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

Yummy Greek food - look at the feta!

This month’s “Word on the Street” takes us to one of the Greek Isles with one of my good friends AD.  A few months ago, she ventured from the UK to Athens & Santorini and got to see what this beautiful island was all about.

TS: Firstly, thanks for taking the time to do this interview, AD.  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 Mississauga, Canada (just outside of Toronto) and moved to the Channel Islands 3 years ago.  I now reside in St Helier, Jersey and work in the “people side” of 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?

I would say it depends on my mood, really.  I’ve done scuba diving and skydiving (thrill seeker); I do love beaches and tanning (beach bum a la Miami!), but I also enjoy visiting a good cathedral/temple (culture craver).  I’ve found that Indonesia, Ibiza and Egypt can capture a lot these.

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

That is easy – I would have to say the top three are Candi Dasa in Bali, Indonesia; Mt Sinai/Luxor in Egypt and Santorini, Greece.   All for personal reasons…

A Romantic Setting

TS: You recently visited Greece – Athens and Santorini.  Why did you pick this destination for your holiday?

My husband and I of one year at the time were looking for something relaxing, yet cultured for our honeymoon.  We didn’t want to pay high prices for a getaway like going to the Maldives/Hawaii, and since we’ve both always wanted to go to Greece, it was an easy option.  It’s not too far from Jersey/UK either.

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

I was expecting something better than what we received in Athens (run down, grotty, dirty, not the best area); and did not expect at all the beauty Santorini offered.  From my previous experiences such as going to Ibiza and staying in Ibiza town as well as staying in Sharm to avoid Naama Bay and be away from all the tourists, we were looking for something similar for our stay in Santorini.

In terms of air travel, again we were looking for something close with good connecting flights to the UK from Jersey, and just a comfortable flight.

TS: Focusing on Santorini, where did you stay?

We stayed in Lilium Villas just outside of Fira.  It was a great location and they offered free shuttle buses into Fira at all times of the day.  It was also nice being cliff side, as the views (every sunset) were stunning! See: http://www.lilium-v.gr/home_english.htm

A Santorini Sunset

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

Definitely!  Definitely!

TS: If you knew a friend or family member was looking for a similar holiday, would you recommend Santorini as a destination?  Would you recommend heading to Athens first like you did?

Santorini, yes, for everyone of all ages and tastes no matter what the occasion.  I would avoid going into the city centre in Athens, to be honest.  However, for first time travellers to Greece you cannot miss out on Athens and the sights there.  If we did go back to Santorini, which is definitely an option, we would only fly via Athens airport and catch the connecting flight to Santorini.  As well, I am happy that we did Athens first– it would have been a disappointment to go from Santorini to Athens!

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

Sunset, food and adventure.

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

Somewhere in South America… or Northern Canada if I could bear the cold again.

It sounds like your Grecian adventure was just the right balance of sightseeing and relaxation – sounds lovely to me.

Thanks for taking the time to complete this interview and happy (and safe) travels, Miriam

Look at that view!

For my inaugural edition of “The Word on the Street”, I’m talking to my good friend Melissa about her recent travels to Mexico in the gorgeous Mayan Riviera.

Miriam (TS): Firstly, thanks for taking the time to do this interview, Melissa.  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?

Melissa (M):  No, problem!  Thanks for interviewing me.  Well, I’m a 30-something female living in the heart of Toronto.  I am originally from Germany and moved to Toronto at a very young age.  Throughout my childhood I travelled a lot with my family so my love for travelling began early.  I currently work in the area of health technology assessment.

TS: Great – I love that you started out as a traveller early in life.   If you had to pick one of three “types” of travellers, would you consider yourself a thrill seeker, beach bum or culture craver?  Why?

M: That’s an interesting question.  I really believe that travel can have many different purposes, but if I had to pick one I would definitely say that I am a culture craver.  There is nothing more satisfying than exploring a region of the world and getting insight into local food, history, traditions, sights and people.   I must admit though I can lie on a beach for days, so the ideal trip for me would be a mix of culture and beach.

TS: I totally understand how you feel!  Out of everywhere you’ve travelled to, what destination has made the biggest impression on you?

M: Without question it would be Kenya.  A few years ago I went on a 9-day Safari in Kenya and then spent 5 days exploring Zanzibar.  Kenya left me absolutely astounded.  The three game reserves that I visited, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Samburu were all so unique.  The Masai Mara was so vast and was incredible to visit during the Wildebeast migration.  Seeing animals living together in their natural environment is truly breathtaking.  Highlights of the trip included a visit to an elephant park inside one of the game reserves, seeing a pack of giraffes gallop in front of my jeep, watching a live kill (a poor zebra got eaten by a lion), visiting a Masai village and seeing a lioness feeding her cubs.  Literally all this happened a mere 10 feet in front of my eyes.  I could go on forever as you can tell…so yes, Kenya made the biggest impression on me.

TS: Africa is definitely on my list – that’s for sure.  So, you recently visited the Mayan Riviera in Mexico.  Why did you pick this destination for your holiday?

M: In attempt to beat the cold winter of Toronto, or at least escape it for a week, I wanted a place that was warm and tropical.  Having visited a few places in the Caribbean, I made sure to find a location that offered some opportunities for seeing some local culture and activities close to the resort.   I had also heard that the Mayan Riviera Reef is the second largest barrier coral reef in the world so I was excited to go snorkelling.

TS: Cool – I never knew that about the reef there.  When you booked the trip, what were you expecting with regards to accommodation?  Air travel?

M:  After doing a bit of research into the various resorts, I had chosen a modern resort, and one that was seemingly less crowded than all-inclusive resorts I had previously visited.  Based on all the photos I had seen, I had high expectations for the rooms, hotel property and beach.  I had no idea however, what to expect in terms of the level of service, the food, and the atmosphere at the resort.  As I had booked the hotel as part of a package with airfare, I was expecting the standard discount airline flight.

TS: Where did you stay?

M: I stayed in Puerto Morelos, a small fishing village about 20 minutes south of Cancun.  The resort that I stayed at was called the Oceans Coral & Turquesa by H10.

Mexican Munchies

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

M: Yes!  The holiday definitely exceeded my expectations.  The resort had exceptional service and overall ambiance.   Unlike other all-inclusive resorts I had been to which felt too big and seemingly had crowded beaches and noisy pools, this resort was completely different.  The hotel attracted a crowd that enjoyed the quiet and peacefulness of the beach and pool areas.  The beach was also fantastic because it had individual palapas.

We also had a lot of fun too – there are so many excursions in the area.  We just happen to book ahead with Ecab Explorer tours – it was an excellent and professional tour.  They also picked us up from our hotel which was great!

The hotel had a host of activities to do during the day and at night and there was also the option of enjoying the lobby bar with a martini in hand or curling up with a latte and a good book in your room.  The resort is also located about a 30 minute walk from the town of Puerto Morelos which is lovely for looking around at local tourist shops, buying silver jewellery and eating some local fare while overlooking the pier.  All in all, it was a great vacation because just as I had hoped it was in a quaint area of Mexico which was perfect for relaxing and unwinding.

TS: Wow – great rating then?  Sounds lovely!  So, if you knew a friend or family member was looking for a similar holiday, would you recommend the Mayan Riviera?  Would you recommend your resort?

M: I would definitely recommend the Mayan Riviera to anyone travelling to Mexico or looking for a relaxing holiday.  There really is something for everyone there including singles, couples and families.  For adventure seekers, ziplining, snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming in cenotes and ATVing are available.   For those interested in history, there are several Mayan Ruins to visit including Tulum, Coba and Xel-Ha.  For those that crave shopping, nightlife and city exploring, Playa Del Carmen and Cancun are a short taxi ride way.  Boat cruises to the island of Cozumel are also enchanting if you have a couple of extra days.  Lastly, for those just wishing to relax on a beach – you can do that too!

A Gorgeous Swim in the Cenote

TS:  Cool – if you could describe your holiday in 3 words what would they be?

M: The perfect getaway!

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

M: Having just come back Mexico, I seem to be craving a warm holiday again.  Perhaps, if money were no object, I’d buy a round-the-world ticket and start in Australia and see where that would take me……

Fantastic – I’m glad you enjoyed your holiday and you were open to share it with me.  It sounds like your Mayan Riviera holiday was just what the doctor ordered – sounds lovely to me.

Thanks again Melissa for being the first “Word on the Street” reporter. Now you can add that to your CV – lol . Happy (and safe) travels, Miriam