The Harvest

My mom and I went to The Harvest Lippo Mall branch last week and I must say I was dazzled (I learned to hate this term, thanks to Stephanie Meyers) by all the mouth-watering sweets on display. It was hard not to salivate.  The shop is beautiful and the staff are beyond delightful. They have cakes, cupcakes, chocolates, ice cream, sandwiches and even pretty gift baskets. I'm crazy about their cassava chips dipped in chocolate.

Below are photos of the Black Forest Cake I bought. It looks divine! I didn't eat it, though. Don't I have admirable restraint? I gave it to someone I dislike because I want her to get gloriously fat before my eyes! Crafty, I am.

Centara Grand Resort Hua Hin

We had a very relaxing two-week stay at Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas in Hua Hin, Thailand; so relaxing that we didn't want to go home. It was the perfect escape from the city life we needed. The resort is conveniently located in the middle of Hua Hin, an idyllic town 200 km south of Bangkok.

We stayed in one of their vintage beach themed villas; everything was white and picturesque. We had a spacious bathroom with rain shower, a small TV and player, coffee machine and complimentary internet access. Outside was a huge tub and another shower; I wouldn't really suggest using them unless you want to give the residents of Hilton Hotel a peep show (I'm sure they'd appreciate it).

Speaking of appreciation, I had lack of it for our bed. The villas were fully booked and they could only provide us two single beds. Although they tried their best to put them together, there was still a gap which made it impossible for me to cuddle with my husband. How very unromantic.

We had a library, pool, restaurant nearby. The hotel's main wing is located on the other side, about 300 meters away. Going there is a feast to the eyes. You'll walk through their garden boasting decades-old topiary, lush shrubbery and fountains. If you're a lazy ass, fret not! They provide buggy service from the villas to the main wing and back.

The breakfast buffet is heavenly. They have a wide selection of food, both Western and Asian. If you're staying in one of the villas, you can access their Club Lounge (for free). You may go there between 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM for snacks. Early afternoon is high tea --- they offer various hors d'oeuvre, pastries, fresh fruit juices, tea and coffee. Between 5:00-7:00 PM is my favorite: Free-flow of intoxicants. They offer white, sparkling, rosé, red wines, cocktails and scrumptious canapés. In a nutshell, prepare for nonstop intake of edibles and beverages. It's no surprise I got fat while staying there. 

There is much to see outside the hotel premises. The seafood restaurants by the beach should definitely be on anyone's list. Shops, cafés, eateries, salons are but a few steps away. They also have a night market, full of life and bursting with colors. Hua Hin is safe enough to explore. It's also quite clean and family friendly. 

The beach is beautiful; clear water and bleached sand. Plenty of jelly fish, though. And the jagged rocks look evil. Expect to step on a steaming pile of horse poo as well. These minor nuisance do not bother me one bit because I'm not a beach person anyway. 

All in all, it was an amazing getaway. Centara Grand Resort Hua Hin is an ideal place to unwind and fatten one's self up. 

And oh, the staff are such darlings! They told me I'm pretty. I like it when people tell me I'm pretty, regardless of their sincerity. 

KARE Design II

More eye candy from KARE. They must have had me in mind when they were designing these.

KARE Design I

KARE Design is such a feast to the eyes. They boast eye-catching furniture and home accessories. If I get rich, I wouldn't mind filling our house with their items. Everytime I visit their shop, I have to pick up my jaws off the floor.

KARE Design

Level 6 Senayan City

Jakarta

http://www.kare-indonesia.com/

Pure It

Water quality in Jakarta is, well, dreadful. It is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria such as E-coli and God knows what.  Needless to say, tap water is NOT suitable for drinking, washing and preparing food --- unless you want to lose weight fast, then by all means, go for it! Who doesn't want free colonic cleansing, right?

I got a water dispenser few weeks ago and while at the shop, the saleslady managed to persuade me to take a look at Unilever Pure It, a purifier that doesn't require gas or electricity. It has four chambers that eliminate parasites and harmful bacteria.I admit I was skeptical in the beginning because it sounded too good to be true. Thankfully, Pure It is true to its promise: I was not confined to the toilet after I drank from it. It's too bad, really, as I badly want to lose a few lbs! I ALWAYS use it for rinsing fruits/vegetables, making coffee, cooking and drinking these days. I'm even thinking of getting another one for our bathroom (for brushing teeth --- water from the tap tastes unpleasant and sometimes smell like... Oh, I don't want to think about it) . Also, I'm starting to look like a pizza and a friend suggested I use clean water to wash my face.

Retail price: 550,000 IDR per unit.

For more information, visit their website.