Seeing the World One Step at a Time
I was recently pampered with a two-night stay at luxurious Hastings House Country House Hotel on Salt Spring Island. While I've been to Salt Spring several times, I had yet to enjoy this corner of the island, close enough to downtown Ganges yet far enough away to appreciate the solitude and nature that helps define this Relais & Chateaux property. The welcoming hotel grounds are filled with fragrant flowers and colourful birds, all with a … [Read more...]
I’ve been living in Bogota, Colombia for over a year now, having moved here from London for my Colombian partner, and something I’ve noticed is the way in which identity is defined; since moving here I have taken on a number of identities which just didn’t matter or exist when I was in London. Not that we don’t categorise people there too – for example, a person’s age, ethnicity and the part of London they’re from can tell you a lot about them: … [Read more...]
Looking at numerous websites, Trip Advisor reviews, and tips from friends, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to picking a travel destination and resort. My husband and I wanted to visit the Riviera Maya this month, in a location away from the thumping of Cancun or Playa del Carmen. What we found was Puerto Morelos, a smaller town smack in between the two, yet close enough to get to the Mayan ruins while enjoying the warm, tropical breezes of … [Read more...]
"Qu'a vist Paris, se noun a vist Cassis, pou dire: n'ai rèn vist," "He who has seen Paris and who has not seen Cassis can say ... I have seen nothing." Frédéric Mistral (1830 - 1914), beloved Provençal poet and Nobel Prize laureate How could anyone make such a bold statement about Cassis, France, a medieval village in Provence? After just a few hours in this village on the Mediterranean coast, I began to understand. I always feel … [Read more...]
Many travellers will arrive in Bogota with the intention of staying for a couple of days before moving onto somewhere else... Cartagena, Santa Marta, the Coffee Region. So in case you happen to be spending just 48 hours in Bogota (let's say a weekend) here’s a suggested itinerary (with alternatives suggested in the event of rain!): Saturday 8.00am: It’s Saturday morning and chances are you’re staying near the historical part of Bogota (the … [Read more...]
The irrelevance of mass tourism today The early 18-1900s, the age of industrialization, brought the world closer together with the widespread construction of railroads, the first flights and the first automobile. The burgeoning middle class could soon own their own wheels and take their first trains, travelling to places they never could, once accessible only to the mega rich. The age of mass tourism began in earnest. Today, more than 200 … [Read more...]
Summer time is all about fun, holidays and travel. Whether you decide to stay close to home or travel abroad, car hire is a great option to go for if you’re on the go. Car hire gives you the freedom of travelling around without having to rely on family or public transport. It is the second best thing to having your own car with you on a trip. However, be aware that during the summer months, when many people are on holiday and may need hired cars, … [Read more...]
This year we decided our summer holiday was not going to be spent fighting impatient crowds at the airport or tourist crowds in fancy resort towns. No, this year we were going to take it slow – slow down, slow time, and live in the moment. So what did we decide to do? A 14km return walk into the Victorian wilderness. Now stay with me here. It may sound strenuous – and trust me, it was – but what a way to get back to the essentials of life, … [Read more...]
Above there is heaven below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou goes the famous quote, I haven’t been above yet, but they did a great job below. Suzhou is a monument to China’s amazing growth and modernization, the new areas of the city display some of the best city engineering there is, with modern architecture, wide streets and beautiful gardens all around. While the old sections have been preserved and restored to serve as first class tourist & … [Read more...]
The hipster maker culture The maker culture, part tech, part traditional, has been taking the world by storm, at least the hipster spaces. Now you can regularly find $90 courses teaching you wood-working, brass crafting or something similar along those lines. Its cool, definitely, but I always feel a little underwhelmed after participating in these kind of overpriced workshops. You make something really really simple (in the interests of … [Read more...]