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Mother’s Day – the ultimate expat trap
Living overseas can be difficult for many reasons, but it can also be fraught with danger as I discovered this week when I almost fell into the ultimate expat trap: forgetting Mother’s Day. Despite the 9,000 miles distance currently between us, my mother and I normally communicate two or three times a week. She is often in my thoughts and there is no way that I would ignore Mother’s Day. For a start, I have a clear childhood memory of asking “Mum, why isn’t there a Children’s Day?” and her response “Every day is children’s day.” Point taken! Why all the dates? Most countries celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day…
Tasty Tapas
Tapas is a staple offering in most bars in Spain. Traditionally tapas were simply nibbles and bar snacks, but nowadays they have become very popular internationally and virtually formed an entire cuisine. The Spanish eat dinner late, usually after 9pm. That is a long time to wait between meals, and so tapas were born! What is tapas? Tapas started out as a piece of cured meat or bread that was balanced on top of sherry glasses in order to keep fruit flies out of the sherry. Cured meat was salty, provoking the desire to drink, and once bar-owners cottoned-on to this there was no stopping them. Small servings of just…
Bosphorus Cruising
Istanbul life is lived around the Bosphorus which divides Europe from Asia. Control of this waterway has historically been fought over, but now offers a peaceful way to explore what can, at times, be a very hectic city. Cruising the Bosphorus and observing Istanbul from the water is one of my favourite things to do in this amazing city. It offers a unique nose into life along the Bosphorus and is something to definitely not miss. Ferries and cruises It is possible to get ferries north and south along the Bosphorus. It takes about 90 minutes to travel the length of the Bosphorus and for those ferries you simply buy…
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
To the western end of the Gorge du Verdon in Provence and to the north of the Lac du Sainte-Croix lies the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, which clings to a cliff and the town spills down from a church at the top. As you approach the village you would be forgiven for thinking you are stepping into a bible story as the village seems to depict a nativity scene. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Church The Chapel de Notre Dame de Beauvoir was built in the twelfth century and is a short walk up from the back of town (or a very long and slippery scrabble if there is snow and ice about), but worth…
When do expats become locals?
A stranger stopped me in the supermarket yesterday and asked me “Are you a local?” I am English and currently living in Australia in a town where it is generally believed that you must stay at least ten years before you are considered a local. Having been here just under a year I wasn’t confident that ‘yes’ was the correct response. Remembering that I was in the supermarket that I visit weekly to restock the fridge though, I hazarded a ‘yes’. “Oh great,” he said “Can you tell me where they hide the bacon?” Of course I could, so to that extent at least, I am a local here. But…
Cape Le Grand Beaches
Esperance, on the south east coast of Western Australia, boasts that it has Australia’s best beaches. Town beach is pretty, but the beaches that really stick in your mind are those in the Cape Le Grand National Park. Le Grand Le Grand is the first beach you come across in the park. Le Grand lives up to its name. The beach is a wide flat expanse of, often very windy, sand. The beach looks across the Recherche Archipelago, or Bay of Isles and on a clear day you can make out Esperance behind the islands. This is one of the two areas in the park offering camping facilities. Hellfire Bay…
Nasi Goreng
I wasn’t sure what to expect of Indonesian cuisine before arriving there. I will admit it concerned me a bit because of my severe dislike of spicy foods. I shouldn’t have worried though. I discovered nasi goreng and it was love at first bite Nasi Goreng Pronounced ‘nazee gorang’ and offered on most menus, nasi goreng was a reliable and tasty treat while I explored Bali and it was NOT spicy (although you can request it to be). Essentially it is fried rice served with fish, chicken, pork or beef and, often in tourist areas, a fried egg on top and a satay stick. Nasi goreng is a traditional dish…
French trains
French trains are some of the fastest and most comfortable you will ever travel in. Some routes use double-decker trains and they certainly put British trains to shame. In many countries once you have bought a ticket you can sit back and relax, but in France they have a sneaky extra step that the traveller needs to complete. Buy a ticket French stations are full of ticket machines, so as long as you recognise the words, you can buy your ticket without generating a huge queue and embarrassing yourself at the ticket office. Validate your ticket Once you have bought your ticket (billet) you need to validate it at one…
Brighton Rocks
Brighton is a seaside resort on Britain’s south coast bursting with colour and character. It offers a modern pier complete with rides and good old-fashioned British seaside fun, as well as ghost piers, cafes, restaurants, shopping and of course the beach. Brighton Pier (and old pier) Brighton Pier (also known as the Palace Pier) is the focus of the seafront. Opened in 1899 it stretches for out into the sea for 524 metres and plays host to a whole funfair of rides, games and funfair activities. It has something to suit everyone, from the traditional rollercoaster to the nasty newer rides that ‘drop’ you. The Pier also hosts more traditional…
Pioneering in Western Australia
Since gold was discovered in Kalgoorlie in 1893 pioneers came from far and wide leaving traces across WA and, unbeknownst to many, there are some abandoned homesteads not far from Esperance. There are two homesteads that are relatively easy to find. Deralinyup homestead The first is Deralinya which was built in 1890 and home to Mr Scott who lived there while he worked on the land. It lay in ruins for years until Roger Robertson came across it and decided to lavish love upon it and restore it. It now boasts a complete tin roof, whitewashed walls and a few bits of furniture. There is a dunny (outhouse) in a…
