capri by audrey

Capri FLASH SALE this Thurs and Fri!

2011-08-30T22:18:00.000+08:00

Colour Inspirations

2011-08-15T22:49:00.002+08:00

Sunset at Sentosa

Brilliant colours - amazing what the iphone can do!

What struck me was the colours of the sunset - looking for inspiration on colours for the next collection.

Simply Her, Sept 2011

2011-08-14T23:10:00.003+08:00

Capri had a shout out in Sept's issue of Simply Her!

See our hot favourite Chloe dress! Thanks to the lovely fashion writers at Simply Her for the mention!

Chloe in Peacock Blue

2011-08-07T18:27:00.003+08:00

We were so pleased to see our Chloe dress in Peacock blue on the mannequin in Odette & SHUU 2 weeks ago! The colour has been so well received - everyone welcomes a change from Black and Grey every so often! Make sure you check it out as pieces are running out fast!

Odette & SHUU is at #02-29 Change Alley Chevron House

Mon - Fri, 11.30 am to 7.30pm

Sat, 11.30am to 3pm

Setup for our Open House tomorrow!

2011-07-30T18:57:00.012+08:00

We're all ready for our open house tomorrow! Doesn't it look great - just like our very own "pop-up store"! Carol (owner of Two Sparrows and my sister) and I were chuffed when it was all done!

If you can't find your way, its the unit right next to Salon Le Jardin!

I absolutely love the rose clutches - they come in 3 colours and are the perfect companion for a dinner date!

We love the little blue tote bag with the rose in the centre of the wooden table and the eye-catching bright pink bag to brighten up our basic blacks!

An elegant, undertstated clutch - An easy accessory to instantaneously raise the "chic" quotient in your outfit

Our Chloe dress has sold so well that we've brought it back in Teal and Peacock Blue!

Choo Yilin's lovely jewellery pieces! We're already eyeing a few for ourselves! Pity they had to keep the pieces before we could take more photos! This photo hardly does the pieces justice!

Our Chloe dress in blue at Soon Lee

2011-07-25T21:10:00.002+08:00

Our Chloe dress sold so well that we had to bring it back in different colours! Now available in Blue and Teal - check it out on Soon Lee's facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=212223682162344&set=a.212207165497329.78715.212169885501057&type=1&theater

Soon Lee is at 73 Haji Lane

An Outfit a Day - Sunday!

2011-07-24T17:23:00.001+08:00

Click on image to enlarge

Here's the last outfit of the set!

Sunday's outfit is colourful and relaxed - great for a summery afternoon out!

An Outfit a Day - Saturday!

2011-07-24T02:39:00.000+08:00

Click on image to enlarge!

Go drapey, casual and glamorous all at together for our favourite day of the week: Saturday! A powder soft clutch paired with a little classic black dress and a trio of layered necklaces takes you everywhere: be it the beach, a bar or a restaurant.

An Outfit a Day - Friday!

2011-07-22T23:48:00.002+08:00

Click on image to enlarge

TGIF! Throw off the work jacket and reveal the beautiful neckline. The soft python rose clutch is a work of art in itself; that together with coral cabochon earrings and a large cocktail ring in 18KT antique yellow gold preps you for Friday night dinner and drinks with friends or that special someone.

Thursday - An Outfit a Day!

2011-07-22T07:51:00.001+08:00

Click to enlarge image

If you've been following our posts all week, you'll be glad to know we're nearing the weekend! For a pre-weekend outfit, throw on our versatile Sadie dress and add a glamorous brown, silver-studded shoulder bag with subtle sterling silver nautical-inspired pieces to spice up your outfit!

Wednesday - An Outfit a Day!

2011-07-20T22:20:00.003+08:00

Click on image to enlarge

More neutrals with khaki the elegant grey dress and luxurious soft black hobo but a small nod towards glamour for Wed-night drinks with a fine silver gemstone cuff and large coral polyp studs, heavily embellished with London blue topazes and amethysts.

Tuesday: An Outfit a Day

2011-07-19T21:28:00.001+08:00

Please click to enlarge image.

It's still early in the week so it's best to keep a fashion-forward but low-profile silhouette with a twist on the black shift and beige signature twist hobo. The only splash of colour comes with the 18KT rose and yellow gold vermeil drops.

Monday: An Outfit A Day

2011-07-19T21:27:00.001+08:00

Please click to enlarge image

Chase away Monday blues with splashes of red (from the rubies in the earrings and the hot-red python skin hobo) and still keep somber with the re-interpreted black dress to get your conservative boss' approval.

Capri + Choo Yilin + Two Sparrows, An Outfit A Day

2011-07-17T21:08:00.002+08:00

Join us for our first open house this year!

An outfit a Day is a collaboration with Choo Yilin and Two Sparrows!

If you love dresses, jewellery and handbags, this is the perfect event for you!

RSVP:
gloria@chooyilin.com
(+65) 9112 8117

Choo Yilin: http://www.facebook.com/chooyilinartisanjewellery

Two Sparrows: http://www.facebook.com/twosparrows

The Cate Dress

2011-07-07T21:38:00.002+08:00

I posted this sketch awhile back and thought I should post the final dress after it was made! This dress, called Cate, is available in Black, Beige and Grey. What I love about it is that essentially, it's still a shift dress to wear on a Mondays for meetings, and fun for a slow Thursday as well! This twist on the classic work dress is what Capri is all about.

Our Christine dress on TV!!

2011-06-29T23:02:00.004+08:00

Catch a glimpse of our Christine dress in blue from our latest collection on Channel News Asia worn by Singapore Tonight presenter, Yvonne Yong!!

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=212825745425956&oid=130608906952403&comments

The Chloe Dress - Our best seller in our new collection

2011-06-20T20:56:00.005+08:00

Great for a dressdown Friday: head directly from the office to a cocktail party or a night out with the gals!

In black jersey

S$229

Also available in grey jersey

In beige chiffon

S$249

Also available in navy blue chiffon

2011-05-29T11:12:00.002+08:00

It's been really hectic with the launch of new collections for both capri and elly this month. I'm always glad when stock's delivered and re-delivered too especially within a week or two, which is a healthy sign that the collection is selling well! At the back of a launch is the finalisation of designs for the new collection - its always a never-ending cycle of worrying. Well, this collection is very different from our previous collections - it includes chiffon fabrics in our dresses and cream colours (as far as you get from our usual blacks)!

I hope you'll find something you like!

Audrey

Elly's new collection

2011-05-23T11:19:00.008+08:00

Our new collection is out in the stores!

2011-05-12T13:48:00.000+08:00

We're in the midst of taking photos of our new collection

but here's a look at another favourite from the collection!

Stocks have arrived in Odette & SHUU and will be in Soon Lee this weekend!

Sketches

2011-04-06T12:06:00.003+08:00

Eagerly awaiting production of our new collection....here's a sketch of my favourite!

Think Different

2011-02-27T22:54:00.003+08:00

Photo credit: Me at Anfield watching the team play Blackburn

"Here’s to the crazy ones.

The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

- Apple Ad Campaign 1997

What we've been busy with!

2011-02-13T18:03:00.005+08:00

Its been quiet on the capri front because my children's label, elly, has been busy with the launch of its new collection - Elly loves Spring! We're having an open house next Sunday 20 Feb - details can be found in the flyer! Do drop by to take a look!!

Audrey

Happy Chinese New Year!

2011-02-01T11:48:00.002+08:00

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous Chinese New Year!

Thanks for keeping in touch with us through our blog.

We hope to share more inspirations with you in the coming year!

Washington DC and New York (Part 2 on the Nikon)

2011-01-28T14:07:00.012+08:00

My second set of DC photos - i realise none of these are actually from the NY set.

These photos were taken over varying weathers and with two different lenses.

The first 3 photos are of Capitol Hill over 3 days:

At sunset the day after the heavy snow.

I was amazed i could actually take the shot - I was being mad and walking from the Library of Congress back to my husband's office (which is opposite the National Archives) i.e. very far for wintry weather walking. I couldn't feel my hands and toes after awhile.

The morning after the snow - the view from the bottom of Washington Memorial.

As I was walking to Capitol Hill, i saw these 5 friends turn around as they were walking back from Capitol Hill. It was as if they decide to turn and stand and stare in silence, taking in the architecture / grandeur of the building, before moving on for the day.

I was on a 3- hour (self) walking tour which included a (cold) walk around Tidal Basin

with the basin half frozen over. At least the ducks were enjoying themselves.

Arlington Cemetery covered in snow

The shots below are random sights in DC.

Washington DC and New York

2011-01-18T18:49:00.002+08:00

I've been travelling quite a bit these past few months after returning to Singapore and recently just visited DC (for the first time) and New York. Thought I'd share my favourite photos from the trip. These are shot from my canon IXUS (otherwise known as my "point and shoot") - i've got another set in the SLR which i'll be uploading shortly. Hopefully as you get to see more of the photos I like to take and appreciate, you'll understand my thoughts behind capri and designing.

Washington Memorial - Flags were flown at half mast

to mourn the Tucson shooting victims

The view from the Washington Memorial after the snow

The colour and life that is Times Square

Central Park - Caught this man's pensive moment

The walk to Capitol Hill after the snow. This is my favourite shot from the IXUS.

New collection available at www.cate.com.sg and Soon Lee

2011-01-06T22:33:00.002+08:00

Celine dress - available exclusively at

http://www.cate.com.sg/new-arrivals/celine-dress.html/

Celine dress

Alyssa dress (black)

Alyssa dress (Magenta) -

available online at http://www.cate.com.sg/new-arrivals/alys

sa-dress.html/ and at Soon Lee at Haji Lane!

New Year Thoughts

2010-12-31T00:02:00.003+08:00

Hi there

I've been really quiet back home in Singapore as I wait for the sampling of our new collection to be completed. We're targetting for the collection to be launched in March 2011 and in the meantime, I'm focusing on my other label, elly (www.ellyloves.com) and growing our collection of little girls' dresses. It has been quite some year.

Capri has moved from 1 to 4 stockists in one year and elly is bringing so much excitement at home. And in the midst of that, my husband and I have moved back from London and I've quit law.

While i'm sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what the next year will bring, there's a strange sense of peace and contentment with the life I lead today, even without the law and the prospect of having a stable job and future.

I thought i'd share something inspiring which I read awhile ago - i read this every once in awhile to remind myself of how to fly.

And while you're reading that, I'd like to take the time to wish you all a Happy New Year - have a wonderful and blessed year ahead.

Audrey

_________________________________________

Transcript of Commencement Speech at Stanford given by Steve Jobs
6/14/2005 | Steve Jobs

"Thank you. I'm honored to be with you today for your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. Truth be told, I never graduated from college and this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation.

Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories. The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first six months but then stayed around as a drop-in for another eighteen months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out? It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife, except that when I popped out, they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking, "We've got an unexpected baby boy. Do you want him?" They said, "Of course." My biological mother found out later that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would go to college.

This was the start in my life. And seventeen years later, I did go to college, but I naïvely chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, and no idea of how college was going to help me figure it out, and here I was, spending all the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out, I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me and begin dropping in on the ones that looked far more interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms. I returned Coke bottles for the five-cent deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the seven miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example.

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer was beautifully hand-calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and sans-serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me, and we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts, and since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them.

If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on that calligraphy class and personals computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do.

Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college, but it was very, very clear looking backwards 10 years later. Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backwards, so you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something--your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever--because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference.

My second story is about love and loss. I was lucky. I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents' garage when I was twenty. We worked hard and in ten years, Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4,000 employees. We'd just released our finest creation, the Macintosh, a year earlier, and I'd just turned thirty, and then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew, we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so, things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge, and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our board of directors sided with him, and so at thirty, I was out, and very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating. I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down, that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure and I even thought about running away from the Valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me. I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I'd been rejected but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods in my life. During the next five years I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the world's first computer-animated feature film, "Toy Story," and is now the most successful animation studio in the world.

In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT and I returned to Apple and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance, and Lorene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful-tasting medicine but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life's going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love, and that is as true for work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking, and don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it, and like any great relationship it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking. Don't settle.

My third story is about death. When I was 17 I read a quote that went something like "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "no" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important thing I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life, because almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctors' code for "prepare to die." It means to try and tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next ten years to tell them, in just a few months. It means to make sure that everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope, the doctor started crying, because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and, thankfully, I am fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept. No one wants to die, even people who want to go to Heaven don't want to die to get there, and yet, death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It's life's change agent; it clears out the old to make way for the new. right now, the new is you. But someday, not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it's quite true. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalogue, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stuart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late Sixties, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and Polaroid cameras. it was sort of like Google in paperback form thirty-five years before Google came along. I was idealistic, overflowing with neat tools and great notions. Stuart and his team put out several issues of the The Whole Earth Catalogue, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-Seventies and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath were the words, "Stay hungry, stay foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. "Stay hungry, stay foolish." And I have always wished that for myself, and now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you. Stay hungry, stay foolish.

Thank you all, very much." - Steve Jobs

A New Stockist!

2010-12-15T18:55:00.002+08:00

We welcome Cozycot this month as our new online stockist! If you love local, you'll be delighted to check out the wide collection of local designers' designs.

http://www.cozycot.com/cozymall/home.php?cat=292

Annual Clearance Sale

2010-11-02T22:37:00.002+08:00

Taking a break

2010-09-14T19:07:00.004+08:00

Fireworks at the Thames Festival on 12 September

We'll be relocating to Singapore in October!

In preparation for the trip home, i'll be taking a short break from designing

and will focus on packing and making the most of London with my husband!

These past 2 years in London have been pretty darn amazing and

we couldn't have asked for more.

These next few posts will be of more London photos so look out for it!

Catch up with you when we get home!

My favourite street in London

2010-09-01T06:06:00.002+08:00

Fash Bash 2010

2010-08-26T19:54:00.003+08:00

Its the first time that some of our designs from the Eye on the Sky collection will be sold in

FASH BASH

thanks to our stockist, Odette & SHUU!

You'll be able to get your hands on our designs at a 30% discount!

Pop by Odette & SHUU's store in ORCHARD CENTRAL this weekend!!

FashBash NATIONAL PRIDE edition

DATE: 28 (Saturday) and 29 (Sunday) August 2010

TIME: 11am to 8pm

LOCATION: Orchard Central, Discovery Walk, Level 1 (1min from Somerset MRT station, right next to 313@Somerset)

We're featured in Her World!

2010-08-05T04:21:00.005+08:00

I am so thrilled to see our Chris dress in this month's issue of Her World!

Chris is sold at Odette & SHUU at 30 Raffles Place, #02-29 Change Alley!

Pop over to try it soon!

Chris dress

Soon Lee's new store!

2010-08-02T04:55:00.002+08:00

Soon Lee sent photos of their new store at 73 Haji Lane - i gasped when i saw the shots! Love the finishing touches like the little Japanese dolls and Tin Soldiers, and street lamp inside the store.

But don't just believe the photos! Check out the store soon!

Trading Hours

12:00pm - 9:00pm daily

1:00pm - 8:00pm on Sundays

Pictures from the Eye on the Sky collection

2010-07-22T06:43:00.002+08:00

Andie dress

Casey dress

Avery dress

Morgan dress

Kayley dress

Chris dress

Billie dress

Beth dress

Jordan dress

Sadie dress

We're featured on Soon Lee's blog!

2010-07-22T06:41:00.001+08:00

Thanks so much to the lovely Sharon of Soon Lee for the post on capri on your blog today!

Our new stockist - Soon Lee!

2010-07-14T06:55:00.003+08:00

We've just added Soon Lee as our latest (and 3rd) stockist in Singapore - Soon Lee now stocks the Eye on the Sky collection!

Soon Lee re-opened on July 5 at 73 Haji Lane in a newer and bigger store and capri is selling fast! Pop round Soon Lee to check out our collection very soon!

Soon Lee

73 Haji Lane

12.30 pm to 8 pm daily

http://www.ishopsoonlee.blogspot.com/

Things I love about London - Part 4

2010-07-04T23:52:00.021+08:00

Why I love London? Because of the many things there are to do every single weekend in summer

Today was one of those such days. Starting our day with brilliant windy summery weather, we started our day taking a tour of the Aldywch tube station which was closed in 1994.

Some bit of background - I studied in King's College London and right next to the college, I used to walk past an abandoned tube station which was on the Piccadily line (and back in 1997, it actually still appeared on the tube map). See the ugly black/grey picture below? That's KCL... yes i know. Totally not what i was hoping London colleges would look like.

We finally got to see how it looked on the inside. I loved it! It was vintage and i loved the characters of the tiles and signs.

The ticket office with the "Book Here" sign affixed in ceramic

The old telephone booths

The toilets! (I never knew tube stations used to have toilets!)

After the short tour, we walked over to Jamie's Italian (which had just opened last month right next to our house) for a hearty Italian lunch! Coincidentally, Jamie's Italian's deco is mad of the lovely vintage tiled look as well!

Since it opened just a 3 mins from our flat, its fast becoming one of our favourite eatouts. It does traditional Italian pastas well. We're still going through the menu of pastas and haven't tried the main dishes yet. Had a squid ink pasta this time. Dave had crabmeat bruschetta and spaghetti bolognaise. We love the ham + cheese starter platter and the calamari (although the squid portion was far too small).

One of the joys of living in Covent Garden is being near everything! After lunch we took a 15 minute tube ride to Harrods to treat our toes and indulge in some shopping! A Perfect Sunday afternoon!

Will be uploading more pictures of my "neighbourhood High Street" (which happens to be Long Acre)! Look out for it!

Elephants in London - My top 10

2010-06-14T04:59:00.016+08:00

Jaidayal @ More London: Amazing mosaic on this elephant

Gaj Mani @ Green Park's Happy Herd: Beautiful.

Rainforest @ Holland Park Avenue: A lion, giraffe, panda, orang utan beautifully set amongst vibrant colours

Elephant Race (Against Time) @ Royal Exchange/Bank Station: Love the roads crossing over the elephants

Union Jack @ Orange Square: The iconic Union Jack against the famous red telephone booths. Nuff said.

Cha-Chang @ More London: Sponsored by Chang Beer; love the elaborate designs and the shot of it against Tower Hill

The Lion King on Stage @ Covent Garden Piazza: My absolute favourite - you can see various parts of The Lion King musical all on the elephant. This shot shows the Tree of Life.

Noah @ Covent Garden Piazza: The animals go two by two

Ferrous @ Royal Opera House: The rustic look of this elephant

Fish & Chips @ Green Park's Happy Herd: Added touch of newspapers just to make this ellie authentic

Watch this space for more elephants!

A third reason to love London

2010-06-13T07:44:00.007+08:00

Another reason to love London - Elephants in London

At Coutts on the Strand: Meet Pearly Prince by SHO Fine Jewellery using Swarovski Elements

Lame as this may sound, I've busy searching for 258 elephants all over London.

The Elephant Parade is a conservation campaign that shines a multi-coloured spotlight on the urgent crisis faced by the endangered Asian elephant.

Brought to you by www.elephantfamily.org, the event sees over 250 brightly painted life-size elephants located over central London this summer.

Each decorated by a different artist or celebrity, the elephants brighten and beautify the city, enhancing every park, street corner and building they grace. Running from May to July 2010, this is London’s biggest outdoor art event on record.

My husband has been following me around the West End searching for elephants; and, the loveliest thing is: we're not the only ones armed with maps, a pen and a camera going elephant hunting!! Today we met tons (and I mean tons) of people going on the same route as we did to search for these elephants. We found 54 elephants today! :)

I'll be uploading photos of my favourite elephants in my blog over the next few days! Check back in with us to follow our search!

Join our facebook group to see all the elephants!

http://www.facebook.com/?sk=2361831622#!/group.php?gid=26598623671

New stock available at cate!

2010-06-13T07:42:00.001+08:00

Check out the latest pieces at www.cate.com.sg

Eye on the Sky - Part II

2010-05-31T01:34:00.003+08:00

Get updates on stocks available in Odette & SHUU on their blog! http://www.odette.com.sg/blog.php

We are pleased to announce our first stockist in London!

2010-05-14T04:43:00.011+08:00

We were thrilled when Rous Iland agreed to be a stockist for the Avery and Sadie dresses from capri's new collection, Eye on the Sky. When we first visited their show room, their private shopping concept was exactly what capri had in mind when we first started our private open houses in Singapore! Rous Iland's multi-label boutique in Green Park stocks a good variety of chic and wearable clothing. It has a warm feel and makes you feel pampered without being intrusive at the same time.

One of the pet peeves I have about being in London is that shops close too early (an average of 7 pm). Since I have a fulltime job, making it out of the office by 6 pm in time to give me any shopping time at all on the High Street is virtually impossible. And on weekends, jostling with the hoardes of tourists can be rather unpleasant when you're tired after a long work week and just looking for an easy find of a new dress or blouse to sweeten the weekend.

Rous Iland's private boutique concept means they will open the store for you later than 7 p.m. if you make an appointment beforehand - they will accommodate your time constraints! Call to make an appointment soon!

Rous Iland (by appointment only)

45 Clarges StreetW1J 7EP

0845 003 8945

http://www.rousiland.com/

Click on this link to start shopping for capri!

A little bit about Rous Iland

More than just a shop, Rous Iland is a fashion community for the busy modern woman, a members’ boutique with a difference.

Clare Rous and Kara Iland, two ex city lawyers, got together after seeing a gap in the market for a fashion members’ style boutique. They formed Rous Iland in May 2007 for women with little time on their hands who needed something more than what’s on offer in the often expensive, overcrowded and unhelpful high street shops of today. The personal service and intimate space in their calm, private and tranquil Mayfair showroom is any fashion fiend’s dream in a perfect one-stop shop open whenever convenient for you.
‘We provide a service that we would have liked to have had when we were in our old jobs’ Kara Iland, founder of Rous Iland.

Rous Iland offers a highly personalized VIP service to all its members. Free to join after a private consultation with stylists, Clare and Kara, who will then go on to create, plan and tailor your wardrobe needs and desires.

‘We take clients lifestyles into account, storing their sizes, likes and dislikes in a uniquely interactive online profile. If something special comes in, we call them straight away, and we often put together last minute outfits, delivering them ready to wear that same day.’ Clare Rous, founder of Rous Iland.

Always on the look-out for new designers and niche brands, Clare and Kara source directional labels, flattering silhouettes and luxury fabrics to create a carefully edited capsule collection each season. Designers include cult labels Rebecca Talyor, Louise Amstrup, Noir, Karen Walker, Ginger & Smart and Marnie Skillings to name a few. Some new designers for this season include Osman, Sykes, Angel Schlesser and Hotel Particulier.

‘There’s a universe of women interested in clothes but who don’t have time to pursue that passion. We are here for them.’ Kara Iland, founder.

Members benefit from a variety of events that are held regularly from fashion shows, corporate evenings to make up classes. Here at Rous Iland, we offer a bespoke service with a feeling of belonging to a fashion community. Open out of office hours, we are always at the end of a phone for styling advice and new ideas. Members can pop in at any time for a friendly chat, glass of bubbly and some free fashion guidance from honest and friendly stylists and founders, Clare Rous and Kara Iland.

For more information on Rous Iland please visit the website www.rousiland.com /email scarlett@rousiland.com or telephone 0845 003 8945.

A New Stockist!

2010-04-14T05:41:00.006+08:00

We are delighted that Capri has a second stockist http://www.cate.com.sg/ - our first online presence for our new collection, Eye on the Sky!!

Eye on the Sky 2010 can be found at: http://www.cate.com.sg/brand-directory/all-brands/capri-by-audrey/

In our search for new stockists, a key criteria was for the stockists to have the same style as I did - classic and elegant, yet fashionable designs which are relevant to our daily lives. Cate ticked all the boxes for us and we were ecstatic when they agreed to bring capri on board in their online store!

I love the cate online store. Its user friendly, has beautifully-taken photos which highlight the dresses, and yet doesn't compromise on design and sophistication as a website. cate has impeccable customer service as you'll read from the feedback of her customers, complete with professional looking packaging!

Cate musings can be found on The Cate Diaries (http://thecatediaries.blogspot.com/) for an interesting read on design!

Do go online and check out her store!

x
Audrey

Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles

2010-04-12T04:14:00.008+08:00

In the midst of our own travel writings, our blog is expanding its content to include fashion in London. We live one minute from the heart of Covent Garden's shopping street and my walk to the tube station comprises walking past store windows. I hope to bring more of London fashion updates to you.

Designers collaborations with High Street labels is all the rage in London now. These collections present (well, more) affordable designer-wear to the "common guy on the street". Last year, there was Christopher Kane for Topshop, Matthew Williamson for H&M, Jimmy Choo for H&M, Stella McCartney for Gap kids even!

The latest collaboration is Roksanda Ilincic's very stylish line for Whistles, a "very focused offering of highly covetable cocktail dresses". In the past, I found Whistles to have a more mature appeal to the 35 (and over) year old working lady with a sensible and constant fashion taste. But this collection does wonders for their image. It makes Whistles appealing and relevant in today's market and its got our attention!

Who is Roksanda?
"Serbian-born and London-based designer Roksanda Ilincic takes a romantic approach to fashion. The one-time model graduated from Central St Martins in 2000, launched her namesake line in 2002 and hit the runways three years later via London Fashion Week's New Generation Scheme.

What I love about London (Part 2)

2010-03-28T05:13:00.005+08:00

This, in all respects, is my number one reason why i love London. Musicals. The West End.

"The songs are the heart and soul of the musical..."

And top of my list is "Wicked".

I have watched Wicked 4 times in 15 months because it is one of those musicals where you walk out trying to remember as many songs as you can because they were all meaningful and memorable.

Wicked is the untold story about the Wizard of Oz. Its basically about the relationship between two reluctant roommates in school and about friendship and about life; about how life isn't always what it is and how your dreams really aren't all what they seem.

My favourite song from the musical is "For Good" because it is a turning point for the two witches when they come together and realise their lives have to take a different path.

For Good

(Elphaba):
I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you
For both of us - now it's up to you...

(Glinda):
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

(Glinda):
Because I knew you

(Both):
I have been changed for good
(Elphaba):
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

(Glinda):
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
(Both):
And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda):
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba):
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both):
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

(Glinda):
And because I knew you...

(Elphaba):
Because I knew you...

(Both):
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...

~~~

Les Miserables

Top of Dave's list is Les Miz. This is a close second for me, but it appeals for different reasons.

There are 2 camps - one camp loves Les Mis and the other, Phantom. We're in the Les Miz camp. Les Miz is an epic. I will never tire of watching it. Its grandeur themes of loyalty and friendship are explored in a very traditional age-old scale but i feel it is less accessible as it will be loved because you will stand in awe of the barricades, of the anthems and solos such as "One Day More" and "Who am I". But it is amazing to watch over and over. I have watched this at least 7 times in the last 10 years and I am still moved to tears when Eponine and Fantine join Valjean in the finale.

We love this so much I got Dave backstage passes to the show (through Red Letter Days) for his Christmas present. But the present turned out more for me since i got the chance to wear the Cosette costume (which was super heavy) and swish around! They let us try on quite a few costumes and then brought us to the set.

You wouldn't believe how absolutely small the backstage area is. Its less than 1 metre wide on both sides of the stage!!

~~~

There aren't close 3rds, 4ths or 5ths. But if you are making a trip to London and have already watched the musicals above, the ones you could consider are (in no particular order):

Love Never Dies

This is Andrew Lloyd Weber's sequel to Phantom of the Opera and is set in New York. It hasn't got rave reviews but i put that down to high expectations of any sequel - everyone expecting a sequel to have knocked them off their feet just as the original did. We're watching it later on in April and will be able to tell you how it went after that!

Billy Elliot

The 9 year old boy who plays Billy Elliot has magic feet. The music was forgettable but the dancing was spectacular.

The Lion King

I love the costumes and the Disney music. How they make the "lion" wear a mask so that he can fight as a lion, then lift his mask gently over his head so he can sing.... And the leopard lady with a leopard body and puppet sticks.... very impressive.

And its Disney. You know how i love Disney. And if you don't, now you do. Enough said.

Oliver

The set is like a playhouse - it has 3 tiers at one point and the boys look like they're having so much fun. Even if you have already watched Oliver before, you should catch the Drury Lane version. The accent is difficult to understand at times when they sing particularly but all in all, it is worth watching.

Other musicals (Still showing)

Thought it would kinda cool to list out every musical we've watched in London together:

Avenue Q
Chicago
Blood Brothers
Mamma Mia

Other musicals (No longer running)

Miss Saigon (twice!) - real pity this stopped running
Beauty and the Beast (3 times!!!) - the 1st time on our first date too. :) He knew the Disney way into my heart :)))
Starlight Express - real pity this ended too. It was so fun!
Martin Guerre
Jesus Christ Superstar
Rent
Sunset Boulevard (although this i watched with my parents, not Dave)
My Fair Lady
Witches of Eastwick

Guess this is another reason why we came back...

What I love about London (Part 1)

2010-03-22T02:23:00.007+08:00

This post is probably very belated; after all, we've been back in London for 1 year and 3.5 months now. Dave's currently on a business trip so I find myself with lots of time on weekends to busy myself with shopping and walking. I decided that it was time i put down a proper record on all the things i love (and dislike) about London. I start with the Top 10 things I love. I expect that with so much to say, this post might take 10 different parts so I hope you'll read along with me as I explore London. (This list is in no particular order.)

1. MARKETS

Covent Garden Marketplace
Today was one of those days with perfect weather. If you live long enough in London, you learn to appreciate the sun because a sunny day is a rare occurrence. Today was sunny and just comfortably windy.

I live right around Covent Garden Market which is my favouritest place in London and took a walk there. Covent Garden market is famous for musicians, singers, magicians and artists performing live and some even selling their own CDs. I sat down at my favourite spot in the market in front of the London Transport Musicians. This is where the Western/Rock singers perform (although friends would tell you that I am unable to tell the difference between true rock, pop and boyband).

Today, I was drawn by an Elton John favourite "Your Song" sung by a man on his acoustic guitar. It was soulful and fabulous and even in March, everyone was out sitting on the pavement with a cup of coffee or gelato (myself included). I didn't get to see my favourite cowboy singer (see below pic of grunge cool old dude) who would always draw me to sit down for a song. I caught this lovely photo of two little girls who had plonked themselves next to him in appreciation of good music, one even brought her teddy bear with along.

After a few songs, I went over to Le Pain Quotidien to get myself some cheese and walnut biscuits for a teatime snack. Right outside and below Le Pain is an open air cafe area and here is where the classicals play. Every 2 out of 3 times, I would hear a string quartet play Pachabel's Canon. During summer, we saw a couple singing "Tonight" from West Side Story and even acted out the song with passion!

Strolling back round the market to hear a few more acoustic guitar songs before i left, i was thrilled to hear With or Without You. I plonked back down and basked in the sun. The girl next to me read her storybook while her dad enjoyed the music. It seemed like the perfect Sunday.

After all that, you must be wondering where the "market" is in all of that....well, it does actually have a proper marketplace area called the Apple Market. When its not Christmas (which is when the photo was taken), its bustling with people just browsing or looking to buy something "made in England"; the market only sells things made in England.

So yes, this market place is not really all you thought it was. It felt like home to be back. I grew up on ballet story books like Satin Slippers, Drina Adams and Ballet Shoes where little girls would talk of their dreams of getting into theatre, the Royal Ballet and being in Covent Garden. Way over in Singapore, i wanted to be part of the "West End" and so we just had to live in Covent Garden when we came back. So my weekends could be made of basking in the sun, like today.

Borough Market
If food is more your thing, then you would love Borough Market. There is an excess of everything....the photos say it all...

Olive buckets

Tomatoes tomatoes tomatoes

Huge cheeses

Huge mountain of brownies....looking vaguely like the pyramids of Gaza

Fresh home made bread

Gross rodents hanging from the shop as a sign to the others....beware...

The market is open from Thursdays to Saturdays. We've been on Thursdays and Saturdays and nothing quite beats the buzz on Saturdays. Go there on an empty stomach, and go early to beat the late lunch crowd which gets packed at 12.30 pm onwards. We go earlier at about 9.30 a.m. - 10 a.m. to buy fresh mushrooms, fruits, vegetables... and we move on to fresh jams, cheese, bread, brownies, cakes, chorizo sausages, and hot food - especially our favourite scallops with bean sprouts! And we have a cup of Monmouth coffee when we need a boost. Its my mom's favourite place in London!

Other mobile/temporary markets

Randomly from time to time seasonal markets sprout up as well....like the Christmas market every year at the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Its now a yearly tradition and we've been in the morning and in the bitter cold of a winter's night. The yuletide feeling is warm and fuzzy both times of the day...

Markets, fairs and carnivals make me feel alive and stirs a child-like excitement in me....easily my 2nd favouritest thing about London.

xxx

Eye on the Sky

2010-03-22T01:30:00.003+08:00

We're finally looking forward to our Eye on the Sky collection

available from next Monday (29 March).

Check out Eye on the Sky in our stockist, Odette & SHUU!

Elly featured on Pupsik Studio's blog

2010-02-11T02:20:00.002+08:00

Our sister label, Elly, has been featured on Pupsik Studio's blog!

http://pupsikstudio.blogspot.com/2010/02/elly-on-pupsik-studio.html

Elly is currently exclusive sold by Pupsik Studio! Check out their website for our current collection! www.pupsikstudio.com

Capri's professional photo shoot

2010-01-20T06:05:00.003+08:00

Capri had its first professional shoot in December 09 and it was so much fun. I can't believe how much I struggled to dress a mannequin and handle the camera in the past....

I'm going down this route from now!

We were doing a shoot for the Capri Eye On the Sky Collection 2010 which we intend to launch in March this year and I can't wait to post the pictures once the dresses are in the store!! Watch out for our new website or if you're on facebook, you can join our group and receive updates on open houses or new stockists! It already feels like its going to be an exciting year!

It was a very comfortable morning for the outdoor shoot at Henderson Wave and having just come back from London after 1 year, I was very thankful for the breeze on the bridge! We headed back to the studio for the rest of the shoot and it was such a good learning experience for me. Alot of hard work to be on your feet albeit nothing like what my photographer and model, Svetlana, had to go through.

Below is a photo of Svetlana taking a break while a make-up changing room was being set up for her.

The Best Vacation Ever (Part 3)

2010-01-14T06:04:00.004+08:00

The wonderful vacation in Africa didn't stop after the safari. The next stop after Botswana was to Victoria Falls for two nights at the Royal Livingstone on the Zambian side of the Falls. The hotel itself was beautiful in a colonial opulent sort of way. If you've ever been to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, you'll know what I mean. Staff were friendly and the food was good. But surrounding the hotel, just immediately outside the front gates, you were confronted by a sense of pervasive poverty. Sad in some ways.

The Falls themselves however were beautiful from every angle. You get very wet so you should dress appropriately and bring a rain coat from the hotel. Wrap your camera in a clear plastic bag to keep it from getting wet from the spray. The microlight flight was amazing and well-worth the money I think. The whitewater rafting also looked really good but there wasn't enough time in two days to do so many things. There were also other options for things to do which you could book from the hotel travel desk - short daytrips to the game reserve, river boat rides to watch the sunset, elephant back safaris and a trip to a game reserve to walk with lions. Plenty of things to do for even three or four days if you wanted to stay that long.

Here are some of the highlights:

Victoria Falls

Royal Livingstone

Outside the Royal Livingstone in the Zambian handicraft market

Taking a long walk from the Zambian side to the Zimbabwean side was also an interesting experience, although probably not one to repeat. The view of the Falls was equally impressive, but the highlight was probably the walk itself. Getting asked by the customs officer for a tip, or being followed all the way by someone asking for money, you could sense the desperation. One more tip if you feel in a bargaining mood. At the market selling handicrafts, the price of the bookends on sale started at 10 dollars. At the Zambian side it was 40 dollars. After bargaining the price down to 5 dollars and buying quite a few as a result, as I turned to leave, the tout shouted out running after me and offering as many more as I wanted for 1 dollar each.

Probably the highlight of the time at Vic Falls was the lunar rainbow. A full rainbow at night! Apparently Victoria Falls is one of the few places on earth that you could catch a nice full rainbow regularly during the full moon. It was cold and dark to wait in the park, so dress warmly and bring a torch or some some of light (your phone perhaps). Also, make sure you bring a tripod if you want to take pictures, otherwise there is no way to catch anything.

The next final stop of the trip was Cape Town in South Africa for four nights. Cape Town is a delightful place to spend a few days because of the numerous day trips you could do. The Cape Winelands were marvellous and so was the trip to Cape Point. Self-drives were common. A package tour was somewhat more convenient although it required quite a bit of sitting in the bus.

Within Cape Town, you could probably fill up two days of things to do if you pack it in - going up to Table Mountain and having a look at the town. Tours to see penguins, sharks and whales also run regularly. The food was excellent and good value all around Cape Town. Staying at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, you would be pretty close to everything. It was a very nice hotel as you can tell from the pictures.

View of Table Mountain from the hotel room window at the Victoria and Alfred

Table Mountain views

Mount Nelson (a nice place for high tea!)

Cape Winelands tour stops

Cape Point tour stops

Hope everyone enjoyed the pics and tips! And stay tuned for more updates!

The Best Vacation Ever (Part 2)

2010-01-12T06:22:00.007+08:00

So here is what a typical day at the safari camp in Botswana was like.

530am - Wake up call by the staff. It seems awfully early to be waking up at 530am while on holiday but in fact it was quite alright and we never missed a day (I'll get that why later). The toughest part was the cold because we were there in winter. It was about 2-3 degrees Celsius with no heating apart from the hot water bottles in our beds. Those were good but they just made you want to stay in bed more!

530-630am - Breakfast at the campfire. We had porridge, coffee and breads and cheese. The hot coffee was an excellent antidote to the cold.

630-1030am - Game drive! It was freezing to have the wind in your face in the open-top jeep. I think we had four layers on including my ski jacket but it was still colder than I have ever been while skiing. By 10am though, it was warm enough to be in a single t-shirt.

11am - Lunch followed by afternoon siesta. This is the main reason why we could wake up at 530am every day. You could take a nap, swim in the pool, read in the library, go on a tour of the lodge or perhaps a walking tour of the surrounding area with a guide.

330pm - Afternoon tea followed by the second game drive. At sunset we would stop for sundowners at a good spot to catch the wonderful sunsets.

8pm - Dinner followed by coffee around the campfire exchanging stories of the day's happenings with other guests.

So that's the taste of what a typical day was like. But of course, each game drive was completely unique and you never knew what to expect. The guides would ask you what you'd like to see and try their best to show you what you wanted, especially if they knew what you had already seen.

Here are some of our favourite pics from our game drives.

Lions

Elephants

Leopards

Others

Sunsets and scenery

Hope you enjoy these! Anyway the trip isn't over yet. Stay tuned for Part 3 with Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe and Cape Town too!

The Best Vacation Ever (Part 1)

2010-01-02T00:11:00.024+08:00

(Post written by my husband, David, who has taken on our travel posts)

This post is a little belated since I actually went on this trip some time back - July 2008 to be exact. But I think most of stuff would still be quite accurate as I suspect things don't really change so quickly.

Those of you who know me well might think that with a title like "Best Vacation Ever" the post was going to be about Disneyworld Orlando, or maybe Tuscany Italy, but nope. They are very close contenders but I think the best vacation I've been on so far has to be my trip to Africa. The main reason is that the safari part of it felt like a real vacation - no Blackberry, no Internet, no mobile phone, no TV either. I can't remember the last time I felt such peace and quiet. To be honest, the first day was a bit of panic and sense of loss of being disconnected to everything, but that feeling very quickly turned into calm contentment. Feeling as if you were worlds away. That's what a real vacation should feel like.

But I'm getting ahead of myself a little. Let's start at the beginning.

The journey up was a bit intimdating, not to mention that it was also more expensive that we had imagined. It seems it costs a lot to get away from it all. The airplanes got successively smaller and smaller - from Singapore to Johannesburg, then directly transiting to Maun in Bostwana, then immediately flying off to the first safari camp called Chitabe run by Wilderness Safaris.

But the adventures started even before the safari began - at the airport. After some of us had waited about 15 minutes at the shortest luggage belt ever, we realised, as we watched the red carpet being rolled out, that the delay had been caused by the arrival of a VIP. One of the baggage crew popped his head by the door and said "No more bags!" grinning and waving goodbye. Everyone laughed at the joke, welcoming the warm African hospitality, and continued to wait for the entourage to pass. It was only about 20 minutes later, when we began to get worried and asked the staff about our bags, that we realised that he hadn't been joking and that the rest of the luggage had missed the flight and would be on the later flight or the next day.

Arrival in Maun Airport in Bostwana

The world's shortest luggage belt

From this...

to that

But things quickly turned around as we took to the air and had a magnificient view of the Okavango Delta in Bostwana.

When we arrived at the airstrip for Chitabe camp, we were amazed by how simple everything was.

Long piece of sand to land on...

The aerobridge...

The emergency fire response unit...

So I was beginning to expect a "rough it out" type of camp-site, but the camps turned out to be beautiful and luxurious beyond my wildest dreams. Four-poster beds with soft sheets, double sinks, huge indoor and outdoor showers, what more could you ask for! Take a look for yourself.

Chitabe

Our second camp Savuti

All the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful and with a staff to guest ratio of something like 4 to 1, there was always someone around to help with anything you needed. Everything else was also well taken care of. There was free laundry, which you need because you're only allowed to carry a soft duffle bag each because the planes are so small. Accomodation was also full board with excellent food, all day alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails and the list goes on. The meals were good quality, with chefs taking pains to use some of the more unusual game like kudu or warthog.

But of course the point of a safari is not the accomodation, or the food, but the game drives. I have to confess I was never a great fan of nature, or animals. I've never watched an episode on Discovery Nature and Living or National Geographic in my life. But this was something different. To see how beautiful a lion's mane is, without a zookeeper to groom it every day, is nothing short of wondrous.

Prague

2009-11-02T03:27:00.010+08:00

JOYOUS CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED 2010 TO EVERYONE! I HOPE ALL YOUR WISHES COME TRUE THIS YEAR.

Well again it's been a while since my last update so I thought I would upload some stuff from my recent trip to Prague. I have to admit that Prague was not one of those cities that I've always wanted to visit. I know many people say Prague is one of the most romantic or beautiful cities in Europe or the world, but somehow I've never really felt the urge to go.

But anyway, a few curious coincidences later, I found myself in Prague not too long ago. There is some truth to what people say. The city is pretty, food is good and affordable, and there is a certain charm about it. I can see why some people love it so much. Am I one of them? Probably not, but you can judge for yourself.

I was only there for three days so I don't think I had the chance to soak in everything about the city. I'm sure there is a lot more to Prague and I'm only skimming the surface. My first impression was a city filled with a quaint charm about it. Even though certain areas were infested with throngs of tourists, the city still seemed larger than just that.

Here are a few pictures of the city:

Riverview from Charles Bridge

View of the main square from the top of the clock tower

Sunset view of Prague Castle

One of the highlights of the trip was the food. Food generally was good quality and affordable. Apart from the small little shops, I also had the chance to have dinner at Kampa Park along the river beside Charles Bridge. I think the food was good but not outstanding, although the atmosphere and view more than made up for it. I don't normally take photos of food but it was a special occasion so here goes.

Kampa Park

Squid ink risotto yummy

Foie Gras starter

Seafood bouillabaisse

Of course what would a trip to Prague be like without a few churches, clock towers and castles! But I must say it was never a case of being overwhelmed with too many.

Prague castle

Inside of the main cathedral

Clock Tower

Now what would be one of my blogs without a few quirky weird things I saw! Here's a pick of the best!

The super cycle

The toy museum inside the castle

Hard Rock Cafe

Some of the cutest toys we saw!

Well that's all I have on Prague. All in all, I think a nice place to spend a long weekend once in your life, so check it out if you have the chance!

Iceland

2009-10-20T05:36:00.006+08:00

Its been so long since I last wrote. Between the last post and today, we've (or I've) travelled to Eurodisney, the Birmingham Quilt Festival, Iceland, Paris Premiere Vision Fair and Prague. I am so behind with the uploading of pictures!

Well, no time better than now.

We bought a package with Icelandair which included 4 nights at Hilton Reykjavik and a free whale watching tour which cost approximately 470 pounds in total (including the airfare). No complaints about the airline. Everything was pretty smooth sailing. When you land at the Reykavik airport, you're greeted by a rather strange sight. I assumed it was a fruit but my cleverer friends remarked that it looked like a bird, and indeed it was.It was a Jet Nest! (Good spot - Lyn!)

The artwork is designed by Magnús Tómasson. The Jet Nest shows a big steel egg where a jet wing is peeking out like a little bird breaking out of it's egg. The piece is symbolic where it stands on a pile of Icelandic rocks. Magnús Tómasson says that the idea first came to him many years ago. "I was working on a series on the history of birds mentioning a small egg and on it a small beek appears. I worked on it some more and the outcome was the Jet Nest, my biggest piece."

I don't think i will ever understand art.

But then again, our walk around the town was peppered with amusing wall decor...check out the ram and bull.

There isn't much else to see in Reykjavik the town. We had 5 days in Iceland which were just about enough days to see most of the recommended tours in the area at our leisure. Our 5 days were spent as follows:

Minus 1: Arrive in hotel at 2 am in the morning even though the flight touched down at 11 pm - be prepared for slow airport transfers and slow check-in. Everything seems to happen at a glacial pace....pun intended

Day 1: Explore Reykjavik town and whale watching in the afternoon (this was a complete waste of time. We got thoroughly soaked and saw zero whales. it turned out more to be whale finding than watching....). We did manage to have lobster bisque at a recommended little hut called Sea Baron. It did taste more like laksa (yes laksa) bisque than your normal lobster bisque. The german students next door didn't take to it at all!

Day 2: JOKULSARLON AND SOUTH COAST TOUR - The longest tour we signed up for which started from 8 am and ended at 10 pm. If you have been in other places where you're surrounded by floating icebergs, you may want to give this a miss. Otherwise if this is the closest you're likely to come to that experience, then it's well worth the trip. The rest of the sights along the way are nice too, like Skogarfoss and Seljalandfoss, but they can be seen on other tours as well.

Day 3: ESSENTIAL ICELAND TOUR (Volcanoes, waterfalls and glaciers) - the highlight of which was a drive in a 4 by 4 onto a glacier (without having to hike. the best. but then again the same tour had me crawling on all fours in the narrowest lava tunnel in pitch darkness. not very happy (and bruised) at the end of that as I am sure you can imagine.) The great thing about a 4x4 was that we could drive across rivers and into inaccessible places so we got very close to waterfalls like Barnafoss and Hraunfossar, where we had a picnic lunch. It was so serene, sitting on a grass patch having a sandwich and coke and watching a waterfall...

Day 4: GOLDEN CIRCLE TOUR - Gulfoss, the Geysir and Thingvellir (which we also saw on Day 3). Thingvellir is awe-inspiring, the Geysir was a bit of a touristy must-see once type of activity and Gulfoss was a nice waterfall but we didn't have enough time to soak it in.

Day 5: Blue Lagoon followed by 4 pm flight home. The Blue Lagoon is nice and you should set aside 2 hours at least to relax and enjoy the place. Not many food options there though. We ended up having the buffet lunch at the restaurant where david finally got to eat whale meat.

Comment about meals: Every night we were so tired out from the tours that we ended up eating pizza from the Pizza Hut in our hotel and once we had fish and chip once from a shop opposite the Sea Baron.

I must begin this write-up by managing your expectations of Iceland. 70% of the time you spend travelling between places and surrounded by this: desolate lava wasteland. So bring along some music, good company and a lug of cheery feelings.

Well, rather than put our trip down in words, the photos should speak for themselves.

What lava wasteland looks like

JOKULSARLON AND SOUTH COAST TOUR

Skogarfoss Waterfall

Boat ride on a glacial lake of Europe's largest glacier - Vatnajokull

Seljalandsfoss Falls - We could walk behind this waterfall!

Thingvellir National Park where the European and American Continental Plates part - good part about Iceland was that geography lessons came alive. Everywhere we turned, there was something out of the National Geographic magazine - techtonic plates, waterfalls, glaciers, meanders, cut-offs....it was breathtaking

Langjokul Glacier - 2nd largest glacier in Iceland

Barnafoss / Hraunfossar - A waterfall made from from water running through lava caves

GOLDEN CIRCLE TOUR

Gulfoss Waterfall

The Geysir

BLUE LAGOON

P.S. I made it a point to upload photos from my Canon IXUS 860 - just so you can see how easy it is to capture a spectacular shot in Iceland!

elly loves

2009-08-06T05:06:00.004+08:00

Haven't been updating my blog at all! I've been busy trying to launch a new line! Check out capri's new baby line: www.ellyloves.com

Boyzone, Wembley Arena, 30 May 2009

2009-06-01T05:25:00.005+08:00

I just HAD to post pictures of the Boyzone concert at Wembley Arena on Saturday night (30 May). It was unreal to see Boyzone!!

The last time i saw them perform at Wembley Arena, it was on tv 12 years ago - i was studying at King's and they were singing "Every day i love you" to a crowd of women screaming "Yessssssss" when they sang this line in the song that goes "If i asked, will you say yes......"

Then, i had looked over to my then boyfriend-now husband and said - that would have been me if we had managed to go for that...... and last night, :) there i was screaming yes to Boyzone!!!

I love London. What can i say. Concerts after concerts, musicals after musicals. This week was great - i got to watch a musical and a boyband concert in the same week!

The costume changes were hilarious....the concert, particularly with the backup dancers, bordered on cheesy at some parts, and tacky on other parts....but otherwise, was superb entertainment.

Heh.

Check out the pictures->

The Band

First Costume Change - Maroon Velvet Pants

Doing a Queen number with the works: yellow leather jacket and all

Boyband Pose Number 1

Just when you thought it couldn't get cheesier....crowns and velvet cloaks come on....

Boyband Pose Number 2

Boyband Pose Number 3

Ronan is oh so cute!

Amazing Finale - Flying over the audience in gold pants. Superb stuff. Nuff said.

Cinque Terra

2009-05-26T01:56:00.004+08:00

Cinque Terra (the "five lands") - Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore

We have wanted to go to Cinque Terra since our honeymoon 6 years ago. There’s a funny story (ok maybe at that time, it wasn’t so funny to my poor then-new husband) of how we had scheduled a 3-week long holiday where the 1st week was spent at the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and Capri, the 2nd in Cinque Terra and Florence and the last week in Tuscany and Rome. Friends who knew us then would know that we ended up in Disney World in Orlando in the 2nd week trying to escape the heat wave in Italy (at least that was my excuse)! And so, we had to go back to see Cinque Terra at some point and there was no better time than Easter!

We flew into Pisa from London Gatwick on Easter on British Airways for 130 pounds return each. Budget airlines like Ryanair also fly to Pisa but prices were equally expensive for the Easter period so we opted for BA instead.

Cinque Terra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is in the Liguria region of Italy. It comprises five (i.e. "cinque") little villages along the sea surrounded by hillsides and on the drive down to Monterosso (the largest of the 5 villages), the village are almost not visible from the roads.

A local train from La Spezia to Genoa connects the five lands or you can take a passenger ferry between the lands although you should note the timing of the ferry as it may determine how long you can stop at each village.

On the first evening, the weather was perfect – it was sunny but not too hot, wind blowing in our faces, so we took a boat from the 1st village where we lived, Monterosso, to the furthest, Riomaggiore. (On hindsight, I thought the 5 villages were best viewed from the boat. I loved how you could see at one glance how far apart the villages were and how they randomly appeared in the middle of cliffs.)

Each town was similar in terms of what you would be looking for or looking to do –
(1) Gelato (2) Gelato (3) Gelato.
Heh. Ok ok. I’ll be serious. Here’s what we did in each village:
(1) Find a gelato stop (2) Walk down quaint streets (3) Find a beachfront café to sit and watch the world go by (until the next boat or train).

It was as easy as that. Because it was April, we hadn’t anticipated great weather for swimming or hanging out by the beach so we didn’t bring swimsuits. It turned out to be great weather for sunbathing though! Such a pity!

If you have sufficient time, you must walk one of the trails. Route 1 which goes high above the towns and route 2 which goes between the towns closer to the sea. Route 1 also connect Portovenere on the south and Levanto on the north to the Cinque Terre. You can easily walk between the Cinque Terre towns on the lower route in one day. It takes about 5 - 6 hours. If you don't fancy doing the full trail in one day, you can break them up.

I guess the pictures speak for themselves.....

Vernazza

~

Riomaggiore

Corniglia

Monterosso al Mare

Manarola

WHERE TO STAY

We opted to stay in Monterosso even though it was the largest and least quaint of the 5 towns. Folks who enjoy a quieter stay usually opt to stay in Vernazza. We weren't sure what shops were open on Easter Sunday and Monday (both being public holidays) and thought we would have more options in the largest village. We also wanted a hotel with a view without having to walk up steep stairs - when you book your hotel, do check this as you might not want to carry luggage up and down many stairs. We chose Hotel Pasquale for that and the location couldn't be beat. The price was on the steep side, at 145 Euros a night. If you do stay there, you must ask for a room on a high floor. Our room was on the first floor and there was a path sloping down that went right past our room. The train running past regularly didn't bother us as much as the partying and laughing folks walking past our room late into the night.

Our hotel - Albergo Pasquale (the peach building with green windows)

View from our room

FOOD

Lunch at Ciak

This was THE place to eat. We peeped into their kitchen and it was filled with the yummiest looking shell fish. The pot on the right is the spaghetti marinara. 14 Euros for 1 portion. That picture shows you what one portion is!!! 3 of us could eat it. We had the fish soup - the left pot was a portion for 2. The meal was SO GOOD and fresh and SO GOOD (have i said that already?). Remember to go early, or make a reservation, as we saw queues outside during every meal time.

Gelato + marinara = always the best part of our Italian holidays.... :)

Bank Holiday Madness

2009-05-24T03:28:00.001+08:00

....audrey has learnt that it is a bad idea to venture out into Oxford Circus and the West End on a bank holiday weekend when the weather is great, the sun's shining and hot.......the rest of London had the same idea....

Shanghai Part 4 - Last Bits

2009-05-20T05:01:00.010+08:00

PLACES TO STAY

Taxis in Shanghai are really cheap so anywhere around Xintiandi, People's Square, Bund, Huahuai Lu would all be accessible.

One consideration is how easy it is to get a taxi from your hotel e.g. we stayed at the Radisson before and had a really good rate for a 2 bedroom suite with a living room with 2 sofas and dining table for 8 persons. Every night we watched episodes of Without a Trace off the DVDs we bought. However, on weekends and in the evenings, it was a nightmare to try to catch a cab with the people cutting queues or rushing into your taxi or both. Since cabs were our main mode of transport to dinner and meeting with friends, I don’t think I’ll stay at the Radisson again.

We have stayed at the Westin Bund Hotel and it was F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S and if I had the budget, I’d be staying there all the time. The heavenly shower is as good as its name – simply heavenly after spending a hot summer afternoon out in the crowded Shanghai in the heat and humidity.

~~~

Our next favourite and a lot more affordable hotel is Pudi Boutique which is located in less known area, just 5 minutes from Xintiandi by cab.

Pudi Boutique Hotel Room with a flat screen swivel TV behind the alcohol

From Shanghai

Dave proudly showing off the TV

From Shanghai

The luxurious bathroom

From Shanghai

Enjoying the window seat

From Shanghai

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A cheaper alternative still relatively convenient is Citadines Jinqiao. It’s a no-fuss but clean hotel with decent service and check for discounts with the Citibank credit card which may include free breakfasts.
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LAST THOUGHTS

I thought it would be a good time to end off with managing expectations about Shanghai. People tend to end up either loving the place or hating it.....

- It's a noisy and polluted place (with bicycles which haven't been oiled in years squealing to a stop at traffic light in Shaanxi Lu).

- It is dirty: I've seen people dig their nose and stick it on the wall of the Raffles City Tower and a couple of times, people have spat on the floor centimetres away from my feet in open-toed sandals with back splash landing on my poor feet. I won't bother to mention littering as that's the least of your worries of all the possible unsavoury habits .

- It's a "every man for himself" land.

-> A fair number of the "average man on the street" has no manners, etiquette and/or civility. I am over generalising here but it felt that way no matter where I went during my 4 trips to Shanghai. I had an experience in KFC where this lady's first priority would be to get into queue in front of me and only when she reached the front, she would yell at her friends sitting at the table nowhere near the counter (really really really loudly) to ask what they wanted to order......

-> They have NO respect for queuing. I say this with my hand over my heart – ZERO. I've had too many cabs stolen from me when I'm standing Right At the Door waiting politely for the passenger to step out of the cab by some lady who walks in from the other door and sits down inside the cab or simply pushes me out of the way (and I'm really quite tall so there is some obvious effort in pushing). So, d

on't bother being polite when it comes to queuing for cabs or at KFC or any other fastfood joint (make sure you watch who the person is in front of you like a hawk, you never know how they could slide themselves in between if you leave so much as a gap to avoid breathing in someone else's hair and they turn around and scold you for not being quicker to protect your spot).....

-> And most importantly, don't bother getting angry about it either, if not, 2 days into your holiday, you'll be really upset about the lack of manners which will waste your holiday. Just join them. Fight for your cab.

Shanghai Part 3 - What to See

2009-05-16T21:29:00.010+08:00

As my sightseeing around Shanghai is planned around meals, I haven't spent much time visiting the more touristy sights. The sights I would recommend are:

1) Taking a day tour to one of the water villages (or "Venice of the East") out of Shanghai. We went to Xi Tang, where Mission Impossible 3 was filmed (if you remember these scenes of Tom Cruise running through narrow streets by the water to find his girlfriend in one of the buildings with the help of his colleague using a GPS tracker). It’s amazing how Xi Tang has kept is tranquillity and simplicity in the middle of buildings and development. This is my number 1 recommendation and hence the many photos of Xi Tang.

From Shanghai

2) A view of the Bund – I prefer viewing this from New Heights or an equivalent restaurant with a view than walking with the crowds by the water. Make no mistake – on no account am I suggesting you walk by the Bund. It’s hot and humid in the summer and it’s impossible to find a taxi to go home and the sightseeing tunnel that takes you to Pudong is a rip-off. Take a taxi to Pudong if necessary.

3) Instead of going to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower to have a view of Puxi, try Cloud 9 at the Grand Hyatt (which occupies the 53rd to 87th floor of the Jinmao Tower) for afternoon tea or supper/dessert – either times, don't expect too much of a view…the pollution in Shanghai is quite bad. Apparently there’s a Chinese man in authentic robes who walks around at night and tells your fortune. I’m not sure if you have to pay to have your fortune told but he looked quite cool.

The view of the Grand Hyatt hotel rooms from the 87th floor

Dessert at Cloud 9

4) If you're a shopper, cruise the streets along Fumin Lu, Shaanxi Lu, Xinle Lu (after Dragonfly, a shop called Jo Collection), Changle Lu, Maoming Lu and Nanchang Lu. They sell factory overruns of DVF dresses, Chloe blouses etc etc. You have to be patient though – take time to sieve in each shop.

5) Xintiandi and the French Concession generally – I generally like window shopping around this area although I admit it's slightly touristy but you have to take time to walk the streets around the French Concession and check out the small stores.

Xintiandi

6) "Off the beaten path" places – Taikang Lu, Ferguson Lane or I hear there’re some art galleries in Moganshan Lu in refurbished old warehouses but I haven’t been.

Be patient at finding these places - they tend to literally pop out of nowwhere. Taikang Lu is a little harder to spot from where the taxis drop you off - follow the tourists (Westerners usually) through the streets.

Kommune at Taikang Lu

7) DVD shopping – Dagu Lu has 3 huge shops which sell box sets. I even got Ah Xin for my sister (the Japanese serial which ran on for ages when we were in primary school) although it turned out to be in Japanese without any subtitles. Ha.

8) Parks - Yu Yuan is fine for a morning out if you fancy authentic Chinese gardens and hoards of tourists. Don't expect too much and you'll be fine. If you stay near Fuxing Park, check it out in the mornings. It was a pleasant walk amongst various groups of people dancing to different CD player music and, old folks practising tai ji…. We saw this young dude trying to learn tai ji from the grand masters and couldn’t help taking a picture.

9) If you do need massage therapy at the end of your walking, I go to Dragonfly for massages and Frangipani for pedicures.
http://www.dragonfly.net.cn/pages/welcome.htm
http://www.frangipani-shanghai.com/

Shanghai Part 2 - Still about Food

2009-05-15T02:18:00.006+08:00

Friends living in Shanghai have given me new recommendations to try when I next visit:

1. Lost Heaven (Indochinese) = 38 Gao You Lu, near Fu Xing Xi Lu, Tel 64335126

2. Shanghai Uncle (Shanghainese) = 211 Tian Yao Qiao Lu, Tel 64646430

3. Maya (Mexican) = 568 Ju Lu Lu, Tel 62896889

4. Haiku (Japanese) = 28B Tao Jiang Lu, Tel 64450021, near Hengshan Lu

5. Qiao Jiang Nan (aka 881 South Beauty) = 881 Yan-An Lu Near Shaanxi Nan Road, Tel 6247 5878

6. Jade on 36 - this is molecular cuisine/ “atas french food”. It's right on top of Pudong Shangri-La. Ask for a window table so u can have nice view of the Bund from Pudong.

7. Guyi hunan for spicy Chinese

8. La creperie at taojiang lu (near dongping lu)

9. Burgers (yes, burgers in shanghai!) - Gourmet cafe

*Note: add 021 before all these numbers if you're dialing from abroad

Shanghai

2009-05-14T03:00:00.021+08:00

I had so much to blog about Shanghai I had to put them in separate posts. First things' first.....

FOOD

Every time someone asks why I visit Shanghai so much – I tell them it's all about the food (other than meeting my tailors and buying fabric of course). You can get a wide variety of quality food at very reasonable prices.

Here's a list of restaurants I have personally tried and recommend:

1) Xin Ji Shi (Jesse in English)

41 Tian Ping Lu, Tel: 6282 9260

This is my ABSOLUTE Favourite Shanghainese rest. It has an outlet in Xintiandi which is not as authentic. Its worth taking the cab to Tian Ping Lu for the Real Deal! Try the claypot tao yu pork (5 stars!), beancurd cold dish, jellyfish with vinegrette cold dish, tau pok cold dish (except this one’s not cold), deep fried huang yu (‘yellow fish’ literal translation) and soup which has crab, fish and prawn which name I don’t know. Reservations required. It’s a very small restaurant but turns around tables very fast.

2) Crystal Jade or Din Tai Fung

2nd Floor, Xintiandi, Tel: 6385 8752

The xiao long bao is exceptionally nice in Crystal Jade and Din Tai Fung – better than those served in Singapore in either of their respective branches. Both are also really “value for money” meals. Go before 12 noon for dim sum at Crystal Jade on Sundays to beat the crowds. You can find both at Xintiandi. Worth making reservations although the queue moved quite fast on a week night.

3) Whisk

1250 Huai Hai Zhong Lu, Tel 54047770. Near Hua Ting Lu.
Serves great chocolate milkshakes but the food is only average. Reservations weren’t needed when we went on a week day.

4) La Platane (opened by Justin Quek of Les Amis)

373 Huang Pi Nan Lu

This is french fusion - when you reserve, ask to sit at the brasserie not the restaurant unless you fancy a fancy dinner. I liked the foie gras xiao long bao and mushroom soup served in a cup and mushroom risotto and duck special of the day. Have heard not so great reviews of their steak generally.

5) Charms Restaurant at Raffles City

Tel: 6340 50585

If you happen to be in the area (near Nanjing Lu or the Pedestrian Street/People’s Square or Renmin guangchang), pop in for lunch - the bread with ice cream is good! Strange, i know. We also had a couple of other good Shanghainese dishes like fish, brinjal but I can’t remember them distinctly. This place doesn’t accept reservations at lunchtime.

6) Shanghai Lao Zhan (Ye Olde Station)

201 Caoxi Bei Lu, Xujiahui. Tel: 6427 2233

This is a touristy place cos you eat in an old railway carriage which was quite cool. The Shanghainese food was ok – somewhat salty but not too bad. When you reserve, tell them you want to sit in the railway carriage, if not, they might seat you in the dining room instead.

7) Kommune at Taikang Lu has THE BEST English breakfast - 3 sunny side ups, bacon, mushrooms, potato wedges….. and the best hot chocolate served in the huge cup.

Check out the huge cup!!

Cute fish tank behind us at Kommune

8) 1221

1221 Yan'an Xi Lu. Tel: 6213 6585.

You need to take a cab there – its 30 minutes from the city centre (i.e. Renminguangchang) but the food was good and very cheap. S$50 or S$60 in all for 7 dishes for 4 persons with free dessert.

9) New Heights

No. 3 on the Bund, 7F, 3 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Road. Tel: 6321 0909.

Go to New Heights for its great patio & excellent outdoor view, but not for the food. I’ve had good salad there but otherwise the food is expensive and not great at all. Service is also bad. I hear that the food in Laris on the lower floor is better (although more expensive). If you’re there for a special day like an anniversary or birthday, book The Cupola. Its an exclusive dining table in a two storey domed structure on the top of 3 on the Bund. The 2nd storey seats just 2 and is supposed to be really romantic!!

View of the Bund from New Heights

Use smartshanghai.com for the locations/addresses of any place you need.

Next post: Recommendation from friends living in Shanghai for more food places

Dubrovnik and Montenegro

2009-05-10T23:45:00.010+08:00

DUBROVNIK

Sights from the bus on the way from the airport

The Main Street

Walking the city walls

Montenegro

WHAT TO DO IN DUBROVNIK?....Nothing very much actually

I'm sure the Dubrovnik scenery shots speak for themselves. Dubrovnik was as picturesque as the photos showed. But there wasn't too much activity to do in the Old Town. We spent a nice afternoon strolling along the city walls....ok perhaps strolling sounds alot easier than it was. Its not a flat walk - some slow climbs, but its worth the effort. The city walls gave you the best views of the Old Town.

What i didn't appreciate about DuBrovnik was how tourist overrun it was. Cruise ships docked on both Saturday and Sunday and hoards of tourists would pour out into the Old Town (and it wasn't that big to cope with that kind of crowds). Everywhere you went, there would be a tour guide with a flag that said 77, or 78, or 79 from the cruise. It wasn't really the weekend I envisaged so I was happy to chill by the beach and read a book just a few hundred metres from the Old Town. I can't imagine how crowded it gets in summer!!

In the evenings and lunches, we focused on finding yummy seafood.

There is the option of island hopping but it was slightly rainy when we were there and I get seasick too easily so we decided not to.

I would definitely recommend taking a day tour to Montenegro or Mostar. We went to Montenegro with Atlas (the tour is called "Pearls of Montenegro" I think, and bus leaves at 7.25 a.m. from the bus stop 2 minutes outside the Hilton and arrives back in Dubrovnik at 6 p.m.) and boy, were we surprised at the beautiful and serene view. It was absolutely picturesque. I grew up with a stereo-typical image of Yugoslavia - war-torn and poverty being two key words. It was nothing like. It was just fairytale-beautiful. The day tour stopped us in a town for lunch and provided the typical mass "tour bus standard" lunch, i.e. poor. If you do take the same tour, skip the lunch, even if its free. Walk towards the beach and have fabulously huge and cheap fresh fish by the water. We had tea by the water but were drooling with envy at the table next to us.

Bit of trivia: From the former Yugoslavia , 7 countries were created, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.

FOOD IN DUBROVNIK:

We recommend two restaurants of the few we tried:

LOKANDA PESKARIJA at Na ponti bb which is by the water/walls in the Old Town. It was good value for money and half the price of Proto. We had excellent seafood risotto, grilled prawns and fried squid.

PROTO at Siroka 1 which was also in the Old Town. We had black squid ink risotto this time, fried squid again (because I couldn't get enough) and fried fish. The fish was very fresh and i liked the squid, which was done slightly differently from Lokanda Peskarija. It had less gravy. But it was more than double the price and i'm not sure it was worth that. Still, if you like fish, that's a good bet.

WHERE TO STAY?

We stayed at the Hilton Imperial, just outside the Old Town. It was at a great location, nice indoor pool, spa, great rooms, and also had a decent breakfast to start the day. Some people opt to stay inside the Old Town but remember not to pack too much if you are because you're going to be carry your own luggage into the Old Town - no public transport is allowed inside. I'm glad we stayed outside the Old Town though (see comments above about hoards of cruise ship tourists). It was nice to just enjoy the hotel and chill.

HOW TO GET THERE?

We took a BA flight to Dubrovnik for less than 130 pounds a person. BA was having a sale - extremely good value flight!! You can also take the budget airlines such as easyjet.

Sadie

2009-05-10T23:45:00.005+08:00

Jersey dress with butterfly back - Part of capri's new collection coming soon!

Felicity dress

2009-05-10T23:44:00.003+08:00

From May 2009

A casual comfortable jersey dress - sold in London (single piece only).

Felicia dress

2009-05-10T23:42:00.003+08:00

From May 2009

This lovely Japanese print must be tried on to see the fish sleeves effect. The design grows on you, as does the skirt detail. Sold in London - single piece only.

Liesel dress

2009-05-10T23:28:00.003+08:00

Evening dress in jersey fabric with beige pink binding detail. Perfect for a Friday night out without being too dressy! Sold at Odette & SHUU.

Tammy blouse

2009-05-10T23:24:00.003+08:00

Silk relaxed sleeveless blouse in a springtime prints - only sold in Odette & SHUU.

I rarely make blouses to sell but the fabric was too tempting!

Jackets

2009-03-25T05:50:00.001+08:00

Bolero

Black and white wool jacket with 3 silver buttons

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Gillian

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Lola

A white mid-length jacket with gathered sleeve edges for a feminine touch.

(Sold out)