Facebook Twitter Gplus RSS
formats

A Balearic debate: Majorca or Menorca?

in Europe.


Let’s debate.

Really, comparing Menorca and Majorca is like chalk and cheese.

Something they have in common is how easy it is to reach them. With daily flights available, it’s never been easier to reach these beautiful islands. For added convenience, add Gatwick airport parking to your holiday, leaving you free to jet off with one less worry.

Menorca has more beaches than any of the Balearics, with beautiful Punta Prima and Cala ‘n Porter two of them, yet much less commercial, unspoilt, and calm. The island’s beauty has been preserved with its lack of high-rise hotels and tourist attractions. Known as the ‘jewel of the Balearics’, Menorca in essence seems laid-back and traditional, with a strong emphasis on nature, especially towards the north. Much of the island is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, home to an abundance of migratory birds and beautiful flora.

Many activities are available, including hiking at Monte Toro, mountain biking, water sports, and visiting numerous historic monuments. Prehistoric Trepucó, and the many Bronze Age settlements on the island are fascinating and worth a visit. Naveta d’es Tudons is for the history buffs, with an interesting collection of huge tombs.

In-keeping with the easy-going pace, nightlife on Menorca is more chilled, with singers and live acts. Cala ‘n Porter has the stunning Coves d’en Xoroi, a group of caves that have been transformed into a centre of entertainment.

For Menorca, this is as wild as it gets. In short, Menorca is more about the slow pace of life – chilled out and natural.

So, onto Majorca.

In opposition, Majorca is about nightlife and busy, bustling beaches. The largest of the Balearics, Majorca is home to the capital city Palma, and world famous Magaluf, synonymous with raucous nightlife. Family friendly Alcudia, on the north of the island, is a calmer alternative, with its beautiful, long beach offering the usual plethora of water sports and diving. The island also has a water park to keep the kids occupied.

Cuevas Del Drach in Porto Cristo are a natural wonder and a must visit with one of the largest underground lakes in the world and over 2000 metres of majestic rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites. Cap de Formentor is a beautiful place to visit, known locally as the ‘meeting point of the winds’, it stands at the most northern point, with a stunning array of wildlife. A great photo opportunity.

A day trip certainty is the capital, Palma, with its cosmopolitan shops, sparkling harbour and mysterious gothic cathedral.

Inland, the terrain becomes a tad more mountainous, with Sierra de Tramuntana, offering stunning views and a serene, chilled out vibe.

Of all the resorts on the island, predictably, Magaluf and Palma Nova are the most popular, however Puerto Pollenca, situated near to Alcudia is also a bustling, popular resort. For glitz and style, Cala d’or is the place to go.  Nightlife is abundant in all of these resorts, varied and bright the island over.

So, I guess you could say Majorca is loud, Menorca is quiet. Majorca is commercialised. Menorca isn’t. However, they both have similarities – natural beauty, sun, stunning beaches, plenty to do, gastronomic delights, shopping and history.

I guess it really depends on your preference, however whatever your choice, your travel plans will be smoother, and cheaper, with the use of airport parking. A convenient shuttle takes you direct to the terminal and great rates are offered; this added extra is certainly something to think about. Try Airparks for fabulous deals.

So comparisons over, what’s your choice going to be?

 

 

formats

Selecting the Right Wine for a World Food Meal

in food and drink.

White wine, red wine: it’s all the same, right? Wrong! Pairing the wrong wine with your meal can not only make you look more than a little foolish if you’re sitting across from wine connoisseur, but it can make a huge difference to the flavour of the wine, of the food and of the evening as a whole. This is no more true than if you’re eating flavoursome foods from around the world which can be beautifully accentuated by the right wine or overwhelmed by the wrong one.

The first question that should come to mind when choosing your wine is the obvious: white or red? Well that will depend on the flavours of the meal you are eating and its density as a meal. For something light such as a delicate fish or chicken dish, white wine’s subtle tastes won’t overwhelm the flavours of the food but will bring a sharpness to them. For heavier foods, such as rare meats, chilli con carne or curries, a bulky red wine to compliment the strong flavours with the wine’s own. By this logic, most French main dishes are best served with white wines, while hearty Spanish meals taste divine paired up with a red.

Next you’ll want to consider how sweet or tart (dry, in wine terms) you want the wine to be, and thisdecision too will be influenced by the flavours in your dish. This ranges between 00, which is a very dry wine, and 6 which is incredibly sweet. Again, the country of the wine’s origin often comes in to play here as the popular wines there are influenced by the meals they go along with: a full-bodied dry Spanish Rioja ambles perfectly alongside gambas pil pil or most tapas dishes while a sweet Grasa de Cotnari from Romania goes perfectly with Ciulama de pui.

Now we come to the kicker if you’re really looking to impress: the year the wine was harvested. Commonly referred to as “the vintage” by those in the know, the vintage of a wine is often mistaken to mean its age, but this is not the case. The age of the wine doesn’t matter if it comes from a bad vintage. The vintage tells you what year the grapes that made the wine were harvested in which often dictates its quality. The weather of different years will have varying effects on the wine, with more rain increasing the amount of sugar in the grapes and therefore the taste, while a drier year will produce a far less flavoursome wine. Full-bodied continental meals call for a full-bodied continental vintage, so get your hands on a wine guide if you really want to knock your guests’ socks off.

Lastly, remember the most important thing about wine is the flavour and how it tastes to you. This guide can help you pick the most typically chosen wine for your meal, but if you want to drink white wine with German schnitzel then don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: simply enjoy.

formats

Kaikoura: The Home for Whale and Dolphin Watching

in Uncategorized.

kaikoura

As you may remember when I was in Australia I had the opportunity to go on a dolphin cruise tour so when I went to the town of Kaikoura in New Zealand I was so excited that it is known for dolphin and whale watching.

Located on the east coast of the country’s South Island and north of Christchurch, this small town was once a sleepy fishing village but then became quite popular with tourists.

When I arrived I was worried I was not going to be there in the right season for visiting the sea animals but then discovered what made Kaikoura so popular was that you can participate in whale and dolphin watching all year round!

I was worried about where I would stay because I am so picky about accommodation and I really lucked out with hotels in Perth but it turns out that because this town relies heavily on tourism there were lots of high-end, luxury options available.

When you arrive you have two options to see the whales you can go on a cruise, like I did when during my trip down under or you can actually take a plane to see them. I wanted to see them up close so I chose the cruise.

But we didn’t just jump out into the open ocean, one of the staff showed us a few films that taught us about whales and also gave a short history of Kaikoura. Then the boring part, the safety talk about what we could and could not do while out on the boat. Our guide also warned us beforehand that while we had a large possibility of seeing dolphins and whales, it is not guaranteed like everything else in nature.

And the instructions did not end there we did head for the dock but before we got on the boat there was one last set of instructions on how to avoid sea sickness. This was really important to me because I have been sea sick often and did not want it to happen on this trip. I knew sitting on the back of the boat would help, I also knew fixating on a focal point was good but interestingly if you are getting hot you are supposed to take off layers of clothing.

We boarded the boat and it certainly wasn’t like traveling with Royal Caribbean but it was a nice size boat. As we finally left the dock our crew told stories of how they locate the whales and where they can find them. They told us to be patient and within minutes a pod of whales started swimming along the boat. Everyone rushed to the edges to take photos of them leaping out of the water, it was almost as if they were performing for us. I know I had already seen this in Australia but it really was a spectacular site to be so close to the wild.

It was good that we were distracted because I didn’t mind the boat and it seemed that I would not get sea sick which was great. Just as everyone was losing excitement for the dolphins we spotted out first whale and everyone brought out their cameras again. I guess sperm whales are very common in the area. Our guide was fantastic because he knew when the whale would dive up and down and told us when to get our cameras ready

We could not get as close to the whale and it did not try to swim along the boat but it is so gigantic that probably would have scared me. But I will always remember the first time I saw a whale and my trip to to Kaikoura in New Zealand. I heard that you can see dolphins in Burma, I just may have to go there next!

 

Photo (c) Aenneken

formats

Things to Do on a Vacation in Negril

in Uncategorized.

 

While it was always my dream to go to Thailand, one of the countries on my list was Jamaica and finally I have been able to visit. The town of Negril is known for its 7 miles of white sandy beaches and another 7 miles of its beautiful cliffs. Seen by many travelers as the most beautiful town in Jamaica, it offers a laid back atmosphere for the casual tourist compared to that of Montego Bay and is more of a tourist attraction than Ocho Rios.

People that are staying in the hotel on the beach are literally located on the beach as they can just walk outside to the beach-side in their hotel. It can take quite a walk in the water before it reaches to the neck of a person. The water here is gentle and the sand is whiter and smaller grained. The all inclusive location has the whitest sand in the area.

Before you set out on your trip you should consider getting travel insurance if you don’t already have it. Vacations should be relaxing and worry-free but if something should happen you don’t want to look back and wish you had purchased it.

One of the least expensive ways to get around in Negril is to hire a Route Taxi. There are a lot of drivers that will attempt to let you hire them and many of them are quite expensive even if you try to negotiate. That is why many people choose the Route Taxis as they will only charge a lower fee per person. Tourists should ensure that they set their prices with the driver before they enter in their taxi. Drivers that are not Route Taxis will often charge more and will tell you that these Route Taxis are not safe which is not true.

Rick’s Café is one of the places that tourists go to in Negril. Just like the tropical beauty of Vietnam, it is known for its beautiful scenery in the Cliff-side which it is built upon and tourists can even take a courageous leap below the Caribbean Sea. Even though Hurricane Ivan has made the Cliffside slip into the sea below, it has since been rebuilt and is now bigger than before. It was even rated as one of the Top Ten Bars in the world today according to some publications. The Rick’s Café has undergone extensive refurbishing and offers a gorgeous view of the Negril sunset. People that choose to go cliff diving here can do so on a sturdy concrete slab that is perched high atop the sea cliffs, which is higher than before.

Tourists that are looking for crafts to purchase can do so at the market in the edge of town which is a great place to pick up knick knacks and souvenirs. The sellers themselves are willing to bargain with tourists especially if they are looking to purchase more than one item. People can spend American dollars in almost any location in the island. Many of the roadside stand sellers have a calculator and are updated in the exchange rate. Even though these roadside sellers are quite savvy in selling their products, they can be honest to a fault when it comes to bargaining with them. If you want a good price for your purchase, you can get it. It is advised however that you should not upset the locals by killing their tourist tax.

Remember I told you in Prague I dreamed of sipping mimosas in the Caribbean and I am doing much more now in Jamaica. Unique drinks that are offered in the area include the Rum Fruit Punch or the Red Stripe Beer which the Jamaican concocts. There is also Guinness and Heineken products that can be purchased almost any shop that sells alcoholic beverages. One of the favorites by both tourists and locals is the Coconut Water which is best when coming directly from the tree. The coconut is cut open with a machete and the liquid inside is offered directly with a straw. There are also bottled coconut water offered almost anywhere in the island but not as great as drinking it straight from the green coconuts.

If you have the chance you must go to Negril, it is absolutely amazing.

 

Image (c) Jack Parrott

formats

Discovering Dubai on a Limited Budget

in Africa.

Dubai is a destination of extremes, from the simple Bedouin desert villages to the opulent gold markets and “seven star” Dubai hotels. How you experience Dubai really does depend on your lifestyle and the size of your budget; however, either end of the spectrum offers plenty of scope for fascinating things to see and do. Here’s how to explore Dubai on a limited budget.

You don’t have to be wealthy to explore the cultural riches of Dubai; just head to the some of the older, historic sights. One must-see attraction is the Dubai Museum, housed within the ancient Al Fahidi Fort. For a nominal fee you can learn about the city’s history, discover its roots in trade, oil and pearl diving, and view artefacts which date as far back as 3000 BC. The museum is located within the pedestrian-only Bastakiya quarter, which is a great place to spend some time strolling around. Here you’ll find are several galleries showcasing local art, as well as the distinctive wind-tower houses for which the quarter is known.

From there you can take a water-taxi across to the local souks to do some bargain shopping – be prepared to haggle for the best price. Even travellers on a small budget should not be afraid to browse the famous gold souk. Gold, platinum and diamond products are sold at very reasonable prices, and the government’s strict controls ensure all items sold are authentic. Of course, if you’re not in the market for jewellery there are souks selling everything from spices to perfumes. At the very least, it costs absolutely nothing to take in the incredible atmosphere.

One aspect of Dubai which can be enjoyed well on any budget is the cuisine. You don’t have to opt for fine dining to experience some phenomenal local dishes. Al Dhiyafah Road is the best spot for cheap eats, and it’s also ideal for people watching. Get your fill of tasty grilled lamb and seafood, or fresh, spicy salads. There are also some incredible curry houses here which should not be overlooked.

The laws dictate that restaurants are forbidden to serve alcohol; the only venues permitted to are hotels. So if you do fancy a drink, look for cheap hotels that come with a decent bar. A good option is Ramada Chelsea Hotels Al Barsha, which despite its four-star status has rooms for less than £80 a night. The hotel has both an in-house sports bar and a dining bar where you can order your favourite tipple.
It’s easy to daydream about experiencing Dubai at the luxury end of the spectrum, but the plushest Dubai hotels don’t come cheap. One example is the famous Burj Al Arab, Dubai’s most iconic building, and one of the tallest – and most luxurious – hotels in the world. Technically a five-star hotel, Burj Al Arab’s extreme opulence has earned it a mythical “seven-star” status, and rooms will set you back more than £1000 per night. The good news is you can still drink at the bar if you’re not a guest. Non-guests pay an entrance fee to the hotel, and you’ll have to book ahead to visit the Sky Bar on the 27th floor but the views are absolutely priceless.

credit
© (c) Pete's Wicked Travels 2012