We were introduced and oriented to our pool villa by our personal butler, Kemlek.  

Once the door was open, it was like stepping into paradise! IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

The attention to detail put into the design and aesthetics of the villa was truly impressive. I loved the colour scheme of gold, black, and white - highlighted with bright accents of yellow and orange and calmed by the lush greenery of tropical plants carefully placed all over.

Every villa comes with a fully equipped bar, outdoor shower and bath, and a private, shaded roof terrace.

It felt like a big, picture-perfect playground that was both elegant and fun! We pranced around barefoot a lot. We played a lot of happy music using the bluetooth speakers provided.

It was so enjoyable to be in the villa that it became a huge challenge to get ourselves out to do anything else! Haha.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BATHROOM

The bathroom and dressing area was located at the back of the villa, accessible through an 'outdoor' pathway that connects it to the bedroom.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE BATHROOM OF DREAMS.

I can still feel the cool marble tiles under my feet and the freshness of that artificially cooled air every time I entered through the glass door.

Getting ready had never been so joyful!

 

 

Delightful Things TO NOTE

Gold taps & (rain) shower.
Double sinks.
Real flowers (lotus flowers folded into roses!).
Many towels of various sizes.
Lots of power sockets.
Male & female sized slippers/robes.

Upon checking in we were offered an unpacking service. 

This was a standard of luxury I had never experienced before, so I excitedly agreed and quickly envisioned seeing all my colourful items neatly arranged in the walk-in wardrobe, with zero effort from me. It was a glorious idea!

So imagine my face when I saw that.. only Ricardo's clothes had been taken out and hung/folded! My bag remained open on the bench.

I concluded that Kemlek must've not wanted to touch my rubber deer mask and blue sequinned wand. Or maybe my things were just so messy that he'd rather not.. :lol:

MAGICAL EVENINGS BY THE POOL

The bedroom has floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open up to the pool area, which was of a generous length and ends at a tall and shiny mirror wall on the other side.

You know what? There aren't enough outdoor mirrors in this world! 

We loved lounging around the pool during the evenings when the weather cooled down.. although the mosquitoes also had the same idea.

MY BUTLER IS BETTER THAN YOURS

Kemlek helped us with everything, including making arrangements for any activity or excursion we were interested in. Really, the whole team of butlers was amazing. Friendly, attentive, and helpful. We were treated so well that I sometimes I had to question reality. 

Kemlek organised for us to catch sunrise at Angkor Wat, which was a total pain to wake up for especially if you hate mornings (like me)! Although I shouldn't complain - we were lucky to do the temple tour using a nice air-conditioned car provided by the hotel. They also packed us mats to sit on and a nice picnic.

And oh! Look at these sweet handwritten notes that were left for us!

One day, I thought I would be a giant cliché and ask for.. a flower bath. I'd never had one before and this was the only occasion where I felt like I could ask for one without sounding like a diva!

And so.. the staff filled up the stone bath with pink lily petals.
They also placed four too-big candles around it. 

I felt like asking for more petals for more coverage, but decided that it would bring me up to diva level, which I didn't want.

Anyhow, they managed to figure out my secret desires and I walked in one afternoon to an industrial sized bubble-making machine by the pool. YES! BUBBLES!!!

You will have seen it in the video. If not, go watch it.

THE ROOF TERRACE

We didn't spend enough time on the terrace!

It has a spacious lounge sofa that can be turned into to a bed on request - so you can spend the night 'under the stars'. And with the mosquitoes.

It was a hard sell when the king-sized bed downstairs was so damn comfy.

One night, we were treated to a most sumptuous BBQ dinner on the terrace, prepared by the head chef. There was so much food! It was delicious.

We were spoilt rotten. But I didn't want the unused/uncooked food to also be spoilt rotten, so asked if the staff could take it home for themselves. It wasn't allowed due to hotel protocol but I was told they could use it for lunch/breakfast the next day.

THE COOKING CLASS

I shall point out that I have by now long forgotten how to cook any of these dishes. Who actually remembers any instructions from cooking classes? 

We had the privilege of spending some time with the head chef at Kroya, the main restaurant for Shinta Mani just across the road. Breakfast is served here for Bensley pool villa guests. We never made it for breakfast so I can't comment on that!

During the cooking class, we were taught how to make a spicy papaya salad, fish amok (a kind of steamed fish curry), and this beef sour soup with morning glory (last pic) which was MY FAVOURITE. Well that and the fish amok. Hard to decide - everything was incredibly tasty!

I think I'll need to re-learn these recipes, especially that beef soup because it needs to be more present in my life.

SHINTA MANI FOUNDATION
Open Doors, Open Hearts

During our stay, we were offered a visit to one of the villages supported by the Shinta Mani Foundation, which is an initiative funded by revenue made from Shinta Mani hotels (and donations) aimed at giving back to the local community.

Sadly, Ricardo wasn't feeling well/couldn't leave the toilet, so I went on my own.

“The only way to positively impact Cambodia is by giving each individual the power to realise their own dreams"

What I love about it is that the Foundation aims to empower the underprivileged with the tools they need to fight poverty; so providing long-term, sustainable solutions that create independence. These include teaching them how to establish and run their own businesses (such as setting up a shop), and encouraging them to learn to grow their own food/manage a small farm.

The Shinta Mani Foundation takes care of dozens of surrounding villages. One of the goals is to build a water well for every family so that the time and effort spent on collecting water from afar can be cut down. In addition, bicycles are provided and assistance given to the construction of simple yet functional homes for the families.

At the village, I got the opportunity to observe the various levels of progress made by different families. It was heartening to be able to see tangible results of the Foundation's work, which were manifest in small but thriving vegetable farms, small tuck shops, and of course, happy faces of children running around.

One thing I noticed was how  neat and CLEAN the village was. Even the dirt/sand paths seemed cleaner than.. normal dirt? It's hard to explain!

Shinta Mani Farm & School of Hospitality

On the way back, we stopped by the Shinta Mani Farm. This was a good-sized vegetable and fruit plantation that supplied fresh produce to the Shinta Mani hotels/restaurants!

Kemlek (our personal butler, in case you forgot) filled our car with a bunch of vegetables harvested that day to bring back with us.

He told me that he was attending farming lessons there, too. Shinta Mani staff are apparently given access to free education and training in farming, so they can learn how to build and upkeep their own farm.

Some of the hospitality staff at Shinta Mani are graduates of the Shinta Mani School of Hospitality, which invites a group of underprivileged locals into their programme (at no cost to them) every year, based on need and potential. The School gives them a chance to gain the knowledge and experience required to get a job in the growing hospitality sector in Siem Reap.

Lastly, Cambodian doctors are supported by the Foundation in providing healthcare and dental care to rural areas, as well as schools with underprivileged children. Again, education is key - so people are also taught proper hygiene practices and habits to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Click here for more info about the Shinta Mani Foundation (and how you can get involved)!

SHINTA MANI ANGKOR (BENSLEY COLLECTION)
Why You Should Stay Here

 

 

EVERY STAY COMES WITH

Daily breakfast at Kroya
Personal Bensley Butler
Private roundtrip airport transfers
Fast-track immigration on arrival
Use of a tuk-tuk within Siem Reap for 24 hours
Complimentary laundry service
Packing/Unpacking service
Welcome drink & daily seasonal fruit
Mobile wifi device

 

 

WHAT I ESPECIALLY LOVED

Fresh ingredients & tasty food at Kroya
Location - only 15 min from Angkor Wat
Level of service (exceptional)
Having a spacious outdoor space that was private
My butler, Kemlek!
The spa - best massage ever
Shinta Mani Foundation <3

The post Shinta Mani Angkor – Bensley Collection Pool Villa (The Place to Stay in Siem Reap!) appeared first on SMALLCRAZY.

[this post includes a video – scroll right down for it!]

This post is about the most elaborate and fantastical hotel I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa. 

Earlier this year, I managed to drag Ricardo along to South-East Asia with me. For a full six weeks! We did a whirlwind tour through Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam (and Malaysia of course but that’s not counted since it’s home).

While in Vietnam were lucky enough to spend a few days at the JW Marriott Phu Quoc, which seems to be the most impressive Marriott hotel I know of to date!

ARRIVING AT THE RESORT

 Phu Quoc island was only a 50-minute flight away from Ho Chi Minh City, which I really couldn’t wait to leave since it was so full of unnecessary noise. We flew Vietjet for under $70 each, return.

I was so excited to be on what I imagined would be a serene, noiseless island that I honestly cannot remember any details about the flight. Though it could also be frequent flyer problems.

At Phu Quoc International Airport, we were greeted by staff specially sent from the hotel to collect us. We were offered some snacks and bottles of cold water during the ride, which took barely 20 minutes.

Nevermind that our car entered the hotel grounds via a road that was flanked by a GIANT gold dog on each side, Egyptian style..

When we entered the lobby MY JAW DROPPED. I really didn’t know where to look first.

WHAT WAS THE WELCOME DRINK?

I wanted to take photos of every wall, every corner, and every piece of beautifully designed furniture that seemed to have been created or custom-made for the place. 

I was so distracted that I found it hard to pay any attention to our host or notice what the welcome drink was. Did I even drink it?

What I did notice was that the staff all had specially designed uniforms that matched the building in which they worked. Here are some of the bell boys/front desk staff. Bummer, I didn’t manage a photo of the ladies – I LOVED their uniforms – in their black/white/yellow themed dresses and headband with feather combo. It was almost like festival attire.

LAMARCK UNIVERSITY

The concept behind the Marriott Phu Quoc is the brainchild of renowned hotel designer, Bill Bensley, who conjured an elaborate story of a former university-turned-hotel, complete with all sorts of characters and events that tie in with Phu Quoc island’s own history of French colonialism. 

 

We were given a tour of the hotel (a.k.a. Lamarck University) so we could fully understand its background and how it came to be. 

 

As the theme is so meticulously followed throughout the resort and the stories so believable, I found myself questioning the host, ‘is this part real or made up?’ more than a few times.

 

I mean, they had portraits of named family members related to the ‘Founder of Lamarck University’ hanging around. They also had old gym/sporting equipment and trophies alongside photos of university alumni.

 

THE PINK PEARL

This was undoubtedly my absolute favourite part of the resort.

 

At the time we visited (end of January 2018), the Pink Pearl fine-dining restaurant had only opened the week before. I feel like using words to describe it would be pointless, so here are photos (which don’t even do it complete justice):

The ground floor comprises the main dining area – the most stunningly stylish dining area I’d ever seen. It transports you to an alternate, whimsical reality, drenched the sweetest shade of pink. The chairs and sofas are the kind you wish you could steal and put in your own home.

Simply being in that room made me feel glamorous (even though I was dressed for a stroll on the beach). 

Four private dining rooms occupy the first floor of the Pink Pearl. The transition from ground to first floor involves walking past a pink flamingo mural, where the stairs were. A FLAMINGO WALL!

Ricardo and I had dinner at The Pink Pearl one evening and it was a real treat. The resident chef is rotated every two or three months. At the time we went, the type of cuisine being served was Thai – as they had invited a chef from… somewhere in Thailand (haha).

Being there when the whole place was lit up with all those fancy lights made it a magical meal – not to mention the food was delicious.

WHERE WE STAYED | THE TURQUOISE SUITE

The Turquoise Suite is the largest suite on the property; ours was 90 square metres in size. That’s bigger than our 1-bedroom apartment at home.

What I loved most were the twin showers – I’d always rejected Ricardo’s attempts to shower together because I hate when it’s not my turn under the shower (I get cold easily). But with this setup we could get clean together AND have a conversation whilst doing so!

LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS! 

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ROOM WITH BEAUTIFUL THINGS!

The Turquoise Suite is located in the Department of Botany, hence the plant pictures and old seed packets.

There were so many places to plant my butt that we were simply spoilt for choice. I don’t think we managed to sit on all the things that were sittable things. The ratio of available butts to available sittable things was 2 : too many!

The suite comes with a huge balcony overlooking the pool and beach (Emerald Bay). Really, this is the room to get if you’re visiting and want to give yourself a grand treat for a special occasion or because why not.

SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

The School of Professional Studies was so much fun! It essentially contains the meeting/conference rooms of the hotel and other spaces you can lounge around in.

It was like someone’s gigantic living room with lots of compartments.

We particularly enjoyed the blue room above because it seemed to have the strongest air-conditioning.. 

This place is truly a visual paradise!

Everywhere we looked – it looked good. It was clear to see that no detail was spared in the process of bringing to life Bill Bensley’s colourful imagination.

Oh yeah, this place cost almost $250 million to build  😎
.

CHANTERELLE SPA

The Chanterelle Spa was easily the most beautiful spa I had ever seen.

It had a mushroom theme (‘chanterelle’ is the name of a type of mushroom) tied in with some elements of Alice in Wonderland.

I think this was just a clever and politically correct way to fuse magic and mushrooms into the narrative of the spa  😆 

This includes picture frames that aren’t straight or aligned with each other, and a hallway with arches of different sizes and heights.

I LOVED ALL THE ROOMS here. Even if you’re not getting a spa treatment, it’s worth coming by just for a tour of the facilities. Every room is stunning.
 

HOI AN LANTERN MAKING

When you enrol at Lamarck University (a.k.a. check in to the hotel), you’ll be given the timetable of student activities for the week which you can sign up for.

I thought it was a really fun idea; it reminded me of being at Club Med when I was a kid.

You could visit the Fish Sauce Factory nearby (did you know that Phu Quoc Island is famous for producing fish sauce?), or cycle to the local bee farm.

On-site activities include surf yoga, Vietnamese classes, towel sculpture, t-shirt painting, and.. beer yoga.

We took part in the Hoi An lantern making class. It took some patience and good fine motor skills, but I loved the finished product. I gave my lantern to my mother – it’d been a while since I gave her a handmade-by-me gift!

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

If you haven’t already guessed, The Department of Chemistry refers to the bar. It also has a pink colour theme, and is located next to the Pink Pearl and also the beach.

At the bar, you’re able to request a unique cocktail that will be mixed according to your preferences, or not – depending on how much you like surprises..!

Bite-sized or tapas style food is served here.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?

I don’t usually have high expectations, or any expectations, about eating at hotels, but the JW Marriott Phu Quoc really outdid itself in terms of the variety as well the quality of the food offered.

Let me just point out that there are five dining options at the resort. FIVE! 
Ok maybe four-and-a-half since the bar/Dept of Chemistry only serves small plates.

Tempus Fugit restaurant is the main dining area, where the daily buffet breakfast is served. It was a dream to be able to have Vietnamese pho and banh mi (amongst a number of other savoury asian things) in the morning instead of what is the bane of my breakfast life: ‘continental breakfast’.

Red Rum is a seafood restaurant on the beach – this was my least favourite, though we got the chance to eat GIANT CLAMS there!

French & Co is cafe style eatery that I remember for their AMAZING smoothies. I still fantasise about the green tea & coconut smoothie. And the blueberry ginger smoothie.

Then there’s the Pink Pearl of course.

I’m not ashamed to say that WE ATE ALL OUR MEALS AT THE RESORT during our three-night stay. They have good food! You will be well fed.

JW MARRIOTT PHU QUOC: FINAL TIPS

• If you can only swim in one pool (there are three!), make it the Shell Pool.
• Definitely try the blueberry or green tea smoothie at French & Co.
• Rent a stand-up-paddle board or body board for free at the beach.
• Have dinner at Pink Pearl Restaurant. Go upstairs to have a peek at their private dining rooms if possible!
• Ask for a tour of the Chanterelle Spa if you’re not getting a treatment.
• If you can manage it, stay in the Turquoise Suite! Otherwise, I can safely say that every other room is also a delight.
• I would recommend staying for at least three nights. I wish we could’ve stayed longer!

  The resort is so huge that it’ll take quite some time to explore. This is something you’ll want to do as everything is so beautifully made, and with little quirks to be found if you look hard enough. You’ll want to be able to experience at least some of the activities available; and time to enjoy all the immaculately designed rooms/areas of the resort.

CLICK HERE FOR BEST ROOM RATES

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The post Review: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa (Vietnam’s Most Colourful Resort!) appeared first on SMALLCRAZY.

I gave the city another chance on my way back to Porto from Vilnius recently – as the flight worked out cheaper and more convenient that way. It was September. The better weather helped a lot by illuminating more parts of the colour spectrum! The presence of leaves on trees also contributed to a better experience.

MOXY BERLIN OSTBAHNHOF

I spent the first two nights staying at The Moxy hotel, an affordable chic in the Friedrichshain area. Although the name makes me think of fried chicken, it’s supposedly a very cool and hip part of Berlin, in the south-east.

I LOVED THIS HOTEL. It was SO ME!

I love this hotel because they think that Berlin is funnier with me in it. Such fun vibes in the lobby/bar too!

I found the location fantastic – it seemed to be close to a lot of things I wanted to see and do.

The hotel must also be popular with the party crowd – as it’s close to the popular superclub Berghain. A friend did invite me to go to a day rave there, but I couldn’t think of anything more unsavoury than trying to dress a certain way or create a certain impression in the hopes that some lame dude at the door will like me and grant me entry.

ANYWAY!

Rooms at The Moxy start from €80 – I totally recommend it if you’re after something modern and trendy but don’t wanna break the bank!

BITE BERLIN FOOD TOUR

I started my first full day with a food tour by Bite Berlin, as it’s generally recommended that food tours are booked to occur at the beginning of your trip, so that you can collect useful tips and recommendations from your guide for the rest of your time.

Bite Berlin is run by three women who have collectively spent almost 25 years in the city. The tour included typical ‘German food’, such as pretzels and.. currywurst!

Did you know that the currywurst was invented by a woman who obtained ketchup and curry powder from British soldiers in Germany? Well I didn’t anyway.

I was a few minutes late – German trains are NOT always on time – so everyone was waiting for me by the time I got to the meeting point at Hackescher Markt. There were six other people: an Australian couple with a baby, a Dutch couple, and two Iraeli girls who were travelling together for Lollapalooza Festival,  which coincided that weekend.

DISTRICT MOT

My favourite stop on the tour was District Mot, a Vietnamese street food concept restaurant with a buzzing atmosphere. The decor was very appealing and carefully thought of.

This included colourful animal-shaped Chinese lanterns commonly seen during the mid-autumn festival – the ones with colourful sheets of plastic spread over metal wires that have been shaped into animals (like these). It reminded me of my childhood – I’m now making a note to ask my mom to find me one next time I’m home!

The food was delicious and I saw that the menu boasted frogs’ legs, which I love, but sadly I didn’t quite get the chance to go back to try them. Got carried away with other things.

More info on Bite Berlin here.

BERLIN WELCOME CARD

Getting around Berlin was pretty easy, as you can imagine. I used a Berlin Welcome Card that covered the whole duration of my trip. What was most convenient was being able to pick it up at the airport and use the free public transport benefit immediately.

Yet, I missed my bus stop coming into town from Tegel Airport. It was a frustrating reminder that bus culture (is that even a thing?) can be different everywhere!

I pressed the button when my stop was coming up. However, when the bus stopped, no doors opened and so I assumed it was simply a traffic-light stop. WRONG. It then zoomed off and I saw on the screen that it had progressed to the next location after mine. Apparently, I had to go closer to the door to indicate that yes, I am getting off here.

Anyway, the best part of the Welcome Card for me was definitely the free public transport. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to take advantage of the discounts to attractions/museums. I did find the map helpful though!

You can buy the Berlin Welcome Card online.

BERLIN CITY SNAPS

These gold (actually brass) tiles are called ‘Stolpersteine’, which mean tripping or stumbling stones. They’re made to stick out of the ground slightly.. so you could actually, stumble upon one.

They’re inscribed with the name and life dates of victims of Nazi extermination or persecution – at exactly their last place of residency or work that was freely chosen by them.

My friends Eulanda and Omo dropped in for half a day and we went on a hunt for street art one afternoon. I’m not a huge fan of street art – not enough to actively look for it anyway – so I didn’t quite enjoy this excursion.

I also felt that a lot of the street art in Berlin seemed to be located in places that didn’t make sense. Some of them were difficult to see completely and some were occluded by things like a flyover or ugly signposts or lampposts.

I guess I like effortless and convenient street art.. or street art the lazy way!

PRINZESSINNENGARTEN MARKET

First: What a name.
Second: What a terrible photo of me; where are my eyes?

Luckily, the street art excursion was saved by accidentally discovering this gem of a market in Kreuzberg. It was huge! It used to be a wasteland for over half a century that’s now been turned into a green space where organic food production and climate protection are taught and encouraged.

There was a bustling flea market happening when we were there. It was a Sunday. I didn’t buy anything as my suitcase was already bursting but I loved wandering around under all those green leafy trees.

It also reminded me of my first few years of living in London, when I would spend my weekends rummaging for vintage treasures (often hidden in smelly piles of things) at various markets, mostly in the east.

MOVENPICK HOTEL BERLIN

My final two nights in Berlin were a real treat, as I got to spend them at the Movenpick Hotel Berlin, which is closer to the city centre..  it’s not in a particularly hip location and it’s more of a business type hotel, but I really enjoyed the classic hotel vibes.

Also, my (deluxe) room had yellow walls. This made me love my room even more.

I specifically came home early one night just so I could spend more time surrounded by these yellow walls, in the comfy bed, and wearing no underwear. It was fantastic! I even lied to Ricardo when he tried to call – I said I was busy.

If you’re looking for a higher level of comfort/service and want to be more central, stay at the Movenpick Berlin 🙂

My most amazing rainbow headpiece is by Ciara Monahan!

THE BEST THING I DID IN BERLIN

This actually deserves a whole post on its own.

Thanks to Adam – my favourite person to pester for Berlin recs – I found a MAGICAL REALM OF LIGHTS and mirrors and colours hidden away in a sort of warehouse space (former power station) in what seemed like a pretty blah area of town (Köpenicker Straße).

It was an art and photography exhibition hosted by Olympus, called Perspective Playground. It takes place a few times a year in various European cities. Unfortunately, by the time you read this, the Berlin playground will be over. But you can watch the website to see where it goes next!

I spent HOURS in there by myself. This was seriously the biggest highlight of my little Berlin break.

Ok I’m gonna have to write a separate post about this to share the rest of the photos!

The rest of my time in Berlin I spent meeting strangers, drinking/bar hopping, and eating. I didn’t really take any photos of those.

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*Sponsors for this post include: Moxy Hotels, Movenpick Hotels, and Visit Berlin

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Phuket is one of those places I dreamed of visiting when I was a child, especially since my family ended up going without me on two occasions. I’ve been wanting (but not dying) to go ever since, even though the general consensus isn’t exactly ‘Phuket is AMAAAZING’. Just one of those places I had to see for myself, you know.

First of all, Dream Hotel is beautiful:

There is a smaller rooftop pool available but we didn’t spend much time there. The big pool was too tempting – plus it had a swim-up bar.

A taxi from the airport costs 700 baht normally, but we managed to haggle it down to 600 – hey that’s over £2 in savings! Haha.

Dream Hotel is located halfway down from the airport to the popular tourist area  of Patong, so the ride took about 20 minutes (it’s 50 minutes to Patong).

We didn’t bother to visit Patong at all because we’d heard a lot of negative things about it (I don’t fancy big crowds).. and sincerely, I loved hanging out at Dream so much that I felt it better worth our time. We did do an island-hopping day-trip, which seemed mass-produced and not as idyllic as it sounds. It made us long to be on the clean, peaceful, and beautiful grounds of Dream even more.

Digression: A couple of nice photos I got from the island trip:

The staff will advise and help you book any boat trips or other activities you might be interested in, although you might find better prices if you looked around yourself outside or online.

Our hotel room was modern and clean. It also kept up-to-date with the trend of not installing any doors to separate the bathroom area. There was a pillow menu. I ordered all the pillows because I am one of those annoying people who needs to feel with my hands (and face) to decide. The bed was huge and I had a few good dreams on it. DREAMS.. geddit?? DREAM HOTEL?

You know what didn’t disappoint? The breakfast that was included in the room rate. No boring ‘continental breakfast’! I was so happy.

There was porridge – that’s rice porridge, not stodgy bland oats  – with all the amazing salty condiments like fried anchovies and salted duck egg and preserved vegetables. I looked forward to this every morning, along with the green curry, fried rice, noodles, and fresh tropical fruits..

PLAYTIME AT THE POOL

I went and bought these three yummy things – pink donut float, giant pizza float, funny pretzel float) – just for the trip. The pizza was definitely the best – it has holes to hold your drinks! Apparently you can buy eight and connect them all to form a whole pizza.

DREAM BEACH CLUB

Aside from the main hotel grounds, the resort also includes Dream Beach Club, which you can access via free regular shuttles that go back and forth every day.

I loved Dream Beach Club! There are beds (and towels)! And music! There are regular DJs there and the afternoon vibe is energetic and fun.

If you want some quiet there is a private beach – Dream Beach – that connects to/is a part of Layan Beach. We went there a lot. In these photos it seems pretty empty but that’s because I went there especially early (read: 11am) to get these shots before the place filled up.

LAYAN BEACH

An empty beach is a good beach. Except if you hurt yourself and there’s nobody around to help you? Haha

SUNSET

On some evenings the hotel puts on a fire show. Too bad it poured down so much on my visit but at least the flames survived..

SUNDAY BRUNCH

The Sunday Brunch at Dream Beach Club comes highly recommended – and we’d heard so much about it from Christine (our host at Dream) in the days leading up to Sunday. She said to expect A LOT OF FOOD.

There was a lot of food. All kinds! It was served buffet-style next to the pool so there were a lot of undecisive people skulking around with their plates – this includes me.

There were burgers and pizza and roast. Grilled seafood, stuffed croissants, and a variety of condiments. It was just amazing and made you wish you had eight stomachs.

I stuffed myself with a lot of papaya salad (my all-time favourite Thai dish).

BOAT AVENUE FRIDAY NIGHT MARKET

One of the little excursions you can enjoy from Dream is a jaunt to a buzzing local food market – the Boat Avenue Friday Night Market that happens.. every Friday (surprise).. in Cherng Talay. The hotel provides a free shuttle to and from – it’s about 15 minutes away. You just have to sign up at reception.

It’s exactly how you’d imagine an Asian food market – lots of stalls, lots of strong smells, and lots of food that appeal to your curiosity (and sense of adventure). It seems to be frequented by lots of local people too.

//

If you’re ever in Phuket and want some fun and peace at the same time, do consider staying at Dream. It’s a little haven away from the touristy spots and you’ll be treated and fed well. They also don’t mind if you order ALL the pillows from the pillow menu!

Click here for rates & availability or book directly from the website 🙂

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Jumper: Pull & Bear // Skirt: Zara

I visited Paris for the fourth time in December. My little sister, who was still under the legal drinking age in the US, was flying over to share a few bottles of wine with me. I was so excited. I hadn’t seen her for almost two years. We were meeting at Le Marais early on a Sunday morning. Except we got the dates wrong and she was only to arrive on Monday.

Meaning, I got on that EXTREMELY EARLY (6am) flight FOR NOTHING! I blame everything on my sister of course (no but really it was her fault).

I was in town by 9am. By this time, I was already feeling glad that I’d arranged my accommodation via Cobblestone Paris – I had the mobile number for David, who was my ‘personal English-speaking greeter’ (haha) and who was making a special effort to ensure I could access the apartment early. You know that feeling of being taken care of? When you can relax in the security that someone’s there just to make sure you get to your destination smoothly and safely? IT IS A VERY GOOD FEELING.

I passed (read:wasted) some time drinking expensive hot chocolate (I had just come from Portugal, so if it cost more than €2, it’s expensive) at a cafe across the street, which name I still giggle at when I say it in my mind (Cafe Le Spicy). I was SO GLAD when David came and rescued me – I was about to drop dead from sleep deprivation ..and watery hot chocolate.

One of those corner units on the left was where I stayed.

According to David, apartments with a wraparound corner balcony were highly sought after in Paris.

Once in the building, I ticked off a new life experience:
I rode in the tiniest lift in the world. It must’ve been something like 75x75cm! Amazing!!

The exhaustion I was feeling dissipated as soon as I stepped inside and saw just how beautiful the apartment was:

No, the flowers aren’t real, haha!

The living room had the high ceilings that I LOVE, and a generous helping of those tall French windows that I LOVE.

I WAS IN LOVE.

Chestnut, my pet fox, came to Paris too. It was his first time.

Charming chandelier.

Guidebooks galore.

More faux flora.

HIGH SPEED WIFI.

HEATERS IN ALL ROOMS.

Life was good!

Oh, the apartment also comes with a landline that you’re free to use make calls to any country in the world except one (was it Nicaragua? I forgot).

Even though David shared a good list of local recommendations with me, shamefully I barely remembered anything.. French names are really difficult to remember if you can’t visualise them!

I suppose I didn’t work my brain too hard because I knew that David was so communicative by text and I could ask him again at any time.. (which I did).

There was also comprehensive Apartment Guidebook with more than you’d need to know. This includes instructions for the dishwasher, laundry, etc, and most importantly, information about WHERE TO EAT.

It even has a page about Parisian social etiquette – Parisians are not RUDE. They are FORMAL. 😀

Looks like I was set for a great few days in Paris. No stress!

PATISSERIE STOHRER // RUE MONTORGUIEL

Rue Montorgueil – one of David’s ‘local recommendations’ – is a lively pedestrian street – one of Paris’ permanent market streets – occupied by a diverse selection of restaurants, patisseries, cafes, cheese & wine shops, fishmongers & butchers, and even a few bars and bistros. Only a short walk from our apartment, we wandered here on one of our lazy days.

The aim was to visit La Maison Stohrer, “La plus ancienne pâtisserie de Paris”.
Meaning.. ‘The oldest pastry shop in Paris”.

It was apparently so popular that even the Queen herself had made a visit – as you can see from the postcards on display, they’re not too modest to hide any evidence of this.

I was visually impressed by the savoury ‘cakes’ in the front window, with the crab shells and foie gras and smoked salmon, but couldn’t bring myself to sample any. I wanted something sweet. Plus, David raved about a certain rum cake that I absolutely must try, so it was that one item I walked out of the shop with. But stupidly, I didn’t eat it immediately and all the sticky rum juice later spilled out onto mine and my sister’s things. Lesson: Eat delicious things IMMEDIATELY.

Amazing jazz & swing band!

The best part was running into this swing band performing in a corner, made up of four old friends. I loved them so much I bought their CD! CD? Who still uses CDs?? Haha.

HÔTEL DE VILLE

Hôtel De Ville, home of the Paris City Hall, was also around the corner from the apartment. The square had turned into a vibrant meeting point during the holiday season, with a beautiful carousel and a number of street performers looking to bring some joy to adults and children alike (and then get their money).

I didn’t ride the carousel nor did I try to catch the bubbles – I think being in Paris made me feel like I had to be a bit more… FORMAL?!
So I just stood rigidly taking photos while my hands turned numb from the cold. I enjoyed it.

LE MOULIN ROUGE

This wasn’t anywhere near Le Marais but I had such a fun time that I wanted to share!

You may or may not already be familiar, but there is a huge drain cover opposite the Moulin Rouge building that creates a sort of vertical wind tunnel on the street (?? What do you call those things??). Loads of people were on it, mostly throwing their scarves in the air while their friends photographed them.

Lucky me, I had a skirt, and who knew it could be such fun to try to keep your skirt down in public? 😀

COBBLESTONE PARIS

Just can’t get enough of these windows..

I really couldn’t recommend Cobblestone enough if you’re looking for an apartment to rent in Paris and would prefer a stress-free, hassle-free experience. They’ve been in the business since 2004 – long before the age of Airbnb – and so they know what they’re doing. They currently offer 26 centrally located, beautifully furnished, fully serviced apartments that will definitely make you feel like you’re living the Parisian dream!

The apartment featured in this post is La Charme Du Marais.
If you use the code SMCRZY, you’ll get 10% off your booking 🙂

My favourite things about the apartment:

• Wraparound balcony
• Many many tall French windows with sash curtains – isn’t it also your dream to open the doors to look out at life from the terrace?
• Wifi with super fast internet speeds
• Complimentary bottle of wine and chocolate
• It was warm in winter

Not-so-favourite things (hey gotta keep it real):

• The pillows were rather hard
• Small bathroom

*My stay with Cobblestone Paris was complimentary. All opinions are my own and are always honest!

The post The Best Apartment in Paris! appeared first on SMALLCRAZY.

I also did not know that Lausanne had such delicious buildings with perfectly symmetrical and colourful shutters – that is so my jam.

LOOK AT THESE HAPPY GREEN SHUTTERS

The buildings sure looked like they were made of biscuits! And what about these peach flavoured window eyelids above..

I think I spent most of my time during the walking tour of the city taking multiple pictures of the same things – windows and walls. I was mostly distracted so admittedly I didn’t really digest (or listen to) a lot of the information shared by our guide Hilary (luckily this wasn’t like school and so I wasn’t told off), but I heard her mention that the people of Lausanne apparently have very lean and muscular legs since the city is built on a small mountain and there is a lot of uphill walking involved.

However, since it was not summer, there was a lack of visual aids to verify this fact and I started looking at people’s pants/whatever leg coverers they had on and imagining what might’ve been under the fabric. Yummy Swiss legs?

CAFÉ DE GRANCY

I didn’t eat any yummy Swiss legs.

Our first meal in Lausanne was at this restaurant, which was cosy and warm and there were famous people’s names etched into the back of the wooden chairs.

Top: Deer ravioli with mushrooms and truffle oil and parmesan // AMAZING. WENT TO HEAVEN.
Right: Beef tartare // AMAZING. DIED 2 TIMES.
Left: Some kind of local fish (name forgotten!) with mushrooms and a potato mash thingy // This was Mehreen’s lunch I just took a pic of it.

When you eat well you’re on track to having a fantastic day, so I was glad we started our weekend here!

SWISS CHOCOLATE..

Milk chocolate was invented in Switzerland. I did not know that. But now I do! Thanks to an afternoon at Chocolaterie Durig, who let us make our own animal-shaped chocolates as part of a small workshop.

Mine is that funny-looking thing on the right. It’s supposed to be a penguin. I got chocolate all over my hands.

We also got to taste SO MUCH (other, professionally/properly made) chocolate. There was chocolate infused with this and infused with that; by the end of it I really had consumed more chocolate than I had in the last year! I’m one of those weird people who isn’t in love with chocolate, but I did taste some nice things that day (some fancy dark chocolate infused with something fancy).

Anyhow, I gave my chocolates (including the penguin) away to my friends.

LAUSANNE MARKET

We managed to catch the market, which takes over the city’s pedestrian streets, on Saturday afternoon. It also takes place every Wednesday.

Markets are one of my favourite things to see (rather than museums or art galleries) in any new place I visit – there are so many delicious colours, sounds, and smells to take in. It’s really a sensory playground.

I did not make any purchases at Lausanne market. Lausanne is expensive! But luckily, smelling the smells and seeing the colours is free 🙂

LOOK AT THOSE SHROOMS. Jeanne bought some. She let me smell her mushrooms.

LAVAUX VINEYARDS

Just from reading the name, I was convinced that this was going to be a beautiful place. Well that and I also read that it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

I didn’t really quite equate Switzerland to vineyards or wine but it turns out they do have good vineyards and good wine.

Lavaux was the highlight of my weekend! Big thanks to our host David for not thinking ahead about how we’d get from our wine-tasting venue to the port where we had to catch a the ride back to Lausanne – and I mean that in the most UNsacrastic way. Weaving in and out of those rows of grape plants was so much fun, especially in a rush going downhill ..with the risk of missing some form of transport (I’m good at that)!

I must say that this was the most.. prosperous vineyards I have ever seen. Every plant was FULL of perfect-looking grapes, which I of course picked and ate (just a few..). They were happy grapes (juicy and sweet). If I had it my way I’d be carrying IKEA bags full of those grapes back to my house.

^Jeanne, Mehreen (I’m sorry your eyes were caught off-guard), and Mel

Boring news for you – we didn’t miss the boat!

THE UNMISSED BOAT RIDE

Lausanne is about a 20 minute cruise from Lavaux, on Lake Geneva. For the reverse journey we went by train.

Also, look at me trying to take a photo of myself using the app connected to my camera. Who knew trying to do that AND look at the camera at the same time would be so challenging? …

PINTE BESSON

I had THE BEST CHEESE FONDUE OF MY LIFE at this restaurant. This statement still stands regardless of the fact that my sample size is under ten.

It was melted cheese with cognac and mushrooms! Nobody could resist. The pots were WIPED CLEAN. The cheese was hot and bubbling and when you lifted your fork it stretched into long gooey lines – even the act of preparing the little blob of cheesy delight was a fun activity. IT WAS SO GOOD.

Oh yeah and Pinte Besson is the oldest restaurant in Lausanne, having opened in 1780. It has wonky walls and the ceiling looked uneven. That made me happy.

WHAT I WORE

Sweater – Zara | Leggings – Topshop | Boots – you’re not interested

Thanks Anouska for snapping these photos!

WHERE TO STAY

I saved the best part for last – The Royal Savoy Lausanne. It’s new (ish.. it opened in June 2015).

Everyone raved about THE BED. It was definitely one of the best beds I’ve slept in.. ever!

On the Saturday night we had all these plans to stay out and experience ‘the nightlife’, but at the end of dinner that evening I thought, “I can go out and party any time I want, but it’s not every day that I get to sleep in a five-star luxury hotel room”.

So that was that. No party. For anyone. We all went back to our snow white clouds and wished we didn’t have an early start on Sunday. I guess Mehreen wished it the most, because she woke up an hour late the next day! Haha

*Thank you to Lausanne Tourism for organising the experience. All thoughts are genuinely mine. Fortunately and unfortunately!

The post How to Spend a Weekend in Lausanne appeared first on SMALLCRAZY.

BUT during the first half of March, I was invited by Accor Hotels to spend a long weekend in the much overlooked Belgian city. Since it was easily accessible via the Eurostar from London, I thought ‘why not?‘

It turns out Brussels can be a pretty fun weekend city break after all! So here are my city-break highlights:

PARKING 58

This was the best ‘hidden gem’ of all! It’s basically the top floor of a parking complex located in the heart of Brussels. All you have to do is take the lift up and you’ll find a huge open space (well when I went there were almost no cars parked..) with amazing views of the city in all directions. For FREE!

It was cold and windy, but the overcast light made everything look magical:

PARKING 58

Bisschopsstraat 1, 1000 Brussel, Belgium
(Between La Bourse and Place Sainte-Catherine, close to the “de Brouckere” square, Dansaert Street and St-Géry Halls)

BRASSERIE PLOEGMANS

A local acquaintance of mine recommended this restaurant and IT WAS SO GOOD!

It was low-key, warm, and very cosy and quaint. They had an open/exposed window into the kitchen and we were able to see the chef cooking and doing other things, like dusting sugar on a bunch of waffles to be served as dessert. Food is typical Belgian/French and too delicious:

Top left: A kind of apple tatin with super thin pastry, served with vanilla ice cream. Went to heaven.
Top right: Baked camembert with soft, boiled apple slices. Went to heaven.
Bottom left: ‘Onglet’ steak wit baked potatoes and some kind of delish vegetable puree. Went to heaven.
Bottom right: The prize dish. Slices of duck served with orange sauce and croquettes. I guess I died four times.

If you visit Brussels you MUST pay this restaurant a visit! Reena and I loved it so much that we tried to squeeze in a last-minute visit on our last day before our train departed but very sadly it didn’t quite work out.. That duck is DIVINE. AMAZING. MAGIC.

BRASSERIE PLOEGMANS

BRUSSELS VINTAGE MARKET

Occurring on the first Sunday of every month, this bustling vintage market takes place in the Halles Saint-Géry, spread over three floors (there is a basement level).

There were LOADS of vintage/second-hand gear you can sift through – if you’re patient enough. There were also some independent designers and artists selling their creations.

It was pretty busy and it kind of drained us in a mere 30 minutes, BUT I did manage to buy new blue leather tasselled handbag (I love tassels) downstairs for a mere €30, and a couple of nice rings for €5 each.

BRUSSELS VINTAGE MARKET

Every first Sunday of the month
Place Saint-Géry 1, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
www.brusselsvintagemarket.be

CITY SNAPS

Such a pity it rained so much on our first day. But borrowed umbrellas from the hotel and spent the day out anyway!

There was a market

Especially loved the TinTin murals scattered all around the city and the many frites and waffle shops in all the most convenient corners, which were great for a mid-walk snack.

Of course, we had to see the icon of Brussels – the Manneken Pis. A bronze sculpture of a naked little boy peeing into the fountain’s basin. Admittedly I had never actually heard of it..

There was a small crowd of people taking turns to have their picture taken with him. I took this one photo and then went straight to get waffles!

By the way – the statue was unexpectedly small. For some reason I expected something more.. dramatic?? Oh well it was cute.

^Us at the the Grand Place (or Grote Markt) – the central square of the city

As you can see, it rained on our first night. For hours! We distracted ourselves with a little bar-hopping and beer-tasting until it got pretty late and we were exhausted! We stupidly (or rather because we were desperate and neither of us had data service on our phones) took the first taxi we saw on the street to transport us to our hotel.. and paid an extortionate amount (€15 for a 5 minute ride really).

THE ATOMIUM

THIS WAS AMAZING! When we first arrived at our hotel the staff kept mentioning ‘Atomium’ in their customary welcome smalltalk with us. I had no idea this bizarre work of architecture existed – even though it was built in 1958! It’s so quirky and cool, and makes me think it came from The Jetsons cartoon series..

Only a short ride on the subway from the city centre, the Atomium only became accessible to the public in 2006 following a long closure due to steady dilapidation from neglect, even after its extreme popularity at its opening in 1958 (when it was visited by millions of people from all over the globe!).

The entrance tickets were €12 per person. Each ‘ball’ now contains an exhibition and you can learn about the rise and fall (and re-birth) of the Atomium. The top ‘ball’ contains a restaurant! The ‘tubes’ contain connecting escalators and/or stairs. One down escalator was black with flashing colourful lights – obviously I LOVED IT.

I found the story of the Atomium FASCINATING. They have lots of information about architecture in Brussels – its influences and how it once tried to be the New York City of Europe (or something like that).

ATOMIUM

Square de l’Atomium
B-1020 Brussels

The Atomium is located in the Northern part of the city of Brussels, a 5 minute walk from the Heysel / Heizel metro station (line 6) and right opposite Mini-Europe.

PULLMAN BRUSSELS MIDI – THE PLACE TO STAY

I really have to say a big THANK YOU to the people at AccorHotels for picking this hotel for Reena and I. It really couldn’t have been more convenient – it felt luxurious to be arriving into the Eurostar terminal and then walking for something like two minutes before we were at the beautiful hotel lobby. It was perfect for a weekend break!

Our room had a bit of a retro yet modern feel to it. It was so spacious! Reena and I looked forward to coming back to this bed each night we were there.

Reena was particularly pleased witht he little welcome favours we received – wine gums.

“REAL WINE GUMS!!”

This was exclaimed repeatedly.. it was amusing.

^See that S-shaped piece of furniture in the lobby? We were OBSESSED WITH IT! It’s seriously THE most comfy sofa ever. We made time in our schedules to make sure we had 5 minutes every so often just to sit on it and daydream. The designer’s name is Walter Knoll and those chairs I think were by him too.

If you’re looking for a quick, convenient, and comfortable hotel, the Pullman Brussels Midi is definitely a good choice.

Pullman Brussels Midi Hotel

Place Victor Horta 1
1060  BRUSSELS
BELGIUM

But don’t eat at the restaurant – it’s pricey and not spectacular. Eat at Brasserie Ploegmans!

If you’re spending longer than a weekend, here are 15 things to do in Brussels.

The post How to Spend a Weekend in Brussels appeared first on SMALLCRAZY.

What really made our trip comfortable and such a joy was our Mysuites & Co. (M&Co.) loft apartment in the heart of trendy Chelsea. We had just endured horrible delays coming from Lima, including two missed flight connections in Florida. So when we opened the door to the modern white interiors and an almost tangible warmth (thank you central heating!), we felt instantly relaxed and at home. First thing on the agenda was a nice long shower.

And then up to have a nap upstairs. To put my skin on these smooth, clean, white sheets after roughing it (ok just a little bit) in Peru was heaven. PS how cool are the bedside lamps?

^Cute green shelves before I ruined it by chaotic placement my belongings.

Our apartment was stylishly designed by M&Co., who for the last decade or more have been specialising in creating small urban living spaces that are modern, yet cozy and appealing to the eye. Our apartment was one of a collection of 12 ‘Mysuites Boutique Suites’ – click to see more of their work here, especially if you love retro-chic style interiors.

As an established design studio, M&Co. offer beautiful, centrally-located apartments around Manhattan ready for you to move in – right after you pay, that is (haha). Read: 10 reasons to buy from M&Co. If only I had some spare cash lying around..

We of course never used the kitchen – there was too much food outside that I wanted to try. If we stayed (much) longer I imagine I’d make some meals here. I love a spacious countertop.

The spare bed downstairs was a nice little touch – perfect if you had a drunk friend who couldn’t make it home after a party, I thought! In the end it acted as my sick bed for when I fell ill on the last day. It was closer to the bathroom than the loft bedroom!

I loved the old-style dresser – I called it my make-up corner.

The excellent location of our suite meant that Chelsea Market was a super short walk away – and there we consumed our first meal in NYC. A hot bowl of Korean ramen soup! Plus Cambodian pulled pork sandwiches for starters. So many things to choose from!

We spent our first day exploring our neighbourhood on foot. Here are the some great attractions we discovered:

THE MEATBALL SHOP

The name says it all – meatballs! They have a few branches across NYC and yes, it’s good. We visited the one on Greenwich Avenue // www.themeatballshop.com.

THE DONUT PUB

I got this recommendation from the little directory/info sheet left by M&Co ‘at home’, and it was a good one! ‘Since 1964’ – this is meant to be very old in NYC mind you // www.donutpub.com

^Pic of pretty little flower shop on Greenwich Ave.

THE HIGHLINE

The Highline in winter sure is different from during the summer! This time it was all barren and full of leftover snow from the blizzard recently. But still, Ricardo enjoyed it a lot.

I liked it because it allowed me to take pictures of the city at an elevated vantage point:

Ricardo enjoyed the piles of old snow. I was just looking to photograph more buildings.

Our stay in NYC wouldn’t have been the same without our cozy little apartment in such a cool part of town.  I loved it so much that on Saturday night after coming back in the evening, I had half a mind to spend the night in. That didn’t happen, of course, as my friend Anna had arranged not one but TWO costume parties for us to attend…

But since I fell ill on the last day, I got to spend a little too much time in the apartment after all, haha! Fortunately it was super comfortable and warm. Phew. Thank you M&Co!

If you’re confused about where to stay in NYC, check out this handy NYC area guide!

If you’re in Brooklyn, here are 100 Awesome Things To Do in Brooklyn!

The post A Mini Guide to Chelsea, NYC appeared first on SMALLCRAZY.

Arriving late at night and looking dishevelled, I stepped out of my taxi feeling extremely out of place. It was a Thursday night and there were all these chic and trendy looking people on the steps outside; girls in fur coats and high heels. I could hear music coming from inside the building. Then there was ME. In jeans and flat hair and no makeup.. accompanied by my unglamorous red suitcase.

Reminding myself that “no, I don’t look like this NORMALLY”, I proceeded to check in and resigned myself to a night in to rest up before meeting with friends the next day.

But hey at least I had pretty alright shoes (they’re Topshop, if you’re wondering).

Funny masks are provided in every room. So is an iMac that has all the info you need, including maps and a list of recommended bars/restaurant/shops in the neighbourhood (Charonne) and Paris in general. Plus a whole load of TV channels.

And.. there’s also free porn! LOTS of it, at no extra charge. I had a good browse and noticed they included gay porn too. All bases covered huh!

There wasn’t much of a view, but it was so good to have that whole big comfy bed to myself after having had to share, before coming to Paris.

I spent the first morning indulging myself in a super-long shower followed by lots of lounging around naked and I took my time moisturising every inch of my body. It’s important!

Left: Reception area // Right: The bar

The shelves on the left contain a whole assortment of fun things you can buy to make your stay a little more vibrant. They include party packs, toys, novelty items, more masks, and some arty things that you’ll want to have despite them being of no real use. I’m certain there was a section with some actually useful stuff as well..

The pizzeria’s meant to be really good. I didn’t manage to eat there though – I was too eager to go out and stuff my face with all the French food I could find.

I did however spend one night at the restaurant/bar. The music was excellent and the vibe upbeat! It seemed to be frequented by a lot of the local residents/Parisians, which I really enjoyed.

WHAT’S YOUR ROOM NUMBER?

We bumped (literally) into a loud, over-confident French chick who looked somewhat like Alex Vause from Orange is the New Black. She was SO BOLD. She ‘introduced’ herself to me by grabbing my arm, with a too-enthusiastic HEYYYYYYY. No holds barred, she proceeded to ask my friend (female) and I if we were sleeping with each other – but in a much, much more direct manner than how I’m describing it here (use our imagination).

Then she invited us to Mexico.
Why? Because she and her friends were going in two weeks.
Why?  Because, she’s getting married to a man, who knows she is gay, but doesn’t seem to mind, although he’s not aware that she’s still sleeping with girls. That’s what I got from it anyway!

“So why are you getting married???”

“Why not?? It’s fun!!”

That was it. I liked her.

We hung out with her and her friends, who all worked in TV (although at that point I didn’t know what to believe anymore). She couldn’t stop trying to find out our room number. She would slyly insert, mid-conversation, totally irrelevantly – so what’s your room number?

I found it soooooo hilarious. SHE was freaking hilarious. Made my night!

PLAYTIME IN BED

They had these lights.. probably some kind of utility lights with long cords, but they provided lots of entertainment, especially with the mirrors on opposing walls. Simple pleasures!

We must’ve spent two hours just fooling around on the bed with these props. Such kids!
AH! That’s just it – the hotel’s tagline is ‘Mama Loves You’!

Here are a couple of videos we recorded (very silly):

Four nights in that room went by in no time! Melissa left day earlier, so I got another night on my own to bring out my inner teenager and giggle at some super-cheesy porn movies. And enjoy some nude sleeping.

Oh! You can also take pictures and videos of yourself using the iMac camera and send it to Mama.. or yourself via email.

Everything was fab – location, service, ambience, food, entertainment – save for a weird technical glitch that interfered with my porn watching the iMac screen sometimes which was never fixed (probably a good thing).

I stayed in a Mama Luxe room. Prices from €109.

The post Fun at Mama Shelter Paris appeared first on SMALLCRAZY.

It’s got a great location – near the centre, and most importantly, within short walking distance of the ‘baixa’ (downtown) where all the bars and clubs are. Ok fine, not MOST importantly.. but that IS rather important, right?

I love the building it lives in – one of those old ‘rich with history’ buildings. Big doors, high ceilings,  wooden floors, wide staircases. It’s great!

^The hallway as you enter from the main door.

It’s only got a little reception area at the front. It is a city hostel and so it is generally on the small side, but charming. Like me, I guess. Haha!

The rooms are all upstairs; while the ground and lower ground floors contain the facilities such as the kitchen, lounge areas, and 24-HOUR BAR.

^Steps leading down at the back. It’s all in the little details! Imagine this at night with all the candles lit 😉

I would prefer if one of the pillows said ‘GO MAD’ instead.

^The birds face the seat so you can talk to them. But you’ll have to know how to speak bird.

If I remember correctly, they also offer port wine tastings for about €6-8, for a selection of three.

If they’d asked me to choose the colours for the pillows I think people would have to wear their sunglasses whenever they came down here.

^A cozinha (the kitchen). There are more tables and seating on the other side (unseen).

Honey

The morning after a really drunk night.. I came down here to get breakfast. There weren’t many people, – only a group of four or five plus a Portuguese woman who was working at the back. She didn’t speak much English and at the time, I only knew very rudimentary Portuguese (I have since much improved).

I couldn’t find anything. I asked her where the bowls were. They were on the table next to me. I asked where the cutlery was. Next to the bowls of course. Where’s the milk? Duh, on the next tray, in a bottle.

I wanted honey.

‘Do you have honey?’

She looked puzzled.

‘Tem (‘you have’ in PT).. err.. honey?’

She still looked puzzled. ‘Não percebo..’ (‘I don’t understand)

I start making buzzing sounds and flying hand gestures to indicate ‘bee’.

‘O que é??’ (‘What is it??’)

I get even more animated and poured imaginary honey into a bowl with my hand.

‘AI! MEL!!! Está aqui!’ (‘Oh! Honey! It’s here!’)

She points to it. It was on the counter. Not so far from right in front of my face. …

I apologise for my blindness. She smiles and tells me to relax.

And then it occurred to me –> ‘NOW I UNDERSTAND THOSE ‘RELAX’ PILLOWS OUTSIDE!‘, wishing I knew enough Portuguese to articulate this thought this to her.

Anyway

Here are a couple of pics from the room I stayed in. I stayed in a girls-only 6-bed dorm with ensuite bathroom. Look how high the ceiling is! It was super comfortable and clean – beds were made, and sheets were smooth and of good quality.

I shared with an Austrian girl and.. sorry, I can’t remember the other one but she had been staying at the hostel long-term whilst studying something. There were only us three in the room 🙂

The Sunning Area

The exit at the back of the building brings you to a little walkway towards some stairs at the end.

On the left are windows of some of the private rooms you can book.

It’s only a little area once you get to the top of the stairs, but it’s good enough! Porto has lots of sunshine during the warmer months. I could just sit here soaking it all up, surrounded by Portuguese architecture, which I love and find very interesting. I would say ‘and make time-lapse videos of clouds’, but the sky is often a spotless blue in Porto 😉

^I came across some stray kittens under the roof. Meow!

There’s a room behind the 24-HOUR BAR downstairs that has a giant chess set! There are also guitars for you to play with.. movies to watch, art on the wall..

^Travel books, amongst others, in which you could indulge.

^A page from their guestbook. I see someone loved the fish? (‘Peixes’ = ‘Fish’)

Hey look, it’s Jasmin and José at the 24-HOUR BAR!!!

Jasmin is from Switzerland. She came to Porto some time ago, fell in love with it, and decided to stay. José  is local and does African drumming. I learnt that apparently, African drumming is pretty popular in the city.

All the staff were so friendly and I wish I could’ve spent more time making friends there. Thank you so much guys… I had the most fantastic time albeit it was short. But I’ll be back in June!

The Gallery Hostel
222 Rua Miguel Bombarda
4050-377 Porto
Email: info@gallery-hostel.com 

You can book beds/rooms via their website or via Hostelbookers, by whom this post is brought to you!

Happy Travels 🙂

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