Bon Anniversaire, L'Occitane Malaysia

Thanks to Xavier, got invited to L'Occitane Malaysia's 10th Anniversary. It's already 10 years since L'Occitane first started the business in Malaysia. How time flies! So glad to be invited to this joyful event with all the lovely people around.

L'Occitane Malaysia 10th Anniversary
10 years of love!

two huge bouquets with a figure "10"!
So nice!

A lot of 10s! 

In Chinese, there's a saying that 10 means perfect (十全十美), I guess this pretty much describe the party - perfect. Star-studded, lotsa local celebrities showed up in the party to give their support to L'Occitane, and bubbly L'Occitane staffs can be seen everywhere with a big smile on their face!

and balloons! I love balloons!!!

Win cute gifts for yourself by playing games at the party.

Bumped into Charmaine, Ponnie, Raine and some other bloggers at the party. Had some pretty awesome catch up time with each other. Even took photos at WOWPhotoBooth with Charmaine, our first photo together. lol. Good memories. The party started, it was a sunny afternoon, everything looks so well-blend together.


L'Occitane, founded in year 1976 by Oliver Baussan, is a company that not just focus on organic production methods, but also socially-conscious. L'Occitane products are never tested on animals and to my surprise, Braille labelling are on each and every L'Occitane's product package which allows the accessibility of visually impaired.



Olivier Baussan said: The sun smiles on Provence. Its warmth makes the soil generous and the people open-hearted. Its bright rays are reflected in the crafts, customs and traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation. The sun, the products of the soil and a love of nature are the essence of Provence. It is this essence that I wanted to share with the world. This is what inspired me to create L'Occitane. Well Monsieur Olivier Baussan, you made it! L'Occitane is now an international brand which can be found in over 80 countries and 1899 stores available worldwide. It is one successful story of an genuine entrepreneur which wanted the best for the world.

Beautiful performance kick-start the party

So, famous for its creamy shea butter collection and aromatherapy products, here are the 10 key milestones for L'Occitane Malaysia over these 10 years:

• The very first boutique of L'Occitane were located at KLCC, Kuala Lumpur
• July 2006, L'Occitane Malaysia brought 3 press members to Provence for an exclusive Lavender Discovery journey at the brand's homeland! (OMG I WANT!!!!)
• 2007, L'Occitane Malaysia branched out from Kuala Lumpur and opened its first outlet in Queensbay Mall, Penang, followed by another boutique in East Malaysia at The Spring, Kuching. Two outlets were opened at Mahkota Parade, Malacca and Suria Sabah, Kota Kinabalu.
• L'Occitane relaunched its best-selling anti-ageing skincare collection - Immortelle Precious formulated by its signature everlasting flowers - Corsican Immortelle in year 2007.
• Launched first premium anti-ageing skincare product - Divine Cream in year 2009.
• In line with L'Occtiane's CSR endeavors, the brand's first local charity fundraising initiative was launched in 2009. A total of over RM150,000 was successfully raised over the years and donated to the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) to equip the association's different projects to empower the visually impaired with knowledge. This noble effort has become L'Occitane Malaysia's annual affair where funds are raised each year to help the visually impaired. L'Occitane Malaysia was proudly be commended by Foundation France in year 2013 on its local efforts to help these people to have a better and brighter future.
• year 2010, L'Occitane Malaysia introduced its first eco-friendly green house concept Boutique in MidValley, Kuala Lumpr and eco-Refill packaging was also introduced to reduce the usage of plastic bottle.
• Melvita, L'Occitane's sister brand was opened in Suria KLCC in year 2010 and the opening ceremony was officiated by Mr. Bernard Chevilliat, the founder of Melvita. 
• In year 2012, L'Occitane Malaysia relaunched its popular hydrating skincare collection - Angelica. Selected members of press were invited to an exclusive discovery trip to Salagon Garden, Provence.
• In year 2014, From one humble boutique in Suria KLCC to 18 boutiques nationwide, from 10 staffs to a team of over 150 employees, L'Occitane Malaysia's success story continues to grow and flourish...

As some of you knew, that I've been taking French courses lately, and to be a part of this French-brand birthday party is really making me feel more close to France. I really admire the spirit of Olivier Baussan, and also the brand L'Occitane he created just to make everyone of us be able to get a taste of Provence in our own country. So whenever we walk into a L'Occitane boutique or outlet, it never fail to make us feels like we're at Provence.




Emcee Jonathan Putra invited L'Occitane's South East Asia General Manager - Nancy Ferriman share with all the guests bout L'Occitane. I love her smile so much, and things she said during the tête-à-tête session. "L'Occitane always show that beauty is more than just skin deep. It is not just organic beauty products that L'Occitane were promoting, but a healthy lifestyle that helps its customer to shine from the inside." Nancy said. You can really tell that by looking at the glow on her face.

Cake cutting session followed after, and Mr. Tan Seong Teck, the director of L'Occitane Malaysia were invited on stage to cut the cake with Nancy Ferriman.

Bon Anniversaire, L'Occitane Malaisie!!!

All the celebrities that attended the party

Mr. Tan, Madam Nancy and the 10th year serving employees.

The party ended with a lucky draw session and guests who attended the party that day leave with goodies from L'Occitane and also a smile on their face. It was a successful party, and I'm glad I'm one of them to witness this blissful event.




Psst! L'Occitane is going to launch their online store soon! Now you can buy L'Occitane products online, anywhere, anytime!

Merci beaucoup, L'Occitane Malaisie!

For more information:

L'Occitane Facebook Page

L'Occitane Official Website

Reiko by Will Chong

Am more to the runway kind of model than those photoshoot kind. My looks doesn't suit the market of Malaysian photographers in general as their likings are more to the Taiwanese/Japanese kinda models. I'm no where near there at all.

Before I cut my hair short, I thought: Why don't I ask around the photographers that I know and see who willing to take photo of me before I chop them down. And Will Chong, a talented photographer decided to take my photos, it was an impromptu shoot, organized few hours before my appointment with the salon, and at that point, we have no idea what to shoot and don't have a clear idea of what's the concept too. lol.

So, I went to Will's studio with just two pair of heels, and a makeup bag. With an empty head. He wanted a different type of eye make for both eyes, so one I draw a massive black eyeliner and another one eye - smokey. Will search for props and costumes from his "treasure chest" and found me two awesome costume! So there begins our photoshoot....

Post editing. I like the dark blue costume with sequins. They reminds me of a gymnast. A fallen dancer or some sort. It was such a fun shoot despite we have no idea what's going on just moment before the shoot, and everything worked out smoothly, with all the wonderful photos captured by Will. The post editing was awesome too, all thanks to the brilliant usage of lighting at his studio. His professionalism is one thing that I respect!



Photographed by: Will Chong of 321 Project

Hair: Will

Make: Model's own

Costume: Will

Shoes: Model's Own



Do check out the 321 Project page to check out more of Will and his friends work, they are awesome! Thank you so much Will for this set of wonderful photos. You're one amazing photographer! Thank you ^_^

00:00, China House

China House, finally. 

Such a shame to claimed that my mother is from Penang and I have to go back to Penang every holiday when I was young but I never visited China House before. Or maybe China House wasn't China House before. lol. But anyway, I really love this place!

Meet up with my friend at E & O Hotel, she fetch me from there because earlier that day I attended a wedding banquet at the hotel and my parents left with the car. Besides, even if you give me the car, I don't think I know the road in Penang, they are so confusing!!! Lotsa buildings refurbished and road changed to single direction, if I overshoot, I have to make a big turn to get back to the same junction again, which I don't really guarantee I know how to go back to the same junction. lol.

But anyway, thanks to my friend Chrysanra who come to fetch me even though I know she was tired after finished her work at 10pm. Poor girl work so hard. Thank you so much for bringing me to China House, and introduce to me all the specialty of that place. It's been 10 years since I last saw her, we never meet up after graduate, honestly she didn't change a bit! Still the same old pretty and kind girl that I knew. Glad that time treated her with kindness and the world didn't pollute her kind soul for a bit.

We walked straight to the back (or front, depends on which entrance you're at) and there are tons of people singing and dancing to the live band performance. The place is so happening, too bad we're not in the mood for party, but for a quiet place to chit chat and catch up with each other as much as we could in a limited time. Chrysanra showed me around, first, we stopby at the upper floor of China House, which looks like a lounge area with cozy sofas and a pool table. So comfortable looking!

And wall painting everywhere!!!

and I love this most:

Yes, I am. 

There are different sections and interiors that caters for different kind of gatherings, people and needs. Al Fresco, Bar & Lounge, Reading, Wine Room, big groups of people can choose to sit in the 14 Chairs section, drawing section etc. Each and every section is unique, and I would love to try them all.

In conjunction of Chinese New Year!
Looks like a wishing tree. We even saw big mangoes hanging on the tree, waiting to be ripe.

Red red!!!

We choose to sit at the drawing section but have absolutely no intention of drawing at all. Busy talking and talking and talking until the café closes. Ordered Iced Mocha, Cappuccino and Chocolate Almond Dates Cake, the cake tastes good, I like it. Didn't really have enough time to sink into the atmosphere of the wonderful China House this time, definitely going to take more time and discover the wonder of it on my next visit.

So happy to get to see you again after all these years.

and also, see you soon again China House Penang!

Information:

China House

153 Lebuh Pantai, Georgetown, 

10300 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, 

Malaysia

+60 4-263 7299

www.chinahouse.com.my

20140214

20140214, I keep hashtag my photo with the numbers because I really love the sound of it. The perfect combination, 20140214 + Valentine's Day + Chap Goh Meh a.k.a Chinese Valentine's Day, all fall on the same day this year, and I spent most of the time travel to one of the island I love - Penang!

First time travel to Penang, alone. A city which is so familiar yet so strange to me. My past few visits were just for work, so I didn't get to really see the city, didn't really get to feel it. So I think, travel alone might be a good thing too, the feelings are strongest when I'm traveling alone, and all my worries are seemed so far away.

Beautiful sunset for a beautiful day

I travelled by bus, and it's Aeroline this time. Double deck, and acclaimed as first class shuttle service too, well, I very much agree with that because of their good service and well-mannered attendants! Bus was so steady and calm even though passengers were seated at the upper deck, hardly feel anything and I slept most of the time during the 5 hours journey with the Relaxing Music playing in my headphone using their entertainment LCD. Lotsa movies and songs selection to be choose from. I like!

I chose the first seat, and get to take photos when we cross Penang bridge:

I can still remember that me and my family used to parked at the side and take photos at the bridge, now you can't stop at any point of the bridge no more. 

Bus being punctual, reached destination within estimated time - 8pm. Thanks to my cousin sis who helped me contact a taxi driver to come pick me up at the station, so I can avoid being charge overprice by other taxi drivers. The taxi driver uncle was a chatty, we chatted throughout the route back hotel. On a Friday-2 Valentine's Day-night, you have no idea how jam it was in Penang island.





Old hotel, decided to head out for dinner without waiting for the return of my parents from wedding dinner. Walk around, can't decide what to eat. Walked along Penang Road and also Chulia Street. Trying to find back the familiarity of this island by heart, but things changed quite drastically since my last visit.

Refurbished police station (or is this headquarter?)
Now only I knew that Police of Penang Island established since year 1807.
What a history.

Passed by Sup Hameed which is famous for soup kambing (mutton soup) and also Nasi Kandar Line Clear. I was so surprised that the Nasi Kandar stall that I used to visit when I was small was the famous Nasi Kandar that people queue up in the middle of the night. Today only I realized, funny or what? LOL! Well, never too late! Gonna try that in these few days. But gonna settle for some local Chinese food, so I keep waking~

Okay, free advertisement for Wilhouse. lol.

another free advertising for Restaurant Cafe Mini Library, lol.

Can't find any hawker stall, so, gotta settle my dinner at Red Garden Food Paradise & Night Market. People mountain people sea, so hard to get a seat in the food centre. Ordered Char Kuey Teow and also Oh-Chien (oyster omelette) and waited so long for the Char Kuey Teow, almost an hour! Bad experience at Red Garden, I will think twice before I re-visit again next time.





Stumble across the huge wall art that's just beside Red Garden, like this most for today. The perfect combination of everything called "Life".

Guess this is pretty much about my few hours journey in Penang. Can't wait for tomorrow as my cousin sister told me that she will bring me around and also, food!!! Gotta sleep now then, bonne nuit! ^_^



Last but not least, I wish everyone Happy...

Happy Chinese New Year 2014

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! It's already the 9th day of Chinese New Year! So fast isn't?

Not really a good start for me this year, can't really feel the Chinese New Year mood at all except that sometimes I was wearing new clothes and got angpaos from my parents and some aunties. My house didn't have much Chinese New Year snacks as we don't really hang around at home much, and so far I only played gamble once with friends! How can this be!!!!

I know it is not really a good one for this year, kinda told myself that I will make it happen next year. Sorta like a type of promise to myself that everything will be alright kinda mentality. lol. Anyway, since it's still Chinese New Year, here's two photos of mine in Cheongsam that was taken last year (LOL!) during Nuffnang's Fashion Fabulous  Chinese New Year photoshoot session!

Kinda think that investing in a Qipao/Cheongsam will be great, so that I will wear that every year. Same clothes every 1st day of Chinese New Year haha. Anyway, 6 more days to go for this Chinese New Year, gonna make the full out of it, especially the last day - Chap Goh Meh, which also Valentine's Day! *can't wait!*

What is your plan for your love ones? Mine? Secret! Haha! Will reveal after Valentine's Day! ^_^

Wish all of you a happy Chinese New Year weekend! Gong Xi Fa Cai! 

*Photos are credited to the respective photographers. :)*