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Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

On a clear day, you can see LA

Posted in Travel, tagged California, Griffith Park Observatory, LA, Los Angeles on May 24, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

I get sick of people saying they don’t like LA, they’re only using it as a transit stop, that it’s dirty, blah blah blah.

I for one, think there’s much beauty to be had and found in and around the City of Angels – not to mention good food.

When the sun came out the weekend these photos were taken it was impossible to get anywhere near Griffith Park Observatory, which was a shame, as the previous visit it was closed, and the city was clouded in fog (as opposed to smog, I think!)

Not wanting a several mile hike from the car, we parked and took photos from afar. And soaked up the views. Of LA.

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Venice by the Beach

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized, tagged boardwalk, canal, canoe, ducks, Italy, Venice, Venice Beach on May 23, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

This was my first attempt to post using the new WordPress for iOS. Well, not that new really just never used on my iPhone due to password forgetfulness issues.

Accidentally posted it with no words and no caption!

Who knew Venice Beach had a series of canals running perpendicular to the beach, as in, real canals, like Venice, Italy? Complete with canoes. And ducks (that’s another photo).

Well, not me. It was a pleasant surprise. Very European and tranquil compared to the craziness that is the Venice boardwalk!

By the way my second post turned out to be an unwanted page, now deleted. I’ll keep trying!

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The holiday is over, now the hard work begins

Posted in Food, Travel, tagged Bellagio, blog, cake, California, Food, holiday, iPhone, Jean-Philippe Maury, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Nevada, macaron, pastry, Recreation, Travel, TripAdvisor, Venice Beach on May 7, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

On Friday I developed a bad case of Friday-itis. Post holiday blues. A reality check.

We had been home for a week after a month on vacation in the US. The bags were unpacked. The washing was done. The credit card bills had arrived. I was back at work.

So where was I going to find time to download and organise my photos? Print the photos? Scrap book all the receipts, menus and flyers? Post reviews on Trip Advisor? All the things I still haven’t done from our 2009 trip (or any small trip since!?!?)

Aarrrrrrgggghhhhhh…

Life guard station, Venice Beach, California

Life’s a beach

So here is my first step, which, embarrassingly, is also my first post for the year. Lucky I didn’t make a public new year’s resolution to post more often!

I’m going to post a couple of photos a week (that’s the aim) and a few snippets. And I am going to make a conscious effort to post reviews of all the hotels we stayed at on TripAdvisor - a site to whose members I shall forever be indebted, having used their reviews to choose pretty all the hotels we have stayed in since 2007.

Of course it wouldn’t be a post without the obligatory food photo. This one is of some of the delectable sweets at the pastry shop of Jean-Philippe Maury at the Bellagio in Las Vegas – home to the world’s biggest chocolate fountain. Somehow, if I can work out what I ate over 28 days (by looking at my iPhone) and document it all, a sort of travel diary may write itself!? I take my hat off to all the food and lifestyle bloggers who hold down day jobs and manage to post regularly. Most nights I slip into the familiar family dinner and TV groove and time disappears. However I am determined not to let all my photos, observations and notes go to waste. I also owe some reviews to Urban Spoon, Yelp! and OpenTable – all sites (and apps as the case may be).So between, here, there and everywhere (let’s not forget Instagram and Pinterest) – I look like being quite busy…hope I have enough words to go around!

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Views from hotel windows

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized, tagged Australia, business, hotels, Melbourne, Sydney, Travel on November 5, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Sometimes when travelling for work this is close as I get to the city I’m in;

the view from the hotel window…

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Singapore Fling

Posted in Food, Travel, tagged buffet, cake, chocolate, Food, GST, holiday, macaron, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Sky Park on June 20, 2011 | 1 Comment »

Marina Bay Sands Chocolate Buffet

Anyone who knows me is well aware that while I love film, television and music – I am really passionate about food. Cooking it, eating it, taking dodgy photographs of it.

Last week in Singapore I visited The Club on the 57th floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. The Sky Park has a commanding view of Singapore city from one side and the harbour from the other.

If you’re a guest of the hotel and not afraid of heights you can even swim in the infinity pool. Non guests such as my friends and I can pay $38++ (everything in Singapore is plus plus for GST and service charges) each evening after 8pm to indulge in the chocolate buffet.

I will pad out this post at a later date but for now here are some photos of the 57 types of chocolate decadence on offer. I reckon I managed about 20 – and didn’t vomit (though we did all need to walk back to our hotel).

Chocolate Buffet, Marina Bay Sands

Some of the dishes I tried included churros, chocolate pudding, individual baked chocolate fondant, profiteroles, cheesecake lollipop, white chocolate pannacotta, 67 per cent chocolate ganache truffle…and of course, macarons.

Marina Bay Sands Chocolate Buffet, Singapore - a taste

I think this was my second plate, though I could be wrong…as eating only dishes derived from chocolate for dinner is bound to alter your brain function in some way.

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