Tuesday 8 October 2013

The Borough Market in London...lets take a bite!

The return to street market shopping
has been an on-going trend
in the last few years.
All around the globe,
there has been clear signs,
apparently shifting
gears from shopping off 
chain store shelves 
towards
small vendors on stands.
The Borough Market
in
London
is a fine example
of both
 wholesale & retail
of all manner of 
fresh & preserved food.
In the British capital, 
the journey is just as 
exciting as the destination.
To get to the market,
I planned a route that took me to the
Tower of London
then a short walk by the 
Thames,
pass 
The Shard
finally at Southwark Street.
There was a chilly nip in the air
&
 the sky looked as if 
it was painted
upon a Van Gogh canvas.
Swirls of fluffy white clouds,
played hide-and-seek
with the sun.
Our double-decker bus,
navigated through traffic 
&
the odd pedestrian perilously.
This city is easy on the legs.
Pavements carefully 
planned & executed,
allowed quick access to the market.
Open only from 
Wednesday to Saturdays,
this market apparently has been
around since 1014!
The present location right beside the
Southwark Cathedral,
is totally charming & full of buzz.
The success of the place
is evident in the size
of the crowd,
resembling a 
United Nations
pow-wow.
Tourists & locals
shop, wander & taste 
their way through this
gastronomic marvel.
The setting itself is unique...
a rail viaduct runs right above while a
graceful Cathedral sits peacefully on one side
as if guarding the site.
The range of
 products & produce 
available are mostly from the 
British Isles,
while some imports from the continent
could be found.
Quality & provenance
are two selling features of this 
exceptional market.
There are well over 
a 100 stalls
to suit every 
taste & fancy.
You get a feeling that the 
traders have great pride
in what they do,
there is a strong sense of community.
After all,
in life,
you can only fool people
half the time!
As I walked around,
words like
"fresh, delicious, & hmmm...that looks good!"
spring to mind!
The language here is universal...
it speaks to the core of many of us
who respect
quality & passion!
True to form,
everything is 
beautifully laid 
out 
&
 displayed.
When you've got it flaunt it,
seems to be mantra around here!
Just take a look at all these gorgeous pies!
Mesmerizing indeed!
Artisanal
 "this & that"
in all 
shapes & form
are everywhere.
Without  missing a beat,
these small scale producers 
are not only preserving an
age old craft.
Instead,
they are bringing it yards forward,
improving & refining 
along the way!
I have a confession.
The day I visited,
I already had an early lunch in
Chinatown.
But the moment I laid eyes on these
roast pork-filled buns,
I succumbed!
( ..and was not disappointed !)
Did you know that this market is
owned by a 
charitable trust?
And run by a board of
volunteer Trustees?
Simply amazing...ain't it?
You definitely cannot solve
the 
worlds problems
but putting good food on the plate
of the less privilege
is perhaps 
the best place to start.
An international beauty pageant has a
motto that goes...
"Beauty With A Purpose".
Ever since I was a young kid,
I've been pondering on this.
And guess what?
I'm still pondering!
What do you think about
"Food With A Purpose"
 instead?
The 
hungry & destitute 
don't care if this gorgeous
person appears in his or her village.
A loaf of bread is a loaf of bread
regardless of who's 
dishing it out!!!
Somewhere along the years,
we've forgotten to eat well.
The importance of good nutrition
is second
to being
seen in the right place.
Many cannot regonise
well prepared food from bad.
Thank goodness change is in the air.
The Borough Market
is a wonderful place to start.
If this could ignite an idea
&
stimulate the imagination
with culinary lust,
then we're good.
Mass produced 
food & fashion
are indeed for the masses.
For those that need to be told what to do,
has to be fed as well.
By comparison,
there is quite a distance
between 
good & mediocre 
cuisine
the lines may be blurred to many.
For those in the know,
they thread carefully on.
Seeking out
the 
different & the special.
Rejecting the mundane
average.
They say we are what we eat...
now, isn't that food for thought?
After all, 
is 
small 
not the new 
BIG?







Monday 2 September 2013

Astrup Fearnley...A Beauty By The Sea.

The Renzo Piano
designed
new premises of the
Astrup Fearnley
Museum of Modern Art
in 
Oslo
is truly stunning.
Resembling the sails of a massive
windmill,
it sits on the edge of what appears
to be reclaimed land
jutting out to the fjord,
as if ready to depart on an ocean voyage.
This is part of a huge
urban renewal project
that encompasses housing,
retail, hotels,
food & beverage
&
now, 
culture.
This striking architecture 
will perhaps begin a new trend in the 
Nordic capital,
paving way for stunning
buildings that are visually
spectacular.
Eye catching, bold 
big,
the new venue is timely.
Opened in September 2012,
this private museum
was constructed on what used to be
shipyards.
With a balanced combination 
of
wood, glass, metal & concrete,
the building
leans towards a very
Scandinavian
look & feel.
As if breaking out into 

the vast open space,
the 
Astrup Fearnley's 
architectural uniqueness 
may kick start a new movement
 for this city by the fjord.
Founded in 1993

still privately owned,
works from 
major to minor
adorn the walls 
of this stylish structure,
showcasing 
contemporary art.
The new art space comes under
the city council's
urban planning project
whereby most of the museums
in
Oslo
will eventually be relocated to an 

area nearby called
Vestbanen.
Onward & upwards,
the premise of this gallery was founded on 
two large shipping fortunes,
namely
the 
Heddy & Nils Astrup Foundation
&
the
Thomas Fearnley Foundation.

The walk out
to the new space takes you past
Aker Brygge,
a popular 
shopping & dining venue.
High end apartments 
with breathtaking
views of the water ways
sit above this complex,
while
ferries come & go to the outlying
islands beyond.

As you approach this
world class edifice,
the graceful lines of the building
draw a clear comparison
to all the 
elements of nature.
This modern architectural idea of 
the link between
"inside & outside"
is indeed well proven.
Wide windows create the 
illusion of infinity.
Natural light,
on a sunny day,
shines bright like shafts of cut glass,
streams in.
As you wander among the rooms,
each scaled differently,
you begin to relax and
the dialogue between
art & viewer 
begins.


"The purpose of art is
washing the dust of daily life 
off our souls."

Pablo Picasso
Museums provide an opportunity
for the people to
access, learn, enjoy
&
be inspired by art.
The quirky & the ridiculous
are meant to trigger thought...
...and pave the escape from the ordinary.
Museums are also
depositories,
safe guarding
precious history
for the future.
The life cycle of such establishments
are infinite.
Art lives on.
Modern life
with all the complexities of daily living

is indeed challenging.
Any visit to view art

is
a reward
that transports us to a 
quiet place.
" Without art, the crudeness of reality would make
the world unbearable."

George Bernard Shaw

As I move from 
room to room,
I feel fortunate to have had this 
opportunity to be presented
with this colossal range of ideas.
After all, 
all art starts with an idea.
Modern art
is thought provoking.
Initially, the message is not always
crystal clear...
...and the mission of the artist at best,
ambiguous.
The open space allows 
our thoughts to be free of constraint.
Our imagination floats idle, 
like a lotus flower on a deserted pond...

...while our eyes take in the creative genius of mankind.

The sound of my shoes sliding
against the polished concrete floor,
makes me conscious 
of my surroundings.
Museums make us behave,
consider our moment...
slow down 
&
shift gears.
On top of it all,
you are 
up close & personal 
with works
worth millions.

"Drawing is like making an
expressive gesture
with
the advantage of permanence."

Henri Matisse  

Every now & then,
something different comes along.
The inquisitive nature of human beings
makes this a reality.

Our growing appetite
demands more...
...from everyone.
The impressions leave with
you
&
linger on.
We each walk away with
a different mental inventory
from the visit.
The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art
is a refreshing experience.
The new premises has
all the promise 
of a young artist full of energy,
ideas 
&
determination,
while being fearless in her 
quest to remain
individualistic.
This aspiration
may be key to what 
the Nordic capital needs.
In trying there may be a 
possibility of success...
 talk against talk
is simply a waste of time.









Thursday 22 August 2013

Erlend Kjellstad...Here's looking at you!


A little over 23 years ago,
Erlend Kjellstad
walked into my life.
He literally walked in.
I had just started our first store
in the 
Dayabumi Complex
in 
Kuala Lumpur
&
 on one quiet afternoon,
this tall chap with a friendly
smile came in 
with an equally
friendly hello...
instantly we bonded.
That was then
&
this is now.
Over the years 
we kept in touch.
If I were to say  
we were writing every month,
I would be lying.
Somehow, we kept
the lines open.
Last 
year,
on a flying visit to 
London,
we caught up for dinner.
It was one of those clear 
London
 evenings where
the West End lights 
appeared enticingly
 bright & inviting.
And in this city
with a gazillion things to do,
one always seem to be running late!
The most convenient place to meet
was at
Piccadilly Circus.
It was 5 pm.
The after office crowd was full on.
Some rushing home while
others onto the pub for a relaxing
 drink or two.
Eager tourists jostled here & there,
heading towards a busy
evening from all that 
was on offer
in the
British
capital.
For us, we were aiming for
the 
South Bank.
Along the way & during dinner,
here's our conversation...
What makes you laugh?
Humanity & the extraordinary
situations people sometimes
put themselves in.
Meet
Erlend Kjellstad,
Arly in short.
Norwegian by birth.
Man about town
&
international traveller.

Favourite cuisine?
French for breakfast,
Japanese for lunch
&
Italian for supper.

Describe your job?
I help companies & entrepreneurs 
navigate & thrive 
in the new digital landscape.
What are you reading right now?
I like to read many books simultaneously ...on my kindle.
Right now:
Nemesis by Peter Evans
Old Filth by Jane Gardam
number9dream by David Mitchell

How many countries have you lived in?
Seven!
Do you have a theme song?
"We Have All The Time In The World"
by
Louis Armstrong
How do you relax?
TV Box Sets!
Currently watching "Dexter"
&
last seasons
"Breaking Bad".
Followed by a fantastic BBC
costume drama...
"The White Queen".
What can you make with your hands?
Yummy food.
Colourful Art
&
Decent Prose.
What were your first thoughts this morning?
Grateful I am on holiday 
for the first time
I don't have an 8.30 am skype business call.
Red or white wine?
Red.
Though a great
Chassagne-Montrachet
can hold their own against
any fabulous reds...
they are rare!
Your life philosophy?
To learn,
To Know
&
To Do.
One thing that motivates you?
Every day is a new
adventure.
Whom do you most respect?
My friends.
People who are 
strong, determined & devoted 
to improving themselves.
Define style?
Using one's will to create a certain look.
Style is deliberate
&
is a reflection of personality.
Any hobbies?
Reading.
Dabbling with painting.
Food - both fine dining & home cooking.
Travel - both to explore new things & deepen the
understanding of favourite places.
Skiing, running, scuba diving
&
TV Box Sets!

What is your most prized possession?
I love my crystals.
A wonderful topaz pendant
also a fabulous pair of
 black & pink tourmaline,
a cherry citrine as well as a soothing honey calcite sphere.
How many languages do you speak?
6 or 8.
Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, 
English,
French, Japanese, Spanish
German.
Favourite movie of all time?
Fifth Element
by
Luc Besson.
Beach or mountain vacation?
Being a little cancer crab,
it'll have to be the beach.
I love the ocean!


Most memorable journey?
My first backpacking trip -
Southern China 
to
Hong Kong.
Then a flight to Katmandu
&
onto India...
Darjeeling, Sikkim, Calcutta,Jaipur,Agra
Delhi
up to Leh, Ladakh to Kashmir
then to Amritsar
before crossing into Pakistan.
Did the beautiful Hunza Valley
&
crossed the Khunjerab pass
into western China.
After that,a flight to Beijing 
&
the one week long
TransSiberian train ride to Moscow.
Ending in Leningrad
before heading home to
Oslo
via
Helsinki !!!
Erlend Kjellstad
has been there,
seen that
&
tasted the good life.
This
is a man who has accomplished much.
Widely travel 
terribly articulate
while possessing
a curious
countenance,
has brought him thus far.
And his journey,
I gather,
is only half begun.
You can't reinvent the wheel
but
 seeing it from a different
angle is what sets us
apart from the herd.
Arly 
has this capacity.
His viewpoints,
in our many conversations,
are loaded heavy
with extraordinary
ideas,
observations
&
opinions.
As we parted
I strolled back to the hotel in the
West End
on this rather balmy night,
I felt energized.
Elated.
And refreshed.
Being around positive people
helps!!!

"The Four Characteristics Of Humanism
Are 
Curiosity, A Free Mind, Belief In Good Taste
&
Belief In The Human Race".

E. M. Forster