A Zen State of Mind

Just returned from a week in the Northern Capital about 3 days ago, and it's been a crazy but very fruitful 3 days. The Northern Capital is AMAZING, and I had such a good time combining work and play. The Great Wall is humbling, and the hutong and Nanluoguxiang is so much fun. Standing on top of the Great Wall and seeing the wall line the top of mountain ridges as far as the eye can see was overwhelming and nothing short of mindblowing. The local arts scene is also very active. So much culture, heritage and social evolution to draw inspiration from!

Also checked out quite a number of restaurants and hotels, and ate alot of yummy food, took alot of interior and architectural pictures - so much fun!

Headed straight to work when I got back, and had a hard time trying to stay awakw at work. Flight back from PEK was delayed by 3 hours due to the storm and the long queue of planes waiting to take off, which meant sitting in the plane and waiting for 3 whole hours - PAINFUL! So instead of arriving at 1015pm, we got back at 2 plus am.

Yesterday, Niks Biks, Kokopops and I helped Nawoo out at his business launch (Weddings by N at www.nathanwu.com), which was quite successful. Nawoo displayed some of his shots from past weddings held in Singapore and the US, and invited past and prospective clients to the launch. The art space at Old School was nicely decorated and themed, thanks to Niks Biks; and we had some GLORIOUS, DELICIOUS, MELT IN YOUR MOUTH macarons, tarts and cupcakes from Soo Ting (Check out Artisan Sweets at Henry Park Apartment, guys!!! www.etasweets.com). Everyone was all praise for the sweets, and couldn't stop at a few pieces. I wish the both of them every success in their business! 's wonderful to have enough passion and courage to take the step and start one's own business! I could only support with salmon sandwiches, cucumber cups with thai beef salad and asparagus wrapped in prosciutto!

Today's been a full day of band practise as the girls prepare for a wedding performance next weekend. 5 solid hours of sax, guitar, base, keyboard, cajon and singing. By the end of it, we were all drained and trying hard to repel songs from our heads. This is one of our biggest gigs yet, with a 2-hour gig at a private wedding party. I hope we do a fantastic job!

No big plans for the week ahead, which is nice. Prior to the Northern Capital, I was feeling quite thinly spread over friends, family, gigs, work and bi-monthly existential crisises. Going away and being in a new place has brought me a refreshed zen state of mind, which i really appreciate and hope to be able to maintain for a period of time.

Also need to learn to take a step back, and not be constantly in charge - it's a strength and a weakness!

Yummy Food makes me very happy

Mmmmm..... just had a lovely dinner of Nasi Padang at Zion Road... it was sooooo good. For my tummy, for my soul, for my heart. Good food speaks to me, and it's one of the best reasons for living. After my weekly class of yoga (went back to power yoga today, after weeks of just hatha and boy, my body is aching now), met with Kokopops, Bhubs, Nawoo and Niks Biks for a hearty dinner of beef rendang, kari ayam, ayam kunyit, ayam merah, sotong sambal, otak-otak, sayur lodeh and sambal belacan. All for only 42 bucks! It's also good for my pocket!

The week has started on a good note, after a very eventful weekend of checking out a friend's new patisserie, scrabble, a farewell party, a birthday party, a band audition and band practise. Also managed to get some rest, which is always great. Had a good (but could be better) session with Monk and Dan on Monday. I have so much more to practise on Monk to make it sound better!!! Very motivated right now, so think i'm gonna reserve tomorrow evening for Monk practise.

Got assigned my new project! Yay!!! Which finally brings me to the Northern Capital for a week. I am very excited about this one, have been waiting to visit this historic city in a long time. But not blogspot, facebook and youtube for a week though! Gonna be checking out some really cool hotels this time, which i'm really looking forward to as well. I love visiting hotels, particularly design focused ones and those with a story or heritage.

I need to catch up on my reading! Have a pile of Economist, Time, Asian Geographic and The Unbearable Lightness of Being to finish!

Morning Thoughts

I woke up this morning feeling a little grouchy. Had a coffee and a japanese honey sponge cake, a shower, dressed up, and i looked into the mirror thinking, "why am i grouchy this morning? Why is my hair at this awkward length? Should i tie it up and look dumb, or should i let it down and look messy." Well, at least tying it up looks a tad bit neater, and allows the breeze access to my neck (which has a rash by the way).

Then i looked at my wardrobe, and thought, shit, i have nothing to wear.... again.

Then i put on my make up, and thought, why is my skin so dry and coarse these few days.

Now i have to get myself out of the house and into the bus and to work.

Hopefully the rest of the day picks up better.

Peace and Quiet in the Highlands

dum dee dum dee dum dee dum...

It's already Tuesday, and time is actually passing pretty fast. zippedeedooda.... Last weekend, Kokopops and I ran away from everybody and almost everything and escaped to the highlands of Cameron in search of the remains of Jim Thompson, but we got totally distracted by the beauty of the tea plantations, the lovely cool weather and our gorgeous hotel, that we completely forgot about JT (May he rest in peace). The drive to the highlands took about 7 hours, in the WhaleShark's first long trip. We pushed him pretty hard, driving consistently at about 120 km/hr. The route up to the highlands from Tapah was pretty strenuous for car and driver, so imagine our elation upon arrival at The Lakehouse!

Such a lovely black and white house, with a meticulously maintained garden! We were greeted with a funky welcome drink - ginger essence with tonic water and lime (or something) before we were pleasantly upgraded to the suite (the only room in the house with a real fireplace - yaoza!).

Dinner was in the restaurant, Kokopops had the lamb while i had the norwegian salmon; after which we adjourned to the living room to watch tennis with the other guests. It was a slow, relaxing and quiet evening - something i had been desperately craving. The following day, we put on our hiking shoes and spent the day out visiting the lush tea plantations (Malaysia Boleh!), tasting fresh juicy strawberries, trekking through the jungle and past vegetable farms; before a refreshing shower and hot steamboat dinner in Tanah Rata.

On Sunday, we left the highlands after a late breakfast and postcards writing, and decided to check out a nearby waterfall - Lata Kinjang, and boy were we glad we went!! The waterfall is GINORMOUSLY HUMONGOUS, we could see it even when we were driving towards it in the distance. And when we stood there, in front of the waterfall, we were awed by its size and its power, and glad to see people sitting around having picnics and enjoying the afternoon sun.

You just gotta love nature!

Can't wait for another weekend to take WhaleShark out for another long drive somewhere exciting.

I miss living in a foreign country. Although new plus slope is not really home either, but I've spent so much time here that it doesn't feel foreign. Somehow, there is a stronger sense of being when i live in a foreign city, be in Grenoble or Bangkok. Come to think of it, this is the longest I've lived in one city in the last... 6 years.

Nawoo's website launch event is in its planning stages, and the venue and date is confirmed! Definitely looking forward to that one. The guestlist is getting longer by the day, which is very very exciting.

Monk gets special treatment tomorrow, as it indulges in the undivided attention of Madame Etoile. Sparks will fly!