It’s been 14 days into the new year and for the first time, I felt 2008 wash away and the positive feelings of having a new year infuse my spirit.
I took the Wednesday off for a dermatologist appointment (nothing to make you feel more pre-pubescent than a breakout). My day started off wonderfully with an 8.30 start, taking Dolce for a walk – the weather has been perfect – windy, cool with a hint of warm, morning sun. It was the kind of morning that makes you stop and inhale everything around you.
I then hit town for my dermatologist appointment – got a dose of Vitamin A pills that seems promising and then stopped in for a 1.5hr massage. (Is there anything else better to feed your soul?). I then had a grande caramel macchiato, stopped at Marks & Spencer, and finally ended at Cold Storage to pick up stuff for tonight’s bangers and mash. It’s been a long time since I wasn’t rushing around to make an appointment or walking briskly. I even had time to stop in front of Mothercare (like a childless Oliver Twist) and allowed my biological clock to kick in.
All in all, it was a perfect day and am looking forward to having dinner for my family and seeing little Caitlin.
I realised that I have a laundry list of resolutions for the new year, which of course, is setting myself up for failure but yet, the new year always brings hope.
Learn how to drive (I got the book and everything)
Exercise 3 times a week (this does not include the maniacal Friday dancing)
Lose 5kg by June (one can dream)
Get a massage once a month
All in all – not such ridiculous ambitions – they just require commitment (ha, my forte) and will. So, we’ll see.
I have always maintained that the 4 places in this world I have no desire to visit are: Taiwan (what the hell is there to do – eat sausage?), China (who needs it, got it right here), Korea (seriously) and Japan (not kidding. People are often surprised by this but I don’t really go nuts over Japanese food and who gives a crap about cherry blossoms?). So, a design conference took me to Hong Kong, which I was quite looking forward to only because it’s technically not really China. If the conference was in Shen Zhen, I would have killed myself on the flight with the ingenious use of paper towels, bland mouthwash and those miniscule plastic cups. Of course, to make it easier, there are those disposable razors.
So, Business of Design Week wasn’t too bad – I thought it might end up being a little dry but it picked up the pace and I have a developed a passionate one-sided love affair with Michael Young (call me!). My foray into Hong Kong shopping started off weakly, I declared Hong Kong positively useless for any form of shopping (don’t worry, this turns around) until the final day where I ended up spending close to $2500 there (now, for little ol’ me, that’s quite a bit). But, I’m pleased with my purchases and it’s all good – no buyers remorse or anything.
Wonderful view from my room
I honestly would not mind working in Hong Kong for a brief period of time (maximum 2 years) – I enjoyed the fast pace, the luxury of being able to shove and push aside with no repercussions and the weather. Although, the people there severely overdress (I guess because they can). Here I was in my t-shirt and jeans and there they were – with the faux fur jackets and boots. Honestly, I see no reason for boots unless there’s snow. (Oh, fashion!)
The one thing I was not crazy about was the food. It was Carb Central up there and lord help me, I get sick of noodles awfully quick. At point, I was dying to duck into a McDonalds but feared my travel card might be revoked by my colleagues. So instead, I bravely sloshed down soupy noodles after soupy noodles and even porridge at one point. (They have set meals of porridge and noodles! Who the hell can eat all those carbs? I’m Indian! I’ve got carb-absorbing genes) Perhaps I tasted the wrong side of Hong Kong but till I get set right – I’m holding on to McDonalds and … wait a second, I don’t recall seeing a Burger King there at all (the airport doesn’t count). There were a crapload of KFCs there but I wasn’t eating no chicken. I never craved Popeye’s so badly before.
I also felt compelled to write when I was there (it’s an alternative form of insomnia – the need to purge thoughts and feelings before attempts to grab a pill strike). So, here it is – typed and scanned.
Travelling uncorks the brain. It starts at the airport check-in counter (packing never counts, you’re always nervous about forgetting something) – this feeling of jittery excitement. The breaking of normality. The hesitation and thrill of doing something different.
Taxi, take off, turbulence and landing.
A couple of firsts. First business trip, first time to Hong Kong. Strange, interesting, big, small, too much space, too many people, too little space – I feel very all over here. Uncertain and unsure – which I quite like. I’ve spent too much time being ambivalent – any end of the spectrum will do.
3 days of people constantly saying the same word over and over again. Design, design. Design. It made me feel important, yet insignificant. I am in my industry without a face. Where is my identity? What makes me special? What would make someone want to spend time with me? My work? Disbelief is as strong as belief and I am neither. Ambivalent, always ambivalent.
This city is unique and typical all at once. I find the people quite fascinating, which I did not expect. I thought I would dismiss them, instead I am drawn to their social side. Far more gracious and collectively independent than I imagined.
This has been a year of firsts. It wasn’t supposed to be this way – didn’t start out like that. It’s interesting to realise that the closing of a chapter would lead me to open up new ones (not just one but several). All I have are a few starting words of each chapter but no fruition, completion of significance. Everything is relative to the last milestone and inevitably compared and made to measure up.
I’ve had a first holiday, a first birthday, a first date, a first kiss, a first movie, a first party, a first drink, a first song – that I have not shared. Separation is surreal.
Yes, I’m 5 days over due and yet, right on track to neglecting my blog. It’s not like the blog police are gonna get me. Anyway, sans the drama that went down on New Years Eve (what’s the welcoming of a new year without blood and tears, anyway?), it was fairly usual (drinking, laughing, dancing, club feet disease).
I received some lovely gifts over Christmas (vouchers make me happy) – although this year was non-stop and tiring. It made back to work that much harder. Today, is slow and sluggish.
I have yet to scan in some stuff from my Hong Kong trip – should have brought a camera (that was my theme of 2008), but will do so tomorrow. We have a mighty fast new scanner at work so shall test it out. In the meantime, I’ll talk about Kanye.
808s and Heartbreak dropped in November 2008 and since then, Kanye has 2 simultaneous hits on the chart. But what I really love and admire about Kanye, is his blatant disregard for traditional rap and instead, his choice for bold forays into the electronic world. I loved his earlier albums (Two Words featuring Mos Def, started it for me) and of course, Gold Digger is a good dancing tune but when Stronger hit, his collaboration with Daft Punk really floored me. 2 completely unexpected artists working together to create a new wave of hip hop.
And now with 808s, you have Love Lockdown and Heartless (amazing, amazing songs) which are so fresh – more singing, more melodies, great drum beats (hey, the album is called 808s) and great videos to come with it. With the Love Lockdown video, I am completely feeling like Kanye is the new Björk. Yes, weird comparison I know – but you can completely feel a skewed vision and mentality coming off from the artist – as though you’re allowed a 5 minute glimpse into their twisted brain. Love it.
I can’t embed the video but the link is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4HrM8eKBZk
I think I have an obsession. I’m supposed to be posting on my thoughts, work etc… and yet, I keep posting about hot guys. Or at least, guys I think are hot.
Simon Pegg. Loved him in Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and am looking forward to his upcoming movies (except the Star Trek one, I’ve never been a trekkie). Love an English accent and wry sense of humour. Sharp men are hot.
Caleb Followill. Frontman of Kings of Leon – I absolutely love how his voice and looks don’t mix. Sex is on Fire, indeed.
Caring is Creepy by The Shins is one of my all-time favourite songs. It’s a unique composition of melodies and timing and is lyrically, beautiful. I love songs where the lyrics are not replicated as a chorus and instead, forms a complete story with a start and end. Poetry in music is so rare today.
I’ve included a youtube link below, no video, just the song.
sidenote: The Shins comes under sub pop, which is always cool, harking back my love for 90’s music from sub pop.
Caring Is Creepy – The Shins
I think I’ll go home and mull this over
Before I cram it down my throat
At long last it’s crashed, it’s colossal mass
Has broken up into bits in my moat.
Lift the mattress off the floor
Walk the cramps off
Go meander in the cold
Hail to your dark skin
Hiding the fact you’re dead again
Undeneath the power lines seeking shade
Far above our heads are the icy heights that contain all reason
It’s a luscious mix of words and tricks
That let us bet when you know we should fold
On rocks I dreamt of where we’d stepped
And of the whole mess of roads we’re now on.
Hold your glass up, hold it in
Never betray the way you’ve always known it is.
One day I’ll be wondering how
I got so old just wondering how
I never got cold wearing nothing in the snow.
This is way beyond my remote concern
Of being condescending
All these squawking birds won’t quit.
Building nothing, laying bricks.
