Travel Diary: República Portuguesa- Portugal Part II

Day 3: Sintra

Take the train from Rossio Station for approx. €5

Pena National Palace

The famous, Disney-like, Pena Palace

Sintra- Home of the famously colourful Pena Palace, it is housed on the top of one of the famous National Parks. You can get a bus ticket that takes you all the way to the top of the mountain for approx 5 euros, and catch the view going up at the same time. The trek to the beautiful palace from the drop-off point is no cake, either, but the view, the air, and the architecture is incredibly worth the trip. 

The view from the top of the Palace

If you're afraid of heights, as I am, you might find some parts of the mountain a little daunting. One the day we went, the wind was incredibly strong and at some points I felt like I was going to be blown right off the palace walls. But the view! The clear skies! The picture backdrops! The municipality goes as far as the eye can see, and you can even catch glimpses of the ocean! 

Day 4: Azeitao and Lisbon

Azeitao is a well-kept secret outside Lisbon which houses most of the country's wineries. 

Main reception building of Portugal's oldest winery

Not a Tourist Trap: Jose Maria de Fonseca, Portugal's oldest winery. We took a taxi from central Lisbon, for approximately €40 (one way). The wine tour itself was booked in advance, and cost a mere €3- inclusive of a tour of the premises and a tasting; all led by a very detailed and well-informed guide. My favourite tip of the day was learning that there was a special cellar dedicated to all the wines the winery has ever produced (since the 1800s!) and whenever a foreign dignitary or VIP came to visit the premises, the door is unlocked to give the visitor a taste of a wine from their year of birth. 

We were treated to a selection of house wines in the warmly decorated gift shop

Portugal is internationally famous for its intricately designed tiles, and so we ended the day visiting the National Azulejo Museum back in Lisbon. 

Traditionally designed tiles-- similar ones can be seen all over the city

More modern/MC-Escher-type tile designs

My outfit colours happened to match with these tiles at the museum!

Day 5: Belem

Tram from Lisbon main square approx €2.75

On our last day, we visited a suburb not far from Lisbon to sample the world-famous Portuguese egg tarts and visit the national monuments in the area. We also rode the tram, and along with a tram full of tourists, learnt that sometimes in Lisbon, things get stuck in the tram tracks and there's nothing you can do about it except wait for a group of locals and tourists to work together to get it unstuck. 

View of the sea from the Tower 

We found ourselves at the Torre de Belém, a UNESCO World Heritage site because of the significance it played in the maritime adventures Portugal went on from the 15th to 18th century. While the queue to get in is long, the view and the historical significance of the site is worth it. Its also worth mentioning that there are a lot of narrow steps and, once again, high locations, so if you're afraid of heights and narrow spaces, you might want to be mentally prepared for this one!

Tower of Belem from afar

Afternoon tea idea- Pastéis de Belém . No trip to Portugal would be complete without the famous Portuguese "nata." I will admit that I personally felt these were a bit to sweet for my taste, but I seem to be in a very small minority. But the popularity and international recognition for these pastries is undeniable- You will have to be prepared to fight through a horde of tourists and seasoned locals to get to these delights.

Pastry shop exterior

Dinner idea- Restaurante Tavares! Here's one for the foodies- enjoy a decadent evening in one of Portugal's oldest restaurants. Savour European style cuisine along with heavy gold decor and a glass of Portugal's famous vinho verde. Let the flavours and food dance along your tongue while you enjoy personalised and dedicated service. Its a true treat, and it was a memorable way to end our trip.

The interior of Restaurant Tavares

We made our way to our 7 o'clock reservation and were greeted by our friendly Portuguese hosts in a beautifully lit and grand dining room.

Cork-bound menu presented by Tavares

Aside from sweet pastries, Portugal is famous of its cork production. Tavares continues that legacy by binding its menu in cork, with the restaurant symbol printed onto the cover. 

Food at Tavares 

Moscatel on the house

Pictures are from a shared photo album

Travel Diary: República Portuguesa- Portugal Part I

Hi friends, 

Hope everyone is having a wonderful June! As its holiday/travel season again, I thought I'd share about my last few trips and some tips/tricks and advice about some interesting, but maybe not as popular holiday destinations.

Last September, I went to Portugal with a few friends and we spent 5 days, flying into Lisbon from London. I've split this Travel Diary into two parts so I can share some pictures and information without it being too incredibly long. This post will cover Day 1 and 2, and I'll link information where I can!

General Information 

Mid to late September- warm, and can swing between humid and somewhat dry depending on which part of the country you're in. In Lisbon and by the beach, in Caiscais, it was very warm and extremely hot during lunch time and even until late afternoon. But in certain areas, like up in the mountains where Sintra is, it can be cooling and slightly chilly, especially when there's rain. Most tickets prices listed will be with a student discount

Food

A meal in Portugal is relatively cheap, considering the size and the price ratio. Its generally easy to order and most restaurants speak English or have other language menus available. Seafood here is fresh and most restaurants have variations of the Portugese Seafood Rice dish (Arroz de Marisco), which is very filling and extremely tasty. Pair the seafood with Vinho Verde- Portugal's take on white wine which has a green tint as a result of the grapes and climate. 

Transport

Portugal, especially Lisbon, is a generally accessible city- taxis, trams and tuktuks (if you want to have some fun) are found throughout the city, and most places of interest are accessible by train and trams. There is generally a minimum spend of €5 for around a 7-8 minute trip, and many taxi drivers and locals speak some English. 

Various forms of tile art on display at a shop on the way to the Castle

Day 1- Lisbon

Location: Alfama District

Located in the heart of Lisbon, there is a lot to see and experience that is merely walking distance. In September, it pays to walk and have a stroll through the cobblestone streets. The main square, Praça do Comércio, is full of storefronts that are both internationally and locally famous. Have some snacks outside and enjoy the streets and architecture, like the tiles on the pavements, buildings, and scattered around the city. 

Lisbon central square 

Lunch idea: Maria Catita Restaurante- while not necessarily the cheapest lunch option (probably as a result of its Tripadvisor fame, 3 dishes may cost around €20)- it is still well looked upon by locals and tourists alike. 

Look out for: The Santa Justa Elevator- in the middle of the city- its just fun to spot whenever you're walking around.

Fountain in central Lisbon

Day 2: Lisbon & Cascais

Take the train from Cais do Sodre station- approx. €5

Lisbon- "Hike" up a picturesque hill to get to the Castello São Jorge (entrance approx €5). It overlooks the whole city and beyond. 

Casicais- Famously home to the infamous "Boca do Inferno"- Hell's Mouth- a majestic crashing water and cave structure that can be found in Caiscais' seaside cliffs. Take a walk around Caiscais and the seaside and enjoy the backdrop of the colourful summer houses and buildings. 

Boca do Inferno from the side

Dinner idea: Casa Velha- If you're not necessarily on a budget, this is a place with pretty decor and good service, located in an easily walkable location back to the train station and surrounding bus and taxi stations. Try the lobster dishes, you won't regret it. 

Lobster dish at Casa Velha. Pair with Vinho Verde -muralhas de monção vinho verde

Pictures are from a shared photo album

Brighton Diaries (Part 2)

Enter part 2: More food collections from the mid-week trip to the beach. Be warned!

Brighton Pier, April 2015 

Dinner at Meat Liquor 

They have meat liquors in other places around the UK as well- the one in England is behind the Debenhams or John Lewis on Oxford Street. If you thought eating with your hands is too passé, Meat Liquor is definitely bringing it back. Every single thing you order is served on this massive tray and you eat everything sans plates and probably with your hands. Despite my aversion to any kind of sloppiness, I have to say that this is an experience that comes alongside great food that you don't want to miss. From the ACDC playing in the background to the retro lights and decor, you'll feel truly at peace with your inner biker self. 

Lunch at Riddler & Fins

Our last day saw us having some top-notch lunch selections at Riddler & Fins, a cute, cool restaurant within one of the famed lames. Its slightly more upscale than the other places we'd experienced, but its a delicious experience nonetheless. The seafood risotto was exquisite, and the seafood was fresh and abundant. I also had clam chowder as a starter, which, other than being particularly creamy, wasn't much different from other soups. However, if you're going, you might as well give it a go!

Dinner at Smokey's

Reasons to go: Massive portions, crispy fries, and delicious coleslaw. Also, see picture of ribs: enough said. The old Hollywood decor and posters along with the wooden interior really add to the experience. But more importantly, you get to eat a gigantic portion of ribs that are well cooked, tender and drowned in sauce. You're welcome.

Brighton Diaries (Part 1)

Holidays are my favourite thing, whether they're 3 month long summers (like now) or short breaks from city life. This past Easter, I travelled to Brighton, UK with two of my close friends and we had a lovely lovely time.

April is a strange time for English weather... even stranger than usual. There are some days were its unbearably warm, and other days where it seems like the sun has disappeared completely from the atmosphere. Not to mention the phenomenon that takes getting used to every single year- the sun setting later and later into the evening.

Despite this, the weather in Brighton was impeccable. The first day we were there it was foggy, but it was never too cold. On the second day, it cleared up and we hung out on the beach, visited the lanes and had some delicious food.

Lunch at the Regency
Seafood and Brighton go extremely well together. We had seafood overlooking the beach at The Regency, a famous seafood restaurant with lovely wooden interior and homey decor.

Tea at Jojo's
Rose tea and gelato at a diner-style cafe near our Air BnB

The Brighton Pier 
One of Brighton's most famous attractions. We were greeted with some lovely people blowing bubbles by the entrance and groups of tourists queuing up at the shops and games. It was such a lovely day! I enjoyed being by the sea and just exploring the funfair and having copious amounts of candy floss.

Travel Series| Carry On Skincare!

Happy Sunday!

Continuing with the travel series, here is what I carry in my handbag when I'm on a long-haul/overnight flight. Its very important to keep hydrated and fresh during the journey and to try and combat the dehydrating plane air!

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Original for keeping my hair neat and tidy-- generally not the biggest user of dry shampoo but certainly dependent on it for long flights since I've found out about it. Its helped me dread long flights less because it lets me keep my hair slightly fresher and tidier; and less gross and messy which helps, because when I get off the plane, I feel brighter and slightly less conscious about the state of my hair;

Earplugs because sometimes the plane engines get annoying when you're trying to sleep and sometimes you just need to block out the crying babies;

Johnson & Johnson Moisturising Makeup Be Gone Makeup wipes for cleaning out the dirt and rehydrating your face midway, so that you can feel fresh and rehydrated and prevent the inevitable plane breakouts;

Toothbrush and toothpaste to stay minty fresh;

Nivea Pearl and Beauty Spray on deodorant for the benefit of those sitting in your vicinity ;)...

Nuxe White Brightening Lotion for before landing brightening and touch ups and to help calm your skin and keep it moisturised and to help combat the dulling effect dryness has;

Dove Rich Nourishing Cream to keep the rest of your body soft and smelling great!

Remember to get all the liquids and aerosols in carry-on friendly sizes; most of mine are 50 ml ;) Most aiports might sell them at the shop in the waiting areas, otherwise you can always pop to your local shop and they probably have them :)

What are some of your travel favourites, let me know and we can trade ideas !! 

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Travel Series| Beauty| Happy New Year!

Happy 2015 my dears!

I've been away for the past few weeks for the December holidays and I'm super excited to be back and blogging! This month I'll be doing a Travel series where I discuss things that helped me balance out my skin and keep me healthy and happy during the last 2 weeks :) 

Let's talk MASKS!!

This month I've been doing a lot of sitting on planes and travelling to various different climates. Because of that, its been giving my skin a hard time adjusting to the different humidities and air qualities of each country, while trying to balance out the dryness of airline air and the lack of hydration that inevitably happens when you fly on long-haul flights. 

For this reason, I packed 3 Tony Moly masks into my suitcase for my 3 destinations!

London ~ Shanghai:  Toly Moly Tea Tree Mask Skin Soothing

It was a 10 hour flight, so there was definitely going to be a lack of hydration while on the flight despite my pre-flight moisturising and I didn't want to make my skin dry out! I'm not one to put on the mask while on the flight, but as soon as I got home the first thing I used was the Tea Tree Mask for skin soothing. It does a great job replenishing the loss of hydration from the plane. More importantly, because Shanghai is extremely polluted in the winter time (AQI 200....), it was important to make sure that my skin was calm so that I would have the least reaction possible to the terrible air quality. This helps reduce the chances of breakouts due to the unhygenic air particles lodging in your skin, and also sort of prevents flaking.

Shanghai~Singapore: Toly Moly Rice Mask Clear Skin

This is only a 5 hour flight, but its also somewhat damaging because its a drastic change in climate. Also, the humidity tends to cause my skin to either breakout or just cause a lot of spots that don't seem to go away for awhile. I wanted to make sure that my skin was not only clear of all the polluted nonsense that may have found it's way into my face, I also wanted to make sure that I had cleaned it out of the disgusting plane air to ensure that my pores were as receiving as possible to the stuff in the mask. Before putting on this mask, I suggest to clean your face with warm water and a light face scrub to exfoliate and then use a toner to ensure there's nothing blocking the mask and your pores. This mask helped me maintain my skin to be as clear as possible while also calming my skin down and re-introducing hydration.

Singapore~Singapore: Toly Moly Lemon Mask Sheet Brightening

By this time, my skin has been through a lot over the past 2 weeks- various climates (London/Shanghai/Singapore), levels of dryness and weather. I got back to Shanghai on the 31st, so I was getting ready to go out for a New Year's Party and didn't have time to do a mask. I chose this one so that when I did it on the 1st of Jan before my flight back to the UK, I would be able to replenish the dryness, but also the healthy glow that is sometimes lost after a late night out, a flight and scrubbing the makeup off your face. This allowed me to look healthy and hydrated, and replenished the healthy glow in my skin for a no-makeup flight back to London the next day :)

Hope you're all having an amazing rest of your holiday, that your Christmasses were festive and that you had a brilliant new years! I'm very grateful for the (few) people that read what I share and thank you so much for caring about what I have to say, haha :)

Have a brilliant 2015!!

follow me on: twitter: kaylarhxx

instagram: kaylarhx 

Under the Tuscan Sun: Firenze ♥ Part 3

Day 3

The most memorable thing I did on my last day in Florence was eat. Not only was it pouring, I also had an early afternoon flight so I wasn't really up for going out and about.

We brunched at this super cute cafe, La Milkeria. They basically have all kinds of crêpes, waffles and pancakes with massive portions and all kinds of flavours. 

The interior of the eatery was also super cute! It was cosy, colourful and quiet, which was great for a morning chat and to escape the dreary weather outside. 

PS: For those looking for iced coffees in Italy, which are actually not an Italian thing, this cafe is apparently one of the few that serves iced caffeine. 

Brunch consisted of waffles with strawberry jam, fresh fruit and Earl Grey! Karen's brunch was the same but with crepes. I wanted to have cream instead of jam, but they ran out so I had to make do with the chunky strawberry jam, which was fresh & homemade (I think) nonetheless :)

All in all, it was a very eventful trip. Frolicking under the Tuscan sun for a few days before the thunderstorm reminded me of what I would be waking up to everyday in London was definitely a shock, but the experience was wonderful nonetheless. Have you been to any places in Italy, or Europe? Share your experiences with me to!

And that concludes my Florence escapade! I'll be back to share more travelling experiences over the winter holidays and upcoming weekends, so stay tuned :)

I've also been out shopping recently for winter essentials, so I will possibly show my haul and my winter style inspirations lately. If you enjoyed this kind of content, tweet/instagram/share this post and let me know about what other things you want to see me share with the interwebs :):)

Under the Tuscan Sun: Firenze ♥ Part 2

Day 2 

My next day started off as bright and sunny as the rest. God was gracious during my holiday.... knowing that I won't get any sun while in England, it was all sun while I was in Florence!

It was a particularly touristy afternoon, where I got to see the city centre abuzz with, well, tourists. Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit any of the big museums like the Uffizi Gallery and aside from getting fined 50 euros for not understanding how to take the bus, it was otherwise quite a productive day. 

I visited the Il Duomo di Firenze, which is essentially a massive, intricately decorated and breathtakingly stunning church seated right in the middle of the city. From the previous pictures with the sunset, if you look closely enough, you're able to see the massive dome atop of the mountain. I'd love to say I did my research and am able to tell you all about the amazing architecture and the symbolic value of the decoration, but alas.... I'm a Law student for a reason.

That being said, if anyone knows the significance and cultural value of this church, whether it be during the Renaissance period or any time else, do let me know! Also... if anyone is willing to tutor me in architecture, I would be greatly pleased. If you wish to read about my thoughts and feelings on the pictures I've taken of this cathedral, do continue scrolling (: 

Secret: keeping reading for FOOD PICTURES

The Duomo's exterior

The exterior design and carving of the church. This was of particular interest to me because other than this being a massive church, I was assuming that it was basically like every other cathedral/church I've visited in Europe. However, I instantly took note of the bright colours and the outstanding decoration on the outside (is that the correct term? Someone please educate me...) I've seen many other churches, for instance the Notre Dame in Paris and other famous cathedrals in France and other parts of the world, but none of them with the colour scheme and liveliness of this particular one. 

I was impressed by the sheer amount of intricacy that went into the walls and the paintings of Jesus and the other Saints.... look at the detailing on the doorframe.

The inside of the Dome. Typical mural depicting Christ and all his followers.... I think I can see hell as well? It seems to me that there is symbolic value in the way this is laid out; Christ is obviously in the middle and the most visible and the lower you get the darker and more visible the masses, sin and death is. I think I see people clamouring up in attempt to be close to Christ. I'm not too sure about what the top is, but based on what else is happening in this picture I'm going to infer that it has to do with saved souls and saints. Side note: I wish I had a picture of the stained glass

The next stop was on other side of Florence and to do that we had to cross the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Fun fact: Not only is this the oldest bridge in Florence, but also the heaviest because major and local gold, luxury watch and jewellery merchants sell their products here as well!

In food related news.....

Lindt shop by the Duomo that had the cutest festive decorations and miles and miles of chocolate and sweet treats

This tiramisu is proof that I've been cheated of proper Italian dessert for my whole life

Gnocchi with truffle oil. I've never been a gnocchi person, but despite this being a heavy meal, I would take it over boiled potatoes and chips any day. 

If you've been to Florence, what are some of your favourite places to visit and where would you go again if you could? Let me know!

Don't mind me while I'm salivating over my food pictures. Stay tuned to Part 3! The saga continues.... xx


PS: As I unfortunately have no recollection of where the gnocchi and tiramisu came from, if anyone has the slightest inkling please let me know! Much appreciation 

Under the Tuscan Sun: Firenze ♥ Part 1

Day 1
Our day started off with some mouth watering carpaccio, cheese and rocket. Yummmm
                              

Here are some snapshots from my friend's gorgeous campus..... It essentially looks like someone just implanted a winery into the middle of and educational institution. I felt like I should have been walking around in a toga and sandals.

While she went to class, I went out exploring a bit by myself. It was a gorgeous day and the surroundings I was in were just amazing. The campus was so beautiful... who wouldn't want to come to school everyday if they were surrounded by Tuscan villas and such gorgeous, bright colours? I set out admiring the architecture for a bit and drinking 99cent cappuccino, which was one of the yummiest things I had all trip.

What I wore: 

Flats (New Look), floral printed trousers, sunglasses (Tiffany & Co)

I was getting distracted by the sun while I was reading this newsletter, imagine having to study here... I would never get any work done. 

 My gorgeous friend Karen & I! (Karen's on the right)

Super cute garden where they planted their own vegetables and took classes about harvesting and soil and husbandry

Our next stop was Piazzale Michelangelo where we enjoyed a stunning sunset over the city. It was an incredible climb uphill but the view was so worth it!

Before 

After

We then enjoyed all-you-can-eat aperitivos (it's a light & informal meal... a bit like tapas I suppose?) at this wonderful place called Soul Kitchen. Unfortunately the website isn't working, so I attached the Trip Advisor site just in case anyway was interested. It cost 8Euros for all you can eat (and they changed up the food selection around every half-hour) and it came with a drink. One of the perks with this place is also that in addition to cold food, they have hot meals, which is great if you're not necessarily looking for a snack. I've never had so much yum before..... it was the best time.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Are there any places that you went to visit that you'd like to share? Let me know and comment if you'd like to share them with other people too! xx