TravelStream™ news feed for member jollyjetsetter on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/jollyjetsetter en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:18:17 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1255796983/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1255796983/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1255796983/tpod.html Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:18:17 -0500 jollyjetsetter's Great Adventure

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Boracay, Visayas, Philippines

The first port of call in the multiple-island nation of the Philippines was a short stay in Manila, more specifically the airport hotel, which was a base for an early-morning flight the next day, as well as a half-day trip to the SM mall of Asia, one of earth's largest and most impressive shopping complexes. A 12-lane boulevard leads the way, and then you're pretty much in the shopping mall labyrinth, where shops and food courts abound, and if that all gets too much, there's always the delights of Manila Bay to gaze at from over the balcony. A short-haul flight from Manila airport to Kalibo airport (on the island of Panay) was the next stage, and upon arrival at Kalibo airport, it seemed that all western-style airport civilization had given way to a free-for-all suitcase claim system and onward transfer scramble, but soon I was bound for Caticlan jettiport, and taking in the sights and sounds of northern Panay along the way. A short ferry transfer brings passengers to the idyllic Filipino island of Boracay, and it soon becomes apparent why its visitors rave about the place, and pay repeat visits on future occasions. On Boracay, it is safe to say that the beach not only rules, it positively dominates and reigns supreme, yet you'd be hard-pressed to find a more dazzlingly-fine stretch of beach anywhere else on earth, such is the pristine and alluring nature of it. The first full day in Boracay entailed a perimeter tour of the island, taking in visits at two nearby islands, one of which contained the enjoyable complex that is Crystal Cove, best described as an area 'man-made from natural components'. The snorkelling was fun and rewarding for anyone fond of marine life, and the short stop at Puka beach revealed that it is not only White Beach which is commendable. Since it was made aware to me that quad biking was an option, that plan constituted half of the following day, and took in a trek up to the top of Mount Luho, the island's peak, and a place offering spectacular views of the whole island and surrounding ocean. Hiring a bicycle in the afternoon was an overly-ambitious plan, due to a combination of gradients and crushing heat making it more heavy-going than originally anticipated, but it did allow me to see other areas of the island which I would otherwise not have been able to check out. Hiring a van driver for a trip to the highlights of the northern tip of the neighbouring island of Panay was a smart move, as the driver's local knowledge allowed me to check out the charms of Jawili Falls, Ibajay Public market, and Hurom-Hurom cold spring resort, before heading back to Boracay. I parted with the largest sum of cash to allow the final day's plan to take place, yet the experience of chartering a private boat and boatman to reach the neighbouring island of Carabao proved to be priceless, and the heaven-on-earth nature of the beach immediately outside the island's only 'town' San Jose validated the whole enterprise. The only way to get around the island is by horse or rented motorbike (plus rider), so I opted for the latter, and saw a cross-section of what the island had to offer, being about 4 times the size of Boracay, and seemingly about a twentieth as developed, albeit plans being in place for a new airport to be built there. The snorkelling around the island's perimeter, coupled with views of the rocky cliff edges made for an enjoyable whole day out, and one big plus upon returning to Boracay was knowing that a delicious meal at one of Boracay's great restaurants awaited. The last leg of trip was a stay at the Tower Inn Hotel in Makati, Manila, a nice enough property in the midst of what felt like urban chaos. Filipino jeepneys amongst other regular vehicles clogged the streets, and it was essential to make use of the MRT and LRT train network to arrive at the walled city enclosure of Intramuros, where a pedalling rickshaw rider showed me around for a pre-determined cost. One final jaunt around the Greenbelt shopping complex (where one plush shopping mall seemed to interconnect with many others), and I then found myself in the hands of a maniac Manila cab driver, intent on proving that the road belonged to him despite the traffic chaos already in place. All in all, a most worthwhile venture, and a brilliant add-on to a trip to Taiwan, as despite the proximity, the two nations have very few similarities, which added a vital edge to this trip, one amongst the kind of trips I love which are riddled with contrasts and diversity.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1136651826/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1136651826/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1136651826/tpod.html Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:10:07 -0500 jollyjetsetter's Great Adventure

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Montego Bay, Jamaica

Sorry for the dreadful pun incorporated into the title of this section, but a trip to the Caribbean in January 2006 replaced the regular annual January ski fixture, and was yet another encounter with the American tourist, who was as keen as I was to sample this slice of Caribbean life. I arrived on the island of Jamaica in poor shape due to a newly-broken collar bone, which I was told would still require some rest, and that a beach holiday shouldn't aggravate it. We stayed about halfway down Montego Bay's 'Hip Strip', which contained a few overpriced eateries, and a terrific fast-food style jerk speciality place called the 'Pork Pit'. Downtown Montego Bay is best avoided at all costs any time after 6 pm at night, for safety reasons alone, but it was pleasant enough to stroll around the city area in the daytime, and take in the full flavour of its Caribbean city appeal. One huge downpour of rain resulted in cars floating around in the town centre, which made the place look spooky, and it was good to discover that a 5 minute walk further up from the payable Doctor's Cove beach was a stretch of beach equally enjoyable, minus the full extent of facilities, but cost-free, and the kind of beach with which I would associate a Caribbean lifestyle. It is worth pointing out that it is in the realm of the excursions where I felt Jamaica came into its own, and there is a blisteringly great range of tourist activities which I felt fully exploited all of what the island had to offer. These excursions include the obvious climb up Dunn's River falls, to rafting on the Martha Brae, and a day trip to the glorious beaches of Negril, and a stop at Rick's cafe, where cocktails, cliff divers, and live musicians created the atmosphere just the way you'd have wanted it to be. All in all, it was a far cry from skiing down a mountain, but then again, winter sun never goes amiss, and as I left the place armed with a souvenir T-shirt, a whole bunch of photos and terrific memories, it comes as no surprise as to why I began to consider a healthy travel schedule to be something as worryingly vital as breathing in air.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1255278528/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1255278528/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1255278528/tpod.html Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:58:08 -0500 jollyjetsetter's Great Adventure

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Taipei, Taiwan

My 6-year run of working experience in East Asia (South Korea & Japan) alongside visits to Hong Kong and Shanghai quite literally begged the inclusion of a trip to Taiwan, the missing link, as well as an East Asian nation which possibly does not get a large enough share of the 'essence of the East' identity. Five nights in Taipei (at the Shin Shih hotel) were to be the base for seeing as many vital reference points as could be hoped for in 4 full days, so a plan of action was devised in order to turn the Taiwanese dream into reality. Dedicating the first full day to shopping in Taipei was not such a bad way to commence, since it enabled me to get a rounded impression of the general cost of living, as well as an excuse to breeze around some tantalisingly fine night markets of note, mainly Huaxi Street (with covered arcade), Shida, and the king of all night markets, Shilin. Dinner at the 'Modern Toilet' restaurant in the Shilin area proved that theme restaurants can be as wacky and outrageous as they need to be, and I quickly deduced that nobody with money in their pocket would starve in Taiwan due to the omnipresence of food (stalls and restaurants) to suit all budgets. The following day was at least equally fulfilling, and entailed a subway ride, first to Xinbeitou station, in order to check out a cross-section of Taiwanese Hot Spring culture, the museum (of same theme), Hell Valley (didn't look so infernal!), and a bathing session at both an indoor and an outdoor hot spring. From there, it was onto Danshui, which, for my money, turned out to be a sizeable contender for the 'world's coolest town' with its ice cool college vibe, interesting museum Fort San Domingo and fashionable streets which literally sprang alive at night. From Danshui, it was a short hop across the water to the township of Bali, where cycle rental was easily the wisest option for getting around the area. From the fishing spots, to the temples and backstreets, it felt like there was more than one alluring destination on earth by the name of Bali, and going back to Danshui as late afternoon descended revealed the whole area to be a most worthwhile escape route from Taipei. The following day involved the largest travel cost (return rail fare by High Speed train to Kaohsiung), but when confronted with Kaohsiung's set of attractions, you'll be more than content at having parted with the sum of money paid to reach the city. The highlight for me just had to be the multiple charms and delights of the Lotus Pond, the kind of place which stopped me dead in my tracks and made me realize exactly why I make such far-flung treks - starting off at the amazing Dragon and Tiger pagodas, the other-wordliness of it all was so hotly appealing, that I just realized how soulful overseas travel can feel when the vibes are so right. Moving on, later in the day to Cijin island (yet more rented cycle action!), followed by the Tuntex Sky Tower, the subway station's 'Dome of Light' and Computer street brought it all home that Taiwan's second largest city has a lot more to commend it than meets the eye. The final day in Taipei was reserved for trips to the Living Mall (like a huge golf ball containing a slightly less huge golf ball), Taipei 101 (far out - the elevator shoots up like a rocket, and the feeling of altitude is dizzying), and the bright lights of Ximending by night (commercialism bathed in neon, and a great hang-out spot), and then, my case was packed for the following leg of the trip in the Philippines with the multiple cool-tinged vibes of Taiwan still tingling in a wholly fulfilling afterglow.
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Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

To those who are fully aware of my lifestyle choice, it comes as a surprise to some that no matter how far afield I have journeyed so far, why would I choose to neglect places much closer to home such as Wales and the Republic of Ireland? Well, an attempt to remedy that perception
in no small measure was made by this 3-night booking of a city break in Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland, and a late-night flight meant that the entire Dublin experience proper began on the Saturday morning, the day after my arrival. A stay at the well-equipped Cardiff Lane Maldron hotel in the quayside area saw me well catered-for, and fairly well situated too, and the aim of the trip ran parallel to the aims of previous European city breaks - that's to say,
shop til you drop, seek out one or two pleasant eateries, and sample the best of what experiences the city can offer, both in terms of day and evening time activities. Dublin is blessed with an efficient tram system (LUAS), which puts it on a par with the best of the Swiss cities in that respect, and the rail network (DART) allows for an easy escape route out of the confines of the city. The city centre is peppered with monuments, churches, pubs, shops and other key points of interest, although I tended to find that wandering around aimlessly, which
constituted the main bulk of my last full (rainy) day there, seemed to be deceptive in that each unfamiliar-looking street somehow brought me back along a previously-trodden route, perhaps a by-product of unplanned meanderings. I made use of the DART network to transport me to the coastal port town of Dun Laoghaire, which is equipped with a high street, a marina area, as well as the ferry port, and a 'World Culture Festival' which was taking place at the time of the visit was an added diversion. Back in Dublin, a trek across town brought me (eventually) to Kilmainham Gaol, where a guided tour of the prison complex ensued, with photo opportunities to boot. From the gaol, a short walk away brought me to the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and I
scurried from one room to another, trying to take in the abstract nature of the exhibits. Later on the same evening, a stroll around the Temple Bar district (easily Dublin's main hub of evening activity) brought to my attention a stand-up comedy show taking place at the Ha'Penny Bridge Inn, and the show itself earned two thumbs up from myself for the way in which its quickfire appeal had people rolling in the aisles. On the whole, I felt that Dublin satisfied all of what my
prior perceptions had led me to believe constituted the 'Dublin experience', and although you get a better run for your money in other European cities, perhaps in better weather, it also felt like the 1990's boom period of the Celtic Tiger had set in motion all the new-ish construction projects and more recent additions to the cityscape. It always seems to delight me more than many other things in life when I am overseas and in the thick of the terrain, confronting the challenging and exotic nature of the unfamiliar, and since Dublin's city fabric did seem somewhat familiar, even on first glance (traces of other UK cities are to be found there), it is fair to suggest that the overall impact for me was more akin to a gentle tickle rather than a persuasive shove, albeit wrapped up in warm-spirited Irish hospitality.

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Skegness, England, United Kingdom

The basic criteria for a blog entry from my angle will be loosely dubbed an escape route from home, which involves at least an overnight stay in some shape or form, thus allowing a 2-night camping trip to a British seaside town to nestle alongside higher-budget and further-flung trips. With my trusty piece of canvas barely having been put to any use beforehand, pitching a tent at a campsite at the town of Burgh-Le-Marsh, on the outskirts of the more prominent British seaside town of Skegness, the drama unfolded. This trip was actually a 'family gathering' of sorts, and involved an 'indoor' version of what was to be intended as an outdoor barbeque (blame the weather!), followed by a trip the following morning into the oh-so-bracing seaside resort town of Skegness. While amusement complexes line the seafront, and shops line the High Street, the town itself has weathered the changes remarkably well, and although only a tiny percentage of foreigners will be familiar with the place, daytrippers from the Midlands still descend on the place as if it were their second home. The highlight of this trip was an evening of entertainment at the local Stock Car racing arena, with an extravaganza of sorts lined up for all to appreciate. Various events ranging from domino-style car toppling, to monster truck car-crushing, and caravan banger destruction derby ensured that the event gave all spectators a run for their money, and I conclude that years of attending similar events have not resulted in the sport losing any of its' original appeal. The following morning involved a short ride into nearby Ingoldmells, with its pleasureland complex, and outdoor market area, where bargain purchases abounded, and a few hours later, with a cheap plate of deep-fried food inside of me, it was time to leave the town, and draw the 'Skegness chapter' to a close. Reflecting upon the experience, it was hardly a pioneering one for myself, simply because it is a place visited on numerous occasions in the past, but it always leaves me wondering just what a foreign visitor would make of a town of this nature, which typifies the tacky, yet somehow alluring nature of a fair number of British coastal towns.

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Crete, Greece

It is a mystery to some why my first ever visit to Greece came at such a late stage in the game, and was preceded by travel experiences to a whole host of other less conventional and more outlandish destinations, but then again, I'm not really one to schedule things in predictable ways, which makes it seem like I prioritize destinations over others. As it stands, in my book, there's barely a nation on earth which doesn't hold any appeal as an uninitiated tourist, but all the same, I did have to single out just one Greek island from a whole cluster of them, and figuring out that, with Crete being the largest Greek island, it would therefore have the biggest scope for discovery in the space of my week-long stay. Well, the resort of Stalis got my casting vote for being both a hive of activity, as well as a brilliant beach-fronted resort in which to be based for the duration of my trip. Nearby Malia has fewer traces of Greek culture than just about any other Greek town, and is raucous and brash in terms of appeal, but the colourful facades of Malia's nightspots made for some interesting photo imagery. The other neighbouring resort of Hersonissos, is sufficiently developed to be considered a pleasant enough base for a holidaymaker, and the nearby pleasure pool complex at Star Beach, where most attractions were in fact free, was as fun-filled or relaxing as you'd want it to be, and made for a full day of enjoyment. A must-see place on the island of Crete are the archeological ruins at the Palace of Knossos, a complex which is reachable from the island's chief town of Heraklion by service bus, and this also constituted another full day out, with scope for exploration and photo opportunities. Since the bus services in general on Crete are reliable and inexpensive, I was able to reach the resort town of Agios Nikolaos cheaply and relatively quickly, and set sail from the Mediterranean town's charming quayside area on a half day boat trip to the former leper colony island of Spinalonga, which is easily Crete's most surreal setting. The true crescendo of the trip to Crete, however, came on the last full day spent there, in the company of a fellow traveller, in command of two rented quad bikes, which allowed for a full day of hedonistic fun and freedom, spent ripping up the terrain, along coastal routes, through peaceful villages (shame on us for shattering their peace!), and along winding roads up into the Cretan foothills. Turning in the bikes in the early evening summed up the entire Cretan experience for me - that it was very much a 'mission accomplished'-style trip, with ample scope to roam freely.

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Bucharest, Romania

Over the years, my Easter city breaks have become consistent, enjoyable, and, most significant of all, highly memorable experiences, and although this was booked in place of a cancellation I was forced to make due to a schedule change for a flight to Kiev, pre-departure reading boded very well for this trip. Upon arrival at Bucharest's Otopeni airport, I met up with my travelling companion from the Scotland trip of the previous month, and we were heading towards the city centre filled with anticipation as to what the city might hold in store for us. The hotel scored highly on just about all counts - location, cleanliness, breakfast, price, and general facilities (dig those jacuzzi bathtubs!), and an itinerary which had been put together in the lead-up to the trip seemed like it would provide its fair quota of trip highlights. It seemed to me that, despite Romania's status as a less-visited corner of Eastern Europe, there was so much to commend the place, in terms of architecture, variety of shops, eateries, nightlife, museums, etc, and I can only imagine that the city had come on strong since its darker days under the Ceaucescu regime. A night out at the Green Hours 22 jazz club was an entertaining way to spend an evening, as was a night out at a local nightspot, Club A, which had atmosphere and vibrancy, despite its smoky and crowded interior. Although it did not represent the culinary highlight, the 'restaurant experience' highlight must surely have been the evening spent at the 'Count Dracula Club' theme restaurant, where the atmosphere was surreal and wacky enough for diners to gloss over the fact that the food on offer was merely a small part of what the restaurant actually offered. Going on a guided tour of the imposing Bucharest institution, the House of the People, the overly-grandoise building built for Ceaucescu before his regime was eventually toppled, indicated just how controlling and commanding a role the dictator had taken during his reign. A perfect escape route from Bucharest came in the shape of a day-trip to the (ski) resort town of Sinaia, where the ski resort proper, coupled with the charms of the town itself, and the delightful monastery, and enchanting Peles castle made for a tremendously satisfying whole, and every reason for a visitor to lose themselves in the resort town's undeniable charm. Looking back, the trip to Bucharest was as much about rewarding experiences as it was about the fabric of the place itself, and illustrates how a European city which ranks as 'off the beaten track' to many tourists has a certain hidden power to grab you by the lapels and demand your attention.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1237052811/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1237052811/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jollyjetsetter/1/1237052811/tpod.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 09:28:50 -0400 jollyjetsetter's Great Adventure

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Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Studying Japanese at the International centre in Nagoya, Japan, back in the late 1990's, I became acquainted with a friend who went on to relocate, first to the USA, and then later in life, to Edinburgh, where the option of meeting up after a long absence became far more realistic and achievable. An overnight stay in Edinburgh perhaps accounted for the first leg of the trip, and we made a point of making an early start the following morning for a journey northwards, which would eventually culminate in reaching the very apex of the UK, namely John O'Groats. Stopping off to refuel in the once-thriving ski resort town of Aviemore was a good way to take a short break, and we were yet again on the road, and taking in the sublime nature of the Scottish scenery en route. A lunch stop in the northern Scottish town of Wick provided a good way to break up the journey, and we were eventually at John O'Groats, which was significant, due to the fact that the previous month had seen me visit Land's End in Cornwall, and these two nodes are inextricably linked as the official markers for the furthest flung points on the UK mainland. Driving onwards, passing the coastal town of Thurso, famed for its surfing beach (images of Newquay came to mind), the journey brought us as far west as the small town of Tongue, before dipping back down again, and heading southwards towards Inverness, which was to be our overnight stop-off point. Hours of being focused on the road at the wheel of the car were basically soothed by a bathing session at the hotel, and after an evening meal at a commendable Chinese buffet restaurant, lack of nervous energy forced me to turn in for the night, and face the following day ahead with a brighter approach. Leaving the pretty town of Inverness, the journey took us along the shores of Loch Ness, with a stop-off at Urquhart castle, and then on to the pleasant town of Fort William, where picking up one or two shopping items and generally strolling down the town's main street were pretty much the run of events. The route back to Edinburgh made me realize that, end to end, it was a drive which would surely clock in as one of the world's top 5 scenic drives, and as the entire itinerary was put together in a couple of fleeting minutes, also goes to show how spontaneity can account for a fair portion of memorable and valid travel experiences.

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Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Leaving the county of Devon, and heading ever-westwards, entering the county of Cornwall was the final port of call on the multi-stopover journey, and brought back memories of holidays spent there in days gone by, as well as being the ideal opportunity to visit some previously-unfamiliar areas, which I often think validates the whole experience. One of the first stop-off points was the small coastal town of Tintagel, which is famous for the legend of King Arthur's castle, and a scenic vantage point to boot. A short walk leads down to more rugged terrain where the cliff edge seems to fall into the sea on a rocky decline, and the castle itself is a mere stone's throw from this scenic viewing spot. Driving further along the coast brought us eventually to the bona fide UK surfing mecca of Newquay, and the main body of the town itself seemed to have a sufficient range of eateries, shops and after hours options for a town of such a relatively compact size. Newquay's main draw card though, and the one aspect which brings fun-loving visitors to the town in their masses, is the surf, and the prime location of Fistral Beach makes for a truly great visit, either as a surfer, or indeed as a spectator, which was precisely my role due to my unwillingness to brave the sea in mid-February. Moving on from Newquay, a brief stop-off at St. Ives revealed the quaint nature of another popular coastal UK town, and in guest house terms, we had reached journey's end in Falmouth, where the service was top-class, and the stay as comfortable and homely as could be anticipated, suggesting that this was the ideal overnight stay to round off the whole trip. A pleasant meal at a local Thai restaurant in Falmouth made for a worthwhile evening activity, and the town itself was barely recognizeable since I had last visitied it, save for the Falmouth shopping institution, Trago Mills, which had since expanded its repertoire to 2 larger branches in more rural areas of the South West region. A fleeting visit paid to the likeable Cornish town of Truro on the way home ensured that we were able to sample the best-tasting pasty in the land, and with memories of the South West planted firmly inside of us, it felt palpably as though we had experienced the best of what the region had to offer, albeit at an off-peak time of year, when the true holiday spirit of the area had still yet to manifest itself.

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Devon, England, United Kingdom

Ah, Devon, the English Riviera, and home of the clotted cream scones and cream teas - all stereotypes for sure, but the overall picture is a pretty one, in an ornate-looking frame too. The first port of call was the prime English seaside town of Torquay, which is very much a tourist magnet in season, and indeed not without its charms during off-peaks periods such as this. Full marks to the owner of the guest house for displaying a remarkable sense of hospitality, and a low-budget evening meal at a local carvery restaurant made it clear that we were not destined to be blighted by the high cost of living and 'tourist prices' at local restaurants. Torquay itself lives up to its reputation as the south-west's main tourist town, and could even be adequately described as the gateway to Devon. In season, the town and its accompanying marina area are no doubt invaded by visitors, some from local areas, and others from (much) further afield, and the variety of tourist attractions serves to suggest why it possesses this sense of magnetic appeal. It felt like we had underscored the place somewhat, since we had covered the town centre on foot, and enjoyed a jaunt around the marina area, but skipped on some other attractive areas nearby, such as Babbacombe Bay and Paignton. Heading north-west, our ensuing drive took us through Dartmoor national park, and the pleasant town of Tavistock, which involved stop-offs along the way for photo opportunities, meals and drinks, and chances to take a break, and experience the full flavour of the local area. Reaching Plymouth early in the evening, and getting established at what was to be the least substantial of all the guest houses stayed at en route (but also the cheapest) meant that we were able to wind down for the evening, with a low-key evening plan set to unfold. The town of Plymouth is perhaps best associated with its maritime past (and present), yet revealed perhaps not enough redeeming features upon first glance as we might have anticipated prior to our visit. Another whirlwind city tour was conducted in a by-now familiar fashion, and once again, we were part of the westbound traffic, and heading on out to where a few further treasures lied in store.

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