New boots?

Continuing to feel spaced out, tired, sneezy and dehydrated. Going to meet one of F's friends for coffee soon, and shop for new winter boots and leggings/stockings. Hurray!

Found this brilliant short documentary on bellydance through another dancer's blog, featuring Kaeshi Chai, Hands of Kali and other US dancers. It's informative and inspiring for bellydancers and non-dancers alike.

In the meantime, check out this fun Q&A meme I lifted from Nadya's blog and filled in with my own responses:

Were you born before the end of the first Gulf war?
Yes, definitely, if you're talking about the one that ended in 1991. :P

Childhood nickname?
Not sure, really... maybe it was traumatic and my brain is blocking it out. :P

Historical person you have the biggest crush on?
My days of having crushes are long over.

Favorite type of candy?
Dark chocolate, very nutty nougat.. something not too sweet

Favorite foreign country?
Sweden :)

Fish or chicken?
Fish, but chicken's good too :P

Do you have your own perfume line?
I'm not a supastah

Have you ever written a children's book?
No (not yet anyway)

Have you been in a movie based on a book?
Ha! Hahahahaa. Is this a trick question?

Ever posed nude for a photo?
No, but I wouldn't mind, if it's shot artistically

Guiltiest pleasure?
Surfing the Net?

Your best nonguilty pleasure.
Bellydance

What are you allergic to?
Some mysterious substance(s) I've yet to identify

Worst pickup line you've heard?
"Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?"

Were you bas mitzvahed?
I'm not Jewish

Have you ever cried during a TV interview?
Can't remember... haven't watched TV for ages

If they made a movie of your life, who would play you?
Whoever she is, she'd have to be willing to have really long hair (or extensions), be ultra-curvy and know how to bellydance

Pet peeve?
Inefficient people.

If you weren't doing what you do, what job would you like to have?
Bellydonsah! ;)

Place you will never be found?
Let me get back to you on this.

Cold and Rainy

I have arrived safely in a cold and rainy Sweden, and finally understand why F has been complaining so much about the weather. Last night we walked out to town to catch Eragon at the theatre, and the roads were slick with rain... on the way there, it started drizzling too. Quite miserable, especially since it was so cold as well.

When the plane touched down on Saturday afternoon, it was dark outside at 4pm. We were late by an hour because the plane's departure from KLIA was delayed by extremely tight security checks that resulted in any and all liquids being confiscated from handluggage... I was not allowed to take mine on board because it contained a lot, apparently (shampoo, face wash, conditioner...), and I was told that it would be checked into cargo and arrive at the same time as all my other luggage... but it didn't :( I'm really hoping it will arrive soon, as it contains my new white tribal costume as well as other things I hold dear.

My winter boots were in my handluggage too, so I was traipsing around in my long slit velvet skirt and frigging SANDALS when I arrived. I was FREEZING. Perhaps that's why I've been feeling woozy and sneezy. Slept an amazing amount of time since arriving. The speed at which daylight fades is alarming.

It's lovely to be back in Sweden though, despite the cold and the rain.

P/S: Eragon started off promisingly, went well in the first half, but thereafter it went downhill. The only thing good about it was Jeremy Irons. :P

6 Things around the World

Inspired by Daniel's 6-things post about six places that you would want to do something in... six things you want to learn around the world. I decided to elaborate on what I posted in his comments:

1) Learning bellydance from the great Middle Eastern dancers: Dina, Raqia Hassan, Mahmoud Reda; and/or tribal fusion, gothic and cabaret bellydance in the US (which, oddly enough, has the world's highest concentration of bellydancers!)

2) Study tailoring/fashion design, either specifically for bellydance costuming (not sure where.. perhaps Egypt, from this lady), or perhaps at one of the fashion capitals of the world: London, Paris, Milan, New York

3) Study metalsmithing for jewellery making, perhaps in Sweden (beautiful chainmail jewellery) or Thailand (gorgeous Hilltribe silver)

4) Learn Arabic in... Egypt? UAE?

5) Learn the art of massage in either Thailand or Bali.

6) Learn how to play the guzheng in Shanghai....


Where would you like to go to learn or do something? :)

Siryn's back, bustin' out the Bellydance!

Yes, I am back, finally! Apologies to any and all who have popped in time and again in the past few months looking for new posts... I will try to start posting regularly again.

Notes from some developments during the unblogged time:

* I completed a new white tribal fusion costume in record time.. a month? This in time for a few performances in November, which went excellently! I loooove my new costume ;) The photo above is of the medallions I hand-beaded, for the belt and headband. Will try and post more pix soon. :)

* Found the elusive metal studs and cut cowrie shells I've been hunting high and low for!!!!! Good ol' Petaling Street, and bellydance forums! :)

* Found a great Nepali jewellery stall in one of those small dingy shops in Petaling Street... lovely jewellery, very tribal looking - perfect accessories for the tribal costume.

* The culinary fest came and went--I'm so glad it's over. Damn thing.

* My new-ish gweilo editors, GeekGod and HairyChest, initially bursting with enthusiasm and efficiency, but I think the company culture has already worn some of this good stuff off them.. they're good guys, and always try to give the overworked among us a break whenever they can, but there's only so much they can do.

* I think it's probably the working here that's done it, but I don't really enjoy writing anymore... my passion for it has been eroded. Was chatting with a colleague, and she said that she noticed that in this company, if you were really good at your previous company, once you join this one, you get beaten down and become less of what you were originally.. your potential is stunted. So it isn't just me.... I just hope I can regain my enthusiasm for the next job, when I seek it..

* This warrants its own special section, but I'll (try to) keep it brief... Kaeshi, director of Bellyqueen and founder of PURE stopped by KL during her Asian Tour to conduct 2-day workshops in Tribal Fusion techniques and choreography, and the Chiftetelli rhythm.

As always, her workshops were absolutely awesome. In the Tribal Fusion workshops, I learned how to actually execute the moves I've seen done by the Indigo girls as well as the ATS (American Tribal Style) ladies. The choreography taught (to the track Brooklyn Baladi by New York band, Djinn) incorporated tribal fusion and ATS style... the very dance posture was different from that of the cabaret style I'm used to. The choreo was beautiful and I can't wait to perform it! :)

In the chiftetelli workshop Kaeshi taught us how to play the chiftetelli rhythm with our zills (finger cymbals), as well as how to dance while balancing props, such as a tray, cane, sword or candelabra on our heads. She focussed some on dancing with a sword (apparently she took classes with a Kung Fu expert so she could learn how to hold a sword as a weapon!), and most on balancing a candle tray, and offered a wealth of tips on that specific prop.

I also got to witness my very first "live" Turkish drop as Kaeshi demonstrated a choreography and surprised us with the drop as a very impressive finale. She also shared with us advice on how to strengthen the relevant muscles and the care needed to execute the turkish drop, which is a rather difficult/advanced and potentially dangerous move (very easy to hurt yourself if not done properly).

If you're interested to see what a turkish drop looks like, this is a video of it being done the "cabaret" way, and this is a video of it being done the tribal fusion way. What you see in these vids is a result of lots and lots of practice.

A few dancemates and I took a private class with Kaeshi after the workshops, but Nadya and I were left rather unsatisfied... one rather anal dancemate 'hogged' the instructor. Oh well. At least I now know how to improve my posture, sort-of know how to execute a barrel turn, and have seen upclose the Rajasthani turn. All in all, I'm very happy with Kaeshi's instruction, and would love to study a lot more with her...

* Have discovered some lovely places to eat: Basil Thai Nudle Bar in Bangsar Village (omg, the tomyam noodles...), Bakerzin in Bangsar Village (mmm... desserts), Dragon-i in Mid Valley (pretty good Chinese), Rak Thai in Amcorp Mall (good steamed fish), that Chinese place in Sentul that Nadya brought Kaeshi and the gang to.... sooooooo good ;)

* Birthday came and went, with some surprise greetings from people I haven't heard from in ages... which was nice. Allegra managed to help me escape from the office earlier than I should have on my birthday, by turning up and waiting outside the office around 8pm..? Gweilos released me (yeah, like from prison), we sped to Mid Valley, grabbed a quick bite at McD's and watched Happy Feet... :) Then a few days later she organised a little get-together with a few girlfriends and we went to a nice little restaurant in Uptown, which has a tropical jungle/beach theme. She also got me a MAC product of my choice, thank YOU for all you've done for me, dahlink! ;) *big hugs and wet kisses for A* :D A lovely package also arrived from Sweden bearing several thoughtful and useful gifts... courtesy of my darling. :) I love this man of mine! Hehee!!

* Last but definitely not least... I'll be flying to Sweden this Saturday (in about 2 days and approximately 8 hours).... to spend Christmas and New Year's with my darling!!!! :D:D:D Really can't wait, as you can imagine. :)

All Killer No Filler

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