WEEKLY DIARY - What I love this week

1. Having salted caramel chiller over Kahlil Gibran. Like my motto in life, 'Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures' :D

2. Oh! How I love this seat! 

3. I love this youtube video and the story behind it :)

Marina Abramovic is a New York-based 'performance artist' ... and her latest performance is to sit in an art space at the Museum of Modern Art and share a minute of silence staring into the eyes of any stranger who sits in front of her.

Marina's ex lover (a fellow performance artists known as Ulay) from the 70s shows up unexpectedly and sits in front of her.

In the 70s, Marina and Ulay performed art out of the van they lived in. When they felt the relationship had run its course, they decided to walk the Great Wall of China, each from one end, meeting for one last big hug in the middle and never seeing each other again.

This is a 3-minute video to capture the emotion of being reunited with a great love and how she reacts.

4. I love reading this writing & illustration 'When I was 27'. Well although I am already 28 years old, but (one day) I'd love to do all these things too :)

5. I love my cup! It totally understands me, the non-morning person I am :)

6. This is such a cool idea! What nice thing would you say?

7. I LOVE this travel quotes:

“Travel is little beds and cramped bathrooms. It’s old television sets and slow Internet connections. Travel is extraordinary conversations with ordinary people. It’s waiters, gas station attendants, and housekeepers becoming the most interesting people in the world. It’s churches that are compelling enough to enter. It’s McDonald’s being a luxury. It’s the realization that you may have been born in the wrong country. Travel is a smile that leads to a conversation in broken English. It’s the epiphany that pretty girls smile the same way all over the world. Travel is tipping 10% and being embraced for it. Travel is the same white T-shirt again tomorrow. Travel is accented sex after good wine and too many unfiltered cigarettes. Travel is flowing in the back of a bus with giggly strangers. It’s a street full of bearded backpackers looking down at maps. Travel is wishing for one more bite of whatever that just was. It’s the rediscovery of walking somewhere. It’s sharing a bottle of liquor on an overnight train with a new friend. Travel is ‘Maybe I don’t have to do it that way when I get back home.”

—	Nick Miller, Isn’t It Pretty to Think So?

8. One day when I get married, I want to do this ^^

9. Amelie is one of my ALL TIME FAVOURITE movies and I love its facebook page as it features my favourite quotes and some interesting facts from the movie and it makes me appreciate and love the movie even more.

The details in films that no one else sees

"Like all little girls, she'd like to be hugged by her Daddy. But he never touches her except during a monthly medical checkup. The thrill of this rare contact makes her heart beat like a drum. As a result, he thinks she has a heart defect."

Shopping in the rain in Paris (Amelie buys one fig and three nuts!)

For love

"I like to look for things no one else catches" -Amelie

Living life to the fullest. One adventure at a time.

"Amelie has a strange feeling of absolute harmony. It's a perfect moment. A soft light, a scent in the air, the quiet murmur of the city. A surge of love, an urge to help mankind overcomes her." - Narrator

10. I love poetry. It would be nice if more people read poetry :)

I love these quotes :

"We often refuse to accept an idea merely because the tone of voice in which it has been expressed is unsympathetic to us."

-Friedrich Nietzche

"A child can teach an adult three things:
to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires."
-Paulo Coelho (Manuscript found in Accra)

The key to life is how well you deal with Plan B.

The most memorable people in your life are the ones that love you when you aren't very lovable.

Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is.

"Let no man pull you low enough to hate him."
-Martin Luther King

Picture sources :

2. http://thewine-darksea.tumblr.com/post/55401256464
4. http://posh-lost.tumblr.com/post/36998662773
6. http://0newithwolves.tumblr.com/post/55377787821/say-something-nice
8. http://disneyweddingdreams.tumblr.com/post/29696462991
9. https://www.facebook.com/AmelieMovie

Weekly Diary : 10 things I love this week

1. I love the beautiful poetries and whimsical quotes from this enchanting book.


Described in amazon.com "Love and Misadventure will take you on a rollercoaster ride through an ill-fated love affair - from the initial butterflies to the soaring heights - through to the devastating plunge. Lang Leav has an unnerving ability to see inside the hearts and minds of her readers. Her talent for translating complex emotions with astonishing simplicity has won her a cult following of devoted fans from all over the world."
I can proudly say I'm her latest fan :)


"
A QUESTION

It was a question I had worn on my lips for days - like a loose thread on my favourite sweater I couldn't resist pulling - despite knowing it could all unravel around me.

'Do you love me?' I ask.

In your hesitation, I found my answer.

"
-Love & Misadventure by Lang Leav

2. I love this 'Hidden Pain' ad. The ad is printed upside down. The hidden message is only revealed when the user inverts the ad. Pain isn't always obvious but the signs are there if you read them.

3. I love this pillow. I sure love good morning and good night kisses :)

4. This 'crying rules' and its illustration are so adorable !

5.  HaHa I want to write this on my bathroom door :D

6. Wow! I love this 'Origami Shadow Art' by Kumi Yamashita. Brilliant!

7. Ahh dear old-er man, what you are doing is so cute :) Look at his expression ! 

8. I love these funny (and true!) reading illustrations and also the mug about big books :)

9. I love http://amymebberson.tumblr.com and her adorable illustration on the Disney princesses. I've had lots of favourites which I posted on my weekly diary long time ago. These are some of her new works which I crazily love :)

10.  What do you think of this tattoo? 

"It was love at first sight, and then another, and another ... each time it's the most special, at least until the next one. This cheeky Tattly by James Victore is for people who love hard, and fast."

Although I wouldn't get this tattoo for myself, I love the creativity behind it and I understand people who love fast and hard because I am like that most of the times myself :)

Something to think about :

-If you live in the past, you don't enjoy what is happening right now because you will always wish it to be different than it is.

(Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements)

-When we seek money, or good relationship, or a great job, what we are really seeking is happiness. The mistake we make is not going for happiness first.

(Deepak Chopra)

-The richest person is not the one who has the most but the one who needs the least.

(Arab Proverb)

-If someone ever tells you a certain song is important to them you should turn it up and lay on your bed and close your eyes and really listen to it even if it's 10 minutes long because at the end you will know that person much better.

(Source unknown)

-Don't try and impress people - let people be impressed by you.
(Charlie Brown)


-Don't say maybe if you want to say no.
(Paulo Coelho)


Bust your ass.

Pay attention.

Fall in love.

My plan is to update my blog more often (at least once every week), so visit me again next week :) xo

PICTURE SOURCES:

1. http://www.amazon.com/Love-Misadventure-Lang-Leav/dp/0473235501/ref=la_B00D3U3NXU_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370034007&sr=1-1

2. http://jeremyben.tumblr.com/post/53428508886/samaritans-of-singapore-the-hidden-pain
3. www.observando.net
4. http://www.thebeautyofwordsblog.com
5. www.overhumor.tumblr.com
6. http://pinterest.com/pin/192458584046458452/
7. http://twitpic.com/beqemz
8. https://www.facebook.com/thebluestockingreview
9. http://amymebberson.tumblr.com
10. http://neuewave.tumblr.com/post/14443863083/it-was-love-at-first-sight-and-then-another-and
Last picture. http://cigarette-memories.tumblr.com

BEING POOR by John Scalzi

This is so powerful. How true this is and how sad :(

" Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.

Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap they see on TV.

Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.

Being poor is going to the restroom before you get in the school lunch line so your friends will be ahead of you and won't hear you say "I get free lunch" when you get to the cashier.

Being poor is off-brand toys.

Being poor is hoping your kids don't have a growth spurt.

Being poor is stealing meat from the store, frying it up before your moms get home and then telling her she doesn't have to make dinner tonight because you're not hungry anyway.

Being poor is not enough space for everyone who lives with you.

Being poor is your kid's school being the one with the 15-year-old textbooks.

Being poor is thinking $8 an hour is a really good deal.

Being poor is relying on people who don't give a damn about you.

Being poor is finding the letter your mom wrote to your dad, begging him for the child support.

Being poor is stopping the car to take a lamp from a stranger's trash.

Being poor is making lunch for your kid when a cockroach skitters over the bread, and you looking over to see if your kid saw.

Being poor is people angry at you just for walking around in the mall.

Being poor is not taking the job because you can't find someone you trust to watch your kids.

Being poor is the police busting into the apartment right next to yours.

Being poor is not talking to that girl because she'll probably just laugh at your clothes.

Being poor is hoping you'll be invited for dinner.

Being poor is a sidewalk with lots of brown glass on it.

Being poor is people thinking they know something about you by the way you talk.

Being poor is needing that 35-cents raise.

Being poor is six dollars short on the utility bill and no way to close the gap.

Being poor is crying when you drop the mac and cheese on the floor.

Being poor is knowing you work as hard as anyone, anywhere.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you're not actually stupid.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you're not actually lazy.

Being poor is a six-hour wait in an emergency room with a sick child asleep in your lap.

Being poor is never buying anything someone else hasn't bought first.

Being poor is picking the 10 cent ramen instead of the 12 cent ramen because that's two extra packages for every dollar.

Being poor is knowing you're being judged.

Being poor is checking the coin return slot of every soda machine you go by.

Being poor is a cough that doesn't go away.

Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.

Being poor is knowing where the shelter is.

Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.

Being poor is knowing how hard it is to stop being poor.

Being poor is seeing how few options you have.

Being poor is running in place. "

-- John Scalzi

For a full version of the essay, click http://whatever.scalzi.com/2005/09/03/being-poor/

"There's enough on this planet for everyone's needs but not for everyone's greed."
-Mahatma Gandhi

CAFE SYDNEY & GLASS BRASSERIE

Cafe Sydney and Glass Brasserie are two of my favourite restaurants in Sydney.

CAFE SYDNEY
Cafe Sydney has a cool vibe and sophisticated atmosphere with breathtaking harbour views due to its amazing location on the rooftop of Customs House. The restaurant also has an outdoor terrace and cocktail lounge. I love the cocktails at Cafe Sydney! As someone who normally drinks wine while fine dining, I always order at least 2 cocktails and no wine while dining here because their cocktails are just too good to only have one ;) Cafe Sydney supports a number of cultural events such as Sydney Film Festival And Sydney Festival.


Bombay Bridge is the award winning and one of Cafe Sydney's signature cocktails.
(Bombay Sapphire gin, Dom Benedictine, Creme de Pomme, lemon juice, homemade fig syrup. Served neat with a vanilla sugar rim).
One of my favourite cocktails of all time!


Sour Cherry and Maple Manhattan.
(Rittenhouse rye whiskey, Martini Rosso, maple syrup, sour cherrys, angostura bitters)
What a beautiful combination !


This is the special menu of the day. Everything looks good!!!


My entree is from the special daily menu. Steamed western Australian yabbies, garlic, herb, chilli butter.
OMG I love this. When there is any crustacean dishes on the menu, I normally order them for one of my courses because I love eating them so much:) Man I love Australia as it produces amazing seafood and wide selection of crustaceans. This is such a beautiful dish as the chilli and the seasoning doesn't overpower the yabbies at all. Such a perfect entree, light, fresh, delicious, mouth watering. I'm ready for my main course now :)


For main, I had one of Cafe Sydney's signature dishes. Tandoori roasted Tasmanian ocean trout, spinach bhaji, spiced beans, raita, coconut. Wow. OMG. Beautiful fish, perfectly cooked (the waiter asked how I like my fish to be cooked and I said medium rare) The tandoori seasoning is lovely, it gives a kick but yet not too strong for the fish. I think this is one of my favourite fish dishes cooked in any restaurant. It smells so good too! Lol And I also love the raita and the other condiments.

Cafe Sydney is well known for its chilled crustaceans, fresh oysters shucked to order, crab cakes, fish main dishes and quality cuts of meats due to the freshness of these produces and the strong working relationship the restaurant has with its suppliers.

I also had the goat cheese and spinach naan which is a must-have if you like naan and goat cheese. Even if you don't normally eat naan (prefer sourdough bread) TRY THE GOAT CHEESE AND SPINACH NAAN! They are delicious :)
Unfortunately, I didn't have time for desserts as I had to rush to catch a show at the opera house. However I'm well satisfied and my stomach was full 'enough' so no complain there :)

"We have understood from the day we opened that we are part of the fabric of the city, and we have always embraced being quintessentially Sydney," Director of operations of Cafe Sydney, Jan McKenzie

GLASS BRASSERIE

Glass Brasserie is one of the most beautiful looking restaurant in Sydney, which is located inside The Hilton Hotel. The exquisite and elegant interior is designed by internationally acclaimed New York designer Tony Chi and the restaurant features a 13 metre floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the historic Queen Victoria Building. The menu, as the restaurant itself described, is simple and elegant, emphasis on fresh, seasonal and local produce prepared following classic French techniques.

My entree is Scallop ceviche, confit potato, elderflower dressing, Atlantic salmon, verjuice dressing, black Tasmanian truffle. I almost always have seafood for entree. This entree is on the special menu of the day and I just A-D-O-R-E everything in it. It has some of my favourite things such as raw scallop, raw atlantic salmon, confit potato. YUM! I also love the two different dressing (I've never had elderflower dressing before so that's also one of the reason for ordering this dish as I love trying new things/new dressings) ^^


For main, I ordered one of Glass Brasserie's signature dishes, which is Pan fried potato gnocchi, corn, asparagus, zucchini, parmesan, lemon thyme.
Very rare (actually never!) that I ordered a vegatarian main in a fine dining restaurant but I am glad I did because this is amazing!


Toffee souffle with Pecan butter ice cream. Ah how could I say no to soufflé?! This souffle is the best souffle I've ever had yet. Besides the fact that the souffle is light and perfect, I also love the flavour combination. I always love pecan butter and I love toffee and thankfully the overall taste is not too sweet for my liking. They are just perfect. I always smile when I eat souffle (Do you?) ^_^ So airy, dreamy, delectable, lovely.

My dining companion and I shared this bottle of Greek wine which is recommended by the sommelier and OMG I've never had a greek wine before, this one is so good! Rich and luscious tasting, the wine has a deep colour and smells beautiful. This wine is a combination of the three Greek indigenous grape varieties. Among them is Limnio, which is the oldest still existing Ancient Greek Variety mentioned by philosopher Aristotle in the 4th century B.C.

HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!
:)

"Great bottles of wine are not produced by accident - they are the result of concerted effort and a mind set that not all wine makers or growers share. If greatness is the desire, then one must make mediocrity the enemy." Quotes from www.nicks.com.au

 

View of Cafe Sydney (photo from www.cafesydney.com)


View of Glass Brasserie (photo from www.glassbrasserie.com.au)