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The Ultimate Budapest Travel Guide!

The Ultimate budapest travel guide

Known widely for its rich history and breath-taking architecture, Budapest is one of the Danube’s greatest treasures. While it’s long been a favourite among Euro-travellers in the know, the capital of Hungary is finally starting to catch the eye of adventurers from around the world.

Budapest is divided by the Danube river with on one side the hilly “Buda” area and the flat “Pest” side. Use this guide to explore the highlights of both sides of the city.

And while all of these are true highlights of Budapest, more and more travelers are discovering that Hungary is a country home to so many hidden gems! Enjoy their rich culture and deep history, delicious food, beautiful scenery, and Christmas markets that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

best time to visit:

Budapest is absolutely beautiful all year round, so choosing the best time to visit all depends on your preference for the weather, crowd size, and budget.

We ventured to the beautiful city in winter to enjoy the Christmas markets. Winter can be bitterly cold and many attractions, including accommodation in smaller towns, shut down. If you’re trying to visit Hungary on a budget, this is a great time. Just be sure to bundle up- It’s cold!

Tip: Invest in a really good feather down jacket and thermals. (Its the only thing that will keep you warm if you are wanting to walk the city like we did)

what to expect:

Currency: The official currency of Hungary is the Hungarian forint (HUF).

Credit Cards & ATMs: Credit cards are widely accepted throughout Hungary, especially Visa and MasterCard. Small businesses may not accept cards or may have a minimum purchase requirement, so it’s wise to keep some cash on you during your visit.

Tip: If you are travelling with Euros, be sure to change into Hungarian Forint’s. You will save so much more money due to the conversion rate.

must see in budapest

Fisherman’s Bastion

The Fisherman’s Bastion with its beautiful detailed arches and seven fairy-tale-like white towers is a castle overlooking the entire city. It is incredibly picturesque and one of the best things to do in Budapest.

The Fisherman’s Bastion is easy to reach by Metro, followed by a short 10 min walk. To avoid the tourist buses, plan a visit before 9 AM. It is open 24 hours a day, except for the towers (9 AM).

Tip: Book a photoshoot with Andras through Airbnb .The most informative and incredibly talented photographer you will meet! I couldn’t pass the opportunity to book a photography session with him to capture one of the most beautiful attractions in Budapest. If I can, this will definitely become a ritual with all our travels. Beautiful memories captured that we get to keep forever.

Central Market Hall

Central Market Hall, or the Great Market Hall as it’s sometimes known, is a historic indoor market in Budapest that’s notably the oldest and the largest of its kind in the city.

It first opened in 1897 and although it’s seen many changes throughout its history, it is still a reliable place to purchase products, pastries, sweets, and more.

In recent years, several vendors have begun offering souvenirs and goods designed to appeal to tourists so you can find something to buy here even if you’re not looking for groceries.

The second floor of the market is also home to several food stalls as well as tables and chairs so you can enjoy your meal right away.
Tip: Try Langos, a type of Hungarian street food that is essentially deep-fried dough with delicious toppings like sour-cream and grated cheese. It’s hard to go wrong with that combination!

Sweet Treat

An absolute must try, apart from the Langos, is the Chimney Cakes!

A sweet scent is catching your nose and guiding you to the origin of the sugary aroma, which is a chimney cake kiosk. Guaranteed there will be a long queue but man. oh man, it is absolutely worth the wait! The ultimate Hungarian sweet street food you must try at least once!

The Ruin Bars

If you’re looking for an interesting place to get a drink or two, the Ruin Bars in Budapest are the obvious choice.

These bars are literally located in the ruins of an abandoned building and offer a unique ambiance to enjoy. If you’re not sure where to go, try Szimpla, which was the first Ruin Bar.

It opened in 2004 and quickly became the place to be, before inspiring several other similar bars that have opened since.

The Danube Promenade

The Danube Promenade will take you between the Elizabeth Bridge and the Chain Bridge and is a wonderful place to walk along to enjoy the ambiance of the city. It’s also a great spot to see many of the famous landmarks in Budapest such as the Buda Castle and Szechenyi Istvan Square. While here, take some time to pay your respects and reflect on the “Shoes on the Danube Bank” memorial. The Installation was created to honour those who were killed during the Holocaust- these individuals were ordered to remove thier shoes and then shot at the edge of the river, thier bodies fell in and were washed away.

Central Grand Café & Bar

There is nothing quite like exploring the city on foot because with that comes finding absolute gems along the way.

We stumbled upon the Central Grand Café & Bar and quickly said: “yes please” when the French inspired waitron asked us if we would like a table for two. It took us back to what we thought it was to be in an upmarket café back in the 1950’s. Sophisticated yet casually moody where we indulged in a melt-in-your-mouth croissant and hot cocoa. Definitely pop in, if you do stumble across it, it’s a treat!

Ice Skate at the Varosligeti Ice Skating Rink

The City Park Ice Rink (Hungarian: Városligeti Műjégpálya) is a public ice rink located in the City Park of the Hungarian capital Budapest, between the Heroes’ Square and the Vajdahunyad Castle. Opened in 1870, it is the largest and one of the oldest ice rinks in Europe. In the Summer months its a beautiful paradise when locals and visitors alike enjoy the ponds and castle grounds, winter months the ponds freeze up and the Christmas Markets pop up! It’s a mix between Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque – it’s absolutely magnificent!

Markets & Castles

If you are visiting Budapest in December time (PS: pack thermals) The Vajdahunyad Castle is absolutely breath-taking to walk through and see the lake frozen over.

Before heading in, you get to enjoy the Christmas cheer by indulging in hot chocolate, hot mulled wine and plenty of sweet treats

Getting around Budapest

Getting from A to B in Budapest is no problem. The metro system spreads throughout all popular parts of the city. The metro in Budapest is one of the oldest in the whole of Europe- isn’t that amazing!?

There are also bike services that when connect to an app, gains you access to use a bicycle for 24hours

where to stay

A place we cannot reccomment highly enough- Ibis Styles Budapest City Located on the bank of the Danube river near the city centre offering great views to the Gellért Hill. It is a perfect location with the most comfortable access to both the financial and historical parts of the city. All-you-can-eat tasty buffet breakfast, unlimited Wi-Fi access and many more extras that don’t cost a bunch.

Bonus

New Year’s in Budapest is chaos- But in a good way. The restaurants get packed and close early, 10pm some 11pm, so that all can celebrate the new year.

If you looking for a spot to eat, be sure to book in advance. Hit the streets and enjoy the celebrations! It is such a vibe! The locals celebrate EARLY by setting off fireworks as early as 6pm new years eve. The fireworks go off everywhere but be sure to go where the crowds gather to get the best views.

Budapest is absolutely a place to add to your bucket list. A place I would love to go back to, but perhaps in the summer time xx

There you have it, the Ultimate Budapest Travel Guide! Would love to know if you have visited this beautiful city and any hidden gems you have discovered along the way!

March 7, 2023

All Aboard Series- Rome-ing Around

I know what you thinking- “She’s been back for months from her trip and she is still posting about it!?”
Yes, yes I am because life happens you know- so pipe down and enjoy the last post of the series Mmmmkay! It’s the last one of the series I promise.

Rome. To be honest it’s really not what I had expected. I expected more.
Don’t get me wrong, Rome has pretty spectacular architecture and the food- absolute heaven, but there was just something that was off..

So coming back from seeing Venice, which they say is very similar, I found Venice so much more appealing then Rome. Hubby felt the same and I couldnt figure out why we both felt that way but as I type this I think I know the reason why. I think it was the fact that we felt so free to walk in a completely different place and feel so completely safe in Venice that is.

In Venice, we walked until late at night, got lost and felt completely safe, yet in Rome, we felt that we needed to hold onto our belongings just a little tighter then normal. Say’s a South African, yet it’s a different sense of fear.. Was it the fact that on our train journey, from Venice to Rome, there was a recorded voice over that advised us to look after our belongings as there is highly intellegent pick- pocketers on the prowel all the time?

Probably…

WHAT TO EXPECT IN ROME

Language: Modern-day Romans speak Italian, of course, which is widely recognized as a language of love and romance.

Currency: Italy uses the euro, so bring your euro notes.

Credit Cards and Banks: Cards are used all over Rome, especially Visa, but it’s more common to use cash for small items. Some museums and market sellers only accept notes. As a general rule of thumb, bring a few euros in cash with you wherever you go.

Climate: Resting just off the Mediterranean Sea, Rome enjoys warm and temperate weather with averages of 15-30 degree Celcius. Expect much more rainfall during the winter and hot and sunny days in the summer. We travelled in April-May and the weather was gorgeous but take a warm jacket and something to protect you from the rain. The evenings get chilly and the rain catched you by suprise!

GETTING AROUND

Driving in Rome isn’t advisable—the traffic is chaotic in the best of terms and drivers are insane. Opt for wandering around by foot—the most romantic way to discover the hidden corners of the city—or use the impressive public system of buses, trams, trolleys, metro, and light railways. The systems are easy to understand so dont stress or get anxious about it!

If you are up for it, try out the O Bike dockless bicycle and discover Rome by bike! You will see them everywhere around the streets of Rome. When we spotted them, we didnt really understand it so we didnt actually use it, but I wish we did because you kind of create your own little bicycle tour instead! Note: there is a cost involved depending on how far you ride, but I think it would be totally worth it!

Where to Eat

There is only one thing that you should be eating when visiting Rome and that’s pizza. The pizzas are out of this world and nothing quite beats those authentic italian pizzas!

We only ate pizza while in Rome, except for breakfast of course. Mind you, the one day we had it from breakfast, lunch and dinner so heck, loosen those pants and just do it!!

The place that you MUST visit in Rome is the amazing Le Nostra Speacialiatria Sicilian Pizzaria on Via Emanuele Filiberto (It’s two shops down from the Best Western President Hotel) It is the best pizza ever guys! Trust me on this one!

The chief himself, smiling for my picture!

This is what made my pants not fit me anymore

The most difficult desicion that I had to make.

What to Do in Rome
There is so much to do in Rome and the Vatican City, you could easily fill 4-5 days full of activities. Be sure to map out your must-do’s before you go so you don’t miss a thing!

Visit the Vatican: The Vatican is closely tied with Rome’s heritage, and there is a wealth of art and history to explore in it’s Vatican Museums. We didnt get to go into the Vatican as there was a massive line of people, some had been waiting for 4 hours and they were at the back. Be sure to go early to beat the crowds and perhaps purchase a tour ticket to get quicker access. There is tour guides selling outside the Vatican, so no need to book online.

Spanish Steps: The Spanish Steps, a lively staircase of 135 steps, were made famous by Audrey Hepburn’s 1953 film Roman Holiday. They are a great place to people watch and start your window shopping. You will find the likes of Chanel, Louis Vutton, Burberry etc to feast your eyes on!

The Trevi Fountain: The crowds of people are ridiculous! I dont know how people got it right with thier picturesque instagram pictures of them on thier own by the fountain. Lord knows I tried but failed when a group of kids filled the spaces around me. It is pretty to see though, Oh and I definately got to toss my coin in!

The Pantheon: If you have only a few hours in Rome, you should absolutely visit the Pantheon. It’s the only ancient Roman temple that survives virtually intact. It’s incredible to see!

Roman Forum and Colosseum: Second on your list should definitely be the Forum, which houses Trajan’s market, the relatively intact ancient Via Biberatica, and of course, the iconic Colosseum. PS- there is plenty of gypsies and craft vendours hanging around, be careful of your belongings and keep and eye out.

Inside the Pantheon- There is a single hole in the ceiling that illuminates the entire building!

Apart from what I had said in the beginning, Rome is one of the most iconic and most traveled cities in Europe, with a long history to match. With a mixture of cultures from around the world, Rome has it all. Wander the cobblestone street with gelato in hand, spend some time people watching from the Spanish Steps and take in all of the stunning architecture the city has to offer.

Rome, you werent bad afterall..

July 23, 2018

All Aboard: 10 Photos to Inspire you to Visit Venice!

Venice has been known as the “La Dominante,” “Serenissima,” “Queen of the Adriatic,” “City of Water,” “City of Masks,” “City of Bridges,” “The Floating City,” and “City of Canals.” It’s one of my favourite places that I have been blessed to have seen and hope to go back one day!

Stay tuned for more article on my “All Aboard” series!

xxx

June 6, 2018

All Aboard: The Start of Our Travel Adventure and My Go To Guide for Venice!

So if you have been following my instagram page, you have seen that I have been flooding your screens with our travel adventures through Italy, Greece and Monetnegro- Sorry, not sorry..

I could not wait to share my adventures and findings with you guys when you, yourself go and visit these beautiful countries! Our first stop of our travel adventure and where we got onto our MSC Cruise Ship was Venice.

Ah, the city of Venice, one of my favourite places we visited and hope to one day be back there to discover more if it’s beauty! Walking through the linking bridges and cobbled passages getting lost in a world of old beauty.

Here is My-Go-To Guide for Venice:

What to Expect in Venice:

Language: Venetian, a Romance language spoken by about 2 million people mainly in Venice and the surrounding areas. The language is more closely related to French and Spanish than it is to Italian.

Currency: Venice uses Euro only, be sure to bring your notes.

Credit Cards & Banks: There is a few ATM’s here and there but they are quite hard to find. Most hotels have express ATM in the hotel itself. If you still having trouble then the Venezia Santa Lucia Train Station is you go to place.

Climate: We traveled to Venice in April-May and is said to be the best time of year as the festivities have setteled and most tourists have gone. As for weather, you can expect some rain but lucky for us we had a heat wave that was taking over the city so the weather was splendid! Be sure to pack a light jersey as the nights do get chilly, even with the heat wave!

IMG 20180421 195941 1 — Capturing canal moments!

Getting Around:

Walk it: We were in Venice for 2 days before our big cruise so we wanted to make most of our time. Day 1 we walked and walked and walked. It was marvellous because that’s were you get lost and find beautiful cathedrals, bridges and really good food. So I say, if you can walk those pathways and see Venice on foot- PS. wear comfortable shoes, those cobble stoned paths become extremely harsh on your feet after a couple of hours!

Hop on Hop Off City Sightseeing: If you are not so keen on tracking through Venice then I highly reccomend getting a ticket and cruising through Venice by boat. It’s the best way to see the city and it’s biggest attractions and you get there quick! Check out more info here.

IMG 20180421 103302 6 — San Marco Square Canals

Where to Stay:

We stayed at the lovely Grand Canal Bed and Breakfast. True Venetian styled rooms takes you back in time, giving you authentic Venetian experience. It was so beautiful and at a great rate too! Check out availability and rates here.

Where to Eat:

There is little vendors everywhere! Keep to the local places as the food will be cheaper. One place you must try is Osteria Al Ponte “LA Patatina”– It is super authentic and quite a hidden restaurant but it is amazing! It is tiny, where is the tables are right next to each other so if you have a thing for personal space, then I suggest you suck it up cause you cannot miss this place!

Another gem we found was local hotspot on Lido Beach called Rizzo’s .We ate pizza and ordered cokes at the Cafe that cost us 6 Euros for us both. Not too shabby huh? Keep your eyes peeled and dont be shy to ask around. The locals are great!

PS: Be sure to try the Gelato’s – It’s a requirement when in venice because they are to die for!!!

Venice by Night:

Be sure to experience Venice by night- The place comes alive with local musicians playing guitar or local artists creating gorgeous canvases of Venice. It’s a whole different atmosphere and people are buzzing! Sit down at a cafe, enjoy some amazing pasta and take in your surroundings- it’s magical!

Venice was absolutely stunning and so glad that we got to spend some time there before we sailed. Hope you enjoyed a little glimpse into Venice and it’s beauty. Next up I’ll be sharing our Cruise through Italy, Greece and Montenegro. Places that took me completely by suprise and made me see beauty in the most unusual places!

Ciao for now!

XXX

May 22, 2018

Travel: St Lucia in Pictures!

We traveled to the beautiful St. Lucia over the Easter Weekend for a well deserved break with the family! NEWSFLASH- It’s fudging far… Like ridiculously far… It took us about 8 hours to get there.. Yip.. 8 hours to St Lucia… The trip there wasn’t that bad but the trip back!!! OH MY GLORY (I drove us there and back by the way) It took us nearly 12 hours to get back home. Safe to say, I am never going that far for Easter again.. It was exhausting, super fun, but exhausting!

Anyways.. I thought I would share some pics of our time in St Lucia 🙂

Nothing makes my heart happier then seeing the joy on people’s faces, especially the people that I love…

My parents- Sharing a moment in the sea. (This really made my heart happy)

St Lucia is definitely a place to visit to experience wild at it’s finest.. Im glad I got to tick another beautiful place off my South Africa Travel List!

XX

April 9, 2018

48 Hours in Clarens!

Weekends should be about adventures and discovery- That’s our motto and we are sticking to it!

M and I love to travel and we try to do as much as we can of it. So this time around we opted for a quick little getaway to Clarens in the Free State with our couple besties. Clarens is a small town just three and a half hours out of Johannesburg, and is found in the Free State Province.

Clarens is an artists’ haven with many well-known artists either living in or frequenting the village, with many art galleries scattered around the village square and the town. The tranquil village ambiance combined with scenic views and a mild climate has made Clarens a popular getaway for city dwellers from Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Durban, among other places. Clarens is known for its spectacular sandstone mountains and wonderful climate if you like rain- then yes; it is one of the most picturesque spots in South Africa.

Clarens is the perfect weekend getaway for anyone who needs a break- We left early hours of Saturday morning to try get a full 2 days in this gorgeous little town. Here is a quick guide of the must see spots in Clarens!

Visit Some Cafe’s

We arrived in Clarens in the weee hours of the morning about 6ish and the town is still fairly quiet at this time. We were on the hunt for coffee yet some Cafe’s weren’t even opened yet, until we found the lovely Highland Coffee Roastery. A definite must as it’s rated the best coffee in town!

After coffee was done we were on the hunt for some breakfast. There are so many great little restaurants all around so it’s really all about finding one that calls you in. We were walking around as we came out the cafe and spotted a restaurant that was bringing out the freshest bread you ever did see! We were sold! A few restaurants you could try is: The Courtyard Bakery and Cafe, The Artists Cafe and the Lazy Gecko Cafe.

Take In The Town!

Clarens is really an artists heaven! The town is filled with Art Gallery’s throughout. So take some time and walk around, ever if it’s raining. Find a parking spot and enjoy the scenery and the local flavor. From Art Galleries and boutiques to quirky little touristy shops, there is definitely something for everyone!

IMG 20180319 WA0021 — It’s such a beautiful little town. I think i’m in love

Take a Drive

We had a bit of a mix up with our accommodation booking so we drove around to find a B&B but made a little detour and went to check out the scenery at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. We drive in for about 17km and then we turned around as the weather become even more gloomy. It’s definitely worth a drive through to get in some picturesque snaps and wonderment of how truly spectacular South Africa really is.

We braved the cold for a snap- (Check out M, pretty in pink)

Beer Tasting at the Clarens Brewery

Definitely head over to the Clarens Brewery for some hand crafted beer tastings and be sure to try the cheese platter. The vibe is rad and the people are just as cool. We hung out at the bar as it was packed, so if you have a crowd, be sure to book.

Such a rad shot- captured by me- thank you

Hand Crafted Beer Tasting- About 3 were really good

Take a picture and FRAME it!

It’s my goal to take a picture in these yellow frames across South Africa- Like the saying goes, if you didn’t take a picture, it didn’t happen!

If you are looking for a great place to stay in Clarens at a reasonable rate then defiantly check out La Bri. It was literally our saving grace and it was such a stunning little place.

Who knew Clarens would be so magical!

XX

March 22, 2018

Getaway to Tranquillity Dinokeng…

A couple of weekends ago we got invited to tag along for a surprise getaway for our dear friends birthday. With a much needed break from the hustle and bustle, we didn’t hesitate with our answer for a beautiful weekend away.

The celebrations took place at the splendid Tranquility Spa and Lodge in Cullinan. Nestled within a private conservancy, bordering on the Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve, it’s the perfect getaway! Far enough to feel like a holiday but close enough to get back home. It’s really a short drive to nights spent around a fire, under dazzling stars and the sound of lions roaring in the Kevin Richardson Lion Sanctuary next door. Bush paradise only 35 km north of Pretoria- A hidden gem indeed!

The 4 of us huddled in the Zebra thatched chalet. A cute 2 bedroom chalet fitted with a queen-size bed in 1 room and 2 single beds in the other. Privacy is limited for the one’s who take the double bed- so make you have a system to let your friends know you are walking into “their” room. We opted for a bird call every time we came out of our 2 single bedded room, just to make sure they were awake and clothed! It was a good laugh every morning! Oh and don’t worry about taking blankets or linen, luxury linen and towels are provided.

The next day, the lovely host Hennie took us on a little tour around the lodge to get a real feel for the place. Thick bush all around but not so bad that you can’t enjoy the Giraffe visits in the morning on the way to breakfast! (Breakfast is yum) Nature all around you makes you feel like you are in another world- It’s the most relaxed weekend you will probably ever experience!

With the Kevin Richardson Lion Sanctuary right next door, you can’t not go for a game drive and see the beautiful animals. You can read all about the sanctuary here and see the amazing work these guys do.

Our lovely game ranger and very knowledgeable driver, might I add, George took us on the drive and gave us the opportunity to see nature and wildlife at it’s best! We viewed Waterbuck, Zebra’s, Impala, Sprinbok, Wildebeest, spotted Hyenas and of course Lions. It’s a definite must but please dress warm, it got chilly out there!

We spent our days lounging around the fire, taking multiple walks around the game reserve and really enjoying each others company. It’s amazing how places like this allow you to completely switch off from the world and just enjoy the right here, right now moment.

Tranquility Spa and Lodge is definitely a place we will visit again one day. We arrived as strangers and feel like we left as friends.

Looking for a little getaway?

Tranquillity Spa and Lodge
R573 Cullinan 1000

Tranquillity cell: 084 508 3491
Fax: 0866 11 99 53
Beth: 079 496 8586
Ray: 084 468 3350
Email: [email protected]

July 11, 2017

Travel Guide: Phuket- Thailand

Guys, if there is one place that you have to visit- it’s definitely Thailand. You just have to put it on your travel list because it is such a beautiful place to see and experience what it has to offer.

Thailand is the travel hub of South East Asia. With it’s lush jungles, famed beaches, snorkeling, amazing food, friendly and cheap prices, Thailand has hit my top 5 places to visit. Overall, Thailand speaks for itself. When you hear it’s name, you already think about beaches, beauty, and food. Your thoughts are spot on.

Excitement filled the air as we got packed and ready to leave to the airport and I wasn’t sad about it because we were going to beautiful heat and sunshine instead of staying behind in cold and miserable winter.

THE FLIGHT

Our trip consisted of a quick stop over in Doha then from Doha to Phuket. The flights were long- +-8 hrs for each flight so we were exhausted to say the least- well I was. Oh, let me just throw this in there while I’m at it, everyone that I had spoken to had told me that it was really hot, so in my mind I was thinking that it couldn’t be hotter and more humid then our KZN summers- boy was I wrong- The heat and humidity hits you like a ton of bricks when you get off of the plane.. It is really really HOT! So to add to the exhaustion , we still needed to drag ourselves to dinner 10pm that evening in Phuket.

THE FOOD

The one thing that is amazing about Phuket is that what is shown on the menu is exactly what you get! A masterpiece of a meal and so so delicious! We tried all the local food almost everyday, from street vendors to restaurants along the main street of our hotel. The food is fresh and tasty and not badly priced too, depending on where you go.

TIPS: Definitely eat at the street stalls, the food is not only cheap, it’s utterly delicious. Remember that buying beers from the local supermarket vs in bars and restaurants will save you lots of money. (The boys went hunting around)

THE HOTEL

Staying at the beautiful Horizon Karon Beach Hotel , we were pretty central to quite a few restaurants, shops and supermarkets that was in walking distance. If you are not much of a walker, don’t worry, there are many tuk-tuk and taxi services that can quite easily take you to any destination- The going rate is 400THB, but if you spark a smile and bargain you can get it for 300THB. The hotel was so beautiful with pristine pools that we swam in everyday to keep cool, the lovely restaurant that we devoured our breakfasts daily and the hotel staff are so friendly. A hotel I would definitely recommend if you are ever planning a trip to Thailand!

THE WEATHER

It’s HOT. I don’t know what else to tell you other than you are going spend most of your time in pools to cool off, or purposely walking into a shop just to use their air-con to get some relief from the heat. No need to take jeans or jerseys because they will sit in your bag like mine did. What I would strongly suggest is that you pack a poncho or a very light rain jacket in case you get caught in the rain on the scooter! With your clothes being drenched, you might get a little chilly, but that’s the only time you will feel the chill, I promise. Oh and don’t let the rain keep you indoors or away from exploring! On our second day, it rained the whole day. So that was the day that we decided to meet up with our tour guide and book our James Bond and Phi Phi Island Tours. After that was done, we braved the rain- ponchos and all and went walking the streets and visiting the markets close by!

TOP THINGS TO DO IN PHUKET

Cruise around Phang Nga Bay – The best way to view the awe-inspiring limestone islands is by taking a leisurely cruise through the glorious emerald-green waters. With limestone cliffs and collapsed caves, you’ll really feel like you’ve found paradise. The beauty of this place is something that you have to see to believe and is something that will always leave a memorable impression. We got to see the limestone island whilst on the James Bond Tour- There are so many companies that will offer you great tours but if you are looking for a tour guide, then book your trip through Buffalo Tours. We had the greatest time with our Tour Guide- Mr Boy- (Yes, he is a lady boy but man he is the cutest and most knowledgeable of them all!) He will have you in stitches the whole day!

Visit the temples – Phuket is distinctive for its temples. One in particular that is definitely a must-see is Wat Chalong and Big Buddah. The biggest and most impressive of all of Phuket’s 29 Buddhist monasteries, it is associated with the monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chaung. For this reason a lot of Thai come here to be blessed. There are many different Buddha statues to see here, and the inside of the Grand Pagoda’s walls are covered in paintings that relay the Buddha’s life story. A sense of calm and peace washes over you as you ebeter the temples, take and a moment and really be in the moment of holiness- it’s extraordinary!

Patong BANGLA ROAD – This is definitely not for the faint-hearted, but it’s something that you have to see and experience if you plan on visiting phuket. Patong is really all about crowded beaches, resorts, hawkers, stores, bars, and sadly, a lot of sex tourists. The minute you walk through the road you will be bombarded with signs to see ping- pong shows, pubs and other exotic shows. We met up with a great group of South African’s on our trip and they tagged along with us down Bangla road to show us the ropes and look after us! If you are considering seeing a ‘show’ bargain a price with them before you enter (200THB for a beer) otherwise you are in for a very big suprise!

Learn to cook traditional Thai food – I wish we had done this, but we unfortunately ran out of time but, If you are looking to learn some Thai cooking tricks, take a class at Pum’s Thai Cooking School. Located near Patong Beach, you can take classes ranging from 30 minutes to 6+ hours. Classes start at 500 THB.

Watch some Muay Thai fighting – We didnt get to see this one either but it’s something that you should see if you visiting. Book yourself in to watch some Muay Thai. This is a form of combat that combines striking techniques using fists, elbows, knees, and shins, and is known as “the art of eight limbs.” It requires extreme mental and physical discipline to train to be a Muay Thai fighter. The Saphan Hin Stadium is the destination to see regular matches or go to Patong Beach where you can watch these disciplined fighters in action.

Rent a Scooter & Enjoy the viewpoints – Phuket has many viewpoints- there are 10 in total. Kata viewpoints are beautiful. Nothing is better than watching a golden sunset from these points. Your camera will thank you! With regards to hiring a scooter, make sure you have a bike license and wear a helmet! We got stopped at a road block and had to pay 1000THB for not having a bike license. Look, if you don’t have it’s ok because the guys that you hire from don’t ask you but just be warned that you might get stopped along the way. You can expect to pay around 250 THB per day.

Stroll the Phuket Weekend Market – A definite must! Known also as the Naka market, this market is located right outside of Phuket Town. It is a crazy assortment of local and secondhand goods, interesting objects, and a huge variety of food. The market is broken up into two sections- the covered section (everything from Handbags, clothing, DVD’s Make-up), and the open market (food, food, food!) It’s extremely hot under the covered section so be prepared to sweat while you shop and make sure you give yourself enough time to look around, we only spent about an hour and a half there which is too little time because we didn’t even get half way, but I did manage to bargain for some handbags!

Bargain Bargain Bargain! – Bargain your way through almost anything and everything! At first I was a bit shy to ask them to take 100THB off of the asking price but by the 2nd day, I was a pro and definitely got things at a great price! It’s really fun too!

Phuket is so beautiful and is definitely a place I would recommended to put on your travel bucket list!

There is nothing quite like it!

June 20, 2017

Travel: Thailand In Pictures!

I thought I would share some of our pictures from our recent trip to Thailand! Man, looking back on these makes me miss the beautiful blue waters! *sigh* – Till we meet again Thailand!

Travel Guide post to follow!

Khai Nai Island

Floating Village

James Bond Island Tour

Big Buddha

Wat Chalong Temple

Fantasea Show

June 20, 2017

Komati Gorge Getaway

Our weekend getaway this past weekend was nothing short of pure relaxation. Unspoiled surrounds, rolling hills, roaming wildlife, no cell reception and afternoon naps on a hammock is what weekends should be all about.

Only 2½ hours from Johannesburg, Komati Gorge Lodge is a convenient stop over point from either Gauteng or KwaZulu Natal. However, to really appreciate the beauty of the surroundings, a 2 night stay at Komati Gorge Lodge is recommended.

Awarded a four star grading by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa the lodge offers an unparalleled experience to nature lovers. The biodiversity creates a perfect environment for the abundant birdlife and a wide range of indigenous trees, shrubs and wild flowers. Game on the farm includes zebra, blue wildebeest, eland, kudu, blesbok, warthog, duiker and many more. Along with the incredible wildlife and being a pet friendly accomdation, there is plenty of activities to do at the resort such as 4×4 drives, canoeing, trail hike, fly fishing, clay pigeon shooting, rock climbing, guided horse riding, rafting and for the not so adventurous type, a luxury spa.

Arriving at 19.30 in the evening, traveling through very dark roads might I add, we were welcomed with a warm smile by the lovely owner and were escorted to our River Lodge Hotel Suite. These suites have a spacious bedroom , lounge area with a gorgeous fireplace for those cold rainy days and full bathroom with romantic corner bath. The Suits are situated right on the Komati River with a private veranda that allowed us to view the gorge and the river right from our room. The lodge does offer self catering lodges as well.

The staff at the Komati Lodge were kind enough to wait for us for dinner and I couldn’t have thanked them enough- we were starving and the food was delicious! After dinner we retreated to our suite and called it a night.

Morning came and man was it a treat! The view was incredible! There is nothing quite like hearing water flowing and the sounds of birds chirping with a background like we had. We had an early start to the day, since we were only there for the weekend, we tried to do as much as possible.

Breakfast was served at the Breakfast room along the river bank. A log fire and the smell of bacon filled the room and gave it the perfect setting. After breakfast we were excited to discover the gorge, so we opted to do the 5km hike first then whatever we found along the way we would do.

We set off on our hike and got to experience the most incredible views. There is nothing quite like it. Unfortunate for us that the weather was changing and not wanting to get caught in the rain on top of the mountain, we missed all the little detours like the waterfall and the stone ruins.

The view from the top is breathtaking. Scenes of natural beauty, mysterious gorges, dense forests, cascading water, indigenous trees and creatures of all kinds – I find it really amazing that we got to experience all of this in one place.

The rest of the weekend kept up indoors due to cold rainy weather and I wasn’t complaining! The rest of the weekend consisted of afternoon naps on hammocks, dining with really great company and watching movies in bed. It was bliss. (KITA FRAGRANCE GIVEAWAY)

20160917_190738 — Pocket Surprise- Was my favourite dish!

Komati Gorge Lodge and Wildlife reserve really offers nature at its best. The pristine beauty and peaceful surroundings guarantee to put your mind at ease and let’s you escape from the world, especially with no cell reception. We are so caught up in this technology run world that we often miss out on the beauty that surrounds us.

I was blown away by how much we actually rely on technology and because of it often miss out on the world around us. More often then not we reach for our phones to catch up on social media apps or to document our every movement for our social media status.

There was definitely a lesson to be learned on our little getaway. It taught me to appreciate moments with my own eyes and not that of my camera lens. To enjoy watching a movie in bed with my spouse or a beautiful dinner without the distraction of a message or phone call from a friend. To be wholeheartedly in that moment and to truly appreciate it.

These are moments that we take for granted and we shouldn’t, life is too short to not live in the moment- be present, always.

For more info and bookings you can contact them here.

September 23, 2016

Tag: travel