치즈! 치즈! 치즈! (Read: chi-jeu, Translated: Cheese) (Korea Trip 2013)

Visiting the Cheese School before leaving for the ski resort!

(PS. I was holding a box of cheese I 'made')

It all started with pizza making at the cheese school… Another moment my mom can include in her 'Pamela actually bothered making food' moment. 

Breaking the curd into bits and pieces 

Stretch, stretch, STRETCH! x3 

Now watch the process of my red hair fading. At least it was a nice ombre shade then… (it's kind of ginger-ish now) 

Does this count as sledding? LOL. I owned the competition either way. 

Pizza after it was cooked! +it was our lunch

Farms we passed on the way to the ski resort... 

Dinner! Meat~~~ <3

Why I went to a cheese school when I'm in Korea is still beyond me, but I'd say it was the one fun thing before we had this LONGGGGGGG ride to the ski resort. My butt hurts just thinking about it. (Shudders)

Anyway, as you saw from the pictures, we did quite a number of things at the cheese school. We could actually feed calfs milk, but considering my aversion to animals, I decided not to feed any. Maybe I missed out on my one opportunity to feed a calf, but I'll live.

Sadly, for this day, this is really all I can say about it.
Well, you know they say a picture paints a thousand words…

Till next time!

xoxo
pamela

대구 (read: Daegu) without the bustle of the city (Korea Trip 2013)

Since Google has so kindly done up a collage for me, this shall be the first picture.

Saying goodbye to Jeju before we catch a domestic flight over to Daegu. 

Lanterns in 동화사 (read Donghwa-sa) where temple-goers write their wishes

With the eye-catching colors you'll find in 동화사 (read Donghwa-sa, also known as Donghwa temple), it really doesn't matter what religion you believe in.

The beauty of bright colors should always be appreciated.

The best thing about the place, however, would definitely be the beauty in natural scenery and streets without hoards of people walking along them.

 With moi, being moi, I can never take enough selfles. In fact, this is probably one of the rare times you'll catch me in my reflective gray shades.

Counting the number of steps as we left. 1, 2… 90! (I think!) 

Lunch was beancurd soup and seafood pancake. While I love barbecued meat, something lighter is definitely a refreshing change

Finally, one of the marks to show that you're in S.Korea! Enjoying the rest of the day in the Sauna~ 

Not many photos here cos I ran off into a hotter room later on (and didn't dare bring an electrical device in with me)

After sweating it out, we had a HUGE feast! Definitely the most sumptuous meal in the entire trip! OM NOM NOM~

It has been my first time in a temple in a really, really long time (I probably went once with my grandma when I was still a kid and never went again). While it's not my religious standpoint, the Donghwa temple is really strikingly different from any Singaporean temple. Probably because of the amazing scenery that accompanies the temple.

While we didn't spend long there, we did spend some time in the sauna later in the day. HEHE

Numerous korean dramas have shown characters visiting (or staying) in the saunas around Korea, and the saunas in Korea have probably become a signifying trait of the country thanks to this.

Dream High shot in a Sauna

While it could get boring with the wrong company, some may get a shock - or an eye opener - when you visit the changing rooms, with nude women (or nude men for guys) strolling around without a care.  My mom definitely got a shock that threw me into fits of laughter. This is not for the conservative and faint-hearted. If I had to go in there 3 years ago, I probably would have been just as appalled, but thank God those days have passed.

I'd love to say more, but this is goodbye, for now. (More posts coming soon)

xoxo
pamela

Chinese New Year was here

As usual, I'm the queen of being late. Even when it's time to blog about Chinese New Year.

There are some phases every Sinaporean Chinese family will have to pass, but then again, each phase is probably unique to each family.

You know it's coming when your kitchen starts smelling like delicious cookies you only savor once a year that do wonders to your diet. (and I didn't mean it in the nice way)

Then shit starts getting serious when you start wearing masks and acting like ninjas…

when really, you're just going to have to do spring cleaning, which is a form of horror all by itself. 

 A personal fear: clearing my wardrobe.

I do this twice a year, and it never fails to amaze me. I have no idea how it fills itself to the brim so quickly… Hm.

… and through it all you probably find some things you've forgotten about 

 … threw out a pile of clothes

 … and probably wonder what made you decide to ever buy that pair of neon green shorts you've never worn

 Then once in awhile, some of us get our curtains changed… PINK! (Actually, I really wanted to squeal at the Adam Levine poster above my bed, but it kind of spoils my image)

As the date draws in, those of us on tight budgets start doing our nails

Mine are painted using nail polishes from Play by Etude House (Bought in Korea) 

Usually girls take a really LONGGGGG time doing our makeup, but that day was an exception for me, so I had time to snap some selfies.

 (Random photo between shots with my cousie)

 For the vain ones, like moi, photos and photos and more photos are taken when you're bored out of your minds while visiting someone else's house… or when you're traveling to the next location.

 Even after long days of visiting, the nights are not yours alone.

I had to visit my grandparents at night too, not that it was a bore. I actually love spending time with my family (direct relatives included).

 Its then only right that we do this thing called 'Lou Hei'.

With some vegetables already in the plate, you are then supposed to add each ingredient outside the plate while saying a wish (that is specific to each ingredient - thank god we had that paper to guide us, cos most of us don't actually remember all the wishes)

Then, the mess begins as you toss everything while saying well wishes. It's said that the higher you toss, the more likely it'll come true.

One last thing. We gamble. My family plays Black Jack, but the game varies from family to family I guess.

Fun fact: Lou Hei was invented by Singaporean chefs. Who knew?

Oh. One more thing. CNY is the best time for any shopaholic. Why? Because, we can shop for more clothes without anyone judging us since we actually need new clothes to wear on Chinese New Year. Can you imagine how much I've bought? Especially after all the red packets I've gotten.

Which brings me to the next best thing. RED PACKETS. For a shopaholic in school, my funds are limited, which is why I love it when CNY comes along, because I get extra $$$. It's customary for those who are married to give the rest red packets (with money inside), so imagine the additional allowance I get each time CNY comes. Shopping spree anyone?

Just a little but on how my family prepares and celebrates CNY

Till next time my darlings

xoxo

pamela