I’ve recently visited the BTS Pop-up Store here in Singapore and bought some TinyTAN MIC Drop merch. If you want to check out my post about the pop-up store please head to this link.
Here’s how the keyring looks like. It comes with a yellow strap with an embossed TinyTAN logo and SUGA on the other side. The figurine is roughly around 5mm(H) x 3mm(W) and the strap (including the clasp) is around 110mm(H) x 12mm(W).
And the other merch I purchased is the figurine. If you’re able to buy the whole gang, the standee will spell out MIC Drop—SUGA comes with the “C” stand. The size is around 95mm(H) x 65mm(D) x 60mm(W).
Here’s a side by side comparison: (LEFT) screenshot from their MV; (RIGHT) labelled details of the figurine. I love how they paid attention to even the tiniest details and put it in the figurine and keychain.
Overall, the material and built is good in terms of quality and how they were able to incorporate the details sharply. I’ll probably get Jimin’s figurine once it becomes available again.
Good news for my fellow ARMYs out there. BTS is having a pop-up store—make some noise! 💜
There are only three physical showcases worldwide—Seoul, Tokyo and Singapore. Unfortunately, ARMYs living outside of these countries can’t go. So I’ve decided to create a short post to let you all have a look inside the store.
Visitors will have to book visiting time slots online. And in view of the current COVID-19 situation, they are limiting the number of visitors. For those who were able to book reservations online, a goodie bag awaits for you before entering the store. It contains a MOTS postcard and an event wrist band. (They are currently accepting walk-ins but you won’t be getting any goodie bag.)
Here’s a look inside the pop-up store.
There are some BTS song-inspired spots where you can take photos. Don’t worry if you’re coming alone, the staff will help you take your photo.
Dynamite
TINY TAN
Black Swan and ON
Bought some TINY TAN Mic Drop merch. Head to here for the unboxing post.
It’s located at Plaza Singapura, level one (beside MUJI) and it will be until 14 February 2021.
You may register on this link or just drop by the store if you’re around the area.
Hey everyone! How’s the first two months of your 2018 been doing? Would you believe it’s already March?! The first quarter of the year would be over soon. Time flies and fast!
So it’s nice to give yourself some “me-time” and reflect on the things that have happened. For me, one of my resolution for this year was to develop or acquire a new hobby slash skill. And I decided that to be calligraphy—iPad calligraphy to be exact. So I started an Instagram account (@krisceldiane) so I will be driven in a way to create artworks regularly. But that’s not the only reason why I created this account.
My intention is to combine my love for photography together with calligraphy. Using quotes or words that are positive. I hope that through this little way I can inspire others—whether it’s to travel, try a certain food or just make someone laugh or some encouragement.
Here are some sample images I have posted on my account so far.
If you are inspired in some way, please feel free to follow me or show some love.
Bagan is an ancient city located in southwest of Mandalay, Burma. It can be considered as one of the world’s greatest archeological sites—more than 2,000 temples can be found here.
The weather in Bagan is generally hot but during the months of November to February the temperature can drop towards the night. When travelling during this time, it will be best to bring a jacket to keep you warm during the night.
1. CATCH THE SUNRISE AND SUNSET:
Our guide brought us in one temple and asked us to climb up. There’s a crowd already gathered on top by the time we got there. We waited until we witnessed how the horizon changed as the sun was rising. It’s really really REALLY lovely!!
My friends and I spent 2D2N exploring Bagan. Here are a few things you can do during your trip in Bagan:
Catch either the sunrise or sunset or if you can do both it’s better. I’m confident that it will leave you in awe. Plus, it’s Instagram-worthy. *wink wink*
We literally didn’t want to go down even after the sun had already risen. We can’t get enough of the view. On a side note, I think climbing temples and pagodas is already banned by the government as climbing can be damaging to these very old monuments.
2. FLY OVER BAGAN:
There’s another way to see the sunrise—it will cost you around S$400. You can opt for riding a hot air balloon. The view and experience—worth every money! For our hot air balloon ride we chose Balloons Over Bagan. And our pilot was Mike Petteford. Thanks Mike for making our ride an unforgettable one.
The Classic Balloon Flight package includes transport to and from our hotel to the launch and landing site, a celebratory glass of champagne, some light breakfast, postcard and a certificate.
The view on top is amazing!!!
Enjoy some champagne and snacks upon landing. #ThisIsTheLife
We saw this little girl selling her drawings. And being an artist, I just felt the urge to encourage and support her talent. And honestly, they are quite nice. Her name is Imani, which means faith. I hope she grows up into one excellent artist and person. And maybe get to meet her again.
3. CONNECT WITH THE LOCALS:
Burmese are one of the nicest people I’ve come across with. So go and take time to visit one of their village and interact with them. My friends and I spent half day touring around Minnanthu Village where we got to experience the following:
Experiencing their livelihood Weaving, making and selling Cheroot (Burmese cigar), and sand painting are a few of the things they do for living.
Applying Thanaka Sunscreen You’ll notice that almost everyone have a yellowish-white marks on their faces. It’s a natural sunscreen they use which is called Thanaka. The powder comes from grinding Thanaka wood on a Kyauk pin stone. Then water is added to produce a paste. Aside from protecting you from the sun, it also has a cooling effect and tighten pores. It smells fresh and clean as well.
Talking with the locals Got to meet some locals while we’re touring around the village and some herd of goats and a dog as well!
4. PAGODA & TEMPLE HOPPING:
Bagan’s archaeological zone is such a big place and exploring it by foot is impossible. So there are three modes of transportation you can choose from—E-bike / Bicycle, Horse Cart and Private Van.
E-bike / Bicycle Renting a bike is the cheapest way to go but it will be hardest since most roads are rocky and uphill. The best choice is the E-bike, if only you know how to ride something like a motorcycle. We wanted to try this one and go around to see the pagodas but our schedule was tight so we didn’t managed to.
Private Van Comfortable but you don’t get to have that genuine rural experience and it’s the most expensive among the three.
Horse Cart This one is a popular choice among tourists. The only downside is that sometimes it can get uncomfortable especially when passing on bumpy roads. Among the three, we end up choosing this.
Please leave a comment down below if you have tried other things other than the ones I’ve mentioned. And I hope you have an amazing trip to Bagan.
I finally got my own pair of NMDs. I’ve been on a hunt since it got released last 2015. I wanted the first-ever NMD Primeknit but it’s just so hard to find one that is not overpriced. Luckily, I saw this pair in End. Clothing—Adidas Originals NMD Wmns XR1 “Ice Purple/Midnight Grey”.
Unboxing:
I liked that End have their own box and I like how classy the packaging looks like. And they still included the original Adidas box. In which I find useful just in case I had to sell these (you know, maybe not the right size).
Details:
My first impression was that the actual colour is darker than what it looked like on their website. Not a problem though, I still love how the purples and greys blend together. And look at those knitted patterns, gorgeous!
What I also like about this is how subtle browns of the back strap and soles can bring the whole design together.
Lookbook:
And now, let’s try out these babies.
They may be not the comfiest pair of kicks but the design is dope. So having a pair or two would be a nice addition to sneakerheads out there.
For those interested, I got my snapback from Kore Limited. I came across this brand through JunCurryAhn, a YouTuber that I follow. Anyway, Kore have a lot of interesting designs and the quality of their merchandises are good. Mainly the designs are something related to Korea, you can check them out if you want.
I have been trying out different skincare products and make up, so I thought why not share my experiences using these with you guys. So yeah, hopefully this will the first of the many beauty product reviews I’ll be writing about.
So first up is Badger’s Damascus Rose Zinc Oxide Face Sunscreen, SPF25 (S$24 for 47ml). I got mine on iHerb. If you guys are interested, you can use my code: NLW754. So we can enjoy rewards together (You will save 5% off on your next order, and in return I will receive a minimum of 5% Rewards credit). 🙂
Okay, sunscreen is an important step to our daily skincare routine. Especially for those who spend most of their time outdoors. It helps to prevent the skin form premature aging (so put on some sunscreen).
Here’s the order on how I apply my morning skincare routine before doing my make up: Cleansing > Toner > Essence > Serum > Moisturiser > Sunscreen
Personally, I’m a bit fussy about the ingredients because you wouldn’t want to slather your face with harmful chemicals right? So here’s the list of the ingredients:
The Damascus Rose, Chamomile, and Lavender soothe, refresh and revitalise delicate skin. While the Seabuckthorn, Rosehip and Pomegranate deliver potent antioxidants and vital nutrients to our faces. I have a combination skin type, so the formula they used in this works for me. It’s not greasy and kind of light on the face. So thumbs-up for that! What I do is I wait a few minutes before applying my cushion. Another plus for this sunscreen is that it’s made with all-natural ingredients. So nice!
The SPF 25 is perfect for daily use at well. Don’t get scared about having a white face because this baby doesn’t leave a white mark after applying it but makes the skin brighter. It also even out my yellowish skin tone. This can be used as a primer as well.
Last thoughts:
It has watery consistency so sometimes I squeeze out more product than I intend to use. I think it would be nicer if they use the pump type packaging rather than the tube type. But overall, I’m sticking with this one and would definitely re-purchase again.
We took the Taipei to Taichung High Speed Rail (THSR), one 2-way trip costs around TWD1,400. This is the fastest way you can take to Taichung. After about 40 minutes, we arrived in Taichung.
We got distracted by this bakery on our way to Chun Shui Tang — the store who started the whole Bubble tea / Milk tea craze! Anyway, those breads looked so inviting — wasn’t able to resist it, we end up buying. Not complaining though, their breads are good!
After the long search, we finally found Chun Shui Tang‘s pioneer outlet in Taichung. They have other outlets but we had to go where it all started. Just had to!
Each of us ordered our own milk tea. I think it’s the most satisfying thing to do after walking and searching for gem. Personally, I like their milk tea, it’s not too sweet or bland, just right! They also offer dishes that you can munch while drinking your bubble tea.
If you’re fond of sending postcards, they have a post box where you can buy milk tea design postcards and drop it there. There’s also stamping station, where you can stamp the post cards before sending them or you can just stamp any of your belongings for remembrance.
Chun Shui Tang No. 30, Siwei St, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Our next stop which is Miyahara.
But first, some family groufie while wandering the rainy streets of Taichung.
Miyahara is a shop that sells ice cream, tea and lots of pastries that are wrapped in all sorts of pretty packaging. They are ideal to give out as gifts. The interior of the shop is really cool! It somewhat have a Hogwarts feel to it. Well sort of…
Oh just FYI, their cheesecake is the bomb! I love it! You have to taste it!
You also have to try the ice cream, it’s quite popular among locals and tourists — the queue says it all. While waiting for your turn, you can think about what flavour to get as they offer A LOT of flavours!
Miyahara No. 20, Zhongshan Rd, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400
Our last stop: Fengjia Night Market.
We strategically picked out a hotel that’s just walking distance to the night market. So we can spend more hours checking the shops.
As we we’re walking around, we spotted these wall arts:
I was like! “Ermegherd! TOTORO! Best day ever!!!” LOL We spent some time posing on these walls. They also have Minions and other wall art which I wasn’t able to take photos because I was busy ogling at Totoro. I love Totoro BTW, but I think you already can tell as I have said the word “Totoro” multiple times already. Ha Ha
Day 6 Itinerary:
Caihongjuan Village (Rainbow Village) | Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
Before heading back to Taipei, we toured around Caihongjuan Village. We’re lucky enough that the weather is cleared up because it was raining since we arrived in Taichung.
You will meet a person wearing an Iron Man mask and rainbow coloured outfit hence, he’s called Rainbow Iron Man. He will gladly take photos / selfies with you — an added entertainment to this colourful place.
Managed to meet and had a picture with Mr Huang Yung-Fu, the artist himself! He was so sweet and accommodating and cute (look at his V-pose).
The village itself is not that big but it’s one of those must visit places in Taichung. And it can really brighten someone’s mood. Just look at the place.
And our final stop:
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The gloomy and rainy weather is back by the time we arrived in Taipei.
To inject some fun to an overcast weather, we did these sort of silly things.
National Palace Museum | Golden Waterfall | Jiufen Old Street
I won’t be able to upload artworks from the National Palace Museum because my memory card got corrupted. Anyway, the main reason why we went there was to see the Jadeite Cabbage but unfortunately, the time we visited they moved it somewhere else. I know right? Sucks! Luckily, we managed to see the Meat-shaped stone. It looks so real that when you see it, you start craving for Dong Po Rou (Braised Pork Belly). For more info about this artwork go here.
Who wouldn’t be hungry after seeing that? LOL We had our lunch at the Xianjufu Cafe. It’s located on the 1st Floor East Side of the Main Building (Exhibition I). Let the feast begin!
Next stop: Golden Waterfall and Jiufen Old Street. We didn’t expect that there will be a road closure due to the heavy traffic. A lot of people are going there since it’s a holiday, it’s the first day of the year. Vehicles aren’t allowed to go up anymore so we decided to walk to the Golden Waterfall first. It’s an uphill trek but the view is worth seeing!
Finally, we were able to reach Jiufen after the unexpected delay. If you are a fan of Hayao Miyazaki, you’re aware that the movie Spirited Away took inspiration from this town. Jiufen will literally transport you to another era, this place is enchanting! As crowded and far as it is, I think it’s still worth visiting.
We managed to try the Bawan Dumplings and Bao Bing. Bawan dumpling is a glutinous dumpling with red meat filling. I think some people call it red dumplings because it’s red and it’s a dumpling. Ha ha
I’m not a fan of the taste, though. x.x What I love is the Bao Bing or shaved ice dessert. It is usually topped with red azuki beans, mung beans, taro balls, peanuts, soya beancurd and finish it by pouring some milk over it. Yum!
A very tiring but satisfying day. Excited for Day 4!
Day 4 Itinerary:
Niu Ba Ba | The Red House | Ximending Night Market | Taipei 101
Starting our day with hearty beef noodle soup. It’s not just any beef noodle soup, it’s from Niu Ba Ba Restaurant. They serve the most expensive beef noodle in the world according to World Record Academy. Consider trying it out when you’re visiting Taipei. There are six different reasons for the price – quality of beef, custom cuts, freezing technique, soup blending technique, noodle quality, and minimal seasoning.
If you are not willing to pay $324USD for a bowl of beef noodles, they also carry “ordinary beef noodles” which costs around NT$500 – NT$1500.
And here it is! My very own beef noodles! I didn’t get the most expensive one. I liked everything about it. The beef was soft and the soup…it was beefy goodness!
Niu Ba Ba (牛爸爸牛肉麵) Address: 149 Minquan East Road Sec. 6, Taipei 台北市民權東路6段149號(國防醫學院大門旁) Getting there: Take the metro – Bannan Line (blue) to Kunyang Station. Take a bus (284, 617, 903, 645, Blue 36 or Red32) to National Defense Medical College station and alight. Niu Ba Ba is located on the left side. Click here for the Google Map location. Opening Hours: 11:00am – 09:00pm Telephone: +886 2 8791.7187 Website: www.beeffather.com/
Before heading to Ximending, we dropped by Le Cake for some Sun cake and pineapple tarts. Their flagship store is in Jiufen but we went to the Taipei branch. I wrote some info below on how you can get to there. I will share all of the pastries and goodies I got from Taiwan on a separate post.
Le Cake Taipei branch (李儀餅店) Address: Taipei Main Station, Underground Mall, Unit 11-2B Getting there: Located in the Underground Mall of Taipei Main Station. It is near Z3 and Z6 exit. Opening Hours: 10:30am – 09:00pm Telephone: +886 2 2331.3017 Website: http://www.lecake.com.tw
We checked out The Red House first when you go out Ximen MRT station. Since it’s nearby the exit, it’s quite convenient to go there first before heading to Ximending night market.
Milk tea craving satisfied from50嵐! Yum!
We had Japanese dinner at Ximending. Food’s good and many people are eating here. It must be a good sign right?
Our last stop for the day: Taipei 101 Observatory.
Just a little trivia, building dampers originated from Japan, where there’s frequent earthquakes. Damper works by isolating the building from the earth, which creates relative shift that produces a counterforce, effectively reducing earthquake energy.
And to cap off the night, we had some Mango Diamond Ice from Big Tom. I know the weather’s freezing, but who wouldn’t say no to this?
Kriscel Diane 