Mapping Dumpsters and Scents in Brick Lane

One thought that came to me when I was compiling my portfolio at the end of the semester was how much I enjoyed the mapping exercise that I had to do sometime during the first semester here at Brookes. Previously at Taylor's college, my mapping and analysis of the site was merely limited to the gathering of raw data of the environment and circulation and other observed aspects which was then slapped on an A3 layout and presented and often forgotten afterwards. I never really understood what my tutor, Mr. Alvin, wanted when he kept saying to us to digest the information. Everytime we finished presenting our site analysis, he always went "So what does that mean?" And I was constantly rendered speechless.

Here, my tutors encouraged each of us to make use of the site mapping task creatively. Sure, there were still the usual observations like the ones I mentioned, but we were also required to produce our own 'personal mapping' to communicate and interpret our observations of the site. And it was this exercise that gave me a new outlook and perhaps understanding of this whole effort in mapping and site analysis.

Walking along Brick Lane, I was struck by the contrast in the atmosphere. Brick Lane was a place famed for the vintage clothing stores which littered the street. It was a place to go to hang out and take a break at the many alfresco cafes and dining venues especially around the Truman Brewery area. It's where the whole indie-chic scene is at. Just taking a stroll down the lane on a Saturday afternoon in summer, one can't help but notice the vibrant crowd hanging out around the area. Yet, all of that was located in a place which was dotted with trashcans and those large dumpster bins which were sometimes brimming with trash and situated just alongside notable eateries. And all of that made a distinctive gritty neighbourhood like no other with a more than subtle hint of stench which conflicted with the aromas from the curry houses.

It was then and there that I came to the realization that I wanted to map out the scents and smells along Brick Lane. After a little bit of discussion with my tutors, and a couple more trips back to the site during the bitter cold of November to record some data and literally sniffing out the area, I managed to churn out two maps. These maps were quite well-received by my tutors and eventually led me on to my design project. Apparently when they saw these maps, they were quite convinced of my observational methods. Do click on them to enlarge.

| The Dumpster Catalogue of Brick Lane



| The Scent Analysis of Brick Lane

I'm already looking forward to do some mapping and even catalogue-ing for my own record. Maybe in Oxford, maybe in Penang when I get back, who knows. But one thing's for sure, I'll have fun doing it.

Spot On: Colour

For summer, colour is in big time. The flashier, the better. The world is already a depressing place, so let's liven it up with a healthy splash of kaleidoscopic hues. If you're like me, the notion of donning technicolour outfits can make me cringe a little. But considering how flattering the following pictures are, I'm ready to champion the look.

If you're just starting to embrace the hues, start slow by wearing one item of a striking colour at a time along with your daily outfits. And if you've got the bravado to take it up a notch, then layer it up and consider everything from complimentary colours to striking contrasts. The key is to throw it all together and make it seem not too calculated. Then add a healthy dose of confidence and walk out that door.

*images of Cam Gigandet from GQ.com

I made...

...cupcakes with strawberry icing

Watch & Listen to This

British model and wife of the White Stripes' Jack White, Karen Elson sings this haunting-yet-melodic bluesy piece which features a slight folksy twist. I love this song, I think it's got a certain sense of nonchalance to the tone and lyrics that I find appealing. But I must say it does certainly sound more like a song produced by a band than a solo artist. Nevertheless, take a listen:

Pretty Babies
by Karen Elson
from the album The Ghost Who Walks

Also, this song was featured in Tom Ford's Spring/Summer 2011 show. Karen Elson herself is one of the models at 0:38. And if you watch the entire video, you will find that amongst the models are actresses, Rita Wilson, Julianne Moore, Rinko Kikuchi and singer, Beyonce.

London | More of Borough Market

More shots from Borough Market. These were some of the shots that I took from my first few times to the market using my phone. Lately, it's like everytime I visit London in between Thursdays and Sundays, I tend to find myself somehow drawn back to this place to grab a bite. And the food, vegetables and meats are just so tempting. Visiting this market almost makes me feel a little healthier just by looking at the fresh produce.

| Green curry



| Lunch was carribean styled chicken with a side of rice



| Cooked meats



| Open truss roof structure



| Being located in between buildings give rise to awkwardly angled roofs (and with skylights)



| Meal number 2: free range chicken wrap



| Lots of natural lighting



| Tucked underneath the rail



| Stalls with food galore

Five Hundreth

5 days ago on the 15th of May would have marked the 5th Anniversary of this blog. I'm pleasantly surprised at that, as I wouldn't have guessed I would still be blogging after half a decade. And in fact, have been consistently doing so month after month with only the occasional absence during periods of heavy workloads. But even then, I sometimes schedule posts ahead when anticipating hectic times.

This post marks the 500th post. For that I'm actually surprised that it took such a long while to reach this amount of posts. I've a new found respect for people who have made it to this number with quality posts, because everyone knows that a lot of my posts are quite short. But to be completely honest, 500 is just a number. Sure I do look back every now and then to recall where I was at during this very moment one or two or three years ago. But I never try to revert myself to that person. Instead I have a tendency to be slightly horrified by the way I blogged, the language used, the pictures and the occasional cheesy phrases.

I like to look forward, trying to subtly tweak the way I present myself to the world. The style of writing. The way I present my pictures. The change of headers... I'd like to say all that is calculated and thought of beforehand. Because a blog, after all, is not a direct representation of who you are; It's a carefully selected, condensed and often modified version in which the blogger plays the role of the editor of his own life. So I guess that's what I'm doing here: Editing my life...

East End | Beyond Retro

So I found the place I've been meaning to hit in London for quite sometime. And during my last trip to London a week ago, I just figured out that it was actually really close to the site for my assignment; which is in Cheshire Street, just off Brick Lane. That's the thing about the Whitechapel/Shoreditch area: you never quite know what you may find during each visit.

Being one of the most famous vintage shops in London, it's no surprise that Beyond Retro has an extensive amount of vintage clothing. Racks after racks of mens and womens clothing and accessories which, compared to some other vintage shops in the area, have been neatly categorized. But hunting through shops like these take plenty of time if you want to score something you actually like in your size and in keeping to your budget.

So, naturally, I left empty handed. I really love these shops with their massive inventory of seemingly random pieces of clothing, each unique and different from the other. But for the most part, I go there just for browsing and perhaps to get some inspiration. For a second-hand item, it's surprisingly not cheap.

...and watch this video which was filmed just outside Beyond Retro and in the surrounding area.

F*ck Me Pumps
by Amy Winehouse
from the album Frank

London | Borough Market

I have a thing for markets, whether it's Pike Place market in Seattle, the Wednesday market in Oxford city center, or even back home in Malaysia like the SS2 night market on Mondays or good old Pulau Tikus market which is just a short walk from home. It's a fantastic place to go to for an insight into the real life and culture of any city. They feature the freshest local goods, the commerce and interaction between people of different cultures and the sights, and sounds and smells of great food.

Borough Market in London is one of my favourite places to visit in London at the moment. It's right by London Bridge and the river Thames and is open from Thursdays to Sundays. It's a gorgeous area with stalls upon stalls of vendors selling everything from freshly prepared meals to locally produced cheeses, fresh seafood, and vegetables. The fact that it's tucked in between buildings with paths winding around the nooks and crannies where the vendors set up stall makes it all the better. And being tucked under railway viaducts also contribute to its urban, gritty fabric.

And the food? Delicious. So far I've only managed to try the Caribbean chicken with rice dish, the free-range chicken wrap and the duck confit ciabbata bread sandwich. And also cubes and cubes of samples of cheeses. I am already looking forward to my next trip there.