Tighthead Prop
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Tighthead Prop
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness - Mark Twain
Australia
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Nov172011
Thirsty in Auckland ?
Travel Recommendation
Location: Auckland
My Recommendation Tip:
If you are in Auckland, and all that sightseeing is making you thirsty, I can recommend Brew On Quay as a great little pub in downtown Auckland. It's located on Quay St in an old bank building, and they specialise in the many craft beers from the many micro breweries that New Zealand is famous for. Great spot to wet your whistle after a hard days sightseeing and shopping !
Nov172011
The BEST meal I have ever had !
Travel Recommendation
Location: Auckland
My Recommendation Tip:
Okay, have to give some BIG wraps here to a fantastic restaurant that I dined at recently in Auckland. Took my wife to Merediths in the suburb of Mt. Eden, and had what would have to be one of the best meals I have ever had. It was a 9 course degustation, every course was brillant, especially their signature dish of duck pate and beet macaroon (melt in your mouth fantastic!). The matching wine course was great as well, very well matched to the food. Found out that the restaurant recently was voted Best Restaurant in NZ for 2011 as well, and I can certainly see why. Definately better than similar degustation menus I have had at some of the better restaurants in Sydney. So if you are in Auckland and want to treat yourself to a marvellous meal, I can heartily recommend it. We will be back!
Feb282011
French Wine Tasting
Travel Recommendation
My Rating: 
Location: Paris
My Review: Love this recommendation. If you get a chance, wander through any local wine shop in a Parisean suburb, the French love their wine, and you can browse (and buy!) wines from almost any of the wine regions in France. And you can pick up some real bargins too - there is some quite decent wines for just a few Euros. Perfect for that picnic under the Eiffel Tower !
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Dec072010
Amano Cafe
Travel Recommendation
Location: London
My Recommendation Tip:
This is a great little cafe tucked away on Clink St on the South Bank of the Thames, near the Borough Market. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, do great Fairtrade coffee, and the pizzas are absolutely MASSIVE! Very reasonably priced too...
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Dec072010
The Rake Pub
Travel Recommendation
Location: London
My Recommendation Tip:
This is a great, but very tiny, pub, just around the corner from the Borough Market on the south side of the Thames in Southwark. They have a fantastic selection of boutique bottled beers, and a few beers on draught and cask. Located at 14a Winchester Walk, it is a great place to stop and quench your thirst after beating the streets around London's tourist spots. Well worth the visit if you are a beer connoisseur.
Dec062010
Tintern Abbey
Travel Recommendation
Location: England
My Recommendation Tip:
This historic site is just over the English border into Wales. It is a great example of the many ruined sites that you can find around the UK. There is a slight charge to get into the grounds, but it is great to have a wander around one of the greatest monastic ruins of Wales. I think it was first built around the 11th century.
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Dec062010
Getting off the Beaten Island
Travel Recommendation
Location: Tahiti
My Recommendation Tip:
So many people when they visit Tahiti and French Polynesia do the main islands - Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. Which is great, but if you really want to get off the beaten tourist trail and away from those fancy 5 star resorts, try visiting some of the smaller and more distant islands. Raiatea and Huahine are good choices, but one of my personal favourites is Tikehau. There is one resort and a village on another atoll, but apart from that, it is all palm trees and crystal clear blue water. The snorkelling is magic !! A great place to drop anchor and not do too much at all for a few days.
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Nov232010
My Favorite Places to Stay in NYC
Travel Recommendation
My Rating:
Location: New York City
My Review: I stayed at the Washington Square Hotel when I was last in New York. Handy to Greenwich Village, and you weren't in the rat race up near Midtown and Times Square.
Nov172010
Amazingly Beautiful 5 star resort - The Racha
Travel Recommendation
My Rating:
Location: Thailand
My Review: I agree with Jeff, I stayed here a couple of years ago, over Christmas, and it was the perfect place to relax after traveling around Northern Thailand for a couple of weeks. It was a little pricey, but that was mainly because it was over Christmas. You also get a few day trippers from the mainland who visit the beach during the day, but they are all gone by the time it is Sunset Drinks. A top place to stay, if you are ever passing through Phuket.
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Oct122010
Buried Village of Te Wairoa
Attraction
My Rating: 
Location: Rotorua
My Review: A visit to the Buried Village of Te Wairoa is like a step back into time. It is a very peaceful setting, wandering around the village which was buried when the Mt Tarawera volcano exploded back in the late 1800's. The museum gives a glimpse of what the village was like, back before the explosion, when it was a thriving community, catering to the tourists in the 1800's which visited the region to see the famous Pink and White Terraces, and to take the 'healing waters'. If you are passing through Rotorua, I reckon it is worth a visit.
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Oct122010
Food & Cooking Tours
Travel Recommendation
My Rating:
Location: Paris
My Review: Food and France go together like Cheese and Wine! When in Paris, I can recommend spending a few hours wandering the local food markets. There is usually one in nearly every neighbourhood, and it gives a great insight as to how the French feel about food, how everything is fresh and seasonal. You can find pretty much everything you need from the fruit and vegetable sellers, butchers, fishmongers, bakers, and most importantly - Cheesemongers !! Grab a baguette, some cheese and some wine, and it makes for a perfect picnic in any of those picture-postcard settings in Paris.
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Oct112010
Wander the Wellington Waterfront!
Travel Recommendation
Location: Wellington
My Recommendation Tip: Okay, Wellington is not flat! But if you want to get out and about, then I can recommend a stroll, a cycle, or even a roller-blade along Wellington's waterfront. On a good day (when the wind is not blowing a gale), Wellingtonians come out in force, and the waterfront is the place to be seen. You can head out of the city, and around Oriental Bay for some magnificent views of Wellington Harbour. On the weekends, you will come across markets (I can recommend the home-made peanut butter!), and if you want a bite to eat, then there are heaps of restaurants, pubs and cafes in the Shed district of the waterfront, between the city centre and the Te Papa museum. But beware Wellington's weather, it can be four seasons in one day!
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Oct112010
Thames River
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: London
My Review: If you have some spare time in London (and it is a fine day), then I can recommend a stroll along the banks of the Thames. You can see many of London's famous sights on the banks of the Thames (like The London Eye, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, The Tate Modern, St Pauls Catherdral - just to name a few). And when your feet get tired from all that walking, you can stop for a pint and a bite to eat at one of the many English pubs that line the river, and just watch the river traffic go by.
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Oct072010
Gizzi's Cafe
Travel Recommendation
Location: New York City
My Recommendation Tip: If you are hanging out for a decent cup of coffee when in New York City, and you are down near Greenwich Village, I can recommend Gizzi's Cafe (16 West 8th Street). The staff are friendly, they brew a mean Latte, and their bagels are pretty good too!
Oct072010
Greenwich Village
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: New York City
My Review: I love Greenwich Village! It is a great place to stay (and eat and drink) in New York City, and it doesn't have the madness of the crowds that you get up around Midtown and Times Square. You can spend hours just hanging out in Washington Square Park, watching the world go by. I'll be back!
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Oct072010
Visit an English Pub
Travel Recommendation
Location: England
My Recommendation Tip: There is something unique about an old-fashioned English pub. They exude a charm that is hard to find in a pub in other countries, especially those that are a few centuries old. Whether it is a old pub in the heart of London, or a remote pub in the middle of nowhere in rural England, they all have a history - if only the walls could talk! Most usually come equipped with the local dog sitting in the corner, and a roaring fire if it is the middle of winter. So if you can put up with warm English beer (it does become an acquired taste after a while), I can well recommend spending an afternoon sipping on a pint or three down the local.
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Oct072010
Stonehenge
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: London
My Review: Stonehenge rocks! Literally. I've always wanted to visit Stonehenge, and see this site that is so ancient and mystical. There were quite a few other visitors to the site, and I can recommend getting the audio guide to listen to as you walk around the stones. The only weird thing is that it looks so strange with the road going past it (why it was built so close, I have no idea). I guess the stones were there first...
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Oct072010
Do a Cooking Class in Chiang Mai
Travel Recommendation
Location: Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai
My Recommendation Tip: There are cooking classes all over Thailand, but I did one at the Chiang Mai Thai Cooking School in Chiang Mai, and it was one of the best things I did in Thailand! If you are into food, the full day class was really interesting, you get to learn all about the various ingredients that is used in Thai cuisine, and we ended up cooking 5 courses each in total. Which we all got to eat. My Thai Fish Cakes rocked! And now my wife and I cook Thai food all the time, it reminds us so much of our holiday to Thailand.
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Oct072010
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai
My Review: My visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep was really interesting. It was quite busy with lots of visitors, both locals and tourists. I visited at sundown, so managed to see the monks come out and perform one of their ceremonies. There are quite a lot of steps leading up to the temple, but it was well worth it when you got to the top. The only downside was that there was some scaffolding around the golden spire, so I couldn't get that perfect camera shot!
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Sep302010
Bridge on the River Kwai
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Bangkok
My Review: It's quite a busy little area around the Bridge on the River Kwai, lots of stall holders, selling everything from t-shirts to leathergoods, and yet more t-shirts! The train was quite busy, ended up seated with about a hundred Thai Boy Scouts, who were all having a really good time.
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Sep302010
Chao Phraya River (Mae Nam Chao Phraya)
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Bangkok
My Review: A great way to get your bearings in Bangkok is to take a ferry trip along the Chao Phraya River. The ferries are very regular, and cheap, and most of the attractions in Bangkok are within a short walk of most of the ferry stops. Plus it is a great way to see some of the sights, from the water.
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Sep302010
Grand Palace
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Bangkok
My Review: I think the Grand Palace is a must-see experience for every visitor to Bangkok. The buildings and statues are amazing examples of Thai architecture, and you could easily spend a couple of hours wandering the grounds.
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Sep292010
Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho)
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Bangkok
My Review: Man, this is one Big Buddha !! You can see hundreds of Buddhas all around Bangkok, but this one is one of the most visited, because of its sheer size.
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Sep292010
Petronas Twin Towers
Attraction
My Rating: 
Location: Kuala Lumpur
My Review: These amazing towers dominate the skyline of Kuala Lumpur. We tried to go up to the skybridge for views across the city (entry is free), but you have to book a time slot, and when we got there, the next available one was 6 hours away. So we gave it a miss. If you do want to go up to the skybridge in the Petronas Towers, I recommend you go very early in the morning and get in quick!
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Sep292010
Bordeaux Wine Tours
Travel Recommendation
My Rating:
Location: Bordeaux
My Review: I can thoroughly recommend spending a day in St-Émilion if you are into wine. It's a great little town, very picturesque, and surround by beautiful countryside covered in vineyards. The local wine is not bad either!
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Sep292010
Spend a day in the medieval town of Carcassonne
Travel Recommendation
Location: Toulouse
My Recommendation Tip: If you want to see one of the best examples of a typical walled city in the south of France, then I can suggest heading to Carcassonne for the day. The old city sits atop a hill and is a great example of what a walled city used to look like a few centuries ago. You can walk the cobbled streets (along with all the other many visitors), and visit the little galleries, or have lunch at a typical restaurant. A great day out if you want to explore the surrounding countryside around Toulouse.
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Sep272010
Have lunch at a bouchon in Lyon
Travel Recommendation
Location: Lyon
My Recommendation Tip: Lyon is famous for its bouchons, restaurants that serve traditional Lyonnaise cuisine. You can select a 'menu du jour', which is usually 3 courses, and a 'pot' of the local wine is usually quite a good drop. You won't be able to shop, anyway, all the locals will have shut up shop for lunch!
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Sep272010
Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Lyon
My Review: You get great views across the city of Lyon when visiting the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière. Catch the Funicular train from the Old Town up the hill - it is pretty steep!
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Sep262010
How to Do Paris like a Local
Travel Recommendation
Location: Paris
My Recommendation Tip: Here's my tip on how to make the most of your trip to Paris - don't rush it! Do you ever get the feeling that sometimes you get somewhere and rush around visiting all the must-see sights, and don't get a chance to take a breath? Well, in Paris, I recommend maybe spend the morning visiting some of the sights, maybe take in a museum. But then make like a Parisean for the rest of the day, and spend a couple of hours lingering over a long lunch. In the afternoon, you can spend hours in a cafe just people-watching, Paris is that sort of city. Is there any big rush to tick off another tourist sight? After all, it'll probably still be there when you visit Paris the next time....
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Sep262010
Musée d'Orsay
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Paris
My Review: The Musée d'Orsay is a very different museum to the famous Louvre, as the artworks in the Musée d'Orsay are of a much more modern era. So you see more modern paintings and sculptures which you just don't get in the Louvre. I really enjoyed visiting this museum.
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Sep262010
River Seine
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Paris
My Review: If you get a chance, try to take a boat trip on the River Seine. It gives you a different perspective on Paris, as you sit back and watch all the buildings go by. The carvings and statues on all the bridges are a work of art as well. Like any boat trip, it is always busy on a sunny day!
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Sep262010
Louvre
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Paris
My Review: Loved the Louvre! If you are going to go, I recommend taking a guided tour in the morning, they can guide you through to a few of the highlights, such as the Mona Lisa, and after the tour is finished, you can remain in the museum to wander at your leisure. Bear in mind though, that the Louvre is sooo big, it would take you weeks and weeks to see absolutely everything.
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Sep262010
Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Paris
My Review: If you are going to visit the Sacré-Coeur, I suggest you do it early in the day. The crowds can get quite big. However, once you are there, you get the most magnificent views across the Paris skyline. And make sure you go for a wander around the back streets around the Sacré-Coeur, it is typical Paris!
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Sep262010
Sep262010
Eiffel Tower
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Paris
My Review: I visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris when the Rugby World Cup was on in 2007. It was a gorgeous sunny day, and seeing the iconic tower was just great. There was a huge inflatable rugby ball suspended from underneath the tower at the time, due to the World Cup.
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Sep202010
Tate Modern
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: London
My Review: I visited the Tate Modern back in 2007, and thought it was pretty good. The exhibition that was on at the time was a simple crack in the concrete floor that ran from one end of museum to the other on the lower floor - whilst the crack itself wasn't that spectacular, I spent ages watching the reactions of all the other visitors to the crack - that was the highlight of the visit.
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Sep132010
Hunter Valley
Attraction
My Rating:
Location: Sydney
My Review: If you like big bold red wines, the Hunter Valley is it! I try to get up to the Hunter Valley once or twice a year (to stock up the wine cellar!). There are so many wineries in the Hunter Valley, it is hard to know where to start... My personal favourite is Saddlers Creek Wines, on Marrowbone Rd - I'm such a fan, I've been a member of their wine club for about the last 9 years.
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Sep132010
Best Thai Restaurant in Sydney
Travel Recommendation
My Rating:
Location: Sydney
My Review: I've only eaten here once for lunch, but it was fantastic! I had a chilli pork dish that was out of this world... It can get busy tho', I've seen queues form up outside, waiting for a table. But it's worth it!
Sep132010
The Perfect Cup of Coffee in Sydney!!
Travel Recommendation
Location: Sydney
My Recommendation Tip: Can't start the day without a decent cup of coffee ?? Then head to Single Origin Roasters (60-64 Reservoir St in Surry Hills, in Sydney). They roast their own, and specialize in crop-to-cup, single origin coffee. Their range includes beans from Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Sumatra, India, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Kenya, and even Australia, just to name a few... So if you are a bit of a coffee fiend, I whole-heartedly recommend them.
Sep082010
The 2011 Rugby World Cup
Travel Recommendation
Location: New Zealand
My Recommendation Tip: A quick word of warning if you are planning to visit New Zealand in September and October 2011 - Book Early !! The 2011 Rugby World Cup is being held in New Zealand from 09 September to 23 October 2011, so accommodation and transport will be at a premium as thousands of rugby fans will be visiting.
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