Sunday, 27 May 2012

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!

Monday, 2 April 2012

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...

Friday, 16 March 2012

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

Monday, 12 March 2012

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...

Sunday, 11 March 2012

Thursday, 8 March 2012

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.

Monday, 5 March 2012

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.

Missing Me?

Hi there!

I just got back from Taipei last week and was busy hosting some BFF in Hong Kong as well as attending a couple of important meetings. Busy as a bee! Stay tuned for pictures on my Taipei trip!

Friday, 17 February 2012

Random Walkabout

This is what Mr. LTC & I do on weekends - spontaneously pick an area and explore in true free-spiritedness.

I love looking at the old and unique residential quarters in Hong Kong. Here are some interesting ones that I've stumbled upon.
This was part of an old 4-storey building known as 唐楼. Rejuvenated! 
An apartment in Causeway Bay. Love the line of potted plants & the white windows.
A car that matches the building @ Tai Ping Shan St, Sheung Wan 
A tattoo studio that uses the "Two Sisters" motif for its poster.
Lots of graffiti in Sheung Wan. This one is propagating saving energy.
30s on the escalator = 22min 30s of light
Cafe Loisl - Artisan Coffee. Made a mental note to return.
Ms. M.

We took a bus to Upper Happy Valley to see what our neighbours are up to.
Apartments with garages.
There is actually a park up there! Rules of the park: No cycling, no dogs.
The grass land is uneven so you may trip & fall. 
Love the facade! (Along Wong Nai Chung Rd/Stubbs Rd intersection)
View from Stubbs Rd 
Benches for lounging to enjoy whizzing vehicles & pollution. How thoughtful...
Mod-dish apartment with the orange colour & curves.

This mansion looks straight out from a 50s/60s HK film.