Europe 2011 – Page 2

Uncategorized

Barceloneta Beach & Cal Pep

November 7, 2011 by Regina Chow 4 Comments

Barceloneta Beach is supposedly the number 1 urban beach globally, and it’s not hard to see why. There’re so many hot babes suntanning on the soft sandy beach.

The waters are crystal clear and the sand is so fine you literally sink into it as you walk along the beach.

In case you were wondering, these shadows belong to us. JW insisted that we take this photo as he thought it was a romantic moment, but in reality, I was chasing him to hurry so I could get out of the hot sun. I was about to melt.

Yup, now you know I’m really a vampire.

As we were there in late summer, when the skies were still blue and the sun was scorching, the beach was rather crowded. This was on a weekday afternoon, mind you, but it felt as if it was a Saturday! All along the beach, you’ll see the young and old suntanning, swimming or just chilling out with a magazine on their laps. Unfortunately, I didn’t expect to go to the beach on this trip because I thought it’ll be cold, so I didn’t have any beachwear with me. 🙁

After a stroll along the beach, we walked to a popular tapas joint by the name of Cal Pep at Placa de les olles.

One of the unique characteristics of this tapas joint is that there is no menu. The servers make recommendations and you basically just go with the flow. One thing to note though, the seating capacity is extremely limited – everyone just sits at the bar counter, so if you can, try to get there just before dinner time to avoid the queue!

We were there relatively early at about 630pm but already we had to wait in line with 2 other couples. The food is worth the wait though. The beef was so tender, juicy and flavourful, we lapped up everything despite being really full from the previous dishes. The other dish that I would highly recommend is the clams in white wine sauce. It was so tasty I still salivate when I think about it!

You can’t see from the picture below, but by the time we left at about 8pm, there was a long queue right up to the door. I reckon there were at least 20 people waiting for their turn. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Cal Pep
Placa de les Olles 8, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
93 310 79 61
www.calpep.com/

Uncategorized

Gothic Quarter & 4Cats

November 3, 2011 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is the heart of the city’s old town. It is home to many buildings dating to as far back as the Medieval times.

Within the Gothic Quarter lies a famous cafe by the name of 4Cats, which used to be frequented by famous artists including Pablo Picasso. It was here that Picasso first exhibited his paintings and the cover of the menu (bottom right) was drawn by the artist himself.

Established in 1897, the cafe still retains its old world charm and the walls are decorated with beautiful paintings of the artists who used to meet at the cafe.

Well, they’re all dead now of course, and the cafe seems to be more of a tourist attraction now thanks to its historical background. To say that the cafe is bustling with life is probably an understatement, although the pictures here depict a different atmosphere altogether. We were just lucky to have gotten there before the lunch crowd arrived.

Before our set lunches were served, we saw tour groups from Mainland China and tourists from various parts of the world streaming in and out of the cafe as if it were a museum. The Mainland Chinese tourists occupied the long tables and were so loud and animated throughout their meal, you could hear their shrill voices from a mile away.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a Caucasian couple cringe in disgust at the uncouth Mainland Chinese tourists who were talking at the top of their voices without any consideration for their fellow diners. JW and I could only look on in exasperation as we prayed that no one would associate us with the Mainland Chinese.

While the service was friendly and attentive, the quality of the food left much to be desired. I admit that I am a fastidious eater and I can be pretty picky about my food, but even my other half felt that the food here paled in comparison to other eateries and cafes in Barcelona.

I think the experience of stepping into a cafe popular with renowned artists from a golden era was worth the trip here, but if I were to do this again, I would come here only for drinks, definitely NOT during lunch hour. 😉

Uncategorized

Barcelona: Moo Restaurant

October 27, 2011 by Regina Chow 4 Comments

Moo Restaurant is a one-Michelin star restaurant at Omm Hotel in Barcelona. Having heard so many wonderful things about Spanish food, we had to give it a try!

This restaurant is highly recommended by Quotient TravelPlanner, our travel planner which provides private customized travel. 🙂

Our impression of the restaurant was sealed even before our meals were served. The cozy minimalist decor and warm, attentive service were all it took to make us happy.

And of course, we were over the moon when the food was served.

This slice of lightly toasted cheese bread was so delicious I could eat up an entire loaf if not for the fact that I had to save some space for my main course.

The entrees were beyond spectacular. It was here that we had our first taste of molecular gastronomy.

We were on cloud nine, popping in these little cubes into our mouths and waiting for the explosion of flavours as they burst inside our mouths, releasing such juicy goodness that is only fit for a king.

The foamy egg white and salmon roe concoction was divine. Even JW, who usually shuns fish roe, savoured every spoonful of it.

Then, it was time for our main course. I had the red mullet with tomato confit and pepper broth.

The skin is pan fried to crispy perfection while the meat is so soft and tender it melts in your mouth – a wonderful combination that tantalized my taste buds to no end.

JW had the veal tenderloin with herbal butter. The juicy, succulent meat is the highlight of this dish. The meat is amazingly tender, almost to the point that it dissolves in your mouth without chewing.

Check out the generous serving of herb butter, the perfect accompaniment to the mouth-watering veal tenderloin.

Finally, we had the white chocolate souffle with red fruits for dessert. Unlike the usual souffles, the outer layer of this white chocolate souffle is made up of a thin, crispy white chocolate wafer, which forms a protective layer over the creamy white chocolate mousse. It was so yummy!!

As if dessert was not sweet enough, we were treated to candies and chocolates to end the entire meal on an even sweeter note.

We were so satisfied with the meal we’ll definitely head back to Moo Restaurant on our next visit to Barcelona!

Moo Restaurant
Rossello 265 (Hotel Omm), 08008 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: 93-445-4000

Uncategorized

Barcelona: Casa Mila

October 15, 2011 by Regina Chow 2 Comments

Casa Mila, also known as La Pedrera (the stone quarry) resembles an open quarry and is one of Gaudi’s most popular works. It is located right in the heart of the city so you definitely wouldn’t miss it!

Besides the clever use of space and light, Gaudi had a fascination with undulating curves, unique stairwells, ventilation towers and chimneys, as seen atop the glorious rooftop.

Call me greedy, but they all look like delicious meringue to me.I guess that’s how it is with art. There are so many ways to interpret it. 😉

The interior was lavishly decorated with period furniture, artworks and ornaments to recreate what the apartment should have looked like in the past.

I was really taken by the design of the doors and hallways.

The beautiful curved surfaces are like the icing on the cake, both literally and metaphorically.

Did you notice how different the door knobs are as well? The interesting ergonomic designs were created by Gaudi.

Great design is about attention to detail, and Gaudi always seemed to put in 120% in everything that he did.

In one of the children’s rooms, I found a gorgeous doll house that I would love to take home with me too. I’ve always wanted a doll house as a kid and this is just perfect. It comes with chandeliers too!

Finally, here’s what I wore that day. 🙂

Blythe T-shirt with pink corsage from H&M

Black mesh skirt from ClubCouture

Uncategorized

Barcelona: Palau Guell & Park Guell

October 13, 2011 by Regina Chow 6 Comments

On our first day in Barcelona, we took a train to La Ramblas, a famous tourist street lined with souvenior shops and cafes. The moment we alighted, we were told over the PA system to beware of pickpockets! My friend got pickpocketed in Barcelona while she was on her honeymoon a long time back and had warned me several times before, so I held onto my bag very tightly and was constantly on high alert. LOL.

Along the way to lunch, we came across an interesting procession with these massive mascots on stilts. I don’t know what this procession is all about, but if anyone of you knows, could you enlighten me by leaving a comment?

I’m sure you know that tapas is a way of life here. We had some yummy tapas followed by a delicious glass of sangria before the real sight-seeing began.

Our first stop was Palau Guell, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Works of Antoni Gaudi”. Palau Guell, otherwise also known as the Guell Palace, was one of Gaudi’s first works and the residence of the wealthy Guell family (Eusebi Guell’s wealth then was estimated to be a jaw-dropping US$17 billion in today’s terms!).

Gaudi’s ingenius manipulation of space and natural light gave the tiny rooms an exceptionally spacious feel.

Another interesting feature of Palau Guell is the wrought iron gate (2nd photo from the top right). It was constructed such that inhabitants can view what is happening on the streets without compromising on privacy as passersby are unable to look into the house!

Our next stop was Park Guell, a park painstakingly designed by Gaudi. Doesn’t it remind you of a a fairytale? Those cute little houses remind me of my favourite dessert Baked Alaska. It also reminds me of the marzipan house in Hansel & Gretel. 😉

Gaudi’s residence is nestled within the park and has since been converted into a museum to showcase some of his most extraordinary works of art.

I especially love the chairs he created. My favourite chair is the one with the heart-shaped backrest. It looks so exquisite and whimsical, it must have come out of a fairytale!!

If my luggage space and bank account allowed, I would have lugged all the chairs back to Singapore with me (replicas are on sale at the souvenir shops).

I was really amazed by Gaudi’s bedroom. I half-expected his bedroom to be as luxurious and magnificent as his architecture, so I was surprised to see that he lived in a sparsely decorated room with only basic furniture.

Perhaps, like Leonardo DaVinci, he too believed that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication?

Uncategorized

Barcelona & Gaudi

October 11, 2011 by Regina Chow No Comments

Who’s Gaudi? To be honest, he’s not particularly well-known in this part of the world, but anyone who has visited Barcelona would have seen his works and therefore know who he is.

That’s because Barcelona and Gaudi are so inextricably linked they are practically synonymous with each other. So, if you travelled to Barcelona without visiting the architectural marvels created by Gaudi, you really haven’t been to Barcelona!

For the uninitiated, Antoni Gaudi was a Spanish architect who kickstarted the Art Noveau craze in Europe through his love for curves. In case you were wondering, I’m referring to curvatures in the architectural sense, not anything else. 😉

Check out a video that I put together and you’ll get what I mean. 😉 In it, you’ll get to see 3 of Gaudi’s most impressive and celebrated works. I think the music is a little soft though, so you may want to turn up the volume on your computer.

I’ll be back with more on Barcelona in a bit! Meanwhile, have a great week ahead! 🙂

P.S: Sorry, I’m getting a little slow at replying comments but I will get around to them soon!!

********

I was also invited by Nokia recently to create an app out of my blog. For Nokia users who are interested, you can click here to download the app for free and read my blog on the go. 😉

Uncategorized

Amelie Anne Sienna Jersey Dress

October 7, 2011 by Regina Chow 8 Comments

Looking effortlessly chic has never been easier with Amelie Anne’s Sienna Jersey Dress!

The beauty of the dress lies in its simplicity. The cut flatters just about any body shape and the material (cotton with satin lining) is so soft it caresses your skin.

Once again, I was very impressed with the quality of the workmanship and would definitely recommend every girl to have one of these jersey dresses in her wardrobe!

Remember I mentioned that versatility is always key in Amelie Anne’s The Label Love collection? To me, this Stella McCartney inspired dress is the epitome of versatility.

You can dress down by wearing it without the sash or glam it up with a simple necklace like I did. When the weather gets chilly (it’s so unpredictable nowadays, even in Singapore!), just throw on a cropped jacket to complete the look!

The best part is, the Sienna Jersey Dress also comes in a multitude of colours, including bold primary colours and subtle shades of grey and cream.

Can’t decide which colour to choose? LOL I can totally understand because I love them all!

You know it’s time to reward yourself after a long work week, so what better than to indulge in a little retail therapy at Amelie Anne!

Uncategorized

I left my heart in Cesky Krumlov

October 3, 2011 by Regina Chow 6 Comments

Located in the Czech Republic, Cesky Krumlov is a beautiful city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Much of this city remains untainted as the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque style architecture in Cesky Krumlov have been painstakingly preserved since the 14th century. Therein lies its beauty.

It is a popular destination for tourists, but only for day tours (thankfully!). We were grateful to have spent a little more than 2 days in this city, for that gave us the opportunity to explore the streets, take in the breathtaking sights and bask in the tranquil beauty of the surroundings in the absence of crowds.

Whenever our legs threatened to give way, we would plonk ourselves on a bench by the Vltava river. The sound of the flowing river, accompanied by the warm sun rays and invigorating cool breeze, immediately cast our weariness away.

We were instantly refreshed. Every time.

I wish I could go back to Cesky Krumlov again and just let my worries be carried away by the river. So many things have happened lately and it got me thinking again about how unpredictable life is. Nobody knows what will happen next and more often than not, many things are beyond our control. Maybe it’s God’s way of telling us that we ought to seize the day and grab every opportunity possible to achieve our goals in life.

I was reading a friend’s Facebook status update today and what he said struck me deeply. He said he is not afraid of death, but he is afraid of the opportunities that death would rob him of and is hence spurred on to work even harder to attain his goals. Even if death is not in the equation, sometimes poor health and other unforeseen circumstances are equally capable of robbing us of our opportunities.

I tend to procrastinate, but everything that has happened recently has made me reflect on my attitude, behavior and past actions. I believe in cause and effect, and while it is impossible to turn back time, it is definitely possible to change your life going forward by taking baby steps, one step at a time.

Well, at least I am close to achieving one baby goal in my life, which is to see the world. I say I am close to achieving this goal because there are still a few more countries on the map that I have yet to step foot on. 🙂

On a lighter note, fashion is my other passion and you know I’ll always try to leave you with some outfit photos in every post. I’ll try to put up more items for sale soon too. 😉

Black cardigan with white Victorian silhouettes – gift from Karen

Black Mesh Skirt from ClubCouture (remember to key in REGINA2011 upon checkout for 15% off)

I’m ending this post with a picture of us having a romantic dinner in Krcma Barbakan, a very popular restaurant in Cesky Krumlov. The restaurant premises are a few centuries old!

The playful restaurant owner grabbed JW’s camera while he was footing the bill and started snapping photos of me finishing the last morsels of food on my plate. Then, he insisted that JW sat across the table from me so he could take a couple shot of us.

We were told to look into each other’s eyes and smile. Hahaha.

Uncategorized

And Fall is Here

September 23, 2011 by Regina Chow No Comments

I’ve been travelling for a month now and dressing up everyday, especially when I’m transitioning between summer and autumn, can be a real challenge. I could be in shorts one day and all wrapped up the next day because of the crazy weather.

Temperatures can vary very drastically from city to city too. There was one point in Slovakia when I even had to pull out my winter trench because it was freezing cold! Brrr…and the funniest thing was, when I reached Hungary the next day, it was summer all over again!

Here’s one of my get-ups for the fall season:

Black turtle neck blouse from Uniqlo

Denim skinny jeans from Mango

Cowl scarf from H&M

Tote bag from Prada

Nude patent wedged boots from Far East Plaza

I had just arrived in Cesky Krumlov from Prague where it rained in the morning (read: massive temperature drop alert!!). It was hot and sunny when I took these photos and I was getting all these curious stares from passersby who probably thought I was from outer space. LOL

Needless to say, I changed out of my outfit the minute I reached my hotel room! 😛

————————–
If you enjoyed reading this post, do follow me on Networked blogs (click on my blog’s left sidebar).

If you like my outfits, follow me on Lookbook and Chictopia too!

Uncategorized

Prague and Charles Bridge

September 21, 2011 by Regina Chow 8 Comments

The most iconic attraction in Prague has got to be Charles Bridge. Everyday, without fail, it draws throngs of visitors who jostle past one another just to capture that picture perfect shot, not just of the bridge itself, but also its surrounding scenery and the Vltava river. To be honest, I wasn’t particularly bowled over by Charles Bridge because having heard so much about the beauty of Prague, I probably had unrealistic expectations of what it has to offer. 😛

But once I saw Prague by night and the Charles Bridge from across the river bank during lunch at Hergetova Cihelna, all of that changed. It really is a beautiful city and photos don’t lie, do they? 😉

See what I mean? Prague by night looks like a city of glowing jewels.

By day, Charles Bridge looks magnificent against the backdrop of Prague’s charming Old Town. Unlike other European cities, the roofs of the buildings here come in warm colourful hues of red and green.

Dining outdoors beside the Vltava river in the company of such lovely scenery is definitely a worthwhile experience, even for someone like me who usually avoids the sun like the plague! I would recommend dining at Hergetova Cihelna, a popular restaurant under the Kampa Group of Restaurants in Prague.

The food was great and the service was topnotch. Our server was very professional and had a wonderful sense of humour too. When we requested for her to take a photo of us, her witty reply was “Why, of course..that’s my second job!” LOL

My delicious main course – Crispy salmon with potatoes
JW had risotto instead, which was equally yummy.

We headed to Prague Castle thereafter, the next most popular attraction after Prague’s Old Town and Charles Bridge. But I’ll save that for another time and leave you with my outfit photos instead.

For some reason, my outfit that day drew quite a bit of attention from fellow tourists (including Asians!) and they all started snapping photos of me, thinking I was a Japanese girl. They were all quite shocked to learn that I was from Singapore. Never judge a cover by its looks people! Haha I was flattered yet pretty embarrassed at the same time.

Pink crotchet collar dress from Bugis Village (a steal at just S$25!)
Pink lace stockings from Topshop
White camellia hairclip from H&M

Page 2 of 3«123 »

Barceloneta Beach & Cal Pep

Gothic Quarter & 4Cats

Barcelona: Moo Restaurant

Barcelona: Casa Mila

Barcelona: Palau Guell & Park Guell

Barcelona & Gaudi

Amelie Anne Sienna Jersey Dress

I left my heart in Cesky Krumlov

And Fall is Here

Prague and Charles Bridge

About Me

Searching for a post?

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta