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…
Top 10 things to do in Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau, on New Providence island in the Bahamas, is a small capital city, but it is bursting with fantastic things to do. Take full advantage of the amazing surroundings whilst there and make sure you don’t miss a thing. Here is my guide to the top 10 things to do in Nassau. 1. Dive with sharks If you ever wanted to get up close and personal with sharks, Nassau is the reliable place to do it. There are several dive operators on the island who offer ‘shark-feeding’ dives. Often it is marketed as a two tank dive trip. The first dive is on the reef with the sharks around, but…
Beaches around Fethiye
The South West coastline of Turkey, or the Turquoise Coast as it is known, is magnificent and as you’d expect there are some fantastic beaches around. If relaxing on the beach feeling the sand slip between your toes is your kind of holiday, be sure to read this before you go. Oludeniz Oludeniz is the beach on just about every poster advertising Turkey. It is a glorious strip of beach reaching from the foot of Babadag mountain to the blue lagoon. It is a wide sand and shingle beach which shelves deeply on the main strip, but is shallow with calm waters at the lagoon. There are many beach bars…
Where to eat around Fethiye
Fethiye and its surrounding area have long been visited by travellers and tourists. There are plenty of cuisines available in this region but here I have concentrated primarily on the restaurants I have found reliable, over several years, in providing good authentic Turkish food. Oh ok, and one (Turkish) Italian restaurant. Cinbal’s, Kayakoy Cinbal’s (pronounced Gin-balz) in Kayakoy is one of the most popular barbecue restaurants in the area. The very direct tag line on their sign “Kendin pisir, kendin ye” gets me every time. It means “Cook it yourself, eat it yourself!” Seating is outdoors in summer, in a hidden garden. There are even trees to tie your dog…
Top 5 things to do in Monaco
Monaco is the notorious playspot of the rich and famous. But it is also a bit of a mysterious place. Wondering what there is to do in Moncao? Rest assured, there’s plenty to do even if you are not lucky enough to own a yacht. Monte Carlo Casino Monaco’s casino is world famous. The gambling rooms are only open to non-residents of Monaco and a strict smart dress code applies. One sniff of a pair of scruffy jeans and you won’t cross the threshold. I (or rather, my partner) speak from experience! Monaco Prince’s Palace Set on the hilltop above most of Monaco the Prince’s palace is a working palace,…
Guide to Turkish Street food
Turkey produces some amazingly tasty, traditional treats from fantastically fresh ingredients. From the savoury fan to the sweetest tooth, there is something for everyone. Get familiar with Turkish treats before you go so you can enjoy them confidently. Borek Borek (pronounced burr-ek) are filled pastries, either baked as individual borek, or one large borek and then cut into portions (pictured above). They are made with thin filo-like pastry and common fillings include cheese and parsley, mincemeat, spinach and potato. They are delicious fresh and are still tasty once they have cooled down later. Simit (sim-it) are rings of bread covered in sesame seeds. Street vendors often carry them on a…
Guide to Turkish drinks
Cay time! Tea is something the Turks don’t restrict simply to afternoons. As a nation, they are tea-crazy! As well as tea, there are lots of drinks that are popular in Turkey but unusual for visitors. If you are an intrepid explorer and keen to try new things read on for an explanation of some of the drinks on offer in Turkey. Kahve, Cay and Elma cay (Turkish coffee – pronounced kar-vay, Tea pronounced ch-eye, and apple tea pronounced el-ma ch-eye) Turkish coffee will wake you up. It is commonly much stronger than coffee available in Europe and often thick enough that a spoon will stand in it. It is…
Top 10 things to do in Istanbul
Istanbul is a fascinating city that bridges Europe and Asia. It is littered with impressive architecture and ancient history but is also keen to look towards the future. Although it can seem a little full-on for the first-time visitor, Istanbul is a friendly city with activities to suit all visitors. 1. Sultanahmet mosque (Sultanahmet camii) Built by Sultan Ahmed I between 1609 and 1616, this mosque (pictured above) is arguably the most famous monument in Istanbul. Its six minarets dominate the Sultanahmet region’s skyline. It is also known as the Blue mosque on account of all the iznik tiles used to decorate the inside. It is a working mosque, so…
