CRUISING TO ROVINJ? WHAT TO SEE AND DO….

The pretty seaside resort of Rovinj is the gateway to the Croatian province of Istria, a heart-shaped peninsula in the far north of the country, and whilst it is a charming town, you should try and explore further afield too on a day tour of Istria - hilltop villages, medieval churches, vineyards, forests, orchards and olive groves and some of the finest food Croatia has to offer.

Rovinj is known as ‘the Blue Pearl of the Adriatic’, and lies at the opposite end of Croatia from Dubrovnik, the original ‘pearl’ of the Adriatic – but is in many ways much more appealing, with fewer crowds and therefore more romantic.  The narrow streets and hidden squares of this ancient and very picturesque medieval town are lined with grand, crumbling architecture of many styles from when the town was an important part of the Venetian Republic, and there are chic boutiques, galleries, tempting cafes and many churches to explore. Admire too its town walls, gates, archway and a clock tower all overlooked by the beautiful Church of St Euphemia which has wonderful views from the tower, a replica of St Mark’s in Venice, of the rooftops and distinctive chimneys and island-studded coast. It is best to simply wander with a Rovinj tour guideto appreciate the history and hidden gems.

Motovun makes for a lovely day tour in Istria. It’s one of Croatia’s most famous villages, perched on a hilltop and surrounded by its old walls along which you can walk, filled with medieval houses, churches and galleries, and gorgeous views – it’s a romantic and fairytale place! Just 500 people live here amongst the quaint alleyways and corners, the cosy stone houses, and fantastic viewpoints. It is also famous for its black and white truffles which you can enjoy on a special truffle tasting, and you can even borrow a couple of dogs and go truffle-hunting yourself!

There are many remote beauty spots in Istria that are easily discovered on a shore excursion from Rovinj. Groznjan is home to many artists who have breathed new life into the old stones of another picturesque village, and you can browse its workshops and galleries before enjoying a wine tasting at one of the local vintners. Pazin has a famous Ethnographic Museum in the once-formidable medieval castle where you can see costumes, instruments, farm implements and even an exhibition of church bells. If you are here on the first Tuesday of the month you will also be able to visit Pazin’s traditional market. At the tiny village of Beram you can see a real ‘hidden gem’, St Mary’s Church of Skrljine and its unique ‘dance of death’ fresco, if you can find the single custodian of the church key!

Instead of heading inland, follow the coast south on your day tour from Rovinj to Pula. The most famous sight in Pula is the well-preserved Arena, the 1st century Roman amphitheatre that seated 22,000 spectators at gladiatorial combats or Christians being thrown to the lions. See the Temple of Augustus at the Forum, which now houses Roman statues, and the Sergius Triumphal Arch which was built by a grieving mother for three soldier sons who died at the Battle of Actium. James Joyce wrote some of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man here, and its film festival has hosted Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Orson Wells.

North of Rovinj you can have an easy day trip to Porec, a natural harbour settled by the Romans who laid out the original street grid in the old town, including the Decumanus, the Cardo Maximus and the Marafor square which was the old Forum, with two temples. After the Romans left the town became part of the Byzantine Empire and the most splendid building in Porec was constructed during this era, the 6th century Euphrasius Basilica, whose floor and wall mosaics have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. In medieval times the town became part of the mighty Republic of Venice for 500 years, and town walls, gates, churches and palaces were built, many of which are still standing today. Between Rovinj and Porec is the Lim Fjord, although it was not created by a glacier but the river tumbling into the Adriatic. The sides are steep and covered in thick macquis and forests, the waters clear and ideal for the oyster and mussel farms that have been here since Roman times.

Then of course there are many many islands off the coast of Istria that you can discover on a small boat – keep an eye out for another blog post on these!

For  Rovinj day tours, walking tours of  Istria, Croatia day trips and shore excursions,  please check our site at www.ReadyClickAndGo.com or email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com

Things to see and do in Dubrovnik, Croatia

 Many Mediterranean cruises call at Dubrovnik, it’s one of the prettiest and well-restored towns along the Adriatic coast that can easily be explored on foot in a couple of hours. It also boasts some of the loveliest scenery dotted with picturesque villages, vineyards and churches. While most cruise ships offer a programme of coach tours you will find that even one coach-load of people can simply over-run the place, but ReadyClickAndGo can reveal into the rural charms of the region on a private shore excursion of Dubrovnik with your own guide, car and driver to meet you at your ship and take you back afterwards.

You can enjoy a wonderful day tour from Dubrovnik, to the Peljesac peninsula, a spectacular 40-mile stretch of land running north from Dubrovnik along the coast, where vines have flourished on the well-drained, sunny slopes since the time of the Greeks, and some fine wines are produced, notably the celebrated Dingac wine (also known as the King of Croatian red wines) from the plavac mali grapes which are similar to the Californian Zinfandel. Grapes are picked by hand as the terrain is so steep and rocky. Visit three of the more prominent local cellars for wine tastings with your guide who is a WSET Diploma Holder/Certified wine educator and certified sommelier and you can enjoy a superb gourmet lunch at the ancient fortified town of Ston.

Ston itself is well worth a visit on a day tour from Dubrovnik, its low white stone houses nestling in a sheltered bay, almost completely encircled by a wall that snakes over the surrounding hillsides rather like a miniature version of the Great Wall of China. It’s famous for its oysters and mussels which you can also taste, and for its salt pans which produced the region’s most profitable export for a thousand years.

Closer to Dubrovnik and on the way to Ston and Peljesac is Croatia’s oldest arboretum, Trstena, a delightful exotic garden overlooking the coast, and your day tour from Dubrovnik can also include a visit to the Franciscan Monastery in Kuna where you can see paintings by a famous artist from the village.

Heading in the opposite direction is the region of Konavle, a region of hills covered in mulberry and cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves. A typical day trip from Dubrovnik features a local vineyard to taste some of their wines and homemade snacks, a visit to a 15th century Franciscan monastery at the village of Pridvorje and a tour of Cavtat, a tiny medieval town on the coast with pine forests behind and the glittering blue sea on front, stone houses and red roofs, cobbled streets and colourful window boxes – a real hidden gem of the Mediterranean. Edward & Mrs Simpson spent part of their honeymoon here.

So for a romantic shore excursion in Dubrovnik email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com with your date of arrival, and whether you’d like to visit gardens, go wine tasting, sample local delicacies or shop for traditional specialities, and we’ll be happy to suggest the best day tours in or around Dubrovnik for you.

CRUISING TO SPLIT – WHAT TO SEE AND DO?

Did you know that the name Split derives from the shrub in the local area called spiny broom. When the city became part of the Roman Empire the Latin name of the city became Spalatum.

Split was a Greek colony well before the Romans come to this part of the world and built the Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian as a retirement home for the Roman Emperor Diocletian who was the first one to voluntarily retire from politics. In later years the town of Split grew around the palace and was independent before it was conquered by the Venetians in 1420. After that Spilt followed the historic path so common for this area and changed hands between the Austrians, French, Italians and Germans. Today Split is part of Croatia and a UNESCO site since 1979. Beyond the usual walking tour of Split is there anything else you could visit?

Every guide book suggests visiting the beach at Bacvice but I would go to Kastel which combines 7 little villages ( Kastel Stafilic, Kastel Novi, Kastel Stari, Kastel Luksic, Kastel Kambelovac, Kastel Gomilica, Kastel Sucurac) to the north of Split towards the airport. If you stay in one of picturesque villages in Kastel you will avoid all the hustle of Split especially during the hot summer months. Also there is a very good local bus connection between each village and Split and the journey takes you 30 min. The villages are so close to each other that you can actually walk by following the coastline and have an occasional swim.

Most guide books suggest that you while you are in Split you should visit Dubrovnik and have a tour to Montenegro.I would suggest you visit Trogir, a little gem of a place which is kind of forgoton. It’s a UNESCO site too and has a large concentration of palaces, churches and towers, not to mention a well-preserved historical city core with city gate and city walls. Trogir shares the airport with Split which is situated near Kastel Stafilic only 5 km from Trogir. Again there is a very good local bus connection between Split and Trogir, just a 10 min drive.

One of the hardest questions you face in Croatia is which island to see, and I am sure after you have done your homework you are thinking of visiting either Brac or Hvar.  Both islands are very conveniently located to Split  – only 50 min on a ferry  to Brac (Supetar) and to Hvar 55 min! Both islands are stunning with lots of beaches, nice food and excellent weather. They can get over- crowded and busy! I would go a little bit further and visit the furthest island off the Croatian coast – Vis. The ferry journey lasts 2 hours and 20 minutes. Vis covers an area of only 90 sq/km but the people of Vis are very energetic as they managed to sponsor their own colonies and have their own money in the past! Today Vis is a sleepy island with the main industry being tourism and wine!  Also the sea around Vis is well known for fish especially blue fish.

If you get bored of the sea I would suggest heading inland on a day tour to Mostar in Bosnia Herzegovina. Did you know that Bosnia has a small coastline of 26 km (16 miles) which you can enter on the way to visit Mostar? The drive is only 2 and a half hours and you will need to take your passport with you. Once you are in Mostar the blend, the mixture of different cultures is so vivid through Ottoman and Dalamatian houses or Italian Franciscan and Orthodox churches not to mention one of the most famous pieces of Islamic architecture in this part of the world – Stari Most or the old Bridge.

Or enjoy a tour from Split to Medjugorje, a small village in Bosnia where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a group of local children – you can walk up Apparition Hill, visit the church and enjoy the lovely landscapes around.

On the way from Split to Mostar I would suggest you have a lunch stop at the small and very proud place called Sinj which was under Turkish influence until 1686 when it was occupied by the Venetians. The last Turkish attempt to get the city was in 1715 which wasn’t successful. The local population was grateful to the Virgin Mary who helped them to defend themselves against the Turks, and her miraculous images can be seen in the local Franciscan monastery. If you are travelling on the first Sunday of August from Split to Mostar I would suggest you visit Sinj when the Tilters Tournament takes place that commemorates the victory over Turkish army in 1715. The tilters, dressed in costumes, ride on horseback trying to hit a small ring hanging from a wire.

You can visit Plitvice Lake in a day tour from Split but have you heard of  Krka National Park and its beauty? It’s like a mini-Plitvice but much closer at only 1 hour and 20 min drive from Split and you can visit seven waterfalls, a medieval fortress, water mills, the Visovac Monastery (Roman Catholic Church ) and the Monastery Krka (Serbian Orthodox Church).

Lots to see nearby! For Plitvice Lakes day tours, walking tours of Split, Croatia day trips and shore excursions,  please check our site at www.ReadyClickAndGo.com or email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com

EXPLORE PLITVICE LAKES ON A DAY TOUR

Plitvice Lakes National Park is set around a collection of 16 lakes which are all interconnected and cascade into each other, from the highest point at 636 m to 503 m. They are grouped together in two sets, 12 Upper Lakes and 4 Lower Lakes. There are also 2 waterfalls, the Big Falls or Veliki Slap at 78 m in the Lower Lakes, and Galovački buk at 25 m in the Upper Lakes. The lakes act as one big water reservoir surrounded by Mt Velebit in the west which divides the coastal area from Plitvice Plateu. To the east the Plitvice Lakes are protected by Mt Pljesevica which marks the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The name Plitvice means shallow basin as the waters create these hollows in the limestone, although the depth varies from 1 to 47 m. Plitvice Lakes National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

The Lakes are famed for their water – very clear azure with shadows of green and blue, changing according to the weather and the sunlight, as well as the quantity of micro-organisms, moss and algae in the water.  The best time to admire the lakes is at sunrise which means before 7 am (during the summer months) so if you can stay at one of the hotels or guest houses within the park itself, you can simply wander out before breakfast and enjoy the magnificent scenery before the crowds arrive.

The Plitvice National Park offers eight different hiking routes, marked by letters. A, B and C start from Entrance 1 while routes E, F and H start from entrance 2 and K route can be started from either. The shortest is a route A and it takes you in a 2-3 hour circle from Entrance 1 and back, passing the Big Waterfall, Supljara cave and magnificent viewpoints of the Lower Lakes. If you are fit and have lots of time then you should go for K route which is the longest at 6-8 hours. Each route is supplemented with environmentally-friendly electric buses and boats. The boat runs across Kozjak Lake which is the largest one, one way and it takes 20 minutes, and there’s also a little shuttle bus called the Panoramic Train that runs every 20 minutes or so. At each of the stops are refreshments, toilets and information points.

The resulting seclusion of the lake and large altitude difference in such a small area contributed to a very diverse flora and fauna. One of the most representative animals of this area is the brown bear. I am sure you won’t encounter them on your walk through the Lakes as they come close to humans only when they are really, really hungry. But if you would like to meet a Brown Bear why not visit the sanctuary for orphaned young bears in Kutarevo which is only 75 km from Plitvice Lakes en-route to the coastal area. The park is also populated by boars, wolves, deer and rare birds.

If you are on a cruise along the coast of Croatia you will probably call at the ports of Split or Zadar and either of these are good starting points for a shore excursion to the magnificent Plitvice Lakes in the heart of Croatia, and one of its must-see sights. ReadyClickAndGo can arrange a private day trip from Zadar or Split to Plitvice with your own car and driver-guide.

Tips

• Try and go early so you can beat the crowds – stay overnight in the park if possible. There are several modest hotels and guest houses within the precincts.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Bring waterproof jacket for walking close to the waterfalls.
• The park has two different types of entrance tickets: one-day and two-day tickets.
• The entrance fee varies according to the season, one-day tickets are 80kuna between November and March, and 110kuna between April and October, and 2-day tickets 130kuna and 180kuna.
• Credit cards are accepted (MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Maestro and Diners).
• Guests from the park hotels in the have one-day tickets for the duration of their stay.
• Opening hours during summer time are 0700-2000, winter 0800 -1600, spring and autumn 0800-1800.

Croatia has invested a huge amount of money into the infrastructure of the National Park and the roads there are excellent, so Plitvice Lake is easily accessible on a day tour from most of the major towns on the Adriatic coast except maybe from Dubrovnik when you would need to either have an overnight stay or come back to Dubrovnik very late. A Plitvice Lakes tour from Split takes around 3 hours each way, a day trip from Zadar around 2 hours, and a day tour from Zagreb the same.

To arrange a private day tour to Plitvice from Split, Zadar or Zagreb  email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com

BEST PLACES TO PROPOSE ON VALENTINE’S DAY BY THE TEAM AT READYCLICKANDGO

The Great Wall of China by Tara Goldsmith

As someone who is in love with China I would like to be proposed to on the Great Wall of China but not on just any part – Badaling is too commercialised and I am sure Mutianyu will be busy this Valentine’s Day. I would love to walk the great wall of China from Jinshaling to Simatai, easy to get to on a day tour from Beijing and best with an overnight stay at the one of the 43 towers, preferably the General Tower which is the highest point and has excellent views. The distance between  Jinshaling and Simatai  is 12 km (7 miles) and depending on your  level of fitness it may take between 4 – 4.5 hours to finish the walk.  If you decide to stay overnight aim to get to the General Tower before sunset and bring a warm sleeping bag as the nights tend to get cold- but all the better for snuggling up with your loved one!

The Taj Mahal by Rachel Dyer, Marketing

I have always been fascinated by the Taj Mahal, how it came to be built and what it symbolises, and would love to be proposed to there. My boyfriend sometimes travels to India on business and I’m waiting for him to suggest that I go with him; We could  visit Agra on a day tour from Delhi , preferably on the train with a curry breakfast! I also want to see the ‘baby’ taj on my Agra trip which is an earlier version of the Taj Mahal and was created for the grandfather of the woman the Taj Mahal was built for. It’s also called the ‘jewel box’ as it’s small but beautifully ornate with white marble intricately inlaid with topaz, lapis lazuli and other precious stones. I know it’s a cliché, but what surroundings could be more romantic for a proposal?

On a boat on the Bosphorus in Istanbul by Selina Jackson, Director

Well, my choice is definitely on a trip to Istanbul, especially the old quarter where the big sights are like the Aya Sofia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace where the sultans used to live. I would like to start this extra-special proposal day with a tour of Istanbul strolling around there, then we’d fight our way through the Spice Market with Turkish delight and baklava on the way, get on the tram up to Dolmabahce Palace overlooking the Bosphorus and Asia on the opposite bank and walk around there – my favourite part is right at the end where there is the biggest chandelier you have ever seen in your life, it was a present to the sultan from Queen Victoria but she probably thought it was a bit vulgar. Anyway, after a giggle at that we’d take a fishing boat across the river and I’d like to be proposed to there, right inbetween Europe and Asia!

Where would be your most romantic place for a marriage proposal?

HAPPY NEW YEAR OF THE SNAKE!

Last week I received an email with the subject line Happy New Year, but under strict instructions to delete any suspicious email I hesitated for a few seconds then my cautious mind and fat finger clicked on the mouse and I opened it. A smiling snake, the brightest colour I have ever seen, jumped onto my screen and I could just see my P45 in my hand after our IT jerk filed another complaint about my misuse of company property.

After few scrolls down I read “Gong Xi Fa Cai from George.”

After so much preparation for the 25^th December and New Year we travelled to a different part of the world to celebrate another Christmas on the 7^th January and another New Year on the 14^th January. In between we squeezed one belated 80^th birthday and a post-Christmas engagement party.  And when we were was just about to settle down for a quiet January I get a fancy red snake smiling at me so friendly it reminded me that tomorrow is Chinese New Year’s Eve and the start of the Year of the Snake.

Personally I am scared of snakes (I am expecting lots of Fjord’s comments) even though I was born in another year of the snake. According to the Chinese Horoscope people born in the year of the snake are intuitive, introspective and basically all the traits my husband disliked.

I totally agree with Chinese wisdom which says a Snake in the house is a good sign because it means your family will not starve.  My husband’s Buddha Belly is proof of that.

Snakes’ favourite colour is red and I do love red. I wouldn’t agree on the typical snake choice of jewel- topaz. I prefer a bit of diamond, nicely polished.  The biggest hobby of the typical snake is touring and photography which are definitely my hobbies too. And according to Chinese astrology when Snakes go on holiday, they really go on holiday. I am sure every hard working Snake would agree with me that when you are on holiday there is no money to be spared. And I am sure my bank manager would agree!

A Snake hates being interrupted and I am sure my mother-in-law could vouch for the truth of that but that could just be a mother-in-law thing and nothing to do with me being a Snake.

A Snake’s mortal enemy is a pig and I do love a good pork chop with some apple sauce and nice roast potatoes. Not keen on greenery.

We Snakes get easily stressed and when stressed we hisssss….I do…Recently a lot….

This weekend I am celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Snake. I had to wait for it for 12 years to come around again and I am going to celebrate it with a vengeance.

To all of you out there, Snake, Pig, Horse and the rest of the Chinese Zodiac Kingdom Gong Xi Fa Cai!

THE SHARD, THE VERTICAL BEAUTY OF LONDON

How fast is the lift?”  I asked

“6 meters a second!”

Someone behind me said they were Ferrari lifts and we laughed nervously. We were in one of these dark futuristic lifts with smouldering lights. It felt like we were about to take off to a different planet. There were no seat belts. I expected my insides to move around a bit once the lift stopped but nothing happened. I do remember some music playing in the background but I was too scared to notice what it was. We were heading to the 69^th floor to experience London’s newest attraction, the vertical beauty of London called the Shard.

We were welcomed at Reception which looked like a modern cinema, behind it a screen showed ticket availability as there is a daily limit of 400 people to visit the Shard. If you simply turn up the ticket price could be very high, up to £100, you have to book well in advance. We were lucky as we were invited to experience the Shard on a preview organised for travel agents in the UK. The official opening for the public will be in February 2013.

On arrival at the 69^th floor we were left to explore on our own and there was so much to see in 360 degrees. We were lucky with the weather too and could see almost as far as Dover! The only bad things was that London City airport is too close giving you a full view of British Airways planes registration numbers. It seemed like we were flying with the passing planes. The truth is that I am not a very good flyer!

Apart from that we walked around like kids in a sweet shop taking pictures of every single step. Almost 360 photos – one for each angle. The biggest game is to guess which part of London you are looking at. With such strict building laws, the London looks almost the same from the Shard as from the street. Very uniformed and well planned. It’s difficult to guess where are you so you have to follow some landmarks in order to orientate. St Paul’s looked so small from up here yet is so imposing on the ground. London Bridge is just an ordinary bridge painted blue. The Gherkin, once upon a time an architectural miracle, looks so unimportant now with the Shard in place. We had to make an effort to locate  Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. And the Olympic Stadium at Stratford looks so weak from where we stood up! The most impressive thing from the Shard, for me, is the River Thames! You can sense why London was the epic centre of trade. By the following the Thames you can see history and the way London developed. The Thames was the artery of London and the best place to see that is by visiting the Shard.

We moved up to the next level and discovered a new toy – binoculars which project images in front of you. Forget about putting 20p into a machine then spending time finding the right focus – this is a different futuristic level of seeing through lenses. I still don’t know how it works but I think a laser is cantered onto a certain view and an image is projected onto a small screen built within the machine. The question is – is that image live or is everything pre-recorded as on Google maps? I don’t know but would like to find out….

We played for a while then started running around the observation desk again. As it was a preview workers were still around, one hanging above our head on one of the spires above floor 72…It looked scary and the last observation desk is semi-open so we could feel a draft. After so much excitement we decided to test the Ferrari lifts again and go down. In the shop on the ground floor we bought fridge magnets ready to brag about a new addition to the London skyline. The ever-so-friendly guide advised us to come in the evening when the London lights are switched on.  Watch this space!

Facts: The Shard was built on the site of Southwark Towers and was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, who faced huge opposition from English Heritage who claimed that “ the building would be a SHARD of glass through the heart of historic London”. Hence the name.

The Shard building is combination of residential areas (floors 53 -65), Hotel (floors 34 – 52),  Restaurants (floors 31- 33), offices (from 2- 28) with an added Spa on the 52th floor, Observatory from the 68^th – 72rd  floors and the Spire from the 73rd to 95^th floors.

The Shard is the tallest building in the EC, the second tallest in Europe (the tallest is Mercury City Tower still under construction) and the Shard has the tallest viewing gallery and open-air observation deck in the UK! And the best views!

More images on our Facebook. 

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GRAND SUMO TOURNAMENTS IN TOKYO, 2013

Three times a year the Grand Sumo Tournaments are held at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan, the national sumo stadium, which is close by Ryogoku Station on the JR Sobu Line or Toei Oedo Line. For 2013 the scheduled dates are as follows:

Sunday January 13 – Sunday January 27 2013

Sunday May 12 – Sunday May 26 2013 (tickets go on sale April 6)

Sunday September 15 – Sunday September 29 2013 (tickets go on sale August 3)

Tickets are from 2,100 Yen for unreserved seats at the rear of the upper floor on sale on the day, to 14,300 Yen for a ringside seat (where you are warned that you might get injured by a falling sumo wrestler!)

Matches start at 9.30am with amateur wrestlers, the more senior ones starting around 2.30pm – so tickets to the earlier bouts are easier to come by, and Friday and Saturday evening fights are the most difficult to secure. All matches are preceded by traditional Shinto ceremonies, and lots of leg-shaking and grunting designed to intimidate the opponent. Fights may last only a few seconds – the loser is the first to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of his feet, or who gets thrown out of the ring. There are no classes or weight restrictions in sumo so each tries to be the biggest and heaviest and can weigh up to 250kg – traditionally they eat chanko nabo, a rich meat, fish and vegetable stew, and you can try this dish for yourself in one of the many restaurants in the Ryogoku district.

Watching training sessions

Wrestlers live in residential ‘stables’ with up to 30 others, with every aspect of their lives and athletic training ruled by a ‘stablemaster’. Training starts at 5 or 6am most mornings – at some stables you can go and watch these early training sessions but you should ask your hotel to ring them the day before to check they will be open for visitors to watch the strictly disciplined sessions, and catch a glimpse into the lives of the junior and higher ranking athletes.

If you would like to attend a morning training session whilst you are in Tokyo please emailTara@ReadyClickAndGo.com for more details on arrangements that we can make for you. You might like to incorporate watching a morning training session with a full or half day private guided day tour of Tokyo with your own guide and using public transport, more details are here

72 hours Visa-free in Beijing or Shanghai

It has been confirmed that from 1^st January 2013 UK and US citizens, along with citizens of 43 other nations including most of Europe, will no longer need to obtain a Chinese Visa if they transit through Beijing or Shanghai for 72 hours or less. This scheme is applicable to tourists who have confirmed onward tickets for international flights to or from a third country (i.e. not their own country and not China). It applies only to those who arrive at Beijing International, Shanghai Hongqiao or Shanghai Pudong Airports and does not apply to visitors arriving at bus or railway stations in those cities, or international arrivals at any other airports in China at the moment, nor does it allow passengers to leave those cities before their departure flight.

In order to take advantage of the visa-waiver scheme, passengers must advise their airline that they wish to do so, and the airline will arrange this with Immigration in Beijing or Shanghai in advance so that on arrival their paperwork is in order.
Previously passengers in transit were required to stay within the airport precincts but this relaxation of visa regulations enables passengers to enjoy the sights of the city for up to 3 days, plenty of time to explore the well-trodden highlights as well as hidden gems. Shanghai has offered a 48-hour visa-free stay for several years but Beijing’s decision to go one better has prompted Shanghai to extend its scheme to match.

If you have 72 hours in Beijing or Shanghai do you book cheap group bus tours or do you go private?

 

When you book a group tour to China usually there is not much choice about what to see and when. Your day is packed from 8am to 7pm when you are taken to a restaurant where the menu is decided by the government. You are usually presented with a visit to the Great Wall of China without specifying which part of the Great Wall. To keep costs down most companies take you to the Badaling section which is close to Beijing and most of the time, very overcrowded.
If you are on a group tour you are not able to see any current exhibitions in any of the cities visited, because there’s just not time. In the evenings, you are booked to see a performance of Beijing Opera but without any explanation what is the significance of any of the colours or costumes or masks or dances, so you’ll sit there out of sheer politeness and stay till the bitter end like most tourists do. You’ll go to Shanghai but you won’t have time to catch a world-class performance in the magnificent Shanghai theatre (the seats are so cheap too!). Nor will you be able to ride the fastest train in China, the Maglev, as there is no time, nor will you be able to go to the charming Taikang Lu district as buses can’t park down the narrow streets.

However, on your group tour you will be taken on factory visits, so-called friendship shops, again earmarked by the government for tourists, in order to increase guides’ commission. Most of the time clients are get annoyed that they weren’t told about these visits (sometimes 3 a day) which can take up a considerable proportion of your time – for example, instead of spending some quality time at the Great Wall of China you have to go to the pearl shop and even if none of the group members buy anything, the guide will still get commission. On your group tour there will be at least 20 other people, sometimes 30 or 40, and just one guide – how many questions are you going to be able to answer? Are you going to be able to get close enough to hear them even?

For a perfect holiday in China, book your own guide and driver and set your own pace on a series of private day trips in each city, special discounts are available for more than 3 tours when booked together.
This is what you can see and do in Beijing or Shanghai in 72 hours with ReadyClickAndGo!

 

Day 1 Beijing

 

If you early starter get to the Tiananmen Square for flag rising ceremony. Later in the morning visit the magnificent Tiananmen Square bordered by Great Hall of the People and Mao’s Mausoleum. Later visit the impressive UNESCO site, the Forbidden City which was a home to a succession of Emperors for more than 500 years. Exit through the north gate of the Forbidden City and visit the Jingshan Park for panoramic views of the city. Visit another UNESCO site in Beijing, the beautiful Summer Palace, and the best preserved Imperial Garden in China. Spend the evening with the performers at the Beijing Opera learning about this uniquely Chinese art.

 

Day 2 Beijing

 

Drive to the less-crowded section of the Great Wall of China at Mutiyunu  for a gentle walk.In the afternoon visit another UNESCO site and the Ming dynasty masterpiece, the Temple of Heaven and try Tai Chi. Opposite the Temple of Heaven visit one of the biggest market of fake goods in China, the Hongqiao Market where you can try your haggling skills. In the evening enjoy a traditional Peking Duck Dinner.

Day 3 Beijing

 

Start the day with a visit of the authentic Beijing hidden in the local Hutongs. Don’t miss the Lama and the Confucius Temple. Learn about modern Chinese art at the funky 798 street which was formerly a military industrial complex from the 50’s. What’s fascinating is that several of the factories within the complex are still operational. Spend the evening at the Hou Hai Lake among the modern bars and restaurants.

 

Day 1 Shanghai

 

 

Take the Maglev train from the airport to the city. Along with the usual visits to the Jade Buddha Temple and the Yuyuan garden. I suggest you walk to the fast-disappearing Jewish quarter around the Astor Hotel. You can even ask at the hotel reception and try to visit the room in which Albert Einstein received a phone call about his Nobel Prize. It’s still the same. Continue along the Bund and watch Chinese people performing tai chi. If you are hungry you can either go to the 8th floor of the Peace Hotel for a sumptuous Chinese meal at the Phoenix restaurant with fascinating views over the Huangpu River. If you prefer something more western why not visit Cloud 9 on the 88th floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel on the other side of the river. The views are breathtaking…

Visit the Taikang Art Street full of art galleries, sculpture workshops, photography studios, pottery and woodcarving workshops, etc. Stroll through Xintiandi Concession area where bars, cafes and shops are housed in typical old Shanghai houses.

 

Day 2 Shanghai

 

Visit the world class Shanghai Museum. Check what’s on at the Shanghai Theatre and continue through the People’s Park to watch the locals relaxing playing cards, performing tai chi…If you are hungry try the Barbarossa restaurant situated in the middle of the People’s Park. Don’t miss a visit to the Shanghai Art Museum. It’s free entry for permanent exhibitions and there is a symbolic charge for temporary once.

Continue through the famous Nanjing Road towards the Peace Hotel and listen to jazz there at the bar which has been playing there since 1923. Take the stairs to the famous Phoenix restaurant for panoramic views of the Huangpu River. Continue to the Bund and take an evening cruise on the Huangpu River.

For more information about day trips in Beijing and Shanghai please email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com

The Radisson Blue Hotel in Shanghai

If you have a chance to visit Shanghai check the roof of  tall buildings – they look like from outer  space. And during the night when their lights are switched on Shanghai looks like a city from a different planet.

What Kind of Traveller are you?

I am reading a very interesting book by Laurence Sterne called A Sentimental Journey written in 1768 about travelling through France and Italy. At one point in the book he divides “the whole circle of travellers” to one of these types:

- Idle Travellers
- Inquisitive Travellers
- Lying Travellers
- Proud Travellers
- Vain Travellers
- Splenetic (angry) Travellers
- The Travellers of Necessity
- The Delinquent and Felonious Traveller
- The Unfortunate and Innocent Traveller
- The Simple Traveller

I can easily put myself in most of the categories including the Lying Traveller but I think nowadays the traveller category depends on the country and the type of holiday you take.

I am an Idle Traveller when I am lying on the beach by the seaside – you can’t be Idle Traveller for example in Hungary.

I am Inquisitive when served with some strange but delicious dish in the forests of Borneo. But if the dish is overcooked or burned I can be such a Vain Traveller.

During my last visit to Tunisia just before the “Arab Spring” I bought the latest edition of the guide book from a reputable publisher, carefully planning what to see and when. We stayed for a week and time was precious. On a hot day I uprooted the whole family insisting on culture instead of beach, to take them to the nearby Museum. It was listed in my “up to date” guide book and had very good reviews. Reluctantly my family came with me and we followed the guide book instructions only to end up in the red light district! The museum was never in that part of town! The Splenetic Traveller is an understatement of the way I felt at the time.

I haven’t been a Lying Traveller for a long time, since I was a student and forged train tickets to get to the seaside. I am a very Proud Traveller when natives ask me about my country.

I do travel out of necessity when going on long business trips and I have been a delinquent traveller, the last time during Rach’s stag night in Krakow when our drinking session ended with a handsome policeman’s caution. I can proudly announce that I have never ever been a felonious traveller.

Yes I have been an unfortunate traveller when my bunk bed was sold twice and I had to spend all night standing in the corridor as I didn’t have the heart to refuse an oldish lady and her plea that she bought her ticket well before me. Maybe that was my punishment for forging train tickets during my student days?

These days I am just a simple traveller.

Which kind of traveller are you?

Stopover Day Tours in Delhi

If you have a few hours to spare between flights at Delhi and you already have an Indian visa, you can make a quick sortie to enjoy your own Delhi city tour instead of hanging around the airport. And the shopping is better too!

It costs around 300 rupees to leave your suitcase for 24 hours at the Left Luggage Office at Indira Gandhi Airport. Take the Metro Airport Express Link, the orange line, to New Delhi Station, it costs around 80 rupees and takes around 20 minutes to cover the 12 miles. There are both machines and counters to buy tickets. When you get out of New Delhi station you can either turn north into Old Delhi or south into New Delhi, either way you will embark on a tour that takes in some of the city’s finest monuments and fascinating markets. If you have lots of time, a full day, you can combine the north and south tours. Take motor-rickshaws (tuk-tuks) often instead of walking as the heat and crowds will sap your strength. For fares, have a look at this website which will give you an idea of how cheap they are;http://delhigovt.nic.in/autofares/Transport.asp

Half – Day Tour: North into Old Delhi, 3-4 hours

From New Delhi metro station head north through one of the ancient city gates, Ajmere Gate, and onto the street called Chawri Bazar, lined with small shops specialising in brass, copper and paper souvenirs (you would bargain hard here). Navigate to the Jama Masjidmosque by looking up for its minarets which you can see from everywhere. Jama Masjid is one of largest mosques in Asia and you can climb one of the minaret towers for great views of Old Delhi (note that women have to put on one of the long garments handed out at the entrance).

From here head north east past the Lahore Gate to Red Fort – a huge, sprawling red fortress, once the residence and headquarters of the Mughal Emperors, now home to a bazaar and the Indian War Memorial with exhibitions of guns, swords and armour. The rest of the complex is a military barracks now, and much of it is off-limits – Agra Fort is much more interesting to visit if you are heading to the Taj Mahal.

Leading west from Red Fort is Chandni Chowk street, lined with small shops and crisscrossed by lanes that specialise in particular goods such as silver jewellery such as along Dariba Kalan, paper and books at Nai Sarak and so on. As you walk along Chandni Chowk there isDigambar Jain temple with its bird hospital, the Sikh Shauri Gankarand Sisganj temples, and at the end is Fatehpur Mosque. Beyond here you arrive at Khari Baoli spice market which is the largest wholesale spice market in Asia. If you’re tired by now, hop in a tuk-tuk and head to the historic Oberoi Maidens Hotel for refreshment in stylish surroundings. The concierge there will help you hire a taxi or a tuk-tuk to return to New Delhi metro station to get back to the airport.

Half Day: South into New Delhi, 3-4 hours

From New Delhi metro station head south into New Delhi, first toConnaught Place which was built by the British as the central business district of Delhi in the 1920s and is still one of the city’s major hubs. Built as a huge circle divided by 8 radial roads and 3 ring roads into blocks numbered A-N, it’s filled with shops, restaurants and offices, and there are several great shops for fixed price goods. 

FabIndia andAnokhi both sell stylish, good quality and very affordable east-meets-west clothes and homewares, whilst Central Cottage Industries Emporium in block N has 6 floors of all sorts of goods that make excellent presents and souvenirs.

If you go round Connaught Place and exit to the south you will come toJantar Mantar, the first open-air observatory built in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur who later built the much better one in Jaipur, and you can admire the large stone instruments placed to observe the heavens and make astronomical calculations. Call at the legendaryImperial Hotel for refreshments if you have time on the way down to Rajpath, the road running east to west that connects India Gate, the symbol of New Delhi, with Rashtrapati Bhavan, once home of the Viceroy, now the largest Presidential Palace in the world. India Gate is a 42m high stone arch inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It bears the name of the 85,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the campaigns of WW1, the North-West Frontiers operations and the 1919 Afghan war, and below the arch is the memorial to the unknown soldier. You may prefer just to pass by the palace and India Gate, or get your taxi or tuk-tuk to do a circle so you can take pictures.

From here you can continue further south by tuk-tuk to upmarket Khan Market where you can find bookshops, tailors, good food, silver jewellery, shops such as FabIndia and Anokhi as well as the big western brands, or to Lodhi Gardens. These shady gardens surround the crumbling tombs of the 15th century rulers of India and make for a pleasant respite from the city.  From Lodhi or Khan market you can then continue to Humayun’s Tomb built in the mid 16th century of red sandstone in the traditional Mughal architectural style, set amidst peaceful gardens.

From here, you really should be heading back to the airport unless you have loads more time for shopping and sightseeing and a car to travel in, in which case, there are a couple more great markets stretching south from Lodhi gardens, the first being Lodhi colony main marketlocated in a former war infirmary in an upmarket suburb, where Indian designers offer luxury fashion in distinctive surroundings. Further south again is Dilli Haat, an open air arts and crafts market where you can buy direct from the artisans who rent one of the stalls for a fortnight at a time. And further again is Haus Khaz Village, an arty, upmarket suburb with boutiques, galleries and restaurants, very pleasant to explore on foot and with some old monuments scattered around. Continuing south you will arrive at Qutab Minar, the Afgan victory tower, the highest stone tower in India at 238ft high dating from the 12^th century. From here, your car can take you back to Indira Gandhi Airport.

The best way to enjoy a carefree sightseeing or day tour of Delhi is to hire a private guide, car and driver to meet you at the airport, take you and your luggage and shopping around and return you safely and on time for your onward flight. ReadyClickAndGo can arrange city or shopping tours in Delhi to suit your interests, budget and timetable.

Happy Birthday to the Queen of Europe's Skies - JAT

The perfectly-ironed, snow white and navy dress playfully flickered against the hot tarmac. The steps to the plane were for giants and the air hostess looked like a real princess. As the only child on the scheduled flight to Amsterdam the pilot shook my hand at the door and offered to show me his “office”.  As a shy 7-year-old I refused but later, encouraged by mum, I accepted. Kolja, the charming middle-aged pilot, shared his Pavlova cake with me and showed me the bewildering array of buttons around him. One of the princesses came into the cockpit with a glass of juice rather than a plastic cup. We ate the cake with a metal spoon not Mc Donald’s cutlery.

The year was 1979 and it was my first ever flight. My mum took me to Holland to meet relatives on a scheduled Yugoslav Airlines flight from Belgrade to Amsterdam.

In 1927 Aeroput (as JAT or Yugoslav Airlines used to be called) was founded and this year is celebrating its 85th birthday. This makes JAT one of the oldest airlines in Europe.

I haven’t used Yugoslav Airlines, JAT, for a long time, tempted away by so-called “cheap tickets” on Wizz Air where you pay little for your ticket and get little by way of service in return. In order to avoid the ruthless demand for everything to be paid in Euros even though neither Serbia nor England are a part of the EC, I decided to book with JAT. And guess what - I had a pleasant surprise, my ticket was cheaper than one with Wizz Air, as JAT flies daily to Belgrade they fitted into my plans perfectly, we flew from Heathrow not the airport at the far end of a long traffic jam, and my luggage allowance was 30kg! I knew I couldn't pack half the house into 30 kg but the fact that I was not going to be exposed to check-in desk staff hunting for extra nanograms so they could charge me an astronomical excess baggage fee, made a huge difference. I could start my journey relieved of any stress or any extra demands which may pop up before I arrived in Belgrade.

The JU211 flight from London to Belgrade was full and surprisingly there were lots of kids who simply took over the plane. They had priority even before we boarded – at the queue during check-in, a JAT employee guided them from the queue and straight towards a check-in desk. Once on the plane they were the centre of JAT's universe. Special milk, special baby food, but for us ordinary citizens not even a drop of alcohol was offered. We, the grownups, were offered a questionable ham and tomato sandwich and warm coke, while the little Kings and Queens got the warm milk. We couldn’t have a proper drink, but the little ones got a choice of organic juices reserved for the under-sevens.

I was sitting surrounded by lots of foreigners. Next to me was a Scottish father with his son whose mum is Serbian. On my left was a young family on the way to a new life in Serbia. They didn’t speak Serbian but the father proudly announced that he could speak Slovenian.  Behind me were 3 female generations – grandmother, mother and daughter - on the way to visit daddy in Belgrade. They didn’t know anything about Serbia or Belgrade but they were looking forward to exploring and learning. The youngest member of the family, the 3-year-old girl, struck up a friendship with a Serbian boy slightly older and desperate for a cuddle over the back seat. For the rest of the flight they played in the aisle and talked nonsense to each other to the amusement of the whole plane.

In front of me was a nicely dressed lady who was flying to Belgrade after a long visit to her daughter and her family in London. I asked her for the time as I don’t wear a watch. She promptly replied “12.30”.

Confused, I asked is that our time or their time. And she quickly replied:

“Our Time. Yugoslavian...”

You see, Yugoslavian time still exists, as does Yugoslav Airlines....

By Tara