Thai Paraty, Brazil
Whilst on a visit to the town of Paraty in Brazil, we came across a place called Thai Paraty, a moderately sized restaurant located on Alameda Princesa Isabel. With me and my boyfriend being fans of Thai food, it was only natural that we would try to lead our friends to a Thai restaurant on our travels – this one certainly didn’t let us down.
We visited on a Tuesday evening when it was moderately busy although seemingly more so due to the lack of staff during the evening. There was just one member of staff on duty (luckily he was the chef) and he constantly apologised for the inevitable delay that resulted in him having to wait on tables, prepare food, serve drinks all whilst maintaining his positive demeanor. Hand on heart, he did brilliantly, juggling all efforts with a smile in a situation that would force most restaurants to close for the evening. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: romantic, restaurant, Thai food, places to eat, eating out, Paraty, dining out, Asian food, Alameda Princesa Isabel
I’m not generally a superstitious person but 2013 is shaping up to be a year of learning. As the saying goes, bad things usually happen in threes. With that, I should have well and truly paid my karma dues and be on to some safe and happy travels for the remainder of the year.
Since February 2013, I’ve had not one, not two but three cases of travel misfortune! As somebody that has travelled reasonably trouble-free for over ten years, such poor luck has been an eye-opener both educationally and (most painfully) financially. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: insurance, lock, luggage, safe travels, safety, security, tips, travel, travel tips
The view from Mystic Mountain, Jamaica
Built entirely from environmentally-friendly materials and covering 100 acres of mountainous land near Dunn’s River Falls, Mystic Mountain is a well located tourist attraction that sits 700 foot above sea level. On a recent trip to Jamaica, I was able to visit the attraction with three relatives as guests of Mystic Mountain.
I was intrigued… I have visited Jamaica on numerous occasions and wanted something new to try. This was perfectly suitable to whet my appetite for adventure on the island. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: bobsled, bobsledding, bobsleigh, Cool Runnings, jamaica, Jamaica Olympics, Mystic Mountain, ocho rios, places to go, things to do, tourist attractions, Tranopy package, zip-lining
Ilha Grande is a small island located off the coast of mainland Brazil in Angra Dos Reis. Surrounded in tropical greenery and boasting picturesque sandy beaches, the third largest island in Rio de Janeiro offers visitors the perfect escape from daily life. With no taxis, no cashpoints/ ATMs and a lack of WiFi or internet connection, it makes an idyllic break (just be sure to withdraw enough cash before you arrive).
Tourists to the island are escorted by boat (bookable at the shore for around 30-reis or online as part of a package via Green Toad Bus). It’s roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour from the mainland and you can take a reasonably sized suitcase, however I’d recommended a backpack or something that you can carry. I took a suitcase on wheels and struggled once we reached Ilha Grande due to the surface of the ground.
Visiting for just 24 hours, it was a flying visit to see the beauty of the island, but completely worthwhile. From Parque Nacional de Ilha Grande to late night camp fires on the beach, we absolutely loved the experience. Below are a few photos and a video that I wanted to share from my recent visit to the island. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Angra Dos Reis, boat trip, Brazil, day trip, Green Toad Bus, Ilha Grande, island, National Park, Parque Nacional de Ilha Grande, Pousada, Pousada L'Auberge, Rio De Janeiro
Vapiano, Great Portland Street, London
I was recently invited to try out a local Italian restaurant, Vapiano in London. Whilst they usually supply a range of exquisite pizza and pasta dishes, I would be visiting on the first day of ‘Viva Oliva’ (meaning ‘long live the olive’), a 15-day olive festival to focus on a range of meals and dishes featuring olives.
At first appearances, the restaurant has a vibrant, busy atmosphere with a constant flow of visitors. Whilst waiting for my friends, I counted at least twenty groups of customers in the space of five minutes. I couldn’t believe the footfall and was even more amazed that I had never heard of the restaurant despite this location being open for over four years. Don’t let the active environment put you off, there always seems to be space for customers with a relatively short turnaround and a shared seating layout. If you spot a space on an occupied table, feel free to help yourself to the space.
Upon entering the restaurant, each member of our group was given a card that is swiped every time you order something. This results in a much easier transaction process at the end of the meal, perfect for larger groups to pay for what they had without splitting the bill. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Central London, eating out, Festival of Olives, Great Portland Street, Italian food, london, places to go, restaurants, Vapiano, Viva Oliva, west end
Located in Rio’s South Zone between the districts of São Conrado and Gávea, Rocinha is the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In nothing more than a shantytown, I spent the morning with a group from BeALocal.com wandering around one of the most notoriously dangerous places in Brazil.
A favela in Brazil is what would also be known as the slums or ghetto areas in other parts of the world, typically an area of the city that the Government would prefer that you didn’t see. Why? Because (in Rochinha’s case) with a population of over 69,000 people and around 25,000 vertically built homes, it is a representation of failings. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Favela tour, largest Favela, Local tour, poverty, Rio, Rio De Janeiro, Rocinha, shanty town, sightseeing, social inequality, South Zone, things to do, voluntary work, volunteer, voluntourism
