The Silver LiningHenna
Posted on February 12, 2014
The intricate markings adorning the hands and feet of the beaming bride-to-be trace back to a tradition centuries old in its origin.
Other ladies belonging to the bride’s family are also decorated as such, but none as complex or beautiful as those that grace the bride.
She is the most blessed, the most joyous, the beloved.
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Singapore Travel Diary {Happy Chinese New Year!}
Posted on February 10, 2014
Chinese New Year 2014 was an entirely new experience for me! Being born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Chinese New Year never quite features on the list of publicly celebrated holidays! Oh, we do celebrate it with much eating of steamboat and handing out of ang pao (red money packets) but it’s all very much a family affair.
Walking around Singapore during the week before Chinese New Year, there is no denying the excitement and festive feeling in the air – literally! Everywhere you go your senses are bombarded. Rows upon rows of bright red decorations promise prosperity and good luck for the year to come. Shopping centre stereos blare “Dong dong dong chiang! Gong xi ni! Gong xi fa cai!” (Congratulations, happy new year!). People rush around making sure that their houses are filled to overflowing with food and special symbolic items such as oranges and mandarins for abundance and good fortune, and gourds for good health and prosperity. Preparations must all be made ready in time for the first day of New Year as it is believed that the state of your household at the start of the year reflects your fortunes to be in the upcoming year. And Chinese people wholeheartedly believe that more is more!
Singapore goes into a heady and happy furore in the lead up to Chinese New Year Eve and celebrates the big night with a citywide party! Then, the city that never slows down becomes peculiarly quiet as people spend the following days visiting their family and neighbours, a time where there is no greater priority than connecting with each other. If only there were more days like these.
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Joy
Posted on January 24, 2014
We recently hosted the surprise birthday party of one of my absolute best of friends. I can barely remember a time that I didn’t know Dan, she always lived just a few streets away from me when we were growing up. We did many a sleepover, were choir nerds together, threw smoke bombs at Chinese school together, survived private girls’ schooling together, and then survived most of med school together. Our lives have essentially been the amalgamation of Glee, Ja’mie: Private School Girl (we weren’t Ja’mie), and Grey’s Anatomy with a splash of Karate Kid. (C’mon, you know you wanna watch that crane kick scene.)
Things have led me of late to pull apart and really evaluate the things I truly value. And it really boils down to one thing. Relationships.
More than ever, I appreciate and treasure these lifelong and genuine friendships. I could shave my head, pick my nose, share the highest of highs and most recently, the lowest of lows, and these girls will never desert me. Some friends come and go, but these ones stay a while. A long, long while. And I love them for it.
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Down South
Posted on January 17, 2014
Heading “Down South” is a common turn of phrase in this part of the world. Invariably it means going on a road trip to one of the beautiful towns south of Perth, getting away from city life, relaxing on the beach and taking it easy. Late last year when Steve visited us from Scotland, I took the chance to show him how beautiful this part of the world is. We ate cheese, drank wine, sat on the beach, took photos, mountain biked and spotted some whales, kangaroos and possums. Poor Sarah couldn’t join as due to work commitments but happily we both have some leave and are scheduled to make a return visit very soon!
– Jinn
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Melbourne Travel Diary
Posted on January 10, 2014
We had less than two tiny days to squeeze in as much Melbourne as possible before my friend’s wedding, and by golly I think we did it! Arriving in the wee hours of Friday, we nabbed some shut eye before heading out into the CBD and chowing down a hearty breakfast at Cumulus Inc, an uber trendy coffee spot which felt very Gordon St Garage-esque. A visit to Melbourne is incomplete without wandering through Hosier Lane to ogle at the psychedelic street art.
A spot of shopping (50% off at Gorman – uh, yeah!?) was followed by a completely unnecessary but completely delicious lunch at noodle and dumpling house, Hutong. This gave us enough energy to power walk into Fitzroy where many unique and carefully curated shops awaited. Highlights were Little Salon and Third Drawer Down. For dinner, we waited in the fortunately very rapidly moving queue at Mamasita, wolfed down some delectable street style corn and pulled pork tostaditas, then tumbled on back to the hotel, falling deep asleep as soon as our heads hit our pillows.
Thanks for the good times, Melbs!
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Hosier Lane
Posted on January 8, 2014
Wearing – Madewell shirt, American Apparel skirt, Steve Madden loafers (similar), Fjallraven Mini Kanken backpack, Naomi Murrell resin and rose gold ring, Lazy Oaf cat ring (gold version)
He’s wearing – Mr Simple t-shirt (different colourway), M-ONE-11 chinos (similar), Vans sneakers
One of our first stops during our quick visit to Melbourne was a trip down Hosier Lane. No cars drive down this lane and over time it has become a gallery of some of the greatest street art you’ll ever see! I just love the mish-mash of colours and styles, practically every surface adorned by a garish signature or skilfully created visage. It’s one of our favourite spots we return to regularly as it’s never the same each time and always great fun to explore!
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Up, up & away
Posted on October 2, 2013
The winds have welcomed you with softness.
The sun has blessed you with his warm hands.
You have flown so high and so well,
That God has joined you in your laughter
And set you back again into the loving arms
Of Mother Earth.
– The Balloonist’s Prayer, Anon.
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Spring blooms
Posted on September 24, 2013
Spring is here! You wouldn’t have thought it, given the uncharacteristically dreary and rainy weather in Perth recently (highest September rainfall for more than 90 years apparently!). Last weekend Jinn and I took advantage of a sunny break in the wet weather to make our way to Kings Park and enjoy the wildflowers currently in bloom for the annual Kings Park Festival. It was still rather chilly though, hence the cardie and tights! What an amazing assortment of flowers there were to see – I didn’t know native flowers could look so pretty, I’ve been inspired to plant some in our own wee garden! It was great to be able to get out of the house and soak in some of that warm sun. The Kings Park festival runs until 30th of September – find yourself a patch of sunlight amongst the rain and get there! You’ll be handsomely rewarded. 🙂
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Postcards from Darwin
Posted on August 19, 2013
1. Mini pineapple! Need I say more?
2 – 8. Perusing the wares at the Mindil Beach sunset markets.
9 – 10. Finding fresh specimens of a rare Chinese turnip at the Rapid Creek markets! (Yes, we essentially did a “market crawl” all weekend)
11 – 15. Pure and lovingly made vegetarian goodness found at Eat At Martins. Nestled amongst some unlikely neighbours – a physiotherapist and a kung fu centre!
16. Aaaah, Marimekko, how I love thee. At Raw Cloth. These ladies source some mighty fine fabrics from local and international designers and hand make everything, from homewares to clothes.
17 – 20. A delicious impromptu dinner of cheese, crackers and wine, watching the sunset from East Point. Our party was unexpectedly crashed by a possum and her baby!
21. Feeding the fish at Doctor’s Gully. These were the small fish! I kid you not!
22. Barra and chips at the wharf. A fitting end.
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Happiness is…
Posted on August 16, 2013
Looking over these photos fills me with such warmth and happiness thinking about the events of the weekend in Darwin just past! The gorgeous garden ceremony surrounded by palm trees and loved ones, the golden kiss of the sunny weather, the sumptuous dinner under nature’s own canopy of stars. And, uh, did I mention they had a DIY sundae bar!?!? Future wedding planners, take note!
The lovely bride and I (another Sarah) bonded just last year over somewhat traumatic circumstances – the dreaded Paediatric exam year. Thankfully, we both emerged victorious but that also meant that Sarah returned back to Darwin and I have missed her muchly since! It was a precious weekend spent catching up with a beautiful bunch of ladies I hadn’t seen in way too long a time. The cocktails and conversation flowed freely throughout the evening, as we wasted no time finding out the latest news and showing off our grooviest dance floor moves.
Wishing the beautiful couple a love that’s everlasting, and may our next meeting be just around the corner.
The Silver Lining 