Post-Vacation Spa

Today I utilised another groupon voucher, on a Javanese massage and oxygen facial package, bought at a very low price, as usual. My verdict? It was good! The massage was really good. I could feel my aches and muscles relaxing already.

However, the facial treatment paled in comparison to the massage. The therapist kept saying my face is super dry. Well.. with the long flight, jet lag, and the haze going around, is it any wonder my face is dry at that moment? So she used an oxygen tank like thing to spurt oxygen on my face, then massaged, then used a gauze before putting on the mask.

Since I was late, I was not able to enjoy the full treatment. It was supposed to be a ninety-minute massage, and a seventy-five minute facial. However, I only had time to do a seventy-five minute massage, and a sixty-five minute facial.

Still, since the treatment is free (sort of), there is no cause for complaint. I managed to get my post-vacation spa treatment in and fulfilled the coupon I bought. So I did get my time and money's worth, but I would not go there again! The distance is just too far for me, and the facial treatment was not even beneficial!

Motivation For Hybrid Car

People have been asking me why I do not drive. Besides the fact that I am a very bad driver, plus the super stringent requirements of being able to drive here, and that cars here cost your entire life savings, it is almost practically impossible for someone like me to be able to drive. Not to mention the exorbitant cost of the petrol. I think only here we pay so much for housing, cars and petrol, and probably everything else too. Hence, only the more affluent can own a car, and I am definitely not in the league, as yet.

However, I would love to be able to drive properly. It is just much more convenient, especially if we go overseas and like a self-drive tour. There are places where buses and trains just do not go to, and if one does not have a vehicle, or able to operate a vehicle properly, one tends to lose out on a lot of places to explore, even here.

But being the procrastinator that I am, plus the fact that I have almost no access to the family car, I am putting off actual driving. To me, what is the use of refreshing my skills if I do not even have the chance to drive? Besides, I much prefer to be driven than doing the driving.

Another reason why I do not drive is because I am rather particular over the kind of car. I like a car that is small, so it is easily handled. I do not like medium sized or big cars like what my parents are driving. I find them hard to handle. I like a car that fits my petite frame!

I also like a car that does not use up too much petrol because petrol is very costly here, and it contributes to the environment pollution problem. Hence, since I am unwilling to find something that I actually like, I have to stick to public transport, no matter how much I loathe it.

Last week when my mum and I were away, she told me that she and my dad have changed the car. The new car will be coming in a couple of month's time. The thing is, the new car is going to be a small one, and it is a hybrid car, which means it saves petrol and saves the environment at the same time! Most importantly, it is a family car, which means anyone can drive it if we are able to. And I do not need to fork out any cash because it is already paid for!

It is like a dream come true for me! With all these criteria already fulfilled, what more am I waiting for? I am now really motivated to refresh my skills so I can start driving the new car when it comes! Hopefully this time round I can learn to be a better driver!

Garden In The Middle Of A City

I will blog about my Israel trip after I have sorted out all the photos, but meanwhile, here is a post on my day trip to Gardens By The Bay, our artificial garden in the middle of the city. I managed to get discounts to go there, and it was a pretty place indeed!

The Gardens are separated into a few sections. There is an indoor garden called the Flower Dome consisting of many kinds of flowers, complete with a glass house restaurant and different theme exhibitions once in a while. This looks like a good place for anyone to take their wedding photos or a wedding ceremony!

 The entrance to the Gardens

 Going into the Flower Dome

 Inside the Flower Dome

 Me feeling like a princess on her throne

 That day the theme was aeronautical

 Another nice canopy, made me feel as if I was in a carriage!

After coming out of the Flower Dome, I went on to the Cloud Forest, which is another indoor cooled conservatory consisting of a man-made mountain of sorts with a huge(?) waterfall. People are able to climb up onto the mountain and then make their way down.

 The "mountain" with the "waterfall"

 View of the waterfall from the inside

 View of the waterfall from the outside

 View from the top

Cloud Forest leads to another "forested" area where we can see a documentary about the conservation of Earth, before coming out into "jurassic" era.

 Can't believe I found a pitcher plant here!

Overall, it was not a very impressive outing. After all the hype about the Gardens, I was expecting to see something really nice, but apparently the "main" or nicest attractions are paying attractions, as in you need to pay extra to get in and not included in your already expensive ticket price.

As a result, I did not get to see much. I have seen my share of forest and nature reserves during my travels, so I guess all these are nothing much to me. Still, I would like to commend our government for being able to make something like this in the city for everyone to go to. Perhaps the entry fees can be lessened instead, then things would be better?

The Gardens is a place where once is enough, because it is not as big as I thought. All these "exploration" took an hour the most. If we are in a real jungle, even a day would not be enough! I think maybe I have been too spoilt!