Looking Back: February

SHIP'S LOG: Snapshots from A's busy last month: heart-shaped donut meriendas, her Swiss cousins (and Nadja!), indulging in a Monopoly Deal addiction down by Kawayan Cove, and FEET. See you in April, readers. :D

Overseas: A Moonlight Movie

SHIP'S LOG: B goes dancing in the dark in Sydney's Moonlight Cinema.

Now, I'm not very geeky about a lot of things but I love me some good teenage musicals. Grease, West Side Story, Crybaby, Hairspray and even, yes, High School Musical. During low points in my life my ringtone would (unashamedly) be 'Get Your Head in the Game'. See, I don't blame you if you now feel the need to close this window and never visit this blog again.

So when my sister mentioned the outdoor moonlight cinema in Sydney I had no qualms about blowing money on that experience. And it just so happened that Grease was playing the only night we could watch. At first I balked at the fact that it was a sing-a-long version. Oh no. Cheesy karaoke style lyrics bouncing along the bottom of the screen? Butchering the coolness that is John Travolta in a pompadour and leather jacket? No, thanks. But hoping for the best, we went anyway.

Since this was as close as I will ever get to an outdoor music festival, I wanted to dress as if I was going to one. It was kind of appropriate since the crowds had to drag their own beanbags and blankets to sit on in the big empty field and wait for the show to start.

For those who don't have their own gear they rent $9 beanbags. And if you didn't think to save money by bringing your own snacks or booze, there were two silver trailers selling chips, onion rings, hotdogs, wine and beer for your convenience. The sponsors also kindly spray bug repellant all over you to keep pesky mosquitos away!

Everyone got there early to position themselves near the screen so we had to wait quite a bit for the film to start. We had so much time that I was able stuff my face with hotdogs, onion rings, chips and then take a 45 minute nap. The crowd at the moonlight cinema is pretty diverse. Mothers with their bouncy little daughters, yuppies on a double date, noisy girlfriends and even adorable old couples.

If you ever decide to go DON'T forget to bring a jacket or blanket of some kind. The old man sitting beside us was so chilly he put spare plastic bags around his feet and hands until my sister gave him our blanket.

Once the show started the crowd got pretty riled up. A cute moment was when everyone burst into a cheer when Sandy mentioned she was from Australia. :) Then when the first few words of 'Summer Lovin'' popped out everyone started singing. Even if you think singing-a-long is lame you kind of can't help but get caught up in it. And whoever made the sing-a-long version really put effort into making the graphics fun. The words kept popping up in really random ways. The hand jive even had a small instructional video in the corner.It cracked my sister and I up.

And, seriously, John Travolta. Hands down.

By the last number everyone was so into it that a bunch of people ran to the open space in front of the projector and started dancing. Until more and more people joined and you could just see this mass of figures dancing in the dark. It was pretty magical and I'm sure everyone was grinning when the lights came back on.

My brother heard two little girls talking on the way out. Keep in mind they've probably never seen Grease before.

Little Girl 1: "Oh my gosh, that movie was awesome!"

Little Girl 2: "It wasn't awesome...it was the BEST!"

My sisters poor boyfriend (who laughed at us for even watching the thing) had to suffer through us shouting songs at him all the way home. It was so much fun and if you're in Sydney you must check it out. I was just bummed out that I couldn't catch the next few shows which included Breakfast at Tiffany's, Ferris Beuller (God, I would jump to dance to the Twist and Shout number in that movie) and Top Gun. Argh!

B wears Element white top, Topshop denim shorts, thrifted boots

Overseas: Collaroy Cinema

SHIP'S LOG: Even if movies in Australia are ridiculously expensive B just had to experience watching one in ye old cinema house.

My parents gave my brother and I the best Christmas/New Year's gift ever by sending us to Australia to celebrate the holidays with my sister. Australia-despite it's shops and restaurants that close at 5pm- is one of my favorite places in the world. There's just something so mellow, happy and friendly about Australia. Everyone is endlessly chatty and helpful. I mean, I was just reading by the beach when a woman stops in the middle of her workout to ask me how I was liking the book! I was so amused.

My sister's awesome pad is right in front of the beach and one block away from this art deco cinema. I just researched now and it was built in the 1930s. Now she warned me that movies cost too much but I had to see what it looked like inside. It was a bonus that Melancholia was showing. I had already downloaded and seen it but heard it was a completely different experience on the big screen.

They were right the sound effects used in Melancholia were twice as powerful. When the movie ended (no spoilers but Charlotte Gainsbourg is amazing) the audience was sitting in silence for like five minutes. I was joking my brother that we should have broken the silence with a very loud, very trashy 'Dayummmmm!' but we didn't :P

The inside of the theatre (for those with vivid imaginations) is plush red carpets and red velvety seats with wooden arm rests. There were miniature chandeliers hanging from the ceiling too. It definitely had an old cinema feel. Like I should have been wearing a cocktail dress or something.

I also have to say one of the best things about Australia is that the people couldn't give less of a crap if you show a little skin. Girls are walking around in bikini tops, guys in boardshorts and dozens of people stalking the burning pavement barefoot. I loved it. I was originally whining about leaving Manila's 'fall' weather behind but ended up embracing bare midriffs and legs for two weeks. Still apparently a bit hung over since I'm typing this lying on my green furry rug (an impractical purchase from Ikea just because it looked like grass) in a floral cropped top even if it's pouring rain outside.

B wears thrifted denim shirt, Sportsgirl cropped top, Topshop high-waisted shorts and Vans.

Inspiration: A Christmas Night Circus

SHIP'S LOG: What do you want to see under your Christmas this year? A shares her wish list and hopes that everyone will have happy, happy holidays!

• A Humbershoe Jumper, soft and slouchy for chilly December nights.
• A Dress in Merlot, good for twirling along to the Jingle Bell Rock.
• A Mariner's Watch, to navigate time and space.
• A Night Circus, magic constructed entirely in black and white.
• A Flask of and for Cognac, future container of  classic pep-me-ups.
• An Alternative Transportation Tote, for armchair travel and otherwise. 
• Zipcode Boots in Suede, comfort and class at a conscionable price.

Clearly, I'm not yet over the red, black, and navy color scheme that so inspired Anna Karina. :))

An All-Star Weekend

SHIP'S LOG: A had an action-packed afternoon at the uber-fierce Bloggers United Bazaar organized by  the lovely ladies Ana, Melai, and Aisa before battling Manila traffic to watch David Beckham lead a five goal-scoring frenzy against the Azkals.

My friend Fannie and I had a booth selling stockings from our online shop Sock & Sole Co. and clothes from my nautical-minded wardrobe last Saturday at the second Bloggers United Bazaar at the Treston International College at Bonifacio Global City. I were so busy that I barely got a chance to look at the other bloggers' stalls (or take decent pictures) but I loved Melai's slick MC-ing and meeting some of our readers (girl who won a prize and said A Plus B in the Sea was her favourite blog, email me?)!

Also, thanks to my usual after-school picker-upper Nail It Salon, I discovered the wonder of matte coral nail polish. It's amazing to have 'frosted glass' nails though, klutz that I am, they were chipped by the end of the day. I think it's time to get one of those loyalty cards that give discounts. :))

All right, I have to admit that half my mind was focussed on the LA Galaxy vs RP national team football match that my brother, Naesa, and I were going to see a few hours later. If you follow me on Twitter or on my meandering micro-blog No Modern Ariadne, you'll know about my obsession with Arsenal FC and Cesc Fabregas' hair. I'm not a huge fan of David Beckham but I can appreciate his skill as a midfielder and a leader, so I was excited to watch him play along with Arsenal arch-nemesis Robbie Keane of Sp*rs extraction.



Boy, what a night.

I ran two blocks to get to the stadium on time, lost my little brother in 13,000-strong crowd, ogled at Azkal #15 (who are you?!) with Naesa, ate hot dogs on the bleachers, saw Beckham get three corners and a goal, and watched a pretty pathetic national team capitulate to LA Galaxy.

Then it was chicken nuggets (mmm, fake food) at a late-night McDo before heading to Bea's birthday party. The theme was a slumber party, and we were the only ones in pyjamas. Dang it, B!

A wears Topshop denim jacket, spring dress and the Leather Satchel Co. bag.

Mad For Old School Satchels

SHIP'S LOG: A presents an in-depth guide to the top satchel makers from the United Kingdom and the Philippines. Of two (or three) minds when it comes choosing between School of Satchel and Cambridge Satchel Company? Let A Plus B in the Sea help you decide! A's pick: The Leather Satchel Co.!


EDIT: I have an updated guide to leather satchels here, with a table for easy comparison between brands. :D


Ever since I was a kid, I loved the beat-up brown leather school bags that the Railway Children and the Famous Five carried around as they went on adventures up and down the countryside, but I had thought that purveyors of the school satchel had died out in the 60s. Then I saw Keiko Lynn's yellow Cambridge satchel back in 2009 . . . Alas, a hefty price tag and a fear of Philippine custom tax kept me far away from online order forms.

After two years of slyly dropping hints into the ears of ancient relatives and bringing bagged lunches to save up, I suddenly unexpectedly got my hands on satchels from four bag makers, the Leather Satchel Company, Cambridge Satchel Company, School of Satchel, and Zatchels. Joy joy joy!

Though the satchel has become an IT bag and sadly ubiquitous on the fashion and blog scene, I'm really glad I got one (two!) at last, so I thought my fellow dreamers would like to hear about the similarities and differences between the satchel makers, so here's my first product review!

Caveat.—the photographs come straight from my camera because I don't trust my Pixelmator editing skills enough to capture an accurate depiction of the leather material's colour consistently from photo to photo.


Design
The school satchel is such a British classic (The Leather Satchel Co. has been using the same traditional design since 1966!) that it is almost impossible to tell the difference among bags made by the Leather Satchel Co., Cambridge Satchel Co., and Zatchels. They all have silver buckles, a front pocket, and an ID holder. I've read that the Leather Satchel Co. makes bags for other fashion houses and brands (they remain nameless) so it is possible that all the UK-based satchels are actually made by a single manufacturer!

Zatchels has its embroidered logo sewn on the right hand side of the front pocket while the others have their logos blind embossed at the back of the bag. Zatchels also stitches all around the top flap while the others do not.

School of Satchel is a little different because its bags do not have the ID holder nor silver buckles. Its buckles are made of a brassy metal that has a more vintage stamp. I also noticed that the front pockets are larger and the gussets are deeper compared to the other brands, which means that School of Satchel bags have the most space to put your things in.

All companies offer initial embossing and handles. The Leather Satchel Co. and School of Satchel offer optional Magnetic closures whilst only The Leather Satchel Co. also offer longer straps, deeper gussets, shoulder pads and what they also call a Tallboy design (a taller satchel with a longer top flap) for people who want to use their satchel as a laptop bag.

Cambridge Satchel Co. and School of Satchel have backpacks while Zatchels also sells barrel bags. The former also sells music cases and steamer trunks, which are awfully cute.

Customer Service

My mother bought the Zatchel so I have nothing good or bad to offer about customer service with respect to that brand, but I can say that Leather Satchel Co. and School of Satchel offer TERRIFIC service. They both have an active online presence on Twitter and Facebook, and it is so easy to order bags from them. The owner of School of Satchel, Chi Donato, goes out of her way to get the bag you want to your door as soon as possible while I had a super time ordering from the Leather Satchel Company who kindly changed the colour from red to blue when I asked, and even offered to ship leather samples to me for free!

The Leather Satchel Company also delivers its satchels wrapped up in brown paper packages tied up in string ;P with a handwritten note addressed to the buyer! I think it is so sweet and old school of them. If you'd like to see pictures of the unwrapping of my Loch Blue satchel, check this out.

This may be hearsay, but I've read on other blogs and forums that Cambridge Satchel Company has slow and unresponsive customer service. I've heard of three-month long delays (just check their Twitter stream) that have even induced people to cancel orders. Again, I have NOT experienced ordering from the company, so I can't say with certainty that their service is less than impeccable.

Size

Truth be told, the satchel is rather useless for a school bag. If you have a lot of textbooks, a padded backpack is still your best bet. But if you all you need is an iPad, a netbook, or an e-reader and perhaps a two-inch pile of A4 papers then the old school satchel is perfect for you. A 14.5-inch Zatchel is what I use for days when I have only one class, while I always grab my 12.5-inch (size sweet spot!) Leather Satchel Co. for running errands or shopping. The purple satchel shown in the photos is an 11-inch School of Satchel that is the perfect size to use as a clutch.

• Cambridge Satchel Company.—11/13/14/15
• Leather Satchel Company.—11/12.5/14/15/15 Tallboy/bespoke sizes
• School of Satchel.—11/13/15
• Zatchels.—11.5/13/14.5/16 

The Leather Satchel Co. also offer a bespoke sizing service that allows you to have a satchel made to any size or dimensions you require, so if you want a 20-inch satchel, then for a price they'll craft it for you. As far as we are aware they're the only company in the world to offer a this bespoke sizing service. Just send master craftsman Barry Hanshaw an email at barry@leathersatchel.co if the bespoke service interests you.
 

Leather Material & Colour

The leather material and colour selection best differentiates the satchels. School of Satchel has a matte finish, very textured, and the leather is stiff and thick, which is perfect if you are someone who throws her bag around a lot (like me!) and wants extra protection for gadgets contained inside. Zatchels and Cambridge Satchel Co. have a smooth finish, halfway between matte and glossy while the Leather Satchel Co. has a very glossy, polished surface and the softest leather of the lot.

• Cambridge Satchel Company.—9 colours (vintage brown, dark brown, navy, black, red, purple, yellow, pink, green) and seasonal or designer colours (fluoros and two-tones)
• Leather Satchel Company.—27 colours (Charcoal Black, Chocolate Brown, Chestnut Brown, Autumn Tan, Pillarbox Red, Racing Green, Loch Blue, Deep Purple, Double Yellow, Baby Pink, Baby Blue, Snow White, Burnt Orange, Vintage Champagne, Sherwood Green, Oxford Blue, Dayglow Pink, Dayglow Yellow, Dayglow Green, Dayglow Orange, Mirrored Chrome, Mirrored Copper, Patent Black, Patent French Lilac, Patent Moss Green, Patent Cambridge Yellow and Patent Fuchsia Petal)
• School of Satchel.—6 colours (oxblood, navy, tan, black, distressed grey, and purple) and two-tone epi-leather satchels in baby pink and line green
• Zatchels.—A LOT. All the basic colours and metallic, animal print, floral, distressed, polka dot, pastel, star, Union Jack patterns, you name it they have it.

If you want to stand out, I'd definitely recommend Zatchels since they have a crazy amount of leather colours and patterns (their pastel collection is absolutely lovely) but if you want a classy satchel then your best bet is the Leather Satchel Co. Not only do I love the names they give their colours (snow white! double yellow!), the leather has a beautiful shiny finish. 

Price

The most important factor to consider for people without trust funds! Price varies according to size, seasonal or designer collections, and the extras previously mentioned. Shipping is generally free for those who live in the UK and £15-£20 for international delivery. The range I've mentioned is for the basic colours and without any extras or shipping fees

• Cambridge Satchel Company.—£74-84
• Leather Satchel Company.—£74-156
• School of Satchel.—£50-71 or PhP 3,500-5,100 
• Zatchels.—£76-87

School of Satchel is definitely the most affordable! I should also note that the Leather Satchel Co. usually sells the bags for £20 pounds less during sales and if you are a Facebook friend. ;P

Photos!

School of Satchel (13-inch oxblood backpack and 11-inch purple clutch)

Zatchels (14.5 inch black)*


Cambridge Satchel Company (14-inch red)


The Leather Satchel Company (12.5-inch loch blue)

A's Recommendation

The decision is a highly personal one. If you care for the cachet of owning an IT bag then it's the Cambridge satchel. If you want a bag that screams personality then Zatchels is your company. Want to impress your boss or teachers? Then the professional elegance of a School of Satchel is what you need. But if it's tradition and heritage (even if it's not your own ;P) you like, go no further than the Leather Satchel Company.

For me, I like the Leather Satchel Company best (in fact, I'm thinking of selling off the Cambridge to get another). Why? First, I love the leather finish, smooth, glossy, and practically water resistant. Second, it has the softest leather, so it's much easier to unbuckle (straps are thin but solid and crack-free**) and expands to fit in my iPad, codals, and cases. I also really like that the length of the strap is perfect, unlike the others, I didn't need to readjust or have a lot of excess strap. Third, it is the only company that offers a five year international warranty. Stitching unravelling or buckles tarnishing? Have no fear, just send in your satchel through the post and the Leather Satchel Company will fix it up tout suite.

I also highly recommend School of Satchel because, with each satchel you purchase, a bag will be donated to public school children who need things to carry their workbooks too! Chi offers the best prices for students and yuppies without stinting on that lovingly handmade quality. For fellow Filipinos, it is also the easiest bag to get your hands on and you'll be supporting our local leather industry.

*The workmanship of my Zatchel is a little iffy—the bag doesn't stand up straight because the base is uneven. It needs to lie on its back, otherwise it will topple off tables.
**After a month of using the bags, only the Leather Satchel Company's straps and buckles are as pristine as the day the bag arrived. I've noticed flaking and cracking on the straps of the other bags.

Do you already own a satchel? Share us your views or favourite shops to find old school satchels, whether retro inspired or vintage, in the comments below! :D

An Explorer's Guide to Armchair Travel I

SHIP'S LOG: A catches up with her reading list and shares her favourite sites to brush up on local life and style, photograph lessons, and holiday ideas. For the benefit of all you armchair travellers, here's her  map to internet exploring. 

Sometimes it seems that this blog is entirely composed of hellos and goodbyes, but what can we do? The three inch piles of homework and those hour-long commutes take us away from our dream world and into the real world. So those glorious days of Doing Nothing, haphazardly scattered throughout the year, are treasures to hoard close to our hearts.

Oh, hello hello, sembreak.

I've spent the last few days lolling about my house in pyjamas, baking red velvet cupcakes with friends, putting the finishing touches on my Halloween costume, marathoning episodes of Community and Modern Family, beginning on that bloggers' favourite, the retro Pan Am, and, of course, reading all your blog posts.

B and I are planning to show you a little more of Manila in time for Christmas (teaser: Juan Luna's Spolarium, playing Ferris Bueller at the Ayala Museum, and maybe a bit of Chinatown/old Binondo) but until we get those photographs processed, I want to link to some bloggers whose hometowns I always enjoy reading about. The beauty of armchair travel is that it's free. ;P

Viva La Manika—retro gothic, lo-fi goodness, an artistic eye and a truly nationalist sensibility—Afianne Cope on her hometown:

I live in a small young city mostly occupied by residential and industrial establishments. It’s nothing luxe and is far from being the best place I could live in. It is in fact a very simple life down here. No frills and fancy thrills, no sir. Not even a town perya or many intricately designed buildings and daringly dressed people to take pictures of.  

I used to frown upon all these because I’m one to look for boldness in almost everything. This place seemed boring and it did not have much to offer. But as I grew older, I catched on. Yes, it lacked furbelows and artistry and all that but there’s one thing I’ve grown sure of - its homeliness was irreplaceable. At the end of the day, there will be nothing like the vendor’s holler waking you up in the morning, the bumpy jeepney rides, the simultaneous karaoke singing in the neighborhood you hear at night, the quiet parks and, I admit, the malls where almost half of the town’s population head to on weekends and season sale and so much more. It’s all a classic case of hometown glory. 

 Local Favourites 

1. The Parish of the Five Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ, a city cathedral with a rather interesting modern structure designed by our very own Arch. Joseph AdG Javier basing the concept on a nautilus, a marine organism with claims to the perfect natural proportions, the golden mean. 

2. BF Paranaque. There are innumerable eating (and drinking) places in this area. Whether you like a cozy night -out with your loved ones or a frisky one with your friends, you will surely find a rightful spot. 

3. The Phil-Am Village Private Park. I know it’s a bit funny but yes, I come clean about going to parks at this age. I get a lot of that feeling of wanting to flee from daily hustle-bustle and just appreciate serenity through the sight of trees and old-fashioned lovers. Guess I’m just an old person trapped in a 20-something body. :D

Green Tea Fields—Southeast Asia up close, film experiments, looking at home from that belle-laide  angle—Michelle Kuek on Singapore:

This may sound weird but I really like that my neighbourhood is a remote, little backwater in Singapore, almost unchanged for the last 20 years that I have lived here. Well, there are political reasons for it but let's not get into that! My neighbourhood is lit slightly dimmer than most neighbourhoods but lesser lights mean that I can actually go star-gazing, something almost unheard of in a city! Many a nights, I walk home with my head tilted up to skies, trying to figure out which constellation is up. :)  

Local Favourites  

I would have to say Tiong Bahru. Tiong Bahru is a neighbourhood situated slightly outside of Singapore's city centre. This neighbourhood is quirky mix of the old and the new. Make your way through the quiet, leafy estate of apartments built in the 1920s and 1930s, and then choose between having a quiet cuppa at a cafe, visiting art galleries or having local food at the local market!

A Fine Day for Sailing—vintage classics comfortably and freshly styled, biking down streets on sunny days, and the friendliest smile ever—Isla Bell on San Francisco:

The best part? The people! San Francisco is full of such inspirational characters young and old. Everyone is so open and friendly. It did not take long for me to feel right at home here. There are so many amazing places in California it's hard to pick one. The Pinnacles national park is pretty magical, the hike there takes you through caves and up mountain sides, it's so majestic.

Olive, My Love—lots of love for historic sites (kindred spirits!), hanging out with friends (ditto), and a little link to our homeland via vintage emporium Dalaga—Liz on New York City:

My favorite thing about Brooklyn and my neighborhood (Bushwick) in general is the sense of community you feel when you live here. It's like everyone is banded together in this burrough and because of that there is always something going on. Farmers markets, free art opening and movies playing in parks, river front concerts and parades in Coney Island... All of these things are at your finger tips and you just have to go out and take advantage of it. It's so hard to pick just one place to visit while you're here (there's so much to do and see!) but some of my favorite places are naturally ones that take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city.  

1. The Museum of Natural History: I could spend a full week walking through the halls and exploring all the exhibits. Artifacts, fossils and taxidermy, oh my! This place is great because you can walk across the street afterwards and have a picnic in Central Park!
2. Ft. Tryon Park at the Cloisters: This park and medieval art museum are waaay up north in Manhattan. It's a serious trek (at least and hour on the train), but it's 100% worth it. It's like a sanctuary up there. I didn't even go into the museum when I went because walking around the surrounding park and gardens was enough for me. Bring a snack, a blanket and a book and you're set for a relaxing afternoon.
3. Greenpoint: When I first moved to Brooklyn, I lived in Greenpoint and I still miss it to this day. Luckily I work there, so I still get to reap all it's benefits! Besides, what's a trip to NYC without a little bit of shopping and exploring?  

If you are looking for an afternoon of walking around, window shopping and delicious food without the insane crowds of Manhattan, then Greenpoint is the spot for you. Franklin St. is littered with adorable shops (including Dalaga!) and yummy places to grab a bite.  

I love Cookie Road for coffee and macarons, Paulie Gee's for the best pizza in town and The Pencil Factory for a drink after work. Alter is a quintessential Brooklyn store and they have both men's and women's locations on Franklin. In God We Trust has fantastic hand made clothing and jewelry, which is all created in their work space behind the store in Greenpoint! Kill Devil Hill is like a modern day general store and the owner is so sweet. If you're shopped out you can walk two blocks to the waterfront and take a ferry ride across the East River to Manhtattan via the India Street Pier! 

Odd Socks & Pretty Frocks—Georgette Heyer novel reader, wonderfully Wonderlandian shoe collection, and a shared taste in coats, old suitcases, and National Trust houses—Alex on Liverpool:

My favourite thing about Liverpool can't be narrowed down to one place or thing. The city as a whole is utterly unique and wonderful. It's an amazing mix of modern attitudes and very tangible history. We've got two cathedrals, more Georgian buildings than Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage waterfront, loads of museums, galleries and such a great sporting and musical heritage, all in one fairly small city! If I'm being biased then I would say come and visit the place I work in, because it's beautiful and has survived amazingly over the centuries. In terms of Liverpool generally then I think just an hour's stroll around the city centre and the back streets is the one thing that all visitors should definitely do. You don't get the real feel for a place until you've walked round and discovered all the quirky little things about it.

On Dressing Up—seaside walks and cherry blossom trees, pastel and pattern, superb prose, and that feeling of quiet happiness—Ana B. on Wellington:

It's got the buzz, activities and energy of a city, but the warmth and heart of a small village. You can't walk down the street without bumping into someone you know; and everywhere, strangers smile at you. I've never tasted coffee as good as it is here. Even gas stations have barista service. It's a land of milk and honey and rolling green hills and crazy street parties with people spilling onto balconies in the heat of summer nights. I love to travel but more than that, I love to come home.  

Local Favourites Cafe-hopping, people-watching, thrifting and seeing gigs along Cuba Street; the street where I live in the centre of the city.  

Dream Destination Iceland! To see the fire and the ice, the Northern Lights, and maybe an Icelandic elf or two. A friend told me of being in Iceland during Christmas. As the sun went down, one by one, people lit oil lamps and put them outside houses and shops, dimming the electric lights. She said the street was like a giant string of fairy lights.

I seriously need to read more blogs from South America and Africa! Can anyone suggest a great lifestyle blogger from those continents? :)