españa, por favor

If I had to choose one country to visit in Europe, it would be Spain. Not France, not Italy. Just look at the place. I know I will love it. Sigh.

Image: Love Spain

zzzzz

Sorry for the lack of posting dear readers. The past two weeks have been kinda chaotic with work and travelling and all I wanna do is curl up and sleep for a day or three... But I promise that normal blogging will resume next week.

Image: Another Country

east, west, home is best

I've only been home for a few days but already done lots of things that made me super happy to be back.

I went to the Bloem Show. I freaking love the nostalgia of this. Rides, stalls, junk food, mud...

Also went up Naval Hill to the Franklin Nature Reserve. It's the only nature reserve in the middle of a city in the world. This is the view from the top over my hometown.

Images: Bloem Show

parfum

The husband is going to get me this Balenciaga perfume when he goes overseas in July. Thank you husband!

A Chypre Violet with the green, fresh signature of the flower and its leaves blended into a precious harmony of pure woods.

And isn't the bottle beautiful?

Image: Balenciaga

all gone to look for america

* This is a map of America from a Californian's perspective. Since California equals Hollywood and Hollywood equals movies and movies equal what the world knows about America, it's my perspective of America too.

Alright, so I know one gets Francophiles and Anglophiles, but what does one call someone who is obsessed with the US of A? Anyone know? Well, whatever. I've never been there, but am totally planning on travelling through that big ol' place one day. A roadtrip would be ideal, but I've read about how one can take a train trip through several states for relatively cheap. So that may be what I end up doing.

Some of the places I would like to visit:
Maine - supposedly lots of the houses there have widow's walks? they sound awesome. and for the lobster rolls.
New York - to visit all the museums, galleries, parks and to shop, shop, shop. and people watch.
Boston - more bookstores per capita that almost anywhere else in the world? yes, please.
South Carolina - to see the trees in fall.
All the places on Diners, Drive-in and Dives - have you seen this show? jeepers ... everything looks so fattening and delicious.
And a bunch of other states like Texas and Tennessee

...and things I'd like to try:
pies of every variety - apple, cherry, key lime, pumpkin, blueberry, peach, chocolate.
a taco from Taco Bell
a bagel from a vendor in NYC
a picnic in Central Park

There are loads of other things I'm probably forgetting, but I hope this post is enough to make some person who works for an airline take pity on me and send me a return ticket to America. My address is...

Image: Koalogy via Life according to Celia

brain freeze

 Oh my...I've just been scanning my blog and realised my upcoming mini holiday is sooooo necessary. Spelling mistakes, what was I thinking mistakes, and other things that are too embarassing to mention. Anyhoo, I'll be taking a break from blogging while in Cape Town. Be sure to visit next week when I'll be posting photos of, among other things, the radness of the Toffie Pop Culture Festival.

Image: Toffie

things to do in cape town

So the husband and I are heading to Cape Town at the end of the month!!! Can you tell I'm super-excited? We are going to stay in my parent's flat in Kloof Street (in the same building where  Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds shot their new movie Safe House two weeks ago). Here are some of the things I wanna see, eat, do, shop:
1. Blue Bird Garage Food and Goods Market - This newish market looks pretty cool.
2. Neighbourgoods Market + The Old Biscuit Mill - Went last time I was in the Cape and felt like I was walking through a Parisien market. So many delicious foodie things to choose from. Mmmm
3. Dokter and Misses - Supercool decor things to make my wallet cringe.
4. Birds Boutique Cafe - Love their cakes, juices, lunches and the minimalist decor.
5. Church - Concept shop deluxe.
6. &Union The husband loves their beers.
7. The Food Barn - My mom went here a while ago and made my mouth water as she described her meal.
8. O.live - More nice things to feed my insatiable decor hunger.
9. Field Office - For a coffee fix.
10. San Julian - I love me some Mexican food.
11. El Burro - Another Mexican place I wanna try. Supposedly their fish tacos are outta this world.
12. Haas - Pretty ceramics to add to my collection.

Image: Two Oceans Aquarium taken by me during last visit to Cape Town.

travel to...

My husband and I went to the Ixopo Buddhist Retreat Centre for our first wedding anniversary a while ago. We'd heard so many good things about and it did not disappoint. Everything - from the food (lacto-ovo vegetarian) to the scenery (green-green hills and old trees) - was awesome. I highly recommend it, and no you don't have to be Buddhist to go. Here are a few more photos I took: