My writing portfolio, musings, amusing(s - that a word? No? K.) and more. Photo-shoots over the years, behind the scenes anecdotes, some awesome celebrity encounters (some horrific ones too!). 16 years+ as a journalist in Hong Kong - that's a lot of verbal diarrh.. um discourse!
Wednesday 20 November 2019
TBT: Behind the scenes of a cover and feature shoot
Tuesday 19 November 2019
Monday 18 November 2019
Girls and cat pics rule the internet
Friday 15 November 2019
Just the Won: Awards won for the magazine and publishing team
TBT to this lol shot.
My publisher (at the time) had a funny little assistant who was never shy of colourful words.
During my tenure at Burda inc, we ended up winning a few awards. When we first got wind of winning the Best custom publishing something or another, she came to my table with the gravest expression on her face and tapped my shoulder.
"Rams, you won an award for the magazine," she said - the look of incredulous bewilderment writ large. "How did that happen?"
"I... don't know. Do we get any money?!"
"No."
"K."
Back to screen and overhead neon-lighting.
UPDATE:
Entry Title: Galaxy Magazine, Summer 2014 Award.
Award of Excellence To: P.Ramakrishnan, Anne Lim-Chaplain, Joanna Hor Barnes
Category: Magazines, Journals & Tabloids - Custom-Published
At the 6th annual Sinar Mas Print Awards, held in October 2013, the Summer 2013 edition of Galaxy magazine picked up a bronze trophy in the Magazines category
Graff diamonds
Was at the Graff store when I saw the perfectly divine looking Amanda G there. Pure elegance. And the blingage - whoaaa.
Cute chef: May Chow
Behind the scenes of shooting chef May Chow for a feature. Ain't she cute?! Great chef too!
Wednesday 13 November 2019
Monday 11 November 2019
No Champagne pls, It Reminds me of Work
Saw this online and lol'd.
Having attended far too events in my adult life, everything champagne related reminds me of work.
Get me a VLT box any day (that's Vita Lemon Tea!).
Sunday 10 November 2019
Cat diaries
As a cat owner... although, pretty damn sure, she owns me... I can relate to the above.
Below, damage by my pretty lady. ugh.
Tuesday 5 November 2019
Taco Tuesday at 11 Westside: The best tacos and most authentic tacos in Hong Kong
While watching food porn The Final Table on Netflix, Esdras Ochoa and Daniel Eun were talking about opening up a restaurant in Hong Kong and my ears perked up. Then when they mentioned Kennedy Town, I went scrambling for a piece of paper to take note of the address ( FYI: 1/F, The Hudson, 11 Davis Street - Kennedy Town).
HOW have I lived across the street from this fine establishment and never been?! It is by far, THE BEST TACOS I've ever had in my gluttonous, calorific life. OMFG. The week of discovery, we (not the royal 'we', but my roommates and I) were there four times a week. We've culled the frequency down to just hitting the place on Taco Tuesdays (if not our waist, our bank account forewarned us to take it easy). It's come to the point where all in the crew know not to bother us with invites on that holy day of the week. You will find our paw prints on the (difficult to maneuver) glass doors of 11 Westside at 6pm. Well, 6.15pm (you gotta give them chefs time to apron up!), at least once a week.
While most patrons go for the more exotic offerings, we swear by the veggie option(s) too. My fake-chef roommate has split the taco and tried to recreate the same with the ingredients at our barely-used, mostly decorative kitchen, with risible results. We bow down to the maestros in the open kitchen. we are not worthy. Feed us, for we come in peace.
11 Westside
1/F, The Hudson, 11 Davis Street - Kennedy Town
Monday 4 November 2019
Leaving your stamp...
The magazine I used to work for had a Caine Road entrance to the building. I was with the company for nearly eight years. Seven of 'em, were pretty good. ;0)
Feel like I left my mark on my old stomping ground...
Thursday 31 October 2019
Halloween special: Hong Kong's most famous MUA: Karen Yiu
When in doubt, head to Karen Yiu, my all-time fav makeup artist and person in the industry.
She's so gifted in transforming the ordinary to the extraordinary. Her vast portfolio is incredible, esp body painting work and her epic makeovers.
But give the girl any reference or mood board and she delivers. Fav shoots we ever did were those when we asked her to come up with something... Beyond expectations, the final look has always been incredible. She's a superstar. Adore her. Book her now
https://www.karenyiu.com/beauty
Andrew Pong by Yana vilkina
Was supposed to be for First Person - a column I loved doing for the mag - but the misguided powers-that-be dropped that lucrative section for poorly-thought-out reasons.
Tsk.
TBT: Glam Squad with 10 x 10.
Ralph’s Coffee Hong Kong
Ralph Lauren opened Ralph’s Coffee in Asia, at Ocean Terminal, Hong Kong, adding to the designer’s vast lifestyle portfolio. Not just a conservative, effortlessly elegant clothing store brand, it epitomises refined Americana and non-Trump culture at its very best.
The invitation lay bare on a desktop for ages - one of many the press gets to the new and happening in the 852. When the PRs personally rang to join them for a cuppa Joe at their signature store, any excuse to leave neon-lit office space and the tyranny of the blank page was good enough.
The store's lovely, the clothes are great... yadda yadda yadda (none of this is new information). What made the fine coffee a religious experience was of course this four-layered chocolate cake. It's the bane of Hong Kong that most pastries that look good on Instagram, taste like sugar-coated cardboard. Bear with me; I give you, the finest slice in the region.
Now this delectable piece was served at the Central store during a private viewing with celebs and socialites, but when the team was accosted in the aisle - with empty threats worded, "Give me the address of where I can get more or I'll hurt your kittens" - they lol'd and said, you can head to Ocean Terminal.
Well, that's where you'll find me. Well-dressed (oh ok, dressed!) and obese. But, by George, happy.
For the caffeine addicts, the selection of coffee includes Ralph’s special blends, Ralph’s Roast, Decaf, and Espresso, made with organically grown beans from Asia Pacific, South America, and Africa. There's a takeaway service (the little eatery cannot accommodate huge numbers) for which we are all grateful for.
You know what they say, Once you go brown...
Thursday 10 October 2019
TBT: Sridevi
The death of Indian actress Sridevi will be an enduring mystery as something as pedestrian as "accidental drowning" took away a cine-Goddess at the young age of 54*. Legions of her fans still cannot fathom it and several conspiracies (each more mad than the other) float online. * Perhaps only in tandem with death can 54 seem so painfully young....
Anyhoo, was on a press trip for the magazine back in 2012 when I saw 'the' Sridevi strut confidently into the lobby of a hotel and I spoke to the PRs and said, this street will burn to the ground if you don't introduce me to that legendary movie star.
They lol'd. I've been told that I'm about as threatening as a bag of kittens.
We were introduced. I babbled on incoherently while staring into the luminescent one...
In two sittings, I got the feature out - pitched it to the editor of Post magazine. Voila. A cover story was born.
BTW As she was leaving, I asked Sridevi to pls do more films and if we could do a memoir or biography of sorts - this was back in the day (an earlier request back in 2005 was also waved off) when she was hesitant to return to the limelight.
She responded, "A book on me? Why? I'm just an ordinary housewife now..."
"NO!", I interrupted. "You're a Goddess. You just don't know you're a Goddess!"
She laughed and patted my head (she's a foot taller than me). And walked away, with her bodyguard and assistant in tow.
RIP Sridevi. RIP My Queen.
Anyhoo, was on a press trip for the magazine back in 2012 when I saw 'the' Sridevi strut confidently into the lobby of a hotel and I spoke to the PRs and said, this street will burn to the ground if you don't introduce me to that legendary movie star.
They lol'd. I've been told that I'm about as threatening as a bag of kittens.
We were introduced. I babbled on incoherently while staring into the luminescent one...
In two sittings, I got the feature out - pitched it to the editor of Post magazine. Voila. A cover story was born.
BTW As she was leaving, I asked Sridevi to pls do more films and if we could do a memoir or biography of sorts - this was back in the day (an earlier request back in 2005 was also waved off) when she was hesitant to return to the limelight.
She responded, "A book on me? Why? I'm just an ordinary housewife now..."
"NO!", I interrupted. "You're a Goddess. You just don't know you're a Goddess!"
She laughed and patted my head (she's a foot taller than me). And walked away, with her bodyguard and assistant in tow.
RIP Sridevi. RIP My Queen.
Saturday 5 October 2019
Video Interview: Ruth Chao
An eternal fav: Ruth Chao.
A video interview with Hong Kong graphic artist, designer and creative director Ruth Chao.
Video Interview: Malcolm Wood
So here's the first in a series of video interviews I did.
Malcolm Wood - a multi-hyphenate but here we were addressing and focusing on him as a restaurateur - speaks about the highly competitive industry in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has more eateries per square mile than any other place in the world (someone fact check that puhleez) so we hear of new establishments opening all the time (and old haunts fading away just as quickly). Malcolm Wood's company (and crew) seems to have found the magical formula in running successful bars and restaurants that are studded around the city. Mott 32 is a fav of many and John Anthony, the new hot shot place in Causeway Bay.
This was a fun chat.
PS: + There's another connection, He's the older brother of my all-time fav cover girl and model and friend, the perfectly perfect Mia Kang.
Friday 4 October 2019
Behind the Scenes Runway Men’s Cover Shoot: Menswear 2018
Dino Busch shot Runway Menswear. 2018.
Last I heard, all the dogs featured were adopted. Yay.
Lifestyle magazine - over the years.
My cover features and shoots with Lifestyle magazine over the years.
(am missing a few copies... !)
The annual tome is out usually around Chinese New Year, looking back at the year that was.
Thursday 3 October 2019
The Cat.
So we got Billyjean as a little kitten about five years ago from LAP. She's obviously the most gorgeous black and white cat in the world. Well, we think so. But good GOD the damage to the house. How can something so little create such chaos!!
So cute tho.
Adopt - don't shop.
Monday 2 September 2019
When Tory Burch was in Hong Kong...
Tory Burch at 4 Seasons Hong Kong, after the interview and shoot.
Saturday 24 August 2019
Galaxy Spring 2015
From a cover shoot done for Galaxy magazine back in 2015 with my fav gal Amanda Gonjito (Japanese Brazilian mix - the gal couldn't be more gorgeous).
Shot by Olivier Yoan.
Outtakes from a shoot with Jessica Jann and Claudie Pierlot
Outtake of shots from shooting Jessica Jann for the magazine. Colour testing... we picked none of the above for print btw.
And with my fav team below.
Photography Dino Busch
Hair and Make-up Reve Ryu
Hair and Make-up Assistant Jojo Cheng
Wardrobe and Accessories Claudie Pierlot
Hong Kong's 40 under 40.... 2019
Sweet lord, give me strength.
Day 1 of kick-starting this. Grand additions - notable drops. If ya didn't do anything over the course of the last issue to the latest... um, bye. ;0)
Day 1 of kick-starting this. Grand additions - notable drops. If ya didn't do anything over the course of the last issue to the latest... um, bye. ;0)
Tuesday 20 August 2019
My day with Shreya Ghoshal: India's greatest contemporary singer: Queen of the Female Playback Singers
Read the feature and our chat in earlier post here.
Was chatting with another editor in Mumbai and she described her voice as pure honey, just soothing the ear. So true.
Thursday 25 July 2019
My category: SCMP
Hey its me. Most of my long-ish features. Not all are up online.. Or I can't find for whatever reason
https://www.scmp.com/author/p-ramakrishnan
https://www.scmp.com/author/p-ramakrishnan
Top 10 Bollywood Youngsters
| NAME | AGE | OFFICIAL ACCOUNT | FOLLOWERS | |||||||||||
| Alia Bhatt | 26 | AliaaBhatt | 34.7 Million | |||||||||||
| Tiger Shroff | 29 | TigerJackieShroff | 15.6 Million | |||||||||||
| Sara Ali Khan | 23 | SaraAliKhan | 11.3 Million | |||||||||||
| Janhvi Kapoor | 22 | JanhviKapoor | 5.1 Million | |||||||||||
| Ananya Pandey | 20 | AnanyaPandey | 3.8 Million | |||||||||||
| Tara Sutria | 23 | TaraSutria | 2 million | |||||||||||
| Ishaan Khatter | 23 | IshaanKhatter | 1.1 Million | |||||||||||
| Ahan Shetty | 23 | AhanShetty | 142K | |||||||||||
| Vardhan Puri | 27 | VardhanPuri | 79.7k | |||||||||||
| Abhimanyu Dassani | 29 | AbhimanyuDassani | 37.8k |
This [above] was the original list that got scrapped and I started anew with young people who've achieved considerably more - which is now the full feature up at Style magazine - at SCMP..com
Check out the full feature here.
Some of the above survived the cull, but not all.
Wednesday 10 July 2019
Fat to Fit: Timothy Skinner in Hong Kong
Outtakes from a shoot with Timothy Skinner, shot by Dino Busch.
My feature with Timothy is out in the paper - can read it online here at SCMP.com Body Transformation.
Working out in the park instead of expensive and cost ineffective gyms:
Update: Ah the gratuitous Thirst Trap images.
My feature with Timothy is out in the paper - can read it online here at SCMP.com Body Transformation.
Click to enlarge pics
Update: Ah the gratuitous Thirst Trap images.
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