Berlin, Germany

The chilling blue tones in this photo echo how SERIOUSLY cold it was that day!! :)

I am not sure how it happens, but I can just be going about my day when I suddenly out of nowhere think about a place I have visited...and that could be somewhere I travelled to years ago - it just pops into my thoughts and leaves fond memories swimming around in my head :)  One of those places is Berlin.  What an amazing city.  I visited Berlin on one of the coldest days I have ever experienced and luckily it managed only to add to the Christmas spirit.  Berlin is one of the those places that could be revisited so many times, each time discovering something new and inspiring.  A city full of history, memories and creativity.

Bruges

Bruges.. I have to mention this great little place. For you in the U.K, this is a great place to visit on a short break and what makes it even more fabulous is that you can travel there by boat (P&O ferries) :)

One of the many fabulous beer shops! :)

I really wanted to tell about this place as it coming up to the perfect time of year to go. Crisp air, open fires, romantic walks, beer and chocolate! Everybody is happy!  


Over the two days we explored the city by canal boat and pedal bike which allowed us to see a lot more.  The city was clean and great for pedestrians and bikers as it was flat. We found some great shops and places to eat including no.17 Academiestraat which was the most magical hideaway (pictured above)! Selling mainly Belgium beer and branded glasses, there was a log fire burning in the back where you could slouch on the sofa and try the beers! It was heaven! 

I would recommend this trip as I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Travelling by ferry is great as you can enjoy the travel time as opposed to being sat and restricted like other forms of transport. Bruges was great to see and I will definitely be going on another mini cruise :)

Singapore

Visiting Singapore was a fantastic experience that I think I will never forget. It was a complete mystery to me, I was not sure what to expect and when arriving on the Singapore Stopover transfer bus I was mesmerised and intrigued by the overwhelming landscape unravelling in front of me. Dropping down into Singapore from the highway we got a glimpse of the strking skyline that Singapore is well known for but also the ships waiting in the bay. With my fascination for industry and transport I was instantly hooked on what I was seeing.

Little India

Even though we were feeling really tired from the flight, we still managed to see a lot on our first day of arriving. We set off exploring on foot, seeing Clarke Quay first which was a great area. It was busy and full of atmosphere. Next we headed over to China Town, staring up and around looking at the architecture and people, contemplating their story and history. China Town was just fantastic, busy and full of little places to eat and shop. It was here that I experienced a Hawker centre for the first time. It was different but equally delicious – we tried sliced pork with thin noodles, freshly made sugar cane drink, watching it being produced in front of our eyes and we also tried sweet potato balls which were good too.

After spending time in China town, we somehow had the energy to head over to Little India and wow that was another great experience. Earlier on that night the lights had been turned on for the Festival of Light (Deepavali) so the place was illuminated!! The streets felt like a film set. One minute we were walking alongside a big highway and then next we were surrounded by lights, colour and intriging little stalls. It was a fantastic place I could have stood there for hours watching people pass by, listening to the sounds and smelling the delicious dishes being cooked close by.

On the second day of our short stopover, we went to the Zoo! Partly from recommendation but also personal desire, we set off early to catch to animals before they slept through the afternoon heat. Getting to the Zoo isn't as easy as it should be seeing as though it is such a great attraction but we got there without any hold ups. We travelled by foot, tube and Zoo transfer and it didn't cost more than 5 Singapore Dollars per person. The Zoo was just great! There were so many animals to see and the place had such a relaxed feel to it. The animals seemed to have so much space and freedom, it was great. The White Tigers were my favourite, they were magical. Pacing up and down and then having a swim in the water – which was a shock to see! We fed manatees, rode an elephant...all in all a great time was had! But the day wasn't over yet!...

In the evening, I had a surprise planned for me and it turned out to be a ride on the Singapore Flyer with cocktails and music! It was fantastic and it turned out with had our own private pod! The views were breathtaking as was the soundtrack, which was picked by my boyfriend so it was great fun! We felt like celebrities! Cafe Iguana was our eating spot later on in the eating...the food was amazing and the service was impeccable. Our night finished at Raffles hotel, sipping a Singapore Sling! Brilliant!

Sentosa

Next day we set off to Sentosa via Orchard Road, which in all the guide books is rated for its shopping. It wasn't really what I was expecting. The shops are mainly grouped together in their own shopping centres, whereas I was expecting a slightly more intimate shopping experience. There are an endless amount of shops to look at and without a big budget and no space in my backpack I didn't spend too long browsing!! Instead we head over to Sentosa – the mysterious island next to Singapore. To get onto the island you must buy a ticket, which for us was included in our Singapore Stopover package. I really enjoyed spending the day there, it is strangely fascinating and it was great to sit and watch the sun finally set while sipping an ice cold beer.

On our last day, we weren't getting picked up for the airport until 2.30pm so my boyfiend and I headed off seperately for a couple of hours to do our own things. I went to Art Singapore, while my partner explored the famous Raffles Hotel. Walking around Art Singapore I saw some great pieces of work and spoke to a really inspiring Australian glass artist – I was really glad I visited the show it made my head spin with ideas and new ways of working. As a final expense in Singapore, my partner and I enjoyed a Raffles lunch which was a great way to end our visit to Singapore.

One last thing that I just have to mention is Singapore's rooftop swimming pool! It is not very well advertised, you need to know it is there but we were given the inside scoop from friends so we made sure we arrived at the airport in plenty of time and I am so glad we did! It was great to have a swim, a drink and a chance to freshen up ready for the long flight. Perfect.

Basel, Switzerland

Having never visited Switzerland before I was not quite sure what to expect. Flying to Zurich, but staying in Basel we drove into the city with a brief glimpse of what it was like. When first venturing into the centre of Basel we walked in along a waterway down to the main commercial area. Exploring the city on foot, Basel felt relaxed and intimate. I loved the interesting architecture and independent shops in the centre but was also fascinated by the slight industrial feel to the place. Being a painter I loved this mix of intimate city living combined with the strong sense of organisation and structure.

Outside Volta6, watching an artist at work!

I visited the city with friends who had already been to Basel previously and this really added to the experience. I got to see a different side to the city, I felt more like a resident than a tourist and I felt I got to explore areas I would not have known about otherwise. Whilst over there, we visited Art Basel, the yearly art show. There were some fantastic pieces of work, from emerging and established artists – it was quite overwhelming! The following day, we visited Volta6 which was a fantastic show in a great exhibition space, an unconventional space that looked like an old warehouse and really added to the organic nature of the show. Work was displayed professionally whilst allowing the work to remain fresh and new. I was really inspired by some of the work on show here and I left with many new ideas swimming around in my head!

Overall, my short break to Basel was a fun-filled, inspiring Swiss adventure!

My recommendations...

Sat at Cargo bar, enjoying a glass of wine.

Cargo bar, Sankt Johanns-Rheinweg 46, 4056 Basel.

Go to the Cargo bar looking out onto the river, you can take your glass of wine down to the river side and sit by the edge.

Acqua, Binningerstrasse 14, Basel.

Acqua bar is a must, I loved it. A short walk from the main shopping area but it is so worth the walk! The ambience after dark is fantastic; the dimmed lights and exposed brickwork create an enchanted atmosphere!

Latini, Falknerstrasse 31, 4001 Basel.

Try Latini, an Italian restaurant that serves great food and lovely wine. It is also very central.

And one last thing...go swimming down the Rhine!

Bring swimming attire because as strange as it may sound you can swim (or float) down the Rhine! Cross over the bridge to the other side of the river and you can get in at designated points, letting yourself be taken down stream by the current! Put all your belongings in a drybag, get in the water and enjoy an alternative form of transport through the city! Great fun on a hot day :)

Links

http://www.artbasel.com/

http://voltashow.com/index.php

http://www.acquabasilea.ch/