Though the fields lay golden, something whispered, -"Snow."

I am a dead poet

That speaks without words,
That listens without sounds.
Speak to me and I will not hear,
For I am a dead poet that knows no bound.

~

Bonjour all!

It indeed has been busy these crazy ! Not to mention examinations is approaching me... hope I can come out by the 15th sane and alive!

The weather does seem to whisper rumors of the winter to come. Trees baring all to expose their stance during the harsh days of cold.

All the more to cozy up to hot apple cider and curl up beside a deep-seated couch by the fireplace at one of the colleges in my university. I shall try to take more beautiful pictures of it, it's really got the feel of Oxford and of course, Hogwarts.

A bit of delight:

Erin Fetherston and the short films she makes.

Zooey Deschanel.

Letters and postcards from abroad- hoping to do an exchange of fellow voyagers of the world if interested in sending thoughtful/lovely letters amongst one another! Anyone interested, let me know!

Have some of these around, these old fashioned tags and whatnots, think they're quite lovely

Sophia Coppola films

Fine art and art history

Fascination of the explorations and research of the Arctic

Ballerina flats

The color of gold and Bordeaux, as well as blue

Books

Marc by Marc Jacobs

A-line dresses

Ribbons and bows

Lace

Lula Magazine,

Chloe

Perfume and perfume bottles ( i collect the ones I've had)

Here is one of my favorite short films by Erin Fetherson I would like to share, its very fun and charming.

P.S. It's inspiration is actually from the Silly Symphony cartoons- even better.

That's all for now, ciao!

I'm just sitting on a shelf

Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
Louisa May Alcott

Bonjour all!

As you may or may not know, I'm an avid adventurer who loves to explore the nooks and crannies of the world. It was the love of discovery that my friend and I came upon this really interesting old-world store known as Julius Vesz Pipes located within a historic hotel. Apparently Julius Vesz is one of the world’s premiere pipe makers and has been perfecting his craft for close to 50 years. He maintains a supply of centuries-old briar that has been accumulated since the 1960s. I had the pleasure to walk in to the store and meet the guy himself.

As soon as you walk in, I instantly took in the heavy musky scent accumulated from what the store contains. It instantly took me back to memories of my grandfather, as I clearly recall his love for pipes and the scent he lightly had on him. Very unexpected, that trip down memory lane and I was very touched.

I was instantly drawn to these guys. I would love a collection of these for my own personal library as decor. A small thought came over me as I wondered to and fro gazing at these lovely soldiers fondly: A scene from one of my favorite films "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" where Benjamin was playing with several of them in a battle and making those "pow pow" noises. I wanted to attempt such a scene.

Very interesting indeed.

They were so interesting. The fact that he has his own special blends you could smell hints of it throughout the store. I really felt like I stepped back in time somewhat. I know if I bought one of these fine pipes and those special Julius Vesz for my dear friend Sherlock Holmes, he would in fact love me more than Watson I should think.
It was really peaceful. Towards the centre there were these fine burgundy leather couches where there was an old coffee table. There was a guest book and as we went through the fine pages, there were guests who wrote lovely comments as far back as the 1970's. The nice part of it towards the end was how his granddaughter wrote cute comments in them.

Clearly towards the end of my make-believe, the Spectacular Brigade (my side) won. Obviously.

And that's all for now, ciao!

In the Town of Austere, nothing is ever the same.

There was a silver tree
Down by a river wide

That's where we would go

To hang our pretty things

And watch the wind blow

There used to be a tree

Where we took our pretty things
We'd hook them by a thread

Golden egg lipstick and feathers

Pieces of glass, chandelier baubles

And empty bottles of wine
And watch the light shine through

I'm afraid to forget you.

I am remembering you

You were sparkling.

You would not believe your eyes, if ten million fireflies lit up the world as I fell asleep

"He thought about himself, and the whole Earth,

Of Man the wonderful, and of the Stars,

And how the deuce they ever could have birth;

And then he thought of Earthquakes, and of Wars,

How many miles the Moon might have in girth,

Of Air-balloons, and of the many bars

To perfect Knowledge of the boundless Skies;

And then he thought of Donna Julia's eyes."

-Byron, Don Juan (1819), Canto 1, stanza 92

Bonjour all!

Well so far, my Fall Break has been very lovely indeed. I joined my friend down near the Esplanade to my favorite eatery called Bier Markt. It's a European-style restaurant in the city's original waterfront promenade. It features over 100 beers and a brasserie-inspired menu.

What I particularly enjoyed was the strawberry beer from Belgium known as Fruli. My friend tried some Austrian and German beer which he found to be over the top in his expectations.

Menu-wise, I ordered this lovely Wild Mushroom Soup, which the overall appearance was enjoyable (broth held within the teacup) and alongside that the Markt Poutine was utterly delicious and rich, which I accompanied with a nice Belgium beer known as Palm that was a perfect companion with the Markt Poutine.

Further along the weekend, today I was really glad to meet up with another close friend of mine, where we went down my treasured place here in this city, St. Lawrence. We instantly grabbed some hot apple cider at Second Cup, where we then head to my favorite bookstore Nicholas Hoare. Upon entering the bookstore, I was instantly gripped by the need to pull a book, to go up the ladders and reach out to a intriguing title. There was just too many titles I wanted to add to my personal library, and what felt like hours, I settled down on two:

Both immediately drew my attention. What I like to do is read the first few sentences within a book and if I become captivated, then instantly I know it would be towards my liking. Both satisfied this taste.

Afterwards, it was onwards to lounge at the Royal York Hotel. One of my favorite historic places to go in Toronto, it sweeps you back to a classic time where life seemed to be gracefully and elegantly dancing to the sounds of the Golden Age.

We explored its many different rooms, including its Imperial Room

The Library Bar is exquisite.

I'm actually quite glad we have such amazing architectural accomplishments as the Royal York.

Oftentimes on the upper level, where they have deep-seated old-styled chairs, it would be such a great atmosphere to curl up on a good read, or people-watching. Its just that from above, you look down at those coming and going... wondering where they'll head off to, what sort of life they are living.. its incredible the connectivity we are unconsciously part of.
The interesting moments is when you see flight attendants and their pilot wandering through, and you think about their travels they have gone through... in which I instantly feel the tug of travel in my heart.
Well the day fell into evening. It finally came upon dinner time, so my friend and I agreed upon dining at the Rosewater Supper Club.

I actually first dined here three years ago when my uncle and aunt took my cousins and I for a pre-Christmas celebration. It really was an enjoyable evening. The food was exquisite.

So my friend Tiff and I finally arrived at the Rosewater.

We dined down where the pillows were. What is great about the Rosewater is its invigorating atmosphere and music.

Dinner was fun, while my friend and I caught up and talked. I was actually relieved to see Rosewater quiet on this Saturday, where it usually is packed to the full.

The whole place is very lovely indeed. I'm quite glad I took the time to enjoy life as it is. Between school and at the office, one can ignore many of the things where it may aid you in De-stressing yourself. I'm glad this weekend turned out to be fun, hope yours was just at interesting!

And that's all for now, ciao!

Won't you hold me before I fly away...

Life is like playing a violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.

Samuel Butler, English composer, novelist, & satiric author (1835 - 1902)

A dream...

A woman in the distance, approaching. She wades carefree through the desert sand. She looks back towards the sun. She is barefoot, her sandals clutched by the heels, dangling in one hand. Her other hand holds the hem of her white cotton robe. Each step trails a fine stream of sand, caught in the hot wind and blown towards the Nile. The sun backlights her figure through the cotton, catches a glint of silver and ebony on her bracelet...

A camel appears from nowhere, blocking the view. Everything swirls into the art on a package of cigarettes.

A boy lies on his bedroom floor. He is twelve, perhaps thirteen years old. He is drawing, with painstakingly accuracy, the art from a pack of Camels. The arabesque curves of the serifs on the A. The ellipsed E. Three palm trees, two pyramids, one camel with its skinny legs. The pyramids tucked under the camel's sagging belly. The boy is careful, coloring the camel's visible eye a brilliant blue.

The camel turns his head and grins.

Why so sad, Master Zephyr?

The boy frowns.

Death? Yes yes, death hovers nears us all. And it is sad that it makes us sad. But I know a story.

There once was a camel whose days begin in the shade of a palm on a nameless wadi, somewhere to the east of here. In the Sunai.

By the age of ten, the camel is a veteran of the trading routes from Alexandria to Tripoli. At twenty he walks to rich Aswan run, kneeling politely as nervous Japanese women climb aboard to have their pictures taken. At thirty he is done working, his knees worn thin. At forty, his days as a camel come to a peaceful end. Eyeing younger things in the Birqash market.

He is gutted and skinned. For seven days he feeds his owner, his owner's family, his owner's cousins, his owner's neighbors. His hide is sold for a good and fair price in the bazaar, to a maker of furniture who knows a good many buttocks would sit on such a fine and worthy leather.

Was there anything before his days as a camel you ask? Yes yes, Master Zephyr. The camel was a man. As you will be. Successful, well fed, loved by a clever and honest and beautiful woman. Happy they lived. Simply as husband and wife. Without extravagance, just off the high road between Suez and Aqaba.

The man misses his wife everyday. Even now, as a camel in your drawing, as a comfortable chair under a large rump. But he sees her every day. He watches her sleep.

Why, you ask? There is no why, Master Zephyr. It is just as story. Life goes on. Death goes on. Love goes on. It is all simple as that.

Years from now, even you will return. Perhaps as the ochre that colors an artist's brush. Or a kindly stray cat in a small park in London. And you will love the birds you chase.

And then the camel winked, and disappeared in a puff of sand.

* An excerpt from one of my most cherished books, The End of the Alphabet by CS Richardson that I thought was best to share.

That's all for now, ciao.

When all the other lights have gone out...

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. "- E.B. White

Bonjour all,

I still cannot believe that it's November already. There's so much things to do school-wise, it seems like never ends. Luckily a small fall break is arriving next week which will be put to good use.

However busy it may be, when I have a quiet moment to myself, certain inspirational things would come abound which brings an increase of goodness in my life.

While on the morning commute, listening to scores by Alexandre Desplat while reading a book, heading to the office whenever I'm working, brings a sort of inner peaceful quietness.

Already the holiday spirit's on. I know, its November, but already I have been sensing that small thrill. Whether I'm getting something at Starbucks, or the unraveling of the holiday display at Holt Renfrew down on Bloor... you feel that sense of blissful wonder is starting to creep in.

Not to mention that already I've been listening to North Pole Radio. Its endless magical tunes of holiday songs, featuring great artists like Billie Holiday and the Vince Guraldi Trio, brings a smoothness along your day. Another great fact about this radio (thanks to my friend Tiff), its location really is up North- another great legitimate reason to tune in.

Look who I found nestled in my BCBG MaxAzria tote! My most precious darling in the entire world! Mimi has a world of her own, and never ceases to amuse me. If I could, I would take her everywhere I go.

Speaking of which, I have collected some of my favorite things I'm really into at the moment as I have been getting emails asking about them, so I will be posting this category from time to time.

Semikolon Notebooks.

What's special about these notebooks, which is of interest, is that its usage of watermarked paper that brings about about its uniqueness. I came upon Semikolon when I walked into one of my favorite stationary store Essence Du Papier, and I couldn't help purchasing a couple of them to jot down my creative thoughts, from sketches to quotations.

Accompanying my Semikolons are my Sharpie's Ultra Fine Point.

Of course, literature is definitely one of my most favorite things. In terms of favorite bookstores, Nicholas Hoare down at St. Lawrence is my one stop to acquire books to my personal collection. I find that they have interesting editions of certain titles, and specialty ones you can't find anywhere else. Another one is my very own university, the University of Toronto's Bookstore, which on the upper level where the Great Hall is situated, pockets interesting finds.

Of course nowadays, who isn't technology-savvy, but I very much prefer the simplistic ways of carrying out certain things. This here is a Hermes Baby/Rocket typewriter, where it's designed in Switzerland. In discovering more interesting models and different accessories apart from this type, I would browse within My Typewriter that has certainly been a constant site I would often come back to.

A store which have brought about much interest to me lately is Anthropologie. From their clothes, to home decor, it embraces itself in how I would call it an "charming artistic elegance". It is actually the sister store to Urban Outfitters, but preferably, I find Anthropologie to suit me better. You can check out their store right here in Toronto at Yorkville.

I recently came upon this great read. It opens up on ways on how to lower your impact on the environment in a simple, everyday way. It really illustrates friendly and funny advice to help oneself to make significant differences in life - from creative recycling solutions to Eco-friendly travel tips. I know some of its helpful advice I have already began to acquire within my own home.

I cannot emphasize enough my devotion for The Big Bang Theory. Having both Season One and Season Two, it will bombard you with amazing humor alongside a great cast. Sheldon truly leaves me at a wonder. I'm always looking forward to the next episode every week.

And that is all for now, ciao!