This is Delphi and moi in Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta. We spent an afternoon checking out this place. We had lunch with a view and during our discovery walk, we came upon a church where we witnessed a local wedding.
Friday, November 20, 2020
Malta Road Trip: Experiencing Mdina
Sunday, November 01, 2020
Malta Road Trip: Dingli Cliffs, Rabat
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Valletta, Malta: Breakfast at Caffe Cordina and Visit to the Grandmaster's Palace
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Malta: Discovering "The Three Cities"
In the Three Cities, my friend Delphi and I had a delightful lunch and we spent the afternoon wandering the ancient streets of Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua. It was a pleasant day even with the drizzle every now and then. It is an enchanting place that has managed to preserve the old world glory of Malta and gave us a glimpse of how life was back then.
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Monday, October 12, 2020
Mini Break in Hilly Zuid Limburg, Netherlands
I am not sure what to make out of this extended Covid-19 status quo. There are times when I am feeling very serene and thankful. Other times, totally stressed out. It is mostly about work stuff really, and all this uncertainty eating up the business and economy.
A mini-break was all that we needed to refresh our spirits but with the Covid-19 backlash, we didn't have choices of holiday destinations to pick on. We initially wanted to go to the Eifel (National Park) or the Ahr Valley (Red Wine Trail) in Germany, but unfortunately, Germany is requiring a negative Covid-19 test valid for 48 hours upon entry, that is if checked. Too much hassle, we can't be bothered.
I looked into the northern Wadden Islands but most of the accommodations were already booked for the fall holidays. I mean seriously, people are holidaying during Covid-times but within their own countries. It has resonated that we can't continue the hibernation or else we go cranky and kooky. So I looked further looked inland, and even farther down south of the country, and voila! This was when I discovered Zuid Limburg.
What took me so long to discover this piece of paradise?
I have been living in the Netherlands for 18+ years now and it's my first time to be here. Well, it is the first time for the Dutchman, too! What could have been worse? Haha. Wow, this beautiful place was just right under our noses the whole time...
Thursday, September 03, 2020
Back from La Palma (Canary Islands), Spain
Hola! Taken a few days ago in Puntagorda on La Palma Island.
More soon about this holiday.
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Thursday, August 20, 2020
At Home with Covid-19: Breakfast - Lunch - Snack - Dinner
Covid-19 aka Coronavirus has surely changed our life, our working habits, and our lifestyles at home!
I haven't been on holiday this year. I mean seriously, this is taking a big impact on my sanity. We were supposed to go skiing in the Alps last January but since I started with a new job, we let the holiday slip for the time being. Instead, we were planning of going somewhere far around March timeframe, like to another continent, but then the merciless Covid-19 struck, and we got helplessly stuck at home.
That's right, we have been longing to go on holiday now for months, and this Friday (tomorrow!) we will be flying down to the south of Europe! Yes, with disinfectants and masks and all, ready in our luggage.
Lunchbreak at home.
So during this working from home, the new normal of Covid-19 life, Dutchman and I, apart from the dinners we normally have together in the evenings, are cooking more during the day and are sharing plentiful of breakfasts, brunches, lunches, and snacks.
Some people say that being together 24x7 can drive each other nuts and perhaps may result in the relationship going south. Hmm, so far we are surviving. For 18 years already.
I have to say that I am getting used to staying and working from home. I also love fixing and cooking meals throughout the day. It relaxes me to get away from the computer and use my hands for something else, such as making a meal. It is a challenge though not to overeat, and this is something we are trying to work on.
Before I go on holiday, I would like to leave you with some of the dishes we've had in the last months and weeks. I am loving the home life and would like to better my food preparation, cooking, and baking skills. I am also busy with the house and would actually like to talk more about it. It's just that I have been so buried with work that it's draining my energy. You'd think that working from home will offer flexibility and nice lifestyle trade-offs. It does, but I realised that there is a thin line between work and private life. It can be very easy to work late in the evenings and even during weekends. Discipline is critical.
Monday, August 03, 2020
Valletta: A Maltese Breakfast, Visit to the Palace Armoury, Stunning Saint John's Co-Cathedral and Upper Barrakka Gardens
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Our First Day and Evening in Valletta, Malta
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Oud Zuilen, Netherlands: Slot Zuylen (Zuylen Castle) + Dinner at Bistro Belle
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Thursday, July 16, 2020
Officially Midlife at 50
In observance of Covid19 and to make my life easier in preparing the food, I did a 2-day celebration for the family. Nothing fancy and big really. I tend to shy away from parties and crowds so I made this as a small, cosy and family-only event.
50 is a big number but I do not feel 50 at all, although, sometimes I wish I do.
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Sunday, May 10, 2020
Pre-Summer Preview at Home in Utrecht
Friday and Saturday were great pre-summer preview days for us. Especially yesterday Saturday when temperatures reached 25C.
We marked the occasion with our first bubbles for the year to celebrate good weather and a warm day to chill in our own garden terrace. We are very much looking forward to having more of this in the coming days and weeks.
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Thursday, May 07, 2020
Coronavirus aka Covid19 update
We have a semi-lockdown here in the Netherlands. Our Prime Minister calls it an intelligent lockdown in a democratic society. Basically, we were given the chance if we want to go out and not. There's not much to do anyway as most places are closed. Only the essential shops are open, but later, I realised that a few home and general merchandise stores were open, however, implementing the 1.5-meter social distancing and disinfection of shopping carts.
Then one weekend it got so terribly busy in the parks and lakes, partially to be blamed due to good weather, that the government sent an SMS-alert nationwide reminding everyone to adhere to the 1.5-meter social distancing and to stay at home if not feeling well. This was followed the next day by a press conference pleading people to comply and to stay at home as much as possible. New rules were added such as no more than 2 people congregating and stiff measures in the form of fines were implemented.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2020
New Zealand Roadtrip: Downtown Wellington - Lunch - Cuba Street, Cuba Quarter
North Island, New Zealand
Travel Period: May 2018
We finally arrived in the capital of New Zealand! And the first thing we did after finding parking in the city center was to look for a place to have our lunch. What better way to find eating establishments by checking out the main street of the city. We did some quick googling and found Cuba Street in Cuba Quarter to be the best place.
Armed with my sister's smartphone and Google maps, we followed the directions to Cuba Street.
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Saturday, April 18, 2020
New Zealand Roadtrip: Henley Lake and Victorian Houses in Wellington
Wellington Region, North Island, New Zealand
Travel Period: May 2018
We saw Henley Lake Park as we reach Masterton and thought we would do a quick stop to stretch our legs. We are on our way to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand.
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