Cooking for Two.

I've come down to a conclusion that cooking, no matter how tired I am, can be rather peaceful and soothing to the mind. (Only wished the kitchen is a little bit bigger so I don't get real estate constrain and freak out when the vegetables and meat are getting contaminated due to close proximity.) I've just started on a detox program that will continue for the next 5 weeks where I'm slowly eliminating wheat and dairy products and introducing foods that are foreign to my palate. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner plus 2 mini snacks per day. It isn't a lot of work, just have to be more mindful of what I have in the pantry, and make sure everything is accounted for before I start.

So far, the new things I've made/tried are tofu nut butter (tofu, miso, almond butter blended together to become a paste-like hummus concoction), a walnut-infused pesto, and broccoli rabe. Each meal is like a journey of discovery and I'm most of the time proud of what I am capable of, because before I thought I cannot follow recipe/rules and screw up the taste. I'm quite laissez faire when it comes to cooking.....hmmm..on second thoughts, I'm free and easy to everything. :)

Though it took up 1/2 of my weekend last week to get all the ingredients for this week, it is worth it. My ability to cook has improved since 5 years ago in that unfortunate event with instant noodles at U of Iowa dormitory - Mayflower, where I had no idea how much water to put in the pot. If I can cook this much better today, why should I pay someone else for something that I can humbly prepare? If I have to pay for my meals, it must be something I admire and made of the freshest ingredients and come from the most talented minds.

I look forward to out of town friends visiting or the occasional dining out where indulging in 4 star Mexican cuisine, French Bistro, or mouth-watering Greek food makes me feel extremely bless for being born. As long as it is made well, I'll pay for it, even if it means going broke. Because when it comes to things that I put into my body, it must be nothing else but the best.

Oh, and being on this island where Grandpa's son, Alex, told me last weekend....."It will take one 4 years eating out every night at a new restaurant to try everything in NYC." I think I might be at the right place. I just need to have more dough.

Aloe Vera treatment.

I've always been a big aloe vera fan. Love drinking it and know it is an essential ingredient in few of my beauty products like lotion and bath gel. It wasn't till I started hanging out at Jeff's apartment and saw his roommate's aloe vera plant that I realized this elixir to great skin can be grown so close to one's comfort zone. I saw Vikki apply a piece of aloe vera on her face while I was cooking bitter gourd with shrimp in the kitchen and I thought that was an awesome homemade facial. Could save me tons of $$ on chemically induced skin care and facial treatment (which I get probably once a year when I go back home.)

So on Monday, after getting my DVD rentals from the library, I passed by a grocery store that we selling leaves of Aloe at $2.49/pd. I paid about $2.20 for this piece and tried it on last night. I thought it might taste good, like the drinks I usually indulge in, but NO!! Raw aloe vera is tasteless, and the sap is so...."blocking all your senses sensation" that I had to spit it out after 5 seconds. yuck!

But the texture rubbed on my face was absolutely FABULOUS!! It left my skin supple and soft. I got to go to a nursery this weekend and start cultivating my own pot.

Dinner tonight.

Tonight's dinner was a simple affair. I made my favorite boy choy with shrimp and garlic plus a little bit of the more expensive oyster sauce that we got at the Hong Kong Supermarket in Chinatown. I'm not usually a big fan of oyster sauce, but my sister insisted on purchasing the more expensive one, and realized that the grade does make a difference to the whole outcome. This time, I made sure that I sauteed the garlic till it was brownish before adding the shrimp. I thought by letting it turn golden, it will bring out the flavor of the garlic and immerse more with my other ingredients. I wonder if this is a correct formula.

So I cook and she does the dishes. Great partnership, great company. Teamwork rules.

Ice cream craving satisfied, or not?

Passed by this ice cream parlor couple of times and my brother's friend Xiao Tong told me they have really good ice cream.
So we planned for dessert there after our curry chicken meal to treat ourselves.

I read reviews on yelp and the general public suggested honey melon or lychee. I didn't get the hype as I usually do when I enter a ice cream store where I'll start asking for different samples. I didn't feel that way last night, so I ordered honey melon on a sugar cone. My sister got lychee.

It was creamy and extremely flavorful. But I thought it was a little bit too sweet. NOT too sweet, but not to my liking sweetness.
Nothing beats Bi-rite in SF or Bombay Ice Creamery on Valencia and 17th Street.

Curry Chicken

After experiencing culinary constrains in Burning Man, I figured that if sumptuous meals can be prepared in that conditions - with dust and strong wind, I'm pretty sure decent dishes can be whip in the comfort zone of my tiny apartment in Manhattan.

So my sister and I decided to make curry chicken for dinner tonight. I begin cooking at 5:41pm while she sat by the window with her laptop trying to crack Maya.

In a Singapore style curry chicken dish, it is very important to have potatoes. I choose 4 red potatoes and thought that I could get away without peeling the skin, but YT said "We peel it back home, ask Meng if you don't believe!" so.... De-skin, chop to 1/2 than 1/4, then fry them to golden brown.


Next, I chopped up the chicken and some garlic. Following the instructions to the packet of spices that Mom packed for us was very easy. So after everything and including a can of coconut milk, WALA~ Curry chicken! :)

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Wanted to paint the dried flowers after class on Friday. But was too exhausted. Did it this morning. I slept for 12 hours last night. And this is only the 1st week of school.

Never painted dried orchids before. I think it has its own beauty too. Final touch up in Noon light.

Chinese Idiom: A journey of a thousand miles began with a single step.

Capoeira

Nothing is FreE?

using visual elements to blog is a great way for me to keep up with my drawing + observation + language + discipline + expressing skills.

Things to remind myself as I live my days....

I've admit I haven't been a good blogger. Only write an entry whenever I feel like it. But hey, there are no rules to blogging, so forgive me to those who were patient to wait for my entries and do take the time to read it. And thank you for your concern to check by once a while. :)

I just started my Fall semester. It is my last 2 semesters as an undergraduate. I need to treasure my time in school while I can before I face the question of, WHAT NOW?

Just a few things that I realized I have to focus in life:

1) Be careful with my expenditure and always know where my money is and where they are going. 2 trips to DBS in Singapore and reading a book on investing made me more aware of the importance of $$$$$$.

2) Read editorials - newspapers, magazines, online blogs on a regular basis in order to be well informed. Sometimes, it is a bless to be living as an ignorant, but other times.....NOT!

3) Hand write letters if possible and develop the habit of pinning down thoughts....it will help me grow as an articulate and confident writer.

4) Never procrastinate. Plan things ahead of time. Procrastinating waste energy and time. and I have limited resources on both of them...

5) Be present. I live once and it will be well-lived if I lived it in the moment. It helps me to be appreciative of the things and people around me.

6) Always view consequences ahead of actions. A great example would be me wiping out my sister's hard-drive when she told me specifically not to click on "that button". both her and I had to go through emotional turmoil. Finally, we spent a bomb, technically, I am going to spend the bomb ($$$$$$$) and managed to retrieve 100%. I want to thank Kiran and Dean for their input in getting information on places and software that could help. Therefore, before i do anything..."press that button" i need to reconsider the consequences.

7) Eat healthly and exercise 3-4 times, 1-1/2 hours each per week.

8) Be humble and talk less. Listen more. I'll gain more that way.

Penny of your thoughts?

long awaited entry.....

I was prompted by Peter to start blogging again. Blogging requires discipline, just like everything else - managing my accounts/finance, starting projects, educating myself.....touching base with friends...:)

I just finish my final exam - Mythology class. One of the final lectures was talking about conquering one's inner shadow. All of us have bad habits that we disown and hide it deep within us. It takes courage and strength to tap into it and challenge it. I have a pile of such on my dark side. I can't do this journey on my own, i need somebody to be with me, just in case i go too deep into the abyss and can't get out. Who will help?

I was at the chiropractor yesterday and was reading an article on how to handle stress. The number 1 way to cope with stress is to EXERCISE. I've been swimming 1-2 times a week, spinning classes once a week (though i miss this week due to final exam)...and hardly work out at the gym at all. I need to be more strict about getting an hour worth of adrenaline every day.
Number 2, journaling. The physical action of writing down one's emotions and thoughts helps to drain the bad "qi" out of one's body. I thought it made sense, i prefer writing than "talking to somebody". But i'm not about elevating my mood by blogging it here in public. I can be quite private with my own feelings.

Thursday - 11th Oct 2007

After a day's of errand, since it is my off day from school, I treated myself to a conversation/lecture session at the Asian Art Museum. It was held one day before the "Stylized Sculpture" exhibtion is due to open. We had Hiroshi Sugimoto, Akiko Fukai, and the Associate director for Japanese Art, who acted as the main speaker. Sugimoto is a well-known artist who specializes in photography. Fukai is the chief curator of Kyoto Costume Institute. They discussed about the emerging avant-guade designers in Japan during the early 1980s. Mainly Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. They went on to interprete how Japanese cultures inspired the grown of such designs which initially were perceived by the international fashion community as radical, questionable beauty. It gradually became the "new aesthetic" of European Fashion. It was interesting to hear how Sugimoto, part of the curator for this exhibition, his concept behind the display of the mannequins. There will not be any panels to explain each garment, he wants the people to have their own response and feel the artworks by themselves. He followed the Sanjusangendo temple in Kyoto, where there are 2 entrances and 1001 Budhha displayed in a row. Similarly, the exhibition is minimal, with black walls, black platforms with subtle lighting. I can't wait to visit the museum again.

After the lecture, I watched a movie at home. A classic cult movie, Harold and Maude. The movie had a weird plot at the beginning and it didn't make much sense about the characters. But slowly, i realised that cult movies's themes are non-mainstream. In the end, I appreciate the randomness and the humor. By the way, thanks Olga for the recommendation. :P

Friday - 12th Oct 2007

I bought a pair of rollerblades for $20! Cheap brand, just in case my interest fade after 3 weeks. haha I just did 45 minutes of blading around the neighbourhood. Almost gave up after 1 round, but i continued. It was fun! and un expectantly tiring. :P
I want to work out my thighs and add more variety into my "an hour a day exercise" routine.

Saturday - 13th Oct 2007

The kitchen is so dirty, basin full of gross dishes and cups. The table is full of take-out boxes, the living room is full of empty drinks bottles and more cups and dishes. The room is full if dirty clothes, clean and dirty all jumbled together.........:(

i'M in SF

I haven't blog anything for quite some time. Some people might know, I went back to Singapore for the last 2 weeks before school starts. It was mummy's birthday and I want to be home with her and everybody else. I had some FIRST experiences. I made tiramisu (by myself) for the first time, and it tasted goood. hehe Kiran complimented that I should sell it for $5 at some coffee club. Also I went to ZOUK for the 1st time! I am not a big clubbing girl, but i wanted to check out the night life scene in Singapore, and promised Zhen that I'll definitely go with her at least once, and since i've been very flaky with her, i had to go. I also met up with a childhood sweetheart that I haven't met for 11 years!! It was quite awakard but eventually, i managed to pull my guts together and said things. :P anyways, Peter said whenever i meet someone for the 1st time, i'm always quiet. is it true?

i went to watch an indie movie, My Best Friend (french movie) this evening. It takes a lifetime to understand what true friendship is, and the main character, Francis had to realise it within 10 days. Linda told me the day before that we have alot of friends, and they are called good friends. But those who see us through a long period of time, through thick and thin, are true friends. Cheers to all my true friends out there! :)

Bye bye New York...

It is 5 minutes to 6am on 27^th August. I’m in the airport terminal waiting very patiently for my flight home, back to Singapore. I haven’t slept at all. Been on the go non-stop since Sunday morning (26^th August).

I met up with Carol for brunch all the way on the upper west side, near Columbia University. I had an important errand to run, an errand that I have to complete with her in order to leave New York. But, I took the wrong train on the way there, thus, was in a rush couple of blocks, climb through steep stairs of a park to get to where she was waiting. Very unfortunately start of the day, but fortunately, the Tuscan Omelette, thick cheese, spinach, topped with prochuittos made the tedious walk worth while. It wasn’t such a bad work, but I hurt my right knee after jogging on Friday morning.

I heard a lot about Kee’s Chocolate in Soho district. The owner is a Chinese lady, who used to be in the corporate world. She quit her job and started her own cacao store. My housemates said the shop is unique in their flavors, including Thai Chilli and Black Sesame chocolates. I went there after brunch to buy some for my folks at home. Also got a smaller bunch for Kei, this Japanese guy I met through the internship. He has been very very kind to me since I arrived and sharing the sweetness of chocolate with him is the least I can do. Hope he enjoys it. I haven’t even indulge in it yet.

Rushed home to continue my ever-procrastinating job of packing my baggage. Had only 1 ½ hours to pack before I head over to Queens for a feast at Kei’s apartment. He made fabulous homemade vegetable tempura, cold soba, edamame, squid with wasabi, cheese dipped with avocados, and sake. It is simple Japanese food, filling, yet not STUFFED like Italian food. As usual, Kei, you are such a good cook. What I really love about his apartment is that his kitchen window leads to the roof top. Camera around my neck, I sneaked up there to capture the stunning sunset of Manhattan skyline. It always make me so happy when I’m immerse in a breathtaking environment. I can’t bare to leave this city.

After dinner, Kei played a Japanese movie : Ping Pong. A comedy/drama about high school Japanese boys obsessed with Ping Pong. It goes into friendship, rivalry and seeking one’s natural talent. One really has to believe in themselves to bring out their true self. Left his place at 11:25pm, got home around 12:10pm. Then begun my last phrase of packing…..

I am very stubborn. Peter went to the airport (LGA) via super shuttle, which cost him $16. He suggested me to do the same. I’ve made up my mind long ago that if I fly JFK, I’ll take the ultra convenient subway which will cost me $5 compared to $21 (shuttle) or $60-$75 (Taxi). Such difference! Peter was afraid that I might not have the strength to carry my luggage and what if I hurt myself, the cost will be much more. I thought he might be right. (well, he’s almost always right all the time, which I have to admit) The more I thought about it, the more I KANJIONG à singlish, English term = panic. Then I rang Super shuttle to make a reservation….THEY ARE FULL! HAVE TO CALL 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE! Phuc told me that New York Subway is 24 hours. But…..really meh? Then I went to search for the schedule online. It was already 2am…and I just finished packing. I can’t care less, I don’t want to spend so much on taxi fare, and since there is no more shuttle option, I’ll brave the “weight” and go for the efficient and reliable New York Subway.

The reason why I want to take the subway is because I felt that I’ve spent too much money in this city. Since I like to visit places, I should start learning to travel on a low budget.

Fortunately, at 3am in the morning, there were still people roaming the streets in my area. As I approach the subway entrance, a 20 over flight stairs under ground, a gentleman was walking in front of me. He saw I was dragging such a heavy luggage and offered to help me carry it down. He even offered me the exact route to get to JFK, as on weekends, some trains down run in certain direction. I got to the airport within 45 mins. Too early. I had to wait 4 hours for my flight. However, it was a smooth check-in process as there was already a long line by the time I arrived.

I want to thank the man who helped me. He just knocked off work as a bartender that was why he was still on the streets at 3am in the morning. I felt that it was planned that somebody will eventually help me along the way. That was why I trusted my gut feeling that I should take the subway.

P.S. I should have published this blog long ago. However, I couldn't find the international adapter for my laptop charger. hehe had to wait for mummy to come back and find it for me. haha

New England

BOSTON! Yes! We arrived in Boston this afternoon around 2pm. It was a 4 hours long ride from New York City Chinatown. I did a last minute, yet extensive research on the internet last night so that I will be more oriented when I arrive. The time spent proved to be successful, I had an easy time navigating around, considering I don't have a map of Boston. Just a T subway map. A smooth start.

1st stop was the USS Constitution. It is the oldest commissioned ship by the US Navy. It started construction in 1797 in a shipyard in Boston. This frigate (2nd in line to the battle ship) is one of the 1st six ships of the new US navy. This ship is most famous for its victory battle against Great Britain in June 18, 1812. More than 200 years old, this ship still sail down to Boston Harbor 8-10 times a year. Peter and I were just in time for their last tour by US Navy sailors. It was a good historical lesson
experience.

Thereafter, we checked into our hotel in central Boston, the Radisson, got the room via priceline, it cost us US$100 per night. A very good deal, considering it is Boston City and during this time of the year, many visitors are in town for their children's orientation. Boston is literally a tertiary education city. Renown colleges includes Harvard, MIT and Boston Uni. There are also many smaller colleges surrounding it.

After chilling and leaving our "stone-heavy" backpacks, we headed out to Faneuil Hall, getting off at the Government Center Station. I got information from my elder brother that Union Osyter House is not to be missed if you are craving for Oysters and Lobsters. We were truly famish by the time we reach there as we missed our lunch. We put our names down on the 30-45 minutes waiting list. During the wait, we bought clam chowder at their mini bar. I put 2 packets of crackers into the chowder and gobbled down the creamy liquid. It felt heavenly! :P

The bivalves were great. However, it made it not very much enjoyable because Peter and I ended up arguing over dinner. It is so hard when we are on hiatus and trying to un-tie the tight knot. Kate told me it is hard at the beginning to try to solve relationship problems. It felt like we are so clinging onto each other and don't want to have a clean cut. I have no idea where this is leading us to.

So he ended up heading back to the hotel while I cool it off at Harvard Sq. I didn't want to go back to the hotel so early because time is limited and I am just someone who cannot sit still. I called up my friend Kunaal and we went to Finale, a well-known desert place in MA.

We had molten chocolate. Their classic. It was a thin moist chocolate cake with thick gooey chocolate inside. It came with coffee ice cream and toasted almonds. Along with a glass of desert wine, it was amazingly satisfying. Thanks Kunaal!

I really enjoyed Boston. Not as busy as New York City, in fact, it felt smaller than San Francisco. The whole academic environment made me want to improve myself and learn. If only I'm more academically inclined.

Peter arrived yesterday at Noon. He just finished his finals and was very deprived from sleep. Slept a lot yesterday and today. And he is still sleeping right now. I hope he will get back on track with his body clock, he can't be sleeping when there is a city to be discover! haha


On Saturday, we went to the Chelsea Art Museum to check out an exhibition that ends today. Was recommended by Carol (a friend I met through another friend here). Titled: Human Nature by Federico Uribe. He did a big installation of sculptures depicting safari jungle animals using puma shoes and shoelaces. Quoted from the website, this exhibition "focused on the environment, artificial and natural, longevity and ideas about the human impact on the planet." It is fascinating to see how he transformed simple objects into works of art, giving them a different meaning and function. He sculpted huge scale by dismantling the chosen material (shoes) and used every single part of it to make these animals look so life-like. It made me wonder how much advances in human history is slowly eliminating these animals the chance to live in their natural habitat.

After the musuem, we went to Don Giovanni's Pizza. It was recommended in the guide book. The oven baked, thin crust pizza is quite a good treat if you top it up with some sangria. :)

Cosi Cosi!

Olga, Lilla and me are at Cosi Cafe. It is around 7:07pm and we are here after work exchanging music and photos on our computer.We are sitting in a roll and occupying 3 tables in this small 2nd level cafe. I'm so glad I purchased my newly owned Western Digital 120GB hard disk. It made the process so much easier. :) I will have 4000+ new songs on my ipod and great pics that will leave great memories with me. :)

Eating out is expensive, no matter where you are. I spent so much today on food. Lunch=Panini and Iced Chai ($10.24), Tea Break=Yogurt w fruits ($3.50), Dinner=Sandwich ($8.01) ALMOST $23!!! Either I am really hungry and can't stop eating, or my brain is just too hungry and crave for food all the time. Whatever the reason is, New York has certainly made me put on some weight. I'll do something about it, when I go back to SF, as for now, I'll just enjoy myself to the fullest. :P

I thought of going home. To see my family before Fall semester starts. This means missing the fashion show. :P The show might not be as important compared to seeing my folks, but I've never experienced a fashion week before and have tickets to see the show of one of my favorite designer.
And also, the plane ride ticket is pricey, I'll suffer great jet lag when I start school, so...........I've decided to go back end of the year instead.

Random acts of kindness aren't that rare actually. We just need to observe a little more than usual. I was on my way home after dinner with a friend and entered a subway entrance. It was one of those entrance without the vending machines to buy tickets, just the gates. There was this Asian guy who didn't have a ticket (a ride is US$2). So he took out $2 and asked some guys whether they could offer him a ticket. 2 young dude said they didnt have extra tickets and went through the gate. However, another older Hispanic guy, who just got out of the gate offered to slide his card and let him through. I guess he got an unlimited pass (US$76 for 30 days). He didn't even take advantage of the $2 the dude was holding in his hands. Such simple acts do put a smile on my face. :)

It rained heavily last night. SO HEAVY that it is nice to be in bed sleeping. :) There were lightning and thunder, felt like Singapore. However, not a very good sign in New York. Things get messed up over here whenever it rains. The subway got flooded in some parts of town and most lines stopped working. I managed to barely squeeze into my 1st train which was just 2 stops to my transfer station. When i got to West 4th Street, the number of people waiting for the blue line train was massive! I figured out that something fishy and decided to walk to my work place which was on W. 39th Street instead of waiting in that sauna-like platform. There were many people on the streets waiting for the bus and taxi. I haven't been in that part of town during morning hours, so I didn't suspect anything. But as I approached midtown, there were just unusually too many people on the streets. And I overhead many people on their cellphone complaining about the subway delays. I was fully convinced that it was the aging infrastructure of New York City that couldn't withstand harsh weather. Remember the steam pipe explosion few weeks ago in midtown, it happened due to rainwater seeping through the ground and got in contact with the pipes. Well, all these problem can't be compared to the devastating flooding in India right now.

I'm heading up to Boston next weekend with Peter! I can't wait. It is going to be a relaxing trip and hopefully it will help us rekindle our wounds. :)

I am in YingYing n Chris's room now. The twin-window fan thing isn't cooling me down in this humid heat, even after a COLD COLD COLD shower (Boiler in the building stopped working today.) I don't know when they will fix it, system here isn't as efficient. But I need to shower tomorrow morning before I go into office....how???

yakusouku?

Just like how I was addicted to Bleach, the Japanese Anime, and all the other lame YET entertaining Taiwanese Drama, I am once again hooked onto some long winded love drama by the Koreans. I don't do that often, just once in a rare moon, and since I have some time right now, why not. yeah? :) I'm watching Stairway to Heaven. It is an old drama series. I feel they cheated my time when they drag so long!!!

I finally received my English version of the long-awaited Harry Potter and the Deadly Hollow~ Julie said that it is better to read the Book 5 to refresh memory, but there are so many books I need to read this lifetime, I guess I might just indulge in this juicy book. :P

I learnt how to make Udon Salad from Kei (Japanese Intern). Very simple!
all you need:
1) A packet of Udon
2) Japanese Mayo (with a cute semi-naked boy logo, red cap)
3) Tomatoes
4) Cabbage
5) Cucumber
6) Some-kind of Soba sauce (have to get confirmation with Kei again)

Boil the udon, chop the vegetables to bit sizes for easy chewing.
Place udon in a bowl (bottom layer), cabbage (second layer), tomatoes + cucumber and put as much mayo to add flavour. (remember, extremely high calories for this!) Then pour the soba sauce little by little to make sure your taste bugs get adapted to this Asian salada. Enjoyyy~~

I'm hitting the hay, will continue the marathon tomorrow.

I just finished cooking a massive amount of food that will last me for 10 days!!!! But the delicious peanut broccoli pasta isn't really for me to indulge alone, it is for Kate's farewell party tomorrow! She is one of the intern that works at production department. Gradually, the great friends that I've come to make are leaving for their hometown to continue their studies and life. It is very saddening, because that means my summer holidays are ending soon and I'll be back for Fall semester too. :( I'm going to miss every single one of you gals. and guys too! :)

I went to visit the exhibition, "Luxury", at the Fashion Institute of Technology museum. It is free admission (good for everybody) and opens late (till 8pm). This exhibit is a chronology of fashion from the 18th Century till today. It is a good starting point for anyone interested in learning a brief history lesson on western fashion. Great designers such as Paul Poiret, Coco Chanel, YSL, Dior, Balenciaga master pieces are displayed on mannequins. They also have recent designer works such as Rodarte, Victor and Rolf, John Galliano, etc. What I really like about this exhibit is the "somewhat" big collection of period costume, before Paul Poiret's time. Curves and volume were the main fashion statement. Most pieces were tiny top and huge bottom. There wasn't any reflective glass panels between me and those pieces of history, thus I could observe at a close range the detailing used by lavish individuals during those times. There was massive usage of brocade silk, velvet, lace (lots of lace!!), feathers, embroideries, ribbon, tassels and golds. To come to think of it, modern designers use these materials too. I am not sure if it is constant exposure to the inner operations of the company I'm working for, but recently, everything I see in the market, I could relate it so well to the brand. I hope it will influence the way I design in a positive way. :)
-----------------extra extra : Do you know that Purple is an expensive color to manufacture? Thus those who were able to dress in Purple before the Industrial Revolution are really loaded! :P

I'm planning to visit Niagara Falls when Peter comes to visit. But a few people told me that the view from Canada side is much better than US side. However, Peter holds an Indonesian passport, might need extra visa.....wonder if he willing to go that extra mile. :)

Where should I visit next?

I finally had Taco Shits this evening..........very "shiok" (feels good in Singlish)

multiple multiple

Friday 27th July 2007

It was Julie's 21st birthday dinner. She is also an intern at the same company. An Indo-Singapore girl, a pleasant and sweet character. She did her restaurant research and brought 5 of her friends to a Thai place near Union Square. The interior design is very Anna Sui-like. Purple wallpapers and doors, crystal chandelier and a space like atmosphere. The food is sort of "French cuisine" prepared, paying details to beautifying the plate. The Espresso Duck was my favourite dish. The duck was tender and dripped with rich dark coffee sauce.

We also opened a bottle. The 1st time my friends and I opened a bottle was at an Indian bar in Clarke Quay (Singapore), was a Jack Daniel's. But it is only over here that the people I've encountered open bottles at dinner. Also, many friends I've met here love alcohol very much. So drinking has become a common norm in this period. Reminds me of the days in Tokyo,living a very decadent lifestyle. :)

Head home early, because I had an appointment with myself and the Cooper Hewitt-National Design Museum.

Saturday 28th July 2007

Got up early, did my 30 minutes jog and head out to the museum.

My main goal was to visit the Design Life Now: Emerging Ideas from 21st Century designers in fields including animation, new media, architecture, graphic, interior, fashion, furniture and technology. I would consider this the best museum experience I ever had. The exhibits are modern, innovative and inspiring. Also, I had one of those moments that I'm grateful to be in the art world industry. :) Very creative intriguing learning experience. An exhibition that I'll consider getting the catalog.

Head to Soho to meet Julie for shopping therapy after. Soho is an all-crowd thing everywhere on weekends. I can't do the therapy. But I love seeing the crowd enjoying their weekend and I am part of them, very stress-free.

I brought her to The Market NYC. A school-gym-but-weekend-turn-to-shopping-haven place. It is similar to a flea market, but the booths sellers are independent young designers selling their crafts. Comprises of accessories and clothes. I LOVE IT~ i love supporting younger designers and of course innovation and talent can be felt everywhere. I got a crochet choker that I simply have to have very very much.
I need to learn how to crochet one day. :P

Do you agree that shopping is one of the best exercise? It does burn lots of calories after all the walking and bags carrying. :) Had Soba for dinner at a "Chinese Revolutionary" interior design noodle bar in Greenwich Village. I remembered going to an expensive Sushi bar in San Francisco (my previous boss's treat) and the interior was furnished with a variety of sake bottles, very modern and sleek. Whereas for this noodle bar, they used the same concept, but instead of alcohol bottles, they used soy sauce and chilli sauce bottles. It certainly added a twist.

Wanted to try the famous Magnolia Cupcake, but the line was going around the corner. So, no cupcakes for desert. :P

Sunday 29th July 2007

Through someone's tutorial http://www.metacafe.com/watch/740736/watch_latest_streaming_movies_tv_over_the_internet/
and hungry for some movies, I watched Super Size Me by Morgan Spurlock. A documentary featuring him trying to prove that eating fast food(mainly Macdonald's) is not good for one's health.(duh!) I hardly eat fast food, I know the harmful effects. However, occasionally, if the desperation/urge to settle my tummy, I'll go for a fish or chicken burger. But after the movie, it dawned me that fast food is a NO-NO! Coke/Sugar Drinks are a NO-NO! Fried food absolutely NO! Eating fast food will lead to multiple health problems, the heart, the liver, the fats floating, depression, most importantly lowers the sex drive.

After the movie, I explored the website www.goveg.com A vegan website with many information to become one and the cruel methods of killing animals video. There are also interesting vegetarian receipts if you don't know how to start. I made a vegetarian wrap last night (with salmon though)!! It is amazingly full and not that stuffed. Gosh, I think my culinary skills are getting better compared to the 1st meal I made in Iowa City. (I cooked instant noodles and it wasn't quite edible, and had to discard it :P )

soy nuts!