tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466675578041984152024-03-20T01:49:18.894+08:00Alex Wears StuffI wear clothes. I go to work. I share my pictures with you. alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-780207685693995912020-06-01T16:51:00.002+08:002020-06-01T16:52:45.969+08:002020: Warm heart heart feelings in these crazy crazy times<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Durians, curry puffs and a candle | Gifts from my ex-colleagues giving me the warm heart heart feelings.</td></tr>
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Hello 2020, you gigantic dumpster fire of a year.<br />
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This is the year when humanity (at least in my short lifetime) feels under siege - Raging wildfires, disastrous climate change and environmental issues, political and racial riots, and of course, who could forget, Covid-19. This feels like some global-scale nightmare.<br />
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On a personal level, I lost my job.<br />
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Framed this way, it really registers as such a non-event compared to the gravity of the situation around. When it happened, I was sad and worried. But now that some days have gone by, the sadness is gone and I'm grateful for so many things.<br />
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Ex-colleagues and people I worked closely with have reached out offering support, kind words, assistance and FOOD! This newfound time affords me the opportunities to think about what I was good at doing, and what I might want to try to do next. It's given me the time to take care of my loved ones and think about how I can improve on my shortcomings.<br />
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I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's been a really strange and uncomfortable time but I'm hopeful that things will get better and that while we will struggle for a while, we will rally and we will survive and hopefully, we will thrive.<br />
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Sure, I'm still a little worried about the future. But at least now, I have durian to stress eat.<br />
<br />alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-10056659900254244112018-05-31T21:44:00.001+08:002018-05-31T21:44:11.643+08:00Oh hey strangerHiiiii! <div>
So as you know, I got a new job and it's been incredibly challenging and busy so I haven't been blogging. Well life has taken all kinds of twists and turns and I'll be honest, I'm not in the best of places right now, but I realised that I really missed writing nonsense and spewing it out into the universe so I decided it was time to get back in here. </div>
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Life. Is. Hard. </div>
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But it is first-world-problem-hard so it's probably not so bad. </div>
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How do I remain positive in the face of adversity? ... No I'm asking. Really. Someone tell me. </div>
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But ok, let's see... How do I cope when the sadness monster crawls out from under the bed? Aside from crying a lot, which really isn't unusual since I'm weak sauce...</div>
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1. Bathe - Cleanliness is next to godliness. Washing away the grime helps the soul. </div>
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2. Read - Nic lent me a bunch of self-help books which I really should read at a quicker pace (I've never been one for self-help so it's a bit zzzzzzz to get through!) </div>
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3. Shop - I've been buying a lot of toiletries lately, maybe because of point 1. </div>
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4. Dance - I sometimes pretend to be a ballerina in the privacy of my own room. It usually involves some ankle spraining. Worth it. </div>
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5. Face stuffage - OMNOMNOMNOMNOM! </div>
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How do you cope with the blues? </div>
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Thanks for reading, ciao till another year or something. </div>
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-78824310085711751052017-09-06T12:00:00.000+08:002017-09-06T12:00:25.445+08:00New beginnings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A huge shout out to Samson, @7braidstrong for another fun shoot and for making me hang out in a random carpark/fake basketball court. It's always a dope time with him. Follow him on Insta and check out more of his work at 7braidstrong.com.<br />
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Anyway, this series of shots became all the more special because I'm using this post to bookmark a change in my life. Having worked in the same financial institution for over five years, I've decided to try something new and will be moving into a new industry - e-commerce! I'm excited by the tech space and I can't wait to be inspired by that whole start-up life. <br />
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Obviously I'm nervous too, it's a big change and I'm taking a big step out of my comfort zone but if not now, then when, am I right?<br />
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I actually felt a little melancholic when I made my intention to leave known, as it brought back many wonderful memories, getting to know so many people, and having so many great experiences.<br />
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Things I will miss include but are not limited to:<br />
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<li>Proximity to acai bowls</li>
<li>The ease of simply hopping on a train to get some Tori Q</li>
<li>Free Nescafe coffee that coffee snobs would turn their nose up to, but that I've gotten very accustomed to</li>
<li>Free company exercise activities </li>
<li>Egg tarts from Hong Lim Park</li>
<li>Full length mirrors in bathrooms with great natural lighting for when you wanna show your friend your outfit cos it's totally on point that day</li>
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Last but not least, my work friends! If you're reading this, keep fighting the good fight and soaring towards greater achievements. Thank you for all the guidance, care and advice over the years/months of knowing me. Working was made easier with you around and you will be deeply missed.<br />
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Anyway, onward ho! Thanks for reading! BIG HUGS!</div>
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-6585611399822763462017-07-15T13:24:00.001+08:002017-07-15T13:24:10.231+08:00You give good face<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So I wrote a <a href="http://www.alexwearsstuff.com/2017/06/nyx-face-awards-singapore.html" target="_blank">post</a> about this a while back when Nic was vying to be shortlisted for the top 6 out of 15 finalists for Nyx Singapore's inaugural Face Awards. Anyway, because of her talent, hardwork and dedication, she actually was shortlisted for the top 6!<br />
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Her third and final challenge was to create a makeup video around the theme of "Royalty" and she decided to do a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlnRtSQxJZI" target="_blank">video</a> of TWO looks - The queen of light and the queen of darkness! Nic has a lot to be proud of, she's a self-taught special effects makeup artist, a newbie to video creation and editing, and also a newly minted pro skills props maker (she made her crowns and sceptor from scratch)!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcY6akBUNwRrgK01CbD44yUrMoCSgbgM-xli7G_uKS8QlShgb45AqZ2p2y3uvTac9utd9KMEAfhYSWlon99L-Y8nkj-1jxbOI89oh2vBBAyaQWyWRr70iemXN8L9KERSm6IhOkpsqVj6q/s1600/GEJD4738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcY6akBUNwRrgK01CbD44yUrMoCSgbgM-xli7G_uKS8QlShgb45AqZ2p2y3uvTac9utd9KMEAfhYSWlon99L-Y8nkj-1jxbOI89oh2vBBAyaQWyWRr70iemXN8L9KERSm6IhOkpsqVj6q/s640/GEJD4738.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mad pro makeup skillz and photos courtesy of @electric.eggplant</td></tr>
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The award ceremony to announce Nyx Singapore's first ever "Beauty Vlogger of the Year" was held on the 13th of July at Pixel Studios and invited us to get to know each of the 6 finalists a little better while also showcasing their videos. I thought they all did well but obviously I was rooting for Nic to win and to get $5000 worth of Nyx makeup and an all-expenses paid trip to California to attend the <a href="https://www.faceawards.com/" target="_blank">Nyx USA Face Awards Finals</a>. Unfortunately, Nic didn't manage to bag the top prize (which went to Rosalie Parnes who goes by @wink818) but I think she's got so much to be proud of since she really grew from strength to strength, learned crazy awesome makeup skills as she competed, and delivered masterful looks that were winners in my eyes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn_PN3zH4oivGhRb7Lzaj-1JSPwOJru21kzpRQ5f6YMYLxcJSQhZjRDDbc8s_GfQ98Qi4-grAfI9kAjF9Fu-rl7ngzZ67Ebz6wRQHdOwyWyo7g48FC7eaHuu68P9XXIOa6gxNITxH6kwT/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn_PN3zH4oivGhRb7Lzaj-1JSPwOJru21kzpRQ5f6YMYLxcJSQhZjRDDbc8s_GfQ98Qi4-grAfI9kAjF9Fu-rl7ngzZ67Ebz6wRQHdOwyWyo7g48FC7eaHuu68P9XXIOa6gxNITxH6kwT/s640/IMG_0481.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giving her short interview about what inspired her looks</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKtwr8p0msYA9EyMuHpsrLdsCMi5DB4XvMrULKCVwnolpWbkAfogNJHQB1l32ueTyg2B4QroOZwHqrFLms_w1uYTdqOvHmmpVGUrMjlRH145goCQAMyQ4yKoOmCqo-KJuCStlljTHCmDY/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKtwr8p0msYA9EyMuHpsrLdsCMi5DB4XvMrULKCVwnolpWbkAfogNJHQB1l32ueTyg2B4QroOZwHqrFLms_w1uYTdqOvHmmpVGUrMjlRH145goCQAMyQ4yKoOmCqo-KJuCStlljTHCmDY/s640/IMG_0483.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finalists and judges</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq83p5uNg0lMFU6lYy2L0YyevoLF5O2HbYIlQ4n4uh3bOmaPFE-uuEyFwnf1EulBRMm5cAPRrMi_AKLJEuOKhuUV6NYcHV57CFd_uplb-ZRS-Di_oDlbCf0_JXnvQeUGhyEHcjedZAh-80/s1600/IMG_0491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq83p5uNg0lMFU6lYy2L0YyevoLF5O2HbYIlQ4n4uh3bOmaPFE-uuEyFwnf1EulBRMm5cAPRrMi_AKLJEuOKhuUV6NYcHV57CFd_uplb-ZRS-Di_oDlbCf0_JXnvQeUGhyEHcjedZAh-80/s640/IMG_0491.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still a winner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOYkmsXgWblNbvL-S3ORUp0K8qUZ2esZv4CzjL0oosBzWabXPi0zPu3FMQBJjs20eDbdWNob0lZ0TgrzM8YNjmt2cBORmaSb2NmnZztSJH7rgbDONrRdg8YA7jmxy0krsOT9c6QHlkYbW/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOYkmsXgWblNbvL-S3ORUp0K8qUZ2esZv4CzjL0oosBzWabXPi0zPu3FMQBJjs20eDbdWNob0lZ0TgrzM8YNjmt2cBORmaSb2NmnZztSJH7rgbDONrRdg8YA7jmxy0krsOT9c6QHlkYbW/s640/IMG_0498.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OOTN!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uL_pjZsxvGsM3gw64Do6PYiDXtZag6ylJJOs0sGANRFqktP1wC4qESanK2bJifW9G1F_7UsP0rPKRkYTL0vBviaVQ6_fe1H4V8BnBE9sFXgWiSBQsgwyspBuXOfOtDorFjfasYayhzm-/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uL_pjZsxvGsM3gw64Do6PYiDXtZag6ylJJOs0sGANRFqktP1wC4qESanK2bJifW9G1F_7UsP0rPKRkYTL0vBviaVQ6_fe1H4V8BnBE9sFXgWiSBQsgwyspBuXOfOtDorFjfasYayhzm-/s640/IMG_0467.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Le makeup by yours truly complete with insane flyaways</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRac_lxXJWZOOFmR6Tfg3aa2qUepOg2Rg5hJsUcAEDJdkOcK-xeZqH1vdkMmHyEjK3Rr-3bFBCD-qaoF9vmioh64cSMGsTzbfENSagS2ih65cX4pputSV5ybh03xV0SbsJW9oGBCHg5yn/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRac_lxXJWZOOFmR6Tfg3aa2qUepOg2Rg5hJsUcAEDJdkOcK-xeZqH1vdkMmHyEjK3Rr-3bFBCD-qaoF9vmioh64cSMGsTzbfENSagS2ih65cX4pputSV5ybh03xV0SbsJW9oGBCHg5yn/s640/IMG_0505.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With pro makeup artist Larry Yeo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouse squad for life</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm always ruining normal photos</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Didn't get the memo that we were doing "sexy"</td></tr>
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So I thought I would write a post to commemorate the event and pay tribute to Nic's skills, talent, passion and diligence. If you're a makeup junkie, or someone who appreciates art, or even just someone who appreciates hard work, please give her your support. Watch her videos on her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTnEvJ4TD5395EHtPLyNRHw" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> and follow her on instagram at @electric.eggplant and do send her positive vibes!<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-47174964975940587072017-07-13T14:49:00.001+08:002017-07-13T14:49:58.068+08:00Dark brown is the new blackSo when I was 12 years old, my classmate found the first strand of white hair in my head. She sat behind me in class and saw it shining on my head and she helped me pull it out. Then she found a whole treasure trove of them and proceeded very monkey-like to help me rid my poor head of them. My teacher told us to quit it but that day really cemented my lifelong yearning for ridding my head of them.<br />
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I'm not 12 anymore so by now you can imagine those little a$$holes have multiplied and spread like some disease on a colony for the diseased. I may be being dramatic right now, hard to tell. Since pulling them off my head, while satisfying, could potentially turn me into a bald eagle (minus the cool eagle flying bit), I've had to turn to less violent methods.<br />
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I used to dye my hair with either L'oreal or some Japanese brand box dye. But now with my no animal testing policy, I've shifted away from that and found a non animal-tested brand on <a href="http://iherb.com/" target="_blank">iHerb</a> called <a href="http://usa.herbatint.com/" target="_blank">Herbatint</a>!<br />
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We don't really have many cruelty-free solutions for hair dye here in Singapore so I really didn't have much of a choice but I combed iHerb for all the hair dye brands they had and found that this one had good reviews so I thought I'd try it out. I normally buy jet black dye and kinda let it fade to my natural soft black but I read that the product was quite dark so I chose the 2N dark brown.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3T6P5uxce9wU93jQ1x8cbe86KwjCASZML4eOHHbAS91qzIVQ1ygy6Q4kRXK-_kddxZ8evAVOXnjy2wNAyWOKlxBAC99ERPDjTsUeJ6gISZwcjwljoOZFG9XniAXJBtHwmyTIK-8xO_zZ/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3T6P5uxce9wU93jQ1x8cbe86KwjCASZML4eOHHbAS91qzIVQ1ygy6Q4kRXK-_kddxZ8evAVOXnjy2wNAyWOKlxBAC99ERPDjTsUeJ6gISZwcjwljoOZFG9XniAXJBtHwmyTIK-8xO_zZ/s640/IMG_0146.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The product comes in two little bottles and you need to pour it into a plastic or glass bowl in equal proportions and then mix it to make it to a gel-like consistency. Slap on the plastic gloves and spread it into the hair like a pro. Although I failed at that part. I'm used to using bottle applicators so this was kind of a mess but I was prepared and had spread newspaper all over my bathroom floor like I was going to be painting my bathroom.<br />
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After applying it kind of messily all over my head, I waited 40 minutes (according to the box, this is super important to be adhered to) and then washed it off. It didn't smell unpleasant like the normal ammonia dye I used to use, and it wasn't too drippy (although I used a disposable shower cap over just in case)<br />
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Because of its more natural ingredients, it definitely didn't make my hair feel like it had been treated to a chemical bath, and I felt that less hair than normal fell. In addition, my hair didn't smell gross!<br />
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I think I'm pleased with the results. It's been about a week since, and my hair looks pretty good, it's covered most of the white hairs (except for those I missed because I'm so bad at DIY hair dyeing).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrGlGMCR6f2zxFIN8lH25JhUxThcsY36igxcho_Zj8Nqg6A4OHijEt2gTps4Kuh85QJZlzQVhkkOS5O-nhcC8WTc0bcqGINnR7N41287m-QDx-WiGZPBKH7agGh9sdXZBWq1Jp_aJQrBM/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrGlGMCR6f2zxFIN8lH25JhUxThcsY36igxcho_Zj8Nqg6A4OHijEt2gTps4Kuh85QJZlzQVhkkOS5O-nhcC8WTc0bcqGINnR7N41287m-QDx-WiGZPBKH7agGh9sdXZBWq1Jp_aJQrBM/s640/IMG_0213.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damn I look good with this new shade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Pros of Herbatint:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Cruelty-free</li>
<li>Doesn't smell gross</li>
<li>Covers white hairs</li>
<li>Natural ingredients are not harsh on the hair</li>
<li>Affordable - It's about S$15 on iHerb</li>
</ul>
<div>
Cons of Herbatint:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>No applicator so can be messy to apply</li>
<li>The gloves provided aren't great, they're too short I feel</li>
</ul>
<div>
All in all, I'm pleased with the purchase and happy to repurchase when the time comes (boo hiss I hate you white hairs!!!)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA8P5W-Zq2H3w1ketQrTe2arf2Kee-QDW3Fco5_pefqxLFtSMHjjWGnKyhyKh8-KcrrbaZPpyJ3oTGR2kdu0_x37NZHzyDgARyLAGU3rcH-reMcCaABAcY942_n8JN8n4ysrnY3jJyeYm/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGA8P5W-Zq2H3w1ketQrTe2arf2Kee-QDW3Fco5_pefqxLFtSMHjjWGnKyhyKh8-KcrrbaZPpyJ3oTGR2kdu0_x37NZHzyDgARyLAGU3rcH-reMcCaABAcY942_n8JN8n4ysrnY3jJyeYm/s640/IMG_0358.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hair that's as dark as my soul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thanks for reading!</div>
</div>
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-78155998358003824912017-06-22T09:17:00.003+08:002017-06-22T09:17:51.845+08:00Scissors, Paper, MICE! Update postHey y'all, so I was going to edit the <a href="http://www.alexwearsstuff.com/2017/06/scissors-paper-mice.html" target="_blank">original post</a> but it's already crazy long so here's a new post about the same thing because one can never get enough of TP amirite?!?<br />
<br />
So, I think a couple of days after the original post, I received a response from NooTrees. Coinkidink? I think not! Obviously the people at NooTrees love reading very amateur blogs by flaky women.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX7QTBeUyl1NHSrJIFI8Bfn0XSV-2BQUYtesHf1k2WYLCsgbRouAIAuA7xtWMcZjRbBpa2BLriBA6n7h8uCyMvjtcaSOvjFiNCW9Mwh5Tkkj1u_Hx7Ljh2Gm4HUhWUhxQa0NUAlh6cqmy/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="726" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX7QTBeUyl1NHSrJIFI8Bfn0XSV-2BQUYtesHf1k2WYLCsgbRouAIAuA7xtWMcZjRbBpa2BLriBA6n7h8uCyMvjtcaSOvjFiNCW9Mwh5Tkkj1u_Hx7Ljh2Gm4HUhWUhxQa0NUAlh6cqmy/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NooTrees responded on Monday 19 June</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anyway, yay that they don't test on animals. Boo that they take over a month to respond to Facebook messages. But I guess I can't blame them, I don't always reply Facebook messages, especially ones from crazy hippies.<br />
<br />
Anyhoodle. Because I was so chuffed about <a href="http://cloversoft.com.sg/" target="_blank">CloverSoft's</a> response times and highly informative responses, I decided to tell them that I blogged about them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkWQ_9PDrkm_DQBY6f5v8hZv9I77tZnGLeGO1R745pZF6CMwUBwmCN3cO16GPU3myA__10cdsxxtzCQAtx_sYb7EDZGGPaocpMxw19PmcK5GcnKr9CljrBgzunCR7eC8RRBdI8p9Kg79W/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkWQ_9PDrkm_DQBY6f5v8hZv9I77tZnGLeGO1R745pZF6CMwUBwmCN3cO16GPU3myA__10cdsxxtzCQAtx_sYb7EDZGGPaocpMxw19PmcK5GcnKr9CljrBgzunCR7eC8RRBdI8p9Kg79W/s400/2.jpg" width="331" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-DDoSAAk2Kkq59q_QlM8beUsWzLL1ja6px1bJcHlszSt3mi881csThsHAkgU2Uzsm8CbmXz06uU_cemZrV5RnVem-ou5NysqjvtWhDBr_eR9xrQOjEkNjcg8K4dUe0fQiFGbvICbHlr2/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="750" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-DDoSAAk2Kkq59q_QlM8beUsWzLL1ja6px1bJcHlszSt3mi881csThsHAkgU2Uzsm8CbmXz06uU_cemZrV5RnVem-ou5NysqjvtWhDBr_eR9xrQOjEkNjcg8K4dUe0fQiFGbvICbHlr2/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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They were kind enough to continue responding in their typical loving fashion. But then they totally did me one better:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzXT8zfZbLgS_RaTo53c2E2Nvd9GGSZLc52EdUrEKUzYbY-ErWZ9k_REXyTPlYN16MV6DteEfVUIGk5iqOkkg5H4zkc3JIMeA8aHr2xfQ-IU2b0DSCDWuSq6Ure5c_5ISNazG82BafgBm/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="732" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzXT8zfZbLgS_RaTo53c2E2Nvd9GGSZLc52EdUrEKUzYbY-ErWZ9k_REXyTPlYN16MV6DteEfVUIGk5iqOkkg5H4zkc3JIMeA8aHr2xfQ-IU2b0DSCDWuSq6Ure5c_5ISNazG82BafgBm/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AWESOME LA FREE STUFF!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFN2KxQOyW2gRMmtWLAoQvQH0rJEqqjponP0Llg50HuZLmK4_fCclnQ7UZOV8cCFoLJDkPG4JfX__Xufa0Tn-gfPr9mRbrt68DJmcYfl4f-UhygkUAST65lZozxWnG7wwntl5aH5iXzny/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="748" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFN2KxQOyW2gRMmtWLAoQvQH0rJEqqjponP0Llg50HuZLmK4_fCclnQ7UZOV8cCFoLJDkPG4JfX__Xufa0Tn-gfPr9mRbrt68DJmcYfl4f-UhygkUAST65lZozxWnG7wwntl5aH5iXzny/s400/5.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like a broken robot, I reiterated the no animal testing thing. Beggars CAN be choosers apparently.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CIPMDKmWYSAPX0nV0juW3ebsA50iBxDeCg-YVbzwNfzvXAfCj4dsEbmVnAkLUApTQMmINVKBThX4MzLem7Kk29ggZp0oug2NQa2mMSM7Dm_bfh3GEXBYinIGBmqvLK0ey9jYqACcvTb_/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="744" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CIPMDKmWYSAPX0nV0juW3ebsA50iBxDeCg-YVbzwNfzvXAfCj4dsEbmVnAkLUApTQMmINVKBThX4MzLem7Kk29ggZp0oug2NQa2mMSM7Dm_bfh3GEXBYinIGBmqvLK0ey9jYqACcvTb_/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a love-fest and Clovie and I are going steady now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And within 2 days...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4AX62pdM3e0cMf4ucEP2rx1TzsmpVxU-gu1e7pIbGi7VX62oH25buL0kaFwGvd77XVHZM-gIj70zWnCxRIPGAimEpSxE7-TZg2BELnbW_Fz-rJnMebX2HTRvURnp2JnNjbVZmhlU77cy/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4AX62pdM3e0cMf4ucEP2rx1TzsmpVxU-gu1e7pIbGi7VX62oH25buL0kaFwGvd77XVHZM-gIj70zWnCxRIPGAimEpSxE7-TZg2BELnbW_Fz-rJnMebX2HTRvURnp2JnNjbVZmhlU77cy/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To add to my $80 collection of tissue paper!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
PREMIUM TISSUE PAPER YOU GUYS!! I'm basically the Gywneth Paltrow of tissue paper (which means to say I'm fancy). <br />
<br />
Anyway, this isn't an ad for CloverSoft, nor was I sponsored by them, although I guess now I kinda am a little since I got some free stuff. Is this what it feels like to be an influencer???<br />
<br />
Thank you Clovie and the CloverSoft team for making me fancy, adding to my TP collection, and for giving me yet another reason to write a blog about TP!<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
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<br />alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-76856133865704535772017-06-17T09:54:00.000+08:002017-06-17T09:54:56.373+08:00Scissors, paper, MICE!Hello, so you may recall that I said in this <u><a href="http://www.alexwearsstuff.com/2017/04/spring-in-bloom.html" target="_blank">blog post</a></u> that I'm becoming some tree-hugging-animal saving-earth-mama. Well, since then, I've definitely embarked on quite the project. For me, the lowest hanging fruit was to take a stand against the use of animal-testing in beauty and household products, my belief for this is really that I don't want to give my money to companies that support something I believe is unethical and largely unnecessary. I thought this would be fairly simple, but hey, guess what, it's a HUGE endeavour. Bet you've never thought about all the products in your house that are produced by brands that conduct animal testing. It is, in official and totally quantifiable terms, a BUTTLOAD.<br />
<br />
Basically, huge conglomerates own everything and in order to maximise profits, they sell globally and are required by some country laws and regulations to conduct safety checks which include testing their products on animals. A good indication of whether things are tested on animals is if they are sold in China, as laws require it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlweqTQsLC4HG6AppArurB6JihpcB_XioISUsxlfq7SrZeTfYrXhBdHvbDUb4z_ZpW4GpvgPrSVjgiMutVPUzg_jbP4Kq5QhDrbPaahk2nskG2RabO0n5G9tlUN8ak668mvzGL5BrV4xJT/s1600/20131124_o10corps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1600" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlweqTQsLC4HG6AppArurB6JihpcB_XioISUsxlfq7SrZeTfYrXhBdHvbDUb4z_ZpW4GpvgPrSVjgiMutVPUzg_jbP4Kq5QhDrbPaahk2nskG2RabO0n5G9tlUN8ak668mvzGL5BrV4xJT/s640/20131124_o10corps.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic taken from <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-11-24/10-corporations-control-almost-everything-you-buy" target="_blank">Zero Hedge</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, as I embark on this insane journey of obsessive replacing my regularly used product for cruelty-free ones, my commitment is to do my best to eliminate products from companies that conduct animal testing, <u>within reason</u>. What this means is that because I have a mortgage to pay, I'm probably not going to pay like 3 times more for a product just to escape a company that tests on animals, because that wouldn't be sustainable in the long run.<br />
<br />
Today, my post is about something that most probably wouldn't spend much time thinking about - paper products. I'm talking about tissue paper and toilet roll! I have a really bad habit of using a lot of paper products, be it to clean my ears after I get outta the shower, or even when pooping (I mean, come on, no one wants to have some one-ply wipe situation. That is just unsanitary and you might as well poke your poop with your finger if so). I'm trying to cut down on how much I use of course because let's save the trees but let's get that pesky animal testing thing out of the way as well.<br />
<br />
Anyway, what I've used since forever: Kleenex<br />
<br />
Kleenex is a famous household brand owned by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, one of those giant conglomerates that probably produces a large percentage of your personal and healthcare products. Long story short: <a href="http://www.cms.kimberly-clark.com/umbracoimages/UmbracoFileMedia/Animal_Testing_Position_1-21-14_umbracoFile.pdf" target="_blank">They conduct animal testing.</a> (Booo hisss boooo thumbs down!)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwRh7PCYbbT0B0qHmcKahBTYALT94j5mrshwEffHtpv61zYdGyEvaOVkgSiiNFDjGGLHCRAx13TuZcaKe_0QBIQzn7ExZdEfXmGD8wuhRe9oqwJwLMBdw6WzyVuXY5dY0Zp9qrVEfMt1L/s1600/kimberly-clark-corporation-wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwRh7PCYbbT0B0qHmcKahBTYALT94j5mrshwEffHtpv61zYdGyEvaOVkgSiiNFDjGGLHCRAx13TuZcaKe_0QBIQzn7ExZdEfXmGD8wuhRe9oqwJwLMBdw6WzyVuXY5dY0Zp9qrVEfMt1L/s640/kimberly-clark-corporation-wm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="https://veganrabbit.com/list-of-companies-that-do-test-on-animals/" target="_blank">the Vegan Rabbit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So I decided I would start looking for cruelty-free companies with paper product brands being sold in Singapore. That was the first challenge. <a href="https://www.seventhgeneration.com/" target="_blank">Seventh Generation</a> is a leading cruelty-free household product provider but finding them in Singapore is akin to drawing blood from a stone. Stores in Singapore that carry the line don't carry the tissue paper and toilet roll. But if you're looking for their washing liquids and other stuff, you can try:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.pupsikstudio.com/shop-by-brands/seventh-generation/" target="_blank">Pupsik</a> (I've never bought from this site, don't know if it's legit)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.supernature.com.sg/ourrange_details.php?cat=2&prodId=74" target="_blank">SuperNature</a></li>
<li><a href="https://redmart.com/search/seventh%20generation" target="_blank">RedMart</a></li>
</ol>
<br />
I considered ordering from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=seventh+generation" target="_blank">Amazon</a> but the delivery fee would basically bankrupt me so yeah. NO.<br />
<br />
To that end, I started looking at brands that I had never heard of, because I guess, if you've never heard of a brand, then it's probably not owned by a conglomerate, right? I started researching "green" brands which are basically suggesting that their use of bamboo products is 'better for the environment' (I'll touch more on this later). The shortlist:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="https://nootrees.com/" target="_blank">NooTrees</a></li>
<li><a href="http://cloversoft.com.sg/" target="_blank">CloverSoft</a></li>
<li><a href="https://cloverandco.co/brands/dr-blanc/" target="_blank">Dr Blanc</a></li>
</ol>
However, on their websites, they didn't mention anything about animal testing (cruelty-free labels don't rank highly in Singapore) so I decided to write to them.<br />
<br />
I direct messaged <a href="https://nootrees.com/" target="_blank">NooTrees</a> via their Facebook account but till today, I've not received a response:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9GgNhxQpEtYw45vqZfrAzJ1A_t3wBKeUnK7uHv_Uw8gBL9-Bn_JYmNrULt3Yu6QO4njm1PN0Zo2hdcCnRdieccm_GHzswn0WMCNcw1nKbMYwCv_PCDd0O6jlVc2IzqF9RTukARNDb6P5/s1600/NooTrees.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9GgNhxQpEtYw45vqZfrAzJ1A_t3wBKeUnK7uHv_Uw8gBL9-Bn_JYmNrULt3Yu6QO4njm1PN0Zo2hdcCnRdieccm_GHzswn0WMCNcw1nKbMYwCv_PCDd0O6jlVc2IzqF9RTukARNDb6P5/s640/NooTrees.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*crickets*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Or maybe there won't be any cricket sounds since they may test their products on crickets for all we know. I was checking out their "About NooTrees" page just to ensure I didn't miss any animal-testing notices and noticed something I've circled in red:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoUCkcyVl8haJ3qf3_cXYFryBCxD_Dk0dO28dC8MYemKY4aBsxFTyysYqvK_QFiWCScDddDzCYCmTA-o4XscspddYnM93u6GDh2cJJdNOnxBvzxi8uWjLye2RgOaN9wmyFMBW3KXBepxn/s1600/NT1.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoUCkcyVl8haJ3qf3_cXYFryBCxD_Dk0dO28dC8MYemKY4aBsxFTyysYqvK_QFiWCScDddDzCYCmTA-o4XscspddYnM93u6GDh2cJJdNOnxBvzxi8uWjLye2RgOaN9wmyFMBW3KXBepxn/s640/NT1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
I fixed it for them!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y2w_6AAIBd08pq0fxNXEmr4GwsHwGmJnCO7jKsZbZ37p_GfRgwKaNiOzVejM22xYMyfMB1ZfqQKg060HyxUkwcXTa4HxQMOEJiAVS7RBzxRNZvtabifXDQMz0uFV3FuzIVtlDxAm2M32/s1600/NT2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7y2w_6AAIBd08pq0fxNXEmr4GwsHwGmJnCO7jKsZbZ37p_GfRgwKaNiOzVejM22xYMyfMB1ZfqQKg060HyxUkwcXTa4HxQMOEJiAVS7RBzxRNZvtabifXDQMz0uFV3FuzIVtlDxAm2M32/s640/NT2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PHOTOSHOP PRO! LOLZ</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Anyway, not to be deterred, I also wrote to CloverSoft and Dr. Blanc and oh boy, CloverSoft's customer service officer/s went all out. Below are screenshots from my Facebook of the actual conversation. Ps, read from top left, all the way to the bottom, then top right, all the way down.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe7BdsgdYqyaz2HqiXBaQ66TvJCHC6ZL7KP_wb-Yexws5dlTnHiqt7mI6yHhCbolICY49NEUtBUiTOnkhE-ariZDK1-V0-iz3f2NdSHKFRW57_vV4ACDJE0G1tDlt2J_RShvC1nWLdxc7/s1600/Slide1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNe7BdsgdYqyaz2HqiXBaQ66TvJCHC6ZL7KP_wb-Yexws5dlTnHiqt7mI6yHhCbolICY49NEUtBUiTOnkhE-ariZDK1-V0-iz3f2NdSHKFRW57_vV4ACDJE0G1tDlt2J_RShvC1nWLdxc7/s640/Slide1.PNG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to enlarge (I hope it can be enlarged, I've never tried this, you might need a magnifying glass, sorry.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
TL;DR? The summary is:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>CloverSoft didn't want to test any animals but one product, the CloverSoft Baby Wipes, were required to be tested by regulation. </li>
<li>They say they tested the baby wipes for the first and only time on mice.</li>
<li>They say they tested in their Swiss lab and there were no abnormalities or deaths reported (although what's become of the mice was not stated).</li>
<li>They conducted human patch tests for skin sensitivity reactions instead of using mice.</li>
<li>All other CloverSoft products were free of animal testing.</li>
<li>I was pleased to hear this and recommended that, for the ease of the consumer, for them to implement this indicator of "tested on animals" on their website.</li>
<li>Within a day of my suggestion, this indicator on their Singapore website was made available (I checked!) </li>
<li>The bottom line is that while they cannot claim to be a cruelty-free company, I believe that they have made efforts to avoid animal testing. (Please note that I forgot to ask whether they hire 3rd parties that do conduct animal testing so this is a grey area).</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYSixLLYszciMMGmPGwWH8MBjqR812qxt59V5uzQvnmqh0TGXP-tgo_RnczdNMw2H17A1tze8dRwP6jeeEO1lDnIpHTPEZ93UTyUL6FSFCXgfrkUNVGNWP2dqT81kDDteeI77ePf_yZzF/s1600/CS+web.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYSixLLYszciMMGmPGwWH8MBjqR812qxt59V5uzQvnmqh0TGXP-tgo_RnczdNMw2H17A1tze8dRwP6jeeEO1lDnIpHTPEZ93UTyUL6FSFCXgfrkUNVGNWP2dqT81kDDteeI77ePf_yZzF/s640/CS+web.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
From scrolling through the CloverSoft website, I came to realise that Dr. Blanc and CloverSoft are essentially affiliated. And Dr. Blanc issued a response to me (albeit a much more delayed one):<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJvNcUmvZVOJvi5M6zqDSH6-jSA3T9o1D764s_1WGIK5FY2HP-XHOJrx0VUd3tRGpBOjLd2712SdZ0DgRgsD7gAem_kyLaUDTsY0cW-pdVx2HJvC1brBG1A0jGqc_w2zudlrMTv4gAB65/s1600/Dr+Blanc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJvNcUmvZVOJvi5M6zqDSH6-jSA3T9o1D764s_1WGIK5FY2HP-XHOJrx0VUd3tRGpBOjLd2712SdZ0DgRgsD7gAem_kyLaUDTsY0cW-pdVx2HJvC1brBG1A0jGqc_w2zudlrMTv4gAB65/s640/Dr+Blanc.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearly Dr. Blanc is a busy doctor, unlike 'Clovie'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So while I was disappointed with the fact that the CloverSoft baby wipes were tested on mice, I was pleased to hear that the products that I would use were said to be free of animal testing. And I was heartened by how the company had engaged with me and taken my feedback seriously instead of writing me off as a crazy hippie.<br />
<br />
I decided that I would try to mix up my purchase and get Dr. Blanc rolls (which are bleached if I'm not wrong) and CloverSoft tissue paper (which are unbleached). But before purchasing, I did one last thing - a price analysis!<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="227"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Item<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="216"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Current<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="234"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Price<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="198"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Replacement<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="227"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Price<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="227"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Toilet
roll<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="216"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Kleenex<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="234"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">$19.45
for 30 ($0.65)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="198"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Dr
Blanc<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="227"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">$12
for 20 ($0.60)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="227"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Tissue
paper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 1.5in;" valign="top" width="216"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">Kleenex<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 117.0pt;" valign="top" width="234"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">$6.10
for 5 ($1.22)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.0pt;" valign="top" width="198"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">CloverSoft<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 113.4pt;" valign="top" width="227"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "century gothic" , sans-serif;">72.75
for 60 ($1.21)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So it would actually be more cost competitive to buy from CloverSoft and Dr. Blanc! So obviously I <i>had</i> to buy $80 worth of toilet roll and tissue paper (Not. Extreme. At. All). It only makes sense in order to get free delivery. Plus they gave me a coupon (it didn't end up working but I got the first time purchaser $5 discount online). It's practically SAVING money!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplYgzLbzoh5fjV0GJexROIB6XqI1n-tzG1Jsk3KSZ1NZ9J9-96zgQtNSM1pRkmKZfHq4qrcT954rUTRwqEYfn9ARbi8gkRqO-1EflVgmF2UouRRmw-KhV7FuSgUghpKKu44__aEUKdhwY/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplYgzLbzoh5fjV0GJexROIB6XqI1n-tzG1Jsk3KSZ1NZ9J9-96zgQtNSM1pRkmKZfHq4qrcT954rUTRwqEYfn9ARbi8gkRqO-1EflVgmF2UouRRmw-KhV7FuSgUghpKKu44__aEUKdhwY/s640/IMG_0132.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what $80 worth of tissue paper looks like. Dog for scale.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As for the actual product review, for the Dr. Blanc toilet roll, I am pretty pleased. It's not as thick nor smooth as the Kleenex (the dotted pattern might be the reason for it) but it serves its purpose and it doesn't feel like I'm sand-papering my butt. The CloverSoft tissue paper is rougher than the Kleenex but it's nice to know I'm not dabbing bleached tissue on my face and bonus, my soul feels soothed knowing that I'm not complicit in the act of animal cruelty.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzGChrYBFt7B1ph2U6si_QTtL1YDbyYOO9skrNnv6E6iB_jDTclSfwK1LdVNC0tjIggjCs9LkixvuULqjMUtm33RYb1OGJiN5AX2IG0Dxy2G_UyNcAfnCl44R6ABS2-8x1_YATp2F_P0e/s1600/IMG_0101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzGChrYBFt7B1ph2U6si_QTtL1YDbyYOO9skrNnv6E6iB_jDTclSfwK1LdVNC0tjIggjCs9LkixvuULqjMUtm33RYb1OGJiN5AX2IG0Dxy2G_UyNcAfnCl44R6ABS2-8x1_YATp2F_P0e/s640/IMG_0101.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_HoaxdE7oMH_cxRmzyaIPlGtc7WmWYJkp-xH1i1HuTBMTvTI3gnH1H4tvOryfNE_GlRMvhReSfdPMJsghYLvjsKJY2b6NF5Jnq6kyfl7gH4KOOjnh2i35Dmlqx4wsnYJdR__wWGaI_WK/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_HoaxdE7oMH_cxRmzyaIPlGtc7WmWYJkp-xH1i1HuTBMTvTI3gnH1H4tvOryfNE_GlRMvhReSfdPMJsghYLvjsKJY2b6NF5Jnq6kyfl7gH4KOOjnh2i35Dmlqx4wsnYJdR__wWGaI_WK/s640/IMG_0102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We're nearly at the end of this post! Hahaha who would have guessed I could talk so much about something so seemingly unexciting! Sadly, laws and regulations change all the time, so I'll always need to keep in mind that the animal testing status can change.<br />
<br />
One last note, if you're tempted to buy these because of their "green" status. Do check out some articles <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/property/green/8645517/Are-bamboo-products-really-the-eco-friendly-option.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.beagleybrown.com/is-bamboo-environmentally-friendly/" target="_blank">here</a> about "green-washing". At this time, I don't really know where I stand on this because I can't say I know enough about the science behind it, but I think it's important to at least read up more, and not immediately buy into the marketing spiel.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">In case you need a kick in the butt to remind you why animal testing sucks, read <a href="https://www.thedodo.com/beagle-rescued-animal-testing-facility-2372575838.html" target="_blank">this</a> and then watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGQBXI1ywXs" target="_blank">this</a>.</span>alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-36501992180911081052017-06-03T12:35:00.000+08:002017-06-03T12:35:30.462+08:00Nyx Face Awards Singapore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2s4xhPIIeHHBDzpDxaumkLyR1cSY42T7Jw6SNdR5P56CgVkcKMtWRt3rWEDp5hKZ77SMjOrmX8UBwjJWH0NmxQeJzIW-mYWfU0ycik0ZSrCCMUxJcddUjgLf71e7PoOMWfiXyJdNBLJy/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="750" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2s4xhPIIeHHBDzpDxaumkLyR1cSY42T7Jw6SNdR5P56CgVkcKMtWRt3rWEDp5hKZ77SMjOrmX8UBwjJWH0NmxQeJzIW-mYWfU0ycik0ZSrCCMUxJcddUjgLf71e7PoOMWfiXyJdNBLJy/s640/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Howdy friends,<br />
Do you like makeup?<br />
Do you like watching makeup tutorials for about 15 minutes?<br />
Do you like cool and funny people?<br />
Do you like supporting skillful and talented people?<br />
Do you like entering your votes for competitions?<br />
<br />
If you answered yes to any of the above, I have the perfect thing for you, and it'll take no more than 5 minutes of your day!<br />
<br />
My friend Nicole, also known as @electric.eggplant on Instagram, has joined Singapore's first ever Nyx Face Awards, a makeup competition that's famous for showcasing awesome makeup artistry. My friend Nicole is new to the scene, being mostly self-taught with passion as her driving force. She submitted her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvThuY_DGPA&t=2s" target="_blank">entry video</a> and was shortlisted as the top 15 competitors.<br />
<br />
She and I would appreciate it if you could check out her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOKganZs_s0" target="_blank">latest submission</a> for the chance to be shortlisted for top 6 on the Nyx Singapore Face Awards competition page and give your 3 votes a day to her!<br />
<br />
All you need to do is:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Click <a href="https://faceawards.nyxcosmetics.com.sg/" target="_blank">here</a> to visit the Nyx Singapore Face Awards voting page</li>
<li>Create a voting account with your email address or by logging in with Facebook</li>
<li>Click on the link sent to your email to activate your account </li>
<li>Log in and vote for Nicole Moreira!</li>
</ol>
<div>
You can vote up to 3 times per day from 3 June to 7 June 2017 so please do show your support!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And if you want to know a little more about Nic and how silly/awesome/hilarious she is, watch this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10kOVxdsFvA&t=2s" target="_blank">unboxing video</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thanks for reading, much love!</div>
<br />
<br />alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-79266300328100423382017-05-31T17:28:00.000+08:002017-05-31T17:28:24.744+08:00How ya going, mate? Part 2: Margaret RiverThe vacay bragging continues...<br />
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<b>Day 3</b><br />
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After a sumptuous breakfast (see previous <a href="http://www.alexwearsstuff.com/2017/05/how-ya-going-mate-part-1-pemberton.html" target="_blank">post</a>), we checked out of Permberlyn House around 10am and started the hour and 45 minute drive towards Margaret River. That translates to being an hour and 45 minute nap for yours truly. We headed towards the <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/16426981" target="_blank">house along Hermitage Drive</a> that we had booked via AirBnB. Once we reached, although the exterior of the house was nothing to shout about, we were pleased to see that the interior of the house was very clean and modern, with wonderful lighting, and nice furniture and amenities.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making himself right at home in the living room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master bedroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't such a flattering pic but the place is very cosy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mezzanine bedroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the deck</td></tr>
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We quickly settled our sleeping arrangements, where the boo and I got the mezzanine floor with the twin single beds and all of us set about doing the most important thing - USING THE WIFI like internet-addicted millennials.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG INTERNETZ I LUV U</td></tr>
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Since massive breakfast had now been maybe 2 hours ago, it was only natural that we immediately set out to eat. So we drove to the town centre which was like 7 minutes away to find lunch! We ate at what looks like a fast food place - <a href="http://squidlips.com.au/" target="_blank">Squid Lips</a>, but offered really really really good fish and chips. I had fish and chips three times on this trip and I can honestly say I liked this one the best. Weird fact: they sell their sauces separate from the food itself.<br />
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Sadly the weather wasn't great on this day, and it started pouring as we were tucking into our food. We were thus waylaid by the weather and ended up walking around aimlessly in the area, grabbing coffee at a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SidekickMargs/" target="_blank">hipster joint</a> and popping into cute shops along the way to see what we could buy. The most useful purchase of the trip were these babies:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyH8h7Wz5eLXYIp7JlaiQspwKSY2ZJmIILy42ypfuCD_aVjx6VuvhyphenhyphenS6-Dtg7zanUnjWPNNNVPh-nMXhinBJIK-AWmLGLmP58aeKhwoyrnDY-SvSTN2V33erLTEtW6FOcH3Vr0SNIkAhf/s1600/IMG_3201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyH8h7Wz5eLXYIp7JlaiQspwKSY2ZJmIILy42ypfuCD_aVjx6VuvhyphenhyphenS6-Dtg7zanUnjWPNNNVPh-nMXhinBJIK-AWmLGLmP58aeKhwoyrnDY-SvSTN2V33erLTEtW6FOcH3Vr0SNIkAhf/s640/IMG_3201.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9 bucks from Target to keep the toes warm!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hipster cafe...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect for a hipster couple I know</td></tr>
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I've no idea how we managed it but we ended up grocery shopping once more, this time at Coles (if memory serves me correctly) before making our way to <a href="http://brewhousemargaretriver.com.au/" target="_blank">Brewhouse</a>. If craft beers are your thing, this is the place for you. It had a very relaxed atmosphere, and felt welcoming to everyone including families with kids. By this time, I was craving chicken so I ordered some chicken wings which I enjoyed but the boo didn't seem impressed by them. The friends are beer drinkers and they seemed pleased with their beers, I had a cider and a hot chocolate too. Yes. Indulgence IS my middle name. At around 5pm, we moved to the outdoor seating deck and listened to a super cool band perform.<br />
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After a brief nap session back at the house, we were recharged and ready to have a wild night out. Just kidding. We just wanted to eat. We made a late booking at <a href="http://www.morries.com.au/" target="_blank">Morries</a>, it's a tapas restaurant bar with Australian food with Asian influences. The service was fast and friendly and the setting was cosy and intimate, really perfect for the shared tapas experience.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge chicken and beef sliders</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_tk2phVkBHfClqVorq7K1Nikq_KN1Qhs1HQmoolsN0J0-nclsX3uKRFG88c0aWkIstAAh-q75qybS_Ue_AXWv7Oxnmu4h9Cskbumpv5KnjJqunMuFlf2e2y63mUY-nHHnE_tTuhHnSdX/s1600/IMG_3191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_tk2phVkBHfClqVorq7K1Nikq_KN1Qhs1HQmoolsN0J0-nclsX3uKRFG88c0aWkIstAAh-q75qybS_Ue_AXWv7Oxnmu4h9Cskbumpv5KnjJqunMuFlf2e2y63mUY-nHHnE_tTuhHnSdX/s640/IMG_3191.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw fish? I dunno but the tomato bits were delicious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNJXncGSe8reyerjEDlIfRIpzsZvW06NwHjyk8FgdrOvIBSPVuNXme1IqzNVHygx43TljtPvscYXrcdOjUUnAgeXiUDW4svMvcoELZIQcP8y19YhCWtMGJiS05PuR5p9BZ3by27_J-SIC/s1600/IMG_3192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNJXncGSe8reyerjEDlIfRIpzsZvW06NwHjyk8FgdrOvIBSPVuNXme1IqzNVHygx43TljtPvscYXrcdOjUUnAgeXiUDW4svMvcoELZIQcP8y19YhCWtMGJiS05PuR5p9BZ3by27_J-SIC/s640/IMG_3192.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scallops!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBNm6CAJ50hEiRC38FsqdzX-kiCCQtphcLR1ZlIg1ex-SIixbqV_Utcow0TLtWB_yNw7mkXWdmY5poT9ajDNNWGuv9E9PzPZ_h6XZEJADEYVLZ1a0iFqQrLnP07zBwyC1fXz07rlYJGPm/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBNm6CAJ50hEiRC38FsqdzX-kiCCQtphcLR1ZlIg1ex-SIixbqV_Utcow0TLtWB_yNw7mkXWdmY5poT9ajDNNWGuv9E9PzPZ_h6XZEJADEYVLZ1a0iFqQrLnP07zBwyC1fXz07rlYJGPm/s640/IMG_3193.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superstar pork belly dish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzAtNt1NHUSkWlaDAOEKs8FkCLLa_IrftGJ6obeNv4dOEicESNBOIj4H5fO3phIBUhuDiAePRwmsoxUjJJg8hTQRUYeSHpruQc7l1EMyFAhgGvcWAW7Abp209miQfAh1U5GZBWlWmOJJp/s1600/IMG_3194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzAtNt1NHUSkWlaDAOEKs8FkCLLa_IrftGJ6obeNv4dOEicESNBOIj4H5fO3phIBUhuDiAePRwmsoxUjJJg8hTQRUYeSHpruQc7l1EMyFAhgGvcWAW7Abp209miQfAh1U5GZBWlWmOJJp/s640/IMG_3194.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken karaage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rcA2D9xLWpEv0is-aL25MFSceYIXrnJg1h5x1D1PrSWaVV56At7KTjY5_k3TxBJXB5jFsiMlIeFqapq3lmbkaKehFfOgHLZQ1DlhHcJmBpdFZq7gyiT6qcNXHgLBl_KvJvxplPxpfrXB/s1600/IMG_3196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rcA2D9xLWpEv0is-aL25MFSceYIXrnJg1h5x1D1PrSWaVV56At7KTjY5_k3TxBJXB5jFsiMlIeFqapq3lmbkaKehFfOgHLZQ1DlhHcJmBpdFZq7gyiT6qcNXHgLBl_KvJvxplPxpfrXB/s640/IMG_3196.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haloumi cheese on toast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLt9mg_MLX4ElARissS-GFifmAgULJCPb4oXzOCsh-TdAx7d02fHrJZXnozNp2I28HXQTP_x9AXiwYZNEBo_tVfYFiq3uNeKjBih0OJ9fHyl-UFJWeOQIu-UP3KzWDzdE8P_ybb4UgE9j/s1600/IMG_3197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLt9mg_MLX4ElARissS-GFifmAgULJCPb4oXzOCsh-TdAx7d02fHrJZXnozNp2I28HXQTP_x9AXiwYZNEBo_tVfYFiq3uNeKjBih0OJ9fHyl-UFJWeOQIu-UP3KzWDzdE8P_ybb4UgE9j/s640/IMG_3197.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beef tataki</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9ox6GSAk0m6ZlhKM-2yDGksVVmwYrjFcLhYbRXPB1oznE_V0SRC-OdrROds0fiRKsuak93XZzGU6yz1nKjict1KqfB6c1RsfhcaJwk6C4pATEXuMQb7PiUu-I0kFBzh29TAdNzK6FUFY/s1600/IMG_3198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9ox6GSAk0m6ZlhKM-2yDGksVVmwYrjFcLhYbRXPB1oznE_V0SRC-OdrROds0fiRKsuak93XZzGU6yz1nKjict1KqfB6c1RsfhcaJwk6C4pATEXuMQb7PiUu-I0kFBzh29TAdNzK6FUFY/s640/IMG_3198.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this might have been potato croquette</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwG_v5P460h90TJI0EnGgcQ4a39LDGwMJLKIMBIrW2vIxL74NjE58KDDHZQY_gzt0uETxzrLGxvGY3FIFC5dXH79U4VSYGaoWkJPx-44CadvKrud_iNvK6h_kRLZvshebaqZU44gzaP5S-/s1600/IMG_3199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwG_v5P460h90TJI0EnGgcQ4a39LDGwMJLKIMBIrW2vIxL74NjE58KDDHZQY_gzt0uETxzrLGxvGY3FIFC5dXH79U4VSYGaoWkJPx-44CadvKrud_iNvK6h_kRLZvshebaqZU44gzaP5S-/s640/IMG_3199.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG why did we order this charcuterie platter? So stuffed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, to summarise Day 3 of the trip: we ate nonstop. I'm surprised Margaret River has any produce left after we blew through town.<br />
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<b>Day 4</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I think we were getting sick of eating so we made a simple granola and yogurt breakfast (one of the best things about all our grocery store trips were the yogurt purchases) before heading out to Voyager Estate for a wine tour, tasting and pairing lunch.<br />
<br />
Voyager Estate is a beautiful sprawling vineyard with architectural influence drawn from the owner's South African adventures. We were brought on a tour of the estate by a lovely guide called Sally, who gave us a background on how the founder, Michael, moved away from his family's farming towards wine making, growing this family business into the successful empire one sees today. It's currently run by his daughters as he's passed away.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KB_i2X5N03uyHztDBjnqijxSkM2SCrrOHhpKqx6a1qJ_j3sBnDT5gBBDSQEi4HiyOtRhE8XfSOoi1snhLSuRf5M8ipmRrfHD0FPJSUsrUKnolEOolddA0Vfs2R5A5WbHrrjOGRfcF_5Z/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KB_i2X5N03uyHztDBjnqijxSkM2SCrrOHhpKqx6a1qJ_j3sBnDT5gBBDSQEi4HiyOtRhE8XfSOoi1snhLSuRf5M8ipmRrfHD0FPJSUsrUKnolEOolddA0Vfs2R5A5WbHrrjOGRfcF_5Z/s640/IMG_3204.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the driveway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvopgW6xnIwx_ToltFeyLDrOnheOEd-XKus27uQdpsNpTArafoQi2fIZybTUW_KwqWDdvB7x_5HKF88EBvL5hRD8NXLUsc7uBMQAFTCNKra3TgshwCUig_HFzVgKWsL8mG0xT6JFmFhDu/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvopgW6xnIwx_ToltFeyLDrOnheOEd-XKus27uQdpsNpTArafoQi2fIZybTUW_KwqWDdvB7x_5HKF88EBvL5hRD8NXLUsc7uBMQAFTCNKra3TgshwCUig_HFzVgKWsL8mG0xT6JFmFhDu/s640/IMG_3211.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVP9AhSH9Fz3he0nlgAd_q5FV66Y4NcxuHMJvZpPy6zpb1k6aBnSA2IrhlJjN_xedybWHt_CBpZqRZNXm8zebqc4i5gqqcISJrz3TRFvRZzA_Jruv-CgOcx4XkTH9yFtjhvpSnhJyt-qu/s1600/IMG_3225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLVP9AhSH9Fz3he0nlgAd_q5FV66Y4NcxuHMJvZpPy6zpb1k6aBnSA2IrhlJjN_xedybWHt_CBpZqRZNXm8zebqc4i5gqqcISJrz3TRFvRZzA_Jruv-CgOcx4XkTH9yFtjhvpSnhJyt-qu/s640/IMG_3225.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toward the main building</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYJ1DqOqLxRMajDqiBKWV1xGVNJMKVnLa-NowB8Z1WAKbPY6bODxYM93p0NxOjHqgjbSO-mcxiyHUF5K0KNLZP8tu1aOt5aFFfLZtriWOTxUEXR9AO4hZiGtUnzo8K0weXRIUzkxwsHG5/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYJ1DqOqLxRMajDqiBKWV1xGVNJMKVnLa-NowB8Z1WAKbPY6bODxYM93p0NxOjHqgjbSO-mcxiyHUF5K0KNLZP8tu1aOt5aFFfLZtriWOTxUEXR9AO4hZiGtUnzo8K0weXRIUzkxwsHG5/s640/IMG_3220.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the reception area of the main building</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfU0UEqb1gu2zN-m92YlosxBhceMKZ5RhGTK8FytClQM7t0leTzEBW7VO89fa5-PC3lxdGBSiccazKy_h2JwJmW8fwc59oEx6cXZwUSZcSN_Tuy1FgQHcqpItl5qFClCbKn8t8EAPrSivn/s1600/IMG_3219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfU0UEqb1gu2zN-m92YlosxBhceMKZ5RhGTK8FytClQM7t0leTzEBW7VO89fa5-PC3lxdGBSiccazKy_h2JwJmW8fwc59oEx6cXZwUSZcSN_Tuy1FgQHcqpItl5qFClCbKn8t8EAPrSivn/s640/IMG_3219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiPMCbWcZBVeJLFkQHljGEBc7vlmGALiswmIKTRbVtFyBkFLVEZQjtHxw4Stp7CXWdUYts2kBHKRl2R3qjFJb4wI-ixOKU-81zY-8Wx6IDZcUJhdAS9fZnuyRNxMS5LtLDazMnQ-2d9zo/s1600/IMG_3237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiPMCbWcZBVeJLFkQHljGEBc7vlmGALiswmIKTRbVtFyBkFLVEZQjtHxw4Stp7CXWdUYts2kBHKRl2R3qjFJb4wI-ixOKU-81zY-8Wx6IDZcUJhdAS9fZnuyRNxMS5LtLDazMnQ-2d9zo/s640/IMG_3237.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No flag as it'll get destroyed by the strong winds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMwN2HsdtGflIEyxFQxcfyZdr3pQqZ9wSpt8HPiBJdnR9h9hJxj1mmhbXG0OeBN-rzs1c-kzTjOoEp7KihhXaW30nnbF2njViLq3syQUcvrLPD5uXFxDY5truE18vYLLKaCjf_Jdfu2u1/s1600/IMG_3238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMwN2HsdtGflIEyxFQxcfyZdr3pQqZ9wSpt8HPiBJdnR9h9hJxj1mmhbXG0OeBN-rzs1c-kzTjOoEp7KihhXaW30nnbF2njViLq3syQUcvrLPD5uXFxDY5truE18vYLLKaCjf_Jdfu2u1/s640/IMG_3238.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A slave bell rung to signify the start of the day. Yep. Slave bell.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oLn8TA3PpMd9aSxhm0L_gYPO6Rqc8jbP1cDv6MVv80u4vtGK76YAChYv35kKSBX05jIue5DkXko4YEIj62VmGyPlDT4WsTWDZuOJAAi47FSFY9F1miFBM6BCTuMJOCEe08OYGCpk8Q3o/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oLn8TA3PpMd9aSxhm0L_gYPO6Rqc8jbP1cDv6MVv80u4vtGK76YAChYv35kKSBX05jIue5DkXko4YEIj62VmGyPlDT4WsTWDZuOJAAi47FSFY9F1miFBM6BCTuMJOCEe08OYGCpk8Q3o/s640/IMG_3239.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful rose bushes planted at the head of each line in the vineyard for chioness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafcAnjjDq2Ekznd8_NJfj8A42-LhkZW8-VWy5HMb0o8MR3mxtFIo10sEM28I1b_BmlO4rE42TTO_0bW2W3r0ASKZDOHAIJfoUPCeRVify-grVOdE6MeOXuWMTcSKWOK9FnKp95WFSns22/s1600/IMG_3241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafcAnjjDq2Ekznd8_NJfj8A42-LhkZW8-VWy5HMb0o8MR3mxtFIo10sEM28I1b_BmlO4rE42TTO_0bW2W3r0ASKZDOHAIJfoUPCeRVify-grVOdE6MeOXuWMTcSKWOK9FnKp95WFSns22/s640/IMG_3241.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried up grapes for red wine</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMg-YSffg7vnxPqUUbkMW05nak-eFNTb7hpAq2WM3Asxs3obwPZdIHv45ehcKkw8FOLBm3lws-xOKUU0zl02z9gAFLPuLQAE2Ng9o9l6YM3wDeBEYX7HucJ_43UdNtFbXobUgrVYIFJ1P/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMg-YSffg7vnxPqUUbkMW05nak-eFNTb7hpAq2WM3Asxs3obwPZdIHv45ehcKkw8FOLBm3lws-xOKUU0zl02z9gAFLPuLQAE2Ng9o9l6YM3wDeBEYX7HucJ_43UdNtFbXobUgrVYIFJ1P/s640/IMG_3242.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different growing style for white wine grapes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpfr8lnSpndST-tO2j9wPLSJWmiH9dyk6ESoqO_XzjHeJajcxlZkKv3HdQjRm7U8_r1cMdvG4NlUXdrP-YdPe1rt3wUw5GRny-ilc0rKauMF8dAa3Cny6jWjIjdqPAA7LwVIO5ukICW_c/s1600/IMG_3249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpfr8lnSpndST-tO2j9wPLSJWmiH9dyk6ESoqO_XzjHeJajcxlZkKv3HdQjRm7U8_r1cMdvG4NlUXdrP-YdPe1rt3wUw5GRny-ilc0rKauMF8dAa3Cny6jWjIjdqPAA7LwVIO5ukICW_c/s640/IMG_3249.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful garden arches perfect for weddings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjB66XwqwNt73fkzhS4sZAFC-TJVnA1mWIZgoy2gF_O_S0wMbFDRzaetNrAjUiPoTMQvjMVa1t7df54RJwPB_spduM_ZIIJoo9jfoW5dWDVQlr-iXx57Fi9mDTYjtiTFtXaVKiJU7LvkY/s1600/IMG_3250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjB66XwqwNt73fkzhS4sZAFC-TJVnA1mWIZgoy2gF_O_S0wMbFDRzaetNrAjUiPoTMQvjMVa1t7df54RJwPB_spduM_ZIIJoo9jfoW5dWDVQlr-iXx57Fi9mDTYjtiTFtXaVKiJU7LvkY/s640/IMG_3250.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Processing centre to turn grape to wine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnM7yy-psInen40ivj5xdoeTcpASOJ8l4cAtblcUhdgeFFx2nPGa_SdCIHXpG3dypioc9Y0t7b6vjA71b-_d4JtAxzxs0W_Svc1mgH15H8AkAq6ng8Uz1pFJhD3GSYeE1xqHIjRslzzin/s1600/IMG_3254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnM7yy-psInen40ivj5xdoeTcpASOJ8l4cAtblcUhdgeFFx2nPGa_SdCIHXpG3dypioc9Y0t7b6vjA71b-_d4JtAxzxs0W_Svc1mgH15H8AkAq6ng8Uz1pFJhD3GSYeE1xqHIjRslzzin/s640/IMG_3254.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barrels of wine live here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlETGiFZNQuJyCHt6gdH5OUXQqmngtg8n-YPrtXOI3oWDRKzf3O0iV3x95cOpdjL9x_JA_uKzSIlSXPz2WSDIM0lP0LPDguQTYFhAFqVLoDVFLWPAVoEARwHbT4571fsII5_ERD2TP7DXc/s1600/IMG_3263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlETGiFZNQuJyCHt6gdH5OUXQqmngtg8n-YPrtXOI3oWDRKzf3O0iV3x95cOpdjL9x_JA_uKzSIlSXPz2WSDIM0lP0LPDguQTYFhAFqVLoDVFLWPAVoEARwHbT4571fsII5_ERD2TP7DXc/s640/IMG_3263.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A huge underground cellar, largest in Margaret River to store wine soon to be exported</td></tr>
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I'm not really a wine lover, but I can't stress enough how awesome the tour was. I found the process of planting and harvesting grapes to make wine extremely fascinating and the boo said I was a super nerd for asking so many questions but I dunno man, LEARNING!<br />
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After the tour, we sat for a while in the reception area for a tasting of 5 different wines from the vineyard. I enjoyed the Rose (how do I put in the accent?) because like I said, not much of a wine lover, so the most subtle one was my favourite.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe1YmX0ZkCVxl7M8-fkwh0QVaC3SeGcSZaZ2U1OmZHJRDdb7IMDFShLs7nnwM5jsNh5Ch_Z7B6GNCV8vAYilxBR0cs7cKyFIpnKC-mDo0tdRhwzJNcrEFJEKR5WNEA7uraNWzCGQt7CgL/s1600/IMG_3272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZe1YmX0ZkCVxl7M8-fkwh0QVaC3SeGcSZaZ2U1OmZHJRDdb7IMDFShLs7nnwM5jsNh5Ch_Z7B6GNCV8vAYilxBR0cs7cKyFIpnKC-mDo0tdRhwzJNcrEFJEKR5WNEA7uraNWzCGQt7CgL/s640/IMG_3272.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG44JrUHkW4RBfDmlhZu14odcIHLmLCUjUuqU0lqwBFvRWewyKlP_s6_GHOhbU1UTppW3eRzubbiBe1tdH9182-OJVM2qwNIVrp9s3M_Ns1xT9mqaY73cnBLK3241jnXhwiMSre-uMU1xy/s1600/IMG_3273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG44JrUHkW4RBfDmlhZu14odcIHLmLCUjUuqU0lqwBFvRWewyKlP_s6_GHOhbU1UTppW3eRzubbiBe1tdH9182-OJVM2qwNIVrp9s3M_Ns1xT9mqaY73cnBLK3241jnXhwiMSre-uMU1xy/s640/IMG_3273.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rose (from the last round)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoVEfrHPWdBSegnsCPX5x_2T5dmU4DxgBf74EzwfRBsZeJGHZvsa9qj0WLQOsux0pqHUOZAPUpmVZ5Em-Mt_BVGyIKjWdorPX4hQ40PlOFYPpS6m7UT4fzpuPIxStFzv5NQfv_mH-pTPp/s1600/IMG_3274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZoVEfrHPWdBSegnsCPX5x_2T5dmU4DxgBf74EzwfRBsZeJGHZvsa9qj0WLQOsux0pqHUOZAPUpmVZ5Em-Mt_BVGyIKjWdorPX4hQ40PlOFYPpS6m7UT4fzpuPIxStFzv5NQfv_mH-pTPp/s640/IMG_3274.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The menu teaching you how to pretend to know wine. "Hmm I perceive an intense and supple aroma"</td></tr>
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To cap it all off, we followed the tasting with a wine pairing lunch which I enjoyed because FOOD.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd9GkfHITxqnJghaxAjTrAorDaw7Rk2dwmLW1iyp_dMsyXosYBNBExd6ZsTNzz59HFsbS3d1qdp-5pAxigGzeLJGIMNKCMNk23WX6qGc2wtlREeZYsDdoqk9p_2lomQkX_RQTnvVQIImy/s1600/IMG_3325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRd9GkfHITxqnJghaxAjTrAorDaw7Rk2dwmLW1iyp_dMsyXosYBNBExd6ZsTNzz59HFsbS3d1qdp-5pAxigGzeLJGIMNKCMNk23WX6qGc2wtlREeZYsDdoqk9p_2lomQkX_RQTnvVQIImy/s640/IMG_3325.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the grand dining room</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgdzXJ6G-bSVr0B7m3opbWc2WhYWhmc_FbBaYUgVF-zb58mu5JrJizXYo4PCPswLcTU28k4I1869OwB4tfWnV58l1CVsKOEIyUpPMHMivCwk_csrH12M5T8xeZyZuA2egHkDHsqOUCvch/s1600/IMG_3281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgdzXJ6G-bSVr0B7m3opbWc2WhYWhmc_FbBaYUgVF-zb58mu5JrJizXYo4PCPswLcTU28k4I1869OwB4tfWnV58l1CVsKOEIyUpPMHMivCwk_csrH12M5T8xeZyZuA2egHkDHsqOUCvch/s640/IMG_3281.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Menus printed on postcard like paper</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A9PFgLqXUMqYAwlk3-N5xZTvLBAyKM4UBhWdxSQ8hGA8OvCTPy8qHMER2aVeEAD1J1e0mltToVAEN89XL0vxmC1QAT7Ln3d2L4Rf3lTr4Kj9lkMvfM3AWGq3-bGb76cRPWxde1aSzKdg/s1600/IMG_3284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A9PFgLqXUMqYAwlk3-N5xZTvLBAyKM4UBhWdxSQ8hGA8OvCTPy8qHMER2aVeEAD1J1e0mltToVAEN89XL0vxmC1QAT7Ln3d2L4Rf3lTr4Kj9lkMvfM3AWGq3-bGb76cRPWxde1aSzKdg/s640/IMG_3284.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drink drank drunk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi102VXapB1VvetVVs9KcxxzRmIywRJtlk3y03ju6hvpRVt5T6XjxKHxRhd3BE_PaghpjjK_yKMN40okz4YH8KGi9HpqyttQVWu-Jgf6Id6FYMRvV3ozFJiRfFiHfzv6E1TDmlRjU1sVHDo/s1600/IMG_3286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi102VXapB1VvetVVs9KcxxzRmIywRJtlk3y03ju6hvpRVt5T6XjxKHxRhd3BE_PaghpjjK_yKMN40okz4YH8KGi9HpqyttQVWu-Jgf6Id6FYMRvV3ozFJiRfFiHfzv6E1TDmlRjU1sVHDo/s640/IMG_3286.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barramundi to pair with a chardonnay</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir61gpe6L45IEVvY32osEJhXBNYs2yd8HAGD-Pg3K1-WnERbzO52sbPZgFLnOknAhg8A6_6L9N4QSwTzHRKJQhy98QT3f3WR2Zc7ZnUE168Kzxt49dB8KSOL8uM_Z-QQIDQQ46dzfkoIvY/s1600/IMG_3287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir61gpe6L45IEVvY32osEJhXBNYs2yd8HAGD-Pg3K1-WnERbzO52sbPZgFLnOknAhg8A6_6L9N4QSwTzHRKJQhy98QT3f3WR2Zc7ZnUE168Kzxt49dB8KSOL8uM_Z-QQIDQQ46dzfkoIvY/s640/IMG_3287.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duck liver to pair with a shiraz</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgaGzmsAkrJ2LPdQbH7TZHa-fBmSL6ICbWMAVZ7eJekhpRxe7BAHlIfsvJum6CjWdVa_hIaAk6Xvw1IEsUKHzcHINBH0dqCy91hAxTr-t6JISY27KYBq-aztoLPSr_YegjY68P7Ctp9pJ/s1600/IMG_3288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgaGzmsAkrJ2LPdQbH7TZHa-fBmSL6ICbWMAVZ7eJekhpRxe7BAHlIfsvJum6CjWdVa_hIaAk6Xvw1IEsUKHzcHINBH0dqCy91hAxTr-t6JISY27KYBq-aztoLPSr_YegjY68P7Ctp9pJ/s640/IMG_3288.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamb to pair with a cabernet sauvignon merlot</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uOJeNCOiw0_Ml6iC8dMBuU8QYV5AQ7a3yBI_K4rewu58dandG9h9bgYmybR-iLivypHSytihtRx6v3xsLhhATYWlXQxJsvEODs1G8cqq-TXtN2ob4pYjt1jL7MaLjkhR72r4P3inGBZU/s1600/IMG_3290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uOJeNCOiw0_Ml6iC8dMBuU8QYV5AQ7a3yBI_K4rewu58dandG9h9bgYmybR-iLivypHSytihtRx6v3xsLhhATYWlXQxJsvEODs1G8cqq-TXtN2ob4pYjt1jL7MaLjkhR72r4P3inGBZU/s640/IMG_3290.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suprise! This isn't dessert but a palate cleanser made of pineapple sorbet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42sGh6eZKcGQOVgVhHdYCAS2bFs60vR_cSQGWlb5sAf-Tjrpk4fT7fa2HBavzQ5d4mOfIe3QoAZjaC56z8lYXffAabNuwnBEdILGNw8zuS_oaGJT8ckUyN6k4MnC-Za1SPRquzX07PjmS/s1600/IMG_3291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42sGh6eZKcGQOVgVhHdYCAS2bFs60vR_cSQGWlb5sAf-Tjrpk4fT7fa2HBavzQ5d4mOfIe3QoAZjaC56z8lYXffAabNuwnBEdILGNw8zuS_oaGJT8ckUyN6k4MnC-Za1SPRquzX07PjmS/s640/IMG_3291.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon puree and pinenut shavings served on a ginger shortbread with acaramelised white chocolate crisp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqPVN62SRn-YLUbZRxAyJvWrv6H2GdkiTetuEg5dP_s7LAf3MjEHb6IFz4LREIUvdWSu_DzGVB_XyqMW1kyMqBpZ-P_j-BrMw0E_C_bvM05IKl5LIQ8TDq2sIG1OdChkmRAaRjTOcThSa/s1600/IMG_3289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqPVN62SRn-YLUbZRxAyJvWrv6H2GdkiTetuEg5dP_s7LAf3MjEHb6IFz4LREIUvdWSu_DzGVB_XyqMW1kyMqBpZ-P_j-BrMw0E_C_bvM05IKl5LIQ8TDq2sIG1OdChkmRAaRjTOcThSa/s640/IMG_3289.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cawwwfeeeee</td></tr>
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You can't eat a meal like that and simply leave, so we wandered just outside the main building into the rose garden and the plants and herb garden. There's just something super romantic about having rose and herb gardens, no?<br />
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So by this time, you should know that if I haven't spent money on shopping, I might explode so after Voyager, we voyaged (hurhurhur) in the Vasse region to an organic <a href="https://www.tempertemper.com.au/" target="_blank">chocolate shop</a>, a <a href="http://www.yahava.com.au/" target="_blank">cafe/coffee bean shop</a>, and an organic <a href="https://vassevirgin.com.au/" target="_blank">olive oil store</a> so I could spend some of my hard-earned moolah. All I can say is that if you want organic goodness, it's gonna cost ya. Oh wait, I've just realised that we visited another winery near Voyager, called <a href="https://leeuwinestate.com.au/" target="_blank">Leeuwin Estate</a>. I totally spaced out there from the food coma so no pics but I recall it having a lot of photos of celebrities on the wall and I think this is where some of the guys dropped some serious coin getting wine bottles delivered directly to their homes in Singapore. So to paraphrase this paragraph: we spent da monies. WOO!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So. Much. Chocolate. *Drool*</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool beans.</td></tr>
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After a day of indulgence, we were pretty much pooped, so we decided to order <a href="https://www.dominos.com.au/store/wa-margaret-river-98241" target="_blank">Dominos pizza delivery</a> and have a quiet night in. Not that quiet though because they played an exciting game of Monopoly Deal, while our resident nature wanderer, Nigel, started a bonfire in the grounds just outside the house (sadly it was extinguished as the rain started soon after he lit it).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonfire area in the day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FIRE!!!!</td></tr>
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<b>Day 5</b><br />
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Exercise time! We woke up and sprinted out of bed (just kidding, we were pretty slow going) to get ourselves to the <a href="http://trailswa.com.au/trails/cape-to-cape-track/print" target="_blank">Cape to Cape trail</a>, to check out <a href="https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/meekadarabee-falls" target="_blank">Meekadarabee Falls</a>, and take a scenic walk along the cliffs overlooking the beach. It was quite a cold and overcast morning but thankfully not raining, so it made for quite a pleasant walk. We decided to venture down to the beach at one point and took an off-the-beaten track route, only to have to turn back because the plants were pokey and trying to murder us. However, when we got to the beach, it was lovely - the sand on the beach was pristine and clean, there was a joyful dog running around barking at the flowing waves, and there were some serious surfers riding rather large waves so it made for quite a view. Also, a strapping man with a tattoo, a baby, and the dog, made for some nice eye candy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meekadarabee Falls but not really falling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SELFIETIME</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVkxBqFy_DlP0igaQNOHGgzMK3pMFaag-jrN7CvzDLxKtKN3twMTAn-zWd3ghND55Foj0tPnWhB2aIaIa58ci3eFtQRBtvosY-ETv8mbYsGYEsGRHdQC-uolwunjj8wJne1fIpsYbc4n-/s1600/IMG_3372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVkxBqFy_DlP0igaQNOHGgzMK3pMFaag-jrN7CvzDLxKtKN3twMTAn-zWd3ghND55Foj0tPnWhB2aIaIa58ci3eFtQRBtvosY-ETv8mbYsGYEsGRHdQC-uolwunjj8wJne1fIpsYbc4n-/s640/IMG_3372.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge waves dude</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In memoriam - Chris Boyd, a surfer who had been fatally attacked by a shark.</td></tr>
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After our morning walkabout, we headed for lunch at Wilyabrup, a short drive away. We went to <a href="https://hayshedhill.com.au/pages/rustico-at-hay-shed-hill" target="_blank">Rustico at Hay Shed Hill</a>, and the paella was SO GOOD, I ate so much even though I'm allergic to shellfish. The service and ambiance was really lovely and the day had brightened so we had our chocolate dipped churros dessert out on the open air porch (I've no photo evidence of the churros but they weren't very nice so whatevs).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPepH8G_4A8jfLTFA0trqFKUhYEKPWoTyajYwPV2MEn3xJPZ36fl2h9G90yk5u5V7mkuDxo9Fdc3VXDrobJNHmMqD3RqekNae-4_29NBUQkstFSxBH3hh_-Ma0qqCvo4Ck8R8tk0FL8zI/s1600/IMG_3467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPepH8G_4A8jfLTFA0trqFKUhYEKPWoTyajYwPV2MEn3xJPZ36fl2h9G90yk5u5V7mkuDxo9Fdc3VXDrobJNHmMqD3RqekNae-4_29NBUQkstFSxBH3hh_-Ma0qqCvo4Ck8R8tk0FL8zI/s640/IMG_3467.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These made the 6 diners who ate oysters very happy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful delicious paella</td></tr>
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Near Hay Shed Hill was the Providore, an awesome food store selling beautifully packaged food produce like olive oils, grains in bags, cake mix in jars, and a yummy passionfruit puree that I've bought to eat with yogurt. They provided little plastic spoons and testers for most jams, oils and purees could be tried. They also sold beautiful homeware like ceramic plates and bowls, and wooden cooking utensils. I can't wait to have a home!<br />
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Outside of Providore, there was an herb garden, a chicken coop (actually it was a fenced area with chickens in it, is that still counted as a coop?), and cows in a field!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evil side eye much</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcyHrRugjPHJvKEniTBXPeXMZDMGpca3WUuSMmqf00Lh_yW1QR8FJHIpgtaaj_xnctNqAwi-YA5NE6MWaKI3fwPK_b6gjWFYmKIhhhbWNB7K1__NqWYOrFprHqymvJ1-o8RuIG4WVBJCz/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcyHrRugjPHJvKEniTBXPeXMZDMGpca3WUuSMmqf00Lh_yW1QR8FJHIpgtaaj_xnctNqAwi-YA5NE6MWaKI3fwPK_b6gjWFYmKIhhhbWNB7K1__NqWYOrFprHqymvJ1-o8RuIG4WVBJCz/s640/IMG_3392.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moo muthaf*cka</td></tr>
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Checking out the Margaret River Nougat Company after was a very successful venture, I ended up with 6 bars of delicious sweet Nougat to give away as gifts, but also to eat. In fact, I'm eating it as I type. Vvvv sticky. Probably not the smartest idea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLc8Wru21b3kCB7uj6HkfitPZCAa1xwNoWS_rEdB3fDyyFTX_7ShSWCXN5mrO0yLz0YkrCGBNcFGVnWS9Gdups-4HOJdYpl5I5Qkp4taRvIHK-v_IFPmXCxGUeoFEJVyUejrT7ehgXocA/s1600/IMG_3394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLc8Wru21b3kCB7uj6HkfitPZCAa1xwNoWS_rEdB3fDyyFTX_7ShSWCXN5mrO0yLz0YkrCGBNcFGVnWS9Gdups-4HOJdYpl5I5Qkp4taRvIHK-v_IFPmXCxGUeoFEJVyUejrT7ehgXocA/s640/IMG_3394.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The MR Nougat Company is situated next to this lovely lake</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_B_AZfRG8k90lo4vM4G6NjvjyTst46UuQa6EtFD0l1pCccGFEx9QPji1L2_tDB9Di6ql4Qn9BmxayGMbfxqhj02H0qhvnX5jxbyqebH2xKwg6D3fVrlGpat7MgTi6aGeYAmAQ4GkwJbj/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_B_AZfRG8k90lo4vM4G6NjvjyTst46UuQa6EtFD0l1pCccGFEx9QPji1L2_tDB9Di6ql4Qn9BmxayGMbfxqhj02H0qhvnX5jxbyqebH2xKwg6D3fVrlGpat7MgTi6aGeYAmAQ4GkwJbj/s640/IMG_3395.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nougat bars filled with YUM</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decisions decisions</td></tr>
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As Margaret River is wine country, we had to visit more than just two vineyards so we drove to Vasse Felix and Cullen Winery. Vasse Felix was super fancy, the grounds were neatly manicured and had artsy looking sculptures placed around. The restaurant on the second level looked so posh I didn't dare to walk in, and even the bathrooms were fancy and they use Aesop soap. I wanted to move in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFotNdLk6sht8I3SZ9iAy2UtR_swMsAChrg3NZFmXtsMsVw6NuwBSDL96VOKS6vu_ECYjdW8MeN2AkDShGk0wPptaXdAZ5E3i1ebJBdRGXZgXcWp_jlSClHQhZEj-KjvX9LBXaNs6Rukx/s1600/IMG_3399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFotNdLk6sht8I3SZ9iAy2UtR_swMsAChrg3NZFmXtsMsVw6NuwBSDL96VOKS6vu_ECYjdW8MeN2AkDShGk0wPptaXdAZ5E3i1ebJBdRGXZgXcWp_jlSClHQhZEj-KjvX9LBXaNs6Rukx/s640/IMG_3399.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Vasse Felix</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3DNEDnhDD3Mbkn9X2Cq2fvYxDIv8smDfUJTqLio0w31meo8DWMaTz9U6tMBD-Vkq7yoTFx44u2R7jrmLiWaKOOK7pPKXxToLHK2HIRY6J0AWAuowenueNXSvt1AV8ySaIRdF3ndX9dqp/s1600/IMG_3401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3DNEDnhDD3Mbkn9X2Cq2fvYxDIv8smDfUJTqLio0w31meo8DWMaTz9U6tMBD-Vkq7yoTFx44u2R7jrmLiWaKOOK7pPKXxToLHK2HIRY6J0AWAuowenueNXSvt1AV8ySaIRdF3ndX9dqp/s640/IMG_3401.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a beauty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIIyqbp0NhMUS8YRV4oGa6fPSzrQd7OzrLUUgLqI-xxbXsR4Py4EP1gIyM-Md3jDscx3Z32Pjc9OXE8ojDx5bHRLj0MW24h7bA0RuPmwxQm9k5UvAmVzlHZIyR-DQTRrWMrBxktqHkoo3/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIIyqbp0NhMUS8YRV4oGa6fPSzrQd7OzrLUUgLqI-xxbXsR4Py4EP1gIyM-Md3jDscx3Z32Pjc9OXE8ojDx5bHRLj0MW24h7bA0RuPmwxQm9k5UvAmVzlHZIyR-DQTRrWMrBxktqHkoo3/s640/IMG_3402.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey baby, how roo doin'?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iQtTPr1Luk6oGb8wQQ85yOayuYDxZgzJBVIFpO8d_UFFQhKSyZ-jDozs22DSj5FUrDvuZKPziclDWIl8Rwr3Za9P5LYuEe5XgitJtCEnakLlX5rfCl5L0b1OFZiB6NgiW7L88ABPirrO/s1600/IMG_3407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iQtTPr1Luk6oGb8wQQ85yOayuYDxZgzJBVIFpO8d_UFFQhKSyZ-jDozs22DSj5FUrDvuZKPziclDWIl8Rwr3Za9P5LYuEe5XgitJtCEnakLlX5rfCl5L0b1OFZiB6NgiW7L88ABPirrO/s640/IMG_3407.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underground cellar - those pillar like structures have historical information printed on them</td></tr>
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Cullen seemed to be a little smaller and more like a family owned kind of winery. The place actually closes at 4.30pm and we got there at 4.20pm but the lady was so kind to run through the tasting session without rushing us. There was some outdoor self-guided tour about biodynamics and how they use it in their wine production - it sounded kind of strange in a hippie dippie kind of way. However, the wines must've been good as the guys ended up ordering lots of wine to be sent directly back to Singapore.<br />
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Our winery adventures had come to a close literally because they all close by 5pm latest so we headed back to Hermitage house to rest and hang out before heading out to dinner. We'd read nice things about <a href="http://www.settlerstavern.com/" target="_blank">Settlers Tavern</a> so we popped in for bar food style dinner. The serving portions were huge and I don't think any of us finished our meals. We ordered a side order of chicken wings, which were really tasty, but small in portion compared to the other starters like nachos. Dan, the number 1 chingchongcheenapong (I'm in second place) was pleased to see laksa on the menu so I guess if you ever find yourself in Margaret River craving Singapore grub, you can head there.<br />
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After our meal, we headed back for the final sleep in Hermitage house before we moved on the following day to Fremantle.<br />
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Thanks for reading, the final part of the Australia trip will follow in another post! Don't say I didn't warn you. alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-83007041974914111762017-05-27T17:43:00.000+08:002017-05-27T17:43:45.566+08:00How ya going, mate? Part 1: PembertonHow ya going? If I had to answer that, I'd say, "by plane and then car", but I think the expected response is "Good, how ya going?" Australian English is a riot, I tell ya.<br />
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I've just come back from a 9 day trip to Perth, Australia. It was a group trip and as always, I share (aka boast about) my vacation. Honestly, if I don't write about what I did, in a year's time, I won't recall many of the details. Such are the trials of a pea-brain.<br />
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I would describe this trip as a vacation where 8 people get very fat on cheese and wine.<br />
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<b>Day 1</b><br />
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We flew in via cheap tickets on JetStar early in the morning and we quickly went through immigration (our passports can go through those self-automated lanes and it wasn't crowded at all!) and headed to the <a href="https://www.thrifty.com.au/?keyword_k=thrifty%20car%20hire&gclid=CjwKEAjwpJ_JBRC3tYai4Ky09zQSJAC5r7ruOL43TuZPHbPL-LwZYR1ajS-4kFcKu7jgeD3XSq-iKxoCdSDw_wcB" target="_blank">Thrifty car rental</a> booth within the airport where we got our pre-booked cars settled (2 white Mitsubishi Outlanders with trunk space large enough for 4 medium/large sized luggage per car - shopping here we come!).<br />
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Like fatties, we immediately went in search of grub and drove to <a href="https://bunburyfarmersmarket.com.au/" target="_blank">Bunbury Farmers Market</a> where we ate pies and drank coffee from the little food stall within the market, and then over-ordered organic grocery like we had never seen food before.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get in ma belly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9DFG0_iV3A_eZYSinZZLHZtoPOYXEDaVWKqf9rItdCYYhQF5Z0h9rw60rSMU-_ECmYdSCmTtMvm0TisnDnoA8kTlo8uCrVjayhntc-Zukz-pofQ3rGHkZMaSiATZKW0PDf8ghmTqwi90/s1600/IMG_2979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9DFG0_iV3A_eZYSinZZLHZtoPOYXEDaVWKqf9rItdCYYhQF5Z0h9rw60rSMU-_ECmYdSCmTtMvm0TisnDnoA8kTlo8uCrVjayhntc-Zukz-pofQ3rGHkZMaSiATZKW0PDf8ghmTqwi90/s640/IMG_2979.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honestly all the vegetables were giant sized</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdx7mKtobjn_uMJSgmLwWnuLqNSOeYIvKMVwIIPMSssjRzBgS2vXaJqnVH3MWxIca9rdF_8Q96RFz9V2L03C3Amr0yyIgB8JztZdT8VAqHz-93W3TFVR5cK9HK_GOukBxAJfnMUy63GLI/s1600/IMG_2982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdx7mKtobjn_uMJSgmLwWnuLqNSOeYIvKMVwIIPMSssjRzBgS2vXaJqnVH3MWxIca9rdF_8Q96RFz9V2L03C3Amr0yyIgB8JztZdT8VAqHz-93W3TFVR5cK9HK_GOukBxAJfnMUy63GLI/s640/IMG_2982.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We bought the whole shop. The boo wasn't satisfied with the meat he saw here (because he's a snob who thinks meat should only be bought at a butcher's, so 4 of us went off in search of a butcher after this grocery expedition, while the other 4 went to another grocery store (this time not organic, I think it was Woolworth's) to buy even MORE food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fNXOk9De2XQMzDQobVGPUURSrAQB65zn9PMGq6ZEHS9U5s4x1qIXESuZMhGByDDYxTucEVRSUP9OcOkJEeeeZRfAJCQoXhukXB2xCOJqqy-K8kIIitErVQHXmsRGe_OGoALsFiZHYBT9/s1600/IMG_2984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fNXOk9De2XQMzDQobVGPUURSrAQB65zn9PMGq6ZEHS9U5s4x1qIXESuZMhGByDDYxTucEVRSUP9OcOkJEeeeZRfAJCQoXhukXB2xCOJqqy-K8kIIitErVQHXmsRGe_OGoALsFiZHYBT9/s640/IMG_2984.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan is obviously not a Fox brother but he looks like he's saying "welcome to my store"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T4wcrDwxGHihzomVRZqZ3YFo0McydR2x7Xc2mtC02raID7eJ8fcy03PXZuQYM4FyDfNBQrN0_b3TdAZ33SmpuQiY8C-jM2BwBq5UZXOeogCmPdZRl9M785qYaerVNQSZKhcue3nH6wGm/s1600/IMG_2985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_T4wcrDwxGHihzomVRZqZ3YFo0McydR2x7Xc2mtC02raID7eJ8fcy03PXZuQYM4FyDfNBQrN0_b3TdAZ33SmpuQiY8C-jM2BwBq5UZXOeogCmPdZRl9M785qYaerVNQSZKhcue3nH6wGm/s640/IMG_2985.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The boo found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/foxbrothersbutchers/" target="_blank">Fox Bros Butchers</a> which is a short drive from <a href="https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/8195218" target="_blank">Pemberlyn House</a> (the AirBnB rental we had found) but he calmly only bought a couple of lamb chops and steaks. Such restraint I tell ya.<br />
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Exhausted from grocery shopping, we quickly made our way to Pemberlyn House, a lovely homestay nestled amongst lush greenery. Apparently a kangaroo hopped past the house so that's how close to nature it is. It's a great place to be disconnected from the outside world because it seems pretty isolated and there's no wifi. So a great place to relax and unwind, or murder someone. Your pick.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z5mrjZpltyoUp3N5yroQsZrCCLvBWNO8s4UMG0SJN6Y6EJ7MnjuQRqtL_yp41gzQhkhs82VQQr6zGcySDMfwrCqXYUMo1wUdodhsT9ff8SU4soQbSNcTlEXK2zH3ydszDZX0ppLvhiGs/s1600/IMG_3062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z5mrjZpltyoUp3N5yroQsZrCCLvBWNO8s4UMG0SJN6Y6EJ7MnjuQRqtL_yp41gzQhkhs82VQQr6zGcySDMfwrCqXYUMo1wUdodhsT9ff8SU4soQbSNcTlEXK2zH3ydszDZX0ppLvhiGs/s640/IMG_3062.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outside of the house. I clearly didn't take this photo as it's way nicer than what I could have achieved.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWaCgyib391bWFHCoDoDLfcZzkv_ntLW9lkHo3uWFJ74wbW5gUcobz7gVH2MAnpJCQhr0NrfcZr-aBli985ekKd5dQciM3eOxI_Ijjciwdg08xTo0Nood_2_ldQ1BCThkcn04NvUpFq8m/s1600/IMG_3133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWaCgyib391bWFHCoDoDLfcZzkv_ntLW9lkHo3uWFJ74wbW5gUcobz7gVH2MAnpJCQhr0NrfcZr-aBli985ekKd5dQciM3eOxI_Ijjciwdg08xTo0Nood_2_ldQ1BCThkcn04NvUpFq8m/s640/IMG_3133.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the porch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIaS0QirPudUZeKut8lfHgr74dcLqDaVor-S0-8AvQwEBv2fooph1tx77GBNNNa6VH0-I9DFR176Lj86dK5GU4TQCxfQd7fekOVobI3KGgwaypdofpzAbJ8XKy9IEl5m_v8Df3SN8-3-P/s1600/IMG_3134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIaS0QirPudUZeKut8lfHgr74dcLqDaVor-S0-8AvQwEBv2fooph1tx77GBNNNa6VH0-I9DFR176Lj86dK5GU4TQCxfQd7fekOVobI3KGgwaypdofpzAbJ8XKy9IEl5m_v8Df3SN8-3-P/s640/IMG_3134.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I want to see a kangaroo!!</td></tr>
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The house has 3 bedrooms, and a TV room that can be converted into a bedroom. Fully furnished with most amenities and necessities, it was a very comfortable stay (especially for me since I managed to score the master bedroom). However, I've come to realise that it seems no matter the size of the house, the number of bathrooms seems to be capped at 2.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkdDGHo1sLFlAeblazNL7T9uupuI5CS-gRkthIdw0mXedzWI31sN9DFdth7aeGN91YxwSRRJcPGKkBfIG9-bLIM3D9FW8d5vIrb_FUKdL-Ze3tNlpcdQAw8_5mSwlc2EexwBu_7Ax1dMg/s1600/IMG_2987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkdDGHo1sLFlAeblazNL7T9uupuI5CS-gRkthIdw0mXedzWI31sN9DFdth7aeGN91YxwSRRJcPGKkBfIG9-bLIM3D9FW8d5vIrb_FUKdL-Ze3tNlpcdQAw8_5mSwlc2EexwBu_7Ax1dMg/s640/IMG_2987.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining room and kitchen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nj7dE_FGbHbdYtUR5Gyh2zzRmU8s4U1-0Yj57Gk_4rV4PplBAYt8kzjwsN7B1jcHPzZ8uYNltXzhyphenhyphenatcKfNHEJ83DTkpC-qZBJUs64L_B7K-uuCE86KVPKmifAjm-lm9CrTkS0W8mpns/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Nj7dE_FGbHbdYtUR5Gyh2zzRmU8s4U1-0Yj57Gk_4rV4PplBAYt8kzjwsN7B1jcHPzZ8uYNltXzhyphenhyphenatcKfNHEJ83DTkpC-qZBJUs64L_B7K-uuCE86KVPKmifAjm-lm9CrTkS0W8mpns/s640/IMG_2990.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BBQ deck but we didn't sit outside because it was cold</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg9lU0ish4Bz_GlM7m0O05ubBnfI-X5LXAYQ05a0EGCgvxuhWUKqqcepVe_mQJnt4mKLV2Pdrpku7sqzlym06cvqCAHy7_4LLhJMp-RjINfzpQnOPtFHlSmocVZsDFiBYsdUN54vjMLtA/s1600/IMG_2991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg9lU0ish4Bz_GlM7m0O05ubBnfI-X5LXAYQ05a0EGCgvxuhWUKqqcepVe_mQJnt4mKLV2Pdrpku7sqzlym06cvqCAHy7_4LLhJMp-RjINfzpQnOPtFHlSmocVZsDFiBYsdUN54vjMLtA/s640/IMG_2991.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porch for lounging and kangaroo spotting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwKjay8iJXkvyS_i91nA1OUI7TgyYllm7sRrs89naFJKaWaLgp7AKXC8trFtgVVPrKtWluhyphenhyphen9GU0FKGOhN0bC_W48ZTexK7BFJzGbTAdoFfrHq4rJGj05mBmrVkg2ow3i5nbBq1Gfobkq/s1600/IMG_2994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwKjay8iJXkvyS_i91nA1OUI7TgyYllm7sRrs89naFJKaWaLgp7AKXC8trFtgVVPrKtWluhyphenhyphen9GU0FKGOhN0bC_W48ZTexK7BFJzGbTAdoFfrHq4rJGj05mBmrVkg2ow3i5nbBq1Gfobkq/s640/IMG_2994.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Master bedroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy4SjgOP_HMic3y5wcldk7tnOEAeOAm1cO-ntzh5PJ3qAv3y3BOvHBafHSwtlo2aXeLK22ze17zG_ZHt_ClOrS19LfY8sLNvSAivoP8zTPHhdGq5rU57T64h_gj5QyGl0uWUiiJlEHZBP/s1600/IMG_2995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy4SjgOP_HMic3y5wcldk7tnOEAeOAm1cO-ntzh5PJ3qAv3y3BOvHBafHSwtlo2aXeLK22ze17zG_ZHt_ClOrS19LfY8sLNvSAivoP8zTPHhdGq5rU57T64h_gj5QyGl0uWUiiJlEHZBP/s640/IMG_2995.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the master bedroom/shower area of master bedroom</td></tr>
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There's a fireplace which we got cracking because it is COLD in Autumn, and there's a pool table upon which we ladies played the most epic pool game EVER. (We were so awful at the game, like SO awful. I don't know how long it took to complete.) I'd like to boast that my team (me and Leo) won, but it really doesn't come with the glory naturally associated with winning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLOTFfxa37KWiruv3oTAu6GsLG10ylNQ1QTCXjXnvl685sZ2orb0wdx6FG_HozwegPyulYKwGEVGZ3axrpwyTGlWdE2dmMnq3N9_-B0WJJ4EjQiCfblI6fWNadX_aNWpXPH4ZuCbSh8oU/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLOTFfxa37KWiruv3oTAu6GsLG10ylNQ1QTCXjXnvl685sZ2orb0wdx6FG_HozwegPyulYKwGEVGZ3axrpwyTGlWdE2dmMnq3N9_-B0WJJ4EjQiCfblI6fWNadX_aNWpXPH4ZuCbSh8oU/s640/IMG_2992.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">History was made here</td></tr>
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Our first dinner in Australia was excessive. The boo grilled up the steak and lamb, but head chef Mims also served up a huge baked salmon, carrots, mushrooms, I'm sure I'm forgetting other things. Oh, and WINE. Our dessert after a massive dinner was cheese paired with drinking games that got pretty disgusting. I learned 2 lessons that night, the first is that Pi is 3.14159, and the second is that some people *coughdumbboyscough* take the idea of cheese and wine pairing to the extreme by dunking cheese in wine.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pink cheese is wine and cheese and it's wonderful.</td></tr>
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<b>Day 2</b><br />
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I'm proud to say that despite the drinking of the first night (especially by Mims whose drinking game luck was absent), we were all sprightly and ready for action the next day. We drove a short distance to the <a href="https://www.pembertonvisitor.com.au/pemberton-tours-cruises-activities/self-drive-tours-the-karri-forest-explorer" target="_blank">Karri Forest</a>, where we selected the <a href="http://trailswa.com.au/trails/pemberton-gloucester-route" target="_blank">Gloucester Tree Route</a>, a 10 KM trek through the woods where one could get in touch with nature and smell burning trees, and then feast on 19074691426417 calories from scones and pancakes mid-walk because that's how all hikes go right?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a super tall tree with spokes you can climb all the way to the top but we didn't because hells no.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a lot of this, would ya believe?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhffqlHJUFppLWc6lmyWoS0vR4HyQITAKAVzrD8M4nDmShH-BxKm-tJ6_S-es_K5C9G1G6XDsgIe399FVVIVvMzQo4KKnQ3Ss6eetjA1W2dA6ZOhwMDH-bioXaik0LaC02UcpYtreY-zD/s1600/IMG_3019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhffqlHJUFppLWc6lmyWoS0vR4HyQITAKAVzrD8M4nDmShH-BxKm-tJ6_S-es_K5C9G1G6XDsgIe399FVVIVvMzQo4KKnQ3Ss6eetjA1W2dA6ZOhwMDH-bioXaik0LaC02UcpYtreY-zD/s640/IMG_3019.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMG A BRIDGE TROLL!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burnt trees</td></tr>
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I'd give the hike maybe a 7/10 rating, it was nice to be in nature but the hike didn't seem so challenging with few upward inclines, nor any peaks or cliffs to overlook majestic views, and the forest was permeated with the smell of burning wood. I think they do a lot of selective forest burning. Also, did you see that scary bridge troll??<br />
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Anyway, back to the pancakes and scones. So mid-walk, we came upon the <a href="http://pembertonlakeviewchalets.com.au/" target="_blank">Lavender and Berry Farm</a> (FINE. We actively looked for it after reading reviews okkkk!!) where we ate laksa. Kidding. We had lavender and berry pancakes and scones for brunch, silly! They were SO good.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah, we had nachos and a vanilla milkshake as well.</td></tr>
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Coming in second place in terms of awesomeness of the offerings at this farm were the animals! There were ducks in the lake near the outdoor seating area (but then I made the mistake of feeding them some bread and they came swarming like hungry little monsters. Don't feed wild animals, kids.) At the back of the farm were mini ponies, alpacas, and sheep!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One evil duck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What you staring at?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too cool for your shizz</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Resident hairstylist hard at work</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-styling - this horse can join an emo boyband</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What about meeee?</td></tr>
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We finished up the rest of the hike after brunch. I'm proud to say I did a little light jogging and then not so proud to say I nearly made an older lady fall down because I came up behind her and gave her a fright.<br />
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After we left the park, we headed to a <a href="http://www.truffleandwine.com.au/" target="_blank">Truffle farm</a> which made me miss my dog. Apparently during truffle hunting season, you can join a tour where their truffle hunting dogs will sniff out truffles, probably in a super cute way that'll make you wanna say "who's a good boy? You are!!" Sadly, it wasn't truffle hunting season and they don't just let those dogs roam around and sniff you like you may potentially be delicious edible gold.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQsRvPwFsGENtNanjGlFlCNA7XLAdBGxVvBIUyS1gl2RdqyZz8jZ72QnduUWHSFYc5LiA1wI4Pi1C_amcC3TaMqPp-aif1UANqBX9zs4JsnyLFSU_RHZ-jg9x-Is42JvPxYQP96p6srLa/s1600/IMG_3130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQsRvPwFsGENtNanjGlFlCNA7XLAdBGxVvBIUyS1gl2RdqyZz8jZ72QnduUWHSFYc5LiA1wI4Pi1C_amcC3TaMqPp-aif1UANqBX9zs4JsnyLFSU_RHZ-jg9x-Is42JvPxYQP96p6srLa/s640/IMG_3130.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who's a good boy???</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That looks disgusting guys. Who in the world first thought to eat it??</td></tr>
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We needed the truffle oil and salt because we persuaded chef Mims to make us her famous truffle pasta for dinner. She did not disappoint. I think I had 3 servings. Dinner was, as you guessed, more overeating, especially since we still had so much produce leftover from the previous day's grocery run, and were leaving for Margaret River the following morning. The solution? All leftovers get made into soup!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9cN4coH12BdYUefaacGxOTElJwAjQYkxyEUyRWO6qR-8QB6euLAQLmiEc91vVal9hoTDXyEl7FSNPkOAwxIUSO_p-Zm1YpS9N052JHRD_VnTZ2lq12i5_MHO-F4KiTl-LlqXdNUfc11/s1600/IMG_3136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9cN4coH12BdYUefaacGxOTElJwAjQYkxyEUyRWO6qR-8QB6euLAQLmiEc91vVal9hoTDXyEl7FSNPkOAwxIUSO_p-Zm1YpS9N052JHRD_VnTZ2lq12i5_MHO-F4KiTl-LlqXdNUfc11/s640/IMG_3136.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast the following morning included soup, leftover pasta, steak and lamb, cheese toasties, ham, cheese, eggs, bean, yogurt and granola! EVERYTHING IN FRIDGE MUST BE EATEN!!</td></tr>
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And like that, the stay in Pemberton came to a close. We packed up and shifted out that morning to make our way towards Margaret River.<br />
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Thanks for reading, part 2 of the "Fat on cheese and wine" trip to be continued in another post.alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-41352247258417781362017-04-17T21:02:00.004+08:002017-04-17T21:02:57.770+08:00Spring in bloom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheeeeeee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lsqPRidWKwaqrY1oY-AWzG5nxgIM37h7_5LK9-KnnPjbEjk5ULfSolUa2ixykC4I3Gh4J_32mIrvSg2ffaW3YcqfsOXOBLJgTz7idUWS5NVXPujI9RKL3DcwfSIt-CMvK7yWlzilMMrz/s1600/DSCF1700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lsqPRidWKwaqrY1oY-AWzG5nxgIM37h7_5LK9-KnnPjbEjk5ULfSolUa2ixykC4I3Gh4J_32mIrvSg2ffaW3YcqfsOXOBLJgTz7idUWS5NVXPujI9RKL3DcwfSIt-CMvK7yWlzilMMrz/s640/DSCF1700.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing my best hair ad hair-toss</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3JcS5d4bgLsTFY-RziSvi2GDg5fgh7T6BIX3lQQRNp9Jy_KBAS-bMQeaMQxLmr7kiLEojwEK7Zps2xDRijYCcttR-M5jGEZKpm2kNLQf1ddqbdx1lR0qx-IJuT3A72OAJtmaurx_qNoX/s1600/DSCF1547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3JcS5d4bgLsTFY-RziSvi2GDg5fgh7T6BIX3lQQRNp9Jy_KBAS-bMQeaMQxLmr7kiLEojwEK7Zps2xDRijYCcttR-M5jGEZKpm2kNLQf1ddqbdx1lR0qx-IJuT3A72OAJtmaurx_qNoX/s640/DSCF1547.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then a quick change into something more comfortable</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />Greetings and happy belated Easter to all you spring bunnies! If you love flora but hate the heat, check
out the air-conditioned indoor flower domes of <a href="http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html" target="_blank">Gardens by the Bay</a>. I had a
lovely lunchtime visit with my buddy Samson who sacrificed his lunch to take
these photos. Check out his work at <a href="http://7braidstrong.com/">7braidstrong.com</a> or follow him on
Instagram. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spring is frequently
associated with rebirth and renewal and it certainly feels like I’ve gone
through some kind of rebirth of thought. Basically, I’m way crazier now. You
can bandy around “dirty” words like “feminist”, “activist” and “eco-warrior”
because I totally am. Or at least, I’m trying to be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Am I pushing an
agenda? Probably. But it’s my blog so get ready to be pushed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I blame two people for
my rebirth – David Attenborough, for his wonderful BBC Earth series that made
me want to preserve the beauty of nature, and my tree-hugging friend Char who
opened my eyes to the fact that we’re poisoning ourselves with chemicals. Being
an idea extremist, I decided that I had to be tree + animal hugging so I’ve
decided that aside from aiming for that organic eco-sustainable lifestyle, I
also have to fight against animal testing so here I am, taking a very minuscule
stand against wastage and big businesses who profit off products that are tested
on animals – Goodbye Maybelline eyeliner! Goodbye Makeup Forever setting powder
and eyebrow pencil! Goodbye my favourite Peter Thomas Roth CC cream (<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span>)! GOOD RIDDANCE TO YOU!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What all this means
is:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li>I am
phasing out products that are tested on animals as much as possible</li>
<li>I am
replacing said products with products that are preferably eco-friendly (eg.
recycled plastic packaging, biodegradable, etc), organic, and not from
companies that test on animals</li>
<li>I am
trying to reduce my carbon footprint by being more aware of my consumption
habits and making small adjustments to reduce waste</li>
<li>I am
making more of an effort to reuse and recycle where possible</li>
<li>I am
becoming a larger pain in the butt by nagging at my family to follow in my
footsteps, while also becoming increasingly unbearable due to my obnoxious
bragging about my lifestyle change, which you are bearing witness to right now</li>
</ol>
I’ll be honest, I
don’t think my actions will ever really make much of a difference, but I guess
I like the idea that even though I’m not doing enough, I’m doing my best. At
the end of the day, I just want to know that I’ve tried to take some positive
steps in saving this planet and its creatures.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope you will
consider joining me in this personal crusade, or at least spreading this
message. So maybe together we can make a difference, or at the very least, we
can discover and share kick-ass organic and cruelty-free products that make us
ridiculously good-looking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks for reading!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ps. If you want to
join the cruelty free crusade, check out <a href="http://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/" target="_blank">Cruelty Free Kitty</a> to get started.
It’s got a list of cruelty-free brands and suggestions on where to shop for
products. On that note, check out <a href="https://sg.iherb.com/" target="_blank">iHerb</a> for a buttload of organic products not
just for your head and body but also for your home. <o:p></o:p></div>
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-70557368852070190672017-02-16T22:47:00.003+08:002017-02-16T22:47:50.325+08:00Will you be my Valentine?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYxst-EYyFFlhquqCZF9Svx27PjSqDZm6jfE8O1DDDJt36jwQCMsu6J0KC9Hw2QfunH3Zi_RRJ6Muf_zsM8WJaI2NKvd4uZba6GB093T7IHeGtBqr1p8jF7wr7ro8MK6AlF3BcTQ6It8N/s1600/DSC01885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYxst-EYyFFlhquqCZF9Svx27PjSqDZm6jfE8O1DDDJt36jwQCMsu6J0KC9Hw2QfunH3Zi_RRJ6Muf_zsM8WJaI2NKvd4uZba6GB093T7IHeGtBqr1p8jF7wr7ro8MK6AlF3BcTQ6It8N/s640/DSC01885.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Soooo I'm a little late to post this... But happy belated V day for all you romantic folks out there.<br />
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Another event day photo series courtesy of @7braidstrong/www.7braidstrong.com to commemorate Valentine's Day although I don't actually celebrate it. Okay, so just an excuse to take a couple of photos. I think we've reached some peak moodiness here. Love it!<br />
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So on this special day for lovers, let's talk about love, shall we?<br />
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I love a lot of things/people/experiences that exist at present in my life - clothes, shoes, dogs, exercise (it's a love-hate thing), great movies and music, my friends and family, so on and so forth, but there are a couple of things I absolutely would love to have but I sadly do not. The list below is not exhaustive (obviously) and it doesn't include things like "having all the money in the world" and "eating as much as I want without putting on any weight or getting a heart attack" because duh, plus those are too obvious:<br />
<ol>
<li>The ability to make my dog, Nacho poop on command. Instead, he has to take a really long time deciding on the right spot, and sniff and mark on everything, regardless of rain or shine. </li>
<li>You know those Transition lenses, those that change in different lighting conditions to protect your eyeballs from evil UV rays? It would be cool if I had transition lens eyeballs instead because I always forget my sunnies so self-adjusting eyeballs would be cool.</li>
<li>It would be swell if I could just not drop anything for one frickin' day in my life. I could win an award for being a klutz, total butterfingers here.</li>
<li>The magical skill of being able to make fruit the perfect stage of ripeness at the point at which I intend to consume it. Sames goes for making food that's gone soggy/laohong to be unsoggy/unlaohong. Food at the perfect stage is important to me. </li>
<li>I'd love to be able to sing and dance well. I cannot do both. It pains me deeply. Watching La La Land filled me with waves of unfulfilled desire for a talent that shall never be.</li>
<li>How rad would it be if the body came with an internal alarm that notifies your brain when you're at the peak happy-fun alcoholic state so you know never to surpass it and thus avoid ever having to suffer the next day?</li>
<li>I wish I had the power to have the basic synopsis (minus spoilers) for movies delivered to my brain via magic brain waves upon request.</li>
<li>I would love if all the stuff in bottles (like makeup, conditioner, etc) would just not stick to the bottle. Like y'know towards the end, you'll be like squeezing that shiz out and tons of it just sticks to the side of the bottle? Yeah, if it would just not do that, that'd be swell. </li>
<li>My dream feet - the kind that never get blisters. No plasters/socks/apparatus needed. Just unblisterable feet. Yup, that's a word now.</li>
<li>Self-cleaning makeup brushes. Actually, self-cleaning everything. I'm sick of chores!</li>
</ol>
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Okay I've gotta stop here, this list could go on pretty much forever. Hope your would-love-list isn't as lengthy as mine. Here's to hoping that your would-love-list is far surpassed by the list of all the things in your life that you already have! </div>
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Happy Valentine's Day lovers, thanks for reading! </div>
<ol>
</ol>
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-57911333371832441192017-01-27T23:46:00.003+08:002017-01-27T23:46:51.237+08:00Happy Lunar New Year <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My buddy Samson aka @7braidstrong (www.7braidstrong.com) shot all these photos and rushed to edit them in time for Chinese New Year because apparently I'm a slave driver. Poor dude has a wife, a kid, a full-time job, a side gig in photography, and here I am bossing him about to give me awesome photos. Muchos gracias. I wish I could feel bad but I don't because I love all his work. If you're looking for a photographer, get in touch with him.<br />
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HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!<br />
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I hope the year of the rooster is an auspicious and prosperous one for you and your loved ones! I personally have never been all that traditional but as I grow older, I definitely have begun to appreciate this festive season more, and care for what it means - MONEY. LOL.<br />
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I had to lead the lohei at my family's reunion dinner (which is definitely not like any other reunion dinner - we had tortillas and tacos, and we invited a whole bunch of random non-Chinese folk) and while I'm pretty sure reading it off some page I found on google is kind of lame and my Chinese accent was all off, I felt this need to show off my Chinese-ness while also realising that basically every step in the lohei is about money, wealth, valuables, gold, more money, more wealth, and prosperity. Duuuuude we need to get a grip.<br />
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Nonetheless, I had a great time sharing a part of my culture with people who might have been largely unfamiliar with this aspect. I hope they left dinner with some new insights ("we LOVE money") and yusheng is delicious.<br />
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Thanks for reading, may it bring you big money.<br />
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<br />alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-22275674463077607292016-12-25T19:44:00.000+08:002016-12-25T19:44:23.548+08:00Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<div>
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<span id="goog_2021111228"></span><span id="goog_2021111229"></span><br />
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A huge thank you for Samson (insta: @7braidstrong, web: www.7braidstrong.com) for the Christmas themed photos! It is always a delight to be photographed by you.</div>
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Hello! I can't believe the year has flown by and it's Christmas again! I'd like to wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas! It's likely going to be my last post for 2016 so it's time to give a little thanks...<br />
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I'd like to give a shout out to my friends and family - thanks for putting up with my weirdness and grumpiness. I know I can be challenging with my bossy nature and intense need for order, so it's not easy dealing with me but I hope it brings you some consolation knowing that I couldn't have gotten through 2016 without you and you make my world brighter by being in it. </div>
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To my enemies, a pox on you! I'm kidding. If I've offended anyone this year, sorry!! I hope we will mend whatever's broken, hug it out and become routine fist-bumpers. </div>
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To the strangers, what are ya waiting for? Let's be friends!</div>
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Anyway, I'm off to stuff my face with more turkey so I'll sign off here. I hope you enjoy your holiday season with your loved ones and look to 2017 with anticipation because I have a feeling it's gonna be a good one.</div>
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Thanks for reading! </div>
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-36695859543760508622016-12-08T22:26:00.000+08:002016-12-08T22:26:26.389+08:00Season's greetings!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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DAAAAYYYYUM my friend Samson makes me look good. Check out all his amazing work at www.7braidstrong.com or follow him on instagram @7braidstrong.<br />
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I absolutely love the holiday season for all the shopping, lights and decorations, Christmas tunes and FOOD!<br />
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My sister, her husband and her baby will be flying back to Singapore for Christmas, as will my two favouritest cousins and I'm excited for the reunion! There's really just so much to be happy about and thankful for, so it's hard for me to indulge in my usual snarky 'tude. Is it super old-timey that I referred to "attitude" as "tude"? GAH.<br />
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Before we get too caught up in the festive season, do take some time to think about the less fortunate. I hope you will be stirred to take action to help those in need. Even if you don't have much to give, don't forget that kindness is free. Treat people with respect and courtesy, and stand up against hatred and injustice. Okay now that I've gotten the preachy-ness out of the way...<br />
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WHAT'S UP FRIENDZIES!?!<br />
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Speaking of doing good, I'm totally heading into brag town today but it's adjacent to actual-message city:<br />
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I was at the gas station buying some milk, when a young boy, maybe 8 years old, wearing dirty ratty clothes with holes in them, comes up to me and asks if I have $2. I reply "yes" and he asks me to give it to him. So I say "ok, but why?" to which he responds, "I'm hungry". So I give him the $2 but think, what could he possibly buy with just $2.<br />
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So I walk up to him, I ask him if he's been fishing in canal and he says "yes, but never catch any fish, that's why I'm hungry." Feeling unusually charitable, I offer to buy him a sandwich. He gladly accepts, then asks if I'll buy one for his friend. I agree. Suddenly 1 boy turns into 3 boys and each boy wants 2 sandwiches because I guess they are hungry and growing. I buy the 6 sandwiches. In the meantime, they are choosing the sandwiches like "hmm eww this one is fish, I'll change it for chicken". I think, 'beggars (not that they are beggars per say but he did ask me for $2 right?) can indeed be choosers.'<br />
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I go off on my way, having spent $20 bucks at the gas station on 6 sandwiches and a carton of milk. I feel good but also a little silly for spending so much. Plus those kids kept calling me "auntie". Amazing that I didn't just throw their sandwiches on the floor and say "AUNTIE?!? I'll show you auntie!!!!"<br />
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However, the kicker is that I saw them again recently - they were fishing by the canal and as I walked past, I glanced at their fishing rods and gear. That stuff looked high-tech and pretty fancy! And they were fishing with a guy I assumed to be their older brother who most certainly didn't look dirty, ratty-clothed. They most certainly weren't beggars as I had so quickly assumed. So the moral of the story is, while it's nice to buy sandwiches for the less fortunate, it is also really nice to not be totally punked by some hungry free-loading kids with amazing fishing gear. Also, I guess 8 year old boys' clothes will get dirty and ratty and holey because they are 8 year old boys after all.<br />
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Happy holidays and thanks for reading!alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-47807686084278412732016-11-17T22:41:00.001+08:002016-11-17T22:41:35.801+08:00Presidential<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! I've taken quite the hiatus from posting because I've lost my photographer, but I met up with dear Samson who I forced to take some photos of me and I gotta say, I LOVE HIS WORK. Not just because it's of me. Check out his stuff at www.7braidstrong.com or follow him on insta @7braidstrong.<br />
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So okay, so much has happened and I've really missed writing so this may come out kind of long and rambly.<br />
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I was watching the U.S. elections like a hawk, I pretty much devoured any liberal leaning news (yes, I like my opinions to be validated by like-minded news - totally biased!) so as you can expect, I was disappointed when HRC wasn't elected. I had hoped the U.S. would elect its first female president, and also because the civil rights causes that HRC champions are near and dear to my heart - Women's rights, equality for the LGBTQ community, and rocking pantsuits. Like come on, GO HILLARY! I actually teared up quite a during the 3 days post-election but life goes on!<br />
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Over here in Singapore, our parliament just passed a bill to amend our constitution with regard to our presidential election to propose <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/elected-presidency-review-bill-to-amend-singapore-s-constitution/3194646.html" target="_blank">racial representation</a>. It seems a little forced to me, considering we're a meritocracy but I do believe in fairness and equality for all. And since I think our President tends to be a symbolic figurehead, k whatever. However, I can't wait to see the bill evolve into ensuring women are also equally represented. How about it eh?? WOOO GO CRAZY ANGRY FEMINIST!! Maybe I could be Singapore's first female president. VOTE FOR ME! My slogan will be "I'm with her (because she has pizza)". <br />
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So speaking about potential jobs for me... My dear friend Char suggested I start a vlog to talk about stuff I'm good at - like cleaning, being insane about dogs and being a strange dingbat. How fun would that be? Me droning on endlessly about cleaning products and how difficult it is balancing having a dog and being Singapore's first female president... SMASH HIT BABY. Unfortunately I don't think it's likely to happen since I'm bad with technology and I don't think anyone I know can bear following me around and videotaping me for long stretches of time without going batshit cray. But one can dream I suppose.<br />
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I put that line in between because I'm now totally jumping to a new thought because it's kind of past my bedtime (10pm, yes I am a baby) and I'm feeling like there are a few things I have to just talk about.<br />
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1. I had an epiphany today and I think it's super valid and important - We women may all be one half mermaid - the top half! Slap on some shell bras and be your best half mermaid self my sexy lady friends.<br />
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2. If your name was Frank, would you use the phrase "I'm gonna be Frank with you" before dropping some truth, and would you smirk each time?<br />
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3. I am supposing in this scenario that you, like me, say 'excuse me' to the people around you when you sneeze. When you're alone, let's say in a room by yourself, maybe your dog is there. And you sneeze. Do you say "excuse me?" Asking for a friend.<br />
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4. Have you ever trolled a scammer? I had my first experience doing so. And it felt great after the fact. Apparently there are these scams going on where you get some call from "UPS" or "DHL" or some delivery company and they ask you to maybe transfer money or give them your kidney or something. So what happened was I receive a call from what appeared to be a local number, I answered and one of those automated voices come on and say something about a package and press 1 to be transferred to an operator. So I press 1 thinking "hmmm maybe I bought something I don't remember?" and some dude answers in crisp China style mandarin. He says a bunch of words and I say "I can't speak Chinese, can you please put me through to an English speaking operator" to which he responds "No" and hangs up. I was like WHAT KIND OF SERVICE IS THIS??? I wanted to call back and yell! Then it dawned on me. How annoying, what a waste of excitement over the fact that I might have been the recipient of some drunk online shopping I may have forgotten buying (it happens).<br />
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5. Did you know that I have magic words? I wrote <a href="http://www.alexwearsstuff.com/2016/07/pregnant.html" target="_blank">this post</a> on 2 July and it was dedicated to my sister who was pregnant. She had told me she was due between then and 10 July. And guess what? Less than 24 hours later, she went into labour and gave birth to a super cutie. I'm not saying I'm amazing or anything, but I may have the power to induce labour. I should most definitely be President of something.<br />
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Okay, thanks for reading, if you've made it all the way here, congratulations and what's wrong with you? Love yewwwww.alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-83624055996729850942016-09-13T11:42:00.000+08:002016-09-13T11:42:21.318+08:00Handmade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>"Jewellery takes people's minds of your wrinkles" </i>- Sarah Phillips</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a lotta wrinkles. Not featured - necklaces, brooches, bracelets</td></tr>
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Who is Sarah Phillips you ask? I have no idea, but the lady is onto something. <br />
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When I was younger, I once told a boyfriend that I would never leave the house without at least a pair of earrings on (which is not to say I would go out with only earrings on. Not a nudist. Just to be clear here). This was in the days when hoop earrings were all the rage, and I had several pairs in different colours, some shiny, some matte, some metallic, some in cool shapes like stars and hearts. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fraction of what I used to have!</td></tr>
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I'm still totally into the large chunky, shiny look for earrings but whenever I want to act mature and fancy, I channel my sister's style and select pieces I think she would wear - semi-precious stones with a slight boho vibe to them. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boho vibe. Not my sister. Pic taken from <a href="http://www.fashionisers.com/style-tips/how-to-wear-the-boho-chic-fashion-trend/" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
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Recently, I connected with my sister's friend, a Singaporean jewellery designer Tsu Yinn who lovingly crafts unique and affordable pieces of jewellery. Her stuff is exactly what my sister would wear (lots of semi-precious stones in a variety of colours) and basically the opposite of my hoochie-mama-chic so get ready for some fancyness! </div>
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She only makes a limited number per piece I think which sucks because most of the ones I like are sold out but these turquoise ones I got are basically the height of fancy ladyness dontcha think? </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBZbmA434glY9JH1uDYOC2dqKUms-xGY0u5YxkuebCHOHrX1UmknJAZzwtbKwSq3B_kAKvFDvdolt5Kdv17pci450adsr1DTeBXg-AhKbm4O3_hH7vdO04FTXOAPvm3BEwFz5FDUA8gxS/s1600/IMG_4405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBZbmA434glY9JH1uDYOC2dqKUms-xGY0u5YxkuebCHOHrX1UmknJAZzwtbKwSq3B_kAKvFDvdolt5Kdv17pci450adsr1DTeBXg-AhKbm4O3_hH7vdO04FTXOAPvm3BEwFz5FDUA8gxS/s640/IMG_4405.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They say ladies turn into their mothers but I'm turning into my sister</td></tr>
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She's also made this new one which I also love so I'm guessing turquoise is my jam now. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More fancyness</td></tr>
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I'm also loving the maple wood series she's doing now. Particularly this rainbow necklace. To my boo: HINT HINT.</div>
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Anyway, you can buy her stuff <a href="http://handmadebytsuyinn.tictail.com/" target="_blank">here</a> and check her out on Instagram (@Handmadebytsuyinn) to see all her new stuff. </div>
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Thanks for reading!</div>
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-76177339311691371902016-09-08T11:13:00.000+08:002016-09-08T11:13:51.386+08:00Shopperholic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TBBgwnZcJwabQ5pTvwMwESl5LUSw9NXqCsHyBORH_Fejuc5kHryAwt-vNEDauiAclYBYtwRSz_x-VugrZk5nyOxKoSprS2Ri_eqCgm3lov8Ui1TQVk8YuqkjAZpdqncf5xjy5i-pHW3o/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TBBgwnZcJwabQ5pTvwMwESl5LUSw9NXqCsHyBORH_Fejuc5kHryAwt-vNEDauiAclYBYtwRSz_x-VugrZk5nyOxKoSprS2Ri_eqCgm3lov8Ui1TQVk8YuqkjAZpdqncf5xjy5i-pHW3o/s640/IMG_0611.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vcAhYg_a8wcGEdgd67oghVlbxLiFMy6f5oAJG9Fc6GWJkq5NAaYX1gGBkyJmXE_q6yVuCXbenRJ6usUuXdN4L_Me6czLIz3k4yHAQAF4cNzqVsuhyF5QGaxJQrAQi_O0r7Vp7ctKrx8N/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vcAhYg_a8wcGEdgd67oghVlbxLiFMy6f5oAJG9Fc6GWJkq5NAaYX1gGBkyJmXE_q6yVuCXbenRJ6usUuXdN4L_Me6czLIz3k4yHAQAF4cNzqVsuhyF5QGaxJQrAQi_O0r7Vp7ctKrx8N/s640/IMG_0609.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBF7yX_7935bJ9N_ohGJk0ksYtTwhLZkAQeEIaOoa0wNf87QOT_jZeV9MSNR8YbZvYO3XkEz-Gaiqlt8rZYvea9-ubD9jQfE-vFPJbill4mWaSBAjX1Ycup7KqEM6oacAAsaKnwRR8LCG/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBF7yX_7935bJ9N_ohGJk0ksYtTwhLZkAQeEIaOoa0wNf87QOT_jZeV9MSNR8YbZvYO3XkEz-Gaiqlt8rZYvea9-ubD9jQfE-vFPJbill4mWaSBAjX1Ycup7KqEM6oacAAsaKnwRR8LCG/s640/IMG_0617.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX-Vl-NzAzvEIzsUhmkyRH4KFR9yUKwZeo7ppkok8FwhRa2CSlLQcke0nhHK-8BJY88bhVx7nPH87M_mfW9SyNHAQpm2YAP08CmEvKW5Hir5ovdohLmqmnK4Tu34fpxbEtFJxk9bzw3NK/s1600/IMG_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX-Vl-NzAzvEIzsUhmkyRH4KFR9yUKwZeo7ppkok8FwhRa2CSlLQcke0nhHK-8BJY88bhVx7nPH87M_mfW9SyNHAQpm2YAP08CmEvKW5Hir5ovdohLmqmnK4Tu34fpxbEtFJxk9bzw3NK/s640/IMG_0607.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k91b7TruiByIdvDHiEXtb46BL-V1BlhOyWihuwgMcUp2domuBO6xlfvNmZjjAGZYEnIH8qldu-3Tk07MblxcxGRx5H-eQDoF9unj8uiZGHisOxP9ZhiLnW4OKAuN4pH1f5hiJzbp5ack/s1600/IMG_0614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k91b7TruiByIdvDHiEXtb46BL-V1BlhOyWihuwgMcUp2domuBO6xlfvNmZjjAGZYEnIH8qldu-3Tk07MblxcxGRx5H-eQDoF9unj8uiZGHisOxP9ZhiLnW4OKAuN4pH1f5hiJzbp5ack/s640/IMG_0614.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Dress: <a href="https://www.shein.com/Multicolor-Stripe-Zipper-Backless-Sleeveless-Dress-p-281389-cat-1727.html" target="_blank">Shein</a> | Shoes: New Look (Similar <a href="http://www.savannahs.com/outlet/new-daisy-leather-sling-back-pump?color=851&country=us" target="_blank">here</a>) | Ring Jessica Buurman (Similar <a href="https://www.etsy.com/sg-en/listing/269437508/sale-chunky-turquoise-ring-with-18k-gold?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=chunky%20turquoise%20ring&ref=sc_gallery_3&plkey=0b4de793d12e0f1f67fa357c3eaee773b455c5d5:269437508" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></div>
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Once again, a huge thanks to Samson aka @braidstrong (instagram) | <a href="http://www.braidstrong.com/" target="_blank">braidstrong</a> (website) who takes lovely photos.</div>
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Hello!</div>
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So I've been trying to save money by avoiding online shopping but it's been pretty disastrous. But I've managed to get some really awesome not too expensive things from <a href="http://www.aliexpress.com/?spm=2114.13010608.0.12.uTs9ks" target="_blank">Aliexpress</a> which is basically like the version of Taobao that caters to people who can't speak/read Chinese but still want cheap stuff. I love Aliexpress but shopping on the site requires patience because there's a lot to take in and go through. Plus you have to read the reviews and because there are multiple vendors selling the same things, you have to make tough decisions with which vendor to buy from. Overall I've had mostly pleasant experiences, although I've had cheap phone covers not get delivered before. But overall I'd say the percentage for that happening is pretty low. </div>
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Anyhoodle, I just wanted to share some of the cool stuff I've bought recently, bearing in mind though, that it's actually not that recent since it takes bloody forever to ship. But that's just one of the drawbacks if you want cheap stuff. </div>
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So you know how I've really been into these <a href="http://www.alexwearsstuff.com/2016/03/no-pain-no-gain.html" target="_blank">Fitness Blender workouts</a> yeah? So I usually put the video up on my iPad, and for the longest time I'd borrow my mom's tablet stand. Well I decided it was time to be a big girl so I got <a href="http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Portable-Foldable-Tablet-Big-Screen-Phone-Holder-Skid-Stand-Mount-Bracket-10-Inch-for-Ipad-Samsung/32673706245.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.79.uTs9ks" target="_blank">my own</a>. And I think it's awesome because not only did I buy it for US$2.49 with FREE shipping, I also think it's perfect for travel since it's so compact. I am mighty pleased with myself. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBHYfTo3_eVp5dm9XWSHSFomHp1t8at39KSzyQVFHXMFRPMxvPHI0q6iTxMm8wRnwWJLGEYFhV4Lpjg_6uDV5QdEWFyBz9hfQ7GjnkveNYyM7jZS8QYaKjm86rL8gn-iwYJNcDKwRBxsk/s1600/IMG_4393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBHYfTo3_eVp5dm9XWSHSFomHp1t8at39KSzyQVFHXMFRPMxvPHI0q6iTxMm8wRnwWJLGEYFhV4Lpjg_6uDV5QdEWFyBz9hfQ7GjnkveNYyM7jZS8QYaKjm86rL8gn-iwYJNcDKwRBxsk/s640/IMG_4393.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQ_z-qlWthr5q28ldfwLxK9WD3m6yEeJZSkcp8IDwEKZX0g7MBAIjg9rymjIdlnyUuTxiYvwdc-SQiUgmy1Cs4HUFK2VqR2R8YWNUkOY4JjK3165HtpUGebjrwvFwQLPVGUBf1SdOx4Ub/s1600/IMG_4394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQ_z-qlWthr5q28ldfwLxK9WD3m6yEeJZSkcp8IDwEKZX0g7MBAIjg9rymjIdlnyUuTxiYvwdc-SQiUgmy1Cs4HUFK2VqR2R8YWNUkOY4JjK3165HtpUGebjrwvFwQLPVGUBf1SdOx4Ub/s640/IMG_4394.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw20_VdPhLFPLRZjEVPCOnKyDUXxGXLlyd1O_ut98gslTL73ihX3OEfipMZOS4JF0g9tkAtK70TAALOgQhtR7jtcvXnsyu7u41sZtPh7Ij7_TufxaZCEpAfXqSJEi26H8hzqIgSMp9oans/s1600/IMG_4395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw20_VdPhLFPLRZjEVPCOnKyDUXxGXLlyd1O_ut98gslTL73ihX3OEfipMZOS4JF0g9tkAtK70TAALOgQhtR7jtcvXnsyu7u41sZtPh7Ij7_TufxaZCEpAfXqSJEi26H8hzqIgSMp9oans/s640/IMG_4395.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOM-gcgk5JCz6C2NYbfNv7du8CnQitDY__QzAYQfg_T88PduihyOMsbkMgkLe1jVt3kuGOtHq8bGJ3dBogyQFQoD2YfHD4D7gW7LxppdpnYLAbuZe9Vymc7dnX6q20OZkeU2oYotE1kcU/s1600/IMG_4392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOM-gcgk5JCz6C2NYbfNv7du8CnQitDY__QzAYQfg_T88PduihyOMsbkMgkLe1jVt3kuGOtHq8bGJ3dBogyQFQoD2YfHD4D7gW7LxppdpnYLAbuZe9Vymc7dnX6q20OZkeU2oYotE1kcU/s640/IMG_4392.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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On top of that, you might have noticed that little white thing in the last picture above, that's an <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CEQ5BZM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">audio amp</a> which is just like a little plastic shell that you can attach to your iPad to amplify the sound. I didn't get this from Aliexpress, but rather, from Amazon. I had originally seen a product like it called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/SoundBender-Easy-Fit-Magnetic-Sound-Enhancer/dp/B01CCYU7EU/ref=pd_sim_147_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TTCTBD9WQ2FG80RA9DS2" target="_blank">Sound Bender</a> that was featured in the TV show Shark Tank and I needed it because my iPad 2 speakers are really bad. I wanted to buy the Sound Bender cos of the cool name and the inventor but I needed it to be shipped pronto so I signed up for the Amazon Prime membership free trial and found that Audio Amp was eligible for the fast shipping, but not the Sound Bender. I had it shipped to my godma in the US who then brought it to Singapore to me as she flew in a few days after the delivery was made. Thanks godma, love you. Thanks Amazon, I love you also. Although you don't really always ship to Singapore (Boo) and your stuff can be pricier (double boo). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tS5QiMAbLgYh2CxZzn8Sl6XYvuoQqRGBhG4FBVi-vM8Ahk-H-YnXdm6jpTDmgzS-DYImtoKy-95UihX04BGLB0fLUZ5oNv9Fg6Oq-mLWXi5UhmpERGNGbpKbIIXCtL61K6qhVKfRs4Nf/s1600/IMG_4398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tS5QiMAbLgYh2CxZzn8Sl6XYvuoQqRGBhG4FBVi-vM8Ahk-H-YnXdm6jpTDmgzS-DYImtoKy-95UihX04BGLB0fLUZ5oNv9Fg6Oq-mLWXi5UhmpERGNGbpKbIIXCtL61K6qhVKfRs4Nf/s640/IMG_4398.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV-MM4zGgPLIUEj1R_7YDhwL2scgfk9Vz4IrZzsOyw2z171dupYwdcdvnZRE2zcAClJUBB1tMGXKh9YZ6QI3FdJXlLXfIzSjWfhNRdGE2k1NC-bfJucCDcYXJvh0gXcQhEBx68SBNJa_2/s1600/IMG_4399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV-MM4zGgPLIUEj1R_7YDhwL2scgfk9Vz4IrZzsOyw2z171dupYwdcdvnZRE2zcAClJUBB1tMGXKh9YZ6QI3FdJXlLXfIzSjWfhNRdGE2k1NC-bfJucCDcYXJvh0gXcQhEBx68SBNJa_2/s640/IMG_4399.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The boo tried using the audio amp on his iPad (which is maybe a 3 or 4) but it's a bit too slender so it slides off. Anyway, his iPad speakers are better than mine so he doesn't really need it. I like it because it's so portable and it really does amplify the sound quite substantially. Don't expect THX movie quality sound obviously but sound that's loud enough to be heard over my panting as I exercise.<br />
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Moving on... Because I'm an action packed woman, I decided to be extra action and buy these weighted glove from Aliexpress. I'd been looking through Amazon but couldn't find the right weight (and also the look that I liked) that would ship to Singapore. I managed to find these <a href="http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Neoprene-Weight-Glove-Iron-Sand-Inside-Weight-Glove-Weight-Lifting-Glove/2055708296.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.63.uTs9ks" target="_blank">babies</a> which are awesome because they only cost US$5.30 but I've just realised I paid like $17.54 in shipping but ok it still comes to only $22.84 which is cheaper than the ones sold in stores here so I guess it's still a win. They each weigh about 0.5kg which seems little but I'm pretty sure I'm going to be aching after using them. Get ready to see my big guns BANGBANG!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_wR3GjTlDIBQMENcPJ6Q7jETbkcKettLsfqn7hTBv_O3ZFq4K55IDISyvZnhoNvskThhGkBJ8b_uw8Wr3mZV9UMcuN8a2SZCpFPCEZ4yvenEdrZ7gzvXIgBS3xx24XdRl7CpY0sqDBlO/s1600/IMG_4403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_wR3GjTlDIBQMENcPJ6Q7jETbkcKettLsfqn7hTBv_O3ZFq4K55IDISyvZnhoNvskThhGkBJ8b_uw8Wr3mZV9UMcuN8a2SZCpFPCEZ4yvenEdrZ7gzvXIgBS3xx24XdRl7CpY0sqDBlO/s640/IMG_4403.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lastly, I decided to replace my existing lunch bag (yes, I'm a kid who brings a children's lunch bag to the office) because I wanted a lunch bag that I could sling over my shoulder (I often carry a lot of things to work so I need this extra convenience). My existing one was getting kinda mucky and only has a top strap. I also wanted one with a zip because I felt that the one I had often opened up because the velcro wouldn't hold. I ordered <a href="http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-hot-new-insulated-lunch-bag-family-picnic-bag-fish-crab-cartoon-design-children-popular-fashion/32548420533.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.71.uTs9ks" target="_blank">this</a> on Aliexpress and have zero complaints because it's SO CUTE and it's exactly what I wanted - insulation material within, shoulder strap for easy carrying, cute pattern, right size to carry breakfast and my afternoon snack. Anyway, this purchase drove me a bit mental because there were SO many options and I really had so much trouble deciding. Multiple vendors were selling variations of this bag with different patterns and styles and also slightly different prices but I just went with the one that made me go 'aww' the most.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtekuLj1Sh8H_KZm9hcZ38vLvG8hSPKTYHHYRpyRr4yPeHzFd32vaw9RRjz9eW_OWaaQLXTZI0ObeT9A1Tgs-zHXRGnfV5q8M_5uNwZa2WbwSEPpzWrqGBaCI_rbrMSWy5jW7tVS890Yzj/s1600/IMG_4400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtekuLj1Sh8H_KZm9hcZ38vLvG8hSPKTYHHYRpyRr4yPeHzFd32vaw9RRjz9eW_OWaaQLXTZI0ObeT9A1Tgs-zHXRGnfV5q8M_5uNwZa2WbwSEPpzWrqGBaCI_rbrMSWy5jW7tVS890Yzj/s640/IMG_4400.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXq3YvDJJz77tBOZjhKqReQXuo-PvOnHh_BYf771otaFuVGosO3gqbgSXf_OuHVLRO1dHajY9hIal1OLvBJMh1VFaivrmxdmQLwhW3ax0F-lNJe17CVgIrzIXZmSJEOY4VPES_a4goMBT/s1600/IMG_4402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXq3YvDJJz77tBOZjhKqReQXuo-PvOnHh_BYf771otaFuVGosO3gqbgSXf_OuHVLRO1dHajY9hIal1OLvBJMh1VFaivrmxdmQLwhW3ax0F-lNJe17CVgIrzIXZmSJEOY4VPES_a4goMBT/s640/IMG_4402.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm so happy, you guys. But now I'm basically back to being addicted to shopping and as I type this I have Aliexpress open and ready to make another purchase - a <a href="http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1pc-lot-Acrylic-Makeup-Organizer-Cosmetic-Holder-Makeup-Tools-Storage-Box-Caixa-Organizadora-Brush-and-Accessory/32455125462.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.56.UoShYW" target="_blank">makeup brush holder</a> (I NEED THIS OKAY?)</div>
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Thanks for reading!</div>
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-87508948365033997042016-08-29T12:05:00.001+08:002016-08-29T12:05:17.886+08:00Romping around<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Romper: <a href="http://www.etam.com/pret-a-porter-pantalons-shorts/combishort-imprimee-647723940.html" target="_blank">Etam</a> | Sandals: Zalora (similar <a href="https://www.zalora.sg/zalora-strappy-flat-sandals-white-394167.html" target="_blank">here</a>) | Bag: Gracious Aires (Similar <a href="http://www.henribendel.com/debutante-croco-convertible-clutch-28062002310193.html" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Bracelet: Vintage (Similar <a href="http://www.charmingcharlie.com/glittering-garland-bracelet.html?utm_source=20648&utm_medium=affiliate" target="_blank">here</a>) | Sunglasses: Pieces (Similar <a href="https://www.1stdibs.com/fashion/accessories/sunglasses/gianni-versace-rare-vintage-white-medusa-sunglasses-mod-413-e-col-850-shades-as/id-v_947122/?utm_content=control" target="_blank">here</a>) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I hate running. I love running. I hate running. I love running. Mmmm pizza. I love running so I can eat pizza. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I hate running as much as I enjoy it - I love it when it's over and I feel so accomplished. But it's really hard to actually start. So I've signed up for the <a href="https://www.greateasternlife.com/greateasternwomensrun/index.html" target="_blank">Great Eastern Women's Run</a> to kind of force myself to train for it. I'm running the 10km because I'm sure the 21km will make me rue the day I was born. Honestly, mad props to the crazy ladies who run marathons. On top of simply signing up for the race, I've forced my friend Char to join with me and participate in the <a href="https://www.greateasternlife.com/greateasternwomensrun/news-and-deals/run-to-live-great/register.html" target="_blank">#runtolivegreat program</a> which is like a side activity on top of the actual race day event to give participants a chance to compete for prizes, prepare for the race day via fitness activities, and get free swag (I know this word is no longer cool but I really find it hilarious to say because it sounds so pretentious). I'm so pleased because we got selected for the program and now we have another excuse to hang out some more and be our truly stupidest selves. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my friend Char. I like her a lot. She might not feel the same way seeing as I'm a weirdo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm farting in her general direction clearly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victory is MIIIIINE!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Escue me, are you a model?</td></tr>
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Not sure how we managed to avoid being kicked out of the Adidas store. Shout out to sales assistant Lydia who didn't boot us. <br />
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So we attended the welcome event and received our goody bag which had a <a href="https://www.fitbit.com/sg/flex" target="_blank">Fitbit Flex</a>, a special Run to Live Great Adidas running tee and a pair of <a href="http://shop.adidas.com.sg/vengeful-shoes-4056567584893.html?a=214_58619" target="_blank">Adidas Boost "Vengeful"</a> running shoes! I'm so pleased because I badly needed a pair of running shoes and they are all black, just like my soul. (My inner goth squeals in excitement) I'm going to break them in this weekend as I prepare for the race. By maybe running to get pizza. Mmmmm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes you just need a boost</td></tr>
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Thanks for reading! Join the race?alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-51489761188619606652016-08-23T11:17:00.000+08:002016-08-23T11:17:50.411+08:00France -> Italy Day Onze/Undici: Shall we dance?So this brings me to the last post summarising my trip to France, I hope it hasn't been too boring for you, but then I didn't force you to read it all, you psycho. As I type this I'm getting pretty blue because going back to work after a relaxing vacation is always really hard. Anyway...<br />
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<b>France -> Italy Day Onze/Undici</b><br />
Having spent the night in the lovely <a href="http://hotel-b-arcachon.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel B d'arcachon</a>, we awoke bright and early for breakfast buffet at their little hotel cafe. Having walked around the previous evening, we spotted a few shops that we were keen to check out but were closed for the day. We decided to take the gamble and squeeze in a last minute shopping spree at 10am when the shops open, before heading to the airport at around 10.30am. YES. 30 mins of shopping. GO! We were both successful, I bought a pair of sandals and boo bought 2 pairs of sneakers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast time!</td></tr>
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We headed to the terminal for Easy Jet, bound for Milan, Italy and the drive to Bordeaux from Arcachon took about an hour and it was a relatively pain-free wait, although the terminal is tiny and the cafe was completely full so we just sat around waiting sans food and coffee. The flight back to Milan took about 2 hours, and due to the weird timings, we had to stay in Milan for a night, before flying off the next day. MAD REGRET. We should have stayed longer because boo loves Italian food and I would have liked to have seen more of Milan.<br />
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At the Malpensa airport, boo bought two return tickets for the bus that would take us to Centrale Station (our accommodation was nearby). The ride took about an hour, and the gloomy weather also persisted in Milan, sadly. We walked about 10 minute lugging our suitcases to <a href="http://www.vitruvio43.com/en/" target="_blank">Vitruvio 43 Apartments</a>. This was very strange to me because the serviced apartment we were staying at was located in a large old building which also housed a hotel and a bunch of offices. It's weird to me that a hotel can take up maybe just a floor within a whole building.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even their train station is baller</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Park area near Centrale Station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bllllaaaaaaaeeeeeeuuuuuaaaaagggghhhhhh</td></tr>
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Anyway, we had some trouble getting in because the doors were locked and visitors had to be buzzed in, but there was no call button for Vitruvio. We ended up going in when some people left the building and then went to a small room the size of a broom closet that had like one desk, a phone, and a scanner, and a lady sitting behind the desk. The building was kind of dark and really old so as she led us to the room in which we'd stay down another corridor, I was thinking, "Omg this is where I die". However, I was pleasantly surprised because when we reached the apartment, the interior was modern, clean and very spacious. Plus, boo said it was like much cheaper than one night in Arcachon so that seems like a steal. Even though, I guess then you have to weigh the fact that you think you might die in the elevator or something. Also, the boo got bitten by mosquitoes that night (we had seen a few in the room) so that was kind of a bummer. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry I hadn't switched on the lights when I took this</td></tr>
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While we were advised to take the train, we decided to walk a good half hour or so to the Plaza Duomo. It started getting kind of drizzly and I was beginning to regret suggesting to walk there but as we were on the way past a hotel, we bumped into <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyle_DiMarco" target="_blank">Nyle Dimarco</a> so that basically made everything better. Hot celebrity sighting. Yes please. I was in awe, and was doing an internal pig squeal the whole time I was waiting to take a photo with him (he was in conversation with a deaf family and I really wished I knew sign language so I could join in the party because they were all truly pleased to have bumped into him).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PIG SQUEAL</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful gothic architecture</td></tr>
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At Plaza Duomo, we hit up the hugest Prada store I've ever seen. It was seriously such a beautifully designed store. The store was gigantic, and it was just for the women (the men's section was in a store across the plaza) and it even had abasement level where we made payment. However, I had heard from friends that staff tend to be really unfriendly and this turned out to be true. They were really aloof and barely looked at me when I walked in but I guess it kinda fits the vibe of such a cool place. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Secret basement of wonder</td></tr>
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We'd also been advised to go to <a href="https://www.rinascente.it/rinascente/en/store/36/milan/" target="_blank">Rinascente</a>, a department store, where we could buy Italian food produce and wander around. Rinascente was kind of a disappointment to me because I thought it'd be bigger, but the food section seemed surprisingly small, and the ceiling was really low, giving the already crowded place, an even squashier feel. Nonetheless, we stocked up on crazy amounts of olive oil, some cheese, and some truffle oil. Mmmm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate shoes, you guys.</td></tr>
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After some wandering, we headed for <a href="http://www.risoelatte.com/" target="_blank">Risoelatte</a>, a 60s style Italian diner that had pretty decent ratings on Trip Advisor. Dinner service apparently opens at 8.30pm and we were starving by then which explains what happened next... Between the two of us, we had FOUR mains, including a mandatory 2 person serving of risoelatte with cheese and speck, tortellini with ricotta, and spaghetti vongole. I really enjoyed the risoelatte and tortellini, but I think no one enjoyed the whole meal more than the boo. In his words (after tucking into the vongole), "mmm... mmm...Divine... Poseidon... King of the sea". <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup. Part of the decor. Or maybe the owner's laundry.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tV24mlhe5p6g2Q_NoztjAxlyVtjewdDJ7Dkftwkecq0-CoDyWc6FGUw6AuujuAP0AK42ZlvmDf5llLHtcUCIHTJEs0L9bYHfk4izxrmtXHgRp9c-6Hr68cY9oFccNhJkmju-qG8JrEsz/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tV24mlhe5p6g2Q_NoztjAxlyVtjewdDJ7Dkftwkecq0-CoDyWc6FGUw6AuujuAP0AK42ZlvmDf5llLHtcUCIHTJEs0L9bYHfk4izxrmtXHgRp9c-6Hr68cY9oFccNhJkmju-qG8JrEsz/s400/IMG_0016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgJXb2TcLAsjCCnirgEyJYL-KMLLa4VOsLdyUluO2ajVhMH8htzeWK17tn4RCPIx57dU9b_lmk1knCG-zzEEI8zqDom7GXNZYUXek44JHGwuqHGp-25eMwSHcbn6gTjTuGceYTKe2HdZ3/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgJXb2TcLAsjCCnirgEyJYL-KMLLa4VOsLdyUluO2ajVhMH8htzeWK17tn4RCPIx57dU9b_lmk1knCG-zzEEI8zqDom7GXNZYUXek44JHGwuqHGp-25eMwSHcbn6gTjTuGceYTKe2HdZ3/s400/IMG_0018.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Risoelatte - tastes better than it looks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLt5iobZqaddpbIuqYI_PHh1cioEtJqUz5qR-S0qfjhT8gWc7UOODjINl5VzgeMgOA5B0qjI4VPTiT-KB1iYIWxDfiMkZ23blAwzraiY9U8X7_a0EtQlcx4dkekzfZE7jDgo-cawkMs-m/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLt5iobZqaddpbIuqYI_PHh1cioEtJqUz5qR-S0qfjhT8gWc7UOODjINl5VzgeMgOA5B0qjI4VPTiT-KB1iYIWxDfiMkZ23blAwzraiY9U8X7_a0EtQlcx4dkekzfZE7jDgo-cawkMs-m/s400/IMG_0019.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tortellini yummyness</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poseidon with his winning meal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hqr9KH-ffjbK0Cohl70tbApGjxFBHtimFiatWbFl-_5gGDpdGQPAnIW8dPMZTI8lxSKF3ILlyPsEmBiUqw6MYYu3h65mBDBgjDmQ2PlcQilsiORp4W2ztCKNzmWshg3V7QNEuVkJqkE8/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hqr9KH-ffjbK0Cohl70tbApGjxFBHtimFiatWbFl-_5gGDpdGQPAnIW8dPMZTI8lxSKF3ILlyPsEmBiUqw6MYYu3h65mBDBgjDmQ2PlcQilsiORp4W2ztCKNzmWshg3V7QNEuVkJqkE8/s400/IMG_0023.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiramisu</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaR8QK1yDJTNXDOac8xYfo7ttfhL6nHXr447ZE49PhfHu6dutQNSes-cWP403kNM8oq25Jqjjieq_mvNwS7OcExSP-WjDtnWd3lavQEKxhw2wWMxBqI8KcyaYfqOHYNbqGMRWyEDvenwu3/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaR8QK1yDJTNXDOac8xYfo7ttfhL6nHXr447ZE49PhfHu6dutQNSes-cWP403kNM8oq25Jqjjieq_mvNwS7OcExSP-WjDtnWd3lavQEKxhw2wWMxBqI8KcyaYfqOHYNbqGMRWyEDvenwu3/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after meal coffee is a must!</td></tr>
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After an extremely filling dinner, we walked towards the train station and took a train from the Plaza back to Centrale Station. The absolute best thing about taking the train was that they allow dogs in the train so I made a friend on the ride back. Absolute heaven.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUL23RCIUI_T52youRkUk3FzEcCKJB3D7eSmo_us-un0M5oAWa98W44X7McpT4zO6LvUB0gwzT2i-zsWzCuuw8HNMQ6Q5EIflLSvpcxsVgGVGoOEb6ibNGeaDTt2FMVIPRLF3iror5UzA/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUL23RCIUI_T52youRkUk3FzEcCKJB3D7eSmo_us-un0M5oAWa98W44X7McpT4zO6LvUB0gwzT2i-zsWzCuuw8HNMQ6Q5EIflLSvpcxsVgGVGoOEb6ibNGeaDTt2FMVIPRLF3iror5UzA/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello cutie!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZaj9HU1aRw3wWaTYvoIaxxW8BlBWxVwwE2DLfiYvZ10OVHQSORtptf3m0pIbVUmsNfDcnlAGYoK70H1g_u6D9-xTKsxpavKD_86fQspIz9bpqUDDV2yExNCrd6p6f2HYbNf6zh6SpDbi/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZaj9HU1aRw3wWaTYvoIaxxW8BlBWxVwwE2DLfiYvZ10OVHQSORtptf3m0pIbVUmsNfDcnlAGYoK70H1g_u6D9-xTKsxpavKD_86fQspIz9bpqUDDV2yExNCrd6p6f2HYbNf6zh6SpDbi/s400/IMG_0029.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaza Duomo in nightfall - even chioer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Urm2qXM4t5ZQ3LboTqvlke6j586jA2NhTJ70EHTNP58QqTO-90yBqnJEF2CH-TLZxRwMGDur_jVdtNAO_xwEDPKq6PLo5sfTWX7VlRIfWu8WkV_Of9M6TL1mmoSySmCJL-kQM4-cswZ7/s1600/IMG_0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Urm2qXM4t5ZQ3LboTqvlke6j586jA2NhTJ70EHTNP58QqTO-90yBqnJEF2CH-TLZxRwMGDur_jVdtNAO_xwEDPKq6PLo5sfTWX7VlRIfWu8WkV_Of9M6TL1mmoSySmCJL-kQM4-cswZ7/s400/IMG_0035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A big apple near Centrale Station</td></tr>
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The next day we took the bus service early back to Malpensa airport and in the direction towards the airport, but beyond it, was beautiful mountain terrain which really made me miss the Dolomites. The longing to extend the vacation was overwhelming!<br />
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So this brings me to the end of the vacation to France and a little of Italy. I hope you've enjoyed reading about this. Can't wait till the next one!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpsnxfwWU6VNx18Ytp7CLTgHntd4FhbIpG0HmdZ9WRprgvWxWA2n5ToRuxLQ1TLRXMC8TJLDEoR6QXVVZ4FBfhgHg4b_zr9dsAyNtjpP0_Q5mqyuNiALUBoDzTbMKrrQ6S4PxQkaCPs_O/s1600/IMG_0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpsnxfwWU6VNx18Ytp7CLTgHntd4FhbIpG0HmdZ9WRprgvWxWA2n5ToRuxLQ1TLRXMC8TJLDEoR6QXVVZ4FBfhgHg4b_zr9dsAyNtjpP0_Q5mqyuNiALUBoDzTbMKrrQ6S4PxQkaCPs_O/s400/IMG_0046.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sad to go byebye</td></tr>
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Key learnings:<br />
<ul>
<li>Shops in Arcachon DO open on a Sunday between 10am to 10.30am. YAY!</li>
<li>The terminal for Easy Jet in Bordeaux is really small and hard to get a seat at the cafe so go early or go having already had your meal</li>
<li>There's kind of a lot of dog poop in Milan so watch your step!</li>
<li>The Vitruvio serviced apartment doesn't come with water, and doesn't have an electric kettle so we tried to boil some and it left a really weird film on top of the water so the boo ended up going out and buying mineral water. Bring your own water! </li>
<li>If you want to eat at Risoelatte, if you haven't made a reservation, go early. But if you can't make it early, then make a reservation. We saw the waitress turn away two large groups who looked really sad. </li>
<li>As with most places, you can get tax refunds on branded goods, and they help you fill out the forms which you then bring to the airport VAT refund counters. There's a counter before you check in and the queue was phenomenally long. I guess you really have to go early. However, that's really for goods that you intend to check-in. There was a way less long queue at the counter beyond check-in, but I believe that's for items that you have in your hand-carry. Although they didn't end up checking. </li>
<li>Don't forget that you need to go through immigration! So the boo and I went past the security point where we went through the scanners and whatnot and entered the main area filled with shops and food so obviously we started shopping again (we bought over 200 Euro of food from the airport). Then around the time when our gate was closer to closing, we headed towards the gate, and BOOM. Immigration. We forgot that we hadn't even gone through immigration. I had a slight panic attack but it was really efficient and we managed to get onto the plane with some time to spare (although we were one of the last on I think). </li>
<li>Don't buy buffalo mozarella from the airport. It won't last the journey. Trust me.</li>
</ul>
Thanks for reading!alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-30384506631814599812016-08-14T23:09:00.002+08:002016-08-15T09:08:44.089+08:00GO SINGAPORE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Top & shorts: from France (Similar <a href="http://www.boohoo.com/new-in/polly-crochet-trim-co-ord/invt/dzz72432" target="_blank">here</a>) | Shoes: <a href="http://www.asos.com//ASOS/ASOS-JEMIMA-Ballet-Tie-Leg-Espadrilles/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6256772" target="_blank">ASOS</a> | Bag: <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/kate-spade-new-york-cedar-street-daisy-maise-leather-satchel/4318086" target="_blank">Kate Spade</a> | Necklace: Topshop (Similar <a href="https://www.etsy.com/sg-en/listing/114841909/fabric-necklaceteething-necklace?ref=market" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></div>
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So I think it's safe to say that most of us here in Singapore are experiencing fervent national pride because not only did our nation just turn 51 (happy birthday, you saucy broad), we've also just witnessed the first Singaporean to ever win an Olympic* gold medal - Yup, if you've been living under a rock, welcome back - Joseph Schooling, a 21 year <strike>boy</strike> man just snagged the gold in the 100m butterfly event. Besides setting a new Olympic, Asian and national record, he beat human-torpedo-fish Michael Phelps who has so many Olympic medals he could probably make at least twenty Poseidon spears out of them. And he totally should because that would be dope. He could use the remainder to make a throne. <br />
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My Facebook timeline seems as if I've joined a Joseph Schooling fan club so I've seen a couple of great interviews and stories. One that caught my eye was about a bunch of people leaving negative comments about how he's not really Singaporean since he spent most of his formative years in the states training and going to school and all that.<br />
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In the same vein, Rihanna's from Barbados but her work was produced in the states. Do you think Barbadians are all "Nahhh she ain't one of us. B*tch better have my money" NO. Because that would be weird. Ok that might not be the best comparison because I'm really exhausted right now so maybe not the same vein after all.<br />
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I just think that the idea of nationality goes much deeper than what race a person is, or what accent they speak with, or where they study. It's a confluence of all those things and more, but most importantly, it's also about personal belief. If he is proud to call himself a Singaporean (I am assuming he hasn't said he's not), who are you (nameless faceless anonymous internet person) to deny him that, and who are you to deny your countrymen who are happy to embrace him with open arms this small joy?<br />
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Anyway, I'm not angry or ranting. I see the other side of the coin, I recognise that we may not have really been part of the secret sauce that produced this Schooling magic, but nonetheless, in the spirit of the Olympics, let's not squabble over this, let's gather to rejoice in the great sporting achievements, ogle the hotties with the bodies, and marvel at the fact that teenagers are reaching the maximum of the body's potential while most of us struggle to put on our pants in the morning.<br />
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MAJULAH SINGAPURA!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*</span> Let's also take the time to recognise that Singaporean Yip Pin Xiu won gold in backstroke for the Paralympics though. Champs all around! alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-39881938825172187762016-08-08T15:37:00.000+08:002016-08-08T15:37:04.599+08:00France Day Dix: Au Revoir FamilyBonjour! I've had a vacation in France and now for the travel diary because my memory is terrible so I need to recap it all. This was a family vacation to catch the Euro <strike>Cup</strike> (So apparently it's just called Euro which is weird no? Isn't that also singular of the currency? Unless football skills = currency. In which case, I'd be VERY POOR) courtesy of my aunt and uncle, without them, this trip wouldn't have happened.<br />
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<b>France Day Dix</b><br />
We awoke bright and early to send Nommie (along with the aunt's and uncle's luggage) to the Bordeaux airport because he was flying off with them to head back to London (they were taking the other car). I gotta say, I'm pretty sad just thinking about this because I'm rather attached to my cousin, and also it signals the end of the vacation (boooo). <br />
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As we were going to be catching the Belgium vs. Ireland Euro Cup match, we quickly drove near to the stadium in Bordeaux to grab a quick lunch before the match. You know those places along highways, like rest stops with lousy restaurants and whatnot? Yeah we ended up at one of those places. The fine establishment we came across is called Del Arte, I guess it serves Italian food like akin to Pizza Hut. I'm not complaining though, I love Pizza Hut. I had a lasagna while the boo had a seafood vongole. Clearly he had the mad food envy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmm mediocre lasagna</td></tr>
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After lunch, we walked about 20 minutes to get to the stadium - The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouveau_Stade_de_Bordeaux" target="_blank">Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux</a> is a fancy almost brand new (opened in May 2015) stadium that is quite an architectural beauty. There appeared to be an almost equal amount of Belgian and Irish fans and everyone seemed in high spirts, there was a lot of singing and cheering and my main gripe was as I stood in the crowd waiting to be frisked, I just felt really short.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey shawty</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ohhh so it IS just Euro</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a beauty</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artistic shot, yes?</td></tr>
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The seats we got were just FANTASTIC. I think we were seated in the corporate sponsored seating area so it had an equal mix of fans from both sides, as well as some neutrals (like me - I equally support all teams as long as they have a good mix of handsome men). Our seats were right in front of those fancy glass rooms where rich people have lunch before the game. The stadium's seats were quite well spaced out, and there was lots of room for me to stand up, walk and bounce around taking photos. The match itself was awesome, with Belgium scoring 3 goals within the second half (like almost immediately), and the Belgian fans were incredibly excited. The commentator would announce who scored the goal, by loudly announcing the player's first name, and the fans would shout out the player's surname as if they were chant-shouting. ROMELU.... LUKAKUUUUUUU!!!!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy box seats just above us</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Patrick's day continues</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to imagine these two guys sitting together doing arts and crafts</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our seats</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello Bordeaux</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some serious manspreading going on. (Courtesy of a European stranger)</td></tr>
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After the match, with our family having all departed, we headed to Arcachon, a beachside town about an hour from Bordeaux. We checked into <a href="http://hotel-b-arcachon.com/en/" target="_blank">Hotel Le B d'arcachon</a> and then strolled along the beach towards <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g196505-d2262340-Reviews-Au_pique_assiette-Arcachon_Gironde_Aquitaine.html" target="_blank">Au Pique Assiete</a> for dinner. I think the food was so-so. I had a set menu of salad, white fish and panna cotta dessert which was alright, while the boo ordered some pork thing that made me think of SQ airplane food. I didn't bother with the panna cotta too because I already had my mind made up to go to <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Restaurant_Review-g196505-d4044353-Reviews-Saison_2-Arcachon_Gironde_Aquitaine.html" target="_blank">La Saison 2</a>, a really purple and pink gaudily-designed café which served yummy crepe. MMM. There was a restaurant near La Saison 2 that actually looked like it was frequented by locals - I don't know what it's called and Google Earth View is just making me feel dizzy. I feel like we should have dined there instead for dinner!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk0Z-wZIzAJpKj7ks7t2I8bCD8QE5amAdnPfHAKxaFbJU2MTBAIXWk8XYLc6X2RcSj3MuQ8A8CQj5dm_gMFllyz1uFUXmGjskdowqk6390vc1EbHvPAaKxQQF71HcFvxPtKn9TaXypffN/s1600/IMG_9938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWk0Z-wZIzAJpKj7ks7t2I8bCD8QE5amAdnPfHAKxaFbJU2MTBAIXWk8XYLc6X2RcSj3MuQ8A8CQj5dm_gMFllyz1uFUXmGjskdowqk6390vc1EbHvPAaKxQQF71HcFvxPtKn9TaXypffN/s400/IMG_9938.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretending it felt like summer - it was probably 12 degrees celsius</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgUD6E-pMT6uuCIA-s7i5CD4pvAzr97aWK6aAwRnEj0YQQQrjsvLMUolKzUxNcj0a431C7bs765YKIboMJldqzFO_Wxj1P99GEN8_QnIREqU14D8WI82qmSteyC4ivSqQqBzkwtxXtjDR/s1600/IMG_9917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgUD6E-pMT6uuCIA-s7i5CD4pvAzr97aWK6aAwRnEj0YQQQrjsvLMUolKzUxNcj0a431C7bs765YKIboMJldqzFO_Wxj1P99GEN8_QnIREqU14D8WI82qmSteyC4ivSqQqBzkwtxXtjDR/s400/IMG_9917.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cutest sand art</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLs8ZqKuf0Cy6zmy16QZnuQTIWbZwxdAy_dJsj-r5g_IEDswc1m-NyncLsLxjx2jg963LikOHhyphenhyphendknsO1yLlVeQhfyPDkHP1Tcwm21WH0g5xlYRo4QSB3y5YY41J5KROaAaMFUdcF-TED/s1600/IMG_9922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLs8ZqKuf0Cy6zmy16QZnuQTIWbZwxdAy_dJsj-r5g_IEDswc1m-NyncLsLxjx2jg963LikOHhyphenhyphendknsO1yLlVeQhfyPDkHP1Tcwm21WH0g5xlYRo4QSB3y5YY41J5KROaAaMFUdcF-TED/s400/IMG_9922.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not strange at all</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIQwHBLqQLRjyxdzflQnvMuAyqAgOpk1JVvRCIvO_fT-GlO03EKYCNh2EER9SKqC4o1sQj-JOI6NnSboiji_mW35bJ_bVBRpqfFHTrNJbQXJ-1-uUgaFGuS6ENBFy-kFWHu5pXoycx5Rk/s1600/IMG_9920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIQwHBLqQLRjyxdzflQnvMuAyqAgOpk1JVvRCIvO_fT-GlO03EKYCNh2EER9SKqC4o1sQj-JOI6NnSboiji_mW35bJ_bVBRpqfFHTrNJbQXJ-1-uUgaFGuS6ENBFy-kFWHu5pXoycx5Rk/s400/IMG_9920.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful evening but so cold brrrr</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeW8YLObkFeBpE51iD5ah4Yaknx7rF4Q_2UJ2Snxokd-5ofAMB3qRvbTaZ0a6Xoai1kBw9YA3pw0jsUlPhlidhbbWu5E2Fyko7jX7tSdcSyX_iYAPQ6ketgkwVKL5m5ZLY2ijtHfszEml/s1600/IMG_9909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeW8YLObkFeBpE51iD5ah4Yaknx7rF4Q_2UJ2Snxokd-5ofAMB3qRvbTaZ0a6Xoai1kBw9YA3pw0jsUlPhlidhbbWu5E2Fyko7jX7tSdcSyX_iYAPQ6ketgkwVKL5m5ZLY2ijtHfszEml/s400/IMG_9909.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Au Pique Assiete </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PppbE8wp1WTKR8kRKDNvfpTL62W9UxWq4b6k2nERkLUTFwkM8VoyIdbe7wg_zjOKAjdFFHFBZVmROzfCrMOuzBxW8mNGtjzknwGJ3OIXU27aHkBdWb7ZTmyGA0lvT7IM2xtHDM2Jubrx/s1600/IMG_9924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PppbE8wp1WTKR8kRKDNvfpTL62W9UxWq4b6k2nERkLUTFwkM8VoyIdbe7wg_zjOKAjdFFHFBZVmROzfCrMOuzBxW8mNGtjzknwGJ3OIXU27aHkBdWb7ZTmyGA0lvT7IM2xtHDM2Jubrx/s400/IMG_9924.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the groovy 70s</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7D9fcHoeAVoXzTyBREYV599ROuMYzM67mmXk4epfOaCXDqF6I535Tdi1iGLMwiVEBFw0Qe-Z7sHedYn2rD6VJagKgfzHF6tbiUNMCe91VbPzib3uswNUSUNqP544qBS52R8YN_0FNc0Q/s1600/IMG_9927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7D9fcHoeAVoXzTyBREYV599ROuMYzM67mmXk4epfOaCXDqF6I535Tdi1iGLMwiVEBFw0Qe-Z7sHedYn2rD6VJagKgfzHF6tbiUNMCe91VbPzib3uswNUSUNqP544qBS52R8YN_0FNc0Q/s400/IMG_9927.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this was very much my aesthetic when I was 12</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEZqkjpgh7HI-DrANXBNSoeYBnp70QrwLRQU4JjPiyzpVQzooalQjyIK21RRbAdxIA6WpuqCUKz_3CVGrYZyGEkxBUXsfylA7o6VsXdwhy7jtywwQ4ng9oRjw7t5ZkL66l6QRaHPmB98e/s1600/IMG_9930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEZqkjpgh7HI-DrANXBNSoeYBnp70QrwLRQU4JjPiyzpVQzooalQjyIK21RRbAdxIA6WpuqCUKz_3CVGrYZyGEkxBUXsfylA7o6VsXdwhy7jtywwQ4ng9oRjw7t5ZkL66l6QRaHPmB98e/s400/IMG_9930.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OMNOMNOMNOM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Key learnings:<br />
<ul>
<li>Don't order vongole at an "Italian" joint. Save it for Italy. Order something easy like lasagna and you'll never be disappointed.</li>
<li>Belgium has a pretty good soccer team and apparently quite a few of them play in the English Premier League. Is this important? Who knows?</li>
<li>The stadium in Bordeaux is currently named Matmut Atlantique - I guess it's a sponsorship thing but sorry Matmut, it ain't work for you. I don't recall seeing your name anywhere. Zero brand recognition. </li>
<li>The firm behind the architecture of the stadium is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herzog_%26_de_Meuron" target="_blank">Herzog & de Meuron</a>, who also did the Beijing Olympic Stadium. It must feel wonderful to be able to see your work come to life and be appreciated on such a grand scale. What am I doing with my life??</li>
<li>Don't trust always trust Trip Advisor - I read about Au Pique Assiete on TA and it was MEH</li>
<li>The Arcachon beach is COLD and the winds are really strong. Don't be a hero like me and try to wear beach type clothes. </li>
<li>It is really great to be a woman who needs to pee during a soccer/sporting match because there are fewer women and loads of cubicles. Also, not as dirty as one would image. </li>
<li>LUKAAAAAKKKKUUUUUUUUUU</li>
</ul>
Thanks for reading! <br />
<ul>
</ul>
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-42398584037300415882016-08-02T23:08:00.000+08:002016-08-02T23:08:34.408+08:00France Day Neuf: Pee paradeBonjour! I've returned from a vacation in France and now for the
travel diary because my memory is terrible so I need to recap it all.
This was a family vacation to catch the Euro Cup courtesy of my aunt and
uncle, without them, this trip wouldn't have happened.<br />
<br />
<b>France Day Neuf</b><br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Les enfants
terrible (I use this loosely since the average age of Nommie, Boo and me is
28.6 years making us squarely more adult than not) left early in the morning hit
up Toulouse for breakfast. We ate at a small little joint called La Fiancee. It’s
got a very small menu but it’s very delicious. I had sweet and savoury pancakes
while Nommie and boo had eggs and bacon. Sadly, they were a little slammed and
our drinks took a long time to arrive, and the coffee had a slight sour taste
which was a little off-putting. Maybe it’s meant to be like that? Nonetheless,
we enjoyed ourselves and the service was good with staff being really nice and
friendly. This is probably the only place we ate at where the portions weren’t
huge, but they were enough to fill us up till lunch.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd33d5CEcSBgsDBSm9E-Hf_vLsZG47b8ynn0GtSK4-FCHEqJvoZnsQlkLE-IFhel78TXO7W9F7pIl_xJx2OS_czcq_JmbE2ESKqumzFZmpT_77F4OVVq8mOR335Cu-rmVWEoqyoGpgEE1F/s1600/IMG_9786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd33d5CEcSBgsDBSm9E-Hf_vLsZG47b8ynn0GtSK4-FCHEqJvoZnsQlkLE-IFhel78TXO7W9F7pIl_xJx2OS_czcq_JmbE2ESKqumzFZmpT_77F4OVVq8mOR335Cu-rmVWEoqyoGpgEE1F/s400/IMG_9786.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6_J817vuHnZKRNS2VoOyx1wIeRRh5Cxpq2KQaOpX45vqArPN_Jd-z3IuSUoC3Vuk116We2BZQQY2Zl78spDMbgYwKK9gtePzshNSOCO6I0Pp47e35AlOJQMFPuLjky9kW9GpSAerOT46/s1600/IMG_9787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6_J817vuHnZKRNS2VoOyx1wIeRRh5Cxpq2KQaOpX45vqArPN_Jd-z3IuSUoC3Vuk116We2BZQQY2Zl78spDMbgYwKK9gtePzshNSOCO6I0Pp47e35AlOJQMFPuLjky9kW9GpSAerOT46/s400/IMG_9787.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both have their phones out because of the free wifi. *SIGH* Millennials these days</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAdWALeWN_ApbvuZS05c-qTA-nlL7oDtWVoo-MTj1egZKtIOeAuFBvE_z_xudjEP3epBsi67Kbmf7yO_x4NiK8l3QKD0BOsTXj9dbs8RUXXZpa8jwrShtQjNRO5Qa6N4NOy6-5jaU1mVW/s1600/IMG_9800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAdWALeWN_ApbvuZS05c-qTA-nlL7oDtWVoo-MTj1egZKtIOeAuFBvE_z_xudjEP3epBsi67Kbmf7yO_x4NiK8l3QKD0BOsTXj9dbs8RUXXZpa8jwrShtQjNRO5Qa6N4NOy6-5jaU1mVW/s400/IMG_9800.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite breakfast dish - sweet and savoury combos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmr8mrgoEwfSIeMNbtx0zfeg8qqhpr1uPzn0z4PK9l50h1uQ7D82plYVgAW01paBo9_789_y7lDaYh7tXcvtjDuP27vV4TtnjinStFheMSx6XAY7WGSuTKsQJSOlFONw6pEiK3iKQLqfca/s1600/IMG_9801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmr8mrgoEwfSIeMNbtx0zfeg8qqhpr1uPzn0z4PK9l50h1uQ7D82plYVgAW01paBo9_789_y7lDaYh7tXcvtjDuP27vV4TtnjinStFheMSx6XAY7WGSuTKsQJSOlFONw6pEiK3iKQLqfca/s400/IMG_9801.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnOWX6B9H52pMolXeFGgyc8jksqeDeKJiCFQA-lvre2Myen0ZM3WnsEfKuenw9zCwVsn637zzwzHDZd6FibkDp00w6P9VqmfqOjs_rkLVe79q3hwpU8gboWgI6tA7G5sJ5VczrMapTDy1/s1600/IMG_9802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnOWX6B9H52pMolXeFGgyc8jksqeDeKJiCFQA-lvre2Myen0ZM3WnsEfKuenw9zCwVsn637zzwzHDZd6FibkDp00w6P9VqmfqOjs_rkLVe79q3hwpU8gboWgI6tA7G5sJ5VczrMapTDy1/s400/IMG_9802.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sluuurrrrp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We strolled
through cobblestone alleys visiting shoe shops so the boo could try on like
643261 pairs of shoes only to buy zero. Not that Nommie is any less picky – he wanted
to buy a bag for travelling with but found a black and orange bag “too
colourful”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*eye roll* </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd-4OeJ0YP6rI_WBVrV88a2o2s1DOOb0UNCZiaK0icTqIAuHBuboXdldtSBLS7gEdWwBqvyycJ9FwnsOjIsyMsJEGSP-YJZuO0lJy0pbWcXlY1Mnhht2LY4248ZONMJc_-WYIpozv2EbT/s1600/IMG_9806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd-4OeJ0YP6rI_WBVrV88a2o2s1DOOb0UNCZiaK0icTqIAuHBuboXdldtSBLS7gEdWwBqvyycJ9FwnsOjIsyMsJEGSP-YJZuO0lJy0pbWcXlY1Mnhht2LY4248ZONMJc_-WYIpozv2EbT/s400/IMG_9806.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No photos of shoe shops but we did go through a covered market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVPTw0v7pcXTsWyzGDs7ixCyi_BPeQlLldeRSWDU8pxD2aJetW4HVZJLea_28c4kPDajodMARw8Q6oui1NFGHDH2gFAGmtPqmRNpwcPSPz05muNcoAIed0YBDVfegAcXypx8QuVzTeszt/s1600/IMG_9805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVPTw0v7pcXTsWyzGDs7ixCyi_BPeQlLldeRSWDU8pxD2aJetW4HVZJLea_28c4kPDajodMARw8Q6oui1NFGHDH2gFAGmtPqmRNpwcPSPz05muNcoAIed0YBDVfegAcXypx8QuVzTeszt/s400/IMG_9805.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Market king</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmDK5UNWs4_T92BKoBVv8T2WDmeRqtHAuzBAKduCxd5dP3U9uE6hnPmum1gTmRuwxjYHGB0kJmKyCK9WHGSZunQ9kuG6kJ0kcjIQqh1T1puG8Pz8EhDyTmna-2rxuyj55oNEoPNRfgv8p/s1600/IMG_9808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmDK5UNWs4_T92BKoBVv8T2WDmeRqtHAuzBAKduCxd5dP3U9uE6hnPmum1gTmRuwxjYHGB0kJmKyCK9WHGSZunQ9kuG6kJ0kcjIQqh1T1puG8Pz8EhDyTmna-2rxuyj55oNEoPNRfgv8p/s400/IMG_9808.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHAT IS THIS??? Someone tell me please!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAWnONTRzMW3xW4fNbSJK-SHi90oLI6bevLV3lPJ6HuQG88crgw2o3AqTE9wYfuMprpVSc4mjZNZcSw00-csuO0RWX4JEI6ec8cb9M1h3p1LABjS0Isf36MDu4iz0rQjQ5eFyHeqaMNgZ/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAWnONTRzMW3xW4fNbSJK-SHi90oLI6bevLV3lPJ6HuQG88crgw2o3AqTE9wYfuMprpVSc4mjZNZcSw00-csuO0RWX4JEI6ec8cb9M1h3p1LABjS0Isf36MDu4iz0rQjQ5eFyHeqaMNgZ/s400/IMG_0158.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Cassoulet
had been a big hit so we found ourselves back in Restaurant Emile to rejoin the
‘adults’. My uncle pre-ordered some bouillabaisse as well as it’s also another
specialty of theirs. This fish soup wasn’t really my thang so I had more
cassoulet which I can confirm was as delicious as the first day we had it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPV28pajtdvCThh3q24uIWyhDDdXl9a2jqF-NZgbFnXUXnSTW5xJWEW9IF7OLFrYZS2Mwyr8-gT287LqcflWIFyzyHifWLG7mfVWsgCVY4bnymN2iTXV3VZIczWJ5D0Bm6SCfzAVISlWio/s1600/IMG_9817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPV28pajtdvCThh3q24uIWyhDDdXl9a2jqF-NZgbFnXUXnSTW5xJWEW9IF7OLFrYZS2Mwyr8-gT287LqcflWIFyzyHifWLG7mfVWsgCVY4bnymN2iTXV3VZIczWJ5D0Bm6SCfzAVISlWio/s400/IMG_9817.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All so happy to be eating Cassoulet again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After
lunch, we walked about half an hour towards the Toulouse stadium to catch the
Euro match of Sweden versus Italy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Toulouse stadium wasn’t much to look at, the chairs were pretty
small and close together so it was a little squeezy. The vibe was pretty good
though, with the Swedish fans out in full force, going wild even before the match
started. All the Swedish fans were in the yellow jerseys and lots of them were
in funny Viking costumes or headgear. Not sure why there weren’t that many
Italians. Nonetheless, Italy dominated and won 1-0. Don’t worry Sweden, you’ll
always have Ikea meatballs to drown your sorrows in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFihQTRDrMGAMV1fizOxcYGLlyvrTFb_EvC4etwGy_i0_0l-QKgILY_rTv5ud7G-4DL75FdwQiU5XbA1FSDzWgk3qDwgKUtiF5_4wOt-CAueIqpug9WhY4ofViaQvy0Ixj3jJk8_WKzpjr/s1600/IMG_9820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFihQTRDrMGAMV1fizOxcYGLlyvrTFb_EvC4etwGy_i0_0l-QKgILY_rTv5ud7G-4DL75FdwQiU5XbA1FSDzWgk3qDwgKUtiF5_4wOt-CAueIqpug9WhY4ofViaQvy0Ixj3jJk8_WKzpjr/s400/IMG_9820.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at the stadium</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrs08kOtwInHnTMqSqJVrNT6DWG9q12JIx1myTVxvaV4qAWncdH9GpkPX_g5w2F2sbs_Qq1-phFDNdxH8ZtZSDSfkUwHPCWHyod3I4KqWuFp6QGMfzZD4wXiS9tULucOX66iV3Fs6BnKS/s1600/IMG_9821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrs08kOtwInHnTMqSqJVrNT6DWG9q12JIx1myTVxvaV4qAWncdH9GpkPX_g5w2F2sbs_Qq1-phFDNdxH8ZtZSDSfkUwHPCWHyod3I4KqWuFp6QGMfzZD4wXiS9tULucOX66iV3Fs6BnKS/s400/IMG_9821.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swag swag swag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICqmeS9n6IG2PtcIYakCDK05Pwol88clNY3nV1iMy4PPEMf-9eiwEqPWW5mVD3SzrNgMTtOdGyoByQS50gjGMlstVFBc29M0FiGFg2PxnM8SEcs4P9EWbBoqUdrtUDXTga7TIofI77-2a/s1600/IMG_9827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICqmeS9n6IG2PtcIYakCDK05Pwol88clNY3nV1iMy4PPEMf-9eiwEqPWW5mVD3SzrNgMTtOdGyoByQS50gjGMlstVFBc29M0FiGFg2PxnM8SEcs4P9EWbBoqUdrtUDXTga7TIofI77-2a/s400/IMG_9827.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful day for some Italian footie destruction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYj0Cqni_2z-jDu9hBkYEaR6S2-ML26uOPPBK6DxeP37lpDtUKbTiEYs-LGI1akAxMQC0g0w0D9kQYoFsHmYDIIB3-EjfZijI9QN7A3CT0HHPExDW4RuekEkqUgBzwR8t5AHI56IB-TJQ/s1600/IMG_9834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYj0Cqni_2z-jDu9hBkYEaR6S2-ML26uOPPBK6DxeP37lpDtUKbTiEYs-LGI1akAxMQC0g0w0D9kQYoFsHmYDIIB3-EjfZijI9QN7A3CT0HHPExDW4RuekEkqUgBzwR8t5AHI56IB-TJQ/s400/IMG_9834.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To prove I was in Toulouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWajcK5zvejuQNsrW-bwBx6-wT9xuonpAZMwnYbFLnse4_RUkxB2V-9jNM0cPypFM9Dmgk91Xz-I54-FPWKST_Dn8vWO-Tds-6wxkyqT6lw7sMgImF7EhriPywzcCbWSFzhrMJUM5atOJ9/s1600/IMG_9837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWajcK5zvejuQNsrW-bwBx6-wT9xuonpAZMwnYbFLnse4_RUkxB2V-9jNM0cPypFM9Dmgk91Xz-I54-FPWKST_Dn8vWO-Tds-6wxkyqT6lw7sMgImF7EhriPywzcCbWSFzhrMJUM5atOJ9/s400/IMG_9837.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ikea?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcNtlBy9434GSJk0zn2MGGDFgK1zk96L2I9xRTT8B0jbofzibb0yfptmxK-JvDP0XazmixnHUe9bfYADF0Dh_0i7RH_2SIQqQlsOkso_PcgYYAHtexFtk0NCI-v6T6ohyyBK_AzMKyeWP/s1600/IMG_9854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcNtlBy9434GSJk0zn2MGGDFgK1zk96L2I9xRTT8B0jbofzibb0yfptmxK-JvDP0XazmixnHUe9bfYADF0Dh_0i7RH_2SIQqQlsOkso_PcgYYAHtexFtk0NCI-v6T6ohyyBK_AzMKyeWP/s400/IMG_9854.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squeezy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We walked
back to the centre of Toulouse to have tea at BB by Christian Constant. By ‘tea’
I mean coffee, hot chocolate, chocolate cake, profiteroles, rice pudding and
burgers. This restaurant has some awesome interior design on its ceiling and is
totally worth checking out because the service is good and the food is
delicious. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkwIAYp4nC2281bO_1tnOhZDOJ0_FBcaNPio_xT6NjmMWa6BaGuf-C4ut9gc65CFWFMazlQz9xPmnAgMbbN7G1cGxVy0tqv-hy43necnFBmsp9JCMCNH3YBrxrZggeUBl7QVpPXVqr7Sd/s1600/IMG_9843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkwIAYp4nC2281bO_1tnOhZDOJ0_FBcaNPio_xT6NjmMWa6BaGuf-C4ut9gc65CFWFMazlQz9xPmnAgMbbN7G1cGxVy0tqv-hy43necnFBmsp9JCMCNH3YBrxrZggeUBl7QVpPXVqr7Sd/s400/IMG_9843.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz1d36lte-2RDNyUKV73lwpuUj01CjT3l6flpnDPNjxqRHKgCTpWgJj6mMZvUJMC8ARe33rII62lvzShOJpAz4lCbMZi93aw7hQD-8vu3ONaNe5Z9tgF9ItgVsdjS8CTyEGRGHsBKZkhG/s1600/IMG_9844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTz1d36lte-2RDNyUKV73lwpuUj01CjT3l6flpnDPNjxqRHKgCTpWgJj6mMZvUJMC8ARe33rII62lvzShOJpAz4lCbMZi93aw7hQD-8vu3ONaNe5Z9tgF9ItgVsdjS8CTyEGRGHsBKZkhG/s400/IMG_9844.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guy on the left is like 'GASP! How dare you mock my glorious mane??'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRk0L3e4ba1uhE2gCF72xUa5m4wn5qjxiQvw1XwfuTSu7hHR_kSOm2d8Nd15LBe32py5mZ-gfIh8iM5JsVirNH3fqtaFUb-8mYr8D6qS3EWuaELI2doRiygytyzy2PsbcuPl0apM6IIBp/s1600/IMG_9850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRk0L3e4ba1uhE2gCF72xUa5m4wn5qjxiQvw1XwfuTSu7hHR_kSOm2d8Nd15LBe32py5mZ-gfIh8iM5JsVirNH3fqtaFUb-8mYr8D6qS3EWuaELI2doRiygytyzy2PsbcuPl0apM6IIBp/s400/IMG_9850.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sinful chocolate cake </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABegy2mqloFFMQKMcDdVZShXKHnwyGfN4umwpFL8jsdGAe_v6xq4CRG1Im-CnJJpe7BK3yF9ZQr0OrS9KP3RY91zEv-nGp9-UL1w0nEv33eM8SZVO6odlJLJAWZVKIj3YrUjPyXyEYI9j/s1600/IMG_9852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABegy2mqloFFMQKMcDdVZShXKHnwyGfN4umwpFL8jsdGAe_v6xq4CRG1Im-CnJJpe7BK3yF9ZQr0OrS9KP3RY91zEv-nGp9-UL1w0nEv33eM8SZVO6odlJLJAWZVKIj3YrUjPyXyEYI9j/s400/IMG_9852.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice pudding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFvrcFZmA0F1XxcbJmIBi-LAgAfJ8HEDopdmkpi7XGUtX09libwNwuhLtdK6yARSE55KM-R29rbuhATX08iN8kD2FsQ1IipgjYyMz3WvEMIZsxB2cagH8By1ZJ66Tjw4-_QsJ68q_sO4m/s1600/IMG_9851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFvrcFZmA0F1XxcbJmIBi-LAgAfJ8HEDopdmkpi7XGUtX09libwNwuhLtdK6yARSE55KM-R29rbuhATX08iN8kD2FsQ1IipgjYyMz3WvEMIZsxB2cagH8By1ZJ66Tjw4-_QsJ68q_sO4m/s400/IMG_9851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Profiteroles...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFQqOQLItwJDqpK9u0FBNros93FcSUrfB_oU64100hseAc8WwHHbNEymTuclojOilQC8DAQpPIe6kG6AHm2qMS8A6hSznaPRi-loIwVe8Q9EUJ8g6o9eghLzAyK_7PrABjxnwDlKSr_LG/s1600/IMG_9853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFQqOQLItwJDqpK9u0FBNros93FcSUrfB_oU64100hseAc8WwHHbNEymTuclojOilQC8DAQpPIe6kG6AHm2qMS8A6hSznaPRi-loIwVe8Q9EUJ8g6o9eghLzAyK_7PrABjxnwDlKSr_LG/s400/IMG_9853.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...Doused in chocolatey deliciousness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After all
this eating, we continued the greedy train by heading back to the chateau to
eat homemade Japanese curry and rice (mmm Asian delights), before we started
packing up because we’d be vacating the chateau in the morning. Byebye Chateau Marcoux! :'(</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Key
learnings:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The stadium
in Toulouse is actually really near to the centre of town – we only walked
about 30 minutes (although we walked at a pretty fast pace). </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s tough
to get a cab on match days – my uncle tried to get a cab so they wouldn’t have
to walk but most cabs were already taken. </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s best
to not bring anything to the football matches as they check all bags and do
quite a thorough pat down. The women get a female attendant to pat them down so
it’s a different (and usually faster) queue. </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You’re not
allowed to bring things with batteries or anything too bomb-like (the boo had
his portable phone charger confiscated at an earlier game) and people who had
umbrellas had to surrender them at a check-in counter before going back through
the pat-down-bag-check area. </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Men pee a
lot. And not just in toilets. I had several sightings of men peeing in the
bushes. I guess there’s also a lot of beer drinking which precipitates the
peeing.</span> </li>
</ul>
Thanks for reading!
alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-21515809300264953152016-07-28T11:10:00.004+08:002016-07-28T11:10:36.474+08:00France Day Huit: Wino Forever<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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travel diary because my memory is terrible so I need to recap it all.
This was a family vacation to catch the Euro Cup courtesy of my aunt and
uncle, without them, this trip wouldn't have happened.<br />
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<br />
<b>France Day Huit</b></div>
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<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As there
was another Euro match the guys were scheduled to watch in Bordeaux, we
drove to nearby Chateau de la Brede only to be disappointed that it wasn’t open
for viewing. It is a castle with a moat according to Wiki so that sucks because
I would have totally pretended to be a Queen in the midst of a fierce battle where
opposing forces are trying to take her castle, and possibly her life.
DRRRAAAAAAAMMMAAAAAA!!! </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio39R3dj_mJrgw1qtla9ld9_6nSVUhdXP8gSYWd2dO-vk3cl4q9jghZsQx07CvOW2pl07UPlMCi0iytWHmn9TpY7EAw8TvHSo0UyzmFWI0ImfTz2tK6tCma_9W2qK1mKD2fb_dothPTnBZ/s1600/IMG_9743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio39R3dj_mJrgw1qtla9ld9_6nSVUhdXP8gSYWd2dO-vk3cl4q9jghZsQx07CvOW2pl07UPlMCi0iytWHmn9TpY7EAw8TvHSo0UyzmFWI0ImfTz2tK6tCma_9W2qK1mKD2fb_dothPTnBZ/s400/IMG_9743.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can stand outside but you can't come in. </td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But every
cloud has a silver lining and we chanced upon a nice restaurant situated in the
centre ville near a church (also closed!!) – <a href="http://www.latabledemontesquieu.net/" target="_blank">La Table de Montesquieu</a>. I had the set
meal which consisted of a beef tartare starter (meh, not really my kind of
thing), haddock with rice (yum, I love haddock and I LOVE RICE FOREVER),
followed by a pineapple, rum and ice cream dessert which was my second
favourite dessert of the trip (my favourite was the apple pie from Monsieur
Jeannot). It was so simple yet really delicious. Plus alcohol. Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzed. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThH1JDoV06y9S2Z7_ypf4X-KQJ5wDadFXRIYrmpPC4ev5PlGdnNSu_NGxpZcG6uFmQjdckAbpsWgkCRhzJSEGkPOQf-lqWJGInKuV5fX3CyjC3O9wLFYb9NTwXSnJPR81H8DcaW52_65O/s1600/IMG_9745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThH1JDoV06y9S2Z7_ypf4X-KQJ5wDadFXRIYrmpPC4ev5PlGdnNSu_NGxpZcG6uFmQjdckAbpsWgkCRhzJSEGkPOQf-lqWJGInKuV5fX3CyjC3O9wLFYb9NTwXSnJPR81H8DcaW52_65O/s400/IMG_9745.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most modern interior design we'd seen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWhRBqF-ZLDluD7nNmOmTx_MihWxU9BR7R-KR59yfuT8U8AMJWdqMFIZv92iqKF0td2YFfJgiQFr4wPVo_WTwx780V_vNYSw0vT4KnTR0fG2d4JBLoABsfWMSb1SjNdlSJ8jQD9_9tXPX/s1600/IMG_9753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWhRBqF-ZLDluD7nNmOmTx_MihWxU9BR7R-KR59yfuT8U8AMJWdqMFIZv92iqKF0td2YFfJgiQFr4wPVo_WTwx780V_vNYSw0vT4KnTR0fG2d4JBLoABsfWMSb1SjNdlSJ8jQD9_9tXPX/s400/IMG_9753.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy dancing men because of wine I guess</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrJBCpjnHHz5NZbDH79LutlGUFK41LI4MVJ1zQ17gkzvcRuKdgyrGfuCvGSqb3jwCXPH5nAkIc9caoc54jTER_ffADBI_mUeCwzwTRZtr7d0f0HEkEyYuKvV8RBpaiUIcuSCxdVVzS00V/s1600/IMG_9749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrJBCpjnHHz5NZbDH79LutlGUFK41LI4MVJ1zQ17gkzvcRuKdgyrGfuCvGSqb3jwCXPH5nAkIc9caoc54jTER_ffADBI_mUeCwzwTRZtr7d0f0HEkEyYuKvV8RBpaiUIcuSCxdVVzS00V/s400/IMG_9749.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beef tartare plus little squiggles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBl-U0AMPy9ncxiPEGn4BN-J_ph-XWb71Aon2L9Kx2a-QEYnVYdlyxK8sTTACI1eKfAOuZzSuFV70pL5SRmgtqNwczxCke3VCI5tSZ-YkCWZ07kwqv367mlRxfxACUql_az-xHkBPxXPw/s1600/IMG_9750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBl-U0AMPy9ncxiPEGn4BN-J_ph-XWb71Aon2L9Kx2a-QEYnVYdlyxK8sTTACI1eKfAOuZzSuFV70pL5SRmgtqNwczxCke3VCI5tSZ-YkCWZ07kwqv367mlRxfxACUql_az-xHkBPxXPw/s400/IMG_9750.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrimp guarding the salad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyRB0Tc0gs5B5gC9RgtycrCgugFxqHUK4nNX4bzpR1oFDVha6Fld1A0YlbINqQ6YlbihbTrpFIXGoN5FZI7NekrImPbMuqrtrCgo_Rry434zZsJUNmT2z0nyXpB3Vc87XzeorQ0NU64uz/s1600/IMG_9751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyRB0Tc0gs5B5gC9RgtycrCgugFxqHUK4nNX4bzpR1oFDVha6Fld1A0YlbINqQ6YlbihbTrpFIXGoN5FZI7NekrImPbMuqrtrCgo_Rry434zZsJUNmT2z0nyXpB3Vc87XzeorQ0NU64uz/s400/IMG_9751.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sausage and oysters - strange combo no?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YRol5NIuSzInbDhAp9CP8WYFLawwChH0O9drTXC8sV2Z0plTg_xPB_pSt0M9ZvksmaMAqEKxBckVHhgzqmKRlBU-LXBRGLoq3YHhNUHqioqIOoEdDo9HxnE3PZ_6cDMz2xCnJrCbWucY/s1600/IMG_9755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YRol5NIuSzInbDhAp9CP8WYFLawwChH0O9drTXC8sV2Z0plTg_xPB_pSt0M9ZvksmaMAqEKxBckVHhgzqmKRlBU-LXBRGLoq3YHhNUHqioqIOoEdDo9HxnE3PZ_6cDMz2xCnJrCbWucY/s400/IMG_9755.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very rare steak</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UrubCHF2q-CBx3eHCXVNsZ3-WHlu4bGZD0_xQUDcqe8GWnC1X71kP3B4IIIWShaWAiDU2_XkPEjyVO5brRNKthNZ38WSZM5SxLZSg3g_phMiWaY0H468zwUvOfrpNVDzLsq-j96KAKL8/s1600/IMG_9756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1UrubCHF2q-CBx3eHCXVNsZ3-WHlu4bGZD0_xQUDcqe8GWnC1X71kP3B4IIIWShaWAiDU2_XkPEjyVO5brRNKthNZ38WSZM5SxLZSg3g_phMiWaY0H468zwUvOfrpNVDzLsq-j96KAKL8/s400/IMG_9756.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haddock, rice and possible mushroom gravy - hard to tell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7K6waulyb-GjBtoVnmqLxX2myTKkVUNlbl3n2jsbKkJYGtjqmZIQOUvXlgPa889yEKCiZyCeY5iUc9aaE-egQp0LPIR9ddbf-BdWUTHX4dZ-WDBCGrQsISmIeE0O-Wzc7QHgIC57o-K9w/s1600/IMG_9761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7K6waulyb-GjBtoVnmqLxX2myTKkVUNlbl3n2jsbKkJYGtjqmZIQOUvXlgPa889yEKCiZyCeY5iUc9aaE-egQp0LPIR9ddbf-BdWUTHX4dZ-WDBCGrQsISmIeE0O-Wzc7QHgIC57o-K9w/s400/IMG_9761.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this big time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ5norv7mk91p2jcmesyxhFE5NjD6wutJYqmmCiBtetyn4tvGLnZR3Erfwe49HUJx3tTFVy3XDtpDBI6pa6odESU7edRP1UoHeafjsFJyyuy1a398b0We3hkt_VCbNG9nKYcEMnCrtZkQ/s1600/IMG_9763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ5norv7mk91p2jcmesyxhFE5NjD6wutJYqmmCiBtetyn4tvGLnZR3Erfwe49HUJx3tTFVy3XDtpDBI6pa6odESU7edRP1UoHeafjsFJyyuy1a398b0We3hkt_VCbNG9nKYcEMnCrtZkQ/s400/IMG_9763.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice cream perhaps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6skToRBWf07r6qbVfb2w5Gk51iorAWgu5Rpqj9mhLqmWVNOqGzq2EqFscntABef7fR_6SIf45bQhaRj4rTLUoRl5psn-Hi1R3WliG7WOz0UhiMqJUzxiVroAVy6dpNk6n8FgSoXETCk39/s1600/IMG_9764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6skToRBWf07r6qbVfb2w5Gk51iorAWgu5Rpqj9mhLqmWVNOqGzq2EqFscntABef7fR_6SIf45bQhaRj4rTLUoRl5psn-Hi1R3WliG7WOz0UhiMqJUzxiVroAVy6dpNk6n8FgSoXETCk39/s400/IMG_9764.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best way to end a meal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The guys
departed for the game and my uncle’s cousin and I made our way towards Bordeaux
centre for yet more shopping. We headed to Rue Ste Catherine which is the main
shopping street, and sadly I couldn’t manage to finish walking through it
because I only had two hours. SOB. While Toulouse is the bigger city, there’s
just something really charming and historical about Bordeaux, so sorry Toulouse
but I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><3 Bordeaux more. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">OMG apparently I took a total of ZERO photos of Bordeaux. Because shopping. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We met up with
the football <s>hooligans </s>fans at the Cite du Vin, a huge museum that’s all
about wine and probably 70% filled with alcohol. This museum is famous for its
modern architecture that juxtaposes the historical architecture of the city.
PERFECT FOR OOTDS!! </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeHGXeP9mPbYmisAas8teYGYO_rXFJ9qjQQx9w10SLDGL2OGA7WMd_3iVqJaFfD9FT4rViooIJjyPAirwM-_q74lhy_GE5Toh3vKs_DLpQoJfzIEDGjGWudml1_NhZkNvaQ_TPFDP0Qxc/s1600/IMG_9790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeHGXeP9mPbYmisAas8teYGYO_rXFJ9qjQQx9w10SLDGL2OGA7WMd_3iVqJaFfD9FT4rViooIJjyPAirwM-_q74lhy_GE5Toh3vKs_DLpQoJfzIEDGjGWudml1_NhZkNvaQ_TPFDP0Qxc/s400/IMG_9790.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serious OOTD business</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRcjE6K80p8ghhekCSGx0qo8y-Ev9OQhehjw3PmbntHk80EvFzA8JnTObVsWWy55x_Dh7wBGxEXV1YtWastToQ8ufyB6XlDlnm-YUjv7gpyaTjdTgYtymrD0QYSDuW4koOHL4rRhmlEOB/s1600/IMG_9796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRcjE6K80p8ghhekCSGx0qo8y-Ev9OQhehjw3PmbntHk80EvFzA8JnTObVsWWy55x_Dh7wBGxEXV1YtWastToQ8ufyB6XlDlnm-YUjv7gpyaTjdTgYtymrD0QYSDuW4koOHL4rRhmlEOB/s400/IMG_9796.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just strolling through the wine park yo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2W31OdCrR4KNl3FL7Q1leGwANcAd7GHSBR0gkFpvZn936XNJbXBfiqp0_BOTvJ3ZpIfP8y-bMJy49crLNDQWLPPwl8W16ivi2bbWp6aX-I57ttRNZdXUt35PEZFUV1i8h9m7V37uzerdl/s1600/IMG_9765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2W31OdCrR4KNl3FL7Q1leGwANcAd7GHSBR0gkFpvZn936XNJbXBfiqp0_BOTvJ3ZpIfP8y-bMJy49crLNDQWLPPwl8W16ivi2bbWp6aX-I57ttRNZdXUt35PEZFUV1i8h9m7V37uzerdl/s400/IMG_9765.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behold! The Cite du Vin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ-kllw0QPgF0gPRuUhPbmTHMFKfVZoQ7h1Gw5MDr12JjxCON_6fUduLAqFSgqKc3n7W9nTzyxDw_a8agh060iS4xF-35l1FlCSGPnj09289gEAJyNfsdmbb3SQZg4ZNU3CCgI8ZHKE8t/s1600/IMG_9768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJ-kllw0QPgF0gPRuUhPbmTHMFKfVZoQ7h1Gw5MDr12JjxCON_6fUduLAqFSgqKc3n7W9nTzyxDw_a8agh060iS4xF-35l1FlCSGPnj09289gEAJyNfsdmbb3SQZg4ZNU3CCgI8ZHKE8t/s400/IMG_9768.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykJDZKRVFMd4RNDran50jEN2B_AKCOAFRoOvogMk3xPOC-EKUXUdDTwYC3YBRsbOGxTTPPwbLll9tDDb-YduJM0kebuygQvg8_Jah-bllCZhWdt0GhU1RtfjhyphenhyphenPzbLb3OrxoOH4oB7HDu/s1600/IMG_9769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykJDZKRVFMd4RNDran50jEN2B_AKCOAFRoOvogMk3xPOC-EKUXUdDTwYC3YBRsbOGxTTPPwbLll9tDDb-YduJM0kebuygQvg8_Jah-bllCZhWdt0GhU1RtfjhyphenhyphenPzbLb3OrxoOH4oB7HDu/s400/IMG_9769.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignhz0t-za71-E3aH7HCLoeFAKGtAsUIVaanOdS69jRhLO28Z9XsiZHJLI2nbciRhSWAbGzHAMsYWqQqRP5Dibqor5UVsUVD2bMYS3Bj2QQUGYOmKiIeKmkRHY6s4-Wa4VxNcGXELsEenU/s1600/IMG_9770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignhz0t-za71-E3aH7HCLoeFAKGtAsUIVaanOdS69jRhLO28Z9XsiZHJLI2nbciRhSWAbGzHAMsYWqQqRP5Dibqor5UVsUVD2bMYS3Bj2QQUGYOmKiIeKmkRHY6s4-Wa4VxNcGXELsEenU/s400/IMG_9770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd1ITXi7N8Ld_rhD_lnl7pLsXmz7CJAQLeq5h0t9ojT6Hhxvs6AgExlJ053vHFoqHr3qm5RJzUtC6bxtpXiPVkwTMVpyF-BniMiiTCHAmDG9JICDYoxx9reKSrq8IPCCioSHPj8gPRJLr/s1600/IMG_9773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd1ITXi7N8Ld_rhD_lnl7pLsXmz7CJAQLeq5h0t9ojT6Hhxvs6AgExlJ053vHFoqHr3qm5RJzUtC6bxtpXiPVkwTMVpyF-BniMiiTCHAmDG9JICDYoxx9reKSrq8IPCCioSHPj8gPRJLr/s400/IMG_9773.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As we left
the museum, we dropped off for a gas top up along the highway and ended up
destroying our appetites by eating a huge chunk of fries from Auto Grill. These
fries were good, like the MacDonald’s fries. YUM. Couldn’t eat dinner after of
course. Such an idiot. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92HC6qZYOsxokjbbKBRT4nMwtU9SmHuoUkC2v6l2FpTIQmLWz7-YQSYjOGcIZiHc70LZ-IDGKTiLTBZCJhuFVf6MKqrDmTIihShX0IgNjAJnaK7Ah6eOxo7r1hLEk4P88ig2jSqXWNEAP/s1600/IMG_9782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh92HC6qZYOsxokjbbKBRT4nMwtU9SmHuoUkC2v6l2FpTIQmLWz7-YQSYjOGcIZiHc70LZ-IDGKTiLTBZCJhuFVf6MKqrDmTIihShX0IgNjAJnaK7Ah6eOxo7r1hLEk4P88ig2jSqXWNEAP/s400/IMG_9782.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MMM fries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFX0AQDBYQchuiWg6B9lEJ5IwRMDrRl6cTZDZ5JkFEiJxeqYVG1BFSu46rCVc4PWSkL-c2x8jle-Ml0sGbdZP7jO1mPEk-pffpzgJy_K0L156kCubCs5fDZJAr7R095eRO_V63sP7Lu9B/s1600/IMG_9781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFX0AQDBYQchuiWg6B9lEJ5IwRMDrRl6cTZDZ5JkFEiJxeqYVG1BFSu46rCVc4PWSkL-c2x8jle-Ml0sGbdZP7jO1mPEk-pffpzgJy_K0L156kCubCs5fDZJAr7R095eRO_V63sP7Lu9B/s400/IMG_9781.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food coma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Key
learnings: </span></div>
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<br />
<ul>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Things are
often closed in France it would seem. BOOO HISS.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Must make
pineapple, rum and vanilla ice cream as a dessert for dinner parties – it’ll be
a hit</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bordeaux is
beautiful – go for the architecture, stay for the shopping</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My uncle’s
cousin and her husband are big wine drinkers so they know their stuff – people pay
for rarity, rather than actual quality. So for example, if there’s a really
awesome wine, but it’s made in excess, it has less value, no matter how yums
the wine. Sometimes, the excess wine produced will be sold off under a
different brand so as not to lessen the value of the original vineyard’s wine. </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Red wines
need to be aired for about half an hour, while people don’t normally air white
wines, which are less complex. </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Burgundy
wines are the most expensive, and can cost as much as $30,000 a bottle which is
CRAZYPANTS. I am clearly in the wrong line of work. </span></li>
</ul>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thanks for reading! </span><br />
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<![endif]-->alexwearsstuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07460812137962817984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246667557804198415.post-46217732480224136872016-07-20T12:41:00.000+08:002016-07-20T12:41:20.986+08:00France Day Sept: Thin and fat<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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travel diary because my memory is terrible so I need to recap it all.
This was a family vacation to catch the Euro Cup courtesy of my aunt and
uncle, without them, this trip wouldn't have happened.<br />
<br />
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<b>France Day Sept</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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I'm sure that it's become clear by now that this trip was
all about two things - Football and food. Day seven wasn't an exception but
this time we went even more fancy pants, driving to the Relais & Chateau in
Puymirol to eat at the two Michelin starred restaurant by <a href="http://www.aubergade.com/fr/" target="_blank">Chef Michel Trama,L'aubergade</a>. The decor of this place is just mad - it looks like what would
happen if Narnia had a baby with a very old French interior designer.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windy day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6oHrp6Gk1MF9fXR_fctm5xarEVIWJ4fX3qojCaGe3KiRnNgOSs3WFCM9t6udKCqxzQPNYYUgvDai2iumeWvBwjSc-_eBICsccoldL5k4yf2Hp41EwO4xMsF7kj2j3P-zS3lYpMNx0Q2H/s1600/IMG_9672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6oHrp6Gk1MF9fXR_fctm5xarEVIWJ4fX3qojCaGe3KiRnNgOSs3WFCM9t6udKCqxzQPNYYUgvDai2iumeWvBwjSc-_eBICsccoldL5k4yf2Hp41EwO4xMsF7kj2j3P-zS3lYpMNx0Q2H/s400/IMG_9672.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ghost practising walking through walls but getting stuck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKjNxo5iOKkEEv-jbiQ4ueiOQyYJyhQgbVSIf05VKO99NljGpIPg3pY0n9ldk31dHWGVMvin55gQuAlT8mTq7TatOxq9C01h5S-Tg2X73SsPOsn-tlBWblwthsQp2t2dxMW2npmmN0kLm/s1600/IMG_9677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKjNxo5iOKkEEv-jbiQ4ueiOQyYJyhQgbVSIf05VKO99NljGpIPg3pY0n9ldk31dHWGVMvin55gQuAlT8mTq7TatOxq9C01h5S-Tg2X73SsPOsn-tlBWblwthsQp2t2dxMW2npmmN0kLm/s400/IMG_9677.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's something strange afoot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18Kc3EHDTvJdnU1OO9GJG4ZcTiANLbeqbFDK9r9SDGpCXDF8kEStJUYZhUa6YCKqFH1jsqU9MORXmuHnRVdJgzVDcHyltNhHTwPoM6XVqGxrn6oC2iL8O0B4q54ESeSJ4ZbbpZsGfLEMf/s1600/IMG_9678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18Kc3EHDTvJdnU1OO9GJG4ZcTiANLbeqbFDK9r9SDGpCXDF8kEStJUYZhUa6YCKqFH1jsqU9MORXmuHnRVdJgzVDcHyltNhHTwPoM6XVqGxrn6oC2iL8O0B4q54ESeSJ4ZbbpZsGfLEMf/s400/IMG_9678.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The food
itself was also fancy as one would expect – I’ve never seen an
aubergine/eggplant sliced so thin. I’m not sure whether this is really all that
delicious because, well, it’s almost non-existent and feels like I’m crunching
on a deep fried cloud. But I’m no food expert so this probably counts as
ignorant rambling but you know how great I am at rambling on and on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MN1eSEApyrde2uAs9q0qBDINnhBv4lGNAR5RKuddERoqvue2YJGR7hqLfREEy69dpOZaLu-0nCLGrTojwlo_8xXuVcGc8lLYRnoKaQ58BOz3Nycw_wv2K_A3HzS9RU3Dkh8Acn2b9xh-/s1600/IMG_9675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MN1eSEApyrde2uAs9q0qBDINnhBv4lGNAR5RKuddERoqvue2YJGR7hqLfREEy69dpOZaLu-0nCLGrTojwlo_8xXuVcGc8lLYRnoKaQ58BOz3Nycw_wv2K_A3HzS9RU3Dkh8Acn2b9xh-/s400/IMG_9675.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-starter starter? That's a sushi in the middle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Ix1lvmg0_0PzofenACFMDNmGUFH5S_jDZKS8aXMWEp7Xi7pQFUQ_QDMabUXwklLEIPufbAtVkJW2aFNutVjdkaHVrn7HG9T7CHcgiOnlim3HbBDTu_q9l0t1Qzk6uVkUvuA9QOWNXFIs/s1600/IMG_9681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Ix1lvmg0_0PzofenACFMDNmGUFH5S_jDZKS8aXMWEp7Xi7pQFUQ_QDMabUXwklLEIPufbAtVkJW2aFNutVjdkaHVrn7HG9T7CHcgiOnlim3HbBDTu_q9l0t1Qzk6uVkUvuA9QOWNXFIs/s320/IMG_9681.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure what's up with the orientation but this is truffle and vegetables</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IrMgieL68zZfKBLju69K_VDcETlWUct9DspnhQVR2E-k7uc9K-tcxzs0mW-bU5c1z-t8D0MkHw6-sZdKBfulcpveoV77cnapPkjbiHUL_rToVqOxeMFfPQ52ETQBJm6J_YpoB9xnhwTS/s1600/IMG_9682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IrMgieL68zZfKBLju69K_VDcETlWUct9DspnhQVR2E-k7uc9K-tcxzs0mW-bU5c1z-t8D0MkHw6-sZdKBfulcpveoV77cnapPkjbiHUL_rToVqOxeMFfPQ52ETQBJm6J_YpoB9xnhwTS/s400/IMG_9682.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dieting aubergine/eggplant and carrot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlCx0Ghf_rn2uVq-4ri6LRIzezUHFppyzwrO71GEVH1mIMK-DCb4KhlxUohR8l5nEv9RByKz4vD4rAg46N2cZf6ByGIJh_ndLN3glip_-XEZ2L_Qm5U5BPpTtjm8HaNHGchyphenhyphendsbUPvBeA/s1600/IMG_9685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlCx0Ghf_rn2uVq-4ri6LRIzezUHFppyzwrO71GEVH1mIMK-DCb4KhlxUohR8l5nEv9RByKz4vD4rAg46N2cZf6ByGIJh_ndLN3glip_-XEZ2L_Qm5U5BPpTtjm8HaNHGchyphenhyphendsbUPvBeA/s400/IMG_9685.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">squid ink something? I didn't eat this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aI1DMMu_jdM7oY_asguW2T4Kde8t4Al3WyFo6svrTk1lEh-fH27YY80PHMEe43WLogMuFMmleAnpOMeDR0RLqaQGUy98ceyIi5-kU6LbIinDvW1YFqF4I-iJ_g10uOIgU7uH6ov9IsVO/s1600/IMG_9686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aI1DMMu_jdM7oY_asguW2T4Kde8t4Al3WyFo6svrTk1lEh-fH27YY80PHMEe43WLogMuFMmleAnpOMeDR0RLqaQGUy98ceyIi5-kU6LbIinDvW1YFqF4I-iJ_g10uOIgU7uH6ov9IsVO/s400/IMG_9686.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cod with gravy. Not shown - a side of peas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdP1ViqHJbD7AfTxNP_xBiuXXmyMn-BPPD0jvsjlN1ukQaML5i8a4x0ygoKRZJjrswlua9QkLxtCQEZVqt_PFTkSwnDcET7Nw5d0x6-WxUzYDcc2g4obEz8kaqwuSEg_ZzsSx2nBKlHeMc/s1600/IMG_9690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdP1ViqHJbD7AfTxNP_xBiuXXmyMn-BPPD0jvsjlN1ukQaML5i8a4x0ygoKRZJjrswlua9QkLxtCQEZVqt_PFTkSwnDcET7Nw5d0x6-WxUzYDcc2g4obEz8kaqwuSEg_ZzsSx2nBKlHeMc/s400/IMG_9690.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberry tart dessert alien</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yfx7bCQcBWlDa-P06AOQc61dYhxpq8z4hOH-Ma68xEv9XQr-dZYUxO54lxFKk2VxMYzJHcBNbbVuWzeBAdHjlqiWXTp7rA6FX-B1P4FdHLc25mHIPK42uzvGFmyHAfi51rnfv_BDukzc/s1600/IMG_9695.MOV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yfx7bCQcBWlDa-P06AOQc61dYhxpq8z4hOH-Ma68xEv9XQr-dZYUxO54lxFKk2VxMYzJHcBNbbVuWzeBAdHjlqiWXTp7rA6FX-B1P4FdHLc25mHIPK42uzvGFmyHAfi51rnfv_BDukzc/s400/IMG_9695.MOV" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attttaaaaaack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnolIndnjc2qo6OwqvH45YgnMpPVcljydhD1oyeVjX0rULvY-XNnLGNg3fExyfqvJpnNqj4Rg-xGbVcO6XOVKkeHVnR6QcdeGyIe0YNbetqvOwYWB1wCMTB3_N2GFAGAiE3o2hmzEXKoO/s1600/IMG_9693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnolIndnjc2qo6OwqvH45YgnMpPVcljydhD1oyeVjX0rULvY-XNnLGNg3fExyfqvJpnNqj4Rg-xGbVcO6XOVKkeHVnR6QcdeGyIe0YNbetqvOwYWB1wCMTB3_N2GFAGAiE3o2hmzEXKoO/s400/IMG_9693.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passionfruit alien sac</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy28BPrvFVeW3lh9UwE-wt7BpEHpEQPQRYDgrhNe84Sp1gMW-richj7NTVAgbEZclrxqUbOWU-Z3lE0l37le8CPyH1FYhqE_iOyvlFLNAFXoVjgL82Vjcavr3KWoMhqBiKlGCxmZuIHn6w/s1600/IMG_9698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy28BPrvFVeW3lh9UwE-wt7BpEHpEQPQRYDgrhNe84Sp1gMW-richj7NTVAgbEZclrxqUbOWU-Z3lE0l37le8CPyH1FYhqE_iOyvlFLNAFXoVjgL82Vjcavr3KWoMhqBiKlGCxmZuIHn6w/s400/IMG_9698.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end of the meal, the purple balls are delicious chocolate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After lunch, we walked across their chio courtyard to the
hotel boutique part which really looked like a rich French person’s kitchen. Ok
so I don’t normally eat foie gras because I find it really cruel to the
goose/duck but it’s really tough to come to a place where foie gras production
probably powers the economy and not eat/buy any so I bought three expensive
jars to give away as gifts.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYPmb3ULi1eT2Gsmf0YbHOF5VQFBpuVeXc_2dhJxqOHfjRWPwn23PS7_uKfelUFadEM28mPRLu0ZwAbfmuXs_Xg6s11wUBBbuDhxcEzDKq-w3al2VUl4Emfk6NZ9RMrcsRAflxuaAsOcE/s1600/IMG_9702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYPmb3ULi1eT2Gsmf0YbHOF5VQFBpuVeXc_2dhJxqOHfjRWPwn23PS7_uKfelUFadEM28mPRLu0ZwAbfmuXs_Xg6s11wUBBbuDhxcEzDKq-w3al2VUl4Emfk6NZ9RMrcsRAflxuaAsOcE/s400/IMG_9702.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dream larder</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN_ZlVhMRbI2OSIVzldmNjISJnVOpP7LPzJK8vKiE9tOW_yxLbZx92uR3IqLnAiPTnjdlXiyrSxa8NyCnaoRn1_J8lF33ILpBpbdPfkKYE70sEGwHBY5tXKDTCrLbeofEI-WXa9PY1Iiv/s1600/IMG_9703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjN_ZlVhMRbI2OSIVzldmNjISJnVOpP7LPzJK8vKiE9tOW_yxLbZx92uR3IqLnAiPTnjdlXiyrSxa8NyCnaoRn1_J8lF33ILpBpbdPfkKYE70sEGwHBY5tXKDTCrLbeofEI-WXa9PY1Iiv/s400/IMG_9703.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3P0LeGVDOSonfK6hopmx6GKTp1AHuY19aMIN1GucLrz2yLyC4-NSb2o2ZsOuN8C4dfz-NkVHVz0glKJyBGZpbbXeZ1Lmfy_t6pmg_Ux7mIiXInr2-5SEA3PMHuuFKtHE0VwTg9oeASs4g/s1600/IMG_9704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3P0LeGVDOSonfK6hopmx6GKTp1AHuY19aMIN1GucLrz2yLyC4-NSb2o2ZsOuN8C4dfz-NkVHVz0glKJyBGZpbbXeZ1Lmfy_t6pmg_Ux7mIiXInr2-5SEA3PMHuuFKtHE0VwTg9oeASs4g/s400/IMG_9704.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And as if that’s not enough, we then went to <a href="http://www.bienvenue-a-la-ferme.com/lot-et-garonne/ferme-de-decouverte/ferme-le-musee-du-foie-gras-2673-48334" target="_blank">Musee de Foie Gras</a> which is like a little curation of things about foie gras that’s situated
at the farm where foie gras is produced. The museum is a small little tour of
all things to do with foie gras but also a little bit specific to this farm (eg.
What the process on this farm is like), it takes maybe 20-30 minutes to go
through it all. While the display write-ups are in French, they give non-French
speakers a paper with some basic summary of each station in English. Anyway,
it’s quite easy to get a sense of what’s happening from all their posters and
displays. The best part is the end where you sit in a darkened room and screen
a short film about the farm’s history, their farming process and also how to
prepare and enjoy the foie gras, with the owners preparing the food like
cooking show hosts. When you’re done with the museum tour, you exit through the
shop so you can buy the foie gras with the new knowledge of how to prepare it.
Please remember to wear a chef’s hat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr9tBNrhUowIVAIGxQc8dA-JWQ6tLRY6_rYHpv-NTg4uqkPV4GN6lubD10sL_Z9gFKUqeHyKm7uSolBDw8DcqmO2aABlltqt7C1nEBqJwuJDRM8vI486pZL3LJW5-iaKwJGueBMrdM1CW/s1600/IMG_9712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpr9tBNrhUowIVAIGxQc8dA-JWQ6tLRY6_rYHpv-NTg4uqkPV4GN6lubD10sL_Z9gFKUqeHyKm7uSolBDw8DcqmO2aABlltqt7C1nEBqJwuJDRM8vI486pZL3LJW5-iaKwJGueBMrdM1CW/s400/IMG_9712.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXSh1ZlOCng0zMpMjQVMFzLG8UesAe9ZXszKjn-Etei748YanqyDLLfbqmbhINebus9nR0u9RxcSNRxOo7S2i5pcaCrpIAgfXcsVL-iIwIBU9X2iB5LsIYkKftp6smYvjJEXOP95iYvWW/s1600/IMG_9713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXSh1ZlOCng0zMpMjQVMFzLG8UesAe9ZXszKjn-Etei748YanqyDLLfbqmbhINebus9nR0u9RxcSNRxOo7S2i5pcaCrpIAgfXcsVL-iIwIBU9X2iB5LsIYkKftp6smYvjJEXOP95iYvWW/s400/IMG_9713.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The duck's caption is probably 'eat me here, here and here'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuTV16NxwLzFvdrTr5VwrwZNLe2SYkyBwu3JKg0FXPY62bLsRJOfqEBK1GXOIYLVWtipmsmIVkyrtkVgjUTNlux1tuVEAEKSypPC0CwYopFfim6BCfzTBsasI5qun3B9fuIoaz38W4VY4/s1600/IMG_9720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuTV16NxwLzFvdrTr5VwrwZNLe2SYkyBwu3JKg0FXPY62bLsRJOfqEBK1GXOIYLVWtipmsmIVkyrtkVgjUTNlux1tuVEAEKSypPC0CwYopFfim6BCfzTBsasI5qun3B9fuIoaz38W4VY4/s400/IMG_9720.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">QUUUAAAACCCCKKK</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU6hzh-B1Sc2XvwJ98R0I4pWfJFRp-t4ymjnOckkJ4Ifee4-VllDlzuIXmQQ21VDSFoXAt-Wt-Il0SudzNh14E2_q8A1DNsQRB3X8_FgaccQ-hru7kMLT3D0GtQg_WRtYAl7pdv4O_rl6/s1600/IMG_9721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKU6hzh-B1Sc2XvwJ98R0I4pWfJFRp-t4ymjnOckkJ4Ifee4-VllDlzuIXmQQ21VDSFoXAt-Wt-Il0SudzNh14E2_q8A1DNsQRB3X8_FgaccQ-hru7kMLT3D0GtQg_WRtYAl7pdv4O_rl6/s400/IMG_9721.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Predators! Look at those mean angry faces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme3YUFlV1WzOH3ZvqB9dbDK8pKFRZma3x4nDuI3RezhvhR9FCOwJDVncfNIXMVykcJW7AKyLbO9yuyKbJRq8yWKWxlOZZBmoYp8w-wEhvZD4lS2jD3jOGUr2YuTg7Hvik9ILFLDPpNWx_/s1600/IMG_9714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme3YUFlV1WzOH3ZvqB9dbDK8pKFRZma3x4nDuI3RezhvhR9FCOwJDVncfNIXMVykcJW7AKyLbO9yuyKbJRq8yWKWxlOZZBmoYp8w-wEhvZD4lS2jD3jOGUr2YuTg7Hvik9ILFLDPpNWx_/s400/IMG_9714.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpFUoIzNdkQp4S0lGOdnmW_ucYRy0o6pEWmoPEdRzyIpUIIsCuiglX92u-yy1Qikpz8zDlXbYvROWJNs182J5LmV_4AX9gy-7_NtgqnjFC1tF2zDIpowz8JQiXrKmugbkCRq0TrR6Rf9J/s1600/IMG_9715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpFUoIzNdkQp4S0lGOdnmW_ucYRy0o6pEWmoPEdRzyIpUIIsCuiglX92u-yy1Qikpz8zDlXbYvROWJNs182J5LmV_4AX9gy-7_NtgqnjFC1tF2zDIpowz8JQiXrKmugbkCRq0TrR6Rf9J/s400/IMG_9715.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hell lot of foie gras</td></tr>
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We had a failed attempt to lure Jericho (see Day 4) round for dinner again because we got another BBQ going onto to have France say 'No monsieur' on us by chucking rain down and drowning out the fire and lots of our dinner. We miss you Jericho. We miss you dried potatoes. (We still ate soggy potatoes).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWgrIU19ul-ks3OKhUctk9XpxIpx77RCBVLEbtG8Oeus0rjMc014sYZw6Y7pqmSOMlsfLGZGcUiwaRgfuBQn-vbYpmFHH30iknfX6Jb255ixBcCz2ncy3HvHdS-EKjqkBGtV5Sn40rwoT/s1600/IMG_9725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWgrIU19ul-ks3OKhUctk9XpxIpx77RCBVLEbtG8Oeus0rjMc014sYZw6Y7pqmSOMlsfLGZGcUiwaRgfuBQn-vbYpmFHH30iknfX6Jb255ixBcCz2ncy3HvHdS-EKjqkBGtV5Sn40rwoT/s400/IMG_9725.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Nature is a cruel b*tch</td></tr>
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Key learnings:<br />
<ul>
<li>Thinly slicing an aubergine is fancy. You can do it using <a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/1/3/vegetable-slicers" target="_blank">these</a>. </li>
<li>There are different grades of foie gras, the best being foie gras mi cuit which is the kind without preservatives but it doesn't keep long and must be refrigerated and then consumed quickly after opening, sadly making it unsuitable for travel. </li>
<li>Foie gras comes from both goose and duck liver. The farm at the Museum we visited says that they only fatten the birds' livers up for 2 weeks out of a year (I think. My memory is bad) and they sit around and massage the birds' throats while force-feeding. The rest of the time, apparently the birds wander around the farm having a grand ol' time. Please note that this has to be proven since I didn't see it with my own 2 eyes. </li>
<li>Don't try to fight Mother Nature. She will always win. </li>
</ul>
Thanks for reading! </div>
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