Hello Sapa

Hmong tribe

Just the beginning of our trek

Rice paddys

In case you forgot what Sapa looked like

These kids aren't scared of the buffalos one bir

Great colours

Food for THREE

As night falls

These are a few photos from my SLR from my trip to Sapa with Laura from See Hear Say. It seems so long ago now! I have to stress, if you're ever travelling to Vietnam, you have to take a trip to Sapa as well as Ha Long Bay. I say this because it's quite a bit of effort to get there (an overnight train there and back) and many people opt out- don't! It's well worth it and absolutely breath-taking.

On a side note, the over night train we took had two bunk beds and when we got to our very small 'room' there was a young couple spooning on the bottom bunk. SPOONING. It was AWKWARD. Really AWKWARD. Whatmore they ended up putting another TWO people in our room during the night- that makes 6 people in a very tiny space that was already pushing it for 4. Obviously don't let this put you off.

Once you get to Sapa and start on your trek it's a little (lot) confronting having groups of women follow you around (like in the photos above) because it feels like they're there just to get money off you. Which they are- but they actually help you walk along and through the mountains- and trust me, by the end of it, you want to give them all your money.

Sapa will make you feel adventurous and really really awesome I swear.

The Small Object

Oh DEAR. I have reached that age- you know, the one where not only is everyone around me getting engaged/married, but the one where I've accepted it and actually find it a little exciting.

You know what else is exciting? These cake toppers. Why? Because they're supercute. They don't have to be cake toppers of course, they can just be tiny cute versions of yourself. You could even get ones made of you and your best friend! They're handmade by Sarah Neuburger and she's done literally hundreds. As well as that she makes lots of other cute things at her shop The Small Object.

Speaking of weddings, if I haven't gushed to you already, my friend Tabitha (hello!) got engaged in the BEST ENGAGEMENT EVER.


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Justin Gignac

I stumbled across these bunch of talks from the PSFK Conference in New York held earlier this year. If I was a different person I'd pretend to be cool and know what that was (you mean you don't?), but sometimes it's all too much effort.

I really like this talk by Justin Gignac where he talks about his art projects and ideas behind them. It's about 20 minutes but so simple and interesting it didn't seem like any time at all. I especially love the awkward couple of minutes where he loses his notes. I love awkwardness when it's not me. I also love that he talks about being lazy and unmotivated. Is he talking directly to ME?

IF 20 minutes is too much effort (I have a very short attention span so it usually is) then these are my important points from it:

1. DO MORE SHIT
2. Ask yourself is it: Simple? Smart? Surprising? AND Will anyone give a shit?

Chipotle: Back To The Start

I'm totally in love with this little Chipotle video clip highlighting that their meat comes from sustainable sources. I'm pretty sure I saw the guy who started the Mexican chain on Oprah a while back and was very impressed. I think it's a while before anything like that gets to Hanoi!

Speaking of food, I came across a bunch of articles when I was looking up what is the difference between baking soda and baking powder, and found the answers to many other questions I thought but always forgot to look up. Some of the best ones are, why you have to put in one egg at a time, why you are supposed to rest meat and why you get that "cake bump". Oh dear, am I just being nerdy?

Hello Kitty Fisheye III: Sapa

I'm really excited that these Sapa photos came out on my fisheye. After my first film my expectations were pretty low so I was pleasantly surprised. More to come via my SLR...

Zara Carpenter

I like headpieces. I like headpieces ALOT. That is why Zara Carpenters store makes me very excited. I sincerely which headwear were part of mainstream fashion again. Would you be on board?

Emily Ryan

You know you're getting older when clothing starts appealing to you because it looks "comfortable". When I came past this work Emily Ryan, my first thought wasn't immediately of "I LOVE IT", but more that I found it interesting. Interesting enough that I couldn't look away until I realised I did love it. I love the detail and the approach to textures and shape, and would definitely rock these out (after a bit of hyping myself up). And course, they look so comfortable.

Is comfortable on the top of your list yet?

Hello Ha Long Bay

Asian mermaid

On board the Bhaya

Laura and I

Fishing village where people live 

This is the first adorable first I've seen. He looks like a cartoon come to life!

We are also sitting in one of these boats. Screw kayaking.

The morning storm

The Surprise Cave. They should have called it the "Surprise 200 steps leading to the cave"

More cave

Here are a few more photos from my trip to Halong Bay. Have you been?

My first trip was a few years ago on a backpacker type cruise which wasn't crazy as you think. I think I lucked out because another friend went on it recently and was stuck with a group who chanted (really bad ones too) and drank for most hours of the day. He told us they also had a system  while in the water- if you slowly put up your hand but kept talking, it meant you were peeing and everyone had to move away. I'm VERY glad I wasn't on that boat.

In other news, it seems Vietnam has now blocked .blogspot domain, along with Facebook. SIGH.

Gotye: State Of The Art

There is a high chance this blog could turn into a Wally de Backer lovefest and you know what? I'm okay with that.

It he seems like he's on a roll releasing 2 animation videos in the last couple of weeks.

This one is super sweet and I just want to hug one of those big furry creatures don't you?

You can also stream the full Gotye album here.

Justin and Jeremy

If you're not dying from cuteness overload you may be dead inside.

Equally if not more is them doing Hey Ya (there's singing and hip wiggling!).

Gee, put anything into a videogame and kids can do ANYTHING.

Hello Kitty Fisheye II: Halong Bay

Things have been a little quiet here lately as I've galavanting around, first visiting family and friends in Malaysia (think too much shopping and eating), then playing host to Laura and visiting Halong Bay and Sapa.

These are my fisheye photos from Halong Bay (the top one is on the way to Malaysia though) and they're a big improvement from my last batch. Biggest lesson learned: light, light, light!

Highlights of our Halong Bay trip included: seeing a very cute fish that looked like a cartoon come alive, over eating, having rose petals thrown onto us from above out of a basket, seeing it rain on the water (such a different view), going into a giant cave, and lying in our room playing games on our phone.

In other news, I just finished Bossypants by Tina Fey and it is HILARIOUS. I laughed out loud many many times. I shoved it in the face of my boyfriend and said "READ THIS" equally as many times. I am a massive tightass and I do not regret spending money on this book. (Tina if you're reading this you can use that quote).

Foals: Blue Blood

This song has made a comeback on my rotation. And when I say rotation I pretty much mean on repeat. I do have a bit of an obsession with video clips and this is up there as one of my favourites. I've considered re-enacting these dance moves at home alone on many occasions. Maybe there's something about English schoolboys doing dance routines?

What's your favourite at the moment?

The Last Days of Sydney

Taking down the bits and pieces in my room

Sparkmylane exhibition

Pasta tastes better when it's heart shaped

Turning earrings who have lost their partner into a ring (I later found the "other" one)

Supercute house

Awesomeness at my grandmas

If this was Vietnam they would have covered in this in blue, red and white plastic

Cogel. All wanted to do was cut Nicks hair

Callum doing the Superman thing

This won't look like this soon

The gentrification of Alice Street

Summer days


A few photos from my last few weeks in Sydney before moving to Hanoi. Gosh it's the place to be in summer. I miss the air (but not the cold rainy air you have now).