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Summer in London – Floating drinks on the Thames

If you love London you’ll love it more in the summer when the sun greets the capital. There are so many atmospheric bars and pubs on every street and alley, you never run out of new places to discover. But for that very same reason, many live in London not knowing what little gems are just around the corner, waiting to be found.

My flatmate brought me to Tamesis Dock, a converted boat bar, after an evening run along the iconic Thames river.

I fell inlove with this floating bar the minute I stepped on the deck. I was whisked away by the gorgeous view of the houses of parliament and big ben with my cold cider in hand and to top it off, the prices on board are so reasonable!

The converted dutch barge is tucked away on the side of the Thames about a 15 minute walk from Vauxhall station..or a 8 minute jog if you want a pre-workout, like we did. Although, I do not advise running back on a bloated tummy, like we did.

Apart from the priceless view and spectacular atmosphere, you’ll find that the meals here satisfy your taste buds and wallet too, especially the sharers. I would advise reserving a table as it can get quite busy when the sun makes an appearance. Especially now that summer has FINALLY arrived.

The Kopparberg logo resonates across the boat and that is exactly the thirst quencher I needed. On certain days, there is live music playing on board, simply check their facebook page for event details. Although their inner space was understandably empty when we boarded, the quaint decor is hard not to admire.

So since we’re all baking in this heat at the moment, why not pass through this spot instead of your local pub before the sunny spell dies out.

Thank me later

Sleeping Under The Sahara Desert Night Sky

I just got back from a magical week in beautiful Morocco, this country has so much more to offer than I expected. My highlight was our trip to the Sahara desert, although it was a long journey to the Sahara, it was all worth it.

I can finally tick it of my bucket list.

When we arrived in Merzouga, on the far south-eastern part of Morocco, near the Algerian border, the first step was to prepare for the hour and half long camel ride through the impressive sand dunes of Erg Chebbi (a dune field of the Sahara).

I was told that camel riding isn’t glamorous but no one prepared me for the massive thigh and butt aches that were to follow. I was already dreading the ride back in the morning.

However, it was hard to stay concentrated on the uncomfortable ride when I was greeted by the perfectly formed dunes with a painted rainbow across the sky.

It was such a peaceful place, stillness all around, except for the occasional camel farts.

After a long, butt aching journey, we made it to our campsite, at the foot of one of the bigger, majestic dunes.

I needed to move my stiff legs, so we attempted to climb the dune ( the picture does not do it justice, believe me it was tough and steep).

Lets just say I made it half way, with my heart beating out of my chest. But it was the perfect spot to take in the panoramic view.

Breathtaking.

We were suppose to stay inside the set up tents, however, after a long strategic discussion we came to the conclusion that the chances of getting a good night kiss from a scarab beetle (think Mummy returns) was far higher inside the tent than in the wild since the tent was a bigger attraction to Sahara’s locals. So we decided to move our mattresses out into the open, best decision I made.

Although paranoia first took over, every movement was a snake in my imagination, we actually had no visitors crawling up our legs or into our hair all night. Instead, I had the gentle wind on my face, occasionally bringing sand along with it, welcoming me to the Sahara.

But my favourite part of all was the shimmering night sky. I have never seen such a glow, and we were lucky to see two shooting stars as well. It was the kind of beauty you just cannot capture on camera, literally, I did try. But take my word, it made my heart smile.

After our “sleep”, we got woken up at 4am to start our return back to Merzouga on the camel. This was hard, both me and my camel were not impressed at the early start.

But hey, I saw the most dramatic, spectacular sun rise. Now look at that!

In the words of Tom Hanks;

“The desert, when the sun comes up…I couldn’t tell where heaven stopped and the Earth began.”

Taking in the island of Singapore in 48 hours

Many people stopover in Singapore whilst traveling to their final destination. If you do get the chance to visit the world’s cleanest city, I would recommend at least two days to fully appreciate this beautiful, underrate island(Yes I am a little biased since I grew up here). However, try your best to avoid the weekends as it gets pretty damn busy! Here are some options that will allow you to enjoy the best parts of the city, in a short period of time.

The best thing about this city is the food. The mixture of malay, Indian and Chinese flavours can often leave you wanting more. Although I found a little Malaysian/Singaporean food haven here in London, Roti King, it does not offer 95% of the dishes I so love. I would advice to avoid eating at restaurants when in Singapore and always visit the food courts. These are usually found in most shopping centres either at the very bottom floor or at the very top and you can expect to get a full, authentic meal for 4-6 sing dollars.

I would recommend Makansutra, an outdoor food court with a priceless view of the famous skyline! This is right next to the Esplanade (nearest MRT station). Check out my earlier post on the best dishes in Singapore on what you MUST try.

Everything in Singapore is accessible by either public transportation or taxi (it is cheaper to flag one down than to call, and try to avoid rush hour which comes with a ridiculous surcharge) and no journey will ever take more than an hour, even if you are traveling from east to west. Make your way to Bugis for the famous Bugis market, the actual products are overrated but you can get food here and it is also not far from Haji lane, Singapore’s smaller version of London’s Brick Lane. Haji lane attracts a more alternative crowd who enjoy chilled drinks and authentic, unique products. Check out Kolombiana if you get the chance and temporarily visit the colourful culture of Colombia. The products here are nearly as beautiful as Karen, the owner of the shop, and made by the indigenous people of Colombia.

If you are craving for some sand and sun, even though the beaches here aren’t the prettiest, head to Sentosa. You can get here either by taxi or with the skytrain from Vivocity (Harbourfront MRT). The best thing here would be the Co+Nut+Ink, Delicious coconut ice cream in a coconut shell with scraped flesh served with fresh, thirst quenching coconut juice. It is almost worth coming to Sentosa just for this.

The next best thing about Sentosa would be Mambo beach bar, where you can enjoy a drink by or in the pool while watching the Sunset and listening to some funky house tunes. The crowd is fun and the drinks aren’t crazy expensive.

If you prefer to stay in the city, check out Ku De Ta. This bar/restaurants sits on the top floor of the world famous Marina Bay Sands hotel, known for it’s over instragramed Infinity Pool. Unfortunately, to gain access to the pool, you have to have a room at the hotel, which in my opinion is overpriced for what it actually is. So to get similar views, head to the bar instead, anyone can. Have one or two drinks here as a pre-drink (I don’t think your bank account would want you to have more) before you head to Clark Quay(easily accessible by the MRT from Marina bay), the main area for hip clubs and bars.

Regardless of what night it is, there is always something going on at Clark Quay. Ladies, Wednesday is your night. All ladies get into most bars and clubs for free along with a complimentary drink or a few. Like many Asian cities, Singapore comes alive at night. And when you have had enough of the alcohol and loud beats and the hunger kicks in, many big food courts are 24/7. Jalan Kayu and Thomson road prata house are my two favourite after party food hangouts. The best way to get here is via taxi, roughly 20 mins from Clark Quay. Leave the kebabs and chip shops behind and leave your taste buds wanting more.

Finally, indulge your senses in Little India and China Town. Visit the biggest Buddhist Temple in Singapore in China Town, situated right next to the “street of death”. Back before Singapore’s success and sovereignty, there were many poor settlers. The Chinese believed it was bad luck for their families if they died in their homes. So when they were ill or dying they would take themselves to this street to die, and take with them the hovering cloud of death. Now the street is constantly busy with tourists visiting the temple and the parallel street, the food market.

What are your favourite parts of Singapore?

Magical Montserrat – The Saw Tooth Mountain

If you are ever visiting the vibrant city of Barcelona, or Spain’s gay capital, Sitges, I would recommend making a day trip to the tranquil, rugged Montserrat mountain. This is roughly an hour away and can be accessed via organized coaches, trains or the best option, a car.

Various routes are available to take to and around the peak, accompanied by an impressive view.

The multi-peaked mountain overlooking the valley of Catalonia is not the only reason people visit from far and wide. Montserrat is also the home to the Black Madonna aka the virgin of Montserrat which peacefully sits in the Basilica next to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat.

Expect a queue to see the Madonna statue up close. Even if you do not want to wait, entering the Basilica itself is worth it. This shrine has been visited by millions of Pilgrims throughout the years. Legend has it that a bright light erupting from a cave in the mountain was seen by shepherds in year 880 and that is where they found the Black Virgin Mary nestled in a cave. Although the more likely version of the story was that monks hid the sacred statue in the cave to protect it from the moors and now it continues to be protected in its shrine.

Once you reach the Monastery you are also able to get the funicular up to the peak of the Mountain. This is the perfect way to soak in the beautiful landscape, 360 degrees of it.

And if you are feeling adventurous, you can walk through the many designated pathways and through the Montserrat nature reserve.

Whether you want to see the geographical miracle or learn more about Catalonia’s culture and history, one thing is for certain, you don’t have to be religious to feel the magic of Montserrat.

The Sleeping Goddess of Heligan

There is more to Cornwall than the scrumptious cornish delights and surfers on the beach. For those that love the nature and greenery, wander of to the lost gardens of Heligan. From Emus to sleeping statues, as well as a beautiful tea house, this side of Cornwall does not disappoint.

Upon entrance, you can either turn right and head into the woodland walk or left into the jungle. On the woodland walk you are greeted with the beautiful mud maid, sleeping peacefully in the bed of grass. This along with the Giant’s head are the inspiration behind two heligan-themed childrens books “The Giant” and ” The Mud Maid” by Sandra Horn.

My mother is obsessed with trees and this was her paradise. I understand her love for trees, sometimes I wish they would just start talking to me and carry me across the woods like Pippin from Lord of the Rings.

An explosion of colours across the pond and the serene Canopy made me feel like I was somewhere in the amazon, the cold amazon.

I also mastered the art of being tinkerbell and looking like I’m sitting on a leaf.

There is a rope bridge to walk across, a jungle to get your shoes dirty in and beautiful birds nesting in homemade houses.

This beautiful garden deserves a half or even full day, whether you want a romantic nature break with your partner or to bring the kids outdoors or just to simply have a peaceful walk.

Not to mention, you’ll get to meet my lazy friends Queenie and Edmond!

Around Lady Bower reservoir in 2 hours

It is hard to get bored or tired of cycling with a view like this, even when your bum gets numb. There are many cycling routes to match your energy levels in the Peak district, all with spectacular views. We played it safe and rode around the picturesque Lady Bower reservoir(roughly 15km) instead of the three reservoir cycle trail which includes Derwent and Howden Reservoir. It is possible to cut this long route short by turning right at the Derwent Dam and returning to Fairholmes , the starting point and Carpark.

It was hard not to stop every few minutes to take a picture, but don’t let these fool you. It was a hard, sweaty trek with steep hills that I could only climb by dismounting my bike and walking. If you don’t have your own bicycle like me, you can rent one at the Fairholmes information centre.

The Peak district is one of my favourite places in England and while walking is also an option, you see more of the area with the bicycles in a shorter time. Plus, its a great workout! This is definitely a great trip to do in the summer, with great spots by the stream to sit down and have a picnic.

There are so many beautiful places in England to see and many tourist always flock to London and miss out the beautiful spots of north England. Peak district is an absolute must, so why not tie in some fat burning, bum toning exercise too?

Cornwall’s hidden gems – Cawsand and Kingsand

I had a wonderful bank holiday in Cornwall, even though the weather and traffic wasn’t always on my side. Do NOT ever make the mistake we did, driving to Cornwall on the Saturday of the nightmare that is half term. 3 hours was added on to our journey and every rest stop was ~~infested~~ crowded with mothers running after their screaming children.

Despite this chaos, we found a peaceful getaway. We visited the popular stops on Cornwall’s north coast.

Padstow, seafood and cornish ice cream heaven, is a pretty, historical fishing port. Unfortunately we were hit by a full day of fog, keeping the sun captive.

Every street here boasts a selection of the “best” cornish ice cream and cornish tea. However, what makes Padstow so popular is Rick Stein’s famous seafood restaurant. An endless queue stood outside during lunch time, so we settled for cornish pasty.

Newquay did not deserve our time. It resembled Blackpool and nothing about the town appealed to any of my senses.

My favourite seaside town on the north coast, is St. Ives. Apart from nearly being mugged by a gang of seagulls, the town had an enchanting charm. Tip: Plan your meals in advance and if you want to bag a spot on one of the not so many restaurants or pubs by the beach, be sure to make reservations as it gets really busy!

However, my heart was stolen by Cornwall’s less touristic southwest end. Cawsand and Kingsand are small twin fishing villages and both joined through a narrow path, the prettiest street I saw in Cornwall/Devon. Hidden at the end of a side alley way you can see the quaint Cawsand church peaking through.

Kingsand was historically part of Devon before the borders changed. Kingsand beach is somewhat prettier than Cawsand’s, with a pretty pub on the coast, ideal for a cold white wine in the summer. These villages were not as covered with tourists like the north coast and that is what added to its beauty.

The cornish air had me constantly craving traditional cornish Pasties, something I have never been too keen on. However, in true cornish fashion, I had a pasty for lunch three days in a row. Absolutely no regrets.

Food lovers paradise – The top dishes in Singapore

When Singapore gained its independence, it started off as a cosmopolitan city with the indigenous malays and then the migration of Chinese and indians. With the harmonious integration of different races came the integration of their cuisine and flavours. Here are some of my favourite Singaporean/Malaysian dishes.

Carrot Cake Chai Tau Kway

This is an all time local favourite – fried carrot cake. Don’t think about the carrot cake desert you are used to, this version is boiled rice flour with shredded carrots ( and a few more ingredients). There are two version, the white one, which is less sweet and the black one, which is rounded off with sweet soy sauce. This is then also fried with egg and is great as either a main dish or side dish.

Rojak

This salad dish, which is also common in Indonesia, gives you a great burst of flavours. “Rojak” literally means “a mix” in malay and that explains the dish. A mixture of crunchy fruit and vegetable as well as you char kway (fried dough fritters) which is not complete without the dark brown sauce. The rojak sauce determines the taste of the dish and it is a mixture of prawn and chilli paste, sugar and lime, but not every shop gets the right consistency of sweet and savoury. There is also an Indian version of rojak which can be distinguished by the fiery red sauce.

Hainanese Chicken rice

This is a simple dish with impact which originates from a small island called Hainan. Many hainanese migrated over to Singapore and brought this dish along with them. It consists of steamed or roast chicken accompanied by rice, but not just any rice. The rice is cooked in the left over broth of when the chicken is cooked. Make sure you try the unique chilli sauce that comes with this dish!

Satay

For something lighter, try Satay – grilled, skewered meat. The best part about this dish is the peanut sauce that comes with the meat. If you love peanuts or peanut butter, this is for you! I love the sauce so much that I use to eat it with just rice, and in many places they serves rice cakes with the Satay and sauce. For some good Satay, head over to Adams road.

Nasi Padang

This dish is a malay dish which boasts a large range of meat and vegetable dishes that come with rice. You get too choose as many dishes as you want but the price goes up per side. My favourite are the vegetable curry, stir fried fermented soya and long beans, bergedel (friend potato cakes) and beef rendang (slow cooked beef in a curry sauce). However, there is so much to try so experiment!

Popiah

The closest thing you could compare this too is a combination of a wrap and fresh spring role. This is probably the healthiest dish on this list (hey, you only live once) and is definitely always on the top of my list when I return to Singapore. Popiah originates from the Fujian province and you will be able to find different variations in Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan. This popular street food dish is made of various vegetables, such as peeled turnip, bean sprout and carrots along with the important sauce (like in most asian dishes) wrapped in delicate popiah paper.

I will write separately about my favourite breakfast dishes and deserts. What are your favourite dishes in Singapore/Malaysia?

For more information on Singaporean meals in London, check out my Post on Roti King – by far the best Singaporean/Malaysian cafe I have come across.

A real life Disney Fairytale – Schloss (Castle) Neuschwanstein

Who said Fairy tales aren’t real? Just one look at the Schloss (Castle) Neuschwanstein and I felt like Cinderella preparing to meet my Prince. Germany is a castle lovers paradise, with rich history and beautiful castles across the country.

There is a reason why Walt Disney was inspired by the King’s most majestic palace in Hohenschwangau,Bavaria. It stands at the top of the hill, isolated like King Ludwig II.

King Ludwig II of Bavaria, AKA the Mad King or Fairytale King, remains today a mystery. He built his 3 castles to escape reality and they are now all that remain of his imaginary, ideal world. Forced to be King at 18, when his father died, Ludwig II was subject to many pressures. However, it was his own obsession with building his fairytale that was his true defeat.

King Ludwig II was found dead along with his psychiatrist in Lake Starnberg, a few days after he was declared Mad by that same psychiatrist. Until today, it is still unclear what happened that day…However, Neuschwanstein was not completed when he died and it is said that there was still a fourth castle planned that was never realized.

There are various ways to get up the castle, by foot, by a shuttle bus or a romantic horse carriage. Either way, I recommend spending some time after you have visited the caste to walk around and inhale the breathtaking scenery. You can enjoy the Instagram-worthy views of the Marienbrücke ( Marien bridge) over the Pöllat Gorge.

A day trip here will surely leave you curious about the unsolved fairytale of Kind Ludwig II.

Loco over Smoothie’s

I recently became a proud owner of the Breville smoothie maker and there is no turning back! Its only been a week of having smoothies for breakfast and I feel like all that delicious junk I had on holiday has been smoothied away. I can’t wait to see the results once I start having green smoothies too! I’ll share my recipes here.

What I’ve had the past week, and have yet to get sick of, is a banana berry smoothie. I also add in super foods to give me that extra nutrition and boost.

Recipe:

One fully riped banana (it tastes even better when you let it slightly overripe)
A handful of frozen berries ( you can easily find this in Sainsbury’s or freeze them yourself)
2 table spoons of Linwood’s flax, sunflower, pumpkin seeds & goji berries mixture(bought at Sainsbury’s)
1 Table spoon Whey protein powder
Fill the bottle with ¾ almond milk or soy milk

Then blend and enjoy!