Vietnam Photo Updates
February 9, 2008
I've updated my Mediacorp Blog with Vietnam photos!
Check out the entry here! :)
***Mirrored Post****
Yes, Chinese New Year is finally upon us, and that means I had time to do a huge massive update of photos backdated since like.... um...my Crocodile Shoot in Vietnam. Haha. Okay here goes...
Veron and I on the plane to Vietnam. By SIA, no less - because the Singapore Girl is a great way to fly! Haha.
We stayed at the Park Hyatt Saigon. 5-star Hotel okay, shiokness! Apparently we were supposed to stay at another hotel, but it was said to be haunted, so our sponsor (i.e. Crocodile) upgraded the entire group! ;)
This is the room I stayed in. Quite posh right?
Posh so must pose. Hahaha.
At night, we were all treated to a sumptuous dinner spread. The barbequed sotong was the best, but this one was stuck to the satay stick. Above picture shows me in a sotong tug-of-war with Haizad.
The next morning, we were all up bright and early, ready for a full day of photoshoots! From left: Poh Choo, Veron, Me, Haizad, Christie, Thomas.
Wah, so many clothes... 辛苦我们了！
Things you don't get to see in the magazine pictures. Like human light-stands, for example. :P
Getting dressed up. Veron says I look like some cartoon character in this shot. Haha. Wait till you see my Grinch face... Or maybe not. -Wink-
We took a number of shots on an old-skool schoolbus. Damn cool, I like.
Photographer Skye Tan gets down-and-dirty (literally) for the love of his art. Was very happy to be working with him this time round as I'd knew him way back from my modelling days. He was the one who did my first hair shoot, which I quite liked, so I was definitely in good hands! :)
While the artistes/models are getting shot, Veron and Poh Choo decide to do their own shoot too. I like this picture, the whole colour turned out really nicely even without Photoshop, cos' they shot it at what the camera-guys call "the magic hour", which is approximately between 5pm - 6pm. That's when the natural light is a nice warm yellow, and brings out the best skin tone & texture, especially for Asian skin.
Everyone watches on as I take a dump by the roadside. Hahaha.
This is one of my favourite shots :)
We've shot till night-time now...
Last shot for the day! Was quite drained already... and then suddenly, Keith (makeup/hair) said that the area I was standing in reeked of urine. And then, that's when I caught a whiff of it. He was right. Damn gross. Bleah. Anyway I'm not surprised because earlier that day, we saw an old man pissing by a tree. In a park. In full view of everyone else. Hahaha.
Went to this Mediterranean-style restaurant, where I tried "yogurt soup". It isn't as gross as it sounds. In fact, it is quite nice. The yoghurt wasn't the normal sweet-and-sour type, but rather, salty/sour. Sounds strange, but the way the flavours mix was really quite nice. And it contained lettuce bits inside, so it was thick (from the cream) yet crunchy (from the lettuce). Yes, crunchy soup. Haha.
Last day in Vietnam. Haizad was my roommate for this trip, but that was cool cos' we go way back to Idol days, where he also happened to be my roommate. Funny how people come in and out of our lives when we least expect it. He flew off earlier than the rest of us to join his friends and girlfriend over in Thailand for vacation part deux.
I had a Saigon breakfast set. The egg yolk burst. I remember I got very upset with one of my friends in Primary school because she poked my egg with her fork during recess. I was saving it till the last. Hahaha.
At Chinatown, because I was supposed to look for giant hei3 bi4 (giant dried prawns). We took a cab there, and it was super cheap. I wish Singapore had Vietnam taxi fare prices. Sigh. Need.A.Car... haha.
Decided to do the whole touristy thing, and hence I bought some food from a roadside stall. I don't know what it was called, but it was some sticky rice, with banana (I think, can't remember) inside, topped with a special gravy and sprinkled with sesame seeds. It was piping hot and very delicious! :)
This picture has captured the essence of Vietnam. So "feel" lah. Haha.
However, if someone asked me what I remember most about Vietnam (or rather, Ho Chi Minh) it would be...
... Motorcycles! Tons and tons of 'em! Many of the riders don't even wear helmets. And crossing the street is not for the faint of heart. We asked some locals what was the best way to cross the road, and they told us, "Just cross. The motorists will try to avoid you." Hmm... somehow, the word "try" didn't sit too well with me, haha. But at least I'm back in one piece, lol.
Everyone was taking pictures on the bus on the way back to the airport. Here's Team MCS (see drawn-in red arrows). Since we're so patriotic to the company, I think it would be nice if we all got a nice, fat, payraise. Hahaha.
Okay, that's all the updates from me for now. Enjoy! And yes, Happy Chinese New Year again! :)
great performance you did at both Fairprice show and CNY Countdown .. :)
thanks for sharing the photos ..
the bbq sotong looked really tempting to a seafood lover like me! hah.
come to think about it,
its really amazing how one's tastebuds can change over the years.
i used to have the habit of keeping my egg yolk till the last too.
but now ...
im just an egg white person. hee.
my bro was in vietnam during the same time as you.
though there's a lot of vehicles (esp motors) there.
he mentioned that ..
the motorists/drivers there know how to "siam" you and drive at a slower speed.
unlike singaporeans, even knowing that you're there.
they drive at full speed even.
the long break is ending soon ..
all the best for the filming of ya upcoming shows!
michelle>> happy CNY to you too! ya, the bbq sotong was "the bomb" lah. damn shiok. and yes, the vietnamese drivers are quite gracious to pedestrians indeed.
jessica>> yup, that shot was quite nice. these were taken with an ordinary camera. wait till you see the actual published photos. v v exciting! :)
is it cheaper than singapore?
saw ya interview at mcs video gallery.
were you guys referring to $200 in a single red packet?
that's ALOT! =/
oh yes.
your telemovie Heng or Huat serves as a very good form of entertainment. lol.
my parents have been playing it once any friends or relatives come to my house for visiting. :)
I don't know if you remember me but I was the one who e-mailed you right about the very end of last year using the contact form. Hah! Just wanted to thank you again for your reply.
Anyway, I just felt like dropping by and I hope you had fun amidst all the work you did in Vietnam. My brother's going Ho Chi Minh city soon for a business so I think I'll just inform him of the traffic there. Hahahaha. Anyway, hope that you've had a great CNY celebration so far and I hope the Year of The Rat brings loads of good stuff for you, yeah? Keep believing, man!
Best wishes
Asril
Anyway, how was yr CNY celebration?
I'm sure u had lots of fun :)
nice pics being shared..
Nic pics, Nat.
At certain angle and 1 particular pic, you look a bit like the HKG artistee, 吴卓曦.
wonder if croco will release a booklet on the collections you wear?
Great photographs there!
Especially the school buses shots.
And the sotong tug of war photo of you is so adorable!
Haha.
I kept re-watching the "$200 angbao" video of you on Mediacorp website.
Your expressions are super cute luh.
Hahaha.
And not forgetting your funny yet cute-accented Mandarin! Hoho.
Great performance on CNY countdown.
Though I missed the Fairprice show.
(Sang the same song right?)
I put that as my blog song! LOL!
Jia you huh!
Supporting you always! :)
cheers,
nat...
your photos are very nice..
love the photo where you wore the glasses..=D
enjoy CNY and Happy CNY to you!
Hope to see more of you soon!
This is my 1st time visiting ur blogs and find it's interesting especially the photos taken in vietnam.
I had purchased ur DVD and watched it during the CNY periods and finds your acting had improved and quite natural.
Cheers.
JY
asril>> yup, i do remember you. thanks for ur well wishes, hope you have a good year too!
cheeky>> yes they will release a catalog booklet i think. not sure if it's out yet though :)
shaun>> yes i liked the school bus shots too :) and yes, it was the same song. thanks for ur support ya?
nat...>> yes i do have a younger brother. i mentioned him in a v v v old entry. thanks for ur encouragement, i will continue to work hard!
sean>> haha... um... cos' it's not nice to disturb ppl mah...
jeffery yau>> hey hey, thanks for supporting and buying the DVD! hope you enjoyed the show!
elaine>> lol, it's none other than my partner-in-crime Yap Seok Hui. hahahaha.
Today's Valentine's Day, I wish all fans,
Nat and everyone we love a very happy
Valentine's Day. :):)
Thanks for replying....yup the show quite nice and suit to watch over the CNY period.... :)
So any drama featuring you coming?
Btw, u still studying or working full time in media now?
Cheers :)
JY
Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day!
May you be blessed with heartfelt friendships!
@_@
Wah, u are wanted by mortimer to be her son-in-law.......hehe :)
So when ur big day har .......
Btw, u know of any nice and interesting indoor games for CNY?
My office going to host a simple celebration CNY lunch next week and i'm thinking of some interesting games to play...... let me know ok?
Thanks.
JY
have not left u a comment since last nov !! haha ... happy lunar new yr to u
If u dun mind to reveal, pls reply this msg.
*Just being curious*
Thank you very much :)
I saw the new Mazda 2 (Demio) in your previous entries. Just wanna ask you if u noe the mkt price of this car? u wanna buy this car issit? (I support u!) wad color will u buy? jus curious....