clever cover-up

while on the topic of trips some time ago,

chickout these uber cool and simple boarded up portions of pacific place.

they're covering the railings that are being renovated... i think they're really just printed tarps. clever eh?

i'm guessing this is what's being worked on... curved, wooden railings. cool huh?

and this is how the underside of the escalators look.

all of a sudden, the current metallic look feels dated.

howzabout our malls?

real inspirations

while in my side of hk, i really got inspired by the packaging of these "healthy" chips...

i love the use of "real" photos against graphic drawings and fonts...

it reminds me of those cookies with a look that i liked so much...

all this inspiration led me to buy these set of coasters that could be an additional peg for our upcoming cup noodles...

they're still all about "real" black and white faces against cute, bright colors.

inpsirations + this noodle box + yummy healthy noodles could maybe be something great :)

now all i need is seed money for this exciting project.

show me the money!

wanchai wonder

well in one corner of china, i discovered this new area i've never been to before: the 'star street' area...

which is really a group of small streets -- star street, moon street, sun street, etc... right in wan chai (we should have known right???)

it's a great combination of the modern and the decrepit... case in point: glass building looming over dodgy buildings...

or brightly colored buildings among old drab ones...

or an oldie-in-sando fixing the windows above a street of italian furniture shops...

or clothesline looming over a cute mosaic....

ANYWAY, the star street area is right up our alley (no pun intended).

li'l antique shops,

quirky art galleries,

cute cafes and restos with the mandatory-blackboard-outside-the-store (you get the picture...)

(cute name for a yogurt place :) )

this is one of my favorite finds: the 'classified' mozzarella bar.

the aesthetics totally fit my taste... that mid-century american look (more on that later)...

the hub and i decided to drop by for a snack...

here's their cute menu that looks like vintage classified ads.

check out the menu!!! had i not been so full, i would have had that baked camembert with truffle!!! (they also had fried mozzarella wrapped in bacon!)

here's our half-drunk wine and the hub's half eaten cheddar on bread.

*burp*

hk stuff

hk is not complete if i don't have my dimsum in zen...

although i would rather be with someone while enjoying them... you should come with me again :(

then you would have seen this 4-ring clutch of alexander mcqueen that i thought was genius.

and you'd see your idol lulu guiness's lip clutches that i absolutely love.

yun lang :) see ya in a bit.

valley happy

it's my first time here in happy valley...

i've been to the new sta ana race track once.

but WOW this one's huge and amazing (and on grass!!!).

yun lang :)

green ideas

i like how these cigarettes are straightforward... none of the 'surgeon general's warning blah blah...'

this one says: SMOKING KILLS

or SMOKING SERIOUSLY HARMS YOU AND OTHERS AROUND YOU

these ones say: SMOKERS DIE YOUNGER.

in hk, it's now under the law to have to PAY for plastic bags. cool huh? it's 50hk$ each, (approx 3 to 4 pesos)

this poster explains how even bags for chilled delivered items will be charged.

i think we should do that here!!!

take a picc

on a lighter note, we had dimsum at the hk cultural center...

doesn't it remind you our own cultural center?

i actually like ours better... so kudos to imelda? *GASP*

whatever, whenever

some of the people in the hotel look like they came out of a magazine...

(sorry, not so clear as i stole the shot)

that was in the lobby.. here are more shots..

here's "the kitchen" where we have breakfast...

the downstairs lobby with swaying lamps...

... and the sitting room outside the lounge...

and then our room with a view...

i'm loving the dark grey - mustard - turquoise - lavender combination... why didn't we think of that???

the tv tucked behind the mirrors...

the bathroom with sliding walls instead of doors...

how cool is the lit mirror?

there's a tv for the tub too... (not in photo)

then of course, all the other li'l things w is known for...

like an ipod to use for the gym...

... daily chocolates...

... pillow menus, dvd rentals, create-your-own burgers... etc.... etc.... zzzz.....