Here I am, Big Apple!

3 years ago, while I was applying for my university applications, US never came across my mind as an option because of its tedious process, eg. going through SAT and TOEFL. 2 years ago, I came in UST joining the BBA Global Business program, fully aware of the study abroad opportunity and thought I was pretty much set to be able to explore Europe.

Well things change and sometimes awesome things happen. The school eventually offered me the study abroad opportunity to University of Hawaii at Manoa and my dad decided that he had some extra moolah for me to go to the Parsons New School of Design for the summer. And so, here I am, first time stepping foot in the States and have already been to Hawaii, California and New York. The latter two states which everyone would go hoo-ha about. I'm glad and definitely feeling blessed.

The beautiful skyline as I make my way from Hong Kong to Korea for a 12-hour transit. Stayed a night at the Transit Hotel and was pampered with a huge ass queen size bed all for myself!

Instantly made myself as comfortable as possible, just look at the table. Woke up darn early to grab breakfast and also because a part of me was being paranoid about missing the flight.

So thrilled to finally have authentic Korean cuisine again! I went on to pick all my flight meals to come in Korean style.

It didn't stop there, I even had Korean fried chicken wings as my first meal in New York. By the way, the 14-hour flight from Korea to New York was just painful. I watched 3 movies, slept in the weirdest position and ate like a pig on the flight.

The sun sets while I was making my way back at 8.30pm. I just had the longest day time in my life. Right now I've finally settled down in the Parsons dorm and it was great hanging out the ex-exchanges from UST.

Now, it's time for bed to prepare myself for the orientation.

My Extended Weekends

A picture taken from the Lanikai Pillboxes hike last weekend. Woke up at an ungodly hour - 5a.m after only having a 2-hour sleep the night before that just to catch the sunrise. Definitely worth it since I still get to explore new places and had good food afterwards.

I'm glad I didn't choose my usuals, sunny side-ups and bacon and went for this instead. Red velvet pancakes at the Cinnamon's, perfectly temporarily satisfied my cravings for red velvet cupcakes. It was only close to 10 when we finished our breakfast and when I reached my dorm, I collapsed and only regained senses till 4pm.

Head down to Waikiki afterwards to catch up with the girls and plan our Big Island trip during the Spring break. We tried out Ramen Nakamura, where I had the best gyoza (dumplings) ever since I came here. Every time single time I have a bowl of ramen, it just reminds me of the more awesome and satisfying Butao back in Hong Kong! AHHHH, how I miss queueing up for it.

And this was from last week.
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Everyone in their shades, all prepared for a wonderful morning out in the sea to whale watch. Unfortunately the boat engine had to break down yesterday, which lead us to kick start our day with hefty American breakfast instead.

They have pretty awesome waffles, which we get to try while we were waiting for seats.

The special crabcake egg benedicts that Tady ordered. Pretty yummy!

Got my usuals! Next time, I'll try scrambled eggs, mmhm I'll try to remember.

As for today, I did another hike at the Chinaman's Hat island. Too bad I can't take any pictures since we had to walk/swim to the island. It was a semi tough hike for me, wish I could just not worry about so much things and just hike. Pfft!

Other than experiencing a 'scene' from the boys, I collected a few bruises and cuts from the hike. Well, at least it wasn't another sun burn, 'cause till now my skin are still peeling.

That's roughly what I do every weekend. There's so much to do that I've never really sleep in on the weekends, not complaining though.

Before I Jet Off

Just a post before I continue my journey to the states. I was intending to have a quick update before my parents Skype talk me and so I had to write this post on the flight.

I probably just had the best flight food my entire life, ANA's Japanese cuisine was insanely delish that I almost wanted to gobble everything down at once. Can't wait to see what they have for dinner!

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As for most of you who still don't know where am I heading to, here's the post to reveal. I am heading to Honolulu, Hawaii for a semester! 5 months away from Hong Kong as an exchange student in this tourist's paradise.

Denim shirt: Pull & Bear
Tee: Versace for H&M
Leggings: Gap

I've been staying in Mich's place for the last two nights and only finally had my luggage set this morning. Though I still feel unprepared as I was pretty much really chill for the preparations that should be done for this exchange, nothing matters now since I am only 8 hours away from Hawaii.

The girls, Ronny and Michelle sent me to the airport this afternoon.

Turning those frowns upside down.

More updates once I've settled down in Hawaii, yes food posts as usual and also some stuff I during my short break.

I do cook too

Ok so maybe not as the title of this blog post suggest, this is the first time I actually did some cooking. Starting from buying the ingredients to the last bit of cooking. Recipe, of course from my beloved mom.

Last trip back home I didn't get the time to slot it my favorite baked macaroni and cheese done by mama and so I've been craving the pasta sauce ever since. I decided that I need to have it before I leave and so I got the recipe from mom and made it myself at the boys' place. They have a kitchen, and I don't. Neither am I a big fan of cooking in the common room where everyone could just walk in and look at what you're cooking.

Broccoli by Xiang; Spaghetti by ME!

How was it, you might ask? It tasted like home to me.

Thanks to the two tasters and that's a genuine thumbs up from Xiang ok!

Well for a change, I'm blogging about the food I made myself. Hopefully there still another post like this in the future.

2 papers done and I'm left with the two toughest to go. Finals doesn't stop me from exploring new food places, I already have my place chosen for this weekend.

The Baking Diary

I'm not the typical girl who bakes and paints nail polish but the girl friends who I am close with, always are. My role would be the food-taster. Headed down to Yee Ching's aunt place to did some baking last Friday after a hectic week.

Causeway Bay on a Friday night, shopped for the baking ingredients at Wellcome, well they did. As for me, after locating the baking ingredients section I went back to the Marion Crepes that was at the front of the store. Stuffed myself with their strawberry, vanilla ice cream and cheesecake crepe. *noms*

It was also one of those days when I crave for something salty after having my desserts. While waiting for the girls, I pulled Loraine with me to Burgeroom for my favorite Cheese Twister Fries. Everyone salivated at it when I open the packaging, it was pure awesome.

Anyhoo back to the main topic. Asta started the mixing ingredients process while me and the others went to the roof top for a little fun.

Asta, the Queen of Baking

Yee Ching, she whipped her hair back and forth


Hui Yi, she sipped on her favorite Starbucks coffee


Lourine and me, we posed like we're on Vogue crazy women

I did some mixing afterwards, 'cause that's my favorite part of the baking process. Look at all the different ingredients all jumble up and become a dough!

Some of us rewatched and relived the High School Musical moments while some of them kept themselves in the warm and fuzzy kitchen, having the heat coming from the oven.

As for me, I knocked out around 2 a.m. while the girls baked till 4 or 5 in the morning. Gotta admire their passion for baking!

Sunny Saturday

Two days ago, after visiting one of the favorite personal blogs of my close friend's, I decided to write something non-food related and funny. Well, it's evident that I realise my life has been all about food and boring stuff, like spending time in the library, since there wasn't any unusual updates. So I think that maybe I should just stick to the tagline of my blog, food.fashion.fotography.

Today was just another day where I woke up to Vogue US to check out Paris Fashion Week's Street Style album by Phil Oh. I stumbled upon Peony Lim's picture in the album and googled her right away. Although the picture qualities aren't great but I do love her style. It's a mix and match of high end brand's item plus H&M, vintage and some items that she scouted across Asia. Definitely a blog worth checking out.

Here's a blogger slash photographer whom I look up to, Shin from Park and Cube. These are the people who actually inspires me to do what I'm doing now, but better; Constantly seeking room for improvements. On the downside, they're also a distractions. Sadly to say, I still need more discipline to prioritise what's important and what can wait. Don't get me wrong, I am not blaming these blogs and neither are they a bad distraction, they're one of the most beautiful distractions ever.

For more blogs that I personally like, here's a post on Tongue in Chic that I did.

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Had breakfast with a bunch of friends this morning with some small talk. I dressed up a little to share some style shots since I haven't did it for a really long time.

Shirt: H&M
Hight-waisted shorts: Monki
Flats: H&M
Necklace: Pull & Bear
Watch: Casio

I decided to play around with some colours after picking out the yellow shirt from my closet. All thanks to Veen for helping with the shots!

Three Farewells In A Day

This draft has been lying in my account for almost a month. Here comes the month of October, so much closer to the starting of another year.

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The Aussie peeps leave the earliest, than the ones who study in the States, followed by me (studying in HK) then only the people who studies in UK leave the last.

The TiC Team, (from left to right) Gwen, Karen, me and Shantee

My first internship and legit working experience. It's the feeling of being obliged to go to work every morning on time makes me cherish my university life so much more.

It was an intense hands-on job, just like what I've expected. I attended events, did write-ups and took style shots. Everything I would love to do for a living, teehee.

The people in the company, BlueBots Sdn Bhd are fun and the working environment there is pretty laidback. Not the usual office cubical layout for everyone, instead we have a stretch of long table where I can actually accidentally peep at Shantee's pc from time to time.

I've learnt to open up to talk to strangers and take responsibilities more seriously. Just recently I accepted a one-off part time job to take style shots in Causeway Bay. Post is already updated here.

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On the last day of work, I skipped my last chance to lunch with the TiC girls and joined Wan Ru's farewell lunch in Kanna Curry House for authentic banana leaf rice.

It was great catching up with some of the college mates too, especially those who are now in IMU.

After a round of scrumptious banana leaf rice, the guys drove us over to the nearby ABC van in Seksyen 17 for desserts.

Looks like someone enjoyed her bowl of Ais Kacang!

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Just like what the title of this post says, my last farewell for the day was for my dearest xianhui who took a year off and is finally going back to school, well that's how she describes it.

That's our hostess who was herding the boys into the TV room to start the drinking game. Well every time there's something good going, I always tend to have a flight to somewhere. This time wasn't an exception either, I left before everyone even warmed up for the game.

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So that was a bit of my summer. I'm hoping everyone has settled down in their own places and till we all meet again, counting down 8 months.

Hello Fall Semester

After a whole 3 months of summer, the longest break I've had in my schooling life, it is a bit hard for me to get those study mood back on. Summer drinks, parties, and fling, everything comes to an end. Free food from home, no need to worry about the amount of unhealthy food intake, 'cause there's always my mom's home cook soup to cleanse those all away. To prove that I went all out with Malaysian food for the 2 months I was at home, I ended my summer, a few days before flying back to Hong Kong with an indigestion.

Chilli Pan Mee, SS15


Suki-Ya, Pavillion


Kanna Curry House, S17




Chocolate Durian, A Slice Of Heaven


Amber Jelly, Snowflake

I was crazy for food, having double-dose dinner, roti bom after a bowl of everyone's favourite chilli pan mee; home cook dinner, followed by KTZ Mango Loh and a shared plate of Nasi Lemak. Insane, but at least I enjoyed every bits. The last day, coming back from Genting, I had to drop by a clinic to check up, just in case something was really wrong with me.

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So here I am, back on campus, feeling slightly better but still occasionally being disgusted by oily food when at sight. Classes started 2 days ago, and I am trying to avoid meeting any juniors. Still in a denial that I'm now a Year 2 student, not having the privilege to act dumb and bum around campus saying you have nothing to do.

Food on campus was suppose to be better this semester, with the new vendors coming in. However now, I'm down with the lack of good food available on campus and is now suffering from minor depression. Even bought a cup noodle back to save some headache from looking at the cafeteria's menu that I am barely interested in.

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Came back with only a 20kg luggage, that pretty much explains that I only brought my usual clothing and the essentials. With the shopping ban going on, looks like the chances of having a style shot this semester is most likely zero. Being a girl, I packed for almost 30kg and had to take out all the useless stuff early in the morning, right before I left for the airport. And yes, of course, some scolding by my parents about procrastinating on my packing till the very last day and causing such situation, is always inevitable. However, mom being hypocritical, called me when I was in Hong Kong asking why did I not bring all my clothes over here. Parents, you'll never know what they want from you.

You know there's a saying that if your eyelid jumps, there is always something good or bad bound to happen. It all depends if it's the right or the left eyelid. For me, I had my left eyelid jumping while picking my breakfast out from the McD menu, true enough I had some emergency to solve right before I check in.

Lesson learnt, never ignore signs.

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I spent almost 16 hours on this post, of course on and off typing. After all the rambling and updates, it's time to sign off and continue unpacking.