The wonders of Monaco - offering best of both worlds!

As I was googling for places to visit in Europe (wish I could do my Europe trip soon). I came across Monaco, I sort of heard the place before I think because I watched some movie and they mentioned Monaco F1 Grand Prix. Wow the picture above blew me away and make me wanted to find more about Monaco. Monaco which is located on the French Riviera in Western Europe is very near to Nice, France and Italy. 

What is interesting about Monaco is that it's a place where it can offer romantic city break and relaxing vacation on the beach at the same time. Ah no need to be torn between choices city or beach holiday when Monaco offers the best of both worlds! I have been reading a lot about Monaco and and drool on those amazing pictures! I know Monaco is pretty uncommon places among Asian to visit so I'm going to share some of the tips about the place; eg how to get there..

Getting to Monaco

Although Monaco is nestled between the far south east of France and Italy, it is relatively easily to get to once you are in Europe. And whilst a twelve hour drive across the Alps might provide plenty of scenery, it could prove somewhat tiring, and thankfully there are other options such as trains on the SNCF network that service Monaco several times a day. Monaco is also well served by the nearby Nice airport that provides many flights from a variety of different locations. It's about 16 kilometers from Italy and is only 13 kilometers northeast of Nice, France so we can do sort of day trip to all these places.

Landscape

Although Monaco is the second smallest and the most densely populated country in the world, it has been a fixture on the agenda of travel fans for many years now. And it's with good reason, as Monaco has an incredible range of history, culture and entertainment within its two kilometer urbanized area.

History  

Monaco became a principality with its own constitutional monarchy in 1297, and since then it has held a unique position on the global stage. But it wasn't until the 19th century when Monaco became known as a 'playground for the rich and famous', when its spectacular scenery, glorious climate and reputation for gambling made it a premier tourist destination. 

Culture 

For a country with such a small area, Monaco has plenty to offer the tourist. With a world-class ballet and opera to witness, as well as the renowned Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra in residence, it's something of a haven for classical music fans. 

Another big reason as to why many flock to Monaco is the Casino de Monte Carlo. Opened in the mid 1800s, the casino enjoys a world-wide reputation for its architecture and high-class gaming. So if you're looking to brush up on your cards skills and understand some of the finer intricacies of the slot machines, then you can find some great offers, promotions and games that can be accessed via sites as SpinPalace and the likes. Even if you don’t like to gamble, be sure to visit to see the amazing decor.

Religion 

As Monaco is a largely Roman Catholic country, there are some spectacular churches to discover. In particular, Saint Nicholas Cathedral is a stunning 13th century building that features the grave site of the American actress Grace Kelly.

Language

Whilst Monegasque may be national language of those people native to Monaco, the official - and by far most common - language of Monaco is French. However, there are other language groups present including Italian and English, and as would benefit such a renowned tourist destination, there is little in the way of a language barrier in many places.

Ah nice right ? Well now I'm putting this in my bucket list!

Happy long weekends Malaysian! To my muslims readers, I would like to wish you Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf zahir dan batin :) Selamat balik kampung ya! 

Pictures & Videos of Jelly Bunny Spring/Summer 2015 collection

 

Hi everyone, I'm back! Sorry I have been missing for quite a while because I away busy traveling and have a lot of issues to settle. I can't wait to share all my stories with all of you here especially on my trip to Sri Lanka recently. I managed to spot a leopard in the wild.. it's so exciting! I will be back with more pictures to show you all here.

Anyway out so many happening things for the past few months, I had a really fun date with the Bunny in late May. Any guess where is the Bunny from?

Any of you guess it correctly?

Jelly Bunny is a lifestyle fashion accessory brand from Thailand if you don't know. Established since 2011, it has fun story to tell via their variety of fashion products including shoes, bags, watches, sunglasses & more. The main objective is to flaunt a distinctive sense of style, refined quality, creativity and value without compromising on the comfort, functionality and durability. 

The brand constantly experiments with different shapes and bold colors, with plenty of love and attention to detail. Specially designed ornaments are constantly used to bring out the playful factor. Meanwhile, the unique texture of Jelly Bunny products is achieved through an innovative manipulation of non-toxic, easy-to-clean materials such as PVC and silicone. While the cute ornaments and various hues are pleasing to the eyes, the soft jelly-like texture creates the temptation to touch and feel. Not to forget the sweet vanilla scent incorporated into the shoes designed to perfectly heighten the wearer’s sense of smell. 

We are the lucky social media influencers who managed to catch a glimpse of the new Jelly Bunny Spring/Summer 2015 collection.

And we have a personal styling class with fashion stylist Haida Yusof on how to mix & match our outfit. 

Sweet Glam’ concept is the muse behind this season Jelly Bunny Spring/Summer 2015 "Dreaming n the Cloud collection which consists mainly of charming and playful designs - and that's the brand’s distinct signature. 

The color palette: warm violet, French blue, light purple and rainbow. So get ready to spark up this spring & summer with a touch more sweet glam and a tad more fun.

 In this season, Jelly Bunny also  present a new light & comfort shoe range for everyday wear.

 Here are some of our favourite one! 

Not only it looks pretty but it smells delicious :D 

Some of the bags from Jelly Bunny Spring/ Summer 2015 collection 

My favourite from this season collection. Not only this is bag is very eye attention but the material is very sturdy! 

This mini bag is super cute!

Check out my video which I took in the store to show you Jelly Bunny Spring and Summer 2015 Collection. 

It's so difficult to resist when all the designs are so cute and colourful!

Thanks to Jelly Bunny Malaysia, I got 2 flats and one black boots. <3 

Honestly, I would have bought more pairs if I could find my shoes size. My feet are too small and I can;t fit when some of the designs starts from size 6. 

Do check out the latest Sping/Summer 2015 collection in the below locations in Malaysia.

Suria KLCC Mall, Mid Valley Shopping Mall, 1 Utama Shopping Mall, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, KLIA 2, Sunway Putra Mall, Dataran Pahlawan Mall Melaka, East Coast Mall Kuantan, Gurney Paragon, Zest Point, Oceanus Waterfront Mall In Kota Kinabalu and JBK Mall

For more information, visit http://www.jellybunny.com/

Away travelling to Sri Lanka when I'm young and able!

I saw this quote on the other day in the Facebook and I totally agree with the statement. I know I has been missing from my blog for a while because I'm busy making money to go travel! I knew I just came back from a few trips (Taiwan, Krabi, Hatyai) last few months, but it isn't enough (well it is never enough right?). I love to travel and this is not a secret, how do I do it so often..most of the times (well almost 99%) I paid for my trip. I don't splurge on luxury items like handbags and expensive food instead save it for my trip. I put away  50% of my earning every month for me go holiday. So with proper financial planning anyone can go holiday few times a year. And holiday does not mean it must be far.

So when AirAsia has the secret sale last April, I just book my trip. I'm flying to Colombo (Sri Lanka) today and would explore there for the next 7 days! So excited!! I knew this is not a popular first destination for many people but do you know...Sri Lanka has safari!!! And I wanted to go for safari to see elephants and leopard in the wild! Besides that they have really nice beaches, Ceylon tea mountain and temples to be explored. I shall share with you guys when I'm back ..and I'm active in my instagram and facebook. So if you want to see my travelling photos, do follow me :D 

Facebook page : Jessying

Instagram handle : @jessyings

Twitter acc : @Jessyings

So far as you can see from my Tripadvisor travel map I have been actively exploring ASEAN countries for the past few years and hopefully by next year, I would have travel to Vietnam and Laos to complete my journey in exploring all 10 ASEAN country. And next target is Europe! 

My motto in life!

So what you are waiting now, money and job can wait but our time and youth is not waiting for us. So if you are always wanted to go some more, do make it comes true! World is so big and there are so many wonderful experiences waiting for us to unlock!

Travel tip: Do you know if you use ShopBack Malaysia, you get to enjoy greatest discounts on Agoda and best promos on Expedia as you receive cashback on your travel bookings! Now you can travel more to see the world with ShopBack Malaysia! Click -> http://bit.ly/shopbackmy to register now! 

Review : L'Occitane Reine Blanche Illuminating UV Shield SPF50

For the longest time, we all know having a fair and flawless complexion is the dream of every (Asian) girls because it symbolised beauty and femininity. Drawing on its extensive botanical research, L’Occitane has discovered a plant with the power to whiten and spectacularly illuminate the skin. Reine des Prés is a pure white flower illuminating its petals over time. Inspired by its immaculate beauty and unparalleled luminosity, L’Occitane has created the REINE BLANCHE Illuminating Program for a fair and translucent skin. Day after day, the skin recovers its natural translucency and inner light, glowing with immaculate radiance. 

L'Occitane Reine Blanche range comes with 4 products, Foaming Cleanser, Whitening Cream, Whitening Serum and Illuminating UV Shield. Out of these products, the serum and UV shield managed to won our local magazine editor's favourite products. 

Thanks to L'Occitane Malaysia, I got a bottle of Illuminating UV Shield to try out. Love the white glass bottle that comes in a pump, very minimalist yet elegant design. 

Reine des Prés is a pure white flower known for its lightening properties: the flower is illuminating its petals over time. It naturally contains salicylic acid - renowned for boosting luminosity and helping epidermal renewal. 

Inspired by its immaculate beauty and unparalleled luminosity, L’OCCITANE has created the Reine Blanche Illuminating Program for a fair and translucent skin. With its moisturizing formula, the Illuminating UV shield instantly offers comfort and a sensation of incredible smoothness, leaving skin feeling optimally protected, plumped and hydrated. 

The L'Occitane Illuminating UV Shield is a multiple action care that helps preserve luminous and even-toned skin. With continuous daily use, it promises to helps to

• Provide effective protection against UV rays (SPF50)
• Protect skin against external aggressions.
• Prevent uneven skin tone, caused by sun exposure
•  Improve translucency of the skin 
• Visibly revive the clarity of the skin 

Instruction how to use L'Occitane Reine Blanche Illuminating UV Shield SPF50

1) Take a quarter size of sunscreen/2 pumps and warm between your fingers.
2) Starting from your nose, apply outwards to your ears and your entire face, then apply on your forehead with alternate outward movements, finish on your neck and chest area.
3) Make sure that your skin is clean and dry, and apply after your daily moisturizer and before applying make up.

A you can see from the picture, the texture is milky lotion, it's quite thick compared to my usual sunblock. Surprisingly it's not sticky at all and it makes my skin feel smooth & hydrated after applying it. Although I was worried when I see a white cast on my face while I was applying the product but after a while it disappeared once it's set on my skin.

One thing I really like about this sunblock is that unlike usual sunscreen, L'Occitane Reine Blanche Illuminating UV Shield has this lovely floral scent which I find it therapeutic. It finds my skin feel hydrated and not oily even though I have been out in the sun all day long. The SPF 50 is great for my everyday use, keeping my skin safe from the harmful UV rays. Plus their lightening properties and SPF50 help my skin looks brighter and protected over time. 

I remembered a while ago, a friend told me she does not use sunblock ( yes there are still people that ignore the importance of sunblock) because she feel it's oily on her skin plus she works in the office. I told her the right sunblock would not make her face oily but comfortable all year long. Not sure how many times I have been mentioning this, harmful UV ways it's the number 1 reason that cause skin aging and pigmentation. And UV rays can reflect off windows, concrete roads and penetrate through glass windows, so even you work indoor you are still expose to UV rays.

L'Occitane Reine Blanche Illuminating UV Shield SPF50 is selling in all L'Occitane store at RM178/30ml or via their website. I do realised it's more expensive than my usual sunblock but I guess this offers more than just sunblock as it contains lightening properties (plus it smell so nice too!)

For more info, visit http://my.loccitane.com/

Top 5 reasons why you should celebrate Songkran Festival in Hatyai!

Have you heard of Songkran festival or better known as water festival?

Songkran Festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April and it's their national public holiday. The tradition of water pouring is meant as a symbol of washing away all of their sins and bad luck, and one cannot get angry when someone pour water on them.

I always wanted to experience Songkran festival and this year finally I made it, thanks to AirAsia for flying us to Hat Yai! Hat Yai is located southern of Thailand and it's near Malaysia (Bukit Kayu Hitam) boarder and it's fourth largest city in Thailand. Personally I have been there for many years and it feels like home when I got there.

So when I got back many asked me what should they expect and do for Songkran Festival and hence I decided to write this about it.

Things to prepare for Songkran Festival

Your weapon of course! We got this water gun from Hat Yai at 350baht (RM37) if I remembered correctly. There are many kinds of water gun, some has really cute Hello Kitty design. My advice is go for the one that has the maximum capacity of water, reason being you are preparing for a "water war" tedious to keep looking for place to refill your water gun. 

Note : If you decide to bring back your water gun, please check in this in your luggage or it would be confiscated if you try to hand carry this on board. I guess because of the container can fill more than 100ml hence you cannot bring this on board. 

If you decide to bring your handphone along to Songkran Festival, please make sure it's water resistant like my Sony Z3 or well protected with a waterproof pouch..I'm thankful that my handphone is waterproof and can take picture during the water war.

Waterproof bag or drybag 

This is super important lah, keep your money & mobile phone in waterproof pouch because you will get wet (it's more like you will get drenched) from head to toe. There will be a lot of people selling at the Songkran festival but always come prepare lah because you actually will get wet the moment you walk on the street.

Protective Eye wear 

I never thought protective eye wear would be that important. I tell you why because a lot of people will be spraying around and water will get into your eyes until you can't open your eyes. I bought this at 50baht (RM5.40) from a roadside stall.

We are in Hat Yai on the eve of Songkran Festival and the celebration has already started that night itself! 

Okay check out my OOTD lah.. recommend girls to wear black top because you will get wet and wear light material pants so that it will dry up quickly.

Eazy, Shannon, me & Khai all prepare to go for water war :D 

AirAsia organised a stage that night. There are DJ spinning music all day long with a lot of activities going on stage. So damn happening lah! 

Those AirAsia staff on stage busy entertaining us with water and all the audience happily accepting it like like blessing *good lah wash away all the bad luck*

I remembered my some Thai girls put some cooling powder paste to put on my face when they walk pass me... apparently also one of the tradition during Songkran Festival.. 

I think they made the cooling paste with prickly heat cooling powder

No matter young or old, all of them has water gun on their hand... this little boy damn mischievous... he literally chase me and spray me :P 

And I have to counter attack him..with my water gun..

There are water station on the roadside during the festival for you to refill. But there are people who rent the whole water tank for their own use. 

Now you see why I tell you to get higher capacity water gun because it's troublesome to find free water station.

Damn crowded ...and happening

So nice of AirAsia to give out prizes to lucky winners.... haha I also want to win flight tickets

There are concert everywhere during Songkran Festival eve. 

First time watching Muay Thai competition on street. 

Some even go to the extend of renting vehicle and have their water tank in car... fuiyoh..

Some of them fill up their tank with ice and it's super chilling water when they spray on you..very notty right!

I never knew how crazy and fun is Songkran Festival until I experienced it. Everyone suddenly become like little kids running around spraying water on each other... SO SO FUN because it's Thai new year and no one can get angry when water was being sprayed on them :D

So some asked me why want to celebrate Songkran Festival in Hat Yai, well this is my reason why. 

1) It's the biggest city in Southern Thailand and one of the nearest city to Malaysia boarder. So means everyone at the Southern region will gather in Hat Yai to celebrate Songkran Festival together.

It's very near to KL, with only about 1h 10mins flight from KLIA2 to Hat Yai International Airport. AirAsia flies 10x weekly to Hat Yai from Kuala Lumpur.  Hat Yai is one of the main hub in Southern Thailand, hence it's easy to get transit flight to Hat Yai via Don Mueang with 9x Daily flights.

2) Very easy to communicate with Thais in Hat Yai because they can speak fluent English, Malay, Mandarin and some even can speak Hokkien. That's why I said it feel like home in Hat Yai... no need to worry about language barrier! 

3) FOOD - I love Thai Food. What so unique in Hat Yai is there are plenty Chinese & Muslim Thai food too. They are cheap and good. 

And of of the must try in Hat Yai is Chinese dim sum. It's has huge varieties of choices and only 18 baht (RM1.90) per basket . Must try dim sum restaurant in Hat Yai - highly recommending Chokdee Dim Sum Restaurant

4) After celebrating Songkran Festival in Hat Yai, there are a lot of nearby places of interest that one can visit. One should not miss the famous statue in Thailand which is the Golden Mermaid in Songkla.

Hat Yai also has their own floating market. Klonghae Floating Market is the only floating market at the southern of Thailand. Opens on Friday to Sunday from 3pm to 9pm. Most of them are selling local food. We took tuk tuk here about 100baht for return trip from city. 

5) In Hat Yai besides Thai Baht, you can also pay in Malaysian ringgit if you don't have enough Thai Baht. How convenient right? This shows that there are a lot of Malaysian tourists visitting Hat Yai until Malaysian Ringgit is widely accepted there.

Most important just prepare to have FUN FUN FUN lah! It's an unforgettable experience for me. You got to experience Songkran Festival yourself to know how FUN is it!

And with the coming AirAsia Travel Fair in Paradigm mall happening over this weekends (29 - 31 May 2015) offering 20% off all flights tickets, you should go and book tickets to enjoy Songkran Festival in Hatyai next year lah! I'm planning mine trips too, so hope to see you all there!

To find out more about AirAsia flights to Hat Yai, please visit www.airasia.com