KYLIE ... APHRODITE TOUR

Last night was Kylie night! My second time to watch Kylie perform, the first back in 2008 at the O2 Arena. And just like that performance she was awe-inspiring! Starting off the show dressed like a Greek goddess with the energetic opening song "Aphrodite" and followed up with lots of new tracks off her latest album. The show was certainly a visual treat with her dancers doubled up as trapeze artists during some of the songs, with harnesses raising them above the ground. I think the highlight for me was hearing her burst into classics like "The Loco-motion", "Better The Devil You Know" and "I Should Be So Lucky" ... definite childhood classics! 

Images from Google

Kylie has been touring since February and the reviews of the tour have been the best in her career so far! The multi-million-dollar production included groundbreaking features:
- A host of specially-design props, including a 14-foot tall golden Pegasus, which Kylie performs on. A golden chariot, five video screens, a sweeping staircase and much more
- 200 different costumes/outfits utilising over a million diamante crystals and almost 1000 feathers
- 8 bespoke Dolce & Gabbana costumes for the Aphrodite herself
- 100 different pairs of shoes
- A brilliant four piece band, 12 hot dancers and two incredible backing singers
- Spectacular choreography, lighting and video content of incredibly fit men swimming through turquoise water!
All of which made it an unmissable show! Below are a few pictures that John, one of the designers from work managed to snap...great shots!

BOTANIC GARDENS

This weekend we also managed to squeeze in the Botanical Gardens which I can not believe I haven't visited over the last ten months. We had a great day spread out over brunch (with cocktails) and tea at Halia Restaurant, just relaxing, walking around and of course, taking plenty of pics!

At 74-hectare (183 acre) the gardens are half the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, but they are the only gardens in the world to open from 5am to 12 midnight every day of the year. The National Orchid Garden is the main attraction, and I could see why! With a collection of more than 1000 species and 2000 hybrids of orchids it certainly was my favourite bit! Well second to the yummy cocktails of course!

This guy certainly deserves a mention...we've named him Carlos!  A guy from Columbia who asked us to take his picture for him. Check out this outfit! He was more colourful than the flowers! 

END OF AN ERA: THE LAST DAYS OF SINGAPORES TANJONG PAGAR RAILWAY STATION

Built in 1932 and relatively unchanged since, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Stationn on Keppel Road is one of the island's last heritage buildings still serving it's original purpose - but it won't be for long. The station is due to close at the end of the month so this weekend, Victoria, Craig and I paid a visit so we could see the station in all it's glory before it shuts for good. 

The distinctive architectural style of the station hails from an era when European railway travel was at its height, as it is said to have been influenced by the architect behind Finland’s Helsinki Station. Up until now the Malaysia government has resisted the many attempts by the Singapore government to persuade it to redevelop the railway land and the land on which the station stands. The station features four large statues on the four pillars at its entrance, each symbolising one of the then Malaya’s four economic pillars. The top of each of the pillars also bears one of the letters in the initials, FMSR, which stand for the Federated Malay States Railway, as it was known then. It's a great building and I'm really pleased that I got to visit this weekend before it shuts at the end of next week. Who knows what's in store for the station...hopefully not just another shopping mall!

EXCITING...

With my trip home so close now I'm getting very excited! I can't wait to see everyone, including Jennie and bump! And it looks like she's slightly excited to see me too! This has brightened up my Friday afternoon....only 14 days to get through!

BARE YOUR SOLE...

Myself, Jill, Jamie and Claire took part in the Habitat for Humanity and Barclays "Bare Your Sole" bare foot walk this morning. Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit Christian housing organisation with a mission to eliminate poverty housing worldwide by building simple, decent houses. They build for people of all backgrounds, races and religions to provide needy families with a simple and decent place to live in. Treacherous roads, uneven flooring, broken glass, scorching  ground and discarded sharp objects...Everyday, people in developing countries & disaster-stricken places make their way through these undesirable conditions - barefoot. The walk is an initiative that lets us all support these children and adults who live in dire conditions, raising much needed funds for projects to improve these people's living  conditions by building homes and fighting poverty.

The event took place at the Gardens by the Bay East, Tanjong Rhu, a picturesque setting which whereby you could either walk 2.5 or 4 kilometre distances. With over 5,000 pairs of bare feet walking we chose to do the extended 4 kilometre route. Unfortunately, we had a storm through the night so it was a bit wet underfoot but we all really enjoyed! As we were leaving the walk we heard that it had raised over $40,000. A great effort!

An early start meant an early finish so I now still have the rest of the day to relax before heading out to experience Beerfest Asia this evening!

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO...

So after a crazy fortnight in work and a relatively quiet weekend (due to awful weather here) I don't really have a lot to report this week! But, after two events next weekend I should have some more interesting news. Saturday morning I am going to do a barefoot charity walk "Bare Your Sole" followed by an evening at Beerfest Asia...it's going to be a great weekend! 

MAGNUM PLEASURE SUITE...

I was so excited to hear that there was going to be a Magnum Pleasure Suite unveiled on Orchard Road recently, but then extremely disappointed not to be able to experience it due to my holiday and work commitments. So I've searched the net and managed to find some imagery to re-share (courtesy of the Magnum Facebook page). Feels great to see our new design being rolled out across Asia.

Three suites housed various pleasure elements, like a massage for feel, a hole room filled with the sweet and rich aroma of chocolate for scent, a male model for the pleasure of sight, a DJ for sound and the new Magnum Caramel for taste!

I've also been reading recently about how Chanel designer Karl Lagerfield has designed a chocolate hotel room, as part of a deal with Magnum. His creation used around 10 tons of Belgian chocolate and his inspiration for the chocolate male on the bed eating an ice-cream came from Baptiste Giabiconi who is the designers favourite male model. The edible hotel room is housed in an unnamed Paris Hotel. Slightly to far for me to travel. I would love to see this!