When I don't have access to canvas, I paint on my face.  Though nowadays, when I discovered the BB Cream, thanks to Elle Sees,  I use less liquid foundation and more oil-free moisturizer with SPF 20.  Check out her blog for many beauty tips.   Today's post is mostly my travel essentials for a leisurely trip.  I' m starting to narrow down what I have to pack for an upcoming trip.  Much as I would like to carry everything in my organized makeup tray,  I always travel light, so I'd have to break it down to essentials. 

I miss jogging in this path

Calling all bloggers who might be interested to guest post.

Source

I just found out that I need to hop on a plane in a few weeks 

to attend my sister's wedding with an extended

Christmas holiday back home at the same time.

Theme of the blog post is:

"What Makes You Happy?"

I'll be featuring your blog posts on both

Design Gourmande & Travel Gourmande

during my absence. 

Deadline is on the 12th November 2012

For those interested, please email me at :

arniderivera@gmail.com

Thank you so much!

XOXO,

Arni

The once eyeglass-wearing man, my Clark Kent, transformed. He stopped wearing glasses (laser eye surgery).  Cape-less, wearing an engine behind his back (like a gigantic electric fan) holding on to a glider, he took off.

"Seriously?"  --  That was my first reaction when I first heard of Ice Land, followed by , "Why would they do that?"   My curiosity led me to look for it on Youtube. Thinking out loud, "No way.."  That evening, my husband returned home with entrance tickets for some deals he found on Cobone.  

I'm grateful for all the comments you leave everyday. I read through each of these messages and they always make me happy.  I will, however, make some changes henceforth. I hope you do understand if I don't reply to each comments on the comment form. My main reason is that I'm unable to manage it.   I have also realized that my comment replies may not even be seen,  as some may forget to check them back.  Instead, I'll return the visit and leave you a message on your blog or by email.   If you would like to reach me or for questions, please feel free to send me an email  arniderivera@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading Travel Gourmande.

Have a great weekend!

XOXO,

Arni

I'm getting forgetful lately.  Is it old age?  I hope not.

I forgot my wallet  inside a busy food court.  I went about my planned activities and drove to another place 10 km / 6 miles  away. Two hours later, when I was about to enter the supermarket,  my wallet was nowhere to be seen inside my huge bag. I hastily returned to the parking lot and sat in the car for the next 15 minutes searching around and retracing my steps. To cut the long story short, I drove back to the food court with a faint idea that that might be the last place where I left it.   I asked the man at the fast food counter if he had seen a small black leather wallet.  Luckily, I didn't sit far away and he pointed out that the nice young couple  sitting next to me that afternoon found and handed it over to the security control (all valuables in tact). That was a great relief because all identification cards (resident ID, driver's license, health cards etc) would have been a nightmare to re-apply.


This is the second time it happened to me.  I lost my work mobile phone once inside a cubicle in a public toilet at the mall.  The woman who found it, returned it to me.  Lesson learned: I should be more attentive and careful.  These experiences, however, strengthened my belief in the goodness of people.

Such a beautiful day!  I'm heading to the beach today. One of my goals this year is to seize the moment and appreciate the present.  Living in Dubai means a 20-minute drive to the nearest beach.   When was the last time I have been to this one?  I honestly can't remember.   It's such a shame that we have the beach within our reach and we never go.  Well it's never too late.

Three years ago, aboard the Dhow Cruise in Khasab, Oman  the second time around, I watched the dolphins play around and spent the afternoon snorkeling with colorful fish in clear azure waters 

Catching up with things we love to do this weekend in the middle of errands is just the right amount of dose of love we need,  giving ourselves a pat on the back after a tiring week.  Books + Coffee + Dark Chocolate porridge.    

Getting Lost in a Good Book - To those living in the UAE (Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai),  I've recently discovered  Readers Paradise, a book rental club that delivers book of your choice to your door step.  In this way, you can save money by renting up to 8 books which is equivalent to a price of 1 book. There are also books that you can purchase from them, signed by the authors.  I can't wait to try.

What are your plans this weekend?

On a personal note, 

I'm happy to have started running again, totally healed and bandage free.  

The painting I'm working on right now is shaping up and 

I'm surprising myself how it's turning out.  

Though I feel like I cannot stare or work at it for too long or I'll go insane, 

so in between chores and catching up with the book I'm reading,

food and music keep me company.

Happy Thursday!

XOXO,

Arni

One of the most fascinating part of the french lifestyle is le jardin potager, the vegetable garden where they plant everything essential in the kitchen to prepare the palate stimulating meals.  

I would like to share this information based on an actual experience that might deem useful to those planning to travel to Seychelles - say this coming Eid Holidays?

La Digue Island

I'm currently recovering from a minor outpatient surgery.  My blog posts in the next few days will be erratic since I'm unable to use my left arm and am dealing with post surgical pain.   I'll try to read your blogs from time to time whenever I am physically able to and will most probably keep me company along with books and movies to watch in bed as I recuperate.

I wish you all a happy weekend!

XOXO,

Arni

We parked across the street and walked to the village of Saint-Jacques des Blats.  The sun was bright.  I watched my husband and his parents headed for the hills as I remained glued staring up at the church tower  standing prominently above the sleepy atmosphere.   Everything seemed closed at 11AM on a Friday.   The sound of a tractor crossing this square surprised me.  I stepped out of its way to let it pass as the driver greeted me, "Bonjour" with a nod.  I answered back, smiling.  I'm always touched by the genuine politeness in the countryside.   

One rainy day, we drove to a medieval town named  Murat.  The clouds descended on the volcanic cones surrounding the city.  Resting at the heart of the Auvergne mountains, France,  this magnificent gem drew us in for an architectural walk under a drizzle reminiscing the life during the middle ages.

I came across this lovely plant in the mountains.  Still carrying and spreading the Hunger Games fever , I convinced my mother-in-law to read the french version of the series. Now, my husband  is very much glued to it. We spent our days hiking in the forests talking about Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.   

I still remember when I said, "J'ai essayé de monter un chameau, un elephant, mais jamais un cheval." (I tried to ride a camel, an elephant but never a horse).   That sent my in-laws in loud guffaws. I was born in the Year of the Horse.  I even designed a glass etched horse partition but I've never been on one until recently.

I would like to share one of the many special moments during our vacation. One of my ''firsts''.  I happened to be married to a very adventurous man who loves to push himself to his limits. He loves extreme sports.  I, on the other hand, am an indoor artsy ambivert with a love for traveling but has always been afraid of heights.

Through him, I have discovered my adventurous side. He often gets me into some adrenaline pumping activities and I always end up having fun.

Throughout our years together, he made me discover my love for hiking.  May it be in a tropical forest, a cacti cladded island in a salt desert or a deep green community of pine trees.  I have crossed steep paths (almost fell at one time) but have never reached a summit of a mountain.

There's always a first.  

 Puy Griou is a sharp volcanic chimney in the department of Cantal, Auvergne region in France.  1,690 meters altitude, located between the valleys of Cere and Jordanne.  It is accessible from both valleys.

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, also known as the ''Garden City''.  I personally call NZ by the way as  ''Heaven on Earth.''    Christchurch features grand stone buildings, Elizabethan Architecture and lots of gardens.  

While browsing through old travel journals, I came across these passages:

24th March 2007, Saturday (First Day) "Christchurch Airport"

We have arrived in the afternoon after a 19-hour flight via Emirates Airlines. We had a 1 hour stop over in Sydney, Australia. We took a bus en route to the town centre from Christchurch Airport roughly 20 minutes drive. We were both feeling sleepy due to the time difference. I fell asleep in the bus immediately. We checked in at Stone Hurst Backpackers Inn, where Yohann stayed during his first trip in New Zealand in 2001. There were no double rooms available so we took an ensuite for the first day. We spent the entire afternoon sleeping. We went out to explore the city by nightfall. 

A Mexican themed brunch that extends till dinner. It's a monthly tradition my girlfriends and I  have started this year.  Each of us will bring a dish we have prepared.  The venue changes each month.  We somehow recreate a  vacation where we bring a country to our homes instead.

The host of the party, Gail decorated her dining and living area with colorful tissue paper streamers and lanterns  made of serviettes.   A separate refreshment table was set up with our favorite lime margarita and an ice filled bucket of drinks.  

In light of today's Friendship Day, I'm happy to feature our wonderful Saturday brunch together.   We all met during our employment in an events and exhibition company.  We were former colleagues from various departments, but most of us have only grown closer after we left the firm.    We have all pursued different paths afterwards.  The day breezed by with mojitos and lively conversations among hyper women enjoying a fun day away from the mundane.

These beautiful women could be serious, wacky and crazy sometimes, with or without the microphone.  We are always ready to strike a pose.

Hope you all had a great weekend!

I surely had a wonderful one!

XOXO,

Arni

Image 2/ 3/ 6/ 9/ 10-13/15  Photo Credit: Monica