La Mamounia Palace Hotel in Marrakech

My last post on Marrakech, showed the Kasbah or Medina, which is the inner part of the city, which was quite poor. It was so poor my dad was traumatized, hahaha. So let me show you, where the rich and famous stay in Marrakech, just a few minutes outside the medina.

On our last day in Marrakech, Auntie Celita invited us to lunch at La Mamounia Palace Hotel, a five star hotel ranked as the 6th best Palace in the world.

It really feels like a world away from the 20 Euro hotel bed and breakfast that we stayed in. We didn't check out the rooms, but we opted to eat in their French Restaurant instead.

Sof had their Chicken Nuggets

Auntie Celit had Magret de Canard (Duck Breast)

The rest of us carnivores had steak.

They serve it with Steak Fries cooked in Duck Fat.

It was perfectly cooked and oh so yummy...

We couldn't leave without having dessert.

And Mint Tea, of course!

A room will set you back around €450 a night (which is €430 more than what I was willing to spend... hahaha), but you sure can eat a really good meal in their French Restaurant for the cost of an average meal in Paris. just saying.


La Mamounia
Avenue Bab Jdid
Marrakesh 40040, Morocco

I'm back... My 2017 Highlights

I'm back!!!

I was on quite a long break this year. I admit, there were a few months when it felt like I took a sabbatical from life. I focused on getting healthy and I am happy to say that it worked. I am definitely more inspired and more energized, full of excitement for everything that is going on in my life, my passion projects included.

Since I am just getting my blogging groove back, let me make this my 2017 year end post as well.

There are a lot of things I am very thankful for.

1. The start of this year was very difficult for me financially. I don't know what happened, but it sure seemed like for the first few months of the year, all I did was dip into my savings come credit card payment time. I had to actually tighten my belt and NOT SHOP... and this lasted until October. (No wonder I got burned out with life!!! Hahaha). So I am thankful that I not only survived that very dark period this year, fingers-crossed, it seems to be over. Whew!

2. I gained 20+ freaking pounds, a sister in law, and I lost it. The 20+ freaking pounds, not the sister in law, which I am happy to keep. Kasi no return no exchange daw, according to my brother.

This is me and the extra freaking 20+ pounds.

On the rare occasions I posted photos, I had to choose the most flattering

filters, and crop the hell out of my arms.

Welcome to the family Reena!!!

Timmy and Reena's HK Wedding Feb 17, 2017

3. I got the shock of my life when I did my Annual Physical Exam in March and I stepped on the scale. OMG... so that's why I had to give most of my clothes away. I told myself I needed to make a change and get healthier. I decided to give the NutriBullet another try. I found a smoothie recipe I actually liked, and I take it every single day as a meal replacement. I realized that eating a later low calorie breakfast helps, I take my smoothie mid-day with a low calorie snack, then I take the other half at dinner with some protein and a lot of veggies. I feel lighter, more alert, and not deprived at all because I still eat all my favorite food (steak fat and foie gras included).

This is me 20+ pounds lighter. Thank you NutriBullet.

November 2017, 0 degrees weather, Budapest

4. Things were quiet travel-wise on the work front this year. But I was blessed with many travels with family and friends.

The whole family, Timmy and Reena included, with Auntie Celita and Auntie Lilian went to Europe for Holy Week.

Barcelona

Paris

I was able to bring my family to places I've visited before that I really enjoyed.

Lyon

Segovia

We had the best apartment overlooking the Aquaduct.

We ate at all the well known Cochinillo places (so I could blog about which

one is the best, coming soon)... so know you know how I gained 20+ pounds!!!

Marrakech

Where I gave Papa the shock of his life. You can read post on that here.

We visited my boss in Sri Lanka in November.

I've always wanted to visit a Tea Plantation. We not only did that in

Nuwara Eliya, we got to go Tea Plucking too.

Old Town Square in Prague.

I was also able to visit a lot of new places.

Brunei for work.

Visited Melaka with Jay's family and Anelle.

They have the best Christmas Markets in Vienna.

Walking Tour during a snow storm in Bratislava.

Can you spell Budapest?

I got to visit an old favorite too, maybe for the last time.

Painting shopping for the boss at Bogyoke Market

in Yangon.

5. My passion projects are doing well, with the 2018 collection in the works.

I have a new partner in growing Wanderlust online.

I am so glad the training brought us together Kate!

My leather crafting hobby did surprisingly well this 2017.

I already have products in the pipeline for our 2018 collection.

Wanderlust is truly inspired by places, to take you places.

I thank God for the time he gave me this year to recharge and reclaim my health.
I don't know what is in store for 2018 but I continue to pray for the best.

Give Good. I believe in Karma. It will come back. just saying.

Our 25 Euros a night Riad in Marrakech

I've been to Morocco for work around 5 years ago, and while I thought Casablanca sounded way more romantic than reality, I had very fond memories of weekend trips to Tangier and Marrakech, remembering that I told myself I wanted to go back again, and stay in one of the quaint Riads, which is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden or courtyard, in the Medina, the walled part of North African cities with narrow maze-like streets where the souks or shops are.

What I totally forgot though was when we did the weekend in Marrakech, everything was planned for by the company, so I totally forgot who poor the place was, and how intimidating it can be if you plan to navigate the Medina by yourself. Another thing I overlooked when we decided to visit Marrakech (which came up due to it's proximity to Spain and the availability of cheap flights) was the weather. I never imagined it would be so hot in April (like mid 30degrees hot), which brings me to how thankful I am that we absolutely loved our stay at Ryad Laârouss. 

It was a total steal for around €25, it was basic, but small and cozy, with a nice location (after you get over being overwhelmed - my parents never did! good thing they stayed elsewhere, hahaha) with free bread for breakfast that comes with really good freshly squeezed orange juice and a swimming pool in the courtyard which Sofia absolutely loved.

We had a very hectic journey to Marrakech (because of bad planning due to circumstances that have changed). We flew in from Barcelona where we were supposed to be based for our holiday, but we ended up coming from Segovia so it was an 18-hour journey for us by land and air. We arrived close to midnight but it was hassle free since we pre-booked our airport transfers through the Riad.

Welcome to Morocco! Casablanca transit.

Touchdown Marrakech. Finally! They have a very new
modern looking airport.

Ryad Laârouss

Our room was basic but cozy, with a lot of little details
that I loved.

 

The only catch is our air condition was snuffy (as in
Mr. Snuffleupagus) and there was a loud speaker outside
our window announcing prayers... but Auntie Celit and
Ady's room beside us was totally fine. 

They even had a window that opened out to the courtyard.

All our days in Marrakech started the same. We would wake up at 9:30am to grab some free breakfast that was available till 10am (mostly just bread, juice, coffee and mint tea) but we always brought our own cheese to augment it. Then Sof would swim and enjoy the hotel until we got hungry and we would drag ourselves out for a late lunch (and some exploring when it wasn't too hot anymore) before we came back to rest before dinner.

 

No matter how hot it was in Morocco, I couldn't resist
the fresh mint tea. Best without added sugar.

 

Sofia loved the plunge pool they have in the courtyard.

 

 

 

They also have a rooftop terrace with a Jacuzzi which we tried out, but since it was covered and the water was ice cold too, Sof preferred the bigger indoor pool.

 

 

 

 

Another great thing about where we stayed is it's proximity to the Souks. We were less than 10 minutes away from the end of one, and it's all connected, so you don't know where one ends and another one starts. It's totally easy to get lost, but Google maps makes it easy to follow the dot on small streets with no names so once we got comfortable, we just needed to make sure we could retrace our way back. I'll do a separate post on the souks.

We normally walk as far as Djemaa El Fna square, the main square in Marrakech, which is so full of locals you'll know what I mean when I say the place is overwhelming, then we opt to take a taxi back to the riad.

We had a good four days break in Marrakech. You just have to remember you're visiting Africa when you go, so the poverty doesn't take you by surprise, and you have to come with loads of patience, because airport queues are exceptionally long since they don't have any processes in place to make the simplest immigration and security procedures efficient. You'll know what I mean when you get there.

Yes. You have to walk to board the plane. No buses here to shuttle you.
Hey, it's Africa. just saying.

Up soon, are the souks and where to eat... and yes, I will also be posting about the beautiful places to visit. just saying.


Ryad Laârouss
46 Angle Derb El Gueza Et Derb Jamaa، 
Marrakesh 40000, Morocco

Riad Laârouss is an area, so there are a few riads that share the same name - look for this one: booking.com link