About Carrie Kellenberger

Latest Posts by Carrie Kellenberger

When in Hong Kong, Look Up at 12 of its Tallest Buildings

The Hong Kong skyline at night is probably one of the most recognized skylines in the world. It’s certainly one of my favorites. We’ve made it a tradition to go and see the free Symphony of Lights Show every time we visit.  Symphony of Lights is a synchronized decorative light show and laser multimedia display set to music. It’s featured on the exterior of the buildings of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor. 44 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbor participate in the show, which starts at 8pm every night.

Guinness World Records has named the show as the world’s largest permanent light and sound show. The 10 minute light show has attracted over 4 million viewers so far. It’s well worth the visit, and did I mention it’s free? There’s a really cool interactive map of all the lit-up buildings that participate in the show.

On with the show, so to speak…

I’ve been to Hong Kong on many occasions, but I just decided during my last visit there that I wanted to make it a goal of mine to personally photograph each of the tallest buildings on Hong Kong Island. I haven’t made it to all of them yet.

This shot was taken on the ferry going over to Hong Kong Island. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center is on the left. Its distinctive rooftop makes it easy to spot. The Exhibition Center is one of  two major convention and exhibition venues in Hong Kong. The other one is AsiaWorld-Expo.

You can spot the Philips building easily on the left of the Exhibition Center. The tall building next to the Philips Building is Central Plaza. The 374m skyscraper was completed in 1995. It’s the third tallest tower in the City after 2 IFC in Central and the ICC in West Kowloon.

How To Take In Tunisia, From the Culture to Camels and the Beach

Tunisia is a fantastic country that is rich in culture and history, as well as being perfect for a relaxing beach holiday with the family. Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa. It’s bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east.

There are a huge number of things to see and do in a climate that’s almost ideal for sun vacationers. If you’re thinking about traveling to Tunisia, here are some simple tips to help you find the best things to do while you’re in the country.

The climate in Tunisia is very typically Mediterranean which means that the temperatures year round stay fairly high. In the winter temperatures sit around 15C, rarely dropping below 12C. In the height of summer they can soar to more than 30C. You are guaranteed a sunny holiday almost all year round, with cooling breezes from the sea. The optimum times of year to visit Tunisia are between March and June and September to November. During the summer months of July and August, the country is often overcrowded with families.

The capital city of Tunis, located on the stunning Gulf of Tunis, is a must-see for many tourists and travelers. It mixes ancient and modern culture with tiny labyrinthine passages running alongside fabulous architecture. If you choose to take a trip into the city, you can’t miss a visit to the souks hidden in amongst the ancient Medina – an array of color, noise and good deals, you’re bound to have a great time experiencing something new. Head a little way into the outskirts of the city to wander the ruins of the ancient city of Carthage which dates back to around 814BC and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.




Sousse Beach

Tunisia is also famed for its stunning stretches of sparkling sand. Sousse is the ideal resort to visit for sun seekers who want nothing more than to laze on the beach, but also offers more for those who might get a bit fed up of beaches after a while. There are plenty of beach front hotels that offer spectacular views out over the ocean such as Riadh Palms. The resort is also known to have a lively nightlife, but is still a great place for families. Immerse the kids in a bit of culture by taking them to the Great Mosque of Sousse or the Ribat of Sousse for views over the town and out to sea.

If the kids want to do something a bit more active, almost every Tunisian tourist beach will offer some sort of water sport, from windsurfing and jet skiing to diving and snorkelling. Or you could get a little more adventurous and try out camel riding! Not far from Tunis in Yasmin Hammamet is something that will get the kids even more excited: Carthageland. It is not just a theme park, it also has water rides, a ‘discovery centre’ as well as zoo with animals for kids to see.

When you go out to eat in Tunisia, make sure to try a variety of the different foods on offer. Tunisia is famed for its mix of French and Arabic cuisines with plenty of spices, lamb and sea food. Harissa is one of the most important foods for Tunisians, made up of dried chillies and added as a flavor or side to many dishes. Brik is a traditional appetizer or snack of crispy pastry in a triangle shape filled with minced lamb or beef, egg and onions. Many restaurants offer fish such as Sea Bass, Red Mullet or Sea Bream as a specialty grilled whole and served with couscous. And make sure not to miss out on the sugary treat that is Baklawa, a filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and doused in syrup or honey.

Whatever your reasons for visiting, Tunisia promises to be an adventure that shouldn’t be missed!

Shalun Beach in Northern Taiwan: Danshui’s Secret Sandy Hideaway

Beaches are plentiful in Taiwan, especially in Southern Taiwan, but Northern Taiwan also has its fair share of beaches. My personal favorite is Baishasan because it’s clean and family-friendly. Being located a fair distance from Taipei in Sanzhi, Baishawan isn’t the easiest beach to get to though. You can take the local bus to Baishanwan, but it’s a long ride there and an even longer ride home if you hit evening traffic in Danshui.

For that reason, we tend to head to Shalun Beach in Danshui if we’ve got a few hours to spare. Shalun Beach is hidden down a series of back lanes near to Danshui Fisherman’s Wharf in Taipei, and it has been a well kept secret for many years. The beach was developed into a popular summer hangout for locals and visitors during the Japanese Colonial era from 1895-1945. It is sometimes referred to as Saron Sea-Bathing Resort.

Please be aware that Shalun Beach can be a dangerous place to swim at when the south wind blows. There are strong undercurrents in the area that can easily trap and carry swimmers far from shore. The beach was closed 13 years ago because of strong undercurrents in the ebb tide and the poor quality of seawater. While the water at Shalun isn’t as clean as other beaches in Taiwan, this doesn’t seem to deter people from swimming at Shalun.

The beach is also a popular place for surfing and skim boarding  and you can’t beat Shalun’s wide sandy beach. It’s never overly crowded, and there’s always lots of room to stretch out on the sand without getting in someone else’s space. It’s also a great place to catch the sunset and to wander around picking up seashells.

There’s also a local horseback riding club right behind the beach. The Beach Country Riding Club offers individual lessons and group lessons.

Getting there:

By MRT: Get off at the Danshui stop on the red line. You can catch the bus or take a taxi from there.

By car: Take the Coastal Highway (Provincial Highway 2) past Tamsui until you reach the 22km marker. Turn right into the parking lot.




Where to go in the World for Great Whale Watching

Seeing whales in the wild is one of the most breath-taking sights that nature has to offer. Whale watching is available as a day trip option in lots of holiday locations, but it’s one that presents a certain amount of risk as getting a good view of these creatures doing their thing isn’t always guaranteed.

So if you want to take a dedicated to trip and try to nab yourself a version of that perfect whale tail splash photo, where should you go? Below are four prime locations for spotting a variety of whale species, which cater for various different destination preferences. Whether you want to bask in the sun on deck, wrap up warm with a backdrop of snow covered mountains or catch sight of these beautiful mammals without leaving the UK, there’s a whale watching hot spot for you.

The Caribbean

Species: humpback whales, sperm whales, pilot whales, occasional orca sightings, bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins and more.

The Caribbean offers a paradise for whale and other wildlife watching. White sandy beaches and clear blue water is ideal for spotting whales and dolphins, plus the climate is perfect for lounging in the sun while you wait for the sea life to show up.  Humpback whales come to the Caribbean, particularly the Dominican Republic, during winter to mate and raise their calves. This makes February to April the best time to visit for humpback sightings. The island of Dominica also has about a dozen resident sperm whales so you have a good chance of seeing sperm whales there. Dominica is also known for being one of the most beautiful and unspoilt Caribbean islands; with lots of rare animal and plant life to look out for on the land as well as in the surrounding ocean.

Alaska

Species: orca whales, humpback whales, beluga whales and more.

The northern most US state of Alaska is a beautiful, ice covered wonderland which thrives in large part on a long established fishing industry – sea food is the main export from Alaska and apart from the salmon, cod and pollock there are also some bigger mammals to see off the coast. Alaska is one of the best destinations to spot orca whales; also known as “killer whales”, orcas can be seen during the summer months along with humpback and minke whales.

Even in the summer you’re unlikely to be too warm in Alaska, so this isn’t the place to go if you’re looking to combine whale watching with a relaxing beach holiday. However, there is fantastic skiing available at the Alyeska resort near Anchorage, so winter sports fans might get a double whammy of holiday fun by choosing Alaska as their whale watching destination.

New Zealand

Species: orca whales, sperm whales, humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, dusky dolphins and more.

The best place to spot whales in New Zealand is Kaikoura, a small town off the eastern coast of the South Island. The island is absolutely beautiful and there is a lot to do there beyond whale watching, so it’s a top destination if you want to explore New Zealand generally. You can do sea kayaking, scuba diving on the coral reef and other classic holiday activities like wine tasting. Kaikoura is also in easy reach of Christchurch, Blenheim and Picton – handy for ferries if you want to visit the North Island after your whale watching trip.

The best time to see orcas in Kaikoura is between December and March, whereas humpbacks are around in June and July. You can see various species of dolphin all year round so whether you want to visit in the summer or winter you’ll always have the chance to do some really memorable whale watching and see lots of other impressive wildlife too.

The UK

Species: humpback whales, minke whales, pilot whales, sperm whales and some dolphins.

You might not have realised that whale watching is also available much closer to home, so if you want to spot some beautiful sea life without venturing beyond our own shores you have a few options. Whale sightings have been reported off the coasts of Cornwall, Northumberland and Wales, and schools of common dolphins can be seen off the coast of Pembrokeshire in the summer months. But for the highest chance of seeing whales and dolphins you’re best heading north to Scotland.

The Shetland Islands are the place to go for potential orca sightings between May and July, as well as minke whales, harbour porpoises and various dolphin species. Humpback whales also make an appearance between May and September. The Hebrides and the Isle of Skye are also right in the migration path of many whale species, and you can see humpbacks and orcas during the summer months if you are lucky or very dedicated (or possibly both!). You can also see sei, sperm and fin whales while enjoying the spectacular Scottish landscape from your boat.

You’ll never forget the first time you see a whale in its natural habitat so make sure you pack a camera and wrap up warm if you are heading somewhere cold because it may take a little patience to finally get that magical sighting.

The Beauty of Long Dong, Taiwan’s Hidden Paradise

 

We’re always looking for ‘hidden paradises’; the secret gems that no one else seems to have heard about, where no footprints have trodden before. But then when we do find them, authentic and beautiful without traces of exploitation, we’re left a bit perplexed. Should we keep said amazing find to ourselves, selfishly having it for our own private delight, or do we share it with others, so that everyone can experience whatever splendor it is we’ve found?

Typically we go with the latter, because I’ve never been very good at keeping secrets. This time the hidden paradise I’m referring to is-in my opinion-one of the most beautiful spots in Taiwan: Long Dong.

Located on the Northeast coast of Taiwan, Long Dong (Dragon Cave) gets its name from the shape of the coastline, which resembles the body of a dragon. Spectacular, sandstone crags rise 70 meters to the sky while crystal-clear waves crash upon the rugged, sun-baked rocks. Access to the base of the cliffs is only granted after following lengthy footpaths, which promises seclusion and isolation. If ever there was a place for soul searching, it’s here.

In all honesty, Long Dong isn’t a complete secret. It’s well known to the rock climbing community in Taiwan and all of Asia who flock to the cliffs to take on over 500 routes. With options for sport climbs, trad, deep-water solo, and bouldering, both advanced climbers and beginners can be kept endlessly entertained. Even as a novice, I can say there’s quite a difference between climbing indoors and outdoors. In a rock gym, there’s little contact with nature, chalk dust fills the air, pop music blares over the speakers; however, in Long Dong, you can feel the cool wind on your face, smell the salty freshness of the Pacific Ocean, and view the stunning panorama of the coastline, all the while with a birds-eye view. If you want to give climbing a chance or push yourself to new limits, there’s no better place than the cliffs of Long Dong.

But Long Dong isn’t just for the rock-scaling, thrill-seeking junkies. Instead of ascending, take a plunge in Long Dong Bay to experience amazing scuba diving and snorkeling. Encounters with stonefish, nudibranchs, scorpion fish, and mantis shrimp are all possibilities, and the conditions are suitable for beginners.

Finally, in addition to the rock climbing and scuba diving, there are plenty of short hiking paths around Long Dong, a particularly popular one being the 3km path that leads to the Bitouchiao Lighthouse. Do be careful when hiking around the area though, as there are many sheer drops to the rocky coastline below.

Whether you’re an adventurous soul or not, Long Dong is the perfect place to leave technology at home and reconnect with nature—even if it’s only via your favorite book, perched atop a rock, beverage of choice within arms reach. Plus, a day by the sea is restorative and rejuvenating, more healing than prescription pills, more energizing than drinking extra-grande coffees. In terms of grandeur and splendor, it doesn’t get better than the cliffs of Long Dong. Just promise not to tell my secret to too many other people.

Access: The best way to reach Long Dong is by car.  Alternatively, take the train to Keelung Station, where the Keelung Bus Station has a bus to and from Long Dong. Do check bus times in advance, as they aren’t extremely frequent. 

England’s Brighton in the South is a Fun Escape from London

It gives me great pleasure to be able to say that Brighton is one of the prettiest seaside cities I’ve ever been to. I had the opportunity to visit my best friend in Brighton in September 2011, and I’m now looking forward to my second trip to Brighton in September 2013.

Brighton is a resort city located on the south coast of Great Britain. It’s directly south of the capital city of London, which is less than an hour’s drive away. It emerged as a health resort area for bathing in the sea during the 18^th century. Since then Brighton, often referred to as London-by-the-Sea, has continued to attract day-trippers, who come to experience life by the sea and Brighton’s fantastic musical and arts scene.Today, Brighton is home to 480,000 inhabitants. It is well known for its large gay community, Bohemian atmosphere and oriental architecture.

Here are my top 10 things to do in Brighton, England:

The Brighton Clock Tower

The Brighton Clock Tower was built in 1888 for Queen Victoria’s jubilee. It’s arguably the best place to begin your exploring, as folks in Brighton often tend to give directions related to prominent landmarks.

The Brighton Clock Tower stands at the intersection of Queen’s Road and West Street. Western Road, a major shopping area, runs to the west. North Street runs east. You’ll find a number of Brighton attractions within walking distance of the Clock Tower, including The Lanes, which are located half-way down North Street. The Royal Pavilion gardens are located at the eastern end of North Street.

The Royal Pavilion

A large factor in Brighton’s growth happened early in the 19^th century when the Prince of Wales built the Royal Pavilion. This beautiful structure was home to the Prince Regent during the early 19^th century. It’s famous for its Indo-Saracenic architecture and Oriental interior. The pavilion was sold to the City of Brighton in 1850 for £53,000.

Sassoon Mausoleum

The Sassoon Mausoleum is another structure in Brighton that boasts Indo-Saracenic architecture. This is the former grave of Sir Albert Sassoon and members of his family. The mausoleum was built in 1892 as a wing of the family home located at 1 Eastern Terrace. The house is no longer there, and the remains of the Sassoon family members were reburied in the Willesden Jewish Cemetery in London. Later, the mausoleum was used as a furniture depository, an air raid shelter, and a Brighton Arms pub. It underwent a £60,000 refurbishment in 2006. Today it’s a contemporary supper club that is meant to evoke the supper clubs of the 1920s and 30s.

Brighton Street Art and Banksy Spotting

Sadly one of Banksy’s most controversial pieces of street are was removed from the walls of a pub under the railway station in Brighton shortly after I visited Brighton. I was lucky enough to view Banksy’s original stencil of The Kissing Coppers just before it was removed. Never fear, though. There are plenty of other artistic delights to be found on the streets of Brighton. The walls of the buildings on Kensington Street are adorned in paintings of stories, celebrities, and other scenes from pop culture.

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel, Brighton’s only five-star hotel, is a stunning building located on Brighton’s seafront. It was originally constructed in 1864; it was used to entertain the most eminent Edwardians and Victorians. A terrorist attack massively damaged the building in 1984. Today, it’s the most elegant Georgian re-creation in town.  Check out these vouchers at My Voucher Codes UK to see if you can score yourself a deal at The Grand Hotel or at another one of Brighton promenade’s swanky hotels.

Brighton Pier and Brighton Beach

No trip to Brighton is complete without the cosmopolitan vibe of Brighton Pier and Brighton Beach. The Pier boasts a fun-fair, arcade halls and numerous restaurant. Brighton’s famous shingle beach is littered with pebbles and cobbles. It’s infamous for its seafront bars, restaurants, nightclubs, amusement arcades and sports facilities. During the months of summer, Brighton Beach is generally covered with tourists and locals. There is a designated nudist beach to the east of Brighton by Kempton. Brighton’s Marina is one of the largest in Europe. There is a surfing area located a bit further from the marina.

Brighton Eats

Brighton is home to over 300 pubs and over 400 restaurants. There’s no shortage of great places to eat at in the city. While out driving, we stopped at the Munchmobile. The owner, Jacqui Bardsley, serves up brainpower smoothies, tasty artisan sandwiches, baked potatoes, bagels, wraps, and fresh Italian coffee in an eco friendly mini food van at Falmer Station opposite the new American Express Community Stadium.

Another notable place is Billie’s Café, which offers the tastiest breakfast in town.  This cozy café boasts cheesecloth tablecloths, fresh table flowers, and large picture windows for people watching. I strongly recommend Billie’s breakfast hash. A mound of hot potatoes, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, beans, and cheese with an egg on top.

The Lanes

This is a small area of independent shops near the seafront in Brighton. The area is characterized by its narrow laneways that follow the street pattern of the original fishing village it’s based on. Shoppers will find mostly clothing stores, jewelry, and antiques in the area. There are a few antique weapons shops here as well. The Lanes also has a healthy selection of cafes, bars, and record shops to while your time away at. Check out these lastminute.com deals to see if you can score yourself some discount coupons off shops, pubs and restaurants in the Lanes.

The North Laine

Often incorrectly called the North Lanes, the North Laine offers a Bohemian atmosphere in a world of punk rockers, goths, and hippies. News shops, artisan shops and bong stores can all be found here You’re sure to find something special to mark the occasion in The North Laine’s numerous cafes, market stalls, second hand clothing stores and avant-garde shops.

The Devil’s Dyke

The Devil’s Dyke is a deep V-shaped valley on the South Downs Way in southern England. It has been a major local tourist attraction since the late 19^th century. Devil’s Dyke was used as a defensive area before and after the Iron Age. In late Victorian times, the area boasted a fairground, two bandstands, an observatory and a camera obscura. During its heyday, Devil’s Dyke was a huge hit with Victorians, who visited the area upon the thousands. Today it’s a tranquil place to retreat to. It also offers a variety of recreational activities from paragliding to zorbing.

Well, there you have it.

Whatever your reason for visiting, your experience in Brighton is guaranteed to be bright, colorful and fun in this pretty seaside resort city on England’s southern coast.

How Sunsets in Southeast Asia Can Make All Your Problems Melt Away…

Reflecting on ten years spent in Asia, here’s a shot from travels that spanned three months in 2005, and took us through a number of countries in Asia, including a long train journey in China, Macau, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.

A Glimpse Into the World’s First Barbie Cafe in Taipei, Taiwan

We’ve got some really quirky places to eat at in Taiwan, and it’s no secret that the Taiwanese love theme restaurants. Unfortunately, the theme restaurants that I’ve been to in Taiwan tend to offer the same kind of standard cookie-cutter set meal: Japanese pork cutlets, burger, baked rice dishes, pasta, and salads. People don’t go for the food. They go for the experience. And I am not ashamed to admit that I’m perfectly willing to put up with semi-decent fare for the thrill of having Hello Kitty stamped on my toast or a Barbie doll chair to sit on.

When I found out that the world’s first Barbie Cafe had opened in Taipei, I was pretty excited to go and see how the owners had dumped USD$1.7 million into decorating the restaurant. The food? M’eh. Not so much. We were prepared to endure a dull meal in the midst of Barbie’s favorite color pink with glass etchings and chandeliers for some added sparkle. The tables are hot pink, the chairs are wrapped up in ribbons and Barbie’s face adorns every nook and cranny. The interior of the restaurant was as Barbie-lific as we expected, but the service left much to be desired. It’s really too bad the Barbie Cafe can’t get it together. I can’t see it sticking around for long. I’ve read lots of other posts about people have the same issues with the service as we did.

We arrived for our dinner reservation at 8pm to a fairly empty restaurant. I was expecting the restaurant to be hopping. Instead, there was hardly anyone there. Even more curious was that no one was at the front desk to greet guests. We took our seats on the couch in the restaurant lobby and waited for a Barbie waitress bedazzled in a tiara and pink tutu to come out and lead us to our table.

No one came to greet us. After sitting there for 20 minutes, we wandered into the restaurant and asked the bartender where we should sit. He had no idea and called over the restaurant manager, who literally took one look at us, threw up his hands, and started shaking his head no.

“We’re too busy,” he says. Then he tells us he can’t serve us and that we need to make a reservation.

We tell him we already have a reservation. He shoots us a bit of a dirty look, and then vaguely gestures to a table with two chairs. Then we tell him that we’re a party of three, not two. He just waves towards at an empty booth. Then he turns around and walks away!

So we sit there like lumps for 20 minutes. No one brings us any water. No one even looks in our direction. We have plenty of time to look at the menu and realize that we are, indeed, not missing out on the food. Then we figure that if no one was coming, we might as well take some photos. So we snapped all of these cool photos of the Barbie Cafe and then we walked out, almost an hour after we had walked in.

And that was the sum of my experience with the Barbie Cafe. I think I’m done with theme restaurants.

Here’s a photo of the menu, which includes that set meal I was telling you about at the beginning of my post.Here’s the back of the restaurant with its famous Barbie throne and glass Barbie bathrooms.

Here’s the front of the restaurant, where we waited for 20 minutes for someone to come and greet us.

All hail Queen Barbie! NOT!

See? I told you the chairs were really cool.

Here’s the entrance to the restaurant on Zhongxiao Road in Taipei.

We had loads of time to stop and take our photos in the bathroom.

That’s me having a little fun with Barbie’s glass head.

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