whatmakesthingsbeautiful: Say hello to the Charlotte Olympia inspired kitty flats  #hellokitty

whatmakesthingsbeautiful:

Say hello to the Charlotte Olympia inspired kitty flats  #hellokitty

  1. Date Posted Icon 12th March 2013
  2. Reblogged Icon Reblogged From whatmakesthingsbeautiful
  3. Notes Icon Notes: 1
One morning, I woke up and randomly decided to spend some alone time in the forever beautiful San Francisco and add some Parisian touch to the day by having a warm buttery chocolate croissant and shopping for Eiffel Tower charms. C’etait une belle journee ♥

One morning, I woke up and randomly decided to spend some alone time in the forever beautiful San Francisco and add some Parisian touch to the day by having a warm buttery chocolate croissant and shopping for Eiffel Tower charms. C’etait une belle journee ♥

  1. Date Posted Icon 12th March 2013
Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥ Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥ Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥ Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥ Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥ Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥ Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥ Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥ Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥ Boston Photo Diary // January 2013 My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much?  Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived. But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture. I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed* A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥

Boston Photo Diary // January 2013

My trip to Boston early this year was very last minute.  I remembered how I got an email one Wednesday afternoon to do an interview right on the next day in Boston, booked my tickets within the next half an hour to catch the last flight that night, repacked my suitcase that was just unpacked from New York two days ago, and shocked my parents with my Whatsapp message.  Then I found myself across the country at the other coast the next morning.  Exciting much? 

Very, especially when it was my first time visiting Boston.  I was very lucky to be checked in at The Charles Hotel at Harvard Square, the signature quaint boutique hotel at Cambridge.  Though I was in Boston for an interview, I managed to squeeze time before my flight home to wander around the city in the morning.  And do not be deceived by the sunny skies in those pictures, it was actually freezing and bone chilling cold I literally felt that my nose and ears were going to fell off.  Fyi, there was a blizzard two days before I arrived.

But thankfully the cold weather did not ruin the beautiful, clean and neat city.  Boston has two different images when I picture it in my mind.  One in which it is made of rows and blocks of red bricked houses, and the other, a few Victorian style landmarks thrown in amongst tall buildings and modern architecture.

I love my hotel’s neighborhood very much.  Right across Harvard University, this neighborhood has a petite cafe that was invitingly addictive - I was there four times in two days.  Their lattes, pastries, quiches and french soups are my best memories.  I hope I’ll get to live there soon *fingers crossed*

A surprise impromptu trip in the first week of school.  Yes I do love this kind of life ♥

  1. Date Posted Icon 11th March 2013
    2. Tags Icon #boston#travel#photography#diary#journal
Spent the whole afternoon today styling my bedroom wall after receiving the adorable prints from @socialps ☺ Each photo was selected personally and they were my most loved ones. From left to right, top to bottom: 14th St Subway Station, New York / Padma Hotel, Bandung / Conrad Hotel, New York / Carpet Museum, Capadoccia / Orient 8 at Mulia, Jakarta / Madison Avenue at Upper East Side, New York / BCBG Dress, Singapore / Parc Guell, Barcelona / Ralph Lauren House, New York / Laduree, New York / Ralph Lauren House, New York / Gregoire’s, Berkeley / Waikiki Beach, Hawai’i / Blue Mosque, Istanbul / Nob Hill, San Francisco / Santa Monica Boardwalk, Los Angeles / Vittorio Emmanuelle Gallery, Milan / Waikiki Beach, Hawai’i / Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa / Aegean Sea, Turkey / Grand Bazaar, Istanbul / Grand Canal, Venice / Hotel de Ville Carousel, Paris / Parc Guell, Barcelona Missing those places ♥ xx

Spent the whole afternoon today styling my bedroom wall after receiving the adorable prints from @socialps ☺

Each photo was selected personally and they were my most loved ones.

From left to right, top to bottom:

14th St Subway Station, New York / Padma Hotel, Bandung / Conrad Hotel, New York / Carpet Museum, Capadoccia / Orient 8 at Mulia, Jakarta / Madison Avenue at Upper East Side, New York / BCBG Dress, Singapore / Parc Guell, Barcelona / Ralph Lauren House, New York / Laduree, New York / Ralph Lauren House, New York / Gregoire’s, Berkeley / Waikiki Beach, Hawai’i / Blue Mosque, Istanbul / Nob Hill, San Francisco / Santa Monica Boardwalk, Los Angeles / Vittorio Emmanuelle Gallery, Milan / Waikiki Beach, Hawai’i / Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa / Aegean Sea, Turkey / Grand Bazaar, Istanbul / Grand Canal, Venice / Hotel de Ville Carousel, Paris / Parc Guell, Barcelona


Missing those places ♥ xx

  1. Camera: Canon EOS 1100D
  2. Aperture: f/5.6
  3. Exposure: 1/100th
  4. Focal Length: 83mm
  1. Date Posted Icon 6th March 2013
    2. Tags Icon #instawall#decor#wall collage#wall decor#Interiors#interior design#prinstagram#collage
Before the Spring semester began, I was heavily recruiting for this year’s summer internships. Though it was intensely hectic, the experience was priceless.  What’s more, I never expected that I would get to go back to New York so quickly. I was checked in at a King Suite at Conrad in Wall Street. As I’ve always trust the hotel, it never disappoint to the slightest. The room was modern, poised, and elegant; I felt that I was truly at home especially when I spent more than ten hours a day at my room cramming news from the Wall Street Journal. That time, it was one of the windiest season in New York. The wind was stronger than I imagined and I felt that I was almost blown away. But the gorgeous view of the Hudson River that seemed peaceful as ever made up for it.  That night when I was about to go to bed, a little piece of card was slipped beneath the blanket. And it said, “Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do.” It cannot be more perfect, and I cannot be more blessed. Before the Spring semester began, I was heavily recruiting for this year’s summer internships. Though it was intensely hectic, the experience was priceless.  What’s more, I never expected that I would get to go back to New York so quickly. I was checked in at a King Suite at Conrad in Wall Street. As I’ve always trust the hotel, it never disappoint to the slightest. The room was modern, poised, and elegant; I felt that I was truly at home especially when I spent more than ten hours a day at my room cramming news from the Wall Street Journal. That time, it was one of the windiest season in New York. The wind was stronger than I imagined and I felt that I was almost blown away. But the gorgeous view of the Hudson River that seemed peaceful as ever made up for it.  That night when I was about to go to bed, a little piece of card was slipped beneath the blanket. And it said, “Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do.” It cannot be more perfect, and I cannot be more blessed. Before the Spring semester began, I was heavily recruiting for this year’s summer internships. Though it was intensely hectic, the experience was priceless.  What’s more, I never expected that I would get to go back to New York so quickly. I was checked in at a King Suite at Conrad in Wall Street. As I’ve always trust the hotel, it never disappoint to the slightest. The room was modern, poised, and elegant; I felt that I was truly at home especially when I spent more than ten hours a day at my room cramming news from the Wall Street Journal. That time, it was one of the windiest season in New York. The wind was stronger than I imagined and I felt that I was almost blown away. But the gorgeous view of the Hudson River that seemed peaceful as ever made up for it.  That night when I was about to go to bed, a little piece of card was slipped beneath the blanket. And it said, “Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do.” It cannot be more perfect, and I cannot be more blessed. Before the Spring semester began, I was heavily recruiting for this year’s summer internships. Though it was intensely hectic, the experience was priceless.  What’s more, I never expected that I would get to go back to New York so quickly. I was checked in at a King Suite at Conrad in Wall Street. As I’ve always trust the hotel, it never disappoint to the slightest. The room was modern, poised, and elegant; I felt that I was truly at home especially when I spent more than ten hours a day at my room cramming news from the Wall Street Journal. That time, it was one of the windiest season in New York. The wind was stronger than I imagined and I felt that I was almost blown away. But the gorgeous view of the Hudson River that seemed peaceful as ever made up for it.  That night when I was about to go to bed, a little piece of card was slipped beneath the blanket. And it said, “Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do.” It cannot be more perfect, and I cannot be more blessed. Before the Spring semester began, I was heavily recruiting for this year’s summer internships. Though it was intensely hectic, the experience was priceless.  What’s more, I never expected that I would get to go back to New York so quickly. I was checked in at a King Suite at Conrad in Wall Street. As I’ve always trust the hotel, it never disappoint to the slightest. The room was modern, poised, and elegant; I felt that I was truly at home especially when I spent more than ten hours a day at my room cramming news from the Wall Street Journal. That time, it was one of the windiest season in New York. The wind was stronger than I imagined and I felt that I was almost blown away. But the gorgeous view of the Hudson River that seemed peaceful as ever made up for it.  That night when I was about to go to bed, a little piece of card was slipped beneath the blanket. And it said, “Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do.” It cannot be more perfect, and I cannot be more blessed. Before the Spring semester began, I was heavily recruiting for this year’s summer internships. Though it was intensely hectic, the experience was priceless.  What’s more, I never expected that I would get to go back to New York so quickly. I was checked in at a King Suite at Conrad in Wall Street. As I’ve always trust the hotel, it never disappoint to the slightest. The room was modern, poised, and elegant; I felt that I was truly at home especially when I spent more than ten hours a day at my room cramming news from the Wall Street Journal. That time, it was one of the windiest season in New York. The wind was stronger than I imagined and I felt that I was almost blown away. But the gorgeous view of the Hudson River that seemed peaceful as ever made up for it.  That night when I was about to go to bed, a little piece of card was slipped beneath the blanket. And it said, “Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do.” It cannot be more perfect, and I cannot be more blessed.

Before the Spring semester began, I was heavily recruiting for this year’s summer internships. Though it was intensely hectic, the experience was priceless.  What’s more, I never expected that I would get to go back to New York so quickly. I was checked in at a King Suite at Conrad in Wall Street. As I’ve always trust the hotel, it never disappoint to the slightest. The room was modern, poised, and elegant; I felt that I was truly at home especially when I spent more than ten hours a day at my room cramming news from the Wall Street Journal.

That time, it was one of the windiest season in New York. The wind was stronger than I imagined and I felt that I was almost blown away. But the gorgeous view of the Hudson River that seemed peaceful as ever made up for it. 

That night when I was about to go to bed, a little piece of card was slipped beneath the blanket. And it said, “Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do.”

It cannot be more perfect, and I cannot be more blessed.

  1. Date Posted Icon 6th March 2013
    2. Tags Icon #newyork#travel#diary
The past one month in perfect little squares ☺

The past one month in perfect little squares ☺

  1. Date Posted Icon 20th January 2013
    2. Tags Icon #instagram#collage#memory#flashback
See you next week, NYC. -xoxo, M

See you next week, NYC.
-xoxo, M

  1. Date Posted Icon 11th January 2013
    2. Tags Icon #newyorkcity#nyc#travel#photography#blackandwhite
2012

This year has been more than fabulous and greater than amazing. Here are the best moments and best kept memories.

#1: Got my first book published on Amazon.com! :)

This book is about some of my favorite cities and places in the United States; it’s not only a guide, but also a descriptive travel narrative.  I hope that people who read it will enjoy it, find it useful, and gives them joy too!

Note: The ebook is available on Amazon.com and can be read on Kindle Cloud Reader, Kindle devices, Macs, PCs, tablets and smartphones.  Get it here.

image

From Once Upon A Blue Sky

#2: Went to New York twice, and both paid for! ;)

The first was from winning a photography contest for the annual Singapore Day event at Prospect Park.  The second was for a Winning Women banking conference by J.P.Morgan.  In both Spring and Winter, New York was gorgeous, and I was a very lucky girl.

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Central Park in Spring

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Rockefeller Centre in Christmas season

#3: Filmed a documentary for Japan national TV channel, NHK. :D

I was selected to be part of a documentary about physics with Professor Richard Muller from my physics class that I took when I was a freshman.  The documentary series will be aired on TV this year.

Sorry, no pictures allowed during the filming :(

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It has been blissful and I am blessed-ful :)

  1. Date Posted Icon 31st December 2012
    2. Tags Icon #2012#happy new year#reflections
Modern luxury amidst luscious greenery. Location: Padma Hotel, Bandung, Indonesia Modern luxury amidst luscious greenery. Location: Padma Hotel, Bandung, Indonesia Modern luxury amidst luscious greenery. Location: Padma Hotel, Bandung, Indonesia Modern luxury amidst luscious greenery. Location: Padma Hotel, Bandung, Indonesia

Modern luxury amidst luscious greenery.

Location: Padma Hotel, Bandung, Indonesia

  1. Date Posted Icon 29th December 2012
    2. Tags Icon #indonesia#bandung#travel#hotel#resort#photography#nature
One In The City

Cold breeze.  Snow smokes.  Light winds.  Black coats.  Pretty manequins.  And one million lights.

It was early winter in November; it was my third time in the big apple, but with only myself this time.  No, I wasn’t afraid of travelling alone.  I was actually glad to spend three days wandering about the city by myself.  Remembering how I walked about central Paris alone for a day reminds me of that carefree feeling that I had.  What’s more, New York in this Christmas season truly feels like it brought me back to lovely Paris.

Amazing but true, I walked up and down Fifth Avenue and somehow found myself at the giant Christmas tree of Rockefeller Centre for all three days.  Fifth Avenue is fantastically magical and fabulous.  The shop windows are opulently decorated for Christmas; the manequins are dressed up as if they were all going to a Christmas balls with Cinderella, the Victorian buildings are clad in their fancy lights - Bvlgari has two blazing diamond serpents crossing over it, Cartier has a huge red bow wrapping it, and Saks Fifth Avenue has turned into a giant screen for its light shows.

image

I remembered that first hint of feeling that I got as I saw a glimpse of Rockefeller Plaza from a distance.  It’s so unbelievably beautiful that your heart literally skipped a beat and you had to hold your breath for two seconds.  I’ve read in travel magazines and seen photos of Rockefeller Centre in Christmas, but seeing it with your own eyes and being able to soaked in the atmosphere is surely different.  Millions of tiny silver blue lights dotted the trees, gold and silver flags surrounded the ice skating rink, and in the middle stood the 80 foot tall Christmas tree that is lighted with 45,000 LED lights.  Not forgetting the dense sea of people flooding the plaza.  And now I finally know why it is a New York legend for Christmas.

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Ironically, even after being in New York for  several times, I visited Grand Central Station for the first time this time round.  High ceilings, gorgeous paintings, huge and tall windows, people streaming around, and nostalgia.  It’s interesting too how a train station becomes so famous and now, half of it has turned into a shopping plaza and food hall.

I guess one of my distinct moments of wandering alone in this big city is having dinner by myself too.  And this actually makes me think on how to be strategic about it so that people will not be looking at this girl and asking themselves, “why is she eating alone”.  I decided to go to a small Japanese place where they have bar seating for solo diners and where the waitresses are friendly and kind enough to talk with you.  Oh, and the food was homely too.

My friends have been asking me what’s my favorite food that I had while in New York this time.  The Mille Crepe Cake by the sophisticated Lady M is definitely it.  ”Mille”, which means thousand in french, is really the apt name for the cake.  It was a cake that is made of a stack of thousand layers of crepes with light creme filling in between the layers, making the cake soft, moist and very delicate.  If I had known that the cake could not be left outside the fridge for more than two hours, I would have made pre-orders for the frozen ones and take all the trouble and hassle that it would take to bring the cake back to Berkeley, or even back home to Singapore for my Mum.

And so, what do you do when you’re alone in New York on a Friday night?  My regular Friday nights in Berkeley have always been filled with friends, food, desserts, hours of talks and countless laughters.  This night was contrastingly different.  I visited the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and I thought it was a good choice visiting a museum alone.  It allows me to spend more time on the pieces that interests me and just browse through or skip those that don’t.  I love the courtyard at MoMA too because it’s so serene, artsy, classy and modern at the same time.

On the third day, I spent my morning walking up and down Upper East Side.  The stores in Upper East Side along Madison Avenue are lavishly decorated too, but in a different tone than the ones on Fifth Avenue.  The stores here are quieter in their decorations and are more elegant.  My favorite shop windows are the ones at Ralph Lauren House, because they are super editorial and high fashion.  Another of my favorite is Tiffany & Co, which surprisingly, many people did not take note of, and probably that was part of the reason why I like it.  Their petite window caught me right away from afar.  It has a shadow of Cinderella and her prince charming at the background and the elegant rink on top of the classic Tiffany blue and silver box.  Happily ever after?

That afternoon, I had brunch at Via Quadronno.  The cafe was petite, tucked in a corner of a residential street away from the polished Madison Avenue.  It has a wooden interior with quaint furnitures and it certainly reminds me of Florence.  And no, I didn’t have to dine alone this time because the table beside me was friendly enough to ask me to join them.  And so that was my brunch of cold cut panini along with conversations with the east siders over cappuccino.

And of course as I had told my Mum the previous night, my purpose of going to Upper East Side is to get the legendary macarons by its very own inventor, Laduree.  It was pleasant to know that there were no lines outside Laduree that afternoon.  When I was there few months ago in Spring, my brother and I had to queue two blocks to get into the pastel green shop.  And like the other shops in the neighborhood, Laduree decorated their shop windows too for Christmas with gold, black and India green.

And as I walked down Madison Avenue, leaving the serenity of Upper East Side in this Christmas season, I can’t help but feel that tinge of sadness.  New York has been one of my favorite cities. My Mum told me that I seem to have a fate with the city, since I’ve been here twice in a year (and all my expenses paid for).

Dear New York, see you in January? xoxo.

  1. Date Posted Icon 16th December 2012
    2. Tags Icon #travel#narrative#new york#photography#nyc