Gero the Onsen City - Konnichiwa !!

Hey Guys !!
Seems like a long time since my last post, hope you have been thinking of me ;) Missed this year's Audit Fashion Festival since I was in Japan. No complaints though! For those who attended AFF2014, am sure you enjoyed Prabal Gurung's high fashion layering and legendary designer Oscar De La Renta's fall collection... Just the thought of it, makes me drool.. haha
Oh, am proud of our local designer Ong Shunmugam's beautiful play with fabric !! Would love to own one of your creative pieces... <3

Enough of the fashion talk, back to business :p Scratching my head on how I should blog about my trip, I guess the best way is to split them into different locations ;) Of course including my OOTD in each post. Credits to my photographer cum bf for all your hardwork. Though I raised my voice at times, your patience is very much appreciated.. hehehe

This time our trip consists of Tokyo as well as Gifu Prefecture. A prefecture in the Chubu region of Japan. Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendo. During the Sengoku period, many people refer to Gifu by saying "Control Gifu and you control Japan". Will tell you more along the way !! (Just in case you do not know, am a big fan of history... the world before me always interest me...)

First stop, Gero - city in Gifu Prefecture famous for it's hot springs (onsen). The Hida River runs throughout the city. 4 hours train ride from Tokyo with Mount Fuji in the background.

No filter ok

My very first experience of staying in a Ryokan begins with Yunoshimakan. "To do the same as what I always see in Japan Hour" - Checked !!
Yunoshimakan is a long-standing ryokan in Gero Onsen. Established in 1931 and has had the honor of accommodating the previous Emperor Showa and the current Emperor Akihito. Of course, we are not staying in the same room. The building is designated as a National Tangible Cultural Asset.

Ain't it lovely....

Lobby Entrance

Our private lovely garden

Our little in-room onsen

If you are worried about using shared bathroom staying in Ryokan, choose the Bekkan room type.
Overview: An 8-tatami matted room, a small connected room, a spacious veranda, a natural hot spring bath and a toilet. Dinner served in the room, and breakfast served in the public dining room.

Onsen are what make Gero famous, definitely a place for you to get our of your hectic life and relax. Onsen water is believed to have healing powers derived from its mineral content and renown for beautifying skin. Yes girls, beautifying skin !! Other than what your Ryokan offers, there are 3 public bath houses available in town. There is also a large rotenburo (open-air bath) you can bath in for free however it has no facilities.

Gero is a small city and can be explored by walking. Stop by any open foot bath along the way to sit and relax. Just like them ;)

I love this picture !!

The water is really hot !

Walking around aimlessly in this quiet and soothing city with absolutely no time restriction along with the best weather, I am enjoying this moment of life...

Onsenji Temple worships the Buddha of healing, whose image is credited to restoring the flow of hot spring to the town after it was stopped by a large earthquake

I like even the simplest temple in Japan. The structure, wood material and trees never fail to provide a calming effect... <3

Hat and white top: Topshop, Skirt: Engell, Knitted coat: GG5, Shoes: ASOS (I LOVE THIS SHOT !!)

Food porn time ! Amazing dinner arranged by the Ryokan in our room. First, meet our beautiful and lovely waitress Maki ;) She is only going to be here for 3months before starting her contract with JAL as cabin crew.

To avoid posting 20 pictures for every single dish, here's an overview I did for you guys... Oh, this serving is only for round 1 !!

2nd round served with my weakness... Rice.

Then the dessert..

Lastly, let's do some plum wine tasting..

The thing is that, I finished all of the above mentioned.. Gosh !!! Guilty to the max !!
Instead of skin beautifying, I hope that the onsen water has the effect of burning calories.. Total of 8 onsen available for the guests. There are private ones available for booking too, in case you are not used to being so "open" like me... haha

The indoor one

Love this !!

 Foot bath is available too ;)

I just love the feeling of walking around the Ryokan, exploring this mysterious yet elegant building in my lovely pink Yukata ;)

For the ladies, you get to choose your Yukata ;) What you think of my choice...
Back to the room and found our futon ready !!

For those having back problems, I think this might be the solution.
Then again, waking up to this for breakfast..

1 night in Gero and I felt like I have put on 1kg.. Don't even dare to weigh myself since I am back from Japan. All I know is some of my skirts are feeling real tight.. OMG !!
Next up, Takayama - a city in the mountainous Hida region. Stay tuned guys !! Till then, wishing you a great week ahead <3

Braces On

Finally guys, I have decided to put on braces !! Sick of my rabbit looking teeth :p

Visited Alfred Cheng Orthodontic Clinic situated in Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre. Dr Cheng told me that I will have to remove 4 teeth before putting my braces on. Teeth extraction is always the solution to your bunny look ! Good thing is, he did not charge me a single cent for my first consultation. You only pay for your package once you have decided to put on braces. The plan for me is to remove 4 teeth (4th one counting from the middle on the left and right sides for both top and bottom), followed by the braces.

For those who are interested, here is the payment scheme:
You have a choice of damon($3800) or ceramic braces($4500), prices are before GST.
First payment of $500 right after your x-ray and moulding, 2nd payment of $1200 after your braces are on. Thereafter $100 per visit every month when you return to tighten the braces. Any remaining amount shall be paid in full after your entire treatment.
Here is my ugly mould, looks horrible !!

Extraction is a separate payment at $80/tooth. Dr Cheng has recommended me to visit The Oral Maxillofacial Practice in Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre for this. For those who has gone through the same process, am sure you are freaking out on the day of extraction. Dr Shawn Goh is very professional and I got no pain throughout the process. He explains every step in detail and is encouraging me all the time.

Total of 8 local anesthetic injections, 2 per tooth. Trust me, you don't feel anything after. I can only feel him pulling my teeth.

Here are my precious teeth.... Kind of dirty though :p

Got my braces on 5days later at Dr Cheng's clinic. I have to say that the process of putting on braces is not painless as what I read online. The glue they used is very acidic and it hurts for sensitive teeth.
Real pain starts the next day and I can barely bite anything for the first 3days.
So this is how I looked right after my braces.... Buckle up.. ;p

For the last 1 week, I have been surviving on porridge, soup and yoghurt. Tried eating ramen on the 3rd day, I could not even break the noodles with my front teeth that I got to swallow them and almost got choked on it.... :(
I guess, no pain no gain right.. :) Am better now after 1 week and still managed to go on a weekend trip with my lovely girls in Kuala Lumpur !! Stayed in my all time favorite - Traders Hotel !
That's our view from the room. No filter ok...

Oh and there is a lovely place for brunch, just 3mins walk from Traders Hotel.

Great trip with great friends !!! Am gonna spare you from those drunkard pictures.. Here are some sober ones ;)

Not forgetting my OOTD, posing like the next top model... hehehe.

Dress: Tailor made from Bentham Market in Ho Chi Minh

Love this trip with my girls... <3 No pain on my braces at all with the girls around and plenty of alcohol... hahaha
The pain has more or less subside after 1 week but I still don't feel comfortable and speak in a weird tone. So conscious of my look that I keep trying to cover up my mouth during meetings !! Still I am happy to have gone through stage one... Another close up of my metals :p

For those who are interested in putting on braces, am happy to answer any questions you have :)

Happy Labour Day !! Can't wait for my trip to Japan next week.. Will be traveling to Tokyo, Gifu, Gero, Takayama and Magome. First time staying in Ryokans and a local inn which is more than 150years old !! Stay tuned guys. Follow me on instagram to see the firsthand pictures !! Xoxo

Easter

So what have you guys been up to for the long easter weekend ? Hope you had a good rest ! I have been trying to recover from my teeth extraction :( 4 in total... Will blog about the braces experience in the next post. We went out for dinner on Saturday for my last feast before putting on the metals.
Here's my featured outfit for the easter weekend.

ps: you can already see the 4 prominent holes in my mouth on some of the pics :(

Peplum top and pants: ASOS, Ankle-strap heeled sandals: ALDO, Dinner purse: Accessorize, Necklace: Hermes

Can you spot my holes? 4th one on both left and right + top and bottom starting to count from the middle (should be just beside the vampire teeth, right at the sides)

For those who asked, bangle is a religious item... Am a buddhist ;)

Have been trying to take a "in-action" pose for more than 30mins and we got this for the 1st try ;) Not too bad right, except for my big prominent hole..

Loving my new heels from ALDO... hehehe ;)

Next up food review: BISTRO DU VIN shaw centre restaurant !! Authentic looking french bistro located in Orchard under the Les Amis Group. It was our first visit and I must admit that the decorations do remind me of France. Especially the chairs I think :)
Am not sure if it's due to the enclosed area, I felt that it was kind of noisy dining there. Take a look at what we've ordered ;)

Appetizer: Rillettes and Pate

Duck confit with lamb sausages (mine)

 I have to say that the duck confit feels a little dry and lamb sausages were not great as well :(

Coq Au Vin (His)

 He thinks it's ok, but I thought it was a little salty... Picky picky me :p

Souffle

For the dessert, I thought to pair vanilla ice cream with souffle might be a little too blend since they are both quite similar. Perhaps additional chocolate fudge or fruits can make it better??
Still still still, I had a pleasant experience here.. The wine is good :)
I do recommend this place for a quick fix to satisfy your french food craving !!! Not the best though.

Stay tuned for the next post on my braces experience.. xoxo
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