Travelling Starfish

Indian Sunset

This month’s “Word on the Street” takes us to India with one of my good friends Nicola.  Last month, she ventured from the UK to the depths of India and got to see what this beautiful country was all about.

TS: Firstly, thanks for taking the time to do this interview, Nicola.  So my readers can get to know you a little, tell us a bit about yourself – where you’re from, where you live, what you do?

Thanks Miriam. I am originally from Staffordshire, United Kingdom and moved to Jersey nearly 4 years ago back in 2007. I now live in a lovely place called St Brelades, Jersey and work in the Finance industry.

TS: If you had to pick one of three “types” of travellers, would you consider yourself a thrill seeker, beach bum or culture craver?  Why?

It’s hard to pick one, I would say I like the thrill seeker and the culture side. I do like the beach side but I prefer to sight see and take in the cultures and get the feel of the country. India was a great place to take in the culture as there is so much to see and do.

TS: Out of everywhere you’ve travelled to, what destination has made the biggest impression on you?

Out of all the places I have been to, India was definitely one of the best countries I have been to. It opened my eyes in so many ways, ways in which people live and even though they haven’t got a lot of money; people are willing to give and come across as very happy. The scenery is just something else.

Hindu Wedding

TS: You recently visited India.  Why did you pick this destination for your holiday?

We found India to be very cheap, you could get a 3 course meal for £3.00!! I found out you could get cocktails for £1.00. We visited the South of India which is mostly vegetarian but did have meat dishes too and the food was lovely. We also choose India because of the beautiful places to visit and to experience their way of lives. We even got invited to Hindu Wedding and that was amazing.

TS: When you booked the trip, what were you expecting with regards to accommodation?  Air travel?

Well we knew because we were backpacking that the accommodation we were going to be staying in wasn’t going to be luxurious. We flew with BA and the flight was quite nice, it took around 10 hours, unlike the flight time to New Zealand.

TS: Throughout your trip, where did you stay? What was it like?

Well because we were backpacking around Southern India I went there with an open mind and we sort of prepared ourselves for the less luxurious accommodation. We didn’t bother booking in advance for the rest of the trip as we were staying in different locations in Southern India so we just found accommodation as and when we needed to. When we arrived in Chennai (Old Madras) we stayed in a 3 star hotel which was nice and we had a proper bathroom, although toilet paper in India is a luxury. That was just for the 1 night, we then stayed in apartments in a couples house. This was very basic and the water and electricity was very temperamental!! We got used to this in the end and it was just part of everyday life. We stayed in a tent in a Wildlife reserve for 1 night, we stayed in a few nice apartments as a treat every now and then. We also stayed in a place in Periyer (Kerala) called Green View and there your balcony overlooks the forest, and if you don’t keep your doors closed at night you might just have monkeys as company too!!! I can’t forget the House Boat along the back waters of Kerala, this I do recommend!!

Indian Temple

TS: Was it everything you dreamed of (and more)?

It was more than I could have ever dreamed of!! J

TS: If you knew a friend or family member was looking for a similar holiday, would you recommend the areas of India you visited as a destination?

I would definitely recommend India to anyone, but you need to go with an open mind. Its not for the faint hearted. If you don’t like living without the luxuries then its not for you! Be prepared to eat curries for breakfast, unless you go to an area that has more Westerners then you might find more choice in food.

TS:  If you could describe your holiday in 3 words what would they be?

Adventure, beauty and sunset

TS: Finally, if money were no object, what would be your top destination for your next holiday?

My next destination would be South Africa, hopefully in the not too distant future!

It sounds like your adventures in India were unforgettable – truly a trip of a lifetime.  Thanks for taking the time to complete this interview and happy (and safe) travels, Miriam

As tourism and business grows in a city like Dubai, there are so many aspects to how it impacts the local community.  Carole Kay, writer of Expat Baggage, gives us her views on living and working in Dubai & how it’s changed through the decades!

The story of Dubai is one of the greatest success stories of our time.

It is hard to imagine anywhere else in the world that has developed at such a pace, in such a short time, for so many different people. It has literally erupted into a cosmopolitan city which is barely recognisable from what it was 30 years ago. As a Middle Eastern Expat since 1994 I have seen massive changes in the region and have been very privileged to have experienced both early Dubai and the city it has grown into.

I moved to The United Arab Emirates (UAE) to find adventure and escape. It was always joked about with my colleagues that we were like a foreign legion. All looking to escape a previous life and to some extent they were right. I remember making the decision to move to the UAE and being bombarded with questions from friends and family. Where is that? Is it safe? Can you drive? Can you drink? Unbelievably, I still receive similar questions today, generally from people who are unfamiliar with the region.

The UAE is made up of seven Emirates – Abu-Dhabi, (the capital and political centre) Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Um Al Quain and Ajman.  I moved to Fujairah, a very small place which consisted of one hotel, one motel, one supermarket, some small restaurants, and only 50 expats.

Dubai - then & now

As you can imagine living in such a small community meant that life could become quite incestuous at times.  Entertainment was limited and most of it was centred on The Hilton Hotel. After work my colleagues and I would head over to the pool to relax and maybe go back in the evenings for a glass or two of something stronger. Alcohol was easy to buy in the hotel and could also be bought at the ‘hole in the wall’ at the Beach Motel.  If you knew any of the American servicemen, who were regularly stationed there, they would gladly buy alcohol for you from their military base.

The Beach Motel was an experience in itself. The best way to describe it is like an evening at a caravan park club in the eighties. It was dark and seedy and usually had live entertainment (if you could call it that) consisting of a barely dressed Filipino band singing the best or worst of the sixties, seventies and eighties.

The other highlight of our evenings was Club Tropicana. This was part of the Hilton Hotel and was an equally tasteless place to go. The clientele here often consisted of young Emirati boys dressed like American rap dancers or in National dress.

In the winter it was not unheard of for them to be wearing anoraks, hats and shoes with their National Dress. This became even more amusing when they moved to the dance floor without taking off the anoraks.  Saturday night was always Hash night, a sort of running treasure hunt, very popular in expat communities.  Tuesday was netball and big Wednesday night was usually party night at someone’s house.

Everyone helped everyone else and we were all one big family but needless to say it didn’t always smell of roses.  On quiet weekends we used to travel up to Dubai. It was around a 90 minute drive. Dubai, even then, compared to Fujairah was a big city. It had supermarkets and one or two shopping malls. The one we frequented was Bur Juman, usually followed by a drink in The George and Dragon and then dinner and a dance at Pancho Villas. If we were feeling up for it we would go to the Highland Lodge to finish off the night.

There was not much more choice at this time. It’s difficult to believe when you see the buzzing nightlife of restaurants, clubs and bars that are available today.

The other place I need to mention is Karama. This was a souk area filled with local shops and stalls. It was the best place to buy fresh fruit cocktails, shawarma and a Rolex watch for a fiver. I remember many times walking past a trader who would whisper out the corner of his mouth “Wanna buy a watch?” At which point you would be taken into the attic of the shop where there would be an Aladdin’s Cave of fake watches. I presume Karama is still there but I’m not sure in what capacity.

In our daily lives we were forced to mix with the locals because we were all thrown together and because of that we didn’t just have an overseas experience we had a cultural one. For example, I have sat on the floor with an Arabic family sharing a meal off one plate. I have been  to many Arabic weddings, (Not that I’d like to go to anymore) have been offered help and assistance by locals when in trouble and been proposed too more often than I care to count.

My life then was very different to what today’s Middle Eastern expats experience. Expat’s travel to the Gulf to make money and live in their own cultural bubble. Their lives change very little apart from the location they are living in. Every modern amenity is available and friends and acquaintances are generally from the same part of the world. Opportunities to mix with locals are rare and I suspect unnecessary.

No one belongs in Dubai. Its economy is based on transience as is its community. Everything is temporary including its culture which is now largely based on a highly cosmopolitan society with a diverse and vibrant nature. Since 2006, the weekend has been Friday-Saturday, as a compromise between Friday’s holiness to Muslims and the Western weekend of Saturday-Sunday.

Dubai has also been criticised for perpetuating a class-based society, where many of the migrant workers are treated as lower classes.  If you travel to Dubai you are unlikely to see an Emirati in National Dress unless you travel to the airport which could service a continent never mind a small Emirate. It is the single largest building in the world by floor space. National Dress is not allowed in the bars and restaurants which serve alcohol so if you go out in the evening you are unlikely to see any evidence that you are in the Gulf. The Emiratis are now the minority group in the country. ( National Dress for men consists of a long white garment, much like a dress called a dish-dash or thobe and ladies usually cover their clothing with a long black flowing garment called an abaya.)

Dubai is a city of amazing feats of engineering, architecture and vision which is evident in the incredible infrastructure that has lured so many. People move to Dubai now because it is seen as the land of prosperity. They go to make money, but the reality of it is, that no one really belongs there and no one stays. The society relies heavily on workers coming for short periods of time. When they realise Dubai isn’t paved with gold they move on. The experience is fast paced, expensive and does not offer a vastly different way of life than in the Western World.  Everything in Dubai is trying to be bigger and better than the rest of the world. They boast they have the world’s largest mall, the world’s tallest hotel, the world’s tallest building, the first underwater hotel, the largest waterfront development and the fastest-growing tourist market.

What they have achieved is incredible and commendable but at what cost?  Dubai has been built with limitless amounts of money but money cannot buy what they have lost in the process. Heritage and culture cannot be pawned. Is Dubai trying to buy a new culture at the expense of the old? Has their culture, which was based largely on Islamic traditions, been sold to the devil in exchange for countless malls (over 70), skyscrapers and 8 lane expressways?  Let me leave you with this last thought: Dubai has Media City, Internet City, Sports City, Motor City and Knowledge Village.

Strange that the thing that makes us develop as a people — knowledge — is classed only as a village……

2009 was a great year of travel for me – I was living in Jersey at the time and I got an urge to visit a lot of Europe I didn’t have a chance to see when I first arrived.

In Buda - overlooking the city

Since I started living in Europe, I always was interested in visiting Budapest.  This desire wasn’t solely for tourist purposes but personal ones too. My father is originally from Hungary – he grew up in a small village miles away from the city but spent most of his younger years living in Budapest.  As a child, I always heard stories about Hungary and was intrigued to visit.

So when I was thinking about my holidays for that year, I found a cheap flight and booked a long weekend in Budapest.

A good friend of mine recommended I stay at a hostel called Buda Base – it is on the Buda side (more about that in a minute) and the owner, Gabor, is really lovely.  It definitely isn’t a typical hostel.  This is essentially a house with a number of rooms and beds.  Gabor’s hospitality is superb and I highly recommend a stay here.

An interesting art display by The Danube

Budapest is actually a combination of two towns – Buda and Pest.  What separates the city is The Danube River (totally beautiful).  The Buda side is very picturesque, with mountainous views, lots of parks and also spas – this is my favourite side. Pest is where the action happens – here you’ll find the shopping, tourist spots and nightlife.  My dad, funny enough, lived on the Pest side.

Unlike the other Eastern European city I’ve visited, Prague, I found Budapest much more genuine and reasonably priced.  I visited Prague back in 2007 and really loved it but there are a lot more tourists there due to it being a hot spot for stags.  Budapest is getting there but it isn’t as far gone as Prague that’s for sure.

Wine & Cheese

I saw most of the sites and did a lot of varied activities from visiting a number of parks, indulging in a spa experience in the Roman baths and even stumbling on a Hungarian Rock Festival.  However, the highlight of my trip was my visit to the Jewish Quarter.  I went here at night with a girl I met from the hostel.  This area of Budapest is in the Pest side and it has turned into a lovely area for a meal, a few drinks and some amazing atmosphere.  Since I visited in May, it was still a bit chilly in the evening.  If you like to eat outside (like I do) all of the restaurants offer you thick blankets to wrap around yourself while you eat.  It was really nice – ah, only to go when its a romantic meal for 2:).

One day I hope to go back with my father so we can visit the village he was born in but also so I can watch him remember all of the memories from when he was a child.  It would be a trip I know that I’d never forget.

Bye for now, Miriam x

A couple of warm-up drinks

Although Winchester is most known for its cathedral and historical roots, it also has a university.  Whenever a town has a university, it’s bound to have a bit of nightlife and cheap drinks – woo hoo.  A perfect combo.

My friend and I met in Winchester and planned on having a few drinks before heading out to the Student Union at The University of Winchester.  I hadn’t been over there but thought for drinks but thought it would be fun – and cheap:).

We did the typical university thing – had some food at home and did the pre-drinking thing.  I remember when I was back at university doing my undergraduate degree (nearly a decade ago – crazy) we did this all the time.  With little cash on hand, it was the only way to ensure that you could have a bit of a buzz before you hit the club.

Getting glammed up!

This time, we weren’t drinking beer – we indulged in some champagne…oh it pays to be working sometimes.  Even though we indulged in the bubbly we did so out of mugs, just for that university feel:).  Before we got too tipsy, we got a bit glammed up for a night of dancing and some good laughs.  I’ve always loved taking a bit of time to get ready and put some makeup on when I’m going for a night out.  In my day-to-day I don’t wear much makeup as I’ve always thought it’s best saved for special occasions.  Well, it’s one of those so getting a bit glamorous is definitely in order.

We leave for the Student Union at about 10pm and head to the queue – a queue that looks like a mob.  Oh the memories of the university days when you waited for hours in anticipation of getting in for a “top night”.  Now, all I want to do is get in or else I’ll drop the dancing plans for a coffee shop:).  Finally we get in and it is quite the experience.

The club

Every Friday night the University has a dance party that they call “Flirt!”.  I’m not really sure as to why they call it this but most Friday’s include a fancy dress (costume) theme.  As I quickly realise, it is quite the event.  We wander in and go to buy a round of drinks.  2 shots of Goldschlager and 2 double cranberry vodkas for only GBP 9.  I was in shock!  Well, now we know why it’s so busy here.  I still can’t believe it.

After a couple of rounds, we hit the dance floor.  The music is pop but a lot of fun.  We dance the night away and I’m not sure when we leave but good times are had by all.

I’m not sure I want to go back to those undergraduate days again but it’s definitely fun for a night (or two)!

Groupon.com

Two syllables – Group – On!

A company that is in the middle of controversy and one who’s in the news nearly every day.  For those of you who don’t know, Groupon (or other daily deal sites like Living Social, Quids In or Wag Jag ) send a daily deal to a distribution list of registered users.

It’s easy to sign up (and unsubscribe) and there are big savings to be had.

As a traveller, I’ve found that by registering with these sites before my trip and in the city I’m going to be heading to, I have the opportunity to save a bundle.  There are savings for hotels, restaurants, excursions and even spa treatments (my fave)!.

As for restaurants, since these sites are tailored more to small businesses you end up finding deals in locations that are likely to be off the beaten path.  To me, this opens up a lot of doors and makes the overall travel experience even that much better.

Living Social

Here’s what to do –

1. Visit one of the sites above and confirm your destination city.
2. Enter your email address and submit the details
3. Some of the sites send you a confirmation to verify your email address.  Simply go into your email and accept.
4. After that’s done, you’ll start receiving a deal a day in your email.  When you see one you like, just simply buy it and a voucher will be sent to you so you can redeem it with the supplier.

One good tip – when booking services, especially salons or spas where you want a specific date, phone ahead to make sure they can take you and book it on the spot.  Make sure you mention the deal you’re booking.  The last thing you want is to order the voucher and be unable to book the service.

That’s about it for me.  Enjoy & have fun!

Any other “daily deal” tips are welcomed,

Miriam