At Lakme Fashion Week

Lakme Fashion Week it was. Although I was not sure I would enjoy it much, but I actually did!

We got drunk on free Zampa wine and roamed around laughing at everyone with weird clothes. Huge platforms, ill fitting skirts, Sari blouse top, chunky necklace, air-kissing.

Some stunning too.

The show by Rahul Reddy was liked – Woolen smocks, blue with yellow, Pink and yellow, wool and silk. Cute.

Then, Priya Puri. Chintz. Chinese printed silks. Nothing out of the world. But still delectable.

I think I would want to go again. Me likes.

Moving on

Got over my post travel blues faster this time. Already planning a weekend at Kelwa now. Ginny is coming over - this is to be her bachelorette party :)

I am also loving The End of Mr Y

Singapore: Tastes and Colours

It’s the second day in Singapore and we are already tired of how sanitized (boring!) the city is. But then we see Boat Quay.

Rows and rows of brightly lit tents by the Singapore River. Tall buildings flanking the edge. Sculptures at the side. The bridge changes colour. An Indian honeymoon couple makes us sick with their overt love play. We wish them a speedy flight home.

We have, what Rick calls the ‘Humongous crab ka jhatka”. A crab worth S$175 and less than a quarter of it end in our stomachs. (Tip: Ask how much he plans to serve you, and do not go by the ‘Market price’ sham on the menu).
We thought Boat Quay was the best part.

And then we see Clarke Quay.

The vibrant colours, the many pubs strung together, some Chinese, Indian, Caribbean, Jazz bars, some with wheelchairs (this was bizarre), metal frame beds, dressed up women on the prowl. I love the place. We want to do the reverse bungee, but I am until my nose with the crab.

We visit East Coast Park. But it is the fifth day of our trip and we are quite tired. We rent bikes at $6 an hour, cycle around; enjoy the sea by the side. We crib again, “Why can’t India be like this?” The East Coast Lagoon Food Village is delightful, somewhat like Newton Hawker Centre that we've visited – the best food, many types under one roof.

Some of the food we‘ve tried:
Too much loved:
Popiah – Absolute favourite
CendolLongan Ice
Coffee Ice
Milo Ice (Milo was a Roe favourite)
Kaya Toast
Sweet and Sour gravy
Fried banana cake
Laksa

Just Loved:
Teh Tarik – Luke-warm Malay Tea
Satay
Chilli Crabs

Coffee Ice

Singapore is a gourmet lover’s fantasy. And how we indulged!

Tioman: Salim Chronicles

Salim and gang

Snorkeling is more fun that I imagined. Yes, you need to know a bit of swimming, you need to know where to look, you need plenty of energy.

Or you need Salim.

It is a good thing I don’t know how to swim. I beg him to be with me. “Saliimmmm, Else I will die” Bat of eyelids.

And the other two benefit.

The second time we are left to snorkel in middle of the South China Sea, I beg him to come with me. Roe asks him if we could see the sharks. “You want to see shark, come” and we swim along. At least, the other two do. I piggy-back, sometimes pulling his shirt, sometimes holding his waist. He guides us to the middle of the sea, to scary depths. The green currents sweep us back, the sun beats down, but the sights, oh! The sights! The white and black corals, the sea cucumbers, the many hued fish, the school of shimmering little ones. What you see on NatGeo, it is even better. Far, far so!

And we also see four sharks!

Rick gives up after a while. It is hot and we are energy sapped after two hours of water lapping. Then she starts to puke. The fish swim up to devour her breakfast. She cries feebly, “Saliiimm, can I have some water?”

Yeah, right! In middle of the sea!

We spoil the trip for the Indonesian gang with us on our ferry – we steal away Salim for exclusive use, Rick pukes all over them, takes away their lifejacket to sleep on, and drinks their mineral water. They are very sweet though.

In the night, we go around the island looking for Salim. We buy Salems (Yes! Salim smokes Salems! - Which are, by the way, pack of expensive menthol ciggies. According to Roe, she hadn’t given anything as expensive to her boyfriend ever) but he is nowhere to be found. We stop at every bar, every lane, and every corner. They blame me for making him all tired from my back breaking mount. I remind them they saw sharks thanks to me. We don’t find him. We leave them with his sister.

Tioman: Rick's synopsis

This trip is of tiger and luggage limits, of sanitized city, of BKK love, of cranky early morning travels,of piccies and cheapies, of getting lost at Johar, of no tandas and follow mr. hot pants, of getting lost again and again,of kids brighter than us, of SKD and its surrealism, of project F.L.I.R.T,of I dont know you and I am on my own, of guessing nationalities, of Salim and his back breaking experience, of KFC download, of mersing and its painful glory, of Salim and his salem ciggies, of Salim and his no-show, of no buffet at the buffet, of 3n/2d or 2n/3d, of body massages, of spa unharmony, of papaya and papaya and papaya, of at the drop of a papaya , of nip and tuck, of toink,of the entire bottle of wine,of muay thai in the middle of night,of yoga in the sea,of rapid fire pukes in the middle of the sea, of salim,please get me water,of tadpole dives, of rocks that have promises to keep, of spoilt indonesians' holiday, of chilli crab curry jhataka, of bad food and good food, of Indians, of coming back for Scuba diver's course, reverse bungy and water ski,of no duty free shopping,of sgd,ringgits and rupees,of scary credit card bills,of the two girls who made this trip so immemorial

Tioman: Pretty as never seen

Simply put, it is beautiful and virgin. I am in love.

The waters are green. I can see the bed. The huts are so pretty. I am not sure words can do much justice. But it is stuff dreams are made of.

We are staying at the Paya Beach Resort. Such a lovely place! We live in one of the small huts by the pool where the fish swim on to the surface.

We buy pretty sarongs. Walk barefoot in the warm sea. Run on the beach collecting shells, and lie by the hammock in the bar ruing our lives. We are the only girls gang there, and to add to our glee, the only Indians. And believe me; we did get a LOT of attention. Especially after our drinking and ‘Toing’ session on the beach at night.
Such peace, staring into the sea. Nothing I know can be as gorgeous, yet as intimidating.

How to get to Tioman Islands: We took Discovery Travels to avoid the hassle of planning the travel. It took 3 hours by bus and an hour by ferry. The island is easy to get to, but may involve some idle time. Erratic ferry timings result in a long wait at Mersing, which is a dead town. Berjaya Air can also take you there, if you have the money to spend. This website should help to plan your travel.

As always, with three direction impaired girls, we were lost at Johar Bahru immigration. The three Indonesian college kids we were traveling with seemed to have no trouble at all. We felt so small when we entered the bus huffing and puffing and saw them smugly cosy. So, next time on our way back, I did not allow Rick to Tandas (loo in Malay) and ran behind the college kids (Occasionally distracted by the lanky kid with hotpants on his hairless legs) for dear lives.

Singapore: Why aren’t we like them?

Our holiday at Singapore.

We are three. Rick, Roe and me. We are in Roe’s house (she studies at NUS) at Pasir Pajang. Rick and I have traveled together before. I meet Roe for the first time. I think she is very pretty. Rick and Roe hug and catch up.

What are so many Indians doing up here? On a closer look they are all Tamils. Further closer, most are second generation Tamils, they knew nothing much of India except what they’ve learnt from their parents.

It strikes me immediately as to how organized the city is. How utterly controlled! It had rained the night before and the next day we see not a leaf on the road, not a puddle around. Apparently, not a car can leave the garage if it is scratched. The uniformity is irritating though. Box houses, rows of buildings without any character or individuality.

Raffles Place – Our first stop. And then complaints begin. “Why could Indians not honk? Why not have an Esplanade back home? Why not make a waterfront as clean and lovely?” Lightning has struck the Merlion. So, we missed a photo.

The city is exasperatingly picture perfect. But I didn’t think the women so pretty or well dressed. It reminds of a city in Europe, well kept, manicured and planned. But devoid of the history, character.

Our first day is mostly spent shopping.

Roe had suggested Bugis Street but although I think it is a good place for some cheap stuff, Rick hates it. It starts to rain.

We buy our Sony T700 from Sim Lim square. This is the best place for some cheap electronics. Five floors of just the latest gadgets – an absolute playground for men. Rick flirted loads with Kem, the guy who sweet talked us into buying the phone. “Go around Sim Lim, find cheaper, I buy from you at double price. “ Crappy sales talk. But Rick is so taken in. As for me, I love the phone.

Orchard Road is next. High Street and very packed. Somewhat like an oriental Champs-Élysées. Loving walking through. Nothing much I can afford here.
We buy from Raffles Place market. Lots of unique fabrics and cuts. This is also close to Marina Bay, the business district. (The other good shopping we discover is in Harbour Front MRT - Vivocity)

A late night dinner was to be at Holland Village. But it is one ‘o’ clock at night. Everything is closed except for the baked duck place. We go to Mustafa at Little India. We see the hordes of Indians we have taken this trip to escape. But we are hungry, what to do? We have Chettinad chicken and Biryani. Tastes good, we are famished.

We have 4 action packed days ahead. And an early morning tomorrow.

Back!

I am back!

Tad tired and busy now. Saturday is the day when I post in detail. Lots to write.

One more day.

Another Far East Jaunt

To Singapore and Malaysia...

See you on Thursday!

The curious case of life

‘You never know what's comin' for ya’

I think if I ever love again, I would want it like this. I wonder if few days with such love is worth living the rest of lifetime without. I wonder.

It’s a curious story. Funny someone thought of it. But no matter how we want to lead our lives, in the end I think we need to feel lucky we are alive.

Learn that

‘You can be as mad as a mad dog at the way things went. You could swear, curse the fates, but when it comes to the end, you have to let go.’

And know that

'Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss'

Don't miss it tomorrow.

Away I go

There are just so many papers one needs to process a visa. It is a nail biting wait.

Meanwhile, I watched Milk. The only complaint I have against Harvey Milk is the excessive emphasis on Gay rights. When you are a supervisor, you are responsible to all people. Else, movie’s good. Nice and retro.

One movie I am really waiting for is Revolutionary Road. The theme of my life…No rules apply… Something I try and implement when I can. Sometimes though, its scary.