Archive for April, 2010
australia in review
If you’ve ever hesitated about the long flight to Australia, don’t. Marianne McPhee fills us in on why the great land down under is worth every bit of the long journey and the memories she’ll never forget.
After almost five months in Australia, having sneakily avoided winter, I’m settling back into London life. When I think about my most recent travel adventure, I suppose I was able to see quite a lot of Australia, but really, I didn’t see half of it. This is one big country. I passed through five of Australia’s eight states and territories, saw cities, the ocean and the outback and I left thousands of miles uncovered. But what I did see, I’ll never forget.
I loved wandering through Darling Harbour or taking the ferry to Manly Beach in Sydney, exploring the great cafés and night spots in Melbourne, and hitting some of the fantastic museums in Canberra.
marianne hanging out at kata tjuta
In the Northern Territory, I got a taste of what I’ve always imagined to be ‘real’ Australia (not that the cities are any less real) in the Outback. I walked around Ayers Rock and ran under its waterfalls after the rain, trekked through the Valley of the Winds in Kata Tjuta, and hiked around the rim of Kings Canyon. I drove past herds of wild camels, slowly backed away from a Western Brown Snake (one of the deadliest in the world), and evicted various lethal spiders that had found their way indoors.
byron bay blues fest
On the coast, I got to see some music legends at the Byron Bay Bluesfest before heading up to the Whitsundays for a spot of sailing among these beautiful islands. I walked across pure white sand on Whitehaven Beach, and went snorkeling around the most amazing reef I’ve ever seen. The Great Barrier Reef isn’t world famous for nothing after all.
fraser island
And finally I got to explore the famous Fraser Island – the largest sand island in the world, with its stunning freshwater lakes and abundant dingo population.
My list of Australian memories could go on, but the list of things I still want to see is even longer. It is almost impossible to really convey how fantastically huge and diverse this country is. I’m glad I got to see what I did, and I can’t wait for my chance to see more. The plane ride has never been more worthwhile.
Check out our unique Australian experiences for your perfect trip downunder.
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Loading ...discover the DNA of switzerland
With summer fast approaching you may have started to think where on earth shall I go? Well, look no further than Switzerland.
party the summer nights away in zurich
Although more well known for its winter slopes, Switzerland has a lot more to offer in summer. So whether you want to cruise through St. Moritz in a convertible, hike jaw-dropping mountains in Ticino and Haslital, perfect your photography skills in Luzern, sip wine with the locals in Lake Geneva, or party the summer nights away in Zurich, the opportunities are endless.
And if you don’t believe us, check out what the Swiss have to say for themselves.
For now, here’s a brief excerpt on the region of Luzern :
the city of luzern
During the summer months Luzern hosts its world famous music festival. Conductors and orchestras from all over the globe gather to serenade revelers, set against the backdrop of the town’s majestic scenery. Over thirty symphony concerts and sixty other events take place in the heart of the old town. The Swiss streets sing sweet harmonies. However it’s not all tradition and classical music here. When the lights go down in Luzern, the town has some super stylish nightlife. The vibrant and colourful café culture oozes out onto the streets and the medieval courtyards begin to teem people and music. The hippest medieval nightlife in the world? We think so.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...street art in philly
It’s been a few years since graffiti was ‘retagged’ street art, and there were a few skeptical eyebrows raised at the thought of the local paint-daubed wall being labeled as art. But who can dispute the status of the new wall paintings that have popped up in Philadelphia? In an ambitious project entitled ‘A love letter to Philadelphia’, the artist Stephen Powers has made what was once a dull train commute home into a feast for your eyes.
if you were here i'd be home now
With over 50 huge murals decorating walls and rooftops, Power’s messages are as pertinent as they are beautiful. How would a wall with coloured refrigerator magnet-style letters on a white background spelling out the phrase ‘If you were here I’d be home now’ make you feel on your daily commute? And the big arms embracing you in a 20 foot wide hug are bound to lighten your mood.
tribute to the flag
It’s not just Powers who has taken it upon himself to brighten up Philly’s day. The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program has commissioned more than 3,000 murals since 1984, and has honed many a young graffiti menace into a spectacular muralist. Guided tours by Mural Arts take art aficionados on walks through the city, taking in some of the best works including Tribute to the Flag, a post 9/11 tribute mural.
So grab you camera, change your definition of ‘art’ and head out snapping. Keep your eyes open for the latest large-scale project from artist Meg Saligman, including LED lights and colour sensitive light: yep, graffiti has come a long way since kids were scribbling on the classroom wall.
steven powers' prepay is on
steven power's hold on tight
steven powers love is so real
steven powers' open your eyes
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...rebooting the airspace
If you were unable to grasp the effects of last week’s volcanic eruptions on flights in Europe, hopefully this video will do the talking. The video begins with showing the virtually dead airspace when flights were suspended, untill the ban was lifted. Who knew there was that much traffic up there.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...mcphee’s travels down under
Our long lost Marianne McPhee has at last returned to the UK after a much envied Oz adventure, especially when her flight only cost her £10. Not only did she come back with a pre-summer tan, but also with these gorgeous shots of the land down under. Enjoy.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...in my chambers
Whilst stranded on the other side of the Atlantic, I was fortunate enough to take refuge (for a short time) in the Chambers Hotel in mid-town Manhattan. Perfectly located off 5th Avenue and 56th street, I was only a stone’s throw from the glitz and glamour of New York’s finest.
the urban modernist lobby
Stepping out of the cab I was greeted by Chamber’s own resident doorman-come-spokesman, Joseph, who showed us through the most impressive set of doors on the block into an incredibly stylish yet understated lobby. One-off furniture pieces dotted the floor to make way for an uber swanky glass fire place. This was definitely a good indication to what the rooms would be like.
the cosy rooms
Exposed ceilings, a flat screen TV, an iPod dock and slick furnishings gave the room a modern urban feeling, but comfort was brought back in with a super cosy bed and a colour scheme to make you weak at the knees: pastel lime greens, cool purples and sombre greys.
But let me fill you in on Chamber’s secret weapon: the shower. Joseph warned me about it before showing me into my room, saying that I’d never want to leave and he couldn’t have been more right. The large rain shower-head and high water pressure made you feel like you were standing under Niagara Falls. Just what I needed after a long flight and before heading straight into the city.
chamber's secret weapon
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5) Loading ...every cloud has a silver lining
With the travel ban on flights over UK airspace now lifting, a huge backlog of flights needs to be cleared. Black Tomato’s Sophie Hamzah talks about her own experience of the disruption caused.
Landing at JFK on Thursday morning I was dreading the immigration queue. But when my phone was flooded with messages about the volcano, it soon transpired that my BA flight was the last to arrive in JFK. Great luck (I thought at the time). That was until I was standing in the baggage reclaim area and my bag was nowhere to be seen. No clothes, no phone charger, no toiletries and no heels – I am after all in NYC.
It didn’t take long for my worries about my bag to be overshadowed by the thought that I wouldn’t be able to get home. What was an ‘imagine if’ situation turned into a reality when BA text me later in the week to say that my return flight was cancelled.
colombus circle
Without doubt the ‘ash crisis’ has caused misery and upset for a huge amount of people. For those of us without immovable appointments and important commitments it has caused huge disruption to our lives and has costed millions of pounds in lost income to airlines.
However, for me the ash cloud has had one redeeming factor: my stay in the US has been extended by four days and rather than being forced to sit on a cold airport floor waiting for a return flight, I’ve been lucky to be able to get out and about and make the most of my extra time. No bags gave me the perfect excuse to do some much needed shopping and to explore a bit more of this fantastic city.
fifth avenue
My additional ‘time out’ in NYC has also allowed me to do all the things that I would otherwise regret not having had time to do: exploring the leafy avenues of Brooklyn, eating to-die-for Carnegie Deli cheese cake and having another slice of Ray’s pizza.
However, like all good things, it had to come to an end. When my money started running low (and the hotel bill looked like the decimal point was in the wrong place), jumping on a train to Boston to stay (and catch up) with family friends gave me a bit of respite. This also meant I got to see a very suburban and beautiful side of the US that my ticket to the the Big Apple didn’t plan for.
Like so many others, I’m still waiting for my re-arranged return flight home (and to be re-united with my suitcase) and my thoughts are with those who have been stuck and unable to make alternative arrangements. Let’s hope the backlog of flights is sorted soon and we can all return home safely.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...boulder-dash
We love trying something new, and two activities which have recently caught our attention can be done in Switzerland. If you like adventure, but not necessarily heights, and you like the idea of rock climbing, but don’t have the time to train, bouldering and canyoning will fit the bill perfectly. Head up to the Swiss alps and we’ll arm you with a private tutor to show you the ropes (not that you need them) and the best rugged spots to try out these adrenaline-pumping sports.
bouldering
Think rock climbing without a rope, and with a crash mat below to soften any fall. Perfect for beginners and people wanting to get out there without the technicalities of equipment, on this sport you use your arms, legs, a lot of grip and sheer determination to get you over huge rocky boulders. There are bouldering opportunities aplenty in the Italian-speaking Swiss region of Ticino, so dust your hand with chalk, don your grippest shoes, and get going.
canyoning
Explore dry rocks, gushing gorges and sheer rock faces by trekking, clambering, jumping, abseiling and even swimming: this is canyoning, it’s taking the adventure world by storm, and it’s guaranteed to get your heart racing. You’ll need a guide, so let us find you the best, and equipment includes helmets, wetsuits, ropes and climbing gear. The idea is you navigate from A to B through the inside of canyons, focusing on a fun challenge. Can you canyon? Of course. Just ask us for more details.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...volcanic ash update
Hi there,
Hope all’s well.
Like everyone, we have both marvelled and (very quickly) despaired at the effects of last week’s volcanic eruption.
At this point in time, we are waiting on updates as to when the UK and European airspace will become safe enough for flights to pass through it so that we can bring our customers home and get people away on their trips. Alongside this we are liaising very closely with our suppliers in order to better understand how we can ensure our customers are given the best care and solutions possible, for resolving the travel challenges that we all currently face. Our team here has been and will continue to liaise with all customers trying to get back home and all those planning to travel in the near future. Alongside the contact you have had, we remain eager to help so please feel free to contact at us at any time on 0207 426 9888.
Clearly, there is still a degree of uncertainty as to when the situation will improve but we remain hopeful that we may see positive developments this week and that in the not too distant future this difficult situation will be resolved and people can begin to travel again. In the mean time we will be sending out regular updates via our twitter feed and blog as to what is happening with regard to the airspace restrictions. For those looking to get away in the next week or so, we will also be rolling out exciting product in the UK and Europe to give you a chance of having that holiday that you had been looking forward to.
These are unprecedented times in the travel industry that are presenting a huge challenge to travellers. However, it is one that we are doing everything we can to overcome and are putting all of our efforts into helping our customers get home and get away in the near future.
More updates to follow soon.
Thanks,
Black Tomato
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...ooops, i did it again…
The last time this happened (in the 1820’s) there wasn’t any air traffic to ground. However, times have changed, and this time around the eruption of the volcano under the Eyjafjallajökull glacier has got us all a bit hot and bothered… holiday plans have been put back indefinitely by one and all.
Black Tomato founder Tom Marchant, now stranded in London rather than en route to Africa, talks to the Guardian about the implications of the eruption on the travel industry.
Find out what he has to say here.
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