Riciaz: 2016

2016

Summer Holiday - Paris and Nice

Hi! I am finally back to Indonesia for my summer break... And since I don't have much to do, let me update my blog, which I so seldom post.

Visited the pretty city of Paris end of last month, a city that is more than just beautiful. It was my first time to Paris and all I can say is just WOW. I love all the architecture, the colours, the vibe, not too much with the food, or maybe I haven't found that is of to my taste... And also just saying, there were so many Koreans there, like I hear them in every corner and at every attraction... Usually I will hear more Chinese, but this time round, its different and I find it weird.

I spent a total of 5 days in France, 3 in Paris and 2 in Nice together with my friend Maylanie. I regretted not being able to stay there for a longer time, but I had to move places in London and it was just a hectic schedule to follow if I stayed even a day longer.

In short, this was my itinerary...

Day 1: Paris - Touring around the city with Laura
Day 2: Paris - Disneyland
Day 3: Paris - Louvre and relaxed walks
Day 4: Nice - Promenade des Anglais
Day 5: Nice - Chillax and back to London

Day 1 (Sunday)

Went to the old town of Saint Michel after I met Laura, where we had our lunch. Mind you, that we were very, very hungry. The only problem I can complain about in Paris was the slow service... I don't think I am able to seat for hours just talking, oh well I can actually, but only at certain times...

Kept taking Laura's Raclette because its so nice, especially when there is baby potatoes I can eat it together with... Potatoes are LOVE... I think out of the days in Paris, this was the most Frenchy and nicer meal...

Look at that cheese melting!

Notre Dame Cathedral

Dainty little cafes we pass all the time...

From Saint Michel, we walked over to the art gallery Centre Pompidou where we can catch the overview of Paris. The ticket to the roof costs only 3 Euros, so its worth it.

To the icon of Paris, the Eiffel Tower!

Cheeky selfie there Laura! Or shall I call it a double selfie!

We headed our way back to Champs-Elysees as we were too tired getting up in the morning and in need of rest... Stopped by Arc de Triomphe which was really near our accommodation before ending the day by going back.

Day 2 (Monday)

Disneyland, hmm I don't know how to say this, but it was not as happy as what I thought it will be. The queue for the rides are extremely long.... I think we queued up for like an hour and a half for the buzz lightyear shooting ride, which is rather boring...

What's the best throughout the day was the parade, of course.... Couldn't be bothered to queue for the meet and greet with the characters earlier in the day, but its okay because you can see all of them here!

Disney Swag

Day 3 (Tuesday)

The Louvre

Palais-Royal

Jardin du Palais Royal

The view of the Eiffel Tower from Cours La Reine, heading towards Champs Elysees

Regarding where we stayed, I highly recommend the place we stayed the other time... It was near Champs-Elysees, perfect for shopping or if you want to find food... I think we got really lucky because I have actually no idea what Paris is gonna look like.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/12666900?s=qsdZtjRb

I heard stories where Paris can be pretty frightening, where there are lots of pickpockets and such,, I guess we were really lucky, except a time we got conned while eating breakfast at Champs-Elysees. Things to take note - just ignore or reject people who come up to you, asking for a donation.. this happens everywhere...

Paris is just a beautiful city, I can't say how much lovely memories I made there. Next stop, Nice...

Day 4 (Wednesday)

I spent the day alone that time because my friend was not feeling well, and rather than staying in a hotel, I went out by myself, got a tan, a really bad one at the end of the day. Nevertheless, the sea and the sky were too blue, too beautiful...

Kudos to the hotel lady who told me where to go, so from the hotel Villa Rivoli, I just need to walk up to the Promenade des Anglais, where I just need to continue walking to the left, pass by a garden and a flower market, where I will reach the Vieille Ville, the Old City.

From the Old City there is the Colline du Chateau, where you can see the overview of the coast, together with the old town.

Headed back to the hotel to find May but got a heart attack because I couldn't find her nor the accommodation room. Our accommodation was more like a serviced apartment managed by the same hotel so it was at a different location. The hotel staff said May has already checked, and directed me to the new location using the map. Upon reaching the new location by myself however, I couldn't even find the room. Had to switch my phone to roaming, called May but she didn't answer, called the hotel a few times, having trouble trying to speak with them in English. I had a total mental breakdown that period, worried that I won't be able to go in, and what if I need to spend the night alone outside.

Finally, after about 10 to 15 minutes later, the hotel sent a staff down to help me open the door and I just crashed to the sofa, thinking how scared I have been, was about to cry but then thought it was too stupid to do so.

I am a person full of emotions, so if I do cry suddenly, please do not be surprised... that's because I have too much in my head that I cannot handle.

All right, forget about the ramble, went out shortly with May to find food after I got in the room, of course our trip's expenditure is all spent on food. Since the weather in Nice is too hot, I couldn't resist buying some ice cream after I saw it and ohh, it tastes so good! Got the Mojito and Mint flavours, and so in love with it. I could have bought another cup if it wasn't because we haven't had lunch yet!

Will probably say this vongole pasta from an Italian restaurant is my best meal in France just because I was sick of eating bread everyday... The chilli flakes given to us, oh my gosh I rate it a 5 star just because it was so spicy... Seldom do I even encounter anything so spicy in Europe or London.

Day 5 (Thursday)

It was more like a rest day for both of us, did not do anything much except to eat lunch at a Thai/Vietnamese restaurant, and there I never did feel so happy eating asian... I guess I can't live with too much bread around me.

So that was all of my Europe trip, the one and only "proper" holiday I've experienced in a long time. I can't wait to tour around again, maybe this end of the year if it is possible.

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, by Riciaz

London

[Make-Up Review] 3INA Cosmetics

For today's post I will be writing a review about a new make-up cosmetics brand called 3INA. I don't know how it is supposed to be pronounced exactly... I heard people calling it Mina, Three-I-N-A or Threena. Maybe they want their brand to be versatile, and chose that name, nobody knows.

I noticed this store a couple of times I went to Covent Garden but only went in there this time round. The colours of the products stood out from the front. I am not a big fan of looking at foundations or skincare whenever I go to make up stores because I prefer korean ones, but the lipsticks and nail colours were pretty good.

These are the stuff I bought...

1. Chubby Lipstick (Shade: 100), £7.95

2. Chubby Lipstick (Shade: 108)

Even though I've always bought the same kind of colours, I find these colours really pretty. I had to resist myself from buying the orange shade since I have too much of those coraly-orange shades. I bought it for easier application as well, since it is like holding a fat crayon. It is written that it is featured in vogue. The bad thing about these lipsticks is that they don't have a shade number on them, therefore it was kind of confusing at the store when colours are kind of similar.

3. Automatic Eye Pencil (Shade: 303), £6.95

I'm thinking of using this glittery brown/ bronze shade to highlight the ends of my eyes, just to give it a little sparkle.

4. Nail Polish (Shade: 109), £4.95

The nail polish was given as a bonus since they were having promotion that day. I am not sure if this still applies on any other day but ladies, you feel pretty good getting a free item right? Especially when it is not a sample :)

The prices were affordable and there is a huge range of colours to choose from for the nail polish.

6 James Street
Covent Garden
London, WC2E 8BH

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, by Riciaz

Food

Riciaz's Matcha Guide in London

Have you ever come across those foodies who loves to post about matcha? Well there is one right here! When I came to London for the first time, I was disappointed they don't have green tea lattes at Starbucks but as I got to know my way around here, I pretty much hunted every place that sells matcha stuff.

1. Tombo
Unrivalled in many aspects, Tombo is a perfect place be it for atmosphere, food, drinks, desserts. Since it is near my house, I think I came here a bit too much to recommend to my friends. Their cakes are also from Lanka, which is in the next point. Their main food tastes really delicious too. Now however, I'm also getting addicted more to their hojicha latte.

Tombo

29 Thurloe Place

London, SW7 2HQ

2. Lanka

If you think the cakes at Tombo are good, their cakes are from here. At Lanka you will find a lot more selection of cakes, making you spoilt for choices. They also update their facebook daily about the cakes sold on that day, so maybe in that way you can have more time to decide in your mind which cake you should get later.

Lanka

9 Goldhurst Terrace

London, NW6 3HX

3. Pan De Vie

The first time I came here, it was a matcha heaven with so many cake and bread selections. Although their bread don't taste good, at least their cakes do. Since then, I've kept coming back to try their cakes one by one, and so far all of them tastes pretty good. My personal favourite is the matcha and white chocolate ganache tart, followed by the yuzu cheesecake and rum chocolate.

Pan De Vie

5 New Row

London WC2N 4LH

4. Shibuya

If you're looking for bingsu, this is probably the best you can find in London. Instead of shaved ice, it is more like shaved milk ice. It is so soft.

Shibuya

110 Shaftesbury Avenue

London W1D 5EJ

5. Chinese Bakery

There is a chinese bakery selling ice cream taiyaki at Chinatown. It looks good for the photo, but their ice cream do not have enough matcha taste. Its more like just milk.

Bakery

(I don't know the exact name and location, but it is a chinese bakery along Wardour Street and just across W Hotel in Leicester Square)

6. Timberyard

If you just want a little break from your regular coffee, which I don't drink anyways because I think it is too bitter, there's also matcha lattes served at Timberyard and Notes.

Timberyard

Covent Garden & Old Street

7. Notes

Notes

Various Locations

8. Good Life Eatery

I should have known about this place sooner, this was also only a 7 minute walk from my place. I was attracted to their cold pressed juices packaging as I came across it online, and since that week I had a little bit too much food, I decided that I should go for some healthy eating....

I would rate the matcha almond mylk I had as a 5/10 and the food 8/10. Even though this drink was tasteless, I still want to try their range of other juices and mylks, just to see if it is any better.

Good Life Eatery

59 Sloane Avenue

London SW3 3DH

Hope you had a good time reading this list. This is probably the first post dedicated only about food. All along what I blog was about my life... until recently, I met up with the uni mates and they called me the ultimate foodie. Well, I do agree with that myself. Christine suggested to me this idea that I should put up my food pics and write my reviews on it and that is what I'm trying to start. I'll update this list if I find more places and I guess I should post more regularly for this year.

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, by Riciaz

2016

Coming of Spring

Its finally spring time and what better way to celebrate it by hunting for cherry blossom pictures! Even though we might not be in Japan where its famous for, there are always places in London.

It is also my last week of holiday, and we started Monday by exploring Regent's Park with Mizuki even though that day was raining.

The next day, I had lunch at Cocomaya with Rachel and her sis since we haven't met up in such a long time. The place was really pretty, not a disappointment to come. Food came in bite sizes so the portion was just right. I had their salted caramel cronut, which the custard pretty much overflowing.

Cocomaya

12 Connaught Street

London, W2 2AF

Speaking of sweet treats, Molly Bakes is a good place for those who love extreme sweetness. Famous for their freakshakes, we had to queue for more than half an hour just to order. Even though that was the only thing I had since morning, I feel that it is too much and honestly, I did not feel like eating anymore for the rest of the day. It makes you THAT full.

Molly Bakes

450 Kingsland Road

London, E8 4AE

And the next day again, I met Nadia to cycle in Hyde Park! It was my second time riding a bike in London and Nadia's first, so we're still kinda scared about riding it. It turns out to be really fun and relaxing at the same time, especially when the sun's out and only light wind blowing.