Journey back to the 60s and 70s

I think I am trotting around Copenhagen at the time you guys are reading this. I am slightly obsessed with the 70s again after a trip back to 40 years ago. Have I told any of you that I planned to have a 70s inspired birthday party for my 21st but I ended up spending the day crammed in the tube sending my father and brother to the airport and nearly get left at a random station after almost not making in the train after letting a mother with a buggy out the underground? I sat on the luggage bag, lean on my sweaty father the rest of the journey till the airport.

Ok, fast forward 2 years and 9 months later to April 2013, no longer 21.

In my journey to discover markets all around London, I had to go to Portobello Road Market, I suppose you could say, if you never been to Portobello Road Market, you never been to a flea or second hand market.

It is only open on Saturday and thanks to the lovely weather, its a treat to walk around without the chilly air and everyone seems to be in a good mood. How much the sunlight can do to people.

Even though its a market, its really a few market combined, including antiques (I found a few vintage rings, they are not cheap but are extremely gorgeous, if you could afford it, you can guarantee you will be the only one having the ring, I think I know where to point my potential guy to where he should get my future engagement ring - thinking way ahead but how unique it will be if you have an engagement ring that are almost unique & had witness at least one love story before you) *don't gimme the second hand curse thing that my mother told me, I don't believe in that, its too beautiful to be*, second-hand market (where things are really cheap and there are awesome vintage finds for only 1 quid or 2), food market, new goods, you can find almost ANYTHING there.

These cameras are working cameras in case you are wondering and not expensive but of course, the films are not really available now, so basically its working but can't be used. 

Bubble tea shop that are quite a hype here at the moment. 

In some way, going to Portobello Road market is like a trip back to the 60s and 70s. I love both decades, the sharp, full colours, the high platform boots and its the time when young people rebelled (hippie) and followed what they believe. They are so carefree and they are living life. I constantly tell my parents that I was born in the wrong era even though I won't be dressing like Lana Del Rey anytime soon. I love those tragic stories of musicians, rockers. 

Its also around the time my dad spent some time in England, he was around my age when I first step foot on the English soil. He was in the middle of all these happening event. Even though he is not a Hippie nor a Punk but he shared the same music taste (60s, 70s music) as I am and he always tell me stories that happened 40 years ago. Its a true story of "Back in those days...." Good story to tell your grandchild, don't you think? "Back in those days, your grandmother is quite a rebel, she travelled from city to city not knowing where she will be the next day." as opposed to "Back in those days, your grandmother studied everyday." =) Again, thinking way ahead. Its quite an irony, our parents strive to let us have a comfortable life and here I am thinking to throw everything away to follow my passion. But the problem is, I don't know what my passion is and I don't have the courage to throw everything away because I almost did once, it hurts too much. Hahaha. So much feeling but so little time to say. 

Of course, I don't support their rocker lifestyle but everything was easier, they have groupies that could actually interact with their idols. Idols now have a wall of bodyguard. I didn't think being a youngster then is easy but at the very least the first concern is how to live life, not how to earn big bucks which sadly is what most of us think about these days and I am no exception. Spending a few hours in 60s and 70s temporarily just had to do for me.

BFF you say? I say, there might not be such things, or is there?

Well, at least not for me. Not yet, I hope someday, I would be lucky enough to have one.

Friend sent me this yesterday and inspired my post. 

In case you are wondering, its her turkish number, to avoid confusion I had that attached to her name. 

I have quite a bit of friends. I threw away my contacts with my highschool friends to concentrate (too much!) on the other half. When all hell break loose with the other half, I was lost. I desperately needed someone to be there to offer a shoulder to cry on. The other half was kind enough to temporarily offer his shoulder for 2 months and ran away to KL afterwards, I guess it was too much for him to handle. I don't blame him, I will too. 

Since then, I understood the importance of friendship. Now, I do not believe in your other half being your best friend. OK, if you are lucky enough to be in that situation, good for you, all I could say is you are very lucky. But, I wasn't that lucky, perhaps because I am part bitch, part Ice Queen (according to my former superior). 

This is the story that made me part Ice Queen, closing in on most people, refusing to let anyone in my life deep enough to impact me should they decided to turn their backs on me someday. Looks like I wasn't the only bitch. 

12 years ago, when I was 12. I embarked on the scariest journey in most people's life - HIGHSCHOOL. I seriously do not know how I survived. Anyway, I got close with 3 other girls sitting near me. We were inseparable - basically doing everything together and ONE DAY, for no reason, they decided to stopped talking to me. One fine day, we were relocated in a different rooms due to our usual classroom being used as an exam room. Usually when we were temporarily relocated, seats are usually shotgun style, meaning you can sit anywhere you like, first come first serve. The 3 girls decided that they do no want me sitting anywhere near them and look for the only 3 empty seats, leave me hanging dry, no where to sit. My friend, K, sitting next to me in my usual classroom, though we are on friendly terms, we joked, we laughed but somehow I didn't clicked with her like I did with the 3. But the 3 of them just stopped talking to me cold turkey. Even K noticed something went wrong and asked me why. 12 years on, I still don't know why and the worse thing is 4 years after that we all went our separate ways and I sat next to one of the girls again. If only I had the courage that I possess today, I would definitely asked her this question. 

"Remember the day you stopped talking to me? Yes? WHY?"

Then the very next year, I met Shu Yee, I loved her, I adored her, we had our ups (I still remember the day we talked for hours and laughed and laughed, that was the last time I laughed so hard and genuinely feel happy, sucks growing up) and our downs (she is generally into Japanese while I ventured into the Western influence - she made a remark and I was mad at her, she apologised and all is well, you know, kids). Somehow, due to that differences, even though it doesn't happen on that incident, we grew apart. Well, she getting better grades and moved on to a better class is to blame as well. Anyway, I still remembered really really clearly the day we laughed and laughed, I think I always will.

Then comes PS, I met her when I was 10 and reunited with her when I was 15, we clicked and instantly we grew close, extremely close. We addressed each other bitches and share everything. I went on holiday and bought her souvenirs, she did the same. This is one of the best times during high school, second to the day Shu Yee and I laughed. The next year, even though we were separated by an entire block of building, it didn't stop me from finding her everyday. Then there it is my 16th birthday, we were obsessed about sweet 16 and my 16th isn't that sweet after all. She gave me my present via another friend. Ok, I am starting to see a pattern there, everyone stopped talking to me cold turkey. I started to think I am the one to blame, I was the common factor after all. So, girls, if you somehow stumble upon my blog, I would really like to know why. I mean, I am not a very nice person in general, but I would at least like to know why. I am open to ANYTHING.

Then, I started closing in, I never allowed anyone to come close into the status that I had in my heart for the past 4 girls. Eva came close and I closed out on her after I left for university. I last spoke to her at my final year of undergraduate and that was the last time I kept in contact with her. I regret doing so as I focused too much on the other half. So, lesson learnt here. I am not going to allow myself to do that again. I contacted a few friends and talk to them frequently even though one is in Australia, another in Canada. 

Both are guys. Lessons that I learnt is, guys are better close friends and less bitchy. They will tell you that you look nicer having a bit more meat on you (yes, my friend said guys like "pau with liao" [translation: bun with filling], not "empty pau", I knew he was referring to my boobs). I never see him in a sexually attractive kind of way, he is like a gay good friend without actually being gay (how did I know? I caught him checking me out when I decided to dress up the last time we met - I am flattered by the way). He is also the only few that knew why I am where I am today. =) Guys doesn't judge. OK, I told a girl friend too and she told me that no matter how wrong I am, I am the only one that could teach my former boyfriend what I taught him and he to me, even though what I did is hurtful and wrong. She made me re-evaluate myself and felt less guilty. Even though none of them are still maid of honor material should I get married, but I am so glad that they are in my life now. Somehow, people had a way to come back in your life if they are mean to be. Shu Yee just proved that saying.

This is to all the friends I have out there. I cherish all of you and even though someday you might be history, you will still be a part of me. Of course, I don't wish that that will be the case. I will fly back Malaysia for your wedding JY and YJ, I would not rip the opportunity of each of you being the other's maid of honor. I will be there to weep at yours, Shu Yee. I will not hesitate to jump on a plane to Turkey for you and visit Istanbul on the way, Ipek. Of course, Eugene, good things comes to the person that waited, take my word for it. =p