Chronicles of a Traveller

Welcome to my blog. I AM ... BA student. Avid learner. Global thinker. Constant dreamer. Intrepid traveller. Passionate about all things African. Obsessed with current affairs. twitter.com/Marina23Henry instragram.com/marina23henry

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Some of the many photos from my stay in Sydney

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Melbourne or Sydney?

The stiff competition between Melbourne and Sydney is well known in Australia. Perhaps not so well outside the country. Canberra, today's Australian capital, was purposely built to deter the scale of the rivarly between the two towns from becoming any stronger. Canberra is situated midway between Melbourne and Syndey and was seen as a diplomatic compromise. It became the capital in 1927. One must however state that Melbourne has been the capital of Australia, but Sydney never has been (in case you can't tell, yes I am from Melbourne).

As I am from Melbourne, I decided that I needed to properly discover Sydney and see what all the fuss was about. So I got an internship in Sydney and lived there for two months. Here are my thoughts on how the two cities compare. And my answer to the obvious question: Melbounre or Syndey?

First things first: the weather. I think we all know that its warmer in winter in Syndey. Personally I prefer a cold winter with big blue skies, just like Melbourne. I found that while I was in Sydney (June-July), I never knew what to wear. Melbourne is known for having 'four seasons in a day' weather. This is pretty much true. It must however be said that annually, it rains more in Sydney than it does in Melbourne. In summer, it is pretty/very hot in both cities.

The city of culture? Melbourne is generally known as the city of culture (among other things). During the course of my stay in Sydney, I visited numerous musuems and also went back home to Melbourne on numerous occassions. I commonly found that while Sydney musuems were very interesting, they did't have any outstanding exhibitions on. During the same time period, the National Gallery of Victoria was holding a Monet exhibition (it held an exhibition on Bonaparte in the winter of 2012). Moreover, the Meblourne Musuem was holding an exhibition on the hidden treasures of Afghanistan (it held one on Tutankhamun previously). Personally, I think Melbourne wins the 'culture' element hands down. There seem to be so many more culturally related events, as well as great exhibitions on annually.

Shopping? When it comes to the well renownded 'big' brands, Australia isn't exaclty up to speed. Generally, all the expensive European brands (Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Burberry, etc.) are here. However when it comes to the cheaper, more affordable brands like Zara, H&M, Mango, etc. we are to put easily way behind. For example, Zara made it to Australian shores in April 2011. Topshop earlier this year. And H&M, well H&M isn't here yet. It is supposed to be coming here some time next year. I think that once H&M arrives, local Australian brands such as Sportsgirl, will really really struggle. The retail market is already in a pretty dire situation because most people order online because there is so little choice here. So fashion isn't exacly what we are known for, and never will be. Asking around and reading different articles, the general consensus seems to be that the shopping is better in Melbourne. It is certainly cheaper and there are far more local brands there. Moreover the shopping there is alot 'easier'. I however prefer the shopping in Sydney. If you're looking for an international brand and the biggest store in Australia (thus with the best selection) Sydney is the place.

Sport? In case you hadn't realised, Australia is a country that loves its sports. Literally loves. New South Wales has rugby. Victoria has footy. Both States have respectively adopted the other's 'national' sport, to a certain extent. Do not ask me to explain what the rules of rugby are or what the difference between rugby league and rugby union is. Both States have helded the Olympics. Yes, Melbourne has had them...way back in 1956. When it comes to holding international sporting events, its fair to say that Melbounre wins with the Australian Open held in January, the Formula One in March...and the Melbourne Cup in November, or 'the race that stops a nation'. It's actually a public holiday in Vicotoria (I personally find that a bit ridiculous). All the sporting complexes in Melbourne are at your doorstep with the MCG, the tennis complex and AAMI Stadium 10 minutes walking distance from the city. And Ethiad which is in the city. In Sydney, everything is further away. ANZ Stadium (Olympic Stadium), where major sporting events are held is a good 45 minutes by ferry. The MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) is probably Melbourne's most famous monument: a stadium that holds up to 100,000 people, and regularly has crowds on 80,000 on a Friday night chearing on their footy team. And I think that says it all.

Outdoors? As we are a sporting nation, we love our outdoor activities. When it comes to beaches, Sydney wins. Easily. Melbourne has St Kilda beach and then Brighton beach which is a bit further out of town. Don't expect to go surfing here. Sydney has Bondi. 20 minutes from the CBD. And you can most definitely surf there. Or do nothing at all. There are many other beaches near the Eastern Suburbs, as well as Manly beach, a half an hour ferry trip from Circular Quay. Then there are the beautiful Northern beaches. If you're a runner, a run around the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, referred to by the locals as the Tan, is the best way to go about it. Although the views when walking along the water in the Botanical Gardens in Sydney are hard to beat.

Public transport? Public transport isn't really our thing in Australia. We have it, but its the absolute minimum, and nothing like Paris or London. Syndey has buses and trains. Melbourne has trains and trams. And a couple buses. Sydney is such a spread out city and the trains certainly don't go everywhere and neither do the buses. I've never been a fan of buses. So while I was in Sydney I stuck to the trains. While in Sydney, they were in the midst of putting in place the equivalent of the Oyster card (yep Melbourne already has its own). This actually really shocked me. So far it only works on trains and in the CBD. If you want to go on a bus in Sydney, you have to buy a ticket in a newsagent, which lasts you ten journeys. So the cost of transport quickly gets expensive. Melbourne is far less spread out than Sydney so the trains go to far more places. And the tram system, the biggest in the world, is quite simply great. It goes almost everywhere. The one massive problem in Melbourne is the fact that there is no train that goes out to the airport. And the airport isn't exactly close by. Its 23km from the CBD. Yes there are buses that take you to Southern Cross Station, but once you get there, people generally catch a taxi anyway because who wants to walk around with their heavy luggage. Sydney airport is super close, 8km from the city and there's a train. It only takes about 10 minutes to get out there. It is well worth it because to catch a cab from the airport to the CBD is about 50 Australian dollars and its about the same price in Melbourne when there's a 15km difference. So its definitely worth using.

Food? We love our food in Australia. The list of food related TV shows is very very long. So I guess we are kind of obsessed. I've found that in Sydney food is very Asian inspired while in Melbourne, much of the food is European inspired, mainly Greek and Italian. Over the past few years, a 'cafe society' has developed in Melbourne. Today it is huge. This 'cafe society' feel is far less present or apparent in the harbour city. I do enjoy the 'cafe society' but it can become rather dangerous when you're on a mission to try all the best places in an area. Both cities have their respective up-scale well-known restaurants. I enjoy the diversity of food in both cities as well as the Melburnian cafe society to an extent, as it does get a bit much some times.

My verdict? I'm probably a bit biased but Melbourne tops it for me. Yes, its what I'm used to. Before this trip I'd only been to Sydney once. Both cities have their positives and negatives. But I guess the major difference for me between the two cities is the 'feeling' of it. Melbourne is a big city, but somehow it still feels like you are in a small town. Within an hours drive, you are well out of town in Melbourne. In Sydney, you would still be in one of the many suburbs. I've also found that in Melbourne, each suburb has its own main street and is unique in character and fell. I didn't find this in Sydney. I guess it depends what you are looking for in a city but overall I much prefer the 'small town' feel that Melbourne has despite the fact that there are over 4 million people living there.

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Book Review #3

The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna

'Memory of Love' tells the story of Adrian Lockheart, a British psychologist who leaves his family behind in England to work in Sierra Leone. He arrives in Freetown, the Sierra Leonean capital, folowing the end of civil war. He quickly becomes friends with Kai Mansaray, a young surgeon at the hospital he works at. In the hospital Adrian encounters Elias Cole, an elderly and unwell man, who is in the midst of reflecting on his past. The memories of his youth in the busselling capital are recorded in a series of notebooks. These notebooks frequently talk about Saffia, a woman he had an obsessive love for, as well as referrring to her fiery, rebellious husband. The stories of these four main charcters will over the course of the book entwine and collide to create an unforgetable story about love, loss and the effects the past can have on your future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it gave a great insight into the lives of Sierra Leonean people before and after the civil war. The fact that this book is told through the eyes of different people, both from Sierra Leone and foreigners, allows the reader to discover the perspective and accounts of people from various backgrounds with regards to the situation of the country. Moreover, I thought that the fact that the novel is based around a love story makes it that much more real and emotional for the reader. It is beautifully written, and both moving and uplifting. If you are interested in Sierra Leone or enjoy a love story with a dramatic backdrop, I recommend you read 'The Memory of Love'.

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Top 5 things to do in Hong Kong

There is honeslty no place quite like Hong Kong. I lived there for four and a half years and just loved it. It is definitely in my top 5 favourite cities in the world, and I would love to live there again. It has such a unique history and is today in a particular situation with regards to its status. These are 5 of the many things I would recommend doing if you ever have the opportunity to visit Hong Kong.

1. Victoria Peak

This is the place where you go to get the best views of the city. I recommend catching the Peak tram to the top. You are able to see the city in all its greatness while riding up to the top of the mountain. Once you get to the top, you can visit the Peak Tower and this is where you get the best views (also the possibility of doing some shopping while you're there). Once you've taken in the beautiful views, the walk around the Peak is very enjoyable (and very popular). Finally, I would finish of your time up on the Peak by having dinner at Cafe Deco (great food and great views)!

2. Star Ferry

The Star Ferry is very much a part of Hong Kong's history. The journey from Hong Kong island to Kowloon has certainly become quicker over time, as more and more land filling takes place, but I think that it is still worth it. The upper level is the place to sit. From there you can take in all the hussel and bussel of the city and the harbour, from seeing large cruise ships and container ships to junk boats, this trip offers you the whole city in one large picture.

3. Afternoon tea at the Peninsula

While you're in Hong Kong, I believe that this is most definitely a must. It may come as a surprise that one of my top 5 involves having afternoon tea at a hotel, but this is no ordinary hotel. This is the original Peninsula hotel. There is s much history engrossed in the walls of this hotel. When you walk in, you feel like you are taken back in time to the olden days of Hong Kong, with the harpist playing and the neo-classical arches of the lobby. It is an incredible feeling. The afternoon tea is beautifully presented and delicious. This is a hot spot for both locals and tourists, and they do not take bookings so they queue can be quite long but it is definitely worth the wait.

4. Stanley Market

Stanley Market is about a 45 minute bus ride for the center of town (there is a shorter bus route but I recommend taking the longer one as you get the chance to see the whole island). Once there, let the shopping begin! There are some great stores and your bargaining powers will be tested by the locals. There are also some great food stalls. While there, I also recommend visiting the temple. And the beach is just round the corner! The market can get quite busy on the weekend so if you're not a fan of big crowds, I would recommend going during the week.

5. Bank of China tower

The Bank of China tower is one of the most recognisable buidlings in Hong Kong for its unique design and hight. The construstion of this buidling started in 1985 and was completed and opened in 1990. You can take a ride to the top and admire the great views of the harbour and learn more of the buidling itself.

If you're a keen shopper, then you'll definitely love Hong Kong. The 'big' brands are all in the center of town, around the Princes Buidling. You can also go to the IFC and Pacific Place for some great shopping.

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Top 5 things to do in Johannesburg

A large majority of people see Johannesburg as a 'transit city'. They also believe that it is incredibly dangerous and that there is not much at all to do there. This could not be further from the truth. There is so much history engrossed in this town and such a big part of what we know as South Africa today was 'built' there. There is no denying that Jo'burg is far from safe, but it is a lot safer than it used to be. 20 years ago, no white person would be seen walking around the CBD. Having lived there, Jo'burg will always have a place in my heart and personally there is just something about the place (if you get what I mean). If you are travelling to South Africa, I assure you there is more to see than the walls of O.R. Tambo International Airport. Here are my top 5 things to do there.

1. Hector Pieterson Museum

The photo of a dying Hector Pieterson being carried by a man with his sister running alongside them after being shot by police during the Soweto riots in 1976 has become iconic. The museum itself is situated along the road where the peaceful protest began on the 16th of June 1976. The museum tells the story of Apartheid through images, testimonies, videos and objects. I found everything to be very well explained. Outside the museum is the Hector Pieterson Memorial which commemorates his death but also all the other students who fought for their rights during the Apartheid regime.

2. Constitutional Hill

The Constitutional Hill is the seat of the Constitutional Court of South Africa. The hill was formaly the site of a fort which was later used as a prison. The prison closed in 1983 and the first court hearings took place in 1995. Visiting the Court is I found a very special moment. The art work was chosen by well known South African Constitutional Court judge Albie Sachs and spread throughout the Court. While there you can also walk around the former prison. They often have photo exihibitions there. I also recommend walking along the old Fort walls. You get great views of the city skyline and surrounding suburbs.

3. Nelson Mandela's House

Nelson Mandela's house in Soweto, situated on the same road as Desmund Tutu's house, was his first house in the township and the one where his family lived while he was imprisoned on Robben Island. It is today a museum. It is very small and can therefore be very crowded. I however think that it is worth the visit as it is a important part of the country's history and there is much to learn from visiting it.

4. Alexandra

Alexandra is a township situated close to rich suburb of Sandton. It is one of the poorest townships in the country with a very high density population. It is very different from Soweto, which has today become a trendy place to live. Visiting Alexandra is definitely an eye-opening experience. When I visited we had lunch in a restaurant on one of the main streets, simple yet delicious. We then drove to a local kindergarten before driving past Nelson Mandela's house.

5. Regina Mundi Church

Regina Mundi Church is situated in Soweto and is an important building in South African history. It played a pivotal role in the struggle against Apartheid. This became the place where locals would hold meetings and political discussions as political meetings in public places were banned. On the 16th of June 1976 as the police began to chase after the protesters, many of them fled to the church. The police entered the church and fired live ammunition. Although no one was killed, there were many injuries and today the church stills bears the signs of the shooting. At the back of the Church, there is an excellent permanent photo exhibition. I would highly recommend visiting the Regina Mundi Church.

I highly recommend doing the Robin Binckes Spear of the Nation tours. The tour takes you through Soweto and Alexandra. This tour is fabulous. Robin only takes small group, I've been twice and each time it was just my family. Robin knows so much and has been working in these areas for such a long time. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Top 5 things to do in Cape Town

Cape Town, or the Mother city as it is commonly referred to in South Africa, is an absolutely stunning city. These are the top 5 things I recommend you should do while you are in and around Cape Town.

1/ Robben Island

Robben Island is about a half an hour ferry trip from Cape Town. If you are interested in South Afican history I definitely think it is a must. When you arrive on the island, you jump on a bus which takes you on a tour around the island where you get to see the village where the prison guards used to live for example, but also the quarry and the kennels for the guard dogs. You then arrive at the prison itself where you are taken on a tour by an ex-prisoner. I have done this tour twice and have had a different tour guide every time and so I definitely believe that each tour is very unique. Once your tour of the prison is complete, you walk back to the ferry terminal. On the way you can take a little detour and go and visit the local penguins. I would recommend doing the early morning tour as you arrive back in Cape Town around lunch and you therefore then have the option of having lunch somewhere along the wharf.

2/ Table Mountain

Table Mountain offers an absolutely incredible view of the city as well as Robben Island and the coast line (on a clear day that is). Taking the gondola up there also allows you the ooportunity to see the city from a different perspective. Moreover there is no need to rush in to pick an ideal spot as it is a revolving gondola (such a genius idea!). On the gondola ride up you many even be lucky and see some people climbing up the mountain, a very different experience which I'm yet to do (and probably won't knowing the very steep climb that awaits at the end). This is definitely a tourist hot spot with large buses waiting in the car park but its definitly worth the views!

3/ Cape of Good Hope

This is about an hour drive outside of town. Cape Town is an easy city to drive in and fairly safe so I would hire a car when there. Once you are in the Table Mountain National Park (there is a fee to drive in), there are two main things to do there. The first being to drive up to Cape Point. Once you have parked your car, you have the option of either walking up to Light House (about 20 minutes up a steep hill) or taking the short journey in the funicular. Once you arrive at the top, its about another 5-10 minute walk climbing up the stairs to reach the Light House. The view is so worth it once you get there. This is the actual point where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet. The views are incredible (warning to those scared of hights it is a straight drop down from the Light House). The second thing to do is to drive down to the actual Cape of Good Hope. Here you can get a photo of yourself standing behind the 'Cape Of Good Hope' sign and have a walk along the rather treacherous rocks. And for those who are brave enough a short drive away from the Cape of Good Hope is a beach where you can go for a dip in the freezing Atlantic Ocean.

4/ Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch is about a 50 kilometer drive from Cape Town. It is the second oldest European settlement in the province, after Cape Town. There is therefore a lot of history entrenched in this small town. The town is also famous for its universty, wine and the number of oak trees there are (literally so many). I definitely recommend making a day trip of it. You can go to the tourist office and from there they organise walking tours around the town which are really interesting. You can then go for lunch in one of the nice cafes and have a walk arounf yourself visiting the different historical buidlings, and of course visiting one of the many wineries in the area.

5/ Hermanus

The town of Hermanus is just over an hours drive away from Cape Town. The main reason to go there is to see the many Southern Right whales durinf the southern winter and spring. I have been here on every one of my visits to Cape Town and have seen whales on every occasion so there is a very good chance of seeing some. You have the option of either going out on a boat or staying put and watching them from the coastline (I do this as I am prone to sea sickness). There are some great places to see them and if you have the right camera you can get some great photos or you might be lucky enough and they might come very close to the shoreline. Hermanus has definitely changed a lot since the first time I went there. The first time I went there it was this small authentic little fishing/retirement village. Its fair to say that tourism there revolves around the whale season so it has become quite well 'touristy' (if that makes sense). If you ara a keen whale wachter I definitely reommend the trip.

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Skeleton Coast Safaris

Ever since watching a program about the Skeleton Coast when I was a kid, it was a dream of mine to go there and experience this wonderfully beautiful treacherous coast line. Three years ago this dream came true in a rather unexpected way. I certainly wasn't envisioning discovering the Skeleton Coast on a 'flying safari' especially as I'm a rather nervous flyer. This was honestly one of the best vacations in my life! You travel in a small plane, six seats, one is reserved for the cooler, up the coast. The 'company' is family run by four brothers and called Skeleton Coast Safaris. There are four different safaris. Here is a 'resume' of mine.

We started our journey in Sossusvlei and over the next three days flew all the way up to the Angolan boarder. Each night you stay in a different camp which is exclusively for the those on the flying safari. 

During the first day flying, you fly up the Namibian coast past Walvis bay and land in Swakopmund to refuel before continuing your journey along the coast. You then land on a beach where you have lunch on the wing of the plane and look at the old shipwrecks. Thereafter, you take off and start heading inland. Suddenly the weals of the plane go down and you find yourself landing in between two canyons (slightly scary). Here Andre, our pilot, showed us the different plants that live in this arid land. Our final flight of the day was to our camp which was situated in the midst of an oasis. We were served a hearty meal. Before heading to our individual tents, we had a close look at the beautiful stars and the moon through a telescope.

On the morning of our second day, we were told that we could not fly until after lunch as it was far too windy, normal for that time of year. We therefore spent the morning exploring the surroundings, the highlight being able to see rock art. After lunch we took off heading back out towards the coast. As we got closer and closer to the coast, the fog got thicker and thicker. Heading up the coast line, we saw many shipwrecks, both old and new, all very impressive. We also saw the large seal colonies and the carcass of a dead whale. We then landed on a rather fancy runway, later learning that this was the case because this was where the ex Namibian president came fishing. We all got into an old Land Rover and headed for the dunes. Driving through the dunes was great fun, we quickly learnt why they were called the 'roaring dunes'. We then hoped back onto the plane and flew to our camp for the night which is elevated above a dry river. We had dinner by the camp fire and later went to bed in our huts.

On the morning of the third day, while looking down onto the dry river bed we all spotted fresh lion foot prints. After a quick breakfast, we headed out in hope of finding the lions. We followed the footprints for a couple of hours without being able to find them. Desert lions are today very rare so just being able to track was so thrilling! After all the excitement, we got on the plane for a quick trip to go and see the desert elephants. We had success here and saw many. We then headed back to the camp for lunch and then got back on the plane and flew further North all the way up the Angolan boarder. The two countries are separated by the Kunene River. Flying along the river, we began ' canyon flying'. Scary but oh so fun. We then headed slightly in land towards our camp. To our surprise our camp was actually situated along the river, a splendid setting. Our last dinner was delicious.

On our final morning, we took a boat and explored the river. We also had morning tea in Angola. We got on the plane just before midday and began the long flight back to Windhoek. We had a quick pause half way through. We landed in Windhoek just as the sun was setting.

All in all, this is certainly what I would define as an adventure. It's an incredible journey through a stunning constantly changing landscape. I found myself learning so many new and interesting things. I would most definitely recommend it!!

http://www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com/

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Top 5 lodges in Africa

I've been to numerous safari lodges in Africa and thought I'd give you my personal top 5.

1. Ulusaba Private Game Reserve

This is Richard Branson's private game reserve. It is situated in the Sabi Sands. I've been here 3 times and I absolutely love it. There are two lodges: Rock Lodge and Safari Lodge. I've always stayed at Rock Lodge. The views from the rooms and the main area are just to die for. I have however had lunch at Safari Lodge. It is situated along the Sands River. I think it would be a very different experience from staying up at Rock Lodge, but just as incredible. The rooms are simple yet wonderful. They have everything you need in them. The suites each have their own plug pool. There is also a bigger pool for everyone to share. Every time I've been there the staff have always been great and very professional. Rock Lodge is perfect if you are coming as a family (children under 12 are not allowed to stay at Safari Lodge). There is a big lounge with lots of games for children. They can also bring in entertainment for children, such as a snake handler (scary!!!). In terms of animals, you are basically assured of seeing everything at Ulusaba. The rangers and their trackers always put in the hard work to make sure you get to what you want to see. There is one thing that makes Ulusaba stand out from all the other lodges that I've been to. When dinner comes around, all the guests sit at one table. Some people may not like this. I personally think it is the best idea ever!! You get to really know the other guests. You are assured of hearing some interesting stories and of having a good laugh. At breakfast, you eat with your ranger. Lunch with your family. So I think it's a perfect balance. Ulusaba is by far my favourite lodge in Africa and will always have a special place in my heart. If it's your first time going on safari or you're going with your family, I really recommend Ulusaba.

http://www.ulusaba.virgin.com/

2. Tswalu Kalahari Reserve

This is the Oppenheimer's private game reserve. It's situated in the Kalahari, about a 2 hour flight from both Cape Town and Johannesburg. I wouldn't recommend going here on your first trip to Africa. You won't see elephants or buffalo. But this place is absolutely stunning. It's a private game reserve so you are literally the only ones there. There are two lodges. One with 12 rooms, including two family rooms, and the other is more for big groups. It should be pointed out that the reserve into two separate parts: one with the carnivores, and the other with the herbivores and cheetahs. This set up as both positives and negatives. The negative being that you have to drive through a get. However, a HUGE positive is that you can get out of the car and get up close and personal with the animals. I did this with both cheetahs and rhinos. It was so thrilling. Moreover, you can go horse riding in this part of the reserve. I seriously recommend this. If you've never been horse riding before no need to worry, they have experienced trainers and the horses are great. It's a once in a life time experience so I really recommend it!!! You need to know how to put up with the cold here if you go during the South African winter cause it really is freezing, but it is so worth it. Another highlight is the stars. Personally, I think I could spend my life staring at the stars. And this is a great place to see them. Another thing to add is the fact that it is in a malaria free zone. All in all I really recommend Tswalu. It's something different and is great for families.

http://www.tswalu.com/

3. Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara

Kichwa Tembo is situated in the Kenyan Masai Mara. It's one of the very many lodges owned by &Beyond, a great company which I highly recommend for travelling in East Africa. Kichwa Tembo is made up of 3 lodges: one main camping lodge, and two smaller lodges, North and South camp. The rooms in these smaller camps are also tents, although much fancier. The Masai Mara is very different from the South African landscape, much more open wide spaces and fare less bush land. As was the case in Ulusaba, here you are also assured of seeing basically everything. And there is the added bonus of the migration. I have seen the magical natural spectacle and I would go back just to see it again. It's absolutely incredible. The time to go if you want to see the migration is during the European summer. You are obviously not assured of seeing the animals cross the river, but seeing the large herds of animals and the noise they make is an incredible sight. There is also the opportunity of taking a ballon ride above the Mara with a champagne breakfast at the end. Highly recommended. Seeing the animals from another perspective is very interesting and photos you get of the sun coming up over the horizon are stunning. If you are going on safari to East Africa, Kichwa Tembo is a must on your journey.

http://www.andbeyond.com/

4. Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

This lodge is about a two hour plane journey from Windhoek, the Namibian capital. Like Kichwa Tembo, this lodge is owned by &Beyond. It is situated in the NamibRand Nature Reserve, among the endless dunes and mountains of the region. There are 10 rooms. These rooms are simple yet stunning. They are quite large with king size beds and couches. There are outside showers. Moreover, each room has its own telescope and painting set. The highlight of the rooms is the skylight which is positioned above the bed. Personally, I don't think there is no better place to see the stars. It's simply beautiful! The lodge also has its own rather large telescope and a resident astronomer. A regular consists of going on a morning game drive, coming for a tasty lunch before having a relaxing couple of hours, then heading out on the afternoon drive. Animals are a lot rarer here but the scenery is just breathtaking. Numerous activities are also included in your stay such as the quad biking which I highly recommend. At an extra cost, I would also recommend taking the day trip to Sossusvlei where you can admire the landscape and attempt to climb dune 45, the highest in the world. As something a bit different and of course from what most people do when they plan their safari to Africa, I definitely suggest Sossusvlei, and Namibia in general.

http://www.andbeyond.com/

5. Klein's Camp

Klein's camp is situated outside the Serengeti National Park on a private concession. It also belongs to &Beyond. It is perched on a mountain. The views from the main bar and from all the rooms are therefore splendid looking out onto the green plains and watching the rain come in over the mountains. The rooms here to me have a certain 'Out of Africa' feel. The camp used to be the base of a hunting camp and is therefore very authentic I find. Compared to other places in East Africa, there are less animals at Klein's Camp, but you will still see everything but just on rarer occasions. You also have the possibility of going into the Serengeti, at an extra cost however.  Here you are also to visit the local Masai village, as well as the local school and the hospital which were both built thanks to guests' donations. Klein's Camp is generally part of the "AndBeyond circuit" in Tanzania and I wouldn't miss it!

http://www.andbeyond.com/

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Book Review #2

The Cypress Tree by Kamin Mohammadi

This book  tells the true story of Kamin Mohammadi. She was born in Iran. Following the Iran Revolution, her parents and her sister and herself moved to London leaving behind the rest of her family, her friends and everything that she knew. There she turned her back on the past and spent her teenage years trying to fit in with British attitudes to food, family and freedom. She returned to Iran for the first time when she was 27 years old, 18 years after she had left her homeland behind. Throughout this book, we follow her on her return journey home, through the memories of her mother and grand-mother.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It enabled me to discover the violent history of Iran and I certainly learnt alot. I thought that it was well written and felt that the feelings of the author transpired through her writing.

Rating: 5/5

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Summer 2013... I am waiting for you! Part 2

Part 2 of my summer will be spent in Cambodia. 5 weeks volunteering! Never been there so I'm over EXCITED!!!! Here's a list of the things I want to do while I'm there:

1. Visit Angkor Vat

2. Visit the Silver Pagoda

3. Visit Sihanoukville 

4. Go to Siem Reap

5. See the Independence Monument 

6. Go the National Musuem

7. Visit Wat Phnom

8. Visit Tuol Sleng Musuem

9. Visit Cheung Ek killing fields

10. See freshwater dolphins in Kratie

11. Visit Tonle Sap

12. Visit the Royal Palace

13. Visit Ta Prohm

14. Visit the Central Market in Phnom Phen

There will probably be more!! Much more!!

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Summer 2013... I am waiting for you!

Sydney is my first destination this summer. Spending 8 weeks there working is going to be AMAZING!!!! Despite being Australian, I've only been there once so I've put together a list of things I wanna do while I'm there:

1. Visit the Opera House

2. Walk across the Harbour Bridge

3. Visit Bondi Beach

4. Visit the Botanical Gardens

5. Go to Manly Beach on the ferry

6. Visit the Blue Mountains

7. Go to Luna Park

8. Go to the Sydney Tower

9. Visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales

10. Go to a footy game at the SCG

11. Visit the Sydney Museum

12. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art

13. Visit the Sydney Jewish Museum

14. Go to Botany Bay

15. Go whale watching

16. Visit the Sydney Fish Market

17. Do the Manly to Spit Bridge Scenic Walk

18. Do the Bondi Beach to Coogee Clifftop costal walk

[hatelovemoneysex-deactivated201]

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Agreed!

[chroniclesofatraveller]

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.

Hilarie Belloc

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.

Will Smith

[chroniclesofatraveller]

Royal Albert Hall

[chroniclesofatraveller]

January 1 2013 fireworks in Zurs! Always put on the best show!

[chroniclesofatraveller]

London under the snow! Beautiful!