California here we come...

Holiday...hmmm, it's just around the corner! CAN'T WAIT!

This time we are heading to Los Angeles and basically just chill out! Live like the locals...relax, sleep, read books, be on the beach, watching sunsets and have bonfire drinks...mmmmm!

We might head to San Fransisco ->San Martins, to watch some golf action, that should be nice too!

Here is the list I should remember, and might be helpful for everyone:
1. Passport, take photocopies just in case and have them in a separate wallet where your passport is!
2. ESTA-visa applied at least 72h before entering the country -have the address in US ready too!
3. Check the airline's websites for baggage allowance and pack less than half of the allowed kilos in a suitcase, otherwise none of the souveniers aren't fitting in (this will be a challenge!)
3. Check the airline tickets and departure / arrival terminals and the check-in deadlines at all airports on the way
4. Check credit card availability and inform bank you are going on a trip as the new cc technology might block cc usage if it notices transactions overseas...Normally they call you on your contact number but you might not be available or your phone might not even work at the destination...check that too with phone operator!
5. Print all the confirmations of flights (e-ticket copies as well!!), hotels, car rental, any useful information regarding the destination i.e. Embassy/Consulate contact details, insurance company's emergency numbers, bank/credit card company contact details
6. 'do it yourself' itinerary on a paper with short details of flight numbers and times and itinerary plan for each day.

That should be it...I'm sure I've forgotten already something :)

I'll have plenty of photos to put here afterwards, so pls be patience!

Rio de Janeiro...Soccer World Cup & Olympics on my mind...

Have you started planning your next Olympic trip yet...? Well, don't worry I haven't either :)

There will be not only one excuse to travel to Rio now, there are two big events coming up, are you ready?!

I visited Rio in 2009 with my best friend. I wish we had some more time to explore the city, though 2 days were enough to see the basic tourist attractions.

The city has bad reputation of crime but so do many other cities; I wouldn't go to Harlem in NYC or Block M in Jakarta...You just have to know where you can go during the day and night...We were at the Copacabana beach one day and heard some machine gun noise but didn't really pay much attention as we were loving the beach and the sound of waves. Later on, up in the Amazon, one group of American tourist fellows told us that was one of the serious shootings in a while in Rio. Police had attacked the drug gang in the suburb nearby. This happens in the areas where tourists shouldn't go. Police and the friendly locals are protecting tourists and telling them where you shouldn't go. But you better not trust them, just use your brains and senses...simple as that!

The City of Rio and police in cooperation has already started the 'cleaning' of the city. You can only imagine how many people there will be in 2014 when the next soccer world cup is held in Rio...not forgetting the Olympics in 2016! As the slum areas are so close to the city and tourist areas, police will have lots to do before they can make sure the city will be totally safe during the games.

Rio Janeiro has its own charm, beautiful Copacabana and Ipanema beaches the beach boulevards with the small Barracas (beach kiosk) selling drinks and snacks, people having relaxed dance party on the streets, boys playing soccer and volley ball on the beach, locals having relaxed time with their families in the cafes and small restaurants while tourists are shopping in the markets, shopping centres and even on the beach from the local sarong seller...sipping cocktails or the well-known caipirinhas, some delicious olives and cheece bits by the hotel pool isn't the bad option either...

Here are some photos to help your planning...


Ipanema Beach

Copacabana Beach

Barraca with the Água de Côco drinks straight from coconuts, YUM!

Street party

All I can say of these local dishes: the YUMMIEST!!

The future Ronaldo...or Kaka?

Cheers!!! :)

Daydreaming Part II

Had some time today to 'practise' my Daydreaming...here are the results:


Travel Destinations:

• South Africa; only a couple of months ago I could have written all about soccer soccer soccer and everyone would have gone wild...But now after the World Cup it's time to concentrate on the main travel sites in South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa's Los Angeles and Johannesburg, South Africa's New York as they describe the cities on New York Times...AND the Safari with the big five: Lion, Leopard, Black Rhino, Elephant and Cape Buffalo -must see! The country offers world-class golf courses and wineyards, that's all what matters ;)

• Spain; Could continue the soccer theme, but let's forget it for now...I'm thinking sun, tapas, sangria, siesta and guitar music. I'm sure you can find these elements everywhere in Spain. And of course the cultural side of Spain as well, Pablo Picasso and Antoni Gaudi; these men with their incredible talents, wow! I would love to do a roadtrip through the small villages, practise my college Spanish, haha- Si Si Senor!

• Greece; My all time favourite Greece, ah! Flying to Athens, visit the Olympic and historic sites and continueing island hopping through Naxos, Santorini, Paros, Ios etc. The whaite and blue houses, tsaziki, greek salad, moussaka and souvlaki YUM! And of course a glass of Ouzo...I've been in Lefkas twice and would love to go back any day, love this little island. It has some beautiful and interesting stories behind...

• The Alps; "Edelweiss, Edelweiss, Every morning you greet me, Small and white, clean and bright, You look happy to meet me." The views of the Alps are breathtaking, calming at the same time. Just seeing the white tips of the mountains and green fields below with cows and sheep pasturing, white houses with dark wooden roofs make me feel 'I'm home'. I love the Austrian Alps the most as I spent the first 13 years of my life every summer 5 weeks in Austria...Not even mentioning the skiing possibilities in Austria, St. Anton being my favourite, Ischgl, Obertauern and Zell am See coming close behind...mmmm...

Oh where should I start booking my trips...? A HUGE dilemma!

Hotel of the week...

Lebua at State Tower -Bangkok, Thailand

The hotel's website says it all:

"lebua at State Tower is an all-suite luxury hotel in Bangkok with 358 lavish suites which are the most spacious in their category. Located at the riverside in the second tallest tower in Bangkok, each suite offers majestic views of the Chao Phraya River and the City. The suites feature Bvlgari amenities, Petrossian delights in minibar, 330 thread count linen and in-suite cooking option by its Conde Nast accredited Chefs which make lebua a truly unique luxury hotel."

And the photos (from www.lebua.com) tell it all:

Hotel Lobby, where you have approx 5 people serving one customer

3 bedroom tower club suite

Beautiful marble bathrooms



Conference facilities for events

Vibrant Cafe Mozu, chill out on the colourful benches...

Or on the day beds, sipping cocktails and listening chill out music...mmm...

Have a dinner and/or drinks at Sirocco Restaurant with magnificent views!

Admire the 360 degree view of busy Bangkok

Bar 'on the edge'...

Night swim in the candle light , perfect finishing for the night!

Luxury, Luxury, Luxury, Luxury, Luxury...

Golf, Golf, Golf...

Well, of course there has to be golf blog...or this blog wouldn't be anything ;)

So I thought to list some of the golf courses around the world which have got rankings in top 100 in the world.

Proud enough, I'm starting with the Kytäjä Golf, Finland. The 43rd best golf course in EU :)

All these photos are borrowed from http://www.kytajagolf.fi/

18th hole on SE-course

Green of the 8th hole (Par 4)

Beautiful views in the autumn time...

A view from the NW 17 Back Tee

The last hole of SE-course

9th hole on the SE-course

Anyone got interested...?

Been there, done that...

As the sarcastic comment says "I've been there, done that...", this time I really mean that literally and NOT the sarcastic way. I just want to share my travels with you :)

Continueing from the 'hotel of the week' blog I have some snapshots of the 3 main sites in Siem Reap: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm.

I visited Cambodia in September 2008 and was blown away of its mystical feeling. There's definitely something 'in the air' around Siem Reap, loved every minute of it!

Even it is one of the very poor countries in Asia I would still go back and see the humble smiles of everybody and see more of the beautiful and historical country. I think seeing these people living in poor conditions and still be happy the way or another made the bonding much stronger.

I have hundreds of photos but I'll try to put the most meaningful photos in here, enjoy!

ANGKOR WAT

The ancient Temple with beautiful handcrafted walls

All the small details of each bit of the wall, amazing!

Apparently by looking the ladies tummy you could tell from which century these crafts were from; chubby=wealth vs. skinny=poor

ANGKOR THOM

One of the entrances to Angkor Thom

These huge faces were watching us from every direction...

Buddha statues everywhere, surrounded by the nice smell of incense, mmmm...

I was hunting for this kind of photo, and I GOT IT! :)

TA PROHM

Probably the most popular photo of Ta Prohm...seen in Tomb Raider

So green and quiet.

Most of the temple (built in 1186 A.D.) looked like this with fallen rocks

Interesting enough, they knew something about dinosauruses back in 1186 A.D. This is a prove for it.

There would be so many other photos I would love to share with you, but this blog took so much time that I think it's enough for now...you'll get chance to see more later on, I promise. :)

Wedding Spots...

There are SO many places to get married and different variations of it too...

It could be the traditional church and reception which is normal for the city weddings. Then there could be blessing on the beach and reception at the party tent, or blessing on the golf course facing the ocean and reception at the club house...or wineyard wedding surrounded by beautiful scenery and of course a beautiful bride...or a cute little chapel and reception at the pool area which is on the cliff...

Weddings can be very very expensive so sometimes the destination wedding might be the cheapest option for couples who has families and friends from different countries. Everyone who can make it will have a holiday around the main event...people will spend some time together before and after the big day and the atmosphere will be so much better than on one day wedding. I wouldn't say the one day weddings aren't bad but the maid of honour and best man have such a big task to get everyone 'on the mood' in one day.

Anyway, I've been in few weddings and seen lovely photos of some destination weddings (and cried my eyes out of happiness!) and I thought I would add this wedding spots blog now and then...

Here are some photos from Bali which has plenty of options for wedding packages but I found the Blue Point Bay Villas Resort the best by looking the photos:

Website is http://www.bluepointbayvillas.com/

(All photos are borrowed)

Entrance to the Chapel

Cute and small Chapel facing the ocean (and the sunset)

And lots of frangipanis...everywhere.

Candlelit Chapel and the reception area on the background

View from one of the dinnertables, WOW!

Any better views for the wedding dance?!

And if someone is wondering if I'm dreaming of these wedding destinations...well, I might be dreaming but not actioning, not yet mates ;)