This is part two of my Malaysia travel diary. You can find part one from our time in Kuala Lumpur, here.
We took the four hour drive from Kuala Lumpur to Penang on Friday afternoon. Most people make the journey by plane which only takes an hour, but what can I say, we’re wild. Anyway, our friends who live in Kuala Lumpur had visited multiple times before and so they knew exactly where to take us, and so on the Friday night after arriving, we headed to Red Garden Food Paradise. It’s basically like a foodcourt frequented by the locals, selling cheap beer, every type of food you can imagine and cheesy live entertainment. I really enjoyed it. As like with the rest of Penang, the vibe there was super chilled. That’s what I enjoyed most about our little weekend in Penang, how incredibly relaxed it was.
I took a backpack as luggage for the weekend and basically ended up living in the same denim short and flip flops combination, with a change of top for the two and a half days we were there. Penang felt like the place where locals go on holiday. It was no frills and completely relaxed and that’s what I loved about it. We just got to have a fun weekend, hanging out with our friends, eating and drinking and chilling out.
Samio x
China House – I loved this quirky little spot. We went for brunch and Damien and I both went for the vegetarian nachos.
Sixth Sense – This clothing store was one of our favourite finds whilst wondering around the streets of Penang. There are actually two stores in Penang and over the two days we went into both, shopping for a lot longer than we’d expected whilst we left the guys outside.
Bora Bora Beach Bar – We headed here on the Saturday for lunch and then ended up staying in this very spot all evening.
I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to get round to putting together this blog post. It’s crazy how it’s already nearly been six weeks since we returned home from our holiday in Malaysia. I shared a little bit about it in a previous post where I talked about ‘The Proposal Story’. If you haven’t read that one yet, you may want to have a little re-cap. You can go and check that one out here if you fancy.
Our trip to Malaysia was purely a holiday and the first completely relaxed, work free vacation that Damien and I have had together in quite some time. I think part of the reason for me being so delayed in putting together this post is because for me it was quite a personal trip. I remember even after getting engaged I didn’t want to immediately announce it on social media because I was just enjoying being in the moment and having those days during and after just for us. I guess the same goes for the rest of the trip, it was nice to take time just for us, to relax and re-charge stress free with no obligation to share anything online. We got to spend quality time catching up with our friends who live over there and we had so much amazing food (seriously, I would go back to Malaysia just for the amount of good food they have on offer), we could have easily stayed for longer.
I wanted to share a bit of a photo diary from our trip. I’m going to be splitting this post into two parts as we also spent a weekend in Penang in the middle of our trip, but that post will be up not too long after this one. Anyway, here’s some from our time in Kuala Lumpur, one of my favourite holiday’s yet.
Samio x
I really should have known when walking into this hotel that Damien had something special planned. We stayed at the Banyan Tree in Kuala Lumpur and the views from the room and the bathroom were amazing.
Batu Caves – The reality is that although a stunning temple monument, Batu Caves is over-run with tourists. It’s to be expected but what’s not to be expected and quite upsetting to see, is the amount of litter that is left. We saw everything from monkeys chewing on bottle caps to plastic bags. When we saw a group of people gathered around to take pictures of a woman who had let lots of pigeons land on her, we knew it was time to leave.
Our friends took us to a super laid back, no thrills curry house called Kanna Curry House Bandar Menjalara. The food was served on sheets of banana leaf style paper and dished out in front of you and it all tasted amazing!
I didn’t take pictures of half of the amazing dishes we had whilst in Malaysia (mainly because I was tucking into them quicker than you can say ‘bon appétit’), but oh my was the food good. In fact I don’t think we had one bad or even mediocre dish in the whole time that we were there. One thing I will say though, is service in Malaysia is slooooowww. The concept of fast food does not exist and you’ll be lucky if your meal comes out at the same time as everyone else’s on your table, but once you get used to that, you’ll just be happy that you get to constantly tuck into tasty meals.
The night markets.
Chocha Foodstore – It’s a hard one to call but I think this may have been my favourite place that we ate whilst in Kuala Lumpur. Okay, I’m torn, it’s a toss up between here and Kanna Curry House Bandar Menjalara but it’s a close call. Loved the food at both but Chocha Foodstore wins on aesthetic and the curry house wins on affordability/great value for money.
We stayed at our friend’s apartment for the rest of our time whilst in Kuala Lumpur. Their pool area was amazing and we definitely made the most of it.
I’m writing this from bed on a very lazy Saturday afternoon/evening. I’m currently in Bruges and I’ve just awoken from a long nap. I don’t remember the last time I napped during the day but I’m currently treating this little weekend away as a holiday in more ways than one.
Yesterday we arrived in Bruges at around 3pm, after a very long journey from Manchester. We took a taxi, a plane, a coach and two trains, all in the aid to get here. We hadn’t quite anticipated the length of the travel but in the end, when stepping off the train in Brugge (as the locals call it), we wondered along the quaint cobbled streets and we realised it had all been worth it.
This is my first time in the city, and my second visit to Belgium after having visited Ypres a few years ago. I knew some of what to expect and had already presumed there would be a great amount of beer and waffle consumption, but it seems we have all already somewhat over indulged. By this afternoon, after returning to the Airbnb for the afternoon (the place where we are staying is perfect by the way), we found ourselves each retreating to the bedrooms, or the sofa, and for me, I wound up in bed having a nap, which has led me here.
This evening we hope to go out and explore more of the local bars and pubs, as our Airbnb host already recommended a couple to us when greeting us on our arrival yesterday.
So far, we’ve already had some great food at a local restaurant, which was recommended to us by our AirBnb host. We went to a local place called De Verloren Hoek, where I went for for the skate, which was served with salad and mash potatoes and oh my was it good.
Then today we wound up in another great little spot for called Sanseveria. The speciality there is bagels and if you’re a fan then I’d definitely recommend this place.
14.10.18 – 12:40
We’re currently on the train from Bruges heading to Belgium. Our flight home isn’t until the evening but as the journey back it quite long, we decided to split it up a little by leaving Bruges early to spend the afternoon in Brussels before heading home.
I’ve really enjoyed our little weekend away in Bruges though. Whilst we were only there for a short time, it’s also felt long, but in a good way.
The weather has been amazing this weekend, which has been lucky, as its October but its felt more like the middle of summer, with highs of 24 degrees. Yesterday we sat out in the sunshine sampling beer and ate alfresco at one of the oldest pubs in Bruges during the evening (it had been there since 1515).
I think one of the things I’ve been pleasantly surprised with on this trip has been the food. It’s not that I expected anything bad but let’s just say on my last visit to Belgium I purely survived on a diet of French fries and waffles. Whilst neither are to be sniffed at (I mean, who doesn’t love waffles and fries) I’m glad that we’ve also been able to enjoy a verity if of tasty food, including the onion soup and cheese on toast that we had at the pub last night – it was delicious.
Whilst we have overindulged in rich foods, I’ve enjoyed everything we’ve sampled during being in Bruges, including the beer, which is a surprise to say I’m not much of a beer drinker. I’m glad though that I’ve been able to get my favourite cherry beer on tap (which is the norm for here) and something I wish they did back home – although it’s probably for the best that they don’t, as I can drink that stuff like it’s juice.
Right now I’m looking forward to getting off this train and stretching my legs. Let’s just say I’m glad that we’ve decided to split up the journey and I’m looking forward to seeing a bit of Brussels too.
20:30
It’s much later on now and we’re currently sat in the airport waiting for our plan to arrive. I feel full to brim and we’re all so, so tired but we had a great time visiting Bruges. It was also nice to stop off in Brussels earlier for lunch, but after a lot of travelling and waiting around, I think now it’s got to the point where we’re now all just ready for our own beds. I forget how tiring weekend city breaks away can be, especially when lots of travelling is involved like with this one. However I don’t regret taking the trip as it was a delight visiting Bruges and it’s somewhere I’m sure I’ll be visiting again in the future. Bye for now.
As we stepped off the BART and lugged our heavy cases up the escalators, we were greeted by the sound of music, cheers, the most amount of rainbow flags you’ve ever seen in one procession…and a man with his penis out, stood with his hands on his hips, stark bollock naked. He wore nothing but glitter face paint, trainers, a pair of sunglasses and an expression that read ‘this is totally normal’. It was Pride, and we’d officially arrived in San Fransisco.
Aside from being slightly shocked by the sight of the naked man and the few others that followed (I’m no prude but it’s always a shock at 4:30pm in the afternoon amongst shoppers and kids walking about, but anyway…), I was excited to be in San Francisco. In that moment I wanted to dump our luggage and join in with the celebrations but we had a hotel to find and right then, that was the main priority.
We asked for directions and had some fire-women dubiously point us in the direction of our hotel. We weren’t sure why they hesitated at the time, but as we trudged up the street away from the procession, we started to notice that San Francisco wasn’t all rainbow flags and celebration.
STAYING IN THE WORST NEIGHBOURHOOD
There were a lot of homeless people and other people just sat out on the street, some just hanging around, others visibly on drugs and some just shouting for the sake of shouting. I wasn’t sure what to think and if I’m honest, in that moment I didn’t really want to be there.
I didn’t feel like we were in the safest area to stay in and we later found out, that we weren’t. We’d arrived in The Tenderloin and this place has a bad rep that goes way back.
Now when you search this area online (which we *cough, Damien* didn’t unfortunately do before our trip), you’ll see mixed reviews. Some articles describe The Tenderloin as the worst part of San Fran, with the highest crime rates and somewhere to avoid, whilst others try and show off its best bits with a ‘it ain’t that bad’ attitude…I’ll give my honest opinion as a tourist from overseas, and as someone who has spent a lot of money to go to somewhere like San Francisco on holiday and simply say, don’t stay there.
I’m all for submerging myself into the culture and staying somewhere that’s nothing like home but I’d rather not stay somewhere that makes me feel on edge when walking down the street, if it can be avoided. Now there are some alright parts of The Tenderloin, but it just so happens that we stayed just round the corner from the worst part of it, and so you can see why we were displeased with our location choice. Well why the heck did we stay there? You might ask…well quite simply (as mentioned), we did very little research and in a city of overpriced hotels, this one appeared somewhat less overpriced (plus Damien booked it, so again, I put the blame on him).
It was only on our second day, after walking down the worst street in the neighbourhood, that we realised we’d definitely made a bad choice with our location, and after debating whether to book a new hotel, we then decided to scrap that idea in favour of taking Ubers everywhere instead.
GETTING AROUND
Ubers became our mode of transport when travelling across the city and when exploring different areas, we simply walked. I’d advise taking comfortable shoes because what they say about San Fran being hilly is no joke and you’re bound to find yourself doing a lot of up and down hill walking.
The cost of Ubers also weren’t too bad at all (compared to at home in England) and we could usually get to where we wanted for less than $10.
When we arrived in San Francisco, we first got the Bart (short for the ‘Bay Area Rapid Transit’, or more simply put, the train), which took us from the airport to central San Francisco, not too far from where we were staying. This cost is $10 each for a single ticket but after learning how it wasn’t much more to take an Uber, we decided to take an Uber when later heading back to the airport.
THE TOURISTY STUFF
Of course, no San Fransisco trip is complete without a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge and as I recently spoke about in this blog post here, this was one of my favourite experiences during our time in San Fran. Lucky for us, we’d picked a clear day and the view up close of the Golden Gate Bridge was stunning. It’s now certainly been added to my list of favourite sights to see and if you do take a trip to San Francisco, I’d definitely recommend you hire a bike and take the bike ride over to Sausalito across the Golden Gate Bridge. There are lots of different places to hire bikes from but we used the company Blazing Saddles for our bike hire and it cost us around $35 to hire for the day (although I believe booking online may offer further discounts).
Another thing I marked off my tourist tick list, was a trip to Alcatraz. We were seriously lucky to get tickets though, as we hadn’t pre-booked and after checking online to find they were all sold out up until August, I actually thought we’d missed our chance. Not one to give up too easily though, after turning up one morning, to our surprise there were just two tickets available for that same day and of course, we snatched them up. Never have I been so excited for the prospect of going to a prison but I knew I had to visit this place. I wasn’t disappointed either, and whilst initially skeptical about the idea of it just being an audio tour, I quickly found myself becoming fully immersed in the experience and I loved it. I even went into full tourist mode and purchased a novelty Alcatraz keyring at the end.
THE AREAS & MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE LOCALS
There are so many different areas of San Francisco to explore and each neighbourhood feels so different. Two of my favourite areas were Cow Hollow and North Beach. Cow Hollow, had a great little community vibe with a cluster of nice restaurants, bars and little boutiques. It was probably one of the least touristy areas we visited too and I like how it gave a sense of real San Fran living.
North Beach is another area I loved and although a lot more touristy, there are still lots of spots away from the most obvious and popular places, which are also great to explore.
One night, after previously being suggested by a local (whilst in a wine bar in Cow Hollow actually), we found ourself heading into a little local jazz bar up in North Beach. It was a pretty unassuming place (I unfortunately forget the name), and likely a place we wouldn’t have ventured into if we hadn’t been prompted by the local we’d got chatting to the night previously. I always love getting suggestions from locals when exploring someplace new, because otherwise it can often be all too easy to wind up in the most touristy place ever. This place was definitely not touristy, it was a proper old dive bar…and we loved it!
Soon we got chatting to a local at the bar and she took us around her favourite spots in the neighbourhood. It was such a fun night and although it was followed by a terrible hangover, I’m so glad we got to experience a night with the locals in San Fran.
THE FOOD
I won’t go on too much about what we ate in San Francisco, or else I’m afraid that will take up a whole other blog post. But what I simply will say is that we ate, a lot. I feel like whenever someone from overseas visits the US on holiday, they go with the intention of super sizing everything and eating their bodyweight in carbs and sugar (please tell me I’m not alone here). San Francisco was no exception to my, when in America rule of, ‘go big or go home’…and that’s exactly what we did until it finally was indeed, time to go home.
So there we have it. A somewhat prolific blog post about my first ever trip to San Francisco, which I hope you could find someway informative, or if not that, then at the very least entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, as did Damien and I’d definitely be keen to go back again. From San Fran, we actually went on to visit Portland, where we stayed for several nights for our friends’ wedding, before flying back to San Fran for one more night, and then home. I vlogged quite a bit of all of our trip, so if you’d like to see more of what we got up to, you can scroll down to the bottom of this page and watch the vlog there.
Anyway, that’s all for now and I’ll leave a quick low down of everything below too!
Samio x
THE LOW DOWN
When We Visited: June to July 2018 How Long We Stayed: 4 nights, then flew to Portland for 4 nights, then back to San Fran for another night. Accommodation: Hotels Area We Stayed In: 1st The Tenderloin, 2nd Hotel The East Cut Favourite Areas: Cow Hollow and North Beach Would Recommend: Hiring a bike to cycle across the Golden Gate Bridge over to Sausalito and having some lunch whilst you’re there. Visiting Alcatraz (make sure you book in advance ahead of your trip to San Francisco). Food To Try: If you’re in the Cow Hollow Area and you’re a fellow pizza lover, try the margarita pizza with burrata, you won’t be disappointed! Also there’s lots of good seafood in San Francisco too. Would I Visit San Francisco Again: Yes
Obviously when in San Francisco, it’s a must to go and visit the arguably most famous bridge in the world, The Golden Gate Bridge. When exploring a new place, I like to see as much of it as possible and one of the best ways to get about in San Francisco is via bike. Of course it was a no brainer for Damien and I to take a bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge, and we knew it would be a great way to see more of San Fransisco and some of the surrounding areas.
As much as I enjoy wondering around a new city, I’m quite outdoorsy and so love any chance to get active and explore outside of the busy city centre. I’m so glad I came prepared with fitness gear for this trip and I’m a bit obsessed with this outfit I got from The Sports Edit.
I was long overdue a sportswear update, as I’ve been wearing the same black leggings and top combo for a while now and this time wanted to opt for something a bit more fun. I always find good sportswear is worth the investment, because if you’re like me you’ll want something that’s comfortable, form-fitting and great quality that will last through constant washing and wear.
The Sports Edit stocks some of my favourite sportswear brands and their well curated selection makes it easy to pick from. I was instantly drawn to these Nimble snake print leggings and crop top. I knew these would be great for whilst away but also for back home at the gym and I’m happy to report the sports bra is both comfortable and supportive.
The Sports Edit has a good selection of footwear and accessories too and I went for these Adidas running trainers and I knew they would be comfortable and also look great with the leggings and sports bra. I also went for the Fact + Fiction backpack because I was in need for a new gym/sports bag and this one was just what I was after. It actually really came in handy on my trip as it was great for travelling, as well as taking along with me on our bike ride.
And how was the bike ride you may be wondering…It was great and I’d definitely recommend it if you do take a trip to San Fransisco. We took the route across the Golden Gate bridge and over to Sausalito and along the way took a slight detour up a (very) steep hill, to get some great views of the bridge and San Fransisco. I loved our little visit to Sausalito and would really like to spend more time there again as it’s such a picturesque and chilled place. Our legs were well worked by the end of the day but it was worth it and good to get active and explore just outside San Francisco.
It had been years since I had a staycation in the city, so when Roomzzz offered us a night’s stay at their newly opened hotel in Manchester, I of course jumped at the offer. Whilst I love my weekends spent at home, I must admit there’s always something a little bit exciting about spending a night or two away from home, even if it is only a few miles down the road.
Damien and I headed to Roomzzz a few Saturday’s ago, with our bags packed ready for a fun weekend in the city. Situated in the grade II listed Corn Exchange building, the Roomzzz hotel is in the perfect location, close to many of the best bits of Manchester. Being a born and bred Mancunian, I of course have my firm favourite spots in the city but on this occasion it was nice to try a few new places too.
As well as being home to Roomzzz, the Corn Exchange also houses a number of great bars and restaurants, some of which I’ve visited before (like Mowgli for example, which is one of my favourites and would recommend if you enjoy authentic style Indian street food). During this particular time we tried Salvi’s in the Corn Exchange for the first time. This little Italian is a hidden gem and I’m surprised we hadn’t visited earlier. We had the fun of experiencing a pasta making class whilst we were there and we also sampled their amazing smoked mozzarella cheese – I’d recommend trying one of their pizzas with it on too if you get chance, it’s seriously good.
Whilst the Corn Exchange has plenty to offer, there’s also lots around the area too. Just across from there you have Selfridges and Manchester’s Arndale if you fancy a spot of shopping whilst you’re in the city.
If you fancy dining out somewhere different during your stay, then you can always take a short walk along Deansgate towards Spinningfields. On the Saturday evening we went to Iberica in Spinningfields for Spanish tapas. Although I’d been to Iberica a few times in the past for drinks, this was the first time I’d eaten there and the food did not disappoint. Our waiter was great at recommending the best dishes to try and everything we had was delicious.
Overall it was a great staycation. I think my favourite thing about our stay at Roomzzz was the convenience of being so close to everything. Although I live in Manchester, it was nice to experience my city in a completely different way and also try out some new places in the process.
Romantic may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Manchester but you may be surprised to find several spots that are ideal for the perfect date or spot to woo your Valentine.
I’ve teamed up with Flybe to bring you this post and when they asked me to show you around some of my favourite romantic spots in my hometown, I of course jumped at the chance. If you know me, you’ll know I’m always out exploring my city and discovering new spots. So if you’re thinking about taking a trip here this Valentine’s Day but you’re not sure which places you should visit, then look no further because your girl has got you covered!
The Best Brunch Date
Pot Kettle Black has got to be one of my favourite places to go for breakfast or brunch. The coffee here is great and these people know how to do breakfast just right, plus it’s served all day, so there’s no rush. Whilst the food tastes delicious, presentation is their speciality too, so you’re bound to impress your date with a tasty (and also Instagramable) bit of brunch in this spot. Cosy up in one of the window seats which looks out into the Victorian shopping arcade (Barton Arcade) and start your day just right.
Art Is For Lovers
Manchester art gallery has always been one of my favourite spots and if you ask me, I think it’s a great place to take a date. It’s free entry and with everything from historical paintings to contemporary pieces, there’s something for every art enthusiast to enjoy. I always think there’s something quite romantic about art galleries and you can easily spend an afternoon wandering around this place and taking it all in. They have a coffee shop and a pretty cool gift shop too.
Cocktails With A View
I don’t know why but there’s always something so romantic about having cocktails high up in the sky…that’s if you’re not scared of heights of course. And if you’re not, then I definitely suggest you visit Cloud 23 whilst you’re in Manchester. Situated on the 23rd floor of Manchester’s tallest building (Beetham Tower) you’re able to get the best views of Manchester, and beyond. There may not always be blue skies but I don’t feel this dulls the romance of this lovely spot. You can easily spend a couple of hours here relaxing with a delicious cocktail (or two), watching the world go by.
The Less Obvious Romantic Spot
I realise not everyone wants romance to be in their face obvious and sometimes it’s actually the more bustling places that can turn out to be the most intimate. If you like a large open setting with a varied selection of great food and drink, then look no further than Mackie Mayor. This recently renovated Grade II listed building is one of my favourite spots in Manchester. It’s a great place to go with your date and I suggest taking a seat on the upper tier where you can sit and take in the views of this fabulous venue from above. My favourite thing about this place, aside from the great atmosphere, has to be the pizzas. I highly recommend the margarita pizza from Honest Crust, it’s seriously good!
A Romantic Place To Stay
What could be more perfect than an affordable and romantic hotel situated in my personal favourite part of Manchester, the Northern Quarter. The Cow Hollow Hotel is close to lots of great bars and restaurants but it’s easy to miss it, as it’s tucked away on a corner of Newton Street. I discovered this place after stumbling upon their bar, which I do believe is the cosiest and certainly most romantic spot that I have come across in the Northern Quarter. With great wine, great cocktails, excellent service and beautiful interior throughout, what’s not to love. This intimate little spot hosts a bar (which is open to the public as well as hotel guest) and 16 beautifully furnished hotel rooms perfect for your romantic getaway.
A Romantic Garden
You must visit Refuge when you come to Manchester because this place is just stunning. The huge building holds a number of different areas where you can dine, have drinks and relax. My favourite part of this place has to be the centrepiece, which is the beautiful Winter Garden. I like to call it the most weatherproof garden in Manchester because they have done an excellent job of brining the essence of the outdoors, inside. With it’s atrium ceiling, plush furnishings and large glass windows looking out onto the rest of the venue, you feel as if you’re inside a romantic secret garden. Whether you come here for a coffee during the day or for cocktails in the evening, it certainly makes for a perfect romantic spot.
So there we have it. Those are a few of my favourite romantic spots in Manchester. I love sharing favourite parts of my city and showing you around. Hopefully this could give you some insight of some of what Manchester has to offer and if you are looking to visit, then don’t forget Flybe flies to Manchester from eight UK airports, including Exeter, Southhampton, Aberdeen and Belfast. So what are you waiting for, why not hop on a flight over. Hope to see you soon!
When I look back through my photos from Copenhagen, it’s just a reminder of how beautiful a city it actually is. From all I’d heard about Copenhagen prior to going, I’d guessed I was bound to fall in love with the city but I hadn’t expected it to be quite so colourful and vibrant as it is. Somehow the postcard perfect images of Nyhavn had previously escaped me and so to find streets lined with miss-matched brightly painted buildings was quite the pleasant surprise. Copenhagen has definitely been one of my favourite trips of the year so far and so here’s a break down of my trip and a few things that may help if you plan on heading to Copenhagen too.
Where We Stayed
I took the trip to Copenhagen with my Mother at the start of September and we couldn’t have picked a better place to take our first trip abroad together in over six years. Whilst I have become quite well acquainted with Airbnb, it was my Mother’s first time staying in an Airbnb accommodation. I’m happy to say we picked an excellent place in the cool Meatpacking District of Vesterbro, where there were plenty of bars and restaurants on our doorstep and it was only a short walk from the city centre.
Things To Do
There is so much to see and do in Copenhagen, just wandering the streets and stopping in a coffee shop can be satisfying enough, as there are so many nice coffee shops and restaurants. We did however still managed to fit in quite a great deal of ‘touristy’ stuff too.
On the Friday we headed to Tivoli gardens, which is an old amusement park, which has been there since the late 1800’s and it’s the second oldest operating amusement park in the world (pretty cool huh)! We’d heard that on a Friday evening that they have concerts and there’s a good atmosphere making it a good time to go, although it does make the entrance to the park on Friday evenings slightly more. We decided to skip the rides and just pay the entrance fee and have a wander around. At first I was a little skeptical as to how worth it the visit would be but I’m glad to say that it turned out to be totally worth it and I’m glad we went on the Friday evening too. It’s such a picturesque place and at night it is so unbelievably pretty, it’s also conveniently slap bang in the middle of the city, so it’s really easy to get to as well.
Another favourite spot was the Botanical Garden. I’d had this place on my list of places to visit long before we’d set off on our trip and I loved the place just as much as I’d imagined. I’ve been to botanical gardens before but none quite like this one and I loved walking around and taking pictures. It’s free too which is an added bonus.
We only did one museum but I think we picked one of the best ones to visit as we went to the National Museum of Denmark, which is huge. There is so much to see in there and although we spent a good few hours in the museum I still don’t think we even saw all of it. It was ideal for one of the rainy days on our trip when we didn’t fancy wandering about outside too much.
Food
Before going to Copenhagen I’d been told by numerous people that the food there is really good. I’d reached out on Instagram and quite a few of you lovely lot gave me some suggestions of places to eat and by far one of my favourites that we tried from the bunch was Copenhagen Street Food on Papirøen, otherwise known as Paper Island. It’s an area filled with food trucked dedicated to street food from around the world and it’s also one of the more affordable places to eat too. We loved this place so much that we went twice and if you love food, it’s honestly hard to not walk around this place and find your eyes starting to feel bigger than your belly (hence us having to go back a second time to sample more dishes). There is something for everyone they have plenty of veggie and vegan option too. I had some of the best sushi I’ve ever had at this place and just thinking about it now makes me drool. There is seating both indoor and out and on the first occasion we went, outside was filled with deckchairs as people chilled out and basked in the sun. The second time it poured it down but luckily there is lots of indoor seating too.
Weather
Speaking of weather, the weather in Copenhagen isn’t too dissimilar to that here in Manchester – raining one minute, sunny the next. We felt right at home. I have to say on arrival we were quite worried that we’d picked the worst days for our trip as it did seem to rain non stop for a good 24 hours. Thankfully we had a five night trip in total, so could spare a couple to rain and then by the Saturday the sun was shining and at points we actually got some pretty glorious weather, so it didn’t turn out all bad after all!
The Low Down
When we visited: September 2017 Weather: Average 17 Degrees C (heavy rain one day, sunshine the next) How long we stayed: 5 nights. Where we stayed: Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Accommodation: Airbnb. Must Try: The street food at Paper Island! Recommendations:
-For great views of the city centre go up Rundetaarn.
-Visit Tivoli Gardens at night and see how magical it is.
-Check out Freetown Christiania, it’s interesting to see but it’s best to go during the day.
-Definitely check out Nyhavn for postcard perfect views.
-Visit the National Museum of Denmark on a rainy day, or even on any day if you like museums.
-Check out the cool bars in vesterbro for nightlife. Friday’s are pretty bustling.
-Go to the Botanical Garden. Would I go again: Yes most definitely.
Papirøen – Paper Island.
Food Trucks inside at Copenhagen Street Food, Paper Island.
At the end of August Damien and I decided to take a trip to Porto. I visited Portugal for the first time at the start of the year when I went to Lisbon (which you can read all about here) and it seems I’ve not been able to keep away since, as I then went for a second time for work to Vilamoura in May and then finally again for this trip last month. It’s fair to say that I’ve well and truly fallen for Portugal and Porto did not disappoint.
This has probably been my most relaxing trip of the year so far. I say relaxing, however we did managed to walk just over 94,000 steps within the 6 full days we were there. As you’ll be able to see from some of the pictures, Porto is incredibly hilly and we made it our mission most days to walk down the hill from the old part of town where we were staying, to walk along the river to then cross the bridge and do the same along the other side. We’d often do this twice per day as we did the same when we came out in the evenings too. Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side of course…all jokes aside though, although both sides of the river have their fair share of fun, we just personally preferred the opposite side for restaurants as it was slightly less touristy. Plus although both sides of the Douro river have rather impressive views of Porto, we both preferred the view looking out from the opposite side to where we were staying as it was slightly prettier, so there you go.
Where We Stayed
We stayed in Porto for 6 nights, which was a good amount of time but 5 nights would have probably been enough. Once again we opted for airBnb for our accommodation and stayed in the Baixa area which was close to lots of cool neighbourhood bars and restaurants frequented by the locals. I really liked the area we stayed in and would stay around that part again if I were to go back.
Food
We had some really good food whilst in Porto and of course there was lots of good seafood available. If you are into fish then the sardines are a good dish to try whilst dining out by the river – but like I mentioned I’d recommend heading to the restaurants on the side opposite to the old town part if you do. And if unlike me you do eat meat then you may want to try the Francesinha, which seems to be one of Porto’s most popular dishes.
Port
And finally, I of course cannot speak about Porto without speaking about Port – one of things which it is most famous for. I would definitely recommend taking a visit to one of the many Port cellars and of course doing a bit of Port tasting whilst you’re there too. We chose to visit Graham’s, which was one of the Port places situated furthest away from where we were staying (but as you probably guessed – we like to walk). I’d recommend the walk though because the views from the outside of the winery are quite beautiful (as you can see on the image below) and of course the Port is worth tasting too.
The Low Down
When we visited: August 2017 Weather: Average 28 – 32 Degrees C How long we stayed: 6 nights. Where we stayed: Baixa. Accommodation: Airbnb. Must Try: Port Tasting. Sardines and the cod. Recommendations:
-Chill out at the open air bar, Base.
-Check out the bars/restaurants in the Baixa area – and go to the Champanheria da Baixa and try the champagne sangria, it’s soooo good. The atmosphere is also great on the weekend evenings.
-Go to Galeria de Paris for a super cheap yet tasty buffet lunch in the most random restaurant ever!
-Visit the Igreja de Santa Clara church.
-Go up Clérigos Tower at night for great nighttime views of the city.
-Find Arc of Truth (wine bar) for a cosy intimate setting, great wine and window views of Douro River.
-Go to Graham’s Winery for great views and a tour of the wine cellars – and port tasting (obviously). Would I go again: Yes and would recommend a trip in August too.
When I’d mention to people that next up on my travel itinerary was a trip to Eindhoven, many people responded with either ‘where?’, or ‘why?’, or more often than not a combination of both ‘where?’, followed by ‘why?’. I guess when people think of the Netherlands it’s not often the first place that springs to mind…and that’s exactly why I wanted to go, because it was someplace different.
You may have realised by now (if you’ve been reading my travel posts) that some of my trips aren’t the most obvious travel choices. I just love exploring, and as much as I do love the popular super touristic hot spots, I also love discovering other places too. It feels like I’m trying something for the first time in a way and I also like how I can get a real feel for a place without it being too touristy.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t quite know what to expect from Eindhoven prior to my visit. I’m a book flights and worry about the rest later type of person (as you may have gathered if you read about my Oslo trip). However after arriving and both Damien and I feeling very welcomed into the city, I quickly began to love the vibe and the energy of Eindhoven.
Where We Stayed
We stayed in the Inntel Art Hotel, which is half situated in the old Philips Light factory. I’m glad we got a room in the old part of the building as I loved the industrial yet modern feel of the room with it’s high ceiling and exposed concrete and pipework. It’s also situated in a great location too, as everywhere we went was reachable on foot with most places less than a ten minute walk away.
One thing I hadn’t expected about Eindhoven is that it’s home to a great deal of ex-pats, making it a very multicultural city and after a couple of days there it’s easy to see why this place is popular with outsiders. It’s innovative in design and technology, easy to get around, traffic is minimal with the majority of people choosing to ride bikes, it’s a very green city, and if you’re a foodie like me, you’ll be impressed with the amount of great restaurants and bars it has to offer.
Where we ate
Damien and I were both really impressed with all the places we went to for food. We had breakfast provided at our hotel each morning and then for lunch and dinner we were spoilt with a great selection of places. Eindhoven is full of great restaurants and bars and we were lucky enough to sample a good selection of them.
Calypso was where we went on our first evening for food…and quite a lot of drinks. We enjoyed oysters, a cheese board, calzone pizza AND dessert and spent the entire evening in there chatting to the locals and the owner of the bar, Louis, who was great fun. Our night at Calypso was a great introduction to Eindhoven, although I must admit I nursed a sore head the next day but I guess that’s usually the sign of a good night, right? Hangover aside, I really liked the vibe of this place and it’s somewhere I’d probably end up being a regular at if I lived in Eindhoven.
Coffeelab was such a cool little spot for coffee and lunch. We went on the Saturday for lunch and I had the walnut and cheese toasty, which was different but really good. They had vegan options on the menu too which is always good to note. I loved the interior of this place, full of greenery and cool lights hanging from the ceiling. It’s the type of place I could see myself visiting alone with a coffee and a good book/or even my macbook and sitting there drinking cups of coffee for an entire afternoon.
De Vooruitgang. We actually went here three times; on the first night for some drinks before heading for dinner, on the Saturday for a meal and on the Monday for a drink outside in the sun before heading home. I guess that pretty much tells you that we really liked this place. The interior in this place is again very cool and there’s also plenty of seating outside too and there’s a great atmosphere sat outside in the square on a sunny day.
The dinner we had at De Vooruitgang on the Saturday was really good. To start I went for the tuna, which was so tasty and my main of shrimp pasta just topped off an excellent meal.
Usine Not only does this place look really cool, with every angle of the place being a photographable opportunity (bloggers dream) but the food is pretty darn good too. We went for lunch on the Sunday, where we sat in a cosy corner on retro chairs and sofa drinking copious amounts of coffee. Food wise Damien went for the club sandwich and I went for the fish and chips. And I have to say it was some of the best battered fish I’ve had, as it was so, so tasty.
Down Town Gourmet Market. Damien and I loved this place and it was the perfect spot to end our last night on the Sunday evening. You’re spoilt for choice at this place as you’re presented with a selection of the amazing eateries to choose from in a relaxed gathering spot with seating both inside and out. We got food from Miss Temaki, a sushi place and Vietnamama, which is Vietnamese. We were honestly so impressed with the food from both places and probably would have eaten more if it weren’t for us being full. Like I say we were spoilt for choice and if I were to go back I’d love to try even more of the food places on offer there.
What We Did
A big part of our trip was focused on food and drink which was great because if you know me then you’ll know I absolutely love eating out and trying new restaurants.
Aside from eating and drinking away to our hearts content, we also did a spot of shopping. I’m not one to be easily drawn into the shops but as I mentioned in my previous Eindhoven Outfits post, I did find a few clothing shops that were right up my street and I also made a couple of purchases. Even Damien bought a new jacket too.
A few of my favourite shops were Hutspot, which sells a selection of cool brands including Selected Femme, Matt & Nat, Samsøe & Samsøe and lots more. They also had a Monki store in which I bought my new favourite pair of pants (if you follow me on Instagram you’ll know I haven’t stopped going on about them). We also found the most amazing home store called Home Stock, which immediately left us wishing we had bigger luggage because I seriously could have bought everything in that store if I had the chance.
A visit to the Van Abbemuseum was a highlight for me and if you’re in to modern and contemporary art, then I suggest you too visit here when in Eindhoven. There’s so much to see there and you can easily spend a good couple of hours wondering round, as we did.
It’s also worth visiting the Strijp S area, where there are lots more bars/restaurants and design shops situated in the old Philips buildings. The area had a real industrial yet modern feel and a cool vibe.
The Low Down
When we visited: May 2017 Weather: Sunny How long we stayed: Friday to Monday – 3 nights. Where we stayed: Intel Art Hotel (right in the city centre). Suggestions: Visit the Van Abbemuseum Food to try: Down Town Gourmet Market, there’s something for everyone. Would I go again: Yes!
Damien and I both really enjoyed our trip to Eindhoven and as my first trip to The Netherlands it definitely left a great first impression. The city has a cool vibe, the people are friendly and it’s full of great food, so what’s not to love. Until next time.
