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*.

Samba in Samui

We are well acquainted with churrascaria Singapore-style:

We start with a buffet spread of appetisers and salads which is already a meal in itself.

Then we begin our gastronomic orgy. Waiters bring skewer after skewer of barbequed meats that are sliced over your plate. We eat till we cannot stand the sight of another morsel of food.

At Zico's, the experience is more than the food.

There is the entertainment: Resident samba dancers, a live band, and a resident DJ inject a carnival atmosphere that rounds up the night nicely with a party feel.

The hypnotic rhythm of the samba beat stays with us long after the feeding frenzy is forgotten.

Zico's Brazilian Grill & Bar
	c/o Central Samui Beach Resort 38/2, Moo 3, Tambon Bo Phut 84320 Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand Tel: 0 7723 1560-3 Fax: 0 7742 2385 E-mail: zicos@chr.co.th

Note to my impatient readers : There! Done! After starting this post a full 24 hours ago. Now go sleep! Oh, one of our bellydance friends called to ask when I will finish the post. haha

Happy Landings

Top L to R: the runway, Samui Airport sign, international arrival, baggage handling.

Bottom L to R: check-in counter, snack bar, departure gate, Captain and crew.

Happy body art on Bangkok Airways.

It's been many months since we went any place.

Ko Samui fitted our idea of a quick get-away: flight time is under 2 hours and a 3-night stay is enough.

Samui airport deserves special mention.

It is an open airport: your flight lands and takes off on a runway that is in the middle of tropical vegetation. All airport processing - arrival, immigration clearance, baggage claim, check-in, departure - is done in a cluster of open wooden huts. The feel of the place is definitely kampong.

It was a sweltering 36C/97F humid evening when we arrived. The air was stiflingly still. There is not a single air-conditioned place in the airport to duck into. So we wilted while we helplessly waited for our baggage in the baggage claim hut.

We are soon to realise there are simply very few air-conditioned places on this island.

Movie Night

I am not a movie buff.

I have a tendency to fall asleep in the middle of movies.

Understandably, I prefer to rent movies to watch in the comfort of home where I can start and stop the movie at any point.

I habitually watch movies in 20-minute instalment over several nights.

I got around to watching House of Sand and Fog (2003) on dvd recently when my comp was sent to comp hospital.

I was not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong.

How good was the movie? I finished it over two nights...

Starting over

The dance sessions have resumed after a short break over the easter weekend. I did not hear from my one-time dance partner since the last time. I had thought to call her, but I did not. I would not know what to say or what to expect.

So I took the path of least resistance. I did nothing to re-trace steps, re-hash events, re-new the relationship. Instead there is a sense of relief that the partnership is over. It is not unlike a love relationship that was ailing and limping along because neither partner wanted to address the problem. And when it finally ends by attrition, both are mutually grateful to be unshackled.

She did not show up. That is not unexpected.

I have a new partner. When we started our dance, I was acutely aware that I could hear the music again. There is joy in starting over.

Woman's Best Friend

A woman's best friend is another woman
who stays loyal to her in her darkest hour.

She is the woman who is there for you

when you need a shoulder to cry on,
when you need understanding,
when you need to hear the truth,
when you need to speak your truth.

She heals your soul and mends your spirit
with patience, empathy, sympathy, kindness and trust.

She restores in you faith and love for yourself and gives you reason to believe again.

I am fortunate that I have such a friend.

And I know I will be there for someone else
who needs me in her darkest hour.

This Last Time

I do not know what happened this last time.

She has been my dance partner for the past 3 months. For 70 percent of that time, she would arrive some 45 minutes late for the class which is an hour and half long. Her reason for her lateness? She lost track of time because she was out shopping.

In case you wonder, yes, I have asked if she was at all even interested in this activity. She said she LOVED this dance class followed by how she felt badly that I was held back because of her tardiness.

In case you wonder, no, I did not find her answer logical. But I also said and did nothing about it.

So it became our routine: I would show up on time, dance with whomever might be alone. Or I would go through the routine partnerless if no one else was stranded. Then finished the rest of the routine with her when she eventually showed.

So this last time in class, things were going according to routine. I danced with another lone soul until she finally showed.

Except this time, she pointedly told me I should have sms'ed her since I did not need her, so she need not have hurried over from her shopping. And then she walked out.

I have not heard from her. I do not know if she will show up next time.

I do not know what happened this last time.

And I have no need to know. For I shall go on dancing.

What price Vanity?

My initial excitement about vanity plates in Singapore may be short-lived :(

I always thought there was only one way to own vanity plates.

You create your own alpha-numeral combination within the maximum allowed and submit it to the relevant authorities. If the combination is not already in use, it's yours for a fee till you give it up.

Then I hear friends using words like "bid", "can be expensive if popular". My curiosity is aroused. Some checking around revealed that indeed there are bidding/auctioning systems.

I am not so sure I will want to bid for my vanity plate. It just doesn't sit right with me. Yet I am not able to articulate what is wrong with it.

I know I will be able to present my case against the auction system on another day.

Vanity be thy Name

I can hardly believe what I read in the Straits Times.

Personalised or Vanity Plates to be available
in Singapore as early as this year!

I love vanity plates.

They give insight into the
personality-profession-proclivity of the owner :)

My vanity plate in California read SINLADY.

Yes, it was loads of fun to keep people guessing.

Music of the Night

Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night

I did not plan to see the Phantom of the Opera this time around. I saw the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical a number of times already in its 21-year run. I have exceptionally fond memories of the show when it played in historical theatres in San Francisco and Los Angeles where Box No. 5 was perpetually left empty for the exclusive use of the Phantom.

That is, until the publicity blitz began. First, a behind-the-scene/the-making-of expose on Central, followed by a 2-page write-up in the Straits Times.

And I am reminded why the Phantom holds the record for the longest-running, highest-grossing, most-seen musical in the history of musical theatre.

Phantom has everything going for it:

A simple timeless storyline of a love triangle
told against a background of lavish staging
and spectacular special effects,
supported by haunting arias and moving love lyrics.

I love this musical. I will see it one more time. And I will again be spellbound by its magic.

There is just this one thing I do not like about the romantic entanglement of Erik (the Phantom), Christine and Raoul.

Are you ready for this?

I STILL THINK CHRISTINE PICKED THE WRONG GUY !!

Magical Bali

Lush and languid, Bali beguiles with its beach-side charms ... Lonely Planet

Mention Bali to someone. Anyone. Then watch the smile that washes over the face, the delight that shines in the eyes, and get ready to hear a favourite story unfold about that most magical of tropical vacation islands.

Mention Bali and several images are evoked: stunning sunset, miles of white sandy beach, dramatic mountains, rich culture, luxury living, hip night life, romantic nights.

And not the least of all - the warm, gentle, hospitable people.

Bali sits 8 degrees south of the equator. For most of the year, Bali is stiflingly hot and humid, or else it is rainy, hot and humid.

But during the months June-September, a different weather envelops the island. Onshore winds are cooled by the antipodean winter. And for just these few months, the days are breezily cool, the nights are sometimes chilly.

I was in Bali five times last year during those months. I did the Kuta Beach, Nusa Dua, and Seminyak scenes. But the most perfect holiday was at my girlfriend's home in the Bukit.

She has now put the home up for holiday rental. I have precious memories of the place. I love everything about this home with the stunning view nestled in the hills of the Bukit.

I want only good people to use this place. So that they too may experience the magic that is Bali.

Lost-Found-Lost

It stormed today - a frightful tropical thunder storm - with high winds, claps of thunder and flashes of lightning.

I hesitated at the door. Then decided I would not leave my wet umbrella outside like the last time.

I shook the umbrella as dry as I could and strode into the dance studio. I went over to the corner where everyone left their umbrellas opened to dry. And did a double take when I saw my old umbrella! With the unmistakable red, white, black and peach check pattern. There. On the Floor. Left opened to dry. Right there. Before my disbelieving eyes.

The spurious new owner gave me her usual friendly smile and walked over to retrieve the Burberry. MY BURBERRY my brain screamed. How could this woman, my purported friend, have stolen MY Burberry and now acted like nothing was amiss? I wanted to confront her, wanted to call her a thief, wanted to yell obscenities in her face. But I did nothing of the sort.

I just stood there, dumbed and numbed, rooted to the spot. Watched her blithely saunter over to the cluster of umbrellas, pick up my burberry, wave goodbye and walk out into the rain. Watched her take what was mine out of my life.

I felt bile rise in my throat. I felt the blood in my veins run cold. I wished evil things upon her.

But the moment to speak up, to act out, to right a wrong, passed.

And I felt only defeat.

The Sweet Life

I love getting my favourite people together for an evening of food, drinks, and conversation.

I prefer doing this at home because -

I have the place for it,
It makes for a more intimate evening, and
We do not have to watch the time.

The sweeties invariably want to help out with the dinner and would suggest we pot-luck it. I prefer to take care of the meal proper on my own, so I always say dessert will be appreciated.

Just over the course of the recent holidays alone, I have had the good fortune of having sampled the most divine of sweets:

Chocolate Truffle cake
More Chocolate Cakes
Tiramisu
Gelato
Chocolate
More Chocolate

Not to be left out are the impossibly great desserts made by the talented and skillful among us.

What about the 3 kilos I have gained? I think they are going to stay with me a while longer.

For I love this sweet life I have.