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Friday 4 December 2015

Today's Topic: Rambling

December 04, 2015 0 Comments
As usual, I disappear for a good number of days but hey, today I am randomly super inspired and full of thoughts waiting to burst out of my head. These thoughts are most likely not gonna be coherent. But I just felt like writing today. Let's see what brilliant inspiration comes out from this writer's block.

Today's thoughts are all jumbled because I'm running on my 26th hour lack-of-sleep record after coming back from Dubai, and being superhero enough, I decided to chiong to my in-laws place straight away. I really think I'm quite a superhero because we went sightseeing in Dubai, hence did not sleep before working home. Upon touchdown at the airport, I bumped into a friend and drank tea with him before going home to put down my bags. And now, I'm on the train to my in-laws.
26 hours since I slept.
No wonder I get acne all over my face. T.T

On the train at 130pm now and it's been mad packed with people from Circle line to East-West line to the feeder bus. I keep staring at them and wondering who on earth these people really are in real life.

WHY aren't these people at work???
What do they do exactly???
What is their secret to being able to take train in the mid of a weekday and look as though time doesn't matter at all???

I stare and scrutinise, from their face to their dressing, to what they're saying...
And I still couldn't make much sense why SO MANY ADULTS are free on a weekday afternoon.

This is Singapore leh.

I miss those days when I was a primary/secondary school kid and going home at mid afternoon was my favourite activity of the day. Because it meant taking long bus rides that were empty and I always choose the longer route so I can sit by the window and just let the bus take me on a mini-tour. I could enjoy the quietness and coolness of my ride while watching the busy day go by. It's really quite therapeutic!

Sitting by the window helped me to absorb the scenery but also, you see your own reflection on the screen and helps you to reflect on yourself.

Look outside to look into yourself.

But these recent years, I can barely make it from one destination to another without having my personal space being invaded by some gorilla with swinging arms, some lady's ponytail in my face, or people watching drama on their phones jabbing their devices into my face.

The social aspect is ironically going against our technological and infrastructural advancements. Some kind of First world people's problem huh?

There's a advertisement these days about taking public transport more to help save our earth by reducing carbon transmission. It's quite a good advertisement but really? All this money pumped in to advertise a message. From those who own cars (perhaps even more than 1) telling the masses to stick to public transport so our earth can be a better place for everyone.

Thanks leh.

On a separate note, these days I find it increasingly difficult to express myself. I find myself losing my language ability and I'm not sure if it's because I've left school for quite awhile, or too much trash tv, or just my brain aging and therefore degenerating. :(

What's becoming of me?

Aging is such a scary process. Sometimes when I'm lying in bed and doing nothing, the sound of the clock ticking is so loud it rings in my head. I'll watch the clock move and it scares the shit out of me. I feel so helpless watching time go by and there's nothing I can do about it.

And then I continue staring at it and wasting my life away more.

Every second that goes by, is every second less of time left in your life. How much time is left? I need a clock on myself that tells me how much time I'm left with.
Geez, it's really really scary when you think about it that way.

I want to learn a new language.
I want to go back to dance.
I want to exercise.
I want to binge myself on good food.
I want to learn about childcare.
I want to earn lots of money.
I want to see more of the world.
I want to spend time with my family.
I want to spend more time with my husband. 
I want more rest.
I want to catch up with all my friends.  

I guess I need to prioritise but everything that I want to do is of equal importance to me! Choosing one thing means having to sacrifice another and it's frustrating. 

Any time I have outside of work is spent shuttling between my own home and my in-law's place. Yes I am tired, physically drained from travelling two places but I am grateful that I get to spend time with them. 
Once our own place arrives, we have 3 places to go and even more time and energy would be wasted. 

Life and time are such precious things. 

Why do people do stupid things like killing others.  

The recent events make me feel like we are  back to the war era. 

It's no longer history. It's not film.  It's real. It's very real. 

Maybe that's why no one's at work now and everyone's taking the train on a weekday afternoon. 

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Food Tasting for our Wedding dinner at Grand Hyatt

November 18, 2015 0 Comments
We did our food tasting about 2 months before our wedding and it just so happens that 2 months before was also my birthday. So I very shamelessly fixed the food tasting on my birthday and got both families to celebrate our upcoming wedding, but also my birthday!

One stone kill two birds. 

So we arrived and saw our names on the screen. It was exciting knowing that our big day was drawing nearer.





VIP Table with Floral Centrepiece (we went with baby's breath)


Guest Table with Floral Centrepiece (also baby's breath)



Took a picture of the chair too. Rather comfy and I liked it that it doesn't have that seat cover over it. Seat covers tend to shift as you sit on the chair and I personally get quite annoyed by that.


4 types of wedding favours.

We selected the 1st and 3rd one after trying them, which is the Green Tea and Raspberry Truffles, and Rose and Raspberry Macaroons.

I personally prefer food item for wedding favours because they are a good way to feed your guests before the dinner starts. While other hotels typically give coasters or whatnot and these usually take up space in the house, so I won't take them with me. But these macaroons and truffles, I can just pop them in my mouth!



My dad, sis, uncle & aunt (who was obviously very pleased with the pork belly)

Husband and both our parents :)


Didi and the soon-to-be newlyweds.





Below is our 8 Course Wedding Dinner Menu (Weekend)

Dish 1: Grand Hyatt Delights

Drunken live prawn shao xin wine wolfberries
Braised pork shank garlic chilli
Marinated jelly fish head vinegar, chilli oil
Canton roast duck breast plum sauce
Deep fried almond crusted seafood
Lemon grass chilli dip








Dish 2: Double boiled chicken broth, dried scallop, fish maw, matsutake mushroom (individual)


Dish 3: Braised duck, chinese herb, opal leaf wrap



Dish 4: Steamed live garoupa, Cantonese style

(On food tasting, the portion was huge. However, at the actual wedding, my VIP table did mention the portion didn't seem as big)




Dish 5: Braised whole abalone, sea cucumber, brown sauce (individual)




Check out the size of the abalone!



Dish 6: Wok fried deep sea scallops, asparagus, pine nut 





Dish 7: Slow cook kurobuta pork belly, fragrant fried rice in lotus leaf (individual)





Dish 8: Sweet yam paste, pumpkin coconut cream (individual)




Overall, Grand Hyatt's Chinese dinner menu is one of the best in Singapore. Premium quality ingredients and portion is huge too. We have attended a friend's wedding held there and despite being full at the 5th or 6th dish, we continued to eat because each dish was just too delicious! Similarly, at the food tasting, we were not disappointed.

However, at my own wedding, a handful of my guests mentioned that some food was cold but majority were very impressed by the menu. 

At $1860 per table, it'd better be impressive. 

Do take note that the 5th dish, which is served in a claypot, was EXTREMELY heavy for the (rather inexperienced) servers. They were unstable in serving the dish and many of my guests feedback saying that they were quite worried about it. I mean you can't blame them if the dish is super heavy but what's scary is that these servers served the dish ABOVE baby strollers/chairs with babies in them. >.<

Of all edges of the round table, you had to go above the babies??? 

The menu at Grand Hyatt really deserves to be much raved about. However, if you are considering holding your banquet there, I think the service team needs a lot of supervision. Either that, or we were just suay enough to have many things go wrong on our big day. :(

To learn more about their package, check out my post here Grand Hyatt Our Choice For Wedding Venue.

Most of our guests were unaware of the screw-ups and many were very satisfied with the food. So if you are looking at pleasing their tummies, then Grand Hyatt would definitely not disappoint, as long as Chef Low is there.



Nevertheless, we have wedded and I am happy and so proud to have all these people in my life. <3


Grand Hyatt - Our choice for the Wedding Venue

November 18, 2015 0 Comments
My apologies for the extremely extremely late post. Should have posted this way earlier together with my post on The Search For Our Wedding Banquet. Grand Hyatt was the choice and I never got to share their wedding package. But well, never too late! Here's there's package for 2015. At this stage, this package might be a little late but 2016 the package for shouldn't be too far off.

But I just want to highlight for those who are interested in Grand Hyatt, yes, the food and ambience at Grand Hyatt is awesome. But you might like to reconsider.

For I DID NOT have a good experience holding my wedding banquet there.

That I shall elaborate further only after meeting their Director of Events so he can follow up on service recovery. I have no intention of slamming them publicly but for the sake of other couples who are genuinely considering Grand Hyatt and are sincere in finding out more, do drop me an email.

Grand Hyatt











Address: 10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211
Nearest MRT Station: Orchard

Price for 2015
Weekday Dinner:

SGD1388 ++ per table of ten persons

Price for 2015
Weekday Dinner:

SGD1588 ++ per table of ten persons

Cost to break-even: SGD1860 per table

Minimum Tables Requirement:
  • 18 tables (weekday) / 20 tables (weekend) for The Gallery
  • 20 tables (weekday) / 25 tables (weekend) for The Grand Salon

Perks:
  • Complimentary food tasting for a table of 10 people valid only from Monday - Friday
  • Parking coupons (based on 30% of guranteed attendance)
  • Wedding invitation cards (based on 70% of guranteed attendance)
  • Free-flowing soft drinks, orange and guava juices, lychee iced tea and pink lemonade
  • A bottle of champagne for toasting
  • Specially decorated wedding cake with genuine top tier
  • Pre-wedding snacks for couple
  • Two nights stay in a Grand Suite with Club access
  • S$280 nett credit to spend during your two-night stay
  • Use of four high-definition LCD projectors and screens for video presentation at The Gallery
    Use of two high-definition LED screens for video presentation at Grand Salon
  • Valet parking for bridal car

For every booking of 25 tables and below:

3 wedding wishes to be selected for Mon - Thurs
2 wedding wishes to be selected for Fri - Sun, including eve of PHs/PHs

For every booking of 26 tables and above:

4 wedding wishes to be selected for Mon - Thurs
3 wedding wishes to be selected for Fri - Sun, including eve of PHs/PHs

  • One 30-litre barrel of beer
  • One bottle of house wine (choice of red or white wine) for each confirmed table
  • One night stay in out Grand Deluxe Room for helpers on wedding day
  • Two types of welcome canapes during pre drinks (for an hour)
  • The Martini Bar Experience during pre drinks (for an hour)
  • A Berdua-dua Spa Experience



Pros of Grand Hyatt: 
  • Known to serve one of the most delicious food among all the wedding banquets in Singapore 
  • Ingredients used for Chinese menu banquet are superb quality.
  • Good location, ideally located especially for weekday dinner for friends to come after work. About 5 minutes walk from Orchard MRT
  • 1 ballroom per level with spacious reception area, not easily confused if there are other functions
  • Changing room just beside ballroom, no need to go to bridal suite for changing of gowns
  • Function room available for solemnization

Cons of Grand Hyatt:
  • Too much to be mentioned. We are so disappointed with the service. 
  • Welcome card in Bridal Suite with misspelled last name. Only goes to show how much attention is given to the newlyweds holding their wedding there. 


Our Verdict: 

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.

Grand Hyatt's food and venue and ballroom was amazing. We had nothing to complain about with regards to that.

But the service provided to us on our big day was a huge letdown. It was beyond disappointing and definitely unworthy of being 5 stars, not to mention the hefty amount we paid!


Grand Hyatt is absolutely beautiful and I'm certain our pictures turned out well. The food was beyond amazing but for the sum that we paid for, that was just about all that was worth. My husband and I went through a very stressful night thanks to the Service Captain who was in charge of our event. I shall not go into details for now as I'm still giving them a chance to do service recovery. So let's see how they perform from here.

My friend who held her wedding there on a different date had no major complains though. Either her event turned out well, or my husband and I are difficult to serve. But if you were to hear about what happened at my wedding, I think you'd agree that the hotel really screwed up our wedding.




*** UPDATE***

http://esthan.blogspot.sg/2016/06/update-grand-hyatt-our-choice-for.html 

Our Wedding - 30 OCT 2015

November 18, 2015 0 Comments
So Simon and I got married on 30 October 2015!

It has been hectic prior to the wedding and it felt like there was so much to be done but yet, our big day just went by in a flash. And I mean, IN A FLASH. Just like that!

I kept reminding myself to enjoy every bit of this process, and I really think I did! Despite being overwhelmed by the preparations, especially so 2 weeks before the wedding. I think I barely slept for 5 days straight prior to the big day! True enough, the night before the wedding, I barely slept a wink. It wasn't due to excitement, it was more like, rushing to finish up last minute duties. >.<

And someone warned me before that on the wedding day, you will be so tired from lack of sleep, the day's busy schedule, and your cheeks will be sore from smiling from ear to ear at every moment. On the other hand, I think I was the exact opposite! It's quite amazing how Simon and I were running on lack of sleep and yet I think we were both glowing on our big day. (not shy to think that we were both glowing). I think it could be the adrenaline rush and also, we were both truly happy on that day.
Either that, or I'm just very used to smiling. (职业病, haha)

But I can also understand where she was coming from. The adrenaline rush only comes when something is going on, like when he was playing the games at the gate-crash, or when the camera is in your face, or when a relative comes by and talks to you. But at moments where nothing is happening, that's when I would feel the physical exhaustion - such as my face weary from the heavy makeup, or the weight of the gown on my body. To be honest, the tightness of the corset-like gown around my body was the hardest to bear! Everyone was telling me how small my waist is, and I'd tell them the trick is the tying the corset tight. Seriously, it was so tight that I wouldn't be surprised if I blanked out. Thank god I didn't.

We really enjoyed every moment of our big day but I don't quite remember all of it because I didn't sleep the night(s) before and there were SOOOO many things happening all at once. But I'm glad to have photos from that day so I can look back and smile at those moments. I personally think the best investment for our wedding was our team of camera crew, I'm super glad I got a team of 3 photographers/videographers! 3 might seem like a lot but the more the merrier! That way, not only we are captured on screen but so are our family and friends. :D

We have not gotten back the photographs from them yet as they are still in the midst of editing. But I am waiting very patiently for them for I believe patience begets good things!

In the meantime, here are some pictures from friends and families who took them using their phones. :D























Being married now feels.... the same and also, different.

The same as in between Simon and I, nothing has changed. We love each other just the same, perhaps a little more. Maybe it's also because our house isn't ready yet, so there isn't a major change in our daily lives. But yes, we're still indulging in the newlyweds bliss. We go to bed (on our new bed) feeling that our queen-sized bed is too big for us and end up tossing a pillow away so we can sleep on the same pillow. We wake up and feel a tinge of sadness when one has to leave for work.

It's different in the sense that now we make more effort towards both families. It's true that marriage is not just between two people, but two families. Now I don't just go to Simon's house as and when I feel like it. I make an effort to sleep there as much as I can, and make the bed after I wake. (I usually can't be bothered to make the bed) Still getting used to calling my new parents Mum and Dad but they are the nicest parents-in-law that I know, so I try my best too. But it's difficult because I want to be home with my own parents too. This "leaving home after marriage" thing didn't struck me before. But now I feel it and I don't feel good because I feel so torn even though I don't get pressure from any side. Self-inflicted burden. >.<


Also, getting married has opened my eyes to a lot of things. Particularly, showed me how much friends and some family members care for me. Some people really go all out and help me out in every way that they can.

For example, my dearest cousin Elvina, who was also my maid of honour, really did everything for me throughout the entire day. Things like running around ensuring the tasks I've given her are well executed, and also putting aside her own image and putting me first since it's my big day. Or wiping my sweat and holding on to that disgusting tissue paper. It's really acts like this that shows you how much this person cares for you. I thank my good fortune for a sister like her. :D

Also, my other bridesmaid, Shiying, who went around Singapore finding items for my gatecrash, stayed up late to help me prepare for the wedding, and even accidentally got her leg burnt by the exhaust pipe while helping me shift things from her car boot, etc.

Not to mention my family and friends who helped out in one way or another. Be it financially, physically or spiritually. I really felt the love from them as they showed their love for me in their own ways. The list is exhaustive. I am so loved by so many people! <3


But of course, there were people that disappointed me as well. People that you think cared about you actually couldn't care less about your big day. It was quite an eye-opener as I learnt that not everyone is as enthusiastic as I am about my wedding. Some people you hold dear to you, and would like to have them at your wedding can simply say "Sorry not free", without any words of blessings following that "Sorry not free". And up till this day, not a single word from them still.

Or those who failed to show up on that day. Major disappointment.

Or those who are usually big spenders and splurge on themselves, clad in branded from head to toe, can give an angpow that is unbelievably pathetic. When I say unbelievably pathetic, I mean it. Not that I'm using angpow as a measure of that person, I really am not. But if you are close to that person, and you can afford to splurge on yourself most of the time, then how can I not use your angpow as a gauge for your blessings to me?

I cannot decide if it's better for these people to even show up or not.

But certain things... 心里有数就好。



On becoming Mrs Chiu, Mr Chiu has taught me a virtue in always seeing the good in everyone. It's amazing how calm and positive he is in dramatic and ridiculous situations. He never holds any grudges and never has anything bad to say about anyone! Despite all, Simon and his family always knows how to give, even when others haven't given at all. Thank god for him in my life, for he helps me focus on being a better person. And I am! Choosing to focus only on the good and happy things at my wedding and feel blessed by all the love showered upon me than the negative ones that certainly don't deserve my attention.

Being married to Simon now has matured me a little and I must say, 我学会怎么做人。To be a good person, is to know how to treat people around you right.



Thank you for reading this lengthy post. Say Hi to Mrs Chiu! :D