Travel and Lifestyle Blog
She exits the UK, sets up a holiday rental in rural France. Hates cleaning, loves some of her guests and can’t wait to see the back of others. Read all about it in Swallows and Robins!
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Musical departure gates, baggage claims chaos… Past travel shenanigans are still amusing to look back on, I wonder what new amusements and annoyances will emerge as travel opens up again…..
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A couple of book reviews, one about a 10 day galavant around Tokyo, the other about an Indian rags to riches journey.
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What have you witnessed from a hotel room window or balcony that has stayed in your thoughts, that you’ve never forgotten, outrageous or not?
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Gift Ideas for the travel addict can quickly turn to the predictable and cliche, but with a bit of extra thought, you might just strike it lucky!
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It’s amazing what a little bit of imagination and a few travel memories can do!!
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When conversations with strangers lead to catching flights to India with them the same week, racing Tuk-Tuks amidst good old Indian traffic!! Have you or would you ever…?
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This time we talked packing for flights, bottles of rum, house prices and baking cakes. Conversations with strangers can work more wonders than you’ll ever know!!
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On the last day of a holiday, are you wishing you could stay a bit longer or raring to get to the airport? I think its probably a sad day for many – but I’m curious to hear whether you agree.
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Robotic airport staff, robotic luggage, and robots that can go on holiday on your behalf!! The evolution of AI is sweeping the travel industry in its wake, especially on the back of Covid 19.
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Imagine having to shake the hands of 250 people all waiting for you on a beach, or jumping over a herd of cattle to prove your manhood. Ladies – how about having three husbands at once? Perhaps you’d be up for a nomadic tent-life in freezing cold snow storm territory. These are just a few interesting highlights from the some of the world’s lesser well known tribes and indigenous populations. Curious?
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So what’s your position, do you hate going on holiday, is the agro of planning and packing all too much, or is that all part of the fun? Are you a holiday hater?
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Of all the things I could have bought in Cuba, I didn’t think a beach bar would end up on the shopping list!! Its interesting to look back at some of those forgotten holiday souvenirs, many of which I treasure all the more now!!
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There’s more to Jamaican patois than ‘irie’ and ‘yeah man’. If you want to get a better grip on Jamaican patois, this funny little book gives you some common words and phrases written with a Jamaican dialect and pronunciation.
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Push the guide books aside, here’s my first hand round up of thoughts and observations after a first and very worthwhile trip to India.
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Snapshots from the iconic Indian Pink City, loved for it’s royally dressed elephants, pink palaces, chamber of mirrors, and endless shopping bazaars.
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Well it’s undisputedly a fantastic work of art, one of the world’s seven wonders and perhaps the selfie capital of India, however….
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The other two Indian hotels were just as lovely, delicious food, a good nights sleep and welcoming staff.
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There’s far less exciting things you could do than stalk tigers on a jeep safari through India’s Ranthambore national park, taking in an array of wildlife and beautiful scenery while you’re at it. Just saying!!
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I felt an almost unbelievable sense of being in an entirely new world, a world with ‘ways’ that are not to be labelled or ridiculed, but simply accepted as ‘the way’ for where we were – a different way to what I was used to seeing or experiencing.
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Traffic in India is not for the faint hearted – its a bikers paradise, a barrage of beeps, the rush hour seems ceaseless, and chaos might just be the new calm.
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Are you curious about India? India and colour go hand in hand, vibrant and flamboyant, cheerfully extrovert. Dull and dismal doesn’t seem to feature. The people, buildings, flowers, the food. When the sun’s out and everything twinkles and gleams, the colours are dazzling and India will certainly give your camera a run for its money!!
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Taking a solo trip to India was a welcome escape from the UK’s winter weather and long month of February (even though it’s technically the shortest month, lol). India had been sky high on my bucket list for a very long time and I can honestly say it was everything I’d hoped for and more […]
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Calm and quiet, untouched by mass modernisation and tourism – Malta’s sister island of Gozo is proudly held as something of a national treasure, and here’s a little snapshot….
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Before heading off on your Malta holiday, here’s a few observations, tips and bits of info that might interest you or prove useful to know if you’re curious about Malta, since the guide books don’t tell you everything!!
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More of Malta’s nooks and crannies!! Bugibba vs Paceville, they couldn’t be more different. One attracts a very lively, club/pub crowd whilst the other appeals more to those seeking a quieter life.
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Looking for some peace and quiet? Soak up the rugged costal views of Malta’s Blue Grotto. It’s busy with boat trips in the summer, and featured in the Hollywood blockbuster, Troy.
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The old is being quickly replaced with the new in Sliema Malta, so wander it’s inner streets to capture what’s left of it’s original charm before the high-rise hotels and apartments take over completely. Malta is evolving, with Sliema leading as the modern tourist hub of Malta.
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There was a storm brewing in Malta, cooking itself up since the night before, growling with thunder, pouting grey mist and bringing back Sliema’s floods.
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Malta’s biggest fishing village sports its most colourful boats, and turns into a mega market every Sunday, with a secret beach tucked away around it’s little corner!!
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Sliema and Valletta, the siblings that couldn’t be more different, staring each other out across the harbour. Valletta could well be the Vatican’s little brother, while Sliema seems more like the Manhattan of Malta.
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Interesting pies, unusual doughnuts, pastries, rabbits and octopus, with plenty of Turkish kebabs thrown in for good measure. Welcome to Malta!!
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Forget taxis, and drive if you dare. The easiest and cheapest way to get around Malta is by bus.
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A Valletta show that leaves you staggering out of the cinema, a church with enough gold to go head to head with Buckingham Palace (no doubt) and those iconic streets of Valletta that seem to come alive at night – interested? Then read on.
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The miracle bomb and Mosta Rotunda church is a popular tourist attraction when visiting Malta.
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Want to win a tripod to improve your travel photography? Share your funniest travel moments to enter the prize draw and you could be a winner!!
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If you’re off to Morocco for the first time you might want to note a few things, including the weather, cats, haggling and ‘Morocco belly’
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Pigeon point is the beach that seems to gets all the attention on the Caribbean island of Tobago.
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Eleuthera is a charming island in The Bahamas, with beaches that will leave you speechless and a peacefulness that makes it hard to leave.
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The Bahamas has a lot more to it than just beaches – including pineapple festivals, pirates, wine cellars, and snow.
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Calm, relaxed and at peace, that’s how I feel when I’m near the sea, hearing the waves, feasting on an infinite ocean view, my mind is clearer and thoughts come to me more easily. The sea seems charged with emotion, sometimes it’s still, unassuming and beckoning, then within hours, minutes even, it develops an almighty […]
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Farewell Morocco, I’ll always have fond memories from our time together, from the Sahara to the souks, High Atlas Mountains, snake charmers, belly dancers and generous tagine!
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What you need to know about Morocco before your first trip – lets examine the hype. I found most of these 22 rumours to be true!!
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More Moroccan snapshots to inspire your next visit to Morocco; it’s such an interesting country, with something interesting to see or experience wherever you go.
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Loved by movie makers and tourists alike; take a walk through the narrow clay community. Ait Benhaddou is home to a small number of Moroccan families and was used as the setting for a long list of big screen films.
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A complete contrast from Marrakech and its crazy souks, the High Atlas Mountains take you a world away with breath taking views and a community of berber families living a different way of life.
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If you’re visiting Marrakech, curious about African history and berber life with a soft spot for cosy museums crammed with lots of interesting things, you’re going to really like Maison Tiskiwin.
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A pretty palace in Marrakech decorated with impressive mosaics , imposing doors, high arches and artistic ceilings.
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Women busy crushing nuts all day, a spot of wine tasting and some hand made ceramic souvenirs.
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Make the night before your flight as stress free as possible with these tried and tested tips.
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