Overseas: The Hours at Bath

SHIP'S LOG: A enters the pages of her favourite literary subgenres— the Roman murder mystery and the Regency romance novel—with a day in yellow limestone Bath.



My family and I took the train out of London to avoid the Royal Wedding crush, but little did we know that every shop and cafe counter would be streaming the celebrations to iPads, netbooks, and smartphones all over Bath. Still, I had a lovely weekend at Bath, the city of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer and spa fanatics of Roman Britain.

I love the clean lines and curves of Regency architecture so most of my photographs are of buildings and blue sky. As we walked up to the Royal Crescent through the Circus, my cousin and I picked out townhouses we would buy upon winning a lottery jackpot. I wish!












I really enjoyed the Roman Spa, which proves how earnest heritage organizations are in seeking to preserve historical treasures. I was there with B in 2006 but there were so many new exhibits to see and interactive information to digest that I couldn't 'finish' the museum in two hours. I particularly liked where the dressed-up guide, usually hokey but not in this case, demonstrated how to make Roman perfume and let me try some on. I think the perfume smelled better than any Lush store.

What I love most about England is the sense of history that I don't often, if ever, get walking down the streets of Manila. I mean, that the same shops that heroines in novels and heroes in history books visited a hundred, two hundred, six hundred years ago are still open, under different names and refurbishments but still essentially there.


A wears an H&M light coat over a striped shirt and cuffed jeans or a blue polkadot dress and Hush Puppies loafers.

Overseas: Swiss Sun

SHIP'S LOG: Goodbye summer holiday, hello much missed family and friends! But first, an uneven tan under a glorious sun of Switzerland.



Winding down after six weeks of travelling involves Scrabble death matches, "cooking" raclette with baby potatoes and pickles, trying three flavours of ice cream each day, and boating on the crazily clear lakes. I AM LOVING IT. I leave all the trip planning to my cousin's awesome girlfriend Mirella—result: pure happiness.

What I Did This Weekend:

• Saturday: Zurich's dreaming spires (better than Oxford's) and lunch at the old city wall. Noted a horde of mediaeval re-enactors wielding swords and Princess Beatrice headdresses.
• Sunday: Espresso croquant and pistachio ice cream with candied walnuts for breakfast. Missed Albi's last minute goal, thanks to a freak rain shower. Train to Bern where I finally, FINALLY see my cousin's house, cows, countryside and all.
• Monday: Cailler chocolate factory with unlimited fresh chocolates to taste and take home and a whirlwind tour of the Bernese Alps before an infamous dinner of late-night kebabs.  

Today I had Bailey's and hazelnut ice cream and a cheese pie at Mirella's go-to food shop in Lucerne. So super. She and Albi are spoiling me rotten. Sharp smelly wonderful cheese and smooth nutty chocolate—I am dying.

An unexpected 26 degrees C and not a cloud in the sky. 

I did not win. But at least I beat Albi.

A not so Fantastic Mr Fox & friends (weasels and crows not pictured) at Zurich's downtown market. 

Mmmm, hazelnuts.

Not Austria but the hills were alive with the sound of music. 

My favourite Swiss-Filipinos and white-collar Monopoly bandits, Albi and Mirella.

People have asked me whether I am missing home yet, and truth tell, I'm not. Usually it only takes half a month before I am longing for my bed and fresh laundry that doesn't smell of damp doggies, but this time  I don't want to leave. Probably because I feel like I haven't finished catching up with my Europe-based friends, but really, could I ever get sick of this—?




Don't think so. :)

A wears clothes. :P At this point, I am absolutely tired of living out of a suitcase.

Overseas: Summer Surf

SHIP'S LOG: To temporarily stave off beach fever, B remembers last month's out of town trip with friends. Wind, waves and wipeouts!

La Union Surfnami from Bea Bermundo on Vimeo.

One of my favorite videos I've made so far. Which isn't saying too much because my home movies are always on the amateur side! I hate to be repetitive but I miss the sand and surf. I miss throwing myself into waves and getting severely pummeled. I miss the smell of sunblock and tanning oil. I miss scarfing down enormous amounts of food after a long hard swim. I miss nature.

Luckily, I very responsibly headed over to the bank as soon as I got my last paycheck. Money for future road trips? Check!

Merry Meriendas: Brown's English Tea Room

SHIP'S LOG: A gets treated to an early birthday tea at one of London's oldest hotels. What could be better than a three-tier cake stand and hot cuppa tea?



I crossed Item 23—Fancy Afternoon Tea at Historic Hotel—off my bucket list last week. Brown's Hotel served the loveliest cream covered scones and chicken curry-and-cucumber sandwiches I have ever had. Full to the brim, I walked out of Mayfair still tasting smoked salmon and strawberry jam. Not the best combination post-meal, I admit, but I was thoroughly satisfied by the ever-replenishing plates of Kir Royales and sultana-less scones. Yummy yummy yummy.






London has such warm weather right now! I haven't seen a drop of rain since I've got here, and I feel like bursting out in a rendition of E.L.O.'s Mr Blue Sky. So the Cat, my auntie, and I took in some sun in Lincoln's Inn Fields after a morning wandering around John Soane's esoteric collection of odd but beautiful things ('Alas, Poor Fanny!') and some delicate and simultaneously disgusting anatomic specimens at the Hunterian. Good times to be had by all, indeed. :)

P.S. Dorothy Perkins had a sale and I got fire engine red tights for PHP 99.00 and I should have bought more! They are absolutely fantastic and I am wearing them to death. Thumbs up, DP.



A wears Zara khaki blazer, Dorothy Perkins tights, Topshop dress, damascene necklace, Dooney & Bourke bag, and auntie's Cole Haan shoes.