A Facebook friend sent me this awesome article about kissing and chocolate. OK, so it’s not better than sex, but it turns out that eating dark chocolate is more satisfying than French kissing a loved one. HUM… isn’t it what I have been saying all along?! I mean, having a wonderful man or woman flirt, kiss or make love to you is “nice work if you can get it” as Gershwin would say, but when that is just not present in your life at the moment… EAT CHOCOLATE instead. For the full article click on “London Chocolate Article”.

This week, I am really enjoying Valrhona Chocolate, in its darkest form. Their chocolate bar Le Noir Extra Amer - with the purple lighting bolt on the label - is truly luscious and 85 % cacao. Their website is pretty amazing too, with its Experts Section and their Cocktail Sensation recipe is dreamy. Maybe not the easiest thing to replicate, but dreamy nonetheless! BTW, the best thing is, their bars are available at Trader Joes, for a really, really good price. N-joy!

This week, don’t miss the Tribeca Film Festival, right here in NYC. It’s always the right thing to do, if you like films. Never one to disappoint, because of the sheer number of entries and movies shown. The whole world is represented, as well as all the different genres of filmmaking. Get your tickets fast, as the good films get sold out quite early on.

If Los Angeles - and Bollywood/Hindi cinema - is more your thing, then there is a festival for you as well. The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles opened on Tuesday and runs through this Sunday, April 27th, with many fantastic films showing and a gala finale built around the film “Mumbai Cutting” to see and be seen. I am off shortly to check out the Liz Mermin documentary “Shot in Bombay” about the shooting of one of last year’s own favorite film, Apoorva Lakhia’s “Shootout at Lokhandwala” and some other great films, including the closing night selection.

If you haven’t done so already, buy your copy of the book “Unaccustomed Earth” by Jhumpa Lahiri at Amazon. Ms. Lahiri goes back to the short stories genre than won her critical praises for “The Interpreter of Maladies” a few years ago. “The Namesake” is the book all who ever felt like outsiders could see themselves in and I am looking forward to reading this new one, as I know she could never disappoint.

Stop by the Jo Malone counter at Bergdorf Goodman for a sample of the new fragrances inspired by the Japanese incense ceremony. The Kohdo Wood Collection includes two new fragrances, the Lotus Blossom & Water Lily and the Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, both spicy and delicious. Already a big fan of her White Jasmine & Mint cologne, I am running over to pick up a small bottle of each of the new ones. I’ll decide later which one I like…

Earth Day has passed, but our love for this planet we live on MUST live on. Try to buy only natural fabrics, as the amount of waste and poisons that go into making synthetic materials is really scary. And if you can, try to shop for the new organic lines that are becoming a staple of every cool designer’s collection out there. Stella McCartney and Dosa, to name a few, have amazing new Organic collections, with beautiful hues of natural cotton. So, go ahead, dress to impress, the earth that is!

This is one talented South African poet. Of course, to get the full meaning and the complete nuances, one would have to speak Afrikaans, but even the English translation sent shivers up my spine. Once you have read it through, I suggest checking out the author reading it on YouTube. The imagery only adds to the lines…

“Bloedgebrek vir die Uitwoners van Winter.”

Bring vir my die vaalheid van die maan,
Bring me the paleness of the moon
of die sombere blink van sterre,
or the somber shining of stars,
as jou mense in die donker begrafnis hou
when you bury your dead in the dark,
en die wildehond wegraak,
when the wild dog disappears
onder die stowwerige pote van sy prooi.
beneath the dusty hooves of its prey.
Kom stamp jou voete aan my kant,
Come child, stamp your feet on my side,
kom maak jou hande amper brandwarm
come and warm your almost burning hands
om my koue straat, konkavuur,
on my cold street’s winter flames
maar vertel my van die woede van jou winter.
but speak of the anger of your winter,
Van sakke kole op ‘n twaalfrand special
of bags of coal at twelve bucks discount,
en hoe ver die pad na hitte is.
of how far you have to go to reach some heat.
Van jou vriend Vusi oor die straat
Speak of your friend Vusi from across the street
met wie julle een oggend middel laasjaar
whom you, one cold morning mid-last year,
heeltemal bevrore en heeltemal verniet,
frozen and in vain, carried to an ambulance.
na ‘n ambulans toe gehardloop het.

Vergas my, op koue stories oor die maan,
Spoil me with chilling stories of the moon
heelnag bo jou kop deur ‘n skreef in sink
visible all night through the patchy roof
en die laaste vyftig jaar se straatgeluide,
and the last fifty years worth of street sounds
wat nooit verander het nie.
that never really changed.
Kom sit hier by my in die dansende vlammelig.
Come child, take a seat amidst the dancing flames.
Kop op my skouer en jou fluister saggies in my oor.
Put your head on my shoulder and whisper in my ear.
Van viruskinders, jonk soos die oggend,
Of virus children, young as the morning,
maar Godvroeg in die grond
but early as God toward the ground,
en die Amerikaanse medisynes, so duur,
of the American medicines
dit kon niemand red nie.
too expensive to save anyone.
Dan huil en vloek ons gedemp saam oor die ironie
So we’ll cry and swear at the irony
in Mark Shuttleworth, se fokken dollardanse langs die maan.
of Mark Shuttleworth’s fucking dollar dances around the moon.
Laat jou naam jou eie wees.
May your name be your own.
Laat jou taxi voor donker kom.
May your taxi arrive before dark.
Ek vra niemand vir genade nie,
I ask no one for mercy,
maar alleen vir geluk.
only for happiness.
Amen.

Do check out my new REGULAR Happily Unmarried Ever After column for the online magazine Chic Today. It’s a wonderfully designed, cool and sophisticated new assignment for me and something I am very, very proud of. The first three columns are about cool books to read in this interim spring season, a few rules to follow when traveling to Bombay - even around your own city they can’t hurt! - and a chocolate guide to NYC that is the stuff dreams are made of.

Takashi Murakami is the wonderful Japanese artist who collaborated with Marc Jacobs to bring us those fun and inventive Louis Vuitton bags a few seasons ago. He is featured in an exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum that I must insist all should check out. Perfectly in tune for the season and the weather!

While in Brooklyn, why not be awed by the blooming cherry trees at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens?! We are now officially in full peak season and there is nothing more romantic and special… Just think of the last line in the Neruda poem: “I want to do with you what spring does to the cherry trees.” Bring a friend, bring a family member, or - if lucky enough - bring your love! Click on Cherry Blossom Watch for an interactive guide to the best blossom viewing.

“Woven splendor from Timbuktu to Tibet: exotic rugs and textiles from NY collectors” is a fabulous new EXHIBIT at the NY Historical Society, on Central Park West. Housed in a magnificent building, near enough to all those cool brunchy places on Columbus Avenue, it’s a great way to spent a Sunday afternoon. The exhibit is a mixture of carpets from Afghanistan, as well as costumes and textiles from Africa and Asia.

If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to buy your tickets for the Indian Film Festival Of Los Angeles. With a few fabulous films, including a new documentary “Shot in Bombay” by Liz Mermin, the filmmaker who brought us the moving “Beauty Academy of Kabul”, as well as a tribute to Bollywood babe with brains Madhuri Dixit, it is bound to ROCK!! But if that is just too far away and you can’t see yourself in sunny California just now, then check out the Tribeca Film Festival, which is also bound to rock.

Singapore is the best place on earth to eat and shop till you drop. The people are incredibly polite and welcoming, the food is diverse and delicious and the shopping is unreal! I mean, the place is nearly completely made up of shopping malls. What’s there not to love?! Even the airport is one giant shopping center complete with gourmet food courts.

In fact, Singapore Changi Airport is where I want to start this adventure. This week, travel with me to the point of entry - and exit - to any nation… Only in Singapore, they have made it into an art. A truly painless experience of duty free shopping, luxury goods, trinkets and delightful food to suit even the most discerning of palates. Not a single grumpy customs agent in sight, no wasting time around the baggage claim, only shopping, great coffee shops, fun transportation and smiles all around. Come on, lets explore Singapore Changi Airport together. It’s bound to happen one day, I am sure you’ll pass through it. After all, Asia is becoming the center of the world and Singapore is its epicenter…

If you are arriving into Singapore from the US or Europe, on a Singapore Airlines flight, you’ll most certainly step foot into Terminal 3. This will be your fantastic first experience of the wonder that is Changi. If you’ll be arriving on United, Qatar, Jet Airways or most international airlines, this will also be your initial point of entry. But most flights from Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa arrive into Terminal 2. The great thing about Changi Airport is that it’s all so well connected, you have the time to see all three terminals, if you so fancy. Their Skytrain comes every three minutes - tops! - and takes only about four minutes to the farthest point. So, discover it all, buy it all, taste it all and N-joy a mini slice of Singapore.

Whether is transit, upon arrival or before your departure, you must give this airport a chance. There is so much to do here, I almost wished I had more time. I secretly prayed for my flight to be delayed… Of course, that did not happen, but I can save you some time by giving up some of my “discoveries”. Number one, pick up a copy of their “inhouse” magazine, the Changi Class. It’s cool, fun and insightful and will provide you with a complete map of the airport on the last couple of pages. A word of advice: if you are in transit, be careful about buying liquids such as perfume or liquor, as they’ll count towards your “Quart Bag - 300 ml each” allowance now in effect. Don’t get stuck with some great perfume which will end up going home with the security officer at the next terminal… Either check it, or don’t buy it.

Terminal 1 is used for short haul flights so it doesn’t have the greatest perfume and cosmetics duty free shop. What it does have is a branch of the famous Chinese medicine store Eu Yan Sang. A wonderful place to explore with some time on your hands. Ask to try a couple of their brewed teas, they’ll gladly let you sample some Jasmine or even medicinal Ginseng. I enjoyed stocking up on the “Soups” made with all traditional ingredients, for ailments like “dirty blood” and “congestion”. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Chomel is a favorite of mine, for cool hair ornaments and costume jewelry. I found a hair clip like the French ones they sell in Barneys for hundreds of dollars, and paid little more than $10. Complete with rhinestones and in the color of the season. My kind of place. Burberry, Bally, Celine, Gucci and Ferragamo all have mini shops here, though I didn’t find the prices amazingly convenient. I find that if you must have a fantastic Gucci bag or some gorgeous Ferragamo shoes, it’s better to buy them back home. OK, so you spend a little more, but they are truly what you always wanted and if they are not… you can return them. Make sure to check out the MAC, Bobby Brown and Origins counters inside the terminal. As far as food, expect Singapore street food at higher prices in food court M, but move to other terminals for other options. There is a foot reflexology spa here, but I did not get a chance to try it. Maybe next time. There is also a movie theater on Level 3, a gym, a swimming pool and a transit hotel.

Terminal 2 is bigger than the previous one, but still not as fantastically huge as number 3. More on this last one later. In Terminal 2 you’ll find more food choices. My favorite, at a moment of absolute hunger, was Cedele. A true haven for vegetarians amidst the pork and meat galore of Singapore, I had a fantastic pumpkin soup there and a cheese sandwich to die for. And I didn’t go broke in the process. The staff was welcoming and their tables quiet and away from the bustle of the airport. Internet is available, with a comfy seat. BTW, the whole airport has FREE internet access, though limited to 15 minutes at each station. But technically, you can keep accessing it as long as you need, signing in and out in the process, which can be a bit of a hassle. Shanghai Tang, Chloe, Coach and Prada have shops in this terminal as well as a pretty lovely duty free shop. The Cozee Lounge has something similar to the kind of food choices you would get on the streets of Singapore, with a favorite being Wang Cafe, where you can get red bean paste steamed buns. I would stay away from the restaurants on Level 3, as they all seem pretty sketchy. Finish off your meal with a great cup of coffee instead at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, on Level 2. A spa is supposed to be here as well, though I - again - didn’t have time to check it out. The transit hotel and movie theater is situated on Level 3.

Now Terminal 3. WOW! It’s so beautifully laid out, so amazingly conceived… The only issue I had with it was the miles and miles and miles I had to walk to get to my flight, once it was announced. And you know what, those moving walkways do NOT help! And nearly immediately after announcing it, they flashed a “Flight Closed” message across the airport screens. It was not a leisurely stroll after that, I tell you!? Anyway, my favorite duty free shop is in this terminal. I came away with some Sisley products and Guerlain gold make-up primer at a fraction of the their US prices. The Singaporean are SERIOUS about their candy. It’s not a myth that chewing gum is forbidden in this country. There are large signs displayed at the entrance points, near baggage claim, and apparently even bringing the stuff into the country is breaking the law. I had my stash for the trip and knew I could count on my “angelic” look to get away with it. But what a rush, I tell you! Walking past those customs agents with “smuggled goods” - Wrigleys! Anyway, La Perla has a fantastic shop here, as do Bottega Veneta, Tag Heuer, The Body Shop, Hermes and Sony. But tied for first price for me are Shanghai Tang and Madame Butterfly, for traditional Chinese and Asian inspired fashions and accessories. Seriously, a Mandarin dress is what we all need this summer… I could have spent hours - not to mention loads of money - inside both those shops alone. As far as food, I have to admit that I used the Business Lounge and was awed by their soup, fresh fruit and Mac computers to check email and do work. But there are plenty of good food spots like Toast Box, Bao Luo Wan Xiang for traditional Singapore street style food and even Guylian Belgium Chocolate Cafe and Mrs. Fields, for the chocolate lover in me. For the token Singapore Sling cocktail, stop by the Singapore Straights Bar on Level 2. Of course, the token Foot Reflexology parlor and movie theater, showers and transit hotels are here, on Level 3.

Alright, this should be all. I thought of writing this column and instructing visitors to experience Singapore through its airport only. But the more I think about the tiny country, its people, the food, the shopping, the more I want to go back and experience it again, and again, and again. It is a magical place where you can go strolling at night and share a fresh fruit juice with a friend. Or find a different type of food to eat each day. Or shop for the latest and greatest - even what comes straight from Japan. I mean, Singapore is safe, easy and wonderful to visit. So, stay tuned for my guide to the city in the next installment. Meanwhile, N-joy!

My friend Olesya sent me this. It’s charming and funny and actually pretty similar to all that I personally pray for… But seems to be missing any mention of men…

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles, Please no bags
And please lift my butt before it sags.

Please no age spots, Please no gray.
And as for my belly, Please take it away.
Please keep me healthy, Please keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord, For all that you’ve done.

Check out the film “Love Songs” at the IFC Film Center. It is the French answer to Bollywood, with songs interspersed among the plot. Starring Louis Garrel and Chiara Mastroianni among others.

Pop into Barnes & Noble for the latest book by Jhumpa Lahiri “Unaccustomed Earth”, a collection of touching short stories, dealing with the sense of displacement surely most of us have felt, at some point in our lives.

Check out NotCouture.com for the latest, trendiest must-haves. Great advice from my friend Virginia.

Buy your tickets for the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles taking place on April 22nd through the 27th in Hollywood. It promises to be fantastic, with its stellar line-up of documentaries, short films, features and even a tribute to Bollywood’s savvy beauty Madhuri Dixit.

Eat cake. Quality cake, that is, from a tiny shop in the East Village that caters to some of the most expensive restaurants in NYC. The Black Hound, on Second Avenue, is the cake maker dreams are made of. Seriously, the next time you bite into that amazing mousse cake at your favorite restaurant, chances are you’ll be digging into a Black Hound goody.

Towards the end of last year, I became a vegetarian. Right around the end of February of this year, I started to notice that my hair just didn’t shine as it used to. It also felt limp and lackluster. I immediately did some research and discovered a lot about hair in the process. First of all, once the hair actually grows out of its follicle, it’s dead. Whatever shape your body and scalp were in BEFORE the hair came out, that is the condition your hair is going to be in. And healthy hair needs a lot of nutrients and protein, which often time lack in a strict vegetarian diet. The obvious choice would be to add more protein, by means of eggs, dairy products and beans, but that might not solve the problem completely. Fats are also important to the balance of one’s scalp, as well as vitamins and minerals, which might not always be present in the foods we eat, not in high enough content anyway. So, if you ever thought your hair could use some help, follow the guidelines below for a great head of shiny, healthy, bouncy locks.

From the outside in, try out the Avocado Hair Masque from Burt’s Bees that I mentioned in last week’s The List. For more info on how to use the stuff and where to get it, click HERE.

Take a multivitamin, one that is high in B Complex. Folic acid is particularly important for the hair and a bit difficult to get in everyday foods. But foods high in folate - another name for this B vitamin - include nuts, oranges, cereal, bananas, broccoli and asparagus.

Add raw wheat germ to your diet. This wonderfood, which is delicious sprinkled over hot or cold cereal in the morning and goes well over a fresh salad with its naturally nutty flavor, is rich in vitamin B complex, has a lot of vitamin E and even good digestive enzymes and traces of minerals.

Amino Acids always sounded like Greek to me. Until I did some research and discovered that three in particular are VERY important to good hair and even good for the skin, a pleasant side effect. Leucine is an essential amino acid, which means it must be obtained through foods. The body naturally mobilizes it during stressful times or when we go on a diet - even when just turning vegetarian. But foods high in Leucine include cottage cheese - Trader Joe’s has a great non-fat one - sesame seeds, peanuts - roasted with the skin - and lentils. Fish, of course, is a great source of the amino acid. I must admit that I have added into my diet some tuna or mahi mahi at least once a week. My BFF jokes with me that fish don’t count as animals since they can’t walk, but instead of lying to myself, I simply admit that I do first and foremost what is good for ME. So, a strict vegetarian me, at the risk of my own hair and skin? Nah! Lysine is another essential amino acid, which is important for the production of collagen and elastin - the major proteins of the body. Since hair is protein, it makes sense to avoid a Lysine deficiency. It is naturally present in the same foods mentioned above for Leucine, except peanuts. And the last one, Cysteine, is a nonessential amino acid, meaning it does not have to come directly through the diet but is manufactured from other amino acids in the liver. It blocks free radicals and therefore is anti-aging, as well as a natural combatant of heart disease and cancer. A well balanced diet guarantees its presence in your body, but taking a B vitamin complex does help in assuring its absorption. Also, strict vegetarians are at risk, since this amino acid needs protein not present in grains and vegetables.

Lecithin is also an important part of a hair healthy diet. Lecithin is a cell cleaner and lubricating agent. It helps in keeping our structure youthful and healthy. Naturally present in eggs - the yolks - whole grains and soybeans. The actual name of this substance comes from the Greek word for egg yolk. If you wish, there is also a granulated form which can be added into the diet, by sprinkling it into soups and strews.

Flax oil - the seeds are good but the oil just delivers more of the stuff to the body faster - is excellent for skin and hair health. It tastes a bit nutty and bitter and I love it on another great hair food, the avocado. Cut the fruit - YES, the avocado is a fruit! - in half, section it with your knife, spoon it out of the dark skin into a plate, sprinkle with salt, lime juice, flax oil and add a dollop of low fat greek yogurt on top and you’ve got the super foods of hair all rolled into one delicious snack.

While on the subject, yogurt is excellent for the hair and SO good for you all around. Superstore Trader Joe’s has an amazing 0% fat Greek yogurt you must try. So, a bit more eggs, yolk included, a constant supply of beans, some fish once in a while and lots of soybean products like edaname and tofu, and your hair should be the most fabulous it’s ever been in a matter of two weeks, TOPS! N-joy.