Away Notice - Ishikawa, Japan

a stunning pic taken by the International Garden Photographer of the year 2008 - Claire Takacs

So JS u need to practice to snap pix in the cold and snow. While Monkey needs to layer her body with fats to keep warm. Oh that's so easy to do :))) hehehehe. I just need to stuff things into/around my body. Food and HeatTech clothings.

It's snowing right now in Ishikawa and certain parts of Japan. That would be lovely, reminded me of our trip to Kyushu last year :))))

The famous Kenroku-en Garden at Kanazawa. I can't believe it we are goin all the way to the West Cost of Japan just for this!!!! One of the 3 great gardens of Japan. It's only during Winter there's Yukitsuri - long bamboo perched from below to support and protect the trees and shrubs from snow.

Snow are heavy yo!!! Yeah so those conical shaped bamboos tied with ropes are not permanent features, just during winter to protect all the beautiful pine trees. Gosh this pic looked....so cold.

 the famous Winter Illumination event at Shirakawago.

This destination was added much later on into our itinerary. Because there's only 7 days a year you could see this winter illumination, and since we are like errrr 2 hours away...why not? Declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1995, I guess it should be worth goin? After JS saw all these pics, he went to do some not-so-lil shopping.....no.....not for clothes....but for more photography gadgets.

Now we have more gadgets and props to bring along vs winter clothing
-_-"
sigh......

and this exclude the lil drone-camera *the same one that was found, crashed on the ground of White House......yes Mr. Obama's white house*.

I can't imagine if we have to pack that 4 propeller drone camera onboard. IShhhhhhhhh. No doubt it's a fun toy and could fly up in the air to snap beautiful pics but it's really difficult to transport, oh well in my opinion coz JS said there's a special cabin size luggage bag just for this. I rather have a cabin size luggage bag space for my japanese snacks. See!! the different priorities in our lives :D

Winter also marks the season for this!!!
Ohhh yumms...I.AM.SO.GONNA.EAT.YOU!!!!

All the japanese snow crab are caught in the Sea of Japan. That's where we are heading. We are dead serious foodie. If u wanna enjoy something, just go to the source :))))

While Mr. JS doesn't believe in buying all these yummy food back *instead Monkey would be the one ta-pau-ing anything and everything home*, his philosophy would be, there's alwiz another time, and if u wanna eat it again....COME BACK!!! :))))

He said it so simply but hey there's so many other destination to go to, plus we are still slaves to our respective career so I don't think we could just catch a plane like boarding a bus and off we go!!!!

well....unless....unless both of us retire and roam the Earth together.
But this can't do for the moment. :)))) we have got more plans upcoming!!!!

 *pic taken from Beniya Mukayu, we will be staying at this ryokan*

oh look at those roe!!!! I am coming for u Snow Crab!!! U wait for me kay...in the mean time pls work hard and continue to produce more roe.....hihihihihi..... :))))

Both Mr. JS and Monkey are so looking forward to this short makan and sight-seeing trip. It would be for quite a while more before we can travel as much as we used to.

Well in life, there's alwiz opportunity cost. If u wanna roam the Earth everyday, u gotta let something go. So if u want that something so much, u gotta travel less....no matter how much u enjoyed it :)))
PS: NO I am NOT pregnant!!!

Stay tune for more of our adventure in the Prefecture of Ishikawa. :))))))

Le Mole by Gerald Passedat, Marseille

We wanted to catch another sunset from our balcony before heading out for dinner, and so we did. Isn't it beautiful? The rocky islands, the criss-cross patterns on the sky created by the busy jetliners crossing the Mediterranean Sea. In Japan they called it wabi-sabi....beauty in imperfection and asymmetry.

Then we headed off in our pick-up limo to the restaurant, also helmed by the property owner Monsieur Passedat at another place in downtown Marseille.

WOW!!! MUCEM is a beautiful museum next to the Port. Le Mole restaurant is located on the top floor. We could already see it, brightly litted with an elevator dedicated just for the restaurant.

for security reason, we had to beep the intercom at the entrance of the neon light elevator before the glass doors were opened.

the concept here is minimalist, bare and futuristic too. The Artemide Mercury were decked around the ceiling of Le Mole. A few years ago, we almost bought this design but bcoz the concept of our home weren't similar, we changed to other designs from Artemide. But it's a really funky and clever design. Each set of Mercury has a "droplet" of bulb that shines back to the "Mercury" to reflect lights down. 

there's even a KiosQue selling simple and light food like sandwiches and salads. What a good idea for a picnic by the harbour. But Le KiosQue is only open during the day.

Couldn't resist all the bread here, crusty, with beautiful aroma fr the wheat. The only place that we can find such similar bread in KL is from DC Restaurant and Yeast. Oh ok, will try to blog bout these 2 places soon. I have many postings lining up behind. -_-

Appetizer of grilled sea prawns with confit of its oil, on top of root vegetables mash which was extremely velvety. It's so fine!!! and this place was supposed to be a casual dining restaurant. I could imagine it would be so beautiful dining here during the day, with the view of the sea, and occasional sunlights penetrated through this "Cube" of architecture designed by Rudy Ricciotti.

*pic taken from the web*
 The other facade MUCEM. Very intricate eh? The bridge links it to the old medieval fort.

it's really very organic and I lurve how the lights played shadows with this structure of fiber reinforced concrete.

Even at nite it's this stunning.
And we were dining inside this Avatar liked cube :)))))

We had a lovely flora white wines from Bandol, which is located between Marseille and Cassis. Though nearer to the Mediterranean, it is famously known as wine from Provence. But seriously, after our trip to this region of France, we enjoyed Provence wines more than we should...hahahaha yes it's so easy to drink, you could have it for breakfast/lunch/aperitif with your grill fish or sandwiches :)))) It's just so light and aromatics. 

and bcoz I mentioned salad...I gotta have a small portion to pair with my wine :)))) So u see it's all about the drinks...the food are accompaniment sometimes hehehehehe

JS had raw slices of fish with crunchy pickled greens. Simple and as usual, he's a calories counter.

Beautifully pan seared sea bass with seasonal mushrooms served with a very umami jus. Don't be deceived by the food here.....the taste was definitely not simple. Pretty complex for such a fatty fish. yummmness~~~~~

and I wanted Pork Roulette with even crispier skin :)))) Ahhh so simple and good portioning. There are certain evenings, when we can't eat that much. Age is catching up hahahahaha. I guess we are very picky with our food these days.

Wherever we go, there must be some certain portion of vege on request. This one came with the main course. Vegetables blanched in fish stock and mirepoix. Mirepoix is the flavour base in french cooking, consisted of mainly onions, celery and carrots. It's made into stocks for almost everything.

By the way there's a rooftop garden where Chef planted herbs and vegetables here in MUCEM.

Finally we shared a dessert

spot the resemblance? hehehehehe we then looked out the window and spotted the very same design. :))))

After our petit four JS was contemplating if we should walk home or not?
-_-" 
walk????
actually I don't really mind but bcoz the restaurant has got such good service, they've already prepared our transport for us to be chauffeured back to the villa, also own and run by the very same owner Monsieur Gerald Passedat. 

Marseille Cathedral was just outside, looking even more stunning at night :)))

I'm so glad we came here despite all the stories of Marseille not being safe. Frankly everywhere around the world, there's bound to be danger, including Switzerland. I have so many friends got pick-pocketed there. Not to mention Paris and London and Barcelona are dangerous too. So really, everywhere is dangerous, u just gotta watch out and take care of yourself, your belongings and stay alert at all time.

For more information on Le Mole:
Le Mole by Gerald Passedat
1, Esplanade,
MUCEM, Marseille,
France.
http://www.passedat.fr/

Olympia le-Tan

How cute is this????????
Alice in Wonderland!!!! I WANT!!!!
This latest creation is only available through pre-order though and everything was a massive sell out.

For those who are wondering what is this.....it's a beautiful limited edition handmade book clutch by Olympia Le-Tan. Isn't it adorable? Alice in Wonderland is retailing at Euro 1,335

Then there's Cinderella!! according to Olympia Le-Tan Cinderella is the greatest love story ever since Snow White. Olympia has got deep obsession with books, all thanks to her influential father, the famous French illustrator and painter Pierre Le-Tan. Like father like daughter :)))

He has been doin works for big names in publishing houses like Vogue, Tatler, Harper's Bazaar, Town & Country, New York Times and also illustration works for fashion houses like Gucci and Lanvin to huge luxury lifestyle retailer like LaFayette. He also did covers for music albums.

So it's true eh? Talents need to be instilled and built. You can't just be born with it alone. 

The latest collection from Olympia Le-tan revolves around the Walt Disney's theme. Her designs are whimsical, playful and yet chic.

Her Fall Winter collection was so playful!!! I love love love every single piece of it :)))))))))) If only I can get hold of my hands on them.....everything was a massive sold out again.

Monkey only managed to purchase the madhatter rabbit book clutch!!!!  It's crazy I tell you. I mean, I was crazy when I found it at Le Bon Marche - our favourite departmental store in Paris. :)))) Do u know that Le Bon Marche is now owns by LVMH group? I love love love the supermarket section so so much. U can practically get anything and everything at the Grand Epicerie section/building of Le Bon Marche.

Ok back to Olympia Le-Tan....Monkey couldn't decide based on those few choices and designs available. Each piece is handmade by Olympia herself and numbered accordingly. It depends, certain pieces only 10 or 15 or 85 pieces worldwide. The How's Tricks? Book clutch was only made for 77 pieces. 

It's a simple clutch with 100% brass material and wrapped in 100% cotton. So exquisite!!! Monkey squealed in delights and JS rolled his eyes.

Oh that would be exactly how he behaved with his wines and whiskeys. So stop rolling ur eyes Mr. JS.

JS: "WAT? It's not even leather and it cost Euro 1,200 for this clutch that looked like a book??"
Oh u won't understand....but despite all that, JS said he'll buy it for me. Wow what a double bonus for me. First I found Olympia Le-Tan and then JS bought it for me :))))

Baby Wei, Marssssh and Monkey at AugustMan event

and I took her out to play at her first event a few months ago. Now I am so in love with it, I wanted more.....

Olympia Le-Tan also designs very beautiful ready-to-wear. Love her chic cuts and prints :))) These are pics from her very latest Spring 2015.

Now I can't wait to lay my hands on more of her creations. We only have got a problem now Houston. Monkey needs to save money again. Argh!!!! why can't money grows like taugeh? Fast and easy~~~ I need to work harder for more. Motivations in life :))))