Here To Geneva

England In The Snow Bedfordshire, United Kingdom

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:53:17 +0000

England In The Snow

Bedfordshire, United Kingdom

Winter Finally Arrives In The UK It’s been a strange...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:03:00 +0000

Winter Finally Arrives In The UK

It’s been a strange winter in the northern hemisphere. While some regions have been hit by major chills and heavy snow, other places have basked in unseasonal warmth. One such place is here in the UK where mean temperatures in December 2011 hit record highs. Finally though, winter has arrived overnight with heavy snow affecting most of the country.

Destinations - The Holiday & Travel Show Yesterday, I was at...

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:46:00 +0000

Destinations - The Holiday & Travel Show

Yesterday, I was at Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre for the Destinations - Holiday & Travel Show presented by The Times. The entire exhibition hall was full of stands from travel agencies, national tourism bureaus and travel guide/magazine publishers. Some stands were simple affairs while others were elaborate multimedia experiences. Turkey and Argentina produced the most lavish stands. Turkey in particular not only had a massive stand right at the entrance to the hall, but had also laid on a cafe right in the middle selling strong Turkish coffee and cakes.

Everything was being tried to lure in the punters. Russia had an accordion player belting out traditional Russian tunes while Romania was dishing out free wine and bread. New Zealand & Australia had brought with them a camper van, while one of the African tour groups had wheeled in an enormous safari truck, of which you could climb aboard.

There were also plenty of celebrity speakers, wild animal displays, dance and music performances and opportunities to try food from around the world. It was great!

After a few hours, my bag was full of brochures and leaflets and my mind full of inspiration and ideas for where to go next.

Destinations continues today and tomorrow at Earl’s Court. Tickets available on the door.

Keeping An Eye On The Sky Right now, as you’re reading...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:27:00 +0000

Keeping An Eye On The Sky

Right now, as you’re reading this, the sun is going mental. I’m keen to avoid blinding you with science, but there’s no other way of saying it. It’s got the grumps, big style. In layman’s terms, it’s hurling “space nasties” right at us. If all the science nerds’ predictions are correct, it ought produce beautiful Aurora’s or “cosmic disco lights” in the night sky sometimes over the next 24 hours.

Here in the UK, we don’t get to see the aurora borealis much, if at all. Only those lucky (and freezing and isolated) souls in the Shetland Isles tend to get to see them. Seems though, if the geeks have done their sums correctly, there’s a chance almost all of the UK should get to see something green and “glowy” tomorrow night. Exciting!

I’ll keep you posted and leave you with this photo I took a moment ago of the constellation ‘Orion’. Check out his snazzy belt! Admittedly, it’s a terrible photo, but I’ll hopefully have something better tomorrow.

Review: YHA Sydney Harbour A perfectly located five star hostel...

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Review: YHA Sydney Harbour

A perfectly located five star hostel that generally delivers on facilities but misses in terms of value.

Finding somewhere to stay in Sydney on a budget is a pain. Generally prices are high, so the aim is finding somewhere that offers value rather than finding somewhere cheap. I’m not really much of a hostel guy, but on my visit to Australia, my budget dictated that I ought to become one. So, I decided on staying at YHA Sydney Harbour. Described as a 5 star hostel, would it offer a hosteling rookie the comforts of a hotel with the value of a hostel?

The Good

Brilliant location. Probably couldn’t be better actually. On a quiet street in the historic (for Australia) Rocks area. Plenty of smart places to eat and drink nearby and a short walk from the harbour bridge, the opera house and the main drag, George Street.
Purpose built and still fairly new. The place has a tangible modern and contemporary feel.
Unbeatable rooftop terrace with incredible views of the opera house, harbour bridge and city centre.
Rooms and public areas are very clean and well kept.
Comfortable TV room with plenty of channels available. DVDs available to hire from reception.
Night’s out, barbecues and other events organised every day. All seemed good value.
All rooms and dorms have ensuite bathrooms. Nice fittings and locking doors.
Good security. Public doors are locked at night and dorms are accessed via key card.
Large, well-equipped kitchen. One of the fridges may still contain a carton of milk I bought. You’re welcome Australia!
Nicely furnished and comfortable common area with plenty of computers to use.
Reasonably priced laundry room facilities.
Dorms beds have reading lights and power sockets. Lockers have power sockets inside too. Very handy.

The Bad

Horribly expensive! You pay for the location and rooftop terrace. You may as well pay a little extra and get your own private room elsewhere.
Bored, cheerless staff. They were generally helpful, but begrudgingly so.
Rooftop terrace is locked at 2200 each night. Rather early.
Not very social. Despite a daily event being organised by staff, no one really spoke to one another. Perhaps the size of the place or the decor didn’t lend itself to being particularly sociable.
Not particularly cosy or welcoming. Sparse, basic decor.
Expensive internet. There were plenty of computers available and also wifi but it wasn’t cheap. This is perhaps due to Australia not being as wired up as the rest of the world.
Expensive breakfast. I suppose they didn’t have to offer breakfasts, but they also didn’t have to charge an arm and a leg for it.
In-room temperature is controlled by reception, by key card activation and whether the window is opened. Rooms are either too hot or to cold. Never spot on.
Similarly, the temperature in the tv room is also controlled by reception. If you want the air-con on, you have to walk down 2 floors to get it sorted. Ridiculous.
Hardly any seats on the roof terrace.
Announcements made over building-wide public address system regarding forthcoming events lended an unprofessional and holiday camp feel to the place.
Snoring! Oh, the dreaded snoring!
Sheets and bankets! It’s 2011, Australia! The rest of the world are using duvets. Join us, please!
Despite paying a fortune, you still have to strip your own beds and take the sheets down to reception on departure. Pretty poor.

The Verdict

It’s difficult summing up YHA Sydney Harbour without getting tangled up with my impressions of Sydney and hosteling in general (both rather poor). There were elements of the hostel I really, really liked. The rooftop terrace for example could quite possibly be one of the best in the world, offering stunning views of the harbour and the city centre. The location was perfect, a short walk from everything Sydney has to offer (that is to say, not very much) while the rooms, bathrooms and public areas were functional, clean and modern.

The claim is that this is a 5 star hostel. In global terms, if you average everything out, it probably is. It’s the fact you end up paying for the terrace and the location that just sours the deal for me. I expected more for my money. Throw in some wifi at least!

If you can’t quite afford your own room in Sydney but you don’t want to stay in a flea pit, YHA Sydney Harbour is probably your best hostel option in the city centre. While, in my opinion, you don’t get good value for money, at least you’re assured of somewhere clean and secure to sleep and you get that amazing view. Steer well clear of the private double rooms. They’re nothing special and are definitely not worth your money. Look elsewhere.

My ABC Of Travel

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

I subscribe to a lot of great travel blogs. Lately, a few of them have participated in a cool travel-related meme which recalls travel experiences via the magic of the alphabet. So, I thought I’d have a go too. This’ll be the first meme I’ve ever participated in. I know, shocking!

A: Age you went on your first international trip

I was probably around 8 or 9 years old. We used to go on long road-trips around Europe as a family. The most epic was a drive from London to Rome. We stopped off on the way in Luxembourg and the beautiful Black Forest in Germany to camp. After a week and a half in and around Rome, we took the motorail back to Calais. A great and memorable trip.

B: Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where?

I’m not a massive beer drinker. I only really got into it this year whilst on a long flight from London Heathrow to Singapore. All they had that sounded familiar was Heineken so I had a can of that to calm my nerves through the bumpy bits over the Himalayas. It was okay, but I would have preferred a cider. I don’t mind a Peroni now and again either.

C: Cuisine (favorite)

Indian. A large variety of flavours, textures and heat levels means for me, it never gets boring. Plus, it’s always filling and comforting. I like that I can rely on it to deliver all these things. A close second would be Italian, though that’s only because we’re an Italian family who eats Italian food pretty much every other day.

D: Destinations, favorite, least favorite and why?

Really tough. I loved Singapore when I visited earlier this year. I really want to go back soon and spend the whole time eating and drinking. The hawker centre culture, where amazing food with influences from all over the world is easy to get for next to nothing, is something I really miss. Plus there’s loads to see and do. The place was buzzing, yet relaxed and tangibly cheerful. Switzerland is right up there as one of my favourites too. Everything that springs to mind when you think of Switzerland is true. Incredible scenery, cute chalets, masses of snow and cheese and chocolate by the bucket load.

Luckily, I normally plan my trips to the finest detail to avoid disappointment. That said, Sydney was dull. I’d made the mistake of basing myself there for a week with the assumption that there’d be plenty to see and do. After 2 days, I’d pretty much covered everything, and even then, I wasn’t exactly bowled over. I should have gone to Melbourne instead. Lots of people tell me it’s significantly better.

E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”

I always ensure I get at least one “wow” out of my trips. However, we’re specifically talking about an ‘event’ in this question. The one that springs to mind is seeing the mighty Strokkur geyser in Iceland double-erupt. Luckily, I caught it on camera. I maintained my professionalism though and said “wow” in my head.

F: Favorite mode of transportation

Trains. I can happily stare out of a train window for hours.

G: Greatest feeling while traveling

Trying new things always excites me. Be it food or seeing something for the first time or food or doing something that pumps some adrenaline or food. I also rather like not knowing what’s happening in the news. At home, I’m a bit of a news junkie but when I’m away, I can happily not check the BBC News website for days on end.

H: Hottest place you’ve traveled to

It’s either Spain or Singapore. Probably Spain. I remember being hit by the heat once the plane doors opened. It was so hot, the air from the air conditioning vents inside the plane became visible. It was pretty intense.

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where?

The best service I’ve had is at Hotel Oberland in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. The hotel and restaurant management and staff are all lovely and really look after you. I can’t recommend the place enough.

J: Journey that took the longest

The flight from Hong Kong to London Heathrow took around 13 hours. Luckily, Qantas have a massive selection of films and tv programmes on demand and free drinks on tap so I didn’t really notice.

K: Keepsake from your travels

Postcards. I have several hundred in my collection. They’re cheap and capture the mood and culture of a place reasonably well. Certainly better than buying a keyring or pencil case.

L: Let-down sight, why and where?

Sydney again. Specifically, Sydney Opera House. You get all the joy of this unique building from a photograph. Being there doesn’t add anything new to the experience. The Harbour Bridge is more impressive. I quite enjoyed wandering across it, though finding nothing of interest on the other side was a bit disappointing. Quite why anyone would want to scale it and walk over its beam is beyond me.

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel

I don’t know. My first solo trip was to Belgium (exotic, huh?). My global adventures kind of started from there so perhaps the moment I fell in love with travel was in Belgium. Who’d have thought that?

N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in

I’ve stayed in a lot of nice hotels (thanks TripAdvisor). The nicest is probably Hotel Oberland in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. In close second place, Y-Loft (Youth Square) in Hong Kong.

O: Obsession — What are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?

I normally avoid taking close-ups of things and opt to take wide shots of landscapes and cityscapes. If I do take a close-up, it’s of food. A glance through my Flickr stream shows that this is my general rule of thumb when it comes to photography.

P: Passport stamps, how many and from where?

Being an EU citizen means my passport doesn’t reflect the number of places I’ve been to. In case you’re unaware, EU citizens can travel freely (and live and work) within any EU country without visas or having a stamp in your passport. In my current passport, I have a pair of stamps from Singapore, a pair from Australia, 1 from New Zealand, 3 pairs from Hong Kong and a pair from Macau (I went on a day trip from Hong Kong to Macau so essentially entered and departed Hong Kong twice in a week).

Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where?

I think that would have to be the Kauri Museum in Northland, New Zealand, a museum specifically dedicated to a native New Zealand tree species.

R: Recommended sight, event or experience

I could easily recommend everything I’ve done and everywhere I’ve been. If I had to choose 1 though, it’d have to be 1 at random. So, I recommend a trip to Jungfraujoch, the highest altitude train station in Europe. After a long, dark and winding journey through the rock of Mount Eiger, you emerge on a scenic plateau that’s covered in snow all year round. From there, you can take a walk on a glacier, walk through a tunnel bored out of the glacial ice or simple gawp at the views. It’s a truly unique, albeit expensive experience.

S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling

It depends on where I am and the circumstances of my visit. Whilst in New Zealand, I spent a lot of money on adrenaline activities whereas in Singapore, I spent most of the budget on food. I think generally, I spend the most amount of money on accommodation. I’d rather pay more for a nicer place to stay than have to suffer in a flea pit.

T: Touristy thing you’ve done

I don’t really get this. The nature of having an interest in travel is doing touristy stuff, isn’t it? I’ve gone up the Eiffel Tower. That’s touristy. If I was one of those people who says I like to avoid doing touristy things and as a result, hadn’t been up the Eiffel Tower, I’d sound like an idiot.

U: Unforgettable travel memory

It’s difficult to forget about your travel experiences, particularly when they’re blogged and photographed. That said, if when I’m old and mental I only remember one travel experience, it is likely to be a road-trip around the Northland region of New Zealand with my mate Iain and then staying with his lovely family in Auckland. As I said at the time in my trip notes, I struck the travel lottery that week. It was brilliant.

V: Visas, how many and for where?

Just one. Australia. And even then, it doesn’t really count since it takes about 2 minutes to apply for it online and is granted immediately. Everywhere else I’ve been has either been covered by the Schengen Agreement or by a visa waiver. One of the many benefits of being a British citizen is that there are still legal leftovers from colonial times. For example, Hong Kong grants Brits a stay of 180 days upon arrival whereas everyone else gets to stay for 90 days or less. Conversely, Macau grants British citizens a stay of 6 months upon arrival whereas almost everyone else (amazingly, including Portugal) gets 30-90 days.

W: Wine, best glass of wine while traveling and where?

I really don’t like wine. In my life, I expect I’ve had less than 20 sips. Horrible stuff.

X: eXcellent view and from where?

Switzerland is fairly reliable for amazing views. The Lauterbrunnen valley in particular is simply stunning. In the southern hemisphere, Australia’s Blue Mountains are incredible, especially when the sun’s out.

Y: Years spent traveling

My travels started with my family about 20 years ago. My solo travels started about 7 years ago.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where?

I’m a supporter of the mighty Bedford Blues so I couldn’t answer this question without mentioning them. Come on you Blues!

A Lousy Taste of France Eating out at the world famous...

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A Lousy Taste of France

Eating out at the world famous Restaurant Chartier, Paris

How easy it would be for a solo traveller to avoid the faff that surrounds dining in Paris by visiting a cafeteria or fast food joint. There are plenty of places in Paris to choose from. The days of strict culinary snobbery are long gone and now parisian’s embrace McDonalds, Subway and Pizza Hut like the rest of us.

But no. My conscience wouldn’t allow it. How could I go to Paris and not be treated like dirt by a waiter wearing traditional rondin simply for having a terrible french accent. I live to experience things. I couldn’t live with myself if I visited Paris without going to a restaurant with snails on the menu.

So around midday on a rainy Saturday, I headed for the much famed Restaurant Chartier. All the guidebooks list this place. Located in the 9th arrondissement, it was opened in 1896 by two brothers as a worker’s cafeteria, selling cheap food in an area filled with exuberance. The Belle Époque intrior hasn’t really changed at all since the day the place opened, resulting in the building being classified in 1989 as a national historical monument.

I showed up expecting to join the end of a long queue. Instead, I squelched down an empty arcade and was helped through a heavy revolving door by a maître d’ who welcomed me and asked me how many of me there were. After establishing there definitely was only 1 of me, I was whisked into the centre of the dining room. The place was warm, noisy and heaving with people. Waiters rushed about the place with great urgency while patrons leaned into the table to hear one another. It was buzzing.

I was shown to a table of four. Three older french ladies were already eating. With some surprise, coats and bags were removed from my seat. They clearly hadn’t read that at Chartier, strangers share tables. I slung my bag and coat into the overhead coat racks, sat down and soaked in the unique atmosphere. Without a word, my waiter arrived and placed a folded sheet of paper in front of me; today’s menu, a thing of beauty, almost an iconic work of art that I wished I could keep.

To avoid any screw-ups and to gain the respect of my waiter, I had already looked at the menu online before arriving. I politely perused, just in case it had changed. Luckily, it hadn’t. The waiter rushed back, leaning right over the table in order to hear me. As I ordered in flawless french, he scribbled what I was saying down on the tablecloth. It all went swimmingly.

So, what did I have?

To start, Salade frisee aux lardons. You can already tell, Chartier isn’t going to be wining any culinary awards anytime soon. A glass bowl of scratchy, dressed lettuce leaves with croutons and lardons. It was actually rather enjoyable. Crucially, also very cheap. A couple of euros at most

To drink, a bottle of crisp, refreshing, slightly sweet cidre. It was just like Magners or Bulmers only considerably cheaper.

For the main, Choucroute alsacienne, a german-inspired dish from the Alsace region of France. A ridiculous heap of sauerkraut (fermented/pickled cabbage) with a frankfurter, a dense, meaty sausage, soft and lean pork and a single potato. The sauerkraut was bloody awful but the meat was nice and the potato, well, that was a potato.

To finish, Gateau de semoule au caramel, a cold semolina pudding served with crème anglaise (good old custard) and caramel sauce. It was recommended to me by the three ladies I was sat with whom I had blundered my way through conversations with. The lady sat to my immediate right insisted on speaking to me at length in french, despite me making it very clear I didn’t really understand what she was saying. At one point, she invited me to chip in some money towards their bill. I understood that and made sure they understood that that wasn’t going to happen under any circumstances.

The pudding was lovely and rounded off a generally poor but ultimately enjoyable dining experience. It’s not often I’m sat in a restaurant and am captivated by anything other than my mobile or those I’m sat with. Between courses, I gazed around the room, admiring the decor, watching patrons pour themselves more wine and giggling at the exasperated faces being made by the staff. It was all good fun and wonderfully parisian.

It was time to leave. The waiter, who had actually been polite and very pleasant, came over and asked if I wanted any coffee. I declined and my bill was totted up old-school-style there and then on the table cloth. I paid, took yet another photo, before being whisked out into the rain again via the revolving door.

Service is brisk and informal at Chartier. You’re not treated like royalty but you do at least get the impression that your patronage is somewhat appreciated. It’s a credit to the place that most people find themselves in a queue upon arrival. Indeed, when I left, a queue had formed down the arcade and out onto the street. There aren’t many places that can boast that people will happily to stand in the rain to eat there. Only in Paris.

Review: Hotel La Manufacture, Paris A charming, modern and...

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Review: Hotel La Manufacture, Paris

A charming, modern and well-appointed Parisien hotel with excellent transport links.

Recently, I spent three nights in Paris, France, just for a break in routine. Since it was my forth time in the capital, I didn’t go for anything in particular. I went simply because it’s easy for me to get to and there’s plenty to see on foot. Plus, it’s Paris! As usual, I needed a comfortable, modern, quiet room to stay in for as little cash as possible. I opted to book a package via ShortBreaks where a Eurostar return from/to London was bundled with the cost of the accommodation. I found a great little deal for Hotel La Manufacture. Did Room 1 meet the hotel’s good reputation?

The Good

A medium-size room. Some others reviews suggest some of the rooms here are on the cramped side. Perhaps I was lucky. Perhaps others are a little fussy. I found the size to be just right.
Comfortable bed. Two single beds were pushed together to form a double with a double sheet and quilt.
Good lighting. Lots of options and a large window.
Large flat-screen tv mounted on the wall. Around 40 channels with English news channels and general entertainment channels in French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Controllable air-con.
Warm, comfortable decor and nice wood furnishings. No noticeable wear and tear.
High standard of cleanliness.
Really quiet. My room was at the back of the building facing into an inner courtyard. There was no traffic noise at all. Lift shafts were next door to the room but made very little noise.
Mini-safe in wardrobe, nice towels, free toiletries and face cloths, hair dryer, telephone, tv guide and other magazines all included in the room.
Free and fast Wifi in all areas of the hotel. No excuse these days to charge hotel customers for wifi.
Friendly and helpful staff.
24 hour bar.
Really nice location. Near an interchange metro station and lots of restaurants and shops. Away from the tourist areas so you’re mixing with real Parisiens living their lives.
Breakfast included in the room price. A typical continental spread of breads, cheeses, cold meats, cereals, pastries and boiled eggs. Really lovely.

The Bad

A really narrow bathroom. I actually rather liked it because it was different and quirky. That said, the toilet was about 30cm away from the other wall so using it was difficult even for a skinny guy like me. People of larger proportions would probably have to sit on it sideways.
The shower was right in front of a window. The glass was slightly frosted but there was no blind or curtain. On top of that, a bright halogen bulb lit up the shower area like a shop window, so showering at night would probably only be for the brave.
Central faucet on sink. It’s one of my hotel bugbears. Seems every hotel has them these days. Really annoying to use.
During one afternoon, I placed the ‘Do not disturb’ sign outside my room. I had walked a lot that morning and fancied a nap and had noticed the chambermaid was working on my floor. After a short time, I was woken up by the phone ringing. It was reception wanting to know when I would be vacating my room. It’s my personal opinion that if a hotel has “Do not disturb’ signs, they ought to respect them and that if I’m paying for a room for three nights, it should be my decision whether I want the room to be cleaned or not. It’s worth pointing out this was the only customer service issue I had though.

The Verdict

Despite the annoyance of being woken up unnecessarily, I really enjoyed my stay at Hotel La Manufacture and would highly recommend it to you. It’s well-appointed, well-run and offers everything you could possibly need. Rooms are a good size, quiet and comfortable and include all the necessary extras. It’s often a requirement of people visiting Paris that they avoid the chain hotels and stay in a typically Parisien hotel. This hotel would meet such a requirement since it’s set in a typically Parisien-style building (with large iron main entrance door) and is independently-owned. Next time you’re in Paris, I’d say Hotel La Manufacture is definitely worth at least short-listing.

Hotel Information

Hotel La Manufacture
8 Rue Philippe de Champagne
75013 PARIS
Tel: +33 (0)1 45 35 45 25

Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour So today, the huge red Coca-Cola...

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour

So today, the huge red Coca-Cola Christmas truck rolled into town, bringing with it a plethora of guys and gals decked out in corporately branded santa outfits handing out free cans of your favourite sugary drink. No, not Ice Tea, Coke! “Holidays are coming!” sang the choir as people queued in the freezing rain to have their photo taken next to the illuminated juggernaut while the image of Santa, bottle of Coke in glove, smiled on. Flash bulbs blinked and people whooped and sang along to their favourite advertising jingles while clinking their cans together and wishing one another a merry christmas from Coca-Cola.

It sounds like I’m being sarcastic and that I can see through the publicity stunt. I kinda am and I kinda can, but I don’t care. It was awesome! I happily accepted and enjoyed my free can of Coke and smiled when they started singing that familiar song. We went out in the rain especially to see it and you know what, I’m pleased we did. I’ve watched the advert on tv of the convoy of trucks rolling over hills of snow and bridges decked in lights every year since I was a kid. As an adult, I’m not ashamed to say I jumped at the chance to see one of the trucks for real. It was cool!

It’s hardly as if Coca-Cola need to do this. Everyone knows the brand and everyone buys it. It’d be nice to think they’re touring the country just because it’s Christmassy. They’re not, but it’d be nice to think so.

Eating Out: L’As du Fallafel, Paris, France

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Last weekend, I was in Paris, France. What with a direct train connection from my hometown to London St. Pancras International station and an onward connection by Eurostar to central Paris, it’s really easy for me to get a short ‘fix of français’ whenever I need it.

I arrived at lunchtime at Gare du Nord. Naturally, I was hungry (I always am, but I’m particularly so around midday for some reason) so I thought about where I could grab something to eat. This isn’t too much of a problem for Paris. There are thousands of food options and places to eat and you’re pretty much guaranteed that it will be tasty and fulfilling.

I still had my bag on my back though. I hadn’t even checked in at my hotel. A proper restaurant or cafe was not what I wanted. I needed something quick. After a moments thought, I knew exactly what would hit the spot. I hopped on the metro and headed for Rue des Rosiers.

I had already had falafel in Paris’ Marais district before. I had enjoyed it a lot, but I didn’t have much choice in where to get it. I had stupidly turned up on a Saturday, the Jewish sabbath, so apart from this one place, all the outlets were closed. This time, I did have a choice, though I only had one place in mind; the much-hyped L’As du Fallafel.

You can’t miss the green facade of what is, for some reason, trumped as Lenny Kravitz’s favourite falafel restaurant. Bright flashing lights, press cuttings and a bright yellow menu board draw you in. A guy with a small receipt book rounds up potential customers in French with smatterings of English. Once you’ve joined the queue, he takes your order, you pay him and he hands you a receipt which you then hand to the guys behind the window. “How hot do you want it,” you’re asked. “Hot!” is the response. With tongs, crisp salted cucumber and pickled red & white cabbage is quickly flicked into large, soft pitta bread. Five (six if you’re lucky) glistening golden brown balls of fried chickpea fritters (falafel) are thrown in along with soft aubergine. On top of it all, hummus and hot harissa sauce is spooned on.

It’s difficult describing the taste without being vague. You’ll just have to try it for yourself. I love food that has a variety of textures and flavours all in one, so for me it really hits the spot. Its crispy and soft, sweet and sour, hot and mild, crunchy and chewy. It ticks all the boxes. If you’re not sitting in the adjoining restaurant, the generally accepted way to eat is to find a nearby doorway to stand in or find a step or kerb to sit on. Then open your mouth wide and stuff as much of it in as possible. Forget about your dignity and manners. It’s just too good.

Hyvää Joulua! - Finnish Church of London Christmas Fair

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

My campaign of immersing myself in the culture of other nations continued at the weekend with a visit to an early Christmas Fair at the Finnish Church of London (or, Lontoon Suomalainen Kirkko, to call it by its awesome Finnish name). There was no hiding the fact that this was a money-making scheme. You could tell by browsing the large supermarket they had set up in the church itself. A medium jar of Cloudberry jam cost £9.50! I’ll let them off though as it was an enjoyable excursion (plus I imagine it costs a fair bit to import everything) and my first opportunity to experience anything relating to Finland.

After balking at the high prices of all the goodies (Moomin-shaped biscuits, rye crackers, dark chocolate, liquorice etc.) I heading for an adjoining tent where food was being served. I passed at the £6.50 sautéed reindeer (I wanted to try it but I couldn’t quite justify the price) and enjoyed a dollop of silky smooth mash with a fat scandinavian-style sausage and rye bread. To wash it down, a cup of Glögi (mulled wine) with a “glog” of vodka.

Upstairs were craft stalls and a cafe where I had to try one of Finland’s traditional Karelian Pies; a rice-filled soft rye crust with chopped egg on top. I enjoyed it for its cultural significance, not for its taste which was barely detectable.

Before leaving, I stopped by a stall giving out free samples of Finnish Pâtés on rye bread (no surprises there). I could have gone for salmon or elk, but I decided upon trying bear. The issue of whether bear meat is ethically and sustainably farmed aside, bear has a predictably strong meaty flavour that is otherwise difficult to describe. It wasn’t horrible by any stretch but I won’t be rushing to Helsinki to buy more of it.

In Pictures: Occupy London Stock Exchange

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

“We expect political democracy. Why not economic democracy too?”

I’m keen to avoid getting too political in this post, particularly as I don’t feel I’m terribly clued up about what the Occupy movement is all about and thus, airing my views about economic equality isn’t going to be useful to anyone. So, I simply present these photos as a way of documenting my visit to the OccupyLSX camp that is currently sat outside St. Pauls Cathedral in London.

I was impressed by how well organised the camp was. As you’ll see in my photos, the protesters have gone to great lengths to make themselves comfortable as well as making the camp as inviting as possible for curious visitors. There were people from all walks of life reading the posters and leaflets, taking photos and listening & engaging in (sometimes heated) debate. It was obvious to me that one of the camper’s aims is to disseminate their opinions. Judging by how many people were wandering around, at least this part of their campaign could probably be consider a success.

As well as in Info Tent where passers-by were encouraged to go in and learn about the Occupy movement, the campers had set up a kitchen and, directly opposite a branch of Starbucks, StarBOOKS a library of fiction books and campaign literature.

While I wandered and snapped, I noticed well-known human rights activist Peter Tatchell posing for photos before recording an interview. He was interrupted part way through by the bells of St Pauls. Despite early nonsensical reaction from the Church of England, it’s now business as usual at London’s most famous cathedral.

Europe by easyJet I don’t mind admitting I quite like...

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Europe by easyJet

I don’t mind admitting I quite like watching adverts on TV, particularly those where it’s obvious the makers have gone to some considerable effort to produce something amazing. In such cases, it’s almost like watching a short film. Then, they repeat the same ads over and over and the pleasure turns to boredem. Until that hapens though, I’m a fan.

This ad by easyJet is an example where the marketing company has clearly gone to some effor to make something fresh and interesting. Budget airlines are often grouped together in people’s minds. It seems the aim with this ad is to seperate the easyJet brand away from other budget airlines like Ryanair who it seems couldn’t care less about the quality or aesthetics of their brand and are simply focussed on diminishing the quality of the service they provide in order to make more money. I know a company has to make money, but they needn’t be so blantent about it. I shan’t link to it, but have a look at the Ryanair website and you’ll see what I mean. In a word; yuck!

easyJet on the other hand appear to want the customer to associate the fun they have on their travels with the airline itself. I’ve flown with easyJet many times. While I’ve never considered a flight with easyJet as being “fun”, there’s no denying it’s a great advert that, for me, really stokes the wanderlust fire.

Fortaleza do Monte The centre of the special administrative...

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Fortaleza do Monte

The centre of the special administrative region of Macau in China as filmed from the top of the Fortaleza do Monte, a former military base and now home to the Museum of Macau. Shortly after the beginning of the film, you’ll see the ruins of St. Pauls while at the end, you’ll see a hideous highrise building housing one of Macau’s many hotels and casinos.

Postcard From Po Lin Monastery

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

One of the more remarkable excursions during my week in Hong Kong was to the Ngong Ping Plateau on Lantau Island where the Po Lin Monastery nestles in mountains draped in thin wispy cloud. Getting to the monastery is an adventure in itself. The ride by gondola takes 25 minutes.

Of all the religions, Buddhism surely has the best merchandise.

The main reason people go to the monastery is to high-five Big Buddha. He certainly meets up to his name. He’s a big fella! But how big?

Tian Tan Buddha is a whopping 34 metres (112 ft) tall, weighs 250 metric tons, and was the world’s tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha prior to 2007. Between you and him are a mere 240 steps.

Stairs, humidity and altitude aren’t the best mix. Phew!

The monastery itself is everything you could possibly want from a monastery. Beautiful and peaceful. Big Buddha oversees the monastery and ensures the peace is maintained.

The main entrance to the monastery. wonderfully well kept to maximise the experience of pilgrims and tourists alike.

The ride back down is just as exciting as the ride up.

Danmarks Bedste Pølser

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Please stand to attention and salute the magnificent culinary chaos that is before you. Eating hotdogs in Denmark is almost a national pastime. Wherever you are in the country, you won’t be far from a ‘Pølsevogn’ or hot dog stand, where delicious and inexpensive treats await. Though an ordinary hotdog is certainly nothing to be sniffed at, the Danish thought they could better the concept, inventing many variants on the familiar sausage in a bun idea we’re all so used to.

Here is one such example, which was presumably created on a particularly warm day where everyone was feeling a little light-headed and lethargic. This is a sausage, wrapped in bacon, with ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and remoulade, fried onion, pickled onion and pickled gherkins, all stuffed neatly into a bun. I ate this in Kongens Nytorv (King’s New Square) in Copenhagen a few years ago. The hundreds of commuters who were cycling home around the square that evening would have been no doubt perplexed upon seeing a lone man eating his dinner noisily and messily, whilst grinning at it.

Feel free to salute once more if you see fit. I am.

A Day In The Blue Mountains Today, I’ve been reliving my...

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A Day In The Blue Mountains

Today, I’ve been reliving my day in Australia’s Blue Mountains. Leading up to this day, I had spent a grey and rainy week in Sydney. But when I decided to head west along CityRail’s Blue Mountains Line to the small town of Katoomba, the sun shone brightly making the already incredible scenery sparkle.

In this video, I take in the impossibly beautiful rainforest-filled gorge, then, after descending the Giant’s Staircase, I walk through the rainforest to the cable car station that takes me back up to the top of gorge again.

Look out for a brief appearance by a Superb Lyrebird. I’ll always remember my first encounter with this extraordinary species on a BBC nature documentary. It’s ability to mimic any sound almost 100% accurately amazed me. The thought of seeing one in the wild had never crossed my mind, let alone on the day I found myself in the temperate rainforest of the Blue Mountains. But one scuttled out in front of me that day and I have a tiny fragment of that encounter on video. Thankfully, I kept my composure, despite an overwhelming urge to dance around on the spot, to keep the camera still and even to pan away in an artistic fashion.

A beautiful ecosystem coupled with a remarkable ornithological experience made for a truly unforgettable day.

Review: Y-Loft at Youth Square, Hong Kong

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Funky, modern, good value accommodation for students and travellers on a budget.

Having spent 5 weeks staying in dorms and hostels in Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, I needed to treat myself when I arrived in Hong Kong. I needed some space, some privacy and some comfort. Money was getting tight though, so I also needed somewhere that offered all of this but for as little money as possible. After a lot of review reading and price comparison, I found Y-Loft at Youth Square.

Taking up the floors 12, 13 and 14 of the Youth Square building in the Chai Wan district of Hong Kong Island, Y-Loft calls itself a hostel, but really this is a hotel that happens to have a few large dorms. The rest of the rooms are large, private, twin ensuite rooms that are comfortable, clean and funky! If you’re not a fan of bright green and orange, best stay clear of this one.

The Good

Large, clean, private rooms, many with balconies facing into a central courtyard and all with ensuite facilities
Modern custom furnishings with a zingy colour scheme.
Big flat-screen tv with a couple of English language channels showing mainly boring British and American imports (except Big Bang Theory which is brilliant).
Unusual room design. Enormous sink in the bedroom, separate from the rest of the ensuite bathroom.
Direct connection to a shopping mall with shops and eateries open until late. Great if you have a late-night hankering for tiramisu.
Power shower! Perhaps the most powerful shower head in the history of mankind. Was literally blown about the shower cubicle.
Kettle and mugs in the room but bring your own tea bags and milk.
Staff spoke good English and were very approachable and helpful. They could book tickets for you and had good local knowledge.
Very quiet. No street noise at all.
On-site laundry was spotless, easy to use and cheap. Buy tokens from reception.
Free on-site gym looked barely used. Equipment was top of the range.
Free Wifi in all rooms.

The Bad

A bit of a slog to get to. The building is directly connected by flyover to Chai Wan Station on the MTR Island Line (well signposted), but to get to Hong Kong Central takes around 30 minutes.
Finding the reception for the first time is a complete pain and navigating the building itself will make you want to punch your way through a wall to save yourself time and effort. Read my advice in the verdict below if you need some help.
The Youth Square building has four lifts, but they always seemed to be in use when I needed them. I often had to wait several minutes for one to become available.
Firm bed. Very firm bed. Don’t jump onto it on arrival. You’ll snap your neck. Took a little getting used to but I did so much sightseeing, I still slept like a sloth.

The Verdict

Every box ticked as far as I’m concerned. Y-Loft was comfortable, clean and modern. On the negative side, a degree of patience (and maybe a degree) is required in getting to and from the building and navigating the building itself, but this problem is almost negated by the hotel’s many positives. In other words, it was worth the hassle. Price wise, Y-Loft was a complete bargain. Book through dedicated hostel booking websites for the best deals.

Where’s The Reception?

I’ve never had to write a ‘Where is the Reception?’ section before, but for Y-Loft, it is completely necessary. Finding it for the first time is a nightmare if you don’t do some research beforehand.

I’m assuming that you’ll be traveling to Y-Loft in the MTR. Take the train to Chai Wan, the last stop on the Island Line. Upon alighting, follow the signs for Exit A. Go through the doors into the New Jade Shopping Centre. Pass through the centre, veering right and pass through a second set of doors leading outside. Walk along the footbridge, then take the first right. Look up. That’s Youth Square. Look down again. You’re approaching a bizarre, user-unfriendly entrance to the building. Head straight on by stairs and slopes (not the escalator) and find the lifts. Call any lift and head for floor 12. Upon alighting the lift, turn right. Reception is just around the corner. Phew!

Where’s My Room?

Really? You’re kidding!

Nope. Listen carefully to the instructions given to you by the person on reception about where your room is. This building makes no sense whatsoever.

Contact Details

Y-Loft at Youth Square
238 Chai Wan Road
Chai Wan
Hong Kong

Review: Hangout @ Mount Emily, Singapore

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A cool, comfortable, clean & convenient base for your explorations in the island state.

Searching for somewhere to stay in Singapore actually took longer than I expected. What I was looking for was somewhere that offered me a lot for my restricted budget. My accommodation searches revealed that on the whole, you get what you pay for in Singapore. It seemed the cheaper the place, the less comfort and amenities you got. I quickly learnt that what I needed to find was somewhere that offered value.

Hangout @ Mount Emily had precisely that. A hostel/hotel geared towards young travellers and backpackers who need just a little extra comfort for their money.

The Good

Staff were happy and helpful. Smiles were easy to find (actually, smiles were easy to find all over Singapore). Questions were always answered thoroughly & knowledgeably.
Rooms are generally a good size. The two rooms I stayed in had ample room for two people. Good sound proofing.
Big buffet breakfast included in the room price. Some strange choices (early morning lasagne anyone?) but much appreciated.
Laundry facilities on-site. Really useful and cheap. I don’t know why more places don’t offer washers and dryers.
Free unlimited use of internet-enabled computers and building-wide wifi.
Large common room with pool table and big screen tv.
Awesome rooftop terrace with a nice view of the city centre and a shower pool to splash about in.
Cleanliness in rooms and in all public areas to a high standard.
Dorms are nicely laid out. Custom-built lockable cupboards separate each bed offering a bit of extra privacy.
Quiet neighbourhood with a small, leafy park right on the doorstep. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It was lovely to come back to after a busy day of sightseeing.
A general feeling that the place is well-run and that the staff care. Comforting for nervous travellers.
Air-con! Wonderful, wonderful air-con!

The Bad

I wasn’t bothered by it, but some may find the short daily walk and MRT ride to and from the hotel a little tiresome.
Due to its hybrid setup, it’s not the best place to meet people and make new friends.
Plain rooms. Lots of Ikea furnishings.
Some private rooms don’t have windows.

The Verdict

If you’re on a tight budget but require a few more home comforts for your money, this is the place for you. Ignore any concerns about the location. It’s really not that far a walk and you’ll be glad of the peace once you get back after being on the go all day. For the money, you could only really expect the hotel to be clean and comfortable. It is, yet you also get free wifi, free breakfast, a funky common room and rooftop terrace to hangout in, helpful staff on call 24 hours a day, big, airy rooms with air-con, laundry facilities and even bikes to hire. What’s not to like? Book far enough ahead, and you could bag yourself one of the biggest bargains Singapore has to offer.

Hotel Information

Hangout @ Mount Emily
10A Upper Wilkie Road
Singapore 228119
http://www.hangouthotels.com/
More reviews on Tripadvisor

Room 1317 While in Hong Kong, I stayed at the...

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Room 1317

While in Hong Kong, I stayed at the brilliant Y-Loft in the Chai Wan district at the eastern end of Hong Kong Island. My room was spacious, clean and modern. It was a real treat to stay there after weeks of staying in hostels.

There was however one flaw. My room took a while to get to. The hotel itself lives on the upper floors of a busy skyscraper (called ‘Youth Square’). There are four lifts, but more often than not, I had to wait a few minutes for one to become available. Then, upon reaching my floor, it was a fair old walk to my room.

This video captures the walk from the lift. It also captures me taking a wrong turn immediately after the lift doors open and the rustling of a carrier bag with a slice of tiramasu inside. Yes, you can get tiramasu in Hong Kong. No, I don’t feel stupid for eating tiramasu in Hong Kong.