One day in Hangzhou

I am in Hangzhou for a meeting. It's probably the most beautiful city I've seen in China, contributed by the extremely nice people here and the peaceful streets (everyone talks very quietly here and nobody is honking while driving). So nice, that I changed my travel plan to stay over one night and go to horrific Beijing tomorrow morning instead. In the evening, I took a nice stroll around West Lake... If only it weren't raining and cold, but my loop scarf and cherry blossom coat protected me well.

New coat from the airport

I am generally clumsy and forgetful, but it's the first time I forget to bring a coat on a trip to the north during winter! I had checked the weather for Beijing that it would be near zero degrees, but somehow I left home without a coat. For this trip, I also almost forgot my computer in the office and could not find my HK ID card to let me in/out of this place smoothly. Jesus. One should sleep more than 4 hours before packing in the morning.

Despite my worries of having to pick between a US$2,000 Burberry coat from the airport or a fake Armani from somewhere in Beijing, ZARA at the HK airport was already open at 7am and saved my life.

Can you believe that this was the only coat they had in the store? But it fits me well and I do like looking like cherry blossoms.

My loop scarf is done

I finished knitting my loop scarf today. I had to call it finished, because I ran out of yarn. But I think it's a nice neck warmer length, and super warm. It should keep me warm for the remaining few minutes of winter in HK!

A Separation

I went to see the Iranian film A Separation. The plot was intricate and the characters (who are all very civil) very well played. Each and every detail of the movie made a lot of sense but presented with a light touch, and altogether the film gives a very satisfying post-movie sensation. Excellent for a slow Friday or Saturday night.

Karl Lagerfeld's Swedish iceberg inspiration

As I read about Karl Lagerfeld, and his 2010 fashion show that had brought in a real iceberg inspired not by climate change but by the Swedish Ice Hotel, I thought I will make that my destination in the next 5 years. I'm giving 5 years, because apparently it's below 5 degrees when you sleep.

I always wanted to sleep on raindeer fur...

Photo credit: Elle Decor, New York Fashion

Butterflies from Brazil

Photo credit: National Geographic