Serge the Concierge

London Sights as Sweet Treat courtesy of Biscuiteers Book of Iced Cookies

I did get the galley for this book by Harriet Hastings, cofounder of UK cookie company Biscuiteers, and creative director Sarah Moore yet it fell off my radar maybe because of its mid-August publication.

The book, Biscuiteers Book of Iced Cookies (Kyle Books, U.S publication, August 2011) lays out all the basics from dough to piping and decorating as well as DIY gift ideas for holidays, baby showers, fashion events.

Armchair travelers can dream of vacations with cities as treats.

I selected their take on London.

London

This is home ground for Biscuiteers. We have cherrypicked our favorite London icons and iced them just for you. Add a few of your own landmarks, too. Buildings are particularly good as you can just ice them onto easy-to-cut squares and rectangles.

Cutters
circle (for Tube sign)
taxi
telephone booth
mailbox
Big Ben
London Bridge
oval (for London Eye)

Recipes
1 quantity Super Chocolatey Cookies dough (see page 34); makes at least 15 cookies
1 quantity Basic Royal Icing (see page 21)

Line icing
bright yellow
white
black
gray
red
teddy brown
donkey brown
gentian blue

Flooding icing
gentian blue
white
red
black
teddy brown

Tube sign
Ice yellow line around rectangular nameplate and outer circle. Ice around inner circle in white. Allow to dry for 5 minutes. * Flood nameplate in blue, inner circle in white, and outer circle in red. Leave to set. * Pipe name in black.

Taxi
Pipe outline of bodywork and windows in black line, leaving space to ice on wheels later. Leave to dry for 5 minutes. * Flood with black. * Add wheels in black line icing. Leave to set. * Fill windows and add a radiator cover with gray line icing. Use line icing to add all other details.

Telephone booth
Pipe all red line details and pipe base outline in black. Allow to dry for 5 minutes. * Flood top of box with red and base with black. Flood light at top with white. (Leave windows uniced.)

Mailbox
Ice top of box in red line and base in black line and lines in between. * When dry flood top with red and
base with black. Allow to dry. * Use red, black, and white line icings to add details.

Big Ben
Outline whole shape in white line and leave to set. * Flood with white runny icing and, when dry, use teddy and donkey brown and gray line icing to add bricks and clock face.

London Bridge
Look carefully at a picture of the bridge before you ice it. Use donkey brown line to add all outlines for stone sections, including line down center of each pillar that divides teddy brown and white flooding icing. Leave a gap for walkway. Leave to dry for about 5 minutes.
Flood base of pillars and left-hand side in teddy brown and right in white.Allow to dry. * Use brown line to add detail to pillars. * Add all blue and white line details that make up remainder of bridge.

London Eye
Use white line icing to pipe frame and wheel. * Add spokes and inner frame in gray line. * Ice tiny capsules in black and gray line icing.

(* Image and Excerpt from Biscuiteers Book of Iced Cookies by Harriet Hastings and Sarah Moore-Kyle Books, U.S publication, August 2011- all rights reserved)

A few days of Web Detox

In case you wondered. I have not decided to quit writing.

My return to the U.S has been delayed after airline I was flying asked passengers to pro-actively reschedule their Paris-New York flights due to hurricane Irene.

In France since Sunday evening, first in Paris then in Toulouse, I've been off the web grid most of the time. With only about an hour and a half access per day, I had only time to deal with key e-mails and make a few key free phone calls to the U.S thanks to Google Voice.

The 6 hours difference makes it sometimes hard to catch up with people back home.

I guess it does not hurt to have a few days of web detox.

Instead of blogging, Facebooking and Tweeting, I've been paying attention to my surroundings, having good conversations, talking to people and snapping pictures of foods and places.

I hope I will be able to share with words all the things i've been soaking in.

(* Image courtesy of Digital Detox, a web image company, enjoy the paradox)

Troglodyte Vacation Homes in Saumur, the Dordogne, in Guadix to Stand the Heat

You don't need to be a caveman or cavewoman to rent a troglodyte house.

There is a big concentration of them near Saumur as illustrated by Troglodytes guide (in French) from Saumur Tourist Office. Some of them were used for mushroom farming.

If you like a bit more comfort with river view, the Maison Troglodyte in La Roque-Gageac (Dordogne) featured on France Bound seems a good pick if you want to slow down.

Looking for warmer climate, head for Andalucia and the town of Guadix near Grenada. A detailed piece about the area on  Andalucia.com notes that "ever since the Moorish times, the Andalucians have been fond of living underground because it is the best way of escaping the summer heat waves."

One of the rental options in Guadix is a 'cueva' (Spanish name for troglodytes) Maison "Cueva Amandier" run by French people.

Add a little zest to your vacations.

(* Photo of Maison Troglodyte via France Bound, photo of Cueva by Maison Cueva Amandier...Maison Cueva Amandier site is in French and Spanish only)

Long Vacations Encouraged in Japan as Way to Escape Summer Power Outages

Felicity Hugues reports that airlines and travel agencies are encouraging Japanese to plan long vacations of 2 to 3 weeks as a way to escape power outages the country is likely to suffer in the aftermath of this year's earthquake and tsunami.

She details the various campaigns in Japan, you look like you could use a long vacation (Japan Pulse, June 3).

One of them is ANA long stay plan.

Felicity notes that "the buzzword for this summer among  travel agents is ロングバケーション (long vacation)."

Planning for a long hot summer of power outages in Tokyo Thursdays # 194

Previously: Forest Therapy, Hiking in Hinohara Tokyo Citizen's Forest

Feeling Lucky, Pair of Tickets to Holland within Reach thanks to Holland/ KLM Contest

To clear things up first, this contest is not our idea.

We thought we should share it in case anyone (in the U.S) wants to try their lucky at winning a trip to Holland, a country with much to offer beyond tulips, gouda and windmills.

Airline KLM and Holland's official tourist office joined forces for this campaign.

How can you try your luck and what's the prize:

"With Just Be. In Holland you are given the chance to get a taste of Holland with a luxurious World Business Class trip for a 3-night hotel stay in Amsterdam for TWO! All you have to do to enter is head to the KLM or Holland Facebook page and answer what 10 cities the chosen U.S. cycling teams will be touring in Holland."

Visit the Holland and the KLM USA pages on Facebook, try your luck and see what happens.

Did Holland Tourist Office share snapshot of bicycles and canals (on Facebook) to make us green with envy?

I don't know if you will meet with local band Mecano (are they still active) and be drawn into discussing the guillotine and Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky as happened to me on my one and only visit to Amsterdam.

Contest ends on Sunday May 29, 2011 so there is no time to waste.

(* This is not a Sponsored Post. It could have been)

Save, Fly From USA to Europe via Reykjavik with Iceland Express

After 6 years of blogging, I was getting the 7 year travel itch.

I have been working hard lately on making plans for visits to Hospice du Rhone (a Rhone Rangers food and wine delight, late April) in Paso Robles and Europe (UK, France in either May or June) fly.

Airfares have gone through the roof lately which makes it harder.

Today, I revved up the Momondo Travel Site to see if they came up with better solutions.

They did.

I discovered a budget airline Iceland Express with very attractive fares to Europe via Reykjavik.

Today (April 1st) for a trip from Newark (NJ) to London (Gatwick), leaving on May 11 returning on May 25, 2011, they quote a total fare of $570.

Doing a different search with same route for travel leaving on June 8, returning June 22, 2011 I get a total fare of $791.50.

In both cases, Iceland Express prices are $200 to $250 less than best I had found so far.

Is it too good to be true or should I send a thank you note to Momondo for fetching this option for us?

Tech fans might want to know that entertainment is served via iPad aboard Iceland Express transatlantic flights, rental fee is $13.

(* On New York to Paris flights best price that came up on Momondo was via XL Airways France, $750 RT for dates I picked in June above. I could not find any independent review on XL Airways so I will hold judgment)

Life's a Beach at Montpelier Plantation and Beach Resort, St Kitts

I need a holiday in the sun.

A week at Montpelier Plantation and Beach Resort in Nevis, St Kitts would do.

It Takes a Mac Jordan to Navigate Accra, Ghana, 10 Do's and Don't 1st African Stop

When I stumbled on WE_ Africa magazine, Ulrike Reinhard made me realize that I had left a whole continent out of the 10 Do's and Don'ts equation.

I asked her to help me remedy to that.

Today you see the first instalment with Mac-Jordan D. Degadjor guide to Accra, Ghana.

10 Do’s & Don’ts of Accra

Are you coming to Ghana’s capital city of Accra for the first time? There are a lot of stuffs you can do and others you can’t/shouldn’t do. First off, I’m going to start with the DON’Ts.

10 Things Not Worth Doing in Accra.

1.       Don’t ever take taxis at the Kotoka Int’l Airport upon arrival. They are a big rip-off. Before your trip to Accra, make sure to arrange for your host or a trusted local to pick you up from the airport.

2.       Don’t ever expose your bank or credit card details in public or even at the hotels. Make sure, you’ve exchange your foreign notes into the Ghanaian Cedis and don’t carry a lot of cash on you too.

3.       Don’t ever wear bikini or very revealing clothes in Accra. The Ghanaian culture on dressing doesn’t approve of such types of dressing. Make sure, all sensitive areas are covered and you dress decent always. No mini-skirts.

4.       Don’t shake hands with the left hand. Also, don’t eat with the left hand. Always use the right hand when dealing with people and showing directions.

5.       Don’t be a fan of taxis in general whiles staying in Accra rather, opt for the cheapest mode of transport which is; Tro-tro (shared buses plying majors town routes within Accra). They are very cheap and economical but can get very uncomfortable sometimes. Don’t sit closer to the bus collector (mate) ever.

6.       Don’t walk on the streets of Accra and its environs alone after 7pm. Make sure, you’re in the company of others; at least 3-4.

7.       Don’t ever go to the beach to swim on Tuesdays as it is forbidden and a big taboo.

8.       Traffic in Accra is like a snail with a limp. If you’re supposed to be at a place in an hour; please leave 2hrs before otherwise, you’ll curse yourself always. Traffic in Accra is actually a “part-time” job for most commuters.

9.       Don’t ever buy/purchase anything from mobile phones to gadgets from hand dealers around Kwame Nkrumah Circle or Accra Central. You’ll be ripped off heavily and your item might be either a stone or an empty wooden box.

10.   Don’t ever try to argue with the Ghanaian policeman when it comes to road/traffic issues. Never ever do that. Just oblige and “tip” him/her GHc1.00; sorry it’s been increased to GHc2.00.

11.   Don’t go shopping for foodstuffs, groceries or garments all by yourself. Make sure, you’re accompanied by a local otherwise, the prices of the stuffs will be doubled (in case you’re a white person)

10 Things Worth Doing in Accra.

1.       Do visit the Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah’s Memorial Park and learn a lot about Ghana’s first President.

2.       Do visit the Ghana National Museum which is located in the heart of Accra and is featured in all Ghana travel magazines. 

3.       A Must Visit: Visit Ghana’s only premier University; University of Ghana located in Legon. Very beautiful landscape and buildings.

4.       Do visit the clean and sunny beaches in Accra after rainy season. I’ll recommend Bojo Beach, Tawala Beach (above), Ada Beach Sajuna Beach Club and La Pleasure Beach (always be in the company of trusted folks whiles here at night)

5.       Do visit the Independence Arch and also the Independence Square (Black Star Square).

6.       Do well to visit the Ohene Gyan Sport Stadium (Accra Sports Stadium) when there’s a local premiere league match going on.

7.       Do try our sumptuous Ghanaian meals with their accompanying soups especially; Fufu with Light/Palm/Pea-nut soup (below), Banku with tilapia and shitor (local black sauce), Kenkey & red pepper and fried fish and Waakye. Places to visit: Asanka Locals (Madina & Osu), Bush Canteen (East-Legon), Osu Night Market (Osu), Agbaa Maame (Tema) & Auntie Muni’s joint (Labone)

8.       When it comes to Night Life; there are a couple of places to visit for good music, networking and enjoying a great evening. In no other; +233 Jazz Bar (Kanda), Reggie Rockstones Office (Cantonments), Rhapsodys of Reality (Accra Mall), European styled pub: Bella Roma (Oxford Street, Osu), Citizen Kofi’s Sky Bar ( a great view of Accra at night), Celsbridge - best grilled & spicy chicken joint (Labone)

9.       Visit the fishing community of Jamestown and also get to the top of the old light house.

10.   Lastly, Go African artifacts shopping at Art Center located in the heart of Accra.

It takes a Mac-Jordan to navigate Accra.

Follow the Sheep Tracks in Molise, Italy 20th Region

There is something to say for a place, a region, where it's as important for the map to show sheep tracks as well as freeways.

Created in 1963 after separating from Abruzzo and becoming Italy's 20th region, Molise is proud of its sheep farming tradition.

Molise shares borders with Abruzzo, Campania, Lazio and Puglia with a relatively short coast (40 KM) on the Adriatic and mountainous areas.

Consider Molise a region less traveled, pretty much unspoiled as the local economy relies primarily on agriculture and fishing.

2 main cities are Campobasso and Isernia.

At the Casa Italia Atletica event in NY (November 5th), poet Pascale who spoke about his beloved Molise said that first thing you have to do when you get to Molise is listen to clip-clap of sheperds wooden clogs and went on to remark that most of the dirt roads used by tractors between the fields were paved over time by people and animals...Another part of the region heritage is the oldest company making bells. Pascale also said you will notice the pungent smell of herbs while traveling around the region and that it is unspoiled because you don't have to go there...

Foodwise, for the locals cheese is milk preserved for the dark months. Pascale suggested that white truffle scents might make you sleepy. Larino has its own olives.As for recipes, the poet noted that women from Molise are jealous and guard their secret sauces and recipes to themselves. 12 or 13 types of fishes go into one Brodetto.

If a local hands you a glass of wine it is a clear sign they are your friend concluded Pascale.

Paradise on earth is what some call the region in announcing event above on December 11-12, 2010.

Time to head for Molise before region gets discovered.

On Roof of The World, Pamir with Matthieu Paley and Kirghiz Nomads

Even though I have not smoked in over 30 years I associate the name Dunhill with cigarettes and a sense of sophistication reflected by its leather goods, cufflinks, menswear.

Now with Day 8, Dunhill shares some of the company history as well as interesting spots and talented people like Matthieu Paley, a French photographer attracted to remote destinations especially the Pamir area straddling the borders of Afghanista, Tajikistan, China and Pakistan.

Matthieu Paley documented the life of Kirghiz Nomads in the Northern Afghanistan's High Pamir with Forgotten on the Roof of the World about a year ago (trailer below).

After planning so many trips in the region, he decided to share his knowledge of the area with Pamir Knot which offers 'private, tailor-made guiding to this fairly unknown and highly misconceived region'.

( * Images in trailer ©Matthieu Paley)