http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34739 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34739 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34735 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34735 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34731 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34731 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34718 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34718 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34638 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34638 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34606 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34606 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34605 This month though, Hong Kong is the epicentre of culture and it’s virtually impossible to miss. As you travel along the Central Mid-Levels escalators, you can’t help but notice the red white and blue lights that illuminate the posters proclaiming that it’s ‘Le French May’.
Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, this French arts festival is bigger and better than ever before. Comprising of over 500 events (some of which run until the end of August) Le French May is dedicated to all elements of art from dance to opera, photography to sculpture and fashion to food. With all bases covered, there truly is something for everyone.
Personally, I’m most excited about Crazy About Yves: a free fashion exhibition featuring stylist, Olivier Châtenet ‘s private collection of Yves Saint Laurent clothing collected over the last fifteen years, and the Picasso Masterpieces Exhibition: an exhibition of 55 Picasso works which belong to the the Musée National Picasso in Paris and span the eight decades of his career from his Blue Period to Surrealism.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34605 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34590 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34590 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34570 It all leaves you with a certain image – different from the standard - of a Mallorca where you walk, the route is very beautiful and scenic, and at the end of the day, tired, you come to these beautifully located refuges that are not only refuges but a place that lets you ‘experience’ food, meet other walkers and drink great cheap coffee.
To give some background, the GR 221 Dry Stone Route is a 132 km eight stage hiking route of medium difficulty which can be walked in parts or combined with other sightseeing. The five refuges - Can Boi, Muleta, Tossals Verds, Son Amer and Pont Roma – are all located in the northern rocky part of Mallorca which both needs tourists economically and landscape-wise remains unspoilt by the brand of tourism Mallorca has long been associated with.
Price wise, the dorms are all uniformly priced at € 11 a night with optional dinner at € 8.50 which is brilliant value for three courses including a carafe of wine. The refuges can all be booked online at: www.conselldemallorca.net/mediambient/pedra

Final point, the doors close at 10pm with the lights going out at 11pm. So if hard walking and early sleeping is your idea of a good holiday, do check out the link I have put below.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34570 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34569 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34569 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34565 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34565 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34564 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34564 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34563 The Poor Knights Islands and the waters around them are protected by 900m no fishing zone so the size of fish shoals can be quite staggering. Equally the diversity of soft corals growing on the walls and pinnacles, not to mention the animals that inhabit them, make diving there a unique experience. Larger predators, including Manta rays, Hammerhead sharks and even Killer Whales have been spotted there on occasion.
Watching the sun set over the islands with a sky full of returning seabirds finished off a fabulous day's diving.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34563 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34539 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34539 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34529 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34529 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34527 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34527 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34508 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34508 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34494 The race course in itself is pretty impressive. The floodlit loop of sweeping green track is dramatically set against the backdrop of encircling, towering apartment blocks glittering against the night sky. For a bargain HK$10 entrance fee (about 80p) you get access to the public stands and public betting hall. If you’re a tourist and you present your passport, you can pay an extra HK$100 (about £8) to get entry to the Members’ Enclosure but for atmosphere and value for money, I don’t think the public stands can be beaten. Tourists and expats tend to gather by the beer tent next to the race course, for a glimpse of the locals at play and a superb birds-eye view of the action head further up the stands. Races run approximately every thirty minutes from 7:30pm. Get there early, grab a good spot by the railings and study the form ready to place your bets before the first race. If all else fails, my failsafe tip is to choose the horse with the best name.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34494 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34486 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34486 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34485 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34485