Travel to Europe, Germany, Hesse, Gießen.

Today is the second day. To start with Jet Lag caught up with me and I spent most of the night awake. About 4 hours of sleep from 8 to 12. I woke up when Svea came in to tell me that we were leaving in an hour. So I did the morning routine real quick and got ready to go. We left the house and made our way to the main train station in Frankfurt to catch a train to Gießen with our Frankfurt friends where Svea's other friends lived. They had invited her/me tagging along to a poetry slam. Gießen is a moderate sized city with a University so it has a good vibe. During this whole time my german was getting better but still I feel so behind sometimes. Especially with all these girls. They are chatty anyways and everything is so fast. But I guess its good practice to be with the fastest talkers in the world. We arrived in Gießen and then met the other friends for dinner. Again I'm not saying much mostly listening and trying to not make mistakes. I tell them all where I'm from ( the Land of cowboys and indians) and
Poetry Slamthey are interested. I tell them about the rodeos and wheat fields. I even told them about Rednecks ( which they had no clue about ).

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Travel to Cuba, Centro, Bahía de Cochinos.

Up at 7 and finishing off our packing, before hoisting our bags and preparing to leave our Havana home. We checked out at 8 and it looked as if we had dragged poor Lisette out of bed. Yesterday she had done some laundry for us and we later discovered that Grandma had actually done it and by hand and when we checked out she wasn’t going to charge us for it….god if only all our accommodation had been this good. Of course we gave her some extra for this service, I mean poor Grandma has not only had to do laundry but also let us in at midnight, she deserved something. Our bus was leaving from the Seville hotel, which was a ten minute walk and with full back packs is always a good heart starter.

Got down to the hotel and then proceeded to wait for our 8.30 bus that didn’t turn up till 9.15. As usual the bus was travelling all over town picking up tourists from all the hotels and of course we were one of the last. We were travelling with a bus company called
Playa Giron
Fill her upTranstur, which we think is fairly new as it is not mentioned in the Lonely Planet, but has buses everywhere and seems only to cater for International tourists. Before leaving the city the conductor got up and told us where we were heading and all the scheduled stops, it all seemed very professional. About two hours out from Havana we stopped for a quick toilet stop and then we were told we would have a food stop in an hour. The next stop rather than being an hour was closer to 20 minutes away, which suited us fine as we were starving as we hadn’t had breakfast. We stopped at a small roadside diner and after some difficulties got a ham and cheese sandwich on bread shaped like a crocodile…rather odd.

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Travel to Asia, Laos, Don Det.

Our guesthouse in Champasak helped us get to Don Det and it was one of the easiest transports we had in a while. We love taking the local bus when we can but it's always a nice treat to have someone else do all the planning for you. A minibus, a boat, a “VIP” bus and another boat later we were on Don Det and it was smaller than we had expected.

We were dropped off at a small beach and as soon as we got to the road everything was right in our face: Guesthouses, bars, restaurants, tour companies. It seems rather cluttered until you find the bungalows. The reason the main part of town seems so cluttered is because all the bungalows and restaurants have the better riverside locations. The bungalows are all pretty much the same – small with a hammock, bug net and balcony. Some are newer or cleaner but unless you are paying extra to have a bathroom in your bungalow (which generally isn't possible right on the river due to plumbing complications) they are all the same and you won't be spending much time in them anyway. A lot of bungalows charge up to
Village on another island60,000 Kip but we walked a little further down the west side and found bungalows for 30,000 Kip. The island is so small that as long as you are in the north you are close enough to the action (unless of course you prefer to be in the south near or on Don Khon).

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Travel to Poland, Krakow.

Krakow is a lot prettier than I gave it credit. Although, I think I am a bit biased because we went to the older part of town which, like I have said, is always prettier. We saw many beautiful churches and went up to the Wawel Castle. It had a beautiful view of the city and was very interesting to look at because you could see the different architecture that was added throughout the different centuries. The church that was in the castle was one of the prettiest churches I have ever seen; it had amazing stain class windows that were from the 24th century. After the church we went into a museum that represented what one of the homes/ office areas of one of the king’s officials looked like. There were many beautiful tapestries hanging on the wall that were many years old.

Walking round the Jewish Quarter was really interesting because it did not look like all of the other Jewish areas we had been to. All of the others had become big name shopping centers whereas this one was still apartment buildings and still had an older, almost rundown feeling that I had been expecting when we
002visited the other areas. It was cool to see the areas where part of the movie Schindler’s List was filmed. We then crossed the river and went to the area where the ghetto was and went to the Schindler Museum. The museum was a nice change because we got to hear about some of the good that was going on at that time and be reminded that there were people that tried to help the Jews. Being in his office, it was comforting to know that 60 years ago good things were taking place and help was being done rather than hurt and awful things. One of my favorite things at the museum was walking into the area in the office that was a circle area with all of the names of the people that he had helped. Rather than it being names of people that were murdered, it was a celebration of the lives that were helped and saved. Today was a nice change of scenery after all of the death camps and was a much appreciated break before Auschwitz.

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Travel to Middle East, United Arab Emirates, Liwa.

The Agenda was just to eat out...it was early morning of my 30th Birthday, we already had a pre-dinner celebration and everything was great.

Then we started driving on a long stretch road southern part of Abu Dhabi. Passing Dubai exit...so we are not going to Dubai, passing Al Ain exit...basically not Al Ain...then passing Dhafra Airbase..now I dont where we are. Board signs says...Incinerator, Tarif/Ghweifat, Hameem. Exit E11, E65 and Route E90, I don't have any idea, any clue in mind where exactly are we going. Surprise Me!!!

After 2 hours of driving I saw a sign, a very familiar one- Qusahwira Oilfield. So this is how far our project is, Qusahwira Internal job #5392 and Qusahwira External job #5393. In the middle of the Desert, rough roads ahead and driving literally on sand. But the question is "what am I doing here?to Eat?"

Then I finaly realize that am in the Liwa Dessert, seeing orangedish/redish coloured sand, I pressed my face bythe window to see the sharp peaks and sand dunes formed by a soft wind blowing in the sand as our vehicle produced immensed dust fog. Then fro a distant I saw stone structures surrounded
Arabic Birthday Cheesecake & 9 Lives
Thank you...by palm trees and yes a paved road. As we drove slowly in a deep sand we reached our final destination. It was not annouced but OMG I saw the final sign am in Qasr Al Sarab Dessert Hotel OMG!!!

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Travel to Europe, Poland.

Auschwitz. Today was one of the hardest days of the trip. Coming into today, I had a feeling it was going to be a pretty tough day because this is the camp that I know the most about, but I was hoping that it would be touristy enough that it wouldn’t be too hard. I was wrong.

Today started off early with a three hour bus ride to the camp where we watched The Pianist. It was a good movie.

Even just pulling up to Auschwitz 1, I could tell that it was going to be a rough day. Auschwitz 1 has had many of the barracks turned into areas that show things found from the camp after its liberation and after the war. We had to wear headsets as we walked around in order to hear our guide because you are supposed to be quiet while in the camp out of respect. Walking around the camp, it had a gloomy, depressing feel to it. It was eerily quiet and you could sense that dreadful things had happened here. Walking into the camp, we walked under the Arbeit Macht Frei sign and down the path that the prisoners walked down every morning and every night on their way to and from work. I felt a small sense of guilt as I walked because I was there of my own free will, I knew my family was fine, and I knew I could leave in a few hours and most people that had walked that path before me did not have that same comfort.

The first barrack that we went into gave us the facts on the camp and the number of people that were killed there; I can’t even comprehend over 1,300,000. Seeing the pictures of the unloading’s that occurred and the models of the process to the gas chamber were unsettling. It is one thing to see the buildings, but to see recreations with people in them makes you visualize it and makes it so that you cannot distance yourself from it. Seeing the Cyclone B was not what I had expected. I had seen the canisters before and had figured that it came in gas form. It was weird to see that it was pellets that just reacted with the warmth. I think it was so weird because it reminded me of the poison that is used to kill rodents, which I guess is hoe the Nazis viewed the prisoners, but that just adds an unimaginable level to it. I don’t know that I could look at another human being as view them as nothing more than a little rodent.

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Vietnam, Northeast, Quang Ninh.

Halong Bay
Waking up to rain pitter patting on the wooden window sills is calming, looking out of the boat window we can see other boats in the bay and its very misty and grey. This gives Halong Bay an eerie feel almost mystical. We have an early breakfast of bacon eggs and toast with freshly made watermelon or peach juice then get on to our tender which takes us to a floating island. We then board a junk and are paddled under an arch way to an inner lake and its there we see the rock monkeys. Throwing cut up banana to them they scampered down the rocks at amazing speed to collect their free breakfast. We then returned for morning coffee and relaxed as the boat made its way out of the bay and back to shore. Just before reaching there we had an early lunch, fresh crab, prawns, beef and pork, vegetables, rice and chips with sculptured apples for dessert. We paid our drinks bill, the first time we have ever paid a million for drinks but then its only a million Dong, about £30 it is difficult to get used to this money

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St George's Church of Madaba.

Our first stop this morning was at the Greek Orthodox St George's Church in Madaba. This church is renowned for the 6th century Byzantine mosaic on its floor that shows the entire region from the Nile Delta in Egypt in the south to Jordan and Palestine in the north. The detail recorded in this early map is impressive.

Just a few more kilometres by road found us at Mount Nebo which has been a centre for pilgrimages since the earliest Christian period. It is also reputed to be the burial site of Moses who climbed the mountain to view the Holy Land before he died. Unfortunately at present the peak of Mount Nebo is largely obscured with construction works. The historic church atop the mountain has been restored, but is now having a larger church, sponsored by the Vatican, built around it to preserve it. On the other side of the road the Ministry of Antiquities is building a new visitor centre that will commemorate Moses' journey from Egypt to Palestine. Ahmed says that this project is progressing very slowly.

Just down the road from the peak of Mount Nebo we visited a mosaic workshop. The mosaics that they
St Georges Church Mosaic Pictureproduce these days are much finer than those of old with the artisans working with stone pieces only a few millimetres in size. Very fiddly work for sure. The Aussie dollar doesn't buy much in Jordan so we only bought a coaster.

From the peak of Mount Nebo at just over 800 metres above sea level we drove down to the Dead Sea at around 400 metres below sea level - the lowest land elevation on Earth. This part of the Jordan Valley was much more barren than it was further north where we were yesterday, yet Ahmed pointed out the Bedouin tents dotting the rocky hillsides. We saw a couple of Bedouin women grazing their herds of sheep along the roadside. It looked like there was nothing but rocks for the sheep to eat, but Ahmed assured us that there were grasses for them to nibble on or the Bedouin would not be there.

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Ethiopia, Harari Region, Harar.

Waking up and taking another 5am bus to leave Addis Ababa is a struggle that seems to be part of any form of bus travel in Ethiopia. I still haven't figured out what their obsession is with 5 and 6 am bus travel, but it is something I will have to get use to.

The night before I ended up meeting some nice guys at a Turkish restaurant (still trying to get my fill of non-Injera food). They ended up being quite wealthy and insisted on buying me more beer and food than I could possible eat or drink. "You are our guest" was the rational. Not really a problem for me as I was becoming a bit paranoid of the costs associated with being in Addis Ababa.

After a very hot and very uncomfortable bus trip to Harar (about 10 hours) I diembarked in even hotter weather. I guess I am not in the mountains anymore. Though the elevation is suppose to be about the same... After the usual struggle to find a place to stay, I made my way into the old part of the city.

Harar is an unusual place because it is not only
Looks Like I am Staring It Downextremely old, it is also considered the fourth holy city of Islam. There are over 100 mosques in the area. Sometime in the 16th Century (I have heard), the local government built 4m thick walls around the city to defend it from the northern migration of the Oromo people. Today the Harari ethnic group is found almost solely in a small patch completely surrounded by another ethnic group (the Oromo decided to stay).

The Jugol (or Old Walled City) was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2006 and is really neat to meander through the small alleyways, packed with mosques, living quarters, markets and churches.

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Travel to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand.

Date of stay: November 2011
Where you stayed: Various hostels and backpackers

Arriving at Ho Chi Minh airport was not what I had imagined. I had expected a little airport that you walk off the plane on to the tarmac, but how I was wrong! I think that I had underestimated Vietnam as a whole, and was really surprised at how big it was.

I was staying at Kims Hotel, which I can highly recommend. I think the room was about $24USD a night, and was really nice, in a good location and I had an airport transfer.

As soon as I woke up I ran to the balcony to see what HCM had in store for me. Scooters. What seemed like millions and millions of scooters. Jaine and I set off to find some pho for breakfast, and made our way to the markets. The shopping didn't interest us too much, but we took a lot of photo's walking around the seafood and meat section of the markets. On walking to the markets, we got to experience crossing the road in HCM. Wow! I had read reviews that you just put your head down and walk. And that's pretty much what you do. The scooters swerve around you, but you have to keep an eye out for cars. 

Jaine went and checked in to a backpackers down the road, and then we met back up and went to find a massage. The lady at Kim's had suggested a place in a hotel down the road, so off we set to indulge in the wonderful world of cheap massages. Warning bells should have started ringing when the sign outside the suggested hotel listed "Massage, Sauna, Jacuzzi". We walked very quickly out of the hotel after the lady informed that it was "man only massage". Very cautious for our next venue, we made sure that we found a "spa". Our luck was looking up as we weren't turned away from the spa, and we almost high-fived. That excitement soon disappeared as we were led in to the rooms and girls in little short red skirts walked in to the room. The massage didn't turn out to be dodgy, but the giggling from the next room and the expectation for a big tip told us we hadn't stumbled in to the most innocent of places.

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Travel to Hanoi, Vietnam.

Country/Town visited: Hanoi, Vietnam
Date of stay: 4 nights, December 2010
Where you stayed: Guesthouse
Travelled with: As a couple
Tour or pre planned: Pre-planned & tour 

Hanoi is a city like no other! Vietnam and most of South East Asia are riddled with scooters and motorbikes and you quickly get used to their ever-presence. In Hanoi you can find just about anything and everything being transported on a motorbike...pigs, flowers, fish, fruit, and even a family of 4 fits happily on one! Crossing the road is an experience in itself and not for the faint-hearted! It’s a hustling and bustling place, full to the brim with people and motorbikes! Shopping in Hanoi is fantastic and everything is dirt cheap. You can get a meal for US$1.50, but if you have anything off the sidewalk - be warned - it won’t be completely hygienic! Accommodation is also dirt cheap, between $6-10 per night. We went to water puppet show, which is worth a visit. These you can book on the day but if you want to go in the evening, book in the morning. One of the main reasons for coming to Hanoi was to visit Halong Bay. Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is truly magnificent.  A huge bay dotted with nearly 2,000 mostly uninhabited limestone cliffs makes it a breathtaking site. Our tour included a cave visit, kayaking, and a bicycle ride on Cat Ba Island. The food on the boat is also exceptionally good. We booked the tour through our guesthouse and this can be done when you arrive to leave on the boat the next day. Your guesthouse will sort everything out for you as they get commission. Also, it’s worth doing the 3 day trip as you will see more and this will include an overnight stay on Cat Ba Island.

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Travel to New York City.

Country/Town visited: New York City
Date of stay: June 2012
Where you stayed: Rogers Hotel (4*) 
Tour or pre planned: Pre planned

New York City, the big apple. 

This city is enormous and if you are a small town boy, like me, it is easy to get lost in the hussle and bussle. There are so many things to do here, from taking an elevator 86 floors up the famous Empire state building, to a harbour cruise around the Statue of Liberty, or just taking a quiet stroll around central park while trying to escape the fast paced city.

I was short on time, but as said above, had so much to do. The best way around this is to get yourself a ‘New York City Pass’, which can be purchased as a one, two, three, or seven day pass. These passes, combined with the hop on/hop off bus are a great way to see the city and fast track yourself to the main attractions on offer.

The best way to purchase the passes seems to be via the secure online website (www.newyorkpass.com), the pass offers over 70 attractions for free or discounted prices. With the pass comes a very handy booklet which outlines all the different attractions available, with maps etc to get you on your way. For those more tech savy, there is an app you can download onto your phone with much the same information so it’s right at your fingertips.

I got a 2-day pass (retail for this is $130 USD individually, or $145 with the hop on/hop off bus package), first stop the Empire State Building, this attraction is free with the pass (saving $25) along with the New York Skyride attraction which is also at the empire state building (saving $42). Instant savings, why wouldn't you buy the pass. Not to mention a great way to get your bearings and fine tune your compass to the city.

Next I got on the hop on/hop off bus, another great way to see the city as there is a personalised tour guide on each bus to ask questions and give you local hints and tips (ie a pub on corner 44th Street/9th Ave called Rudies bar which sells $7 pitchers of beer and free hotdogs!). This bus was easy to get around and takes you to the tourist areas, there are two routes, a downtown and an uptown route, both leaving from midtown. Beware though, there are plenty of people who work for the bus company standing on corners which you could not buy tickets from, but are happy to point you in the direction to the office in Times Square.

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Travel to Miami, USA.

Country/Town visited: Miami, USA
Date of stay: Sep 2011
Where you stayed:  Motel Bianco
Travelled with: Wife
Tour or pre planned: Pre-planned

I’d been to Miami before way back in 2007, but only spent several hours near the beach so didn’t get a chance to fully immerse myself into the city. This time, I got to spend a couple of days there so the feel and vibe of the city really started to sink its teeth into me. One thing I do have to warn though, this was not a very touristy stay.

Sure, there are plenty of touristy things to do in Miami (such as the safari & water park, boat & bus cruises and day trips out to the Keys)  but unfortunately this blog won’t really contain that sort of stuff. I can however tell you about some good places to walk, chill out, go shopping, and give you a few recommendations on how to get around, where to eat etc.

We stayed at a place called Motel Bianco which was super cheap at only 60 bucks a night (accommodation is generally expensive in Miami, so this was a bargain). The room was clean, spacious, had air con and free Wi-Fi and included a breakfast of champions which consisted of bagels and donuts. The staff weren’t all that knowledgeable about how to get around, so it’s not really catered for tourists as such. It is a motel after all, so it’s just a place to lay your head and explore on your own. All in all, a recommended place to stay if you’re on a budget.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that Miami is a huge city, so it can take a long time to get around, especially if your hotel isn’t on South Beach and you plan to spend a lot of your time there (as we did). Any map you have in your hand won’t really be of much help, as the scale is too small and distances can be deceiving. Unless along the beach, don’t try and walk to get to where you want to go, or you’ll be walking for miles on end.

Unfortunately Miami doesn’t have good metro system, so you’ll probably have to rely on buses which are not that frequent, or taxis if you have deeper pockets. We were in a location that seemed quite central, but it sometimes took over an hour and a half to get to South Beach. Buses will cost you $2 each trip, but there are no tickets to speak of; you just slide your $1 notes into a machine. However, no change is given so make sure you have a decent wad of $1 notes with you.

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Travel to Los Angeles, USA.

Country/Town Visited: Los Angeles, USA

Los Angeles is home to almost 4 million people and is one of the richest and most powerful cities in the world… to everyone else, it’s known as the largest entertainment capital in the world, and some people dream their entire lives to come here. 

Let’s just say, this is not going to be one of those blogs describing the best and cheapest things to see and do, in the shortest amount of time, on a mini budget, staying only in hostels. 

I’ve lived in Los Angeles (and the suburbs of Los Angeles) my entire life. This city review will outline some of my favorite things to do and see while visiting. It is by no means the gospel on what there is to do here, as you could live here your entire life (like me!) and still not have seen everything. My biggest tip is to read about Los Angeles, and find the things that interest you and visit those things. 

Things to Do and See in Los Angeles:  I will start with Hollywood, since I know it best: 

One of my absolute favorite places to visit (which I had never been to until just a few years ago) is the Magic Castle on Franklin Ave, in Hollywood. This place is literally a castle with various rooms (and bars!) with different magic shows each night. Unfortunately, you have to be a member (or know someone with a membership) and you have to have a reservation for a pretty pricey (but delicious) dinner. Keep in mind, there’s a pretty strict dress code as well, but that just makes it more fun!

Just imagine visiting a castle that looks much like something from the Harry Potter movies, and getting to see various magicians do some really rad tricks! There is also a Magic Castle Hotel, located directly next door. I’ve never stayed there, but I’ve heard great things about it (though I think it can be pretty pricey!)

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Travel to Las Vegas, USA.

Country / Town Visited: USA - Las Vegas, NV
Date of Stay: June 2012
Where You Stayed: Four Queens Hotel and Casino
Tour or Pre-Planned: Pre-Planned

I finally decided to take the plunge and head to Las Vegas to see if the city lived up to its hype, and by and large I have to say that it delivered.  If your main objective in going to Vegas is to play casino games, you will obviously have a great time but you will miss out on a lot in the city.

Most of the major casinos and even some of the smaller ones have shows ranging from world renown entertainment to acts you will only see in Las Vegas. One of my favorites was the Tournament of Kings over at the Excalibur.  It is essentially a dinner theater and the "play" is a jousting tournament.  Yes, it is choreographed, but it is still a ton of fun.

Downtown Las Vegas has a lot of history for those that like to get away from the tables for a while.  The Fremont Street Experience is also something that you should see at least once in your life.  It is an amazing sound and light show that goes off every half hour starting at dusk overtop Fremont.  In addition, there are live band performances, street vendors, and more.
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Travel to London, United Kingdom.

Country/Town visited: London, United Kingdom
Date of stay: 2005 - 2011 
Where you stayed: Various parts of London 

London is an amazing city and one I’d highly recommend visiting at some point in your life. I headed to London early 2005 on a 6 month holiday and ended up liking the London lifestyle, vibe and ease of travelling Europe so much that I stayed 6 years. The OE Travel Blogs team have all spent a few years living and working in London and we loved our time there. If you have any questions, thoughts or anything else to add from your own experiences please feel free to add a comment. 

If you’re headed for London it’s most likely you’ll arrive at Heathrow airport which has five terminals and is one of the busiest airports in the world, if not the busiest. The expat community in London (Kiwi’s, Aussie’s & South African’s) is huge but you have so many other cultures living in the city and this is what makes it the largest city in Europe.

So the question is…… where to start.

This review would be helpful to travellers looking to set up base in the UK but there's also some helpful information for those visiting London and be sure to check out our London advice blog.

During my time in London I lived in a number of places and my favourite part of London was South of the river, Putney & Barnes. Dossing is a big part of London life, what is dossing I hear you ask? A dosser is someone who sleeps in share houses on the floor or couch for an extended period of time, most dossers will contribute between £5-10 per week and help with cleaning etc. This is great if your fresh of the boat and want to save some £££ till you find your feet.

Travelling around by tube is great but taking time to see the city above ground where possible is a must. Use buses if you can or take a walking tour. 

Once you arrive, be sure to buy an Oyster card, this will enable you to travel on the London Tube, Bus and Train networks. It's a pay as you go card that you swipe when catching public transport. New Oyster cards cost £5 pounds and this is a refundable deposit. Another important item is the London tube map, you can obtain one from all Tube stations. Each underground line has its own name and colour and each station is marked in order on its line. Stations that are marked with a black circle indicate that you can change lines at that station. IE: if you were travelling from Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, and wanted to get to your Hostel located in West Hampstead. You would take the Piccadilly Line (dark blue) until you got to Green Park, and then change onto the Jubilee Line (grey) to West Hampstead station. Visit TFL London for more information and the journey planner is quite handy too

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Travel to Edinburgh, Scotland.

Country/Town Visited: Edinburgh, Scotland
Date of stay: A number of times from 2006-2010
Where you stayed: Castle Rock Hostel
Tour or pre planned: Tours & Pre planned

Edinburgh is an amazing city and one I’d recommend visiting at some stage during your future travels. I’ve done a number of tours to Edinburgh (Hogmanay & Rugby Internationals) as well as pre planned adventures and each time I thoroughly enjoyed my stay.

Edinburgh is a beautiful historic city with stunning architecture and walking around the cobbled stone streets looking at the amazing buildings is a joy. The medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Something traditionally Scottish that you may want to try whilst you are in Edinburgh is Haggis. Many restaurants around Edinburgh serve Haggis and also Venison so if you are feeling adventurous let your taste buds experience a Scottish tradition.  

Most of the sites in Edinburgh are within easy reach of the city centre. Here’s a brief list of some recommended sights worth visiting. 

• The Royal Mile, the heart of the medieval old town has plenty of souvenir shops, pubs and restaurants. Click on the following link for more information - The Royal Mile. 
• Edinburgh Castle (located at the top of the Royal Mile) Click on the following link for more information -Edinburgh Castle.
• If you are into history, than Mary Kings Close is worth visiting. Buried deep beneath the Royal Mile lies the city’s deepest secrets. It is the City beneath the City and was sealed during the plague outbreak in the 17th century. Click on the following link for more information – Mary Kings Close. 
• Edinburgh has a number of Museums with free admission. Click on the following link for more information –Edinburgh National Galleries. 

There’s no better time to visit Edinburgh then for the New Year celebrations, known as Hogmanay. Click on the following link for our Hogmanay review.

If you get the chance to watch a sporting event at Murrayfield stadium then do it, I’ve seen a number of Rugby International matches and the atmosphere and night life was great.

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United Kingdom, Visiting the Blackpool Tower.

Blackpool, United Kingdom: A fantastic UK tourist hotspot

Last summer, I happened to visit Blackpool tower in Blackpool UK along with my family. It was a fantastic trip and we found accommodation through Casamundo UK. The Blackpool tower has five distinct attractions within the building. In order to avoid disappointments, we booked tickets early and had the opportunity to explore all attractions in the tower building.

Blackpool tower-top
We reached the tower-top through a lift. The tower offers a wonderful undisturbed view of the Blackpool's piers. After the refurbishment program accomplished in 2011, an illuminated tower-top, a 4D cinema, and a Dungeon attraction became a part of the Blackpool tower-top.

The tower ballroom
The tower ballroom is an entertainment center during summer season and hosts a number of events such as The Four Tops and the Drifters and other shows. Dates and times of shows can be found on http://www.blackpoollive.co.uk.The ballroom features the world’s most sophisticated ballroom- The Wurlitzer Organorgan which is capable of producing the sound of an entire orchestra.

The tower circus
After enjoying amazing entertainment programs at the ballroom, we moved to the tower circus. It is a place of complete refreshment as you watch some of the mind blowing circus shows and events along with your loved ones. I had the opportunity to watch exciting programs performed by fantastic circus artists from across the globe.

Jungle Jims adventure land
As we moved from the circus to jungle Jim’s indoor adventure, we found ourselves in one of largest play grounds of Europe. It is a fun moment to watch your little kids running in a big jungle fun zone. The scenes and views of the ground take you in the medieval age including the three-party boats featuring solid wooden benches. The attention to detail is beyond imagination.

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Travel to Dubai, Oman and Abu Dhabi.

Country/Town Visited: Dubai, UAE
Date of stay: December 2011 – Feb 2012
Where you stayed: With Family
Tour or pre planned: Pre Planned

Walking through the Dubai airport I was fighting the urge to pull out my camera in customs to take photos of all of the guys working there, wearing their dish-dashes. My Aunty had been living in the UAE for the last few years, so while I was in transit to London, I thought I would spend a bit of time there with her and my cousin, making my trip to Dubai a bit longer than what most people get to experience. 

I had arrived the week before Christmas (2011) and even though the UAE is a Muslim country and they don't celebrate Christmas, there were still big Christmas displays around the place. My first day started off at a Christmas party at the Off Shore Boating club, which was definitely a nice way to be introduced to the country. Santa arrived on a boat, and my 8mo cousin Zoe got her first picture with Santa. Then it was off to Mall of the Emirates, which has Ski Dubai, a massive indoor ski field in the mall. 

I spent a couple of days working on my tan, before heading off on the most important adventure - acquiring alcohol! This adventure is known as the Barracuda Run. To be able to purchase alcohol in Dubai, you need to apply for a license (hotel's are licensed, so don't fret, you still have hundreds of bars, pubs and nightclubs) as it is a Muslim country (there isn't beers and wines in the supermarkets like NZ, or a bottle-o on every corner like in Oz). Heading to Barracuda you usually pass through Sharjah, which is a dry Emirate and you can be arrested or fined if you get caught with alcohol in your car (Barracuda Bandits - people that follow you from Barracuda and will bump your car, and threaten to call the police, then accept a bribe), but luckily for us, there is the new 611, which bypasses Sharjah all together so you don't have to be worried about passing the dry Emirate. Sharjah is known as one of the stricter Emirates with their view on clothing, cohabitation and alcohol. There is even stories of there being searches on apartment blocks in the middle of the night to make sure there is no “cohabitation” happening. Barracuda is a hotel that sells alcohol and is about an hour and fifteen minutes drive from Dubai. If you know someone that is going to Barracuda, you are usually very quick to put your orders in. I was expecting a dodgy little shop with ridiculous prices, but instead I got a nice spacious air-conditioned modern oasis, with prices starting at 30dirhams (around $10AUD) for wine and 60dhms for a 1lt bottle of Absolute Vodka ($20AUD) - the cheapest alcohol in the country, and even beating duty free prices. My Aunty and I stocked up on alcoholic goodness to the point where our trolley was over flowing. My life was now back on track with a case of red wine, and getting to see camel's crossing the 12 lane highway on our journey back.  What more could a girl ask for?

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Travel to Phi Phi Island, Thailand.

Country/Town visited: Phi Phi Island, Thailand
Date of stay: 3 nights, November 2010
Where you stayed: Ao Tao Koh Beach Resort
Travelled with: As a couple
Tour or pre planned: Pre-planned

Phi Phi is a fantastic little island off the coast of Phuket in southern Thailand. It can be reached by a 2 hour ferry ride from Phuket. Phi Phi is known for its party vibe and laid back feel. If you are not in for a party stint and really just want to take in the beauty of this beautiful island then one of the many beach resorts around the coast of the island is the place to stay. These are between 10 – 20 minutes by long-tail boat away from Phi Phi centre. The centre itself is a hub of activity, people, bars, restaurants and for some reason, lots of tattoo shops!  If you choose to stay at one of the beach resorts along the coast, you’ll really feel like you’re on a deserted island - it’s beautiful and peaceful.  These resorts have the ocean at their front door and the mountain and forest at their back door. A trek through the forest could take you anything between 2 and 5 hours...and can be quite treacherous at times.  There are quite a few good view points so climbing the mountain is definitely worth it.

The food in Thailand is delicious to say the least and eating at the same place everyday won’t mean the same boring food. We ate at our resort’s restaurant 3 times a day and enjoyed every meal. Local Thai dishes cooked by a family run restaurant – not much more we could have asked for.
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Travel to Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka.

Country/Town Visited: Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka
Date of stay:March / April 2011
Where you stayed: Hansa Surf Guesthouse
Tour or pre planned: Pre-planned

Picture a beautiful, almost untouched, pristine, white sandy beach, with half decent waves, surfers, coconut trees overhanging your balcony, warm weather, violent thunderstorms at night and endless sunny weather during the day. Welcome to Sri Lanka’s Hikkaduwa, the perfect beachside town on the south-west coast.

Locals and tourists here generally blend well.  There was no tension or animosity that existed when I was there and many tourists match up with locals and vice versa. A common interest which binds the Local and the Gringo is of course, cricket. I just happened to be there during the 2011 Cricket World Cup being staged jointly by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Beach Cricket was played by us almost every day which fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine. 

Sri Lankan people are very friendly, have a great sense of humor and make you feel welcome in their country. They are naturally very gifted cricketers and athletes in general and they are also very good with their hands - making jewellry, arts, crafts and ornaments.

The great thing about Hikkaduwa, given its south-west orientation, is that the sun sets on the water, making for a breath taking backdrop as you sip on your favourite drink by the beach. A beautiful site to see each night and no two sunsets are ever the same. One extraordinary night included a “moonset” where the moon revealed itself from underneath the nightly clouds and literally set in the same position as the sun when it goes down, then a few hours later occurred a golden sunrise over the jungle on the east side as I bathed in the warm water of the sea. I will never forget that.

Add to this picture Hikkaduwa’s stray dogs. There was “Calamari Ring”, who was a light brown coloured dog with a tail shaped like a freshly cooked calamari ring. There was “Buckle Boy”, who wore an old buckled belt. He was pretty feisty and liked to start play fights. Then there was “Diggy Marley” a reference to Ziggy Marley because of the reggae music played in the bar at the time and the fact that “Diggy” was digging a hole to park his arse into after a long day prowling the beach for food. They hang around generally and mean no harm.

The great thing about Hikkaduwa is that there is so much to do and it is yet to be completely ruined by tourism like other beachside towns around the world. Cancun and the Gold Coast spring to mind.  

There is the obvious activity of surfing. If you are like me and have no idea how to surf, Hikkaduwa might be the ideal place to start. The strength of the waves vary each day but you can get some baby waves to learn depending on the conditions. There are beginner lessons and hiring a board and an instructor varies from $10 USD to $40 USD. Or you can hire a surfboard from the hostel for around 100 rupees (less than 1 GBP). I preferred to watch people surf.

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Travel to Lesotho, South Africa.

Country/Town Visited: Lesotho, South Africa
Date of stay: April 2011
Where you stayed: Lumelang Guesthouse (Pitseng)
Tour or pre planned: Pre-planned visiting friends 

Our destination was Lesotho, known as the Kingdom of the Sky. It’s a tiny country, landlocked in the remote mountains of South Africa. To get there we drove from Johannesburg to Lesotho. 

Touching down in Johannesburg, I felt an incredible mix of emotions, unlike any I have ever felt before in my life. An uneasiness about landing in the city deemed “the rape capital of the world”, and an excitement about entering a completely foreign, exotic continent which I had only dreamed about.  Our friends had arranged a ride from the airport and we were met by man wearing a Scottish soccer jersey. He was the one to drive us, through what I believed to be the gauntlet of rapists, muggers and robbers that my wild imagination had constructed on the long 14 hour flight from Brisbane. Instead we were greeted by a beautiful smile and this was my first experience of the sincerity and kindness that the Basotho people completely encompass. We drove the entirety of the 7 hour journey accompanied by beautiful Sesotho Gospel Music. The only word to describe the experience: surreal. 

We arrived late at night and fell asleep quickly, only to awake to an incredible 360 degree view of mountains completely and utterly surrounding us (see image below). The feeling of which, I can only describe as “protected”. My anxieties and fears were gone as the sun rose over the landscape. The mountains around us felt Strong, Wise and Beautiful.  

The Sesotho formal greeting is. “Le Gay? Ki Tang. Where are you? I am here.” It is all about being present... The first Basotho person I met that morning, was a woman named Me Mapaballo. She greeted me with a warm welcoming smile, adorned with a giant bucket of water upon her head. As she passed it to me, I realised how heavy the bucket was and I dropped it to the floor, nearly knocking the entire bucket over. She cheerfully laughed at how I could not carry the water like she could. Me Mapaballo and I quickly became friends. I was surprised to learn that she was a Grandmother. One of the many grandmothers who help run the community and take care of the many orphans (including the children to her own children, who have passed away because of HIV – 1 in 3 people in Lesotho have HIV, making it the highest incidence of the disease in the world). She is also the first person that I have ever met that is HIV positive.

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Travel to Durban, South Africa.

Durban City Review: Durban, South Africa

Having moved to Duban (Durbs) from London just under a year ago now, I can still say that I’m no closer to being a Durbanite than the day we touched down at King Shaka International Airport. Durban is a city with a HUGE array of cultures and their eccentricities all mixed into one bowl and stirred with a sprinkle of curry powder. It will take years for me to localize here and I can’t wait to discover it all!!

Home to the infamous Bunny Chow, Durban is a smorgasbord for those with a love of curries. Not all the cuisine is Indian though, and for food lovers there is plenty of option. A favourite of mine is eating and drinking out in Florida Road – its hustle and bustle on a Friday night is infectious and no trip to Florida Road is complete without a pizza from Spiga’s. Be sure to book though, this place fills up quickly! Being one of South Africa’s busiest ports it’s not difficult to find some fresh fish on a plate….for those who like to catch what they eat, all you need is a rod. During the Sardinerun not only will you catch glimpses of whale & dolphins from the shore, but for the game fisherman this is a whole new ballgame. Scuba diving along the West Coast of South Africa during this phenomenon is world class and, coupled with some of the best weather and beaches SA has to offer, what better time to visit!?!? 

The province of Kwazulu-Natal, of which Durban is the largest City to, has even more to offer. Without going into too much detail in this write-up, on the doorstep of Durban’s threshold you have, to the North, the Nature reserves of Natal’s Wetlands and border to Mozambique (spectacular for all things wildlife; land and sea). To the South, the sleepy towns of the Hibiscus Coast with Blue Flag rated beaches and the world famous golf course of the Wild Coast (take a right and visit the hometown of Nelson Mandela and the capital of the Transkei, Umtata. Inland to the West there are the Mountains of the Drakensberg for all avid hikers and mountain bikers which borders the inland country of Lesotho, famously accessible via the Sani Pass (for the super brave on Mountain/Motor bike, or like we did, in a 4x4!!). 

Although Durban has some world-class hotels and accommodation, there is a massive camping and caravanning culture in South Africa (with the locals as well as with visitors). So grab a tent and hit some of the campsites that are right on the beach. There is also catering for the backpacker and one of the more popular companies to tour the Backpacker route with, is the Bazz Bus. I haven’t done this myself but read up on the details as this is a great option, not only for Kwazulu-Natal but also for South Africa, they do a very convenient route to all the best (more popular) backpackers in the country. 
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