Nepal, a land of diverse culture, rich heritage and ethnic architecture is located in the lap of The Himalayas amidst ice-cold mountains, lush green countryside and fresh chill breeze. The high mountains, the spurting waterfalls and aesthetic sceneries ideally entail Nepal as a perfect honeymoon destination.

If you love adventures, Nepal has enough in store to thrill your senses. The Bungee jump from 160 meters height above the Bhote Kosi River near the Nepal-Tibet border, for sure enthrals a life time experience. With over a wide range of extravagant mountains including the highest Mount Everest; obviously, Trekking in Nepal seem to be very exhilarating and beautiful.  To make the Nepal Honeymoon more memorable, you could endeavour a Mountain biking, a panoramic ride through snow-capped mountains and rustic valleys of Kathmandu. Rafting through the gushing waters of the intense rivers is more than audacious and an electrifying experience. More than 30 varieties of species are found in the Nepal wild-life safari.

The exotic terrain however has a romantic and special ambience to attract a large number of tourists especially the honeymoon couples. The people are friendly and welcome their guests cheerfully. The warm hospitality makes you feel very comfortable and secure. You could probably choose to stay in one of the cosy hotels or a private resort among the wide range of hotels and resorts. The cuisine is typically Tsampa, Rice, Chapatti and Dal. Sherpa, a dish made of potatoes and Gurr are the regional specialities. However, Indian, Chinese and Continental are also copiously available. Sweets and snacks are more like Indian varieties. Chiya and Chang are the signature mountain drinks of Nepal. Arak and Raski are other popular drinks of the region. The climate in Nepal is amusing and moderate all over the year. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit Nepal.

The night life, casinos, discos, spas, shopping, arts& crafts, exquisite jewellery etc grant Nepal Honeymoon an enjoyable experience, the contemporary way. Nepal is well known for the innumerable festivals that are celebrated throughout the year. These festivals are celebrated in a very traditional way; gives you a clear idea of the Nepal culture and customs.

Nepal Honeymoon is not complete without visiting Swayambunath, one of the world’s magnificent Buddhist monasteries, an epitome of Nepal. Kathmandu Durbar square, Tanju Temple, Kal Bhairav, Nautalle Durbar, statue of King Pratap Malla, etc are the places worth watching. Janakpur, Lumbini, Chitwan, Gorkha, Tansen, Pokhara, Bhaktpur and Patan are other places that cannot be given a skip.

The Nepal Honeymoon is not only adventurous but also relaxing to a great extent. You can carry memories of a lifetime with one visit to Nepal.

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Way back in January, the landlord to my apartment confirmed that he was extending my lease for another year. On the 30th May, I received his text message informing me he was revoking the lease and giving me 30 days to vacant the unit. I was flabergasted and angry at the same time. How could he do this to me? I was a good tenant and never failed to pay the rent. Negotiation didnt yield any result. He was adamant to move in by June with his two wives, claiming he sold his other house and had nowhere else to go.

In between all these, Lyn entered her college life. I was a happy mom knowing that I have raised her well. It was a proud moment for me when we both were at the lobby of the college on her first day. She has grown up!

Back to May 2009. I decided not to waste anymore time and started to look for a new place. I wanted a house now instead of an apartment. A house where I sit on the porch in the evening and sip my coffee while contemplating the day’s work. A house close enough to shops, cafes and main road so that The Teenager can negotiate her day without me worrying leaving her at home while I travel. It would also solve transportation problem to her college.

Lyn and I love butter crabs at Bangsar Seafood. We have been patronizing this restaurant for the longest time. We spent Mother’s Day’s dinner there.

In June, we settled into this double storey link-house. The kitchen was a dream. Lyn brought back friends. I played hosts to close friends on weekends. In early July, George and I decided we want to officiate the relationship. Within weeks, we were preparing for “something important”.

Amidst the chaos of house shifting, work and whatnot, I managed to escape all these by going on a short weekend trip with Myza and a few other friends. 5 cars, 8 friends and 6 dogs went on this trip. In the depth of Perak jungle, we put up the night at a budget jungle lodge. We lounged on hammocks in the evening. Went picnicking at the river but not before riding on this four-wheel drive jeep passing through the most amazing tree-lined secondary road right in the jungle.

I also decided to drive further up north-east after camping was over. Pangkor was the next destination.

I told myself this would be my last sunset alone without George. I knew then how I wanted to spend the rest of my life.

I could never forget 23 July 2009. My groom looked dashing in his baju Melayu. The Teenager helped to prepare the “hantaran” together with her friends. My friend, Eda and her husband Megat was gracious enough to open their house for our wedding. Right after Maghrib prayers, I became Mrs Bohlender.

Life seems more interesting, livelier, brighter. We went for shows, had dinners, entertained friends, organized barbeques.

23rd October 2009 was also The Teenager’s 18th birthday. We organized the first barbeque at home as a family.

But not before having dinner at Chili’s.

The Razaif-Bohlender household celebrated the first Eidil Fitri at home, minus George who was still away. Next year, God willing, will be celebrated together.

The Mahmudians and MGS girls’ class 85/86 reunion was held at Saloma Bistro, Jalan Ampang. 20 old friends met after 23 years of leaving our alma mater.

2009 is coming to an end in a few days time. It has been snowing back in Canada. George told me it was -30 today. We talked just like any other day for the past one year. Time flies and we have been together for more than a year. The Teenager just got back from Langkawi a few days back. It was so difficult for me to let her go travelling that far, but she did. And came back a happy Teenager. Next year, we plan to go travelling as a family, just the three of us. I hope they both dont mind Airasia’s flight. I really wanted to see Angkor Wat. The Teenager wanted to be in Bali. And my husband dearest wants to have his quick weekend gateway to the kampungs and enjoy the sunset at the beach.

Whichever destination we have in mind, they all are looking good.

I can feel it in my bones.

Helloz everyone & MERRY MERRY X’MAS! We’re back from the honeymoon, & I can finally sit down to write this entry with our new internet connection at the new house that just got activated this morning!

The last post was on 安床 – didn’t realise it was so long ago & I think we must have been toooo busy in the last few days leading up to the wedding to blog.. =) I recall the last 3 days being a mad rush to confirm the table arrangement, emcee script, etc.. and my own speech was only scribbled onto a piece of paper the night before the wedding at 11pm! Haha!

The wedding took place without any major hiccups & we’re grateful for that =D Many thanks to all the bros and sisters for being part of that day & we really appreciate your company & help – catch up with you soon! Not to forget the quartet who presented the lovely item at the banquet - thank you & we owe you a treat! =D The next day, it was yet another mad rush to return the gown/ suit, bank in money, pay money, visit both side families before jetting off.. so hectic! Now that all this is over.. we can slowly adjust into our new lives – a truly exciting one with Pupu Dingding to love every day. Hee!

Wu’s meeting us to pass us the photos next week – we’re eagerly awaiting! And the video should be ready by 6 Jan. Honeymoon photos are numerous & we should be blogging about it separately. =) Meanwhile, let me show you a couple of fav pics from the trip. We found Switz the most breathtaking..

Our first encounter with snow was in Zermatt. It was such a lovely place!

@ the top of Europe, Jungfraujoch at -19 deg..

Haha.. on the way down from Jungfraujoch.. it was snowing!

Gorgeous pic of the snow mountains enroute to Mt Titlis for ski lessons. So beautiful..

More pics to come in later entries *mental note to myself not to be lazy* Check out this video of us ski-ing (uploaded by our friend from the tour) =P: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=260368950872

www.greatoceanrd.org.au
Pickup from the hotel at 7:25, drive through Geelong, stop at Bells Beach (surfers & annoying flies). Brief stop at an arch commemorating the WWI veterans who built the GOR. Next stop was koala-seeing and parrot-feeding, then last stop before the 12 apostles was a walk in the rainforest (and it was actually raining!)

Stop at the 12 apostles (had the weather been better, I would have taken the AUD70 helicopter flight), of which only 7 are left (no 8 collapsed in September). Then London Bridge (funny story about its collapse) and back to Melbourne.

Something (I tend to blame the airline food) made me sick, so I spent the 1st day throwing up and sleeping.

On the second day we had a guided tour of the Opera House (at the ticket counter the guy asked me: “you have a Greek name, an Italian credit card and a Spanish hat; where are you from?”). Then cross the Harbour Bridge on foot, lunch, and on to the Darling Harbour.

Some remarks:
1) Sydney is full of Asians
2) Everyone has an iPhone here
3) All McDonalds seem to have free wifi access, which makes our hotel charging us 5AUD for 30′ of wifi even more ridiculous
4) In Sydney Airport, not only is the embarkation and arrival gate the same (like in Brussels), but also friends/relatives awaiting the travellers can come all the way to the gate and greet them!

1 month 7 days more…so what have we been up to?

Many things happened during the past 2-3 weeks and I am glad to say these are very happy things!

First, we had another go at Prize Stage at Marina Square =)
Darling has this vision and dreamt that she won the giant Rilakkuma via the jackpot, so in order to make her dream come true, we chiong to the marina square the following day! Heehee, happens to be payday cum bonus day so we can afford to spend spend spend!
There are 2 versions of the giant Rilakkuma doll, 1 with Rilakkuma wearing a scarf and mittens and the other 1 with Rilakkuma wearing a jumper-like yellow pants. Darling fell in love with the one wearing pants and off we go! We need to strike 4 jackpots on the same day in order to bring the prize home and so money money money changing time! We had a tough time getting our first jackpot, spending almost 80-90 golden coins before it came, the subsequent 3 were more efficient and we got our 4 jackpots within 300 golden coins =)
We also got a lot of Rilakkuma bears together with our giant one and darling can actually form a Rilakkuma gallery in her own bedroom loh! Haha, maybe we should set aside a Rilakkuma corner in our new flat to house our Rilakkumas.
Second: we have seen our pre-ROM shoot album layout and currently still making minor changes to 1 of the layout page. We are quite impressed with the rest of the 15 pages, just 1 page that needs to be altered…so we are looking forward to that. Jiayou Venus bridal!
Third: We just finished 6 pages of scrapbooking during our annual leave! Wow, I am very impressed by our works and we really put in a lot of effort in making our scrapbook k! We try not to repeat designs and we try to have themes in our every page. Scrapbooking is quite fun I must say and I am glad Darling is there with me to think of ideas. We will brainstorm ideas and go buy accessories, embellishments and papers before going my place to create these wonderful pieces of art! We loved the experience in doing the scrapbook and we really enjoyed each other’s company…a pity our leave ends so soon. We are aiming to have 10 pages of creative scrapbooking and the rest of the pages we will decorate for our guests to sign in. I am sure our guests will be mesmorized by the beauty of the book and amazed at how creative we can be. Heeheehee…I am proud of my darling!
Fourth, We just met up with our JP, Mr Jude Yeo and signed our consent forms. We efiled our ROM as well =)
Fifth, I just collected our wedding invites today and the cards are pretty and they are all personalized with our names =) Fellow friends, stay tuned, you will receive yours soon!

Time is running short, but excitment is building up and we are enjoying every moment if it! Now we can’t wait to go Bali for our honeymoon!

What they don’t know is that finding a special place that is quite, remote and where you can actually spend your honeymoon alone in a nice honeymoon cabin, house or villa is better than listening to others in a honeymoon vacation resort.

Let’s just say you are looking for the nice romantic honeymoon cabin where you can go out on the front or maybe back porch as the sun is either rising or falling (depends on where the cabin is located) and spend quit time with your spouse, where would you go to look for something like this. Let’s see if we can wet your appetite to bring some adventure into your life and honeymoon. Looking for different honeymoon cabins for rent was a great experience looking all different kinds of pictures that were available to view.

There were a few magical cabin rental places in North Carolina and in Tennessee that have multiple honeymoon cabin rentals plus regular cabin rentals available. They all have gorgeous views of the mountain side, running creek beds, and flower beds. They offer a hot tub outside on the decks, all the cabins have eat in kitchen areas, bathrooms and beautiful scenery from the outside decks that also come equipped with a Jacuzzi tub. What a way to spend your honeymoon, alone and together.

Still not too sure about spending that time in the woods even for a night. Not too much of a romantic and like being around people no matter what. Then we will have to check out the different honeymoon villas and resorts for you.

Depending on where you want to spend your honeymoon a villa and/or house for rent are the same. They may or may not include a personal swimming pool, creek side, but for the most part it is a house, just a luxurious one; and of course an expensive one. Granted your wedding will bring in some cash, most do, but why would you want to spend it on your honeymoon when there are more important things, like a house, to spend it on.

Different honeymoon villas, houses (homes) and honeymoon vacation resorts do not give a honeymoon couple any privacy. You are constantly surrounded by different people in other rooms if you are in a resort and there are always neighbors trying to be friendly and who may even come knocking on your door. Who would want to spend their honeymoon dealing with different people?

Spending time alone in a nice honeymoon cabin rental would be the most ideal honeymoon vacation rental than going to any other honeymoon rentals (honeymoon villas, houses or resorts). Keep it simple, loving and most of all romantic for that special spouse that you promised to spend the rest of your life with. Start everything fresh and alone.

We are actually leaving tomorrow. Poor Greg is nervous. And overwhelmed. He has never left the country and is a bit nervous about it. Understandable. First time I left the country I went to England where they speak English. We are off to France and neither of us speak the language. I speak Spanish so I will be able to sort of understand bits and pieces here and there. At least, I did last time I was there. Funny enough I found less people in France spoke English than other countries. Is that surprising given their reputation? I found it surprising. But we are prepared. We bought a phrase book that should keep the miming to a minimum. Hopefully.

So we’re having to take a detour. We are going to nip over to London so Greg can interview (another reason why he’s a bit overwhelmed) and fly back on January 6. Get this, we fly out to Orlando on January 7. All seats seem to be booked on all US bound Air France flights on January 5. What the heck? What a random day for all the seats to be booked. To make matters all the more confusing we can’t change our return flight until after we’re in Paris. If we try to change it now they will charge us $2K+ per person? Huh? They have some weird rule about recalculating the entire flight cost, not just the return, if we change it before we start our traveling. Boo. As soon as we land Christmas day we have to make our way to the ticket booth to change our return. Maybe there will be two seats available of the 5th? A Christmas miracle!

So here’s hoping we can get a cheap and cheerful return ticket, a nice smooth train ride to London and a peaceful on-time flight back to Texas.

G mapped out our entire itinerary on a map so we’ll have directions on where to go. We are definitely hitting The Louvre, The Rodin Museum, The Orsay Museum, the catacombs, the Arc de Triumph and the Eiffel tower. The sites I want to visit are a bit more food related. In The Bread Baker’s Apprentice Peter Reinhardt mentioned a few bakeries known for their baguettes: Poilâne’s Cherche-Midi bakery and L’Autre Boulange. As for the sweets, these places are known for specific things: Carette Bakery for pasteries, Pierre Herme for chocolate cake, Ladurée Royale for macaroons, and Gerard Mulot for pastries and breakfast.

Thank goodness we will be walking everywhere! I guess I should go pack. I’ve been avoiding it. I hate packing. It’s going to be bitter cold there. It’s 70 degrees outside but I have to pack sweaters and thermals. I’m working on getting mentally prepared for the shock. I haven’t lived in what I call a “cold state” in 3 years. I don’t mind the cold. I do mind rain and sleet and we might be experiencing both. The rain boots are coming with me. Luckily they cleaned up nicely after ACL. Nothing the washing machine couldn’t handle.

Well…I hope to write a proper update of the holidays, honeymoon and Disney after we get back. Happy holidays and safe travels if you are going away from home!

First, get your mind out of the gutter!

Second, enjoy these videos taken on my recent honeymoon to Thailand (including a hilarious airport layover in Tokyo!)

We get to the Tokyo  airport and what’s the first thing we see??

Oh, it gets better in Tokyo:

Fire-Juggling in Thailand!

Me on a long slide to nowhere at the infamous Full Moon Party

And my personal favorite video, three “ladyboys” (local slang for men living as women) lip-syncing to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.”  What makes it even better is that it was filmed at a Muay Thai boxing event!  The ladyboys were between-fight entertainment!

OK, so I was slightly spoiled last week.  Rickey gave me an early Christmas gift and took me on a five-day cruise…. see??? Spoiled!  It was relaxing and wonderfully un-chaotic.  This Fall, with my traveling and his hockey coaching, we have not spent much quality time together.  So we decided to get away for a few days, being that he’s been saving his holidays at work for our trip to Colombia to get our little Zaza…. but that hasn’t materialized at present….. and the vacation days keep piling up.  So we used four of them.  Whooo HOoo! 

One of the ports of call, TOTALLY exotic beyond belief, was Catalina Island!  (ha ha)  Rick and I haven’t been there together for 22.5 years, as our honeymoon was the last occasion.  We were able to find the hotel that we stayed in and it literally looks exactly the same.  The little town, however, has dramatically improved and is quite charming with shops and shops and more shops.  So we went in the shops since they were plentiful. 

One of my brilliant pre-cruise plans was to dig out a little bag of white and black rocks that we picked up on the beach last time we were in Catalina… and made a backgammon game on a grocery bag. No one told us to bring games or reading material on our honeymoon.  Duh!  But I forgot to take it along.  So, being incredibly sentimental and bored once again, we once again picked up 15 white rocks and 15 black rocks and made a backgammon game on a piece of paper.  It was much more advanced this time as I used a brochure to make the lines straight.  We played many games of Acey-Ducey on this trip. 

The highlight of the cruise, however, (if you can beat a homemade backgammon game!) was Rick taking the championship medal for the on-board ping-pong challenge.  He beat several people to come out victorious and he wore his medal to dinner that night.  He made sure everyone knew that you couldn’t BUY the medals on board.  You had to WIN them.  Makes me so proud.  As we were leaving the ship, he kept pointing out people whom he had decimated at the green table. “See that guy in the blue pin-striped shirt?  I beat him.”  A few minutes later, “See the tall guy with the dreadlocks?  I beat him.”  I asked him if he wanted me to stop the line to immigration, open the luggage and find his medal so he could wear it.  He said no. Party pooper.

Thank you, Rickey, for a fun-filled week on the water.  XOXOXOXO

We met them on our honeymoon.

Wedding blogging is becoming a full time profession for some wedding writers, for me wedding blogging is a fun way to dish out advise to brides to be; there are so many areas to cover and obviously I’d speak of those areas where I’m considered an expert, catering, food and beverage, planning and logistics, wedding themes, floor plans, seating arrangements, budgeting and hiring vendors. I’d try to blog a least once a week so I can keep a “waiting” audience happy with the content of my blog. Sometimes it could be boring due to the fact that again there are so many people writing about weddings now at days. the worst part it seems to me that they all are around the corner from my home office…. thanks to the internet I’d supposed … blogging is a way to connect and keep a fresh weekly presence in the wedding world, the e-mails and connections are endless, the satisfaction of a well planned wedding brings me back to the nineties commercial famous line “priceless”. However between blogging, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and many other sources of social media….. blogging has actually … (well..almost) become a full-time job; there is so much research to do, plus writing my own content, making sure brides get advise as soon as an e-mail comes to my mail box….. remember brides want answers right away….. more at  Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Blogger….. Thanks  Edgar Allen                 The Wedding Project   Happy Holidays!

Goa, the Miami of India, defines cosmopolitan in its true sense. It’s so cosmopolitan that an Indian can end up feeling like a tourist in his/her own country.

Copyright Rabea Khan 2009

It was my second trip to Goa. Nothing has changed. It still welcomes you with a breezy embrace on its sunny beaches.  The smallest state of India, Goa, has the biggest heart. Just a stroll on its beaches and lanes will make you realize why.

Here you’ll find more foreigners than Indians. And more importantly more foreigners who have made this beautiful place their home. Most of them living here are on long vacations with their families. They live in nice little cottages on the beach living their dream. Goa is the Bahamas of the not so affluent. It’s cheap, beautiful and feels like home.

Paradise for newlyweds

The other category of people who one will come across in Goa are the Indian honeymoon couples.  They stand out on the beaches walking hand in hand coyly unlike the foreigners who just blend in. Infact non-Indians are an indispensable part of the backdrop of Goa, swimming and sun bathing on its beaches.

You may find few odd Indian honeymooners venturing into the waters. But they are an exception rather than the rule. And sighting an Indian couple in swimsuits is like spotting a rare species while bird watching.  Usually you will find the husband in his shots enjoying a quick dip while the wife gives him the company from the shore, jeans rolled up till knees.

It’s true that though Goa has opened its heart, Indians are still too conservative to embrace it. While the foreigners have not only accepted the city, they have made it into their home.

No wonder then that for most Indians going to Goa feels like going out of the country.While for those who come from abroad, it feels like coming home.

For many brides planning their wedding can be very stressful, this may add pressure on their relationship with their partner as focus moves over to every small detail of the big day and the pressure can be immense as the wedding day looms near.

The secret to planning a successful stress free wedding is exactly that. Planning.  Know what you want from the outset.  Spend time before rushing out to book the church, dress, cars etc and take time to think about the wedding that you both want.

There is no point putting stress on a relationship planning a dream wedding if it is not what your partner wants too.  The groom has a greater role than turning up on the day and saying ‘I do’ and having to put up with tears when things go wrong along the way.

Find out from your partner what he / she wants the wedding to be like, how involved does your partner want to be with the plans?  Agree on a budget at an early stage and stick to it.  Remember that not only do you need to set a budget for the wedding day there are other things to take into account like hen and stag parties, honeymoon, gifts for the wedding party.

It is not just the rich and famous who work with wedding planners.  Often wedding planners will work with people on a restricted budget and offer a price and service that is suitable.  Whilst wedding planners help you decide what exactly it that you both want and will source your venue, photographers, cakes etc for you working with a wedding coach like myself is another option.

As I wedding coach I work with brides and grooms to decide what the wedding will be like; size, location, theme.  It makes it far easier to get their wedding planning off the ground if they know what the end result will be like.  I also coach them in relation to their relationships should the pressure of the wedding get high and on dealing with wedding related stress.  It is about finding what strategies work and what resources are available to the happy couple.

How to avoid wedding sticker shock | The Trinidad Guardian

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On Staying Stress Free « Little Miss Wedding Planner

I have been relatively stress-free during the planning process thus far. Now, I am not so disillusioned to think that I will not be stressed out AT ALL as the wedding gets closer, but I would like to try to remain as stress-free as …

Surviving Your Wedding: Stress-Free Wedding Tips

Even if you have a wedding planner, you’re still facing hurdles of your own when it comes to surviving the wedding stress, trying to make sure that everything flows smoothly on the big day. But what do you do when unexpected issues …

How to Perform at a Wedding Without Stress

Playing or singing in a wedding is a great honor, but can also be very stressful. The following preparations will help to make the wedding day easy on the musician.

“Today is the winter solstice and the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s all due to Earth’s tilt, which ensures that the shortest day of every year falls around December 21″. Check out National Geographic’s post today to read more about the history and meaning behind the solstice.

The day is even more special for me because this it the day my husband, Aaron, proposed to me four years ago. He knows how much I love the seasons and this magical time of year. Last year we celebrated our anniversary/engagement anniversary in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We stayed at The Four Seasons Resort in Teton Village; the hotel is right at the ski lifts with daily “apres ski” hot toddys, local microbrews, and the like with firepits and roaring fireplaces at The Peak restaurant to keep you warm. Well worth the visit. Here are two photos inside the Elk Refuge with the Grand Tetons in the distance.

Wishing you a special and happy first day of winter from the LBE team!

While planning your wedding one of the things  you’ll be selecting is “the menu”; Your caterer would have you come in and sit down for a choice of items to be included on your final menu… here is a nice suggestion … although some food items may not be something you’d like .. remember…. just because you don’t like them that doesn’t mean your guest would not love them either. Make sure there is plenty of food throughout the cocktail hour, couple of stations e.g. carving stations with at least two items (turkey and meat), a pasta station with also two different kids of pasta made to order, Tex-Mex station, hot chaffing dishes selections (six dishes), a cold display with international cheeses, tropical fruits, grilled vegetables with some nice gourmet salads, nice selection of homemade breads and plenty of passed around hour d’ouvers  etc etc; Your cocktail hour should have plentiful and enough food for everyone … regardless of different tasting personalities;  Moving along to your main ballroom area … start with a pre-set appetizer whether is a salad or a signature dish …… follow by a nice hot course ….. pasta is always a great choice…. then is the main course ….. have your staples beef, chicken, fish, those are the most common…. however have other alternatives or choices open as well ….. duck is always good, a different kind of fish is a great choice, adding a veal chop sounds good, a vegetarian dish for those friends that don’t eat any kind of meat and finally if there is someone with any special request or allergies please make sure you let the banquet manager, your maitre d’ and your chef know about it so they can accommodate them….dessert should be a nice and large viennese hour with all the works,  all kinds of cakes and pies plus homemade baked goods, mini pastries, every kind of cookie ever made, chocolate fountain with chocolate dipped strawberries, melon, pineapples and other sweets followed by coffee, decaf, tea and a Starbucks coffee display set up just for you!!       and that is an awesome menu you just created….  more at Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, My Blog Thanks

Edgar Allen

El Bulli Hacienda Benazuza, Ferran Adria’s  centuries-old estate, just outside of Seville offers a 44-room hotel surrounded by gardens, Andalusian patios, babbling fountains, and olive groves.

The decor pays homage to Andalusia’s Muslim roots without sacrificing modern luxuries,  but it’s the food that counts.  The Michelin two-star La Alquería restaurant  by Ferran’s right-hand man, Rafa Morales serves  El Bulli’s greatest  edible works of art. 

 As Adria says  “Cuisine is not something to be had, but a state to be in.”

Hacienda Benazuza

Tried the Pad Thai (delicious), got a Thai traditional massage (niiiiice), walked around some more, did a bit of shopping.

Amazed by the number of foreign (western) men with Thai girlfriends/wives.

Also, advice to men: if you’re traveling with the wife/gf, stick to her; if she’s more than 10m away, the locals approach you with leaflets of brothels!

Hey Everyone! So my husband, both our parents and I are on our way to Disney World for the Holidays.  This is exciting as I have been to Disney a number of times, we actually just went last year for our honeymoon, but I have never been during the holidays.

Disney Honeymoon 2008

 

Over the last few years I have picked up a number of tips on how to eat vegan at Disney World; where to go, what to ask for, and most recently what to do ahead of time. Since I know Disney is a popular destination for many people I thought you might like to hear my eating vegan at Disney tips.   I will update you with my most recent experiences upon our return.

My Vegan Disney Survival Tips:

1. E-mail WDW.Special.Diets@disney.com and request a special dietary needs worksheet.  All you have to do once you make your table service dining reservations is fill the worksheet out detailing any dietary needs you have and where you are dining , what time and your reservation number.  Once you have done this fax or e-mail it back.  Disney will then make a note on your dining reservation and everything will be set for your arrival.  *Note this is only for table service dining that you have a reservation for. If you don’t have a reservation don’t worry…keep reading. 
2. There are some great places that we have dined that were great and easily accommodate a vegan diet.  Many are able to get tofu, non-dairy products and other vegan items with advanced notice. My first recommendation is to inform your server that you are vegan and they can easily suggest vegan options and many times will bring the chef out to discuss what options you have.  Some great restaurants we have experienced are:

• The Wave at The Contemporary Resort has a great Tofu Sandwich at lunch that without the mayo is vegan.  They also have a Vegetable Stew which is delicious and served at both lunch and dinner.  For dessert you can indulge in some of the amazing house made sorbets 
  

  The Wave at The Contemporary

• Boma this is a vegan’s paradise at Disney; located at The Animal Kingdom Lodge this buffet style dining has tons to offer.  We informed our server of our dietary needs and he quickly went to get the chef who then led us around the  buffet letting us know what vegan options there were and also asked if we wanted anything else that she could make up special.  There were so many great options that we didn’t feel like we would need any other options and we certainly didn’t . We basically gorged ourselves on kalamatua olive hummus with lavash.  At the end of our meal our waiter surprised us with house made coconut and raspberry sorbet which was great because there aren’t any vegan dessert options except fruit at the buffet. 
• Rose Crown Dining Room at the United Kingdom in Epcot- there was a vegetarian curry that was veganizable however rumor is that there is a vegetarian shepherd’s pie on the menu now which is not vegan.
• Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has great food and this delicious Coconut-Crusted Tofu Noodle Bowl

Tofutti at Magic Kingdom

3. Counter Service is slightly more difficult as there is no chef to talk to however there are some easy tips:

• All fries are vegan EXCEPT those served at McDonald’s Locations
• All veggie burgers are vegan Garden Burgers however the bun is not vegan- you can request a vegan bun 
• Divvies vegan cookies, brownies and caramel corn are served at many locations around Disney 
• There is Tofutti and Rice Dream served around Disney and at the Magic Kingdom Ice Cream Parlor
• All around Disney you can find veggie wraps/sandwiches and veggie burgers- boring but know you’ll never starve 
• Soy milk is available throughout Disney and at most of the resorts 

4. The most vegan friendly counter service spots are:

• Sunshine Seasons at Epcot- there are tons of vegan options such as the Asian vegetarian entree
• Tangierine Cafe at Morocco in Epcot- this is a great location that has a vegetarian platter with couscous salad, hummus, tabbouleh, olives and lentil salad. The lentil salad is not vegan but you can sub extra hummus, couscous salad or tabbouleh.
• Wolfgang Puck Express at Disney’s West Side and Market Place – there are many options such as pizza without cheese, salads, sandwiches and pasta 
• Backlot Express- there is a great veggie sandwich here

5. For breakfast I recommend bringing oatmeal, cereal, or cereal/energy bars- many of the Moderate, Deluxe and Disney Vacation Club Resorts have microwaves and mini fridges in the room which makes it great for stocking up your room (and saving some money). 

I will report back after we our trip but here are some plans we have for our 2009 Christmas Trip:

We have planned to visit The Whispering Canyon located at The Wilderness Lodge- now this is one of the least vegan friendly places but we are compromising as it is my dad’s birthday and his choice however this will be the true test to see if the special dietary request form actually works.  

Next we plan to visit ‘Ohana at the Polynesian which I hear is an amazing restaurant and Chef TJ apparently makes amazing vegan food.  I am so excited and can’t wait to report back. 

We are going to Chef Mickey’s at The Contemporary for Christmas Day breakfast and from my research I have heard that the chef can make tofu scramble and vegan mickey mouse waffles (which can also be made at many other restaurants) there is also tons of fruit and cereal with soy milk. 

We will also be visiting The Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Sanaa which has a vegan menu and we will also be visiting Boma again as it is a must.  If you want to spend a bit more money Jiko is a great restaurant for vegans and also has a vegan menu. 

Lastly, we are gong to be visiting The Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom which is said to be one of the top places for vegetarians to eat at Disney.  

Dinner at The Brown Derby @ Disney's Hollywood Studios

Start with the Jim Thompson House: the CIA’s man in Bangkok (masquerading as a Thai silk amateur and businessman) built a house in traditional Thai style (by joining 6 real Thai houses) which is now the second most visited sight in Bangkok.

After that, on to the Baiyoke 2 Sky tower’s 84th floor for some spectacular views of the city, where we met a delightful couple from Melbourne, Australia that gave us some tips on things to see/do.

Seemingly endless walk back to the Siam Center, no shopping (they had European prices) and SkyTrain back to the hotel.

These days, chances are that betrothed couples already have all of the blenders, towels, dishes, silverware, and other household items they need. With the swing toward men and women getting married later in life, most couples either have individual homes that they’ll combine once they’re married, or they have been building their own trousseau while living together. Because they’re often footing the bill for all or part of their wedding, the one thing couples don’t have is money for the honeymoon of their dreams. That’s why the latest trend in bridal registries is the honeymoon travel registry.

Perhaps a couple wants to go on a cruise, vacation in Europe, or enjoy a Disney vacation. They may dream of four-star hotel accommodations or flying first class on their favorite airline. Whatever their fantasy honeymoon, more and more couples are opting to register with an online travel agency.

With a bridal travel registry, the couple can have their dream honeymoon while wedding guests can be assured that their gifts will combine to form memories that will last a lifetime. And, the process of both registering and giving is easy and straightforward.

Essentially, a honeymoon bridal registry allows the couple to set up a personal registry web page. If the couple already knows their honeymoon destination, they can reveal that on their web page and select items to include in their gift registry. For example, if the couple is traveling to Hawaii for their honeymoon, they may decide they’d like to go to a Hawaiian luau and list two luaus (one for the bride and one for the groom) in their registry. They may also select a romantic candlelight dinner, breakfast in bed, and a hotel room upgrade. They can include entertainment and activities, such as scuba diving lessons, a helicopter ride, horseback riding, and snorkeling. The couple can even add travel items like inter-island flights, limousine service, and a rental car.

Similarly, if the bride and groom have decided that London is their destination of choice, they can include an English afternoon tea in their travel registry, dinner for two at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, a medieval banquet, and a Harrods’ shopping spree. Perhaps they would like tickets to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, London theatre tickets, or a tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. If so, they can add those items to their travel registry as well.

For wedding guests, a honeymoon travel registry makes it easy to find a personal, yet remarkable gift. Giving a sunset cruise, for example, is much more memorable than a set of mixing bowls. Gift givers can even opt to send the couple a customized gift card, or print one out and bring it to the wedding.

A honeymoon signifies the beginning of a couple’s life together, and is a welcome relief from the stresses of planning their wedding. Having a honeymoon travel registry can help make the couple’s dreams come true and give them memories to last a lifetime.

Hampir 5.40 pagi, 20 Dec 2009. Mata masih belum mengantuk. Real madrid vs Zaragoza. Real lead with 4-0. Tp bukan itu yg aku nak cerita kan di sini.

Hari ni, ade pertengkaran kecil antara aku dan M. Aku happy dgn diri aku. Bukan pasal pentengkaran tu. Tp pasal diri aku yg berjaya mengawal emosi dan intonasi suara aku berckp dgn nye. Huh… Lebih kurang 2 mggu lg majlis pertunangan aku dgn M akan berlangsung. Gadoh pun xhabis2 lg. Anyway aku nak die ingat yg jgn senang menabur janji kalau xtau tepati nye. Harap2 itu bukan perkara yg besar bg die. Bukan hal besar ape nye, sampai teresak2 nangis.

Mengikut perancangan kami akan berkahwen bulan 6 ni. Harap2 semua berjalan lancar. Amin. Tp aku sekarang ni asyik terpikir honeymoon kami. Ikut kepala gile aku mmg nak pergi tour europe je. Tp pakai duit byk tu..lebih kurang 12k termasuk tiket utk joli sakan bile di sana nanti. Hm…duit 12k tu…kalo 5k bali pun dah bleh lepas. Tgk la mcm ne. Tp jgn sampai 10 thn lepas kawen baru nak g honeymoon baik takpayah babe.

Akhir kata, simpan duit byk2…kalo xsempat personal loan….hahaha

Firdaus

No, a worm hasn’t been munching on my DSL cable.  But we had the same issue as in November, and this time the phone company technician was very competent and solved the problem lickety-split.  (At least, that is what I am hoping, having had service restored now for less than two hours.)

I saw this lovely apple-green worm, still aparently thriving, during my Thanksgiving stay at my sister’s house.  It is a lot easier to be fascinated by the worm’s activities, and not disturbed by his presence on your cardinal climber vine, when it’s the end of the season and the plants are already collapsing upon themselves.  And it was a lot easier to be calm about this latest upset in our household internet service, although I can only speculate as to the reasons.

For one thing, it’s almost Christmas, and we’ve had a delightful house guest with us for the past two days.

For another, tomorrow F. and I leave on our honeymoon.  As soon as we return, it’ll be time to visit relatives for the holidays.

A house guest, a honeymoon, & the holidays… add those together, and you’ve got me scrambling to pack and cook and clean and wrap presents and do laundry and get cards in the mailbox, plus double-check the cat sitter and other arrangements (someone has to water the tree!), all before we go tomorrow.

I think I’ll be able to keep the blog up and running during all this (pre-written, pre-photographed articles are a lifesaver).  But just in case I’m not able, the service interruption with no warning, during which I failed to keep publishing, is good practice in just letting it go.

Being at peace with what you cannot control.  I’m suspecting a whole bunch of us learn that lesson at the holidays — or if we refuse to take it in this year, will be doomed to repeat it in 2010.

Maybe it’s one of those lessons you never stop learning… or the fact that I wonder if it is may be a sign that it’s a lesson that I’ve still not learned.

How about you?  Have there been moments during the holiday season so far, or in the past, when you feel you’re being asked to learn to let it go?

Sending you peace from our little hollow in the forest…

Then we wandered over to the Japanese Garden, remembering to stop and smell the roses on the way.