Remembrance: Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red

Source: BBC

To mark the 100 year anniversary of the start of WW1, ceramic artist Paul Cummins has created a beautiful installation at the Tower of London called Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red.

Nearly four million people are expected to have visited the installation which is due to be dismantled after Armistice Day.

Despite hopes that the installation will stay a while longer, it has always been the intention to sell the poppies for charity and send them to their new owners after Armistice Day. I was lucky enough to buy one before they sold out.

Paul Cummins has also said he never intended the installation to be permanent as it was meant to symbolise that human beings are “transient”. He’s gone on to say; “the idea was it will only be there for a finite time like we are.” Personally I agree with him, and although I will be sad to see the poppies go, I believe its the right thing to do.

Despite at the time WWI being declared as ‘the war to end all wars’, British forces have been involved in conflict every single year since, with 1968 being the only year where a member of the forces hasn’t been killed in conflict.

In total, over 16 million lives were lost during the First World War. 100 years on and we are still remembering.

Source: BBC

Source: BBC

Top 5 Things to Do For the (Extremely) Adventurous

There are plenty of extreme trips out there so those with an adventurous streak don’t need to look far.

Warning: Only for the brave.

Source: Flickr

1. Cageless shark diving

Fiji’s Beqa Lagoon has created a reputation for itself within the diver community as the ultimate nail-biting  experience. Not only are divers surrounded by eight species of sharks (some of which are known to have killed humans) but there isn’t a single cage in sight.

Source: Babil Bahçeleri

2. Base jump into a cave

The Cave of the Swallows is so deep it could engulf a high-rise building. Hidden in the rainforest of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, it attracts adrenalin junkies who are eager to base jump the 980ft-by-390ft hole.  It is just big enough to open a parachute in, without one it would take just 10 seconds to free fall to the bottom. Yikes!

Source: AJHackett

3. Tallest bungee jump

If bungee jumping floats your boat why not have a go jumping off the Macau Tower in China? At 765ft, this is the highest commercial jump in the world. Thrill-seekers stop just 98ft from the ground on a special cord that prevents people frim swinging into the tower itself.

Source: clubofthewaves

4. Surf above the Arctic Circle

Situated on the Lofaten islands in Norway, Unstad Arctic Surf school is the most northerly boarding academy in the world. So if you’re into your surfing, don’t let the cold sea temperature put you off!

Source: Mobal

5. Trek the most remote mountain

If you’re looking to get away from it all, head to Mount Khuiten in Mongolia. The 14,350ft peak is one of the least accessible mountains on earth – there is no mountain rescue and emergency evacuation can take days. Only for the seriously adventurous!

4 Ways to Travel for (Nearly) Free

Ask anyone about travelling and normally they will say: ‘I’d love to travel more but I simply don’t have the money.’ I know because I am guilty of this too. However, we buy tonnes of things that we don’t need every single day.

So cut back, save a little, and get smart with how you travel. With so many different options out there, money shouldn’t hold you back. If you’re willing to open your mind to other ideas and options, you might end up travelling to a country or two and spend very little money in the process.

Here are a few ideas:

1. Sell your time

Now, what does this actually mean? Well, if you give up some of your time to dedicate to a few hours of work each day, in turn you might not have to pay for things like accommodation, food and possibly other benefits. On top of this you will likely be helping a local group or individual in the process. In addition to saving money, this is a chance to get to know the local people and the country you are visiting a little better. Volunteer work exchanges are great for all you adventurous types who are willing to take on something different and seek a deeper knowledge of a destination.

Here are a few volunteer exchanges to think about:

WWOOF

HelpX

Work Away

2. Couch Surfing

Everyone knows about Couchsurfing nowadays. The concept is simple: if you’re too poor for accommodation, you Couchsurf. If you’re in another country and you meet someone through Couchsurfing, it not only makes your travels cheaper but more enjoyable. Making friends also means you get to split things, whether it’s a room, dinner or a taxi. If you’re not into crashing on a couch for the night, you can instead look into house sitting.

Here are a few house sitting websites to check out:

House it World

Trusted House Sitters

3. Teach English abroad

Hundreds of people a year put on their backpacks and take off to schools around the world to teach English. South East Asia and South America are particularly popular destinations for this. Whilst teaching you are almost always guaranteed free accommodation and some organisations even pay a monthly wage for your skills (but beware, don’t expect to be rich!). If you’re hoping to earn money through teaching, why not look into completing a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)? This could increase your chance of earning a few bob.

4. Freelance

The idea of travelling and writing for a living is what many of us dream about when we wake up every morning to our 9 to 5 office jobs. However, although this may be the stuff of dreams, freelancing could be a way of earning a bit of extra cash whilst you are on your travels. Many travel blogs and websites are always looking for contributors and are willing to pay a small sum for each article. Do some research and see what you can find. You never know, it could also help you work towards living that dream of travelling the world for a living.

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

As you are welcomed into Sarajevo, you immediately witness the war wounds of a city that has one of the most tragic recent histories of any in Europe. Before the Balkan wars of the nineties, Sarajevo was a cosmopolitan city famous for its mixed population of Serbs, Croats and Bosnians who all co-existed successfully. But on March 2 1992 the barricades went up, leading to a siege that was to last almost four years (the longest any modern capital has ever had to bear).

As you wander the city’s streets, the pavements are dotted with “Sarajevo roses” – gashes carved out by mortar fire that have been painted bright red. Plaques stand on street corners to commemorate the dead, and as you look closely at the surrounding buildings you can catch glimpses of bullet holes within their walls.

In Stari Grad (“Old Town”) is Bascarsjia, the historic and the Ottoman heart of the city. Here you can experience a nugget of Istanbul life that is a product of the 400 years of Turkish rule before the city was occupied by the Austro-Hungarians in the late 19th century. The Bacarsji square is a great place to spend the afternoon people watching and joining in with the clusters of men who sit outside cafes, sipping thimbles of thick, dark coffee. If you’re feeling peckish, a lamb kebab is a must. As our guide declared: ‘you have not been to Sarajevo if you haven’t tried our delicious lamb kebabs’. As you amble through the winding streets of this district it can be easy to forget the horrors that took place here. However, the conflict remains a daily part of local life as shop owners sell vases and other decorative objects made from shell cases and other pieces of artillery, carefully re-cast.

The siege of Sarajevo is everywhere and is an intentional part of the city’s future. The locals want people to know the truth and to understand, but what comes through the most is the Sarajevan’s determination to survive. Almost everyone has a story and yet, the city remains lively and vibrant. The city offers delicious culinary delights from cevpicici (spices sausages on flatbread) to ajvar (a spicy paste on homemade paste). Visitors can also enjoy a bit of retail therapy by visiting the shiny new shopping malls of Novi Grad (“New Town”). It seems Sarajevo is a city in-between the new and the old. A place determined to build on the scars of it’s turbulent past.

Wild Swimming

Going swimming in the UK usually involves a trip to the leisure centre, making sure you have change for the locker, and a mad dash getting dry in the changing room afterwards.

There are, however, a growing number of swimmers who never come close to a chlorine-infested pool. Wild swimming, which involves taking a dip in Britain’s rivers, lakes and waterfalls, is soaring in popularity. Over the past three years, the number of organised outdoor swimming events has increased dramatically. However, apparently the urge to take the plunge into natural water is nothing new. For many of us, it would have been how our grandparents and great-grandparents learnt to swim. There were many little river swimming clubs where locals would go to teach their children to swim and go to swim in the summer.

Thankfully this phenomenon has been ‘refound’. People are realising more and more that getting back out into nature is a fantastic way to de-stress and also to reconnect with something that feels meaningful and a world away from the usual 9-to-5.

Not only is wild swimming good exercise, the cold water is thought to improve your immune system. It’s been shown that people who swim in cold water regularly through the year get far fewer colds. With so many advantages to wild swimming, there is only one thing standing in its way – the British weather.

However, sometimes it’s good to be brave and take the plunge..

5 of the best spots in Britain for wild swimming

1. River Waveney, Outney Common, Suffolk
2. Faerie Pools, Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye
3. River Wharfe, Appletreewick, Yorkshire
4. River Test, Houghton, Hampshire
5. Sharrah Pool, River Dart, Dartmoor, Devon

The End of the Line: A Decade On

Until Charles Clover’s book, The End of the Line, the subject of overfishing was unfamiliar territory. As a child of the 60s and the son of a farmer and founding member of the Soil Association, it is unsurprising Charles Clover has become an environmental campaigner. As author of the 2004 book The End of the Line, Clover was one of the first people to blame the fishing industry for declining fish stocks.

As Clover has claimed: ‘Until the nineties it was regarded as eccentric to say that decreasing fish stocks were caused by irresponsible fishing. What many charities were concerned with back then was the dumping of toxic waste in oceans and how this was affecting specific shoals of fish.’ In Clover’s opinion the issue of overfishing was contributing to one of the greatest environmental crises of our time but few people wanted to hear about it. It would take seven years from his original proposal to publish The End of the Line in 2004.

However the book proved popular and in 2009 it was turned into an award-winning film. The message doesn’t state don’t catch fish, instead it urges us to catch the right numbers and to catch them intelligently. It’s not just about saving the fish but saving the livelihoods of fisherman. As Clover states: ‘no fish means no jobs’.

Clover’s book also identified restaurants and companies who were believed to have sourced fish unethically. Top chefs were also identified by Clover as making money from selling endangered Bluefin tuna and, as a result, many have stopped.

Now, a decade on, has the book achieved its goal of highlighting the dangers of overfishing? Certainly, before the book very few people cared whether their seafood was sustainably sourced. Now, many people do. Brands have made sustainability a key part of their branding.

August Inspiration

A post to brighten up your day. 

Images courtesy of Pinterest.

The Best of Eastern Europe: Top 5 Places to Visit

Inter railing across Europe

Backpacking in Europe is a rite of passage for most students and travellers. But due to its size many end up hopping between the most famous cities (London, Paris, Rome…) and never explore what the Eastern fringes has to offer.

If you’re looking for something a little different (and a hell of a lot cheaper!) then backpacking in Eastern Europe is the thing to do. Eastern Europe is full of interesting (and troubled) history, idyllic countryside, buzzing nightlife and unique architecture. Here are my top 5 places to visit…

 

Source: Next Trip Tourism

1. Transylvania, Romania

If you want a feel for real the Romania, Transylvania is the place to go. A visit to Vlad Tepes’ (Dracula’s) haunting hometown of Sighișoara during the winter is a definite must.

 

Szechenyi Baths, Budapest

2. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest’s beautiful historic section is Castle Hill on the Buda side of the Danube. Across the river is Pest, the hectic center of the modern city. Budapest is an active city where travellers from all over the world enjoy its many great cafés, bars and clubs.

Market Square

3. Krakow, Poland

Kraków is the most visited city in Poland and for a good reason. Boasting the largest medieval square in all of Europe, the historic old town is a wonderful place to explore. Get a taste for Polish cuisine with borsch (soup made from beetroot) and pierogis, whilst also sampling a homemade bread pretzel from the many street vendours.

4. Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina

On the front line of the conflict during the Balkan War, Mostar was badly damaged by the fighting. Its famous bridge, from which young men traditionally dive, was completely destroyed and the town’s residents were unable to cross the river.

Back to its former glory, the Stari Most Bridge is host to the annual diving competition in July. The beauty of Mostar lies in its turquoise river and shiny white stone buildings. But there are reminders of the city’s brutal past visible in the bombed out buildings nestled within the town making it a remarkable place to visit.

Lake Bled

5. Ljubljana, Slovenia

Nestled in an alpine valley and straddling the Ljubljana River, Ljubljana is a picture-perfect and very walkable city. The place has a café culture vibe, with the cobbled streets filled with bicycles and laid-back students. A trip to the magnificent Lake Bled with its church island is a must. Here you can try a number of water sports, hiking and biking.

5 Life Changing Travel Experiences

Source: gapyear.com

Spot the Big 5 on safari

This life changing travel experience is one for animal lovers. Countries where you can spot all members of the big five include South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Botswana. Remember to have your camera at the ready!

Source: VisitNorway

Witness the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights can be viewed from many countries such as Norway, Finland, Canada and even Alaska. However nothing is guaranteed, which makes catching a glimpse an experience of a lifetime.

Source: onestep4ward

Climb Kilimanjaro

If you’re looking for a challenge of a lifetime climbing the world’s highest walkable peak may be just the thing for you. The best time for climbing Kilimanjaro is between January and mid-March or June through October, and many people choose to take up the challenge whilst raising money towards a good cause.

Source: theplanetd

Travel to Antarctica

Very few people can say that they have witnessed first-hand the nature and wildlife of Antarctica. If you’re lucky enough to be one of those few, how life changing is that?!

Source: Penguintravel

Ride the Trans-Siberian Railway

The 9,288m trek through eight time zones is considered one of the most memorable journeys you can take. So if you’re spontaneous enough to buy a ticket this could be one train ride that could change your life.

The Best Food in South East Asia

Yummy Malaysian vegetable and dhall curry

After 3 months, 6 countries (with 2 more to go!) and 154 meals (a rough guess), we have tried our fair share of South East Asian food. Despite many mishaps and dashes to the loo(!), the whole experience of trying new dishes, getting out of our comfort zones, and finding great recipes we will be taking home with us has been one of the highlights of our adventure away from home. As most people who have visited to Asia will agree, eating in this part of the world is not only enjoyable but also an experience. It’s where different cultures, climates, customs and histories all come together, and sometimes eating at a street-side vendor is just as insightful as spending the day visiting the different sights and tourist attractions. Food is taken very seriously over here with most streets lined with street vendours. In Thailand the very common greeting; “have you eaten rice yet?” sometimes replaces the usual “hello”.

As we are soon to be leaving Asia for our new adventure in Australia I thought I’d share with you some of the best food we have eaten on this trip.

Pad Thai (Thailand)

Our very own Pad Thai creations during our Chiang Mai cooking class

In my opinion Thailand has the best street food in South East Asia, with Bangkok taking the culinary crown. Okay, so most people who have visited Thailand rattle on about Pad Thai and how amazing it is to the point where it almost puts you off the dish. However, at 30Baht a go it was our main meal of choice and tastes the best when purchased from one of the street vendours rather than a restaurant. We were lucky enough to have a go at making this ourselves during our cooking class in Chiang Mai. For something so simple to cook, it seems wrong that it should taste so good. When you’re on a budget as well, the eggy noodles are the best way to fill you up on the cheap. I’ll definitely be taking the recipe back home with me to England.

Pho (Vietnam)

A steaming bowl of Pho

On a 38 degree day, after walking the city streets for hours, the last thing I felt like eating was a steaming soup of noodles in a sweaty restaurant. But amazingly, a big bowl of noodle soup with wierd bits of beef, and a plate piled high with extras to add as you wish (limes, chillies, mint and a strange-looking assortment of weed-like plants) it quickly became my all-time favourite Asian dish. When I get home I will try (and no doubt fail) to recreate it but it definitely won’t be the same as from a Vietnamese street vendour lady.

Fish Amok (Cambodia)

Source: eattheplate.wordpress.com

Amok is Cambodia’s culinary oyster and you’ll come across it on almost all restaurant menus. The national dish (or so it seems) consists of a savoury coconut curry, sometimes served within banana leaf. It’s rich, creamy and very very tasty.

Tandoori Chicken (Malaysia)

Jim enjoying his Tandoori chicken

The minute you set your foot on the ground in Malaysia, you notice how the food is heavily influenced by Indian culture. During our stay at Penang, the ‘pearl’ of Asian cuisine, we made the most of the Indian influences and ate our favourite dishes every night. One of the highlights was the Tandoori chicken ‘set’ which includes a naan of your choice (cheese obviously), a peice of heavily marinated Tandoori chicken, onions and lime, and vaiorus sauces for dipping. At roughly RM9, this is by far the best bargain you can get in Malaysia!