Flashback Friday: Drinking Buckets On Koh Lanta

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll remember that I was less than impressed with Thailand.

It didn't live up to the hype I had heard and it didn't help that it was the beginning of rainy season, meaning we couldn't go to the beach (which was what we had gone to the islands for). I even struggled to find a good sunset, which was really disappointing.

But there was one thing I HAD to try while I was there and that was one of the infamous bucket drinks. A heady mixture of lots of spirits mixed with soda, these things will get you drunk fast. While we were on Koh Lanta and had nothing else to do but kill time, it seemed like the perfect time to try one.

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Explore the Caves on a Crete Holiday

I have never been to Crete and certainly would never have known that it had many natural wonders that were worth exploring beyond its beaches. But that's the beauty of including posts written by people other than me - we all learn something new! The people at Beat The Brochure have written this little gem about the caves in and around the lovely Greek island of Crete.


Yes, whilst on a Crete holiday you must try out the beaches. After all, this is what most people associate with Crete – stunning beaches and a welcoming, warm sea. But do not fall into the trap of thinking that Crete has not got other areas worth exploring – in fact the opposite is true! The natural wonders of Crete are numerous and include mountains, lakes, rivers as well as over two thousand caves which can be explored.
Cave exploration can be a fun day out. Take a look at some of the most well known caves and why you should visit them on Crete holidays.

The Cave of Gourgouthakas

This is the deepest precipice in Greece and the second deepest in the whole of the Balkan area, meaning if you want to gain access to it you you’ll need to be a quite experienced caver. At the bottom is a small lake where it is believed there are opportunities to go even deeper, although no one has so far to date. The depth is thought to be over 1200 metres and was only discovered by a Frenchman in 1990, meaning full exploration of the cave is yet to be completed.

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Riding The River Boats in Xochimilco

If there was one thing I regretted missing last time I was in Mexico City, it was taking a trip out to Xochimilco to ride on a river boat and gaze at the floating gardens.

Although it has become an overly-touristy thing to do, there are some things that I don't mind doing, no matter how crowded or messy they have become, mainly because they usually end up being a lot of fun.

After eating the best carnitas tacos of my life at the local Xochimilco market, we wandered around the streets of the town looking for where to embark  There are several embarkation points for the boats, all handled by different people, so you will often find touts on bicycles riding through town trying to lure visitors to their own boats.

We managed to escape the clutches of two said touts, but could just not shake one guy off. As we neared the river, we saw him waving us over and through gritted teeth we asked him the price. It was what we had expected it to be based on what our hostel owner had told us (around 200 pesos each for a round-trip halfway down the river) but we knew that it was a fairly quiet day and there weren't many tourists. We also didn't want to spend that much money as we knew other people had gotten the journey for cheaper.

We started to walk away and the over-zealous tout called us back. He was willing to lower the price, as long as we only took the hour ride and paid upfront. We both did a little internal happy dance and handed over the cash.

When I saw the old man who was steering our boat, I felt a twinge of guilt. He was ancient (like, Gandalf kind of old) and looked as though he barely had enough strength to steer an empty boat, let alone with us two in tow. We set off at a slow, relaxing pace and as he seemed to be in no danger of toppling over the side, my guilt started to ebb away with the rocking of the boat.

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10 Must-See Attractions In London For Every Traveler

I have only been to London a couple of times in my life (this may come as a shock to people who think London "is" England), but I do actually like the city. I love that you can find every kind of food there, see a West End show and discover some of the country's most interesting history. This post by my friend Catalina gives first timers to the city a pretty good run-down of what there is to do.


Every year millions of people descend on London from all over the world whether it´s for business, for a family city break or a romantic couple’s weekend. Thousands of international students also flock to London to benefit from the quality higher education establishments or to study the language of modern international business at an English school in England. Where better!

Whatever the reason for your stay, you want to ensure that you see all of the main sights. London is a huge city and it is easy to leave feeling you have missed out on some of the highlights. Here is your check list:

The Classics

1. Buckingham Palace 

Walk down the Mall and peer through the grand gates to see the official London residence of the Queen. At 11.30am every day during the summer and every other during the winter, watch the changing of the guards. From late July until the end of September enjoy a tour inside the palace of the state rooms and gardens when the Queen is away for her annual trip to Balmoral.

2. Westminster Abbey  

Visit one of the world´s most famous cathedrals, which was founded in 960. It has been the venue of many British royal weddings and funerals and has been the coronation church since 1066. Most recently it saw the wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton. Go inside to enjoy the architecture or join one of the daily services.

3. The London Eye  

Enjoy breathtaking views of London day or night by taking a flight in one of the glass pods of the London Eye, situated on London´s south bank close to the houses of parliament.

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Flashback Friday: Monkey Juice On The Perhentian Islands

In my mini guide to Perhentian Kecil I talked about "Monkey Juice" and the fact that it was a potent local-style rum drink. This is Scott and I sunbathing, looking out to the clear blue water with a bottle of it between us.

Funnily, when Scott had approached the beach shack bar where it was served to buy some earlier in the day, the owner had shooed him away saying that the cops were coming to patrol the beach and that he shouldn't be seen selling it.

I'm not sure what dodgy deals proceeded to be made, but let's just say that not an hour later the bartender was back in business, selling bottles of Monkey Juice faster than he could unload them off the fishing boats.

This is bloody strong stuff and very cheap (by Perhentian standards) so it's no wonder it's most visitors' drink of choice. We used to mix it with Sprite and make our own Monkey Cocktails.

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Why You Should Choose Hawaii For Your Next Vacation

Hawaii has always been a dream destination for me, but I still have yet to visit the islands. I know I'll get there one day, but I want to make sure that when I do, I stay in a luxurious resort and get to sip tropical cocktails at a luau. Like I needed any more persuading, my friends at HawaiiGaga have put together a list of the main reasons why everyone should put Hawaii on their vacation list.


Every year millions of travellers discover Hawaii and fall in love. What is it about the Hawaiian Islands that makes them so enchanting and captivating? Unlike many tropical destinations Hawaii offers beaches and sun with no caveats. You don’t have to worry about diseases, dangerous animals, unfriendly locals, or other hazards often associated with tropical areas. This article takes a closer look at why Hawaii is such a relaxing and stress free destination.

Beautiful Scenery

The four main Hawaiian islands – Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island are all relatively small land masses, formed by volcanic activity. As such one may expect little contrast in scenery. But one of Hawaii’s interesting traits is the variation of land and seascapes. One reason for this is an extreme variation in rainfall over small distances. Mountains create weather systems by funneling clouds and moisture. A distance of 20 miles can separate dessert like conditions and some of the wettest spots on earth.

And with volcanic mountains that reach nearly 14000 ft, Hawaii experiences 10 of the world’s 14 climate zones. Millions of years of wind and water erosion have also shaped the islands, creating dramatic valleys, canyons and sea cliffs.

No Dangerous Animals

As one of the most isolated land masses in the world, only one land mammal (a bat) was found in Hawaii when humans first arrived around 300 AD. All other mammals were introduced. Today, the only alarming animal you may encounter while hiking in the forest is a wild boar. There are no snakes and few venomous creatures. Birds like the big Laysan Albatross don’t even understand the concept of a predator and can approached.

An Amazing Climate

Hawaii’s climate is obviously one of its selling points. Temperatures are very consistent, with highs typically ranging from 78 (26C) in the winter to 88 (31C) in the summer. Night times are about 15 degrees cooler. The ocean temperature varies from 74 (23C) in the winter to 82 (28C) in the summer.

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