travel – Page 4 – the wandering darlings

Travel Loving Parents

My parents have recently retired which, when they are still in their very early 60s/late 50s is really bloody early. I had like 5 mins worrying about what they would do with this new found freedom of the daily grind then I realised they are going to be even busier now than ever before.

You see my parents don’t sit still.

They get involved, they travel, they give back to the community, they find new places, they see different sides to places they already know, they challenge themselves.

I spoke to them last weekend and mum reeled off a list of everything they have planned till Christmas and every month they have something exciting planned in. New places, new experiences and new adventures and that on top of everything they have already done this year I just don’t know how they ever had time to work before.

Being the offspring of such inspiring, caring, empowering, sometimes cringy, overly energetic, life loving parents I wanted to write them a little letter…

A letter to my travel loving parents,

As I sit here in my lounge room on the other side of the world from you I think about how I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. Not because you created me (ew that’s a bit weird) but because you brought my sisters and me up to be adventurous, fearless, inquisitive life loving women and more importantly you brought me to this little village that I now call home all those years ago. You set my path in motion over 20 years ago and none of us would have ever expected the decisions you made then to have had such an impact now.

You took us overseas before we even knew there was another side of the world and although you had to wait till your 30s to see outside of Australia we got to see it before we even hit our teens. We now know to do this you needed to sell the house, that the opportunity to do it happened at a really unideal time and that you were both scared about having to leave your families behind with little to no way to contact them with three temperamental little girls. The world was a different place then and it was either too expensive or the technology hadn’t been invented to keep in touch like it is now.

In doing what you did then and what you continue to do now, you taught us so many lessons. Seeing as you both are teachers seemed kinda adapt. Lessons such as an awareness of other cultures and religions, how to get to the airport way too early, how to not tackle roundabouts when driving on the opposite side of the road, how to be respectful of others beliefs, random acts of kindness especially when travelling speak volumes, how to be polite when eating new local cuisines, how trying to speak a different language with a thick Aussie accent is extremely hilarious and how to enjoy and relish the moment of being somewhere new.

I want to thank you for bringing exchange students into our lives. From our ‘sister Sophie’ when we were much younger to our ‘brother Hannes’ who helped fill the void for you when we all left home. We learnt about the world and other countries from having them in our life. We not only had them become (and still are) part of our family but we also became a part of theirs. I love how you are actively involved in rotary exchanges to help give other young adults the chance to explore a different culture and way of life. The way you help others is so inspiring and I only hope I can do something similar if I’m fortunate enough to have children.

Thank you for being involved in community projects and especially The Tumba2Kokoda Project that takes students in our small town on one of the most exciting adventures of their lives. The months of training, fundraising and organisation that you commit in itself is enough but then to do the trek along the Kokoda trail 7 times with the students must be one of the most rewarding things you do.

For always having a camera on hand to capture our moments and filling the spare room with more photo albums you could ever imagine. My obsession with photos started from you Dad! As much as we joke and laugh that you’ll make a ‘blurb book’ when you get back from a trip we know the value of having those photo books and love the stories they’ll continue to tell years from now. Mum, you have always been my biggest blogging fan you helped me, critiqued my posts, liked my photos, fixed my spelling and guided me on my own corner of the internet.

Thank you for being the type of parents that my friends make comments like ‘ can’t your parents just have a relaxing holiday’, ‘your parents go to amazing places’ It gives me something to aspire to. You don’t sit still you keep going and keep pushing to see more of the world.

Thank you for the long drives to Grandma and Grandpas every summer holidays, the long camping trip around Europe when all we wanted to do was stay at home with our friends. We learnt the joys of ‘boot picnics’, how to make friends and communicate with other children when we didn’t speak the same languages and that you don’t need to always get on a plane to have an adventure.

For making friends wherever you go and then actually keeping in touch with them. You did this long before Facebook and email were around to make it easier.

For having the type of holidays that push you outside of your comfort zone. Hiking in Nepal, exploring India, cycling through Croatia, solo travelling to England. You’ve shown us that you’re never too old or too scared to give something a go.

Thank you for not stopping my sisters and me when we got on all those many planes taking us away from you to let us continue our next steps in the world. I now it was and is still hard but thank you for being the parents that know you raised us to make the right decisions, to learn from our mistakes and to know who we are and that it’s ok to be whoever we want to be.

Thank you for now not crying until I’ve gone through the departure gate when we say our farewells. It’s funny how saying goodbye never gets any easier even though we have done it more times than I can count. The horrible goodbyes make the G’days so much sweeter.

For helping at times to fund our travels but also saying no and making us work 3 jobs to make the money ourselves. We know to have and enjoy something we need to earn it. Travelling isn’t an expectation or right it’s a privilege and that is a lesson I will always be thankful that you taught us.

I am who I am because of you and I am where I am because of you. For sacrifices, you made years ago and sacrifices you still make now and for that, I will always be so very grateful.

You are the best role models a little traveller and young (well kinda still young) woman could have.

‘At rejse er at leve’

Much love,
Your favourite daughter

My mum is also a blogger and you can find her at www.debs-world.com she blogs about lifestyle, fitness, family and her and dads travels and you’ll find some hilarious stories over on her blog. So do check it out if you want to read more about these wonderful humans.

Globetrotters- I Dream of Travel

Isn’t ‘I Dream of Travel’ such an awesome name for a travel blog!! Everyone dreams of travel at one stage in their life so it’s super relatable. Lisa is the dreamer than runs I Dream of Travel and I’ve had so much fun getting to know more about her and her site.

Whilst I Dream of Travel is still a newer site it’s got a great layout and fabulous content. You can also tell from the headings that there is some super exciting content still to come. So get subscribing!

My other half is a huge music fan and has been desperate to get to Memphis for as long as I’ve known him. Lisa’s post has given us some great inspiration and I love the inclusion of bars and restaurants. Defo want to check out that speakeasy!
She has some posts coming soon about Savannah and Chicago two cities I know next to nothing about so can’t wait to read more!

Reading others advice is one of my most loved parts of this series and Lisa’s is one of the best answers we’ve had. I love her insight in how every trip comes in three stages and most importantly you need to pay attention to all three. Usually, we see the planning and post trip as the annoying or sad part but really they are just as important as the physically going away. It really is such an awesome piece of advice for travellers.

Here is the lovely Lisa from I Dream of Travel

Hi, I’m Lisa! I started out my adulthood as a young, single high school social studies teacher. Therefore, pretty poor. Therefore, pretty rooted at home. Long story short I ended up a wife and a mom, with a job that had me frequently travelling all over the country. While I still find myself a wannabe world traveller, I’ve also come to realise there’s so much to discover right here in my home country. So, for now, I’m making the most of that (with a few international trips sprinkled in here and there)!

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
While I thoroughly enjoy the journey (researching and planning), what I enjoy most about travelling is exploring the unknown. Crazy, since I do a whole lot of research and reading before even the most mundane of trips. Despite all of the planning, I always end up feeling overwhelmed when I travel. But in a good way. No amount of reading, watching, listening or planning can prepare you for what it’s like to actually be somewhere you’ve never been before. How cool.

Why do you think travelling is important?
Travelling is important because of the memories you take home with you. You can keep those for a lifetime. I first thought of this in regards to my children- their material possessions were quickly outgrown or just didn’t last, but they loved to talk about our trips. The same is true for adults. It’s the best money spent.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?

The is one of my favourite travel pictures because it represents travelling with my family and also just having a carefree spirit when it comes to travelling. It’s my son Parker jumping into Lake Ontario. We literally just pulled over so he could jump in!

Which is your favourite type of travel/holiday- sun, snow, sea, city, mountains, country?
This small beach town girl loves a trip to the city. No, the mountains. Wait, the country…

Who do you usually travel with?
Everyone. Throughout the year I’m fortunate to have the occasion and opportunity to travel with my husband, with my family, with my mom and/or parents, with work colleagues and sometimes I also get to squeeze in a trip with friends- sometimes girlfriends, other times couples.

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Every trip has three phases: before, during and after. Pay attention to all three parts. Plan well- learn the history, what do the travel sites say you should do, what to the locals actually do. Travel well- get up early, go all day, eat well, make time to relax and revive, and gather meaningful mementoes and memories. Follow-up well- organise your pictures and mementoes and update your trip notes and your social media accounts (and I don’t mean just sharing pictures- more later in my blog!) all before life gets too crazy again.

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?
Still not able to laugh at this yet, but here it goes. After an incredible family vacation in Toronto, Canada and the Niagara Falls region, we rushed over the border to the Buffalo airport only to find out we were at the wrong airport. Who knew little Niagara Falls had an airport? The airline advertised their flights out of Niagara/Buffalo (lesson learned). We took a very expensive cab ride to the correct airport. As we threw our licenses on the counter, the lady flipped her sign to “Closed.” She would not check our bags. We had to take them to the checkpoint and then to the gate. Problem is- you can’t take liquids through the checkpoint. So we had to leave our hundreds of dollars worth of wine from Niagara on the Lake area vineyards…and some Canadian maple syrup.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
Today I’d have to say Denver, Colorado, during the late fall. Snow on the mountains, still warm enough to hike. You get a little bit of both worlds- the city and the mountains. Downtown is full of local fun, yet Boulder, Colorado Springs and the mountains are all just within an hour or two drive. Ask me tomorrow and I’m guessing I’d say, Puerto Rico.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
I almost hate to even mention it, because it really is a sweet place to visit. It’s Amelia Island, FL. It has a reputation for being a great girl’s weekend or romantic weekend getaway. There are plenty of gorgeous Bed and Breakfasts and horse drawn carriage rides, but it’s really a tiny little downtown. Not many restaurants and very little nightlife. We ran out of new things to do, eat and explore very quickly. But great for an overnighter!

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
Paris. Sounds cliché I know. But it’s a bit more personal for me. My mom was a Navy brat and lived there in her mid-teens. I can’t wait to go with her and see all the places I’ve heard about my whole life- the off base apartment she hated (why couldn’t she just live in Military Housing, Petit Beauregard with her friends?), the commissary (Bel Manoir), the site where Paris American High School was, the teen club and all the places she went to when her and her girlfriends snuck out and took the train to downtown Paris.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
My list. All that research, reading and planning I do- it goes into a list on my phone. I try to sort it in a logical order based on where I will be, when I’ll be there and around reservations, appointments or other scheduled events. I save addresses, phone numbers, operating hours, etc. Don’t want to waste time floundering around unsure of how to get somewhere, or show up too early or too late to a destination.

What can readers find on your blog/Instagram?
I just started a travel blog/site: idreamoftrvl.com. While it includes a blog, my plan is to include so much more- my research secrets, travel tips and destination itineraries. And of course travel photos! I also post travel photos to my Instagram account: idreamoftrvl. I try to include insight to travel experiences and why followers might want to check them out when they find themselves there. I’m also on Twitter @idreamoftrvl sharing articles that align with my travel style and goals.

You can find more from Lisa here.
Blog
Instagram
Twitter
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For more from our Globetrotters series click here

Welcome to Life in the UK

So you are making the big journey across the seas to the UK. Be it moving or just spending some time exploring you need to ensure you get involved in the British way of life. Get chatting to some locals, watch British tv, go to places off the tourist trails, learn the lingo and try out some of the British cuisine. If you are staying in London, do make sure you get out and see some other areas. Go rural, get to the coast and just don’t stay in Shepherds Bush with all the other Aussies. The UK has a brilliant culture and heritage and the best way to experience this is just throwing yourself in head first.

As it’s a funny old place and I’ve put together a few pointers for you to get you prepared for your time in the United Kingdom. Things I wish I had known before I moved to the UK include –

They drink. A lot! Aussies often get a reputation for being big drinkers and to some degree, we probably are however the Brits seem to do just do it more often. There is always a reason to go to the pub. The weather, new baby, new job, lost job, a new partner, break up, celebrations and commiserations. There is a huge pub culture in the UK and you know what they do pubs really well. There are cute ones, quaint one, historic ones, real ale ones, cider ones, gastro ones that serve insanely good food and trendy ones. If you ever find yourself in a village there will always be a pub welcoming you with open arms. I live in a small village and we have 6!! Another thing I always find weird but is considered perfectly normal is when two people go to the pub for a pint of coke. If you’re not having an alcoholic beverage I just don’t get it. That just wouldn’t happen in Aus. I also for ages couldn’t work out when someone asked for a ‘half of larger’ what the half of the drink would entail. A ‘half’ however is a glass size. #muppet

Although we both speak English there is still a language barrier. A couple of my favourites that have caused a few giggles are the following

Muffler= exhaust

Whippersnipper = strimmer

Zuchini= courgette

Capsicum = Pepper

Lollies- sweets (lollies in England is an ice lolly or lollipop)

Band aid- plaster

Doona- duvet

Singlet top- vest

Overalls- dungarees

Rather than just having towns and cities in the UK they have cities, towns, villages and hamlets. Towns are considered a town if it has a town hall and city is a city if it has a cathedral. A village can be bigger than a town but if it doesn’t have a town hall then it’s still a village and a hamlet is just a really small village. The mind boggles.

Soaps are huge over here- Emmerdale, EastEnders, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks. I’ve dabbled in a few but have stuck with Emmerdale. What can I say I’m a country girl. They have their own national comedy duo Ant and Dec which are kinda like the UK version of Hamish and Andy. Although Hamish and Andy are funnier. And younger. Piers Morgan in the morning is no comparison to Koshy or Karl. There are far too many reality shows- Love Island, Made in Chelsea and The Only Way is Essex you really don’t need to watch them but be warned they will be all over the magazines and newspapers and the locals will be obsessed with them.

There are SO many old buildings. Which is great as there really isn’t that many in Australia so getting to explore them is pretty awesome. The National Trust and English Heritage have memberships and there is always several properties within a few hours of each other. It’s a great way to learn more about the history of an area.

You can tell where someone is from the moment they open their mouth. Coming from Australia where it’s such a vast country you couldn’t tell if someone was from Sydney or the back of Bourke but in England, two people that live an hour away from each other could have a different accent. I still don’t understand how it works. My personal fav is a Somerset or Yorkshire accent.

In England driving more than 2.5 hours to a destination requires an overnight stop. There is no way people would drive 2 to 3 hours somewhere to then return that same day. Considering Australia is several times bigger than England driving long distances is in our blood. The roads in the UK are also really narrow. In many places especially the country there will be some parts of the road that have ‘passing places’. If you plan to drive do make sure you’ve read up on the road rules

Barefoot is perfectly normal down under. England not so much. They also think you’re weird if you wear flip flops all year round.

The weather is always a good conversation starter. If I’m lost for something to say I will ALWAYS bring up the weather. Even if you’ve not checked the weather bring up rain and it will usually cover it.

A cup of tea will fix anything. No matter what time of the day or night. Brits love their tea and to be fair there is nothing better a cup of English Breakfast. What you do need to do though is read up on the colours and strength of teas. Builders brew is a common term for a cuppa and this basically means a dash of milk. If you are making a cuppa for someone always ask what strength they want their tea.

‘Alright’ is considered a greeting. My dad will alway answer it like a question which he thinks is funny every single time. If someone says ‘Alright’ to you just reply ‘yeah, alright?’

There is still a class system. Not everywhere and not everyone cares but it’s there. Your postcode, up bringing, social status all come into play at one time or another. Just ignore it.

Bank holidays are just public holidays.

Fridges are half the size of Australian fridges and often houses will have the washing machine in the kitchen. Yes, the kitchen!

Their postcodes are completely different to Aussie ones. A postcode here can pin point your exact street and then you just have to pick the house number. It’s really good for sat navs and finding your way around.

Vegemite will always be better than marmite. Penguins don’t compare to Tim tams and Nik Naks have nothing on twisties. Try them all but you’ll soon understand.

And finally for the love of God whoever you speak to do not call your thongs, thongs. They are flip flops and you will get some seriously weird looks.

I’m sure I have missed many other tips but this should be enough to get you on the right track. If you have any pointers I’ve missed do put them in the comments below with your blog link and I’ll update this post with your suggestions.

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Globetrotters- Nomad by Trade

I just love the tag line Kris from Nomad by Trade has – ‘A travel blog for the kid at heart’. It just draws you in to want to find out more about her blog! We all just want to be a kid at heart, don’t we?

From featuring posts of her interstate travels to international adventures to exploring Disney. There is something for everyone on Nomad by Trade. I really like how everything is categorised on the site- Leisure travel, Evening tourist, Tips, Disney and Michigan Love. Really mixes it up and is a nice change from having everything listed as destinations. It also makes you want to find the gems of information listed in these categories.

I’ve mentioned more times than I can remember that Iceland has long been on my bucket list and it seems every Globetrotter we’ve had recently has been to Iceland. Cue – huge amounts of jealousy! Kris has recently explored this magical country so has so much Iceland content that I’ve been scouring her blog for lots of insight and planning advice for when I do finally get myself over there. My favourite post (there was sooooo many to choose from), however, was this one as a huge photography lover and someone who would sell her left arm to see the Northern Lights it is such practical advice to make sure you get that dream capture of this beautiful phenomenon. Her amazing picture of herself, mum and sister is a winner and you’ll get to see it below.

Reading Kris’s answers I love how open she is especially when describing her blog. She knows her voice, what to share and what she wants to say which is so important when creating your own space in the blogosphere. We can all get a bit bogged down in comparing ourselves to others especially other travel bloggers who seem to have it all travelling the world. But like Theodore Roosevelt once said ‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. To know yourself and be true to yourself is what every blogger should do. Kris epitomises this and is something I really respect.

All links to Kris’s blog and social channels will be listed below and I can’t recommend enough that you head on over to check them out.

Let me hand you over to Kris

I’m Kris and as a frequent business traveller, I hop from one city to another throughout the United States. As a lifelong traveller, I’ve been to five continents and 45 US states with a goal to hit them all someday. When I’m not travelling, I’m likely to be on Pinterest planning another trip or cuddling my dog, Artoo.

What do you enjoy most about travelling? 

I love exploring new places more than anything else. There’s no better feeling than stepping out of an airport in a new city full of things to do, foods to try, and sights to see.

Why do you think travelling is important? 

I think travelling is the best way to create positive global relationships. Going out and seeing other countries and meeting their residents firsthand is the best way to eliminate misconceptions and ignorant stereotypes. You learn so much about other cultures as well as your own that it’s hard not to come back wiser.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?

I love this shot of my mom, sister and me in front of the Northern Lights that I took with a mini tripod and self-timer in Iceland. The Lights were spectacular that night and I got the idea to have us stand really still in front of them. We’re a little blurry because I was using a long exposure, but it was just SO cool.

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

I’m an obsessive planner. I spend weeks or months researching attractions down to their opening hours, admission fees, and addresses. I also try to learn as much as possible about the place I’m visiting ahead of time. If it’s somewhere where another language is spoken, I’ll learn a few useful phrases (“Do you speak English?” is key), figure out the exchange rate, and research driving laws and road signs if I’m renting a car.

Who  do you usually travel with? 

I travel by myself a lot for work, so I have a lot of adventures on my own. Lately, I’ve been travelling with my mom and sister a bunch because they actually get vacation/break time. I’ve also taken a couple of really fun trips with my boyfriend the last couple of years.

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

Just do it. Whether you’re going for a weekend trip somewhere close or booking a month abroad, it will be worthwhile. Set a budget for yourself and save if you need to, but make it happen. I promise that the new experiences will be more worthwhile than a new pair of jeans or shoes.

Tell us the funniest story or a miss hap from one of your adventures?

When I was in Iceland a few months ago, my mom made the car rental reservation and I never looked at the booking. She’d rented a small SUV for the week and said it was only about $400. That seemed fairly reasonable since I usually get weekly rates when I’m renting cars for work and they’re a touch under $200. We rented the car, had a blast on the trip, and returned it to the airport before our flight. The problem was that when she made the booking, she somehow only did it for one day. The daily rate was $400. we’d had the car for seven days at that point. I was a little queasy since I was supposed to be sharing the cost. Luckily, they negotiated with us and only wanted an additional $900 on top of the $400 we’d already paid, but it was still staggering. I’m still baffled by the fact that they hadn’t tried to contact us (or the police) when we kept the car for an extra six days, but I guess they figured we couldn’t take it very far on a relatively small island.

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

Probably Iceland. Despite the mishap described above, I absolutely adored every corner of the country. I’ve never seen so much natural beauty in such a small area. Every corner seemed to be more beautiful than the last, and our days and nights were filled with incredible sights. If Iceland isn’t on your bucket list already, it should be.

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

Nassau, Bahamas was pretty disappointing, as well as the whole cruise we were on. I love exploring new places and learning about the local culture and trying new foods, but Nassau felt just like a run-down American beach town. Our ship docked at the same time as two other huge cruise ships, so just getting off of the dock was an ordeal. We spent the day on the beach right next to the cruise docks with a commercial shipping centre to our left and a scraggly sandbar in front of us. It was far from the picturesque Caribbean scene I had imagined, and we ended up re-boarding the ship way earlier than expected.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list? 

I’ve been wanting to go to New Zealand for the longest time. Every picture I see there seems gorgeous and I love exploring nature. It just seems like the kind of place that I would love.

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

Aside from the obvious socks and underwear kind of stuff, my main necessity is my camera. I’ve always taken tonnes of pictures and I love trying to snap unique shots.

What can readers find on your blog? 

Lots of fun stuff! I’m really just an overgrown kid, so I try to write posts for grown-ups who like the same kind of goofy fun stuff that I do. I’m never going to be the picture-perfect travel blogger or Instagram star, but I love writing about things like ridiculous ice creams and posting pictures of my head on a giant Pez dispenser. It took me a while to find my voice, but now that I’ve figured out who I’m writing for (and it helps that my target audience is also myself) it’s a lot more fun.

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

It’s hard to pick just one, but I really like my post called “25 Pictures to Put Iceland on Your Winter Bucket List” It was nice to get a chance to show off some of my photography, and it’s one of my most viewed posts. I’m also really fond of a couple of Disney posts that I wrote. One is about visiting the parks solo, which I’ve done on numerous trips, and another about my favourite fireworks show that ended its 13-year run last month.

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What to pack in your long haul hand luggage

So I’m not always the best at packing. You’re probably thinking well why are you writing a post on it. And to some degree, you’d be right however this is packing for your hand luggage which I think I’ve got nailed. Big suitcase packing I’m of no help. None whatsoever. I’ve been that person on the floor by the check in desk crying trying to work out which of my 10 pairs of jeans I won’t need for a two-week trip. So you’re best off heading to Pinterest or Google to find someone better if you need help with that sort of packing. And if you find any good tips send them my way.

However, if you do want some suggestions on what to take in your hand luggage for a long haul flight then read on. Some will be pretty obvious but other ideas might be something you completely overlooked or never even thought of.

Obviously wallet, passport, phone
You’re not going to get far without these. Have them handy though either in the top of your bag. They come out a lot and you don’t want to be scrambling through your bag all the time.

Travel insurance documents
Hopefully, you won’t need to use it but it’s always handy to have this in your hand luggage in case you do need it. Another option is to have it saved on your phone.

Details on accommodation
Most landing cards require you to fill in where you are staying and also once you get out of the airport you need it handy to know where you’re going. You really don’t want to go rooting through your suitcase looking for it. Similar to the above you can also have these saved on your phone but handing over a piece of paper to your taxi driver is much easier than handing over your phone.

Books
I love an airline film but I also love having some time away from a screen. If I’m really struggling to drop off a book helps every time! Sometimes I also like to have a quiz book like a word search or sudoku. A note pad and pen are also always lurking in my hand luggage in case I have any amazing ideas I need to write down. A pen is also handy when having to fill in your landing cards.

Flip flops
You can take the girl out of Australia but you can’t take Australia out of the girl. Even if I’m going somewhere cold there is always flip flops in my carry on. They are also pretty helpful when the dreaded cankles develop on a long haul flight.

Charger
Most planes now have USB charging cables so you can charge your phone or tablet during the flight.

Smellies
E.g. Toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant and dry shampoo. Just because you’ve been on a plane for 20+ hours doesn’t mean you need to smell like you have. It also helps you feel ‘normal’ again.

Extra clothes
If it’s a long haul flight often a pair of pants, bra and a fresh t shirt will be in my hand luggage. It’s helpful as well if your luggage goes missing or you spill something on yourself during the flight (like I usually do!),

Layers
Layers are key! One minute you’ll be too hot then the next you’ll be too cold. I like having a big hoody with me so I feel warm and cosy on the flight.

Headphones
You want the noise cancelling type. Planes are much noisier than you expect and when you want a break from the in-flight entertainment and want to listen to your own music you’ll be thankful for the headphones. Also, they are handy if you have a long wait in a connecting airport.

Bottle of water
Just make sure it’s purchased after security. Flying dries you out you need lots of liquid and sometimes it can be awhile before they bring the drinks cart round.

Any valuables
Keep those safe and on your person at all times. Bags go missing or can get delayed you don’t want anything valuable or sentimental going missing as well.

And my number 1 tip an oversized scarf
Yes even if I’m travelling to a hot country I’ll always take an oversized scarf with me. It has so many uses; fashion accessory, blanket, pillow or even a sarong on the beach.

Is there anything you take that we’ve missed off this list? Do share below in the comments

Globetrotters- Its All Bee

Would you sit here? Bianca from Its All Bee is one brave adventurer sitting out on that ledge. Even looking at this sends shivers up my spine! But this is one thing I really admire about Bianca she will get out to see the world any way she can- be it climbing mountains, glamming it up in the Greek Islands, discovering hidden waterfalls or just exploring London on her days off. It allows other travellers to relate to her no matter how they travel and in return allows her to have a versatile blog with a huge amount of information to inspire that wanderlust!

I’ve read a lot of blogs recently centred around authenticity and how important is when you travel. Bianca also references this below in her answers and I wholeheartedly agree with everything she says. Her viewpoint on this is so empowering to read and I’m so glad I’ve been able to share this with you all. Travel is what YOU make it for YOU. It doesn’t have to mean a year long trip ticking countries off your list or finding the new ‘must visit’ destination on the other side of the world. It can be discovering something new in your area or even just staying within your own country. Travelling is about broadening your mind, growing, sharing and loving this beautiful planet.

I have long had Iceland on my list of places to visit and Bianca has just taken my wanderlust for Iceland up a gear with this post about a secret waterfall!! How amazing would this experience be? http://www.itsallbee.com/2017/05/sleeping-sound-under-secret-waterfalls-iceland.html Seriously get me on that plane now. There is a whole host of destinations covered on Its All Bee and you need to check out the interactive map. You can also find hotel reviews so you know the best places to stay and travel videos which help bring the experiences to life. Her easy to read layout and gorgeous pictures make this a top blog to get inspiration and practical advice from. I’ve put the links to Its All Bee and her social channels below so make sure you check it out.

Here is Bianca from Its All Bee

I’m a firm believer that travel doesn’t have to be expensive. It also starts right at home, so you will naturally find travel tips from both home and away on my blog. From my birth country in Zambia to my second home in London and as far and wide as Hong Kong, India, Namibia, Egypt and many parts of Europe. I love an off-grid adventure as much as I love getting lost in city alleyways. My blog is a gateway to all those seeking inspiration on exploring the world, whether in heels or hiking boots.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
The ‘newness’ of it all. I love looking forward to new sights, a taste of new food. Aimless wonder through unfamiliar streets. All of this comes with the planning and researching of hidden gems mixed with maples meandering. As much as I would love to go with the flow, I am a planner so I need to find out where the best places for views are, what local delicacies I need to stuff my belly with.

Why do you think travelling is important?
Aside from learning about other cultures, foods and all that travel encompass, travel teaches you so much about yourself. From letting go of fears of solo travels to conquering goals like hiking up mountains, learning about and letting go of our biases to even finding the style of travel that fits you. Each trip is an opportunity to learn not only about a destination and its people but about you. So, yes I think it’s important and I hope I can pass on that message to others through my blog and my further offspring on just how important it is to see the world because you will learn so much more by experience than by reading about places.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels?

Oh, I have several favourites. Two contenders that come to mind are sitting on the edge of Victoria Falls(Zambia) and sitting on the edge of Trolltunga(Norway). My favourite between the two probably the most recent when I sat on the edge of the troll’s tongue by myself while my boyfriend sat on the other side waiting for my turn. I guess it might be obvious that I have a thing for heights. I thought I was going to chicken out of sitting on the edge but after telling myself to put my big girl panties on, it was on! After signalling to my boyfriend make sure he took a couple of shots, I shuffled my way to the edge and sat down. Long enough to take in the views and a selfie of course!

Do you have a pre-travel ritual? If so what?
Yes. I love a mani-pedi just before a trip. I travel for work a lot and it involves being away from home in some countryside location usually, with little to do nearby so when I book my trips I try to work from home the day before. Just enough time to pack and squeeze in a relaxing treat to get my nails done. Sometimes a little spa session for a relaxing massage is thrown in which has become a little habit I have no intention of giving up.

Who do you usually travel with?
I used to travel a lot with my sisters but not so much now these days due to schedules and distances between us. On rear occasions, I travel with friends unless I am travelling to see them as most are now spread across the globe. My partner in crime when it comes to travel is my fiancé who is with my on almost every trip. One of the reasons why my pictures now include me in them as I now have an insta-husband, albeit one resisting his job title and duties. He will grow into it. Resistance is futile! 😀

If you were to give one piece of travel advice what would it be?
Go! Travel for some is scary and for some, there is an air of the unreachable. If you want to travel that much you will find a way – like with anything else we want badly enough. Whether it’s working in exchange for food and accommodation or whether it means saving slowly and planning to travel someday or a quick and cheap weekend getaway. I am a firm believer that travel is not a privileged few. I work damn hard to find the time and money from a crazy work schedule to be able to get away and have that work-life balance. I have resisted the urge for comped travel for the majority of my travels. For almost every post you will find on my blog is because of hard work to make it happen. Travel is not available to just a small group people or group. It’s available to all. It also doesn’t mean you have to fly to Europe or a popular destination for it to be considered travel. Travel can mean exploring your own cities, countries which not many of us do enough of, as we are led to believe that it’s not travel unless it’s to the beach, or jetting off to some popular place with some insta-staged location. Without going off on a tangent, my advice is to just go. Travel budget or lux. Do it your way because it means being true to you and nothing brings more joy than living authentically.

Tell us the funniest story or a miss hap from one of your adventures?
With all the planning, I do you would think nothing ever goes wrong but there have been plenty of doozies. From missed flights to lost luggage to thinking that someone had already booked the hotel when actually didn’t. One of that comes to mind is doing a 10-hour drive from Botswana to Namibia. Having driven for hours and seen some amazing sights one of which was driving through pitch black roads to Windhoek and witnessing mountains lit up by columns of some 30+ lightning bolts all dangerous swaying in the wind to a tune of their own. It was just a beautiful sight and nothing I have ever seen. We arrived in Windhoek shortly after midnight and after driving around the city trying to locate our hostel for the night we finally stumbled on it. Only to find out that our booking had been re-allocated to someone else and they were now sold out. So there we were tired, in a foreign country passed midnight with nowhere to sleep. With 15% of battery on my phone left, I couldn’t have cared less what my roaming charges were going to be as I just needed a clean room with a shower in addition to getting rooms from my partners in crime before my battery died. After circling around the town and not finding somewhere to stay I managed to pull up my trusted Booking.com up on my mobile book something and with less than 10% left use that to navigate to where our hotel was. Any other time I would have happily slept in the car that night but after a 10-hour drive I was tired and sticky and slowing turning into a crazy irritable lady. All I wanted was a shower and a nice lay in bed before we embarked on another drive from Windhoek to Swakopmund, Namibia’s German inspired town. We finally arrived at the hotel just before my phone died but you can just imagine the stress. Had it been during the day I doubt we would have cared not having a place at a hostel.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
This is a tough one so I am going to go with a place that always comes to mind when I think of a list of favourite places. I love Italy and I have been sampling cities and towns for a long time. My favourite place is Lake Garda. I visited with my older sister having seen pictures of it from my friend’s Facebook pictures. We ferry hopped from town to town during our stay in Desenzano, one of the towns on the lake. It’s so beautiful! One of, if not the largest lake in Italy. Clean and clear lake water with cliff side towns that scream Riviera. One of the places many Italians come for summer getaways. Picture warm summer afternoons with jets skis and pedalo boats splashing around as the lake twinkles from sunshine, to tourists licking away at famous Italian gelatos and taking lazy walks around beautiful Italian paths lined with Italy’s famous cypress trees. I haven’t been to Lake Como yet, but I imagine Lake Garda can give it a run for its money. In fact, that reminds me I need to book a return trip.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
This is a tough one because overall I have great travel experiences. If I had to pick a place I would say Sydney, Australia. It was an event-free trip but the city just didn’t really leave a mark on me. It lacked charm or character in my eyes. I guess from what I have heard and mixed in with what I imagined the city to be I was expecting to be wowed and I wasn’t. Would I go back? Probably not, but that’s not to say that I wouldn’t visit more of Australia. I would love to visit the Gold Coast, Urululu, Great Barrier Reef. I also had a great time in Melbourne.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
We could be here forever if I had to pick one item from my list to tell you about. I have yet to visit the Pyramids even though I have been to Egypt. I would say all-time would have to be visiting Antarctica or climbing Kilimanjaro someday. Adventure seeker at the core I would love to round off visiting all 7 continents with a trip to Antarctica.

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without?
Hmm aside from my passport and camera. I have grown rather fond of not wanting to experience places without my fiancé. I have learnt to let go of wanting to photography everything on a trip. It has taken some getting used to. I don’t know if I am alone in that in that blogging makes you look at everything as a potential blog post. It’s become hard to just experience it without wanting to capture it. So…I guess it’s not a thing but rather a someone I wouldn’t want to travel without.

What can readers find on your blog?
I like to think it’s a multi-faceted collection of travelogues of a gal fighting to find out what it really means to have a work-life balance. We are complex beings and like a variation of things to do so if you love city travel as much as you love off-grid adventures then I am your woman! You will find quick and dirty getaways for you and yours to mountaineering getaways where it’s you, mother nature and a star-studded sky with killer views. Somewhere mixed in are tips and tricks on how to find the places I have captured.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
Another tough one. I am still experimenting with different layouts for my pictures and collages, gifs and video. I guess one that comes to mind might be my Weekend Guide to Warsaw. One of few posts where I actually managed to get the blog post and video published at the same time. I have tonnes of video from travels but just the time it takes to edit images and video. I wish I had a twin to delegate some of the work to. I want to do more experiments with other forms of media like cinemagraphs rather than just have static images. There just isn’t enough time in the day to work and produce the type of content I want on the blog. I guess it’s one of the reasons why I decided to spend more time honing in on that craft but the downside is that you will see fewer posts on the blog than I used to produce in a month a couple of years ago. I just hope my readers will appreciate the effort and enjoy the creative side of my blog as they join me on my travels.

To find more from Bianca please check out the below links.

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17 Reasons to Visit Copenhagen

I first visited Copenhagen when I was 16 which was a loooong time ago and mainly my memories are of the vibrant Nyhavn, the Little Mermaid and feeling pretty ill after going on a few of the rides at the magical Tivoli Gardens. So when the opportunity arose ( I took my other half with some of our friends to go see Guns and Roses for a birthday treat. Yes obvs the best fiance!) to return to this city I jumped up the chance to rekindle my past memories and discover new places.

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and a must visit Nordic city. It can be a bit pricey but really aren’t most capital cities. It’s a beautiful old city that has a wonderful mix of old world buildings with new modern Danish architecture. Copenhagen is often considered in the top 10 for the happiest city and with their green living ambitions, quirky cafes and bars, colourful houses and beautiful surroundings it’s a must a visit destination. If you’ve not heard of the Danish concept of hygge then you would also understand why they are a happy city. The word Hugge has no English translation and is a word used to describe the feeling of being cosy and special and most important just being in the moment. This is how you should experience Copenhagen – take in the moments, put down your phone and marvel at the buildings, try to avoid getting knocked down by a bike and enjoy getting to experience this amazing city.

And if the above hasn’t sold you to get on the next plane to Copenhagen then here is my top 17 reason to visit Copenhagen.

It’s a green city
Bikes everywhere, green gardens, clean and clear harbour water, wind farms it is clear that Copenhagen is a green city. They are actually working to become carbon neutral by 2025. You can tell how serious they are with all the roads built to accommodate bikes and encourage its residents to get on two wheels instead of 4. I think it’s a fantastic goal for a capital city to strive for.

Canals and havns

As Copenhagen was originally a Viking fishing village there is lots of water around and there are canals throughout the city. It’s no Venice but it means that you should not only see the city on land but you should also get onto a boat tour to see it from the water. There is, of course, the picture perfect Nyhavn but there is also lots of pretty water areas in Christianshavn and even along Kobenhavns havn you can find Islands Brygge Harbour Bath. These baths are man-made swimming areas in the shape of a boat on the harbour allowing locals and tourists to cool down in the hotter months. They say that the water throughout the canals and harbours in Copenhagen is so clean you can drink it.

Coloured houses

Nyhavn is the picture perfect harbour in the middle of the city and instantly recognisable as Copenhagen. The vibrant colours stand out and it just wouldn’t look the same if they were normal buildings. Now the coloured houses of Copenhagen aren’t just limited to this area. They are across the city. Rich oranges, bright blues, ravishing reds, stark whites and dusty pinks can be found on most streets. Those on Instagram- it’s like you’re in Instagram heaven.

Fairytales
The best fairytales were written by Danish author Hans Christian Anderson and as he lived in Copenhagen there are signs of him all over the city. You can find three of his residences in Nyhavn, several statues of him (one opposite Tivoli and one in the Kongens Have) to one of the most famous statues in the world which is also one of his characters. There is a Hans Christan Anderson Fairytale house that again helps bring some of his lesser known fables to life.

Marble Church

Fredericks Church or more commonly known as the Marble Church is captivating building. It is free to enter and I would suggest going in as it is just as beautiful inside as it is on the outside. You do need to be quiet when entering as it is a place of worship. When we went in another traveller hit his toe on one of the benches which created such a racket. Knowing we needed to be quiet after hearing this huge noise we then erupted into a fit of giggles. Mature as always. I love visiting cathedral and churches when in foreign cities and could have sat there in silence (after the giggles subsided) for hours.

Flat flat flat
Pretty much all of Denmark is flat which is partly why they love their bikes so much. I’d ride my bike if I didn’t have hills to ride actually who am I kidding.. push up the hills. However, when visiting this city it’s also great as it makes it really easy to walk around.

Europes longest pedestrian street

The Stroget in a pedestrian street through the centre of Copenhagen. At 1.1km long it is said to be one of the longest in Europe. It had a mix of high-end and chain stores. You’ll find lively buskers, street performers and bars and restaurants. It’s a great place to stroll along and part take in some retail therapy.
Theme park in the middle of the city

I loved Tivoli! I mean a theme park in the middle of the city! Not many places can say they have that. Tivoli is said to have inspired Walt Disney to build Disney Land due to its magical feel. The gardens are beautifully manicured, the rides have a good mix of the scardy cat people (like myself) to the more adventurous thrill seekers. There is ponds, gardens, an aquarium, carnival style games and an air of magic that makes for a very fun day. There is also a statue of Hans Christian Anderson looking across the road like he’s taking inspiration for his fables.

Palaces

We learnt while we were in Copenhagen that Denmark has the longest reigning royal family. Also fun fact the current heir to the throne Crown Prince Frederick is married to an Aussie -Princess Mary. They met in Sydney many yeas ago and I remember it all in the news as it was like a modern day fairytale that an Aussie girl could become a princess. I’m still waiting for Price Harry to notice me. There are several palaces in Copenhagen that you should visit these include Rosenborg Slot, Amalienborg, Christianborg place. All show a different stage and part of Denmark royal heritage. You should also try and witness the changing of the guards at Amalienborg.The guards walk through the centre of Copenhagen leaving Rosenborg Slot at 11.30 and reading Amalienborg at 12 pm. We were lucky to catch them on their walk through and fun fact they even have to stop at the red lights.

Bikes

You will never see so many bikes in one place. The only place that I think might challenge Copenhagen to bike/person ratio would be Amsterdam. You need to be careful crossing the roads as although they are on only two wheels the bikes could defo knock you over. On all roads, there is always a separate lane for bike and you will often find them lined up against any surface. There are lots of bike hire places so that you can get involved in the cycling we, however, were a little scared.

Hotdogs
I’m not much a hot dog eater but get me to Copenhagen and I basically have to have one every day. There are lots of food trucks around the city so you can get one on the go. My only piece of advice would be they nee to make the buns a big bigger so the end doesn’t stick out. Maybe it’s a just the Danish architecture way.

The Little Mermaid

Yes she is tiny, yes it’s a bit of a walk out to see her, yes there is always lots of people there when you are trying to see her and yes she is often voted as the most underwhelming tourist attraction but in my eyes, it is still a must see. While you are out seeing her you should also walk around the Kastellet which is a star-shaped fortress.

Parks & Gardens

As mentioned above Copenhagen is a very ‘green’ city both in its ideals but also in colour. There is so much green space within the city. Park and Gardens or Have’s as they are called in Danish are scattered throughout the city. We were fortunate to stay just of Kongens Have which is a beautifully manicured park that also houses Rosenborg Slot. We also spent some time Faelledparken which is more of an athletic park with games of football, frisbee, boot camps all going on around us. After a long day of being tourists, there was nothing better than having a beer sat in the sun enjoying the park.

Street food market

This is a must if you like food or are looking for a cheaper lively night out. From The Copenhagen Street Food Marker is located on Papiroen (Paper Island) and accessible over a pedestrian and cycle bridge at the top of Nyhavn. There is so much option for food and drink and has an outdoor seating area so you can take in the harbour views. We absolutely loved it. I posted more about this place here

Freetown Christiania
I have read a lot about Freetown Christiania but we didn’t go and explore this interesting place however it is somewhere that I would like to go on our next visit. It is a small Freetown within Copehenhaegn that started back in the 70’s when squatters took over an old military base. It is a community of creative people who wish to live their life differently to rest of Copenhagen. You can’t take photos in there due to the selling of illegal substances.

Architecture

Danish architecture will always get a big thumbs up from me considering the Sydney Opera House was designed by a Dane. You can see examples of the Danish architecture style all over the city. The Black Diamond, the Royal Danish Opera House, The Royal Danish PlayHouse, M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark and the colourful Superkilen park. There is also a Danish Architecture Museum to discover even more gems within the country.

Sweden
Bit weird to mention another country when trying to big one up however I couldn’t miss it off the list. Malmo in Sweden is super close to Copenhagen only 40 min away by train or car across the spectacular Oresund bridge. Sadly we didn’t get a chance to do this trip on our recent visit but will certainly do it on the next time we are there.

Have you been to Copenhagen? What was your favourite thing to do in the city? or have we missed anything off this list? Do let us know in the comments.

Globetrotters – Fill My Passport

Cupcakes for breakfast – um yes, please!! This is something this week’s Globetrotter Janine from Fill My Passport loves and seriously what a way to celebrate the most important meal of the day. I’m sold!

Janine has an awesome blog Fill My Passport- which includes Fly Away Friday link ups (every other Friday), alternative guides of what to do that is a little different to the standard destination guides, Disney Guides, traveller stories, honeymoon planner and travel shop. It’s a one-stop shop for everything from inspiration through to booking. Also how cute is the name!!

We both share a passion for finding and telling untold stories from across the globe so I love that I’ve been able to include her within this series. We learn so much from each other and reading her answers below I love her take on her favourite place in that she has to do it by continents. I’ve not ever had anyone answer it like before and it’s an awesome way, to sum up your favourite places. Every continent is so different so it makes complete sense!

I’ve always wanted to go to Niagra Falls and loved this post with highlights of things to see and do. I always hear the discussion of which side is best to view the falls and from this post, the Canadian side sounds like a winner to me. https://www.fillmypassport.net/love-weekends-niagara-falls-ontario-reasons/ . It just looks like the most amazing place to see nature at its finest.

Let me hand over to Janine from Fill My Passport and all links to the blog and social channels can be found below.

Hi, I’m Janine and I am an active traveller who enjoys writing about my travels, uncovering untold stories worldwide, and eating cupcakes for breakfast. After being to 40 countries, this travel journalist felt it was time to put her adventures in writing to educate and assist fellow travellers. I currently live in Toronto Canada with my Aussie husband whom I met along the Seine in Paris while travelling, busily planning my next epic holiday in California this November.

Fill My Passport is a one-stop resource for travel guides, tips, tricks, Disney planning advice, and inspiration. We are currently morphing our niche further into a romantic getaway platform combined with alternative honeymoon destinations for that adventurous couple wishing more than an all-inclusive resort to celebrate their sacred commitment.
We hope our forum will inspire, appeal and encourage you to stretch your palate, book a ticket, sport the Mickey ears, and Fill YOUR Passport with as many stamps as possible.

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
I love uncovering untold stories and having life experiences unlike anything else. Every country has a story to tell; built history to learn; mysteries to discover. This is the joy of being on the go. Not to mention the sense of freedom away from the drudge of reality.

Why do you think travelling is important?
I think it is important for people to look and think outside the box/their community bubble to learn and become educated on the outside world. Cultures and people bring a variety of thoughts, rituals, fears, emotions to the world table and in order to understand the planet to which you live, you must immerse yourself with others different from yourself to truly understand differences from you and your life.

What is your favourite photograph from your travels.

This photo is of me walking across the death-defying rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede Northern Ireland. I was scared out of my wits, especially when the dorks on the bridge thought it was fun to shake the sides or ignore the safety precautions of 15 MAX individuals at a time, but in the end, I did it, and have the experience under my belt to prove it!

Who do you usually travel with?
I travel mostly with my hubby. He is the best travel companion as he is so much fun, hilarious, and my safety blanket when I cry through rough turbulence.

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

Tell us the funniest story or a mishap from one of your adventures?
For some reason, luggage does not like me. I seem to go through it like dirty socks. The latest incident took place in Istanbul. My husband being a gentleman offered to carry my suitcase up the street across the cobblestones which are terrible for wheeled luggage. The handle snapped making it difficult to manoeuvre from then on. We searched and searched in Istanbul for a new luggage, resulting in dodgy encounters in the Grand Bazaar and terribly overpriced knock-offs. In the end, after a scary incident, I continued my journey with the broken luggage until reaching London where I splurged with a Kipling duffel that endured heavy travel until its demise a year later.

Where is your favourite place that you’ve been to?
This is a tough question as I firmly believe that no continent can be compared. I will answer this the way I usually do- by continent J

Asia – China all the way. The Great Wall took my breath away
Europe – Other than England where I lived for 2 years, I adored Vienna. I could eat Sacher Torte for the rest of my life while listening to Mozart’s minuet in the background.
Oceania – tough call, but I have a soft spot for Australia seeing how my hubby is from there.
North America – Ottawa, NYC, and Orlando as I’m a huge Disney nerd.

Where was one place that didn’t live up to the hype?
Thailand. I think because I got into a life-threatening accident tubing that it tainted my experience. Everyone raves about Thailand and it being the top nation for travel, but I was on the fence about it and don’t need to return. If I were heading back to Southeast Asia, I would rather seek new adventures in places like Borneo, Laos, and Cambodia.

Tell us one place/experience on your bucket list?
Oh boy, what do I choose to divulge? My list is growing every day! I would have to say a trip through South America. I would love to see the Galapagos, the Bolivia Salt Flats, Inca Trail, and Uruguay. That’s my goal for my 40th birthday which is in (cringe…) a year and a half…

What is the one thing you wouldn’t travel without.
I am a dental hygiene freak! I just cannot travel without floss, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. I just saw my dad go through hell losing his teeth and I am trying to prevent this fate along with expensive dental bills for as long as possible!
On another note, I CANNOT travel without my Fraggles. Fraggle Rock from the 1980’s was one of my favourite shows created by Jim Henson and they just bring me joy and photobomb many of my pics!

What can readers find on your blog?
Fill My Passport brings city guides, romance tips, and Disney planning help to its readers. We are set to launch a product line soon which we hope will be a helpful resource for travellers and writers alike.

We give truthful accounts from experience and bring fusions of taste, romance and travel to our following. We strive to bring our romantic getaway niche to our forum as well as a detailed top-notch Disney planning section.

Do you have a favourite blog post? What is it and why?
I am very proud of my blog post “15 Reasons You Need to Visit Midland Ontario for Canada 150” as it is my stepdad’s hometown and truly resonated with the locals. It felt like every business shared the post and was passionate about the content! This article was so popular that they even mentioned that I needed to do the second installment so that post is coming soon to the blog J I am proud of it as a small town nearly 2 hours North of Toronto probably has not had much media exposure and responded so highly and passionately about my coverage of their hometown.

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Why you need to visit Papirøen when in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is expensive there is no denying that. But foods food and girls gotta eat. Almost every blog I read prior to coming to Copenhagen mentioned Papirøen so naturally, this was something firmly on the ‘to visit’ list. There had to be something behind the hype.

Papirøen (Paper Island) is a small island in the harbour and once was where the Procurement Association of the Danish Process used to keep their paper storage. So the name Paper Island is rather fitting! With these big halls empty over the years the concept of the Copenhagen Street Food came into fruition in 2014. And what an awesome idea it was. In the last few years, a bridge has been built linking Paper Island to both Christianshavn and Central Copenhagen.

It’s a beautiful spot in the harbour opposite The Royal Playhouse and Nyhavn and next to the Opera House. It’s in very good creative company. Within the old halls and smaller buildings, there is a creative space which has a current exhibition from Yoko Ono, offices, cafes and The Copenhagen Street Food. Whilst the Street Food opened in 2014 and they had to wait till 2016 for the bridge linking it to central Copenhagen to be completed. The bridge like most of Copenhagen has a cycle lane so make sure you are walking in the right place so you don’t get mowed down by the cyclists!

The main pull for Paper Island is the street food and trust me it’s well worth a visit. The place is huge! There is a substantial selection of food covering all cuisines from the four corners of the globe. You can get main meals, selections of sides, the naughtiest of sweet treats, great beers, cocktails and juices.

There is a nice outdoor section which would be bliss on a beautiful sunny day overlooking the harbour. The beaches and tables outside are all communal and there are shipping containers which double as eating areas and seating platforms. Some of the seating areas are also positioned around huge fire pits which on the day we visited were much needed! Even being a chilly day with the sky threatening to rain the outside areas were packed with tourists and locals alike. It is the place to be.

As soon as you walk into the big factory shed it’s like walking into a travel food heaven. There is more communal benches inside and even some ‘restaurant’ style set ups with tables that you actually book in advance. We opted for the communal benches and some poor chaps had us staring (sorry salivating) at their food while we were trying to decide if we go Chinese, Thai or Mexican. Playing on the industrial feel there were rooftop style areas built upon shipping containers, benches and tables made out of old oil drums and milk cartons, some handy work was made with pallets and they were fashioned into tables and benches. Danish Architecture at its finest.

All of the food stalls had such brilliant designs. My favourite was this pancake stall. The roof was made of old egg cartons! All of the designs worked well together to create fabulous space.

Some of what we eat and drank included below and spoiler alert it was all DELICIOUS

Chicken Penang
Chicken pad Thai
Pizza slices
Nachos
Burrito
Raspberry mojito, passion fruit mojito and strawberry mojito- maybe we had a few too many mojitos
Whisky sour
Apple cider and beers
Decadent chocolate mousse

And the things at the topped it for the boys was .. a delicious creme brûlée doughnut. They are still talking about how amazing it was!

The easiest way to reach is across the Inderhavnsbro bridge at the end of Nyhavn or if you are in Christianshavn then it’s only a short walk from the canals.

If you’re not hungry (and trust me you will be once you get there and the smells hit you) it’s still worth a visit to see what it’s all about and take in the views around the harbour. We didn’t find it overly pricey but it’s still Copenhagen so expect to pay more than you would in the UK.

More details including opening times and the specific food stalls can be found here

Summer- Australia Vs UK

Today it was hot in the UK. Like really hot. The late 20s /early 30s hot. The papers tomorrow will declare it a heat wave and come Monday everyone will be returning to work completely sunburnt. Then by the end of the week, it will be wet and rainy for two weeks because it’s Glastonbury weekend so of course, it’s going to be wet. I would never have known what that meant 10 years ago.

Welcome to a British summer.

As an Aussie living in the UK, I find it hilarious every year how excited/crazy we get when the temperature peaks for several days straight you’d have thought I’d have I come to adapt to it. Nope! Now every year I get just as excited as everyone else. I wrote a similar post last year you can find it here.

The most surprising thing for me today was I got in my car to go to the gym (yes just popping that in there as a big pat on the back to myself) and the steering wheel was too HOT to touch!! Yes, you heard right to hot to touch. This has never happened to me here. Australia yeah sure this is a daily occurrence but never in the UK. I actually almost called my mum to tell her as I was so shocked. Thankfully I didn’t choose to wake her up at 3 am with the news and instead started to think about all the things that are different between my two homes in the summer time …

Europe
Summer in the UK more often than not means a summer holiday to the continent. Spain, Portugal, Italy, France are all on your doorstep and only 2-3 hours flight away. Some of the deals available make it a more cost effective option than staying in the UK and you are guaranteed sun. In Australia, you pretty much stay in Australia but maybe just venture to another state. If you did want to go abroad Bali or Fiji are only 3-4 hours away.

Respect the sun vs worship the Sun
I have moles on my body and have always been protective of my skin. In Australia, you are brought up respecting the sun. At school, you can’t play outside unless you have a hat and there are always campaigns about Slip, Slop, Slap- Slip on a shirt, Slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat. We don’t spend all day everyday sunbathing in the sun and we have Skincare centres everywhere to check on any changes in our skin. This is so different to my friends in England who worship the sun and will sit out all day in to get some colour. Even if that colour is red. Even going on holiday in Europe you always see ‘brits abroad’ who have sunburn on sunburn but still will sit out catching the rays. In Australia, it is rare to buy sunscreen under factor 15 or 30 whereas in the UK you can get factor 4 or factor 8!!

Summer is longer and hotter in Australia
Summer last forever in Australia especially if you live inland or in Northern parts of the country. Every day of summer is almost guaranteed to be warm and if by chance it is cooler it’s still early 20’s. It can also get super hot so you can’t touch your steering wheel, the road looks like it is melting and God forbid if you try to sit on a leather seat.

But…Summer days are longer in the U.K.
Whilst we don’t have as many hot days in the UK we do have more daylight hours. Summer evenings in the UK go up to 9.30/10pm. I love this and found it so confusing when we were on the Gold Coast last year and it was almost pitch black at 6 pm in the middle of summer. Summer days need long summer nights as well.

Beaches

According to Australia.gov.au there over 10,500 beaches in Australia. There is nowhere near that many in the UK. Whilst I love a beach wherever it is I do prefer the beaches of home. The white squeaky sand that burns the soles of your feet, crystal blue ocean and bush that always separates the beach from the rest of the world. They will always hand down beat a pebbled, muddy British beach.

Ice lollies/Ice creams
No ice lollies/ice creams in the UK will ever compare to a Paddle Pop, Zoopa Doopa or a Bubble-o-bill. Not ever..

Summer will always feel like Christmas
As soon as it starts heating up I’m waiting for the Christmas carols, the Christmas tv and Santa to be driving round the streets on a fire truck. Summer for me means Christmas no matter how many years I have away from home- this will never change.

Rain

Obviously, rain was going to pop up somewhere in this post. However, it might not be in the way you would expect. In the UK we hate it raining when its supposed to be summer and in Australia, they long for it to rain in summer. Summers in Australia are long and hot. Summer heat on top of a long-standing drought affects crops, farms, bush and the general landscape. We have bushfires every year and part of the reason they spread so quickly is that everything is so dry and crisp. My grandpa always asks me to bring the rain with me when I come home at summer.

Green vs Beige
Leading on from the above, I have lost count how many times this last month I have said to my other half ‘It’s soo green! It’s never this green at home in the summer’. This is partly due to the rainfall we have. Everything grows so quickly. We didn’t mow our lawn for a month and it looked like a meadow. The countryside in the UK during the summer is beautiful luscious greens, bluebell forests, yellow rapeseed fields and wildflowers on the side of the road. Just beautiful.

Sport
Big on both sides of the equator in the summer. Wimbledon, The Australian Open, Boxing day test the list is endless. Both nations love watching sports and getting out and being active in the sunny days.

Animals
I grew up in the country and going for a walk in summer meant you always needed to keep an eye out for snakes and your back is always covered in flies. Going for a walk in the UK just means midgies and that’s only if you are near water. Its pretty much a snake free zone and is 100% a fly free zone. The UK wins purely for just not having flies!

Shirts off at the pub
I don’t think I have ever seen Aussie men at the pub with their shirts off in the summer. In England, one little slither of sun and half the men are there with their tops off showing off their Adonis bodies. Most places in Aus will have a no shirt no service rule and we love a drink so the shirts stay on. We are more a nation of vest/singlets, baordy and thong (flips flop) wearing men than a rip your top off at the first sign of sun nation.

Procrastinating taking selfies when I was supposed to be writing this today in the garden

Happiness
One thing that remains the same in both places is that summer = happy. Everyone has a spring in their step, more social and just happier. The vitamin D does something magical to us all. We smile, we play, we eat alfresco, we relish the days spent outside.

Summertime is great not matter what side of the world you are on. There will always be good and less good points no matter where you are. You just need to get our and enjoy it.

What is your favourite thing about summer? Have you experienced summer in two countries that are different? I’d love to hear from you so let me know in the comments below.

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