Updated to iOS 6 Chinese Siri

So I’ve updated to iOS 6 and toyed around with the Chinese Siri.

I asked her to sing for me. It was very out of tune, but sing she did.

Well, I got the idea from one of my student who asked Siri (English, United States) to sing opera.

I dunno why, she was so excited to play with Siri. But I’ve to say, hearing Siri speak Chinese is very refreshing. They have a Siri that speaks Cantonese for the Hong Kongers, too bad I can’t speak Cantonese.

Not getting a new phone

Are you going to get the IPhone 5 or a Samsung phone?

I’ve been asked this for so many times, it truly gets on my nerves. While I do know that it’s just small talk and I guess a way of making conversation (?) but try getting that asked as and when you take out your phone to text. It’s worse than the “When are you getting married?” question.

Here’s my answer, once & for all.

My iPhone 4S is working fine. I am perfectly happy with it. (If you discount how Siri is useless & the non-existential battery life.) So no, I am not getting a new phone. Subsequently, I too won’t be able to get into a discussion with you on whether a Samsung phone or iPhone is better.

It just doesn’t make any sense to me. Why are all these people so into changing & upgrading their phone when their current one is still working?

I’m not saying that they should still stick with their old Nokia 8210, way back from 1999, but isn’t it a bit excessive to assume that just because there’s a new model, then one should just upgrade and get a new one?

Maybe we should all take a little step back and think if we are allowing marketing ploys to work a little too successfully on us.

Idiots are out to get me.

Just the other day, I had an asthmatic episode. It was like a sucker punch to the ribs.

On hindsight, I was probably allergic to the Aveda tea that the sales person served to us. Minutes after I drank that, I felt a tightness in my chest and shortness of breath. I honestly thought my bra was too tight.

（；￣ェ￣）

Yeah well, my bra was really too tight. And I bought a box of the Aveda tea for $29.90. FML.

Anyways, as I was on my way home, it got progressively worse and I was like “Damn, I should’ve picked another bra.” And when I reached home, I finally realised that something was wrong, and reached for my inhaler to find that I’d misplaced it.

Honest to god, that’s when a normal person panics, but I’m a little bit not normal so I tried to watch tv and hopefully distract myself from my constricting air passage.

By the way, that didn’t work, though it was worth a try.

So I speed dialled my mum and she accompanied me to the doctor. The point was, she walked so fast in her anxiety that I got even more out of breath trying to catch up. =_=

My lungs were starting to hurt so we took a cab. The thing was, when we boarded, the driver started lecturing me that I should see a doctor if I am sick. Erm, dude? That’s why I’m taking your cab to a clinic, you dumbass!!

Then at the counter of the clinic, I scribbled out my name and i.c. number for the receptionist. She took the piece of paper, looked up and asked me for my handphone number, for recording purposes.

Again, I’m panting like a dog, do you think I’ve got enough breath in me to say out 8 numbers?!!

I must have frightened her with my insanely bulging eyes cos she backed off and left me to gasp in peace.

The wait was tremendously long and it wasn’t because I was asphyxiating. The doctor had to be wanking in there. There was no plausible explanation on how he could have taken that long to diagnose other patients but with me, he took all but two seconds. All he did was looked at me and directed me to the (highly incompetent) nurse for a nebuliser.

At the end of the ordeal, I handed over a tidy sum of $71 which really could have costed me $36 if I went to the clinic beside this one. Too bad that clinic isn’t 24-7.

If you’re wondering what’s the point of this story, I’ve to say, all the idiots come out to play when you’re having an asthmatic attack. My chest still hurts right now.

小馒头

Can’t stop once I start on this baby.

It dissolves in the mouth and is great for mindless munching during tuition.

I don’t understand

So the other day during tuition, I told one of my students to be careful with my stuff as another student had the misfortune of breaking my correction tape.

For clarity’s sake, I shall name them 1 & 2.

I told Student 1 that I scolded Student 2 and Student 2 cried.

Student 1: So did you scold him in Chinese or in English?

Me: In English. Student 2 is a Malay.

Student 1: !!! 他是马来人已经很可怜了，你还骂他？！

A rough translation goes like this: He is already pitiful being a Malay why did you still scold him?!

It’s the most racist comment I’ve ever heard and yet I don’t really understand what he meant. Funny nonetheless, if you do speak Chinese.

Premium Goat’s Milk Bath Silkpro

This is possibly the best shower cream in the world. I’m not exaggerating.

Mum has sensitive skin and she can only use very mild soap, so one of my aunt introduced her this shower cream. She was very astonished that she experienced no problems with using it.

And the scent is so delicious, and it lingers after the shower. You have to try it yourself.

It comes in a 1030gm bottle. And the new design comes with a pump.

The first bottle that we used came with a cap, and the brand name printed at the front was Everyday. You can still see those retailing in Watsons for $4.90 or $4.50 after discount.

The new bottle comes with a pump and the brand printed in front changed to Silkpro. Initially, I thought they’re different products, but the two bottles were exactly alike, down to the scent and goat picture in front.

I checked their website and they’re the same product, just repackaged, so buy those in pump bottles as they’re newly manufactured this year.

Here’s a photo of the words written behind.

Just in case it’s too small to read, it says intensive moisturising and whitening with chamomile. And that it provides relief for dry & sensitive skin. I don’t know about the whitening effects, but the moisturising effect is TRUE.

My back is so silky smooth now, my new obsession is to touch my own back. Hahaha.. Machum likka pervert.

Best of all, it’s retailing at $7.90 for two bottles at NTUC. Like how cheap is that?! We stocked up 6 bottles at home because it’s cheap and they’re new stock.

Fyi, one bottle can last a few months as it’s a 1L bottle.

Blackberry Bold

Found an old photo of my Blackberry in my iPhone. It is a bloody brilliant phone. One that I regret selling.

Victoria’s Sexy Little Thing Noir Body Mist

A little while ago, I tweeted about buying a new Victoria’s Secret body mist and I thought I’ll write a post about it here.

It’s the Victoria’s Secret Sexy Little Thing Noir body mist. Comes in only one size, 250ml for S$40.

The body mist is pink while the perfume bottle is black. Packaging wise, I prefer the perfume’s. $40 for a plastic clear bottle with a little sticker in front?! The body mist’s packaging is just wrong.

As for the scent, I would say that it’s a sweet night-time smell that can be a little strong. The after notes is a little musky, but not overpowering.

Both the body mist and perfume smell the same but body mist doesn’t last as long as the perfume.

Detracting a little bit here; My mum thinks that the bag is adorable.

That day, Harmony and I were at the Marina Bay Sands to catch The Slava’s Snow show and shopped a little afterwards. It was a delightful surprise to find that MBS has a Victoria’s Secret store. We had a fun time going around smelling and testing the perfumes.

Anyways, I wanted the perfume because the packaging was so cute with the little tassle at the back.

Okay, so here’s a printscreen of the Sexy Little Thing Noir from the VS website.

Doesn’t it look gorgeous?!!

However, Harmony convinced me to get it for cheaper at DFS when I travel at the end of the year. She also offered to get it for me when she goes overseas this December. =p

P.s. I no longer want the perfume as many reviews that I read online say that the pump doesn’t work well. And the scent is not lasting as well. Maybe I’ll get the roller ball ones.

When I went home, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much it actually cost in the US as compared to how much I paid. But then again, I didn’t really want to know how much of a sucker I was. The thought just ping ponged back & forth, and in the end, I succumbed.
(⌒-⌒; )

After checking the Victoria’s Secret website, I’m happy to note that the body mist cost USD25, or S$31.53 which is only $9.50 more expensive here. Considering the shipping costs, I think it’s not that much more expensive.

In fact, the perfume cost less here than from the website, even when not taking the shipping into account. ∑(ﾟДﾟ)

For now, I am really happy with my new body mist.

💙💜💗💚❤

And I’m giving my favourite Daisy from Marc Jacobs a much needed rest.

At the rate that I was going, the bottle would have been gone in the next six months. σ(^_^;)

The shampoos and conditioners that I’m currently using

Last Sunday, I went to a salon with Eggie. She did a hair treatment while I coloured my hair black and did a scalp & hair treatment afterwards. As usual, the stylist tried to recommend some hair products and he looked kinda grumpy when I didn’t buy anything from him.

Anyways, that was what spawned this post. I’d bad experience with buying products from hair salons before and his attitude wasn’t really convincing.

He didn’t believe me when I told him that I’m already using a lot of hair products and there was no need to buy another one from him.

Just on shampoos and conditioners alone, I already have all these.

And I’m not proud of it. In fact, I am disgusted by my lack of restrain. Why can’t I just finish one bottle first before opening another one to try?!

Right now, I’m sticking to L’Oreal Color-Vive shampoo and conditioner for my coloured hair.

I resolved to finish the entire bottle by using them daily.

Before I coloured my hair, Clairol Herbal Essences “Long term relationship” was my go-to shampoo on most days, simply because it smells so nice. And it makes my hair slightly smoother.

As you can see, I’d finished a set and am currently on my second set. It’s one of the products that I will always repurchase.

One of my other favourite shampoo & conditioner is the banana series from The Body Shop. I’d written a review in a post earlier here and I love it so much, I bought another set.

I haven’t opened the new bottles though. Been trying really hard not to. σ(^_^;)

Also one of my favourites, it’s the Kerastase Bain de Force shampoo & conditioner. I am currently using them once a week to strengthen my hair.

It smells delightful and always makes me feel great after a shower. Best of all, I find that it does help to make my hair stronger and less prone to breakage. I love it, but it’s way more expensive even when used once a week. =/

A word of warning though, I’ve read some reviews & comments online, and apparently, some people find that it makes their hair brittle and lifeless. According to one of the other commenters, it’s because there’s protein in this shampoo for hair that is damaged and weak (like mine) and those with perfectly normal hair cannot use it.

It’s best to ask salons for recommendation when choosing Kerastase products as they have different range to target specific hair problems.

The Kerastase website has a list of salons that are selling their products. Their salon treatments are better than a lot of other treatments that I’d done, but they’re also very expensive.

Even if you find it expensive to go to their salon for a hair treatment & just wanna buy the products online, at least do your research first before making a purchase. All the Kerastase products that I’d purchased are worth the splurge. ^_^

Next up is the Rainforest series from The Body Shop.

The shampoo is for oily hair and the conditioner is for dry hair. I don’t like the conditioner as I feel that it didn’t really do much.

As for the shampoo, honestly, I’ve only used them once or twice so I can’t give an accurate review, but I do love the smell of nettles. It just smells so refreshing.

However, I don’t think I’ll repurchase them after I’ve run out though simply because I feel that they didn’t “wow” me and that there are cheaper alternatives out there that work with more significant results.

Last of all, it’s a shampoo that I purchased at one of the salons I’d visited. It’s total crap.

For people with permed hair. And those who wants oily hair. Terrible really. I don’t think it suits me and that the particular salon should have recommended me something based on my hair condition. That’s why I seldom buy anything from salons after that.

And those that I do buy, I always purchase on a second visit, so the staff’s attitude factors in too.

Okay, so that’s all for this entry. I feel that I ended up writing a lot even though I’d intended for a short post. These are just the shampoos and conditioners that I’m using. Maybe I’ll write another post on hair masks and treatments.

(^O^)／

The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream

The hand cream moisturises well but that’s not the point of this entry.

This is.

The pictures were taken after the 1st time I used it.

After squeezing out a whole lot of air, and 1cm of hand cream, there’s not much left. I don’t suppose anyone would be happy to find out that they paid for half a tube of air.