Kokeshi, kokeshi, kokeshi

Prior to the Kimmidoll craze, Kokeshi dolls have been around for over 150 years already.

Originally from Northern Honshu, Kokeshi dolls are hand-made from wood, with an enlarged head, a simple trunk and no hands. The bottom portion of the dolls is signed by the artist.


This evening, I had dinner with Tim and Mads at Taman Anggrek. While walking towards the Chinese restaurant, I bumped into these lovely Kokeshi dolls.

And I want them ALL!!!



Unlike the Kimmidolls, the dolls I saw were of different shapes and sizes. Damn, I wanted to hoard but what's the fun in collecting if I buy everything in one sweep? 'Didn't help that I only had 200 rups in my wallet and the rest were USD. Whatta timing that I couldn't find a money changer!

So I contented myself with buying a set - the cutest of the lot.


Brace yourself Taman Anggrek - I'm definitely coming back next weekend for a few more Kokeshis. Not to mention there's a lot of great stores there for quality Batiks, socks and tights, a gigantic GNC outlet and Hello Kitty!!!

Paging Gemma and friends --- help in building the Kokeshi collection! Gemma --- you're first when you go to Hello Kitty country!

Da Funk: Ovah and Out

(Random musings on a Friday afternoon when I need to SPACE OUT)

‘Didn’t realize when I blogged last time that it was actually V-Day. Vlack Day, in Gemma’s world. Hahaha.

I’m not a fan of V-Day – not that I’m love-allergic. It’s quite the contrary, actually. It’s just that it’s too commercialized and it puts too much pressure on the single peeps.

Love should be an everyday thing. Mush, mush, I knooooow. So what do you need V-day for?

On da funk, I’m over it. It was probably hormonal or the lack of sugar because of me diet. I’m back to my usual chirpy self.

Happiness is a choice. This weekend, I choose the happy, chirpy path.

TGIF, peeps!

The spice of life…or a lack thereof

I’ve been having persistent discomfort on my upper left abdomen so I went to the doctor today. It’s not really painful – like I said, there’s just a discomfort and it’s been there for more than a week now.

Normally, I’d feel the pang of discomfort every now and then. I just shrugged it off and ignored it. This year, though, Feng Shui wisdom reminds me to take care of my health. So off I went to SOS for another check-up.

Doctor’s orders:

No more coffee – which just happens to be my fuel in the morning. Don’t expect me to think without my daily dose of caffeine.

No more spicy food – at all. My tolerance for spice is extremely high that I can drink Tabasco sauce straight up. Yes – no spice. Not even a tinge. Kill me now.

No more stress. I was advised by Dr. Joyce to avoid stress at all costs. Sige --- please explain how this is even possible with my kind of work and lifestyle. Should I seriously think of becoming a full-fledged tai-tai now? I mean…seriously?

Wow. Heavy.

These are a few of my favorite things. My brain doesn’t start working without my café latte. Spice is the way to go for me, thus, my natural love for Thailand and its food. And stress…I was born to be a miracle worker, so to speak.

This is a major lifestyle change --- but it’s probably the Universe’s way of telling me to hit the brakes and slow down.

Again, there is always a silver lining. In this case, it’s always better to change lifestyle for better health than suffer a debilitating disease.

So, okay, foyn – Madame Universe, I may sound begrudging, but thank you for the nudge.

Hope you won’t take the spice of my life completely, though. I love my wasabi and Tabasco waaaay too much.