Spain is the number one destination for British tourists, and its not hard to see why. Sun, sea, sand, lively nightlife, a rich cultural history and cheap flights mean this country has a little something for everyone.
I have been to Spain a number of times over the past few years including trips to Madrid, Ibiza, Menorca, Valencia (x2) and Barcelona (x3). I have even spent a little time studying in the country and every time I go I experience something new and something different. Although, the one thing I have never experienced over there is rain. It's difficult to condense my experiences into a small list, but here are the 10 things I loved most about Spain,. Rio de JaneiroOne of the largest cities in the Southern Hemisphere, home of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, birthplace of the largest carnival on Earth and famous for its beaches, it is no wonder that Rio is the most visited city in South America.
This city has the feel of a very large metropolis, similar to the rush of Bangkok, and you could spend a month here and still not scratch the surface. Rio has a lot going for it, but there is an income gap that seems to be increasing and social tensions that the state tries to hide from the public view (the construction of large panels to cover Favela's as you drive into Rio being the most striking). However, the positives are endless and this is truly one of those cities that never sleeps. In this article I have included a selection of my favourite photo's that I took in the city, pictures that I think can give you a feel for Rio, its culture and its attractions. SummaryAirport Rating **** Reception of locals ***** Cost: £££
Founded initially as a Roman Colony, Valencia has architecture dating back two thousand years with Roman, Arabic and Spanish influence all mixing to create a modern city with traditional roots and the third largest city in Spain.
Its the location of Valencia, coupled with its climate and recent growth that has seen it become a popular location for stag parties over the past couple of years. A city that offers experiences similar to nearby Barcelona for a fraction of the price is always going to be a popular choice. I made two different trips to the city over a 3 month period, staying in both the old town and by the beach and both experiences were quite different although tied together by the amazing City of Arts and Sciences When it comes to Thailand, I can't limit myself to my usual 5 favourite experiences as this country has so much to offer.
I have been to Thailand twice in the past 3 years, covering the entire country from the ancient cities in the north to the beaches and islands of the south and everything in between and I loved absolutely everything about it. From cycling in the beautiful countryside of Lampang to enjoying beach parties in Ko Phangan, here are the 10 things I loved about Thailand. Between the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics, Rio is somewhat of a buzzword these days with the focus of the world's media on the sixth largest city in the Americas.
A booming economy in the early 2000's has catapulted Brazil onto the world stage, and where Brasilia is the brains, Sao Paulo the hard working heart, Rio is undoubtedly the soul of this great country. I stayed here for just under a week during my trip to South America and I felt like I had barely scratched the surface. The city retains a portion of its Portuguese heritage and combines it with West African and indigenous culture to create the distinct Brazilian feel that has given the world Carnival and Samba. The Maracana was closed on my arrival but here are my top 5 favourite things about Rio. Summary
South East Asia or South America. These two parts of the world have seen an explosion of popularity over the past decade and for most people the decision of where to visit first is often a difficult one. In this entry, I'll try and rate each of the locations on factors that are important to the average person and come up with an overall rating. Things to considerBefore I get things started, its important to note that my experiences over the two locations will vary. I spent more time in South East Asia, and it was also the place I decided to visit first. There are important locations missing from both locations. I didn't visit Laos in SE Asia and I didn't visit Colombia and Argentina in South America. Personally, I feel that Argentina is a significant omission due to the size of the country and the number of things to see and do. Ratings and experiences are also very subjective, my experience could be significantly different from the experience of others so I'd bare this in mind when you make your decision.
Finally, a comparison between the two locations isn't an exact science. The phrase apples and oranges comes to mind. Peru and Brazil have completely different cultures, speak completely different languages, yet for the purpose of comparison they have been lumped together under a loose 'South American' category. This entry is a subjective rough overview of my experiences and can form part of your research into each location. SummaryAirport Rating ***** Reception of locals ***** Cost: £££
Rio was the last stop on my travels from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, and in many respects it was a case of saving the best for last. Now in terms of adventure, it wasn't going to compete with climbing a mountain in Peru or exploring Machu Picchu, nor was it going to compete with the sight of the salt flats in Bolivia, but in terms of experience, this city not only lived up to, but exceeded my high expectations.
With Brazil the centre of the sporting world hosting both the FIFA World Cup and Summer Olympics in quick succession, you can tell as soon as you land the large re-development programmes being undertaken. I landed in a terminal that was not even fully completed, with advertisements for the Olympics everywhere. I jumped into a taxi, and after the relatively orderliness of Santiago, it was back onto manic roads as soon as we left the airport. Again the modernisation programme was in full swing, although this time less positive. As I drove along the main highway from the airport to the Copacabana, I noticed large opaque blocks along the road. It took me a few minutes to realise that behind these blocks were favela's that were basically being hidden from public view. SummaryAirport Rating ***** Reception of locals *****
There's a few ways to get to these islands, you can either catch a ferry from Surat Thani or fly in from Bangkok. I decided to catch an overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani and then a ferry to the islands. Unlike the overnight train from the north to Bangkok, this train was much small, and significantly less comfortable. On the train I met a group who were travelling to Singapore and Malaysia and got chatting to a few of them to kill some time. They were at the beginning of their 6 month adventure and seemed very excited, it helped me a second wind as I was about halfway through my summer and getting quite exhausted.
The three islands are very different, but the one thing that connects them all is the feeling you are in paradise. Koh Samui is the largest of the islands, and also the busiest. Whilst not quite as noisy or humid as the north, there was definitely a feeling of a busy island in certain places. I had met a few people in the north of Thailand including one who lived in Koh Samui so she showed me around some of the main sights which I was thankful for. First stop was the lookout point, a part of the island where you can look out across the island also the sea surrounding the island. Stopping off the side of a main road, I managed to take a few pictures. Its strange, as soon as you step away from the road and look out over the side, you forget you are on a pretty busy island. The Golden Buddha is possibly the main attraction in Koh Samui and its an imposing sight. A large, golden statue of Buddha on the side of a large cliff is impressive and definitely a unique sight. Surrounded by busy markets, you walk up a fair few steps before reaching the temple where the statue sits. You walk around ringing every bell in a clockwise direction before coming back to face the statue. I visited quite a few temples in SE Asia, but this did stand out. SummaryAirport Rating ***** Reception of locals *** Cost: £££££
You can read my new updated 2022 article on Dubai here.
After spending a summer in Thailand, and some time in Singapore, I was exhausted by the time I reached Dubai, and that may have had an impact on my enjoyment of the city, but nevertheless, I tried to see as much as I could in the few days that I spent there. I have always been fascinated by large, imposing architecture and I followed the development of the Burj Khalifa complex closely. It was one of the special sights on my 'to-do list' and I had been looking forward to seeing it for a number of years. I didn't realise just how early into my journey I actually would see it. As the plane taxied on the runaway, in the distance I could see the Burj Khalifa, towering on the horizon. I was astounded that I could see it from such a distance and you cant be anything but amazed by its sheer size. I got a reasonably priced taxi to my hotel which was close to the Gold Souk market, just outside the main city. I'd managed to get a last minute deal online, giving me a 5* hotel for less than GBP 80 per night, I figured, after a summer of hostels, huts and local houses, a few nights in a nice hotel at a good price would be a welcome change. Booking sites usually have offers on different hotels on different days of the week, I would always recommend checking these offers as I've managed to get some nice hotels on a number of occasions for the fraction of their 'true' price. I decided to venture into the city on the first day and head toward the Burj Khalifa. I left the hotel at about 2pm. As I was leaving the receptionist asked where I was going so I told him I'd be walking to the subway station and heading into the city. He recommended that I wait a few hours until it cools and I told him not to worry. "Okay Sir, but dont say I didnt warn you" he replied with a smile on his face. I didnt think too much about it. I stepped outside and almost instantly felt a burning, searing dry heat on my head. I thought after a summer in Thailand I'd be used to the heat, but this was different, this was an angry, raging, dry heat. I thought about heading back, but then the pride kicked in, there was no way I was walking past the same receptionist only minutes later. I'll never forget that walk to the subway station.. I knew I had done something stupid when the streets were deserted; locals and tourists were all indoors. I walked through the streets, zig -zagging into any shade I could find. After about 30 minutes that felt like 2 hours, I finally found the subway stop and ran indoors into the air conditioned building. It felt like a journey to Mordor, but I was finally there. The subway system stretches across the spine of the city, and buying tickets is relatively simple. I headed toward the financial district for about 30 minutes where I got off and took a short walk to the Burj Khalifa. SummaryAirport Rating ***** Reception of locals ***** Cost: £££
I don't really like going to the same city twice. There's a feeling about seeing something for the first time that is difficult to replicate. Barcelona, however, is one of a handful of cities I've visited on more than one occasion, and it never disappoints.
There are very few European cities that tick the box of having a nice beach as well as being a city break, Barcelona and Valencia are two of the best that I have been to, with Barcelona offering more of a 'big city' feel. On the two occasions I have been to Barcelona, I have been with two different groups of friends, and had two different experiences. On both occasions I managed to have long strolls through various parts of the city to get a feel for the place. Walking through the city centre, buildings designed by Antoni Gaudi really do stand out. Each building is very distinctive, but he's most famous piece of work is located firmly in the Gothic Quarter, the famous Sagrada Familia (Church of the Holy Family). In the middle of a large plaza, the Church is a large, imposing Gothic structure and definitely takes your breath away when you first see it. Construction began on the Church in 1882 but is still not completed, and won't be for at least another decade, a construction period of almost 150 years! |
AuthorBritish Sikh, born in the Midlands, based in London, travelling the world seeing new cultures. Categories
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