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Climbing Kilimanjaro – Rock Climbing to Shira Camp

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Ahabu Phillip
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Kilimanjaro Trekking

I soon realised second day was meant to be shorter, just the four hours trekking, but as it turns out short doesn’t equal easier. Figure that! Now we were definitely climbing a mountain.

As we started we thought we might be lucky enough and not get torrential rain. We had good chances as well as the morning started of misty with no rain. But that didn’t last long. Bugger!

 

Not feeling as wet as the day before we felt it’s about time to man up and get going. And God did we do some serious climbing through narrow steep inclines littered with rocks, crossing streams whilst playing hopscotch with rocks, traversing wet rocky ridges with sheer drops and walking the odd flat narrow rocky bit.

Now,  climbing Kilimanjaro was one of the best things I could have done and I am thrilled I managed to go to the top.

The guides

Whilst the terrain was harder on day two I found it better as it was shorter and more adventurous and I couldn’t have done it without our guides Wilson and John. They showed us the best routes all the way and kept encouraging me when I felt I was about to faint.

Both climb Kilimanjaro twice a month as guides and you can tell. They see climbing Kili as just another day at work whilst I was soldiering through the wet and tough bits questioning why I am doing this again!?

The guides were absolute heroes though and they play a vital part in the challenge. I wrote an inside into a Guide’s life on the Kilimanjaro Tours blog. If you want to find out more about Wilson and John you can read the article here.

End of Day two – hip hip hooray!

We arrived at Shira camp a lot earlier than day one, so we had extra drying time (whoop whoop!).

As I sat in the Mess tent (the dining and chilling out tent) I looked outside for shadows aka I was sun spotting.  Fortunately, the sun delighted us with his presence for a bit so everybody rushed to dry their things.

At this point I dreaded the fact I had to go on an acclimatization walk to help me adjust to tomorrow’s altitude. Luckily, the guide came and told the group it was going to rain and so all drying had to come inside and we went back to our tent for some rest until dinner.

For the equipment the guys bring up the mountain they put a pretty impressive feed on and that warms you up a treat.

This is the second part of Lloyd’s diary guide to tackling the beast – aka: Climbing Kilimanjaro.

Experience Gaziantep: Culinary Capital of Turkey

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Tina Walsh visits Gaziantep, considered by Turks to be the world capital of baklava

The mercury is nudging 40°C and I’m standing in the middle of an industrial-sized kitchen, sporting a voluminous, white baker’s jacket, hairnet and pale blue plastic shoe covers.

I’ve come to Gaziantep in south-east Turkey to visit the Güllüoglu bakery, one of the country’s best-known baklava producers, with outlets in Paris, New York and Athens, to see how they make the famous syrupy dessert. So prized is Gaziantep baklava (as are the pistachios grown on farms around the town) that earlier this year it was awarded ‘protected status’ by the European Union.

As we make our way round the building, my guide and local food expert, Filiz Hösükoğlu, translates while owner Omer Güllüoglu explains each stage of the process, from rolling out the filo pastry until it’s gossamer thin, filling it with pistachio nuts and syrup (honey is for amateurs, I’m told) to baking it in the wood-fired oven.

There are claimed to be 180 or more baklava shops
in Gaziantep (known locally as Antep), one of the world’s
oldest continuously inhabited cities, dating back to the Hittites in 1600BC and situated on the old Silk Road trading route.

“It takes 15 years to become a master baker,” says Mr Güllüoglu, a genial man in his early fifties. “We still make baklava the way my grandfather made it back in the 1920s, without much modern technology. Not many bakers in Turkey do that.” As if on cue, an elderly man in a crocheted kufi (Islamic cap) appears tentatively from behind an oven and peers at us. “Mustafa has been here since I was a baby,” says his boss, fondly.

Foreign visitors often overlook Turkey’s south-east region in favour of Istanbul and the bigger Mediterranean resorts but they are missing a trick. Not only is it packed with ancient archaeological sites but it has a long and proud culinary history. Passed down by the Ottomans, whose empire at its height in the 16th and 17th centuries spanned three continents, the region’s influences come from Asia, south-eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

After testing the finished baklava – a light, crispy golden brown dollop that melts in the mouth – Filiz and I make our way to Gaziantep’s Elmaci Pazari (Apple Bazaar) in the old part of the city. Like all Turkish food markets, it’s a kaleidoscope of colours, smells and textures unfamiliar to most west Europeans. People in Gaziantep cook food in the traditional way, using lots of fresh produce and seasonal ingredients. “Cooking here is considered an art,” Filiz tells me, as we walk past shop fronts piled high with flame red chilli flakes, figs, olives and mounds of unpronounceable, brightly coloured spices.A two-and-a-half hour drive west of Gaziantep, towards the Mediterranean coast, lies the ancient city of Tarsus, birthplace of St Paul the Apostle.

During the Roman Empire, Tarsus was the capital of the province of Cilicia, scene of the first meeting between Mark Antony and Cleopatra. You can still see part of the Roman road – unearthed by accident during construction work in the early 1990s – where the ill-fated lovers are said to have held their trysts.

Today, the town is a collection of cobbled streets and old Ottoman wooden houses, many of them being renovated or turned into boutique hotels in time for the opening of Tarsus’ first international airport in 2017.

In the little bazaar, I stop to look at an exquisitely crafted silver bracelet and am invited to try some kaynar. A Tarsus speciality, this hot drink is made from ginger, sugar, water and spices and is surprisingly refreshing.

Once past Mersin, a large port city on the Mediterranean coast about 40 minutes south west of Tarsus, there are plenty of places to swim and sunbathe Narlikuyu, a pretty coastal village 40 miles south of Mersin, has a handful of popular seafood restaurants dotted round a sheltered harbour. Taking a dip here is an experience: the clear, turquoise water is fed by an underground stream from the nearby Cennet and Cehennem (Heaven and Hell) caves and is, by turns, deliciously warm and freezing cold. A group of Turkish tourists (there’s hardly a foreign one in sight) are yelping and splashing around, gesturing to their friends feasting on buttered prawns, grouper fish and battered calamari on the rocky promontory, to come and join them.

As I slip, replete, from my own table into the water, I promise myself I’ll come back to south east Turkey before long to discover more of what’s on the menu.

Eat like a local

Local dishes to try include lahmacun (pronounced la-ma-jun), a thin, round flatbread coated with diced minced lamb, spices, chopped tomatoes and green pepper; simit kebab, kebab made with fine grain bulgur wheat, pistachio nuts, minced lamb and garlic; and damat dolmasi, baby courgettes stuffed with lamb, almonds, rice and pistachios.

WAY TO GO

Pegasus Airlines(Tel: 0845 0848 980 / flypgs.com) operates flights from Stansted to Gaziante via
Istanbul and Izmir.

Culinary Backstreets (culinarybackstreets.com) offers a three-day food tour of Gaziantep from $1,100 (£680) per person, including food and drink, private transfers and accommodation.

For other options along the Mediterranean coast, Ramblers Holidays offers several package tours, including walking (Tel: 01707 331133 / ramblersholidays.co.uk) while several operators feature the Lycian Way, including Headwater (Tel: 01606 828560 / headwater.com) and The Discovery Collection (Tel: 01371 859 733 / discovery-collection.com).

Visit Faroe Islands: Walk on the wild side

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Faroe Islands

Andy Jarosz discovers dramatic scenery, abundant birdlife and a welcoming community in the remote Faroe Islands

Have you heard the one about the Prime Minister, the clergyman and the policeman chasing a runaway sheep? A ridiculous story in most parts of the world, but an everyday tale on the Faroe Islands, where everyone plays their part in helping a small but determined population survive in this remote North Atlantic outpost.

The Faroe Islands are made up of 18 islands and lie around 200 miles north of Scotland. The population of 45,000 has its own Faroese language, although the islands fall under Danish control. It’s a driver’s delight to negotiate the islands’ quiet roads, with spectacular views of the landscape broken only by the tunnels which cut through the mountains or pass under the sea as a link to the main centres of population.

The Faroese people retain a fiercely independent nature and the islands’ isolation has played a major part in forming its unique culture. I meet Joannes Patursson, the 17th generation of his family to occupy the wooden farmhouse at Kirkjubøur, near the capital of Torshavn. Kirkjubøur traces its origins back to the 11th century, when the island’s bishops built a spiritual centre on the site; the 14th-century ruin of Magnus Cathedral still stands beside the farmhouse. “You could say this is the world’s oldest log cabin,” Joannes tells me as we chat in his living room, surrounded by family heirlooms and portraits of his ancestors. He describes how the sense of community among the Faroese remains very strong by necessity, with neighbours, family and friends helping out in the farming and fishing efforts and food shared out among the whole community. As Joannes explains, “When a farmer needs extra help, you go, no matter what your status is, whether you’re a policeman, a doctor or even the Prime Minister.”

In summer, the Faroe Islands are home to millions of sea birds and are a popular place to see everyone’s favourite, the puffin. I take the eight-minute helicopter ride from the airport to Mykines, a largely barren island bordered by tall cliffs with only the hamlet by the harbour a clue to any sign of human influence. Michael Davidsen, a retired fisherman, leads me up the steep path towards the puffin grounds. As we walk, he tells me about the gradual demise of the population on Mykines, which peaked at around 170 in 1940 but has now dropped to just nine permanent residents living in five of the village’s 40 houses. Most are elderly and when I ask about the community’s future in 20 years’ time, Michael shakes his head. “Maybe it won’t last for ten more years.”

The human population may be dwindling but the birds occupy Mykines in great numbers. It’s over an hour’s walk to the old lighthouse at the western end of the island and we stop along the way to watch as hundreds of puffins flap their wings frantically in low passes above our path, landing clumsily into the wind along the cliff edge. Kittiwakes perch on narrow ledges above the swell, guarding their nests and a few tiny heads occasionally pop out from below their mothers to squawk into the sea air.

Although Torshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands, it barely ranks as a small town, with a population of just 20,000 people. I explore the town with local guide Unn á Lað, who points out the modest parliament building and the Danish representative’s house. As we pass the Prime Minister’s house, I’m delighted to realise that I could ring on his doorbell if I wanted to and Unn tells me that he’s often seen walking around the town.

The jewel of Torshavn is Tinganes, the site of the original parliament in Viking times and now a charming collection of tightly-packed wooden houses on a small peninsula jutting out into the harbour. I ask Unn about the grass roofs which are commonplace here and across the islands. “They’re much easier to maintain and can last for 50 years. All you need to do is cut the grass once a year.” And as Unn explains, sometimes even that is an easy task. “In some villages they just put a sheep on the roof and let it graze.”

famous knitwear

Stopping at the Gudrun & Gudrun design shop, I meet one of the shop’s founders, Gudrun Rogundottir. Gudrun tells me about her women’s empowerment campaigns which involves many of her products being made by women in Peru and Jordan. Her most iconic design was seen by international TV audiences in the Danish detective series, The Killing, worn by the heroine, Sarah Lund. “I was displaying a collection in Copenhagen when someone came and told me that one of my sweaters was exactly what they were looking for,” she says. A while later, she saw the garment feature in the hit TV show and since then she has had requests from all over the world.

Rowing is an important part of Faroese tradition and at Runavik on the island of Eysturoy, I catch an afternoon of races taking place in the fjord, joining a lively crowd of onlookers who are cheering on the rowers. A local man takes a break from the action to explain the events to me. These are regional heats and the teams are slugging it out to compete in the big annual races that take place in Torshavn every July. I ask what the winners receive. “There’s no big prize,” he tells me. “Just the glory of winning for your village.” This is typical of the Faroe Islands, where everywhere I go, I am struck by the strong sense of community, of people working together to survive in this remote and challenging environment, their warmth in direct contrast to the wild and often dramatic landscapes.

WAY TO GO

Sunvil offers tailor-made holidays in the Faroe Islands; from £1,091 for a week, including flights,car hire and accommodation (Tel: 020 8758 4772 / sunvil.co.uk).

Regent Holidays has an eight-day group tour, including the island of Streymoy, Eysturoy and Torshavn, from £1,995 (Tel: 020 7666 1290 / regent-holidays.co.uk)

Taber Holidays is offering a four-night tour to the Faroes on March 17, 2015 to view and celebrate the total solar eclipse, the last such event visible in Europe until 2026. From £1,299pp including flights taxes, transfers and accommodation (Tel: 01274 875 199 / www.taberhols.co.uk).

How to travel through Spain: 4 Cities in 4 Days

By
Ahabu Phillip
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Travel through Spain

Problem

As a full time worker I only have a certain number of holidays per year. 29 to be exact. How do you split them throughout a year to get your travel needs fulfilled and see the best places while relaxing and experiencing the best of a city?

Solution:

Take two days of holiday moved over from last year plus one day from this year and add a weekend. That’s how I got myself the days of pure Spanish bliss. Alternatively add a bank holiday and a weekend taking the plane out on a Friday after work.

I always wanted to see Andalucía and with only four days there wasn’t much leeway. Planning was essential. This is how to travel through Spain and see four cities in four days, completing a Spanish Travel Marathon.

Day One: Malaga

We arrived in Malaga at about 9 pm thinking of spending there Thursday night and Friday afternoon. After we checked in at Oasis hostel we went to dinner to have my first six tapas in the #worldoftapas challenge (more about that in the next post) then went on a pub crawl organised by the Hostel.

Let me just say Oasis is absolutely brilliant. It’s a party hostel, thus not for everyone’s taste, but it was perfect for what we were looking for. Stayed in a 10 bed dorm with an ensuite bathroom for £10 per person. Bargain!

Also, staying at the hostel meant we could go out and see what the nightlife is like with other travellers like us and locals as well, so we didn’t get lost and got into the best clubs.

Not so good for the next morning when we went on a walking tour with a hangover, but totally worth it.

One thing I learned is that walking tours are maybe not the best choice when you only have a day in a city. We spent three hours on it and got kinda bored. His English was quite bad and his tone of voice made me want to lay down and sleep. I swear I will never get a better guide as the guy in Dublin.

Tipping point: If you have a few days in one place get yourself on a walking tour to see the top places the first day and then go back by yourself and explore at your own pace. If you only have one day, get a map and walk around. You’ll get much more out of it.

Day Two: Seville

After the walking tour we walked around a bit and had lunch at El Pimpi Bodega Bar(most famous in Malaga for traditional delicious food and good wine). It lives up to its reputation. Amazing food at more than reasonable prices with a spectacular view of the Roman theatre and the Alcazaba environment.

Delighted by the food and enchanted by the city we decided it’s time to head to our next destination: Seville.

Train to Seville was 25 Euros pp and only takes 2 h. We bought them on the spot and were quite lucky our cards didn’t work at the machine and had to go at the till. If the machines worked, tickets were 45 Euros – almost double and it didn’t display the train we wanted to take.

Tipping point: Ticket machines in Spain have a weird display system so go to the till to get your tickets to avoid paying double.

In Seville we stayed at Sylvia Cocopia – we met at TBEX Dublin, and she was waiting for us ready with a bottle of wine and more tapas. Winner! Needless to say, according to Spanish night out tradition we had a bottillon till 2 am before going out.

Exhausting, really!

Living in Manchester for almost three years has turned me into a softy. Cannot go out till six am anymore and evidence of that: I fell asleep on a chair in one of the clubs around five am. Sorry Sylvia!

Next morning we woke up really early and starting exploring Seville. Perfect weather and lovely city. We walked from the centre to Plaza de Espana and even caught the International Women’s Day protest.

And a street performance of flamenco

Plaza de Espana was lovely and it is one of the most beautiful plazas in Spain. Fact! We walked through the plaza, enjoyed the sunshine and got a bit jealous of the people on the boat rides. None of us knows how to row and with my bad luck we decided that’s an activity for next time. We also had a stroll through Parque Maria Luisa, which is connected.

Fact of the day: Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars 1 and 2 were filmed there.

After a bit of a tan and lunch at a terrace – which got my tapas number up to 10, we had to go get our bags to move to the next destination.

Initial plan was to stay in Seville two nights (Friday and Saturday) and then go straight to La Herradura to celebrate Eliza’s birthday. Plans change though, so we had to leave on Saturday. But where?

Well, it only took five min to decide: Granada! Booked the hostel (Oasis again – liked it THAT much!!) and packed our bags, took the train and off we went to the hippest, most youthful city with a culture of free tapas.

Train tickets are 23 Euros And it only takes three hours from Seville.

Day 3: Granada

Saturday we got a bit late at the hostel but checked in and in the first five minutes we were already signed up for a pub crawl. Woop wooop!

Have to mention I was a bit disappointed with the room at the hostel. Compared to the exact same room we had in Malaga this one was awful. No space to move, beds too small, bathroom on the hallway. Not the same. Anyway, we weren’t there for the mints on the pillow so got ready for the party. Only the party was cancelled.

And did I mention we also got lost on our way there? Not such a good start in Granada!

Luckily for us we met some mates from none other than ….drum rolls please…Manchester! It’s a small world after all. We went out with them and had a hilarious night. Laughed so much my face was hurting. At the end of the night promised to have a do over in Manc Land soon.

Sunday morning we walked around Sevilla and wanted to go into Alhambra, the most well-known monument of the city and one of the most visited in Spain. It has a defensive area, the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces, named after the Dinasty of the Kingdom of Granada, and the Gardens of the Generalife.

Point is: Make sure you book tickets in advance as you won’t manage to get in unless you get there at 7 am.

We couldn’t, so lesson learned and promise made to go back again. However, we did get to meet a very nice Serbian man that was making a living by making people smile with his parrot. The happy dude with his parrot made me face my fear of birds and gave me the parrot for a picture.

Granada is hip and youthful but for me it seemed more hippy than anything else and I am too much of a busy metropolitan city girl to love it. Sorry Granada.

Nice building architecture and the Islamic influences really give it a different vibe to other Spanish cities but it’s just not my kind of place.

If I missed anything that could change my mind please do tell in the comments.

Day 4: Beach time at La Herradura

With Granada done and ticked it was time to get ourselves some proper beach time so we hopped on a bus to La Herradura. This is a small village half way between Malaga and Granada (2 hours by bus, 6 Euros tickets).

Got there and went for free tapas and most importantly wine, to start celebrating Eliza’s birthday. Night ended wonderfully at a beach bar called La Cochera having a glass of fine Spanish wine and listening to the most perfect playlist I ever heard.

Tipping Point: You can search for it on Spotify. I recommend searching for all their playlists actually. Just type La Cochera LaHerradura.

Monday just went on to be one of the best days: pictures by the beach, sitting in the sun eating free tapas and drinking wine. All day! It’s their fault really, giving free food for every glass of beer/wine you get. Did I mention it was only 3 Euros as well? #IloveSpain

In La Herradura I managed to complete the World of Tapas challenge: 30 tapas and over. Here’s a sneak preview:

For you to get the most out of your annual holiday maybe doing the marathon we did is a bit too much. Yes, we got to see four beautiful cities in Andalucía but we only scratched the surface. I want to go back and get more out of them. But it can be done.

Travel between cities at night between 6pm-11pm so you have a whole day to walk in one city and the night life of the other. It’s all about balance and planning. Also, if you want to skip Seville to visit it on its own, you can. Actually, I recommend it.

And it’s probably easier travel wise.

Bus from Malaga to La Herradura costs six euros and takes only two hours. Same goes for Granada to La Herradura or Almunecar if you wish to get a beach day and a day in the city. Win-Win!

More about the #worldoftapas challenge and photos to prove I did it in the next post. Plus, I met an Andalusian chef in Malaga (Ramon from Patanes Cocineros) and I have an interview scheduled with him. If you want a bit of insight into Andalusian food and drool all over the screen stay tuned.

Can you do a travel marathon or done one already? Let me know in the comments and mention how you managed to do it.

I might just need another holiday after this holiday.

Choosing the Right Travel Bag

By
Ahabu Phillip
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Backpack

One of the important things you need to consider when traveling is to find the right travel bag to help you get to your destination without any hassles. You can check out eBay and other shopping  as they have a huge collection of travel bags to choose from, each to suit every style and budget

In my case, I prefer to bring a spacious bag during my travel. I like a bag that has wheels and strong handles so I can easily be maneuver it from place to place. However, I also use other bags depending on what type of travel I am into.  Here are some of the bags which you might consider for your next travel.

Backpacks

Backpacks have always been very popular for most travelers especially to those who travel light. My husband loves to use backpacks in his travels because it’s very easy to carry around and it can store a lot of things. The only downside of using a backpack is that it will make your clothes being a bit squashed but it isn’t a big problem at all. Just don’t over-pack it.

You can also opt to use a wheeled backpack if you feel that it will be heavier and uncomfortable for you to be carrying it in your entire travel. A laptop backpack is also best if ever you will be carrying along your laptop.

Luggage Bags and Suitcases

If you’re traveling to countries or places where you will be spending short holidays, suitcases are perfect travel bags for you. I suggest that you buy a durable suitcase so you won’t end up having suitcases with no wheels or handles.

Duffle Bags or Weekend Bags

Duffle bags are great to use especially on weekend vacations, overnight trips and road trips. These kinds of bags make your belongings easy to access. Similar to a backpack, they are also lightweight and are easy to carry.

Shoulder Bags

Shoulder bags are a good option for anyone who can travel super light.  These include satchels, totes, cross-body bags and briefcase. These are great for short trips and weekend vacations.

The World’s Most Romantic Buildings

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Ahabu Phillip
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Taj Mahal India

Romantic places come in all shapes and sizes and are found throughout the world. From buildings made in the memory of a lost love to popular proposal places and fairy-tale castles, the stories and myths behind these iconic structures will always stir the heart of any traveller.

1.    Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal is a monument of eternal love. In 1907 Prince Khurram was walking through the Meena Bazaar when he caught a glimpse of a girl selling silk and glass beads, Mumtaz Mahal. It was love at first sight for the Prince and they were later married. The Prince became the Emperor and had many wives, but Mumtaz Mahal was his favourite and went everywhere with him, even on military campaigns. Unfortunately, whilst giving birth to their 14th child Mumtaz died. On her deathbed, the Emperor promised that he would never remarry and would build the richest mausoleum over her grave.

It is said that the Prince was so heart broken that he ordered the court to enter two years of morning. Sometime after his beloved’s death he undertook the task of erecting the world’s most beautiful monument in her memory. It took 22 years and 22,000 workers to complete the Taj Mahal. The lovers are buried in tombs next to each other.

Highlights: New and Old Delhi, Toy Train rail journey to Shimla, Shimla and the Shivalik Himalaya, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Amber Fort, the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, Palace of the Wind

2.    Juliet’s Balcony, Verona

The coat of arms on the internal archway of the courtyard testifies that the Casa di Giulietta belong to ‘Dal Cappello’ or ‘Cappelletti’. The building dates back to the 13th century and features the famous balcony where Romeo promised Juliet his eternal love, in the tragic Shakespeare play. The tale of the star-crossed lovers is well known throughout the world and is one of the most romantic tales of all time. There is also a statue of Juliet that unmarried people touch, for good luck in finding the love of their life.

Highlights: Sirmione, scenic rail journey to Milan, Cruise to Malcesine, Verona, Mantova & the Ducal Palace, Sigurta Gardens, wine tasting and dinner at a traditional country wine estate in Valpolicella, Venice with a guided walking tour, free time in Venice & Sirmoine

3.    Kodia-Ji Temple, Kyoto

Another building that was built for a deceased love. Building monuments for a deceased spouse was a common practice in Japan. The widow of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, wanted a temple to match the accomplishments of her husband, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was one of the unifiers of Japan. Therefore after his death she had the Kodia-Ji Temple built, which includes a shrine to her husband, where she could pray for his soul.

Highlights: Tokyo and Hiroshima, Miyajima Island tour, Kyoto and a traditional Japanese dinner, historic Nara, Takayama, Hida Folk Village & Matsumoto Castle, Mount Fuji and Hakone Park, Lake Ashi and Owakudani Springs

 

4.    Bellagio Fountain, Vegas

What could be more romantic than a unique water, light and music show? There’s nothing quite like seeing the Bellagio Fountain in person. Fountains often feature when thinking of romantic places and the Bellagio should be no exception. Each fountain show is unique and designed to romance the senses. More than a thousand fountains dance in front of the hotel, enhanced by music and light, and it is known as a key destination for Vegas proposals.

Highlights: San Francisco including a visit to Alcatraz, Yosemite National Park, Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon and the Grand Canyon Railroad, LA and Hollywood, RMS Queen Mary and Long Beach, Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur.

5.    Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria

A true fairytale castle, Neuschwanstein Castle is said to be the inspiration behind Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. The mind behind the castle was King Ludwig, who is also known as the “Fairytale King”. He built the castle in honour of his favorite composer, Richard Wagner. The castle was the first of its kind, instead of the dark medieval castles; Ludwig used bright, light colours in a stunning location.

Highlights: Fussen, St Mang’s Abbey, Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau, Journey on the Zugspitze Railway, Nuremberg

If you want to explore some of these place, Great Rail Journeys offer trips with experienced guides.

Carefree in Kerala

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Kerala India

India can overwhelm the first-time western visitor with its unfamiliar sights, sounds and aromas, which is why John Lewisohn chose to take his children off the beaten track to tranquil Kerala for their first holiday outside Europe. This gentle introduction to the sub-continent proved a winner, with extracts from daughter Daisy’s diary demonstrating her wonder and delight

The fragrance of magnolia carried through the window by a sudden gust of wind roused me from a deep sleep. This was followed by a clap of thunder, lightning and torrential monsoon rain hammering on the roof.

I rushed on to the wet verandah, skidding downstairs to where my children, 10-year-old Daisy and eight-year-old Jonah, slept. They were sitting up in bed, the younger looking a bit scared. ‘The Young Maharajah’, as the staff called him, asked if this was the monsoon rain we had discussed; Kerala, in the southwest province of India, is at its wettest, hottest and most humid in the spring and early summer.

Chitoor Kottaram, the summer palace of a former Maharajah of Cochin, can only be reached by boat on a one-hour trip from Cochin. It was the second of our hotels in Kerala and is part of the CGH Earth group, which specialises in eco-friendly holiday experiences in a variety of locations in the region.

With just two bedrooms, this ‘one-key’ property now provides an exclusive retreat for one family at a time, looked after by a coterie of smiling staff. It was hard not to be beguiled by the permanence of the 200-year-old building, set amid landscaped lawns, with views of the famed Kerala backwaters.

ON THE WATERFRONT

Having travelled to Southern India previously, Kerala seemed to me to be the ideal destination to take a first family holiday outside Europe. We spent 16 days taking a fairly well trodden route from Cochin and staying at different properties, mostly owned by the CGH Earth group.

Emerging from Cochin airport a couple of days earlier, we had been hit by a wall of humidity that was a shock to systems used to chilly English weather. The drive to Brunton Boatyard Hotel took a couple of hours and mesmerised my children. I remembered my first morning in India as a backpacker and was keen to see India through their eyes; it was fascinating watching them trying to take in all the sights, sounds and smells.

Within minutes, they had seen an entire family on a moped, six water buffalo crammed into a ramshackle vehicle, a wiry cyclist pedalling along with an entire hay bale on a trailer behind, and a multi-coloured truck that had recently fallen into a ditch, surrounded by a crowd of men gibbering away in an unintelligible dialect.

Brunton Boatyard, on the Cochin waterfront, provides an evocative introduction to Kerala. The lobby, overhung with enormous old-fashioned fans, suggests the property’s nautical past. A former boatyard, it was spacious and cool and enclosed shady green lawns and fragrant, flowering trees. Our suite had huge windows opening on to a private balcony which overlooked Cochin harbour and islands.

Satich, who was to be our companion for the next 10 days, drove us to our third overnight stay, Mundackal Homestay in Kothamangalam, which proved to be something entirely different. Our hosts, Jose, and my daughter’s namesake, another Daisy, were extremely welcoming, and we took a tour of the estate, where the fertile soil ensures an extraordinary variety of fruits, herbs and vegetables.

Daisy specialises in Keralan Christian cooking and provided at least 10 mouth-watering curries at every meal. My children loved using their fingers to eat from the traditional banana leaves on which the food was served.

While at Mundackal, we visited a bird sanctuary and saw many exotic species.

We also went to an elephant orphanage and followed the animals when they had their wash in the local river. This ritual was as close to Mowgli and Rudyard Kipling’s the Jungle Book as one could imagine.

Our next stop was Coconut Lagoon on Lake Vembanad, reached by barge down the backwaters. The hotel is idyllically located overlooking the lake, each cottage made from reclaimed timber, clay and palm leaves, with an exotic outdoor shower. Coconut Lagoon was also the start of our 24-hour backwater trip on a wonderfully appointed rice barge, which had two air-conditioned bedrooms and spacious living quarters.

Our progress down the sparkling waterway might suddenly reveal a small village containing all the elements of Indian village life: a man dozing in his rickshaw, women doing their washing, a wall with a poster promoting a well-fed candidate for the Communist Party.

EXTRAORDINARY MEMORIES

Our transit to Periyar Tiger & Jungle reserve, in the hills of the Western Ghats, provided increasingly cooler temperatures. We climbed through astonishingly rich forests to our final CGH Earth property, The Spice Village in Periyar. Again we had our own cottages, thatched this time.

Within the grounds of the hotel was an extraordinary bar containing hundreds of black and white photos of the conservationists who helped set up the nature reserve and the hunters who helped kill its wildlife, both peculiarities of the Raj. For our part, we had a half-day trip to see more elephants in Periyar, this time riding them, watching them work and then washing them. Our final destination was the Taj Vivanta in Kovalam, set in beautiful landscaped gardens, with luxurious rooms. While in town, we took a rickshaw to the local fishing village, a photographer’s delight as the meagre catches were bought up by local restaurateurs.

Our penultimate day took us to Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. The heat was oppressive and we visited the main market, which provided an epic landscape populated by specially adapted delivery vehicles, cows wandering down the streets and stalls selling an extraordinary array of colourful products, including 30 varieties of yellow, black and red bananas.

For a family, an all-inclusive resort can tick a lot of boxes, but can such a holiday provide so many extraordinary memories as a trip to Kerala? It offered an almost ‘India-lite’ version of the sub-continent, the perfect introduction to this amazing country that will hopefully whet my children’s appetite to return.

Las Vegas Tours

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Unnecessary to say, the most beneficial and cost-effective way to journey anywhere in Las  Vegas would have to be using a leased lease bus Vegas Tours automobile like a lease bus, trainer lease, traveler bus, celebration bus or small bus but this, we have to add, is not the only way to have a good journey of the town. Consider yourself fortunate if you get the opportunity to journey Pond Mead, one of Vegas Tours most popular place around the globe. Not only are we endowed with sunlight all season long, but Mom Characteristics has been type to the residents and provides us with a significant place outside.

Silver Reasoning journey gives visitors, visitors and vacation merry-makers to journey Lake Mead, Machine Dam, Denver River and Huge Gorge all in one awesome drive in a helicopter! You will get to see factors from a very different viewpoint because factors are just so small when you are right up there, viewing nature from a birds eye perspective. And we can bet our base money on the point that not many of us gets the benefit of viewing the globe go by from the sky even on a vacation via a bus lease Vegas Tours magnificent automobile. As a reward, the journey will also let you in on the awesome vision that the vanished volcanic Ft Mountain and the wild animals around it. Make sure to take lots of images of the Dish of fire if the chopper happens to encompass around this awesome find… it will definitely, without a smidgen of question, take your breathing away.

Needless to say, you can always hit the floor with an ATV or an off-road automobile like a Hummer or an SUV which you can find and lease anywhere around Pond Mead place. With the automobile, Pond Mead, Machine Dam and Denver is at your convenience. Instead of only viewing it from very far, you will get the opportunity to get up near and person with these popular places during your bus lease Vegas Tours journey… something which we consider a benefit to a few who actually take the time to appreciate these organic amazing things around the globe. A journey guideline is available for those who are different with the place.

If, however, seeing Lake Mead is your main goal, then getting the lake Mead Wasteland Queen Touring Tour might be your cup of tea. The journey is taken by way of a vessel or jet ski, based on your choice. For the amazing, take the jet skis and if your bus lease Las Vegas team visitors choose a more soothing journey, take the vessel.

For trips in and around other areas of Vegas Tours, we suggest using one of our incredibly magnificent Vegas Tours celebration bus, of course and we cannot delay to be an aspect of your experience soon.

Cornish Gin Tasting Experience

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Ahabu Phillip
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You a gin lover?

Silly, question. Everyone is at the moment. I was a massive whiskey drinker and keep waiting for it to have a comeback.

Quite like it’s origin as well with it being created for medicinal purposes. That’s what I call a make over.

From medicine to the most popular drink in the UK. Not too shabby.

How to enjoy a good gin

What better than to combine the well-known health benefits of being by the sea with the artisanal juniper berry creations from six beautiful Cornish distilleries. 

Now, thanks to Newquay’s Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa, Cornish locals and everyone else can raise their spirits with a special coastal adventure Gin experience from the comfort of the hotel’s Bay Bar, or terrace, both with sweeping views out across the Atlantic.

Really have to say thanks to the bar team at the hotel’s Bay Bar because guests can celebrate and celebrate the area’s exceptional clear spirits, with their own Fistral Gin Tray which includes six more-than-generous measures of the local award winning gins including Tarquin’s, Trevethan and Curio.

Just to my liking. 

The gin experience also comes with an illustrated gin map, tasting notes and suggested pairing garnishes, alongside the ultimate tonics from Fevertree.

Under the September sun and with the fresh Cornish sea breeze, Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa’s Bay Bar is THE spot to pop to for some gorgeous drinks. 

Don’t know about you but I could use both right now. Manchester weather’s been appalling lately.

Expertly chosen and mixed, Gin fans can sip the afternoon or evening away through the array of  award-winning Cornish gins from the south and north Cornish coasts, exploring the light flavour addition of garnishes, and the sensory experience that they add to the complex and botanically beautiful Cornish gins on offer.

As well as being served six generous gin pouring’s, tonics and garnishes for just £25 per tray, Fistral Gin Experience guests can also match their drinks with a delicious Cornish charcuterie board for an additional £10.

I actually had a chance to talk to the Head Bartender, James, who said,

“Lots of our guests and visitors are intrigued by the array of Cornish gins that we have here on our bar, and are always keen to try to more artisan local options. 

So we’ve created this whole experience for them, with the illustrated map that tells the stories, and provides the tasting notes, for each of the six gins within the adventure. 

All served on the one tray, it’s already going down a storm and we’re looking forward to introducing hundreds of our autumn and winter guests to these exceptional local spirits over the coming months.” 

So yeah, worth popping in to enjoy Fistral Gin throughout autumn.

My Blake Lively Surfing Moment

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Ahabu Phillip
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I saw that shark film recently with Blake Lively in, The Shallows. It’s not the best shark movie out there as Emma, the biggest shark fan I know, would tell you.

But there’s one scene in it that I loved. The surfing one.

And I remember her awesome surfing skills and how amazing that part looked.

I want to do that!

So I frantically started Googling surfing in the North as I know Chris from Backpacker Banter once mentioned something about surfing either in the North or even Wales. No way I can go to Cornwall just for a surfing trip when I’ve never surfed before.

Had to get some serious research done.

And after a bit of time trolling the internet I found it.

The place where you can actually surf in Wales.

Surfing in Wales

I guess I should’ve thought better about the Wales part.

Surfing in Wales and surfing in Lord Howe Island, Queensland is a bit different.

But I wasn’t going to let something like weather stop me from having my Blake Lively moment.

I kept searching until I found Surfsnowdonia. They do like man made waves.

Office for the day at @surfsnowdonia #surfsnowdonia #northwales 🌊🏄🏻⛰

A post shared by Matt Lee (@mattlee18) on

Instagram from Matt who was with us. 

It’s a technology they use to create waves on demand. Which is quite cool actually.

You can read more about the technology bit on Wave Garden if you’re into that stuff.

What it is not cool though, is the temperature of the water. The wave garden is powered with water from the mountain. It’s like 100% pure water but f**k it’s cold.

It was like 3 degrees when I went, at the beginning of March.

Apparently, it gets warmer in summer but still.

The cool bit…. literally

The one hour session was epic but at a certain point my gloves split and the water was filling my hands. I could not feel a thing and was shaking with every fibre of my body.

And every time a wave came I was falling off my board and water would go underneath my wet suit.

It was NOT pleasant after a while.

With 15 minutes to go (about 12 waves) I was about to give up. If there’s one thing I can’t handle it’s the cold.

But I didn’t. Just a quick look at the guys next to me and their huge smiles and I knew I couldn’t be that person who quits and leaves friends.

I pushed through and to be fair, at the end I was pretty proud of myself.

The instructors

The instructor was really good.

He’s been surfing since he was a kid In Portugal and defo knew what he was doing. Super nice and helpful as well. Dealing with all the whining from us lot.

After the session, we all took a shower which again was pretty cold and then met the instructor for lunch and a hot beverage in their dining area.

It was lovely.

I didn’t get to have my Blake Lively moment but I am not giving up.

Had so much that I want to go back in summer – August preferably. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I wasn’t paid to write this, I genuinely like the place. Cause it’s cool and I had a good time, despite the cold temperatures that they can’t really control.

Liked it so much I am genuinely considering to have my hen do there.

I’m sure my hens wouldn’t mind going on this

Crash & Splash at @surfsnowdonia in #wales❤️ it’s such good fun

A post shared by Rodica (@uktravelroom) on

In the meantime, I developed a bit of an obsession with surfers and got some really cool recommendations for badass surfers to follow from Reddit.

Surfer goals – Bethany. Kickass badass surfer. Soo cool.

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Journeys Magazine is a travel publication with In-depth features on best destinations to visit, things to see. tips and advice to help you travel around the world.
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