David Waumsley Travels http://davidwaumsley.com/blog It's a small world Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:05:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 DavidWaumsleyTravelshttp://feedburner.google.com Three Island Cruise – Mesgansi, Scorpios and Lefkas http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/three-island-cruise-mesgansi-scorpios-and-lefkas/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/three-island-cruise-mesgansi-scorpios-and-lefkas/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:05:27 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/three-island-cruise-mesgansi-scorpios-and-lefkas/ Went on a cruise around three local (to Kefalonia) Islands today. No real information from the guides. Scorpios is the Island owned by the Onassis family so much was said about them Not really our thing.  Spoilt by having a friend with a motor boat, this full cruiser held little excitement. Here’s a few random photos. I’m sure you will manage without endless shots of distant Islands.

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]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/three-island-cruise-mesgansi-scorpios-and-lefkas/feed/ 0 Nuns, Yachts & Some Posing – a Kefalonia Island Tour http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/nuns-yatchs-some-posing-a-kefalonia-island-tour/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/nuns-yatchs-some-posing-a-kefalonia-island-tour/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:48:33 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/nuns-yatchs-some-posing-a-kefalonia-island-tour/ Toured the island today. Really very stunning!  Thanks to Saint Gerasimos we hope to be cured of all our illnesses. We only visited his monastery but his body (which allegedly has never decomposed) is brought out once a year and passed over willing locals looking for a cure. It’s depicted in the film version of Capt Corelli’s Mandolin – we also passed Sami where this was filmed too. Tempted to read the book now.


We also took in a cave and boat tour of a cavern before shooting off to the yachting hang-out of the pampered and media hungry - Fiskardo. I was a bit worried with camera in hand that we might have to move some of them out of the way, but no one bothered us. Finally we passed the most photographed area of Kefalona - Myrtos Beach and did the obvious before getting back to our balcony for another sunset. Contentedly wiped-out!


Anyone read yesterday’s post will perhaps be not be too surprise to hear we have had no reply from Travelex over the dodgy 50 euro note they sold us.


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]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/nuns-yatchs-some-posing-a-kefalonia-island-tour/feed/ 0 My sweet Lourdas http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/my-sweet-lourdas/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/my-sweet-lourdas/#comments Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:57:35 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/my-sweet-lourdas/
Another frivolous day climbing hilltops and thrashing about in the water. Why do we have to travel hundreds of miles  to feel active and spiritually connected again?

For travelers and holiday-ers we can recommend Lourdas, Kefalonia for any wanting to disconnect from bustle. Here in Sept you can get a beach to yourself, but you will have to hire a car to get to a cash point.  No telling how long this will last as clearly this place is growing as a tourist destination. There are good restaurants here too, but no night clubs (that we’ve seen) 

Had a slight embarrassing moment – apparently the 50 euro note we got (at a poor exchange rate) from Travelex in Birmingham airport is a fake. It will be interesting to see how they respond.

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]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/my-sweet-lourdas/feed/ 0 A surprise bonus from the balcony http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/a-surprise-bonus-from-the-balcony/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/a-surprise-bonus-from-the-balcony/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:35:59 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/a-surprise-bonus-from-the-balcony/
It takes us 4 evenings to realise we can see the sunset from our balcony!

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]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/a-surprise-bonus-from-the-balcony/feed/ 0 It’s all Greek to me – help! http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/its-all-greek-to-me-help/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/its-all-greek-to-me-help/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:41:58 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/its-all-greek-to-me-help/
Feeling all warm and squishy after a lovely meal with my wife and finally I can walk like a man again. That sands get everywhere.
 Anywho  does anyone know what this sign means?  We keep seeing it on our adventure route to the beach. Do we need to find a new route quickly or perhaps remove all our clothes like (it seems) all the other Brits do.

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]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/its-all-greek-to-me-help/feed/ 0 Oh Lourdas! http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/oh-lourdas/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/oh-lourdas/#comments Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:27:21 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/oh-lourdas/ A day and night view of Lourdas from our balcony in Kefalonia.

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]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/oh-lourdas/feed/ 0 Kefalonia – here we are! http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/kefalonia-here-we-are/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/kefalonia-here-we-are/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:59:58 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/kefalonia-here-we-are/ Day two of our holiday and low and behold there is a unsecured internet connection near our villa. Recovering from day one sunburn and a very sticky night. I might lose some weight and Debbie is learning to swim.

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]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/kefalonia-here-we-are/feed/ 0 Granada, Spain Jan 2009 http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/granada-spain-jan-2009/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/granada-spain-jan-2009/#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 22:28:06 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/?p=55 I’ve been very slack .   I had meant to  post as soon as we got back from our short trip to  Southern Spain.  I think the problem is I bought a nicer camera and now usual snaps taken with the old  cheap “point and click”  no longer seem good enough.

Anyhow, back in January we had a great 6 days in Malaga and Granada.   The highlight had to be the Alhambra.  We really knew little about it and was very fortunate to pick a   day when few others were visiting.   I think my tip would be to avoid going with a coach party and at the peak session.  However,  you definately need a clear day to enjoy the view.

Click the image for the gallery.

alhambra

]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/granada-spain-jan-2009/feed/ 0 Merida Mexico Jan 2004 http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/merida-mexico-jan-2004/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/merida-mexico-jan-2004/#comments Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:16:02 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/?p=52 There’s nothing more I enjoy on a Sunday than a good rummage and today I stumbled upon my DV cassettes of Yukatan. Here is a video, filmed on another Sunday, in the capital city of Merida. For anyone planing a trip to Cancun I highly recommend a few nights in Merida. Apart from its beautiful Spanish architecture It has some of the world’s best street entertainment.
As the Chichen Itza has been voted one of the new 7 wonders of the world and is half way between Cancun and Merida how could you not!!

]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/merida-mexico-jan-2004/feed/ 1 Horn OK Please http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/horn-ok-please/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/horn-ok-please/#comments Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:39:36 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/?p=50 What could be more Indian than the sight of “Horn OK Please” signs hand painted on the backs of (usually heavy) vehicles. For me, this double politener of Ok and Please is as endearing as the Indian misplacement of “isn’t it” (innit). Should you ever, as a visitor, find yourself driving in India (and good luck if you do) the sign means sound your horn before overtaking.

Horn OK Please

Horn OK Please is also the title of a fantastic multi-awarding short film from flickerpix animations which follows the day of an Indian taxi driver. I have added a few subtitles for extra detail. Surely, a “must watch” for anyone travelling to India.


Click here for the You Tube version without subtitles

If anyone knows the make of these Indian taxis please do comment below.

]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/horn-ok-please/feed/ 1 Thekkady Kalari – Kerala, South India http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/thekkady-kalari-kerala-south-india/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/thekkady-kalari-kerala-south-india/#comments Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:24:51 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/?p=46 A tour of Kerala is likely to include a stay in Thekkady which is the home of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve, situated on the banks of the Periyar lake. The main attraction is in the hope that by taking an early morning boat cruise one might get to see herds of elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, and Nilgiri langurs coming to the water’s edge to drink. The reality can be somewhat different as these boats (filled with around 50 passengers) will to set off 3 or 4 at a time and few animals can be seen – at least not at close range. We saw bison, wild pigs, birds and I’m sure I spotted a chicken. A couple of our photos in our Kerala gallery. Those really passionate about wild life should probably research the limited accomodation that is in the reserve itself.

As Thekkady is a small town, and like any in Kerala, our driver suggested seeing the Martial Arts show at the Kelara Kalari Centre for Rs. 200 per person (Rs. 250 for video cameras). There’s does not seem to be too much on the web about this particular show so here is quick video of what you can expect. I’ve excluded the show finale which involves a couple of guys jumping through flaming hoops. The show bills its self as:

“an hour of fantasy, excitement with breathtaking performance of the oldest Martial Art”

In truth the only breathtaking moments are from pungent fumes produced by the fire stunts. However, I think even for those who have no interest in Martial Arts it is a pleasant and inexpensive way to spend an hour.

Kerala Kalari

Uploaded by waumsley

Kerala Kalari Centre
Thekkady Road
Kumily,
Kerala – 685509
Ph: 04869 222988
Daily show: 6 – 7pm
Kerale Kalari
]]> http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/thekkady-kalari-kerala-south-india/feed/ 1 Mumbai Helmet Awareness Rally 26th May 2008 http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/mumbai-helmet-awareness-rally-26th-may-2008/ http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/mumbai-helmet-awareness-rally-26th-may-2008/#comments Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:59:05 +0000 David Waumsley http://davidwaumsley.com/blog/?p=41 Not the usual travel post, but we could not resist including our own photos of one of the national news events during our stay in India. Seemingly, most of the press were supporting the helmet awareness rally organised by the Mumbai police and led by a team of senior state ministers on motorbikes.

There’s no doubting that wearing helmets saves lives and that (although illegal) a good proportion of motorcylist don’t. The main dissincentivite for both riders and their passengers (aside from cost and religious headwear) is the discomfort of wearing a helmet in the Indian heat. Fortunately, those involved in this demonstration at Nariman Point were sensible enough to block off the road, wait till the sun was setting and to ride only 10 mins next to the cool breeze of the Arabian sea.

The best part of the event for us was the sight of two policemen riding pillion (5 minutes behind the main procession) without their helmets. I’m guessing with all of Mumbai’s Senior Police ahead of them these two escaped a fine this time! Apologies, we were laughing too hard to get to the camera in time.

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