As Pancake Day only comes around once a year you can just about be forgiven for not diverging from the typical British pancake - topped with a dash of lemon juice, sprinkled with sugar and drizzled in golden syrup. Should you fancy mixing it up a bit this year, however, I’ve compiled some bizarre pancake ideas from around the globe:
Vietnam Banh Xeo – meaning “sizzling cake”, these savoury pancakes are stuffed with slivers of fatty pork, shrimp,and bean sprouts, and then pan fried. They’re then stuffed with mint leaves, basil and other herbs,wrapped in mustard and lettuce leaves, and finally dipped in a fish sauce.
Sweden Raggmunk - this is a savoury potato pancake fried in butter and served with thick slices of fried pork or bacon and lingonberries, no less. The more crispy and buttery the pancake is around the edges, the better it apparently tastes.
Japan Dorayaki - a sweet pancake filled with red bean paste. In Japanese, dora means “gong” and legend has it that the first Dorayaki were made when a samurai named Benkei forgot his gong upon leaving a farmer’s home where he was hiding. The farmer subsequently used the gong to fry the pancakes.
Thailand
Roti Gaeng Karee - this is a crispy pancake done Muslim-style, served with coconut-milk based curry and spices. If you like ‘em savoury, this one’s for you!
Korea Pajeon and Bindaetteok - we don’t know much about these, other than they’re made with seafood, chilli paste, and lots of vegetables. Possibly the healthiest pancake ever?
India
Dosa - made from rice and black lentils and traditionally from southern India, these thin crispy pancakes can be served with anything from chutney, Indian pickle, chicken, mutton or fish curry, depending on the region and taste.
Better than all of these, though, is Russia - where, thanks to Maslenitsa, I can enjoy pancakes for a whole week, guilt-free…
Pancake Poll We’ve also conducted our own pancake survey here at Travel PR Towers. It seems we’re a boring bunch. While the classic (and still fairly brilliant I would say) lemon and sugar combo won whisks-down, only a handful were brave enough to choose another topping…
Here’s a vision of 2010 vogue – predictions of the hottest travel destinations in the coming year, made by our most expert clients:
Brittany Reasoning: Brittany is a fantastic destination for families due to its proximity to the UK and excellent beaches. The summer season during the last two years has been slow, resulting in a notable drop in property rental prices and making it excellent value for money in 2010. A resurgence for this charming region of France seems inevitable, blessed as it is with considerable nostalgic appeal. (VFB Holidays*)
Nicaragua
Reasoning: Nicaragua is set to be the next big Latin American destination du jour. Visitor numbers to the country have been increasing steadily in the last few years, and there are now ritzy hotels appearing. In June, the country’s first boutique hotel, the Contempo, opened complete with marble bathrooms and canopy beds; an all-suite beach hotel on Yankee Beach followed in September, boasting an infinity pool and spa. Still, neither place competes with the remote Corn Island for indulgent isolation. (Tailormade Explore*)
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Reasoning: Yala is perhaps the world’s best place for leopard-spotting, but it’s been off the map for many travellers in the last decade due to the Civil War. However, the end of the conflict has seen Foreign Office warnings on the area softened, and so visits are once again possible for UK operators. Sri Lanka generally looks a great bet for 2010, as prices are really low after years of low tourist numbers. Get there before the hordes catch on… (Real Holidays)
Praa Sands, Cornwall
Reasoning: The village of Praa Sands, centred around an attractive, broad golden swathe, is said to enjoy the longest hours of sunshine in the UK. If that wasn’t enough, its consistent waves make it perfect for savvy surfers, yet is is nowhere near as well known as hotspots like Newquay. A couple of restaurants specialising in local seafood complete the wholesome taste of Cornwall’s south coast. (Classic Cottages)
Papua New Guinea
Reasoning: This autumn’s awesome Lost Land of the Volcano series on BBC1 has placed Papua New Guinea firmly on the radar of intrepid travellers planning their next adventure. And rightly so: this is the place to marvel at masked fire dances, test your mettle amid the dense jungle of the Baining Mountains, snorkel the azure blue waters of the Duke of York islands and camp by an active volcano, Tavurvur. With an experienced guide in tow, travel Ray Mears-style to one of Earth’s last truly untouched regions. (Baobab Expeditions)
Bulgaria
Reasoning: Perhaps better known as a busy Black Sea enclave, there’s a quieter side to Bulgaria just waiting to be discovered. Currently a very inexpensive destination, there’s never been a better time to explore Bulgaria’s impressive array of monuments, monasteries and museums, and beautiful, diverse landscapes. History buffs will be bowled over, too, by the tangible evidence of the many ancient civilisations that have left their mark on Bulgaria – including the Thracians, Greeks and Romans. (Voyages Jules Verne)
Bhutan
Reasoning: Hidden in the Himalayas, Bhutan is eternally overshadowed by its powerful neighbours, India and China. It ought not to be: having been inaccessible for years, Bhutan boasts a unique, traditional Buddhist culture, as well as gorgeous scenery and rich biodiversity. A democracy since 2008, the ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’ is now much easier to reach, although tourist numbers remain controlled. Smoking-ban stalwarts will love it though: Bhutan is the world’s only country to prohibit the sale of tobacco. (The Traveller)
South-Eastern Sicily
Reasoning: Most of Sicily’s very well-trodden in tourist terms, but much less so the island’s Baroque south-east. This is a region of long sandy beaches, river valleys, Greek heritage sites, sprawling farms and honey-coloured, crumbling towns that stay hot well into October. Whilst Taormina to the north – a great two-centre combination with south-eastern Sicily – has long been lauded, this more rustic corner of the island receives far fewer visitors… for the moment, anyway. (Real Holidays)
Northern Peru
Reasoning: Although less accessible than the south, Northern Peru is deeply intriguing – pre-Inca archaeological sites and cultural treasures are both abundant and still being discovered. Take the Tombs of Sipan: discovered largely intact in 1987, with many precious gold and ceramic artefacts. Other sites include the Huacas del Sol y Luna (adobe pyramids) and the amazing Gokta Falls, while pink dolphins even swim in this region’s section of the Amazon.
(Sunvil Traveller*)
Mirleft, Morocco
Reasoning: Morocco’s always got a trendy new emerging destination, and The Best of Morocco suggests it’ll be Mirleft in 2010. An ancient, traditional village on the country’s southern Atlantic coast, it is an intimate world away from the rainy days and recessions of home, and a great place to relax and reflect. A Saturday morning camel market provides local colour, and daytime temperatures rarely drop below 22ºC.
California by rail
Reasoning: California’s picturesque railroads offer a fascinating way to see America’s Wild West, with giant redwoods, rugged coastlines and historic gold rush towns providing a unique holiday combination. The pristine wilderness of Yosemite and a ride on the renowned Skunk Train – so called because of its gas engine’s distinctive smell – never cease to impress. And an escorted tour with door-to-door transfers from home to airport and several meals included provides excellent value for money. (Ffestiniog Travel*)
Kosterhavet, West Sweden
Reasoning: Sweden’s first marine national park opened in autumn 2009, meaning 2010 represents the first opportunity to see this beautiful area in the height of summer. New experiences will be available, such as hands-on boat trips with a marine biologist to explore the life in the park. Stay at Sydkoster Hotel Ekenas, located on the island of South Koster in the heart of the park, and just 45 minutes by ferry from Stromstad.
Beirut, Lebanon
Reasoning: Whilst Lebanon’s popularity as an escorted tour destination has increased recently, it’s still a relatively undiscovered gem for the independent traveller. The fascinating history and beautiful coastline are reasons enough to visit its vibrant capital Beirut, but what’s less well-known is the emergence of quirky boutique-style residences – an appealing alternative to the anonymous chain-style hotels of old. Combine these with improvements in infrastructure, and now’s the perfect time to enjoy a Beirut break. (Kirker Holidays*)
Isle of Youth, Cuba
Reasoning: The Isle of Youth’s always been underestimated: a lack of gold lost Columbus’ interest, while Spanish conquistadors merely built a prison there in 1928, one that later housed Castro. Post-revolution, young Cubans (hence the name) cultivated the island, establishing the varied plantations that today provide many of Cuba’s fresh vegetables. And now tourists are arriving – in 2009, the Hotel Colony was refurbished, making visits to the Isle’s perfect beaches, ecological zones, cave paintings and crocodile farms that much more attractive. (Captivating Cuba)
The Faroe Islands
Reasoning: Nestling within the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, the unique and stunning Faroe Islands boast the highest sea cliffs in Europe, a virgin landscape unlike anywhere else on earth, and a unique culture and architectural heritage. As a tourist destination, the islands are little known, but with an increase in direct flights from London planned for 2010, that’s likely to change. (Sunvil Discovery*)
Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan
Reasoning: After the success of its Mt Damavand hike in Iran, new in 2009, adventure specialist Explore is introducing another Kilimanjaro alternative in another unheralded walking destination. The Tien Shan Trek follows nomadic routes across remote mountains, travelling through blue fir and juniper forests, red sandstone canyons and alpine flatlands. There’s wild camping en route, and the shepherds you meet will offer a glasses of kumyz (fermented mare’s milk) to those lacking pep.
*This company is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO): 140 independent and specialist travel companies providing an unrivalled collection of holiday ideas that cover every corner of the world. Consumers booking with AITO are assured of 100% financial security, high-quality holidays and excellent personal service.
Life, the latest nature show from the BBC and Sir David Attenborough, begins tonight in the UK, Monday 12 October at 9pm on BBC1. The 10-part show focuses on the extreme survival methods employed by Earth’s 30 million or so animals and plants, capturing mind-blowing behaviour, strange creatures and epic spectacles in TV firsts. All of which makes domestic life seem a little, well, plain. To help, Travel PR has compiled holidays to see a major feature of each episode:
Episode 1 – Challenges of Life – Capuchin monkeys in Brazil
Capuchins are considered to be the world’s most intelligent monkeys. As Life displays, they are excellent problem solvers: watch them use rocks as tools with which they crack open nuts against nominated stone anvils. Their brain accounts for about 1.9% of their total weight – human brains equal about 2% and chimpanzee brains about 0.9%. Spend three nights seeing these complex primates in their natural Amazonian habitat on a tailor-made itinerary with Sunvil Traveller* (020 8758 4774, www.sunvil.co.uk).
Episode 2 – Reptiles & Amphibians – Komodo Dragons in Indonesia
Life’s second episode contains amazing footage of a Komodo Dragon hunting down a water buffalo, pursuing it relentlessly for two weeks after one poisonous bite. Adventure specialist Explore* (0844 499 0901, www.explore.co.uk) has a 16-day Indonesian family adventure – riding a traditional two-masted schooner through the tropical islands – which includes a search for the dragons on Komodo Island. You’ll also seek out flying foxes on Lombok, enjoy beach barbecues and do no end of swimming and snorkelling.
Episode 3 – Mammals – Fruit Bats in Zambia
A highlight of Episode 3 is footage of Zambia’s fruit bat convention. Throughout November, the skies above the Kasanka National Park fill at dusk as ten million giant bats leave their mega roost. They’ve migrated from the Congo to feed on a billion pieces of forest fruit, and break a tree branch every three seconds with their colossal weight. To watch the convention, take a 12-day ‘Black Lechwe Safari’ with Expert Africa* (020 8232 9777, www.expertafrica.com).
Episode 4 – Fish – Gobies in Hawaii
To escape predators, the tiny goby fish of Hawaii climb up 400m waterfalls, using specialised discs that allow them to stick to vertical rocks. See Hawaii’s famous cascades on a boat trip along Wailua River during a 19-day ‘Very Best of Hawaii’ group tour with Journeys of Distinction (01704 883 000, www.jod.uk.com). The trip also includes the beaches of Oahu, Kauai and Maui, visits to Pearl Harbour and Haleakala Crater – the largest dormant volcano on earth – and a whale-watching cruise.
Episode 5 – Birds – Lesser flamingoes in Kenya
While standing in a soup of caustic soda might not be the environment of choice for most bird or animal life, to the long-legged lesser flamingo it’s sublime. Surrounded by geysers and hot springs, the spectacular setting of Kenya’s soda lakes plays host to as many as a million of these coral-coloured visitors each year – providing a must-see experience on visits to this enigmatic country. Tailor-make your own Kenyan adventure with Africa experts Baobab Expeditions (020 8951 2854, www.baobabexpeditions.com).
Episode 6 – Insects – Monarch butterfly migration in Mexico
Orange-winged Monarch butterflies navigate around 3,000 miles from Canada to central Mexico’s fir tree forests, although quite how they find such a specific location remains a mystery. As their mass arrival in November coincides with the ‘Day of the Dead’ festival, indigenous communities believe the Monarchs represent returning dead souls. They’re certainly powerful: while most adult Monarchs live only four or five weeks, the migratory generation survive for seven or eight months. For those wanting to see the mass migration arrive – a phenomenal spectacle – Sunvil Traveller* (020 8758 4774, www.sunvil.co.uk) has tailor-made 16-night itineraries.
Here’s an interesting way to experience the migration…
Episode 7 – Hunters and hunted - Chital deer in Bandhavgarh NP, India
The chital deer in India’s Bandhavgarh National Park have a unique way of combating the threat of hungry tigers: they listen out for alarm calls from the langur monkeys, who see the hunting cats from their lookout high in the trees (or watchtowers) above. See all three protagonists of this rare ritual, plus take elephant-back safaris, on a ten-day safari to Bandhavgarh with India specialists Real Holidays (020 7359 3938, www.indiaportfolio.co.uk).
Episode 8 – Creatures of the deep – Coral polyps off the coast of Cuba
In the tropics, coral polyps multiply and grow, creating the largest living structures in the world that, staggeringly, harbour a quarter of all marine life. And yet the reefs are built by minute creatures, and occupy less than one per cent of the oceanic floor. Keen to investigate these incredibly colourful and beautiful structures at first-hand? Cuba’s marine area of Maria La Gorda has crystal-clear, warm waters and 39 diving spots with a vast range of corals. Go with Captivating Cuba (08444 129916, www.captivatingcuba.com).
Episode 9 – Plants – Dartmoor woodland in the UK
Part of this episode involves footage of a Dartmoor woodland: an entire growing season filmed in one continuous shot. The location of this remarkable shoot isn’t known – other than that it’s 1.5 miles from the nearest road – but why not watch the show to see if you can track down the chosen copse? Even if you can’t find the site, there’s plenty of wondrous woodland all around. Stay on Dartmoor at Seashores, a spacious apartment within a wing of elegant Didworthy House. You’ll be given a cream tea on arrival and the owners will happily arrange delivery of fresh organic vegetable boxes at cost. Classic Cottages (01326 555 555, www.classic.co.uk) offers three-night stays.
Episode 10 – Primates - Ring-tailed lemurs in Madagascar
Madagascar might be the movie setting for cartoon characters Marty the Zebra and Melman the Giraffe but, in real life, it’s home to the ring-tailed lemur. These perfumed primates hang out amid the island’s spectacular Isalo National Park, using their scented tails to attract a mate. Discover them and the rest of ‘Untamed Madagascar’ on a 13-night escorted itinerary with Voyages Jules Verne (0845 166 7035, www.vjv.com) – as well as Isalo, it also includes a city tour of Antananarivo and time in Ranomafana National Park.
Two ring-tailed lemurs being very nice to each other…
*This company is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO): 140 independent and specialist travel companies providing an unrivalled collection of holiday ideas that cover every corner of the world. Consumers booking with AITO are assured of 100% financial security, high-quality holidays and excellent personal service. Visit www.aito.co.uk for more information.
In anticipation of Grandparents’ Day this Sunday (4 October), that’s the question Travel PR has taken on to the streets of south west London…with some surprising (and, OK, some unsurprising results).
Interestingly, competition for the top spot was a case of sibling rivalry between the high-achieving Attenborough brothers, with Sir David Attenborough (17%) claiming the Dream Grandad title just ahead of Lord Richard (13%). Terry Wogan (10%) - soon to depart from Radio 2 - wasn’t far behind. Popular children’s author Roald Dahl (3%), Harry Potter favourite Dumbledore (2%) and the sweet-toothed mustachioed man from the Werther’s Original advert (2%) also made it on to the list…
Travel PR’s Dream Grandads’ Poll – the results in full
1st Sir David Attenborough (17%) 2nd Sir Richard Attenborough (13%) 3rd Terry Wogan (10%) 4th David Dimbleby (9%) 5th Bruce Forsyth (8%) 6th Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Sean Connery (4%) 7th Sir Alan Sugar, Roald Dahl, Jonathan Ross, Sir Geoff Hurst (3%) 8th Dumbledore, Father Christmas, grandad from the Werther’s Original advert, Sir Philip Green, Ian Wright, Richard Arnold, ‘my own grandad’ (2%) 9th Morgan Freeman, Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins, Sir David Bellamy, Stephen Fry, Johnny Cash, George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Prince Phillip and Sir Michael Parkinson (1%)
And, given that a grandparent who looks after their grandchild just one day a week saves parents in the region of £3-£5,000 per year, isn’t it time to treat them to a holiday? How about these suggestions from Travel PR? Camilla Colley
Esquire’s round-up of 10 beaches best-avoided begins with Goa, where “sacred cows roam freely on the sand, taking cover under tourists’ umbrellas”. This picture proves as much, apparently showing a cows taking a break during a game of beach volleyball.
As Esquire admits, sat at your computer desk and free of the noxious downside, there’s something very cute and quaint about this scene. But Goa’s not the only place where you can share the shore with unlikely wildlife - we’ve been inspired to list five more…
Tassi Savannah, Gabon Part of Loango NP, Tassi Savannah borders the Atlantic and is renowned in National Geographic circles for its unusual beachcombers: during the rainy season (Oct-Apr), elephant, buffalo and even hippopotamus are often seen splashing in the shallows, or swimming in the surf. Families of gorillas forage in the trees along the beach, as well – an exotic variation on pickpockets at Positano, if you like. (Photo below - credit Michael Nichols, for National Geographic)
Bahamas In one of its best-ever Page 3 stories, free UK morning newspaper Metro recently splashed about paddling piglets in the Bahamas. On the curiously-named Big Major Spot Island in the Bahamas, a family of boars and piglets have swapped sty for blue sky, and decamped to a tropical paradise beach. The swines. Now feral, the gang can regularly be seen trotting along the beach, or oinking with delight and surging into the swell to bestow friendly greetings on newly-arrived catamarans, and cutely beg for a little lunch. Give it a year, and they’ll probably be dishing out parasols and wearing tight red shorts.
Isle of Mull, Scotland
For idyllic, deserted white sand beaches and crystal clear (albeit cold!) waters, there are few places more idyllic than the Isle of Mull in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides. Mull’s wonderful-looking Highland Cattle seem to think so too, grazing as close to the water’s edge as it’s possible to get – seemingly ferocious beasties whose horned heads and shaggy ‘Sesame Street’ fringes belie an altogether more approachable, adventurous animal!
Turtle Beach, Barbados
There are many areas in Barbados where you can swim among turtles (green, hawksbill and leatherbacks), but at Turtle Beach on the west coast, there are two friendly turtles that visit every day directly in front of the famous Lone Star Restaurant (picture below)! To meet the duo, the optimum time is nesting season, between May and October. In fact, during this period large numbers (100-150 at a time) of turtles instinctively hatch in tandem, and then make their way down to the sea in a mass procession – an incredible sight.
Turtle Beach, St Kitts
Across the Caribbean, another Turtle Beach was once famed for its wildlife mayhem. In the case of Turtle Beach on St Kitts, it was the sight of monkeys pinching punters’ beer… and then getting decidedly wobbly. The video below captures the comedy of an addled ape perfectly – we can all recognise that look of blurry confusion and disorientation. Sadly this particular animal playground has been bought by a private company, and the muddled monkeys banished from its shores.
Retiring English cricketing behemoth Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff will be fondly remembered for four things: slaying Australian bowlers and batsmen, staggering sportsmanship, exceptional levels of inebriation, and an accident while stoically steering that most manly of nautical vessels: the pedalo. With the release of an advert (watch below) fondly playing on his infamous watery wobble, and the sale of the offending vehicle for charity on ebay (auction closes on 26-July at 1300 BST), the pedalo’s public profile is set to rise again. Especially for those aquatic adventurers determined to follow brave Freddie into the watery unknown, and in honour of his match-winning effort at Lords, we’ve collated some holidays ripe for your own ‘Fredalo’ incident:
HYDE PARK, LONDON The undisputed home of pedaloing, and an idyll of decorum and delicacy ill-suited to stupefied strike-bowling sailors. Such a posh pond demands dapper digs, and Hyde Park Garden Mews is certainly that: part of The Wowhouse Company’s collection, it’s a luxurious London townhouse located in a quiet cul-de-sac close to Lancaster Gate (surely Freddie’s favourite tube station?). With plasma TV screens in each bedroom for Sky Sports fans, plus a jacuzzi, iPod stereo system, Playstation and board games, this is a stylish alternative to humdrum hotel accommodation in London.
EAST WHEAL ROSE, CORNWALL Forget pasties – it’s Cornish pedalos you want. A great place to find them is the idyllic boating lake at East Wheal Rose – and that’s reached via a short, scenic hop on the Lappa Valley Steam Railway from Newquay. It’s been going since 1849 when it was first opened as a mineral line from Newquay to East Wheal Rose, and has one of the oldest railway trackbeds in Cornwall. Stay nearby with a large group of family, friends or cricket team-mates at historic Melancoose Mill (sleeps 12), a Classic Cottages property. Set in a peaceful valley close to Watergate Bay and three miles from Newquay, it offers a maze of rooms, terraced gardens and a pedalo-prohibited pond.
MONACO
Even if the budget doesn’t quite stretch to a super-yacht while holidaying in Monaco, guests can still enjoy time on the Mediterranean water. Ski Vol, stationed on the public Larvotto Beach and at Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel, offers pedalos as well as jet skiing, flyfish-rides, banana boat-rides, doughnut-rides, water skiing, wake boarding, parasailing and canoeing with prices starting at €15 pp (approx £13). One man likely to look disdainfully at paltry pedaloers while whooshing by is Kyran Bracken: the World Cup-winning rugby brusier was recently spotted jet-skiing in the Principality. The Visit Monaco website has more information.
UMBRIA, ITALY Umbria’s Lake Trasimeno is the perfect place for family pedalo fun. It’s reportedly Italy’s cleanest body of water, and its shallow depth means gentle, safe waters. Away from aquatic cycling, a regular ferry connects to two beachy islands, Maggiore and Polveses, while waterside restaurants serve up fresh fish straight from the lake. Things weren’t always this idyllic: during a mighty Roman war, Trasimeno’s water once turned red with the blood of massacred soldiers. Real Holidays offers self-catering at family apartments at the San Feliciano Residence, its shared wood-burning outdoor oven and large pool positioned to face the lake’s epic sunsets.
PELEPONNESE, GREECE The more cultured water-cyclist will head to Greece for some Peloponnese pedalo action. Nestled around the curve of a sheltered bay, the village of Tolon boasts a long, sandy beach and a plethora of watersports, including pedalos for hire. Pummel those pedals, avoid capsizing like a loaded Lancastrian, and it won’t be long before you reach two pretty islets just across the bay. A tempting array of cafés and small restaurants line the beach at Tolon, while some of Greece’s top ancient sites – Epidavros theatre, Mycenae and Olympia – all offer un-athletic alternatives for days out. Sunvil Holidays* offers self-catering at the beachfront Stella Apartments.
ST. LUCIA Those Freddie-followers undertaking devout pedalo pilgrimages have but one option: to head to the very place where Flintoff became flotsam. St Lucia, in other words: a picture-perfect Caribbean island boasting volcanic sulphur springs, banana plantations and palm-fringed beaches. Explore* has a 14-day group tour that combines St Lucia with two other islands – the Creole-accented Martinique, and the wildlife haven of Dominica, where further water-based fun arrives in the form of a canoeing excursion.
*This company is an AITO member. AITO is the Association of Independent Tour Operators: 140 independent and specialist travel companies providing an unrivalled collection of holiday ideas that cover every corner of the world. Consumers booking with AITO can be assured of 100% financial security, high-quality holidays and excellent personal service.
Sunday 31 May was the 125th anniversary of when John Harvey Kellogg, the American physician and health-food pioneer, applied for a patent for flaked cereal (what we know today as Corn Flakes). In celebration of the crisp, golden snack - and its unrelenting part in the much-loved B&B tradition - Travel PR has compiled some of the world’s best breakfast spots:
Travel PR’s best B&B ideas:
• Breakfast with old bull elephants, Zambia from £3,654 pp with Expert Africa*
• Waterside terrace overlooking the Grand Canal, Venice from £898 pp with Kirker Holidays*
• A lavish spread up high in a Riad in Fes, Morocco from £740 pp with The Best of Morocco
• Breakfast cooked-to-order, Ireland from £123 pp per night with The Wow House Company
• Sumptuous breakfast in the countryside, Sicily from £599 pp with Sunvil Discovery*
• Pancakes on the patio, Marrakech from £48 pp at Les Borjs de la Kasbah
• Chocolate croissants galore, Paris from £209 pp with VFB Holidays*
• Corn Flakes-with-a-view in Monaco from £430 pp
• Breakfast on the roof terrace, Rome from £171 pp with Real Holidays
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Life - holidays to match the episodes
Monday, October 12th, 2009Life, the latest nature show from the BBC and Sir David Attenborough, begins tonight in the UK, Monday 12 October at 9pm on BBC1. The 10-part show focuses on the extreme survival methods employed by Earth’s 30 million or so animals and plants, capturing mind-blowing behaviour, strange creatures and epic spectacles in TV firsts. All of which makes domestic life seem a little, well, plain. To help, Travel PR has compiled holidays to see a major feature of each episode:
Episode 1 – Challenges of Life – Capuchin monkeys in Brazil
Capuchins are considered to be the world’s most intelligent monkeys. As Life displays, they are excellent problem solvers: watch them use rocks as tools with which they crack open nuts against nominated stone anvils. Their brain accounts for about 1.9% of their total weight – human brains equal about 2% and chimpanzee brains about 0.9%. Spend three nights seeing these complex primates in their natural Amazonian habitat on a tailor-made itinerary with Sunvil Traveller* (020 8758 4774, www.sunvil.co.uk).
Episode 2 – Reptiles & Amphibians – Komodo Dragons in Indonesia
Life’s second episode contains amazing footage of a Komodo Dragon hunting down a water buffalo, pursuing it relentlessly for two weeks after one poisonous bite. Adventure specialist Explore* (0844 499 0901, www.explore.co.uk) has a 16-day Indonesian family adventure – riding a traditional two-masted schooner through the tropical islands – which includes a search for the dragons on Komodo Island. You’ll also seek out flying foxes on Lombok, enjoy beach barbecues and do no end of swimming and snorkelling.
Episode 3 – Mammals – Fruit Bats in Zambia
A highlight of Episode 3 is footage of Zambia’s fruit bat convention. Throughout November, the skies above the Kasanka National Park fill at dusk as ten million giant bats leave their mega roost. They’ve migrated from the Congo to feed on a billion pieces of forest fruit, and break a tree branch every three seconds with their colossal weight. To watch the convention, take a 12-day ‘Black Lechwe Safari’ with Expert Africa* (020 8232 9777, www.expertafrica.com).
Episode 4 – Fish – Gobies in Hawaii
To escape predators, the tiny goby fish of Hawaii climb up 400m waterfalls, using specialised discs that allow them to stick to vertical rocks. See Hawaii’s famous cascades on a boat trip along Wailua River during a 19-day ‘Very Best of Hawaii’ group tour with Journeys of Distinction (01704 883 000, www.jod.uk.com). The trip also includes the beaches of Oahu, Kauai and Maui, visits to Pearl Harbour and Haleakala Crater – the largest dormant volcano on earth – and a whale-watching cruise.
Episode 5 – Birds – Lesser flamingoes in Kenya
While standing in a soup of caustic soda might not be the environment of choice for most bird or animal life, to the long-legged lesser flamingo it’s sublime. Surrounded by geysers and hot springs, the spectacular setting of Kenya’s soda lakes plays host to as many as a million of these coral-coloured visitors each year – providing a must-see experience on visits to this enigmatic country. Tailor-make your own Kenyan adventure with Africa experts Baobab Expeditions (020 8951 2854, www.baobabexpeditions.com).
Episode 6 – Insects – Monarch butterfly migration in Mexico
Orange-winged Monarch butterflies navigate around 3,000 miles from Canada to central Mexico’s fir tree forests, although quite how they find such a specific location remains a mystery. As their mass arrival in November coincides with the ‘Day of the Dead’ festival, indigenous communities believe the Monarchs represent returning dead souls. They’re certainly powerful: while most adult Monarchs live only four or five weeks, the migratory generation survive for seven or eight months. For those wanting to see the mass migration arrive – a phenomenal spectacle – Sunvil Traveller* (020 8758 4774, www.sunvil.co.uk) has tailor-made 16-night itineraries.
Here’s an interesting way to experience the migration…
Episode 7 – Hunters and hunted - Chital deer in Bandhavgarh NP, India
The chital deer in India’s Bandhavgarh National Park have a unique way of combating the threat of hungry tigers: they listen out for alarm calls from the langur monkeys, who see the hunting cats from their lookout high in the trees (or watchtowers) above. See all three protagonists of this rare ritual, plus take elephant-back safaris, on a ten-day safari to Bandhavgarh with India specialists Real Holidays (020 7359 3938, www.indiaportfolio.co.uk).
A brilliant photo by Matthew Burrard Lucas…
Episode 8 – Creatures of the deep – Coral polyps off the coast of Cuba
In the tropics, coral polyps multiply and grow, creating the largest living structures in the world that, staggeringly, harbour a quarter of all marine life. And yet the reefs are built by minute creatures, and occupy less than one per cent of the oceanic floor. Keen to investigate these incredibly colourful and beautiful structures at first-hand? Cuba’s marine area of Maria La Gorda has crystal-clear, warm waters and 39 diving spots with a vast range of corals. Go with Captivating Cuba (08444 129916, www.captivatingcuba.com).
Episode 9 – Plants – Dartmoor woodland in the UK
Part of this episode involves footage of a Dartmoor woodland: an entire growing season filmed in one continuous shot. The location of this remarkable shoot isn’t known – other than that it’s 1.5 miles from the nearest road – but why not watch the show to see if you can track down the chosen copse? Even if you can’t find the site, there’s plenty of wondrous woodland all around. Stay on Dartmoor at Seashores, a spacious apartment within a wing of elegant Didworthy House. You’ll be given a cream tea on arrival and the owners will happily arrange delivery of fresh organic vegetable boxes at cost. Classic Cottages (01326 555 555, www.classic.co.uk) offers three-night stays.
Episode 10 – Primates - Ring-tailed lemurs in Madagascar
Madagascar might be the movie setting for cartoon characters Marty the Zebra and Melman the Giraffe but, in real life, it’s home to the ring-tailed lemur. These perfumed primates hang out amid the island’s spectacular Isalo National Park, using their scented tails to attract a mate. Discover them and the rest of ‘Untamed Madagascar’ on a 13-night escorted itinerary with Voyages Jules Verne (0845 166 7035, www.vjv.com) – as well as Isalo, it also includes a city tour of Antananarivo and time in Ranomafana National Park.
Two ring-tailed lemurs being very nice to each other…
*This company is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO): 140 independent and specialist travel companies providing an unrivalled collection of holiday ideas that cover every corner of the world. Consumers booking with AITO are assured of 100% financial security, high-quality holidays and excellent personal service. Visit www.aito.co.uk for more information.
Tags: "david attenborough", "life series", "nature show", BBC, holidays, life, wildlife
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