TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

Ah, just a few more days... Do you have any tips for me for Istanbul? Do let me know in Facebook! Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)

I am always looking for food markets when I am travelling and in Bath I found two food markets. The 18th century  Bath Guildhall Market is one of them and is the oldest market in the city. Here is an excerpt from their website: ‘The Market is one of the longest running shopping venues in Bath, serving the community for around 800 years and operating from its current venue in one form or another from at least the 16th century. As the Guildhall Market, it came into existence in the 1770’s and acquired its famous dome in 1863.’ The market now is smaller than it used to and is trying its best to adapt to the 21st century. It’s a nice place to stop by to grab some food items. There is a bakery and a convenience store. There are also cafes in the market which are great venues for a quick chat and a cup of coffee. The market is just across the beautiful Pulteney Bridge. There are some cool shops selling gourmet food items such as specialty beer, liquor and cider, as we...

It is King’s Day in the Netherlands which means everyone is out there partying and selling their junk on the streets. It’s a yearly event in the country and because I have been living in the Netherlands for more than a decade now, the thrill of celebrating this royalty event has totally faded away. Partying and drinking doesn’t sound too attractive when you are already in your mid-forty’s. It gets old. Selling all the stuff we want to get rid of is a good idea, but I am too lazy to even lift a finger, let alone rummage through my stuff and haul them into the city and sit on the streets. So today I just stayed at home whilst the whole country is out gone gaga on the streets. Yesterday evening though, which was King’s Night, Dutchman and I went out for a walk in the city centre. It was the Dutchman’s idea, not mine really. I didn’t mind it because I like to walk. A little bit of activity is always a good thing for your body. Thus I’m here to report that the centre of Utrecht las...

Those striking red-orange and yellow (they look like maple?) leaves hoisted on top of the shops had me wondering if they were real or not? Nakamise-Dori Street is one of the oldest streets in Asakusa situated between two important gates leading to the Senso-ji Temple, the Kaminarimon Gate and the Hozomon Gate. It is said that through the centuries many pilgrims come here to shop, perhaps for food, offerings and whatnots before proceeding to the temple. Nowadays, the street offers a vareity of food stalls and craft and souvenir shops. The side alleys are also lined with roadside hole-in-the-wall eateries, as well as traditional local restaurants. The street is approximately 250 metres long and is always teeming with people. I have to say that I really love this street. It may be too touristy but the high energy, the variety of food stalls and the bright autumn leaves hanging from the roof of the shops, which left me wondering by the way if they were real or not, made me truly...

Ginza in Chuo City is all about high-end luxury shopping. You can compare the atmosphere of the district to Gangnam in Seoul. It’s a combination of business and shopping opulence, a very good mix of course when you have the will and the means. I have not seen something similar like this yet in other countries or perhaps I need to travel more, but in other major (shopping), especially western cities in the world, they have a more tamer approach when it comes to luxury shopping. Flagship stores of expensive signature brands are usually spread out in the city. Some take retail store lease contracts at large exclusive department stores, whilst others tend to group together in a specific street such as Bond Street in London, PC Hooftstraat in Amsterdam, Champs Elysees in Paris and 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue in New York City. Moreover, they do not have massive flagship stores such as the likes here in Ginza, Tokyo or in Asia in general. Perhaps it is to say that the Japanese have a...