FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE WORLD

Quirky Prague

2012-01-11T10:47:00.000-08:00

Prague is beautiful in any weather!

2011-12-15T04:56:00.000-08:00

I first travelled to Prague in 1984 and it has captured my heart for ever. There are few cities in the world where you can feel magic of the past so vividly while wondering around its narrow cobblestone streets.

Prague has changed a lot, especially in the last 10 years. It has grown, it has evolved and it has lost some of the peaceful charm that I still remember so well. But the magic is still alive in this architecturally majestic city.

Wonder around the streets, watch the sun rise from the famous Charles Bridge and don’t forget to stop for coffee and a traditional honey cake in one of the atmospheric coffee shops.

The most amazing thing about Prague is that it looks beautiful in any weather!

Eating out in London. Indian Buffet for under £10 per person.

2011-12-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

SALAAM NAMASTE
(Camden Town tube station, 64 Parkway NW1)

It was not very busy when we arrived and we were welcomed and served immediately. The staff were friendly and professional and we were brought some hot naan bread to our table, which was nice.
The place itself is clean and elegantly decorated with fresh flowers on the tables, the kind of place you want for a romantic date.
The buffet itself was small (two meat dishes – chicken and lamb, 3 vegetable dishes, two salads and some desserts) but well prepared. Unfortunately it was rather bland. Not sure if they just played it safe or what, but I struggled to have a second plate. Salads did not seem to have any dressings either.
On the positive side the desserts were great.
Overall a good place, but maybe more suitable for those who like mild flavours.

Driving through Nevada. The storm is coming.

2011-10-26T04:11:00.000-07:00

We have just crossed the border into Nevada when the sky suddenly went dark and we saw a thick wall of dust coming towards us. We were by the lake at the time and we run for the car, making it in time to avoid being pelted by sand and small rocks. Amazing experience!

And then the rain has started.....

Bridge Street Inn. Where to stay in Baker City. Oregon.

2011-10-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Most of the motels in Baker City offer a good value and a great standard of accommodation, but one place really stood out.
Bridge Street Inn (134 Bridge Street) had spacious and well decorated rooms with the comfiest beds one can hope for and the quietest air-conditioning units we have ever found on our travels. On the low setting you could not hear it at all.
All of this ensured that our stay was comfortable and, having had a good night sleep, we felt great in the morning.
The staff at the reception were unfailingly friendly and professional. They were also able to offer us tons of information on what to do in the area.
They were equally warm and welcoming when we arrived for a second visit in the middle of the night, even offered us some very tasty chocolate biscuits!
A free continental breakfast is provided as well as some good coffee and we found the food fresh and tasty.
Overall, a good quality friendly motel at the very reasonable price.

Baker City, Oregon. What a lovely place to visit!

2011-09-19T04:58:00.000-07:00

With 11 National Forests, 10 scenic byways, and 8 scenic bikeways it is easy to appreciate the beauty of Oregon.
While travelling in the North East corner do not forget to visit Baker City, situated in a valley between the Wallowa Mountains and Elkhorn Mountains.
As well as being one of the most visitor friendly and picturesque places in the area Baker City is a host to a number of annual festivals, including the Miner’s Jubilee on 3rd weekend of July, which celebrates the mining history of the area and the filming of Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood’s film “Paint Your Wagon”. In was filmed in the city area.
Baker City also has annual Car Memory Cruise featuring classic cars, hot rods and other vintage automobiles from the Northwest.
The show is held at the Geiser Pollman Park and is followed by a barbeque and another car display at Quail Ridge Golf Course.
The following afternoon the drivers held a small (and free!) car display for the locals and tourist alike by driving up and down the main street. We were lucky enough to see this event.
People were lining up the streets, some sitting on the chairs, they brought from home with bottles of bear and video cameras. Families were mingling and laughing. Groups of kids were sitting on the pavements, applauding and waving at the passing cars. The atmosphere was amazing and if you walked down the street with a smile on your face people immediately smiled back.
At the end of this display some drivers picked up the smaller kids and were driving them up and down the main street also. Well into the night the locals stayed on the streets socialising, laughing and eating ice cream, whose seller was obviously doing a great trade that night. What a wicked event, wish we could come and visit every year!

PS If you want to know more about Memory Cruise check out this website. Some good pictures can be found HERE.

Colorado National Monument

2011-09-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

Colorado National Monument is a part of the National Park Service near the city of Grand Junction, Colorado.
This area is known as Colorado Plateau. During our visit we saw some amazing views and encountered some interesting wildlife, including big horned sheep and giant lizards.
We loved those spectacular canyons cut deep into sandstone rock formations and surrounded by green patches of juniper forests.
Driving back in the evening was another great experience. It took us ages because we kept stopping and taking pictures.
The best experience of all was though was sitting quietly on the grass and watching the sun going down over the Colorado River.
Information center was very helpful and provided us with maps and info about different viewpoints in the park.
There are a number of activities available including hiking, horse riding and white water rafting.

Can you dive in Madeira?

2011-08-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

Yes you can! Lola just came back from Madeira where she had her first proper open ocean dive. She says:
I qualified in Malta. I always wanted to dive but I was not a natural in the water and not being able to breathe through my nose scared me. It took me 3 long weeks to get my qualification and I had to work very hard.
Then due to family commitments I couldn’t go on holiday for over a year and some of the fears that I thought I conquered came back.
When my friend invited me to go diving with her in Madeira I was, of course, excited but also scared. I had nightmares about being lost in the deep waters and attacked by giant snakes. When we arrived to our apartment in Madeira I talked about my fears so much that my friend was beginning to regret sharing a room with me!
Yet the actual experience of going diving was nothing like I imagined. It started with a gentle introduction in the shallow waters and learning some interesting facts about the local marine environment. Then off we went on our dive, which was absolutely amazing experience!
The water was warm (about 20C) and crystal clear. We saw a school of fish, small barracuda and even monkfish. That was two days ago and tomorrow we are going again. On the next trip I am going to see the dolphins and maybe some rays.
Lola dived with “Diving in Madeira” but you can find more diving companies but looking HERE.

Madeira

Family holiday in Mazagon. Spain.

2011-08-04T05:12:00.000-07:00

Chris and Jane have just returned from their holiday in Mazagon, Spain. They have two children Sam, aged 8 and Janice aged 5.
THEY LIKED: The weather. Eating out. Coffee culture. Glorious sandy beaches and warm clear waters. Child friendly atmosphere. Town parks. Wondering in narrow cobbled side streets.
THEY DISLIKED: Overcharging. Expensive accommodation. Traffic fumes.
THEY THOUGHT THAT MAZAGON: Is a good, but expensive place to bring your family on holiday.
THEY WOULD COME AGAIN, but this time base themselves somewhere else.

Vivid colours of Gran Canaria. Spain.

2011-08-02T08:03:00.000-07:00

Exotic flowers of Gran Canaria.

A shop in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria.

Interesting food in Gran Canaria.

When staying in Matalascanas, Spain, choose Hostal Victoria.

2011-07-29T04:06:00.000-07:00

When staying in Matalascanas, Spain we recommend the Hostal Victoria.
There are places which just make you feel at home and then there are hotels where you can get all the creature comforts. This small place amazingly offers both.
We looked at a number of hotels in Matalascanas and are convinced that this small hotel (not even reviewed on tripadvisor) is a hidden gem.
The rooms were small but modern, stylish and comfortable with furniture of a better quality than we have seen in some 4 star hotels. The small balconies afforded excellent views (although no sea- views) despite close proximity to the sea.
The sparkling clean bathrooms had more than enough clean towels and the bonus of a very powerful shower.
The beds were comfortable and the quality of sleep was the best we had during our two weeks travel. We slept with the balcony door open and the only sound we heard in the morning was the singing of birds.
A small flat screen TV had an incredible range of channels in all languages and if you wanted to watch a film on a Spanish channel but in English you could often change the language to English.
Everything about this small place made us feel at home and cared for. It is run by a friendly and welcoming family, willing to go that bit extra to accommodate their guests.
Hostal Victoria is relatively well signposted once you enter Matalascanas and is located in a quieter part of town, within 5 minutes walk of the seaside promenade which is full of bars and restaurants.
The beach is exceptionally wide and sandy, gently sloping into the sea. It is good for people of all ages, including small children.

The view from our bedroom.

Beach in Matalascanas, Huelva province, Spain.

Hotel Albaida, Mazagon, Spain. Not recommended.

2011-07-16T02:55:00.000-07:00

Having arrived on Friday we struggled to find a room and were very pleased to find this hotel. It is located close to a busy motorway, so location was not great, but we were tired and the staff seemed welcoming enough.
We asked for a room for 1 or 2 nights and were told that only a superior double was presently available at the price of 73 euro. We accepted and were shown into a small dark room, which did not look like a superior double, with a view of 3 old air conditioning units piled up next to each other. At this point we were too tired and hungry to care and so accepted it.
On the way out to get some food we spoke to a friendly British expat, who told us he was a handyman at the hotel and gave us some pointers on what to see.
When we came back later that evening we were met by the girl from reception, who in the sweetest possible way apologised for putting us in the wrong room and informed us that in our absence our bags had been moved to a different room.
Our room number two was a much better and bigger room although we were a bit non-plussed about our personal items (previously unpacked and spread on the bed) having been moved by the staff members without our permission.
We had a decent enough sleep, apart from a strange beeping sound that woke us up at 7am and went on at regular intervals for the rest of the morning. We never indentified the source of this noise.
Before going out for some breakfast we decided to pop into reception and to confirm that we would be staying another night. This is where it all got very strange.
A new girl at reception was just about to book us in when the handyman(?), sitting just behind her, told her in a leading way “You are full today, aren’t you?”.
The girl looked at him in a puzzled way and he repeated “You are full today, aren’t you?” At this point the girl at reception, looking slightly uncomfortable, told us that they had no rooms for that day, even though we could see that the car park was pretty empty.
We were extremely puzzled as to why the hotel owners were not keen to sell a superior double for another night, but the explanation arrived shortly when we attempted to check out. We were presented with a bill for 85 euro, not for 73 euro as we were originally told. It turned out the girl at reception had got the seasonal prices mixed up and instead of sorting it out the hotel owners had chosen to tell us that there were no rooms for that day. Despite explaining over and over again that we were sold the room for 73 euro, we were forced to pay 85 euro.
We also met a couple the following day that had had a similar problem a year ago and had to pay more for their stay than they had anticipated. So our advice is: be careful and if you do choose to stay in this hotel – pay in advance and get it in writing that you have paid.

The view from our superior double.

DIVING IN GRAN CANARIA

2011-07-15T00:52:00.000-07:00

Gran Canaria is one of the most developed Canary Islands with excellent tourist infrastructure. The costal parts are mostly dry and arid, but by going inland you find places that are surprisingly green and lush. You will also find temperatures dropping by as much as 10C as you head into the mountains.
In 2005 Gran Canaria was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by the UN, with the “El Cabrón” area being declared a Marine Reserve.
Scuba diving is increasingly popular in Gran Canaria and diving conditions often surpass those in nearby islands. Summer is the best time when you can submerge yourself in cool clear waters to get away from the heat of the day, but because of its benign climate you can dive in Gran Canaria throughout the year.
Water temperatures vary from 18C in winter to 25C in summer and typically clear visibility and stunning underwater scenery make diving here not just exciting but a comfortable experience.
You can dive on all sides of the island and your experiences will be very different. The waters teem with colourful marine life, some species only found in the Canaries. For more experienced divers there are great wreck dives, located mainly around Port Las Palmas, cave dives and night dives.
The best diving area on the island is probably the Arinaga Marine Reserve on the east coast, better known as “El Cabrón”, with dives in the area being organised by every major diving school. The volcanic underwater scenery is breathtaking with many small caves, arches and outcrops.
Other popular diving sites are the El Pajar Shipwreck (where a Russian Hydrofoil Ferry sank in 2003), Kalais (where a 100m Cargo Vessel sank in the early 80s) and Pasito Blanco (home to a number of Reef Fish, Barracuda and Moray Eels). More experienced divers can enjoy the wonders of La Catedral – a series of large underwater caves and caverns, which (with the right conditions) look incredible and add a real feeling of adventure to your dive.
Because you are diving in the Atlantic Ocean you will sometimes encounter strong winds and tides so choosing a good diving instructor to show you around is utterly crucial.
Here is where we hit a bit of a problem. Finding any information about diving centres from out hotel in Maspalomas (no wi-fi) proved very challenging. The only diving school that seemed to be operating in our area we did not like because they pretty much refused to talk to us on the phone and were very inflexible about dates and times. Curious as to how somebody who has not pre-booked diving on the internet would go about arranging it on the spot, we wondered around for days (first Maspalomas, then Playa del Ingles) asking in various hotels and drawing a number of blank stares.
From looking on the internet we knew that the Diving Centres were there, but for an average tourist on the package deal they were well hidden. Because we had a reluctant diver in our group, with a previous bad diving experience, I felt that we absolutely had to find the right person to take us out. By day 3 we had found information about 3 diving centres with dives sold mainly through a second person and based on the information we had, we still did not feel like making a booking.
The breakthrough came on day four when we found a guy called Tony on Maspalomas pier and he introduced us to Christian. As soon as we spoke to him we knew that we had found the right person. Instead of telling us the time and the price in rigid terms, he was interested in when and how WE WANTED to have it done. Having picked us up from the hotel and on the way to his Diving Centre he spoke so knowledgably and passionately about diving in Gran Canaria that even our reluctant diver got excited and could not wait to get in the water.
Scuba Chris was everything we were looking for and more. It was my first dive after an ear operation and it started by me having a massive panic attack just a few seconds after going under the water. If it was not for Christian I would have gotten out of the water and would probably be reluctant to go again. But he kept me in the water, talked to me and listened to me and, thanks to him, after a few minutes I was fine and ready to dive again. That day he dealt with a number of things that did not go according to plan and he dealt with them without a shade of annoyance or impatience.
Our experience was so good that we just had to repeat it the following day, this time with Christian taking us to the more exciting location of a Nature Reserve. Most of the island is surrounded by a rim so shortly after entering the water you get sometimes gently sloping and sometimes almost vertical drops to about 20-25 meters in depth. If you go deep enough you will spot an incredible variety of fish, including Barracuda, Hammerhead Sharks and Stingrays. The amazing thing was that our first dive with Christian gave us so much joy and confidence that our second dive was a breeze. We suddenly looked and felt like experienced divers (which we are!) and our trip into the deep was about interesting rock formations and underwater creatures we could see, rather than a “who has lost a flipper now and who is stuck on the rock” comedy dive.
Out only regret was that having to fly home within 24 hours we did not get to go on more dives. With Christian talking about dives in the caves, an old sunken Galician boat and a small airplane rolling gently on the white sand we knew that we would have to come back.
To sum it up: unless you are diving in Gran Canaria every year and know where to go, make contact with the diving centre well in advance. If your diving schedule is still unclear then at the very least print out a map and write down the number of the diving school, so you know how to get there.
Here is a list of diving schools in Gran Canaria to choose from, but if you want the best customer care, individual attention and a dive based around what YOU WANT we recommend Scuba Chris.
On this website we do not normally give recommendations, but simply tell you about what we like and occasionally did not like, as well as reasons for our opinions. But in this case we felt the need to make an exception. Members of our group had dived in 12 different countries and met a number of good diving instructors, yet we all felt that Christian (who is also a rescue diver) is in a class of his own. During our dives with him, he was not just our guide, but our teacher and our friend. Nothing was too much hassle, every idea we had he was happy to work with and everything was done at our pace. His passion for diving is truly outstanding and contagious. We felt privileged to be able to dive with him.

Cape Town

2011-06-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

I arrive to Cape Town on South African airline, which is my favourite for travelling in this region. I think there are only few airlines left where you can travel economy class and still have enough leg room to enjoy some delicious food (even my 10 year old daughter, who is hard to please, likes it).
As soon as I step of the plane I am surprised by the cool air and the warm breeze. It total opposite to what we normally experience in Europe, where even in the height of summer the wind often feels cold.
I get a taxi to my hotel, pleasantly surprised at how little it costs, get some tasty and inexpensive dinner and go to bed to recover after the long flight.
The following day I meet my friends, who take me on a short city tour before buying some local produce, two bottles of wine and heading for a picnic at a Camps bay beach.
It is cool and quiet on the beach and the water is incredibly cold, but the setting is truly spectacular and I stop in the middle of the sentence more than once while taking in the beauty of surrounding landscape.
Tomorrow I will be heading west to explore one of Cape Town’s famous wine routes. I can’t wait!
Cape Town is the second largest city in South Africa and the country’s most popular tourist destination. It is justifiably famous for its harbor and such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point.
By Sara Corn

Where to stay in Swakopmund. Namibia.

2011-05-18T01:23:00.000-07:00

It is not normally a problem finding somewhere to stay in Swakopmund even in the middle of the high season. However we have received many emails from travellers who favour two of the town’s hotels. It seem to be that if you are a budget traveller, who likes an adventure and are looking for cheap, well equipped accommodation frequented by a number of like minded people, the place to stay is Amanpuri Travellers Lodge.
This not so basic Lodge has small rooms with comfy beds and big TVs, free wi-fi (which is a rarity in Namibia) and a clean en suite toilet and shower room. Breakfast and unlimited coffee are included and are well worth getting up for!
It also has on site restaurant and a bar, car park with electric gates and a welcoming reception with loads of useful information and maps.
For those wanting to save even more money there are rooms with a shared bathroom and student friendly dorms at the back.
Travellers with more money to spare were charmed by the Hotel Deutsches Haus, located on Luderitz Str.13. This 3 star hotel has strong links with Germany and promises “this little feeling of at home” in Namibia.
The rooms are modern, spacious and well equipped (although wi-fi is extra) and breakfast is included in the room price. If the sea is too cold for you (let’s just say not many people are going swimming in Swakopmund!) you can use the small but inviting swimming pool. The hotel also provides conference facilities for businessmen and the restaurant serves supposedly the best food in the area.
Talking about food there is a place in town frequented by expats and long stay travellers. It is called Kuckis Pub and it offers a delicious variety of traditional German and Namibian fare. You can even dine al fresco on the balcony if you like.
Apart from good food this place offers a lively and friendly atmosphere so it is really easy to get addicted to it.
PS: Write and tell us if there are any other places in Swakopmund that you liked and would recommend to fellow travellers. You will find our contact information on the right!

The joys of flying

2011-05-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Flying used to be fun, but not anymore. For most of us it is expensive and stressful. Because it is expensive and we have less money to spend some of us choose to use budget airlines. Here is what to expect from Budget (No-Frills) airline:
• You cannot board the plane unless you have the exact change.
• Before you took off, the stewardess tells you to fasten your Velcro.
• When they pull the steps away, the plane starts rocking.
• The Captain yells at the ground crew to get the cows off the runway.
• You see a man with a gun, but he's demanding to be let off the plane.
If this has put you off flying on the cheap and you are now prepared to part with more cash for the ultimate flying experience you should read this also:
PA announcement: "Good morning, everyone, and welcome aboard American Trans Air flight 458. Before we take off, I'd like to call your attention to some safety features we have on board. Each seat on board comes with a safety information card; we'd like you to read very carefully through this in preparation for the mid-flight test later on. I'd also like to call your attention to the smartly dressed flight attendants standing before you, who will be pointing out exits and other aircraft equipment.
There are six exits on board, two at the back two in the middle and two at the front. Should there be a sudden loss of cabin pressure; oxygen masks will automatically drop from above. Place these over your mouth and nose and begin breathing normally. Adults, put your own mask on before helping a child or an adult who's acting like a child.
"Once we have reached a comfortable altitude, the captain will turn off the seat belt sign and you will be free to move about the cabin. If you need to use the bathroom, we have six on board, three forward and three aft. If you're unfamiliar with the terms 'fore' and 'aft,' you're in some trouble, aren't you?
We'd like to remind you that this is a no-smoking flight and, to ensure this, smoke detectors are installed in all lavatories. Federal law prohibits tampering with this device or with the hidden camera. Photographs will be available at the end of the flight.
"We'll be showing two movies on today's flight. Our first is entitled The Hijacking of Flight 458 [this flight's number], followed by Jet Crash '98. Both movies are based on real-life events, as told by American Trans Air cabin attendants. For the moment, sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight, as I and the rest of the cabin attendants go below deck to begin searching through your luggage."

Meet one of our travel photographers

2011-05-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Some say that he sleeps with his camera instead of a pillow and when he blinks his eyes make a shutter noise. All we know is that he is called The Mark.
Welcome to The World according to Mark!

PS: The Mark does not ever drive over 30 miles an hour (honest), does not roam the woods at night and does not sleep upside down as a bat and should not therefore be confused with The Stig, who is contactable through the Top Gear Website.

Where to take your family in Philipinnes

2011-05-05T03:19:00.000-07:00

If you have a family with you and you do not have much time to spend in Philippines, we recommend Subic Bay as a safe, convenient and fun destination with a range of good restaurants and recreational facilities.
Subic Bay is small bay on the West coast of Luzon Island and only two hours drive from Manila. ( The recent improvements in the Northern Expressway and the new Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway SCTex make it even quicker). It used to be a home of major United States Navy, who have since moved on and the place is not a popular resort and commercial area, known as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The streets are walkable with not much traffic around, pollution levels are minimum, the beach is clean and the nightlife is ever-expanding. It is slightly more expensive than nearby Olongapo but cleaner, more family friendly and altogether more pleasant.
You will not have any trouble finding accommodation to suit your needs and every hotel that we checked out had affable and attentive staff and was pretty spotless.
Two of our favorite hotels were La Casa (budget option) and Cubic Bay International (middle range option). The latter offered the best breakfast we had in the area with a 5 star service as well as a small swimming pool with plenty of free sun beds.
It is possible to go snorkeling and scuba diving. If you are a diver you can also visit a number of ship wreaks, which ended up in Subic Bay as a result of either the Spanish–American War in 1898 or of World War II, where a number of Japanese vessels were sunk by American aircrafts.
You can also swim in Cubic Bay but the best beaches are ten to twenty minutes drive towards the airport and charge the small fee for daily use. While it does seem like a lot of effort to do so, it is worthwhile experience because the range of facilities is good and you can rent a small cabana next to the water for less than you would pay for a sun bed in one of Spanish resorts. This option is great if you have kids and are not keen on them sun bathing all day long. It is also an unbeatable spot for a family picnic.
The water itself is beautifully turquoise, warm and clean and the beach is white sand gently sloping towards the sea. The only thing to watch out of is sunburn because in this part of the world afternoon sun is very strong.
Bataan peninsular (ten minute’s drive from Cubic), unbelievable, is one of the most unexplored in the Philippines and is a great place for hiking and bird watching.
The range of hotels and restaurants in Cubic Bay is second only to Manila and hygiene is generally very good. There is normally no need to prebook a hotel, but it you feel safer doing so HERE is a website with some options.

If you fancy something truly different - come to Philippines!

2011-05-04T03:41:00.000-07:00

This second largest archipelago in the world has over 7000 of tropical islands, but the bulk of its fast growing population lives on just 11 of them. It really is easy to have a small tropical island practically to yourself. But this is not the only thing that makes this country unique. Positioned at the centre of Southeast Asian trade routes and colonised by a number of world powers, the Philippines is colourful mosaic of varied cultural influences.
Because of its unique location this amazing country is often overlooked by the travellers, but those who do make it there and venture beyond hectic capital of Manila find the place of unparalleled natural beauty stretching across a cast expanse of Western Pacific. Those who love water will be rewarded with some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling, including wreck diving and swimming with the whale sharks off Donsol, while those who just want the perfect palm fringed white sand beach will find plenty of those.
Despite the fact that poverty is far from eradicated and the constant threat from earthquake and eruptions, Filipinos themselves are among the most welcoming, joyful and easygoing people anywhere in the world. Having spent a few days staying in almost any hotel you will come to realise that most of the staff members are genuinely pleased to see you. These people really are friendly!
The only negatives for us were occasionally ending up at the resort ( Barrio Barretto for example) where every third house is some sort of brothel. Even then the place did not feel particularly dodgy, just a bit run down with a few good clean hotels and a spectacular beach. If it is not your kind of thing- simply move on.

It is easy spotting wildlife in Namibia!

2011-04-28T04:12:00.001-07:00

While on holiday in Namibia you may want to go on a safari. On the other hand you might simply drive around for a bit. These is what we saw:

Far away - Namibia

2011-04-05T02:15:00.000-07:00

Namibia is a country of extreme beauty and varied landscapes. It won its independence in 1990 and since then has been governed by SWAPO. Namibia’s economy still depends heavily on mining but the tourism is on the up and for an adventure traveller this country does not disappoint.
Namibia is a home of vast rocky canyons, scorched deserts and the highest sand dunes in the world in Namib National Park. Namibia wildlife is also extremely diverse and rivals those of Botswana and Kenya where majority of travellers go for a safari experience. Its wild horses roaming freely through the Namib, close to legendary diamond mining town of Luderiz, while the rare desert elephants make regular appearances in the humid Northern planes.
The name Namibia means “ a land of open spaces” and if, like the author of this post, you live in a big city and often long for the big open skies then this is the place to head to.
The most famous attraction of Namibia include the giant red sand dunes of Sossusvlei National Park, the mysterious Fish River Canyon, the numerous ship wrecks and the chilling fogs covering the Skeleton coast and the desolate Namib desert.
Even more renowned and deservedly so is the lush and exotic Etosha National Park, home to a wide variety of wildlife, which you can watch congregating around one of the crate-like waterholes.
To make it even better Namibia is a photographer’s dream. The striking colours of the desert the icy blue of the ocean and wide deep blue skies provide an amazing backdrop for anything that you want to put in your picture.

Wildlife in Costa Rica

2011-02-16T03:11:00.000-08:00

Costa Rica is home to an enormous variety of wildlife. This is due to its favorable geographical location (Between North and South American continents), warm climate and considerable amount f rainfall. The best way to see the wildlife is by going hiking in one of the nature reserves, but by simply travelling around for a few days you will be exposing yourself to a number of birds, animals and some truly bizarre butterflies and insects.
Look, there are some monkeys in the tree!

Lizards are everywhere.

There is a blue parrot on my balcony!

Occidental Grand Papagayo. Almost luxurious experience in Costa Rica.

2011-01-31T09:54:00.000-08:00

Majority of our reviews cover budget or middle range accommodation, however this close encounter with the near luxurious experience is worth mentioning:
“Costa Rica is a lovely place and at first glance this hotel complimented it perfectly. The tropical vegetation inside the resort was breathtakingly beautiful. The tall trees rising above the holiday apartments were hiding all sorts of exotic birds and a family of small monkeys. Friendly raccoons were congregating around the snack bar and giant lizards sunbathed themselves in the freshly cut grass. The blue water of the swimming pool sparkled in the bright sunlight.
Having checked into the hotel we were practically overwhelmed with joy. We couldn’t believe our luck. The waiter brought us our welcome cocktails and they tasted DELICIOUS!
Then we went to see out room. Oh, dear… What is that horrible smell? There was mould everywhere and the balcony door was not closing. I am not fond of mouldy rooms, but I can survive it for a few days. A door that you cannot close is another matter. Having spent a few hours in reception we managed to get moved into our second room. It was clean but rather small, was missing a table and chairs and had wires hanging from the bathroom ceiling. The minibar was empty and the advertised safe and coffee maker were absent. On the wall of the room we found a strange square hole where the light switch should have been. Not wanting to spend the rest of the afternoon moving rooms we tried to adjust to our environment until we discovered that the cold water tap in the bathroom was not working. Back to the reception.
Another long hour waiting for our turn while other travellers registered their complaints.
Room number three was great, well, certainly great compared to rooms one and two.
We were even given a coffee maker, too bad they forgot to replace the coffee. We were never given a safe, which was fine as we were not there for long and didn’t really have anything expensive to put in it. At last we had some cold drinks in our minibar.
All the staff at the hotel were friendly and warm. They are the people who really make this hotel a pleasant place to be. Food was good enough and service mostly with a smile.
But Christmas dinner at the Asian a la carte restaurant was downright creepy. It was so dark that we couldn’t really see our food (or the menu for that matter), there were flashing lights like they used to have in 70s discos and the music was so loud that it was almost impossible to hear each other. We were given a strange cocktail which made us feel unwell. Then the waiter jumped from behind me, grabbed my shoulder and shouted “Merry Christmas” in my ear. I nearly fell off the chair.
I think the food was okay, but I didn’t eat much as all I wanted was to get out. Perhaps it is normally a more subdued and enjoyable experience and we just went on the wrong night. In any case I would not go there next Christmas.
The grounds of the hotel were absolutely lovely and well looked after. The rooms further away from reception had the best ambience and the rooms on the top of the hill had the best views.
The beach was pretty enough and safe for swimming. It was also connected to the hotel so getting there from the room constituted a nice walk. There was a friendly place on the hotel grounds where you could book your diving, snorkelling and even boat trips (look for it behind the snack bar). With a good deal of patience and some luck you could also get your beach towels from the same place.
If you woke up early in the morning you could watch the sunrise from the coffee bar next to the reception while having a chat with other fellow travellers and some friendly blue parrots. The flocks of black seagulls darting frantically from tree to tree reminded me of some prehistoric birds and their screeching cries, lingering perpetually above the sea cliffs, made me feel that I was witnessing something special, something unique. Somehow this place has touched my heart and captured my imagination. One day I would definitely like to go back.”

Costa Rica on a budget

2011-01-24T07:37:00.000-08:00

For a budget traveler Costa Rica is a great place. Transport is cheap if you stick to buses. You do not need to book accommodation in advance. You can turn up practically anywhere and still be able to find some small, sometimes pathologically clean local guest houses ( jokes aside, toilet in one of them smelled of flowers and looked so sparkling white that I was too embarrassed to use it!) or hotel to spend the night.
You can also eat tasty lunches and dinners cheaply, as long as you don’t mind various pies, love chicken and pizza and not fast about your vegetables.
If are you are a vegetarian or vegan – there are small shops and markets abound, but if you are planning to make your own salads you should bring the bowls and the cutlery. Most of the cheapest places to stay do not offer self catering facilities.
If however you are going to one of the touristy places, like volcano Arenal, Tabacon Hot springs or Monteverde Cloud Forest – there are some excellent hostels available, which do have a kitchen you can use as well as TV, Wi-Fi and other perks. These should probably be booked ahead during the high season (Christmas, New Year and Easter).
The only negatives are the high prices on certain items like clothes, electrical stuff, toothpaste, shampoos, conditioners and suntan lotions. Buying these items in a small local supermarket is often just as expensive as in bigger shops in any popular tourist area. The tax is often added at the end of your purchase and can make a big difference to the final price.

Come and see Costa Rica!

2011-01-18T09:55:00.000-08:00

Costa Rica (meaning the Rich Coast) is a small country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the North and Panama to the South. The East coast is washed by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea and the West by the majestic Pacific Ocean.
Many people think of paradise the moment Costa Rica is mentioned. Indeed this is a place of great natural beauty, varied animal habitat, crashing blue waves, friendly locals (who call themselves ticos) and a slow pace of life.
In 1949 Costa Rica permanently abolished its army. It is the only Latin American country included in the list of the world’s 22 oldest democracies. Currently it is ranked 3rd in the world and 1st in the Americas in terms of the 2010 Environmental Performance Index.
Every year 1.5 million tourists visit Costa Rica and most of them vow to return. If you want to go – the best time to visit is during the dry season from December to April. During this time it rains the least, but from December to February Costa Rican school kids are on holiday, which mean the beach towns are busy, especially on weekends.
Some areas are hotter and drier than others, like the famous Guanacaste province and areas close to the Nicaraguan border, while others are cool and often misty – the Central Valley and the Highlands.
Because this magical Shangri-la is so popular it is no longer cheap. Travel costs are significantly higher than in other Central American countries, although still cheaper than both US and UK. US dollars are widely accepted and are fine to use as long as you don’t mind sometimes getting change in the local currency (the colon) .
If you are into nature and wildlife you will love this place. Nowhere else in the world are so many types of habitat squeezed into such a tiny area.
Costa Rica has an amazing diversity of flora and fauna and even driving around the countryside often turns into a mini safari. Come and see for yourself!

Architecture of Central London

2011-01-07T04:19:00.000-08:00

London is famous for historic buildings such as the Houses of Parliament and St Paul's Cathedral.
Famous London architects include Christopher Wren and Norman Foster.

Big Ben. London's Most famous Clock Tower.

2010-12-16T05:37:00.000-08:00

Big Ben is the nickname of the great bell of the clock near the Palace of Westminster, but nowadays the name is also extended to the Clock Tower.
Big Ben is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third tallest free standing clock tower in the world. The clock was turned on 31 of May 1859.
The present tower was originally built as a part of Charles Barry's design for a new palace, after the old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire on the night of 16 October 1834.
The Clock Tower looks especially spectacular at night when the four dock faces are illuminated.
A special light above the clock faces is also illuminated when parliament is in session.
The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC at the start of the New Year on 31 of December 1023. This tradition continues to this day.

At the heart of London

2010-12-11T04:46:00.000-08:00

This is what you might see while wondering around the Houses of Parlament in Central London.

Sport activities for UK visitors and locals alike

2010-12-09T03:04:00.000-08:00

Billing Aquadrome NN3 9DA
Opening times 11:00 16:00 cost £0.00
Megabowl Northampton
NN5 5BE
11:00 00:00 cost £9.50
Planet Ice Basingstoke RG22
Opening times 11:00 19:00 cost £1.80
Solihull Ice Rink B92 8JN
Opening times 11:00 16:00 cost £5.60
Strikers Ten Pin Bowling NR28 0JQ
Opening times 11:00 23:00 cost £4.00
AMF Bowling G5 8NP
Opening times 12:00 22:00 cost £7.50
Lakeside Superbowl OX15 5BH
Opening times 12:0001:00 cost £3.25
Neptunes Pool LL19 7EY
Opening times 12:00 17:00 cost £2.90
Northgate Arena CH2 2AU
Opening times 12:00 20:30 cost £6.00
Tenpin M20 5PG
Opening times12:00 23:30trip cost £5.00

London attractions

2010-11-30T11:18:00.000-08:00

Here are my favorite places to visit in London:
Embankment Bridge

RAF museum

Houses of Parlament

The Big Ben

Exotic flowers of Tenerife

2010-11-17T03:11:00.001-08:00

Ever since 1490 the Canary Islands has been the stepping stone between Europe and the New World, the portal for trade in everything from humans to spices. In the years that followed Europe developed a passion for all things exotic, especially the amazing plant life that thrived in tropical climate of Tenerife.
The Canaries were traditionally the place where trees and plants were unloaded and left to acclimatise before onward travel to northern Europe.
Bathed in glorious Tenerife sunshine many plants flourished and made themselves at home.
This small island is still a home to those exotic species from across the globe. Here are just a few of them.

Choose Tenerife for an active holiday!

2010-11-08T05:32:00.000-08:00

Tenerife is one of those places that makes a holiday real easy (unless you live in Britain, earn less than £40.000 a year and get paid in weak British pound, but then you would probably find any European destination unpleasantly expensive). Food, quality accommodation and entertainment are both varied and available. Gone are the times when coming to Canary islands one had to make reservation months in advance. Since the economic crisis many smart hotels are half empty and discounts are there to be negotiated.
The southern part of the island is dedicated to satisfying your every need. As well as hotels, bars and restaurants lining the streets, there are excursions, safaris, endless land activities for the adrenalin junkies and, of course, water sports.
Having booked the forest quad bike safari we found ourselves upgraded to a day trip to mount Teide, something we would certainly recommend.
On our powerful machines we drove right in the heart of the island, stopping at various sightseeing and eating spots. We drove through Teide national park, through the rocky landscape of the pine forest and past some small villages (Villaflour being the most picturesque as well as tourist friendly).
Something we did not know, but you will now because we will tell you – you need to bring with you a) warm clothes because it gets very chilly at high altitudes and you will be travelling at around 40 miles an hour with nothing but your clothes to protect you from the cold and the wind: b) some money to eat at Villaflour tapas bar, because it is authentic, tasty and affordable c) you camera, because the views we saw were absolutely breathtaking. d) if not all members of family are going you will need you mobile to let them know that you are going to be late, because unless everybody in the group is an ace quad biker you probably will be.
Another fun activity worth mentioning is diving or snorkelling with giant turtles in a small harbour. Getting there and back on the speed boat was also lots of fun. The cheapest way is to book this trip direct in Poerto Colon Diving Canter. Apparently it is sometimes worth asking for a discount.
If you like to do water based activity Poerto Colon is the place to go to. There are virtually hundreds of various tour operators competing for you money and you will have the widest choice of activities as well as often flexible pricing.

Aparthotel El Duque, Costa Adeje, Tenerife, Spain

2010-11-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

Aparthotel El Duque is a lively and friendly complex situated in the sought after Costa Adeje part of Tenerife. It is popular with families and some say it is the best aparthotels in the area.
When we arrived we found the apartments bright and spacious, each one with a balcony or terrace.
The furniture was of a good quality, but bits of the sofa were breaking off and having used it as a bed on one occasion I woke up to find that it had cracked in the middle.
We had a pleasant small balcony with some chairs and a table, perfect for reading and realaxing in the evenings.
The tiled bathroom was bright and modern with a power shower, but it was not attached properly and kept sliding down every time we tried to use it.
The rooms were cleaned daily and the towels and bedding were changed every other day. During our stay we had two cleaning ladies, both of them nice and smiley but only one of them doing proper cleaning. Some parts of the floor had a constant layer of dust on it. On one occasion cleaning lady number one picked up a dirty towel from the bathroom floor and put it on top of the clean towels, making the whole lot wet and dirty. Some days we had two new rolls of toilet paper left for us and other days we had none.
We had two team members with dust allergies and they had blocked nose during most of our stay.
The apartment complex has two swimming pools, both of them pretty packed most of the time, but you could always find a sun bed and despite a large number of kids using both pools the atmosphere was generally calm, even sedate.
As part of the all inclusive package we had free access to the pool bar, run by a bunch of friendly guys. They remembered what we liked to drink, chatted to small kids and gave the place a cheerful and friendly atmosphere.
The buffet restaurant was situated next to the larger pool and was split into two parts – inside seating and outside tables.
Food was mostly imaginatively prepared and fresh. It was nothing fancy, but well cooked and had a wide range of dishes available. Staff at the restaurant were always friendly and accommodating. Even the fussy teenagers have described the whole eating experience as "acceptable".
After dinner there was often entertainment, usually of a good quality, but many times we were also subjected to an ear-splitting small kids disco, which sent teenagers diving for cover and made adults without small kids wish they had booked a holiday somewhere else.
Overall we enjoyed our trip, but there were a few problems of varying degrees of annoyance. One of them was the absence of wi –fi anywhere at the complex or nearby. We were able to find places in town where the Internet was available but the prices were astronomical and none of them had USB ports that we needed for work and study.
When we made the booking we asked for a quiet room away from the bar. Indeed we were given a room away from it, but in front of the reception and right in between both pools. This way we could still hear the music from the bar, albeit not too loud, but we also were affected by people arriving and departing (sometimes in the middle of the night) as wheelie bags went over the cobbles noisily. A steady trickle of talking and laughing people from buildings further away on their way to have an early breakfast made sleeping in the morning a bit of mission impossible.
One otherwise quieter morning, around seven am, a staff member cleaned the glass door leading to the reception with a very squeaky brush.
Not being able to get a decent night’s sleep made us all grumpy with each other and ruined an otherwise pleasant experience.
Would we come back? Certainly. But only if we can have a room away from the bar AND reception!

Rip off Air Passenger Taxes hit UK

2010-11-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

Airline passengers flying out of the UK will now have to face expensive flights following a controversial rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD). APD rates increase on all flights departing the UK from today, with those taking trips to the Caribbean being particularly badly hit. The Caribbean has been put in APD Band C, meaning passengers will pay more to fly eight hours to Barbados than to Los Angeles, a 12-hour flight.
The Air Tax was first introduced in 1994 at the rate of £10 on long-haul flights, but increased by the previous Government, which said it was a necessary “green measue”.
Flight taxes will now rise by up to 55%. Long-haul flights will be worst hit and family holidays are likely to be more expensive.
The move has been criticised by airlines, which fear lost business.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at Travelsupermarket.com, said: “Families looking to book for this winter and summer next year will be faced with tax rises of up to 54 per cent on their family holidays. This tax rise is completely out of line with inflation and bears no relation to the original purpose of the tax.
“This tax needs to be urgently reviewed and families need to be given back the opportunity to travel at a fair fare.”
Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, has branded the higher taxes a “disaster”. Earlier this month, he called the duty a “disgrace”.
"Holidays are an essential part of our lives and are valued even more in these difficult economic times. With passengers now being asked to pay up to 10 times more tax since APD's introduction, the annual family holiday will become unaffordable for many," said Virgin Atlantic's chief commercial officer Julie Southern.
"Our message to government is that this absolutely has to be the last time that the travelling public faces APD."
New outbound air travel taxes for economy tickets
Destination Band Pre-Nov Charge New Charge Change
A (eg France, Italy, Turkey) £11 £12 +£1 (up 9%)
B (eg Egypt, anywhere in the US) £45 £60 +£15 (up 33%)
C (eg Jamaica, Malaysia) £50 £75 +£25 (up 50%)
D (eg Australia and NZ) £55 £85 +£30

Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota

2010-10-13T05:25:00.000-07:00

The stunning Black Hills National Forest is shared between South-Western Dakota and North-Eastern Wyoming. It covers an area of 1.25 million acres (approx 5,060 square km).
If you travel from West to East - you will find it becoming lusher and greener as you go, before turning into a prairie once again before you reach the end.
This forest was officially created in 1897 by US President Grover Cleveland and immediately transferred to the new United States Department of Agriculture. A few years later it was declared a National Park.
The Lakota words Paha Sapa, meaning "hills that are black", may be one of the factors why this friendly forest was given its name.
Indeed, if you travel late at night you will be impressed by the dark forbidding shapes of the trees pressed against the night sky. Come during the day though, and you will find Black Hills Forest green and inviting, making you question the choice of its name.
The trees in the National Forest are mainly ponderosa pine and aspen, but oak and birch are also present.
Within the Forest ies Harney Peak - the tallest mountain in South Dakota and the highest peak East of the Rocky Mountains in the USA.
The Black Hills Forest is a great place to see rugged rock formations, canyons, open grassland parks, tumbling streams and deep blue lakes.
The wildlife is abundant too and easy to spot. Doing the Wildlife Loop you can expect to see endless bison, mountain goats, mule deer, cougar and unusually friendly donkeys.
The Forest is also considered sacred by indigenous people and many come here for hunting and on vision quests.

Frisco - Colorado mountain gataway.

2010-10-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

A small and picturesque town of Frisco is situated right at the heart of Colorado Summit County - the famous mountain getaway.
The town is popular with skiers (and more recently with bikers) from all over the world. Frisco has a population of approximately 3000 people, but it gets a lot busier during the winter skiing season.
The charming town center is full of lovely restaurants and boutique shops but it is really easy to get close to the nature by taking one of the quiet sidewalks.
Frisco is buzzing with sports activities during the winter but it is more sedate and relaxed during the summer when the sun is usually shining, it is not too hot to walk around and you can enjoy fishing, rafting, hiking, biking and camping.
If you are not too tired in the evening you can also enjoy Frisco’s dynamic nightlife!

Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife.

2010-09-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

Having been on a safari in Kenya eight years ago and only having seen a few wild animals from a distance, I did not have many expectations. But Yellowstone National Park turned out to be a real experience.
We entered through the Eastern entrance and were swiftly inside the great forest where some trees, meant to be evergreen were dry and bare.
The nature was suddenly so much wilder and although there was some traffic on the road, the felt that the drive was very much our own.
For the first half an hour we did not see any wildlife, so the jokes were made and stories were told about elusive animals and dishonest park rangers.
Then suddenly, everything changed. We have entered Jurassic park where trees and rocks were thousands years old and where bison, wolves, dears, elk and moose roamed the land free and unconcerned by our attention.
In the next few days we also saw pronghorns, eagles, swans and even a solitary bobcat. Only the bears, both grizzly and black ones, stubbornly eluded us.

It was all great fun until one naughty bison jumped on the bonnet of the car and squashed it. To make it worse we were all so busy screaming, that nobody took a picture of it happening.

Accommodation on the way to Yellowstone National Park

2010-09-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

We were on our way to the Yellowstone National Park and stumbled upon this place by accident. It looked so beautiful surrounded by mountains and green fields, that we nearly went past, convinced that all the rooms would be taken.
Luckily for us, we have just missed the high season and with the schools back on The Red Pole ranch did have some availability.
We stayed at the very cosy and well equipped cabin. The beds were gorgeously soft, TV worked like magic and our bathroom looked and felt like the one we left at home. In fact this is how we have described this place to all our friends. A home away from home.
The Red Pole ranch is close to Cody (about 12 miles) and is on the way to the Yellowstone National Park. It is conveniently located for both places and it is incredibly friendly.
Our hostess Patty Jo was open and welcoming. She made us feel at home and treated us like her friends.
There are mountains, glowing pink in the bright daylight, the freshly watered green fields, the deep green-blue lake, the size of a small town, surrounded by more mountains, this time grey and forbidding, their picks reflecting in the still waters.
Then there is the wildlife, wondering around totally unconcerned by the presence of the excited tourist, nervously clutching his camera.
We saw and photographed an antelope, coyote and a wild rabbit. All of this while having breakfast just outside our room.
But there is more. There are places you visit once in you lifetime just to put a tick in the box. This is certainly not one of them. If you are a city dweller, like I am, this place will haunt you, because every time you are stuck in the traffic jam you will be counting days until you can go back!

UPDATE: August 2011.
We have visited the place one more time and found out that while the prices have risen the standards have slipped a bit so we cannot presently recommend this place to our readers.
The owners were not present at our arrival and whilst the person in reception was friendly and did everything by the book, our room had a musty stale smell and felt like it had been unoccupied for a while. When we lifted one of the pillows on the bed we found four dead moths and spooked a few alive ones of different sizes. Airborne, they flew frantically around the lights and it took us a while to get rid of them.
On the floor we found an empty tin of hair gel, probably left by the previous occupants.
There was a large flat screen TV in the room, but it was hard to enjoy any programs because of the red, green and black lines across the left side of the screen.
We would give the place another chance though. It is possible that a mistake has been made and the unprepared room has been rented to us. We had a good experience last year and we hope that when the owners get back things will improve.

UPDATE: August 2011.

Historic Sheridan - Home of Buffalo Bill

2010-09-14T07:04:00.001-07:00

Historic train depot for sale. I wish I had the money to buy it!

Friendly city - Buffalo, Wyoming

2010-09-10T04:08:00.000-07:00

Buffalo, Wyoming is located in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains.
Buffalo's main street has dozens of historic buildings, including the Occidental Hotel where Owen Wister's Virginian finally "got his man." The Jim Gatchell Museum has over 15,000 artefacts from the American Old West. The city centre is green, quaint and a really pleasure to wonder around

Honestly, I liked this small city and its people so much, I wanted to live there!

Hungry fish in China

2010-09-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

They love their food so much, nothing will stand in their way. When somebody throws in some fish food, they come from all over the pond and start jumping out of the water and climbing on top of each other in order to get to it!

Hotel Elba Carlotta in Fuerteventura.

2010-07-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

HOTEL REVIEW:
Hotel Elba Carlotta was surprisingly big, bright and beautiful. It definitely felt like a four star. We have been upgraded from another hotel that has shut down and we couldn’t be happier.
Located right at the heart of Calete the Fueste, this place is perfect for shopping, swimming from the clean sandy beach or enjoying the island by car.
It has two swimming pools, one shallow with warm water and the larger one with a waterfall and cool water. Despite the hot weather, majority of people seemed to congregate by the warmer pool.
This hotel also has lash tropical gardens where you can stroll after dinner, open air gym and the kids playground. Overall the choice of activities was excellent.
Rooms were pleasant enough, roomy and clean, with balconies and uplifting bright bathrooms. TV was medium size and had few token English channels.
We had room 214 which faced very quiet side street and so slept like babies every night. The luck of mosquitoes and other insects made it possible to sleep with the windows open. I think, people with rooms facing the pool may have been affected by mild noise from the pool bar, although typically it didn’t go on too late.
We were half board and so were able to enjoy great food twice a day. Breakfast was always delicious, although lightly repetitive, while dinners was hit and miss. Still, you could always find something nice to eat and the choice of various starters and sweet cakes was incredible. Luckily for us drinks, served with meals were not too expensive.I suppose you could stay here on a room only basis but if you are on the budget it would not be sensible to eat out in the nearby restaurants. Calete de Fueste is much more glamorous and therefore expensive place to be than Corralejo, typical holiday village further north.
If you hire the car you can easily drive there (25 minutes) to see the sandy dunes at the National Park and swim in turquoise waters.
You could also visit the greener centre of the island and have lunch in one of the authentic villagers.

Diving paradise of Fuerteventura

2010-07-07T05:05:00.000-07:00

Fuerteventura is a perfect place for a diving holiday. The waters are crystal clear in many parts and the water temperatures are consistently warm, varying from 17 to 23 degrees Celsius. (August is the warmest month and best if you like diving wearing only thin diving suit. In winter 5 to 7mm wetsuit is recommended.)
Visibility is normally between 20 and 50 meters.
There is a thriving multi organism ecosystem around the coast of the island, allowing divers to see a great variety of underwater life.
The common species are Cuttlefish, Barracuda, Yellow Snapper, Morey eels, Grouper, Octopus, Angel shark and Parrot fish.
It is easy to organise your diving with a range of good quality PADI Diving Centres around the coast of Fuerteventura, with Corralejo housing the main bulk of them.
Most of Diving Centres offer courses at every level, Guides and equipment hire. The most popular diving sites are
Isla de Lobos off Corralejo
This place is famous for the Volcanic Cornices, corral reefs and excellent visibility. The island has been a nature reserve since 1982.
Caleta de Fuste
The waters around this rather glamorous resort offer good visibility diving on Sand and Rock floor. The local fish are apparently not at all scared of Divers and you can feed large Groupers of up to 1.5 meters. You can also encounter Dolphins, Pilot Whales and Whale Sharks.
Jandia
This, formally fishing village and now typically German resort area, has been used by Scuba Divers for a long time. You dive on Volcanic Cornices, Sand and Walls. Some of the commonly encountered fish include Garden Eels, Groups of Striped Bream and Moray Eels.
There are other places you can dive in, like
Ajuy village
Small village on the west coast of Fuerteventura. Divers rave about diving among dramatic overhangs and other volcanic rock formations. You can also go cave diving in this area.
Here is a list of Diving Centers that come recommended by our divers:
Dive Corralejo
Dive Jandia
Abyss Divers
Dive Amanay

The joys of travel 4

2010-07-01T03:41:00.000-07:00

A passenger piles his suitcases on the scale at US airways counter in New York and says to the check in girl:
"I'm flying with to Los Angeles, but I would like the square case to go to Denver and the two round ones to go to Seattle."
"I'm sorry, sir, but we can't do that," says the girl.
"Why not? You did it the last time!"

Fuerteventura. Sunshine all year around and the glorious sand dunes.

2010-06-30T04:06:00.000-07:00

Fuerteventura is the oldest and the most desert-like of the Canary islands. It lies just 100km off the coast of Africa (near the borders of Morocco and Western Sahara).
Fuerteventura enjoys a near-perfect climate with average monthly temperatures ranging from 18°C in January to 28°C in August. It doesn’t get much rainfall but the refreshing breeze does cool things down a bit.

Fuerteventura is most famous for its long white and golden sandy beaches. The water is warm for most of the year and swimming is a real delight.

Then there are the spectacular sand dunes, located in the National Park, south of Corralejo. Taking a swim in warm turquoise waters and then sunbathing in the sand dunes is the experience you will not forget.
For those who fancy something a bit more active, the Island offers a range of activities with Surfing, Windsurfing, Kite Surfing, Big Game Fishing and Diving being the most popular. During July the island is hosting P.W.A world windsurfing speed and slalom event at Sotavento (South of the island).
If, however, all you want from you holiday is relaxation and solitude then simply hire a car and in ten minutes you will be in a quiet village or on the secluded beach with not a tourist in sight.

Alicante in pictures

2010-06-29T06:10:00.001-07:00

Alicante is an elegant city with broad sandy beaches, fine restaurants and exciting nightlife. It has a number of ugly concrete high rises, but it is also has beautiful green fields which will make you feel that you are in the quiet countryside.

Diving and other adventures in Alicante, Spain

2010-06-28T02:06:00.000-07:00

Alicante is located on the West coast of Spain in the region called Costa Blanca.
The area is extremely popular with holiday makers, mostly from Europe, many of whom come here for mild climate, great nightlife and variety of watersports.
Alicante is bordered by rising mountains to the North and West ,while the Southern part is almost completely flat. The Segura River crosses the city in a typically unhurried way.
The province of Alicante has two main areas, the Upper Marina and Lower marina. The Upper marina includes towns such as Calpe, Teulada and Javea. The Lower Marina which centres round Benidorm includes towns such as Altea and Villajoyosa.
As well as modern facilities and glorious beaches (with long and sandy San Juan being the most popular), Alicante offers historical ruins to explore, welcoming restaurants and tapas bars where you can sample local cuisine and lots of fun activities.
Mediterranean Sea keeps the weather warm for most of the year with temperatures in summer rising to scorching +40C.
The main activities on offer include Skydiving & Paragliding (Address: c/ Alfonso Guixot Guixot, 1 ESC. 1 2 E, Alicante Tel: +34 965 25 84 26)
Jet-Skiing (Address: Isla Marina Avda. Villayoiosa, s/n Tel: +34 965 26 57 28)
Windsurfing and Sailing (Address: Arrendamientos Náuticos, Marina Deportiva de Alicante, Muelle Levante, 8 Tel: +34 965 21 19 55)
Golf (Address: Avda. del Parque, s/n. La Condomina Playa de San Juan, Alicante Tel: +34 965 15 37 94)
And, of course, Diving. Here is the list of Diving Centres operating in the provice of Alicante and their reviews.
Antonio recommends Islas Hormigas Club de Buceo . He says , that the staff spoke good English and were very helpful. The best dives offered were wreck dives.
Some of our divers also suggested Hesperides Diving Center in Cartagena, which is brilliant for beginner divers.
For those who like island diving, Tabarca Island is a perfect place.
Water temperature varies from around 14C in the winter to about 25C degrees in summer and visibility is usually good, averaging 18 to 25 meters.
Be aware that special permits are required to dive in Tabarca Island Reserve. You can get them in one of the areas Dive Centres.
Alicante is a great place for both wreck diving and cave diving, so if you like these activities you will be spoilt for choice.
While diving you will encounter a variety of sea life including moray eel, sting ray, barracuda, scorpion fish and octopus.
Remember that you must have a Diver's Accident Insurance if you want to dive in Spain. It is readily available in most of Alicante Dive centres.

The joys of travel 3

2010-05-26T04:44:00.000-07:00

An airline pilot finishes talking to the passengers after the plane has taken off, and forgets to turn off the intercom.
Twenty minutes later he says to his co-pilot, "I think I'll go take a dump and then put the make on that new blond stewardess."

The stewardess hears it, and runs up the aisle to tell the pilot that the intercom is still on. She trips and falls.

A little old lady looks down at her and says, "There's no rush, honey. He said he has to take a dump first."

Elusive wildlife of Thailand.

2010-05-24T03:38:00.000-07:00

Having of days spent a number of days in 3 National Parks we have failed miserably to spot anything other than…
A monkey in the tree

A dear by the lake

And of course the lovely cute cows by the side of the road...

It doesn't mean that the wildlife is totaly scarce. During our journey we have met many travellers who took the most amazing pictures of tigers, banteng and even wild elephants. It just means that one needs to have more patience, more time and better zoom on the camera!

Thailand on fire

2010-05-19T05:04:00.000-07:00

Night time Curfew is being introduced in Thailand where at least 5 people have died in latest clashes.
Red-shirt leaders, who demand better pay, fairer distribution of goods and less corruption, had earlier accepted the offer of fresh talks to be overseen by senior Senate figures.
But the government said the red-shirts had to leave their Bangkok camp before any talks could take place.
"The situation has escalated and become violent with armed groups and terrorists attacking the government, officers in the field and civilians," cabinet minister Satit Wonghnongtaey said in a televised interview.
Red-shirts leader was caught Wednesday afternoon, hours after he fled the rally site Ratchaprasong in Bangkok.
Hours later, some core leaders of the red-shirts announced the end of rally and surrendered to the National Police Office and in police custody.
I think the situation is pretty bad now, because after the red shirt leaders surrender, things are still clearly out of control with more than 20 fires burning (one of them at the stock exchange centre) in central Bangkok.

Tourists are told to stay away from Thailand

2010-05-17T02:30:00.000-07:00

A rogue army officer who became an important figure in Thailand's anti-government protester died in hospital today after being shot in the head by a sniper five days ago.
Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol, known locally as Seh Daeng, was accused of creating a paramilitary force for the redshirt protesters. His shooting on Thursday triggered five days of street fighting between redshirts and the army in central Bangkok.
The redshirts have been protesting since mid-March demanding the immediate resignation of the prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, the dissolution of parliament and new elections.
The Thai military has defended its use of force, and the government rejected protesters' demands that the UN will step in to end the chaos.
Many people already died, mainly red shirt protestors, who say they are been shot one by one by the army snipers.
The government maintains it is targeting only armed "terrorists" among the demonstrators.
Whatever the truth may be, one thing is for sure - people of Thailand need for the violence to stop. I think the UN intervention is needed even for a short time, to calm down the tempers and to maintain safety on the streets of Bangkok. There are also major concerns for all the people working in travel industry, as with tourists being told to stay away from Thailand, their very livehoods are at stake.

Stranded abroad. Want to claim money back on your travel insurance?

2010-05-13T03:19:00.000-07:00

Have you been stranded by volcanic ash and run a huge bill on your credit card?
Me too. I have just received a letter from the insurance company telling me that my claim have been correctly rejected within the terms and conditions of the police.
Here is my friend's summary of the topic: Insurance is like marriage. You pay, pay, pay, and you never get anything back. So accept it or stay single.

Getting close to nature in Thailand

2010-05-12T02:21:00.000-07:00

Thailand is not all about beaches and nightlife. It is possible to get away from it all and to experience the beauty and the tranquillity of the nature.
There are 48 established National Parks in Thailand, many of which are easily accessible by public transport and due to the diverse landscapes of Thailand there is a great variety of wildlife, from hornbills to wild elephants. If you want to spend the night within the boundaries and wake up to the sound of the birds singing, usually there is somewhere to stay but the choice of accommodation can be limited. Most parks charge an entrance fee of about 400 Baht.
National Parks in Thailand vary significantly in looks and facilities that they offer. Parks such as Khao Yai, Khao Sam Roi Yot, Doi Inthanon and Khao Sok can be destinations unto themselves with well-equipped guest houses, restaurants and a variety of activities.
Here are some photos from Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park.

Other National Parks are hard to get to, require 4 wheal drive to explore and have no facilities but are just as rewarding if you are after a nature tour or real adventure.

Exiting Kaeng Krachan National Park

The joys of travel

2010-05-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Spelunking in Thailand

2010-05-10T04:28:00.000-07:00

There are thousands of caves in Thailand. Many of them have been used by Buddhist as early as 6th and 7th centuries and majority are found in the National Parks. Many caves are actually active temples and provide the venue for meditation retreats and other Buddhist activities. The rock formations are often weird and wonderful – thousands of years of wear have moulded natural sculptures into bizarre shapes. Some caves are also home to rivers and lakes.
The pictures below were taken at the Tham Sai cave, which is situated on the high hill (check out the views!)at the heart of Khao Sam Yot National park.

Self driving the car around Thailand.

2010-05-03T03:42:00.000-07:00

Thailand is a country of contrasts. There are urban cities full of skyscrapers and traffic jams and little villages, where life still goes on in a traditional way. There are places where tourists outnumber locals and there is complete wilderness, where locals will stare at you like you have 3 heads. Most visitors make a choice between seeing the cultural highlights (usually the Chian Mai area) or heading for the beaches (Krabi, Phuket, Ko Samoi or even boisterous and slightly sleazy Pattaya).
But what to do it you want to see it all, if you want to explore the whole country and to choose your favourite place for yourself?
The best way to explore Thailand with no boundaries and no reliance on insufficient public transport is to drive.
The travel books will tell you that driving in Thailand is difficult and it is often easier to take a car with a driver. I am not so sure. It is instantly more expensive, then you are not as free to travel around as you would like to be.
Many years ago I travelled with my then boyfriend and we hired a car with a driver. His fee for food and hotels was supposedly included yet on the first night as we headed to the hotel he slept in his car. The following day when we went out to eat he hung around looking hungry so we bought him lunch also. That night we also paid for him to stay in the hotel. Out driver was a fun guy, knowledgeable and with good command of English, but we ran out of money 3 days before we were meant to. The last night before heading home, we slept in the rainforest in our sleeping bags and the last thing I remember feeling before going to sleep was not the joy of being there but the guilt for not having enough money to buy our driver some dinner. Now, some people can just get on with things without caring whether their driver can afford to stay or eat in the area they are planning to visit, but if you are not one of them, here is a simple solution – self drive.
Self drive allows you to discover places for yourself, at your own pace. You choose where to go, where to stop and the magic of seeing something truly amazing and stopping instantly to really experience it is all yours.

Driving in Thailand, if you have ever driven in a major city, is not difficult. There is traffic in Bangkok, but simply drive at a speed you are comfortable with and follow the signs for the places you want to go. If you get lost, pull over at the side of the road and ask directions. People are generally glad to help you. Police officers are great at giving directions and are friendly also.

Once outside Bangkok the traffic will slowly diminish. Going East and North is really easy if travelling from the airport. West, towards Hua Hin and Phuket might take a bit longer for traffic to subside with mornings between 9 and 11 am being the best driving conditions for the uninitiated.
The North of the country is the easiest for parking your car. Just pull over when you feel like it, generally. In West and Central Thailand you do need to check markings on the road. Normally if there aren’t any – you can park.
The majority of hotels either offer free parking or will go out of there way to find a safe parking place for you.
Big tourist places like Pattaya and Phuket have their own parking restrictions, ask at the nearest bar when you arrive. They are also about the only places where you need to be careful when leaving the car unattended as it can get scratched or (in Pattaya) thrown up over it.
In Hua Hin you can park only on one side of the road on alternative days, but at most you will have to drive for five extra minutes trying to find a suitable place to put your car.
Driving in Thailand’s national parks is a pure delight unless you are planning to visit Kaeng Krachan National Park (the largest and the most unexplored) next to the Burmese border, in which case you will need a 4 wheel drive car. We have seen some people stuck on the steep hills in the park in their small cars, revving their engines but not going anywhere fast.
The park itself is truly amazing and is home to La-U waterfalls, a large lake and acres and acres of rainforest. In Thailand it is probably as close to the wilderness as one can get. (you should see the size of the insects that will attack you as soon as you leave the car! :-) )

Animal life includes wild elephants, deer, tigers, bears, gibbons, gaurs, hornbills, wild cattle and 400 species of birds.
There are varous car hire companies in Thailand, most of them can be prebooked on the internet. We found the National Car Hire to be the cheapest and offer the best insurance options. They did looked a bit shocked when a western woman showed up at the airport, wanting to self drive around the whole country, but they recovered quickly and were friendly and courteous the whole way. It does help that they have an office at the Suvarnabhumi International airport.
PS The only time of the year when you may want to avoid self drive is during the Thai New Year in April. For three days, the roads are lined with people of all ages throwing water, or paint in some cases, at each other (fair enough) but also at cars. What was a fun tradition has escalated and can now be dangerous as hosepipes and high powered water pistols are used. This year over 200 people died in accidents linked to this over the holiday. Driving during this time isn’t pleasant but it could be worse – pity they poor moped riders who don’t have any protection from the jets of water.

Exotic flowers of Thailand

2010-04-28T06:27:00.000-07:00

Stranded by the volcanic ash, what are your rights? Will you be compensated?

2010-04-27T06:07:00.000-07:00

If, like myself, you were stranded somewhere by the volcanic ash you are probably wondering what your rights are. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like many of us will be able to get any sort of compensation for the trauma and the inconvenience.
But we do have some rights and there are things worth trying.
Firstly what are your rights if stuck in the UK ?
If your trip's delayed or cancelled, you should either be offered alternative transport or an alternative holiday. If that's unsuitable, you'll get a full refund of all elements of your package or the flight if booked independently.
There are three steps to take:
Step 1: Contact your airline/tour operator in writing and hammer home the airline's/tour operator's responsibilities.
Step 2: Complain to Abta. It has regulatory power to force airlines' and tour operators' hands.
Step 3: Try your card company. If you paid by credit card (for flights over £100) or Visa debit card (or Visa credit card for flights under £100).
Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, credit card firms are jointly liable with retailers if something goes wrong, if the item cost over £100.
Visa also operates a chargeback scheme, where it gets your cash back from the retailer's bank if something goes wrong. This is not a legal requirement, but a customer service promise..
How to get a refund/be rebooked?
If your flight is cancelled at short notice. Under EU regulations, airlines must either give you a full refund within seven days of any unused ticket or allow you to rebook, though the latter option may prove tricky until the ash cloud passes. So if you cannot get to your destination, you'll also get the return leg refunded.
If your flight is delayed. If by over five hours, you can choose not to travel on the delayed flight and get a refund within seven days (for the outbound and return trip). Some insurers may also pay you while you're delayed. This won't necessarily cover a particular cost, but you'll get some cash.
If taking a connecting flight. If you've already made part of your journey, and the next leg is cancelled, if you no longer wish to continue, you are entitled to your money back within seven days for any unused flights on your booking and a free flight back to your departure point.
If your return flight goes ahead but you were unable to reach your destination to take it because of an initial cancellation, you should get a refund for the outbound trip.
Can you choose to take a refund or ask to be rebooked?
As long as you are delayed by over five hours, it is your choice, not the airline's choice.
Should you take the refund or rebook? It depends on how quickly you need to get to your destination and whether you can rebook at a convenient time. If you want to move your trip to a later date, the airline will only allow you to rebook without additional fees within an often short period, as defined by the airline.
How to claim a refund/rebook.
Contact your airline, though with phone lines jammed you may be best searching online. Many airline websites clearly explain the refund or rebooking process. If unsure, call, but we warned some operate premium rate numbers.
Will I get costs reimbursed while I wait for my flight?
Food. You are entitled to meals if stuck at the airport for a considerable period though airlines are advising those whose flight is cancelled to stay at home, meaning you're unlikely to get food if you needlessly travel.
Hotels. The regulations also state you should get accommodation for overnight delays. While this is your right, many will prefer to simply stay at home.
Will I get extra compensation from the airline?
Airlines only have to provide compensation, such as cash or a free flight, if the delay or cancellation is their fault. Therefore, in this case, you won't get that as the volcano is a natural disaster.
What are your rights if you are stuck overseas ?
Refunds/rebooking. If your flight is cancelled at short notice or delayed by over five hours, airlines (even if booked within a package) must either give you a full refund of any unused ticket or offer suitable alternative travel.
Of course, many will struggle to get you on a flight soon due to flight cancellations and passenger backlogs. It's your choice which option to take.
How to claim. Contact your airline/tour operator/holiday rep.
Will the airline look after me while I wait?
Food. You are entitled to meals if stuck at the airport for a considerable period.
Hotels. You should get overnight accommodation while waiting for a flight at the airport.
What if you make you own way home?
Some travellers who decided not to spend days or sometimes weeks for a return flight have taken matters into their own hands and used other means to get home. Often, this meant paying more.
Yes, I had to do it too due to family circumstances and now I am stuck with a huge credit card bill, so I know how it feels. I am currently in communication with my insurance company, who are saying that it was an unforeseen event and therefore we are not covered. ??????????? Bizarre... I always thought that the very reason we get insurance in the first place is to cover us in case of an unforeseen event, but apparently not.
Technically, airlines do not have to cover those costs either, at least according to Abta. However, some may offer refunds or some money towards your costs on a case-by-case basis. So contact your airline to ask. If unsuccessful, try your travel insurer. Be polite, but firm. Again, many will not offer refunds under their terms and conditions but there is no harm trying as this is an unprecedented event. Let us know if you made any progress! :-)
Finally what it you decide to cancel? Cancellation is often defined as cancelling your trip before you leave. Some insurers that will payout because of the volcano will not cover for cancellation, only delays (ie, you still fly, from home or overseas, but after a significant delay).

The joys of travel 2

2010-04-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

A plane was taking off from Kennedy airport.
After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight number 293, non-stop from New York to Los Angeles. The weather ahead is good and therefore we should have a smooth flight, now sit back and relax. OH, MY GOD!" Silence.
Then, the captain came back on the intercom apologetically: "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier, but while I was talking to you the flight attendant brought me a hot cup of coffee and spilled it on my lap. You should see the front of my pants!"
A passenger in Coach said: "That's nothing. He should see the back of mine!"

How to read a travel brochure

2010-04-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Brochure Term Translation

Old world charm - No bath
Tropical location - Rainy
Majestic setting - A long way from town
Secluded hideaway - Impossible to find
Explore on your own - Pay for it yourself
Nominal charge - Outrageous charge
Standard room - Substandard room
Deluxe room - Standard room
Superior room - Two free shower caps
All the amenities - One free shower cap
Gentle breezes - Gale-force winds
Light and airy - No air conditioning
Open bar - Free ice cubes

Bangkok to London in 3 days while Europe is grounded.

2010-04-22T01:18:00.000-07:00

DAY THREE

The bus came and we managed to get on it. Our five hour journey through the night had begun. Shivering from cold I put on a second red beach skirt and two different t-shirts, making me look like Romanian gypsy woman. I also put on my warmest (thin cotton) socks, which were bright pink. M gallantly gave me his blue shirt to wrap around my legs, adding to the picture of a total fashion disaster.
We started towards Dusseldorf, relieved that at least we were going in the right direction.
Two hours into the journey a new problem arose. Too scared to leave the bus stop and miss the bus many passengers were hoping to use the facilities onboard. However we were soon informed that these facilities were not open on night journeys(?).
Eventually the bus driver decided to help us out by pulling over at one of the petrol stations along the way. Relieved we rushed to the toilet only to find out that we needed to have Euro to get in.
“We can’t use the toilets.” I said to Victoria miserably. “We do not have any Euros.”
“Of course we can.” She said. “We will just have to go over. Or under…”
She climbed underneath of the gate while I squeezed myself though a child hole. Some people at the petrol station cafeteria were not happy and expressed their annoyance.
“Fine.” Said Victoria. “I don’t care.”
Somehow her words made me feel better. Using the toilet for a second time later in the journey I did think of trying to explain our situation to the onlookers, but I only had a small child level knowledge of German so my explanation would sound something like:
"Plane stuck. Another plane go. Bus must home go. Money no."
I decided not to bother.
We arrived at Dusseldorf between two and three am. The temperature was -2 C.
Cold and unsteady on our feet we stumbled out and got hold of our bags. The airport was completely empty and dark. Once again the exchange office was closed leaving us unable to convert our Thai baht into something a bit more useful.
I considered collapsing on the floor at the airport and going to sleep until it got light and we would at least be able to find a way to a train station or bus stop.
But Victoria was not stopping. She was making her way to a taxi rank.
“There are no taxis there” I said following her.” Look, the whole place is empty. Maybe we should stay here till the morning.”
” There must be a taxi somewhere round here.” She said with calm determination and as if by magic that very second a lonely taxi came from around the corner and headed in our direction.
“We want to go to Calais.” Said Victoria to the driver, who looked at her in disbelief.
“Calais?”
“Yes, Calais in France.” She opened a map of France on her i-phone and pointed at it.
The driver now looked shocked.
“You want to go to Calais?” He repeated.
“Yes.” Said Victoria. “How much is it?”
The driver was confused.
“It would depend on how many miles away it is.” He finally said.
Victoria used her i-phone to calculate the mileage.
“How much?” She repeated.
“650 Euros?”
“Fine.”
M pulled Victoria to one side and pointed out that credit cards were not going to help, we needed cash for the taxi and didn’t have any.
“There is a problem with taking the taxi” I said. “We can only get hold of another £400 or so and half of it we probably need to pay for the ferry crossing.”
“Fine.” She said. “Then you pay what you can and I will pay the rest. I am getting this taxi.”
We went inside the airport and attempted to get money from the cash machine. M gave me his bank card as his was the only one with overdraft facilities. I input the number and the machine froze for a few seconds. I froze also thinking that the card had been swallowed but it was just being slow. The cash came out bringing us a bit closer home.
Next to me Victoria managed to get the money on one of her cards, but we were still short. We decided to get the rest of the money along the way.
As it stood our situation was: We had about £200 left on our credit card to pay for a ferry and lots of useless baht. Victoria had a card with some money, which she couldn’t use because it had a set daily limit, a credit card with not much credit left and also lots of useless baht.
All of us wanted to exchange money but it was not possible. We tried to get the taxi driver to accept a bank transfer, but he only wanted cash. I suggested that I could give him my watch, the only thing on me of any value. I also suggested to M that he contacts his parents and asks them for help, but he said that he would rather walk.
We set off towards Calais with no clear plan is sight.
Cars can travel fast on the German Autobahn and we were making good progress. The sun rose around 6 am and it got a bit warmer. While I was drifting in and out of consciousness and M was hallucinating about driving on very different roads, Victoria was on the phone to her boyfriend, her family and even her bank manager. To my complete disbelief there and then she managed to extend her credit limit which would allow her to withdraw more money.
All we had to do now was to find a cash machine to take the money out. You would have thought it was easy. Wrong!
Petrol stations and pull over points didn’t have them and there were none on the motorway either.
We arrived to Calais Ferry car park around 9am and I managed to explain to the taxi driver that we were going to change some money at the ferry station and come back. Once again we left M in the car with all the bags and headed towards the Ferry Port. Actually headed is not the right word. Victoria sprinted all the way there, leaving me behind gasping for air and holding on to car bonnets.
“Are you sure you are a Geography teacher and not a PE teacher?” I shouted after her, nearly falling over somebody’s bag and worrying that my heart was going to jump out of my chest. She just laughed.
We squeezed past the long queue of passengers waiting to catch a ferry and made our way inside only to find the exchange office closed and no cash machine in sight. Grrrrrrr!
We bought tickets for the ten o’clock ferry with our credit cards and sprinted all the way back to ask the taxi driver to take us to the city centre. Five minutes later we were by the cash machine in a very rough looking area. Luckily by this time we looked even rougher and so all the dodgy individuals hanging around did was to stare at us in a puzzled way.
With the taxi driver disposed off we were finally able to board the ferry, but not before being repeatedly filmed by a French TV crew. There were hundreds of people in the Ferry terminal yet they kept pointing the camera at us. Must be something about the way we were dressed. Victoria in her pink trousers, me in two skirts, pink socks and three different coloured T-shirts and M with three days worth of beard, his hair standing up and around in a mad way.
As we waited to board the Ferry, several passengers were sharing their war stories. The best before we arrived was a man who had made it from Poland. Stunned faces greeted us as we announced we had made it from Thailand.
Once aboard the Ferry we had a pleasant chat with the Ferry captain, who told us his life story in a calm and relaxed way. A surprising dose of normality during the journey.
Then I once again attempted unsuccessfully to change the Thai baht as well as to use it to buy a fresh newspaper.

I liked the headline about volcanic ash everywhere and the fact that everybody in the UK should either stay at home or wear a face mask. (Didn’t we already experience this mass hysteria with swine flue?)

Seeing the white cliffs of Dover getting closer was somehow a truly spiritual experience.
We came off the Ferry elated and full of adrenalin. Victoria’s boyfriend was there waiting for her. They hugged and kissed. The sun was shining. We were home. It felt good.
Victoria and Luke kindly suggested giving us a lift which made us coming back to England even sweeter. We talked all the way, hyper and excited, aware that we would probably crash at some point, but enjoying the moment all the same.
Back home.

Victoria and her boyfriend Luke.

Having said “Goodbye” by the train station we got on the train, then on the tube and rode all the way back to Heathrow where, after waiting for a good half an hour at the bus stop, we were picked up the shuttle bus. On the way to the car park M and I discussed the possibility of getting to the shop to buy some food. We hadn’t eaten for days and by our calculations there was about £50 left on the credit card.
We arrived at the car park and…..were charged for all the days we were late at an astonishing rate of £10.50 day. Gee, thanks!

Bangkok to London in 3 days while Europe is grounded

2010-04-21T00:43:00.000-07:00

DAY TWO
We piled our bags on the trolley and went around the airport asking each airline either to fly us to Europe or at least to put us on the waiting list.
By the morning we managed to get on about 7 or 8 of those lists. We managed to find internet access at the Thailand Tourism Board desk and got several numbers for Eva Air before the unhelpful woman at the desk informed us that the computer was not to be used for these purposes. We kept trying to speak to Eva Air but they had disappeared. Nobody knew where they were and they were not answering their phones either in their UK offices or in Thailand and, believe me, there were many people looking for them.
That night many more European countries had shut their airspace. I was beginning to feel ill wondering around the same counters but we did meet some lovely people along the way, who genuinely wanted to help us but could not.
For the tenth time I visited the Air Berlin desk to see if me being on the waiting list to fly to Dusseldorf had paid off. The member of staff was serving a tall blond young woman in pink shalwar trousers and grey hooded top.
“You are still on the standby, nobody cancelled.” said the girl behind the Air Berlin counter sympathetically.
“Are you on the standby also?” I asked the blond woman. She seemed to be paying.
“I was, but I am now upgrading. I will be flying business class.”
“Great!” I shouted. “We want to fly business class too. Can we?” I was surprised during all those hours wondering around the airport I had never thought of it or that anybody had mentioned it.
The staff member looked surprised and said “YES”.
I pulled out our saviour – a Tesco credit card with £2500 spending limit. It already had some shopping on it. To our surprise we were told that the ticket sales desk wasn’t the place to pay. After waiting for what felt like eternity but was actually more like half an hour, the woman at the sales desk produced a piece of paper with 2 words and 1 number written on it.
While waiting and hoping that the transaction will go through I got chatting to the blond woman. Her name was Victoria, she was a teacher of Geography in secondary school and she has been on holiday with friends, one of whom has already flown out and was in Frankfurt. Victoria was no so lucky. She was one of the passengers of Eva Air whose plane was turned back three and a half hours into the flight.
We swapped our stories and decided to stick together.
We headed to the check-in where we waited again for them to process the payment. Luckily our credit card took the hit. Our credit card has saved the day and we all had less than an hour to make it on the plane. I was prepared to dump the luggage if we had no time to check it in, but it was not necessary.
We were given our boarding cards along with other cards that would allow us to enjoy the business class perks like priority through security (much needed given how little time we had before the flight) and access to a lounge (not needed given how little time we had before the flight).
We made our way quickly to the passport control where to our horror Victoria was taken aside by the security officer because they could not understand why her exit stamp said Cancelled. Of course it was because her flight the previous day had been turned back.
Putting on a brave face Victoria told us to go and wait for her by the gate. I waited outside for a while but she was not coming. Finally I did follow her advice and went to the gate. It was getting very close to boarding time and still no sign of her. I was pacing around by the ticket control counters feeling worried. Finally she did come. The misunderstanding with the passport officers has been resolved.
We were all looking forward to priority boarding for business class passengers but it didn’t happen. Instead we stood there watching economy class passengers board the plane. Apparently our cabin “was not ready”.
“This is typical” said one of other unlikely business travellers. “Once in our life we are flying business class and we don’t get any perks.”
But the truth was none of us cared. All we wanted at this time was to get back home.
We took off only a few minutes late and headed to Dusseldorf. Instead of enjoying lots of leg room, great food and attentive staff we kept looking at our watches and our progress on the map, hoping that this time the plane would not be turned back.
“Please fly us anywhere in Europe, do not turn back!” we were begging the cabin crew.
“Don’t worry.” They said. “We will fly as far as we can.”
Hats off to Air Berlin, now my favourite airline.
By the time we got to Afghanistan and Iraq we were counting minutes. Yet the plane kept on going in the right direction. Once we reached Central Asia the pilot came on the intercom and made an announcement. Dusseldorf airport was now closed (everybody gasps for breath) but we will make it to Munich or if not to at least Vienna.
“Munich is fine.” Said Victoria optimistically “Vienna is also great.”
We all agreed.
Five hours later we landed in Munich on the last plane before the airport completely shut down. While waiting for our luggage we watched the violent demonstrations in Bangkok as well as a few explosions on the large TV screen. We were now much closer to home but we still had a long way to go.
Once outside we were offered the option of either spending the night at a hotel and then getting the bus to Dusseldorf or getting the bus right away. Having got so far I was tempted to go for the hotel.
“I am not staying. I am going home.” Said Victoria with determination. M agreed with her. I sighed and followed. We looked at our options. Bus all the way to London sounded a good one. Victoria called her boyfriend and her family, which suddenly meant that we had a whole team of people working hard in the UK, trying to find ways for us to get back.
The earliest we could get on the bus was possibly 4.30pm the following day.
“I am not waiting till tomorrow.” Said Victoria. “I am going.”
She seemed to have no doubts that we would make it and complete focus on achieving her goal. Listening to her somehow made the journey in front of us seem easier.
I spoke to a few friends who were themselves stranded and then to a relative who told us that there were still places for foot passengers on the Calais to Dover ferry. We decided to head there, but first we had to get a bus to Dusseldorf which would bring us to Northern Germany and many miles closer to our destination.
We left M with all the bags in front of an ashtray and spent about thirty minutes running around the airport, trying to find any information. We also wanted to check out the option of hiring a car.
I discovered that the car hire firms were located in the basement of Munich airport next to the train ticket counter. The news was not good. Only one car hire firm still had two cars left and they wanted them to be brought back (not very useful for us). I could buy Eurostar ticket to London, but it would be for next Friday and cost more money than we could get access to.
With M by now chain smoking we spent the next hour trying to board various buses, none of which seemed to be going in the right direction. There were now hundreds of people crowding the bus stops, looking dishevelled and stressed.
Then a tall busty brunette wearing an Air Berlin uniform came over with a loudspeaker and told us to go to bus stop A. We did and so did everybody else. Suddenly there were hundreds of people carrying what seemed like thousands of bags running in the direction of the named bus stop. It was chaos and I felt sorry for the very old and the very young. It was survival of the fittest.
Having arrived at the bus stop one would expect to see at least a single bus. But no, none were there. As night fell and the airport behind us had closed down, we waited feeling tired and cold. This was also the hour when I discovered that the bag with all my warm clothes had been stolen from the luggage. I didn’t even have a pair of trousers to change into.

Bangkok to London in 3 days while Europe is grounded

2010-04-20T01:56:00.000-07:00

DAY ONE
We were preparing to spend our last night in Bangkok in our thin walled and slightly grotty hotel when we decided to check-in for our flight online. Having paid for the use of the internet and then for the printer we still had a few minutes left. Just enough time to check BBC news.
“UK shuts down all airports” shouted the headline. I felt the hair standing up at the back of my neck. Maybe it was a joke? I quickly went on Yahoo website only to be confronted by more of the same. We checked the status of our flight on Eva Air’s website and it said cancelled, even though it had allowed us to check-in 5 minutes earlier.
Concerned, we abandoned our paid for hotel and got a shuttle to the airport. I was worried about my son coming back from his holiday the following day. He is maybe old enough to get home by himself but certainly not to stay there by himself for the days to come. I shared my concerns with our shuttle driver who told me to forget about my son and instead go back to the hotel and relax by the pool. “There is nothing to be concerned about,” he cooed “Just stay in Bangkok, go shopping. You will feel better.”
Now panic was beginning to set in.
We arrived at the airport and went methodically from person to person asking for help and advice. Nobody seemed to know anything.
We found a guy who worked for our airline, Eva Air, and his advice was to go back to the hotel and to come back the following day. We asked if we could be put on any other flight with Eva Air leaving on this day and he told us that Eva Air only flew to London.
What about Vienna? - I asked, vaguely remembering that they flew there also.
We do not fly to Vienna, only to London. – Said the member of staff with annoyance.
At this exact moment a couple came over who were flying with Eva Air to Vienna and asked to be changed to an earlier flight. I expected the staff member to be embarrassed at lying to me, but he looked as cool as a cucumber. I can only hope that the reason he gave me incorrect information was because of his poor command of English.
He then told us that the Eva Air flight to London that had gone out earlier that day was actually coming back at seven pm and there would be Eva Air representatives who spoke English there to meet it. Talking to them would be our best bet if we wanted to change the tickets.
While waiting we proceeded making our way around the airport meeting sometimes sympathy but mostly indifference. At 6.45 pm we made our way to the Arrivals and … were told to go away. We were pleading with the guys on the door to let us speak to Eva Air staff but they did not want to know.
Finally, late at night we found somebody who said that he worked for Eva Air. He would not change our flight but he had a kind face. He told us to go the hotel and to come back in the morning. He said that he knew for sure that UK airspace would be opening at 4am and that the flight would be going even though it said cancelled. I think he said it to make us feel better but ten minutes later we managed to speak to somebody from British Airways and they explained to us in no uncertain terms that the disruption was likely to go on for days. We went back to talk to the man with a kind face again but he was gone.
We piled our bags on the trolley and went around the airport asking each airline either to fly us to Europe or at least to put us on the waiting list.

Stranded abroad by ash cloud? Find your way home!

2010-04-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

With 23 European countries closing their airports many travellers are stranded abroad.
So what are you rights and how do you get home?
Anyone travelling from an airport within the EU - or with an EU airline - is entitled to a later flight, or a refund.
If you choose a later flight, you are entitled to help, including reasonable overnight accommodation and meals.
If there are no available hotel rooms and you manage to find your own alternative - it is worth trying to keep costs low and keep all receipts in case you need to make a future claim to the airline. You also need to make a decision about what is important for you. If it is to save money – your best bet is to chase your tour operator or airline.
If however all you want is to get home, you may need some help from your credit card provider. The actual process of getting home involves simply breaking your journey into small chunks and then taking one step at a time.
Go to the train station and buy tickets to either your final destination or at least to any other destination which brings you closer to home.
If no trains are available – go to the bus station. There are busses running all over Europe and you are almost guaranteed to be able to get away the same day.
You can hire a car and travel to the place of your destination. It may be expensive but it is also the easiest way. Simply agree with the car hire company to return the car to the branch nearest to your home town.
You can get a taxi. If you have no cash you can get money out using your credit card, as one very brave traveller Victoria, has taught me. Having gotten a taxi from Dusseldorf to Calais we realised that we couldn’t extract enough cash from the cash machines. During a rather stressful 4 hour drive she managed to speak to her bank and extend her credit limit. She then used one of the holes in the wall to extract the rest of the money.
Finally if you are in Europe and have no money and no credit cards you can always hitch. I have hitchhiked around Europe since the age of 15 and if you follow basic rules like not getting into the car with dodgy looking individuals, not hitching at night and not getting in a car with two or more people in it unless they are say a family with kids or safe looking pensioners you should be fine. This means of transport is better for use by two or more people as there is safety in numbers. It may take longer but generally people are willing to help and you will get home cheaply.
There are ferries running across the Channel with Calais being the biggest one and they are not full. Get there early in the morning and you will not have to wait long.
Outside the EU - or on a non-EU airline - things get more complicated. Your rights depend on the individual airline's terms and conditions.
Very few airlines will voluntarily pay compensation, although many will provide refreshments or overnight accommodation.
If you are on a package holiday, under EU rules the tour operator is responsible for getting people home as well as providing care and accommodation.
But if you booked flights and hotels separately you may end up losing out on the accommodation costs.
Now if you read all of this and still want to get back home then consider the following:
Getting home involves getting a flight to one of the larger airports around the world. If you are in Asia – get to Turkey, Portugal or Greece and then follow advice for Europe above.
If you can not fly there – go via Dubai and then on to Istanbul. (Avoid Moscow and India unless you already have a visa as you will be stranded).
If you are in the US you can still fly via Portugal or South of Spain. If not, once again look at Turkey as it is a major hub where people are extremely helpful. Most of the people speak English and various forms of transport are available to get home from there. The cheapest would be a bus to Bucharest or Budapest from where you can get a train further. It will also cost you less to travel from Turkey than say from Greece or Italy even though it may take longer.
You will probably have to use your credit card or have some money transferred into your account but once you accept that it will be expensive and you might have to be careful with money for a few months afterwards, things will become easier. Remember you are not a butterfly under the bottom of an elephant. You are a human being with free will who can make choices.
Today we had email from Simena who got back from the Azores on the cargo ferry and Elaine who walked 20 miles to Calais having dumped half of her luggage. The passengers were so impressed with her determination to get home that they passed the hat around and collected money for her ferry and train home.
And yes, we have just made it home from Thailand. Our airline, Eva Air was not available for help and advice (they were not answering the phone either) so we spent the night at the airport walking from counter to counter and asking to be put on waiting lists or flown anywhere in Europe, Turkey or even Dubai. Eventually we found two seats business class on Air Berlin and put it on our credit card. It was very scary as we had no extra cash and only a long suffering Tesco credit card, but it did go through. We were on the last flight to Northern Europe (Dusseldorf) from Bangkok. When we reached Iraq airspace Dusseldorf closed down also, but my presently favourite airline Air Berlin did manage to land us in Munich (an hour later the airport completely shut down) from where we travelled by coach, taxi, ferry, car and finally tube to get home. All of this with no cash, apart from 5000 baht, which we could not exchange and hence no food or drinks and having to climb under or over the gates in order to use the toilets at the petrol stations. (Imagine the embarrassment :-))
Haven't slept for three days but made it home!
PS More on this story to come

Volcanic ash shuts European airports

2010-04-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

A thick cloud of volcanic ash is hanging over Europe, wreaking havoc on European air travel and it doesn’t seem to want to move away just yet. In fact the scientists are warning that activity at Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland is increasing.
A combination of light prevailing winds and large amounts of unmelted glacial ice above the volcano has led forecasters to warn that the situation is unlikely to change in the next few days.
Bill Burton, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, told CTV News Channel that the volcano last erupted in 1821, when the eruption lasted for over a year.
European air navigation safety agency Eurocontrol said only about 5,000 flights will take off Saturday. Under normal circumstances, about 22,000 flights take place.
This huge ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano may cost airlines hundreds of millions of dollars if the disruption to air traffic continues. It is possible it will even cause some airlines to go bust.
With many major European countries closing their airports, many travellers to Asia are being left in the lurch.
All major airlines across the region cancelled flights to most European destinations, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. In the space of a few days the huge ash cloud effectively turned Northern Europe into a "no—fly zone".
In Japan, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways cancelled flights to and from major European airports over fears that the ash could affect the aircraft engines.
Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific and British Airways have also cancelled their European flights until further notice.
Singapore Airlines says it has cancelled more than 20 flights, including all of its flights between Singapore and London, which is one of its key destinations.
SIA says there may be more cancellations over the weekend.
Eva Air, which was meant to bring home our travel writer, has cancelled their flights from Bangkok to London, Amsterdam and Vienna. On Thursday their passengers to London flew as far as Iraq before being turned back. Being unable to contact Eva Air representatives, who mysteriously vanished from the airport and were not answering their phone, some people in desperation bought tickets for Thai Air to any European destination available and once again flew out only to be turned back a few hours later.
The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, or CAPA, estimates that some six million passengers could be affected. It may be the end of travel as we know it.
Check out passengers stories and updates on this BBC website

The joys of flying

2010-04-07T04:25:00.000-07:00

An airline pilot realised that on this particular flight he had hammered his plane into the runway really hard. His airline has a policy which requires the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers disembarked, giving them a smile, and a "Thanks for flying XYZ airline."
In light of his bad landing, the pilot has a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. He is relived when finally everyone had gotten off except for one little old lady walking with a cane.
She says, "Sonny, mind if I ask you a question?"
"Why no Ma'am," says the pilot, "What is it?"
The little old lady says, "Did we land or were we shot down?"

Is South Africa safe for tourists?

2010-04-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

South Africa is a large country, located at the southern tip of African continent. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. It is a stunning country with widely varying landscapes and an equally diverse population.
South Africa is renowned for the quality of its wines and it is the world's largest producer of gold. South Africa is an influential player in African politics. In 2010, from 11 June to 11 July 2010 South Africa will host the first Football World Cup to be held on the African continent.
South Africa is a truly beautiful place with favourable exchange rates and many great attractions to visit and things to see with the Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Kruger National Park probably being the best known across the world.

The majority of tourists come here and have a great holiday, but crime is now a big problem in South Africa. The robbery, rape and murder rate are among the highest in the world. One UK insurance company claims that the most claims from holiday insurance are placed by people who visit this country.
All too often the tourists are seen as wealthy and easy targets and people are sometimes killed, rather then punched in the face, for their wallet, mobile phone or camera.
Armed robberies at shopping malls have increased recently as have murders and carjacking involving foreign tourists. Some travelers have been robbed and assaulted after having their food or drinks spiked.
The crime rate in South Africa could be blamed on many things - the high unemployment rate, poor wages, lack of decent education, the expense of further education that is out of reach for many poorer families and the poor housing conditions. Whatever the reason – the crime rate is very high.
Luckily for tourists big bulk of the violent crime is usually restricted to the Townships and you're much less likely to be the victim of crime as a tourist, staying in a lodge or enjoying a safari.
The inner suburbs of Johannesburg (Berea and Hillbrow) and the beachfront in Durban are prone to crime too and you should avoid travelling to these areas. You should also avoid isolated beaches, lookouts and picnic areas. Assaults and robberies have recently taken place on local commuter and metro trains between Johannesburg and Pretoria, as well as on commuter trains in Cape Town.
Here are some safety tips that may help you to minimize the danger of you being mugged or attacked:

Don't walk around with lots of flashy jewellery on, or your camera hanging round your neck. Put things in a sealed bag that you can carry securely, preferably in front of you and never leave your bags or luggage unattended.
Remember that the safety is in numbers, the more of you there are the less likely it is that something will happen. if you have to go somewhere on your own then at least don't go down small quiet side streets and try to let someone know where you are going and when you intend to get back.
When you are driving anywhere, always keep all doors locked and valuables out of grabbing distance from windows. If you are targeted while waiting at the red traffic light, be prepared to drive away.
Beware that the South African Police Service does not have “Tourist Police”. Criminals, however, have posed as “Tourist Police” to extort and rob tourists, including by stopping tourists buses to check proof of identity and search luggage.
Wondering around alone (or even as a pair) at night you are just asking for trouble.
Hikers have been attacked on the tracks on the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town. It normally happens in the evening or early morning but can happen at any time of the day. So be careful.
Remember that driving conditions vary, especially in rural areas, although the road system is generally good. Excessive speed causes a large number of serious accidents in both urban and rural areas. Pedestrians and animals straying onto roads present another driving hazard.

Judy Langley, deputy director of tourism policy and safety, says: 'Apart from being vigilant all the time, you should get safety tips from local tourist offices, who will phone ahead and get advice from places you are heading for.'

Local health information

Hospitals in South Africa are generally clean and well equipped but you will feel a lot safer if you have good travel insurance.
Cholera sometimes occurs in South Africa, predominately in rural areas. We advise you to drink water only from safe sources (e g bottled, chlorinated or boiled water), avoid ice cubes, raw and undercooked food.
Malaria is prevalent in some remote areas in the far north and east of South Africa, including Kruger National Park. Specifically, a 90 kilometer strip running along the border with Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Other insect-borne diseases (including filariasis) are also prevalent.
Here are few more interesting articles on the subject.
Poll results: 75% of voters think that tourists will not be safe at the World Cup in South Africa
Is it really safe?
Safest cities in South Africa for tourists
2010 World Cup FIFA South Africa

What does a typical independent traveller looks like?

2010-04-05T02:56:00.000-07:00

He looks like you and me. Independent travel is like singing in a bath, there are no set rules and no age discrimination.
Traditionally many people travelled when they were young (like for example gap year) and then went on package holidays later in life, when they could afford it.
Not any more. I recently met a group of 16 and 17 years old travelling independently around India. Okay, they were not very clued up about local culture and have already fallen victims to the most common scams at least twice, but they were out there doing things and learning along the way.
Out contributors to accommodation in Sri Lanka – Kevin and Sara are currently travelling around South East Asia. Kevin used to work for British Gas and Sara was a teacher in primary school. They are in their sixties and have three grown up children. Until last year the only holidays abroad the family went to were an occasional trip to Costa Brava in Spain. For many years they couldn’t go anywhere at all, because Sara’s mother was ill and they had to look after her.
After Sara’s mum died and the children have left home, all their friends expected them to settle for a really quite life. Watching Coronation Street, doing some DIY, maybe an occasional visit to the local pub or a game of bridge.
Instead they sold their car, rented their house for a year and in the last seven months they have visited United Emirates, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and now Burma!
In her last email Sara wrote that they are having the time of their lives and the only thing that she doesn’t enjoy is her husband’s attraction to the backpacker hostels, which tend to be rather noisy for her liking. She also said that friends at home, who previously advised them to forget about travelling abroad and to go to Dorset instead, are now calling them “an inspiration” and are saving money to book a holiday to…Vietnam!

How Travelling the World saved my life

2010-04-03T06:07:00.000-07:00

When my mum died I was falling apart and there seem to be a giant black whole is my life, where my mum’s presence, support and understanding used to be.
My universe has suddenly shrunk to the size of our living room where I used to cry for hours on the old wonky sofa. It seemed that the pain was never going to end. Everywhere I looked – was the emptiness previously filled by the feeling that she was always there for me.
I had my son, who was hurting also, but at this point I was beginning to wonder whether I was any good for him, because all I could do was try to be strong while falling apart inside and I didn’t know how to help him, because I couldn’t even help myself.
My job (charity work) has become something of a torture. I had to go there three days a week, sit at my desk, smile at the pointless jokes made by my colleagues and generally pretend to be okay. Then came the work trip. I had to go to Togo and then Liberia.
I remember sitting on the plane and wondering what the point of any of this was. I decided that when I came back I would quit my job.
When I got of the plane and came through the security, it was late afternoon. The flight has landed half and hour early and the person, who was meant to meet me was stuck in traffic somewhere. I walked as far away from hustle and bustle as I could within the perimeter of the airport and sat on the small patch of grass.
I breathed in the hot and dusty air, looked around myself and…felt at peace. I still missed my mum like crazy but the world around me suddenly seemed so much bigger and brighter. I realised that I could, that I had to go on.
This year I went away a lot. I didn’t have much money and I had to borrow on my credit cards, but every time I went away I healed.
I remember walking on the beach in Turkey with my son. It was the same beach we were walking on with my mum only few years earlier and because she wasn’t there this time something in my chest really hurt. I wondered if it was a right decision to come here so soon after losing her.
We went to the Olu Deniz beach and rented the sun bed. We went swimming and played in the water until we were tired. Then my son hid his head underneath the towel (we couldn’t afford to rent an umbrella) and turned on his DS. I laid on my back on the hot sand and looked at the paraglider floating freely above the lush green hills. Two small kids walked past splashing me with water. Their voices seemed somehow surreal and far away. I thought that I was drifting of to sleep when I suddenly remembered what my mum said to me on the phone few days before she died.
She said
– It is a big world and you are not alone. Remember. You are not alone and you have got your son.
She was struggling to get a breath but she repeated it over and over again. At the time I was surprised by the intensity of her words, but at this very moment I realised what she meant and how right she was. It is a big world and we are not alone.
I got up, lifted the towel of my son’s head and gave him a hug. He hugged me back.

This Easter we are being gripped by Global Freezing

2010-03-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

The weather in UK has been getting colder by the year. At this time we usually have spring flowers and singing of the birds. Not this year.
This year we have snow blizzards in Scotland, heavy snow in Ireland and flooding and strong winds in the South of the country. The flowers have probably frozen to death and the birds have flown away to warmer countries. Can you blame them?
If I could I would jump on the plane right now and head somewhere too. Somewhere where the Spring actually exists.
But where is it warm at this time of the year?
Here is what the current weather map of Europe looks like.
Vienna is +20 and so is Athens. But look on the positive side – we could be in Stockholm.

Sri Lanka is awaiting you

2010-03-29T08:09:00.000-07:00

This tear-drop shaped tropical island, lying off the southern coast of India had been attracting travellers for generations.
It has gorgeous beaches, surrounded by the emerald green waters, super budget as well as luxurious hotels and historical monuments.
Yet the country had its share of problems. It has been scarred by a long and bitter civil war between majority Sinhalese and the minority of Tamil in the North East.
Now having become peaceful once more, this beautiful and friendly place is ready to welcome you. Explore the country full of rich cultural heritage, visit some of the best nature resorts in the region, spend long days on the beach with your favorite book, travel around on very authentic railway, watch the sunset from the horseback, go diving at night and slowly fall in love with the place.
Here are some useful facts:
Full name: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Population: 20.2 million
Capital: Colombo (commercial), Sri Jayawardenepura (administrative)
Largest city: Colombo
Area: 65,610 sq km (25,332 sq miles)
Major languages: Sinhala, Tamil, English
Major religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity
Life expectancy: 70 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN)
Currency unit: Sri Lankan rupee
Main exports: Clothing and textiles, tea, gems, rubber, coconuts
International dialling code: +94

Which destination is the cheapest?

2010-03-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

Money saving expert confirms that the price of basket
of goods including beers, water & meals, costs £72.14 in the UK (Brighton),.
This information was compiled by the Post Office at today's exchange rates (it can vary by city too - this was priced at tourist resorts):
Hungary (£37.40)
Bulgaria (£39.52)
Thailand (£42.31)
Spain (£45.26)
Bali (£52.51)
Kenya (£52.60) Malaysia (£57.71)
Croatia (£63.46)
Greece (£64.02)
Egypt (£65.45)
USA (£75.70)
Turkey (£76.08).
For British travellers financial situation is not getting any better. Websites giving advice on managing our finances and on finding cheaper ways to travel are ever more popular.
Here are few more websites offering cheap travel deals as well as advice on better exchange rates.
Affordable Travel Ideas and Destinations
Cheapest destinations
Best cheap travel destinations
My personal favourite to save money is Topcahback. If you book your holidays on the Internet a lot you should seriously consider being a member. If you are interested you can find a link to this website in the right column of this blog. It will give you money back for many of online purchases from Holiday companies as well as for flights and there is no strings attached. Look for the green and blue rectangular!

Diving in Sri Lanka, Bentota

2010-03-25T05:33:00.001-07:00

Bentota offers a lot to a dedicated diver. Its broad sandy beaches are washed by a calm, clear and quiet sea. The water is welcomingly warm and snorkelling and scuba diving shops abound, most of them are in reputable hotels and run by PADI certified professionals.
The coral reefs of Sri Lanka’s West coast form one of the most diverse kinds of ecosystems and are incredibly picturesque.
The main dive site in Bentota is Canoe Rock. There are some areas with corals as well as some large sandy patches. You can dive off the shore or from a boat, with the latter being more common and more exciting. If you are looking for a true adventure then a night dive is a must.
You do not have to travel far by boat in order to get to the interesting diving sights.
Importantly, most diving operators carry a supply of pure oxygen in case of decompression.
Single tank dives start at $35 and a long four tank dive will set you back $140 to $160.
While diving you are likely to see Lionfish, Porcupine fish, Butterfish, Manta Rays and Cardinal fish as well as an occasional Barracuda.
The beaches of Bentota are also home to Giant Sea Turtles. You can visit the hatchery at Kosgoda which has prepared beds of sand for the eggs, laid annually, and you can view the young before they are returned to the sea.
If you visit WunderBar hotel you can see the turtles and in the evening you can release them into the sea yourself.
PS. Bentota also provides an access point for Beruwela diving. Beruwela is a small village just North of Bentota. It is famous for its colourful fishing boats and has one of the longest beaches in the country.
You might find these websites helpfull
Bentota Diving Center
Dive Sri Lanka
Eco Tourism Diving company
Poseiding Diving Station

Cheap Easter getaways

2010-03-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

Just thought we should mention that NETFLIGHTS is currently offering some great Easter Holiday deals. Holiday to Rome for two nights (4* accommodation, British Airways flights) is £199 per person. Other deals are available.
Look HERE for details.
The Co-operative Travel, the largest independent agent in the United Kingdom, also has some good OPTIONS.

Jeremy Clarkson on holiday

2010-03-12T03:09:00.000-08:00

I wonder who would bring the place more publicity and therefore increase the number of visitors to the destination - Tom Cruise or Jeremy Clarkson?
Here is what we found out
Jeremy Clarkson slagging off Rotherham
Clarkson shows off his pot gear
Jeremy Clarkson's battle over the holiday home footpath
Jeremy Clarkson describes skiing
Jeremy Calrkson test drives a jet ski
Prince Harry and Jeromy Clarkson playing tennis in Barbados
Jeremy Clarkson is a secret bird watcher
Jeremy Clarkson upsets the Greeks
Jeremy Clarkson's four letter drive while on holiday
Those are just a few of articles about Jeremy Clarkson on holidays. What have we got about Tom Cruise?
Tom Cruise goes shopping for Suri
Tom Cruise on family camping holiday
Hollywood actor Tom Cruise in Maldives
I think Jeremy Clarkson wins. Any way, I think he is a lot more fun.

Can you really visit Sri Lanka on a budget?

2010-03-08T10:16:00.000-08:00

Well, the prices have obviously risen somewhat in the last couple of years. The large international chains of hotels now charge Western prices. But there are still some truly lovely small guesthouses and B&Bs left that majority of people can afford.
We have visited the area of Bentota, two hours drive south from the capital Colombo.
Shangri Lanka villa(£35 a night, including breakfast) tops
the Tripadvisor list for the reasonable priced traveller friendly accommodation.
We have found the place very welcoming indeed with two lovely hosts and three friendly members of staff. The location is almost perfect – surrounded by paddy fields where you will most likely to see the water buffaloes and the giant lizards. It is only short walk to the beach or a short tuk tuk ride to a market town of Aluthgama.
Having breakfast on the balcony while listening to the exotic birds and watching monkey jumping from tree to tree is an amazing experience. The small pool surrounded by tropical gardens is clean and inviting. Many guests spent a lot of their time relaxing with a good book (Ask to borrow one from the well stocked library!) or chilling out on the balcony.
The room on the second floor affords the best views but has smaller bed, so if you like you space or if your partner snores – ask for the ground floor (two large beds) or the first floor (one super large bed).
Lunch, dinner and snacks are available upon request and can be had either in the garden or (if you are feeling romantic) while watching the sun set on your balcony.
The owners of hotel can organise or suggest pretty much any trip you like. We recommend that if you have one in mind you should book it in advance by emailing the owners (the email address is on their website.)
The other accommodation we reviewed was Hotel Bentota village (approx. £55 or 60 euro for a double room). This lively place is described as spacious and outfitted in stylish decor.
The rooms certainly were a good size and benefited from large beds and TV. The staff were friendly enough and the food was tasty although, unless you are all inclusive, probably overpriced.
Close to the hotel there is a huge lagoon where you can try a number of waterspouts.
This place is great if want a lively holiday with entertainment provided for you.
Finally, the true gift to serous budget travellers is a welcoming
Terrena Lodge (approx £22 or $35 a night), conveniently positioned by the Alughama Bridge.
This place is more than reasonably priced, clean, safe and friendly. It is close to the lovely beach as well as to the main shopping area. Terrena lodge has the small well kept gardens, slopping down towards the river and the terrace some of the most breathtaking view in the area.
This place also serves fresh and tasty food, which will not break the bank. The genuinely cheerful and pleasant member of staff will take your order and make sure it is cooked exactly the way you like it.
Overall Aluthgama is an action town full of cheap eateries (Sri Lankan, Chinese, Western –take your pick) and friendly locals. If you are staying in Bentota, this place is only four minutes ride in a tuk tuk or, if you are feeling energetic – twenty minutes walk along the beach.
In this area you will also find some of the classier restaurants with the Golden Grill leading the way. This place is more expensive than the rest, but serves some of the best sea food in the area. Count on £11 ($16) for a meal for two without wine.
So, can you visit Sri Lanka on a budget? You decide.

Holidays abroad are becoming very expensive for British Travellers

2010-03-02T03:07:00.000-08:00

The weakening value of Pound is making harder and harder for many British travellers to find destinations where they do not feel like a pauper.
With overvalued Euro still holding strong, despite the Greek debt crisis, traditional hunts of UK travellers, like East coast of Spain and Balearic's are becoming almost as expensive as some of the long haul holidays.
Even Canary islands are no longer can be considered a budget destination.
Few years ago a holiday in US would be a good option, however the pound has plunged by 26 per cent against the dollar in the space of a year. This means that prices in US are now not much less than those in European Union.
UK is grounded down by debt and economic worries. The currency fall is not eased by official figures showing mortgage approvals had dropped more than expected in January, indicating the housing market recovery could be over and fears over the hung parlament.
Presenty the tour operators are tooting Middle Eastern countries as value for money, with Turkey and Egypt specially benefiting from what used to be the European summer crowds as well as half term family travellers. But are they really cheap?
With the Sterling falling lower each day even Turkish lira is now just over two to a pound, making the price of a soft drink anything between £1 in a shop and £3.00 in a tourist restaurant. This is not to mention prices at some Turkish airports where a can of soft drink served ina plastic glass often goes for 3.5 Euro.
What about long haul holidays? Well, the popular cheap escape to the beaches of Thailand is no longer super bargain either, with the value of pound dropping from 70Thai bhat for £1 in 2008 to just 46 Thai bhat at the current Travelex rate.
The British pound is going down. Who knows where it will stop? I am beginning to think that a New savvy Conservative Government is our only chance to make this satiation change.
Spain is feeling the pinch from the drop in the pound sterling
Many expats are returning to Britain due to money constraints
Are packaged holidays overpriced?
US tourist tax on holidaymakers
Turkish Cost of Living Now Similar to the UK
Overvalued exchange rate is a symbol of Britain's economic malaise

Love Turkey. Love Antalya

2010-01-04T08:36:00.000-08:00

If package tourism, tacky souvenir shops and beer sold by the pint in your local currency makes you uneasy then Antalya is a great place to visit.
Situated on the South West Mediterranean coast of Turkey, it is green, fairly spread out and surrounded by picturesque mountains.
It still has sun, sea and shopping opportunities many of us crave on holiday, but it feels more like a living breathing Turkish community. It is spacious, friendly and full of small Turkish eateries which still charge local prices.
You can choose whether to shop in the smaller local shops or to visit larger supermarkets and department stores, which are also abound.
The variety of water sports is dazzling, like in majority of Turkish beach destinations, but while in the water it is still possible to keep your distance from other swimmers/snorkelers.
Other land based activities include horse riding and quad biking. The latter was the most original quad biking experience we ever had. After few minor technical issues, quickly fixed by the very young mechanic we have literally rode into the sunset. As the night closed in we whizzed through the dry desert-like fields, surrounded by small mountains and tall Cypress trees. It was adrenalin inducing and great fun. In fact from now on we will always attempt to quad bike in the late afternoon.
The outskirts of the city are quieter and more spaced out and if you like Turkish food - this is where the main bargains are.
Antalya is also an interesting place to stroll around, especially if you want to get an insight into the local life. People seem to be much more relaxed and laid back, generally getting on with their lives but happy to chat if you feel like it.
We loved sampling Turkish coffee in numerous coffee shops and the quality of it was great wherever we went. We also got addicted to the freshly made Turkish kebabs.

I remember California..

2009-10-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

We wanted to review California hotels and restaurants, but then we realised that they were not the most exiting things about our journey. Here is what we will always remember.....

Crete is an amazing destination for beginner divers!

2009-10-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

Crete has miles of sandy beaches and the diving conditions are perfect in summer.You do not necessarily need to travel by boat to get to the good diving sights. The water is clear and relatively warm between June and September. Not so in November when we have visited! :-)

This credit crunch April one still needs to have a life...

2009-04-24T05:15:00.000-07:00

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS:

You could try a new hairstyle.

Getting married sometimes is a good idea.

Socialising can be cheap as well as educating.

Petting animals is quite therapeutic.

Drinking too much is however not recommended.
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How to avoid having a Holiday from Hell

2009-01-07T12:46:00.001-08:00

The twin room only had one bed.
The bed only had three legs.
The "quiet room" was on the top of the rowdy nightclub.
The exclusive tax was higher than the price of the room itself.
The see view required a poor vision and a lot of imagination.
The food sucked and the staff were refusing to serve you unless they were given a tip.
You might think that I am exaggerating but those just some of the stories posted by travellers on the Internet to tell others about the nightmare experiences they had and to warn them to take care before parting with their hard earned money for the services that are somewhat inadequate.
Of course not everybody will have the same experience even in the same resort but it does help to know what other people think about the place you are planning to visit.
Maybe one hotel is great for staying in but serves horrific food while some resort is a great place to party but can feel scary and intimidating to a family with small children.
There are few good websites to read about fellow travellers experiences. We like TRIP ADVISOR best because it has large database, simple layout and is easy to use.
Then, of course you can and should always do extra research.

Diving in Grand Bahama

2008-12-16T14:55:00.001-08:00

If I could choose anywhere in the world to go diving I would most certainly choose Bahamas. The warm clear waters, over 900 of sq miles of coral reef and the variety of under water life make it an attractive to any diver and if you choose the Grand Bahama instead of Nassau you will also find that the diving rates are very reasonable.
You will be able to see such amazing creatures as inflatable porcupine fish, groupers, barracuda, stingrays, bonito, sharks and moray eel.
Humpback whales pass through the waters and the blue whales are also frequently sighted.
The stars of the show - Atlantic bottlenose dolphins will be making appearance at some point and if you are lucky you will spot their relatives - Atlantic spotted dolphins.
Any Bahamian island that you visit will bring you joy wheather you are a snorkeler or a diver, but if you travelling on the budget the best place to choose is the Grand Bahama.
The flat, narrow 85 miles long island is surrounded by clean sugar white beaches and invitingly warm aquamarine seas.
The prices at the resorts are affordable and facilities also good for families. The dives are suited for beginners, intermediate and the experience divers. You just need to tell you diving company what kind of diving trip you want.
Freeport is cheaper but not as safe and pleasant as Lucaya which is one of best restaurants on the island -Zorba's. (After a day of diving how would you feel about one very reasonably priced, central, bright, clean place with seriosly tasty food and smiling friendly staff?)

Home of Kentucky Fried Chicken

2008-07-21T05:48:00.000-07:00

The company was founded as Kentucky Fried Chicken by Colonel Harland Sanders.
Born and raised in Indiana, Sanders had quite a few different jobs in his lifetime, but it was his idea of serving and promoting his fried chicken recipy in 1930 in the midst of the Great Depression that made brough him his fame and fortune.
The first portions were sold at a gas station he owned in Corbin, Kentucky. The dining area was named "Sanders Court & Café" and was so successful that in 1936 Kentucky Governor granted it the title of honorary Kentucky Colonel. Soon Colonel Sanders expanded his restaurant to 142 seats. In 1939 he altered the cooking process for his fried chicken to use a pressure fryer and in 1940 he devised what came to be known as his Original Recipe.

Travelling south from Washington DC

2008-06-10T10:42:00.000-07:00

If are not in a hurry to get to a certain place and don't like to spend most of your journey on the boring highway - choose Blue Ridge Parkway instead. It is quiet, peaceful and breathtakingly beautiful.

Virginia is a fascinating place to visit, with plenty of small historical towns to explore. Lexington is probably the most quaint!

Don't forget to explore some of the small lakes on the Kentuckian border!

Don't waste your time in Grenada airport

2008-03-24T05:42:00.000-07:00

Grenada is a beautiful place. Grenada airport isn’t. It is small, not well equipped with the restaurants and frankly there isn’t much to do there.
But those who have been to Grenada before know better. They come to the airport ridiculously early (early check ins are generally allowed), check in their bags and happily trail up the hill to have their lunch or even dinner.
Yes, the Aquarium restaurant is situated on the Pink Gin Beach, less than ten minutes walk from the airport. The setting is impressive – next to the sea, surrounded by small rocky outcrop and tropical gardens.
You can eat inside, where the air-conditioning makes the place pleasantly cool or, if you like the heat, you could sample the gourmet local and international cuisine right on the beach.
If you have arrived extra early and don’t mind going home with some sand in your pants you can even swim or enjoy a range of watersports until you have about an hour before departure.
The most amazing thing about this exceptionally friendly and beautiful place is that it is totally affordable. In fact, some of the main courses that the authors of this blog tasted in budget local places, were slightly cheaper and definitely better presented.