Azul Fives Hotel by Karisma

Azul Fives Hotel: Stolen MOMents

November 30, 2014 By Lena

A few months ago, I shared a fabulous little tidbit: I’m a Nikon MOMents Blogger! As such, I’ll be documenting my life (nothing new) and special occasions with my Nikon D3300 camera (very new – and exciting). Last month, I vacationed with my family in the Mayan Riviera, where we enjoyed seven blissful days in paradise.

So, beyond the obvious reasons for bringing along a DSLR camera – fabulous vacation photos, the ability to enlarge memories, crisp and clear scenic shots – why else should you release your inner shutterbug? Well, the Nikon 3300 makes it fun and easy to preserve those moments in the lifelike beauty they deserve: stunning 24.2-megapixel photos and 1080p Full HD videos with tack-sharp details, vibrant colors and softly blurred backgrounds.

(Plus, if you love sharing photos like I do, D3300 photos can appear instantly on your compatible smartphone or tablet for easy sharing with the optional WU-1a Wireless Adapter.)

But I suppose the real reason I am addicted to my Nikon for vacation photography is the ability to capture those stolen moments – the moments when the boys don’t know I’m about to take a photo; the opportunities to capture a sweet smile or a friendly snicker; the landscapes I want to preserve in my mind for years to come.

Today, I’ve love to share with you the stolen moments from my recent vacation.
Stolen MOMent #1430: Sunday Morning. Funny, it’s Sunday morning again – at roughly the same time this photo was taken – but my view today is decidedly different. Sigh. It would be heavenly to return to this balcony, to this view… if only to savour the moment a little longer. As the sun rises over the horizon, I can almost feel the humidity in the air, making my hair curl at the nape of my neck. …

It’s Better than the Caramilk Secret.

October 28, 2014 By Lena

Which really isn’t a secret at all. Um, hello? Food Network? They tour those candy plants all the time. It’s called “Unwrapped.”

But what’s better than the Caramilk secret, you ask? The secret to truly delicious tacos. And having just spent a week in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico – courtesy of Transat Holidays – I consider myself to be quite the expert on the subject.
photo (4) Above, you’re looking at the trio of tacos… beef, shrimp and chicken, prepared at Azul Fives Hotel, by Karisma in the Mayan Riviera. Azul Fives is a gourmet inclusive hotel, which means – you guessed it – we had sinfully delicious food for the entire week. However, even though I was confronted with limitless options, I tended to come back to the humble taco… every. single. day.

They were THAT good.

And after a while, I began questioning, why are they so scrumptious? What makes them better than any taco I’ve had? The seasoning was on point, the fixin’s were average, and the tortillas were pretty standard fare. But there was just something about the way they all came together, in magic harmony, that set them apart. So I did what I do best: I painstakingly dissected the meal until I discovered the hidden secrets. (Okay, so maybe I dissected several meals. It’s called research!)

I have good news.

You too can create authentic-tasting Mexican tacos at home. You can even go ahead and grab your favourite dinner kit if you don’t want to start from scratch, because I’ve come to realize that it’s all in the condiments. So here’s what you need:

1. Chipotle Mayonnaise. Almost all of the tacos I enjoyed came with a chipotle mayonnaise for dipping, were pre-drizzled with the stuff, or both. Hence, I’ve decided that it’s an absolutely mandatory accompaniment to all tacos. The smoky, creamy sauce adds an additional layer of heat while smoothing out the more peppery flavours. You can purchase chipotle mayonnaise from a well-stocked specialty food store, or simply search for a recipe online (a recent search yielded about 2,270,000 results). …

Set Your Current Location: Paradise

October 20, 2014 By Lena

Well, technically it’s *my* current location, and that’s why I’ve been offline for a few days.

HOLA AMIGOS! Greetings from the Azul Fives Hotel, by Karisma in the beautiful Mayan Riviera, Mexico.
Featuring the renowned Karisma Gourmet Inclusive Experience concept, the Azul Fives Hotel, by Karisma features oversized, luxurious, tastefully designed 1, 2 and 3 bedroom suites, private rooftop lounge decks in penthouse suites as well as an upscale, all-service spa. The hotel is strategically located in Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya, Mexico, just 35 minutes south of Cancun International Airport. …