Ghent

Categories: Belgium · Food · Ghent · TravelTags: · ·

A day trip to Ghent from Brussels proved to be quite rewarding, despite the rain. A city rich with medieval buildings and treasures inherited from its days of a prosperous trading centre. First stop was the St. Bavo Cathedral which houses one of the greatest cultural treasure in Northern Europe – Jan Van Eyck’s “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb“. This huge polyptych is a 12 panel former altar masterpiece, that has been moved to a side room for preservation.   Stopping for lunch at Coeur d’Artichaut is highly recommended. An elegant old mansion by the canal serving high standard cuisine….

Flemish Art, Food, Etc.

Categories: Accommodations · Art · Belgium · Bruges · Food · TravelTags: · · · · ·

Two museums in Bruges that house some of the world’s finest collection of Medieval and Flemish art are the Groeningemuseum and the Sint-Janshospital. Both museums contain an impressive collection of Hans Memling and Jan van Eyck.     For food lovers, there are quite a number of excellent restaurants in Bruges. Many serving Flemish cuisine. There are also tea rooms that dot the city, serving tea, coffee, pastries, and of course, Belgian waffles.       I stayed at the Grand Hotel Casselberg Brugge, consisting of a 19th century building and a new wing, with rooms that face the canal. The hotel…

Bruges

Categories: Belgium · Bruges · TravelTags: · ·

Awarded a World Heritage status by UNESCO, enchanting Bruges is a charming confluence of canals, medieval streets, and Gothic architecture. In the middle ages, Bruges was one of Europe’s most prosperous cities and it has been restored and preserved to its former glory. It is a wonderfully walkable city with enchanting views from every corner.  

Food and Rest at the Cape

Categories: Accommodations · Cape Town · Food · South Africa · TravelTags: · · · · ·

Cape Town has established itself for its world-class fare, combined with great views and historical venues. It is quite unfortunate that I only had three full days in this city to try out its food. Three restaurants that I had my agent book a month and a half prior to my arrival are Test Kitchen, Aubergine and La Petite Ferme. Opened in November 2010, Test Kitchen is the 30-seater restaurant of celebrated chef Luke Dale-Roberts. British-born, Luke trained in Switzerland and England before heading to Asia for a five year stint, launching restaurants in Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and the Philippines. Today, Test…

V & A Waterfront

Categories: Cape Town · South Africa · TravelTags: · · 1 Comment

The Victoria and Alfred Basins date from 1860 and remains a working harbour. Recent developments at the V & A Waterfront have cemented this precinct as tourist-oriented with shops, restaurants, bars, and other attractions, making the waterfront as a visitor’s favourite. My favourite spots are the Market (similar to a fast food concept, with interesting food stalls) and the Watershed, which features locally made and designed handicrafts and products. Both of these areas attract less tourists.

Winelands

Categories: Cape Town · South Africa · TravelTags: · · · · · 3 Comments

The large mountainous Winelands of South Africa is home to more than a hundred estates and farms. Stellenbosch, around 46 kms east of Cape Town, is a charming town founded in 1679 by Gov. Simon van der Stel, who among other achievements, planted hundreds of oak trees throughout the Cape. Today, Stellenbosch is known informally as Eikestad, or “City of Oaks“, and is the most historic of the Winelands towns.           Another 33 kms east of Stollenbosch is the prettiest valley of Franschhoek or French Corner. This is the land that Simon van der Stel gave…

Cape Town

Categories: Cape Town · South Africa · TravelTags: · · 3 Comments

I have taken the so-called “long road” to reach Cape Town in South Africa. A circuitous route from Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), I fly northwest to Nairobi (Kenya) and then head back south to Johannesburg, and connect further south to Cape Town. Never mind the 10 hour travel it takes to get here as I have always wanted to visit Cape Town – the oldest city in southern Africa and by far the most cosmopolitan in this country. The Mother City occupies one of the world’s most stunning locations, with the iconic Table Mountain in its centre, surrounded by beaches and vineyards. Driving through the Cape…

Sayari Camp

Categories: Accommodations · Serengeti · Tanzania · TravelTags: · · · ·

The camp I stayed at for four nights in Northern Serengeti is the Sayari Camp, part of the Asilia group of camps and lodges. Lying across the border of Kenya by the famed Mara River, this is where the migratory herds of wildebeest brave the crocodile-infested waters of Mara River to reach the grasslands of the south this time of the year. Sayari Camp is comprised of 15 tents spaced 20 to 25 meters from one another. There is a main camp with a lounge and dining room where it opens up to a pool overlooking the game-rich plains. The game…