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Shopping in Bali
The Bali shopping experience is a lot of fun, firstly there are oodles of treasures to be found and secondly there are no fixed prices. Combine this with the friendliness of the Balinese people and shopping becomes a joy! It is a wholly different experience from the average high street. Bargaining is the norm in Bali and the increased level of personal interaction it brings is great fun once you overcome any personal discomfort about offering shopkeepers less than they ask. Shopping in Bali Bali is a veritable treasure trove for those who are keen to buy silk, silver or crafts. Almost every market stall and apparel shop sold simple…
How to become a scuba diving instructor
Some divers are satisfied with being vacation divers, but if you want to do more diving and are tempted by the lifestyle, read on for tips on how to become a scuba instructor. There are several different scuba diving organizations. PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the largest and most well known internationally, but there are others, including BSAC (The British Sub Aqua Club), NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), SDI (Scuba Diving International), TDI (Technical Diving International) and CMAS (Centre Mondiale des Activities Subaquatiques). Each system is just a different approach to diving. They each require divers to get recreational tickets before progressing through further courses and gaining…
A new perspective on a familiar place
Have you ever met someone who introduced you to a whole new way of seeing and understanding a place? It is easy to only see the world through your own eyes, but sometimes looking at things differently can be truly eye-opening. Living in a small town in regional Australia brings one enormous benefit; there are no crowds. This applies in lots of places. For example the nearby beaches are stunning and you often have them either completely or virtually to yourself. Parking is always available, usually within a few metres of the shop you wish to visit and people are, for the most part, friendly and familiar. However, isolation is…
Having a hamam – The Turkish Bath Experience
Whale watching in Western Australia
Every so often life shows you something wonderful. Happening upon a whale and calf playing lazily in surf just off a local beach is one of those things. The coastline in south west Australia is spectacular and although the water is often cold enough that you are not tempted to swim, the sunshine keeps you warm whilst exploring and there is always something to photograph. Having driven 120 kilometres east out of Esperance to Thomas River, no sooner had we stepped onto the squeaky white sand, we spotted a whale and calf playing in the bay. To the western end of the beach is a gentle sloping rocky outcrop that…
Why expats need local friends
It is easy for expats, especially in a country that speaks another language, to form friendships with other expats. While fellow expats can be enormously supportive and fun, if you want to really understand your new home, it is also important to befriend locals in your host country. One place I am especially fond of is Turkey. It is somewhere that I quickly felt, and continue to feel, at ease. I am indebted to my Turkish friends for their help during my time in Turkey, especially at the beginning. I was young when I first fell in love with the country and I was clueless about Turkish culture and knew nothing…
Lavender of Provence
Nothing quite prepares you for the beauty of Provence in summer. If the sunshine and blue skies over dramatic hills, glittering beaches and endearing little village houses do not convince you, a visit to a Provence lavender field will. Lavender blooms between June and August and harvesting begins in mid July. Early July is the most reliable time to see the lavender at its best but the exact time depends on which region you visit. The Plateau de Valensole, north of Antibes and the Plateau de Sault, north-east of Avignon, are the two main areas for lavender. High above the warmer coastline the Plateau de Valensole is the largest lavender…
Things to do in Rhodes
There are so many Greek islands to choose from, deciding between them can pose a problem. Rhodes has history, shopping, beaches and partying, something for everyone. Here are a few things to check out if you want to make the most out of your trip to Rhodes. Rhodes Old Town History is one thing that Rhodes has by the bucketload. Having been established in the fifth century Rhodes Old Town is certainly old. This area of Rhodes offers a maze of over 200 narrow streets and lanes in which to get happily lost in. The medieval heart of Rhodes is a wonderful spot for a drink in one of the…
Getting started in the UK
From the green fields and historic country houses to the bustling, multicultural metropolis where anything goes that is London, the UK is definitely an exciting destination. Like anywhere, it can seem complicated when you arrive. Read on for my essential guide on how to get started in the UK. UK accommodation Before you start trying to sort out anything else in the UK you need to have somewhere to sleep. Finding rental accommodation is often simple enough through letting agents, which is a good option if you have moved to the UK with a selection of flatmates (make sure you have six weeks rent upfront as a deposit, your first…
Alhambra
The Alhambra is a palace, fortress and a feast of Moorish architecture. To squeeze some culture into your break on Spain’s coast get up to Granada where you will be rewarded with exotic and lavish gardens and an exquisitely decorated palace. One of Spain’s 42 UNESCO heritage sites, the Alhambra has a rich history of occupants including both Arabs and Christians (not together obviously). It consists of a palace with functional areas, living rooms and a harem, the main fortress and a residential area for subordinates. It was built perched on a hilltop and different parts seem scattered about and connected by courtyards. The history of the Alhambra The complex…
