day 653 | october 21, 2012 | botanic gardens

just images from one of our favorite places in singapore. :) the little ones at play during the golden hour.

day 650 | october 10, 2012 | the simplest of things

before i left for europe, i asked roo if she wanted candies from paris. i was thinking of picking up some treats for them at a l'etoile d'or along with a small pack of lauduree macarons. in response, roo shook her head at me, then grinned. "why do you have so many scarves, mommy?" she asks, twirling around with a couple of my old treasures. she and red have been playing dress up with my scarves, and she loves pretending to be an indian princess (probably influenced by our last visit to the civilizations museum). she wanted some scarves to call her own.

day 670 | october 8, 2012 | Jouer à Paris

Earlier, I shared some snaps from an art-infused night in Paris, called Nuit Blanche. The first time I went to Paris, it was spring, and with a certain wide-eyed innocence that probably made everything bright and rosy. Despite my mom being pick-pocketed at the Metro after we left the Louvre, I loved the memory of Paris like a best-friend who bullied you. It's just the way things are. I didn't realize how claustrophobic Paris could be, or how it smelled of human and dog piss in some areas, but on this trip, I was keenly aware of the many faces of the city. It's strange though, because I've grown to appreciate the hairline cracks rather than the illusory perfection.

Messy stories, unexpected turns, and familiar faces in unfamiliar lands; this is what I look for when I travel now.

day 652 | october 8, 2012 | Helsinki

I flew to Paris through Finnair with a layover in Helsinki -- arguably the cheapest airfare I could source at the time I booked. Initially, I didn't think much of it, committed to bringing a book and looking for a nice coffee shop to while my time in between flights. Add in a rainy weather forecast for the whole week that I was in europe, I didn't think i'd get to see any of Finland at all.

Arrived to a gentle rain, grey skies with a tinge of blue. Exploring in 9 degree temperature while getting soaked in the rain is no fun at all, so I was tempted to just stay warm and comfortable at the airport (which was pretty nice!) It was the blue tinge in the sky that got me going. If the rain was going to let up, I wanted to be in the right place to enjoy it.

day 662 | october 6, 2012 | Paris Nuit Blanche

Flooding this space with images from one long night in paris. Nuit blanche (translated as 'white night') is an annual arts celebration in paris when museums, institutions, and galleries all over the city are open to the public for free. There are also art installations and performances in public spaces, which anyone can join.

The 'night of the arts' was started in Helsinki back in 1989 and adopted by various cities since then. (read more about the history here). It's a great time to explore the city at night, and soak up the arty vibe. however, because it has become quite popular, be prepared to line up for some of the more high profile spots, i.e L'Opera or Orsay or Eiffel.

Nuit blanche this year was from 7pm to 7am, but we only lasted until 4am before we started our slow, wet walk back home. Despite the drizzles, the physical exhaustion, and the frustration from dealing with cabs who tell you to walk since your destination is less than 5 minutes away, it is definitely an experience i'd like to repeat again, in a smaller city perhaps like Barcelona where i can possibly crawl home...
Getting our guide booklet

day 681 | october 5, 2012 | Free Town Christiania

Back in 2006, I visited Copenhagen for the very first time. It was a work trip so only the weekends were genuinely free for exploring. I listed my top 5 must-do's and made sure to pack my weekends with adventures.

#1 was to say 'Hi!' to the Little Mermaid at the Langelinje Pier. Denmark is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen, whose fairytales are the stuff that most of us grew up with. There are plenty of inspiration in the city and its parks -- and I can just imagine there's more to be found as you go beyond the city.
Beautiful parks, and the Little Mermaid

day 679 | october 3, 2012 | Southern Sweden

Not long ago, I mentally summarized Sweden as Ikea (meatballs!), Volvo, Nobel Peace Prize, Swedish massage, and ABBA! After a short trip to the southern cities of Sweden, I'd like to think I'm a little bit more enlightened... At the very least, I'm adopting the fika culture and bringing it home.

We took playful images focusing on everyday life of one of my favorite couples. The lovely university town of Lund provided a beautifully meaningful backdrop to their story. (Lund Love Portraits by STP)

I was afflicted with a "storybook" dreaminess throughout this trip. Surrounded by an organic sort of beauty, it's hard not to fall in love, especially with a heightened appreciation of the simple things in life. Nature and art feature prominently, and has been an inspiration as well as an aspiration. I wished I could stay longer and travel the slow scenic way up north, to get lost in the wilderness, and find myself shivering in the arctic circle under the dancing lights of Aurora. Plans are set, and I'm going to be seeing more of this beautiful country this November.

For now, sharing snaps from last year...

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