I'm not so sure how I would define a memorable moment at this particular chateau. I remember having a dream of climbing a wooden ladder inside a very old turret when I was in my teens back in my native country. At that time, I dismissed the dream as a fleeting melange of images. Almost eight years later, I found myself at the very exact spot in my dream with my then future in-laws and husband.

Deja Vu is the word for it, right? The whole vision and experience was very precise, it was unbelievable. When the exact scent, texture of the stone, the sound and sight of the people and the environment freeze at that moment of realization, I can only think of one word to sum up my experience. Surreal.

Le Château de la Grève is situated in the department of La Vendee and the region of Pays de la Loire in France. It is the central part of the triangle Medeival fortresses of Châteaux des Essarts, Bournezeau et la Chaize-le-Vicomte.

Guess what: I have visited this castle three times. These images were taken by us including the photographer Papu in the chateau during the winter of 2007. An original post by Design Gourmande.

French brittany is located on the north-west of France. It is famous for its gray weather, rich history, distinct architecture with lots of medieval forts.

Not to mention, their cuisine! Their very own special drink- the Cider,  a clear or cloudy beverage with fine foamy head in yellowish mahogany color made from fresh cider apples.  Brittany also known as Breton is the second largest Cider producing region in France.  Cider or Cidre is usually served in tea cups  along with their famous Galette , very thin wide unsweetened pancakes made from buckwheat flour wrapped around ham, eggs and cheese.  Yum! 

My day job brings me to the country of Kuwait. I have been living in the Middle East for 8 years now but never really had the chance to visit until two weeks ago. I had a great day and very fruitful trip there. I was amazed by how fashionable the women were!  They were dressed in designer clothes, accessories and shoes from head to foot with the limited edition purses dangling on their arm. 

This 11th richest country in the world is located along the Arabian Peninsula bordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. It has a population of an estimated 3.5 Million people.

It was raining cats and dogs and unusually cold during our visit.  During summer between June to August, it could get as hot as 60 Degrees Celsius. One could literally fry an egg on top of the car.

I would like to share with you my first impression during a short stop at Souq Sharq.

Kuwait City Skyline from Souq Sharq

Sharq Market Waterfront

Amazing Vegetable, Meat and Fish Market at Souq Sharq

Noon time traffic at Liberation Tower

We had lunch at Johnny Rockets before heading off to the airport to catch our next flight.   I had to capture this smiley face image.  It defines my stay in Kuwait City.

Sunny days are upon us. For us desert people, it's sunny all year round.  We, however, miss the natural greens. Wherever we are, whatever the landscape is, it's great to drive with friends or with loved ones.  Cruising together and bask in the beauty of nature.

C'est tout.

Have a safe drive!

Guess What:  This photo was taken during a road trip from the Pyrenees on the way to Lourdes, France.   Photo copyright and original post of Design Gourmande

I visited my list of chateaux -to- see in the beautiful region of historic castles, the Loire Valley. All of which I had drawn during my college years in Architecture. I have always wanted to see them all for real.

From a distance during the day, you would be able to see the magnificent Palm Jumeirah Island.

Burj Al Arab (Left) and Palm Juemirah Island (Right) at Sunset

You can always head straight to the gigantic Dubai Mall afterwards for a shopping spree.

This week, the french spiderman, Alain Robert is climbing the tower. A must-see!

Have a great week ahead!

{An original post and image copyright by Design Gourmande}

There are movies that we enjoy watching again and again not only because we love the story, but mostly because of the setting.  The captivating sights and images from architecture to the culture of the people, all captured in film leaving us awe inspired afterwards.  We then struggle to keep ourselves away from packing our bags and purchasing airline tickets online.  In the end, we sigh with that lingering thought of 'someday.'

This weekend, if you're not too busy and up for it, let's enjoy a movie night watching any of these movies or  any film to your liking that celebrates travel and adventure.