Robyn's Wanderings

Hong Kong

From mountains to villages to beaches, Bermudian Emily Ross who is studying in Hong Kong this semester, decided this week to tackle the rough terrain of Hong Kong. And no we’re not talking the bright lights and hard concrete of the city life.

Nope. This week she decided to clean the lungs and head for the hills where she discovered a hiking paradise!

If you’re anything like me when you think of Hong Kong you picture a bustling metropolis: filled with smells of street foods, sounds of traffic and blindingly colourful night lights. And you’d be correct…to an extent. I had no idea before coming here what range there was in terrain in Hong Kong – you can go from skyscrapers to traditional villages to mountains to beaches in a matter of minutes. So this weekend, in need of some fresh air and an escape from the city, I headed off to hike.

Markers so that we don't get lost!

Hong Kong is actually an amazing hiking destination. The city is surrounded by mountains, and as they are on the outskirts you often find small villages along the trail (great for a beer break!). Before heading out check out Hong Kong’s best hiking website (as far as I’ve seen): http://www.hkwalkers.net/eng/index.htm. It describes a variety of trails and warns you if any have been closed due to landslides or bad weather.  You don’t have to go on a super arduous trek to find spectacular views of the coast and city, and this website will help point you in the right direction depending on what you’re looking for.

Ocean View

We chose the Hong Kong trail – it’s a 50km hike so we just did a section of it. We climbed Pottinger Peak and headed towards the beautiful Dragon’s Back Ridge. The whole route had gorgeous views of the sea and the option to walk down to Big Wave Bay. It was definitely surreal considering how close we were to urban madness!

View from Dragon's Back

At the end of Dragon’s Back Ridge we tackled one of the more difficult sections of the Hong Kong trail – a small rocky path climbing up Shek O peak, only reassured that we were actually on a genuine path by the occasional ribbon tied onto a tree. The transition from rocky mountain to jungle to bamboo thicket was fantastic though – there’s variety everywhere in Hong Kong.

Sleepy Dog at Shek O

After getting to the bottom of the mountain we found a small fishing village and beach. From there we decided to take a bus to Shek O – known as the ‘last real village in Hong Kong’ it was a quaint seaside residential area. There were a few brides walking about getting their photos taken and the beach was packed with hostellers and hikers drinking beer and iced coffee. We finally discovered where all the dogs in Hong Kong have been hiding: on the mountains and the beaches.

Shek O Beach

All in all, a fantastic and cheap day! There’s so much variety and so many things to do in Hong Kong. If you’re not cut out for the city life, it’s easy to escape.

Next week I’m heading to the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the world: Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum! Expect a lengthy food review as I undo all the exercise I did on the weekend. Hasta luego!

Want to wander through Ottawa without the cold? Without losing your fingers? And keep the feeling in your toes?

Well good, because we, at Robyn’s Wanderings want to give you what you want! And luckily we have Nicola Arnold stationed in Canada to do all of our Canadian travels (while I, Robyn, sit safely in Bermuda and 60 degree weather!).

So what does Ottawa have to offer? Everything from Maple Leaf Mittens to Byward Market filled with beads and “The Works”! So enjoy her photos and tell us what you think!

Zak's Diner in Ottawa - you will think you have walked into "Grease". And yes, the silver cup on the right means we had a milkshake for breakfast!

Reminiscing about the Vancouver Olympics in February 2010, and how I was the only one out of us three not to have these mittens.

If you find yourself strolling through Byward Market in Ottawa, check out the shop Sassy Beads... there are a heck of a lot of beads and colours.

More beads at Sassy Beads, so you can mix and match your jewelry and let your creativity flow.

Well... if you can't beat them, join them... I bought a pair of double-lined, Canadian mittens. To support my new, adopted home. And to stay warm!

Maple leafs 'r' us up in the Great White North

Sandwiched between Canadian friends that I travelled abroad with - Alex on the left, from my volunteer trip to India, and Brittany on the right, from my Rotary exchange in France.

A very clever, funny book (and a bit sad) titled "All My Friends Are Dead"... cute and dark, I thought this particular one was a nod to Canadian winter.

"The Works" is another fine eatery in Ottawa, a gourmet burger bistro with milkshakes in Pyrex measuring cups and 67 types of burger toppings.... including PEANUT BUTTER on at least 2 different burgers! Daring enough to try it?

Along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, you can ice-skate during the 3 week long Winterlude Festival. This is Concord, a spot along the canal where you can take a break and eat a Beavertail pastry of your choice!

The Rideau Canal flows through the heart of downtown Ottawa... and is a Winterlude focal point as skating attracts one and all

Where's Waldo?! If you spot the blue-hatted guy in the photo, that's my good family friend Jonathan Christopher, a fellow Bermudian. If you live in Bermuda or have visited... you may have seen his father, Ed, who is Town Crier of Hamilton! As I knew Jonathan studies in Montreal, I begged him to make the 2 hour bus journey to Ottawa - it's first time we have met up in 9 years!

Brittany steals a bite of my Beavertail - the tricky thing you either take mittens off (frozen fingers), or keep mittens on (sticky mittens). Either way, it's worth it!

Beavertails at last! Jonathan tasted cheesy garlic, I enjoyed chocolate hazelnut, and Alex sampled cinnamon sugar lemon!

Group shot: As one of my friends mentioned, "Nicola, your worlds have collided - you have friends you know from India, France and Bermuda all meeting up in Ottawa!"

One of Winterlude's sponsors, the cell phone company Rogers, made some interactive ice sculptures which were a hit with kids - and kids at heart!

See the sculptures... admire the sculptures... be a part of the sculptures!

The ice sculptures in Confederation Park, made by ice carvers from around the world. They were impressive even in their melted-down state.

Another friend I met in France, Maurane, who is now studying abroad in Ottawa! Planning to meet friends was not easy, as it was -15C and chilly... thus we usually planned to meet up for food!

Au Revoir Ottawa! Until next time (hopefully the end of March)

Where are you flying?

“Miss! Miss!”

I had only asked for water. Why was she running after me? Was I not supposed to take the glass? I turned around.

“You forgot your snack.”

Phew, I wasn’t some rampant water thief that had to be run-down the aisle of the enormous, double-decker Japan Airlines’ plane.

I was a backpacker and I wasn’t used to this five-star treatment.

“Sorry Miss you were asleep when we came by before.”

Ahhh if there was ever a time when nine hours on a plane was worth it, this was it.

This? One of my segments in my around-the-world ticket, which placed me on one of the highest rated airlines in the world. I was starting to understand some of the benefits of these tickets.

Was buying the around-the-world ticket worth it? Yes and…..no. Thanks Robyn, that clarifies everything!

Tough crowd. Ok, I will try to explain. For my first tip I will tell you how much mine cost (just over $5,000), and where I got it from (I purchased my ticket from the One World Alliance, which consists of American Airlines, British Airways, etc… visit www.oneworld.com for more details). But you can also buy tickets from Star Alliance (www.staralliance.com) or if you’re young enough (i.e. 26 or younger) some companies such as STA Travel (www.statravel.com) might help. Be careful, however, because many agencies (other than from Star or One World) do not have flights that start from Bermuda. Sure you could start from New York or Toronto, but then you still need to buy a ticket to these cities and be sure you know when you’re returning home (otherwise one-way tickets can be expensive!)

But with the cost, and this is a big tip two: figure out how much of a ticket you need. Huh? Ok I’ll explain. The ticket I bought was one of the most extensive and expensive (at the time) and it wasn’t necessary. I had sixteen segments. What’s a segment? Well when we talk about segments in around-the-world tickets we don’t mean flights. Nope.

Segments are a mixture of both overland and above-land travels. Example? I landed in Prague via British Airways. My next flight would be from Istanbul, Turkey, which meant I had to get myself from Prague to Istanbul. I could do it however I wanted to, but One World was not going to be involved.

Which leads me to tip three and more on segments. If I were to do the trip again (and I would love to) I would buy the basic level ticket. On OneWorld Alliance, now, that would mean my ticket could cost as little as $3,699 for three continents. What does that look like? Well a sample they give is: Los Angeles-Tokyo-Hong Kong-Moscow-St Petersburg-Madrid-Miami-Los Angeles (obviously ours would start from Bermuda).

And tip four is I would choose the basic ticket because once you land in Hong Kong or Madrid (or basically any continent) there are cheap flights and buses that make travel very easy once you’re on the continent. In Asia there is AirAsia or even Air Malaysia to give you $20 flights from Hanoi, Vietnam to Bangkok, Thailand. That’s got to be cheaper than paying for a four continent ticket, which starts at $5,299.

Riding a Thai Bus

An added bonus and tip five for why buy a basic around-the-world ticket is: their dates are not carved into any stones. Dates can change as often as you like (though the ticket overall is only valid for 12 months from the first date of travel). Believe me that’s helpful when you never know what you’re going to do or who you’re going to meet.

Which means that while on the road tip six is Skype will become your best friend. Well Skype and the OneWorld Alliance or Star Alliance helper at the other end of the line. Sheila (aka my adopted mother) is going to get a Christmas Card.

What is not negotiable? Destinations. Tip seven is to know where you want to go before you call. Maybe that should be number one? Before you book your ticket sit down (or stand-up it’s your preference) and write-down where you want to go. Decide on the cities that you would like to visit (i.e. are you going to go to Australia or give it a miss? Would Thailand be a better visit?) It will make life easier when you try to find the around-the-world ticket that will not have to be altered and cost you more money.

And that brings me to tip eight (which got lost last week!) is changing the destinations on your around-the-world  ticket costs money (about $125) and is almost impossible to do with the structure around segments. Any flight or overland portion will be counted as a segment so if you’ve booked all of the segments in your three or four-continent trip then changing a destination could be tricky unless it mirrors exactly what you had booked. Make sense? Another rule? Tip nine is: you can only go one way around the world. Mine? Bermuda to Europe to Asia to South America to home. I could have gone the other way, but I could not have gone to Europe and then to America (it’s backtracking if you start from an isolated island).

Which direction are you going?

Still lost? Still not convinced? Well that makes ten easier to give you: convenience, comfort and (another c?) security. Having an outline of your trip via flights provides much needed structure for the trip, while the beauty of booking with the “big-name” airlines does provide comfort (especially when you’re fed gluten-free good on Japan Airlines) that, especially backpackers won’t get on the discount airline, Air Asia between Thailand and Australia. And Security? Well let’s just say that money gets tight, you already have your ticket home. No calling the relatives asking for help.

Which brings us to next week and what are you going to bring home. Everyone has their travel quirks and their collections. What do you bring home? Visit here for your daily travel tips and your Rock Fever Column next week.

Au Revoir!

Go down a random street and see what you'll find

What’s the best way to visit a city? Most people would tell you to pick-up a guide-book, get a good map and put-on some comfy walking shoes.

Not Bermudian Emily Ross! Ok maybe the shoes, but Emily believes that one of the best ways to see a city is to get lost. Where’d she go?

Well, where the Queen told her to go:

I’ve always thought that the best way to see a city is to get lost in it. It’s one of the advantages of travelling on your own: there’s no pressure to have a plan and sometimes that’s best! I think I’ve seen the most on days where I’ve had no guidebook and no mission.

‘Were you on your own all day?’ said my room-mate incredulously. It was evening time on Saturday and I’d just come back from a long day of wandering.

Trust me, I’m not a social recluse, but it’s really not all that bad! As a large group of exchange students had travelled to Shenzhen in mainland China (I wasn’t feeling up for a big market trip this weekend…haggling is fun and all, but you really do have to be geared up for it. This weekend needed to be chilled out), I decided to do a tube-stop coin flip. I chose two MTR (the Hong Kong underground) stops that I hadn’t been to yet, and flipped a coin (a good ol’ Bermuda quarter stubbornly floating about in the bottom of my handbag) to decide which to go to. The Queen told me to go to ‘Admiralty,’ so off I went.

Upon exiting the MTR I found myself in a mall (this happens a lot in Hong Kong). On the ground floor were a few nice restaurants and in the middle was a gorgeous grand piano. A jazz pianist was playing live music and I sat in a coffee shop on the floor above and listened for a good hour and a bit. Really, really enjoyed his playing. Might try to go back the same time this weekend to see if he’s there again!

Yo ma ma frozen yoghurt, photo supplied by Emily Ross

After stopping off in a posh supermarket to eat some free samples, I realised this mall was a little out of my price range and headed outside into the great unknown. I’m starting to fall in love with this city thing – there’s always something different around each corner. Mind you, I do find myself missing taking an hour to walk down Reid Street because you keep running into people you know. I think that’s one of the best and worst parts of travelling for a roaming Bermudian: the anonymity.

After a good amount of wandering, I stopped off in a fro-yo joint down a side street (Hong Kongers love their frozen yoghurt. Ice cream is a rarity here) to refuel and then noticed a funky looking boutique across the road. I poked my head in and saw it was not only a kooky clothing/jewellery store but it doubled as an art gallery (of course). It was the opening of an exhibition, so I somehow managed to nab myself free wine and canapés and a performance from a great local indie band – just because I happened to be in the right place at the right time!

These surprises are found most easily by not looking for them specifically – so go out into the city and pay attention to what’s on the way to the big sights. Go down a random street, avoid over-planning and you’ll have a great day, whether on your own or with friends!

The famous Beavertails in Ottawa - sweet tooth heaven

Welcome it’s Saturday and of course it’s Nicola Arnold’s day to shine….which is not much of what she sees from the sun while she navigates Canada.

Today? Nicola explains beavertails and maple leaf cookies:

Ahhh, blogging. The great thing about blogs is variety… and as 1 of the 3 bloggers on Robyn’s Wanderings… we try to mix it up! Today’s posting will be short and sweet.

Guess what else is sweet? Beavertails (or in French, les queues de castor). What? Tails of beavers? I know, sounds very… Canadian? But in just under 24hr I shall have to decide on what flavour to try while I’m in Ottawa. Decisions, decisions… or what always work out well is choosing a few amongst friends and sharing! Cinnamon sugar… banana chocolate… maple butter… or… the Triple Trip for the chocolate/peanut butter lovers out there… amongst others!

In the words of Charles Dudley Warner, “There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it.”

Oh Canada... you are 'cooking' up some great adventures!

As a travel blogger, I’m taking the title as an excuse to go and explore… to take a road trip, meet up with old friends, and see new sites. I am off on a weekend trip, but hopefully not tripping on the ice. I will be attempting to ice-skate on the Rideau Canal this weekend… or at least upon writing this I was contemplating it. We shall see.

I am Bermudian at heart, after all, and just a tad uncoordinated for winter sports. In any case, this is the final weekend of Winterlude, the 3 week winter festival in Ottawa… I might as well winterize myself!

Speaking of travelling… my wristwatch seems to have gone “travelling” without giving me adequate information Well. I just hope I receive a postcard. Much like in the movie Amélie, when postcards are sent from another inanimate object – the traveling gnome! If you have never seen the French film Amélie, you should! It’s a classic. Parisian scenery? What an escape… and on a related note, here is an interesting link for Travel Films – that are not about travel!

As I load up my backpack and head out on this adventure… my only wish was that I could pack pack like a pro… like this guy on YouTube!

watch?v=L5UlxHsgD58

Wishing for warm pink sand!

Ok I am officially done. Done with what you ask?

I am done with winter. Yes, you’re right I probably shouldn’t complain. I am not living in Toronto, Canada where temperatures are limping back down to negative degrees.

Nor am I living in Boston, Massachusetts where rain is threatened along with freezing temps. Didn’t Punxsutawney Phil predict an early spring? I mean he didn’t see his shadow!

And yet I sit huddled-up in Bermuda (yes Bermuda!!!) wearing wool slippers, a scarf and layers of clothes. This is not home.

This is not what I am supposed to be wearing. Which is why Friday’s Photo today is about what I wish I was doing. What I miss.

I miss feeling the warm pink sand of our beaches on my feet. I miss walking around barefoot because that is the best way to get around.

I miss the shorts and t-shirts of my home. The sun might be out, but it’s not keeping me warm.

So I say on this Friday……BRING ON THE SUMMER! And maybe my photo of the day will bring it closer than phil? One can only hope.

Happy Friday!

Halong Bay Junk

It’s a sad Thursday because twelve tourists have drowned when their boat sank in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Fifteen were saved and authorities believed the sinking was due to a wooden board coming loose on the boat.

Authorities also believe those that died had been sleeping in the rooms of the boat (called a Junk) when the tragedy occurred.

There are a few reasons why I chose today to write about this sad event. One: because I have been here before and so it hits home.

And two: because I slept on one of the boats (called Junks) when I was in Ha Long Bay.

What is Halong Bay? Well to start with it is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the North of Vietnam that consists of green, covered limestone mountains that jut out of green waters.

It’s why so many tourists make it a must-see when they visit this South East Asian country.

The way to see it? The traditional route? Well I, and most, started in Hanoi (the capital of Vietnam) and found a tour company that promised to take me into this area of some 775 islets. One night would be spent on the junk and one night on a private island (a lot of people actually stay on Cat Ba Island which is a cliche backpacker’s hideaway. My company had their own tiny island with four huts on it).

Junks sailing through Ha Long Bay

On the day of my cruse the company (as do most) gave me a lift to the dock at the bay (no singing of Otis Redding please) and I scrambled around trying to find my boat (Junk).

When I was there we were shuffled onto the boat and to a cool glass of juice and a wet towelette to help wash away the pollution that builds-up on the dock.

Then it was time to set-sail (or motor, really) out into the glassy and beautiful lagoon.

When we finally anchored there was kayaking to keep us busy and food such as crabs and shrimps to keep us full.

Kayaking past the hundreds of islets in Ha Long Bay

That night we anchored-off in a sheltered pass between some islands and watched one of the longest shooting stars I have ever seen in my life.

The junk also became a place of rest and we all retired to our rooms.

Which is why all of what happened in Ha Long Bay yesterday is so sad. I feel for the families of these lost tourists.

In a place of beauty and serenity their loved ones were lost to the place they went to admire.

I hope that the authorities do take heed of this accident. I hope in the future these junks are checked thoroughly and their safety ensured.

I don’t know what the practice was before, but there needs to be inspections and safety checked more than ever. I would hate for this beautiful place to be ignored by tourists because their safety is not ensured.

One last look at Ha Long Bay

For more photos of Vietnam and Ha Long Bay visit Robyn’s Photos’ page.

Traveling Solo in Berlin!

The room was barely bigger than the single bed it contained. I could touch each wall with my hands standing in the middle (I’m five feet, six inches tall). The walls were clean and white. A flatscreen TV and the faucets in the attached micro bathroom were the only things that made any noise. Well, besides me.

I was in a strange town (Bangkok, Thailand to be exact) and I was alone. I had been traveling with a boyfriend for the beginning of an around-the-world trip, but things changed.

I’m not going to write here that the decision to travel solo was easy. It wasn’t. I’m not going to begin to try and sell you on the notion that I wasn’t scared. I was.

But as we just celebrated, or tried desperately to ignore, Valentine’s Day on Monday it got me  to thinking for my Rock Fever Column in The Royal Gazette: Why do we fear being solo? Why is being together celebrated? Why do we only celebrate Valentine’s Day for couples (and friends if you are younger than 12)? Why can’t we celebrate independence? Shall we start a day? Anyone got a name? Heroes’s Day? Shoot that’s already taken.

What has this got to do with travel? Well as most people will be writing gushy mush about friends who’ve been friends since they were in the womb and couples who cannot bear to be without each other (and need mounds of chocolate and roses to prove it) I am writing the anti-thesis: Ten Reasons Everyone Should Travel Solo.

I believe that everyone should be traveling alone at some point in their lives (and I don’t mean on business). Everyone should take a trip somewhere unknown without friends, without a boyfriend (or girlfriend) without, even, a tour guide.

But Robyn, why would I travel on my own? I like my boyfriend? Me and my friend do everything together?

You want to know why? Well that leads me to one of the most important and the number one reason on my list: it builds a strength and reliance on yourself you will get from very little else in life. When you sleep through your flight from Dallas, Texas to Santiago, Chile at the gate (not that I ever did that!) it is only you who must convince the American Airlines’ staff you are not an idiot (they booked me on the flight the next day and even comped me a hotel room for my mistake).

Hey statue how you doing? Wanna travel with me?

But even better than learning self-reliance (I think) is learning number two is that you have a choice. If you’re in Chiang Mai, Thailand and meet two travel buddies who are going on a three-day motorbike ride through Northern Thailand, you can! There is no debate (well maybe internally) and there is no request for sacrifice from your partner.

Which means number three and you want to learn a new skill, such as scuba diving while on the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia, you can! Sure, maybe you could do that if you were with a friend from home or a boyfriend, but what if they already knew how to? Would they be happy to sit in a hut with no electricity between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.? And if they were, would you feel guilty?

So four is it gives you a guilt-free travel experience. If you want to go to Laos before visiting Cambodia and the travel buddy you met last week doesn’t want to, well, you find a new travel buddy! Can you do that with a boyfriend? Sure, but it would be a lot harder. Believe me.

And travel buddies are easy to find, which brings me to number five: When you travel as a couple or even as a couple of friends, you’re intimidating! Couples (either romantic or otherwise) are islands and approaching them takes quite a bit of effort for other travelers. Equally when you’re a couple you’re less likely to reach-out to those around you.

When you’re traveling solo and need to find out how to take the bus from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, you’re going to have to speak to locals. That makes reason six for traveling solo: meeting the people of the country! You’re more likely to talk to them one-on-one if you’re on your own.

Take a bike ride through Northern Thailand? Do it on your own!

Leading to reason seven for traveling solo which is learning to say hello in Cambodian (Sua s’dei) or how are you in Spanish (Cómo estás? or ¿Cómo está?). If you speak only to other travelers or your partner you’re less likely (I think) to actually learn some of the language and even about the culture. Solo? You have to pick-up at least a few words to help yourself.

Sure some couples do, but if you’re single? Well you’re forced to.

You will also be forced to meet other travelers, which is, of course, number eight! A vegan, Israeli who is going to teach English in Cambodia might share veggie rolls with you in Kanchanaburi. A Swedish architect might go hiking with you into the hills of El Calafate, Argentina. Or maybe you’ll go wine-tasting with a college roommate (you haven’t spoken to in a year) in Buenos Aires. Your travel buddies will be a medley exposing you to new experiences while also providing entertainment.

You'll find friends to hike through Patagonia!

But these all lead to number nine and what traveling solo inevitably provides: the ultimate freedom! Sure you might spend all day trying to find an internet cafe in London, England, but at least you didn’t waste anyone else’s day. What if you find that you love Argentina and you want to stay longer to ensure you see “everything”? Well if you’re on your own guess what….. you can stay as long as your little heart desires (see, see the Valentine’s Day connection?).

Which brings me to what I promised to write about last week: Around the World Plane Tickets. I forgot about Valentine’s Day (what does that say?).

But visit here tomorrow….I need help with a name. What’s in a name? Well you’ll find out tomorrow.

Adios!

Street Meat in Macau

It’s Monday so welcome to Macau. What?

Ok yeah everyone and their mom is writing about Valentine’s Day today, but that’s boring. Yeah it is! Every year smug couples make singles feel silly and card stores finally complete their card quota!

So, instead of that, Robyn’s Wanderings is taking a trip…..needless to say that’s kinda the point of this website anyway!

Where are we going? Well didn’t you see the headline? We’re heading to Macau? Me….how? Macau a 28.6 square km island that sits about 64 km West of Hong Kong and was the last hold-out of the Portuguese until 1999.

Why visit there? Well, that’s where we pass this little shindig over to Bermudian Emily Ross who is studying in Hong Kong and just needed a break:

I went for the day (caught the ferry at 10am, booked a return at 10pm) and the first thing people said was ‘But what will you DO? You go to Macau for gambling!’

An ex-Portuguese colony, neighbouring Hong Kong and also a special administrative region (it is technically part of the People’s Republic of China and is defended by the Chinese army, Macau has autonomy over its own legal system, police force, currency and immigration).

Macanese Architecture

Renowned for its casinos and subsequently a tourist destination, the Portuguese architecture and cultural influences in Macau are far more obvious than British influences in Hong Kong.

And I can assure you, there are plenty of things to do in Macau other than gambling! Here are some of the things I got up to:

1.       Ate egg tarts. Nom. The Portuguese egg tarts in Macau are phenomenal. You can get them in Hong Kong but…well, let’s just say, I didn’t know what an egg tart WAS until I came to Macau.

What a true egg tart is: You can get them at pretty much every bakery in Macau, but the famous ones are from Lord Stow’s Bakery on Coloane Island and Margaret’s Cafe and Nata on the peninsula. The owners of the bakeries used to be married, but after the divorce Margaret opened her own rival cafe…the citizens of Macau are highly polarised as to who’s are the best. We only had time to make it to Margaret’s but…seriously. Heaven. On. Earth.

The most important temple of Macau: Kun Iam Tong. In 1844 it was the sit of the signing of the first treaty of trade and friendship between the United States and China .

2.       The architecture of Macau is fascinating. I consulted my trust Lonely Planet (never go anywhere without a Lonely Planet!) and set off on a historical walking route. It was strange – I’d forget I was in Asia! The European influences are amazing.

3.       Go see the ruins of St. Paul’s. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and is stunning. It’s a beautiful stone facade of what was once the 16^th century St. Paul’s College and Cathedral. Certainly worth a visit.

Emily (on the left) and the Ruins of St. Paul's (in the background, of course!)

4.       Climb up the hill to Mount Fortress for a spectacular view of the city.

5.       There’s lots of information on the different churches around the city – for a brief escape to Europe step inside. Contrastingly, there’re also beautiful Hindu temples dotted about the city. Go to both. It’s amazing to see the coexistence of cultures within the city.

6.       Street meat! This cured meat is amazing. Try it for free. The sellers will cut a piece off with scissors and hand it to you. I don’t know what it is, but it’s delicious. And different at every stall. Just close your eyes and go for it!

Almond Cookies

7.       They also give out free almond cookies! I lucked out and got some fresh out of the oven. Melt in your mouth. They’re still delicious when they’re not warm but stalk the baker so that you can experience a hot almond cookie. Yummy.

There’s plenty to do in Macau other than the casinos – it’s a beautiful city, with yummy food and well worth the day trip. Get out there and go!

Coffee in Buenos Aires

Do you know who imports more than 900 million pounds of coffee a year?

No it’s not France. No, not even the obsessed Argentines. Not even my favourite Vietnam.

It’s Japan.

Yes, it’s true. Apparently Japan imports more than 930 million pounds of it each year, which is more than France and less than Italy.

What does this have to do with travel? Well, sure you could ask, but that would mean you haven’t been to Turkey for their sticky and thick coffee that lines the cup.

Or to Vietnam when they fill the bottom of the cup, which turns out to be enough to keep you up through the night.

Coffee in Cairo

How about sipping in Cairo (when they’re not protesting) at one of the oldest cafes in Egypt? One where the Nobel Prize winning authors sit.

It’s a drink that keeps the world ticking and one that you will never be far from where ever you are. Sure there is tea, but coffee is my poison.

Tea in Turkey!

Of course, I am sad to say that my favourite is Starbucks. Yes, I have been around the world. I have tried coffee in lots of places, but my favourite coffee stop is Starbucks.

Plenty of caffeine in their regular coffee and the quality is guaranteed to some degree everywhere you go. Of course that can’t guarantee the Inca Bucks in Peru!

Inca or Star?