Hey guys.

So the year 2017 is ending and I've been doing a ton of reflections the past few weeks. Most of them not resulting in any form of action, really. Before starting to freak out about my going nowhere, I decided to take a deep breath and rechannel my energies onto something I have enjoyed doing for the past six years, my blog.

The blogging sphere itself has undergone great changes and unfortunately, I don't think that this platform will be able to suit my needs moving forward. There are many things broken, one of which is the image upload utility, and it is ever so frustrating to keep blogging if I have to struggle with that all the time.

Henceforth, I will be posting (on a more regular basis) at my new Wordpress blog here!
Hope to see all of you there :)

xx

Since sometime late last year, I've sorta hopped on the sneakers trend because it was fresh and exciting. In the tiny island where I live, there really isn't much materially to be excited about besides food and shopping. But we make do with what we have and this is what I've observed.

This post was partly motivated also by Pewd's latest video titled $4 Supreme vs $400 Supreme:




We all know it's nothing new. Kids spending their parents' money on whatever is the 'in' thing now. With the heightened popularity of social media, what you splurge your time or money on has become even more visible to your peers.

Many articles have been written to warn about the pitfalls of selective expose on social media. I'll reserve your reading pleasure for them.

My point here is, it's very easy to get swept away by the trending waves on Instagram, Youtube, or stuff you see people wearing on the streets. But if it boils down to blind consumerism, there really isn't any meaning to it.

And you are welcome to shun this article, close the tab, redirect yourself to other 'happier' sites and dismiss all that has been laid out here.

When people want to follow the hype so badly that they resort to buying less than genuine products, burning their money away (which I couldn't care less since it's their own), or even resorting to shady means to get there, it is rather disheartening. Aren't we better than that?

Then again, who is to say how one should live their lives?

My gosh, this is turning into a negative post but bear with me I'm gonna cut it off soon.

Maybe there's a twisted slight in me that is trying to put myself above the rest and this is one of those excuses to do so. I usually don't take too much notice of it. The thoughts come and go, it doesn't matter if they don't culminate into actionable items.

Anyway, wanting to be liked by others is probably an innate trait of some, and adopting whatever is "cool" in the moment is one way to achieve that.

I just hope it does not erode the real me, my likes, and preferences.

Found this gem in my telegram self-chat history.



These were all the silly things my companions and I did during Paris / Brussels:


1. Tried to save money by looking for an alternative to the 10euro ticket to the City but ended buying anyway because there is no other viable option. Wasted 30min on this.

2. Failed to open the train doors in Brussels, therefore missing our stop.

3. Momentarily crushing very hard on this guy wearing a Champion shirt who was holding onto his freshly baked baguette

4. Going to church (a chapel) on that Sunday

5. Entering the wrong IZY coach TWICE

6. Walking round the entire block only to end up where we started. Was trying to find an external Gare du Midi but it was actually the same place.

7. Got onto the wrong train platform (simones)

8. Mega fail in Brussels: Took bus 61 which took forever to get to Rogier. Took a Metro which brought us back to Botanique in a single stop.

So this post is way way overdue because now that the pace at work has picked up, I barely have the energy beyond doing more essential things such as spending time with family and friends, pilates, treasuring dates with the bae, on top of reading/playing the guitar/online window-shopping, and the list goes on.

Oh, and I've recently begun to learn French using the Duolingo app. I try to keep at it consistently so that I can speak the language decently the next time I go to Paris :)

At the present, I'm battling an old enemy and it is so damn hard to leave my itchy skin be. It stings and the itch has woken me up mid-slumber for two nights in a row now. While it is really frustrating, I have no choice but to keep calm. If I start freaking out or despairing, the condition only gets worse. I swear the last time it felt this bad was when I was chickenpox.

It feels like so long ago that I went to Europe, when it's been only close to... three months? Sigh. The memories are slipping away from me. I'll have to finish this while I can still recall some inkling.

On Day 2 of London, our first stop was the renowned Borough Market!

The appeal of this gigantic-ass wok of Paella 🤤

Instead, I treated myself to a serving of scallops. They were alright. Reminded me of Taiwanese teppanyaki style.

Not very sure but I think this was wild boar meat?

This raclette machine...

... makes such mouthwatering melted cheese over potatoes! Comes with pickles to balance the tastebuds

After the hearty breakfast, I headed off solo for my full day of shopping to myself. Figured I'd be much happier just roaming on my own, eating whatever I wanted, go sightseeing when shopping got tiring...

Found this Converse baby but it was a tad hard when I fitted it. Decided to give it a pass.

Settled on Itsu, a Japanese casual dining place! Taste-wise, it's not exactly Japanese but still quite satisfying for a quick meal.

Think this was the first stop? MY FAVOURITE STORE IN ALL OF LONDON 😍 omg check out that super cute smiley face bag in the bottom left corner. A minor pity I didn't get that ...

Me feelin' tres cool with this cute cookie of a cap. Got it in the end :D

The basement level is so so cosy (spot the purple beanbag in the corner ;) Those wood panels with different sized holes in them remind me of cheese! And that giant pink teddy adds a very appropriate childish vibe to the place.

Also considered this cap but didn't think I'd wear denim as much. The rainbow letters are love though.

And here, is the first main floor. Filled with all the goodies I want them aalllll~

AKA the coolest street you won't find in Singapore. Buildings in brick with white windows... greenery growing on the porch... teal and violet painted walls. Good vibes all around

Found these extra staircase railings in Monki, where I also walked out of with a random grey T-shirt with Mona (??) the pink naked woman printed on it.

I like how there can be funky street lights in a random side street.

SO COLOURFUL YISS. Not your typical city souvenir store.

No prizes for guessing which store this is. Had to queue outside before entering. Supreme in-store crowd control is very stringent. Oh, and they make you put your shopping bags at the ground floor before you can make your way down.

How you know you in Chinatown 😂

Oxford Circus if I'm not mistaken. Such picturesque architecture! Goshhh

And this here is...

Trafalgar Square.

Not a bad photo considering I captured the entire tall structure.

Admiralty Arch

After all that urban exploration, it's time for some fresh air and the greenery! Cut through the park on my way to Buckingham Palace.

Finally I'm here! Took me such a long walk haha. But it's all worth it. And I walked at my own pace.

After that, I walked to Westminster Abbey. Couldn't enter for some reason, but admiring it from the outside was nice too.

This is where I had a whole Margherita Pizza to myself. Damn shiok really. For the non-Singaporeans, 'shiok' means extremely satisfying.

Finally, before it got dark, I made my way back to the Airbnb hostel to regroup with my travel buddies. It was truly a satisfying day filled with 'me-time'. Note to self: I shall have to do this again someday!