Tori-ichi Restaurant

I have to blog about this before i forget - it was about 3 weeks ago that i went to eat here and it was only by chance!

Was meant to go eat at Masuya's but with their 2 sittings, i missed out. I was catching up with some friends so was waiting on O'Connell St and stumbled across Tori-ichi Restaurant!

Right next to Masuya, I decided to take a punt and try it out....and what luck!

The most amazing carppacio, wagyu beef skewers, the freshest of sashimi and an extremely extensive list of sake.

They have a tasting of 5 sake for $20! awesome :)

Unfortunately being so new, they didn't have a dessert menu but they assured me in a few weeks, they will have something ready. Service was fabulous, friendly and very helpful with suggestions.

The only down side is i wanted to come back on a Saturday and called them up to make a booking and they're closed on the weekends.

Details:

Ground Level, 12 O'connell St
Sydney NSW 2000

Hours

Lunch
Mon to Fri 11:30am - 2pm
Dinner
Mon to Fri 5pm - 9pm

Pictures coming up soon :)

On another note, wishing you an amazing festive season! What a year it's been :)

Love and grace,

Van-Anh xo

Poplin and Panache!

Ola ola!
It's been forever since i've last blogged amidst travels and catching up to do in Sydney since i've been back for a month now - this is much overdue but this would appeal to you business peeps! Christmas is around the corner! order some for your friends. your boyfriends. your flat mates. Not even business peeps but just plain rockin' shirts that won't put a hole through your pocket.

I've had a feel of the material. a try on even ;) comfy as! Girls, you'll love them if you want to want to steal them to wear on those Sunday mornings ;)

Here's what Tim, the founder of Poplin & Panache had to say when i had a few minutes with him:

1. How did the label come about?
There are some fantastic shirtmakers who make high quality business shirts. However, we thought outside the sales that they conduct, they were gouging customers (given that most of our competitor's shirts are made overseas and are imported at a time in which there has been an approximately 25% increase in the AUD to the USD in the past couple of years).

2. Why is it called poplin & panache?
Poplin & Panache spawned from the desire to create well designed clothing products. In a nutshell, Poplin & Panache is not just about creating high quality products, but about taking an interest in the community at large. We do this through our support of charity organisations, which currently is Challenge House. The philanthropic element to our business is a point of difference to a number of our competitors, but we hope our competitors follow our lead in the fullness of time!

Poplin is a weave of cotton used in clothing and is a common weave for business shirts. Panache has it's origins from the French language and is defined to mean, inter alia - dash or verve. We combined the two together to create Poplin & Panache.

3. What sets these shirts apart from what else is out there?
From a cosmetic perspective, we use contrasting inside collars and inside cuffs which contrast subtlety with the body of the shirt. Another important point of difference is our adjustable french cuffs, which allows the person wearing the business shirt to adjust the length of the sleeve to suit their length of their arms. Also, when you buy a Poplin & Panache shirt, not only are you buying a shirt that is comfortable and has panache, but you are also helping out Challenge House - a charity organisation that supports kids with cancer.

4. Three words to describe P&P?
One word sums our business shirts - panache!

5. How long did it take to get the label up and running?
Poplin & Panache took about 9 months to get up and running. We spent a lot of time being perfectionists with the cut of the shirts for our target market. This involved a lot of samples being flown back and forth to make sure we got it right and sampling different manufacturers to ensure that there would be no supply issues once the business started.

6. What background does the designer come from?
The designer has a somewhat strange background - he is a lawyer. That said, he has a great eye and because he works in the industry and has an intimate understanding of what is acceptable in the workplace and what our customers want.

7. Where can we get our hands on P&P?
You can purchase our shirts from our online shop - http://www.poplinpanache.com.au/
Our shirts are also available through our network of contacts in professional service firms and through our contacts in universities. If you want to try one on for size, please let us know where you work and we will send you out samples for you and your colleagues to try. Contact us on contact@poplinpanache.com.au

8. What are the shirts made of?
The shirts are made from high-quality, 2-ply 100% cotton. We are also experimenting with other fabrics and fabric combinations which if they meet our standards, we will release to our customers in 2012.

9. What's the next plan for P&P?
Poplin & Panache aims to be at the cutting edge of new fashion trends. We want to bring our customers clothing products that reflect the latest trends faster than our competitors. Our collections will be constantly updated and refined to reflect these trends. Our Fashionistas will be updating on Facebook, Twitter and through our website www.poplinpanache.com.au to ensure that our customers know exactly what is happening on the fashion scene. We also plan to make quality accessories and/or collaborate with high quality brands which compliment our business shirt range.

You can also check them out on facebook: www.facebook.com/poplinpanache

Go have a squiz! :)

til next time,

mwaaaah!!!

Van-Anh xo

Quang makes the finals if Lev Vlassenko 2011

So I've been a bit slack on blog entries but I have wn excuse, I've been in Europe and currently London checking out this amazing city for the first time as an adult!
Anyways, more about that later. Te more pressing news is that Quang Hong Luu, my dear friend has made it into the finals of the Lev avlassenko Piano Competition!
I am so proud to have seen him grow as a Pianist for the past few years as he undertook studies in Australia at the international Cinservatorium of Music, Sydney.
I was able to grab a few moments with him to ask him how he was preparing:
1. How did you feel your first round went? I was quite nervous in round 1A especially in the Bach, but only about half a minute or so then i start to enjoy music much more, round 1B i started to get used to the piano and the stage.
2. What pieces consisted in your semi round? My semi round was Beethoven Sonata op.2-3, Vine 5 Bagatelles, Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody no.12.
3. How have the other competitors been? I haven't talked to all the competitors yet but in general they are quite open and friendly.
4. How has the orchestral rehearsal gone? I had my first rehearsal today, everything seems all right except for some areas in the second movement, i was quite excited to play so tempo was a bit rushed need to adjust tomorrow.
5. What are you doing to prepare for finals round? Of course practise would be the main thing haha! But i'm just taking things very gentle and steady cause this concerto in particular is very famous for breaking pianists arms! haha, i need to make sure my peak is on this Sarturday, not today or tomorrow.
6. What did you expect before coming to the competition? Seriously i did not expect to be able to play in the concerto round, i just thought it would be nice to take part in and make some good music, plus i was looking forward to many other things other than just competing , like playing on good pianos, meeting new friends, catch up with old friends, masterclass, concerts, sight seeing,...... many good things!
7. How do your parents feel? What was their reaction when you told them you got to the finals? My parents feel very happy of course, i have no idea what their reactions were because they were waiting with me in the hall for the result so when i went on stage i can't really see their face but i guess it should be very amazed and surprised like i was!
8. Will they be flying across or following online? They are here now so i think they are gonna watch live performance!

Wishing Quang all the best in this final round, streamed live on www.lev-Vlassenko.com at 6.30pm Saturday 27th august 2011.
Quang, another Vietnamese of this generation making us proud!!

Over and out from london town :)
Love and grace,
Van-Anh x

Hoang Pham in Recital (Melbourne)

A concert for all your melbournites or anyone who happens to be in the area on August 12th! Please come along for a divine evening of a Bach inspired concert by Australian Vietnamese concert pianist, Hoang Pham. Back from New York City, Hoang will present a solo recital in the beautiful Elisabeth Murdoch Hall.

The program will consist of:

Chopin 24 preludes (complete)

Interval

Bach D minor English Suite

Liszt - Variations on a Theme of Bach

A newly recorded cd with Master Performers Australia will also be available for sale on the night consisting of the Chopin 24 Preludes as well as the Melbourne Piano Trio (Hoang Pham (piano), Chris Howlett (cello) and Jiwon Kim (violin) ).

Details for the recital are are:

Date: Aug 12th 2011

Time: 7.30pm

Where: Melbourne Recital Centre, Elizabeth Murdoch Hall

Tickets: $50/$40

Bookings: 9699 3333 or www.melbournerecital.com.au/whatson/buytix?perfid=25 89

Go on! Do it! It'll be a fab night out! And catch Hoang before he heads back over to USA to commence his studies at Yale. Yep, YALE!! He's a fabulous musician, he's an Aussie, AND he's Vietnamese! why wouldn't you go and support him? :)

Over and out lovelies!

Van-Anh xxoox

Little Red Pocket

Has it really been almost a month since my last post? That's absurd! I guess it's been busy busy busy bodies around here :)

Spent the weekend in Melbourne for a few things including the opening weekend of the Little Red Pocket Cocktail Bar. You should TOTALLY check it out! Uber cool! Enjoy!

With cocktail names like ginger ninja or geisha, you know there's an Asian invasion! Little Red Pocket at 422 Little Collins St opened up this week as a concept bar where you don't need to get up from your seat to order drinks anymore. Ipad2s stuck to your table will allow you to select drinks, cocktails and japas (Japanese tapas) AND swipe your plastic from your table without having to move an inch.

With a beautiful red and black themed setting and wooden black Japanese styled arches and tables, cocktails are all sake based and you can order japas like the salmon .. And beef tatami (to die for!). The loungey vibe is perfect for pre dinner drinks, post dinner drinks or just a night out hanging with your friends without losing your voice because you're screaming to try to hear one another.

For those who are designated drivers or just not up for an alcoholic beverage, there is a divine selection of exotic teas like the strawberry and vanilla teas straight from Japan to keep you warm.

Also open for lunch, their specialties are super bento boxes.

Owner Andrew Hiew is no stranger to the scene. At the ripe old age of 26, this is third club/bar opening in 18 months. I did a quick Q&A with him:

1. Why the name little red pocket?

Because it’s a small, relaxed and comfortable venue. Just like a little pocket =)

2. Why Japanese fusion?

Coz japs are cool and funky. And their culture has so much to offer. Sake, Jap food, amazing service, natural décor and technology are all a big part of jap culture that we all love.

3. Who is your chef?

Hai Tran-Phan. Ex Nobu chef=)

4. What's your favourite on the tapas menu and also your favourite/recommended cocktail?

Fav tapas would have to be the crispy oysters!!!!!! YUM

And fav cocktail definitely the Akebono!!! =)

5. Why the ipad approach?

Because jap’s are efficient in service and love their tech. Plus everyone loves iPad’s, innovative ideas, social media and drinking alcohol. So why not join them all together in LRP =)

6. How did you get into the industry?

I’ve always been active in the industry. From promotions to being a club photographer to owning my own venues. First club I opened was Fabrique Nightclub, then Marrakech, and now LRP.

7. Describe LRP in 3 words.

Little. Red. Pocket??? LOL nah… umm… sophisticated innovative and relaxing

Think fusion Japanese with loungey house beats and yumyum cocktails! I'm definitely heading there again when i'm next in Melbourne-town! My favourite drink was definitely the Akebono - this amazingly banana-smoothie-like cocktail which apparently has alcohol in it (which you really can't taste that much - DANGEROUS!)

Left: Geisha cocktail (no it's not an egg, it's orange peel) and the Akebono Cocktail (yum!)

Little Red Pocket Cocktail Bar

can't go wrong with the beans.

With owner of Little Red Pocket, Andrew Hiew

some familiar faces: Chris Pang (Tomorrow When The War Began), Thanh, me, Catherine, Khoa Do and the owner.

Love and grace,

Van-Anh xx

Domingo & Katherine Jenkins lanyard? get out!

Well well well... seems like the classical artists are gracing stadiums even more frequently these days and people are up for not only the music anymore ... it's the experience and the add-ons. In hard economic times, value seems to come into the equation. Artists are trying by all means to find their angle to make the concert experience worthy of remembering - it's all the add-ons, the meet-and-greets, the merchandise. It's breaking down the barriers between audience and artist, none of this "i'm going to do a concert for you and disappear after the show" routine. Let's get down and dirty with the audience, they are the ones buying your records right? And they want to know YOU, the artist! It excites me that the two venues they are performing in Australia are Acer Arena and Rod Laver Arena. Another two hop on the Andre Rieu bandwagon.

Of course Domingo is no stranger to stadiums having been part of The Three Tenors. To team up with a gorgeous classical crossover songstress like Katherine Jenkins is a win-win situation. Jenkins as a classical artist has conquered the commercial scene, having landed herself a place as Montblanc's brand ambassador. This in itself has opened her up to many a more appreciators of music of whom may not have known who she was prior.

Katherine Jenkins in a Montblanc ad.

So, 'A Night To Remember' hits Sydney and Melbourne this year Sept/Oct. But how many can afford this experience? And what is the demographic heading to this show? The cheapest of tickets is $150.00. What got me gob-smacked was the Diamond Ticket Package. Yes, no A-Reserved or B-Reserved, we're going with the 'glitzy' category listings! Going for a whopping $1000.00, this is what the package will get you:

DIAMOND TICKET PACKAGE - "A NIGHT TO REMEMBER" OFFICIAL VIP HOSPITALITY PACKAGE

- Begin your evening at an exclusive hour-long pre-show function where you will enjoy a selection of deluxe canapés with unlimited premium wines on offer.

- You'll have "A Night to Remember" seeing Placido Domingo and Katherine Jenkins from your promoter-allocated Diamond seat.

- Make the experience last when you attend an exclusive one hour post show party where Plácido Domingo and Katherine Jenkins will make a very special appearance.

- Receive the ultimate fan's official merchandise gift bag.

- Take home an exclusive Placido Domingo and Katherine Jenkins souvenir lanyard.

Lanyard? oh come on! Yes, you get to 'mingle' with Domingo and Jenkins at the after-party. It's that celebrity status that people want isn't it? And the price tag sure gives it that already. Having said that, at least the experience is available and i'm sure there are many out there who can splash out on a night with their 'idol'.

A positive shift in the classical music world i say! Bring on the stadiums, canapes, bubblies and meet-and-greets.

over and out!

Van-Anh xx

Lang Lang is to Lady Gaga...

Lang Lang is to Lady Gaga as Alexander Gavrylyuk is to ... Christina Aguilera? It seems like these days, the freaks are getting freakier, trumping all and the rest are left trying to find that quirkiness to set them apart from the rest. Some succeed but most end up in a messy dribble.

Having an impressive and firey 16-year old Gavrylyuk performance as the benchmark and with 10 years down the track of not having heard his playing much, I was very curious as to what Gavrylyuk had grown into.

Gavrylyuk presented an aesthetically (on paper) pleasing program to a full house last Friday night at City Recital Hall - Angel Place. Looking around at the audience, it was mainly of the 40s and up with a few aspiring young pianists (the asian kids were probably dragged by their parents because they either recognized 'Moonlight Sonata' on the program or thought it was a good educational purpose for them to be there).

Opening up with Beethoven's first movement, it seemed slower than slow. Bonuses for sitting in the third row from the front was my ability to see every facial expression, body jerk and grunt or off-tune humming from the pianist. In this case, it was a hard blink everytime the top line melody was played. Did he have something stuck in his eye? Or was this a quirky addition to Gavrylyuk's playing, a response to Lang Lang's ridiculous stage antics? To add to the distraction, I had a lady sitting behind me with a terrible breathing problem - to the point where she was taking quick loud short breathes and not even in time to Gavrylyuk's crawling tempo. The second movement was nicely phrased and a rocket speed third movement made me think that the first movement was extra slow for greater effect of the third. The Beethoven-esque feel particularly shone through in the third movement but some rather harsh tones were produced.

The next set of works was Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu, Nocturnes Op. 48 and Scherzo No. 1. Midway through this, his playing really started to bug me. But why? The notes were all there, voicings were there, phrasing was there too. What was it that annoyed me so greatly? It was the beauty that was missing. Steinways are not muffled instruments but for some reason, Gavrylyuk was unable to project the beautiful emotive singing melody that requires brilliance even in the soft tones! The Nocturne Op.48 No.1 was particularly fast in the second half with too much anger and misjudgement of pedal. Having said that, Nocturne Op. 48 No.2 was beautiful and effortless, the beauty of the night really ringing true. This was probably the most beautiful out of the 4 Chopin pieces.

The second half was Rachmaninoff's Moment Musiceaux and Prokoffiev's Sonata No. 7. Out of the 6 Moment Musiceaux, number 5 was the most enjoyable with lovely colours and control. The most popular 4th one had a roaring applaud after it however I really felt like it was over-pedalled and messy. The 6th was powerful but lacked contrast in moods and was all loud loud loud.
Now, the Prokoffiev 7th Sonata is part of the war sonata series. The way Gavrylyuk played the first movement felt like he wanted the war to end asap. Once again at a tempo too fast to digest, it didn't allow the audience to visualize the 'war' and turmoil within this movement. The second movement was the best out of the three with lovely long lines and tension created through the voicings of the dissonance as well as great dynamic control. The moment he started the third movement, I thought to myself "god, he has balls to do this". At an impressively fast tempo, I really did feel like I was on the precipice and found myself holding my breath for quite some time. He made it to the end and I applaud him for having the stamina and technique in doing so but if I had to draw a comparison, nothing beats the Sokolov tempo of this third movement! A certain intensity is created when the tempo is slightly held back, building up the anticipation and emphasizing the irregular rhythms of this movement.

With a standing ovation, Gavrylyuk returned for 3 encores. Did he deliver to his audience? Yes I think he did, I mean he did have a full house with standing ovations. Was he profound? No, he was polished in certain aspects but nothing out of the ordinary. Is he freaky?No (unless the intense blinking is considered freaky). What did I feel when I left the concert? Average. Yes, that sums it up. It wasn't an experience that changed my life nor was it a concert that will staple in my head. Get your Gaga on Gavrylyuk!



Gavrylyuk at the end of his recital.

Signing out,
Van-Anh xo

Psssssttt...... Gossip Couture!

Pssst ... have you heard the latest rumour? Gossip Gossip Gossip is what women do best. But when it's Gossip and it's in reference to beautiful garments, NOW we're talking! Sick and tired of the brainless mass-produced clothes in malls and everyone looking like everyone else, I've gone rogue ... ha! My love for clothes has not and will never cease so i'm continually on the hunt for new pieces.... so coming across Gossip Couture on FashionTV one night, I set out to find this amazing gems and the brains behind it.

Over the weekend, I had the lovely honour of meeting Mauricio, designer and founder of Gossip Couture. It's not often that you meet a designer who is not aloof, OTT with the hand-movements and flamboyant in character. Mauricio is so down to earth! Costa Rica born and with background in dance and choreography, I asked how Mauricio ventured into fashion. "I come from a family of tailors, a private business we had back at home. I was making 3 costume sets (formalwear, national costume and swimsuit) for each Miss Universe on paddle-pop sticks and we would pretend to put them down the runway and the family would gather to be the judges". I couldn't contain my giggles! "And how old were you?" I asked bemused. "Like 5 or 6" he said. How funny is that? Of course the Costa-Ricans are crazy about Miss Universe because they always win and are always the most beautiful in the contest :)

How would I describe the clothes of Gossip Couture? Well for me, the couture pieces are down-right couture but what wins me over is the flattering cut (not to mention size 8 being proper size 8s and not giNORmous Aussie size 8s!), their custom prints, versatility in each piece and their high-waisted pieces.

Clothes should be FUN to wear, and Mauricio has nailed that one on the head. I played dress-ups all afternoon and was in heaven with the beautiful evening couture pieces through to the denim collection over to the fun resortwear-style garments. One piece after the next, I played with the fabrics, the high-waisted cuts of the shorts and skirts. Each dress was flattering on the figure and that rumour about denim on denim being the trend for next season working (in my mind, i was about to vomit!), well it DOES work!! At least it works with the Gossip pieces :)

Just check this denim jacket of Gossip Couture!

Love love love! AND, the sleeves can roll in reverse so you see the cute strip lining or just complete denim!

And not only is Mauricio an amazing designer with the next collection launching this September inspired by the 1940s, he has a heart. The moment I mentioned a few charities I was involved with, he immediately donated a dress for auction. That's what I'm talking about!

My favourite pieces to date (and i've sneakily added quite a number to my wardrobe) are:

1. Uma Long Dress (i'll be strutting this to the next charity event!)

2. Leather Shorts (so versatile! Works for both winter and summer)

3. Uma Short Dress (this is the ULTIMATE LBD in my books! Swarovski encrusted and all! Chic, understated but SO statement! And i'm here with Mauricio too!!)

4. Polka Dot Rayon Tulipan Drape Shorts (with Gossip Audrey Top too!!)

5. Lola Skirt (it's like a paperbag high-waisted with leather drawstring and cutest lining!)

Check them out fashionistas! www.gossipcouture.com.au

So many other to-die for pieces!!! Thank you Mauricio! Can't wait to see your new collection :)

Love and grace,

Van-Anh xx

Fav food: Weiss mango ice-cream with macadamia chunks

Reading: Setting Yourself Free, Shirley Smith

Wishlist: anything Gossip Couture - Uma Long Dress please!! :)

Current city: Sydney

Listening to: Moby

Fav clothing item: Gossip Tulipan Shorts

Next destination: Melbourne!

Missing: pooh-bear!

Melbourne Piano Trio Sydney Launch Concert

Moving people together....Melbourne Public Transport ... Most Paid Trio ... whatever you want M.P.T to stand for, I'm talking about The Melbourne Piano Trio. It's refreshing to see a new crop of young energetic musicians gracing our classical music scene with serious determination, high-spirits and a true passion for chamber music.

The Trio of 26 year olds consist of cool-calm-collected Hoang Pham (piano), tiny-pocket-rocket Ji-Won Kim (violin) and friendly giant Chris Howlett (cello). Each have established themselves in their solo careers having individually won national and international prizes, bursaries, scholarships, performed around the world, studied under great masters, i won't even bother with the details. It's a given that at this calibre, musicians need to have been there, done that. But what happens when they come together? It's kind of like Captain Planet ... 'when our powers combine ...', they become a force to be reckoned with!

Asking how they came about to form as a trio, Chris said 'Hoang and I have been playing since Wesley College (high-school) days' ... Ji-Won chimes in 'They auditioned me for two days and Hoang was so serious... he said 'no' at first ... jokingly' and bursts out in giggles. My first encounter of Chris was the day before the Sydney Launch show and Chris was cooking for all of us a delicious pasta dish. Now how does a musician have time to cook like this, shouldn't they be locked up in a practice room from dawn to dusk and being anti-social? "This is from the days of working in the kitchen at Pumphouse to pay off my cello" said Chris (Chris plays a Thomas Kennedy Cello!).

In a time where for anything in this musical world to succeed, you need your point of difference. I posed the very question to MPT. "I think what sets us apart is that when we rehearse, there is no ego" says Chris. Hoang believes it is "to have that interaction, to have the guts to speak to your audience and engage them... it's a scary thing for many musicians. It's about having that faith but also the willingness to have the confidence and an element of danger to voice your thoughts on the pieces that you are playing".

The dynamic of a trio is always very important and from listening to them speak, they definitely balance each other out. "Honestly though, do you all get along?", I asked. "We slept together, the three of us for the first time last week at ANAM (Australian National Academy of Music)" giggles Ji-Won. The boys looked at each other in horror. "No, i think what Ji-Won means is that we all were in Melbourne together for our debut performance at Elizabeth Murdoch Hall" clarifies Chris. "Ji-Won is seriously the icing on the cake in our trio" says Hoang. And he is absolutely correct when it came to watching their debut performance in Sydney at the Independent Theatre, North Sydney.

Melbourne Piano Trio perform at the Independent Theatre, North Sydney

Their program of Beethoven's 'Ghost' Trio, Paul Dean's 'Fragmented Moments' (world premiere performance) and Dvorak's Piano Trio in F minor, Op 65 was a very balanced choice of repertoire. The third movement of the 'Ghost' was most exciting, joyful and the balance between the instruments was sublime. What made the concert was Dean's 'Fragmented Moments'. A work which for Sydney-siders was a first, we were transfixed by the 5 movement work weaving through the mind of a person who suffers Alzeimer's as well as the effects it has on the people around them. The first movement set the eerie mood, transporting the audience into the brain of the person with Alzeimer's. The second was probably my favourite because it reminded me of Pringles - once you pop, you can't stop. It had this energy and drive which all three musicians captured from beginning to end. With markings on the score such as 'Hoang, go nuts', how could it not be gripping? The work is so wonderfully constructed, complete with the 5 movements that it ended with rumbles from people's feet, cheers and a roaring ovation. Hats off to Dean! An absolute gem of a contemporary work!

Each musician spoke to us before the work, giving the audience a sense of their personality and their perspective on the work they were about to perform (no, they aren't anti-socials and yes, they DO have personalities). The third movement of the Dvorak stole our hearts with the beautiful sounds from Ji-Won's Storioni melting us in our seats. Hoang brought out a wonderful tone on the Stuarts & Sons with temperament that worked perfectly for the accompaniment and balance with the violin and Chris' Thomas Kennedy cello.

I can't read tea-leaves, nor can I forecast the future but I know for a fact that The Melbourne Piano Trio is a Trio that will not only be fine representatives for Australia but bring their unique dynamic to create joy to many concert halls and performance spaces around the world. Not only are they fine musicians but they have wit, humour and character. Who knows, they may end up one day being the Most Paid Trio :)

Left to right: with the Melbourne Piano Trio boys! Chris Howlett (Cellist), me :) and Hoang Pham (pianist)

be happy!

I like to think that I'm an optimist and see the glass as half full; to see the upside to every situation; to laugh off any unfortunate events that occur to me and say everything happens for a reason. But sometimes, you feel SO frickin' down and feel like you've hit an all time low. You ask yourself WHY this has happened to me? Me out of all people? I know the feeling, we've all been there but watching the news this morning as well as a few other things recently, I am assured once again there are MUCH MUCH worse things that could happen to me.

Just look at the earthquakes in New Zealand, not once, not twice but last night shaken by a 3rd quake, the aftermath of February! Then Japan - over the weekend was the 3 month anniversary for their horrific tsunami and earthquake disaster - over 91,000 people declared homeless and anyone still missing was declared dead. To lose your home, to not know where you're going to go next, to live in a built up shelter, I should just be thankful that I have a warm home and comfortable life. You always seem to want more and more and more, when is it enough? When do you stop?

Then there was the beautiful clip of Sung-Bong singing in his audition for Korea's Got Talent. An orphan as a child and running away from his orphanage.... just watch the clip and it will tell all. The purity in his voice and the fact that he is seemingly content is just absolutely inspiring for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewknNW2b8Y&feature=youtu.be

It makes me so thankful for everything that I already have and if I ever feel crappy at all, just think of all these people! I know each circumstance is different but pick yourself up, have faith, believe and all will be right in the end. Love as though you've never been hurt before and give, just GIVE and things will come back to you in ways you would never believe possible <3

Love and grace,

Van-Anh

Fav food: tomyum soup

Reading: Setting Yourself Free, Shirley Smith

Wishlist: Eva Mendes' dress that she wore to the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball

Current city: Sydney

Listening to: Frank Ocean

Fav clothing item: Witchery Shrug . oh so frickin warm!

Next destination: HCMC, Vietnam.

Missing: my best friend.

my May favouritesss

Zoe Saldana in Armani Prive @ Cannes Festival 2011.

ummm...like the cutest kid ever??

Kiera Knightley looking amazing as usual.

<3

Cassius Eyewear - Lautner Havana

arriving in the mail soon :) worn by Lady Gaga, the BEPs, MGMT, Rihanna, NAS & Kanye West.

Fav food: peanut butter & jelly

Reading: Water For Elephants ... still...

Wishlist: Zoe Saldana's Armani Prive dress

Current city: Sydney

Listening to: Lior - This Old Love

Fav clothing item: Jigsaw thigh-high boots!

Next destination: HCMC, Vietnam

Missing: warmth & sunshine!

Saigon to Dalat to Hanoi

This trip has been the trip where i've honestly travelled the most across Vietnam in a while. The last time i went to Dalat was probably about 6 years ago. Nothing has changed much - the market is still there, the roundabout is still there. People are much more shy. And it was much colder than HCMC, dramatically less humid. But beautiful. Really peaceful and somewhere where drinking a hot coffee in the frosty air reminds me of Melbourne.
This afternoon, I head to Hanoi and everyone is telling me it's freezing. 8 degrees? That can't be right in Vietnam - but it is! I'm slightly scared of freezing to death (not literally of course) but I didn't pack the right clothes.
HCMC has been beautiful this time around - the weather is not too humid, it's not too smoggy and today is the 2nd day of clear blue skies, not the haze that you usually get.

A lovely cafe to visit in HCMC is Kita - restaurant and cafe but it's got that kitschy feel - 41 Nguyen Hue St, Q.1 - cross between french and vietnamese style. Good lattes, good loungey music.

The other place I found yesterday was Lam Boutique - again, it reminded me of a Melbourne boutique because it's up 2 flights of stairs, real dark and grimey but you open up the front door on level 1 and it's a world of vintage designs, mismatchs and cute french-inspired indie clothes designed by Ms. Lam. It's at 71 Mac Thi Buoi, Q.1.

Another place to eat is 13 Ngo Duc Ke, Q.1. Real small restaurant but real traditional vietnamese food. Ther's an old man in slacks and those elastic belts and a real funky moustache who is there everyday taking your orders so you'll know you're in the right place if you see him. Great food, service is alright. A lot of foreigners seem to have found out about the place.

Also, told by a friend, you know those balloon men - those guys who walk around or ride bikes around with the massive bunch of balloons to buy, DON'T BUY THEM!!! DO NOT BUY THEM! they are filled with hydrogen. A friend bought 3 one time and for some reason, it got caught something, caught on fire and singed his hair and burnt his arm! Way to crush a little girls love for balloons eh? hehehe.

Anyways, that's all for now. over and out with love and grace,
V-A