Nicholas Sparks : The Notebook

A friend had lent me a copy of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks ... She was so amazed that I haven't read a single book of Nicholas Sparks yet ... I've seen his books around but thought they weren't any good ... However, upon the recommendation of my friend (and since his name was mentioned in Gossip Girl hehe), I decided to give it a try ...

I started reading The Notebook this morning before I even had breakfast ... And as usual, I couldn't put a good book down ... It was almost lunchtime when I finished ... I was totally engrossed in the book that I missed breakfast ...

The love story was so touching ... it had been a long time since a book had made me cry ... i had tears towards the end of the story ... perhaps because i wish I would experience the same love that Noah & Allie had ...

Great book! can't wait to read some of other Nicholas Sparks' novels ...

Scar & Brown Spot Removal

My skin had always been very sensitive ... Simple mosquito bites can really aggravate and would usually leave several marks ... they were oftentimes so unsightly that I wouldn't able to wear short sleeves shirt or shorts for a week

... I think I've tried all the Scar Removal products in the market ... Let me share with you some of those which I've tried ... as we have different skin types ... what doesn't work for me might work for you and vice versa ...

1) Sebo de Macho : The cheapest alternative. This had been the household remedy for scars since I was a kid. When I had chicken pox in my 5th year in college, this was my everyday companion while recuperating ... and surprisingly, chicken pox didn't leave me a scar even though I was already an adult when I had it ... Don't really know what is inside the small tin can of sebo de macho ... there was no ingredients listed ... it smells a bit ugh! but it really does wonders ...



2) Contractubex : Read about this in forums ... I bought it in Watson's for I think Php 200+ or 300+, can't remember ... I've tried this gel type ointment for months ... didn't really work for me ... I just don't know if I continued to use it longer if it would have worked ...



3) Colonial Dames Scar Care : This was recommended by a friend who had swore on its effectiveness ... Bought this in Guardian Pharmacy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for RM 50 (~ Php 675) ... very expensive but good for several use ... it's around 35 g ... it must be used religiously - as in 4 times per day for 2 months or until the desired result is achieved which can be up to 6 months ...



4) eRAse Diamond : Another discovery from forums ... However, didn't know where to buy this ... They said in the forums that it can be bought in SM Supermarket but wasn't able to find it ... Finally managed to get it in e-bay ... bought it for Php 320 + Php 50 for shipping ... This is what I'm currently using ... I've been trying it for 3 weeks now ... the scars are lightening a bit ... It also claims that it would also increase the skin's resistance against the effect of ultraviolet rays ...



5) Gluta Magic Lightening Solution : discovered this in Landmark while searching for eRAse ... bought it for Php 89.75 .... It seems to be working but stopped using it when I finally got hold of eRAse ... it contains vitamins and glutathione ...

Stephenie Meyer : Twilight

The son of my friend told us that there is a new author which we might like to try ... he told us that the books of Stephenie Meyer are now the rage ... never really thinking that a 13-year old taste would be the same as ours, I "googled" Stephenie Meyer ... sure enough, she's in the bestsellers list of most bookstores .... hmmmmm, looks promising ...

So, off I go to Powerbooks to check the book itself ... I readily bought "New Moon" at Php 339 ... I didn't realize that this is the Part 2 of a Series ... that I should have bought "Twilight" first ... and then there's also "Eclipse" which is the Part 3 ... and "Breaking Dawn" part 4 ...

I didn't want to start reading the Part 2, I wanted to read Twilight first ... fortunately, a friend had bought it and another friend had bought Part 3 ... we only need someone who has Breaking Dawn so that we'll have the complete Series ...

I read Twilight last Saturday, I started at 10pm and finished at around 3am! ... yup, I couldn't put the 500+ page book down ... I really finished it in one sitting (or should I say lying down! hehehe) ... Good thing I started reading it on a weekend, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on work properly! haha! ...

I didn't think that I would enjoy a book with a 17-year old protagonist! ... but indeed, Twilight has a refreshing story ... I've never really liked vampires stories ... but this one is different from the usual plots ... I love Edward! and the whole Cullen family! ... can't wait to read the "New Moon" ...

Gossip Girl

I wasn't aware that there was a TV Series called Gossip Girl .... A friend told me that it was good, and that I should see it ... and so i did ...

Gossip girl is a mixture of Beverly Hills 90210 and One Tree Hill combined ... a glimpse into the lives of rich kids ... how friends stick together in times of trouble ... it also shows how peer pressure can affect a teen-ager's mindset ...

Story evolves around the characters :

• Serena van der Woodsen
• Blair Waldorf
• Nate Archibald
• Chuck Bass
• Dan Humphrey
• Jenny Humphrey

Who's my favorite??! ... so far it's Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf ... or perhaps it's Dan's father Rufus - such a cool & loving dad! :)

One Tree Hill - Season 5

I'm a One Tree Hill fan ... Watched it from Season to Season - 1, 2, 3 & 4 ... Recently I got hold of the entire Season 5 episodes ... i did a marathon ... can't seem to stop ... each episode is so good that I can't wait to see the next one ...

So far, I'd say that Season 5 is the best! ... I fell in love with a new character - Jamie (son of Haley & Nathan) ... he is soooo cute & soooo smart! ... i wish I'd have a son like him someday! :)

I adore Brooke ... she changed a lot from the Brooke of Season 1 ... hope she'd find her Mr. Right soon ...

Luke & Peyton??! ... hmmmm .... I think I'm getting tired of their characters ... it's all drama ... 5 Seasons of on/off relationship is already boring me ...

I missed Coach Whitey! ... Karen and Andy only have few scenes ... Skillz is getting more exposure ... Mouth's character didn't evolve much ... Deb is getting more & more outrageous ...

... and yes, how can I forget, Dan is back from prison! .... I'm not sure if he's really a changed man ... It's difficult to trust this guy after the previous seasons ...

I can't wait for Season 6! I hope it will be as nice or even better than Season 5!

Hotel Nikko - Kuala Lumpur

Hotel Nikko - Kuala Lumpur
Address : 165, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel : (603) 2161 1111
Fax : (603) 2161 1122


I recently stayed in the Executive Room (located in the 24th floor) of Hotel Nikko - Kuala Lumpur. It's quite pricey but really worth it. Since I stayed there for 4D/3N on a vacation, I got to enjoy the room and the hotel facilities.


What I like :

• 39" LCD TV (as in wow!!!)
• Spacious bathroom with separate shower cubicle
• Electric iron & ironing board in the room
• Daily fruit platter and 2 bottles of drinking water
• Mouthwash is part of the toiletries
• Complimentary Shuttle to/from KLCC, KL Plaza every hour
• Location is great - walking distance to KLCC
• Staffs are very friendly and helpful
• One Complimentary Fruit Punch at Bentley's Pub or Lobby Lounge
• 30% discount coupon - food a la carte (dinner only) in Toh Lee Chinese Restaurant
• 30% discount coupon - food a la carte (dinner only) in Benkay Japanese Restaurant
• 50% discount coupon - buffet (dinner only) in Cafe Serena Brasserie

What I don't like :

• Breakfast was just okay ... nothing extra-ordinary ... can still be improved
• Expensive room rate - Wish they would lower their rates so I can stay there more often
• The spa was under renovation
• There was no one in the Hair Salon

A glimpse inside my Room (2416) ...

Fely J's Kitchen - Greenbelt 5

Fely J's Kitchen
Filipino and Asian Home Cookin
2nd/F Greenbelt 5
Ayala Center, Makati City
Tel # : +63 2 728 8858

First time in the Philippines for my German and Chinese colleagues. Naturally they requested to eat in a Filipino Restaurant ... Since it was raining, I had to choose a restaurant which is near Manila Peninsula where they are staying ... Greenbelt 5 is the most accessible for them ... Good thing there are two Filipino Restaurants to choose from - the Fely J's Kitchen and the Cafe Damaso ... Since I haven't been to either restaurant, we choose the one with more people inside - the Fely J's Kitchen ...

Only vacant seats were outside ... we took it as a sign that the food must really be good to have a full-packed resto ...


What did we order?
Starters : Crispy Swahe (Php 195), Shrimp & Pomelo Salad (Php 195)
Main Dish : Sizzling Sisig (Php 175), Lola Ising's Adobo (Php 395), Bangus Belly in Tamarind Soup (Php 330), Jasmine Rice ( @ Php 55)
Drinks : San Miguel Beer Pale Pilsen (@ Php 79), Banana Shake (Php 135)
Dessert : Mango Fruit (@ Php 65), Vanilla Ice Cream (@ Php 75)



What was good?

• Service was great ... the waiters were very attentive ... I think they were supposed to close at 10pm but they didn't in any way made us feel that we must hurry ...
• the Bangus Belly in Tamarind Soup was delicious ... it really tasted like a home-cooked meal
• the fresh mango fruit was very sweet ... good thing because i was bragging that our mangoes are the best in the world ... that they were better than Brazil's and India's ... i held my breath while they had their first bite ... and I was proven correct! hweh!!! ... they liked the mangoes so much that they even want to take some back to Germany :)

What wasn't great?

• The Lola Ising's Adobo was supposed to be their Bestseller ... It was highly recommended by the waiter ... but it wasn't that great ... nothing extra-ordinary ... and what's worse is that we were given a portion which is mostly fats! ugh!!!
• the resto is a bit expensive ... it was around Php 700 per head ... but nonetheless it was okay because over-all the food was good ...