Hello Lovely people and welcome back to a new blog post. I hope you had a great summer and summer holiday. Here are some great tips if you are planning to go to festival camping. With the summer almost gone, this will be probably for next year. However, this might be helpful for a “normal” camping trip as well. At least I hope so because this was my first ever camping trip. I am not a camping expert yet.
Camping is a great way to experience life outside and I would love to this again. I am sure this camping list will help beginners like me prepare for their first camping trip.
So just copy this checklist and print it out if you ever go “festival”
camping or just camping somewhere sunny.
Like I said before, it is a new and amazing experience to be out in the open-air, sleeping on a nice inflatable mattress and listen to music and relax.
The only thing I forgot is to bring this time, were some warm clothes. Even in the hot summer, the nights can be very fresh and cold. So don’t be fooled by the weather forecast. It was 33 degrees Celsius in Germany and the nights were very cold.
TENT ESSENTIALS
Extra blanket – If you are cold easily
Sleeping mask
Comfortable socks
Pack of toilet paper small
Phone charger – Solar charger is the best
Tissues
Plastic bin bags
Towel – Go for the microfiber towel
Water bottle
HYGIENE
Baby wipes
Face wipes
Mirror small
Hair Brush
Dry shampoo – Baptiste
Shampoo
Small deodorant
Sun crème
Contact solution – Important if you wear lenses
Day lenses
Glasses
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Tampons – Period stuff
Disposable raisers
Plaster – For blister
Hand sanitize
Small sprite mist spray
Small moisturizer
Hairpins and elastics
FOOD PREP
Cooking set – Fuel stove (only if possible)
Plastic knives, forks, spoons
Drinks
Muesli bars and snacks (a lot)
Mix for water – syrup (to change)
Figs dried
Prunes dried
Energy drinks
Juices
MAKE-UP
Small moisturizer
Q-tips
Lip balm – Vaseline
Anything really – Depends on you and the weather, but less is better
CLOTHES
Leather jacket
Hat – Soft, easy packable
Festival dirty shoes
Sunglasses cheap
Extra underwear+ socks
Pyjama
Poncho for the rain
Trainers
Plan outfits for all the days and day of commute
Long trousers – Leggings dry fast
Shorts
T-shirts
Clothes for nights when it is cold
TIPS
Mark all your stuff with your name – more likely
to be turned at lost and found
Take a picture on your phone and set as screen
saver “IF LOST PLEASE CALL THIS NUMBER
AND NAME”
Colourful lights for at night – attach on your
bag and tent
Always check the weather
Tent not facing East
Let me know how your first time camping experience went and what are your tips? I am curious to know how you experience your first time camping. I hope you find this checklist useful.
Hello hello Lovely people here in
London and around the world. So many wonderful experience and people I met last
month that I just didn’t had the time to update you guys through my blogposts. I
know. I started the year great with posting regularly, but don’t be
disappointed. I am working on a few blogposts to catch up with you guys!
Without any further delay, grab your glass of wine and sit back to enjoy reading my blogpost about the many wonderful things I did last month.
I was lucky to participate in a project where I met so many kind and lovely people from around the world. At the moment I can’t tell so much, but when I can I will let you know how life changing this experience was for me. Stay tuned for this one!
Another fun experience was spending time with family. One of my cousin came over for a weekend with her friend and we had a blast. It was a short weekend and way too fast, but we did a lot of fun things that are now mentioned below. Thanks for that ladies !
Last month, I went to many restaurants, bars and exhibitions, so I will just put them in categories with a small review and the relevant links for you all below. There are definitely tips for you here, even if you are living in London for years. At least that is what I hope.
This is a lovely British gastro pub near the canal at Granary Square. Huge windows and a terrace outside makes this place a really cosy place for food and drinks with friends and family. I did enjoy the homemade burger with chips and the many beers that they serve.
This is the best Beigel with salty beef and gherkins in London. Who does not know them! Too be honest I forgot a bit how delicious the beigels are. I brought my cousin and friend there and it was like a stairway to heaven. I really did forget how GOOD it is and enjoyed every bite of it. I still don’t know why I do not go more often as I live here in London. Might be that it is not so close from home and the weather here in London has not been with us last few months. The Saturday that we went (Brexit Saturday) it was super sunny and chill to stroll around Brick lane and Shoreditch.
This place is great for dates. Once inside you will forget about the outside world. We had some delicious and fancy cocktails at the bar. The baristas there are amazing! This place makes you almost feel like James Bond. (for real) Definitely going back for a drink or dinner anytime soon.
While strolling around with the gang, we came across the Spitalfields Market and we went for a drink at the Grocer. Lovely casual and relax place to have some beers in the afternoon. If you are around, have a drink here. By the way many delicious foods available on this market.
This is the Wetherspoon in Camden Town. Great place for some casual drinks. This is the place to try different beers and just chill with friends or family. Also very affordable drinks and snacks, why not.
I think this a great place if you are with a large group of friends and in the summer. It feels like you are on a veranda or terrace chatting away with friends. Nice thing is you can get food and drinks from different stands.
Unfortunately, this exhibition is completely sold out. So if you did not get a change to see this exhibition, wait for my next blogpost. It was so worth to see this exhibition and I am happy I bought my ticket a month before. The day that I went it was super busy, but so mesmerizing. A designer pur sang. When this blogpost will be online, you are able to click HERE.
Check the website to see when it is open. I thought it is only a few Sundays per year open from March till end of April. We decided to stroll around the second largest conservatory to take some fun pictures with our vintage cameras. I recently bought, out of the blue, a Yashica minister 3 and a Praktica MTL3 camera to practice the use a manual camera. So much fun to use a real film again, can’t wait so see the pictures developed.
This exhibition is till June, so plenty of time to see this one. If you like the renaissance, you will like this one. This is really the baby steps of the nudes in paintings. Here you can see that the artist didn’t had much experience with nude models and it is slowly developing around that period.
I had no idea that this market was not too far from Shoreditch and Brick lane. We were strolling around and BAMM, just came across this lovely and creative market. A lot of food and drinks. We went for some sweets and we had some drinks at the Grocer. A lot of creative gifts at this market if you are looking for some unique gifts.
It is a bit far, but definitely worth a visit. Most likely in summer or at least when the weather is warm and dry, so you can sit in the park and enjoy the view. It is almost as nice as the park near the observatory in Greenwich.
I think through EVENTBRITE UK you can find free tickets to go to this comedy club in the Castle. It can be very busy, but great way to see many stand up comedy acts in just 2 hours. I think I saw around 9 or 10 in just two hours time.
Camden Town is super touristic and overpriced. We all know. Still it is fun to stroll around once in awhile. Check out the stables, food stand and just have drinks at the Wetherspoon. Always something strange and crazy to find here in Camden Town.
Almost the reason why everyone like and stroll
around Shoreditch is the street art.
Fun fact is that they change the street art once in a while. I saw some new pieces this time. Love the atmosphere in this area when the sun is up and the weather is hot.
Something I would not visit by myself, but happy I did because of my cousin. It is really an experience that M&M is trying to sell in their huge London store in Leicester square. Luckily it was not super busy as we went in the morning, so plenty of time and space to walk around the three floors that they have. Just for the experience it is super fun to see all the different colours and flavours that they have and all the merchandise that they sell. The staff is also super friendly. You can smell the M&M’s from outside the store.
This is the empty church I was trying to find for a while now and finally I DID FIND IT. It is in the City of London. Between Bank station and Tower of London. Beautiful to see an empty church in a garden in between skyscrapers. It is worth a visit in the summer, so you can walk around and see so many wonderful sights around this area.
@ St Dunstan Church
@ St Dunstan Church
So this is it for now. As I did mention, it was a wonderful March. Many thanks for the people who could enjoy it with me.
I hope you did enjoy reading my blog and I hope you got inspired to visit at least one or two places from my blogpost, even if you know them already.
MissWidjaja
If you liked what you have just read, please rate this blog with a few stars. If you really know someone who is going to be in London or loves London, please share on Facebook.
I really appreciate the time and effort you took to read my blog. Thank you!
Hello Beautiful Souls! This is unfortunately the last “foodie” blog post for this Foodtober in September, and I couldn’t be more excited to share my latest discovery with you all. If you’re a fan of fresh pizzas, delicious cocktails, and hidden gems, then you want to check out Happy Face at Kings Cross.
Located in the heart of Kingscross, this Neapolitan pizza joint is a real hidden gem. As soon as you walk in, you can tell that the ingredients are fresh, and that’s before you even take a bite of their mouthwatering pizzas. I went for the Salsiccia pizza, and I have to say, it was divine. The toppings were perfectly balanced, and the crust was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
But Happy Face Kings Cross isn’t just a pizza place. They also have a fantastic selection of cocktails, and the prices are very affordable for such a top location. I couldn’t resist ordering a classic negroni, which was just under 7 pounds. It was the perfect complement to my pizza.
One of the things that [really] impressed me about Happy Face Kings Cross was the staff. They were fast, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about their menu. They were happy to make recommendations and answer any questions I had.
But the real hidden gem of Happy Face Kings Cross is their secret bar. Yes, you read that right. If you know where to look, you can find a secret bar where you can enjoy your cocktails in a cosy, intimate setting. It’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Kings Cross, and it adds to the overall experience.
All in all, I would highly recommend Happy Face Kingscross to anyone looking for a delicious meal, fantastic cocktails, and a fun experience. It’s the perfect hidden gem in Kings Cross, and I can’t wait to go back and try more of their menu.
Hello Beautiful Souls, welcome back to our foodtober blog posts. Today, we’re taking you to a foodie heaven in the sky – Aqua Shard! Located on the 31st floor of The Shard, this contemporary British restaurant and bar offer a panoramic view of the city that is sure to take your breath away.
If you’re looking for a great brunch spot, Aqua Shard is the perfect place to be. For just £44, you can enjoy a set menu that is both delicious and filling. While drinks and supplements might cost a bit extra, it’s [definitely] worth it for the view you’re getting. Aqua Shard is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or go on a fun date, especially if you [really] want to impress your companion.
If you’re planning on visiting Aqua Shard for brunch, try to get there at noon. That way, you’re almost guaranteed a magical seat near the windows. And if you’re worried about the wait, don’t be! The lift to the 32nd floor only takes around 33 seconds, so you’ll be up in the sky in no time. Once you’re on the floor, you’ll need to take the stairs down one floor to reach Aqua Shard.
As for the food, Aqua Shard doesn’t disappoint. The menu is full of delicious options, but here are a few of my favourites:
Venison Carpaccio: This dish is a must-try! The venison is incredibly tender, and the combination of flavours is simply amazing.
Black Angus Beef Fillet: If you’re a fan of steak, you won’t be disappointed with this one. The meat is cooked to perfection, and the sides [mashed potatoes] complement it perfectly.
Gingerbread Cheesecake: This dessert is the perfect end to your meal. The gingerbread flavour is subtle, but it adds a nice twist to the classic cheesecake.
Of course, no meal at Aqua Shard is complete without trying one of their signature cocktails. While they are on the high end, they’re [definitely] worth the price.
All in all, Aqua Shard is a restaurant and bar that you don’t want to miss. With its breathtaking view, delicious food, and luxurious cocktails, it’s the perfect place to have a fun-filled day with your loved ones. So why not book a table today and experience it for yourself? Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Hello Beautiful Souls! Today for my Foodtober series, I want to share my recent experience at Tombo, a Japanese cafe [with a passion for high-quality], healthy Japanese food and tea. Tombo opened its first location in South Kensington in 2009 with the vision that traditional Japanese ingredients and cooking techniques should be available to everyone in a modern and accessible way.
Their Japanese sushi poké bowls are a must-try on the menu, and everything they serve has to make you feel good and be good for you. As a lover of Japanese green tea, I was thrilled to see it showcased throughout the menu, including special drinks, cakes, and their famous soft-serve matcha ice cream.
During my visit, I indulged in the Kyoto Kaisen poké bowl and steamed prawn dumplings while my friend enjoyed the Unagi Donburi. We couldn’t resist trying the matcha cake and Tombo ice cream for dessert.
Tombo, which means ‘dragonfly’ in Japanese, symbolizes renewal and represents the natural positive force they strive to create in their cafes, food, tea, and people. I can attest that the food, drinks, and ambience at Tombo left me feeling renewed and satisfied. It is a suitable place for a casual catch-up.
Hello Beautiful Souls! Welcome back to a new “Hello Foodie” blog post this #Foodtober here in September. Are you ready for this hidden gem? This Ramen restaurant will take you [back] to Japan in the 1970s. Yokocho is a retro ramen bar with regional Japanese ramen cuisine hidden in the heart of central London.
If you are here, definitely try one of their ramen. They have [lots of] other dishes [as well], like Katsy Curry and sides like bao buns. I tried the BBQ Pork Belly Bun and Kumamoto Tonkotsu Ramen. Both were tasty and good.
It is a lovely place for a casual lunch date with friends, family or a date.
