halfwhiteboy

Against the facade of Basilika Birnau in Germany The sky was overcast and the day was occasionally marked by either mist or a drizzle; not an ideal time for a day tour zipping in and out of four countries. But since we would be spending most of the day in a car anyway, it didn't matter that much.

Surreal view from right next to the Wengen train station. Okay, so I asked ChatGPT what to wear on a daytrip from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen in November and what you see in these photos was practically what he told me to wear. Of course thermal inner clothing and layers were a given but since Novembers there are normally cold with a high chance of rain, a waterproof or water-repellant jacket was necessary; the same goes for pants. Footwear should likewise be waterproof to keep your feet dry from puddles and sloshy trails, preferably mid-height for better ankle support, with good enough traction, and as also suggested by a friend, insulated, because it can get really cold there. 

Creed Oud Zarian has been on my radar since it was announced a couple of months ago, and it’s frustrating to still not see it on our third-world shelves (although I don’t know if it’s still not available locally as of writing). So when I had the chance, I sought it out at the Dubai airport (but only after feasting my nose on Amouage fragrances and taking home Opus XVI Timber ). Yes, it's priced a lot higher than Creed's other offerings but the moment I smelled the mist coming out of that dark, reddish purple bottle, I was hooked.

Had a taste of cold autumn weather from a recent short vacay. Already, I'm badly missing the way the chilly November breeze brushes my face and of course, the layered outfits that I can never wear here at home.

It’s that time of year again when mercury levels start dropping and when people tend to wear clothing in layers—just not here in the Philippines. Nevertheless, some folks are fortunate enough to experience autumn elsewhere. This is me recalling that feeling from two years ago in Tokyo.

What’s there to do with a nine-hour layover in Dubai? Check out fragrances at the duty free shop of course! And since I’m deprived of the chance of trying out Amouage ’s newer releases back home (Art of Scent hasn’t updated their Amouage catalog in years), my wife and I headed straight to where they kept bottles from this Omani house. After sniffing to our hearts’ content, I took with me Opus XVI Timber , the latest addition to The Library Collection .