Stormy Wednesday

Currently in the middle of a storm. I was downtown for my Indian Art & Architecture summer class and I just made it back in time before the torrential downpour began. Lucky me! I must say it's sort of lovely, staying in watching the lightshow through my big windows in the living room.

Anyway, I decided to make a quick and easy dinner: curry udon. I used S&B Golden Curry roux, fresh udon noodles, a splash of dashi broth, chicken, carrots, onions and green onions. Yum!

I thought about heading to the 30th floor roof deck to snap a picture of this rainbow, but decided against it when I saw more flashes of lightning. Instead, I went downstairs and nearly got knocked over by the strong winds outside my building! The sky was dabbled orange-mauve in some parts, blue in others. Very lovely.

In other news, my big brother moved to Jakarta for good yesterday. He gave me those cubes and little green jars to keep, it was part of his apartment decor in Philadelphia. I like them!

"Beach"

Here's the thing. It's a bit hard to see Lake Michigan's shoreline as a real beach. The term 'beach' seems to be geologically accurate when referring to a lake, but when I think 'beach', I'm thinking of seashells, seaweed and the tart smell of salt in the air. I suppose this "beach elitism" comes from years of growing up with gorgeous Southeast Asian island holidays with the family. That's okay, I can settle for Lake Michigan. If you don't go in the water, you can almost pretend!

My friend Brie and I decided to head north towards Loyola, where we found Hartigan Beach. It was nice. We sipped on ginger tea (recipe below) and let the hours dwindle away talking and talking as we watched people flitting about in their swimsuits. I would never swim in Lake Michigan, mostly because my boyfriend tells me horror stories about how contaminated the water really is. No, thank you! I'm quite content on a blanket with sunglasses and a sundress. All in all, it was a lovely day.

Ginger Tea (Teh Jahe)

6 cups of water
Fist-sized amount of sliced and peeled fresh ginger
Palm sugar (Brown sugar will do, but palm sugar is preferred-- check your local Mexican or Asian grocery store.)

1. Bring water to a rolling boil, drop the slices of fresh ginger in. It seems like a lot of ginger, but it produces a perfect ginger tea when you're done... promise!
2. Boil for at least 20 minutes. Taste and ensure the ginger flavour is tangible.
3. Add desired amount of palm sugar.

This is one of my favourite drinks, and is delicious served hot or cold. Teh jahe always brings me back to rainy nights in Manado, Indonesia where they serve this warm after dinner. It's great for digestion and won't keep you up at night!

P.S. Please let me know if you have a blog you think I would be interested in. I need some links to add!

Summer 2010

Ginger tea, a pair of beautiful red soled heels, and two good books. I am happy. I start summer school on Monday, and I am actually looking forward to learning all about art and architecture in India.

The weather has been so strange. For the past few days, I've had to leave my apartment with a light cardigan, which is okay, but hey! It's summer! To love or to hate Chicago's temperamental weather? Anyway, tomorrow should be warm, so I am going on a little picnic girl-date by Lake Michigan with my friend Brie! I even made fresh ginger iced tea, so excited

Missing

My mother has been in the country for a little over a month. It has been SUCH an eventful month. We've done a lot in those 30+ days:- swaying at 10,000 feet in the air in a cable car over Sandia Peak in New Mexico, zipping each other up for countless ceremonies during my sister's wedding celebrations in Taos, and the two things that are inevitable with us: staying up far too late talking about family, love and life, and of course, shopping.

She just left this morning and it feels very weird not to have her suitcases sitting in my apartment. I got her two miniature lemon poppyseed muffins from the free breakfast downstairs and put it in a ziplock bag for her to eat. I like doing little things for my mother when she visits, like cooking for her and making sure she's comfortable. I guess it's because I see her once a year.

I've been saying goodbye to my parents since I was 15, when I moved to Australia for boarding school. It just never really was something I got used to. At least this time I know it won't be a year before I see her next. I'll be home in my beautiful equatorial trifecta (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia) in a month!

Off to watch Italy vs. Paraguay.

Late Night Thoughts

It is half past three in the morning and the humid Chicago summer nights are keeping me awake. I suppose this is what happens when you go to sleep forgetting to turn on the AC. Somehow, I kicked off the covers and decided to write an entry? Hah.

I bought a white dresser tonight for $20 from a boy in my building. I wonder if I will ever grow out of all cream and white bedrooms. I doubt it. I mean, look at this! I could sleep forever in an all white bedroom. Maybe I'll take pictures of my own, just not when it's nearly 4 in the morning!

- apartment therapy

So here begins my blog. I shall write about things I find beautiful and things I think about. Let's see how this goes.

And on that note, I am going to sip on some water and head back to my all white and cream bedroom.