My Wine Journey so far...

The essence of my journey in wine is to discover what wine means to me. To some, it represents a commodity as a means for profit, whether to teach it or to sell it. I have come across both. There are also some who write about it and their palate seem to be so trust-worthy. I have come across them too. The best known in the wine world, some believed. I have tasted hundreds of wine I believed, studied and got certified yet I am still unsure what to do with it. I supposed I admire some, who just enjoy drinking it, which I do too. And some who cellar it, hoping that the bottle will turn into a marvelous worth of time and effort. I aspire to do that too.

Another some, are people who work in the very production of wine. In the vineyard, they are the viticulturists, and the very skillful people who transform these precious fruits into joyful liquids, the winemakers. I have no exposure in this field of viticulture and vinification, and I always wonder how my life would differ should I live close enough to a wine region. In a vineyard, I imagine living the humble life as portrayed in some wine movies. Indeed, there is some magical goodness in wine that simply fills my heart with pure joy and pleasure. I have yet to find a wine that made me feel otherwise. Is there one?

I believe that if wine is a growing trend in this part of my world, I wonder what else is there to look forward to. I supposed teaching it, is one way or another I find, how I can associate with the retention of my wine knowledge as some said, through teaching you are retaining 95% of your knowledge. Is that true? Or just organize some wine dinners here and there as a means of escape to a pure fun-filled sharing of wine moments. I wonder, can a person live this life and maintaining it without a cost? I certainly find lots of potential in doing that.

Of course, there is also some who contribute and write freely about whatever they think of some wine they tasted. I find that rather personal and by a sheer power of the Internet capability, everyone can look or be made to look like a pro. I mean, isn’t it too easy to qualify to write about wine these days? Just like what I am doing now, disguising it in a form of blog?

If there is one more thing left for me to make my wine knowledge useful is to have more tasting sessions, simply discovering what the wine world has to offer today. Let’s not limit our imagination to the well-known labels or regions but do look elsewhere for new possibilities. When I visited Bhutan, a few years back, what stroke me was that, how come this place doesn’t produce its own wine? Well, it does now. And it's from grapes, not rice.

The endless possibilities is always a constant reminder that how much we do not know rather than how much we think we know. Salute!

Wine, Wine, Wine

My journey in wine was being initiated by sipping a light yellow liquid in a local restaurant in Brussels some years back. At least it was how I remember it. I remember loving it and with my cultural upbringing, wine is associated with luxury and the only encounter I would have had with wine, would be in a Chinese wedding dinner. Although wines were served along with beers and whiskies, I did not have the luxury to taste them as I was way too young. Somehow, alcohol was negatively associated by the way I was brought up.

The little restaurant in Brussels opened my eyes to the pleasurable side of alcohol. What great joy a wine can bring when enjoy with nice food and nice company! I was then, a fairly innocent young person with little engagement to the wider world, but thanks to my job, managed to bridge that for me. I was feeling so at home with the whole European setting and sipping the liquid I was told is wine. I did not get any dizziness from drinking it but a slight feeling of being lifted, a state I came to know as the "godliness" state, where life can just end with that sip and feeling fully content with just having that sip, as the last moment of my life. From there, I know I enjoy wine.

Every now and then, having wine with meal would be such a treat and has always been a highlight for me. When I resigned from my job, I brought this little learning with me that wine should be enjoyed in happy occasions which I gladly shared with my close friends even we weren't earning much for a living. How excessive it may sound, but that's how wine portray itself, a pleasurable indulgence. I remember how happy we felt to discover how nice Ernest and Julio red wine tasted, a bottle my hubby brought home. Most of the time, it was order by the glass whenever we club, pub, dine or simply chilling at hotel lounges for a good relaxing live music. I truly enjoy those times thanks to my ever-supportive hubby and the company of my dear friend. I was enjoying wine, but I didn't really know about wine.

Coming back from my stint in acquiring a bachelor's degree, I was earning again and I was glad to have more opportunity to learn about wine. I started by buying a bottle that I could afford, mostly German Rieslings in Penny Mart, Frankfurt and then gradually began to explore generic Bordeaux wines. I had no idea, the difference between a St Emilion or Medoc. I was a typical non-informed, under-educated wine drinker. Then, there was this gentleman who formalize my interest for wine when he said, palate can be trained and there is so much to learn about the world of wine. I began studying for WSET exams and miraculously, I passed each time I sat for the exam. I must have some really keen interest in wine then.

To date, I have yet to taste a lot of wines but hopefully, I am on the right track of training toward becoming a Sommelier, a credible one, I aspire to be. I still love browsing through wine shops and each time, I began to feel more at ease, instead of looking cluelessly like how I used to be. There is never-ending learning about wine, just like any other field. I just wish I could learn as much as I can and I will.

Good Night, Mr Jobs..

I am now in New York City again. As I was browsing through the windows of the shops on Fifth just now, I was actually making my way to the Apple Retail Store. Early in the morning, you will be glad to see the store as it is open 24hours a day. It never sleeps like the city itself.

As you already know, Steve Jobs had gone, at the moment so timely with the launch of iPhone 4S. I speculated that because of Steve's death, they held back the launch of iPhone 5 which was greatly anticipated and almost had become a reality to many. Well, I was saddened by the news of both, the passing of my favorite technology/business figure, and the fact that I have to wait longer to hold another evolutionary or revolutionary (I hope) device.

As I was watching the many tributes to Steve Jobs on the news channels, I could not help but reflect on his greatest gifts to the world. Was he a great technologist? Was he the greatest marketer?

I am a Mac user myself since early 2004, and I instantly fell in love with my iBook G3 then, when I first got it. It is not only nice to look at and touch with your fingers, it was absolutely reliable and almost idiot-proof. I did not feel intimidated at all but somehow pride myself to be somewhat different from the masses. In my mind, the illumination of the Apple logo whenever my iBook starts up, says it all. The best advertisement ever, I still opine.

Just outside of Apple Retail Store in NYC, the famous glass cube is all covered in white now. As I entered the store, I descended through the spiral stairways and around me, it was covered in white. I felt as if I was going to a funeral. I could not help but felt a little sombre. I have to see the iPhone 4S, I told myself.. but it was no where in sight or on display.

I took another look outside of the store again and tried to read the little messages that Steve Jobs' fans left him. A lot of apples and candles offered to him with his signature quotes on them. I felt that, Mr Jobs' legacy will always be with us, very often when we use his signature products. Steve Jobs is never really gone, it's just a good night and tomorrow, who knows will change the world again.

p/s : I credit Mr Jobs for caring the right-brainers and put a meaning to what the world has arrived into, the conceptual age..
Also, remember the moments unboxing your newly purchased Apple products? Only Steve would had thought, it was worth it!

Going Really Gaga

Bandung

Our recent trip to Bandung was timely in a sense that right after the trip, BBC began to show a travel series on Bandung. According to BBC, Bandung was once, Paris of the East. I did not watch the series but Bandung and Paris are fashionable cities, I regard.

Our brief flight was a smooth one with half of a full load. Budget airlines connect city to city and this privilege was not in existent until Air Asia came to life. Bandung may not be a travel destination to most but many will go there for a good shopping spree. Bandung, around 2 hours by car from Jakarta has been an escape to the city dwellers who would want to seek a cooler air, great food and not to mention, Bandung's famous factory outlets.

Thanks to a dear friend, we managed to go to the right factory outlets without wasting our precious 3-day-2-night stay, searching among the tens of outlets in Dago area namely, Jalan Riau and Jalan Setibudi. Rumah Mode, Summit, Uptown and Secret are a few that worth going.

We also went to the famous but isolated The Peak restaurant, reputed to be the gem ala fine dining owned by the Jacob's Creek group. The atmosphere was great, romantic with a dose of exclusivity but the food did not match the standard that we were looking for. But I was happy enough to be able to try the local red and white wines from Bali. The white wine was a balance wine with refreshing and crisp acidity, perfect to match the appertisers that we ordered but when it came to my red with my lamb shank, the red was a little clumsy and the nose was a bit gamey to my liking.

Upon her recommendation, we also stayed at Hilton and visited the spa which was unfortunately, fully booked on our first night there. Our wait for the spa on the next day, had indeed paid off when we finally got a great rub after a full day of outlet shopping, eating in Kartika Sari with doses of Soto, Brownie Kukus, Pisang Bolen and driving through the Beverly Hills of Bandung.

To us, Bandung is a great getaway to enjoy luxury hotel stay and spa with a price tag that many could afford. Our best dinner meal was indeed at Hilton's Fresco Italian restaurant overlooking the hotel's pool. We recommend, no where else but Hilton for a full pampering stay and it would be nice if this can be recurring...

Property KL

In my recent trip to KL, I was in awed and inspired by the property development scene and how well, the sector is gearing towards the rising standard and property value especially, in the high-end luxury niche.

It is very true that the increased connectivity of KL City and other suburban cities has made KL, the investors’ playground. The property prices in the city is relatively low when compared to the more developed markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore and some said, KL prices look more attractive than Bangkok and Jakarta. Truly, KL has a competitive advantage in terms of price versus value factor and taking into consideration of the government effort and commitment for wanting to improve the city’s infrastructures and transportations i.e. the MRT, KL seems to be the answer to where you should park your money.

To understand the property market in KL, which I am no expert, I believe that driving around the city in look out for buntings/banners or billboard advertisements helps tremendously. Relying on newspaper advertisements is still a little too late, as people on the ground may have booked the best bets by the time the news travels to you. Hence, as a layperson, with no special connection to insiders’ news, you can still have your best bet by doing your homework i.e. be on the ground and stay close to the ground. Of course, you also need some pre-requisites like knowing what exactly you are looking for and whether you have the means to acquire it.

I am no big-time property investor but I believe in building wealth by property investment, thanks to my better half. I have a really strong hunch that KL city properties have tremendous potential and have not reached the peak yet. Well, frankly, you don’t need me to tell you that. There is plenty more room for further increase in property prices and if the government continues to be focusing on the economic growth strategy, prices can only head upwards with interests from foreign investors.

With some encouraging and promising news from property developers like SP Setia, Mah Sing, EmKay and Empire, you can be sure that the KL property scene will be very exciting for the next few years. Do strive to be on the “list” of invitees where pre-launches are held. I still have a long way to go but I hope it’s going to be possible one day…

Turning 30

The big 3-0 really scares me initially. I’ve been avoiding, thinking that the day would not come, and when it did eventually, I had nothing else to say or to feel.

I supposed my non-confrontational nature or perhaps, only the close ones would realize how prepared or ill-prepared I was in turning 30.

I asked my friends on how they feel about themselves being in the 30s bracket. I am grateful that I have lots of support and each gave me a courageous view on how turning 30 is transformational from being self-doubt to bursting with self-confidence.

They also shared, how they felt about their physical state, where they all agree, they felt sexier. Wow, I didn’t expect that!

I always thought that turning 30 means slowing down in your metabolic rate, which translate to having to curb your appetite for much food as you can easily put on weight from that day onwards. Besides weight, your energy level will drastically drop to a point of no return. From then on, you will just give up and let yourself go as 30 supposed to mark the stage where vanity matters secondarily. Well, I didn’t realize that I was stuck with such thought of the previous generation!

Turning 30 in today’s context is really, literally, turning 20 again (like what my bestie said). The only difference is that, you’re more capable, financially and socially to achieve or to do what you want to do.

As a female, I suppose turning 30 marks the age where you feel more liberated and the old adage of “no more market value” should not apply anymore. It should be, I know what I want better now, than I knew 10 years ago, hence I will tread carefully in search for it. If the numerical indication still matters, it is only needed as a timeline, a motivation and a reminder. That’s it.

After being 30 for about two weeks now, I finally come in to terms with what I really feel about it. In the midst of all this entangled and contrasting musing, I come to conclusion that we live, in search to stop searching. My mantra now is to continue questioning about life, about my thoughts and my feelings until I have all the answers.


The purpose in life is to search to stop searching.