Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark has been voted the best city in the world to live in by the lifestyle magazine: Monocle. According the the feinschmecker magazine, there are numerous reasons why Copenhagen has gone from second to first place in a year, swapping positions with Munich.
I'm surprised at the results of this vote, I guess it takes someone else to see it from a different perspective in order to find it so amazing. Maybe I'm just used to living here...or maybe I see certain things as well, things that a foreigner/tourist might not see. But yeah... reading this article made me remember the wonderful things about this city and made me appreciate it. That was a good reminder because if someone doesn't tell you, then how am I supposed to remember that I live in the best city in the world? Kind of like the trees in the forest... Read on for the contents...
The low murder rate of only 6 murders per year are one of the reasons they state. It's also of great importance that in 2006 54.9% of the garbage were recycled and that 5000 new firms emerge per year placed Denmark in 5th place over innovative countries in the world.
High tolerance also plays a part and the magazine notes that we have an active equal rights policy and that since 1989 it has been possible for gay couples to have registered partnerships.
It's not easy finding the nicest city and that's why several writers themselves from Monocle are visiting the 40 different qualified cities. They state that they loved intellect, humor and great looks of the inhabitants of Copenhagen. Tyler Brûlé, chief editor at Monocle said that it was lovely walking the streets of Copenhagen, to see all the happy, good looking people. "It only takes 5 minutes to bike to the nearest park and it's possible to bathe in the harbor. Actually it's almost as if the city was DESIGNED to live in!"
Of course Denmark is internationally known for it's design as well as designers and they help raise the standard of living. The metro are one of the most important reasons why Denmark came in first this year. Being able to get of the plane and take the train/metro directly to ones destination without further obstacles is one tests passed. When you're downtown you can also enjoy the most qualified barista-scene north of Italy as well as enjoy interior and art innovation, awesome drinks and cocktails and wonderful food culture.
The winning part is that Copenhagen is not that big a city, it's cosy and intimate and everything is within walking distance or biking. And he loves the fact that we have a culture that allows us to be able to leave the baby stroller outside a store while we go inside to shop - with the baby still inside stroller!
A recent survey showed that Danish people were the happiest people in the world...why shouldn't we be? Apparently now, we also have the best city in the world to live in!
BEST CITIES 2008 - TOP 25 (cities in parenthesis show last years placements. Check to see if your city is on the list and whether it moved up or down from last year!)
1. Copenhagen (Munich)
2. Munich (Copenhagen)
3. Tokyo (Zurich)
4. Zurich (Tokyo)
5. Helsinki (Vienna)
6. Vienna (Helsinki)
7. Stockholm (Sydney)
8. Vancouver (Stockholm)
9. Melbourne (Honolulu)
10. Paris (Madrid)
11. Sydney (Melbourne)
12. Honolulu (Montreal)
13. Madrid (Barcelona)
14. Berlin (Kyoto)
15. Barcelona (Vancouver)
16. Montreal (Auckland)
17. Fukuoka (Singapore)
18. Amsterdam (Hamburg)
19. Minneapolis (Paris)
20. Kyoto (Geneva)
21. Hamburg
22. Singapore
23. Geneva
24. Lisbon
25. Portland
May 29, 2008
Over due pics of my new...do
Last week I had a haircut. She looked at my hair and asked me what I wanted. Knowing and trusting her completely I shrugged and said: whatever you want to do. She smiled and said: I want to make it short.
In my mind I hesitated for a moment, but before I could stop myself I heard my own voice: sure go ahead! The thought of it not being good, and me waiting anxiously for it to grow out, struck me for a moment. Only for a brief moment. Then I reminded myself that this woman knew what she was doing.
I have to honest, normally whenever I get a new haircut, it takes me a week or so to get used to it and like it. This haircut, I loved instantly. The only thing bothering me is that I didn't take the pics right after the haircut. These were taken today and my feeble attempts to somewhat recreate the awesome do she made were futile.
So take a look at this hair and imagine it a lot better-looking, more edgy and lovely. *sigh* well, she ain't a hairdresser for nothing, eh? I better invest in a proper straightening iron, not the antiquity of a brick I have.
The back of my head. As you can see it's quite short, then it gets longer as it nears my jawline. Sorry for the bad quality, it was taken on my mom's macbook, since I still can't find my camera.
Yup, this is how happy
I am with my do!
I am with my do!Oh yeah... btw, I grew out my eyebrows again. All of it. It took me a long time to grow out the ends but I managed to do it eventually. I will never ever overpluck again. It looked awful on me!
May 24, 2008
Wow, have I really been MIA for a month?!?
Time really does fly by when you're.... busy. This doesn't mean that I'll be back 100%, well not just yet that is. Will still be just a little MIA since I'm not entirely done with exams.
Today's topic: I am lucky.
Have any of you guys ever heard stories from your parents about how tough life was when they were growing up and how we should consider ourselves lucky and blessed? Know what I'm talking about? Then have any of you tried the concentrated version: aka the grandparents story of how things used to be when THEY grew up.
I don't know about you guys, but I've heard stories of famine, war, poverty etc. Things like these really make you think, don't they? That we really and truly are blessed and lucky, right? Lucky that we have the opportunity to get a proper education, not starve and live safely without ever having to wonder about where the next meal would come from?
Every time I hear stories like these I DO consider myself lucky but...truth to be told, the feeling doesn't really last me that long...well at least not as long as I would have wanted. I usually get so caught up with the "minor" problems I have to deal with in life. Deadlines for project hand-ins, exams, what to do with my life after I graduate etc. The latter one, I find that it has often been filling my mind lately. I can do this, that and a billion other things with my life. The only problem is...what??
It's true that the daily problems I have to deal with seem so petty compared to those my parents/grandparents went through in their younger days. But sometimes when I'm stressed out, they DO seem HUGE! Why is it that we, as modern Asian women, in the 21st century get worried and and start feeling anxiety when it comes to choosing career paths...or am I mistaken and is it just me? Could be just me...or maybe...just maybe.... I'm speaking for one or two of you out there.
Should we follow our parents wishes and become the doctor/lawyer/engineer they've always wanted us to aspire to be? If not, then if we DO follow our own paths...what should we become? We know very well that they only mean it in a good way since having a daughter/son in a respectable position means that not only are we financially secured but they also save face and feel that they can walk a little taller.
I'm in the dilemma that I don't want to be neither of the three but at the same time, as a filial daughter, I don't feel like I could bring it upon myself to bring shame upon my family. It seems like they "settled" for me going to business school but every now and then I hear the occasional remark about: "Oh...you COULD have studied this, that would've been a better path for you". Because I believe I might do it myself when I get married and have kids of my own, to be a besserwisser (One who knows better but more importantly knows better than my kids) I usually bite my tongue because it isn't appropriate to talk back but one must stand up for one self, so I do so, in small doses of course.
In the meantime, I'm still wondering about what I should do with my future once I finish school and get a masters. The problem is....we have too many choices, it makes us confused and dazed, not knowing what to choose from. In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy my days of going to school, hoping that the answer will fall right into my lap because I've heard that "grown-up life" is soooo much more stressful than the life of a student. If I'm stressed out NOW then who knows what I might end up like when I enter the job market?
Think positive: I'm lucky, blessed and I shouldn't let minor things bother me. Hopefully I'll find out what I want to do with my life before I graduate... If not, I'll publish a stressed-out, panicky, anxiety-filled post. But... everything in due time, for now I'll just focus on me and getting through the exams.
Wish me luck!
Today's topic: I am lucky.
Have any of you guys ever heard stories from your parents about how tough life was when they were growing up and how we should consider ourselves lucky and blessed? Know what I'm talking about? Then have any of you tried the concentrated version: aka the grandparents story of how things used to be when THEY grew up.
I don't know about you guys, but I've heard stories of famine, war, poverty etc. Things like these really make you think, don't they? That we really and truly are blessed and lucky, right? Lucky that we have the opportunity to get a proper education, not starve and live safely without ever having to wonder about where the next meal would come from?
Every time I hear stories like these I DO consider myself lucky but...truth to be told, the feeling doesn't really last me that long...well at least not as long as I would have wanted. I usually get so caught up with the "minor" problems I have to deal with in life. Deadlines for project hand-ins, exams, what to do with my life after I graduate etc. The latter one, I find that it has often been filling my mind lately. I can do this, that and a billion other things with my life. The only problem is...what??
It's true that the daily problems I have to deal with seem so petty compared to those my parents/grandparents went through in their younger days. But sometimes when I'm stressed out, they DO seem HUGE! Why is it that we, as modern Asian women, in the 21st century get worried and and start feeling anxiety when it comes to choosing career paths...or am I mistaken and is it just me? Could be just me...or maybe...just maybe.... I'm speaking for one or two of you out there.
Should we follow our parents wishes and become the doctor/lawyer/engineer they've always wanted us to aspire to be? If not, then if we DO follow our own paths...what should we become? We know very well that they only mean it in a good way since having a daughter/son in a respectable position means that not only are we financially secured but they also save face and feel that they can walk a little taller.
I'm in the dilemma that I don't want to be neither of the three but at the same time, as a filial daughter, I don't feel like I could bring it upon myself to bring shame upon my family. It seems like they "settled" for me going to business school but every now and then I hear the occasional remark about: "Oh...you COULD have studied this, that would've been a better path for you". Because I believe I might do it myself when I get married and have kids of my own, to be a besserwisser (One who knows better but more importantly knows better than my kids) I usually bite my tongue because it isn't appropriate to talk back but one must stand up for one self, so I do so, in small doses of course.
In the meantime, I'm still wondering about what I should do with my future once I finish school and get a masters. The problem is....we have too many choices, it makes us confused and dazed, not knowing what to choose from. In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy my days of going to school, hoping that the answer will fall right into my lap because I've heard that "grown-up life" is soooo much more stressful than the life of a student. If I'm stressed out NOW then who knows what I might end up like when I enter the job market?
Think positive: I'm lucky, blessed and I shouldn't let minor things bother me. Hopefully I'll find out what I want to do with my life before I graduate... If not, I'll publish a stressed-out, panicky, anxiety-filled post. But... everything in due time, for now I'll just focus on me and getting through the exams.
Wish me luck!
Apr 22, 2008
I haven't blogged in a while...
Almost forgot how to do it! But I guess it's like riding a bike, you never forget!
Sorry for my MIA, I've been busy studying for exams and I have another one on Monday but when that is done I'll have a little more time to blog.
Only thing is, I wish I could find my camera, it's been so long since I last posted eotds. Dang, the last time I did an eotd I spent an hour on hair and make-up, only to run around frantically for two hours looking for my camera that had gone missing.
So many things I'd like to post. The way they've dug up our entire sidewalk just to put down cables, that was some sight, several roads had no sidewalks, so mpthers pushing their babies around had to squeeze by whenever cars or bikes fought for what little road space was left.
Hope everyone is doing ok. Expect me blogging again sometime next week!
Sorry for my MIA, I've been busy studying for exams and I have another one on Monday but when that is done I'll have a little more time to blog.
Only thing is, I wish I could find my camera, it's been so long since I last posted eotds. Dang, the last time I did an eotd I spent an hour on hair and make-up, only to run around frantically for two hours looking for my camera that had gone missing.
So many things I'd like to post. The way they've dug up our entire sidewalk just to put down cables, that was some sight, several roads had no sidewalks, so mpthers pushing their babies around had to squeeze by whenever cars or bikes fought for what little road space was left.
Hope everyone is doing ok. Expect me blogging again sometime next week!
Apr 9, 2008
Hair
I was tagged by Vianne, dang I gotta work out more at the gym. See if I can stay on the treadmill longer because at this rate I keep getting tagged. To the gym it is!! (nananananananananananananananana workout!! (theme from original batman))
Well, I've always had somewhat straight hair since birth. I never bothered with hair when I was younger and it started showing when I was in junior high. Sun damaged and split ends. I've also had literally every type of hair except bald, from very very short boy's cut that was shaved 3 inches from my neckline up, then covered with remaining hair to hair so long I could almost sit on it. (Not doing that long ever again, too high-maintenance and the cost of shampoo is just not worth it!)
Anywhoodle... I try to take really good care of my hair now, I started when I was 17 and got tired of having short and boring hair.
Length: Shoulderblade length at present mooment. Gonna get a haircut next week. (I try to schedule it so I get a haircut every 3 months)
Style: Layered
Color: Very dark brown, almost black.
Favorite shampoo: Tsubaki or Kanebo
Favorite conditioner: Tsubaki or Sanotint(organic)
Favorite hair mask: Kanebo
Favorite leave-in conditioner: Sebastian potion 9
Favorite serum: Redken glass shine, Charles Worthington shine serum, Kérastase serum for ends.
Favorite styling product: Davines gel-wax
Favorite hair spray. I use hairspray a couple of times a year when I do something special about it: Davines hair spray (it's light and holds my hair without it being stiff or feeling sticky, can't really see it or feel it, it's just there)
I think that's it.
I tag:
Alienman
Nic nic
Aradani
Snugglebunny
FlyMamaL
Well, I've always had somewhat straight hair since birth. I never bothered with hair when I was younger and it started showing when I was in junior high. Sun damaged and split ends. I've also had literally every type of hair except bald, from very very short boy's cut that was shaved 3 inches from my neckline up, then covered with remaining hair to hair so long I could almost sit on it. (Not doing that long ever again, too high-maintenance and the cost of shampoo is just not worth it!)
Anywhoodle... I try to take really good care of my hair now, I started when I was 17 and got tired of having short and boring hair.
Length: Shoulderblade length at present mooment. Gonna get a haircut next week. (I try to schedule it so I get a haircut every 3 months)
Style: Layered
Color: Very dark brown, almost black.
Favorite shampoo: Tsubaki or Kanebo
Favorite conditioner: Tsubaki or Sanotint(organic)
Favorite hair mask: Kanebo
Favorite leave-in conditioner: Sebastian potion 9
Favorite serum: Redken glass shine, Charles Worthington shine serum, Kérastase serum for ends.
Favorite styling product: Davines gel-wax
Favorite hair spray. I use hairspray a couple of times a year when I do something special about it: Davines hair spray (it's light and holds my hair without it being stiff or feeling sticky, can't really see it or feel it, it's just there)
I think that's it.
I tag:
Alienman
Nic nic
Aradani
Snugglebunny
FlyMamaL
Apr 4, 2008
Bored, so what should we do??
My brother and I decided to get a MAC book for my mother. She needs to get online and enter the 21st century. She doesn't know anything about computers or Internet. Once, I asked her to shut down my laptop and she went over and unplugged it! Hopefully she'll be able to use a MAC book since they're easier to navigate etc.
So this is how I would look like with a double chin!
Looong nose and looking sad...
Don't I look like a rat here?
Well, before actually handed it over, of course my brother and I had to check it out and break the seal. Look how much fun you can have with photo editing when you're bored and have nothing better to do. Don't worry, the really ugly ones were sorted out. Wouldn't want you guys to get a shock!
So this is how I would look like with a double chin!
Looong nose and looking sad...
Don't I look like a rat here?
Paris background and my mom eating noodles. I just like her facial expression on the Warhol-esque picture
Ok, hope you guys enjoyed!
Apr 1, 2008
Well... there's always next year.
So, I got an e-mail from the secreatry of the Japanese ambassador. Well, I didn't get the scholarship, the reason being that I didn't score enough points on the test. I kinda expected it to happen but I was hoping for the other two applicants to do about the same as me. There were a lot of literature and proverbs and it was not directed at a business school student. The two other applicants from Copenhagen University might have done better. Oh well, not much to do about it. There is always next year...
And how cool is Christopher Walken in this video?
And how cool is Christopher Walken in this video?
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