Casting the net
Sometimes we have to take our chances to expand our catch. Take risks to grow. Sometimes we will miss. But we can always try again.
Holiday at home in Adelaide CBD
I wanted to stay away a night, for our date night. I wanted to stay at Clarion Soho or Crowne Plaza so I could photograph their rooms. But a Hilton deal popped up on my screen which included breakky, valet parking, late checkout, and a bottle of sparkling. Too good to resist. Deep down I knew I'd be disappointed though. No fantastic photos to be taken.
We had a great weekend though. Hiked at Mount Lofty, coffee in Stirling, yum cha on Gouger Street, a spot of shopping, room service and buffet breakfast. And the best bit of all, not woken by kids through the night, or at 6am on Sunday.
The Hilton is no glamour queen, and I'd recommend other hotels before this hotel, but it does do food well. Room service chick pea curry and grilled vegetables with hummus was very yummy. And the buffet breakfast was decent too. Most hotels in Australia can't do buffets like our international counterparts, but Hilton really tried. Hubby was impressed.
What is your favourite hotel in Adelaide? Have you ever stayed overnight in your home city?
Social holiday or seclusion?
'Crowne Plaza Changi Airport'
One of my excuses as to why I like holidays in caravan parks is that they are social. One step out your bedroom door, whether it's the tent, camper trailer or caravan, and you have a crowd to people watch, say hello and get to know. I associate the caravan park with getting to know people, leaving valuable belongings secured by just a tent zipper, and watching kids zoom up and down the roads on their bikes and scooters, screaming and laughing. No privacy. No quiet times. But fun.
I do really like to travel in style too, and love to stay in resorts where I am pampered with fluffy bed and crisp linen, buffet breakfast and my own little haven behind my suite door. One thing I have noticed though, in many hotel and resort lobbies, there is no ambience. And no people. Sure, they are nice and beautiful to look at when you arrive, but how many of you have said 'hey, let's go hang out in the lobby' while on holidays. Particularly if you are staying in a hotel.
Luxury and boutique hotels have mastered it, drawing free-spending crowds to their lobbies. But now, large traditional hotels are spending billions in renovations to lure their guests down into the lobby. Upgraded wine lists, semi private nooks, communal tables, free Wi-Fi and comfy seats are just a few of the changes.
It will be a nice change, walking into a city hotel and finding people lingering. As opposed to the sound of elevator music playing and receptionist with their head down at the desk.
Souvenirs for family and friends - or not?
Aussies apparently complain about the crummy gifts people bring back for them from their holidays. A recent Skyscanner survey reported that 18 per cent re-gift the items and 12 per cent throw the gift away. 50 per cent of Aussies keep the gift to avoid hurting the giver's feelings.
So think about that next time you feel the pressure to give someone a gift. Save yourself the time of shopping for every aunt, uncle, cousin, parent and sibling, go enjoy your holiday. They probably won't want the gift anyway. Just because the Bintang singlets are popular in Phuket, it doesn't mean that they are wanted, or even liked, back home. And those colourful bead necklaces, they will probably be lost at the bottom of the drawer with cracked wood features. And really, does anyone wear destination t-shirts anymore? No matter how cool the place is.
I've given some gifts that were probably not quite right. T-shirts that shrink when they are washed, cheap jewellery, cultural homewares, tacky girls bikinis - the list could go on. I do it to myself. I get engrossed in the culture and fashion of the place I am in, and try to bring it home. Normally, a few months goes by, and the hot bargain is forgotten about. The dress I'd wear forever is crumpled at the bottom of the wardrobe, and soon enough, in the Vinnies bag.
One souvenir we have seemed to get right though, is the more expensive, one of a kind sort. My husband started this. And now we have memories of our travel scattered around our house. Paintings from Cuzco, wooden carvings from Sabah and Bali, textiles from Fiji... we just couldn't find anything in Phuket so have a bright pink tuk-tuk sitting on our fridge. It's been there for a year, I wonder how long it will last?
What is the worst souvenir you have bought home?
Virgin Australia's free wireless in-flight entertainment
Virgin Australia is rolling out free Wireless In-flight Entertainment systems on selected aircraft.
No more crook necks, dodgy earphones, and straining to see the little screen that seems like it's ten seats away. Or missing the show when someone stands up and blocks the screen. And kids can actually watch something now too.
Sounds good to me!
Having fun...
Damn. What do I say behind the camera to make them laugh?
At least we have fun!
Strathalbyn paddocks
Silver Award winning photograph in the Landscape category. Australian AIPP Awards in Melbourne, September 2013.
Let the debate begin. With a varying score with a difference of over 10 points, this image sparked a lot of chatter between the judges. After many comments were made, some loving the sense of miniature this image conveys, it was awarded. Thank you!
Woodcroft Community Centre
Silver Award Winning image at the Australian AIPP Awards held in Melbourne, September 2013. Very happy.
Woman insulted by airlines entertainment unit
This may be what happens when the IT department are frustrated, or bored... A passenger on an Air India flight was shocked after being called an "idiot" by the in-flight entertainment unit.
The woman said she tried to watch a movie but the entertainment unit wouldn't work properly. While adjusting the switches and buttons, a rather rude message popped up on the screen.
It read: "The selection is not currently available. Please try again." The message continued toward the bottoms of the screen: "Lie low... Sit down you idiot!".
The airline has commented that it may have been a glitch in the system, with the subtitles of the movie the woman had been watching coming up on the screen.
A rather unfortunate matter of timing. Perhaps.
International Traveller's Top 100 List
http://www.internationaltravellermag.com/100-best-hotels-and-resorts/
One of my favourite magazines, International Traveller, has released their list of top 100 hotels and resorts. It's so exciting to go through, adding places to my bucket list, and seeing where I may have already been. Doing a lot of my travel as a budget traveller when I was younger, as we call a 'backpacker', I can't tick many off my list. Actually, none. Not physically anyway. I've considered a couple of them for recent trips, and now, perhaps am kicking myself.
Have you been to any on the list?
