Travel and Lifestyle Blog
British summer time goes hand in hand with a trip to the seaside – and this time I found myself pottering around Margate beach, Kent. When I think of Margate, I instantly think of All 4’s ‘Location Location Location’ since ‘Kirstie and Phil’ always seem to be filming the programme in this popular home buyers […]
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A Bahamas holiday usually sees all our attention turn to the beach, understandably, but lets get to know the Bahamas a bit better shall we, after all – it has personality and character as well as glossy magazine good looks! In a short space of time I came to admire the Bahamas as an industrious, […]
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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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Have you ever been on holiday somewhere and returned home feeing completely underwhelmed? The bloggersphere, social media, travel magazines etc. never stop bombarding us with ‘must see’ attractions and destinations – so, you used all your savvy packing tips, booked your tickets and off you went. The thing is, when you got there you felt […]
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I’d been meaning to drop by for a while now, sorry I took so long. It was quite something to be engulfed in your sweet spicy air and terracotta backdrop. I must say though, your medina in Marrakech was a bit scary as I span around in a whirlwind of music, animals, prayer chants, snake […]
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People who have had aMorocco holiday seem to have quite strong opinions about the place, I guess that’s because it’s such a distinct country and culturally rich experience (certainly not a predictable and run of the mill holiday destination). Should you believe all the hype about Morocco? Here are a few of my ‘before and […]
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More snapshots from Morocco to inspire a trip or bring back some familiar memories; whichever is the case, I hope you enjoy! For years I had felt like every other person I spoke to had been to Morocco apart from me – yet I’d been saying I wanted to go there for many many years. […]
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On our way to the Sahara desert we stopped off at Morocco’s well known High Atlas Mountain Hollywood territory, the Red Citadel of Morocco, Citadel of Ait Benhaddou in the town of Ouarzazate. Caravans of camels used to used to stop here whilst heading to Marrakech from the Sahara. It’s also a very popular stand […]
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“Berber peopleย live simple lives and make the most of the resources they have”. In the big cities like Casablanca and Marrakech however, “people are always running, rushing around, they have everything the need but they’re never happy, they’re always wanting more” namely money, said one of our guides. Berber Life in the Atlas Mountains […]
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Another Moroccan tourist highlight is the quaint ‘Maison Tiskiwin’ which houses an impressive collection of Moroccan art work, and artefacts from Bert Flint’s art collection. There are strong Berber/African/Saharan themes running through the collection and the riad style house is built around small decorative courtyard.
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Yes, Bahai Palace is one of the most commonly talked about tourist attractions in Marrakech and it seems like absolutely everyone goes there in droves, but I actually found Bahai Palace to be quite impressive and worth the whistle stop visit. Everywhere you look there are ornate arches, exquisite ceilings, handsome doors and colourful mosaics, […]
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When you visit Morocco, you’ll probably end up buying a bottle or argan oil – you’ll see it for sale pretty much everywhere. Hand made items and the opportunity to see local people making and producing them is always a real privilege to witness when visiting another country. It takes a lot of nimble fingers […]
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The goats in trees phenomenon is something you have to see for yourself to truly beleive it, even after you’ve seen countless social media pictures. But first let me tell you about the endless platters of food that kept coming to the table during a dinner at a Marrakech riad. I think this might just […]
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From the moment you get past security, the interior of this restaurant is intense and dramatic everywhere you look, with red and black being the main colours of choice. Comptoir Darna will have you feeling like you’re on a film set, it’s like being in a dark gothic, dreamy, candle lit Moroccan cave, with belly […]
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You will never be underwhelmed by Marrakech, it lives up to it’s reputation and has you in a trance the moment you arrive. Marrakesh is the centre point of Moroccan tourism, bursting with colour, movement, smells and sounds to make you forget the world you left behind when you stepped of the plane. I enjoyed […]
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So you want to camp with Moroccan nomads in the sand dunes of the Sahara desert, ride camels for transport with a camp fire warm you up and the stars to keep you entertained at night. Well you can in Zagora, Morocco
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Essaouira seems to be giving Marrakech a run for it’s money. Savvy travellers have cottoned on that we don’t need to go all the way to Agadir for some ocean breeze and a calmer pace, when a three and half hour drive from Marrakech will promptly tick those boxes. Jimmy Hendrix used to live in […]
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Being completely incapable of travelling light myself, the title and colourful cover page of this book got my attention immediately, I couldnโt wait to hear the author reaffirm that I was not alone in this!! I often find myself looking at other people’s suitcases, wondering how on earth they could have packed anything useful in […]
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Dear Mauritius I had anticipated meeting you for a very long time, your beaches, cuisine and tropical beauty. I am truly grateful to have had that pleasure – you were just as beautiful as your pictures, no filters needed, you did not disappoint. I was mesmerised by your ebony forests, those trees take so long […]
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Imagine feeling like you’re on a deserted island, wading through shallow waters that sweep round a huge curve before leading into the most dazzling sapphire blue ocean….that’s what you’ll experience if you take a boat trip to Ile Aux Cerfs in Mauritius, it was truly stunning, with a beautiful contrast between the two waters. This […]
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A few more snapshots. Mont Choisy Beach A more low key version of Flic en Flac beach. Views from the highest point on the island… Just around the corner – a craft and specialist cashmere outlet.
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I’m not going to bore you with all the predictable information that you get in the guide books – nope. I’ll bore you with some of my random holiday chatter instead – over a cuppa’ of course, so lets get the kettle on. Shattered Yep, that’s how I felt when I finally landed in Mauritius […]
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In Mauritius, the south of the island hosts the protected ebony rainforest, which also happens to be in the Chamarel region, it’s incredible to think that almost all the island used to be covered with ebony trees, before the Dutch exploited it in the 17th century. It was a cloudy, rainy day, misty in places, […]
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Shopping, markets, museums, presidential buildings and places of worship –ย you’ll find it all in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, situated in the north of the island. All around, there seemed to be new buildings being constructed and a general sense that there is a lot of visible investment and regeneration underway. The fruit […]
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The Coin De Mire Attitude isย a boutique hotel set in garden style plot, just a stones throw away from a beach that offers views of Coin De Mire Island. On arrival you’ll receive a very warm and personal welcome, which extends throughout the stay as it seems the staff can’t do enough to make […]
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Next, a quick visit to one of the best sugar factories I’ve see on my travels so far,ย (well actually it wasn’t quick, itย was a pretty long visit given the size of the factory and outside grounds) an interesting tour at theย LโAventure du Sucreย (Sugar Adventure), in Pamplemousse Mauritius. You’ll learn some of the history behind […]
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All this sightseeing works up quite an appetite, so it’s time for some lunch, followed by a bit of rum and jam tasting in Chamarel. The jam was more my thing, I couldn’t resist coming home with a few jars – the guava jam was really really good!
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More sightseeing in the south western region of Mauritius, enjoying the views from the popular Black River Gorges National Park, with it’s vast expanse of rainforest before taking in the wonder of the seven coloured earth, at Chamarel. Seven Coloured Earth, Chamarel. Black River Gorges National Park
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What a beautifully written story, a true story. The author of ‘The Amazing Story of the Man who Travelled to India for Love’ uses such rich and vivid description that I felt like ‘I was there’ with the characters right from the opening chapter, absorbing the sounds, their sights, tastes, thoughts and feelings throughout. The […]
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Photographs from a visit to the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Pamplemousse, north of the island, and a rare glimpse of hindu worshipers in the south, by the sacred river in Grand Bassin in the south west. Hindu worshipers at the sacred river, in Grand Bassin. Ganga Asnan is the colourful hindu festival that runs through […]
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Well all the guide books, blogs, reviews and word of mouth echo the same thing reallyย – ‘when in Mauritius, Flic en Flac is the beach of choice’, it’s on the west coast and rated as one of the best beaches in Mauritius and a must on your list of places to go whilst on […]
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First stop, first impressions – beautiful, and a welcome sight after an 18 hour haul. The Veranda Grand Baie in Mauritius is set amongst lush green surroundings and giant palm trees. Rooms look like little cottages (reminiscent of the Veranda Resort & Spa in Antigua). A huge selling point with this hotel is it’s proximity […]
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This small fish market on the mauritian sea front of Grand Baie caught my eye with the dazzling rainbow of colours laid out beautifully for sale, local fishermen gather here most afternoons to display and sell their day’s catch.
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So you’re thinking about a holiday to Mauritius? Who can blame you, it’s a little slice of irresistible paradise. Lets start with Grand Baie, probably one of the most talked about shopping hubs for tourists. Grand Baie is very touristy, yes that much is true but it still feels very down to earth with plenty […]
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Picture this… You fly off from London’s Heathrow and land in Peru with your crew and cameraman, heaps of luggage and technical equipment. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to trek the best part of the Amazon rainforest, via mountains and forest, using the river as your guide. You will meet and […]
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Antalya is a popular tourist region in Turkey framed by snow topped mountains and amazing blue seascapes. Stray cats and dogs shelters Farewell Turkey SaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave
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“Don’t go chasing waterfalls” they said…. Well that’s precisely what I did do, and they were well worth the effort. Earths natural elements never cease to astound me with their beauty. Karpuzkaldiran Waterfall Three Turkish waterfalls in one day, first stop was theย Karpuzkaldiran Waterfall, not too far from Lara beach and an iconic Antalya tourist […]
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Manavgat Waterfall The morning started with a quick stop at this very impressive Turkish waterfall, with it’s powerful current and beautiful blue hue. Next stop: Dikmen Textile Outlet A holiday rep described this as being the TK Maxx of Turkey, and he wasn’t wrong. Practically every sports brand and commonly known designer labels were […]
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The Manavgat market in Turkey is biggest on a Monday (and apparently the biggest market in the mediterranean), sprawling wide with designer labeled clothes, bags, and a few souvenir stalls thrown in between. If you ‘really really’ love your brands you’ll probably love this Monday market. You will likely end up dreaming about Michael Kors […]
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Well actually the weather was pretty good considering it was still the latter part of the Turkish winter season (March/April). This was a very last minute Easter getaway and the sun had his hat most of the time, thankfully! It was cold and pelting down with rain in London as my plane took off – […]
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One more post from Cuba before I forget! Ever been to an organic farm that’s also an art gallery and pottery production centre? Well neither had I until this lovely little trip. This family run farm in the Cuban region of Jovellanos is home to it’s owners who have recently opened it up for tourist […]
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A few nights in Cuba’s Varadero to lap up those beautiful beaches wasn’t such a bad idea, though I can see why many people detest Varadero – it portrays very little of the history, character and unique beauty of the ‘real Cuba’, so make sure you explore other parts of the island (perhaps via an […]
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This is one of many typically sprawling all inclusive beach front hotels on the Varadero strip – take a look if you’re considering staying here. Personally I wouldn’t recommend it as your entire holiday stay – a few nights is enough – explore other parts of Cuba too, and stagger your hotel stays. I’ts a […]
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My favourite part of my trip to Cuba were the days spent in the Cuban town of Trinidad. The pictures may not convey this but ‘what a dramatic place’ frozen in time and bursting with life, colour and charisma. The atmosphere is just fantastic, live music and vibrancy everywhere you look. I loved Trinidad instantly, […]
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More insights from the beautiful island and people of Cuba. Cienfuegos actually means ‘one hundred fires’. Cienfuegos is where theย revolutionary uprising against Fulgencio Batista took place.
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San Juan de Los Remedios is one of the oldest colonial towns in Cuba. Just mind yourself when you’re crossing the wonderfully busy roads….. The sugar mills are interesting, but the sight of those locomotive trains was show stopping; they’re just huge, mighty and seeped in history – beautiful! The roar of the steam and […]
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After lunch at the Los Tainos restaurant at the Hotel Los Caneyes, Santa Clara – we were on the road again heading for the small Cuban off-shore island of Cayo Ensenachos to the Iberostar Ensenachos Hotel. It’s quite secluded, there is no nearby town to walk to – just beautiful beach and plenty of mangroves, […]
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Cuba is sometimes playfully referred to as a the sleeping crocodile, if you look at it’s shape on the map that’s what it looks like. When I arrived in Cuba it was raining – and the airport staff were hard to distinguish properly because some of them were formally dressed whilst others were in their […]
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Day three of the Cuban Experience tour took us into some of the most scenic views I had the pleasure of seeing in Cuba. The Vinales valleys are deep, high, lush and never-ending. The Vinales region is an approximately 2hr 30 mins drive from Havana and a flourishing expanse dotted with tobacco farms. You will […]
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Predictable thoughts on Cuba Prior to boarding a plane to Cuba I had a very limited idea of what to expect, based mainly on what you see in magazines: Cuban cigars Big vintage statement ‘cuban looking’ cars Hot weather Exotic looking people speaking spanish White sandy beaches Salsa music Lots of colour Cuban Inspiration Before […]
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Now I know what a ‘tap tap’ is!!! I had no idea before reading this book. Tap Taps To Trinidad, by Zenga Longmore, is a quirky little book that tells the tales of a woman’s (largely solo) experiences of hopping around a number of caribbean islands, somewhat naively at times. She seems to have a […]
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Licking a fire lollipop and warming it up where the sun doesn’t shine…. Sal, Cape Verde talent
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A few snapshots taken while wondering around the Santa Maria, the main tourist hub in Sal, Cape Verde. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave
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Literally on the lower end of St Lawrence Gap, Barbados with more nice blue seas and soft sand, and plenty of shade. Dover beach seemed a bit more relaxed and quieter than Accra beach (which is off a busier main road).
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The capital of Barbados, a hub of busy hustle and bustle, compared to a lot of other caribbean islands, Barbados seemed to have very big ‘town centre’ with lots of little back streets and side shops. If you’re an avid browser, you can on and on in Bridgetown, as long as you can take the […]
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Sometimes you just get a feeling about something, someone or somewhere. There is no logic to the feeling, you only know the feeling is real and strong. For me, theย grounds leading to Harrison’s Cave feltย like a scene from a James Bond film; I’m not sure which film but I could just picture Bond running around […]
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Anyone who knows anything about Barbados will be familiar with all the hype surrounding St Lawrence Gap. Party scene Clubs Bars Restaurants Nightlife Street vendors All things touristy Down to earth Affordable hotels Lively vibe Dover beach Close to Oistins and Bridgetown It justย wouldn’t beย right not to spend at least a few nights in the […]
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