Let me first share some photos of the hotel where the Nuffnang Blog Awards was held and where we stayed. Marriott Putrajaya is a bit far from the city. I’m not complaining though since I had a very relaxing stay.

outside the hotel

the lobby… Christmas is in the air!

I shared the room with Patty. It was actually my first time to meet her on that trip. Oh gawd, does Nuffnang team realized how alike we are in so many ways that’s why we were placed together in one room?! We clicked in an instant! We can chat all day and night about anything, as if we’ve known each other for so long! Thank you Patty for keeping up with my mess in the room! LOL!

Ooops, my clothes are already scattered all over my bed before I took photos of the room. Sorry! This is what I was saying in my Nuffnang Blog Awards post. By the time I reached the hotel, I still couldn’t decided what to wear! LOL!

Day 2: tour around Kuala Lumpur

We first stopped by the King’s Palace, known as Istana Negara. We just took photos from the gate as the palace grounds isn’t open to the public.

We then visited Plaza Tugo Negara. I felt close to nature in this place. Greens everywhere!

Central Pavilion can also be seen here.

The Cenotaph monument, a First World War memorial, also stands in Plaza Tugo Negra.

Of course, a Kuala Lumpur tour won’t be complete without photos of the Petronas Towers, once the tallest buildings in the world.

We also had a chance to taste various kinds of chocolates, such as Sesame, Almond, Tiramisu, Durian and Hot Chili, at the Cocoa Boutique.

Waves “HI” to Nikki and Helga!

At night, it’s time to glam up again! We had our dinner at Pavilion mall and had a chance to walk around. No shopping yet as we were pressed for time! Just look… and look… and remember where to go back for the next day… LOL!

Oh, and I had a chance to throw a coin and make a wish in this fountain! Who said only Italy has Trevi Fountain?! Haha! *Keeping my fingers crossed for my wish to be granted*

After dinner, time to party at View Rooftop Bar, G Tower! All I can say is- Team Philippines rocked the dance floor!

Breathtaking view of Kuala Lumpur and the Petronas Towers at night!

Day 3: Shopping day!!!

When you see these stores, shopaholics would surely go ga-ga!

Shopping buddies: Patty and Nikki! Way to go girls!

Of course, we also had to take a brake for some snacks. We tried some authentic Malaysian street-food-kind food. I’m not really into anything spicy, but these are incredible!!! I forgot the names, but one is like chicken strips, the other cup is squid balls, and the other is like french toast. YUMMY!!!

Now, here’s my shopping escapade story. The first store Patty, Nikki and I entered was like a hold up! LOL! I didn’t plan to shop anything in KL at all. I just came back from a vacation and the day before I left for KL was the day I paid for BIG “H”! I was already more than happy with my year-ender purchases. But then, I went out with this…

Ummm… correction! Not only “I”! Patty and I came out with watches on our hands! Oh and take note, we have exactly the same style! Friendship watch, eh?! LOL! More of the watch in a different post.

Well, I didn’t just bring home a souvenir watch from KL. Most importantly, I brought home good memories and great friends! Thanks Nuffnang for this one of a kind experience! Thank you Team Philippines for making this trip unforgettable!

No words can really describe how London celebrated New Year. Nothing compares. It’s the best I’ve seen so far. While watching the video below, all I could say was “Wow”. I was like a kid watching with my eyes and mouth wide open. LOL! I love watching fireworks. There’s something about it that makes it so magical. I feel I’m watching a fairytale ending- happily ever after. And would you believe I always get goosebumps when I see nice fireworks? Don’t ask me why because I also don’t know the answer. Hehe! Anyway, I’ll stop blabbing and let you watch London’s New Year 2012 countdown. Enjoy!

Now, what did I say about London’s 2012 countdown? AMAZING isn’t it?! I can’t imagine myself standing there and seeing this live. I might be crying out of joy. It’s just SPECTACULAR! Oh gosh, I feel every adjective I have on top of my head right now is an understatement. I’m lost of words, I’m sorry. All I know is after watching this, something was added to my list of things to do before I die. That is to celebrate one New Year in London!

The awards night was held at the grand ballroom of Marriott Putrajaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. To be with 500 bloggers from 7 countries under one roof was definitely a night to be remembered forever.

As the event started, we were served with really good food.

No matter how full I am (I wasn’t even able to finish the main dish!), there will always be room for dessert in my tummy. LOL! This dessert is TDF!!!

We were also entertained by different performances! Woot!

And of course, that night was to recognize the best blogs of Nuffnang all over Asia Pacific. Have you heard that Philippines did very well this year?! We won four awards! I am very thankful to be there to support Team Philippines! Pinoy bloggers rock! You guys make us really proud! Here’s the complete list of winners of Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards 2011:

Best Photography Blog – Photoblog.hk (Hong Kong)
Best Geek Blog – Geekout.ph (Philippines)
Best Food Blog – LadyIronChef.com (Singapore)
Best Fashion Blog – Cheeserland.com (Malaysia)
Most Original Blog Design – EatShowandTell.com (Australia)
Best Parenting Blog – Childhood101.com (Australia)
Best Travel Blog – JustWandering.org (Philippines)
Best Entertainment Blog – Beautifulnara.com (Malaysia)
Best Lifestyle Blog – Jenniepperson.com (Philippines)
Hidden Gem – Googlygooeys.com (Philippines)
Best Micro Blog – KennySia.com (Malaysia)
Most Influential blog – XiaXue.sg (Singapore)
Region’s Best blog – XiaXue.sg (Singapore)

Congratulations everyone!

Here are some photos during the night. Everyone looked stunning!

me. Nikki. Noelle. Patty

with my best roomie, Patty

with our tablemate, Valerie Lim (Beauty Blogger), Ms. Universe Singapore 2011

Patty. Jane. Nikki. me. Erwan. Hannah

As to what I wore that night, I couldn’t make up my mind between 2 dresses. I ended up bringing both all the way to Malaysia. LOL! Last minute, I thought I’d better go for the long one since it’s an awards night. Hehe! It’s a dress made by the late Brian Leyva. Thanks to my dear friend, Carla!

Go Team Philippines! Woot!

The night didn’t end at Marriott. Of course, there must be some partying after the awarding! Haha! We went to Zouk Club for the after-party!

Again, thank you to Nuffnang for this wonderful experience! I will forever be grateful.

More about my Malaysia trip with the Nuffies in my next post!

There’s a Leica store in the lobby, just beside Louis Vuitton!

Raffles Courtyard seemed like a perfect place to chill!

A trip to Singapore won’t be complete without a visit to their famous shopping street, Orchard Road. It’s definitely the shopaholics paradise. You’ll probably see almost all the fashion brands here, including the first ever H&M store in the country, which just opened last September 2011.

Of course, if it’s a shopping day along Orchard Road, I must wear my lightest and most comfortable clothes.

Wearing a button down blouse doesn’t have to be BLAH. I opted to loosely fasten a thin braided belt around my waist and let my top hang from it for a relaxed look. Imagine this top without a belt. I’d probably look as if I just woke up.

Since I was wearing something plain and simple, it’s a must for me to accessorize to at least give some life to the outfit.

My ever-reliable flats is a must for a whole day walk!

designer brands at Ion Mall

more photos inside Raffles Hotel

Blouse: K.A.T. Collection
Belt: Forever 21
Shorts: Papaya
Shoes: from China
Tote: Longchamp
Bangles: H&M and New Look
Rings: H&M and from an online shop

For the first two days, we went around Warsaw, the capital of Poland. This place was heavily destroyed during World War II, but all the buildings of cultural and historical importance were restored according to the ancient designs and pictures. It’s very impressive. There are more than a thousand historical monuments and places in the city. Here are a few…

Palace of Culture

Lazienski Palace & Park

Chopin’s Monument

Ghetto memorial

Royal Route

Royal Castle

St. John Cathedral

and their lovely Old Town…

Oh, and you know what’s our other memorable experience here in the city? Our hotel in Warsaw was just a 5-minute walk to the mall. LOL! You wouldn’t believe what my mom, sister and I did! After our tour around the city, instead of resting, we went to the mall to shop. We went back to our hotel after 3 hours since we had to eat dinner together with the rest of the tour group. But, the night ain’t over yet! After dinner, we headed back to the mall and stayed there until closing time- until 10pm or 11pm, I think! Oh dear, our feet and legs were really painful. We literally couldn’t walk anymore. This probably topped our Prague walkathon! LOL!

So, what do you think? If you ask me though, Prague is still the best. But Dresden would leave you dumbfounded that there is such place in Germany. Here are more sights around the city. My photos look like the buildings we usually see in paintings. Breathtaking…

Theaterplatz

Hofkirche Cathedral

 Zwinger Palace… really love the Baroque style

Frauenkirche, Germany’s most important Protestant church

colossal mosaic on the Castle wall, called Procession of Dukes

Semper Opera House, which is the only theatre in Germany that bears the name of its architect

The Royal Palace, one of the oldest buildings in the city, was built 700 years ago and reconstructed as a museum

Before going to Berlin, our tour guide was kind enough to let us visit Potsdam even if it was not part of our itinerary. Potsdam is capital of the Brandenburg state, which is just in the metropolitan area of Berlin. A lot of tourists frequent the area since a lot of sights here were built when Potsdam became the residence of Prussian kings during the 18th and 19th century. Here, we were able to see the largest world heritage site in Germany, Sanssouci.

We then continued our trip to Berlin. We drove by Kurfürstendamm, known locally as Ku’damm, the main shopping boulevard in Berlin. Yes, we only passed by it! Why? Because it was a Sunday when we arrived Berlin! Argh! In Germany, all shops are closed on Sundays. When I say “all shops”, I mean ALL SHOPS- even huge malls and designer brands! Imagine our dismay when we knew about it! We actually told our tour guide never to create an itinerary which would bring tourists in the best shopping areas on a Sunday! Haha! I’m pretty sure you can feel my disappointment until now. LOL! But anyway, I think it was better that way to avoid more and more expenses on our end. Hehehe!

Here are some of the major tourist attractions in Berlin:

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

inside Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Victory Column

Checkpoint Charlie (the soldier posed for my camera… haha)

the famous Berlin Wall

Brandenburg Gate.

There are just so many must-see places in Germany! I have yet to visit Munich and Frankfurt. Being in Europe once is never enough indeed!

The ambiance has a hip vibe to it, making it a perfect place for those who want to eat, drink and dance. It’s indeed a place of entertainment!

Another must-see in Singapore is the now popular building, Marina Bay Sands.

You can go up the viewing deck for SGD 20 per person. I’d say, it’s a must. The view is just spectacular. Skip the Singapore Flyer (the London-Eye-looking Ferris Wheel) and just go up to the viewing deck of Marina Bay Sands if you want to see Singapore. It’s best to go here late in the afternoon to have a glimpse of the sunset. Then, stay until it gets a bit dark, when lights around Singapore start to lit up.

If you want to go for some luxurious shopping or “window shopping”, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands is the place to be.

Now for my outfit… Time to be vain and pose around in these lovely places. LOL!

I needed to wear something comfortable since I know I’ll do a lot of walking. Remember this harem pants, as seen in this post? Now, instead of wearing it high-waisted, I pulled it down for a more loose and relaxed fit.

For my top, I layered two tank tops- one with a bit of embelishment on the neckline underneath a plain loose sando.

Oh, and a new tote to toss around…

It’s a foldable bag from Calvin Klein. It’s made of nylon so I won’t have to worry of getting it scratched. It’s also lightweight, perfect for travel!

crossing the street in Clark Quay

more photos around Marina Bay Sands

Sunnies is really a must when traveling! I go crazy when I forget to bring one. Haha!

Embellished tank top: from Taiwan
Blush tank top: H&M
Harem pants: Topshop
Shoes: from China
Tote: Calvin Klein
Necklace: H&M
Bracelet: from London
Rings: H&M and from bazaars
Shades: Prada

Gyi-Kaku Japanese BBQ Restaurant is located at Chijmes, Singapore. Chijmes used to be a Catholic convent (Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus) and convent quarters (Caldwell House). Now, it’s one of the popular dining places in Singapore. Most restaurants are a bit pricey though, but the ambiance at night is just so romantic.

Lights everywhere! Simply perfect for date nights!

We ordered the Botan Set for 3 persons. We came from Universal Studios that day so just imagine our appetite that time. LOL! The Botan Set includes the following: Kim-chee, Korean Style Cucumber Pickles, Assorted Sausage & Bacon, Choice of Salad, Wagyu Tongue, Wagyu Nakaochi, Wagyu Rump Cap, Lamb Chop, Buta Karubi, Ebi Foil Grill, Ishiyaki Bibimbab, and a Choice of Dessert.

For the salad, we chose to have Horenso (Japanese Style Spinach) Salad. I’m very picky when it comes to salad. I don’t eat vegetables that much that’s why the dressing is very crucial. This one did not disappoint. In fact, it’s now one of my favorites. The bad thing is, the set only comes with a small cup of salad.

When our main course arrived, I then understood why there wasn’t much appetizer. The main course was quite huge. It consisted of different kinds of meat, as seen in the menu above. Since it’s barbecue style, we had to cook them in front of us- something not everyone likes. Our clothes smelled smoke after. Well, we didn’t mind. The smoke was worth it! LOL! Everything was delicious, even the sausages, bacon strips, and lamb chops.

But obviously, the thinly sliced Wagyu beef was the best! I haven’t tried any Wagyu as soft and juicy as this!

To end the meal, we were asked to choose a dessert. For the first dessert, we chose something safe- as simple as vanilla ice cream.

For the other dessert, we asked the server for her recommendation. When it arrived, it looked like a shot of alcoholic drink!

But when we tasted it, boy it was sooo delicioso! It was creamy sweet. It was just perfect to end a meal.

So when in Singapore and you have some money to spare for real good food, drop by at Chijmes and taste Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Restaurant.

I’ve shared the Drivers Parade in my previous post. Now, it’s time to see some real action! Thank goodness we were able to get a good spot where we could take decent pictures. But no matter how great our seats were, it was extremely hard to take pictures! Take note, these cars go as fast as 300 kph. Aside from that, there was a wire mesh all over the track. It really takes a lot of practice to have steady hands and fast reflex. Thank God I have arz! LOL!

Oh, but can I just share with you guys first the kind of lens that the professional photographers were using?

WHOA! BAZOOKA!

We definitely don’t have that! Haha! Anyway, here are some photos of the F1 cars in action. Again, thank you arz!

*All pictures are copyrighted. Contact me if you want to use or grab photos.

Here’s the first cut: the Drivers Parade. Not all countries have this kind of parade, wherein each driver was seated in a top down vintage car. Sweet!

*Special thanks to arzphotography ;-D

* All pictures are copyrighted. Contact me if you want to use or grab photos.

let’s start off with the safety car…

Presenting… the amazing F1 drivers…

and of course, last but not the least, Sebastian Vettel…

Stay tuned for the pictures of the actual race!