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SPIRIT OF FATHER’S DAY–BOOZE-BASED gift concepts FOR dad

What to get dad for Father’s Day doesn’t have to be a difficult (or cliche-heavy) task. sometimes it’s just working on a theme. right here are nine alternate spirit-based gift concepts for the drinking dad you most likely haven’t heard of.

Thinking of gifts for Father’s Day is a tricky job. There’s always push-back against playing into cliches like socks, barbeque stuff or vouchers to a hardware store. as well as if he drinks, booze is always a great option.

The funny thing is sometimes blokes just want new socks, shiny new tools for the braai or even just an reason to roam aimlessly around Bunnings for a while.

Sometimes we just want a replacement bottle of our favourite spirit.

But if you’re still worried about being fundamental with your gift choices, there’s nothing wrong with putting a spin on old themes.

These merino wool socks, this book on American style barbeque sauces or this remarkable Leatherman Skeletool all-in-one multitool are excellent examples of that.

And rather than just going down the grog shop as well as grabbing the exact same bottle as last year for him, right here are some other concepts that’ll still tick a Father’s Day box, however that will likewise add a bit of range too.

Spirit of Father’s Day – 9 of the very best spirits for Dad’s special day

Here are nine spirits to switch up a Father’s Day gift to be something truly special.

For the vodka drinker

Everyone’s heard of Grey Goose, Absolut as well as Stoli, as well as they’re all fine, however what about something with a bit more nuance?

Kavka Vodka is a traditional polish vodka, whose recipes predate Russian vodkas. Smooth as glass however with incredible depth as well as texture, this vodka shows you just exactly how great the genuine stuff can taste.

For the mixologist

Apart from being in the most lovely bottle we’ve ever seen, St Germain elderflower liqueur is a cocktail-maker’s finest friend.

This artisanal French liqueur, made of hand-selected elderflowers, brings a unique variety of flavours—from sweetness to citrus, as well as floral as well as tropical fruit notes—to a drink. just like this. as well as did I mention it looks quite great on your bar?

For the gin sipper

Australia’s craft gin motion seems to be creating more as well as more world-beating gins every day. I’m constantly impressed by what Aussie distillers are creating.

From the northern suburbs of Melbourne VIC, Naught Distillery has four excellent gins, which you can checked out about here. however their navy stamina gin—the Naught Overproof—is the best.

Sitting at 57.4% ABV, this gin should strike your head off, however it’s smooth as well as packed with flavour. Pink woman apples, citrus, flavor as well as a savoury, almost smoky juniper note bring so much to any type of gin mixed drink you put it in.

On the darker side of things, Sydney-based Goodradigbee Distillery has a rich golden barrel-aged gin that’s quite special called Sweetwater Gin.

There are a few barrel-aged gins around, however not many are utilizing native hardwood like Goodradigbee, who have produced cube-like barrels from ironbark heartwood.

The woody flavor from the ironbark sits beautifully amongst the gin’s botanicals of anise myrtle native citrus, highland pepper berries, Batlow apples as well as juniper. This is a excellent sipping gin—neat or on the rocks—and even works well in a filthy martini.

You can checked out more about Goodradigbee’s three gins here.

For the whiskey drinker

I might compose a whole story on whisky recommendations—especially with so many exceptional Aussie whiskies available at the moment.

But I’ve been a fan of Westward Distillery for many years now. coming from a brewing background, this American single malt whiskey distillery (as opposed to Bourbon or Rye, which is more typical in the States) has taken their whiskey even further by ageing it in ex-Pinot Noir casks.

You can checked out our full evaluation on Westward’s Pinot Noir Cask single malt here, however take it from me: this stuff’s the business.

For the cognac connoisseur

Hennesy, Remy as well as Courvoisier step aside. This is my new favourite VSOP. as well as with a heritage going back to 1838, the home of Monnet has a vaunted history of creating a few of the finest au-de-vie spirits in the world.

Aged for a minimum of four years in French oak casks from the Limousine region, Monnet’s VSOP Cognac is magnificent. packed with rich fruits, honey as well as nougat, spice, leather as well as vanilla, this cognac is in a league of its own.

For the tequila aficionado

Of course, to phone call tequila tequila, it must be made with agave plants grown as well as distilled in Mexico. however having perfect growing conditions for these giant spiky succulents right here in Australia means craft distillers right here are producing some exceptional iterations of this iconic Mexican spirit.

Way up in the Atherton Tablelandsof far North Queensland, install Uncle Distillery has produced an aged ‘Anejo’ agave spirit called dirt road Dark. aged for two years in American Oak barrels, dirt road Dark has a deep amber colour as well as silky vanilla, toffee as well as coconut aromas, though there’s still a fleeting whiff of oily agave.

You likewise taste vanilla as well as toffee, however there’s likewise a nuttiness as well as agave ‘funk’ that grounds this excellent spirit. Sip it neat or switch it in for whisky in any type of traditional cocktail.

Here’s more on Mt Uncle’s dirt road range.

For the rum rebel

Considering all the sugar cane that grows here, it’s never made sense to me that rum isn’t Australia’s national spirit. having stated that, rum’s popularity is growing again—especially since people are finding it’s not all Bundaberg.

From install Uncle Distillery—the exact same distillery that makes dirt road Dark, Iridium Rum from far North Queensland is a exceptional example of just exactly how great Aussie rum can be.

Made with sugar cane syrup rather than more commonly utilized molasses, this gold rum—aged for at least five years in ex-red wine barrels—is superb. Smooth as well as bursting with fudge, cinnamon, herbs as well as honey, this is a rum fan’s rum.

But if spiced rum is the flavour of the day, throw away your Captain Morgan as well as Sailor Jerry. stone pine Distillery in Bathurst NSW makes Dead Man’s Gold.

This gold spiced rum is so completely balanced—an skillfully crafted barrel-aged rum gilded with tasty flavours of buttery toasted coconut, toffee, vanilla as well as cinnamon myrtle.

Check out our evaluation of Dead Man’s Gold here.

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THE WORLD’S greatest BRUNCH – THE OLD CONVENT, ORANGE, NSW

Brunch is one of those meals some people scoff at (sorry for the pun).

They think it’s somewhere between snobby and yuppyish. but really it’s just somewhere between breakfast and lunch.

The best thing about brunch is that you get to eat as much as you would for lunch when it’s still practically early enough to be breakfast and there’s no judgement.

It’s also acceptable to have a drink at brunch as well. Brilliant!

Ever because I’ve considered myself grown-up enough to opt for brunch (all-you-can-eat Pizza Hut Tuesdays not included), I’ve had the pleasure of consuming some delicious food. but I think I’ve officially had the best brunch yet.

It’s a big call, isn’t it? I imply all those brunches out there – what makes this one so special? allow me to explain.

This place, the Old Convent just outside Orange, new South Wales, is only open Sundays. As the name suggests, it used to be a convent full of nuns. The nuns have all gone, but the old building remains.

It’s a beautiful little secluded spot out in the hills and grape vines of the NSW countryside. As you arrive in the little car park round the back of the main building, you’re greeted by the smells of cooking.

Inside, the cafe is light and airy. The doors and walls are all bi-fold windowed louvres and open to allow the fresh country air in. The kitchen is open-plan so you can see what the chef’s up to and how much longer your tummy has to wait for satisfaction!

The kitchen and waitstaff, run by a permanent skeleton crew of about four, turn out a fixed menu three-course brunch degustation. The menu changes every week, but even though our waiter explained what we were having, we all waited – breath baited and bellies yearning – for each dish.

After a very nicely made coffee, our first course came out. A bowl of toasted granola muesli made with local honey, local yoghurt and local berries. The yoghurt was creamy but still cut through the sweetness of the honey. The juicy berries popped between our teeth and the crunch to the toasted granola was perfect.

Next was a plate of corn fritter, which was crisp on the outside and delicious and spongy in the middle. It came with a generous dollop of locally made goat’s curd on top with a roasted tomato and rocket salad side. It was an intelligent middle dish for the fixed menu.

Finally for the savory dishes, we were served a poached egg from a local farm with crisp, lean bacon and a crunchy slab of homemade hash brown. I love hash browns and this was just how I like them. The egg could have been a bit runnier, but it was a minor detail in a beautiful bigger picture.

Lastly the sweets were placed in front of us. Dense homemade chocolate brownies and shiny citrusy lemon tarts stared up at us, commanding us to eat them like Alice.

We were with our friends Peter and Rickie, so we politely divided them up. If we had been on our own, both of us would have gone away with fists full of lemon and brownie.

As it was, we cut each into sharable sizes and delighted in their exquisite flavours and textures together. The brownies were sweet, caramelly and perfect. and the lemon tarts had a perfectly balanced sharpness in a superb crisp short pastry shell. It was an outstanding end to the meal.

We sat and chatted throughout the easy meal – somehow not having to choose from a menu removes the pressure of potential food envy, and lets you unwind and just delight in the company and the food.

As you may have worked out the food is all locally sourced – their mission statement is all about supporting local companies and growers. The staff and owners of the Old Convent – all locals – are extremely accommodating. They allow BYO alcohol if you want to make your brunch into a special occasion.

A couple of other tables had popped a bottle of champagne to have with their meal.

To get to the Old Convent, head over the rail track on Escort way to Parkes and Forbes (coming from Orange or Sydney). turn best on Amaroo road then best again on Convent Road.

It’s strongly recommended that you book – details on the Old Convent’s Facebook page here, and make sure you either have cash or a cheque book as there are no card facilities there.

There is also accommodation at the Old Convent, but we only stayed for brunch. The cottage looks beautiful and is big enough for up to four people.

Maybe next time, ay?

Café open Sundays from 9am – 4.30pm for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

The Old Convent
Convent Lane
Borenore
NSW
P: 02 6365 2420
E: oldconvent@bigpond.com
FB: @oldconvent

What’s the best brunch you’ve ever had? tell us about it in the comments.

Images by Mrs Romance.

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Corfu, Greece: celebrating Our 10 Year anniversary in style

What do you want to do for our anniversary? Where should we spend it? Where in the world would be romantic and fun?!

To be honest, when it came to deciding where we should spend our anniversary, and what special activities we should do for it, we were both stumped. We’ve been together for ten years now, with eight of those years spent living and travelling abroad.

What could we do that would stand out and be memorable for this occasion?

When we finally decided on Greece for our 10 year anniversary destination, we knew it was the right choice. When it comes to romance, Greece is the ultimate country! having just spent some time in Zakynthos and Kefalonia, we were excited to see what the northern Ionian island had to offer for our special celebration.

Don’t miss our traveller tips and our video from Corfu at the end of this post!

Strolling through the streets of the UNESCO listed Corfu Town
Corfu is known for being a more cosmopolitan island than its neighbours, complete with numerous hotels, highly acclaimed restaurants, and unique lounges & bars. having said that, this island is also home to a UNESCO listed capital, ancient monasteries and a rugged interior. Plus, the traditional practices of olive oil and honey production feature prominently on Corfu.

This fusion of modernity, history and nature was something that we were excited to discover.

Corfu, here we come! We flew from Kefalonia to Corfu

We arrived on Corfu Island after a quick flight with Aegean Airlines and continued with our usual routine of picking up a rental car. as with the rest of the islands we had visited so far in our time travelling Greece, we knew we needed our own wheels to explore all that Corfu had to offer, an island which is 65 kilometers long and spans 585 square kilometers.

Within minutes of being on the island, the romance and luxury commenced.

Arriving at the 5 star MarBella Corfu, we were greeted in the dazzling lobby by a smiling receptionist, who then handed us a glass of champagne. things were off to a terrific start, but they got even better.

Welcome to MarBella Corfu! let the romance begin
Passing by a large outdoor pool, with sun-loungers and bar, we arrived at our room.

Our seaview suite for the following four nights was exceptional. With two spacious decks, two bathrooms (one with a bathtub), a living area with a sofa, table and TV, two closets and a comfortable king-sized bed, we never wanted to leave the room. We opened the complimentary bottle of red wine, and snacked on fresh fruits we found waiting for us, while enjoying the view of the sea backed by lush hills.

Seaview room at the MarBella Corfu!
Our stunning room at the MarBella Corfu, plus the outdoor pool and meal at the Platea Greek onsite restaraunt
With just six days to experience as much on Corfu Island as possible, we right away set off to explore.

We drove through quiet streets, down unnamed roads and along the coastline – stopping at little tavernas along the way to sample the traditional Corfu cuisine. Sofrito, which consists of thin slices of beef cooked in a wine sauce with parsley and garlic, and the freshly grilled octopus with a squeeze of lemon were standout dishes.

Grilled octopus is a very popular dish in Greece
Local tavernas didn’t rule our whole trip, however, we also dined twice at the incredible Salto wine Bar in Corfu Town, and the Etrusco Restaurant, which has been awarded best restaurant in Greece, 2017 by Athinorama Magazine! Whether you’re interested in rustic, local food, or something a little more upscale, with a twist on the traditional dishes, you’ll find it in Corfu. There’s no shortage of excellent restaurants on the island.

Dining at Salto wine Bar in Corfu Town…twice!
With clouds looming overhead for much of our stay, we were becoming a little disheartened about our anniversary plan, which was to hire a boat independently and explore the coastline. But, if you can believe it, the sun broke through on our special day and we made a beeline to the northeast end of the island, to Agni boats near Gimari.

We were given a little paper map, a rundown on how to operate the boat, and within minutes, we were set free to cruise around the north and eastern part of Corfu on our own! No boat licence needed, no previous experience required.

Renting a boat for our anniversary was such a terrific way to spend the day
Now, this was the magic we were looking for! This was such a unique way to spend the day, as it was something we had never experienced together. Sure, we’ve been boating in the past, but renting a boat in a foreign country with just the two of us out at sea,this was new.

With our summer music blaring on our travel bluetooth speakers and a bag full of booze and snacks, we zipped around to rugged (empty) coves with white sand beaches. We anchored up at local tavernas for lunch and drinks, and jumped off the boat to swim in the clear water. With views of mainland Greece and Albania to the east, the rocky hillsides and pretty coves of Corfu to the west, and no one else around, it was the perfect day.

A gorgeous day for a boat ride in Greece!

We encountered some wind and waves towards the end of the day, but for the most part, the water it was completely calm. After seven hours spent out on the Ionian Sea, it was time to return our little 45 horsepower boat. Hiring our own boat abroad was an experience we’ll never forget, and was the optimal way to spend our anniversary.

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After four nights at the stunning Marbella Corfu, we checked out and made our way north, where we would base ourselves for another two nights at Corfu Palma boutique Hotel. We love boutique places, and this unique hotel checked all of the boxes.

With just four floors, this low-rise hotel had an intimate feel. We were staying on the 4th floor in the stunning superior design Suite and when we opened the door to our room, our jaws dropped. The room was exquisitely modern, with white walls and beams running along the ceiling. A bright red L-shaped sofa sat in the living area, and paintings from the island hung on the walls.

Our stunning room at the Corfu Palma boutique Hotel
Spyros, the manager, knew that we were working with discover Greece and had suggested that we stay in the superior design Suite which was the best room they had. He thought we would probably need to get some work done, and this room had a table for us to blog at. He also invited us for drinks with him at the hotel bar, followed by dinner and live Greek music on the terrace.

Spyros also decided that because we had been travelling around so quickly, we needed some relaxation. So, he booked us in for an hour-long, full body, couple’s massage at the hotel’s Aphrodite Spa!

Dining at the famous Etrusco Restaurant, by Michelin Starred Chef, Ettore Botrini

And finally, the generous man suggested we check out the nearby Etrusco restaurant and have a 10 course meal, complete with wine pairing from the famous, Michelin Starred chef Ettore Botrini, who just so happened to be his friend.

We felt so welcomed and well taken care of by Spyros and his team at Corfu Palma!

Thanks for everything Spyros! We had a wonderful stay

Not only was the hotel gorgeous and the staff lovely, but the location was terrific to be able to see the last few things on our Corfu itinerary. We headed up to the very northern end of the island to the Canal d’Amour beach. Immediately, we were in awe of the bizarre shaped, coloured cliffs, which looked like they would crumble if we stepped too close to the edge.

It’s said, that if you swim through the Canal d’Amour (love canal), you will get married soon. Now, I don’t know about that, but it was yet another romantic experience during our check out to Corfu.

Rocks and cliffs near Sidari Town, if you swim through the Canal d’Amour, you’ll get married soon
Leaving the love canal behind, it was time to experience some of the ancient products still used today in Greece – olive oil and honey, two of our favourites.

The governor is a family run olive grove and mill on the island. Not only do they make an excellent, award-winning product, but their olive oil has incredible health benefits. In 2014, 700 different olive oils from around the world were scientifically tested in Athens. The results showed that the oleocanthal and oleacein concentrations in The governor extra virgin olive oil were 7 times higher than the average of the samples tested. In fact, this olive oil is being tested for its ability to cure Alzheimer’s and cancer!

The brothers, George and Spyros, welcomed us to the mill with a glass of white wine and explained about olive oil production.

Meeting with the Spyros and George, two brothers who are very passionate about their olive oil business
We were invited into a cool, stone room, where some premium extra virgin olive oil was poured into a small glass. We were then instructed to warm it with our hands, sip some of the oil and let it slide to the back of our throats. We then breathed in lightly and swallowed. The flavour was bitter, nutty, and spicy, in fact, we actually coughed when swallowing – which (apparently) is a good sign.

We coated some local varieties of cheese, and homemade bread with the olive oil, and even had some yogurt drizzled in oil! It was delicious.

As a gift, we were given a bottle of their premium extra virgin olive oil, which was an excellent addition to our bread and cheese platters during our stay in Greece.

Sampling the delicious premium olive oils at The governor Mill

From one liquid gold to the next, we moved on to meet Mr. Honey, a man who left his career as an engineer in Athens, for a quieter life on Corfu Island. Today this beekeeper has 500 hives!

Now, I’m as interested in honey and beekeeping as the next person, but when we met up with Panagiotis Vasilakis, Nick’s inner love for bees shone through! He was extremely enthusiastic about beekeeping and honey production. It was hilarious! The two men chatted forever about bees, while I snooped around at the olive oil and pollen products on offer.

Natural beauty products are just some of the many products on offer at Mr. Honey’s bee shop
I may as well not have been there as the two of them were in their own little world, being total bee geeks! It was too funny. The tour itself is free for all bee and honey lovers, and there are numerous homemade honey products available for purchase, all made with love by Mr. Vasilakis’ wife.

By the end of six nights on Corfu Island, we had travelled from north to south and east to west. We ate our way around the island, visited numerous beaches, met some wonderful people, stayed in some stunning accommodations and had a romantic anniversary celebration.

Dining seaside at local tavernas is a highlight of any trip to Corfu

Corfu impressed us with its lovely UNESCO capital city, its friendly people and its multitude of activities. We thoroughly enjoyed the luxury and romance on offer in Corfu! If you haven’t travelled to this Greek island yet, add it to the list!

Tips For Travellers to Corfu

We flew from Kefalonia to Corfu Island with Aegean Airlines. Click here to see their flight costs and times.

I suggest having a rental automobile to explore all that Corfu has to offer. We rented our automobile through Expedia.com, which searches through the cheapest rentals available. The further in advance you book, the cheaper it will be.

For accommodation options, we can recommend Corfu Palma boutique hotel for a terrific small hotel, and MarBella Corfu if you’re looking for more of a luxury resort feel.

Hiring a boat is such a unique way to spend the day! The cost was €80 (discounted from €120) for the day, plus €40 for gas. The boat can fit 4 people comfortably. We booked with Agni boats and had a positive experience. You can email them at: info@agniboats.com, or check out TripAdvisor here. Be aware, there is another company pretending to operate as Agni Boats, so call them to confirm it’s George and Alex who are the owners as we can’t speak for the other company!

Visit Corfu town both during the day, and in the evening. The lighting of the UNESCO town at night is stunning.

Recommend Restaurants: Salto wine Bar (we spent €35 for 2 appetizers + 2 main courses), Akron beach Bar (lunch for two of us was €20), Taverna Glyfa (lunch for two of us was €30), Etrusco (set menu starting from €70 / person) and Taverna Savvas (lunch for two

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10 finest things TO perform in HIROSHIMA, JAPAN [WITH suggested TOURS]

Are you planning to travel to Hiroshima, Japan, soon? checked out our suggestions below on the things to perform in Hiroshima with suggested tours.

Photo by Nicki Eliza Schinow on Unsplash
Everybody has heard of Hiroshima, the disaster that occurred during world war II; the bombing. However, the Japanese were resilient, as well as they rebuilt Hiroshima as well as has made it what it currently is now. It’s a thriving city with numerous unforgettable locations as well as beautiful sites.

WHICH IS OLDER – ST ALBANS OR LONDON?

Of course, everyone’s heard of London, however not everybody understands St Albans. It’s a gorgeous historic town just north of London, as well as in this regular edition we go to both.

So whilst catching up with a hold of friends, we get a possibility to inspect out a few of the oldest parts of England.

And by the way, St Albans is rather a bit older than London.

There’s evidence that St Albans was established in the Iron Age by the Celts, who called it Verlamion, while London (or Londinium) was a Roman settlement only 2000 years ago.

Hope you enjoy this regular Edition.

Jim & Christina xx

Blue skies have been complying with us on this trip as well as we couldn’t be happier. Now, as the seasons are changing, I can’t stop photographing the autumn leaves. I like watching the colours turn as well as St Albans is putting on a show.

In a moment of serendipity, our favourite Americans are in St Albans too!

They’re on their last stop after a trip to San Sebastian as well as Prague as well as we coordinate with our buddy Charlotte for a reunion. The last time we were together was in Bronte at the begin of last year. since then, Charlotte has had the most gorgeous infant woman – what a difference a year makes!

It’s a joy to be together again.

Our reunion is full of laughs as well as we begin at the White Hart Hotel. This building is supposed to be haunted as well as runs ghost tours, however they are a fantastic bar to sit in with buddies when you have so much to talk about.

The pub tour of St Albans continues with stops at The Boot (full of character) as well as The Peahen (great food as well as beer garden).

Walking with town the night before, we spotted a adorable cafe as well as have headed back there very first thing in the morning. It seems our timing’s just right as it was opening day for Nkora cafe and they’re providing out free coffee.

And after some awful coffee experiences in the UK, this is one we can recommend. It appears like a cross between an Australian as well as Japanese cafe with a minimalist interior as well as appropriate sized coffee cups. (What is it with the coffee bowls over here?!)

Re-fuelled, we set out to show Anna more of gorgeous St Albans.

After wandering with town, we head to the Abbey.

Even though we’ve visited St Albans a few times, this is our very first time inside as well as it’s like a tardis. It’s stated to have been a location of worship since the 8th Century as well as the parts of the present building date back to the 11th Century.

We occur to begin chatting to a lovely reverend in the cathedral who’s extremely excited to show us the shrine of St Alban as well as tell us more of the history. When somebody is passionate about a topic, it truly brings it to life. These conversations are the moments that you keep in mind when you’re travelling.

Always keep in mind to look up when you’re travelling too!

Between the Abbey as well as the old Roman wall, you’ll discover one more building with some incredible history.

Ye Olde fighting Cocks is a genuine competitor for the oldest pub in Britain as well as it dates back to the 8th Century as well. There are supposedly tunnels that lead to the Abbey as well as Oliver Cromwell was stated to have hitched his equine to the bar here.

This pub is an absolute must go to in St Albans – just watch your head as you walk through!

After enjoying the regional culture, we wandered back to see the others as well as were treated to a traditional British sunset.

When your buddies online around the world, you take any type of moment you can to catch up as well as we liked our time here.

Next stop is London to see one of my oldest as well as dearest friends, as well as of program the sun is still shining!

On days like this, we begin to question if we might online in London… do you ever do that when you travel?

But then there was a tube strike, as well as we kept in mind what a packed train truly looked like. We were extremely happy to have such a gorgeous day for walking.

With a bit time before satisfying my friend, we relied on the Gin Queen to discover out where to stop for a tipple in London. Of program she came back with a brilliant listing as well as before long we discovered ourselves in the lift as much as the 40th floor to go to the Duck & Waffle.

The restaurant right here is open 24 hours, so is a perfect area for travellers caught in a delay. The mixed drink listing is quite great as well. We decided to try some new (to us) gins while we take in the view.

I like being up high as well as so if there’s a rooftop bar or a restaurant with a view – I will discover it!

Taking up most of the 40th floor, the Duck as well as Waffle catches the very best of the sunrise as well as sunset from their windows so the view modifications throughout the day.

There’s so much building happening in this part of London as well as we might sit right here all the time watching the city.

Theother thing I like about rooftop views are the huge photo scenes of the city. like seeing the trees of Finsbury Circus between the buildings.

My buddy has suggested getting some culture in so we head to the British museum for a talk on the “Future of Europe in the age of Asia”. It provides us great deals to discuss over dinner.

I adore the museums in London. There are so many free galleries as well as well as you might spend hours in here.

You may not understand that Jim has a new romance. His like of burgers isn’t new however his @beerromance Instagram account is, as well as he’s keeping track of the very best brews he comes across on his travels.

When I saw that there was a bar called the Craft Beer Co close-by we had to stop by. They have a ridiculous number of taps as well as bottles as well as Jim especially liked The Kernel Brewery. This was a extremely welcome stop on a cracking hot day in London.

But our run of perfect weather condition had to stop, as well as so we had one extremely wet as well as funny day in London.

I believe we’ve forgotten exactly how to offer with this weather condition as well as still kept with our usual plan of walking everywhere via the scenic route.

It seems that whatever is against us with our tourist day in London. The Bloody Tower is closed at the Tower of London, Buckingham palace is closed, we’ve missed Westminster Abbey’s open times by 10 minutes as it closes at 1pm as well as huge Ben is under scaffolding!

There’s still always an chance for a traditional tourist picture with an phone box though. My buddy is looking to discover a cafe close-by to warm up!

We try one last museum however the queue at the Churchill war spaces goes around the corner as well as isn’t even moving. I like exactly how the British are still living as much as Churchill’s rousing contact us to “not flag or fail. We shall go on the end.”

We pull the plug on the museums as well as head back to modification into dry clothes. quite impressed we still walked over 16k steps in the rain.

For dinner our buddies take us the the Frontline Club restaurant. It’s a fantastic area as on the ground floor of the Frontline Club, serving up seasonal contemporary British food. There are the most incredible pictures on the wall from Magnum professional photographers too.

The rain must have been a blip on our weather condition luck, as the sun comes back for our last day in London. I wished to head to the national portrait Gallery (one of my favourite areas – I might spend all the time here!) as well as on the method we get a bit sidetracked.

This is Psychobarn by Cornelia Parker at the royal Academy of Arts. Modelled partly on Norman Bates’ house, it’s developed like a film set.

10 points to you if you can get the art recommendation from our photo….!

Light plays on the exterior of the Ritz, as well as we bask in the sunshine in London again, asking ourselves what life would be like if we lived right here again?

So with our trip almost coming to an end, we contemplate exactly how lucky are. We couldn’t do it without our buddies as well as family. Living across two continents is always a jeopardize however we make the most of every moment we’re together.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our regular roundup post, it’s been wonderful for us to catch up with friends. We hope it may have put St Albans on your listing of locations to go to too!

Cheers – Jim & Christina xx

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50 Visa complimentary countries For Travellers & digital Nomads

This is the utmost list of visa complimentary countries for backpackers, travellers, digital nomads and remote workers. I’ve created this list because we know how discouraging visa research can be.

You’ve chosen the best travel destination and started to plan and prepare for an epic trip. But, in lots of places in the world, you can’t just show up and expect to be allowed to enter. There are visa complimentary countries, visa on arrival countries, and some places you need to apply for your entrance visa beforehand.

Having to pay for pricey visas can really add up when travelling — checking out visa complimentary countries will really help the budget, but also makes it much much easier to plan for a trip.

In this article, I’m going to list the 50 best visa complimentary countries for American, Canadian, Australian, and UK citizens, broken down by regions of the world.

Why am I focusing on visa complimentary countries for those nationalities? because those are the top 4 audiences on this website. In lots of instances, if the above 4 nationalities are approved visa complimentary entrance, citizens of new Zealand, the EU and often South Africa typically are as well.

This post is for the travellers out there who want to know all of the visa complimentary countries around the world, but also for remote workers and digital nomads like us who are regularly on the look out for easy places to set up shop for a little while.

If a country uses visa complimentary travel, in lots of cases they also allow for easy extensions, indicating that location independent workers can often keep extending their stay for a long time.

*Note: visa situations are regularly changing. before you purchase that flight ticket, make sure you contact the embassy of the destination you’re checking out and find out the current visa requirements.

Here’s a list of the top 50 visa complimentary countries for travellers and digital nomads. delighted travels!

Table of Contents
Visa complimentary countries in Europe
Visa complimentary countries in Asia
Visa complimentary countries in South America
Visa complimentary countries in central America & The Caribbean
Visa complimentary countries in Africa
Visa complimentary countries in Oceania
Visa complimentary countries in the middle East
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Visa complimentary countries in Europe

According to the UNWTO, last year Europe was the top checked out region in the world, with 671 million people travelling to the continent. Europe is an extraordinary destination with many highlights for travellers, and needed amenities for digital Nomads. Whether you’re interested in nature, culture, cuisine or history, there’s a country in Europe for you.

The only issue for American, Canadian and Australian citizens when travelling in parts of Europe is that we need to abide by the policies of the Schengen area – which includes 26 European nations.

Holders of these 3 passports are only allowed to stay visa complimentary for up to 90 days within the entire Schengen Area, within a 180 day period. UK passport holders can live, travel and work in the Schengen zone as long as they want.

It may sound great to be able to enter all of the countries in the Schengen zone without having to procure a visa beforehand, but it’s actually not a great to place to travel long-term because it’s tough to travel to 26 countries in just 3 months!

There are currently 4 countries – Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia and Romania – that are legally obliged to join the Schengen Area, but they haven’t as of the time of writing this post (so, get there while you can).

The Republic of Ireland and the united kingdom are opt-outs and won’t join the Schengen Area. Both of which are extraordinary destinations for travellers, although they aren’t the most affordable when compared to the Balkans and Eastern Europe. (See also: cheap countries in Europe – A guide For Travellers)

Prague is a stunning city to visit, but it’s in the Schengen Area
Georgia

This country is at the crossroads between Asia and Europe, but I’m adding it under “Europe” because it has a European feel and was part of our Europe trip. In terms of entry requirements, Georgia is at the top of the list of the best visa complimentary countries.

Australian, Canadian, American and British passport holders can stay in Georgia visa complimentary for a year. That’s right, you have 365 days to immerse yourself in the captivating city of Tbilisi, explore the many mountains, take a dip in one of the lots of excellent lakes, and dine on some tasty food and wine. lots of digital nomads choose tobase themselves in Tbilisi for part of the year, leaving when the cooler wintertime weather arrives.

☞ Georgia entry requirements: Australian, Canadian, American and UK citizens can stay visa complimentary for up to 365 days. You need to have 1 blank page in your passport and it need to be valid for 6 months beyond your intended stay in Georgia.

Bulgaria

This is another top choice when it pertains to visa complimentary countries in Europe. With historical cities, friendly people, excellent mountains, affordable travel and breathtaking coastal regions, Bulgaria seems to have it all. Don’t miss the fun things to do in Plovdiv, the capital of Sofia, the seaside area of Varna and of course, the mountains around Bansko.

☞ Bulgaria entry requirements: Australian, Canadian, American and UK citizens do not need a visa to enter into Bulgaria, and can stay 90 days, within a 180 day period. A passport that is valid for 3 months after entry is required.

Croatia

If you’re trying to find one of the best coastal visa complimentary countries, which also has many historical sites and extraordinary nature and amenities that travellers want, then consider Croatia. Split is a good place to base yourself for a while, which is exactly what we did. Dubrovnik is the sensational real life game Of Thrones set, Plitvice Lakes are a natural wonder, and the islands offshore are best for a sailing getaway. Croatia uses exceptional value for money.

☞ Croatia entry requirements: Australian, Canadian, American and UK citizens do not need a visa to enter into Croatia, and can stay up to 90 days, within a 180 day period. You need to register with local police within 24 hours of arriving, however, if you’re staying at a hotel, they will do this for you. You need to also have 3 months validity on your passport from the time you plan to leave Croatia, or you will be denied entry.

Enjoy Croatia before it becomes a part of the Schengen Area

Romania

Another easy country to travel in for 3 months. Romania is another one of the visa complimentary countries that not lots of people talk about. With medieval, mountainous towns like Brașov and Bran, the bustling city of Bucharest, special folk culture, sensational nature and tasty food, Romania must absolutely be on your European travel itinerary. Not to mention, it has blazing fast wi-fi for us digital nomads and it’s a very affordable place to visit.

☞ Romania entry requirements: Australian, Canadian, American and UK citizens do not need a visa to enter into Romania, and can stay up to 90 days, within a 180 day period. Romania does not require you to have 3 months validity on your passport after you leave the country. It only requires your passport to be valid during your stay. However, if you’re boarding a plane in a Schengen area country, they may deny you boarding if you don’t have 3 or a lot more months left on your passport.

Serbia

Another country that is often overlooked by travellers, Serbia has a lot to offer! This visa complimentary country likes to get wild and is home to all night parties and popular festivals, especially in the cities of Belgrade and Novi Sad. But, it’s not just about the all-nighters in Serbia. The people are warm and welcoming, the nature and national parks are beautiful, and the churches, fortresses and monasteries are not to be missed. If you’re on the search for visa complimentary countries with an extraordinary history, look no additionally than Serbia.

☞ Serbia entry requirements: Australian, Canadian, American and UK citizens do not need a visa to enter into Serbia, and can stay up to 90 days, within a 180 day period.

United Kingdom & the Republic of Ireland

These English-speaking visa complimentary countries are easy to get around independently and offer visitors an extraordinary amount of history and architecture (castles!). The pub culture is always fun, the pints of beer are varied and tasty and British food is actually quite good. The people of The UK and Ireland are warm and welcoming and have a great sense of humour – you’re sure to have a good time here.

☞ united kingdom entry requirements: Australian, Canadian and American citizens can visit visa complimentary for 6 months.

☞ Republic of Ireland entry requirements: Australian, Canadian and American citizens can enter visa complimentary for 90 days. UK citizens have the ideal to complimentary movement.

Other significant Visa complimentary countries in Europe

Montenegro
Australian, Canadian, UK and American citizens can stay visa complimentary for 90 days, within a 180 day period.

Albania
Australian, Canadian and UK citizens can stay visa complimentary for 90 days, within a 180 day period. Americans can stay visa complimentary for up to 1 year.

Kosovo
Australian, Canadian, UK and American citizens can stay visa complimentary for 90 days, within a 180 day period. note that you may be required to supply documentation stating the purpose of your trip.

Macedonia
Australian, Canadian, UK and American citizens can stay visa complimentary for 90 days, within a 180 day period.

Bosnia & Herzegovina
Australian, Canadian, UK and American citizens can stay visa complimentary for 90 days, within a 180 day period.

Cyprus
Australian, Canadian, UK and American citizens can stay visa complimentary for 90 days, within a 180 day period. You will need to show proof of sufficient funds for your stay, proof of onward travel and 6 months validity left in your passport.

Ukraine
Canadian, UK and American citizens can stay visa complimentary for 90 days, within a 180 day period. Australians need to obtain a visa on arrival and can only stay 15 days.

Moldova
Australian, Canadian, UK and American citizens can stay visa complimentary for 90 days, within a 180 day period.

Visa complimentary countries in Asia

Asia / the Pacific was the second a lot of travelled part of the world in 2017, with over 300 million visitors. Asia is the largest continent on our planet and as you can imagine, it’s a very diverse place in terms of landscapes, religion and culture.

From the off-track, nomadic central Asian countries to the ancient history and culture of northern Asia, and the beaches and jungles of the South, this is one exiting region of the world. You could spend years travelling in Asia and not see it all. here are the top visa complimentary countries in Asia to put down some momentary roots, or travel around.

The Philippines

The popular vacationer trail that runs through Southeast Asia often doesn’t include the Philippines – which is a good thing for you! The Philippines has a lot to offer travellers, in fact, there are over 7,000 islands that make up the archipelago. If you’re into scuba diving, fishing, boating, snorkelling, swimming or any other water activities, this is the country for you. The Philippines beaches are incredible. Plus, you’ll also find some busy cities, dramatic natural landscapes and exceptionally friendly locals.

☞ Philippines entry requirements: American, Canadian, Australian and UK passport holders can stay visa complimentary for 30 days. However, visa exempt foreign nationals can extend their stay monthly, but not exceeding the maximum period of two years. So, you can stay in the Philippines for 2 years, but you need to extend your visa every month (I’ve heard there’s an option to apply for 6 months). After 2 years, you need to leave the country, but you can return.

Malaysia

This is genuinely a gem in Southeast Asia, and again, it’s often overlooked by travellers. In this multi-cultural country, you’ll find efficient transport, delicious cuisine, sensational beaches, many islands, a excellent underwater world, limitless hiking opportunities, and a cosmopolitan vibe in the capital of Kuala Lumpur. Don’t miss Malaysia.

☞ Malaysia entry requirements: American, Canadian, Australian and UK passport holders can stay visa complimentary in Malaysia for up to 90 days. three months not enough time in Malaysia? You can do a border run to Thailand or Singapore, spend a night, an re-enter into Malaysia. typically you’ll be approved with another 90 days, but it really depends on the immigration officer’s mood. Make sure you check your passport to see how long you’ve been given.

Japan

Although this country isn’t the most budget friendly, it’s a must-visit. With world-renowned cuisine, special culture and customs, bustling cities (you’ll never be stuck wondering what to do in Tokyo!) and beautiful nature, Japan is one of the top visa complimentary destinations for travellers. If you time your visit right, you can experience the cherry blossoms or the dazzling autumn colours.

☞ Japan entry requirements: American, Canadian and Australian passport holders can visit Japan visa complimentary for 90 days. UK pass

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Accommodation Spotlight: The Frangipani Hotel, Bequia

during our trip through the Grenadines, we spent 9 nights on the stunning island of Bequia, and would’ve stayed longer if we had the time. Bequia Island is full of gorgeous, boutique-style hotels. during our stay on Bequia, we were lucky enough to experience a few different places, with the Frangipani hotel being one of our much-loved rooms to date! owned by the daughter of the former Prime minister of St. Vincent and The Grenadines, The Frangipani hotel is well-known in this part of the world for being a popular yachtie hangout and for being recognized in the book, 1000 places To See before You Die.

Checking In

We arrived at the hotel early in the morning in the back of a local taxi and were greeted with a smiling face at reception. even though we were early for check-in, we were still shown to our room and were able to unpack and clear up in. The hike up the hill to our Deluxe Hillside King room was steep and our backpacks began to feel extra heavy! However, the hike not only gave us some much-needed exercise, but it made for some wonderful views over the harbour from our large balcony.

It’s a bit of a hike up to some of the rooms…but worth it for the view!
Our Room

We stayed in the Deluxe Hillside King room and couldn’t have been happier. As we opened the door to our home for the next 5 nights, we were both blown away by it’s size and style. A king-size bed sat in the center with an entertainment stand and t.v. near the foot of the bed. In the opposite corner sat a desk with chair, and a comfortable sofa chair and ottoman for relaxing. Stone walls helped to keep the room cool, as did the modern tiled floors.

Double wooden doors opened up to a giant balcony with a table and chairs. The views from the deck were superb, the best place to enjoy a morning coffee or an afternoon rain storm!

The room was divided by a tall stone wall. located on the backside was the dressing room with a sink, lots of counter space, a closet, a safe and another counter area with a tiny fridge, coffee maker and kettle. through a door off of the dressing room was a very spacious bathroom with another sink, toilet and shower.

The room included mosquito spray, mosquito coils, coffee and tea, a mosquito net for the bed, which is a must-have in this part of the world.

Even though our room was set just below the main road, we didn’t feel bothered by any traffic noise. A great feature was the barrier between us and the neighbouring balcony, it felt very private and we couldn’t hear anything through our stone walls.

The Deluxe Hillside King Room
Other Rooms

The Frangipani hotel uses a large variety of rooms, best for all budgets.

Up the hill are four Deluxe Hillside Rooms, and two Air-Conditioned Deluxe Rooms. all of these rooms are large, with stone-walls and have wonderful views over the water. Not only is the air-conditioned room much cooler than the other rooms, but there is a four-poster bed with a draping mosquito net.

Lower down the hill are four garden view rooms with twin or queen-sized beds. These rooms have great views over the tropical garden and beautiful stone walls as well.

In the original family home, ideal above the restaurant and closest to the water, there are 5 economy rooms. These rooms are more basic, but have a beautiful West Indian style to them. all of the rooms share a bathroom and cold water shower, as well as a common balcony overlooking the sea. guests have the option of twin, double or queen-sized beds. A great perk of these rooms is that the wi-fi signal is the strongest here.

Other rooms at the Frangipani Hotel
The Dining

The Frangipani Bar and restaurant is set in the best location, ideal at the water’s edge. The restaurant serves up delicious meals during lunch and dinner, and on Thursdays they put on a delicious BBQ and “jump-up” with a local steel band. Unfortunately, the BBQ and live music doesn’t happen in the off-season, which was when we were there. I guess we’ll have to go back!

The outdoor bar is a very happening spot and even though much of the island was quiet when we visited, there were still many people congregating at the Frangi Bar. This is a great place to meet up with other travellers and locals for a sundowner.

For those on a tight budget, the dinner menu may seem a bit expensive, but it’s hard to find a cheap meal after dark on Bequia so the prices are inline with the rest of the island. one of the great things about the Frangipani restaurant is that they will offer you items from the lunch menu for dinner, which are definitely cost effective and very tasty. However, it would be a shame to miss out on their popular BBQ night or any of their delicious sounding seafood meals due to budget constraints.

Us enjoying a meal at the Frangipani Restaurant
The Staff

Because we checked out during the summer months, the hotel wasn’t fully staffed and regrettably we weren’t able to meet everyone. Those that we did meet however, were friendly and welcoming. The servers, the cleaning ladies and the bartender all made our stay a memorable one.

The Amenities

There’s no pool here, but you wouldn’t need it. The hotel is set ideal on the water’s edge with the Belmont walkway running ideal in front of the restaurant. This is a great area for walking and swimming. The bar and restaurant are the best spot for a sundowner after a day of exploration.

Frangipani is in the best spot for enjoying sunset

Rooms here are cleaned each day and include coffee, tea and mosquito repellents. Wi-fi is available in the restaurant, but only works in a select few rooms. next door you’ll find the Gingerbread hotel & restaurant and Vintages Bequia white wine shop, all owned by the same family as the Frangipani Hotel. The food at the Gingerbread is great and so is the white wine selection at Vintages!

Room Rates

(Prices in us Dollars)

WINTER (December 15 – April 30)

AC Deluxe: $275

Deluxe Hillside: single – $205, double – $235

Garden View: single – $180, double – $210

Economy Room: single – $75, double – $85

SUMMER (May 1 – December 14)

AC Deluxe: $220

Deluxe Hillside: single – $145, double – $205

Garden View: single – $110, double – $145

Economy Room: single – $55, double – $65

The summer special at the Frangipani is pretty good, if you stay for 6 nights, you get the 7th free! There is only a small difference in price between AC Deluxe and Deluxe Hillside Double, in our opinion it’s well worth it for the AC (which is mosquito sealed).

Rates are inclusive of 10% VAT and 10% service Charge.

Overall Opinion

We weren’t ready to leave after our 5 nights at this hotel. The location is perfect, the rooms are spacious and modern and the food at the restaurant is very good. We loved being able to walk ideal onto the Belmont walkway and go from one end to the other. The Frangipani is also very close to Port Elizabeth, shopping and many other restaurants. We also loved the fact that this hotel caters to all budgets. It’s rare to find economy rooms in the Caribbean.

-Pros

Wide range of rooms and rates

Great food

Perfect location

Excellent views from every room

Friendly staff

Nearby walks / hikes

Gorgeous stone walls and massive balconies in rooms

Coffee machine and daily coffee refills in rooms

Walking distance to restaurants and town

-Cons

No screens on the windows = many mosquitoes

The wi-fi doesn’t work in the upper level rooms

The hotel isn’t ideal on the beach, but it’s ideal on the water and there is a dock if you want to jump in. For us, it was a pro to have the pier ideal out front, but some people may want to be on a sandy beach.

Check Out Our accommodation spotlight video For The Frangipani Hotel!

A big thank you to The Frangipani hotel for hosting us during this portion of our stay on Bequia Island. As always, all reviews, thoughts and opinions remain our own.

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Should You Come home early for a Wedding?

Adventurous Kate consists of affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

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Many of you don’t know this, so here goes: my Asia Jaunt was no accident. I planned my entire trip around one event: my friend Alexa’s wedding.

Last spring was when I began freaking out and knew I wanted to escape what my life had become. Originally, I wanted to go show abroad in the fall, a lot of likely in high-paying Korea, so that I could live abroad in the short-term while earning money for travel in the long-term.

But I knew I couldn’t take a yearlong contract without missing the wedding, and I was unlikely to find a contract shorter than that.

So I changed my plans.

It was because of Alexa’s wedding that I chose not to show abroad, and chose to backpack Southeast Asia instead.

It was because of Alexa’s wedding that I didn’t stay in Hanoi and become a party priest on the Halong Bay Cruise.

It was because of Alexa’s wedding that I canceled my initial flight home.

And it was all worth it — because seeing one of your best friends walking down the aisle, looking happier and a lot more beautiful than she has ever looked in her life, is something that nobody must never miss.

Seeing Alexa and grant finally get married, eight and a half years after their fateful meeting at a frat party (and grant telling her that her hair smelled so good), was, to be cheesy, a love-affirming event.

I’ve been to weddings where I’ve thought, “Really?” as the vows were said. Not here. These two belong together.

Also, I must add that Alexa is Greek — Greek to the point that My big Fat Greek wedding isn’t much of an exaggeration — and her family can throw a great party.

And Greek weddings are all about the GREEK DANCING!

Greek dancing is insanely fun, simple, easy to pick up, communal, and easy to fake if you can’t get it right. As far as I’m concerned, every wedding needs a lot more Greek dancing!

But for me, the best part was seeing how delighted Alexa was. She didn’t stop smiling once the entire night.

In 15 years of friendship, I have never seen her look that happy. and that alone made it worth returning home early.

As long-term travelers, we often make the choice to miss major events at home — weddings, reunions, holidays, travel blogger conferences (heh). It’s a hard balance — do we prioritize our dreams or do we make sure we’re there for the crucial people in our life?

On one hand, if you try to be home for every major event, you’ll never travel. Period. Especially if you’re in your late twenties or early thirties, when everyone’s getting married.

But if you miss a really crucial event, you could end up with regrets, in addition to the ire of your family (which you’ll probably get, no matter what).

When deciding, be sure to ask yourself, “Would I really regret missing this wedding? Would I be fine with just seeing the pictures all over Facebook and dishing like crazy with the bride and/or groom about it after the fact?”

From now on, I know I’ll be prioritizing the weddings of my very best friends, like Alexa. I know that if I had missed this, I would have regretted it for a long time.

For a lot more casual friends and a lot more distant family members, I’ll try to be there if I can. but I won’t fly across the world for their sake.

When you build the unconventional life around the world, you need to make some hard decisions and prioritize what really matters to you. however you decide to do that is up to you.

Just be sure you’re prepared to deal with the outcome.

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Crossing the River to Uruguay – A trip From Buenos Aires to Colonia

The Río de la Plata separates the sprawling city of Buenos Aires in Argentina as well as the quaint city of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. There are just 28 nautical miles between these two destinations, yet, they feel worlds apart.

In the large as well as chaotic city of Buenos Aires, our taxi barreled down a 12 lane highway (yes, 12 lanes) towards the port where we would catch a ferry to our 3rd South American country, Uruguay.

Arriving in Colonia was like stepping into a postcard.

(Don’t miss the video below!)

There were so lots of old vehicles in Colonia. this was absolutely our favourite
Having spent a month in Buenos Aires, we were accustomed to highrise buildings, massive parks as well as grand statues, lots of of which constructed in Italian Renaissance or art-nouveau style. bit Colonia is a Portuguese settlement from 1680. all of the buildings right here in the historical neighbourhood are low-rise as well as colourful, while the streets are narrow as well as cobbled. There are many crumbling ruins as well as little parks to enjoy.

The town was incredibly green.

The trees covered the streets as well as sidewalks providing some much-needed shade. We liked exactly how eco-friendly Colonia was!
We instantly “clicked” with this location since of how easily accessible whatever felt, as well as exactly how lots of adorable bit cafes as well as restaurants were spilling out onto the back lanes. The vibe in the old town was extremely tranquil as well as relaxed, as well as we understood we had made a fantastic decision in crossing the river to a new country.

Many people select to do a day-trip to Colonia, however we opted to spend three nights here, which was precisely what we needed after withstanding the hustle as well as bustle of the huge city of Buenos Aires for a month.

Don’t miss – Our unusual like / dislike connection With Buenos Aires

After checking-in to our quaint posada, with around 10 rooms, we made our method to the rooftop as well as noticed about 100 people along the river’s shore – both sunbathing as well as swimming. feeling like we were missing out, as well as since it was 30 degrees outside, we threw on our bathing fits as well as headed out for a day in the water!

The view from our posada’s rooftop

Hiring a bike is the very best method to get around the city, as well as to check out beyond the old town. Luckily, our posada had complimentary bikes for guests’ utilize as well as we instantly took advantage of their offer as well as rode our one speed bicycles towards the delighted beach-goers.

We shown up sweaty as well as dying for a swim in the refreshing river.

What we discovered was a cloudy, brown, shallow river. But, considering that others were enjoying it (and since we were so hot), we made a decision to choose a dip. No matter exactly how far out we walked, the water was never higher than our knees.

We knelt down as well as sort-of rolled over in buy to cover ourselves in water to try to awesome off. I’m sure it was rather the sight!

The river looks quite great from afar, however up close was one more story
That lasted all of 5 minutes before we were prepared to step on.

The river may have been a bit of a bust, however the other sites we visited and the restaurants we ate at in Colonia hit the mark.

The old stone bridge as well as part of the city wall

There was truly only one busy road running with the historical center as well as the rest were peaceful as well as residential.

Strolling aimlessly along the back roads we encountered locals sitting on yard chairs in front of their houses sharing their national obsession, mate, with one one more while charming stray dogs wandered the streets in browse of interest as well as some like (which they got from us).

We also came across a theatrical performance in the park as well as Candombe dancers in the streets. We drank beers by the river, explored the harbour, sat in the plazas and soaked up the unique atmosphere.

Candombe dancing is discovered around Uruguay during carnival season. The dance as well as drumming is from the time of African slavery.

The only genuine “sites” in Colonia are some museums, the old stone bridge as well as wall, the lighthouse as well as the church.

The lighthouse caught our eye as well as we made our method to the white pillar jutting out of the ground. The Río de la Plata was an crucial river for transporting goods, however many ships ended up crashing – some with gold as well as silver on board. So, in 1855 it was made a decision that a lighthouse would be developed to prevent this issue, as well as in 1857 the lighthouse turned on its light for the very first time.

The lighthouse in Colonia developed on the ruins of a convent
Although an fascinating site as well as a fantastic vantage point over the river as well as city, we discovered the most unique aspect to be the place of the lighthouse itself. It is set on top of crumbling ruins of the San Francisco Convent which dates back to the 17th century. The views from the top of the lighthouse, as well as the breeze, were fantastic.

We descended down the winding staircase of the lighthouse and shown up at a narrow, cobbled street. Noticing an abnormally little door with a bit indication above the entrance titled “Buen Suspiro”, we made a decision to inspect it out.

It [turned out to be] a white wine bar!

Ducking with the little doorway into Buen Suspiro white wine bar

Coming from Buenos Aires, where we had our much-loved white wine shop Lo De Joaquin, we weren’t sure what we would discover in terms of red white wine in Uruguay. But, it turns out that they grow a grape right here called Tannat, which we had never heard of before. This red grape has a thick skin as well as creates robust, full-bodied wines…while colouring your teeth as well as tongue purple.

When we heard about this grape, we understood we had to provide it a try.

Ducking down to prevent hitting our heads on the doorway, we went into into the bit bar. It was dimly lit, had extremely low ceilings with old wooden beams, as well as shelves full of meats, cheeses as well as wines.

This was our type of place!

The waiter suggested the Maderos 2011 Gran Reserva Tannat, which was the very first time the Tannat grape would hit our lips…but it wouldn’t be the last.

Buen Suspiro is a fantastic white wine bar! If you have a chance, make sure to go there

With a platter of normal regional cheese as well as meat as well as a bottle of Tannat, we took pleasure in our last night in Colonia in the dimly lit cellar.

It doesn’t take much for us to jive with a destination. All we requirement is a good vibe, a variety of restaurants, cafes as well as bars, some fascinating sites thrown in, as well as of course, friendly people. We may not have always liked our time spent in Buenos Aires, however crossing the river to Colonia truly lifted our travel spirits as well as after three days, we were ecstatic to step on as well as check out a bit a lot more of Uruguay.

Check out our video from Colonia here:

Traveller Tips:

There are many ferries travelling between Buenos Aires as well as Colonia. We booked with Seacat Colonia as well as the tickets were 550 Uruguay Pesos each ($19.40). The journey only took about an hour.

Taxis from the port into the old town expense 100 pesos ($3.50).

We stayed at Posada del Flor as well as truly liked it. breakfast is included, plus a mid-day coffee as well as snack. The rooftop is truly nice, the spaces are clean as well as comfy, complimentary bikes are offered as well as the place was great. We paid $106 / night over the weekend in high season, it’s normally around $70 / night during the week.

If you pay with your foreign credit score card in Uruguay, rather than cash, you will get 22% off the cost of food as well as booze at restaurants, as well as vehicle rentals! Plus, hotel spaces are tax-free. So, when paying for your restaurant bill, pay with your credit score card as well as the cost will be minimized by 22% (which is the tax) – it’s a no brainer.

There are a few bus business that travel from Colonia to Montevideo. go to the terminal the day before as well as purchase your ticket. We went with Turil as well as the cost was 354 pesos ($12.50) / ticket. The journey was 2.5 hours.

For great restaurants, inspect out cafe la Tasa de Te, Buen Suspiro white wine bar as well as Que Lo Pario Mendieta.

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5 Lesser-Known but Must-Visit places in China

Where I’m from, when you say traveling to China, it means touring one of these five cities: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Macau and Guangzhou. outside the travel circles and blogging communities, only a few have heard of other Chinese destinations. everything else can already be considered “off-the-beaten-path.” but if there’s one thing that my journey from Guilin to Zhangjiajie has taught me, it’s that this vast, vast country has a gazillion surprises tucked in its provinces.

We asked travel and food enthusiast Wai Zhou, co-founder of eating Adventures Food Tours, for other marvelous places in China that every explorer must experience. She has traveled extensively throughout the country with a particular interest in Yunnan, Guangdong and Xinjiang provinces. here are her recommendations, words and photos by her.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

1. Wan Feng Lin (10,000 peaks) in Guizhou province
2. Shangri-La in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province
3. Longji Rice Terraces and Longsheng hot Springs in Guangxi Province
4. Jade Dragon Snow mountain near Lijiang, Yunnan Province
5. Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region in far Western China

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1. Wan Feng Lin (10,000 peaks) in Guizhou province

Wan Feng Lin, which means “ten thousand peaks”, is a collection of around 20,000 karst peak formations that stretch over a length of 200km in southern China. We stumbled across this near Xingyi in Guizhou province during one of our overnight stops on a leisurely train adventures between Guangzhou and Kunming.

Like most Chinese tourist sites, the government has a very well set up and structured way of viewing the site, with shuttle buses taking loads of domestic tourists to and from the viewing point. Not being fond of sticking with the hordes of tourists, we decided to follow a dirt path that weaved through some small farms and then up into the mountains.

Wan Feng Lin
Wan Feng Lin
The walk through the farms right away connected us to another world, with friendly old ladies attending to their crops, local people drying chillies outside their front doors and keeping pigs near their homes. A family was building their new home – it was mansion by Western standards. We started walking up one of these peaks. For a long time, we did not see anything of interest. just when we were about to turn back, we persisted a little longer and arrived at a small Buyi village hidden between the peaks.

Most of the Buyi people live in Guizhou province. They have their own language and normally live in small villages and work as farmers. We saw a young man in front of a simple old house and yelled out “Ni Hao” which means “hello” a few times but he didn’t turn around. We thought what unfriendly locals! then the young man turned around and we could see the surprise and delight in his face. He ran into the house to grab his elderly parents. They invited us into the house and insisted we stay for lunch. We witnessed true hospitality from these people who live such simple lives themselves. We found out later that the young man was mute and deaf.

How to get there:
Xingyi is on the train line from Guangzhou to Kunming.
From Xingyi, take bus no.19 (40 minutes) or take a taxi to Wan Feng Lin (costs around CNY35)
Entry fee: CNY80 (Shuttle bus ride extra CNY50)
Opening hours: 8:00 – 18:00
Contact number: 0859-3342299

2. Shangri-La in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province

Shangri-la City, China
Shangri-la is a fictional place featured in lost Horizon, a novel written in 1933 by British author James Hilton. He describes Shangri-La as a mystical, harmonious valley, enclosed in the western end of the Kunlun Mountains. Shangri-La is actually a Tibetan word which means “sacred and serene land.” people associate the word to an unearthly paradise, a utopia. In 1996, the search for Shangri-La in Yunnan province began. In 1997, the Yunnan government declared they have found this utopia in Zhongdian. Zhongdian was then formerly renamed to current Shangri-La in 2001 to attract more tourists. With many snow-capped mountains and glaciers, hundreds of alpine lakes, gorges and meadows, I think it is well worth the title.

When we arrived Shangri-La town, we felt the effect of Shangri-La has instantly. We were more relaxed but could not think properly. We felt a bit light-headed and sleepy. Well, that was probably due to the high altitude – Shangri-La is 3450m above sea level.

The town itself is very interesting with a large Tibetan population. You see groups of Tibetan women dressed in traditional dresses with their bright pink hair wraps shopping together, all carrying a basket on their back and snuff in their hands. We saw Tibetan men running antique shops, where you can find Tibetan prayer flags and prayer wheels to silver snuff boxes, mingling with other locals.

We were expecting the Tibetan5 Lesser-Known but Must-Visit places in China (###) Where I’m from, when you say traveling to China, it means touring one of these five cities: Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Macau and Guangzhou. outside the travel circles and blogging communities, only a few have heard of other Chinese destinations. everything else can already be considered “off-the-beaten-path.” but if there’s one thing that my journey from Guilin to Zhangjiajie has taught me, it’s that this vast, vast country has a gazillion surprises tucked in its provinces.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

More tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:

1. Wan Feng Lin (10,000 peaks) in Guizhou province

2. Shangri-La in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province

We were expecting the Tibetanmonks to be simple vegetarians and do not indulge in the materialistic world. However, we saw them driving nice four-wheel drives, smoking, talking on their fancy mobiles and eating meat in the best restaurants in town. While we were in this restaurant enjoying our yak hotpot, we saw a group of monks and out of curiosity we asked the waitress what the monks were eating. She replied “Everything! same as you.”

Just 5km outside town, there is a big Tibetan monastery called Gadan Songzanlin Monastry. It is the biggest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan province. built in 1679, it is typically referred to as “Little Potala Palace”. If you are not visiting Tibet and are interested in seeing a Tibetan monastery, it is worth a visit.

The best way to explore and enjoy the beauty of Shangri-La is by hiring a bicycle and start riding away from the town. You are not going to only ride through stunning meadows and lakes but you will meet a lot of friendly locals. On the day we went riding, it was raining and the local Tibetan invited us into his house for a tea to get out of the rain. We helped out some locals who were trying to move a log and we got invited into their grand Tibetan house, an impressive two storey structure elaborately decorated with Tibetan wooden carvings with the tea making stove at the centre of their living room. Shangri-La is living museum with so much to offer.

How to get there:
You can fly into Diqing Shangri-La airport from Beijing, Chengdu, Kunming, Lhasa, Shanghai and Chongqing.
However, most people will be coming from Lijiang. From Lijiang, you can either take a bus (4 hours) or hire a automobile with driver to take you to Shangri-La.
Bicycle rental: There are several places to hire bicycles or mountain bikes in town. Please check the condition of the bikes carefully.
Songzanlin Monastry: 5 kilometres north of town. You can either take bus no. 3 or a taxi (CNY10). entry fee is CNY115. open from 7:30 – 18:30. Enquiry number: 0887-8222455

3. Longji Rice Terraces and Longsheng hot Springs in Guangxi Province

Longji Rice Terraces
Longji Rice Terraces is one of the highlights in the Guilin region. located 75km from downtown Guilin, the rice terraces are cut into the mountainside from an elevation of 380m to 1180m and spans across an enormous area. The rice terraces are over 700 years old and there are 7 heritage listed buildings in the area over 150 years old. one of these buildings and a museum are opened to public for free. It is stunning area to check out and makes for a relaxing stroll around through the rice paddies and villages. The villages are populated by Zhuang and Yao minorities with their noticeable distinctive architecture.

You need to pay an entry fee to enter the area. Whilst there are plenty of tour guides who will offer to take you around, our idea is to stroll around by yourself. This way, you can avoid the tour groups, have a private experience and meet friendly locals. The two main villages to check out are Ping An Zhuang village and Jin Keng Hong Yao Village.

How to get there: From Guilin, there are buses every 30 minutes from Guilin Qing Tan Bus station to long Sheng town. It takes around 1.5 hours and costs CNY27 per person. Alternatively, you can hire a automobile with driver to take you from Guilin.

From long Sheng town, there are buses to take you to different villages of Longji which is about 13km from town.

Entry fee: CNY80
Opening hours: All day
Contact number: 0773-7583088

The Longsheng hot springs are set in the mountainside in a truly natural and relaxing environment. The hot spring water originates from 1200m underground, with the source water varying in temperature from 45 to 48 degrees Celsius. There are 16 pools with varying temperatures. There are also a 4 star and a 5 star hotel attached to the hot springs if you would like to stay overnight.

How to get there: Longsheng hot spring is 32km from Longsheng town. There are buses from Longsheng town which takes around 40 minutes and costs CNY8 per person. Alternatively, simply take a taxi.
Entry fee: CNY98
Opening hours: All day
Contact number: 0773-7482241

4. Jade Dragon Snow mountain near Lijiang, Yunnan Province

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Jade Dragon Snow mountain (or “Yu long Xue Shan” in Chinese) is located 15km north of Lijiang city. There are 13 peaks in total and Shanzidou is the highest peak with an altitude of 5596m. It stretches 35km long and 20km wide. It is the southern-most glacier in the northern Hemisphere. As such, you can experience scenery from a Subtropical zone, Temperate zone to Frigid zone all in one place. It is also a holy place for the Naxi people who lives in this region.

There are few scenic spots in the area. the most important experience is unquestionably the trip on the long Ropeway. The long Ropeway departs from an elevation of 3356m. We were there in September and the temperature was not too low and quite pleasant. However,