The Best Things in Life are Free

Bloom Paradise
Jun T Lai

One of the things I miss about travelling is exploring and discovering an alternative way of life. Even on the most sedate of vacations things are different to what they are at home and I suppose that is the point of it. Getting away from the everyday routines and being somewhere else.

Since the lockdown was introduced over a year ago, we were unable to go out exploring as we had to stay home and local. And definitely a NO to travel. Once we were allowed to venture out, we discovered we had a so much on our doorstep that in the past we had taken for granted. We started to appreciate the parks, canals and waterways, wildlife, wildflowers, architecture, art .. the list goes on. That's the one positive thing for me that has come out of this pandemic.

Harlequin Four by Mark
Handforth

I have definitely developed more of an appreciation for London and value what it has to offer. Thanks to social media, we are more aware of what is around us and if we never left the city again we would never run out of things to see and do. Much of it can be seen for free or at least the price of a day travel card.

I had to work this weekend, and due to engineering works my station was closed so I've had to find alternative ways to travel there and back. On my way home today I decided to get off the tube at Monument station and being a Sunday the City is almost deserted. 

St Dunstan in the East

I walked for about 5 minutes to the beautiful ruins of St Dunstan in the East. This 900 year old church has quite a history surviving the Great Fire of London in 1666, and was pretty much destroyed in the Blitz of the second world war. All that survives is the north and south walls and the steeple built by Sir Christopher Wren. It is now a wonderful public 'secret garden' tucked away between the modern buildings of the city.

It was an overcast day and the gardens were not busy although there were a couple of instagrammers posing for pictures in the beautiful window arches that remain. I had to wait quite a while for them to move on so that I could get my own photos.

I walked to Tower Hill Underground station where I saw the distinctive style of Julian Opie's 
'Walking in the City' at the CitizenM hotel. I always love stumbling across his work.

The train I wanted to get was severely delayed so I decided instead to walk to Liverpool Street through the quiet streets and there I found even more treasures. 

Confetti Rain

Colourful sculptures, part of Sculpture in the City tucked down the side streets and a massive glass installation 'Confetti Rain' by architectural stained glass artist Alexander Beleschenko, on a relatively new office block on Bishopsgate.

These simple things of beauty make me happy as I come across them, and as I walked towards the bus stop at Liverpool Street station, my day felt complete.

On the bus ride home I saw more street art from Alo the Artist. It's so nice to be able to recognise an artist's work based on their unique style. I managed to snap a couple of quick shots from the window as we drove past.

Alo the artist

I enjoyed a lovely solitary couple of hours wandering the streets, all for free. An afternoon of old and new culture, I've learned a little bit more about the city I call home. 

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Day tripping to The Seven Sisters

It's now a week on after the first lifting of restrictions and I was finally able to give myself a whole day off and take a friend I hadn't seen in ages on the 2 hour drive from London to Seaford located on the South Coast in East Sussex.

It was so exciting to get out of the city after so long and we had fortunately picked the best spring day we could possibly have hoped for. I didn't know what to expect on such a fine day. Was it going to be busy with sun seekers like us? Would there be places to eat and drink now that outdoor hospitalities are allowed? The answer to the first question - no, and the latter, yes.

Although it was a stunningly beautiful day, it was not nearly warm enough for shorts and flip flops but that wasn't why we went. It was a comfortable 17C with no wind and not a cloud in sight. Perfect for walking and enjoying the spring sunshine.

Arriving in Seaford, we easily found a free parking spot
on Marine Parade. We walked along the seafront past little kiosks selling refreshments and the candy coloured Martello Beach huts, towards Seven Sisters West. It's probably the best place to start if you want to walk the whole coastal trail to Eastbourne. We also discovered 'The Shoal', a community bench designed by local sculptor Christian Funnel, which represents a stream of fish meandering the length of the breakwater. 

We definitely hadn't planned on walking the whole way, so after a stroll back to the car on the deserted pebbled beach, we took the short drive to Birling Gap where a most spectacular view of the chalky cliffs can be seen.

Birling Gap is run by the National Trust and there is a pay and display car park for patrons. Be aware that in busy times it may be full although there is limited space on the road leading up to it where you can safely park for free. 

The beach access was closed due to work on the steps but should reopen in a couple of weeks time.

The cafe is now open again, so we bought lunch and sat on the picnic benches outside in the brilliant sunshine. People came and went and some stayed on, including us, choosing to walk up the cliff and sit high up admiring the gorgeous view and listening to the waves gently lap against the shore below. We must have sat up there for at least 2 hours just chatting and taking in the beauty of the cliffs and feeling the sun's warmth on our faces. The sea was so calm with shades of blue I would never associate with the English seaside. Simply stunning.

Day tripping out of London could not have been better. The one thing the pandemic has made me aware of is the natural beauty we have practically on our doorstep. I had barely heard of Seaford before and I certainly knew nothing about it. 

Here's to many more day trips and new adventures that don't require a passport or long queues to leave and enter the country.

Belated Happy New Year

Happy New Year 2021! It's only 9th January so not too late I hope. With Christmas being so quiet, for me anyway, New Year a non event then going into a strict Lockdown again, there hasn't been anything very positive to talk about. 

2020 was certainly unusual and I can't say it was wasted even though I couldn't go to work till July. I can only hope that things get better for all and we can move on to a life more suited to our desires. For me that is to see my friends and family in person, home and away and to visit more places I haven't been before. 

Things will get better but for now, its just one day at a time.

Stay safe, stay healthy. We can do this.

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The week leading up to Lockdown #2

With the absence of any travel abroad this year, these past few months have taught us to be a bit more creative with the increased time on our hands. As I wrote in my last post, during the summer I had managed to do quite a lot of things I would never have had the time or inclination to do. 

Pre covid, my work took up the bulk of my life, and any free time was spent planning little weekend breaks away, along with as many winter and summer holidays my annual leave would allow. All that we once knew of this life has now been blown away by the pandemic. 

The last days of summer temperatures and sunshine were seen in mid September and we made the most of it by going down to the south coast of East Sussex and spending time on Camber Sands beach followed by a drive to the South Downs where we hiked through a field of sheep to see the Seven Sisters cliffs near Eastbourne. What a fabulous day that was and made up a little bit for the beach holiday that I should have had in June. Not quite Corfu but beautiful nevertheless.

This past week prior to lockdown, it was my birthday so I went for a lovely lunch, which was to be the last sit down meal at a restaurant for the next few weeks. The following day and the penultimate day of freedom, four of us went to Epping Forest for the last time together (see photo at top) while we still could, walking through the forest for a over an hour and finishing with a coffee at The Kings Oak in High Beach. 

With one day left, I really wanted to go to the coast again. None of my friends were available so on a whim I jumped in my car and

drove to Whitstable, about 60 miles east on the north coast of Kent. The weather was glorious - one of those crisp, clean, fresh autumn days that fill you with happiness and positivity. I walked along the beach in the sunshine and had a late lunch at the Whitstable Oyster Company. I was so happy I went even on my own. It's something I'm definitely going to do more often, specially in lockdown, when we aren't supposed to meet more than one person at a time outside.

We are now 3 days into Lockdown #2. I've decided that if I feel anxious, or in need of a change of scenery, I will take myself off somewhere. Seize the day.

Today was one of those days. I popped out to the local shops and there were queues of people outside almost every shop. Great for the local economy but it was not a day I was prepared to stand in line for an indeterminate time as there was nothing I needed urgently. It was another beautiful day, so I got on a bus and went to Shoreditch, walking through the quiet back streets and finding interesting street art along the way. There are so many talented artists' works everywhere and can be seen for free on the streets of London. For inspiration, check out the London Mural Festival for locations. 

After about an hour or so, I took the bus back getting off a couple of stops early and walked home via the towpath on Regents Canal. I'm not sure what I expected, but there were throngs of people everywhere, all obviously with the same idea as me. The route home via the park was like walking through a festival crowd and I realised that this was not such a good idea on a Saturday, but at least everyone was making the most of the great day and some fresh air.

I would like to think that this lockdown should be easier than the first and hopefully will not go beyond the projected date of December 2nd, but who knows at this stage. With the shorter, colder days it's so important to look after our mental health and keep occupied. Get out and about if you can. Walk in the park, along the canal, in the forest or even the semi deserted streets of the city. 

Failing that here's always reruns of Death in Paradise for a bit of escapism. Stay safe and healthy - we can do this.

Life almost 5 months on in lockdown ..

Coffee time

It's been three months since my last post and I would hate for my blog to just fizzle out so I thought I'd tell you what I've been doing for the past few months. Being unable to do my day job and also not willing to travel abroad at the moment, it's been a time of resetting and rethinking life as we know it. 

In life before the pandemic I had been happily plodding along going to work and planning breaks away whenever I could, always needing to have something in the future to look forward to. All that has changed and a new way of being has emerged. At the beginning of lockdown who could have predicted how long this could last? I was even optimistic that my June holiday to Corfu was happening but as the time got closer the realisation loomed that it was not going to be possible. Thankfully, clever (or lucky) planning and booking meant that there was no stress in the cancellation process and any money already paid out was refunded in full.

Paint by numbers

I have other strings to my bow and out came my trusty sewing machine. My first project was to make a mask. Taking baby steps as I hadn't made anything other than my neoprene beach bags in a long time. Then I did a paint by numbers painting, which took me 4 full days to complete. A very satisfying project.

kimono back view

Now that I have my creative confidence back again I am happily churning out a new holiday wardrobe in readiness for a winter sun break if that's going to be possible. Lovely linen dresses, a kimono and a jumpsuit all at a fraction of the cost I would pay retail price for them. 

I've preened my garden in a way it has never been preened before. I've painted the garden walls, I've sanded and painted an old chair to give it a new lease of life, and even found a tapestry I did years ago whilst clearing out my cellar. It is now a cushion cover on said chair in the garden. 

In a moment of madness, I customised a pair of Nike trainers, painting a Mexican inspired day of the dead scull with flowers on the side - all good fun. Amazingly too, the weather for the last few months has been exceptional and made the lockdown all the more bearable. I have recently ventured out to have coffee with a friend and will be meeting friends for dinner too. 

For those of us who have been in isolation during the pandemic without much human contact, these things would never have been achieved as I never seemed to have the time. It goes to show that good things can come from bad situations.

Enjoying my garden

I do of course realise that this has not been a good time for a lot of people and my heart goes out to those who have suffered illness and loss. It is tragic to see how many people have been affected. We can only hope that this will be over soon and life can continue with a semblance of what we want normal to be. 

I hope to be back here soon sharing my next trip and hearing about yours. Until then, stay safe and well.

"What really matters is how we handle the bad moments. Don't let it define you, keep reaching for your happiness." Russell Simmons

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Lockdown in London

Dandelions in bloom

Almost done with week 7 of the lockdown and a glimmer of hope is on the horizon although it still may be some way off yet. I have no travel to write about and nothing coming up thanks to COVID-19. My June trip to Corfu with the girls has been cancelled and I can't see us being able to go anywhere at least for this year.

Walking with Scout

My new routine means I have been at home enjoying the beautiful spring weather by gardening, baking, organising, creating and walking my dog every day. It's been so lovely hearing the birdsong every morning, watching spring progress and generally taking less for granted of the world around us. I have not been to a major supermarket since I got back from my Mexican holiday and just shop locally as and when I need something. More than ever it's really important to support small businesses in this uncertain time.

I like this new way of living although I'm not sure I would want it this way forever. As much as I have enjoyed video calls with my family and friends, I would like a physical face to face catch up - 2 metres apart of course - and a coffee or drink in a public place.

Working on location

I have been unable to do my day job as a makeup artist because it requires being very close to the client and touching them. It's not conducive to preventing the potential spread of the nasty virus. 

In the interim, I have been trawling through my photos and selecting one a day to put on my instagram account. I'm not one to live in the past but it has kept me sane. It's my way of escapism and reminds me that I will be able to travel again one day. What that will look like is anyone's guess.

Keep safe and well. Hopefully it won't be too long before returning to work and traveling days are here again.

Riviera Maya, Mexico .. a trip in time

Given what's going on in the world at the moment, it almost feels untimely to write about my recent trip to Mexico. I feel very grateful to have had my vacation when I did, as less than a week after I returned everything was going into lockdown because of the COVID-19 virus pandemic.

I think what we need right now is less of the daily negative media reports and more of the fun things in life to think about. Whilst we are unable to go anywhere for the foreseeable future, we can certainly enjoy what we have and have beautiful images to look at and inspire us for when we are able to get away again.

So with that in mind, this post will be a sort of pick of the day album of my time away. The Vidanta resort is so large and spread out, there was no need to venture off site if you didn't want to. There are shops, cafes, artisan stalls, street foods and restaurants and numerous pools to choose from. 


Since I was last here 5 years ago, the whole area has been improved so that it's safer to swim in the sea. With the new piers and rocky breakwaters the rip tide is less of an issue. It's a beautiful wide open beach of the finest white sand and clear Caribbean waters.
My favourite spot was a teepee on the beach with this view. Lots of shade and shelter from any wind.


There were some great restaurants on site which catered for all tastes including French, Italian and Asian, but we chose mostly Mexican cuisine. When in Mexico why wouldn't you?! Tasty dishes made with fresh, healthy ingredients like avocados, beans, chillies, tomatoes, peppers and freshly caught fish, I could eat like this all the time. The Catrina cocktails were made right at our table. Don't worry, the straws were all biodegradable.

This 75 metre pool was great for exercise or just cooling off. Whether you wanted to do freestyle laps or walk up and down with water weights, there was enough space for everyone. Situated right next to the beach, the choice was there everyday depending on what you wanted.

It rained quite hard one afternoon and being warm some people stayed in the pool whilst others ran for cover or a drink at the bar.

Mostly it was warm and sunny with clear blue skies.




This walkway took you both ways - pool to beach or beach to pool. There was a shower at the end to wash the sand off your feet so that the pool area remained clean.

There were also beds and couches tucked under the trees for group gatherings, which was lovely to do at the end of the day, or a chance to hideaway in a hammock reading a book.

The occasional iguana would wander past but they're not interested in humans and weren't a problem.

I loved watching the pelicans fly overhead in formation, or dive into the sea to catch fish.
 

 Every time we were given a menu at a restaurant we were also given a 'drinks' menu. It consisted of numerous cocktails, mixers and beers and after a few meals we asked why there was no wine available. Oh, they said, you want the wine list! We didn't realise that a wine and drinks menu were two different things! We were introduced to a lovely light Mexican rose wine suggested to us by the head waiter in Gong, a fusion Asian restaurant and the only occasion we didn't eat Mexican food. It was surprisingly good and needless to say after that we always asked for the 'wine' list!

I adore Mexican food, and one of my favourites is fish tacos. I first had them years ago in Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast and have them whenever I can.

The dish on the right is mahi-mahi, one of the many fish tacos I enjoyed this trip!

Another dish I absolutely love is Aztec (or tortilla) soup. A wonderful flavourful soup with chilli and tomato, topped with avocado and strips of tortilla.

It's so easy to make yourself and I'm looking forward to doing that when summer comes around and hopefully eating al fresco again.




The Mexican tradition of honouring and celebrating the dead is deeply entrenched in the culture of its people.

La Catrina on the left, symbolises the Day of the Dead and the Mexican willingness to laugh at death itself.

You see images of Catrina everywhere and it's all whimsically bright and colourful.

"Death brings the neutralising force - everyone is equal in the end."




On the right, an iguana basking in the sun. You won't see them on a cloudy day. They almost blend into the rocks and are sometimes difficult to spot. Lovely to see their beautiful skins so close up.



There are also many images and objects depicting the Mexican icon Frida Khalo, an artist known for her many self portraits, folk art and works inspired by nature.





Whilst at the airport waiting for the flight home, I spotted a shop called Prison Art. I was drawn in by the beautiful artwork on the bags in the window and was smitten by this Frida Kahlo image. I had a look inside at all the beautiful pieces and took this snap as I left. Whilst I sat in the departure lounge looking at the photo, I realised I'd regret not buying the bag so went back and got it. I'm so happy I did. Not only do I love it as a bag, but I love the story behind it. 

Click on the link above to read the amazing story of how this project was started by an innocent man in prison who was released after 11 months. He created a machine that could tattoo leather enabling inmates to produce unique pieces which are sold to help the project and with integration back into society.


At the time of publishing I have no idea when my next trip will be. My annual girls' holiday to Corfu is booked for June but it's looking increasingly unlikely that we will be able to go. Let's hope this Corona virus disappears as fast as it arrived and we can all get back to our lives. I don't think anything will be quite the same again. 

Stay safe everyone .. I'll be back again soon. Until then feel free to follow my instagram account for past vacation pics and current images from my day job.

Happy New Year 2020!!

Happy New Year! I wish you all a safe, healthy and prosperous one.

My blog will be nine years old in May this year - it's come a long way since I started it so thank you all for reading, whether you have been with me from the beginning or just dipping in and out. My aim is to inspire you to see the world near and far. 

Travel broadens the mind and helps us to understand different cultures and traditions, enhances our tolerance and disconnects us from our regular daily life. All immensely good for the soul and for recharging our energy levels.

I have no trips planned until the end of February this year when I will be heading to Mexico for some late winter sunshine, great food and a good infusion of that all important Vitamin D.

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You'll never get bored when you try something new. There's really no limit to what you can do. - Dr Seuss

Dubai long weekend

Dubai was our next stop after our wonderful few days in Oman. We decided to stopover for 2/3 days to catch up with family and friends and prolong the warm weather just a little longer before returning to the depths of winter.

We stayed in the Park Hyatt in Dubai Creek not far from the airport. It is a true oasis of calm and hard to believe you are situated in a busy bustling city. 

We had a room with a balcony overlooking the marina and the city skyline. Along with a swimming pool set in a lush tropical setting, there is the Lagoon which features an infinity pool and a private beach with view of the Burj Khalifa on the other side of the creek. Too bad we weren't there long enough to enjoy it.

The first evening we went to JBR and had an early dinner at Apron & Hammers where you can get a fab choice of fresh seafood and salads. We witnessed an amazing sunset with the most intense colours as we sat outdoors in the warm evening air. After dinner we took a walk over the bridge to the new Blue Waters Island which houses the Caesars Palace Hotel, shops and restaurants. The big wheel is not quite finished yet but will be the largest observation wheel in the world when it's up and running.

We made plans in advance to go to the top of the tallest building in the world, something I had done at night before but never during the day. It's always best to book as the ticket price is cheaper than if you turn up on the day.

The hotel provided a free buggy service to the main road where we could get the Metro to the Dubai Mall which is right next to the Burj Khalifa. The Metro is easy to use and very clean and efficient. You can either buy a single ticket or a metro card depending on your travel plans. There is one ladies only carriage which is at one end of the train but the rest is open to all. When you get off at the Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa stop, it's good to know that it's approximately 20 minutes to walk to the mall - all under cover and with moving walkways. So if walking is not your thing, it's probably best to take a cab there as they are not expensive. 

We had lunch at Todd English overlooking the dancing fountains at the Mall prior to our ascent. Our tickets were booked for 2.30pm. We arrived early as suggested and still had to queue. It's a really busy attraction and it took approximately half and hour of waiting in line and security checks before we even got into the elevators which took us up to the 124th floor. The elevator ride is only 1 minute.
Needless to say the view from up there is spectacular and you can stay as long as you want.
Allow yourself a good amount of time if you visit.


We spent a little time at the Mall
afterwards then went back to the hotel to chill before dinner. We walked a few minutes along the marina to QD's live lounge where we had dinner and drinks al fresco with great music from the resident DJ and views of the Dubai skyline.

Yet another stunning 'winters' day in Dubai, we had breakfast overlooking the marina and set out for the airport to drop my friend off. I stayed on another day and hung out with the fam, grabbing a light bite and an oat cappuccino at a lovely wild food and juice bar Wild and the Moon in Alkersal Avenue followed by a visit to the Mall of Emirates to buy some Christmas goodies.

A quick but fab little visit to Dubai I headed to the airport carrying my winter coat ready for my return to the cold English winter.