A Lady in London

Penang. A Shangri-La, a distant spice island in a mysterious legend. The Far East, full of traders and sailing ships, the meeting place of Easterners and the coveted jewel of Westerners. The final destination on my Malaysia travels.

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Driving up into the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia, the roads become increasingly winding. As my ears pop for the millionth time, I look out the window at the lush surroundings dotted with giant greenhouses. Many of them are growing strawberries and other produce that can’t take the heat in the country’s lower altitudes.

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The sky is magenta. I scramble out of my seat, nearly toppling the woman next to me, and run to the opposite window to get a photo. And a video. It is one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen, and it reminds me why I decided to travel by train in Malaysia.

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Today I am excited to announce an exciting giveaway on A Lady in London. I have teamed up with Carte Noire to give one lucky reader a year’s supply of coffee!

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Looking out over the Strait of Malacca, I feel I’m peering into history. Like most Westerners, the body of water is something I read about in books as a child but never expected to see in person. But it’s here. Right in front of me. And being in Malacca shows me that the strait’s fame as a historic trading passage still affects its namesake city today.

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“You’ve eaten lunch?” she asks. She’s not actually wondering whether I’ve consumed my afternoon meal. Rather, she is greeting me in the traditional Malaysian manner. And this simple salutation speaks volumes about the culture here. The food culture. The food obsession.

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One of the hardest things about being an American expat in London is being far away from family. It’s not rare that I wish I could live in England and have my family here at home with me. But sometimes I find a good surrogate, and last week I found just that at The Goring hotel in London.

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London’s food scene is buzzing. Seemingly every week a new restaurant opens, many of them greatly anticipated. Ametsa with Arzak Instruction, a little sibling of the famous three-Michelin starred Arzak restaurant in Spain’s San Sebastian, is no exception. It opened last month while I was traveling non-stop, but I made sure to line up a review as soon as I got back.

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It’s a junior suite. Overlooking Hyde Park. In chi chi Kensington. It’s also my home for the night. The Baglioni Hotel in London is a five-star luxury hotel, and it’s my home for the night. Did I mention that already? I’m pinching myself.

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The Park Lounge is beautiful. Its dark wood interior and luxuriously cushioned chairs are exactly what I picture when I think of Britain. The books lining the shelves on the walls, the oil paintings hanging over the sofas, and the quiet ambiance all lend themselves to making the room an ideal place for afternoon tea at the Milestone Hotel in London.

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Spring has arrived in London. Yesterday was the first warm day we’ve had all year, and the whole world was outside enjoying the sunshine. I was no exception, and spent most of my day in South Kensington. I have always loved South Kensington’s restaurants, museums, and architecture, and I had a great time exploring the neighborhood.

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