Are we back already? :(

The only thing on my mind. A couple of hours more and see you again in two weeks!

Singapore, June 2011.

"(...)On the same note, the first and last thought i'll have (aside from the '*&5^% i need to go to work/ work tomorrow' one) every single day of this week will be 'Thailand and Vietnam'".

Are we there yet?

Randoms nr 8^3*&%4%886%$%^%

• Whatever the outcome of today's elections is, what i wish is that the Portuguese, old and young, but especially young, grow up to be daring and confident while caring and tolerant. There is nothing worse than to not admit one's mistakes and, on top of that, defend them, thus perpetuating them. Step up people (no, this is not only about the elections).
• I'm on holiday mode which is a bad thing as my holiday will only start in 1 week and i need to survive another week at work. Other than this (very - at the moment - sad thought), our friends are landing in a few hours. Happiness is, indeed, this! 
• On the same note, the first and last thought i'll have (aside from the '*&5^% i need to go to work/ work tomorrow' one) every single day of this week will be 'Thailand and Vietnam'. 

Today, the photos are:

Lisbon, Portugal, March 2008.

Today and in the future, what are you made of Portugal?

Today, my iTune is:

Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here

*PANIC*

I've clicked on the Customise Design button in the Template section. I thought i could put in all the HTML changes i had but i couldn't find where to put them. The code is all crazy, the layout section is limited and how the hell can you include extra categories in your sidebar? It can obviously be done but i broke into a sweat! I need to play with the new layout tools before deciding whether or not to join the equivalent to the 21st century in the universe of blogs.

Never again in a whim. I swear. Meu rico blog!

Randoms nr !"£$567*&^54£%^7

• As it stands cow's milk is a no no. I've reintroduced nightshades, corn, soy, gluten, egg and dairy. My stomach could cope with it all, even dairy, apart from cow's dairy. It was so clearly bad for me that it took my body less than 2 hours to struggle after i ate a few spoons of yogurt. Cow's cheese didn't affect my stomach as such but gave me an immediate migraine which, thankfully, disappeared in less than 24hrs. In compensation, i can eat haloumi cheese without fear of tummy or head upsets. There was a reason after all for loving goat's cheese so much! I can totally justify it now :) I still can't really eat sugar although i'm allowed 1 spoon of honey with my oats. I also need to increase my protein intake as i need to address the fact that my hair is still falling too much. However, i need to slowly teach my stomach how to tolerate it as i become instantly full after eating a small steak. Food, i'm almost there but not yet. Once i'm there, all i feel (at least now) i want to cook is stuff like cherry and cardamom custard (i am really, really craving sugar!). 
• I'm pretty much packed for the holidays, underwear included! Never mind that we'll only fly in about two weeks time but our friends are going to be here in less than 1 week and i can't wait! We're also seeing a good friend tonight who's coming all the way from London on a business trip although his wife, a dear friend of mine, and the lovely baby Amy could not join him. Bitter sweet, indeed, and another tough reminder of how much i'm missing out when it comes to seeing a little one, who i adore, grow up. 
• I've got to stop checking the canon rumors website as a new 5D Mark III or a new 7D will surely not materialise due to the sheer will in my heart...

Today, the photo is:

Sugar cane, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, August 2010.

Today, my iTune is:

Tori Amos: Hey Jupiter

Fear not, girlie nr ^%^&6%$£5^&

I spent my entire adolescence being afraid of makeup. It's not that i didn't think i could learn how to apply it but i thought my eyes, being extremely deep set, and my problem prone skin were simply not makeup friendly. Thus any confidence i had in looking good with makeup was squashed away because i always thought it would look too much like a 'made face' intended to disguise the one i had. It's sad to realise that it was well into my late 20s and early 30s that i became much more comfortable not only with makeup in general but also with the essence of it.

Now, two red lipsticks later, a bunch of blushes and a better grip on a black Kohl, i'm happy browsing makeup sites with the intention of actually attempting to emulate certain looks. In fact, i can spend quite a long time (ouch... the thesis) perusing sites like M.A.C.'s which has some really interesting tutorials (aside from the million videos you can get on YouTube and/or blogs) given by their makeup pros (this, this, this and this are basic yet helpful). The next step is to use some daring eye colour such as these M.A.C.'s amazing ones:

      

Today, the photo is:

The licence is ready! Singapore, May 2011.

The feeling of dread associated to seeing our loved ones engaging in more dangerous than usual activities has utterly surprised me. Now if only i could create a bubble wrapped motorbike and convince him to ride it, my emotional world would be way more stable...

Today, my iTune is:

Glorie: Highrise

I'm so uncoordinated

That i obviously had to do something completely dumb to myself during bikram. I never knew what hamstrings were until some days ago (actually i did but i was in primary school and did something equally dumb during gymnastics. Too dumb to tell you about...). It HURTS!!!

Note to self: When doing the Dandayamana/ Bibhaktapada/ Paschimottanasana posture (Standing Separate Leg Stretching Pose) i shall not lose my balance and subsequently unlock my knees while still attempting to touch the floor with my head. If i do, shooting pain will follow and i shall walk like a duck for days (and then definitely not be very good at bikram at all). It doesn't look pretty.

Today, my REAL iTune is:

A collaboration between a good friend in Singapore and a few of her friends scattered around the globe, i.e. my friends are so much better than yours nr *&65$£45*&^%$%6&!

Today, my iTune is:

Sixpence None The Richer: There She Goes

Ashen face?

Can we cancel all natural disasters for a while? Please ash, go away, pretty please. I want my friends to come to Singapore. World economies and myself will be thankful.

Hip Hip Hurray!

Birthday tickets booked for Macau!!! My mouth is already watering thinking of pastéis de bacalhau, caldo verde, sardinhas grelhadas and the Macanese dish of galinha africana.

P.s. Reality: Back to the thesis now :(

Today, the photo is:

Penang, Malaysia, December 2010.

Today, my iTune is:

The Rolling Stones: Wild Horses

Só porque sim

Porque é pertinente. Tipo ao nível de segurança de estado ou coisa parecida.

Isto de escrever uma tese (conteúdo e forma) sem uma caixa, ou duas, de sortido (bolos miniatura) é uma merdinha pegada, daquelas nojentas e injustas. Os estudos comigo só funcionam com palmieres, queijadinhas, natas, bolos de feijão e afins. Acho que, dieta ou não, pagava a viagem de ida e volta a alguém que me trouxesse uma caixa até Singapura. 

Aliás, não acho. Tenho a certeza. Juro.

P.s. Isto não contraria o facto de que, normalmente, não como doces. Significa somente que estou num universo paralelo quando tenho de estudar.

Randoms nr %^&8909*&^%4

• I think i have a better understanding of what it is to be anorexic. Without assuming this statement to be completely accurate, going through a diet, imposed by own will or by a doctor's advice, can significantly change the way one looks at food and her/himself. I mean, i've always known that eating bread daily is not entirely healthy for you nor for your waist, and the same goes for fried food. However, i used to eat quite a lot of bread and had my share of fried food (samosas, roti prata, fried rice/ noodles, fries, etc) in a diet that was, more often than not, balanced-ish. Hence, guilt was never something i associated with food. Fast forward almost a month of forced diet later to impose much needed relief on my poor stomach, and i can honestly say that when i had to introduce gluten all i felt, apart from being so completely excited about eating bread again, was immediately fatter and somewhat guilty. The same goes for anything that is laced with sugar. I rarely crave sugary foods but this diet included no sugar at all save for the natural sugar occurring in fruit. I started craving sugar like mad in the last few weeks and, fortunately, i was allowed to have a sweet/ chocolate now and then. Only to feel completely full and slightly disgusted after. Did i lose weight with this diet? My scales say not that much (not significantly at least) but this was not the point of the diet anyway. Those around me say that i have but i think what happened is that i am no longer bloated all the time, something i can confirm every time i'm at bikram and see myself in the mirror. Taking the obvious benefits of going through this diet, all i can say now is that i'm slightly worried about this new relationship i have with food as guilt is definitely not the feeling i want to have while i'm eating.
• I've been designated the photographer of a friends' growing baby belly, yay! Super excited and afraid at the same time. Here's to hoping she'll still be my friend after she sees the results.
• I guess i can safely say that the world is not going to end on May the 21st (time differences and all). The positive thing taken out of this complete and utter pile of c**p is that, hopefully, the insanity that often goes hand in hand with religious fanaticism will be highlighted and, subsequently, so will the need to elevate reason to its rightful place - above stupidity. While we are at this, it will hopefully bring home the right to comment and/ or criticise people and/or governments (especially those who commit crimes against humanity), independently of the ideals and/or religion they subscribe to. How sad is that, no matter how wrong or right Von Trier's remarks were, he feels the need to say "I understand these issues are a no-go area" when discussing Hitler and the state of Israel? There should be no such thing as 'a no-go area', certainly not one that is apparently justified by a perceived inherent antisemitism associated to any criticism of Israel, including its existence. Such knee jerk reactions simply undermine the complexity and seriousness of this horrendous conflict which is, above all, religiously rooted.

De Singapura para Berlim

Chegou o envelope maravilha! Já há alguns dias mas esta estimada blogger não tem vida na world wide web durante a semana (hum, tem mas é passiva) para colocar aqui a prova.

Enfim, chegou! As minhas colegas (depois de uma tentativa falhada de o enviar para casa, teve mesmo de ser para o trabalho) ficaram super impressionadas e um bocado verdinhas. Diz-se por lá, naqueles consultórios cobertos de brinquedos e de bolhas de sabão (e outros mais líquidos mas isto estraga o tom bonito e rosa deste post), que tenho as melhores amigas do mundo e eu pergunto-me se algum dia houve dúvidas acerca disto... coisa parva, claro que não.

Berlin's girlie package, Singapore, May 2011.

Inferno Cheio, não sei se sabes mas isto é para repetir, sim?!

Today, my iTune is:

Donnie & Joe Emerson: Baby

The internet is a great place nr £$%6789*&^54%^7it5r

An incredibly interesting project about how we react to the way others dress and, subsequently, how we dress ourselves. It touches on something deeper related to what we perceive safe and sexy to be, and how that may be connected to how vulnerable and/or powerful we feel. Unsurprisingly, it's really interesting to see how all these concepts are affected by cultural and socio-economic factors.

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

P.s. I would so rather do something like this... (breathe in and out)
P.s.2. Taken from Inferno Cheio.

Today, the photos are:

Singapore, May 2011.

The IOU project continues. Yesterday, my blue dress made of a wide patterned strong blue hue woven by Suguna S. (India) and sewn by José António Soares at Mundicorte (Portugal) made me ridiculously proud. It's unique and, best of all, it's guilt free.

Alton Ellis: You've Made Me (So) Very Happy

How beautiful are these?

Good things that make the world a better place for everyone.

Today, the video is:

The very exciting IOU project again! I can't wait for it to be launched. This video was shot in a Portuguese factory (which can only be a good thing! Please can we have many more of them?) and shows some of the fabulous fabrics they are using, all traceable back to their source, enabling a greater respect and care for our resources, both human and nature.

Today, my iTune is:

Kate Nash: Foundations

Election day: On being forced to vote around here

It's a pity that tolerance, or simply the eradication of a xenophobic and racist mentality, can't possibly be enforced as well. 

The other day, while waiting at a taxi stand, i saw this poor helper lugging bags and heavy prams out of this taxi, while her m'am (i hate, hate this) and another family member happily went with the kiddies inside the mall, only to be shouted at by the taxi driver who suddenly remembered he did not give the change to the family. When the poor soul attempted to walk back to collect the change, she was shouted at again to go and get her m'am. But of course, because why would one trust helpers with money if they all steal?! Never mind that the family was already inside and she was carrying stuff twice her weight, the poor helper had to go back and get the family member. It's a disgrace, a complete and utter disgrace.

I think it's unrealistic to expect the opposition to win (who are we kidding here?!) but the fact that there is a more vocal opposition nowadays is a good sign. Leaps and bounds would be necessary but baby steps are better than nothing.

Today, the photo is:

Angkor Wat temples, Siem Reap, Cambodia, October 2010.

Today, my iTune is (revisited, always):

Cyndi Lauper: True Colors

Today, the photos are:

Rawa Island, Malaysia, May 2011.

We're surrounded by little secrets such as Rawa island. A short car and ferry trip away (2hrs) on the east coast of Malaysia, it's quiet, with great snorkeling available and fantastic food (i could only eat a very limited selection (and still got sick) but the girls said it was delicious). There is one resort with a few bungalows for the ones who crave a bit of comfort and one with simple rooms for the backpacker type .  

I keep forgetting just how nice it is to go away on short weekend trips, even if they are really short like this 2 days, one night hen party! Woke up at around 4am on Saturday, went to work, came back in the afternoon, gave supervision through skype, wrote a report until 3am Sunday, left for trip at 5am, arrived in Rawa mid-morning, stayed at the beach sleeping, chatting way, swimming and snorkeling (some of us got attacked by a tiger fish (correction: Triggerfish)! Vicious creatures...), ate, partied the night away, woke up on Sunday to rain so no beach but some more great chatting (Osama, thanks for providing great conversation topics albeit depressing ones), lunch and back to Singapore in the afternoon (both Malaysian and Singaporean passport control at the causeway take ages!). I'm dead, but a happy dead.

Today, my iTune is (revisited, always):

Fleetwood Mac: Landslide

And what about forgetfulness?

Apparently today is the celebration of Portugal's Carnation Revolution and i almost forgot about it. I was probably too stunned by the fact the husband is eating away some of my highly tasteless snacks, also apparently with great enthusiasm. I'm not too sure about which event shocks me the most though...

Apparently everyone and the cat has featured this

But it's important enough to join in: The IOU Project.

The evil of travel magazines

It's not that i need an excuse to want to travel more, i really don't need any, but reading these magazines makes my heart positively ache! I need to be way stricter with my travel fund which basically means i need to put more money into it. 

The issue i am having in SEA is that the magazines you have around here, such as DestinAsia and Escape which are specialised in this area (SEA), are ususally catered for the wealthy and have their fair share of extremely expensive accommodation and pictures of asian-esque girls in bikinis all over their pages. I don't care for the girls but i do care for the silly aspect of 'face' around here, i.e. let me put an inflated price and you'll pay it so that you can show you can (and you'll starve for it). I don't think i've seen a hotel advertised that costs less than US $100 (Escape tends to be better than DestinAsia by a little). Maybe i'm a cheapskate but i'm happy to pay substantially less for a room that it's clean and central, mainly because they do exist.

I miss magazines such as Wonderlust and Lonely Planet as they provide amazingly beautiful writing, photographs to die for, and are not pretentious when it comes to prices. However, they cost ridiculous amounts of money here (either Borders is having a field day or the government is with their taxes) and often have only one piece or two about places around SEA. I lost count of the times i go online and look at the subscription rates, and i feel so tempted to just get them but... it would be just for the sake of loving them. This is a good enough reason in my book but it will be much more compelling once i have a fixed place where i can store them rather than dragging them around over 5 continents. Maybe i can only hope all the magazines start having online subscriptions! Not the same as actually flicking through the pages of one but much kinder to the environment.

Anyway, the evil (the ones described above are just nuisances). Escape had a short feature on some of India's southern cities, such as Hyderabad, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, and now i'm day dreaming to the point of writing this rather than working on my thesis (as if i need any excuses). So yes, i need to increase my travel fund and start working on the husband (who is India-allergic almost). If the husband continues to have anaphylactic attacks every time i mention the word India then please, volunteers, come forward (my friends here will be sick and tired of me this week!). I'm getting itchy feet!

Today, the photo is:

Fatehpur Sikri, India, December 2009.

Today, my iTune is:

Matthew Cooper: Some Days Are Better Than Others