May 2009

Dancing.
Dancing.
Taken with Ashley’s LOMO.

Woke up this morning.
Trying very hard to recall how I looked (& feel) pre-pregnancy.

Found some Summer ’08 pix.
(Tip: Always place one arm on hips!)

Nuuanu Pali Park

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I want to color my roots.
I want to hop onto the plane, go somewhere and shop.
I want to wear make-up & heels.
I want to drink ice cold beer!!!

Arrgh!

I am going to sulk for the rest of the day.

Some news to lift my spirits.
Weight gain seems to be stable for the past few weeks.
Going maintain the 10-13kg (can’t remember what I started with) I have gained so far,
without compromising lil’ judebabe’s growth, before I start ballooning again during the 3rd trimester.

Going to eat some mutton dumplings now.

For Andrew: Just to make my point about the hands on hips.

MTV Awards 2009.

And a couple of others… here here here here and here.

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Beach Holiday during Week 24 of my pregnancy.

Tide is low.

After talking about wanting to go Sanya for the longest time…
We checked into a resort with private beach and a great pool…
The resort is on Yalong Bay and have the best beach and finest white sand in Sanya.


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Chose this over Banyan Tree…. Reviews said Banyan Tree was far tooo quiet.

Hotel's private beach.
The private beach.
And unlike other beaches in Sanya, Yalong Bay is more exclusive and has less nosy Chinese tourists…

Ritz-Carlton Sanya
Pool area.

Poolside delight.
Infinity pool.

Chillin' by the pool.
I. Am. BIG.
And probably the only pregnant one in the resort.

I love being in the pool and the sea. Coz it takes the pressure of the bump off me.
I could JUMP for the first time in months!
I was jumping and bouncing in the sea to avoid getting sucked in by the waves.
I FELT GREAT!!!
The pressure and weight return with every step I take when getting out of the pool.

We had most our meals in the hotel.
I satisfied my Fish N Chips cravings from the Singaporean Show on Chinese TV at the hotel.
They were pretty expensive (Its the Ritz-Carlton… afterall!)
But well, nothing taste GOOD in Sanya and you are likely to get ripped off…
So the hotel seems to be a very safe choice.

Ohhh… except for the burgers at McDonald’s in the city center 30 minutes drive away.

Dp had fun with some of the beach activities…

Kayaking.
Kayaking.

Banana boat.
Banana Boat.

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Transporter.
Guys in the photo are Yuncheng-ers working in Sanya.

I couldn’t join in the fun… for obvious reason.
So here are some pictures I snapped while sulking waiting.

While waiting for Dp to return from his sea sports.

The soft strechy swimsuit.
Soft stretchy material… for my belly.
A new swimsuit since none of my swimsuits fit… the bikinis too.

toes...
I can still see my toes… On a good day.

We too decided that the resort is definietely Family & Kids friendly… and are looking forward to returning with Lil’ judebabe / judebaby / 宝宝 / BB…

Flickr Set Here.

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Last April, there was the 3 day Qing Ming Holiday.
Early this May, there was the 3 day Labor Day
And on Thursday, there’s the 3 day Duan Wu (Dumpling) Festival Holiday.
Frequent huh?
Well, the next holiday will only be in October… :P

And every year, during this festival, I will miss the dumplings my Aunties make.
Don’t exactly like the red dates fillings that’s common here.

端午节。

Had these mini ones for lunch. Got them from the supermarket.
The meat ones didn’t taste bad… nothing what every one’s here been telling me.
They taste surprisingly good.

Going to get more tomorrow. The bigger ones! :)

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I miss Singapore. I miss Home.
But I don’t think I am up to any long-distance traveling alone.
Where I have to spend a day in transit and on the plane.

Have been tuning in to CCTV-8 on Chinese TV every night from 10pm-1am, to watch Singapore drama 《喜临门》 Double Happiness.
It helps with the home-sickness, when they are not eating at the hawker’s…
They had Fishball noodles, laksa, roti prata… etc.
I too crave for the fried fish, Fish N Chips… and anything Singaporean.

Not much of a cure huh???

It would have been better if the show wasn’t dubbed into China-accent mandarin.
Which would otherwise be torturous for the Chinese audiences to watch the entire show in Singapore accent.

I do not know how many episodes there is but it seems to be going on forever.
Much to my delight and Dp’s dismay.
He has been asking me every night, when is the show ending… like 20 nights ago.

I also like how it helps me to fall asleep easily.
I can lie in bed, with my eyes closed. Listen to the characters, visualize and drift…

To know what show I am talking about… click here.

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About time to start shopping for Lil’ judebabe / judebaby!? :-p
We haven’t name her… and is absolutely clueless / and zero-creativity…
We also call her 宝宝 (Baby in Mandarin) and sometimes just BB (“B-B” with a little Cantonese accent.)

Anyway, shopping for Lil’ judebabe / judebaby / 宝宝 / BB, isn’t easy!
Or at least for me. I have little idea what to get.
But I am also sure that there are lots of Mommy friends here in Yuncheng to help when I shout for help.

There are baby / infant stores are Yuncheng, but they somehow never seem to be good enough.
Baby basic necessities are fairly accessible here.
But the baby tubs are just baby tubs, not those I have seen online where the little one can lie and sit comfortably in it.
And baby carrier… Dp didn’t want just any baby carrier but Baby Bjorn, the one that Brad & Angeline were spotted using.
I had to ask him for his preferred color, as he thinks he will be the one using it.
Much to the disapproval of his Auntie, who is rather traditional.

What’s also on my list are strollers, cots, car safety-seat and toys…
Almost everything will be bought off the internet.

My friend who has been buying everything off the internet for her baby, recommended me lots of links for Taobao online shopping.
Baby jumpers for export can be found and bought for 30rmb…
They are all very sweeet and cute…
And you can find a lot of stuffs that can’t be found in the stores and even if you can find it in the stores, they cost more.
Like the Quinny / Maclaren strollers that I am considering… they cost 1500rmb more in the stores.

Strollers… it took me days and hours (& backaches) of online research and a few dreams about strollers to finally decide on one.
(Just like the dreams I usually get when I have yet to buy that bag or shoe I want. Shallow eh?)
I hate to be spoilt for choices. And it doesn’t help that I am always so indecisive.
BUT I am glad to finally decide on one… Maclaren Techno XLR.

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We thought the Black / Champagne color is understated. And neutral.

And the Quinny Buzz… WE LOVE the Wheels!!!
They seem prefect for the never even surface here in Yuncheng.
But the bulk and weight put me off.

While browsing and shopping for Lil’ judebabe / judebaby / 宝宝 / BB online,
I couldn’t resist buying more maternity wear!!!
I am so sick of my sloppiness and it perks me up to clean and dress up!
Even when I am staying in!

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Week 25 Bump. In a non-maternity dress.

Also on my post-pregnancy list, Belly Bandit and Spanx.

You will only find me shopping in the Yuncheng supermarket aisle.
Its the only place I walk and exercise these days other than taking strolls in the estate after meals.
Other than panting while climbing 3 floors up to our home.

I bet the shops in Yuncheng miss ME this Summer Season.
Thinking back, they kinda have a mixed reaction on their faces when I walk into the shops- Tummy first!!!

PS: Try this. I got 8/9.

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Some pictures from Mom and Ashley’s visit to Beijing in early April.
I must have walked / shopped a lot for the first few days. That I lost 2kg by Day 3. :-p
I do not walk enough in Yuncheng.

Showing them around Beijing was easier and less challenging than showing Dad and Uncle around (last Dec)…

Ashley and Mom returned home with lots of shopping and at least 10 pairs of shoes in total.
So SHOPPING is just as interesting as going to places of interest. Ha!
Oh Well, they have been to Beijing and her many places of interest many times…
And I hope they love their shopping loot.


Dp and my fave… for Singapore fare.
Our fave, Lau Pa Sak.IMG_5532
We went twice during their visit.

Xinjiang Black Beer!
Xinjiang black beer to go with authentic Xinjiang food.
Dad loved it from his last visit and insisted that I bring them there.
He would call and remind us every night… till we went.

Din Tai Feng
Dinner after some 6 hours of walking and shopping at Shin Kong.

At Ikea.
At Ikea. Needed some new additions.

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Not a must-see in Beijing… but its something new since their last visit in Mar ’05.

Peeping
Not worth the 50rmb entrance fee. So they peeped through the gate.

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Us.

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It was crowded and this is the best shot with Ashley’s long range lens.
People simply did not see her with the camera.

I finally got to 798.
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Been wanting to go since last year.

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Its probably to commercialized now… but I love the little cafes there.

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Mom N Ashley. And the many colors.

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Ashley & graffiti.

Belly to match.
Belly…. to match!

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Dp probably started his obsession with tin mugs here.

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—— 为人民服务 - 牛逼 ——
He bought these printed ones at a price 10 times more than those not printed.
But the mugs never fail to make our home visitors smile.

Ouch!
OUCH!!! TeeHee!!!

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At the airport.
Mom will be back for my confinement!
And Ashley was already thinking at the airport if she should come too… for more shoes!!!

More pix in flickr set here.

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