New Album, New Beginning (Taiwan/Japan)

WHERE DO I BEGIN?!

I've just looked through my photo album and there is no way 500 photos are going onto this blog post :|, but I'll try my best to give you a little taster of the start of the new journey (wahoo!).

FLYING TO TAIWAN. TO LIVE. TO LIVE .. IN TAIWAN. STAYING IN TAIWAN. Not permanently - don't fret my beautiful lion city - but going to Taiwan to release a chinese album!? A whooleeeeee different ball game :|. A crazy, crazy, mandarin ball game that I need to learn to understand. AH MY GAWD. Arrived. Went to the office. Taipei 101. Teppanyaki. Cold Stone. Sleep. Up. JAPAN!

My rather nice buffet breakfast before heading off - how cute is the seating arrangement!

Just too cool.

HOW COOL IS JAPAN AIRLINES!? Firstly they gave me a free flowing supply of macha green tea AND they served SO MUCH miso soup as well. AND look at their super high tec plane camera! It shows you the outside activity! So cool! It was amazing while landing, haha (you can imagine my excitement as we got closer to the ground).

YAY JAPAN!

I'm not going to go into the sad sob story details about how I've from young always wanted to go to Japan and never been allowed and almost broke down crying when I found out I was going for work... BUT I was sooooooo excited to go to Japan! However, I did have to put my handmade print out booklet back in the cupboard as it was purely for work. The first day was spent running around and I didn't even get to eat from 8am - 8pm! Pretty intense!

HACHIKO! Yes I pretended to be Richard Gere but it wasn't the same without the old fashion train :(

BASICALLY we were here to go shopping! But it was 'planned' shopping, meaning the company knew where they wanted to go and what they wanted to get! I was informed before I went that I'd have 'allocated meal times and toilet breaks' so I knew my plees to go to any sort of pokemon/hello kitty shop would probably not be such a good idea... Alas, there is always next time! The next series of photos are SO disorganised and probably many illegal (Got told to put the camera away so many times its a joke). My apologies. 

One of 500 million trying on photo shots I had to take! I LOVE THIS JUMPER ITS SO CUTE (but I am sadly still without it!)

SUCH COOL CHANGING ROOMS

Again - SUCH COOL CHANGING ROOMS

AHH CUPCAKES. The concept stores were AMAZING.

This was hilarious. I was so, so tempted but.. the price just didn't match how funnily cute it was unfortunately! Gotta sing a little more first!

So hot

Ok, last cool changing room shot I PROMISEEEEE!

I was so tempted to get this and dress up - so close.

OK THIS WAS SUCH A COOL STORE. We went at like, midnight and it's huge, like, HUGE with everything you could possibly imagine in it. Every single iphone case that I've ever found and wanted online was in here - every single fredflare type item, quirky, weird, funny, cute, EVERYTHING. I took a bajillion photos but I don't wanna bore you so just trust me on this one - find this weird quirky store cause I don't know what its called.

Made me laugh

The store was literally called 'CLUB KT' lololololololol.

This TV is cheaper than a dress. What.

That guy is like 'whaaaaaaaat'

This store was really cool. My stylist brought us here and told me that Rihanna and Lady Gaga always come and visit and I could see why. The clothes were cool. Very cool. Too cool for me, haha. At one point this guy who has appeared in loads of music videos was there too - I didn't make eye contact, haha. I was too excited running around and was so embarrassed :(.

Mickey Mouse who?

I think I tried on so many hats on this trip. I'm just not a hat person unfortunately :\.

FREE HUGS!

Waiting around shots.. waiting around.

FINALLY GOT A BEANIE! Ok they may not suit me but this one was cool. I didn't upload the mass-hat-attack photos but lets just say If I looked good in flat caps and big beanies.. there would be a lot more starwars-esque items in my closet at the moment.. lets just leave it at that. NOW LETS LOOK AT SOME FOOOD!

Take away for 2

I unfortunately didn't get much of a say with food so I just followed with what the team wanted to eat! We did get to go to a few really cool places though and after a lot of pleading, I managed to get my sushi meal (thank gosh!).

May have been a little too hungry...

GENKI SUSHI HERE WAS SO CUTE!

TOUCH SCREEN!

WHAT TYPE OF QUESTION IS THAT!? OF COURSE I WOULD!

HORAY!

DELIVERED TO MY TABLE PERSONALLY!? THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

They also had super duper cool vending machines which were touch screen and all electro-cool. You press the drink you want and it came up all big on the screen and rah rah rah. Very cool.

And the toilets. Of course - so cool. I was very nervous about pressing all the buttons. Got in one picture of a sink. Auto-water-auto soap-auto-handdryer in one.

The Japanese are so organised as well! Look at their little toilet system in one of the malls!

Oops whats this photo doing here. Oh.. erm, well. Yeah.

This place was amazing! 24 hour Ramen noodle bar!

You press what you want and get a little ticket.

SO CUTE! Your own personal booth!

Don't judge me. 

They shut the curtain after to give you a little privacy, hehe. Cute cute cute cute cute!

Ok the convinient stores were STACKED with ultra cool stuff - millions of flavours of everything, 'medicine' areas filled with .. beauty shots? 'Hot fridges' (not sure how else to describe them) where you can grab a coffee and go.. so much stuff! Mum and I tried one of the beauty shots - we are still alive, soooo..

On the streets of Harajuku!

This place was really cute too - every place was cute! They were all in little alleys, small doorways, tucked away and then you go inside and BOOM. Food heaven.

Another meal - my first taste of beef tongue - surprisingly good!

I tried with this photo, I really did.

 There are a gazillion photos more but I just wanted to give you a little taster of what I've been up to. UNFORTUNATELY I cannot share any of the actual shopping photos (where I wasn't goofing around while waiting..) as they're going to be used for, erm, other purposes (hehehehehehe - SO EXCITED!). It's a completely new look which I too am not too sure about so, its a surprise for both you and I, I guess!

So the team went to get the last few bits and bobs and Mum and I went for her first neoprint experience. MAN I've missed this! The one at cineleisure isn't there anymore? Does anyone know anywhere else that has cool ones in Singapore?

AIRPORT SNACKS. WE GOT SO MUCH. LIKE 2 BAGS FULL.

Was told these were amazing. Was a little disappointed when I bit into one though, maybe I bigged it up too much in my head. Mum felt the same.

SO. CUTE.

AHH SO MANY COOL FLAVOURS! We got 2 boxes of these hahaha.

Anddd a few of these mega big boxes as well. Strawberry, Green Tea, Sakura and Cheesecake. The strawberry is delicious delicious delicious. I'm such a strawberry girl.

And with that it was goodbye Japan! We were served a delicious meal on the plane of fish, rice and a really cute bento box with loads of different goodies. I inhaled mine so this is what was left to take a photo of - my bad. Its a good thing though - last year in Taiwan I was told I was too fat, this year I lost weight for my return and now I'm too thin - you can't win! But not all is lost - STREET FOOD HERE I COME!

Hair transformation is currently in process - for those following me on instagram and twitter you've probably seen a little taster of whats been happening but for those who arn't, I'll do a little post on it once its done and I've been given the go ahead!

Thank you all for your recommendations in Japan and lovely messages this week! Missing you all loads - so glad we can go through this journey again together!

Ming xx.

The First Taster

Last day in Aus!

FINALLY!

After months and months and months I can now present you with the first few tasters of SPANKING NEW MATERIAL!! 

The good news: I've put my heart and soul into this new album, its something different, I feel its more 'me' and I really can't wait for you guys to hear it.

The bad news: To all my purely english speaking fans, this is going to be an all mandarin album. But we may translate some of the new songs if need be - you never know - everything seems possible and unpredictable in this crazy industry so I really hope you stay with me and enjoy the new music! 

HERE IT IS!! 淚若雨下 - Unplugged!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - Do let me know what you think!

Even more exciting news ... *drum roll* ... the song is being featured in a new taiwanese drama. SO. AMAZINGLY. COOL. You can have a look at the trailer (as well as sneak a little listen to how the full song sounds like - although it sounds a little more emotional on its own!) here:

Leave me a comment below or write to me on twitter here. You can also now check out my instagram photos online - horah! View them here (although I highly recommend getting instagram - its so addictive and inspirational - love love love it!)

I shall now end the post with a few last day photos from aus. Just incase, you know, you wanted a little look at some of the beautiful colours!

Post-birthday glow

 And in true Ming singer/foodie fashion - My last breakfast at Avenue Road Cafe!

Eggs Benny

Sydney has one of the best eggs benedicts in the world - trust me on this one.

Dad winning the prize of best meal order of the morning

How amazing does this fruit salad look!?

What a sight. One of my favourite places in the world <3

I'm now currently on the move but will be posting up a blog post on the last few days soon so stay tuned!

Lots of love, as always
Ming xx.

Turning 20

I don't know what I was expecting, really.

Maybe to wake up smarter, prettier, more sophisticated with life figured out and a clear direction of what I wanted to do today as well as the next few days and months. Maybe. All I know is that I still feel like a little girl. A little girl who is now IN HER 20S!? How crazy is that! I guess having started working from young I've always felt older than a teen in some way - maybe I'm just catching up with myself. But anyway - its inevitable - no point dwelling over it - what will be will be. I'm 20. And I'm very, very happy. COOL.

BUT BEING 20 DIDN'T STOP BE FROM BEING A PRINCESS! But I'll get on to that a little later, hehe. ONCE AGAIN I've taken loads and loads of photos and meant to blog loads and loads and loads and just haven't gotten round to it. I have SO MUCH to tell you and SO MUCH exciting stuff coming up that I just need to start properly blogging again so I'm going to start here. Doing a big blog post about my birthday (to get me going again) and then if I have time I'll update you on some october happenings (in a true ming style mahooooosive post) or if I don't - leave you with the promise that I will continue doing shorter more frequent posts from now on! BECAUSE I'M BACK ON THE ROAD MY DEARS! But, again, more on that later!

Saved this dress up for a year to wear for my birthday, hahaha. I love the colour! I was SUPER DUPER lucky this year (an upgrade from spending my birthday working and ended it with me + coffee (my doggy, not the drink) + movie + takeaway to actually seeing the whole of my dads side of the family for my birthday! On 3rd of November (2 days before) we headed out into London Towwwwwn for some food!

HELLO KITTY WRAPPED PRESENTS FROM BIANCA!!! She really knows the way to my heart...

Hamish (my cousin) & Bianca (drop-dead-gorgeous sister)

PRESENTS WAHOOOOO

Bianca, myself and our instagram skillzzzz (and an obvioulsy VERY attractive piece of vanilla cheesecake heaven)

Blah - I hate flash photos but I love this photo Bianca got me of us so it's going up!

The next morning we headed out for my favourite meal of the day - brunch! I've (as usual) sussed out a huge list of breakfast places I've always wanted to hit in London so we went for what we hoped would be a pretty unique experience at Nopi!

My best friend George (who now looks like Chewbacca - alas, uni life), and I

And the post wouldn't be complete without some TOTALLY AWESOME FOOD SHOTS TO GO WITH IT!! (I did restrain before - err, minus the cheesecake - I REALLY DID!)

Smoked Salmon & Scrambled Eggs (NOT MINE THIS TIME I DECIDED TO VENTURE OUT, ENJOY GRANDMA)

Yummy French Toast

Welsh Rarebit? Tasted delicious though (wasn't getting away without a taste)

AHHHHHHH YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY Shakshuka)

I really need to stop it with my food obsession. Like, just a little. And the ranting. The Shakshuka (along with the big price tag) was worth every penny - Italian braised eggs, piquante tomato sauce and smoked labneh. However I have now invested in a cookbook so I can try this little concoction at home (a girl can't wait another year to have this again).

Ok now things get interesting..

Got on a plane, got to Singapore, and then used my points to join my dad to go to.. errr...

HOW PRETTY ARE THESE JACKARANDA TREES!?!

HELLO AUSTRALIA!! (Urgh so annoying - my whole post deleted at this point!!) I WAS SO SO SO HAPPY! For those of you who don't know, I am also Australian and was born in Sydney so it was amazing to be able to go for 2 days (yes I am suffering horrible, horrible jet lag) and see my family out here and these beautiful, gorgeous purple trees everywhere. So November the 5th, BOOM. Entered my birthday with a splash and then was whisked away by my sweetheart of a cousin with the promise of Champagne and Strawberry Tarts to 'The Tea Room' in The QVB.

From Instagram - Incase you missed it

Yes. So. Lucky.

Managed to make it through about 2 sips of the champagne, hahaha. They really fill it up to the brim! (Champagne lovers, take note)! It was wonderful - beautiful.

The 'blow out' shot

A quick change and we were ready to hit the town for a very, very nice family dinner. Again, this dress I've saved now for about, erm, 3 years? - Geez I need to get out more!

Stuart, Natasha and I

More presents!

Eeeeeek!

So yeah - we're a pretty 'big on food' kinda family. The table got this 'all you can eat meat option' that started off with a selection of beautiful tapas. The meat part was a bit like 'Carnivore' in Singapore if you've been - it's an experience!

Their version of Banoffe Pie

mmmmmmmm

And to top off the day - I reached 10K followers on instagram! Cool! I'm so happy that I managed to see so much of my family for my birthday - especially since the next few months are going to be pretty hectic from now on. Really so so lucky and very happy. I really want to take this time to thank everyone for all the lovely birthday wishes and comments that you've left me on twitter, facebook and so on. I wish I could reply to them all individually but believe me (BELIEVE ME) when I say I read every single one and they all contribute to the MAHOOSIVE smile that's now engraved on my face. :) <--- (a bit like this one).

Teeheeehee

Mum is going to kill me.

AND WITH THAT I LEAVE YOU WITH A BUNCH OF PRINCESS PHOTOS (Yes, maybe this dress is 4 years old.. I'm working through them all slowly, dresses have their moments and this one was perfect!).

20. Let's make this year one to remember, shall we?

LOTS OF LOVE,
Ming.

P.S. THE ADVENTURE STARTS NOVEMBER THE 9TH - STAY TUNED!!