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I am amazed that nobody has mentioned the outdoor activities in HK. 40% of Hong Kong's territory has been set aside for parkland, and although the highest point is only 900m above sea level, the terrain is amazing. There are several hundred trails available to the public, covering every part of the territory.
We lived on Lamma Island, and walked the length and breadth of the island. The hiking on Lantau Island is also very good (you can also mountain bike on all the hiking trails). The hike from the back of Lantau from near the airport, up over Lantau peak and then down to the big Buddha at Po Lin is amazing. Such an incredible contrast, seeing the new airport below you in the beginning, then down to a statue that attracts Buddhists from all over Asia.
There is also great hiking/mountain biking in the New Territories, the MacLehose Trail in particular (100km from Sai Kung in the east to Tsuen Mun in the west). This is the same trail where they have the endurance race every year (in the middle of summer), which was traditionally won by the Gurkhas, but they have been overtaken by professional race teams, (who complete it in about 20 hours - it is normally a hard four days’ walk.
Speaking of summer - it gets very hot and humid, so start early and bring plenty of water and sunblock. Winter (October through to April) is perfect for hiking and biking in HK as the weather is cooler and it rains less.
And the best thing about hiking in HK - finishing at an amazing sea food restaurant like the ones mentioned at Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma Island.
Parks Authority: parks.afcd.gov.hk/newparks/eng/index.htm
Hong Kong hikers: www.hktrampers.com/Mambo/
HK Outdoors: www.hkoutdoors.com/
Weather: www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm
A great sushi restaurant in East Vancouver. If you fancy a night off from fish, the vegetarian box is tasty; otherwise the deluxe yama box is a great selection. Excellent value, unpretentious surroundings and child-friendly.
315 BROADWAY E, VANCOUVER, BC V5T 1W5 Phone: 604-872-0053
I stayed here last year which was their first year of operation. It's one of the most affordable chalets I have found with great accommodation in a traditional chalet with good food and hospitality. It is just by the centre of the village and the main ski lift up to the Three Valleys is only about 200 metres away which can either be skied or walked to. The lift links you to the whole of the Three Valleys area which offers excellent and varied skiing of a huge area.
www.snowretreat.co.uk/
+33(0)642832598
Google map: bit.ly/9FMmeB
Prancing around London in the middle of the night with a bunch of old men in fancy dress. No, this is not some kind of post-modern theatre, but an ancient ritual which has taken place pretty much every night for the past 700 years in this great old city. The Ceremony of the Keys involves an ornate and complex set of rituals to ensure that the Tower of London is locked up good and proper. At exactly seven minutes to 10 o'clock each and every night the Chief Warder in his regal red coat and somewhat bonkers Tudor bonnet, carrying the Queen's Key and a giant lantern, marches around the perimeter of the Tower of London locking up the gates, accompanied by Foot Guards, sentries and various other characters straight out of the history books.
Complete with archaic greetings, a bugler and the best costumes you're ever likely to see. Having lived in London all my life, I can honestly say that I've never spent such a magical and unforgettable 10 minutes in London and urge everyone to accompany the procession at least once. It's free, but to go along you need to go through the hassle of writing a letter (no emails of course!) -
Tower of London
For more information visit their website here: www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/ceremonyofthekeys.aspx.
This is a great cafe on Rodney Street in central Liverpool, not far from Liverpool Lime Street. They serve a wide range of food; from light lunches to amazing cakes.
I recommend it for convenience, price, atmosphere and generally being a really nice place to hang out for the day.
They have great fresh coffee, the beans are apparently imported from Portugal. After an hour drinking coffee and some delicious 'chocolate salami' we decided to have lunch. The menu had a fantastic selection, all at incredibly reasonable prices, including some Portuguese dishes as well as the old favourites like salads, sandwiches and paninis. I wanted something light so went for the roast vegetable bruschetta, my friend went for the cod fishcakes. Both were excellent and cost around £4.
Cafe Porto is at 14 Rodney Street; telephone number 0151 708 5276, open Monday to Saturday. The nearest station is Liverpool Lime Street.
Great for lunch. Go to the deli section, order a pie, sandwich, coffee etc. They have Greek, Italian, Vietnamese - you name it. Then find a seat in the alley out back and they will bring it to you. It is a sunny spot if the weather is fine. Afterwards you could stock up on bargain souvenirs to take back home. There is often some kind of street theatre going on too. It is a lively, vibrant place and definitely should be included on a visit to Melbourne.
A city tram drops you near to the market.
www.qvm.com.au
Google map: tinyurl.com/nncs2n
An area of Brooklyn full of small retro clothes shops, record shops, cafes and restraunts. Great to wander around and get the feel of a New York neighbourhood.
Take the L train over to Brooklyn.
Carcassonne is a beautiful medieval citadel surrounded by vines but it's also an airport in the foothills of the Pyrenees well served by Ryanair from a number of UK and Irish cities.
So it's cheap to get to and onward travel to the ski resorts of the east Pyrenees - Font Romeu, Ax, Les Angles and Andorra - is relatively simple - a 90 minute drive. Rather than fight with the crowds in the big ski airports of Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble here is a charming and cheap alternative.
We've been doing this for three years now and wouldn't go back to the Alps.
Carcassonne is in the Languedoc region of S France. Daily flights from Stansted, Dublin, Liverpool and E Midlands from www.ryanair.com and ski packages srating from Carcassonne airport from www.francealacarte.com
Fantastic local curry house. A tiny little place in a run-down back street in SW8. Fantastic east-African food with real flavour and very cheap. Bring your own drink. Regularly changing specials. Particularly good for vegetarians.
Wilcox Close, London, SW8.
Nearest tubes Stockwell and Vauxhall.
Nearest bus routes 2, 88, 77, 87, 196.
Pete's Eats on Llanberis High Street has long been the eating and meeting point of climbers (the cafe keeps the climbers new route book for the area) and other outdoor enthusiasts in northern snowdonia. They're famous for their pints of tea and serve these with big portions of climber-walker-cyclist-paddler-traveller friendly food at low prices.
The menu ranges from chip butties to smarter healthier options, with loads of vegetarian choice, and specials that change often. Whatever you choose it is sure to be filling and satisfying.
As well as great food and a good crack, there's always a pile of papers and magazines, a book swap, internet access and a map/guide library. They also now do accommodation. My favorite place in the world for sheltering from the weather, recovering from the rigors of the great outdoors, kicking back and telling tall tales.
The primary coloured building stands out amongst the surrounding slate grey! Look out too for the eponymous Pete with his funky chef's trousers and long silver pony tail.
Pete's Eats, 40 High Street, Llanberis, Gwynedd, LL55 4EU
T: 01286 870 117
www.petes-eats.co.uk
Nearest railway station Bangor, then bus.
L’hamadriada is the stand out new restaurant in Valencia for my money. Serving outstanding grilled meats and rice it’s much more upmarket looking than its modest prices might suggest (€9-€17 three-course menu del dia and tasting menus from €22-€35), cool staff and you get your food pronto (not always the case in Valencia). The location is fantastic — very central but down a side street out of earshot from all the mooked up party noise.
Plaza Vicente Iborra 3
Tel: +963 260 891
www.hamadriada.com
Do not miss this if you visit Vienna - just a short and cheap underground ride from the centre and main attractions, Naschmarkt is a great place to explore for fun, or simply to eat very cheaply. Choose from a wide range of specialist food stalls (lots of cheese, olives etc) from around the world. A great multi-cultural experience if you get the chance, and even better if you're on a budget!
Nashmarkt
Google map: tinyurl.com/nrq52s
Great cafe close to Nyhavn and Kongens Nytorv - without either's high prices. Great sandwiches, good beer, very nice wines.
Free Internet -and a laptop you can use to check your mail, if you haven't brought your own.
The owner is a really nice American guy named Tom.
Holbergsgade 19, Copenhagen
www.holbergno19.dk/
Tel: 33140910
Nearest metro station: Kongens Nytorv
From Kongens Nytorv, walk down Nyhavn past all the old boats and the cafes and take a right across the bridge - it's on the next corner.
Though most independent tourists hire a moto to take them round the ruins, if you're up to it hire a bicycle and head out in the delicious cool before sunrise.
It is quite a long ride (at least 40km there and back, including the distances between the temples), but you'll have the freedom to explore Angkor at your leisure without the heat, crowds and the pressure of knowing your driver is hanging around waiting for you. It'll also help you see the country more like the locals do, though remember never to venture off the main roads and tracks due to the landmine threat. Wear a krama to spare you the dust and sun.
Available to hire from several guesthouses for a couple of dollars per day.
A small restaurant in an alley in the centre of Siem Reap. Just ask any local or taxi to direct you. Local Khmer food, very good, very cheap. a meal for two with beer is about $10.
A St Andrews institution. Jannetta's is an ice cream shop dating from 1908. They make fifty-two flavours of ice cream and they are all wonderful, so much so that people queue along the pavement at the first sign of warm weather in early Spring.
31 South Street, near the corner with Abbey Street.
www.jannettas.co.uk
When departing Budapest by air (and presumably when arriving too), don't bother with the various taxi/minibus services. The public transport alternative is efficient, perfectly easy to use and far, far cheaper (about £1 each way, as opposed to £6ish for the shuttle service).
From the town centre (Deak Ter) to the airport, simply take the blue metro line to the end of the line, then jump onto the clearly signposted no: 200 bus (complete with little aeroplane logo and English announcements). It goes to Terminal 1 first, then Terminal 2, and the entire journey to Terminal 1 takes about half an hour.
You need to validate one single ticket on the metro, and then another on the bus (or vice versa if arriving). True, ticket staff don't speak much English, but they are quite keen to help, and "2 single tickets" is widely understood (if various options are proffered, single tickets are the little flimsy orange ones with perforations).
Hoi An is a great place to get clothes made to measure. Choose something from the local designs on display, take along something you'd like copied or a photograph (shops usually keep a selection of Next catalogues and fashion magazines for inspiration!) and choose your fabric.
By the next day and for a few US dollars (I had a silk dress made for $12 and a suit for $20) you can get a whole new wardrobe made to measure, including shoes.
And if you overdo the shopping and run out of space in your bags, the local post office are experts in shipping parcels home.
There are over 100 tailors shops all around town - hotels and guesthouses can usually give recommendations.
A relaxed square overlooked by the Church of Santo Spirito, on the less crowded south side of the river. Any of the restaurants in the square will produce a satisfying and inexpensive meal. Makes the leisurely evening stroll away from the tourist traps well worth it.
Cross the Ponta a Santa Trinita. Head down the Via Maggio for about 5 minutes and take a right.
A very long stretch of pure white sand and sparkling, azure sea make this beach a great place to relax while in Trinidad. Being fairly flat, the tide hardly goes in and out, so there is never a walk of more than a few paces from your towel to the sea. The sea is very calm – few or no waves, and very safe for kids as you have to wade out quite a way to get out of your depth – there are also lifeguards on the beach. You can rent paddle boats and canoes from Hotel Ancon.
There are only three or four hotels sharing the beach – and these are very spaced out, so you can find a spot to yourself quite easily. If you walk down to the bottom end of the beach there are very few people around – this is the where the locals come for their days out.
Note – there are no general facilities at this beach and all the hotels are inclusive, though it is easy to get talking to the beach guards, who will let you use their loungers for the day and fetch you drinks from the bar for a small fee (negotiate down from their first offer!). One of the hotels will let you eat from their lunch buffet, depending on which guard you ask. One of the hotels also has a shop, though it sells little more than ice-cream, crisps, biscuits and drinks.
Get a taxi from the centre of town, or wait for the beach bus which goes backwards and forwards several times a day (though not to a specific timetable!). There are always plenty of taxis waiting at the beach to take you back to town at the end of the day.
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