Travel Lightbulb

When I travel, I love looking up - whether it be at palm trees or cathedrals. I find you miss things if you don't look up, and soak in your surroundings. Having said that, sometimes it's also important to look down as I found when I took today's photo. This little piece of graffiti beside a cobbled pavement made me giggle - a mouse, going into his house! So look up; look down - look all around. Keep your eyes peeled - you never know what you'll see when you travel.

The humble cupcake has come a long way in recent years. When Carrie and co. starting making them famous in "Sex and the City", everyone else decided we couldn't get enough of them. Today, the trend is still going strong - people even have hundreds of the little guys piled on top of one another for their wedding cakes! When the trend first began, I featured a great little spot in London where I think the cupcakes are the best in the UK! Click  here  to read my original post. If you know a spot where the cupcakes are just as delicious, please let me know!

If you are in Edinburgh and fancy going somewhere that's a little bit different, you can't go wrong with The Canny Man's. This Morningside pub was established in 1871, and is an Edinburgh institution. It's not just the establisment itself that's an institution. The Bloody Mary's served here are so famous they were even featured on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen programme!  The beautiful bar has a real shabby chic look to it, and you could easily spend a few hours looking at all the items on the walls, and above your head! This is not just a pub though - food is served each day, and even that is unique. They serve seafood and smørrebrød - open sandwiches on rye bread, and they have an incredible list that will make it hard for you to decide what to go for! Desserts are fruity and alcoholic - what more could you want!  I celebrated a very special birthday in The Canny Man's and it was the perfect place for a group, as there are dif...

As the weather start to turn a bit colder and more wintery, I thought this atmospheric shot summed up some of the cold days we'll have over the coming months. It was taken on a day when I went on a brisk beach walk, and just as I took the photo, the sun came out. I have to say I think it looks a little bit like somebody has turned on the switch on a standard lamp, and the sun is providing the bulb! I love capturing moments like this, and would love you to share any photos that you have taken on your travels.

Sri Lanka is an island packed with history - it has no less than eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and has everything from stunning rainforests, to beautiful beaches. More and more people are now travelling to the country to discover what delights it has to offer, and I've found a stunning base in Galle on the South West coast from where you can explore. Click  here  to read my original post on a Mansion in Sri Lanka.

You know those lazy Sundays when the sun is shining and you're looking for somewhere to visit? I recently came across a great place to enjoy your surroundings on a sunny day in the heart of Cheshire. The sign below is what greets you on arrival at this place - what a great invitation! Hare Hill is a very tranquil place thst can be found between Alderley Edge and Macclesfield. It's a ten acre garden surrounded by parkland, and the perfect place to have a leisurely stroll. There is a stunning walled garden which is full of vibrant colours, even at this time of year. There are plently of benches where you can grab a seat and enjoy the sunshine.  I didn't spot any hares when I visited, but I did see a few carved from wood like the one in the photo above - great for the little ones to find as you wander around the gardens. The countryside around Hare Hill is stunning and on a clear day, you can enjoy great views over the Cheshire Plain. I'd hig...

I visited the baboon enclosure on a recent trip to Knowsley Safari Park, and have never laughed so much in my life! I now know where the phrase 'you cheeky monkey' comes from - they are so naughty! They stole the window wipers from some cars, and left food on the roofs of others!  A lunchtime break made for a perfect photo Friday - especially the smallest of the baboons just posing to get his photo taken before running off to be naughty again! A great day out. 

Australasia - the islands of Australia; New Zealand; New Guinea and its neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. So many different cultures and foods all wrapped up into one continent.  With a population of around 39 million, it has everything from Australia's Sydney Harbour Bridge, to the coral reefs of Fiji.  One of the early blog posts on Travel Lightbulb was a review of a restaurant which combines all the food cultures of Australasia. So why not Flashback this Friday, and take a look back at Australasia, down under in Manchester!