day 703 | november 30, 2013 | Between Sand and Sky

Whether it's at the beach, on top of a hill, by a lake, or in a vineyard, outdoor weddings always get me excited. It's no surprise that I'm fondly remembering L&C's lovely Boracay wedding, and finally blogging about it. So much inspiration. Lady L did an awesome job planning this (remotely!) and I really do think she can make a career out of wedding planning. :)

Sharing some of my favorite images from the day. Roo and Red enjoyed this one tons. What's more, I've broken down the elements that I loved, in hopes that perhaps this might be helpful to those who are planning their own outdoor wedding. :)

day 700 | november 15, 2013 | Frantzen Experience

Slowly working on my favorite images and stories from Stockholm, and the Frantzen Experience is definitely among the most memorable. It was my first time dining in a two star Michelin restaurant. We had carefully selected Frantzen, and were influenced by the #12 position it holds among the Top 50 best restaurants as ranked by Diners Club International. We were on the waitlist for a while, before we managed to confirm a table a few days before our preferred date.

The first thing to know about Frantzen is that while you can expect a 21-course meal, there is no menu. Well, there is, but it's pretty sketchy. So we didn't really know what to expect. In Bjorn Frantzen's own words, the restaurant is about "finding the best ingredients the whole world has to offer." The final dishes that are served in the table are highly dependent on the availabiliy of produce, which are mostly sourced in and around Sweden. I've learned that you only truly fully appreciate each dish once you know where it came from. 

day 714 | november 11, 2013 | Narvik, Norway

Leaving Abisko over Sunrise

The intent was simple. Norway sat right there, far too close to where we were for peace of mind. Narvik was within comfortable driving distance from Abisko -- we wanted to see the other side, and try whale meat in one of the few places in the world that have it on the menu.

Whaling is a part of the culture for coastal Norway, with Tromso the more popular town for it. Try anything at least once, as long as my conscience can live with it. That, and reassurance that we were dining on a common minke whale, a Least Concern species that is not considered threatened or conservation dependent. Checked it off my list, but wouldn't look for it.

Throughout the drive, I loved the way the icy landscape shifted with slopes, edges, colours, and sunlight. As we entered northern Norway, some of the scenes from our windows were eerily bare and haunting. Imagine artic cold, and your next door neighbor at least 20-30 minutes walk away. I wonder how this place looks like during summer...

Snaps from a border-run in Samiland...

day 717 | november 8, 2013 | Stockholm

Stockholm was the city gateway to our Northern Lights adventure. The point of origin for our flight to Kiruna, and the final stop for our train back from the north.

We had to adjust to both the temperature (-2 to +2), as well as the very short daylight hours. This was a good transitional stop to mentally prepare us for what -30 might feel like coming from +30 in the tropics. Strange to have sunset over the city at 3pm, but the combination of cold and dark is always a good excuse to start sipping.

Several things to love -- especially enjoyed how most of the city is situated by the water. With city lights reflected in the rippling currents of the bay and boats of all shapes, colours and sizes sprinkled across, walking was both effortless and a visual treat. Beautiful architecture in Gamla Stan, charming museums, wonderful dining experiences (Frantzen! and Gastrologik), good coffee, our beds located in idyllic parts of town, and very polite people, many of whom are beautiful. Very little to complain about. Let the images tell the story...