The Radisson Blu: 27 Bites buffet

The beauty of living in a diverse city like Bangkok is that you can go from sitting on a plastic chair eating a noodle bowl at a local market to dining at a 5 star restaurant. As much as I love Thai street food, every now and then you just need a treat. Since it was mine and Trav's anniversary on the weekend, we decided to book a Sunday all-you-can-eat lunch at the hotel restaurant 27 Bites at The Radisson Blu. It.was.unbelievable.

Hobbyist Cafe

In a city where you are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out, every so often I come across a hidden gem that makes me want to keep going back. A friend took me for coffee today at the Hobbyist Cafe, which is on her side of the BKK hood in Saphan Taksin. The whole area is a tourist hub due to the main pier of the Chao Phraya River being situated there, so it really caters to every need. This cool coffee shop is no exception!

The front entrance

Cabbages and Condoms

When I first heard the name of the restaurant 'Cabbages and Condoms' I thought there had to be some mistake... condom what? You can eat at this place? I know I am not the first person to think how interesting (and inedible) it may sound, but its an even better excuse to check it out yourself!

To give a little background to the restaurant before I talk about the experience, the whole concept is to promote health education and prevent transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. This is a serious problem in Thailand and the world over, and I think its a fun way to bring light to these important issues. The signs leading up to the entrance of Cabbages and Condoms are downright hilarious. Happy waving condoms show you the way down the street, and may I just say this was entertainment in itself...

The enthusiastic condom shows the way

Italian dreaming: Let's stay in Roma

Before my trip to Europe, I have to admit I was more interested in seeing Rome than any other city. I was a biased tourist on all counts and I didn't care. Call me a dreamer, but all I could think of was sitting at a Roman restaurant eating pasta and sipping on red wine whilst street musicians stood on the cobbled street playing Italian music with a saxophone in the background. The funny thing is that one night this all actually happened.

Italian performers outside a restaurant in central Rome

Beat the Boredom

Oh the irony of finally having a holiday and a break from work over the festive season, only to find that you are bored out of your skull and you have watched every series and movie on your laptop in the last 3 days (been there). We are so used to these fast and furious action-packed lives, going from work to gym to all those other commitments we have filled our plate with. No wonder we feel numb with boredom when the madness finally stops and we have a few days off!

The importance is not to fill your days up being so busy that you actually burn out, or just sit on the couch all day. Find a combination of relaxing and fun activities to do that are also constructive, and you will end your holiday feeling accomplished and rested. Here is my list of fun Christmas holiday activities to do with family, friends or by yourself.

Make Christmas tree decorations

If you are falling short on Christmas decorations for your tree this year, don't go out and buy more. Rather make them yourself as a fun activity and add a sentimental touch to your tree. Whether you do it yourself or get children or friends to help for the day, there are so many ways to create fun and easy decorations. You can use felt, paper, pine cones, fruit or ribbons. You can even personalise decorations with names of family members.

A personal favourite of mine is these easy-to-make polystyrene glitter balls:

• cover a small round polystyrene ball with craft glue
• roll ball around in glitter until all surfaces are covered
• Use a pin to secure a folded piece of ribbon or string at the top of the ball to hang on the tree

Image from hgtv.com

Tips for Summer weight loss

It is officially summer time and what better reminder to start looking after yourself than muffin tops and cellulite Sally! I have been on my own lil weight loss journey since putting on weight over December/January a year ago. This was due to a bad reaction to 'the pill' and eating and drinking too much over the festive season (I can't blame it all on the pill you guys).

Things to do in Durban

Oh how I adore Durban! Living there for almost three years allowed me to explore one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities of South Africa. It has so much to offer in terms of fulfilling your every need, whether its a day on the beach or a night on the town. I am very inquisitive when it comes to new places, and so I spent my spare time venturing into the unknown and finding seemingly undiscovered gems, and other very popular places. I am here to be your tour guide through Durban's hot spots and secret spots and tell you exactly how you can make the most of your time there, whether you are a resident or a visitor. Welcome to DBN, my city of choice!

1. The Moses Mabidha big swing

If you're like me, and not so keen on bungee jumping head first off a bridge, but you still want an adrenalin pumping experience you will never forget, then go for the big swing at Moses Mabidha Stadium. First you swing upright above the entire length of the field below you, and then you boast that you went on the worlds tallest swing! This is on my bucket list, and I am going to cross it off before the end of this year. For more information on prices and booking, follow this link:
http://www.mmstadium.com/attractions/big-swing/

Image from mmstadium.com

The perfect birthday dinner

It's my birthday tomorrow so I thought I would share my planning and preparation, along with TONS of help from Pinterest. I really wanted to have a relaxed dinner party with a few friends and family just to celebrate my special day.

All of these ideas are so easy to do and only require a small budget. I like to keep things simple, because I find that as soon as you try too hard to impress everyone or spend too much money it doesn't usually have the desired effect. It's never easy to cater for a group of people so I thought I would have a variety of snack foods to keep everyone going. I have also included a few ideas for atmosphere and decor.

The details
It's always nice to add small touches to the evening to make it seem more put together, whether its adding tags of peoples names or having a nice arrangement in the middle of the table. I saw an idea where each placemate is a piece of black paper and you simply write each guests name in chalk on the black paper. I love monochrome, it always looks more sophisticated than it is. Another idea is to present knives and forks in a serviette tied into the shape of a bow tie. This is perfect for a barbeque or help yourself type event.

Gluten free life

My mom used to get violent stomach aches and migraines for years. She tried everything to cure them (including surgery) until one day a doctor realised she had celiac disease (gluten intolerance). She didn't realise that she had learnt to deal with the pain over the years, while the disease attacked her organs.