Goodbye London... Hello New Adventures

I'm currently thousands of feet up in the air and have opened my blog for the first time in months. It's not that I had no material to my fill pages, it's that I had 3 months to enjoy spending time with my family and my friends and to lap up the last of London (for a while anyway). The last few months have filled me with special memories that shall be kept in my heart and taken with me as I begin a new chapter of travel and adventure. 

                 

Celebrating my 30th birthday with friends and family.

Last shot of London! ❤️

So here I am on my way to NYC to celebrate my 30th birthday and begin my journey in a city that I love. From here I shall take the tremendous journey (thank goodness I love flying ha ha) to New Zealand where I will spend 5 weeks exploring both the North and South islands- can't wait to finally see this beautifully picturesque country for myself. 

                      

A map of the G Adventures tour I will be doing!

After New Zealand, I'll be flying to Cairns, Australia to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Although I'm not a diver I'm looking forward to snorkelling and seeing the vastness, beauty and the creatures of the ocean. I shall then continue my journey of Australia on the grey hound bus. As of yet I am not decided on the places I will stop off at, so if anyone has any "must sees" on the east coast- let me know!! 

I will be travelling down the east coast for three weeks arriving in Melbourne in time for the festive period, and fortunately I have dear friends that I shall be sharing Christmas with. I'm intrigued to see what a Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere is like...one thing's for sure, I'll be loving the sunshine!

        

The final stop on the first part of my 9 month journey is Thailand. One of my best friends from back home is meeting me and we'll be heading to Ko Phangan for New Years (yes, it will be a full moon first time experience!). After Phangan we're heading over to Ko Tao and even though I have been before, I think it's just one of the most beautiful islands. My friend is staying with me for two weeks and then I'm hoping to do a yoga retreat for a few days. I will have another two weeks to island hop before flying back to London via Mumbai. 

At this present moment I'm excited for what lays ahead, for new experiences and for finally making one of my dreams actually come true :-) 

If you have any recommendations for any of the places I'm visiting, would love some tips!! 

Until New York, 

     

East is East: Broadway Market

 

Now, I must confess that North London is a place I don't frequent out of enough.. I mean, don't get me wrong, I do leave my comforts of North London and explore my fabulous home city but definitely not as much as I should.

 

Broadway Market is a place I first went to about 5 years ago, but have only returned to twice in that time. Not that I didn't love it the first (or second) time around, just that more often than not brunch on Upper Street or strolls over Hampstead Heath are thrown into the mix and well I'll admit it- I can be lazy! ;-)

 

So a while back a friend of mine suggested that we break the habit of a lifetime and go over to Broadway Market for brunch and general wandering. My friend Sara had told me about a place that does a fab brunch and she wasn't wrong. After a lovely stroll along the Regents Canal, I met my friend in Stories on Broadway and it's safe to say, I wanted everything on the menu!!! After a lot of deliberating I decided on the avocado on toast with a poached egg and crispy bacon (topped off with a side of hash brown) and I was not disappointed.

 

 

 



As you can see from the photos the portions were really generous and ashamedly I struggled to eat it all! For the bargain price of £7.50 and for it's buzzing atmosphere, I would highly recommend this brunch spot.

 

With our tummies full we had a walk through the market, which has such a wide selection of delish food- fish, cheese, meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, homemade cakes- something for every taste, as well as racks of vintage clothing, stalls full of fabulous art and florists selling beautiful flowers.

 

I love Tulips



After picking up a gorgeous bunch of pink and white tulips (a little gift for my mum) we wandered around the corner to Netil Market and stopped for a hot drink at Terrone & co. My friend had his go to flat-white coffee and I opted to have my very first Matcha Latte, something of an acquired taste and one that I don't think I'll be having again (although I do love it's colour...)

 

Such a lovely colour.. Not sure about the taste1

We then had a little wander around the cute vintage shops in the market where my friend very nearly bought a biker's leather jacket- he just needed the motorbike to go with it! As well as vintage shops and stalls, again there more food stalls- I'm definitely saving Bao's steamed pork buns for my next visit.

 

Before we knew it, we had spent a good three hours brunching and wandering- a sign of a successful Saturday.

 

So, what did I learn from my visit East? To get off my ass and enter a non 'N' postcode more often! ;-)

 

Until next time...

My Travel Personality

It's travel link up time and I'm so pleased to be back blogging about all things travel with Kelly, Rebecca and Emma (I've missed having the opportunity to join in). This month's topic comes form Catherine over at Luxlife and it's a great one!

Those of us who love to travel probably have some similarities and I'm sure some differences in our travel personalities. I've already learnt so much through the posts I've already read, oh what a fabulously eclectic bunch we are! ;-)

When I think of myself and travel I've most definitely been on a journey (excuse the pun). The more travel experiences I have had, the more I have figured out what sort of traveller I am...

1. Intrepid Traveller 

Trekking in Chang Rai

I don't know what it is about being away in a new country, with new experiences but it always inspires me to have a more 'give it a go' attitude to the activities and trips on offer, certainly more than I do when back home in London. Form trekking in northern Thailand, to visiting the rather claustrophobic underground Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam, I find myself to be a lot more open to challenging myself and pushing myself that bit more to the limit. Who knows, when I visit Queenstown in November I may find myself jumping out of a plane!

2. Relaxed Traveller

I am without a doubt a very relaxed traveller and have quite a laid back attitude towards travel.. That's not to say I don't like to organise and research (see the below) but once I've arrived at a new destination, I tend to let then stresses of reality fade and more often than not, with a drink in hand, sit back, relax and take it all in!

Champagne in Barcelona

Cocktails in Prague

Cocktails in Ibiza

3. Organised Traveller... To a certain extent! 

Yes, I do love a travel guide book! I have built up quite an extensive collection over the years and am always looking for the opportunity to buy second hand travel books; I love it when one arrives and people have made their own notes, chosen their own favourite spots. 

Admittedly I like to spend a good amount time riffling through travel books, reading through travel blog posts, finding recommended activities, 'must sees' and of course building a long list of restaurants! I take great pleasure in recording all of this in my very own travel journey which is fast becoming my most cherished possession...

With my travel journal in hand, I arrive somewhere new and tend to go with the flow. I always make an effort to visit the main sights, but I also love going off the beaten track and stumbling upon little independent galleries , museums, coffee shops and whatever else may catch my eye. I always endeavor to try the recommended restaurants and 'must sees' suggested by other bloggers and as of yet I am never disappointed! 

Soon I shall be embarking on my big solo trip and I'm sure that with new adventures will come new  travel traits...  Bring it on!

A Change is Coming

Forgive me readers, for it has been, 6 weeks and 4 days since my last blog post! I must apologise to my little blog for neglecting her.. Life (or more predominantly, work) became extremely busy that my days ended up becoming a routine of...

 

However, as the school year is approaching it's last half term and the pressures of work are slowly subsiding, I solemnly declare that I will make more of a conscious effort to make DEElightful Doings more of a priority as, between me and you, I've missed her! ;-)

As this post is my first in sometime I have decided that it is an apt time to get a little bit personal and share with you all a change that, soon, will be coming my way. But first, time for a little reflection...

To move forwards, sometimes we must look back...

2014 was a year that bought a number of personal challenges my way, a year that I was, quite frankly, pleased to see the back of! Nonetheless it was also a year that made me a stronger person and bought me even closer to the people I love. It made me realise that although life will throw a number of curve balls your way, you really do only get one shot at it and it should be lived with no regrets and, to it's absolute fullest! So.. as we entered 2015 I decided that it was going to be the year of change and with new years resolutions I vowed to make this my number #1 motto...

www.deviantart.com

And my number one motto it has become! :-)

 

If 2014 taught me anything, it is that there are times in life when you really have to put yourself first and as of October I shall be doing just that- putting myself first and beginning a new adventure, one that will see a life-long dream of mine become a reality...

 

TRAVEL! TRAVEL! TRAVEL!

 

Yes, little me is going to spend a whole 9 nine months (I can't quite believe it) travelling around this big world! Just the thought of meeting new people, experiencing new places and cultures fills me with utter excitement. There is so much to be explored, so much to learn and I truly cannot wait to embark on this journey!

 

Let the travel planning commence...

 

• New Zealand- North and South Islands
• Australia- Cairns to Melbourne
• Thailand
• South America- Brazil, Argentina...
• North America- the south, East Coast
• Canada

And who knows where else...

But what I do know is that 2015 really is going to the year of change.

 

In the words of a wise person from Contiki...

 

"One life. One shot. Make it count. #noregrets"

 

 

Guilty Pleasures

April... Where did you come from? Can't quite believe we're in a new month already! However, with a new month comes a new Travel Link up post and this months travel link up with the ladies (Emma, Kelly, Rebecca and guest host Polly) is all about Guilty Pleasures! I have to say I am known to have quite a few of these, cue confession time: reality t.v shows (namely TOWIE and MIC), all the magazines- from travel to food to gossip and my guiltiest pleasure of all... Socks! (I have quite the collection).

So when travelling I am rather guilty of having a guilty pleasure or two!

First up - JUMPING!

"Jumping or leaping is a form of locomotion or movement in which an organism propels itself through the air along a ballistic trajectory" ha ha- I love that definition, especially as I imagine myself propelled through the air! However my jumping trajectory is normally of a small, upward distance and is always for the sake of a photo! This guilty pleasure of mine didn't begin at an age when you have no fear, at an age when it may be deemed more socially acceptable to jump everywhere but instead started when my good friend Carla and I decided that it would be a great idea to commemorate every holiday with a jumping photograph! So alas, seven years later it is fair to say that I have built up quite the collection of jumping photos...

Starting my love affair with jumping photos in Penang, Malaysia...

Jumping on sand is actually really difficult!

Just look at the hair...

So I cheated a little here in Edinburgh... ha ha

I think this last one in Central Park is definitely jumping perfected! :-)

Next up- SUNSETS & SUNRISES

It doesn't matter where I am in the world, what time it is- be it early in the morning or late into the evening I always have to witness a sunset or sunrise, something that at times can bug my fellow travel companions (mainly when I make them get up at 5am- they know it's so worth it). As I am sure many of you will concur, there is something so serene and special about watching the sun rise or go down and, as much as I love to photograph the beautiful hues and colours, I always make sure to put my camera down and soak up the tranquil atmosphere that these moments provide.

Sunrise on the Perenthian islands, Malaysia

Sunset on Fraser Island

Sun rising over Angkor Wat

Soaking up the sunset over the Grand Canyon

A Croatian sunset

Finally-  FOOD!

Food is undoubtedly a common pleasure among holiday-goers and rightfully deserves it's place on the guilty pleasures list. I don't know how many times I have heard myself say "well... I am on holiday", a phrase that I am sure is resonant to many and one that makes you feel just that bit better about tucking into that big juicy burger or having that second slice of chocolate cake.. Note to self: do not partake in jumping photo after eating holiday sized portions of food!

Snails in Paris.. Look at all that garlic!

Paella for one... 

Making my own food in Malaysia

Brunching xl in NYC

And yes... I did manage to eat every last bit! :-)

Do you have any guilty pleasures while travelling?

Until next time...

Bourne to Brunch

"Dan, remember the pub that used to be opposite three corners playground? Well... you wouldn't believe the revamp it's had!" My mum, two months ago, talking about what I knew when I was growing up as Leonards, but what many people now know as the Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings!

 

 

Clerkenwell is a place a very close to my heat as it's where I lived for the most part of my life. Over the past decade Clerkenwell has realised it's potential and has become a great hub for many new restaurants and bars and witnessing it's growth in popularity has been a rather nostalgic experience for me! So of course, as a former Clerkenwell resident I took my mum's advice "you must go and see it for yourself" and one sunny Saturday morning headed to my old neighbourhood for brunch and Bellinis! 



The exterior on a glorious Spring day

Fortunate enough to get a last minute reservation, my friend Sara and I were seated up at the bar: the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere and admire the bright and quirky interior. The mismatched furniture and ornaments provided a welcoming environment and make B&H buildings a rather unique place to eat, drink and be very merry!

 

photo taken from brightshinynews.com

The menu itself is a brunch lover's idea of heaven- with everything from French toast done three ways to eggs with a slight a twist... As some of you may have realised by now I am a fan of all things eggy, so therefore decided to opt for their twist on the traditional Huevos Rancheros- named instead as Huevos Benedictos. A delicious dish of chorizo combined with avocado, topped with poached eggs and served with béarnaise sauce all on top of an English muffin.

 

 

Huevos Benedictos

Of course there was only one perfect accompaniment to this dish- a seasonal Bellini. After deciding not to go for the bottomless option (it was hard to say no) we each had a single Bellini and enjoyed every sip!

 

Just look at the temptation of that jug....

Not only was the food, environment and of course company great but the service from the staff was second to none! It's very rare (but of course understandable) that wait staff will have the time during an afternoon rush to indulge in conversation with customers, however the welcomed chattiness from the staff here was definitely the icing on the cake for a place that is clearly Bourne to do brunch! ;-)

 

Afternoon Tea at Claridges

It feels so good to be back on my laptop writing blog posts instead of school reports. With an exceptionally busy term at work my blog had to take a little bit of a breather..but I'm happy to be back writing about all my recent deelightful doings...

In my life, the only thing I have ever won is a colouring competition when I was 8 years old, and when I say won, I mean came second! So, it comes as no surprise that when the lovely Angie selected me as her Birthday Competition winner back in November, I was over the moon! As the competition was cake based the prize involved the sweetest of treats.... Afternoon Tea at Claridges! 

My winning gluten-free chocolate cake!

Claridges, a name that a number of people are familiar with... Renowned for their impeccable service, stunning art-deco interiors and of course their award-winning afternoon tea, which has been a number 1 'must do' on my list for years! As the prize was afternoon tea for two there was really only one person to share this with- my mum. So, on a typical rainy February day we headed to Claridges and I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint! 

From the minute we entered the famous doors we were treated as if we were the only two people there. We were sat in the main part of the foyer, with  a perfect view for people watching (spotted- Thandie Newton!) and handed a glass of their house champagne, Laurent-Perrier Brut, NV. What followed next were a selection of traditional sandwiches (so tasty that we had two lots each!)

Easy to drink Laurent-Perrier and delicious sandwiches

We were served smoked salmon scones, duck egg mayonnaise on perfect white bread, a very traditional cucumber and cream cheese sandwich as well as Dorringotn ham and a corn fed chicken sandwich served on tasty thyme and walnut bread! 

Now normally sandwiches are the highlight of my afternoon tea (I can never get enough), however what came next was a trolley of perfect pastries that looked almost too decadent to eat...I said almost!

To accompany the sweets there was only one choice of tea, the bespoke Claridge's Blend, created exclusively of course for Claridges. 

Among the pastries was an amazing rose-water and raspberry macaroon that had the perfect amount of chewiness, with the subtle flavour of rose coming through as well as raspberry cream topped off with fresh raspberries...always good to have an element of my five a day ;-) 

Served freshly baked was a choice of scones- fruit or plain accompanied with Cornish clotted cream and their famous Marco Polo gelee, a delicious jam. Again, we were replenished with more scones and I managed to squeeze in just one more to complete a most wonderful afternoon tea experience.

Not only was the tea one of the best, if not the best, I've ever had, the service was absolutely faultless and even if it was just for a mere two hours, my mum and I felt like absolute royalty! 

Thank you again to Angie Silverspoon for this exquisite prize... My mum and I are already planning our return!

Where is your favourite place for afternoon tea?