GRAND LAUNCH OF ROBINSONS KUALA LUMPUR

I guess the hottest question of the week was: Have you check out Robinsons/ The Shoppes at Four Season Place /Four Seasons Hotel? Thank god I was invited to the grand launch of Robinsons which took place last week, or else I'll definitely suffer some FOMO moments seeing that I'm born and raise in KL and haven't check out this place. 

If you followed my Instagram (please follow if you haven't, I update more often there! CLICK HERE) you probably know that my high heels decided to give me a hiccup and broke right after I come down from my car. I was wearing my sandals whole night long and I never felt so underdressed and I've decided to look for a pair of new heels. Yes, at Robinsons.

Kate, me who is trying to act like nothing had happened and Jessica

This new Robinsons flagship store located right at the heart of Kuala Lumpur draws a lot of attention of shoppers lately. Why? Because there are many brands that are exclusively brought in by the company and you can't find it elsewhere in Malaysia. Since I'm already in the mood for shopping, I might as well have a good look what Robinsons is offering.

Perfume Bar
Whole section of perfumes just for the perfume lovers

Beauty brands and exclusive ones like Ladurée!

Sales Assistant of Ladurée Malaysia is very kind and helpful

Dyson and their latest hype product: Dyson Airwrap
We had so much fun playing with the airwrap that night
(you're missing out if you missed my instastory~)

If you're not a fan of styling your own hairstyle, maybe you can visit:

Leekaja Beauty Salon
One of the latest hype among KL's social media users too
Have yet try their service tho, is it good?

Found Maison Kitsuné here!

I love love loveeeeee Maison Kitsuné clothes, maybe because it's a French label, maybe because it's a French Japanese collaboration hence their aesthetic totally fits my love for both Japan and France. Maybe the fox logo is too cute not to love, I was so excited when I saw this! I do hope Robinsons will carry the label's womenswear into the store soon too. 

Boy London

Why do guys get all the nice stuff this round? Right after I saw Maison Kitsuné, then I saw these! I still can remember back those days when street style isn't all about Hypebeast and Supreme, Boy London literally ruled the urban clothing industry. And I believe that this is a "Robinsons Exclusive" label too, so you only can get it here.

AHHHH! MY HEART SCREAMS WHEN I SAW THIS

Another Robinsons Exclusive label - Chiara Ferragni Collection! If you don't know her, we can't be friends. 

Nah I'm joking. 

But who wouldn't know her? Labeled as one of the Top Social Media Influencer, Chiara Ferragni's wedding media impact value has brought in 36 million dollars value. She's decided to become the CEO of her company, living a Girl Boss life now with her husband and baby Leo, I mean who wouldn't look up to someone who is as independent and capable like her?

Hence when I saw these shoes I was like OMG I feel so close to Chiara!!! Shoes selections this round were quite limited I do hope that Robinsons are bringing in more options also clothings and accessories too! I'm gonna save up to buy these I promise!

Just when I thought I saw everything that makes my heart goes pumping, I saw these at Level 3:

Le Creuset's colorful collection
Did I saw there's 50% discount corner?

SMEG!
Fridge goal!!!

Since I'm moving house soon, I guess Robinsons have some wide selections of premium kitchen appliances as well as bath and bedding sections. It's really fun to get inspiration for new house while walking around level 3.

If you're feeling tired of walking, maybe you can get some time off and enjoy coffee-or-tea moment at these cafes:

Croisserie Artisan Bakery

SevenFriday Space
where timepieces and coffee meets, perfect for the guys who are waiting for their shopaholic partners eh?

Last but not least, we ended the wonderful night with a special curated place: Robinsons Bar

Although at the end of the day I didn't manage to get a pair of heels (buying shoes really requires luck+fate), but I had so much fun exploring the new Robinsons Kuala Lumpur. It really does give me the "curate your wonderful" feeling as I can curate my personal style (or housing style) from what Robinsons have to offer. 

It's time for you to check out this wonderful place and discover more than I did! For full list of shops, click HERE! Thank you for having me Robinsons KL!

For more information:

Robinsons Malaysia Official Website

SHOPPES AT FOUR SEASONS PLACE,
145 JALAN AMPANG, 50450 KUALA LUMPUR


OPEN : 10AM – 10PM DAILY


PARKING RATES:
MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS
First hours or part thereof: RM5
Every subsequent hour or part thereof: RM4

SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
First 3 hours or part thereof: RM5
Every subsequent hour or part thereof: RM4

Additional Fix Rate (12 midnight to 7am)
RM12

Motorcycles
RM2/ent.

HOW TO TAKE BETTER UNDERWATER PICTURES

As taught by Jacky, Olympus Malaysia's underwater photography instructor. 

Malaysia is truly a blessed country. We have so many beautiful beaches and islands, surrounded by lively corals I've never seen before up to this point of my life. And just at the beginning of this month, I've been to this island that's possibly the most beautiful island in Malaysia's east coast - Lang Tengah Island.

Open season from March till end of October, Lang Tengah Island has only 2 resorts so far, and we're staying at this luxury resort called Summer Bay Resort. October consider low season because of the unpredictable weather, hence we get to enjoy the place mostly by ourselves. 

Isn't this scenery something that we usually see on a postcard?

One of the famous activities to do at Lang Tengah Island will be snorkelling. I love snorkelling a lot! I've snorkelled at Phuket, Krabi, Tioman and Christmas Island and it's really fun seeing fishes swimming around me but I always feel sad when I saw corals bleaching. It was when during my first snorkelling experience at Krabi that I tell myself I should not apply any sunblock whenever I go into the sea, I rather get tanned than brings unwanted pollution to all those precious corals. 

So this trip is mainly a photography workshops trip, thanks to the generosity of Olympus Malaysia and Summer Bay Resort Island, we get to experience and record our precious memories using various Olympus camera around this beautiful island and resort. I've heard how my friends uses disposable cameras to take underwater photos and I still can recall how blurry and blue they are. It's really unpleasing to look at and I was wondering is there anything I can use to capture underwater moments without worrying the device gone haywire. 

Underwater photography gears of Olympus, owned by Jacky
He's a scuba diving instructor and underwater photography enthusiast
check out his instagram HERE

Olympus TOUGH series cameras
Red: TOUGH TG-5
Green: TOUGH TG-TRACKER

I guess underwater photographers with small budget are loving these babies. The Olympus TOUGH series cameras are one of the best underwater cameras that cater to every needs of underwater shots, even for a newbie like me! These cameras are waterproof, shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof and dustproof you can use them in any conditions!

TG-5 is the latest addition to TOUGH camera series and its high image quality has won hearts of many. In order to familiarise ourselves with these cameras, our workshop instructor - Jacky teaches us all the modes available in these cameras since most of us were first time using TOUGH series camera, getting know the devices before we go into the water is crucial for taking good shots. 

insufficient lighting around the object/backlighting

flash on if the subject/surrounding is too dark

Here are some advices given by Jacky for taking a good underwater photos:

• flash on if it's gloomy
• always take photos of fishes from the side or 45 angle from its head (like the blue green fish from the photo above)
• photos directly from the top of the fishes are less interesting (snorkelers should know lol)
• be patient and wait for your shots/hit the shutter as much as you could for not missing a moment
• know what modes to use (wide angle for big pictures of corals or macro modes to focus on certain fishes, sea slugs and sea objects)
• relax and enjoy! 

I love using macro mode because it's so easy to focus on fishes who are swimming far from me when I'm floating on top

While most of them are trying to figure out the cameras, my heart literally has wandered off to the sea. So when Jacky announce it's time for us to depart to the snorkelling spot, I'm the first one rushing to our speedboat because practical is always the best practice. Sorry for my impatience. lol.

Here we go! Water as blue and clear like sapphire, can't wait to dive into you!

Finally reach our snorkelling spot, which is literally just beside our resort, like 5mins away
That's how clear the water is for any sort of underwater activities

Being the first few to jump into the sea, I can't wait to see the fishes and corals and once again experience the total freedom and relaxation of body, heart and soul. Of course, this time with a mission: to try out the TOUGH series camera and hopefully I can get some good shots. 

Selfie with TG-5's Underwater Wide mode
Selfie taken to another level hahahaha

This time selfie with my cat
I'm so glad he could come along with me this trip and dare to snorkel even though he don't know how to swim
It really takes a lot of courage for non-swimmers to participate in underwater activities

Here some of the first few shots that failed hahahahah:

Didn't know fishes moves so fast

Fish photobomb or rather I have no clue what I'm aiming at lol

Okay finally fish in frame but too close to the camera and it's out of focus lol

Slowly I'm starting to get the hang of underwater photography. Underwater currents that day were quite strong hence the waves are pretty rough, pushes us back and forth I just can't really aim and point my camera towards the fishes I wanna snap photos of without swaying left and right.

By the way, did I told you about lively corals? This is like the very FIRST TIME I saw corals with colours, which is alive! I felt so touched seeing these corals that aren't bleaching and white. All thanks to the resorts and divers who protects and replant the corals around this island so travellers get to witness the beauty of it.

Such a pretty sight of these beautiful corals and fishes, I keep on snapping photos of them and chose a few that's not blurry (sky getting gloomy and I'm not a fan of flash)

After trying some shots with the corals, I start aiming at fishes (ambitious hahahaha). And these are some among those beautiful fishes I saw during that snorkelling experience:

Are these anchovies lol

Saw this vibrant coloured fish that looks like it's painted with rainbow!
It's called Rainbow Parrot Fish
I have to take more shots of this fish!

Failed shot due to I shot its back but I think this photo delivers a nice composition of corals and subject lololol

more anchovies hahahaha

can you imagine how happy I was swimming among these fishes?

Here's a clear shot of the rainbow parrot fish! Did I nailed it? 

After tons of fish photos, I decided to change my subject to human:

Free diving is my dream!!!

Here's nice frontal shot of my cat

And what my cat took of me
LOL! Where's my head!

Okay this is better lol
I had to swim out far just to position myself for a good shot from a good angle
Imagine how tired I was that day 

Our instructor of the day - Jacky
He took some nice photos of us 

Hahahah still trying to get used to snorkelling, it's been awhile 

Wahhhhh my cat posing for photos wor
Not afraid of water already eh? lol

My favourite photo so far!!!
Jacky literally have to dive down so near to the bottom just to get this shot
Appreciate the effort! Thank you!!!

And this is the best shot I get!
Clear fish subject with beautiful corals as background
Love this photo to bits!

One of the reason underwater photographers like the TG-5 camera is because the red captured using this camera is so vibrant and contrast that outcome of the photos is so lively and you might only need minimal editing such as cropping or brightness adjustment. I'm really satisfied with the underwater photos I took with TG-5 and decided to try take some artistic shot without a dome port attached.

Can you believe that my cat took this photo with just a TG-5?
Of course it requires a lot of patience, luck and sea water drinking hahahaha

This kinda sums up my snorkelling and first underwater photography experience. It's really a magical one and I hope I can do it more often. I've yet disclose the underwater footages I took with the Olympus Tough Tracker (video editing needs a lot of time and effort, thank you for waiting sobs) I hope I can show you the wonderful videos I took soon!

So in the meanwhile, don't forget to follow my other social media platforms to get the latest updates and infos of my traveller life:

FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM

WATCH MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS

For more information:

Summer Bay Resort Official Website

Olympus Malaysia Official Website

Photos taken with:

Olympus TG-5

Olympus OMD EM1MK2