I am spending the weekend in Kuala Lumpur, one of my favorite cities in the world. And, in this favorite city, exists my favorite place in all the world to shop, Peter Hoe Beyond. Imagine all of the things you love about IKEA or Pier One or World Market, but imagine them much, much cooler. This place has textiles, funky lampshades, pounded metal napkin holders, purses covered in tiny elephants (think Christmas present for my niece), soft cotton bathrobes, and unique jewellery made in-house. And there are only two stores in all of the world, so you know what you are getting won't be in your neighbor's house either. It's a sheer shopping dream. Plus, there is a most delicious cafe as you enter the store; Peter Hoe has crafted the most amazing salad dressing you have every tasted. It may be a pineapple vinagrette, it may be something else, but whatever magic it is, I could drink it by the bottle.
I arrived at the store thinking about two things: 1) What I was going to find to pack into my suitcase to take back to GZ and 2) What I was going to eat for lunch. I entered the store and all of the cells in my body started blissfully humming with house-decorating possibilities. I took a left and headed for the cafe. I opted for the pan-seared salmon with salsa verde and, of course, the salad. I sat down on a comfy bench and gazed lovingly into the store while I waited for my lunch to arrive. I thought about setting up camp permanently, ditching my apartment and life in China to live clandestinely in the midst of the showroom. There was food, after all, and it was delicious. Lunch arrived and I tucked in. It was the best meal I had eaten in months and dessert was yet to come. I eyed the dessert case from my couch and decided to ask for a recommendation. I approached the counter and I was pretty sure that that guy selling me my dessert was Peter Hoe himself. I could hardly believe it. He recommended the mango cheesecake (made fresh today, no preservatives) as I gushed about how the salad alone made the price of a plane ticket from GZ worth it. He asked how I heard about the store and I told him a friend lived in town and that I have visited the store on every trip to KL. I also told him I planned to move in to the store, but he discouraged it, as he felt it would be an uncomfortable place to live. I sat down, not completely sure if I had actually just met the man and feeling just a little starstruck. My cheesecake arrived and Peter Hoe reappeard and chided me for digging right in. He said I should let it warm a bit, as it would improve the flavor. When Peter Hoe tells you how to eat your cheesecake, believe me, you listen. He was right.
Lunch eaten I headed out to buy things for my house. I picked up a table cloth, napkins covered in little monkeys, silverware holders, a floppy beach hat (for my trip to Bali in three weeks) a robe, a picture frame, a few more napkins, a necklace, some earrings and a few other things. About half way through the store, I noticed that something was wrong. The elastic bungee cord on my Keens had broken. I bent down to try to fix it and who appeared? Why Peter Hoe of course. I explained my predicament and he told me it was fine to sit on his floor and fix it. He grabbed the items I was holding out of my hand and took them over to the counter. He also told me that the napkin boxes I had negelcted to pick up for my Malaysian inspired napkins were essential items, added them to my pile and whisked them over to the counter. As I finshed up and checked out, I chatted a bit more with the man and the legend as he folded up my robe and found wrapping paper for the elephant purse (because if you are giving a gift from Peter Hoe, it needs the right wrapping paper). I think he was happy as my items were totaled up, 26 in all. I certainly spent a good bit of money in the store. As I left, not sure if I really had spent the afternoon hanging with P.H. or if it had just been some wonderful flight of Malaysian design fancy, I was content in the knowledge that my house will be just that much funkier and more comfortable due to the efforts of my afternoon and one Kuala Lumpur design legend. When I got back to my friend's house, I checked the internet just to be sure it really had happened. There he was, smiling up from the pages of the New York Times, Peter Hoe, my new friend and design guru. Thank you, Peter Hoe, it was a wonderful afternoon. I'll be back soon for another afternoon of salad and shopping.
To read more about Peter Hoe check out: http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/travel/02foraging.html
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