Quote of The Day-28 April 2009

"Doing something unimportant well does not make it important."~Timothy Ferriss (Author of 'The 4-Hour Workweek')

Quote of The Day-27 April 2009

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."~Oscar Wilde, Irish dramatist and novelist.

What Price Education?

Received a Beijing call. Pleasant surprise as it is from a friend who had relocated to China sometime back. As we chatted, the conversation led to his young son starting Primary 1.
If you do not know, the cost of living in China can be too much to bear sometimes. In a place rife with counterfeit products, fake goods (foodstuff even!) and substandard service, the system punishes people and makes them pay 'premium' rates if they want quality assurance.
Education is one of them.
My friend is sending his son to a British International School in Beijing and he said he is cutting back on his personal expenses to give his son a 'better education'.
I ran a check online and here is one:

Shanghai Singapore International School (SSIS)
288 Jidi Road, Zhudi town, Minhang district, Shanghai 201107
TEL: 62219288
Website: www.ssischool.com
Following the Singapore school system, the Singapore Chinese (second) language syllabus is also taught. Fees range from USD 7,000 for kindergarten to USD 12,000 for upper primary (P4-P6). The school is a 3-storey building which includes an indoor gymnasium, computer labs, a science lab, and drama room. There is also an outdoor playing field and mini basket ball courts.

Very impressive. 7000 USD for kindergarten. And we complain tertiary fees are rocketing. I am SO looking forward to being a parent residing in a developing country.

Plastiq Fun-Anteprima

I have no idea what hit me. I thought fashion is going green these days but somehow or rather, ladies must be attracted to shiny objects--be it in the form 0f glitter make up or account depleting diamonds.

Fortunately for myself, I can do without much of the latter, save for significant jewellery pieces that carry symbolic meanings.

Today, a shiny (ungreen) object caught my eye.

Now, Anteprima Plastiq wire bags have been around for the longest time-since 1998. I think subconsciously, the image of the bag imprinted itself onto the recesses of my mind since Junior College school days when it had a counter in Takashimaya, Orchard.

More recently, another standalone shop has been opened in a very visible spot in Raffles City. I think somehow the liking to the bags crept into my heart quietly without fanfare.

Pre purchase, I read up on the labourious knitting technique of the PVC wire cord. The special cord has iridescent light diffusing properties. Reacting to all types of light rays, it emits a multi-directional shine that glitters like beads. This unique material is resilient in nature allowing flexibility in shape and volume.

Go to the website: Anteprima Plastiq

Current object of desire? Anteprima Standard (Wire bag) in Argento

At a price tag of 33,600 yen or $500 + SGD per bag, it is a little hard to stomach
that you are paying so much on plastic materials. Although they claim it takes an entire day to knit the cord into a bag, the production line is in China and you know the design house is capitalizing on cheaper labour to manufacture their products.

Oh well. So I bought one. Equally well made, same material but different design. I half suspect the source is the same, just that these were made from the available unsold raw materials and sold for a song. Might as well. I don't think I will pay good money for plastic instead of durable leather.

Photo Shoot 2009

Visited the Laneige roadshow at Bugis Junction recently with Aileen to pick up some products and they have a complimentary makeover with purchase. So here's my first photo shoot of 2009.

Spring/Summer 2009 Look

Korean Food at Franky's Kaffe Kitchen

Photo credit from joslovesfood

Fiona bought me lunch one Friday afternoon and being Korean, she recommended a nice cosy Korean cafe at Millenia Walk called 'Franky's Kaffe Kitchen' that serves authentic Korean fare.

We had bibimbap -steamed rice, meat and vegetables and ddok bok ki (떡볶이)-korean rice cake in spicy sauce.

Bibimbap (I love the minced beef! It's marinated to perfection)
Rice cake in spicy sauce (The type ladies eat while bonding in K-dramas. I won't risk talking with my mouth full of it though. It's sticky, chewy and choke inducing, if you're not careful.)

The setting is laid back on a placid 'end of week' afternoon. The food was yummy and the company was fabulous.