vacation Archives - Serendipity Mommy

How to Use Summer Break to Its Full Potential

February 22, 2019 by Mandy

The year is well underway now and if you’re good at forward planning, no doubt your thoughts are turning to the summer and how you can best keep the kids entertained. Summer break is a long time for kids, and can be a challenge for parents, especially if you work and have the whole period off isn’t an option. Such a large chunk of time is a valuable asset if used wisely, but what are the best ways to use the summer break to its full potential?

Vacations

The obvious way to spend a week or two of summer break is going on vacation. If you start planning now, you’ll be able to research possible destinations and find the places that most appeal to everyone in the family, and you could get some decent rates on packages, flights, accommodation, and tickets. Get the whole family involved in making the decision, so everyone feels invested in having a great time and make sure you arrange your visit so each family member can have at least one day where they choose what to do.

Summer camp

It’s a tradition among many families for kids to go to summer camp, and if you choose the right camp, it can be a fantastic experience for your kids. You’ll find a wide variety of alternative types of camp, from the traditional outdoors camping in nature to themed camps for horseback riding, sports, cookery, crafts, space camp, and many more. There are also military-style camps that some parents swear by, and if your child is interested in a career in the armed forces, they could be a good option. Your kids get to take part in plenty of activities, make friends, and learn many valuable skills, and a good summer camp can make a lasting impression on children.

Summer school

Summer school is a more academic option, but if your child is finding their lessons a challenge, they can be a highly effective way of learning and getting caught up. You can choose from general summer schools that cover a range of subjects or go for a specialist summer school that focuses on a specific topic like math or science. For kids who aren’t native English speakers, going to an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) summer school, such as those run by ECS, gives them a definite boost because the schools approach the teaching by using real-life experiences to help children feel at home speaking English in all sorts of different situations. It’s not all work, either! Summer schools often combine the academic element with sports or other activities; for example, your child could do an EFL with golf or tennis summer school.

While kids should be given a chance to relax and recharge their batteries over the summer break, that doesn’t mean a whole summer of playing computer games or sleeping in! Summer is a great time to branch out into new areas and practice skills in others, and your kids will benefit enormously from an active, rewarding summer break.

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

Source

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?