W Concept

For those who don't know, I'm currently in Seoul, South Korea. The next 8 months are going to be very exciting and I can't wait to start posting my adventures and thoughts as I should have kept doing even when I was at home!

So.

Seoul always excites me because it is one of my favourite cities to shop in (if not my ultimate favourite). Last June I blogged about the Joseph & Stacey bags that I had fallen in love with. I found the bags at a store named W Concept. This store sells many items from luxury brands from Proenza Schouler's PS1s to Tod's driving shoes but also holds countless other brands from all over the world. Most of the time they only have one or maybe a couple of each item which kind of makes everything that much more special.

When I went a few days ago, I fell in love with the W Exclusive line that was made in collaboration with  Kaal E. Suktae. I loved the colour palette and the special attention made to design details, especially on the jackets. My favourite was the black leather motorcycle jacket with gold details. It fits incredibly well and looks even better on than in pictures.

Take a look for yourself!

Two Wheels

I've been back home from Asia about a month now and I can't help but miss the super cool bikes and scooters I'd see daily when I was abroad.

In Taiwan

In Taiwan

Super typical in Beijing

The classic Beijing bicycle and butterfly basket

A twist on the classic bike...look at the wheels!!

My all-time favourite bicycle. 

His friends let me take a picture of him napping on the job

10cm

I've been listening to 10cm, a korean band, for a few weeks now and I lovelovelove their sound. I especially love this uncut video of them playing on a city bus. It reminds me a lot of the Take Away Shows that I love for showing artists' raw talent.







Here's another really good song by them.


10cm 십센치 - 안아줘요

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Happiness Village

Last weekend, two friends and I decided to spend the day exploring some of Beijing's back streets.

My friend suggested we check out the area right behind her apartment that is right next to Sanlitun Village. Sanlitun Village is a relatively new and affluent area where many tourists go do brand name shopping and eat western food. The area we went to, 幸福二村 (roughly translates into happiness village), is just a 2 minute walk around the corner from the last street that is part of Sanlitun Village yet you would never think it even existed. Walking through the maze of little alleys, you never know when you're accidentally walking into someone's house...(I'm serious...it happened a few times).

Next we went to the 鼓楼 (Gu Lou, Drum Tower). After climbing the steepest staircase of my entire life, we were greeted by a great view. We were also very luck that it was one of those rare smogless days! We waited around for a bit to see the drum performance. It was good but I couldn't help but be distracted by the main drummers massive wedgie.

Obviously I took several a picture.

Zoom in to Hou Hai, where we went next 

 

Our last destination was 后海 (Hou Hai, litteral translation is back sea...i think they meant lake but wtv).

This is a typical night spot and I'm sure I will be blogging about that aspect later on in my trip but this time we were there during the day and explored some of the back streets that tourists don't seem to wander off into. 

The famous Beijing squat. Btw you can see one of the main tourist streets in the back, surprising nobody really turns onto this one.

CUTEST DOG EVARRRR

These two little girls look cute and innocent. They're not. One of them spat at us and told us to get lost. ouch.

Last but not least, it was a hot hot day. I guess people go through extreme means just to shade themselves a bit...

...it's a big leaf...

 

It's The Weeknd

You cannot blame me for being late on the The Weeknd bandwagon since I can assure you it is not big in Asia (as of yet anyways..) but I cannot stop listening to this Toronto-based artist. Abel Tesfaye's voice has got me hypnotized and I'm highly anticipating his future. In addition, a collaboration with Drake is in the works!

Here are a few songs:

1. Rolling Stone - The Weeknd

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2. The Birds (part 1) - The Weeknd

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The Weeknd's first album, House of Balloons, can be downloaded free of charge here.

Btw. I don't own these songs, I'm just sharing good music =)

Epic Taiwanese Date

This time it is an actual date with my boyfriend (sorry Anna). The truth is, the date this post describes is some of the activities we did over the span of a few days but for the sake of making it even more epic, I'm saying to do it all in one.


1. Taipei 101 


After breakfast, go to the second tallest building in the world after Dubai's Khalifa Tower, the Taipei 101, and go to the 89th floor observatory after a shopping spree in the designer stores filling up many floors of the building (shopping spree optional but would be soooooo good). It was a little foggy so I'll spare you the horrible quality pictures but it's really amazing to see so much city and greenery mixed together (Google images if you're really curious about the views). 

2. Dazzling Honey Toast

Next head over to Dazzling Cafe for Honey toast and tea. This chain was started by a female celebrity in Taiwan and almost always has a waiting time to try the famous honey toast. The best way I can explain honey toast is that it is basically a bread box (toasted) with more pieces of toast inside, all sprinkled with sugar, and then a scoop of ice cream and whatever toppings you chose. Oh. and a side of honey. Personally, I think it's a little sweet but it sure is yummmmyy.


Please note: There is a special way to dissect the honey toast and therefore assistance by the waiter is offered. 

3. Chamonix Teppanyaki

After freshening up, changing into a nicer outfit, and most importantly making room for your epic date dinner, go to Chamonix Teppanyaki (夏慕尼) for an 8 course meal to DIE for. Apart from amazing food and decor, the atmosphere is really nice. Sometimes, in a fancy restaurant, I feel like it's very snobby and that you need to whisper or else everyone will turn around. This place is nothing like that; people talk at a normal volume, the service is beyond great, and if you are unsatisfied in any way with any portion of your meal, it is their policy to quickly change it for you no questions asked. I thought it was also nice how after you have finished the courses made on the teppanyaki grill, you are escorted to a more laid back desert area where you can take your time on your drink and desert. Because this place is a little pricey, especially by Taiwan standards where most full meals cost no more than 10 CAD, this is a popular birthday/celebration place. My boyfriend and I were celebrating our 1 year and he even surprised me with a little cake after desert! (2 desert win!)

our super cute chef

appetizer

seafood chowder

soft shell crab salad

flambéing the duck

from left to right: salt and pepper, apple compote with special sauce, duck. The duck is to be eaten together with either.

shrimp fried rice

desert area

classic chocolate cake

happy 1 year anniversary! 

4. Barcode


To finish of the epic date, you should go out for a few drinks with friends at a place like Barcode. This Bar/Lounge is a hotspot right now in Taipei and local celebrities are often spotted there. It's on one of the high floors of a building near the Taipei 101 and so the view is really nice. They even have this massive cushiony foot that you can sit on near one of the bars!!! (obvs my fave part)

FOOOOOOOOOT =D

 So sad to leave taipei... Beijing here I comeeeeeee!!!