Wednesday 5 December 2012

Christmas in Iceland: It's booked!

Guess what?

I'm heading to Iceland... for Christmas!


Nick, our friends Jay and Andy, and I will spend five nights in this chilly Nordic land exploring as much as we can and trying to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.

We fly to Reykjavik on December 21 and spend a night by the airport before picking up our car and heading north to Akureyri for three nights where we hope to see the aurora borealis.

Our plans and itinerary are far for finalised, but we have booked all our accommodation and something I'm rather excited about... Dog sledding! 

It might not be a traditional Icelandic activity, but I couldn't pass up the chase to race along the snow with a pack of huskies.

We still have no plans for Christmas day - hopefully we can find a place for a good meal somewhere in Reykjavik - and there is the issue of buying a bunch of Iceland proof clothes.

***

  • You can follow our progress on Twitter using #IcelandXmas 
  • Been to Iceland before? Please share your tips & tricks here and on Twitter.



Tuesday 4 December 2012

Recipe: Naomi Bars (What to do with plain digestives)

After a long, cold day outside I made myself  a creamy hot chocolate as an evening treat. But my enjoyment was shattered when tucking into a fresh packet of cookies I discover, much to my horror, that I have bought plain digestives instead of chocolate ones.

In the vain of "When Life Gives You Lemons" I present: Naomi Bars...


Naomi Bars

Base

  • 115g butter
  • 2 tblsp cocoa
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 60g sugar
  • 1tsp vanilla
  • 90g coconut
  • 250g pkt digestive biscuits, crushed to crumbs

  1. Melt butter, cocoa and sugar together in a saucepan over low heat.
  2. Remove from heat and add beaten egg, vanilla, biscuit crumbs and coconut.
  3. Spoon mixture into greased slice tin and level.
  4. Refrigerate for 30 mins until cold.

Topping

  • 60g butter
  • 3 tblsp milk
  • 225g icing sugar
  • 2 tblsp custard powder
  • 60g chocolate

  1. Cream butter and gradually add milk, icing sugar and custard powder.
  2. Beat until smooth.
  3. Spread topping over base mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hrs.
  4. Melt chocolate in a bowl over hot water and trickle from a tsp on to base.

Monday 3 December 2012

Review: JRB Pop-Up, Thatched House


Let me begin by saying I am by no means a food reviewer or culinary aficionado. I am simply someone who really enjoys their food

With that in mind, on a wet and dismal late autumn night in London, my friends and I ventured out to the JRB Pop-Up restaurant at the Thatched House in Hammersmith.

The night's meal was being prepared by up-and-coming talent Nathan Richardson, assistant manager at The Ship, Putney.

After a quick glass of wine, we were shown to the dining area with about 30 others for a evening of inventive fine-dining. 

Menu

Roasted Sweetbreads 

Morel Puree, Asparagus Salad, Mushroom Croquette and Truffle Oil

The real surprise of the night, the roasted sweetbreads had been the one dish I had been dreading.

Thankfully hidden under a bed of greens (not sure if there was any asparagus, which suits me just fine), the tasty morsels of, well I don't really want to know, were just the right size for their rich flavour - any larger and the dish would have been sickly.

An added bonus, the mushroom croquette was simply delicious.
Roasted Sweetbreads. Photo by The Ship

Butter Poached Salmon 

Soured Cream Sorbet, Avocado Puree, Melba Toast and Scorched Lemon Dressing

For me, this was the standout dish from the savory section. Perfectly cooked and wonderfully flavoured, the sour cream sorbet was a surprisingly tasty hit.

Seconds?
Butter Poached Salmon. Photo by The Ship

Poached Duck Breast 

Foie Gras Donut, Confit Leg Meat, Almond Fluid Gel, Duck Scratching and Cherry Jus

First up, I'm going to say I really enjoyed this dish - beautifully cooked duck is a real treat - but I feel that a with a few small tweaks this meal could have been amazing.

The foie gras donut was a little on the dry side and while I found the duck scratching tasty, it was slightly too rich for the portion size. The richness of the dish could have been toned down by adding more of the sharp cherry jus or a more greenery to the plate.
Poached Duck Breast. Photo by The Ship

Hot Apple and Blackberry Crumble Shot

There is no other word to describe this little dessert than 'wow'. How can one person pack so much flavour into one tiny little shot glass?

Designed to easy the diner into dessert, the proper way to consume this pud is to remove the oat biscuit on top, drop the jelly pastel into the warm 'crumble' mix then down in one.

I didn't quiet follow the instructions, it was too tasty for me not to siip, and savour, slowly.

As one diner aptly described: "it was like something from Willy Wonka!".
Hot Apple and Blackberry Crumble Shot. Photo by The Ship

Iced Coffee and Chocolate Parfait 

Frangelico Cream, Salted Caramel, Hazelnut Tuille

By this stage of the evening it started to look like food had won. 

And then this arrived at my table - a vision of chocolatey goodness covered in gold flake.

*HEAVEN*

It took a good whack of the spoon to break through the dark chocolate shell (all made by the chef's own hands I might add) and fashioning the perfect scoop with equal parts cream, truffle, chocolate and salted caramel it was quite possibly the best dessert I have ever eaten.

Extra bonus - the addition of some kind of popping candy/chocolate.
Iced Coffee and Chocolate Parfait. Photo by The Ship


Final Thoughts

What an amazing evening of food. If you ever come across a menu featuring Nathan Richardson behind the grill you must go! Now. That is an order!

Thursday 22 November 2012

Adventures of the Culinary Persuasion: JRB Pop-Up


One thing's for certain, I'm a girl who loves her food. 

So when a dear friend suggested we buy tickets for an exclusive five-course gourmet feast in Hammersmith I jumped at the chance.

It will be my first foray into the very 'now' world of pop-up restaurants and the menu seems a little fancier than what I'm used to, but I'll give it a shot!

I am a little freaked out by the sweetbreads though. Gulp. Bottoms up.



JRB Pop-Up at the Thatched House
Thatched House
Monday, 26 November 2012 at 19:00
London, United Kingdom


Menu

Roasted Sweetbreads
Morel Puree, Asparagus Salad, Mushroom Croquette and Truffle Oil

~

Butter Poached Salmon
Soured Cream Sorbet, Avocado Puree, Melba Toast and Scorched Lemon Dressing

~

Poached Duck Breast 
Foie Gras Donut, Confit Leg Meat, Almond Fluid Gel, Duck Scratching and Cherry Jus 

~

Hot Apple and Blackberry Crumble Shot

~

Iced Coffee and Chocolate Parfait
Frangelico Cream, Salted Caramel, Hazelnut Tuille

Monday 10 September 2012

England's Theme Parks: Thorpe Park

Sometimes you really just need a good old scream. 

And what better way to induce such a sound than a trip to a thrilling theme park.

Over the years I've visited my fair share - Movie World, Dreamworld, Wet'n'Wild and Sea World on Australia's Gold Coast, Disneyland in LA and Paris and Universal Studios Florida and LA.

I might add that I visited all these parks as an adult. My childhood trips to Rainbow's End in New Zealand and the Gold Coast took place when I was still a little scared of roller coasters so stuck to the rides that didn't go upside down.

Living with a roller coaster fiend means we can never go too long between thrill-seeking journeys.

So for a (very) late birthday treat I took the lovely Nick on a trip to Surrey's famous Thorpe Park.

Known for its thrills without frills, Thorpe Park is an adrenalin junky's dream! You wont find any Mickey Mouse magic here, just good, fast, and slightly scary, rides.

Also on show are some of the UK's finest spray tans, false eyelashes, hair extensions and bad tattoos - the perfect place for a bit of people watching!

But onto the rides! Here's a run down of what we rode...


Nemesis Inferno
Inverted coaster - just a little bit scary.
Colossus
Classic roller coaster with a massive 10 loops. Dizzy much?
SAW
A few steep drops. The ride is a little jerky resulting in brain rattling.
Stealth
Ready, set, go! Stealth accelerates to 130 km/h (80 miles) in under 2 seconds and throws you up 62 metres in the air. 
The Swarm
Thorpe Park's newest ride, riders are position either side of the main track and rotate as the coaster makes its way around the ride.
Vortex
Like a giant crazy swing. So much fun!
Rush
While it didn't look like much, Rush is surprising frightening! As two giant arms swing you back and forth into the air the lap belt holding you in doesn't quite feel secure enough - how about a harness?

The park also hosts a range of water rides if you're in the mood for a soaking and aside from the coasters there are a bunch of funfair games that will surely put a dent in your pocket if you are determined to win.

While it lacks the atmosphere of the American giants if you're interested in some of the best rides around without any fuss, Thorpe Park is for you!

Tips

  • Catch a National Rail train to Staines (Oyster Cards not accepted)
  • A shuttle to the park leaves directly beside the station
  • Look out for promotional 2-4-1 offers (we used the deal on the Frijj Flavoured Milk labels). 
  • See if your train service provider has any deals

Sunday 2 September 2012

Manchester: That Time I Went to the Olympics

I just love the way they talk, these people in the north. 

If I could pick my English-accent heaven this city would be a winner. It also helps that everyone appears to be wonderfully happy and friendly and their sing-song way of speaking only emphasises this.

We were in town for the Olympic Football - NZ vs Egypt and Brazil vs Belarus - and it was the perfect excuse for a weekend in Manchester.

The rail journey from London was largely hassle free. We kicked back and relaxed with the stresses of the working week left far behind.

It was a different story when we arrived in Manchester.

Knowing that the Olympics Opening Ceremony would be kicking off in a couple of minutes we were eager to find our hotel in record time. This didn't exactly go according to plan and thanks to the city's winding old streets we were soon wandering in the wrong direction. TIP: Bring a good map and take time to work out where you are going before you head off from the train station. Manchester's street can weave around a bit.
Old Trafford

After finding our bearings we came to our home for the next two nights - the Portland St Britannia Hotel. A rather grand affair, it was in desperate need of a good freshening up. We were sharing the place with several wedding parties, stag nights and school groups, but it was surprising quiet at night.

Much has been said of the over-the-top price hikes in place during the Olympics. To illustrate how insane pricing was we paid £30 for our room on the Friday night and a massive £100 on the Saturday - the night before the game.

We were up early on Saturday to make the most of our time in the city. First stop was a breakfast of tea cakes (kind of like English Muffins with currents in them) before making our way to the shopping area around Market St.

After spending a good few hours browsing we jumped aboard the easy to use tram service and made our way to pay a pre-match day visit to Old Trafford Stadium.

If you want to visit Old Trafford for a tour, or just have a look around, definitely don't go the day of a game which we would soon discover transforms the place into a sea of people.

Back in the central city it was dinner time. Thanks to my other-half's love of all things all-you-can-eat we headed to the Red Hot Buffet

Personally, I've never liked buffets preferring to have my own meal cooked specifically for me and brought directly to my table, but if you must make me go to one Red Hot is certainly one of the better choices.

It certainly was the place to be that Saturday - the dining room was packed with groups of twenty-somethings all dressed up for night on the town and families celebrating. 

Far from offering the usually rubbery, dry fare left under heat lamps, Red Hot offers several cooking stations where chefs whip up dishes on demand and starters that you could almost describe as elegant. 

Sunday: Match Day

Come on NZ!
Up early, we didn't want to get caught in the mad rush to the game. Sadly, it wasn't early enough.


The ride on the tram that morning was even more crammed then on a London commute as supporter from all four nations pushed their way onto the carriages


As expected, the Brazilians showed the rest of us how a supporter is meant to celebrate! With their bright yellow outfits and banging drums they made the stadium atmosphere come alive.     

New Zealand were up first and while Egypt were clearly the better team our goalie worked overtime to keep the game to a draw.

After a rather long and chaotic security queue (seriously, did they need to seal our bags in plastic!) we were right there in the Theatre of Dreams.

Despite not being the biggest soccer fan in the world, the whole match, combined with the vibrant crowd, was thrilling. A real once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I can now say I've seen an international football match at the legendary Old Trafford, been to an Olympic event and spent a lovely weekend in Manchester.

GETTING THERE: Virgin Trains, London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly, booked through thetrainline.com
OLD TRAFFORD: Metrolink tram to Old Trafford stop
ACCOMMODATION: The Britannia Hotel, booked through Expedia




Tuesday 14 August 2012

Goodbye My Travelling Friend


A dear travel companion left me at the weekend.

After 5 years of being practically inseparable, a Friday night party in West London proved to be our undoing.

Together we’d seen the wonders of Europe, the great pyramids of Egypt, trekked across America and explored the cities and outback of Australia.

Not only that, but you supported me through my day to day life in New Zealand, at work or play, rain or shine, and continued to do so in London.

Flip-flops, thongs, sandals, whatever others call them to me you were simply ‘my jandals’ and you were the most true and loyal friend.
Our last outing: Italy 2012
Some travellers prefer sneakers or Birkenstocks, but for me nothing can beat a good pair of rubber jandals. With the cool breeze and warm sun on your feet, no other footwear screams ‘holiday’ quite like them.

You can get them wet or dirty, they have fantastic grip, and there’s no need to worry about that rather uncomfortable sensation of getting sand or stones in your shoes.

I find them the perfect piece for all destinations from beach to the bar and everywhere in-between. The only time they might cause you trouble is when the temperatures drop and things get a little chilly (under no circumstances may socks be worn underneath).

Our last outing was in early August 2012, when we spent a steamy five days in Italy visiting Lucca and Cinque Terre.

You carried me along ancient cobbled streets, up seemingly endless steps and around stunning cliff-side trails through scorching 30-something⁰C temperatures and never once let me down.

Thanks to the endless sunshine I’ve been left with a special reminder of our time together in the form of a set of tan lines.

I’ll always remember the good times.

Goodbye baby blue Havaianas, we had a great ride. For my next pair I’m thinking navy.

My Jandals & Me: Through the Years

Sydney 2007
Dubrovnik 2008
Athens, Greece 2008
Theatre at Epidaurus, Greece 2008 
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, USA 2010
Galveston, Texas, USA 2010
Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA 2010
MOMA, New York City, USA 2010
Canada 2010
Niagara Falls 2010
Stone Circle, Avebury, UK 2011
Burano, Venice, Italy 2011
Brighton, UK 2011

Kom Ombo, Egypt 2011
Temple of Horus, Egypt 2011
Step Pyramid, Saqqara, Egypt 2011
Old Trafford, Manchester, UK 2012




Sunday 15 July 2012

Egypt: Beyond Expectations Part 3 - Abu Simbel


Our day began well before sunrise.

I won’t tell you how early for fear of scaring you off, but with strict visiting hours in place at Abu Simbel we had no choice but to stumble with heavy eyes onto the bus.
Great Temple of Ramesse II, Abu Simbel. Photo/K.Segedin
Great Temple of Ramesse II, Abu Simbel. Photo/K.Segedin
Temple to Nefertari, Abu Simbel. Photo/K.Segedin
Temple to Nefertari, Abu Simbel. Photo/K.Segedin
Brightly colour original paint still covers the temple at Kom Ombo. Photo/K.Segedin
Brightly colour original paint still covers the temple at Kom Ombo. Photo/K.Segedin

As soon as my bum hit my seat I was fast asleep. When I awoke we had arrived at our meeting point where dozens of coaches met to pick up their armed guards before joining the convoy to Abu Simbel near the Nubian boarder with Sudan.

After tucking into our packed breakfast boxes there was time for a little more beauty sleep before we arrived at our destination.

Abu Simbel is home to two of the most well-known ancient temples in Egypt. Built by Ramesses II to show the strength of his kingdom to the Nubian people, they are a must-see for any visitor to the country.

Walking down a curved path around the side of a steep hill, the Great Temple of Ramesse II gradually came into view.

Breathtaking is an expression used a lot in describing travel hotspots, but there really is no better word for it.

Four 20m high statues of the pharaoh decorate the outside of the temple towering over the flocks of people below.
A short walk from the main temple is the smaller temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Ramesses II’s chief consort,Nefertari. Surrounding the entrance are six 10m high statues of the king and his queen.

You’re free to wander through the inside of the two temples (no photos though!) where you could easily spend hours taking in all the ornate wall paintings and carvings.

It was early morning and already the temperature was climbing well into the 20s. Thankfully a refreshing cool breeze blew in off the Aswan Dam.

The still blue waters of the dam are a reminder that today the temples are actually 65m above their original location.

In the 1960s, 50 countries worked tirelessly to dismantle then rebuild Abu Simbel piece by piece to make way for the new dam.

I don’t know how long we spent taking photos, but by the end of the visit we each had hundreds of pictures on our cameras.

After heading back to the boat we took a tour of the nearby Kom Ombo temple.

Right on the banks of the Nile, Kom Ombo is unique in terms of Egyptian temples because it’s essential two separate ones stuck together. The southern half is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world while the northern part to the falcon god Haroeris.

Detailed carvings at Kom Ombo temple. Photo/K.Segedin
Detailed carvings at Kom Ombo temple. Photo/K.Segedin

One wall that grabbed my attention was covered pictures and hieroglyphs describing ancient Egyptian medical practices including some rather detailed ones depicting childbirth in the ancient world – ouch!

By mid-afternoon we were back relaxing onboard and sailing up the Nile towards Edfu and Luxor – this is the life!

After watching the sunset from the comforts of the ship deck, we settled in for a dip in the hot pool – perfect with the cool night breeze blowing from the Nile – and a couple of drinks with our group and Trip Leader.

This really is the best way to see Egypt!


Tuesday 12 June 2012

Egypt: Beyond Expectations Part 2 - Aswan & Nubia

I’m not going to lie. Our overnight journey by coach from Cairo to Aswan was a little rough.

Thanks to the reclining chairs and my neck pillow I managed to get a few hours of shut eye, but I would compare it trying to sleep on an aeroplane – you either can or you can’t.

We were woken up around 7am and rubbing our tired eyes we were greeted by a lush green landscape so far removed from the dusty city of Cairo.

The whole group looked a little jaded, but salvation came in the form of delicious, fresh, homemade falafels and pitas our Trip Leader Rafik arranged for our breakfast – I have never eaten a better, or more appreciated, falafel in my life!

Feeling much more refreshed, we were back on the coach making our way to our home for the next three nights – our 5 star cruise boat.

I really didn’t know what to expect.

Five star is one thing, but in Egypt it could mean something different all together – how wrong was I!

Relaxing poolside on our Nile Cruise
Relaxing poolside on our Nile Cruise

Our boat was modern, clean and comfortable complete with a deck-top pool and bar. Flopping down on the bed I knew I would sleep like a log that night.

After a few hours of relaxing and exploring the boat, those of us who signed up for the optional trip to Philae Temple headed out for our excursion.

It was hard to leave the oh-so comfy cabin after such an early morning, but it was definitely worth it.

We were greeted by our guide for the day, a jolly, enthusiastic chap by the name of Nubi. On the boat ride over to the island, Nubi gave us a concise and lively history of the site.

The island temple of Philae was built to the goddess Isis by the ruling Greeks as a way of winning over the Egyptian people.

In the 1960s, the temple was moved piece by piece from its original location to Agilkia Island to avoid rising waters after the construction of Aswan Dam.

Beautifully intact, its island location only makes the temple more appealing.
Detailed carvings cover Philae Temple
Detailed carvings cover Philae Temple

After our first taste of an ancient temple we meet up with the rest of our group for a felucca ride past the Elephantine and Kitchener Islands.

Now came one of the activities I was most wary of and excited about at the same time – the camel ride.

Camel convoy ready to go
Camel convoy ready to go
I’d heard varied reports of how scary, smelly and fast the camels were and I can say none of them were true. Okay, they may have been right about the smelly part.

After learning the correct position for camel take-off (they stand up in the most seemingly unnatural way) it was an easy-going trot over sand and through villages.

We finished our ride in a Nubian Village where we visited the local school and learned about the Nubian language and culture before enjoying tea at the home of a Nubian family.
Inside a Nubian home
Inside a Nubian home

Nubians are the original inhabitants of a country called Nubia that is now divided between southern Egypt and northern Sudan. After the construction of the Aswan Dams the Nubian people were resettled on the western bank of the Nile and on Elephantine Island.

It was early evening when we finally made our way back to the cruise boat for a rather large dinner followed by drinks on deck.

There was no late night for us as day four would bring the earliest morning I’ve ever seen as we joined the convoy for Abu Simbel, but more on that next time!

Friday 8 June 2012

Why the delay?

Hi there my reader friend. It's been far, far too long, but I can explain!

Since you last heard from me I have....
  • Been to Paris
  • Flown half way around the world for a wedding
  • Played travel guide to my parents
  • And, mostly importantly, won my battle for an extension on my Visa with the British Home Office.

Yay for me! All pretty good excuses for being a little slack really.

See you again very, very soon


Thursday 1 March 2012

East Meets West: Istanbul, Turkey

“If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul,” Alphonse de Lamartine, 19th-century French writer and politician.

In hindsight it might have been a good idea to bring directions to the hotel.
Views from Topkapi Palace
Stepping off the tram in Sultanahmet, backpacks in hand, we soon realised we had no idea how to get from the station to our accommodation, Hotel Uyan.

It was around 9pm and the information centre was closed so after a brief moment of panic we asked a man in a snack stand for directions.

We’d barely shown him the name of the hotel when he was on the phone and calling the manager to get someone to meet us. What service!

That was the first, but not last time we got lost in Istanbul.
The next morning we were woken at dawn by the Muslim call to prayer. Thankfully we were able to fall back to sleep for a few more hours.
When we finally emerged we were greeted by a stunner of a day!

Istanbul is a beautiful city rich with history, culture and all the trappings of a first class European capital, but the exotic mix of Far East makes this a European city like no other.

The only city in the world situated on two continents, Istanbul lies on the Bosphorus Strait that divides Europe and Asia.
Hagia Sophia
This meeting of East and West is cultural as well as physical and the two come together in a perfect balance.

Beautiful European buildings and Mosques stand side by side and the day’s calls to prayer are heard across the city.

While the majority of the population dress in a secular fashion, observant Muslim women mix traditional head coverings with stylish modern clothing that wouldn’t look out of place on the streets of Paris or Milan.

The entire district of Sultanahmet is a Unesco World Heritage Site packed full of historic buildings, museums, bars and restaurants.

It’s fairly easy to make your way around the entire district on foot, but if you’re short for time or your legs are a little tired you can always jump aboard one of the efficient (and cheap) trams.

chandeliers inside Hagia Sophia
Our first stop of the day was Topkapi Palace – home to the Ottoman Sultans from 1465-1856.

Today Topkapi Palace is a museum with a massive collection of artefacts including royal robes, weapons, armour, manuscripts, murals, treasures and jewellery. It’s also a great spot for panoramic views of the city below.

My favourite sights were the collection of Sultans’ robes, jewelled and golden ornaments (very bling) and the Harem (definitely worth the extra entrance charge!).

Back down in the main town square with visited the impressive Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofia).

Hagia Sophia began life as an Orthodox Christian Church between 532 and 537, before becoming a mosque and finally a museum.

Entering the grand building the first thing you notice are the dozens of low hanging glittering chandeliers that look as though they are floating just over your head. There are also several well preserved Christian mosaics on the upper floor that are well worth a look.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the Blue Mosque)
Just across from Hagia Sophia is another iconic building – the Blue Mosque.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Emperor Ahmed I.

Its nickname comes from the ornate blue tiles that cover its ceiling.

Ornate tiles in the Blue Mosque

Remember to dress respectfully when you stop by as it’s still a working mosque.

A must see for your visit is the Grand Bazaar; one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with a maze of 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops.

Stalls are organised by the types of goods they sell such as jewellery, furniture, leather, clothing and trinkets.

Our expedition was rather successful as I picked up a leather foot stool, pashmina scarf, some pretty sweet harem pants and several pairs of earrings.

Remember to haggle for a price you’re happy with and don’t be afraid to keep walking or say no if you’re not interested in what someone is selling.
Exotic sights and smells at the Spice Bazaar
Not too far away lays another shopping hub, the Spice Bazaar.

Also known as the Egyptian Markets, the Bazaar is the centre of the spice trade in Istanbul so go along for the sights and smells.

It’s a great place to pick up some tasty produce or, if you’re me, copious amounts of Turkish Delight.

Speaking of tasty treats, I could have written this entire blog post about all the heavenly food on offer in Turkey!

A melting pot of Central Asian, Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines you’ll be planning your meals throughout the day!

Pastries, corn on the cob, baklava, halva, pide (Turkish Pizza), Turkish delight, köfte (meatballs), apple tea, Turkish coffee & of course, the kebabs! Ah the kebabs!

The best kebab I had was köfte, tomato and eggplant.

As per we hadn't really researched ahead in regards to dining options so a quick Google search later and we were winging our way over to Khorasani Restaurant.

The hardest part about the evening was deciding exactly which meal to choose from the massive menu!

Our waiter took it upon himself to demonstrate the correct procedure to eat it - mush everything together with your fork and wrap it up in a piece of Turkish bread – divine!

On that note, get yourself to Istanbul for exotic sights, sounds, smells and tastes and an amazing time.

NOTE: All travellers arriving in Turkey (except those on New Zealand passports) will need to buy a visa on entry (approximate 15 euro). Just another benefit of being a New Zealand Citizen.