vacation Archives - Serendipity Mommy

A Guide to Zanzibar’s Most Beautiful Spots

February 8, 2019 by Mandy

The popular island of Zanzibar has been in the news recently, thanks largely to its eye-catching accommodation options and architecture that boasts a unique meld of atmospheric décor and strong cultural heritage.

This is just one of the many reasons why you should visit Zanzibar, particularly if you’re considering an adventurous trip; it’s home to some of the most fascinating and beautiful spots in the world.

We’ll take a look at some of these below, while asking why they offer such an enriching experience for travellers from across all corners of the globe.

1. The Livingstone Beach in Stone Town

While Zanzibar is a sun-kissed island with numerous beaches, one in particularly stands out for its immense energy and stunning ocean setting- and it’s perfect for families too.

This is the iconic Livingstone Beach in Stone Town, which may not be quite as idyllic as those located outside of the city but boasts an immeasurable charm that reflects the nature of the locals.

The surrounding ocean is particularly beguiling here, while the beach comes to life as the sun sets and locals gather in their hundreds. At this time, you can also see people perform acrobatics and capoeira in front of the popular Livingstone Beach Restaurant, and the sheer energy and vibrancy of the location is incredibly engaging.

If you do visit this beach, you’re guaranteed to have fun whilst sampling the true heritage and natural beauty of Zanzibar. Just don’t be afraid to talk to the locals and engage them, as they’re extremely welcoming to those from overseas!

2. The Darajani Market

Who doesn’t love shopping? While this may be fun in cosmopolitan cities like London, it provides an even more immersive experience in the type of markets that are incredibly popular in Zanzibar.

The Darajani Market is particularly impressive, as this quaint and charming setting provides a genuinely sensorial shopping experience and one that serves as the very heartbeat of the iconic Stone Town.

Not only is this market genuinely beguiling, but it also hosts local vendors selling a wide range of items from clothing and mobile handsets to oil and fresh food produce. If you go early in the morning, you may even catch the so-called ‘big fish’ auction whilst basking in the glorious rays of the sun.

The market also boasts a rich street-food culture, with local samosas and chapatis as delicious as the marketplace is enthralling.

3. Forodhani Gardens

If you’re searching around looking for Zanzibar holiday options from trusted experts, you’ll note that a trip to the Forodhani Gardens represents one of the most popular excursions on offer.

The Forodhani Gardens adorn the seafront of Stone Town, where a host of street vendors and food outlets set out their stalls against the backdrop of the island’s stunning shores and beautiful skyline.

Here you can head out for a romantic walk with your loved, while basking in the sea views and sampling foods such as fruit, grilled maize and Zanzibar’s famed (and locally sourced) pizzas!

This area is another that’s particularly beguiling at sunset, while licensing laws means that you can also grab a delicious and exotic cocktail during an evening visit!

Karachi, and its unparalleled beauty

September 10, 2018 by Mandy

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Founded as the village of college, in the beginning, the capital of Sindh (a province in Pakistan), is the most populous city in the nation. Population drastically increased after the arrival of the East India company. It even ranks as the sixth most populous city in the world. But the city also ranks as one of Pakistan’s premier financial and industrial hubs. In short, it is the nation’s cosmopolitan city. But that’s not all, as Karachi, located on the Arabian Sea also is an important transport hub with two of the country’s largest seaports- namely Port Bin Qasim and Port of Karachi. On the social front, Karachi is an ethnically diverse nation and this city of lights, once upon a time used to boast of an amazing nightlife.

If you want to explore this city for yourself, then you can get in through the city’s Jinnah International Airport which serves both domestic and international flights. There are non stop destinations throughout the world and so availing tickets, especially the cheapest Dubai to Karachi flights, the Cairo to Karachi or the Singapore to Karachi flights and more so is not difficult if you are doing the prior booking.

So now that you are here, let’s explore Karachi:

Take a look at Asia’s Largest Cross: Located in the sole working Christian cemetery in Karachi called Gora Qabristan Cemetery, this 140-foottall bulletproof cross is the result of a dream that came to Parvez Henry Gill. But the project almost didn’t come to fruition once the workers came to know what the structure actually was. Yet many stuck through and the ultimate result was a collaboration of Christian and Muslim communal efforts.
Visit Mazar-e-Quaid: In this mausoleum lies the remains of the founder of the nation- Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The structure is a blend of simple and yet striking. The building is lined with striking fountains which provides a serene aura to the place. The mausoleum also contains the remains of his sister Fatima Jinnah who was known as the mother of the nation as well as of Liaquat Ali Khan, who was Pakistan’s first Prime Minister.
Visit Mumtaz Begum: This is a half woman, half fox figure which tells stories from her cage in a Pakistani zoo for over four decades. The truth is actually that, it is a performer Murad Ali, who inherited the role from his father. So, if you want your fortune told by a famous charlatan, peep in here then.
Show your debating skills at Karachi Press Club: This has been around from 1958 as it was formed by a group of journalists in a Victorian manor. The club acts as the base of Pakistan’s first press club and is the ideal place for intense discussion and debate. From that small group of journalists, it now has about 1000members who promote Democratic ideals. There’s a chess room, a press conference room, bar and library in the KPC. This is one place for the free thinker and where various revolutionary ideas were born into. How to get an invitation in here? Simple, just convince them of your debating prowess.

Karachi is a land besotted with people who are stuck in between the old and the new, a land as old as time and its traditions are spiritual as well. If you would like a truly unique experience, then this is the place to head into.

Holidays In London

August 31, 2018 by Mandy

The first thing to check before we plan for our holidays is the best months to visit a certain country. Thanks to the availability of internet, we can easily type and googled to check on the best months to visit the country of our choice so that we can book the flight tickets earlier to take advantage of cheaper rates offered. Those that planned their holidays well ahead of time will get to enjoy much cheaper air flight tickets.

Checking on the best months to visit will help us avoid visiting during the raining seasons which will be very inconvenient for tourists to move around without getting wet. Some months are extremely hot in certain countries and it will be too hot for tourists to be able to enjoy the outdoor tours and sightseeing. Through the search on the internet, we can also pack the right type of clothing for our holidays according to the type of weather during our visit.

Take for example, from the search on the internet, it is revealed that the best months to visit London would be from March to May or from April to September for the better weather and events. The peak time will be from April to September, and large crowd is expected and of course, the hotel rates will be higher. For example, if one is travelling from Dubai to London, booking one of the earlier flights from Dubai to London will be advisable to get cheaper rate if you are planning to visit London during the peak season.

If you are planning to make a stop to visit Dubai before flying over to London from Dubai, you can register for a Tajawal account with Tajawal.ea website in order to book flights from Dubai to London. In order not to miss out on good discounts or good offers by Tajawal, you are encouraged to check out their offer pages for good discounts before booking your flight to London. Many tourists prefer to make a stop at Dubai for a short visit before continuing their flight to London, after all, the flight from Dubai to London takes only about 2 hours.

Your Norway Northern Lights Vacation

August 15, 2018 by Mandy

The natural phenomenon called Aurora Borealus or Polar Lights can be observed in both Arctic and Antarctic regions in a number of places around the world. It usually happens in the night sky, and the different color lights look phenomenal against the dark background. Interestingly, Northern Lights are a type of Aurora Borealis which happen near the North Pole. Apart from countries like Canada or Scotland, Northern Lights in Norway, and other Scandinavian countries also offer grand, life-altering experiences, which usually feature as a bucket list activity. No wonder, people travel far and wide to witness it. Read on to know more about places where you can observe Northern Lights in Norway.

1. Svalbard

There isn’t much North left further than Svalbard. This Arctic island is between the 74th and 81st parallel and is undoubtedly one of the best places to see the surreal Northern Lights. A lot of people also come to see the Polar Night, a period between mid-November and early January, when Svalbard does not see daylight and is in a permanent state of spooky blue twilight.

2. The Lofoten Islands

In the Norwegian Sea, way above the circle that marks the Arctic region, the Lofoten offer another great abode to not just see the green shimmers of the Northern Lights but also hear their unreal sounds. In the more conventional viewing places such as Scotland and Northern Canada, the sounds of the Aurora are often lost in the din of civilisation. Not so with Lofoten. You can also bring out your cameras for brilliant shots of the Lights being reflected off the water on beaches of Flakstadøy and Vestvågøy here.

3. Trondheim

Don’t want to leave civilization? Go to Trondheim. Besides being known as the quintessential university town with excellent Norwegian food and culture (especially that of bicycles), Trondheim is also one place where you can enjoy the great Northern Lights show. Again, it is completely possible to view the Lights from within the city limits. However, the brightness and contrast of the colors increase the further away from the city you go.

4. Tromso

The town of Tromso is often called the capital of the Arctic area, and because about 217 miles into the Arctic, it offers one of the best opportunities to experience the freaky and beautiful Northern Lights. The biggest city in the northern regions of Norway, there are plenty of northern lights camps and safaris that depart from here. Things like dog sledding and snowmobile rides are also popular here.

5. Alta

The city of Alta is located between mountain peaks and is shielded from the harsh cold that many of the coastal cities on this list experience. Its extreme northern latitude also makes it one of the prime locations for viewing the Lights. Also, the mountain peaks on the horizon provide a spectacular contrast making for some really gorgeous snaps of the Lights and the mountains.

If you too wish to witness the natural wonder of Northern Lights, Norway is the perfect country for that. So, when are you planning your trip?

How to Plan the Perfect Family Holiday

July 18, 2018 by Mandy

We’re all so busy nowadays that it seems there’s never enough time for families to enjoy each other’s company. Parents always seem to be busy working, and when the kids aren’t at school, they are taking part in various activities, playing with friends or glued to their electronic gadgets. There is one occasion that provides the right kind of atmosphere for a spot of family bonding, and that’s a holiday. It’s not always the easiest of excursions to organise, but do it right, and you’ll have memories that last a lifetime. To take the stress out of a family holiday, here are some tips you should follow.

What Accommodation will Suit Your Needs?

There are plenty of options when it comes to holidays with the kids. The most budget-friendly is self-catering, whereas the all-inclusive option will mean you don’t have to worry about cooking while you’re away. However, this does tie you to one spot for most of your holiday. For more freedom, looking at the selection of luxurious villas in the Algarve, on the other hand, allows for you to be more independent. You have the added freedom of being in a private residence, where you do not have to worry about hotel staff or other tourists when it comes to battling for a sun lounger or space in the pool.

What Has Worked Well in the Past?

Think about the holidays you’ve already taken and what has worked well in the past. It’s highly likely you may have had some holiday disasters, so learn from your mistakes. It’s a good idea to keep a journal whenever you travel with family. In it, you can make a note of the things people enjoyed doing, both on their own and as a family. If this is your first holiday, there’s no time like the present to start taking notes.

Hold a Family Conference

Once you’ve got a few ideas, it’s time to run them past the kids and see what they think. Ask them for their impressions of the locations you’ve already chosen and whether they’ve got any ideas of their own. They might actually surprise you with their suggestions. For those of you with children who are studying a language at school, you might want to consider getting them some first-hand experience.

Research the Locations

Planning a holiday is becoming incredibly easy with access to so much information via the internet. Before you leave or even book your flights, check what the weather will be like and whether there are any festivals worth attending. Take a look at the area and see what other attractions there are. This is something you can get your children to help with as well. See if you can find out about the local produce and what the favourite foods are.

Consider Stepping out of Your Comfort Zone

What do you picture when you think about a family holiday? The three S’s probably feature high on your list. Sun, sea and sand seem to be a common denominator when it comes to holidays with children. It’s also very tempting to keep going back to the same place year after year. Why not see if a change in location can add some spark to your holiday, and try something completely different? There is a wide range of activity holidays you could try. Hiking across the Lake District, surfing in St Ives, skiing in Andorra, snorkelling in the Mediterranean or a safari holiday are just a few examples.

Does the Holiday Have to be Two Weeks in the Sun?

Have you thought about taking several shorter holidays rather than cramming everything into two weeks? City breaks are becoming very popular and can be a very cost-effective alternative when money is restricted. This type of holiday is better suited for those of you with older children. If you’re not too keen on spending too much time in a city, why not combine it with a week at the coast? There are many conveniently located near to the sea. Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is one example.

Traveling to different countries can be a very educational experience. You will be introducing your children to different cultures and meeting new people, often with very different habits. They will experience people speaking in a different way and be introduced to a wide range of different foods. It is always very relaxing and fun to spend time in a resort, sat by the pool or building sandcastles on the beach. However, a holiday can be so much more. It will take a lot of planning and is far more involved than simply picking a page in a holiday brochure. The effort you put in will be amply rewarded, and you’ll all have memories you can share with other people and look back on with a smile.