Paris Neon

Camera died pretty soon after we arrived in Paris on Wednesday morning. Never in my life did I think that iPhone photos would be able to be the sole focus of a blog post but c'est la vie. Didn't even instagram this shit because I thought my wicked phone skillz with a z was enough.

Classic mirror in hotel room photo to try to show off my new brogues from Fratelli Rossetti. Mass asked why I bought Italian in France...good question, no answer. The Euro has been in the shitter so that's why? Paired with J Crew cords, Acne belt, Giordano shirt, La Fayette brand sweater (bought that day because it was flippin' freezing out). All this photo craziness happened in the worst hotel ever, Kube hotel. Design hotel meets extreme disfunctionality. This pic was taken in the bathroom beside the open shower (where Jo was showering...just kidding).

All week Jo and I had been digging the neon. Trying our luck to find the proper neon that was bright enough to blind. We made out somewhat successful from American Apparel nail varnish. These bad boys make appearances all over Paris. Pic taken at Les Cocottes. I literally go to the same restos in Paris time and time again. I'm damn loyal.

Met up 1/2 an hour late with friends for a 7 courser and proceeded to have the most interesting conversations about crime and Cordon Bleu in Paris. We love that everyone in Paris automatically thinks they're foodies. What is a foodie anyway? You love food? Don't we all love food? I mean I love to live and food keeps me alive...therefore I must be a foodie. Whatevs.

Told ya it wouldn't be the last. This time taken when food was done! Another fav of mine, Le Loir dans la Theiere. Seriously, saying that in french makes me sound like I'm not from Canada. And that I didn't take a WHOLE freaking year EXTRA of french then the mandatory OSSD requirement. I'm THAT good, yo.

What's Paris, without a little bit of tourism. *spirit fingers*

Yup, our hotel hallway. Didn't I tell you it was lame super rad?

Saving the best for last. I'm Chinese (in case you haven't noticed), with parents and family from HK and raised in Richmond Hill/Markham (which if you're from Toronto, you KNOW that's C-town central), and I thought Shang Palace at the Shangri-La was the most awesome-est deliciousness you will ever taste in your life. Convinced you of my credibility, didn't I? "She's from Richmond Hill, the equivalent of China!". Well don't take my word for it, just check it out. Party in my mouth, and everyone's invited (get your head outta the gutta).

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Before we left Abu Dhabi for Dubai, we had to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It is the third largest mosque, equipping over 40 000 worshippers in the space of 5 football fields. It really is a sight to see.

There are many religious beliefs to respect whilst visiting the mosque. One of them is appropriate dress. Male and females must wear long trousers and shirts so as not to see any skin aside from hands and feet. Females are asked to dress in a traditional Jilbāb and Hijabs as it is believed that females should be modest.

I didn't know how to wrap the hijab, so a lovely girl showed me.

Ah, much better.

Can't even tell it's me. Women cannot take photos in front of the mosque without being dressed in their religious cloth. Men, on the hand, can be photographed.

Houses the grandest chandelier in the world.

...On my way to Dubai!

Equipment shirt, Whistles trousers, Stella McCartney espadrilles, Balenciaga bag

Desert Dune Bashing

On the 2nd day in Abu Dhabi, we went on a Desert Dune Bashing trip. Basically it allows all the tourists to go in one big group to experience the desert. There were variations of this trip, for example you could stay overnight in the desert, but we decided to do the half day. First stop was the camel farm. Camels in the middle of desert, eating and poo-ing while they ate. Notice I didn't get too close because I was wearing open toed sandals and didn't want to step in the mounds of camel poop laying around. Thankfully it is very different from horse manure and tiny in size. Following that, we set out with the 20-some SUVs to go dune bashing. I was particularly scared of this portion as I had youtubed dune bashing the night before and saw jeeps turning over. Apparently dune bashing is more regulated now so you must follow each SUV rather than before, where all the SUVs were chaotically bashing into one another causing a multitude of car accidents. I sat in the front, which was probably more scary but I was very afraid of getting motion sickness so it helped loads! I think almost a third of our car got a little queasy! It went on for about 45 minutes altogether and there's no stopping. You can't go out to watch because you're in the middle of the desert, there's no other way to get out. Not sure how the front guy knew where he was going as there is no navigation system and the dunes are constantly changing. I recommend it but not if you get motion sickness easily.

After about a 10 minute stop and another 20 minutes of bashing, we arrived at a huge BBQ in the desert where tourists could try their hand at camel riding, 4-wheeling in the dunes, sand-boarding, henna, belly dancing, and of course an arabic meal (which almost no one was tempted to eat after all that bashing!).

Definitely a fun experience but I would say it is a one-time thing. Been there, had fun, done that.

Giordano linen shirt (highly recommend this high street brand to petite asians! always fits like a charm), Club Monaco shorts, Hermes belt, Tods sandals (which broke in Dubai Mall - thankfully my trusty tour guide, Erin, helped me get a new pair), Balenciaga bag, Wayfarers

Wasabi in Al Diar Mina

That same evening we went to Wasabi for Japanese. I had heard great things about the Emirates having fresh fish and since London doesn't provide any stimulation in this area, we absolutely had to get our fix.


Starved of any good fish in London, as you can see.

Eat up, shall we?

Mega-concentration, guvn'a

No-shoe policy restaurant, my fav!

All in all, it was decent. Decent enough for these tampered taste buds. That said, probably the best sushi I had the whole trip...but then again, I only went to Nobu in Dubai otherwise and their service could not have made my experience any worse.

Gucci shoes, APC trousers

Abu Dhabi Part I

Alas, the UAE photos. One of the things I love about the UK is the dual Easter holidays we get off. Some people turn their four day weekend into week long affairs, but almost everyone leaves the country for warmer climates.

As no exception, we escaped to the UAE for a week. First stop, Abu Dhabi. Definitely less touristic and more conservative (Mass got sent home for wearing a shorts suit to the Emirates Palace), it is worth a two day pit stop.

After arriving late at night on Thursday, we were driven to Abu Dhabi from Dubai, which takes approximately an hour and a half. By the time we arrived at our hotel it was 2am and we still had not eaten dinner. Despite hotel patrons leaving to go party, we decided to hang out with room service (hummus no less!).


The next morning we woke up to go to the
Emirates Palace. Similar to cities like Vegas, the Emirates is built largely around hotels for entertainment. In order to 'get in' though, we had to make a reservation at a restaurant. This hotel boasts the 7 star rating and insists on being called a Palace rather than a hotel. It has a pillow 'menu' and a grand lobby made of marble and gold. In fact, most rooms consist of marble and gold (wonder what their insurance policy is like!).



We spent the rest of the day visiting the local tourist sites (alongside some shopping, I seemingly found the only store in an Emirates mall with a sale!). Admittedly, the extent of tourism / culture was minimal. Below is the 'heritage site' where they literally just stuffed images of what Abu Dhabi looked like alongside some animals and a fake desert. I'd say this is worth a miss.



Opening Ceremony dress, Ferragamo flats, Balenciaga bag, Wayfarers

colours of the rainbow

Sardinia is definitely not the place for vibrant colours. In fact, the entire restaurant turned and stared when I showed up in this. Thankfully I gave Mass' parents a heads up about my colour scheme before they got a glimpse. Though I think they're pretty used to Mass' eccentric style so it's nothing abnormal anymore.



Haven't had a chance to wear this Nico Di Donna top very often this summer since it's been a bloody nightmare of a season in London. Finally broke it out since purchasing it in the spring only to get seafood backsplash on it..oops. It goes from conservative to slightly scandalous when you open the back up. A bare back (not mine) is my favourite part of the female body.

the beginning of my fav city...HK

Just wanted to start off my HK photos with a picture of two of my favourite HK people. Chloe, my dear high school friend, and Ricky, my favourite cousin, always show us a fabulous time when we visit. I just wish I could take them both home with me.

Massimo Dutti white blazer, Jill Sander trousers, H&M sheer shirt, Prada clutch

danish wedding

Andy TheAn Dress, LV purse, Raybans, earrings from n.hill

Wedding in Copenhagen was stunning. And, unlike most weddings, it was fun! The bride and groom even went swimming in the sea at 5am with their guests.

Danish weddings, as I've learned, involve a lot of speeches (an open mic really) and a long lasting party to follow.

Heading to HK for a week tonight. Not sure what sorta blogging schedule I'll be on but hopefully the posts won't be jet lagged as well. Can't wait to see all my family and friends there!

Copenhagen

Last weekend we went to Copenhagen for a friend's wedding. I have a huge fondness of the Nordics, especially their fashion sense. My favourite blogger, Elin Kling, is one of Sweden's best style exports and I was anxious to see fellow Scandinavians who sport similar tastes.

One of the coolest places we visited was Christiania (last photo): a city within a city. Christiania allows the most liberal amongst us to run free, with an open drug trade, building your own house, live concerts, and their own consensual method of deciding on to govern their town. Probably not a place to bring your children since everywhere you go it smells like mary jane, but definitely worth checking out. However, I strongly recommend you not to wear your Jimmy Choos there (Mass was in a velvet blazer and we both looked very out of place).

drapery

Weekend spent in Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare was born and grew up. My favourite play was Macbeth, what's yours?

Sometimes I think people in London get so wrapped up in traveling every weekend that they forget what great little villages lie within the UK. Wearing Stefanel sweater, APC trousers, Nico Didonna vest, Miu Miu purse, Jimmy Choo shoes (favs!), COS sweater, scarf bought in Paris.