Hasta La Ideas

{All the images were taken by  Marjon Hoogervorst}

Let's Get Personal with my dear friend Vivien and her family here in Kuala Lumpur

M:: Malaysian is…truly a melting pot of cultures, foods, languages.  No where else in the world can you have the same experience you find in Malaysia: the gastronomic options are extremely varied, most people speak three languages, everyone shares in the festivities of Ramadhan, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Deepavali…

A:: art in my home is from…mainly two very young, contemporary, talented and amazing artists: my 8 year old and soon-to-be 6 year old daughters!

L:: living in Malaysia means to me…being really laidback, living with extended family or having your elderly parents live with you, having to drive everywhere, learning to decipher acronyms, being able to eat out anytime with a huge variety to choose from, spending a weekend at a beautiful island with powdery white sands and not having to share the beach with a million other people

A:: addiction…mine is…watermelons

Y:: yummiest food from Malaysia…too many to name. Satay which is marinated chicken and beef skewers served with a peanut sauce.  Fried flat rice nooddles with fresh prawns, cockles, bean sprouts and chives.  Curry laksa (now exported and almost the national dish of Australia!)

S:: style means…being true to yourself.  Its also a very modest attribute.  Funny how one never describes oneself has having style.  Its always someone else who thinks you have style, you never claim to have it yourself…

I:: interesting places in my city are…FRIM (Forest Research Institute of Malaysia), MPO (Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra), KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre), Thean Hou Temple, Carcosa Seri Negara, Islamic Arts Museum, Merdeka Square, Little India, Chinatown

A:: another country I would like to live is…Italy, or Portugal, or New Zealand or my husband hopes, China

N:: new in my home is…another iPad

H:: hobby, I always make time for…craft and baking with my girls 

O:: outfit, my favorite thing to wear is…linen pants.  In this tropical weather they are perfect!  I had five pairs  tailor made at a market in Vietnam on my last trip.

M:: magazines I love to read are…  I am more a book than a magazine person (books I read recently: 'Crimson Petal and the White', 'Room', 'The Paris Wife') than magazines but these are some I like: Elle Decoration UK, Vanity Fair, Donna Hay

E:: enjoy, I can't live without…at the moment, watermelons! 

Vivien and her nice husband have welcomed me and my family here in Kuala Lumpur in the best way possible… their door is always open and their amazing house is just perfect for hosting parties… and yes it does help that Vivien is an excellent cook 🙂

Unfortunately for us they are moving house real soon… all the way to Paris. Vivien will surely miss her home country Malaysia but is looking forward spending a couple of years in the romantic city of Paris. Guess that is the risk if you marry a French man 🙂

… More important if you are interested in renting or perhaps even buying this amazing home in Kuala Lumpr then please send Vivien an email …

All the images were taken by my other friend Marjon Hoogervorst who visited us last year.