New Panda Plush!

This is a sweet panda bear.

The giant panda has been an endangered species list since 1990. The most significant threats to pandas are habitat loss and poaching. China is only approximately 5% greater than the U.S. in area but has four times the population

Craft update! Miniatures!

I have been MIA for sometime with my shop, I am finding it extremely hard to juggle working full time with a small business. I have decided I will no longer be making jewellery any longer, my shop will now be my hobby and I have realised I LOVE making realistic handmade dollhouse food miniatures. Here is a few things I have been working on lately. What are your thoughts?

Yummy kiwi breakfast with a sunny side up egg, toast, crispy bacon and baked beans.

 

Lemon cake with a slice. Decorated in white icing and gold sprinkles.

 

Ham, tomato and lettuce sandwich on white bread

 Roast chicken sliced with roast potatoes and carrots.

Vanilla cupcakes on a cake stand with white icing and pink rose decorations.

Tea set with green and pink macarons and vanilla cupcakes with white icing and hot pink sprinkles.

A day on the Mekong Delta

 The Mekong Delta!

Unfortunately we only got to spend two full days in Saigon which I decided to do tours on both days as I felt this was the best way to make use of our limited time. On the 10^th of January 2013 we did a VIP speedboat tour of the Mekong Delta, this was a full day tour and cost $92USD not including taxes. We went with Saigon River Express due to their great reviews on trip adviser. It was a good call to go on our tours with them, their staff were extremely informative and accommodating, the food was great and we learned a lot.

 The back of the houses that sit on the river in Ho Chi Minh City.

We were picked up from our hotel at about 7.15am and were taken to the boat dock in District 1 where we met up with the other people who were coming on our tour and we also paid for the tour at the ticketing desk. We shortly after got on board and head up the river towards the Mekong Delta. We went past the back of the river houses in Saigon, I luckily had a blocked nose and could not smell the smells but as per Nicks face, it didn’t look like it smelt very good. I believe it’s a range of fish and rubbish so you may want to bring a handkerchief with you. It was amazing to look at how all the locals lived and they were extremely friendly, I don’t think we went past a single Vietnamese local who didn’t give us a friendly smile and a big wave. That is what I love about the Vietnamese, they are by far the most friendliest people I have come across in Asia.

 Peaceful Pagoda we visited on our journey.

Offerings inside the Pagoda.

Then we made a brief stop at a Pagoda to have a look around and take a few photos. There were some young Monks walking around but this Pagoda was fairly quiet.  On our way up to the Pagoda we were given croissants and drinks for breakfast unfortunately I wasn’t feeling the best so opted to only have water.

After visiting the Pagoda we made a stop at a local market where our tour guides explained to us the various fruits and ingredients the Vietnamese use in their food and also typical products that you can buy from such local markets, I was finally getting a taste of rural Vietnam and its beauty. We had the most gorgeous children chasing us around smiling, laughing and being genuinely interested in us. We had an opportunity on the boat to try the various fruit that our tour guides had purchased, they were absolutely divine. My favourite Vietnamese fruit by far is the rose apple, its kind of shaped like a capsicum. You MUST try one if you ever travel to Vietnam!

 Vietnamese man bringing goods from his boat to his village.

 Watching us boat by from their village.

 The markets we visited.

 Fruit all piled up at the markets.

 An elderly Vietnamese woman chewing on this plant that apparently make you 'high' and feel drunk.

Then we made the journey up the Mekong Delta, the serene lush jungle canals are breathtaking to say the least. We got to watch the locals who lived on the Mekong going about their daily activities and spotting us a huge wave as we went past, children came running out of their homes as they heard the speedboat. I felt so happy seeing these people, I felt that we take for granted what we have at home. These local people don’t have what we have yet they are most likely more satisfied and happier than we are. 

 Delightful children who came running up to our speedboat as we gave them our left over breakfast.

We were lucky enough to get to stop and look at a few small villages situated on the Mekong Delta, again the locals were extremely friendly and welcoming. We took a little walk around the edge of the river in the sweltering heat and also checked out a rice paddy field. I also learnt that the reason you may see many gravestones on farms around Vietnam is because peoples ancestors do not want them to sell their land so they get buried on their farms so the farm is pretty much untouchable.

 Walking along the Mekong Delta in the sweltering heat!

 The rice paddy fields in the Mekong Delta.

Visiting a village on the Mekong Delta, beautiful!

Lastly we headed to a local town to have lunch in a Pagoda and check out a temple. The Pagoda was inside a orphanage so while we ate we had children running around playing. It was nice to see all of their smiles. Our lunch was delicious! We had a set menu of Vietnamese food and even a giant fish which was good perfectly. After lunch we were taken to a temple where we were told the story behind it and got to take a few photos. We then ‘saddled’ up and head back to our speedboat to start the 1.5 hour journey back to District 1. We arrived back at about 5pm and we were taken back to our hotel by the tour shuttle.

 The gorgeous children at the orphanage we had lunch at. This man brought a bike full of Coke for them, they were delighted.

 Delicious whole fish that was served with our lunch.

 Inside a Vietnamese temple.

I highly, highly recommend using Saigon River Express for a tour in Saigon, it is well worth the money and is all inclusive. The highlights to me entire three week Asian journey was these two tours. The tour itself includes pick up/drop off, breakfast, lunch, the speedboat journey and the fantastic tour guides! If you want to book go to www.saigonriverexpress.com

What to expect to pay when visiting Singapore

Singapore, it's big, it's a shopping haven and it's damn expensive! We were in Singapore from the 11th January 2013 until the 15th. This was the last leg of our trip and thank goodness I had plenty of money left because this isn't a cheap city to visit by Asia standards. The prices are similar to New Zealand except alcohol costs a lot more. I really wish I wrote these blogs as I traveled but it is so hard to sit down and write while you are always on the go. It is just as hard to remember every detail you want to talk about a month later!

Right, onto the prices as I remember them!

A standard Tiger Beer: about $9-11SGD during happy hour anywhere upwards to an average of $15SGD non happy hour.

The best time to drink in Singapore is during happy hour if you are inclined to have a few beverages there, two great bars with great happy hours are 'Alley Bar' which is located on Orchard Road, just across the road from where the big Zara and Forever 21 are and (I am so sorry I can't remember the name please comment if you know it!) a bar that is located in Sentosa, just across from the Hard Rock Cafe, there is cheap beer there we sat there for a decent few hours drinking beer before we left to the airport.

A meal at a restaurant: A meal at a restaurant will cost you about $20-40 I only ate out for dinner once because I didn't want to spend a lot on food and I had a bacon and cheese waygu burger at the Hard Rock Cafe located in Sentosa for about $20SGD is I can remember correctly. I mainly ate noodles from the convenience store downstairs for about $2, I just cooked them in my hotel room.

Your hotel stay: I don't know what it costs to backpack in Singapore because I am myself a bit of a diva, I DO NOT backpack when I 'pack' I literally have one bag for shoes, one bag for clothes and one bag for makeup. My suitcase is nearly as tall as me, I couldn't fit my life in a backpack. Anyway, we stayed at the V Hotel. It cost $200SGD per night and for a hotel standard this was cheap. We were a bit far from everything (huge downside) and our room was a shoebox. I could hardly breathe in it (not literally). In saying this the price is worth it, again Singapore accommodation is pricey, all other hotels you're looking at about $250-$400 per night just for a better location and the same shoebox size. A bonus about the V Hotel however is its right above a big food court, a really great souvenir style store and the MTR!

Transportation: I have no knowledge to let you know about the trains or buses but I do know about taxis. I seriously think catching the train or bus is a waste of time unless perhaps its just you traveling. In order for us to have got to the zoo from our hotel we would have had to catch two trains, one bus and then walk a bit. Again, I have no interest in skimping out on things that don't need to be skimped. The taxi from our hotel cost $18SGD each way, $9 each and took half the time. Taxi's are cheap here. Use them. It cost $10SGD to get to Sentosa/The Flyer from our hotel. Taxi's are also very easy to catch the driver speak enough English to know where to take you and some are rather fluent, makes for great conversation.

Attractions: While in Singapore we visited the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Universal Studios, The Flyer (VIP experience) and Underwater World. These are all worth the entrance price. Universal Studios was one of my funnest days and the zoo was phenomenal. Here are their prices:

Singapore Zoo/Night Safari Combo - $49SGD
Universal Studios - $74SGD
Singapore Flyer VIP Cocktail Flight - $69SGD (When we booked we paid about $49 as it was a special price)
Underwater World - $25.90SGD

Again, Singapore is expensive to eat and drink but I honestly think visiting here is worth it just to see all the amazing attractions they have to offer. Each attraction amazed me and I had so much fun on each one!
 
 

Indulging in the Hanoi nightlife

 Local bar in the Old Quarter in Hanoi, please note how small the tables and chairs are, adds to the fun!

Vietnam. What a country. I have never been anywhere in this world that has left a permanent smile on my face. It is beautiful, cultural, different and exciting. I am not a huge 'clubber' anymore, call me jaded and old its alright, but one thing I love is sitting at a bar with good company, good food and even better drinks. Vietnam specifically Hanoi has a bustling, bizarre nightlife.

 

Beer Hanoi as we called it. Hanoi's 'local' beer, cheap and tasty!

Hanoi. We visited this crazy busy city in January 2013, we arrived in the Old Quarter, checked in to our hotel and headed out to experience Vietnam, it was the evening so of course a cold beer was in order. We found a little side street eatery which had sticky rice and Hanoi Beer for 30,000 Dong about $1.70NZD. I sat on a petite seat and soaked in where I was. I did not experience a fancy bar or club in Hanoi but I don't think that's what this city is about, its about a stool on a corner of a street and a cold beer and great people.

  Vietnamese woman selling masks, gloves and socks in the cold Hanoi temperature. 

Now, we went to Hanoi in January and it is COLD it is not Auckland winter cold, it's colder. When it gets to 9 degrees in Vietnam the government has a law that no one has to go to school so all the children get home. So sitting on a side street bar drinking cold beer almost becomes a challenge in 9 degree temperatures. I stupidly ('drunkingly') on my last night in Hanoi brought myself ear muffs, gloves, socks and a mask. This was not necessary as it was my final night and Saigon is damn hot!

This is myself in my winter gear I brought on my final night with an amazing Vietnamese man we met in Beer Corner

For some reason our final nights in cities were our big nights, I guess we wanted to leave with a bang and enjoy our last moments in these fantastic places we visited. Our last night in Hanoi is unforgettable, I have never had a better time despite the cold. We started at Le Pub just out of the Old Quarter in Hanoi, Le Pub is a bar enjoyed by expats and fellow travelers, it is inexpensive as is most of the eateries and bars in Vietnam, has a great atmosphere and friendly staff, the best thing about this bar is you can sit on a table and watch the crazy Vietnamese world pass you by, its a great people watching spot and you get the opportunity to sit back and watch the scooters weave past each other. 

We then strolled down to 'Beer Corner' just a short walk from Le Pub. It is literally a big intersection with bars scattered all around the street, we found a little bar and sat down and ordered some Beer Hanoi's. The staff at the bar were very chatty and were eager to talk to us and ask us about where we are from, they were genuinely interested in us. This corner is full of tourists so its great to meet and see people like yourself having a good time and enjoying a few beers. We later met the gentleman in my above photo, he was selling books (if you have been to Vietnam before you will have seen these people everywhere) I decided to by a book off him and he sat down with us to chat. He was such a kind lovely person, he sells books in Hanoi to support his wife and young child while they both live in a village an hour out of Hanoi. What made this night was talking to this man, he was interesting and intelligent, his story pulled on my heart strings. We left Beer Corner at about 2am, only to have to wake up the next day to nurse my hangover and prepare for our flight to Saigon.

My first photo in Hanoi while sitting at a street bar.

The nightlife (so I experienced in Hanoi) is laid back, exciting and cheap. If you are not huge on going out dancing all night and really just want to enjoy the locals and the culture Hanoi (specifically the Old Quarter) is a great place to get out and about in. The beer is cold and cheap, the locals are chatty and friendly and the whole city is busy and fun. Please take note Hanoi is not a big party city, most bars close down at midnight, you will be lucky to find one that stays open later (don't worry there are sneaky bars that do). But this 'rule' gives you an ample opportunity to get that much needed sleep to get out in the morning and explore. If you head to Hanoi I highly suggest you head to Le Pub to people watch and enjoy their happy hour and have some food then take the short walk to Beer Corner and indulge in the people and culture. Hanoi, I love you and I can not wait to visit you again!

Traveling comfortably long haul - My essentials

Before I left on my Thai adventure last year I was petrified of planes to the point I thought I would need to be sedated to last more than an hour on it. I eventually found myself comfortable, bored and over the plane ride. Things like turbulence gave me excitement, I had something to do and experience other than a boring movie.

I am forever thankful that trip ‘cured’ my fear of flying but I think if I was more prepared for the flight itself I wouldn't have spent three hours bawling my eyes out because I couldn't sleep and was so bored.

Sleeping on a plane as said by most people is near impossible unless you dose yourself up on sleeping pills which I have no intention of doing so as lets me honest, I want to make the most of that free airline wine and I would never mix alcohol and sleeping pills together. I think the best way to sleep on the plane and have an enjoyable in flight experience is prepare for the flight and take little ‘comfort’ items on board.

I have compiled my list of what I will be taking in my cabin bag to make this 11 hour flight somewhat bare able. We leave at midnight on the 26^th of December to Hong Kong and arrive at 6:00am Hong Kong time so I think getting a good night’s rest is essential for us to be up at 6am and go exploring. Luckily we are flying with Air NZ and were able to pick our seats so we picked two seats at the very back so we don’t have to climb over anyone else for bathroom trips. We have also put a bid in to be upgraded to Premium Economy. Fingers crossed!

Monique’s essentials for long haul

Comfortable bed socks, nothing is more important than being comfortable and feeling at home.

     Comfortable pants – pants, not shorts, not a dress. For a start you want to be comfortable and feel as if you were in your pj pants, it’s also essential to not look like you’re in your pyjamas at the airport either if you want that upgrade or to be taken seriously. Wear a pair of comfy leggings or some harem pants, chuck some cute flats on with them and you look like a respectful, comfortable person.

      Deodorant – as you can’t shower on a plane and a long haul flight is well, long… a nice roll on deodorant is perfect for freshening up before you step off that plane.

      Make-up wipes – essential to freshen yourself up and get rid of that mascara that has migrated halfway down your face as you napped on the plane.

      Your make-up essentials – Remember everything has to be under 100ml so just chuck in some foundation, a powder and a bit of mascara to chuck on before you land.

           Lucas Paw Paw Ointment – Just saying this is enough said. Amazing for dry lips which do tend to get rather dry in the air from the plane.

      An empty water bottle – The amount of water you get on the plane at a time is hardly enough. You especially need to drink more on the plane so fill it up after customs and when that’s finished ask the flight attendants to fill it up for you.

      A good neck pillow, eye mask and earplugs – the three essentials for plane sleeping. Add them to your comfort items and you have the makings for a sweet sleep!

These are my essentials and I will be making sure I bring them all on the plane with me, along with my iPad loaded up with eBooks, music and games to entertain me until it is sleep time. The plan is to get at least 5 hours sleep (more would be nice) then get out of the airport in Hong Kong, drop our luggage at our hotel until check in and grab some breakfast on the island and explore a little.

What is your travel essentials for long haul flying?

What have I been up to lately with my shop?

All of a sudden my brand has taken a sudden turn! I now have stockists! So I have been extremely busy preparing bulk lots of jewellery for them and have no had much time to make many new things. I have a craft market on December the 8th at Auckland Arts and Crafts Fair and a sale on some of my jewellery range over at ONCE'IT.co.nz on November 21st this week, check it out!

In the mean time I have managed to create some new things and some cute polymer clay craft.

 

I custom made this little donkey from polymer clay holding a 21st balloon for her birthday. If you want something custom made send me an email! contact@withlovefrommonique.com

 

 

Cute new design incorporating my polymer clay bow beads and the ever so popular white skull beads. You can buy one off me for $15NZD by emailing me or heading to my Facebook page

 

 

How sweet are these unicorns! I have made them for The Auckland Arts and Crafts Fair on the 8th of December!

 

 

Meet Henry, hes cute and tiny! I love Chihuahua's so this little buddy is perfect! He will also be at the markets or you can grab him now for $45NZD! (Pattern made from Patchlins)

 

 

 This is what I have been busy doing in between making and sending out stock to my great stockists! I expect to have some new types of plushies for the markets and a bunch of cute ponies, necklaces, bracelets and rings!