The Temple Built by Gods

Thirteen years ago when I was living in Saigon, the highly anticipated expedition to Angkor Wat never materialized due to the coup d'etat. Thirteen years later, this wonder is a sight to behold. Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world, is the supreme masterpiece of Khmer architecture. The radiant pink sunset, the hushness and dignity of the people, and the hypnotizing smell of hot air infused with dirt and burning wood are things one shall never forget...

Saigon Signs

"The sign brings customers."
- Jean de La Fontaine

Tiem Banh Mi Phuong

This is enough reason to go back to Vietnam. Tiệm Bánh Mì Phương is located on Hoang Dieu street (the shoe street where you can design your own customized Adidaboks), just at the eastern end of the central market in Hoi An. The proprietors consist of a very lovely man and woman making the best bánh mì I've ever had in my life. It is always busy and understandably so...



You know it's good when it's Bourdain approved...


What is unbelievable to me is how Anthony and Philippe can just split one bánh mì. I attacked two whole ones back to back...

The sandwich -- three special sauces: mayo, pâté and blood sausage spread with pickles, salt, pepper, herb + salad mix, tomatoes, cucumbers, chili peppers, ground beef, headcheese, pork, pork and more pork... and you top it off with a fried egg on top! And I'm probably missing at least 5 other ingredients. This is really special.

The Valley of Death

Here's what Death Valley looked and sounded like this past weekend:

The last bit of civilization at Zzyzx Road.

 

The saltbeds of Tecopa.

 

Badwater, the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below sea level.

 

Furry salt crystals

 

The Artist Drive

 

Zabriskie Point

 

Dante's View

 

20 Mule Drive

 

  Sand dunes

 

Mosaic Canyon

The desert

"Why are you going to the desert again?"
Someone asked me this today.
I replied, "because I want to and because I can."
Next question, "What are you going to do in the desert?"
"I'm going with my dream guy who's visiting me... Unfortunately he's gay... But we're still going to have a good time."

Wonder Valley two weeks ago:

Death Valley in two days:

And from bread itself comes bread sauce...

This past weekend was an absolute whirlwind for me. After an unforgettable experience at ATP's Nightmare Before Xmas at Butlins, I ended it with a rather amazing and cozy Sunday in Londontown. What can be better than an intimate acoustic performance by the exquisite The Clientele, followed by a delicious traditional Sunday roast (both at The Lexington) and crowned by a proper English bath?

They were out of the roast beef but I settled in nicely with the roast chicken. The bread sauce with its velvety, creamy concoction of milk and breadcrumbs delicately flavored with bay leaf, nutmeg and cloves was the highlight here... Bread sauce is one of the oldest British sauces, dating back to medieval times. A foundation of nearly all other sauces, this is considered one of the "mother sauces," as the French say... Apparently, the use of slightly stale bread is optimal, making it an economical way of using up leftover bread. Indeed! It was the perfect accompaniment to my roast poultry dish..

“If thou tastest a crust of bread, thou tastest all the stars and all the heavens.” 
Robert Browning (1812-1889)

A Hottie: Ideal for Cold Winter Nights

I had such an unbelievable time in London Jeremy. Thank you.

You and Jamie completely spoiled me; it was so comforting waking up to homemade granola and the wonderful smell of coffee on those chilly mornings.

I told you that the one thing I wanted to get on this tour was a hot water bottle and London seemed like the perfect place to get something like this. As I much as I adore my Teddy, I need a hottie to keep me company for the coldest nights of the year.

You took me to Labour and Wait to see if there was a nice one. Sadly, my new favorite shop isn't carrying hotties this season (though I did find a lovely Armor Lux Breton red stripe top...)

But Boots have everything don't they? I found a nice basic red one and since I've been back in LA, it's been keeping me warm all week. No more earaches, backaches, muscle aches, tummy aches...

Hot water bottles are common in Europe but not so much in the States. I reckon it could be a liability if the thing pops and someone ends up suing someone else for cause of injury... So American of us innit? BUT a hot water bottle is a great energy-efficient way to stay warm during the winter months. It uses less energy than an electric blanket, a space heater or central heating... And in the mornings, I feed my plants with its lukewarm water. Nostalgically old-fashioned but thoroughly modern with its uses, it's a classic. When I go back to yours in a few weeks, I think I'll buy a few more as Xmas gifts...

An Englishman who is currently living in LA told me this week that the trick to keeping a hottie warm all night is to get all the air out of it before sealing it. His mum taught him that.

In my dreams, the best of both worlds...

A civilized kind of tour

It's been three years since I quit touring. I was beat up at the end of the North American tour and when I finally got home, I canceled the European tour due to "exhaustion." I had it with playing live. Had it with sound check. Had it with looking at the band. Had it with eating shitty random food on the side of freeways (though I did love the truck stops). Had it with sitting at the merch table... Had it with waiting around 23 hours of each day for that one hour we would play. I was done. I was bored.

And then somehow this tour materialized out of nowhere. Last month, I decided to plan a little mini European solo tour for First Husband, Mr. Bickerson, erm Darren Rademaker! This is an "inspirational" tour, greatest hits mixed with new "soon to be recorded" hits! It will mainly be Darren and his electric (in his short shorts) but I think I'll be accompanying him on some Tyde tunes... only if it feels right. The London show will be a special one. We have lovely friends from Fujiya and Miyagi, The Loves and Comet Gain joining in that night. Very loosey-goosey... Part tour, part holiday, I think this might be the best way to go from now on... I'm genuinely excited about playing again... See you out there somewhere Owley fans? And this time, no merch whatsoever...

***

The Short Shorts Euro Tour 2009

30 Oct > Paris @ Panic Room + DJs Magickrew

31 Oct > Paris @ Ground Zero Records
31 Oct > Paris @ Tigre + Deejettes Magickrew

01 Nov > Paris @ La Maroquinerie

03 Nov > Stockholm @ Last Waltz, Bonden Bar

04 Nov > Göteborg @ Woody West, Pusterviksbare 

05 Nov > London @ The Lexington

Sunset (Sequoia + Yosemite)