Tuesday 29 January 2013

Terje & Tone...Don't Stop The Music!

The invitation to dinner came months 
in 
advance.
This is after all 
Oslo,
Norway.
Where one do not drop by friends,
 unannounced
nor
call anyone
on a 
weekend
before 10 am.
Tradition rules.
And society conforms.
One final reminder above all...
never arrive
 late 
or
early.
The 
tram & bus
 system in this
Nordic
capital is 
super punctual
&
efficient.
The citizens follow the 
"don't drink & drive"
policy religiously.
It was a rather wet evening as
we made our way towards the
"west-end"
residential area of
Frogner.
Parks, grand houses
beautiful apartments dot this
exclusive
neighbourhood.
The double-carriage bus dropped us off,
 a
few blocks east of our destination.
On this night,
the pavement glistened in the
rain
&
 store windows
shined bright,
illuminating all that was
chic
 & 
desirable 
within.
Having dinner in the 
private domain
of a home
is
definitely a treat.
And 
a sit-down dinner
makes it down-right special.
The building was off the main road
the apartment was
on a higher floor.
Upon entering,
the scent of 
warm food
music
captured your senses.
Walls painted in soft shades of
"Scandinavia"
bounced off light,
as if the entire room
 was seen through
gossamer mesh 
of the 
finest silk.
Tonight was even more special,
the 
table 
was only set for 4.
This could only mean one thing...
the hosts wanted you 
all to themselves!!!
Let me introduce
Terje Moen
(on the left...)
&
 Tone Johansen
our hosts this evening.
"One plus One
makes 
two."
An upwardly mobile couple
living a comfortable life,
in 
a very smart apartment,
located in a superb 
neighbourhood.
They greeted us with
a warm embrace
that felt genuinely
sincere.
Amidst a string of
greetings & exchanges,
champagne 
appeared 
soon we were
toasting to
life
 & 
all it's pleasures!

What is the definition of lifestyle to you?
Terje: Work & Travel.
Tone: It's family & my boyfriend.
What are you reading?
Terje: End of the Trail.
Tone: Facebook.
Which city excites you?
Terje: Kuala Lumpur.
Tone: London & New York.
Is love over rated?
Terje: Maybe.
Tone: Yes.
Blue or White?
Terje: Blue.
Tone: White
Where is Norway heading ...?
Terje: Into trouble
Tone: Tourism.
When I say "shout", what would you say?
Terje: Hi!!!
Tone: Ah!!!
Last holiday destination?
Terje: New Orleans.
Tone: New Orleans.
Can you cook?
Terje: Yes.
Tone: Yes.
Favourite month of the year?
Terje: July.
Tone: July.
Next holiday destination?
Terje: Bali.
Tone...?
How is entertaining different these days?
Terje: Today, you dare to involve the people you entertain.
Tone: Food & wine is more readily available.

What challenges you?
Terje: People.
Tone: My life.

Which movie, if any, can you most identify with?
Terje: Die Hard.
Tone: Eat, Pray, Love.
Define freedom?
Terje: When you look into the mirror, you see your boss.
Tone: Ability to realize my dreams.
Your go-to recipe when you cook?
Terje: Ipad.
Tone: Google.
Brazil or Bhutan?
Terje: Brazil.
Tone: Bhutan.
Most memorable journey?
Terje: Route 66.
Tone: Italy-Toscana.
Favourite song?
Terje: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2.
Tone: "I love You Baby."
Your most desired cocktail?
Terje: Jack Daniels on the rocks.
Tone: Bacardi Razz.
It's exciting news
when
 you receive an invitation to dinner.
Over the years,
I've learnt about the
do's & dont's
in this city.
Cultural differences 
meant we have to be
mindful
&
respect
social etiquette.
This visit was so much fun right from the start.
Terje & Tone
are a very relaxed couple.
It even shows in the
 design vocabulary 
of the apartment.
The menu for tonight was
 tapas.
Our conversation revolved around 
travel...
a common interest
 held by all four of us.
The couple,
both 
dashing 
&
vocal,
were generous hosts.
Wine flowed continuously
&
they even entertained us with 
dance.
Travel certainly broadens the
mind.
As the evening progressed,
we talked,
laughed
&
drank...
while I photographed.
Unmistakably 
gregarious,
Terje & Tone,
clearly know how to
enjoy life,
&
balances it well.
Every piece of 
furniture
picture
in the apartment,
had a story to tell.
After all,
life is a journey
&
through 
prolonged exposure,
we 
become ourselves.
It's pleasure for 
the eyes when
beautiful things are
all around.
This couple knows how to
live, 
while we 
cruise on life's voyage.
The colours around us may be 
soft 
muted,
yet
my friends are
scintillatingly charming
merry
&
high-spirited!

"Eat,
PLAY,
Love"
indeed!!!



Don't ever
 stop 
playing the music!

Terje & Tone...
thanks for a great night.










Thursday 10 January 2013

Cecilia...thoroughly modern!

Not long ago,
I had a stopover in
 Bangkok 
for 2 nights.
The journey from 
Suvarnabhumi Airport
to the city
can be an absolute challenge,
depending on the time of day.
Fortunately, this was
Saturday
evening.
Traffic was minimal.
Rain was pelting down onto
the
Thai Air
limousine 
in heavy dense drops.
Outside, 
the roads resembled rivers.
The
Bangkok 
skyline through the 
wet rain-stained windows
looked all
grown-up

 &
 glamourous.

Shimmering like some
cabaret show,

enticing us as we sped
along the elevated highway...
high above the the city below.
Strangely,
I like this
sprawling metropolis of
8 million.
People come to
Bangkok
for many, many reasons.
For me, it started out as a 
holiday destination.
Then somehow, somewhere,
I began sourcing merchandise for our stores
&
now,
it's a pleasant combination of both.
The place has changed of course
but
the familiarity is still here

in the midst of all the chaos that
 makes up this
amazing & vibrant city.
Yet this trip was a little different.
I was on a mission.
And that mission was to spend a day with a friend
&
write a blog feature on her.
Meet 
Cecilia Lopez Low,
wife,
mother,
friend
&
budding 
jewellery designer.
Malaysian 
by birth.
This woman on the go,
has been living in this city for the last 
10 years.
Her husband 
James
had to move here for work
the family followed.
Nowadays,
Cecilia is not only fluent in 
Thai
but also
has her finger on the pulse on
all the
"action"
in 
around the capital
of the kingdom of
Thailand.

cannot remember 
how long since
we've known each other 
or
 when
we actually met.
All I can say is that I saw her 
2 daughters 
grow up from
sweet little girls 
into 
stunning young women.
And that was way before the birth of
her youngest son
 Nate.
A lot of time has passed between us...
a
natural progression
 to the
 testament of friendship.
Their apartment,
located in
an up-market residential area
 of
Bangkok,
has
private elevator access
that delivers you directly to the front door.
Perched very high 

away from the
hustle & bustle
of
 street life below,
is
a quiet sanctuary of
peace & harmony.
Marble flooring 

recessed lighting,
further enhanced the
 
elegance 
of this
unique space.
Scattered here & there
&
 almost everywhere,

are
priceless antiques 
collected 
from equally
priceless galleries.
Style,
as I've often mentioned,
comes from within.
&
in this household,

it's as common as
apple pie.
We were scheduled to meet in the lobby of the
Metropolitan Hotel 
early
Sunday 
morning.
Grey clouds 
a gentle drizzle
gave the impression of
a cool 
Autumn morning.
But that cleared 
soon
we were out, heading towards
an adventure in 
this city
once known as the
"Venice of the East".
Peru or Paris?
Paris...but I would also love to visit Peru.
Describe yourself?
Fun!
Most memorable moment?
Too many!
What book are you reading now?
Sense & Sensibility.
Is fashion over rated?
No.
Finish this sentence - "Enough of...
hypocrisy!"
( incidentally, this is
Cecilia's OMG not another photo look!)
Favourite city?
Bangkok.
First thought this morning?
"I'm jet lagged!".

( by the way, these are actually hand-crafted
bronze durians that weighs a ton!!!)
Your hobby?
Watching movies.
What can't you do?
Eat rabbit!
Describe your look?
...huh?
Favourite colour?
Black.
New age or traditional?
Oh goodness...!
Favourite movie of all time?
Breakfast at Tiffany's!
What excites you?
New places.
Mint or green tea?
Mint.
What comes to mind when I mention the colour purple?
Eggplant!
Which actress do you most identify with?
None.
What defines you?
My family.
You entertain often.
What is your favourite dish to prepare?
Roast lamb with couscous.
Our day in
 Bangkok
soon turned into night.
We made good progress that
started out at the 
Flower Market.
A modern woman is always in motion.
And
Cecilia
is constantly on the move both in
body & thoughts.
In an effortless manner,
she manoeuvres herself
easily and confidently through
up market malls as well
as gritty wet markets.
Currently renovating yet another 
home in
 Kuala Lumpur,
keeps her plate very full.
" I love it when people dress funky even though
others may deem it out of style!"

Her own style
 is
flawlessly paired down.
Her clothes are well cut,
often
with a twist in the form of
 details
or
construction.

And of course never without
her own
jewellery,
which are
big, bold
&
outstanding.
Contagiously endearing,
Cecilia
obviously enjoys all the 
trappings of a good life.
And the side effects are clear...
she's a great hostess and her
conversation is peppered 
with stories 
from all over.
This is a woman who will
leap tall buildings
 in a single bound...
and not look back.
My day with
Cecilia
ended with
coffee 
in her
 cool & luxurious
apartment.

" I love the many, many markets all over the city.
And the multitude of fruits available.
The
Thais are very artistic as seen in how
every detail is considered when presenting
something for sale, even in the markets."


It's easy to be comfortable with her as she
recounts
interesting & funny stories.
In person,
her 
youthful-looking
exterior

probably
comes from her
 
positive nature. 
Effusively warm,
Cecilia's
own
story is just unfolding.
As I rode the silent elevator down,
I smiled at the day we just had.
It was
fast, purposeful
&
decisive.

And full of laughter on the side
simply makes
it 
ultra-memorable!!!
Cecilia,
thanks for having me!