Exploring northern Mauritius

On our penultimate day in Mauritius, we explored the northern part of the island. My friend, who spent her summers in Mauritius as a child, said we simply had to visit the botanical gardens and the surrounding area, so we did.

London Wanderings: Hampstead Heath

When I realised my last "wanderings" was 3 months ago, I knew I needed to get out there and have a little adventure. I chose to ignore the stubborn overcast gloom and resist the temptation of new Orange is the New Black episodes to mooch around Hampstead, instead.

London wanderings: Stoke Newington

On Sunday, my cousin and I ventured to North-East London to visit our uncle, and were treated to the delights of Church Street in Stoke Newington.

Wishing I'm on the street where you... work

It's no secret that I'm a fan of London. My poor friends, bless 'em, were bored to death with me going on and ON about how I couldn't wait to move there and start my ascent up the career ladder. Working hard, playing hard, drinking copious amounts of exotic cocktails in trendy places, meeting new people, and finally having some disposable income to play with (read: spend on clothes, shoes, bags...) - London, to me, was where I would thrive.

And even though I haven't been playing that hard (because I'm working ridiculously hard, and by the time I get home all I want to do is get into my PJs and not move), I'm still falling hard for London. Who needs a man when you have a city?  London is forever making me smile and coo with glee as I set my eyes on beautiful views, secret malls and quirky pubs. It seems like every week I decide a new area of London is my "new favourite place".

But the place which has stolen my heart is actually good old SE1, also known as the London Bridge/Borough area. And this area just happens to be where I work.

When I first had my interview at The Body Shop, I was blown away by the proximity of The Shard. Little did I know, however, that The Shard is only one of the amazing gems nearby. My hour-long lunch break has given me the chance to start exploring the area, and each time I stumble across something different and equally brilliant.  Whether it's spending a small fortune on a (bloody good brie, roasted red pepper, ham and mayo) baguette at Absolutely Starving, or strolling along the Thames and having a good old gawk at the Gherkin, SE1 is always aesthetically interesting. And I say "interesting", not pleasing, because some things are more bemusing than pretty...

Before I came to work in London, I always fancied myself working in Soho or Oxford Circus, but working where I am just seems so much cooler, not to mention the volume of tourists is significantly less! And who needs the Selfridges Food Market when you have Borough Market right on your doorstep with Brownies to die for?

The only bad thing about the fantastic array of bistros/wine bars/pubs/cafes/street vendors is that my mental list of places to visit is about as long as my arm, and will probably take longer than my internship lasts to get through them (mainly because I couldn't afford to dine at them once a week. Or even bi-monthly). But, hey, they ain't goin' nowhere, even when I do.

Here's a few snaps of views that have taken my fancy so far:

View of The Shard from Guys St. Thomas Gardens

The pretty ceiling at Hays Market

Sushi at Chozen noodles

Having a cheeky wander down the Thames, enjoying the sun

Umbrellas in a courtyard just off Borough Market. How beautiful are these?!

My next post will be clothes-related - promise! I just needed to get some gushing off my chest...