Dog Fashionistas

At the FCI Japan International Dog Show, a contestant entering her dog for a canine beauty pageant. Poor poodle. Not only does it have a hideous haircut, it's now the laughingstock of the canine world. It is however, a bag of laughs looking like a pumpkin and a ghost at the same time. Perfect for Halloween. 

I've always wondered why they have to cut poodles in this fashion. They used to do that in the 80s and I hated poodles. Nowadays they've stopped making them look like a series of different-sized balls stuck together and I've since come to adore them.

Here's another victim of someone's rainbow-connection whim. Ever wonder if the pooch feels cold at those areas where he has no hair? It would be interesting in winter.

This dog is dyed to achieve the "pooch in boots" effect. Rather cute I must admit. Although I never recommend dye-ing your pet in any colour. It may trigger off skin allergies that will have life-long consequences.

Apparently, dog fashion is a big thing in New Jersey, USA too. This dog was attending the Woofin' Paws Pet Fashion Show at the Carey Stadium. Looking like a lobster will never start any fashion trend, human or canine.

Here's winner of the Best Face Licker, a 5 month old Great Dane. He wears a bizarre hat decorated with what looks like psychedelic multi-coloured fungi. Couldn't be prettier...not.

50 PLUS Expo

Sunday was spent at 50 PLUS Expo, an "aging gracefully" conference for senior citizens offering courses, booths, talks, shows, entertainment, pageant etc. There were all these booths selling holidays, body-contouring inner wear, luxury buses and clothes too.

We are here to volunteer Tiger's services for community work.

Here's a bunch of the pooches involved doing a corporate "down-stay" before the show.

The maltese is a canine celebrity now, having appeared in a SingTel ad.

A smug-looking poodlesaurus.

Tiger doing a face-off with Koko, a gentle and loving labradoodle whom I love to hug. She's like a giant teddy to give a bear hug to and there's so much of her to love. Stroke her enough and she'll roll over for you to stroke her belly too. This breed, btw, is great for allergy-prone people who want to keep dogs. They don't shed at all, since all the hair loss is contained in the curls. However, you'd probably need someone to brush through the coat now and then.

Tiger was a good boy today. He didn't make a fuss of having the huge contraption on his back. 

Giving a whole new meaning to "sausage dog".

Patrick Wong, aka Wong Si Fu, is well-known in the circle as one of the best dog trainers around. His students regularly take top place in obedience trials and his dogs have been in showbiz since 20 years ago. He has a boomz personality to boot, so he freelances as emcee for numerous dog-related events. Btw, if you look carefully, he bears an uncanny resemblance to Taiwanese show host, Wu Zhong Xian. Both are around the same age, and have the gift of the gab. Long-lost brothers perhaps?

Here's a Great Dane, only 8 months old and he's about as big as me. Imagine when he's full-grown! I've never met him before, so he must be thinking "What the....?!!" when I hugged him. He affectionately left a huge drool stain on my blouse. He's not with the other dogs cos he lunges at every dog he meets. It's not aggressive but I wouldn't want to be trampled upon. His handler couldn't even control him when he willfully charges about.

Aunty Lucy aka Chong Qing went to the event too. Took a photo with him backstage making a coy pose. He/she's very popular with the aunties. They all went to give him a spontaneous hug and went: "Aunty Lucy...you very beautiful leh. Wa, your  ne ne pok (breasts) full of foam ah...hahah...". 

Tiger's 15 seconds of fame. He was so scared of the loud noises he was petrified. Couldn't even climb up the stairs himself and had to be carried. Sigh...what a disappointment. Guess it's my fault, seeing that I've been too protective towards him on a daily basis.

We went to the Alps then headed straight to the beach for some surf. Haha..

It was fun walking about all the props. Thankfully, I don't belong here. Well, not my time yet. Will take a look in about 20 years.

Turkey Farm

Just watched a documentary on Okto that goes by the name of How Stuff Works on turkey farming. In it, they show how turkeys were bred all the way to how they end up on our tables.

What was interesting was that to make turkey eggs, the male and female specimens do not even get to mate! Some farm hands have the choice job of collecting semen from a male bird, who will be used to inseminate 60 hens. Then they men capture the females, turn them upside down, and using a machine, inject sperm into the hens private parts (hmmm, "private" is an ironic word in this context). Poor birds, in their short lifespan of 5 to 7 months they don't even get the pleasure of sex before ending up in the slaughter house.

When the babies are hatch, they will follow the first living object they see as their moms. So there was a brood of chicks (turkey, not girls, muahhahah)  following this farmer around and climbing onto his feet. So sad, cos he will eventually be their murderer. In order to get them to breed faster, turkeys are subject to more artificial light so as to dupe them into thinking it was still egg-laying season. It's a sad process, turkey farming. I will never earn any money as a farmer cos I will want to keep all the birds as pets.

The free-range turkeys get it slightly better. At least they get to roam around on a spacious compound, not stuffed together in barns and never see the light of day. They also get to live for 7 months.

Another rather perverted thing is that turkeys are not naturally white, but have been bred to this colour because consumers don't like the dark spots on turkey skins. It seems a bit sick to me that humans tweak and breed animals to their liking for commercial value. Sometimes I wonder what sort of meat we're all eating??

However, recent technological advances have helped such that turkeys do not die in vain. Besides their meat, turkey feathers are also used to make plastic. Their poop is used to generate fuel. Plus the resulting ash is used to fertilize crops, which are in turn used as turkey food. Come to think of it, isn't it a bit sick that turkeys are eating crops that fed on turkey ash??

Tiger Cutie

Still basking in my win, this time with Tiger.  Poor dog, yeah. I realize he's male but it's so entertaining putting all assortments of girly things on him...tiara, flowers, hairclips etc.

The really cute part about him is how he complies and obeys with the nonsense I bestow upon his doggy self. See how tortured he looks. Often, he will freeze like a statue and refuse to move until I remove the offending object.

Sorry Tiger...mommy will buy you your favourite pandan cake as compensation.

Apparently, I've been told that Tiger looks like me! I don't know if it's much of a compliment that I look like a dog, but well, I agree he does have my eyes. haha.

Humphf..eyelash falling off liaoz...

Winter Sonata II

Yong Pyong Ski Resort.

It's Feb but the Christmas decorations are still up. Maybe the wintry season prolongs Christmas for them!

Terrorist and Bank Robber! Muahahah!

The sub zero air was drying out my skin by now and my nose couldn't stop dripping. The ski outfit was complimentary. But I really hate the pink and black ski jacket... with fur trimming some more. With the black pants, I look really like some 'mountain tortoise from some backwater village in China. Not to mention that the pants was some 30cm longer than my legs. I was tripping over it half the time.

At first, skiing was challenging. There were so many items to mind, unlike snowboarding. The boots were so so heavy and just to walk that short distance uphill for a short slide down made me soak my thermal wear with perspiration. Later we gave up and bought the ticket for the ski lift. Then it start being more enjoyable. I'm glad to announce I only fell twice. While stationary. Not even while I was skiing. I left the resort with a big bruise on my knee.

Those little round blobs in the background are stones in the little stream. So cute!

The resort at night...magical!

The next day...off to EVERLAND!!!!

I took this roller coaster made of wood!

Nah...like real...more like this kiddo one here. The big one was closed to my dismay. Too cold. :(

Another kiddo ride.

Here's the reason for all the kiddy rides...Xuan, the tour guide. He chose to chaperon all of us due to limited time. So we were shooed from place to place. I was disappointed cos I'm kinda a theme park junkie.

The funniest pic so far...

Street parade,  just like in Disneyland.

Having some last minute cam whoring fun at the stores. And walking my little tiger here....

O man, my nose is soooo red from the cold weather. It was a hassle wiping it dry all the time: looking for tissue paper underneath all the layers, taking off glove, wiping nose, keep tissue, putting back gloves. Winter is really a hassle.

My dream candy store. Imagine all the calories you can chalk up in this place!

Then it's goodbye EVERLAND. I will come back again someday for that rollercoaster. Also missed the safari ride here.

Do not adjust your screens...this is NOT an optical illusion! Cool art huh?

Performers from MISO, a traditional Korean performance. I couldn't help falling asleep although I do appreciate the beauty of the performance. Managed to take a shot standing next to the prettiest gal in the troupe. The one standing next to David was also stunning. They're all so tall. Hmmm...are they wearing 6-inch heels underneath or what?! I feel like a dwarf already...

Yeah, I know I look ashen, thanks to waking up at 6am, coupled with bad lighting at the hotel room. Can't do any kind of makeup in that light.

So here we go making Kimchi. Actually it's not much of a cooking class. It's one of those places that con

tourists of their $$ while masquerading as a noble educational event.

Here at the same place, we also get to pretend to be Korean. We even 'borrowed' kids from a couple from the tour group.

That concludes my Korea trip. We did visit Lotte World as well, but it couldn't hold a candle to Everland. Unfortunately, it was CNY, and most of the shops were closed so shopping was a let down. There was only one night to spend our Korean won. We went to Doota Tower to offload our wallets till 3am.

Farewell Seoul, I will be back for more retail therapy!!