Ibyang Sanchez, Author at Ibyang

Inspiration: Do The Crazy Thing

24 October 2011 Ibyang Sanchez 3 Comments Category: Charmed Life of a Mrs, Deep Thoughts

Since I’ve discovered lululemon’s manifesto, I’ve been a fan of their store. I love their products and I love their blog.

Here’s another poster called “Do The Crazy Thing” I’d like to share with you on this lovely Monday morning.

Thanks to Ciona who shared this wonderful poster via the lululemon athletica blog.

Let’s do something crazy…let’s do something wonderful…let’s make the impossible possible.

Have a great week ahead!

The Lab of Adriano Zumbo (Rozelle, NSW)

23 October 2011 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Food, Restaurants

On the birthday of the Husband in September, I decided to bring him to Adriano Zumbo’s The Lab at Rozelle for breakfast. The Husband has a sweet tooth, a chocolate fiend and one who loves to bake (yes, all rolled into one!), I thought he would enjoy starting his day at a place where I can indulge his love for pastries and desserts and be able to watch pastry chefs create magic in the kitchen.

Every Adriano Zumbo Patisserie has a concept. His Manly branch is just a place where you buy take away treats while his Rozelle branch had a concept of a laboratory where customers can sit in bar stools (there were only 9) overlooking the kitchen. The wall are adorned in graffiti-like paintings.

Other than pastries and desserts, they offer breads, sandwiches, meat pies and beverages.

Water stored in laboratory bottles are available at one corner of the cafe.

The Husband ordered a cup of Cafe Mocha and the Apple Turnover. Crunchy pastry with sweet juicy apples inside.

I indulged in a cup of Cafe Latte and their Almond Croissant. Perfect chewy pastry enveloped in almonds.

We loved their deliciously-made coffee. You can taste the richness of the coffee with almost no bitterness and amazingly, no aftertaste. Really smooth, which is how coffee should be.

The Husband enjoyed his breakfast as he watched Adriano’s pastry chefs produce hundreds of Macarons and make pastries and cakes. It’s like being in a Willy Wonka movie! 🙂

Visiting Adriano Zumbo’s patisserie will never be complete without bringing home some treats.

We enjoyed a few of his Macarons, a slice of brownie and a peach tart with almonds at home.

Adriano Zumbo – The Lab (map)
114 Terry Street
Rozelle, NSW 2039

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday6:30am till 4:00pm

Saturday & Sunday7:30am till 4:00pm

Closed on Public Holidays

Cafe Pascucci (Seoul, Korea)

16 October 2011 Ibyang Sanchez 5 Comments Category: Food, I Love Seoul, Restaurants

Situated in the heart of Myeongdong, this cafe is one that can’t be missed.

Cafe Pascucci is a local cafe in Seoul that serves Italian Coffee. The cafe also serves cakes, pastries, sandwiches and gelato.

We visited Cafe Pascucci for afternoon tea on our final day and had our usual Cafe Mocha (for the husband) and Cafe Americano (for me). Their coffee was rich, a little on the strong side but smooth nonetheless.

We weren’t really hungry due to a heavy lunch at a Japanese restaurant that day. How I wish we could have some Gelato Honey Toast but we instead opted to share a slice of their creamy, smooth Cheesecake.

The cafe was located on the second floor of a building so we had a good view of Myeongdong beneath us.

The Husband took photos from downstairs while I checked messages online and enjoyed my cuppa.

Wanderlust Wednesdays: Shopping at Myeongdong (Seoul, Korea)

Cafe Pascucci is located at Rodeo Street, Myeongdong (near SC Bank)

Wanderlust Wednesdays: In the Streets of Myeongdong (Seoul, Korea)

12 October 2011 Ibyang Sanchez 2 Comments Category: I Love Seoul, Travel, Wanderlust Wednesdays

Seoul has many shopping havens, one of which is in Myeongdong.

Myeongdong is one of Seoul’s main shopping districts featuring mid-to-high priced retail stores and international brand outlets, including Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren, Forever 21, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton and Nature Republic. It is a particularly popular area for young people and tourists as a center for fashion and sight-seeing.

Several large shopping centers and department stores are in the district including Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, Migliore, M Plaza, and Noon Square. The floating population of Myeongdong is estimated to be around 2 million a dayand in terms of floorspace rents, Myeongdong is one of the most expensive shopping districts in the world.Many hotels, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, and historical sites complete the diverse mixture of the area. {source}

As the sun sets, the streets of Myeongdong becomes more alive as each avenue transforms into one big market of dry goods and food carts. The crowd becomes thicker but security is tight.

We explored the streets while it was still a bit light outside.

But when it grew darker and colder (it was Spring time when we were there), we walked into the shops. My best shopping experience was at my favourite store: H&M.

I can live inside H&M! That’s how much I love this shop. It took me about two hours to finish shopping and about 30 minutes just paying for our purchases. I made sure I bought all the clothes I will need from winter to summer. One thing I love about shopping in Asia is that the clothes fit me perfectly. I’m petite and it’s so hard to find clothes in Sydney that fits me but in Seoul, it was sooooo easy. After our 2.5 hour stint in H&M, I left with a happy heart and a big heavy bag.

It was late when we went out but the streets were so alive even on a weekday. We were a bit hungry but we opted to hung out in the streets and eat from the food carts.

This hotdog waffle with potatoes were a favourite of mine. It was so yummy!

Other than the waffles, we also had a bit of their Pork BBQ. Another delightful treat fresh from the grill.

We loved Myeongdong so much that on the last day, instead of going to the Korean Village, we decided to just have relaxing day there…and to shop some more hehe.

We went inside different department stores. We spent time at Muji because I wanted to buy another pair of the boots I bought in Manila (that’s how much I love it) but they didn’t have it.

The Husband loved shopping at SPAO as he was able to find shirts and jackets he liked. SPAO is similar to Giordano and Uniqlo.

We also went underground and looked at camera shops.

We found this store for fans of KPOP and Korean dramas.

My Husband and I laughed when we saw this jacket and pants ensemble from the Korean Drama “Secret Garden”. We actually saw kids wearing these.

Before we went home for Manila (our flight was scheduled that night), we had coffee at an Italian cafe. Can you see me in this photo?

To go to Myeongdong, take Subway Line 4 (Light Blue) and get off Myeongdong station.

All You Need is LOVE.

10 October 2011 Ibyang Sanchez 1 Comments Category: Deep Thoughts

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.

Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game

It’s easy.

There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made.

No one you can save that can’t be saved.

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you

in time – It’s easy.

There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known.

Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.

Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.

It’s easy.

All you need is love, all you need is love,

All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.

All you need is love, all you need is love,

All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

All you need is LOVE – Beatles

-o0o0o-

In a world of uncertainty and negativity, let’s surround ourselves with people we love and people who truly care about us. In times of despair, may our passions in life give us a new sense of hope and self-fulfilment. When in doubt, may we find comfort in our faith.

When we think that everything will seem to fail, believe that LOVE won’t.

May we all have a LOVE-filled week!