TRAVEL TIPS
If you intend using a credit card when travelling, don't forget to phone your credit card company with details of your travel prior to leaving home.  To prevent fraudulent use of credit cards, credit card companies have been known to refuse transactions made in other countries.

The Life Guards of London's Household Cavalry

THE LIFE GUARDS OF LONDON'S HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY

No visit to London is complete without some pomp and ceremony. I took this picture outside the building known as “Horse Guards”. These fellows in red are the Life Guards – not the swimming kind (their cuirasses would drag them down).  As one tourist, an imagined expert explained, “they stand there facing each other (Blues and Royals vs Life Guards) for about half an hour and then they have changed the guard!”

As you can see it was a good picture taking opportunity.

The Life Guards in red, and the Blues and Royals in blue, both comprise regiments in the Household Cavalry, an actual functioning light armored formation of the British Army. When not on ceremonial duty, the Household Cavalry performs a reconnaissance function in a combat brigade; dress uniform is replaced by camouflage, swords by assault rifles.

Post courtesy of guest blogger Michael Gordon on Saturday, 6th November, 2010

TRAVEL TIPS
Renting a car... check for dents, scratches and missing spare tire before driving away.  Charges will apply if  earlier damage has not been noted before you leave with the car.

OF ALL THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, KAUAI'S OLD WORLD CHARM CAPTIVATES

Stepping off the plane in Kauai the oldest and least developed island in a chain of Hawaiian islands is tantamount to stepping back in time.


Traveling along the north shore in Kauai, from the village of Kapa’a until the end of the road just past Ha’ena, a necklace of enchantment unravels with not a Hilton, Sheraton or Marriott in sight. At night, on this one of Hawaii's smallest islands, there are few streetlights and most buildings are no taller than a coconut palm.

In spite of that, Kauai is no slouch as far as activities are concerned. Fancy a massage, a cave adventure, or kayaking to the Na Pali cliffs, one of the most dramatic sights to be found anywhere, everything is at your fingertips.

On the north shore with a backdrop of mountains, small palm- thatched fruit stalls proliferate along the roadside. Houses on stilts, sometimes 16 feet high to protect from floods and tsunamis, overlook lush tropical gardens. Villages with a 50s ambience lure passersby into markets, shave Ice kiosks and quaint churches.

Shave Ice - an island speciality - is a popular indulgence on a hot day. Flavors range across an exotic spectrum of mango, passion fruit, papaya, coconut and pineapple.

At Jo-Jo’s in Waimea, I settle for a Haupia Special: a large dollop of Macadamia nut ice cream topped with shaved ice, then drizzled with coconut cream and lavishly sprinkled with coconut flakes.  A splash of Pina Colada or a Mai Tai are optional for that extra kick.

As I travel the meandering road along the coastline there is a vibrancy of color everywhere. A fish-rich ocean, turquoise blue along the shoreline melds to midnight blue in deeper waters. Fragrant frangipani blossoms, plate-sized hibiscus flowers, multi-colored crotons and brilliant bougainvillea bushes; magenta, coral, pale cream and peach pink trail over hedges and walls.

Even Kauai’s roving chickens are brilliantly colored, and some would say all too abundant. They are everywhere, scratching around at the airport, darting across the road in heavy traffic, and as I was to discover, crowing lustily at 4.30 in the morning – long before dawn.

Posted by Anne Gordon on Saturday, 6th November, 2010.



A bungee jump for couples

   ADVENTURE AT CANADA'S WHISTLER RESORT FOR BUNGEE JUMPERS AND ZIPLINERS

In Whistler the vicarious thrill of watching bungee jumpers leap, tumble and sometimes even fly, spreading their arms in the manner of angels as they soared from unimaginable heights, drew us to Whistler Bungee's jumping platform in a gorge just ten minutes from town. There, between 90 metre tall trees and sky-scraping basalt cliffs, first time jumpers pay $120 to experience the ultimate thrill. I was not one of them – gladly using my recently replaced knee as an excuse.

When I later discovered that 'Whistler Bungee's' youngest jumper was a three-year old girl (encouraged by her parents) and the oldest, a 100 year old man celebrating his centennial, I felt a tinge of shame at my reluctance to ever accept such a challenge.


Zip lining in Whistler forest

 Later in the day, wandering along a series of swinging suspension bridges through the forest canopy, the occasional approaching zzzzzzzzz alerted us to the swift passage of a zip liner whizzing by on a similar journey to our own….only much faster. Their means for traversing the canopy was via cables stretching up to 600 metres through Cedar, Western Hemlock and Douglas fir.

From our lofty perch, an observation platform in the canopy of a temperate rainforest between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, we had a bird’s eye view 50 metres down to the forest floor below. In the valley the Fitzsimmons Creek rushes by. Hundreds of fallen trees, now ‘nurse logs’, provide a rich growing medium for young seedlings. Ferns in luxuriant clumps nestle against rotting logs that crumble in a shower of soft brilliant orange woodchips. “The bears love those logs. They’re swarming with grubs,” said Chris our guide.

Posted by Anne Gordon on Saturday, 6th November, 2010

Whistler village in the Fall

WHISTLER IN CANADA, A DESTINATION FOR ALL SEASONS

It is late Fall in Whistler; a magical time enhanced by the gentle approach of Canada’s loveliest season.  In early November the winter crowds have yet to arrive. Mountain peaks covered in a fine sprinkling of snow, break through low-lying clouds in the early morning. Sugar maples in a magnificent display set the village afire with hues of crimson, wine, apricot and pink.

There are a multitude of activities to enjoy in Canada's popular holiday resort. Whistler village is a focal point for luxury living, shopping and gourmet dining, as well as the more simple pleasures; a picnic in an alpine meadow, canoeing the ‘River of Golden Dreams’, a float trip by raft or exploring dozens of mountain trails. The 20 kilometre Valley Trail is an easy trek on a mostly flat paved path. For more of a challenge there is the Musical Bumps Trail to Singing Pass or a rough walk to Wedgemount Lake. There are glacial lakes for fishing and whitewater rafting on milky turquoise rapids. Wildlife viewing tours can be arranged and golfers are well catered for on courses designed by Nicklaus, Palmer and Jones.

Black bears (sometimes Grizzlies) are not an uncommon sight gorging on berries in alpine meadows or lumbering along mountain trails. The local community seem convinced that Black bears weighing up to 150 kilograms and driven to increase their body weight as winter approaches, are docile.   I'm not convinced and I have a pair of bear bells attached to my backpack.  The tinkling sound of the bells as you walk I am told, alerts the bears to a human presence and they disappear without you even knowing they were close.

          Whistler is ranked as the No. 1 ski resort in North America by the prestigious 'Conde Nast Traveler', but for me, lush colourful Whistler in the Fall is equally enchanting.

Posted by Anne Gordon on Saturday, 6th November, 2010.




New Forest pub, The Hare and Hounds

 NEW FOREST CIDER, GUARANTEED TO 'SOUR YER GUTS AND MAKE YER WHEEZE'

After you've stocked up on witches spells, a visit to nearby Pound Lane the home of New Forest Cider will set your feet tapping. A sign at its entrance describes the dubious 'pleasures' within.

'Drink strong cider as much as yer please

Loses yer teeth and bows yer knees

Sours yer guts and makes yer wheeze

Turns yer blood and kills yer fleas

Drink strong cider as much as yer please.'

All tastes are catered for in this ancient forest; upscale dining at 'Le Poussin at Parkhill' in Lyndhurst, sipping ale and exchanging gossip in 'The Hare and Hounds' or one of the other forest pubs. My favourite was The Mad Hatter's Tearoom in Lyndhurst, where I enjoyed a steaming cup of fragrant Earl Gray accompanied by melt-in-your-mouth hot scones, butter and mounds of clotted cream and strawberry jam.

Posted by Anne Gordon on Friday, 5th November, 2010