Prague, Czech Republic

My dad and I visited Prague for 3 nights in order to go and visit the Christmas markets. I had looked at maps of Prague, but struggled with the language and resorted to a decent guide book. At Prague airport we bought a 72 hour travelcard, which covered us for buses, metros and trams. This came in useful as my dad LOVES a bus ride.

Namesti Miru

Our hotel the Clarion was located a short walk from 2 metro stations on different lines and had a tram stop a few doors down. The hotel was comfortable and had a decent breakfast buffet, with a very helpful receptionist.

So what did we do?

We visited a couple of Christmas markets which were all beautifully decorated and enjoyed honey wine. I also tried Trdelnik, or chimney cake which is cooked on a spit over a fire. I recommend both very highly.

We took a road train from the Old Town which took us through the Jewish quarter (Josefov) and up towards Prague castle. It took about 45 mins and cost 280Kc each, but was a nice way to spend some time. The famous Astronomical clock is tucked around the side of one of the Churches in the Old Town Square, but is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and definitely worth a visit. We took a walk along the river which lent itself to some lovely views, including one of a replica of the Eiffel Tower up on the hill.

The Astronomical Clock

Wencelas Square (also known as Vaclavske namesti) is a great place to go out for restaurants and shops. We came here in the evenings to find a place for dinner and it had a great view of the museum with a statue of King Wencelas in front of it. Down at the Mustek end was a great sweet shop; Candy Miners. Words don't do it justice, so if you are ever in Prague go and experience it for yourself - it's worth it.

Walking up to Prague Castle

We also visited the Prague Castle complex, although we didn't buy a ticket to go inside any of the buildings. The site has a grand castle at its centre and some very nice architecture. Whichever way you get there the castle is stood proudly at the top of a hill, but the view from the entrance was definitely worth the effort. The view over Prague with lots of Church spires and the TV tower was lovely (and it was downhill all the way to the tram stop). Opposite the tram stop is a memorial for WW2 in the form of a sculpture of the Czech flag.

View from Prague Castle

So only a quick visit, but certainly an enjoyable one. The flight from London took less than 90 minutes so it's perfect for a short weekend city break.

Sri Lanka 2019

After two and a half years since I was last in Sri Lanka I decided it was time for another visit to this stunning country. The visa fees have been waived for a few months as the country tries to encourage the tourists back after the incidents at Easter this year, especially as the tourism industry is the main employment industry in Sri Lanka. I was frivolous and had a driver to take me around, saving me from public transport but costing me a fair bit. My driver took me to places I both had and had not heard of and was able to explain about the different places we passed through.

Colombo

I didn't spend long in Colombo and stayed in two different hotels along marine drive which runs along the coast. The first night I stayed at the OZO which had a good buffet breakfast overlooking the Indian Ocean. You didn't need a sea view room as you could go up to the roof terrace which has an infinity pool and bar and then breakfast came with a view. 

I spent the afternoon with my friend and we visited a number of places, including a mall, dilmah tea lounge and Independence Square. The lotus communication tower is now coloured with a green stem and pink flower in the centre of Colombo (when I visited Colombo in 2017 it was still all white) and is the largest self supporting structure in South Asia.

Independence Square

Lotus Tower

               

My final night in Sri Lanka was spent at the Marino Beach Hotel which was absolutely incredible. The large roof terrace has an infinity pool and a garden and was just stunning. The room was modern with a complimentary mini bar and a view over the city and the sea. The hotel provides access to a shopping mall, which is home to a 9D cinema and a virtual reality gaming centre.

Millennium Elephant Foundation

I was taken to the Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF) in Kegalle having expressed my love of elephants. The aim of the MEF is to improve the welfare of domesticated elephants in Sri Lanka. They have a little 'museum' to tell you about the foundation and the elephants. They have the only elephant born to a domesticated elephant in Sri Lanka and are also sponsored by Crabbies alcoholic ginger beer. They have a choice of packages for visitors or you can volunteer and go for a longer period of time and help to look after the elephants. My visit was short but very interactive and I definitely had a naughty elephant who decided I needed a shower (gravel and all), luckily there was a shower I could use to rinse out the gravel and change - if you do visit take a towel and a change of clothes just in case.

Passikudah and Trincomalee

The public beach in Passikudah was actually nicer than the hotel's bit of beach. I did not find a huge amount to do in Passikudah and stayed by the hotel pool enjoying the good weather.

We had a day trip to Trincomalee and visited a large Hindu temple at Fort Frederick. The temple was intricately decorated and very colourful with a large statue outside. It is to one of the God's associated with fertility and there were little wooden cots tied up everywhere where people had been praying for a baby. Whilst most of Fort Frederick appears to no longer be there the fort gate still stands and inside the complex there are a lot of deer.

Temple statue

Example of the little wooden cots

Trincomalee beach

From Nirali beach we took a boat to Pigeon Island. This island is protected and you have to pay a $25 fee to be allowed to go over to the island. We hired a boat and snorkeling equipment from a hotel and I spent the afternoon snorkeling from the beach of Pigeon Island. There is a beach either side of the island from which you can snorkel, although I saw much more on one side than the other. I was lucky that someone took pity on my lack of confidence and came out with me, enabling me to see turtles and a shark along with lots of pretty fish and corals. Everyone in Sri Lanka is so friendly and they didn't want me missing out.

Turtle

Ella

I stayed at the Ekho Ella which was a beautiful hotel with a view over Ella rock and Little Adams Peak. The room had a train theme and the hotel was located a short walk to the bars and restaurants of Ella. 

View of Ella Rock from hotel room

On the way in to Ella we visited the Halpewatte tea factory and despite being out of season you could still go on a tour of the factory. There was a tea tasting session with the 4 types of black tea produced and a little shop selling their tea in very tourist friendly packaging.

We visited the Demodora 9 arch bridge, which has a train line running across it. It is free to visit and I felt much safer by the fact there was a train strike. The bridge is a bit of a trek to access but it is located in a very scenic spot in the valley with tea plantations nearby. We also visited Ravana waterfall which is just beautiful with a little viewing platform too. There was a man with a street food stall selling wedges of fresh mango which were delicious. My driver also took me to visit Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery which is at the top of one of the hills. The monastery itself is still being built but the view was lovely and there is a model of how it will look.

Demodora 9 arch bridge

Ravana Falls

Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

Ella is also popular for hiking and we went to Little Adams Peak. This is actually made up of 4 peaks but due to my lack of fitness I actually only made it over 2 of the peaks. It overlooks Ella rock (which you can also hike up) and is really pretty. If you are adventurous it is also home to Sri Lanka's longest zip line, with 2 lines spanning over half a kilometer and located near the top of Little Adams Peak.

View from Little Adams Peak

My lovely driver took me to see one of his relatives for a cooking lesson and whilst I wasn't very helpful it was really interesting to see the preparation of the fresh food over 2 gas rings and an open fire. The curries made were absolutely delicious - Sri Lankan food is incredible and has so much flavour to it.

Sri Lankan Cuisine

Security

People asked me a lot about security before and whilst I was away. The hotels in Colombo scanned your bags whenever you arrived at a hotel and there were 5 security points to pass between being allowed into the airport complex to actually getting on the plane. I felt safe wherever I went and was not hassled when I went out alone. The only problem I had was being out of season I was the only person staying in one of the hotels which meant I felt a bit watched, but certainly not unsafe.

View from Little Adams Peak

A Summer Full Of Fun

Whilst I didn't get 6 weeks of summer, I did get to make the most of the activities on offer over the school summer holidays. I went to a festival, an outdoor cinema and theatre, airshow and camping to name but a few of the things in this blog post. Not only did I have a great time, I got some amazing photographs too.

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

British Summer Time Festival

This is a day time festival in London's own Hyde Park. I was lucky with the weather and there was no time to get bored. It was well organised, with Barclaycard, Coca-cola, tinder and magic radio being the main companies present. There were lots of toilets and things to see and do. I saw Feeder, Keane, Black Eyed Peas and Robbie Williams. It was a great day out with great music.

Robbie Williams Headlining

Outdoor Theatre

I joined two of my friends to see Hamlet performed outdoors at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden. It was done brilliantly and we were moved between 4 different sets within the grounds, so it was certainly an intimate performance. I certainly recommend summer outdoor performances.

One of the outdoor Hamlet sets

Luna Cinema

I took a friend to see Mamma Mia 2 at an outdoor viewing. We took our own chairs and a picnic and enjoyed a lovely atmosphere to watch the film. There was a bar that sold blankets as well in case you got cold. We did have to wrap ourselves up once it got dark, but it was a very chilled experience and we highly enjoyed our trip

Royal Society Science Exhibition

I went to a free science exhibition in London, with an evening especially for adults only. The first thing we did was to try colourless cocktails to see what colour we associated with them. There were lots of universities exhibiting their research. One of our favourites was making DNA out of laces and jelly babies. There was one stand about using light in medicine, with blue and green light being absorbed by the body. One of the lights they used was not taken up and left outlines of blood vessels within your fingers - it was really interesting with great medical potential.

Lido

The UK has had some rather lovely weather. I went to a Lido with my mum to enjoy the sunshine. With an outdoor pool, lots of space to sunbathe and a cafe we had a lovely day out in the glorious summer.

Airbourne 2019

I am a sucker for an airshow. This year I splashed out on a hotel at The View Hotel on the seafront. We were blessed with a balcony overlooking the sea and a proper sea view. This meant that we watched the airshow from the comfort of the balcony. The views were just as spectacular and we had access to stunning views on the hotels roof terrace. The hotel had both a breakfast and dinner buffet with a great variety of beautiful food. We certainly ate well. Highlights were a huge collection of free samples of honey and lavender seeded paper and catching up with some of my wonderful friends.

Selection from The View's dessert buffet

Looking toward Beachy Head

Ashburnham

I went camping for the bank holiday weekend with my Church. The site itself was beautiful and walking around it was just incredible. The night sky was actually dark so you can see the multitude of stars and despite my poor knowledge I did spot the plough constellation. We were lucky enough to have beautiful weather, so getting a tan was a bit of a plus. The company was as great as the surroundings and it was a great weekend camping. The temperature dropped at night so it was worth taking my hoodie despite the glorious sunshine during the day.

The night sky

One of the beautiful views

How reusable can save you money - My Top Products

There is a lot of focus at the moment on using re-usable products in terms of being environmentally friendly. However, it can also save you money if you are travelling frequently or on a budget. This blog post is about my favourite re-usable items and how they have saved me money.

Reusable Cup

I bought my collapsible cup from a website about a year ago. It has the added value of collapsing down quite small so doesn't take up a lot of room in my bag. Whilst it's not a thermal cup, it is leak proof (I tested this by putting some water in it, doing up the lid and shaking it to rinse it out whilst out and about and it did not leak at all).

A number of coffee outlets give you a discount for bringing a reusable cup and this can range from 25-50 pence depending on the store. In this alone the cup has basically paid for itself in the discounts it has resulted in.

I have travelled with this a number of times. It is useful if you don't trust hotel room coffee cups and can get you money off your drink. I recommend a collapsible one as it takes up a minimal amount of room in your bag. It is easy to rinse out whilst you are out and doesn't leak - what's not to like.

Water Bottle

I have a variety of reusable water bottles for different occasions. The main difference being that I have a thermos water bottle for travelling to hot places and a normal bottle for everyday use.

The great thing about this is the majority of airports have water filling points once you are live side (after security), so you can fill up your bottle for free. This saves a few pounds at each airport, which is great for frequent flyers or those travelling on a budget. Some of the major rail stations also have water bottle filling points, so it is getting easier to access water for free.

My thermos bottle also means that I can fill it with cold water once and take it with me. I have to admit most of the time it's not been filled with cold water from the start, but it does save my water getting hot. This can save the need to buy extra water once yours has overheated.

One thing I do recommend is slightly opening the water bottle as you come in to land. I do this just to help it beat the pressure changes and reduce the risk of damaging it (although so far all the bottles I have tried have survived pretty well).

Spork

This one may sound a bit odd and to be fair isn't really a money saver, but it is a great reusable item that I have started to travel with. 

It is much sturdier than the cheap plastic cutlery that often breaks if you are using it on anything remotely solid. It is also easier to handle than the more popular wooden cutlery that has appeared. I took it away and it made eating fish and chips on a beach so much easier than it would have been with the speared wooden chip fork. It is small and light so easy to pack. My parents have also found them useful when on road trips and buying food and snacks from supermarkets.

It also comes in handy if you don't get given cutlery or have questions about the cleanliness of what's available (yes I take my spork to work for this latter reason). Overall it is a pretty useful cheap bit of kit.

Canvas Bag

These fold up pretty small and if you are in the UK save you 5-10 pence on a plastic carrier bag. They are durable, so they last pretty well and come in all sorts of lovely designs. I keep one inside my backpack when I fly with all the bits I will want during the flight. I then keep this under the sea in front, thereby increasing the amount of space for my feet and leave the rest of my hand luggage in the overhead cabin. They can also be used to keep dirty washing and the bag can go in the wash with everything else ready to be used again. Whilst these can be purchased, prices do vary. The majority of mine actually came free at events - bargain!

Straws

I have recently got some reusable straws. Not 100% sure these are going to be used much or how to clean out the inside of the straw thoroughly between uses. Jury is still out on these.

So whilst reusable is helping reduce the volume of plastic waste, it can also save you a few pounds in cases were every penny counts or for those savvy shoppers out there.

Edinburgh

I had a last minute trip to Scotland with my parents to go to a funeral. However, even in 48 hours there was a chance to do a spot of sightseeing to share with you all.

Barclay Church

We took a train from London which took just under 5 hours. We had first class seats on the way up and what a luxury that was. Complimentary dinner, drinks and snacks alongside bigger chairs, tables and even toilets. It was definitely a luxury I could get used to.

We stayed at the Village Hotel which was I cannot recommend enough. Our room was spacious with two super comfy double beds. It also had a lovely swimming pool which we made use of. It also has a gym, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. It is open to the public, but it is free for those staying in the hotel. The breakfast buffet was varied and of a good quality. The hotel itself has its own car park, as well as being on a number of bus routes to the city centre.

On driving through the streets of Edinburgh we were treated to the statue of Greyfriars Bobby. Legend has it that this feisty little terrier sat at his masters grace for 14 years and has been covered in books and films. The castle is at the top of the Royal Mile, close to the station but uphill.

There were a number of charity statues around Edinburgh of Oor Wullie. He originated as a character in a Scottish newspaper and his trail runs for the summer. There were some very creative versions.

If you look hard enough on Princes Street you will find the post box painted gold in recognition of Chris Hoy's 2012 London Olympic achievements. You will also find the Scott memorial in honour of author Sir Walter Scott. The station itself is named after one of his novels and it is clear they take great pride in him.

Scott's Memorial

We had a set menu lunch at La Garrigue near the station. The food was really good, if not a little bit nouveau. It was a French restaurant with a lovely atmosphere and lovely staff. We managed to spend a good 3 hours there, so it's not a place to go if you are after quick.

Rabbit

Lots of Adventures

I have had a very busy few weeks with lots of adventures. This blog post provides summaries and photos of some of the exciting things I have been up to.

Dorking

I joined a residential trip with Girlguiding UK in Dorking. We were blessed with beautiful weather and the flowers were out. The girls had a great time playing outside in dens whilst we enjoyed studying in the sunshine. I made a short trip into Dorking itself - the one way system was confusing, however there is a pay and display car park near Sainsburys. It has a lovely looking church and I am sure there is lots to explore in the town center. I know there is a leisure centre, shops and a museum at least.

Eastbourne

I made my annual trip to Eastbourne for Bible by the Beach which runs alongside the motor show on the western lawns. The weather was a bit temperamental but sufficient for picnics on the beach. I enjoyed fish and chips with my friends and picnics by the sea. The shopping centre is at the latter stages of redevelopment and the shops are certainly getting more 'high street' than they used to be. Rumour has it a cinema is to be included by the summer 2019 although there are still a good few vacant shops.

Cheese Fest

We had a trip to the London cheese festival at Battersea Power Station. It was quite small but did have stalls and speakers alongside the Thames. There are lots of restaurants to supplement the event if you aren't into street food. The majority of the stalls sold varieties of cheese, some providing free samples. There were also gift stalls, fudge and oil up for sale. I had a go on the 'spin the wheel' game (2 goes for £5) and won a very small blue mouse and a canvas bag. On inspection the bags were being sold for £14 at the gifts stall.

 

Fiddler on the Roof

We had matinee tickets to see Fiddler on the Roof in London. The theatre was quite cosy and you certainly didn't need to sit right at the front to see. My mother was a bit concerned that a passing actor may accidentally hit her with their big props. I did not know the story, but it was certainly easy to follow. It is a musical and you will certainly recognise some of the songs (e.g. If I Were A Rich Man). It was a brilliant show but with a sad ending and is based on real events in the mid-late 1800's.

The Antiques Roadshow

I took my parents to the valuations and filming day by the BBC in a relatively local Park. It was very pretty location wise and we were lucky with the weather. It was something to make a day of - watching the filming and having a picnic. Get there early though - by lunchtime they were at capacity. It's a free even and you can find locations and dates of filming on line.

Book Review: My favourite travel books

There are lots of books about travel out there in the shops. These are my favourite travel books and a little bit of information about each of them. If you need help deciding on a book for yourself or as a gift then this blog post is for you.

How To Pack For Any Trip

I bought this book whilst I was in Australia. It is the book that taught me to roll my clothes when packing rather than folding them to save space. It is full of brilliant tips for what to pack for every destination and holiday type going.

It's a pretty small book, so it's light to carry with you and has lots of pictures in it too. It not only suggests new ways to pack, but also makes very valid packing suggestions for whatever type of holiday you choose, be it a beach holiday or going to the Antarctic. It's a book that you really can get engaged with and helpful if you are planning a big trip on minimal luggage.

This book really does have everything in it and is definitely a useful resource for those who like to try and pack the kitchen sink or going somewhere super adventurous. As books go, this is a fun and practical little book which could really make a difference to the way you travel.

This book is a must have for anyone who packs too much or is embarking on a new type of adventure.
This is published by the Lonely Planet.

Where To Go When

This was a Christmas present which I absolutely love. It has a chapter for each month of the year with suggestions on where to go for each. Each place has symbols for what type of holiday it is good for (culture, food, wildlife etc) to help you pick something that suits you. The book is full of pictures of some of the best things/places. Every month has a flowchart at the start too in order to help you decide where to go based on what you want to experience. I am very excited about using this book to help me plan my next destination.

This book is published by the Lonely Planet.

36 Hours in Europe

This was given to me when I left the job I was doing after I had taken my career break. It is a brilliant book. It covers all the popular cities in all the countries of Europe. It gives you a break down of the things you can do to make the most of a 36 hour city break. You can either use it for inspiration, follow it in detail or mix up the different options.

The book begins with a map, breaking up Europe into different sections to correspond with a chapter of the book. It is really easy to use and comes with maps and pictures for each city it covers. Most cities have more than one 36 hour guide to allow for different tastes. Barcelona, for example, has a popular timeline and another for art lovers. It has genuinely helped me make sure I visit some of the 'must see' sights when I am on a short city break.

This book is a must have for anyone who plans to travel in and around Europe.

The Travel Book

I bought this online from the Lonely Planet when it was new out. It has a page for every country in the world, along with some facts and pictures. It's not great for holiday planning, but it does contain some fair information and very pretty pictures. I have to say it is not really worth what the RRP is, so look out for a 2nd hand copy to save money and still enjoy the pictures.


This book is published by the Lonely Planet.

Travel Guides

There are a whole range of different travel guides out there, so it really does come down to which style you prefer. I love the little guides that come with a very useful pull out map, as they are easy to take out and about with you. I find Lonely Planet travel guides are good, but much more in depth and thorough than I am looking for. I discovered Marco Polo guides after I was given one as a gift and these are up there with my favourite travel guides to use pre-travel. I find the layout and contents more relevant to what I want and it comes with a map at the back. Travel guides come in a whole range of publications, so it really is a bit of trial and error to see which brand works best for you. If you like saving money, like me, then look out for relevant guides in places like charity shops and make the most out of whoever wrote it. Then if you so desire you can either leave it at a hotel abroad or return it to a charity shop when you have finished your adventures. Be open minded about travel guides, sometimes the local free ones from tourist information are pretty useful too.

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