donny lam

Croyde (North Devon, England)

North Devon is probably my favourite place in England that I’ve been to and I’ve been to a few places during my time here. Croyde is only one of the many beautiful places/villages you can visit in North Devon. Know for its surf it is village with a lot of character. Like many surf side villages you will find a lot of weekenders, holiday makers flocking here for the surf. During the summer it does get really busy as you can imagine especially around the Music and Surf Ocean fesitval. I’ve been to Croyde a few times both in the winter and summer. It’s less quieter in the winter but I tell you what there are some crazy people still out braving the cold winter waters. I tell you it is not fun being in that cold water but then some people love it. I definitely not one of those people but there is something about walking along the beach with the sand between your toes, watching the surfers braving the cold water and you all wrapped up in you winter woollies. If I was to win the lottery I would definitely become a beach bum.

After a walk or a surf you can retire into The Thatch pub for a nice hot or alcoholic beverage. The food is lovely in the Thatch. It’s the typeof food you would definitely want after being out in the cold. Winter warmers of comfort foods I think it’s called.The Thatch pub is a very popular Pub and pretty much everyone that comes to Croyde has been to the Thatch.

http://www.thethatchcroyde.com/

I would visit Croyde anytime I have an opportunity but unfortunately that doesn’t come around often these days. Croyde is quite a distance from London but you can get to Barnstable via Train from London which is the main town before Croyde if you don’t want the long drive.

I would recommend this place to anyone who is visiting the south west coast of England

donny lam

Alghero (Sardinia)

Situated on the North West side of Sardinia, Alghero is a beautiful coastal beach town.This was another random place I decided to go to on my own as I did with a lot of my travels. I knew nothing about the place but I still decided to go. Part of my choice was because you can pick up a really cheap flight from Stansted Airport London. Cheap as chips they say if you book in advance. Anyway I knew it was a hot place but did not know anyone other that what I read about it on the flight there.

The hotel I was staying in for the long weekend was reasonable in terms of facilities and price. I stayed on Alghero Beach which was very nice. Mind you I went just after the holiday season so I didn’t have to deal with the young schoolies and peak season prices lol There were quite a few people like me who just wanted a weekend away chilling in the sun and do nothing. I met some nice people out there, hung out with them and shared many drinks by the bar in the evenings.

Alghero is such a beautiful place and I don’t know why I don’t hear much about it because the beaches and crystal blue greenish sea you find here is almost like the clear tropical waters you would find in Samoa… .almost but not quite hehehe. I kid you not the beaches here are very beautiful. I mean it’s not like what you would find on my little tropical island but it is definitely heading the same way. It’s clean and it’s warm and it’s very chilled.

I didn’t really explore the town much as I maybe should’ve done but I was searching for a warm beach holiday and Sardinia did not disappoint. Alghero town is beautiful. Like most italian towns there is so much history and character about them. You could walk around all day exploring. The evenings I would just venture down to the bar and a few drinks then with my new found friends. I love drinking with random people. It makes the whole travelling thing exciting.

There was one thing I come away from Alghero wishing I did and that was to explore the semi submerged caves. It’s definitely something I missed out on. I say I’ve missed out because it will be a while until I would probably get another chance to go back out to Alghero.

Sunny Sardinia I thank you for the great weekend

donny lam

Padstow (Cornwall England)

Padstow or as it’s know “Padstein” because the world famous Chef Rick Stein is from there and every where you look in Padstow, Rick Stein’s name is there. Rick has really put Padstow on the map. He does film a lot of his cooking shows from his home in Padstow showing off the rich local produces. Fresh produces which I give him a lot of credit for.

Padstow located North Cornwall is a traditional English seaside fishing town. Beautiful lik you see on Postcards if you’ve ever seen an English seaside post card. Padstow has everything you need for a weekend away in the countryside by the sea.. The fresh seafood, the sandy beaches and the relaxed atmosphere. From Padstow you can hire push bikes to cycle around and take in the beautiful scenery Padstow has to ask. Right across from Padstow is Rock which is just as beautiful or even more. You can catch the ferry across to a really nice cafe called:

Blue Tomato: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cafe+in+rock+pier&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari

There is so much to see. We hired bikes and cycled to Camel Valley vineyard which is about 45-50 minute cycle depending on what level you’re at but it is a great cycle out to it. Not only that you can enjoy the local vino and are in the surroundings. Camel valley is a romantic weekend away so make sure you get a cottage which is right in the middle of the vineyard. I strongly recommend it.

The seafood here is worth every penny. Not only that the local drop (Sharp) is not bad either.

Do go and see Padstow if you’re travelling around Cornwall

donny lam

Summer in London

Here is me and friends doing a pub crawl to say farewell to a good friend who left the shores of the UK for Australia. Great pub crawl down by Hammersmith.

donny lam

Linz (Austria)

Now out of all the random places I’ve been to this has got to be one that’s near the top of the list. Why Linz? Where is Linz? Yes these are the questions that my friends asked me when I said I was going away for a long weekend to Linz. Going to Linz was a result of one drunken night in a pub with some friends and I said I was going to go away for the weekend and I was going to just close my eyes, point my finger on the map and I’ll go where my finger lands. Guess where my finger landed… .yep Linz.

Linz is a small city but it is the third largest city in Austria but nothing like it is in Vienna. Anyway I stayed in a hostel for the long weekend that I was there. Linz was a very cool and cute city. Cobble stones roads which is always nice and really gives it that European feel, the main town square is surrounded by cafes/restaurants with people sipping away at their coffees. It is quite a romantic place Linz especially in the evenings. There are quite a few museums to visit if you like museums, cathedral or just do as I do just go with the flow and wonder the city without knowing where you’re going. That way it makes it all more exciting. There are some cool little bars to go to in the evenings, plenty of restaurants. In the summer they say it can get really busy especially the town square. Buskers from all over Europe come here to show their stuff and the markets can get really busy also. They say the Christmas Markets in Linz is also good.

There is a lot of history behind Linz which I learnt on the plane while flying to Linz but I’m not going to give you a history lesson. It’s best if you go and find out yourself and you will see how beautiful Linz is. The city is quite modern and it’s a cool city I thought. It’s old and yet new. I really enjoyed my time in Linz considering it was a random choice. Would I recommend it? Yes if you’re passing through Austria.

donny lam

Sintra (Portugal)

Sintra is a beautiful little town west of Lisbon. It is a very beautiful and romantic little town. It looks like something out of a fairytale was my first impression. Stood on top of the Sintra hills is The Pena National Palace which is said to be the summer residence for the Portuguese Royals during the 18^th Century. It is now a world heritage site. You can go into the palace or you can enjoy the view from up the hill which overlooks the town and the surrounding landscape. The people I found friendly but it would help if you know a bit of Portuguese. Like many foreign places, if you don’t know the local language you will always have a barrier there but as long as you make the effort most people will try and help you out. I would recommend a day in Sintra. Stay overnight and spend a day looking at the Palaces and the town. It’s a town you would just stroll around and take in the local hospitality and window shop.

donny lam

qulity

(Source: serialkiller)

Love Locks

Love locks is a craze that has existed for sometime now and no one knows where it started. There were traces of these locks existing even before the WWII. Traveling through Europe you will come across these lovelocks attached to bridges, fences, gates or anything similar in public. Sweethearts inscribe their names to symbolise their everlasting love. These Love Locks are found across the world. I took this picture of the Love Locks found on The Pont De Arts bridge in Paris. Rome, Florence and Venice are other popular places where you would see these locks. An Italian Author wrote a book about it and later became an adaptation. In many of these places there are punters or street shops where you can buy a lock if you want to join in the craze. I personally think they are brilliant but foursome countries they have become a nuisance because the government sees them as vandalism and non attractive.

donny lam

M&M’s World

If you’re a chocolate lover, fan or whatever you want to call it and you’re in London you need to check out the M&M’s World in Leicester Square. It’s a random place. You can buy all sorts of merchandise with M&M on it and you can also by personalised M&Ms. It’s like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory meets Hamleys Toy Store.

Anyway if you’re passing by then pop in and have a look.

More info go to: http://worldchocolateguide.com/shop/mms-world/london/

donny lam