London Commuting
“There’s nowt as funny as folk.” That’s a phrase my grandfather used a lot and he’s right. London is definitely the place to be if people-watching is your thing. London seems to be a magnet to such a variety of people and lots of the interesting ones you encounter on the buses. I was inspired to write this post yesterday. Whilst waiting for a bus on the Strand, I was approached by a chap whose hand was smeared in blood. He innocently asked me directions to Waterloo, as if nothing was unusual. The blood made this a bit scarier than the sleeping smelly old tramp who, one day on the…
Gulet sailing on the Turquoise Coast
The South West of Turkey has a gorgeous coastline and the best way to admire it and truly appreciate it is by spending a few days on a boat. Fortunately Turkish sailing boats, or gulets as the traditional wooden sail boats are called, sail along this coast all the time, so it is easy to join one. Where do Turkish gulets sail? Common routes are from Marmaris to Fethiye & from Fethiye to Olympos (although this route actually ends at Demre and involves a bus ride to Olympos). There are also lots of options around the Bodrum peninsular. What is it like? I have been lucky enough to go on…
Get Wrecked in Barbados
Barbados is a friendly little island with a great dive community. The dive centres based on the West Coast are blessed with easy proximity to a selection of wrecks, including the jewel in Barbados’s wreck-diving crown and some argue the most impressive wreck in the Caribbean. Stavronikita The Stavronikita (or ‘Stav’ as she is affectionately known locally) was sunk by the Barbados government in 1978. Due to having been sunk deliberately the Stav has been prepared for penetration and positioned well. She is 110m long and sits upright on the 40m deep seabed facing shore. The top of her mast is only 10m beneath the surface. Points of interest include…
Mountain climbing for beginners
Imagine my surprise one afternoon at work in Egypt, when two backpackers who I had taught to dive a few weeks earlier turned up in front of me asking me to teach their Advanced course. We had got on really well so I was delighted to see them again and when it turned out none of us had climbed Mount Sinai yet we decided to go together. Early start We met at an entirely inhuman hour and made our way to the meeting place. After what seemed like forever in a minibus bumping through the Sinai desert and the armed police check points in the hazy pre-dawn we came to…
Have a butchers at Londons markets
Whether you are looking for something specific or just keen to get in amongst the locals and soak up some of the atmosphere, London’s markets will not disappoint. There is always a market on somewhere in London and all sorts of treasures can be found. Keep your ears peeled for cockney rhyming slang too. The phrase ‘Have a butchers’ in my title means ‘have a look’ for example. London has many many markets.I have featured my favourites but there are lots more to explore. Camden Camden town has a thriving market scene. The largest market is by Camden Lock and it is possible to buy just about anything here. There…
Dahab Dive Sites
Dahab, as well as being a cool little settlement, is home to my favourite dive sites in Egypt. Unlike the reefs around Sharm El Sheikh the reefs here get far fewer visitors so are in better shape. While living in Dahab I taught many people to dive and had a fantastic time exploring the varied local dive sites, both by camel safari, believe it or not, and loading everything into a pickup truck. From deep blue holes to coral gardens it is all here. The reefs are in good nick, fish populations are healthy and there are lots of critters too. Here is my guide to the best dive sites in…
The Split Personality of Barbados
Barbados lies East of the Windward islands of the Caribbean and faces the wrath of the Atlantic alone. For an island exploding with culture and activities it is surprising how small it is. The island is only 21 x 14 miles (34 x 23 km) at its widest and it is amazing how much variety of scenery can be seen on such a trim little island. Each coastline has a unique character, but which is for you? West coast of Barbados The West coast of Barbados, or the Platinum coast as it is also known, hosts the stunning picture perfect beaches you see on the postcards and in the guidebooks.…
How to not get sick while travelling
Unfortunately a common side-effect of travelling is feeling ‘not quite right’. You may be very unlucky and actually get sick far from home. That means a trip to the doctor and is not what this post is about. This post is just my guide on how to avoid feeling a bit ropey on the road. Many things can cause this such as a change in climate or more commonly a change in diet. Here’s how to stay healthy while travelling. 1. Drink enough water We spend our lives being told that it is essential we drink enough water and nowhere is this more true than in warm climates. Getting dehydrated…
Visit the Heart of England: The pub
Britain has a thriving drinking culture. If you’ve seen the action at its peak on a Saturday night you might even call it raging. Pubs are very much part of British culture (if having over 53,000 didn’t make that clear) No visit to the UK is complete without at least one visit to a pub. You should probably visit several though to get a proper feel for the place…ahem. Samuel Pepys referred to the pub as ‘The heart of England’, which perhaps explains the drinking culture evident in Britain today. So, what is the difference between a pub and a bar? The first thing you will probably notice is that…
A day in Old Havana
Old Havana is the heart of the original capital city of Cuba. It is an exciting area of tiny narrow streets where characterful architecture sits side by side with desperate decay and the area is deservedly a UNESCO world heritage site. The old quarter is fairly compact, so is easy to get around on foot, although it is a warm walk in the Caribbean heat. We started at the Plaza Vieja, and no sooner had we begun we had encountered Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Plaza Vieja (or Old Square) is a quiet and leafy square with several stalls set up selling second hand books. Most of the books were…
