…for a while at least. Here are some shots from our recent trips to Paris and Brussels. They feel like worlds away now!
Hover over each image for a dot to appear, then hover over the dot for photo details + links. I’ve used Thinglink before with The Pond Market and thought it was about time to bring it to the blog. Enjoy!
Hello, I hope you had a good weekend. We did move into our new apartment after all and though that was very exciting, the highlight was definitely this taxi ride home. Nik, the driver and MC extraordinaire, was more than happy to get the party started after Joe asked about the microphones sitting on the console. I had never done solo karaoke before (I know, wuss) but I’m glad that my grand debut was in the Malay language (Bahasa Melayu) and in that taxi. I sound and look like a total fool but I thought you might get a kick out of it, too. There’s always the thumbs up I got from Nik :)
p.s. i’ve let my crazy jungle-monkey hair (as Joe affectionally calls it) go wild here…might as well not fight it.
Hello hello! How have you been? It’s good to be back…writing, sharing, catching up. We arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday morning and despite having the airline lose one of six checked bags for nearly two days, everything went smoothly. We’re all settled into our temporary serviced apartment as we wait for our first batch of home necessities to arrive via freight – I just pray that everything makes it over here and in one piece. In the meantime I’m loving living in a place where if we need honey for our yogurt and granola all we need to do is press a button. Also, I’m getting really spoiled with daily house keeping and a breakfast buffet with tons of cut fresh fruit (I’m the laziest when it comes to cutting my own but I will eat it all day long if it’s there – anyone with me?).
It’s day four here and while I can’t say that I’m in love just yet (never mind the post title – I make a city work for it) I can tell you that I won’t be lost for inspiration anytime soon . Between the lush vegetation, patterns and textures of modern buildings, and the juxtaposition of Islamic and Colonial British design everywhere you look, it’s going to be pretty sweet. I think I’ll be able to do an entire photo series on Islamic patterns found on pavements, fences, entryways…seriously, my geometric pattern-loving heart is in heaven.
We got into the local swing real quick by hanging out at … uuhh…hate to say it…do I need to say it?…yeah, okay: at three different malls. There are so many malls here but we get it, it’s just not very comfortable to do anything outside for longer than 30 minutes during the day. We’ll just have to re-wire our anti-indoor shopping center brains and succumb to being mall rats. It’s almost like being in Vegas where every Casino is a self-contained air-conditioned world. The three malls we visited had a post office, day care centers, art galleries, spas, gyms, full-serviced restaurants, medical clinics, movie theaters, you name it. You can practically live there and many people do. As difficult as this is to say, I may eventually set up office on the fourth floor Coffee Bean or Starbucks like the locals do. In LA or London this would have been cringe-worthy but until I find something more my style, I think it’s gotta be my norm.
Another thing we did that we otherwise wouldn’t was buy tickets for the local hop-on hop-off buses. You know, those double decker buses that every touristy city has that follows a points-of-interest route? We’ve always dismissed them by preferring to explore via foot and the local transport systems. However, with KL being a bit more spread out – and not the most pedestrian and public transpo friendly city – we opted to go for the big bus to get a lay of the land. It was a good move because we got a glimpse at Chinatown, Little India, the Lake Gardens, and other cultural and commercial areas that would have otherwise each been a full day trek. There’s a lot to take in here – yes, obviously the cool sights but also the cultural norms and personal lifestyle adjustments. I’ve always been proud to say that I take change very well and adjust easily but let’s face it, London was a piece of cake. KL is certainly very new and different but one comforting thought is that if any city-woes do arise, we’re only a cheap airplane ticket and hour away from the most beautiful beaches in the world. They can cure anything, I’m sure.
KL seemed to be all about contrast – modern skyscrapers towering over old rain trees and state of the art shopping centers next door to traditional street hawker stands. With cold and gloomy skies lurking outside my London window right now, the image of a sparkly new pool couldn’t be any more different. An entire new world awaits. A very hot and humid one in fact. Just as I had curated a great little collection of wool and cashmere sweaters it’s time to trade them in for cotton tops and linen dresses. Definitely not complaining though because as a So Cal girl I’m happiest in sandals and denim shorts anyway. It felt strange to show my shoulders and legs again after months of hibernation and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was okay to do so. Malaysia is a predominately Muslim country but the difference is that everyone is free to practice and express as they wish. That means that a woman won’t be (our shouldn’t be) chastised for not following the hijab dress code. Nevertheless, I’m used to traveling to places where it’s one or the other so I wasn’t quite sure what to do when I turned a corner and realized that I was the only female in sight not covered from head to toe. Going to the mall reassured me that I was going to be fine – I could have been in LA with hundreds of fellow flip flop, tank top, wearing peers! It was definitely the place to be. Shopping centers are a BIG DEAL but I’m pretty sure it has more to do with the omg-this-feels-so-good air conditioning than anything else.
In the evening I found myself giddy with joy at the fact that we were sipping mojitos outside without a coat or scarf in sight. Other things that I loved and look forward to is the incredible hospitably and customer service, amazing food both in proper restaurants and street-side stalls, and the awesome afternoon shows that thunderstorms put on for the city. Not to mention that with the exchange rate everything is either dirt cheap or at least LA equivalent – much easier to stomach than London Town’s high premiums. And of course, I’m rreaaalllyyy looking forward to our new swanky pad in KLCC (city center)! I can’t wait to settle in, decorate, and jump into that pool! It’s so different from our charming, traditional flat in London – ultra modern, brand new building, gym facilities, and city views. Basically, I’ll be pinching myself for the next two years. A few suburban neighborhoods were suggested to us but a) we don’t want a car as is necessary to live there b) we don’t need that much space and c) we like to live where we play. It seems like the “nobody walks” mentality is prevelant due to the heat but we’re down with at least giving it a go. Only thing is that the sidewalks are either non-exitent or in terrible shape in some parts but we’ll eventually learn the best routes for what we need.
One thing is for sure: with KL being so modern and western yet also deep rooted in ancient cultures and traditions, I really want to make an effort to explore the latter as much as possible. I can imagine it being far too easy to simply float along with the modern aspects of the city once we settle in. I don’t want to be that kind of expat. Between the humidity and the pool, I will, however, turn into a three shower a day person. That much I can guarantee.
Yep, this is the big announcement I’ve been mentioning – just as we mark our one year anniversary in London we’re packing up again and moving to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! We might as well balance things out by doing the other side of the world right?!? Joe was offered a new opportunity with his company and we simply couldn’t pass up the chance to live in and explore South East Asia. It sadly cuts our time in the UK short by a year but we’ve got to take things as they come and trust that we’ll have just as much fun creating a new home there as we did here.
The move is going to happen very quick. I’m talking the first week of May quick – eekk! Between squeezing in trips to Brussels and Paris (we need to leave our mark), visiting KL to look for an apartment, wrapping up work projects, and all of the moving stuff to do in London, it’s going to be a crazy couple of weeks. For that reason I won’t be blogging next week but I will be prepping a big moving sale for the shop and will have bits to share from the trip to KL the following week.
There’s so much to personally reflect on and anticipate but that will have to wait for a later post – I need to get through a very long to-do list first! If any of you live in or have traveled in that part of the world I’d love to hear about your experiences, tips, and words of wisdom. I’ve never been so my eyes and ears are wide open!
(image: taken in Shoreditch, London)
Our trip to Florence and Chianti was somewhat of a love and hate one. We hated the rain and cold that prevented us from leisurely strolling along but loved the excuse that it gave us to picnic in the car with the best view in town. We hated that the vineyards and landscapes were bare and looked nothing like what you imagine Tuscany to be but loved that it was off-season and we had the roads, villages, and hotel to ourselves. We hated coming up against locked gates to wineries because of the Easter holiday but loved happening upon the traditional Caparsa home where the owner, Paolo, invited us in without any hesitation (we didn’t want the bourgeois wineries anyway). And really, we loved much more than hated. The sun came out to say arrivederci on our last day and everything looked and felt different. En route to Florence it kept us warm as we spontaneously stopped at a flea market in Greve In Chianti. No vintage treasures for the shop were found but the enjoyment of being around locals greeting each other and catching up on the week’s events was more satisfying than bringing home a piece to polish off. Once in Florence we had just a few hours before departure and lucky for us, the historic center of the city is tiny. We had plenty of time to stand in awe in front of il Duomo, drink coffee in la Piazza della Repubblica, and veer into side-streets where local signage and store-fronts kept us thoroughly entertained. My only regret was not being able to shop for shoes (ladies, you understand) but drool-worthy footwear and a lush harvest season just might be enough to make us go crawling back for more.
Salute! I hope you had a good Easter weekend. We got back into London last night and with a ton of work and planning to get started on (big announcement coming up), a trip roundup will have to wait until tomorrow. I can’t wait to go through all of the photos. Rain or shine, we had some great moments…and some amazing vino ;)
Oh and while I was away, Erin of Apartment 34 included Anamu in her Noteworthy Newbies - wowza! Welcome Apartment 34 readers, glad you clicked through! Big thanks to Katie for the sweet referral – you all should click on over there too. Girl’s got style.
It’s almost Easter and that means one thing: four day weekend! We’re taking advantage of the time and jaunting off to Florence and Chianti to get to know my little obsession, Italia, a little better. I’ve been studying Italian using Rosetta Stone but since I’ve been a bit inconsistent with it, I’m just barely at the point where I can ask “where’s the bathroom?”, “how much?” and all of those other simple phrases that will hopefully be enough to get us by!
During the past year’s travels we’ve gotten by with our english, broken french, and my fluent Spanish. Joe speaks a little bit of Spanish but he learned it with the Castellano accent that turns every “s” into a “th” sound…it drove me crazy for a while but I’ve warmed up to it. I had to.
We’ve definitely accomplished what we moved here to do: travel. There are still so many places on our list but I’m beyond thankful to have been able to check off the ones below and leave with beautiful memories.
Here are some of my favorite moments, places, and thoughts from our European adventures…
shopping at my first European flea market (in Paris) and seeing a different type of vintage and market scene
stumbling across the Louvre at night and having the square all to ourselves
walking along Pont Des Arts in Paris with my mom, oohing and awing at the romantic gestures and inscriptions of the love locks. we even witnessed a couple throwing their key into Le Siene followed with a passionate embrace and kiss. must go back there with Joe!
cheering on team Atletico with Joe’s college buddies in Madrid. we sat in a section called “Vomitorio”…”vomit” is spelled “vomito” in Spanish so it felt a little icky at first. the funny thing was that not even the locals could explain the name.
finally understanding Joe’s love for simple Spanish meals. I could eat like this every day now.
searching for the vista point for the Toledo bridge but instead happening upon our own little corner. we somehow managed to avoid the crowds and feel as if the entire town was ours that day.
walking up to the awesomeness of the ancient aqueduct in Segovia (no mortar!) and then geeking out over the decorative walls and doors all over the place
witnessing a modern marvel being built, aka La Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona
and being even more impressed/amazed by what’s inside
watching my mom enjoy “the best paella of my life!” while I cooled down with a chilled beer
watching the sunrise and looking for seashells on the beach with my mom in Barcelona. 
our first week-long European holiday in Sicily. we stayed in the countryside, Ragusa…it was heaven as you can tell
but we did take a dip in the Mediterranean! this was a total locals’ spot that we came across while looking for a place to eat lunch in Syracuse. i’ll never forget the views from the water looking back at the city.
having coffee in front of Check Point Charlie in Berlin and learning about Joe’s uncle who was stationed there during the Cold War. finding the perfect German pub/restaurant, Sophien 11, with my friend Caitlin. the bar tender fell in love with her and gave her free beer mugs as souvenirs.
seeing Christmas come to life in Brugge, Belgium. i felt like i was in the original Disneyland the entire time. what a beautifully preserved medieval place.
giving into a guided canal tour in Brugge and going under stone bridges from the 14th century. i mean seriously? 
finding moments to look around and capture the details in Marrakech amidst the craziness of the Medina
visiting a Berber market in the Atlas Mountains. this was the parking lot…it was pretty muddy but i loved it. 
sipping on sweet mint tea and drooling over too many rugs in Marrakech. i wanted so badly to go through the piles myself and pick which ones I wanted to see. unfortunately that’s not how it works. it’s a full on presentation and very ceremonial but i was happy to oblige. we left very happy with our new magic carpet in tow. 
We’ve left every place very happy, it’s hard not to. I can’t wait to see what we come across in Italia this weekend and where our magic carpet takes us next!
Hola, how was your weekend?
Ours was all about traveling and settling back into our flat; man does it feel good to be home!!! One of the things that I love about London is that the architectural details are so different from everything that I grew up with in LA. When we moved here I became obsessed with noting the tiny details of building facades and period characteristics of the 1600′s onwards.
Los Angeles is obviously much newer so going back for a visit after being away for a while proved to be super inspiring. Everything from the Mexican and Spanish Colonial details around El Pueblo/Olvera Street, the Art Deco facades in Old Pasadena, to the simple retro lines of the beach communities … they all hint to the diversity of design in the City of Angels. I admire and respect the ornate and elaborate styles of traditional European design but when push comes to shove, simplicity and basic geometry always captures my heart. It wasn’t until this trip that I realized how much my hometown had influenced my personal design tendencies. I guess sometimes you really don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone…or at least leave it then go back :)
While not nearly as robust and extensive as public transportation options in other cities and countries, LA does have its very own subway and rail system. I love riding the Metro and even though it has its faults, one of the pleasures of forgoing a car is getting to pass through Union Station in Downtown. I was so happy to have the excuse to take the Gold Line there yesterday for a lunch date with my girlfriend Erin. It’s such a special place.
Maybe I’m bad at geography but before taking a day trip to the Atlas Mountains I never would have guessed that Morocco, or anywhere in Africa for that matter, received snow. The entire day was a big pleasant surprise, really.
Our awesome guide, Noureddine, picked us up from our riad and off we went leaving the crazy streets of the Medina behind us. An hour or so later we entered the first valley and got our first glimpse into the varying color and texture of the mountains – they literally change every 100 yards. Because of this, each Berber village has its own distinct look since they use whatever soil and materials are on their mountain side to build their homes. Isn’t it amazing how entire villages blend into the natural curves of the land?
Mid-route were offered sweet mint tea and light snacks at a Berber home that had one of the most serene views I have ever seen. We then dropped our host off at a market in another village and (thankfully) our guides decided that it would be a good idea to join him. I was thrilled! Never mind that the markets are only male (the men do the shopping in these towns) or that it was a total mud fest due to recent rains – this was the REAL deal. I’m talking makeshift tents, tables, and weighing scales that looked as ancient as the culture. It was awesome.
After the market we drove higher up into the mountains, saw our first winter snow (woo!), and then stopped for lunch at a roadside cafe. The other car we were with went on to a restaurant in a more commercial area but this was definitely more our style. Of course it helped to have Noureddine with us to ensure that the food was properly cooked and such. We then headed back to Marrakech but not before stopping at an argan oil cosmetics cooperative store. We bought a few things and even learned a bit about how the oil is extracted from the argan nut. Let me tell ya, it is hard work!
I left the cooperative feeling super satisfied and inspired as it was the perfect end to a very real day. I learned that it’s one thing look at Berber rugs in the souks of the Medina and it’s another to get out of town and see where and how Berbers live. I’m so thankful to our airport driver, Hakim, for suggesting we do it and to our guide/driver Nourredine whose expert knowledge and love of the area made the day such a special experience.
When you’re not busy dodging motorcycles and donkeys there are plenty of design details to catch your attention in Marrakech’s Medina. I was fascinated by the intricate carvings on both wood and stone, the pretty pastels of the buildings, the bright bold colors in the souks, and the rough and smooth texture pairings on the walls. I peeked into a few craftsman workshops near our riad to see how they use stencils to carve the repeating designs – what a work of art!
Any design details or colors catch your eye?
