Travelling Simply

Travel recommendations, ideas and observations from two simple travellers

Author: Smita (Page 6 of 17)

Fullerton Hotel foyer
Fullerton Hotel foyer

One thing you’ll absolutely love to do in Singapore

18/10/2021 / / 2 Comments

Stopping over in Singapore is always a pleasure whether travelling to and from Europe. Or, even for short holidays and long weekends.  We enjoy doing both. On our last visit, we discovered one thing you’ll absolutely love to do in Singapore.

Why we love Singapore

We love staying in Singapore because:

  • it’s safe and clean;
  • you get to savour all the smells and flavours of Asia in one place; and
  • it has an irresistible character and charm.

For many, the Fullerton Hotel is a modern five-star luxury hotel. For us, it’s an elegant and mysterious building. We admire it from the outside every time we visit.

The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore

The Fullerton History

Named after Robert Fullerton, Singapore’s first Governor, the building’s stately granite facade radiates its prominence in Singapore’s history. Fullerton Hotel staff are enthusiastic to showcase the former General Post Office’s journey to becoming a first-class hotel.

The building was opened in 1928 and built entirely on reclaimed land. It boasted one of the longest Post Office counters in Asia. During World War II it was transformed into a hospital before being commandeered by the invading Japanese as their headquarters.

There is a lot of history in between.

The Fullerton Tour

We stumbled upon the Fullerton tour through an article about historical tours of the Hotel while researching for things to do on our last stopover. We didn’t hesitate in booking our spots straight away.

Mile Zero and Cavenagh Bridge

The Fullerton tour commenced in its gracious foyer.

Grand Staircase, Fullerton Hotel, Singapore
Fullerton Hotel’s stunning Grand Staircase

On meeting our small group, our guide steered us outside to ‘Mile Zero’. This is the spot from where all distances were measured before postal codes were introduced. It was literally the centre of Singapore.

Singapore Mile Zero

‘Mile Zero’ gave us an opportunity to look at and learn about another significant landmark. The Cavenagh Bridge holds equal importance to the history of Singapore. People would gather at the bridge to listen to the country’s founding father, Lee Kwan Yew address political rallies in support of independence and finally, on 9 August 1965, Singaporeans celebrated their transition from a colony to an independent nation beside the bridge and the grand Fullerton.

Cavenagh Bridge, Singapore
The historic Cavenagh Bridge

History of the Fullerton

Returning indoors away from the humidity, our guide, Andy summarised the history of the building. The floors above had served as the exclusive European and male-only Singapore Club. The Club was where major decisions related to Singapore’s independence had been made.

Andy then guided us to the lounge area dedicated to tour groups. We sat surrounded by photographic displays and models of the building to hear more about Singaporean and Fullerton history.

The tour did not focus entirely on the Fullerton building. It was also an opportunity to learn more about Singapore’s history and, the city’s ambitious and extensive reclamation project.

The Fullerton Heritage Gallery
Learn all about the history of Singapore and the Fullerton Hotel in the Fullerton Heritage Gallery

The tour concluded on the rooftop overlooking the Marina showcasing some of the best views you will find in Singapore. An outdoor bar now stands on the spot where a lighthouse once stood!

Views from the Fullerton Hotel rooftop
Views from the Fullerton Hotel rooftop
Views of the Financial District and the Fullerton Bay Hotel from the rooftop of the Fullerton Hotel
Views of the Financial District and the Fullerton Bay Hotel from the rooftop of the Fullerton Hotel

What did we think of the Fullerton Hotel tour?

Visiting Singapore? You must step inside the iconic Raffles Hotel and its famous Long Bar along with the other colonial buildings and museums recommended in the guidebooks. However, a tour through the stately and proudly restored Fullerton Hotel gives visitors a new appreciation of the city and its history. We think it deserves equal importance on a ‘places to visit in Singapore’ list.

One more thing

You do not need to be a guest to be eligible for the tour.  The tours are divided into two groups: one dedicated to hotel guests and another for guests of the city. Both run at separate times and are complimentary. Singaporeans are immensely proud of their heritage and keen to share it. While only one hour in duration you’ll be treated to more than just a quick walk-through.

Remember to bookmark this page as a reminder for when you next visit.

And, if you liked this recommendation

Read about how you’ll learn and see more of a city than on a guided tour when you take a walking tour through the Stroll Buddy (formerly Global Greeters) network. 

Blue Mosque courtyard
The courtyard entrance to the Blue Mosque at dusk.

How to see more of Istanbul and try the Turkish Delight

13/05/2021 / / 0 Comments

Our first encounter with Turkey was in transit on the return journey home from a three-month road trip in Europe. We were intrigued and decided to return to see the country and try some real Turkish Delight in Istanbul.

One year later, we found ourselves sitting in the back of a taxi stealing anxious looks at each other. Did everyone drive crazily here? Would we make it to our apartment alive? There better be something special about Istanbul!

We had decided to take a small group tour on this first encounter with Turkey. We put aside a few days to explore Istanbul before and after the tour to experience the city independently. Sultanahmet, old town in Istanbul was the perfect starting point.

The taxi driver delivered us to the entrance of a pretty little street and gestured that we’d find our check-in location a little further down. Still early and keen to use our own time wisely, we left out luggage at the office and set out for a walk to beat off the jetlag and get our bearings.

The Hippodrome

The streets were slowly coming to life as we strolled a short distance to The Hippodrome. Surrounded by the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the Hippodrome also serves as a meeting place for locals. An important historic site, it boasts three famous monuments, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column and the Colossus lining the centre of the square.

The Hippodrome is a place of congregation and history

People are crowded around a cart in the square and wander over to see what there is to see. It’s an ice cream truck and everyone is entranced by the vendors creating a show by stretching and manipulating the ice cream. We discover Turkish ice cream is not as we know it. The ice cream is thick and elastic and not ice cream as we know it. Unfortunately, we return home without having tried the Turkish version. We discover so many other delicacies during our stay.

After a short stroll around the Hippodrome, we retrace our steps to check in and refresh before returning to explore further.

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque with its domes and minarets is one of Sultanahmet and Istanbul’s most beautiful buildings. A working mosque, we visited in the early evening as worshippers attended evening prayers. The best way to enter the mosque is through the main courtyard. We were fortunate to do so when we visited by ourselves. We could appreciate the serene atmosphere as worshippers prepared to enter the mosque. Once inside, it is the famous blue tiles and the grand prayer area which everyone comes to look up.

We returned later with our tour group, where security checked and guided us into the interior through a dark back entrance. It provided none of the awe that we had experienced a couple of days earlier.

The courtyard entrance to the Blue Mosque at dusk.
The exquisite interior of the Blue Mosque

Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia stands opposite the Blue Mosque. It is one of the world’s most unique and culturally significant buildings and A UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. The Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century as a Byzantine church. In the 13th century, it became a Catholic Church and was converted into a mosque in 1453. In 1931 the building was closed and converted into a museum following extensive renovations.

A visit inside the Hagia Sophia is an experience unlike any other. The captivating interior displays remnants of both its Christianity and Islam heritage. We are grateful to have visited the building while it was a museum devoted to its Christian and Muslim heritage. In 2020, the Hagia was turned back into a mosque and place of worship.

Look up and be amazed at the beauty of times past inside the Hagia Sophia

Fresh juice and Turkish carpets

Our morning walks along the Caddesi as the stores opened were a delight. There were lots of food outlets and as it was the height of summer, there were many offering freshly pressed orange or pomegranate juice.

After a long walk one morning, we decided to try the pomegranate juice to quench our thirst. It seemed to be the juice of choice in Istanbul. Perched on plastic crates, we watched the vendor hand press pomegranates one after the other to produce one glass of juice. We lost count of how many he had to slice open during the process. Pomegranate juice, we found, is an acquired taste, rather tart!

Once, refreshed we started on the way back to the Hippodrome. A middle-aged man sidled up alongside us as we were halfway along the Caddesi. He chatted away in perfect English and questioned where we came from, how long we were staying and if we were enjoying our visit. He then proceeded to remind us that Turkey was famous for its unique artefacts and beautifully handwoven carpets. We agreed. We had seen some exquisite products in shop windows. Reaching the Hippodrome we stopped to bid him farewell. He looked at us astounded. “But you are coming to my carpet shop!”.

The Grand Bazaar

The charming Grand Bazaar is both an oasis and a trap. A guided tour through the bazaar was on our “Turkish Delights” tour itinerary but we took the opportunity to explore on our own beforehand.

In the heat of summer, the bazaar is a refuge to escape from the bustling Divan Yolu Caddesi outside. On entering, and once you have recovered from the marvellous interior, like us, you will realise you are trapped. Enjoy getting lost in the maze of alleys and discovering all sorts of treasures. The shops sell everything from fake designer wear and Turkish rugs to genuine leather jackets and opulent gold jewellery.

You’ll love wandering among the over 4,000 shops and stalls to find yourself a bargain or two.

Allow yourself to get lost wandering around the Grand Bazaar
Go shopping for gold jewellery in the Grand Bazaar

Topkapi Palace

The grand Topkapi Palace sits on a small hill overlooking the Bosphorus River and Golden Horn. The palace was the political centre of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries before being replaced by the Dolmabahce Palace sitting on the waterfront across the strait.

Originally a city within a city, and now a museum, wander through the halls, courtyards and vast gardens from where the Ottoman sultans ruled their vast empire.

Turkish Delight in Istanbul

Every day we walked through a quiet shopping village on our way to explore the busy Divan Yolu Caddesi area. The stores and small eating places were closed in the mornings but they were open for business when we passed through in the evenings.

One store caught our eye on our first evening. It specialised in lokum (Turkish Delight) and many varieties of the sweet were piled in pyramids around the store. “Which would you like to sample?”, the owner asked. So it was as we walked past every evening he beckoned us inside to us a new product to sample. Each item melted in our mouths. There was no obligation to purchase.

Every evening we told him we would be back to purchase some of his delightful delicacies. He smiled graciously as if it was a story he had heard before and offered us more Turkish Delight.

We kept our promise returning two weeks later to purchase Turkish Delights to take home for gifts.

In case you missed it

If you enjoyed this post and want to read more about Turkey, click here to learn about our day on Gallipoli.

Want to learn more about Turkey?

  • We’ll be sharing more of our experiences in Turkey including a review of our “Turkish Delights” tour of Turkey, and our after-tour stay on the other side of the mighty Bosphorus River in Istanbul. Sign up to receive these blogs straight to your inbox when they come out.
  • Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to see our photos, recommendations, commentary and travel inspiration.
Porto Antico, Genoa
Porto Antico, Genoa

Things you’ll love to see in charming Genoa

26/03/2021 / / 1 Comment

Charming Genoa

Many tourists don’t visit Genoa because it is not close to Italy’s more popular tourist spots. Rest assured, there are many things you’ll love to see and do in charming Genoa.

The city secured its importance early because of its harbour and has been inhabited for thousands of years with its own history complete with magnificent piazzas, vias, palaces and buildings.

Why we visited Genoa

“Where shall we take our driving break?” We were driving from Switzerland to Rapallo on Italy’s Ligurian coast.

It was to be in Genoa, a city we had visited before. With only a couple of hours available, we wandered around a small part of the old town area reflecting on why hadn’t planned to stay.

We had stayed in the city a few years before and recalled there was heavy traffic from Monaco into Italy but what beautiful views over the Italian Riviera!  Spectacular sea views on one side and equally striking terraces of vineyards, and olive and citrus groves on the other.

Things you’ll love to see and do in charming Genoa

Genoa’s Old Town

Parking was prohibited in the historic centre so we dragged our bags into the maze of alleyways and instantly lost our bearings. Not a soul was in sight. We found a pharmacy open, and a pharmacist who spoke a little English. He decided that we were incapable of finding our way to our bed and breakfast, Quarto Piano and guided us through a tight network of narrow alleys emerging in front of a beautiful old building. We would never have found our way! Ersi buzzed us up to the fourth floor as our guide disappeared with a smile and a wave. We lugged our bags up the 105 steps of the impressive marble staircase to find our chic abode. Like many historic buildings, there was no lift!

Once settled, a wandering of the carrugi revealed a historic centre with many old, a little new, wealthy and many not-so-wealthy inhabitants cohabiting within the medieval core of the city. It was interesting just to cast our eyes around our little neighbourhood before we explored further out.

Porto Antico, Porto Vecchio, Porto Nuovo

The harbour is the life of Genoa and we spent our first afternoon exploring the docks. Each has its own characteristics and we found a range of dining options along the way where visitors and locals can sit back and watch the comings and goings in the harbour. We even retraced our steps back to our accommodation without getting lost!

There’s plenty to see and do in Porto Antico

The Palazzos of Via Guiseppe Garibaldi

What a difference a day made! The next morning we stepped out for our first full day in the city to find the shutters had been lifted and business was well underway.

Our first stop was famous via Guiseppe Garibaldi. Built by Genovese aristocracy, the street is lined with magnificent palaces. Each noble palace has its own character with extravagant facades, enthralling courtyards and amazing interiors hidden behind the nondescript entrances. Give yourself plenty of time, there is much to be amazed by.

Take a peek at the elegant courtyards hidden behind doors on via Garibaldi
You’ll find each interior exquisite
From inside one doorway to another
The beautifully decorated exteriors are unique to that palazzo

Piazza Ferrari

Piazza Ferrari is one of Italy’s most beautiful piazzas. In the centre of the old town boasting a majestic fountain, it’s a wonderful place to stop and appreciate the beautiful old palaces and buildings that flank the perimeter of the Piazza.

Piazza Ferrari
Historic buildings frame Piazza Ferrari

Via XX Settembre (via 20 September)

Linking Piazza Ferrari to Piazza Vittoria, Via XX Settembre is another of the city’s most elegant streets. Boutiques, shops and cafes are housed on the ground floors of the extravagant buildings lining both sides of the street. Cast your eyes around to admire the intricate and decorative facades and balconies of the buildings. Make sure you look up and down too. The arcaded street has beautiful mosaic floors and equally stunning panelled ceilings.

Piazza della Vittoria

The walk down XX Settembre ends at Piazza della Vittoria, another beautiful and important square. The significant feature of the square is the triumphal arch dedicated to the city’s fallen soldiers from World War I.

Genoa’s Triumphal Arch

Porto Soprana

Genoa was once a walled city and its city walls were once the longest in Italy. Today Porto Soprana is the best of the remaining gateways to visit.  The gateway between two towers, or the Towers of Sant’Andrea as they are sometimes referred to is not far from Piazza Ferrari.

The towering towers of Porto Soprano
The well-preserved gateway

Casa Colombo

A stone’s throw from Porto Soprana is Christopher Columbus House. Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa and lived on the site between 1455 and 1470. The current building is a reconstruction built a few decades after the original house was destroyed (believed to be during the bombing of Genoa by France in 1684). The surrounding area has been renovated and rebuilt and while extra floors have been added to the house, it has been left to reflect what it looked when Columbus lived there and now houses a museum dedicated to the city’s famous son.

Casa Columbus

Our conclusion

Of course, the above is just a sprinkling of what we have seen. Like many of Italy’s cities and towns, there is an exhaustive list of charming churches and cathedrals, museums and theatres and viewing points to include on a visit.

We also know we have not seen or experienced all this great city has to offer and we’ll be going to go back for another stay. If you haven’t been to Genoa before, we highly recommend that you consider adding the city that most travellers forget to your itinerary. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

P.S

If you enjoyed reading about Genoa, you may like a couple of our other Italian “off the radar” recommendations:

Sticky post Bicentennial Coastal Walkway, Airlie Beach
Views along the Bicentennial Coastal Walkway

Everything you need to discover beautiful Queensland!

08/02/2021 / / 0 Comments

All good things must come to an end. After the perfect combination of rest, relaxation and exploring in northern Queensland, the return trip had to be made. Our drive south was not going to be boring, there was more to see in our backyard. If you haven’t read about our journey north, read Part One for our recommendations on places to visit on the way north first, and you will have everything you need to discover beautiful Queensland, Australia.

Beautiful Mission Beach

Having heard so much about Mission Beach’s raw beauty, we were looking forward to our stay. The small township of Mission Beach on the Cassowary Coast is a three hour drive from Port Douglas and renowned for two things.

  1. Its close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
  2. Its 14km of palm lined golden sand beach.

There are no glitzy bars, cafes and restaurants or walking promenades in Mission Beach. The small village atmosphere makes it the perfect getaway from simply everything! Be prepared to slow down right down and be captivated by its natural beauty. On our late afternoon walk we were surprised to find that we had the whole beach almost to ourselves sharing it with a sole walker we could just spot in the distance. Stopping to watch a pod of whales playing in the waters just off the shore was a delight. There are few places where you can have kilometres of golden sand all to yourself!

Mission Beach, North Queensland
Golden sand for kilometres at Mission Beach

Dunk Island is a short water taxi ride away to take advantage of the walking trails or take the scenic drive along the coast road to tiny settlement of Bingil Bay and pop into Bingil Bay Café for lunch or dinner.

Discover Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is the gateway to the idyllic Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. The town and its own beauty are often overlooked by tourists using it only as a base or launching point to the islands. We decided avoid the islands and stay in Airlie Beach to appreciate this laid back town.

We had found the township bustling with backpackers and holidaymakers on a previous visit. Not this time! The streets were deserted because of travel restrictions. With school holidays due to start we hoped that vacationers would make their way to the area. It’s a great place to take the family. Note that most beaches are out of bounds from November to May because the waters are full of box jellyfish. Their sting can be life-threatening. To counter this, one of Airlie Beach’s attractions is the large family friendly beach side lagoon area so you swim safely while enjoying the gorgeous views.

Waterviews, Bicentennial Coastal Walkway, Airlie Beach
The spectacular water views along Bicentennial Coastal Walkway, Airlie Beach

By now you’ve guessed that we love to walk! There are a number of hiking trails to choose from in the area including some catering for the bushwalker in the Conway National Our favourite is the Bicentennial Coastal Walkway. The walk, for us, started from our accommodation at the Mantra Boathouse at the marina just outside of the town centre. Officially starting at the Lagoon, the 4 kilometre walkway meanders mostly along the water’s edge as far as Cannonvale Beach showcasing beautiful ocean views. Take a brisk morning walk or a more leisurely evening stroll pausing for a cocktail or meal at the bars and restaurants at Abell Point.

Bicentennial Coastal Walkway, Airlie Beach
Views along the Bicentennial Coastal Walkway

For another viewpoint, take the short drive to Coral Point at Shute Harbour for views out over the Whitsunday Passage and the islands. And, if you’re up for it, walk up to the lookout at Mount Rooper for more spectacular views.

Shute Harbour, Airlie Beach
Views over Shute Harbour passage

The hidden gems of Gladstone

A few days of rest and recreation in Airlie Beach prepared us for the final days of our road trip.

The road into Gladstone portrayed the town’s main purpose. Home to Queensland’s largest multi-commodity port, the landscape was littered with overhead and on-ground rail tracks for shunting goods to the port.

The town isn’t to be underestimated. It provides easy access to the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, and to Heron and Wilson Islands or visitors can take the short ferry ride just off shore to Curtis Island to explore a combination of the lush National Park and the pristine beaches.

Auckland Hill Lookout, Gladstone
Beautiful views from Auckland Hill Lookout, Gladstone

Wanting to stay on dry land? The town offers a small heritage walk. There are few historic buildings in the town but the centre is full of its own unique character with a small heritage walk to follow. We wandered around the backstreets on the outskirts of the town centre finding beautiful Queenslander homes with veranda views over the port. Our meandering eventually found us at Auckland Point Lookout which gives a panorama of the harbour and beyond. Be sure to look up at the wall by the cafe for a little inspiration.

Steps leading down from the Lookout brought us to the East Shores Precinct. The parklands have a waterpark, picnic and barbeque areas, and a waterfront boardwalk. An impressive feature of the precinct is how well the site’s original industrial heritage has been incorporated into the waterfront. Signage along the boardwalk gives a detailed guide of the area’s previous function and history.

East Coast Shores, Gladstone
The historic past is well displayed at Gladstone’s East Coast Shores Precinct

Looking for more to see around the Gladstone region? The towns of Tannum Sands, Agnes Waters, Seventeen Seventy are all great places to explore and only a short drive away.

Our recommendations

We punctuated the six hour drive from Airlie Beach to Gladstone with a stopover for lunch in Rockhampton. With more time we agree that we would have enjoyed staying a few days in the city. The heart of the city centre boasts wide and the leafy streets with beautiful old buildings. A delight to stroll along!

Rockhampton
The beautiful architecture in centre of Rockhampton

Where we stayed

  • Castaways Resort and Spa at Mission Beach boasts rooms and apartments from where you can step into beautiful gardens with direct access to the 14 kilometre beach. Quiet and secluded but right in the centre of Mission Beach, Castaways is a wonderful place to slow down pace and get away from it all.
Castaway Resort, Mission Beach, North Queensland
Absolute beachfront. Our stay at Castaways Resort.
  • The Mantra Boathouse Apartments in Airlie Beach was perfect for our midway stay. All apartments have balconies with spectacular views over the marina and beyond to the Coral Sea. The apartments are a short walking distance from town but far away enough to make it feel like we were in our own little world. We were content to while away our time reading and getting takeout for dinner to enjoy on the balcony between our sightseeing jaunts around the vicinity.
Mantra Boathouse apartment views, Airlie Beach
Views from our balcony at Mantra Boathouse, Airlie Beach
  • Not far from the centre of Gladstone, we stayed at the Mercure Gladstone. Our hotel room was well furnished with a private balcony and the hotel is conveniently attached to the local sports club where we had breakfast and enjoyed pre-dinner drinks. Make sure you have a look at their beautiful art corner featuring local artists.

Where we ate

Mission Beach – We dined at Bibesia restaurant at the Castaways Resort. The staff were friendly and attentive offering us a seafront table. The menu offers fresh local produce.

Gladstone – The Dock at East Shores is a wonderful spot for a relaxed dinner – delicious seasonal food combined with spectacular night-time port views make it a “must do” when you visit this down to earth town.

Everything you need to discover beautiful Queensland!

Driving holidays are best way to see your back yard – read about our drive from Brisbane to Port Douglas and the places we visited on the way.

And, in case you missed it

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