London at Christmas

We had a magical trip to London to enjoy Christmas in the city.  We loved seeing the decorations, checking out Winter Wonderland, and having a fancy tea at Fortnum & Mason. If you're thinking about going to London for Christmas, I highly recommend it!

First stop, the Churchill Arms...pub Christmas heaven:

The Christmas decorations around the city were gorgeous... 

One of our favorite stops was the National Gallery where we saw amazing Van Gogh and Vermeer paintings.  This was a lovely morning...and we found beautiful floor mosaics! 

We also loved checking out the super modern Saatchi Gallery and saw this amazing Calder exhibit: 

...which happened to be on the same block as the new downtown Boden...shopping heaven! 

It was wonderful to see all of the Christmas decorations at Leadenhall Market: 

...we also checked out Winter Wonderland which was more of an amusement park than a Christmas market: 

and in the evening we saw Glenngarry Glenn Ross on West End (P liked it, I did not love it)...but I did love all of the Christmas lights we saw on the South Bank and around embankment:

The grand finale was high tea at Fortnum and Mason which was quite the experience: 

...cheers!

It's a Bird, It's a Plane...

It's a drone!  P got not one, but TWO drones for Christmas. He has taken his new toy out every day this week and gotten some stunning photos and videos of the landscape!

A video of some of his best footage:

The snow covered Dales...

The view from 200 feet up... that lake was a total surprise...we couldn't see it from the ground!

Fly little drone fly...

The pilot at work...

Paradise Found: Malaysia

We had the best time on the Malaysian island of Langkawi.  The resort was stunning, the food was incredible, and the views were unreal.  If you have a chance to go, book your ticket! 

Best part of the trip...I finally found my husband after a month apart...with a stunning ocean view!

We loved the view over the harbor...perfection:

We spent most late afternoons at our hotel rooms catching the snaps:

The food at the resort was world-class...check out lunch!

...and lunch was served in these beautiful cabanas pool-side with koi!

Does life get better than a beautiful view, in-pool, with snacks?

We enjoyed the traditional "tiffin" for Thanksgiving dinner.  Originally used to carry worker's lunches in India, this tiffin was filled with beautiful Malay curries.  A beautiful meal that reminded us how much we have to be grateful for:

We also went on a fun excursion to kayak through the beautiful mangroves where we saw monkeys and bats:

....and we also loved being surrounded by rainforest...you can see the showers rolling in around the resorts.  What an incredible trip!

If You Go: Langkawi Malaysia

When we found out P would be traveling to Singapore for work...we decided to tack on another Asian adventure.  We did some quick research and zeroed in on Malaysia and then picked a western island that was going to be good weather in November...we picked a winner!  Langkawi has been developed in the past 20 years after the Four Seasons arrived and since has become the "luxury" island.  Full of mangroves, rain forests, and 5 star resorts, it was essentially heaven. We stayed at a boutique resort...the Danna...and loved it so much we really didn't leave.  So... not too many recommendations other than, stay at that amazing hotel!

Hotel 
The Danna: This hotel could not be more beautiful!  With an incredible infinity pool set over a harbor of beautiful boats, the view from our room was absolutely stunning.  The service was impeccable - from the moment you arrived and they offered a massage to the snacks by the pool to the constant towel service.  Gosh, we have stayed at a lot of nice resorts, but this was by far the nicest.  If you go...stay here and upgrade yourself to an ocean front room.  It was well worth it! You get the view below!

Things to Do 
Dev's Adventure - Mangrove Kayak: We took a daytrip to kayak through the northern mangroves.  It was a really neat day to be in the stillness of the mangroves and see incredible birds and monkeys all around us.  Thank goodness we missed the snakes...who apparently also live there! 
Atma Alam Batik: I love the art of batik...the beautiful paintings!  So if you are into this beautiful craft, book yourself a taxi and visit this incredible store.  There are thousands and thousands of prints in every design imaginable.  The prices are so low and the quality is amazing.
Night Market: We visited the night market and chomped on some amazing malay cuisine.  We ended up going the night before our trip home, so we were a bit more cautious with our choices than usual.  The market rotates between towns...so check the local schedule and book it for yourself

Food Heaven: Singapore

Because of a long series of work travel issues for P, I ended up seeing Singapore solo.  It was actually a very easy city to explore alone - crazy safe, everyone speaks English, and there is so much to do.  The food scene in Singapore is unreal.  An incredible mix of Indian, Chinese, and Malay food, there are some of the fanciest restaurants in the world in Singapore....mixed right in with Michelin Starred Food Stalls at their famed "Hawker Centers."  If you get the chance, head to Singapore immediately and travel with an empty stomach:

The Singapore City Skyline from China Town:

But my first stop...Little India...where I ate a dosa bigger than my head and introduced the world to "Flat P" who traveled with me around Singapore.  The Prime Minster of Singapore brought the Prime Minister of India to this restaurant...so...pretty legit!

A beautiful temple tucked into the "Little India" portion of the city.  Interestingly, the public housing (which is 90% of the housing in Singapore)...is mandated to be ethically diverse.  So while the restaurants and businesses are largely run by the Indians, the local residents are of every ethnicity!

The meal so incredible I had to go twice...Satay Street!  They close the street down every night to allow the amazing satay stands to bbq the most succulent chicken, beef, and prawns imaginable.  What a treat:

A Singapore delicacy....chili crab!  I tried it at one of the most famous spots for it...Jumbo's Seafood.  Personally, it was a lot of work, but the reward was delicious:

I swear...I did things in Singapore other than eat... like visiting the amazing National Orchid Garden.  I had seen something similar in Amsterdam...but the BIG difference was that the Amsterdam garden was entirely in a greenhouse...while these orchids were cultivated naturally outdoors.  Really, truly incredible:

Also impressive were the huge biodomes at Garden by the Bay.  If you have been to the Baltimore Aquarium and visited the rainforest on top...it's a bit like that...on super steroids:

Admittedly, I also lounged by the pool at the hotel when the humidity was just too much to bear...and the cool was a bit like a movie set it was so gorgeous and lush!

Such an amazing trip...a magnificent city - day and night!

If You Go: Singapore

Finally catching up on blogging!  Below are my recommendations from four days on the ground in Singapore.  It's an amazing, diverse, and hot city!  Even in November, I was stunned at how hot and muggy it was - so dress accordingly!

Hotel 

• Oasia Downtown: This hotel is like living in a modern. garden - it's close to downtown (especially Maxwell Center) and the entire hotel is covered in growing vines - with an amazing rooftop pool and a garden on the 27th floor.  Highly recommend!

Restaurants

Singapore is a foodie world capital - the origin of fusion food with world class Indian, Malay, and Chinese food at every turn.  I took several food tours to get to the various hawker centers and get out of my comfort zone...but these were a few of my favorites:

• Jumbo's Seafood: Most famous for their Chili Crab (amazing) - I also loved their cereal prawns.  Heaven on a plate 
• Din Tai Fung: This Hong Kong-based dim sum restaurant has a Michelin star - I tried this in Hong Kong a few years ago and couldn't resist stopping at this branch.  It was just as good! 
• Satay Street: I read this CNN article a few years ago - and it lived up to every expectation.  So much...I went back twice 

Things to Do 

• Night Time River Cruise: From Clark Quay, you can catch a river cruise that will take you out to see the light show at Marina Bay (note: you can also see this from the Fullerton Hotel).  Highly recommend the 8 pm ride - and grab an open air seat if you can to take pictures! 
• Monster Tour - Foodie Tour of Little India: I ended up being the only person on this tour, but gosh was it delicious!  We stopped at several spots around little India for some of the best food on the planet! The dosa and chutney alone, amazing.  Highly recommend.  Also...while you're in Little India, go to the second floor of the hawker center for some incredible sari selection 
• Betel Tour - China Town Foodie Tour: This was a slightly bigger tour...but just as interesting!  We popped into a hawker center, visited public housing, and enjoyed Kaya Toast.  Highly recommend 
• Orchid Garden: The most beautiful garden in Singapore... you walk through the Botanical Garden, which is nice, but not as nice as the Orchid Garden inside. Hundreds of varieties...the tiny orchids were my most favorite.  Stunning! 
• Gardens by the Bay: These glass domes house some beautiful, man-made gardens past the Marina sands hotel.  They were beautiful...and the rainforest was like a large version of Baltimore Aquarium rainforest. A lovely morning 

Castles + Gnomes of Wroclaw

I loved this off-the-beaten path adventure.  The gnomes around town and the castles really made it a unique spot...and the pottery I hauled home was an extra bonus and will bring some lovely memories.  Here are my most favorite snaps:

On my first day, I was in the town of Boleslaweic - it was Independence Day so most things were closed and I had the main square completely to myself!

Luckily, a few amazing pottery shops were open...ceramic heaven:

A few of my newest treasures:

The next day was our tour to the amazing Ksiaz Castle - the view that inspired this entire trip:

Most of the castle had been looted by the Soviets, but this beautiful grand room remained

The town centre of Wroclaw...where the Christmas Market was being set up (sadly, it was not open, but we could see the pretty booths)

The gnomes around town were numerous, but the orchestra was definitely my favorite:

Also amazing...a permanent Chimney Cake store...with the best slogan:

If You Go: Wroclaw, Poland

I was inspired to take this trip based on CNN's article about Lower Silesia.  This helped me find a flight for 22 GBP round trip (!!!) to Wroclaw for Veteran's Day.  P was traveling for work and it was my first Euro trip solo - and it was better than I could ever imagine!

Hotels

• Puro Hotel: This was a fun, hip hotel! Each room is entirely controlled by a tablet and there is free cappuccino available any time of the day...which was great for grabbing to walk around in the cold weather.  It was also in a very easy location... could walk to everything in the city!  Highly recommend ($60/night)

Restaurants 

• Stol na Szwedzkiej: This was the coolest restaurant - you just tell the chef what foods you don't like (and what you do) and he will cook you a crazy gourmet meal.  My four course meal included porkbelly with seaweed, tripe with root vegtables, a seabass ceviche, and a stunning, warm brownie.  It was such a fun, unique experience.  Highly recommend- though it's a bit outside of town, so take a taxi! 
• Bernard's: Right on the main square of Wroclaw, Bernard's is a Czech restaurant with beautiful, yummy food.  Also, mulled wine was delicious - with many flavors! Check it out
• 
  

Things to Do 

• Boleslawiec: This is the home of all of the beautiful Polish pottery.  It's about a 90 minute train ride from Wroclaw.  Hint - it takes a lot of effort to buy tickets online for Polish trains, so start your efforts early.  Also, I purposely wanted to buy a significant amount of pottery - so be sure to bring a solid bag to carry your treasures home in.  
• Wroclaw Sightseeing Tours - Kzaic Castle: This is what interested me in the region to begin with, I met friends and we took this tour to Kzaic Castle.  This is a stunningly beautiful castle from the outside...and was rumored to have Hitler's gold train beneath it.  While this has been proven false, the nazi-built tunnels can be seen from the basement of the castle and it's a sad testament to the many Polish labor camps in this area.  A lot of history and some truly stunning vistas.  The tour company took us to a few other neat spots - a beautiful wooden church and a WWII treaty location. 
• Wroclaw Gnomes: Originally developed a sign of communist resistence in the late 1980's, today the gnomes are cheeky statues all around the town...there are close to 200 scattered around the main part of the city and it's fun to go on a gnome hunt! 

Food and Views in Sicily

Our long weekend in Sicily was amazing - driving between beautiful views, amazing meals, and quaint Italian towns.  Here are snaps from around the island:

The view just below our hotel in Taormina - yes - it was seriously this beautiful:

The beautiful town square in Taormina:

And in the background...the amazing Mt. Etna...

P walking just below that cloud cover on Mt. Etna:

It was sunny and warm on the coast...and cold on the top of Mt. Etna...standing on the volcanic rocks:

Delicious wine lunch at Villagrande Winery:

...and these views at Gambino Winery...home of P's new favorite wine varietal...Etna Rosso!

How beautiful are these newly weds (and their view)...we just stumbled across them randomly...I wish I knew them to share this beautiful moment:

The town of Siracusa had amazing food and shops:

Lucky to enjoy these travels with this handsome guy: