Ice cream, anyone?

I'm an ice cream lover but I think ice cream lover or not, these 'fancy' ice creams really need Japanese taste buds to appreciate.

Check out these ice creams for those who have an acquired taste.

The most horrifi... 'ahem', I mean the weirdest is - Raw Horse Flesh Ice Cream

More scary ice creams (Shudder...)

On a side note, KERMIT IS STILL BURRIED under the stand. I donno what he's up to down there. I'm contemplating whether I should dig him up (but digging him up while he's molting might kill him!).

Sigh... a comforting thought is that there is no sign of any fishy or foul smell. So, my guess is, he should be still alive.

Hmmm... to dig or not to dig?

Little Ciss

Time for a little Friday cuteness.

Everybody... Smile for Fry Daee!

July BONUS...

JUST IN CASE there's a popular demand (my female instincts tell me there will be), I've decided to post a few more pics (more close up) of the 'Richard Gere' that I was talking about in the previous post here.

Thank me ladies, for making your life a little more wonderful. Sorry guys. Life is unfair, I know.

Oh, and to let you see just how bored I was at Bukit Tinggi when the director was setting up, I played with this fella. BTW, I didn't know that BLACK SWANS exist! Haha... what an eye opener.

Sigh... luckily I didn't have to pay to go there (hehe... thank God for the perks of being a copywriter!)

I got lost in 'France', Malaysia

I spent my whole day in Colmar Tropicale (in Pahang) yesterday doing a TV commercial (which explains why I didn't get to blog yesterday!).

I've never been to France before but I was told that this place is supposedly a french-themed resort, some of the buildings are 'mocked-up' to look like real French landmarks.

Anyway, since the director wants to start shooting during the early dawn, I had to wake up at around 4am for this TVC. =(

See how dark it is in the picture on the top left? This is just to show you how EARLY I've arrived there.

The rooms in this resort are very pricey. I heard it's starting from freakin' RM300 per night and you need to pay RM16 to get into this place. So not worth it because there's really nothing much to do there. And the food sucks! =P

This is the director of the shoot. He's a Korean. Nice guy but very meticulous...

These are the two main talents of this shoot. So pretty and so very handsome (both on camera and in person).

The lady is a Canadian mix British or something lah. The guy is a Malay mix Chinese mix Brit (He looks a bit like Richard Gere!)

All the girls in the shoot (not just me lah) can't take our eyes off him. So cute lah! BUT I can't stare at him super obviously.

BECOZ the two of them are husband & wife in actual life! (Sigh... what a match made in heaven!)

Anyway, this makes my 'romantic' TVC all the more believable... coz the two of them really have the chemistry.

Ahhh... such beautiful ppl. If they're gonna have babies, sure will look very nice one. Gosh... I'm so jealous.

Anyway, don't forget to look out for this commercial on your TV screens this September! Last but not least, if you wanna go to France, go to France... not Bukit Tinggi. =)

My Papa...

Since we're already on the topic of my family, I thought I'd show you this TVC because it aptly describes one of the major characteristics of my daddy. =)

Aww... I miss home already.

This really reminds me of my dad.

Me and my mammoth feet...

This morning, I was just thinking "When was the last time I bought a new pair of shoes". Suddenly, this thought triggered a childhood memory that I had of my great grandmother.

I hardly knew her. Maybe because she passed away many years ago at around the age of 96. At that time, I was only 7 or 8 years old. However, I distinctly remembered being scolded with my cousins when we were caught playing with her 'shoes'.

My great grandmother practised feet-binding. That's why her feet were super tiny. These kind of feet are called '三寸金莲' in Chinese (direct translated as three-inch golden lotus). During her days in China, feet of 3 inches (freakin' 10cm only!) are considered the IDEAL SIZE. To put it in modern terms, men considered women with 三寸金莲 'sexy'. (I think I'll die an old maid if I lived in China during those times... I mean, hello? I wear size 6 shoes!)

Anyway, the feet-binding practice is officially banned in the year 1911 in China (Thank God). However, there are still many women who have bound their feet that are still alive today.

The practice of foot binding began during the Tang Dynasty (618–907). According to legend, women were bound in this way to replicate an imperial concubine who danced with her feet wrapped in silk, the other concubines got envious and they all started binding their feet to make them look beautiful to impress the emperor. (Not very creative huh? I'm sure they could have caught the emperor's attention with something else. Sigh... too late)

I refrained from posting any pictures of bound feet here because I find them gross and scary. They looked more like deformed rather than bound.

This is because the girl's parents start binding their feet since they were infants. So, by the time they reach adulthood, their toes would have dropped off already (they consider it a blessing if it happens) or the poor toes would have been bent under the soles of the feet. (Trust me, it's not a pretty sight)

This process 'sounds' so painful. I really can't imagine how my great grandmother endured it all and came all the way to Malaysia from China on those feet. Whoa... she's a great woman.

So, let's take some time to admire these shoes that no one can walk in without falling.







Because their feet are so small, many women with bound feet cannot walk or stand without falling (they have to be carried or piggy-backed).

So, normally they would just sit down and do nothing while their parents arrange for them to be married off to some wealthy men. Unfortunately, not many women are lucky enough to marry into rich families with maids to take care of them.

Many married to commoners and they ended up having to do cleaning, take care of kids and settle household chores. They have to do all these even if they're suffering on those tiny feet. Poor thing.

Oh my gosh...

Wow. Is it even possible to train flies? Maybe they're charmed or something. Freaky...

Lesson of the day: Flies deserve more 'respect'.

What are they thinking?

How come Japanese can think of such things? Why not er... Americans or... Arabians? These designs so wacky and impractical yet... refreshing! Hhhmm... A storage compartment in plateform shoes. Even though I would prefer to store something else coz GameBoy is so 'out' but still, who would have thought such things and produce it for real?

Actually, I have a GameBoy that looks exactly like the purple on in the last picture. Maybe I should start looking through my OLD shoe collection and see if any of them can have me cut a hole and fit the GameBoy in. =)

Anyone wanna donate old platform shoes to let me experiment?

A gift from the Lion City

A 'sinful' gift that tastes heavenly.




The chocolate on the top left is called 'Bombshell'. It is filled with banana and peanut butter chocolate inside. Really fragrant and totally creamy. I love it!

Chocolate on the top right is called 'King Kong'. Inside is fresh durian milk chocolate. It's so different from normal chocs. Yet, the durian goes surprisingly well with the chocolate! Nice.

Bottom left is 'Big Mack'. Inside is macadamia nut honey chocolate. The nuttiness of this chocolate makes it slightly crunchy. Superb!

Last but not least is 'Tremors Dark'. Inside this heart-shaped choc is hazelnut paste with crispy wafer flakes.

All these chocolates literally melt in your mouth. So, if you go Singapore, must try! The shop is called Sins Choc Shoppe Boutique. They have a whole range of tiny chocs like the ones I've shown you. Go to www.sinschocs.com for more info (not very impressive website but at least you can get their address there).

He has emerged!

Last night, Kermit came out from underneath the sand (see pic below). He hasn't molted yet. So, now I really 'scratch head'. I don't know why he did what he did. Maybe after burying himself, he decided it's not time yet or he's unprepared to start molting, so he changed his mind and came up.

Anyway, this morning he's didn't go back under the sand. But he looked quite weak and lethargic. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!

(Now the tank looks like a construction site. Super messy coz Kermit is still in his digging frenzy)

(Thousands of apologies for the blur pic. I don't dare go too near him. This picture was taken last night in a dim light. See how timid he looked? He was not his usual self.)

Kermit raptured?

Oh no! Before coming to work this morning, I discovered that Kermit has disappeared! I'm serious. It's not just him, his shell is gone also!

To be safe, I took Hermit out from the tank. I 'suspect' that Kermit has buried himself under the sand to MOLT! Now, it's Hermie's turn to be lonely. Oh well, I'll feed him snacks to cheer him up.

Few weeks ago, Hermie molted above the sand. So, it's easier for me to tell and check on him. But if Kermit is molting UNDER the sand, it's trickier. Coz I don't know if he's dead or alive underneath the sand!

Oh well, this is what I've found on the net:

"If your crab has buried herself in the sand and you haven't seen her for a while, it is natural to start wondering if she is molting or if she has died under there. However, if you are not sure if your crab is molting or dead, how you handle the situation may make the difference between life or death if your crab is indeed just molting. (AIKS!)

The safest thing to do is to assume your crab is molting. If you disturb a molting crab at a critical time while trying to determine if he is alive or not, the results can be disastrous." (GASP!)

Stressed! I've always been more relaxed around Hermie... Kermit is different. He's more erm... easily suspicious and when he's scared, he gets a bit violent and starts pinching. I noticed he'd been quite docile recently like no mood to change shell, didn't move around much and all, exactly the same symptom I saw on Hermie when he was about to molt.

So, I guess the best thing that I can do for Kermit now is to NOT TO DISTURB HIM and let him molt peacefully.

"If your crab has died, it will start to smell very badly (rotting smell, often "fishy") within a few days." --- Oh no, I hope Kermit is fine... Very worried now =(

Me Being Humssup

Actually, I marvel at the photography in some of these pictures (sorry, can't show enlarged version of the pic). It's really not easy to wait until these creatures 'get into the mood'... Anyway, I suppose this is considered 'porn' izzit? Oops.

a-BRA-cada-BRA!

Seriously, what's so great about the chest that men like it so much. It's just two balls of fats! I think it's a mystery why men are so fascinated with boobies. Hhhmm... I think they don't even know why themselves.

Anyway, here's a cute comic about bras. Enjoy! (You can click on the collage to view a it in bigger size).

Ahhh... Interesting!

I find these houses really cute! It's a pity we don't have buildings/houses like this in Malaysia. I wonder if any local architects know how to build something like these in the first place.

Anyway, considering that our highways keep collapsing and high-rise buildings keep cracking. I think we better not be too ambitious here huh?

Ok. Let's stick to square square houses for now lah (at least until after year 2020).




























On second thought, isn't it hard to furnish these kind of homes? Where can you buy a 'round sofa'? Definitely have to custom make everything.

Gosh, I am blown away.

This is another example why we shouldn't despise the young. Step aside, XXXX Idols of the World. Here comes Bianca Ryan!

At the tender age of 11, this girl has such a big voice! Aww... I've got goosebumps now.

Long Live Football!

Hooray! World Cup has finally ended (can sleep in peace).

Even though that would mean no more argue over which team has cuter guys and gossip about famous footballer's pretty &/or plastic wives, I am happy because I foresee there'll be increased productivity in Malaysia (Haha. I sound like a minister from the cabinet).

This sport that has taken the world by storm has now ended. But the lessons learnt from the footballers or the 'real' essence of football will always remain. Below are some examples:

1) Butt-slapping - It's not just footballers that practise this. I think almost all sportsman or sportswoman like to do this with their teammates (e.g. badminton, basketball, hockey etc). Somehow, this action has evolved into a universal body language which means something like "That was good, keep it up" or if it's a heavier slap, it would mean something like "WOW dude, that was great! You totally crushed them!"
(NOTE: PERVERTS, THIS DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN FREELY SLAP GIRL'S BUTT!)

I used to wonder why they like butt-slapping as compared to back-patting (ratio is about 2:1 in a football match). But recently, I think I've 'found the answer' → It's too tiring to pat other's backs because you have to raise your hand higher in order to do that. On the other hand, butt-slapping is easier, when your hand is down, it's parallel to the butt, thus less effort needed!)


2) Spit-spatting - You can be led beside quiet waters but don't simply lie down on green pastures (Haha... this is lame). But seriously, you don't want to do that because gallons of spit has already landed on the fields, unless of course you don't mind getting some 'sticky' treatment.

Anyway, up till today, I'm still puzzled on this one. I understand that spitting on the field is the easiest thing to do rather than running to the sides of the field to look for some trash cans to spit into (Imagine people scoring goals because the defenders and the goal keeper are busy running out to spit!), But I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY even the managers and substitutes are seen doing it when all they've done is sitting there cheering for the team, zoning out or jump up and down when someone scores a goal!

If anyone knows why, please leave a comment and give your input. It'll be very enlightening.


3) Oopsy daisy! - You can't miss this one! Every match will definitely have people falling down (with all those spitting, of course slippery lah), in pain or injured (be it pure pretense or for real, it is generally preferred to be injured inside the penalty box) and most recently seen on the field - headbutt opponent on the chest!

Tada! There you have it, my personal tribute to the game of football. =)
See you, FIFA (2010), in South Africa!

So that kids can shine?

It's amazing what some people would buy for their kids. No wonder kids nowadays don't fancy playing with sticks, stones, marbles, rubberbands or draw chalk on the floor (hopscotch) anymore.

To spoil your kids, try buying them a:
1. Solid Gold Pacifier with 278 diamonds (though it's not recommended for actual use). Price - $17,000

2. Swarovski Teddy. It's authenticity is marked by the brilliant Swarovski Xilion™ stone that sparkles as her “button in ear.” Price - $195

3. Grand Victorian Mansion (assembly required for this playhouse). Price - $19,000

4. Swarovski Crystal Candy Dispenser. Price - $65.99



My conclusion
If you want to be a parent, it's time to earn more money.

New Crabbie Look

Tada! Hermie has successfully changed skin!

Before & After:
1) He has grown a new leg (Used to be missing. Refer to the 'before' picture)
2) He has a new claw on the right
3) His skin is darker in colour now

Wow, molting is such an amazing process. I'm very happy that he survived this stressful period. This morning I saw him walking around the tank quite a bit (he didn't move for close to one week before this).






Meanwhile, to ensure that Kermit doesn't think that I favour Hermie and to pacify his 'loneliness', I bought him a new tank!
Kermit is enjoying himself in the new crabitat now.


Next Steps:
I plan to buy a new funky looking shell for Hermie as a gift for his successful molting. =)

Maybe in one or two day's time, when Hermie has fully regained his strength, I'll reunite him with Kermit.

Nice t-shirts...

Here's something light for a boring Wednesday...

Soccer Nut?

To all the die-hard football fans out there, I hope you don't become like this.

MAN PULLS TV FROM HOUSE FIRE TO WATCH MATCH

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Beijing football fan refused to let the small matter of his house burning down disturb his enjoyment of Tuesday's World Cup match between France and Spain.

A fire broke out in Hutong, in the centre of the Chinese capital at 3am local time on Wednesday -- kickoff time in Hanover -- and gutted the traditional courtyard dwelling, the Beijing Daily Messenger reported.

"When the neighbours shouted 'Fire!', I took my little baby and ran out in my nightclothes," the man's wife told the paper.

"My husband paid no attention to the danger, just grabbed the television and put it under his arm.

"After getting out of the house, he then set about finding an electric socket to plug in and continue watching his game."


Oh dear, this is an action caused literally by the football 'fever'.

Is that why our brains feel so fried sometimes?

This is so freaky. Please don't call me!


I must test this out to see if it's true. Will let you guys know later if this is a hoax.

By the way, Hermie has eaten 80% of his exoskeleton. So, hope his new 'skin' hardens faster so that he can come out and play with Kermit. This morning, Kermit was super restless. When I went near his tank, he chirped at me! So scary. Crabs only do that when they are in their 'threatened' or 'defensive' mode.

Anyway, he's probably bored stiff being alone in his tank with nothing to do. If that's the case, I better devise some 'activity' for him soon.

Body Parts Everywhere...

Hooray! Hermie has molted!

No wonder recently Hermie the 'outgoing' crab kept refusing to come out of his shell. He's changing skin inside! Super cool.

This morning I woke up to see his old legs and body (ahem, proper term to describe hermit crab's old skin is 'exoskeleton') outside his shell.

I tried to disturb it as little as possible because molting is the most stressful time for hermit crabs. In fact, many crabs die during their molt because they're too stressed out.

Hhmm... I hope my little Hermie's survives his molt. Till now, I haven't seen him coming out from his shell yet. Anyway, I'm super excited because if Hermie does survive, that means he'll become bigger! Yay, my crabs are growing under my care. =)

By the way, I've taken Kermit out so that he won't attack Hermie or eat Hermie (yikes!). Hermit crabs that just molted have extremely soft skin and are extremely vulnerable. Hermie now has the entire tank to himself.

I won't take out his 'old skin' (exoskeleton) from the tank because it is a good source of calcium. He'll will eat everything up to regain his strength and it will help his new skin harden faster.

From this series of pictures, you can see Hermie hiding in his shell showing his new set of claws with fine hair on it. So cute, just like a little baby.

This is how the tank looks like now. Kermit is in another tank.

Hermie snugged up and hiding in his shell...

Anyway, I'll update you on how he's doing in my next post. So, stay tuned!