Mumford and Sons, Baaba Maal – There Will Be Time

The only musical piece on my blog!… because this song and performance is utterly a masterpiece (released in 2016), sharing it might brighten your day or appreciate life / love more amidst whatever it is you’re going through these days (i.e. quarantine of 2020!). Feel the immense passion in this musical piece and appreciate it further with its piercing lyrics. Surreal.

[Verse 1: Baaba Maal]
Listen to me, I want to tell you something
The reason I love you is because
You are the only one who has taught me how to love
And appreciate life

[Chorus: Mumford & Sons]
But in the cold light, I live, to love and adore you
It's all that I am, it's all that I have
In the cold light, I live, I only live for you
It's all that I am, it's all that I have


[Verse 2: Baaba Maal]
To feel hurt and to feel joy
Feelings that come from loving you,
Situations can change,
between the morning and the night
But our love for each other stays the same,
It stays strong; It is constant and it remains true

[Verse 3: Mumford & Sons]
So open up my eyes to a new light
I wandered 'round your darkened land all night
But I lift up my eyes to a new high
And indeed there will be time

[Chorus: Mumford & Sons]
But in the cold light, I live to love and adore you
It's all that I am, it's all that I have
In the cold light, I live, I'll only live for you


It's all that I am, it's all that I have

[Chorus 2: Mumford & Sons]
And in the cold light, I live, To love and adore you,
It's all that I am, it's all that I have
And in the cold light, I live, I'll only live for you,
It's all that I am, it's all that I have
Why do I keep falling?
Why do I keep falling?

[Bridge: Baaba Maal]
There is a time, a time to love,
A time to sing, a time to shine,
A time to stay, a time to go
There is a time, a time to cry,
A time to love, a time to live,
There is a time, a time to sing,
A time to love

[Chorus 2: Mumford & Sons]
And in the cold light, I live to love and adore you
It's all that I am, it's all that I have
And in the cold light, I live to love and adore you
It's all that I am, it's all that I have
Why do I keep falling?
Why do I keep falling?

P.s. This song was introduced to me by a beautiful soul with an impeccable music taste… such treasure, merci!

Che Bello, Amalfi & Capri!

There are moments in life when a place could struck you with awe and astonishment, it seemed like fantasy. The Amalfi coast and the island of Capri give you exactly that. The beauty of the coast of Amalfi (including Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi) is almost transcendental, an unbelievable place; and the island of Capri (and the connecting Anacapri) is historically known as the Roman Emperor’s private summer island, meant for royals with an exquisite charm that warrants it… after a year in memory, I am still dumbfounded .

But there comes the question from a lot of travelers -if they have to choose from the two, which one is better and/or more worthy to stay-in longer? The answer depends on your priorities and the context of your preference.

Let me put my two pennies worth at the following criteria with my respective choices based on my experiences (category – choice – reason):

• Accessibility – Amalfi Coast – easily reachable by train/road; you have to take a boat (normally from Sorrento) for Capri.
• Money – Amalfi Coast – because the coast is part of the mainland, commodities are normally priced; since Capri is an island with limited resources especially for tourists, you’d expect the goods to be priced slightly higher.
• Things to do – Amalfi Coast – Amalfi coast is a long coastline accessible by the Amalfi road which can get you around beautiful towns from Sorrento to Positano, Furore, Amalfi, Ravello, etc. Which means, you have yourself set-up for a lot of beach-bumming and exquisite old town-hopping adventures!
• Beauty & Exquisiteness – Amalfi Coast – hands down. I have the below photos to prove it 😉 Although the island of Capri has its own charm, beauty and exquisiteness -I was more dumbfounded by the towns of the Amalfi Coast, because it offered more!

Who wouldn’t take awe of this view… ahhh, Positano

The scariest road trip, Amalfi road, makes you forget of the cliff edges with its beautiful sceneries

View of Amalfi from its port

Take a breezy boat ride across the coast of Amalfi!

The devil’s cave, the white hotel, and badgley-mischka’s mansion down there!

Lovely view of Amalfi town

Walking around the towns of Amalfi, will never get you tired.

A toddler taking a break from all these travels, at Duomo di Amalfi around the piazza

South view of Amalfi coast from the high town of Ravello

But please, visiting the Island of Capri is a MUST! Although I do not suggest staying there longer than you can stay in Amalfi, mainly for the cost and the variety/extent of things to do.

Overlooking the Faraglioni rock from Augustus garden

Finding a friend at the piazetta, after a funicular ride -lucky we came in autumn or we’d take an hour to queue and ride

Dubai’s ‘Little Bangkok’ Haven

If you crave authentic and quality Thai food but not down to careless spending at a fancy hotel restaurant, then Little Bangkok is the next best haven for you. We come here almost every month from the time we’ve discovered the place (Media City branch), which says a lot on how much value for money this place is. How does AED 111 sound for drink-and-eat-all-you-can!?

Choose from their signature drinks, and gulp as much as you want. My husband can easily drink 4 of these in a sitting.

Appetizer sampler. Love the papaya salad!

Mango and sticky rice? Any. time!

Dimsum platter. Not convinced yet?

Someone’s very happy to be here ❤️

Crispy fried crablets! Yum-my!

Adding to the very good food is the very good service. Hence, we always come back!

1St Birthday celebrated, where else!

Father and son trying to learn how they make that sticky coconut rice!

Review: Vaticano Apartments St. Joseph 8

Finding a place to stay in Rome for your vacation is tricky and tedious, especially if you are working on a budget! My husband takes care of our flights and I take care of the nitty-gritty (hotels and tours, as we fancy -okaaay, more of an “I”). Hence, when it comes to our accommodation for holidays, I spend a lot of time researching to find the right one. Shabby-chic at fair value is always the goal.

We opted to stay around the Vatican (Prati/Borgo neighborhoods), at Vaticano Apartments St. Joseph 8, since we are attending a wedding at St. Peter’s and we could just walk (but ended up late on the day, blooper!). Versus hotels, holiday apartments are a great deal -you are guaranteed with more space with living room and kitchen -at a lesser price. Such is a good choice for a family or those travelling as a group.

The apartment gives you a very homey-holiday feel. The bedroom has good lighting and the bed is big enough for the three of us! Our son is taking 2/3 of the bed space by the way.

With an apartment, you have a kitchen space and proper kitchen tools. Here, we are provided with our 3-day grocery for breakfast plus condiments for your pasta cooking -yey!

The long bathroom with its cheerful yellow tiles. The shower is lovely too, my husband liked the glass wall beside it. 😉

The peaceful view from the apartment.

Staying at this apartment made us feel like a local. It is within a proper neighborhood, not crowded and almost no tourists. It also gives you an advantage of a nearby market for cheeses and cheaply priced wines (as in 3.5Euros for 2); and the cafe (La Fiorentina) which gets you an espresso, cappuccino and 2 pastries for a cheap 4Euros.

Down the apartment building gate, someone was thrilled to find a new friend…

The best thing about being away from a touristy spot -you get access to cheap and reasonably priced food and drinks! And sometimes get a freebie, when you tag along a cutie.

The apartment’s owner, Simona, is cordial and very accommodating with our early check-in and taxi requests. I could say that the only negative part is the fee of 21Euros for the cleaning of the apartment upon check-in. But for the price we paid (a total of 280Euros for 3nights) vis a vis the overall experience, I will not complain. I highly recommend this apartment, like all the others who have stayed here.

Dubai’s Kind of Brunch: 2015 Part 2

Here’s yet another list of Dubai brunch destinations that the hardworking (and binge-partying) expats go to on weekends.

Due to blogging delay (pardon, busy mom!), it would be smart to check if prices have changed from when you decide to go today in 2016.

(in order of arrival)

1. Mistral – Movenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel | Saturday | 159Dhs non-alco; 259Dhs alco | Good: service, family-friendly, dessert selections | Bad: sushis aren’t fresh,  nothing exceptional nor special from mains | Go: if you want a budget-friendly brunch with family.
   

   Legends’ Legendary Brunch

2. Legends – Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club | Friday | 250Dhs non-alco; 370Dhs alco | Good: ambience and views, outdoor seating, extensive hot and cold entrees | Bad: mains/steaks are in small servings (a la carte style) | Go: if you’re out to party, drink, relax and eat less.
3. Flavours on Two – Towers Rotana Hotel, SZR | Friday | 225Dhs non-alco | Good: extensive food selections, quality and taste, kids’ play area | Bad: a bit cramped | Go: if you want to eat a lot, drink and party later (Long’s bar is a step away inside the hotel).
   

   Bamboo Lagoon at JW Marriott Deira

4. Bamboo Lagoon – JW Marriott Hotel Deira | Friday | 395Dhs alco | Good: loads of food! a brunch combining 3 restaurants of the hotel (cuisines: Asian, seafood, and German/Hofbrauhaus); live band; pork sausages and other German delicacies ; laidback ambience ; dim-lit and waterfalls (take a table from the upper floor, right side) ; sake! | Bad: service can be slow, but not obnoxious | Go: if you love asian foods, pork and seafood… with nice live music on a warm
5. Casa de Tapas – Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club | Friday | 150Dhs non-alco; 199Dhs alco | Good: value for money, live and festive Spanish music, tapas!, has space for introverts -prefers to eat and drink on a secluded bench, with the TV on | Bad: if you want to be close to the live band and the “party”, you have to sit within the smoking area; the paella is not so rich with seafood | Go: if you like to drink more and eat less.
   

   Little Bangkok, Media City

6. Little Bangkok – Business Central Towers, Media City | Friday & Saturday | 111Dhs, no alcohol | Good: family-friendly, authentic and tasty Thai dishes, good value, loads of special Thai drinks/mixes selections, service (the staff usually takes care of our son so we can focus eating more (harhar) | Bad: no alcohol | Go: if you just really want to eat Thai and savory dishes. No partying, just very full stomach! Tip -do not go immediately crazy on ordering loads of starters, it’ll get you too full for the mains. We had to go two weekends, consecutively, to be able to try more mains as we failed to do so the first time (binge problems).
7. Shores – Ramada Plaza, JBR | Friday | 225Dhs non-alc0, 325Dhs alco | Good: kids’ play area and snacks | Bad: you can find cheaper buffet with the same food selections/quantity/quality, sushi bar was displaced (beside kids’ area) hence we only knew after having desserts | Go: If you’re not choosy to get some brunch.
   

   Elia Mediterrenean Restaurant – Set Menu brunch

   

   Elia, Majestic Hotel, Bur Dubai

8. Elia – Majestic Hotel, Bur Dubai | Friday | 150Dhs for a 3-course meal, non-alco | Good: authentic and tasty Greek dishes, gyros!, romantic and intimate ambience, good quality food, service | Bad: package does not include drinks | Go: if you want a quiet space to eat authentic and good Mediterranean food.
9. Thyme – Oasis Beach Hotel, JBR | Friday & Saturday | 99Dhs non-alco | Good: it’s quiet -if you’re dining as a family, that’s a plus | Bad: they changed their buffet price hence less food selections (no more pork section…), and no more live band -that was a nice acoustic duo. Go: if you want a hide-out brunch and value for money.
   

   Thyme for the n’th time!

If none of the above tickles your fancy, I hope some in my list from 2015 Part1 and 2014 could get you a bit hyped or moving (otherwise, I may be going to lousy brunches!).

Until the next list, brunch on!