又老一岁咯！

Had an awesome weekend :)

Because they know I love surprises, Jia and WC had something planned for me.

Not just because of the surprises, but I felt really blessed with the love and effort from my family and friends.

Jia brought me out for a surprise birthday lunch.

She refused to let me guess where she is bringing me but she always let the cat out of the bag before we go to the place.

But she really caught me by surprise this time!

We had Jerry's BBQ and Grill for lunch because I was craving for ribs badly while we were in Ho Chi Minh.

And we overordered (as usual).

Just pop over to HGW and was shocked by its bad review.
Hahaha really not that bad la. I quite like its old school, chilled and laid back ambience.

Jerry's deep fried mushroom. Not bad.

We actually ordered half a dozen of chicken wing cos Jia was pretty sure we can finished.
But Level 3 was already numbing for her so I ended up eating most of it. FML.

Ok I don't like this but Jia likes.
But this is their signature so I think it boils down to personal preference.

Ehh seafood marinara..

Supposed to go for dessert after that but went for foot reflexology instead cos we were too stuffed.
Thanks Sis for the wonderful treat!

This birthday, I told WC I wanted something handmade. Haha in fact I wanted a handmade card from this year on cos I imagine grinning to myself ten years down the road reading the cards made by him.

He wanted to bring me to Blue Mist but it was closed on Sunday.
So we went Restore Living instead. It's a quaint and chill cafe and might head back for its waffle cos I heard its not bad.

Because WC says it's not time for dinner, so we need to kill some time by taking goofy photos.
It's my birthday post, so I must make more appearance.
Whatever.

I was getting a little restless because we spent so long walking without doing anything birthday related.
So I demanded for my present. Hahahha
Look
what
 WC
 made
for
 me!!!!
.
.
.

So much love okayyyyyyyy!!! *muacks*
WC has made and written some small cards for me before but nothing so elaborated!
And it's so thoughtful cos it's all my favourite photos from my instagram :))
And in an instagram box cos I am forever on instagram. zzzzz.
I can never be as thoughtful as this!

I must have underestimated how happy I was.
I was practically griinning.
Haha and yes, I was instagramming again.

Dinner was done at Kho Kho Nara Chicken because we are currently into chicken and beer *read with the Korean accent*.
Despite the postive reviews online, I only have negative comments about them.
Serve the wrong dish. Poor service. Mediocre food. \
Period.

Their chicken wing was supposed to be good. But first they served me the wrong thing.
What is it that they wrote Winglet on their menu and I got drumlets, somemore in the wrong flavour.
So I had to try hard to get their attention (literally cos there's only 2 staff with more than 10 tables, with endless enquires and calls from walk in customers) to get my food changed.
TWICE they got it wrongly, that I blamed on poor communication because I spoke to a Korean and a PRC.
And when I tried to ask her what flavour was the chicken she served, she actually said, "
"哎呀，我不知道啦！”
Like WTF seriously.

The commotion stops there because WC keeps telling me it's ok and I shall chill cos it's my birthday. Haha.
I can stand lousy food but I can't stand bad service.
I reckoned nothing would be resolved because they won't even understand or even bother what I am saying.
So yea, DON"T EVER PATRONISE THEM.
By the way, 4 fingers served wings 10 times better and also cheaper than them.

We have skills good enough to make normal food looks good.

Still looking happy cos that's before that chicken wings that took years to arrive.

That's why all posed with the pot only.

$20 for this. Pui.

He was texting non stop when he was with me so I knew something was wrong. And the fact that he was so secretive about it means he has something hiding from me! So I knew it was either collaboration with my friend or sister.
But by the time we ended, it was 9 and we headed home straight after that.

I swear at that moment I wanted to cry.
Hahaha although I wanted a simple celebration, it shouldn't be just a dinner plus a a card right?
Okay, I sound greedy, but you must see what we do for each other's birthday. Haha more elaborated than any other occassions lo.

So as I was going up the escalator, I saw someone sneaking behind me.
Hehehehe, I knew there was be something else!
And nothing new, I spoiled his surprise again. Zzzz.
But we still pretended that nothing happened and headed home. Haahahahah
I was expecting my family to spring up in the dark living room with a cake, but when that really happened I don't know why I feel really touched.

I am a fan of surprises, and things like that are what I will do but no one has ever done that for me before.
Apparently WC liaised with my sis and got a cake delivered to our place (My favourite strawberry shortcake somemore!)
Because the deliveryman came much earlier, my mummy and sis were loitering at the corridor waiting for the cake because they were afraid I will discover their plot.
And this time it was not my sis but my parents who looked so excited with a cake in their hand singing the birthday song.

Daddy suggested this cos we took too many of the mandatory family shot.
Love it so much it's now at my office desk :)

And this too :)
The most awesome parter I can ever ask for <3

Thank you baby for preparing all the surprises that I could never guess and the love that my family seldom expressed to me. (Ehh not no love arh.. we express through other ways! Haha)

The next day was the annual dinner treat my parents have for me.
Jia couldn't make it cous she was at camp, so I sent her a video of our full faces while she's having her lunch box.

Her reply, " Thanks ah! Happy Birthday Fatfat!"

Had been postponing this post for too long. Shall leave some other celebrations with friends to the other post.

Giving thanks for the life that I have, the people that I love and love me, and learning to be more grateful as I grow older.
Happy Birthday to me :)

Sally goes to Ho Chi Minh: Part 4 Mekong River + Happy June babies!

Hello can you see me?

We are heading to Mekong River today!

We booked a private tour to Mekong River and I swear it is the best thing to do. 

No need to wait for other tourists in the sweltering weather and we could do whatever we want. 

First stop at some monkey bridge.
I imagined it to be something for significant, but turned out to be this man made bridge. 

It's called a monkey bridge cos you supposedly look like a monkey while crossing the bridge. FML.

See how dumb we look? Haha.

Apparently it's not compulsory. Only the Tan sisters are kuku enough to do such stuff.

And the bridge leads to no exit, we have to crawl under the curtain into a narrow space with our legs still on the stilt.

So I landed on my butt cos I didn't balance well. Zzzzz. 

Family shot before heading to our boat ride.

Can you feel the heat already?

The guide says, " Who want a shot at the front?"

"Me!" and only me. =_='

Emo Sally missing home..

We were transferred to another sampan selling fruits, loads of fruits.

Other tourists that were nearby only got to buy from their own boat. 

The sisters :)

All happily eating the fruits.

We were all damn excited to feast like a fruit buffet la. 

Especially Jia, who got to eat her durian.

As you can see, two skeptical men were missing from the picture. 

But their skepticism has proven a point, there's no free lunch in the world. 

Hahaha we paid 200,000 dongs for the fruits we ate.  

Of course with the very happy shopkeeper. Can close shop already!

Then we went to their local wet market. Literally wet. 

But we did learn something new la..

How many of you knew chilli grows like this? Or is it just me that doesn't know.

And saw sea coconut and live frogs being tied up. Urgh.

I think this is the market we went to.

Then we took a long boat ride into the village and explore some of their housing. 

I think we should bring Singaporeans here to see the living condition, so we feel more justified to pay hundreds of thousands for our lego home. Haha.

The shag man and the duck.

Didn't take many pictures cos the weather was too hot. 

Went to some temple before we took a SAMPAN into another village. 

Haha can you see our hands all subconsciously gripping onto the side of the sampan while taking photos? 

All looking excited and posing with the Vietnamese hat.

Even Sally!

Looking damn good here.. I mean the boatman, 

Until 10 minutes later, we were still in the canal.

.

.

15 minutes

.

.

I think we reached like about 20 to 30 minutes later, all shag and 2 shades darker. 

The only exciting thing was we saw someone swimming in the midst of the still water and raise his head up above the water beside our sampan. Haha. 

They were such hospitable guests they brought out everything they could for our lunch.

There the guide showing my aunty how to do a rice roll with fish.

Hahaha but the fish was so fishy she hide it under her bowl and throw away the moment the guide left. 

The guide made us do this.

But we were really sincere in giving them the two thumbs up cos we really appreciate their service!

 

Isn't she adorable?

Dinner time is most headache for us.

Our parents have no idea what they want to eat but yet they have the most restrictions. #firstclasstravelling problem

So we settled for a zichar near our hotel.

THE THOUGHT OF IT MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL!!! 

Can't remember the exact name, think it is Tan Lap Restaurant next to Paradise Saigon Boutique Hotel.

The food looks good (but it is not exactly that fantastic), but this meal costs us SGD240!!!!

Like what shit! If this is in Singapore, I would think it's expensive too, let alone Vietnam!

Did I mention the white rice that we had costs us $12??? 

So our parents went to shop themselves after dinner and the young ones went cafe hopping with an agenda in mind. Heehee.

Went back to my favourite cafe and it never fails :)
The same cafe but a totally different feeling by night.

And we got a cake for my mummy's and aunt's birthday!

No women would say no to flowers. 

The smile on their face was priceless :)