My Favorite Book Covers

Hi guys! In today's post, I'm going to show you some of my favorite book covers! Like so many book lovers, I have to confess that I am, in fact, sensitive to beautiful book cover designs and have more than once given in to a book purchase because of a beautiful cover. But hey, we all do cover buys every now and then and it's actually absolutely fine! I will say though that all the books mentioned here are books that I've either read and really enjoyed or ones that I'll be reading very soon.

If you want to know more about the actual plot, you can click on the book titles, which will take you to each book's Goodreads page. Let's begin ^^

After Alice by Gregory Maguire

This is probably the most beautiful book I own. This is an Alice in Wonderland retelling and it's written by one of my favorite authors who also wrote other favorites of mine like Wicked and Confessions of an ugly step-sister. To me, this cover is the best tribute to all the things that make up the unique universe of Alice. Each detail on the cover is a nod to an element from the original tale, like the Mad Hatter's hat, the playing cards, the cups, the time piece, etc. To the Alice in Wonderland fan that I am, this cover works like the ultimate fan art. 

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

This is the Puffin Chalk edition of this classic story and it's absolutely stunning. It has French flaps, deckle edges and the most stunning of cover designs. Of all the books in this edition, I think this one is my favorite.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling and illustrated by Jim Kay

This is the illustrated version of the first Harry Potter book and the illustration they picked for the cover is, in my opinion, the one that best represents the story and the magnitude of the series it eventually evolves in. Harry is about to board the Hogwarts Express and for him and us alike, this marks the beginning of an epic journey that stretches through 7 books, 8 movies and one of the biggest fandoms of all time. This image is for me the best representation of Harry Potter and I'm very glad they picked it for the cover of this edition. 

Prince Lestat by Anne Rice

This is the 11th and latest book in the classic Vampire Chronicles series featuring my favorite character of all time, the vampire Lestat. I love Lestat and I'm very glad Anne Rice is finally writing more of his roguish adventures. I also absolutely love this cover design. It's at the same time very mysterious and yet highly reminiscent of the Gothic atmosphere of the earlier books in the series.

So those were some of my favorite book covers. I'll probably be acquiring enough more books during the year to be able to write another favorite book cover post at some point. Meanwhile, if there's a book cover design you really like, feel free to share a link to the picture in the comments ^^

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Cover art by Of Stacks and Cups via Pagemodo

Soudha's Travel Log 3: Shopping by the Sea!

Hi guys! Today I'm back with a new entry in my travel log series. 

So today, I'll be taking you on a virtual trip at the Caudan Waterfront. Simply put, it's a set of shopping malls, food courts and hotels built along the harbour. You're basically doing your shopping by the sea! It comes with a docking area for cruise boats as well and is always bustling with people, both locals and tourists. 

When I arrive at the Caudan, I am greeted by the sight of boats docked for the day, bobbing lightly above the deep blue sea. The parking area stretches along the harbour and as soon as I leave the car, the smell of salt on the wind hits me. Regardless of the season or time of the year, it always feels like summer at the Caudan!

I enter the main area of the Caudan and flanking the steps leading up to the first mall, I find the famous wood sculptures of local artist PEM. A favorite spot with tourists and Mauritians alike, the beautiful hand carved display is a little teaser for the other local pieces of art and handcraft scattered throughout the Caudan.

A few steps into the first mall and I find one of the several art galleries of the Caudan. Under the brush strokes of local artists, Mauritius come to life through the vibrant colors of the local scenery and beaches captured at standstill on canvas. Spotted in almost all pieces, the Mauritian dodo, extinct since centuries, seems more alive than ever under plumage of bright reds and blues. 

I leave the first mall and head to an open space leading to various shops and food spots, walking under the shade of a myriad of colorful umbrellas that overlook the entire alley. 

To my left, a few people are sitting under the colorful shadows of the overhanging umbrellas, sipping fresh fruit juice from the fruit cart stationed on the side of the alley. This is the ideal place to stop by for a taste of local fruits and freshly pressed juice.

Just a few steps further, there's a cart selling the traditional 'manioc galettes', local treats made with cassava. These galettes are perfect on their own or with a warm cup of tea.

I now head to the other side of the Caudan. To cross between the different areas of the place, you get to walk by the harbour. To my right stretch high end restaurants and popular fast-foods, the sounds of laughter and clinking of glass occasionally cut by the splash of the waves. 

The Caudan is home to both local art and delicacies and high end shops. The Vendome does not only offer beautiful pieces of jewelry, but the shop itself is worth a stop. With its stone façades and balconies, the shop itself is as beautiful as the little treasures displayed inside.

Another visitor favorite is the boat shaped casino with the massive figurehead of a prancing lion. The casino, housed within a boat docked right in the middle of the alley, is one of the highlights of the Caudan at night, both with visitors and the people staying at the hotels in the vicinity. 

I enter another of the malls and this time head towards its craft market. Inside, you can find all sorts of locally made crowd pleasers ranging from sweets, local tea, scented candles and carved wooden decorative pieces to scarves, boat models and handcrafted soaps. 

Leaning on the balcony of the mall's top floor, I take a moment to glance at the sprawling view of the mountains looming above the coastal city. The bridge, which leads to another entrance to the Caudan, unfolds into the edge of the road beyond which lay the town of Port-Louis, the capital of Mauritius.

Any tour of Mauritius would be incomplete without a stop at the Caudan. With its countless shops and food spots, galleries and food carts, it's the perfect place to hang out on a sunny day, as well as for tourists as with its local visitors.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know your thoughts in the comments ^^

My Spring Bucket List

Hi guys! Today I want to share with you the things I'd love to do in spring... one day. Why one day, you might ask? Well, it's simply because I've actually never seen spring. The country I live in has only two seasons, summer and winter, which means that I've experienced neither spring nor Fall before! 

So here are the things I would love to do if it was spring here. And if it's spring right now where you live, feel free try out the ideas I've listed here ^^

Do a picnic 

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I'd find a nice, quiet spot outside and have a little picnic while watching the tree blossoms. Sounds about perfect, right?

Go star gazing 

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I've always been a night person so I'd really love to go out star gazing on a spring night. 

Make a bouquet

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I'd make a bouquet with newly blossomed spring flowers to add a little touch of spring to the house.

Make a flower crown

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I'd make a flower crown because while I've never worn one before, it sounds like a really lovely way to use the season's flowers for a fun little craft. 

Make a spring photo album

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I'd capture the highlights of my first spring in an album which would forever remind me of that time where I was able to make a bucket list come true.

Do spring DIY projects 

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Doing DIY projects is a hobby of mine and since I really enjoying making little crafts every now and then, it'd be fun to be able to do some spring themed ones some day. 

So those were the things I want to do in spring one day. Do you have spring where you live? What are your favorite things about the season?

Cover art by Of Stacks and Cups via Pagemodo