island – Camera & Carry On http://www.cameraandcarryon.com Making TRAVEL a part of EVERYDAY life Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:23:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 57837987 Interview with a Local: Anne from Northern Ireland http://www.cameraandcarryon.com/interview-local-anne-northern-ireland/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=interview-local-anne-northern-ireland http://www.cameraandcarryon.com/interview-local-anne-northern-ireland/#respond Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:16:49 +0000 http://www.cameraandcarryon.com/?p=2177

The Emerald Isle was on our "must visit" for quite some time and we're so thankful we finally made it. Some of the nicest and most welcoming people hail from this great place, including the wonderful Anne from Coleraine. Born and bred in the area, she gives us a glimpse …

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_sheepfieldireland_interviewlocalanne_cameraandcarryon The Emerald Isle was on our "must visit" for quite some time and we're so thankful we finally made it. Some of the nicest and most welcoming people hail from this great place, including the wonderful Anne from Coleraine. Born and bred in the area, she gives us a glimpse into life near the Causeway Coast and what to expect from a trip to her native Northern Ireland. Read on for her As to our Qs! anne2Hi! Can you tell us a little about yourself? As a visual artist I obviously enjoy cultural events, dinner parties with friends, city breaks in London and Europe. My personality is mostly humorous but I also enjoy pondering over the contradictions of life. That's the artist in me! annemichaelartist.com What 3 words do you think best describe Northern Ireland? Spectacular (landscape), friendly, rainy; though, the weather for the past few days have been super sunny and hot. Are there any phrases or words you recommend visitors learn? Slainte - it’s used here, but more in south of Ireland. The Craic - a term used to describe interactive banter among friends or strangers. Wee - an endearing but word used as a pointless adjective in front of any item: "Can you put your wee card in the credit card machine?” or, "Sure you'll want a wee drink?' causewaycoast_interviewlocalanne_cameraandcarryon What does a perfect weekend in Coleraine look like for you? Most people head to the coast for evenings out as it’s only ten minutes away. Coleraine, Portrush and Portstewart are known as the triangle area. A perfect weekend is sunshine, some dancing, good food and lots of laughter. Do you have any ‘hidden gems’ in your area you can share with us? Yes! Most of my guests are unaware of Mussenden Temple; for some reason it is not advertised as a place in its own right and everyone thanks me for pointing it out. Well worth a visit. Best restaurant would be Tartine at Distillers Arms in Bushmills. mussendentemple_interviewlocalanne_cameraandcarryon Any clothing or packing tips for people traveling to Northern Ireland? A light weight rain coat. What impression of the country do you hope travelers take with them when they leave? Probably I hope for them to take Northern Ireland as it is now - a great holiday destination and not of its turbulent past. Do you enjoy travel? Where have you been? Where would you like to go? I am a terrible traveler, so long distances are out for me… but anywhere in Europe is good for me. My favourite destination is France. I’ve been to Lyon, Paris, Cannes, Biarritiz, Aix en Provence and even popped into Monaco for the Grand Prix… memorable. Anne is a terrific airbnb.com host and opened her warm and cozy home to us for a few nights while we explored the unmatched scenery of Northern Ireland's coastline, Game of Thrones filming locals, and dined on some rather fine, local eats. Look her up for a place to stay, cup of tea, and great stories. portrush_interviewlocalanne_cameraandcarryon

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Laid Back in Langkawi http://www.cameraandcarryon.com/laid-back-in-langkawi/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=laid-back-in-langkawi http://www.cameraandcarryon.com/laid-back-in-langkawi/#respond Mon, 10 Feb 2014 14:19:06 +0000 http://www.cameraandcarryon.com/?p=1056

A duty free shopper's dream, Langkawi is a family-friendly archipelago in the Andaman Sea off mainland Malaysia's west coast. After several weeks in rural parts of the Philippines, and still trying to recover from China, we were happy to be somewhere that catered to visitors. Restaurants with English menus? Yes! …

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Langkawi_Surfboard A duty free shopper's dream, Langkawi is a family-friendly archipelago in the Andaman Sea off mainland Malaysia's west coast. After several weeks in rural parts of the Philippines, and still trying to recover from China, we were happy to be somewhere that catered to visitors. Restaurants with English menus? Yes! A fan and an air conditioner in our room? Hallelujah! While not the most picturesque location in SE Asia, this destination has its pros and it's easy to see why travelers have Langkawi on the radar. Planning a vacay? A few of tips to make the most of your getaway to the main island...

Do

Langkawi_Scooter

  • Rent a scooter (or a car) - Even if you're just planning on cruising between your favorite beach hangout and wherever you hang your bathing suit to dry, a set of wheels will give you some freedom. A scooter will run apx. 35 ringgit ($10) per day, plus gasoline. Bicycles aren't much cheaper, so unless you just plan on making a few quick runs along Pentai Cenang, you're better off with a motorized vehicle. Roads in Langkawi are well-paved and coasting along the coast with the wind in your face is a great way to beat the heat.
  • Find your favorite beach - With no shortage of cornmeal grade sandy spots (sorry to disappoint, but this isn't the sugar-fine breed) to dig your toes in, there are a number of desirable beaches around. We stuck to the main drag of Cenang and Tengah.  Pentai Cenang is often a target for visitors, lined with loads of restaurants and t-shirt shops on the roadside and sunsets along the water. Just south is Pentai Tengah, a quieter stretch with calm waters and prime napping territory, but with close proximity to Cenang's restaurants and 'bustle'.
  • Discover The Zon - Judging by the steady flow of patrons, this isn't a well kept secret. Basically an airport duty free shop on steroids, The Zon carried the touristy essentials (snacks, beach towels, key chain souvenirs), plus the stuff you know you can live without but find yourself struggling to resist. We came here to load up on unnecessarily large quantities of chocolate-covered nuts, adult beverages, and sunscreen.
  • Get off the beaten path - You don't have to go far to lose sight of visitors and mingle with the locals. We found a cafe where English wasn't spoken and decided to try out a few of the fried up goodies on display (they seemed safe enough, and were actually really tasty sweet potatoes, bananas, and corn fritters).

Stay

Langkawi_Hotel We split our time between two hotels which we had pre-booked. Generally, when we're going somewhere new for at least a week, we like to break up the stay to see something new. We decided on the Tropical Resort Langkawi and the Tubotel. While the latter was by far one of our most unique hotel stays, the Tropical Resort came out on top in our book. The staff was extremely hospitable, the location was great (with a private trail to Pentai Tengah), and while not luxurious by any means, the room was clean and tidy. A simple breakfast is also included with most bookings. Bonus points for the generosity of the lovely lady that checked us in after our very late arrival around 1am. Our bags were lost* and we had little more than the clothes on our back. She graciously offered us toothbrushes and toothpaste... real lifesavers! *Thankfully, our bags were recovered and delivered the next day, and we were able to trade out our jeans in favor of swimwear.

Eat

Langkawi_Sunset
  • Oasis Bar & Restaurant - Super laid back and casual, this waterfront hangout is great for grabbing lunch or catching the sunset. Highlight: the Malaysian version of halo halo!
  • Seashells - One of the best dinners I'd had in a while. Romantic setting, delicious food, frothy iced cappuccinos, and friendly service. My mouth is watering just thinking about that scrumptious curry beef. This is a must, and at around $30 USD for an appetizer, 2 entrees, and drinks,  an absolute steal.
  • Unnamed Restaurant (directly next to Oasis Bar & Restaurant) - For the life of me, the name evades me... but this place is, as noted above, just next to Oasis. I opted for Indian fare, but there were plenty of Western and seafood choices available, too. The main draw? An unobscured view of the horizon.
  • Yasmin Restaurant - We absolutely stuffed ourselves because we simply couldn't stop eating all the deliciousness. Bright and crisp fattoush salad, creamy hummus, and to-die-for baba ganoush were to start. The donut shaped falafel were super crispy and flavorful, and the chicken shawarma was pretty darn good, too. Try not to be scared off by the guy on the sidewalk; he's a little aggressive with his approach on the sidewalk. Just smile, sit down and order. You'll be glad you did.
Oh, and do try the tropical fruits! Many of the varieties native to this part of the world are not available back home and I found myself in a veritable fruit frenzy. My favorites: the prickly rambutan and giant jackfruit! Langkawi_Rambutan

 Avoid

  • Durian - Please, PLEASE, for the sake of your taste buds and all things good in this world... Do Not Eat Durian. Do not let the "ice cream" version entice you. It's heinous.
  • Kuah Town - It's busy, noisy, and quite frankly there's not much to see. We ventured here by scooter one day to try and find some extra memory cards for our camera at the large mall (which was a bust anyway) and didn't feel the need to stick around.
  • Pink Drink - No, that's not an official title, but it is a beverage with a true bubble gum color. Milky, over sweetened, and with heavy notes of soap (seriously, it tastes like soap), it seems better suited for punishment than refreshing the palate.
Langkawi_Beach

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