If you want to accurately gauge a woman's age (men hide theirs better), don't look at her face, but check out her neck or her hands. No amount of botox on the face can beguile knowing eyes; hands are the ones that betray how old we are as they are the most easily battered and neglected, yet exposed part of our body. They deserve better care! Somehow I have amassed quite a lot of hand creams but I have to admit that I haven't been exactly hardworking at using them... why? Do you use hand creams? Do they make a difference? In this post, I will be showing you some of my favourite hand creams that I love using when I am feeling a little more in the mood to pamper my hands.

1. For extra-nourishment: Sense of Care Lavender Shea Butter Hand Cream

A little superficial, yes, but I really love this hand cream because of its super cute packaging. You have to agree with me right? The best part about this hand cream is that it feels the most nourishing among all my hand creams, with a thick, smooth consistency that is characteristic of shea butter. It provides great hydration and also a beautiful lavender lingering fragrance that is very uplifting. It is also paraben-free which makes moisturizing extra effective. Recommended for travellers going to colder climates and need something easy to pack, effective and cute!

Fragrance: ****/ Moisturizing: *****/ Texture: *****

2. For an immediate relief: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Fragrance Free

I don't use this on a frequent basis, but only when my hands are in need of a quick fix in dry or cold climates, especially on the fingertips. Inspired by Norwegian fishermen who needed really potent hand creams to protect their hands in harsh weathers, this formula includes concentrated levels of glycerin for immediate and lasting relief. Its texture is clear, light, and yet spreads out very well. Recommended for people with more vulnerable hands and need an extra boost of moisture.

Fragrance: No fragrance/ Moisturizing: *******/ Texture: ****

3. For a long-term hand treatment: ORIGINS Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment

The latest addition to my collection is this hand cream treatment in a sleek, minimalist mint-packaging. The ORIGINS hand treatment is a great treat every weekend to give those overworked hands. It has a less thick consistency as compared to the Sense of Care hand cream, and also less oily as it is not made of shea butter. There is a silky afterfeel that is very comfortable. There is this fruity (apricot-like) fragrance with a herbal touch which reminds me of countrysides, baby blooms and late afternoons. Other helpful ingredients include oceanic flora that repairs UV damage, scutellaria extract to even out skin tone and Meadowfoam Seed Oil that lavishes hands that have it rough with long-lasting smoothness.

Fragrance: ****/ Moisturizing: *****/ Texture: ****

4. For daily moisturizing: Papoutsanis Olivia Hand Cream

The oldest of the lot, this hand cream is not too consistent nor thick, but it spreads over a surface very easily and feels nourishing enough for daily usage. It has a very common, synthetic fragrance of drugstore beauty products which I don't necessarily enjoy but it's fine to have. Not my favourite but I'm using it for my elbows which are easily neglected too.

Fragrance: **/ Moisturizing: ****/ Texture: ***

When we stepped off an evening train that chugged its way from Nice to Paris, it was eleven-twenty at night. We were crippled with luggages, no Wifi (read: no navigation), dark streets, staircases, an over-imaginative mind and paranoia. Bad mix. Either way, we alighted from Gare de Lyon, squinted at the complex train station network to find out which line we had to take to get to our station - Republique. There were so many exits even from one station (was it 5 or 7 exits?) and flushing yourself out from the wrong one meant additional distance. Maps in the stations are not exactly helpful, so it'll be good to study the area you will be living in detail before going.

- Keep a soft copy of the Paris RER train network map in your phone. For the full list of things to note in Paris, click here.

There is an abject lack of pictures as I recall what happened because it wasn't wise to brandish a DSLR camera or my phone in the middle of dark streets and alleys close to midnight in Paris. Although in retrospect, I wished I did for keepsakes! We trotted our way and pulled the luggages across cobblestone sidewalks noisily (rat-tat-tat-tat-tat) while trying to look for our Airbnb apartment.

The downside of Airbnb apartments is that you don't get a 24/7 receptionist and there is always an element of uncertainty whenever you reach the place itself. Deep down, I'm possibly not a true generation X because I still liked the security of black-and-white confirmation letters rather than internet banking transactions. When we reached the supposed address, we were locked out of the building and the Airbnb owner was not reachable on the phone, nor was he at the location itself to hand us the keys. Double-checked the address. Yes, we are at the right building. Tired and panicky that the owner might turn out to be a conman (gasp!), we tried to activate our autoroaming to contact him disregarding whatever sky high costs there may be but to no avail. Connection was shaky. We also tried connecting to our to-be neighbours through an internal phone call system, but remember it was close to midnight - that would not make the best first impression. None of them responded anyway. After half an hour of struggling or what seemed like forever, the owner appeared and handed us the keys. Phew. Bonne nuit and we wound down for the night.

The funny thing is I had this really bad feeling about Paris the moment I set foot off the train, though I tried to banish all negative thoughts because I was so determined to enjoy this dream city! Long story short before you get bored with me: we got trapped out of the building for a second time in the morning. Oh god why. The mother had decided to stay in and skip climbing four floors of stairs down, while we were gallivanting to the nearby supermarket to get resources. And guess what, we forgot the key (which was required for building access at ground floor). We tried contacting the mother to unlock the access from the apartment, but knowing how tech-unsavvy she is, it was impossible without any pre-empting. The phone wasn't working anyway, so we had the unfortunate opportunity to disturb one of our neighbours... again, who happily gave us access without ensuring we are not burglars, thankfully. That was a mini episode before we were officially off on our adventures for the day!

Important notes for the travelers

- Always keep your brain (and room key) with you at all times

Can you see my determined face to enjoy Paris? I'm even taking pictures at a random garden... because I was so psyched to be in Paris!!! The weather was also quite cooling and comfortable even though it was also sunny, hence the jacket.

I was feeling ambitious and strong that day, so the whole day plan comprises a lot of walking from attraction to attraction. Do not attempt to do the same unless you are very athletic. Our first stop was Pantheon, which we switched three lines to reach (line 11 to 7 to 10). The Pantheon was undergoing a partial restoration work at the moment when we visited, the project was termed as Au Pantheon Une Installation De Jr. It was completed in 1790 as a mausoleum, by the architects Jacques-Germain Soufflot and Jean-Baptiste Rondelet (student of the former).

Important notes for the travelers
- If you intend to take the train multiple times a day (highly recommended) instead of walking, buy the day pass. It will save you a lot of misery, costs 6.80 Euros each and very cheap. Trust me.
- Nearest train station to Pantheon: Cardinal Lemoine

- Entrance fees to Pantheon: 7 Euros (Adult), 4.5 Euros (aged 18 - 25), free (aged 17 and below)
- Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (rejects entry from 5.15pm onwards)

Liberal art students will probably appreciate the Pantheon a lot more, as it features the French Enlightenment's writers, poets and scientists including Voltaire, Rousseau and Marie Curie, to name the ones I can recognize. Remember to read up on the history of the Paris attractions to enjoy the city properly, otherwise, you'll just be very confused about what's attractive about this highly raved city. For a brief read-up on the Pantheon, click here.

Some fun facts about the Pantheon I pulled from Wikipedia: (1) From 1906 to 1922 the Panthéon was the site of Auguste Rodin's famous sculpture The Thinker. (2) In 1851, physicist Léon Foucault demonstrated the rotation of the earth by his experiment conducted in the Panthéon, by constructing a 67m Foucault pendulum beneath the central dome.

This was the moment when I first saw the Eiffel Tower with my own eyes! I was so amazed because I wasn't expecting to see it from the Pantheon... I personally own three Eiffel Tower jewelry which is quite a weird obsession come to think of it, so seeing it in real life was particularly special. Weird, because I'm imagining if a tourist were to wear Marina-Bay-Sands inspired jewelry... yes, weird. But anyway, the Eiffel Tower can be seen from a lot of parts of Paris because it's quite tall!

My first picture with the Eiffel Tower... sort of. We will take more when the time comes.

I noticed that the Pantheon had the Ecole Nationale des Chartes as its neighbour, which had Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité (freedom, equality, brotherhood) inscribed onto its walls, the French motto which stemed from the French Revolution and became more dominant during the Enlightenment. This does reminds me quite a bit of one of my sociology major core modules about (post)modernity but I shall not go into that.

There was no time to be wasted so we quickly shuffled our way through about a kilometer away to the Gardens of Luxembourg.

Read the next post: Luxembourg Palace & Gardens 

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After a scenic stroll, we reached our next stop: Jardin du Luxembourg (previously: Pantheon) on foot.  Walking is the most straightforward mode of transport between these two attractions. Well, everywhere is scenic on the streets of Paris, but they take spectacular to the next level at the Luxembourg Palace & Gardens! The flowers are in great abundance and vibrance wherever we went. The gardens are the biggest within the Paris city itself, very well-endowed in their natural blooms and manicured plants.

Saying that Luxembourg Gardens is a dream might be close enough, but what it really feels like is stepping into a watercolour painting from a classic museum. Being there in person will get you to understand why and how the world's greatest artists can draw such majestic pieces because they are essentially immersed in beauty.

I'm not very good at taking landscape shots... but honestly, you don't need a lot of skills to take good pictures around here. Every single angle is a postcard-worthy shot. Statues, monuments, fountains are aplenty around here - if you're interested and have the time to, you can read their description (some faded) one by one. The whole place is really relaxing. Set in the city center, it is quite convenient for locals to hang out around here for some reading, people-watching, and lazing around.

Then there were also donkey and pony riding available for children in Luxembourg Gardens! What a treat for the young ones. I'm overaged so the only available activity is to take photos with the ponies.

After  leisurely lingering around, we set off for our next attraction of Notre Dame Cathedral towards La Seine, and also for an early dinner. On the way there, we saw Starbucks Coffee but we walked away staunchly to prevent giving in to commercialized, globalized coffee in Paris.

Amidst devastating news for cat lovers surrounding Cuddles Cat Cafe, a new pay-per-minute cafe, Wednesday Cafe, has emerged on 220 Tanjong Katong Road. The cat lover in you will be delighted to know that you get two lovely roaming cats to share your presence during your time here.

Pricing:

$12 for the first hour on regular days ($5 for every extra 30 mins) and half-price on Wednesdays. Which is very cheap considering you get...

Coffee/tea, pink lemon juice, cake, unlimited wifi, books and games (the cafe owners' house pets). The company of cats will also be bestowed upon you. I spy Speculoos Cheesecake on their menu... just the thought of it is enough to make me drool!

Ever since I tried the Portuguese egg tarts from Lord Stow's on the chilly shores of Coloane, I knew it's going to be hard to find anything better than that (I wolfed down three of those at one go). Every single time I see somewhere that claims to offer original Portuguese egg tarts, I'm tempted to try and see if I can finally get something similar to it but closer to home. I was at Tanjong Katong Road when the Madeleine's Original Egg Tart caught my eye.

With its piping hot, glistening and golden crispy layering, it does look the part of those yummy egg tarts back in Macau. Yet with a bite, there was still something missing, perhaps a more generous buttery fragrance, the lack of a slightly torched surface... almost there, but not yet for the picky tastebuds. Well, egg tarts still make for awesome afternoon treats anyway... especially on rainy days like these.

I know, Carpenter & Cook has been around for ages and I've been raring to go since its inception. The only thing that really puts me off from going is the distance, but I can safely tell you that this cafe is one of the rare few worth travelling for. Or at least for people who appreciate the same things I do in a cafe (ambience! food!), and would not mind about the other elements (how detailed they are with coffee). 

I have to say I adore their whimsical Elizabethan theme of floral teasets, wooden tables, all things vintage and rustic kitchenware. It reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, and not being in puffy frocks made me feel quite out of place. The grey hues cast across the cafe by the rainy weather contrasted with the warm glows from the lighting made the cafe a fantastic hideout from the rest of the world. I can already foresee myself coming here, equipped with a good read in hand.

The glob sister and I at this cafe, finally. We've been wanting to go since forever... and almost put it off yet again because of the rain. But procrastination has to stop. You bet we didn't regret going forth with plans we've previously agreed upon with such a lovely setting.

The Ham & Cheese Croissant is seemingly predictably good as this is already a winning combination. The croissant blew me away quite a bit as it exceeded my expectations. The croissant had an extraordinarily buttery fragrance melded with the savoury cheese and bacon that are really chewy. The croissant were also finely layered in fettered crisps when the knife goes through. Definitely better than average... I would recommend this, but first of all you can't leave C&C without trying their tarts. 

As our stomachs have limited space and cafe budgets, each of us chose only one tart. C&C tarts go at $6.50 each. This is one of the toughest decisions in a while. Finally, glob sister chose the Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Tart while I went with the Passionfruit Meringue Tart. The decisions were weighed with different priorities in mind: for her, it was chocolate; me, photogenicity of the food (uh, duh). I would have chosen the Lemon Cream Tart based on my imagination of how they taste, but it was sadly pretty ugly-looking with this squishy yellow paste on the tart structure. Back to our orders: the Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Tart turned out to be pretty interesting in that each of its components are unmistakable and distinct, especially the saltiness. The dark chocolate aftertaste came on fast and furious thereafter, but it's not too imposing nor sore-throat inducing. I won't recommend this unless you are feeling adventurous. On the other hand, my Passionfruit Meringue Tart was spectacular in that it tastes as awesome as it looks. I often don't have much faith in good-looking food but this proved me wrong. The meringue is actually quite soft and not too sweet, and complemented the sour tones of the passionfruit (which looked like the lemon cream tart) stuffed generously under the meringue soft spikes. I really liked it. I wonder what the Lemon Cream Tart would taste like. The tart base is quite ordinary, but I guess that is not the main highlight.

The hot mocha didn't impress me as much as the tarts did, though I must say the caffeine kick is very substantial. To me, the mocha felt neither here nor there, resting in a comfortable range of a decent, smooth, predictably good coffee. I enjoyed it even though I'm sure people who are picky about their coffees may not rank C&C with the really good coffee-driven cafes. I definitely loved the experience here at Carpenter & Cook, and a second visit is in order.

Carpenter & Cook
19 Lorong Kilat #01-06
Singapore 598120

After a casual, unintended but very helpful pitstop at the Shakespeare & Company, it's time to cross La Seine to get over to the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is only a short 5 minutes walk away. The Notre Dame Cathedral is a Catholic French gothic cathedral with amazing architectural details and I would definitely recommend visiting this attraction. Perched right at the edge of the La Seine river, it towers over most of the other buildings and is quite distinctive to spot.

- Best times to visit: Early morning on Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays

Here are some of the architectural details. When I was there observing the cathedral and the surrounding buildings have to offer, there were so much details that the naked eye could hardly process it all. The cathedral's facade shows the Portal of the Last Judgment (read more of it here). If you looked closely, it is really quite gothic and graphic with their depiction.

These are the 28 statues that represent the Kings of Judah and of Israel, the ancestors of Christ. The first three kings of Israel were Saul, David and then Solomon. Above these figures, on either side of the façade, there are statues of Adam and Eve. In the centre, a large rose measuring almost 10 metres in diameter forms a halo above the statue of the Virgin Mary, who is flanked by two angels and presents us her Child, Jesus, the Son of God (read more of it here).

Visitors need to maintain silence and respect to those who are praying within the space.

There are many statues and depictions of different Biblical stories, along with short descriptions. It would be helpful to read up on some of the stories to appreciate them better.

Alternatively, the stained glass windows are too, a sight to behold. The South Rose Window (first) was a gift from the king Saint Louis and dedicated to the New Testament. It reached 12.90 metres in diameter and, if you include its bay, a total height of nearly 19 metres. It has eighty-four panes divided into four circles. The first one has twelve medallions and the second has twenty-four. A third circle is made up of quadrilobes, and the fourth circle has twenty-four trilobes medallions. The details are extremely complicated to be seen one by one - but to marvel at its entirety is a really humbling experience.

Such an astounding sight that met our eyes the moment we stepped out of the cathedral - with the sun rays pouring through the cloud openings. It felt like such a positive and extraordinary sign.

 

We had to cross the La Seine river again over to the other side (link to Google Maps directions) to reach our next destination - the Louvre museum. It is pretty crazy to walk this distance (1.7km), but we've already walked so much that day, it didn't make sense to start buying the day pass. Moral of the story: buy the metro day pass!!!

Important notes for the travelers
-  Metro directions from Notre Dame Cathedral to Louvre Museum: Cite> Chatelet > Rivoli

Well then again, if you are feeling really athletic, go ahead for the walk because you will definitely be rewarded with more sights like flower markets and strange Chinese restaurants. Till the next time when I'll be back with pictures from the Louvre!

Guess what I'm up to these days? Dressing my little baby up in my favourite colour for techie things (yes, chrome yellow) and also personalizing it with a characteristically-me decal of my name. Aha, now everyone can identify my phone from the other phones with the same casing. You can get a decal with your personalized names, hipster quotes, shapes and pictures with White Tulip Decal to paste on your phones, laptops/Macbooks/doors... the possibilities stretch as far as your imagination can go! Look out for the promotion code you can use for discounts when you checkout at White Tulip Decal:

White Tulip Decal's products: wall decals

White Tulip Decal offers wall decals made of imported removable vinyl from Germany that are black and matte. I would consider these decals quite affordable at less than $19 each (price varies). Due for a room makeover? This will definitely make a lot of difference as compared to the usual Ikea furniture you are hauling in. Find more designs here.

White Tulip Decal's products: phone/laptop decals

The prices of phone decals are even more attractive at only $2.50 or $3 each depending on the font you choose! You can even gift multiple friends to surprise them with this beautiful decal of their name. Check out the whole list of fonts here.

Besides the hipster quotes of wall decals already available in their lookbook on their website, you can even design a decal and send it to the White Tulip Decal team. This ensures the decal you have is one of a kind! You can always seek for ideas on Pinterest, Tumblr, or WeHeartIt - find the image that best fits your room's theme instead of a generic decal in an average store. Link to submit your design here.

And there we are: the Louvre, after trudging slightly more than a mile from Notre Dame Cathedral. A lot of people who has been to the Louvre warned that the museum is overrated and much smaller than expected. I didn't pin much hopes of seeing a Giant Pyramid of a museum there. When my eyes met the glass architecture, it's more or less love at first sight. It is so pretty I just want to pinch it between my fingers and keep it in my pocket! It's not as small as you think, but not Egyptian giant pyramid-sized either.

Contrary to conventional beliefs, the Louvre Museum is more than the pyramidal shaped architecture (I.M Pei's glass pyramid). The entire museum space spans across this stretch of building too, selected as a place to display the royal collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture of Louis XIV. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to display the nation's masterpieces. Later, the collection was increased under Napoleon and the museum renamed the Musée Napoléon, but after Napoleon's abdication many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces.

Information credit: Wikipedia

When the glass pyramid was first introduced, many Parisians opposed it. However, it was soon realized that going underground helped to ease the human congestion that would otherwise occur in the old hallways of the existing buildings. The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world, with more than 35,000 works of art displayed over 60,000 square metres. It is impossible to finish browsing through everything within a day. the building is divided into three wings, Sully, Denon, and Richelieu, each one with its own clearly marked entrance, found under the glass pyramid.

Information credit: Frommers

We did not enter because of time and energy constraints. Nevertheless, the Louvre Museum is said to be the pilgrimage stop for many who visits Paris. It is likely that I will return to browse this museum. Be sure to look out for famous masterpieces including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Eugène Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, and Théodore Géricault's Raft of the Medusa.

Do you spot the Eiffel Tower in the distance? The weather was really good that day and there are a lot of locals and tourists alike lounging in that wide expanse of space. There are also a lot of peddlers selling Eiffel Tower keychains at six for one Euro. They do not hardsell and are generally quite harmless. Guess where we'll be heading next? Stay with me on my Paris adventures!

Itinerary for Day One in Paris
1. Pantheon
2. Luxembourg Palace & Gardens
3. Restaurant La Bucherie + Shakespeare & Company
4. Notre Dame Cathedral
5. The Louvre Museum

6. Champ Elysees & Arc de Triomphe OR Jardin des Tuileries

Want an alternative one day itinerary in Paris?
>>> Itinerary for Day Two in Paris

If you've followed our footsteps all the way to the Louvre, you might have realized the amazing (but not very wise) amount of distance covered. We skipped going to Jardin des Tuileries, which would be a wiser choice retrospectively as it is only next to the Louvre, but we had enough of gardens for the day. We reached Champ Elysees/ Arc de Triomphe slightly past seven when the sun was setting and the shops were already closed. They close pretty early at around five. You would probably be able to make it if you were to take the metro line all the way. Oh well, traveling is not without some mistakes here and there! But oh boy, the Arc de Triomphe turns out to be my favourite attraction of the day because it is very, very grand. Please go and visit this!

Arc de Triomphe is Paris's most monumental arch and has huge historical significance behind it. Astounded by its beauty, I was in need of a quick history lesson on this massive structure. It was timely because we were entering one of the departmental bookstores for a quick toilet break and I managed to read a few paragraphs on it:

Can you imagine grand sight of army soldiers marching through the Arc de Triomphe? Right now, it is considered the world's busiest traffic roundabout, and also the meeting point of 12 avenues and three arrondissements. The way the city of Paris is mapped out is more than amazing. Slightly tired but the sight of Arc de Triomphe is a complete perk-me-up! It is so gorgeous, trust me when I say this is next to the Eiffel Tower in terms of how 'must-see' this is! You can climb onto it and be amazed by a bird's eye view of the Axe Historique: from the Louvre to La Defense. The queue was insane and we didn't even try. If you are interested...

It sure doesn't look like it, but ... this photo opportunity with the Arc de Triomphe arose from madness. I felt like I'm doing a handstand in the middle of a highway with lots of speeding cars all around. Let me try to describe the scenario: there is a huge crowd in the extremely tiny safety island - I can't remember if there was a raised kerb - trying to establish some kind of a queue to take a photo with the Arc. If you don't want to stand there and try not to get killed from spilling out from the jostling crowd, you have to throw away all polite tourist etiquette, fight for the chance, and get the hell out. Anyway, we did it! I'm not sure if there's any better/ quieter time to do so, though I'm guessing nobody will be here in the early hours of the morning.

Most of the Champ Elysees avenue is made of global brands like Louis Vuitton and Mont Blanc, which you probably won't be spending or shopping at if you are traveling through Paris to make the most out of as many attractions as possible. Plan to walk quite a bit of a distance here too as you have to be strolling down the entire stretch to experience it thoroughly... which can go up to two kilometres depending on how easily satisfied you are. And then we headed back to our apartment's district for dinner and wound down for the night. So a recap of the day's itinerary in Paris here:

Itinerary for Day One in Paris
1. Pantheon
2. Luxembourg Palace & Gardens
3. Restaurant La Bucherie + Shakespeare & Company
4. Notre Dame Cathedral
5. The Louvre Museum

6. Champ Elysees & Arc de Triomphe OR Jardin des Tuileries

Want an alternative one day itinerary in Paris?
>>> Itinerary for Day Two in Paris

Quick - just off the top of your head, what are some of the phrases and words that need to pack up and leave with 2014? I bet you're thinking what I'm thinking: 

Gotta put my favourite Divergent characters to even out the atrocity of bae.

1. Bae

Number one word that needs to be snuffed out as soon as possible, with a pillow and an ice-cold bucket.

Not this kinda game.

2. ___ game too strong

It came as a whirlwind that has possibly died down a little. It's an interesting pet phrase that should remain in popular culture and that's it. I fear for the survival of the English language, as we go onto the third point:

3. I can't even

I've probably raged inwardly and expressively at this repeatedly over the year, but let me do it again. "I can't even" should be placed onto a missile and fired into outerspace. What can't you even? Uttering this word makes the user seemed inept and silly, which makes me feel very confused on its popularity. The English language exists for a reason, use it. 

Go get your own.

4. Relationship goals... or "ship"

I am the last person you should get your relationship advice from, but this idea of relationship goals is really stupid. Every love story is different and why should you aspire to have someone else's? It just doesn't make sense.. everybody else is already taken, so get your own. Or 'ship'-ping a certain couple is another one of those words that can illustrate why the aggregate human population IQ is falling even when the global population is increasing.

Probably the only exception who can tread along sensitive topics without getting overboard.

5. Variants of the word - ebola

I must be a particularly serious person, but I don't get how variants of this word is even funny.

You only live once, and you also only die once.

6. YOLO

I think YOLO initially surfaced in 2012, but there has been remnants of its usage even in 2014. It is overused and my ears burn every time I hear it. You've got to...

 

7. STAHP IT

Is it cute? Or cool? I'm not sure. I used it a few times when I first got to know it, and then it felt like hitchhiking blind on the Siberian highway, so I stahp-ed.

8. Friendzone

The friendzone has evolved from a "space" that a woman places a man, to one that's not gender-specific, and therein sprouts its spinoffs - sisterzone, brotherzone, and more. You get the idea. It's not exactly very helpful as it indicates a certain permanence in this status, which is not very true in reality unless you make it to be.

 

9. Anything -porn that's not really porn, and anything -fie other than selfie

This one is obviously first inspired from foodporn, the frontrunner of this set of portmanteau. The first few times #sunsetporn appeared it might be interesting and creative, but randomly creating words with the suffix -porn is just overkill. Yup, definitely something that needs to be left behind in 2014. Same goes for the spinoffs of selfie which used to be fun, but then it got out of hand: wefie, shoefie, catfie, dogfie, pawfie, uniformfie. Moderation obviously isn't programmed into the modern man's psyche.

There are some pretty good ones anyway.

10. O-O-T-D

Having heard this in a Chinese New Year song probably broke the last straw for me, but having painfully succumbed and exposed to all kinds of OOTD shots, I observed that this is becoming more of what-I'm-wearing-everyday rather than a special sharing of an interesting fashion getup. It used to be interesting... but now it's a lot of basic tops and jeans as OOTD. Like I can't even? Just, stahp it. Whoops, overused words game too strong. I know right? Yeah, I know right should totally be number-eleven, but it's so 20-13.

Although there are days when I love to surround my arms around a bowl of comforting ramen, there are days when I am on a hunt for something new! Having tried Medanese cuisine is definitely a refreshing change. But you may be thinking... what is Medanese food? (Medan Town!) And where in Singapore can you try Medanese food? (Tanjong Katong!) I'll introduce this restaurant, Medan Town, to you in this post at a self-paid food tasting attended by other passionate food bloggers.

Photo credits: andrinasution

Where is Medan?

Medan is an Indonesian province, and also the fourth largest city in Indonesia. Medan is the marketing, commercial, and transportation center of a rich agricultural area containing tobacco, rubber, and palm oil. Medan industries include the machinery and tile production, and automobile assembly. Said to be the gateway to the beautiful Lake Toba region, Medan is a tourist center with an international airport and cultural attractions.

Medan Town: Famous Medanese Food

Helmed by Medanese natives, Harianto Teh and his wife, Madam Choo, Medan Town is the first Medanese restaurant launched in Singapore. Although this casual dining eatery opened its doors in September 2012, it is beginning to garner greater recognition in the local foodie scene. Go get your share before it gets swarmed in its 50-seater space!

All the Rendang at Medan 

We began the tasting with a plate of Nasi Rendang Ayam ($6.80) which struck me as being very generous with their flavours - everything had so much kick! The sambal potatoes were the most outstanding with its full-bodied spicy aftertaste that had me teary-eyed after a while - I'm not very used to spicy food - but it is not too overpowering. The chicken rendang also maintained a characteristically tender texture in its meat. One point to note is that this dish would perfectly satisfy tinier appetites, but be ready to order appetizers and desserts. The beef rendang (Nasi Rendang Sapi) version is also available, though the rendang sauce is essentially the same... so it depends on which texture you prefer.

Medanese Curry or Soto Medan?

At Medan Town, they have two types of soup bases that you can choose from to put your bihun/rice/beef or chicken: the Medanese Curry or the Soto Medan ($5.80 for chicken, $6.80 for beef). No pictures for the Soto Medan because everyone was very excited about trying it with its aromatic fragrance wafting about. They are also not the most photogenic dishes around, but hey, taste is still the most important! Let me tell you in words anyway. For an average stomach space, you might only be able to try either the curry or the soto medan... so which one should you pick? The curry is excellently spiced and piquantly thick, and probably impossible to finish the whole bowl if you do not have a high threshold for spiciness. I definitely couldn't, though it was really addictive. Luckily, I had their refreshing Tangy Orange drink on the side which allowed me to enjoy a few more spoonfuls! If you are the sort that derives joy from a lot of spicy food, you definitely cannot skip this. The Soto Medan is a friendlier and overall, more enjoyable option for me because I love coconut milk and all things lemak like that... it is very, very fragrant. The taupoks and vegetables soak up the broth very well too. The chefs at Medan Town really do not skimp on giving you a concentrated experience of Medanese flavours.

Tahu Goreng

The Tahu Goreng ($4.50) is one of those side dishes that would delight food photographers with its colourful ensemble. It comprises fried tofu, peanuts and keropok scattered on a thick bed of beansprouts. While I felt that it was more enticing to the eyes than to my tastebuds, it makes for an easy sharing dish across the table. They could have been more generous with the sweet and spicy sauce too.

Sam Chan Bak

If I can only recommend one side dish, the Sam Chan Bak ($4.80) would be it. It is also known as pork belly. Not only is it easy to photograph (always a plus point), its skin is very crunchy, fresh and did not give me the feeling of being oily at all. The meaty part is also consistently easy to chew and the savoury flavours are well distributed throughout. This is also a dish that were clean swept off its platter very quickly - always a good indication!

Sate Kerang Medan

This satay also left quite a deep impression on me. Unlike the usual chicken, beef or mutton satay, you will probably not be able to guess what it is without a closer look... this are sticks of skewered cockles! Unlike the rendang sauce which may be overpowering for these satays, it is a slightly more muted version that allowed the original flavour of fresh cockles to exude through nicely. Go for this if you're looking for a more extraordinary dining experience.

Es Sekoteng

And then we have the desserts! This is always the part of meals that I look forward most to because sweet endings always make me feel really happy... an instant mood booster. The Es Sekoteng ($3.50) was the first one we tried, which I felt that it was very sugary and missing something. There was barley, pink and green jelly, lychee, nata de coco, and Medanese orange peel mixed in one. It felt like eating all the toppings in a bubble tea drink without the drink itself. I probably wouldn't get this for myself but I know a few people who absolutely love those toppings and may be interested.

Es Cendol Medan

Well, well, look what we have here! I love chendol, but the ones I'm used to are the Melaka ones. The Medan version is definitely different and has its own selling points. The first thing you might notice is how naturally green the rice flour jelly is, and then the fat juicy attap seeds (which I had). The coconut base is much lighter than the Melaka ones... I like to have coconut milk in its full glory, so this did not hit a full score from me either.

Ongol Ongol

The ongol ongol ($1.50) is Indonesian sweet cake made from palm sugar and grated coconut. This reminded me of the street kueh snacks in Malaysia and is pretty decent. It makes for a good simple ending to a hearty meal.

Klepon ($2.50)

I'm obviously saving the best for the last... and I'm seriously telling you should never underestimate these little green round things which are pretty stellar. It is similar to ondeh ondeh, but these are wayyy better. They burst explosively in the mouth and then luscious, sweet and warm palm sugar syrup ooze across the tongue as if they are trying to give you an award-winning massage. If ever you walk past Medan Town and don't have time to sit down for a full meal, at least try their Klepon for takeaway or something. Dessert time? Klepon it is.

Medan Town works as a really helpful starting point if you want to have a comprehensive idea of authentic Medanese food. It is also a break from the mundane dining options in Singapore. And try the Klepon.

Day two, let's go! Having been on a pretty thorough and taxing tour around the important attractions around Paris on the first day, we became smarter and more accustomed to traveling around the city. Paris is not as dangerous to be extremely paranoid about, but it's always wise to keep your belongings in front of you and be socially aware of your surroundings. The beginning of this itinerary would be especially important for Singaporeans... our natural habitat: shopping malls at Havre Caumartin!

Itinerary for Day Two in Paris
1. Havre Caumartin
2. Montmartre & Basilica of the Sacré Cœur
3. Eiffel Tower

Want an alternative one day itinerary in Paris?
>>> Itinerary for Day One in Paris

Day pass or 10 regular tickets for Paris Zone 1-2?

We took the metro line most of the time and engaged our legs in a different form of exercise - there are a lot of stairs around the metro stations. As an overview, this choice is definitely much more energy-saving and allows for more flexibility in your itinerary planning. Recommended to get the metro day pass for Zone 1-2 where most of the attractions are, even if you're not following this itinerary. Each day pass is 6.80 Euros. However, 10 regular tickets for Zone 1-2 costs 13.70 Euros if you buy them at one go. Therefore, if you are going to take the metro only 4 times or lesser a day, it is better to buy the 10 regular tickets... only if you're going to use at least 9 of them, otherwise it'll still be cheaper to get the day pass.

There are two major areas that you can shop at: Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Departmental Store. They are connected by a bridge. There are more upscale brands like Louis Vuitton, Longchamp (more on this in my future post) and the jazz that you can think of, as well as more down-to-earth stuff as practical souvenirs especially for friends who love cooking and/or food with beautiful packaging. 

As you can see, the basement of Lafayette is a wonderland for those who love spices, salts, sugars, herbs - quality ingredients for cooking. The variety is very amazing. You can buy them in 50 or 100g portions wrapped in very pretty metallic packaging, all ready to be given as souvenirs. They are priced at around 7-9 Euros per 50g.

They have a keen sense of beauty and it reflects through their kitchenware and fashion. Come on, we're in Paris, duh.

But honestly, shopping isn't my favourite activity (gasp, what?!) and I got bored after browsing the area for one hour. Yes it's true, not even in Singapore... so I was more interested in taking photographs and being taken pictures of. But then again, I know most people would need a stop for souvenirs shopping (and air-conditioning) so Havre Caumartin would be a great stop for that.

And then I spy the 5kg Nutella!!! Gotta take a photo with it, right? Although I was smiling, it was seriously very heavy.

For me, I find that this is a slightly necessary stop for those who wants to do a one-stop souvenir shopping for a lot of friends. Besides that, we also avoided the merciless sun at noon while hiding indoors.

Check back more for my highly anticipated stops: the Montmarte and Eiffel Tower! I was very happy that day because I've been waiting to go to these two places even before I arrived in Paris.

Moulin Rouge was my favourite movie since its theatres premiere until Inception came out... which means that for nearly a decade, it rests uncontested on my list. And I watched it approximately three times from start till end. That's why it was such an amazing feeling to see the movie setting for Moulin Rouge itself! Right after a very comfortable time at Havre Caumartin's shopping district, we found ourselves at the Montmartre Quarter of Paris. No prizes if you spot that I dressed to be matchy-matchy with this place. Whoops, fan girl.

Very bad hair and makeup day but nothing's going to ruin my excitement for being right next to the Moulin Rouge! It's actually fairly empty and I was the only obvious tourist there. It should be busier and more happening at night with the flickering lights and all, but well we've got other things to see that require daylight so... moving on...

I spot another movie reference - Cafe des 2 Moulins Brasserie - from Amelie! This is a true blue stumbled upon sort of thing... I haven't watched the movie yet (yes, I promise to do so soon). Montmartre is turning out to be an amazing place for movie buffs too.

The Little Train of Montmartre is very helpful for those who need an extra energy saver boost. The climb from Moulin Rouge to the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur at the top of the hill is slightly strenuous though for me (I don't exercise much), it's quite manageable. We sent the parents onto this little train so that they can enjoy more sights whilst not depleting too much leg power. The downside is that they can't stop and look at the street shops though, and it sends them to the hilltop straight without any stops.

On the way up, it was so sweltering hot even a native Equator-dweller in summer clothing could not stand it. This gelato from Amorino is 100% necessary and God-sent, deliciously creamy and irresistible. Not too sweet. If my memory does not fail me, we chose Mango Sorbet, Stracciatella and Pistachio. Oh, it was over five months ago, so... but one very important thing I do remember: Amorino charges by the size of the cup and you can choose any number of flavours! This also means if you choose more flavours, you get lesser of each but more variety and vice versa. I love this intelligent flexibility and Singapore ice-cream parlors should totally learn from them. It is also reasonably priced even by my standards so yes, go ahead and get this.

This was what awaits us at the top of the hill! I just want to break into song and dance at the moment and sing I'm on the - top of the world - looking down on creation~ Yes Paris, this is one of the reasons why I am in love with you. The entire city of Paris is visible from the forecourt. From the dome, over 200 metres above the River Seine, you can see the surrounding countryside for 50 kilometres. It is the highest point in Paris after the Eiffel Tower. If you squint hard enough or have very good eyesight, you can see the Eiffel Tower in the distance away (technically, almost 5km). They have a little map at the far-end that points out all the attractions. Therefore, it will be more meaningful for you to follow my day one itinerary (and squeeze in more attractions) so that you can look out for them when you reach the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur.

Montmartre has always been a place of worship: from the Druids of ancient Gaul, through the Romans with their temples dedicated to Mars and Mercury, to the Church of Saint Peter, the oldest in Paris, rebuilt in the 12th century next to the Royal Abbey of Montmartre. The original chapel of the Sacré Cœur was built on the mound in honour of St Denis that fell into ruins in the 9th century. It was rebuilt as the hill of Montmartre was a popular place of pilgrimage. Apart from St Denis, the remains of a large number of Christians martyred during the persecutions were venerated, thus the hill was hailed the Mount of Martyrs.

In 1559, a fire destroyed part of the abbey of the Benedictines of Montmartre located at the summit. Subsequently, misfortunes increased, until 1611 when Marie de Beauvilliers, who had governed the abbey, undertook the restoration of the Martyrium on hillside. During construction, a staircase that led to an ancient crypt was discovered, causing a sensation. It was said to have been sanctified by St Denis. Marie de Médicis and over sixty thousand people came, setting off a new wave of devotion.

At the end of the 14th century the French King Charles VI, after being cured of an attack of madness and after miraculously escaping the flames of a fire, made a pilgrimage of thanksgiving to the Martyrium of Montmartre. Thereafter, Paris was the scene of the bloody struggle between the Armagnacs and Burgundians, this violence incited the parishes of the city to Montmartre to ask St Denis to save the capital. In 1525, when François Ist was taken prisoner by the Spanish at the battle of Pavia, the people of Paris thronged to Montmartre to pray to the patron saint of the kingdom to end the great desolation. 

For centuries the Abbey of Montmartre was a centre of intense religious life and a place of pilgrimage. In 1792 the Benedictines were dispersed by the French revolutionaries and the monastery was razed. The last Abbess, Marie-Louise de Montmorency-Laval, mounted the scaffold in 1794 and her blood gave rise to the miraculous resurrection of religious life that took place 80 years later on the sacred mound. The only surviving part of the abbey of the Ladies of Montmartre is St Peter’s church, whose choir served as a chapel for the nuns.

In contrast to the Gothic churches of the Middle Ages like Notre Dame Cathedral, the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur is inspired by churches such as St Sofia in Constantinople and San Marco of Venice. The interior architecture is dressed in the Romano-Byzantine style; it imbues a harmonious aura of peace in this house of God. The light and architectural details prioritizes on the apse, the place of liturgical celebration and adoration of the Holy Sacrament.

- For more information on service times, click here.

As you can probably tell, I'm on the little train. And you would know if you've read my post (instead of glimpsing through photos), I climbed my way up. You can guess what happened in between. I'm not insinuating anything nor am I implying you can do the same without getting caught. But I love the train ride!

I snapped a lot of photos along the way as the train was rumbling along merrily at a comfortable pace.  It took about 15 minutes from the hilltop down, and gave us a (de)tour around the Montmartre neighbourhood including the residential buildings. I found that it was a good wrap-up of that area, albeit a little touristy, but good if you're rushing for time and low on energy. If you were to walk the shorter route down, you would have missed quite a bit of the quieter, less commercialized part of Montmartre but then again, this is up to your self-preference. The train stops at Blanche metro station rather than Abbesses which we alighted from.

You wouldn't want to miss the next post on Eiffel Tower when we suddenly recalled the existence of something called... the jumpshots. Thereafter the number of photos on my camera shot up exponentially. Till the next time!

Itinerary for Day Two in Paris
1. Havre Caumartin
2. Montmartre & Basilica of the Sacré Cœur
3. Eiffel Tower

Want an alternative one day itinerary in Paris?
>>> Itinerary for Day One in Paris

This is a top 10 collection of my favourite skincare and haircare products, a very essential post for those who are lazy to read through all my reviews to find out the important questions: What works? What should I buy if I want an immediate improvement to my beauty regime? Although most of the products are sponsored by Sample Store, Luxola, or the brand itself, I am under no pressure to specially feature them in this post and they have been collated here only by one factor - their efficacy.

1. ASIENCE Intensive Treatment Hair Mask -$18.90

Let's first talk about hair, shall we? This product single-handedly rescued me from bad hair days so many times I can't even count. This hair mask has this beautiful floral scent that has got my hair being complimented quite a few times with people sniffing into it happily. Yes, I'm serious. I only had to use this once every week (96 hours, as it promises) to maintain a visibly good hair quality. I would use it more often if I need to, but rarely do I need that. I've been using it regularly for 7 months now and the quantity only diminished by about one-fifth.

TLDR; Fantastic floral scent, visible instant results, sporadic re-usage required, long-lasting product, very cheap for what you get

2. Essential Sleeping Hair Mask - $11.90

My second haircare pick would be this sleeping hair mask which is a good alternative for the Asience treatment hair mask when I don't wash my hair but still need it to look good the next day. This is much less necessary for me because I definitely would wash my hair within 3 days, therefore would use the Asience hair mask whenever I need a hair quality boost. But I must say that this hair mask is a great pampering product and works very well too.

TLDR; The lazy alternative to the Asience treatment hair mask, great for pre-bedtime beauty regime, more helpful for those in cold/dry climate

3. Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil 3X Volume Cream

This is one of the new hair products I have in December, which I've been using every single time I blowdry my hair now. This provides an instant lift and heat protection for my hair which I've been looking for a product to do so. This is very useful in revolutionizing my hairstyling and haircare regime. I can't find the price for this one, but I think it's slightly expensive.

TLDR; Style amd protect your hair with this - two-in-one

4. BeautyBiotics Dream Cream Collagen Cleanse - $43

I've had a lot of facial cleansers this year and I've ultimately grown to love this one the most for its very nourishing, gentle action on my skin. My combination skin is extremely picky when it comes to cleansers. For those that creates a squeaky clean after-cleansing effect, it will also cause drying... for those which are moisturizing, it can result in whiteheads and oily skin. This is my favourite facial cleanser of all because I like the soft aftereffects of my skin. I actually only grown exclusively into this cleanser a month ago and my skin has seen a lot of improvement. I use it once a day (lesser than recommended) and about one-third done with the bottle after 8 months of usage. I guess if you don't need any other cleansers, this would be a comfortable price point to pay. It cleans off makeup only fairly well... would prefer to wipe off that gunk with the Biore micellar water first before using this.

TLDR; When they say it's suitable for all skin types, they really mean it. Best for those who don't put on makeup often and need a very good and gentle cleanser. If you put on makeup often... get this in addition:

5. Biore Micellar Cleansing Water - $18.90

This is another cleansing product that I've grown to become very reliant on, especially if I need to clean my makeup off when I'm very tired. It works extremely well for eye makeup and seriously wipes off everything. In my review, I initially didn't take a liking to it because I wasn't too good at using it. It requires some practice for the one-wipe-clean-all effect. It is definitely possible and I'm a believer now. I've used this for three months and the water level hardly moved. I expect it to last me for at least another three years.

TLDR; Very useful for those who put on makeup on a regular basis. Very value-for-money.

6. I Love Yo! All -In- 1 Yogurt Cleanser - $22.80

Before I converted to believing in the micellar cleansing water (almost a religion, well in the realm of beauty products), this yogurt cleanser is amazing in getting rid of my makeup. It still stings my eyes when it does, I have to be really careful, but it does the job 100% well. My sister loves this a lot and we all use it. It's almost three-quarters gone now after 8 months, and the hunt for a new one is on!

TLDR; Does makeup cleansing excellently, well-loved by the ladies in the house

7. Nivea Daily Essentials Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes - $9.50 (25pc)

These cleansing wipes are on this list because each piece is good enough on its own (ie. you don't need an extra cleansing step after this). I wouldn't use it as daily cleansing wipes because it would be quite a waste of resources and expensive in the long run. But it is definitely very convenient for travel usage.

TLDR; Get this for travel purposes.

8. Hydra Tri-Action Aqua Droplet Sleeping Mask by Bio-essence - $33.90

Another hot favourite among the ladies because of its highly moisturizing, yet not oil-inducing abilities. This is a permanent mainstay in my beauty regime and the used right after cleansing. I love the pompous skin boost feeling I get whenever I use this. If I can only choose one moisturizer out of all those I have, this would be it. Slightly one-third gone after 4 months of intensive usage by at least two faces.

TLDR; Best moisturizer. Ever.

9. ORIGINS Out Of Trouble® 10 minute mask - $50

Looking at the name and price, it is wise to say that I only use this whenever my face is in 'dire straits'. This is quite a new addition, so I only has one instance when it rescued my face from 'zeroine to heroine' once, but that has solidified my confidence for this product. On ordinary days, a thin layer of this product would be really uplifting for the face and improves skin condition by reducing redness quickly.

TLDR; Expensive but it works.. your call.

10. Avene High Protection Cream SPF 50

Avene products have always kept me out of the dark for the past two years of regular use, and I love this brand because it's very reputable for its high efficacy. If I have to choose one product for sunscreen, this would be it.

TLDR; Too many sunscreens,which to choose? This one, hands down.

My photography skills are actually quite unimpressive most of the time, but it's impossible to not take an awesome picture of the Eiffel Tower! My love for this metallic lattice tower can be illustrated from the proportion of jewelry of this tower I have (must be quite tacky for the locals around there). Anyway, we are finally here with much anticipation!!!

Want an alternative one day itinerary in Paris?
>>> Itinerary for Day One in Paris



Important notes for the travelers
- Metro directions for Montmarte to Eiffel Tower: Blanche > Place de Cichy > Invalides > Ecole Militaire (and walk)
- Metro directions for Montparnasse to Eiffel Tower: Montparnasse Bienvenue > La Motte Picquet Grenelle > Ecole Militaire (and walk)
- Note that the directions towards the tower are not instinctive as it cannot be seen upon exit from the metro station, therefore, this map will be helpful.

This itinerary may not be the most intelligent for the number of metro lines you need to switch, you may consider squeezing Tour Montparnasse in between Montmarte to Eiffel Tower if you have time which was the original plan.

- Metro directions for Montmarte to Tour Montparnasse: Blanche > Place de Cichy > Montparnasse Bienvenue 

Montparnasse is an intended stop but we ran out of time, so we had to skip it. It is said to be a good alternative to the Eiffel Tower in providing a 360 degrees city skyline view of Paris at 656 feet above ground. It is less hyped than the Eiffel Tower (hence less crowded), less expensive and you get to see Eiffel Tower itself.

Important notes for the travelers
- Entrance fees to Tour Montparnasse: 14.50 Euros for Adults, 11.50 Euros for Students/ Youths aged 16-20, 9 Euros for Children aged 7-15, 7 Euros for Disabled Persons, Free for Children under 7
- Opening hours: 9.30am - 11.30pm (April 1 - September 30), 9.30am - 10.30pm (October 1 - March 31)
- Last lift up goes at half an hour before closing

Either way, I was really happy to finally reach the Eiffel Tower! It was a dream come true. I don't think it's an overrated attraction, but I guess my trip taught me that the tower is definitely not the only amazing thing Paris has to offer. I later saw the glistening golden tower again from my return flight at night time amidst a neatly sprawled spiderweb configuration of the city which is - by far and definitely the most breathtaking thing I've ever seen. It took my breath away. Literally. I actually tapped on a stranger's shoulder to signal to her the magnificence of the Eiffel Tower right outside the window, and to that she just smiled rather nonchalantly... anyway it's really so beautiful, from air, on land, in the afternoon sun or at night. 

One thing you have to do is (not try to push it over) bring a picnic mat, some food and drinks along! You can pick them up from Monoprix or somewhere along the way, and while away your time just immersing yourself in the fact that you're in the company of the Eiffel Tower. There is a lot of space for everyone! Or you can simply prop yourself on the grass which isn't all that prickly. I look slightly tired because I finished some jump shots which aren't too glamorous so I'll spare your eyes.

There was obviously better lighting on this side of the tower, but we realized it a little slowly. That rectangular shadow in the background is the Montparnasse, which was criticized to ruin Paris's flatlay urban design. But it's a good alternative to the Eiffel Tower which was swarming with people, it looked quite scary there. The lifts go up through the legs of the tower, and one of the lifts were closed. I heard that all four lifts are never opened at once because there would be overcrowding at the top of the tower.

Note to Inception fans and the filming locations in Paris:

I bitterly missed the Bir-Hakeim bridge which was featured in this iconic scene (2:42) in my favourite movie. I nearly died of sadness when I knew it. Not enough research went into studying the area, and so we actually walked a parallel street/bridge to it without realizing. I now have a valid reason to revisit this city. If you're really into hunting for all the Inception scenes in Paris, there's another one at Rue Cesar Franck/Rue Bonchut nearby which features Cafe Debussy in that same scene (0:30) except that the cafe has since been renamed to become Il Russo.

We were trotting up the bridge that Ariadne did when she was learning how to build dreams. But unfortunately, when we reached the Passy metro station, we learnt that it was under renovation and we had to take a bus nearby to reroute ourselves back to the metro station. The bus ride was free. Please check which metro stations are working to avoid walking senselessly around. It was still an amazing day to remember despite quite a lot of walking.

 Itinerary for Day Two in Paris
1. Havre Caumartin
2. Montmartre & Basilica of the Sacré Cœur
3. Eiffel Tower

Want an alternative one day itinerary in Paris?
>>> Itinerary for Day One in Paris

Science and technology has not yet progressed to a point when we can replace our entire bodies when they malfunction. Till then, we should take better care of our health beginning with the food that we eat. Besides introducing all the delicious and sinful food to you, here's a guilt-free option that still retain great flavours and tastes in its menu options from Squash: Juices, Salads, Wraps.

Not all juices are created equal.

I like how this one-month-old shop's name is self-explanatory and easy to remember. But what you may not know is their slogan "not all juices are created equal". I draw attention to their slogan because their juices are freshly cold pressed juices to retain the most functional nutritional values. While we know that packet juices are definitely all sugar, synthetic and only thirst-quenching, we learnt from the juice gurus that hawker fruit juices are also nothing more than real fruit taste but nearly zero nutrients with their rudimentary blenders. Cold pressed juices from Squash are also careful concoctions of different fruits, herbs and vegetables to ensure that they are delightful in complementary tastes and high in nutritional value that is required by different organs in our bodies. With zero preservatives and anything other than the fruits/berries/vegetables/herbs, these bottled juices are to be consumed within 2 days. Even the owners from Squash themselves drink these juices!

The team behind these Squash juices

These juices are cold-pressed and packaged in their open-concept kitchen at the basement of The Central (Clarke Quay). The team behind Squash comprises of passionate and health-conscious individuals who are well-versed in food science management and nutrition dietary information. Squash's founder, Allan Foo, has personally experienced the fineness of rebooting his body back into health through a juice diet and is inspired towards sharing his secret to health with everyone.

A myriad of Squash power juices

Amazing Trio: Apple, Carrot, Orange

Hydrate: Coconut water, Cucumber, Watermelon, Kalamansi

Awake: Apple, Pineapple, Ginger, Cinnamon

Vita Max: Apple, Beetroot, Carrot, Celery, Orange

Purity: Pear, Honeydew, Cucumber, Kale, Lemon, Ginger

Antioxidant: Apple, Pear, Mix Berries, Pomegranate

They currently have 6 different juice flavours, though they are always constantly innovating different juice flavours! I've tried all the juices and I must say that I'm impressed by how the proportion of the ingredients is very well managed and none of the ingredients is particularly overpowering. Much to my delight, all these juices are concentrated, pulpy, not overly sweet, and very pleasant to drink. I seriously love the fruit pulp in juice which makes it more satisfying to drink! As they say, not all juices are created equal and some are obviously easier on the palate than others. In accordance to my preferences: Awake, Amazing Trio, Antioxidant, Vita Max, Hydrate, Purity.

For a complete 3-day or 5-day juice diet, you need to drink 5 bottles a day. While it may seem crazy to drink only pure juices for 3 days straight (wouldn't I be hungry?!), Mr Allan Foo who has personally tried it revealed that it has improved his health, weight loss and he felt more alert and energized during his juice cleanse process. The fibers and pulp that have been retained by the gentler cold-pressed method of juicing would contribute to the feeling of 'fullness'. Their juices are going at $7/bottle (except for the Antioxidant one which is going at $9) which is more affordable than a lot of other juice diets out in the market right now.

Lo hei with amazingly healthy options...it's possible.

Don't blame the festive season for your widening waistline; blame the lack of healthy and delicious food options... right? Not anymore since Squash has recreated the lo hei with their health-conscious mission in mind. Their lo hei actually has saccharine sweet raspberry pulpy sauce at the base, which surprisingly actually works very well with the fresh fat slices of salmon, cucumber, corntons (corn-version of croutons), taupoktons, oine nuts, cashew nuts and golden raisins. I think this is a really wonderful alternative to the usual restaurant sort of lo hei if you want to do lo hei in a smaller group and/or lo hei with people who are not suited to eat fattening/unhealthy food due to health concerns.

One of a kind wraps

That wrap you see is only one of the many combinations possible at Squash. Want a guilt-free wrap and yet not ready to forgo all your favourite food? You still can choose what goes in there (and what doesn't) in thier one-of-a-kind wraps. The wrap skin is paper-thin and very slightly salted, and it sure didn't taste like a 'health food' to me even though Squash already got the nutrition part right for you.

The highlight of Squash: The Ultimate Rojak Salad

This, and a second serving that we requested, were swept clean off the bowl the moment our chopsticks started moving! Clearly a hot favourite of the table, you will be glad to know that this ultimate Rojak salad does not scrimp on the original local rojak flavours and yet is made even better with dried cuttlefish and taupoktons. This dish is born out of the event that local food gurus have planned - Ultimate Hawker Fest and further improved to become what it is today. If you are not sure what to start with at Squash, this will not disappoint. In fact, I like this salad more than the original rojak itself because I always found it too dry. A toss of vegetables and in-house sauce made it much more enjoyable!

Chicken Bulgogi Pasta Salad

I probably hate approximately 87% of vegetables in the world but somehow the salads at Squash went down well with me for its freshness and its delectable mix with other things instead of pure vegetables. For those who cannot let go of their meat and carbohydrates, the Chicken Bulgogi Pasta Salad on the menu would be an oasis for you in case you're dragged in here by salad lovers. After trying it out, I realized I loved this a lot because of the chicken bulgogi inspired from the Korean cuisine. It's well marinated and spiced, more outstanding than usual perhaps because their recipes are thoroughly experimented.

Spicy Thai Prawn Salad

This was strangely not spicy and more 'traditionally' like a salad with the usual crunchy vegetables partying in a bowl and also corn and pinenuts to add a bit more dimension to the entire dish. I would say that this is good, but go for the Ultimate Rojak Salad or Chicken Bulgogi Pasta Salad for the more special options.