Chelley Q

I have moved

2011-02-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

Chelley Q has moved to a new home. See you at Mist and Mimosa!

Family...the little girl who could

2011-01-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

My niece, Yaya. She sang before she could crawl, spoke before she could walk and has a memory like an elephant. She's such a joy to travel with; since before she was 4, she pulled her own little suitcase and doesn't 'lose it' on planes. Few months ago, she found a pair of scissors in my sister's room and chopped off her bangs. Hence the jagged edges in this picture taken last Christmas.

Family... thinking of my Mr Kind-Eyes

2011-01-24T06:24:00.000-08:00

My Papa. He is the coolest guy I know. Loves to travel, adores photography and has the most soothing fatherly voice I have ever heard. He has never raised his voice on his five kids, and yet we have the utmost respect for him, like we'd rather die than break his heart.

Our favourite funny fact about him that we love telling people is that 'my dad's a pilot, but he's afraid height!'

Oh and -me and him- we share the same favourite Beatles: George Harrison.

And, I love the story of how (back in letter-writing times) he wrote a 2-pager letter to my mom justifying his choice of naming me Michelle instead of the one my mom chose (I think it was Marilyn).

Did I mention that he was, is and forever will be a HUGE Beatles fan?

Love you, Pa.

The girl who made her own clothes

2011-01-19T04:22:00.000-08:00

Hello, mom. So I guess the Imelda Marcos blouse was in circa the 70s. My mom made almost all her dresses and skirts. I have seen some of them and her workmanship is flawless. I couldn't wear them (especially the mini-dresses) now though even if I wanted to. She had a 23-inch waist then.

How to...fold your shirts perfectly

2011-01-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

My OCD dad would love this. Although ALL his shirts already look like this; a neat, freakishly uniform from all sides, in one perfectly straight stack. He's a pilot, he's allowed to be a perfectionist. :)

But, yeah... check this cool Japanese T-shirt folding technique video. Master it and folding clothes will be a breeze.

via apartment therapy

Family...sister number 4 or miss Kitty or the lucky one with super thick beautiful hair

2011-01-09T06:16:00.000-08:00

Yay, she'll be staying at my place for a few days before she starts her next semester at university! Always nice to have at least one of my siblings with me. We have so much fun together. I will be forever thankful for that. So, if you just happened to be reading this, give your sibling(s) a call and see what they're up to, I'm sure they'll appreciate it. :)

2 songs and I'm in Canada

2011-01-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

We had a relaxing morning today and while my CQ and I were relaxing in our cozy living room, just listening to music. And the top two beautiful songs that gave me tingles all over...were:

Song 1: Black sheep by Metric

Song 2: Sprawl II (Mountains beyond mountains) by Arcade Fire.

Oh, man... I melt to these songs. So, Arcade Fire and Metric are Canadian bands, maybe that's why these songs really make me wish I was back in Toronto, wandering the streets downtown and then have dinner at Canoe to watch the ferries (?) on the lake.

And so, off I went to go through the pictures of our trip to Canada last June, and found these two faves of mine.

Strolling down some street in Dundas West, in search for a good cafe. I remember my heels were killing me.

Go to Canoe. Best restaurant in Toronto. Seriously.

Rajasthan... where princesses sat

2011-01-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

Another India post... is it obvious that I'm still dreaming of masala chai, pashmina shawls and mirrorwork tapestry? Sigh...

Ok, last post on my favourite pictures (of myself).

Jaisalmer: At the 'men not allowed in' section of the Jaisalmer Fort, Bhati Rajput princesses of long ago would sit at this balcony overlooking the markets and towns below.

Jaipur City Palace: On the inside of the Hawa Mahal that I mentioned in my previous India post. These little nooks are really nice and cozy. I could spend hours here, propped up against some cushions.

Taj Mahal...the bench where many a modern princesses have sat and posed for their picture. Also, notice how our guide who took this picture is more transfixed and focused on his beloved monument than on me?!

Devi Bhawan (again) in Jodhpur... ah, my ultimate happy place.

Family...sisters

2011-01-05T02:58:00.000-08:00

Us, the sisters... a shot taken by our brother.

To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time. ~Clara Ortega

Family...Capt Papa

2011-01-04T05:05:00.000-08:00

The more you travel the more you realise you've seen nothing ~ Photographer Michael Freeman.

Found this picture of my dad during his air steward days under Malaysian Airlines (MAS).
He knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a pilot. As a kid, he was obsessed with planes, helicopters and jetplanes. Whenever an airplane would fly by overhead, he would get into character and announced in his pilot voice, "This is your captain speaking. We are now flying over..." as related to me by his younger sister, Aunt M.

He became a flight attendant right after high school to start travelling and get one step closer to his dreams. Within the next few years, he became a full-fledged helicopter pilot, and has flown all over Asia, and parts of Europe and North America.

He is still master of the sky till this day.

Thanks, Pa for passing on the travel bug to me.

Family...Cousin D

2011-01-02T00:21:00.000-08:00

1.1.11

2011-01-01T04:12:00.000-08:00

Oh, and a Happy New Year!

As much as I wished I was back in Borneo to celebrate the New Year with my family, our quiet celebration at home was just as nice. It was well planned as well.

Major cleanup in the evening (this is a family tradition to prepare a clean house for fresh chi energy for a new year), followed by a nice dinner, then a quick drive out to get Starbucks Hazelnut and Signature Hot Chocolate and cheesecakes, dash back to spike our hot chocs with a bit of Bailey's and watched the Sunway firework show from our front window.

(while angry motorists were stuck in a traffic jam in the street outside our house, honking and shouting at the stalled traffic flow...hehe...it was quite funny watching it from our window)

Pretty...

Prreeeeetttyyy... (anyone watched Black Swan yet?)

Veeery pretty.

Yes, more prettiness...

And we toasted to a 2011 with our Niagara Falls Inniskillin Ice Wine that we bought on my first trip there 2 years ago.

So, what resolution have I planned for 2011, the year I turn the big 3-0?

Definitely nothing serious and nothing to do with weight issues!

Here's to:

1. More manicure and pedicure (I have neglected my nails long enough)

2. Yoga and meditation (I'll try to be more consistent)

3. More attention on this blog

4. Learn more traditional art and craft of Sabah

5. Take more photographs... of other people, I have enough self-portraits!

Come to think of it, this is one of my more interesting list of New Year resolutions. Yay!

India: I just can't get you out of my head

2010-12-31T23:19:00.000-08:00

2010. What a year. I called it the Year of Contemplation. I have never opened up and dissected and analysed my life so deeply or thoroughly before. It was good. I needed to see and get to know myself from my point of view and in the end, I was happy and quite at peace with myself. I love me.

A big part of the contemplation took place in India.

Yes, I finally answered her call to visit. I tried to absorb as much of the beauty and essence of Rajasthan, but it was like trying to hold fine sand in my hand, most will trickle out and I find myself grabbing for more, trying to retain as much information as possible with each handful, learning something new in each grasp.

Peeking through a small window at the bazaar below at the palace in the Jaisalmer fort, the same way the princesses did a long time ago when they used to practise the ancient way of the purdah... This little peephole of a view is quite the representation to what little of India that I have seen...and I am craving for more.

Pretty girl outside the Taj Mahal. She smiled right after I took this and I missed the shot!

The camel herder and his son...outside Jodhpur. Our guide was driving quite fast and when I turned around, I wasn't quick enough to capture his bright smile.

A lovely lady of the Bishnoi tribe...separating the millet from the chaff.

I was very attracted to the Bishnoi tribe, their rigorous vegetarian lifestyle and love for the wildlife and all living plants. Here's an exerpt from Meet the Bishnoi .
"Bishnois are renowned for their care for animals, trees and the environment. In the last 10 years they have received much media attention in India following the misdemeanor of Salman Khan, a popular Bollywood actor who was caught hunting gazelle and black buck. "

Despite the language barrier, nothing was lost in translation. The moment she spotted me, she sized me up and insisted that she dressed me up in the Bishnoi's traditional attire. It was nice to be her doll. No words were exchanged, just lots of giggles.

I assume this older lady is her mother-in-law since married girls will usually move to the hub's family home. She loved the camera!

Her dear husband was quite photogenic as well. He later performed the opium ceremony for us.

The carpet seller's daughter. Beautiful girl who watched tourists visit their solar-powered shop wanting to see the exact carpet that Richard Gere bought from them.

Happy musicians at the entrance of the Mahrengarh Fort at Jodhpur. You'll hear their beautiful music long before you see them.

I was told that the Rajasthani men are very proud of their 'handlebar' moustache.

He was magnetic. So calm in his little corner, just people-watching.

My perfect travel partner.

So photogenic, too.

No matter where I turn, there are beautiful girls everywhere, just floating past in their equally gorgeous saris.

The Freddie Mercury lookalike musician...in Jaipur's City Palace.

Music everywhere. It was like being in a movie, complete with background music.

While discussing our day's itenerary with our autorickshaw driver, his little daughter was watching me with great amusement. Here she is just chuckling to herself, and then her father must have told to stop and hurry along home (she had just finished school for the day). I must have looked pretty funny to her.

So I took her picture.

In the City Palace of Jaipur... she may look pensive here, but at the time, her mannerism showed that she was quite peeved. Maybe her date was late.

I heart big smiles + bright colours

Train ride Jodhpur to Jaisalmer = First Class cabin. It was quite comfortable and reminded me of Darjeeling Limited. Oh, love that movie.

Hands down my favourite place in Rajasthan...the Golden City of Jaisalmer. We stayed at Killa Bhawan, a hotel in the fort. It was a majestic and magical stay, from sunrise to sundown.

Every corner of Killa Bhawan was gorgeous...definitely deserves a blog post on its own.

This was at 7am and it was freaking cold at the rooftop of Killa Bhawan, where I did a session of yoga. How can you go to India and not do yoga in the yoga motherland?

It was awesome, by the way, to start the salutation to the sun by looking up at the blue blue Indian sky and the magnificent golden city ahead. I will see exactly these images for all my consecutive yoga sessions.

The view of the Golden City that reminded me of Klimt's style of painting.

The intricate architecture of a Jain temple. Of all the temples I have visited, the Jains were the most fascinatingly unique to me.

Another favourite spot, the Devi Bhawan in Jodhpur, a place to eat, think and fall in love all over again.

And in the Devi Bhawan, my favourite spot would be the elegant wooden swing taking centre stage in the garden. Surprisingly, it is as comfortable as it looks. I probably hogged the swing for a good 3 hours every day.

When I took this shot, Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar were still married. This is where their lavish OTT ceremony took place: the Umaid Palace. Such a grand place. By the time we got back from India, the two have split!

Inside the Amber (pronounced Amer) Fort. Although no longer a living fort like Jaisalmer's, this was still a fascinating and definitely the biggest fort I have visited. A proper township inside a fort on top of a hill!

View from a precarious landing on one of the high balconies of the Amber Fort.

I saw a snake charmer! I saw a snake charmer! I squealed and squirmed kegelian (can't find an equivalent word in English). I couldn't take my eyes off it. It totally charmed me!

Something about this wall and the blue sky, and my willing model.

Keeping up the art of their forefathers.

The Hawa Mahal of the Pink City in Jaipur. See how you can see the blue sky through the top window? That's where past princesses would sit and watch the people in the streets below. This wholw facade is only a room-or once you get to the top- a wall deep. On every level, there is a platform by the windows to sit and people-watch. Kinda voyeuristic, eh?

Skillful men dodge through traffic carrying what looks like a tower of glasses. My heart still skips a beat whenever I see this picture because the traffic was super crazy!

Sunrise over Agra: No trip to India is complete without a drop-in on the Taj Mahal.

The picture of perfection.

The obligatory Princess Diana seat and picture. Too bad we're out of focus.

Another personal highlight was meeting Raj, the elephant who on his way to work. Something happened between us, I cannot describe it, but a wave of calmness and love filled my soul or mind or something.

And then I found out that elephants were not getting the right treatment in this part of India, which broke my heart.

India, you know and I know that I will be back.

100th post: 100 things to be grateful for

2010-12-30T23:58:00.000-08:00

2010 has been my Year of Contemplation. And so to commemorate my 100th post and an end to another great year, here is my list of 100 things to be grateful for.

My wonderful, wonderful husband. Thank you for making me laugh every single day. You adore me, which is always nice. You get me.
That I am deeply in love with my husband. I still get that 'giddy' feeling on our date nights. I so agree with the theory that you can learn to love someone but can't make yourself fall in love with them. Ah, love. Without love, the world in all its glory and splendour is a tomb. Can't remember who said that.
That we both share the love, nay, the passion for travelling and (now this is super important) that we have the exact same travel style. Hard to explain, but we're definitely each other's favourite travel partners.
My parents. Pa, you'll forever be my insightful and sensitive rock, with an excellent eye for style, whose OCD tendencies continue to be amuse me.
Mom for her overflowing love and support, even though she has a funny was of showing it; she is ¼ Chinese after all. She tries so hard to shield her children from the danger and harm of the horrible ways of this world, unfortunately all her kids turned out to be just as curious and stubborn (just like her), so we'll end up either deliciously satisfied to have our perceptions changed, or in tears because she's right.
My gorgeous sisters. All different and unique in their own ways, styles and interests.
Sharing clothes, and shoes with mom and my sisters. It's great to have access to 5 different wardrobes.
My cool as cucumber brother. You are so much like Pa. You are a good person and you were such a cute baby!
My paternal grandparents, but more my grandfather Baki, who gave the best piece of advice to me one fine day when I approached him with my problem of having too many choices and he said, ever so laconically 'Asal hati senang'. I have applied that in all that I do, in love, work and play.
My maternal grandparents, but more my grandmother Sabina, who has a special place in heart. You are an angel.
My niece. She's one very special princess.
Super fun uncles and aunts, who have shown just how important the union in family is.
For being a native Dusun of Tambunan, Borneo. The rolling hills, the heavy morning mists, the smell of padi, earth and the forest, and the intoxicating mountain breeze. Ah, I will forever be under your spell.
My family history. It is full of drama and explains how and what I am today.
The rich culture and traditions of the Kadazandusun. I believe in them.
That I am a descendant of headhunters and witchdoctors. Not many people can say that.
Stories. Listening and documenting real stories shared by the people I love.
My husband's awesome family! I thought I would gradually get used to my in-laws, like every other married person would, but I felt like I've known my parents-in-law forever! We clicked instantly like old pals.
My health. I would like to complain less about the more cosmetic stuff, like weight, cellulites and wrinkles. Especially since we have friends and family members who have lost battles to terminal conditions.
Christmas. Yes, I am grateful for Christmas. Though I am few months shy of entering the third decade of my life, Christmas time is still the best and most magical time of the year. The songs, the buzz I get during Christmas shopping, going home and seeing all our old decorations up, I get very nostalgic and it's a great feeling.
Family traditions. Ours are strongest right around Christmas time as well. Preparing for Christmas dinners where everyone has to prepare a dish, decorate the house together, come up with a theme for Christmas attire and presents, and the ever eventful Christmas photoshoot.
Home in Kota Kinabalu. The way I feel when I step into my parents house. Everything fits and looks like they were meant to be there, no matter how mismatched.
My mom's garden. It is, till this day, my private getaway. To be among her wild orchids, giant ferns and a hundred different plants, I feel at peace.
The cherry tree in my mom's garden that refuses to die. My mom announced this year that it would have to go because it posed a threat of falling over onto our house, much to our dismay and protests. The big branches were cut, but before the trunk could be chopped to splinters, our cherry tree sprouted fresh green branches so fast, in one last attempt to defend its existence in our family. And so, my mom's heart melted and left it alone. It is still bearing cherries for us, and the birds and squirrels, also as a refuge for Bingkurang whenever the neighbour's nasty cat would come to bully him.
Our little home here in KL. It is so us, lots of pictures of people we love and gorgeous paintings, made in Borneo paraphernalia and other knick-knacks from our travels.
That I love going home, to make dinners in our little kitchen, curl up on our comfy couches to read and listen to music, or sit at my desk and write. I am thankful for this because I have lived in places that I cannot feel comfortable or at ease, no matter how much I try to improve the setting of the place.
My great and memorable childhood. Full of fairy tales and self-declared adventures with my siblings. I feel sorry for 'new age' parents who stop their kids from watching fairytales in fear that their kids will grow up having a misconstrued version of reality. Obviously untrue.
That my dad instilled the love for photography in me. I do see the world in a different way now.
That grandma Sabina instilled the love for photographs in me. She loved looking through past pictures with me, and although she forgets what happened yesterday, she can still tell me the stories behind every black and white pictures.
Nikon dSLRs. For getting me hooked. I knew I had a lifelong obsession with photography but never thought I might be the one behind the camera, because being in front of it is much more glamorous!
That we have such talented and inspiring photographers in the world, sharing their gorgeous pictures with us; Steve McCurry, Mario Testino, Annie Leibovitz and the list goes on...
Waterfalls. So beautiful and mesmerising. They draw me back to Sabah.
Blackcherry, my little black Perodua Viva. Thank you for being such a great car and getting me to places safely. I am definitely not taking you for granted after hearing countless of disaster stories from friends whose cars have become their worst nightmares, mentally and financially.
Road trips. Nothing better than hopping in a car and discover a new place.
My ability to pack light. Sure, I'll always forget to bring the odd thing like flashlight or floss, but most of the time, I have more than I need in my small backpack, even for a 3-week IndoChina trip.
Airport terminals. I love the travel-sized shops that they have lined up in airport terminals. Like a super-clean marrakesh. Everything they sell is on a super-cute scale.
Direct flights. Love travelling, but not a fan of transits less than 6 hours. Too long to just sit still, too short to venture out.
Smooth and safe landings. I'm not one of those calming reading or snoozing during take-offs and landings; I'll be the white-knuckled one mumbling a rapid Hail Mary on repeat.
Reminiscing on our past trips and planning future adventures.
Airplane food. I know, I'm a minority. When I was younger, I would imagine being in space and that was my space food.
Chocolates. I come from a family of chocoholics. It's a good addiction to have.
Soup. Any kind of soup.
Hot chocolate. And marshmallows.
Pancakes drenched in maple syrup.
Rice. I have earned the nickname 'rice pot' for needing to have rice almost every day. My mouth is watering from imagining a simple meal of white rice, fried fish, sambal ladies fingers/ okras, hinava, bambangan and hot red chili in soy. Oh, yum.
Japanese food. Bring on the unagi.
Pasta. Any kind. Always good.
My accessories collection, and how I've stored and laid them out.
I feel naked without my dad's Longine's watch... I feel connected to my parents. I hate the distance.
My aquamarine (also my husband's and my birthstone) engagement ring because it will forever remind my of when my husband proposed under the starry Arabian sky, kneeling on one knee on the desert sand, after a day of a fabulous safari trip all over Dubai and abu Dhabi. The hunt for the aquamarine stone also has a story of its own. It took six months till our hearts jumped and spotted the perfect one.
My wedding ring that fits perfectly into my engagement ring. Reminds me that we didn't succumb to the zombified and commercialised cookie-cuuter wedding industry.
My collection of jangly and jingly bangles, bracelets and anklets. Just keeping to tradition.
Big earrings and necklaces. I should also be thankful that I don't wear all of them at once.
My moludu that I wore at my wedding.
Our wedding. A fusion of East and West traditions. Arrived by helicopter to our beach blessing ceremony followed by the Kadazandusun marriage ceremonial blessing. I feel blessed.
Yoga. I'm also glad I had a session in the golden Jaisalmer fort, under the blue, blue Indian sky.
Little art galleries. It's like stepping out of this world and into someone else's mind.
The beaches in Sabah. Soak in the sun, dig into the sand and swim as if you're in space in the sea. Very liberating.
The Beatles.
The Beatles Anthology book. My dear husband knows me so freakin well!
That I went to India this year. It was supposed to happen. It was a sign. India, I will be back.
The Internet.
Dogs. Thank God for dogs. Miss you Rex and Rand; thank you for your unconditional love.
Our cats Tinkerbell and Bingkurang, the only cats I love. I am still not a cat person, but thank you for making me dislike them less.
Pachiderms! I fell in love with a baby elephant in Chiang Mai. I snuck up to him for a soft pet but with its strong trunk, drew right next to him for a big hug. My heart melted there and then. Another encounter was in Jaipur, India when one came up from the road to say hi. Sigh, I have a soft spot for these gentle giants.
Ducks. My paternal grandma still has ducks on her farm in Tambunan. One of my strongest childhood memories in Tambunan would be to wake up at 5am with her to go feed her ducks, play with her ducklings and hunt for eggs.
Passion. Seeing another person being passionate about what they do is truly inspiring.
Meeting people. Sometimes, meeting strangers and having even a 5 minute chat with them can put your life into perspective.
Positive people. Unsurprisingly, people who complain, whinge and gossip bring me down and have brought me to tears on more than one occasion.
That I like to try anything once.
Daydreaming. I don't count it as a fault of mine anymore, more like a gift. Too many a time have a great idea sprung from a drift into la-la land.
My husband's movie collection. I love a movie that leaves me feeling raw and my mindset altered (for better).
Weekends! I live for weekends!
That I'm a girly girl. Your typical sugar and spice, and everything nice. Serious.
Bikinis. I am thankful that high-cut, tropical designs, and neon colours on bikinis are a thing of the past.
Shoes, of which I have plenty and don't need anymore. Love me a good set of high heels and ballet flats.
Lace. I love lace on everything. I used to sew laces on my clothes back in university, but now they're everywhere.
High heels. Best and affordable heels can be found in Malaysia. Serious.
Manicure and pedicure. Best and affordable sessions also in Malaysia. Serious.
Past mistakes. Made me realise I wasn't meant for certain industry or certain relationship.
That I had two great relationships when I was young, oh way, way young! I learned so many things about myself.
That I also had a meaningless and dysfunctional relationship as well, and wish I could get the 2 years back! But, at least I found the inner strength I never knew I had, to get out.
Hence, the ability to choose love and happiness. Seriously, be honest with yourself and in the end you will choose happiness.
Smiles, especially from my loved ones. Instant heart melter.
My hp netbook. Now I actually take my laptop out of the house!
My iPhone4. I have crossed over and can't bear to go back to not having my organisation in one tiny machine. Thank you, babe.
My two pairs of Levi's jeans that I am still wearing since 10 years ago.
My super comfy and chic Zara leather jacket that has kept me warm on countless trips.
My old, old denim jacket. Still a keeper.
My collection of scarves and shawls. Yes, I take after my mom.
Swings. I have an indescribable affinity for swings of any kind. Be it our steel double-seater swing growing up, to the rickety wooden seat ones in playgrounds, to the grand and intricately designed ones on Redang Island, to the elegant and cushioned one in Jodhpur, India. I love swings.
Art and craft. I love DIY and painting things around the house and altering existing clothes.
Music. My very eclectic mix of songs and artists.
My love for dancing. It's about quality, not quantity of dances, so I have learned. I have danced with so many people but thank you Jose, Frantz and Karlson for showing me what a good salsa or bachata can be.
Avocado juice.
Scented candles. In the bedroom, bathtub, kitchen, everywhere in the house.
Poems.
Being bare-feet. I need to feel where my feet lands. Except of course when I'm out. Duh. But nothing better than to kick my shoes off and feel the ground.
Long hugs and kisses.
My ability to truly live in the present.

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011.

Pretty shiny things

2010-10-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

Funny. Almost everyone around us had trouble getting the iPhone4; complaining about the 3-hour line-ups and stores running out but amidst the craze and frustration around us, we got not one, but two of these sexy things, with no problems at all. Just a waltz into the store and chatted to the nice DIGI people and by the time we left, a lineup of about 40 people were behind us.

One of the first few pictures I took on my iPhone.

And we bought each one at separate locations, one at Sunway Pyramid and mine at Pavilion KL, because of account transfer technical stuff. Seriously, there were probably 300 people camping outside the MAXIS store here as it made the frontpage news that gorgeous 26 September 2010 day. And my transaction took 20 minutes?* here's me rubbing it in. Tee hee.

I didn't even want an iPhone4 to begin with but hey, rezeki jangan ditolak. :p

My family came at the perfect time too to visit my brother for his birthday the next day, so yes, took loads of pictures and videos of them... mostly Yaya.

The perfect travel companion. She won't let anyone else pull her 'luggage'.

Oh, and then PrincesSalitah stayed on, much to Yaya's dismay.

So, we camwhored to the max. Also, I want that Zara heels that she tried on.

I have a thing for rings, but she disapproved every one of my choice. You can take the lid off this Aladdin's lamp! Now I wish I got it.

I always find weird (and good) stuff when I'm out with her.

Err...I'll stick to my Aquamarine wedding ring set for my left hand, thank you.

Latest addition to our home, gorgeous, gorgeous orchids.

Tea with Sabina: Happy birthday, Sabina Tatti Linjungan!

2010-10-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

A couple of distinctive memories come to mind whenever I think of my maternal grandparents house: tea and old albums. Visits to see them are never complete without my grandma rushing to the kitchen to put the kettle on. That sweet, sweet lady on the left in the picture above is she, my grandma Sabina, who is the funniest and most positive person I have ever met.

For as long as I can remember, we have both pored over the same old twenty-odd albums, sitting side-by-side on her couch, sipping on hot Chinese tea, with her telling me stories of each picture and me listening to the same tales. I didn't mind. I loved it. She was a great Kadazan story-teller, and even though most of the stories she told were sad and heartbreaking, she would tell them with such uplifting spirit because to her, everything is fated and all you can do is find pockets of happiness and make them into permanent fond memories, no matter how trivial.

Her fate, she has said, was a sad one but one that she had to make the most of, because feeling miserable all the time was tiring and could send one to the madhouse (this was one of her phobias, as one of her dear cousins did, in fact, go nuts).

I don't think anyone of my generation could have gone through her life and still have a soul full of smiles, laughter and tenderness. Both she and her brother, Mijol (pictured above) shared an unbreakable bond so strong that I believe till this day that he is the one person she loved most of all, above everyone else. His death a few years ago truly crushed her but like the loveable person that she is, she still speaks fondly of him as if they had just shared an afternoon tea.

Their sad tale was one true Hansel and Gretel story. Their young mother, Johanna, died when they were mere tots. Of course their father remarried and they were in the care of a classic stepmother who made the young Sabina work day and night, cleaning and caring for her new half-siblings, while younger brother Mijol worked at the family padi fields. My grandma would tell me how her heart would break whenever her younger brother would come home crying from hunger and her stepmother would send him back to the fields without food. My grandma would steal food (from her own house!) and sneak out to the fields to share them with her brother, and always in fear that their half-siblings would tell on them, which of course, they did. Ah, but there are so many stories about their stolen childhood.

Seeing as they were two extra mouths to feed as they grew into their teens, the two siblings were sent off to the convent, where the white nuns had them separated and disciplined according to Catholic Irish rules. It was another chapter of all work and no play for the unfortunate siblings, but my grandma said her needlework is neat and perfect, thanks to the white nuns, although they were merciless and severely punished those who stole food from the pantry (my grandma included).

"We were eating plain rice and salted fish once a day, while the nuns had bread, butter, carrots and peas, roasted chicken and potatoes, so of course we stole food!"

Throughout their young lives, my grandma and her brother did in fact have a guardian angel to turn to: their mother's sister, who was fondly known as Nenek Toing. They were very close to her although their father was not really fond of her. Nenek Toing would take them in during breaks from their stepmother and from the convent. My grandma looked up to this wonderful and strong lady, who was very much a mother figure to her.

Fate, as my grandma believed, decided that not only will her childhood and teenage years be robbed from her, but also, her youth, her precious youth that she thought would be the key to her freedom from the convent! The youth-robbers came in the form of the Japanese Occupation of Borneo. All the white nuns and priests went back to England and those who stayed faced capital consequences. All the children at the convent were sent back to their families in the kampongs, my grandma and her brother included. They went into hiding at their father's farm and sometimes stayed with Nenek Toing. Although not a crucial time to be discussing inheritance and property distribution, this was when my grandma found out that her traditional treasures left for her by her late mother, all went to her stepmother. But, that's a whole other story right there.

Here is Grandma Sabina carrying her grandson with her son, Uncle Alfred standing in front of her, and Nenek Toing posing Twiggy-style.

I should have mentioned earlier that Grandma Sabina had also lost her days of freedom and youth, as she spent her early 20s hiding and running during the Japanese Occupation of North Borneo. It was during one of their hideouts that she met my Grandpa Edward Kan. They joked that it was love at first sight in that dark cave of a hideout. Nothing can stop love, I say, not even war and starvation. :p

Because she is so timid and cheerful all the time, many have regarded her as a silly old ninny, but I have yet to meet anyone as strong and pure-hearted as her. Tragedies continue to try her, and one of the biggest blows was losing her son, Uncle Johnny when he was barely 12 (left). He suffered internal bleeding after a gang of rich, snotty boys just a few years older than him beat him up on his way home. My mother can still point out one of the boys who murdered my uncle, all grown up now of course, still walking the streets of KK. Sigh. I had better leave that story there.

I just love her old pictures. More of Grandma in her gorgeous batik sarong. Love the little blouses they wore.

This picture of her reminds me so much of my mother, her poise and rigid stance. My mother, I just noticed, is in the foreground while Aunt Vera eyes grandma's efficient technique in chopping up what looks like a roast chicken (must have been Christmas!).

Picnicking at the beach! Grandma still looking elegant in her sarong among the plaid bell-bottoms.

Few decades later and here's grandma during her first trip to USA to visit her two daughters there. Very "Joy Luck Club", their own stories...

Ah, this was taken in the 80s. Love grandpa's Woody Allen glasses. They still pose and laugh like this. Theirs is definitely a one-of-a-kind marriage, full of... honest and raw emotions, trying tragedies, heartbreaking losses, mixed in with good times and fond memories. If two people who have struggled since infancy can survive all that, and still tell me, earnestly and straight in the eye, to "have faith" and "trust in destiny", then I take their word for it.

Thank you, my gorgeous, funny, full of hope and love, grandma Sabina, for just being you.

Oh, and thank you for instilling the love of sewing and treasuring old vintage pictures in me.

You are my sunshine.

Spring/summer 2011: Sheer delight

2010-09-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

While I'm really liking the cinched-at-real-waist dresses and skirts like these pretty ones below (in my favourite colour combination) by Jonathan Saunders, I found myself drawn even more towards their more see-through versions...

Deliciously sheer, also by Jonathan Saunders

Of course I had to get me some silhouette-revealing gear.

My shortcut: I got the same effect from my existing wardrobe by snipping off linings from patterned (to avoid being too revealing) dresses. They're alot more comfortable now without the itchy linings anyway.

More sheer dresses! I thank you, Mr Saunders.

Paul Smith also goes transparent (but with just this number!) in his SS 2011 collection.

So did Michael van der Ham... ... and Luisa Beccaria

Image source: Style.com

♥ Chelley

Life

2010-09-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

Found this today on an amazing blog that I have been following for quite a while, called Thresca by Tere Arigo.

Sigh.

♥ Chelley

My inner little old lady

2010-09-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

It's Spring/Summer 2011 fashion show season right now and blogsites are abuzz compiling their latest favourite 'light & flowy' looks for the warmer part of next year, more like the whole of next year for us here in Malaysia...you know, from being a hop, skip and a jump from the Equator...hot, hot, toasty, and humid all year long. Just the way I like it. Thank God most of the world's best beaches are here in Asia.

Right, back to the fashion shows.

I had a great time going from one fashion show to another, from Marc Jacobs to Carolina Herrera, while dressed in my floral green sarung rumah and taking breaks in between shows to chase dragons and wizards with my CQ, and without leaving my house at all. Good to be alive in 2010 and all thanks to Style.com and Lego Harry Potter (best game ever).

Anyway, I was surprised to flip through the A+++-listers' shows so fast and uninspired. The same predictable 'unwearables' unless you were someone famous going down the red carpet, I guess.

But, when it came to Milly, Tory Burch and Twenty8twelve, I took it all in and clicked most of the pictures into my Lookbook. So, so pretty, 70s boho and so so little old lady, which is the exact phase I am in right now.

Here are the looks that has gotten me all excited about my boho lil' old lady craze that I don't think will be ending soon.

Image source: Style.com

♥ Chelley

Guide to relaxing at Redang Island Malaysia

2010-09-18T21:48:00.000-07:00

First, drink in the view and be quick to snap gorgeous cloud formation that changes every few minutes.

For those who have been to Maya Bay, Berjaya Resort is in the same cove-setting, with powder white sands and clear water, but without the hundreds of boats lining up the shore and shoulder-to-shoulder beach space.

Explore Berjaya Resort, which is the best place to stay in while in Redang Island. This place is second to none. We're not big into over-the-top all-inclusive hoity-toity resort, so it was a big concern of ours when we booked this resort, but Berjaya really did impress with its stylish layout, friendly staff and oh, unspoiled views and sceneries. Oh, I should mention how quiet the spacious resort was, despite the fully-booked long weekend.

Have a swing! I gave the place an A++++ when I discovered the wooden swings, at every possible shady corner! I love swings. I can spend hours on swings. Growing up, we had a swingset where we did almost everything on it; eat, sleep, sulk (the swingset made everything better), play make-believe where the swingset was always a magical vehicle that could take us anywhere (yes, yes, too much Enid Blyton will do that to ya).

Oh yes, the queen of all swings, one that faces the sea. All the swings here could fit two or more people (I saw a mother sitting on this very swing with her brood of 4 little kids. Ya, I was waiting for them to get off so I could have a turn). My CQ and I sat here for hours into the night and surprisingly, no visits from blood-thirsty mosquitos. The night sky was so clear and bright that my CQ saw a shooting star. I didn't.

Our room was basic but full of charm. We got the hillside view so our balcony faced beautiful tropical trees. The breeze was strong and cooling that we left the sliding doors open for the first day and a half. This big sliding window separates the bedroom from the bathroom. :)

When swimming, take in the 360 degrees scenery as well because the resort is just as beautiful from the waters. That platform with white umbrellas was our favourite beach bar ever. Everything we ordered from there was good.

And those dried palm-leaved parasols are the best shades in the world. They don't trap heat the way plastic parasols do, so we were not baking underneath. It was cool, breezy and so comfortable that we stayed there for whole afternoons. My grandfather's 'sulaps' or huts at his paddy fields back in Tambunan, Borneo, were made of the same materials and boy, did we love to lounge there. Some local 'technologies' should never be replaced!

Back to me being a relaxation at Redang Island guide. Essential things I was glad to bring:

My handfan from Jogjakarta (it smells of sandalwood)
A good book (hello, Deepak Chopra!)
My lime-green diary
A sketchbook and watercolour pencils (my CQ and I collaboratively produced a painting)
My rattan basket from Borneo
Sunscreen
A straw hat
My flip-flops from Laos
Pareos, shorts, loose tops and dresses
Big, black Jackie-O shades

One other essential item I wished I brought was leave-in hair conditioner; my hair was fried!

Bliss

Come pre-dinnertime, head to the beach bar and lounge on their comfy settees. The sun sets on the other side of the island but we still got to see the beautiful changing of cool to warm colours in the sky. The waiters kept bringing us fun drinks to try that gave us the perfect buzz for the rest of the night.

I personally loved the rustic style of the bar, especially this light fixture that I was so fixated upon.

Gyms are usually not even on the itinerary of a relaxing holiday trip, but I'm glad my CQ ventured all the way up the hill where the gym was because he said it was 'the best gym he had ever been to'. Situated on top of the hill, with open floor-to-ceiling windows lining the wall facing the ocean, the breeze was invigorating. No air-conditioning needed! And while my man worked out, I just stood there and drank in the view.

The view from the gym. Bliss. Bliss. Bliss.

Oh, and be sure to indulge, indulge, indulge. Don't just stick to the main restaurant as there is another one by the beach that has much better selection. and you get serenaded by an acoustic band. They went to every table taking requests. I requested 'Black magic woman' but they covered Beatles instead. And I thought Santana's songs were staple for acoustic bands! Still nice to be serenaded though.

Other musts: the Ayura Spa. Tucked away in a corner of the resort is a massage haven. Not cheap, but so worth it to be pampered like a Balinese princess even for a few hours. :) This was the fragrant tray of 'natural ingredients' they use in Ayura Spa that sold me. Who wouldn't want to be all slicked with coconut oil and smelling like jasmine, ginger and cinnamon?

So, in the midst of eating, drinking, swimming, sun-bathing, getting a massage, please read any warning signs the resort has plastered everywhere. Like the Cheeky Monkey sign that you could have missed because it's pasted on the sliding doors that you kept open the whole time, therefore it's hidden behind the curtains because, monkeys will come into your room if your sliding doors are open.

Sure enough. we were woken up on the second morning by a loud crash, only to look up to see a big full-grown Macaque dropping my night cream and dashing out to the balcony. She had dropped my other tub of Body Shop Vitamin E Day Cream, which produced the crash that woke us up, that gave her a shock, that prompted her to run off, but not with my night cream, Thank God.

So seeing that that was the worst but most memorable thing that happened on this trip, I would say it went perfectly well. My CQ and I are still talking about it, and about her.

PS/ Best way to get to Redang Island is by Berjaya Air. Not only do you fly off from the ever-so-convenient Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, which is in Subang and not an hour and RM60 away in Sepang, you also land right on to the island itself. Not need to wait around in Kota Terengganu for boats to take you there.

♥ Chelley

Is it safe to come out now?

2010-09-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

So, I got freaked out of blogging a while back just because my boss told me how some stranger told him that we were friends but everything she told him about me was from my blog. Freaky! Not the part where my boss got to know about my blog and what I have on it (he's cool), it's that some stranger whom I don't know at all, thinks she knows me! I know, I know. It's super silly. That's what I'm supposed to get from writing for the world to see, right? This is bound to happen, I guess. Wonder how seasoned bloggers handle this situation. I just run and hide.

And then, I'd miss ranting and sharing things in this virtual outlet of mine (not that I care if anyone reads it) and rereading my weird past posts. So I thought, what the heck, it's all about content control, right? Right. So, I'm crawling out from under the bed now, in time to share this yummy picture of me and my CQ It was taken at Redang Island, while lounging on the beach. We were so relaxed and had a marvelous time there. Adding to that, I'm setting this as my maximum lovey-dovey benchmark for this blog! So that pretty much limits me to how-to's and guide-to's posts. I can get used to that.

♥ Chelley

Precious

2010-02-04T05:08:00.000-08:00

Wise words from funny woman Catherine O'Hara who, in my opinion, is super talented and strikingly beautiful. In her latest work, she's Judith in Where the wild things are. Even in the huge costume, her trademark raspy voice that is as sharp as her humour, gives her away.
Oh, and pictured here is our coffee table in the living room where we spend most of our time.

Be careful who you give your time to

The colour pink

2010-02-01T22:05:00.000-08:00

I guess there's no point in trying to be subtle when it comes to welcoming the month of lurve as I am seeing pink in almost every website. This year, I don't mind it at all. I am usually not a pink person but I have made a vow to accept more colours in my life (and wardrobe) and lessen my addiction to black and blue.

Anyway, how beautiful is this pink door that I found via "a life more fabulous"? My CQ will never approve it as a front door but possibly, the door to my sewing/art/guest room, perhaps?

via elementsofstyleblog.com via mimiandmeg.blogspot.com

Then, I saw these beauties. How divine is that powder-pink-with-thick-black-lining table cloth for my dressing table and while we're there, who could not want that big mirror and that pretty rug with shades of reds and pinks to match?

Oh dear, I am definitely in my I-want-pretty-things-for-the-house mode.

Finally, how perfect is this dress (via shopbop.com) for Valentine's Day? It's pink but not in a mushy way. No ribbons, no frills, no ruffles. Perfect.

Don't get me wrong, love em' frills to bits but you see them on everything on VDay, EVERYTHING from table cloths to cards, to flowers to chocolate boxes, to restaurant decor to office cubicles (oh yea, I've seen that).

...and I should probably mention that I have also had my share of disastrous (frilly/ lacey/ruffly) VDay numbers that I've had on in the past. Felt like I was camouflaged against a very sickly sweet and frilly world.

...

Phew, so yea, I try to keep it simple and streamlined on that day (Note: Try to...)

...

And, I already bought my CQ his gift. You won't see me scrambling and cracking my head for VDay gift ideas this year (unlike the year past)! Ha!

A walk in the park

2010-01-31T06:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we took my car Blackcherry, for her fifth service in two and a half years. Keeping up to the servicing schedule definitely paid off--she's a good, zippy little car with almost no problems at all (knock on wood). Thanks, Perodua Viva. :)

Since our service place was close to the Taman Bahagia LRT Station, it has been a ritual for us to hop onto the LRT (Light Rail Transit) for a little joyride to KLCC.

See how excited I am? I actually like our LRT trains. They're fast, cheap and comfortable BUT they don't run a wide enough network! Sigh, I won't even get into that. Our LRT stations always remind me of The Entrapment, that movie in which Sean Connery and Catherine-Zeta Jones met at the Pudu Station? Never mind, it wasn't very good.

This is pretty much the only picture I took in KLCC. Love the little booths selling pretty (but expensive) jewellery and trinkets. I had a list of things that I wanted to get but our little shopping trip ended up with a shirt purchase for my CQ and nothing for myself! Note- he's not the shopaholic in this marriage. :P

Ah well, we did have a good lunch and we took a quick walk at the park outside KLCC, pretty much our version of Central Park. It was blazing hot and that made me miss the sting of the sun while lying on the beach in Sipadan/ Manukan/Langkawi. Oh, and that pair of short shorts that I was wearing were altered from an awkward-looking Capri pants that I used to own (just pointing out the relevance of this post to my sewing blog).

And I got to break into my new heels, which I love to death. They are super comfortable I could run and walk all day in them. So I guess the shoe designers at Vincci are finally paying attention to the runway...specifically Miu Miu's. Wink wink. Well done, Vincci, well done for being inspired.

I could recommend some fantastic shoe blogs should you ever run out of ideas. Anytime.

I want to avoid posting about celebrities on my blog but since I couldn't find the Miu Miu heels on the runway, here's Lauren Conrad wearing them over and over... and over again. Must be just as comfortable as mine but ten times the price. Woohoo! Score!

...

Although, she might've gotten hers for free.

-___-

Well, I got mine from hard-earned income.

...

Clap clap. I win. :P

Image source: www.google.com

Hello you're pretty

2010-01-29T06:32:00.000-08:00

Dress by Matthew Williamson

I seem to be drawn to little white dresses nowadays. Could be that I am also scouting for a suitable design/style for my Canadian post-wedding/ family reunion gathering this coming June where I will finally have all my favourite people in one lanterns-and-fairy-lights decorated backyard. I am so looking forward to it. The theme would be more oriental, so I can acknowledge my very faint Chinese ancestry, which was left out during our 2009 wedding. Then, my CQ suggested that we also inject an equal amount of Hungarian element, which was also absent from the wedding. So, what does it come down to then?
A Sino-Magyar garden party. I love the sound of that. It will be one melting pot of no less than 10 races/nationalities. Perfect.
Oh, and isn't the dress just divine? Sigh. So simple. So me. I should be more adventurous this year but I just can't bring myself to wear loud things. Let alone pull it off. Phew. Thank God for pretty, simple things.

Image source: http://www.net-a-porter.com/

Project 03: Striped ruffled shirt

2010-01-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

Project Number Three came to me at the very last minute. I was going through the ironing pile and found a blue-white striped shirt my CQ hasn't been wearing for a while. Turns out, he didn't want it anymore but I sure do!

Before: Drowning in it. This is right before I completely took it apart. Hmm... really don't know why I'm tiptoeing...

So, with the help of McCall Pattern M5929 'Misses Shirts, I added ruffless...

puffed out the sleeves (this was a pain, I've never been pricked by so many pins ever before)

After: Ta-da! A new (and feminised) shirt for me!

Darn shirt took me 3 nights to complete. I deserve a drink.

...and another...

I kinda like it with my belt...ok, another drink. Don't think I'll be making another shirt in a while. Gotta say though, the pattern is so detailed and easy to understand, can't wait to start on my next pattern project. Thanks to my dearest Bea aka MIL for getting me the patterns. I love em'!

I love pencil skirts, can't you tell?

2010-01-23T22:04:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful weekend it has been. It rained yesterday at the most cuddle-worthy time of the day and my CQ and I sat side by side on the couch doing what most couples do these days; Surf the web together. :)

He (with my help), gave his travel blog a facelift and now you can see the gorgeous details in every picture. Sigh. It's a whole different feeling once you've found your perfect travel partner and We.Are.Perfect.Together. In practically every way. Seriously nothing biased about that. : P
Ok, I won't get into that because that will take up pages and because this is a sewing blog! Well, while surfing the web, I came across this divine lace embroidery skirt. Been a while since I wore anything lacey...since my wedding, actually! Anyway, (the) Phillip Lim beat me to it by creating this super gorgeous skirt.
I so wanna make it!

Maybe with a nude or deep red lining...

3.1 PHILLIP LIM

Embroidered lace skirt

Where do you get your inspiration from, Mr Lim?!

Image source: http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/63522

Not a bad mantra for 2010

2010-01-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

Oh, Paulo Coelho...you may have found your youngest fan but I'm definitely your (second) biggest one!

Coincidentally, I was listening to Cat Power's Sea of Love when I found this on Coelho's website...

Project 2: Short plaid skirt

2010-01-17T07:59:00.000-08:00

Ladi da...this week went by so quickly! Five days of work, a night out with the girls, a bottle of white wine, a jug of vodka-mixed-with-something, and a weekend of cleaning later and we're on to another week. Life would be so dull had I not married someone who makes me laugh every single (never fail) day.

Anyhoo, here's my second project a- a short purple plaid skirt.

It's supposed to be more bubble shape but that didn't really turn out...

Still, it's wearable and goes well with pretty much all my tanks and my CQ approves! (not that I need his approval for what I wear (phew). Just nice to know that he loikes it!)

Surprisingly, the waistband and pleats only took minutes to sew so less cursing in the sewing room this time!

Project 01: Pink paisley-print dress

2010-01-10T03:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the gorgeous MrsU's birthday and since I hadn't made anything yet for my first ever project for my sewing challenge, I made a dress to wear to the party. Two birds, one stone. Yay!

The dress was super easy to make...

Started off with two pieces of rectangles where the lower half was wider by a few inches and gathered before it was sewn to the top half...

Next, the shirred bodice. Most important ingredient- elastic thread! Thread the bobbin with it and normal sewing thread on top. Start sewing straight lines and voila, shirring stitch!

Oh, and then my CQ requested for hot chocolate and I ended up having a break and watched a bit of "Catch me if you can" sipping hot and super-yummy Godiva hot chocolate. Ah, decadent.

And back to work on the second part. With the garment right side up, just start sewing straight, parallel lines. In my case, I sewed 12 lines and that was enough to hold it up without straps.

Tip: Mark the parallel lines on the garment (with washable markers, of course) before sewing the shirring stitches. I just used the edge of the presser foot and since I had to stretch out my garment as I sew, I ended up with (quite unnoticeable) wonky lines.

Tada, I think I'm addicted to shirrings now. Guess what you're getting for your birthdays this year, oh sisters and mommy of mine?

Me and the gorgeous MrsU at her birthday party last night.And the dress behaved and held up for the entire night.

Beyond perfect

2010-01-06T18:22:00.000-08:00

OMG. CQ my love, let's get married again.

Saw this dress over at dress, design & decor... swoon...

Meet me, the easily distracted daydreamer/ procrastinator/ aspiring sewist

2010-01-05T06:43:00.000-08:00

via YellowGoat Design

Whoa...ok, time out. First thing that came to mind when I saw this awesome futuristic sewing machine was that it would fit ever so perfectly in a corner of the Jetson Family's space-capsule home. Aw, brings back memories of sitting on the dark brown itchy carpet of our Sandakan home, still dressed in 'My little pony' PJs, groggily watching Saturday morning cartoons.

Ok, back to cracking my head of what my first project should be. Week 01 is almost over. Yikes.

What's this, a sewing blog?

2010-01-03T21:31:00.000-08:00

Knock knock...I'm back...for the last time, I promise! Don't blame me. Moving around is in my blood. We've moved houses eight times growing up, and six + three times in university (ug + pg) and then twice since I've moved to Kuala Lumpur so can you blame me for feeling the itch to move blogs, Princessalitah? Yes, I'm justifying my blog move just for you :P

Phew, now then. I have decided to move (again, yes, yes) from schellea because I need my blog to actually focus on a purpose, such as my passion for sewing, yes. Schellea was a bit too personal, aimless and ok, i've just lost the motivation to talk about things I do every day that I've missed out the most bloggable and happening times of the year, such as Christmas, birthdays, trips and hello, my WEDDING! Obviously, the dedication was just not there.

It's a brand new year and perfect time for a new beginning, blog-wise. Hopefully my enthusiasm for Chelley Q will last as I blog about my sewing journey.

I have the room, the equipment, the supplies, the fabrics, the patterns (thank you, Bea!), the mentors (Hi mom and Bea!) and the support system (kiss kiss to my CQ) so I'm good to go!

Of course with any goals I have, I must adhere to deadlines. That's why I'm pretty good with New Year resolutions. So here it is...

I will ~~try to~~ make 52 sewing projects in a year.

One project a week, I think I can handle that!

Ok, I got a bit nervous after writing that... seriously Chelle, can you handle it?

Ah, what the heck. I need a new challenge in my life now. Can't get too cozy...what with the perfect family (mine and in-laws), perfect husband, perfect home and perfect job (no, really..it pretty much is)...

MUST.CHALLENGE.SELF

Or I'll get fat, lazy and stupid.

Image source: www.google.com

A true love story

2009-11-11T05:02:00.000-08:00

There was once a dashing young man with big dreams who defied his father's wishes to be an office clerk and went on to try out for the airlines. He was chosen for the training. So did a few others from all over Malaysia and Singapore. All the tests during the training were unmemorable, save one. All future air host and hostesses had to pass the swimming test. Easy, thought the young man. He was a champion State Swimmer. But before he could show off his powerful strokes, another had stolen the limelight. He could not tell if this drama queen was pretty or not, as she was frowning and screaming, and refusing to go into the water. Everyone wanted to know who this dragon lady was, who turned out to be quite a beauty. She didn't last long in the airlines but the young man couldn't stop thinking about her. Luck was on his side when he found out that the young dragon lady lived just across the street from him, and they hooked up. They had no cellphones then so they called each other across the street with a full language made up of whistles. The young couple got married and the young man went on to become a handsome pilot while the young lady became a successful businesswoman.
He took her on plane and helicopter rides. She taught him gardening and how to change the light bulbs.
Oh, they also had five kids who were their pride and joy, as well as source of much laughter and tears, headaches and zaniness, migraines and adventures, unbreakable bonds and financial burden.
Fast forward to today-- 11 of November 2009, the once-young couple are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary!

Happy Pearly Anniversary, Mom and Papa!
Thanks for being such great role models and for living happily ever after.

PS/ My theory is that mom threw that whole big drama of not knowing how to swim to get papa's attention. She swims just fine. ;)

Long and short of scarves

2009-10-29T23:05:00.000-07:00

I thought I knew practically every single way to tie a scarf. After all I did learn it all from the scarf lady--my mom. It's her signature style and I must say she wears them well. I've rummaged through her 2 big boxes full of colourful, silky/ satiny scarves, practically all my life.

She ~~has no choice but~~ shares them with her 4 daughters, which is a good thing and will sometimes find one or two or three or four, of her precious scarves in their homes. Yes, all the girls in the K Home share the same obsession.

Anyway, found this (very) old Sears scarf manual online and I actually learned a few new things: that number 12 was better than my way of tying a short scarf, while number 20 is my new favourite. Not sure if I'm a fan of number 5 or 10, though.

Image source: Google.com

Random muse

2009-10-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

I love this picture for so many reasons. Love the colours. Love the mood. And of course, I love Charlotte Gainsbourg. Also for so many reasons. Wish I knew which publication she was posing for.
Sigh.

My CQ bought his tickets today.
Sniff.
It's gonna be a blue, blue Christmas this year.

Image source: Google.com

Montage: Ballet flats

2009-10-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

My point is I miss wearing flats. Black ballet flats.

Image source: Google.com

Herb table

2009-10-26T00:28:00.000-07:00

Over at absolutely beautiful things, I was inspired to have my own 'garden table' to encourage my 'cooking more at home' (yes, on top of my 'sewing more of my own clothes'. So much to do!). Anyway, instead of a table of ornamental plants, I'd like to have potted herbs. Now to make that trip to Bangsar Shopping Village to get those herbs...

Girly vintage

2009-10-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

Ooh...I've always loved anything lacey, ruffly and ribbon-y so when I came across this post on SheBreathes, all I wanted to do was to start sewing again. Yes, sew. My own dresses. Because sewing is so much fun. And yes, there's no way I can afford anything as pretty as these...

And these are the Spring/Summer 2010 couture dresses by an Australian designer Anaessia. Very vintage and feminine, with kinda gaudy embellishment--I LIKE.

'

Wonder if Amy would mind if I fashioned my MOH dress after one of these pretties for her wedding.

Image source: SheBreathes.com

To Penang and back again

2009-10-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

We figured out that in order to stay sane for our 8-hour road trip up North to Kedah and Penang, we had to keep it simple. Meaning, we could only bring along necessary-for-the-trip things, which was quite a challenge because while I usually travel light when travelling, I find myself overloading the car on road trips, only because it doesn't really make a big difference seeing that while there's space in the car, why not fill it up? I blame you, Mom.

Anyway, the trip was very successful and enjoyable, very much unlike our first road trip to Malacca--it was our first exposure to Malaysian road signs, or shall I say, the lack of it. But thank you Google Maps, our journey from door to door was as smooth as it can getOk, back to the neccessities:
Shades for a squint-free journey-- something I always forget to pack, especially if the trip starts at night.

A positive and extremely funny travel partner is important too. Cuts travel time in half, really. I know, I've done a 2-day boat ride down the Mekong river with my CQ and time just flew.

An iPod dock and a well-stocked iPod, 26,000 songs to be exact. Kept us entertained and a good way to muffle any funny sounds made.

M&Ms! I never ever go anywhere without my M&Ms supply. They're even tastier on road trips. A container of the colourful yummies for each of us coz this is one thing we don't share. Oh, and a couple of magazines and cold water (we froze mineral water bottles from the night before) complete the must-haves for the trip.

We were worried about traffic jams on the highway as rumoured, since it was a Deepavali long weekend but everyone else avoided the 'jams' coz we had the road all to ourselves for pretty much the entire journey. :)

After 6 hours of driving, we finally got to our first destination--Princessalitah's university in UUM. After a quick tour around her place because-people-were-staring-as-I-was-not-properly-covered, we hopped into the car again and made our way to Penang.

Penang! Oh, how I've missed you! It has been 10 years since I was here for 10 months for Matriculation.

I must say that the place has changed alot. Somehow, it's alot cleaner--like someone turned a giant hose on the city and gave it a thorough wash.

We stayed at the Tune Hotel, which was right in the heart of Georgetown. Loved how cheap it was, it's strategic location but not liking how noisy it was inside the hotel. Two solutions: 1. Carpet the hallway 2. Replace all door locks with simpler and quieter ones.

This stately old building was particularly impressive. We concocted all sorts of romantic stories for why it was abandoned. Later we found out from the owner of Baba Nyonya restaurant that it was a bar (blech) and someone was killed in a brawl there some 30 years ago and they shut it down. Meh.

Oh, then we went to the Penang Museum and I have to say--best museum in Asia. Seriously. In what was previously a colonial school, it is jam-packed with the juiciest ancient gossip history and artefacts. And no, no sscary stuffed animals. This particular painting that I accidentally took, had special meaning to princessalitah and myself-- four daughters and one son, just like our family. I think princessalitah said I was the one holding the long spear and daydreaming and I think she's the one showing off her armpit. Sorry Mus, you have no choice but to be the blue boy. I cannot believe we still do this.

We then found Francis Light's Fort Cornwallis. My CQ's impression of Mr Hanky-Man cracked us up every time coz his son's name is Cornwallis. Everyone knows Mr Hanky-Man right? And his son with the corn on his...ah, never mind.

Boys and guns. I will never understand.

princessalitah showing off her very pretty bag.

In the fort, clearly the most beautiful thing ever was this tree and its 2-seater swing! What a perfect way to de-stress while guarding the fort.

Yes, it has been awhile.

Penang has many good places to eat--we kinda skipped the hawker stalls (been there done that) and went for the up and coming restaurants that were taking over old colonial buildings. We support the restoration effort!

Ah, Penang is such a nice city to walk around at night. Cheesy but true--it's like we were stepping back in time. Just keep your eyes on the beautiful buildings and ignore the cars.

This particular tri-colour lots reminded me of Krzysztof Kieslowski's trilogy Trois Couleur: Bleu. Blanc. Rouge. Definitely must-see.

The one time that everything looked perfect at Batu Ferringhi, we forget the camera in the car. Ah well, took some at the side of the road before leaving Batu Ferringhi.

Pretty little isolated alcove. We wondered how many proposals took place on these rocks.

Here's my CQ and princessalitah walking towards our favourite restaurant- the Nyonya Baba restaurant.

Behind this ancient facade were the yummiest Nyonya Baba cuisine we had ever tried.

princessalitah and I, squealed when they laid out the plates. See, my grandma had the exact same plate and that's the problem--she only had one plate of this design and we'd always fight over it at dinnertime.

The gorgeous interior of the restaurant. The owner was the one who told us about the old abandoned house. According to his mom who helped around the restaurant said she is 'an authentic Nyonya who serves authentic Nyonya food prepared from passed-down recipes and doesn't speak a word of any Chinese dialect.' Apparently, most Baba and Nyonya descendants have assimilated into the Malaysian Chinese culture.

Another great place that we found out from the museum--the E & O Hotel (Eastern and Oriental Hotel), which was started by one of the earliest Armenian settlers in Penang.
Decor was original and exquisite.
Hot chocolate: Divine
E & O sling: Overpriced and cough-syrup-like.

My CQ: Not so happy with his E&O sling but looking forward to having the hot chocolate next time we return to Penang.

Me: Soo satisfied with the whole trip. Hot chocolate was the perfect end for it.

Happy Birthday, Nenek

2009-10-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Ah, Missy

2009-09-27T19:20:00.000-07:00

How can you not love Missy and her songs.

Floral overdose

2009-09-24T05:20:00.000-07:00

I so want small floral print skirts and chunky necklaces now, to be worn with a bright yellow tank top, and blue/red flats.

Oh God, I sound as mad as the Brewsters in Arsenic and Old Lace. Please watch it.

floral skirts by schellea featuring Forever21

Do you have a light?

2009-09-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

A plain envelope tied with a rubber band was mysteriously delivered to my colleague, Mr D, this morning. Inside were these colourful mini lighters. Before Mr D could dash out for his ciggie break to show em' off, I managed to steal a few shots.

Band of 5.

Man, I love the RM7K office camera.
Love the vibrant colours!

Balancing precariously on the divider between me and Mr D.
Wish I had a reason to carry these cute buggers around. :)

Montage: Pearls

2009-09-17T04:09:00.000-07:00

...as worn in timeless elegance by:

Coco Chanel (1927)

Grace Kelly in

Rear Window (1954)

Audrey Hepburn (1961)

Jackie Kennedy (1962)

Sarah Jessica Parker, practically throughout SATC

Keira Knightley (2003)

Maya Karin (2008)

Michelle Obama (2009)

and the inspired:

Moi (2009)...hehe

Image source: Google.com (except the last one)

Buli bah kalo kau

2009-09-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

46 years ago to date, Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya to form what it is today, Malaysia. Pretty important date in history, eh? But this morning, a colleague of mine asked, “so, what's up with the holiday in Sabah?” I don’t blame him. Hardly anyone knows the significance of the date. In fact, hardly anyone knows anything about Sabah and Sarawak. Can’t blame ‘em. It’s a jungle out there in Borneo…hehe…

Mention the word Borneo and immediately blowpipes, headhunting and witchdoctors come to mind and rightly so--I am proud of that heritage, among many, many other things. Ok, I’ll list them out: there’s my sing-song like Sabah accent, my Sabah Malay, my Kadazan features, my folk stories, my language, my traditional attires--ok, so I can’t list them all now but they do make up my incredibly unique identity.

Now, what I don’t understand is that here in KL (West Malaysia), I get laughed at, to my face, everytime I speak Malay, because it’s heavily accented by my Sabah slang. Gas station attendants, cleaners, receptionists, airline hostesses, my colleagues, my bosses--they all make fun of the way I sound and my choice of words. So what if I say bubut instead of kejar? Or bikin instead of buat, or budu instead of bodoh?

I admit, I am offended. I wouldn’t call it racism, although it does come close, but more of ignorance.

I mean, we are separated by the whole South China Sea and we’ve only been ‘civilised’ for no more than a few generations so who is to blame? Right. We are, because we’re not doing anything about it. We’re not standing up to the taunts, we just take it. That is why I admire local Sabahans and Sarawakians who go on live tv, speaking confidently with our local slang. NO, they are not ‘jakun’ or ‘kampungan’. There is a difference.

I feel sorry for those who feel like they have to speak with a KL slang to avoid being identified. By doing that, sure, no one knows you’re from Sabah, so no one will laugh at you. That’s not the point, is it? You are already compromising yourself. You are declaring your inferiority. You are not moving up in the world by changing your slang.

So, today, I say to all Sabahans and Sarawakians who are away from home, think of your kampungs back home, think of your families and be proud of your heritage, your tribe, especially your race that still falls under ‘OTHER’ in every official form you fill in and if you’re gonna complain about that, make sure you’re using your native voice to do it.

Oh, and the next time someone makes fun of your slang, seriously, tell them, “Jaga, sa tampiling ko saaampai Sabah, baru ko tau.”

Happy Malaysia Day.

September in the sun

2009-09-13T06:13:00.000-07:00

The Aduks went on their very first trip together to KL and we got to play host!
They're the best guests ever that we were quite sad to see them leave. That one week of having them here passed by too quickly!

I gotta say, the Aduks know how to fill their days from morning till night!
They went to more places than I have, and I've been here in KL for almost two years!

I did feel left out as I was at work for most of the time, but I think they had tons of fun, especially Yaya.
We should just call it her 'swimming vacation'. You'll know why...

A must-go on their list was The Sunway Lagoon and boy, did they have a blast! Wish I was there :(

Yaya, the water baby.

Rock-climbing-- something the boys thought to be easy-peasy...

...but were beaten by the super-fast girl, Miss Bunni, in a sarong!

Yaya in her watery wonderland.

We got to spend Lindo's birthday, too! Happy 25th, Mr Bunni!

We ate at Daily Grind for the yummiest gourmet burgers in town.

My pretty Miss Bunni. So demure.

Pretty much my only picture that night- yup, the downside of being the photog.

My favourite part about the Aduks' visit- our trip to Langkawi! We stayed at Frangipani Resort & Spa: excellent choice, I must say.
Yaya's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw the pools.

She was in heaven.

Miss Bunni and her little Yaya-bunni spent quality time building sandcastles. When I took over, a huge, and I mean HUGE and powerful wave crashed over us and almost pulled my precious niece back to the sea.
Seriously the scariest moment in my life.

The boys loved the unusually high waves (for Langkawi), though.
They came back happy, sun-baked and well-exfoliated.

We then went to SeaWorld in Langkawi, which we never would have gone if not for Yaya, and as it turned out, we were also at awe at countless unique sea creatures...

...such as this frilly fella: the Weedy Seadragon or as Yaya calls it the Seaweedy dragon.

Our resort was indeed full of surprises--we only found out on our second day there that they have a saltwater swimming pool tucked away at the other end of the resort.
We preferred this to the usual chlorinated pools: better on the eyes.

Yaya's imitation of the 'fountains' on the side of the pool.

My CQ trying to keep up with Yaya,in vain. She has more energy than all of us combined.

The Langkawi trip was also the first trip for Miss Bunni and Miss Piggy together after a very long time, well since the USA trip in 2005.

Bye, Langkawi! I'll be seeing you soon! (Miss Bunni's cute ladybug flip-flops.)

We came back to KL with lots of memories and in time to celebrate Miss Bunni's birthday. You're a quarter of a century old, lil sista!

After cake, another must-do: Rock Band!

Miss Bunni also squeezed in some shopping time. Love the new dress, shoes and golden tan!

I miss you guys already!

And I'm back

2009-09-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

Over at my new blog site, there has been nothing but problems--I can't log in at first try, can't publish posts on even my fifth try and uploading pictures was a pain! The last straw was when my blog got 'lost' in cyber space. So, here I was, frantically 'searching' for my blog when at last it surfaced, as unstable as before. Sigh, it's worse than handling a teenager on strike! Not that I've ever had to...ah forget it.

Enough is enough.

I'm back to ol' Schellea. Good thing I didn't delete you! Thanks for sticking around. :)

Chelley Q

August for Miss Kitty

2009-08-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

We moved into our new place early last month and what a fantastic time we had- moving furniture around, unpacking and just making the place look very 'us'. We love our little loft-like place, especially after we've put up our favourite paintings, wall hangings and decorations.

Till our next move (we get very restless), I hope we'll have fond memories of our first little home.

First guest ever came last month to stay with us for four days and also celebrated her very belated 21st birthday here.

My baby sister is 21!

We celebrated with an elaborate dinner at Tarbush, followed by yummy cheesecakes and hot chocolate at home.

She also prefers playing Guitar Hero to going out to clubs to celebrate. Now, that's a good thing. Plus, everyone knows that Guitar Hero/Rock Band is sooooo much fun.

Also bought 4 new knickers from Forever 21, one of which was nicked by Miss Kitty. Aren't they pretty?

The next day, us girls lounged and cam-whored away while my CQ prepared the most scrumptious dinner for us.

Fajitas, guacamole and warm tortillas... Yummmm...

Followed by super delicious orange and blueberry muffins, and hot chocolate for breakfast the next morning.

And this pretty much summed up August for us- more of Miss Kitty and more food. Life is good. :)

Miss Piggy and Miss Kitty.

Tambunan, iri no kampungku

2009-07-25T23:54:00.000-07:00

I was going through my wedding pictures again, saw a few pictures of my Baki in it, wearing a dark suit, and looked like he had a lot of fun that day, seeing his first grandchild get married. I get choked up every time I see his pictures. He's such a wonderful, deep and wise person. My dad and his siblings look up to their dad- this quiet, humble and patient man, who looks decades younger than his 80 years of age.

I miss our quiet chats and his thoughtful advices. I love walking around his paddy fields as he points out the (still standing) house where he was born and grew up in, the streams where he took me and my siblings to play in while he tended to his padi, and the little town that hasn't changed much since I was a wee one.

I'll cover all four corners of the world in my travel, but I know that Tambunan will always remain to be my favourite place on Earth. I'm lucky I get to call it home, too.

Ah, till my next trip home, Baki! We'll have black coffee and crackers while you tell me more stories of our people, the Dusuns of Tambunan.

This is my Baki, my paternal grandfather who has seen so much and has so many beautiful stories to tell. He is a descendant of Borneo headhunters-- yes, lots of stories there.

This is Kipaku, a village in Tambunan up in the mountains of Sabah Borneo, where Baki grew up and where he has settled since he retired from the police force. Those are his vast padi fields, surrounded by gorgeous mountain ranges.

The house with the blue tank on the right hand side of the picture, is where he grew up in. The air up here is so fresh and cool-- we're hills and mountains and rivers away from pollution and urbanisation. And there's Baki, in his favourite camo-tee, looking as fit as a fiddle.

The view from my baki's patio-- lush fields where the padi has been harvested. Soon, they will radu the fields for the next planting season. This is where I spent most of my childhood at- just playing and running around with my siblings. This was our playground.

Stay green, stay beautiful, my Tambunan.
Tambunan, ii olumis om awantang, ii osogit-sogit, om osonong.

One of my relatives, planting rice or padi. Ah, I have yet to find a place as peaceful as my Tambunan! Time may have forgotten about you, but I haven't :)

More relatives planting padi.

Baki's cousin, carrying a wakid filled with little padi plantlets. She gave us a sweet, toothless smile after this photo was taken.

My baki and I... counting our blessings that we are, first and foremost, Dusuns who adore our culture and love the land that our past generations have stood upon.

Big thanks to Fran and John for the gorgeous pictures!

Looking back

2009-07-20T23:27:00.000-07:00

So much has happened in the past two years, some were well recorded in my last blog but a few precious events have gone undocumented. I love reading the old posts again but somehow, to continue blogging in the old site felt out of place. It was as if I was in a very specific frame of mind when I blogged in schellea and I can't seem to get into that mode anymore. It was, indeed, an emotional decision to move (it was to!)
I can so see you, princess salitah, rolling your eyes!

Sigh... I do envy bloggers who stay faithful the years and years of blogging in the same site. Damn, even the blogger in me gets restless!

Ah well, la dee da. I'm starting a new blog today, just in time before our real move to a new place. Can't wait to fill these white walls with entries on the new house, the new job, new travel stories and my new status as Mrs Q. Woohoo!

Next post-- June wedding. Now that's a good start to a new blog!

Here's to a new start!

2009-07-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm compartmentalising my life.
Past. Present. Future.

Presently, alot of moving is happening in my life.
Moving to a new work place. New job!
Moving into a new home. Hopefully in less than 2 weeks!
Moving into a new chapter in my life--hey, I'm married, I can be corny.

And I thought since I'm moving my life around, I can justify a move to a new blog site!

Yes, yes! Farewell dear old Schellea and hello Chelley Q!

Making the list with pictures!

2009-06-01T04:40:00.000-07:00

Packing list by schellea featuring Monsoon

Mush mush

2009-05-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

Let's see, I started today as I always do,
Went online after a glass of juice or two,
Tried to fill the day so I won't be blue-
I even thought of getting another tattoo.
No, wait- I'm way too scared so that's not true.

But I did go to Pyramid to try on some shoes.
Then a song came on, one of Frou Frou's,
That instantly reminded me of you,
So, nothing is helping, whatever I do,
Coz there's someone I miss and that's my CQ!

You're right, bedtime is the hardest part. Sniff.

1 week and 1 day to the wedding!

2009-05-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

The trip around Indo-China that brought us together

Today marks the last day for my CQ and I as an engaged couple in KL. Sigh. It's 6.30am and I just got home from taking my CQ to the airport. That's right, I should have been on that flight, too. Boo. But with last minute changes concerning work, that's right-- work over wedding in this case, I'll only be flying to KK on Tuesday, 2 June-- five days before our wedding.

We even had to move the wedding registration, which was scheduled on Tuesday to Wednesday. Since it was close to impossible for the Marriage Registration Office to make such last minute changes (they're fully booked with couples signing up to get hitched right up till August), the only remaining solution was that we could register before business hours. That's Sabahans for you! If they can open the Marriage Registration Office at 8.30am just so we can be registered, then they will..

So it's going to be a whirlwind of a week! I hope I'll remember to breathe because it has started- families flying in from the US and Canada, wedding plans spiraling out of control, tension building up and fried chicken making us sick (my CQ and I are super sensitive to bad cooking oil). Get better soon, my love!

For this week, which could be the craziest week of my life, I have to remember to-
1. stay calm because if something has not gone wrong, it will.
2. stay away from oily fast food because running to and from the bathroom in my white dress won't be a pretty sight.
3. get enough sleep. One word-- Breakouts!
4. go through every to-do list for every single day. They're all in my Wedding Folder.
5. refer to my Wedding Folder, when in doubt, because it has every bit of information about the wedding-- it is the Wedding Bible. Seriously, every Bride needs one.
6. to pack the Wedding Folder otherwise you are ~~fucked~~ doomed.
7. have fun coz it's our day!

The trip to Dubai where my CQ proposed to me in a shisha shack

2 weeks and 2 days to the wedding!

2009-05-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

Already? Arrgh...I should be panicking. No, I shouldn't. I'm fine. Actually, I really am calm. Maybe it was the much-needed facial yesterday. Thank you, Janice!
So, at 5pm yesterday, we arrived at Bluunis at Pyramid for a double facial date. :p It went well-- I hardly ever have any complaints when it comes to facials. If I can come out with my face feeling squeaky clean (and black/whitehead-free) and I'm all relaxed after being pampered for an hour, I'm as happy as a clam. Perfect timing too since it's 2 weeks and 2 days to the wedding! Happy pores make a happy bride.

Oh, I'm still deciding on a wedding cake design now and I'm leaning towards a two-tier one.

Two-tier cuties!

Mock-cakes that are 14 tiers high? Ewww... it may be really popular here but if there's something that I am completely opposed to, it's towering fake cakes. Why would you want fake cakes, I just don't get it. "But it looks good in pictures", so says my wedding reception coordinator.
Err...no, no it doesn't.
In a way, I am quite thankful that the wedding cake is the only big problem during the preparation. I have a weakness for chocolates, cakes and pretty much all types of pastry so duh, the wedding cake is important! Ah, another plus point for marrying someone with a sweet tooth, too.

Anyway, aren't these cakes just divine? Too bad Malaysia lacks good wedding cake makers. The ones that we visited have been very disappointing. From extremely bad service to horrible, ordinary sponge cakes with outrageous price tags. I'll just stop right there. My hen's night is tonight and I want to retain the good vibe till then. Yay!

I want this one, and the ones after this. I want them all! Yes, I'm a greedy pig.

If I do end up choosing this design, all pinks will be replaced by baby blue.

This is pretty unique as well. Very oriental.

Alas, too many choices, so little time!

Image source: TheKnot.com

Nature's gems

2009-05-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

Oh my, I just realised that my blog may be a bit too materialistic for my liking. Not that there's anything wrong with admiring the works of art of designers, but I thought I should balance out the materialism-ness of my previous posts with pictures of the trek to Chiling Waterfalls 2 weeks ago.

So we, a group of 12 people, boarded a bus from Sunway University and headed up to Chiling, North of KL. The ride only took a couple of hours and voila, we've escaped from the concrete jungle and into the wilderness.

Here's Yuka, the youngest trekker that day and what a good sport she is too! Didn't complain or whine the whole time we were there.

Before we started the trek, Yuka's dad made sure that she was safely tucked into the traditional sarong sling. Look at that face! She's totally loving it!
Here are the steps to get your joey into the sling. They're pretty self-explanatory.
1.

Happy baby all tucked in and ready for the trek.

The trail meanders through a low density vegetation at the start. Notice that there's hardly any shade so we always start the trek early, at least before 10am and get to the falls in time for lunch.

Going deeper into the rainforest. I love the change in the flora density-- more big trees, vines and giant creepy crawlies!

I love this trek because for the most part of the trail, it's shaded and not very hilly. I'm a lazy trekker, I know.

As we get closer to the river, the trail becomes a shared path with a stream...

and there the relaxing stroll ends and the skipping over stones starts.

This is the river where we have to walk/wade across five times before we get to the falls. Fun and kinda exhilarating especially when your steps become unstable and wobbly because of the river current and the uneven stones on the riverbed. Plus, it can be pretty hard to gauge the depth of every step you take so one wrong move could result in a wet bottom-- if you're lucky. ;)

Yuka was so fascinated with leaves. Yes, leaves. She kept saying how pretty they were. Ah, babies-- they are so easily amused.

More river crossing!

We reached the first waterfall-- beautiful and oh, so inviting, but we continued on since we knew that just beyond a hard climb (for me!) of a hill, we would reach a second waterfall, which is even more secluded and much prettier.

The hike up the said hill, was, like I said, a bit difficult and could be disastrous should you lose your footing, so it became our mission to get little Yuka to the second fall safely. She didn't mind being passed around over steep ledges-- what a little trooper!

The final passage before descending down the hill to the waterfall. I found this part very Lord-of-the-Rings-like-- all dark, cold and treacherous...haha, NOT!

To demonstrate how narrow the passage is, here's 6-footer Jeff, squeezing through.

There it is! The second waterfall. So pretty and definitely worth every step of the way.

I also found Yuka's lunch to be interesting. The butterfly seem to think so too. It was packed by her mom, Asami, in the most efficient Japanese style.

My CQ and me-- happy to swap traffic jams and pollutions of KL for peace and quiet of Chiling. This picture reminds me of what I said right after the picture was taken; that the air smelled of rain and freshness that just wakes you up.

Oh, and on my way back, trudging far behind everyone else (I am a slooow walker), I caught sight of a rabble of butterflies just soaking in the sun by the riverside! So, so beautiful!

This gurgling brook also caught my attention as it brought back memories of my childhood days of swapping fairytales with my siblings and making up adventures wherever we go. Ah, I miss those days.

A very, very happy me. Looking forward to my next trek!

Happy Teacher's Day!

2009-05-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

Clockwise from the top: Chocolate mousse cake, green tea cake, apple strudelly tartlets, sushi, sashimi

Ah, it's always nice to receive treats especially on ordinary days. My CQ's college celebrated Teacher's Day today and apparently they had a big celebration at the Great Hall. Ever the sweetheart, he snuck some of the yummy treats for me! He carried the goodies on a polystyrene plate with another one to cover it--all the way from the hall, to his office, to the foyer to wait for me to pick him up, and into the car all the way home.

Not once did he steal a single bite-- until I started eating, of course. Only then did he steal one of the three pieces of chocolate mousse cake. Hehe... Anyhoo, the unusual combination turned out to be just perfect as my dinner.

Happy Teacher's Day, baby! And thank you for the treat!

Hot hot Sunday!

2009-05-17T07:10:00.000-07:00

Today, the weather was burning hot... and I loved it!
Went for a nice lunch with the girls in Bangsar and then walked around for a bit, feeling the slight sting of the sun rays on our skin. I wasn't the only one liking it, because as soon as we walked out of Bangsar Shopping Centre, all four of us just stood there soaking in the heat and admiring what a beautiful afternoon it was.

As for me, today is the day that I became obsessed with the colour orange. I think it was the oversized clutch at Vincci+ that did it. It was in a nice pumpkin orange and in a size that could fit everything I usually cart around.

I didn't dare snap a picture since the shop assistant with the very loud, 'Can I help you?' matched with a 'get-out-if-you're-not-buying-anything' glare kinda made me head for the exit in no time. But, the clutch and/or the bright sun, made me crave for all things orange all day.

Orange Crush by schellea featuring Christian Louboutin Shoes
Like this ensemble (ignore weird proportions) laid out on a giant cushion with orange stripes.

Ah, to wear that breezy dress and over-accessorise with all those trinkets, with that clutch in hand and strutting down the sidewalks of Bangsar in those heels, while pigging out on a tub of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Ice-cream...hmmm, a bit much?

Yea, might be too Jack-O-Lanterny. Maybe with fewer accessories then.

What I think they would wear...

2009-05-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

I'm having so much fun with polyvore.com that I've come up with sets for my sisters based on their personalities and things they already have.

For Anne who likes elegant shades of white and pale pinks. I'm sure she wouldn't mind the Christian Louboutin heels.

Oh, Sai and your love for skulls. I hope you'll one day like bags like this Miss Selfridge one. Btw, that's a Tissot watch that she already owns!

May and her pink collection. I think this one is almost spot-on May-esque. She'll wear everything in this ensemble!

Ok, enough fun for today. Back to The Dress!

Words and Pictures: Remember...

2009-05-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

...the bride's checklist! At this point, the wedding takes centre stage in my mind. So, here's a lovely collage for this week's theme: Remember.

Oh, by the way, I compiled this collage on polyvore.com.
So.Much.Fun

Since the wedding will be a flight away, I have to make sure I remember these essentials once I start packing-- essentials that I will be wearing or have on me for that Day. Yea, two sets of accessories for two sets of dress changes, the white dress and the traditional outfit. Yikes, it's only 3 weeks and 3 days away!

Pip, from Melbourne starts a theme every week. See other blog entries for Words and Pictures - Remember at Meet me at Mikes.

Flight of the Conchords

2009-05-12T19:15:00.000-07:00

This is for my CQ who had a rough morning. This will definitely cheer you up, babe!

For those of you who don't know who the funny-looking guys in the videos are, I'd be glad to tell you because I love talking about them! They're part of a Grammy Award-winning two-man band called Flight of the Conchords. And this very talented duo from New Zealand are just as good as comedians as they are as musicians. They now have a tv show airing their second season, also called Flight of the Conchords. Check them out!

We're halfway through their second season now and man, are they hilarious! Jemaine's the one with the prominent lips and Bret is the smaller one with messy 'do. Oh, I just heard that their concerts are all sold-out in the States and Canada! Well done, boys.

Pre-wedding Pictures!

2009-05-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

My CQ and me in the dress that he got for me. :)

So, a few weeks ago, we had our photoshoot with the ever bright, funny and lovely Anna-Rina as our photographer. She's the best, people! We were so much at ease in front of her camera because she makes us forget that she's clicking away, with her stories and jokes. Oh, and her laughter is contagious. Teehee!
Click on the pictures to view larger images; you'll get to see warts and all.

I forget how we even got into these poses! I got these pictures from her equally interesting and gorgeous website at Anna-Rina Photography. Yea, and she has more to say about us there! Thanks again, Anna-Rina.

I was hoping we'd end up somewhere with graffiti and we did! Anna, you mind-reader you.

We're glad we left it to Anna-Rina to choose all the locations for the shoot!

And we didn't even need to leave Damansara!

I don't know how I managed to walk up and down hills and on uneven grounds without tripping over...
but I did scrape my knees pretty badly AFTER the photoshoot when I totally doubled over at the carpark of my apartment, on a FLAT and EVEN surface.
Oh, my CQ, you know you're marrying a klutz, don't you?

Backdate: Engagement Pics

2009-05-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

We just saw our pre-wedding portraits and I was just about to put it up when I just remembered that I have yet to upload the Engagement pictures! Ok, engagement comes before wedding, most of the time, so here they are-

We drove up to Tambunan, my father's hometown and took some pictures in front of a paddy field next to my grandfather's land.

Then, we headed to TVRC...

...where the thrashing fishes were huge in size!

This was taken in front of the ever-changing building in front of my grandparents house. First it was a playschool, then it became a bakery, then a storehouse and I don't know what it is going to be next.

Ok, now on to the next post with the pre-wedding pics!

Wedding Blossoms: Where is my flower power?

2009-05-11T05:42:00.000-07:00

3 weeks and 6 days to go!

When I started compiling my wedding scrapbook back in January, I was so sure of my wedding theme: Aquamarine Blue. That was easy. Then, when it came to deciding on the flowers, I thought that bright orange flowers would compliment the blue perfectly...

Orange calla lilies

...and they totally do!

Orange lilies, orange freesias, circus roses

More pictures of bridal bouquets coming up. Consider yourself warned.
Hey, everyone loves flowers, including indecisive people like me. Boo.

Calla lilies, orange roses, raspberry roses

Calla lilies, hypericum berries, red berries, roses

Calla lilies, gloriosa lilies, circus roses

Orange calla lilies

And then, I see shades of fuchsia bouquets and damn, I'm hooked as well.

Purple orchids, dahlias, calla lilies

Deep pink roses, hydrangeas, alstroemerias

Pink peonies

Fuchsia and burgundy peonies

Mokara orchids and roses

Magenta peonies

Magenta Dahlias

Fuchsia sweet peas, tulips, peonies

Fuchsia peonies

Dark red and pink peonies

The solution? I'm opting for something in between...

Orange calla lilies, red berries, dark pink roses

Pink and orange gerbera daisies

Dark pink and coral peonies, pink freesias, orange tulips

Orange, red and pink gerbera daisies

Good thing I gave my florist a heads-up on my possible last minute changes. Oh, Anne Florist, be kind!

Image source: Theknot.com and Brides.com

Michelle O steals the show

2009-05-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

Image source: Huffington Post

Just a quick post on Michelle Obama's gorgeous necklace that she wore for the White House Correspondents Dinner. Her simple ensemble managed to outshine everyone else's get-up. Wow, I can't get enough of the jewel-encrusted necklace-- it's as dazzling as Obama's speech and as memorable as Wanda Sykes's entertainment for the night. Hehe...it's a must-watch.

A poem for my sister on Mother's Day

2009-05-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

Anne and her precious Yaya taken during Christmas 07

You're a mother now

Anni-bunni you're a mother now,

But you're first my sister,

my confidante, my bosom buddy

my childhood friend, my mind-reader.

Anni-bunni, you're a mother now,

Your mini-me is such an angel,

She is clever, spunky, and funny too!

Oh, she so reminds me of you!

Anni-bunni, you're a mother now,

Motherhood isn't easy as celebs make it to be,

But you're doing a great job,

Just look at Yaya, she's reading at three!

Anni-bunni, I love you so much,

You have a special place in my heart,

I cherish our truckloads of memories,

I miss you and I hate being so far apart!

Happy Mother's Day to my beloved sister!!

The mischievous, lovable, oh-so-clever Yaya in 2008

A poem for my Mommy on Mother's Day

2009-05-09T19:51:00.000-07:00

My mom with her granddaughter/ my sister's precious girl

From me to you

Should I tell you I love you?
You know I do that almost every day
So, how do I start, how do i begin,
There is just so much for me to say,

Should I buy you a bouquet of flowers?
Oh, but that will just wither away,
and nothing can be more beautiful
than the garden you nurture with care.

Should I buy a card with poetic verses,
Oh but those lines are but my own,
As your daughter these words are true--
For all that you've done for me, I honour you.

Should I take you out to lunch,
Oh, but all in time we will forget,
As your friend, this I will remember
Hours of precious chats stored in my heart forever.

Should I remember you in what I do or say?
Oh, this I truly do, especially on your day!
As I am someone who wants to be more like you,
Because I respect you, because I love you.

by, Chelle

Words and Pictures - Fragrant

2009-05-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

When I think of the word 'fragrant', I immediately think of thick, hot chocolate and a tremendous sense of nostalgia washes over me. The aroma of melted cocoa binding with steaming hot milk, gets to me every time. I would hold the mug of hot cocoa close to my face, feel the steam rushing past my lips and my nose and I'm in heaven. This is, indeed, a ritual that I do for a full minute or so before I even take a sip and as I do this, a thousand memories come to mind. Hot chocolate will always remind me of home, of my mother's kitchen, of making my first mug, of long conversations with my sisters, of growing up, of leaving home, of going to universities where it was my source of comfort during bouts of homesickness. It continues to be a big part of my life (since I don't drink coffee) and it would then weave into memories of relationships past, of early dates and snuggles, of movie nights with my fiance, of cutting down my first Christmas tree in Peterborough (Canada), of girls night out, and of quiet times when I'm alone. It's comforting to have sips of it when you're troubled and feeling low, when you just want to be alone. No, it never solves anything for me but it does calm the mind so I can think more clearly.

It is the only drink that I can have at any time of the day, happy or sad, that makes me feel good without a hangover.

Pip, from Melbourne starts a theme every week. See other blog entries for Words and Pictures - Fragrant at Meet me at Mikes.

Heel and stay!

2009-05-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

I was browsing Style.com: Accessory Report: Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear and totally fell head over (colourful)heels with these babies. For the past two years, I've worn ballet flats almost every day and ever since my two favourite pairs have gone to shoe heaven, I have had no luck in replacing them. Maybe it's just time to teeter-totter in heels again.

AND, since Charles & Keith just planted a branch at Sunway Pyramid, I just might take a stroll down there to try on some colourful heels myself. Ones that don't cost as much as these ones. :P

Manolo Blahnik

I can't stray very far from stiletto heels. Will definitely give chunkier, thicker heels a try.

Jean Paul Gaultier
But must have pops of vibrant colours in my next shoe collection.

Cole Haan's Air Milano

Christian Dior
Will also pay more attention to heel details.

Bottega Veneta
I've never worn anything this chunky. Still,worth a try, even if it's just around the shoe shop.

Giambattista Valli
This I find to be really sexy! And herein starts a new attraction to ankle boots (because in Malaysia, don't even bother coming out in knee-high and forget about thigh high boots, unless you want your legs to melt away in this heat.

Christian Dior
Love the lace-up front and the unique heel.

Bruno Frisoni
I really like this one alot. The cut, the colour, everything! Plus, I'm confident I can walk comfortably in them.

Brian Atwood
I have a weakness for suede anything and this one looks really comfy
.

Balmain

Ok, maybe this one's a bit OTT. I'd lose a few buckles but love the rich colour.

Giorgio Armani
I have a soft spot for patchwork on booties!

Hermes
...and for anything that looks 'native'.

Sigh, I so need shoes. And I have a valid excuse- I'm down to my last pair. I've managed to wear out every single pair of wearable shoes I own. Sigh, patience...I have to honour my promise*.

* No shopping till credit card bills have been settled.

Picture source: Style.com

Cinema Paradiso (1988)

2009-05-05T22:09:00.000-07:00

At No.89 of IMDb Top 250 Movies is Cinema Paradiso. My CQ finally found the original copy, after years of searching for it instead of the director's cut version, which didn't really do it for me, either. So, we watched it 2 nights ago and boy, was I a wreck at the end of the film.

BFF: Alfredo and Toto

Set in Italy, here is a heartfelt story of true friendship, sprinkled with a father-son kind of love between Toto, the mischievous film-obsessed little boy and Alfredo, the humble projectionist at the local cinema, Cinema Paradiso. The two naturally fill an empty spot in each other's lives, Alfredo taking a father-figure role and Toto becoming the son he never had. Alfredo became a big part of Toto's childhood and youth, and in helping him realise his dreams.

Toto all grown up

This beautiful film is filled with nostalgic elements as we see the rapid changes in the film industry and the way the beautiful village transform through the years. I can understand why this is my CQ's favourite movie of all time.

Source: www.google.com

Ultra violet love

2009-05-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

To counter balance the not-so happy note of the last post, here is my latest eye candy-- the Marni Violet Suede Frame Clutch. The review makes it sound even more enticing-- I love suede bags, just gotta be more gentle if you want them to last long.

Shopping mood killers

2009-05-04T22:40:00.000-07:00

I just read this interesting article on Huffington Post-- Too fat for fashion: How Tanya GOld found size sixteen is shunned by designer brands. She takes you on a shopping trip down Bond Street, entering designer stores of fashion gods like Alexander McQueen, Prada, Yves St Laurent, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

But no stories worthy of SATC shopping spree comparisons here. Her excitement of finding the dress of the year is replaced by humiliation, anger and disappointment as none, none of these stores had anything in her size. So, yes, she went home empty-handed.

Her size not being available was not the only issue here, it was the snubby reaction she got from the shop assistants that got me flustered. Does this happen all around the world, then? That shop assistants give you the once-over look very, very slowly from your shoes, to your clothes, makeup and hair? That they stare even harder when you discreetly turn the item around to see the price. You know they're watching your every move. What ever happened to proper manners, that it's rude to stare?

Let me purge-- I was with my aunt at KLCC, just walking around when we passed Chanel and decided to go in. Now, she has a few walk-in wardrobes the size of my apartment, filled with things from all over the world and by the way, Chanel is only a so-so brand to her. Anyway, she casually asked if one of the handbags came in another colour and the snooty Chanel shop assistant took it slowly from her and said, 'Maam, this is very expensive'. I had to leave the store because knowing my aunt, who is my mom's sister, share the common Kan gene (yes, I inherited it, too)- a very quick temper. And yes, she lost it on the poor girl. By the time she came out, the Chanel shop assistant was at the verge of bursting into tears.

What is the reason, then, for such poor service? That my aunt spoke to her in Sabah Malay? That we were very casually dressed? That we did not enter under the guise of dark sunglasses and heavy makeup so they'll think we're celebrities by mistake? The question is, what type of people do they expect to be of service to? Paris Hilton? Gisele Bundchen? ~~Oprah Winfrey~~? Brad Pitt? Is it because they were hand-picked out of hundreds of applicants because they had the right look and that gives them the authority to hand-pick their customers too?

The thing is that a good service is often overlooked but usually goes a long way and guarantees loyal customers. My CQ and I were very loyal customers to Leo's Cafe in Taipan- we went there almost every week but one incident of bad service was all it took for us to stop going there.

So, in Tanya Gold's case, her shopping experience could have been a more fruitful and less emotional one if only the shop assistants had been more respectful and tried harder to assist her. Don't stare, don't gawk, don't ignore, don't look bored or snobbish and the world may be a better place to shop in.

Or maybe we shouldn't care so much about what other people think of us...

Just like Yaya, my niece who hasn't a care in the world. She'll stare at her reflection if she wants to!

Missed the muse

2009-05-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

The very pretty Pattie Boyd

Arrgh... I just saw Pattie Boyd in the news and the article reminded me of how I missed her exhibition when I was in Toronto last December. Yes, it still gets to me. We were right there on Queen Street West, looking into the gallery from the cold, cold sidewalk. It was Boxing Day. So, it was closed. Imagine our frustration! Yes, My CQ and I are huge Beatles fans.

We did see this picture of her and George Harrison, though as it was placed very close to the window display. She exhibited personal photographs taken during her time with George and Eric Clapton and her exhibition was aptly named, Through the Eye of a Muse. So, if anyone knows of future exhibitions by the enchanting Pattie, please let me know!

Flashy obsession

2009-05-03T19:02:00.000-07:00

What's a girl to do if she has one big Nikon SLR that's bulky, too complicated for a non-pro photog (like me) and one unresponsive, stubborn Casio compact digital camera that refuses to focus but is light, fits into my purses?

Get two new cameras or one camera that has the best of an SLR and a compact camera? Yes, yes, the latter, of course!

So, yesterday at the camera shop, my CQ and I browsed across the range of cameras manufactured by the big giants like Nikon and Canon but skipped past Sony of course (I am not a fan). Nothing jumps out at me until I saw the brochure for Olympus E-420. My heart skipped a beat when I read 'World's smallest digital SLR...' I then turned to the salesperson and asked to see the model.

He, the one with the spiky hair, said, 'Don't have it'.

Darn it...As I turned to walk away, I spotted it looking straight at me from the shelf right behind him. ~~Calmly~~, I snapped, 'Then what's that behind you?' The blithering idiot scratched his head, chuckled at his stupidity and turned around to get it for me. That's the kind of excellent service you get here.

Anyway, the camera felt so right in my hands and get this- it's light and definitely fits into most of my purses! It measures 5.1 inches by 3.6 inches by 2.1 inches, excluding lens and weighs 13.4 ounces. Weight issue, solved.

One feature that even impressed my CQ was its Auto Focus Live View meaning it enables you to take photos while you're looking at the LCD monitor (apparently, most SLRs don't have this feature but compact digital cameras do). I was also sold to the straightforward functions, the big LCD screen and lots more versatile functions. And of course, like a proper SLR, it comes with a wide range of Zuiko Digital lenses to choose from! I like!

One day, my darling 10-Megapixel Olympus E-420, you will be mine.

Source: www.olympusamerica.com

What would you say?

2009-05-03T03:30:00.000-07:00

"If you could go back 10 years in time and meet the younger you, what advice would you give her?"

I saw this question in a blurb of a chick-lit book. The title and the story of the book have escaped my memory but this question stayed fresh in my mind. So, after pondering on this for practically the whole balmy Sunday afternoon, I've come up with 10 pieces of advice.

Ok, here goes. 10 years ago, I was 18; ambitious and just starting university...

1. You're a late bloomer so don't worry so much about cup sizes. It'll go up 2 sizes more...hehe
2. Your favourite colour is not black. Experiment with more colours and styles.
3. Try the pixie haircut. Don't worry so much about what people will/might say.
4. Go to Bali like you wanted but was too afraid to.
5. Learn French or Spanish as your third language course. Mandarin was a disaster.
6. Take up fine arts as your minor. Music (flute) just added more stress to Biotechnology.
7. Do the science practical in Seattle, just like Anne did. See more places, people while you're at it.
8. Ditch the diet. It's never gonna work, honey.
9. Don't waste time with boys that make you cry, especially since THE ONE will come along eight years later.
10. Trust your instinct. Opt out if you're not happy and move to plan B. Always have a Plan B.

Yea, so it can't change the past but, who knows, could be useful to me now, especially No 2, 3, 8 and 10. Besides, a different past might not have my CQ in my present now. So, an advice for myself right now is-

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

My CQ and I on Halloween 07

Shichinin No Samurai (1954)

2009-05-03T01:06:00.000-07:00

Remember a time when action movies did not have CGI (Computer-generated Imagery), or slow motion effects, or fancy explosive gadgets, yet you were still moved and the story stuck with you till now? Well, I haven't seen a movie like that sans-'action movie prerequisites' since I dunno, Gone with the Wind? But man, the movie we watched last night had me on an emotional roller coaster throughout the 3-hour long Shichinin No Samurai, Movie No 13 on the IMDb Top 250 Movies of all time. Also, I have a fascination with samurai for as long as i can remember.

So, this excellent B&W movie directed by Akira Kurosawa, starts in a quaint Japanese village circa 16th Century, when class division was at its peak; samurai were roaming the streets proudly, revered and feared by many while the farmers were dirt poor and looked down on even by the scum of society. So, back in that quaint village, word got around that by the time the barley harvest is done, bandits would be attacking to rob them of their harvest, their belongings and of course, their women. Fed-up by this yearly curse, the wise ol' grandfather of the village, suggests that they hire samurai to protect them from the bandits. The pay? 3 meagre meals a day.

And so the group set off to town. Finding a willing samurai to police the village for no pay was trying enough, not to mention putting courage in the place of their pride to just approach a samurai. I mean, have you seen the swords they carry around in those days? Man, I wouldn't have dared.

They finally found 7 samurai, all via different and interesting circumstances, revealing their distinctive characters, and wildly different personalities.

I hate revealing spoilers but this is to be expected; that they guard the village to the very end and changed the future of the village forever. This is indeed a movie not lacking in action, substance or talent to bring out the full meaning of honour, loyalty and obligation.

No wonder it's still a top movie since 1954. Go on, google it. Or better yet, watch it. The swordfights are the best I have seen! Oh, and my favourite samurai *heart fluttering* is Kyuzo.

Picnic therapy

2009-05-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

Admiring pretty hibiscus is part of the therapy

Beautiful, sunny weather in the park at 10 in the morning, with cool breeze blowing...and my CQ and I were the only picnickers there. Where are all the people, the kids, the families? Oh yea, I forgot we're in KL- they're all at the malls!

Instead of flowers everywhere like parks in Europe, big green trees are more common in parks here. We need the shade

Beautiful parks and lakes but they're practically deserted. People complain that it's way too hot outside but come out early at say, 7 or 8 in the morning and the weather is just gorgeous right up to 11 am when admittedly, it can get pretty scorching right up to 3pm but it cools down again after that, making it perfect to be outdoors again till well, the next morning!

Home! View of Mt Kinabalu taken by my friend, Deirdre Ooi during our virgin climb up the 4,095 metre high mountain back in 1999. We were fresh out of high school!

Maybe it's just me, being a spoilt Sabahan, where we can hop on a speedboat and get to the islands in 15 minutes, or that we're an hour away from cool mountain air of Mount Kinabalu, or that the coastline of unending beaches are within driving distance and that the rivers are only a hike away from the main roads. Oh, how I miss home.

Sure, a picnic in the park can't compare to having a full-on picnic in those places that I just mentioned, but it'll do for now, to cure my urge and yearning to go back to Sabah.

I couldn't resist posting this picture, also from Deirdre's album. This is almost to the peak of Mt K, after a day and half hike.

That's it. I miss home.

When my CQ and I went island-hopping in KK aka home...ah,bliss!

Anyways, the picnic was so relaxing and de-stressing. I needed this. I needed this to get away from the concrete jungle around me, away from traffic, away from the apartment where we have teribbly noisy and rude neighbours, away from the stress of life. It's amazing what lying on a picnic blanket, snacking on yummy food, having quiet conversations and just being lulled by the cool breeze, can do.

One of the two big lakes at Kelana Jaya Park

So, our 'yummy food' consisted of Ritz crackers and 'the laughing cow' cheese, fresh strawberries and tiramisu and chocolate-coated almonds, and a carton of apple cranberry juice. The combination was absolutely divine! These are our staple picnic snacks and we always choose the same shady spot at the Kelana Jaya Park.

The staple snack spread

We did get lots of weird looks from people who were taking their morning stroll, though, as always. They must be thinking. Idiots! Picnics are sooo outdated! Ah, but we had a lovely time and that set the good mood for the rest of the day.

A very happy me ignoring that guy in the background who gave us the nastiest look. He needs to go on a picnic.

For a good day to end well, it needs the perfect dinner and movie combo. So, we had...leftover penne alfredo! Yumm...pasta is better the second time around. To top it off, we had Jacob's Creek Shiraz Rose 07. And the perfect movie?

Movie No. 13 of IMDb Top 250 movies: Shicinin no Samurai!

To be continued on my next post...