April's BizzZ
Mood:  cheeky
Now I run a business with 2 other ladies. And we have one more spa shop around the museum road in Taichung.  Luckily all my partners has kids to take care, and I m the only single woman there,so that I can have some spare time to lay back!Sigh...don't work with ladies as bosses, most of them are really crazy gals and keep chatting day n nite *sigh*

Chanel Mobile Art by Zaha Hadid in Hongkong
Mood:  special

Chanel Mobile Art may be the pinnacle of all fashion-funded contemporary art events. Not only have they created a show including 20 renowned artists, they have commissioned an entire pavilion - a major work of art in itself - designed by famed architect ZAHA HADID, to house the exhibition.

 

 

 

Referred to as a “contemporary art container,” the exterior was built in 7-foot wide segments so that the entire structure can be dismantled and moved.

Over the next 2 years, the pavilion will travel to 6 cities around the world (Tokyo, New York, London, Moscow and Paris). In a stroke of good fortune, Hong Kong was selected as the very first city to host the exhibition! Because of the high profile company and the extravagance of the event, Hong Kong can expect a unique assortment of international guests (such as me, hehe) in town for the show.

Unlike Chanel fashion events, which are open to few VIP guests, Chanel Mobile Art is intended for the public and will be open daily from February 27th until March 5th. The exhibition unfolds as a walking tour. Each guest is given an mp3 player that provides the soundtrack for the exhibition. Only a limited number of viewers can book a place at a given time. The location of Chanel Mobile Art is smack in the middle of Central. The structure has been assembled on top of the parking garage across from the former Star Ferry Pier (next to City Hall).

There is an an extensive website created by Chanel explaining the works and Zaha Hadid's structure. You can check it out at http://www.chanel-mobileart.com/ The space itself becomes part of the exhibition as you wander through a world loosely inspired by the emblematic Chanel quilted handbag that debuted in 1955. A series of installations, films, and other audio and visual stimulations make up the Chanel-themed trip into contemporary art. Architect Zaha Hadid was personally recruited by Karl Lagerfeld to design the pavilion. It's worth a visit just to explore the futuristic space at least.

Japanese style restaurant in Taichung
Mood:  hungry
I just found a japan restaurant in taichung, which is quite newly open and the service is EXECELLENT. There are mainly 2 set courses, 9- course costs NT320 (less than US$10), another one is NT450 (US$14), and now they have hot pot for 2, same good feedbak from the eaters, too. You can check more on the website http://www.go2tw.net/www/sitepage/compcity_4865.html if you can read chinese ;)Bon appetite~

Famous Beef Noodle in Taipei
Mood:  hungry

 

 

 

 

Taiwan is famous for beef noodle. Most famous skills are imported by the army who came to taiwan from mainland china during civil war. There was an Old Chang who started his Sichuan beef noodle business in 1945, and then a boss took in charge of his shop in 1988 and moved to the present address on Jinshan S. Road, Da-an District (near Yong Kang Street) in Taipei. If you believe in those celebrities such as Jackie Chen, Teresa Teng (passed away), Cherrie Chung, korean movie stars, etc  recommendation, you will sure it's so nice to to have a meal in the shop. This shop won the 2006 Taipei Beef noodle contest winner. (in 2005 it's no.2 ) Now they even have the online order and door to door delivery. Check it up: http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/beefnoodles168/ (tel: 02-86638902) I personally recommend the half beef, half tendon noodle, in tomato soup(original receipe) bouillon or spicy soup base are all good. I don't think the snack dishes are any special. A beef noodle is around NT180 (US$5.5), not cheap but it's good to taste if you are fan of juicy and tender beef. Be prepared that  the staff and shop owner are a bit cool to customers (maybe they see too many STARS, we are just nobody to them ;P) Business hour is: 11-15pm, 1730-21pm, close on Tuesdays.

The Harrods Annual Bear 2007
Mood:  hug me

 

 

If you are born in chinese 'RAT' year, you should own a Harrods annual bear 2007, which is the 2nd year Taiwan's Shinkong Mitsukoshi department store sells at their outlets, only 3000 pc limited. So my younger brother BB in Hongkong is so lucky to get one as a gift from his generous pretty sister April *wink*. This bear exclusively sold in Taiwan has emboridied 'RAT' in chinese and Harrods 2007 (but rat should be year 2008, right?) logo on the feet. His name is Benjanmin, born in the UK,  always wearing a friendly smile on his face. Also, he is incredibly cheap in price (only NT1980) and soft in touch. The department store even gives the postcard set for free. As the staff of harrods counter made a late delivery to me, I even got the free mousepads and tea bags for complimentary gifts. What a surprise!

Bvlgari Carbongold pinkgold 'City' watch
Mood:  incredulous

38mm case diameter for unisex, black buffalo strap, quartz movement, sapphire crystal with green reflective coating, 18K rose gold buttons, winder and subsidiary dials, Bulgari carbongold watches were produced in limited numbers, 999 for each of 27 cities (Roma, Hong Kong, Marbella, Monte-Carlo, St. Moritz, Kuala Lumpur, Honolulu, Moscow, Mexico City, New York, Paris, Capri, St.Barth, Cortina, Shanghai, Singapore, Miami, Dubai, Bali, London, Los Angeles, Berlin, Madrid, Porto Cervo, Sydney, Aspen, Beijing, Tokyo,Taipei). I wanna buy "Hong Kong" but it was sold out long time ago, so I bought "Taipei" instead. The name of the city is shown on the face and there is a gold tag on one side giving the issue number (Mine is 445/999, lucky number for me). They were available in these numbers in either white, yellow or rose 18ct gold.

These watches were initially made available to Bvlgari VIP customers, it would be rare to find one in the shops and they were presented as gifts to some famous movie stars. Complete with Bvlgari boxes, booklets and warranty paperwork giving you a guarantee with the manufacturer for 2 years. A super great bargain as it's so much cheaper compared to other Bvlgari watches. An original masterpiece of art and craftmanship made in Bvlgari's swiss factory, it is definitely fashionable and valueable collection I will keep for long, even it costs me all my present savings.

My pet bird Little SaSa
Mood:  happy

 

 Everybody, please come and greet to my first pet bird Little Sa Sa. She is so lovely and lively, just like her master ME. And she has beautiful white feather and pink beck. She is now only 1 month old, so young and petite. However, she is so good in appetite and fighting. So her mate Little GaGa is also afriad of her. (Though I m not sure who is male, who is female). Anyway, little sa sa is so good in personality and manner, same as her master. I hope one day she can learn a lalluby so that she can sing you to sleep. Ciao ~

 

 

 

Hermes scarf 2nd hand, unbelieveable low price
Mood:  lucky

Can you see the 3D effect on this scarf? This is why Hermès scarf is so attractive. If you don't know Hermès scarf, you are probably not a connoisseur in haute couture.

65g of silk from 250 cocoons, 90cm sqaure. (this year they have 70cm square size to celebrate 170th anniversary) During the 20th C, the Hermès scarf has become a standard for good workmanship and discreet luxury, requiring up to 2 years of work to produce a collectible work of art that is an expression of its epoch.

From 1837, Thierry Hermès made harnesses and saddles for a privileged clientele. Boots, jewelry, home decor items, and silk scarves were added to the company' s range. In 1920, his grandson Emile included luggage. Horse-power transport was replaced definitively by fossil fuel-powered transport in the early 1900s. Then, Emile handed over the company to his son, Louis-Philippe. He turned to satisfying the desires of those wrist watch-wearing Bright Young Things of the Roaring Twenties who travelled, hunted, played golf.

The first scarf square to accompany the Hermès collection was produced in 1928, inspired by that worn by Napolean's soldiers. To be 'of its time', the scarf was printed with the names of cars. It was a big success; in due course, resulting in a workshop, later a factory, for scarf production being set up at Lyon in 1937, Hermès' centenary year.

 

Each design requires

• 9 to 12 months of research and development;
• 50-odd designers;
• ideas drawn from styles such as baroque;
• contributions from artists such as Matisse.

6 to 8 weeks are required to meticulously prepare as many silk-screen printing frames as there are colours. For instance, in 1994, the “Celebrations of the Sun-King” required 1,200 hours of work to make its 35 frames. The printers prepare their pigments to make a palette of tonnes of printing inks. The Brazilian silk is spread out on heated tables 150 m long. This allows a batch of 100 squares, comprising 40 colours, to be printed. After printing, seamstresses roll and stitch the hem of a square, by hand, in 30 to 45 mins. The Lyonnaise factory can produce 40,000 scarves in a week. Every year, there are 2 collections, each of a dozen designs, of which 4 to 6 are classics with the colours updated.

Since 1937, Hermès has marketed 25,000 scarf designs. The absolute record, attained at the end of the 1980s, was 1.123 million scarves bought in 1 year with, at times, 1 scarf being sold every 20 seconds somewhere in the world. You will doubt that any woman who can afford it does not own at least one or two examples of this ultimate fashion accessory of 'good taste' and beauty.

A Hermès scarf is worn in many ways: on the head, round the neck, on the shoulders, as a waist sash on jeans, hunging from a shoulder bag. Just note that silk is incredibly slippery and the scarf, however worn, needs to be secured well (with knots, brooches, under loops for belt or scarves), or it will slip quietly away, never to be found by its owner. The current price of a new Hermès scarf is approx. US$245. Secondhand scarves can cost from US$215, up to US$2000+ for the most collectable. And I just bid it on ebay with a really low price. (Guess how much I pay include £6 postage fee?) Be careful not to frame and display a Hermès scarf, this will damage it as the colours fade in sunlight. Rather, keep it folded in its box when not being worn, and take it out, unfold and admire the work of art.

Melody in Silk

I am her silk scarf

I am her magic circle

I am her golden triangle

I am her flying trapeze

I am her guardian angel

I am her silk scarf

I caress her skin

I soften her corners

I am her foolproof plan

I am her smooth side

I am her silk scarf

I am her one-woman band

I am her playground

I am heads and I am tails

I am her place in the sun

I am her Carrè Hermès...

on the silk road...

         

Traveler Kitchen in Taichung
Mood:  hungry

Just come across a greek resturant Traveler Kitchen, which is owned by 3 taiwanese girls. The decor is nice, the food is so GREAT, esp with the fresh aroma and reasonable price. Check it out by yourself at www.tkitchen.com or by phone (886)04-2223-5765.

Kuhn Rikon Pressure Cooker
Mood:  energetic

Without any income for years, I still can buy such a brandname cooker, the mercedes in pressure cooker. So you have to know there are something that attracts me so much that make me willing to invest such money. If you check on internet, with kuhn rikon, you can find out all the details n great point of this swiss company. After i compare those cooker made in italy, germany, taiwan, etc, i like this the most. And after using this cooker, i am so glad that my decision is right. It's quiet, it's good look, and the most important, the food is delicious and healthy. I tried to make the chicken essense (with the 2 piece inner basket in the cook set) it's really NICE. So if you really want to invest a good cooker once in a life time, i recommend this one for u highly. And you are all welcome to drop in my house and enjoy my free meal ;) Cheers~