s not much variety and coming from a hotel, I would expect the food to be at least warm, if not, HOT! But some of the items are barely warm, in fact, almost on the cold side!
And the queue. Ah… Singaporeans really are good at queuing… or jumping queue for the matter. There’s no clear indication where is the beginning or ending. AUNTIES and UNCLES just cut into my queue. SO DAMN IRRITATING can!
Conclusion? Pay peanuts get peanuts. But hor, we did not really pay peanuts too lei. The bill works out to about $15 each still! And for the quality and variety…. I will say, if don’t have 1-for-1, DON’T bother to go!
Service. Not too bad. Though, we do get missed out at first coz we were at the corner. But after the waitress realized we were there when we asked for our tea, she did not forget us again. Plates were cleared quite fast too. Only thing that irked me a little was the bill was sent to us when we 1) did NOT ask for it. 2) we were halfway through our meal. Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is not exactly polite or acceptable right? We have not finished lei, why make us pay so fast? Scared we run off?
So, all in, minus the super kaisu aunties and uncles who jump queue and head waiter that is afraid that we run off with a free meal, the $15 is still ok la for the food. Got appetizers, sashimi (2 kinds), soba noodles, nasi lemak with chicken wings, eggs, fried fried things, chicken congee, chicken kebap, mee siam and some other small things la. They do have a big chocolate fondue and a few varieties of cakes. I think about all lor.
After the meal, we need to walk again, to work off those calories. Headed to Tangs to get the matching Tie and here, I decided to get my sandals.
$59.
My MOST expensive pair of sandals. But I like it as it’s really very comfortable and looks so good too! Trying to come up with some outfits that I can wear to work too! Hahaha….
The girlfriend wanted to check out IORA as well, so we went through the underpass back to Wisma and we both tried LOADS of clothes. But hor, NONE, absolutely NONE, not even a single piece did we buy lei. Kind of disappointed lor. Sigh…..
Since, we are not due to meet our men for another 30 mins or so, we walked around Isetan Wisma and here…. We struck GOLD!
Tri saw a CK Jeans dangling from the hanger and did a double take.
And it’s only $80+ after a 40% disount lei!
But shits man.. LAST Piece! The SA then called up Isetan Scotts and heng ar! Got 2 brand new piece lei. We reserved it and we practically ran all the way from Wisma to Isetan Scotts. Practically coz, it was beginning to drizzle again and we have to stay to the sheltered walkways…. We were thinking if we should go thru the underpass when we think we can brave the rain since its only a drizzle….
Reached Isetan Scotts doubly fast, with me in the lead zooming in and out of the crowd and Tri closely behind. She’s not that good at “opening ways” among crowds, I’ve had loads of practice, and I daresay I do a better job. =P
Finally, finally, got our precious piece each!Damn happy lor. Still got another 3% discount on top of the 40% lei!
For my equally precious notes or labby when I need to bring it to class! =)
We were both running late at meeting our men and hurry back to the MRT station. My poor hubby has been waiting for at least 15 mins to go back to my in laws’ place for dinner. Of course, I did not eat much la. Just munch on something for show.
The best bit came when after dinner, we were just watching TV and the FIL suddenly said, "Today is Mama's Bday." (MIL was at the hospital to accompany granny, hence did not even see her.
HAR?! MY MIL's Bday?! Great. We both totally forgot! But, I think, since the granny in the hospital, though is recovering, no one will really be in a mood to celebrate? Anyway, no news from OBIL to say celebrate or what so leave it lor.
I was pretty excited to give him his present but have to wait till we go home la. He opened it and his eyes widen… coz though he had guessed what it was, he did not expect it to be in this shade... hahaha…
He tried on and to my dismay… TOO BIG! So sad.
Luckily, the SA told me, can bring back to exchange within 7 days. Ok… another trip to Paragon on Thursday, after work.
And back to my MIL, I reminded Hubby to give her a call later at the night to at least wish her a Happy Bday. =/ Not much, but I think better than nothing lor.