miss b loves......Munich in the summer.

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend a few days in Munich, a favourite city of mine. I've often been there in the winter but walking around in warmer temperatures really appealed to me. There are so many impressive buildings around every corner......

The National Theatre, home to the Bavarian State Opera
 and the Bavarian State Ballet

There's an abundance of cafés, beer gardens and restaurants with terraces too. One of the advantages of visiting at this time of year is being able to eat and drink al fresco! 

Paulaner is one of the well-known brands of beer. It has been brewed in the city since 1634 and is now exported to over 70 countries around the world!

A traditional wiener schnitzel
 served with cranberry sauce

miss b loves......random photos of Dubai and an impromptu Fashion show.

We packed so much into our visits to Dubai last October and December... As usual I took so many photos! Below are the ones which didn't quite make it into the posts.......

miss b loves .....blue skies in London and a visit to Cake Boy.

We were blessed with amazing weather in London before Christmas. The clear blue skies and sunshine were quite unexpected as back home in the North it had been grey and wet for days (and we returned to grey, wet days too!)  

St Paul's Cathedral

As we were staying near Kensington Gardens, it was an opportunity to have a morning walk (and we needed the exercise, especially after a full English breakfast!)

The Italian Garden,
 Kensington Gardens

It really was more like a spring day .......and the pastel coloured houses in Notting Hill looked even prettier against the blue cloudless sky...

miss b loves ..........welcoming the New Year in Dubai.

Happy New Year to you all! I'm finally getting back into a routine! It was such a treat to be able to escape the cold and wet weather in England to enjoy sunshine and blue skies .....

En route to Dubai
on Boxing Day

We were greeted with so many festive touches especially at The Beach with a giant Christmas tree, huge candy canes and baubles which shimmered next to the palm trees .....

The 'snowmen' on the sand were particularly cute and popular for photos too!

miss b loves ....... getting into the festive spirit in Munich

They certainly know how to do Christmas in Germany and during our recent visit to Munich it was so easy to get into the festive spirit!

Mini Christmas stockings
 at Café Luitpold

I wandered around Viktualienmarkt where wreaths were piled high ready to be decorated.....

There were so many unusual decorations to admire........

miss b loves ...new openings in Dubai and a few favourite spots

Dubai is one of those places which is forever changing and developing and this for me is one of its attractions. Following on from our fascinating trip to Abu Dhabi last month, we spent a few days revisiting a few favourite spots and discovering new openings in Dubai....

Imagine my delight to find that Ladurée at The Beach had opened at last. 

With views from the terrace over Jumeirah Beach and the Arabian Gulf, this is a very special location. 

This giant deckchair is apparently the largest in the world but I believe the Guiness Book of World Records is in the process of verifying that!

miss b loves....the Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

I'm back from my travels! So many photos..... Let's start with the highlight of this trip .....Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which has been on our must-visit list for so long...... 

So perfect against the cloudless blue sky!

Words and photos just cannot really convey the true beauty of this architectural work of art but I'll try ..... There was one word we couldn't stop repeating though......Wow!

We were immediately awestruck by the sheer size and spectacle of this stunning pure white marble covered mosque, one of the largest in the world with a capacity for 40,000 worshippers. 

There are so many unique and special elements ....The vast courtyard above with its floral design is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world....

An amazing 82 domes and over 1000 columns ....

miss b loves ..... Singapore, the final day (Part 3)

Our final day in Singapore began with a stroll around Little India. It's one of the most colourful and vibrant districts of the city and the air is filled with the aroma of exotic spices. 

It's a riot of colour too with local ladies wearing traditional saris ........ 

It was fascinating to watch the flower vendors making the traditional garlands from jasmine, marigolds and roses. Garlands are placed on the statues of deities as prayer offerings and they are used at weddings and other special occasions. 

More colour greeted us at one of the oldest surviving Chinese villas in Little India. Built in 1900 for the wife of Tan Teng Niah, a prominent Chinese businessman, who owned a successful confectionery business in the area...

We stopped for a while at the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, built in 1881 and dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, wife of Shiva. 

miss b loves .......Singapore, a city of contrasts (Part 2)

What makes Singapore so interesting is the contrast between the old and the new .... the melting pot of cultures. Some might say that Singapore lacks soul and is too sanitised but I would disagree .....A traditional Singapore still flourishes and we headed to Chinatown on Day 2 of our recent visit....

In complete contrast to the mainly low-rise buildings of Chinatown, the three 55 storey towers of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is an integrated resort complex topped by a SkyPark. Designed by Moshe Safdie, it's the world's most expensive building....

It's an eye-catching, iconic design which has transformed the city's skyline.

miss b loves ....... Singapore, a city of contrasts (Part 1)

I'm back from my travels! 

Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures. We visited this fascinating city a few years ago on a two night stopover from Bali, but having read about the new ambitious architectural projects, we decided to go back and spend more time there. 

It's a city of contrasts with old and new buildings sitting side by side .......stunning colonial buildings and a futuristic skyline. 

There's an array of world-class restaurants and high quality street food which we were keen to try too.

Day 1 began with a stroll around the local area. The Merlion statue is the symbol of the city with the body of a fish (representing Singapore's origin as a humble fishing village) and the head of a lion from the Malay Singapura (meaning lion city.)

Next stop...another Singapore icon...Raffles Hotel, a colonial style building established in 1887 and named after Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore.  

During our last visit we had enjoyed afternoon tea in the Tiffin Room but this time we planned to return the following evening for a Singapore Sling or two!

miss b loves .........Luxe City Guides

Plannning a holiday or even a short trip is always part of the fun and excitement of travelling. I love to do my research so that we can make the most of our stay whether it's a weekend break or a more leisurely two weeks away from home.

There are always places which are a definite 'must-visit' but we like to wander off and find our own unexpected gems too.

Luxe City Guides are compact yet so informative and reliable. They are a world away from the usual bulky travel books with information overload and far too many photos and maps. 

I like the elegant covers and the fold out concertina-style design .....

These stylish pocket-sized guides easily slip into the smallest of bags without the need to rely on an internet connection for on the spot information ......

When folded the guides are just 7 mm thick....

The lighthearted witty style of writing appeals to me too. 

Recommendations come from the resident editor and contributors who really know their city and who provide short, sassy reviews and they are very selective about the entries.....

miss b loves.... Dubai with a difference

When people think of Dubai they perhaps only imagine shopping malls, skyscrapers, expensive hotels, the glitz and the glamour ..... but there is a very different, quieter, more subdued side of Dubai....Let me take you there.... 

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (formerly known as Bastakiya) was built in 1859 and is situated near the Creek (where wooden dhows are loaded and unloaded with goods from exotic locations)

The area has been restored and preserved and gives a glimpse of life in old Dubai ..... Many of the buildings have been converted into art galleries and interesting little shops....

The wind towers of the traditional Emirati homes created an early and effective form of air conditioning trapping the prevailing wind and funnelling it down into the house.

Last month we were fortunate to be there during Art Dubai and the annual Sikka Art Fair ......

A collection of painted skateboards