Read the accompanying post: “Some Lazy Days in Salta“.

See other Velvet Moments:

• Bruges canals, Belgium
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Positano, Italy
• The Great Ocean Road, Australia
• Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Rickshaw passing the Hainan Temple

Penang is a turtle-shaped island off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is connected to the mainland by the 13 kilometer long Penang Bridge. For centuries, Penang played a strategic role in trading relations between the East and West. In addition to the local Sultans, the Arabs, Chinese, British and Dutch all vied for influence over Penang. This long and colourful history has left its mark on the island in many ways; from the colonial mansions and intriguing temples of Georgetown to the island’s unique cuisine which is truly world-famous. In addition to its rich historical and cultural heritage, Penang also boasts mile after mile of sandy, casuarina-fringed beaches, a mountainous hinterland, some of Malaysia’s most stunning resorts and a vibrant shopping scene.

If you’re visiting Penang, here are my 10 tips for things to do and see:

1. Stroll around the UNESCO World Heritage core of Georgetown. The most prominent landmark (and must-see) is the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. However, the neighbourhoods surrounding Jalan Penang (Penang Road) and Lebuh Chulia (Chulia Street) are packed with gorgeous colonial and Chinese heritage buildings as well as wonderfully atmospheric temples and narrow streets.

Check out the Penang Peranakan Mansion, Little India along Lebuh Pasar (Market Street), Khoo Kongsi Clan House, Kuan Yin Temple (Penang’s oldest temple), Teochew Temple, Hainan Temple, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mariamman Temple and the beautifully restored heritage shophouses of the Straits Collection on Stewart Lane. Another gorgeous stretch of heritage villas can be found along Lorong Bangkok (Bangkok Lane) in the nearby neighbourhood of Pulau Tikus.

A Georgetown street

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Penang City Hall

Kuan Yin Temple

Bangkok Lane

Little India

2. Jump into a becak for a true Penang experience. Hop on a rickshaw anywhere within the historic core of Georgetown for a unique and fun tour.

Penang becak

3. Indulge in Penang’s famous culinary scene. Penang’s many culinary highlights attract visitors from all over the world. It’s not surprising as there’s just so much to discover, from my absolute favourites Penang Char Kuey Teow and Penang Laksa , to Nasi Kandar, Mee Rebus, Hokkien Mee, oyster omelettes and spicy southern Indian curries. Penang is a true culinary gem! Most visitors head to Penang’s famous Gurney Drive (a beautiful seafront boulevard with many restaurants, cafés and hotels) to kick off their culinary adventure. For a quick introduction to some of the best dishes that Penang has to offer, I recommend a visit to the New World Park food court. I can also recommend the Sin Hwa coffeshop near the intersection of Burma and Cantonment Roads for deliciously authentic Char Kuey Teow and Penang Laksa.

Penang Char Kuey Teow

Penang Laksa

4. Visit the Penang Butterfly Farm. Established in 1986, the Penang Butterfly Farm is one of the world’s largest and is currently home to more than 4,000 Malaysian butterflies of 120 species. Wandering around the aviary with hundreds of colourful butterflies fluttering around is simply an enchanting experience.

5. Go horse-riding along Batu Ferringhi beach at sunset. Home to numerous hotels and inns, the Batu Ferringhi beach is one of Penang’s most popular beaches. It’s also a great spot to view a spectacular Penang sunset. My tip: go horse-riding along the beach as the sun dips its head below the horizon. Watch as the colours of the sea and sky change from warm pastel hues to a deep crimson red.

Horse-riding along Batu Ferringhi beach at sunset

6. Climb to the top of the Temple of Supreme Bliss. Better known as Kek Lok Si, this is the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia and stands tall on the hills of Ayer Hitam. This elaborate complex consists of a series of monasteries, prayer halls and beautifully landscaped gardens. The main attractions of the complex include the Pagoda of Rama VI, the Liberation Pond and the towering statue of the Goddess Kuan Yin.

7. Stand eye-to-eye with vipers at the Snake Temple. Perhaps the only one of its kind in the world, the Snake Temple is a Buddhist temple with a population of resident pit vipers (the poisonous variety). It is believed that the snakes made the temple their sanctuary as development in the surrounding hills destroyed their habitat. The wardens say that the constant smoke from burning incense renders the snakes harmless, making them a great photo opportunity!

8. Enjoy the views from the top of Penang Hill. At an elevation of 800+ meters, Penang Hill (or ‘Bukit Bendera’) is a popular retreat for the locals who come up here to enjoy the cooler climate and the stunning views of Georgetown. There are several ways to ascend the hill: a funicular railway (by far the most popular method), a jeep track and hiking trails. The original funicular railway (which dates from the early 1900′s) has recently made way for brand new trains from Switzerland (services are expected to commence in October 2010).

9. Immerse yourself in Penang’s colonial past with a visit to one of the beautifully-restored heritage buildings. The most famous venue for an afternoon high tea, complete with piping hot scones, is the Eastern & Oriental (E&O) Hotel. You can also drop by the hotel’s pub for a pint – famous people who’ve been here include Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham, Rudyard Kipling and Charlie Chaplin! A short walk up the road is The Mansion, another stunning heritage building. There’s a lovely restaurant as well as a lounge and bar in the gardens with beautiful views of Penang harbour. Just outside Georgetown and surrounded by gorgeous, ancient-looking trees, is Suffolk House, the former residence of Sir Francis Light, the founder of the British settlement in Penang in the 18th century. You can have a meal at the restaurant or take a tour of the stately mansion.

The Mansion

Inside The Mansion

The E&O Hotel

Suffolk House

10. Take a ride on Malaysia’s oldest ferry service to Butterworth and back for gorgeous views of Georgetown. This ferry service has been operating since 1920. Its importance diminished somewhat when the Penang Bridge opened in 1985. However, the ferries are deemed a national treasure and remain popular with the locals.

One more tip: if you’re looking for some really good breads or pastries (baguettes, paninis, croissants, etc…), I can absolutely recommend the Rainforest Bakery at 300, Chulia Street. Absolutely delish!

Rainforest Bakery Penang

Read other articles in the Velvet Escape “Ten” series:

• Ten city peaks for the most breathtaking views
• Ten things to do in Manchester
• Ten incredible bridge walks
• Ten unforgettable city cruises
• Ten things to do in Kuala Lumpur
• Ten reasons to travel alone

The most sighted are the sperm whale, sei whale, fin whale, pilot whale, mink whale, common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, striped dolphin, and Risso’s dolphin. These animals can be seen in many places around the Azores but the waters around the islands of Pico and São Jorge harbour some of my favourite spots. It’s simply an amazing experience to be out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and to see a massive whale swim by gracefully against the backdrop of the magnificent conical peak of Pico or the awe-inspiring cliffs of São Jorge. Blue whales, humpback whales, orca’s, false orca’s, pigmy sperm whales and Northern bottlenose whales can sometimes be spotted passing through the channel that separates these islands.

Sperm whales in the Azores

The sperm whale is one of the largest cetaceans currently in existence, and the largest of the toothed whales, reaching 18 to 20 meters (50 – 65 feet) in length. The average size of adult females ranges from 11 to 12 meters long, whilst males can reach 15 to 18 meters in length.

Females and calves live in reproduction groups of 20 to 25 individuals. Loners in general, or living in small groups of up to 6 individuals, the older males join the females and calves during the mating season, but just for a few hours. Holding the record for deep-diving, an adult male sperm whale is able to reach depths below 3000 meters (> 10,000 feet) and to be submersed for more than 2 hours. In these deep waters, they hunt for large squid which can also reach up to 18 meters in length. It must be a strange wild hunt in the dark – the scars on the skin of some of the sperm whales which are caused by the huge tentacles of large squid can often be spotted.

Sea turtles, sharks and flying fish are some of the other fascinating sea creatures which are often sighted during boat trips around the Azores.

In short: the Azores is a must for adventurous nature lovers and avid whale-watchers. For more information on these magical islands in the Atlantic Ocean, please visit Azores.nl and Brilliant Azores.

Read the accompanying post: ‘Picture Perfect Bruges‘

See other Velvet moments:

• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Seminyak, Indonesia
• Lang Tengah island, Malaysia
• Angkor Wat, Cambodia
• Laguna Chaxa, Chile

Peñíscola is a stunning medieval town built on a rocky peninsula, complete with a lighthouse, ancient fortress, pebblestone alleys and panoramic views of the Costa Azahar, just north of Valencia. I later discovered that the name Peñíscola stems from the Latin word for ‘peninsula’. The peninsula was inhabited in ancient times by the Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines and later the Arabs, who ruled the area from the 8th to the 13th centuries AD. In the 13th-14th centuries, the Templar knights built the castle on the rocky headland.

Today, the town is a popular seaside resort for both locals and tourists, with the palm-fringed beaches and the fortified town being the biggest attractions. On a recent blogger trip to the region of Valencia, we spent a memorable afternoon strolling around Peñíscola. I absolutely loved the gorgeous whitewashed buildings with splashes of colour to frame windows or walls, and the beautiful vistas of the beaches and the sea.

A balcony in Peñíscola

The cliffwalls of Peñíscola

There was a great variety of cafés and restaurants to sit at, quaint shops to explore and decks where we could enjoy the panoramic views. We entered the castle and climbed up to the top where we were treated to amazing views of the town’s step-like rooftops and the coast.

A colourful lounge right next to a blowhole

A typical street in Peñíscola

A gorgeous building with Moorish arches

Peñíscola's beautiful pebblestone streets. Whose foot is that? Clue: she travels solo.

The Peñíscola lighthouse

The belltower of the Hermitage of the Virgin

The Plaza de Armas

The step-like rooftops of Peñíscola

The Hermitage of the Virgin of the Hermit

Peñíscola is a perfect day-trip from Valencia but is also a destination on its own. Visitors can spend several days wandering the town’s lovely alleys and absorbing the medieval atmosphere, and combine this with a lazy beach holiday full of sunshine, golden sands, paella and sangria!

Read other Velvet Escape posts on the region of Valencia:

• Valencia in Five Restaurants
• The Treasures of Morella
• Behind the Scenes of the Valencia F1 Grand Prix
• An Architectural Marvel in Valencia

Note: my trips to Valencia was sponsored by the Land of Valencia.

Bayan Indah

Bayan Indah's herb garden

Run by the lovely Rohani Jelani, Bayan Indah is a beautiful retreat for those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. But Bayan Indah is more than just a retreat, it is also a place where guests come to experience and learn about authentic Malaysian cuisine.

Rohani is an avid proponent of cooking with organic ingredients. In a country where traditional cooking techniques are slowly making way for quick-and-easy solutions (like ready-made pastes and other concoctions), Rohani is an advocate of a back-to-basic approach to Malaysian cooking – many of the ingredients come from her backyard and everything, from the soup bases to sauces and herb and spice mixes for marinades, is made from scratch. Rohani aspires to rediscover traditional Malaysian cooking techniques, document them and pass these on to younger generations, and her efforts thus far command deep respect.

Cooking courses at Bayan Indah

Rohani explained the many herbs used

Rohani conducts a variety of cooking courses at Bayan Indah which provide guests with fascinating insights into traditional Malaysian cooking. I attended the course on Malay ‘kampung’ (village) style cooking and it was an amazing sensory experience that certainly opened my eyes to the finer points of Malay cooking. Rohani took her time to explain the various herbs and spices and what they could be used for. Everyone was invited to touch, smell and taste each ingredient before being ushered into one of the prettiest tropical kitchens I’ve ever seen!

Traditional Malay recipes were introduced such as ‘Nasi Kerabu’ (aromatic, herb-filled rice), ‘Ayam Percik’ (chicken in a spicy coconut gravy) and ‘Kerabu Jantung Pisang’ (spicy banana flower salad). We were divided into teams of two and were given three recipes: two main courses and a dessert.

The kitchen opens into the tropical rainforest!

It’s not until you attend Rohani’s course that you start to appreciate the amount of work that goes into Malay cooking – for instance, I spent 45 minutes slowly stirring grated coconut in a wok above a very slow fire just to get it to look golden brown (not black) and create a light, smoky (not burnt) flavour!

Stirring the grated coconut...

Rohani also taught us how villagers roll herb leaves (small leaves are packed into a large leaf) into a tight ‘cigar’ before chopping it up – this method creates a blend of herbs which bursts to life when they’re sliced very thinly; the aromas that emanated from that ‘cigar’ of herbs were absolutely gorgeous. Rolling it up tightly into a ‘cigar’ also makes it easier to slice into very fine pieces.

Rohani demonstrates a traditional fold-and-slice method

It was a noisy affair: laughter mixed with the whirring of blenders or the pounding of pestles. Rohani fluttered around the kitchen, inspecting the groups and making sure we knew what we were doing! She would stop us occasionally to explain a certain ingredient or technique, or tell us an anecdote. Everyone had a brilliant time!

Rohani tells us the story of a banana flower

Inside a banana flower

Everything was made from scratch, even this pandan essence

Rohani taught us how to finely chop ingredients

We made a lovely spicy salad from these pucuk paku ferns

A mortar and pestle were used to pound spices and herbs

We pounded, chopped and blended herbs and spices to create aromatic marinades. Shallots, ginger, garlic and turmeric were stir-fried while chicken pieces were carefully grilled. The waft of spices that filled the kitchen was simply gorgeous. It was a lovely, fun-filled and not to mention, highly-educational afternoon. The result, as shown below, was a series of mouth-watering Malay dishes!

Aromatic Nasi Kerabu with 6 different herbs

Prawns and pineapple in coconut milk

Kerabu pucuk paku - fern salad

The series of completed dishes

Dessert: Onde Onde - glutinous rice balls filled with palm sugar

Dessert: Serimuka - glutinous rice with a green pandan top-layer

We sat down to a delightful lunch while Rohani kept us entertained with stories of her culinary adventures around the world. After lunch, she took us on a tour around Bayan Indah – guests can stay in any of the four beautiful, spacious rooms upstairs, with views of the forest.

I had an absolutely wonderful time at Bayan Indah. A huge thank you goes to Rohani Jelani for being a great inspiration and for teaching us how it’s really done! If you’re looking for a fascinating culinary experience in a unique ambiance, or if you’re keen to learn the finer points of Malaysian cooking, I highly recommend a stay or cooking course at Bayan Indah. Oh, and please send Rohani my love!

Bayan Indah
3343, Kampung Palimbayan Indah,
Sungai Penchala,
60000 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia

Tel: +60 3 7729 0122

Read other Velvet Escape posts on Cuisine:

• Valencia in Five Restaurants
• Brooklyn: New York City’s Foodie Paradise
• Opulent Gastronomy in Shanghai
• Culinary Journey: Castellar del Riu, Catalonia
• A Glorious Day at Da Adolfo

Sumela, Trabzon

Sitting pretty at an elevation of around 1,200 metres, the Sumela Monastery might be a hike to get to, but it’s certainly worth it for the views. A major attraction of the Altindere National Park, the monastery is as fascinating as it is beautiful, as it is steeped in history reaching back all the way to 386 AD.

Aspendos, Antalya

Aspendos boasts the best preserved Roman amphitheatre in Turkey and arguably amongst the best in the world. Follow in the footsteps of ancient Roman actors and gladiators as you absorb the atmosphere. Something I enjoyed doing was sitting at the top ring and eavesdropping on the conversations of people below – the acoustics are incredibly good! Alternatively, stand in the centre of the ring and clap your hands!

Karaca Mağarası, Gümüşhane

The cave network of Karaca Mağarası in Gümüşhane is a breathtaking set of natural cave formations divided into several chambers that house remarkable crystallised rimstone pools. If you know your stalagmites from your stalactites, or are at least keen to find out, I recommend taking the tour and walking where ancient peoples once took shelter. The formations are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

Truva (Troy)

Whether you’re a classical literature buff and have read Homer’s Iliad, or you just liked the 2006 epic film Troy, then a visit to the ancient site of Truva is for you. Truva, or Troy, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1998. While little of the famously romanticised city of antiquity remains, parts of the legendary walls still stand and a massive replica of the ‘Trojan Horse’ has been completed. I’m not sure why it’s called a Trojan Horse since it was full of Greeks that hid in it to gain entrance to the city. It really should have been called the ‘Greek Horse’… one would think . I guess names have a habit of sticking!

Nemrut, Adiyaman

Mount Nemrut is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage in eastern Turkey. In the 1st century BC, King Antiochus built a tomb-like monument for himself atop the 2,150 meter-high mountain. He actually added a further 50 meters to the height of the mountain by constructing a mound or tumulus on the peak! From afar, this artificial peak is unmistakable – an incredible engineering marvel. Flanking this tumulus are giant statues of himself (in their original upright state, they would have been eight to nine meters tall), lions, eagles and various gods. The parts of the statues and the busts are now scattered throughout the site but they are nonetheless impressive.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

The Grand Bazaar is one of Istanbul’s greatest attractions. One of the oldest covered markets in the world, the Grand Bazaar houses more than a thousand shops along 58 covered streets. It’s a fascinating place for history buffs as well as shopaholics (look out for gorgeous carpets, silverware, jewelry and pottery). For the first-time visitor, a stroll around the Grand Bazaar will be an intriguing experience that will not easily be forgotten.

Note: this post was…

Read other Velvet Escape posts on Turkey:

• Dolmabahçe Palace, Istanbul
• Cappadocia
• Mt. Nemrut

Read the accompanying post: ‘Enchanting sunsets in Bali‘.

• Millau Viaduct, France
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Valle de la Luna, Chile
• Positano, Italy
• Lang Tengah island, Malaysia
• Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
• The Great Ocean Road, Australia

La Riua

Located in the city centre, La Riua is a family establishment that serves authentic Valencian fare. As you step into the restaurant, you’ll notice the gorgeous ceramic plates that cover the walls. Try the arroz a banda and the rabbit and chicken paella.

Casa Montana

This atmospheric restaurant is situated in the El Cabanal neighbourhood near the port area. Valencians have been eating at Casa Montana for more than a century and it’s not hard to see why. The atmosphere is casual and jovial – guests are packed together at large wooden tables. Try the wafer-thin cured meats, anchovies, marinated tuna, grilled sardines and the divine patatas bravas. Oh, Casa Montana also serves over 1,300 types of wine, with more than 20,000 bottles in the cellar! To cap off a wonderful meal, ask the waiter for their chocolate truffles. They’re simply heavenly!

Sagardi Euskal Taberna

This beautiful restaurant is situated in the historic centre of Valencia. Sagardi comprises two floors where guests can have a casual meal at the counter (downstairs) or a more formal meal in the dining area (upstairs). Whatever you decide, don’t miss the grilled meats! The steaks are absolutely delicious.

La Ferradura

This beach-side restaurant is popular with families, especially in the weekends. Sit outside in the cool shade and enjoy the stunning views of the boulevard, the beach and the Mediterranean sea. La Ferradura is famous for its Valencian specialties which include a variety of rice (arroz) dishes and grilled seafood.

Vertical

This is an impressive Michelin-star restaurant with a stunning view of Valencia’s City of Arts & Sciences on one side and the port of Valencia on the other. The interior of Vertical is contemporary chic and the food likewise. The gastronomic tasting menu was full of surprises, my favourites being the shellfish platter (we were provided with funky-looking tweezers to eat it) and the boiled egg on hummus in a mushroom broth.

Note: my trips to Valencia were sponsored by the Land of Valencia.

Read the accompanying post: ‘Plane Views – Millau‘

• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Valle de la Luna, Chile
• Positano, Italy
• Seminyak, Indonesia
• Lang Tengah island, Malaysia
• Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
• The Great Ocean Road, Australia

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Penang is an island off the coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is linked to the mainland by one of the longest bridges in the world. The capital of the state of Penang, Georgetown, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. For hundreds of years, Penang played an influential role in the trading relations between Europe/Middle East and Southeast/East Asia. Many Chinese, Arab and Indian traders made the town their base, along with the British and the Dutch. The legacy of the East-West relations and the colonial heritage lives on till today as Georgetown is packed with lovingly-restored homes and buildings from its British colonial past as well as magnificent villas built by the many Chinese traders who made their fortunes trading spices with the colonial powers and the Chinese mainland.

One of the most prominent heritage buildings in Georgetown is the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Often called the Blue Mansion because of its stunning blue façade, the mansion was built in the 1880′s by one of the most powerful Chinese trading and shipping tycoons, Cheong Fatt Tze. The distinct blue colour of the mansion was derived from a blend of lime and natural blue dyes from the indigo plant. Today, the mansion is a national treasure and is one of the highlights of Georgetown.

The mansion was designed and built by artisans and craftsmen from China who generously applied the principles of feng shui in both the general layout as well as in the ornate decorations. Western (predominantly British) elements were incorporated in the design, probably to impress his Western trading partners. The result is a wondrous mix of East and West; best exemplified by the central courtyard which features Scottish cast-iron balusters, Art Nouveau stained glass and Chinese timber lattices.

Exterior detail

One of the gorgeous doors

The entrance to the mansion

The grand reception room

The courtyard

Interior

The dining room

One of the stunning corridors

If you’re visiting Penang, you shouldn’t miss a tour or a stay at the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. It truly is an enchanting spot worth exploring! Check out other Things to Do in Penang.

See other Velvet Escape Enchanting Spots:

• Dolmabahçe Palace, Turkey
• Palazzo Ducale Mantua, Italy
• Tortuguero, Costa Rica
• Tikal, Guatemala
• Blue Lagoon, Iceland
• Ngorongoro, Tanzania
• Whitehaven beach, Australia

Malaysia Airlines satay

What: Meals in Business Class on Malaysia Airlines

Where: Flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur

Note: Malaysia Airlines (MH) has won many awards for its service and meals in Business Class. On a recent trip, the airline was kind to upgrade me to a spacious seat on the upper deck and it was a treat! The meal service kicked off with MH’s signature dish: satay. Satay is a classic Malaysian dish and consists of grilled chicken or beef on a skewer. It’s then served with a spicy peanut sauce and, among others, pieces of cucumber and onion on the side. It’s often difficult to replicate a classic dish and serve it 40,000 feet in the air in a pressurised cabin, but Malaysia Airlines’ satay is the real thing. The chicken and beef were tender, the typical smoky flavour of satay was unmistakable and the peanut sauce (though a tad too creamy for my taste) was delicious.

Somewhere above the Caspian Sea, I woke up feeling peckish. The lovely stewardess offered to make me a bowl of noodles and ten minutes later, she came back with a large steaming-hot bowl of noodles in a chicken broth, packed with prawns, fish balls, vegetables and chicken strips. Cathay Pacific serves a divine bowl of wonton noodles in Business Class but Malaysia Airlines certainly proved it’s right up there in my ‘best airline noodles in the world’ list! I ordered a glass of Viognier to go with the noodles and the experience was simply superb!

The excellent bowl of noodles on board Malaysia Airlines

Breakfast was another highlight. There were three choices and I went for the steak – I figured it’s not every day that I get to have a steak for breakfast! The juicy steak was served medium with wild mushrooms and poached tomatoes. I was very impressed with the quality of the ingredients and the way they managed to retain the flavours and aromas 11 hours into the flight, 40,000 feet in the air.

My breakfast steak!

The 12-hour flight was over in a flash but the excellent culinary highlights on board were absolutely memorable.

About Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines is the national airline of Malaysia and flies to destinations in six continents from its home base in Kuala Lumpur.

Read more Culinary Journey articles:

• Castellar del Riu, Catalonia
• Bali
• Cala Sant Viçenc
• Amsterdam
• Punta Arenas
• Valparaiso

Read the accompanying post: ‘Patagonia: Home of the Gods Part II‘

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• Pompeii, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

The palace is home to an incredible collection of Baccarat and Bohemian crystals, breathtaking gilded ceilings and columns, and magnificent gifts from foreign rulers including the Tsars of Russia and Queen Victoria.

The richly decorated interior is strikingly European in style and was designed to display the splendor of the Ottomans to maximum effect. The highlight of a tour through the palace is undoubtedly the imposing Ceremonial Hall. The hall is 2,000 square meters in size and 36 meters high, and apart from its magnificent golden interior and impressive columns, boasts a 4.5 ton Bohemian crystal chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria and the largest of its kind in the world. When I visited the Ceremonial Hall for the first time, my jaw literally dropped open. Of all the palatial halls in the world that I’ve visited, this one certainly takes top marks for its visual impact!

Other highlights in the palace include the famous Crystal Staircase (with its Baccarat crystal bannisters), the room of the Father of Modern Turkey, Ataturk, and the bear rugs which were gifts from the Russian Tsar. If you’re visiting this fabulous city on the Bosphorus, I strongly recommend including this enchanting palace in your itinerary.

See other Velvet Escape Enchanting Spots:

• Palazzo Ducale Mantua, Italy
• Cappadocia, Turkey
• Tortuguero, Costa Rica
• Palenque, Mexico
• Tikal, Guatemala
• Blue Lagoon, Iceland
• Ngorongoro, Tanzania
• Whitehaven beach, Australia

A stroll around Delft

A leisurely stroll will take you past beautiful lily-filled canals, quaint squares, and magnificent churches, manors and other historic monuments.

Molslaan canal

Beesten Markt square

Maria van Jesse Church

One of many historic monuments in Delft

Delft’s main square, Markt (‘Market’), houses two of the town’s most important buildings, the Nieuwe Kerk (‘New Church’) and the Stadhuis (‘Town Hall’).

Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), Delft

Stadhuis (Town Hall), Delft

The Nieuwe Kerk has an important place in the history of the Dutch monarchy as this is where the royal family’s burial vault is located. The entrance to the vault is covered by a 5,000 kg rock slab!

The entrance to the burial vault of the Dutch Royal Family

The Golden Age: Delft Blue and Vermeer

Delft is famous the world over for its blue ceramics aptly called Delft Blue. This particular style was inspired by the arrival of Chinese porcelain, which was imported to Europe by the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century. Delft Blue ceramics in the form of plates, jugs, salt and pepper shakers, fridge magnets, clogs, miniature windmills and vases are some of the most popular souvenirs for visitors to the Netherlands.

Shop selling Delft Blue

In addition to the many shops selling Delft Blue items, there are also various museums which house private collections of antique Delft Blue and Chinese porcelain, such as the Paul Tetar van Elven Museum.

Delft is also famous as the birthplace of Johannes Vermeer, a Dutch painter who lived during the country’s Golden Age in the 17th century. Vermeer used Delft as the backdrop in many of his paintings. A visit to Delft wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Vermeer Centre!

A short walk from the Vermeer Museum is the Oude Kerk (Old Church) where many prominent citizens of Delft were buried, including Vermeer.

The spot where Vermeer was buried in the Oude Kerk.

Antique Markets

There are numerous antique markets in Delft, especially in the summer months. The biggest Antique Market is held every Saturday between mid-April and late-September. On these Saturdays, hundreds of stalls line the canals and offer a colorful and varied collection, ranging from ancient porcelain pieces to slightly more contemporary record collections!

Another market that is worth a visit is the Book and Art Market that is held every Thursday in the Hippolytusbuurt (in the town centre) between early-April and late-October.

Getting to Delft

Delft is easily accessible by train from the major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. If you’re driving, Delft is just off the main A13 highway between The Hague and Rotterdam. Its accessibility makes it a perfect day-trip from any of these cities.

The green, hilly countryside

Gosh, it seems like ages ago that I was in the deep south of Patagonia. I looked up my itinerary to check the dates and discovered that it was only four days ago that I left Punta Arenas for Puerto Montt – it’s getting increasingly difficult to keep track of the days! Puerto Montt is about halfway between Punta Arenas and Santiago, and is the gateway to the Lake District, a beautiful region of crystal-clear, emerald lakes and magnificent snow-capped volcanos. I arrived there in the morning, then took a taxi to Puerto Varas, about 20 km north of Puerto Montt. The countryside here is significantly different from the steppe-like south; it’s hilly and very green, with some beautiful forests. Some of the hills were completely blanketed in Scottish broom that were in full bloom, giving entire hillsides a bright yellow cover.

The stops along the Lake Crossing tour

Puerto Varas is a quaint town right on the shores of Lake Llanquehue (pronounced as ‘jean [as in French]-kway-way’) and looks across to the stunning Mt. Osorno, a Mt. Fuji-like volcano, on the far side of the lake. The town was founded by German immigrants and that’s pretty evident in the architecture and the numerous German names all over town. It was a pretty cloudy day with occasional showers – guess I’ve run out of ‘good weather’ luck. Bit of a shame as I couldn’t see the volcanos, just a bit past the snowline while the peaks were completely shrouded in thick clouds. Puerto Varas is a resort town with many hotels (built almost exclusively in Swiss/German alpine style) that offer gorgeous views of the lake. That evening, I went for dinner at a lovely restaurant called Living. I had a beautiful view of the lake while I enjoyed the salmon and leg of lamb and a bottle of Montes Alpha Merlot. This estate churns out some exquisite reds – I’ve tried the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Camenere and they’re all absolutely divine. If you see this label in your local wine shop, don’t hesitate!

The Lake Crossing Tour

The lake crossing tour started early the next day. This is a very popular tour in this region. It starts in Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas and takes you through the Andes by a combination of boat and bus and ends in Bariloche, Argentina. I chose the version that stops for the night in Peulla, a hamlet in the heart of the Andes.

My only glimpse of Mt. Osorno

We left Puerto Varas by coach and headed east to Petrohue. We managed to catch a glimpse of the conical peak of Mt. Osorno as the clouds lifted for, literally, a few minutes. I showed others the photos I took from the plane when I flew from Santiago to Punta Arenas on that clear day to give them an idea of what it looks like on a cloudless day! Along the way, we stopped at the Petrohue waterfall at the foot of Mt. Osorno. The falls were rather impressive and the colour, a deep emerald, was stunning. A lot of the rivers and lakes in this region have that same colour (in varying degrees) as the water originates from the glaciers which carry heaps of minerals with them from the mountains. The minerals, especially copper, give the water this beautiful colour.

From Petrohue, we boarded a boat which took us on a two-hour trip through the beautiful Lago Todos Los Santos (All Saints Lake). It would have been an awesome boat ride had it not been for the poor weather. The lake should’ve been a bright emerald, instead it was grey, and the surrounding mountains were all hidden behind clouds. The guide showed us pictures instead (!) of the lake and the four massive volcanos that rise steeply from its shores. Oh well!

Peulla

Peulla

We arrived in Peulla just in time for lunch. Peulla is nothing more than two hotels, a few houses and a pier! Its location though is just spectacular, with the reed-filled lake, beautiful rivers and waterfalls, and the imposing snow-capped mountains right at its doorstep. I guess being out here, right in the middle of the Andes mountains, made us feel adventurous so we decided to go zip-lining through the forest canopy. I’m usually fearful of great heights so I was quite hesitant but I went along and did it anyway. I was joined by an American couple and the guide strapped us up with safety lines, hooks, helmets, gloves and the trolley.

Funny how fear has us in its grip in so many ways

The first was easy enough. The second was quite scary as the distance between the two platforms was about 80 meters and there was a considerable descent, which meant a greater speed.

Zip-lining through the Andean forest in Peulla

I was close to trembling and I told myself to relax, assured myself that it was totally safe. The guide gave me the signal to go and I lifted my feet off the platform and away I went. Strangely enough, it wasn’t panic that swept over me, it was pure exhilaration. This is fantastic, I thought. I didn’t brake so I zipped down at a tremendous speed, only slowing down when I neared the platform. Loved it! We went from platform to platform eight times and it was awesome! Funny how fear has us in its grip in so many ways but when we let it go for just a bit and explore that unknown, we then realise how silly we were to harbour that particular fear in the first place.

An extraordinary dining experience

I had a rather extraordinary experience at dinner that evening. I sat down across from an elderly American couple (in their early-80′s) that shared a table with a Spaniard who spoke no English. Since the couple didn’t speak any Spanish, the lady told the Spaniard, “why don’t you talk and I’ll just nod my head and smile”!! She was hilarious! They had some trouble ordering so I helped them with the translations (me translating Spanish?! Haha! I may not speak the language but I know my food and wines!) and ordered their food and some wine. Tired of the arduous conversation at their table, they soon turned around to my table and a cross-table conversation began. Then another couple (from Colombia) sat down and they joined in the conversation, and then two other couples (from Brazil) joined in later, and soon we had a conversation across five tables! Everyone had to speak up as the tables were about a meter or two apart! It was a lively, boisterous, evening which we enjoyed tremendously. The elderly American couple were going to attempt the canopy ziplines the next day (I admire their determination) and we shared our experience with them. As we left, they got up, gave us a big hug and the lady said to us (laden in her heavy New York accent),”I don’t know much about you but I love you to bits already”. Now isn’t that sweet!

The next day, we hopped onto a bus and continued on our lake crossing tour. We left Peulla behind us and continued deeper into the Andes mountains. The scenery was spectacular.

We drove past the dense temperate rainforest (only one of two places on Earth with temperate rainforests; here and in Washington state) – loved the huge beech and sequioa-like trees – and past various waterfalls and gushing rivers. The Chile-Argentina border was at the top of the mountain pass and the Brazilians clambered out of the bus and were thrilled with the patches of snow.

Lago Frias

We arrived at Lago Frias (another stunning lake) and from here, we took a boat to Puerto Alegre. The weather on this side of the Andes was a lot better and we could start to see the true colour of the lake and the imposing mountains around us. We then continued by boat to Puerto Panuelo, stopping at some impressive waterfalls along the way. The boat ride to Puerto Panuelo along the Lago Nahuel Huapi offered us a magnificent vista of the huge forest-clad mountains. We arrived in Puerto Panuelo an hour later and a bus was there to take us on the last 25 km to Bariloche.

Bariloche

Bariloche

Bariloche is a popular ski resort in the winter. Its location, on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi and backed by the Andes mountains, is just breathtaking. The town itself is a bit of a jumble, kitschy in places; there are lots of restaurants, shops and hotels. In addition to the spectacular views, Bariloche is famous for its alpine architecture and chocolates – there’s a thriving chocolate industry here. I had some but wasn’t too impressed. Guess you wouldn’t be if you lived next door to Belgium, in my book, the true chocolate country!

Villa Huinid, our hotel here sits atop a hill and commands brilliant views of the lake and the mountains. The view from my room window is really like a postcard – it’s quite surreal, getting up in the morning and looking out the window! Then having a leisurely breakfast on the hotel’s sunny terrace, and a lazy stroll along Lago Nahuel Huapi…

The view from my room window at Villa Huinid

Wildflowers along the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi

The massive peaks surrounding Lago Nahuel Huapi near Bariloche

I spent four wonderful days in Bariloche just absorbing the magnificent views and reflecting on the spectacular lake crossing tour from Puerto Varas to Bariloche. Simply enchanting!

Read about my great laundry adventure in Bariloche.

Other Travel Journal entries include:

• A Whitsunday adventure (Whitsunday islands, Australia)
• The good life (Mendoza, Argentina)
• A tropical paradise, five wishes & a setback (Krabi, Thailand)
• Mystical Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile)
• A little piece of heaven (Bora Bora, French Polynesia)
• The wonders of Angkor Wat (Cambodia)
• A desert full of wonders (San Pedro de Atacama, Chile)

Read the accompanying post: ‘A Day Out in Bali‘.

• La Boqueria Market, Barcelona, Spain
• Mt. Vesuvius, Italy
• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

Marina Grande, Capri

Capri is a rocky island situated at the mouth of the Gulf of Naples. I visited the island on a day-trip from Positano on the Amalfi Coast and it was truly memorable. It’s really easy to get to Capri from Positano. Ferries ply between these two tourist hotspots several times a day and it takes only 30 minutes (20 minutes from Sorrento). We left on the 11am ferry and sat up on the deck. Throughout the 30-minute ride, the views of the imposing cliffs of the Sorrento peninsula and the villages perched precariously on the edges took centre-stage. There’s really nothing quite like it anywhere in the world.

From a distance, Capri looked like a giant monster of the deep breaching the surface. It’s towering cliffs and rugged coastline, with countless caves and rock formations, are truly awe-inspiring. As we looked up at the massive cliffs, we spotted Villa Jovis, the summer home of Emperor Tiberius. During his reign, anyone who fell out of favour with him were thrown off these cliffs. The thought sent a cold shiver down my back as I imagined the terrifying fall. Those cliffs are at least 300 meters (or more than a thousand feet) high!

The cliffs of Capri

As the ferry rounded the cliffs and approached the small harbour of Capri, the gorgeous little town of Capri came into view. The brightly coloured houses of Marina Grande lined the harbourfront whilst high in the hills above it, the whitewashed town of Capri loomed.

There are many things to do and see in Capri. The first thing we did upon arrival was check for tours around the island. Friends of ours had strongly recommended a boat tour around the island. We checked at a small booth at the jetty and yes, they offered island tours with or without the option to visit the famous Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra). We chose the island tour that included the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra).

The Blue Grotto, Capri

The boat tour was lovely. We got to see the impressive limestone cliffs up close – the cliffs were littered with caves, crevices and massive arches. The highlight of the tour was without doubt the Blue Grotto. The ethereal blue colour of the water in the cave was absolutely unforgettable.

Back in Marina Grande, we made our way up to the town of Capri. The two are connected by a funicular railway – the easiest and quickest way up – and there are also buses and taxis. The sporty visitors can opt to walk the steep 2.2 kilometer path to the top. I didn’t even think about it for a second….not in the hot summer heat.

Piazza Umberto I, Capri

Once at the top, the views over the Gulf of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius were stupendous. We went on a leisurely stroll around the quaint narrow lanes of Capri that lead in all directions from the main square, Piazza Umberto I. It quickly became clear to me that Capri is an island for the well-heeled. Every big name in fashion is represented in the little streets while restaurants have pictures hanging at their doors of glamorous people (Sylvester Stallone and Danny Devito right down to Beyoncé and Jay-Z) dining there. My first instinct was to sniff out a great eatery that was reasonably-priced. I stayed off the main streets and explored the back lanes, and found a fabulous little place: Trattoria Scialapopolo, off the Via Le Botteghe. I had a simple spaghetti alio olio and a slice of chocolate cake heaven to finish off – a divine meal for a modest price.

Capri's designer boutiques

Capri is a lovely place to just wander around for the afternoon and explore the many lanes with their beautiful fashion, art and handicraft shops. There are also various places that are absolutely worth a visit, such as Villa Jovis, the former home of Emperor Tiberius, or the Gardens of Augustus. One can also opt to visit Capri’s second town, Anacapri. Anacapri is home to the splendid St. Michael’s Church and the ruins of Barbarossa Castle, as well as the chairlift which takes visitors up to Monte Solaro, Capri’s highest peak, for some magnificent views.

Capri makes for a wonderful day trip from Naples, Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast. At the end of the day, chances are, you’ll be rewarded with a stunning sunset as you sit on the boat back to the mainland.

A perfect escape or a blog post hit?

“You need a holiday?”, my friend remarked with a smirk when I told him I needed a holiday.

That was quickly followed by: “You’re a travel blogger. You’re always on holiday!”

I thought about those two remarks for a bit. Yes, travel bloggers seem like they’re always on holiday because they’re travelling all the time. What many fail to realise is that it’s a job. True, it’s a job I love but it remains a job. As a travel blogger who’s often on the road, I’m always thinking about things to write about, taking the best pictures and conjuring unique angles to a story. Once I’m back at my hotel or at an internet café, I start tapping away on my laptop, uploading my pictures, piecing everything together, proofreading and publishing. When that’s done, I log onto Twitter, facebook and other platforms to market my blog posts. This is a process that repeats itself several times a week. Pretty glamorous, don’t you think?

Taking off the blogger cap

As with any other job, I believe it’s important for travel bloggers to get away from it all, even if it’s just for a weekend, to unwind and recharge our batteries. During my last blog trip to Valencia, an interesting discussion about travel bloggers taking a holiday caught my attention. The main question was: “Is it possible for a travel blogger to take a holiday without having our blogger caps on?”. As a travel blogger, it’s hard not to think of an ‘angle’ or a good shot for a potential post wherever we are. We wondered if it’s possible at all to take off that blogger cap. My answer was YES, though certain conditions have to be met. These are:

1. Go to a place you’re familiar with; a place that relaxes you
2. Leave your laptops, iPads, etc.. at home
3. Ensure the place you’re going to doesn’t have an internet connection that’s easily available
4. Bring your camera if you wish but try not to use it as much as possible. Even better: leave it behind!
5. Don’t check your emails via your phone!

I would call this a cold turkey unplug! And that’s exactly what I’m going to do for the next five days. I’m going camping on a small island for some chill time. No laptop, no camera, no internet connection. Just my tent, the trees and the beach.

My next post will be on Tuesday 3rd August right in time for #TravelTuesday! Yay!

Hope to see you then.

Cheerio!

Keith

Note: my trip to the Benicassim Festival 2010 was sponsored by the Land of Valencia.

• La Boqueria Market, Barcelona, Spain
• Mt. Vesuvius, Italy
• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

I’ve listed below ten mountains which I’ve visited for truly breathtaking views. If you’re in any of these cities, I highly recommend making it to the top of these mountains for an unforgettable visual experience.

Victoria Peak – Hong Kong

It’s a fun ride to the top with the funicular. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent view of one of the most spectacular skylines in the world.

Grouse Mountain – Vancouver

Just a short hop away from downtown Vancouver, Grouse Mountain is a ski-resort as well as a much-loved hiking area. The views of Vancouver and the snowy peaks of Vancouver Island in the distance on a clear day are stupendous. This amazing picture was taken on a foggy night.

Corcovado – Rio de Janeiro

The ‘hunchback’ mountain of Rio de Janeiro is the home of the Christ Statue (one of the new ‘Wonders of the World’) and the perfect place to enjoy an unforgettable panorama of Rio de Janeiro.

Table Mountain – Cape Town

Table Mountain overlooks Cape Town and Table Bay. The cable-car that brings visitors to the top is the start of a spectacular visual experience. The views from the top of Cape Town, Devil’s Peak, Lion’s Head, Table Bay and Robben Island are amazing. Save some time for a lovely stroll around the fijnbos shrubs on the mountain-top.

Twin Peaks – San Francisco

Twin Peaks is the place to be for the most mind-blowing views of San Francisco. The view of the city-lights at night is absolutely awe-inspiring.

Mt. Victoria – Wellington

Mount Victoria lies at the edge of downtown Wellington and is a great place to enjoy Wellington’s beautiful location, wedged in between Wellington Harbour and the surrounding mountains of the Rimutaka Range. Various scenes from the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy were shot on Mount Victoria.

Tibidabo – Barcelona

Tibidabo is the highest peak in Barcelona and the views of the city and the coastline from up here are truly spectacular. There’s more up here to keep visitors occupied other than the views, such as the beautiful Sagrat Cor Church and Barcelona’s oldest amusement park.

Cerro de la Cruz – Antigua

Cerro de la Cruz is not the highest peak overlooking the stunning UNESCO Heritage town of Antigua in Guatemala but it offers some of the most stunning views. It’s a relatively easy hike to get to the top and the classic view of Antigua below with the imposing Volcan Agua as a backdrop will leave you speechless.

Cerro San Cristobal – Santiago

Located to the north of Santiago, Cerro San Cristobal is a superb spot to view the Santiago sprawl as well as the mighty Andes mountains that overlook the city. A huge statue of the Virgin Mary stands proudly atop the mountain.

Elephant Mountain – Taipei

Elephant Mountain lies smack in the middle of Taipei and offers arguably the best vantage point over the city and its famous Taipei 101 Tower, until recently, the world’s tallest building. A pleasant 20-minute stroll leads to the top. The trail is lit so you can walk up in the early evenings to take in the sunset and the city lights.

Do you know of other city peaks that are worth the climb? Please leave your suggestions in the comments section below. Thanks!

Read other articles in the Velvet Escape “Ten” series:

• Ten things to do in Manchester
• Ten incredible bridge walks
• Ten unforgettable city cruises
• Ten things to do in Kuala Lumpur
• Ten things to do in Hamburg
• Ten reasons to travel alone

The plane took off in an easterly direction towards the Mediterranean Sea. The city sprawl quickly came into view straight after the take-off. The labyrinth of streets in the old town of Valencia quickly made way for a boxy grid and the broad boulevards of modern Valencia. The City of Arts & Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias), with its striking white buildings and shimmering blue pools, was unmistakable. Seeing this architectural masterpeice from the air provided a great perspective of this massive development that stretches 2 kilometers along the old riverbed of the Turia.

As the plane flew over the city’s port, it banked to the left in a northerly direction, providing more stunning views of Valencia and its seemingly endless stretch of beaches. Awesome stuff!

Note: my trip to Valencia was sponsored by the Land of Valencia.

Read other Plane Views posts:

• Plane Views: The Beauty of a Window Seat (with contributions from readers)
• Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
• Atacama desert, Chile
• Mt. Vesuvius, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Santiago to Punta Arenas, Chile
• Sydney Harbour, Australia
• Vancouver to Portland, OR

Since that very first time, I’ve taken thousands of failed pictures and deleted almost all of them. I did save some of them though for a variety of reasons. Some turned out rather artistic-looking or downright quirky while some were saved for sentimental reasons or simply because of the hilarity of the situation. Most of the failed shots were taken during a mobile situation, i.e. taken from a vehicle, or at night (I’m still learning how to work the settings for night photography!). Here are some of my favourite failed photos. Enjoy!

Loved these fish in an aquarium in a restaurant in Bruges. I tried different angles & settings to get rid of the reflections but nothing worked. This shot turned out pretty cool though.

I was in a taxi and wanted to take a shot of the Balinese rice fields. I clicked just as these two guys on a motorbike decided to overtake the taxi! LOL!

I had a great view from my seat in the bus of the walled-town of Morella, but this tree got in the way.

Another shot from a car. We were at the base of the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. I whipped out my camera but the traffic light turned green the moment I clicked.

I wanted to capture the stunning view from my plane seat of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean when the pilot changed course. Instead of the sunset, I got a picture of the plane's wing like it was on fire!

It was a clear night and Kuala Lumpur looked like a shimmering fairyland from my plane window. The Petronas Twin Towers were unmistakable. Too bad I didn't have my tripod with me - my hands were too shaky to get a decent shot.

Read the accompanying post: ‘The Delights of La Boqueria‘.

• Mt. Vesuvius, Italy
• Murals of Valparaiso, Chile
• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Pompeii, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

We entered the town through the stunning Sant Miquel gate, with its striking twin towers. I didn’t have much knowledge of the history of Morella but walking through this gate, it was clear that this heavily-fortified town was an important centre centuries ago that must’ve seen many a war. Our guide was quick to affirm this. Many of the ancient powers occupied this town at some stage; from the Greeks and the Carthaginians, to the Romans and the Moors. The town played a pivotal role during the Napoleonic Wars and the Spanish Civil War, and helped shape the course of the history of Spain.

Nowadays, the town is a serene place that begs to be explored. There are many things to see and do. Inside the walls are a labyrinth of streets, lined by charming houses with their characteristic hanging balconies and gorgeous buildings in a multitude of styles, ranging from Romanesque to Gothic.

Culinary delights

As we walked along the cobblestone streets, the first thing I noticed were the gorgeous shops selling all kinds of local produce. The sight of dozens of sausage varieties, olive oils, honey, cheese, wines and my absolute favourite, black truffles, made my mouth water. I took my time exploring the shops and savouring the scents of cured meats and cheese. Striking up a conversation with the shop owner was easy enough (I don’t speak Spanish but food is a universal language isn’t it? ) and I found myself going from one tasting to another: chorizo, honey, jams, cheese, truffles and olive oil. It was absolutely delightful.

We soon discovered that Morella is a true culinary paradise that takes its inspiration from the large variety of local produce. Dishes that Morella is especially famous for include ‘ternasco’ (Morellan leg of lamb), ‘gallina trufada’ (truffled hen!), ‘perdiu en escabetx’ (marinated partridge) and various wild mushrooms. We stopped for lunch at Restaurante Casa Roque, a lunch I won’t easily forget!

Architectural treasures

I wandered along the main street, Blasco de Alagón, and soaked up the lovely atmosphere. The town elders sat under the arches of ancient arcades chatting boisterously while enjoying a coffee and a cigar; vendors showed off their produce of the day on rickety wooden tables; and day-trippers filled their bags with sausages, cheeses and wines.

The Romanesque-style houses and the Gothic façades of the historic buildings, such as the Ajuntament (Town Hall), were especially striking. Elegant staircases led up and down from the Blasco de Alagón, offering beautiful vistas of the castle atop the hill or the verdant valley below.

We stepped into the Gothic cloister of the Convent of Sant Francesc, a serene oasis with a stunning view of the castle high above.

The main road wound its way gradually to the Archpriest’s Church of Santa Maria la Major. This architectural jewel has two portals and a striking blue dome. Once inside, I was completely bowled over by the impressive spiral staircase, the church organ and the breathtaking gold-gilded alter-piece.

From the Archpriest’s church, several lanes wind their way further up the hill to the castle. It’s a steep climb but the panorama of the surrounding hills and valleys is certainly worth the effort.

Morella is absolutely worth a day-trip from the coast or from Valencia. If you visit Morella, make sure you plan sufficient time for a meal in one of the many restaurants or mesón to experience authentic Morellan cuisine.

Note: my trip was sponsored by the Land of Valencia.

Read the accompanying post: ‘Plane Views: Mt. Vesuvius‘

• Murals of Valparaiso, Chile
• Floating villages, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Pompeii, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

The Skyline Gondola

The town is situated in a corner of Lake Wakatipu and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains – the Remarkables, in particular, provide a magnificent backdrop. A great way to enjoy the scenic beauty of Queenstown, the lake and the mountains is to ride the Skyline Gondola, a cableway, to the top of the mountain overlooking Queenstown. Once at the top, there’s a viewing terrace and a café. Sit back, relax and take in the awe-inspiring scenery.

Other more thrilling options

The thrill-seekers among us will also appreciate The Ledge – Sky Swing, which is located adjacent to the Skyline Gondola. Designed and created by the legendary AJ Hackett (the founder of bungy jumping madness), you’ll be harnessed in and lowered out over the ledge before being swung out and dropped 400 meters above Queenstown! Not for the faint-hearted or those scared of heights! Would you try it?

For those seeking a slightly less adrenaline-infused experience, I can recommend an exhilarating paragliding flight from the top of the Skyline Gondola. The initial adrenaline rush I experienced during the take-off quickly evaporated as we glided silently in the air and the spectacular scenery unfolded below me. The flight is a ten minute experience you’ll never forget.

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Looking at the sweeping views afforded by the rooftop pool of the Sha Wellness Clinic, this is the first descriptive noun that came to my mind. Just a short 15-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Benidorm, a Spanish seaside town that welcomes 7 million sunbathers a year, the SHA Wellness Clinic fits the description perfectly.

The SHA Wellness Clinic was founded by Alberto Bataller Parietti on the premise that a healthy macrobiotic diet is the secret to our general well-being and happiness. He combined this philosophy with a mix of Eastern and Western spa treatments as well as meditation and yoga to bring body, mind and spirit into harmony. Alberto chose a secluded spot high up in the hills above Albir and proceeded to build his dream of creating a wellness sanctuary like no other. He recruited some of the best macrobiotic consultants and experts as well as whole teams of natural therapists, aestheticians, masseurs, meditation instructors and chefs. The result is certainly impressive.

Tucked into a hillside, with stupendous views of the lovely seaside community of Albir, the Manhattan-like skyline of Benidorm as well as the imposing mountains that hug the coastline, the SHA is renowned as one of the most exclusive spa retreats in the world. A 2010 Winner of the Condé Nast Award for the Best Medical-, Natural-, Thermal Spa, the SHA counts the likes of Kylie Minogue, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Campbell among its guests.

As I explored the SHA, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the spacious rooms; breezy terraces; well-equipped spa and the rooftop pool (arguably one of the most inviting pools I’ve ever seen). The whole complex exudes a serene ambiance. Similar to the experience of stepping off a busy street into a place of worship, I quickly found myself talking in hushed tones. The pool area, with its shady cabanas and many private nooks and corners, was clearly designed to facilitate quiet, reflective moments.

Then there’s the food and drinks: everything is organic, from the wines and beer to the honey that’s served as a replacement for sugar. I was very impressed with the quality of the meals. The head chef of the Shamadi restaurant worked for many years at one of the world’s top restaurants in Barcelona. Nowadays, he uses his talents to create exquisite meals that incorporate the macrobiotic regime.

Mr. Bataller has certainly created a unique retreat. My two days there were a bit too short to truly experience the workings of a macrobiotic and spa regime but the wellness concept, the magnificent location and the excellent staff made a big impression on me. The SHA is absolutely a sanctuary like no other. I’m sure a stay at the SHA will get anyone feeling healthier and more balanced,… and ready for the next patatas bravas and deep-fried calamari splurge.

Read other posts related to my trip to Valencia:

• Behind the Scenes of the Valencia Formula One Grand Prix
• An Architectural Marvel in Valencia
• Velvet Moments: Benidorm
• An Aerial Experience of Europe
• Experiencing Valencia

Note: my trip to Valencia and the Sha Wellness Clinic was sponsored by the Land of Valencia.

The New York City Highline

One of my favorite places to go to in New York on a sunny afternoon is the NYC Highline. This completely unique place always inspires me, and makes me happy and proud to be a New Yorker. The Highline used to be a train line, but the trains have not run on it since the 80′s. There was some talk of demolishing it, and at last New York City decided to turn it into an elevated park and I am so glad they did. These days, the Highline is considered one of the most unique urban parks in the world.

Walking along the Highline park and checking out the funky plants and the fresh and modern design of this unique urban park, you also get to see an entirely different perspective of Manhattan, the West Side, the city’s architecture and the skyline. I just love the plants here – they were especially selected to evoke the feel of the overgrown tracks. There’s such an urban perseverance feel to it – the tiny green shrubs breaking through the concrete and looking up at the sky. These plants will survive and thrive in the coldest of New York winters.

People watching on the Highline is one of my favorite pastimes. Here you will find the hippest of NY hipsters, tourists from all over the world, uptowners, downtowners and everyone in between. And somehow everyone seems unusually relaxed for New York City. Maybe it’s the air up here.

The ultimate in New York daytime fare

There are some great New York staples for dining nearby, so whether you are in the mood for a meal or an incredible dessert, you are in luck. One great option and an all time New York staple is Pastis French bistro, which is right around the corner from the Highline on Little West 12 street. The food here is fantastic, fresh, with classic choices such as Salad Nicoise, and Steak Tartar. Being that this is one of the trendiest daytime spots in downtown Manhattan for many years, it is almost always packed, so prepare for a pretty long wait. But if you score a table outside on a nice day consider it your lucky day and enjoy every moment. This is the ultimate in New York daytime fare.

La Bergamote is my favorite pastry shop in the world. It’s so quaint here, with hand-painted Parisian pastel murals on the walls. The pastries are fresh and flaky and are simply little pieces of heaven. They also serve fresh, delicious sandwiches on crunchy baguettes, and really good coffee. I love going to La Bergamote after coming off the Highline as a well-deserved prize for all the walking – like I worked off the calories from the pastries in advance. It’s completely self-deceptive of course, but I fool myself every time!

So make sure to visit the Highline when you are in New York City, and experience this unique urban park’s beauty for yourself.

About this week’s guest writer
Gina Gorelik is a travel writer, a freelance wardrobe stylist, “ants in the pants” traveller, sarcastic New Yorker, a Muse, a friend of jet setters, a non-meat eating foodie (NOT an oxymoron) and someone who has a pretty quirky sense of humor. Having travelled to 26 countries, and lived in 5, some of the most memorable and amazing experiences have occurred to Gina while she was on the road, and she wants to share them with the world, one funny story at a time. Visit Gina’s blog: Eclectic Trips.

Read other ‘Places That Inspire’ posts:

• Rome, Italy
• Yosemite, USA
• Multnomah Falls, Oregon, USA
• Krak des Chevaliers, Syria
• Karekare beach, New Zealand

Read the accompanying post: ‘A Little Piece of Heaven‘.

• Murals of Valparaiso, Chile
• Floating villages, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Pompeii, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

As the plane took off from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, it quickly became clear, from the neat rows of oblong fields how organised the Dutch are. It’s also clear that agriculture is a big business, judging by the size of the fields and how efficiently the land is utilised. Another point that quickly becomes apparent is the centuries-old pre-occupation of the Dutch to keep invading water (from both the rivers and the sea) at bay.

Large lakes and a massive network of waterways were created to distribute water and thereby prevent flooding in this low-lying country – a third of the country lies below sea-level.

The plane crossed into Belgian airspace after a half hour. The northern part of Belgium shares a similar topography with the Netherlands: flat and low-lying. Belgium also has a similar population-density as the Netherlands. However, the differences of the composition of the fields couldn’t be more stark. I imagine culture and history play an important role in explaining the seemingly chaotic patchwork of fields.

As the plane entered French airspace, the scenery changed again. The fields grew in size and the landscape was visibly more hilly. The plane flew directly above Paris before continuing in a southerly direction. We flew over towns which clearly formed the epicentre for the surrounding region – roads from the countryside led to the centre of the towns while the fields fanned-out from the urban areas.

The landscape gradually changed as the plane flew towards the Pyrenees. The large agricultural region surrounding Paris made way for forests, villages and smaller fields. Rolling hills, with their gorgeous patchwork of fields, interchanged with forests and villages, while rivers meandered along the valley floor.

Soon, the mighty snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees came into view. The Pyrenees form a natural border between France and Spain and boast peaks higher than 3,000 meters (10,000 feet).

The Pyrenees also separate the green north from the dry south. As the plane entered Spain, past the Pyrenees, the landscape quickly became more barren. Green turned to ochre and brown. Unlike the Dutch, who face an eternal struggle with too much water, the Spaniards take large measures to save every drop and distribute it efficiently. Large reservoirs were built to capture the molten snow carried by the rivers from the mountains. These turquoise lakes form a stunning contrast to the brown landscape.

The landscape became increasingly barren as the plane approached Valencia. Irrigation networks that distribute water from the reservoirs to the agricultural areas could clearly be seen between the patches of green. The rugged mountains and the patchwork of fields in countless shades of brown made for simply breathtaking scenery.

And all this on a two-hour flight from Amsterdam to Valencia! I love living in Europe!

Read more about the Plane Views series: Plane Views: The Beauty of a Window Seat.

Note: my trip to Valencia was sponsored by the Land of Valencia and the Dutch airline Transavia.

The City of Arts and Sciences truly is a magnificent architectural marvel, one which cannot be missed if you’re visiting Valencia. Please scroll down to view some of the many photos I took during my tour of this awesome complex.

El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe

El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe

L'Hemisfèric

El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

City of Arts and Sciences Valencia

By night

El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe by night

L'Assut de L'Or bridge & a L'Oceanogràfic by night

Note: my trip to Valencia was sponsored by the Land of Valencia.

Sometimes ‘The One Thing’ is a single site or place that exceeds expectations and makes a trip memorable. I liked the recent ‘The One Thing’ vodcasts by Charley Boorman (of The Long Way Around). He travels to Paris, Madrid, Edinburgh, and Amsterdam, demonstrating one site or experience that can transform a trip. The suggestions are inventive and fun: his ‘One Thing’ to do is always off the much-beaten tourist track from Amsterdam’s smallest micro-brewery to a nifty means of travelling the French capital. The videos are certainly worth a look if you’re planning a trip to any of the these cities.

Charley Boorman’s ‘One Thing’ in Amsterdam

The ‘De Prael’ Brewery or (Brouwerij de Prael in Dutch) is a lovely brewery located in the heart of Amsterdam along the Oudezijds Voorburgwal (don’t bother trying to pronounce that one! ), one of the city’s oldest canals.

This post is sponsored by American Express Platinum card: a credit card that offers bonuses for frequent travellers, including privileged access and priority passes. Amex has created a card with such great perks that it’s ‘The One Thing’ that travellers need: the ultimate travel companion.

On a recent plane trip from Amsterdam to Valencia, the flight path took us directly over the heart of Paris. It was a partially cloudy day but the views between the clouds were astounding. I often find myself in row ‘A’ on many regional European flights – I must’ve mentioned a preference for this row some time ago. Sitting in row ‘A’ on a flight from Amsterdam to Spain provides passengers with gorgeous views of, among others, the Millau Viaduct. However, on this particular flight, I was allocated a seat in row ‘F’ (the right side of the plane) and the views were equally stupendous.

As we flew over Paris, the expansive Charles de Gaulles airport came into view. Moments later, the massive Stade de France stadium in the Parisian suburb of St. Denis was unmistakable. At that moment, we were flying at an altitude of 12,000 meters or 40,000 feet. I zoomed in and took a series of pictures. It was easy to recognise the Arc de Triomphe and the network of boulevards, including the Champs-Elysée leading up to it. It was only later, when I got the chance to closely study the pictures I took, that I discovered the presence of other famous Parisian landmarks in the photos. Can you see the Palais de Chaillot (Trocadero) and the Eiffel Tower in the photo below?

Note: my flight to Valencia was sponsored by Dutch regional airline, Transavia.

Read other Plane Views posts:

• Plane Views: The Beauty of a Window Seat (with contributions from readers)
• Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
• Atacama desert, Chile
• Venice, Italy
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• Mt. Vesuvius, Italy
• Mallorca, Spain
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Santiago to Punta Arenas, Chile
• Sydney Harbour, Australia
• Vancouver to Portland, OR

Read the accompanying post: ‘An instant love affair with the orangutans of Sabah‘

• Murals of Valparaiso, Chile
• Floating villages, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Pompeii, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

The Land of Valencia, the Valencia Tourism Board who sponsored my trip, was incredible. They arranged prime seats in the grandstand that cost EUR 600 each. Even for a F1 dummy like me, it wasn’t hard to figure out that these were seriously hot seats!

An amazing coincidence

Call it a stroke of luck or a simple coincidence but something amazing happened on the evening before the big race. We were having dinner at a restaurant in Valencia’s Old Quarter when I noticed the Lotus Racing Team sitting at the table next to us. In the middle of the group sat Tony Fernandes, CEO of Air Asia, and Tune Group, the owner of the Lotus Team. I’d met him several times before and I knew he was in Valencia for the races but imagine my surprise to see him sitting at the very next table! I walked up to him and said ‘hello’ and after a brief chat, he extended an invitation to show me (and a few blogger friends) the Formula One paddock and tour the Lotus Team garage.

For a F1 dummy like me, even I knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that most people can only dream of! I headed back to my table and excitedly announced that I’d been invited to visit the “Lotus pits”. The roar of laughter was deafening! I quickly learned that it’s called the “pitlane”. Duh!

Our visit to the Lotus Formula One paddock

On the day of the big race, six of us headed to the Formula One track where we were met by Tom Webb, the press officer of the Lotus Racing Team. He handed us special green VIP passes for the paddock and casually mentioned that these were worth EUR 30,000 EACH!

Our excitement of being there in the paddock was almost tangible. Tom led us down the paddock to the Lotus garage, and as he explained the different areas of the paddock, I noticed that everyone just couldn’t stop grinning.

The first thing that struck me when we entered the garage was how spotless and organised everything was. There was a section where the tires were kept warm, another section filled with computer screens, a wall of personalised headphones and then the garage itself. Just two cars (that looked incredibly tiny) and a dozen technicians carrying out the final tests, just 90 minutes before the race. I felt like a kid in a candy store, albeit one that costs millions!

Tom left us for five minutes to have a look around – we looked at each other in total bewilderment. He was leaving us ALONE in here??!!! We were free to wander around the cars and watch how they tested the engines. The sound of those powerful engines was absolutely mind-blowing! I walked to the edge of the pitlane and watched the other teams prepare their cars. It was an impressive sight, seeing the technicians fiddling with the cars, testing the engines and analysing the streams of data on the screens.

Watch the video of the engine test in the Lotus garage:

The Valencia Grand Prix Race

I asked my friend John how long the race would last and he said 57 laps. Err, why 57? He explained that the difficulty of the Formula One circuits around the world differ greatly but the race should last approximately two hours. In Valencia, that translates into 57 laps and top speeds of up to 350km/h. Rrrrright!

The crash

Posing with the Air Asia girls

The race itself was quite uninteresting. The leader from the qualifying rounds, Sebastian Vettel, led from start to finish. It was fun seeing Nicole Scherzinger, the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, cheer on her boyfriend, Lewis Hamilton.

The ringing in my ears continued for a while but I was too excited to notice. It was an amazing day behind the scenes of the Formula One race, one that I’m happy I shared with my friends Melvin, Abigail, John, Diego and Stef.

Other posts on our Formula One weekend:

• Abigail King’s ‘Inside Action at the Valencia Formula One Grand Prix‘
• Andy Jarosz’s ‘Watching the Formula One Grand Prix: An Idiot’s Guide‘

Read the accompanying post: ‘Experiencing Valencia‘.

Note: my trip to Valencia and Benidorm was sponsored by the Land of Valencia and Transavia.

• Floating villages, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Pompeii, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

I was thrilled to receive an invitation from the Tourism Board of the region of Valencia for a five-day visit along with travel bloggers from around the world. The trip includes beach time (yay!), indulgence at the Sha Wellness Clinic, many undoubtedly fabulous meals, delicious cocktails, a travel blogger gathering and concludes with the Formula One race. Needless to say… I can’t wait!

My flight to Valencia with Transavia, a fun Dutch regional airline, takes off in a few hours. I’m really looking forward to meeting my Twitter friends @Traveldudes, @AbigailKing, @501places, @Adventuregirl, @WildJunket, @IsabellesTravel, @HotelIsabel, and making new friends with other Tweeps and travel bloggers.

Update

Read my posts on Valencia and other posts related to this trip:

• Behind the Scenes of the Valencia Formula One Grand Prix
• An Architectural Marvel in Valencia
• Velvet Moments: Benidorm
• An Aerial Experience of Europe

You’re most welcome to follow our trip to Valencia via the Twitter feed below or on Twitter. The hashtag we’ll be using is #blogtripF1.

Note: Twitter occasionally experiences periods of high traffic – the feed below may not show up during these periods.

In the 17th century, Amsterdam was one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Ships from its port sailed the world over and formed a powerful global trading network. It was during this time that the ‘grachten-gordel’ (a girdle of concentric canals; ‘gracht’ = canal) was created and the city’s richest merchants built their stately canalside mansions. Today, this girdle of canals forms one of the city’s greatest attractions. Lined with beautiful 17th and 18th century houses, and crossed by hundreds of bridges, the canals are a gorgeous sight and a focal point for Amsterdammers, many of whom take to their boats for a leisurely cruise or sit at one of the many canal-side cafés when the weather permits. Needless to say, these are two of my favourite ‘velvet escapes’ in Amsterdam!

Canal cruises in Amsterdam

If you’re visiting Amsterdam for the first time, a canal cruise should be on your list of things to do as it simply is the best way to quickly get acquainted with the city, its history and its architecture. Many companies offer canalboat tours which cover the Ij harbour, the Golden Bend at the Herengracht (Gentlemen’s canal) – site of some of the most impressive canalside mansions, the Reguliersgracht with its seven bridges, and the Amstel river. Some companies also include the canals of the Wallen (the oldest part of Amsterdam and site of the city’s world famous red light district) and the quaint canals of the Jordaan. Canal cruises leave from various points around the city such as the Central Station and vary in length (1 – 2 hours).

The Canal Bus

Another way to explore the canals is by buying a ticket for the Canal Bus. The hop-on, hop-off Canal Bus stops at strategic points around the city centre and is a great way to see the sights and enjoy a scenic cruise. An alternative method is to rent a Canal Bike. This method allows you to get a great workout while you enjoy the sights!

Romance on the canals

For a truly romantic experience, book one of the evening cruises, especially in the spring/summer season when the atmosphere is truly mesmerising. Most evening cruises include a cheese platter and wine while some serve a full dinner on board. An even more delightful way to explore the Amsterdam canals is to hire a boat for a few hours. Pack a basketfull of food and wine, and a map. Then navigate yourself through the network of canals – hiring a boat provides you with a great opportunity to explore the charming nooks and corners of this city, such as the Jordaan neighbourhood, the ‘tunnel of love’ between the Flower Market and the Amstel River, and the wonderfully atmospheric canals between the City Hall and the Wallen. The best time to do this is in the late-afternoons and early-evenings, especially in the warm late-spring and summer months. Bring a warm jacket or blanket for those chilly evenings.

Gay Pride Canal Parade

The canals are also the decor of one of the city’s biggest annual events: the Gay Pride Canal Parade. Held on the first Saturday of August each year, the spectacular boat parade follows the Prinsengracht (the longest of the concentric canals in the historic centre) to the Amstel River, and often attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators from around the world.

Suggested routes for a boat trip along the Amsterdam canals

Have a look at the map below for various suggested routes (if you opt to rent a boat) through the historic centre. Enjoy!

Read other Velvet Escape posts on Amsterdam:

• Picture perfect Amsterdam
• Velvet Escape’s Culinary Journey: Amsterdam
• Enchanting spots: Amsterdam

This is what the Radisson Blu chain of hotels is offering as a grand prize in their new travel competition: The Greatest Holiday in the World.

With this competition, you stand to win 365 hotel nights in any of Radisson Blu’s 200+ hotels over a 5 year period. All one has to do is visit the greatest holiday in the world site and tell Radisson why you deserve to win. You can write about why you deserve the prize above everyone else and upload photos or videos to back your arguments. Make it quirky and original. Then spread the word and ask your friends, family and colleagues to vote for your entry. The contestant with the most votes wins!

This competition is only open to citizens of the European Union as well as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. However, everyone can vote for your entry. It’s that simple! The competition closes on July 24th 2010.

In addition to the main competition, there will also be up to 10 weekly prizes for the most entertaining entries. Winners are selected based on humour, creativity and originality used to present their stories. My advice: get your creative juices flowing and pour it into an entry that’s simple, catchy and funny.

This is a simple competition with an amazing prize. Go ahead, submit your entry and who knows, you might be the lucky winner of 365 hotel nights anywhere in the world!

PS/ If you’ve entered the competition, let me know in the comments section below – you’ll get my vote!

Note: this is a Sponsored Post.

Chef Daniel - the friendly giant helming the kitchen.

One of my favourite ‘Velvet Escape’ experiences here in Kuala Lumpur is dining at the restaurant Sage. Situated on the roof top of The Garden’s Shopping Mall, this is the place to enjoy haute cuisine at its best. One of the great experiences I had included a personalised lunch menu that Chef Daniel, the Head Chef of Sage, put together for us on short notice. Chef Daniel is the friendly giant helming the kitchen. This guy really knows his stuff. Just don’t mess up in his kitchen or you will know about it!

First up, the Smoked Salmon with Assorted vegetable and Akame Herb. Looking at the gorgeous plump salmon it looked somewhat like a Satsuma! Its plump, peachy little body was bursting with fresh juices (not unlike a satsuma) and lightly seared on the side of the skin to offer that crunchy texture that is mind-blowingly addictive. Apparently they smoke their own salmon at Sage. Impressive.

Smoked Salmon with Assorted vegetable, Akame Herb

This was quickly followed by Cheese breads, hot from the oven. Piping hot and covered in molten cheese, these breads made for a nice intermission before our next course.

My favourite dish of the day

Then came my favourite dish of the day, the Capellini Pasta with trio of seafood and Togarashi. The capellini turned out to be long strands of pasta that is very similar to Angel hair pasta, only Capellini is slightly thicker. Often Capellini and Angel hair pasta are referred to as the same pasta. This sort of pasta has an amazing way of ‘catching’ and soaking up the sauces in your dish and goes fantastically well with light sauces. Golly, I could have just stopped right here and been a happy camper! The fresh prawns and scallops were bouncy and firm. The freshness of the seafood is what smacks you in the face and makes you sit up and notice what a great creation this is. I particularly loved the way the oceanic flavours of the prawn and the scallop mesh with the capellini. Superb.

Capellini Pasta with trio of seafood and Togarashi.

The next dish is for the red meat lovers. The Mijoté Wagyu Beef with spinach and Sherry Wine was amazing. Tender, medium grade 9 Wagyu, cooked in a savoury-sweet sherry base that went perfectly well with a glass of New Zealand Pinot Noir.

Finally, the Mulloway Seabass with Enoki Mushroom and wine sauce was the grand and last main course. Apparently the Mulloway can be found in the cold Australian waters and looks like a European Seabass. Mulloway is particularly suited to sashimi frying, roasting and stir-frying in cooked preparations. The preparation of the fish at Sage was fantastic. The Enoki mushroom and the wine sauce complemented the light taste and flaky texture of the fish to perfection. I loved this dish.

Mulloway Seabass with Enoki Mushroom, Wine sauce.

Bing cherries

Bing cherries

For dessert we partook of “Bing cherries “ and ice-cream. Did you know that Mr. Bing was an actual person who walked the face of this earth? Ah-Bing to be precise (he was Chinese). Bing cherries originated in  Milwaukee, Oregon in the U.S. and were created as a crossbred graft from the Republican cherry in the 1875 by Oregon horticulturist Seth Lewelling and his Manchurian Chinese foreman Ah Bing, after whom the cherry is named.  Some sources claim that Ah Bing cared for the trees from which the cherry was developed, while others claim that he had been responsible for cultivating the fruit. How cool is that? Way to go Chinaman! Nowadays, other countries produce Bing cherries too.

All in all, a fantastic meal. I highly recommend Sage to anyone who wants to experience a ‘Velvet Escape’ first hand. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

Address:

Sage,
The Gardens Residences,
6th Floor, The Gardens,
Mid Valley City,
Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel:  603 2268 1188

About this week’s guest writer
Mei is an avid traveller, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who enjoys writing about her travel and gastronomic experiences. In her words: “It all started out a couple of years back as a means to journal our travels and related photos. However, because we enjoy eating so much (as do other Malaysians) this blog soon took on the form of a food blog: Cumi & Ciki is a Malaysian food and travel blog. The name is derived from a popular educational television puppet show for Malaysian children in the 70s and 80s. This is the tale of the two traveling, eating, thrill-seeking monkeys from Kuala Lumpur. Food and culture go hand in hand. We feel that in life, we need to enjoy what we do, have passion; cultivate a sense of curiosity about the world. We hope that this is conveyed through our Cumi dan Ciki blog.”

Follow Mei on Twitter.

Read other Velvet Escape posts on Kuala Lumpur:

• My Velvet Escape Travel Tip: Kuala Lumpur
• Shop till you drop in Kuala Lumpur
• Ten things to do in Kuala Lumpur

Read the accompanying post: ‘The murals of Valparaiso‘.

• Floating villages, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Pompeii, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

Take a cruise

The majesty of this place can best be appreciated by taking a cruise – there are various options including an overnight cruise. This is one of the top visitor attractions on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island so if you’re visiting Milford Sound on your own, go in the mornings or later in the afternoon to avoid the hordes of tourist buses. The boats take visitors across the fjord, alongside the awe-inspiring rock face of Mitre Peak and past several waterfalls. If you’re lucky, you might spot dolphins, seals and penguins along the way. If you’re standing outside on the deck – something I recommend you do – make sure you have a raincoat on when the boat passes some of the waterfalls – feeling the cold droplets on your face is a glorious experience. As the boat gets closer, the fine mist turns into a blistering cold shower!

“The Finest Walk in the World”

An alternative method, if you have more time, is to hike along one of the many trails around the fjord. The most famous trail is the ‘Milford Track‘, often called the “finest walk in the world”. The trail winds its way through stunning mountain scenery and the gorgeous temperate rainforests of the Fiordland National Park. Various tour companies in Queenstown offer guided hikes along the Milford Track as a 5-day/4-night package. If you have the time and are physically fit, I seriously recommend this hike. The sight of the imposing snow-capped mountains, massive granite canyons, dark blue lakes and eerie mossy forests is simply enchanting!

See other Velvet Escape Enchanting Spots:

• Palazzo Ducale Mantua, Italy
• Cappadocia, Turkey
• Tortuguero, Costa Rica
• Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica
• Palenque, Mexico
• Sydney Opera House, Australia
• Mount Nemrud, Turkey
• Tikal, Guatemala
• Petra, Jordan
• Blue Lagoon, Iceland
• Ngorongoro, Tanzania
• Whitehaven beach, Australia

Maho Beach

For those out there, like me, who love beaches and airplanes, this beach offers the best of both worlds! Maho Beach is a beautiful white sandy beach, with turquoise blue water lapping at its sands on the Dutch side of the Caribbean isle of St. Maarten. What makes this beach unique is its location: at the start/end of the runway of the Princess Juliana International Airport.

The planes literally swoop down less than fifty meters over your head for the landing. Many people come here just to watch the planes and whirl in the sandstorm when a plane takes off – a planespotter’s ideal holiday spot and a unique opportunity for thrill-seekers!

There’s a fun beach club at a corner of the beach with benches and tables facing the planes’ approach path while loudspeakers broadcast the interaction between the airport tower and the pilot of the approaching plane. The airport’s arrivals and departures are listed on a blackboard; the highlights being the arrival and take off of the KLM 747-400 and the Air France A340-300 several times a week. The beach club also organises quirky promotions like free drinks to those who flash their bottoms or breasts as planes come in to land! Check out the awesome scenes of different types of aircraft landing and taking off in the videos below.

There are signs warning the public of a plane’s jet blast upon take-off; the blast from a twin-engined 757 is sufficient to push the waves back from the beach! Cars have to stop at the side of the runway when a plane is about to take-off. The bigger planes roll down the runway a bit before going into full throttle. It’s an awesome experience to lie on the beach and see a massive 747-400 swoop in with a thunderous roar just 20-odd meters above you! The thrill-seekers head out to the beach when a bigger plane takes off to brave the sandstorm as the pilot revs up the engines.

If you’re visiting Dutch St. Maarten or its French neighbour St. Martin, you shouldn’t miss this experience!

Read other Velvet Escape posts on the Eastern Caribbean:

• A Short Hop to Anguilla
• Stunning St. Lucia

Read the accompanying post: ‘Plane Views: Kota Kinabalu‘

• Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Pompeii, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina
• Valle de la Luna, Chile
• Positano, Italy
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Seminyak, Indonesia
• Lang Tengah island, Malaysia
• Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
• The Great Ocean Road, Australia
• Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Here are my ten travel tips for a safe and enjoyable World Cup 2010 trip to South Africa:

Before you leave for South Africa

1. Make sure you’re insured
Medical expenses can be a costly affair so make sure you’re insured. Check if your travel insurance also covers theft.

2. Bring warm clothing
Winter has arrived in South Africa. Cape Town has a mild Mediterranean climate but it can get a lot colder in the other host cities. Temperatures in Johannesburg can dip below freezing in the winter. Make sure you pack a good number of woolly sweaters, caps and gloves. Temperatures can vary significantly during the day so it’s a good idea to dress in layers. If you’re visiting Cape Town, pack an umbrella or a raincoat as it rains quite a bit in the winter months.

3. Pack some ear plugs
You’ll undoubtedly be sitting next to groups of fans blowing Vuvuzelas in the stadium. A Vuvuzela is a blowing horn that emits a loud monotone and is used by South Africans during football matches to cheer their team on. Unfortunately, the Vuvuzela has been known to cause ear damage. Better be safe than sorry – pack some ear plugs!

4. Check with your credit card company
It’s probably a good idea to call your credit card company to inform them of your trip to South Africa. This will help the credit card company keep an eye on transactions and avoid your card being blocked by mistake for anti-fraud reasons. When you’re in South Africa, never lose sight of your credit card during a transaction. I learned this lesson the hard way several years ago!

Safety tips when in South Africa

5. Safety on the road
If you’re planning to drive around South Africa, make sure you familiarise yourself with the local road rules. One thing I’ve learned in South Africa is to drive defensively as situations can be quite unpredictable on the road. When you’re there, for your own safety, do not give a lift to hitchhikers, keep your bags in the boot at all times, and if you’re driving through an urban area, keep your windows closed and doors locked, especially when stopping at traffic lights.

6. Travel safe
The South African government has taken many measures to ensure the safety of visitors but you should take your own precautions. If possible, always travel in the safety of groups. Keep all jewelry or valuable items safely locked up in a safe in your hotel room. If you’re carrying a bag, always keep your hand on it. Avoid walking around the city centres at night; instead, take a licensed taxi. In addition, it’s a good idea to have your mobile phone switched on at all times so you can quickly make a call should an emergency arise. The national emergency number for mobiles is 112. In addition, a 24-hour multilingual hotline is available for visitors seeking police or medical services. The hotline number is: +27 87 803 4636 from any phone.

Have FUN!

7. Expand your culinary horizons
South Africa boasts a varied cuisine featuring a number of unique game and seafood dishes. Try a kudu or zebra steak, the South African biltong (a cured meat similar to beef jerky), grilled kingklip (a type of fish found in South African waters) or a crocodile carpaccio. South Africa is also one of the largest producers of fine wines in the world. There are too many excellent South African wines to mention so just go ahead and indulge yourself. One more tip: don’t leave South Africa without visiting a local ‘braai‘, the famous South African barbecue.

8. Go on a safari
Game concentrations are higher in some parts of the country during the winter months so you will see a variety of species which are sometimes harder to spot in the summer. The most famous South African reserve is the Kruger National Park but there are many game reserves scattered across the country that are absolutely worthwhile.

9. Explore the countryside
South Africa is home to some of the most stunning natural scenery in the world: rolling green hills reminiscent of the Tuscan countryside interchange with towering mountains and savanna plains while the coast features dramatic cliffs and mile upon mile of white sandy beaches. In between World Cup matches, hire a car (you should do this in advance as cars will be in short supply during the event) or book a tour to explore the magnificent South African countryside. Stay in a rustic South Africa accommodation and enjoy wonderful hospitality, food and wines.

10. Mingle with other supporters
The World Cup is a unique opportunity to meet and mingle with the locals and people from all corners of the world. In addition to the many parties organised by the South African World Cup committee, many participating countries will also be hosting their own events in the various cities.

Visit the official FIFA World Cup 2010 website for more information or to download the official Fan Guide.

Read other Velvet Escape posts on South Africa:

• Driving the Cape Peninsula Loop
• Ten things to do in Cape Town
• The marine life of the Western Cape
• Driving the Klein Karoo loop
• Cederberg: mountain passes, safaris & San rock art
• A kaleidoscope of colour

In the post above, I’ve included a number of links to related articles by SA Venues, an online tourism resource. With its countless articles and gorgeous photos, SA Venues truly is a treasure trove of information on South Africa. Visit the SA Venues World Cup page.

Rome

It isn’t difficult to become inspired by Italy. From the beautiful people, amazing food, and fantastic architecture, it’s a rare person who isn’t charmed. However, my trip, 26 years in the making, brought tears to be eyes for a different reason. To me, my Rome getaway meant my life had come full circle.

My grandfather stowed away on a boat from Italy to come to America. My family made a life in New York and I grew up learning to speak Italian, cook Italian, grow vegetables, and sing songs. It was amazing. But for my family, the trip from Italy was for progress, and vacations lounging on the Roman countryside were not possible.

This year, after jaunts to Brussels, France, Germany, and many more, I finally got the opportunity to visit Rome. Of course my breathe was taken away by the shops, the meals, the history, but on more than one occasion, my eye wandered to a random family, or an old woman feeding stray cats, or a group of children eating pizza on a stoop, and I remembered how amazing my family was, and everything they had gone through. And because of that, I was able to spend time in Italy, not wondering how I would reach a new country, but enjoying myself, enjoying the culture, and soaking in the experience.

While I absolutely love that everyone who visits Rome finds him or herself in a state of enchantment, I find it difficult to explain the sort of inspiration I felt during my (too) short time there. I’m lucky to be able to travel, but I’m ridiculously lucky to be able to experience the land of my heritage in a leisurely and blessed way.

About this week’s guest writer
Annemarie Dooling is a travel writer based in New York. “I grew up in New York City, finding my way around Union Square before most kids could order their own meals. My family came over on a boat from Italy, and although being raised by a single mother and non-English speaking grandparents was hard, I loved having backyard vegetable gardens, fresh wine, and playing bocce with my grandfather.” Visit Annemarie’s blog: Frill Seeker Diary or follow her on  Twitter.

Read other ‘Places That Inspire’ posts:

• Yosemite, USA
• Multnomah Falls, Oregon, USA
• Krak des Chevaliers, Syria
• Karekare beach, New Zealand

Read the accompanying post: The Exotic Isle of Zanzibar

• Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
• Pompeii, Italy
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Serengeti, Tanzania
• Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia
• Masaai Mara, Kenya
• Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina
• Valle de la Luna, Chile
• Positano, Italy
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Seminyak, Indonesia
• Lang Tengah island, Malaysia
• Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
• The Great Ocean Road, Australia
• Angkor Wat, Cambodia

I was extremely lucky on a flight from Sydney to Brisbane not so long ago – I sat on the left of the plane (i.e. row ‘A’) and as the plane took off from Sydney, I was treated to stunning views of Sydney Harbour. As the plane approached Brisbane, the views of Brisbane’s Central Business District and the sprawling suburbs were pretty awesome.

See other posts from the ‘Plane Views’ series:

• Plane Views: The Beauty of a Window Seat (with contributions from readers)
• Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
• Atacama desert, Chile
• Venice, Italy
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
• Mt. Vesuvius, Italy
• Putrajaya, Malaysia
• Mallorca, Spain
• Millau, France
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia
• Santiago to Punta Arenas, Chile
• Sydney Harbour, Australia
• Vancouver to Portland, OR

Yosemite National Park

The drive to Yosemite National Park is on an unassuming single lane highway that curves along the Sierra Nevada foothills. It’s an understated introduction to the region, meandering along river valleys and climbing up pine-covered hillsides. Traveling there is beautiful in its own right but it pales in comparison to the destination. Ten minutes after passing through the entrance gate the road curves around the last bend, the tree line fades back, the valley walls open up and you find yourself in one of the most spectacular valleys nature has created.

Once the old stomping ground of glaciers, the main valley of Yosemite National Park was created when climate change forced the glaciers to recede. Unlike a v-shaped valley carved out by river flow, like the Grand Canyon, the Yosemite valley is flat due to its glacial past. Souring up from this valley floor are sheer rock walls, like the famous sites of El Capitan and the often photographed Half Dome.

Yosemite valley

The park was a favorite of the photographer Ansel Adams, who produced stunning photographs of the region. They’re brilliant, yes, but they don’t come close to the first time you see that valley in person. To say that it blew me away would be putting it mildly. Standing in that valley made me long to be a world-class photographer so I could capture the park’s grandeur, or an artist, so I could depict the way the sunlight shines off the massive granite walls.

Artistic inspirations aside, it’s also a place that makes you want to jump out of your car and enjoy the landscape. Everywhere you look people are being active. Hiking trails crisscross the valley. Bicycle teams fly along the valley road, passing the gawking, camera-happy visitors. Nature enthusiasts are walking in groups, eager to find the next botanical gem. This is nature at its finest: a magical combination of awe-inspiring views and thrilling appeal for the adventurer in all of us.

About this week’s guest writer
Jaime Engstrom is currently on a 18 month career break with her husband, Martin. Once an accountant and travel dreamer, she’s now fulfilling her travel dreams and busy plotting how to begin the next trip. Their shared blog Seat of Our Pants chronicles the couple’s adventures around the world. It dishes up a daily dose of the good, the bad or the downright nasty of life on the road.

Follow Jaime on Twitter.

Read other ‘Places That Inspire’ posts:

• Multnomah Falls, Oregon, USA
• Krak des Chevaliers, Syria
• Karekare beach, New Zealand