Madrid, Spain - Tapas, Sangria & a Korean Guy
Every now and then, I thought about the people I met on my travels.
Some of them I might never meet again in my life, but left a permanent footprint in my heart.
There's one such guy, korean guy to be exact, on my trip to Madrid years ago.
Leaving Barceona behind, with all its wonders and splendors, and after absorbing all the historical sights and knowledge, I was ready for some culture pumping.
Oh yes, that means food - tapas, sangrias, jamon, etc; and lots of them (paella was too exp to be eaten alone, biggest problem with travelling solo).
It was a day of gastronomy exploring at the market.
Not just any market. A food market. Yes, in Madrid.
People stand around bar counters where they enjoyed a good meal of tapas and home-brewed sangrias over productive chats with their friends, family, strangers or lovers.
The whole experience was something I've never experienced before. Refreshing, fascinating and really hungry to look at.
You'd see mountains of varied tapas in neat displays inside the glass counters, like how you would find pastries in bakeries; you make your pick, pay, and squeeze a spot at the counter to enjoy the rest of your meal.
my 2 euro glass of Sangria. ^^
This was where I met a stranger, another Asian, in a group of travelling Europeans and local Spanish; our eyes met, we smiled. An instant connection was made. We were the only two Asians in the market and it was pleasing to know, and feel, that you're somewhat not alone.
Both strangers. Both incapable of understanding Spanish. Both a little bit intimidated by the scene. Both alone.
So we shared a corner at the counter. And we ate.
And we became friends in under 15 minutes.
I forgot his name. It has been couple of years. But he was a funny guy. Not flirtatious, not fluent in English, just funny.
He did things like running in front of my camera totally randomly while I attempted a night shot at a plaza.
I laughed, because he had this weird "interrupt jump" mid-air. The photo turned out better.
He would wear furry ladies hat and asked if he looked good. But would then shook his head with a face of disgust commenting the hat was hideous and didn't suit him.
at a Christmas night market in Madrid.
He liked photography, so did I.
So we roamed the city throughout the evening taking photos at everything.
We took our friendship to a bar, where I sampled more sangrias.
quiet bar in a quiet lane
beer for man & sangria for girl
Spain has a heavy Arabic influence in most of their architectures.; mainly due to the fact that it was been under the Islamic Empire (a.k.a. Islamic Umayyad dynasty) which lasted some 800 years.
As you can see in the design of this very Arabian-styled bar.
We finally ended our Madrid trip together days later with two tickets to Flemenco dance performance.
Flamenco turned out to be much more serious than I had anticipated. It was intense, loud and precise. But it wasn't fun. I had a more enjoyable flemenco dance performed by some locals in another city than this.
The next day we parted our ways as I ventured further South of Spain.
We met once more in London closing to Christmas; he on his great European trip of a lifetime, I was exploring my uncharted zone in Europe; both decided to spend the new year in the Great Britain.
One email was exchanged after that last encounter.
And that was the last we ever heard from each other.
We went back to our countries, we resumed our mundane lives, him getting a new job, perhaps still with his long-term girlfriend. And that was that.
To the random funny korean guy I met in Madrid,
Thanks for leaving such an endearing footprint in my life. My memory of Spain will always consist of you.
Some of them I might never meet again in my life, but left a permanent footprint in my heart.
There's one such guy, korean guy to be exact, on my trip to Madrid years ago.
Leaving Barceona behind, with all its wonders and splendors, and after absorbing all the historical sights and knowledge, I was ready for some culture pumping.
Oh yes, that means food - tapas, sangrias, jamon, etc; and lots of them (paella was too exp to be eaten alone, biggest problem with travelling solo).
It was a day of gastronomy exploring at the market.
Not just any market. A food market. Yes, in Madrid.
People stand around bar counters where they enjoyed a good meal of tapas and home-brewed sangrias over productive chats with their friends, family, strangers or lovers.
The whole experience was something I've never experienced before. Refreshing, fascinating and really hungry to look at.
You'd see mountains of varied tapas in neat displays inside the glass counters, like how you would find pastries in bakeries; you make your pick, pay, and squeeze a spot at the counter to enjoy the rest of your meal.
my 2 euro glass of Sangria. ^^
This was where I met a stranger, another Asian, in a group of travelling Europeans and local Spanish; our eyes met, we smiled. An instant connection was made. We were the only two Asians in the market and it was pleasing to know, and feel, that you're somewhat not alone.
Both strangers. Both incapable of understanding Spanish. Both a little bit intimidated by the scene. Both alone.
So we shared a corner at the counter. And we ate.
And we became friends in under 15 minutes.
I forgot his name. It has been couple of years. But he was a funny guy. Not flirtatious, not fluent in English, just funny.
He did things like running in front of my camera totally randomly while I attempted a night shot at a plaza.
I laughed, because he had this weird "interrupt jump" mid-air. The photo turned out better.
He would wear furry ladies hat and asked if he looked good. But would then shook his head with a face of disgust commenting the hat was hideous and didn't suit him.
at a Christmas night market in Madrid.
He liked photography, so did I.
So we roamed the city throughout the evening taking photos at everything.
We took our friendship to a bar, where I sampled more sangrias.
quiet bar in a quiet lane
beer for man & sangria for girl
Spain has a heavy Arabic influence in most of their architectures.; mainly due to the fact that it was been under the Islamic Empire (a.k.a. Islamic Umayyad dynasty) which lasted some 800 years.
As you can see in the design of this very Arabian-styled bar.
We finally ended our Madrid trip together days later with two tickets to Flemenco dance performance.
Flamenco turned out to be much more serious than I had anticipated. It was intense, loud and precise. But it wasn't fun. I had a more enjoyable flemenco dance performed by some locals in another city than this.
The next day we parted our ways as I ventured further South of Spain.
We met once more in London closing to Christmas; he on his great European trip of a lifetime, I was exploring my uncharted zone in Europe; both decided to spend the new year in the Great Britain.
One email was exchanged after that last encounter.
And that was the last we ever heard from each other.
We went back to our countries, we resumed our mundane lives, him getting a new job, perhaps still with his long-term girlfriend. And that was that.
To the random funny korean guy I met in Madrid,
Thanks for leaving such an endearing footprint in my life. My memory of Spain will always consist of you.
Supermodel of the week...you're never gonna guess who I saw yesterday...
So I've done Supermodel of the Week postings for a while now. You might remember that a little while ago I did a posting on Ms. Juliana Imai, right?
WELL I SAW HER YESTERDAY! I was in the city yesterday, and there she was standing on the corner of West Broadway and Spring Street a foot away from me! I said, "Oi Juliana", and she replied with a "Tudo bom?" and a few more words were exchanged before she continued down West Broadway and I made my way down Spring. It was kind of surreal. I should have given her my number, damn it!
Anyway, that was really cool! My first meet and greet with a Japanese-Brazilian model! Awesome!
(PS: Gina, this is true and I'm not just saying this because you saw my favorie Ana Beatriz one day in the glasses store, but I am still jealous!)
WELL I SAW HER YESTERDAY! I was in the city yesterday, and there she was standing on the corner of West Broadway and Spring Street a foot away from me! I said, "Oi Juliana", and she replied with a "Tudo bom?" and a few more words were exchanged before she continued down West Broadway and I made my way down Spring. It was kind of surreal. I should have given her my number, damn it!
Anyway, that was really cool! My first meet and greet with a Japanese-Brazilian model! Awesome!
(PS: Gina, this is true and I'm not just saying this because you saw my favorie Ana Beatriz one day in the glasses store, but I am still jealous!)
Julia Knot ams2049
Price : RM 48
Status : Available except Navy Blue
Color : Black, Fuchsia, Navy Blue
Code : ams2049
Size : Free size (Fits S - L)
Material : Lycra
Length : 94cm
*Front knot lycra dress*
Status : Available except Navy Blue
Color : Black, Fuchsia, Navy Blue
Code : ams2049
Size : Free size (Fits S - L)
Material : Lycra
Length : 94cm
*Front knot lycra dress*
Macy Lace ams2048
Price : RM 44
Status : Restockable
Color : White, Beige, Black
Code : ams2048
Size : Free size (Fits XS-M)
Material : Lace + Full lining
Length : 74cm
*Scoop back lace long top*
Status : Restockable
Color : White, Beige, Black
Code : ams2048
Size : Free size (Fits XS-M)
Material : Lace + Full lining
Length : 74cm
*Scoop back lace long top*
Black & White ams2047
Price : RM 39
Status : Restockable
Color : Black, White
Code : ams2047
Size : Free size (Fits XS-M)
Material : Loose knit fabric
Length : 45cm
*Knit cropped cardigan*
Status : Restockable
Color : Black, White
Code : ams2047
Size : Free size (Fits XS-M)
Material : Loose knit fabric
Length : 45cm
*Knit cropped cardigan*
Noel Top ams2042
Price : RM 39
Status : Restockable
Color : Mustard Yellow, Navy Blue
Code : ams2042
Size : Free size (Fits XS-M)
Material : Chiffon
Length : 63cm
* Chiffon top*
Color : Mustard Yellow, Navy Blue
Code : ams2042
Size : Free size (Fits XS-M)
Material : Chiffon
Length : 63cm
* Chiffon top*
Belle Casual ams2041
Price : RM 39
Status : Grey only
Color : Green, Grey
Code : ams2041
Size : Free size (Fits XS-M)
Material : Cotton
Remarks : Waist stretchable
Length : 82cm
*Cross shoulder dress*
Status : Grey only
Color : Green, Grey
Code : ams2041
Size : Free size (Fits XS-M)
Material : Cotton
Remarks : Waist stretchable
Length : 82cm
*Cross shoulder dress*
EARLY AUGUST 2011
Aug. 3: somewhere near Porto (Portugal) for a new exciting project to be announced soon
Aug. 4-5: Copenhagen Fashion Week
Aug. 6-7: NYC
Aug. 8-11: Stockholm Fashion Week
Aug. 12-14: Helsinki, Flow Festival
Beirut, July 2011
Aug. 4-5: Copenhagen Fashion Week
Aug. 6-7: NYC
Aug. 8-11: Stockholm Fashion Week
Aug. 12-14: Helsinki, Flow Festival
Breakfast with Disney Characters
This is the last the most exciting post of my Hong Kong Disneyland trip and stay, at least for me.
I’ve always had wanted to stay at a Disney Hotel whenever I visited a Disneyland.
Because at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel you get to dine with all the famous Disney characters!
Like Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck.
It was the event I was looking most forward to during my stay there.
As I was staying in Disney Hollywood Hotel, I had to take a shuttle in the morning to Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel for the breakfast at the Enchanted Garden.
So dreamy~!
The buffet breakfast had a good selection of Western and Chinese cuisines, and also…
Mickey pancakes!
Despite the great selection of food, especially the amazing crispy bacons they have (yum!), I could barely concentrate on eating.
Throughout breakfast I was just peeking and peering around the restaurant for the Disney characters. Even when told that they would come to my table eventually, I still couldn’t control the insane anxiety I had inside.
“It’s Goofy. OMG!” I pointed.
As chef Goofy wobbled and staggered over from table to table, I fiddled with the food in my plate as I stretched my neck so high to ogle at the other tables of guests taking turns to take photos with Goofy.
I love Goofy. He’s one of my favourite characters because he’s so goofy. Lol.Muacks!
About the shoes I was wearing. It’s a pair of crocs I bought a year ago and ever since it’s been like a comfort shoes for me whenever I don’t feel like wearing something too serious.
However, if you’ve paid attention, I’ve been wearing this pair of shoes in every other posts of my current HK Disneyland trip.
There’s a story to it.
I actually forgot to PACK other shoes when I was packing for the trip, because I was moving house then and all the shoes I have were at the new place, yea so smart to move all the shoes to the new place when I have a trip coming up.
So I had no choice to be stuck with this pair of fugly shoes throughout the trip.
OMG the shame.
To think I have a wardrobe full of shoes. :S
Anyway, Mickey showed up!
Even though Minnie was my favourite character of all time, but still, it’s Mickey!
The star of the show!
A kid cried at the next table because he thought he missed the opportunity to take photo with Mickey. Awe… (Mickey went over there the second time to take photo with him again, double Awe~)
Love lovelovelove Mickey. A million hearts!
I even took a second round of photos with him after breakfast.
And he swung my hands around to make this position.
So cute!
Finally, Pluto showed up. So I thought…. Meh… why not.
Pluto turned out to be really funny. Making odd poses and just being cheery.
Bye chef Pluto!
We then took a walk around the garden of Disneyland Hotel, where there’s a mickey maze right outside.
We also visited the Sorcerer’s Lounge, right before we head into the park to start another new crazy day. I love this place, very posh.
That’s a wrap of all my HK Disneyland posts.
Do make your reservation to have breakfast with all the Disney Characters when you have the chance to visit HK Disneyland. It’ll be an experience you never forget.
Read about other posts on HK Disneyland here: post 1, post 2, and post 3.
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