ANIMAL CRUELTY- Turning live animals into Keychains?!

I'm not sure if this is well-known to many, but I sure had a look of horror plastered all over my face when I came across these photographs that spell "ANIMAL CRUELTY".

(If this isn't animal cruelty, then I don't know what is)

At first glance, they may look like your typical keychain souvenir. Honestly, they look so colorful that you won't believe what is really happening until you take a closer look... ...

Rubber animals encased in a small plastic bag? Cute?

NOT.

Mind you, they are REAL animals (tortoises, fishes, etc) being trapped in small bags and used as accessories to hang on your mobile phones or bags.

According to several online news reports, those animals were suspended in brightly-colored liquid (as pictured above) that supposedly contain the "essential" oxygen and nutrients to keep them alive for a few days. Thereafter, they would be left to die. 

What would be left in that sealed plastic is a lifeless animal that you will be carrying it around everywhere with you. EEEW. Can this get anymore disgusting?

SERIOUSLY?! WHY WOULD ANYONE EVEN BUY THAT?!?!

Not to mention that they are being sold on the ordinary streets of China.

THE EPITOME OF DISGUST.

A closer look at how appalling Mankind can be.

These poor tortoises were trying to swim their way to freedom - but of course that's visibly impossible.

Can any kind soul please cut the bags open and free these animals?! Hello?!?!

Here's a video of them in action:

If I have the money, I would gladly purchase EVERYTHING they have and set these poor animals free. I totally cannot imagine hanging these keychains on my bags or mobile phone and watching the innocent lives of the animals draining away.

What would you have done if you come across these supposed "souvenirs" in China?

(For more information, click here for the original post.)

Going Taiwan the Free & Easy Way!

Finally - All hail my Taiwan trip! 

Well, it wasn't my first time going Taiwan (my first trip was through tour); but I realized that I did not benefit much in terms of experience joining a group tour.

Imagine getting up so early in the morning, touring around everywhere with limited time constraint, being brought to places that you have no intention of going but YET have to according to the fixed itinerary, etc.

So this time, my family decided to go FREE & EASY (F&E)!

We snagged a good deal on the Scoot website (Damn, I woke up early specially to book the air tickets as they have special promotion from 7am to 9am). It cost us only less than $300 for two-way tickets! Cheap or what?!

Of course, going the Free & Easy way has its pros and cons as well. There will be no tour guide looking after you, and you'll have to do your own research to find out ways of navigating around the country. In short, you have to create an itinerary for yourself and find out places that interest you.

I did intensive research and read tons of blogs for places that others went to; so somehow I came up with my own version which I'll share on my blog here (Come on, I am not selfish! I share because I care! Haha)

I hope that my blog post will be beneficial to anyone who will be traveling to Taiwan!

However, please do note that some of the photos are not of top notch quality as they were taken using my mobile phone (It was RAINING almost everyday and I could not take out my precious DSLR to capture the moments! :( )

So here was my Day 1 - Nan Ya Night Market (南雅夜市)

My first day of Taipei was quite "wasted" as I reached there around evening time, definitely not enough to tour around much except for the night market that is situated near my apartment!

(I called it an apartment because I did NOT really stay in a hotel. In Taiwan, they called it "Min Su". It's much more cheaper; but has its pros and cons as well. Do read on to find out more!)

In preparation for this Taiwan trip, I did quite a number of advanced bookings online; including car transportation to and fro from airport to my apartment.

I feel that it is essential to book in advance as it is freaking expensive to hail for a cab from Taoyuan airport to Taipei. A single trip can easily cost up to NT 1000 to NT 1,200 via cab.

With advanced booking of a car, each single trip only cost me NT 750 - which is considered VERY CHEAP. In fact, its the cheapest fare that I found after so much intensive research.

Of course, if you are one that really want to save the money, take the bus. (BUT IT IS GOING TO BE QUITE A HASSLE AND TIME CONSUMING. IT MAY TAKE UP TO around 2 HOURS TO REACH TAIPEI)

Here is the contact; for anyone who would like to book a car like I did:

趙先生 (Mr Zhao) 0936-994-558

The driver who picks you up may or may not be Mr Zhao; but be rest assured that your transport will be well taken care of after making arrangements through him! I can vouch for his professionalism. The driver that was arranged for us is VERY punctual. 

Oh yes, did I mention that it is essential to get a SIM card at the airport, too? There are different stations catering to such mobile services situated within the airport (you will be able to spot them easily; but in case you don't - just ask around and the staff members around the area will be able to point you to the right direction! Don't worry, Taiwanese people are extremely friendly) I am advising everyone to get their local SIM card (it comes with different packages and you can choose which suit you best. I chose the 7-day package and it cost me around SGD 20) as data roaming may kill you! From what I know, Singtel charges $25 per MB if you decide to use your own's.

By purchasing their local SIM card, you can just pay a flat rate of $20 and enjoy UNLIMITED data usage throughout the journey!

So the unfortunate happened while we were on our way to Taipei. It was raining :(

Took this quick snap with my mobile phone while in the car.

Artistic, huh?

It took us around 40 minutes to reach Fu Zhong (near Ban Qiao) area where my apartment was. 

Here's the name of my apartment which I booked through Asiarooms

Oversleep Taipei (台北睡過頭小窩)

LOL, sounds funny, I know. But trust me - They offer one of the cheapest rates here with around SGD 70+ per night! Honestly, most hotels in Taipei are not cheap and easily cost up to SGD 80 & above.

So what is the difference between staying in an apartment and a hotel, you ask?

Well, basically you do your own chores. There is no room service, no daily bedsheet changing or whatsoever. It's like renting a room and you have it all to yourself. However, the apartment is designed exclusively like a hotel! Basic necessities such as washing machine, mineral water, towels, slippers, etc are provided. If you happen to run out of anything or require certain services, there is still someone to contact and he will see to it.

So I called the in-charge upon reaching the venue. He came down to fetch us with an umbrella and boy, was he friendly!

From carrying my dad's luggage to guiding us around the area, I felt at ease. 

After explaining and showing us around the apartment which we would be staying for the next 6 days, we were handed the keys and voila!! We could finally unpack our luggage and begin our Free & Easy journey in Taipei!

Here's a peek of our apartment - Don't you just love the bed sheets?

(Ah, I'm missing this place already!)

By the time we were done with our unpacking for the night, we felt really exhausted and hungry. Fortunately for us, our apartment is located at a VERY convenient location. Stores such as 7-11, Family Marts and even night market are all within walking distance.

(Did I mention that it is only a 3-min walk to the MRT station, too?!)

However, we were really tired and ended up "anyhow" entering random food places that we came across.

We settled for a restaurant-like place known as "No Name" (LOL) and ordered random vegetables with rice.

Guess what I ordered:

YES, its 臭豆腐 (Stinky Tofu)! :)

Something that is rare in Singapore but common in Taiwan - I am so digging this!

Of course, not everyone finds the smell or taste acceptable (my mum almost vomited). Personally, I LOVE it so much and don't find it smelly at all.

There are 2 kinds of Stinky Tofus that you'll be able to spot in Taiwan - Wet and dry ones. I'm fine with both!

Looking through the window, I spot something familiar.

Is that... Partyworld?!?!

One of the activities that I planned for my Taiwan tour was to visit their karaoke lounges. I have heard of how Taiwanese people love singing; and I was so eager to try out their karaoke systems!

Unfortunately, I did not try out the services at their Partyworld as the rates are VERY expensive. I tried another karaoke lounge during my 6th day (Do stay tuned to my blog if you are interested to hear about it!)

So I basically ended my Day 1 at Taipei just like that. 

During Day 2, I got my parents to purchase the Easycard - 悠遊卡(it's like our local Ez-link card) with NT 500. Trust me, it's an essential thing to do if you are intending to travel free & easy around Taipei. By getting an Easycard, you are actually saving alot on transportation cost if you are depending on the MRT, bus, railway trains to travel around the city. 

The Easycard can be purchased at all MRT control stations and even 7-11 stores as well! I'll say its worth it because any unused amount can be refunded with only 20 NT processing fee deducted.

Alternatively, you may choose to keep it and not having it refunded if you are planning to re-visit Taiwan again. If I am not wrong, the card does not have expiry! :)

Wu Fen Pu is one of the well-known places in Taipei that sell cheaper stuff. They are wholesalers and have sales racks - If you are lucky, you can snag a beautiful dress at only NT 100 (which is around SGD 4.20 only!) I managed to get a few really nice apparels at a price that is impossible in Singapore.

To get to Wu Fen Pu, you will have to take the MRT to Hou Shan Pi MRT station:

(I find that their trains are actually quite similar to Singapore's, but more comfy and spacious!)

Before visiting Wu Fen Pu, I took my parents to settle our lunch at Hu Xu Zhang Ru Rou Fan (鬍鬚張魯肉飯), one of the famous braised pork rice stores in Taipei. My colleagues introduced this place and highly recommended it; so I was kinda' thrilled as my dad is a huge fan of braised pork rice!

Seee.. It was raining again - The floor was all wet!

The rice comes in two sizes - Small and Big.  (Only around $1 and $2 ?!?!)

I don't think the small bowl is enough if you are a huge eater or one with enormous appetite; so just go ahead with the big size!

I'm going to post some seriously appetite-inducing pictures, so beware - I am not responsible for any saliva dripping from your mouth! LOL.

Here's the interior of the place:

Their service was really fast and efficient!

Close-up pic of the Ru Rou rice: 

My family ordered these:

Another close-up to tickle your taste buds:

*being evil here*

The soup tasted delicious, too! :)

An extra addition to our meal:

Veggies. I didn't really touch this. My dad did.

Go Google it, I think its called Formosa Chang in english. :) You'll discover that there are positive reviews about this gem almost everywhere! Highly popular place, I would say.

We headed to Wu Fen Pu next, and unfortunately... I couldn't capture many nice photographs on that one as it was raining darn heavily. Seriously, it was a total mood-spoiler. 

I still managed to shop (in an uncomfortable way, though). Got two beautiful dresses at only around $4.20 each which was a damn good steal!

My parents found a little "cafe" near a temple there - and we sat down to have our tea while waiting for the rain to stop.

Nice leaf design...

Evidence of the rain!

I bought a cute apparel for my famous teddy from Wu Fen Pu.

(He is supposed to be a guy, but well... just take it as cross-dressing *rolls eyes*)

I got another piece that is really fluffy and cute!! Unfortunately, it is too big for him :(

I had to sell it away to a friend.

I guess that marks the end of my Day 1 and 2 at Taipei... Stay tuned for more updates on my Taiwan trip! Next up is my hair perming experience at Xi Men Ding! :)

My Bangkok Trip - Part 1 (Visiting the unusual places!)

As many of you know, I recently went to Bangkok with my family and BFF Miao.

I had been yearning so long for a short getaway for de-stressing my tired soul, so you can imagine how enthusiastic I was before the trip.

Now that I am back (and de-stressed), I can't wait to share with you guys out there some of the main highlights during my BKK experience! 

Furthermore, it has only been a day since I returned to Singapore... And the BKK mood is still lingering! 

I figured that I must blog about my trip while the feeling is going strong. Hahaha.

I believe my entry may be helpful to those out there who are in preparation of their BKK trip, too. So... ... Trust me, read on and you will not regret this. HAHA.

About my flight:

 I got the plane tickets at a ridiculously low price through a Scoot promotion - only $127! (It is inclusive of two-way tickets) 

Good deal, right??!!

It was my first time taking a plane from a budget airline, so it was inevitable that I felt scared, too. 

Nonetheless, my fear was uncalled for when I saw for myself how awesome the flight experience was. (I have heard enough stories about people telling me how budget planes have seats that make them feel so uncomfortable, etc. BUT my experience was NOTHING like that at all. Seriously.)

Right. Here are some photos that I took with my semi-DSLR camera while waiting for my flight. Those planes looked damn majestic in reality.

Yes, this was actually the plane that I was on! Bigger than I imagined.

Was feeling bored and ended up snapping a photo of the people at the waiting area. LOL.

Actually, I took more photos using my mobile phone more than the camera as I love the idea of instant editing and uploading them to Facebook. (I was literally flooding the newsfeed on a daily basis during my BKK trip! Hahaha.)

One of the camwhore moments while on the plane - minutes before we were told to switch off our mobile phones.

Pardon my face as I did not have any make-up on at all. Really so unlike me as I seldom upload my bare face online! So this is one of the rare moments that you can see me without. LOL.

The seats that we were allocated to were quite comfortable (to me).  Other than the fact that there is no FREE in-flight entertainment and you practically have to pay for everything on a budget airline, I felt that it was still alright since it was only 2-hour flight. There was not even enough time for me to sleep as I was too busy feeling the excitement! 

As below was my flight meal.

 Healthy fruit cup and dried fruit crisps (given free for my fruit cup purchase) at $3.

(It was so nostalgic because I ever worked for SunMoon. Haha)

It was already around late evening when we touched down at the airport. We spent quite a huge amount of time trying to figure our way out of the airport, and applying for a local Thailand pre-paid SIM card.

I managed to apply for a 7-day package, which was just nice for the duration of my trip.

And guess what? It only cost me $9.50!

Not to mention that I was granted 1GB of 3G data usage and unlimited 2G data usage. (This means that even after I exceeded my 3G data limit, I would still be able to surf the net on an UNLIMITED basis, only at a slower rate at 64 kpbs. COOL right??!) 

In other words, there is no need to worry about incurring extra data roaming charges on my own account.

If you are intending to go BKK for a short trip, don't forget to check the deal out! The mobile operator I went to was AIS. Their staff were all dressed in green uniform, similar to Starhub's. LOL.

After applying for the card and feeling contented, we proceeded to our hotel (I pre-booked the hotel through Asiarooms.com) - Bangkok City Inn.

Yes yes, it is supposed to be a budget hotel.

But what appealed me was the location the hotel is situated at. The famous Pratunam Market and Platinum Mall was just across the road away, and there were street flea markets (My favorite!) downstairs...

There was even a 7-11 store within a short walking distance, and I would get my daily supper from there. I would not have to worry about hunger as well because the hotel has 24-hour food delivery room service!

From salad and sandwiches to full course meals, you name it... They have it.

Awesome, right? I just love the location, lah!

(And most importantly, the hotel room that I stayed in wasn't haunted. Phew. LOL)

As it was already late evening when we reached the hotel, we decided to order for room delivery service. (My dad actually looked down on their food and said it wouldn't be nice.. But how wrong he was!)

Looks majestic, right?!

We had fried rice, pad thai, mushroom soup, etc.

And I was impressed. The only unimpressive factor was the PRICE. Hahaha.

We turned in early for Day 1... And went for some insane shopping during Day 2!

The flea market downstairs was damn awesome... I felt like I could spend money on EVERY stall that I came across! 

Seriously, the prices are DAMN dirt cheap. All the tees, shirts, tank tops, dresses were all sold for a price of less than $10. And I totally remembered seeing the same items being sold in Singapore stores as well - but with marked-up ridiculous prices!

The beautiful tank top that I saw at the flea market was only retailing at $4 (100 Baht)... But retailing in Singapore at $10 and above!)

I can totally see why Bangkok is one of the highly targeted places for people who are looking to set up a business here in Singapore. Their stuff are rarely expensive there, and you can really jack up the prices here in Singapore by double or even triple!

I was truly amazed. To me, it was a shopping heaven and I found myself spending money like tap water~ It was just so addictive - seeing items that I like and yet they are unexpectedly cheap.

It was like money wasn't a consideration at all. Gosh.

I was so surprised at myself -in a bad way- that I managed to spend so much on my first day of the trip. *a pang of guilt* BUT IT'S NORMAL, RIGHT? RIGHT..?!?! Who can resist such cheap stuff, you tell me?!

We headed to another "hazardous" place for shopping since it was a weekend and we knew we could NOT miss it- Chatuchak market. Chatuchak is a total shopping heaven during weekends only. So don't forget to visit the place on weekends!

We took the BTS from Chit Lom Station all the way to Mo Chit Station. (Trust me, taking the BTS is one of the cheapest and faster methods to travel around BKK as there will be traffic jams everywhere.)

See the long stretch of umbrella shelters there? Those were the small stalls that offer lots of great deals!
(Can you believe that a necklace that is commonly seen on Qoo10/Gmarket or *Scape flea markets can be sold for as low as $0.60 there?!)

 
We had to cross the curvy-looking bridge to reach the place.

Chatuchak is an ENORMOUS place. There were street stalls and inner stores - something like our Bugis Street, except that it is so much bigger-scaled and messier. *coughs*

You will definitely be spoilt for choice when it come to shopping here. Be prepared to come with a fat pocket and leave the place with a hole on it. LOL. #truestory

As below are just some random pictures that I took while walking along the different lanes.

Look at this! Coconut Ice-cream! Apparently, coconut ice-cream seems to be a hit in BKK. I could see coconut ice-cream stalls everywhere at Chatuchak. (Some may be priced at 25 Baht or 30 Baht only)

However, there were some stalls that I thought were quite disgusting as there were BEES flying (initially, I thought they were houseflies) everywhere around the ingredients (Damn it, I should have taken a picture of that!).  

Finally, I found a stall that seemed to be quite "clean" and bees-free.

Surprisingly, it tasted really yummy! I find it interesting how innovative the Thais are. Coconut hulks are used as a "bowl" to store the ice-cream (and they even scraped off the coconut meat to be mixed together with the ice-cream!)

You can even choose your own preferred ingredients, such as glutinous rice, agar-agar, etc.

Seriously, you will be damn surprised at its taste! I totally love how each mouthful melts in my mouth. A thirst-quencher at its best!

(And the ice-cream doesn't melt that easily!)

One of our shopping loots from Chatuchak market - Tee-shirts!

We thought we wouldn't be able to find this anywhere else (anyway, it cost us only about $4 per tee shirt?!) The design print looks simple and cool.

We went to Patpong Night Bazaar too (There isn't many varieties there), as most of the stalls seemed to sell the same items. It all has to depend on your skills of haggling/bargaining.

And I did not have the most pleasant shopping experience here as the stall owners seemed to be quite unfriendly.

Can you imagine that I was brushed away just because I was only trying to take a look at a pair of sunglasses?

One has to try on the sunglasses to see if it fits before purchasing, right? I was told that I wasn't even allowed to TOUCH.

That was the most ridiculous thing, ever.

I doubt the owner is able to make any money at all. Shame on her.

My second unpleasant experience also happened at Patpong as well. Again, it was another arrogant stall-owner who refused to let me touch the sunglasses she was selling (what is with those people, seriously??!). She had the cheek to tell me that she would sell me the sunglasses at 1,500 Baht (around $60?), and invited me to "go next stall" if I cannot pay that amount.

Come on, that sunglasses she was selling might not even be authentic! 

(Probably that was the reason why she was afraid to let me analyze the sunglasses, for fear that I would expose her of selling fake goods! Hmph.)

The tuk-tuk drivers waiting patiently for customers.. LOL.

I saw this beautiful-looking PINK tuk-tuk by the roadside as well! It was a pity that I could not take a clearer picture of it as there were people walking around every single second.

I did not really buy anything much at Patpong (I doubt I will even return to that place again).

Let's proceed to the next shopping place instead - Platinum Fashion Mall!



You can see for yourself how badly the traffic jam in BKK was.
It was terrible.
Fortunately, we did not have to take any form of transport to the Platinum Mall as it was just a walking distance from our hotel.

 A random picture I took while on my way to the mall.

Finally, we reached the destination.

Personally, I have heard how highly raved this mall is. However, I feel that the items there are not really THAT cheap, and you cannot really haggle much - unless you are purchasing 2 pieces or more. I would say the prices may be reasonable, but definitely NOT the cheapest as compared to other shopping places that I will be mentioning in the later part of this post. :)
There are many accessories (necklaces, bracelets, fake diamonds, hair accessories, etc) retailing at the 5th storey, and a food court at the 6th storey. The mode of payment wasn't that convenient as we had to purchase coupons in order to pay for the food. Oh well.


Let's move on to my FAVORITE shopping place instead.
SAMPENG MARKET

(Courtesy of Google images)

Seriously, Sampeng Market offers the CHEAPEST deals around. Even much more cheaper than your Platinum or Pratunam market.
Sampeng Market is a total shopping heaven that caters to WHOLESALE, and you will be able to get items cheap at their wholesale price if you purchase 3 items and above! (Amount of items vary from stall to stall)
I literally went crazy because many of the items were going at 10 Baht, 20 Baht.
You can even see similar items being sold at Pratunam market, but at a cheaper price! It will be ideal if you go there with a group of friends to enjoy the wholesale deal.
I bought hairbands, keychains, small toys etc.
AND THERE WERE ALOT OF VARIETIES!
However, they do not really entertain bargaining as most of their price are already the lowest you can ever find.
I hope I am not boring you with my shopping trips here... But well, I did not go BKK solely for shopping!
I visited other highlights of the day as well - and now I am back with stories to tell!

Here is one of the unusual places - Siriraj Medical Mueum/ Bangkok Forensic Museum

I was not aware that this place existed until I read about it online. (The power of Internet rocks!) Located inside the Siriraj hospital, this museum is not the easiest place to locate. In fact, I believe this place is not even meant for tourists to begin with, but more for their local medical students/educational purposes. Hence, it was quite a thrilling experience for us!

Siriraj museum is NOT your ordinary museum because it actually contains REAL, PRESERVED HUMAN BODIES (there were preserved baby bodies, real human skins, worms, preserved bodies of infamous MURDERERS kept in STANDING positions, etc) Not for the faint-hearted.

As photographs were prohibited in the museum, I shall copy and paste some from other sources here.


(Photo credits to Tripadvisor)

And this is the REAL, preserved, dried-up human body of a Thai criminal:
(It's really unbelievable how he used to be human just like you and me.. And now he is forever sealed in this container... Immortalized.)

(Photo credits to: Friskodude)

Real, preserved baby.

(Photo credits to: www.rpgcodex.net)

There were many other preserved exhibits as well, and most of the descriptions are in Thai language. (Told you, the museum isn't meant for the tourists to begin with)
If you are intending to visit BKK and is in for an unusual experience, I believe this museum will appeal to you. (If you are physically weak, do ensure you come with an empty stomach!)

Another museum that we visited in BKK was the Bangkokian Museum.
(Open from Wednesday - Sunday, 10am to 4pm)

Similarly, it is located at quite a deserted location (even our tuk-tuk driver did not know how to go and had to call the museum for directions!) Eventually, we arrived.. and boy, did we take many photographs there!



The entrance:



I don't understand the text... LOL..



78 YEARS AGO, this was actually a REAL HOUSE. (Its a real house turned museum)
The owner was a woman known as Archan Waraporn Surawadee, who set up the house as a museum on her own. Many of the items in the house/museum were still in great condition. They were well-preserved, including the beds, chairs, household items, dressing tables, etc.
It's like you are standing right inside a piece of history, looking and touching the belongings from another individual who is no longer around. The feeling was just so.. surreal.

(Oh, and in case you are wondering- Admission to this museum is FREE. And there will even be a tour guide bringing you around, too! I gave him a tip eventually)

I will be posting load of photographs here, so I shall let them do the talking! Enjoy~

A house with a story to tell... ...

Featuring one of the egg shell collections:

 'Our tour guide

The owner's collection of books!

The toilet area! I wonder if they are the original, preserved toiletbowls? Hmmm...

Our humble tour guide explaining and telling us the story behind every item..

Looking out of the window...

 The collection of glass wine bottles.. I am sure they are worth quite lot now!

A very old piano...

(That was my dad pictured in the background LOL)

The living room couch... Looks comfy but they are already a vintage item. Not for sitting!

 You will be able to read this if you understand Thai... (Not for me though. LOL)

 There were many art of the house featured here.. I heard they were drawn by students.

Looking out, you can see the front porch.

The house was quite big as it has a 2nd storey as well. However, you have to be really careful when walking up or down the stairs.
The staircase is quite steep.

In the past, there was no electronic fan at all. Manual fanning, anyone?

The baby cot..

Looks elegant and eerie at the same time...

I looked out from the 2nd storey..

That's a dressing table. Haha, you can see my reflection here! Gosh.

Fabrics/Clothings

The basin area.

Here;s an extended bedroom area.

The pillow case didn't look clean.. I wonder if it is a real preserved item as well.

That's us with our tour guide for the day!
Thank you for the hard work!

Wow, this post is getting so long. I'll show you guys more pictures of my trip in the next upcoming post - PART 2! Do stay tuned if you are interested to see my shopping loots.. and I'll be featuring the new Terminal 21 shopping mall!!Hope you guys enjoy the read so far ;)