les lettres d'odessa

i begin again with the smallest numbers.

2012-01-23T22:29:00.000-08:00

Today is the Lunar New Year. It rained all morning long but the sky cleared in the afternoon and everything looked fresh and renewed. I had the best latte served in a bowl, walked around and took tons of photos with my iPhone, and bought a poetry book at a used bookstore.

While walking, I recited a poem that I started memorizing two weeks ago. It captures everything that I feel about new beginnings, starting over. And quiet perfect for a day like this one.

Burning the Old Year
by Naomi Shihab Nye

Letters swallow themselves in seconds.
Notes friends tied to the doorknob,
transparent scarlet paper,
sizzle like moth wings,
marry the air.

So much of any year is flammable,
lists of vegetables, partial poems.
Orange swirling flame of days,
so little is a stone.

Where there was something and suddenly isn’t,
an absence shouts, celebrates, leaves a space.
I begin again with the smallest numbers.

Quick dance, shuffle of losses and leaves,
only the things I didn’t do
crackle after the blazing dies.

* * *

For those of you who celebrate the Lunar New Year -- Gong Xi Fa Cai, Happy New Year, the year of the water dragon! I just know, this year will be a great one.

がんばってください！

bit and pieces

2012-01-20T23:00:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! I hadn't planned to take a short break but things have been hectic around here (in a good way) and before I knew it, a week has passed already. How have you been? I hope you are having a great start of the year. And can you believe its almost February? My, how time flies!

Here are some little joys that I want to share with you:

A very short video of my afternoon by the bay.

Have you ever wondered what happens to a bookstore at night? Watch The Joy of Books.

A heartwarming true story of Navigating Love and Autism.

Jake Shimabukuro's ukulele version of Bohemian Rhapsody. So beautiful!

Letter to My First Love is a fun read. This one sounds very familiar (ha!).

Lovely images from Lula magazine's scrapbook.

A beautiful song, perfect for the world's second largest aquarium.

And yes, it's Friday! Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend.

(Image from the movie Billy Elliot via)

bill cunningham new york

2012-01-14T09:54:00.000-08:00

If there was a 2011 movie that I insist you should see, it would have to be this one. A documentary about the New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham, this film is pure inspiration from start to finish. I was crying and cheering quietly in my seat while watching it and left the theater feeling like skipping along the sidewalk. Yes, I was that happy.

Bill Cunningham is one of those special people who found what he loved the most and dedicated his life to it. He is passionate about clothes and even to this day at 80 years old, his days are spent riding a bicycle around New York, taking pictures of what people are wearing on the streets. His two weekly columns, 'On The Street' and 'Evening Hours' is one of the most popular features of the Times, predicting upcoming fashion trends and showing visual essays of life in the big city.

But more than the clothes and the photos, what really touched me about this documentary is the gentle portrayal of its subject.The unobstrusive way the filmmaker follows Bill Cunningham as he goes about his days is very similar to the way Bill takes photographs on the streets - quietly and without fuss. Because of this, the film becomes more intimate, allowing you to have a glimpse of a great artist who is as much human as everyone else, someone who washes his clothes at a local laundromat or eat $3 sandwiches at a diner. Someone who's bike gets stolen countless of times.

When Bill Cunningham received an award in Paris for a top honor for the arts, he said, 'It's as true today as it ever was: He who seeks beauty will find it.' I think that watching this documentary will give you a glimpse of that beauty.

Watch the trailer here. It is also available for download on iTunes.

twenty-twelve.

2012-01-10T20:04:00.000-08:00

10 days into the new year. I don't usually make resolutions but I've thought about what I really want and my intention is this: choose joy.

Whatever it is that brings me joy, I'd like to make deliberate choices to have more of them in my life. It doesn't have to be anything spectacular, little things like handwritten letters, sunsets, lists, open windows, paper supplies, coffee, mochi ice cream, afternoons by the sea.

Reading, writing. Writing more. Spending time with people I truly care about.

: : In photo above - 2012 Moleskine planner and journal, stationary + envelopes, Kyokuto notebook, my iPhone. Taken during New Year's Day.

beautiful skies, road trips, and my birthday

2011-12-30T23:29:00.001-08:00

Tadaima! I'm back. I drove down to Los Angeles exactly a week ago from today and came back late last night. It was my first time driving for 7+ hours by myself, listening to an audiobook, reflecting on my year, marveling at beautiful sunsets. How lovely Southern California is at this time of the year!

Watching the sunset and later, the night sky at the Griffith Observatory.

You can see all of downtown Los Angeles from here.

The Getty Villa in Malibu. Such a gorgeous place filled with great art.

I spent my first few years in the U.S. here in Southern California and it will always have a special spot in my heart. But more than the places, it was such a gift to spend Christmas and my birthday with family and friends, especially those that I haven't seen in awhile. The holidays is really all about being with your loved ones and I'm am so grateful that I was able to do that and so much more.

And yes, my birthday was also this little blog's 6th year anniversary! Thank you all for coming to visit and for being such great readers and blog friends all around. I have something prepared for you in the next few days but in the meantime, I wish you a safe and wonderful New Year's celebration.

See you all in 2012. Cheers! Kanpai!

merry christmas!

2011-12-24T01:49:00.000-08:00

Over the years, my best friend and I started this tradition of watching Love Actually on Christmas. No matter where we are in the world, we'd watch it simultaneously and call each other, catching up on what's going on with our lives because we are often not in the same city at this time of the year.

So I thought I should share this with you. A few of my favorite things: Colin Firth, a good film, subtitles. Oh, and just in cases, you might want to watch this proposal scene, too. =)

Merry Christmas, my friends! All my love.

Image via

madewell: choose your own holiday adventure

2011-12-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hello folks! How are you holding up with the holiday preparations? I'm *almost* done wrapping and mailing presents but still have some errands to do before I leave for Southern California tomorrow. Still, I just spent the last 30 minutes playing this interactive Madewell video. It's so much fun!

Just press play and you get to choose your own fashion adventure. Are you a coffee or a tea girl? Shoes or bag? Sparkles or confetti? You have 5 seconds to make each choice. I thought my end result was spot on and something that I'd definitely pick for myself to wear for the holidays.

Watch the video here. Enjoy!

P.S. We're still working on the new blog look. What do you guys think so far? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

found while walking, diana mini photos

2011-12-20T23:19:00.000-08:00

A Christmas window display in Hayes Valley.

Morning walk and coffee with my friend Collette.

A corner store in Nob Hill.

Afternoon mediation on the labyrinth in front of Grace Cathedral.

A fountain in Huntington Park.

A sweet little girl I met at the park. She wanted me to take her photo by the roses.

♥
Now that I am officially on my winter break, I hope to walk around more and share my city with you. San Francisco is so beautiful these days, mostly 60s and sunny, that its hard not to smile and feel grateful just to be here.

I'm also planning on some changes for this blog. Stay tuned. xo

parts to whole

2011-12-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

View from the playground one of my elementary schools, via my iPhone.
I love how the painted wall gives an illusion of 2 photos paired together.

Today one of my kindergarteners asked me what I got for Christmas when I was little.
I told him, "books". He said, "I want an easy bake oven."

A quote from Monsieur Kerouac:
Maybe that's what life is...a wink of the eye and winking stars.

where the love light gleams

2011-12-10T19:53:00.001-08:00

We had our holiday program at the Academy of Ballet yesterday. The students danced excerpts from The Nutcracker and songs from Bill Crosby's White Christmas.

As always, I got a little choked up watching the Pas de Duex. Tchaikovsky never fails to move me and seeing a pair of young dancers perform this piece is such a joy. You can also watch the Pas Des Duex performed by the Royal Ballet here.

Other things that made me happy lately:

My 2-day seminar in Sacramento. I stayed overnight in a hotel there and almost convinced myself that I was on vacation despite the long lectures and the fact that I had to write my students' progress reports at the end of each day.

Catching the The Crème Brûlée Cart in my neighborhood. The best $4 that you can spend on a cold, wintry evening!

Exchanging favorite book quotes with friends.

A choice of winter poems.

And one more week before my winter break. Yes, that's 5 working days!

autumn sun, via instagram

2011-12-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

"The breaking of the wave cannot explain the whole sea." -- Vladimir Nabokov

I. Sunny afternoon at Baker Beach.
II. The sky after work, 28th Ave and Quintara. The only good thing about staying late.
III. Santa Cruz harbor with my cousin Bill.

These iPhone photos were taken on mid October-November. Our weather has been so beautiful these days, sixty and sunny, and its hard to believe that its really the last month of the year. All I want to do is sit by the water and read.

How about you, what have you been up to lately?

december, we dream of the tropics

2011-12-02T22:30:00.000-08:00

Rain in Tulum, Mexico.

Last weekend, I watched the movie The Descendants. Set in beautiful Hawaii, certain scenes reminded me so much of the Philippines that I suddenly missed the tropical rain. Intensely and without warning, the physical heart-aching kind.

Its always this way, when I miss my country, I miss it in details.

The rain, the color of the sky after the rain, the sound of the sea at night when its pitch black and you are laying on a hammock, your heart bursting with dreams.

dakishimete.

2011-11-28T19:07:00.000-08:00

抱きしめて or dakishimete means hold me in Japanese. I'm supposed to be conjugating verbs and studying Kanji for my finals when this word took me on a tangent because I remembered that I heard it in a movie before. It was from the film adaptation of Murakami's novel Norwegian Wood (screencaps above).

I really like the character of Midori in the novel and while the movie did not show the complexities of her personality, I thought that this moment was very well done. By saying hold me to the boy she loves, it conveyed both her vulnerability and strength, especially knowing that he is still thinking about someone else.

Here are more film scenes that came to mind when I think of the word dakishimete. Sometimes, a hug is more powerful than any gesture of affection and these images have stayed with me because of that. So indulge me while I revisit some of my favorite cinematic moments (and couples).

Our spring was wonderful but summer is over now and we missed out on autumn.
-- Francine, Paris, Je T'aime

I am holding Hana, who is hugging the letters.
-- Shin Jae Joon, Heaven's Postman

I will try something. I want to see if you stay together or if you dissolve into molecules.
-- Celine, Before Sunset

Touch has a memory.
-- John Keats, Bright Star

I dream.
Awaken then.
-- Jane Eyre (2011)

P.S. Jane Eyre co-stars Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender were reunited last week during the screening of his new film and the photos are just precious. I think I need a fangirl moment (ha!). Have a look here.

the city in which i loved you

2011-11-26T19:28:00.001-08:00

Words and art on a barbed wire fence that I found while walking around today.
It made me think of this poem, especially these lines:

Where are you
in the cities in which I love you,
the cities daily risen to work and to money,
to the magnificent miles and the gold coasts?

Morning comes to this city vacant of you.
Pages and windows flare, and you are not there.
Someone sweeps his portion of sidewalk,
wakens the drunk, slumped like laundry,
and you are gone.

-- Li Young Lee, excerpt from the poem "The City In Which I Loved You"

gratitudes and a cozy library

2011-11-24T10:45:00.001-08:00

I found this very cozy and warmly-lit library yesterday afternoon on my way back to the city. The first thing I noticed from the outside are the tall bay windows and its beautiful light, inviting you to go in. I did and it was such a nice way to start my holiday.

The library is open Monday through Friday until 9 pm and even though I don't really come to Sausalito that often, I went ahead and got a library card. It makes me happy that I can come back here and sit on one of their cozy armchairs while looking at the bay. And if you go outside, up on the hill to their parking lot, you can see all the little boats in the water and how they slowly fade away at dusk. It was so beautiful.

So yes, I'm grateful for tall windows and quaint libraries that open late into the night. Other things I'm grateful for: phone calls from loved ones overseas, learning a foreign language, family and friends, toy cameras, ballet and half-pirouttes, inspiring teachers, driving in my car outside the city, mochi ice cream, writing an essay in Nihongo, coffee and tea. This little blog of mine and for you my lovelies, for coming to visit and leaving sweet and thoughtful messages. Sleeping in for the next few days (this tops the list!).

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! xo

quiet spaces

2011-11-21T19:30:00.000-08:00

I. Art center in our kindergarten class at 7am, before the kids came in.
II. Parkside Library, sitting by the windows where you can see the tall redwood trees outside. And all the world's beautiful language books within arm's reach.

We're at that time of the school year when EVERYONE is just exhausted and so ready for a break, counting the days 'till the next holiday. I'm taking in every little breathing space that I can get, thankful for quiet mornings and some time at the library stringing words together, or folding puffy origami stars.

What have you been up to lately? Also, because its Monday, here's a song for you. It's an old one but it brings happy thoughts, and I definitely need those right now.

Ingrid Michaelson :: You and I

the kindness of strangers

2011-11-16T23:06:00.000-08:00

Inside the F-trolley, along Pier 39 | camera: Diana Mini

Friends, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought we should share some gratitudes. I was inspired by this post by Holly, who got the idea from Sui.

It's pretty simple. I think most of us have met a stranger who has touched our lives in some way or another. Someone we had met while traveling perhaps, or in a waiting room, who made us smile or said something that brightened our day. Let's share those stories and be inspired by the kindness of others.

Here are some of mine:

A couple of weeks ago, while I was browsing a video store that sells/rents foreign films, the elderly man who owns the shop tapped me on the shoulder and said something like, "I think you will love this", while handing me a DVD. Then he smiled and went back behind the counter. I was touched that he paid attention to the kind of movies that I like and that he cared enough to actually say something to me even though he can barely speak English.

I lost my wallet the day before I went home to the Philippines. It had all my IDs and credit cards but thankfully I still had my passport so I was able to travel. When I came back 4 weeks later, a package was waiting for me and inside was my wallet and a note that said: "You dropped this at the coffee shop. I hope everything is still in here."

Last December, someone came up to me and gave me a ticket for The Nutcracker Ballet while I was lining up at the box office. You can read the story here.

Now its your turn. Leave a comment below or share a link to your blog. :)

today's inspiration: nick flynn

2011-11-15T00:09:00.000-08:00

"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us." -- Kafka

This is precisely how I feel every time I read Nick Flynn's writing. A couple of years ago, I read his memoir Another Bullshit Night in Suck City and it made my heart ache so much at one point I had to put it down and take a couple deep breaths. And then I read his poetry and was even more amazed by the unflinching honesty and sensitivity of his poems and how much it affected me.

Very few writers can do that, make you feel so intensely with them. But then again, not everyone has had a tragic history as Nick Flynn and raised above it. His parents had a divorce when he was little, his mother committed suicide when he was in his early 20's and he never saw his father again until later when he was a case worker in a homeless shelter in Boston. It turned out that his father became homeless and was roaming all over the city, sometimes showing up in the shelter that he works in.

Nick Flynn's memoir is mostly about his estranged relationship with his homeless father and the circles they made around each other, neither of them quiet knowing how to become father and son. It is a very compelling and beautiful read, a story that will make you look at homelessness in an entirely different light. And did I say that the writing is exquisite? I know I already did, but it can't be said enough.

"Sometimes I'd see my father, walking past my building on his way to another nowhere. I could have given him a key, offered a piece of my floor. A futon. A bed. But I never did. If I let him inside I would become him, the line between us would blur, my own slow-motion car wreck would speed up. The slogan on the side of a moving company truck read TOGETHER WE ARE GOING PLACES -- modified by a vandal or a disgruntled employee to read TOGETHER WE ARE GOING DOWN. If I went to the drowning man the drowning man would pull me under. I couldn't be his life raft." (p.11)

Another Bullshit Night in Suck City is currently adapted into a movie starring Robert de Niro, Paul Dano, and Julianne Moore. It is set to be released in Spring 2012 but you can watch the first official trailer from Focus Features here.

Photo credit: Geordie Wood (via)

music monday: mina tindle

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Friends, meet Mina Tindle, a French artist whose songs are now playing on repeat on my iPod, at home, in my car - you get the picture. I've never been this excited over a new artist in a long time. And how enchanting is her video!

Madewell made this one of their "music to get ready to" and I agree. It makes for silly dancing and pirouettes in the kitchen whilst making your morning coffee.

Download her first EP on iTunes here. Enjoy!

Image and video via

the things we forget

2011-11-10T22:33:00.000-08:00

This evening in ballet class, dancing with almost bare feet (I forgot to bring my ballet shoes), I felt emotionally lighter and lighter with each jump and turn. To be doing something so physically demanding and feel so at ease in your being at the same time, this definitely doesn't happen often and I am grateful for it.

Work, and life in general, has been trying my patience in the last week or so. Case in point: a parcel that I sent for a friend in the East Coast somehow unraveled along the way (how does that happen?) and when she received it some of items were already missing. And random unfortunate events like that you don't even know whether to laugh or cry at the absurdity of it all.

In a poem about going to the woods, Adrienne Rich started with the phrase, "difficult ordinary happiness." I copied this on a piece of paper and taped it on my journal.

Its true, isn't it? Finding something to be happy about in the mundane everyday things, especially if they are not going your way, is always the hardest.

Because there are some good things. Like the way light is reflected on the waves at this time of the year. Falling asleep to music in a language that you don't understand. A phone call from your best friend when you need him the most (and you wonder why he just knew). Hot cocoa and whipped cream. A bowl of spicy ramen and beer.

The thought of spring and cherry blossoms in a place that you love.

everyday cityscape by kumo san

2011-11-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

I had a store credit from Amazon months ago, just enough to buy this Holga Superheadz toy camera who's name is Kumo San (I'm not kidding, they have names). Since then, Kumo has been a permanent fixture inside my bag. I just had the first roll of film developed and here's some of the photos we took while walking around the city.

Colorful houses along 26th Avenue.

At the weekend farmer's market.

I can see the ocean right outside our office when its not foggy.

Ah, how I long to sit here, my favorite spot at Ocean Beach, and sip hot cocoa whilst watching the water. Its been raining and freezing cold lately and a lot of our students are sick. I have been sneezing for days now and fighting a cold myself and its not looking good. Thank goodness its a short week, Friday can't come soon enough.

How have you been lately?

the place you are

2011-11-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

When it all stands clear you come to love
the place you are:
the bundle of bare sticks soaked
with resin
always, and never, a bush on fire
the blue sky without tale or text
and without meaning
the great swing of the horizontal circle
Miriam, Aaron, Moses
are somewhere else, marching
You learn to live without prophets
without legends
to live just where you are
your burning bush, your seven-branched candlestick
the ocotillo in bloom
-- Adrienne Rich, The Desert as Garden of Paradise

These scenes from Bright Star capture what I've been longing for lately, quietly doing something that I love without having to worry about getting things done or calling people back. I made a decision to do just that this weekend and I am so glad I did.

This is where I am right now, the place I need to be.

Screencaps from Bright Star (2009)

a forest full of lights

2011-11-05T02:16:00.000-07:00

I had the most random and surreal week, the kind that needs almost all of your energy and mental capacity (and then some). I guess I can look at it this way, at least my life is not boring. But boy am I exhausted. I took a long nap as soon as I got home today and now all I want to do is stay in bed, have some chocolate chip cookies and tea, and watch my favorite DVDs for the rest of the weekend.

Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru (Heavenly Forest) is a movie that I've been wanting to share with you. I've always been drawn to films that use places and natural lighting as a part of their storytelling, almost treating them as another character, and this is definitely one of those. I can watch it over and over again if only for these forest scenes and how beautifully they were filmed. Just look at all that gorgeous light!

Like most Japanese movies, the story is centered on small moments and details. A shy and budding photographer meets a quirky and happy-go-lucky girl on their first day of college. He started teaching her photography and together they spent most of their time in this lovely forest behind their school, taking pictures and becoming best friends.

Aoi Miyazaki and Hiroshi Tamaki are two of the most good-looking actors in Japan but in this movie, particularly in the scenes where they start to fall in love, they are downright luminous. Again, I think a lot of it has to do with the use natural light. And how their characters are both so down-to-earth and relatable, going through the same joys and heartbreak that most of us have experienced some time in our lives.

You can watch the official movie trailer here. It is also available to watch online with English subtitles here or here, though the picture quality is not that good.

P.S. I must warn you, some Kleenex might come in handy. ;)

Screencaps taken from the movie Tada, Kimi wo Aishiteru (2006)

happy halloween!

2011-10-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

Do you guys celebrate Halloween? I thought I should share this spooky-ish jumping photo of me at Baker Beach yesterday. Not quiet sure what happened here, might have been too much sun. Ha! My cousin Tina from New Orleans was here for the weekend and we were such busy bees trying to soak in as much of our indian summer as possible. And we may have eaten way too many pastries and sweets.

I hope you have a fun and safe Halloween!

Oh, and I really love this artwork too.

the sweetest gift

2011-10-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

I thought I should take a trip down memory lane. Remember this scene? Could there be a sweeter gift to a book lover than her very own library? Yeah, I thought not. Which is probably the reason why Beauty and the Beast will always be special to me. It was also the first animated movie that I watched over and over again when I was little and nearly memorized every word of it.

And how cute was this moment at the library when Belle was reading aloud a chapter of Romeo and Juliet and he was just gazing adorably at her?

P.S. You can watch these library scenes here and here. (Prepare to swoon)

Murakami, 1Q84

2011-10-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

"It just happens to be the way that I'm made. I have to write things down to feel I fully comprehend them."

One of my favorite Murakami quotes, in honor of today's US release of 1Q84, which is considered by many as his magnum opus. While some of Murakami's novels are too tedious and slow for me, the ones that I love, I really do love, especially his essays and short stories. There is definitely something about his writing style that is very calming and surreal, sort of like entering into a magical dream space.

As for 1Q84, I saw it at the bookstore today and it is very beautiful. The only hesitation that I have is the weight (its hardbound, 900+ pages) and the fact that I'm also currently reading another heavy book. It took a lot of self-control to put it back on the shelf but I did pick up The Book Thief on impulse. You see, I really have a problem leaving a bookstore empty-handed and its getting to be an expensive habit. Sigh.

You can read more of 1Q84 from this NPR book review here. And is anyone else planning to read this book soon? We can start a little book club.

Photo via here

october views, instagram

2011-10-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

A harvest party at the park. Friends, wine, and a game of mancala.

I am feeling under the weather these days, not quiet sure what ails me. Perhaps I just need sleep, less caffeine, and more exercise. And maybe I should take my vitamins too, while we're at it. I'm working on getting a regular sleeping routine, turning off my computer and putting my phone away at 11:00 really helps.

Still reading Anna Karenina before bedtime. I am now in the middle of Book 3 (the novel has 8 parts) and I'm completely fascinated by this world that they live in. Reading this book every night is like slowly getting to know (potential) friends and I have a feeling that I will really have a hard time saying goodbye to these characters.

How about you? How is October treating you so far?

P.S. Have a listen to one of my favorite bands, Little Joy. Hope you like it!

Little Joy :: Unattainable

the science of sleep

2011-10-18T18:10:00.000-07:00

I have such fond memories watching Michael Gondry's The Science of Sleep that even if I can't remember what the story was all about, I still consider it one of my favorite films. All I know is that it was strange and whimsical and I was so ridiculously happy when I left the theater after watching it. I mean, how cute is that imaginary pony!

And while we're on this topic, I've also been thinking a lot about sleep lately. Or rather, how much I need sleep. I don't think I have insomnia because I can fall asleep really easily if I want to but there's this stubborn part of me that refuses to sleep early and just think that I can stay up until 1 or 2 am and still be functioning well the next day. Unfortunately, I tend to do most of my writing late at night so that's not helping either.

Do any of you also feel this way? Like you are constantly sleep deprived and depend on caffeine to help get through your work day? I'm curious to know what are other people's sleeping routines or how they deal with lack of sleep, especially since most bloggers and creative types that I know told me that they are most productive at night.

(Film stills from here, gif image from here)

ryan gosling + feminism

2011-10-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Oh man. Ryan Gosling and Foucault in one image? There goes my heart. Especially after watching Ides of March last weekend, which was completely unplanned but we saw this movie poster as soon as we walked into the theater and that was it.

The image above was taken from Feminist Ryan Gosling, a blog inspired by the famous Tumblr meme "Hey Girl", which is also dedicated to the actor. And no, he did not actually say that quote but I'm not complaining. I get to brush up on my feminist theories AND stare at Mr. Gosling's beautiful face? Yes, please.

This site was created by Danielle Henderson, a graduate student in Gender and Women's Studies, who started it "as a joke for my friends and I to keep track of the theorists we’re currently studying." I think its pretty clever, ironic, and hilarious.

And oh, if that's not enough, Mr. Gosling was indeed quoted on something (feminist) swoon-worthy when he said this about Blue Valentine's NC-17 rating:

“You have to question a cinematic culture which preaches artistic expression, and yet would support a decision that is clearly a product of a patriarchy-dominant society, which tries to control how women are depicted on screen. The MPAA is okay supporting scenes that portray women in scenarios of sexual torture and violence for entertainment purposes, but they are trying to force us to look away from a scene that shows a woman in a sexual scenario, which is both complicit and complex. It’s misogynistic in nature to try and control a woman’s sexual presentation of self. I consider this an issue that is bigger than this film.” (read full article here)

So basically, he is awesome, that Ryan Gosling.

have a lovely autumn weekend.

2011-10-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

What are you guys up to this weekend? I plan to do a lot of cleaning around here and add more colors in my apartment. This is a vase that I bought for a dollar at a flea market in Oregon. It is just the perfect size and I love that I don't have to spend a lot of money on flowers to fill it, just a blossom or two can transform the entire room.

Also, here are some inspiring links that I wanted to share with you:

A very thoughtful essay about writing in notebooks by Charles Simic. (via English Muse)

This performance by Metallica with the San Francisco Symphony gave me goosebumps.

I love, love, love almost everything in this list.

Gorgeous photos from a new-to-me blog by the Japanese brand LyricisM.

I found my winter fashion inspiration from this lookbook. (via The Clothes Horse)

Have a great one! And thanks for visiting me this week. xo

october views: lingering in happiness

2011-10-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

This in-between time when the weather can't quiet make up its mind yet. And once again, I'm chasing the sun, seabound. A guy with his guitar, serenading the sunset, may be one of the sweetest things I've heard in awhile.

The type of work that I do involves dealing with other people's suffering and sometimes its easy to get weighed down by it all. But I have to dwell on the things that bring me joy or I'll end up going home feeling tired all the time.

Tonight, I had such a wonderful evening hearing Mary Oliver read her poetry at a local theater. She is truly a gifted writer and I am still floating in the air, my heart full with everything that she shared with us. I never even knew about this reading until today, only to find out that the tickets were already sold out. But I called the box office anyway and what do you know, someone donated a ticket this afternoon and I got the last one!

When she read one of my favorites, Wild Geese, I had tears streaming down my face. Her words still ring so true to me as when I first read it, especially these lines:

"Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things."

Big hugs, my friends. I hope the sun is also shining where you are.

here's looking at you, kid.

2011-10-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

Humprey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman filming Casablanca.

Over the weekend I rewatched this movie realized that its still one of my favorites. And may be the best ending (and line) for me. It's true, no one does it quiet like Bogie. He truly is the epitome of Old Hollywood's leading man.

As Time Goes By :: Casablanca

beautiful, beautiful words

2011-10-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

From The Captain Asks for a Show of Hands by Nick Flynn.

Fortune cookie messages, mine is the one at the bottom.

the season of reading

2011-10-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been so inspired by these images from the Japanese clothing label Syrup. Reading in open fields, cozying up with books and tea in bed, simple cotton dresses and beautiful, beautiful sweaters. All so dreamy, yes? They make me excited to dress for autumn and line up all the books and magazines that I want to read in the weeks ahead.

Here's my current bedside table inhabitants:
I Will Never Forget You, photographs and unpublished letters between Frida Kahlo and photographer Nickolas Muray - very fascinating (and sad) love story!
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Fact of the Doorframe by Adrienne Rich
19 Varieties of a Gazelle by Naomi Shihab Nye
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

What are you reading these days?

(All photos from Syrup)

today's inspiration

2011-10-05T23:41:00.000-07:00

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

-- Steve Jobs, Stanford University commencement speech (Read full script here)

The co-founder of Apple and Pixar Studios died today after battling cancer for years.

RIP, Mr. Jobs. Thank you.

at the intersection of word and worlds

2011-10-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

Here I am at City Lights Bookstore again. Some of you will recognize this bookstore because I talk about it a lot, especially their Poetry Room. Its probably no coincidence that it was one of the first places that I wanted to see when I first came to the city, inspired by Jack Kerouac and the writers of the Beat Generation.

Aside from its cultural history, City Lights is also an intersection of sorts where North Beach and Chinatown meet. I've always been fascinated by the stark difference between these two neighborhoods, a contrast that is even more striking when you look at it from the Poetry Room window. On one side are the Italian cafes and Victorian houses and on the other are old downtown apartments and restaurants in Chinatown.

Here are some photos that I took from the upstairs Poetry Room window.

One time, I was sitting by the window and found myself wondering about the people living in this apartment building that I even wrote a poem about it. What are their lives like? Do they look out of their windows to see people reading inside the bookstore?

There are those places that speak to us in the most ordinary ways and here is one of mine. And for as long as I can remember, I always seem to do a lot of writing here or at a nearby coffee shop. How about you, where is your special/ordinary place?

making me happy

2011-10-02T21:37:00.000-07:00

Taking photos with my old Polaroid camera and this film from The Impossible Project. My first shot is a chalkboard on my kitchen wall. Its overexposed but I like it anyway.

I've been practicing how to write kanji on this chalkboard. This kanji character means koufuku or happiness. I also started a little diary in Japanese. My entries are all short, something like "Today I went to the beach with a friend. I saw the sunset."

Its a very slow process, almost meditative, and I really enjoy it. Someday, I hope to read Japanese poetry without the English translation, especially haiku.

Other things that's making me happy lately:
Sunny days and wearing flip-flops in October
Committing to read Anna Karenina
Going to church for the first time in months
Making chai tea from scratch
Talking to my sisters on the phone
Dreams of travel

How about you, what's making you happy lately?

the great gatsby

2011-09-28T23:06:00.000-07:00

Carey Mulligan is playing Daisy Buchanan in the latest film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. I am so thrilled! The photo above was taken when she auditioned for the role in New York. Isn't she stunning? I really loved her performance in An Education and I can already picture her in 1920s fashion with all those gorgeous drop-waist dresses and fancy hats.

Also, Leonardio diCaprio will play Jay Gatsby and Tobey Maguire is the narrator Nick Carraway. I'm not so sure about Leo as the enigmatic Gatsby but he's proven me wrong quiet a number of times so I hope he will nail this role. Filming has reportedly started this month and the movie is set to be released in 2012.

What do you guys think of this cast? Are you a F. Scott Fitzgerald fan?

(Photo from Deadline via English Muse)

where the heart breathes

2011-09-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

A certain afternoon light, the kind that knows when to linger.

Lately --
I've been quiet sleep deprived. Running on caffeine. Though I don't mind the busyness as long as we get to keep our indian summer just a little longer.

I'm reading this book by Adrienne Rich. Taking film photos with a toy camera. Watching this historical drama about the Qing Dynasty before going to sleep. There's something about period costumes and women who are ahead of their time that is so fascinating.

We are now starting to do pirouettes in my ballet class. I love the idea of it very much. But my execution, let's just say that I can barely do one without losing my balance.

What have you been doing on this first few days of autumn?

(Tomales Bay, August 2007. Photos taken by me)

photo time capsule, circa 2003

2011-09-22T23:06:00.000-07:00

I found an old roll of black and white film taken 8 years ago and had it developed today. When these photos were taken, I had just moved to the US and started grad school and all I had was a simple Canon film camera which took me about 3 months to save up for.

It makes me a bit nostalgic for those days. I was so poor that all of my money went to food and books and there were times when I'd burst into uncontrollable tears because I'd miss my family and my country so very much. But I was also learning and doing things on my own for the first time in my life and if I had to do it all over again, I would definitely choose the same path that I took.

Funny how looking at old photos can bring back so many sensory details. Like this song from a tv show that my best friends and I loved, how I'd listen to it over and over again until I would stop missing them. The taste of ramen and kimchi after long hours of studying and writing papers. A warm spring night in a university cafe, sitting at the patio and sipping beer with someone who understands your heart, talking about everything mundane and profound, believing that you have it all figured out.

today's inspiration: art in public spaces

2011-09-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

I just came across this New Orleans art installation by Candy Chang (via tea collection). She had turned the side of an abandoned house in her neighborhood to a big chalkboard "to invite people to share their dreams in public space". Isn't it awesome?

I really love all the responses. And sharing your dreams to others, especially with those who live in your community, just makes it even more meaningful. It will be interesting to make something like this around the same neighborhood a couple of years from now and compare what people will write then.

On a personal note, I also have a similar list about the things that I want to do in the future. Its a work in progress and constantly changing but I've always believed that writing down your dreams is the first step towards making them happen somehow.

How about you, do you have a "future" list?

All photos by Civic Center. Read more about this project here.

music monday: summer bits

2011-09-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

Always, at this time of the year, I tend to collect images and stories of summer. Its the island girl in me, the one who never quiet know how to embrace the changing seasons.

This summer, especially, has been so poignant in many ways that I feel like I need a proper goodbye. So here are some photos taken from various times that I went to the beach. I'm looking at them now and asking, was the sky really this blue?

This double exposure photo was completely unintentional. (At Bolinas Beach)

I know I already shared my mixtape here, but this song by Seabear is definitely my Summer 2011 song. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this band and this video. And the lyrics is so beautiful too, it reads like poetry. Have a listen below.

I hope you guys are having a great beginning of the week. Take it easy! xo

(Video by Seabear)

writing picasso

2011-09-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

These are postcards from the Picasso Exhibit at the de Young Museum. Most of the shots from my recent Diana film roll turned out terribly overexposed that you can barely make anything of it. But I love how this photo turned out. And the story behind it.

Inside the exhibit hall, a little girl of about 7 or 8 was diligently scribbling on her pink hardbound journal. I noticed her right away because she is standing in front of me and she had on the loveliest sweater cape I've ever seen, multicolored chevron stripes made of pastel yarn. I went up to her and said, "Hi. Your sweater is so pretty."

She smiled and said "thank you", then went back to studying Picasso's paintings. I couldn't help but notice her neat and precise handwriting. (I work with children with physical disabilities who often have problems in handwriting so I immediately notice these little details).

"Are you writing down the names of the paintings?", I asked.

It took her awhile to answer and finally she said, "I'm just writing down what I see."

I'm just writing down what I see.

I had to repeat it to myself. And there I was, in the middle of a Picasso exhibition, surrounded by some of the world's most famous artworks, suddenly struck by the truth behind her words.

music monday: end of summer mixtape

2011-09-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Some more Oregon photos from my disposable camera, mostly taken while we were on the road. It took us about 11.5 hours to get to Southern Oregon on the coastal highway. We saw a lot of windmills, birds perched on telephone wires, mountains and sand dunes, and stopped by numerous gas stations. When it wasn't my turn to drive, I alternately stared at the changing sky and played with my new iPhone.

Road trips are not all fun and adventure, people can get tired and irritable but thankfully we got along well that being inside the car for hours on end wasn't too bad. Good music also helps. Which is why I made a mixtape for the trip, an ode to summer's end.

Have a listen to my mixtape here.

Tracks: Kings of Convenience (Homesick) / The Flaming Lips (Its Summertime) / Bon Iver (Skinny Love) / Belle and Sebastian (Asleep on a Sunbeam) / Camera Obscura (Honey in the Sun) / Josh Pyke (The Summer) / Beirut (Nantes) / Grizzly Bear (Two Weeks) / Lykke Li (I Follow Rivers) / Shugo Tokumaru (Parachutes)

Hope you enjoy!

dispatches from oregon coast

2011-09-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

The coast was draped in fog for the most part of our trip. Every now and then we saw pockets of sunshine, a glimpse of the Pacific and its rugged cliffs. It was breathtaking.

Sunday morning we stopped by a farmer's market in a small coastal town. An old lady was playing her guitar and singing for the crowd. Across from her were sisters selling organic soaps and candles. When she started singing Moon River, one of the sisters said, "it would've been our father's birthday today and this was his favorite song."

Two drifters, off to see the world,
There's such a lot of world, to see.

Indeed if I had to pick a favorite moment from our trip, it would probably be that one. The pine scented morning air, eating freshly made quesadilla on a market bench, watching locals go by, taking it all in. Nothing out of the ordinary, really. But I guess this is what makes travel so special. Not just the sights or the photos that you take, but those little moments that catch you unaware with the wonder of it all.

P.S. I think Oregon has the tastiest berries.

on the road

2011-09-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? — it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-by.
But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies."
-- Jack Kerouac, On the Road

This book will always be special to me. Sometimes I read it again to remind myself of my idealistic youth, to be inspired, but mostly just to soak in the richness of his words.

We are going on a road trip up the coast to Oregon for the long weekend. Its kind of a last-minute trip so I have no idea what to expect but I'm really excited. I've never been to the Pacific Northwest before and I heard its all kinds of gorgeous. I will definitely share stories and photos from our adventure when we get back.

I hope everyone is enjoying the last few days of summer. And happy Labor Day weekend to those of you who live in the U.S. Cheers! xo

(Photo by Yoko Takahashi, scanned from Yu Aoi's Travel Sand Photobook)

a beginning of something

2011-09-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile, a moment comes and you know that it will turn into something. A poem, a story, a picture in a frame, just a beginning of something. These moments are too few and too fleeting but when it comes, I recognize that I must grab it both hands. And so here it is, inspired by the same moment I took the photograph above.

* * *

Let's walk in the late summer light
Pretend just a moment ago our hearts
didn't break. Let's skip the main road
and find narrow alleys lined with colorful murals
Pretend the yellow daisies in a pretty vase
draped with beads mean nothing
but offerings along the wall.

Someone must have died here, you say.
And I look the other way
Pretend to stare at the neighbors'
terracotta roof. Is that a cat I see
lounging by the window?

Still, more questions:
How old was she when she died?
Did she like yellow daisies and ride
down the hill in a pink bike?

Did she follow the trail of sparkling dusts
the sun left behind?

* * *

It's been too long since I shared a poem-in-progress here and I miss it. I'm thinking that maybe I should challenge myself and start a daily practice of writing poetry again. The lovely Poet Mom is also planning to do the same for the month of September.

Anyone else feeling courageous to join us for a month of poeming?

around and around we go

2011-08-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

I recently had 4 rolls of film developed and I'll be sharing them here in the next couple of weeks. When my nieces and nephews came to visit, I took them to Santa Cruz and we had such a blast at the Boardwalk. I'm not really a big fan of amusement rides, I usually just close my eyes and scream my head off, but Santa Cruz is so beautiful and you get to see the ocean while you are so high up in the air, it made me feel like a child again!

Our summer totes make a pretty pair.

The Skyglider was my favorite. Its very similar to a gondola lift and it runs from one end of the Boardwalk to the other. My hands were shaking but I did manage to get some aerial photos with my disposable camera. The water looked so blue from up above.

This was the kids' last day in California and I miss them already. I love that none of them own digital cameras or post a lot on Facebook and other social networking sites. Instead, they asked me if we could go to old music stores so they can buy used CDs. And that they are just as happy eating cheap dimsum in Chinatown or a $5 pizza sale in downtown Santa Cruz. Such a breath of fresh air.

this room and everything in it

2011-08-27T23:33:00.000-07:00

Today I went down the coast again and spent the afternoon at my favorite cafe by the sea. It was cold and foggy but bits of sun came through for awhile, making the light so beautifully misty I just had to take a photo. This is the view from where I was studying, a slice of homemade peach cobbler and coffee in hand.

I recommended the cobbler to an elderly man who stood in line next to me. Later he came to my table and told me how much he loved it, even went so far and said, I think I now owe you my life. If I was younger, I'd marry you. I explained to him that I didn't actually make the cobbler but he waved his hand as if to say it doesn't matter and said thank you again. He looked so sincere that I just had to smile.

The cafe closes at 6 but the lady who was volunteering today let me stay there for as long as I wanted while she cleaned up the kitchen. It was so lovely to have the place all to myself, staring at the ocean from the window. It made me think of my family all the way on the other side of the Pacific, of friends who are now teaching overseas, of the letters and postcards that I received from near and faraway places.

How grateful I am for all of this.

last days of summer

2011-08-25T23:56:00.000-07:00

Friends, I apologize for the radio silence over here. The beginning of a school year is always the busiest time for us. But things are looking up and I'm almost sure that I'll be back to my regular blog programming soon. I really miss you guys. Thank you all for the sweet messages, letters, and e-mails, they really mean so much to me. When I think about all the beautiful and kind souls that I met through this blog, I am deeply touched. Thank you so very much, my dears.

As a late summer gift, here are some film photos from an old disposable camera that I found while re-organizing my apartment. I squealed in delight when the pictures came out because I had forgotten that I even had the camera. These were taken 3 years ago in Monterey. I remember this day, I sat by the water for a long time, watching a pair of frolicking sea lions and writing poetry. Then I walked around taking photos while the rest of my family spent the afternoon inside the Monterey Aquarium. Its days like these that makes me really grateful that I live in California.

Funny thing about this last photo is that I don't even remember taking it. When I first saw this picture, I was so sure that the musicians were wax figures. But now I can't really tell anymore so I guess it will just remain a mystery.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the last few days of summer. I have more film photos to share in the next few days. Take care. xo

however far away

2011-08-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

First of all, thank you for all your messages and e-mails, they really mean a lot to me. This past couple of days were difficult, I'm not going to lie, but they were also some of the loveliest. I think that when your heart hurts, it also opens up so you can receive more deeply, and appreciate others in a way that you hadn't before.

When I was reading Murakami's The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, I underlined these lines: Probably someone should take this girl in his arms and hold her tight, I thought. Probably someone other than me.

I didn't know it at that time but it was as like a premonition of things to come. And true enough, it does seem as though the world has taken me in its arms. A sweet letter from a faraway friend telling me how much she enjoys reading my blog, a quiet evening spent inside a room full of poetry, a sunset photograph taken in Japan with a note that says "I rode my bike around town and thought of you", a phone call.

Last Sunday marked my fifth year here in San Francisco. We went to my favorite coffee shop along the coast. My cousin had a pair of concert tickets to see Adele but he was still in New York and couldn't make it in time so he offered them to me instead. The show was such a perfect way to spend my anniversary of moving to the city. And as she started singing this song, I couldn't help but tear up. Someone above knew exactly what I needed, gave it to me, and more.

Adele :: Love Song

all the city lights

2011-08-11T00:46:00.000-07:00

At the corner of Broadway and Columbus Streets. There's a guy playing the cello underneath an installation of flying books. The entrance to Jack Kerouac's alley, downtown skyline, tourists walking in line clutching their guidebooks.

At the poetry room, now I finally understand why they named this bookstore City Lights. To the left of the poet's chair, a sign that says Welcome. Have a seat and read a book. There's always a poem that knows exactly how your heart feels at any given moment.

my analog life

2011-08-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! How have you been? I had my much-needed time offline and I am really grateful for it. The last few days were both peaceful and cathartic. I realized that its hard to undo a habit of fiddling with my phone and mindlessly browsing the internet but really the hardest part was getting out of the house (on time).

Learned that the only way to deal with a painful news is a good cry. And a long walk. Admitting to yourself that sometimes, there are no answers and you just need to go through it hoping tomorrow will be a better day.

And so today the real work begins. A new school year. Here we go.

a mini break

2011-08-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

"...worn thin by the vast summers

again turns into a new

insight and the mirror of intuition;

where the flowers' color

whoolly forgets that lingering of our eyes."

-- Rainer Maria Rilke, from O Lacrimosa

My dear friends, I'm taking a little break and decided to be analog for awhile. We go back to work exactly a week from now and I still haven't done most of the things that I wanted to do for my summer vacation. The plan is to turn off my computer and internet access on my cellphone, take lots of photos with my film camera and Diana mini, drive somewhere I've never been, sort/organize papers and clothes, read and write, but mostly just be quiet and clear my head before the new school year starts.

I'll leave you with this photo of me at a roadside fruit stand in Sonoma. It was taken on the same day as these photos, thanks to Holly and her Diana F+ camera.

またね。 (See you soon!)

little travel stories

2011-08-02T00:04:00.000-07:00

Flight somewhere between Mexico and Houston, 2011. I was reading Rilke, decided to take a break and placed the book on my lap, face down. The man beside me glanced over and asked how is the book. I said really good. We soon started talking about books and our jobs. He told me his wife is a retired nurse and they own a little ice cream shop in Arizona and some of their teenage workers have a hearing impairment.

Come and see us if you're in the area. My wife will make you her special ice cream and you can talk to the kids in sign language, he said while handing me his business card. I smiled and said thank you, remembered a long-ago summer when I took a sign language class for the first time, how sad and broken I was, how signing and not talking helped me through my pain. Later, I wrote this in my journal: its amazing how forgotten stories come back to you in the most random places.

* * *
Night market in China, 2001. We walked side by side, falling behind from the rest of our group who were busy shopping, neither of us interested in buying anything. It was my last night in Xiamen, the end of our 5-day cultural exchange trip, he was one of the graduate students assigned as our guide by the Chinese government. We immediately hit it off, always talking to each other, we both were interested in humanitarian work, literature, learning. Finally, here is someone that I can *really* talk to, I thought.

Do you think you can fall in love with someone who doesn't believe in a God, a higher being, he asked. I looked at him and didn't say anything. All around us shopkeepers were almost shouting, inviting people to look at their wares. I remembered catching a glimpse of fake designer bags and wallets, the smell of street food, how our hands were nearly touching, how my feet hurt from walking everywhere, how everything was filled with so much energy. It all seemed unreal, even the beautiful boy beside me, the one asking questions that my 21 year-old self wasn't prepared to answer.

music monday: (500) days of summer

2011-08-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

I love them both together and as individual artists so when I found out that Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel had teamed up for the movie (500) Days of Summer, I was naturally ecstatic. The soundtrack is great too, just the right mix of songs to listen to when you are taking a long drive somewhere, with all the windows down.

One song in particular is my favorite. Its called Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap. True to its title, this song is so light and upbeat, listening to it simply makes me happy. I was driving down the coast to Half Moon Bay yesterday, it was so cold and dreary, but this song came on and I instantly had a smile on my face. Have a look at the video below. You can also find the full soundtrack here.

P.S. Joe is so cute, no?

Video credit: David Branstrator on Vimeo

san francisco, i love you.

2011-07-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

Some photos that I took with my Diana mini and disposable camera while picnicking at Chrissy Field. It was such a beautiful summer day. And pinwheels are really one of the best ways to put a smile on your face.

Also, my nieces and nephews are visiting from the East coast, all 4 of them! I'm excited to take them around the city tomorrow. I hope its also bright and sunny where you are. xo

bookstore love

2011-07-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I stopped by St. Helena and found the sweetest little bookstore. It's so cozy and well-lit, and had the kind of warm atmosphere you'd feel in small local shops. The owner was really nice too, she let me take photos and answered all my questions, she even gave me a used copy of this book for a dollar! Unfortunately, it was near closing time so we couldn't chat for very long but here are some photos that I took.

Beautiful botanical books and vintage prints.

The store front. I really like the color combination, especially the striped canopy.

Bookmarks on the counter ceiling. She said she had collected them from people's used books over the years. I love the one that says 'MOTTOS 10 cents each'.

P.S. I'm still reading The Wind-up Bird Chronicle and just started Henry and June by Anais Nin. What are you reading these days?

music monday: iceland, we built a fire

2011-07-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

When I said I've been dreaming of places, I've only been really thinking of one -- Iceland. Ah, I so badly want to visit this magical island country. I think the want has intensified since two people that I know has been to Iceland in 2009. I've bookmarked all of their photos so I can look at them when I'm feeling uninspired.

Holly met these beautiful Icelandic horses on a roadtrip. You can read her stories here.

Jo lived in Iceland for a couple of months and even saw the aurora borealis. You can see all her photos here. She also introduced me to Seabear, a six piece indie-folk band from Reykjavik. I really love their album We Built A Fire. Have a listen to this song below.

I've been listening to this album on repeat since Friday. I find their music comforting, especially with all the tragedy over the weekend.

My heart goes out to you, Norway. ♥

bits and pieces

2011-07-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

I love this quote. Even though sometimes it might just be other way around for me, "when you realize how unperfect everything is..."

Today I went to Napa Valley to meet some friends who are visiting from out of town. On my way back, I missed an exit and ended up driving for more than 2 hours instead of the usual 45 minutes. Fun times.

Three days ago, I got two parking tickets. $65 a piece. OUCH.

And now for the good things:

I saw my first ever SF Giants baseball game last Tuesday night. We won. The stadium, overlooking the bay, is beyond beautiful. I took some photos here.

Meeting friends, old and new. Sharing good food and great conversation.

When a person that I love says he is really happy and I can see it.

A bookshop owner sold me this Anne Bronte novel for $1. She said, "its used and I can tell that you will really enjoy reading it". I promised her I will come back so we can talk about the book and the Bronte sisters.

Writing letters, looking at old travel photos, dreaming of places that I'd love to see.

How about you, what have you been up to lately?

summer in the city

2011-07-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

San Francisco summers are not your typical warm sunny days. It can be cold, foggy, and windy one day and sunny the next. It also depends on where you are in the bay or even the city, sometimes I just need to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to feel the sun on my face. Here are some photos that I took with my disposable camera over the weekend. A bunch of us got together at Alamo Square for a picnic and barbeque at the park. If there's one thing that San Franciscans love to do, its to eat and drink at parks at the first peek of the sun.

P.S. How about you, what is the weather like in your part of the world?

journal scribbles, circa 2007

2011-07-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Last night I decided to read my old journal entries for the month of July. I only made it through 3 of them as I got distracted and started reading other entries and poems that I stashed away inside the pockets of my Moleskine notebooks. I found this, written exactly 4 years ago today and I thought I'd share it here. Apparently I was taking more bus rides and reading the novel Atonement then.

7.18.07
Another bus ride through Chinatown.
Sign says "kneeling bus, zero emissions vehicle" -- what does that mean?
Bus driver says he'll work for 20 more years, he's already 42 now, so he'll be 62 then. Says he'll buy a boat and spend the rest of his life in the ocean.
We pass by a car about to be towed on Stockton Street.
Bus driver points to the towing truck and says "that's where all the money goes.
More of that and you'll be like me, fat and broke."

* * *
Cafe in North Beach, underlined these lines from Atonement (p.7):
"...a moonlight dash through sleepy villages was one rhythmically emphatic sentence,
falling in love could be achieved in a single word - a glance."

just a minute

2011-07-16T00:03:00.000-07:00

Happy weekending! What are you guys up to? I've been sick for the past 3 days and have spent so much more time in bed than I wanted to. Yikes. Trust me to get sick on my first week of vacation. Anyhow, the upside of being sick at home is that I have time to catch up on my reading and visit inspiring blogs. I also found this fun Just a Minute meme (via daydream lily) that I wanted to share with you guys. And if you want to, feel free to play along! You can find the rules here.

Reading...The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami.

Listening...to Sondre Lerche's new album. Can this boy be any more wonderful? Ah, you guys should watch this documentary video to see what I'm talking about.

Making...chai tea, morning and just before bedtime.

Watching...old and new favorite movies. I'm 'babysitting' a friend's DVD collection while she is away for 2 years in Japan. We have similar taste in films and I'm so excited.

Loving...these essays: to date (or not to date) a girl who reads. First he wrote something and then she responded. I think I'm more partial to his version but either way, both are a toast to all women who reads. So, cheers!

(Photo from Fudge Magazine scans by clever nettle)

dear catastrophe waitress

2011-07-14T21:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some over/double exposure shots from my Diana Mini camera. I really love these prints for some reason. Its almost like stepping inside a world of muted colors.

A row of Victorian houses, a hippie bus, and my friend Melania's skirt.

A bear hugging California. How adorable is that poster?

I'm wearing this dress almost everyday. Its perfect for our sunny but cold summer days.
(Golden Gate Bridge and Angel Island are in the background)

Can you spot the Polaroid camera in this photo?

Title is taken from this song by Belle and Sebastian

a room of one's own

2011-07-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

"It was like the time between the lights when colours undergo their intensification and purples and golds burn in the window-panes like the beat of an excitable heart..."

Such true words from Virginia Woolf. How does she do it? I want to keep these words close to my heart, a reminder of why I love this time of day so very much, that special time when the afternoon light is so lovely it illuminates everything, like the way the curtains float ever so gently in our ballet studio, the shadows and silhouettes made by bodies slowly moving to music, that sigh you feel in the air from a day just ending and the evening that is about to begin.

I am currently reading A Room of One's Own and let me tell you, it is a goldmine of truths. What I really love about her writing is that it gives me room to pause and think. She tends to write long run-on sentences and observations that may not be related to what she had originally wanted to talk about but I don't really mind because its almost as if she is inviting me to join in her thought process.

In this book, Woolf talks about women and writing and argues that women need some income and a room of their own in order to create. I soon found myself thinking about rooms and spaces, those spaces that we seek and create for ourselves so we can pursue our own truths, be it in writing, photography, painting, etc. What kind of spaces, both physical and emotional, do we seek? And how do we keep it in a way that we remain true to our authentic selves?

I tend to surround myself with books and people who have similar passions as I do. I also try to go outside as much as I can, walk around or sit and just look at people, take pictures and if I'm lucky, pull out my little notebook and start writing things down. But for the most part, it doesn't always happen this way. When I have too much time in my hands, I tend to self-indulge and it takes me forever to leave the house. Or I try to do so many things all at once without actually getting anything done.

And then there are the virtual spaces. I think we all know how easy it is to get lost in the internet for hours. At the same time, it is also a source of inspiration and I've met so many like-minded individuals and friends through blogging. So how do we balance this out without making it just another means to procrastinate? And for those of us who have blogs, how do we make it a space that allows us to grow in our creative lives and share this to others who read it?

These are some of the thoughts running through my head after reading two chapters of A Room of One's Own. Its been awhile since I've read a book that really inspires me to reflect on my own life and I'm so glad that I picked this one up. Has any of you read it? If so, what did you like about this book? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

music monday: penny & the quarters

2011-07-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

When I watched the movie Blue Valentine last year, I thought it was one of the best films I've ever seen but also the most depressing. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams' portrayal of a married couple slowly drifting apart was so brutally honest that I felt like I was being punched in the gut. I don't think I'll be watching it again any time soon but I do really love one of the songs from its soundtrack.

The song is called You and Me by an unknown soul band called Penny & the Quarters. It is said to be an unreleased demo from the 70s and somehow ended up among other demo tapes in an estate sale in Columbus, Ohio. Not much is known about this song, the band, or its back story which makes it even more bittersweet. I love how its so simple and raw and it evokes a certain feeling of longing and hope, very much fitting for Dean and Cindy's story before they started to grow apart.

Oh, and the fact that Ryan Gosling picked this song might have something to do with it too. Because you know, I have such a mad crush on that boy (ha!). Have a listen below.

Penny & the Quarters :: You and Me

cheers! かんぱい！

2011-07-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

Its official, I'm on summer break. 4 weeks, my dears...4 weeks. Short of jumping up and down (which is not good for my problematic knees), I haven't figured out what to do with myself yet. You see, there's a summer job that is sort of perfect for me but it fell through so now I've no real plans. I'm not worried though, its been a rough school year and I think I deserve this break and take care of myself.

So, in the spirit of this first day of my vacation, I'd like to share this awesome video of a Japanese shōchū, the Shiro Cheers System by Takahashi Shuzo. Its so lighthearted and it appeals to some of the things I love: a song from She & Him, dancing, hard-bound books, Polaroid, and other low-tech gadgets. I dare you not to smile while watching this video. I also took some screencaps of my favorite parts for you. Enjoy!

Here's a toast to summer and taking it easy. Cheers! Kanpai! ♥

nadinoo at the lavender farm

2011-07-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

We went to visit my favorite lavender farm last weekend and as promised, here are some photos. I wore my new Nadinoo dress and can't stop smiling. I received this two weeks ago and have been saving it to wear for a special place. And what could be more special than frolicking at the lavender fields, right? I love everything about this dress - the cut, the print, all the little details. Most of all, its handmade and fits me perfectly!

This last photo was taken with a disposable camera when we stopped by a fruit stand to buy some cherries. I paired my dress with a vintage cream cardigan but it was way too hot that day and I had to take the cardigan off. Either way, I'm so in love with it and I can't wait to style it in different ways.

You can read more about Nadinoo and its lovely designer Nadia Izruna here.

(Photos taken by Holly)

at the corner café

2011-07-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I can't believe its already Wednesday, what a busy week I'm having. I think the 4th of July festivities threw me off a bit and now I'm playing catch up.

Today my co-worker Livia and I walked to my neighborhood coffee shop to work on reports when I saw that there were a lot of cameras and beautiful people everywhere. For a second I thought I was in the wrong cafe, eventhough its the same one that I've been going to regularly since I moved to this city. Funny how so much prettiness can do that to you.

Anyhow, we soon found out that they are filming the pilot episode for a series about a group of young professionals and their life in the Silicon Valley. One of the producers actually talked to us and explained the concept of the show as well as the script. I don't think I'm allowed to share anything about the show yet but it sounded so fascinating to me and for a moment I started daydreaming of writing my own screenplay. Does this ever happen to you, when you are in the midst of something so out of the ordinary that you start to wonder what its like to be a part of it?

And then it was over and the film crew packed up to shoot somewhere else in the city. The cafe was quiet and back to its normal routine again. It was kinda surreal, like having a glimpse of an alternate world and then going back to the real one. And definitely brought excitement to my otherwise monotonous work week.

Speaking of films, I want to thank you all for your thoughts on my previous post about Jane Eyre. Your comments really make my day. Many, many thanks! xo

(Photo taken at H cafe, corner of 17th and Sanchez Streets, San Francisco)

thoughts on jane eyre

2011-07-03T22:37:00.000-07:00

I often have a hard time writing about things that are close to my heart. With the new Jane Eyre movie, its even harder because I adore both the book and the filmmaker. So I decided to wait a little while before writing about it as I tend to ramble incoherently about things that I *really* like. Then I saw these photos from Lula magazine and it all came back, the reasons why I love this film.

First and foremost, there is Mia Wasikowska. Those of us who read Charlotte Bronte's novel must have had a picture of Jane Eyre in our heads and for me Mia embodied her so perfectly there is no doubt in my mind that she is Jane. Its there in her knowing eyes, the knit of her brows, the tilt of her chin, the myriad of expressions written on her face. She gave us a Jane that we can cheer on and cry with, a heroine that we can respect with her wit and strength of character.

Of course, we can't talk about Jane without talking about Rochester. What I really love about this film is that we can see how and when they started to fall for each other. Their initial verbal sparring by the fireplace is so well played you can feel sparks flying as they try to push each other's buttons. Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska have such great onscreen chemistry that if I had any complaints about this film, its probably that they didn't show enough scenes of them together. But that's just a minor gripe and only because I know the book by heart. Obviously, the novel is so dense and complex there is no way you can fit everything in a 2-hour film.

And then there's the cinematography. I'm so in love with the way they used naturalistic lighting and the changing weather of the English moors to reflect the mood of the story. For instance, there was a lovely scene of Jane and Rochester by the cherry blossoms, lots of sun flares, a close-up of their hands, of petals falling in the wind. In contrast, when Jane fled from Thornfield Hall, the sky was dark and ominous, all the shots were taken by a hand-held camera, and the moors look so eerie and almost otherworldly.

Lastly, in as much as Jane Eyre is about the romance, it is also a story about a girl's journey from being a helpless orphan to becoming a woman in her own right, a woman who ultimately forged her own destiny without compromising her sense of self. This film adaptation clearly shows us that. And in such a visually stunning way, the images will probably stay with you for a very long time.

Has anyone else seen Jane Eyre? What do you guys think? Also, there's a great NPR interview of its director Cary Fukunaga, have a listen here.

(Images taken from here)

have a great weekend!

2011-07-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

What are you guys up to this weekend? We are having the best weather and I'm really enjoying the outdoors. I hope you are too. In the meantime, here's some inspiration around the internet that I'd love to share with you:

Dear Photograph puts such a big smile on my face. What a sweet idea.

This video of Jason Mraz singing Summer Breeze makes my heart ache. In a good way.

Photos of Pfeiffer Beach. Northern California coast is simply breathtaking.

List of 100 things I love about summer.

Oh, and remember my favorite lavender fields? We just went there today and I have tons of photos to share with you soon. Cheers! xo

today's inspiration: naomi shihab nye

2011-06-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

Ah, I love Naomi Shihab Nye.

Photo taken with disposable camera #3, Half Moon Bay.

love on the edge

2011-06-28T18:09:00.000-07:00

One day, I was already old, in the entrance of a public place, a man came up to me. He introduced himself and said: "I've known you for years. Everyone says you were beautiful when you were young, but I want to tell you I think you're more beautiful now than then. Rather than your face as a young woman, I prefer your face as it is now. Ravaged." (p.3)

These are the famous opening lines to Marguerite Duras' The Lover (L'Amant). I finally finished reading this book last week, around the same time that I saw the Korean movie Late Autumn. Both novel and film left me with the same feeling of ambiguity that I felt compelled to write about them.

The Lover is a story about a 15 year-old French girl and her forbidden affair with a much older and wealthy Chinese businessman, set in the French Indochina during the 30s. It is autobiographical, told in a non-linear way, as if the narrator is trying to make sense of those hazy pieces of memory while she is telling her story. And as you can probably tell from its opening paragraph, the writing is exquisite -- very simple and yet laden with heavy emotional undertones which caught me unaware sometimes, and I had to pause for awhile to let the beauty of her words sink in.

Late Autumn is a remake of the 1966 film directed by Lee Man-hee, a tale of two strangers who met on a bus ride to Seattle and the unlikely relationship that ensued. She is a prisoner on a 72-hour parole for her mother's funeral, he is a gigolo on the run from a former lover's husband. She is Chinese and he is Korean, they speak to each other in accented English, and theirs is one of those intense connection made urgent by time (or lack thereof). The cinematography is gorgeous and foggy Seattle provides the perfect backdrop for these two as they wander around the city and navigate their growing attraction towards each other.

Although the two stories are very different, their emotional tone and mood are similar. The storytelling are both subdued and I was constantly trying to guess the characters' feelings at any given moment. And in both novel and film, I asked the same questions: How does she feel about him? What happened to him later? Does it even matter?

"... and suddenly she wasn’t sure she hadn’t loved him with a love she hadn’t seen because it had lost itself in the affair like water in the sand and she rediscovered it only now, through this moment of music." (p.114)

It is exactly this kind of bittersweet ambiguity that pulled me into their narratives. I'm not sure how to explain it, except maybe that if you are someone who loves the shades of gray, then you will also love both novel and film. I, for one, could not stop thinking about them.

Have a look at the movie trailer for Late Autumn here. Has anyone else seen this film? Or read The Lover? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

(Excerpts taken from The Lover by Marguerite Duras)

diana adventures - west marin

2011-06-27T23:08:00.000-07:00

West Marin is quiet possibly one of my most favorite places to be. I think you guys know how much I love Muir Woods, Point Reyes, and all the little towns along Highway 1. This area is just so magical to me, with those redwood trees, the rolling hills, and the ocean. Last weekend we went to an oyster farm in Tomales Bay and had a picnic along the water, stopped for coffee and desserts in Inverness and spent the rest of the afternoon in Fairfax. It was even more special this time because I had my new Diana mini camera with me. Here is a glimpse of our adventures.

Children digging clams in Tomales Bay.

I will always stop by Busy Bee Bakery just for this apricot/blueberry crisp.

(Yes, I asked permission from their mom to take a photo)

A farm in Inverness. Can you spot the 3 billy goats in the distance?

P.S. If you are visiting San Francisco and have enough time to take a day trip or two, I highly recommend that you explore this side of the coast. Here is a map of West Marin and information on how to get there.

have a lovely weekend.

2011-06-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Happy weekend, my friends. I hope yours is filled with gorgeous summer light and lovely things. As always, thank you for coming to visit my little blog. See you Monday! xxo

Photo of me by Melania J.

sweet finds

2011-06-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

I bought this bunch of sweet peas from the farmer's market and now my apartment smells so deliciously good. I think it may be one of the best $3 I've ever spent.

A 1958 copy of this Balzac novel for $5 at a used bookstore. I swear I almost did a happy dance. I may have scared the shopkeeper with all my excited ramblings.

How about you, did you find anything special lately?

first day of summer

2011-06-21T23:52:00.000-07:00

Summer is here! I don't know about you guys but I am most productive in the summer. Its always been this way, even when I was little. I still remember how I decided one year that I will teach myself how to type and begged my parents to buy me a lightweight typewriter. All summer long, I typed and typed, sometimes typing poetry and short stories, but mostly just typing away random things.

Last year, I wrote some goals and actually did most of them. It was also the summer that I decided to take Japanese classes and continue doing ballet, two of the things that I love the most. I am still doing both right now but because of my (still) achy knees, I might take it easy on ballet and do something else, like swimming perhaps.

These photos of Yu Aoi by Yoko Takahashi captures the essence of everything that I long to do this summer. I am really inspired to learn film photography and take advantage of the natural light. Other things on my list are: spend more time outdoors and less on the internet, write letters, walk barefoot on the beach, read the classics, eat healthy meals, write more creative non-fiction, and take day trips as often as I can.

P.S. What are your summers like? Do you have special plans this year?

(Photos taken from Yu Aoi's Travel Sand Photobook)

secret garden, diana style

2011-06-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

"If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden."
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Do you ever get that feeling when you find something so lovely that you just want to share it to the world? That's exactly how I felt about this little park hidden amongst the Victorian houses in Russian Hill. I first came here 2 weeks ago on a group hike but we couldn't stay very long so I only took a few photos. I vowed to come back again and bring a book and a picnic basket with me because the garden just calls for it. And then I got my new Diana Mini camera so the timing was perfect! Holly is also back in town until October so we had an impromptu blogger picnic, sans the basket.

There's some of the prettiest coral roses in this garden. And they all smell divine!

Holly in her vintage indigo dress.

Yummy cupcakes from this shop.

I'm still getting used to the controls of my Diana and accidentally shot a lot of double and multiple exposures. I love how they turned out though, so its all good. Also, I already finished 2 rolls of 35 mm film (eep!) so I'll be posting more Diana photos for the rest of the week.

P.S. Can you guess where this secret park is? Hint: Its somewhere near this crooked street. (I will reveal the location at the comment section on Friday)

happy, happy weekend!

2011-06-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

My Diana Mini Jiyu is here! Isn't she pretty? I'm over the moon and I can't stop playing with it. Its so little and I can take it with me everywhere. I plan to take lots and lots of pictures with it over the weekend. How about you? What are you up to this weekend?

Oh, and here are some lovely links around the internets:

A magical antique shop found by Michaela over at The Drifter and the Gypsy.

This Breakfast Project. Oh my.

Michelle's great post about practicing mindfulness.

A super sweet proposal at the top of the Golden Gate Bridge.

My new favorite song by The Honey Trees.

I hope you guys have a good one. Cheers! xo

a tea party

2011-06-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, I was invited to an Open Studio for Tea's fall collection. I only knew very little about Tea before and I must say that I was really impressed by their clothes. Their philosophy is simple: they travel around the globe and interpret their experiences into unique and modern pieces. We got a behind the scenes scoop of their next destination (hint: I was just there in 3 months ago) and a preview for their fall collection.

Tea mostly caters to children's clothing but they also had just started a women's line, though I must confess that I was more drawn to the girls' clothes and kept thinking 'maybe they have those in my size' (haha!). I can't help it, they're so easy and versatile.

We even got to dress our own little girl for a contest. Doesn't she look like your quintessential San Franciscan? Layering is definitely key. (I want her stripe leggings!)

As if traveling to beautiful places like Catalonia and Brazil is not enough, their studio also has the dreamiest courtyard. Don't you just want to sit there and read your favorite book? I was *very* tempted.

Here's more photos from Tea's Fall 2011 Open Studio from their blog.

Thank you, Tea for a lovely afternoon.

ballet: behind the scenes

2011-06-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

My school had a spring performance today. We got lucky because it was sunny and had a lot of gorgeous light streaming through the windows. And as always, there's something about ballet, late afternoon light, live piano music, hardwood floors, and the enthusiasm of youth that is just magical.

I was captivated by the way the light was reflected against the girls' tulle skirts while they were waiting in line to perform. So lovely.

And I can't help it, I always get emotional watching ballet. Especially this one. I've seen these kids in the studio for more than a year now, witnessed how hard they work, often bringing their textbooks to finish their homework. I'm really happy for them.

itemization :: morning

2011-06-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not very good at waking up early in the morning so I try to make it a little bit more inspiring. On perfect mornings, this is what I will wake up to:

Flowers bathed with faint early morning light.
A cup of Genmai-cha (green tea with roasted brown rice).
Slices of my favorite bread + homemade berry jam.
Kabocha no tane.(Japanese pumpkin cookies...I'm obsessed!)
Any fruits available in my kitchen.

Of course, in a perfect world, I'd have enough time to enjoy them all leisurely. But I'm usually rushing for work so I end up grabbing a slice of toast and/or yogurt and a banana. And a cup of coffee. Always coffee.

What does your morning look like?

destination: paris

2011-06-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

The movie Midnight in Paris rekindled my longing for the City of Lights and the creative life yet again. Not only does it have some of the most gorgeous shots of Paris, it is also very funny, whimsical, and quietly thought-provoking. If you are a lover of literature, art, history, and la vie bohème in general, you will surely fall in love with this film. I am not going to give any more details because the story has a very wonderful surprise waiting for you and the less you know about it, the better.

And yes, please do watch it. I took a couple of screencaps from the trailer to give you a glimpse of this lovely film but its really best to see it on the silverscreen, preferably with like-minded friends so you can talk (and talk) about it later over a glass of wine.

P.S. Jordan is giving away a super-generous and awesome trip to Paris to celebrate her blog's 5th anniversary. She and her family are also from San Francisco and they are currently living in Paris for a year. Enter this giveaway NOW! :)

bits and pieces

2011-06-08T14:52:00.000-07:00

Its been rainy here and I'm still wearing my winter coat. On the upside, there are blooms everywhere and I can't help but take pictures of pretty flower shops along my walks.

I think peonies are now my favorite summer flowers.

I caved in and ordered this Diana Mini camera. So excited!

Sushi + beer while ~~studying~~ cramming for my Japanese finals is a good thing.

Just saw the new Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris and LOVED it.

As if I need another reason to visit Japan, check out this cookie face workshop.

I'm inspired by these nature photos of Hannah from foxtail + fern.

How about you? What have you been up to?

restless

2011-06-03T12:51:00.000-07:00

I have been anticipating this movie since they postponed its release earlier this year. Now they finally have a date -- Sept 16. I can't wait. It looks like the kind of quirky love story between two socially awkward characters that often tugs at my heartstrings. Plus, its Mia Wasikowska, I'd watch anything with her in it. Have a look at the trailer.

(via Sony Pictures Classics)

the disposable memory project

2011-06-02T22:18:00.000-07:00

The Disposable Memory Project leaves disposable cameras around the world so people can take pictures and pass them on, with the hope that the cameras will eventually return home. So far they have released 340 cameras in different countries, 28 have returned, and 98 were already found. Some even came all the way from Mongolia, Greenland, Gambia, and Australia. Isn't that just amazing?

I love how each photos give us glimpses of these faraway places from a very simple camera. And the fact that people actually took the time to pass it on and send them home is very inspiring indeed. I'm even tempted to release a camera of my own.

You can read more about this project, how to participate, or see more photos here.

All images taken from the disposable memory project.

this in-between time

2011-06-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

"I dwell in Possibility". -- Emily Dickinson

How does it happen that its June already? It seems as though I just celebrated the New Year, wrote my intentions on a piece of paper, then taped it on my journal. I'm looking at my list now and I am nowhere near accomplishing half of them.

Last week, one of my schools had a year-end musical and the students sang all songs by The Beatles. It was great. I was so touched when I heard the first notes of the song Imagine, watching our 8th graders all dressed up, strumming their guitars and looking all serious up on stage. I know they can be a pain sometimes, but for the most part, they are really good kids and I am so proud of them. Their hearts are in the right place.

By the end of summer, 3 of my friends will leave to teach English abroad for a year or two. Its funny how everyone I know are moving somewhere these days. I'm excited for them, having the courage to make a decision that will ultimately change the course of your life is very liberating, but at the same time, I can't help but feel sad since I'm the one left behind. Ah, I guess I will just have to visit them then. (Spain, Japan, and Korea doesn't sound too bad, eh?)

Today, its so cold and gray here. I'm nursing a cup of green tea and eating oatmeal with cocoa and lots of berries. I have no big plans for the summer yet. How about you?

cherry farm

2011-05-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

I am currently in Brentwood visiting my aunt and uncle for the weekend. Yesterday we went to a farm and picked cherries. So many of them! Then we had a little backyard barbeque and beer, watched the stars and told each other silly stories. Its nice to be with family and to get away from the city sometimes.

For those of you who live the US, have a great Memorial Day! I'll be back on Wednesday.

berkeley

2011-05-28T22:01:00.001-07:00

Today I went to visit my friends Monica and Sri in Berkeley. I've only seen them once since their wedding in Mexico so it was great to hang out with them again. And Berkeley is always one of my favorite places to visit. There's so much character, diversity, and history in this city, not to mention all that good food and fresh produce.

This restaurant has the best pancake ever.

Colorful stones and jewelry by a street vendor.

Mural in downtown Berkeley.

Monica took me to Monterey Market and boy was I excited to see all those fruits. And they were pretty inexpensive too! (I think I may have bought too many cherries).

How about you, what are you up to this weekend?

silent sundays

2011-05-26T01:34:00.000-07:00

Aren't these photos just dreamy? This is from the lookbook of Silent Sundays, a new online boutique created by the lovely Rhiannon and her friend Jamie. I've been reading Rhiannon's blog for years now and I absolutely love her effortless style so I was really excited when I read that she just started her own store.

Silent Sundays has carefully curated vintage finds and clothes by labels such t.b.a, Secret Squirrel, and Family Affairs -- pretty much everything that I love and all dresses that I want to have in my pretend wardrobe (i.e. if money was no object). I already foresee a lot of wishlisting and dreaming of these clothes in my future. Sigh.

Oh my stars, a yellow silk dress with a Swan Lake print. Can it get any more perfect than this? Also check out their entire Summer 2011 Lookbook in this video.

All images from Silent Sundays. Thanks, Rhiannon!

all the little things

2011-05-24T23:58:00.000-07:00

I am sadly drowning with end of the school year paperwork these days. So bad that I almost fell asleep while standing in line at the auto shop when I had my car oil changed this afternoon. No kidding. I could barely keep my eyes open, I had to pinch myself.

Thankfully, there are some little joys. Some of my students gave me a single rose and a sunflower plant from their gardening class. I also gave them these cute animal puzzle erasers as a gift for working so hard this school year and you won't believe how happy they were! It's amazing how the smallest of things can make them so excited.

Three more days to go. I can do this.

hana and alice

2011-05-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

I finally learned how to take screenshots and I'm very excited. There are films that are so visually stunning it only makes sense to share them in pictures. One of them is Hana and Alice, a coming-of-age film about best friends by acclaimed Japanese director Shunji Iwai. The cinematography and use of natural light is so gorgeous in this movie that I had to stop myself from taking a screenshot of almost every frame.

While the film may be a quiet long and the story of 2 girls and a boy is somewhat trite, it works because there's a lot of subtle emotional beats that allows us to connect with the characters and their inner lives. Like how Hana and Alice would unconsciously start doing small ballet steps while waiting for the train, the deck of cards with Alice in Wonderland pictures at the back, the photo session that they had at their ballet class, Hana's tearful backstage confession while Masa was tying her obi belt. All done so tenderly it warms your heart.

This movie also gave me one of my favorite cinematic scenes to date -- a 5-minute ballet sequence towards the end of the film. Everything about this scene is almost perfect, from the music (composed by Shunji Iwai himself), the slow-motion turns, the dreamy light streaming from the windows, the hardwood floors, her arabesque...I could ramble on and on. But the thing that really touched me is that this was Alice's moment for herself and hers alone. Even though she is the more outgoing and lively of the two, Alice lacks self-confidence and is a bit passive. So when she just went for it in this audition, even improvising with shoes made of plastic cups, you can't help but hold your breath and cheer her on. Have a look at this video clip.

P.S. If you can get a hold of the DVD, be sure to check out their Behind the Scenes feature. Its shows how the film was made and how the story was conceptualized.

have a sweet weekend!

2011-05-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

I am obsessed with these cupcakes, especially the mini ones. You can delude yourself into thinking that you've eaten less because they're teeny tiny, when the truth is you've already eaten half a dozen -- or more (ha!ha!). My favorites are salted caramel and strawberry cheesecake. Isn't their store window all kinds of pretty?

And oh, I found the most perfect Diana Mini camera today. I'm in love. I was saving up for an iPad but might just get this little beauty instead. Do any of you own a Diana Mini? What do you think of this camera?

Have a great weekend everyone! And thanks for dropping by. xo

today's inspiration

2011-05-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

"You can never have too much sky. You can fall asleep and wake up drunk on sky, and sky can keep you safe when you are sad. Here there is too much sadness and not enough sky. Butterflies too are few and so are flowers and most things that are beautiful." -- Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street

I picked up this book again today. Its such a deceptively simple story, told in vignettes, but I was so touched by it that I ended up tearing up inside the laundromat when I read it for the first time. I had just moved to San Francisco then and the narrator's voice and her longing for a place to call her own resonated so much in me. I kept nodding yes, yes, and yes...laughed and giggled at stories that were so similar to my own.

And its true, one can never really have too much sky.

(Photo by H_alive)

photo postcards

2011-05-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by Jordan's DIY postcard idea so I decided to make some of my own. Its pretty easy. I used my disposable camera photos, wrote messages or poetry on strips of paper, and attached them on the photo using washi tapes. It feels wonderful to create something personalized to send to family and friends, especially since I've been very busy lately and wasn't really doing a good job with keeping in touch.

How about you, do you still send handwritten cards or letters? Everything is digital these days that I feel like the art of letter writing is slowly diminishing. I remember when I was young, I used to write letters to my dad (who was working overseas) and my pen friend from Belgium. It was always fun and exciting to open a letter from someone.

Oh, and just in case you're curious, I saw that vintage car parked along the coast in Half Moon Bay. Pretty, don't you think?

P.S. Read Oh Happy Day's postcard DIY tutorial here.

happy birthday, cri!

2011-05-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

My little sister Zipporah celebrated her 21st birthday yesterday. Though she's all grown up and just finished her degree in Pharmacy last month, she is still very much our baby. She's also one of the sweetest people I know. Some time ago she had a pretty bad knee injury and could barely walk, I called to comfort her but she ended up comforting me instead. And we talked and talked for hours.

I wish I was there to celebrate her big day with her. But we do have a plan to travel together soon, just the two of us. I can't wait.

weekend snippets

2011-05-15T23:48:00.000-07:00

Today my friend Melania and I went food shopping at Nijiya Market. She made a very tasty oden and all 4 of us, with her roommates Beata and Tim, shared it for dinner.

Oden is a Japanese dish that has different ingredients slowly simmered together in an open hot pot (you can read recipe here). I love that its cooking at the table right in front of us and we can just get our own portion and enjoy the dish together. It reminded me of home and the Philippines, how a communal meal with friends and family is such a huge part of our culture. I really miss it and I'm glad that I get to do it here too.

How about you, how was your weekend?

have a lovely weekend.

2011-05-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the radio silence over here. I had a very hectic week and Blogger was down for 2 days so I couldn't post anything. Here are some lovely links around the internets that I wanted to share with all of you:

Try these simple life-affirming exercises from Aron's project.

Hila's awesome post about Jack Kerouac's On the Road.

Interesting essay about book-hoarding by Mark Medley, editor of National Post.

Dreamy summer dresses from Anna Allen's new collection.

A new-to-me blog, Le Portillon. I am in love with her photos of Paris.

Nutella snack & drink, I need you in my life.

This Japanese tape workshop by Hello Sandwich. Be still my heart.

So, what are your plans for the weekend? I'm doing some work (per usual), maybe go to this Oyster Festival, and catch up on my reading. Have a good one, my friends! xo

where dolphins play

2011-05-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

How was your weekend? I spent the entire Saturday being lazy and catching up on my sleep. I needed it. Especially after a week of extreme busyness. Yesterday my friend Dana and I met up to do some paperwork and I decided to take her to my favorite seaside cafe. It was such a nice day. We even saw dolphins frolic in the sea! I only got little work done but no matter, dolphin-watching was such a treat. I tried to take photos but the dolphins were far away and it was too bright for my disposable camera to capture them. Next time, I'll bring a better camera.

Oh, and my orthopedic shoes are not so bad after all. I felt self-conscious about it at first but now I'm kinda used to wearing them. If it helps my knees heal faster so I can go on longer walks and continue to do ballet, then its worth it. Definitely knees first.

I hope you guys were able to unwind over the weekend too. Happy Monday!

happy mother's day

2011-05-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

A Polaroid photo of my mom at the park when she came to visit me last year.

Also, here's a lovely video of Audrey Hepburn singing Moon River. Its one of my mom's favorite songs. And mine too. Have a lovely Sunday! xo