Month: October 2017

Globetrotters- Always on the Way

Another Sunday and another fabulous globetrotter to introduce you to. This week we have Julie from Always on the Way.

Always on the Way is a huge resource of travel and expat information. There is soooo much for you to discover. Wonderful words, gorgeous pictures, insightful advice and honest reviews, it is a fabulous blog to follow.

As a fellow expat, it’s lovely to read on Julie’s about me page that we share a common feeling that living in a new country allows you to really experience it and see more than if you were just cruising through on a holiday. I’ve been dreaming about visit Canada FOREVER and as Julie has lived there I’ve been reading and rereading all of her Canada posts to just entice further wanderlust for me to get there. It seems every Globetrotter we have had recently has been to Canada. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.

One of my favourite posts is this one about Nazca Lines. I had never heard of these or where to see them but OMG they look amazing. It was so fascinating to not only read about it but also to see the pictures and that you can see them without flying. What a fabulous place to see and explore.

Julie regularly travels solo and I found it interesting about her thoughts on how some places are safer than what the media makes out that they are. You usually read so much about how being a solo female traveler can be very dangerous in certain destinations so its eye-opening to hear a different take on it. I know nowhere is now completely safe and you still need to be smart and have your wits about you but maybe some places are not as scary as we think it might be at first and by giving them a chance you get to experience something different. Check out her thoughts about this in her answers below.

Here is Julie from Alway on the way….

I am Julie, a travel blogger based in Toronto. I have lived in the USA (Hawaii) and Canada for eight years. When I am not traveling and writing, I am learning a new language, reading a book, and staring at the horizon to figure out my next adventure.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?

I love waking up alone in a new place and embracing the excitement of being surrounded by adventure. It feels surreal to visit destinations completely different from home, with people speaking a different language, sharing a different culture, and eating different food.

Why do you think traveling is important?

I believe travel is important for us to get out of our fears and see how things really are. We live in a society where negative news reports and fear are prevalent, and many afraid of traveling to certain countries because of safety concerns.

During my years of travel, I’ve learned that the world is generally a safe place and not every destination is as dangerous as the news media makes it out to be. The countries people are usually scared to travel to are the ones that give the best experience.

Where are you off to next? Or where have you just come back from?

I am currently traveling in Peru and then all the way south to Patagonia.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?

This picture was taken when I walked to the top of Mt. Royal in Montreal. I was amazed by the changing color of foliage in the middle of October. A lady I met at a bus station ended up walking up Mt. Royal with me. She knew I was a traveler and told me to take as many pictures as possible because this was possibly my only chance of seeing such colorful landscapes on Mt. Royal. She was right – I returned to Montreal but never again did I experience such colorful scenery.

Do you have a pre-travel ritual? If so what?

I always write down the address and number of local contacts (embassy, police station, the owner of the accommodation) to be safe.

Who do you usually travel with?

I travel solo. I love the feeling of freedom that comes along, and taking time to explore a place, going where I want to go.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

Trust your instincts. The world is generally a safe place and people are there to help, but if you feel something is wrong, please listen to it. It is always the best to be aware of your surroundings and be smart on the road.

Tell us the most memorable moment you’ve had whilst travelling?

Watching the northern lights on Christmas Eve. My friend and I went to the Chena Hot Spring resort in Fairbanks Alaska to celebrate Christmas holidays. We waited for the northern lights in the waiting room near a café where it was surrounded by the snowy mountains. At 12:30 am, the northern lights showed up and were dancing around the sky for over two hours. It was freezing cold but we did not care. We stood outside on the snowy and icy ground and watched the northern lights illuminating the northern sky. It was the best Christmas gift I have ever received, and it was magical.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?

USA – Alaska. I am a natural addict and Alaska offers the most beautiful landscapes in the USA. Postcard quality pictures are everywhere and any road trip in Alaska is not disappointing.

Canada – Prince Edward Island. It is the birthplace of Canada and it has a stunning coastline with gorgeous beaches. People there bend their back to help you should you need any assistance. The seafood on the island is freshly made and cheap. I could just eat lobster all day every day.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?

Grand Palace in Bangkok. It is expensive to visit and is filled with crowds. I was wondering why a place every guidebook recommends for a visit looked like a tourist trap. When I shared my experience with my Thai friends and hostel workers, they told me they have never visited Grand Palace because they know the experience would likely be the same. I wish I could have asked my Thai friends earlier, so I would spend my time and budget elsewhere.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?

I would love to take the VIA Rail to visit Churchill Manitoba (Canada). It is the polar bear capital of the world and has the Aurora Borealis show up 300 days each year. Churchill is in the subarctic region, has only 3,000 residents, and is a remote place that is inaccessible by road, which makes the travel experience unlike that of any other place in the world.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?

Books. I don’t feel my suitcase is packed up unless I fill it with some books on history, memoir or travel guides I love spending afternoons in cafés, on the beach, and the local park, and sticking my nose in the books.

What can readers find on your blog?

Always On The Way focuses on destination features, personal travel experience, and travel guide and tips from locals’ perspective, and the content on the tourist attractions is minimum. I have lived in the USA and Canada for eight years and had return visits to many places; so many blog posts are geared towards the places most travelers are not aware of unless they live there. I wish my blog will inspire you to explore new destinations beyond tourist attractions and connect deeper with the culture, history, and its people.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?

“8 Things I Have Learned After Living in Hawaii” is one of my earliest blog posts I wrote it back in 2012 revealing the thoughts and reality of living in Hawaii. That time, I just started blogging as a hobby. The post got published on another online blog and magazine Bucket List Publications and went viral in just a few hours with Facebook shares and comments. I love this post the most because not only has it received the most engagement and many a-hah moments from residents of Hawaii even to this day, it also inspires me to write more about Hawaii from my own experience and that is how my blog officially started.

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11 Things to see and do in Cape Town

The Mother City, aka Cape Town. South Africa is home to the adventure seekers from all over the world. Plan your trip with this roundup of the best Cape Town attractions.

Table Mountain

table mountain
One of the new seven wonders of the world

Table Mountain is magnificent and one of the most popular visitor destinations in Cape Town and over 900 000 people visit it each year- both tourists and locals. It is 1086m ( 3563feet ) above sea level and got its name because of its flat top.

Table mountain only looks flat from one side, but from the south-west, you will see the overlying mountains that are called the Twelve Apostles. Often the mountain is covered in clouds known as the ‘tablecloth’. There are over 2200 species of plants found on Table mountain and can’t be found anywhere else because of its endemic to the mountain. Animals known as the dassie can also be found on the mountain.

The cableway that transports visitors to the top was built in 1929 which takes about 4 to 5 minutes. 65 Passengers can fit in the cableway. Before the cableway was invented the only way getting to the top was by foot. So for the fit and agile hiking up is also an option with more than 350 different routes which takes about 1 to 3 hours. For the really brave ones, abseiling is also an extreme option. It is currently the worlds highest abseil at 112m high.

The famous Table Mountain is 240-million years old and was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the world in 2011.

Big Five

elephant
Have you ever seen or heard of the BIG FIVE?

At Aquila, a Private Game Reserve, 2 hours drive from Cape Town you can get to experience to meet elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes. Considering them being difficult to hunt on foot they are known as the “Big Five” The big five are the most dangerous, yet the most popular animals for hunting and Game-Drives. Other endangered species can also be seen.

In 1990 South African Rand Notes got a different Big-Five animal on each note.

Aquila has been recognized as the “21 favorite things to do in Cape Town” and offers various of safaris. There are day trips safaris, horseback safaris, quad bike safari, overnight and fly-in safaris, 4 x 4 trails, fishing and weekend breakaways

So who would not want to hop straight off a beautiful sun-kissed beach onto a thrilling Big Five drive?

Cape Winelands

winelands
The Cape Winelands is a region of the Western Cape Province and is the largest wine producing region in South Africa with its increasing popularity worldwide. The Winelands are situated about 45kilometres (25 miles) east of Cape Town and have a lot to offer.

Cape Town is well known for its favorite destination of wine gatherings from around the world. As locals, we love nothing more than to escape to the Cape Winelands for a much needed relaxing weekend away with spectacular surroundings. It has the best and oldest wine farms in the region. You could spend about three days exploring around.

Wine tasting is an utterly incredible way to pass the weekend. With some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, old architecture and inspiring food, it all becomes one of Cape Town’s most beloved activities for both visitors and locals.

1,000,000,000 liters of wine are produced annually. Groot Constantia is the oldest wine farm in the Western Cape and in 1659 the first wine was produced by Jan Van Riebeeck.

The Cape Winelands are filled with events and happenings.

Explore the most popular and breathtaking wine farms which are divided into six main regions, each offering its own unique wine route. They are known as Constantia, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Robertson, and Wellington. Make sure to view the beautiful surroundings, taste wine and pick strawberries.

“Wine tasting is a sensory journey. We drink to remember—not to forget.”

Kirstenbosch

kirstenboch
The most beautiful Botanical Garden in Africa and regarded as one of the greatest in the World.

By car, Kirstenbosch lies 13km from the city and was founded in 1913. Kirstenbosch is part of the eastern slopes of Table mountain. Before Kirstenbosch botanical garden existed, it was a piece of land, overrun by pigs. There are gardens with the garden over 7000 species of plants that could be seen. You could explore for several of days and still see new scenes at every corner. And there are loads of corners.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is peaceful and breathtaking for its views, stunning flowers and surroundings. You should definitely take your time exploring the garden. It will also be good to get a map of the grounds in case you get lost.

One word of advice, if you are planning on exploring the whole garden be sure to bring decent walking shoes and lots of water. Of course, all the walking is bound to work up an appetite with a number of options for satisfying your hunger.

Musical concerts are held on the lawns at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, on Sundays from the end of November until the beginning of April. It is definitely a stunning place to visit with your family.

Who would not want to end of their Sunday enjoying some of South African’s best live music with a bottle of wine and a picnic basket with your loved ones, watching the sun slip in behind the mountains?

Robben Island

robben island
There are a lot of islands in the world that are quite famous, but Robben Island is certainly one of the most famous islands in the world.

The name Robben Island comes from the Dutch word Robbeineiland which means Seal Island because of all the seals that were found around the island and is 6,9 kilometers west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town.

Earlier, Robben Island was used as a prison and military during the second world war (1939-1945) but today it is a museum for it’s National Heritage Site. Nelson Mandela – South Africa’s first democratically elected president, spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island. Over 132 bird species and African Penguins have made the island their home.

There are tours that depart from the waterfront four times a day that takes about 3.5 hours when taking a ferry from and to the island depending on the weather.

Many tourists both local and well as foreign visits the country annually. Robben Island is a must see when visiting the country. A trip to the island allows them to experience what life prisoners went through.

Bo-Kaap

bokapp
The Bo-Kaap, known as the Malay Quarter is a beautiful area of Cape Town.

The area is well known for its brightly and colorful houses with cobblestoned streets

Multiple of former township houses situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city center was built in the 1760’s when people from Malaysia, Indonesia and the rest of Africa known as the Cape Malay lived there to work in Cape Town.

It also has a museum which is one of the oldest residential houses in the area and is still in its original form from the 1760s which highlights the cultural contribution made by early Muslim settlers.

Brightly painted houses are not the only reasons why to visit the Bo-Kaap, but also it is the most photographed area in the Mother City. The Bo-Kaap is packed with full history and culture. There is just too much to see, taste and explore.

Cape Point

cape point
The Cape Peninsula is a rocky cliff that extends out into the Atlantic Ocean at the southern-western point of the African continent. The Southern end of the Cape Peninsula is Cape Point and The Cape of Good Hope. The northern end is Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town. From Mouille Point in the north to Cape Point in the South, the peninsula is 52km long. The colorful history of The Cape Point was discovered by a Portuguese explorer, Bartolomeu Dias in 1488 for a sea route to the East.

There are so many things to see when driving to the Cape Point. You can experience one of the highest cliffs and fresh air, 1200 species of indigenous plants, various small mammals, zebras and if you are lucky to even the South African’s largest bird – the ostrich.

The Cape of Good Hope has brilliant sceneries for hiking, biking, swimming, diving, surfing, fishing, animal watching all over the reserve. The road from the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve at Cape Point takes you past Smitswinkel Bay and Millers Point to Simons Town.

V & A Waterfront

va waterfront
Where your shopping meets the sea.

South Africa’s oldest harbor was named after Prince Alfred who visited the harbor in 1860, and his mother Queen Victoria. The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront is situated in the heart of Cape Town and attracts more than 23 million visitors a year which has so much to offer.

The waterfront covers 123 hectares (Think: 180 rugby fields) which holds commercial and residential property, hotels, museums, fine dining restaurants, retail, down-to-earth food markets, adventure, entertainment facilities and more leisure activities than you can count on both your hands for both locals and tourists.

It has plenty of everything for everyone and is thought of as a shopping destination.
All the shopping is likely to work up an appetite with more than 70 restaurants to choose from with breathtaking views of the harbor. Before you end your night off, treat your kids to a ride on the Cape Wheel with a spectacular 360 degrees view of the city.

There is an Information Centre that provides maps and information on special events planned for that day.

Hike Up Lions Head

lions head
Lion’s Head known as “Leeuwen Kop” and Signal Hill is known as “Leeuwen Staart by the Dutch in the 17th century as the shape of the mountain looks like a crouching lion.

Lion’s head is a mountain in Cape Town 669metres above sea level between Table Mountain and Signal Hill.

If you do not have the energy to hike up Table Mountain, hiking up Lion’s Head is a must. Lion’s Head is well known for its spectacular sunset and sunrise hike views over Cape Town which takes around 2 hours to hike up and down.

It might feel like a struggle getting to the top but when you do, it’s worth the breathtaking views in all directions: the Twelve Apostles, the ocean, the city bowl, as well as towards Table Mountain. You can pack a picnic basket and even pop a champagne bottle when getting to the top, reminiscing about life with your friends or just celebrating that you made it to the top. Just make sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring a torch, enough water for your hike up and down. Trust me, you will need it.

Muizenberg

muizenberg.jpg
Muizenberg is a small suburb just outside Cape Town known as the ‘Surfers Corner” and is also famous for its Historical sites and museums.

It is a perfect little getaway place to spend a sunny afternoon. Many people will take the train from just about anywhere to go for a surf session at Muizenberg which is 27.2km (30minutes) from the city center. Though Muizenberg is well known for its active surfing and colorful houses there are plenty of antique shops, hippie boutiques, bookshops, restaurants and coffee shops along the main beach.

For beginner surfers, there are heaps of surf schools in the area and for the more experienced surfers the full range of waves. Whether you want extreme adrenaline, to explore Muizenberg a bit more or try something completely new, it is really one of those beautiful places that caters for everyone.

It is more than just a summer destination where you can learn to surf, spend time with your family and simply build a sandcastle or eat an ice cream. Not just is it all about the ocean views, you can walk down the streets and embrace all the artwork against the walls.

If you can drag the kids out the ocean, some well-established pursuits await – mini golf on the seafront, fun water slides, a playground for the kids and a real Cape Town summer day is waiting for you.

Boulders Beach

Boulders beach
Meet the penguins

Who wouldn’t want to visit a beach with crystal clear waters, white sand, and granite rocks and even meet penguins?

Meet the penguins about a 45-minute drive from Cape Town.

Boulders beach is a touristy beach and spoils you with a colony of African Penguins located in the Cape Peninsula near Simon’s town. It is the only place in the world where you can get close to African Penguins but not too close because their beaks are razor sharp.

In 1982 a colony of African Penguins settled at Boulders Beach from Dyer Island near Gansbaai. From two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony grew around 3000 and dropped to 2122 since 2005.

The African Penguins are only found on the coastline of South Africa and is on the verge of extinction. Boulders beach and its surrounding is part of the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, therefore the beaches are safe and clean and the penguins are protected.

These penguins are monogamous which means they have the same partner for their whole life.

When visiting the Penguins you get to visit them in their own habitat that no zoo experience can compare to and experience how entertaining they are in real life than you probably imagined them in the first place. You could look at them waddle all day and even consider taking one home because of their cuteness.
This post was kindly written by a lovely Wandering Darling- Chandre from Both Paths. I’m sure you loved what you’ve read as much as I have so check out her and her partners blog and social media channels with the links below for more great information and inspiration

Author Biography

I met Maria while she was traveling in South Africa. We fell in love through traveling and now run our own blog both-paths.com together. Both-Paths is a blog that we want to prove that traveling is for everyone. Right now we are exploring Maria’s home country, Norway. It is the fifth country we have traveled together since we met six months ago and that is only the beginning.

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Globetrotters – A Walk and a Lark

So we’ve taken a few weeks off with our Globetrotter series (sorry about that!) but we are back tonight and we have a gem of a blogger to share with you. This week it’s the lovely Josy from a Walk and a Lark.

I’ve long been a follower of Josy’s and always read her blogs wondering how her feet keep up with her with all her walking and hiking. I think mine would tell me to sit down and have a cuppa. We share that we are both expats with Josy previously liking Japan and now living in Canada and it’s great to read and relate to someone to who understands the trials and tribulations of living abroad. We also share a huge love of jumping photos and I am so glad she has sent one over to be included in this post.

This year she moved to Canada and as this has been long on bucket list I’ve been pouring through her posts to fuel even more wanderlust to get myself over there. This section on her blog has all the posts you need to know where to go, what to do and where to hike.

I really do love reading other travelers answers in this series and I think Josy’s answer to ‘Why do you think traveling is important’ is one of my all-time favourites. As traveling isn’t always important and that you can have a rewarding life even if you don’t travel. We often need to remember it’s a privilege to be able to do it and that not everyone has the means, funds or interest in traveling and that’s ok. We are all different and what’s important for one person is always going to be different to another and there are other ways to be enriched by the world. Such a refreshing reminder.

And on that note let me hand you over to Josy

Hello! I’m Josy.
I am not sure why I have always had wanderlust, but as soon as I first got a job back when I was 15, I started to save money for air tickets! I have lived in the UK, Japan and now Canada, so most of my trips have been close to those countries. My other love is walking and the outdoors so almost all of my travels include some long walks and thousands of photo opportunities.

What do you enjoy most about traveling?
This is a toss-up between food and pretty scenery! I LOVE to see the varied countryside around the world. When I lived in Japan, I picked up the habit of traveling with plans to eat a specific dish from whatever area I was traveling to. For example, Japanese people would all want to try kakinohazushi (really yummy sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves) when they visit Nara or eat Fugu (puffer fish) when they visit Ise. I love the culture of traveling to eat!

Why do you think traveling is important?
Hmmm…I don’t think it is important per se, but I do feel like I have been incredibly lucky and privileged to have been able to travel a bit. I mean, life can still be rewarding if you cannot travel, it is just the icing on the top to enrich a person’s life. I really think seeing the world and meeting people from different cultures opens my mind.

I am already a pretty cheerful person, but I also find planning my next trip helps make me really happy! It’s something to look forward to, and then something to experience and remember forever!

Where are you off to next? Or where have you just come back from?
At the moment all of my travel plans revolve around friend’s weddings. We just got back from a trip to Ireland (both North and South as the wedding crossed the border!) and my next big trip is for another good friend’s wedding in New Zealand. I am sooo excited to explore the land of the Lord of the Rings!

Having said that, as my husband and I are living abroad at the moment, every weekend feels like an exotic trip! I am having so much fun exploring the mountains near my new home!

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?


This is basically impossible for me to choose! I really like jumping photos and amazing mountains, so I guess I should pick this photo from Italy. A few minutes before the photo the whole world was white and the mountains were shrouded in mist. It is hard to describe how ridiculously happy I was when the clouds parted and this vista appeared. The sound effect that goes with this image is “squeee”

Who do you usually travel with?
Nowadays I travel with my husband, Marc. He loves to explore the world, but he is rubbish at making plans… so I normally make all the decisions, and just bring him along for the fun! He’s the one who takes my jumping photos.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Taste as many local dishes as you can. It may not look like something you expect to be delicious, but you’ll never know unless you try it!

Also, if you live somewhere for a while, go back and re-try things after you have started to get used to the flavours. I wasn’t keen on maccha and azuki beans when I first arrived in Japan, but now I LOVE them both.

I also think you should attempt to learn some of the local lingo. Even if you are still pretty rubbish, people really appreciate the effort and the world is less bewildering if you can understand more about what is happening around you.

Tell us the most memorable moment you’ve had whilst traveling?
I have so many! This will probably change each time I think of an anecdote!

A few years ago my husband and I were hiking in the Atlas mountains in Morocco. There was a moment when we came over the top of a ridge to look down on the valley below and it was just magical. The colours of the mountains changed from browns to reds and yellows, in large colourful stripes. People had built their houses from the rocks in their area, so the colours of the houses changed in sync with the surrounding mountainside. I had never seen scenery like that before, and it blew me away.

The people that lived in those colourful houses were soo friendly! We walked through a village just as a group of ladies were getting ready for a wedding ceremony. They giggled when they saw me, and brought me inside to join in the celebrations by covering me in henna! My husband and our guide were not allowed in (girls only!) but they could hear our giggles before I returned with some very orange arms!

Another brilliant memory is from Mongolia. We went to stay with a family in their traditional Ger camp. They are nomadic people, following their herds as they cross the steppes. The problem is, they were a little too nomadic for our guide! We had to drive around for a few hours looking for them as they were not in the place we expected!!

Once we’d settled in, the local children came over to play with us, and my brother, George, spun one of them around. The child loved it so much that he then had to spin every single child in the camp! It was hilarious watching them collapse into dizziness and giggles. Their parents welcomed us with their “beer” and “vodka” made from fermented horses milk. It was pretty gross, but still fun to try.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
This has to be Japan! I love the gorgeous mountains, the ancient culture with all the temples and shrines, the fooooood, the festivals and the people. I studied Japanese at university, so have lived there both as a student as well as working for a Prefectural government. I have so, so many amazing memories from my years there. I could easily write this entire post just about my experiences in Japan. I also have many good friends there that I hope I’ll stay in touch with for the rest of my life.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
Marrakesh. I thought the city was beautiful and loved the food, but I hated the way people treated tourists there. It just seemed like everyone was pushy or attempting to rip us off. I had a horrible experience with touts and it made me want to hide in our Riad and keep away from the streets. In the end, the stresses didn’t stop me exploring, but I never felt safe while we were there.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
I would love to go walking in the mountains of South Korea and eat some of their gorgeous food. I studied Korean several years ago, and although I have forgotten most of it, I can still read Hangul. I’d LOVE to explore and see if I can actually understand anything there!!

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
Walking boots (or at least comfy shoes that I can explore in!) My favourite part of visiting a new area is finding a map and planning a walk!

What can readers find on your blog?
I started my blog to document some of our pretty walks around the UK or on our travels. Since then I moved to Canada, so I’ve been documenting the amaaaazing scenery around Vancouver in British Columbia. I take far too many photos and find it difficult to cut down, so my blog is full of the vistas that have taken my breath away.

Where does your blog name come from?
My long-distance walking started with the Capital Ring through London. This is a 126km trail which goes through parks and pretty areas of London. I started planning the blog as we walked through the parks on this route. Originally I thought about calling the blog “a walk in the park”, but then when my husband suggested “a walk and a lark,” I liked the sound of that better.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
This changes all the time! At the moment I love my post about the Honen matsuri (penis festival) just because it’s fun to share a funny side of Japan that less people know about! I also adored writing about our fantastique walking holiday in Italy. I tried to fit it all into one post, but had so many photos to share that it expanded into a whole mini-series of posts!

To find more from Josy check her out here

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Falling into Fall- Where to visit for Autumn adventures

Autumn is one hell of a season.

Crisp days, wooly knits and big scarves, falling leaves, pumpkins and spices, roaring fires, mulled cider, fireworks, 50 shades of orange, cosy nights and nature at its absolute finest. What’s not to love.

It has long been my favourite season no matter where I have lived in the world. As summer starts to fade I always get so excited when I start seeing the trees change and the days drawing in earlier. There is always an enchanted earthiness that no other season can replicate and if just feels like Autumn is a huge warm big hug from mother nature. Even writing about it brings a smile to my face and makes me want to go jump in a pile of fallen leaves.

As it’s such a picturesque season I couldn’t have a post of some of the most wondrous places to visit so I’ve asked a few travel bloggers to share their favourite places around the world to visit in the Autumnal months to inspire you to find some new places to explore.

Newark Park, England


England does Autumn amazing!! I think it’s something to do with the woodlands and old country houses. The contrast of the old buildings against the colourful foliage just is the epitome of a thumbs up from the autumn gods.

We had initially planned to visit Westonbirt which is the national arboretum and come autumn is dominating my social media news feeds form others visiting, however, the day we visited it was so busy so we stumbled upon Newark Park and I am so glad we did as it hit the autumn spot! The Cotswolds is easy to find in the south of the country and there is a lot of National Trust properties within this area so you can visit a few over a weekend.

I would recommend Newark Park as not only is the house really interesting to explore it also has a beautiful woodland and grounds that is all the colours of the autumn colour wheel.

We’ve blogged previously about it here if you want more details.

Arashiyama, Japan


Every season is worth a visit to Japan, but in my opinion, fall is the one season you definitely shouldn’t miss. In Japan fall is known for three things:
The leaves turning color
Delicious comfort food
Onsen the Japanese hot springs

Depending on where you are in Japan the leaves will turn color somewhere between October and early December starting in the north in Hokkaido where it gets cold fastest and then makes its way down to the south where it stays warm a little longer.
One of the most beautiful places to visit is called Arashiyama, a part of Kyoto with many temples and gardens, a couple of mountains and overall a lot of nature to offer.
Not only do the Japanese maple turn a bright red color, the ginkgo tree turns bright yellow creating a fantastic contrast.

And after a day of strolling and admiring how beautiful nature is there are only two things that you should do: Take a bath in an onsen (a Japanese hot spring) and afterward eat some of the delicious food in season during fall. Warm hot-pots called Nabe and Oden, and other delicious foods will warm you right up. There are foods made of chestnut and sweet potato that are unbelievable delicious and as a desert why not have some persimmons that are in season during fall.
I don’t know about you, but I think this sounds like a perfect day spent in Japan in fall.

For more stories about Japan visit www.socialtravelexperiment.com

Norfolk, England


This Autumn, if you are looking for an escape to the seaside, if you are dreaming of long walks on the beach, tasty seafood, and cosy pubs – Norfolk is the place for you!

Norfolk is the perfect balance of British countryside and seaside, and it is a fantastic place for a breath of fresh air. It is about 3-hours’ drive from London, so an accessible destination for a weekend away. Head to Norwich and explore the cobbled streets full of lovely little shops. If you like flea markets make sure to give yourself time to explore St. Gregory’s Centre for the Arts, a paradise for vintage and antique fans. Visit the beautiful village of Burnham Market which is everything you imagine British countryside to look like! Have a long walk on the beach in Wells-next-the-Sea where you will find the famous colourful beach huts of Norfolk. Make sure to have some crab for lunch at one of the food stalls you will find in any seaside villages. Finally, have a digestive stroll in Blakeney to appreciate the local architecture before heading back home!

Stay at the Dabbling Duck, a very charming pub, and B&B, the rooms are cosy and the breakfast delicious! Make sure to have dinner there too, the duck breast is excellent and the banana sticky toffee pudding is to die for, and I don’t even like sticky toffee pudding!

Enjoy a romantic dinner at Stratton’s, the menu only features local and seasonal products.

For more from Claire check out https://claireimaginarium.com https://claireimaginarium.com or for their complete guide to a weekend in Norfolk check out https://claireimaginarium.com/2017/01/04/a-weekend-in-norfolk/

Temple of Apollo, Greece


It was In October, fall of 2015 that my husband and I took a week trip to Greece. We rented a car to make sure to visit and explore all sides of Athens and its environs.
The tour that we have prepared ourselves went so well, foods and cultural and architectural buildings in Athens are the most spectacular but on our 3rd day, we went for a trip to Ancient Corinth in the northwest part of Athens in Sparta.
Since it was our first time to go in this strange city we almost got lost and arrived in another place as not expected, but later we found the right way to go to Temple of Apollo.
The place was so special it has this different vibe that I can feel deep in my bones, we went inside the archeological place to have a look at what it resembles from a closer look. There was a bunch of debris and sculpture collection found by archeologist themselves.Couple of ancient vases, objects, and other particular things that ancient people used in their daily lives.

As we go out from the site, I went closer to see this splendid ruins of the Temple of Apollo. The sun was striking in my eyes with about more than 26 C, however, I still manage to adore the glimpse of it. Looking at those big rocks/ruins and the view from Acrocorinth, the mountain that you see behind it. I was stunned and breathless while watching at this perfect scenery of the place never did I expect that fall would be a fabulous season with full of fantastic overviews in Greece.

This would be my greatest Autumn/fall place to visit ever and I will surely go back there anytime.

For more from Lexie check out www.lexieanimetravel.com

New York City, United States of America


While New England might sound like the best destination to go to in the States to see some autumnal foliage, New York City, definitely doesn’t disappoint! To see the leaves, it’s best to go mid-late November, I have visited in October and even late-October is sometimes too early, though this is highly dependent upon the weather.

My favorite place to get a sight of the changing leaves is Central Park. This is because the park was designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead and his partner, architect, Calvert Vaux. Olmstead put public parks on the map through his public space designs that served to unite people of all socioeconomic backgrounds in an area they can all enjoy. As a result, Central Park is a joy to explore, with thoroughfares and wide open spaces that delight locals and tourists alike. There are so many trees in Central Park you’re bound to find at least one, if not more, trees with yellow, orange, and red-toned leaves. The Mall walkway leading to the Bethesda Fountain was featured in Maid in Manhattan and is an amazingly beautiful tree-lined pathway throughout the seasons, but most of all, during the fall. Some of the best views in the Central Park are also around Gapstow Bridge by The Pond and by Bethesda Fountain near The Lake.

Other notable areas in the New York City area to see the colors of fall are Washington Square Park and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Aside from autumn trees, Washington Square Park, in Greenwich Village, is best known for its large stone arch and tables full of chess players. Prospect Park, was also designed by Olmstead and Vaux and offers a mix of green grass and colorful trees throughout the park. Even though these are parks are my top 3 choices, any tree-filled park in New York City would be absolutely gorgeous in the fall.

For more from The Adventures of Panda Bear check them out here http://theadventuresofpandabear.com

Seoul, South Korea


Seoul, South Korea is a great Fall destination. We arrived on November 1, and the air was crisp and cool. Jackets were needed! The leaves had started turning weeks earlier, so the trees were a beautiful mix of colors. Many were still green, but there was plenty of yellow, orange, and red all around. We particularly enjoyed exploring the Secret Garden (Huwon) at the Changdeokgung Palace. The palace buildings and grounds themselves are beautiful, but the Secret Garden is spectacular. It’s a large area of forest and flowers and water and small temples that you could wander around for hours. All the beauty Fall has to offer was on full display when we visited.

There are other parks throughout the city where you can experience this, but one spot somewhat hidden among the city streets is the Deoksugung Palace Stone-wall Road. At the time we visited, the 2016 Tree Hug exhibition was on, which meant all the trees along the road were wrapped in hand-knit sweaters. It was funny and heartwarming and perfectly representative of the season. And one last reason to visit Seoul at this time is to catch the annual Lantern Festival. Beautiful lanterns telling local stories about Seoul and South Korea are set up all along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, which runs through the center of the city. You can walk the entire length of the stream to see hundreds of lanterns, and even set your own small ones afloat. The festival opened the night before we left, and it was a lovely and romantic way to spend our last night in this beautiful city.

Read more about Seoul from Travel Breathe Repeat here www.travelbreatherepeat.com/so-much-seoul

Do you have a favourite place to visit in Autumn? Let us know in the comment below we’d love to hear about it!

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What a Month!

Well what a month we have had!!

You may have noticed we’ve been pretty quiet on the old blog post front. Sorry about that… but life got in the way a little. It happens to us all but things should be a little quieter now meaning we can start updating on what we’ve been doing and where we’ve been with some wonderful posts sharing the delights of the South Pacific with you.

So what have we been up to…

Firstly we did something that kinda goes against the travel loving lifestyle. We set down roots, got ourselves a mortgage and brought a house 😱 So many people said it’s the most stressful thing you can do and I didn’t believe them but oh my word was I wrong to be a non believer. I came to the UK with 1 suitcase 11 years ago and the amount of stuff we moved I don’t know how I ever was able to fit my life into my trusty old blue suitcase.

Secondly we had to move house on a deadline as we were off to Fiji to watch my baby sister and her hubby get married and have a family holiday for two weeks. We were moving and cleaning right up until the night before we flew and with no sleep fo almost a week we collapsed on the plane ready for 37 hours travelling to the South Pacific. I mean there are worst places to have two weeks relaxing. Being so far away from the family we really cherish the time together so everything else gets put on the back burner. We were only really updating our Insta Stories while away so was a bit of a media black out just so we could enjoy every moment with the family. If you managed to see any of our stories let us know what you thought. It’s such an easy way to share on the go.

We’ve just got back today and the jet lag is still very fresh. I’m falling asleep as I write this and wondering how early is to early to go to bed, I’m looking longingly at my photos, I’m thinking of all the blog posts I want to write, I’ still wearing my bikini as underwear and keeping the flip flops on, I’m having cuddles with out house bunny Bruce and avoiding looking at the huge pile of clothes to be washed. The reality of being home hasn’t quite hit yet and I can tell you I’m not looking forward to it but I guess it’s all part of the process. Life can’t be just one big holiday otherwise they wouldn’t be as special when they happen. I love a cheesy quote and this one springs to mind at the moment ‘don’t be sad it’s over, be happy it happened’. I’m really bloody happy it happened. I need to re read this post to get ready for reality on Tuesday

So keep your eyes peeled- posts and wanderlust worthy pictures will be coming your way very soon

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