Author: Nicola Dunkinson

May 12, 2016 Baby Travel, UK 7 Comments

Emily…

I’ve been a bit quiet on the blog lately, that’s because three weeks ago I had my baby girl…Emily Louise was born on 19th April at 6.13pm weighing 6lb 1oz. The last three weeks have been a lovely whirlwind, Matt and I are now getting to grips with looking after a little person and the lack of sleep that comes with it! We are completely head over heels in love with her, all the sleepless nights are totally worth it, she is such a cutie and just melts my heart! From a travel point of view, I definitely won’t be stopping; I am looking forward to travelling with Emily and showing her new countries. I’m sure travelling with a baby will be a completely different experience, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get her passport. We found out I was pregnant while on a road trip in California last August, so she’s well travelled already without even knowing it! The last trip we took was a ‘babymoon’ to Iceland when I was 6 months pregnant, it was an exciting adventure, northern lights spotting, glacier walking and incredible scenery that I couldn’t stop taking photos of! It was a great last trip before I got too pregnant to fly and a really different experience. Travel plans so far for this year include a trip to Cornwall in the summer, two weeks exploring the Puglian region of Italy in August and hopefully a trip to California in early 2017. We are looking forward to making lots more plans once we get this parenting lark nailed. I’m really looking forward to making new memories with our mini adventurer in tow….
March 25, 2016 Mauritius 8 Comments

11 things to do in Mauritius…

Mauritius has such a diverse landscape from stunning beaches, jungles, mountains, waterfalls and volcanoes to bustling streets and markets in the capital of Port Louis. Found in the Indian Ocean, near South Africa and India, this beautiful island is influenced by these two countries, religions and cuisines spill over and a mixture of cultures also means a mixture of languages, French, Creole and English are predominantly spoken across the country. The curries I’ve tasted in Mauritius have been some of the best I’ve eaten, apart from those I’ve had in India.  I love this island, it has so much to see and do. If you are planning a trip to Mauritius read on for my top things to see and do, there is so much to explore and a lot more to do than just sunbathing…

 

1. Swim with dolphins
Swimming with dolphins in Mauritius is an unforgettable experience.  The fact that these dolphins are wild was one of the main reasons I chose to do it. Bottlenose and spinners can be found close into the shoreline, playing and feeding early in the morning.  Jumping in and seeing these majestic creatures glide past me was amazing, they are very fast though so keeping up with them was almost impossible!  To watch spinner dolphins jumping out of the water was pretty impressive too!

 

2. Relax on a boat trip
You can’t go to Mauritius without going on a boat trip.  It is a fantastic way to see this beautiful country, sailing along the coastline stopping off for snorkelling adventures, swimming on small island beaches, sunbathing on deck and not forgetting a barbecue lunch and unlimited drinks is a very nice way to spend the day.  A beer or a rum and coke in the sunshine, legs dangling over the edge of the boat is just bliss!  The boat trip I went on was combined with the dolphin swimming trip; I went with JPH Charters from Black River.

 

3. Explore the markets of Port Louis
Central Bazaar in Port Louis is the place to head for shopping and buying souvenirs.  During the The Festival of Lights, better known as the Hindu festival of Diwali I enjoyed strolling around the streets taking in all the sights, sounds and smells of the markets.  The fruit and vegetable market is full of vibrant colours and plenty of friendly locals selling an impressive array of produce.  It really is a bustling place to immerse yourself in; I love nothing more than to explore a local area and watch people going about their day-to-day business especially somewhere like Mauritius where it is so different to my culture.  The market is a good place to buy vanilla pods, they are very cheap compared to the price in the UK; spices are also nice to pick up and there are plenty of stalls selling clothes and pashminas.

 

4. Eat Curry
After a visit to the markets in Port Louis finish the day off with a curry, I love Tandoori Express.  Found along the waterfront it is a no frills restaurant and really doesn’t look like much but their curries are to die for!  Friendly service and cheap it is worth checking out.  Combine your curry with a local Phoenix beer, heaven!  Generally speaking eating out in Mauritius is fairly cheap compared to the UK, you can get a curry and a beer at Tandoori Express for around £10.  For a night out in Port Louis Keg and Marlin is always busy and often has live music.  Just out of the city Flying Dodo is a craft brewery with a restaurant, if you are in the city on a Friday night Le Suffren hotel is good for cocktails and there is always a party atmosphere.

 

5. See the Seven Coloured Earths of Chamarel
You could be forgiven for thinking that you have landed on another planet at the Seven Coloured Sands.  Created from volcanic activity and the cooling of molten rock the sands are ever-changing in colours and depths.  I’ve not seen anything like this before, the seven colours are apparently red, brown, green, yellow violet, blue and purple but I struggled to see some of these, I could definitely pick out red, brown, yellow and violet.  It is such an amazing landscape and being backed by so much green rainforest made the stark contrast of the sands even more interesting.

 

6. Visit a dormant volcano
Tor Cerf is a dormant volcano found near the town of Curepipe, you can walk around its circumference and get right up close to the edge.  There were lots of tourists there when I visited but it is worth stopping to take a photo and the panoramic views of the coastline and mountains are gorgeous.

 

7. Be blessed by at Hindu priest at Gang Talao
A visit to this sacred lake is a must; Gang Talao or Grand Bassin as it is also known is considered to be one of the most sacred Hindu places of worship in Mauritius.  Formed in the crater of an extinct volcano, people come from far and wide to pay their respects to the Hindu Gods.  There is a small temple beside the lake and statutes along the edge of the water.  A pilgrimage to Ganga Talao happens every year in February or March during the Shivertri, a festival dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Shiva, during the pilgrimage people walk barefoot from all over the island to worship and pay their respects at the lake.  There is also a huge statute of Shiva just outside the lake; it is 108 ft tall and very impressive!  I found it very interesting to visit the lake and observe visitors paying their respects; I also got a blessing from a Hindu priest while I was there.

 

8. Take in the rainforest at Alexandra Falls Lookout Point
This incredible viewpoint is definitely worth stopping at with views looking out across Black River Gorges National Park.  Look down on lush green valleys, rainforest and waterfalls.  There are 60 kilometres of hiking trails within the park so if you have time for a walk this is a good area to explore.

 

 

9. Chamarel Waterfall
This stunning waterfall is 100 metres high, making it is as tall as the Empire State Building.  There are two viewpoints an upper and lower one, both as good for taking some photos.  You can abseil down the falls on an organised trip, hike the trails surrounding it and swim in the pools at the bottom. For more on exploring waterfalls in Mauritius head here: Chasing Waterfalls and Other Adventures in Mauritius.

 

10. Beach time
Mauritius has plenty of stunning palm lined, white sand beaches and crystal clear waters for relaxing on, Flic en Flac, Tamarin and Grand Baie to name just a few.  Which ever you pick you won’t be disappointed, it would be rude not relax for at least a few hours in the sunshine, listening to the waves lapping on the shoreline while you are here!

 

11. Stop to admire the views
Exploring the island by car is a great opportunity to take in the diverse landscape from coffee and sugar plantations, rainforest, salt farms, stunning coastline, tiny towns and pineapple plantations. (Who knew they grew from the ground?!)  Don’t forget to make frequent stops to take in the surroundings and beautiful viewpoints, I loved stopping off in between locations to take photos.  I visited Black River Gorges National Park, Chamarel Falls, Alexandra Falls viewpoint, Grand Bassin and the Seven Coloured Earths all in one day.  I hired a taxi from Port Louis for roughly £52 for the day, leaving at 9am and returning at 5pm.  My driver was very friendly and I learnt so much from his local knowledge.
March 8, 2016 Iceland 5 Comments

Review: Loft Hostel Reykjavik, Iceland…

If you are on a budget then Loft Hostel is a little gem, especially as Iceland can be quite expensive.  The location is brilliant, right in the centre of Reykjavík with shops, bars and restaurants all on the doorstep as well as being within walking distance of the harbour and all the main sights.  The bar, reception and communal area are all up on the top floor of the building along with a roof terrace overlooking the city, great for drinks in the summer.  We saw the Northern Lights from here one night, which was awesome!  Wooden cladded floors, funky lighting and brightly painted walls give a Scandinavian feel.  The whole place is kept really clean and tidy, a nice bar area with happy hour everyday from 4pm to 8pm attracts not only those staying at the hostel but locals too.  There’s plenty of seating with comfy sofas and cosy corners and a small kitchen.  We didn’t use it but it was perfect for filling up my water bottle!  Breakfast was roughly around £8 with a selection of cereals, toast, bagels, meats, cheeses, yogurt and fruit, plus tea, coffee and juice made for a great start to the day.  We had a private en-suite room; it was clean, tidy and came with towels.  We didn’t have the most exciting view out of the window but then we weren’t there to sit in our room anyway so it didn’t really bother us.  The hostel has excellent free WiFi and really helpful, friendly staff; we booked both our Golden Circle and south coast trips with the help of the reception staff.
I’ve mentioned before that I’ve not always been a hostel dweller, the first time I stayed in one was in New Zealand where I discovered you can get private en-suite rooms which can be just as good, if not better than some budget hotels I’ve stayed in.  Loft is definitely one of my favourites, with a laid back vibe and plenty of interesting people to chat to it’s definitely a good way to travel.
One thing to mention is that Friday and Saturday nights in Reykjavík can apparently get quite noisy as Icelandic people like to party!  Reading some reviews on Trip Advisor and other travel bloggers reviews the noise is mentioned so it might be something to bear in mind if you are staying here over a weekend and are planning on sleeping and not partying.  Loft’s website also mentions this and offers earplugs to help with sleeping!  We stayed there Monday to Friday and didn’t experience any noise whatsoever from the street or from other hostel goers.
It is worth joining up to Hostelling International when you book, you save 10% on HI accommodation worldwide, including Loft.
If you are planning a trip to Iceland check out my four day itinerary and Northern Lights adventure…

 

 

March 2, 2016 Iceland 3 Comments

Chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland…

Seeing the Northern Lights was one of the main things I wanted to do when I visited Iceland in January, so when Iceland Travel invited Matt and I on a Northern Lights trip we jumped at the opportunity! This wasn’t just any old Northern Lights trip either; it was a Super Jeep Tour…
I had been keeping an eye on the Aurora forecast and it was looking good, the Icelandic Met Office is brilliant for checking on the upcoming Northern Lights action. All ready to go, wearing thermal layers and most of my clothes I had packed in preparation for the cold night, we were picked up promptly at 8pm outside our accommodation in the centre of Reykjavík by our 4×4 driver. The super jeep was a very cool looking white Land Rover pimped up with the biggest wheels I have ever seen! In fact I struggled to clamber up into the seat with my little legs! As we drove out of the city, busy bright roads turned into snowy tracks and darkness, we were joined by seven other super jeeps and continued in convoy. Making our way through deep snow I began to get excited. One of the benefits of going in a super jeep, apart from being immensely fun is that the vehicles can get to places that coaches and cars can not reach, the powerful Land Rovers could plough through massive snow drifts with ease, it felt like a real adventure! The snow-covered forest tracks eventually turned into a clearing; we pulled up and jumped out. I looked up and there were the Northern Lights, dancing in the night sky. I watched in silence as the vibrant greens constantly changed shape swirling and gliding through the darkness. As well as taking photos of these beauties I was conscious of just taking it all in, after all it’s not everyday you get to see the Aurora Borealis if you live in the UK. For information on capturing the lights on camera take a look at my blog: Northern Lights photography tips. After a good hour at this spot the lights started to fade and I could no longer feel my feet! So it was back in the jeeps to chase the lights once more and onto the next location. We drove higher up into the mountains, it felt a lot chillier here as I jumped out and scanned the sky. The lights were still visible but not as bright as they had been, it was really interesting here to see what the camera could pick up that the eye missed, the lights were much more apparent viewing them on the back of the camera but of course still great to witness. Our guides whipped out some hot chocolate to keep warm and we even had the option to add vodka to it, a proper winter warmer! Loosing the feeling in my hands and feet again I reluctantly retreated to the warmth of the 4×4 to warm up. Not long after that it was time to make our way back to Reykjavík, snow drifts blocked the road home, after some clever manoeuvres the super jeeps ploughed on through and back onto the road, we even got air at one point! It was an exhilarating experience; one that I definitely won’t forget and to top it off we even saw the Northern Lights again from the roof terrace of our hostel. Seeing them over the city was great and the colours of the lights even changed to purples, it was the perfect end to a perfect evening and something to tick off my bucket list!

 

 

March 1, 2016 Iceland 6 Comments

Adventures on the Golden Circle in Iceland…

You can’t go to Iceland without seeing the natural wonders of the Golden Circle, either hire a car and do your own thing or book onto an organised tour. Matt and I went on a small group trip with Sterna Travel. As well as seeing the main sites there were a few other interesting stops along the way, we also chose to add a visit to a geothermal pool as when we were in Iceland the Blue Lagoon was closed for refurbishment.  If you are visiting during the winter months wrap up warm with plenty of layers as the minus temperatures are definitely part of the experience!

The highlights of the Golden Circle are Þingvellir National Park, Geysir hot springs and Gullfoss waterfall. The drive itself was fantastic and a great way to see Iceland’s incredible landscape, we drove along mountain passes, through lava fields, past lakes, over fresh water and glacial rivers which are apparently clean enough to drink, across fault lines and past plenty of steam billowing from the ground from geothermal activity; you could smell the sulphur! Not to mention catching glimpses of volcanoes such as Hekla, which erupts every ten to twelve years making it one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes and Eyjafjallajökull the volcano which erupted in 2010 causing disruption to air travel worldwide. I got up close to this volcano whilst exploring the south of the island. Visiting in early January meant not seeing daylight until around 11am. This was the perfect time to stop in the mountains to watch the sunrise; it was an epic start to the day….

 

The next stop was Þingvellir National Park, the site of the first Viking parliament it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also has a lot of geographic importance due to being on a fault line. You can actually walk between the Eurasian and American tectonic plates through the Almannagjá canyon, which is pretty cool!

 

Þingvellir National Park

Iceland has its own breed of horse. These hardy creatures stand between 13 and 14 hands high and could be mistakenly classed as ponies. But make this mistake at your own peril, as you will offend an Icelander by calling them ponies! They are very good-natured and I got to make friends with some of them on a short stop.
Onto the geothermal hot spring area where water temperatures hit 100°c and water continually bubbles from the ground, steam rising high into the air. The showstopper here is the hot spring Strokkur, it explodes regularly every 5 to 10 minutes without fail, shooting a high spout of water up into the air. It’s fascinating and addictive to watch!

Gullfoss was one of my favourite stops of the day and I think one of the coldest. The thundering falls are enormous, the power and noise of the gushing water falling into the crevice 105 ft below is like nothing I have experienced before and as I already mentioned the cold was extreme too! Removing your glove for just a second to take a photo led to instantly frozen and painful fingers, but it was worth it!
Next was a quick stop for a selfie at the beautiful Faxi waterfall before the final stop of the day at the Secret Lagoon. As I mentioned the Blue Lagoon was closed during our trip to Iceland so the Secret Lagoon was for us the next best thing. As I was six months pregnant at the time I was unable to go in but Matt went for a dip and loved floating around in the hot pool which is generally around 36-40°c with a beer in hand.  I loved wandering around the edge of the hot pool watching the steam rising and taking photos of icicles hanging from tree branches, retreating into the warmth with a hot chocolate when I got too cold. This natural geothermal pool was first opened in 1891 and is such a unique experience.

 

Matt at the Secret Lagoon

For more information on what to do in Iceland take a look at my other blogs: What to do with four days in Iceland and if you are planning to see the Northern Lights: Northern Lights photography tips.

 

 

February 17, 2016 Baby Travel 2 Comments

Planning a Babymoon & Flying During Pregnancy…

If you are pregnant and planning a babymoon the best time to go away is in the second trimester, hopefully by this point morning sickness will have settled down and your energy levels will have picked back up. It is so nice, if you get the chance to make the most of being a two before baby makes an appearance. I flew to Iceland with my husband for a mini break when I was 26 weeks pregnant. For me this was the perfect time as I wasn’t too big and after having felt so exhausted during the first trimester this had all gone away and I felt ‘normal’ with lots of energy!
Looking for ideas on where to head? The Telegraph has a great article: 10 idyllic and off-beat destinations for the perfect babymoon and BabyMoon Travel have lots of destination suggestions along with useful tips.
First things first check the airline you are flying with as they often have different regulations regarding pregnancy. With British Airways for example you can fly up to the end of 36th week if expecting one baby, if twins or more its the end of the 32nd week. They recommend carrying a letter from your doctor or midwife to say you are fit to fly and have an uncomplicated pregnancy. Head here for more information on this: BA – Flying when you’re pregnant. On the other hand with EasyJet as long as you have had no complications you can fly up to the end of week 35 for single pregnancies and week 32 if expecting twins or more: Flying with easyJet during pregnancy.
Having booked your flight make sure you check-in online and choose your seat, you can pay for some seats if you fancy a bit of extra legroom, but remember you can’t sit in emergency exit seats if you are pregnant. Pick an aisle seat to make it easier to get out to use the bathroom. This is always my choice and even though I work for an airline something I get worried about in advance, especially now being pregnant; I hate the thought of being stuck in a window seat and desperately needing to get out to go to the toilet about five times in a row! Having said that, when we flew to Iceland with EasyJet we paid extra for front bulkhead seats and I picked a middle and window seat as I knew there would be room for me to get past the person sat on the aisle. These seats are brilliant as you get to bring an extra piece of hand luggage as well as being entitled to speedy boarding. Well worth the money!

 

Here are a few tips to help plan your babymoon:
  •  If you can plan to travel during the second trimester.
  • Remember to pack your pregnancy notes and vitamins.
  • Check out local hospitals/doctors in the area you will be staying.
  • Make sure you are covered for anything pregnancy related on your travel insurance.
  • Do you need vaccinations?
  • There are a few foods you can’t eat during pregnancy so it might be worth bearing in mind depending on your destination.

 

Tips for flying:
  •  If like me you need to keep hunger at bay by eating little and often pack plenty of snacks for the journey!
  • It may sound obvious but get up and move around during the flight to keep your circulation going and to give your legs a good old stretch.
  • Ask for an aisle seat to make it easier to get out to use the bathroom and for leg stretching.
  • Stay hydrated; I always buy tons of water in the terminal because I’m obsessed with staying hydrated! Coconut water is a good one too.
  • Pack a nice hand cream and lip moisturiser like Vaseline or Carmex as flying can really dry your skin out.
  • Wear comfy clothes. Leggings and layers are my preferred choice of clothing right now. Comfort is the key, especially on a longhaul; I like to wear a couple of thin layers, as like most Mums to be I get hot very easily!

 

Any babymoon and pregnancy tips of your own?  Please add them in the comments below…

 

February 12, 2016 Iceland 6 Comments

Exploring Iceland’s South Coast…

I visited Iceland in January and was a blown away by this beautiful place!  My favourite experience by far was visiting the south coast, I went on an organised trip but it is also easy to hire a car.  Although I chose not to do this as with limited daylight hours in the winter months (when I was there sunrise was at 11am and sunset 4pm) and having heard how bad the weather can get I thought I would leave the driving up to the experts!  If you do choose to hire a car a 4×4 is a must, there is also a great app: 112 Iceland.  Punch in your location and it can be used to help track your whereabouts in case of an emergency.  It can also be used to make emergency calls, a very nifty app.
I booked my tour through Sterna Travel; we had an excellent tour guide who was really informative.  He had so much knowledge of Iceland as well as telling us about local myths and giving us snippets of what it was like to grow up in this incredible country.  I never really thought that group tours were my thing but I actually really enjoyed this one, there was plenty of time at each location to go off and do your own thing and it also included a few other stops I wasn’t expecting.
If you are planning your own south coast adventure here are a few must-sees:

 

Eyjafjallajökull
This very hard to pronounce word is the name of the volcano that erupted in 2010 cancelling over 1000,000 flights worldwide.  There is a farm right at the base of this incredible giant and a lay by to stop in for photo opportunities.  I was so excited to see Eyjafjallajökull, this was one of the unexpected stops on the trip that I mentioned.  It felt quite surreal to be so close to the volcano that caused so much trouble all over the world.  I had been on a nightstop at work in Orlando at the time.  What should have been just a 24 hour stopover turned into a six-day trip, it felt quite strange at the time not knowing how long I would be stuck there for.  There was apparently up to 30cm of ash on the ground and it was so dark during the eruption you couldn’t see your hands in front of your face!  It was hard to imagine all this on the beautiful morning that we were there.

 

Eyjafallajokull volcano

 

 

Skógafoss
Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls, it has a 200ft drop and legend has it that there is buried treasure in the cave behind, unfortunately it was too cold that day for me to find out!  With temperatures of around -7°c taking a glove off to take photos meant an instantly frozen hand, although this waterfall was too beautiful to miss a photo opportunity.  The icicles formed around it were incredible too.

 

 

Reynisfjara beach
A trip to the south coast would not be complete without stopping at a black sand beach. Volcanic activity has created striking basalt stacks, known as Reynisdrangar.  The stacks along with the black sand give this beach its uniqueness and make it a striking place for photos.  Cape Dyrhólaey, a short drive from the beach is definitely worth the steep drive up to the view-point.  From the top of the peninsula there are incredible panoramic views, ocean in front and a huge arch cut out in the rocks, looking back towards Reynisfjara and the basalt stacks, glacier and mountains behind and then more beach in the opposite direction.  In the summer puffins nest in the cliff face too.

 

 

Sólheimajökull glacier
I flew over glaciers in a helicopter in New Zealand which was breathtaking, so being able to walk right up to one in Iceland was incredible.  We stopped at Sólheimajökull, an outlet of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier.  I would loved to have gone on a glacier hike but being six months pregnant at the time I unfortunately wasn’t able to do this.  To just walk around the base of it was amazing, it is constantly moving and you could hear strange cracks and creaks from this.  The colours and edges of the ice were like nothing else I have seen before.

 

 

 Vik
The pretty town of Vik is the most southerly village in Iceland, it is tiny and very picturesque so worth a stop if you get the chance.  There is accommodation in Vik, if you are looking to stay somewhere other than Reykjavík then this is a great area to be based, right on the coast by the black sand beaches, and all the beautiful southern waterfalls.

 

Crashed plane
If I had rented a car I would have loved to have gone looking for the famous ruins of a crashed DC 3 aircraft on a beach near Vik. I have read mixed opinions as to whether the plane is easy to find but there is plenty of information online of its whereabouts. TripAdvisor has a list of things to do and see on the south coast, the plane being one of them and there is lots of information on there of how to find the aircraft.

 

Seljalandsfoss waterfall
This well-known waterfall is a beauty, in warmer months you can walk right behind it, but being so cold the day I was there the staircase that leads behind the falls was totally encased in ice making it too dangerous to attempt.  There are also two viewpoints, one climbs up high above the waterfall.  I would love to visit it again in the summer; I’d imagine the landscape looks completely different.
For more on my adventures in Iceland head to: What to do with four days in Iceland and Northern Lights photography tips.

 

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

February 10, 2016 Australia 1 Comment

Whale Watching in Australia…

Updated March 2025

One of the best and most memorable experiences I had in Australia was a whale watching trip. On day nine at 625 miles into our road trip along the east coast of Australia from Sydney to Cairns we arrived at Hervey Bay. Hervey Bay is a very popular spot in Queensland for whale watching trips. Matt and I had been really indecisive about our plans and whether to go whale spotting, so a last-minute decision saw us leave Rainbow Beach and drive two hours along the coast. I am so glad we made the decision to go. Arriving just after 1pm we were very lucky to get on a trip that had spaces left at 1.30pm. We hastily booked onto it and as we had not had lunch we grabbed snacks from the van and made a run for the boat!

The trip:

We went with Tasman Venture who have two trips a day running from July to October. Cruising out of Hervey Bay our route took us past the famous Fraser Island. At 75 miles long it is the biggest sand island in the world and pretty impressive. With around four hours at sea we were lucky to witness a lot of whale action! Humpbacks and right whales make their annual migration to Antarctica from July to November and stop in Hervey Bay to rest and rear their young. Not long into the journey we spotted a mother with her calf, the guides told us that this particular whale returned every year. It was incredible to see them moving so gracefully through the water, fin slapping, breaching and tail slapping too. I learnt from a very handy whale watching leaflet that the way to tell the difference between a humpback and southern right whale at a distance is from the shape of the air they blow out. Humpbacks push air straight up and right whales create a ‘v’ shape.

The first time I saw a whale from the shoreline made me feel quite emotional and to see them so close was breathtaking. It was a pretty stormy day with the boat rolling around a lot and quite a few people were ill. Before the boat left we were all warned of the impending bad weather and given the option to do the trip another day. I was alarmed at one point to see a couple shuffling along the floor on their knees, I couldn’t understand what they were up to, until one of the crew came and helped scoop them up…they had got sea sickness in a very bad way! I also found Matt up on the starboard side of the boat a one point clinging onto to the railings for dear life, unable to move because of the wind and the unsteadiness of the boat! It was getting very rough, so we retreated below deck to warm up with a cup of tea and a slice of cake and got the best sighting of the afternoon of the mother and calf leaping out of the water together. It was a fantastic day despite the weather. If you are planning a trip to Australia, make sure you go whale watching, it really is a unique experience.

 

February 4, 2016 UK Post a Comment

A foodie weekend in London…

With a wedding to attend in London last Saturday it only seemed right to spend a few nights there and do a bit of exploring. The ceremony was held at Islington Town Hall followed by a trip on an old London Bus to the reception at the London Canal Museum. I love a cool, quirky wedding! We stayed at a Travelodge right near Kings Cross station making it super easy to get about town. I miss the buzz of living in London, day and night something is always a going on, there are always places open and it is so easy to get around by catching the tube or jumping on a bus. We used Uber a lot too, which again was so easy, download the app, select your location and your destination, it lets you know how close a car is from you and gives you the driver’s name and car details.  Really great service and cheap too. I also love walking around London, using transport is great but you often don’t realise how close everything is and you get to discover so much more on foot…
So Sunday saw us head for brunch with friends in Islington. I lived in London for three years while I was studying at Roehampton University, more than ten years ago now…I feel old! But apart from Camden I never really explored this part of the city.  Islington is full of lovely London mews and narrow cobbled streets such as Islington High Street, full of antique shops, art galleries, vintage shops, coffee shops and restaurants. If you continue along to Camden Passage you will find the well-known Breakfast Club, so well-known that people will happily queue around the block for brunch! I really wanted to try it out but being a hungry monster we walked a couple of hundred yards further along and came across The Elk in the Woods. It was also very busy but with room on a shared table we snuck in. Wooden clad walls and vintage lights bulbs give this cool venue a Scandinavian feel. Brunch was delicious! Freshly squeezed juice, good coffee and avocado on toasted coriander rye with fried duck egg and char-grilled asparagus dippers, yum! Their produce is locally sourced too. With bellies full Matt and I decided to take a stroll along Regents Canal, it was pretty peaceful and nice to see a quieter part of central London. Colourful houseboats line the canal; we also came across a floating bookshop. Wandering past locks and under bridges was perfect.
Starting to feel peckish again we decided to walk to Shoreditch for more food! Shoreditch has a cool, gritty and edgy vibe going on, vintage shops, and buskers jamming under bridges. Boxpark is worth a visit, a shipping container pop up mall, it is full of cool eateries and market style shopping. Next was onto Old Spitalfields Market, this market is indoors and full of vintage fashion and funky products. I wanted to buy everything in sight, so Matt prised me away and upstairs to have a drink overlooking the market. Ethos does some great mocktails I had a tasty ginger and coconut concoction served in a handled jam jar. It was a nice place to sit and watch the world go by from our elevated position. Tired after all our exploring we headed back to our hotel for some quiet time and to get ready for dinner. Steak and Lobster was our chosen spot for the evening, as the name suggests the menu is as simple as it sounds! Steak or Lobster with unlimited fries and salad, there was also a veggie option too. I had grilled lobster, Matt went for steak. While the mains were delicious and the service started off really well, disappointingly at the point where Matt fancied a second round of fries and salad we struggled to get any attention from the staff and after requesting more they took so long to arrive Matt was pretty much finished which was a bit a shame. After all how long does it take to fry some extra potatoes and throw a bit of salad in a bowl? Especially when the menu advertised the ‘unlimited’ part so invitingly. Moaning aside we still enjoyed our meal and would look to give it a second chance. The final treat of the night was a sweet one; I was just saying how I’d love to find a dessert parlour when as if by magic we stumbled across Candys & Cream. Sundaes, waffles, pancakes, cookie dough and ice cream, yes! This was exactly what I wanted! We chose salted caramel and chocolate fudge brownie ice cream with white chocolate flakes, it was the perfect end to a tasty day!
January 26, 2016 Blogging, Iceland 3 Comments

Northern Lights Photography Tips…

During a recent trip to Iceland I was lucky enough to see the Northern Lights and capture them on camera, I went Aurora chasing with Iceland Travel on a super jeep tour.  January to March is a great time to go hunting for the Aurora Borealis due to the long dark nights.  In Iceland the sun sets at around 4pm during the winter months and doesn’t rise until 11am so there is plenty of time for stargazing.  The sky also needs to be mostly clear to get a good view of the lights.  If you are planning a trip to Iceland around the Northern Lights the Icelandic Met Office is a great website for checking on cloud cover up to six days in advance.  Of course these forecasts can often change so you may not have a perfect prediction until a few hours before you go hunting.
Hoping to capture the Northern Lights on camera? Look no further here are my top tips…

 

Things you need:
Camera: Ideally a DSLR or a camera that you can control the settings on manually, I initially tried to take photos using my iPhone and had no luck whatsoever!
Tripod: As all the images will be long exposures you need to ensure the camera doesn’t move during the exposure.
Shutter release: To minimise camera shake, alternatively set the camera timer to 2 seconds.

 

Setting up your shot:
  1. Mount the camera on the tripod and make sure it is level, most tripods have a spirit level.
  1. Have the lens set to the widest it will go and compose the image.
  1. Set the lens to the widest aperture, in my case 2.8.  This allows for the maximum amount of light to hit the camera sensor during the exposure.
  1. Set your lens to manual focus and turn the focus ring around to infinity, this will ensure everything is in focus.
  1. Set your ISO to around 500 to start with.
  1. Shutter speeds that worked for me ranged from 10 – 30 seconds.
  1. Before taking the image to minimise camera shake use your shutter release, as mentioned above or set the camera timer to 2 seconds.

 

Good luck and happy Aurora hunting…