Take away the wildflowers from this landscape picture and it suddenly becomes less pleasing. Somehow the presence of these wildflowers not only adds beauty to the entire scenery, but a certain kind of softness that transforms a seemingly scary pond into something worthy to capture. It offers a certain serenity and calm to the unknown. 

As I walked quietly in the countryside along wheat covered fields and trees with branches that bent over pathways, I was drawn to the beauty of these wildflowers. What I love about them is their quiet determination to survive in an unplanned or unexpected environment.  They have the strength to thrive. They stand tall and proud as though within their roots is an abundant source of light. They acknowledge their natural beauty with an innate simplicity. They are confident to reflect their authentic self. 

While we are stranded indoors as it poured continuously outside for the last two days,  I'll write about our first short walk along the coast.   Our week started sunny and to our hearts' content we enjoyed the seaside under the cold afternoon sun . Here are images of what we will be seeing during our daily walks for the next several months. Click on the link and read more about Les Sables d'Olonne , France.

It's the 1st of May and today not only marks La Fête du Travail or Labor Day but also a lovely occasion here in France called La Fête du Muguet where a bouquet of Lily of the Valley is offered to loved ones.

Summer is not far away. Where we are, summer is synonymous to dry season,  but don't be fooled because intense humidity will make you wonder what makes it a dry season. I'd love to hit the beaches right now but we're currently stuck with paper work and administrative errands. Hence, my days are spent taking public transportation and walking under scorching heat.  So I'm posting photographs of the Southwest beaches of Mahe, Seychelles instead. 

Is it just me or the days seem to be running like enthusiastic athletes in a triathlon?  We're in the second quarter of 2015 already.  This brings me to evaluate where I am in my goals for this year. 

"Purge the unncessary and decrease clutter."

Yes and yes to that! Evaluating and letting go of things we have to part ways with before leaving Dubai was such a therapeutic experience. It feels so light! So many things can be accumulated without us realising it. We are presently in Manila for a temporary stay at my Mom's while we wait for the shipment of our stuff to be cleared and stored.  The sorted items have been painstakingly thought through which we will need, once we find a permanent base.

As we prepare and brace ourselves for an upcoming typhoon to hit the Philippines this weekend, I'd like to share images of the eerie sandstorm in Dubai today.  Strong winds in a brown cloud of sand.

Access to the House from the Bridge

If I had the means, I would love to get my hands busy with planning and restoring this old abandoned house. I think the dormant architect within me just woke up from a deep slumber when I saw this property nestled next to a tranquil marsh deep in the countryside.  It would be a perfect summer retreat for writers and artists who would like to spend some time harnessing their ideas and toying with their inspirations.

As I walk along familiar streets that have transformed in 12 years, the once busy Sheikh Zayed Road that is even much busier now and more filled with skyscrapers, Deira,  Jumeirah and the beach, I felt nostalgic and slightly emotional. I could hardly believe that this was my last weekend in Dubai, in the city that I have called home for a significant period of time.

Remember when I mentioned last year how sad it felt watching friends turned families go and being left behind? I daresay it also feels as much being on the other side. Here are snapshots of how our last weekend was like.

Flowers in the desert? Who would have thought such blooms exist in the Middle East? Well, when Dubai does it, expect it big! Always in a grand scale. More than 45 million flowers with 45 different varieties of blooms.

Dubai Miracle Garden has been there for a few years and we even lived very close to it, but never even once visited until recently. What I saw blew me away and my 10 month old daughter enjoyed the bursts of color.

You'll be noticing an avalanche of places in Dubai this week in the hopes of seeing as much as we can before we leave. Plane tickets have been booked today. We are ready to depart on Sunday evening. Let the countdown begin.  

When driving along Al Wasl Road right after Safa Park, you will notice cargo containers that are artistically positioned and used to create an urban retail district that is called "BOXPARK"  Recently opened as one of the latest projects of Meraas Holdings.  

You might have already seen this Friday's posts on Instagram. Oh, to those who hasn't, please feel free to click on the icon above this page. I have noticed that despite not having internet connection anymore unless I'm at my friend's apartment, reminds me to disconnect a bit and enjoy the moment, especially when we have limited time left in the beautiful city of Dubai.

I am extremely excited to share this beautiful home here. Owned by a dear friend, Monique whom you might have met and read here.  She's an expat who has been living in Dubai for more than ten years, working as a Design Manager for a prestigious mall in this energetic city. I am truly inspired by what she has accomplished as she completed one of her goals, construction of her family home in the Philippines.

Source

Today, I'm choosing a touchy topic. Some may not agree with me but I'm putting myself out there.  If I were to go back to architecture and design school, if there was one thing I wish was part of our curriculum, it would be : to learn how to sell.  Yes, sales.  Why?

Today, I'll try to hit two birds with one croissant.  I'll share a story about what I really do and why I do it. After that, I will show a fun apartment we did.

Imagine for a minute we are in an island hut and I'd offer you either a cup of coffee from a french press or a fresh-from-the-tree coconut. For first time visitors of the blog, this is the sort of feeling you might expect around here. 

Throwback Thursday. I won't say much today. Here's a collection of images from a summer road trip in  Belgium with a stop over in Brussels.  The sky was a bit grey during our visit, but it didn't stop the large groups of tourists from exploring the beautiful square.

Angkor Wat deserves a feature on its own. I used to draw it a lot during architectural classes at the university. Its magnificence captivated me long before I visited Tour d'Eiffel  Memories of Angkor Wat are kept deep in my subconscious in the company of Machu Picchu and Jordan's Petra. I remember feeling excited in the tuk-tuk that morning on our way there.  

The Pub Street greets us in the afternoon after a long slumber recuperating from a feverish ride at the night bus. I was struck with a bad case of flu and the constant dust in the air resembling that of a mini sandstorm every time a vehicle passes made it worse.  Siem Reap is lovely. I felt a lot better during our stay there.  A promise of a fresh pint ran along the alleys and streets, with tourists treating themselves to a 4pm happy hour. USD $ 1.00 per 1 hour foot massage couches lined up the streets and carts of various offerings from books to exotic food.

You will notice that Travel Gourmande will start featuring Interior Design more and more. I have given up my first blog, Design Gourmande in order to focus all of my energies here. 

As a tribute to our life in Dubai, I would like to re-post an apartment makeover. Here are some before and after shots of my friend, Christine's One- Bedroom apartment.  Some of the furniture are existing when we moved in the flat, provided by the company she's working for particularly the sofa set. One of the rules in the building is to never remove the chandelier (heartbreaking, I know).

A Mountain Pagoda.  A Buddhist temple stands on top of a hill. Legend has it that a rich widow named Penh found three bronze statues of Buddha inside a large koki tree. She had this shrine constructed in 1373 to house and protect the statues and was then transformed into a sacred sanctuary. 

Loss of Innocents at the Memorial Site Stupa

I think this will be one of the most difficult posts I will ever write. After an internal debate whether I should or shouldn't write about the horrors of this tragedy, I have come to realize that if something shakes one's core, it is worth writing one's thoughts about it. 

I try my best to check out the coffee culture when visiting a country by paying much closer attention to local coffee shops over big chains. Despite the number of International Coffee brands, I was intrigued by the gourmet coffee shop named Brown Coffee and Bakery in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. One can be quick to assume it's another Western coffee chain, but it's originally Cambodian.  It started about 4 years ago and now they are on their 8th chain.

After a big breakfast from a diner on the road, we walked towards the direction of the Riverfront. We had 5 hours to spend before our room was ready. It was interesting to watch the city come to life on a Wednesday morning. Tuk-tuks, motorbikes and big vehicles all drove purpose-filled to their destinations. Kids ready for school, the smell of fried rice and surprisingly, barbecue. Tourists slowly filled up the gates of popular landmarks and this wasn't an exception.

I am happy to have arrived safely in Phnom Penh with my husband this morning around 6AM after a 7-hour shaky bus ride from Siem Reap.

Sorry, my phone cannot connect to the internet and the weirdest thing was two draft posts I've published went missing. I will write about island hopping experiences when I am able to get my phone to work. In the meantime, here's a recent project that I completed for the love of doing it.

Exploring the island of Busuanga for nearly 5 hours can be hard on the bums. Nothing that a good massage can't cure. I bet though that this is the closest if not the best way to experience the beauty of the island.

A stop over at Les Burons de Salers on the Cantal Mountains in France is a delight to see for a cheese lover.   Men built these "burons",  mountain chalets on the plateaus for cheese making. The House of the Salers cheese has become one of the most visited sites for cheese tasting and cheese making expositions.

Two days in Manila catching up with family left me feeling happy. I am content as I am sitting at the boarding area waiting for our delayed flight to visit the island where our future home will be built. For the first time in many many years, I have finally felt that I am home. In this country, the Philippines.

Moving can be stressful. Trust me, the day after New Year when reality hit me, I had no idea where to begin.  So  I drafted a checklist and I hope it would help you somehow, especially to my dear friends leaving Dubai this year.

While I spend these days uncovering the residents of each closet and cabinet in every room, I found my paintings.  Finished and unfinished.  There are lots of unfinished canvas waiting to be noticed and yearning to be completed.  

If there is one reason why I will solely go to Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, it would be for the TWG Tea Salon at the newly opened Yas Mall. You must have seen their Dubai Mall branch in one of my posts here I'm a frequent visitor and their tea salon in Abu Dhabi is always fully stocked. They even had the Milk Oolong Tea exclusively sold here which costs AED 70 per 50g. So yes, I don't mind driving for an hour and a half just so I can purchase my tea of choice.

Since it's Throw back Thursday, here is a sneak peak of a life in France in the summer. During a leisurely walk, the interesting texture of this wall captures one's attention. The play of various materials with a contrasting wooden shutter result to a recently renovated charming house in the french countryside.

"Let your dreams be bigger than your fears, your actions louder than your words, and faith stronger than your feelings. " Dreams of the future keep us going.  

This is my first post for 2015.  I spent the year end and the beginning of the year doing inventory of items we want to keep and sell.  It was difficult, liberating and nostalgic. Difficult, because each furniture has a story to tell. Each of these black and white photo frames has my personal shots of specific destinations that mean something to us. They are usually conversation starters with guests and each time I look at them, they make me smile.  

The above dining furniture, we are taking with us.  The photo frames, we plan to sell soon as well as my paintings.  The below furniture will go as well as the rest of our appliances.  So what will you be expecting from Travel Gourmande this year?