Dear reader
Unfortunately Blogger does not allow me to select the option of opening a new window automatically when you click on any of the links. If you just click on the link, you will be referred to a new website and you will have to click on the back button to get back to my blog.
In order to avoid this, please right click on the link and choose the option 'Open link in new window'.
Many thanks!
Saturday, 30 October 2010
ROGOZNICA - SIBENIK - PRIMOSTEN
ROGOZNICA
Whether you stay in Marina, Vinisce or any other village in this area, I highly recommend a trip to Rogoznica, approx. 10km north of Marina, towards Sibenik.
Rogoznica's large boat harbour named Marina Frapa has won several awards as most beautiful marina in the Mediterranean and is definitely worth a visit. It has several restaurants in the marina alone and an extensive number of yachts to admire.Every time I visit Rogoznica, I also pay a visit to my favourite restaurant called the 'Ilirija'. This lovely family run restaurant serves the best grilled calamari in the world. Ensure to leave some space in your stomach for one of those amazingly tasty home made ice creams which you can buy at the ice cream stands along the main street.
SIBENIK
Definitely worth a visit is Sibenik. Bigger than Rogoznica or Vinisce, this town offers a lot more to tourists in terms of hotels and restaurants, boat trips and other trips by bus to the extremely beautiful Krka National Park. Here you can find some stunning images of the Krka N.P.
Another of my favourite places in Dalmatia is Primosten. It's restaurants and café's are situated all over the town and some bar's and restaurants are located on top of the hill with stunning views overlooking the sea. This town is so small, you can walk around in less than two hours. This place has its own beach and several small shops and a church on top if the hill, overlooking the village and the sea.
Friday, 29 October 2010
MARINA - VINISCE
In my previous post in the Croatia section, I was talking about Trogir. But there are many more beautiful places in Croatia to discover.
Leaving Trogir towards Sibenik, you will notice these small picturesque villages that you are passing, lined up along the coast which offers you a fantastic scenery and a breathtaking view of the sea. You will get the most beautiful scenery if you stay on the coastal road.
MARINA
On the way to Vinisce, you have to pass another cute little village called Marina. It has only just about more than a handful of restaurants and a few café's but it has a large harbour (compared to the size of the village you can call it a large harbour). Sailors from all over the world stop in Marina to fill up their tank, to buy groceries, to use the marina's shower facilities or simply to enjoy a meal in a restaurant.
VINISCE
Vinisce is one of the small villages by the sea, approx. 12 km north of Trogir on Dalmatia's coastline.
It is a lovely little place with a bay where, at peak times in the summer, up to 40 sailing boats seek shelter over night. There are no hotels available in Vinisce but you will find plenty of private apartments with self catering facilities on offer. It is advisable to book way in advance if you are planning to visit during the summer holidays.
Several restaurants and bars are offering fine local cuisine. Try Croatia's 'Karlovacko' beer with your meal or one of Croatia's award winning wines, as reported in telegraph.co.uk:
"Croatia has been hailed as a major force in the wine world after the country won more gold medals than established rivals including the US, New Zealand and Portugal at a leading tasting competition."
Leaving Trogir towards Sibenik, you will notice these small picturesque villages that you are passing, lined up along the coast which offers you a fantastic scenery and a breathtaking view of the sea. You will get the most beautiful scenery if you stay on the coastal road.
MARINA
On the way to Vinisce, you have to pass another cute little village called Marina. It has only just about more than a handful of restaurants and a few café's but it has a large harbour (compared to the size of the village you can call it a large harbour). Sailors from all over the world stop in Marina to fill up their tank, to buy groceries, to use the marina's shower facilities or simply to enjoy a meal in a restaurant.
You have to pass Marina to get to Vinisce, which is on the other side of the hill, not visible from the main road.
VINISCE
Vinisce is one of the small villages by the sea, approx. 12 km north of Trogir on Dalmatia's coastline.
Several restaurants and bars are offering fine local cuisine. Try Croatia's 'Karlovacko' beer with your meal or one of Croatia's award winning wines, as reported in telegraph.co.uk:
"Croatia has been hailed as a major force in the wine world after the country won more gold medals than established rivals including the US, New Zealand and Portugal at a leading tasting competition."
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
GOURMET TRAVELLERS
This evening I stumbled across a Sainsbury's ad which caught my attention: Gourmet travelling! Why not? Aren't we all looking for different kinds of holidays nowadays? I certainly do as I am getting bored with the ordinary 'beach holiday', 'city holiday', 'camping holidays' or 'backpacking holidays' (think I'm getting too old for the latter).
Reading this article brought back memories of my trip to Chiang Mai in Thailand. John and I had planned to do a one day cooking course while in Chiang Mai but the next course took place in a few days but the days were not suitable for us.
In fact, this was not our original plan - this idea occurred to us while we were at the market in Chiang Mai. We strolled around and overheard people talking (in English) about the ingredients they wanted to buy for a traditional Thai curry. We then realised that it was a group of tourists who attended a cooking class.
This is the best way to learn how to cook exotic meals with proper local ingredients, purchased at the local market with the opportunity to interact with local people and chefs.
After talking to several people who have participated in cooking holidays, I thought I'd suggest this to my readers as this seems to be a big hit. So if you are looking for a holiday with a difference - this is it.
As Sainsbury's would say: "Try something new today".
On that note, I would be happy to learn about your cooking holiday experience so please write in and share your stories with my readers. Tips and advice are highly appreciated.
Thank you very much!
Reading this article brought back memories of my trip to Chiang Mai in Thailand. John and I had planned to do a one day cooking course while in Chiang Mai but the next course took place in a few days but the days were not suitable for us.
In fact, this was not our original plan - this idea occurred to us while we were at the market in Chiang Mai. We strolled around and overheard people talking (in English) about the ingredients they wanted to buy for a traditional Thai curry. We then realised that it was a group of tourists who attended a cooking class.
This is the best way to learn how to cook exotic meals with proper local ingredients, purchased at the local market with the opportunity to interact with local people and chefs.
After talking to several people who have participated in cooking holidays, I thought I'd suggest this to my readers as this seems to be a big hit. So if you are looking for a holiday with a difference - this is it.
As Sainsbury's would say: "Try something new today".
On that note, I would be happy to learn about your cooking holiday experience so please write in and share your stories with my readers. Tips and advice are highly appreciated.
Thank you very much!
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
HOGMANAY IN EDINBURGH
Are you planning to do something different for New Year's but don't know what and where? Why not spend a few days in Scotland's capital.
Edinburgh is famous for its Hogmanay celebration. People from all over the world gather on Princess Street on the 31st of December each year to celebrate the the New Year.
The celebrations start on 30 December with the torchlight procession at 7.45pm. On New Year's eve, you can choose between a Keilidh (traditional Scottish dance), the street party on Princess Street with live music and entertainment or simply just soak up the great atmosphere at Edinburgh's bars and pubs.
For more information visit the Hogmanay website but hurry - tickets are sold fast.
Edinburgh is famous for its Hogmanay celebration. People from all over the world gather on Princess Street on the 31st of December each year to celebrate the the New Year.
The celebrations start on 30 December with the torchlight procession at 7.45pm. On New Year's eve, you can choose between a Keilidh (traditional Scottish dance), the street party on Princess Street with live music and entertainment or simply just soak up the great atmosphere at Edinburgh's bars and pubs.
For more information visit the Hogmanay website but hurry - tickets are sold fast.
TRAVEL INFO CROATIA
To all Croatia fans or those who are planning to travel to Croatia in near future:
Check out this travel guide of Visit Croatia which is full of useful information such as
Check out this travel guide of Visit Croatia which is full of useful information such as
- Travelling in Croatia
- How to get there
- Map of Croatia
- Properties in Croatia
and other interesting information such as
- Active holidays
- Cruise holidays
- Sailing
- Naturist holidays etc. etc.
Hope you find this website useful.
TRAVEL INFO AUSTRALIA
Today I found a good website that gives travellers to Australia tips and information about
- Flights
- Australian visa
- Insurance
- Jobs in Australia
- Hotels
- Travel
and much more.
Have a look at the Pure Australia website and let me know if you found their website useful.
Sunday, 24 October 2010
EDINBURGH
Edinburgh is an amazing city. I don't know how many of you know Edinburgh but I have to admit that it is one of the most beautiful cities in the west of Europe.
The Edinburgh Festivals attract a large number of visitors but in general, every year, Scotland's capital attracts over one million tourists who also visit other places in Scotland such as Glasgow, St. Andrews, Inverness etc.
Edinburgh's most famous landmark is the Edinburgh Castle which is the venue for the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The city also offers numerous restaurants, bars and café's as well as some great shops.
I have been living in Edinburgh for almost four years and I am still discovering new restaurants, bars and attractions. Cultural attractions are within easy reach and museums usually don't charge entry fees. Whenever I speak to visitors about what they think of Edinburgh, they say that they fell in love with the city.
Most of my photographs will be familiar to those who have visited Edinburgh already but other pictures were taken off the beaten track.
I recommend to walk up the Calton Hill while in Edinburgh. You will get a spectacular view of Edinburgh and surroundings from there. Another must-do is the open top bus tour. There are several buses to choose from, depending which tour you would like to take but they are more or less the same. This is a great way of getting around and learning about Edinburgh's history.
I also highly recommend a visit to the Mary King's Close. The tour takes you underground (literally) to streets that were hidden beneath the Royal Mile where people used to live. Book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment, if you are travelling in the summer, to ensure you get to do the tour on the desired day, as it gets really busy during the summer holidays.
Another favourite place of mine is the Royal Botanic Garden, a place where you can enjoy the tranquillity, sitting on the grass and watching the squirrels searching for food. Or perhaps you prefer to sit on the terrace of the garden café, enjoying the view from there while sipping a nice cup of tea or coffee.
There is so much more to do while in Edinburgh but I hope I managed to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting Edinburgh.
--> Photos of Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Festivals attract a large number of visitors but in general, every year, Scotland's capital attracts over one million tourists who also visit other places in Scotland such as Glasgow, St. Andrews, Inverness etc.
Edinburgh's most famous landmark is the Edinburgh Castle which is the venue for the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The city also offers numerous restaurants, bars and café's as well as some great shops.
I have been living in Edinburgh for almost four years and I am still discovering new restaurants, bars and attractions. Cultural attractions are within easy reach and museums usually don't charge entry fees. Whenever I speak to visitors about what they think of Edinburgh, they say that they fell in love with the city.Most of my photographs will be familiar to those who have visited Edinburgh already but other pictures were taken off the beaten track.
I recommend to walk up the Calton Hill while in Edinburgh. You will get a spectacular view of Edinburgh and surroundings from there. Another must-do is the open top bus tour. There are several buses to choose from, depending which tour you would like to take but they are more or less the same. This is a great way of getting around and learning about Edinburgh's history.
Another favourite place of mine is the Royal Botanic Garden, a place where you can enjoy the tranquillity, sitting on the grass and watching the squirrels searching for food. Or perhaps you prefer to sit on the terrace of the garden café, enjoying the view from there while sipping a nice cup of tea or coffee.
There is so much more to do while in Edinburgh but I hope I managed to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting Edinburgh.
--> Photos of Edinburgh
Friday, 22 October 2010
Links in my posts
Dear reader,
To give you more information about places, accommodation, restaurants etc. I have added links to my posts. There is no point to go too much into detail and write too much about history of a place as not everybody is interested in everything.
If you require more information, simply click on the words that are highlighted in yellow and the link will take you to a website that refers to the topic.
Should you require more personal information such as recommendations from myself regarding accommodation, restaurants and so on, you can contact me by e-mail by simply clicking on the e-mail icon or you can leave a comment with your question or query.
Hope this helps!
To give you more information about places, accommodation, restaurants etc. I have added links to my posts. There is no point to go too much into detail and write too much about history of a place as not everybody is interested in everything.
If you require more information, simply click on the words that are highlighted in yellow and the link will take you to a website that refers to the topic.
Should you require more personal information such as recommendations from myself regarding accommodation, restaurants and so on, you can contact me by e-mail by simply clicking on the e-mail icon or you can leave a comment with your question or query.
Hope this helps!
SPLIT & TROGIR
Dalmatia is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful areas in Croatia. I have visited several places in Croatia over the past 20 years and Dalmatia is definitely my favourite part of Croatia. There are other very interesting places which I will come back to another time. In this post I will focus on Split and Trogir. To learn more about Dalmatia, just click on the yellow marked 'Dalmatia' and it will take you to a website that gives you more information about this place.
Croatia has over 1,000 islands and it is world famous for sailing. People from all over the globe come to Croatia and sail some of the most spectacular islands. That's one of the reasons why even the smallest of villages have a marina (harbour). This is to attract tourists as these marinas are mainly in sheltered bays.
SPLIT
Split is an interesting city with an old town centre, which was built over 1,700 years ago by Roman emperor Diocletian, surrounded by more modern buildings in the outskirts of the city, which are not very nice, as in most cities around the globe. It is usually the old and historical centre that attracts my attention.
If you are interested in Split's history, click on the link of Split. Alternatively, a video posted by Rick Steves on YouTube will give you great information on the city itself.
--> Photos of Split
TROGIR
As you travel north of Split, you will pass several small villages before you reach Trogir. I can honestly say that Trogir is beside Dubrovnik one of the most amazing places in Europe I have visited. Every time I visit Croatia, and that's pretty much every year, I also go to Trogir. Whether it is just to buy fruit and vegetables at the local market or stroll along the Riva with one of the best ice creams I ever tasted, or simply just to be spoiled at one of Trogir's lovely restaurants.
It is a must to visit Trogir when in Croatia. This 2,300 year old town, influenced by the old Greek, Roman and Venetians is today a Unesco World Heritage site which attracts thousands of tourists every year. I think the photographs speak for themselves.
Local food is delicious and if you want to taste some nice fish dishes, Trogir is the place to go. Small and larger restaurants can be found all over the town that is mainly car free and for pedestrians only.
Try an octopus salad while waiting for your main course. I would also recommend tasting Croatia's famous 'Cevapcici'. These are delicious little minced sausages threaded on to skewers and usually eaten with bread and a red pepper sauce called 'Ajvar'. Originally they are a traditional dish in Serbia but they are very common in Croatia too.
There is something for everyone and if you do not like fish or meat, there are plenty of pizzerias in Trogir.
Check out the small shops and café's when walking through the narrow paths of Trogir.
Travel time: the best time to visit Split and Trogir is September or even early October as it is too crowded. School holidays in Croatia are in July and August but it is more the hot climate that puts me off during these months. It can get very hot, especially in August and therefore I suggest to travel either in June or September.
--> Photos of Trogir
Croatia has over 1,000 islands and it is world famous for sailing. People from all over the globe come to Croatia and sail some of the most spectacular islands. That's one of the reasons why even the smallest of villages have a marina (harbour). This is to attract tourists as these marinas are mainly in sheltered bays.
SPLIT
Split is an interesting city with an old town centre, which was built over 1,700 years ago by Roman emperor Diocletian, surrounded by more modern buildings in the outskirts of the city, which are not very nice, as in most cities around the globe. It is usually the old and historical centre that attracts my attention.
If you are interested in Split's history, click on the link of Split. Alternatively, a video posted by Rick Steves on YouTube will give you great information on the city itself.
--> Photos of Split
TROGIR
As you travel north of Split, you will pass several small villages before you reach Trogir. I can honestly say that Trogir is beside Dubrovnik one of the most amazing places in Europe I have visited. Every time I visit Croatia, and that's pretty much every year, I also go to Trogir. Whether it is just to buy fruit and vegetables at the local market or stroll along the Riva with one of the best ice creams I ever tasted, or simply just to be spoiled at one of Trogir's lovely restaurants.
It is a must to visit Trogir when in Croatia. This 2,300 year old town, influenced by the old Greek, Roman and Venetians is today a Unesco World Heritage site which attracts thousands of tourists every year. I think the photographs speak for themselves.
Local food is delicious and if you want to taste some nice fish dishes, Trogir is the place to go. Small and larger restaurants can be found all over the town that is mainly car free and for pedestrians only.Try an octopus salad while waiting for your main course. I would also recommend tasting Croatia's famous 'Cevapcici'. These are delicious little minced sausages threaded on to skewers and usually eaten with bread and a red pepper sauce called 'Ajvar'. Originally they are a traditional dish in Serbia but they are very common in Croatia too.
There is something for everyone and if you do not like fish or meat, there are plenty of pizzerias in Trogir.
Check out the small shops and café's when walking through the narrow paths of Trogir.
Travel time: the best time to visit Split and Trogir is September or even early October as it is too crowded. School holidays in Croatia are in July and August but it is more the hot climate that puts me off during these months. It can get very hot, especially in August and therefore I suggest to travel either in June or September.
--> Photos of Trogir
Thursday, 21 October 2010
WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIP 2010
Every year, the World Pipe Band Championships take place in Glasgow, Scotland.
This year was the first time I attended and I loved it! They are amazing and I could not tell which bands were better. The event took place on 14 August 2010 and with an audience of over 50,000 it was certainly a success.
It was amazing watching those 8,000 pipers and drummers performing and competing.
BBC presenter Jackie Bird was commenting on the event.
Check out my video which I have placed on YouTube. This band was just practising before one of the last competitions.
--> Photos of the event
This year was the first time I attended and I loved it! They are amazing and I could not tell which bands were better. The event took place on 14 August 2010 and with an audience of over 50,000 it was certainly a success.
It was amazing watching those 8,000 pipers and drummers performing and competing.
BBC presenter Jackie Bird was commenting on the event.Check out my video which I have placed on YouTube. This band was just practising before one of the last competitions.
--> Photos of the event
My travel destinations
EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2010
Another big part of the Edinburgh Festivals is the Fringe Festival which takes place every year in August. In 2011 it will take place from 5-29 August. The Fringe Festival is the biggest arts festival in the world and attracts visitors from every corner of the globe.
Dance and music performances, comedies, theatre, street performances, to name a few, are all shown during the Fringe Festival. Personally, I like the dance and music performances and I love watching the street performers while walking up and down the Royal Mile, Edinburgh's most famous street.
When I invite friends to visit me in Edinburgh, I always recommend to come in August to soak up this fantastic atmosphere of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The Edinburgh Festivals offer several events that take place from April until December each year. The following events are hosted by Scotland's capital:
To find out more about each of the festivals, simply visit the the Festival website.
For a bit of a taste of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, have a look at my video..
--> Photos of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Dance and music performances, comedies, theatre, street performances, to name a few, are all shown during the Fringe Festival. Personally, I like the dance and music performances and I love watching the street performers while walking up and down the Royal Mile, Edinburgh's most famous street.
When I invite friends to visit me in Edinburgh, I always recommend to come in August to soak up this fantastic atmosphere of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The Edinburgh Festivals offer several events that take place from April until December each year. The following events are hosted by Scotland's capital:
- Edinburgh Science Festival
- Edinburgh Imaginate Festival
- Edinburgh Film Festival
- Edinburgh Art Festival
- Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival
- Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- Edinburgh International Festival
- Edinburgh Book Festival
- Edinburgh Mela Festival
To find out more about each of the festivals, simply visit the the Festival website.
For a bit of a taste of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, have a look at my video..
--> Photos of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO 2010
Scotland is a beautiful country to visit. It is rich in nature and culture and the scenery is breath taking.
Scotland offers a lot more than just beautiful sights, lovely castles and interesting architecture. It is the annual Edinburgh Festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Alone in 2010, ticket sales were over £2.67 million - a staggering 3% more than last year (Scotsman.com, 6/9/2010).
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of my favourite events during the festival. Tickets usually go on sale at the beginning of December so if you are interested in attending, buy your tickets as soon as the box office opens as they are sold out very quickly (especially the Saturday night performances at 10.30pm because of the fireworks).
John and I went to the Military Tattoo this year and it was amazing! This was the fourth time I attended and it is always exciting and a real pleasure to be part of it.
If you plan a trip to Edinburgh, try to come during the festival time in August. The Military Tattoo will take place from 5-27 August 2011. Book your flights and accommodation early as the prices will rocket during this period of time and early birds might pick the best hotels for less.
To give you a bit of an idea of what to expect, have a look at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo website and check out my photos which I usually place on facebook. Unfortunately our seats were at the back, quite far away from the happening and therefore the photos might not be as good as I hoped for but they will give you a good idea of what's going on during the show.
--> Photos of the Edinburgh Military Tatoo 2010
Scotland offers a lot more than just beautiful sights, lovely castles and interesting architecture. It is the annual Edinburgh Festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Alone in 2010, ticket sales were over £2.67 million - a staggering 3% more than last year (Scotsman.com, 6/9/2010).
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of my favourite events during the festival. Tickets usually go on sale at the beginning of December so if you are interested in attending, buy your tickets as soon as the box office opens as they are sold out very quickly (especially the Saturday night performances at 10.30pm because of the fireworks).
John and I went to the Military Tattoo this year and it was amazing! This was the fourth time I attended and it is always exciting and a real pleasure to be part of it.
If you plan a trip to Edinburgh, try to come during the festival time in August. The Military Tattoo will take place from 5-27 August 2011. Book your flights and accommodation early as the prices will rocket during this period of time and early birds might pick the best hotels for less. 
To give you a bit of an idea of what to expect, have a look at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo website and check out my photos which I usually place on facebook. Unfortunately our seats were at the back, quite far away from the happening and therefore the photos might not be as good as I hoped for but they will give you a good idea of what's going on during the show.
--> Photos of the Edinburgh Military Tatoo 2010
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
MOROCCO
I am very excited to tell you about my trip to Morocco as I have been there only recently (Aug/Sep 2010).
A lot of people I know have been to Morocco and I was keen on visiting this place myself. But, as you might have figured out already - this was not supposed to be an ordinary trip. It was clear from the beginning that I would want to rent a car and drive around the country to see more remote places, less touristy and more rural. Usually this means countryside to me - villages, mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls etc. etc.
Again, I convinced my husband John to join me on this 10 day trip (don't know how I managed to do that but I did it!). Unfortunately we went during Ramadan, which I thought would not be that bad as I have visited Egypt before during Ramadan and it was fine. Nevertheless, it was a bit more difficult that I thought.
We managed to book a reasonably cheap flight with Ryanair from Edinburgh to Marrakesh. We only booked the flights and a few accommodation as this was recommended by friends and other websites I gathered information from. Certain places are very busy at this time of the year and I did not want to take any risks. I tried to avoid having to rush to get to a place before sunset and trying to find accommodation. What I did not know is that the countryside is so beautiful and that the cities and towns are rather hectic and sometimes even stressful. All I knew is that we have a rental car for 5 days and that we have to be back in Marrakesh at a certain time.
The plan was to spend a few days in the High Atlas area and then travel up north to Fez, Meknes and Rabat, from where our trip would continue to Casablanca and further south to Essaouira, with several stops in between. We would then return to Marrakesh where we intended to spend the last 4 days.
As you can imagine, there was a change of plan as we went along.... It was a very impressive trip with some surprises and adventures which I am going to share with you in my next post. So keep checking my blog for updates on my trip to Morocco or even better - subscribe for updates and you won't miss out.
Speak to you soon!
A lot of people I know have been to Morocco and I was keen on visiting this place myself. But, as you might have figured out already - this was not supposed to be an ordinary trip. It was clear from the beginning that I would want to rent a car and drive around the country to see more remote places, less touristy and more rural. Usually this means countryside to me - villages, mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls etc. etc.
Again, I convinced my husband John to join me on this 10 day trip (don't know how I managed to do that but I did it!). Unfortunately we went during Ramadan, which I thought would not be that bad as I have visited Egypt before during Ramadan and it was fine. Nevertheless, it was a bit more difficult that I thought.
We managed to book a reasonably cheap flight with Ryanair from Edinburgh to Marrakesh. We only booked the flights and a few accommodation as this was recommended by friends and other websites I gathered information from. Certain places are very busy at this time of the year and I did not want to take any risks. I tried to avoid having to rush to get to a place before sunset and trying to find accommodation. What I did not know is that the countryside is so beautiful and that the cities and towns are rather hectic and sometimes even stressful. All I knew is that we have a rental car for 5 days and that we have to be back in Marrakesh at a certain time.
The plan was to spend a few days in the High Atlas area and then travel up north to Fez, Meknes and Rabat, from where our trip would continue to Casablanca and further south to Essaouira, with several stops in between. We would then return to Marrakesh where we intended to spend the last 4 days.
As you can imagine, there was a change of plan as we went along.... It was a very impressive trip with some surprises and adventures which I am going to share with you in my next post. So keep checking my blog for updates on my trip to Morocco or even better - subscribe for updates and you won't miss out.
Speak to you soon!
Update info about my posts - please read!
Dear Reader,
My blog has only been live for a few weeks now but I had already great response and feedback on design, layout and content. Thanks a lot for this! I appreciate your honesty and constructive critics.
Some of my friends keep asking me when I will start posting travel information about places like Croatia, Scotland, Morocco etc.
The plan was to start with Australia first and then continue with another country but I have travelled to so many places in Australia and it would take me quite a while to complete Down Under alone.
Of course, I would like to keep all my readers happy and I have decided to do a compromise and 'squeeze' in posts from other countries I visited. I know it might not be ideal if you are only looking at the homepage of my blog but I found a solution to keep everyone happy:
Information to each country can from now on be accessed via links, placed on the right hand side under 'Labels'. So if you are only interested in certain countries, you can just click on the designated link and it will take you to the relevant posts.
I hope this solves the problem and makes everyone happy :-)
Please continue leaving comments, critics, compliments on either single posts or general comments on 'Comments', also on the right hand side, listed under 'Labels'.
Enjoy the reading!
Yours,
Gordana
My blog has only been live for a few weeks now but I had already great response and feedback on design, layout and content. Thanks a lot for this! I appreciate your honesty and constructive critics.
Some of my friends keep asking me when I will start posting travel information about places like Croatia, Scotland, Morocco etc.
The plan was to start with Australia first and then continue with another country but I have travelled to so many places in Australia and it would take me quite a while to complete Down Under alone.
Of course, I would like to keep all my readers happy and I have decided to do a compromise and 'squeeze' in posts from other countries I visited. I know it might not be ideal if you are only looking at the homepage of my blog but I found a solution to keep everyone happy:
Information to each country can from now on be accessed via links, placed on the right hand side under 'Labels'. So if you are only interested in certain countries, you can just click on the designated link and it will take you to the relevant posts.
I hope this solves the problem and makes everyone happy :-)
Please continue leaving comments, critics, compliments on either single posts or general comments on 'Comments', also on the right hand side, listed under 'Labels'.
Enjoy the reading!
Yours,
Gordana
General comments
Please use this post for general comments about my blog (content, design, layout etc.).
Your feedback will help me to improve the blog.
Thanks a lot!
Your feedback will help me to improve the blog.
Thanks a lot!
Sunday, 17 October 2010
AIRLIE BEACH – WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS
WHITSUNDAY ISLANDS
Finally we arrived in Airlie Beach and wandered around the town and checked out different shops, internet cafe's etc. Still tired from our long bus journey, we did not do much but relaxing and getting our stuff organised for the next day. We booked a 3 day sailing trip to the Whitsundays from 15-17 January so we had to get things organised, pack a small bag with our personal belongings as well as our own drinks as the boat was a BYO (bring your own), not licensed to serve alcohol.
On Monday the 15th January, we had to meet up with all other guests and a crew member of the Alexander Stewart sailing boat at the jetty in Airlie Beach. Soon after we took off and relaxed on deck of this lovely boat.
After a few hours of sailing we stopped at the world famous Whitehaven Beach where we went off the boat and spend a few hours on the island, enjoying the hot weather and a lovely swim in the sea.
After a few hours of sailing we stopped at the world famous Whitehaven Beach where we went off the boat and spend a few hours on the island, enjoying the hot weather and a lovely swim in the sea.
Unfortunately we had to wear a stinger suit as the sea was full of a common jelly fish, simply called ‘stingers’ who could make you very ill if you got stung.
In the late afternoon, we sailed to a place called the Nora inlet where we anchored for the night. Dinner was very nice and the wine tasted fantastic. We then chatted away with other guests, listened to music and had a good time.
The following two days were very relaxing and we enjoyed the sailing much, although the sails were not up most of the time, instead, the boat was running by engine (not enough wind). We stopped at different places such as Maureens Cove, Montaray Bay and Luncheon Bay.Common in this area is the friendly and very curious Parrot Fish. You can almost touch them – they come very close and look you straight in the eyes. That was really funny because all off a sudden they appeared in front of my face while I was snorkelling.
We moored up at Stonehaven Bay where we used torches to watch sharks feed off of floating squid right next to our boat. We even saw a huge sea snake which the captain said was the deadliest in the world.On our last day we stopped on different spots for snorkelling and headed back to Airlie Beach in the late afternoon.
I loved the Alexander Stewart sailing boat. It was a beautiful wooden boat with lots of charm and atmosphere.
The cabins were cosy and the boat had a touch of adventure. Simply loved it!
AIRLIE BEACH
As it was John's birthday on the 17th, I arranged a surprise dinner at a nice Seafood restaurant called 'The Shipwrecked'. John did not know anything about my plans only that we were going out for dinner. He also did not know that I have arranged with some other people, who we met along the way from Sydney to Airlie Beach, to join us for dinner. Two Danish guys we met in Agnes Water and a German couple we met on the sailing boat were joining us. After dinner we went to a well known bar where we met up with the other guys from the boat and the crew members. It was a nice evening with loads of beer and wine. The next morning John and I bumped into our German friends on our way to a cafe for breakfast. We decided to meet up in Townsville later on that day to see if we can do another tour together. As the weather was not that great we decided to skip our plans for Magnetic Island and meet in Cairns instead to look for snorkelling trips at the Great Barrier Reef.
AGNES WATER - LADY MUSGRAVE ISLAND
AGNES WATER / TOWN OF 1770
John and I had enough of ‘sandy’ barbecues for a while and decided to go out for dinner in Hervey Bay. The next day we were able to spend a couple of hours on the beach in Hervey Bay before catching the bus to our next destination, Agnes Water. Again, we tried to avoid an overnight journey on the bus and Agnes Water seemed to be a nice place to visit. I also read about ‘Lady Musgrave Island’ and thought it would be worth a trip there to snorkel in lovely waters.
Our backpacker was very cute and small and the staff was very nice. We also met a lovely couple from the Italian part of Switzerland. They were on the same bus as John and I and we were chatting away with them at the hostel.
The next morning we got picked up and taken to the ‘Town of 1770’ from where the boat left for Lady Musgrave Island. Again, the weather was spectacular with no clouds in sight.
Snorkelling was very nice and one of the crew members took us to the ‘Lady Musgrave Island’ where we had a little tour around the island and where we learned about the birds that live there. We also spotted sharks while walking along the beach of this amazing island. An absolute 'must see' destination, worth spending a few days there.Information about Lady Musgrave Island
Lady Musgrave Island is just a short boat trip and a 5 hour drive from Brisbane and is one of the Gems of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It is the southernmost island of the Bunker Group, situated off the Capricorn coast. The island is a 14ha coral cay with a 1192ha surrounding reef. In 1938 half the Island was declared a national park with the remainder following in 1967. A central pisonia forest is a feature of the island's vegetation which in turn plays host to a great variety of bird life. 
On January 13, we hired bicycles to ride to ‘Town of 1770’ as we have not seen the place properly and as Agnes Water is a very small Town, public transport does not exist. It is also a great opportunity to get some exercise and to discover other beautiful places nearby.
The day came where we could not avoid an overnight bus ride as there was only one bus running from Agnes Waters to Airlie Beach. A shuttle bus picked us up about an hour prior the departure time of the Greyhound bus, to be taken 30 kilometres out of town to a point where the Greyhound bus would pick us up.
At 20.20h the Greyhound arrived and all travellers hopped on the bus. It was a very short ride on this bus as only 10 minutes later, the bus had to stop as the engine was on fire and thick black smoke came out of the engine department. What a shock it was for all of us to learn that we had to wait 3 hours for another bus to come to pick us up.
Stuck in the middle of nowhere and eaten alive by mosquitoes, we counted every minute until the replacement bus arrived and we continued our 10 hour bus drive to Airlie Beach. It wouldn't have been so bad if there were any restaurants or pubs nearby but there was simply nothing but the bus stop, a farm house, the road and us.
Luckily, the bus was not as busy as usually and John and I were lucky to get two seats each on the bus. This allowed us to stretch our legs a bit which was pure luxury, considering the long and boring drive ahead of us (it was night and we could not see anything which I thought was a pity). That's where I wished I had a car.
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
NOOSA - HERVEY BAY - FRASER ISLAND
NOOSA
After just 3 days in Brisbane, we headed off to Noosa, just a couple of hours outside Brisbane. Noosa Heads is a posh place and very popular for Aussies to spend their holidays there. Noosa’s National Park has amazing beaches and offers activities such as bush walks and if you are lucky, you can even see Koalas in the trees. John and I were lucky indeed when we spotted two Koalas just at the beginning of the National Park. Later on we came across a big Iguana whose Head was inside a termite mouth, searching for food. We made some noise to get the Iguana’s attention and after several knocks on the tree the animal had a good look around and a delighted John took plenty of photographs of it.
Just off the shore of Noosa beach, we spotted dolphins performing and showing off. What an amazing experience. You will be able to see a lot of wild life in Noosa if you spend some time in the nature.
Noosa has several beaches and one of them, the Alexandria Beach was a very special one. It was further away from the main beach and only accessible by a one hour walk through the National Park. John nearly had a heart attack when he realized that most of the people there were actually naked. 
This particular beach was inofficially called 'Noosa’s nudist beach' what we did not know at that time. We stayed at the Koala’s Backpackers as (again) this was the only place that had availability for accommodation. Poor us – we ended up staying in a double room which was inside a 6 bed dorm, full of 20 year old surfers who kept us awake, once again, almost all night long, after coming back to their dorms from a party (drunk and cheery). Earplugs are very useful in most situations but sometimes even they don’t do the job :-). Sorry but this backpackers would not get my thumb's up :-)
My recommendation:
Yes, do visit Noosa - it is almost a must when travelling the east coast of Australia. Just book your hotel in advance to avoid disappointment.
--> Photos of Noosa
HERVEY BAY
Luckily, we left this backpacker after 3 nights and took our favourite Greyhound bus to Hervey Bay. This is the most popular place from where the tours leave for Fraser Island. My husband and I booked a 3 day tour to Fraser Island with a group of 11 people. The tour organizer put together five groups of 10 to 11 people to fill the five 4WD mini vans. We ended up in a group full of English and Irish blokes.FRASER ISLAND
On January 8th we headed off to Fraser Island where we spent 3 days and 2 nights camping just a few metres off the beach. The weather was quite good and we had an interesting and exciting time.
Info about Fraser Island
Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island. It is World Heritage listed and has become an Eco tourism venue now that its timber and sand mining industries have been abandoned. Fraser Island attained its World Heritage Listing in December 1992 in recognition of the island's exceptional sand dune systems, its rain forests on sand, and its beautiful freshwater lakes.
Fraser Island is situated just off the south Queensland coast opposite Hervey Bay. The island is about 120 kilometres long and between 5 and 25 kilometres wide. Dozens of lakes, rain forests and huge sand blows cover vast parts of the island. People who visit Fraser Island for the first time often struggle to find the words to describe the beauty of this magical island. But also animal life, especially the 230 species of birds, Australia's purest dingo's and many other species contribute to the unique island environment.
Aboriginals of the Butchalla tribe have been living on Fraser Island for the last 5000 years. And because the abundance of food supplied by the sea, the lakes and the forest the number of inhabitants was quite high. 160 years ago about 2000 aboriginals were living on the island. That changed dramatically when the island became an immigration- and quarantine post for ships that brought people and equipment for the gold fields in the area. Forty years later there were only 150 tribe members left. These were taken off the island to reserves on the mainland.
Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island. It is World Heritage listed and has become an Eco tourism venue now that its timber and sand mining industries have been abandoned. Fraser Island attained its World Heritage Listing in December 1992 in recognition of the island's exceptional sand dune systems, its rain forests on sand, and its beautiful freshwater lakes.
Fraser Island is situated just off the south Queensland coast opposite Hervey Bay. The island is about 120 kilometres long and between 5 and 25 kilometres wide. Dozens of lakes, rain forests and huge sand blows cover vast parts of the island. People who visit Fraser Island for the first time often struggle to find the words to describe the beauty of this magical island. But also animal life, especially the 230 species of birds, Australia's purest dingo's and many other species contribute to the unique island environment.
Aboriginals of the Butchalla tribe have been living on Fraser Island for the last 5000 years. And because the abundance of food supplied by the sea, the lakes and the forest the number of inhabitants was quite high. 160 years ago about 2000 aboriginals were living on the island. That changed dramatically when the island became an immigration- and quarantine post for ships that brought people and equipment for the gold fields in the area. Forty years later there were only 150 tribe members left. These were taken off the island to reserves on the mainland.
As soon as we touched ground on Fraser Island, we drove through the forest with a maximum of 30km per hour. Our first stop was at Lake Boomanjin where we freshened up a bit before we continued driving to our camp spot on the beach. We did not stay on camp grounds as wild camping on the beach was permitted in designated areas. All our vans were equipped with tents, pots and pans, cutlery, gas cooker and all other things you need for camping. Luckily, we had a cook ‘on board’ and he volunteered to look after our dinner. 
The rest of us chilled out and enjoyed the beauty of Fraser Island. Later in the evening, a Dingo was sneaking around our tents, trying to steal some of our delicious food. I managed to take a nice picture of it.
The following few days we went to places such as Indian Head, where we spotted reef sharks, sting rays, dolphins and an eagle. You can spend hours watching wild life, doing long walks or just enjoying a stroll along the beach. It can get very hot though and, unfortunately, there is only one place you are allowed into the sea. It was a sheltered little pool called the 'Champaign pools'. The reason for not being able to swim anywhere else is because there are hundreds of sharks lurking around just off the coast and it would simply be too risky to swim in open waters.On our last day we went to Lake Wabby, a very special lake, next to large sand dunes, green water and trees on the other side of the lake. Happy to be able to cool down, everybody jumped into the lovely water. Soon after, we drove to Lake McKenzie for another quick swim before heading to the ferry terminal to return to Hervey Bay.
I would absolutely recommend a trip to Fraser Island. If you are travelling alone, you can book a 3 day trip with other people, just like we did but if you travel with company, I would recommend to rent a 4 wheel drive by yourselfs as this gives you more freedom to do what you want.
Please note that Fraser Island is a small island with no roads - you will be driving on sand only and therefore a 4WD is a must.
For those who have been to Fraser Island - what was your experience? Would you like to share your thoughts and comments with the readers of my blog?
Thanks a lot for your contribution!
--> Photos of Fraser Island
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