The Red Lion - Great British Food at Decent Prices

Before today, I only knew the Red Lion to be a place to get a few drinks with friends. I had never considered their food menu, instead opting for a WKD or Smirnoff Ice. This may appear strange as normally I love pub food, but putting Red Lion and pub grub together never clicked in my head.

Interior of the Red Lion

That all changed today, as I went with my family to the local Red Lion (which I knew of before but completely forgot about!) to get some dinner with friends. The interior was lovely, with a standard British pub feel. I also have to say the seats were also so comfy! The staff were also great and very understanding. My parents don't speak very good English as they are Chinese, but our waitress, bless her, tried her best to decipher their responses.

Full Rack of Ribs, with Chips, Onion Rings and Peas

The menu was pretty standard, everything you would normally find in a pub. I ordered a full rack of ribs in BBQ sauce, with chips and peas, which was amazing! I need to get my hands on their supplier for peas because they tasted so fresh, as if they were just picked from the garden. The chips were also great, I normally dislike chunky chips, but the crisp outer coating and soft inners were cooked to perfection. My rack of ribs were also very delicious and easy to eat.

My Sister and Me

My family and their friends were also very happy with their meals. My sister, especially, loved her 'Hunter's Chicken' which consisted of chicken breast wrapped in bacon with cheese. It was definitely a very filling meal, which is always nice.

Rating: 9/10

Tiny

My Beauty Diary - Red Wine Mask

Mask Packaging

Isn't it cute? This is the My Beauty Diary Mask and originates from Taiwan. It is currently very popular in Asia and has many celebrities endorsing how good it is. I don't actually know how much these cost, as I received mine as a gift. It comes in a pretty big box and you have about 20-30 masks in them.

You may not believe it, but as soon as you open up the packaging, the smell of red wine surrounds you! Surprising though, it smells pretty good as well. Inside, it's just a normal mask, but unlike most, it is literally dripping with the good stuff. It is also easy to apply as they have provided slits near the chin and temple areas, so if you have a small face like me, you can overlap the parts of the mask to suit your face.

Directions:

1. Cleanse face thoroughly

2. Apply mask for about 20 minutes

3. Remove and massage the excess into skin, rinsing is not required

4. Apply toner or moisturizer if required

They actually recommend you to use this mask a few times a week, but I like to keep mine to once. This is purely because I don't have that much time after work and prefer to use masks on the weekends. The great thing about this product is that you don't really have to moisturize afterwards, as the excess mask fluid acts as a moisturizer already. So you can remove the mask and then just massage the rest into your skin, and you're ready for bedtime. It doesn't make your skin feel softer, in fact when I wake up, my skin feels a bit oily, but it gives your skin a nice glow. Of course, this is also due to how much it hydrates your skin as well.

Rating: 8/10

Tiny

Cure - Japan's Best Selling Face Wash

Cure in it's original packaging

Cure has to be one of the best kept secrets outside Japan, if you are not into Japanese culture or do not follow Asian blogger and vloggers, it's very hard to find out about this amazing little thing. I actually found out about Cure from Bubzbeauty, the YouTube vlogger, and since then have been waiting to get my hands on one.

At around £20, you get a 250g bottle, which is a lot! Mine has lasted me about six months and I still have half to go. It is, essentially, a gel exfoliant, which rids your skin of dead skin cells. The interesting thing is, you can actually see your dead skin cells appear and be washed away!

Directions:

1. Wash face thoroughly with soap and water. Dry face well
2. Apply Cure gel to face, neck or other areas that are dry and rough
3. Massage gel into skin until gel becomes white, and small white granulars appears (do not rub hard) and rinse well
4. Apply lotion or cream that you normally use

They recommend using Cure twice a week, but I usually use it once and then use an apricot scrub another day. Cure is definitely not a product you should use everyday, as this will be harsh to your skin. I also like to use a cleanser and face wash instead of soap, as I like to wash off any makeup I wear during the day, and then follow it up with toner and moisturizer. What I love most about Cure is how soft it leaves your skin feeling, and how easy it is to apply.

Since buying Cure, I don't think I will ever turn back. It's such a great product that actually does do wonders for the skin. There is a reason why it is Japan's best selling face wash, and also why there's so much hype about it. If you're looking for a new exfoliator, you should check out Cure, which you can buy on their official website Here!

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

Bubble Tea - The Worldwide Phenomenon

I first heard about bubble tea more than 4 years ago now, back then I heard it being referred to as Nai Cha or milk tea. Originally, I was a bit repulsed by the idea of having milk in Chinese tea, and I'm not a big fan of milk anyways (I'm a little bit diary intolerant in the sense that I stay away from milk, cheese, butter etc) so I left the idea of trying it out.

When university started, I saw an amazing picture posted on my friend's Facebook, showing bubble tea in Bubbleology. All those different colours and the way the picture was taken took my interest. At the same time, I also found out about fruit tea, which included my favourite flavour: Lychee. I absolutely love lychees and anything lychee flavoured, so this was a big bonus for me.

Bubbleology Lychee Fruit Tea

Finally, in my second year, which was in 2012, I decided to try bubble tea from Bubbleology. If this many of my friends are recommending it, it must be good right? So, I stepped in and ordered a Lychee Green Tea with tapioca pearls (back then, I didn't know about popping bobas). First taste was just heaven, I didn't know tea could taste THIS good! At that stage, I knew this was going to be an instant favourite. Afterwards, we actually went there a lot (probably too much, as I can now identify new Bubbleology employees from old ones...), and at first I was a bit cautious, sticking to my lychee flavour, but soon decided to expand a little. I tried Taro, which was alright but confirmed that I'm not a milk tea person and definitely more fruit tea, but it was actually an alright flavour. I also had Apple and Peach which were really nice, but not a big fan of pomegranate.

In my second year, we also had weekly visits from a bubble tea company from Brighton, called Pearls. The guy who served us was actually from Taiwan (I think?) and offered us great tasting bubble tea at a cheaper price than Bubbleology. Their staff was so friendly and this was where I discovered popping bobas (or popping pearls). So, for those of you who are not a big fan of tapioca pearls, I suggest you try popping bobas instead. Basically, they have a fruit based juice inside a soft jelly like membrane, and literally pop in your mouth. So whilst you're enjoying your tea, you also get bursts of fruity flavour every once in a while. Also, it's just fun to pop them in your mouth! I've tried the lychee and orange ones which taste quite similar, mango however has more kick in it. You can also add in fruit flavoured jelly into your tea, but I normally just go for tapioca and popping bobas.

At £3-4, a similar cost to coffee and tea, you receive a decent sized portion with great fruity flavours. It's especially tasty in the summer because it cools you down as well and can serve as a drink or a snack. Not sure if you will like bubble tea? Give it a go, and you might surprise yourself, just like I did 2 years ago!

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

Marbs - Where Night Owls Rejoice

As I looked out of the plane window, I saw beautiful city lights shining below. It was only another 20 minutes or so until we land in Malaga. As this was my first trip to Spain, I was both excited and also a little nervous about stepping foot into Europe (this is only the second time I have entered EU, the first time was Amsterdam with my school for an art trip!).

We stayed at a hotel called H10, just a short drive and walk away from the busy Marbella nightlife. It was a pretty decent hotel with a lovely pool outside, and we had a small balcony with tables and chairs which is nice for relaxing in the afternoon. I actually lost my phone of the first night so unfortunately I wasn't able to take pictures *sad face*.

Every night, we went to at least one club and didn't get back home until at least 5/6AM in the morning. We went to Linekers the most, as this was always open after around 10PM and had very cheap drinks. The people serving drinks also looked like they just stepped out of magazines! On top of this, there were a lot of hen nights there, where we were able to experience the weird and wonderful sides of hen dress ups. On the first night we went to Kube, which was just around the corner from Linekers, which was very pretty inside. The music was good and drinks were fairly priced. The next day we went to Aqwa Mist (just under La Sala restaurant), which I enjoyed the most and is definitely the club I would visit again next time (See my Blog Post!). Lastly, there was Tibu, which was paid entry and drinks were definitely on the more expensive side. It was nice inside, but the music was too dubstep for my taste.

My friend and I in Linekers

On top of the exciting nightlife, Marbella also offered many daytime treats. Our first morning was spent hunting for food, which happened to be just next to H10 hotel, and we had a nice English breakfast there. Beware, the bacon does taste different over there though! Afterwards, we spent a nice afternoon on a beach near our hotel. It was lovely lying there, enjoying the sun, although there are a few people who change on the beach without a towel! We also ate at La Sala, which was alright, they had a good selection of different foods for everyone. My friend and I actually spent most of our time in McDonalds, since they had the chicken McNuggets which UK McDonalds stopped serving.

My Suitcase:

4 Party dresses

2 Cami tops

2 T shirts

1 Gillet with hood

1 Small over the shoulder purse

3 Pairs of shorts

1 Cardigan

2 Pairs of heels (nude and black)

1 Pair of flip fops

1 Bikini

1 Pack of heatless curlers
400 Euros

Party lovers and night owls, Marbs is the place to go. Whether it's a hen party, graduation or just a trip with friends, this part of Spain offers affordable prices complimented with a lovely beachy feel.

Rating 8/10

Tiny

Aqwa Mist - Best Club in Marbs

Just beneath the restaurant La Sala stands Aqwa Mist. During the day time, you may not think much of it, in fact you might not notice it at all if not for the club like photos promoting it. However, at night, the outside wall of this club turns into a beautiful cascading waterfall.

We actually went on a Friday evening, relatively early, so not many people were there already. The lounge was elegant, with huge champagne bottles on the white stone like tables (empty, but still a nice decorative feature). There were leather seats and sofas which people can sit on if they needed a rest from dancing and clubbing. Another set of doors lead into the nightclub area, where a DJ podium was set up in the center as well as a bar.

Enjoying a night in Aqwa Mist

The drinks there were at an alright price, depending on how much you expect to spend. A vodka and gin would probably set you back about 11 euros, but then again the entry was free. They also had these massive buckets champagne and sparklers, which looked amazing! What I liked most about Aqwa was definitely the music, which ranges from top hits today to hip hop, a genre of music that other clubs in Marbella rarely delved into. Who can withstand dancing to hip hop, especially with a great DJ! Another thing to mention is the woman giving out candy in the toilets, she was so helpful. She'd offer kitchen towels to people washing hands, and actually got her hands a bit dirty cleaning up some drunken ladies.

Downsides included the "mop lady", a cleaner who constantly cleaned, and I remember her mop actually hitting my feet more than a few times. I understand that keeping the floor clean reduces accidents, but deliberately hitting people with the mop is totally unnecessary. You will also be followed by random strangers who will try and talk to you whenever possible, but I guess that happens in any club you go to.

We actually stayed there until about 7AM, when the club was nearly closed, so party animals should definitely enjoy an evening here. It also stays open much longer than other clubs in Marbella, which usually close around 5/6AM. The music, I would say, definitely blows all other competitors out of the water, but then again, I do love my Hip Hop and R&B!

Rating: 8/10

Tiny

The Electric Elephant Cafe - The Hidden Treasure

Last week, I had the pleasure of being recommended to eat lunch at The Electric Elephant Cafe. If it wasn't for my friend pointing it out, I would have almost missed it and walked straight on towards the church at the end of the road.

After stepping inside, The Electric Elephant Cafe gave an American Diner feel, which a touch of Britishness. On the wall, there was a blackboard with the drinks menu and an elephant that looked like one from the Dumbo scene. As we walked over to the food display, the waitress announced their lunch menu: beef and potato pasty! I am a pasty lover, so this was definitely looking up already.

We decided to sit outside, where we faced a building with red doors that looked like it was converted from an old stable. Apparently, this was also where Charlie Chaplin lived for a short period. The narrow cobbled stone path between the Cafe and this building gave the whole outside environment a very authentic feel, it actually looked a bit like a movie set from Oliver.

Finally our food arrived, my pasty had a full salad with it as well. The pasty was amazing, the flavouring was perfect and the pastry was fluffy and light. Even though I am not a fan of beetroot, which came with the full salad, the rest of the salad (tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and pepper) perfectly complimented the pasty. It also came with a yellow sauce, which I'm guessing is mustard? Not sure about that though...

The Electric Elephant Cafe is a hidden treasure among the various lunch choices around Elephant & Castle. If you're looking a beautiful quiet cafe where you can enjoy a filling and delicious lunch, The Electric Elephant Cafe should definitely be on your list!

www.electricelephantcafe.co.uk

186a Crampton Street
London, SE17 3AE

Rating: 8/10

Tiny

Puzzle and Dragon

I was introduced to this game by my boyfriend, who was completely and utterly obsessed with it. I wanted to know what the hype was all about, so I downloaded it too (Japanese version) and boy did I get addicted to it too.

Puzzle & Dragon Main Page

It is essentially a puzzle game, where you have to create combos with similar elements. In order to progress, you have to complete a series of stages and levels, and you can recruit friends to fight alongside you too. Everytime you complete a stage, you receive a magic stone which allows you to use the Rare Egg Machine where you can get rare powerful characters to use. You can also collect "Pal Points" when you either recruit a friend or they recruit you which allows you to use the Pal Egg Machine where you can get materials to power up your characters.

Gameplay Visuals

The main attraction of this game is that Puzzle & Dragon frequently partner up with major Japanese brands. In the past they have had collaborations with Dragon Ball, Hello Kitty, and various anime series. There are also talks of a new Sailor Moon collaboration which I'm looking forward to. Every once in a while, you will also have God Fests, where the ratio to receive Gods is increased greatly.

I really enjoy this game, and it's been a number 1 app in iTunes Japan and UK for a few months now. If you enjoy games like Candy Crush, but with an anime twist on it, you should definitely check out Puzzle & Dragons. I'm currently playing the Japanese version, however there are also different versions for different countries e.g. EU, UK & USA. Currently, in the UK version, there is a Batman collaboration, which I'm sure all you DC Comics fans will enjoy.

My Box:

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

Drinks at El Camion - Soho, London

I've walked past El Camion many times whenever I've been to Soho, but never had a chance to go in until recently. We actually went to the Pink Chihuahua Cocktail Bar below the restaurant you see on the main road, which was for members only.

Our table

The whole atmosphere was authentic, and looked like I stepped into the Mexican bar I went to in the Bronx back in 2012. They had great music and our table was just amazing. I started off safely with a vodka cranberry, but was persuaded by my friends to try the Daiquiri Deluxe which is made with rum, pineapple, lime and orgeat. Normally I'm not a rum person but this was really good. It tasted a bit like pineapple slushie with an alcoholic kick to it. We also had Tequila shots, which my friend's friend insisted upon. Tequilas at El Camion are not served with salt and lime, instead they serve tequila with homemade sangrita, which literally burned your mouth!

Beautiful wall deco

Just be careful not to drink too much! I live outside London and getting home after those drinks (I'm a lightweight and I get Asian flush >.<!) was a bit of a nightmare. Despite this, it was a great night and I had the chance to catch up with my uni friends in this beautiful authentic bar.

Rating: 10/10

Tiny

Hyper Japan 2014

Hyper Japan 2014

On Saturday 26th July 2014, I escaped the UK and stepped into Japanese culture galore. With human-sized Pikachus, huge blow-up anime characters and a huge selection of Japanese food stands, it's hard not to be amazed as soon as you step into Earl's Court exhibition centre. This year was definitely a step up from last year!

Pikachu!

Fans of Japanese culture, gaming, anime & manga, and cosplay should definitely consider visiting Hyper Japan at least once in their lifetime. Although cosplayers diminished in numbers compared to Comic Con earlier this year, there were still people who put a lot of effort into their transformation into their favourite character. Gaming showcases included the new Monster Hunter for 3DS and a new One Piece games. Meanwhile, trailers for the much anticipated Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire which were playing in the background, making you more excited for its release. Siro-A also had a showcase there, although we were not able to see them perform.

Cute little pig from Monster Hunter Franchise

In terms of shopping for items and clothing, Hyper Japan offers a huge range for everyone. From kawaii stores to katana stores, the choices are endless. There is also an option for you to cosplay (full costumes provided) or allow someone to make up your face into your favourite Japanese make up style. Of course, cute plushies and cuddly toys were endless as you walked through the various stands.

Selection of Cuddlies

Overall, I had a great afternoon and I very much look forward to Hyper Japan next year, especially if the standard is this high. I would highly recommend anyone with an interest in Japanese culture to join in next year. At only £12 a person, it's a bargain!

One extra bonus at Earls Court station included quotes from Code Geass and NaNa which I was pleasantly surprised at.

Rating: 9/10

Thanks for reading and let me know what you think about Hyper Japan!

Tiny

Clay Pigeon Shooting in London

Now, I am definitely someone who is known for their abysmal hand eye coordination skills. To put this into prospective, even sitting at less than a meter away from the TV, with a pinpoint guide to help me, I still manage to shoot everything apart from the target in COD. Yup, I'm bad at aiming, so you can guess how nervous I was to hold an actual live gun.

It took us about 40 minutes to get from my work place to Ruislip, which is in North West London. The shooting grounds looked beautiful, just like the British countryside. I didn't even know places like this existed in London!

So, we made our way to the target practice sites, and it was finally my turn. The instructor actually loaded the gun for me and gave me a shoulder pad as well (this is because otherwise the gun would have recoiled on my bare skin as I was wearing a cami top) to soften the recoil. I held the gun up, missed the first 5 times, then hit the clay disc flying towards me! Adrenaline-rushed, I shot down another 3 before missing again. I blame this on my glasses frames as they blocked my vision, plus everything above the frame was blurry. Instead, I had to try and arrange my frames to be higher on the right side and lower on the left just to see anything.

There was a huge variety of the directions the clay pigeon could be shot as you so you had to try and adjust to that as well. The easiest (for me anyway) were definitely the ones that come towards you slowly and across your vision field. You also get "rabbits" which roll across the floor, and ones that fly over your head so you have to lean back and shoot up.

All-in-all, despite being a bit nervous at the beginning, it actually turned out to be really fun! I thoroughly enjoyed it and the instructors were really helpful and patient. You do get a VERY painful shoulder afterwards, even if you had the shoulder pad on, which made everything a lot harder to do. But the feeling of shooting down a clay pigeon counters all of the pain :)

We went to West London Shooting School: http://www.shootingschool.co.uk/

The shooting grounds were lovely, the instructors were so helpful and the food was amazing. Great choice if you're thinking about spending either a whole morning or afternoon shooting. They also have a school in Oxford, which I wish I knew about earlier.

Helpful tips for Beginners:

1. Wear trainers, comfy ones, they will be your best friend on the day
2. Try to wear a T-Shirt or a fabric between your skin and the gun, so the recoil is softened
3. Probably consider wearing contacts if you wear glasses like me, you can see better that way
4. You can wear your own sunglasses instead of wearing the clear glasses provided
5. Listen to the instructors, as they know best and will help you develop your shooting skills

Lastly, don't worry! Even if you only manage to shoot one down, the whole experience is still fun, and I would definitely recommend you try it out if you haven't been before!

Rating: 10/10

Tiny