Remembering Datai Bay...a hidden gem

If I had to describe a heavenly place to spend a romantic (or family) holiday, it would be this one: it meets all the requirements.

Magnificent beach, impressive rain forest, stunning room, good food, good spa, impeccable service, memorable sunrises and sunsets...A tranquil, hidden place in the middle of nowhere.

Datai Bay is located on Langkawi, an island to the north-west of Malaysia, less than an hour's flight from Kuala Lumpur.

Four years ago, I stayed at The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort. It is surrounded by a ten million year old rainforest and by an eight thousand year old coral reef.  The architecture blends beautifully into its environment.

The hotel entrance is at the bottom of the hill - we arrived in an open style lobby and reception. On arrival, we were welcomed with instrumental music, and we were served drinks and given a refreshing towel.

The hotel has four restaurants: fresh seafood, Malaysian, Japanese, and the main restaurant, which serves a daily breakfast buffet and specialises in Italian cuisine in the evening. I found the food quality very good, but not gastronomic.

I stayed in a standard bedroom: large, beautiful and modern, with plenty of natural light coming from the large glass doors. The room had a balcony from where I could view the lush garden and the swimming pool. The lovely bathroom was very large with excellent toiletries. I also loved the attention to detail: on the small table in the bedroom, there was a plate of fresh fruit which was replenished every day, along with a welcome tray of chocolates and bottles of water, daily papers etc...

I was enchanted with Datai Beach, arguably one of the best beaches on Langkawi, which is quiet, secluded and clean. This remote beach is difficult for the public to access, so it is only shared by two hotels: The Andaman and the Datai Resort.

Every day in the morning I walked the entire length of the bay before taking a dip at the beach. After, I would sunbathe on one of the many readily available beach chairs. In the afternoon, I used to spend some time at the resort’s lagoon-style pool. During our stay I enjoyed watching the sunset while having a cocktail on the beach.

Another memorable experience was my long walks along a paved path that led up to the V Botanical Spa villas located on the hillside. From there, the view of Datai Bay and the Andaman Sea was breath-taking. A “must do” at The Andaman is its Spa - V Integrated Wellness. The Spa treatments were excellent and worth every penny. I loved the massages and was able to choose the oil I wanted. The environment was gorgeous.

The Andaman has a number of activities on offer, from rainforest nature walks, coral nursery visits and cooking classes to golf and kayaking. Nevertheless, if you want a thrill you can always visit the Crocodile Farm, one of the two main tourist attractions on Langkawi…While I was at the hotel I admired a wonderful wedding from a distance, which was a perfect intimate celebration for about 30 guests.

But, my nostalgic review would not be complete without my friends...the monkeys. Those clever creatures, who stole my fresh fruit every day, were so cute and funny. Completely unafraid of humans, they used to approach me and escort me on my way up to the Spa on the hillside. They were an entertainment in themselves. I loved to watch them and hear them leaping from tree to tree or from balcony to balcony.

Note: All the photos were taken with my Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W50 compact camera.

If you are a lover of Asia, them check out this (my favourite) fabulous blog www.The Yum List.net

Whom Not to Marry by Father Pat Connor (2010)

This is the new single woman's Bible that shows how to distinguish Mr. Right from Mr. Right Now. Father Pat’s philosophy: a love affair may lead to marriage, but love itself cannot make a marriage work. That is why it is important to weed out the bad seeds before you fall in love.

I cite below a few of Father Connor’s Commandments to know whom not to marry:

• Never marry a man who has no friends, because he will not be able to have the intimacy that marriage demands.

• Never marry a man who cannot present you as his fiancé. If he is reluctant to use the term "us," or introduces you simply as a "friend", he is not ready to get married.

• Never marry a man who lives under his mother's skirts. There will be no space for you.

Author: Father Pat Connor has been a Catholic priest for more than fifty years. Having presided over more than two hundred weddings and conducted pre-marriage and marriage counselling for more than forty years, he is something of an expert. Born in Bordentown in Australia, where he is based, Father Pat travels the state giving talks on the subject of Whom Not to Marry. He also spent nine years in India as a missionary. This is his first book.

My thoughts: I read this book a few years ago in the Portuguese version. I am so glad to introduce you to this cute book which is written in a gentle, familiar tone that makes reading easy. I truly liked the way Father Pat covered this topic and I had a good time reading it. I also found it to be very perceptive; simple advice you ought to take into consideration when you are engaged and before you get married. Personally, I believe in intuition mixed with common sense. Value yourself and love yourself above all others. Remember, love always comes when least expected. Never search for it and when you meet the person who makes you smile, understands you, accepts you as you are; with your strengths and weaknesses, cherish him and don't take anything for granted. Nice guys exist, don't doubt it!

DIY gift idea for Valentine's Day

Today, I just want to share with you a very simple, quick and romantic DIY gift for Valentine's Day. Sometimes a little gesture is worth millions...

1 - Search for your favourite poem, THE ONE that has a strong meaning for you and Mr Lucky Man.

2 - Buy a beautiful sheet of paper, a soft colour is better.

3 - Buy a flower with petals (they are easier to dry and keep the petal shapes). I choose a red gerbera, a seasonal flower which looks like a daisy but is bigger and has a vivid colour. The gerbera expresses wonderment, cheerfulness, friendliness and depth of feeling.

4 - Dry the flower for at least one week in advance. Grandmother’s tip: to dry flowers flat, in order to slip them into the envelope of your romantic letter, you can lay the flower flat between sheets of newspaper and place a heavy dictionary/book on top of it.

5 - Choose a handwriting style of font in Word and print the poem on the gorgeous paper you bought.

6 - Fold your romantic letter with the dried flower inside and put in the envelope. Et Voilà!!

For Valentine’s Day we tend to celebrate twice; once at home and once out. So, I will prepare a lovely menu and place the precious envelope on top of his present.

Hope you enjoy this suggestion.

Café des Négociants

Sweetheart had been dying to go to the Café des Négociants for ages, as his colleagues and friends (me included) are always praising this place. So I managed to secure a table - here you have to book a table a week in advance - for our first dinner out of this year. We went there a couple of weeks ago.

“This French Bistro is one of the best I have experienced to date. The food is delicious and the portions are generous.” he said. I couldn't agree more…This restaurant ticks all the boxes: food, deco, excellent service, atmosphere and location. It is our kind of place...

Located in the main street of Carouge, Négociants is a bright and pretty café on two levels. In the summer you can eat outside…they have a nice (and crowded) terrace. Can you picture yourself sitting there when the sun is shining...hmmm...lovely isn't?

Exterior view

Main dining room with big windows looking onto Carouge’s high street

The other level is the wine cellar which you can book as a private dining room for an event. It accommodates up to twelve guests; it is really a charming and intimate room. After sweetheart had admired their wine cellar downstairs, we took our place upstairs. We were literally watering at the mouth at the treats that were presented on the menu…

Downstairs wine cellar

Menu

The food was extraordinary. It was delicious and well prepared, made with locally produced ingredients. It reminded me of great home cooking, which I adore.

Sweetheart ordered Scottish salmon tartare with lime zest and toast with seaweed butter as a starter.

...and for main course, he ordered roast duck breast with peppers and French fries

I opted for marbled duck foie gras and braised oxtail in red wine as a starter

…and for main dish I chose my favourite meat, lamb shank confit, thyme sauce, gratin potatoes with cream. I love their French fries, so I asked for a portion on the side

Even though I was so full, I couldn't resist a dessert...you know me by now, I have a sweet tooth. See how yummy this rum baba is...Sweetheart finished his delicious chocolate mousse in a flash...maybe he was worried I would eat his dessert...after all, I have a bad habit of stealing his desserts....

Pure Venezuela chocolate mousse with double cream and cocoa meringues

Rum Baba, with orange flavoured syrup and whipped cream

Every dish we had was an explosion of flavours and tastes. The price was reasonable; the entire meal came to around CHF 200 including an aperitif, Kir Royal, Champagne and a glass of wine each.

Our motto is “Eat cuisine du terroir, unpretentious and yet fabulous. It is all about taste.”

As for my look, it was comfy, sober and feminine, as usual, with my favourite high heel boots by Luis Onofre...and jewels, of course.

Café des Négociants

29, rue de la Filature

(on the corner of Rue St-Victor)

1227 CAROUGE

Tél. : +41 22 300 31 30

Goat Cheese Pudding

This is one of my favourite puddings, a gorgeous dessert. Quick and easy to make, tasty and not too sweet or heavy…At home we all crave for it…here is my dear mum’s recipe. She learned it while living in Africa.

Ingredients

6 eggs

250g sugar

350ml milk

1 tbsp butter

150g grated dry goat cheese (best to use artisanal cheese)

1 grated lemon zest

For the caramel

8 tbsps sugar

2 tbsps cold water

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC

2. Put the sugar with the cold water in a frying pan and heat gently over a low heat. Keep stirring until the sugar melts and forms a dark golden caramel. Do not let the sugar burn!

3. Pour the caramel into a pudding mould, quickly, before it hardens. (I use a trusty 16 cm diameter, 10 cm deep aluminium pudding mould.)  Set aside to cool completely.

4. In the meantime, blend together the sugar, eggs, milk and the melted butter for about 5 minutes.

5. Add the grated cheese to the liquid mixture and add the grated lemon zest.

6. Pour the liquid into the pudding mould, over the cooled caramel. Then, place the pudding mould in a pan partly filled with water (bain-marie, a technique that prevents the sugar from overheating) and put them in the oven.

7. Cook for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is ready when it becomes firm.

8. Let it cool before putting in the fridge for around 8 hours. Then, turn the mould over a serving plate in a sudden movement. Serve.

Serves 12-14

Tips: If there are any leftovers, refrigerate. You can easily keep the pudding for up to five days. You can prepare it in advance (this makes it even tastier).

The Greenhouse, 2007 (original title: Afleggjarinn)

At 22, Arnljotur leaves the ice and lava of his native Iceland, destined for a monastery on the continent where he must restore the rose garden. He leaves with, in his pocket, a photo of his baby daughter, in his heart, the love of his father and his autistic brother and the memory of his prematurely departed mother and, in his trunk, three cuttings of rosa candida.

Author: Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, is a woman writer born in 1958 in Reykjavik, Iceland. She is also a professor of art history at the University of Iceland and director of the University of Iceland Art Museum. She has published four books to date.

My thoughts: It was in May that I bought this book, to which I was intuitively drawn by its intense pink cover. After reading the first lines, I decided to take it home, but it was not until early January that I read this gem.

“The book chooses us, not the other way round.” A writer I once met at a book fair said to me....and experience has proved to me so many times that this is true!!

The Greenhouse is a gentle and soothing book - a touch of sweetness in this cruel world! A masterpiece of Icelandic literature. I loved everything in this book: the people, the landscapes and the emotions... It is the journey of a young man in search of himself who, thanks to encounters, advice and new experiences, discovers who he is and who he can become. I loved Arnljotur for his candour, freshness and goodness. I also adored his father, an old man completely overwhelmed by the unexpected death of his wife, always worried about his son, so kind and loving. This book is a breath of fresh air, a means to disconnect from harsh reality... We need more innocent and loving people like this young man. Captivated, I have purchased another of Ólafsdóttir’s novels "Rigning í November" or “Butterflies in November” in English.