Honeymoon-planning: We bought the air tickets!

Starring: "The Jetstar StarClass Enthusiast (JSCE)" and "The Man"

We have come a long way to decide on where to go for our honeymoon.
The following list shows just how much we changed our minds on selecting a honeymoon destination over this last year.
(As usual, all images are linked directly to their respective original sites. So if they are missing, means the owner has removed it from the source)

1. New Zealand - decided early last year but changed our mind as it was too expensive
   
2. Angkor Wat - found a quaint little boutique villa (http://www.sojournsiemreap.com) and thought that we could take part in the Angkor Wat half-marathon as well. Unfortunately, we were advised against it our parents. Not wanting to upset them, we decided to shelve this option.
   
3. Mauritius- Found a full board package for less than 3k (inclusive of air-fare) but it is in Africa...well, that said it.
   
4. Royal Caribbean Cruise - The JSCE afraid that she will get sea sick.
   
5. Las Vegas & New York - Good because Sing Dollars is appreciating against USD and our trip coincide with the Black Friday Sales! The man was strongly for it but The JSCE was strongly for option 6.
   
6. New Zealand - Christchurch earthquake has caused NSD to drop. "And Jetstar now flies to Auckland", according to Joanne Peh. This significantly lowered the cost of a NZ honeymoon.
   
   

We were stuck in this deadlock between US & NZ for almost 2 months. Our date night this week addressed this topic, and The man was benevolent and agreed to visit NZ for our honeymoon. The JSCE assured The man that we will certainly be visiting US in the near future, especially when The JSCE becomes Singaporean. (visa no longer required)

A day after this decision was made, we were blessed with a "Jetstar StarClass" promo to Auckland. The return StarClass tickets cost $1,150, where were comparable to Emirates (flights include 8 hour transit in Brisbane) and Qantas ($300 more expensive, transit some where in Australia). The last I checked (1 day after we booked), the return ticket from Auckland now costs $950, i.e. no more promo fare. We got a good deal!

 Now that we've got our air tickets booked & paid, the next step is planning for the things to do on the trip. We've engaged a NZ tour agency (http://www.firstlighttravel.com/) to help us with our custom itinerary. Will keep you updated!

HDB 2nd Appointment

Starring: 'The Operation Manager' and 'His Woman'
 
The 2nd HDB appointment was held on 1st of April (PM).

During the appointment, we signed a few forms, received the house keys, and voila, the appointment was over! The whole process probably took less than 15 minutes. After which, we proceeded to the 2nd floor to get the utilities transferred to our names (also around 15 minutes).

In normal circumstance, you would pass your agent his/her cheque, but we decided not to. Mainly because of the following reasons:

1. When we inspected the flat 2 nights ago, the flat was not totally cleared out. There were still a lot of junk lying around. We wanted to ensure that these items were gone, else our agent should take responsibility by getting town council or disposal company.
2. The owner still owes us the letter box key.

Advice by operation manager:
Please note transaction is incomplete should any item remains outstanding. Thus, the buyer should ensure all items are in order prior to issuance of cheque to his/her agent.

Fortunately, we withheld the cheque as we did really face some complications.

When the operation manager went to inspect the house the night thereafter, he could not open the main door successfully. The previous owner had secured the main door 4 times, with a padlock, main lock, metal grille lock and a bicycle lock but the operation manager could only open 2 of these 4 locks.

He called the previous owner frantically but was unable to reach him. The previous owner had switched off his handphone while his agent feigned ignorance. It seemed that our agent was the only one who tried to help.

We are not sure if we would have received the same attention if we had paid her earlier. The rest of the night was emotionally for both the operation manager and his woman.

Prayer was answered the following afternoon when the previous owner called and agreed to assist.
Matter was resolved in the evening with a change of new locks.

Take-away:
At the end of the transaction (and before each party returns to his own way), please ensure you have the followings:
- The seller's contact
- Ensure house is empty
- Every single item, stipulated under the ownership clause

Bonus:
- Future Home address of the seller, through eaves-dropping

Things you might want to consider when choosing a wedding banquet package

I was clearing my desktop when I chanced upon the Excel sheet I used to shortlist the venues for our wedding banquet package. Since it's no longer of use to me, I've decided to reproduce them here.

The table shows what an average package should have.

*Please note that the content is for reference only and the data collected is based on 2010/2011 hotel wedding packages.

Food & Beverage
Num Courses (Dinner)	8/9
Food-tasting	For 10pax
Chinese Tea, Soft-drinks	Free-flow
Beer	30 Litres
Wine	1 bottle/table
Hard Liquor Corkage Waiver	Yes
Wine Corkage Waiver	No
Deco (Each venue has a set of themes to choose from)
VIP Table Setup	1/2 tables
Other perks	This may include dry-ice/bubbles for march-in
Wedding Items
Cake (for ceremony)	Yes, limited design
Cake (for eating)	No
Champagne	Yes
Wedding favours	Yes
Invitation cards	70% of total guests (exclude printing)
Guest book	Yes
Ang pow box	~
Logistics
VIP Carpark	1 Lot
Guest Carpark	20% of total guests
LCD	Yes (some chargeable)
Bride/Groom Items
Bridal Suite	1-2 nights
Meals	Pre-dinner/Supper
Perks	Anniversary stay/Room Service credit

Picking the wedding gown

Choosing a Bridal Package
We booked our wedding package with Bliss Bridal (Marina Square) way back in April last year. It costs around $3K and includes 6 gowns/dresses (only 2 MTM), 2 groom suits (MTM pants), dads' suits, makeup (trial, photoshoot & actual day), studio & outdoor photography, album of 28 photos, 3 framed photos (dif sizes), bridal car + deco, bridal bouquet and corsages.

How to determine if a bridal shop is good? No idea.
It's about the "feeling" that you get when you talk to the staff in the shop. The sales rep at Bliss did try to sell us that the gowns are "Made in Singapore" and that they offer MTM pants for the groom. They assured us that they are financially stable by saying that Zhang Yaodong (Mediacorp actor) is their boss.

You might want to scrutinize their definition of "album of 28 photos" because I know of some shops that slap on additional charges if you want to digitalise your photo (e.g. photoshop the sky to pink, make the whole photo brownish/purplish, etc).

Understanding the silhouettes (photos & text referenced from Martha Stewart Weddings)
1) Ball Gown

"Introduced by Queen Victoria, reimagined by Dior in the 1950s, and never long out of fashion, this is the most romantic of all bridal silhouettes. It features a small waist (natural or dropped) and a voluminous skirt with petticoats. Most flattering to women of at least average height with hourglass or full figures, this style's skirt will overwhelm a petite or particularly buxom bride. " My interpretation: When else apart from your wedding day can you wear such a silhouette without people staring at you? If this pom-pom skirt is not really your style, you may want to try it out during your gown selection just for fun :)

2) A-Line

"This enduring style's name comes from the triangle (or "A" shape) between the narrow bodice and outer edges of the wide, ungathered skirt. Suitable for a variety of fabrics, the A-line is versatile: It may or may not have a seam at the waist, which may be higher or lower than the natural waistline; and the close-fitting bodice may be strapless or have any type of neckline." My interpretation: This silhouette is less showy than the ball gown. To avoid looking "too plain", you may want to complement this silhouette with an asymmetric-styled skirt or play with the skirt fabrics.

3) Empire

"After the French Revolution, Napoleon's wife Josephine popularized this neoclassical dress with a very high waist; the sheer materials she chose caused a sensation. The cropped bodice of the Empire style flatters the small-breasted woman but not a more buxom bride; the raised waist creates a long line, ideal for a petite bride. The skirt may be straight, slightly flared, or even as wide as an A-line." My interpretation: This is a very elegant silhouette & goddess-like; certainly not suitable for me. I've seen this silhouette in a beach shot and it looks really really good.

4) Sheath

"If you are comfortable with showing off your curves, consider the slyly constructed sheath, popularized in the 1950s by Marilyn Monroe. This body-hugging profile is artfully sculpted with darts, tucks, and seams. The effect will differ depending on the weight and drape of the fabric. A great choice for a tall, slim-hipped woman, the sheath is equally becoming to a petite, slender bride. Avoid this style if you have wide hips but narrow shoulders." My interpretation: Your body forms the silhouette :)

5) Trumpet/Mermaid

"A trumpet dress hugs the body at the top and through the hips but jets out into a fuller skirt at the bottom." My interpretation: This silhouette is commonly seen in on the red carpet as it is very elegant and is easy to walk in.

Do try out the different silhouettes to see which ones look good on you. You might be surprised!
Tip: Some silhouettes look better in white while others look better in non-white colours.

Finding your "Perfect Gown"
I am an avid fan of "Say Yes to the Dress" (showing every Saturday on Channel 425). The show reveals the inner workings of  Kleinfield Bridal, a bridal salon in New York. It also "educates" you on the different silhouette and fabrics. One thing that always amazes me is that 90% of the brides in the show will always know when the wedding gown is the one. They will try lots and lots of dresses, but when they try on the one their faces glow. 

When I tried on my the one, there was a small part of me that was still in denial because that was the 2nd dress I tried on. Nonetheless, as I tried on the other dresses, the thought of that 2nd dress still lingered in my mind. The lady attending to me was kind enough to let me try on gowns of different silhouettes, style and fabric. I spent more than 3 hours at the bridal shop, trying on almost 15 gowns.

As usual, it's all about "the feeling". Leave all your research & knowledge of wedding gowns in the door when you step in for your first appointment, and let you & and your guy's faces lead the way.

1st HDB Appointment

Items to bring:

• ICs (Original & Photocopy)
• Passport (if non-Singaporean)
• Latest payslips
• Cheque book

If you are applying for the $10K "Stay near parents" grant, bring these as well:

• The parents
• Parents' ICs (Original & Photocopy)
• Parents' marriage cert
• Birth certificate

Our 1st HDB appointment was a breeze. The HDB officer that handled our case surpassed our expectations. We were very impressed that she even remembered our wedding date although our appeal case (link) wasn't handled directly by her.

Here's a summarised version of the detailed explanation that she gave us:

• Since we're applying for the stay near parents grant, the parents cannot move away from Woodlands within this 5 years
• We must physically stay in the flat for 5 years before we're allowed to sell it
• Because the Malaysian is non-Singaporean, HDB will withhold $10K from our total grant. This amt will be subsequently returned if the Malaysian becomes Singaporean or gives birth to a Singaporean kid.
• The max HDB loan we can take is 90% of the valuation price or what is given in your HLE letter
• Amount of cash needed = (10% + COV) - (Grants + CPF Savings) + Stamp Duty + Taxes - Deposit
• You would need to pay a portion of the amount above after the 1st appointment (payable via cash, NETS or cheque)
• The remaining amount needs to be paid during the 2nd appointment by CASH only. Alternatively, you can opt to pay the whole sum during the 1st appointment.
• The 2nd appointment takes place 6 - 8 weeks after the 1st, as CPF first needs to credit the grant into the Singaporean's account and then deduct them again.
• Home Protection Scheme is also a must. (i.e. Insurance in the event that one of us dies before loan is repayed.) However, you can choose the amount to insured.

The whole process took around 40 - 45 minutes. Our next appointment is on 1st April @ 3pm.

Wedding Themes from Pan Pacific

Since we are going to select the gown soon, we decided to ask Pan Pacific to send us the themes for 2011. We didn't want to select a gown that was too clashing with the theme. 

Here's what they sent us (complimentary narration from "The Architect" coming soon):
*Note: These are the themes for the Ocean Ballroom only and the pictures belong to Pan Pacific

Spring Rhapsody

Blue Jazz

Eden Harmony

Medieval of Love

Our Flat-Buying Journey

Starring: 'The Architect' and 'Miss Hard-to-Please'

We decided not to enlist the help of a buyer agent while searching for the flat.
Reason being that we are not obliged to any agent and we need not receive unnecessary 'promotion' through phone.

We actually consider the parcel of flat adjacent to the in-laws.
Here are some pics of the development (linked directly from H88.com.sg).
We like this development because the exterior & surrounding landscaping look really good. However, we couldn't seem to find a flat within this estate that could provoke an emotion to our hearts. Most of the flats we viewed were either blah, or had one or more defect (e.g. overhanging ledge outside your living room window for the unit on the 14th floor).

If you like condo-look-alike appearance flats, you may want to consider this development.

Disclaimer: It's at Woodlands.Choose it at your peril.

On one faithful day, 'Miss Hard-to-Please' had a sudden craving to check out EM flats. And chanced upon this ad online:
 

The ad did not look too promising, especially since the agent did not post any photos and the $10K COV feels fishy~

Nonetheless she went ahead to book an appointment with the agent since she has never seen an EM before and did not want to miss out on a good deal even if it's too good to be true.








Appended below are the summarised emotions derived from the flat viewing:
1) 'Jia1 Xiang1 de4 Gan3 Jue2' (translated into English = Feeling of Home-coming, ie. Ipoh Kampung Feeling)
2) Big...Very Big
3) Dirty, dusty & smelly (Huge make-over need to be done)
4) Koi Fish Window, Koi Fish Sliding Door, Koi Fish Motif...1st to be hacked and go'
5) 'Oh-my...Grey Granite Floor...2nd to be hacked and go'
6) Cornice at Ceiling - so old fashion...3rd to go
7) Brown Aluminum Sliding Window Frame - 4th to go
8) No Bomb Shelter???? (see floor plan)

Despite these many concerns, we opted for a 2nd viewing and paid $1000 for the option to purchase (OTP) 4 days later.
Main motivating factor was governed by points 1 & 2.
The 10k COV was also lucrative as savings from COV can be used to hack the granite floor (which was later vetoed due to budget constraint).
*By the way, please ensure that you have your HLE letter before committing to an OTP. You can negotiate with the seller to give you an extension or post-date the OTP.

The ad was actually put up by a freelance agent who told us she is the self-made/default buyer agent.
We didn't want to jin1 jin1 ji4 jiao4 (too calculative) and have no time to do the paper work, we accepted with grace her self-appointment as our buyer agent.
To give her due credit, she did try to cut the COV to $9K (not successful) and helped to appeal to HDB on our behalf regarding the submission of ROM cert (successful, but credit goes to the helpful HDB officer as well).
* To appeal, you need to submit to HDB a receipt of your wedding banquet/ROM/wedding gown with the date of your ROM written on it. To add more oomph you should submit a letter from the JP as well.

1st Appointment with HDB
- Date:19 Feb.
- As we will be exercising the additional 10k grant for living near to parents, our parents have to be present, together with their IC and marriage cert.
- Hear say, 1st appointment is for the HDB officer to understand if we are indeed genuine of marriage (to ensure the couple are not those scam type with foreign wives to buy HDB), 

More details of 1st & 2nd appointment will be posted in due time. So keep a look out for it.

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For potential flat-buyers, surfing through PropertyGuru (iPhone app available as well) and flipping through the Saturday Classifieds could be sufficient to help you in your flat-hunting journey if you have an idea on the location and type of flat you want.

By the way, a buyer agent normally earns 1% of the flat purchase price (paid by the buyer) while the seller agent earns 2% (paid by the seller). There is a serious conflict of interest which I really don't understand (why would the buyer agent want to reduce the price for you since he/she is earning based on commission?). HDB allows you to be your own agent and they organises seminars to educate you on the necessities during flat-buying/selling.