Teotihuacan

We visited friends in Mexico City over the Thanksgiving Weekend and had the opportunity to visit Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 25 miles Northeast of the city. We managed to climb the Pyramid of the Sun, stroll the Avenue of the Dead and see the Pyramid of the Moon, which we were too lazy to climb.

Teotihuacan is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico and was built between 200 B.C. - 100 A.D. That's me on our descent from the Pyramid of the Sun. At nearly 250 feet tall, it is the second largest pyramid in the Western Hemisphere and third largest in the world, after the Great Pyramid of Cholula, Mexico and the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.

Where have I been?

A couple of weeks after I arrived home from Washington, my husband and son and I took off for a holiday in Thailand for a few weeks. Bliss! But it seems like an eon ago and I'm already itching for another holiday (obviously I'm greedy with a capital G). I've been back a couple of weeks but I've been so busy with work I've barely been able to scratch myself, hence the lack of posting. But I'm back on deck now and looking forward to getting back into the swing of posting.

Washington was work, work, work and not much else (but a great job & lovely people to work with), and Thailand was so very, very relaxing coming off the back of the U.S. trip.  The highlight of the trip for me was a visit to the flower market in Chiang Mai and I thought I'd share just a few of  the snaps I took to savour the memory - it was a riot of colour and scents...

Prada Camouflage Nylon Pouch

image: prada.com

Prada nylon pouches are so handy for travel or for keeping things organized in your bag. This newest Camouflage pattern is masculine and fun and the perfect little gift for Eric.

Available at Prada here.

Navy Beach Montauk

Seafood & Chips
image: navybeach.com

We had dinner twice this week at Navy Beach in Montauk. The Scallops, Salmon and Ceviches are instant favorites or go for the Seafood and Chips if you have a large appetite. Go before sunset to skip stones on the calm bay.

Navy Beach dinner outfit: I wore an All Saints tee with Uniqlo White jeans and Havaianas Silver flip flops.

I took home a signature Navy Beach tank. Navy Beach website here.

Round Swamp Farm in East Hampton

An institution in East Hampton, Round Swamp Farm on Three Mile Harbor Road, has the finest produce and prepared food in the area. I don't think a weekend has gone by without some of their delicious guacamole, salsa and picnic chicken. Everything is undeniably delicious. We spied Patrick Demarchelier selecting raspberries yesterday and learned from one of the owners that he was the very first house account at Round Swamp Farm.

The Lobster Roll AKA LUNCH

Charmingly referred to as LUNCH, due to the large sign, this true beach restaurant was the first in the area to serve lobster rolls. LUNCH also features all the fried food one would expect from a seafood shack. Take a drive just passed Amagansett and you're there.

Sunset at The Beacon

A traditional treat in the East End is sunset dining at The Beacon, located in historic Sag Harbor Village. The clouds obscured our view, but the great food and convivial atmosphere more than made up for it.

The Beacon website here.

Vacation

We are on vacation this week in East Hampton. I hope everyone is enjoying their August as much as I am.

Place: Wellington

Last week I spent a few rainy days working in Wellington - that didn't stop me from exploring...up to the Botanical Gardens in the Wellington Cable Car, a walk through the beautiful gardens (it was worth walking in the pouring rain just to see the most magnificent magnolia tree I've ever seen in full bloom). An added bonus: I had the gardens all to myself! Then I meandered down Tinakori Road, and browsed through Millwood Gallery whereupon I purchased the fabulously illustrated Wellington Book:

And now I'm back home in similarly wet and windy Melbourne!

[Images from The Wellington Book]

Singapore bound

I'm off to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore later this year (with the Luxe guide in my pocket of course) and I'm having difficulty finding somewhere 'nice' to stay in Singapore. I have been there before but it was for business and the accommodation was booked for me by my employer. But this time around I get to choose. Do any travel-savvy bloggers have some suggestions/advice to help me out? (Image: Luxe City Guides)

Weekend Arm Party

Off to East Hampton for the weekend with my mash up of an arm party. Cartier Love, Chan Luu Amethyst, Czech glass beads, Turquoise, St. Barth charm (hidden), and Carnelian.

Somewhere in Sydney

Somewhere in Sydney...that's where I've been the past few days, soaking up a bit of winter sunshine, hence the lack of posts since Monday.

Whilst in Sydney, we took in the harbour by ferry...

Passed by the iconic Sydney Opera House...

And, taking the ferry, we went all the way down to Watson's Bay to walk in the national park and take in the sight of the South Head entry to the harbour...

(Watson's Bay looking back towards the city)

(South Heads - entry to the Sydney Harbour)

(Another view of the Heads)

We watched the ice skaters skating in the shadow of St Mary's Cathedral...

And we wandered the back streets of Paddington and Woollahra gazing at the gorgeous terraces with their lovely architectural detail...

(The redeveloped Paddington Reservoir)

(A close-up of the arches at the Paddington Reservoir)

All in all, it feels like we walked a million miles in three days we were in Sydney. I wish I'd had a sunshine yellow Vespa to ride around on instead, just like this cute one I spotted on the street in Surrey Hills...

Friday far away: Dry Paddocks

My occasional 'Friday far away' series is a way for me to keep track of some of the very beautiful places/accommodation that I come across in my web surfing travels - they're places I think 'yes, I'd like to stay there one day if I'm ever in that neck of the woods'.  Well, reading this month's Australian Country Style magazine I came across another place I'd like to stay the next time I visit New Zealand, i.e. the boutique accommodation Dry Paddocks that's situated in the winery area of Waipara Valley - in the North Canterbury region of the South Island (approx. 45 minutes from the city of Christchurch).

The corrugated iron exterior with the snow capped mountains in the background:

The lovely neutral interior looks very inviting and relaxing. A great base from which to explore the wineries:

[All images from: Dry Paddocks]