Travel Blog – Trip guides and travel tips

You are probably already thinking of Elvis and Graceland, but you could also be thinking of the River Mississippi whilst tapping your feet to the drum beat of  rock n’ roll.

The good news is that even if you aren’t interested in any of those, there are still plenty of other things to do in Memphis Tennessee.

Downtown Memphis runs alongside the eastern part of the Mississippi.  A short walk from the river’s edge is Beale Street and Union Avenue, which is where tourists inevitably end up because here is where the shops, bars and restaurants lie. Around 5km’s to the south is Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley for some 20 years.

When to go

Memphis has very hot summers and fairly cold winters (it has nearly 6 inches of snow a year – which I found surprising). Spring and Autumn are loose canons weather wise, so expect storms, downpours and some quite spectacular thunder and lightening. So the best time to go is either in the winter if you can handle the chill or the summer if you are okay with heat.

The People

The 1 million population is evenly split between black and whites, but Native Americans, Hispanics and Asians do represent a fairly size-able minority. Large numbers of young people descend on The Bluff City every year to attend the  University of Memphis  (read about the University of Memphis Swine Flu Outbreak.) or to begin a fledgling music career. Either way, young blood ensures the heart of Memphis keeps beatin’ to its own tune.

Racial tensions are thankfully confined the history books. Instead,  Memphis Tennessee is deeply proud of its musical heritage and loves nothing better than throwing a party. No matter when you come to Memphis, there is a bevy of concerts and festivals to attend.

National Civil Rights Museum

The Martin Luther King museum is located where the former civil rights leader was tragically shot in 1968. The Lorraine Motel was bought by the Martin Luther King memorial foundation in 1982 but it didn’t open its doors to visitors until 1991. For anyone interested in the civil rights movement of the 1960′s, a visit here is a must.

Alternatively, find out what’s going on through the Pink Palace museums – truly something for everyone.

Graceland

A trip to Memphis Tennessee is not complete without a visit to Graceland. Even if you aren’t especially a fan of Elvis, either because he was before your time or because the only people you like to see wearing capes are super heroes, then don’t worry because it is also a great opportunity to see what interior decor looks like on steroids.

Weave your way among the die-hard fans to the 5 meter couch, the fake waterfall and if your imagination allows it, picture the ‘the King’ caped and ready to roll, u-huh.

Live Music

There really is no other reason to come to Memphis Tennessee other than to swing to the sounds of live jazz, soul, rock or country – whatever rocks your boat. Most of the music venues are on Beale Street.

My Defining Experience

If you know anything about music you will be familiar with the famous Sun Studio, which has produced recordings for the likes of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and more recently, U2 and Sherly Crow.

A walk around Sun Studios was as much a thrill for me as Graceland, and while the building itself isn’t going to get your heart racing, nostalgia alone probably will.

After here pick up an oyster (or if you prefer, a beef) sandwich in a French baguette at Sleep Out Louie’s. It’s just what you need to line the stomach before you hit Beale Street for a night of the blues.

Strengths

• Sun Studios
• Steamboats
• Pink Palace Museums
• Memphis Zoo
• Barbecued Pork
• Live Music
• Blues on Beale St

Weaknesses

• Crime
• Mud Island
• The Pyramid

As long as you don’t walk around the streets with a bundle of money hanging out your pocket, street crime shouldn’t affect you. This city is laid back and a little loud at times, so if either of those characteristics describes you, then you should fit right in.

Has anyone famous come out of here? Surely, yes, they include: Kathy Bates, Cybill Shepherd, Morgan Freeman, Justin Timberlake and Aretha Franklin.

Cameron House, Toronto

Toronto is one of the world’s most multicultural cities and because 35% of it’s 700,000 residents comprises of minorities, tolerance is held in very high regard. This remarkable city celebrates cultural diversity and actively promotes  outdoor living, so finding things to do in Toronto is not difficult.

This modern city is perfectly situated by Lake Ontario, one in a series of lakes that connects Canada with the United States. The 9km long peninsula that makes up the Toronto Islands were created by a violent storm back in the 19th century.  Which may explain why the land around the city is flat and therefore easy to cover by foot.

When to go

The Toronto weather switches from extreme cold in winter to extreme heat in summer, so unless you can handle that, Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit.

Toronto Storms

If you are planning on taking a trip to Canada please make sure you confirm you flight plans with your agent.  Toronto weather has a fierce reputation and for good reason – earlier today fierce storms knocked out power to over 500,000 people and caused massive damage to building and road networks. Toronto Airport has cancelled many of their flights as a result.

Torontonians

Torontonians love the outdoor life and embrace it for as long as they can before the cooler months force them indoors. For a large city, the people are incredibly mannerly and considerate but compared to other Canadians they aren’t afraid to express an opinion. Unless you are an American you needn’t have much to worry about as most of their criticism are directed at their controversial neighbour.

This is also a place where community spirit is very much alive and well, recycling, healthy eating, charity and love for your neighbour are all virtues practiced as well as preached.

Toronto University

It comes as no surprise then that Toronto University has a reputation for producing some of the best medical doctors in the world, with wide recognition also received for its biomedicine and social science faculties.

The university’s Hart House theatre produces around four plays a year and if you are in town at the right time, they are definitely worth a look.

My Defining Experience

This Canadian city has something in the air that just makes you want to get out of bed and go do stuff, it really starts you off with a snap, crackle and pop. I recommend grabbing a bite to eat at the St Lawrence Market on your way to the harbour where you can take a ferry to Centre Island.

The pace of life just slows right down, perfect for cycling and enjoying the spectacular flower garden on Ward’s Island. For lunch, hop aboard the ferry and return to the mainland for lunch in the quaint Baldwin Village – there are plenty off good outdoor cafes and restaurants to choose from.

Live Music

If you like shopping for alternative gifts and nick knacks, then Queens Street is the place for you. It has an eclectic mix of shops where you can make all sorts of funky purchases.

Speaking of funk, if you like to get low down and dirty after dark, then Toronto’s famous Cameron House is a must.  This music bar has been hosting diverse music, form Jazz and R&B to funk and soul for 20 years. It’s always a night out to remember.

Strengths

• Art Galleries
• Islands
• The CN Tower
• People
• Diversity

Weaknesses

• Harsh Winters
• Traffic jams
• Homeless people

You may already be somewhat familiar with this city by watching movies like Good Will Hunting, X Men, Chicago and Bulletproof Monk, but there is no substitute for actually being there and experiencing it first hand.

Toronto’s alternative outlook, open mindedness and healthy take on life is addictive, it’s a tough place to leave and even harder to forget.

Berlin is a city which is constantly evolving and moving forward -  if  hip, mysterious and modern sounds like your bag, you won’t be stuck for things to do in Berlin.  Despite continually propelling itself forward, Berlin seems comfortable with its rich history and is evidently content to wear its war time history on its sleeve. Some building are still pock marked with holes from artillery fire.

Finding things to do in Berlin is as easy as falling off a log, the city is just chock-a-block with trendy bars, night clubs, restaurants, museums and daring architecture. But if you are on a budget don’t worry, you can happily wile away the hours just roaming the streets – history really is on every corner. The Reichstag is an obvious highlight but I would advise taking a tour bus around the city, it’s by far the best way and your feet will thank you for it. I know this because mine said  “dankeshun”.

When to go

The German capital can be very cold in winter so the best time to go is between May and October. Unless of course you fancy the Berlin film festival which is in February.

Check out the graph below for rain and temperature levels.

Getting around

Berlin is spread out so don’t be scared to use the U-bahns, S-bahns and buses to get around, and of course the transport system is cheap and runs like clockwork.

The buses and trams aren’t the only thing that runs well in Berlin – Usain Bolt of Jamaica today smashed another world record at the World Championships in the Olympic Stadium, this time claiming victory in the 200m final.

Berliners

The typical Berliner – and there are 3.39 million of them – are polite, friendly and humorous. As company goes on a night out, they are hard to beat. Berliners also seem to have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to the latest trend, be it art, bars or music and if that isn’t enough, most of their apartments are large and airy with impossibly high ceilings.

Berlin International Film Festival

If you happen to be there from February 11 -21, don’t miss the Berlin International Film festival, where you can see the most exciting developments in the world of cinema. Also called the Berlinale, almost half a million film fans flock to take part in the festival which has been running annually since the 1970s.

Almost 500 films can be seen across all genres, from Hollywood blockbusters to low budget independent movies from across the world, but art house continues to be the biggest draw – perhaps unsurprisingly.

Incase you don’t know, the Milk of Sorrow won this year’s much coveted Golden Bear award.

But if you can’t manage the film fest, don’t worry because your trip is likely to coincide with any one of Berlins 1500 cultural events! This super cool city has a busy cultural calendar that only Manhattan can match.

My Defining Experience

The Jewish Museum and the German Historical Museum were fascinating even though I don’t consider myself a history buff and you can lose yourself in either one of them for hours. However, there are around 170 galleries and museums so you are bound to find something more up your strasse if they don’t sound to your taste.

In the evening you can enjoy a Becks beer or two in one of the many lively bars before stopping for a  tasty snack on the way home. Berlin has a significant Turkish community, who do kebabs like Germans do beer – I highly recommend them both.

Strengths

• History is everywhere
• Modern architecture
• Cakes
• Talking rubbish bins
• Excellent public transport
• Arts
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Clubs

Weaknesses

• Hair styles
• Geographically spaced out
• Racism
• Weather

Berlin is an exhilarating and somewhat mysterious city. It’s young people are carving out an alternative lifestyle in a way that is fresh, fearless and fun – to them at least.  Berlin has been in the limelight in recent years for hosting perhaps the biggest event of all, the 2006 World Cup, but there is something that Berlin doesn’t do well and that is showing off. The truly cool never need to.

Famous for eurocats, mussels, beer and chocolate, Brussels is the political mecca in a country few people know anything about. This isn’t helped by a distinct lack of famous Belgians,  Jean-Claude Van Damme aside of course. It seems Jean Claude may in fact be an endangered species.

I went in search of things to do in Brussels that didn’t involve beer drinking and while there is indeed  spectacular architecture, a pretty Parc de Bruxelles and first class museums, I couldn’t help but gravitate to the bars.

If you are looking for things to do in Brussels, set aside a couple of days for sightseeing and general relaxation  – it is not a sprawling city and can be covered relatively quickly.

When to Go

The climate in this part of Europe rarely goes to extremes, whether that be hot or cold. All year round, temperatures are moderate both in winter and in summer, making Brussels a popular city break destination from January to December.

Belgian Language

You’d be excused for being a bit confused about the Belgian language. Bilingual Brussels is in Flemish speaking Flanders, yet the majority of the population speak French. The city is home to Europeans, Moroccans, Turks and Africans. Most Africans originate from the former Belgian colony of Congo.

Exploding iPods

Being the hub of  European politics, Brussles is always in the news. The EU parliament situated in the European Quarter is hard to miss and has the most striking modern architecture I have ever seen. Daring modern designs seem to court controversy and this is the mother of all talking points – just ask a Belgian taxi driver.

If you are concerned about your exploding ipod this summer,  rest assured the EU parliament is on the case – all 27 countries have been asked to report their finding on the gadgets that are apparently exploding in the sun. And you thought politics was boring!

Belgian Beer

Belgium produces between 500 and 800 brews, most of which is considered strong by any one’s standards. If you fancy a challenge and have a reputation for having hollow legs, try a Marlin for size, at 9% it separates the men from the boys.

Central Brussels is made up of the Upper Town and Lower Town and it is through these charming streets I discovered one fine pub after another. When the weather is good, relax at one of the many street facing tables and watch the world go by.

The Belgians

Belgians love their monarchy but have  strong dislike for rules  – which may strike you as a bit of a dichotomy. But thankfully their often severe expressions only mask a keen sense of humour that is friendly and at times cheeky. The Mannekin Pis, a stature of a naked boy having a pee pretty much says it all, especially when he is adorned with a variety of costumes.

My Defining Experience

I enjoyed wandering around the Musee Horta, buying some gifts on the Avenue Louise and exploring the stylish Ixelles’ Art Nouveau streets. Because Brussels is quite small, you can expect to retrace your steps. If, however, you are content to sip a few beers and dine on fabulous steaks or amazing mussels, satisfaction is guaranteed.

Strengths

• Museums
• Restaurants
• Grand Place
• Beer
• Waffles
• Chocolate
• Parc de Bruxelles
• Art Nouveau Ixelles

Weaknesses

• Dogs’ dirt
• Expensive restaurants
• Weather

Belgium has played the starring role  in numerous films, including: Far West, Meisje, Plenty and err, that’s about it, I think.

George Square

With a population of 700,000 people, Glasgow is Scotland’s largest and most populated city and  sits on the west coast of Scotland in an area known as the central belt. Big and boisterous, Glasgow, or Glesca as the locals pronounce it, is teeming with bars, clubs, museums, parks, art galleries and shops. A visitor to this lively city won’t be stuck for things to do in Glasgow.

When to go

The best time to visit this deeply interesting city is during the summer months, between May and September, when you can expect the best of the Glasgow weather. Scottish winters can be quite severe, so unless you come prepared you may be in for a shock. Still, that needn’t put you off if you remember to bring a good coat, a woolly scarf and gloves.

The graph below gives you an idea of what to expect so you can plan ahead.

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Possibly the city’s most striking building, Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall sits at the top of Buchanan Street in the city centre and plays host to a range of high calibre performers, from rock, jazz, folk and pop musician to grand orchestras and comedians.

Seating nearly 3,000 people, it has impressed almost everyone who has visited or performed, whether it be Nigel Kennedy, Brian Wilson or just me.

Culture

Europe’s City of  Culture (1990) has played the starring role in tons of films and TV programmes, most notably: Young Adam, The Borrowers, Taggart and Trainspotting (although the latter was mostly shot in Edinburgh).

The city is a hotbed for religious bigotry to which anyone familiar with Celtic and Rangers will testify. It is a city of passionate people, for right or wrong and nothing gets the blood of a Glasweigan boiling more than football.

U2 Glasgow & Concerts

All year round this city plays host to a variety of bands, from one man folk singers to large stadium gigs.  Irish rockers U2 were in town last night as part of their 360 European tour. Traffic queues were 10 miles long as 125,000 fans decended on Glasgow to catch the biggest band on earth perform their new album, No Line On The Horizon as well as their classic hits like Where The Streets Have No Name and Beautiful Day.

Here’s the review of the U2 Glasgow concert.

If you are looking for other things to do in Glasgow, then you won’t be disappointed. I visited the Charles Rennie Mackintosh school of art, the building itself is the designer’s masterpiece. Mackintosh’s distinctive style was among the most celebrated of the art nouveau period and Glasweigans of all ages are proud to call him one of their own.

Sauchiehall Street in the city centre  is a popular pedestrian mall with shops and pubs galore – so if art isn’t your bag, perhaps drinking is. Glasgow is as famous for it’s pubs as Rome is for its ruins.

Glasweigans are typically tough and working class who have their own sense of humour, quite different even to that just 46 miles away in Edinburgh.  Billy Connolly, one of Glasgow’s most famous exports has made a living showcasing the unique brand of humour for decades.  Connolly himself admits a lot of his jokes were told to him by fellow drinkers in and around the city’s watering holes.

My Defining Experience

To savour the cafe culture, head for the west end before taking a trip to the famous market known as The Barras where you can buy almost anything so long as you don’t mind it being fake.

For lunch take a picnic to Kelvingrove Park by the University and watch the world go by, a wonderful retreat from an otherwise lively and energetic city.

Strengths

• Live music
• Burrell Collections
• Sauchiehall Street
• Pubs
• Atmosphere
• People
• Galleries

Weaknesses

• Religious bigotry
• Difficult dialect
• Orange marches
• Lack of prosperity
• High rises

From just wandering through its streets, Glesca leaves an impression on you. It has an unmistakable edge, but there is a friendliness to it also – a distinct quality often applied ot loveable rogues. But that is what Glasgow is, a loveable rogue that keeps you smiling even if you can’t relax in its company.

We can thank this town for the likes of Irn-Bru, Kenny Dalglish, Teenage Fanclub and Simple Minds – to name just a few.

This is a “things to do” journey through the best cities in the world. I have covered quite a lot of ground and been in more hotels than I care to mention so the only thing for me to do now is to blog about them.

I’ve tried to cover the most memorable aspects of each place, touching on the people, the sights, the sounds and some of the qualties that make each destination unique, such as why Budapest is beautiful and why Amsterdam is amazing.

If you are thinking of vising somewhere and are wondering what there is to do when you get there, you should get an idea of what to expect here.

Psst…please leave a comment if you think I missed something I shouldn’t have.

Courtesy of Thaiwebsites.com

Bangkok dangerous? I could hardly tell my mother no, afterall it has a seedy reputation is seems unable to shake off. But I knew there were things to do in Bangkok other than drugs and ladies of the night.

While the mere mention of the name brings to mind rather unwholesome thoughts, it’s nickname has quite a different effect.

Venice of the East I’m sure you’ll agree has quite a different flavour to it and reveals more of Bangkok than what is covered by the tabloids. (You may want to tell your mum you are off to Venice of the East instead.)  In reality, Bangkok is a city of contrasts, of Monks, MTV and Motor mayhem that has to be seen to be believed.

When to Go

It’s best to avoid the rain season between May – October, unless you like your weather muggy.

Check out the graphs below for average Bangkok temperatures and rainfall levels.

Protests

It is a city synonimous with protests, but is Bangkok dangerous? I’m not sure it is especially so, but  only this week tens of thousands poured onto the streets to protest the expulsion of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a reminder that Thailand has very deep rooted political divisions. If you are travelling to Bangkok, it’s always a good idea to see what the Foreign Office are advising but on the whole, protests are a normal way of life in Thailand so putting off your trip to Bangkok could be unnecessary.

The people of this city consist of mostly Thai, but Chinese and Indians are a growing minority in a city that already bussles with 8 million souls.

My Defining Experience

You can’t go to Bangkok without indulging in one of their famous massages, man do the people at Wat Pho know their way around muscles.  And I hear from other fellow travellers that a thai massage just prior to the return flight guarantees an 8 hour sleep! Great if like me you can’t even cat nap on a plane. Unfortunately this tip came too late for this traveller.

After your massage relax in the author’s lounger in the Oriental Hotel, where the likes of Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad put pen to paper.  It’s simply the perfect way to end the day.

Walking back to your hotel, the smell of jasmin is just as common as the whiff of street food but I found the latter clung to the clothes that little bit longer! A stroll through this remarkable city really was an onslaught on the senses; colours, flavours and smells were seemingly endless.

Although it has to be said that the pollution is fairly sickening too, but I try not to focus on that and in truth, it gets less noticeable after a while.

Strengths

• Everything is cheap cheap
• Markets
• Veggie cafes
• Cheap five start hotels
• DVDs
• Fabrics

Weaknesses

• Pollution
• Prostitution
• Sweat
• “Same same but different”

The last point needs a little explanation. If you go to a tailor you will be shown some beautiful material from which you can have a suit made. When you go to pick up your suit expect to find it consisting of something of lesser quality. Any protestations will be met with the ubiquitous “same same” but actually, it will be quite different.

Remarkably in spite of this, rumours abound that Bangkok is to become the Milan of the far east. Although I don’t think the Italians are choking on their Frascati just yet.

Getting About

Tuk tuks are fast and efficient and go like a stabbed rat between buses and cars – a great adrenalin rush if you like living dangerously. Bangkok is located in the base of the Chao Phraya River, so the land is crisscrossed with canals and rivers. The landscape is made up of high rises, shopping malls and hotels, but the Skyrail circumnavigates the city quite nicely – it’s air conditioned too!

If you have never been to this part of the far east, then prepare yourself…arriving at Bangkok airport is your wake up call to a culture shock you will never forget.

Bangkok is not my favourite Asian city, but it’s certainly one to write home about.

Thailand online shop

If you are a fan of Thailand you’ll find a whole range of interesting stuff, such as souvenirs, shoes, lamps and loads more at getsiam.com

Welcome to my travel blog – I hope you enjoy it.

I’ll be regularly updating this site with reviews on some of the world’s most interesting cities, from Bangkok to Barcelona and everywhere in between. As the site develops, I’ll be sharing tips on the world’s best bars as well as some of my favourite recipes, tried and tested from all four corners of the globe.

Disclaimer: this site may give you itchy feet. If symptoms persist, please consult your travel agent.