Pidato.

Pidato: meaning 'speech', in Indonesian.

22 and acing life - including this rather boring but most expensive paper I've earned in my life and it is entirely the most beautiful thing *tingles*

30.09.2014 LDN - I'M DONE WITH THE CITY. BUT, SO NOT DONE AND OVER WITH ALL OF YOU INSANE AND LOVABLE HUMAN BEINGS I'VE EVER MET.

I guess to recap the one year, I learn that I have to introduce myself like:
My name is Rice, short from Raisa.
45 years old mentally and going 46 as its less than 6 months away (the internal joke between a 36 and a 50 year-old classmate there), 24 - Korean age, but 22 internationally.
I have an Indonesian citizenship but to answer your beffudlement shown on your face, I'm second-generation Chinese from pops side.

But more than that, SOAS was the other world I couldn't wait to get through because of the challenges thrown to ask about my existence and sanity...

Exposé.

My last summer in Singapore (June 2012, ha) was filled with work, and great fun! What's more than to kill time to dress models (friends) who has the height, waist, and edge of ‘tude I always possess except the size of the clothes.

For a long-time acquaintance and favorite shopping place who has a magazine, ActuallyMAG launches a styling competition called Project X (Project Expose for long).

I didn’t win, but it was great fun to have at least a permanent set of team to do the photoshoot out and indoors! Here are picks of my favorites.

 Jerim, Squashed in Squash

in my H&M lime hoodie

Farid, Time of the Golden

in UNBOUNDED AWE and KIROICxJUUNJ sneaks

 Anita, Monotone Rust

in my H&M Fashion A Aids beach crochet and 20:TWOTHREE dress

Amanda (of Kindergarchy) & Farid, Landing Mission

Her in Saturday, Him in General Idea

Manda again, Royal On The Road

in L'ILE AUX ASHBY

Alex, Coachella Belle

in my ASOS blue dress and Linda Farrows from Front Row

Alex, Primary Framed

in my Uniqlo tee and Daniel Palilo skirt

Check out the rest of my styling editions, and see other 5-6 stylists in the entire website!

Trivial.

In the streets of Hanoi, motorcycles are dominant, thin buildings are present everywhere.

It's amazing how humans have build upon the society with conscience and perception of things that are different according to race, culture, location. I spent the last days of 2012 and first few days of 2013 along the tourist destinations of the adjacent countries Cambodia and Vietnam, one hot, and the latter chilly for Ha Long Bay.

Set aside those tourists places over here for light notes and insertion of OOTD/WIWT posts and scenic shots, anyone can go click on the search engine and see quality photographs of Angkor Wat, Halong Bay, the city, the people, and at a glance you'd be acquainted with yellow to tan skin looking people working and continuing on their lives.


What was a great takeaway of this trip was the most informative tour leaders aroundand how they have used their lives as hard truths and stories on how they live.

Looks like  a developed city, but honestly within their grounds, not.

There never has been in my travelling with packages and arranged tour leaders who definitely gets commissions on places we go to be this frank, and so upon my dad's tumultuous inquiries on 'how much is the land here?' along with 2 other men in the bus, because of his property background, land became a story that we didnt much know about in Vietnam.

So, Vietnam. How much did I know about the country before? I only knew Pho noodles which I totally love and can eat every day (rice made to noodles. thin beef brisket, fresh aroma of the soup... and rarely found in my living location)... as well as a book about Vietnam cuisine by Bobby Chinn, the interracial chef - one of his roots is having some Vietnam blood and I got the book from the man. I read the preface and history snippets (forget the recipes, definitely no time doing).

But no, upon learning, their lives are so trivial - using American dollars like their own currency, living in tall thin houses, and yet they still can enjoy the higgledy-piggledy of its traffic...

Kings.

HELLO WITH A BANG!

Some huge more than 3 meters vehicle must have passed this and scraped their top. Hmmm.

Toilors and Silk. ROFLMAO

To think that we thought we'll never go to Bangkok... 2 minutes left for departure... literally two and doors are closed...


Let's not go there.


Day 1 in Bangkok proves that the place is just like Indonesia with a easy feasibility of travel in Singapore (read: on foot and train) and that I, who have officially graduated from my Bachelors and is properly labeled a Degree holder, has a very first trip on her own in the wild, wild shopping heaven of the City of Angels.

While doing an impersonate Pornsak Sukhumvit of Channel 5 The Noose on repeat and getting my accent right to be a localize tourist, there are things that certainly is only and applicable to Thailand.

No, not tuk tuks, I didn't ride any for H and I was still in flu and cough (and yet we still share the same utensils) way before when we did Music Matters, Song Joong Ki, and now apparently trying to get in T-ARA Lovey Dovey Bangkok fanmeeting, but some certain social rules that took to my surprise.

Theatre watching: Apart from the recommendation that I was suppose to watch the 4D show (now showing The Avengers, H has watched twice, we opt for normal movie instead) for about 400 Baht (100 Baht is S$4), I went to finally watched MIB 3 which pulled my tears at the end for James, aka Agent J. Spoiler no, it was the part where advertisements ran for about half an hour where we dashed from the streets to go scurry back to Paragon and be in time for the show at 9PM, and where afterwards, had to stand up to give salute to the King's video and national anthem (? Correct me if I'm wrong). That was new for me. After that bit of impromptu stand up I sojourn to my comfy seat for 120 Baht which can auto-incline and my Hello Kitty popcorn tub and drink. Sanrio-certified products (hologram sticker attached) minus the Yen pricing. Serious love.

Food:
First thing we ate after we land: DUNKIN' DONUTS, I had Men in Black 3 donut and it was DELICIOUS I regretted taking the two glazed peanut donuts as I wanted this kind. Oh oh oh.

Dinner: FUJI Japanese Resto (recommended by Champ, again) and ordered huge sashimi bento for like 220 Baht. CRAZY CHEAP QUALITY TOP NOTCH. Makes me want to return but quickly H reminded me that we have other places to try out

And oogling at street foods of sate (so familiar) but confused if the meat is really the meat we want... (too much watching Indonesian news channels)

BREAK TIME.

Trains: Instead of Taxis, I opted for train (I'm listening to Champ 24/7 here) and yes, their trains look exactly like MRT. So I felt like I've arrived in Changi Airport again after 2 hours. The officers were so very helpful, both inside the control station (if they call it that way) and the special way for luggages. They tried their best to accomodate our answers after we arrived at SIAM station which we were suppose to alight at NATIONAL STADIUM. Meh we turned around and walked with my huge luggage with me (empty) and bumped into local stars doing their interview in one mall. Then we were out and lost.

So trains here, like SMRT and SBS (brands) have different lines like to what Singapore have presently, navigate around the town. First the airport link, then we change to the city green link. Tickets are priced affordable for 45 Baht from Airport, and another 20 for city of 2 stops. More or less, we arrived at the 'Dhoby Ghaut Interchange' of Bangkok, but imagine it being open air.

I forgot what else but boy, were we faded out and crashed in right after a wondrous shower with peppermint shower gel and shampoo which is ultra-refreshing and cooling to my head!, oogling our cute room and going rather gaga of what should our bubble speeches be filled with (as seen down below). 

OUR MOST LOVELY LUB'D HOSTEL - BEST IN THE WORLD! JUST DOOOOWN THEEEER.

there's more but this is long overdue I have forgotten what else did we discover that day. Just a thought down below...

Is it... oh no. Just checking. It's a legit skin-only clinic and no tucking in things of 'things.'

Lane.

This is a story about a foreigner arriving in a tropical country.

She is clueless about where she is.

She came with pure boldness.

She is dressed in her skin.

*

She starts to melt off her layers, 

revealing more rainbows with every peel of the petalAdapting to the surroundingComing to her new home with extreme weather and the universe on her feet.Alpha LaneStyling : Elizabeth Raisa / RICE
Hair and Make-up : Shirley Damian
Model : Laís Santos from Upfront Models
Digital Imaging : Nrfjr Tetuko
Special thanks to Actually Shop, Ewan Shah, Liyana Meer, and Miloud Mil

Wardrobe from Abirato, Batik Keris, BOB, Daniel Palillo, Happy Socks, Jeffrey Campbell, Jump from Paper, KTZ, Lanvin x H&M, L'ile Aux Ashby, Mae Pang, Me & Thee, MU, River Island, Underground Creepers, Yazbukey


This fun editorial spread done for the sake of FUN as the duo-sister photographer sally/emily was in Lion town, and they asked me to style. Nothing to loose as the brief was to just take shots at Haji Lane, my real colors came out to dress our pretty 17YO model, Lais, into the rainbow girl I have always wished to be.
"...being ahead of the curve is big-time."
Concept of the styling, the angle plan of the photography and all that details, can be read in our interview with ActuallyMAG! Click click!

After a long wait, ActuallyMAG's editor Liyana finally releases our secrets of our processes (right) for a 3-month delay. That's why I've just published this post, where it has been sitting in the Drafts for so long. . .
Well, that was me and the model going crazy at 11AM.Expect more color burst fun and the spread on the jump!

Ah,

Photos sneak peek from my cousin's wedding.

Earlier month of February, I went home, caught my sickness, did a little blog on my parents' holiday trip, and well, the big day for my cousin's wedding. He hasn't released nor sent us any pictures yet from the celebration (hurry up koko!!!) so these are the only ones, which my mom kept on trying to furtively steal photos.

I was not in my best mood at that hour and tried to stop her from taking pictures, got to my little nerves that in a while, even trying to steal a shot while doing a little lie. Yes she went that far to get some shots.

But that was over. It was A HECTIC day here there everywhere and no, I still don't enjoy going to salon early in the friggin' morning to do my hair and face. I removed half half-way. Ha!

Once I get the photos... then you'll see how heavy that dress of mine is.

Dawn.

Hello in 2012 whutderrfakqer readers! A new dawn for the new year starts.


Issue 004 is coming out soon for DEW Magazine, check out the preview which I contributed a post for them for BOB!

I have no idea what issue theme will be, so I can't be musing after I stop writing from DEW 002 where I had to just mused with photos and here's my own favorites from 003 (because I am so tired from online writing in that point, meheheh)

There are so much stunning works I can only gape, but one is certainly interesting from the title, direction, and of course, hats off as it is not DIGITALLY MADE - IT'S HANDMADE! (A Personal Favorite).

this illustration is created and proudly said by an Indonesian illustrator, Eko Bintang, which I now nominate him as part of my favorite illustrators!! His drawings reminded me of good ol' days of CosmoGIRL! Horoscopes drawing I used to really like and cut out. I forgot that illustrator name, he's based in the States.

 Someone recalls? Let me know!

(click on image to enlarge)

Dolce & Gabanna's "Boys will be Boys" getup is the closest style I could replicate with a sudden shopping spree of neon colored blazers on ASOS. If not, "Spank It Babe" is the most entertaining DPS ever, don't you agree??


Other than that, the third edition is filled with themes around 'EASTERN ISSUE', but I took some other awesome picks which are not entirely Eastern.

• can you believe this that these frocks are designed and made by an Indonesian designer? Guess who! You'd have to find out by going to the magazine! It's BREATHTAKINGLY PRETTAYYYYY. My style much.•

Anyhow I just realized the new features of Twitter those "Paper.Li" thing. Unless you use an iPhone and other touchy smartphones, you wouldn't know as there is no feature for this on desktop (blame me, I only log into the website, not using Tweetdeck whatsoever), so I've been popping out a couple places... like this one:

Funny thing is its from Padalarang, of all places!

More funny unimportant musings around my article and the comments can be found on my Tumblr.

I know I promised a lot of things to unidentified readers and whoever wants to but I really should get writing on more posts ey.

Kirameki*!

*: happy

Two things why we should again make Japan be our role-model and to make us forever happy.

Recently, I went to a presentation by getting the usual Japan Creative Centre Singapore (JCC) newsletter and invitation for exhibitions. Now a confession: I only did a forward to my editor of Whiteboard without looking or reading what's it about - I only thought it would be another art exhibition which they usually hold. But I was quite taken by surprise to what I saw when I ran late and thought I was pretty lucky on being part of the audience of this group of NUS Japanese Studies and other few faq. students to visit Japan and learn from their PechaKucha presentation.

What's this all about? You can read the synopsis of my report for 'Role-modeling Japan's Green Movement" to click onwards below to the page...

which it was cut to a big extent. So I'll dish here for the whole report which is worth a good 500-word essay back in school for a post field trip report. Because, I am this impressed.

Hi 'Shoes', or yes however you pronounce your moniker, it is stuck in my head still. Good nickname!

Under the direction of Professor Doctor Philip McMorran from the National University of Singapore (NUS), 12 final year students were brought to the southern area of Japan for a trip of discovery and research. With the focus of studying on their ecological friendly methods, for 7 days they were enriched with the nature Japan has naturally hold and of what they have man-made to make things look natural.

 

What fascinate them overall is how Japanese are so exquisitely neat, initiative and its discipline dedication to maintain the situation. From the naked eye, the theme park garden Huis Ten Bosch isn’t just your usual theme park – powered by the water beneath its massive windmills and rivers and teddy bear museum, huge pipes all around are transporting and chugs water over and over to recycle.

Man made scenery at Kurokawa Onsen doesn’t look artificial at all. It has grown along with nature and the main mission of it is to present Japan’s nature close by with its guests relaxing while they bathe.

Kumamoto City Green Carpet movement is also part of the agenda, but what’s to note is the unbelievable action of city to categorize their waste into 24 different types, where we commonly see only 3, for better recycling methods and to preserve the future.

Read more of the field trip on Professor McMorran’s blog. Quite envious of him to have stayed about 4.5 years in Japan to actually learn about the country. That is my dream! More than ever that well, my driver's son gets a SCHOLARSHIP to study in Japan and now WORKING THERE as well as wanting to be a high school kokosei which I'll never be but forever in secret in wanting to wear the uniform, which Eliora did...(OK STOP OUT OF TOPIC ALREADY SORRY)

I sincerely congratulate the success of the final-year students of NUS for embarking the journey to make the first step of change.

Narcissm yes I see me. Tee hee~

Photos courtesy of JCC . Support 'em!

                    Now back to my space to talk whatever I want. I was blown away on how this professor was doing his job. And really, doing doing an extra effort to an extent to help his students to get a job in this opportunity. So you saw the photo above where I was sitting. I was sitting among these people that were from various industries and companies and etc.

                    PLUS POINT was that there was a lot of Japanese companies and reps from the JCC/Embassy, like the rep for the transport authority in Japan itself or how I perceive on how the MC introduced him. And man, for the professor who introduced each and every student with their specialist abilities and their interests and reminding everyone who were present to "please get in touch with them, contact them if you have an Earth to save" because a student wanted to save the Earth.

                    I don't think my lecturers will even lower their ego for some peanuts like us. Hmmm. I do feel that this kind of exposure needs to happen and a WOW for NUS. Good thing that there's JCC present to utilize in Singapore. It is a good city for creating opportunities - lots of things are popping up and you gotta grab it ya'll!

Cheers to Prof. McMorran there, I wish you were my lecturer. I got high respects for ya, fist bump!

Another thing is this cute thing from Lomography - the KIRAMEKI series! This was like back in May or I forgot since I've put the post to draft but aren't these a little zen darling (the middle one).

So there was a contest to win this kawaii chiisai darling. So I entered. I was late by a day but they immediately accepted by blur hazy geisha photo for the competition entry - only 20 people were chosen OMONA! But I didn't win.

Well I couldn't win because...

The event was held at GI Indonesia (at the time being I was still in Singapore) and my parents are viciously unsupportive by not attending (but then it was a city to city trip for a camera hmmm) , via LOMOGRAPHY album!

I couldn't get retrieve my photo anywhere, anyhow it was taken by Minhwan!

Now can we toast for Japan's everlasting forever zettai soba ni iru in my heart?

Oh dear whatever the point is that I love Japan berry berry much. MUCH!!!

Written on my 13 days left of holiday before returning for (hopefully) KMW2011!!!!

Over and out!