During last year's world cruise, we stopped in Bali just for the day.
It's not really enough time to get to know Bali.
Most of the time was spent traveling by bus to and from Benoa Harbor to the Elephant Safari Park to ride elephants.
From the window, we got but a quick glance of bali life as we speed by....
For more Photo Fridays from around the world, head over to Delicious Baby
Showing posts with label My Travels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Travels. Show all posts
Friday, October 21, 2011
Photo Friday: Bali from a bus window...
Friday, October 14, 2011
Photo Friday: The changing face of Christchurch
This is what 7000 plus shakes in 13 months looks like...
Although, in reality, it looks more like this...
Check out DeliciousBaby.com for more photo fridays from around the world.
This week's photo tips...
A Cowards Guide to Street Photography
10 Small Things that Make a Big Difference in Your Photos
S is for Simplicity: How Simplicity Will Improve Your Photography
18 Tips for Shooting from a Train
Travel Photography Made Simple – Improving Your Photos Through Composition
Friday, October 07, 2011
Photo Friday: The doorways of Tallinn, Estonia
Check out DeliciousBaby.com for more photo fridays from around the world.
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Enter Lonely Planet's Great Journeys Contest...
Ever dream of taking a trip on the famous Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Beijing via Mongolia?
Then Lonely Planet might just be able to issue you the required boarding pass.
They have teamed up with Railbookers to sponsor a Great Journeys contest with the winner (and their guest) will score not only a trip trip onboard the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Beijing via Mongolia, but also 2 nights hotel accommodation in Moscow, 1 night's hotel accommodation in Beijing and a budget of $5,000 (USD) towards flights.
To enter, visit the contest lonelyplanet.com/greatjourneys and vote for your favorite 'great' journey.
The contest ends on October 7th at 11:59pm GMT.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Friday Photo: Sydney's Taronga Zoo
Monkeys and a multitude of other animals can be found at the Sydney’s Taronga Zoo located on the Sydney Harbour, still within sight of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Based on a bar-less system and offering a spectacular views of Sydney, this Zoo has been entertaining locals and visitors since 1916.
Covering over 40 acres, the best way to get an overview of the layout is by taking the Sky Safari cable car which operates from the top entrance to the Ferry Wharf from 9.30am to 5.00pm daily.
Articles offering tips for taking photos at the zoo:
Zoo Photography (Digital Photography School)
Zoo Photography Tutorial (Yanik's Photo School)
Shooting Through the Fences - Better Zoo Photos (PhotoWalkPro)
Check out DeliciousBaby.com for more photo fridays from around the world.
Friday, June 03, 2011
Finding a Home Away from Home...
(Today’s guest post article looks at vacation rentals)
A recent two week vacation to California, staying in a variety of different places - from a traditional hotel to a flamboyant resort, from a cosy B&B to a charming seaside inn – reminded me once again how expensive travel was.
Funnily enough, it wasn’t so much the cost of the accommodation or even the cost of gas to fill up the car that I noticed the most.
It was the cost of food.
With no facilities to cook or even, in some cases, store food, I had to constantly eat out. Now, I love to eat out. But after two weeks of eating out, I’m starting to think that there has to be a cheaper way.
That cheaper way might just be looking for a vacation home rental where, in the mornings, breakfast could be made from ingredients purchased at the local supermarket, picnics for lunch could be packed from products found at the local farmers market and bakery, and even the occasional dinner be cooked outside on the BBQ.
I’m already dreaming of my next trip to California's Central Coast, sitting sitting by the sea outside a small cottage, sipping the local vino, enjoying the sounds of the waves crashing on the sand and rocks.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
California Snapshot: The House of Tomorrow, Palm Springs
In Palm Springs, the houses take center stage.
This one, once billed as the House of Tomorrow, is more commonly known as Elvis's Honeymoon House. It's where Elvis and Priscilla spent their first year of marriage.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Some of New Zealand's Best Kept Secret Attractions
Mention New Zealand and people immediately think bungy jumping, wine drinking, hobbits, and amazing scenery.
But dig a little deeper, head off the beaten track, and you’ll discover much, much more – a secret New Zealand full of unique attractions and activities just waiting to be explored.
Here’s a sampling…
1. The Hokonui Moonshine Festival – New Zealand’s original boutique whisky festival, celebrating ‘Old Hokonui‘ whiskey, is held every February in the sleepy southern town of Gore . If you miss the festival, you can still discover the region’s colourful history at the Hokonui
Moonshine.
But it’s not all prohibition and illicit stills. Culture, too, can be found in Gore at the Eastern Southland Art Gallery which, by featuring a diverse collection of primarily New Zealand and Australian works, attracts thousands of art lovers from around New Zealand and the world.
2. Driving Creek Railway & Potteries – New Zealand may not have Paris but it does have it’s own ‘Eyefull’ Tower, located on the outskirts of Coromandel Town a few hours drive east of Auckland. You can only get to the tower by taking a ride on the country’s only narrow gauge mountain railway through Barry Brickell’s working pottery and wildlife sanctuary.
A rail enthusiast, Barry started building the narrow gauge rail tracks back in the 1970s as a way of transporting the clay and pine wood located high up the hill down to his pottery studio. These days, though, the train mainly transports tourists.
3. The Giant’s House - Hidden away in the small harbor town of Akaroa, just 85 kilometers outside Christchurch, the Giant’s House, with it’s innovative and extravagant horticultural displays and wacky mosaic sculptures, could easily be one of the most unusual B&B’s in the world.
The house wasn’t always like that. Built in the 1880’s for the local bank manager, this two storey French Style house had, for many years, a rather sedate existence. But then artist Josie Martin arrived on the scene and gave the house a rather extreme makeover, transforming it to reflect her imaginative and whimsical personality.
4. Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake & Iceberg - Very few glaciers around the world terminate into a lake. And even fewer are accessible to the average traveler. The Tasman Glacier, located within the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park just four hours from Christchurch, offers a chance to get up closer and personal with the glacier and it’s huge floating icebergs.
5. Stonehenge Aotearoa - You can find the world’s newest (opened in 2005) Stonehenge, a full-scale adaptation of the original Salisbury Plains Stonehenge, just an hour’s drive north of Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city. This New Zealand ‘Stonehenge’ incorporates Maori lore and marks the stars and constellations that Polynesian navigators followed on their voyages across the Pacific Ocean.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Write to Travel Heads for the High Seas...
As I write this, I'm sitting in the lobby of Four Points at Sheraton in Sydney, Australia, catching up with emails and blogs before boarding the Dawn Princess for the first leg of it's World Cruise. Traveling with my mother, I will be spending the next 54 days port hopping on our way to England.
During this time, the Write to Travel blog will be taking a sabbatical from travel writing information and instead, will be featuring 'photo of the day' posts tracking my travels.
I'll be writing about life on the high seas over at Planet Eye Traveler and Perceptive Travel Blog.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Write to Travel is on the road this week...
Off on a short road trip this week to the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island so Write to Travel will be taking a break from it’s usual weekly posts.
With only limited internet access, it’s likely that there won’t be any posts until next week.
.......
Meanwhile...
Write to Travel is on the lookout for guest bloggers for the Guest Post Friday slot.
So far, we have had three Guest Post Fridays which have been interesting and entertaining.
What National Geographic Taught Me by Lola Akinmade
'Bells and Whistles ... Incorporating audio and video into your blog' by Keith Kellet
Travel Media Showcase by Kara Williams
Want to join in? Have something to say about freelance writing, travel writing, conferences, courses, blogging, etc.
Then send through an email to Kiwiwriter (at) xtra (dot) co (dot) nz. We want to hear what you have to say...
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Spain Revisited: Segovia in one day...
Only two hours northeast of Madrid by train (10.20 Euro return), Segovia is often overlooked by travellers who daytrip instead to the more well known Toledo and Avilla. Bur for my money, Segovia is the place to go.
To start with, it’s less crowded than Toledo and Avilla. And after dealing with crowded streets of Madrid, this is a definite plus.
But it’s the ruins of the Roman Aquaduct that's the main attraction. 
An amazing feat of engineering, most likely built in the 1st Century (98-117 AD), this aquaduct is one of the most well preserved Roman structures in the world.
Then there is Alcazar, the fairytale castle that sits at the top of the city. 
And for something truly unique (and disturbing) there is the Ancient Museum of Witchcraft.
Of course, along the way, there is also the Plaza Mayor, numerous churches, and an amazing cathedral to discover.
Segovia can easily be explored in one day. But to get an in depth view of this historic city, it would be worthwhile stay for at least a week. Next time I will. I have already chosen my hotel. It overlooks the Plaza Mayor...
Monday, October 08, 2007
NYC Revisited: Ellen's Stardust Diner...
It was only by chance and a whole lot of rain that we discovered Ellen’s Stardust Diner at Broadway and 51st. A chain reaction you could say. Two days earlier we had been booked on a walking tour of Movie Locations around Central Park. But just as the tour started so did the rain. The skies opened up. The rains came down. Appearing just as suddenly as the rain, street vendors started waving souvenir umbrellas for sale at highly inflated prices. We had already looked like drowned rats but of course we bought the umbrellas. After all, the tour must go on. 
It was a bedraggled looking group of umbrella huggers who finally entered Central Park. Our determined guide rattled of names and locations as we tried to listen and avoid increasingly large puddles of water. But as the rains continued to bucket down, it soon became evident that tour was quickly becoming a wash out. And although it wasn’t in the terms of the ticket (which said tours would happen rain or shine), we were offered the chance to take a future Movie Location Bus Tour instead. Having stepped in one to many puddles, it was an offer we couldn’t refuse.
The pick up point for the bus tour was Broadway and 51st, just outside Ellen’s Stardust Diner. And that’s how we discovered a slice of Americana, complete with singing wait staff. 
This retro theme 1940’s and 1950’s diner, outfitted with nostalgic memorabilia, provides great diner style food, good service and plenty of entertainment. We were there for breakfast and it couldn’t be faulted - a huge plate of eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, and a constantly filled coffee cup. And then there was the singing. We were entertained with a steady stream of music. One minute you were being served coffee, then next your waiter was bellowing out ‘Sweet Caroline’ to a group of girl scouts celebrating the birthday of one of their group. Yes, you guessed it - the birthday girl was named Caroline.
It was like being in a time warp, circa 1950s. I kept looking to the door, expecting the gang of ‘Happy Days’ to walk through. Of course, that never happened but the astmosphere within the diner made it feel that it could...
Monday, September 17, 2007
Madrid...Visiting El Rastro.
Madrid’s best known flea market, El Rastro, is located right in the heart of the city. Run every Sunday and feast days, this market features over 1,000 stalls spread over numerous streets, alleys, and plazas. Popular with both locals and tourists, this is not the place to go if you dislike crowds. It starts out quietly at 9 am but within two hours the streets are packed with people, all seeking bargains. 
Everything and anything is sold at El Rastro - clothes, paintings, household fixtures, books, stamps, etc. But don’t expect to make the find of the century. Most of the stuff being sold is quite ordinary. In fact, it’s kinda hard to find anything authentically Spanish. Most of the products for sale seem to have been imported from somewhere else. Pictures from Italy and Africa, clothes from China and Korea, and home decorations from around the world. The market really is a demonstration in the effects of globalization. 
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Fieria de Libros - Madrid's Open Air Book Market
This unique open air book market is located along the Cuesta de Moyano. Named after Claudia Moyano, the politician who reformed the Spanish education system in the mid 1800s, it has been a favorite with locals for generations. Wooden stalls, piled high with old and rare books, sit along the Cuesto de Moyano from the Atocha end of the Paseo del Prado heading uphill to the southwestern corner of the Retiro Park.
The market is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm but Sunday morning is the liveliest time to visit. 
Friday, September 07, 2007
Leaving Madrid...
I’m leaving Madrid this morning heading for La Alberca in the province of Salamanca. La Alberca is one of the first rural villages in Spain to be awarded National Historic Heritage. It is also the venue for the Pueblo Ingles program that I am participating in for a week. Pueblo Ingles is a an emersion program for Spaniards looking to improve their conversational English. Volunteers, such as myself, are recruited from all over world to help maintain an ‘English only’ environment.
It sounds like fun…and perhaps hard work…
I’ll let you know…
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Riding the buses…the Madrid Vision
With only a few days in Madrid, it makes sense to look for a way to see as much of Madrid as possible. I usually try to ride the local buses around a new city to get a feel of the place and observe and interactive with local people. But this time, with such limited time, I opted for a tourist bus - the Madrid Vision. This highly visible red double-decker bus travels two routes - the historic and the modern - around the city. Each trip takes around 45 minutes and provides an great overall of places and sights around Madrid. And you can hop on and off as often as you wish.
On boarding the bus, you are given a red headset that provide access to a running commentary in the language of your choice. Be warned, though, not all plugs seem to work. It took me three seat changes before I found my commentator. As the bus wasn’t very full, this wasn’t a problem.
The Madrid Vision made sightseeing around the city easy, allowing me to discover the location of places that I had previously only seen in pictures. The bus travelled down the Calle Mayor to the Plaza Puerto del Sol, then on to the Atocha Train Station, stopping briefly at The Prado, skirting the Parque del Retiro and heading back toward the Palacio Real. I saw brief glimpses of the many monuments and statues around the city and was enthralled by the ornate windows, doors, and roofs of the buildings.
Sitting up in the open air top level of the bus, it was easy to look down onto the street and observe the locals and other tourists. It’s a bit voyeuristic really. I could watch people as they wandered along the streets, stopping at lights, and shopping for food and drink. 
And from such an elevated location, there was also a much clear view of the buildings, and in particular the monuments and murals that seem to be common place along the streets of Madrid. 
Along the way, I also learned some interesting things about buses and sightseeing…
- trying to get a good photography when the bus is moving is impossible.
- there’s never a good shot when the bus is stopped- the view is either blocked, shadowed, none existent…
- standing up when the bus is moving is not always a good idea.
- sun burn and heat stroke is a good possibility when sitting in an open air bus.
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