Pre-Trip Planning
Maybe I’m about to expose myself as a bit of a nerd here, but I quite enjoy planning trips. I like to be well prepared in general and travelling is no different. Still, I realise that to a lot of people planning and researching sounds dull, dull, dull. However, if you are going to make an extended trip I’d say that at least some organisation is essential to make the most of it. Don’t panic! This doesn’t need to be painful. Read on for my tips on how to efficiently plan your trip so that you can get on with something else. Money We’ve all heard the phrase ‘Money makes…
Best things to do around Jinja, Uganda
Jinja is a large town on the shores of Lake Victoria, to the East of Uganda’s bustling capital Kampala. It is a friendly place and known as the source of the Nile river. In recent years it has become a popular place for travellers to visit and there are many exciting activities on offer. Bujagali Bujagali, near Jinja, is a small unassuming settlement, but it is also Uganda’s adventure sports capital. Several operators offer whitewater rafting and kayaking activities here, on the Nile. I’m told it is one of the slower and safer parts of the river to raft on, but it still scared me too much frankly. Everyone who…
Great beach bars in Barbados
Dreaming of sipping that scrummy cocktail on the beach while watching a magnificent sunset? Dream no more. There are plenty of places to do this in Barbados. Here are my favourites. Carib Beach bar, Christchurch Carib’s open deck spills out onto a glorious beach of golden powder sand and gently lapping waves. It is a really friendly beach bar and popular with young families due to its location right on the beach. Good varied menu. A word of warning though. If driving, be careful your car doesn’t get stuck in the sand in the car park. Your rescue mission will be a very public one, with the whole bar watching! …
Top 10 things to do in South West Turkey
A visit to South West Turkey can be a relaxing beach holiday, a culture-vulture extravaganza, a sailing break, an adventure sports trip or a party every night, anything you want it to be basically. Here are some of the fantastic things on offer. 1. Sail Turkey’s Turquoise Coast Gulets are traditional wooden Turkish sailing boats (as pictured above). Several operators offer gulet cruises along Turkeys beautiful Turquoise coast. Popular routes include Fethiye to Olympos and Fethiye to Marmaris. Cruises can be as short as 1 day or as long as 2 weeks and are a wonderful way to relax and take in the scenery, as well as visiting many remote spots which…
Travelling alone vs travelling with friends
Are you planning a trip? Wherever you are going and whatever you plan to do and however adlib and unplanned you want your trip to be, there is always the question of who to travel with. Should you go it alone? Should you share it with some mates? Who to travel with is a personal choice that requires some careful consideration. If you go it alone you will be free to be entirely selfish about where you go and when you go. If you rock up somewhere new and like it you can stay longer than your mate may have wanted to. Your schedule is yours entirely. Fantastic! You are also more likely…
Fantastic things to do on the Cote d’Azur
Famed for its flamboyance, the Cote d’Azur in the South of France is so much more than just a place to be seen. Explore this beautiful region and don’t miss out on the shops, scenery or heaven forbid, the food! Nice Old Town Nice is a large but spacious town. It has sprawled rather un-prettily back from the seafront but still retains its charming old town, which is made up of many narrow winding streets. It is a great place to browse the shops or enjoy the many restaurants and cafes. Nice also boasts several museums and frequently hosts large events. Cannes Cannes is a cute little town, made famous…
Top 10 things to do in Barbados
Barbados is the furthest East of the islands of the Caribbean chain. Very British in atmosphere, it is an island of old-fashioned charm and beautiful beaches. There are many adventures to be had but it is also a brilliant place to kick back and enjoy many, many rums. 1. Catamaran cruise Several operators offer catamaran cruises along the West coast of Barbados. They depart Bridgetown careenage in the morning, and after a usually bumpy five minutes spent getting out of the harbour, head North along the tranquil waters and beautiful picture-postcard beaches of the West coast. The catamarans stop at various points for lunch, a swim and to allow guests…
Some Bahamian Food Favourites
The Bahamas are not just hundreds of beautiful islands – there is lots to eat too! An island nation that has prioritised rum-distilling has to line its stomach afterall… The Bahamians have a great variety of seafood to enjoy and it is all too pleasant to wash it down with a tasty cocktail as you watch the sun set. Souse Souse is a thin water-based soup. It is a simple dish of few ingredients, most commonly water, onions, lime, peppers and meat. Conch Conch is a white shellfish meat found inside conch shells. It is a delicious specialty of the Bahamas and often served as conch fritters (pictured above), cracked…
Snapshots of the Bahamas Family Islands
Although New Providence is home to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, the Bahamas by no means end there. There are so many beautiful places in this island nation that you will struggle to choose a favourite. San Salvador San Salvador (pictured above) is the island where Christopher Columbus first landed on his voyage to discover the new world and somewhat confusingly, the locals have erected several monuments to mark the exact spot where he first came ashore. There are a few small resorts on San Salvador, as well as a Christopher Columbus Museum. The island is a remote but fantastic spot for diving . I saw a turtle, two…
Animals of Uganda
No trip to Africa is complete without going on a safari. Here’s a guide to some of the wildlife you can expect to see in Uganda. Crested crane The crested crane is the national bird of Uganda. The birds plumage includes the colours of the national flag, black, red and yellow. It is a large but gentle bird most often seen poking about in water. Gorillas Bwindi National Park on the Western border with Congo is the place to see Gorillas. For the protection of the Gorilla families tour numbers are limited, making permits extremely expensive and often booked-up well in advance. If you want to see the Gorillas you…
