We Were In Lov(e)ran

I own a multitude of black bras, but it's not like I don't own bras in any other colours and/or patterns. In fact, my all time favourite bra is pale blue, which is the rainy day to my constantly worn night.
Lately I keep reaching for black bras.
Maybe I am trying to construct a far reached metaphor about how humans usually pick the easier, comfortable, known options in life. But I'm probably just spewing words and making you imagine my bra drawer.

Anyway... Croatia was fantastic. I have an undying affinity to the sea. When we lived in England when I wasn't old enough to understand what the words like 'cider', 'snog' or 'synagog' meant, we used to spend what felt like almost every weekend there. Every time we moved back to Germany after having lived in England for a while again I put 'the sea' at the top of the list of things I missed most (closely followed by fish and chips and book shops and our garden).
That is one of the reasons why Croatia was fantastic. We were two minutes walk from the sea and it spread it's arms around us every morning, afternoon and night.
One of the other reasons why Croatia was fantastic was because I was with my best friend, and we spent many an hour chatting, many an hour cooking and many an hour just relaxing.

It was such a relief to be so completely taken away from the city, the constant hum and vibrations of social life and 'entertainment'; the constant feeling of having to do something or else risk feeling like you're losing something or missing something, something you can never understand or desire anyway.

By the end of my time there my legs (especially my left leg) were covered in bruises and scratches and cuts as a result of overenthusiastic rock climbing and diving, which is definitely a good thing.

I decided quite consciously that I would spend more time enjoying the scenery as opposed to constantly taking pictures of it. That proved a blessing and a shame.

I am going to end this by a) quoting Buddha, b) encouraging everyone to stick it out and c) a song which accompanied many a day on the beach in beautiful Lovran.

a)

In the end
these things matter most:
How well did you love?
How fully did you live?
How deeply did you let go?

(On that note I am half-way through Siddharta by Herman Hesse- every time I put it down, it leaves a more than pleasant, sobering after taste.)

b) 

Even if you can't see it, it's there.

c) 

Being in Bangkok (A South East Asian Journey Part 2)

I'm back from Croatia and England. Croatia was absolutely fantastic. Your surroundings really do influence to an immense measure how you feel mentally. Take away the city and replace it with the salty sea and fresh fruit and vegetables and you feel like the person you are meant to be.
More on those glorious days of relaxation and recreation when I have sorted out the photographs.
The trip to the UK was short but sweet and made me remember what I love about England most: the people. And Waterstones. And Topshop. And the sea. And ...

I have sorted through the pictures from Thailand and have created an extremely image-heavy post. All the pictures were taken with the new Canon EOS M, which is truly stunning.

The flight from Singapore to Bangkok was just over two hours if I remember correctly. We stayed in the beautiful Amari Watergate Hotel, which was smack bang in the middle of Bangkok. I somehow ended up staying in a twin room by myself. I can't truthfully say that I didn't do any bed-to-bed-jumping and dancing to this song on the first evening there (aka I did).

This was the fantastic view from the hotel room. It was even more spectacular by night, which is why I didn't take a picture.

Directly out side of the hotel. Stripes on the run while taxi driver stands idly by.

After we arrived we went to have a Thai Massage. It was quite intense (and by intense I mean rough), but I enjoyed it so much. Complimentary tea after having yourself yanked around for a while.

Our driver for the two days had some groovy looking bits in the car.

When I woke up to this (I like sleeping with any curtains open) my heart crept up into my throat and then lay down with me on the crispy sheets.

I will never get gel nails again (probably). As gorgeous as they were (really gorgeous and they lasted weeks), my nails are still in a state after having them taken off. Old faithful iPhone, and a load of chemicals and powders and liquids in fancy tubes and pots. The M.A.C. Plushglass lip-gloss is godly (Imagine if all Gods wore this lip gloss? Zeus and Krishna perhaps rocking out in the shades 'Ample Pink' and 'Oversexed'.).

Important Rule: Keep hydrated in the tropics.

We drove for about an hour and a half out of Bangkok to go to a 'floating market'.  You hop on your ride and travel through river-ways past stands and beautiful surreal greenery. Photographs do not do it justice.

These are made of fresh coconut and sugar. Dee-vine.

This slightly suspicious coloured drink is actually sweet coconut water. If beer tasted like this thirteen-year-olds would become alcoholics after the first sip.

Aside from the crop this is SOOC. I love this shot.

Gentle reminder that we were in crazy Asia. Cute tea cosies.

Neutral colours with some interruptions and a shark everyone wanted to take a picture with, why though?

Bangkok bokeh. Taken whilst we were on a river-dinner-cruise. The food was amazing, the scenery even better. 

Flashing Gangnam-style kids Tees. 

Thai script is beautiful.

I have never in my life seen an animal this cute. And he felt SO soft. I was (am) in love. 

Everything looks a tad cooler with less of our western alphabet.

Crispy white sheets, the last morning.

This groovy suitcase has accompanied me on my travels this summer. I love it unconditionally, especially because I always spotted in really quickly on the luggage belt.

The flight back to Singapore. I listened to the Alt-J album what felt like three times and I still can't get enough of it. 

My final day in Singapore. I walked back from a near by mall to click a few snaps. Slightly regretfully I ended up soaking wet. My Dad lives in the tall condo in the middle of this picture.

One of the pools at Regent Heights. Yes 'one of them'. How ridiculous! What do you do if you live on a money-making, money-eating island? Create countless recreational opportunities! 

On my final day I had matcha latte with my Dad and took an instax walking across Robinson road. 

I had such a fantastic trip and I will remember it at least until I die.

The time I spent in Asia felt like a teaser. It barely scratched at the surface of all the things to see and discover on the other side of the globe. It made me realise that while at the moment life is full of uncertainty, doubt and hopeful anxiety, I am pretty sure I want to go and work in Asia for at least a few years after I finish my studies (still working on that one). 

Slinging in Singapore (A South East Asian Journey Part 1)

Where do I possibly begin an attempt to put my trip into words that even scratch at the surface of what those ten days meant.
I suppose I should start by mentioning the amazing 60-year old Philippine lady who sat next to me on the plane. Our twelve hours together started with me helping her operate the in-flight entertainment system and ended with her telling me about her (saucy) love life. The two of us were still giggling as we approached Changi airport.

I don't think I have ever felt a more bombastic cocktail of emotions as I did while I waited for my suitcase to arrive on the luggage belt.
I saw my Dad for the first time in two years, a lot was instantly and temporarily forgotten and more remembered.

There was a taxi drive to a breakfast at the Fullerton Hotel. Singapore's architecture is insanely impressive with it's swooping curving skyscrapers decorated with nonchalant palm trees and greenery. Sci-fi Marina Bay twinkled through the haze and I promise I did actually pinch my hand as my Dad enthusiastically attempted to prepare me for harsh emotional hits. The aircon breathed artificial freshness.

 I have never experienced Jet lag the way I did when I arrived in Singapore. I basically hadn't slept straight for almost 48 hours and was ruthlessly being enveloped by my father's new and very alien life style.While my dad and his new partner fed me stories and plans I was seriously doubting that it was actually all reality. The humid heat pressed on my body and bones and I was thankful when we drove to their condo. After being presented with fluffy slippers I was asleep within 20 seconds, a fan blessing me with its delicious whipped up air.

When I woke up several hours later, we drove to Orchard. The city is so far away from anything that is easy to describe but my eyes alone were pleased feasting on more sky high buildings and shops and ill-placed shrubbery.

On more than one occasion I was spoiled, materialistically speaking. The second picture is the view from the bedroom I was given for the trip. How many human beings live in that concrete jungle?! Weirdly, I felt as though those buildings were empty.

 That roller coaster was brutal. I screamed a lot and afterwards enjoyed a sweet natural high produced by this swirling metallic framework.

A minute fraction of Singapore's sky line and an enticing night club at Marina Bay.

 My Dad was working some of the time I was there but we met for lunch on those days. I appreciated the chance to briefly witness some angmos (Singlish: foreigner) who had decided to spend an extended period of time working on this tropical, money making island. How HOT that sweet banker must have been.

There was a lot to talk about with my Dad. After work one day he took me to this rooftop bar called 1 Altitude (check the website!). Whilst classily dressed waiters attended to your needs, you were able to enjoy a 360 degree view of Singapore whilst lounging on comfy chairs. In the background an adorable asian girl sang beautiful acoustic versions of old pop songs. So I had a Sing Sling, watched the sun set and got a lot off my chest. 

I find extremely inclined to mention that two tables away from us there was an already pink faced old English gentlemen in a crisp suit who enthusiastically told his conversational partner: "Singapore is on fire! On fire I tell you!"

Ridiculous and cliched as it was I couldn't stop laughing for about five minutes.

And as the sun disappeared into nothingness, the city state transformed into a magnificent display of lights with effortless ease.

This girl (Joyjoy) was pretty cute. She's my Dad's new partner's niece and we spent a day together exchanging universal girl gossip and shopping. 

As if I wasn't already being spoiled enough, my Dad planned a quick trip to Bangkok as well. I had an amazing time there. Amazing doesn't even begin to cover it. Words, unfortunately, can't ever perfectly represent an event, a time, experiences, feelings. But thank God they exist, and thank God I am able to burn these pictures into screens to help failing memory and attempt to share my time.

There are many more pictures to come, especially of Thailand.

I am leaving for Croatia tomorrow morning where I will be spending a week with my best friend. How beautiful, wonderful, lovely, lucky!

After Croatia I'll be in England for a week and I've got this feeling I'll have hundreds of photographs to sort out after that.

I really like this band a lot lately.



Lots of love internet world.

Formalities and Freedom

I have to admit, the fact that I was soon to be flying to Singapore to see my father for the first time in two years partly eclipsed the significance of graduation and prom.

I finished my final exams what feels like centuries ago. My Japanese oral was about women and their role in marriage and I remember saying so many times that the most important thing was love and that we'd all get along better if we remembered that occasionally. Cheesiness prevailed and it went well.

When I got the question for my History oral I remember smiling and thanking the Gods, fate, destiny, karma and the sweet figure who is no longer my teacher.

After, the weights lifted, we sat by the Main and talked, minds clouded by a new kind of fatigue. What followed were days of blissful nothingness, which I filled with coffee, friends and early morning Game of Thrones marathons. (This morning I finally managed to pick off where I left off with that...)

So yes, a week before graduation I awoke to find an e-ticket to Singapore in my inbox. The details can be explained in a long-winded and possibly intimate manner, but suffice to say I was enveloped by an underlying feeling of excitement and apprehension for a while. More on that when I have sorted the ridiculous amount of photos I took there.

Films and books and corny American television series plant all these ideas in your mind about 'prom'- and I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to it on a lot of girly levels. But in reality it was a gathering of proud parents, reluctant teachers and nostalgic, dressed up teenagers. We listened to awkward speeches and cringe-y performances and afterwards we danced our socks off until our hearts and feet were finished.

Unfortunately the photographic remains of this time are currently only available in grainy iPhone form.
I feel the need briefly to express the love I felt for my dress. It's by London-based Three Floor. The leather strap neck detailing is just ridiculously amazing and reminds me of something slightly ill-fitting of a formal dress.

This is our neighbours cat. He is the most beautiful creature I named 'Aslan'. Whenever our paths cross he projects an aura of selfless love not many cats do.

 The thing is, Frankfurt can be beautiful.

 I visited my sister at work and here I am after having a needle stuck in my ear being told that the oxygen levels in my blood are totally fine. Thanks Thomas!

@ M.A.C.

 These women are my home.

M is for Mausam.

 One of those 'thigh pictures' and a me at about 7 AM after removing about 78 pins from my hair. I then packed my suitcase and left for the airport three 3 hours later. 

Finally, a think a few people need Cosmo Sheldrake in their lives. Listen and enjoy.

Cosmo Sheldrake 'The Fly' - Live at RX89 from Bat On Ball Creations on Vimeo.