Photography by C. En Yung Part 3

Photoshoot time! I was a non professional model for the day again when En Yung told me that he bought some new lens for his camera and we head down to Hort Park at Alexandra Technopark to take some daytime, greenery pictures. *excited*

Pictures taken with a Nikon D90 with Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 and Nikon 50mm F1.4D lens.

I donned a colourful patched flowy skirt that I used as a tube styled dress. Yeah.. its a skirt. Costs about $20 and bought at Chinatown.

Here are some of the pictures that I liked out of this set. It was a Really REALLY fun photoshoot. The colours came out well. The angles and the new lens really made this set of pictures quite funny too! I love the one above!!! And generally, I'm very happy that EY has managed to capture a range of different kind of shots so far for his slowly growing portfolio! *Proud to be part of it*

Casual Shots @ Vivo City found HERE.
Evening Shots @ Clarke Quay found HERE.

There were SO MANY different little spots thats just perfect to take pictures with. Every couple of steps would see you in a little tiny spot with different landscaping or plants or furniture. Snap! Snap! Snap!! Some places had little wooden fences like this one...

Some places with strange plants and some information signboards about the park... some even had playground toys and even plastic Dinosaurs and Grass Dragons! We had a hilarious time at the Dinosaurs because I got stuck halfway up and he had to pull me off it with me screaming for dear life..."hewwwllp!!! I'm stuck!!!"

The park had various different kind of statues... you would see this metal swirly one when you enter near the park entrance...

And we tried a little perspective.. looking all professional, this was when EY lay flat on the table and took a photoshot upwards. Gosh.. the kind of positions photographers have to get into to get a different perspective... really not easy work!

Then he stood up on the table and shot downwards...

There were vegetable gardens and herb gardens.. I loved the Thyme bushes here.. they smelt so good too! *tempted to pluck some to use for grilled chicken*... (cough cough) but I didn't okay!

Different kind of stools, chairs and lounge chairs like this... this reminds me of some poolside deckchair...

And he caught me creeping about the flower bushes... "ah hah!!" (snap!) HOI!! .... *snigger snigger*

A portrait shot of me sitting by a flower bush.. and yeah.. the fluffiness of this skirt makes me look pregnant as a dress but I'm obviously NOT. I'm just naturally.. erm.. curvy.

And another shot of my favourite kind of picture for the day... BIG HEAD ME!! And that being said... If you like his work and if you would like to give En Yung a try for some photography work (personal or commercial), do contact him via his Facebook page and leave him a message! Or Email me at honeymeow@gmail.com for his contact number. Thanks for looking!

Photography by C. En Yung Part 2

Armed with a new Nikon D90 camera, we set of to Clarke Quay to take some random photogaphs before a Salsa workshop at Azzucar. The last set of photos by C. En Yung can be found HERE.

Time taken for these set of shots were from around 6-730pm. Location at Clarke Quay, Singapore. Weather - Cloudy early evening with an eventual Clear Night sky.

The shot above taken at a doorway to a lonely alley near the central fountain at Clarke Quay.

Taken by the Bridge connecting Central and Clarke Quay.

Walking about Clarke Quay's shophouses.

And finally, me waiting for my dinner before the Salsa workshop begins. I thought this set of photos turned out pretty alright.. I looked somewhat fatigued but it was probably due to me not feeling too good lately and been sick the days prior to this. Still actually not feeling too chirpy as yet.

Dress & handbag compliments of my dear Mother in Law..yes! Its her dress. The one I wore before I left the house was too loose and she couldn't bear seeing me leave the house with a lousy fitting pink dress so she gave me this black one instead! It fit well apparently and I loved it! :)

I used makeup from SilkMineral.com. Accessories & Heels are my own. :) Thanks for looking!

If anyone is interested to contact C. En Yung, you can look for him at his facebook page HERE.

Photography Work & Friends...

Sometime the week before, I had to do another photoshoot for Azzucar but before that, I met up with a long time old friend, Daryl. For those who know Daryl, he's Mister Herbalife. He's a major big shot in that business....

Everything about him is Herbalife... hahahaha! I've known him since Eirian was about a year old so that makes him about a 7 year old friend already...

He's seen me at my fattest at 100kg some years back and tried to put me on his Herbalife products. If you don't already know that I was previously that size. You can check out my SOYJOY promo. videoclip done earlier this year HERE.

Unlucky as it was for those products, I was that 1% of people who had serious side effects from taking them so I had to stop consuming them or go into shock. Over the years, he slowly saw the transformation with my low carb/exercise regime and imagine the fast forward to 2009 the other week when we met for dinner at the Fisherman's Wharf for Fish & Chips.... :) "Is that really you?!".... always good to get that kind of response...

Then it was down to Azzucar for some work done. Picture first with the club owner, Miguel before we set off to work... and that evening, both my photographer boys went to the club to help me, Darran and En Yung.

Must take a picture with EY ... remember En Yung? *hugs* One more reminder below and you can check out the other photos taken by him HERE.

And thats my attempt to pretend to swing about the already slanted metal pole by the waterside at Vivocity during our photoshoot. "Quick take it! I'm sliding off!!!!".... Hahahah!!!

Photography by C. En Yung

One of my friends, En Yung is a new budding photographer. He started out as a silent blog reader who I found out when he revealed himself later, was actually one of my dance mates at the gym and eventually became one of my regular dance class students in my private ZumFit classes.

I love seeing how people explore their interests and passion and hope that they become wildly successful in the things they love to do...

Armed with his newly purchased special lens, we headed out to VivoCity on a late afternoon to take some casual pictures with me. We took a couple of shots and reviewed them at the end of the day and there were several more that I liked but I chose 6 to be featured here... :)

Kudos to En Yung to have quite a good majority of shots that turned out pretty nice. We didn't even take alot so that means the percentage of good shots is high! For new photographers, practice & experimentation definitely makes perfect and it would be great too when one had an eye to capture the "magic" with their lenses...

If you like his work and if you would like to give En Yung a try for some photography work (personal or commercial), do contact him via his Facebook page and leave him a message! He's a really nice guy! Or Email me at honeymeow@gmail.com for his contact number.

This shot.. walking down the stairs going down to the waterfront walkway at VivoCity...

Frowning at the setting sun.. attempting to capture a little side profile...

Sitting by the stairs.... even the setting sun was a little bright... * must put shades on* ..heh heh....

Resting a little by the waterside rose shaped seats...

and finally walking through the rooftop garden at VivoCity.. I like these shots.. and next time, we'll try some action photos and closeups and see how that goes! Thank you En Yung!! *big hugs*

Azzucar @ Clarke Quay

Anyone close to me would know that if I had to choose where to go to, to dance and have a night out. It would be at Azzucar, Latin club at Clarke Quay with their all cuban band, Cubania belting out many of my favourite dance and spanish love songs. *loves*

I had my birthday earlier this year there. Details on that HERE.

How apt it would then be that I now have work relations with them so I have the opportunity to enjoy my favourite live tunes belted out by the new & updated Cubania from time to time.

I really love the place.. the music.. I'm happy to be working with them...

I also had the opportunity to do a little photography work with Darran aka Limetouch *below* when I had to do some impromptu photo session at the club. Many thanks and heartfelt appreciation to Darran for being so spontaneous and meeting me with such short notice. He's a pretty cute boy isn't he!? And he works out regularly at the gym too! Fit, young, cute and still single? Whats there not to like girls? (*heh heh*)

Should anyone feel like they want to give a new photographer a try, you can contact Darran over at his blog. :)

Cam Lovin' is all about the Smiles & the Angles..

The things I've realised when taking self portraits that most bloggers like myself indulge in are... that your arm length is the perfect distance to taking self portrait shots when fully stretched out.

Raising your arm at a 45 degree angle upwards and looking up gives a more flattering angle that slims the face and somewhat shrinks the upper body in the shot.

Everyone has a side of face that has a better profile look so find out your best profile shot and use that when camlovin' ... if you know that you have a big head like me, when taking pictures with friends, make sure you're positioned at least half a head behind your small headed friend so both your faces balance out in the shot.

Taking pictures in moving vehicles in the day give very nice lighting so take several shots in the taxi/car when it stops at a traffic light.

Bathroom shots give very unflattering background and specially when there is a toilet bowl in the background *worse if its not flushed and you see something extra floating about (pukes)* and bathrooms usually have poor lighting unless its a hotel bathroom and even these shots tend to be too overly warm.

Angled shots fill up the space of the picture frame more than staring directly at the camera with your head upright so it gives a more fuller picture.

And for varied side profile shots, looking away at a point 45 degrees up and away can give some pleasant profile pictures... and this tends to emphasise your eyes to make it look "bigger".

For ladies, I would think that if you're made up for the day with makeup, take some time to do these shots if you want them since you have taken the time to put on your "face". I find that shots that are taken without make-up... can be nice for the rare some but usually better for most with some makeup on.

Try not to take overly high angled down shots as it can make you look stumpy. Shots taken from below are strange too and why would you want pictures that can see right up your nostrils? Very unglam and unflattering...

So do you have more camwhoring or cam lovin' tips to share? Drop me a message!

Honeymeow's FirstBorn

With reference to THIS POST. 2009 shot of me, 31 years old and my first born Lauren, 9 years old. Captured in time.... children grow so fast... wasn't she just a baby just.. .yesterday?....

Mamasan?

I was at a photoshoot earlier today and took a couple of pictures but only left with 2 complimentary pictures as they wanted to sell me 7 pictures for $488! Thats INSANE! Who pays so much for so little pictures?!

Don't ask me who or where they are. I will not allow a credit to them simply because they absolutely pissed me off with the way they applied their sales tactics. By trying to convince me to sign on to their $3388 Lifetime photography package which I refused, they tried the parental guilt way while I was with Lauren.

When I started to look reluctant, they started with words like "Look Lauren, your pictures so nice hor! Your mommy don't want to get them for you" (And they really were really pretty but they were SO EXPENSIVE), "Don't be Selfish", "If You love her and she enjoyed it, you will get it for her, think of your Daughters, do it for them" - this wasn't even said in plea like tones.. more like statements which absolutely raged me out that I stopped them and chose 2 complimentary pictures and left.

And because I refused to pay for such an insane price for a photography package that I didn't need or pay for individual sets of 5+2 pictures for $488! - it upset Lauren because she was affected by the sales talk and I had to talk to her after we left to do some RECOVERY in explaining to her why I didn't buy the package and that it didn't mean I love her less. WTF.. seriously.. pressure tactics I understand but NOT when you do it so crudely. I was prepared to spend some money on some REALLY nice pictures but not $488!! Are you quite mad?!

I went from "I really like this - I'm really considering it" to "WTF, you expect me to pay you what with that kind of attitude?" $3388 can buy me SIX YEARS OF GYM MEMBERSHIP. Which would yield me MORE results and esthetical appeal than the supposed "Lifetime membership of Photography services" - who knows when the company will fold with that kind of attitude. More like.. for as long as the company is still alive.

Anyway, with my picture above, I opened it up on the computer and showed it to CJ and he exclaimed. "Nice! But Fwoaaahh laao! Very Mamasan ah? Just need a bottle of VSOP can already"

-.-'' Great. Just. Great.. while I realise that the leopard print slutty bareback dress really didn't help move me away from the mamasan image that I seem to be awarded with since I acted as one in last year's short film. The Red Geisha. It was compounded by the fact that I'm starting to really see my age. And that me being in my 30s is really starting to show. Sigh... getting old... must start to age more gracefully...

Part 1: Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel - The Best Family Getaway EVER!

(WARNING! EXTREMELY LONG POST AHEAD. Part 1 of 2 - Be prepared to witness one of the Best Family Getaway Ever!!)

My blog rarely contains matters of business or of the companies that I run so this is the first time that there is a cross platform of work related matters that now involves my personal blog. Perhaps this would set a precendence for more to come but for now.. enjoy this post.

Through some workwise discussions, I was graciously offered the opportunity to review a Family Getaway Hotel Stay Package by Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel. It was an exciting lead up to the day that we were due to check in, we have not gone for a holiday in YEARS.

Yes, years... so we were highly due for some pampering and relaxation. So on the 7th of February, Eirian and I hopped into a cab and made our way to the hotel. We were so excited, we were there way before 9am and our appointment to meet the marketing manager was at 950am! Lauren had leadership camp earlier in the morning so CJ was left to arrange to pick her up and bring her over once she was done.

We brought along 3 bags filled with all our stuff and were very very excited!

As the Grand Mercure Roxy hotel is situated in the east, just opposite Parkway Parade, it took us less than 10 minutes to reach from home and hopped off the car in squealing anticipation.

The hotel mainly caters for corporate guests but as a move towards reaching out to the leisure group of travellers, locals and families. New promotions such as these are newly rolled out on a regular basis for families like ours to take up and enjoy. For convenience, there is even an hourly shuttle bus that ferries guests directly from the airport and back.

Looking directly across the road was Parkway Parade. How convenient!!

Floral arrangments abound everywhere in the hotel and I love how everything was so fresh and colourful! Eirian was bouncing off the sofas in the lobby just excited being there.

There is also a small lobby cafe which serves a lovely array of pastries and juices to go along with your morning coffee or tea at only $9 per person. *Slurps!*

Since we were early, we decided to check out the hotels' amenities on our own and headed up towards the escalators towards the 2nd floor and voila! Saw that it was Jia Wei Restaurant! I did a food review there just last december HERE! and the food was incredible!

Then we headed up to the 3rd floor and saw that it was Feast @ East. A buffet restaurant that serves all 3 meals plus brunch and hi-tea too!

We head back down again just like tourists all smiles at what was to come. As part of professional curtesy, I approached the counter to ask if it was alright for me to take pictures in the hotel and I was pleasantly surprised that the answer was yes, they were expecting me and I could take any picture I pleased.

Hurr?? Expecting me?! Whoa!! The communications within the hotel is really smooth with all relevant staff alerted of our arrival even before we checked in! Impressed already.

The hotels isn't a very tall one but it certainly makes up for its welcoming ambience and impressionable service levels. I also noted their security feature of only allowing the public up to the 4th storey and keeping the room levels locked and accessible by room key only.

We head up to level 4 to check out the pool and the spa. Over at the pool side, a sight pleased me.. piles and piles of fluffy warm towels! I love towels! Hahahh specially those that are fluffy and warm!

Eirian skipped over to the lounge chairs and let out a happy sigh.

After spending a couple of minutes revelling by the poolside, we head back down to meet the marketing manager and checked ourselves in to room 1338.

The standard Getaway package comes with a nights' stay in a superior room for 2 adults and 2 children and comes with buffet breakfast the morning after. Guests are allowed unlimited access to the pool and gym throughout the day and of course are welcome to patronise the in-house restaurants for their meals.

A delightful picnic goodie bag is also given to families taking this package which you will see later in my post.

A complimentary spa voucher which involves a 30 minute swedish back massage and a 15 minute aromatic steam bath by Body Contours which can be booked prior your check-in date for a complete relaxing experience. A further upgrade of $28 can be done on top of the complimentary voucher service to receive an additional 30 minutes massage and 30 minutes honey crystal spa polish.

We head up to our room which was upgraded to the Deluxe room, which is a little bigger than the superior room and BOY! were we pleased....

I flipped open my handphone and took a video of our room. Check that out!

Looking out of our window, we were pleased to note that we also had a sea view room which gave us a nice view of the East Coast and overlooks Parkway Parade too!

I took a video of our view too so check it out!

After settling in a little, we went about checking out the other amenities the hotel had to offer and of course, being the gym fan I am. I had to check out the gym too!

Small cosy place but it had almost everything a person travelling or on holiday would need. From cardio. machines, to free weights and even an in house personal gym trainer! Heck! it even looks like a cross section of what you'd find at California Fitness but CLEANER and smells so much fresher and with less crowd!

And here we have Eirian posing with the orchids just outside of the gym.

We were then brought upstairs to the Royal Club lounge where business travellers and those staying in the business suites and Royal Club suites *top level and most expensive rooms of the hotel* can use for various purposes. Wireless online access is available throughout the hotel.

Some light pastries, cereals and refreshments are readily available for those in the lounge.

A TV area too! If you want to further entertain guests with TV and don't want to do it in your room. And for business travellers. There is a fully equipped meeting room plus a business corner which has computer and printer access for those on the go!

My appointment for my spa treatment was pre-booked by the marketing manager and we head down at 10am to get me settled in while they settle Eirian with her legs up in one of the pedicure chairs and armed with a TV remote control to watch OCTO.

I opted for the $28 Spa upgrade and head off into my treatment room while the staff watched over Eirian.

My therapist was named Yvonne and she really knew what she was doing. She made me feel very comfortable. What I found strangely amazing was that she knew exactly where I was hurting or tense and where I was injured before even without me saying anything.

She knew that my right shoulder which was recently hurt with a little too much vigorous dancing had a crick in it and really concentrated her massage to clear the "block". Whooot! Heavenly. And she asked me "were you REALLY FAT before?" I was surprised and she said "I can see! Last time you very fat arh!" And she pointed out my stretch marks and parts of my body and said.. "last time 100kg arh.. now like this very good already.. maybe another 10kg more the most and then don't lose anymore just nice.... " It was like she was reading my mind.. -.-''

I finished my treatment feeling rejuvenated and pretty and was given a lovely warm cup of ginger tea to settle up. I LOVE ginger tea! And I also love how spa rooms are always so calm and serene...

We went up to our room after to wait for Lauren and CJs' arrival and for lunch time. And up on the itinery next was a Buffet lunch at Feast @ East! As part of the review, the hotel provided everything complimentary to us but guests on the package are most welcome to patronise the restaurants for their meals at the following dining rates.

We were treated to their Chinese New Year Special theme lunch and a table was specially reserved just for us! And the supervisor at the restaurant knew us by name! We felt so important and pampered!

Lunch (Mon to Sat) - $38++ per adult, $19++ per child, $28 nett per senior citizen

Dinner (Mon to Sat) - $40++ per adult, $20++ per child, $30 nett per senior citizen

Sunday Brunch - $48++ per adult, $25++ per child, $30 nett per senior citizen.

The next theme at Feast@East is the Lavish Heritage Buffet (from 16 Feb to 13 Mar 2009) where there is a special privilege for senior citizens where for every four paying senior citizens, only three pay while one dines for free (up to a max of 8 in a group).

Senior Citizen - $28 nett per pax for lunch (Mon to Sat), $30 nett per pax for dinner (Mon to Sat), $35 nett per pax for Sunday Brunch

Adults - $36++ per pax for lunch (Mon to Sat), $38++ per pax for dinner (Mon to Thu), $40++ per pax for dinner (Fri to Sun), $42++ per pax for Sunday Brunch

Children - $18++ per pax for lunch (Mon to Sat), $19++ per pax for dinner (Mon to Thu), $20++ per pax for dinner (Fri to Sun), $22++ per pax for Sunday Brunch.

There will also be a Hi-Tea Buffet every Fri and Sat (from 16 Feb to 13 Mar 2009) from 3pm to 5.30pm at Feast@East where it is $18++ per adult or senior citizen and $12++ per child. The senior citizen special does not apply for this Hi-Tea Buffet.

The opening hours of Feast@East Buffet Restaurant are:

Breakfast - 6am to 10.30am
Lunch - 12pm to 2.30pm

Dinner - 6pm to 9.30pm
Sunday Brunch - 11am to 3pm

I love hotel food. I really do. I love buffets lines! We started off with walking around the buffet line and checking out the food available. With a Chinese New Year theme, there were cookies of course! All CNY favourites too!

And of course the salad and fruit bar is a must at every buffet. As I was making my rounds taking pictures of the food, a gentleman approached me and said "Hi! You must be THE BLOGGER".

For a moment there, I was stunned and nodded furiously while smiling and wondering who this person was. Was he another blogger? Or just a hotel guest seeing that I had my face plastered to my camera which was in turn plastered closely to the food displays and thus assuming I'm a blogger?

Only after a moment where he pulled out his card to give to me did I realise. Oh. My. Gawd. It was the Hotel General Manger who was also having lunch. We spoke casually and then as gracious and surprising as his appearance, left me to my own devices to continue snapping away at his food bar.

The bread baskets were full.. the cheese platters were nicely displayed and there as a roast meat section too which were personally cut up and served to you by counter staff...

Potato salad, Shepherd's pie, fish fillets and cereal prawns. I ate a little of EVERYTHING!

I was specially pleased to see Roast Beef with brown gravy.. *slurps!*. This was SO GOOD. And there was also fried rice... *carbs.. - urgh*

We were completely fawned upon with service staff hovering over us like bees to honey. Our waters & juices always remained full and chilled. Our empty plates whisked away without request and food carried to our tables without us needing to carry them back from the buffet counter. It was SOOOO IMPRESSIVE!! that everything was done with such impeccable service quality.

We then decided to do a little test and try something off the menu and asked if they could make us milk shakes. Rossi, the supervisor didn't even twitch and smoothly went on to asking "extra thick? More milk or more ice-cream?" I was stunned again. "More ice-cream of course!"

5 minutes later, 3 glasses of milkshakes were presented to our table. Two vanilla shakes and one extra thick Strawberry Milkshake. Oh. My. God. I was in heaven again. Kill me and send me to the GM Roxy Hotel... hahahahaha!

And there was a hot counter which served hot piping Laksa and Mee Rebus. I had both and they were excellent! As I was busy walking around taking pictures, I left my bowl of laksa to cool at my table and returned to it shortly after.

In less than a minute into tucking into my noodles, one of the waiters came to my table with a new bowl of piping hot laksa and offered to change my existing bowl bc it was "getting cold".

FFWWWWWwwwwwuuuaahhhhhhh!!!!!! IMPRESSIVE LARH! I gracefully declined as I actually liked my noodles cool and not burning hot but their intentions were really appreciated and touching. They really know how to make a guest feel first class.

More of the buffet spread. Braised tofu, steamed fish, chicken masala and papaya salad!

Some kind of nugget, mock char siew nuggets in tomato sauce, shark fin omelette and stewed pork.

And of course some Japanese fare of fresh raw tuna and salmon, sushi rolls, topshell and smoked salmon slices...

One of our favourite areas was at the chocolate fondue counter & fountain! We skewered fruits and marshmallows and dunked ourselves silly. When I returned from one of my rounds, I was pleasantly surprised to see my girls laughing and happily dunking their chocolate covered sticks into a huge bowl of crushed ice which specially was provided to them by the staff to harden the chocolate! Such a good idea!

And then of course there was the dessert bar which we all eyed from the first time we entered. They had durian cakes, brownies, fruits, jellies, ice-cream and best of all. Durian puree.. pure unadulterated durian puree!! Insane!!! It was soooo good!! After lunch, we all ROLLED out of the restaurant back to our rooms for a nap.

End of Part 1. To be continued in the next post, Part 2. Stay Tuned!