Splitting Hairs

I had to make the painful decision to sever my relationship with my current hair stylist. Don't get me wrong. He's a whiz with the scissors and has an excellent eye for styling. I love him to bits and have been going to him since four years ago!
He's really got things going for him. His uphill climb has also led to an alarming increase in price. He's very sweet, trying to give me discounts and such. But, alas, i decided to end it.
So began my hairsplitting, hair pulling ordeal of finding me that hair dresser whom I can let handle my tresses with no fear. I've had many a harrowing experience BJ (before J****)- like before Christ... Ha Ha.
But yea, I was worried.
I spoke to people. My friends, my colleagues, even my client. Yes. My orbit was informed and aware of my big decision. I even entered a self help site to see what strangers had to recommend. In fact, I chickened out on a referral on the day itself (I'm sorry S**)!
Did you know the considerations a person has to comb through before deciding?
Here's a checklist in case you need:
Brand - this is to narrow down the salons. Often, with the name, you can guess the service level and expertise of their pool of stylists
Designation - who do you want cutting down your tresses? The lead stylist? The Director? Of course you must also be aware of the corresponding increase in costs. Usually, the designation implies a level of skill of the stylist.
Experience - This is incredibly important! A haircut is only good if it accentuates and refines a person's features. And having years of experience behind a stylist also means he has possibly had to deal with many different face shapes and hair textures. Hopefully, this may increase the chances of a satisfied haircut.
Regulars - I also like to find out if the stylist has a following. Like J, some of my friends are still following him faithfully. I guess their paychecks have correspondingly increased while mine kind of plateaued. This means a satisfaction and possibly good customer service!
Well, I've also found nanyate's write up particularly interesting. Three key things stylists need to know. Makes perfect sense.

So where did you get your last haircut?

Ostentatious decor, so-so food, lousy service

It was a week of failed food adventure.

Taste Paradise
I'd talk about Taste Paradise first. Well, it was really anything but that. I mean, I think I had better tasting dim sum at much cheaper places with less fancy decor of course. I'd give them an A-plus for e big-ass paintings of the Chinese emperors. But I was not there for history lessons if you know what I mean.

I mark all dim sum with the basic siew mai. Don't get me wrong. It was a very respectable siew mai, but, at close to $5 for four pieces, I had expected something a bit more.

A good place with fantastic dim sum is, surprise, the Ritz at Kuala Lumpur. Aside from the delightful bursts of fish roe in your mouth, the Chinese mushroom slice gives the pork base a sweeter taste in the mouth. That should be the benchmark for good siew mai.

However, if you still insist on visiting Taste, then try the chicken feet. The marinate is done quite well. It was cooked just right and the skin did not just break apart when you eat.


TWG @ION
The second place that didn't quite make the mark was TWG. You'd think that with all the hype, the afternoon tea lifestyle would have been well crafted the moment you step in. Let's talk menu.

It lists the various teas, all one thousand of them. Ok, maybe mot so many. But you get the drift. It's a list. I'm not sure how many tea masters there are in Singapore that know what they Re drinking, but some description would be welcome and helpful.

The next best bet was the service staff.
But what a mistake!

She couldn't recommend tea to save her life! When I asked for something less funky, she offered English breakfast! I don't think I'd come to TWG for English Breakfast!

The desserts were also incredibly ordinary. Didn't understand the hype around the macaroons. I'd guess it is flavours available? I'd comment about the cheese cake since I eat that more often. There was hardly the taste of the cream cheese. Think the raspberry was too strong. The cake was rather dense and I thought the layers didn't come together quite so well.

The environment was A-plus though. The waitress would do well to be better versed with their tea selection so that she can better recommend their teas.

Hong Kong - The City that Never Sleeps

You can never tell that it's midnight!

I just came back from Hong Kong. What a bustling, energy laden place it is. I'm simply amazed by her people. If you want to talk cosmopolitan, then, this is it.

I used to think that nothing will beat Singapore in being a cosmopolitan country. But in Hong Kong, it's really a whole new level.

Have you been to Lan Kwai Fong? Have you gone to the Convention Centre in Wanchai? Seen a play at the arts academy? Or have you taken the ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui and hunkered down at one of their da pai dang (street side stalls) for dinner?

At ten at night, the city is still hustling. I was so drawn into their pace, by the time I get back to the hotel, it's close to midnight!
With my sore feet and a bruised wallet, I hopped into a nearby foot reflexology centre almost every night.

Now I know why everyone loves going to Hong Kong. Be it for shopping, sight-seeing or eating, there are bound to be things that will keep you occupied, entertained and enlightened!

This was SOOO good - pig's ears and liver noodles

The must-take tram ride up Victoria Peak

Through the looking glass! I'm actually in a see-through cable car to Lantau Island