I love Paris in the springtime...

..., or was it perhaps "in the winter when it drizzles".  

Oh well, Paris is lovely whatever the season.

After the furnace fire I told you about last time, Hubby and I had to leave the house for a few days. As you can imagine, the stench of oil and smoke permeated everything and it was not at all pleasant to be home. Fortunately, we had booked a trip to Paris to celebrate Hubby's birthday and it could not have come at a better time. I must admit that I was so disheartened and worn-out over what had happened that I completely lost the desire to go, but thankfully Hubby changed my mind, and we had a few fantastic days in one of the world's most beautiful cities. Although it was rather cold and it rained a bit, spring had definitely arrived in Paris and the earliest spring flowers were already in bloom.

In front of the Town Hall, the Hôtel de Ville, winter was still being celebrated in full. Every time we walked past, there were loads of people here, so skating is apparently a popular pastime among the Parisians.

Liberty, equality, fraternity – the motto of the revolution is carved in stone high above the city.

A short walk away, at Notre Dame, the hundreds of pigeons treat everyone equally, they perch on the shoulder of an old lady as easily as Charlemagne.

The famous cathedral is considered to be one of the world’s finest examples of Gothic architecture. The stained glass windows and the tall columns provide a solemn background to worship, and one can only imagine how impressive this cathedral must have been to the inhabitants of Paris when it was completed in the 1200s.

The beatification of Jeanne d'Arc took place in this church, and her statue can be admired in one of the side chapels.

The Cathedral and the Seine is a lovely sight at night. If you walk across the bridge to the left bank you arrive at the Latin Quarter, where countless restaurants will tempt you with all sorts of good food at very reasonable prices.

Buskers often sit on the bridges. This man played La Vie en Rose for the tourists.  

It seems French restaurants are always cramped, but the food never disappoints. Hubby was brave enough to try escargot, but I've never been tempted by such things. I opted for the onion soup au gratin, which tasted delicious, mainly due to the copious amounts of delicious cheese.

French wine is not the only accompaniment to a meal. Dry cider from Normandy came in bottles with champagne corks, and provided a refreshing compliment to all the cheese. We tried both cheese fondue and raclette (not on the same day!) and they were both delicious, but Oh my God so much fat! You can practically feel the cholesterol coating the insides of your arteries as you eat.

It is just as well that Paris offers plenty of opportunities for exercise. The road up Montmartre to the Sacre Coeur basilica consists of stairs followed by more stairs. It's enough to take the breath from the fittest of tourists, and when you finally reach the city's highest point, you will be rewarded with the breathtaking view.

However, if a view is what you are after, there is of course no place like the Eiffel tower. For a sizeable sum, you can take the elevator to the top. We didn’t, because the queues at each pillar were endless. Instead we walked around, looking at all the people in love. Paris is a romantic city, and the Parisians do their best to prove it. We haven’t seen so much snogging since Hubby’s daughter and her boyfriend were visiting us. The trees in the park were decorated with countless hearts carved into the bark.

A large number of newlyweds, all Asians for some reason, stood in line to be photographed with one of the world's most famous landmarks in the background.

Paris is also home to the world's most famous painting, and we weren’t the only ones who wanted to see the Mona Lisa.  

Most people who visit the Louvre will probably head straight for this gallery, but there is so much more to see at the museum.

Unique world-famous art treasures are packed so tightly that it almost becomes too much of a good thing. In the end it becomes difficult to take it all in.

In addition, the palace is a work of art in itself. One must take the time to look around and admire the lavish decorations everywhere. The modern glass pyramid outside breaks sharply with the style, but it too is a sight to behold.

To see it all, you probably need a week to wander around the Louvre, but we only had one day here. The next day we went to the Cinematheque Française, where they have one of the largest collections of old movies, costumes and other film artifacts. It is perhaps not something for everyone, but for film buffs like us, this is a must.

Paris is a large city, but thankfully it is easy to get around on the Metro. Metro stations are often beautifully decorated. I love these signs in Art Nouveau style and the classic lamps and wall tiles. Just remember to keep a close watch on your wallet because the Metro is teeming with pickpockets. Despite the fact that I carried my handbag at the front, some cunning thief managed to sneak his hand down into it, and voila, my purse was gone. This is actually the third time this has happened to me in Paris, so next time I visit I'll use a money belt. Ah well, it's incredibly frustrating when this happens, but I can console myself that my passport and most credit cards were at our hotel, and the loss will be covered by travel insurance. Another thing to watch out for are the many deaf-mutes (who both hear and speak when you turn your back to them) who collect money, and Gypsies, who suddenly find a gold ring on the ground in front of you and wonder if it's yours. While you are busy looking at the ring, an accomplice will empty your bag and pockets.

On our last day in Paris, we walked along the Champs Elysees, to the Arc de Triomphe, which stands in the middle of a roundabout. Like so much else in this city, the monument is overwhelming. We were lucky and got some sunshine, so we could sit on the George V café and drink coffee (at a price!) and watch the people walking by.

I've always wanted to go to Paris in April, just so that I can walk around there and hum my favorite song by Ella & Louis.  

We were a bit early now, but maybe next time….

Wish I was there

On days such as today, with the icy wind howling and rain and sleet beating down on us, when it seems as if daylight just can’t manage to penetrate the thick clouds, then I agree with those who say that you have to be somewhat masochistic to live in Norway. Perhaps it wasn’t such a good idea then, to spend the day looking at photos from our honeymoon in tropical Cebu in the Philippines. My pining for sun and warm weather suddenly became overwhelming.

The sound of a gentle breeze rustling through the great leaves of a palm tree would be music to my ears.

Imagine lying in the shade and wriggling your freshly painted toenails while sipping an ice-cold mango shake...

… or coconut juice served fresh in the nut.

You could take a dip in the crystal clear warm water…

…where tropical fish would be only too happy to share your lunch.

The trees are full of all sorts of exotic fruits…

…and flowers…

…that you can put in your hair.

This was the view from our veranda at the Shangri La resort. Quite different from the disheartening view from our window today. Ah well, I suppose there is only one thing to do - eat cake!

If there are more of you out there who need to comfort eat, I’ll put out a recipe for the world’s best cake in a little while.

A five star experience

We recently spent two weeks in England - one week of work and one of holiday. It was both interesting and nice.

When it comes to London, it's always difficult to find a nice hotel. In this city the adjectives "cheap" and "good" do not appear in the same sentence when referring to accommodation. If you cannot afford to splurge £500 a night, it's a challenge to find five-star accommodation within a reasonable budget, but we make a game out of it and we usually win. It's amazing what sweet deals you can come across if you just take the time. If you do find a good offer on Expedia for example, it may pay off to call the hotel directly and ask if they can beat it with something even better.

Staying at five star hotels is not something we've been spoiled with for many years. When I was in my twenties, I was completely obsessed with travelling around the world as a backpacker. Back then the goal was to get the money to stretch as far as possible, and when I think of how many shabby hostels I've stayed at, it's a wonder I got away with only a few flea bites. One time I actually lived half a year in a tent (!) travelling around the Pacific islands and Australia. It was quite an experience, but there wasn’t much luxury to be had. That time is over and done with now. Been there, done that, got the flee infested t-shirt. I still have the travel bug, but now that I’m in my forties, burdened with a busy job, I no longer have the time to travel around the world for months on end, so on the short trips I do occasionally take, I want to indulge in a little luxury. In that sense, the hotel has become an important part of the destination for me now.

London can offer both modern and classic hotels of every standard. This time we chose "The Cranley", which is a classic luxury boutique hotel. This tiny hotel, with just 39 rooms, is located in a quiet street in South Kensington and is comprised of three Victorian townhouses. The building dates from 1869, which obviously influences its style.

The lobby is quite small, but very pretty and nice - almost like a small library. As usual in London, hardly any of the employees were actually English, which can be quite frustrating if one tries to communicate a point. This man here, however, had such a nice accent that we wondered if he might be the exception that confirms the rule.

Every evening champagne and canapés was served in the lounge. Neither of us are normally all that enthusiastic about bubbly, but a refreshing glass before dinner proved to be so nice that it is something we could easily get used to.

Notice the colours in the décor, they are based on the original floor tiles. The entire hotel is decorated in these colours.

In the room there were fruit and drinks. Husfruen also appreciated the selection of reading material.

The mahogany four-poster was enormous, filling much of the room. It was dressed in Irish linen and the headboard was hand embroidered in a Roslyn pattern. It was simply gorgeous!

There was only room for one armchair.

Since everything else was kept in a traditional style, modern amenities like the small TV and the Ipod docking station looked a bit out of place. But I suppose it wouldn’t be easy to make a Victorian style television.

On the small desk there is just enough room for a laptop computer.

The bathroom wasn’t large, but it had a tub with a shower. The taps were, of course, classic style. Large, warm towels and dressing gowns are appreciated after a long day’s walking. The toiletries are Penhaligon’s, which are nice but not my personal favourite. However I still didn’t appreciate how stingy the maid was, not supplying us with new ones every day. As we came back on the second day, we found no new conditioner even though there was just about a half teaspoon left in the tiny bottle. When I called the maid, she told me sternly: “You will get a new one when you have finished the old one, not before!” How does one reply to something like that? Well, the next morning we just hid everything.

The hotel didn’t have a dining room so every morning we had breakfast brought to us by room service. It was the standard continental breakfast which became a bit monotonous with just jams and marmalade every day, so we supplemented with some cheese and Marmite. Heh heh, the cheeses that Hubby likes are somewhat pungent, so they probably had to give the mini bar a proper airing out after we left.

Of course, we had to visit Harrod's to buy some goodies. 

Hubby was tempted by the fantastic selection of cheeses, and was so charmed by the French ladies in the “Fromagerie” that we ended up buying a lot more than we could eat. By the way, the Stilton was simply divine. Mmmm! However, we passed over the truffles, at a mere £6,500 per kilo….

London is obviously a large city, but it is blissfully easy to travel by bus or tube. We strongly recommend buying an Oyster Card, which makes it easier still. However, if you like to use your legs, The Cranley is actually within walking distance of many of the most famous attractions. One can easily stroll to both Harrods and various museums like the Victoria and Albert or the Natural History Museum.

In this city there are so many museums that you could probably spend a year sightseeing and still not get around them all, so picking the right ones is important. This time we decided to focus on "timepieces", more about that later.

On the strait and narrow in Malacca

We have recently been travelling through South East Asia. In addition to all of the exotic experiences that area of the world can offer, there is also a lot of inspiration for interior decoration to be found there – at least for Husfruen, who loves the old fashioned colonial style. One of my favourite pastimes in connection with travel is to locate hotels that not only offer five star service, but have delightful decor too.


On this trip we were working most of the time, but we had a few days to ourselves when we could relax and do what we wanted. We stayed at a number of nice hotels, which we will probably show you later, but today we would like to share with you our visit to Malacca.

CHRIST CHURCH is Malacca’s most famous building. 

This small, and attractive town in the Southwest of Malaysia has a long and proud history and has been designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The town was founded 600 years ago, and according to legend derives its name from a tree that grows there. Parameswara, a prince who fled from Sumatra, stopped to rest under a tree growing by the river. A small deer appeared out of the forest and startled one of his hunting dogs so that it fell into the water. The Prince took this as an omen that here the weak could triumph over the strong and saw it as a good place to establish the capital of his new kingdom.

CYCLE RICKSHAW. Owners decorate their “beca” with flowers by day and lights by night.

Strategically placed on the narrowest part of the strait that bears its name, Malacca is halfway along the sea route linking China to India and the Near East. The town quickly became an important trading port, and was soon one of the most powerful sultanates in the region. A port like that was irresistible for the European colonial powers. Portugal conquered the it in 1511. The following century the Dutch invaded Malacca in 1641 and ruled it until they ceded it to the British in 1824. Malacca was governed by first by the British East India Company, and later became a crown colony until 1946 when it became part of the newly independent Malaysia. In addition to the European colonialists, Chinese and Indian merchants have left their mark on the town. Such a rich and varied history has left an impression on the town, both cultural and culinary but most noticeably in the architecture.

A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT. The varied history of Malacca can be seen in its architecture.

Malacca can offer the traveller many different kinds of accommodation, from the simplest hostel to modern (and boring) international chain hotels. However, if you want to visit Malacca and live in historical style, there is only one place to go: The Majestic Hotel.

The building is in shining white, and stands beside the river, where in times gone past, Chinese Junks and European ships loaded with the riches of the Orient sailed past. The building is a part of Malacca’s colourful history. The main house was built in the 1920’s as a mansion for a wealthy Chinese businessman. It became a hotel in 1952 and was run as such for nearly fifty years before closing. Fortunately someone saw the potential in the old building and restored to its former glory. A new wing housing most of the rooms and suites was built on the grounds of the mansion. This was finished in 2008 and everything is obviously brand new inside, but the original style has been strictly adhered to, so a wave of nostalgia envelopes you as you enter.

LOBBY. Here the guests are greeted with a cold drink and wet cloths, during check in. The cold wet cloth is especially refreshing when entering from tropical warmth and humidity.

LIBRARY. The Portuguese floor tiles are so beautiful and I just love the way that the bookshelves have been painted to match. It is a nice contrast to the standard dark hardwood or white shelves. At home, we have exactly the same chairs in the room that will someday become our library. Now, I have new inspiration for decorating that room.

The building shows Dutch, Portuguese, British, Chinese and naturally Malayan influences. Floors are either teak, or colourful Portuguese tiles. The furniture is mahogany, upholstered with dark leather, while the panelled walls are painted in light pastel colours. The rooms are lit by lamps in traditional Chinese porcelain. Colourful oriental carpets and thick cushions of silk decorate the bedrooms, and the bedclothes are of finely woven white cotton.

COMFORT. We slept soundly in this bed.

After checking in we were escorted to our room by a young man carrying a basket. We both wondered what it contained. It turned out to be a full tea service. We were served surprisingly refreshing green tea in tiny cups.

TEA CEREMONY. The small cups of green tea were just what we needed after a hot day on the road.

The bed was a magnificent four poster, without a canopy though. The bathroom was open, with sliding louvered doors if privacy is needed. The bathtub rested on thick marble floor tiles 

The bathtub was so inviting that we both leapt into it (though not at the same time). The separate shower had a tropical showerhead, which was akin to standing under a warm waterfall.

BATH SALTS provided a lovely scented bath.

SUITE. Some of the rooms had a stylish sitting area in addition to the bedroom.

The rooms also provided ample reading material. The hotel had recently served as location for a photo book about Malacca’s unique Nyonya culture, and that of course held the place of honour on the coffee table. Nyonya is a term for rich Chinese that have adopted parts of the Malayan culture as their own. This fusion of cultures has resulted in a very special style of clothing, architecture and cooking that is only found here.


There were lots of glossy magazines as well. Hubby found the latest edition of the watch magazine “Revolution” and would probably have spent many happy hours leafing through that, but there were after all sight to be seen

DELICATE. This crystal lamp made a delicate contrast to all the other lamps which were in Chinese porcelain.

The hotel’s restaurant was the only thing that disappointed us slightly. Not that the food was bad in any way, it just took forever to prepare. When it finally arrived at our table though, it was served in a very attractive manner, so perhaps that is what took so long.

POACHED EGGS were served with all the trimmings. The bacon however, was made of beef as Malaysia is a Muslim country and pork is not on the menu.

Every weekend there is a night market in Jonker Street. Here you can find locals and tourists, shoulder to shoulder. As well as the more normal touristy souvenirs, there are shops selling genuine articles, also antiques, but don’t expect to find any bargains here – the shopkeepers know what their stock is worth, though it is definitely worth haggling.


In a shop called “Beyond Treasures” we met a tiny old Chinese lady who proudly showed us everything that was on offer, and that was quite a lot. Her shop stretched far back from the street front. There were quite a few quasi antiques on display, which she brusquely brushed aside. “Pfft, you don’t want such rubbish! Come here, and I’ll show you something special from before the Cultural Revolution.” And out came one gorgeous vase after another. We ended up with a nice little bowl that according to Feng Shui will bring happiness to our house. “You take this, and you turn towards north, east, south and west, then you place it in the south.” So has been duly performed, and all we have to do now is lean back and enjoy the happiness.

Flower painted wooden clogs is another thing to shop for in Malacca. They are quite different from the traditional Dutch clogs. One can actually wear these. We only bought a fridge magnet version.

A VARIETY OF FOOD. Chinese Dim Sum is only one for the meals offered by the street vendors on Jonker Street. Another stall pressed juice out of sugar cane while you watched.

Malacca is only two hours by bus from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. If you are visiting either of these cities, a day or two in Malacca is well worth considering. We spent only one night there, but we managed to see quite a lot in the little time we had available.