10 June 2019

The build up to this trip started a while beforehand as I had won the opportunity to attend by finishing top of the class at one of our favourite partners Kuoni’s worldwide college. It was a privilege to be recognised as an expert on the Far East and I had been looking forward to sharing a trip with a select group of other experts. I met the rest of the group at the airport and we travelled directly to Bangkok and then onwards to Chiang Mai. This was my third trip to Thailand but my first visit to Chiang Mai and as always with these sort of things time was short, so after a smooth check-in at the Horizon club at the Shangri-La I dashed off to see Chiang-Mai. It’s the second largest of Thailand’s cities after Bangkok (more of which later) but can sometimes still feel a bit village like. It has an older section which is within the old partially existing city walls. It was hot but it still felt great to walk through the streets of one of South East Asia’s most admired cities. In the central area you will find many shrines and temples and it’s generally calmer than the rest of the city. Outside the old city walls some of the main attractions are Chiang Mai’s world-famous night markets they have hustle and bustle and you can haggle for price, you can eat & drink and even get a relaxing massage, the markets have a great atmosphere. Our second night in Chiang Mai would even incorporate a shopping challenge at the night markets! Back to our first day/night and after exhausting myself touring the town we rounded everything off with dinner and drinks in a lovely outdoor restaurant overlooking the river. As part of this trip we were to be given three competitive tasks, the first was the aforementioned shopping challenge and it was great fun haggling in the night markets for the best bargains and the most unusual trinkets. We also had time in Chiang Mai for a more cultural exploration of the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple with golden stupa’s and amazing far reaching views over Chiang Mai and the fascinating Hmong village where life is a bit more traditional. We departed Chiang Mai together already knowing each other a bit better and travelled to our next destination which was Koh Samet. I had been here before, but I was still interested to see how much it had changed in the intervening years. Koh Samet is just a short boat hop from the mainland after a 2-3-hour drive from Bangkok and although it’s not as well-known as some of the other Thai islands it is still worth visiting. It has a marine national park and some lovely beaches and occasionally a fantastic sunset. Our second challenge was to take place in Koh Samet and it was a photographic competition (see above for some of my efforts). We visited some nice hotels including one that I had stayed at previously, all those years ago there was no paved road to get to that part of the island, so it had been a bit of bumpy experience to get to, now however it was a comfortable journey and we enjoyed dinner and drinks in the luxurious surroundings. We travelled to Bangkok for our third and final leg and our third challenge. Having been to Bangkok several times before it was great to be able to help the group with directions and information, but we also managed to fit in some things that were new to me, some roof top bars, five-and-a-half-ton solid gold buddha at Wat Traimit to name but two. We also took in some old favourites of mine like Wat Pho and Wat Arun which are stunning and unique examples of Thai temples. Although I have visited Bangkok on many occasions it’s still exciting and vibrant and always changing. The third challenge was a cooking challenge – which was certainly new to me, my cooking skills could still do with a bit of sharpening, but it was well worth doing and perhaps more people should do a cooking class as part of their trips especially to this part of the world – I would highly recommend it. It was a great trip and I would like to thank the group leaders and all the group for a wonderful experience – I hope we can travel together again one day!

09 December 2018

We were meeting early at Gatwick, there was a lot to fit in over the next three days. The lovely team from Visit Jersey were taking us to see some of the best of what Jersey has to offer. I had always wanted to visit Jersey and the trip being in October wasn’t going to put me off. It’s only a short hour or so flight from Gatwick and not much longer from other parts of the UK too, so when we arrived it was still early enough that we still had almost a whole day ahead of us. We immediately set forth to our first stop, Le Mare Wine Estate, where we toured the beautiful vineyards, grounds, distillery, shop and farmhouse – tasting and learning as we went. Did you know Jersey produced its own wine, ciders and spirits (and chocolate)? I didn’t, and I would go back to taste some more! Our next adventure for the day was foraging. We arrived to the wide expanse of St Ouen’s bay and the tide was out (the tides on Jersey are some of the largest in the world!) For Kaz, our expert in foraging, the seabed reveals an untapped larder of goodies from crabs and lobsters to seaweeds and limpets – some were more appetizing than others to our untrained eyes and palettes. It was great fun exploring and learning what to just pluck from the seabed and eat there and then, and what not to. We finished with a cook-up on the beach and Kaz’s own version of Jersey Champagne made with Elderflower and all agreed it was an unforgettable experience. The next day promised just as much adventure and much more adrenaline – we started with a visit to the prominent Mount Orgueil castle which has a great setting high above cliffs and beach and some of the group were brave enough to take on the challenge of abseiling off its battlements, for those less brave like me it’s nice place just to explore and enjoy the views. The afternoon’s adrenaline rush of a RIB trip to Les Ecrehous (a little-known group of small but spectacular islands) had to be deferred to another visit due to windy weather – but we all enjoyed some time exploring the capital St Helier and as the tide was out a walk to Elizabeth Castle which becomes accessible by foot at low tide, there’s also an amphibious vehicle running back and forth covering the approx. 1km distance at low or high tide. Our third day was also our departure day but with the timings of our flight we had some last visits to make and we had probably saved the best for last. Jersey zoo is famed for conservation and with its continued links to its founder Gerald Durrell and Durrell Wildlife Conservation you can follow the work it does in helping to protect endangered species around the world. We saw some exotic wildlife in enclosures that provide as natural as possible settings and the keepers are hugely passionate about all their animals. We then visited the very moving Jersey War Tunnels which are deep beneath the surface and tell the story of Jersey’s sometime forgotten occupation during the Second World War and what life was like during this time for Channel Islanders. There was time for one last visit on the way to the airport and that was to St Brelade’s Bay, half our group had been staying there and we (the other half) had been enjoying our stay near St Helier and on St Aubin’s bay, so it was new to me and we had arrived at just the right time – the sun was shining and the tide was out just the right distance so that we could admire this stunning bay at its very best. The beach at low tide is a huge expanse of sand and at this point we almost had it all to ourselves, it was beautiful, and it has left a lasting impression. We departed to the airport on a high, we’d had an amazing time, we’d explored the island and discovered that such a small place can pack quite a punch. We had indulged in some great food as there are some lovely restaurants in Jersey from Michelin stars to beachside cafes and most things in between and if you are a foodie you can coincide your visit with Tennerfest which annually provides the opportunity for fixed price dinning at participating restaurants to celebrate food in the Channel Islands. I had visited with a lovely group, but Jersey could quite easily be visited as a romantic destination or a wellness break or a simple week/weekend away. I think most people would appreciate a visit to this small but beautiful corner of the British Isles.

12 July 2018

As regular visitors to the Isle of Man we were going back hoping not much had changed since our last visit. We really enjoy our opportunities to keep coming back – my father-in-law is a very proud Manxman and so it is just as well we all like it there! We disembarked the plane and the airport hadn’t changed, small and easy to get through the terminal, baggage reclaim smooth and swift, 20 minute journey by taxi to the accommodation, some of the bug bears that travellers don’t like when going away just don’t tend to effect holidays to the Isle of Man. We were staying in the south of the island and all of the towns and villages are on the quiet side. A holiday to the Isle of Man is more about tranquillity than revelries, although if you choose to come to the island during the two weeks of the world-famous TT races there is a transformation to an island full of visitors from all over the world. You’ll never be too far from hearing the roar of those motorbikes racing at alarming speeds around a course that is both stunningly beautiful and incredibly dangerous. Amazingly after the TT races finish, the island re-transforms itself to a forgotten about peaceful haven sitting alluringly between Northern England and Northern Ireland waiting for the re-discovery again a year later. Many of the Manx people are in the know of the delights of the Island of the ‘other 50’ weeks of the year and leave the island for the two weeks of the TT races to return when it’s all over. We’re all familiar with some of the more commonly known things about the Isle of Man such as Manx cats, three legs flag, and its own currency, language and parliament and these are all things that the Manx people are rightly proud of. There are some other less known features such as beautiful beaches where sometimes you are the only person on them, there’s the Loaghtan sheep with its curly horns, marine life including Whale Sharks, plentiful birdlife, tasty local produce of things like beer, ice cream and cheese and possibly the thing that intrigues the most people is the steam railway. Evoking memories of a bygone age, the railway meanders slowly through the south of the island between the capital Douglas and Port Erin which has one of those aforementioned beautiful beaches. During the summer season when the train is in operation you can hear the tooting of the whistle and see the puffing steam as the trains go through the usually verdant countryside. During our visit we had made time for our usual walking trips. There are many public footpaths on the island with a big favourite of mine being the ‘Raad Ny Foillan’ – ‘Way of the Gull’ in Manx, a footpath that works its way around the entire coastline. It’s nearly 100 miles in length, so you may have to stay a while if you want to complete it all, but small portions are worth special effort, including the spectacular section Port St Mary to Port Erin which has highlight after highlight with the approximate half way point known as The Sound on the very southern tip of the island. The Sound has a beautiful view over to the Calf of Man (a tiny but scenic island) and some playful seals can often be seen frolicking in the fast-moving tidal water and this section of the footpath can be completed in just a few hours. It was great to see a lot hadn’t changed since our last visit and we hope it never loses its special charm. We still remind ourselves that we had visited at a time of unprecedented good weather and due to its location, the island is more known for four seasons in one day than sultry hot weather, proving that it’s not for everybody, but a lot of people will visit and be surprised and enchanted by this sparkling Manx jewel of the Irish sea.

29 November 2017

I had been chosen to visit Malaysia on a trip hosted by Malaysian Airlines, Malaysian Tourism board and Shangri-La hotels – so this was already a huge privilege, but it became clearer as we went that this was a special trip! We met at Heathrow airport early in the morning (early starts were a theme of this trip – just so you realise that this type of trip is hard work as well as fun!) The lounge at the airport was calm and relaxing and a couple of glasses of Champagne and some cake to celebrate one of my new friends’ birthday felt like a good start and good compensation for the early rising. The flight was smooth on one of the new big double decker A380 aircraft and we arrived at Kuala Lumpur in good time to change to our onwards flight to Kota Kinabalu. We arrived reasonably fresh and immediately took in our surroundings at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru resort. The resort isn’t too far from the airport or the town and has some lovely grounds and a Marina to make visiting the lovely islands that you can see from the hotel a possibility. Usually in the early morning there are views in the other direction over to the imposing Mt Kinabalu. We then had some lovely seafood for lunch and soaked in the island view before embarking on a sunset cruise. The next morning of course involved an early start as we were flying across Borneo to Sandakan for our wildlife experience. First stop was to the world-famous orangutan sanctuary at Sepilok, in this patch of pristine rainforest the conservationists look after and re-integrate to the wild these magnificent primates. We were treated to an early sighting as one of the older wild orangutan’s made an appearance as if almost to greet us as we made our way along the elevated walkways to the nursery area. It would prove to be our only sighting outside of the nursery, but it was really close up, a memorable experience and also a good reminder that this isn’t a zoo and that these animals are truly wild. The nursery was a lovely experience too as the young orphans have their own patch of rainforest to play, learn and develop for their own re-introduction to the wild one-day. Most of our party agreed that they could happily sit and watch them all day. Visiting Sepilok to see the orangutans is rightly this part of Borneo’s most famous attraction but there are some less well-known wildlife sights such as the Bornean Sun Bear conservation centre and Labuk Bay to see Proboscis monkeys. These lesser known attractions were a fantastic addition to our day and to see so many of these animals was a rare privilege. The Proboscis is very distinguishable from other types of monkey due to its huge nose (especially the male). The larger the nose the more attractive it is seen by its female admirers! The Sun Bear, although the world’s smallest bear, has particularly sharp claws, so it is really recommended to keep a safe distance no matter how cute or placid they appear. We had seen so much wildlife in just a day, but we had to return to Kota Kinabalu for a night on the town! The next morning involved a jet boat ride, zip-lining or snorkelling to give us a flavour of all the activities that are available in this area. The zip-line setting was especially impressive as you zip between one island (Gaya) and another (Sapi) over the beautiful turquoise sea! We then indulged in more Malaysian cuisine over on the island of Manukan. In the afternoon, we transferred to Shangri-La’s other nearby resort which is further from town but with a huge beach and some large luxurious rooms, including some with a huge bath on the balcony. More activities followed including horse riding, parasailing, golf and spa treatments. Just to note, this resort also has its very own nature reserve with some very rare and exotic animal’s too. The ultimate early start followed a very big night and so bleary eyed we made our way to our flight back to Kuala Lumpur (KL) for another packed day including a visit up the vertiginous KL Tower (including a glass box that protrudes over the edge of the observation deck) and a room with a view of the Petronas Towers. Even more of Kuala Lumpur’s highlights became apparent the next day as we were whisked around the city on the back of motorbikes in a very impressive cavalcade with police escort and appearances on the lunchtime news and in the national press! We followed that up by a visit to the Central Market and a food walking tour through the local eateries of KL and then our last stop on the way to the airport for a sumptuous dinner in a rainforest setting. This whistle-stop trip had come to an end, what an awesome few days, I’d highly recommend it - just stop a while longer than we did!

10 July 2017

Following on from last year’s summer holiday to Corfu, another opportunity had arisen for a short break and continuing the theme of Greek islands, we chose Crete this time. Crete is the biggest of the Greek islands and is, we discovered, packed with a plethora of things to do. The first part of our stay was in Chania, the second largest of Crete’s cities and perhaps its prettiest, we started out by discovering the waterfront areas. Three harbours conveniently run one into another and mainly are a long string of upmarket restaurants and bars with an outlook over the harbour or sea, they are interspersed scenically with remnants of Ottoman or Venetian history in the form of boatyards, hammans and prominently a lighthouse. The harbours are the focal point of the old town and the central part of the old town is given over to a meandering of lanes mostly filled with pleasant shops and well worth an evening stroll. We kept to our plan of doing the most arduous part of our holiday first, it required a very early start as we took a bus to the start of our trek, high in the Lefka Ori (or White mountains) for the famed Samaria gorge. The first part of the trek is a very steep downhill but is mostly protected from the sun by the trees of this beautiful national park. The rest of the trek is over very rocky and uneven terrain along the gorge which narrows with spectacular effect at certain points. The trek completes at the sea in Agia Roumeli and a slow but scenic ferry ride takes you to the landing point for the bus back. Keep a look out for the very attractive village of Loutro on the ferry ride! Our next day involved a brief visit to Maleme at the behest of my brother-in-law who is an expert on war history, to see the landing point for German paratroopers in the battle of Crete and the now standing German war cemetery. Maleme is also a quieter resort area but near to the popular areas of Platanias and Agia Marina. With the exertions of our last few days behind us, a little bit of indulgence at the spa of a nearby luxury hotel beckoned and combined with a visit to their beach and their good food we were nicely refreshed. The restaurants and old town of Chania had left a nice impression on us and we looked forward to our next stop in Rethymnon. Rethymnon and Chania actually hold a lot of similarities with their strong Venetian and Ottoman characters still to a small degree intact, with perhaps Chania being the more charming. Rethymnon does however have a very long and broad beach that curves nicely towards the old town and harbour and is lined again with a string of bars, restaurants and shops. Our days in Rethymnon took on a more leisurely look with later starts and more reading by the pool, with the exception of a day to Heraklion, Crete’s largest city and its nearby ancient Minoan site of Knossos. Knossos is Crete’s number one visited site and is a mixture of archeological wonder and Greek myth and legend, bringing back memories of the stories of King Minos, the Minotaur, Theseus, Ariadne and Daedalus and Icarus. Heraklion itself is sometimes overlooked as a place for tourists but our brief visit found it to be a pleasant place for an afternoon or a day with a visit to the Heraklion archeological museum the main highlight. There is much more to Crete than we had time for, and just the thought of some of the remote beaches like Elofonisi, the resorts of Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, more gorges to walk and historical sites to see like Spinalonga, made us realise that Crete is almost like a country of its own and why people can come back and experience a whole different holiday the next time they visit.

19 June 2017

A friend and I had been discussing what was at the top of our travel lists and we had both discovered that our number one choice for our next destination was Japan! The following question was “Is this just a coincidence and something to dream about or could we make it happen?” "It isn’t the cheapest destination", was one argument not to go and "We’ll need to take a large amount of time off work" was another, but there are always ways of making it happen and it didn’t seem like anything was going to get in the way of making this trip take place. When the opportunity to include a short stop off in Seoul arose, we just had to include that too! This was in a time before 'Gangnam Style' had taken the world by storm but Seoul had appealed in a similar way to Japan, it is a somewhat undiscovered country from a leisure traveller’s perspective, but the business travellers among us are probably aware of some of what it has to offer already. We arrived to Seoul knowing there is a language barrier to some degree, but with everything being so modern and running smoothly we were soon at our hotel. We explored our local area and discovered that shopping and entertainment are major attractions, and that Seoul is a pleasant mix of the modern world with skyscrapers and convenient underground systems, with a hint of the ancient world with palaces and temples. We enjoyed visits to a palace, the Seoul Tower and the World Cup stadium amongst other things, but we were particularly impressed with a day visit to the DMZ and a tentative few steps into the even more unknown world of North Korea. We had seen a lot and learnt a lot from our all too brief visit to Seoul, but Japan was next and our tour wasn’t going to wait for us. We arrived in Tokyo and were immediately impressed with how polite everyone is, bearing in mind this is one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world. Nearly everyone will try to help you if you look like you need to find your way. Again, the blend between the futuristic and the ancient is something to behold, with streets of neon and the biggest names in electronics dominating the tucked away shrines and temples. Some highlights of Tokyo were the famous Shibuya crossing, busy Shinjuku and a visit to the Senso-Ji temple in Asakusa, whilst still adjusting to a world where vending machines selling just about anything and everything is normal. We were being surprised by every experience, including a 5am visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market and a glimpse into another world full of Elvis and Edwardiana in Harajuku. The next part of the trip was up to Takayama in the mountains. It was summertime, so the weather was refreshingly cooler than the city and less busy, with some peaceful walks and the opportunity to try the highly regarded Hida beef. Part of the journey to Takayama had been on the bullet train, and this exciting mode of transport would be taking us onwards to Himeji to see the spectacular Japanese castle followed by Kyoto. Kyoto was the biggest surprise to me, having had little expectation of it before arriving and then to discover what an incredible place it is. Initially you disembark at a futuristic train station that is a riot of enormous escalators amongst a huge, almost hangar like atrium. You then venture out into what first appears to be a very non-descript city. Everything appears to be ordinary here until you scratch beneath the surface to find first of all the ring of shrines, and temples that are more interesting and more individual than any you have come across before. One temple has Torii gates as far as you can see, another has an atmospheric bamboo forest, another a golden temple. I could go on, but there are many to discover of your own. Secondly, Kyoto’s secretive world of Geisha and Maiko(apprentices) are a particular curiosity, and wandering around the Gion district of an evening you may just get a glimpse of one. Kyoto was quickly followed by the incredibly moving cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which both need no introduction for what they are known for, but both are incredible in their recovery and the feeling of hope and looking forward rather than backward that you have when you leave. The ‘floating’ Torii gate at Miyajima was another highlight and a practice climb of the double peaked Yufu mixed with some enjoyable onsen hopping set us up for the big event of climbing Mt Fuji. The season for climbing the volcano is the summer and even then, the weather can change very rapidly. The majority of people will instead visit Hakone to try to get a view of the picture-perfect cone. A short stop back in Tokyo and a visit to the World Cup final stadium in Yokohama, one last bullet train back to the airport and our whirlwind adventure was coming to an end. Japan really is unlike anywhere else. We had enjoyed the trip from beginning to end and seen what for us is completely out of the ordinary. Now to find a way of making it happen again – one day! If you would like to find out more about a trip to Japan and/or Korea, don't hesitate to contact me for further details.

12 April 2017

This was a holiday for my wife’s big birthday. She had mulled over a few choices before deciding that Dubrovnik was the place to celebrate such an occasion! We decided to add a touch of luxury to mark a special occasion and chose a hotel with a lovely view over Lokrum (a beautiful forested island) and the sea, and a side vista to the old walled town too. The beautiful well-established gardens gave the hotel a touch of class as well. Our visit was just before the main season starts, which is OK with us as being a popular place it can apparently get crowded and we were fortunate with the weather as it was overcast on arrival and then the rest of the week was warm and sunny. We took the first day as a getting familiar with our surroundings day. The old town was a short walk away and compact. The main street and surrounds are flat but part of the old town requires the effort of climbing stairs. The views coming in to town are spectacular and being in places like the small port and small squares and long main street (Stradun) are utterly charming. Dubrovnik has recently come to wider attention too as a setting for TV and films. On our second and third days, we had planned something a little bit different with first a day tour to Mostar, famed for its UNESCO town and bridge and the divers who brave the 21m leap and the cold fast flowing water beneath. Mostar is in the Herzegovina part of Bosnia & Herzegovina and like the region as a whole, has made a remarkable recovery from the recent war that blighted the former Yugoslavia. Mostar and the famous bridge were destroyed and rebuilt exactly to how it was previously and to witness this place amongst its rebirth is a joy and a privilege. The next trip was to Montenegro which is something different again with beautiful bays with mountains dropping down to the sea and exquisite old towns like Kotor and Budva with characterful alleyways and beautiful views. It was lovely to make these two trips to Croatia’s neighbours and it is good to see that these nations are now on the friendliest of terms. We then spent our next few days relaxing and getting to know Dubrovnik and its surrounding areas, including a very short visit to Lapad where there are some bigger resorts. Then there are the highlights of climbing and walking the city walls and also climbing the 400+ metre Mount Srd overlooking the old town way below (don’t worry if you don’t like strenuous uphill walks, there is a cable car to whisk you up and down in only a matter of minutes). The view from the top is great and the café/restaurant there is welcoming (especially after the climb). It had been a lovely holiday and always over too quickly but the relaxed feeling we had all week and the discovery of Croatian wine mixed with intoxicating views and welcoming people made for an unforgettable big birthday.

06 March 2017

Maldives has become a favoured destination in recent times for me - this was my third visit after all! Would I enjoy it as much as the last two times, and what to do with the opportunity to visit somewhere on the way there? We had previously enjoyed stopovers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman, and found that Doha in Qatar was an ideal stopover on the way to the Maldives. November is a great time to visit the Middle East for the weather. It is still hot but not like the summer, so we were eager to arrive to feel the sun on our already winter acclimatised skin. For those that are familiar with Dubai, Doha does have a different feel to it. Although there is a very modern side the older parts of it are memorable, especially Souk Waqif which is great for wandering and getting lost in, and discovering some traditional treasures. Then when it gets too hot, take a well-earned break with an extremely refreshing iced lemon and mint drink. One of the parts of the Souk that is unusual from our western perspective is the Falcon market, as you get the flavour of a traditional Arabian past time just from a visit here at the right time. The Dhow boats in the marina near the architecturally stunning museum of Islamic art (designed by I.M Pei of Louvre fame) also give you the feeling of a bygone age. Its location also benefits from one of the best skyscraper viewing points that I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. With my skyscraper fix sated it was off to the Maldives for a complete change of scenery. This time we had two islands to visit, and the first involved a seaplane flight to get to the resort. I have tried various forms of transport before, from a tuk tuk in Thailand to a bullet train in Japan but this was a first for me and an unforgettable experience. The first thing I noticed was the smoothness of the take-off and landing. Even more impressive is the view you get - as seaplanes fly at a much lower altitude than the usual commercial aircraft! As is traditional in the Maldives the welcome is warm, as is the sea and this is one of the main things you are here for. The marine life is worth exploring and there are few places better for relaxing with a little bit of luxury! This resort had a grand collection of restaurants including dining in the canopy and an underwater restaurant, and both definitely had the wow factor. We didn’t want to leave but at least we were going to our second island of the trip and not flying home just yet. First that unforgettable seaplane back to the airport, followed by an equally noisy and equally glamorous speedboat ride. This was a smaller island than the first we visited but the attractions were nonetheless spectacular. The view from our overwater bungalow was outstanding and the marine life at this resort was just awesome, from the daily feeding of the stingrays where these graceful creatures eat from your hands, to the small sharks you can see as you dine in the overwater restaurant. This particular resort is renowned for being a trend setter and you get that feeling from the saltwater flotation pool, and the occasional visit of big name DJs. Once again the Maldives has been even better than we remembered, and a holiday destination that is hard to beat. If you’re interested in making some memories of your own in the Maldives, call me to discuss your next holiday.

24 October 2016

It had been quite a while since I had first visited Budapest, so going back was something I was looking forward to. It was my parents’ wedding anniversary and they wanted to spend some time with some special friends of theirs that live near Budapest. So I gratefully accepted their offer of tagging along. The trip got off to a flying start with an upgrade to ‘Club Europe’ on our outbound British Airways flight, for my father at least. He sat in the comfort of the upgraded cabin for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Budapest itself is an interesting city and the plethora of river cruise vessels on the Danube shows how popular it is for a different type of holiday too as you can visit other European capitals such as Prague and Vienna amongst others in a relaxed and stylish manner (note to self to try this one day). We started our first full day planning to do something indoors as the weather forecast was for a rainy day to start with followed by some sunny days. We decided to visit the Royal Palace which sits on Castle hill overlooking the Danube. Budapest was once two cities; Buda and Pest, separated by the mighty Danube. Today they are one city and the aforementioned Royal Palace sits on Castle hill on the on Buda side of the River. The Royal Palace now houses the Hungarian National Gallery which covers a range of styles and era’s in a grand setting. We decided to walk there as the rain hadn’t quite arrived yet and there was a lot to see on the way and we could acclimatise to our surroundings. Visually Budapest hadn’t changed too much, St Stephen’s Basilica still dominates the Pest side near the Szechenyi bridge (Chain bridge) and the views from either side of the river are still as if from a brochure both daytime and night-time with the huge Parliament building and its mixture of styles being perhaps the highlight of the scene. As you come off the Chain bridge on the Buda side of the river you notice the hill is steep, so a trip on the funicular railway that goes up and down the hill regularly is both a leg saver and a tourist sight. Either way if you test your legs and walk up or take the funicular, with the Royal Palace, Mattias church with its colourful tiled roof and the neo-gothic Fishermen’s Bastion this is an area most visitors will wish to visit. The following day the weather improved as forecast and we climbed to the top of St Stephen’s Basilica for a dramatic 360-degree view and rediscovered the delights of the Great Market Hall which is crowded but fun and the Langos - Hungarian deep fried bread with various toppings (both sweet and savoury) sold there are tasty. The following day I had to come home but it was a late flight so I had some time to take a leisurely visit to Heroes square and the adjoining park which is home to Vajdahunyad Castle which in turn is home to an eerie Anonymous statue (a historical Hungarian figure). The park is also home to the famous Szechenyi Baths. Budapest is famed for its thermal springs and there are a number throughout the city, and if ‘taking the waters’ is one of your favoured leisure pursuits you’ll find something in this city to suit your taste. A quick visit to Margaret Island and the dancing fountains and a further photo stop to the magnificent Parliament building and my time was up, Budapest had been a delight to visit again.

27 July 2016

An opportunity had arisen for myself and my wife to take a week’s break and we had some great memories of past trips to Greece and Cyprus so decided to see another popular Greek island, Corfu! It’s only a short flight from the UK and this was just before the season was getting into full swing. We were aware it’s not exactly an ‘undiscovered’ island but then there is always something new to discover for yourself and we were not to be disappointed. It may be a restaurant with a romantic ambience or a handmade shoe shop tucked away in an alley of Corfu Town or a day trip to a spectacular setting but Corfu certainly surprised us. It all started with a visit to the aforementioned Corfu Town, which I found to be small enough to wander around and get lost in the shopping lanes between the fantastically imposing Old and New Fortresses that dominate the beautiful yellow roofed Venetian style skyline. The port is also here allowing for some enjoyable day trips (or longer) to some other special places and making multi centre holidays a possibility too. One excursion took us to two beautiful places - Parga and Paxos. Parga is actually on mainland Greece and although it takes a while to get there the pleasant ferry ride and stunning arrival makes it worthwhile. The bulk of the town is a riot of colourful homes spilling over the small hill down to the harbour and it is another place to get lost in winding lanes and find a café to while away some time. When arriving to Paxos the main town Gaios has a sophisticated vibe and it has a lovely protected marina and some undeveloped bays around the headland that have the turquoise coloured sea that you think only exists in brochures. The other excursion by sea was to Albania! An unusual destination for sure, as a recent communist past had meant that visiting this country had been a bit difficult in times past but as changes have been happening it is becoming easier to visit. I enjoyed the short tour that took us to see the UNESCO World heritage site of Butrint with ruins from the Greek, Roman and Ottoman periods. Back to Corfu and mixed in with some relaxing around the pool came a visit to Paleokastritsa, a beautiful hills and cliffs area that drops down to small bays and marinas and with a prominent but attractive monastery on one of the last outcrops to explore too. A memorable episode along the way was the shepherd manoeuvring his herd along the road oblivious to all the traffic, showing that the old ways are still yet to completely disappear from this part of the world. Achilleion Palace was another short adventure out and is Corfu’s number one attraction for several reasons, the setting being the primary one, on a hillside with views to Corfu Town, over the countryside and over the sparkling sea to mainland Greece. The Palace itself is a spectacular building dreamed up by an Austrian Empress and dedicated to the mythological hero Achilles and although it is invariably busy it will still bring you back to a bygone age. Corfu is the sort of place that you can visit in just a few days for a short break as it is relatively near but the things to do, the weather, the Greek food and the friendly feel makes you want to stay longer or come back again soon.

12 July 2016

I had been wanting to visit Sri Lanka for a long time, the heady mix of culture and wildlife and exotic beaches had always appealed. I was about to fulfil my ambition. I left the UK on a cold winter’s day and arrived in Sri Lanka to my joy to 30-degree heat (it can get warmer than this too!) I had decided to spend the first few days in Colombo, the economic capital. Many visitors do tend to skip Colombo when visiting Sri Lanka but although not at the top of the highlights, I had the time and I was keen to throw myself into a city that has a lot of variety. From the coastal train line to Mount Lavinia and onwards to the hustle and bustle of the market area of Pettah, which also mixes in nicely with the colonial charm of the areas of Galle Face and Fort. Your own car/driver/guide is a good way to get about much of Sri Lanka in a comfortable way and it’s an instant link into local life. The people of Sri Lanka are particularly friendly and welcoming and do appreciate an ayubowan (hello) from visitors that they meet (although most do speak English). Make sure you give the local spicy food a try - Cheese Kotthu is a particular favourite of mine. A few hours inland from Colombo is the ‘cultural triangle’ made up of Anuradhpura, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. Each are recognised by UNESCO and are beautiful and evocative of Sri Lanka’s rich cultural past. The ruins at each are dramatic and atmospheric but beyond even this there is also the chance to see wild elephants on a safari in Minneriya National Park. I had also taken a brief tour of Wilpattu National Park for my chance to see a leopard (seen but at a fair distance) but no elephant sightings at Wilpattu. Getting to see so many wild elephants at Minneriya National Park was a privilege. Getting to see the wild elephants can sometimes be very easy as they gather around the tank (large Sri Lankan often ancient man-made lake) but depending on the season they roam freely between different National Parks in the area making them a bit more difficult to see. The wildlife safaris often give you the opportunity to see some other animals and a wide variety of birds such as the colourful jungle fowl, peacocks, eagles and many others. So with all these ticked off I explored the wonderful ruins around Anuradhpura and Polonnaruwa. People come from far and wide to experience the cultural triangle and you’ll find a lot of Sri Lankan people on a pilgrimage to these sights too. Perhaps the most well-known part of the ‘cultural triangle’ is Sigiriya or ‘lion rock’ as it is sometimes known. The palace ruins that are on top of the rock have far reaching views to the mountains further south and the plains to the north. On the way up the rock you can visit the overhanging cave with the famous racy Sigiriya frescoes and also pass through the huge lion’s paws staircase. On the way from Sigiriya further south to Kandy I stopped to visit the very atmospheric cave temples at Dambulla (yet another place recognised by UNESCO) and the spice gardens of Matale. Kandy is the cultural capital of Sri Lanka and a visit to the famed temple of the tooth is a must along with a walk around the peaceful lake right in the centre of town. Along with being surrounded by the lush green tropical hills this gives the town a completely different feel to other major cities. From Kandy you can wind your way up the mountains to Nuwara Eliya to visit ‘little England’ for a taste of tea and a taste of home. The tea plantations are vast and I enjoyed some great views along some interesting walks with the odd waterfall or two to visit as well. Winding your way down the mountain is a great experience as well as I left behind the refreshing cool mountain weather for another bout of the heat as I headed towards the beaches on the South and West coast. All the beaches are different though invariably palm fringed and some are especially conducive to a great sunset and a long walk. The walled fort town at Galle is an up and coming haven of boutique hotels and artistic shops to mix in something different with the exotic beaches on the coast. My time in Sri Lanka did unfortunately have to come to an end but coming home via Dubai and a visit to the world’s tallest building the Burj Khalifa gave me an exciting end to the trip of a lifetime.

03 April 2020

(We) The British have an affinity with India in a big way and fortunately the people of India seem to feel the same way about us! The number of documentaries and films about India that we have taken to our hearts through TV and cinema has magnified our growing passion to learn more and see more. The sheer diversity and the size and scale of the country only increases our appetite further to see more of the customs, colours, people and general life of this beguiling country. My wife’s family has a long and happy connection with India and I had heard many an inspiring story of their life there and she had wanted me to have a taste of their experience for a long time, so we arranged a holiday to visit some family/friends and see places from her memory and discover some new wonders along the route too. We arrived excitedly to Delhi to find that it is still a growing metropolis with newer modern suburbs but a traditional older central area. Sometimes Delhi is overlooked from a tourist perspective but I was impressed with the variety of sights from luxury Indian art deco hotels to the ancient Qutab Minar tower to the beautiful Humayan’s tomb. Delhi is also a good place for getting acclimatised to the Indian way of life, the crazy traffic with sights like five members of a family all riding on one motorbike, spicy food, rickshaw rides through the busy market, a cow roaming the street revered as a deity and the women in their colourful saris and excess gold jewellery. Just the sounds and smells awakening all your senses! Our driver (I could get accustomed to this style of travel!) took us to Agra next, the driver tends to become a big part of your trip when you have a private tour and India is one of the best and most cost-effective places to try this style of travel. Agra of course is home to the Taj Mahal and it is one of those sites that completely lives up to your expectation even if at peak times the crowds are huge, the awe of being there to behold one of architectures most beautiful sights is simply breath-taking. The route from Agra to Jaipur has some interesting sites too, Bharatpur/Keoladeo for some peaceful bird watching and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri for some historic and grand sites are two highlights or if you wish to go a bit further afield a worthwhile detour to try to spot rare tigers is also possible. Jaipur was to be our gateway to Rajasthan, it is perhaps the most famous of Rajasthan’s cities and also is the capital of the state and you can easily see why it is has become known as the ‘Pink City’ for the trademark colour of some of the buildings in the older parts of the city. It is a great place to shop, explore and sight see and a visit to the Amber/Amer fort outside of town is well worth the visit. We left Jaipur late on an overnight train to the desert walled city of Jaiselmer the ‘Golden City’ – here life slows down a bit but it’s beauty is the equal of anywhere else in Rajasthan with intricate haveli’s and a massive lived-in walled fort on top of the hill. From Jaiselmer we travelled to Jodhpur the ‘Blue City’ via a brief but interesting visit to the temple complex at Ranakpur. Jodhpur has two giant sites to visit, the incredible Mehrangarh fort that looms over the town and the remarkable Umaid Bhawan Palace which is part hotel, part private residence (of the Maharajah’s family) and part museum. The last of the cities of Rajasthan that we were to visit was Udaipur and we were glad to be able to fit it in, known as the ‘White City’, it is famed for its beautiful lake with ‘floating’ palace and sometimes the whole place has an ethereal feel to it, leaving you wanting to stay on longer but we had to start heading home and our last stop before flying back was to be Mumbai, it is a very exciting city with so many people and so many eye opening experiences which can be both shocking and heartwarming at the same time, it seems to comprise the whole of India in one place. You can almost feel the history as you explore the CSMVS Museum, VT Station, Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Palace but also feel the warmth of the people even in one of the world’s biggest, busiest and most obviously unequal cities. My wife had the opportunity to continue her trip for an extended period and managed to see a large part of Goa and Kerala too. Mumbai though was a fitting and spectacular end to my first foray to this part of the world.