In case it rains in heaven

I found this In Case It Rains in Heaven when I was in Vienna's MAK shop(website for the shop). This first thing that caught my attention is, I thought the title of this book is really amusing. Then I recognised the cover of it is something very "chinese-tradition" and it was surprising to see in a vienna bookshop. 


A book by Kurt Tong, born in Hong Kong, currently based in UK, a photographer who produces rich, highly-coloured photograph-prints to document a kind of special Chinese tradition, the belief of burning joss paper(ghost money)  for their ancestors so that they can enjoy their afterlives. Chinese believe that a person passes away with empty hands so it's up to the descendants to provide for the dead.

In fact, not only high valued notes with loads of zero( should be a serious problem of inflation in heaven :P), but we burn all kinds of paper-built models that resemble the real life objects. I remember that I walked pass a store selling chinese paper oblation everyday when I was still in primary school(yes we have an entire shop to sell this kind of products). They sell big houses, sport cars, servants, red wine to a box of ferrero chocolate, washing machine to mobile phones, everything needed and not needed. Something I will never forget is once I saw they sell a paper-built printer and I wondered if they need to burn some A4 paper for their ancestor as well. In fact, we all know that burning all these is only a ritual thing, but think in a poetic way, burning the memorials into ashes go up to the sky, it sounds that they may reach to the heaven someday, indeed it is romantic. 
The culture is old, but the joss paper product seems very modern and becomes more elaborate to reflect what is the desire of us(living people). ( Like I don't think my grandpa likes iphone or mcdonalds meal)
It is interesting to see the remain-unchanged belief in after-live in Chinese culture, and at the same time the influence of an increasingly westernized culture in the recent development of this tradition. 


More about the author
Born in Hong Kong in 1977, Kurt Tong was originally trained as a health visitor at the University of Liverpool.
He has worked and traveled extensively across Europe, the Americas and Asia. In 1999, Kurt co-founded Prema Vasam, a charitable home for disabled and disadvantaged children in Chennai, South India.
After gaining his Masters in documentary photography 2006, he began working on much more personal projects, drawing on his Chinese heritage and familial relationships for inspiration. Kurt Tong has received numerous awards including the Jerwood Photography Award and exhibited around the world at venues including FotoFest in Houston and Compton Verney. 

Eat out in Berlin

24 03 2011 

After refurbishment...

 Lilac flowers and white ceramic rabbit

Beetroot Lasagne.

Whisky coffee with cream.

Cheesecake with wild berries on top.

Have known about this place from unlike.net, and I really went there last week and had a delightful moment. I guess they had refurbished or painted that there was some differences with what I saw in unlike. It's no longer in white but my favourite colour lilac, so I ordered their special homemade purple food, beetroot lasagne and berry cheese cake. Nature texture and fresh aroma contrasted with the strong whisky coffee. Honestly I prefer baileys coffee more. 
You may want to stay there for a while afternoon.

Gemelli|German shabby chic gelateria and cafe
Wrangelstrasse 42 10997 Berlin

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26 03 2011




One of the surprising discovery during the trip, they offer healthy breakfast to start with before the tiring journey. Soft pink floral patterned wall and warm-toned wooden furniture are just like home. 



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Hildes

A17, Admiral strasse 17, Kreuzberg
                                                                                                                                                                    

Hidden in the backyard of an art space Kunst-Werke, Cafe Bravo swept our disappointment on the close of beth cafe where we had planned to go. 

Its exterior is contemporarily designed, just like a huge glass house in a backyard. Surprisingly they serve really nice international food and drinks, like in here you may find south africa, chinese or japanese style tea. There are so many choices of cakes that the staff spent five minutes to explain, and we spent even longer to decide which one we want. Really friendly staff and one of them who said he stayed in hong kong for few years and said "dor tse"(means thank you)that was so sweet.  

Chicken salad

Their chicken is the best out of all I had in berlin. yumyummmmm

Recommended traditional german food, its like dumplings with mushroom sauce. I guess it is some kind of bread and has been fried, that super match the wild mushrooms on top.


I always think that cafe and art gallery just like couple that they should be together. It was SO perfect that to spent a weekend to look at art and have a coffee in a same place.


Cafe Bravo| ARTea
Augustrasse 69, 10115

Stand on the platform|Floral wedges

 Rocket dog summer blur floral wedges SALE!

 Theodora and Callum biarritz printed linen wedge sandals from NET-A-PORTER.COM

 Theodora and Callum Paisano Printed linen wedge sandals 

I love these Lobiarritz printed linen sandals the most, with a Navajo-print wedge heels are blue and white patterned just like the hand crafted china.

I'm trying martina mcbride

Going to London

London.

Susanna Majuri | imagery under water

The exhibition “Saved with water,” 2007 by Finnish artist

Susanna Majuri. Galerie Adler will present the work in Majuri’s first solo exhibition inNew York. The artist’s photographs are rooted in narritive and usually depict an interaction between subject and landscape. When speaking of her work the artist has stated, “I follow the logic of colours when I combine places, people and clothes. To me, the most important quality of photography is its capability to convey emotions. I want to start secret love affairs with places.” Each scenario is loaded with psychological possibilities and symbolism that successfully commingles fiction with fact. Majuri currently lives and works in Helsinki, Finland, and has exhibited in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Germany and France. She is a graduate of the Turku Arts Academy (2004), and received her M.A. in photography from the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. In 2005, the artist won the photography prize Gras Savoye Award in Arles, France.

see more exhibition by her.

Vintage dresses in the wind

Dahlia Velvet Panel Full Skirt Dress £65.00 from asos

many vintage reto style clothing from Dahila

This is a playsuit really, Broderie and Button Detail Playsuit £65.00

Boat Print Sleeveless Dress £62.00