South Korea is no stranger to themed cafes of all sorts. From pets to vehicles to vintage to cartoon characters, yadah yadah.... There's so many to visit, you'd better just live there. So I brought along the boys to Zapangi(자판기 JA-PAN-GI), a highly raved industrial-style cafe drowned in pretty pink and neon details. Didn't managed to visit during my last trip here due to the lack of time and I was living in Gangnam, it was so far away. But hey, I have all the time this time!

Docked away quietly along the streets of Mangwon is a cute little pink vending machine against a plain concrete wall. You'll prolly miss it if there isn't a window showing the interior of the cafe. It's a pity by the time we reached Mangwon it was really late already. Skies were dark and it was also raining. Wet weather did not stop us from getting there regardless, because I sure as hell don't wanna miss this trip a second time, HAHAHA. Our photos though, didn't turn out as Insta-worthy as it should have been, :(


Zapangi has a really spacious interior with minimal furnitures. So I really wouldn't recommend going in big groups because you'll probably won't have enough chairs to sit with your friends. Most of their tables are for 2 - 3 pax, with only 2 big rounded ones right next to the door, for group of 4 - 5.

But well, every corner is insta-worthy, and minimalist af. Zapangi is famous for their dreamy whimsical desserts and drinks. All the unicorn and mermaid themed treats are a definite die-for. Price wise though, is more on the pricey side. Cakes are about 6,500W ~ 9,500W (7 ~ 13SGD), bottled milk teas at 5,000W ~ 6,500W (6 ~ 8SGD), and 7,500W ~ 9,500W (8 ~ 13SGD) for the fancy mocha lattes (those with nice mermaid tails and rainbow whipped cream).


It's as their slogan says, "TIN and bottle". Most of their sweet treats are packaged in tins and bottles! Here's their cakes in tins.


We ordered their milk teas, and dessert. Ohmygod, I really love the mermaid tin! It's actually strawberry shortcake, filled with white chocolate bits inside. The strawberry sponge is so soft and moist, paired with their strawberry cream and the crunchy white choco bits. AHHHHHHHHH– Just typing these right now is making me craving for it. It's the best combination of strawberry shortcake I've ever tried. Who would have thought to put white chocolate bits inside?!

We also ordered Tiramisu. Comes in the same tin like the mermaid dream. The tiramisu though, isn't as fantastic. It's a tat bit too dry, and too sweet to be a tiramisu. Lacks the mascarphone cheese and coffee taste. They also have sweet potato and chocolate cake! I actually wanted to try the sweet potato cake but I am a sucker for cute stuff so I went for the mermaid tail. Well, it turned out great, so no complaints! xD


I am just really sad because I really wanted to snap some nice photo with their signature vending machine door but it was raining really heavily that day and by the time we arrived at the cafe it was already sun down. Day ends earlier during winter, it's such a waste.

Still attempted to take a couple of photos irregardless, hahaha. A different kinda feel to it, still works I guess?

Will deffo come back again for the cakes, mehehe. Maybe snap some nice photos the next time too!

1 Innisfree Real Squeeze Mask


₩25,000 for a pack of 20. I managed to get 40pcs because of their 1+1 event! Innisfree tend to have 1+1 all year round, so do check them out if you’re in Myeongdong, you could stock up on your makeup at a really good deal! 

This mask is always on the top of my must-buy list every time I’m in Korea. The mask is water based, suitable for all skin types so you don’t have to worry about clogged pores, and it is really effective depending on which type you buy! 

I really love their Tea Tree and Rice Bran Masks. It works extremely well to control my sebum, prevents over-drying and it gets rid of the redness on my skin.

2 Innisfree Hand Mask


Keeps your hand soft, smooth and wrinkle free. Smells like baby powder, I love to wear this to sleep, hahahaha. Okay you are not supposed to, but it smells so nice and soothing I always doze off with it on. Also on 1+1 event, I managed to get 40pcs of these at only ₩30,000! XD

3 Etude House Eye Collagen Mask


By far my favorite eye mask after trying out so many different brands. I would usually put this on the night before when I know I need to attend an event or put on make up the next day, so I will wake up with less puffy and bling bling eyes. This is also water based, so no worries about sebum collecting under your eyes! ₩10,000 for a pack of 10, it usually comes with 1+1! Meaning you get 20 pcs of eye masks at only ₩10,000!

  4 Etude House Baking Powder

 
I use this once a week for exfoliation. Problems with blackheads, acne scars, dead skin making it hard for you to put on makeup? This is a life-saver. Exfoliate the night before, and wash your face as per normal with your facial foam, top it up with Innisfree Rice Bran moisturizing mask and you are all ready for the next day!

5 Nature Republic Aloe Vera Gel


Need I say more? This is so highly raved and listed as the top moisturizing/life-saving gel almost everywhere. 

Also, at ₩4,500 per tub?! I would buy an entire carton but honestly not kiasu enough hahahaha. This gel is really good for people with dry skin problems, due to weather, long hours in aircon-ed rooms, medical side effects or whatnot. It helps moisturizes, promotes healing and also lightens your skin. One of my best buy, but it really takes up space. I don't have much baggage space, so I didn't stock up too many on this.

Anyway! Spending a ₩30,000 allows tax refund! There are many different shops of the same brand in Myeongdong, but if you make a purchase from shop #1, and just so happen to see another with a product you didn’t see in the first shop, you won’t be able to get tax refund even if you spend up to W30,000. Tax refund is only available for transactions of over ₩30,000 in the same receipt! So make sure you get everything from the same shop of the same brand to get your tax refund!

Alrighty, that's all for now. Let me know your favorite must-buys from Myeongdong, :D

Can't remember the last time I had time to sit down and write about my life. Every single time I am here, I apologise for the lack of update and how busy I've been, sigh. Anyway! In the light of our recent first anniversary, I shall finally, finally update some photos from my solemnization. Truth be told, the preparation for my solemnization was really simple, and fuss-free. Wouldn't say it was easy because I was juggling both work and all these plannings at the same time, but it wasn't too much of a problem because the people I dealt with were really really nice and they made things so much easier for me. Though there were a lot of last minute shopping, I am thankful for understanding sponsors who are always ready to accommodate to my schedules to make me look pretty anytime, hahahaha.

As you can tell for the lack of update on my blog and how long this post had been delayed, I didn't actually have any breaks before I got back to work after my solemnization. No kidding, I went back to work immediately the next day. No honeymoon, no wedding leaves, or blah. I had a month-long trip back to Japan last year after graduation though. That counts right? Hahahhaha

So much happened since 30 September 2018. Left my job, AOSD, BTO, hospitals, medications, groggy and more groggies everyday. I honestly can't recall much about what happened from January 2019 ~ July 2019. It feels like I've been in a state of trance for so long I lost track of time. Certainly does feel like it's still March 2019 in my head right now, @@

Okay, let's cut to the chase. We held our solemnization at Raffles Town Club, a regular country club that Kimmy's parents used to frequent back when they were still living in Singapore. We didn't hold a banquet this time, well yeh, no time for that. And then thisthisthis, thatthatthat happened.

I personally would not recommend this club for your solemnization unless you are okay with really simple decorations. Or a missing wedding planner 3/4 of the time. I have had no qualms until the day itself when the lady went missing for the entire morning, and we ended up having to work with the floor manager of that particular location we were using for our event. Like what would he know right? Our decorations were shit, and really sloppy.


Not sure if it was done by the outsourced wedding decorators or by RTC, because what was agreed was that our decorations will be done by the outsourced guys that they partnered with, but the quality difference was so huge??? Okay, not like it's really a problem because it's all the tiny details that you won't really see.... The posters really got me though. I was so pissed when I saw my photos and the posters were just there, which explains why I didn't share the photos until a while later because I was taking my own sweet time photoshopping them out hahahahhaha.

Anyway. We were not given the option to top up additional decors, only got to chose our flowers and ribbons. I also forgot all about it until the day happened and then I realized I've left out so many stuff to make my venue look pretty. So if you wanna host your event here, please question the person in charge and not wait for them to ask you because they will never.

GOWN by Yulia Shu

Got my solemnization gown customized by Yulia Shu. It was an extremely long process of meeting, fitting, meeting again. I initially told her I wanted to have a black dress and she was so thrilled!!


Yulia is extremely professional and open to exploring new creative ideas for the dresses. So if you want to try out crazy hipster gown, cute kimono gown, or fusion ideas of traditional wedding outfits, you can drop her a dm on her Facebook or Instagram!


And here we have.... my fancy fancy galaxy black dress! (She hand painted the galaxy prints!) I actually wanted a long train to go along with it but then decided not to because I am a super clumsy person. I even step on my own long dresses, how am I supposed to walk around with long trains behind me, hurhur.

Also, I'm that dumb ass that eats too much and puts on weight shortly before the event day, so the dress turned out different, sigh. I can barely tuck in my armpit fats, BUT MY DRESS HAS POCKETS, so...



HAIR by Elein @ Artistry Hair Professional

I also got my hair extended at Fareast Plaza before popping over to Artistry Hair Professional to look for Elein to have my hair dyed. Trust me, I legit wanted to go full blonde, but I am thankful I didn't hahahahhahaha. Elein made my long locks looked so much nicer with the highlights! And yes, extend your hair first before dye-ing. So the color difference isn't that huge also, the salon can help you trim your extensions to make it blend in better!


I also did Dyna Straightening treatment before going for my extensions! So my hair roots don't look so QQ. I has curly hair actually, hahahaha.


It's been 4 years with my favorite hair artist, Elein, my hair is so so much healthier now!


NAILS by Flamingo Playground

Also had my nails done last minute with Flamingo Playground. Another amazingly creative bunch who are constantly upgrading their skills and designs. I really love the wide variety of designs they are able to do at Flamingo Playground! I showed them my dress, and they came up with this to pair with it.


I love it?!?! Okay, I am really terrible with nail extensions though. The extension lasted about a month before I got so annoyed because I really cannot function with it on me. I can't type my stuff properly, cannot open my own can drinks, yadah, yadah. It's a lot of getting used to, especially for someone as rough and clumsy as me. So..... I went back to Flamingo Playground and took them off hahahahazxczc.


HAIR &MAKE by Julie Kim

Hair and make-up artist of the day, Julie Kim. Found her randomly on Instagram and I knew I need to have her to grand my big day. Just look at this, need I say more?!


The make up lasted for the entire day without any touch-up. I felt like a K-Pop star, HAHAHA. I was so reluctant to remove it because I don't want to be sent back to reality and face my norm-af-peasant face, huhu. Will deffo be engaging her again if my banquet does happen, hahaha.


BOUQUET by Florals by Benita

Got my pretty bouquet from Florals by Benita. When I say last minute, I really ain't kidding. Of course you shouldn't be doing this too, but I tried my luck and placed my order just 3 days before my solemnization. To my surprise, she actually accepted my order! And I was lucky enough she had enough roses for me!


She also added in a boutonniere for Kimmy, and kept some loose roses for my hair! My stylist was so happy to see those mini red blooms because they were so pretty!



SOLEMNIZER: Dr. Phua Tan Tee

No recommendations, pure google reviews. And he was legit as good as everyone says! Dr. Phua was simply hilarious. I've never seen my family laughed so much before. He is probably my best decision ever, and ever so grateful to have him gracing our solemnization!


He speaks both English and Chinese, which is great because Kimmy's family is Korean, so Dr. Phua translated what he said into English every time he says something in Chinese. My guests were kept occupied and entertained throughout the ceremony, which explains why I don't have any videos. They were so engrossed with what Dr. Phua was saying all the time!!

It's a good thing, because my photographers can capture really nice candids instead of photos of people holding up their phones throughout the ceremony, :3

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jackie &Huixin

Finally, finally, finally. Photographers for the day! I am more than blessed to have my best friend and her beloved capturing these moments for us.


A lot of my friends rejected being my photog because —friends ma, I don't want to disappoint you, so I won't shoot for your big day. And I honestly didn't want my best friend to be shooting for me also because I want her to be seated like everyone else and watch my dumbass finally getting hitched yknow. But well, there is honestly no one else I can trust in this apart from them if everyone else doesn't want to shoot for me. Trust me when I say I am super anal when it comes to photography/videography. Majoring in this course had me scarred.

Last but not least, the slaves of the day!


I am so ever thankful to have this woman in my life. Called Alicia to help me out for the day because if I want anyone meticulous, it's definitely her. Plus I really don't have many close friends, this is also a closed event for my family only, Lish is my favorite partner-in-crime and Kimmy has a groomsman, how can I not have a bridesmaid!! I think I dropped the bomb on her just a week before my solemnization. Her momma readily allowed her to drop her niece's 滿月 for my solemnization!! So thank you Mama Lish too!


And then there's my favorite legend, Joshy. Thank you for tolerating my bitchy ass for the past 10 years, and thank you for getting siewmai for us hahahaha. Kimmy's best friend, Aaron on the far left, and there's the annoying giant, CJ, on the right. Please keep on taking care of my annoying ass for the next 100 years y'all.

Okay this post is getting way too long. Drop me an email @ veeviisme@live.com or my http://tellonym.me/veeviisme if you have any questions! I'll include all the contact details at the end of the post, so if any of y'all interested can just drop them a PM on their handles!


Location: Raffles Town Club
Photographers: Jackie & Huixin
Solemnizer: Dr. Phua Tan Tee
phua_tan_tee@nea.gov.sg
Gown: Yulia Shu
Hair: Artistry Hair Professional
#03-32, International Plaza, 10 Anson Rd, Singapore 079903, +65 6221 9255
Nail: Flamingo Playground
470 North Bridge Rd, #02-05A Bugis Cube Shopping Mall, Singapore 188735
Hair &Make: Julie Kim
Flowers: Florals by Benita