Favorite Things of 2011

It's that time of the year again when I list down my favorite "things"... for lack of a better term.

I really don't have a proper criteria, just that these are personal favorites from the year that's just about to end. These are the things that I felt were highlights of 2011, the things that make 2011 more memorable. (These books and films for instance didn't have to be released in 2011, but I had access to them in only 2011.)

So let's start.

My favorite film is "Dogtooth" (2009). This Greek film blew me away for its unusual depiction of parenting. It resonated with me because often I question to what extent parents should influence the "reality" that their children are exposed to. This movie has some answers that made me squirm.

My favorite documentary is "Exit Through the Gift Shop" (2010). This is one hilarious and irreverent documentary about street art, its driving forces, and how it has crept into the mainstream art market.

My favorite album is absolutely Adele's "21". I mean, haler!!! Enough said. I'm almost tempted to name Lady Gaga's "Born this Way", but I based my choice on the number of times I listened to each album, and "21" has been on loop in my computer since it was released. 

Which makes my favorite song "Someone Like You". I'm sure I'm not alone in naming it their favorite song of the year, and it's easy to understand why.

My favorite novel is "Room" (2010) by Emma Donoghue. It's very difficult to read it at times because of the horrific experience of its main characters. But it ends with a positive note, somehow. I've been recommending this novel to all my friends.

My favorite non-fiction book is "The Case for God" (2009) by renowned scholar Karen Armstrong. The book traces the history of religion (mainly the Abrahamic ones), its philosophy, and practice, and asserts that religion is transcendental and best known through practice. 

My favorite website is Piratebay. How on earth would I survive the year without this website where I get my movies and music, aber? I looooooove Piratebay! My second favorite website is Google Reader where I now read all my favorite blogs.

And my favorite blog is still "The Sartorialist". Scott Schuman's blog has evolved to featuring profiles and interviews of his subjects. But he is still consistent in his taste for classic and often times quirky fashion on the streets.

Talk about fashion, my favorite model this year is the androgynous model Andrej Pejic. Now he is the quintessential model: a chameleon. He is as good as a "male" model and as a "female" model. Truly, he represents fashion today, one that is undefinable and fearless. 

My favorite clothing brand at the moment is Uniqlo, which opened in Bangkok a few months ago. I love its basics because I'm now on a "basics" phase. It's a big plus Uniqlo is soooo affordable.

Lastly, my favorite trip of the year was my ten days in Myanmar (blog posts here and here). It's a country I've long wanted to visit and it did not disappoint. I was completely enamored of the colonial architecture in Yangon and the serenity of the beaches of Ngwe Saung. I'm definitely going back to Myanmar in 2012.

Happy New Year, my dear ten readers and thanks for still following the blog.

Yes, Simon, I'd Marry You

Oh, the beauty of male youth. God knows how much time I spend everyday on looking at pictures and pictures of these lithe and exuberant creatures (check the side bar titled Hombres).

Not that I'm turning into some pederast or something equally vile. Far from it. But that's just me. I adore men (or perhaps boys) who are lanky and with zero body fat and we all know that youth affords us with a crazy metabolism. Get the connection now?

Skinny male models have been in the rage for some years now and there's no sign of that slowing down yet, thank God. Season after season, we are seeing the stratospheric rise of relatively frail-looking models such as Cole Mohr, Ashley Stymest, Luke Worral, Josh Beech, etc. (These boys are also quite known for their rebellious personalities, which obviously adds to their appeal in the fashion industry.)

My current (OK, perhaps for several seasons now) male model crush is the cherubic Simon Nessman, who's probably best known for his pillowy lips, curly hair, and of course scrawny frame. OMG, I would give up all my shoes for Simon.

Born in 1990 in British Columbia, Simon signed up for Major Models Management in 2007 and has since then been photographed by Mario Testino, Bruce Weber, and Matthias Vriens. He has also been featured in various magazines such as V, Dazed and Confused, GQ, Vogue Paris, and L'Uomo Vogue, as well as appearing in the campaigns of D&G, Givenchy, and lately an underwear campaign for John Galliano.

You can check out his tags in the Major Models Management blog.

Coincidentally, I'm also developing an enormous crush on equally-scrawny newcomer Patrick Kafka, who is also under Major Models. I would give up all my scarves for him too!


Patrick is only 17 and hails from Vienna. I've seen him in a number of editorials over the past months and he was also all over the Spring-Summer 2010 shows, thus he was listed by Models.com as one of the Top Ten New Faces for that season.

His tag on Major Models is found here. He also has a collection of photos in Morphosis.