Pig--out @ Plum Village Restaurant

On the suggestion of wildgoose, the pig-out friends got together to try out Plum Village Restaurant in the suburb of Upper Thomson Road.

As Hakka Yong Tau Foo restaurants go, the place lives up to expectation. The signature dishes - stuffed yong tau foo, fried noodles and belly pork mui choy - compare favourably with the other Hakka Yong Tau Foo place.

The interior decor is done a la Chinese tea-house style, which gives it a nice warm feel. The lighting is not overly bright or harsh. Service is friendly, efficient and adequate. The noise level is well within tolerance range. In terms of ambience in a family-run Chinese restaurant, this place is a lot more pleasant than most.

It all added up to a nice evening of eating out with friends.

Plum Village is located at:
16 Jalan Leban
Singapore 577554
Tel: 64589005

sinlady banner

After many many many attempts, I finally managed to get photo of my California vanity plate to fit in the blog header. It involved using an online blog header generator, then saving it to comp and cropping.

There must be a more elegant way of doing this. Anybody? Help?

Something about girls and poles

They look cute, sweet and sexy. They are dancers, they are fitness enthusiasts. They combine pole-dance with exercise. The result is a strength building and sexy form of fitness training called pole-xercise.

Suzie Wong (below,) has been trumpeting the benefit of pole fitness and pole dance. I finally got the chance to see her and her friends at play/work last weekend.

I know it takes dedicated training to build upper arm and core strength to do the routine. The girls looked really really good.

I am tempted.

Dhoom Dhoom their way

As line dance goes, I really like this choreo to Tata Young's Dhoom Machale.

So do our heartland uncles and aunties.

Is it Art?

Or is it History?


He was my shelter, my refuge. With him and in him, I found reason to believe again. We drew comfort and strength from one another. He was everything to me, as I was to him.

He adored THE BODY. He was moved to studio lights, backdrops and shutter speeds. The result? Beautiful arty nudes. Over a period of three short years, a serious body of work was developed.

To this day, I see in every piece of his work a masterpiece of feminine beauty, intimacy and grace. I have never looked more beautiful or loved.

So the man put to me this question: If a woman enters into a relationship bringing with her these art nudes which in quality and quantity is worthy of a private gallery, how is the new love supposed to react to this?

Should he

(a) Be big about this and graciously accept her stand that this is a work of art that she treasures? or

(b) Kick up a fuss and refuse to have them in the new relationship on grounds that these are physical reminders of a past love relationship?

What would I do if asked to choose?

What would you do?

Floorplay@the Esplanade

When 20 pairs of competitive champion dancers come together on the same stage, the show is guaranteed to be a dance extragavanza. Every swivel, spin, spiral, sashay and strut is perfectly executed, every routine is dramatically delivered.

But what makes Floorplay so watchable for two energy-packed hours of ballroom dancing is the power of sex. The element of sexiness - raw, intimate, playful or adversarial - is set free to bond a man and woman as one entity.

This is what ballroom dancing has always been about.

Belly Babes

Is it just me or do these belly babes bring on the smile for you too?

I Love Getai 881

I am surprised at just how much I enjoyed 881.

Sure there was the fascinating glitz and glamour (lian-style) of getai. The catchy Hokkien tunes that play happily in your brain long after the movie ended. The familiar backdrop of family both dysfunctional and supportive.

But 881 transcends the immediate environment. I love the universal and timeless story of daring to live out one's dream. I love the certainty that loved ones never abandon you. That emotional support is all around you. That you only have to believe in yourself.

Now if only I can stop the "yo-ah-yo" still playing in my brain.

Presenting - Belly Divas!

This is exciting. A first ever all-inclusive magazine that covers the bellydance scene around the world! I love the picture-filled pages of events, festivals, competitions. Loads of pictures showing bellydancers at what they do best: dancing for the love of the dance.

What is most exciting is that Singapore is part of this awesome edition of Belly Divas. 3A Gurl's contribution is a well-researched article on the history and growth of the bellydance scene in Singapore. Stephanie Kan covered CAIRO! CAIRO! the mini Ahlan Wa Sahlan Festival presented by Claribel last year. All beautifully told in text and pictures.

I consider this a collectible edition of the magazine. For those interested in getting a copy, the magazine is available at:

Claribel's Raks Sharki Studio
153 King's Road, #01-01 Farrer Court,
Room C, Clubhouse, S. 266367

Tel: 6474 3459
email: claribel_ng@hotmail.com

Golden Girl

I am impressed.

She celebrated her big birthday by hosting an elegant dinner party for 50 guests. She requested that there be no presents, that a donation be made to her charity of choice instead.

The evening was all about friendship, relationship and celebration of the good things in her life.

There was no meaningless statement about 50 being young. No corny over-the-hill jokes. No inane pronouncement about 50 being the new 30 or 40.

There was just this beautiful woman - gracious, happy and confident - enjoying every moment of life. Past. Present. Future.

I am truly impressed.

Thank you Simone

I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, DEFINITELY LOVE THIS!

THANK YOU *MUACKS*

Saturday Tea Treat

After many many attempts, I finally managed to break away from work to spend a whole saturday afternoon with the Bling-girl and Wildgoose.

It was sinfully luxurious to spend a leisurely afternoon indulging in the 5-C's: chow, chai, coffee, cake and chat.

Especially the chat. About anything, anybody. Light stuff, deeper stuff. Personal plans, hopes, aspirations. Big news, little news.

The Bling-girl's bling-baby is expected in early November. Wildgoose's wedding is in January. Both are radiant, happy and excited about preparing for their life-changing day.

It felt so good to sit back and spend an entire saturday afternoon indulging in the 5-C's. Especially the chat.

I don't believe

anyone who tells me he/she remains best of friends with his/her ex.

I categorically, irrevocably, unambiguously stand by my conviction that this is an impossibility.

So if you want to keep my respect for you as a person, NEVER tell me you and your ex are now best, good, or just friends.

Grieve for the loss and then get on with your life already.

Pig-out @ Moi Kong Hakka Restaurant

Moi Kong came to mind when the pig-out friends had a craving for Hakka food. We have been going to this restaurant over many years. It was a lunch time favourite in our early years as working stiffs on nearby Shenton Way. We have never been disappointed with the quality of food or service at this 40 year-old establishment.

It is an old style family-run Chinese restaurant that prides itself on tradition and authenticity. We consider their Hakka Yong Tau Foo and Hakka Fried Noodle to be signature dishes.

But of course we would never think to neglect any of their special recommendations. So, as we have done so many times in the past, we gleefully ate our way through an ever-growing list of favourites.

Moi Kong Hakka Restaurant is located at:
22 Murray Street (Food Alley)
S. 079529
Tel: 6221 7758

update December 2008 : the restaurant has reopened at
10 Lim Teck Kim Road
S. 088938
Tel: 62261523

last update: this restaurant has since closed.

The action @Actors the Musicals Bar

Montage post production by JohnnyM Photography

Be glad there is one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came

You want to go where people know
People are all the same
You want to go where everybody knows your name

(theme from Cheers)

It has been a very long while since I was last at Actors the Musicals Bar. For many reasons. Maybe for no reason. I am not sure which. And it didn't matter.

I was greeted with squeals of surprise and delight from the girls. I happily acknowledged the big smiles and goofy grins from the guys. I got big hugs from everybody.

I draw comfort and assurance from the many familiar faces. I am curious about the new faces, strangers who will become friends before the night is over. This ready reception and acceptance is what I remember and love about Actors.

And then, there is the open mike - the singular feature that distinguishes Actors from other bars. The musicians and singers are Actor's own customers. Which makes for a supportive environment for performers (newcomers and veterans alike) to take to the stage. The genre and standard of music depends on who happens to be there. But no matter. You always have friends in the audience.

Aspiring musicians and singers looking for lessons before going on stage, click here. The rest of you who are so ready, the friends will see you at Actors very soon. Where they will soon know your name.

Actors, the Musicals Bar is located at
13A South Bridge Road
S.058657
(After Boat Quay bridge, left hand side
above 7eleven opposite the Riverwalk
parking at Upper Circular Road)

Tel: 98529988 (ask for Freddy)

Dance with me

I love to dance. With whoever, whenever, wherever. Which meant I did not get to dance often.

Because there are few men who can dance. I mean really dance. I am talking about a man who can take a woman in his arms and sweep her across the dance floor with grace, polish and confidence that it takes her breath away.

To keep in practice, I join dance classes. It was a flawed rationale because there was always an acute shortage of men in class. Out of necessity, I became a "guy".

It was an eye-opener. This may be an obvious statement, but the guy has a lot of responsibilities.

He has to lead. He has to decide moves and transitions. He has to navigate across the dance floor without colliding into other bodies. He has to keep to beat. He has to gauge the ability of the lady so that she always looks and feels beautiful. Just getting used to the hand-wrist movements to turn/spin the lady is worthy of a full course all on its own.

Perseverance and experience paid off. I have become a very credible lead. I frequently get requests to be partner for dance events and shows.

I humbly oblige. Because I love to dance. With whoever, whenever, wherever.

It's alive!

Awww... doesn't it take will power to resist giving it a hug?

Hatchli Hatchli on the wall

It has been a dreary rainy week which effectively eliminated any thought of doing anything outdoors. We took the opportunity to do some long overdue D-I-Y projects in the home.

For a start, we finally got our hatchli's wall-mounted. These are door rugs originally used to cover the entrances of turkoman tents.

I am sooo impressed with the man's talent as a handyman!

We have two more blank walls to cover. Any guess what will go up on those?

Pain in the ...

It started with a vague ache near my left heel that was tender to the touch. I ignored it the past two days and carried on with my usual dance practice.

By this morning, I was not able to bend my foot downward nor walk properly. I was actually limping!

The man, my in-house doctor and personal attending physician, pronounced his diagnosis. I have achilles tedonitis. How did it happen? Apparently, it is a common injury caused by overuse of dorsiflexing the foot.

The crushing blow is that this is an injury that must not be worked through, or I will actually rupture the achilles tendon. In which case it is surgery and living in a lower leg-foot cast for a couple of months.

I am now on paracetemol (doctor's orders) and hot compress. And limping. It is the limping that is getting to me.

D-I-Y Popiah

There is no labour saving method to making a good popiah.

First the filling. All ingredients - bangkuang, carrot, bamboo shoot - have to be finely julienned and then slowly stewed in stock.

Then there is a long list of favourite condiments to complement the filling - prawn, lap cheong, crushed peanut, shredded omelet or hard boiled egg, bean sprout, cucumber.

Finish with just the right balance of sweet sauce, pounded chilli, minced garlic.

All this to be wrapped tightly in paper-thin dough skin that must be soft yet resilient.

So when the girlfriend said to come over for her mother's homemade popiah, I was delighted. When she said her mother has not done this in 10 years, I was touched.

I have friends over for dinner frequently. But the last time I made popiah dinner was when I turned 21. That was a v-e-r-y long time ago.

Why Bellydance?

Bellydance is performance art at its best. The dance form is grace, self-expression, communication and connection all at the same time.

Bellydance is fun at any level. It is always a crowd pleaser and nearly always elicit a response of "Wow, did you see that? How did she do that?"

Bellydance is self-affirming. No bellydancer is ever too old, too fat, too ugly, too klutzy. The beauty in a bellydancer is reachable, accessible, understandable. Every bellydancer knows she is beautiful.

Bellydance is a skill that is uniquely yours and can never be taken from you.

So, I may be involved in several other dance forms but I will always have bellydance in my life.

My DNA says

Following on the heels of imp and wildgoose, here is

my personal DNA report.

What scary stuff I never knew about myself :)

Bellydance bellyache

I attend bellydance dinner-shows every chance I can. These are typically small productions by individuals who usually own and operate their own bellydance schools.

There has always been hitches with these events:

1. The quality of the shows is inconsistent.
2. The line-up of performers can change without notice or explanation.
3. The producers have unmanageable egos and are prone to throwing temper fits at their paying guests.
4. The producers impose nonsensical restrictions on paying guests (eg your friends from another table may not sit at your table even if you have empty seats).
5. The shows use this one singularly corny, sexist, insufferable bore of an MC.

I put up with these bad practices because

- I want to support the producers who bring in these shows.
- It is a chance to see some of the best talents in the world of bellydance.
- I love the dance and the dancers.
- Many of my bellydance friends generously donate their time to these shows.
- It is always a time to catch up with friends.

I was looking forward to attending one such event. I persuaded some friends to join me, and one of them volunteered to get the tickets. Nothing went right:

- The ticket price was not as posted on their website. An oversight, so claimed the flunky who was managing the ticket sales.
- Then the flunky claimed the show was completely sold out.
- Then the flunky changed his mind and said there were still tickets available.
- But the tickets were not with him at the time.
- The producer had all the tickets with her.
- The producer was in Perth.
- So, the flunky blithely told my friend, she would just have to come back another day.

NO!

Neither the friend, nor any one of us for that matter, will come back another day to repeat this exercise in time-wasting. In fact, we will not be attending any more bellydance dinner-shows if they are not better organised, managed and presented.

There comes a time when I cannot and must not make excuses for shoddy treatment and pay for that dubious privilege. That time is now.

the 7th of the 7th 07

This is a record breaking day for weddings. I am not at any of them. How come?

Oh well, I'll get over it :)

May all you newly-weds have many happy years together.

Breaking silence

We were all regulars at this place.

I considered her a big star at the mike as she belted out hits from the Carpenters, Helen Reddy, Carol King. I thought she was awesome, so confident of herself as she made the rounds - introducing herself to newcomers, catching up with news and gossip with the regulars.

I chose to be deaf when she would relish in revealing dirty little secrets of any and everybody. I chose to ignore her lurid re-telling of her sex life with the worthless bum that she so obviously adored. I told myself everybody enjoys a little juicy gossip to spice up their lives.

But I had to re-assess my favourable impression of her when she attempted to insinuate rivalry between friends when none existed. Initial mild annoyance quickly escalated to watchful alarm before eventually graduating to outright rejection of her from our lives.

I hear of her life unravelling. The bum was openly running around on her; her once illustrious career has stalled; she has put on a ton of weight.

I want to feel some sympathy. But she persists in pushing all the wrong buttons with us. She takes malicious pleasure in creating discord with semi-truths if not outright lies every chance she gets.

I see her now as an insanely jealous vile fat ugly unloved and unlovable old fool.

I finally accept the fact that she had always wished bad things upon us.

I find vindication in breaking silence today.

My gallery

I would dump the new relationship.

There will be too much baggage to overcome. I am not willing to recant or renounce anything of my history.

I am who I am today because of everything I have lived through.

I am entitled to be me.

I can dance

She phoned out of the blue. I have not heard from the girlfriend in months.

But our relationship is like that. We were schoolmates. We move in different professional and social circles. We get together for the occasional lunch or dinner a handful of times a year.

She was organising a thank-you and birthday party for special friends. She thought it would be a wonderful idea if I'd bellydance for them.

Caught totally unprepared, my immediate response was like, "No lah. I have no time to prepare."

She, ever the wise and patient one, simply and quietly said, "Look, why don't you think about it and call me back? It would mean a lot to me."

I got to thinking:

- It was a sincere request from an old friend.
- It would be false modesty on my part to refuse on the basis that I am "not good enough".
- Even more lame to say I have no time to prepare.
- I did not even have firm plans for the weekend.

In other words, there was no good reason to say no, only selfish ones. In fact, there was every reason to say yes:

1. My girlfriend thought enough of my ability to ask me.
2. Bellydance is always a crowd pleaser.
3. I can bellydance.

This group turned out to be a very responsive and receptive audience. The ladies readily warmed to the dance. They were thrilled to try; we were all ecstatic to manage a little choreography so everyone became an instant bellydancer.

I remember again why I love dance - it brings joy to everybody. I am grateful I can dance. And even more grateful for the chance to share this joy.

Pig-out @ Lao You Ji

Question: How many snouts can fit in the trough?

Answer: M-A-N-Y when the food is soooo good.

Lao You Ji is one of those seafood tze-char places that serve up some outstanding specialties that will make even the most jaded of palettes take notice.

Two such dishes are:

Steamed bamboo clams smothered in fried garlic done to perfection - succulent meat against bursts of crunchy garlic bits.

Meaty giant crabs the size of your dinner plate on a bed of bee-hoon fried in the juice of the crab.

Applications open for next pig-out. Bring snout.

Lao You Ji is located at:
245 Outram Road
Singapore 169046
Tel: 6221 5280

Yesterday once more@Shashlik

All my best memories
Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry
Just like before
It's yesterday once more

Carpenters, 1973

Shashlik brings back a flood of memories. Good memories. Memories of a time when we were young and dating and happy even if broke most of the time. A time when there weren't very many steak restaurants to choose from and Shashlik was the answer to a stylish dinner date in the late 70s.

One recent evening when the man was visited upon by nostalgia and sentimentality, Shashlik came to mind. It was like stepping back in time some 25 years. The dim lighting, the overly dark wood furniture, the so-very-70s leather-bound chairs, the service trolley, even the Hainanese ah-kor's (servers) were all just as we remembered them.

There was no need to look at the menu. We knew exactly what we came for. We started with their famous borscht soup, shared a chateaubriand steak, and eagerly looked forward to the bomb alaska. Every detail was as we knew it would be.

The borscht soup without beetroot, the entree sizzling on a hot plate while the trimmings were being assembled in full view by your table, the bomb alaska flambe'ed before your eyes. All done with the courtly manners of the old-style ah-kor's on trolleys with squeaky sticky wheels.

We want to commit every detail of the place to memory. We want to remember our favourite ah-kor from our courtships days - now 70 years old - still going about his business in that familiar no-pandering fashion.

As the evening drew to an end, we took a long last look at the place. Finally, with reluctance, we stepped out of the restaurant and walked into the present.

Shashlik Restaurant is located at:
545 Orchard Road
#06-19 Far East Shopping Centre
Singapore 238882
Tel: 67326401

Hosgeldiniz

اهلا و سهل Ahlan wa sahlan

otherwise, Welcome...

Our front entrance done turkoman tentage style
with tent band, mafrash cushions and even a camel garland.

Pig-out @ Quan Xiang Yuan

Quan Xiang Yuan is one of our pig-out restaurants. It is the type of Chinese restaurant you go to when eating is all that you are after, and you take only good friends who are on the same mission.

The food is consistently good in that home-cooked-goodness way. Don't expect any clever twist to the usual standard dishes of Hokkien fare whether steamed, fried, braised or boiled.

There are no soft touches to this place. The decor is strictly utilitarian - stark white tiled walls and floor, stark white florescent overhead lights, basic wooden chairs and round tables that seat 6 to 12 people. All the better to hose down the entire place when a general cleaning is called for.

The service is basic and minimal. Your entire 10-course dinner appears in 20 minutes. You do not get a change of service plate. When it eventually becomes desperate and necessary to get new service plates, the wait-staff will gladly hang back and let you self-serve.

And the noise. This is not noise from noisy eaters expected of Chinese restaurants. This is rude intrusive din from the wait-staff clearing tables. Do not hope things will quieten down when the place empties out. There will be no let-up in the clanging and slamming of utensils and crockery. Every minute that you are there. Any night of the week. No relief. No exception. No hope.

The restaurant is reputedly a favourite hang-out for taxi-drivers who come for the home-feel of the place.

We don't relate to that sentiment. We come strictly for the food. We would come a lot more often if there could be just some small improvement in comfort level.


Quan Xiang Yuan is located at:
252 Jalan Besar
Singapore 208925
Tel: 6294 6254

I love my Basbousa(بسبوسة)

otherwise, an exotic semolina dessert of arabic origin

baked to a honey golden brown
steeped in a light lemony syrup
a divine sweet finish to an elegant dinner

i did soooo well for a first attempt

Bellydance festivals

I only just found out about this mega event:

Dina, the living legend of bellydance, will be performing at the International Belly Dancing Convention 2007 in Las Vegas (July 30 to August 4)

It is too late for me to schedule my work/life to attend this. Sigh.

If any of you make this event, I'd love to hear all about your experience.



I can, however, start to plan on going to the Istanbul Gypsy Festival in May next year.

Incidentally, I have stayed at the Hotel Hali - the hotel of choice for this festival.

Actually, I have been everyplace and done everything mentioned in this itinerary. But I will happily do them all again :)

Any of you joining me?

Bellydancer Quiz

What Kind of Belly Dancer are You?

You are a Cabaret Belly Dancer! You're what people think of when they hear the words "belly dancer" -- the beaded bra and belt, the nightclub routine, the doumbek and the zills. Equally at home in a restaurant or at a hafla, your routine is a crowd-pleaser no matter who's watching! Keep shimmying! Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

I LOVE this!! If you take the quiz, let me know your result please?

Hafla@Samar

Magic happens when women get together for a night
of ...dance, music and food. Samar Cafe

magic happens tonight because

I am free
to let the music move me
to dance for you
to laugh and share
the love I have for you

tonight magic happens

Click here for review of hafla by M.E.D-aze

Samar is located at:
1 Baghdad Street
Singapore 198906

Tel: 63980530
Fax: 62264605

Food, Glorious Turkish Food

Do not dismiss the dish saying that it is just, simply, food. The blessed thing is an entire civilisation in itself. (Abdulhak Sinasi, writer, 1883-1963)

Come for the history, stay for the food. (anonymous)

Misir Carsisi (otherwise, the Spice Bazaar)

Lead me through this fantasy land
Where I will find
Candy and sweetmeats by the barrel
Exotic spices by the sackful
Sturgeon caviar of the Caspian
Natural sponges from the Aegean
Shelves full of dried fruits, nuts and sweets
All these, and more, much more
To be had for the asking

Ottoman Splendour

(L) Nuruosmaniye Mosque

(R) Mosque of Sultan Ahmed (aka Blue Mosque)

(L) Aya Sofya

(R) Upper Gallery of Aya Sofya


(L) Topkapi Palace entrance

(R) Iznik Tilework in the Harem in Topkapi



The timeless beauty of Ottoman architecture still captures the imagination today as it did 400 years ago.

Pretty Streets, Pretty Homes

I've always wanted a real home
With flowers on the window sill ...

Where you lead by Carole King

Carpet Lover

This Kirghiz came home with me.

Every carpet lover has her favourite carpet merchant. He is the one who has
the best selection at the best price. He goes the distance for you in your
search for that rare piece you have set your heart on.

These are my guys.

Kapali Carsi (otherwise, the Grand Bazaar)

The Grand Dame of Bazaars - the Kapali Carsi - still stands majestic today.

No visitor can resist the dizzying array of goods sold here - modern and traditional, arty and tacky, mass-produced and unique. It is like walking into Aladdin's cave of treasures.

Every tourist comes away believing he just clinched the best deal of his life because he bargained really hard and long.

Reality check: the tourist is testing his bargaining skill; the vendor haggles for a living.

Forget Aladdin's cave; the unsuspecting tourist is in a nest of vipers.

Gypsies in Kumkapi

...Gypsy Dance by All about Eve

Leave me where I can do no wrong
It is night-time and their fires burn
Alt that matters here is song and dance
It is my time and their hearts, they burn

In a circle, in a ring
Gypsy dance, gypsy sing
Gypsy dance to the tambourine
In fields of green

Promises of fate and destiny
Old woman... I don't want to know
Anything tomorrow brings will be
When this hour is yesterday's ghost

                             

Kumkapi was recommended as the place where locals go for good food, drinks and music. The entire street is filled with restaurants; tables are on the streets next to each other.

Gypsy musicians and belly dancers go around the tables. Be warned that the entertainers expect to be tipped generously.

Temple of Apollo @ Side

Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?

first lines, voiceover, Troy the movie (2004)

Think golden god Brad Pitt - er..ehem..Achilles - leading the charge from shore to desecrate the temple of Apollo.

The beach resort town of Side (say see-deh).

Is it just me, or does Side look a whole lot like Santa Barbara (below)?

Old towne Antalya

Time stood still in this place.

We embraced the mysticism of Kaleici.

We surrendered to the quiet, the quaint,
the queer of this old quarter of Antalya.

For two full days, we forgot the world of today.

Clockwise from top left:
view of old quarter Kaleici, our hotel room (with open window),
view of castle wall from our hotel window, narrow winding street of Kaleici.

Clockwise from top left:
Rooftop of hotel, zigzag pattern of rooftop, carpet shop outside hotel,
tunnel leading to rooftop of hotel.

Be back soon

I think this is the most fascinating country to visit.

I love everything about it - the food, the shopping (carpets), the culture, the shopping (ethnic bling bling), the people, the history, the shopping (bellydance stuff), the nightlife, the shopping (girl stuff), the historical sites, the shopping (did I forget anything?)

Be back in 2 weeks.

Girl Stuff

No vacation is a real vacation without shopping for stuff. I don't do the serious high-end shopping of brand name stuff, Paul Ropp being the exception.

I enjoy picking up trinkets, ethnic jewelry, funky street clothing and such wherever I go. And I would pick up extra pieces of everything with the girlfriends in mind. Nothing useful. Just fun and quirky things. The girlfriends sort of do the same thing for me.

It just crossed my mind that if we actually wear what we get for each other, we end up dressing alike *haha*.

And we should all be so thankful that I recently dropped nudist camp from my list of vacation spots *GRIN*

Wedding Bells

We women just LOVE weddings. We love the idea that the princess meets her prince, they throw a grand wedding party and live happily ever after.

So when the girlfriend announced that there will be a wedding soon, we were all atwitter with excitement. And when the planning details got to be overwhelming, it was an excuse for us to spring into action.

We put together dinner, the newly-weds brought out the champagne, our favourite pole-dancer baked her famous buttercream cake. We make such a expert team of wedding planners.

It was a fruitful evening: we women shared tips, information and experience about throwing the perfect wedding party. We know we will get together again for progress reporting.

And maybe further along the planning path, we might remember to ask the groom-to-be what his preferences are...

Phantom of the Opera @ the Esplanade

I wanted to fall under the magic spell of The Phantom of the Opera. Just one more time, I wanted to be seduced by the Music of the Night, to live the romance of All I ask of You, to be haunted by the The Phantom of the Opera.

None of this happened at the Esplanade. There were the elaborate costumes, the seamless scene changes, the extravagant dance sequences, the lavish set. But the magical suspension of reality that draws you into the world of the Phantom did not happen.

There is a sense that this whole production is tired. I am not alone. Johnny Malkavian thought "even the chandelier looked a little squashed". The Pensieve thought Music of the Night "wasn't as powerful and lingering" as he remembered.

When the curtains finally, thankfully, came down there was no standing ovation; there was only polite applause.

Escape in Samui

If you like Pina Coladas

And getting caught in the rain
If you're not into yoga
If you have half a brain
If you'd like making love at midnight
In the dunes on the Cape
Then I'm the love that you've looked for
Write to me and escape

Escape (The Pina Colada Song)

Rupert Holmes

Click here for audio

Samui brought this song to mind.
I LOVED it in 1980.
Still love it after all this time.

Tranquility Short-Circuited

I can see clearly now...

...I can see all obstacles in my way...

Look around,
there's nothing but blue skies...

Impressions from Samui
March 2007

Tropical Loveland (Samui)

Come to my loveland

Wander along beautiful gardens
Full of flowers and song
Come to the sunshine, beaches and sand
...won't you come to my land

Tropical Loveland by Abba

Resort Living

We stayed at this Thai village-style resort.

Picture clockwise from top left:
rooms with private terrace overlooking lush tropical garden,
buffet breakfast at Chomtalay, breakfast eggs cooked to order,
cottage room with private garden.

... the beauties of Samui ...

It is only 10 o'clock in the morning.
It is already a wilting 32C/90F in the shade.
I am resigned to feeling icky sweaty the rest of the day *sigh*.