April flew by quickly. One minute, I was in Singapore eating chicken rice at Maxwell Hawker Centre; the next, I was rushing back to the office after my exam. And here I am, on the last day of the month, writing to you while thinking, did I miss the whole autumn window this year?
Highlights
🎂 ━ We went to Singapore for Fafa’s birthday, and the hotel staff at Mondrian Duxton made it extra special for him with a birthday cake and giant written wishes. On the actual day, we had breakfast at a café and walked around Orchard Road. Then we went to Boat Quay for a Mallu lunch, MBS to see the Mars Exhibition, and then 313@Somerset to share a bowl of spicy AF Mala Hotpot.
📚 ━ After four months of mostly miserable studying on weekends, I am finally done with my exam! My weekends are free now (at least for the next eight weeks). Let’s hang out!!!
🛌🏽 ━ When we moved to WeFo, we didn’t have basic furniture except for the bed, so we slept in the living room for weeks (or was it months?). I cherished that memory so much that I asked Fafa for a living-room-camping night as a birthday gift. Last weekend, I cashed it in. We made a cocoon with the mattress and sofa and watched Greenlands (it was a meh movie) past midnight. The next day, I slept in and watched TV until midday before I did anything else.
Culture Chat
🍅 ━ Another year, another missed chance to experience Passata Day. Guys, if any of you are doing it next year, please, PLEASE, please invite me.
🛍️ ━ Shein-branded plastic bags being repurposed to carry unexpected items.
Found and Love
📷 ━ After many failed and paid (not mutually exclusive to each other) apps, I have finally found an app that ticks all my habits building requirements and more. It’s called Finch. It started with pairing me with a pet bird that suspiciously looked like a penguin. Then, I was asked to name (I called it Pipo) and pick a personality for it, thereby building an instant connection between me and this Tamagotchi thingy, which I can chat with. Not only that, I can buy clothes for it, decorate its home, and even fly it to different virtual locations in the world (Pipo is in Bali right now), all with coins that I get every time I tick off a daily habit, which I can completely customize. Check it out, or better yet, let’s be friends ━ hit me up with your Finch Friend Code to meet Pipo on your screen.
Read, Watched, and Browsed
🌸 ━ Our book club discussed Kind of, Sort of, Maybe, But Probably Not by Imbi Neeme this month. I first met Imbi at a writers’ event in WeFo. Then, I saw her again on my IG, so I decided to stalk Google her. I was delighted to find her blogs Not Drowning, Mothering, and We Are The Same Wool, which I read for days. Her book received fantastic ratings from all the book club members, and I got her to sign mine 🙂
📺 ━ Have you watched Baby Reindeer on Netflix? If not, do it now! I binged it hours after my exam. It’s so good! I also caught up with Grey’s Anatomy season 20 last weekend, which means I have been watching this show for two decades, enough to see it as a thread in my life tapestry. I have also been delving into Grey’s Anatomy plot holes; they are entertaining and bring back some fun memories.
👎🏽 ━ I tried to watch Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 and The Signs, as both have been on my list for years, but I couldn’t sit through either until the end. I guess they didn’t stand the test of time, for me, at least.
👻 ━ On the horror front, the Found Footage gems of the month are LIVESCREAM, I’m Haunted 1 and 2, all of them free on YouTube. Hollows Grove is another one that is good enough for a time pass.
🔖 ━ A case for tacky tourist photos, which I am fully behind 🔖 a good read on mental illness narratives 🔖 tips for having a memorable dinner party 🔖 I love reading a blog that is being updated in real-time like it used to be in the olden days; it feels like I am on a journey together with blogger. Recently, I have been travelling the world with Darma Travels 🔖
Foodie Guide-y
🍙 ━ Despite stressing out about exams, I ate a lot of good food this month, partly because of a Singapore vacation, which I will write about separately.
🥭 ━ Our neighbourhood Indian grocery store has started stocking imported mangoes. Yesterday, I got Kesar mangoes (the queen of Mangoes), which were absolutely delicious. Next time, I plan to try the Alphonso (the king of Mangoes), which I’ve heard of too many times and am super keen to try.
🐟 ━ We had an office lunch at Chancery Lane where, after a lengthy discussion, my colleagues and I concluded that we should always order appetizers and entrées (I had cured yellowtail kingfish) whenever we dine out, as these are things we don’t usually make at home, nor can we buy them as easily as dessert.
🍚 ━ After passing it almost every workday, I finally went into Hong Kong BBQ Restaurant in Footscray and asked for a chicken rice takeaway. The lady behind the counter gave me a quick look and said, “Cash only!” to which I nodded. Then she asked, “Chili?” to which I also nodded. Five minutes later, she sent me out with a box of family-sized chicken rice. I am definitely going back again.
🍝 ━ Ever since I started my course, it has become a tradition for Fafa to get me pasta takeaway from Baby Pizza on the weekend before my exam. The OG order, I think, was Lobster Linguine. But this year, I couldn’t see it on their menu and opted for the Tagliolini al Granchio (spanner crab pasta) instead. It was equally as good, and I was equally convinced that it helped me do well in my exam.
🍱 ━ Post-exam, I celebrated with a bento meal at our neighbourhood Japanese Vietnamese fusion restaurant, which, after completely polishing it off within minutes, I plan to turn into another exam-related tradition.
🍢 ━ Meanwhile, Fafa also took me out to celebrate – I know, I know, I am spoiled. We went to Hai Di Lao for some hot pot and, a day later, to Guhng The Palace for some k-bbq.
🍱 ━ A friend who lives in Singapore, whom I have been friends with as long as I have known Fafa, visited us with his family over a weekend. We talked about Singapore over Indonesian food, which Fafa got from D’Penyet. It was so good to see them.
🍽️ ━ We also invited Liz and Tom for a lowkey dinner. I made Kerala Prawn Mango Curry, Erode Nallampatti Chicken Roast, and Veg Pulao. IMO only the Prawn Curry turned out well, but Fafa disagrees, and I’ll leave it at that.
Kulture Kween
I wrote one post this month about getting matching Tiger Tattoos in Korea. From next month onwards, I’ll be back on a regular posting schedule.
Tiny Joys
Kind people ❤ Daytime almost empty train rides ❤ Easy work days ❤ Discovering new MRT (train) stations ❤ a good facial ❤ The cashier who price-matched my game purchase even though I struggled and failed to show her the deal online ❤ kott-pechi ❤ A very smooth air travel day ❤ Reaching Melbourne with plenty of time to get ready to bed ❤
Time Machine
Read more about last year’s happenings.
Thank You, Next!
🎡 ━ I pulled King of Earth (King of Pentacles) for May’s tarot card. Isn’t that lovely?
🍜 ━ Inspired by Japanese ramen school videos, I plan to try different TikTok Ramen recipes every month for at least a year, starting in Mau. And Fafa has agreed to be my guinea pig.
🚃 ━ Related to the above, but in a grander scheme, I also want to explore more of my own backyard, so to speak – Melbourne. I want to check out more new-to-me things, experience its myriad subcultures, and indulge in the different food it has to offer.
📚 ━ I am excited to attend Grace Yee in conversation at the Melbourne Writers Festival and, moreover, to fly down to attend Sydney Writers Festival events with Jik.
♕ ━ Half the people on my IG and I are looking forward to the newest Bridgerton season dropping in May. It’s going to be hawt!
Follow me on Instagram @KultureKween for more recent updates.
🪙 ━ GoldGueen.
In the spirit of exploring our backyard I’m Looking forward to our Mario Kart date 😎