here are some pretty random london pictures, most were taken using my handphone camera, during my last few weeks there.

this is lancer square, just off kensington church street. we pass by it on the number 70 every single sunday on the way to church and back, i’ve lost count of the number of times i’ve said to melissa that we should go there someday soon. it has a very very pretty entrance and facade, with a very red cafe rouge right by its main entrance. the arcade itself, in terms of shopping, leaves much to be desired. off the top of my head i can only remember starbucks as one of the tenants there. oh but i do love these uber-cute open-air shopping arcades so much! like this one on carnaby street, kingly court i think it’s called. it houses mainly independent labels, lots of vintage stuff too. very very charming.

strictly speaking the borough i live in is the royal borough of kensington and chelsea, but south ken happens to be on the border between the city of westminster borough and kensington borough. in the background, beyond the signboard, is the edge of hyde park. so we’re very central and yet it’s very green and leafy which i really like. i was feeling shutter-happy the day i took this picture.. was walking across the park to bayswater (something i very rarely do thanks to the aforementioned number 70) and it was such a gorgeously sunny day. london climate isn’t terribly generous with those, but when they do come, they come bedecked in their fullest glory. (=

the royal albert memorial. any more upclose and it won’t be so nice to look at anymore. the first thought that came to my mind when i saw it for the first time four years ago was, what is such a gaudy and awful looking thing doing amidst all these pretty red-bricked buildings (royal albert hall and its immediate surroundings). but i didn’t dare say so because i didn’t want to seem like i didn’t know how to appreciate a fine piece of art or something. haha.

and this is the very famous warwick avenue tube station!! haha. if you don’t know what i’m talking about, you probably haven’t heard the song by duffy (in which case you really should stop listening to whatever you’re listening to and start listening to the proper stuff! haha). a bunch of us made our way to east London on one of the weekday afternoons to see the canal and little venice. wes made us detour to warwick avenue tube station for this shot! sadly though, the spot wasn’t quite as poignant as the song had promised it would be, i think you can tell from the picture!

this is the millennium bridge across the river thames, i love the views from on the bridge. i also like that the bridge connects old london and new london, represented by st paul’s cathedral (which you can see in the background) and the tate modern on bankside, respectively. took this photo on the day i walked along the stretch of the river thames from the southbank centre to bankside. i am very very fond of this part of london. with its galleries, exhibition centres and theatres aplenty, there seems to always be a buzz of activity permeating the air, without being too busy or congested. there is no better way to wake up in the morning than to look out the window, see the lively crowds and feel like you can’t wait to go out there and begin the day yourself! there, it almost feels like it’s the weekend everyday.

we saw the remnants of 2007’s autumn in december, just outside beit hall. i love the changing of seasons, but unfortunately have never had the chance to experience summer mellowing into autumn. hopefully someday in the not-too-distant future…

jun and i went to see a free performance at the royal festival hall during the london jazz festival. the name of the band is five funky fellas, they play a very upbeat and funky brand of jazz, with african influences. there was a tuba player too, now how often do you see a tuba player in a jazz ensemble! the london jazz festival was definitely one of the highlights of my fourth year in london, this gig was only one of the many free jazz performances i got to see throughout the two weeks.

well, by now i would perhaps be stating the obvious if i were to say i’m missing london. i’ll be moving to kl next weekend to start work on the 1st of august, and i do wonder if i could fall so much in love with kl like i have with london. just reminiscing about london makes me want to wax lyrical all over again. but i think i’ll save that for another day.

I ran to a different place so far
As far as I could
And I’m in Paris

The lights burn grey and clouds
I’m happy and feel good but I’m so cold
In Paris

Turning round and round in enchanted spell
bounded alleys swallow me
I’m in Paris

Beautiful buildings you’re old and so noble
But will you keep me warm
In Paris?

I came here to get a bit blinded
Beautiful illusion of mine, try to catch me
I’m in Paris

Getting lost again
Sad dream. I’m famous already
And they know of me
Here in Paris

Now your voice is whispering to me from afar
“I miss you, come back to me already from Paris.
I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you and..
And Paris”

If it’s so good for me here then why am I crying again
And going crazy
Longing in Paris

Sun awakes me from the window and soon I’ll feel the warmth
The plane is landing and there are no clouds
Happiness percolates into me again
Goodbye Paris

- lyrics from “Paris” by Yael Naim, translated from French

were made to be spent like this..

I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Till the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, I’ve been afraid of changing
Cause I’ve built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I’m getting older too

Oh, take my love, take it down
Climb a mountain and turn around
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide will bring it down

- Stevie Nicks

This song is dedicated to Chuan!!! The jazzy piano-backed version of Stacey Kent’s, no less. (=

Today I made ondeh-ondeh!

Too much grated coconut, what do you think?

After I depleted them of some grated coconut, lol.

We made about 60 of these fluffy green-and-white balls! (=

Ingredients:
2 Jins (one big, one small)
1 maniacal heel-clicking goddess
1 Datuk’s son (small)
1 red wine addict (with floppy cockatoo hair)
2 small girls (matured – from the surburbia of Kluang and Bentong respectively)

Method:

1. London –> Palermo

Run frantically to catch Ryanair plane (FR3918). Upon arrival in Palermo, find an Englishspeaking/Russianeducated/overlyhelpful Nigerian who will check you into your cosy little apartment and direct you to your first (and last) touristtrap restaurant.

2. Palermo

Interlaced between the mad Fiat Punto Drivers, infinite piles of dog poop and dysfunctional pedestrian crossings, look out for a pseudo-notsoquaint-European-Moorish-almostKualaLumpurlike town with a strange charm of its own. Cross from the perpendicular roads of the new town to the maze and destitute of old Palermo – a ghostly war-torn town in the afternoon siesta hours.

Soak up the buzz of seriouslygoodespresso, the vibrance of the wet market produce, the confusion and clash of Moorish/Baroque/Norman/Medieval architectural styles, and how could we forget – seriously goodlooking tour guides.

Marvel at the similarity in street food culture to home – Makeral rolls, Battered artichoke and broccoli, porchetta (glorified roast pork).

Drown in the heavenly wine and Palermitan delights of L’incanto.

Palermo city

3. Palermo –> Cefalu –> Palermo.

A short train ride away from Palermo lies idyllic Cefalu with its beige-pink moorish buildings, cosy piazzas, sloping narrow alleys and towering volcanic surroundings – the set of Cinema Paradiso. The calm mediterranean waters and rocky reefs offer a great backdrop for Charlie-Chaplin heel clicking and a multitude of poserpics.

The famous Charlie Chaplin heel-click.

Seven in Sicily

On the rocks

After climbing all the way up the hundreds of steps of La Rocca to find the temple of gods closed, indulge in fresh coffee, tiramisu, and pistachio tarts as the sun sets over the cozy Piazza del Duomo. As you lull yourself away from the peace and contentment of this little seaside gem, marvel at Big Jin’s induction into the Mafia family and how ageing women grow old together, slow dancing in the streets.

Cefalu

Back in the city, the haven of Kursaal Kalhesa gives a true flavour of the epitome of a classy Palermitan Saturday Night out. Its cocktails, open loft ceiling, eclectic library and velvety sofas provide the perfect setting for a maiden feeding grapes to a datuk’s son. Uplift yourself with Sicilian wine and local favourites in the wild, gravelly, rainforest ambience of the restaurant above.

4. Mondello.

Something about the sea never fails to strike a chord with me.

Giuseppe sits picture-perfectly on the shore, stately as if she knew she would be the model for our countless photographs, yet serene and unassuming in her poise, the looming mountain range silhouetted against the background of a bluish, somewhat foggy sky. Giuseppe is one of many of her kind, yet unique in her own right. As I write this, I am reminded of The Little Prince and the rose he was in love with. “It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important”. You love something not because it is unique; it becomes unique because you love it. So it is with Giuseppe. I have not seen a more picturesque scene in all of the trip than that of Giuseppe reclining on the shore in the waning sunlight at dusk, detached from all the touristy buzz on the sidewalks behind her.

Important ingredients and method:
At least one girl with a sweet tooth, a crepe stall, a ginormous jar of Nutella.
Ice-cold Moretti beer.
Deep and profound discussions on life and vanity and
Mix, blend and whisk all of the above for the perfect chilled-out evening.

One posh restaurant, formerly awarded a Michelin star.
One ashtray medallion bling.
A pompous maitre-D.
One table full of boisterous wineglass-smashing fellow patrons, and an irate waiter.
Plenty of good wine to guzzle.
While waiting for the bus to arrive, stand everyone in a circle and repeat “haa haaa”, one after another.

Mondello

5. Palermo –> London.

Musty, spookish catacombs with a fetid air, or was that just my imagination?
8000-odd clothed skeletons of every size, age and occupation.
Random comments like “This one looks handsome”.

Cooking tips:
Drown the dish in great conversations, majestic company and MTV.

Memorable Garnishings:
“haaa haaaa”/”poinsettia”/”yum-meh”/”everybody’s dancing! dancing!(tiu tiu tiu)”/”If I don’t have some wine soon I am going to kill someone”/”HARDY BOOZE”/”to the left, to the left”/”I’m so happy”/”Xie zhe li mien de qie zhe!”

“Poinsettiahh.”

Written by Guan Leong.
feat. May (=
photos courtesy of Sau Yin and Nits.

I’ve decided to put up some pretty photos on my blog every now and then to systematically chronicle what has happened in the past one or two months. And they’re not filler posts, okay! Lol. So here we go.

OCTOBER
Chicago Musical at the Cambridge Theatre, when Jenn Yi came to visit. And yes, I saw Ashlee Simpson. Not that I’m particularly proud of that. Heh.

Zhon Wei’s pre-birthday celebration at Four Seasons, followed by a long and chilled night at Guan’s.

Hari Raya with the Pengarah at Encik Adib’s (our new JPA Student Advisor).

Burger night at Chuan and Nits’s. Followed by Taboo and shisha.

NOVEMBER
Steve Tyrell at Ronnie Scott’s. No shots of Steve himself though, cos I was too absorbed in the music and the everyeverything to be bothered to take out my camera. (= Oh, and there’s a picture of me doing the touristy thing in front of the Eye. Teehee.

Speaking of missing boxes, the other day while unpacking my things I realised that I didn’t have my folder with all my certificates with me in London, and I don’t remember seeing them at home in Bentong either. Rightaway a dreadful recollection of my missing box from last summer struck me, and I concluded that the folder of certificates must have been in that box for it was to be found nowhere else… and that was a horrible shock indeed because this year I know I would be needing all those certificates to apply for a summer internship. I got so angry at the people who were responsible for it, whoever they were; until my mom called later in the day to tell me that the folder was actually at home sitting in an unopened box in my room. Phew! So… my apologies to the people who took my box/the people who lost my box, for thinking all those nasty murderous thoughts of you (just joking) but if you please, I’d STILL love to have the box back anyhow, thank you very much.

The guys minus Lance are at the moment keeping themselves occupied with the Playstation 2 – I hear boyish yelps, bursts of laughter and other assorted noises every now and then – Melissa and Lance have gone a-swimming and so that leaves me all alone to my muse, while listening to jazz – just the way I like it. (=

Autumn term of third year is going to be a time of attending career talks, filling in application forms, revising and re-revising my CV, doing online tests/assessments and going through interviews and the heartbreak of being rejected, which leaves much to be desired, really. Time to think about my future, to put it very plainly.

But moving on to more cheerful things – I’m looking forward to more ‘kau yook fan’ sessions at Oriental Canteen with Chuan and Zhon, Starbucks Fridays with the Chem Eng crew, karaoke sessions with the gang, Steve Tyrell at Ronnie Scotts, watching Kung Pow with my fellow Kung Pow-crazed housemates Alan and Yew Vern, and cooking up yummy dinners every night in our kitchen. (=

Anyways, more piccies of the house…

Our bedroom

Close-up of my desk

Ravioli hanging pretty from our bedroom door

Our kitchen

And the hallway

Dear You,

If you’re planning to go to Rome anytime soon, can you please please please be an angel and buy me a poster like this one?

Not sure why but I only fell in love with these posters after my Italy trip, or I’d have bought them there myself.

arrivederci,
-may-

P/S= I only want a black&white one (=

Click twice to enlarge! (=

Venice, Murano, Burano

Rome, Vatican City

Capri, Pompei, Sorrento