1961 - a metamorphosis

She has come of age... soon she will reveal her new wings and take in the skies to soar higher and further. Excited for this to reopen soon...

ArtDeli 2

Finally after almost 2 years since we boarded up the ArtDeli after property prices at the Alley West (an alley we named!) soared to an all time high, we found a new home to the pop-up shop which has always held a unique spot in our hearts... We opened the new ArtDeli with my own solo exhibition (the day after my birthday) at a smaller but still quirky corner at a small hidden alley which we christened the Alley of Ghosts!

This is how we roll

Teach a kid how to skateboard and he rolls for life...

Meru - our new baby

A vanilla farm, artist's retreat and a villa resort, Meru is a perfect quiet getaway located just within the shadows of Angkor Wat.

This new property is the sister property of 1961 and is our new baby which we are slated to open in mid January 2014.

dog days

Our new year was not greeted by fireworks but by a new addition to our family in the form of 5 cute pug puppies. Chanel, who was heavily pregnant went into labor around 9pm, right after we had dinner at Sokha Hotel's Takezono restaurant. We were making our way into Pub Street for the new year festivities when we got the call from Grannie who decided to stay at home. Chanel gave birth to her first puppy!

We immediately made our way home and helped out Chanel. Having no experience in pet pregnancy, I had a baptism by fire when I assisted her bring out 4 more puppies which was difficult for her as she was only doting on the firstborn. Several amiotic sacs and umbilical cords later, the delivery was complete. 3 females and 2 males.

By midnight, the fireworks erupted as we welcomed the 5 pug puppies... Gucci, Pucci, Hermes, Dolce and Gabbana!

And so farewell to thee

It's a day before 2014.

So I have let an entire year gone by without posting anything on my blog. It's not about running out of bloggable ideas and adventures anymore but more so running out of time and running out of drive.

2014 was an incredible year of changes (we moved out of 1961 to a lovely new wooden house just right across the river), of partnerships and investments (partnered up with my Beijing-based buddy Kurt with 1961 and a new property called Meru), new family additions (we got ourselves 2 adorable pugs and i became an uncle for the first time when my younger sister gave birth to Howard Kian), of new adventures (amanpuri, but tugging along Freedom for the first time!) and of new aspirations coming true (our prayers of upgrading our ancient computers and DSLR cameras were finally answered)!

I had breakfast with a princess and a prince. We did our 2nd art festival. We're opening a 2nd hotel. Had our first high school reunion after 17 years. Dealt with our first robbery problem in 1961. My son did his first construction project ever- a luxury liner boat made out of wood. Taught photography to a former US senator. My wife fell in love with baking and gave us an addiction to her wonders-from-the-oven. Hosted actresses and rockstars in our home...

So like any other year, living in a wondefully crazy country like Cambodia gives you moments that deserve to be kept in a glass menagerie of memories, each day fleeting with unsurmountable challenges and joys that seem to coexist with no logic but work in perfect harmony.

So why haven't I blogged for a year?

I got so busy living and enjoying my life instead of writing about it...

all roads lead to laos!

So it's really happening! My first solo exhibition after almost 5 years which is also going to be opened in the UNESCO world heritage city of Luang Prabang which I have been dying to go to for the last 8 years...

Looking forward for this...