MODA (Malaysian Official Designers’ Association) celebrated its 24th anniversary this year in conjunction with Samsung, with the theme of the night inspired by the Samsung Galaxy S5. MODA presented 35 prominent designers and brands of Malaysia alongside with 10 young upcoming designers, hence the 175 feet indoor runway in Publika (and that’s a long runway)!
The attendees were definitely showstoppers that night so I’m gonna show some candid pics of them before we dive into the designers’ creations!
Clem and i are super hungover from Good Vibes. It was pouring like crazy when we arrived, and he got so annoyed his shoes got soaked, “I’m gonna lose my feeeht.”
I, on the other hand, am glad i intuitively wore my old Topshop jelly sandals that i haven’t worn for over a year.
With crazy girl Siew Wai. If you need someone to run a fashion show, she’s your woman.
*Thanks Atif for the pic!*
Me trying to manoeuvre my Kipling and RM10 raincoat
With Sarch and Mira while we watched Banks.
She’s got such a whispery sweet talking voice in contrast to her strong singing voice.
And her songs made me cry. So emo!
Luckily it was raining so i figured i could just pretend it’s rain on my face.
Padahal other people admitted after the show that they were crying too.
I had one of the most riveting conversations with a kindred spirit this afternoon.
When I was in Seminyak, Bali; I thought of a friend I have living here – Rachel. We’re not very close, despite having known each other by being at the same parties almost a decade back. But I felt like I could talk to the girl. So I whatsapped her to meet up, and she took me to her fave hang out spot on Jalan Laksamana in Oberoi, called La Favela. An unassuming hidey hole from the oustide, you enter via a wooden walkway filled with lights and foliage into an unknowingly massive establishment.
It was like a hidden wonderland of a restaurant and bar, divided into many oddly-shaped sections filled with antiquities and oddities of a time from long ago. Chandeliers, lots of plants and flowers and trees everywhere, a pond in the middle under the sky, a bathroom with a lounge area and art all over the walls (and there are many walls!).
The place was packed, and it was a Monday night. We managed to find a table where we had a bottle of red wine. A couple of people stopped by the table separately to say hi to Rachel and chat. They both worked at La Favela – Luigi and Iman.
Next day, I rushed through my work so i could have Rachel come over in the evening to enjoy the pool villa and chill with me. In the middle of our conversation, she mentioned that Iman, who was the resident art director at La Favela, was dropping by to pass something.
We went downstairs to meet him and TS Suites is such a mighty space we had trouble finding him. We finally found each other in the courtyard and he shyly held up a rolled up canvas to me.
I was like, “Whatttttt” and put my beer down on the ground to open it slowly with both hands.
It was an art piece… of me! In blue! I was just so shocked and delighted… noone had ever painted a pic of me before! Wait, has anyone? *scanned bad memory* Well not that I can recall!
It’s awesome and definitely going up on a prominent wall in my upcoming home. I gave Iman a big hug and thanked him. But I think I said “oh my god” more than “thank you”. He then left cos he was going elsewhere, and I still couldn’t believe how someone was so sweet to just do a picture of me like that!
Rachel was all I don’t know what fairy magic dust you sprinkled on him, he won’t even do one of us, and he just met you briefly yesterday.
I was just so taken aback in happiness! I even hugged myself and swayed my body from left to right cos I was buzzing from feeling so good! My heart totally expanded from the love!
When I realised that I was to stay in Bali for another day cos I accidentally bought my flight for 24 hours later, I was thinking if there was anyone I’d like to meet and I thought of Iman. I mean, I barely spoke to the guy and he gave me such a cool present, I wanted to get to know him better.
So I planned to work that night and in the morning, then see him for lunch and return to work in the afternoon and evening before my flight. We decided on La Favela cos it was where he said he’s most comfortable and I agreed, wanting to see what it looked like in the daytime and try the food.
The place looked even more awesome in the presence of sunlight and I realised how many details I’d missed seeing.
One of the first pieces Iman did for La Favela.
Iman introduced me to his boss, and the chef Marco, who spoiled us by sending out more food in addition to the tuna carpaccio and salad I ordered.
Ah the food was really good! I ate till i couldn’t stuff myself anymore.
I’d totally recommend you to eat there!
When we sat down at a table in the garden, Iman said, “I have a present for you,” and I was like, “Whattttt” and he produced another rolled up canvas.
It was one of a tiny My Little Pony, that I’d given to him as a token which was already in my bag when he’d surprised me the day before. I was like, “Oh Imannnn nooooo!!!”
What have I done to deserve such love! #HeartExpandsEvenMore
I showed him the tattoo I have of Rainbow Dash on my ankle to exemplify just how MUCH I LOVE the magical ponies, and he said that the tiny colourful things have inspired him.
I feel like it usually takes a while to delve into meaningful conversation when you first talk to someone new, but for us, we dived right in.
We spoke about lovers from our past lives,
lucid dreaming, past life regression,
creative work and phases we’ve experimented with,
past relationships, running away from home,
having premonitions about Bali,
serving prison time (“you’re such a bad boy!” I exclaimed),
clearing spiritual blocks that prevented growth,
and other stories involving Balinese princesses, wolves, doppelgängers,
and experiences of a spiritual realm.
There were so many moments when i had goosebumps all over my face and body!
Iman himself is such an interesting person (obviously) who seems to have lived different lives in one lifetime. In a way, he has, cos he formerly had another identity before legally recreating himself a new one.
What makes him so fascinating is his openness about journeying through life and embracing every experience along the way. He tells his stories in an honest and unpretentious manner with humourous resignation thrown in for those with a less-than-happy ending.
He used to be an assistant chef in Singapore, quite by accident, when someone didn’t turn up for work one day. Offering to cook a dish or two, the head chef tasted it, liked it and appointed him new assistant chef.
Most of his life was spent in the music industry, when he took on the moniker Electrofux for 20 years. When he had transitioned into putting his art on the streets (after being inspired by his late friend and fellow artist Quint), he turned his nickname around, and Xuf came to be. Xuf had been brandishing the public walls of Bali with his stencil art when it got noticed by the boss of La Favela, who hired him to be its resident artist.
Some people say that Iman sold out by shifting to work on an establishment’s walls instead of the street, but the beautiful reality is that he’s created a world for himself where he’s paid to experiment with art, every single day. He gets to work on whatever he wants, and all his bills for materials are covered for by the restaurant (which i know can cost a lot). He gets to do what he loves daily and get paid for it. How cool is that! That’s pretty much an artist’s dream. He could make a fortune selling his art to people but he’s not bothered.
“I don’t earn much but I don’t need it. Money can be found anywhere. What I want is to work on my art.”
I’ve had a really amazing week traveling around Bali with my parents.
We spent 2 days in Ubud, then moved up North to stay in Lovina for 2 days,
then back down to Seminyak for another 2 days.
It’s my mum’s first time in Bali, and she went mad taking hundreds of pictures cos she loves nature so. My dad has been enjoying the shopping and babi guling.
Some pretty amazing stuff has happened to me too, without me expecting it (but that’s when the best happens innit, when you have no expectations).
Some highlights:
– meeting Arif by pure chance and was stunned when i found out he’s one of the most sought-after yogis in Ubud. I had a one-on-one meditation session and learnt life lessons from him that made me laugh and cry for over an hour, while we were perched in the most beautiful teak yoga pavilion set amidst the treetops in Kamandalu
– being in an AMAZING rainbow circle as i waded out into the cold waterfall in Gigit. I stood in awe right in the middle of it, not believing my eyes! It disappeared just as suddenly as it came!
– my dad invited this Balinese wood carver from Lovina to join us for dinner one night and it was perfect. The restaurant and food were amazing, and Made made us laugh so much. We exchanged numbers, hugged and i feel like i found an older brother. Now i have to return there to visit him!
– Rachel of Tanks & Kinis layaned me proper and took me to her fave spot, La Favela. I met the owner Luigi and resident art director Iman, and, for some crazy reason, Iman did one of his signature stencil artworks to give to me. I was floored. I am honored!
So many big and small wonderful moments happened too, but i’ll leave those stories for when i put all my pictures together!
Earlier this afternoon, i spent almost an hour gently packing all this shopping my parents and i did into my Rimowa, we said bye to our 2-bedroom sky pool villa at TS Suites, and headed to the airport to catch our flight home.
As we were checking in our bags, the counter lady said that there wasn’t a record of my name on the flight and i was super calm while getting her to check again. Turns out i bought the WRONG date of my flight home cos my parents are touching down after midnight and i referred to the landing date (21st) instead of departure date (20th).
The stupid thing is… when i was buying my tickets and referring to the flight times i’d booked for them months prior, i REMEMBER THINKING to myself, “God, better check the dates properly cos it’d be so dumb if i booked the wrong flight.”
AND I STILL MANAGED TO.
I have nothing to say to myself.
My parents were a bit distraught and wanted to buy me a flight home with them but it cost RM900 and i just couldn’t bring myself to waste money for something like THAT. I actually felt MORE upset when they offered to do it cos if i wouldn’t pay something for myself, i don’t want them to either.
I felt it made more sense to book myself into another hotel for one more night, and stay in Bali till my REAL flight home 24 hours later. I’d probably get more real work and writing done without the distractions of being back in the office too. After assuring them i’d be ALRIGHT and it was meant to be; i exited the departure area, sat on the airport floor and booked a cheap room on agoda for RM120 at Bliss Surfer Hotel. It’s contemporary, clean and rated 8.2/10.
So yeah, here i am… still in Bali!
I figured since i’m here, i might as well make the most of it, and messaged Iman on whether he wants to have lunch tomorrow. He said he’ll take me on a proper tour of La Favela, so i plan to wake up for The Big Life at 9am GST (6pm PST), quick breakfast, get work done, lunch and hang out with Iman, work till flight, work on flight, home.
Admittedly, it feels good to have a surprise extra day in Bali.
I will never say no to Bali.
When you first meet someone, it’s human nature that they’d be forming an opinion of you, and you of them.
Some say it takes the first 15 seconds, others say 7 seconds… i even heard 0.5 seconds before. Tough!
There’s the possibility of getting nervous when you meet people for the first time,
and it’s the worst when it’s for your first job interview. In your life. Ever.
First of all, you’ve never had a job before, so how would you know how a real job interview would be like?!
I remember i would get all these tips from my parents and older friends when i had to get a job after college.
“You need to buy office clothes!”
“Ask questions about the company!”
“Make sure you don’t go out the night before!”
Five years after that i ended up having to interview people myself,
and i would notice all these little things that you’d think aren’t important,
yet are so noticeable to the person interviewing you.
The most important thing is your HANDSHAKE.
It creates so much rapport cos you’re physically touching the person.
Remove the notion that it’s acceptable to give a limp-fish-shake, that’s the worst!
On the other hand, don’t squeeze so hard either!
It’s rare but when someone does squeeze my hand too hard,
inside, i’m all, “Ow…. #youhurtme #sad”
One thing that moves me when i first meet someone is when they look me straight in the eye and i look back. This is made even more powerful when done during the handshake.
And best when done with two smiles.
Posture is also of importance. Someone standing upright oozes confidence and capability to me, whereas a person who slouches makes me think you’re timid and needs space to grow.
These are just a mere sprinkle of what one needs to know before acing that job interview.
I was having a look thru a new section on Shine On and there were all these tips on what to do and vice versa. Called Hello Confidence, it’s an online platform that works out challenges and exercises for people who are about to go thru their first interview.
There are lots of suggestions on how to boost your confidence, improve those grooming skills, and what best to say. Each activity is crafted to prepare someone completely clueless.
That’s how in-depth i think the site is!
I read a page called Icebreakers (under Own The Conversation) which listed 10 questions you could ask your interviewer, to show interest in the company you might potentially be working for.
There were some really good ones like:
“What are some challenges the person filing this position face?” or
“What are the most valued talents in your company?”
I thought, “Huh, i better read this in case there’s a question i least expect to be asked!”
(After going through them, i was reassured that i already have all the answers in my heart and head XD)
Besides all this information that’s readily available, girls can comment on each others’ posts to get a conversation going. Essentially, Hello Confidence is an interactive platform that allows a community of girls to come together to share their methods and tips, while inspiring others at the same time.
What makes it so special is that it’s real girls sharing their real stories in real time with each other.
One of the more interesting pages on the site i found is called Pitch Yourself, where you’re asked to think about your best attributes and how you can keep your pitch to just under 15 seconds. (You just have to read the page yourself to know the rest.) Then there’s even an accompanying page for you to upload your “practice” pitch in video or written format, so that you can get feedback on it from people who are not gonna end up being your real boss.
I was like, “Man. They didn’t have sites like this ten years ago! You guys are so lucky!”
All i did was skim the surface of what i should have thought about before barging in. :p
There’s another one i like called the Idea Cube (under Pitch Your Idea). Everyone contributes random words to the Idea Cube, and it jumbles them all together to distribute to you a bunch of words. I didn’t know i was gonna get words from other people and was totally unprepared for it. You’re supposed to use all the random words to MAKE UP a pitch even if it the product is imaginary. I wrote some rubbish cos i just wanted to go on to the next page which is called the Idea Bank, and when i saw what other girls my junior wrote, i was kinda impressed (then embarrassed by my half-assed attempt and wondered whether it would show up in public).
Enough chatter from me, if you’re about to go through a job interview, check out Hello Confidence for yourself and go pick up a thing or ten 😉
Kudos to Libresse for thinking of putting together a platform like this for young women to support and inspire each other!
