Amazing Thai Elephants

Even though it happened a long time ago, I would still like to share this really incredible thing that occurred to me two years ago when my husband and I holidayed in Thailand. Since we're both animal lovers, we always find time to go to the Zoo or visit Animal farms every time we travel.

It was our first visit to Bangkok Zoo and we could feel excitement is rushing into our bloodstreams to see the animals. The zoo is big and the animals are handled pleasantly.

When I saw signs to the Elephant enclosure, I rushed hurriedly to see them. I just love elephants, they're so adorable and also very smart animals. Did you know that they have sharp memories and they never forget.
In the enclosure, it was an elephant family- the Papa, Mama and a baby elephant.

The elephants approached us directly, looking very happy. In this zoo, they allow people to touch, pet and feed the elephants. On the other side of the enclosure, there's a mini stall that are selling baskets of veggies to feed the elephants so I went there to buy a food basket to give it to them. The moment the baby elephant saw me purchasing the food basket, it ran out of the enclosure and went to me, like bowing down or begging for the food. It was really cute but a little shocked that a baby elephant could do this.
I was quite scared in the beginning but then I realized that these animals are harmless. :)

El Castell de Guadalest

The moment I saw Guadalest, I was awed by its grandiose beauty. Imagine a small town built on top of a rocky mountain in Marina Baixa- a province of Alicante, Spain. A small town with almost everything, where time stood still, on a top of a big rock.

The town has 189 inhabitants and in Guadalest, you can find restaurants, souvenir shops, clothes shop, jewellery shop, leather shop, a mini grocery, a chapel, cemetery and lots of other things. Guadalest is also the 2nd most visited tourist attraction in Spain. Most of the houses and the infrastructure were unspoiled except the castle which is now in ruins.

During my two-week stay in Spain, I have to go there twice because I just love the place. It doesn't matter if it's a two-hour drive from where my husband and I are staying.
It just feels like I'm in the 1700, being part of that old community where the people actually make everything themselves like clothes, shoes, food, etc.


Address: Marina Baixa, Alicante, Spain
Coordinates: 38° 40′ 37″ N, 0° 11′ 52″ W

Roman Theater in France

During our month holiday in Europe, we took a road trip from (Alicante) Spain to (Skåne) Sweden. It was my husband's idea since he wanted to show me the European highway. Although it took us four days to reach Sweden but we didn't drive all the way. We had stopovers in Barcelona, Spain; Orange, France; Kassel, Germany; and Ødense, Denmark. We also spent the night in these cities staying at Ibis Hotels.

Orange, France is part of Provence- Alpes- Côte d'Azur region. It's a beautiful small city and one of its highlights is the Roman Theater. Built in the 1st century and is one of the best preserved of all the Roman theaters in the Roman colony of Arausio. In 1981 UNESCO declared the theater as a World Heritage Site.

I just love the theater, it feels like I'm actually back in the old times. It's so incredible how they can build and preserve a mega structure like this.

Duchess of Cambridge likes outlet shops

I'm a fan of Kate Middleton, I love the way she dresses and how she carries herself. And I'm really happy to know that she loves shopping at outlet shops. I also love shopping at outlet shops, it's such a nice feeling when you shop for Luxury brands and get big big discounts.

Apparently, some of the dresses she wore during The Queen's Diamond Jubilee are from Bicester Village. Bicester Village is a shopping outlet part of the Chic Outlet Shopping Company. Same company as La Roca Village, an outlet shop in Barcelona that I have posted weeks ago.

Chic Outlet Shopping has nine shopping Villages (by value retail) in Europe. You can find the outlet villages in UK, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and Belgium.
Just check their website Chic Outlet Shopping.

MISSONI Coat dress from Bicester Village

Read the full Duchess of Cambridge 'loves' Bicester Village story here.

Fried Calamari

I miss Philippines and one of the things that I can actually do to feel like I'm back home is cook Filipino food.

One of my favorite Filipino food is Calamari and will share to you how we normally cook Calamari Filipino way. Well, this is actually my mother's recipe....:)

Hope you enjoy!!!

Fried Calamari 

Ingredients:

1 large Squid

3 Tsp Salt

2 Tsp Pepper

1 Cup All Purpose Flour (or other coating flour)

Cooking Oil

1) Wash and clean the squid. Slice the squid tube horizontally about 1/2 inch wide. 

    Mix salt and pepper together with the squid rings.

    Set aside for 10 minutes.

2) In a large bowl, pour flour.
    Roll squid rings one by one in the flour mixture until they are covered.
    Place them on a clean plate.

3) On a pan with oil, turn heat to medium-high, until the oil begins to bubble.

4) Place the squid rings on the pan, make sure they have enough spaces from each other.
    Fry until golden brown.

5) When the rings are done frying, remove from the oil and place on a paper towel to drain.

5) Serve while still hot.


Sauce Ingredients:
Mayo Dip
3 Tbsp Ketchup
3 Tbsp Mayo
- mix together

Soy Sauce Dip
3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
3 Tbsp Vinegar
1 Tsp Chopped Garlic
2 Tsp Chopped Onion
-mix together

Salvador Artesano

It has become a tradition that my husband and I spend our summer in Spain. My parents-in-law owns an apartment in Costa Blanca so being in Spain is an absolute vacation.
The moment we arrived at the Airport (Alicante) from Palma de Mallorca, my parents-in-law drove us directly to this Shoe Factory in Elche (Alicante).

Salvador Artesano

Elche Crta.Murcia-Alicante,km-53 96 544 36 31

03205 ELCHE

Though I have already been to the shoe factory last year, I'm still very excited to see the shop. Most of the shoes here are discounted from 30%-70% and some of them are also made in Spain.

There are more than 50 Branches of Salvador Artesano in Spain and they also have an online shop so you can check their website. If you are a shoe lover, you will not regret this place since they have thousands of shoes plus some of the discounted shoes are only 10 euros!!! Can you believe that???

 Last Season's collection are now 10 euros!!!

10 euros

Shoes, shoes, shoes!!!

Salvador Artesano

I really like them but they are 1 size smaller.... :(

My parents-in-law's gift...:)

I bought 3 pairs of shoes last year....:)