Song Hye Kyo!!!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
a face in the crowd
Since I've only traveled to parts of Asia, I rarely have trouble blending in with the locals. I'm an Indian in Agra. People speak to me in Thai when in Kanchanaburi, Cantonese in Kowloon City, Vietnamese in Hanoi and Bahasa Indonesia in Jogja. In Singapore, nobody looks like a local anyway so it all evens out. In fact, I stand out more when I'm in Manila than when I'm abroad, probably because I'm at least half a foot taller than the average Filipino.
As much as possible, I try to be nondescript but with a zing and leave megalomania in check. The idea is to look great, without looking like a clown, unless that's what your aiming for. Here are some pointers I consider before stepping out of the house/apartment/hotel.
1. Know your itinerary. Where you're going, the lineup of activities, and how you get there can help you start determining the makeup, hairdo, clothes, shoes, and accessories you'll use or bring along.
2. Highlight your assets and hide your flaws. Clothes do not fit the same because people are not the same. Keep in mind which styles that flatter you but feel free to try on new styles - they just might work! If all else fails, try diversion tactics. On days when I'm not so happy with my midsection, I often wear clothes with an interesting neckline to draw attention to the face and away from the tummy.
3. Optimize the use of makeup. I'm not a fan of heavy makeup but I do have a decent collection of face paint, mostly lip products, mascara, face powder, oil blotter, and sometimes a concealer. On normal days, the idea is to show a flawless healthy face. Also consider the time of the day you're going out. Night makeup is heavier and more pronounced than day makeup. Take a last look at the mirror before going out and smile... you're on candid camera (see below).
4. Capture life in action. I always bring a camera. No need for a fancy-looking camera, which is just good as having the word TOURIST spelled out in bold letters across your forehead, I use my camphone instead. It shoots quite decent pictures at 5mp, easy to camouflage (except when in derelict areas) and quite handy. As the cliche goes, life is full of surprises, wouldn't it be nice to freeze that perfect moment with a picture or two? It wouldn't be so bad either if the same gadget can play music, videos, and hey, make calls and SMS too.
These past two weeks have been among the best times to put these pointers to the test, as I've just gone on a vacation in another country with my friends, come back to work, attend a couple of international workshops, catch a few drinks with friends on what was supposed to be the longest bar ever and get text messages that my friends and my cousins from the states saw me on TV when they showed clips of this year's San Miguel Oktoberfest kickoff party. Too bad I didn't get to see the clip myself. It has been pretty exciting but right now, what I really need is a good massage to prepare me for the week ahead, when I'll turn into a herbivore for yet another junket.
I took this photo about two weeks ago along a street shop at Kanchanaburi, Thailand - a province that's about three hours away from Bangkok and home to the historic bridge over river Kwae.
As much as possible, I try to be nondescript but with a zing and leave megalomania in check. The idea is to look great, without looking like a clown, unless that's what your aiming for. Here are some pointers I consider before stepping out of the house/apartment/hotel.
1. Know your itinerary. Where you're going, the lineup of activities, and how you get there can help you start determining the makeup, hairdo, clothes, shoes, and accessories you'll use or bring along.
2. Highlight your assets and hide your flaws. Clothes do not fit the same because people are not the same. Keep in mind which styles that flatter you but feel free to try on new styles - they just might work! If all else fails, try diversion tactics. On days when I'm not so happy with my midsection, I often wear clothes with an interesting neckline to draw attention to the face and away from the tummy.
3. Optimize the use of makeup. I'm not a fan of heavy makeup but I do have a decent collection of face paint, mostly lip products, mascara, face powder, oil blotter, and sometimes a concealer. On normal days, the idea is to show a flawless healthy face. Also consider the time of the day you're going out. Night makeup is heavier and more pronounced than day makeup. Take a last look at the mirror before going out and smile... you're on candid camera (see below).
4. Capture life in action. I always bring a camera. No need for a fancy-looking camera, which is just good as having the word TOURIST spelled out in bold letters across your forehead, I use my camphone instead. It shoots quite decent pictures at 5mp, easy to camouflage (except when in derelict areas) and quite handy. As the cliche goes, life is full of surprises, wouldn't it be nice to freeze that perfect moment with a picture or two? It wouldn't be so bad either if the same gadget can play music, videos, and hey, make calls and SMS too.
These past two weeks have been among the best times to put these pointers to the test, as I've just gone on a vacation in another country with my friends, come back to work, attend a couple of international workshops, catch a few drinks with friends on what was supposed to be the longest bar ever and get text messages that my friends and my cousins from the states saw me on TV when they showed clips of this year's San Miguel Oktoberfest kickoff party. Too bad I didn't get to see the clip myself. It has been pretty exciting but right now, what I really need is a good massage to prepare me for the week ahead, when I'll turn into a herbivore for yet another junket.
I took this photo about two weeks ago along a street shop at Kanchanaburi, Thailand - a province that's about three hours away from Bangkok and home to the historic bridge over river Kwae.
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