Smoking is harmful for you, kids. KFC on the other hand, is not. Message in a kiosk!

Warsaw Central Train station > Krakow Old Town > Zakopane  Youth Hostel > Szymoszkowa Ski slopes > Morskie Oko paths

Well, looks like I can actually ski.

Tumble wumble tumble wumble tailbone slam headbang tumble sticks and skis gone, but hey I still did get up after that, it was just that once. Everyone chose to snowboard the first day, and then curiously changed to skis the next – I must’ve looked glamorous – after all, I did try to appear fashion blogger by wearing orange with yellow.
Again, it wasn’t my first time in Zakopane, the mountains of Southern Poland, but this time it was definitely a refreshing experience, going with friends. Sure, it’s not the Alps, but I doubt they have Polish horses in the Alps. Beat that.

The trip was great, taking that much needed break and actually wearing utilitarian clothing was, dare I say, liberating. Skiing and hiking are probably the two most blogger-unfriendly verbs in the entire dictionary (this fashion blogger dictionary can be purchased at £5.95 at local blogshops) but you’ll excuse me for this once, yes?

Hope you all had a wonderful start to 2010, I personally don’t consider Jan 1 to be any different than Dec 31, but that’s just me I guess. Can you believe that a decade ago we thought our computer dates were going to scramble back to ’1900′, in which case the dumb 12 year-old that I was thought I’d just flip it up to ’2000′ after the disaster happened? What, what computing crisis?

Write a Comment

58 Comments

  1. I really adore your fuzzy hat! I just got one sort of like it for Christmas, and it’s been dubbed the ‘Polar Explorations’ hat~
    I really love your photography style too, everything looks so amazingly clear and sharp!

    -Robyn

    Reply

  2. I still don’t get the whole Y2K scare, but I was a dizzy 10-year-old at the time. really cool pictures :) May I ask what font you used for those dates listed in the first picture? I see it everywhere but I’m not sure of which font that is

    Reply

    replied:

    That’s Minion Pro!

    Reply

  3. What a fantastic trip. Happy New years to you too Shini! This is going to be an amazing year, I can feel it :)

    Reply

  4. I’m glad you managed to make it back in one piece. I couldn’t even manage the fake snow, kiddy slope, when I attempted skiing.
    Your knittings look lovely by the way. What’re you making?
    x

    Reply

  5. Your knitting looks so good. I’m an amateur knitter, who isn’t very persistent haha. The photo of the toast is so cute. And your hair is gorgeous!

    http://betweenlovehate.wordpress.com

    Reply

  6. Skiing and hiking are probably the two most blogger-unfriendly verbs in the entire dictionary

    Haha, is that a challenge? ;) I always enjoy the extra thought it takes to look somewhat stylish in the rough and utilitarian world of outdoor activities.

    Reply

  7. hi !
    nice to see you had fun during your trip =)
    I love your chapka (I bought a similar one a few weeks ago, actualy ^^) : it allows you to look like a fashionista even while skiing.
    see ya soon !

    Reply

  8. Emily

    whatever you’re knitting looks beautiful! can’t wait to see how it comes out!

    Reply

    replied:

    Owwh it’s a chunky scarf (how original) but it’s taking so long I’m expecting it to be done in 2090.

    Reply

  9. really lovely.

    - http://www.theclothingproject.com

    Reply

  10. Great photos! Hope you had a really good time :)

    A PIECE OF PASSION

    Reply

  11. Yes, really great photos! I was in Zakopane too, such a nice relaxed place, and I love mountains. The name ‘Zakopane’ actually means something like ‘dig-it’, what’s a funny fact. Hehe.

    Reply

  12. Agata

    It’s so good to see Polish mountains here on your blog :) I’m happy, that you enjou your staying here and you’ve took nice photos ;) Zakopane is really nice place. I’ve been there and in “Kopalino” next to Zakopane where was my hotel – Viva Maria. Thank you for photos, cause in this winter holidays i won’t get there and I miss Zakopane a lot :( Bye :)

    Reply

  13. how come poland always looks so nice in your pics? whenever im here i find it all grey and depressing. good you had a great time :) happy new year!

    Reply

  14. Wow looks amazing. And I totally LOVE skiing. Must fun thing to do … ever!

    Reply

  15. Tom Tuttle from Tacoma

    agree with Robyn about your photos. wishing you a fruitful 2010.

    Reply

  16. What a wonderfull trip! I see you enjoyed it! I have never been in Poland, but I know there are quite good ski areals. – HAPPY NEW YEAR! Just looking forward your next amazing photo-posts!

    Reply

  17. looks absolutely beautiful! Horsebackriding in the winter sounds amazingly refreshingly! love the btw!

    Reply

  18. How lovely! :) First picture shows typical polish countryside. It makes me laugh a little bit;)
    I spent my last two weeks in my hometown in the mountain and I had a great time too:) Btw. I ski and snowboard since I was 6 years old, so I think it’s not blogger-unfriendly word;) (and I must say that you look like a professional skier :D )
    HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

    Reply

  19. beautiful pics! i’ve wanted to start knitting for ages now i think this should be the year that i start, where in London can i buy the ‘gear’ to get me started?

    Reply

    replied:

    Ah you can easily go to John Lewis and get the gear, or if you have a haberdashery close to where you live, they should have knitting tools too ;) I recommend just trying out the techniques with cheap Acrylic yarn before going into buying ‘wearable’, more expensive yarn!

    Reply

  20. Aww I would love to experience snow, as I live in South East Asia and have never seen snow yet.
    Hope you had a great holiday season! Just wanted to comment because you’re one of the bloggers that inspired me to open mine (i’ve had blogs before, but nothing that’s serious about photography). I love your photos, always so natural and pretty. :)

    Reply

  21. My my! What a scrumptious looking set of pics.. i’m looking rather lustfully at that face on a plate.. It looks like a rather lovely slice of milk loaf … mmm milk loaf.. and I am somewhat saddened that his eyes are not munchable.. but yush… anywho.. great to see that designer eye didn’t go rusty from all the snow and sleep..

    Happy New Year YOU GARH!!

    Reply

  22. hi:) i’m happy to see my country on your blog! I have been in Zakopane many times (it’s quite near me) but not last year and i miss is very much. I must go there in 2010!

    Reply

  23. i love all your photos… makes me feel like im there with you hahah.

    hope you had a great xmas and hope the new year brings you more happiness
    !

    http://aforteforfashion.blogspot.com

    Reply

  24. Kasia

    I’m really happy that you like our country and we can see some photos from the polish mountains! Poland is in fact grey and depressing but there is a lot of really beautiful places to visit,too! Hope you’ll come back soon :)
    I have a question: what did you like the most in each of these cities? Especially Warsaw, I know it quite well as I’ve been living here since I was born :)

    Reply

  25. Ooooh polish horses! I like the furry yellow backpack. It looks like it could make an awesome pillow if filled with soft things.

    Reply

  26. That is such an adorable yellow backpack! OOHHH that is a favorite! The pictures look wonderful and I wish to go to Poland someday. The last picture with the horses is so beautiful!

    Reply

  27. Kaz

    Hiya! Can I just ask (as a fellow graphic designer!) what typefaces you used in the first photograph for the title? I like! :)

    Reply

    replied:

    The Zakopane fone is Old English Text MT, the dates are Minion Pro, and ‘Ski Trip’ is…actually I don’t remember which one that was, in that size it looks like pretty much any serif font :P

    Reply

  28. That view is amazing.
    Beautiful photos!!

    Reply

  29. I love this place

    Reply

  30. Nina

    Happy New Year Shini!! Have I said earlier that I love absolutely everything about your blog? Yes I did, like a million times. ;)

    Reply

  31. I very much love your yellow fuzzy backpack!

    Reply

  32. why are you travel so much to poland?

    Reply

    replied:

    Oh that’s because I grew up here and it’s home ;)

    Reply

  33. your photographs are lovely, it looks so christmassy :)

    Reply

  34. oh my, the pictures are soo beautiful! hope you had a jolly time tumbling, wumbling, slamming and headbanging down the slopes. my first experience was never that exciting. haha

    Reply

  35. christmassy photos, snow and horses! perfect. i’ve never been skiing before :( hope you had a lovely christmas and new years xxx

    Reply

  36. Lovely photos! So much snow!

    I really like that furry hat and they are definitely brilliant for keeping warm but alas, they aren’t suited to my head! I do wish I could knit, looks like a nice little scarf you’re knitting there!

    Reply

  37. haha, love that yellow backpack. seriously. =)

    Reply

  38. beautiful pics as always!! hahaha oh god “the millenium bug”…i remember thinking thats the stupidest thing i’d ever heard in my life

    Reply

  39. i love love love your blog, style and specially your DYS’s sooooo pretty!!!
    im working on this new blog {thecytherea.blogspot.com} and would lovee if you take a look at it??
    much love and blessings in this new year!

    Reply

  40. awesome pics Shini! you’re so stilish also on the snow!

    Reply

  41. Lovely photos, esp. love the one with the bread and the smiley face on it! Happy 2010! xo, mel

    Reply

  42. This looks so good! Amazing photos as always! Happy new Year!

    juliet xxx

    Reply

  43. I..have no idea how to reply back so I’ll make a new comment here :D
    So glad you think my phoos are nice~!! Haha aand yeah I’m Filipino so I guess there’s going to be a lot of that.
    Is it okay if I link you? I’m fixing up my links so… :)

    Also, you like Taeyang! The 2% I was drinking had Taeyang’s face on it (http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldengutgirl/4237566776/) haha :P

    Reply

  44. omg this looks so fun. I used to go skiing when I was younger but I’m horrible at it…I enjoy the lifts more than the actual skiing haha.

    Love all the pics they are so “wintery”, especially enjoyed the first and the ones of the horsies.

    Reply

  45. wow! i live in cracow and i didn’t expect that you have been there. i’m so happy about this! hope you will come back soon ;D HAPPY NEW YEAR!

    Reply

  46. great selection of pics! call me weird but my fav are the interior shots – door handles, tiles and curtains! i am actually considering to go visit Poland next time round!
    btw smart packing – a bagpack that doubles as a pillow!

    Reply

  47. so cool! Polish horses!!!!!

    Reply

  48. Molly

    Your knitting! Oh my God! Please come teach me!!

    Reply

  49. happy new year

    tes photos sont magnifiques et donnent envie de te suivre dans tes voyages
    karine

    Reply

  50. oooh i love your blog! and i love the fact, that u are from poland (my origin country) I know Zakopane from childhood, this is a beautyful and stylish post about this place!! thank u!!

    Reply

  51. I just went skiing myself! I forgot how great the feeling of skiing down a mountain is- wind against your cheeks, only the sound of snow in your ears. It’s so peaceful up on the mountain. Hope you had a good ski trip. Love the hat btw, looks nice and warm :)

    Julia

    Reply

  52. J’aime beaucoup tes photos elles font très Noêl et comme c’est la saison elles font rêver bravo à toi
    Karine

    Reply

  53. http://www.living-thoughts.net/parkandcube/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/IMG_0403.jpg It’s so weird to see a familiar place. I live in Cracov :)

    Reply