I just came home all zen-ed up from a hot spring when I realised it’s the last day of the month, the day to summarise my month for none’s benefit except myself. So this post will either be short and bold or long and blabbering.
Highlights
🏡 ━ Finally threw a housewarming party precisely a year after we moved in. We invited our friends, ordered Indonesian finger foods, did some Indonesian hoodoo and caught up around the small firepit set in the backyard. I have always dreamed of having a large group of friends in my place like it used to be in my parents’ with their friends decades ago. And I can genuinely say I felt somewhat accomplished (for having fun as an adult).
👯♀️ ━ Another highlight related to the above ━ Jik came as the guest of honour for the housewarming. We managed to squeeze in some quality time, aka late-night doughnut-munching and bitching.
♨️ ━ We went to a hot spring in Mornington Peninsula and stayed there this weekend. I will write about it when I have time; meanwhile, check out my (first-ever) IG Reel about the trip.
📚 ━ I went to a book club and was promptly accepted into the circle by a WhatsApp initiation. I also attended a Tea and Chocolate workshop at Ratio Cocoa Roaster by myself, where I learned a lot and developed a new taste for fancy chocolate and tea-chocolate pairings.
🧘🏽 ━ I also took a mental health day due to generally good-problems stress. Did it help? I guess, even if just to tide me over. So, if you ever need it, here is permission to take one.
Love and Found
🎙️ ━ I have been binging on The Nila Extract podcast by Nila Varman, a future guest of the Culture Chat. I love how she podcasts (is that even a thing to say?). Her voice has been a constant companion on my commute back home from work. I find myself nodding, laughing, and mostly agreeing with whatever Nila says. Do check it out.
📙 ━ I haven’t done much reading this month (and feeling bad now that I realise it). However, I have Margaret Atwood’s My Evil Mother downloaded on my Kindle along with a few other books; maybe I will start with that.
📺 ━ I am currently date-watching Netflix’s survivalist thriller with Fafa. It’s called Keep Breathing. Aside from the hot main character, IDK whether I like it. I have also been playing Mine Games, another thriller (free on Youtube) every weekend. It’s a no-brainer, but my brain loves it, so I play it on the loop while I run my errands. I used to do the same with The Blair Witch Project, the OG.
Food
I am creating a separate food here; I suppose no further explanation is required.
🍲 ━ This month’s best meal was tofu stew from Goon BBQ, a Korean restaurant in Collingwood.
😋 ━ I had Thai BBQ at Soi 38 and Indomie Sandwich from The Harvest at South Yarra. We visited Tambo Ciak for multiple takeaways of Nasi Padang. We also took a takeaway from Dosa Hut (spicy goat fry), Sankranti (Gongura Chicken Curry), Hop and Spices (Lamprais) and Harley & Rose (Diavola pizza and mulled wine) throughout the month.
🥘 ━ I made a proper chai; proper because I made it using a Hipster chai pot. I made a semi-failed Panner Pollichathu and successful Indonesian spicy Nasi Goreng using TikTok recipes. I also cooked Instant Noodle Ramen Fried Rice based on another TikTok recipe which made my friend concerned about my (but mostly Fafa’s) wellbeing. So, here is a non-Tiktok recipe: fried hard-boiled eggs that I love.
Browsing History
Japan’s ancient vegetarian meal. New to me tarot blog: 78notes. Too bad they had stopped posting for a while now. Everything Haruki Murakami has ever compared to writing. A photo diary of a Saari residency in Finland. One day I got curious about whether there would be curry-flavoured ice cream. There are many indeed! Here is one that looks delicious: Curry Coconut Ice Cream. Japanese homeware delivered to you worldwide. The Rooftop Beehives Of Paris. 90% buckwheat Soba.
Shopped List
I went visit to Finders Keepers Market when Jik came for a visit, there I got a beautiful art print from to the trees, pink coloured Pali basket for me and a mug for her. I also went to Merkado Market III and almost bought Tikim: Essays on Philippine Food and Culture. Another purchase in July that I loved was a small pot of tricolour Spiderwort.
Tiny Joys
Fafa randomly got me two socks two months in a row. Last month he got me two pairs of heat-tech socks from Uniqlo. This month, he came home with red M&M socks one day, and today he got me baby cow patterned socks 🧡 Jik’s visit, the wafer she got and the best-friends postcard she sent after she went back 🧡 Poker game with our couple friends 🧡
Meanwhile, on Kulture Kween:
This month, I culture chatted with Toeps, a dutch author living in Japan. I also wrote about 13 not-so-obvious side effects of travelling and Lontong, the versatile Indonesian dish.
Time Machine
Read more about last year’s happenings.
Thank You, Next!
It’s Imbolc tomorrow, a midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox; it feels like an important milestone, so I am crowning it a self-love month. By that, I mean I will focus on self-loving myself daily (and a bit more) this month. Join me?
Keep Kultured! 🌈 ━ KK.
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