I didn't want to spend too much time shopping in San Francisco ('cause I've nothing to buy and I didn't want to make impulse purchases) so I suggested lunch to a few colleagues at Fisherman's Wharf.

Danny brought us for clam chowder!

 I've never had a bowl of clam shower to myself before, 

always a spoonful and decided it was enough 'cause I didn't like it.

But this was so good! 

The sourdough went perfectly with the soup and I was craving for another bowl when I finished!

We strolled around Pier 39 before heading for the second part of our lunch ;)

 That tiny island you see is Alcatraz!

 The sea lions stink.

Our second part to lunch was crabs!

Crab was huge and only US$20 but nothing like our chilli crabs.

Shared among the three of us and we were stuffed!

The most flamboyant car ever spotted in the city!

 Back in Seoul, Saufung brought me to this Korean restaurant in Hongdae 

which sells home cooked kinda food but we arrived too late, 

the restaurant was closing so the food just kept coming and coming... 

We had like 10 courses or something more. 

It was crazy but some of the dishes were yummy!

No pictures though.

As usual, we shifted to a cafe after dinner for desserts!

I was craving strawberry shortcake and there was a cafe just a few doors down selling it!

 Soooo good and not sweet!

A hot chocolate is essential to fight the cold outside

Seoul Tower from my room.

Don't be deceived by the sunshine, it was freezinggggg!

Lunch with my colleagues before shopping in Myeong Dong!

Gosh I miss the saba fish, the starters, the bean paste soup, the BBQ pork and even the rice...

I have a lot of cravings whenever I'm in Seoul haha 

and this time round it was the spicy rice cake with fish cake!

This looks SO YUMMY now that I'm looking at it again.

Sau is really the BEST host ever!

She searches for places to bring me to and satisfies all my cravings!

We each ordered this tasty rice with seaweed as a side 

 This was a drink mixed with South Korean oranges and soju.

A really delightful sweet drink 'cause we couldn't taste the alcohol at all!

I didn't know there was a difference between South Korean oranges and normal oranges 

till I saw it that night.

South Korean oranges have a hump!

(picture from google)

Currently at my 2nd home, London, now and it's snowing!

Normally I hate snow 'cause it wets my hair and the floor's slippery, blahblahblah.

But it's really so pretty, so magical.

And being in zero degree Celsius feels so comfortable after having gone through the -20dc torture in Seoul.

The second mouse gets the cheese

I know I've been missing in action!
Been terribly busy and don't even have time to switch on my laptop the past 2 weeks.
Finally have time for a breather now :)

I just got back from Seoul and OMGGGGGG it was an insane -17 degree celsius on the 2 days I was there! I'm usually cool with -20dc climate (Moscow) since I don't step out of the hotel but I was in Seoul! I had to go out and I had to meet Sau! The helpful concierge had to chirp in saying those were the coldest days in the last hundred years. Thanks!

Soooo good to be back in the +ve degree celsius now and loving my summer clothes!

That's all for CNY! haha

 After too many car rides...

About car rides... A bloody huge cockroach suddenly appeared by my side 

when I was in H's car earlier today!!!

I went "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!!!!" and crawled to the back seat!

Apparently H said he killed it and wanted to enter the expressway but its body was nowhere to be found and I cannot bear the thought of being in the same space as that creepy crawly for a 30 minute journey so I forced him to make a detour!

All along there were baby roaches then we put panda leaves but now a huge one??!?!??!!!!

Scared the shit out of me!!!

ARGH DIE ROACHES DIE!!!!

Moving on,

Us before mahjong at Debra's

Mahjong on another occasion.

Totally making it a regular affair!

Because I was practically away the entire festive season, this was my first and only louhei

Liau was so sweet - she baked a cake for Debra's birthday and so we blew candles in advance!

Some outfit posts!

Went overboard with bold colours 

What I wore in San Francisco

My new dress in lovely spring colours!

Regretted not getting the NAKED palette 2 in San Francisco

so I was hunting all around Seoul for naked/neutral eyeshadow colours

and managed to come up with this!

Light enough for the day, not overwhelming yet obvious enough to be seen.

So happy to have found my colours!

Inspired by Yoon Eun Hye in My Fair Lady (Korean drama) haha!

City of Love and Sin

I was exhausted by the time we touched down and fell asleep the moment I got on the bus. The next moment, almost an hour later, I was awaken by the long bus journey, wondering why hadn't we arrived at the hotel yet. The first sight that greeted me when I opened my eyes was the the typical low-rise European buildings and we were traveling through a neighbourhood. Shops were still closed and Parisians were all wrapped up doing their daily morning routine - going to work, waiting for bus, walking dogs, running for the metro... Then I pondered about living in this city, about how one of my colleagues who should've been reunited with her husband in Paris now, how is she doing. I remembered all the beautiful and fun times I had in the City of Love with some of the best company. I remember every single Paris flight I did and all the memories created. And there, I fell in love with Paris once again.

It's been a year since I visited Paris and it still remains a special place in my heart.

But this trip, it was mainly shopping 'cause it's been so long I last bought a bag!!! :)

 Tourists love Galeries Lafayette and that's why I'll not go there again.

Everything is out of stock!

Go to the boutiques at Ave Montaigne or St Honore - they have EVERYTHING!

Chanel's first boutique at Rue Cambon

There are 3 Chanel boutiques within walking distance around this area (all with stocks!) 

but only at the first boutique, the packaging is in white - white boxes and white paper bags!

The only one in the world so if you're getting your first Chanel, 

getting it here makes it extra memorable! :)

Only my favourite flavours are worth the calories!

Rose, Pistachio, Praline

Oh yes, this trip I tried Pierre Herme, which is also famous for their macaroons 

and I must say, Laduree is still the best in Paris!

Pierre Herme's macaroons are soft whereas Laduree's harder and crispier, which I prefer.

And now, what we've all been waiting for - my buys!!! ;)

 Another pair to add to my collection :)

€130 before VAT refund

 I've been wanting a pair of red Ferragamos and this pair was perfect!

And the second best thing was - it's on sale!!

€238 before VAT refund

I LOVEEEEEEE THIS!

First saw it in November and I've been searching all over the world for it!

The SA at the boutique was so nice, he brought out ALL the colours for me to choose 

but electric blue was love at first sight for me!

€1200 before VAT refund

And after buying all these, I went back to Rue Cambon and held this baby for half an hour 

thinking if I should get it too.

I couldn't do it.

I couldn't spend such an obscene amount of money on just material goods.

After another price hike, this medium flap costs a crazy €3100.

I can buy 2.5 bags with that amount.

I still remember my jumbo from 3 years ago was only €1870.

Ridiculous.