Unplanned Character

A strange but lovely encounter when Mr. LTC & I went for an outdoor shoot in one of HK's lovely old neighbourhood in an attempt to inject some nostalgia into the pictures.

We were at this aged "indoor recreational space" and there was this man who was practising on his saxophone! He belted some golden oldies which gave great ambience when Mr. LTC was happy firing away the shutter. 

Love his laid-back pose, page boy cap and his flip-flops. Cool!

Can't Get Enough of Vintage Dresses

Latest additions to the shop.

I just got a batch of vintage dresses. I'm considering doing an outdoor shoot for this batch. (Not sure if I can handle the lingering glances from passers-by...) And there's logistics to consider. But I do want to try something new, present stronger product images with the ambience of location. Decisions...decisions...decisions...

Sartorially Yours launches Collection 9!

Sartorially Your's 9th Collection is chockful of easy-to-match pieces that easily go well with the rest of your wardrobe. Look chic in asymmetrical dresses, layer on light outerwear for Spring and create your own vintage-inspired look with the pleated skirts. Available in limited quantity only. 

Shop: sartoriallyyours.bigcartel.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sartoriallyyours

Cafes Hidden In Taipei Alleys and Mountains

Taipei is really more than night markets, pineapple pastries, hot springs and shopping. Look into any Chinese travel guides, you can discover lots of eclectic eateries and cafes. Please discard all English guidebooks on Hong Kong, Taiwan & China if you can read Chinese.

On our itinerary, my companion and I have ambitiously put in many cafes that caught our eyes from travel guides and blogs. Well, a coffee at each cafe definitely make us exceed the recommended daily caffeine intake.

One of the HG of cafe hopping: Yong Kang Street (永康街) and its vicinity - home to quaint boutiques, cafes and famous beef noodles.

First stop, 小茶栽堂 Zenique. Well, it's not a cafe but a Taiwanese tea salon that sells a wide assortment of organic tea as well as french desserts. Ground floor houses a tall wall full of tea variants which you can purchase in tins or by weight. On the other side is a pastry display with all sorts of dainty french pastries, colourful macarons and chocolates. Second floor is where we enjoy our lazy afternoon tea while waiting for the rain to be kinder to us. Well, three (ALL THREE OF THEM!) of the tea infused desserts that I had my eye on weren't available. Major disappointment. 

Cookies to go with the tea. Love the teapot of my companion's genmai tea.

The name's something osmanthus...something blanc...

My lemongrass milk tea

With very limited seating, a minimum spending per person applies. I can't remember how much but a dessert and a drink covers that. Mine costs NT250 or so.

小茶栽堂 Zenique

Address: 8, Alley 4, Yongkang Street, Taipei (永康街4巷 8 號)
Tel: (02) 2395-1558
Opening Hours: 11:00am~10:30pm
Website: http://www.zenique.net

If you like chilling in a quiet cafe and vintage furniture, Ecole is the place for you. The furniture in this cafe are vintage from elementary schools in Germany. From what I read from other blogs/guides, this place regularly hosts art shows and live music in its basement gallery. Not enough of vintage furniture? Hop next door to Mooi (魔椅), a vintage mid-century modern furniture shop.

Vintage tin playthings from the past.

Ecole

Address: 6, Ln 1, Qingtian St (青田街1巷6号）

Website: http://ecole-cafe.blogspot.com

Tel: 02-2322-2725
Opening Hours: Mon - Thur 1 pm - 11 pm / Fri 1 pm - 12 am / Sat 11 am - 12 am / Sun 11 am - 11 pm

Here's another cafe with vintage school furniture. This is hidden in the mountains in Jing Tong (菁桐), which used to be a coal mining town, now a tourism destination, in Taipei outskirts. No, we did not specially track down this cafe but was a bonus discovery when we are in Pingxi (平溪) and Jing Tong (菁桐)。

矿厂咖啡

Students' scrawling

I'm glad we decided to stop for coffee because this is where I had my virgin taste of latte with sea salt! And it was quite a delectable flavour! The nutty coffee that we are familiar with is accompanied by a salty aftertaste. My companion described the taste as "sweet and salty popcorn". I'm tempted to try concocting this coffee on my own...

"MAKE SPACE FOR MORE" SALE @ SARTORIALLY YOURS

Shop away! Visit their shop and connect with them on Facebook for the latest updates! 

Stop Joseph Kony - Do Your Part

JOSEPH KONY IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S WORST WAR CRIMINALS AND I SUPPORT THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO ARREST HIM, DISARM THE LRA AND BRING THE CHILD SOLDIERS HOME.

No children should be living in fear of abduction, forced into becoming child soldiers, made to kill, coerced into sex slavery. 

Help free the children from fear. The more public interest, global awareness there is on Joseph Kony, the more efforts and support will be put in by the governments.

Visit the website, watch the video, join the cause by spreading the words. Stop Joseph Kony by making him famous.

Never Enough of Taipei

22-28 February 2012 - Me and a friend set off from HK & Singapore respectively to meet in Taipei.

My last trip to Taiwan was Oct 2011 but I can never get tired of her with her wonderful people and  warm hospitality. Our trip was planned around getting overdosed on food and whimsical cafes as well as getting materials for leather craft.

Wan Hua District (万华）： Previously known as "Mankah", this old district somehow feels like a hybrid of Chinatown and Geylang in Singapore. This nostalgic area boasts a reputation where undesirable characters hang out and it seems like it's also the "red light district". During the day, you can see elderly people peddling bric-bracs along the walkways or concentrating over a chess game in parks and ladies looking for business along the older streets.

Meng Jia Park

Meals on wheels @ Hua Xi Street Night Market

Along Guangzhou St （广州街）

Bo Pi Liao 剥皮寮

Graffiti on a preserved Qing period architecture

Brolly - our BFF during the entire trip.

Massage - what we crave for at the end of each day.

This is a happy surprise for us while walking along Guangzhou St. We chanced upon this old eatery serving great porridge and roasted meat (红烧肉). We were so enchanted by the roasted meat through the shop window that we returned the next day for breakfast!

The roasted meat, according to the shop keeper, is the shop's recommended dish. The meat was well marinated with the distinctive flavour of huadiao. The skin was deep fried to a crispy perfection.

The porridge, though simple, was packed with sweetness from the scallions and dried shrimps. Simple food, comfort food.

周记肉粥店

104 Guangzhou St, Wan Hua District

Opens from 7 am to 4.30 pm. Closed on selective days of the month.