Sunday, March 16, 2025

[Personal] Celebrate Mom's Birthday at One Holland Village - Wushiland Boba + Lo Hey

 There's something about One Holland Village (OHV) that we really like when it comes to our family gathering time and that is how the whole mall is designed to be pet-friendly with specially designated pet lift, water dispenser for pets and spots for pet owners to leave their pets leashed outside the shops. The whole OHV is modern, with wide outdoor spaces and I just love the vibes of being there. It's different from the usual shopping malls in Singapore. Some of the shops also allow pets to enter so we've decided to meet at One Holland Village to celebrate Mom's birthday.


First stop was Wushiland Boba to grab my bubble tea. I got the Strawberry Ice Cream Red Tea which I redeemed using my points. I love how there are seats with power socket here. Sometimes I do my work here too. 


For dinner, we had already decided and I made a reservation at Lo Hey, a Hong Kong seafood restaurant that has the option for pet-friendly alfresco dining.  


Hami Melon Sea Conch Chicken Soup - $58

This was my favourite, I'm so glad we ordered this soup that comes with Hami melon, dried sea conch, scallops, pork ribs and ginseng. Drinking this just warmed my heart and tummy. The meat was tender and the soup has a sweetness to it. 


Sweet and Sour Pork (Large) - $28.80

The crispy pork balances sweet and tangy flavours and cooked with capsicums, onions and pineapples. 


Deep Fried Chicken Wings with Tai O Shrimp Paste - $16.80

My daughter's favourite. The crispy skin of the wings complement the flavour of the shrimp paste. 



Stir Fried Live Prawns with Superior Soy Sauce - $55

Another of my favourite. Love that they've already removed the prawns head and is partially deshelled. 


Sizzling Choy Sum in Claypot with Tai O Shrimp Paste - $18.80

A good balance with all the other meat dishes. 


Scrambled Egg with Tomatoes - $12.80

Mom's favourite. A simple yet delicious dish that is packed with flavour. 


Creme Brulee Beancurd - $10 and Mango Sago with Pomelo - $6.80

We ended off the meal with some cold desserts! The Creme Brulee Beancurd is so good I wanted to have a second bowl but looking at the price, I think one is enough. 


It was a great meal overall though a bit pricey. Happy that everyone enjoyed the food and time together since we don’t meet up often due to everyone’s busy schedule. Check out my TikTok video too.



XOXO


Saturday, March 15, 2025

[Event] Hello! Pokémon Mezastar Free Trial Event at United Square


Learnt about the Hello! Pokémon Mezastar free trial event (from @thewanderingshe and @jjloves86 IG), where we could get a first-hand experience to try out the new Pokémon Mezastar game machine which will be rolled out gradually in Singapore from 1st April 2025. When we reached United Square, we were shocked by the long queue waiting to join the game. It went around the whole atrium in a big loop and we waited for almost 1 hour and 30 minutes before we even reached the front of the queue.


 While waiting and passing time, I finally caught Tapu Koko in a raid. I'm left with Tapu Lele to complete the whole Tapu Series in Pokémon Go!

Freebies at the event include Pikachu, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly sun visors and a craft sheet that when assembled turns into a miniature Pokémon MEZASTAR machine! 


We also received the Pikachu Special Meza Tag, a user data storage medium to be used in Pokémon Mezastar after the launch in April, and a Starter Guide just before entering the game area.


Finally, it's our turn to play! I recall the times when my hubby and daughter would play Pokémon Ga-Olé at JCube, collecting a stash of Ga-Olé Disks. Now, Pokémon Mezastar will be replacing the Ga-Olé machines. A key highlight of Pokémon Mezastar is the widescreen format, enabling 2 players to team up and fight against powerful Pokémon together and now each player can summon up to three Pokémon. When two players play together, a Special Tag Battle may occur, and both players can receive the same Meza Tag if they successfully catch the Pokémon. Another exciting feature is the chance to Dynamax your Pokémon in battle. We had the opportunity to test out the Pokémon Dynamax Band, which will increase the Pokémon's chance of Dynamaxing in the gameplay. Check out some of the videos for the gameplay and the process of Dynamaxing.


Trying out the Pokémon Mezastar amusement machine


Dynamax Flygon! 


Dynamax Lucario and battling! 


Unfortunately, the Dynamax Band was sold out at the event, for those who are interested to buy your own Dynamax Band, please refer to this IG POST. I think it cost about $19 for a box and comes with the Dynamax Pikachu Meza Tag.


A memory for the Ga-Olé Disks we've collected. Not sure what to do with them since most likely will not be able to use them anymore. 


We had our late lunch at 101 Pot Noodles, thanks Jessie for the recommendation. Hubby had the Braised Beef Brisket with U-Mian, Cucumber Salad and Pickled Bamboo Shoots while my daughter and I had the Braised Chicken Drumstick Noodle. The Braised Beef Brisket was too spicy and I had to trade mine with my hubby. 


101 Pot Noodles
101 Thomson Road
#B1-03 United Square 
Singapore 307591


XOXO



Saturday, February 01, 2025

[Exhibition] Gustav Klimt: Falling in Gold Immersive Experience at Sports Hub Library


The recent increase in immersive exhibitions and installations is revolutionizing the way we experience art and has proved to be a trend here and around the world. Having previously been mesmerized by the immersive Claude Monet exhibition, I had the opportunity to step into the world of Gustav Klimt in an immersive exhibition with my family. 


We sort of skipped lunch so we had an early dinner at Seoul Yummy, Kallang Wave Mall. We ordered the Daebak Combo for two to share. For the two mains, we chose Hotstone Cheesy Kimchi Fried Rice and Korean Glass Noodle. For the soup, we chose Seafood Beancurd Soup, and Soy Garlic Chicken as the appetizer. This combo also comes with two Iced Lemon Teas (with pulps inside) and we added on a Seaweed Fish Roe Rice. We love the food and free flow banchan here. The total damage was $61.99 after an $8 member discount. 


After our satisfying meal, we walked over to the Gustav Klimt - Falling in Gold exhibition. Featuring the works of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, this is an immersive experience that transforms the Sports Hub Library into a multidimensional art space. With the use of 360° breathtaking projections, AI and VR-powered interactions, the artist's iconic masterpieces are brought to life. 


01. RECEPTION

The exhibition sprawls across 1,400 square meters, occupying two storeys and seven interactive rooms, each showcasing Gustav Klimt's renowned artworks. Here is where we complete our registration at the front desk counter, receive a special UV-stamped chop at the back of our hand which marks the start of this unique experience.


02. PHOTOBOOTH

Right at the entrance is Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, also known as The Lady in Gold. The portrait is an oil painting on canvas with gold leaf and is the final and most fully representative work of Klimt's golden phase. 


After the registration, we took the stairs up to level 2, mid-way, we spotted this artwork "Hygeia", the Greek goddess created by Gustav Klimt between 1900 and 1907. A predominant feature is the golden snake coiling around her arm, which is a traditional symbol of medical and healing, echoing the staff of Asclepius. 


03. WALK OF FAME

A timeline and summary of the works of Gustav Klimt as an artist and some of his famous sayings. 



04. SUNSET

We took lots of photos and videos here. It's like a mini stage for us. Check out the video for a little 'snake' dance that my girl did! 


05. BEETHOVEN FRIEZE

We walked through this hallway with dangling cut-ups of geometric shapes and patterns leading us to a reimagined version of The Kiss at the end. 


06. THE KISS

This stunning recreation of The Kiss is made of hundreds of intricately arranged, moveable wooden blocks - akin to puzzle pieces carefully fitted together. We couldn't resist interacting with the artwork, gentle pushing the blocks to create a wave like effect. Check out the short video above. The Kiss represent the union between men and women with the universe, conveying that love is the fundamental force that binds everything together.  


07. ART GALLERY

The art gallery is filled with real paintings by Gustav Klimt. It is worth noting that Gustav Klimt's artwork frequently features the female figure as a central theme and some of paintings depict women in various states of nudity. As such, viewer discretion is advised. 


08. INFINICUBE

The use of mirrors and and light creating an infinite regression of reflections. 


09. A.I. PHOTOBOOTH

Using artificial intelligence technology that analyzes Klimt's use of colours and techniques, this innovative installation generates a personalized portrait of you, reimagined through the artistic lens of Gustav Klimt, simply by standing in front of the screen. 


10. IMMERSIVE

We returned to the first floor and went into a breathtaking immersive room surrounded by 360° projections of Gustav Klimt's artwork. The walls came alive with dynamic displays and the scattered seating areas invited us to linger and soak in this beautiful and mesmerizing vibes. Feel free to claim your favourite spot and indulge for as long as you like. 


11. TREE OF LIFE

The entire tree from its leaves to its stem is covered in gold and lit up by fairy lights. Another nice photo-taking spot.


12. VR

Step into a wonderful VR experience at this station, put on the VR headset placed at each swivel chair and enter a vibrant world inspired by Gustav Klimt's masterpieces. Spend approximately 8 minutes immersed in this environment, feel free to rotate 360 degrees on the swivel chair and marvel as the artworks come to life around you. My girl even wanted to re-watch it the second time.


13. MERCHANDISE

There's a wide range of exclusive merchandise inspired by Gustav Klimt's artwork. 


14. CAFE

The cafe just closed when we reached so we only took a photo here for memory.


We took about one and a half hour to complete the whole exhibition. Personally, I believe that immersive art exhibitions like this one make art more engaging, interactive and accessible to a broader audience, including casual art viewers like my family and me. I actually learnt a lot more about the artist and the artwork in this kind of setting as compared to the traditional setting.


For more Information, please visit: https://immersive.sg/



XOXO

Friday, January 17, 2025

[Food] Explore Bali Lane - UFO Burger at KOWBOY and Sweet Treats at Cafe Margaret

Exploring new places for the latest food trend is what I love to do, even if it means a little travelling. Explored Bali Lane during my lunch break to check out the latest craze in Singapore - the UFO Burger by KOWBOY. The friendly boss who opened KOWBOY also owns the halal yakiniku restaurant Waku Waku just down the road and is currently applying for halal certification for KOWBOY.

I stood outside the shopfront for a few minutes just to see the clouds moving in the sky, the shop title changing (the boss has added chewyjas inside), and the eyes spinning round and round. 

The menu here is simple, focusing on just two items, UFO burgers and milkshakes. 

There are other drink options in the fridge too. I got this drink pouch which comes printed with their tagline, 'Come Hungry Leave Happy'.


Expressing my congratulations in writing on their wall.


Here's a short video of the making of the UFO Burger. A machine that functions like a waffle maker was used. Instead of the waffle grid, there was a hollow dome in place.  

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We ordered the UFO Cosmic Truffle, UFO Supernova Mentaiko, Strawberry Celestia and Honeydew Hyperspace. The burger comes in this ziplock bag regardless of whether you're eating in or taking away. We ate at one of the standing tables outside. There are no indoor tables, but the kind boss did ask if we wanted to sit at his other restaurant. 

A common sight in Korea, unlike the usual classic burger, KOWBOY's UFO burgers uses pita bun and encase the usual burger ingredients inside in a UFO-like shape. This design locks in the ingredients and sauces inside, thus making it a fuss-free and mess-free way of eating burgers. 


A short video of me eating the UFO Burger and how it looks like inside. 

FEBRUARY PROMOTION

From 12-14 Feb 2025, grab any 2 drinks (1 of it must be a milkshake) and score yourself a KOWBOY UFO Cup holder. 

On 25th Feb 2025, the first 100 KIMCHI UFO Burger (new flavour) will cost only $2.50 ** (Max 2 burgers per person, with minimum spend of $10).

Thank you KOWBOY for this stylish cup holder sleeve. 

If you are looking to try this mess free UFO-burger, check it out at

KOWBOY Singapore
25 Bali Lane
Singapore 189861

*Closed on Monday*

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After our meal, my friend suggested having some sweet treats before we headed back to work. She recommended Cafe Margaret, which coincidentally, serves popular cube cakes inspired from Korea as well. This cafe has a policy requiring every visitor to order at least one drink. Even though my friend had ordered a drink, they still expected me to order another one as well. All the cakes were nicely displayed, and we simply grabbed a tray, picked what we wanted and proceeded to the second floor to sit down. We found a nice table by the window.  


 We enjoyed their signature Biscoff CubePie (Cube Croissant), a laminated pastry with 72 flaky layers and filled with sweet cream inside. One CubePie is good for sharing. Thank you W for the treat! 


Cafe Margaret
32 Bali Lane
Singapore 189868

*Opens Daily*



XOXO