Adidas gear and torrential rain

Yesterday I was wearing my favourite Adidas tennis wear. Yes, I was ready to play!

But, unfortunately, on the way to the tennis court, suddenly had a torrential rain! Oh, no~!!!

Hard courts were completely wet...


I was waiting for more than 2hours until it stopped. The hard courts were still wet so decided to play on the clay court.


Oh no~! I am wearing clean shoes today! When we play on the clay court we really get dirty. Especially our shoes! Look at my shoes for clay court below. ↓ Dirty!!!

Luckily, because the clay got a lot of rain, the surface was very hard. Did not have any powder clay(sand) on the surface. It was just like a hard court. (bounce-wise)


So I could keep my other pair of shoes 'relatively' clean. Relieved!!!

My Babolat Aero Pro Lite

I am using Babolat Aero Pro Lite. To reduce my arm-straining, I am using light rackets.

I have two same ones because I sometimes break the strings.


Main - Babolat RPM blast
Cross - Babolat Xcel

Tension - 57 for both


At this moment I am using RPM blast for the main. This string never get broken.



People think I might be a huge Nadal fan??    (^-^)

FORTNUM & MASON Tea/Coffee

At home we are drinking tea and coffee from Fortnum & Mason.


There are many different types of tea and coffee there.


Our favourite tea is AFTERNOON. This is lighter tea. We think this is the best for standard milk tea. In England most of the people use tea bags for daily milk tea.

Our favourite coffee is Cnnoisseur Blend.

We are using this espresso maker

If tea leaves I like silver needle white tea. It is really light. I also like rare yellow tea. We should drink such light tea as it is (without milk/sugar).


I was always having silver needle white tea from Darjeeling at Four Seasons hotel, one day they gave me the same tea leaves in a tin as a gift! What a nice present!!!


If flavoured tea I like rose tea. Again, I got some rose tea leaves in a box as a gift from Oberoi hotel! They really made me happy!!!


Before tennis I always have a cup of strong tea or coffee. It is said that if we take caffeine before exercise, it helps to galvanize our performance. I feel it is true.

Jordan Dead Sea

We went to Jordan to experience Dead Sea & Petra.

The hotel was Marriott Dead Sea Resort & Spa. We stayed in a suite so our room was huge.

View from our room1

Hotel pool & Dead Sea

 View from our room2

View from our room3 

 Dead Sea





Floating people in Dead Sea

 

 

In the hotel spa they have a small indoor pool filled with Dead Sea water. If you do not want to get sun tan, or when rainy you can use this pool instead of Dead Sea.

 

 

On the shore of Dead Sea, we can put on black dead-sea mud all over our body. Both Dead Sea water and mud are good for our skin. Plenty of the natural minerals. Our skin condition gets better there. Dead Sea is called the world's oldest aesthetic salon!

 



To float at the surface of Dead Sea is unforgettable experience! You cannot sink.  (^-^)


Recommended for the people who want natural beauty!!!

Golf

In England we are having longer weekend thanks to bank holiday Monday.


Today we played golf! It was a long time no golf for us so we went to the range before our round. To be honest with you I do not like practicing at the range... I rather want to play longer on the course. It is said practice makes perfection. I might be too lazy for that...

When I was playing in India my golf coach & caddie really looked after me. My coach even brought my favourite biscuits for the tea time in the middle. My caddie rushed to me to pass me a bottle of water after each hole. After hitting I even did not have to check where my ball went. They find my ball before me anyway!


Now DIY for everything. Yes, we came back to England... I do not have a caddie so I have to pull my trolley by myself. Here it is not common to use the electrical carts like US or Japan.  (*□*:)



Anyway we enjoyed our golf under the sun. Relaxing!!!

 

Grande Real Villa Italia Hotel & Spa Portugal

We visited Cascais Portugal. Only takes 1hour from Lisbon airport. Beautiful marina there. Reminded me Hayama in Japan.

View from our room





 

 

Cascais is the romantic seaside city. Cobbled alleys everywhere.


I found some interesting official photos of Estoril Open Tennis this year. My favourite Richard Gasquet was cycling on the small road in front of this hotel! He was also in front of the city hall! I was pleased to see him at the same places I visited before!!!
Although I do not think he felt comfortable to cycle on the cobbled alleys! 


Walking along the beach is so relaxing. It is very beautiful.


Would be nice to go back there for good sea food & egg custard 'nata'!

Hotel Le Palais Prague

We spent our New Year's Eve at Hotel Le Palais Prague.


We both visited Prague before separately for business trip. It was a nice change to have a relaxing holiday together in this romantic city!



A bottle of red wine was waiting for us



In our room we had nice & bright dining area

 

 

We attended the hotel New Years Eve party. It was a nice party with classical live band. After good meal and drink we saw fireworks of this hotel. In front of the hotel many many fireworks were sent up. Fireworks on top of us. It was amazing experience. Very romantic.

We really enjoyed it!!!  (^o^)