Since I Got Back . . .

Sorry for the lack of updates. Life back in the Middle East & North Africa since I got back has been crazy busy.

It has only been less than 3 weeks since I came back from my 3 weeks vacation in Singapore and I've already travelled to 3 different countries.

First, a week in Beirut, then another in Algiers, and now Casablanca.

For the 1 week that I was back in Algiers, I was busy moving. For cost & logistic reasons, the bunch of us had to shift from our guesthouse in Cheraga (which we've been living in for the past 1 year) to a new location - Palm Beach (sounds nice, but it's really a budget resort locals retreat to during summer). I haven't got the time to take pictures of the new place, but I'll be sure to post some when I get the chance to.

Meanwhile, I'm all set to enjoy the long weekend thanks to the Eid Al Adha hollies. Tomorrow's SOMETHING's birthday & we're planning to do a road trip to Marrakech aka Red City aka Al Hamra! *Woo hOOooOOoo*

3 days 2 nights on the mysterious roads of Morroco! So excited!!! Will share those beautiful pix when I'm back! Till then... Happy Eid & Adha Moubarak + Merry Christmas ! ! !

WEEK 3 / LAST WEEK OF MY HOME LEAVE

27-11-07
TOW Several Pretty Things For Yours Truly
SOMETHING sent a pretty bouquet of 12 pink roses to my home in the afternoon. Mmm... pink roses, symbolises joy & happiness. Also used to express gratitude, appreciation & recognition of joy & delight. *hee*

Not sure if SOMETHING had all those in mind when he chose pink roses, but I would like to believe so. ;p

Urm... also don't ask me why the sudden affection . . . I'm not telling! *bleh* ;p

Pretty Thing No. 1

Met up with Jo & KK @ Marina Square in the evening to do some shopping & late dinner. And I bought myself the 2nd pretty thing for the day. *beam*

Pretty Thing No. 2

Since I was craving for Dim Sum, & it was getting late so most of the nice Dim Sum places were closed, we decided to take our dinner at the HongKong Cafe 新旺(香港)茶餐厅.

新旺(香港)茶餐厅 - Marina Square

I like the rooster design plates . . . vintage!

The Spread

Dim Sum - not so yummy . . . but doesn't quite matter since my main objective was to find a nice spot to chat with my girlfriends. :)

Then, my girlfriends surprised me with a pretty little gift. It's a photoframe in the design of a musical ferris wheel. Awww.... They even got the same gift for all 5 of us (Alicia, Elaine, Jo, KK & myself). So sweet!

Pretty Thing No. 3

30-11-07

TOW the Treatment Overdose

A week as passed since my 1st dermaroller treatment. I was scheduled to head back to the clinic to get my 1st Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment done.

My mum accompanied me to the clinic this time round. However, the nurse advised her to stay outside while the treatment took place cos it’s gonna be too bright for the naked eye.

Here was how the procedure went:
1- A cool gel was applied all over my face (except my eye area)
2- Protective goggles were placed over my eyes
3- The light applicator, which looks like a handheld scanner used at supermarket counters was placed on strategic areas of my face while short pulses of bright lights were released

Up till the very last moment before the IPL treatment actually started, I thought the so called white-light treatment was just gonna a bright lamp shining on my face. So you can imagine the kinda panic I felt when the procedure actually started. -_____-

Here's how IPL works - Source: www.montrealthermage.ca

Although most say that the IPL treatment is almost painless, I’ll have to say, the burning sensation on the face when it flashes is kinda ouch! (Bro & SOMETHING claims that it’s becos my threshold for pain is really low… *shrugz*).

Anyway, halfway thru the IPL procedure, I heard the doc murmur to the nurse, “After this, do peel for her cos I won’t be seeing her for at least another half a year.”

I panicked! And quickly asked: “HUH!!?!?! Peel?! But isn’t it gonna be bad for the face since I’ve JUST done IPL???”

The doc then explained to me that he’s only gonna do a very light peel to hasten the skin renewal process and asked me not to worry. He also explained that he was only gonna focus the peel on the sides of my face where the acne problem is.

Thou I had my doubts; I decided to trust the doc's advise wholeheartedly. Afterall, he ain't earning a cent from giving me these treatments. I heard the doc used to have acne problems in the past. Which is why he is particularly enthu in treating acne patients. :)

As for the peel. It was over even before I realised it. After the IPL was done, the nurse removed my goggles and started wiping the gel off my face. While doing so, she smeared the peel on my face using a cotton even without me realising it. It was only later, when I felt a slight burning sensation all over my face then I realised the peel was already done.

And in a total of not more than 30mins, both IPL & Peel treatments were over & done. Now, I've just gotta wait patiently for the treatments to take effect & my face to heal.

A day into my treatment, the freckles on my cheekbone & nose area started to darken. By the 4-5th day, the freckles which have darkened started to flake off! I was sooooooooooooo excited!!!

As for the acne area, it dried up and flaked off by the 4-5th day as well. However, the area still remains red. Hope it'll clear up in a week or two. *fingers crossed*

But I'll have to say, other than the sides of my face which has acne, the rest of my face looks a lot more radiant & luminous. *bling* ;)

It's definitely encouraging to see the success results of IPL

After my treatment, I read up more on IPL and realised when different degree of light is utilised, it can be used to treat several other problems such as: Pigmentation, Red Vein Removal, Skin Rejuvenation, Hair Removal, etc.

This might just be the next thing I'm gonna be hooked on! *FLASH*

01-12-07
TOW the Last Supper
All good things come to an end. This day marks the last day of my 3 weeks home leave back in Singapore.

Mum knew I love steamboat so she prepared steamboat for my last dinner in Singapore for the year 2007. Thanks Mummy Dearest!!! (^_^)v

火锅 - 我的最爱！

By 23:45hrs, I was at the airport (T1) checking in and saying my farewells. Told my family & friends not to send me off cos it'll only make saying goodbye more difficult. But my precious sister & brother plus my dear pal-Jo insisted and went to say their goodbyes anyway.

A meaningful book from Jo

I never asked her why this book, but I think I know why. Maybe she wanted to remind me to look within, at my own desires & dreams and ask myself why I choose to be in Beirut. Thanks dear! *hugs*

Until I head back to Singapore again next year...

Merry Christmas . Happy New Year . 新年快乐 . . . . . TO ALL OF YOU BACK HOME!!!

*MUACKS*

Back in Beirut since yesterday evening (02-12-07)... back from my vacation, back to reality.

Won't be seeing my family & friends for another 6mths or more. I'll definitely miss everyone back home, but I've decided to face the challenges ahead with a more +ve attitude.

Good luck to me on that!

Meanwhile, I still owe you guys the happenings for Week 2 & Week 3 of my home leave. So here goes . . .


WEEK 2 OF MY HOME LEAVE

19-11-07
TOW the Songbirds (Mon)
Thou this day is supposed to be a day just for SOMETHING & myself, we were dying to do some karaoke. Thus we decided to get the girls to join us. The more the merrier yes?! :)

Party World @ International Building

This is Us, trying to get that perfect pic with everyone in it using the timer. As u can see, everyone WAS NOT ready! *hahaha* Hilarious pic! I like~

(Me: Couldn't get in position on time, SOMETHING: Staring into space with a spastic look on his face, KK: Busy keying in the code for her next song, and only Jo was ready & posing for the cam) -___-

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And finally, we got everyone ready & posing for that perfect pic . . .

Now for a closer shot *click* - Nice!

In where I live (Lebanon/ Algeria/ Morocco), there're no Christmas lightings or there're no Christmas lightings as beautiful as the ones along Orchard road. I am so starting to appreciate the beauty of living in Singapore.

Pretty Lightings along Orchard Road

I'm a happy girl when I hang with the girls :))

And of cos, nothing beats beaming under pretty lights along good ol' Orchard Road with my guy :))

23-11-07 (Fri)
TOW the Dermaroller
I've always had sensitive blemish skin. And you cannot imagine the amount of $ I've invested on medication, treatment, facials, etc.

On 22-11-07 (Thu), Bro recommended me to a dermatologist who has treated a number of pple in Mediacorp and is supposedly quite effective.

The dermatologist recommended me to do a Collagen Induction therapy-Dermaroller (to 'force' all the toxic out, causing serious acne outbreak). Followed by Intense Pulsed Light treatment-IPL a week later (to control the amount of sebum produced esp. on the troubled areas).

Well, since the doc is suppose to be really good, I decided to go with his advice. And on Friday, I tried out my very first Dermaroller treatment.

Here's how the the rolling treatment should go...

- First the face is covered with numbing cream.

- Leave on for about 20-30 mins then wipe off before the rolling begins.

- The roller is filled with tiny 1.5mm needles all round...OUCH!!!

- The 20 mins or so procedure seemed like forever under the piercing needles.

I'll have to admit, by the time half my face was done, there was a hint of regret in me for getting myself into this! *hahaha*

But of cos, the effect was worth the pain. So I'm definitely going back for more rolling good stuffs! ;))

By the end of the treatment, my entire face (except my eye area) was as red as what u see in the pic above. The look is somewhat like how one would look if they had their shades on and fell asleep under the blazing sun.

By the 2nd day, my skin was peeling. And by the 3rd day. my face was filled with acnes... :(( Thou I was warned by the doc that this would happen, I was terrified. Called the clinic a couple of times. Even made a trip down to the clinic just so the doc could see my face and verify the condition. *heh*

With this procedure, the rest of my week was history. I couldn't step out of my house in the day cos the skin is extremely sensitive and should avoid all sunlight. And I was reluctant to step out of the house in the night cos my face was all messed up -____-

Will blog about the IPL treatment under WEEK 3, a week after the dermaroller treatment. Stay tune to read about my pain! *hahahaha*