Category: Travel
-
French Road Trip: Ardèche to Paris
A month ago, Gaylord and I filled the car, lowered the flat’s squeaky shutters, and drove off on our holiday, leaving the Bonsai plant to fend for itself (it didn’t and Gaylord is now in mourning). The plan was to take a long drive to Paris, with stops along the way in Ardèche then again…
-
French recipe: Cherry Clafoutis
And so, finally, six months later, I’m back in France! It’s almost unbelievable to think the last time I saw my boyfriend was on a dark, wet morning in December as he dropped me off at the airport, our last kiss between two face masks. At long last – Christmas, a birthday, and, oh yeah,…
-
10 things you can buy only in French grocery stores
Moving to another country is accompanied by its customary culture shocks. Making sure you drive on the right-hand side of the road for one, and looking left then right when crossing said road. It’s surprisingly easy to forget. I’ve been introduced the famous Tabac carotte which dates back to the 19th century, Flunch which is…
-
How to be French: A guide to eating
Bonjour mes cheries, bienvenue! Mon français est mauvaise. Désolée. I will continue in English, it’s better for us all. An excursion to France these days is no longer as relaxed and romantic as one might imagine. Social-distancing and masks tend to take the amour out of the air. That said, Gaylord and I reunited (with…
-
8 Great Restaurants in Wellington, New Zealand
I lived in Wellington for six months and left in March, excited for the travels ahead while planning to upload this post about my dining experiences. Then, a pesky little pandemic happened, no biggie, so I decided to postpone it as it’s rather like rubbing salt into the wound – look at all these amazing…
-
The 7 things I learnt during lockdown
Lockdown has been a trying time for us all. The world is officially closed for business and we’re all frozen in action. Some of us have it better than others, and I count myself lucky enough to be in that first category – I have a roof over my head, friends to chat to and…
-
French recipe: Croque Madames
I’m surprised I’m writing this at all, dear reader. I’ve been staring at a blank screen, or in this case my notes app on my phone screen because my laptop suddenly and catastrophically broke, for days. You would have thought lockdown would be the perfect opportunity to bake up a storm, share those tempting treats…
-
Kūmara hash with goat’s cheese and fried eggs
Greetings from Wellington! It’s been a while, dear reader, I hope you’re still there. And just like that, I’ve been in New Zealand for a month. There have been picnics and wine tasting on Waiheke Island, cake on the beach in Paihia and hiking through dripping rainforests to Cathedral Cove. I have watched the sun…
-
Mexico
Much like when I walked out of my hotel on that first morning in Mexico City, I don’t really know where to start. That day, I took a confident right turn then did a 180 after two blocks, hurrying back past the hotel eyes averted as though this was what I intended to do. This…
-
A week of food and love
It is mainly upon reflection when you realise how greedy you are. In the moment, you’re hungry and there’s not a lot you can do to resist, even if you only ate breakfast an hour before. When you eventually think back and you become aware how much time was dominated by food and consuming said…