Melaka Trip Day 1

I had a really great and fun food trail to Melaka, Malaysia during the Easter long weekend last week with my girls and the hubbies. 

It was an impromptu trip and we went off without much planning, which I think added on to the fun. Lucky for us, we had a very dependent 'tour guide', Mr. D :)

We set off our adventure early at 6.30 am on Friday to beat the traffic jam. 

After a quick breakkie at Johor and hours of driving, we finally reached Melaka at 1 pm. Teehee.

We had our first lunch at Mei Sin Cafe. It is located beside Ramada Hotel and below Ng Fook Hotel. The address is 154 Jalan Bunga Raya, Melaka 75100. You may park the car opposite of Ramada Hotel for Ringgit Malaysia(RM) 5 each car.

Waiting not so patiently for our wanton noodles :)

Love the wanton noodle and the soup (RM 3.50)

The noodle can be exchanged to kway teow as well.

We ordered other dishes from other stalls. Deep fried fish balls and yams (RM 10). These are super yummy.

Roasted chicken (RM 15), nice but a bit salty to my liking.

We headed to the hotel for check-in and quick rest after lunch.

We stayed at Venus Boutique Hotel this round. The hotel is located at 18 Jalan PM 6, Plaza Mahkota, Melaka 75000.

The hotel room is cozy and comfortable. And most importantly, it is affordable. We booked it at SGD 73.50 for a night. On top of that we need to pay RM 2 for heritage charge per room, per night.

They also provide complimentary wireless connection in both lobby and inside the room.

After showering and quick rest, we were recharged and ready for our next food coma at Klebang coconut shake

The coconut milkshake topped with vanilla ice-cream. This is the BOMB. 
The drink is so refreshing for the scorching hot weather and it is not too sweet.
The price for a glass of coconut shake special (with ice-cream) is RM 2.20 and coconut shake regular (without ice-cream) is RM 1.70

They also have assorted local snacks. We ordered Keropok Lekor (fish sausage) RM 1 for 3 pieces. Keropok Lekor is a specialty from Terengganu, another state of Malaysia. I first had it when I studied in Penang and I fell in love with it immediately. I always order whenever I see it. However, it is quite difficult to get nice ones nowadays. The best keropok Lekor that I have ever had was in a small coffeeshop when I visited Terengganu for a business trip years ago.

Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk). RM 1.20 for a packet.

We paid only RM 15.40 for four glasses of coconut shake with icecream, 9 pieces of keropok lekor and 3 packets of nasi lemak. It was reasonably-price and good. We will definitely come back. 
Klebang coconut shake is located at Jalan Klebang Besar, Melaka 75200 (next to Caltex station).
The opening hour is as below:
Saturday to Thursday: 12.30 pm to 6.30 pm
Friday: 2.00 pm to 6.30 pm

We then decided to go Mahkota Parade not only to shop, but also to escape the sweltering weather.
And chilled out at one of my favorite cake shop, Secret Recipe.

Dinner for the day was at Handsome Restaurant, which is located opposite Methodist Girl School at Jalan Tengkera. 
Heard from Mr. D that the black pepper and chili crabs are nice.
Unfortunately, they didn't cater any crabs that day :( 
Booo, was kinda sad cos I was craving for crabs. 
But anyway, we will definitely visit this restaurant the next time we come to Melaka.

Check out the map below on how to get there and the full address. You may also call to make reservation and order in advance.

Pig stomach soup. This is my all time favorite soup. The broth was extremely peppery and I loved it :)

 The signature fried bee hoon. It was really really good and it was gone in seconds :p

We ordered another soup. This is so interesting. The herbal soup was served in a wintermelon. How creative. I love this soup. In fact, I love anything cooked with herbal :p

Prawn omelette

Stir fried kangkong

Sweet and sour pork

The total cost for the dinner and drink was RM 72.70 which is quite reasonable.

Mr. D brought us to try a putu piring (kueh tutu) nearby the restaurant at 250 Jalan Tengkera. 
Look at the huge size. It is selling at RM 1 per piece

We went to catch a movie at Dataran Pahlawan, partly was because we wanted to have supper but we had nothing to do in between :D

The movie ticket price is only RM 10 for a weekend midnight show.

The chicken meatball tasted yucky, will never ever order this again -.-'

Headed to Restoran Pak Putra Tandoori & Naan at Jalan Laksamana 4 for supper after the movie.

Mango lassi is also one of the items I always order whenever I visit Indian stall or restaurant. It is made of yoghurt, water and mango pulp. It was really good and not sweet at all.

Palak paneer (spinach with cottage cheese). I was a bit disappointed because I expected to see the cottage cheese but it was pureed together with the spinach. Nevertheless, it tasted really good.

Aloo Gobi. It is made with potatoes, cauliflower and Indian spices.

Garlic and cheese naan served with curry sauce. Naan is an Indian style flatbread.

The crazy us were not full yet after the supper and we decided to explore for more food.
Decided to drop by Capitol satay celup because there was no queue. It was 1 am and I believe there were not many people as crazy as us :p
I came here before at 7 pm and had to queue for about one and half hour to get a table.
Restoran Capitol Satay is located at 41, Lorong Bukit Cina, 75100 Melaka.

It is a self service system. You take whatever you wanna eat and they charge RM 0.90 per stick.

Satay celup is a steamboat satay where the meat and vegetables in a skewer are cooked in a thick and aromatic peanut sauce.

 That's all for the first part. Will post the part 2 soon.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

Sponsored by CozyCot

Olay was the first skin care brand that I knew of. 
I first heard about this brand from a friend of my mom's about 15 years ago.
She was in her late 40s and she had really great skin. She proudly claimed that she was a loyal fan of Olay (it was Oil of Ulan before the rebranding) for years.
She is still a user now and she is looking great as always.
Hence, I have always had confidence in Olay products.

Olay has just unveiled its exciting award winning anti-aging product - the newly formulated Olay Regenerist.
Due to a decline in cellular energy, aged cells do not have the functioning metabolism required to fully respond to anti-aging treatments. As a result, we see a slowed response to anti-aging treatments and visible skin improvement.

Based on this study, the new generation Olay Regenerist range is powdered by Skin Energizing Technology approach, which is proven to fight the look of skin fatique by boosting natural surface skin renewal up to two times faster in five days.
Olay Regenerist also helps to reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in just one jar.

I am currently in pre-aging age, which is from late 20s to mid 30s. 
My skin has developed lines under the eyes and dark spots from sun damage.
Anti-aging potions are definitely something that I am really in need of now.
So here I am, trying out the new Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with 20% more anti aging ingredients.

I like the texture of the cream. It is not too oily nor too light.
I have very dry skin. Therefore I would love to use a product which has a slightly rich texture but not greasy.
The cream has a pleasant smell that is not overpowering.
it is moisturizing enough for my dry cheeks but doesn't leave oily residue.

New Generation Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream moisturizing formulas begin to work at the first touch and provide continued anti-aging results over time:

• 10 minutes: Noticeable improvement to appearance of aging concerns like eye lines and brightness and boosting hydration
• 4 days: Intense hydration firms skin
• 5 days: Regenerates surface skin up to two times faster by boosting natural surface skin renewal
• 7 days: Visible reduction in wrinkle appearance

I have tried the product for 7 days and there are visible improvements in my skin.

You may see the comparison below.

Before and after 7 days daily usage of Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

Both pictures were taken after the application of my own skin refiner and Olay Regenerist cream.

My skin looks more hydrated after 7 days of daily usage both day and night.

It also shows reduction of fine lines especially on the cheek sides.

Love the soft after feel that leaves my skin smooth after the application without any oily residue.

I am so glad to see the dramatic improvements within just 7 days. 

I will continue using the whole jar and update my skin condition again.

The new generation Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream is available in most leading departmental stores and pharmacies. It is retailing at SGD 49.99 for a 50 gram jar.

You may find out more about this product from their website here: http://www.olay.com.sg/Pages/DefaultFlash.aspx

I am confident in TrichoKare preventing me from further hair loss now

Sponsored Post

Hair is the crowning glory of a woman.
I always believe that hair plays an important role in someone's overall physical look.
Therefore, I change the color and style of my hair pretty often.
I usually get my hair colored about 4 to 5 times a year and permed/straightened 2 to 3 times a year.
Unfortunately, these lead to hair loss and irritated, oily scalp due to chemical damage :( 
I have started to notice thinning hair, especially at both sides of my head.
My hair gets greasy in less than a day and I gotta wash my hair daily.

I was really delighted to be invited for the hair treatment session at Trichokare. 
I have heard lots of raving about the treatment at Trichokare but had not had a chance to try it out for myself. 
It got me really excited.

TrichoKare is a holistic hair and scalp care centre that provides European botanical hair remedies, catering to all hair conditions.

TrichoKare has three outlets in Singapore and I visited the one at Wheelock Place.

The first thing that attracted me was the warm and cozy environment with a pleasant lingering herbs smell. 
I am a big big fan of herbs and I have a huge collection of essential oil derived from different 
herbs :p
Needless to say, It got me so comfortable sitting at the receptionist area while waiting for my consultant that I immediately kept my phone to enjoy the moment.

I was then found out from the therapist that the herbs smell came from their products which contain premium European herbs. 
TrichoKare herbs are prepared under stringent laboratory standards and are 100% drug-free. 
They contain pure bio-extracts that nourish the hair follicles and scalp. 
I was really looking forward to try out their products.







Prior to the treatment, my consultant, Ms. Cherries Kor, led me to a cozy and very private consultation room. 
She ran through a series of questions such as my lifestyle habit and product used. There are a few causes of hair loss such as stress, dietary, unsuitable hair products and genetic. 
From the discussion, she concluded the two main reasons that caused my hair loss and greasy scalp are the excessive exposure to chemical treatments (coloring, perming and straightening) and sleeping late. 
I usually go to bed very late which is about 2 am and I am definitely missing the beauty sleep time at 11 pm :(

Cherries then performed a scalp diagnostic for me.

From the picture below, it can be seen that there was an excessive sebum on my scalp caused by overexposure to chemicals.

Cherries explained to me that the excess buildup of sebum on the scalp can also lead to dandruff. 

The sebum and dandruff block hair follicle and affect hair reproduction. These are the culprit of my thinning hair issue.

Healthy hair follicle has 2 to 3 strands of thick hair.
However, the scanning results of front side of my head showed that I have only one or two strands of hair and they are thin hair. I was seriously a bit shocked when I saw the result. 
I bet Cherries could sense my worries.
She kept assuring me that they had a solution for me. With a regular hair treatment and home usage products, I will definitely see a visible result in a certain period of time.

For your reference, here is the sample of clean and healthy scalp.

Cherries worked on a customized treatment for me.

I was led to the treatment area by my hair therapist, Ms. Jess Lim.

I like their concept of cubicle treatment area for customers' privacy.

The first part of the treatment was masque application on my scalp as a detoxification treatment for greasy scalp and clogged hair follicles. This treatment was to remove the excessive sebum and impurities such as dirt and dandruff from the scalp.

During the hair deep cleansing at the cozy hair washing area, Jess used a mint shampoo which was suitable for my greasy scalp condition. I love the minty smell and the cooling effect of the shampoo. I almost fell asleep when Jess massaged my scalp. Jess has a very good massage skill. It was so comfortable that I felt like I was doing head reflexology at the same time :D 
Two thumbs up for Jess.

A shoulder herbal heat pad was put on my shoulder for a complete relaxation before Jess blow-dried my scalp to allow product to be better absorbed by the scalp.

A tonic was applied to purify and rejuvenate my scalp. It was also to help the control of oiliness and dandruff. The tonic application was followed by another heavenly head, neck and shoulder massage and the herbs smell of the tonic added on the the complete relaxation.

Check out the brilliant design of the product. Instead of the usual round shape, it was designed to fit our palm nicely during the usage. And the design of the long dispenser allows the application of product to go directly in contact with scalp instead of just the surface of our hair. This well-design dispenser also helps in minimizing spillage. How thoughtful, right. 

An anti-frizz oil was applied on the hair for protection before hair styling. 
Jess worked amazingly fast in styling my hair which meant less exposure of hair dryer and I loved how she styled the hair curls for me.

Before ending the treatment, an infrared therapy machine was used to stimulate hair growth, allow deeper penetration of the scalp purification tonic and kill bacteria to avoid the spreading of dandruff.

I went back to the consultation room for Cherries to ran post-treatment diagnosis on my scalp at the end of the treatment. I was glad to see that my scalp was cleaner after the treatment. 

The obvious result that I noticed was my hair was not oily even after the end of second day and it was still voluminous.
As I mentioned earlier, my hair usually gets oily and smelly in less than a day. This is kind of frustrating where I have to wash my hair every single day or else it will look and smell really yucky. 
I was convinced with just one treatment.
I will definitely come back and get my hair treated regularly to maintain a healthy scalp and prevent further hair loss.

My readers will get to enjoy a special promotion: 
2 Hair Loss Defence Treatment @ $69.99 + Free complimentary Hair Bath (worth $427)

Just quote "Henny" when you make appointment at the hotline: 6338 8680
Or click the banner below for online registration.

There are three outlets of TrichoKare in Singapore:

- Wheelock Place / #05-09A
- Velocity @ Novena Square / #03-19
- The Clementi Mall / #05-11

DrGL® Foundation and Pressed Powder

Sponsored Post by Cozycot

I am not a big fan of face foundation.
It is because I have always had difficulty in picking the right foundation shade for my fair (or rather pale) skin tone.
If I choose similar shade with my skin tone, I will look very pale especially in photos.
And if I apply one darker shade, chances are it won't look natural on me.

However, after trying out DrGL® foundation for a few days, I am totally hooked now.

DrGL® is a range of custom skincare personally formulated for Asian skin types and climate by Dr Georgia Lee, a renowned doctor providing aesthetic medical services in Singapore. Eschewing the mass for a carefully crafted selection of premium quality products, DrGL® offers the modern busy individual maximum efficacy, minimum fuss.
As a boutique brand, Dr Lee is involved at every stage of DrGL® product development, from formula to manufacturing and packaging, always striving for the highest standards.

DrGL® Foundation SPF 16.38 All Skin Types

The liquid foundation comes in pump bottle which is easier to use and more hygienic comparing to a tube or jar.
There are three color tones for DrGL® Foundation: Fair, Medium and Tan.
The color tone that matches my skin is the Fair tone.

Love the lightweight texture of the foundation and how smoothly it glides on my face.
The foundation provides light coverage and doesn't feel cakey at all.

I apply the foundation on the right side of my face for comparison (pardon my non makeup face).

It looks so natural on me that it seems like I do not apply any foundation.
Nevertheless, it is able to cover my under eye dark circle and even out skin tone.

Here is after applying the foundation on both sides. My skin looks smooth and glowing after the application.

 DrGL® Pressed Powder SPF 20 PA++

The pressed powder has a sot and light texture. There are also three color tones for DrGL® Pressed Powder: Fair, Medium and Tan.
I use this pressed powder on top of foundation as a finishing step to set makeup.
This powder is so unique that it provides a matte finishing without any noticeable color and it is not drying for my skin.

After the application of both the foundation and pressed powder, my skin feel soft and light without any uncomfortable cakey feel.

Although I brought the pressed powder out with me for touching up purpose, I didn't have to use it cause they lasted me whole day.

DrGL® Foundation is for all skin types and it is retailing at SGD 98
DrGL® Pressed Powder is suitable for sensitive skin and the price is SGD 108

You may check the website here for more information and where to purchase the products.