Noelle Mikazuki

The Awesome One

Dec 23, 2016

Merry Christmas & Hello 2017!


So it's finally nearing the end of 2016 and here's the
cliche-obligatory-summary-cum-resolution-making post.


To summarize, I'd say that 2016 has been a pretty fulfilling year for me.

Finally finished paying my study loans, graduated from my degree with pretty good results and found a full time job doing marketing. Though I still have much to learn and explore, I'd say that I'm very fortunate to have many benefactors and mentors in life (esp in this year) to guide me and help me. My family, Mun, my lecturers, my friends, my DNA, my colleagues. I'm sincerely thankful. 


..........................


Before I run through my resolutions, I'd like to show you guys the first Christmas present(s) I got for myself in this 25 years of my life - Yay!

PUSHEEN BOX WINTER 2016 EDITION

Photo Credit: http://www.mysubscriptionaddiction.com/2016/12/pusheen-box-winter-2016-subscription-box-review.html

I was totally judged by my friends (and Mun) for getting a box that costed SGD100 - when I have totally no idea what's gonna to be in it. I do admit it was a 一时冲动 move when I saw this scarf posted by PusheenBox Facebook and went like "OMG, I NEED TO GET THIS", though I don't literally need it. HAHAHA.


PLEASE AGREE WITH ME THAT THIS SCARF IS SO DARN CUTE.

So yeah, I got this box that costed SGD100 (because of shipment that costed USD25) and I was quite afraid I'd regret. But luckily for me, THIS BOX IS THE BEST BOX EVER. I've yet to receive the box but I've been stalking the hashtag on instagram and saw what's in it - I practically love everything in it.

Photo Credit: http://www.mysubscriptionaddiction.com/2016/12/pusheen-box-winter-2016-subscription-box-review.html

SEE HOW CUTE IT IS? 
It's sad that shipment from USA to SG takes 10 working days, so I'll probably receive it before my TW trip (hopefully) instead of for Christmas.

And because I bought a present that didn't arrive by Christmas, it didn't really felt like Christmas.
LOL, I'm kidding. I just needed an excuse to buy another gift for myself HAHAHAHAHAHA.


So here's my other gift to myself -



Yeah, I know it's so not-Noelle-kind-of-thing because it's so girly.
But, I'M A GIRL AFTER ALL RIGHT HAHAHA.

Under the bad influence of 277, I decided to get Thomas Sabo Karma Beads that costed a bomb.

So yeah, it's probably the first bracelet I've gotten for myself and I kinda love being girly suddenly HAHAHAHA - not to mention, I started going mani/pedi lately too. Omg, puberty hit me late lol!


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AND FINALLY BACK TO RESOLUTIONS

Let's see the progress of resolutions I made for 2016:

I did blog more, I did pursue my career after graduation, I did adjust my body clock pretty much (not ideal but it was a great shift), I did practice guitar and am more familiarized with the chords (will post a pic of my guitar after my guitar stickers arrive) and I'll be travelling to a new country next year.

So it's like 5/10 - not too bad. HAHAHA.


Here goes my
RESOLUTION(S) FOR 2017:

1. Keep blogging
2. Do new covers - at least 3
3. Be able to perform in guitar + vocals
4. Spend more time with my family and friends
5. Start saving up
6. Start taking vitamins
7. Exercise!!
8. Better time & emotion management

That's all I have for now.

I'm already excited for 2017 with all the travelling plans :]
Stalk my instagram/facebook/blog in 2017, it'll be fun.


Nov 11, 2016

3D2N Hong Kong Trip - [2016] Food Worth A Try in Hong Kong

So after a post of rant, here comes a post of good stuffs that I recommend!


1. 佳記小食店
41 Dundas St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
旺角登打士街41號

Nearest MTR: Yau Ma Tei (Exit A1)
Operating Hours: 12:00 - 00:00

It's about a 5-10 minutes walk from the MTR but you'll be occupied with sightseeing on the way so the walk doesn't seem that long at actually.


They got tons of fried items over here. I tried the intestines and smelly tofu which was like EASILY THE BEST smelly tofu I've eaten in my life!



And the secret to the good taste was their condiments/sauces!!




You're supposed to apply a bit of every sauce (from the container).

It was my first time so I asked and got quite a rude reply back from the staff - but it wasn't too rude to the extent it'll piss me off. More of a "in-a-rush" tone. 
(Pretty much figured out HK doesn't have any customer service except places they want you to buy stuffs from them lol)

Location: ★★★★★
Atmostphere: NA
Price: ★★★★☆
Food Quality: ★★★★★
Customer Service: ★★★☆☆

Worth the try(?): ★★★★☆



2. King of Coconut 椰汁大王
G/F, Dundas Square, 43H Dundas Street, Mong Kok (Along Ladies St)
旺角登打士街43H登打士廣場地下

Nearest MTR: Yau Ma Tei (Exit A1)
Operating Hours: 10:00 - 21:00


This was like really near to 佳记, so if you want to, you can just plan these 2 in the same itinerary day.
I really loved this A LOT. It isn't the typical coconut juice you drink in Singapore. It's kinda creamy and milky with the strong taste of coconut. BUT, if you don't like milky stuff, this might not be the drink for you. 


Location: ★★★★☆
Atmostphere: NA
Price: ★★★★☆
Food Quality: ★★★★☆
Customer Service: ★★★★☆

Worth the try(?): ★★★★☆



3. Yee Shun Milk Company 義順牛奶公司
513 Nathan Road, Hong Kong 
油麻地彌敦道513號地下

Nearest MTR: Yau Ma Teh (Exit B1)
Operating Hours: 12:00 - 00:00


This place is kinda popular, many blogs has mentioned it before - that's what made me want to give it a try. 
Side note: The customer service is horrible too LOL #whatsnewright







This macaroni tasted ordinary. I guess they're famous for their dairy products which makes the soup the milky type instead of the clear macaroni soup. The soup did taste good though. But the meat was really tough - don't recommend to order this.



OK THIS was like the turning point for my impression of this place.
I know it's just toast but behold, the butter changed everything!



This is definitely no ordinary butter.
The butter fragrance was strong but it didn't feel the least oily like normal butter.

THE TOAST IS A MUST ORDER AT THIS PLACE.



This was supposedly their "signature" dish - double boiled custard (i think)
But it tasted really normal - maybe because I chose the cold serving (I don't dare to try the warm one because of personal preference in food). But according to my dad, the warm one tasted really good. So get the warm one if you're intending to try it! 


Location: ★★★★☆
Atmostphere: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★★☆☆
Food Quality: ★★★★★
Customer Service: ★★☆☆☆

Worth the try(?): ★★★★☆



4. 通達食店
48 Pitt St, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
油麻地碧街48號地下

Nearest MTR: Yau Ma Tei (Exit A2)
Operating Hours: Unknown - It was near my hotel so whenever I leave & return from the hotel, it's always open lol.



This is like a breakfast place for many hongkees.
They sell the traditional breakfast like steamed rice rolls, toasts, soy milk, etc.
I tried the soy milk but it was ordinarily plain - they don't add much sugar syrup unless you request for more.

But the CURRY FISH BALL was really awesome! 
(Best I had in Hong Kong)
Key note: you gotta order the spicy one!! 


Location: ★★★★☆
Atmostphere: ★★☆☆☆
Price: ★★★★☆
Food Quality: ★★★★★
Customer Service: ★★★☆☆

Worth the try(?): ★★★★☆



5. Mak's Noodle 麥奀雲吞麵世家
77 Wellington St, Central, Hong Kong
中環威靈頓街77號地下

Nearest MTR: Central (Exit D2)
Operating Hours: 1100 - 2200


It's a little far from the station and a little isolated but if you follow the Google map well enough, it shouldn't be a problem to find this place!




Interior is like the typical HK cafe you'd see on the TV - just a little cramp.



That's their average price, which I originally felt quite expensive for a Wanton Noodle.
But it was totally worthwhile after trying it!



How it looked when it first came.
I think it's their "specialty" to keep the wanton under the noodles.
And I know how the noodles LOOK dry and stiff but NO. It was one of the nicest cooked wanton noodles I've eaten. The texture was, in their terms, QQ. It was perfectly cooked.



I didn't eat the dumplings cause I'm allergic to prawns. But it was filled generously with prawn and the soup tasted just right - not too salty not too bland.


Location: ★★☆☆☆
Atmostphere: ★★★★☆
Price: ★★★☆☆
Food Quality: ★★★★★
Customer Service: ★★★☆☆

Worth the try(?): ★★★★☆



6. Emack & Bolio
G/F, 26 Cochrane Street, Central
中環閣麟街26號地舖

Nearest MTR: Hong Kong Station (Exit C)
Operating Hours: 11:00 - 23:00


This was a totally unexpected treasure!
Chanced upon this street while trying to find Mak's Noodle and was attracted to the shop's exterior. It just stood out so naturally!
(Side note: Don't you think this street looks like some "catching baddies" scene in some HK drama/movie??)



Interior was equally pretty ♥



THIS was what made me decide to get one even though I was down with a bad cold
Their cones were layered with cereal ♥ and especially, with my fav white crispy cereal!
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥



What's best about Emack & Bolio was their Ice Cream. It had fairly big pieces of fruit bits in it which made the ice cream taste really refreshing and not just creamy!
Apparently, Emack and Bolio was originated in Boston and they got outlets in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Thailand too! So if you're heading to any of these countries, do give it a try!
(I'm gonna try find it when I'm in Taiwan - Ximending store is coming soon!!)


Location: ★★☆☆☆
Atmostphere: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★☆
Food Quality: ★★★★★
Customer Service: ★★★★☆

Worth the try(?): ★★★★☆ 


Oh and this was the shop with the best customer service throughout my whole trip. Maybe because it was a modern cafe with younger people working in there (my guess)



OK, that's all for this 3D2N Hong Kong Trip!

↓↓↓ Do find my other posts on Hong Kong at the link below ↓↓↓
 http://www.noellemikazuki.com/search/label/Hongkong




Till the next post, peace out :]


Nov 8, 2016

3D2N Hong Kong Trip - [2016] Places NOT to eat in Hong Kong

Like many of you, I've done ample research on 
"DELICACIES IN HONG KONG"
And it led me to quite a few places (it was just 3D2N, couldn't fit every eating place in) and I gotta say that some were honestly good but the following few that I'm about to mention, 

PLEASE RECONSIDER BEFORE STEPPING FOOT IN.
These are places that I strongly DO NOT recommended


1. Zhang Ji Xiang Gang Zai Yu Dan Wang [章記香港仔魚蛋王]

If you did a Google on this, you'd see a whole chunk of GOOD reviews on this place. 





The interior was clean to be fair. But the atmosphere was very intense. Ordering staffs actually gets frustrated at you when you can't pronounce the order well and if you spend even 1s of the time re-discussing while they're at your table EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT A PEAK HOUR.

And they all acted as if you owed them a million bucks.
They really need to learn how to SMILE or at least have a better tone to their customers.




Customer service aside, here comes the disappointing food.


This was not too bad to be fair - a little too salty but that's fine. 


What was most disappointing about was their FAMOUS dish - the fish balls.


Like really, they named themselves "FISH BALL KING" yet their signature dish tasted so awful.
The fish ball was chewy but not in a positive note, the texture was like chewing on rubber from your school's tuck shop - the cheap kind of rubber.

Never have I eaten a fish ball noodle so bad. 



And the plate of vegetables add on they recommended - normal but with heavy pesticide taste. 

The meal was really cheap, though, and I guess you get what you pay for.

Location: ★★★☆☆
Atmostphere: ★★☆☆☆
Price: ★★★★☆
Food Quality: ★☆☆☆☆
Customer Service: ☆☆☆☆☆

Total: ★★☆☆☆



.........................................................


2. Sham Tseng Chan Kee Roasted Goose [深井陳記燒鵝專門店]

I was actually really looking forward to dining here because Lady Iron Chef actually blogged a good review about this particular brand so I was REALLY EXCITED for some good goose since Singapore doesn't sell any. But I was SO utterly disappointed at both the food and service.

This was probably the WORST place I've visited in Hong Kong.




The skin was tasty and crisp but the meat was so tough and had a very foul smell of blood - probably didn't clean it well or handle it well. I was so disappointed. 



I don't even know what words to describe that disgusting sausage.


What's worse was their customer service.
It took them more than 10 mins to catch their attention (and I had to go up to them to ask to take an order), and while ordering, they were totally distracted as they conversed between their own staffs - casual chats. They gave us cheap stares - probably think we're from China or what and their actions were really turn-off. They literally threw the cutleries and plates (with food) onto the table.

Most absurd customer service I've ever seen in so many countries' cafes/restaurants I've been to.


Location: ★★☆☆☆
Atmostphere: ★☆☆☆☆
Price: ★★★☆☆
Food Quality: ★☆☆☆☆
Customer Service: ☆☆☆☆☆

Total: ★☆☆☆


.........................................................


I think I've never written such an article on overseas cafes/restaurants before but these were really disappointing with a add on of horrendous customer service. 

But nonetheless, food is very subjective and what might seem bad for me might seem good for you.
So if you don't mind being treated like you loaned from them millions of bucks, you can head over to try the food out for yourself if it's along your itinerary. It's definitely not worth a special visit.


THAT'S ALL.

Of course, with the bad, comes the good
I'll be blogging about the better ones in my next post so..stick around ;)




Nov 7, 2016

3D2N Hong Kong Trip - [2016] Hotel Review

Long time since I last wrote a hotel review but I think this hotel deserves one!

If budget isn't really your concern, this hotel is really good and underrated so it's slightly cheaper than hotels of such standards granted its location.

THE CITYVIEW HOTEL
23 Waterloo Road, Kowloon, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong

The nearest MTR, of course, is Yau Ma Tei. 
And it's just a bare 5 minutes walk away from the station.

Didn't manage to take much pictures of the hotel lobby because I was too busy handling check in and everything - and I didn't book the room with breakfast because WHO EATS HOTEL BREAKFASTS IN THE LAND OF GOOD FOOD. 


So okay, cut the words short, here's my room.


Like oops, sorry but not sorry. 
This is only the living room HAHAHA.



And this is the room!





Did I mention that I LOVE hotels with BATHTUBS??
*Am I the only one that really spend close to an hour soaking in hotel bathtubs?? lol*






And the best part of all.

THE HOTEL ACTUALLY LOANS US A FREE PHONE WITH INTERNET CONNECTIVITY AND FREE OVERSEAS CALL!!

It's like too good to be true! Didn't really use much of it because I already got data sim from the airport but this value added service and trust they have is worth commending! And of course, a plus point to the impression.



And interestingly cute bins - such a sucker for cute stuffs lol. 



Really loved this hotel because:

1. They gave me a FREE upgrade of room to Deluxe Suite. I repeat, DELUXE SUITE + FREE #typicalSingaporean
2. It's really near the MTR station (literally just a few turns away)
3. They LOAN US PHONE with internet lol
4. It's CLEAN - very important and not that expensive comparatively to others in this district


Here's the link on Agoda if you guys are interested!


KTHXBYE



Nov 6, 2016

3D2N Hong Kong Trip - [2016] Travelogue

This is an ultimate throwback post to the start of 2016.
I know I've been procrastinating a lot but it's better than not doing it...right? Hahaha!

This post will be a travelogue - meaning pictures only.
But I'll update another post on the cafes/restaurants I visited in HKG.

You guys can also check out THIS LINK for all my HKG posts (in the past too lol)


















LOL yes, no kidding. Didn't check for results though! 


















That's all for now!

I know it's kinda short but bear with it, I'll do up on the cafes/restaurants soon!
And if you've already realised, I'm trying to add certain effects to my images to make it have the vintage/old/fade away kind of feel. First time doing this edit for an entire trip post. Let me know what you think about it! 

SO LONG AND GOODBYE