The Curious Case of Coffee Shops- Conjuring Spaces and Imaginations

A year ago, a friend introduced me to some of the arguably best coffee shops in London,  like Prufrock Coffee, Monmouth etc. The coffee was pretty good, but what really struck me over there was- neither the single origin filter coffee, nor the amazing flat white or latte brewed behind the elegant Lavazza coffee machine.

They were actually the spaces, the interior designs, and the people over there.

I noticed the creative usage of space- not just to attract more customers, but to display the imaginations of a barista. He is the 'Architect of Spaces', constructing what he wishes to see in his own shop, eg: the interaction and the flow of the customers, and whether there's enough privacy for everyone in the public space, but at the same time, doesn't stop everyone from talking to anyone if he/she wishes to.

The unique design has created an intriguing meeting point for those who genuinely enjoy coffees, those who are there to be pretentious ; those who are there to escape from the real world; or those who are there to simply embrace the spaces.

Although it's a place which tends to move on a slower pace than the outside world, many ideas, emotions, and conversations appear more frequent to inspire the people in the coffee shops. It's like a microcosm of the entire dynamism of a big metropolitan city, but in a contradictory manner.

A little cup of flat white and a relaxing ambience in a quaint surrounding are pacing themselves towards forming an idea that was once scattered pieces of fragments, or brewing a casual yet meaningful conversation that you never thought you would have in the midst of a bustling city life.

Therefore, during my trips to some of the most vibrant cities in the world, I have taken some time out to visit some cafes and photograph some of the sights and scenes which I personally feel, have inspired me to appreciate life from a more beautiful perspective, in one way or another.

Prufrock Coffee, London

Workshop Coffee, London

Association Coffee, London 

Monmouth Coffee & Co, London

Sight Glass, San Francisco

Market Lane Coffee, Melbourne

Stumptown Roaster, New York

Monocle Cafe, London

Sight Glass, San Francisco

Thinking Cup, Boston

Fazil Bey, Istanbul

Prufrock Coffee, London

Flat White, London

Monocle Cafe, London

Approaching quarter-life, where are the dots and how to connect them?

Seriously, I have no idea. 

There are so many articles out there, circulating around telling you what you ought to do in your 20s, what you should not do in your early 20s, what you wished to know in your 20s, and bla bla bla... and it gets repetitious after some time.

I came across this line a while ago. 'The best way to get life experience is to go out there and live'. The best advice to build your own future has to come from yourself. You have to observe how to observe, to learn how to learn, and to fail how to fail, in order to succeed. 

Then I started to find the dots and tried to connect them by travelling.  (p/s: But then again, this is not the only way, or the best way as implied by those articles on the internet. )

There was a time in my university life when I suddenly realised that I haven't seen the world enough. London is the only big city I have lived in throughout my life. Being a metropolitan city, London has provided me many great opportunities and occasions to see things from various perspectives, as well as amazing experiences that I have never come across before. 

From then onwards, I chased after big cities. From London to Paris, to Berlin, to Amsterdam, to New York, to San Francisco, to Istanbul and to Melbourne. Some of them carry a baggage from the past, some of them carry a mission for the future, while some of them carry a lifestyle of the present. So, I thought I would be able to find some extraordinary dots to connect. 

Truth to be told, those cities were really captivating, offering many answers, yet giving more questions at the same time. However I couldn't connect the dots that I found along the way. The journey is akin to looking into a very unique kaleidoscope- beautiful, yet so perplexing.

When I was in San Francisco, I had the chance to get down to some of the tech clusters in Palo Alto and Mountain View. The dynamism is off the chart, and the contradictory traits are so profoundly true. I tried to emulate parts of them, but to no avail. It gets so unreal and psychologically difficult to maintain. 

I took some time out after graduation, so that I will have the time to understand those dots that I found along the journey, before starting a new chapter in life. The observations, feelings, and thoughts which appeared serendipitously in the quest for connecting the dots were thrown out to see the connections between them.  

Few months later, nothing came out of it. Many lines were drawn, many shapes were formed, and even more were erased and remained as dots, as they were before.

So, sometimes I wonder, where are the dots and how to connect them? (blame Steve for this. oh maybe Apple gonna patent this up too! )

 

回国后

四年后的故事，原来，早在四年前已经被命运编写了。那剧本，现在才呈现于眼前。

回国前，你告诉自己要重新适应，因为熟悉的一切，都已经变得陌生。回国后，结果你觉得，很多东西都没想象中改变得那么快。人也一样，地方也一样。陌生的，原来是你自己。

殊不知，当起了本国的外地人。暗地里，别人或许觉得你高傲，你也或许觉得别人卑微。什么都没变，只有你自己变得陌生罢了。

本国的外地人，这是一个所有浸过洋水的学生都向往的身份。否则，当年为何你嚷着要出去看世界？可是，站在这个平台上，那身份，又和你的所在地，显得格格不入。

别人看到你，觉得你既陌生，又熟悉。你看到别人，既熟悉，但陌生。

结果，唯一能做的是，寻找曾经在海外一起念书的朋友，或者和你拥有相同经验的人。在某种程度上，开通的思维，始终敌不过陌生的环境。

心理上，我们还是会惯性地去寻找有过类似经验的群众，以得到慰籍。

与其说被社会排斥，这是另类的自我放逐。你选择了一条开拓视野的路，翱翔世界，你已经成为真真实实的地球人 （global citizen）。放逐了自己，是时候调适一下，落脚于稳定的生活。

开始规划，开始看物资，开始看房子。

很多时候，在亲朋戚友的聚会上，你会很自然地说，我们在英国时，是怎样怎样的； 又或者说，你在外面是如何度过那四年的，世界是如何的大等等。

当你说完后，抬头一看，原来你已经回国了。

On the Bridge, Castle in the Air

So, there I was, strolling on the Millennium Bridge for the last time-with the magnificent St.Paul's cathedral overlooking me from behind, and the amazing view of the River Thames on both sides of the bridge.

All of a sudden, there's this weird admiration, deep down, towards the architect behind this bridge. It seemed to me he must have thought that such beautiful scenes shouldn't be enjoyed separately by the people on two different islands.

People should be able to share the scenes together in the middle of the river. Well, that's just what I thought. Maybe that's what a farewell tribute to a city does to my imagination.

This reminds me of the many beautiful bridges that have laid before my eyes, when I was travelling around the world. Some of the notable ones are the Tower Bridge, The Golden Gate Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

If you look closely enough, they are like the modern castle in the air, an impossible piece of art in the middle of a river stream.

And what they do is to bring people from different sides of the islands to meet each other in the eyes. Well, sometimes it could lead to more than meeting the eyes.

Some encounters are for the sunset of today, while some are for the sunrise of tomorrow. We never know.

What we do know is that, if you don't cross the bridge, you will only see half of the scenery, and the other half could just lie right at the end of the bridge.

Note for London #003 - Imperial walking tour, Down memory lane

I was telling myself this, when I was resting at a small park near St.Paul's Cathedral.

"Imagine yourself doing a walking tour from Earls Court to Imperial College. How would that be?"

I always have this crazy dream, that one day if I become famous, the route from where I lived in London to the college I studied in would be a path that people would love to retrace and visit.

This is exactly like what I did in Paris. To follow the route where Hemingway went to Shakespeare and Co. to borrow the books he wanted and went to La Closerie des Lilas to have a cup of coffee.

And so, the journey begins at 15, Longridge Road, somewhere near Earls Court.

A short walk along Cromwell Road, and we will arrive at Lexham Garden. It will then lead us to this small lane, somewhere between two old white houses, right behind the private garden in the middle of the neighbourhood.

Come autumn season, the Cornwall Garden Walk will have colourful leaves that fall from the trees. It's as beautiful as the flowers that you see in the summer, as if the flowers bequeath their wonderful colours to their counterparts. 

Oh, don't forget about '50G, The Little House'. A cute and memorable name for the tiny house. It's just located at the top of the slope, after the Cornwall Garden Walk.

You will also see the 'Babboe Big' children cart at 66, Cornwall Garden. The children cart is attached to a main bicycle, just like those that you see in Amsterdam. Probably a Dutch family, I guess. 

Pay a visit to the Kynance Mews too. It's like a hidden garden, shying away from the hustle and bustle of Gloucester Road during the day. Some of the houses are painted in different colours, similar to the houses in Burano or Cinque Terre.

Towards the end of the road, you will see an arch covered by vines, as if the plants are welcoming you into a hidden tunnel, to a different world.

Then, there is this Cafe Deco at 62, Gloucester Road; where students will buy the 1 pound baguette every weekday after 6pm. Well, given the price, the quality is largely compromised.

Or, the students will buy the lamb briyani or chicken curry rice from The Sandwich Shop, at 54 Gloucester Road.

In between these two shops, you will find a small, modern french art studio, displaying some of the most stunning and impressive arts at 58, Gloucester Road.

Can't really believe that I will somehow miss the route to college.

Note for London #002

I go on the same route, back to college, and see what have I missed along the way.

Nothing much. I wondered, whether there isn't much to see along the way to college, or is it that my eyes have lost the ability to spot the hidden beauty?

Post-college life is a complete chaos of mixed feelings. Part of myself feel out of place, with this familiar route that I have taken everyday back then.

So familiar that now it's so strange to retrace the path.

The Queens tower is still there. Standing tall, overlooking the freed men, and those who are still chained to the slavery of courseworks.

Many things happened in the past 4 years. Some relationships are still there, some are not, some you are not even sure what have they turned into.

That's Imperial College for you. Many from the outside would like to enter, and many from the inside would like to escape from it. Can't believe we have been living with the irony for 4 years.

Note for London #001 - The Beginning of an End

Very often I get this question from my friends, "Since you travelled quite a lot, which city or country do you think is the best? "

And, I couldn't find an answer for that. Because I think, the more you travelled, the more you realise that the world is so diverse, that each city or country has her own beauty.

There isn't one best city that everyone should live in. But there will definitely be one city that can accommodate you, and make you happy.

Today, my supervisor asked me something different, "After travelling to so many cities, which one would you return to?"

This prompts me to think very hard. I couldn't answer it immediately. However, after giving it some thoughts, the city that I will return to is London.

Yes, it's London.

Well, maybe it could be part of the graduation goggles, that I think I won't be coming back anytime soon. Hence, I miss it even more.

Or,

It could be this is the only city I have stayed for so long, other than Seremban. 4 years- a period of time which is short enough to leave, but long enough to miss.

This place used to be a dreamland, when I was younger, singing along with the London Bridge nursery rhymes; and then it becomes a reality, and takes part of my heart away eventually.

From Seremban, to London; and from London, to the world. The exposure, the people, the experience- they are just so great.

The best thing a city can offer is to give you space to explore more rooms for yourselves. And, London has managed to do that.

From science to engineering, to politics, to writing, to banking and finance, to entrepreneurship, to art and design, to coffee and to travelling.

Truly a melting pot, of thoughts and cultures.

Thank you London, for the amazing 4 years. I will miss you dearly.

10 quotes that will change your travelling perspective

1. You will have a tinge of regret, when you are about to board the plane at Gate 56. Like why I didnt visit this particular place or do particular thing. But, somehow tell yourself that it's fine, because that tinge of regret is the reason that you will come back to this place again. You will miss it dearly, and that's simply beautiful.

2. Constantly moving around in a city as a stranger will only see as much as your eyes can see. Take a short break at a local coffee shop which shies away from the crowd, and you will see more than your eyes can see.

3. Put a globe or a world map in your bedroom, and your dream will be bigger than the world that you have seen.

4. Challenges are in abundance when you are in a foreign land. The nature will challenge you spiritually, the city will challenge you intellectually, at the end of the day, it's not so much about overcoming the challenges, it's about stretching yourself to a new limit that matters the most.

5. Sometimes, we tend to force ourselves to feel differently about different cities. I do that too at first, and I found out that is harmful to ourselves, because the travelling objective has changed from observing a place to observing ourselves. This is not good.

6. Be a traveller, and not a tourist; for a traveller will tell his story with his eyes closed, but with his heart opened; while a tourist will tell his story with his eyes opened, but with his heart closed.

7. As much as we are changed by the cities we visited, the cities are changed by our perspectives as well. It's like the butterfly effect. You smile to the city, and the city will hug you back. One traveller can change another traveller, and it all started from just a warm hello.

8. Always remember the random routes, the random conversations, or even the random sights you randomly encountered at a place. These are the most random, yet most precious souvenirs you can get from a place.

9. Rather than listening to the stories from the sailors, sail out to the sea like the message in a bottle. Travelling is a voyage that will make the message meaningful.

10. Carry the dreams of your younger self while you are travelling. It could be - to see the starry sky in the desert or to hike the mountains like Indiana Jones. It helps to rediscover your dreams in life, and to answer the curiosity you once had as a kid.

Of dreams and reality

As usual, I did my random read on my Facebook news feeds today. And I stumbled upon this line in a piece of article.

"You need to let your dreams change your reality; don’t let your reality changes your dreams. " 

As I am reading this line, many things seem to be running through my mind. It's nothing special, let alone being profound. Nevertheless, it's such a simple fact that we usually overlook or that we conveniently choose to use the latter as an excuse for the former. 

It has been a good 4 years since the day I hopped onto a plane to fly from KLIA to Heathrow. So many things have changed since the day I dreamed of coming to the UK, till the moment I feel heavy-hearted to leave this country. 

This line resonates very much with me because the exposure, the experience and the perspective that I am having right now, are pretty much a manifestation of many small, little dreams. Those small dreams are like the 400+ tiny bridges in Venice, which connect me from one place to another. 

And, many of those journeys and detours that I have made, are not plans that I have outlined before I came here. All of them happened in a pretty random manner, looking back in hindsight. 

Back in 2010, I didn't even know whether I would survive my time here in Imperial, and now I am few weeks away from leaving this institution. 

The people and the incidents that occurred to me are like stamps given by the border officers on your passport when you are travelling across the countries. 

An indelible mark of rewards for the decisions that I took, that was once backed by so much fears and one "you only live once" thought. 

You have to move across the boundaries, to get to another places.There's no way you can change your reality by talking about dreams. You can only change it by dreaming of changing it.  

Before I came here, the reality that I once had, is so real that you hardly even believe that you are able to do what you have been dreaming all day long. 

Thinking of going back to the reality I once had is not terrifying, but it feels strange whenever I start to think about it. It's like going back to home, but it has a tinge of distant feeling towards my own home. 

Maybe, reality and dream, after all, are at different sides of the same coin, that you need to turn over once in a while to not let your dream slip away, thinking that the coin has only one side that is valuable to your life. 

The Tales of the Desert

When I was younger, my mum told me about the stories of Aladdin and the Magic Carpet, Alibaba and the 40 thieves, as well as the smart, little girl who managed to tell a story to the king for 1001 nights.

As I grew up, I got a chance to read the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author. I read about snake charmers, fortune tellers with orbs, gypsies and many other mysterious characters that form part of my childhood experience.

The tales of the desert thus began.

So, it started with a camel. At first, I thought that the 'ship of the desert' would give you the ride of your life, like a pirate ship that sails across the Caribbean, just like how Captain Jack Sparrow did it. Instead, riding on a camel that kept on bumping, to get deep into the desert was kind of a pain in the ass, both literally and figuratively.

Well, it's still a ride of your life anyway.

Looking at the vast desert, I got excited. Sitting at the sand dunes, counting the stars. The sky was magical, full of stars and constellations. I started counting them, then I realised that it's better to just leave them alone. 

Ibrahim, the stargazer came. He told me about the Big Dipper and Small Dipper, the Draco (dragon), which consists of 25 stars and the Scorpio. Since young, I have always wanted to get a telescope, but living in a town with light pollution calls off the whole idea. So, I read the stories of constellations from books instead, and get to know how the Scorpio fights with Orion in the sky and hence they never appear together in the night sky.

We shared stories. I shared my Greek mythology and he shared his wisdom on stars. The hours went by, and he told me that they normally forget the hours in the desert. Living your life without counting the hours, and just follow the stars.

I also met a person who sold carpets. I asked him 'why is carpet so important to you guys?'

He told me that there are 2 versions of  the stories. One, is that it represents a book or a diary to them. They put the messages or wisdom that they want to tell on a carpet. Or it could also be a condensed memory, to preserve what you have experienced on a carpet. 

The other one is about the Moroccan girls. They use the carpets as a welcoming gesture, to give a warm hospitality to the guests that come to their houses. At times, it could also be a silent protest. If you see a camel on the carpet, it might mean that the girl is complaining that even camels have more freedom than them. 

I also met the snake charmers and the fortune tellers with cards in the market. Just like those Arabic tales, you feel a mixture of skepticism and curiosity, in the lifestyle of these people. But those depictions of stealing your money with black magic are not true, maybe there are, but I haven't met any of them. I only gave them some dirhams to snap some pictures. 

Sometimes, I do have this wild dream that one day, my experience could become one of the Tales of the Desert. You know that type that you carry on a camel and walk across the dunes, and spread it to other people in the oasis. 

Or it could be a story that people string them together behind a group of stars in a night sky, far away from the Earth, and travels in the speed of light to another galaxy. After a lightyear or so, the generations to come will listen to this story, like how I listened to my bedtime stories from my mum.

Either way, I am happy to see that the 12-year-old me, is watching the sky in awe, while lying on the sand, bare-footed, but with a mind full of imaginations.