I'm in love with Fridge Magnets

www.janetong.com

2008-09-17T12:44:00.006+08:00

Hey guys, great to meet you!

I've just created my new Travelling, World Souvenirs & Cuisines Blog at http://www.janetong.com/ - Do check it out now!! See ya in there :))

But wait a minute!!

I think you should first look around this "I'm in love with Fridge Magnets" Blog cos you'll be amazed by my many beautiful Souvenir Magnets & the stories behind them!!

And then later come see me inside http://www.janetong.com/ okie okie!!

Have fun have fun :))

http://reviews-info.com/blog

2008-09-17T12:00:00.001+08:00

Dear all,

Do check out my hubby's Blog at http://reviews-info.com/blog & give him your uttermost support!! Thank you thank you!!

Stay cool!!

2007-08-05T22:25:00.001+08:00

Hong Kong Souvenir Magnets

It's my pleasure now to present to you my Hong Kong Fridge Magnets.

It all started when my good friend gave me 2 Hong Kong Fridge Magnets which her then boyfriend (now hubby) got her while on his business trip to Hong Kong.

I was really surprised that Hong Kong has such nice Fridge Magnets! Besides, I heard alot from her about her other Hong Kong Fridge Magnets which her boyfriend got her that I became so excited & couldn't wait to fly to Hong Kong to buy all of them!!

That was why Dear & I decided to visit Hong Kong again (cos we had been there before we knew each other)!! That was the main reason why we went to Hong Kong!! YES!!! To buy my Fridge Magnets!! Heheh!!!

(The Old Star Ferry Pier with the Star Ferry

- Hong Kong

-it was Demolished in Nov 2006,

now there's a new Victorian-Style

Star Ferry Pier in place!!)

(Tsing Ma Bridge - Hong Kong

- Opened to Traffic in 1997,

linking Landau Island & the Urban Districts

- the 22000 Metres Long Tsing Ma Gigantic Bridge

stretches from Tsing Yi Isle to Ma Wan (Bay),

& it's the Longest Suspension Bridge

for both Vehicle & Railway Purposes

in the World

While in Hong Kong, Dear & I met up with my many Hong Kong ex-unimates from Deaking University (Australia).

And one night, one of them, my Hong Kong good friend cum ex-roommate, brought us to the promenade along Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront between the Avenue of Stars & Hong Kong Cultural Centre to watch the spectacular multimedia display (named the "World's Largest Permanent Light & Sound Show" by Guinness World Record).

The Show created an all-round vision of colored lights, laser beams & searchlights performing a stunning, unforgettable spectacle synchronisd to music & narration at the Victoria Harbour opposite the promenade.

And it was later at the Avenue of Stars Souvenir Shop where I found the following Fridge Magnets.

(Filmmaker Clapboard

- Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong)

My Hong Kong good friend tried bringing Dear & I to the Po Lin Monastery to visit the Giant Buddha while we were in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, it was raining very heavily the day we wanted to go, so we decided to visit the Victoria Peak instead.

How sad, that we could not get to see the Giant Buddha, but I was glad that I managed to get hold of the Fridge Magnet from the Avenue of Stars Souvenir Shop the night before.

(Giant Bronze Buddha seated on top

of the 520-metre High Ngong Ping Plateau amid

the Spectacular Mountain Scenery of Lantau Island

- World's Tallest, Outdoor, Seated Bronze Buddha

Unveiled in 1993 amid Deeply Religious Ceremonies

- 34 metres High & Weighing 250 Tonnes,

it was Cast in China & took 10 Years to Complete)

We visited the Hong Kong Ocean Park (one of the largest oceanariums in Asia), where I got the below Grasshopper Fridge Magnet, cos I found it to be so real! Besides, it brought back many fond memories cos I used to see such green grasshoppers in my childhood days!

(Very Real-looking Metallic Green Grasshopper

- Ocean Park, Hong Kong)

(Side View of the Grasshopper)

The next day, Dear & I went to Stanley, located East of Repulse Bay (one of the best beaches in Hong Kong) & West of Shek O (a wealthy Expat Enclave), in the Southern part of Hong Kong.

We really liked Stanley, cos it felt different, as if we were at a non-Chinese foreigner place! It's a very pretty nice small seaside village, once the favourite place for the first colonial settlers in Hong Kong.

We later visited Stanley Market, a large open-air marketplace. well known for its bargains in clothing, particularly silk garments and traditional Chinese dress, as well as toys, ornaments, luggages, souvenirs & Chinese arts & crafts.

And I was very excited cos I found many interesting & beautiful Fridge Magnets in the Market!

(Chinese Boy & Girl dressed in

Auspicious Red Colored Chinese Costumes

Carrying Golden Colored Coin-shaped

Ornaments with the Chinese Characters

"Ji Xiang Ru Yi" & " Gong Xi Fa Cai"

basically Wishing Us "Good Luck" &

"Congratulations & be Prosperous"

during Chinese Lunar New Year

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Traditional Chinese Wedding

Wooden Bridal Sedan Chair with

Chinese Character "Xi" meaning "Double Happiness"

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(The Wedding Couple

- The Groom is in Traditional Chinese Long Gown

with a Red Silk Sash

with a Silk Ball on his shoulder,

& the Bride is in Traditionl Chinese Red Dress

with her Bridal Pheonix Crown

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

I was really happy when I found the below Fridge Magnet in Stanley Market. It's a replica of the Bambo Container with Chinese Fortune Sticks used in Chinese Temples. It's so so Cute & I just love it!

Well, this's the oldest known method of fortune telling in the world known as "Kau Chime" - a set of 78 numbered sticks held in a bamboo container. Holding the container in both hands and shaking it causes one of the sticks to rise and fall out.

The number on the stick is cross referenced with ancient texts, and a fortune told. The fortune is generally a short poem or rhyme, and the point is not so much to have a clear picture of the future, but an indication of the possibilities which lie ahead.

This opportunity therefore exists for people to make the most of their lives by being more aware of the 'environmental conditions' which surround their lives.

(Chinese Fortune Sticks in Bamboo Container

with Chinese Character "Fu" meaning "Good Luck"

& the Words "Hong Kong Fortune Sticks"

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

It's very interesting to find replica Fridge Magnets of other Modes of Transportation in Stanley Market too!

(Rickshaw (or Jinrikisha)

- Two-wheeled Hooded Wooden Cart with

Chinese Character "Xiang Kang" or "Hong Kong"

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Traditional Red Sailed Chinese Junk with

Chinese Character "Xiang Kang" or "Hong Kong"

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Hong Kong Star Ferry

- Passenger Ferry Service carrying

Passengers across Victoria Harbour,

between Hong Kong Island & Kowloon

- Stanley Market, Hong kong)

If you've read my very first post in my blog, you would have known that I was born in the Year of Pig. And I was very lucky to have found the below Pig Fridge Magnet in Stanley Market. It's so cute & so so sweet, just like me!! Hahaha!!!

(Porcelain Pig with Chinese Character

"Xiang Kang" or "Hong Kong"

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

And I was really delighted when I found the below Chinese Lucky Cat (or Cai Bao) Fridge Magnet. This Lucky Cat with its right paw raised brings money & happiness to homes & businesses. And a bell hangs from her neck, calling in extra good wealth energy.

In Hong Kong, Lucky Cats are often bought by merchants of small businesses and they put them in their shops for success & good fortune.

(Porcelain Chinese Lucky Cat (or Cai Mao)

with Right Raised Paw

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

Since young, I've always fancied the Chinese Laughing Buddhas, guess cos of their huge fat belly I find them really amusing. Well, I was glad I found the below Laughing Buddha Fridge Magnet in Stanley Market.

The Laughing Buddha carries his wealth (money, candy, food, rice plants etc) in a large bag usually carried over his shoulder which he uses to feed the poor & needy. He's always cheerful & smiling & he brings happiness to others through his appearance, & rubbing his belly is supposed to bring luck.

The title "Buddha" does not directly refer to the founder of Buddhism but indicates that the figure has a benevolent nature and is known for good works. It's theorized that there was a real Buddhist monk in China over 1,000 years ago named Pu-Tai. He was considered a man of good & loving character & therefore, an incarnation of the bodhisattva (a human being dedicated to attaining Enlightenment).

In the Chinese legend, this figure is believed to be a deliverer of good luck, contentment & prosperity.

(Porcelain Laughing Buddha

carrying his Bag of Wealth over his Shoulder

& his right hand carrying a

Chinese Gold Nugget or Ancient Money (Yuan Bao)

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

It brought back many fond memories of my childhood years when I saw the following Fridge Magnet. It's a replica of the wooden Chinese musical instrument or Paddle Drum (or toy) which I used to love playing with when I was very very young!

I would always turn it left to right, right to left, non-stop (spinning the Handle) for the 2 attached strings with tiny round heads (on each side) to make the beating sound on the wooden drum! It was so fun!! Though it could be quite nosiy at times, but guess noise to kids are music ha!! heheh!!

(My Childhood Toy

- Traditional Chinese Wooden Paddle Drum with

Chinese Character "Fu" meaning "Good Luck"

surrounded by the word "Hong Kong"

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Traditional Chinese Wooden Drum with

Chinese Character "Fu" meaning "Good Luck"

surrounded by the word "Hong Kong"

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

Well, have I ever told you that I reallly fancy Chinese Cultural Dressed Dolls?! Well, actually I like all kinds of cultural dolls, be they the Swiss, Dutch, Tibetan, Indian etc etc, any country cultural doll!!

And I was really happy when I found the following Chinese Oriental Wooden Doll Fridge Magnet! I was attracted to her beautiful Headdress, her white pearl earrings & her embroidered clothing!

(Wooden Oriental Doll

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

Since young, I would follow my parents & siblings to watch the annual Chinese Opera shows in our neighbourhood. I really enjoyed them, though I couldn't really make out what they were saying or singing!

In Hong Kong, Cantonese opera involves much more than just traditional culture and heritage. It is a fine art that includes fluid and graceful body movements and expressions. The drama in any opera comes from the elaborate and flamboyant costumes, exquisite wigs and colourful make-up worn by the actors.

And well, while shopping in Stanley Market, I found 2 Opera Masks Fridge Magnets.

(Ceramic Cantonese Opera Mask with

the Word "Hong Kong" on Red Ribbon

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Wooden Cantonese Opera Mask

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

I remember I enjoyed "playing" with the Abacus when I was very very young, sliding the many beads on the wooden frame, pretending I knew how to calculate!! Haha!! Well, I was just fascinated with the whole structure of it, but I never learned & knew how it actually works!!

(Metal Frame with Metal Beads Abacus

with Thread tied to a Jade Pig

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

While shopping in Stanley Market, my good friend (with whom we went to Hong Kong, together with her then boyfriend, & who gave me the first 2 Hong Kong Fridge Magnets) found this corner tiny shop at the back of Stanley Market which sells almost everything, from stationeries to household utensils etc... & it's got some Fridge Magnets too! And guess what we found?! The Lao Fu Zi Man Hua or Old Master "Q" Magazine characters Fridge Magnets!!

I remember I used to read Lao Fu Zi comic books when I was much much younger. I enjoyed reading them cos most of the strips didn't have dialogs (yet I could understand what they were talking from the storylines of the strips),

& these suited me very well cos my Chinese was pretty poor then, so the less Chinese the better!! Heheh!!!

Unfortunately, I only bought the (also known as Old Master Q) & "Da Fan Su" (Sweet Potato) Fridge Magnets, but not the 3rd main character "Chin Xian Shen" (Mr Chin) Fridge Magnet!!

So so so silly of me!!! I remember my good friend kept telling me I must also buy Mr Chin Fridge Magnet cos Lao Fu Zi, Big Sweet Potato & Mr Chin are 3 good friends & they can't do without each other etc etc!!

But then the strangest thing is I could hardly remember Mr Chin at all & disliked the look of him then, & no matter how much my friend advised me, I insisted I wouldn't buy him at all!!!

Now I really really regret it so much, cos now as I recall, I remember seeing Mr Chin in the comics - YEA.... he's that tall skinny guy who is always around with Lao Fu Zi & Big Sweet Potato!! No wonder that shop in Stanley Market was selling not 1, or 2, but all the 3 of them!! Stupid me Stubborn me!!!

Now, if I've got a chance to visit Hong Kong again, I must go back & look for that same shop in Stanley Market & buy Mr Chin Fridge Magnet!!!

((Old Master Q) &

"Da Fan Su" (Big Sweet Potato)

- Oh dear, where's our good friend

"Chin Xian Shen" (Mr Chin)?!?!

- Sorry Sorry guys, I know I left your Buddy

Mr Chin behind in Stanley Hong Kong... So Sorry...

I promise you both I'll bring him back

the next time I visit Hong Kong Okie!!)

Well, I've always had a liking to antique stuffs, & I was realy thrilled when I found the following antique Fridge Magnets in Stanley Market & Hong Kong International Airport.

(Brown & Cream Chinese Antique Pottery Flask

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Yellow & Jade Chinese Antique Porcelain Flask

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Blue & Cream Chinese Antique Pottery Flask

- Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong)

I also bought the following Chinese Gourd (or Hulu) Fridge Magnet in Hong Kong International Airport.

(Chinese Gourd (or Hulu) with Red Thread tied to it

- Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong)

Well, I was really excited when I found Mahjong Fridge Magnets in Stanley Market! And of course I bought several sets to give away to my mum too who loves playing Mahjong!

I remember I used to love playing mahjong with my family since my childhood days during the Chinese Lunar New Year. We enjoyed it alot, though we only played it the simplest way (without the tough complicated rules etc) - our Family way - which is so long as we could game & win!

Mahjong is a Chinese game of skill which involves 4 players. The Mahjong set has 136 pieces which contain 34 distinct kinds of pieces (4 of each kind) with which there're 3 suits (Bamboos, Characters & Dots) which runs from 1 to 9.

And there're 4 Directional tiles (Winds or Feng), labeled as East, South, West & North (4 pieces each). There're also 3 Cardinal tiles (Dragons or Special Honor pieces), labeled as Red Dragon, Green Dragon & White Dragon (4 pieces each). And lastly. there're 8 optional Flowers & Seasons tiles, which consists of 2 sets of 4 tiles, each series marked 1, 2, 3 & 4.

Well, the object of Mahjong is to build sets & get the highest point value. To do this, each player selects & discards tiles (the game pieces, bearing different designs) till an entire set of combinations has been made.

(Mahjong Dots & Bamboos Tiles

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Mahjong Charcters, Bamboos, Dots

& Directional (Wind or Feng) - West Tiles

- Stanley Market Hong Kong)

(Mahjong Characters &

Directional (Wind or Feng) - North Tiles

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

Dear & I also visited Victoria Peak with my Hong Kong buddy. As I've mentioned earlier, we were supposed to visit the Giant Buddha in Lantau Island that day but cos it was pouring cats & dogs, we decided to go to Victoria Peak instead. And was I glad that we did!! Cos I found many pretty Fridge Magnets up at the Peak!

(Mahjong tiles with Chinese Characters

"Kai Yun Da Ji" (meaning LUCKY)

& "Bi Shen" (meaning SURE WIN)

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

(Metalic Chinese Junk with

Picture of Tsing Ma Bridge in the Middle

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

(Metalic Tsing Ma Bridge Ashtray

with Picture of Victoria Harbour in the Middle

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

We later happened to chance upon a shop up at the Peak which sells so many so many Fridge Magnets!! Yes, there were all kinds of tiny, small, mini, huge, large, gigantic Fridge Magnets all over the walls of that shop - from the top to the bottom!!! It was such a amazing sight!!

And you could imagine I was literally jumping up & down with excitment & happiness!! Being a Fridge Magnet fanatic, I couldn't help but grapped many Fridge Magnets from that wonderful shop at the Peak!

(I wonder what exactly it is?! And whether

it's got anything to do with Hong Kong Culture?!

Well, to me it looks like an Earthen Pottery

Cooking Ware, like the Egyptian types

- pretty Cool!! And I like the Feathers!!

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

(Chinese Embroidered Lady Shoes

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

The following Traditional Chinese Wedding Cake Fridge Magnet has got to be my Most Favourite!!

Well, different wedding cakes have different special meanings. The Red Pastry means Good Luck, the Yellow Pastry brings Wealth, & the White (brown-colored) Pastries represent Virginity.

These Wedding Cakes are presented to the Bride's family by the Groom's family as part of the Proposal Gifts. The Bride's family will then use these Wedding Cakes to worship their Ancestors & send the rest of the Cakes, together with the Wedding Invitations, to their friends & relatives.

(A Plate of Traditional Chinese Wedding Cakes

(Red & Yellow Pastries with Chinese Characters

"Xi" meaning "Double Happiness" written on them

& White (brown-colored) Pastries)

on a Piece of Auspicious Red paper

with Yellow & Red Chinese Characters "Xi"

or "Happiness" & "Double Happiness"

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

(Plate of Traditional Chinese Wedding Cakes

(Red & Yellow Pastries with Chinese Charcters

"Xi" meaning "Double Happiness" Written on them
& White (brown-colored) Pastries)

Below are the Doggie Heads Fridge Magnets which I bought from that same shop at Victoria Peak. Well, I began to have a liking to puppies ever since I met my Dear Dear, cos his whole family loves dogs!! And they have always had puppies in their homes since Dear was at a very young age.

Currently, there're 3 of them - a Golden Brown Silky Terrier (from Brisbane Australia), a White Maltese (from Brisbane too) & a Brown Fox-like Pomeranian (from Sydney Australia)! And they're well-groomed & extremely beautiful with gracious smooth silky thick furs!!

(Bulldog Head - Dear hates Bull Dogs cos

he thinks they're Ugly,

but I find them really amusing!!

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

(Rhodesian Ridgeback Head

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

Well, my Hong Kong buddy showed us how to take the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak (the highest point at 1817.6 feet above sea level within Hong Kong occupying the Western part of the Island). And getting up there was an unforgettable trip.

Pulled by steel cables, the Tram climbs 373 metres (about 1,200 feet) from Central District to Victoria Peak via the Mid-Levels (an expensive residential area (for both locals & expatriates) on Hong Kong Island, located halfway up Victoria Peak, directly above Central).

And it's so steep that the buildings we saw (at the side of the Mountain) which we passed by look like they're leaning at a 45°angle!

(Victoria Peak Tram

with Chinese Characters "Xiang Kang"

surrounding the words "Hong Kong"

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

(Replica of the Road Sign of Peak Road

with Chinese Characters "San Ding Dao"

via which Victoria Peak is

Accessible by Taxi & Private Car

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

See the below Fridge Magnet which I bought at that same shop at Victoria Peak. It's the spectacular view of the surrounding city skyline, the world-famous Victoria Harbour & Kowloon, the towering skyscrapers & the peaceful green hillsides that we were supposed to see upon looking down from the Peak.

However, the day we were up at the Peak was so so foggy that we could see nothing of that beautiful view!! Kinda sad, but it was pretty fun cos it felt like we were up in Heaven!!

(Spectacular View from Victoria Peak with

Protuding Surface - Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

Dear & I love to watch the Spiderman, Batman & Superman Movies & we practically grew up with these Superheroes!!! And I was really delighted to find their figurine Fridge Magnets in that same shop at Victoria Peak!!

(Spiderman Ready for Action

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

(Batman Ready to Kick Butt

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

(Superman Ready to Fly

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)

Dear & I also enjoyed watching the Movies of Bruce Lee (the late Legendary Martial Arts Film Star) since we were at a very young age! And I was really happy when I found the below Fridge Magnet while window shopping at Tanglin Mall in Singapore!

(Bruce Lee with his "Suan Jie Kun" Kungfu Weapon

from Hong Kong - Tanglin Mall, Singapore)

Well, what do you think of, first thing, when you hear about Hong Kong? Well, it's got to be that it's the Gourmet Paradise & what's it's main gourmet?!! Well, of couse it's got to be Dim Sum right?!!!

Well, the Cantonese phrase Dim Sum (or "Dian Xi" or 點心 in Chinese) literally means "touch the heart" or "Order to Your Heart's Content". It may be derived from the Cantonese "Yat Dim Sum Yi" or "Yi Dian Xi Yi" (or 一點心意 in Chinese), meaning "A Little Token".

Dim sum cuisine consists of a wide spectrum of choices, including combinations of meat, seafood, vegatables, as well as desserts & fruits. These items are usually served in small bamboo steamer baskets or small plates, & they're either wheeled around on a trolley by servers where you can pick whatever you like, or they can be ordered from a menu.

And having a meal in a Chinese teahouse or a Dim Sum restaurant is known as Yum Cha, meaning "Drinking Tea" (or 飲茶 in Chinese), as tea is typically served with Dim Sum.

(Bamboo Steamer Baskets of Dim Dums

among other Yummy Dishes with the

Chinese Characters "Mei Shi Tian Tan"

meaning "Gourmet Paradise"

with Protruding Surface

- Victoria Peak, Hong Kong)_

Dear & I love Dim Sums alot & got really hooked on it while we were living in Australia. I remember we had Yum Cha quite often in the Chinatowns of Brisbane & Melbourne cos they served really yummy Dim Sums of all places & countries!

And of course while we were in Hong Kong, we never missed out on having Yum Cha either!! Hong Kong serves the best Dim Sums & I remember we ordered so many baskets & plates of them that we really ate to our hearts' contents! It was so so Shiok!!

Well, my favourite Dim Sum is the Sui Mai (or 烧卖 in Chinese), as shown on the below replica Fridge Magnet. Sui Mais are small steamed dumplings with ground pork, shrimps & Chinese black mushroom wrapped inside a thin wheat flour skin. In Cantonese cusines, Sui Mais are also referred to as "Pork & Mushroom Dumplings".

(Bamboo Steamer Basket of Sui Mai - Hong Kong

- Gift from Good Friend cum ex-unimate)

Another of my all time favourite Dim Sum is Har Gau (or 蝦餃 in Chinese) or Shrimp Dumplings. Har Gau is a delicate steamed dumpling with whole or chopped-up shrimp filling wrapped inside a thin (almost translucent) wheat starch skin.

(Bamboo Steamer Basket of Har Gau

or Shrimp Dumplings

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

My Dear's favourite Dim Sum is Dan Tat (or 蛋挞 in Chinese) or Egg Tarts, which is baked egg custard on a flaky outer crust. Whenever we have Yum Cha, Dear will never fail to leave some tummy space for his Egg Tarts - he MUST have them!!!

(Plate of Yummy Egg Tarts on a piece of paper

- Looney Toons, Singapore)

Dear's other favourite Dim Sum which he never misses eating during Yum Cha is the Char Siu Bau (or 叉焼包 in Chinese). Char Siu literally means "Roasted on a Fork" & in Cantonese Yam Cha, Char Siu Baos are the most popular buns which are filled with barbecue-flavoured Char Siu Pork (Barbecued or Roasted Pork) & onions.

(Plate of Steamed Baos or Buns

- Looney Tunes, Singapore)

See the below Fridge Magnet. They're replicas of the Shou Tao (or Longevity Peach) - a Chinese steamed bun in the shape of a peach, filled with lotus paste & coloured a bright festive Pink.

Peaches are well known Chinese symbols of longevity & there's a Taoist story about the Queen Mother of the West who has a magical peach tree (which bears peaches fruits every 3 thousand years) & those who eat these peaches will be granted immortality.

Therefore, the peach shaped steamed buns (Shou Tao) are made to symbolize these magical, immortality granting peaches. And traditionally, the Shou Tao is eaten at birthday celebrations of elderly folks where the buns are piled high up on a tray.

And well, in the modern days of today, we eat Shou Tao at any time at any day. And cos Dear & I both like them alot, my Mum would often buy them for us!

(Bamboo Steamer Basket of

Gorgeous Pinky Shou Tao - Hong Kong

- Gift from Good Friend cum Ex-unimate)

Another favourite Dim Sum of Dear & I is the Shanghai Xiao Long Bao or Shanghai Steamed Buns (or 上海小笼包 in Chinese). Xiao Long Bao literally means "Little Basket Bun" & these dumplings are also known as Soup Dumplings. They're filled with meat (or seafood or vegetables) and are famous for their flavor and rich broth inside.

(Bamboo Steamer Basket

of Delicious Xiao Long Baos

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Bamboo Steamer Basket of

Lin Yung Baos or Lotus Paste Buns

on Lotus Leaf

- Stanley Market, Hong Kong)

(Assortments of Yummy Dim Sums

- Hong Kong, Singapore

- Aren't you Hungry by Now?!!!)

Dear & I both love Disneylands & I was really excited & happy when my dearest Mum got me the Hong Kong Disneyland Castle Fridge Magnet from one of the Disneyland tourist shops in Hong Kong City!

Mum said it's very costly (S$20 cos even her very rich auntie friend wouldn't buy it cos she found it way too expensive!!). But my mum got it for me anyway cos she knew I would like it alot!!!

Mum was right cos I jumped when she first gave it to me - I couldn't believe there's such unique, special, beautiful Fridge magnet in the World! I think it's really gorgeous & out of the world!!

And it's even more special & beautiful to me cos it was given by my beloved Mum, & I just love it so much!

(Hong Kong Disneyland Castle

with Mickey Mouse Head with

the Word "Disneyland" on it

Right in the Centre Front of the Castle

- Hong Kong)

(View of the Castle from Top)

(Side View of the Castle)

(View of the Castle from Top)

(Side View of the Castle)

Mum also bought me the following Fridge Magnet when she visited Hong Kong Disneyland with my brother & family.

Thank you Mum!! Love you Mum!!

(Hong Kong Disney's Polynesian Reeort with

Micky Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy & Donald Duck

- Hong Kong Disneyland)

2007-07-29T21:46:00.002+08:00

Korea Souvenir Magnets

Have I ever told you that I love to watch Korean TV Dramas? And that I love to eat Korean Kimchi too?! Yes, that were the 2 main reasons why I pestered my Dear Dear to visit Korea with me. My dream finally came true the day we set foot on Korea!

And well, I just couldn't stop buying the Korean boy-girl-in-a-pair Fridge Magnets where ever I went in Korea! I find them very adorable cos they're so colorful & so pretty!

(Handmade Korean Orange Couple - Korea

- I like the Bright Orange Colors

- so Bright so Sweet!)

(Handmade Korean Couple - Korea

- I like the Little Red Hand Pouch

the girl is holding - so Cute!

Btw, the girl's Hanbok reminds me very much

of the one my Mum got me when I was

very very young - too bad I couldn't fit in then

cos it was too Small a size!

But I've kept it with me till today!

Love you Mum!!

- Anyway, I like the boy's

Bright Blue Chogori (jacket)

with the Silver Flower Prints too

- so Handsome!

(Handmade Korean Couple - Korea

- I find the Pot that the girl

is carrying very Interesting!

And the Boy looks pretty Charming!!

(Handmade Korean Pink Couple - Korea

-I find the Pink Flare Dress pretty Unique

& with the Flower Bouquet she's holding,

it's so Sweet!

(Handmade Korean Imperial Couple - Korea

- I like the girl's Hairdo &

her Beautiful Elegant Hanbok

- she looks like Da Chang Jin's Teacher,

Lady Han, in the Korean "Jewel in the Palace"

Drama to me!

(Handmade Korean Rainbow Couple - Korea

- Is the girl holding a Fan or a Huge Lollipop?!

Hee, so Cute so Cute I wan it to be

the Huge Lollipop cos I like Lollipops!!

- And I wonder what the boy is holding?

- some kind of Earthen Ware

or is it a Lunch Bag?!

- they look rather Poor guess

they must be the Peasants!

But they're Beautiful!

(Handmade Korean Couple - Korea

- this Couple looks really Happy & Cheerful!

How Wonderful!

(Handmade Korean Pink Couple - Korea

- I wonder what the boy is holding?!

It must be either some kind of

Instrument or Earthen Ware?!

Anyway, I like the girls's Pretty Hairdo

& the Simplicity of her!

Besides,Pink is my Favourite Color!

(Handmade Korean Couple - Korea

- this Couple must be Attending some kind

of Special Occasion together since

they're both carrying Bouquets of Flowers

- so Beautiful!

And I like the girl's Plaited Hair!

Miss my Long Hair!!

(Handmade The Korean Triosome Musical Team - Korea

- I like the Left-hand side boy's Outfit

- his pleated Chogori (jacket) & the

Tiny Red Flowers on his Paji (pants)

- And I thought for a while

he was carrying a Lollipop!! But nope,

it's actually some Musical Instrument!! Heheh!

- I find the girl really Amusing, what with her

Short Flare Skirt & the 2 Fans she's holding!!

- And I like that Pink Headband on

the Right-hand side boy's Head,

& the Drum he's Playing - so Cute!

- Well, they look really

Happy Performing Together!!

So Beautiful!!

(Handmade Korean Students Couple -Korea

- Gift from my darling Sister

- I think the boy Scholar carrying the Book

looks very much like my Dear Dear

- & me the girl in Pink dress & Pinky headdress

- so Sweet so Sweet!

(Handmade Korean Royal Couple - Korea

- The Hanmoks they're wearing & the Hairdo

of the girl look

Traditional to me!

(An Identical Handmade

Korean Royal Couple - Korea

- Gift from my Sister-in-law

(Dear's Elder Sister)

Like I told you earlier, I couldn't stop buying the boy-girl-in-a-pair Fridge Magnets while I was in Korea with Dear, thus I ended up buying so many pairs of them!!! (See the below Fridge Magnets)!!

(My So Many Beautiful

Korean Boys-Girls-In-Pairs - Korea

- which I Kept Some &

Gave Some to Families & Friends)

While in Gyeonggi, Korea, Dear & I also visited Everland the Theme Park in Yongin, where I managed to grap hold of the following Fridge Magnets.

(Handcrafted Hand Painted

Wooden Giraffe Head

- Everland, Korea

- I've always liked Giraffes!

(Bright Orange Colored Butterfly

- Everland, Korea)

I especially like the below Korean Yangban Mask Fridge Magnet cos I find it really unique & interesting when I first saw it, though I never knew anything about it till afterwards.

Well, Yangban is used in the Hahoe dance, a traditional play in Hahoe Village in Gyeongsangbuk Province. Hahoe masks are preserved in the National Museum of Seoul. The Yangban is one of the most popular masks & is displayed in the homes of many Koreans.

Hahoe masks (such as Yangban masks) are sculpturally among the most sophisticated of Korean masks. In addition to their beautiful forms, they have articulated jaws - if the wearer leans backward to laugh, the mask presents a smiling face with a wide-open mouth. And if he bends down, it changes to a shut mouth & angry expression.

(Korean Yangban Mask - Everland, Korea)

We also went to Daemyung Vivaldi Park (or Daemyung Leisuretown), a ski resort in Korea, where I bought the following Fridge Magnets.

(Metallic Daemyung Leisuretown

with Picture of Antelope

- Vivaldi Park, Daemyung, Korea)

(Metallic "Korea Peninsula shaped

like a Crounching Tiger" Korean Map

- Vivaldi Park, Daemyung, Korea)

Dear & I even visited the beautiful romantic Jeju Island, a Volcanic Island dominated by Halla-San, a volcano 1950 metres high & the highest mountain in South Korea. The island was created entirely from volcanic eruptions approximately 2 million years ago.

(Replica Lava Rock with Dried Jeju Flowers

- Yongduam Rock (Dragon Head Rock)

Souvenir Shop, Jeju Island)

We also met Jeju's huge lava rock idols, called Tolharubang, grandfather or grandmother stone figurines (also called "Tu Di Gong" & "Tu Di Puo" in Chinese meaning Earthen Grandfather & Grandmother).

And I was so happy when I found the replica Fridge Magnets at Jeju International Airport! I couldn't believe they have such beautiful identical Fridge Magnets, just like the real huge lava rock idols we saw! I find them really special & unique, & adore them lots!!

But my Dear Dear doesn't really like them, cos he says they have so many holes - "Yarks! So Ugly!!" he usually says, cos they remind himself of his own face (cos Dear has acne holes on his face too!!), So funny!!

(Tolharubang Grandfather & Grandmother

or "Tu Di Gong" & "Tu Di Puo"

- Jeju Yongduam Rock (Dragon Head Rock)

Souvenir Shop, Jeju Island)

We even went to the Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae), the executive office & official residence of South Korean Head of State, the President of the Republic of Korea. And it was at the main Souvenir Shop outside the Blue House where I found the following Fridge Magnets. They are extremely expensive (about S$30 each pair) but I fell in love with them & must bring them home with me!

(Shilla Empress & Emperor

(Unified Shilla Dynasty - 676-935)

- Blue House Souvenir Shop, Seoul, Korea)

(Korean Bride & Groom

- Blue House Souvenir Shop, Seoul, Korea

- Special Wedding Gift for my Good Friend

cum Neighboure who's also a Fridge Magnet Lover!!)

2007-07-25T19:13:00.001+08:00

Europe Souvenir Magnets

Dear & I went to Central Europe for our Honeymoon. Europe has always been my Dream Land & true enough, it was our most romantic & memorable trip together. We simply loved Europe!

(Wedding Bear Couple - Australia)

The below Italian Fridge Magnet is the very first Fridge Magnet I bought in Europe, after we visited the ruins of the Roman town (which was destroyed by volanic eruptions of 24 August AD 79) in Pompei, Napoli (or Naples), Italy.

(Hand Painted Temple of Apollo - Pompei, Italy)

The next day, we visited the beautiful Island of Capri in the Bay of Naples, Italy. It was at the Anacapri, a steep climb uphill of Capri town at an elevation of 299m where I bought the below Fridge Magnets which depict the typical buildings of enchanting Capri.

I remember we took a minibus to the top of Anacapri & throughout the ride uphill, we were really enchanted by the many gorgeous & colorful whitewashed houses along the steep slope. They were so beautiful & guess what, there were many many bright apple, orange & lemon trees among the houses too it felt like we were riding through a magic land!

(Hand Painted Whitewashed House with Apple Tree

- Capri, Bay of Naples, Italy)

That was why I bought the above Capri Fridge Magnet cos it was exactly a mini replica of the bright colorful whitewashed houses with the apple tree beside the house - the exact colorful gorgeous picturesque of Capri we saw during our trip there.

See the black rocks on the below Capri Fridge Magnet - they're rocks from volcanic eruptions still lying now in Capri, on top of which there're the churches & castles by the beautiful seas of Capri.

(Hand Painted Typical Capri Church

with Black Volcanic Rocks by the Sea

- Capri, Bay of Naples, Italy)

We travelled to Rome & visited the Trevi Fountain, the most Famous & arguably the most Beautiful fountain in all of Rome. And it was at this mobile cart shop just beside the Trevi Fountain that I found the below 2 Romanian Fridge Magnets.

(Handcrafted Hand Painted Trevi Fountain

- Rome, Italy)

(Handcrafted Hand Painted Colosseum

(where we later also visited)

- Rome, Italy)

We also visited the world Famous Marble Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy & bought the Pisa Fridge Magnet in one of the many shops along the long shopping street just next to the Pisa Tower.

(Leaning Tower of Pisa - Italy)

I was very happy to have found this below Italian Map Fridge Magnet which shows the major Italian places of Interests, such as the Pisa, Colosseum, Venice Rialto Bridge etc.

(Hand Painted Italy Map - Italy)

We visited Venice, & was really amazed by the uniqueness, beauty & romance of the whole City of Water, the only City in the World built on Water.

(Handmade Hand Painted Venetian Carnival

Porcelain Doll Face - Venice, Italy)

(Hand Painted Rialto Bridge - Venice, Italy)

(Handmade Hand Painted Venetian Porcelain Mask

- Venice, Italy)

We also travelled to Innsbruck in Austria to visit the Old Town Hall & its "Little Golden Roof" where Emperor Maximillian I & his Queen used to sit & watch the josting tournaments & plays on the square below.

And it was near the Town Hall, across the street from the Swarovski Crystal World (where we visited), at a Souvenir Shop where I bought the following Innsbruck Fridge Magnet.

(The "Little Golden Roof" of

the Old Town Hall, Innsbruck

- Innsbruck, Austria)

I remember I always dream of visiting the Swiss Alps & I was so delighted & excited when we visited Mount Titlis in Switzerland. And it was in one of the Souvenir Shops in Lucerne, Switzerland, where I bought the following Swiss Fridge Magnet.

(Metallic Swiss Cow with Bell- Switzerland)

We travelled next to Germany, visiting the Sleeping Beauty Castle, Neuschwanstein Castle, at the Balvarian Alps of Germany. And I was so excited & thrilled to have found the replica Fridge Magnet inside the Castle's Souvenir Shop!

It was very costly (in Euro dollar) "but I must have it since I've always loved Fairy Tale stories since I was very very young, & especially now when I'm actually visiting one of the Famous Fairy Tales Castle with my Dear Dear!" I told myself when I got the Fridge Magnet!

(Hand Painted Neuschwanstein Castle

- the Sleeping Beauty Castle - Germany)

I remember I didn't have the chance to find any other interesting & nice Fridge Magnets when we were in Germany as it was very rush for us since we had to travel from one place to another very quickly.

Thus, I was really pleased to be able to get the below pretty German Fridge Magnet from the same Souvenir Shop in Innsbruck, Austria (where I got that Innsbruck Fridge Magnet which I mentioned earlier).

(Hand Painted Germany Map & Flowers - Germany)

We also travelled to Brussels, the Capital of Belgium, & visited the Brussels' Manneken Piss (which means a Little Man Piss), a small Bronze Statue of a Little Boy Peeing.

(The Metallic Manneken Piss

- Bronze Statue of Boy Peeing - Brussels, Belgium)

We next went to beautiful Holland & I was really thrilled to see the many Windmills there! You could say I really fell in love with Holland straight away!

Well, the Dutch have built windmills for many centuries. And to some extent, the windmills built the country itself, since without them much of the land drainage could not have occured. During that time, the windmills were developed for corn milling, land drainage, saw milling, and in fact all manner of industrial purposes.

Despite this widespread use, Dutch windmills are in many ways quite primitive - using canvas sails & turned to wind by hand.

(Hand Painted Porcelain Dutch Windmill

- Amsterdam, Holland)

And I just love the Dutch clogs cos I find them so colorful & so cute! And my dear dear even bought me a life-size pair of the Dutch clogs (my shoe size) for a special honeymoon gift cos according to the Dutch people, the Dutch groom must give a pair of Dutch clogs to the Bride as a wedding gift.

And well, though Dear & I are not Dutch, he still bought me the Dutch clogs cos we were newlyweds & happened to be in Holland then, & simply cos I just adore the Dutch clogs!

(Handcrafted Hand Painted

Wooden Blue Dutch Clogs

- Amsterdam, Holland)

(Handcrafted Hand Painted

Wooden White Dutch Clogs

- Amsterdam, Holland)

(Different Angle of the same Blue Dutch Clogs)

And I've got the below wooden Dutch Windmill Fridge Magnet too, but I didn't buy it in Holland, but in Surfers Paradise, Australia.

(Hand Painted Wooden Dutch Windmill

- Surfers Paradise,Australia)

We next went to Paris, visiting the world famous Eiffel Tower. And I fell in love with the below French Fridge Magnet when I first saw it in a Souvenir Shop cos I found it really unique, special & adorable! And the hugging & kissing couple on it is just like Dear & myself, romancing in Paris!!

And I especially liked the French words "La Vie En Rose" which I later found out they mean "Life through Rose-colored Glasses" or "Life in Pink" - a Signature song by French Singer & Song Composer Edith Piaf (1915 -1963).

(Hand Painted La Vie En Rose in Paris - Paris)

Wow, what a coincidence, cos I happen to like Roses very much & Pink happens to be my favourite color too! Well, I used to think Pink as very girllish & not my taste.

But don know why, I've been in love with Pink color ever since I met & fell in love with my Dear Dear, guess Pink has always been associated with love & romance ha, that's why! Guess it's just fated that I've got this Beautiful full of meanings French Fridge Magnet ha - I just love it!

(Big Ben with London Bus

- Souvenir Shop in London)

Dear & I later flew to London from Paris, visiting the Houses of Parliament & famous Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben.

In fact, the Clock Tower is The Tower of Big Ben, & Big Ben is actually the main bell housed with the Clock Tower.

Big Ben weighs over 13 tons, & the clock mechanism weighs about 5 tons. The figures on the clock face are about 2 feet long, the minute spaces are 1 feet square, & the copper minute hands are 14 feet Long.

(Handmade Hand Painted Tower of London - London)

We also visited the Tower of London, where I bought the above Tower of London (also known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace & Fortress the Tower of London) Fridge Magnet from the nearby Souvenir Shop. It was very expensive but I found it really beautiful cos it's handcrafted & hand painted & it's of very good quality.

The Tower's primary function was a fortress, a royal palace & a prison (for high status & royal prisoners). It has also served as a place of execution & torture, an armoury, a treasury, a zoo, a mint, a public records office & an observatory. And since 1303, it's become the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

(Baked Beefeater or Yeoman Warder "Bear"

in Ceremonial Uniform - Street of London)

The next day while we were walking in London, we were very lucky to come aross a Mobile Vehicle Shop at the side of the street where I found the rest of my London Fridge Magnets (such as the above).

The British Lady boss told me the Fridge Magnets were all Baked, thus they'll never break even when dropped, & their colors will never come off! I've personally never heard & known about Baked Magnets but I bought them anyway cos they're so beautiful & so cheap, only selling at 1 Eruo each!! They were indeed good buys cos I later found out that what the British Lady told me was all so true!

Anyway, the above Fridge Magnet is the London Tower Guard called the Beefeater or Yeoman Warder of Her Majesty's Royal Palace & Fortress the Tower of London. The Beefeaters used to guard the Tower & its prison, now they work mostly as guides to visitors to the London Tower.

The above Beefeater is wearing the Ceremonial Uniform & it consists of a knee-length scarlet tunic, scarlet knee-breeches and stockings, and a round brimmed hat called a Tudor bonnet. Queen Elizabeth I introduced the distinctive white neck ruff worn by the Beefeaters. This uniform is generally only worn on state occasions.

If you look at the above Beefeater Fridge Magnet closely, you would see the initails ER on the uniforms. Well, they stand for Elizabetha Regina (Regina is latin for queen). The initials refer to Elizabeth the Second, who is the present Queen.

(Baked Royal King & Queen "Bears"

- Street of London)

The above Royal King & Queen Fridge Magnets were also bought at the same shop by the London street. So were the below 2 London Guards of the Queen at the Buckingham Palace. Actually, these guards are called Foot Guards & they wear full-dress uniforms of red tunics & bearskins.

(Baked Buckinghamd Palace Foot Guard "Bear"

in Full-dress Uniforms of Red Tunics & Bearskin

- Street of London)

(Baked Buckinghamd Palace Foot Guard "Bear"

in Uniforms of Red Tunics & Bearskins

(well, this Guard decided to be half-dressed!)

- Street of London)

Well, you must be wondering why the Baked Fridge Magnets are all Bears? Well, actually some of them came in human beings too but since I love Bears alot, I thought I might as well just bought the Bears of them instead!!

Anyway, I never found any other pretty Fridge Magnets in London afterwards & I was so happy when my good friend's sister gave me the Buckingham Palace Fridge Magnet (shown below) a few years later.

Well, Dear & I did visit the Buckingham Palace & it was a very beautiful grand palace. I remember we were standing outside the Palace under the heavy rain (it was pouring cats & dogs the whole day we arrived in London) taking photographs & trying to catch a glimpse of the Queen from outside the Palace Gates!! Ha ha but of course we were in no luck but just managed to see the Foot Guards pacing up & down infront of the Palace!

(Handmade Hand Painted Buckingham Palace - London)

Actually, Dear & I also visited the Cuckoo Clock Workshop in Black Forest while we were in Germany. I remember I was very excited that day as I've always been fascinated with Cuckoo Clocks my whole life since young! But I didn't find any nice Fridge Magnets (not to mention any Cuckoo Clock ones either) from Black Forest at all!

Fortunately for me, some years later on my Birthday, my good friend gave me 2 Cuckoo Clock Fridge Magnets as my birthday present & could you imagine I was so touched I almost cried in happiness!! And guess what she actually bought these 2 Fridge Magnets not from Germany or Switzerland (she has never been to Europe) but from a MPH Bookstore in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!

(Handcrafted Hand Painted

German Cuckoo Clock with Ticking Hand

- MPH Bookstore, Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia)

(Handcrafted Hand Painted

Swiss Cuckoo Clock with Ticking Hand

- MPH Bookstore, Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia)

Since I knew from my good friend that Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia does sell the German & Swiss Cuckoo Clock Fridge Magnets, every time I visit KL, I make it a point to try look for them. But I've never found any in KL so far, but instead I found them in Johor Bahru! I was so happy now every time I visit Johor Bahru, I make it a point to try go see if there're new stocks!

Below are the Cuckoo Clock Fridge Magnets I got from Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

(Handcrafted Hand Painted German Cuckoo Clock

with Ticking Hand with Girl on Swing

- Parkson Grand, Holiday Inn Plaza,

Johor Bahru, Malaysia)

(Handcrafted Hand Painted Cuckoo Clock

with Ticking Hand with Girl on Swing

- Parkson Grand, Holiday Inn Plaza,

Johor Bahru, Malaysia)

And I was very lucky cos I got to have more German Cuckoo Clock Fridge Magnets cos my Father-in-law, who travels to Germany on business trips, bought them for me. Today, all my Cuckoo Clock Fridge Magnets are my best prized Collection.

(Handcarfted Hand Painted German Cuckoo Clock

with Swinging Brass Pendulum,

Ticking Hand with Frankfurt am Main Scenery

& Boy Clinging on to Rope

- Frankfurt, Germany)

(Handcrafted Hand Painted German Bird-life

with Oak Leaves Cuckoo Clock

with Ticking Hand

with Oak Leaf - Germany)

(Handcrafted Hand Painted German Cuckoo Clock

with Swinging Boy hanging on to Rope

- See the Small Blue Round Button

at the Top of the Clock

- press it & it gives off sounds of

"Cuckoo Cuckoo, Cuckoo Cuckoo, Cuckoo Cuckoo"

- Germany)

My father-in-law also bought me the below Fridge Magnets from his other European business trips.

(Bilbao, Lauburu - Barcelona, Spain)

(Hand Painted Germany's Most Beautiful "Corner"

where the above Mosel River joins the Rhein River

at the German Corner

- Koblenz sits at the Confluence of 2 of

Germany's Major Rivers - theMosel & the Rhein

- Koblenz,Germany)

("Deutsches Eck" means German Corner in German

- this Spot is where

the Mosel River meets the Rhein River

- Koblenz, Germany)

My young nephew also bought me 2 European Fridge Magnets when he went on a School Choir to Europe some years ago.

Handcrafted Hand Painted

Statue of Leopold Mozart

- the World Famous European Composer,

Music Teacher & Violinist

- Salzburg, Austria

(Mozart's Hometown))

(Handcrafted Hand Painted

Stephansdom or St Stephens Cathedral

in Vienna (or Wien in German)

which is the Capital of Austria

- Vienna, Austria)

I've got more Fridge Magnets besides the Cuckoo Clock ones which I bought in Parkson Grand in Holiday Inn Plaza in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Enjoy!

(German Weather Chalet

with Hygrometer & Thermometer

- Parkson Grand, Holiday Inn Plaza,

Johor Bahru, Malaysia)

(German Weather Chalet

with Hygrometer & Thermometer

- Parkson Grand, Holiday Inn Plaza,

Johor Bahru, Malaysia)

(German Weather Chalet

with Hygrometer & Thermometer

- Parkson Grand, Holiday Inn Plaza,

Johor Bahru, Malaysia)

Below are my Russian Fridge Magnets. And nope, I've not been to Russia yet (will try to go one day cos it's one of my Dream destinations). I actually got them in Sydney when I was there with Dear a few years ago.

I've always loved the Russian Nesting Dolls or the Matryoshka (or Babushka) Dolls & I was so happy when I discovered there's a Russian Shop selling the Dolls (all geniune ones handmade in Russia) inside Harbourside Shopping Centre at the Sydney Darling Harbour.

But cos it was almost Christmas then there were only the Russian Christmas Matryoshka Santa Claus Fridge Magnets (as shown below) on sales in the shop. In Russia, Santa Claus is known as Father Frost, a very significant figure during Christmas!

(Handcrafted Hand Painted Hand Lacquered

Wooden Russian Christmas Matrysohka Santa Claus

- Harbourside Shopping Centre,

Darling Habour, Sydney)

(Handcrafted Hand Painted Hand Lacquered

Wooden Russian Christmas Matryoshka Santa Claus

- Harbourside Shopping Centre,

Darling Habour, Sydney)

Dear knew I love the Russian Nesting Dolls so much that when he went back to Sydney on his business trips, he went back to that Russian Shop again & got me 2 more of the Russian Doll Fridge Magnets. YES! This time, they are the real "Doll" ones!! I was so touched!!! I just love them & him too, my Dear Dear, of course!!

(Handcrafted Hand Painted Hand Lacquered

Wooden Russian Matryoshka Doll

- Harbourside Shopping Centre,

Darling Harbour, Sydney)

(Handcrafted Hand Painted Hand Lacquered

Wooden Russian Matryoshka Doll

- Harbourside Shopping Centre,

Darling Harbour, Sydney)

Anyway, I've also got 2 Greek Fridge Magnets when Dear & I visited Korea. Yes, in Korea, & not in Greece. Well, Greece is another of my Dream destinations so I was happy to have found the Greek Fridge Magnets inside Everland, Korea.

(Acropolis (in Athen) Tourist Attractions

on a Scroll - Everland Korea)

(Athens on a Scroll - Everland, Korea)

2007-06-29T14:22:00.002+08:00

Australia Souvenir Magnets

Yes, I'm in love! I'm in love with Fridge Magnets, & I'm very happy & proud to be presenting to you my Collection!

(Couple Koalas - Dream World, Gold Coast)

It all started when I met & fell in love with the Man of my Life. We were both studying in Australia - he was in the University of Queensland (Brisbane) & I was in Deakin University (Geelong, Victoria).

(Aussie Map - Melbourne)

We met through an unimate of mine in Brisbane during our November Summer vacation. He was the unimate of my unimate's ex-polymate. Whew! Hope I'm not confusing u at all ha heheh!!

(Donald Duck - Movie World, Gold Coast)

Well, what happened was 3 unimates of mine drove from Geelong to visit me & one other unimate with whom I was staying & touring in Sydney during our Summer holidays. And all together, we visited the Blue Mountains, Sydney Opera House & The Rocks.

(Aussie Cartoon Animal Road Sign

- Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Sydney)

I was later asked by the 3 unimates (who visited us in Sydney) if I would like to follow them to Brisbane in their car cos there was an additional empty space in their car!

(Aussie Antique Car

- Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, Sydney)

Wow!!! Of course I wanted!! I just love to travel especially when being a student in Australia, travelling within Australia was way much cheaper than when we're back home in Singapore!

(Adorable Huge Koala with Shaking Head

- The Rocks Market, Sydney)

I just could'nt wait to see the whole of Australia during all my school vacations. I was so delighted & excited! Soon after, I set off to Brisbane with my 3 unimates while our other unimate stayed on in her auntie's house in Sydney .

(Aussie Map with Hygrometer & Thermometer

- Sydney)

I remember I sat in the back seat of the car with one unimate while our other unimate sat in the front seat & she was constantly chatting & entertaining our driver (who was the only male unimate in our car), trying so very hard to keep him awake & not doze off.

(Aussie Road Sign - Port Stephens, Sydney)

I remember the music was constantly on in our car & poor him was driving so hard & fast throughout the whole night non-stop from Sydney to Brisbane! Besides, he had to watch out for crossing Koalas or Kangaroos on the Roads too!!

(Koalas Crossing Road Sign

- Surfers Paradise,Gold Coast)

Poor poor him who could not rest & sleep at all that night while we at the backseats were sleeping almost all the way from Sydney to Brisbane. Though at times we could not really relax much cos we were kinda worried that our car would be stopped & fined by the traffic police cos he was speeding so fast so fast!!

(Aussie Beware of Animal Road Sign - Geelong)

And bet that unimate of ours seated in the front, who was supposed to entertain & chat with him, could not keep up with him throughout the whole night & dozed off too like us at the back seats! In fact, he was speeding way past the road limits one time our car was stopped by the traffic police & fined!

(Aussie Road Sign - Port Stephens, Sydney)

But guess that was a blessing in disguise cos who knows, if we'd not been stopped & fined, our car would have met with a serious accident cos our driver would have dozed off & fallen asleep cos none of us other than the car music were really there to entertain him cos we all fell asleep at one point....... till one point we would have all been really really soundly asleep till now!! And I would not be here right now telling you my story!!!

(Gigantic Hand Moulded Aussie Footballer

- St Kilda Explanade Market, Melbourne)

Err!! Now come to think about it gives me cold shivers!!! But guess then we were all still very young, & did not even bother to think of any consequences but just wanted to to get to Brisbane fast & quick!!!

(Opera House Scenery Shoe - Sydney)

So very importantly, one must be AWAKE when driving. And at all times, MUST NOT speed, even if you're in a hurry!

(Aussie Good Day Mate - Brisbane Domestic Airport)

Ok now, we finally all arrived safely in Brisbane (thanks to the traffic policeman) in the morning the next day. And there at the Brisbane Palace Backpackers (in the heart of the city Centre where I was staying) was when, for the first time of my life, I met my Mr Wrong who later became my Mr Right!

(Huge Fury Koala Head - South Bank Market, Brisbane)

Well, why did I call him Mr Wrong you must be wondering ha!? Well, it was another long story which I will tell you later.

(Handmade Wooden Kangaroo with Movable Hands

& Baby in Pouch - The Rocks Market, Sydney)

At the Brisbane Palace Backpackers, we met this other unimate of ours (whom I mentioned to you right at the beginning who was an ex-polymate of the unimate of the Man of my Life).

(Montville - Sunshine Coast)

Anyway, this unimate of mine was visiting this ex-polymate in Brisbane who later met the Man of my Life. And the Man of my Life, being the nice generous host, had brought him sightseeing at the Gold Coast & Brisbane cos the ex-polymate cum unimate had already gone back home to Singapore for the Summer Holidays!

(The Famous Rocks - Sydney)

Now, back at the Palace Backpackers meeting, I was asked a question by my unimates (the ones who came from Sydney to Brisbane with me & the one who was the Man of my Life's unimate's ex-polymate) - aha hope I really never confuse you so far ha!

(Aussie Koala Downunder

- Brisbane Domestic Airport)

Well, I was asked whether I would like to attend a church camp in Brisbane with my 3 unimates (who came with me from Sydney to Brisbane)? Or whether I would like to visit Fraser Island (located just off Queensland's South Central Coast) with the Man of my Life & my other unimate (who was the ex-polymate of the unimate of the Man of my Life)?

(Huge Kangaroo with Shaking Head Carrying

Baby in Pouch - The Rocks Market,Sydney)

And well, being a non-christian & a very shy girl who would feel rather awkward with tens of Christians especially when we were strangers & have never met one another before, I decided without much hesitation that I would love to go to Fraser Island instead.

(Aussie Slogan Sign - Paddy's Market, Sydney)

And hey! In case you're laughing at me right now, I decided to visit Fraser Island not cos of the Man of my Life okie! Not cos he was going to be there too okie! But merely cos like I've told you earlier, I simply just love to travel & wana see the world as much as I could!!

(Aussie Slipper - Bondi Beach, Sydney)

So soon after, I left Brisbane with the Man of my Life & Eddy. Okie I decided that I should now mention the name of this unimate of mine who was also the ex-polymate of the Man of my Life's unimate whose name is Eddy, cos I'm really getting kinda worried that I'm confusing you a little..... or alot ha Heheh!!

(Handcrafted Wooden Gigantic Aussie Footballer

- St Kilda Explanade Market, Melbourne)

Anyway, the 3 of us took the Greyhound Coach from Brisbane to Hervey Bay & we stayed at the Hervey Bay Backpackers. I remember it only cost each of us about 15 Aussie dollars a night at the Backpackers where all of us shared a big common room with beds, washroom, toilet & kitchen..... it was all so pretty cool!

(Koalas on Boomerang

with Hygrometer & Thermometer

- Cold Coast)

Anyway, it was during the Fraser Island trip that I started thinking of the Man of my Life as the Mr Wrong. Remember I said earlier he was my Mr Wrong who later became my Mr Right?!

(Kangaroo Carrying Aussie Flag with Baby in Pouch

- Sydney)

Well, it started when I was calling my Indonesian unimate in Jakarta from Hervey Bay for my Uni exams results cos she was helping me to check my results on the Internet.

(Handcrafted Wooden Koala

with Aussie Flag & Movable Hand

- The Rocks Market,

Sydney)

I remember I was jumping high & low at the public phone booth outside the Backpackers upon hearing my results cos I had got so many Distinctions! Couldn't believe I did so well really! I was so happy!

(City Circle Tram - Melbourne)

Then Eddy also found out about his results & he did not do as well as me (Eddy & I were majouring in Information Systems while Mr Wrong was in the Mechanical Engineering faculty). And well, both he & Mr Wrong were stunned upon hearing my results. I remember they were really surprised though also very happy for me & they kept saying I was so smart so clever etc etc.

(Tweety Bird - Movie World, Gold Coast)

Yet, at the same time I could see they were pretty disappointed at themselves, especially Mr Wrong whom I bet must have felt real ashamed of himself! Cos when it came to hearing about his results (well he already got his results way before we left Brisbane for the Fraser Island trip), guess what, his results were pretty bad not passing a few modules.

(Kangaroos on Boomerang - Sydney)

I remember I was comforting him that it was ok to have red marks in Mechanical Engineering cos I knew from my brother who did Mechnical Engineering in Singapore Poly that they have to study way too many subjects in each semester & it's pretty tough & very common to have red marks!

(Mummy Koala Carrying Baby

- Brisbane International Airport)

But as far as I was concerned, deep down inside me, I thought his results were bad cos of so many red marks. And I felt then that he was not a good guy cos I knew he came from a rich family staying at the Bukit Timah area of our hometown Singapore. And he also had his own Condo house at the Heart of Queensland city Brisbane with a big car which his dad bought for him & his sister who were both studying in Brisbane then etc etc!!

(Aussie Dollar Note - Melbourne)

Hey wait a minute! Don't get me wrong, I don mean that guys who are rich & stay at the Bukit Timah area are bad okie, heheh in case I confuse u a little....... I meant cos now with such bad grades of his, & being rich & also the only son in his family, I felt he was just an idle lazy immature still young & insensible spoilt kid who only knew how to spend his dad's money & not know how to think properly & study hard etc etc!! Well, basically I thought of him as Mr Wrong in all sense!!! Ha ha!!

(Pelican - Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, Sydney)

Besides, I've had lawyer & rich men going after me before but wealth somehow has never been my consideration of a boyfriend. What matters to me most was the chemestry betwen us & that he was a good honest man with whom I can connect to & that we have the same interests (& well, we both have which I later found out - we both love watching movies, travelling & eating!!).

(Koala Clinging to Boomerang

- Paddy's Market, Sydney)

Anyway, we toured Hervey Bay for a while, visiting the Wildlife Sanctuary etc & that was when I got to know Mr Wrong a little better.

(Aussie Wildlife Animals - Port Stephens, Sydney)

Then Eddy, he & I finally got to Fraser Island with a bunch of other stranger acquaintances (also staying at the same Backpackers as us) from Japan & Britain in our 4WD vehicle (ferried on a barge across from Hervey Bay to the Island).

(Aussie Cartoon Road Sign

- Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, Sydney)

Our 4WD was packed with all kinds of camping equipments & utensils (from the Backpackers) & canned food & beverages which we shared & bought at the Woolworths & Coles supermarkets at Hervey Bay before we left for the Island.

(Pelican - Port Stephens, Sydney)

It was our very first camping trip on an alone-Island in the middle of the huge seas for all of us, & we had such great experiences & fun together on the amazingly beautiful Island.

(Penguin with Hygrometer & Thermomter

- Phillip Island, Melbourne)

I remember we had to cook our own meals over campfire & set up our own tents in the nights. We had a great time starring up at the sky filled with thousands of twinkling magical stars & we explored the Island in our 4WD vehicle during the day times, hiking through the thick forests, playing in the cool deserts & swimming in the many gorgeous crystal clear lakes.

(Aussie Beach Bums - Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast)

Haha I couldn't swim at all so I could only play with the waters & watched enviously the others swimming so freely. Mr Wrong was a good swimmer (he still is) & I remember Eddy & he tried teaching me how to swim in the lakes but of course they all failed!

(Handcrafted Wooden Platypus with Movable Legs

- The Rocks Market, Sydney)

Till today, nobody has actually managed to teach me to swim at all cos I just don know how to float!! Haha me always telling people I'm just too fat & heavy to be able to float la.

(That's FATTY Me in SEXY Bathing Bikinis

(I was born in the Pig Year) - Geelong)

I remember I nearly drowned a good friend cum unimate cum housemate of mine while she was trying to teach me to swim in the swimming pool of the Backpackers where we were staying during one of our uni vacation tour. From then on, I dare not try kill anybody else!! Haha guess I just have water phobia!!

(Footprint of Real Sand

- Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast)

Well, we stayed in Fraser Island for a total 3 days. I remember the Japanese gal, whom I shared my tents with, & I would always need someone to help cover our toilet breaks out in the Island among the sands & bushes away from the crowd. And being the only 4 Asians, we would always only call Eddy or Mr Wrong.

(Voluptous Women on Beach Painting

- St Kilda Explanade Market, Melbourne)

And Eddy would always not be free to help not sure if he was busy with the camping setting-up stuffs etc or just plain lazy. But not Mr Wrong, who would always be there for us, well not sure if he was actually the one who was being lazy cos not helping with the tents etc thus having so much free time to help look out for us!

(Wildlife Sanctuary Warning Sign - Geelong)

Or who knows, may be he was just too delighted to be able to help us then cos he was falling in love with me & just wanted to try peep at me!?! Haha!! (Well, true enough which I later found out from him, not that he was trying to peep at me but cos he was really very attracted to me & he just couldn't keep his eyes away from me)!

(Huge Kangaroo

with Hygrometer & Thermometer

- Sydney)

Anyway, his helping to look out for us during our toilet breaks but only made me have a tiny little winy bit of good impression in him cos I've never really changed much of my earlier Mr Wrong impression of him at all!

(Hand Painted Koala on Tree on Wooden Log

- Gold Coast)

Besides, during our stay out there in the Island, I noticed many times Mr Wrong would be staring at me, especially when we were seated across each other at the back of our 4WD vehicle. Ignoring the rest of the whole world around us, he would be starring straight at my face, & many a time I was very very certain he was starring at my boobs too!!! And he was so shy!!! Hahaha!! So funny!!!

(Which BOOBS are yours Ladies?

- Surfers Paradise Gold Coast)

And see that was why I called him Mr Wrong cos he was not only an idle lazy immature insensible rich spoilt kid, he was also a pervert!!! So you see, I've never liked Mr Wrong at all since I've pretty bad impressions of him

(Naked Man Shaving in Bathroom Painting

- St Kilda Explanade Market, Melbourne)

And as he's about 1 & a half years younger than me, I've always thought of him just as my younger brother who needed much help & nuture to grow & be more sensible. So, I remember I would, whenever I had the chance, talk to him trying to advise him to be a good boy to study hard etc etc. And well, we became not so much as acquaintances but rather good friends soon.

(Ceramic Pinky Pig - South Bank Market, Brisbane)

After the Fraser Island trip, Mr Wrong & I parted ways in Australia when he came back home to Singapore for his holidays while I stayed on in Australia & toured the Northern Queensland coasts, Cairns, Gold Coast & Sydney before I went back to Geelong then back home to Singapore for the Lunar New Year. It was the year 1997.

(Map of Queensland - Brisbane)

Wow, it's been 10 years now since I met Mr Wrong now the Man of my Life....... & my story on how we dated still hasn't begun!

(Lovely Duckling with Blue Ribbon Bow - Geelong)

Guess gracious Fairy Goddess of Love had a hand in slowly pulling the red string between Mr Wrong & I...... from my Mr Wrong to my Mr Right....... & to a dating couple of us.

(Huge Fury Koala - South Bank Market, Brisbane)

I met Mr Wrong again in Singapore during the Lunar New Year when he came to my house to give me some photographs he took of us in Fraser Island.

(Wooden Aussie Map-shaped Beach Scenery

- Coolangatta Weekend Market, Gold Coast)

I remember showing him to my bedroom to see my many soft toys etc...... haha funny ha now I think about it why did I invite him to my bedroom ha?! Heheh I never knew the answer guess I would always show my good friends my bedroom la ha!! Heheh!!

(Black Rag Doll - Montville, Sunshine Coast)

And well, my dad & mum happened to be at home during his visit & they liked what they saw!! They thought of him as a very nice good honest boy! Strange ha?And well, we never met again after that meeting in my house.

(Cow in Blue Ribbon with Bell - Geelong)

Strangely, I received a call from him one day, the day he was leaving for Brisbane. He was calling to say goodbye from his house at Bukit Timah just seconds before he was stepping out of his house for Changi Airport for his flight back to Brisbane. He told me he just wanted to say goodbye & to inform me he was flying back to Brisbane.

(Handcrafted Wooden Koala with Movable Hand

& Baby - The Rocks Market, Sydney)

How strange I felt, cos he gave me the feeling that somehow he missed me. Though later on I thought nothing much about that phone call, though we did exchange our email addresses to keep in touch.

(Kangaroo holding Boomerang

- The Rocks Market, Sydney)

By March, we were both back in Australia. Me in Geelong for my last semester & he in Brisbane for his 2nd last semester.

(Koala Carrying Aussie Flag - Sydney)

One day, I got an hello email from him in Geelong, & we started staying in touch with each other again. And that was when my Mr Wrong impression of him slowly died off, & he became my Mr Not So Wrong.

(Penguins Parading - Phillip Island, Melbourne)

There would be emails from him in my inbox, sometimes none for a few days though, cos he was busy studying (like me..... Surprise ha so he did study!). Sometimes there would be a few emails a day, then slowly they became more frequent, then many & more & more frequent!

(Girly Cow in lovely outfit holding Wheat Sheave

- Geelong)

The mails would come with poems-like messages. He was not a man with many words, & he was also not a sweet-talker at all. But his English was very good & powerful, & the words he wrote to me were beautiful yet very geniune & sincere. I was touched by his words, & I was really very impressed. I slowly began to know him better, & better.

(Handmade Huge Heart

- St Kilda Explanade Market, Melbourne)

I slowly began to see him as a very sensible person with a good sincere honest heart. Very shy still but a very good man actually. And I felt that he was actually a muture guy who is very hardworking & sensible & knows how to think too!

(Aussie Wildlife Animals - Sydney)

Guess afterall parents can never really be wrong in their judgements & that sometimes we should listen & take to their wisdom ha (cos remember my dad & mum used to say he was a good man when they first met him in my house?! well, they still think so today!).

(Sylvester the Cat - Movie World, Gold Coast)

Anyway, I was really impressed & guess even more slowly without me even realising it myself, I was attracted to him & I was falling in love with him.

(Couple Koalas on Boomerang - Sydney)

Easter Holidays came, & he visited me in Geelong. I remember 2 girlfriends & I went to the Melbourne Domestic Airport to pick him up in our rental car & we brought him first thing to the very popular Crown Casino in the City. He loved the casinos & playing Blackjack cos I knew he often visited the Conrad Treasury Casino in Brisbane & the Conrad Jupiters Casino in Gold Coast with his sister & friends.

(Conrad Jupiters Casino - Gold Coast)

And guess what?! Once inside the Crown Casino, he actually gave me a 50 Aussie dollar note telling me to use it for gambling! Hahah don know why he did that but guess that was his way of expressing his much happiness in being able to see me again in Australia! And hahaha I lost that A$50 within no time!! Horrible don-know-how-to gambler Me!!

(Aussie Slogan Pigs Arse

- Harbourside Shopping Centre, Sydney)

Anyway, I offered him to stay in my house, which I was sharing with 3 other housemates, in Geelong, bunking into my rather huge bedroom....... okie okie, we slept separately apart from each other okie, without even touching each other okie, in case you start thinking dirtly!

(Plastic Condom Kingdom

- Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast)

Well, being the first time visiting Melbourne & Geelong, he rented a car so that he could be the driver while I could be his tour guide to bring him around sightseeing.

(Delta Car Rental Sign - Geelong)

We went to the famous Great Ocean Road, Geelong Eastern Beach & St Kilda Beach & did shopping at the Geelong city, Victoria Market & Chapel Street in Melbourne city etc etc. We were becoming real good friends now that we knew each other much much better.

(Great Ocean Road Sign - Geelong)

Once, we were shopping in Melbourne when our car got towed away cos he had parked it in this Tow-Away Zone without realising it! We were coming out of this boutique where he had just bought me a long brown sexy dress & :"HEY!! Where's our car ha?!!!" We screamed at each other cos our car just decided to disappear from our sight across the boutique at the street's side parking lot!!

(Antique Train

- Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, Sydney)

Hahahaha I was immediately woken up :"Oh I know already, you must have parked at the Tow-Away Zone & it's been towed away now!!" I told him leisurely as I recalled how my unimate's car was towed away once in Melbourne City after we came back shopping! I actually knew about the Tow-Away Zone yet I never warned him earlier! Silly Silly Me!! Anyway, this time I knew exactly what to do & how to get our car back!

(Koala clinging to Boomerang

- The Rocks Market, Sydney)

We started walking all the way from where we were standing (in a blur), outside the boutique, to the huge Car Park at Southgate near the Crown Casino where they usually put the cars after towing them away..... but then I was not even sure if our car was also taken there too!!

(Koalas Crossing Road Sign - Melbourne)

So worrying so worrying!! It was a pretty long walk, & I was walking very fast, panicky & pretty stressed too cos I knew we would have to spend a bomb paying for the fine before getting back our car.

(Fatty Sweaty Pig with Bath Towel - Geelong)

I was sweating...... internally actually...... as the weather then in the late evening was pretty cooling & I had no physically-seen sweats at all!!! Just sweats from cold feets cos was blaming myself for being so silly as not to be more observant about any Tow-Away Zone in the first place at all!!! What if our car was not even there at all etc etc etc!! Arhhhh...... so stressed, so stressed!!!

(Huge Koala with Hygrometer & Thermometer

- Sydney)

And guess what, he was very different! Instead of being more stressed & worried cos eventually he would have to be the one to pay the huge fine, he was actually the one comforting me & advising me not to panick but slow down, telling me :"Don be stressed, it's ok. The car has already been towed away, no point worrying & be stressed. Calm down, we will get back our car, everything will be just fine. It's ok, don worry..... " Hahaha he was so cool so cool, another good side of him that I got to know.

(Aussie Tram - Melbourne)

And well, we did get our car back eventually from that huge Car Park at Southgate near the Crown Casino, but first he had to pay about 400 Aussie bucks for the total fine!! Wow 400 bucks?!! I could easily get a domestic return air-ticket to visit any state of Australia from Geelong!! What a pain!

(Greetings from Naked Couple Inside Tram Painting

- St Kilda Explanade Market, Melbourne)

But still he was very cool, not that he was rich, but to him it was no point crying over split milk but one just has to move on positively & be happy! Well, he was just such a sweet man & always very gentle with me, so sweet so sweet.

(Giantic Beautiful Butterfly Lovers - Melbourne)

And well, as you can later imagine, he slowly became from my Mr Not So Wrong to my Mr Right, & that was when we started dating & holding hands. I remember on our very first trip to the Great Ocean Road, we had to stay overnight there at a hotel cos it was already pretty late & dark & he was too tired to drive us back to Geelong.

(The World Famous Twelve Apostles

- Great Ocean Road, Victoria)

The next morning, we went to further explore the Twelve Apostles & just when we wre both enjoying the magnificent Rocks (Apostles) of the Ocean, he touched, took & held my hand for the very first time. That moment was really magical & I believed I did saw butterflies fluttering all over, around & inside me!!

(Pig & Cow Lovers

- representing Me & my Mr Right

(whose Chinese Animal Zodiac is Cow)

- Port Stephens, Sydney)

The Eastern break was soon over & he was back in Brisbane while I stayed on in Geelong. We continued keeping in touch through emails, & started talking more & more to each other over the phone. And during the before exams revision week holiday in May, I flew over to visit him in Brisbane.

(Aussie Map-shaped Brisbane Sceneries

- Brisbane Domestic Airport)

I remember I brought all my text books & notes with me from Geelong to study with him days & nights in his Uni in Brisbane cos he had to work there on his Uni project with his unimates. So very tiring but very precious so long as it was time spent together with him.

(The Wizard - the Man of my Life Loves Magic

- Gold Coast)

In June, I completed my 1 and half years of Bachelor of Computing studies in Deakin University. I decided to visit him in Brisbane once again before I flew back home to Singapore to face the working world.

(Deakin University Alumni Association

(where I'm a Member) - Geelong)

This time round I stayed in Brisbane (bunking in his Condo house) for almost 2 months (I remember I came back to Singapore on the night of our National Day) & that was when we seriously started dating.

(Let's MEET under the CLOCK

- the Very POPULAR Meeting Place,

Flinders Stations - Melbourne)

We visited many many places of interests in Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Montville etc etc, & that was when my Fridge Magnets craze really kicked in!

(Hand Moulded Couple Koalas

with Fury Bodies Holding Aussie Flag

& Snuggled Up Cosily Together

- Eagle Street Pier Art & Craft Market, Brisbane)

Hahahaha, sorry I've been such a long long-winded story-teller, hope I did not bore you at all with my life story ha! Sounds like my life story ha. But actually I was just trying to share with you how I got to be a Fridge Magnet lover.

(Opera House Sceneries Shoes - Sydney)

Well, I was really falling in love for the first time in my life, & I tried to have at least a keepsake souvenir for every places that I've been with the Man of my Life.

(Metallic Heart-shaped Messenger

- Centrepoint, Singapore)

By the way, did I tell you that I'm now blissfully married to him (bet you must have already guessed that too ha!). And well, we're now both residing in Singapore, & I'm still very much in love with him.

(Chinese Customary Wedded Couple

- Chinatown, Singapore)

Remember I love travelling?! Well, Fridge Magnets, being small & handy & also self-describe themselves & tell about the places & countries, have become my travelling souvenirs everywhere I go!!

(Our Favourite Huant

- Dream World, Gold Coast)

Moreover, he sometimes travels on business trips so he would bring home beautiful Fridge Magnets for me too! I'm a lucky woman ha?! heheh!

(Beautiful Unique Ettamogah Pub

- Aussie World, Sunshine Coast)

So here it goes - my Fridge Magnets Collection from around the globe! Enjoy!