Travelling Starfish

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m back in England and staying in Winchester!  It is such a lovely town and I’m really enjoying myself.

For this month’s 24 hours I’ve planned a short trip down to Southampton in honour of the Chinese New Year.  I’ve heard there is quite the Asian community in Southampton and all will be out to have a bit of food, fun & drink!  So join me to find out more!

3 am (yes 3AM!) - It’s been a long day of running around – travelling, unpacking and, most stressful of it all, shopping!  When I got to Winchester I had no idea but they just opened up a Primark here! Danger zone – for those of you who don’t know about the shop that I like to call “Primarni” check out their website but just know that you don’t need to bring that much money to get a lot of clothes.  As much as I love this shop, because of the cheap deals, I always buy WAY too many things and end up lugging around a ton of bags that I just can’t carry.  So by 3 am, after the shopping, some food & a few too many glasses of wine my head hits the pillow and I’m out for the count.

9am -  this isn’t too bad of a wake-up time for me.  I didn’t set the alarm as I had such a long day and wanted to feel a bit more refreshed.  I’m feeling good so am pleased – I have another big day ahead with my plans to head to Southampton.

12:00 noon – after finishing up some work, I decide to get ready to get out of here.  The Chinese New Year celebrations in Southampton have already started but the festivities will be going on all day.  There is supposed to be a parade, vendors and Chinese dragon dancing – very cool.

Chinese New Year in Southampton

When I heard about the festival I was surprised – I realize that the UK is very multi-cultural country but in a city like Southampton I didn’t realize they had such a large Chinese population.  As they say, you learn something new everyday.  I’ve been wanting to go to Southampton for awhile just to see what it’s like so this gives me the perfect excuse to get over there and check out the festival and what this port city is all about.

1:00 pm- after a bite to eat, I’m out of the door and headed to the tran station.  A return trip from Winchester to Southampton is about GBP 5 (US$7).  I think that is quite good.  Unfortunately I’m travelling on a Sunday and I’ve just remembered that Sunday’s aren’t the best day to use the transit in the UK.  A lot of maintenance is done on the weekend and it can cause issues.

1:30pm – I arrive at the station and I’m right – maintenance!  Instead of a direct train to the city centre, I’m going to have to get off the train at Southampton airport and then take a bus into the city.  I have a feeling this is going to be a LONG day.  It’s also raining outside (of course) so that doesn’t help matters.  I’m just going to take it in stride.

2:30pm – finally, after 45 minutes (which should have only been 20) I get to the city centre.  It was quite a long journey – fairly easy and mindless but just tiring.  I took the train, caught a bus to the city centre train station and then another bus into the main area of town.  Thankfully it is all well-marked.

QE2 Mile

3:00pm - as I walk towards the main pedestrianized area, I can smell the food vendors and hear the Chinese style music playing.  Even though I’m running a bit behind schedule I can see the Chinese dragon dancers I’ve been wanting to see.  I quickly rush to get a pic and see the dancing in all its glory!  Very cool – the dancers look absolutely exhausted though.  Time for a break, maybe?

4:00 pm – once this excitement is over, I wander around Southampton for a couple of hours.  If I’m honest, before I moved to the UK the only thing I knew about Southampton was that it was where Titanic set sail. I don’t know why, but the story of the Titanic really interests me – as I think it does for many.  It is almost 100 years since the Titanic sunk (this event happened in 1912) and to this day it is still such a well-known part of history.

There have been several films, books and documentaries about the famous “unsinkable” ship.  Belfast in Northern Ireland has its own Titanic quarter around the docks where the ship was built.  Southampton, the city which provided most of the crew, is planning its own interactive museum, to open in time for the centenary in 2012.

After the tragedy in 1912, Southampton was hit hard – this city was the port from which the new liner set off on her maiden passenger voyage on 5 April 1912 and 549 of the dead, a third of the total casualty list, hailed from the city.  Only one was a passenger, most were brave members of the crew and others were waiting staff, sailors and stewards.

This museum sounds interesting as it will have many of the 4,000 artefact’s from the disaster that the city has gathered over the years and even recordings of the recollections of about 70 survivors.

It’s amazing to know too that a lot of local Southampton people are descendants of members of the crew.  It is kind of obvious but when you think of it in those terms it is amazing that their ancestors were a part of something so tragic and historical.

5:00 pm - and the wandering continues – mind & body. I’m not sure what my first impressions are of Southampton.  There is a lot of shopping, that’s for sure.  However it appears to be a mix of old and new.  There is a castle like structure in the middle of the pedestrianized area for shops.

The area I’m referring to is called The QE2 Mile.  It is a pedestrianized route that runs through the heart of the city right down to the waterfront.  It’s name, The QE2 Mile, came from a contest amongst its city residents.  The Council received hundreds of suggestions and it was voted on by a panel of judges.

I spend a couple of hours looking around at all of the sites and shops (I’m not going to lie). Shopping is a big thing in Southampton.  I remember that when I lived in Jersey a lot of people would go over to Southampton just for the day to do Christmas shopping.  There are a lot of different centres with all the High Street shops and some others.  There is an IKEA there as well as the WestQuay, Marlands and Bargate centres.  Before I spend all the money I don’t have, I think it’s best that I get a move on.

German food / Chinese NY (a logical combo...lol)

7:00 pm - before I head back to both of the buses & the train I decide to grab some food.  Since it is the Chinese New Year, I try to find a food stall to get some Chinese.  I find a lot of things but NOT Chinese food including German sausages, Japanese sushi and Thai.  I go with the Thai.  I must admit GBP 3 for a full meal (with spring rolls) ain’t that bad.  It definitely hits the spot!

8:30 pm - I finally get back and am shattered.  A long, hot shower is all I need before I check my emails, jot down some notes for this blog and then I get to bed early.  Southampton is a pretty decent town.  Maybe when the sun is shining and temperatures are a bit warmer I’ll check out more about what this city is all about!

That’s it for me now – until next time,

Miriam x

Just about 6 years ago, I was working like a madwoman in Toronto and jetting off on a plane heading south to Florida.  Just like many “snowbirds” (as they are often called in North America) my company & I were headed down to warmer temperatures to escape the winter for our annual National Sales meeting.

Wow - I look different!

Florida is a popular spot with many Canadians – especially those in the East.  It’s a short 2-3 hour flight to most destinations and is even accessible via car if you have it in you.  As a child, my parents weren’t really into flying so we did the drive down to the US quite frequently.  We mainly used to hit Virginia or the Carolina’s but we did do a Florida stop one year.  It was great.

I’ve had many experiences in various parts of Florida – including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Daytona Beach and of course Orlando.  Orlando is a kids dream – who doesn’t want to go and spend time in the Magic Kingdom hanging out with Mickey & Minnie?  I have fond memories of that trip taken when I was 6 years old.

This time, my trip to Orlando is extremely different.  The 2 day car journey is thankfully replaced with the 3-hour flight and the endless rides in theme parks are replaced with business meetings (boo) and nightlife (yey).

Grande Lakes Resort, Orlando

For our stay in Orlando, my company booked us in for a week stay at the JW Marriott at Grande Lakes.  Grande Lakes is a resort area that offers two hotels – the JW and the Ritz Carlton.  As you can see from the photo, the whole area is beautiful but obviously the Ritz is a bit more on the pricey side.  The resort hosts a golf course, a top notch pool and all the amenities a girl could ask for.  Many of my female colleagues grabbed a treatment at the spa to escape some of the business talk and do a bit of pampering.  They were well impressed.

Orlando is a lot more than just a place to take the kids to a theme park.  It is very centrally located in the state so a great place to plant yourself and then travel around to the beach towns.  Daytona Beach is only an hour drive away and is quite accessible by buses.  There, you have a nice beach to get a bit sun-kissed and there are loads of other things to keep you occupied (hint, hint, wink, wink) – more on that in another post for sure.

For those who want to burn a whole in their credit card, Orlando is the place to do it!  There are a number of malls but I really like the outlets where you can bag a fantastic deal in nice surroundings.  There are 2 Premium Outlets in Orlando that offer designer labels at discount prices.  It is just a nice place to spend the day as it’s easy to roam around and there is a nice feel versus a shopping mall.

The obvious thing to do in Orlando is hit the theme parks and there are rides that cater to kids of all ages.  Even for “big kids” like me you can have a great day out.  I recommend Universal Studios for the older crowd.  As the name suggests, most of their rides are related to films and they are geared to the slightly older generation.  It is a really great place to spend the day and there are lots of laughs to be had…I know I’ve had a few.

Watching some live music at Pat O'Brien's

For those with families, it’s Walt Disney World all the way.  I have such amazing memories of hanging out with Mickey, Cinderella and Goofy (my favourite) at the Magic Kingdom theme park.

My parents even look fondly back at our trip there as they remember Epcot Center where you visit all of these different pavilion’s of different countries.  My parents to this day always talk about the fish & chips we had in the United Kingdom Pavillion at the Rose & Crown Pub.  You’d think they were sitting in a chippy in England itself.  It’s quite funny but it shows how much the park tries to recreate genuine experiences.  The rides in Epcot are great too and are a lot of fun for kids and adults of all ages.  Bring your wallet though – a 1-day ticket is US$82 for one park + $54 for a hopper ticket to go to all of them – that’s US$136 per person!!!  Look at the ticketing area of the website – the more days you stay, the less you pay so it’s worth considering!

For those going who are looking to have a bit of fun, you are definitely spoiled for choice year round in Orlando.  One place we visited on this particular trip in 2005 was the Universal City Walk.  This is an area that is technically part of the Universal Studios theme park.  However, you don’t have to pay an entrance fee as it’s outside any of the rides.  There are loads of restaurants and bars here – I advise booking a reservation for dinner as it is so busy all year round.  The nightlife is good fun and with bars like Pat O’Brien’s that offer live music, it is a great night out.

I’m going to end off this post saying that, if I’m honest, I’m not a massive fan of Florida BUT I do think it is a great option for families.  It’s also a great place for groups to congregate for special events (like conferences and weddings) as there is so much to do and lots of fun to be had.  I’ve always found that adding a trip to a nearby beach makes it a fairly good holiday for me.  I hope to go back one day when I have a family so I can put some smiles on my child’s face just like my parents did on mine.

For now, enjoy your trip to Orlando and share your thoughts below on where to stay & what to do in this Floridian city!

With the holiday season ahead of us (or in back of us if you are talking Chanukah), shops are packed and parking lots are heaving.

Since I’ve been back, it’s really sunk in how much shopping there is in Toronto.  I know, there is shopping obviously everywhere but there is definitely something cultural about shopping in North America – I can’t really explain it.

Eaton Centre in all its glory!

Going to the mall is a past-time that many of us Canadians have as part and parcel to our childhood. I remember times where I spent afternoons on weekends with friends sitting in the food court at the local mall,The Promenade, eating fries and messing around.  After living in other countries with other cultural dynamics, when it comes to shopping I think I see this more than ever here. Whether or not it’s the weather – extreme cold in the winter and extreme humidity in the summer – or it’s the wealth of suburbs here, I wonder why there are so many malls. Ideas anyone?

I love to shop though so there are no complaints coming from me right now.  Toronto has its fair share of quality shops and shopping malls – definitely something for everyone.

One of the biggest and most well known in the city is the Toronto Eaton Centre.  The Eaton Centre has almost any store you can think of – well, probably two of every store.  A week ago I was downtown and took a visit to the mall and was honestly overwhelmed by all the people, choice and things to do.

The Toronto Eaton Centre was named after a department store chain in Canada called Eaton’s that grew from this very area of the city.  Eaton was the family name of the owner, Timothy Eaton and he grew a dry goods store in the 19th century to an empire.  Eaton’s announced plans in the mid-1960s to build the Eaton Centre complex and it opened its first phase in 1977.

Just over a decade ago, though, in 1999 Eaton’s went bankrupt but the mall decided to keep his name as it is notorious with locals and as a testament to him.  I don’t think we could ever call it anything else – but I guess that never stopped Rogers from changing the name of the SkyDome to the Rogers Centre so we’ll see if the Centre eventually gets a new name (and sponsor) one day.

Eaton Centre at Scotiabank Nuit Blanche '09

The Centre has over 200 shops and is one of Toronto’s most popular attractions.  One of the most prominent sights in the shopping mall (seen in my photo above) is the group of fibreglass Canada Geese hanging from the ceiling.  This is actually a sculpture by artist Michael Snow and named Flight Stop.

The mall is also connected to The Bay on Queen Street.  The Bay is another chain of department stores in Canada (this store is definitely in business).  I love the Bay.  It is a great department store that probably compares to a Debenhams in the UK and Macy’s in the US.  However, I think The Bay is the best.  When I walk into the one on fhe corner of Queen & Yonge I feel so glamorous – all the lovely clothes, makeup (my favourite) and accessories.  I’m such a girl sometimes…lol.

Outside of the obvious shops, there are also loads of restaurants in the mall – including Baton Rouge (which is yummy), Mr Greenjeans (an old fave – they play “They Say its Your Birthday” when you celebrate your birthday there) and Eggspectation.  All yummy choices!  Also many events are hosted in the Eaton Centre considering its size.  There are always product promotions going on there and I’ve been to quite a few signings with celebrities – last time I was there Michael Buble (I’m a big fan!) was there signing his new CD.  I didn’t get to meet him because I didn’t want to wait in the endless queue but it is cool that we were breathing in the same air nonetheless…haha!

Last year, I even went with 2 of my good friends to Scotiabanks’ Nuit Blanche where there was an exhibit in the Eaton Centre.  That is what the photo above with the bunny rabbit is all about.  This event opens up the doors of a number of buildings and local attractions and spotlights works of contemporary art.  In this “piece” a big rabbit, resembling the bunny from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, is floating around in the empty air of the Toronto Eaton Centre.  This was from the work of Jeff Koons, who is an American artist known for his reproductions of banal objects—such as balloon animals produced in stainless steel with mirror finish surfaces.  Definitely contemporary but pretty cool too.

So, the point here is that there is a lot more to the Eaton Centre than meets the eye. Back to the shopping though …

At this time of year, there are deals to be had and you can walk away with some great gifts for others & (most importantly) you too!  Boxing Day sales are coming up soon too in Canada – that is going to be a shopping frenzy…I can’t wait.

Visit the Eaton Centre and you can literally shop ’til you drop! Enjoy!!!

You may be thinking to yourself – this girl shops and pampers herself a lot – well why not?  Life’s too short!

A week or so ago I was in the main center of Tel Aviv near Dizengoff Square and saw a sign advertising a 2nd hand/vintage/antiques fair.  Since I’m always after new and interesting things to do in the city I thought I’d ask a friend if she’d be interested in going to check it out.

Ad for "vintage" market

Luckily my friend is in town and wanted to see what this sale had to offer so we went last night to see what the fuss was all about.

The sale was just around Dizengoff Square which is a few minutes down the road from Dizengoff Center.  Before I met up with my friend, I thought I’d go into the center to check out a few things and browse around some of the shops.  It’s also a great way to escape the heat since the air con is on full blast!

Dizengoff Center is one of Tel Aviv’s shopping malls.  It was the first one I’ve ever been to in Israel and I think is quite unique compared to the “normal” shopping mall.  It is named after Meir (same name as my grandad) Dizengoff who was the first mayor of Tel Aviv.  Open since 1983 it is actually divided into 2 parts on both sides of Dizengoff Street and connected by a skywalk.  The design of the center is quite odd – it is built on a descending ramp from top to bottom.  I recommend starting at the top and walking down the ramp – a lot less tiring than the reverse.

Dizengoff Center

The Center was built on the ruins of the Nordiya neighborhood. Construction began in 1972, and the first store opened five years later in 1977. The rest of the mall was finished in 1983. The mall has two movie theatres, stores and restaurants, an internet cafe, a design center holding exhibitions from around the world (Soho), specialty stores (Comic books, video games, gadgets, stamp-collecting, posters), and a roof top swimming pool and gym.

Even though other shopping centers like the one in Ramat Aviv and Azrieli are more modern, there is something very “Tel Aviv” about Dizengoff.  It has 1970s decor and truly feels hectic – a characteristic you have to associate with Israel.

Security at Dizengoff is fairly high (as it is in most central areas in Israel) – in 1996 there was a suicide bombing outside Dizengoff Center which killed 13 people.  There have also been other attempts but fortunately they were unsuccessful.  Being here today, a place that is hustling and bustling with locals and tourists there is not a hint of that in the air.  It’s just all about one of everyone’s favourite hobbies – retail therapy.

I’m on the prowl for a new dress for my upcoming trip to the UK and for my birthday – yes its coming up on 10th September!  I peruse the shops in the center and come up empty handed.  I guess the vintage show may be where my luck will come into play.

I meet up with my friend just outside the center and we head over to the vintage sale.  I’m expecting to see something quite interesting with lots of clothes and jewellery.  Hmmm…I look around and realize that I may not be in luck here either.  It actually looks quite familiar and resembles a place quite close to home.  Yes, you’ve got it – Jaffa Flea Market.

"Vintage" market

The stuff here is definitely 2nd hand but unfortunately not vintage or antique.  It is full of old jewellery and literally a city garage sale (or car boot sale).  I’m sure that we could find something here but the digging we’d have to do is way too much for Sophie or I to bear.

After a bit of stroll, we go back to Dizengoff Center and give it a bit more of a wander.  I realize that I have a love-hate relationship with this place.  On the one hand it has everything I need when I go to the mall – movie theaters, chemist and a multitude of clothing stores.  On the other, I find the overall style so retro that I get frustrated with it.  Maybe its me – I have a love-hate relationship with all malls I think really.  Look what growing up in Toronto, shopping mall central, did to me:).

After a bit of window shopping we go and grab a coffee partly because we want more of the best thing about this place – the lovely air conditioning.  There are a number of spots to pick from including Aroma (my fave Israeli capp), Cafe Cafe and Arcaffe.  We settle on Aroma and slurp up a yummy cappuccino.

The best part of hanging out in the mall is that it brings you back to the days of high school when your days were filled with activities like this and they made you happier than ever.  Sitting here catching up with my friend makes me realize that those simple days weren’t so bad especially at a place like Dizengoff where there is a lot to keep the eyes wander if you get stuck for conversation.

I’m hoping that my next shopping adventure takes me somewhere out of the mall but if I have to go inside, Dizengoff is as good of an option as any.

Until next time, Miriam x

Everyday I walk through Jaffa and cross through the bustling markets.  When I got back from holidays, I found out that in the summer Jaffa is host to outdoor markets every Thursday night.  Last Thursday my roommates and I decided to check it out and see what all the commotion was about.

Getting into the festive spirit

As I mentioned a couple of months ago, during the day the Jaffa Flea Market (Shuk HaPhishPishim) is host to all sorts of characters.  Essentially its a big garage sale where you have to root through trinkets and trash to find your treasure.

I soon learned on Thursday nights this same place gets completely transformed into so much more.  I don’t know if the fact that its nighttime makes a difference and there’s an element of mystery but it feels like a different world altogether.

This is a highlight of my time in here – there are not only countless stalls hosted by local artists but also live music – one of my fave things to do.  There’s a great vibe here for all – families, the young and the old.

When we went last Thursday it was so packed wtih people it was hard to even move.  With this overcrowded atmosphere and the humidity, we tried to wander around the stalls of local jewlerry, art and artifacts but to say it was a challenge is an understatement.  It was so hot that night too so we gave up and luckily found a spot by the band and kicked back with a couple glasses of wine.  It was a great night so no complaints.

Caught on camera in Jaffa

However, I was in the mood for some retail therapy and/or window shopping.  So this week I went back but decided to give it a try a bit earlier (8-9pm which is early by Israeli standards). It was perfect. Not only could I move but I could also ask the artists about their works of art.  Also, if I was up for a bit to eat (which I wasn’t that night but maybe in the next few weeks – you never know), it would be a lot easier to find a place to plop myself at this hour as there was a lot more room.

Apparently this festival goes on every Thursday night over the summertime.  After talking to a few of the vendors, they typically don’t all come back week after week.  They usually rotate so at least there is a bit of variety shopping wise.

It’s incredible to stay only a few minutes away from such a dynamic event and environment.  I can walk out of our flat and be in a completely exciting and engaging atmosphere – not many can say that on a weekly basis.  Definitely beats the suburbia I grew up in.

Live music in Jaffa

For anyone visiting Tel Aviv or Israel in general, I highly recommend going to visit Jaffa.  It is funky, very different and has an eclectic vibe like no other.

I’ll be back another time to the festival for sure as its a great place to grab some souvenirs or maybe treat myself to something unique.

One piece of advice to all of you marking your diaries –

Go early but definitely GO!!

Enjoy, Miriam