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Diplomat’s Wife

in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Denmark, France, Geneva, Leavesden, London, Malmö, Paris, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Travel, United Kingdom, Versailles, Volendam

Beauty + Fashion [VIDEO]: The humungous (affordable) Europe haul

October 1, 2015

Hi everyone! Finally publishing this requested video which takes over 20 minutes. Crazy long, I know! But there’s just so much stuff to show you! So this is the video where I prove to you guys that shopping in Europe can be VERY affordable. 🙂 While I do have family there who heavily subsidised our trip and spoiled the hell out of us while we were there, the stuff I actually paid for didn’t leave my wallet in a sorry state. I missed Europe and all the things I can get there but I am proud to say that as always, I kept my head and didn’t go wild. Whew! (Always a struggle though if you’re into beauty products and clothes!)

Also, as a disclaimer, I didn’t include everything and even had to cut off a lot of parts just to keep it this short! I kept the most interesting bits, though. The home stuff, I’ll probably talk about them in another entry.

You can check the list of products I mentioned after the video if you don’t want to go through the whole ordeal. 😉 I also put them in order so you can easily forward through the video if you’re only interested in a few products!

A friend of mine who saw this video first before I uploaded it also asked why I didn’t get anything from Sephora during the trip. Answer: Because of the low Ringgit, everything is cheaper in Malaysia at the moment! So it would have been a disservice to my wallet and shopping skills if I shopped for makeup there that’s readily available in KL. 😀

Also, I was able to keep my hands off the Charlotte Tillbury and Tom Ford lipsticks that I wanted with the logic that if I pass on them now and just buy them when I have more savings, then, I will be able to buy more stuff in Boots! Haha! Crazy, I know. I’ve been taking extra freelance work lately as I’ve been saving up for the high end stuff that I want for my next trip – which may be coming sooner than I thought! 😉

Enjoy!

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in Diplomatic Incidents, Events

Food: Best of the Philippines! Try Our Food in KLCC till Friday!

September 30, 2015

Filipino food is seriously underrated. Despite living in Malaysia where food is an actual tourist attraction, I have to admit that there are times when I still miss what we have at home.

From our world-famous mangoes, crab paste (which I tend to mix with everything), and down to my favourite Tinola (chicken soup with ginger and chilli leaves), there’s just something about our food that will make you want more. Ours is the next type of food you should be trying before it even becomes too mainstream. 😉

In fact, if Malaysians have their staple breakfast food called Nasi Lemak, we Filipinos are proud of our -Silog meals! Which I should talk about on a different post so as not to veer off the topic for this one. But if you ever find yourself in Laguna Restaurant in KL or Merienda de Eva in Damansara, order yourself a Tapsilog and thank me later.

If you’re currently in Kuala Lumpur, please do drop by the Food and Hotel Malaysia 2015 expo and visit us! The Philippine Pavilion is located at Hall 1, booth 1111.

We have mangoes, chili sauces and dips (which left my Malaysian friends wanting more and wondering why they are not available here!), sweets like polvoron, and as well as healthy juices and cooking aids – calamansi juice and coconut vinegar, anyone?

Side note: That coconut vinegar makes an awesome chip-dip!

Business owners and food importers are also welcome to ask for details on how you can bring our products here in Malaysia.

Our booth will be in KLCC till this Friday, the 2nd of October. See you there!

xx,

Carol

in Beauty & Fashion

Beauty: Haircare meets sustainability with Davines

September 24, 2015

Hello, my loves. Allow me to take a quick break from all the travel posts and share with you bits and pieces from an event I attended a few days ago.

I went to the autumn/winter preview for Italian hair care and styling brand Davines and I totally had a blast seeing what’s going to be ‘in’ for the latter part of 2015 and learning more about their products.

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Paris, Travel, Diplomat's Wife, Eiffel Tower, Where to go, What to see, What to eat
in Video

Travel + Video: Paris 2015

September 22, 2015

Our next stop in Europe was Paris! Though this city will always have a special place in my heart, I have to admit that in the summer, it can be too hot and too crowded. Nevertheless, I still had a lot of fun since going back to this city – this time with my husband – is just really romantic.

Before I move on to writing about where to go and some travel tips to Paris, let me share with you this video filled with snippets from this leg of our trip! Enjoy! :-*

More later!

xx,

Carol

*Trip is not sponsored by any country’s tourism department, company, or brand but by my side of the family living in Europe.  😊

in The Netherlands

Travel: Volendam and Marken, The Netherlands (Where to Buy Souvenirs!)

September 5, 2015

Just a stone’s throw away from Amsterdam are two fishing villages which have kept Dutch tradition and architecture alive. If you’re not into touristy places, then at first glance, Marken and Volendam might not be for you. However, there are still lots to see here once you veer away from the usual route.

Marken

There’s a saying that goes something like – If God created the world, then the Dutch created the Netherlands. Which is pretty much true since the Dutch have a long history of reclaiming land. Thus, most parts of the country is actually man-made. Ever wondered why Amsterdam looks so symmetrical when you’re looking down at it from your plane’s window?

Almost Diplomatic - carolific - Diplomat’s Wife - Travel - Amsterdam - Marken - Volendam

Islands, canals, dikes – for a country that’s actually below sea level, their relationship with water has evolved greatly in the past few centuries. To say that water is their friend is even an understatement – They are its masters as they can practically control it nowadays.

Almost Diplomatic - carolific - Diplomat’s Wife - Travel - Amsterdam - Marken - Volendam

They did come a long way from being flooded all the freakin’ time and being considered as a marsh land. Marken, meanwhile, is a village that was separated from the mainland due to a storm in the 13th century. From then on, the people living on the newly made island, set their sights on fishing as their main source of livelihood

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in Diplomatic Incidents, How-Tos, Recipes

Career Girl Cooking Series: Choco-Cherry Almond Cookies

July 23, 2015

Career Girl Cooking Series, Baking, Cookies, Cherry, Cherry Season, Cherries Malaysia, Cherries Kuala Lumpur, Cherry Recipe, Chocolate, Almonds, Easy Cookie Recipe, Dessert, Domestic Diva, Domestication, Diplomat's Wife, Cookie, #Foodporn, Food

Yet another super easy recipe coming your way just in time for cherry season, my loves!

Baking is therapeutic. It is also a great way to impress people around you with your ‘domestic diva’ skills and make them think you’re like the best diplomat’s wife ever when in fact, you’ve only exerted a wee bit of effort. Haha! I do admit to them later on that baking is easy-peasy. You just have to get yourself into the kitchen, drop the fear that you might blow up your whole building, and dive right in. It takes a lot of time but it’s definitely fun and worth it. 😉

I haven’t been baking for quite a while since my husband and I have been so busy. I was actually looking for an excuse to bake something just so I can make some desserts and disrupt his dieting. 😛

Career Girl Cooking Series, Baking, Cookies, Cherry, Cherry Season, Cherries Malaysia, Cherries Kuala Lumpur, Cherry Recipe, Chocolate, Almonds, Easy Cookie Recipe, Dessert, Domestic Diva, Domestication, Diplomat's Wife, Cookie, #Foodporn, Food

It’s currently cherry season so that’s a wonderful excuse to bake something sweet and fruity. 😉 I was also recently given a pack of Northwest Cherries to try. Been eating them fresh and adding them to shakes. Naturally, the next step would actually be baking with them. I decided to try a recipe I found on the internet for plain cookies then adding my choice of toppings.

Here’s the recipe! Enjoy! 😉

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in Diplomatic Incidents, Events

Events + Photos: Oh My India! A Journey Around India Through Her Many Dance Traditions

July 21, 2015

A few weeks ago, my husband and I found ourselves with (awesome) seats to a dance showcase that I’ve been looking forward to for quite a while. When my good friend Thana mentioned earlier that he’s been studying traditional Indian dance and added that he will be inviting Alvin and I to their showcase – naturally – I was extremely excited. Theirs is one of the most fascinating and colourful cultures I have ever encountered so I definitely had to see this show.

India – the most populous democracy, the land of Ghandi, where the Taj Mahal is located, Bollywood land, Hinduism’s homecourt, and the birthplace of Karma and Kama Sutra. And while I’m sure the last bit totally got your attention, I have to admit that my favourites are actually these two: Indian food and their art! Indian food in Malaysia is one of the reasons (Three words: Chicken Tikka Masala) I have to go to the gym and their art forms – from visuals to performances, to wearables – always leave me in awe.

I have been bugging my friends of Indian heritage to bring me along to any of their celebrations just so I can wear a saree. That’s how eager I am. Haha!

Oh My India, was an event that highlighted 10 of the dances found in the country’s different states. It’s a great way of peeking into the culture, religion, and lore that’s so unique and captivating. The event was held in Black Box in Publika and lasted for about 2 hours which, in my opinion, went by quite fast. I actually wanted to see more! 🙁

Oh My India, Indian Dance, Traditional Indian Dance, Karam, Yakshagana, Sattriya, Manipuri, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Oddisi, Kathakali, Mohiniattyam, Kathak, Black Box, Publika, Event, Dance Showcase, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Diplomat's Wife

Oh My India, Indian Dance, Traditional Indian Dance, Karam, Yakshagana, Sattriya, Manipuri, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Oddisi, Kathakali, Mohiniattyam, Kathak, Black Box, Publika, Event, Dance Showcase, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Diplomat's Wife

Oh My India, Indian Dance, Traditional Indian Dance, Karam, Yakshagana, Sattriya, Manipuri, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Oddisi, Kathakali, Mohiniattyam, Kathak, Black Box, Publika, Event, Dance Showcase, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Diplomat's Wife

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in Diplomatic Incidents, How-Tos

Career Girl Cooking Series: ‘Malaysianised’ Pasta Dishes!

July 15, 2015

San Remo, San Remo Pasta, Pasta Dish, Malaysian Food, Malaysian Dish, Malaysian Pasta, Malaysian Noodle Dish, Hari Raya, Recipes, Cooking, Diplomat's Wife

This weekend, our Muslim brothers and sisters will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr (Hari Raya) or the end of the Ramadan season. It’s going to be a huge celebration among families here in Malaysia. Being ‘that’ kind of foreigner who tries to immerse herself in different cultures to the point of either looking silly or too eager, I found myself quite excited for this year’s Hari Raya.

Last year – only a few weeks after our arrival here in KL – we were invited to a couple of open house celebrations which were the cause of major weight gain for us. Food in Malaysia is just too good and hard to pass up so I’ve been working out to get ready for this year’s celebrations! 😉 (But really, eating more should not be your motivation in working out! Don’t be like me! Haha!)

(Read more about the Career Girl Cooking Series here: Career Girl Cooking Series – Ham, Bacon, and Mushroom Alfredo)

I even found myself thinking as to what should I be cooking for Alvin and I this long weekend. I think it’s a great excuse for me to get myself back in the kitchen and enhance my cooking skills. 😉 While I am not confident that I can make Nasi Lemak from scratch yet, I can truly say that I can impress my husband by making pasta – my field of expertise. But for Raya, I shall be Malaysianizing (is that a word?) my usual pasta dishes!

Thanks to San Remo for teaching me some new recipes btw. They invited me to an event a while back where there was a cooking demo and some tips on how to make pasta that’s perfect for the Asian tastebuds. We even had a cooking challenge wherein the people who attended the event were divided into groups and were tasked to create their own, Asian pasta dish. That was a lot of fun!

https://instagram.com/p/2pnjZTCqeq/

I will be sharing with you two recipes! One that was shown to us during the event and another which is in the cook book they gave us and have already tried myself a couple of weeks back. They are super easy and they take very little time to prepare!

San Remo Angel Hair Pasta in Curry Gravy

San Remo, San Remo Pasta, Pasta Dish, Malaysian Food, Malaysian Dish, Malaysian Pasta, Malaysian Noodle Dish, Hari Raya, Recipes, Cooking, Diplomat's Wife

Ingredients:

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in Beauty & Fashion, Skincare

Beauty + Events: A Day of Pampering with the Beauty Guide Tour 2015!

June 25, 2015

When we moved to Malaysia last year and finally got settled, I found myself thinking about how I miss Manila and my regular hangouts. The nail salon that has branches everywhere in Metro Manila – always so convenient for me to just drop by where I’m nearest to, anytime I’m in need of a manicure – my favourite waxing place, my go-to place for a massage, etc.

Oh, and how could I forget Oliver – the only person I trust when it comes to trimming my curls. (In case you’re in Manila, you can find him at Vivere Salon in Megamall)

A few weeks into moving here, I found myself with really long nails sporting chipped nail polish. A month later, I had dry hair and my curls were starting to become unruly. Oh, and don’t get me started on my need for waxing back then. Moving into a new country, starting from scratch, and trying out new things can be pretty exciting but when it comes to beauty-related services, I find it hard to take risks. I only want the best services as I cannot stand another waxing accident (more on that later) or a bad hair cut.

Along came Beauty Guide, a website that was brought to my attention by none other than my sister (all the way in Denmark!). A friend of hers recently put it up in Malaysia and was starting to make waves among beauty and personal care aficionados in the country.

Since I signed up late last year, I never had problems when it comes to where to go for any kind of service. I simply just click on what I want, where I want it, and voila – fail-safe recommendations! I love how I can review and also see what other Beauty Guide users are saying about the establishment as well.

Imagine my delight when I was recently invited for a Beauty Guide event where they took us around the city for a beauty day out. The best part? I got to do it with my friends. <3

The day started out at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Bangsar Village II. We had a little meet up and my friend Tammy found out early on  the best part of her goody bag:

Beauty Guide, Beauty Guide Malaysia, Beauty Guide Tour, #BeautyGuideTour2015, Strip Malaysia, Waxing, Strip Waxing, Bangsar, Mandara Spa, Massage, Sunway, WIP, Food, Foodie, Where to Eat, Bangsar Shopping Centre, ApronBay, ApronBay Nail Salon, Nail Salon Bangsar, Manicure, Pedicure

I approve of this! Haha! Kidding, la! 😉

Beauty Guide, Beauty Guide Malaysia, Beauty Guide Tour, #BeautyGuideTour2015, Strip Malaysia, Waxing, Strip Waxing, Bangsar, Mandara Spa, Massage, Sunway, WIP, Food, Foodie, Where to Eat, Bangsar Shopping Centre, ApronBay, ApronBay Nail Salon, Nail Salon Bangsar, Manicure, Pedicure

Off to start our day of pampering! But first, a #selfie with Arpita and Miriam! 😉

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Travel: Cebu and Bohol for the 2nd Ambassador's Tour
in Asia, Bohol, Cebu, Travel

Travel: Cebu and Bohol for the 2nd Ambassador’s Tour

June 19, 2015
3 Comments

I’m an island girl through and through. I’ll always love the sand, the sea, and the all-year-round sun. Though we’re posted in Malaysia which is a tropical country with its own beaches, I must admit that I do miss the islands back home.

There’s just something about the Philippines that makes me want to go back and so I do grab any chance I get, mind you.

In early May, I was part of the 2nd Ambassador’s Tour hosted by – you guessed it – our embassy’s Ambassador. Following the success of the first one (held in 2014) wherein he brought 112 Malaysian tourists to Manila and its nearby provinces, the Philippine Embassy and our tourism representative here in Kuala Lumpur decided to bring even more people this year to Cebu and Bohol – two of the island provinces in central Philippines.

It’s quite easy to travel between islands these days in the Philippines with better ports and more ferries available. 😉

This time, the group was mixed with other expats. We even had quite a huge Thai delegation with us during the tour and a good number of Filipino expats who’ve been staying in Malaysia for 20 or so years.

I was lucky enough to be invited to join as a.) part of the embassy and b.) part of the media delegation. Being part of the embassy meant that I got to help our ambassador, our cultural attache, and our economic attache in bringing the humungous tour group from one place to another.

I also got the task of doing the PR for the whole trip. Side story: It’s a running joke nowadays that I’m the embassy’s publicist. But that’s cool since I do enjoy helping out by using my media experience. Better to get so busy than end up being rusty. 😉

It also meant that I helped in taking good care of the media whom I immediately bonded with during the trip.

We had a packed itinerary as there was so much to see in just 4 days. But we were determined to make it happen! And we did! Though it was hella tiring for us, there is really a sense of fulfilment when you get to do a bit of good for your country. (As cheesy as that sounds)

It’s a passion of mine to promote our islands to tourists and counter all the bad press we’ve been getting. There’s a certain charm to it, I tell you and you’ll see proof in the photos that I will be posting. 😉

So without further yapping (Notice how I tend to ramble? It’s the same when I’m talking IRL.), let me quickly go through some of the reasons why you should consider Cebu and Bohol for your next vacation! 😉

VITAMIN SEA

This sounds so much like a hard sell but it’s actually true: The Philippines has some of the best beaches in the world. And I’m not just talking about Boracay. We’ve got island sanctuaries that are the farthest thing from the word ‘touristy’. Some of them can be found just a short boat ride from Cebu City.

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