A flight of fantasy to Macau

Macanese moments are well presented in these photos. Now, I learned that even if a place is as small as Macau, one should never underestimate the great treasures that can lie within.

“First birthdays are for the parents’ benefit, to celebrate surviving the first year and remember the day you gave birth. Do whatever you fancy. Your baby won’t hold it against you!” It’s an exciting milestone! So we decided to go on a vacation to a nice place with hills, beach and culture on our baby’s first birthday which was on the December, 29th. Anyone else planning the first birthday vacation?

As we were traveling with our baby girl, we preferred to limit our destination choice to within a 6-hour flight; hence we decided on Macau for the Christmas and Birthday celebration. We booked our reservation at Crowne Plaza, Macau for 6 days.

Got into our hotel room

Breakfast next day with Kathleen, Cafe Azure (Crowne Plaza)

Francis and his team at Crowne Plaza went out of their way to make us feel comfortable ❤

Aarvi’s First Christmas with Team at Crowne Plaza

Christmas Decoration at Crowne Plaza

Apparently spending 5 nights in Hong Kong and 3 in Macau, should be adequately good to get an OK experience of the place, but we wanted a get-fit, healthy, relaxing and a special birthday vacation. So we decided to visit Hong Kong sometime in the future. I have been traveling the world together with my partner for over seven years now and one of the things we love the most is the freedom that travel and this lifestyle gives us.

Sai Van Bridge connecting Taipa Island and Macau Peninsula.

For people who love the bling and the sin of a casino city

Mesmerizing view from Macau Tower

The Ruins of St. Paul’s, Macau, China – Considered Macau’s most famous landmark

Evening casual

Christmas Carol Parade on Christmas Eve

Beautiful stroll at The Venetian Macao

The islands of Macau, settled off the coast of Hong Kong in the South China Sea, can only be described as an exception. Here, in the middle of Asia, you can spot yourself walking through an old Portuguese village or standing in the thick of colorful lights of a Vegas-style strip of casinos. It’s a place where a long colonial history has brought cultural influences together from all corners of the globe, resulting in a truly one of a kind destination.

Macau has a little bit of culture for everyone. For historical culture there are amazing churches and museums, and for local culture the beaches, attractions and nightlife are like no other city in the world. From Hong Kong you can reach Macau by jetfoil, which makes the area a popular day-trip destination.

The lobby at The Venetian……beautiful & mesmerizing

Parisian Macao

Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16

MGM Macau

Known for its huge casinos and being the world’s top gambling city, it boasts some of the luxury hotels and is a great destination for Michelin-starred fine dining. We visited The Venetian, Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16, The Parisian, Galaxy Macau, Grand Coloane Resort and Four Seasons.

Christmas Eve Lunch Cake at Cafe Azure, Crowne Plaza

Birthday Dessert at Cafe Deco, The Venetian

Birthday Cart at Grand Coloane Beach Resort

We visited their restaurants to celebrate our ‘thank goodness we survived the first tricky 365 days’ with cutting a cake or a dessert in plate each day of the trip.

Honestly we wanted to explore so much more but it is quite challenging when you travel with baby (howbeit we embraced the new fun and craziness of traveling with our bundle of joy, all the gear and baby-lugging was a great vacation exercise).

Here are some more highlights from our Holiday and Birthday, 2017 trip:

Macau Mornings!!!

Sippin’ & Shoppin’

Evening stroll with so much to see and do!

On our way to The Ruins of St. Paul’s on Christmas Eve

Waiting for our ride ✌

Gondola Ride at the Venetian..I just couldn’t leave without doing it..Never felt more like a tourist in my life, but come on …

Our gondolier Valeria ❤

Night Shuttle Tour

Just Danish at Cafe Azure, Crowne Plaza

Mandatory daily playtime at Crowne Plaza

Got to witness this beautiful beach wedding 👰 — at Hac Sa Beach Coloane.

The Venetian, Macau

The Grand Canal Shoppes — at Venetian Macao

Senado Square

So when I finally found one photo that would make a good picture 😄 — at The Ruins of St. Paul’s, Macau, China.

The Ruins of St. Paul’s, Macau, China.

On our way to Macau Tower

Senado Square

Senado Square – A happy street

We really enjoyed our breakfast moments here!

Christmas Eve Lunch with the gorgeous team (Courtesy) Cafe Azure & Chew Kee Wei

I love learning about (and tasting) all of the amazing foods in the world. Each shoot I experience new things to add to my food memory bank. (Blog Post coming soon)

Important things that you should be informed if you are planning a day trip to Macau from Hong Kong:

Allow 1 hour to get from hotel to ferry+tickets+boarding.

Allow 1 hour to get from HK to Macau.

Allow 30mins to disembark, immigration then taxi.

Similar the other way round…so travelling will cost you 5 hours.

Longer ferry waiting times during weekends and public holidays.

If you leave at 9am, you will reach Macau at 1130. To get back to HK by 6pm, you will have to leave Macau by 430. That gives you 5 hours. I think you should stay for dinner. Try Macanese or Portugese food, or visit the Casinos. Take a later ferry and be back by about 11pm.

P.S. Will update the blog with more photos of the trip and also working on a separate blog about my dining experience at Cafe Azure and about my stay at Crowne Plaza, The Venetian, The Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16, and Grand Coloane Beach Resort.

Till we meet again

xoxo

~Sanchali

La Fontaine – Europe hidden in Bahrain

Travel and Food

Early morning meeting & some interesting reads 📖 at La Fontaine – Centre of Contemporary Art. It isn’t that early (11:30am) but anytime in the morning is early when your night baby mixes up your night & day!! 👶🏻 Thanks to my morning latte for being the silent hero of the morning ☕️

This is an excellent hidden place in Manama with a great architectural value. Visited here with my manager and was really surprised. What a fabulous setting… Great little art gallery and fabulous restaurant in a very romantic setting.

Wind your way through enclosed courtyards and tiny corridors and find La Fontaine’s intimate European restaurant, which is hidden in this renovated traditional Bahraini home. It has often been awarded with Best Romantic Restaurant accolade in the past. The atmosphere is tranquil with soft background music to enhance the vibe, in the dining areas both inside and out. The food focuses on specialties from Italy and the Mediterranean, but you’ll find influences from all over.

The only one of its kind throughout the Middle East, la fontaine centre of contemporary art is an historical monument dating back to a hundred and fifty years, located in the heart of Manama close to the old “Suq”. It features a number of contemporary art galleries, an open-air amphitheatre, an exquisite fine dining restaurant, an exclusive spa, and a state-of-the-art Pilates & Dance Studio, the first of its kind in the Gulf region.

CONTACT
La Fontaine centre of contemporary art

92 Hoora Avenue
Manama 306
26243 Bahrain

Telephone: 0973 17 230 123
Telefax: 0973 17 240 123

info@lafontaineartcentre.net
Facebook – lafontainebahrain
Instagram – lafontainebh

Stuffed Chicken Legs

Events & Experiences

Today, I bring you a very delicious, yet inexpensive weekend meal. This is an easy & elegant baked lemon chicken legs recipe with full of flavours from the garlic, lemon, herbs and it is perfect for a quick and delicious meal.

Prep Time – 10 min

Cook Time – 45 min

Total Time – 55 min

Ingredients

6 chicken legs – with skin

For the Stuffing:

-Juice of a quarter lime

-1 cup cilantro or Italian parsley

-2 garlic cloves

-1 tsp. Sugar

-1/2 tsp. Cumin

-1/2 tsp. Turmeric

-1/2 tsp. Black pepper

-1/2 tsp. Salt

-1/2 tsp. Coriander powder

-4 tsp. Olive oil or butter

Method:

-Place all of the above in a food processor and give a few good chops.

-Preheat Oven at 375 degrees.

-Gently pull the skin from the leg and stuff the mixture into under the skin.

-Place the leg pieces in a baking dish and bake for 45-50 minutes or until a beautiful golden color appears and the juices run clear.

Serve and enjoy!

Note: For those who are not big fans of cilantro, feel free to substitute it with Italian parsley.

I look forward to seeing you again!

xoxo

Sanchali

Thai Vegetable Stir Fry

Events & Experiences

As the weather turns hot and humid, I find myself increasingly indecisive about what I want to eat. Maybe my cravings are scrambled by the constant passage from sweltering Bahrain streets to air-conditioned stores and hone; maybe it’s the explosive vegetation, or the expanse of summer produce suddenly available at the market. Regardless, summertime stresses me out—there’s just so much food out there, and I want all of it.

Thai food not only makes a stunning sight, laid out in a lavish, colorful spread, but the boldly sweet, sour, and spicy notes seem to physically lower my body temperature—even when the dishes themselves are fiery-hot. This particular recipe is quick, easy, and hot weather-friendly. This super tasty Thai Vegetable Stir Fry is a delicious, easy to make meal that proves vegetables need not be boring or tasteless!

The massive variety of seasonal vegetables is enough to make this Stir Fry a very healthy, fibre loaded meal.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup finely chopped shallots or purple onion,
5-6 cloves garlic, finely chopped,
1-2 thumb-size pieces ginger, sliced,
1/2 to 1 small fresh red chili, sliced, OR 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. chili flakes,
1 medium-size carrot, sliced,
5-6 mushrooms, sliced or left in halves or quarters,
1 small head broccoli, cut into florets,
1 red pepper, sliced into strips,
2-3 cups baby bok choy, or other Chinese cabbage (leaves left whole if not too large, otherwise cut in half or thirds),
handful fresh Thai basil,
2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
Stir-fry Sauce:
2/3 cup coconut milk,
2+1/2 tablespoons soy sauce,
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice,
1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed chili (chili flakes),
2+1/2 teaspoons brown sugar.

Method:
-Combine ‘stir fry sauce’ ingredients together in a cup or bowl. Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Taste-test, keeping in mind that the first taste should be spicy-salty, followed by sweetness and the rich taste of the coconut milk.
-Warm a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl around, then add the shallot/onion, garlic, ginger, and chili. Stir-fry 1-2 minutes, then add the carrot, mushrooms, and cauliflower (if using). Also, add 1/4 of the stir-fry sauce. Continue stir-frying 2-3 minutes.
-Add the broccoli and red pepper plus enough sauce to gently simmer vegetables (about 2 minutes).
-Finally, add the bok choy or Chinese cabbage. Add more of the stir-fry sauce as needed, almost enough to just cover vegetables in sauce. Simmer until bok choy or cabbage is cooked.
-Remove from heat and taste-test. If not salty enough, add a little more soy sauce. If too salty or sweet, add a squeeze of lime juice. –Add more sugar or chili if desired. Top with fresh basil.

Serve over Thai jasmine rice or Thai coconut rice.

Variations: Great as a side dish, or make it into the main course by adding tofu, wheat gluten, cashews, shrimp or slices of chicken.

Creamy Chicken Fettuccine

Events & Experiences

Italian for dinner it is! This classic Italian dish is quick and easy to make. Whatever your choice, chicken or shrimp, with these simple steps, you’ll have a hearty dinner on the table in no time!

Don’t be intimidated by the name of this dish, it sounds like something only a restaurant can make for you, but stay with me! Read the instructions below-you can totally do this.

Here’s the recipe:
Serves 3-4
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 chicken breasts, sliced thinly into strips
1 onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 cups heavy cream
¼ cup parsley, chopped
12 ounces cooked fettucine
PREPARATION
Heat oil in a pot over high heat.
Add the chicken and let it brown in the pan, cooking until no pink is showing.
Add the onions, garlic, salt, and pepper, cook until onions are translucent and soft.
Add the heavy cream and parsley, stirring until evenly mixed.
Add the fettuccine and stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
Serve!