Savor the Moment.

In a world of planned obsolescence and instant gratification, I find immense pleasure in people that have an acute appreciation for history. While over for tea (yes, very British I know) my friend James told me the story about these spoons that he inherited.

His grandmother worked in the RAF as a nurse during WWII and was charged with counting and sorting the silver every night. Apparently, 41 spoons is just as bad as 39 and one night she was instructed to get rid of the additional spoon. She ended up taking it home with her.


The other spoon belonged to his grandfather, which he had engraved with his initials and carried throughout the war. He ended up wounded, sent to RAF hospital and fell in love with a beautiful nurse that ended up taking care of him for the rest of his life.

Two generations later, the matching spoons have found their way to Hong Kong and are kept safe and used often.

I'm always fond of keeping and using things with a past history, especially when it involves the people you love. It makes life richer, more dynamic and also makes you appreciate the lives of those that came before you. I hope that my life story echos that of the silver spoons; and that perhaps one day my great-granddaughter will use an article of mine steeped in love and history.

Thank you James for sharing your wonderful story, I wish you luck with your recent engagement.

Living in a new city, especially such a vibrant metropolis like Hong Kong has encouraged me to open my eyes a little more. I realized that people almost naturally look at the pavement when they walk, instead of keeping their head up and looking around.

I've been making a point to look up, which has allowed me to see the richness and depth that this city has to offer. For example, while walking down towards Soho I saw this magnificent tree, growing out of the wall at a extreme angle - a tree with gumption, ambition and personal resolve who said "Hmmmm... I'm going to puts roots down here."

It's become my local hero of sorts, as it reminds me that when you've put your mind to it - anything is possible. I walk past it everyday and it reminds me of the goals I have yet to reach and the dreams I've yet to pursue.

Caroline Myss once said that "You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone, which can become a watered-down, occasional hope that you'll get to tomorrow. Intention without action is useless." The little tree that could looks down on me some days, as says "my very existence stems on me holding myself up, having built a strong root structure... I've endured typhoons and I'm still growing and prospering... what have you done today?"

You're thinking to yourself, does this girl ever stay in one place? Seattle, Prague, London, Dubai, Shanghai, Bangkok, Sydney... and now Hong Kong. Difference is I'm moving to this New York of the East and so far I'm loving every minute of it.

I spent the last couple of days roaming the crowded yet colorful streets, tasting the local noodles and marveling at the cool collection of skyscrapers and old colonial buildings. I love that it's a city on the harbor, that the sky darkens with the torrential downpours (I love rain, must come from my days in Seattle) and that the transit system is fast, cheap and reliable.

I'll keep you guys posted on my progress, but just wanted to share the news and also post a photo of the amazing view. Hi from HongKong. =D

One thing I love about Indonesia is the random pairings I see. Somehow Cantonese seafood and an English furniture shop makes perfect sense, right? =P

People have been asking me if I took them off my mailing list - which means I haven't been writing at ALL in the past... whoa... few months. Sorry folks. Lots to catch you up on.

It was my 26th birthday a few weeks ago and I spent in the mountains of Bali with Andrew, who had decided to visit for a short but much needed vacation. As I grow older, I realize that I need to balance myself more. I love the hustle and bustle, cocktail parties and city life, but I also need to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book once in awhile. Fortunately for me, my birthday week was packed with lounging around the pool, eating copious amounts of delicious food and contemplating the universe. It was my kinda birthday. Here are some of the highlights.

Summer time... and the living is easy. In America my friends are chomping down on blueberries, kayaking on lake Washington and going for ferry rides across the sound. Lucky bastards.

In order to console myself, I decided to take a last-minute trip to Bali for the weekend - as sand, sun and surf sounded like just what the doctor ordered.

And so I did. I enjoyed salmon sashimi at Ku De Ta and listened to the peaceful sound of the ocean all weekend. I came back rejuvenated and relaxed.

It's summer in the states, but as I came to realize... the weather is always sizzling in Indonesia. =D