Favourite London parks
A French friend of mine living in London, commented to me once that Paris had nowhere near the amount of open park space that London has and that it was one of the things that she loved most about London. Ironic really I thought, when we probably have the worst weather in Europe. Still, the London parks offer a welcome interruption from the cityscape and are free to visit. Interestingly, at the first hint of sunshine (even on cool but sunny days) they are strewn with barely-dressed Londoners desperate to have even a hint of a tan. Hyde Park Hyde Park is the largest in central London and is often…
Christmas in the UK
Are you contemplating spending winter in the UK? Winters in the UK are a reliably cold affair. Thankfully Christmas is in the middle of winter to cheer things up. Each town gets in on the Christmas decorating, not just Oxford Street, some as early as November. Christmas trees spring up everywhere and once the Christmas Party season starts, everyone is feeling festive. Fortunately with all these festivities (and since by the time Christmas actually arrives most people are tired and hungover) Christmas in the UK tends to be quite a low-key affair, mostly about eating and drinking too much with family and friends, rather than actually going anywhere or doing…
Let the Music take you away
The memories made on the road are one of the best things about travelling. Reminiscing over photos is great, but smells and sounds can transport us to other places too. Which music takes you back somewhere? Click the name of the song for a listen! Tarkan – Simarik As soon as I hear this song it takes me to Oludeniz in Turkey. My first trip to Turkey, as a 17yr old, involved lots of nights out dancing and this song was played in every restaurant and every bar without exception. You’d think I might not have heard it much outside Turkey, but then Holly Valance released an English version called…
California Road Trip
My friend and I didn’t quite set out on the classic big American Road Trip. We only covered Southern California in fact. Starting in and ultimately flying out of Los Angeles, our plan was to get to San Diego relatively quickly and then cruise slowly North along the coast. We had a week to see everything we wanted to and there was plenty on the list. San Diego We picked up our car from the airport in the glorious LA sunshine and headed for Highway 5. On our way we passed a drive-thru Krispy Kreme, the novelty value of which meant we had to stop. Do doughnuts seriously need their…
Departure Countdown Checklist
Ahead of leaving on any trip there are plenty of things to do, but if you are planning to travel for an extended period then it can be even easier to become overwhelmed by all of the things you need to do. Need a handy countdown checklist to guide you through the period immediately before leaving? Here’s my countdown to travel checklist: 6 months to go 3 months 1 month 1 week to go Last few days If you think I have missed anything, please mention it in the comments section below. Bonne Voyage!
Free Things to do in London
The very name of the city makes wallets around the world groan. London can be a very expensive place to spend time. However there are also lots of events taking place each day that cost nothing. I’m not going to tell you to visit Buckingham Palace and Westminster; that’s what guidebooks are for. Here are some free things to get up to in London that guidebooks often forget. London sightseeing For an iconic London photo opportunity, head to the Changing of the Guard, which takes place at 11.30am (daily in summer, every other day in winter). The Prime Median is the line of longitude defined as 0 degrees. It runs…
10 Free Apps to download before you go
The Digital age is upon us and we now live in a world where everyone seems to have the internet in their pocket. You can update your Facebook status from a sailboat on the Mediterranean and tweet a Twitter update from Timbuctoo. We’ve all got email, Facebook, Twitter and games on our gadgets, but which apps are worthwhile? There are so many apps out there for iphones and ipads. Here are my favourite 10 free apps to download before you go which are especially useful for travellers. 1. Free Wi-Fi FinderLet’s be honest, however fantastic your gadget is, you’re not going to get far without an internet connection and roaming…
Cage Diving: How to cuddle a Great White Shark
Do you want to get up close and personal with an apex predator? Or do you think that people who do, like me, are crazy? If you’re keen but cautiously wondering what it involves, or perhaps not so keen, but still curious nonetheless, read on. Magnificent Great White sharks can grow up to 6m in length and are most commonly seen off the West coast of the United States, South Africa and Australia. Cage diving businesses operate in all of these locations (more specifically Guadalupe Island off Baja California, Gaansbai in South Africa and Port Lincoln in South Australia). So if you’re keen for a close encounter with Jaws, head…
Beaches of Auckland
Auckland, nestled between the Tasman sea and the Hauraki Gulf is the most densely populated region of New Zealand. It has a lot of coastline though, so when you want to hit the beach there are plenty of options. Here are a few favourites to get you started. Immortalised in songs by Crowded House and Salmonella Dub, as well as the movie The Piano, Kare Kare is about 35 miles West of Auckland and where the Waitakere mountain range drops away to a wide flat expanse of dark sand staring ominously at the ocean. It is an area of rugged natural beauty, first settled by Maori people but has since…
Places to visit around Perth
Perth is on the opposite side of Australia from most of the action and was referred to by Bill Byron as ‘the most remote city on earth’. What should you make of that? I found Perth to be a lively, laid-back place with a sunny and dry climate, without the humidity suffered in some other parts of Australia. These are the things I think you really shouldn’t miss. Cottesloe Only an easy 15 minutes drive from Perth, Cottesloe is a lovely beachside suburb. The beach here (pictured above) is amazing with great facilities including changing rooms and some foodstalls. There is a grassy bank with a few shade-providing trees behind…
