Kallithia Springs

The advantages of hiring a car means visits to those places which are harder to reach. Nine kilometres south east of Rhodes sits a bay which has been visited by meant for its healing thermal waters.

In the late 1920s an architect was commissioned to design the buildings which attracted more people to visit the serene settings for their health.

Sadly the by the end of the war the buildings had decayed. In 1999 the site started to be refurbished, visited by many cultures and nationalities.

As you wander around the serene paths that wander through trees, you look down to admire the pebbled floor that takes down to the domed white building. It’s smooth walls pulls your gaze upwards at the roof where stars cut out show the brilliant blue summer sky peeking through.

The bay holds crystal clear water that laps gently to the shoreline. I can see why visitors are attracted to such a beautiful site. The water is warm, which makes it pleasurable to swim.

So it your looking for a tiny piece of tranquility under the Greece blue sky, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Ancient Kamiros

Taking the car for another spin around Rhodes we contemplated a trip to Lindos to see the ancient ruins. Having read the write up we felt with one bad ankle and a dodgy kneee between us the steep climb during the midday sun possibly 36degrees was not a sensible choice.

We then found Kamiros, a lesser known site which to all its write up seems a better choice. Arriving, we parked under the only bit of shade and walked up the gentle slope to the entrance.

I thought of my archeological sister in law and wondered what this would mean to her.

The trees and flowers lined the entrance which opened up to the most stunning site most likely around 900BC the Late Early Geometric period. Wow was the mouth action, truly amazed and almost speechless. Set against the brilliant Greek blue sky, lined with Rosemary bushes stood the edges of a tow. Houses of various sizes, cisterns, baths and real look at Greek history.

Despite earthquakes Kamiros was inhabited until the earthquake I. 142bc.The chance to sit under the trees and absorb the ambiance was truly peaceful. It was nice having the time and space, absorbing the stillness of time.

From the edge of the cliff there are spectacular view of Turkey. The deep blue sea along with the blue sky made it quite mesmerising. I am glad we made the trip out.

Leaving the city ruins, we meandered down the windy hill, to a taverna next to the sea. A beautiful place to sit and reflect the day, with a glass of local beer. Cool and refreshing,

Valley of the butterflies

After hiring a car we thought we would explore Rhodes. I realised as we winded through narrow roads through the mountains I still hate heights. I wanted to go 20 miles an hour in the middle of the road. Luckily I wasn’t driving so I had to be content closing my eyes and holding on tight.

We arrived at the valley of the butterflies, a 1.5 km walk each way. The path meandered alongside a babbling stream , water jumping over rocks as the sunlight beamed through tree branches. The cooler air was a refreshing change.

Hundreds of jersey tiger butterflies fluttered around us. Deep red wings flashed through the air then landing their black and white wings hiding the red, great camouflage on tree bark.

We enjoyed the walk along the uneven path, climbing steps as we made our way higher up the side of the valley. Half way up was a waterfall, if I could I would have dangled my feet as the temperature started to rise. Although still under the canopy of trees we were gaining height and heat.

The map showed a cafe at the top, the thought of an ice cream or cold drink is a great incentive to keep going. The steps became steeper and we became slower. Out of the canopy of trees came the top. Brilliant blue skies, the sun as high as it could climb and no cafe open. We stood took in the view and decided that it was time to head back towards rage start.

Although the temperature rose, the walk was delightful and I was very glad I was wearing sensible shoes. I wondered how those in heels found the walk.

The ice cold lemonade and the air conditioning was gratefully received as we made our way back to the hotel along more narrow and winding roads with the hope that tomorrow I will be braver.

Looking through the lens of a camera.

This weeks travel was done through the lens of a camera. Regardless of age, there is nothing like capturing that all important moment in time. Maybe with an instant camera, maybe mobile phones or if you’re lucky enough with a pro camera.

During my life I’ve used all of these. The instant camera that gets sent off and you wait excitedly for the photos to arrive through the post. Sometimes disappointing not quite the shot you imagined, or just completely out of focus.

The mobile phone instant images for instant memories and if your go at editing the you get some quite dramatic shots. Most stay on the phone or on the cloud, rarely printing and being enjoyed by sharing.

Lastly the pro camera, my days of focusing and capturing are long gone. But seeing my son’s photos, executing the precise shot with energy and superb lighting is quite an art.

This month saw my granddaughter’s 7th birthday. I bought her an instant camera to capture that exact moment so she could share with family and friends. The pure excitement as she lined up the lens, took her photo and instantly printed it. The squeals of delight as she tore off the paper and showed everyone. Keeping each picture to remind her of the day. All her favourite animals, the red panda, giraffes, tigers and baby meerkats to name but a few. No one stepped in to say ‘take this picture’ or ‘not like that, like this’ or let me do it for you.’ Every shot was unique to her, her style, her choice. The best thing is she has all those little photos to remember her special day, done the way she wanted. To me that was perfect.

Maybe she’ll end up taking photos like her Dad, wanting that perfect shot, or maybe like me just wanting to catch that moment in time. one things for sure, she’s going to do it her way, her style and her love. There is nothing like looking through a lens with the eyes of a child. Every moment is thoughtful, captivating and enlightening.

Goan restaurants

I adore Indian food. I will happily eat spicy food breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every restaurant we went to this holiday was delightful on the tastebuds and authentic in atmosphere. From the tiny eatery with plastic tables and chairs right up to the upmarket new fine dinning restaurant.

Each place unique, some on the main high street in candolim, some down little beach tracks, others with a view over the whole area. It’s not just the food, but the excellent service and relaxed dinning experience.

I find it hard to choose. I love prawns so any dish is most enjoyable. Paneer dishes are so different from home. Then there is the thali dish. Lots of little surprises. Each with flavours that tingle in your mouth, hot rushes of spices and the colours that tantalises the eyes.

There is a different place to eat every night. After 2 weeks there were so many that we didn’t have the pleasure of trying out. I guess another trip might be in order.

We were lucky enough to dine out at a high end restaurant White Plate by Chef Jason. The tasting menu was such a delight. 7 courses which invigorated the taste buds, were art on a plate and served with an amazing narrative by the chef. Such a pleasant evening.

The colours, aromas and delights of every dish this holiday makes me fall in love with Indian food even more pre.

From Thali to fine dining all delightful

Beach life in Goa

Brilliant blue skies, searing heat and crashing waves. What’s not to like for the beach lover. In candolim the sandy beach stretches as far as the eye can see. The waves crash onto the beach and swimmers are warning of the riptide.

Water sports add to the feast of eyes. Jet boats power through the waves, parachutes fly into the air from this height the scenery must be amazing. I am not really one for speed or heights any more, I prefer the sedate soaking up of the sun. Reading to my hearts content, listening to the noise of the waves and chatter of different languages in the background.

By day the beach is full of mainly westerners who are the sun lovers enjoying the peaceful lazy days. Locals drift between shacks selling drums, scarfs and swimming shorts in bright colours for little money.

By night the beach is full of music and loud chattering. A real buzz of excitement fills the beach. It’s mainly locals or Indian holiday makers, taking dinner not in the shacks but tables laid out on the beach. Indian music fills the air, the conversing is local dialect and those peddling their wears have switched from tourist goods to neon lights, headbands and all things bright and colourful.

This isn’t the western tourists usual visit but for me a unique experience into chilled beach nightlife.

Beach Shack

A 20 minute walk along the manic street in Candolim, followed by a a meandering stroll down back streets in searing heat lands you at the beach.

The golden sand is scorching on the feet, it’s more like a hop and an ouch as make your way down towards the sea. Sun-beds with bright umbrellas stretch as far as the eye can see in both directions.

One beach shack is very much like another. Built mainly from bamboo with palm leaves for the roof. Electricity and water is hooked up, wiring and fans are must for the tourist and of course the essential toilet.

The Sun-beds are free as long are you make a purchase of food and drink. Only having a bottle of water will set you back 700 rupees. It sounds expensive but it’s equivalent to £7.

The food is amazing, the menu is extensive and the prawns to die for. At 600 rupees or £6 a plateful of battered king prawns and chips are a must.

The Tidal Wave is a shack which has occupied the same site for 34 years. The owner explained that he sees the same people over again some have been coming for over 20 years. Some stay for a few weeks others months.

The seasons starts at the start of Goa’s winter November. The temperature is a streaky 30 degrees. Blue skies and searing sunshine all day long. It carries on until the deadline date of 31st May. All shacks must be dismantled by then as the tides rise and the sea consumes the beach and beyond. Monsoon season starts and anything left on the beach will be washed away.

So now the sun is hot, the umbrellas are up, beer in hand the perfect setting for doing absolutely nothing.

The honest traveller-airport.

There is nothing quite like an airport. The excitement of going away verses delight to returning home.

I’ve not travelled as much as most but possibly more than some. Each airport brings a different aspect to travelling in my eyes.

From the glitz of Abu Dhabi at 1.30 in the morning to delayed internal flights in India. Each bringing a unique experience to travelling.

The year’s first flight of the year Gatwick to Goa’s latest airport Manohar. The Gatwick bit is straight forward, taking the last flight out meant almost no queues. Not like mid summer. Whizzing through check-in, passport control and security. No beeps no hold ups this time.

Being on the last flight does mean shops are closing and it’s hard to get a drink other than weatherspoons. still the 3 hour walk around is needed before a long flight.

Despite being the only flight left, there was still a rush of people when the gate opened. There was the usual lengthy wait to board, why do people have to rush. The seat you booked isn’t going anywhere.

The eight and a half hour flight went smoothly, the first time I have sat in the middle row and it made it so much easier to get in and out to the toilets. I slept most of the way and managed to not even watch a film.

Finally landing in Manohar, we embarked in that usual, push and shove. Being first off does not mean you’ll be on your way quickly. Firstly passport control, did I get the right visa, is the photo ok. The wait was warm but much more pleasant than trips to Goa before landing Dabolim. It’s clean, the toilets are Modern and there is some air conditioning. The boarder control staff were polite and helpful. Finger prints at the ready, I waited to place mine on the fingerprint scanner, ‘just right ring finger ma’am’ I was instructed. I’ve been a few times , I guess they have my other fingers already.

By the time we passed into the luggage hall, no wait was needed, ours was there sitting on the side. Last hurdle left, land luggage through the scanner, then we could make it to the door into the sunlight of freedoms and our holiday could begin.

Doors open the bright sunlight makes me squint, the blast of heat slaps my face. Summer is already here.

Golden rays ignite,

Scorching earth with fiery heat,

Summers fierce embrace.

Mayhem and peace

I had quite forgotten the mayhem of the Indian roads. True they know what they are doing, we do not. The first rule is to cross the road in one piece. Easy you think ….oh no. There are cars, scooters, buses, trucks and bikes all travelling up and down on their own side of the road with the odd vehicle going down the wrong side.

Having watched other travellers standing on the pavement waiting to cross for considerable time, the only way to do it, is grab a hand…. Any hand and go for it. The chances, are although the traffic will all beep their horns they will let you pass.

Horns blast constantly, not in anger but as a warning, ‘I’m here’ or ‘watch out’. Vehicles will reverse, or turn in the road wheee ever they fancy. They will dodge around a stationary car, potentially the wrong way. As long as they get where they want to go to it doesn’t really matter which side of the road they travel or how they get there.

Noise is constant, peace is rare.

From the top floor of the hotel there is an infinite pool. The stillness first thing in the morning is stunning. The heat just getting going and peace is just hovering. You can see across the jungle of palm trees, tall hotels just peaking through the canopy. As I lie there listening to the day, there is just two sounds I can hear. The horns of cars constantly honking and the dogs barking in the distance. Mayhem on the street has already started, rush hour lasts all day, and I can imagine the road chocking and heaving with the amount of people travelling around, dogs darting between cars and people travelling somewhere. Then suddenly there is peace, nothing at all for 17 seconds, stillness the trees breath, then the blast of horns and dogs barking stats all over again. I wait for a little more peace, but that is not going to happen for quite some time. I give up and enjoy the noises that enhance the whole experience.

The perfect piece of onion

Breakfast on holiday is one of those things you either love but don’t need or you skip altogether. I bounce between the two. I love the choices but I don’t really need to eat breakfast everyday.

Here there is plenty of choice,. Five types of bread, Three types of cereal, two types of yoghurt, salad, cheese and cold meat, rice, noodles , tomato soup, chicken sausages, bacon, baked beans, four types of fruit and eggs done two ways. Something for everyone.

Breakfast is the best time to people watch. From the kids who get to choose breakfast by themselves and take great delight going up to the buffet bar several times. Then there are those that stand and watch as they can’t make a choice where to start. Next it’s those that seem to be in a ‘how much can I cram on my plate’ competition. I’ve never really got this as you can go up as often as you like, which looks less greedy.

There are those mums that are going to insist their kids are going to have fruit regardless of free choice. My favourite this holiday has been the elderly lady who spends 20 minutes collecting her breakfast. She starts with looking for the right plate, usually 4 plates down. Next how many bits of fruit can she balance on it. After depositing the plate it’s the hunt for the correct bowl. Once found she sieves through the noodles to find the goodies. This takes several minutes, topping the bowl off with rice. Lastly she collects a bowl for her salad. This is painstaking to watch as she shuffles through the onions looking for that perfect circle. Not just one perfect circle but, 5 perfect circles. One finished she can sit down and eat breakfast. It’s entertaining and shows no matter what doing it your own way is important.

Me, I like simplicity, omelette or a fried egg with bacon, two pieces of melon and a cup of coffee. One visit to the breakfast bar is plenty for me. After all I enjoy the people watching but I don’t really need that much breakfast.