Travel blog – Page 2 – the wandering darlings

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

Seriously, if you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?

It’s a question that when asked you really have to think about. What actually is my one piece of travel advice and do I need to impart it on the world. Is it something inspiring, something practical, or some romantic notion of travel, something like food for the soul or is just a simple statement. Whatever it is, I think the main thing is to share it high and low. Personal recommendations are valuable and if you were going to book a hotel your likely to check Tripadvisor for reviews and to take someone’s advice on if to stay there or not. People want to hear how what others do and how others travel. It pushes them to think about their own travels and how they can do things different, cheaper, ethically or more efficiently.

After speaking to some wonderful women travellers some of which have been apart of our Globetrotters series, we posed the question- If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be? And they have delivered the absolute goods with top-notch travel advice covering all areas of what you should do to help make your travelling experience the dream you hoped it would be. Hopefully, by reading through these, it might help to inspire you to take that first trip, to try something different on your next adventure, how to pack properly or to just give you some insight to something you may never have thought about.

Read on and see if you disagree, agree or if you know what your advice would be. If you would like to see more from the travellers mentioned below then check out our Globetrotters Interviews or click on the names below to go directly to their sites. We’d love to hear your advice so do leave a comment below.

The Curious Desi
1. Take a spare battery for your gear and a portable battery for your phone. When you are on the go you want to have your devices ready to use so it’s best if you invest in spare batteries.
2. Choose the people you travel with wisely: it’s all too easy to get swept up in a “we should totally do this” moment – only to despair once you realize your travelling tastes aren’t compatible.

Debs World
Sorry, I couldn’t leave it at just one so I’ve listed three!
1. Always dress and pack for where you’re going to not where you’ve come from.
2. Be organised but also be spontaneous and ready to take opportunities should they arise.
3. Don’t live the trip through your camera or phone, put them down from time to time and just soak in the sights with your whole being.

Global Housesitter x2
Just get out there and do it. Take in the most valuable information while doing it, listen to your gut instinct, have travel insurance, small suitcase and patience.

Wanders Hub
Travel often; travel with an open mind and an open heart. That will help you experience different cultures, religions and people in the best manner. Celebrate life and don’t forget to strike conversations with random people you meet on the go.

A Mindful Traveler
I would advise taking all documentation, we actually take copies as well and keep another set at home with my parents.
Also, be sure to have multiple outlets of credit. A diverse range of cash, credit cards, and cash passport cards are important, and we always split this between the both of us. Never does one person carry all the cash or cards on their own.

Lfy and Spice
Don’t think too much – Just go! Most of our travel plans are marred by over-thinking, both before and during the travel.

Gin & lemonade
Be open to anything. Get lost. Look up. Write it down. That’s more than one, but I can’t count!

The Travelling Stomach
There are many ways to get around a new destination, but in my experience, the best way is to strap on some comfy sandals and get walking! Some of my favourite places have been those I’ve discovered completely by accident on my wanderings around a new city. Although I do love taking the lazy option (I prefer to call it the relaxing option…) and grabbing a taxi, you can miss out on so many awesome places when you’re speeding by on the road.

You might find it daunting knowing where to even start walking but there really is no wrong turn to take, and with most of us now owning a Smartphone you’ll never really be lost with Google Maps to hand. Perhaps you’ve got lunch booked somewhere and can add in some extra time so you can take the long route taking the time to meander down quieter side streets, or perhaps you’ll find an even better lunch spot during your walk!

Not only will you accidentally stumble upon lovely hidden gems such as that bar with an awesome view and a quaint local shop during your walks, but you can also save money and keep fit at the same time, plus how can you take that amazing Insta shot out the window of a taxi?!

Digital travel Guru
Plan and research your trip as much as you can before you go, so you have some sort of idea what you want to do and see when you get there, it saves a lot of planning time once there, also check with the locals once you get there, for off the beaten track places. This I always feel maximises my time once in the destination and allows me to see and do more.

Fill my Passport
Be open-minded to everywhere and everyone you meet on the journey. They were placed on this path for a reason. When you must sleep on a dirty overnight train, think of it as a part of the adventure. When you see that woman at the café sipping a latte looking gorgeous and perfect for that inner photographer in you, take a chance and ask her to pose. Life is so short. Take the chances as if it were your last day.

A Walk and a Lark
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.

Beyond my Border
Be fearless & have fun

Earths Magical Places
Simple, get out there and do it! We spend so much time sitting, planning and procrastinating when we could be out exploring! Trust me, it’s far better taking the world in with your own eyes rather than ‘liking’ it through Instagram.

Girl with the Passport

One of the best pieces of advice that I can give any traveller is to ditch the rolling bag and get a backpack, or at least a backpack with wheels if you have back problems. Why you may wonder?

Well, I made the mistake of bringing a rolling bag with me on a six week long trip through China. Between lugging the large, over-packed bag through the subway and up and down the stairs of hotels that had no elevator, I was absolutely miserable. Not to mention the fact that the bag always got caught on curbs, the wheel broke, and it got filthy as I rolled through the rain and large puddles.

The moral of the story then is always bring a backpack. Not only is it much more versatile and convenient to carry, but you tend to pack less since you can only pack what you can carry on your back.

So learn from my mistakes and leave that rolling bag home.

Footsteps of a Dreamer
Personally, I feel like some of my favourite and most memorable travel experiences have come from times when I took the courage to step out of my comfort zone. It’s even better if it’s an experience I can’t have at home. When I was in Japan, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in a Noh workshop. I’ll admit, I don’t have much interest in traditional Japanese theatre or theatre in general for that matter. However, it was an opportunity for me to learn more about Japanese culture. I decided to sign up for the workshop and had a fantastic time.

At the workshop, I got to put on traditional Japanese clothing and learn the steps to one of the dances performed in one of the traditional plays. I was surprised to find out how incredibly difficult it was. Did I walk away from the workshop a total theatre geek? No, but I did walk away with a newfound appreciation for the role of theatre in Japanese culture and admiration for the sheer amount of work the performers put into the plays.

My advice to travellers is to consider every opportunity that comes your way.

Stefs Journey

I am a strong believer that sometimes it’s the people as much as the place that make travel meaningful and memorable. My best advice is to mingle with locals while you travel because sticking to tours and itineraries designed for tourists might not give you the most authentic experience of your trip. While traveling, I have made friends from around the world that I have visited in their countries and were more than happy to show me around. They would take me for to Easter at their grandmother’s house, for a drink at their favorite bar or give me a tour on their bike and show me around. While it’s not always easy to meet a person in the street and get a conversation going, the sharing economy in the last few years has made it lot easier to meet with locals. There’s Couchsurfing, where you can meet locals by staying at their place or by simply grabbing a drink with them, there’s MeetUp where you can meet people with the same interests as you and many more sites that connect you with locals.It’s not always easy and It takes some work, but getting out of your comfort zone could make give you a rewarding experience that will make your trip unforgettable!

The Travel Sisters

My best piece of travel advice would be not to overpack. If possible try to travel with carry-on bags only – this will save you both time and money (no checked bag fees, you can avoid the long wait for your bag at the baggage carousel and it makes it easier to use public transportation to and from the airport). Even if you would rather check bags not overpacking prevents you from having to pay overweight bag fees and makes it easier on your back not having to lug heavy luggage around. I recommend using a travel packing list before your trip to make sure you bring all the items you need and nothing more. You might want to limit how many shoes you bring as shoes are heavy and take up the most room in a bag. I also roll my clothes to save space and use packing cubes to keep everything organized in my luggage.

The Wandering Darlings
Get lost and enjoy finding your way back… oh and always make sure your passport and visas are in date

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How to speak Australian- Bloody Oath Shazza don’t you know what we are saying?

Need to decipher what Australians are actually trying to say?

Australia is a funny old place. Most of the animals can seriously injure you, the ripe tides can take you out to sea, it can be stinking hot in one part and then snowing in another and half the time visitors can’t work out what we are trying to say and I’m not even going to mention the drop bears.

You would be mistaken for thinking that Australians speak English and we do but there is A LOT of words that we say that just make no sense to the rest of the world. Its Australian English and in most cases it can be self-explanatory but in others, you will just have no bloody clue. You may have picked up the odd word from Crocodile Dundee or Neighbours but I’m pretty sure there will be a few that will have you going- seriously you say that!?

We have a weird (some might say lazy) way of communicating in that we shorten our words and you will find most Australian slang has an ’o’ or ‘y’ at the end. It just rolls off the tongue a little sweeter. Generally speaking the fewer syllables the better but there is also the odd occasion when we make the word longer.

It’s also not always about what we say but how we say it. The inflection on letters can also change how words are pronounced and it is usually words with the vowel such as water (drawn out a), quarter (same as water), yoghurt (yo-ghurt rather than yog-hurt).paracetamol (para-seat-a-mol). We also go up at the end of our sentences so you’re never really sure if someone is asking you a question or not. It says a lot that our country’s name has 3 ‘a’s in it and all are pronounced differently.

If you are planning to visit Australia or just bump into some Aussies abroad in a bar (that’s where we can be found) then here are 31 words/phrases that should help you communicate. And yes they are all real!!

G’day- Good Morning, hello, hi. People do say this it’s not just in the movies. My favourite thing is when I ring home and dad says straight away ‘G’day Sweetheart’
Straya – Australia. Because saying your full country is just too much. Those two extra syllables really take it out of you
Arvo- Afternoon. I literally say this 10 times a day and it has now become a common phrase in my workplace.
Hooroo – Goodbye. Makes saying goodbye a sound so much nicer
Brekkie- Breakfast. Standard.
Sanga – Sandwich. Most commonly used if your getting a sausage sanga likely at Bunnings on a Sunday.
Maccas– Mcdonalds. I honestly grew up thinking everyone called it Macca’s alas it was only really in Aus.
Bottle O– Bottle shop and yes they are usually drive in. Yep that’s right you drive in and someone comes to you with your booze. AMAZING
Thongs- Flip Flops. No idea why they are called thongs but I quickly changed to saying flip-flops as I got a few odd looks when I first moved here
Swimmers/cossie/togs– Bathing suit. Swimmers cause you swim in them. Cossie and Togs- no idea where those came from
Bloody oath– Similar to Oh my god but not OMG.
Bogan– uncouth or unsophisticated person. It’s always hard to say what makes someone a bogan but when you know you know.
Chuck a sickie– calling in sick when you aren’t really sick. Cause we never do that
Dunny- Toilet
Servo- service station. No need for two words you can sum it up in one.
Esky –cooler. Esky is the make of most coolers in Australia. It’s like vacuums in Britain are called Hoover even if they aren’t a proper hoover.
Crisps/hot chips- chips are potato chips, hot chips are potato fries. Make sure if you’re having hot chips that you ask for chicken salt. You can thank me later
Stubbie- both a bottle size and a style of shorts
Schooner- glass size. Smaller than a pint but bigger than a half
Heaps- lots. Aussie use heaps, heaps!
Chuck a U-ie- do a U-turn. Chucking a u-ie sounds so much more fun than doing a U-turn doesn’t it
Para/smashed- drunk eg paralytic
Spit the dummy- throw a tantrum.
Muffler- Exhaust
Whipper snipper- Strimmer. One of my favourites mainly for when I asked my other half if he was going to whipper snipper the garden he looked at me like I was MENTAL.
Smoko- morning or afternoon break at work. You don’t need to smoke for it to be smoko actually Australia is really anti-smoking
Tradie- Tradesman and apparently tradies get the ladies
Barbie– BBQ and no we don’t throw shrimps on it.
Woop woop- a long way away. It is usually said bloody oast they live way out woop woop. Australia is big and to be fair anywhere more than 4 hours away is considered woop woop
Zucchini/Capsicum/Eggplant- Courgette, Pepper and Aubergine. Fun veggie (vegetable) names to confuse you
Nicknames- just add an a, o, y/ie to any names (even if it makes the name longer)and that’s your Aussie name egg Sharon- Shazza, Steve- Stevo, Shawn- shawny

Have you come across any that we’ve not included? Do leave them below in the comments as I am sure there is heaps we’ve missed.

Hooroo

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Globetrotters- Seeking the Spanish Sun

This week our Globetrotter is the lovely Perri from Seeking the Spanish Sun. A fellow expat, however, she swapped rainy Britain for the Spanish sun and I swapped sunny Australia for rainy Britain (think I may have done it the wrong way round). Her goal is to discover and blog about every inch of her new home, Spain. And what an awesome goal to have!

I love a travel blog but my ultimate favourite is discovering new expat bloggers. Seeing a country outside of a week or two on holiday and really absorbing and embracing the lifestyle is a truly awesome way to travel. I enjoy hearing how people adjust and explore a new country is really fascinating and in a selfish way, it makes some of the challenges I face seem a little less challenging knowing that someone else is or has been through the same thing. Spain is such a gorgeous country with some many different areas and Perris’ style of writing really draws you in and it’s like you can imagine being there so much so you find yourself on Skyscanner looking for fights.

One of my favourite posts was a recent one about my favourite Spanish city Barcelona. It’s such an amazing city that has the best of both worlds glorious beaches and winding old city streets. This two-day city guide is a great guide on what to do if you are only in the city for s a short time. I have read this over and over as long to be back exploring Barcelona and have even discovered some places I hadn’t yet seen.

If you are planning a trip, want to move or just need some travel inspiration then you need to check out Perri’s blog. There is an abundance of city guides, local tips, advice on Spanish life and stacks of inspiration to explore all parts of beautiful Spain. I’ve included all links to Peris’s blog and social channels so you keep up to date with where she discovers next…

Let me hand you over to Perri from Seeking the Spanish Sun

Hi, I’m Perri, a 34-year-old Brit living in Spain. I moved from London to Madrid last year seeking the Spanish sun. I am exploring Spain in search of a place to call home and settle down. During my travels, I share everything I see and learn at Seeking the Spanish Sun .

Check out my blog and social media sites for information, tips, guides, and advice on visiting and living in Spain. Spain is truly a wonderful country and it has so much to offer.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?

I love the excitement of going somewhere I’ve never been before and just exploring. I love trying local foods, seeing how other people live and learning about other countries and cultures. In the past, I always travelled as far as possible and to as many random places as I could. Nowadays I live in Spain and I have dedicated my current travels to exploring locally and see everything that Spain has to offer.

Why do you think travelling is important?

I think traveling is important because it broadens your mind and teaches you things that you would never learn if you stayed at home. Traveling is exciting, confidence building and eye-opening. Whether it’s a city-break, beach holiday or year’s backpacking trip, I believe that everyone should travel.

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

I just came back from a relaxing winter sun break in Fuerteventura .It’s an Island in the Spanish Canaries, West of Africa. My next trip is to Barcelona, I have been there many times. This will be a few days catching up with friends, drinking, and eating.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels.

This is a photo from my road trip in New Zealand. We drove from Auckland to Queenstown and it was an awesome trip. The scenery in New Zealand is just stunning and every night we stopped at beautiful roadside spots with views like this.

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

I write a list of what I still need to pack and what I need to do before leaving. Then I meticulously go through that list and cross everything off. That way I feel organised and know I haven’t forgotten anything.

Who do you usually travel with?

My boyfriend Brad, we met in Mykonos almost 12 years ago and have been traveling the world together and living in different countries ever since.

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

Make a plan, think about where you want to visit and work towards getting there. Try not to get caught up, in big, expensive bucket list destinations. Even if you start small with a few places you want to travel to that are not so far away. Work, save, research, then go.

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

Christmas dinner in Goa, India is one that comes straight to mind. It was my first backpacking trip and the first time I had travelled outside of Europe. I went with Brad and group of friends and we had the best time! We had no plans, no idea what we were doing or where we were going. We just explored and loved every minute.

The restaurant on the beach nearest our huts, where we had dinner every night, ordered in lobster especially for us and we had one each. We felt like Kings, I had never tried lobster before and the staff thought it was so funny when we all wore our Christmas hats.

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

Caye Caulker off the coast of Belize was an impromptu stop during my travels in Central America and I was so wowed by it I had to extend my stay. It’s a gorgeous place, untouched by commercial tourism where the locals serve rum punch in plastic cups and bbq whatever fish was caught that day.

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

Hawaii, unfortunately, is somewhere that I felt very underwhelmed by. Maybe it was because I had just seen the un-spoilt beauty of The Cook Islands and New Zealand but I just felt it was too commercial. All of the shops and restaurants were catering to the tourists from the USA.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?

The Maldives is somewhere that I have to go. I put that top of the bucket list category because it’s quite expensive and such a dream destination. Another experience I would love is to go on a safari in Africa. The next few places I need to visit next are Seville, Asturias, and Mallorca.

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

I would never travel without a book. A book is the best thing to keep me occupied while I’m waiting for a delayed flight, while I’m on a long train journey or while I’m just relaxing by the sea. I love to swap my book for another lovingly read, slightly battered, second-hand one as soon as I finish. Passing a good book onto someone else is such a lovely way of sharing.

Your go to or favourite book/film/tv series that always makes you want to travel?

The BBC tv series Planet Earth always makes we want to travel. They cover so many fantastic and unique destinations in their documenting of animals and nature. Series II, in particular, got me thinking about travel to exotic jungles and islands. The amazing high definition camera work reminds me how big and beautiful the world is.

What can readers find on your blog?

I started my blog to share all the things I see while exploring Spain and all the things I learned while living here. You can find information on the towns, cities, parks, and beaches that I visit in Spain. Tips and guides on how to get the most out of your holiday or travels in Spain. Plus, some insight on what life is like living here and general travel advice from my experiences.

Where does your blog name come from?

When I left London and moved to Madrid I was literally seeking the Spanish sun. I was tired of the mostly grey and miserable weather in the UK and was really hoping to find that Spanish sunshine and all the wonderful things that come with it… sangria, secluded beaches, siestas and a slower pace of life.

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

I think my favourite blog post is the slightly controversial How to be a good tourist. It’s addressing the issue we have in Spain currently with negative tourism. It includes some very simple ways that we can all enjoy a more conscious and sustainable holiday. It is different to my usual type of post (and I try not to be too negative or bossy) but this is something that I feel we really should all work to improve.

Links to find more from Perri below. Do check them out!

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Travel, Love and Weddings- Planning a wedding with someone from another country

So what happens when you meet the ‘one’ when you’re on your travels?

Obvs take them home and marry them of course. And that is exactly what my sister did.

My middle sister moved to the UK a few years ago and while here she found her ‘one’. She’s not like me we always knew her time in the U.K. would be for a few years and that she would eventually return. I, on the other hand, have dug my heels in and now drink so much tea and eat copious amounts of Yorkshire puddings that I’m practically British. But she was always going to go back and when they decided to move to Australia my brother in law made the decision to move without him even ever stepping foot on Aussie soil. They were (and still are) crazy in love.

Their love began and grew in Birmingham, they were engaged in Canberra and then the wedding planning began. Where, when, how? Two nationalities and cultures to come together in one place. Would it work? Would people travel wherever they ended up marrying? So many questions and things to consider that normal couples don’t need to think about. My sister, however, is the super organised one of the family so we knew she would have it sorted before anyone could even ask when’s the wedding.

They married in Australia just near our hometown and had their wedding at a family friends property. We all stayed onsite in cabins and the ceremony was on the lawn with a marquee for the wedding breakfast. I wasn’t at all surprised that the wedding was in Australia but what I did like is how the celebration gave a nod to both cultures. The bridal party had both Aussies and Brits included on both sides. The night before the wedding and breakfast after we all had meals together so that everyone could get to know each other. The favours were a milo sachet and a Yorkshire gold tea bag and the games on the lawn while they were off having photos felt like a British afternoon garden party. The bouquets included my sister’s favourite native flowers and the groom and groomsmen’s suits all came from the UK.

It was a wonderful day and I’d always wondered how they decided and planned the wedding across the two countries so my sister kindly answered some questions and shared her wisdom below in case there is anyone else out there planning a wedding for two different nationalities.

How did you decide where to get married?

It was a really easy decision to get married in Australia. I’m not sure I even thought of getting married in the UK! It just made sense for it to be Australia as that’s where we are living. The main difficulty was choosing where in Australia to get married. We looked at venues near my grandparents’ house on the south coast and also my hometown. We ended up getting married in my hometown as it was easier, cheaper and my parents were there to handle some of the tedious bits of planning.

Was it a hard decision?

Nope! Well not for me! Luckily Ben is pretty easy going. I think it was easy for Ben once people said they would travel over (we had 67 adults attend the wedding and almost 20 came from overseas).

Did it affect the type of wedding that you had?

Not overly but it did impact on what we had to consider. We ended up getting married in my hometown in the middle of nowhere. There is no public transport to the town and there is no public transport to get around the town either. So everyone had to drive and to make it easy, we ended up with a venue that had enough accommodation on site for everyone to stay. It made the whole weekend like a massive family reunion/party.

What was the best part of getting married in Australia?

For me, it was having most of my family attend, including grandparents and cousins. On the other hand, Ben only had his mum, dad, step mum and step brother from his family attend. Plus we had the perfect spring day with lovely weather. Not sure we could have guaranteed that in the UK!

What was the hardest part of getting married in Australia?

Having friends and family who couldn’t attend, especially Ben’s sister and her children. However, we did travel to the UK a few months before our wedding to attend Ben’s sister’s wedding and we at least got to see all the family then. We also had a bridesmaid and groomsman who weren’t able to come over which was sad as we would have loved them to share our special day.

If you had married in England how do you think it would have been different?

It wouldn’t have an outside wedding – you just can’t risk it! I’m not sure it would have been so relaxed. We got married on a private property in the middle of nowhere and everyone could stumble to their room when they were done for the night. There was no one to complain about noise so those who wanted to could keep the party going to 2 am. We also had to provide our own alcohol so that kept costs down.

Where did you have your hen party? Stag party?

We had several! While we were in the UK in August, Ben had a week in a caravan in Wales with his best mates and I had a day out with my girlfriends at an inflatable park. Back in Australia, I had high tea and cocktails in Canberra and Ben had a night out. Plus I had a weekend in my hometown with my mum and two bridesmaids for the wedding trials.

How was it planning across the two countries?

It wasn’t too bad, as we didn’t really need to do much planning for the UK. Ben bought his suits (and the groomsmen’s) while in the UK but everything else was pretty much done in Australia. The only extra planning was organising things to do with our visitors. We spent a week before the wedding in Sydney with friends and family from the UK and after the wedding, we went to Jervis Bay and the Gold Coast. I organised the accommodation and travel which added a lot of planning.

Did you have to plan more than you expected to?

I’m often the organiser of a lot of things so I assumed I would end up planning a lot of things (including the travel above) so that wasn’t unexpected. One of the things I didn’t factor in was how to assign cabins to the wedding guests. The cabins had shared bathrooms and kitchens for 8-10 people. It was hard working out the different groups and who would be compatible to share.

How did you include your different heritages in your ceremony?

Luckily, English and Australian cultures are pretty similar (especially as my grandmother was born in England) so there wasn’t much we needed to bridge in that regard. We just worked with our celebrant to plan a ceremony that worked for us and reflected our relationship.

What (if anything) would you do differently?

It was a perfect day – I wouldn’t change a thing….except for the hair drama. Oh, and I maybe I would have finished my master’s thesis before the wedding.

Top tips to any other mixed national couples planning to get married?

I’m not sure how useful any advice I have would be for couples that have vastly different cultural backgrounds. I just think that you and your partner need to remember that it’s your day and so long as the two of you are happy, nothing else matters.

Those that are familiar with this blog or Deb’s World will be aware that our family loves to travel and I love how this has been a factor in both my sister’s weddings. From my middle sister above meeting her husband aboard and planning a cross-national wedding to my baby sister initially planning an elopement to Fiji but then deciding they wanted the immediate family with them so turned into a wedding abroad. We like to keep things interesting. A huge thank you to my middle sister for getting involved in this post and keep your eyes peeled as my baby sister is also getting involved so a post on planning a wedding abroad will be up shortly.

As my dad keeps saying 2 down 1 to go. No pressure then!

Maybe one day you’ll get 3 out of 3 Pappa.

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Do you want to drink in a Gingerbread Pub?

This Christmas it snowed and I got to drink in a gingerbread house and no I didn’t dream it or fall into a children’s book. It actually happened!

Growing up in Australia my Christmases were always a sunny affair spent on the beach. Since moving to the UK I’ve now spent almost 5 Christmases in the UK or Europe and they are just not the same but that’s a post for another day. The main difference is generally the weather so when we woke to snow on the 27th any feelings of jealousy about my family being on the beach quickly washed away. WE HAD SNOW!!

Now, what better way to celebrate the snowy Christmas than to venture to a couple of villages over where the local pub had transformed itself into a gingerbread house for the festive season.

The pub is The Queen Victoria and it’s in the small village of Priddy in deepest darkest Somerset. It’s a lovely pub and a big hit with the walkers and cavers (as well as the locals) due to its relaxed atmosphere, good food, great service and that there is no carpet so muddy boots and dogs are allowed and in most cases encouraged! We usually would visit in the summer but with the snow and the change of look we just had to head up for a cheeky pint.

The landlord raises a lot of money for local charities throughout the year but Christmas is a time when they pull out the big guns and this year was no different.

It became a freaking Ginger Bread house!!

The whole outside was transformed with sweets, gingerbread men, candy canes and they even renamed the pub- The Gingerbread Inn. Apparently, all the decorations were made by a couple of people in the village and had been stored in their living room for the last couple of months ready for when it was all to be revealed. The decorations went on first and then the lights that adorn the pub light it up nice and bright. I would certainly recommend visiting late afternoon you can see it both in the natural light and then with all the lights on against the wintery night sky.

There is also a Christmas tree made completely of old wine bottles like you needed, even more, reasons to visit. It’s a truly magical and extremely clever idea that has gathered lots of attention in the local areas, as well as being, picked up by the Metro and ITV. I’m sure its help raised a lot of money for the Children’s Hospice South West which is the main reason behind all the effort that it takes to put this together. To have the idea itself is amazing but then to actually pull it off and raise alot of money for charity I couldnt applaude the pub landlord any more if I tried.

I don’t how much longer it is staying for so if you want to to keep your holiday festivities going and can get to Somerset then make sure you plan in a little trip to visit the Gingerbread Inn. There won’t be many times in your life that you can say you drank in a Gingerbread house and I promise you won’t end up like Hansel and Gretal unlesss maybe you drink a bit too much scrumpy.

The Queen Victorias facebook page has a lot more pictures and videos if you need further inspiration to come and visit https://www.facebook.com/queenvicpriddy/

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Paradise in the City- The Bristol Lido

Bristol has many hidden wonders from the secret bars scattered throughout the city to the many wonderful little side streets that aren’t on the tourist map but offer a different view of the stunning city. One of my most recent hidden finds The Bristol Lido has actually been a huge Bristol favourite for many many years I just hadn’t experienced it yet. Somewhat behind the times. The Bristol Lido is a huge must if you live in or around Bristol or if find yourself travelling to this city.

So what is the Bristol Lido? Well, it’s many things- but I think how it’s summed up on their website ‘an Urban Retreat’ has it spot on. With a bar, restaurant, pool, hot tub, sauna, spa treatments and quirky changing rooms all housed within a walled area it’s like a little piece of paradise hidden away in the city.

It was or is a Victorian swimming pool that dates back to the 1850s however over the years it’s been closed and opened and swapped hands over and over again. Although it’s modernised now it still really has so much history and charm retained.

The Lido is located down a very unassuming street and from the outside, you wouldn’t know what was behind the door and this only adds to its appeal. You can visit the restaurant and bar without having to swim and relax but you get the joys of the views. If you are local there are memberships available or if you are just wanting to visit on occasion there is day passes available. The package we went for was a spa day package. It was a birthday and Christmas present to each of us all rolled into one so we went all out on the treat. Included in our package we had breakfast, lunch (all non-alcoholic drinks included), 2 spa treatments and full use of all the facilities it was at the higher end of spa packages at £150 per head but it was a girly treat day and something we had wanted to do for a little while so it was ok to splash out.

It was the best treat day and just one of those experiences I regret leaving so long to do.

The food is raved about and whilst I have been known at times to be a picky eater I was pleasantly surprised by what they had on offer. It was locally sourced well-planned food and although in the luxurious environment you didn’t once feel at all like it was pretentious. I mean we were sitting in our robes with wet hair while the table next to us were dressed like people should be in the day. The relaxed environment filters into every part of the Lido.

The two spa treatments we had were a full body massage and a facial. The spa treatments are located upstairs and there is a waiting room, changing room and boudoir to get yourself dressed after. The treatments were amazing and embarrassingly to add I was so relaxed I even fell asleep in my facial. cue to awkward snoring! There were professional but personable and just made you feel so at ease. I really liked the wind-down room they take you to after your treatment were you can recline on the sofa and enjoy a fruit tea.

In between our treatments, we tried out the other facilities which included the sauna, hot tub and open-air pool. We visited on a brisk November day so it wasn’t as busy as what I would imagine it to be in the summer but there was still a fair few people. The hot tub was probably a little small for the number of people able to visit the Lido but we managed to squeeze in comfortably. The pool claimed to be 22 degrees and as although when I dipped my toe in it almost fell off due to frostbite there was NO way I wasn’t getting into the pool so I braved it and jumped in did 3 lengths and got straight back out. You can’t visit it a pool as glorious of this and not get in.

The Lido should be a must on any itinerary to Bristol even if it’s just to sample the food at the restaurant or to view the beautiful decor. There aren’t many places in a city where you get the feeling of escapism that Lido offers and regardless of what season you visit you will be glad you got there. And trust me no matter how cold it is, take a dip in the pool.

For more information check out their link below
http://www.lidobristol.com/how-to-lido/

Be like a local in San Francisco – 5 Best Things to do

Every touristy guidebook lists Lombard Street, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Golden Gate Bridge. And that’s where the majority of the visitors to San Francisco go, and it shows, those spots are all insanely crowded. But if you want to go where the locals go, you’re in the right place!

Here’s a list of the 5 best things to do in San Francisco from a local’s point of view.

Bike Across the Golden Gate Bridge

The cost to drive across the bridge these days is so expensive (at least $6.75/car), we tend to avoid it unless we’re going up to Marin. With that said, it’s still worth it to bike across the bridge! You can rent a bike from the shops by Fisherman’s Wharf which includes a ferry ticket back from Sausalito and a map.

It’s great that they provide the one-way return ticket since after you bike all the way there, your legs will be tired and you’ll be able to rest on the boat!

Angel Island

In a way, this island is stuck under the shadows of Alcatraz because it is much less popular amongst tourists since Al Capone didn’t exactly live here. But if you’re into hiking and great views, this is the place to be!

There are several trails that take you around the island and to the panoramic viewpoint, from here you can get a 360 view of the San Francisco Bay Area. On a clear day, you can see from Marin county all the way down to Silicon Valley.

This island was also once home to the “Ellis Island of the West,” where many Asian immigrants to the United States were once held awaiting approval into the country. At the Immigration Station museum here, you will learn about their lives detained on the island and see Chinese poetry they carved into the walls.

Ferry Building/Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

This is one of my favorite places to go in the city! Mainly because I love food, but also because I love the selection here.

Any day of the week, you can go inside the Ferry Building and be treated with lots of stalls selling food and various types of housewares. My favorite stalls are Blue Bottle Coffee Company, Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream, Acme Bread Company, and Hog Island Oyster Company.

If you’re lucky enough to go on a Tuesday (10am-2pm), Thursday (10am-2pm), or Saturday (8am-2pm), there will also be an outdoor market where you can buy cooked food as well as fresh produce. There are also stalls selling fish and flowers so there is a lot of variety in offerings.

16th Avenue Tiled Steps

If you’re a fan of Antoni Gaudi, like I am, and you’re missing his insanely gorgeous mosaics. San Francisco’s got a spot for you!

This local gem is hidden within a residential neighbourhood, the tiles are beautiful and you can see the amount of work that went into creating the mosaic. They were created when neighbours banded together to beautify the community by sponsoring handmade tiles including shapes of animals, fish, and shells.

After you walk up the tiled steps, you can continue walking up additional concrete steps to Grandview Park to get a view of the Sunset district and the Pacific Ocean.

Twin Peaks

I’ve saved the best for last! Point blank, this is one of my favorite places in San Francisco because you get the most amazing views of the city.

This spot is beautiful day or night. During the day, you can see Marin county, Golden Gate Bridge, East Bay, and best of all, downtown San Francisco. At night, the views of the sparkling lights of Downtown and the main thoroughfare of Market Street are gorgeous.

Twin Peaks is a spot you must do on a clear day, on a cloudy or foggy day there will be nothing to see.

Hope you enjoyed these local spots in San Francisco! For a great 2-3 day weekend trip itinerary, check out A Weekend Away: San Francisco.

This post was kindly written by a lovely Wandering Darling- Constance fromThe Adventures of Panda Bear. I’m sure you loved what you’ve read as much as I have so check out her blog and social media channels with the links below for more great information and inspiration

Author Biography

Constance is a graphic/web designer and blogger living in the San Francisco Bay Area, where technology rules the world. She and her boyfriend, Jimmy, are always in a state of wanderlust, looking forward to their next adventure eating their way around the world. Follow them on their blog, The Adventures of Panda Bear.

https://theadventuresofpandabear.com

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Globetrotters-Lyf&Spice

Travelling and food go hand in hand and this week’s Globetrotter Lyf&Spice have a brilliant blog focusing on their love of both of these elements.

One of the things I enjoy most about reading their blog (apart from drooling over some of the food they’ve been eating) is that it focuses a lot around South East Asia and India. Two places I’ve not really spent any time in at all. India has been on my list for AGES so its great to get inspiration and get tips and advice on what to see and do in this part of the world.

There are so many travel bloggers and Instagrammers that have images and stories that look like they have come straight out of a magazine but this quote on Lyf&Spice’s about me page makes me love reading their tales even more. I have a lot of time for bloggers who are authentic and relatable and you can certainly find that here.

‘ Lyf&Spice is a space where you will find simple, off-beat, fuss-free travel, with no frills attached, no make-up (well, almost) and no fancy outfits. In an attempt to keep it relatable and simple, I document my travel stories as they happen. Explore off-beat paths and try the local food with me as I embark on a new journey every now and then…’

I’ve got a couple of favourite posts that you should check out these include
https://lyfandspice.com/2017/07/21/halong-bay-cruise-vietnam/– So many epic photos and a great cruise. https://lyfandspice.com/2017/10/06/malioboro-street-yogyakarta-indonesia/ as I mentioned above authentic speaks volumes and being able to post about a place that includes not just the good bits but also the bad and the ugly.

So you are for a travel and culinary treat, let me hand you over to Lyf&Spice

A wanderopath with a munchlust!! (Wow! New words just got invented). I’m a dreamer, explorer, and soul-searcher; a crazy, wandering soul documenting my travel and food tales around Asia and the world in my blog Lyf&Spice. My mission is to eat (in every country), try every adventurous activity (at least once) and immerse in the local culture of places I travel to (as much as I can)!

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
Walking into my dream with my eyes open! That’s the best feeling ever. Travelling takes me to a different zone altogether. I feel alive.

Why do you think travelling is important?
To keep your spirits up! It helps you open up, breathe, de-stress, connect and most importantly LEARN and GROW.

Where are you off to next? Or where have you just come back from?
I’m most likely off to a small Malaysian city or India (not decided yet). I have just come back from the most gorgeous islands – Perhentian Islands, Malaysia from our annual Scuba Diving break.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?

This picture was clicked at the riverside of Hoi An, Vietnam. It’s my favourite photograph as it captures the very essence of travelling – human interaction and observing the simple ways of life.

Do you have a pre-travel ritual? If so what?
Yes, to charge all my electronic devices, especially power banks. Plus, to finish up all my pending assignments and sketch rough drafts of due submissions before my travels. Needless to say, to-do lists, reminder alarms, and vacations alerts go/ring off the hook!

Who do you usually travel with?
I usually travel with my fave travel buddy, aka Amit, who also happens to be married to me 😉 On and off, I travel alone or with my girl gang too.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Don’t think too much – Just go! Most of our travel plans are marred by over-thinking, both before and during the travel.

Tell us the most memorable moment you’ve had whilst travelling?
Too many to mention, so I’ll pick 2:
1. When we slept under the stars at Rishikesh (India) after a delicious barbecue and bonfire post our white-water rafting. Our arms were aching and our muscles were sore, but we still danced around the campfire and gazed at the twinkling sky above us.
2. When we rushed to Candy Ijo peak at Jogja (Indonesia) to catch a glimpse of the setting sun (supposed to be the best sunset spot). Although we saw nothing spectacular, I got up to click some pictures of the surrounding temples and when I got back, I just couldn’t disturb the uninterrupted conversations between my Hubz and Sis. To me, moments like these define beauty on earth.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
Yikes! That’s a tough one. Yogyakarta or Jogja, Indonesia where we witnessed the best hiking trails, the most insane gondola ride across cliffs, amazing volcanic tours and heart-thumping high rope activities.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
Not a city, but a place as such would be Kalibiru National Park of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. We expected the views to be better than they were and the rides to be more fierce than they seemed online.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
Going on a Merapi Lava Jeep Tour in Java, Indonesia. The best part was getting to dust the volcanic ash off our hands and checking it off our bucket lists.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
My boarding pass (Lol)… Well, it’s actually my fanny pack with my phone, some money and knick-knacks to keep my hands free as I like to walk around when I travel.

Your go to or favourite book/film/tv series that always makes you want to travel?
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. It means ‘you won’t get this life again’ or simply ‘YOLO’ – a Bollywood movie where 3 friends travel and indulge in adventurous activities of their choice.

What can readers find on your blog?
Travel and Food stories on Southeast Asia (primarily) and India – travel tips, guides, street food tales, food stories.

Where does your blog name come from?
Lyf&Spice comes from the 2 main elements: Travel and Food. Each of these adds spice to Lyf (a twisted term for life). After all, it’s all about enjoying life with some flavour and spice, isn’t it?

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
Yes… the one I wrote in my book release. My book is called Kota Bharu Kelantan Malaysia: 50 Travel Tips From A Local and it is very dear to me. It’s based on my stint at my current hometown – Kota Bharu, Malaysia.. and I’d like to consider it a bit of an achievement (there goes my modesty out of the window) in terms of putting Kota Bharu out there – in the global map for travellers.

Find them on their social channels here
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

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Does your passport really need 6 months validity?

Yes, yes you do! Especially if travelling to Fiji

I’ve been fortunate enough to not really have too many travel horror stories. Sure, I’ve ran for a train (never a plane Dad taught us early how you should always be 6 hours early for a flight!) , lost a boarding pass, misplaced a passport, cut it fine for boarding even with the 6 hour wait time, had a few dodgy character try to take us the wrong way in Marrakech but really nothing too bad or anything too serious that has thrown my travel plans into jeopardy.

Well, that was until recently and spoiler alert it all turned out ok and probably isn’t as dramatic as you might expect but when I was googling for advice nothing came up so I wanted to share my story in case it helps anyone else.

As regular readers will be aware we’ve recently been to Fiji. Oh, beautiful Fiji -The holiday blues are still sooo raw. Fun fact about Fiji- you don’t need a visa (for Australian or British Passports) but you definitely need 6 months validity on your passport from the date of departure from your home/departing country.

This is where the problem lay.

If you are like was stressed, cranky and googling everything combination of- passport, Fiji, validity and looking for quick information scroll to the bottom and the answer lies there!

Months ago when we booked our flights my other half said his passport will have less than 6 months validity and asked will it be ok? I (stupidly) was like yeah, of course, they just say 6 months to be careful. Point to note here I hadn’t even checked as genuinely believed that as long as your passport is valid you can enter any country. Of all the places and all the trips, I’d been on I’d never had any issues with this or really never checked about passport validity only about visas. It’s Travel 101 and my error number 1.

We were moving house during this time and were stressed and minds elsewhere so it wasn’t till the night before we were to fly that I checked again and noticed that my other half’s passport expired exactly 6 months to the day that we left London. I text my parents, my sisters, I put a message up in a Travel Facebook group, I googled to page 20 and no one could help or had a definite answer if we were going to be able to fly. Some websites said 3 months, some said 6 months but from the date of when you leave Fiji, and then other says 6 months from when you enter Fiji. No one knew and even when I checked the Fiji website it didn’t specify if it was exiting or entering. I was so confused. It probably also didn’t help that night I hadn’t slept for almost 24 hours so I was pretty highly strung.

I spent the whole 2-hour bus trip to Heathrow on edge. Do we fly all that way and then they say no, do they say no at Heathrow, what’s plan a/plan b/plan c.

Queuing at Heathrow check-in and looking at the desk clerks praying we weren’t going to get the grumpy one that looked a bit of a computer says no jobsworth. Thankfully we got a friendly one. Handed over the passports holding my breath. Then I saw the fingers come out. I could see her counting. 1,2,3,4,5,6. And then the words I didn’t want to hear.

‘We aren’t sure if you can fly today as the entry requirements for Fiji is 6 months passport validity’.

Noooooo. She said to not worry but she had to go check with a supervisor. Longest 3 minutes EVER! She then came back saying as today was the 1st of October and the passport expired on the 1st April we were very lucky with dates as it was 6 months to the day and we can fly.

As much as I was pleased I still was worried he’d get turned away in Fiji. Not the feeling you want to have before you get on a 30 flight. I text my family to relay the good news as they were also on tender hooks about if we’d both be joking for the wedding or just me. My sister then gave us information that I swear should be more accessible as I didn’t find any of it in my googling session. If an airline allows you to board but you are aren’t allowed to enter a country it’s their responsibility to pay for your return flight and they will be fined in excess of £/$10k so they will always be careful when allowing you to board.

So you’d think we’d be on cloud 9 and no worries but I still wouldn’t relax until we were actually there and on the beach.

We flew Heathrow to Dubai then to Melbourne and due to board a connecting flight to Nadi. We’d had no issues up to Melbourne until we got called to the check-in desk over the tannoy. Initially, it was just to get new boarding passes but then they wanted to check Passports. My heart sank. We’d made it so far!! Again the fingers came out. 1,2,3,4,5,6 and then the ‘I need to check with my supervisor and Fiji immigration’. Cue more freaking out and me trying to explain London said it would be ok like that would do anything but thankfully she came back and said it was ok.

My nerves couldn’t take it anymore. I needed a very large glass of wine!

Stepping off the plane in Fiji and I had everything crossed, praying, hoping it would be fine and you know what, no one even batted an eyelid when we went through immigration. Nothing AT ALL!! Just a Bula and have a nice day. There was probably notes on the system but still NOTHING!!

I almost felt cheated and then I remembered we were here and to hurry up and get out of the airport just in case they changed their mind.

Every day is a school day so..

Lessons learned

Always check not just visa but passport validity when going somewhere new. I’ve since learned there are all sorts of these validity rules for lots of countries!
Make sure partners passport is up to date.
Yes, you need 6 months validity on your passport(defo Australian or British) if trying to enter Fiji. Based on the day of your date of departure eg when you start your journey
No, you don’t need a visa to enter Fiji (if you have a British or an Australian passport) Please check if you have another passport.
If an airline allows you to board they are generally 100% sure it’s going to be ok as if not they need to pay for your return flight and will be charged in excess if £/$10k
If British you can get an emergency passport both at home or abroad but you still need a few days before flying to get it sorted and you’ll need to do it as a high commission

Have you had any passport dramas?? Drop them in the comments would love to hear and to also to reassure myself that others can be just as clueless and that I just didn’t miss the travel memo on this.

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10 photos in …….

Intrigued?

Good I hope so.

We are launching a new series called ‘10 Photos in … ‘ which will be 10 photos (who would have guessed!) from 10 different travellers to help show off the best parts of the featured city or region. Each traveller will show us one shot that they think sums up the city or region.

Some with be the expected landmarks and others will be those amazing little side streets, street performers or just a different side to a place you thought you knew. I’ve always loved photos and travel photos are my absolute fav! When I’m going somewhere new I always peruse Instagram, pinterest and Google Images so wanted to have a series on the blog that helped encompass this.

This series will be starting in the next few weeks and would love to have your input, your eyes (in a non creepy way), your views and your best travel shots.

Do you have an amazing photo and story that you want to share and give inspiration to others?? If so we want you!!

The upcoming destinations are

London

Fiji

Gold Coast

Paris

Bristol

Sydney

New York

Auckland

Melbourne

Marrakesh

Bristol

Barcelona

To get involved we would need one picture (obviously) plus 200/300 words on the location/image. This could be factual information, funny story or brief insight into why it’s your favourite photo from that destination. If you are a blogger/instagramer we’ll include blog link and one social handle. If you are an amazing reader that doesn’t blog then we’d also love you to get involved.

Spaces are limited and we do have a few destinations almost full so if you’d like to be involved then do get in touch swiftly. Please send over to thewanderingdarlings@gmail.com and put the city/area in your subject line.

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