Murrayas in Full Bloom

In full bloom on the 2nd night

Cloyingly sweet. Their lovely scent permeated the whole house. The two Murrayas, the stars of my moon garden are in full synchronised blooming, it's the first time they are doing that. 

Like friends, they need to get to know one another, they had bloomed separately since they were paired together. Plants have personalities, surely they talked to one another and decided that they rather bloomed together to please their psycho minder, me. They have watched her grudgingly sweep up their fallen blossoms separately during the last round of blooming and seen her give their friendly green neighbours a not-so-nice botak-fishball haircut when she is frustrated. She ain't no topiary gardener, or so she thinks. They shudder to think if they are next in line.

Pre-bloom on the 1st night

That is what I imagine their conversation to be if they have a voice. Do plants talk to one another? Yes. It's pure chemistry and a rule of nature. They need to bloom in synchrony to ensure that they have the best chance of pollination. Rule of nature. Yes. Airborne chemical signals. Yes. Like how a plant's defence mechanism work to protect their fellow species if they come under attack from caterpillars or other insects, they bloom in synchrony to attract more of their pollinators.

In their full glory

While they talk to one another growing side by side, I silently inhaled their heady scent. To the two missus, thank you, I really enjoyed your company.

The Tree is Gone

Another tree is gone. The gardeners came to give the neighbourhood's plants and shrubs their regular haircut. At the same time, they removed the 6-storey high tree outside my window. Overcrowded trees, rotten roots or is it because the tree is growing too tall to maintain? With the removal of the tree, the surrounding trees have a better chance of spreading their canopy? Mmmm.

Love all the way from Finland. Marimekko, it is so nice of you to write back. Woo hoo

Yeah! The staff from Marimekko actually replied regarding my request for a iphone marimekko cover like the Docomo phones I mentioned in my earlier post. I really thought my email will just be passed around and filed. Suvi said my feedback will be taken into consideration. Ahem, dear Suvi, don't mind me calling you by your first name, you made my day. This is what I called good customer service when a company bothers to listen to feedback regardless how lame the request may be. To the staff of Marimekko, you really made my day. Don't worry, I won't beseech you with more requests. Always a fan. Thank you very much. I entered the What's Your Marimekko contest, maybe I get a chance of winning the contest. No?

I feel like I struck lottery

This is what I want to add to my collection of green bags. I wonder whether Style Nordic at Delfi has this version. If not, to the kawai sales staff at Marimekko in Ginza, Tokyo. See you soon.

I swear I am not a crazy fan. Really.

If only Apple collaborates with Marimekko

I will buy the iphone in a jiffy if there is a Marimekko iphone cover. I want! He he, I can match the phone with my blue UNIKKO Papaver bag. Singaporeans don't seems to like this brand, I love its bold and graphic prints. Marimekko collaborated with Docomo, a phone company in Japan to launch these beautiful phones. This brand is popular with the Japanese.

photo from NT Docomo website

Marimekko Corporation is a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company that was established in 1951. The company designs, manufactures and markets high-quality clothing, interior decoration textiles, bags and other accessories under the Marimekko brand, both in Finland and abroad.

http://www.marimekko.fi/ENG/
http://www.marimekko.jp/
http://tribe.marimekko.com/en# 

All things Japanese today

Missing Tokyo today. Let me rephrase, missing the food in Tokyo.

I wish I can eat this now. Melt in the mouth grilled maguro's tail 尾 part (tuna) and leeks. Going to dream about this tonight.

Our new fave izakaya in Shinjuku. The crowd consist of less salarymen but more youngsters or people like us. They have interesting food in their menu unlike the usual grilled items at most izakayas.

The very helpful barman at Delica who speaks better English than my broken Japanese.

I went to Izakaya Nijumaru at Cuppage Plaza for dinner. It's good but nothing beats eating in Tokyo after a long day of shopping. Thank God I am a designer. Designers can visualise, right? Pat tummy, 1 nice succulent tuna stick after stick. Mmm, bedtime.

Green Smoothies in a Tropical Country

Beetroot and red apple

More of my favourite vegetables and fruit combos if you are running out of ideas what kind of green smoothie to make. Most of the recipes online are using temperate countries' vegetables. Kale and dandelion greens are more expensive in Singapore. So, I tried some of the local vegetables, they turned out quite tasty. For those who are afraid of the green taste, add more fruits and honey, then slowly adjust to the green taste.

Favourite Green Smoothies
Xiao bai cai (Bok Choy), umeboshi and manuka honey
Xiao bai cai (Bok Choy), calamasi and manuka honey
Xiao bai cai (Bok Choy), kiwi and lemon
Xiao bai cai (Bok Choy), pineapple and lemon
Spinach, passionfruit and lemon juice
Spinach, passionfruit and corriander
Spinach, passionfruit and sweet basil
Spinach and red dragonfruit
Spinach, kiwi and lemon
Spinach, pear and lemon
Arugula, passionfruit and lemon
Arugula, passionfruit and kiwi
Romaine lettuce, pear and lemon
Romaine lettuce, red apples and lemon
Watercress, lemon and manuka honey
Cabbage and red apple
Parsley, pear, and ginger
Cilantro, pineapple and manuka honey
Cilantro and mango

Hideaway in one end of Harajuku

A treehouse in a quiet corner in Harajuku, Tokyo?

Last November, armed with a mobile phone captured map, we headed for some refreshment after shopping at Beams. 'Fashionista' R likes Beams very much. Situated just a stone throw away from Beams in the back alleys of Harajuku area and nestled amongst some homes and hair salons, we found our tree. Actually, we walked pass it. I found it only after I looked up.

The look nice but taste not so good tofu tiramisu

Photos are deceiving. Looks nice but taste uh... It was supposed to be a light (skinny!) dessert. Come on, the mascarpone cheese has been replaced with tofu and white chocolate. Alas, the light tofu taste I was looking for did not come through. I have to tweak the recipe again. To bruise my ego further, I was too heavy-handed with the alcohol. I can practically inhale the alcohol as I ate it. Ok, it tasted alright compared to my disastrous foccacia attempt. Next time.