Travel Lightbulb

I recently wrote a blog post about samara Private Game Reserve, which is situated in South Africa's Eastern Cape Great Karoo. I don't usually do follow-up pieces on the blog, but came across a heart warming tale, with a great photo to go with it, and thought I'd share it with you in the form of a Travel Photo Friday! In June of this year, a tiny little cheetah cub was born to Bellini, one of the wild females at Samara. None of Bellini's cubs had survived before, so it was understandable that she decided to hide her new cub under a bush close to Samara's lodge, where she knew humans would find her. Without further ado, let me introduce you to Nala..... It's policy at Samara to leave nature to its own devices, but the staff felt their hearts melt as she mewed with hunger, as her mother had abandoned her, and they agreed to take her into their homes, feeding her every one and a half hours through day and night. You'll be pleased to hear she's thr...

When visiting New York, many believe Manhattan is the only place to stay but with the transport system, everything is accessible. I wouldn't have thought of searching for a hotel in Brooklyn, but I came across one with so much style about it, that it has made me want to check it out!  Courtesy of Wythe Hotel Located in the heart of Brooklyn, the Wythe Hotel is situated on the waterfront in Williamsburg, a real up-and-coming borough. It was build in 1901, and has been converted into a 70 room hotel which is like no other in the area.   Courtesy of Wythe Hotel The rooms have high original timber ceilings, oversized windows, and heated concrete floors. Many of them boast floor-to-ceiling views of the Manhattan skyline, and East River. They're quirky in style, and extremely beautiful. Courtesy of Wythe Hotel  Another huge plus point of the hotel is its 6th floor bar and terrace, with stunning views of Manhattan and Brooklyn - a great place to return t...

Today's Travel Photo Friday is a little sad. The tale goes like this....in the parish of St Phillip on the Caribbean island of Barbados was a beautiful Georgian mansion. It was built in 1820 by a notorious buccaneer Samuel Hall Lord, known as 'Sam Lord'. Legend has it that Sam Lord acquired his wealth by plundering ships, which he lured onto the reefs off the coast, by hanging lanterns in the palm trees. Captains mistook these lights for the island's capital, Bridgetown, and wrecked their ships on the reefs.  For years, the property was run as a stunning hotel, but it was sadly consumed by fire in 2010, and remains closed to this day. It's incredibly spooky to wander round the ruins, seeing the effects the sea air has had on the building, and think of the good times people had holidaying at the hotel.  Top tip: The beach by the hotel is secluded and stunning, so if you find yourself in this area of Barbados - have a wander round, and pop down to the bea...

Have you ever stopped somewhere when you're driving, and been surprised at just how nice a place is when you don't have very high expectations of what you're going to see? That happened to me when I decided to stop for lunch in Isla Cristina, which is situated in the province of Huelva.  It is one of the most important fishing ports in the province, and is also a popular summer holiday resort, and I loved it! I had a wander down by the port and the small beaches, which were packed with Spaniards on their holidays, but it was the town itself that I found beautiful.  It was the height of summer, and the intense midday sun was beating down, so I decided to wander through the little winding streets walking from side to side to grab a bit of shade! The good thing was that everyone else seemed to be having a siesta, so the streets were deserted! I came across beautiful buildings, and even the doors were stunning, and I couldn't resist taking my ca...

I was once given a top tip by a friend who is a photographer. The advice was to "Always look up".  If you're a keen photographer, especially when you go on holiday, I have to say it's a great tip!  I took today's photo when wandering around Isla Cristina in Southern Spain, and although it was searingly hot that day - 42 degrees no less! - I'm glad I had my wits about me and looked up, otherwise I'd never have spotted these storks and their nests on the top of a stunning church. This is a little preview of the post that will be appearing on my blog next week actually - I'll say no more, but rest assured there are some cracking photos to look out for in the blog post. If you'd like to see one of your own travel photos featured here, then please get in touch via the address on my contact page. Thanks, and happy travelling!

Anyone who regularly reads my blog will know that I'm desperate to go on a safari one day. Luxury is the way to go in my opinion, and I came across the beautiful award-winning Samara Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, and it's definitely a contender for me! The family-owned reserve has modern luxury accommodation in three different locations, situated within 70,000 acres full of wildlife. There are suites in the main homestead; others which offer more privacy with individual cottages, and two which share a wooden deck overlooking a waterhole. The reserve is home to a growing abundance of African wildlife, including a large number of endangered species. You have the opportunity to see the elusive cheetah, aardvarks, as well as a huge variety of other animals, and birds. Home cooked meals are served in either the dining room; under the stars, or on the veranda. Guests report that the scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and the at...

I love today's photo contribution, which comes from fellow travel blogger Cole Burmester. Here's the background to the photo... It was taken at Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya on my 2nd day in Africa. We were nearly on our way out of the park gate when our guide got a radio message that a leopard was up in a tree. Hurtling along the road, we managed to pull up about 40m away from the tree. It was magical just sitting there watching it rest, and I probably took more than fifty photos! Definitely a highlight of my three months in Africa. What an amazing shot - it looks like the leopard is looking right down the lens! Simply stunning. If you'd like to read more about Cole's travels, and Lake Nakuru in particular, visit  www.fourjandals.com Thanks for the contribution Cole, and happy travelling!

If you've ever been on holiday in Portugal, you'll know that the array of local food on offer is absolutely delicious. As someone who is allergic to fish, however,  I often look for an alternative to the grilled meat dishes served in the majority of restaurants, so I can enjoy a little change. I found something completely different in the town of Luz, at Chicca's. It's a small restaurant which serves delicious home made food, with a variety of vegetarian dishes; pasta; meat, and beautiful pies. The owner, Chicca, is delightfully eccentric, and brings a blackboard packed with daily specials to your table. If you have a question about any of the dishes, then just ask and you'll see just how passionate Chicca is about her food!  I ordered the lasagne (above) and my husband had one of the delicious chorizo pies, which is accompanied by no less than nine delicious mini salads. The best suggestion I can give you is to leave room for dessert - they...