It’s Fafa’s birthday month. As a part of our tradition, I took him out for a nice dinner. Last year it was Jiro Sushi in Tokyo, this time it’s the multi-course Peruvian meal at Atlas Dining. Even though I have never been one to enjoy fine dining, I loved everything about the restaurant. So if you live or visiting Melbourne, do treat yourself to a course meal in Atlas Dining.
Happy birthday Fa! Here’s to another great year. How about tempura for next year?
Another highlight of the month, maybe of the year, would be introducing Fafa to the parents, which went smoother than I anticipated. More about it soon.
There were multiple travels in April. Some were unplanned, and all were very tiring. I felt like dying on the days I came back. Amanda said that’s because I am getting old, that my body needs to rest after taking the red-eye, instead of being dragged to work. She has a point. Again, I will share more about my travels in seperate posts.
Speaking of Manda, I spent a good chunk of my time with her before she left for another company. Her housewarming party, lunch together at Kimchi Tray with Liz and another farewell lunch with the whole team. We also have Escape Room and Hot Pot plans, which I have been looking forward to.
We introduced Jik to Tim, Jacquie, Willis and Mrs Kim’s Grill.
The most loved Kulture Kween Instagram of the month was a picture of the newest members of my houseplant family. Despite a few deaths, the latest one being Lady Joan Harris due to week-long dehydration (sorry Jo!) and occasional mocking by Vi, I decided to give myself another chance of being plant mama. Btw Vi, FYI, my chilli plant is thriving! It’s producing a new batch of not-so-spicy chilli. Maybe I can plant garlic next!
I do love the possibility of using my pot garden products for everyday cooking.
I also tried and didn’t like Bali wine. It tasted like palm sugar syrup.
Last month I switched to natural deodorant and managed to convert Jik as well. This month I switched to battery operated toothbrush to use whilst travelling. TBH, I don’t know whether it’s better, but at least it feels better than using the hotel toothbrush before discarding it after a few uses. Also, this might be like a gazillion years late, but we finally jump on the virgin coconut oil wagon after the recent trip. I will try it and give you guys an update.
We ordered the five silliest Oscar Wylee glasses to try on at work for free. It made the tense Monday go faster and lighter. Have got to keep the silliness alive!
I baked chocolate chip cookies and brought them to work. The plan was to share it with my colleagues, but I ended up stress-eating ALL of it by myself.
Woo-woo Stuff
Here are some Mayday rituals we can do next month.
Frida was back for most of April. She came to our monthly meditation session and presented me with rose quartz she mined in Namibia. We also attended a mass meditation together. There, surrounded by women from all backgrounds, we went through guided and later sound meditation. It was my first time experiencing sound meditation; it was soul-nourishing.
We continued our “meditation” with pizza and wine when she bid me another goodbye. This time Frida was leaving for Europe, but not before asking me to keep her updated on our weekly Law Of Expectation progress through a newly created Whatsapp group called Manifestation Stories.
During my short galavant in Singapore, I accidentally got a tarot reading at Haji Lane and ended up interviewing the reader Brain. I also bought a few stuff from there, like Kali oil and Affirmators! deck. Despite the unicorn on the cover, which usually appalled me, I was attracted to the deck. And I am glad I got it as it’s filled with light-hearted affirmations, perfect for a daily pick-me-up right before leaving the house.
Love and Found
📚 ━ I finished a paperback a few days back in Jakarta (I still struggle with my book purchasing habit, especially the non-kindle ones!). Nadira is a fiction by an Indonesian author, Leila Chudori. Based on well researched rich Indonesian culture, the book is about a daughter struggling to cope with her mother’s suicide. Interesting right?!
📺 ━ The Alienist is my current blogging companion. Meanwhile, I watched The Quiet Place (very good even though it’s weird to objectify Jim as a sexy dad) in the theatre, 12 Angry Men on Stan and Yaar, the Indian TV drama on Vasantham, whilst in Singapore. And I am planning to watch both I Feel Pretty (because super important) and Unsane (because super creepy) soon. So have you watched any good movies in the theatre/Netflix lately?
My sleeping pattern this month has been wonky at best! So I gathered some how-tos and plan to practice it rigorously next month because sleepy me = grumpy me. I also plan to do some forest bathing. I mean, since I enjoy sound meditation so much, I figure this would be the right next step.
My bird-obsessed father sent me this link, and it made me LOL. But who wouldn’t?! look at that glowing frowny face, birdy!
Browsing History
April had been a hectic month; hence, only a few posts. There was an interview with Segarra about her photography, Sakura and her blogging break. Last year, I wrote about Miaw being MIA, Tokyo, Kyoto, Takayama, Fushimi Inari and Japan itinerary.
A new-to-me blog discovery this month is Wander Tokyo, and one of my favourite posts is the how-to open an Onigiri. Too bad they have also made it to the hiatus bloggers list. A few more blogs have been added to my Feedly while researching about Bali: Salt in our Hair, Almost Landing Bali, The Pinay Solo Backpacker, Jetset Christina and Where’s Mollie?
The constant travel requires me to wear appropriate flight attire Bizzare facts about Tokyo If you are looking for a gift idea for your loved ones or yet another reason to treat yourself every month, check out Globe In subscription box A software that puts a name to the face A thousand times YES to this interactive true crime hotel, not that I would ever stay there, I am too much of a scaredy-cat to do so Interesting things captured by the drone I forwarded this wrong city article to Pedro recently after discovering over coffee that we both are seeing a completely different Melbourne.
Time Machine
Read more about last year’s happenings.
Next Month
I wish May is all about rebooting and rejuvenating, routine and rituals, resting and relaxing, reordering and reorganizing. But instead, I am anticipating crazy hectic workdays. On top of that, I am planning a wedding (the first thing I did was treat myself to A Rock & Roll Bride magazine), publishing my first-ever blogging newsletter (subscribe here!), working with a coach and taking an NYU happiness course.
I have also been invited to a friend’s housewarming party, visiting a newborn baby and planning to host, or at least attend, Australia’s biggest tea party. So, in short, my May gas was already jam-packed even before the month began!
Travel-wise, there will be a weekend trip to Jakarta at the end of the month and hopefully a weekend yoga retreat with Jik sometime in between. How about you, what are the things you look forward to in May?
Time Machine
Read more about last year’s happenings.
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