Tag Archives: Exclusive Photos

Lisbon: Shopping, Beach and Night Market

Posted on August 10, 2014 | Leave a comment

What to do a summer Saturday in Lisbon?

Cheerful colourful lazy breakfast in bed. Great breakfast, isn’t it? I was dying to show you it!

Already noon, it’s super hot. As I do not like the heat and I prefer discovering some boutiques of young designers in the deserted city. There are only tourists in town (LOL)!

On my way to Principe Real

Near the famous Embaixada, here are few shopping places I like for their decor or selection of clothing and accessories.

Pictured above, the boutiques : Alexandra Moura (3) and Gopa (4). And two concept stores: Slow Retail Concept Store (1) and 21 pr Concept Store (2).

I really like the Slow Retail Concept Store, where I spent a long time: very colorful with a boho vibe and very friendly traders.

At the Real Slow Retail Concept Store,

I like for the beach, the hippie chic embroidered tunics designed by Xana Madeira (pictured above, 3).

A bit of fancy with the bangles of Ana Calheiros (2). The corner of the multibrand, Rosebud for vintage chic accessories: bags (Chloe …), shoes and jewelry (4).

The Nomada coffee, for a drink or snack in a bohemian atmosphere. Plus it smells so good: unfortunately no time to stop me this time I have late lunch at the beach!

Hello the beach : )

We head to Costa da Caparica, closer than Cascais or Gincho, 20 minutes drive from Lisbon. There is not a beach, but many beaches for miles. We arrive at 4.30-5 p.m., the best time!

The sun is still hot and gives us a golden complexion. The water is cold, it’s the ocean, but you quickly get used to it, thanks to the waves. My first swim was early May in an invigorating icy water!

Lively discussion (LOL) on our chairs, with the Brazilian electro music of the beach restaurant. And yummy fresh juices! Cheers!

Dinner at the market while listening to a DJ

Awesome! You can also listen to fado or blues lives some nights! So time to go and have a shower before going to dinner at the Mercado de Campo de Ourique.

Although I should be stayed on the beach, I really like the relaxed atmosphere of the market. A nice mix of people: families, groups of friends, hipsters, normcores and others …

Traditional Portuguese products at very reasonable prices. It’s simple and good: taste the Portugese beans (healthy and tasteful)! On weekends, it ‘s hard to find seats to eat.

Informations

Slow Retail Concept Store: Praça do Pricinpe Real, N°20, 1250-184 Lisboa

Costa da Caparica & Mercado Campo de Ourique

Portugal: Comporta, Miles of Pristine Beaches

3 Restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal

DESTINATIONS, FASHION & LIFESTYLE

Fooding at The Awesome Sungai Gold, Bali

Posted on August 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

Foodies, enjoy!

I had an amazing stay at Sungai Gold, a beautiful rental villa where every meal was a feast for the eyes and palate. Every morning, the chief asked me what I wanted for lunch and dinner.

I like eating light and prefering the quality of ingredients to a complex cooking. Mostly I wanted to discover Balinese specialties. What interest ordering pizza whe you’re in the Balinese countryside? So here are some of my meals.

Let’s begin with the famous Nasi Goreng (on the photo above, the No. 2): steamed rice with leeks, mushrooms, carrots, garlic, chilli and oyster sauce and fish sauce. Fried chicken and an egg on the rice. A delicious dish very nutritious, served with sauces, including one very spicy (3). 1. Fresh coriander juice (I think) with lime, the whole is very bitter.

The breakfasts

(pictured above). I always had the same breafast, enjoying sun-drenched fruits with a fresh fruit salad and orange juice (1).

Depending on my activities, when I didn’t have lunch at the villa, I added a bowl of whole grains (2) or scrambled eggs with mushrooms sprinkled with parmesan (3).

The dinner of my arrival

When I arrived after more than 20 hours of flight, I was not hungry. Unable to resist, I ate because it was so good (ten times too much for me alone)! And the setting was magical!

Photos 1, 2 & 3: the starters. 1. Scallops with chilli and cream of coconut. 2. Tempura barramundi (a fish of Southeast Asia and Australia) with a Thai salad.

3. Spring rolls of lamb with cumin seeds. 4. The main course: grilled chicken salad with green mango. In all the dishe, there are coriander and chilli. A divine meal!

Do you know the Barramundi and some Asian fruits?

Above, photo 1: steamed Barramundi with lime sauce and coconut, with mashed sweet potato. Among the ingredients: lemongrass, coriander, ginger, palm sugar, coconut milk, lime juice, garlic and “green bird eyes” chili.

2. The dessert! What a dessert: a plate composed of dragon fruit (white flesh dotted with edible black seeds and pink skin not to eat), passion fruit (viscous seeds in the strawberries) for those I liked.

I really liked the dragon fruit, mixed with a scoop of homemade coconut ice cream: a real treat! This became my favorite dessert (usually I’m not dessert)! 3. Passion Fruit.

Pleasure for the eyes

At lunch: grilled chicken with vegetables (carrots and cucumbers) marinated in white vinegar, small chillis and sugar. The chicken has also marinated in fish sauce and shrimp paste, long hot pepper, garlic, tomato and oil. It’s great and beautiful to look at (1)!

For dinner: baby snapper with Balinese spices, garlic, chili, lime, shrimp paste, tomato and oil, plus lemongrass (2). This dish is served with steamed rice with coconut that I found pretty dry (3).

Big surprise when I saw the dessert (which I couldn’t finish!): banana fritters served with ice (4)! Two million calories, lol! If you say fritters, you mean: rice flour, topped with a sauce made from palm sugar, cream and butter !!! Really not good for any diet ; )

Hearty dinner after a sightseeing day

I did the visit of two temples quite distant from each other, without having time to lunch. When I got home in the early evening, the chef prepared me some spring rolls to snack before dinner.

I used to dine late. 1. Spring rolls & 2. Typically Balinese: corn fritters made of maize, sweet chili sauce, garlic, pepper, celery, egg and rice flour. A very filling dish that peasants cook when they do not have enough rice.

3. Dinner with a classic Nasi Goreng. Well I hope this gives you want to taste some Balinese dishes (do not miss the Balinese chicken Satay)! Suksma to the entire team of Villa Sungai Gold and especially the chef for this delicious culinary journey!

Informations

Sungai Gold

To go to Bali : Qatar airways

Sungai Gold, Bali: A Luxury Villa in The Countryside

Scuba Diving @ The Hillside Beach Club, in Fethyie, Turkey

I was invited by the Villa Sungai Gold Bali and as always these are my opinions.

Four Seasons at Sayan, Ubud: Amazing Luxury Spa

Posted on August 1, 2014 | Leave a comment

For my first visit to Ubud and its surroundings,

I stopped by the luxurious Villas Spa of Four Seasons Bali at Sayan to discover the famous Muladhara treatment, especially recommended for travelers and those who have back problems.

The resort is huge. At the entrance, I cross a bridge leading to a large pool with water lilies overlooking a jungle crossed by a river (picture 6). The view is stunning!

Very quickly a kart drops me to the spa (picture 1). Down the stairs, I saw the wooden villa with a traditional roof in the middle of a pond covered with water lilies and lined by lush nature, where my treatment will take place (picture below)!

A beautiful villa for my spa!

After a ginger-lemon tea, I take a shower to get ready to the treatment. The sliding doors of the villa open onto a lush natural environment. It is xtremely relaxing!

Before starting the 2 hour Muladhara treatment, my therapist, Widiani shows me the different products and accessories that will be used (pictures below).

Pink Himalayan salt scrub for energizing and detoxifying foot, benzoin resin (Far Eastern tree) and incense burning.

The “Muladhara / Earth” Oil massage composed of argan, vetiver, ginger and jatamansi oils. Poultices. Quartz crystals (with a heart shape, photo 4). The singing bowl and Pengasapan utensil.

Tibetan techniques for a treatment designed in London

Once my feet washed, I sit with my bathrobe on this strange stool which escapes smoke benzoin resin and incense to cleanse and purify the Muladhara chakr : the “chakra of the essence of being located at the base of the spine (picture below).

This chakra governs instincts, mental balance and sensuality. Balance the Muladhara, calm the mind and body.” While the therapist vigorously massages my neck and shoulders, I look at the garden.

The following is more “conventional” with the kunye massage, a Tibetan massage style with pats, pressures more or less strong and a technique of kneading the body.

Taps are made along the meridians “once to get the negative vibes out and a second time to restore confidence and tranquility.”

Then Widiani puts on my body hot small quartz crystal stones. She also applies and a warm poultice of Himalayan salt. And I felt asleep to the sound of singing bowl (vibrations) that stimulates the Muladhara chakra.

When I wake up, the massage is finished.

I feel deeply rested, and filled with an Olympian calm. The whole body is relaxed, completely relaxed! I feel refocused, as after a heavy session of Tai Chi. Susksma Widiani!

Through beautiful gardens, I slowly head to the lounge of the Four Seasons Bali at Sayan. Enjoying the amber light of late afternoon, I sit on one of the armchair facing the lush jungle. Thinking of nothing (photo below).

YES, you have to try this amazing treatment! I recommend the Muladhara treatment for the thoroughness and professionalism of the therapist who treats each part of the body in depth and for the combination of complementary techniques and of course for the unique setting! One of my best treatments!

Informations

Four Seasons Bali at Sayan Ubud

To go to Bali with Qatar Aiways, for more informations how to prepare your travel, click here.

Sungai Gold, Bali: A Luxury Villa in The Countryside

Vila Vita Parc, Portugal: Stunning Gardens & Beaches

BEAUTE, HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS

I was a guest of the Four Seasons Resort at Sayan, Ubud. As always these are my opinions! Many thanks to the Four Seasons Resort at Sayan, Ubud, the spa team and Qatar Airways.

Tag Archives: Exclusive Photos

Lisbon: Shopping, Beach and Night Market

What to do a summer Saturday in Lisbon?

On my way to Principe Real

At the Real Slow Retail Concept Store,

Hello the beach : )

Dinner at the market while listening to a DJ

Informations

Fooding at The Awesome Sungai Gold, Bali

Foodies, enjoy!

The breakfasts

The dinner of my arrival

Pleasure for the eyes

Hearty dinner after a sightseeing day

Informations

Four Seasons at Sayan, Ubud: Amazing Luxury Spa

For my first visit to Ubud and its surroundings,

A beautiful villa for my spa!

Tibetan techniques for a treatment designed in London

When I wake up, the massage is finished.

Informations

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