Top 10 things to do in Barbados
Barbados is the furthest East of the islands of the Caribbean chain. Very British in atmosphere, it is an island of old-fashioned charm and beautiful beaches. There are many adventures to be had but it is also a brilliant place to kick back and enjoy many, many rums. 1. Catamaran cruise Several operators offer catamaran cruises along the West coast of Barbados. They depart Bridgetown careenage in the morning, and after a usually bumpy five minutes spent getting out of the harbour, head North along the tranquil waters and beautiful picture-postcard beaches of the West coast. The catamarans stop at various points for lunch, a swim and to allow guests…
Some Bahamian Food Favourites
The Bahamas are not just hundreds of beautiful islands – there is lots to eat too! An island nation that has prioritised rum-distilling has to line its stomach afterall… The Bahamians have a great variety of seafood to enjoy and it is all too pleasant to wash it down with a tasty cocktail as you watch the sun set. Souse Souse is a thin water-based soup. It is a simple dish of few ingredients, most commonly water, onions, lime, peppers and meat. Conch Conch is a white shellfish meat found inside conch shells. It is a delicious specialty of the Bahamas and often served as conch fritters (pictured above), cracked…
Snapshots of the Bahamas Family Islands
Although New Providence is home to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, the Bahamas by no means end there. There are so many beautiful places in this island nation that you will struggle to choose a favourite. San Salvador San Salvador (pictured above) is the island where Christopher Columbus first landed on his voyage to discover the new world and somewhat confusingly, the locals have erected several monuments to mark the exact spot where he first came ashore. There are a few small resorts on San Salvador, as well as a Christopher Columbus Museum. The island is a remote but fantastic spot for diving . I saw a turtle, two…
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…
