Travel
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Guide to Walking the MacRitchie Trail, Singapore – Tips, Routes, and Highlights
I helped myself to some nasi goreng at breakfast but the hotel’s version was made with salted fish which had a distinctive strong flavour which didn’t appeal so I moved on to some curry puffs and french toast that was more to my liking. Breakfast over, we picked up some bottles of water and headed…
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Mt. Faber Cable Car and Henderson Waves Walk – Singapore’s Scenic Adventure
After spending the previous day on the tranquil and unspoilt island of Pulau Ubin, it was a change of scene with a visit to Sentosa, dubbed the island of fun! From our hotel we took the MRT from Somerset on the North East line over to HarbourFront station as the Singapore Cable Car runs from…
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A Day in Pulau Ubin, Singapore – How to Get There and What to Expect
At breakfast this morning along with my usual yoghurt and fruit I sampled some fried carrot cake. This tasted quite good but I’m unsure how it gets its name as it is neither a cake nor does it contain carrots! It bears no resemblance to the sweet carrot cake popular in the west but is…
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Why You Should Take The Fullerton Heritage Tour, Singapore
After a leisurely breakfast in the hotel’s Crystal Cafe where we were tempted into sampling many Asian delicacies, we took the MTR to City Hall station. Just outside the metro station stands the anglican St. Andrew’s Cathedral so we started our day there as we were slightly early for our planned activity. The cathedral was…
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Exploring Kampong Glam, Little India, and Supertree Grove – Singapore’s Cultural and Iconic Sights
After a good night’s sleep, we were interested to find out what breakfast would be like. Although the Orchard Grand Court is a serviced apartment, it also offers guests the option of an inclusive breakfast in its Crystal Cafe. Unlike the apartments which have a contemporary feel, the Crystal Cafe is a traditionally furnished restaurant…
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Flying AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore and getting from Changi Airport by public transport
It was our final morning in Kuala Lumpur and we started the day with a relaxing breakfast. We then returned to our room to finish off our packing before checking out of the hotel. The lifts were still out of order at the nearby monorail station so once again we had to manoeuvre our heavy…
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How to Visit Putrajaya from Kuala Lumpur – Travel Tips and City Highlights
It was my favourite morning at the Holiday Inn Express as I noticed that the delicious flatbread roti canai was on the menu and I couldn’t resist having several slices along with my usual selection of cheese, fresh fruit and yoghurt. We had planned to spend the day in Putrajaya, 25 km from Kuala Lumpur…
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Malacca Highlights – Organised Day Trip from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We were up bright and early as we didn’t want to have to rush our breakfast as we’d arranged to be picked up from the hotel at approximately 8.45 a.m. for a day trip to Malacca. Although we usually travel independently, getting to Malacca and seeing all the main sights scattered around the city isn’t…
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The Wheatley Arms, Ilkley Review
Location This handsome stone inn stands proudly in the small village of Ben Rhydding set amid leafy lanes and in the shadow of the famous Cow & Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor. The hotel lies 18 miles north west of Leeds and just one mile from the Victorian spa town of Ilkley which oozes charm…
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Explore Kuala Lumpur’s Civic District – History, Architecture, and Top Attractions
We slept really well, not waking until our alarm went off at 7.30 a.m. despite the five hour time difference from Qatar. Breakfast was served in the large, airy restaurant on the first floor, a little too airy perhaps as on future mornings I planned to wear a cardigan! There was a large variety of…
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Qatar Airways Doha to Kuala Lumpur – Flights, Arrival, and Public Transport Guide
It was just after 2.00 a.m. when we boarded our Qatar Airways A340-600 flight at Hamad International Airport bound for Kuala Lumpur with a journey time of 7 hours 55 minutes. Our selected seats of 21A and 21B were situated on the second row of the economy cabin and the seating configuration of 2-4-2 meant…
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Souq Waqif Boutique Hotel, Doha, Qatar Review
Hotel Review We had taken advantage of the Discover Qatar Programme which is available to passengers who have booked flights with Qatar Airways and can be taken in either direction of travel. After booking flights it was very easy to add the Discover Qatar programme to our itinerary, with visa free entry being available for…
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Why You Should Visit Katara Cultural Village & The Pearl, Doha
We slept until 9.00 a.m. but as we had a long day ahead of us, it didn’t matter. It was so nice to be able to ring for the club car to meet us at the door and take us over to the Al Mirqab Hotel for breakfast on its terrace. As we had enjoyed…
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How to Make the Most of a Day in Doha – Top Sights, Food & Culture
We had slept like logs in our extremely comfortable bed and ignored the phone alarm at 7.00 a.m. preferring an extra hour in bed. Finally raising the energy to get up I was brought back to life in the shower which probably had the largest monsoon head that I had ever seen and I lingered…
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Discover Qatar Airways Doha Stopover Programme: Key Features
I had travelled down to London the previous evening where I met my son at the Premier Inn, Gatwick Airport. This hotel is conveniently located at the north terminal and can be easily accessed from Gatwick Railway Station at the south terminal by means of the inter-terminal shuttle service which takes only two minutes. It…
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Heptonstall and Todmorden, Calderdale
Our short break in the picturesque South Pennine town of Hebden Bridge was nearing its end and we reluctantly packed our belongings into the car and bade farewell to Josephine, the friendly owner of the Croft Mill Aparthotel where we’d enjoyed a two night stay. It was then only a short drive up to the…
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Exploring Hebden Bridge, Halifax and Sowerby Bridge
After sleeping soundly in our comfortable beds at Croft Mill we prepared breakfast from the generous hamper that had been left for us, feasting on organic muesli with strawberries and grapes, free range eggs and wholemeal crusty bread. It was again another bright, sunny morning as we set out to explore the idyllic small town…
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Croft Mill Aparthotel, Hebden Bridge Review
Hotel Review Location Croft Mill Aparthotel is located in the centre of the attractive small town of Hebden Bridge which lies 8 miles west of Halifax and is perfectly placed mid way between Leeds and Manchester, both less than an hour away. The apartments have a car park which is a huge bonus in such…
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Why You Should Visit Halifax in Calderdale – History, Culture & Attractions
It was a long time since I last visited Hebden Bridge, a small market town nestled in the south Pennines, eight miles from Halifax. We travelled there by car, making our first stop at Shibden Hall one mile outside Halifax. This half timbered Tudor fronted house dating from 1420 is set in Shibden Park covering…
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A Day in Leafy Cheshire – Exploring Northwich, Middlewich & Little Moreton Hall
Our final morning in lovely Cheshire but still no signs of any sunshine. We started the day with another visit to Northwich as on the previous day we had focussed on its key attractions rather than the town itself. The town welcomes motorists as the first car park we came across right in the centre…
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Top Attractions in Cheshire – The Lion Salt Works & Anderton Boat Lift, Northwich
After enjoying a relaxing breakfast in our idyllic accommodation at Cheshire Boutique Barns, we set off for Northwich, 22 miles to the north. On our way we made a brief stop at Nantwich Marina where we had hoped to take a stroll along the towpath of the Shropshire Union canal but the weather wasn’t in…
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Cheshire Boutique Barns, Wrenbury Review
Hotel Review Leading such hectic lives we decided to enjoy a relaxing break at the lovely Cheshire Boutique Barns located in Wrenbury, in the midst of southern Cheshire’s rolling countryside and leafy lanes. Although the accommodation’s tranquil setting may sound remote, it’s actually easily accessible from the M6 motorway with Nantwich being only 5 miles…
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Exploring Nantwich and Staying at Cheshire Boutique Barns – A Perfect Countryside Getaway
We planned a short break in the gently rolling countryside of Cheshire, a part of the country we were both unfamiliar with. We frequently head to cities and large towns so just for a change we opted for a relaxing stay in a secluded barn tucked away down a leafy lane in the tiny village…
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How to Spend a Day in Abingdon, Oxfordshire – Top Sights and Activities
Abingdon is a market town in Oxfordshire nestled on the banks of the River Thames. I was long overdue a return visit as the previous occasion was more than 25 years ago when I attended a wedding in the town. Although Abingdon does not have a railway station the nearest one is located only three…