WW: Obispo Havana Cuba - Havana Revisited

Hi, everyone.

Welcome back! I trust you all are well and sound amidst the unnerving circumstance we all have. Positive vibes will definitely help.

So, let me take you virtually to Havana, Cuba again. This time, we are heading to Obispo, one of the areas in the middle of Havana boasting with elegant shops, cafes and some tourist attractions. Many said that this place is very touristy and way more expensive for day to day activities. I just enjoy strolling around the area and stopped by here and there to see more interesting places along the street. 

The walk started at El Floridita, the famous restaurant where Daiquiri was invented! EL FLORIDITA, La cuna del daiquiri! No wonder many famous people love spending some times here. I will surely share that on a different post, as we had lovely lunch here and I had so much to share!

As we walked around, we saw beautiful, elegant alleys lines with small but cute buildings and shops, mostly with pretty iron-wrenched balconies, unique door, and bright painted window sills and panes.

don't you just love it!

I love the cute ceramics and tiles they have here

I love the colors and the details

We passed some book stores, more cafes and soda shops (I like that), mores shops and drugstores as well. 

This soda shop is really popping

As we were looking for local souvenirs as well, our local tour guide took us to Artesania Cubana, patio de las artenos. I am so in love with those cute souvenirs you can bring home.

We visited the patio de los artesanos to get some souvenirs

all these cute fridge magnets!

all these colorful mementos!

Some that I brought home

I came across on lovely bookstore with many interesting English books, like you can see in this photo. 

Oh, I also stopped by at this traditional and famous drogueria or drugstore, Drogueria Johnson, which happens to be the Museo de Farmacia. 

And finally, we stopped by at the local boutique to buy Guayabera, the traditional top for latinos, including in Cuba, I bought the white one made of cotton, for my hubby. 

Guayabera, the traditional top for Cuban man. I got one for my hubby :)

So, do you enjoy it so far? What do you like the most about this area? Do you think you will stroll around here as well?

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WW: Hotel Nacional de Cuba - Havana Revisited

Welcome to Havana, Cuba

Hi everyone.

Hope everyone is well and remains calm, cool and collected during this pandemic. Things are a bit out of control again these days and we do have to remain positive!

One way to keep me happy is by looking at my traveling journal and photo as well as video collections. I fully realize that I haven't really shared many of them in my blog. I stumbled upon my files from my trip to Havana, Cuba, in summer 2018. 

Boy, how I miss traveling and how much I haven' t shared about Havana in my 4-day trip. It was done on my last days in the US, before heading back home to Indonesia in August 2018. Together with my dearest sista in NYC, Erma, I took the liberty to explore Havana. Well, 4 days is obviously not enough but we tried to enjoy what we can. 

One beautiful corner at Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana

So, on the first day, we arrived already midday. We went directly to the hotel, NH Capri. After getting out of the airport and change the local currency as they have a separate monetary unit for international tourists, we headed to the hotel and after checked in and rest for a while, we walked around the area and went to Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

Being around since 1930s, the hotel is indeed an icon for Cuban splendid and colorful history. Its elegance is outstanding, you can easily spot it from afar, even from the famous highway El Moleçon. It has been graced by famous names and big personalities from all over the place, including Prime Minister Winston Churchil, Frank Sinatra, Ava Gradner, and more. 

Overlooking the backyard of Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Havana

Here are some more photos you can enjoy. 

These ones were taken  around Hotel Nacional de Cuba, one of the beautiful and historical landmarks in Havana, Cuba.

After strolling around the area, we sat down at the bar and chilled. I guess the one that visited was View Bar or the Hall of Fame. The place is cozy and surely filled with many memorabilia from the past.

I am writing more piece about my trip there as well. It was indeed a memorable trip for me and Erma. Hope more stories will be ready soon.

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and have fun with the linky party. 

Tasting Middle Eastern Food at Abunawas Restaurant Jakarta

Are you a big fan of delicious mandi and biryani rice?

With lamb or chicken, both are so good by the way, on top of the rice?

Then join me here in this post as I am taking you to one of the best restaurants serving Middle Eastern food in Jakarta. Abunawas Restaurant.

Are you familiar with the Middle Eastern food? I have been enjoying more and more Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food when I was in New York City. My hubby loves lamb a lot and Middle Eastern food has been very famous fo their lamb menus. Since we lived in Astoria and there are many mosques as well as moslem communities in some parts of if, we also found many restaurants serving these wonderful cuisines and they are halal! Not to mention the famous Halal Guys, the food cart selling delicious chicken and lamb gyros as well as falafel. Oh my... I really miss them! That is why up until now we really miss this type of food.

So back to Jakarta, we do have some choices when it comes to Middle Eastern food. As you have probably be aware of, there are huge Arab communities in Jakarta and they do have their authentic restaurants. This place, Abunawas Restaurant, has been very famous for it Arabian cuisine and the setting as well as the ambience of the place is also beautiful.

When you arrive, the front part of the building is so lovely and it directly reminds of the jazeera, complete with shoe-horse shaped patio and door. As you step in, you will be transported to the Middle East as the coordinated theme and accents used depicts the unique Arabian cultures.

For sure the health protocol is implemented so the mask in obligatory and your temperature will be checked and you have to wash your hands or use the hand sanitizers. and physical distancing is also in place.

health protocol is implemented.

As you can see here, the interior is wonderful and I really love the details. It reminds me of La Alhambra in Granada, Spain, as well as La Mesquita in Sevilla, Spain. The fresco, the color choice, the ceilings, the walls.. they are just lovely! I feel so nostalgic when I saw all this beautiful setting. It has wonderful murals and amazing sofa that I would like to bring home LOL. Take a look at them here.

Look at the murals!

I am IN LOVE with this sofa!

Now.. Let's take a look at the menu here!

As I have mentioned before, they are very famous for their mandi and biryani rice. You can have this rice with chicken, lamb or fish. All of them are so good! There is also Zurbiyan rice but I haven't really tried it.

You can have the menu in individual plate or portion, or the portion for two, which for me, can accommodate 4 hungry people. 

Quarter lamb or chicken over your choice of rice is people’s favorite. You can have mandi or biryani rice, or half - half on them. Complete with spicy sauce as you like it.

Chicken over half biryani, half mandi rice

If you order any dippings, like babagamush or hummus, you will get the pitta bread as well. I also tried the cheese samosa and I love it. Tabouleh is so good and fresh, although I would love to have more lemon and fresh tomatoes on it so it has more kick.

I managed to try the smoothies as well. It has I chose the one with peanut butter, which is very nice and creamy. I guess the name of this beverage is Iskandaria Peanut Smoothie. It has a nice ring one it, right! Next time I will try the one with dates I guess!

Iskandaria Peanut Smoothie, anyone?

The restaurant has two floors so you can choose where you are going to eat. You can also have the tables or the ‘tent’ where you can sit on the floor for full Arabian experience. They have private rooms you can use as well. I love the ambience, it’s pretty with fountain, cave-like and tent-like decoration, murals on the wall and Arabic accents.

the tent looks so exotic

It has spacious parking lot, so it won’t be a problem. I am not sure it is disability friendly though, especially for those with impaired mobility. It has spacious room but to reach the second floor will certainly be problematic. I hope they will fix it soon.

So, what do you think? Will you try the food here? I will definitely be back here again soon with my hubby!

Stay safe and healthy, everyone.

Wonderful Wednesday with My Purple World, Oh My Heartsie Girls and Friends

Let's get vaccinated - photo from www.corona.jakarta.go.id

July is coming...

Half of 2021 is gone and I don't say we have lots of fun but we have a lot to be grateful for! Pandemic is still rampant but I sincerely hope all of us will stay safe and healthy. Even when many of our family, friends, colleagues, or neighbors are fighting COVID-19, I hope they have the strength to fight back and come back fit and healthy.

My Hubby has finally got the vaccine and he got the first shot of Coronavac, the one packed in Indonesia from Sinovac. He was doing fine after the shot, with no heavy symptoms or problems. Slightly light headed, he got rest and drank plenty of water. We are quite happy that he finally get the vaccine without waiting for too long. We used the link from the provincial government of Jakarta, the capital city where we live, and got the appointment at the nearby vaccine center. 

We need to register ourselves for the vaccine

There is a public space being set up as vaccination center and you can either make an appointment online, which is highly recommended, or walk in from early morning before the quota of the day was all used up. The place is spacious and provides plenty of room for those who were waiting for their turn. we went to the Asthma center and consult with the specialist before my hubby can get a green light for the vaccine. With the recommendation letter, we came to the center and finally Udi, my hubby, got his first shot. We will have to get back to get the second one 1 month after. 

Getting ready for the vaccine

Well, wishing you all healthy days ahead and now, let's join us on Wonderful Wednesday with My Purple World, Oh My Heartsie Girls and Friends!

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