The Singapore rail map

Nah. It's the Paris metro map by Antoine + Manuel.

Houses are too expensive?

What about a camper?







via AT
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P and I were at Ban Tawai last Saturday. Ban Tawai is a great handicraft village outside of Chiang Mai city and has been known as the major cultural attraction of Chiangmai for Thai and foreign tourists for years. A trip down to Ban Tawai is enough for us to gauge the impact of the current recession on the Thai tourism industry. More than 70% of the shops were not in operation and will probably remain so.

Anyway, we were down(up) there furniture hunting. I know it was kinda too early but we wanted to get some ideas about the kinda possibilities around besides the mega big/expensive/empty Index Living Mall (this is also when I really miss Ikea and their chicken yummy wings, cheap hotdogs). So, we went browsing and were surprised to find some gems amidst the rather old-fashioned woodcrafts. And, I am not sure if it was out of awe or impulse, we actually bought a piece of raw, untreated wood (at 1200 Baht). We wanted to make ourselves a dining table and thought that the irregularly-shaped piece would make a perfect table top. And with a heavy piece of wood at the back of our truck, we headed home. Barely out of the village, we came across a shop selling exquisite pieces. Next minute, we were negotiating with the craftsman. Our new acquisition needed serious treatment (i.e. sanding, polishing,termite prevention etc.). At a price of 1000 Baht, the craftsman is going to saw the piece into half then treat it to be ready-for-use.

We spent 2200 Baht (i.e approximately S$90) for 2 table tops. Once the tops are ready, our next task would be designing and getting the table legs done. This would most probably be the look we would be going for:



This is getting fun.

Hideout

It's not easy to visualise how big our yard would be. It seems sizable on plan, but we have to be careful about 2d drawings, especial for outdoor spaces. Mdm saw this and fell in love with it immediately. I hope the yard is big enough for us to have a tinier version of this little hideout. It might very well double up as a "guest house"!








via desiretoinspire

Mid-week home decor

Black & white clock - figures are white in the dark time of day and black at daytime.



This is really cute. It must look pretty messy for someone busy.

Trace Of Time via AT



The Ribbon

Happiness is

via Design Crush

Questions

It’s another Monday. What makes this Monday even more unbearable than the rest is the internet connection – it’s down (again), campus-wide. It doesn’t take someone with IQ 120 to realize how dependant we are on the www these days. Mdm for example, spend a lot of time in cyberspace (and this has since worsened with the invasion of Facebook into my life and its ever increasing number of mini games). In fact, I can’t work at all without internet connection. I hate to say this, but I am reliant on and is kinda helpless without the www (and this (sadly) speaks the same for both my work and personal life). It is merely 15 years since our acquaintance.

Few days back MM shared one of her counseling cases with me and since then, it has set me thinking. You know how sometimes you challenge certain issues and no one can convince you that you are wrong except that your actions are against societal norms and therefore your non-conformity is an erroneous behavior. E.g. when you have kids and your kids start to be sexually active, how can you tell them that having consenting sexual relationships below 16 is, wrong. How can you advise a kid who overly shared and divulged his/ her sexual activities that being an exhibitionist is, wrong. That parading your naked body down Holland V when it’s your body you’re showing, and you actually have the guts to show what others might want to see is, wrong. That sun tanning in your birthday suit is, wrong.

Whatever.

Bridget Jones returns!

Renee Zellweger to Play Bridget Jones Again

=)))

Re-invented

Tearable Wallpaper by Hanna Nyman



via AT

I am sure our (big) girl will love this.

The Happily Ever Chair and Dog House



via AT

Electronic ruler



And an off-the-topic mid-week desire:

Outdoor hammock!!!





I am so going to enjoy my lazy Saturday.
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On a separate note, the H1N1 fear seems to have finally picked up in Chiangmai. Just yesterday, it was announced that schools will be closed for a week and hearsays about people catching the virus in cinemas, public spaces etc. are keeping people all vigilant. P and I went mask hunting yesterday and we were not surprised that stocks were running low. People are not only stocking up, they are geared. In this supposedly less advance part of the world, people are actually practicising a surprisingly great deal of measures.

Longest wait

We(I) have been trying to fight the urge to visit our new place. It would be ultra disappointing to find that nothing has changed since we penned the contract. When P came to fetch me yesterday evening, he suggested out of the blue to check it out (unlike me, he's a realistic and patient man). We drove by and was greeted by emptiness. As expected, nothing is up yet. Except for 4 show houses and a sales office, the site is as vacant as ever.

This is no doubt the longest wait of my life.

我们曾经年轻

这一天，突然好想用自己曾经非常熟悉的语言写一段感想篇。

刚在上个星期接获了两个好消息， 好友S和表姐F各自在同一天、同一间医院产下了bb。因为上两个月和她们碰面时就已见到她们捧着大肚子的幸福模样，也知道她们的预产期在即，接获消息时还不算意外。好友S前两天已把小bb一张张可爱的照片传上万能的Facebook，表姐也通过MSN传寄了一张小Issac正在熟睡的美照。她们都升级了。结婚、生子，大家都找到各自的幸福。

望着这一组组的照片感觉很妙，印象特别深刻的一张好友S把bb抱在怀里、面带微笑。和好友S曾经一起分享过的幸福或许就是一同带着一颗胆却的心追逐着年少时的梦。虽然最终也没达成些什么，但幸福不是成败，而是体验其中的过程。

你的幸福又是什么？

Thai for lovers

We picked this up at the bookstore on Monday. It read "A Complete Guide to the Romantic Culture in Thailand" and we were so amused by what we saw.

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We certainly were not expecting chapters dedicated to bed talk.

Mitsubai plus home decor related

These super duper cute pop cup holders even include a coaster (and are 100% reusable)! I want these for our new home!!!




Spoon & Tamago, Mitsubai Tokyo

P and I haven't decided on whether we should have an additional member yet (the non-speaking one). He certainly was for the idea of having a bull terrier. Having a pet would really be a true commitment once we move out on our own cos no one will be clearing the pee and poo except us! This cute Dachshund lamp from Urban Outfitters might be a possible alternative

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I love wall decals! These very cute wall decals by dvider will certainly bright up any space.

Designs for the hip infant

I love these incredibly stylish products for the cuties



by Kids Love Design

Love Mae Fabric Wall Stickers Dress Up Dolls


by The Hip Infant

Perfect sleep without sacrificing style


by Hushamok

Friday finds

Anti theft lunch bag


by Perpetualkid

Carton furniture series


by Metroics

Tokidoki pillowcase


by Perpetualkid

Fruit shaped sticky notes


from Mocoloco

Last but not least

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Coming soon!

2nd year since walking down the aisle

P was 2 hours late yesterday and by the time he came for me, I thought I was the last staff on campus.

Not long after I hopped onto his car, he went like "oh shit, can you check if my laptop is in the bag". I reached out to the back and was greeted by a bouquet!




He actually chose the flowers. =)

We went to one of our favourite restaurants here in Chiangmai. Nice food, good ambience but a tad crowded with Thai speaking caucasians. It sure wasn't a fun-filled night but we did have a great time.

At this moment in my life, I am appreciating the fact that I have P by my side. It has been a whole 2 years filled with joy and laughter.




As I was told,

“Love means living the way God commanded us to live. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is this: Live a life of love.” 2 John 1:6 (NCV)