Park Güell: Art in Nature

The colours and architecture of Park Güell in Barcelona captures the style of its designer Antoni Gaudi whose designs mimic nature, and plays with light and reflection to infuse a little drama into the surroundings.

Heritage Trail: Jew Town

Jew town in the old quarter of Fort Kochi in Kerala was built by the Jewish community who moved to Fort Kochi in the 14th century. In it are an array of old buildings including a synagogue that at one time served the community of traders who operated from the area.

Stuff you take for granted …

Things you take for granted until it’s beyond your reach because of restricted movement. Our sweet treat just one month ago on a scorching hot afternoon along the streets of Georgetown – ‘Ais Bola’ drizzled with syrup, sarsaparilla and grape & Penang Heritage ais kacang. Ice bola is hard to come by nowadays, but it…

Restricted Movement Sunday Lunch

Our routine over the past two weeks has been limited and the Movement Control Order has been extended till mid-April. I’m missing my Sunday banana leaf lunch with the family and tried to replicate it today with missing ingredients nevertheless. Here’s lunch for today, white rice, fish sambal, dhall and siew pak choy fried with…

Village With A Runway?

A runway in the middle of a village? That’s exactly what ‘Lawan Kuda,‘ a quaint village snuggled amongst the green hills near the town of Gopeng in Perak features. It’s the first thing you’ll notice as you pull into the village. Built by the British as an emergency landing strip and referred to as ‘feigeichang’…

Coffee Tea anyone?

Coffee flower tea, cultivated and harvested in the town of Gopeng in Perak, brings together a refreshing brew of two all-time favourite beverages in a cup.

Throwback Thursday: Hotel de I’lsard Andorra

On a cold winter’s day there is noting more comforting than walking into a cosy comfortable corner for some warmth, and for us in Andorra this was Hotel de I’lsard where we spent three nights in Dec 2019. It’s location is great. Right in the middle of town between the old quarter, the shopping district…

Fine French Fusion Fare

A lazy Saturday at Cafe-Bistrot David with good friends is all we needed after such a drama fuelled week in the country. Calling in that morning to book a table, we were told that the restaurant was fully booked for lunch and the next available time was 2.30pm. A perfect excuse to sleep in! The…

An Abundant Ponggal to All

I didn’t realise it was ponggal (harvest festival) today till I noticed the boiling earthen pots under sticks of sugar cane, propped up in front of my neighbours homes this morning. All dressed up in colourful clothes, the families were gathered around the pot waiting for it to overflow so that they can shout ‘Ponggal!’…

‘Pop’ Goes the Bagel

We normally wouldn’t take the trouble to drive all the way out of town on a weekend, especially while we are still in a stupor from severe lack of sleep and running around town like headless chickens over Christmas and New Year. But a hospital visit in the area prompted us to stop by this…

New Year Glow

It’s barely a month since we ushered in the New Year and rolled up the Christmas lights and wreaths. In place of the twinkling Christmas lights are now the warm glow of red and yellow Chinese lanterns, strung up to usher in the Chinese Lunar New Year next Saturday. The simple joys of living in…