Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle & Travel Blog: Travel

Four Seasons Spa & L'OCCITANE Singapore

Tuesday, July 05, 2016

Are you a fan of L'OCCITANE's beauty products?

I am a huge fan and I was so excited when I heard that Four Seasons Hotel and L'OCCITANE forged an exclusive partnership to establish Four Seasons Spa & L'OCCITANE - also L'OCCITANE’s first Spa in Singapore.

What's unique about Four Seasons Spa & L'OCCITANE?

~ World-exclusive Néroli & Orchidée treatments ~

Besides being the first L'OCCITANE spa in Singapore, Four Seasons Spa and L'OCCITANE in Singapore offers the world-exclusive Néroli & Orchidée treatments: the only L'OCCITANE SPA in the world to offer this. Very apt indeed, given that the Orchid is Singapore’s national flower.

~ Hand-performed Massages by skilled therapists ~

Helmed by a skilled team of therapists with over a decade of experience, the spa focuses on hand-performed treatments and traditional massage techniques to bring you authentic spa treatments.

Did you know that visiting therapists from Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts properties such as Bali and Seychelles would join the team for six months each time? You'll never have to step out of our little red dot to enjoy resort-style massages again!

~ Comprehensive suite of Spa packages for all your different needs ~

Spa treatments targeted at various need areas are offered, such as L'OCCITANE’s anti-aging Immortelle facials featuring patented Immortelle products, signature Shea Butter nourishing treatments, as well as Spa rituals (encompassing different need areas) for guests who prefer holistic face and body treatments. Loyal customers can also indulge in Spa packages that bring great value to their spa experience. L'OCCITANE products can be purchased at the spa too.

Néroli & Orchidée Relaxing Massage (90 minutes)

I visited the spa recently and was treated to their Néroli & Orchidée Relaxing Massage, which combines both body scrub and massage fragranced with the tender floral and fruity notes of the neroli essence from the Mediterranean and white orchid absolute from Madagascar.

How very timely, as my body was aching from the long and arduous journey (no thanks to a delayed flight) back to our sunny island after traveling around China.

I had a wonderful experience. Starting from the exclusivity of the locker room, to the amazing skills of my therapist Sita and finally, the sumptuous dessert that lent the perfect finishing touches and ended the evening on a sweet note.

Their attention to detail is remarkable. Sita, my therapist, accurately pointed out my pain points - my right shoulder and both my calves. I didn't even have to utter a word. She expertly kneaded away the knots, easing away the tension as I luxuriated in the therapeutic massage. It didn't take long before I was lulled into a blissful slumber.

I woke up feeling rejuvenated and energised, all ready to take on my appointments for the week. I remember thinking - this must be the most well-spent 90 minutes in my life ever!

Need a quick pick-me-up? I assure you that this is one indulgent experience you will never forget.

Exclusive One-Day Wellness Getaway at Four Seasons Spa & L'OCCITANE

For a limited time only, Four Seasons Spa & L'OCCITANE is offering a One-Day Wellness Getaway! There isn't a better time to take that day off!

Enjoy a pampering massage and complimentary wellness facilities (Sauna, Steam room, Swimming Pool & Outdoor Jacuzzi) at Four Seasons Hotel, complete with either a special 4-course meal at award-winning Chinese restaurant Jiang-Nan Chun (read my review here) or Mezze Buffet at One-Ninety Wood-fired Steaks and Seafood (read my review here).

Complimentary car parking and wifi access is provided too.

$180++ for any 60min Body Massage + 4 course Set Lunch at JNC OR Mezze Buffet at One-Ninety Wood-fired Steaks and Seafood

$240++ for any 90min Body Massage + 4 course Set Lunch at JNC OR Mezze Buffet at One-Ninety Wood-fired Steaks and Seafood

including complimentary usage of sauna, steam room, swimming pool, carpark for the day

From now till August 31 2016 (excluding black-out dates)

All prices quoted above are subject to 10% service charge and applicable government taxes

For more information on Spa treatments and bookings, please contact Club at tel: (65) 6831 7400 or email club.sin@fourseasons.com

Channeling Song Hye Kyo's Casual Chic Style in Descendants of the Sun

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Where to go for a Vintage Old Shanghai Themed Photoshoot

Tuesday, June 07, 2016

I did a vintage photo shoot recently with an Old Shanghai theme and I really love how it turned out.

Where? Where else, China of course. If you're traveling to China and you love having your photos taken, this is an enjoyable and relatively inexpensive activity (if you pick the most basic package) that you can add to your bucket list. Be prepared to draw lots of oohs and ahhs from all your friends and family when they see your photos!

There are two spots where you can do this in Nanjing:
1) Laomendong; and
2) Nanjing Museum

Nostalgic Photo Studio at Laomendong, Nanjing

Both attractions have a vintage photography studio. You can be a cheapie like me and just go for the most basic studio photoshoot package where you'll get 1 hard copy of a photograph similar to the ones above for 70 yuan or about S$15 (inclusive of a simple hairdo, accessories, clothes and professional lighting equipment). You are also allowed to take your own photos in the shop, so be sure to bring along your own camera too.

These are some photos taken by my hubby:

Waiting to elope with my secret lover

Laomendong, Nanjing (China)

If you prefer the full works, you can opt for the most comprehensive package which includes an elaborate vintage hairstyle, make-up and several backdrops and poses. You'll get to keep an album of photos too. This would set you back by 1680 yuan or about S$350.

The full works

These photos give you a flavour of what the backdrops look like. On hindsight, I should have styled my hair in the series of photos below to match the gorgeous Old Shanghai setting in Nanjing Museum. With the right makeup, hairdo and backdrop (plus some editing), anyone can transform into an upper class woman of leisure sipping tea in a retro tea house or a cute schoolgirl waiting to elope with her secret lover.

Retro tea house in Nanjing Museum

Cinema from a bygone era at Nanjing Museum

Streets of Old Shanghai at Nanjing Museum

If you prefer the DIY route, it is possible to ace this shoot with your Instagram boyfriend or husband by wearing your own cheongsam, styling your hair yourself (check out tutorials on pinterest & youtube) and bringing your own props.

It's a really fun way to spend an afternoon and you can expect the end results to be nothing short of spectacular!

5 Reasons To Own The Casio Exilim ZR3600 Camera

Friday, June 03, 2016

I have always been on the lookout for a fuss free point-and-shoot camera that can help me fulfil many functions, especially on days when I want to give the DSLR camera a break.

And I think I finally found it.

The Casio Exilim ZR3600 fits the bill perfectly.

In this internet age where visuals speak a thousand words, there have been many times when I will wonder, "What an amazing photo! How did the person get such an awesome shot!" A professional DSLR camera and good camera lenses definitely play an important role but I am sure you would agree that it really isn’t the most convenient thing to carry around when you are traveling overseas. It also takes time to adjust the settings to get that perfect shot, which is why I would occasionally turn to a point-and-shoot camera that has the ability to capture beautiful shots without the hassle.

Especially when time isn't on my side.

If you are also like me, or if you want to achieve great photos without the tech stress, the Casio EX-ZR3600 is like a dream come true.

Casio Exilim ZR3600

Casio is famous for its selfie functions, beautifully brightening and unblemishing faces in what I describe as a natural automatic photoshop function.

If you see here, the ZR3600 has enhanced the ease of selfies even further by adding a 180 degree flip screen so you can view the screen while taking a photo (and adjust your face and hair accordingly haha).

What's so convenient too is the button in the front where your forefinger can easily press while holding the camera, a really common gripe of selfie lovers that Casio has wonderfully addressed. What's more, there's also the "wave" function where you don't even need to press a button. Just wave your hand in front of the camera and it'll automatically take the photo!

The even more awesome news is, this camera doesn't just take great selfies. It has so many other amazing functions.

Without further ado, I'll let the photos during the media trip to Penang do the talking.

Note: All images featured in this post are unedited.

1. Capture Close-up Details without Compromising on Image Quality

There is no need for filters with this camera. All the images come out crystal clear, even when you use the zoom function. Seriously, just look at this.

I zoomed right into the dragon perched on the roof of the temple. All the vibrant colors against the bright blue sky were completely captured.

Look at this magnificent sunrise. The striking orange hues and the gorgeous golden yolk were beautifully captured up close with minimal noise.

This was taken at sunset, when the skies turned into cotton candy shades of pink and purple.

2. Achieve Great Shots with Minimum Time & Effort

This was taken in a rush, walking along a street when I saw these flowers randomly growing by a colorful fence. See how well the colours turned out, even when I literally stopped and snapped the photo in 3 seconds!

And this "Of Parallels and Opposites" photo was another 3 second snap, the words of which poetically came to mind while I was rushing down the same street. Mid-street, in between the houses and the bustle, this space just seemed to call out for a shot.

The camera is also able to capture details well. The famous street murals in Penang are a must-see for many tourists and locals, and here are a few in various sizes and intensity of color: the one similarity? They all turned out beautifully with just a simple click of the camera!

This is one giant cat that spans the width of 10 people!

This is one mini cat that is one human head width.

This was at a non-descript, blink-and-you'll-miss-it area along the street. It was also shaded by trees so the mural appeared darker and less obvious. However, look at how gorgeously rendered it is as the camera picks out the light and shadows!

What I term the "Penang Powerpuff girls" photo 😂 Can you see how the textures and even the paint peeling off the walls are so alive and 3D in the photo?

Look at the detail of the dragon scales, even in this quick sideways shot!

As the afternoon faded and we were leaving the area, we spotted a shophouse that stood out from the rest with its interesting patchwork curtains and lamps.

Here's one of the great moments when I said hi to a durian seller uncle. He was sitting in his chair as everyone passed him by. I was intrigued by the durians in the boot of the car, and told him so. It was a brief connection of two strangers, with a warmth and heartfelt poignancy as we smiled at each other. Sir, I wish you well!

And I love this shot with another very different uncle! Uncle Motorbike (that's what I secretly termed him) was reposed in this position when I saw him, leaning forward on his bike with a devil-may-care expression on his face. Thug Life personified, he was all nonchalant and badass - this was his exact pose in front of the street mural when I walked by. In another world and time, this would be Penang's James Dean: older, weather-beaten, world-wearied.

P.S. Yes the mural behind him says "kah lu kong hokkien" (teach you speak hokkien).

Coincidence?

3. Achieve Bokeh (Blurred Background) Automatically Without Adjustments Required

I love how the camera automatically blurs the background while retaining sharpness in the foreground, making the subject come alive instantly. There’s no need to fiddle around with the aperture mode to do this (although there is an option for you to do so if you wish). The bokeh effect may not match up to my usual DSLR camera, but for a regular point-and-shoot camera, this is pretty commendable!

Just look at this snake! Did you know that I was also the only female in the group who mustered enough courage to place this snake around my neck? It may sound frightening, but it really wasn’t!

The food images look fantastic too, again bearing in mind that these photos have not been post-edited in any way. I would consider bringing this camera with me for my food tasting sessions in future.

There are many other functions including a selfie art mode, art mode, and even full HD video recording!

I'm sure Casio's selfie art mode needs no introduction, but here are a couple of selfies that I took with three of my favourite scene selections. You can choose from a total of five scene selections to achieve different moods and effects.

4. Get Flawless Skin with the Selfie Art Mode

~ Beauty shots with "Selfie Art Mode - Elegant" Scene ~

~ Dreamy Selfies with "Selfie Art Mode - Foggy" Scene ~

~ Natural Vignette with "Selfie Art Mode - Nostalgic" Scene ~

All I had on my face was sunblock, a touch of blusher, eyeliner and lipstick. Don't you think my skin looks absolutely flawless?

Selfie art mode aside, you can also achieve various photo effects with the camera's art mode. Here is a series of photos that I took with my favourite art mode scenes (you can choose from a total of 12 scenes) to give you a better idea of how your photos will turn out.

5. Get Instagram-Worthy Shots with the Art Mode

~ Dreamy Photos with the "Art Mode - Soft Focus" Scene ~

This is the equivalent of the Selfie Art Mode - Foggy Scene. You can achieve soft, dreamy photos without any editing.

~ Instagram-worthy Photos with "Art Mode - Toy Camera" Scene ~

Instagram-worthy shots are now possible without having to manually add in your own vignette and filters. I foresee that I'll be using this a lot for flatlays.

~ Enhanced Bokeh with "Art Mode - Miniature" Scene ~

This function makes large objects like buildings look miniature-sized in photos, but I used it to selectively focus on the Laneige lippie while enhancing the blurness of the background. Pretty impressive results for a point-and-shoot camera!

~ Artistic Shots with "Art Mode - Crystal Ball" Scene ~

As the name suggests, the subject is displayed in a "crystal ball". It is amazing how creative shots like this can be achieved simply with the click of a button.

~ Photos with a touch of sparkle with "Art Mode - Sparkling" Scene ~

The camera automatically adds a touch of sparkle to the brightest points in the photo. This would be great for glitzy events and the festive season. I know I will be whipping out this camera this Christmas for sure.

~ Vintage lifestyle shots with "Art Mode - Light Tone" Scene ~

The scene fades the colour tones and brightens the surroundings. If you love beautiful, vintage-looking lifestyle shots like I do, this would be your go-to mode.

With so many creative functions that cater to every occasion right at your finger tips, what is there not to love about this camera? Oh and it is WIFI-enabled as well, so you can easily transfer the photos to your phone and then upload them to your social media platforms. How very thoughtful and convenient!

I don’t know about you, but I’m certainly sold. In fact, I went ahead and got the Pearl White one (thanks to Isabelle!) before this post was even written. ;)

*****

Camera Specifications:

12.1 Mega Pixels

12x Optical Zoom, 24x Multi SR Zoom, 4x digital zoom

ISO (still images): Auto/ISO80/ISO100/ ISO200/ ISO400/ ISO800/ ISO1600/ISO3200/ISO6400

Battery life - 425 photos/1 hr 30 mins video recording time

Casio Exilim ZR3600 is available in three colours (Pearl White/Pink/Lavender) and retails at S$599 at all Casio Authorised Retailers from March 2016.