This week-end, I was in Lyon to celebrate my little brother’s graduation.
We’re here with the family and actually went to a wonderful Michelin-star restaurant, which was booked last minute, with views overlooking the city.
And it literally turned out to be the best restaurant I’ve ever been too and best meal I’ve ever had. And did I mention this was my vegetarian set menu?!
If you haven’t been to Lyon, I can only recommend it — it brings some of this French charm, blends it with great cuisine, cityscapes, and a much friendlier local population than Paris.
On our end, we took the time to re-visit the scenic streets & architecture of this beautiful city. We even went to a great little Cinema Museum dedicated to movie sets, props, miniatures, and special effects —right in the center of the old town. I highly recommend this place if that’s the type of thing that interests you!
Something I’ve been saying to a few close friends and family members:given the current American Government, I’m going to avoid traveling to the US because I feel that I’m just vocal enough to be rejected at the border.
Here’s the short version of what I’m about to say:
Immigrants and visitors to the US—along with anyone participating in protests or visible resistance to the current administration—are the targets of intrusive governmental surveillance, including surveillance of their social networks. Both immigrants and political dissidents are being vilified by the administration and targeted for draconian and unconstitutional attacks. If your “friends”—or friends of friends—network includes people vulnerable to these attacks, you should assume that your constitutionally protected political speech may be used in bad faith to characterize your contacts as terrorists or criminals, and act accordingly.
Note: If this seems obvious to you, perhaps because you’ve already experienced some flavor of it, know that I wrote this post for your friends and family members and colleagues who haven’t thought about it yet.
Since January 2015, the FBI has also arrested more anti-immigrant American citizens plotting violent attacks on Muslims within the U.S. than it has refugees, or former refugees, from any banned country.
Consumer Reports will now include privacy as an important factor into how they rate new products. A great news in these troubled times.
Simple and to the point:
When consumers vote with their wallets and their clicks, we’ve seen that companies pay attention. We think companies will strive to out-do their competitors when it comes to privacy, security, and other consumer rights. The ones that do a better job will gain more customers.
alt-J is back!Announcing an album ("Relaxer") and a tour yesterday, they also took the time to release the first single, entitled “3WW” (three worn words).
A mix inspired by my recent trip to London. Some of those tracks are from British artists, some others were on repeat during my trip, and relate to the people I’ve met and shared good times with! #GoodVibesOnly
A reduction in working hours generally correlates with marked reductions in energy consumption [...] In fact, if Americans simply followed European levels of working hours, for example, they would see an estimated 20% reduction in energy use—and hence in carbon emissions.
I didn’t have any plans for the evening, and was originally planning to work on more music mixes and blog posts before heading back the following day.
A handful of minutes before entering the Design Museum, I received a notification on my phone: a message sent via the dating app I use.
I opened it and discovered a beautiful mixed Asian-American woman wishing me a belated happy birthday, adding that her own birthday happened two days after mine. She had just arrived in the city and was looking for some recommendations of things to do around London.
After a few exchanges we made plans to meet up later that evening. I arrived 5 minutes earlier than expected, after a quick pit-stop at the local florist, to pick up a rose — although I’m not usually stereotypically cheesy and romantic, it was February 14th after all.
I waited patiently in front of the restaurant — back to Khan’s. Her Uber dropped her off right on time. We hugged, said Hi, and went inside, to our table.
I learnt that S comes from Washington DC, and is of Vietnamese-American and Jewish-American descent. She was on holidays throughout Europe for 10 days, having been to Dublin until that day, and going to Paris in two days to meet up with friends.
She works in a corporate job that allows her to travel all around the world, which is one of those roles that sounds too good to be true. This, coming from someone who’s about to go nomad for about 9 months, later this year.
We hit it off, talking about everything and nothing, from our mixed identities and cultures to a little bit of politics (talking about the current Great American Debacle and the upcoming Presidential Election in France), and everything in between.
It was fascinating to meet her, especially considering our different backgrounds and yet very similar personalities. No alcohol was had during dinner, but we couldn’t help laughing, bouncing jokes off of one another, or having fun at the total lack of interest from the waiting staff at the restaurant. Just a great connection and conversation overall.
After dinner, we decided to go for a drink at a bar — however we couldn’t find one nearby and ended up in a pub instead. We had a cocktail and continued our ongoing conversation, learning about our different cultures and upbringing, she told me about her different trips and the countries she visited. I shared my stories growing up in the south of France, learning to properly speak English via Bad Boys II and 24. She told me about how she’s been ice skating since she was 6 and had continued up to the previous year. I talked about my practising the guitar since age 7. The evening continued.
The pub had a nice friendly atmosphere, but we were in the mood for a cocktail bar, so decided to look for another venue, walking alongside Hyde Park. (Unfortunately, this London landmark happens to be closed in the evenings.)
We arrived at the bar, realising that despite being Valentine’s Day, it was closed. It was a Tuesday. But above the bar was another pub, of a much higher standard than the place we had just come from. It looked kind of fancy if I’m being honest, but not pompous. It was also less crowded, which made it easier to sit, and talk.
She had another Gin & Tonic and told me that this second round was on her. Asking me what I wanted to drink, I responded with a simple “Surprise me” — she picked a Whiskey & Ginger Ale, something that neither I nor the staff had heard of. Apparently quite a common drink in the US.
All evening long, our conversation had been pretty much ongoing, interrupted only by the occasional waiter asking for more food or drinks. I learnt about her family, her friends, her education and in turns, shared my side of the story, my ups and down. It was freeing to just discuss those things without any barrier. A good, truthful, honest and transparent conversation. Just being ourselves with one another.
The pub was about to close when we left. Outside, standing in one of the streets leading back towards Hyde Park, I asked her if she had something in mind. It was close to 11pm, but all places around us were either closing or were about to close. She started off telling me that she had a great evening, but that given the lack of places being opened, she’d probably head back to her Airbnb.
I mentioned my hotel room, the fact that it was close, cosy, and within walking distance. It took a lot of effort for me to invite her to join me, innocently. But despite my crumbling shyness, I managed. And she took me up on that offer.
We continued our conversation, and arrived at the hotel. We went through the corridor, and I opened the door of my room for her. I should have cleaned the mess a little bit. She was impressed with the room, just like I was when I discovered it earlier that day. I did explain that this was very unusual for me too, and that it was nowhere near the type of luxury I was accustomed to.
After giving her a quick tour, she sat down on the sofa and took off her shoes and tights. I took my shoes off too and offered her some water. We sat in bed, talking, while turning on the TV, as a random distraction to keep on the side. We continued to laugh and chat and made fun of the ads on British TV (spoiler alert:they’re weird)
Slowly, we were moving closer to one another. At some point she asked me a question, and put her hand on my arm while I was responding. The dork in me instantly lost his train of thought but I tried to finish my answer, and keep my composure, while the voices in my head were shouting “Keep it cool, Tibz!”
It was then that she put her hand on the back of my neck and moved closer to my face. I moved towards her too. We kissed. That kiss felt like a “I really like you, you’re cute” mixed with a “shut up and kiss me, nerd!” — gentle yet cheeky, playful yet meaningful.
From this point on, our bodies started moving in sync, our lips interlocked, and our arms running down the bed sheets. There is no need to go into details. This is not a fan fiction, this is real life. The life of two human beings connecting on multiple levels, sharing a moment in time. But the most incredible thing was how natural it all felt. There was no pressure, no discomfort, as if we had known each other for years, knowing what made the other tick, and how to satisfy them.
Later on, in the middle of the night, we found ourselves lying down on the bed, under the sheets, cuddling, holding one another, all the while continuing the conversation we had started hours earlier.
There is no way that one can manufacture or fake this type of connection between other humans.
We woke up hugging and kissing in the morning, slowly, after only a couple of hours of sleep, and, for me, two hours until I had to leave. Getting out of bed was another very quiet and sensual moment that we shared.
The day started with a shower, some fresh clothes, and breakfast together in the hotel’s restaurant. Another shared moment, intimate, talking over a cappuccino and some orange juice. Asking more questions before having another bite of a delicious and needed pain au chocolat.
We went back to the room, and I continued packing while talking with her, taking micro-breaks to kiss her, or hold her against me. Each time felt like a very natural move, like she belonged there in my arms.
As I’ve tried to find my rationality, my composure, and my sanity writing those lines, we have continued to talk, to chat regularly, continuing our seemingly endless conversation.
It was one evening in time, but we both felt it, the unexplained bond. Looking back, and debriefing this with her, the entire evening has been surreal. It feels like mind, body and soul are talking the same language, and I can’t explain it. I consider myself to be optimistic but also pragmatic. But S quite literally fell out of the sky.
The coincidence and timing that led us to meet each other is uncanny: I hadn’t planned anything that evening, and to be frank, the entire trip to London was as unplanned as could be — I had booked my plane tickets in November and the hotel one week before my arrival. She booked her entire trip to London just one week before. The number of factors at play are too random for me to discard.
And the different background yet similar reactions, personality, and way of thinking. Our attraction to one another. I just can’t explain it, and I’m OK with that. But it remains a complete source of mystery. As she put it so well: I had no idea someone like her existed.
I don’t know what the future hold, but I’m not ready to let her go. We’re planning to meet again, in May at the latest, which sounds like an eternity away, especially when you live day-to-day as I most often do. But she is unlike anyone I’ve ever met, I have never heard about or felt that type of connection, and I have never felt like this towards anyone before, including in longer relationships I’ve been in.
After months of a romantic desert, Karma sure knows how to sneak up on you.
Today was a beautiful day in London. As I’ve alluded to earlier in the day, the weather was very sunny, with a great blue sky — the first actual sights of the sky that I’ve seen since the beginning of the trip here, actually.
Today, I… met a friendly Londoner, over a deliciousbrunch and spent some time exploring the city, getting new recommendations for things do see and do along the way.
We went to a popular Indian restaurant called Dishoom. The inside of the place looked like a French bistrot, with European waiters, and exciting traditional Indian food. And a wonderful Egg-Roll Naan and an even better Dirty Chai (we both had several of those.)
After a lovely conversation, and two full stomachs, we walked all the way towards the iconic landmarks that are St Paul’s cathedral and Covent Garden. We left around the Seven Dials area, and I took the opportunity to grab a cup of coffee at Monmouth, one of my favorite places in the city.
On my friend’s recommendation, and before the day’s next appointment, I went for a long walk in Regent’s Park, arguably one of London’s best and biggest parks. It is located slightly to the north of the center of the city, while still being considered a part of the center.
My next meeting has been kind of a long-time bucket list item: visiting Monocle’s headquarters. In this case, I’m lucky enough to share a friend in common with Daniel Giacopelli, who runs The Entrepreneurs’ podcast. I’ve been listening to him for years, and through our mutual connection, we started following one another online.
Today, I not only got to meet Daniel, but he was also kind enough to give me a tour of the studio, a behind the scenes look at the office and the upcoming issue, as well as a small gift, and more London recommendations.
It’s hard to put into words how incredibly excited I was to visit Monocle HQ and finally meet Daniel afk, as well as how grateful I am for the opportunity and the conversation. Totally fanboy moment.
To wrap up the day, I went to the BFI IMAX again. This time for the newly-released Lego Batman movie. It was funny, as hysterical as the original, and very meta too. And obviously, as a big fan of both Michael Cera and (even more) Will Arnett, I could only have a great time watching this animated movie.
Finally, before ending the day in my hotel room I needed some food. Being alone I brought my laptop with me to get started on this very blog post. However, despite being a Monday night, the staff found a way to forget my order, and it took a literal hour to get my (delicious) veggie burger. To compensate, they served me another pint, on the house. It confirmed my theory from earlier in the trip, that my transition to a vegetarian diet has contributed to my decreased alcohol-tolerance. That second pint was enough to get me quite tipsy.
Tomorrow, I’m gonna need to pack, check out of this hotel, checking in to another one in Hyde Park / Kensington, and hopefully spend some time in museums at least.
Over the weekend, I took some much deserved time to catch up with my friends living in England.
It began with a day-trip to Brighton during which I finally caught up with my great friend Nat, and finally got introduced to her boyfriend Joe. The three of us met at Brighton station, and went out for brunch in a new Café called VH. In Hove, actually.
After a walk in town, running a couple of errands and re-discovering some of my favorite shops, streets, and the infamous Brighton Laines/Lane/North Lane, we headed back to their lovely little flat for some tea.
Finally, I met up with Natalie & Joe again for dinner. A delicious Indian curry, another walk in Town, more cocktails and it was time to head back.
From the moment I left the station to the time I left the city, I felt happy, at home, and yet also conflicted about being back: it felt like I had both been gone for 5 years, and at the same time it felt like I had never left.
Then came Sunday, and with it another lovely brunch with my friend Ben, whom I’ve known from Twitter for the past 3 years or so, but had never had the chance to physically meet until today.
Ben took me out to Kua ‘Aina, a Hawaiian-themed Burger Joint. The food was glorious, and so were the alcoholic milkshakes (Coconut + Malibu and Peanut Butter and Bourbon), as well as the Sweet Potato Fries and Halloumi & Red Peppers vegetarian burger.
From there, we explored some of London’s most iconic streets and shops, from the wonderful Moleskine store to Fortnum & Mason, walking around Trafalgar Square, and really experiencing the core center attractions of London.
We ended the day out back on the South Bank, over Ramen. From there, I went to see Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, at the BFI IMAX, the UK’s biggest screen. It was glorious!
Somewhere in those 1,200 or so pages was the most effective answer I’ve found so far to BUT HOW: instead of subtracting bad things, add good things.
Or: When bad things cannot be subtracted, protect the good things and turn to them as things to do thinking about and focusing on when you need a break from the bad things.
Stoya’s back to blogging, which is GREAT NEWS. In this series of articles, she talks about how online comments can affect you, no matter what you say, feel, or how strong you can be.
And beyond this, she shares her solution to fighting the bad: with some good! Love this idea!
Once I got up, the morning shower helped me kickstart the day: it began with a solid two hours-worth of focused work across my various client projects.
I left the hotel just before noon, to go out for my daily adventure: in that case, exploring the infamous Shoreditch district! Imagine that: after having lived in the U.K. for 5 years and having taken just as many trips to London, I was yet to explore this hip neighborhood.
I knew I’d love it of course, and rightfully so: with the creative energy and newly-founded brands and businesses being all in the same place, it all contributes to a feeling of overwhelming inspiration.
Despite the freezing single degree temperature, I definitely appreciated walking around, entering concept stores such as GoodHood, Cafes such as AllPress and Brooklyn, and even enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Cook Dialy, in the Boxpark complex!
Later on in the afternoon, I came back to the hotel for a quick pit stop: recharging the batteries of my devices and my own body, as well as knocking down some more work.
It was the late afternoon/early evening when I went out again, this time for a beer with my friend Arnaud, at Zendesk’s European Headquarters, and then headed to Camden, to see Bloc Party play at the incredible Roundhouse! I’ve booked my tickets just 2 days earlier, on my first night in London.
There is something incredible, almost magical about Kele’s voice, Charlie’s guitar, this music and this venue!
Another great day full of adventures, with more to come tomorrow!
Feeling incredibly grateful to have spent the day with my friend Frit for my birthday! We really took our time in a freezing 2 degrees Celsius, to explore London’s South Bank!
Sadly I ended the night alone in my hotel, first at he restaurant, then working on my laptop at the bar, and finally back at the hotel room.
But the outpouring of birthday messages and Charity Water donations throughout the day made it worth it!
That’s why this Steve Harvey episode is so upsetting. He speaks openly about issues facing the black community, he is a man of God, and he has a huge platform to speak from. Unfortunately, he’s also the type of guy who orders Krug champagne for himself and Cook’s for every one else. For his own personal profit, he’s willing to perpetuate the emasculation of Asian men regardless of how hypocritical it is. He isn’t the only one doing this in 2017, but as I told myself on New Year’s, I’m not drinking anymore of this Cook’s they’re trying to pour, and neither should you.
A controversy dating from a few weeks back, but still worthy of attention. At the same time when Steve Harvey was under fire for meeting with Trump, there came a point where he found the time to comment on the masculinity of Asian men — or, in his eyes, lack thereof.
The response above was published in the Times, and written by Eddie Huang, fan-favorite restauranteur, TV show host, and Guardian of the Culture. (Yes, he’s like the person I wish was my older brother or cousin.)
Oh how I’ve missed the U.K.: much more than I thought.
Staying in Kensington tonight. Went to the popular and highly recommended Khan’s Restaurant, and ate a delicious Vegetarian Thalis before heading to the movies.
