Asia Archives - Page 9 of 24 - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Football roads lead to Qatar

30th May 202230th May 2022 funtime65

Football roads lead to Qatar this winter for my wee Scotland although the rest of the world wants Ukraine to win the play-off.

So there might be something about the old Jim Bowen Bullseye line ‘come and have a look at what you could have won’ about Qatar’s latest literature.

Only the Emirates state isn’t just for the World Cup… it can be enjoyed all year around.

Particularly with the sun-splitting temperatures.

Qatar kick-off

The Al Bayt Stadium in the north of the country is where the action will kick off in December.

An oil city, but much more… the Ain Hleetan Well and the Al Khor Towers, the Thakira Mangroves, Purple Island and Al Farkiah Beach.

And last, but not least, the Al Khor Park and Zoo.

Talking about all God’s creatures then you probably associate Qatar more with sand dwellers.

But Qatar is home to one of the largest whale sharks aggregations in the entire world.

White sharks

Now God may have had made us all but he left us to name them… hence the at first confusing whale sharks.

Our Qatari friends helpfully show us how to identify them.

They display distinctly dotted patterns.

Every day’s a school day

And the migratory phenomenon is a must-witness marine activity when in Qatar.

And even better news, although they have 300 tiny teeth they don’t eat us.

They prefer fish eggs and tiny plankton.

Whale sharks appear in schools of over 100-150 fishes at a time.

And the Tartan Army, Scotland’s football supporters, come in their hundreds of thousands.

So hopefully we’ll be there because football roads lead to Qatar.

Asia, Countries, Sustainable Tourism

Turtles within touching distance

23rd May 202223rd May 2022 funtime65

They’ve been flirting with me the heroes in the half shell but here’s a tail (sorry) of turtles within touching distance from my old Maldives stomping ground.

And when I say stomping I mean when I got pooped off the shore of Kandolhu and had to stand for a breather.

Noooooo! It’ll cut your feet but worse than that, it’ll kill the coral.

My snorkelling skills have improved since then until I got within touching distance of the turtles off Bridgetown, Barbados, last week.

They’d surely be proud of me out in the Maldives.

And perhaps with a little work off my homestead in North Berwick, Scotland, I could get on a very important expedition.

What the doctor ordered.

Dr Stephanie Kohnk is the lead scientist for the Olive Ridley Project and author of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Maldives National Red List Assessment on the Hawksbill Sea Turtle,

And she is heading up a pioneering genetic research expedition to study the local Maldivian hawksbill sea turtle population.

Shadow snorkelling

Guests at Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, can shadow the Doc on a unique snorkelling expedition.

They will be given a morning guided tour of the research vessel.

And they will reveal the painstaking planning and specialist equipment involved in frontline marine biological research.

Guests will get in on the first stage of the expedition on a turtle snorkelling trip led by Dr Köhnk.

Adopt a turtle

And to further support this pioneering research and conservation initiative they can adopt turtles included in the study.

Adoptees will be able to name their turtle.

And they will receive future re-sighting alerts.

And enjoy priority access to updates and insights from the project.

As part of the joint venture ‘Oceans First’ ethos from 1 June, a sea turtle biologist will be stationed on-island at Patina Maldives.

They will act as a guest educator; overseeing rescue efforts for any sea turtles that become entangled in so-called ghost gear in the area.

And they will support ongoing photo identification and population monitoring in North Male Atoll.

It is only home to the second largest turtle database in the country.

I ain’t afraid of no ghosts

The Patina Maldives team, along with its Fari Islands neighbours, also contributes to the ongoing removal of ghost gear from the ocean.

And that provides Olive Ridley Project with valuable data.

That can be used to trace the origins of discarded or abandoned fishing equipment.

And also help tackle the problem at source.

Because we all need our heroes in a half shell under the sea, our turtles within touching distance.

America, Asia, Canada, Caribbean, Countries, Europe, Food & Wine, Ireland, Oceania, UK

The ten homes of whisky

21st May 202221st May 2022 funtime65

It’s the golden seal every country strives for, to be the home of something… so where are the ten homes of whisky?

You’d probably not to be surprised at the top five.

And so it’s more of a case of shuffling that pack to see who is tops.

The next five though is a bit more surprising.

So on this World Whisky Day join me for a distillery tour.

But do me a favour please, don’t ask about distilling or the mashing process.

It just holds us up on our way to the sampling.

Scotch Wahey

Fergie’s dram: Sir Alex’s bottle in his cabinet near Aberdeen

Scotland: And the reach of Scotch (just whisky in Scotland) became clear when the distillers held a whisky-tasting in Barbados.

Now we can blind you with science and stats… 44 bottles of whisky are exported from Scotland every year.

There are five designated whisky regions… Cambeltown, Highland, Lowland, Speyside and my own fave Islay.

They’re all heavenly and

But my No.1 is Laphroaig. It’s so peaty, just like a bowl of water in an ashtray but stick with me here.

After all you have tried haggis.

United Nips of America

Mark of a whiskey drinker: Kentuckian Mark, Cath and Mum

USA: And, of course, when the Scots left home they took their whisky and its secrets with them.

And adapted it to the new world of America and went on to produce nectar such as Kentucky’s Woodford Reserve bourbon.

But US whiskey isn’t restricted to the Deep South… branch out to Oregon.

Where Westward Whiskey have released a reimagined single malt for World Whisky Day.

Green, malt and gold

The oul’ sod: The oldest distillery in the world

Ireland: And Teeling only made it into our Barbados tastings.

While Bushmills lays claim to being the oldest distillery in the world, established in 1608.

They were also responsible for the extra ‘e’, well the Irish are the masters of using two words when one will do, and more letters too.

Land of the Rising Suntory

Japan: Now this is a love story that drams are made of.

And is the result of a relationship between a Japanese chemistry student at Glasgow University Masataka Takaretsu and Jessie Roberta Cowan.

Masataka had been dispatched by the Settsu Shuzi liquor company.

A love Suntory if you will.

Maple leaf

Canada: Right, we’re told that Canadian whisky has its origins not in its big Scottish diaspora.

But because the natives, the First Nations, got a taste for what they called the traders’ firewater.

It was a meld of rum and ‘high wine’ which developed into Canadian whisky, of which Canadian Club is the most recognised.

Sikh beatha

Basket of goods: Indians love their whisky

India: Or Sikh of life, my twist on the uisce beatha which is Gaelic for water of life and is what Scots call their favourite drink.

And long may the Indians keep up their love affair with whisky which they have been producing since 1948 since Amrut entered the market.

More than half of all whisky drinkers in the world come from India.

Wizards of booze

Australia: And we should have come to expect this with our ne’er-do-wells sent over there as convicts.

Specifically Tasmania is whisky haven with the best Aussie whiskies Sullivans Cove, the best Single Malt at the world awards, and Lark based there.

A Swede whisky

Sweden: Now here’s something you don’t get at your local Ikea with your meatballs but should.

Mackmyra was Sweden‘s first distillery and the Swedes got it right first time, winning the First Edition Gold Award in 2013.

The Isle of Tai

Taiwan: You see what we’ve done there. Yes, Taiwan‘s connections with the West probably plays its part here.

Kavalan whiskey won the World’s Best Single Malt at the awards in 2015 and the island’s distillery produces 9 million bottles a year.

Ja beauty

Germany: Now some of us have ripped it up in Germany at the Oktoberfest where it’s lager obviously but also schnapps chasers.

The Germans though are open to everything and they have around 250 distilleries and around 130 of them are focused just on whisky production.

So, on this World Whisky Day a big Slainte to the ten homes of whisky.

America, Asia, Caribbean, Countries

Another episode when me out on de road

11th May 202211th May 2022 funtime65

It’s another episode when me out on de road, we don’t come out to pose, as Bajan Soca legend would say.

Yes, this is our destiny, yes, it belongs to we. And no, I’ve not forgotten all my English grammar.

This is Bajan patois and it is what I hope to be hearing for the next week.

Think too the rum-infused pitch of a smiling Barbadian (or Bajan) and you have it… Sweeet!

Cultural appropriation

Me-me and Dee-Dee at Crop Over in Barbados

All of which brings us to the thorny subject of cultural appropriation.

Knowing how irked I’ve been in the past when English people have cried Hoots…

Or Begorrah when I was in Ireland.

And I confess I’ve grimaced myself when I’ve said Irie to the Bajans when I’ve been out in Barbados before.

Only to be met with mile-wide smiles and hearty hugs.

Now offence is naturally taken differently depending on where you go.

Read the room

And the trick is to be able to read the room.

We don’t always get it right… I again made something of a social faux-pas recently in New England.

When I followed up my handshake with my host Ginny by extending my hand again to her colleague, a young Muslim lady.

The White Knight

Thoughts immediately returned to Aussie Greg, Great Protector of Muslim Women, and great White Knight.

I imagined his head would have exploded with rage as he’d shouted along the coach at me in Colorado.

When I put my hand on the side of a Jordanian woman’s shoulder in the narrow aisle to ask if I could please pass by.

‘You never touch the Muslim woman,’ he screamed, in full earshot of her husband.

All of which only served to embarrass the poor couple when a discreet word would have been better.

Ms Carter

And so when we go jumpin’ this week at the Barbados Celtic Festival I will again be indebted to Ms Carter, our awesome host Cheryl.

Cheryl, of course, knows me of old and has taken the edges of my worst excesses when jumping at Mas (Bajan open-air music events).

It’s just another episode when me out on de road.

Asia, Countries, Deals, Europe, UK

Israeli clear of Covid regs

9th May 2022 funtime65

And it’s what they promised in the Promised Land – yes Israeli clear of Covid regs now.

Our friends in the Land of Milk and Honey will be removing on-arrival PCR tests from May 20 and letting people fly with an antigen test from May 10.

Right, we know that it hasn’t been a biblical 40 years since Israel was this open rather than just these last two years.

But it’s just made us more impatient, and that goes too for our dream makers too, our travel providers, who are lining up all manner of packages for us.

Lots of fun at the YMCA

Now our eye fell on the YMCA 3 Arches particularly when we saw that it had been designed by the architect of the Empire State Building in New York.

And that means tall with the 3 Arches a 152ft tower with views of the YMCA gardens below and historic Jerusalem vistas, many with views of the King David Street.

Not forgetting of course those modern day facilities we all expect… sports center with fitness room, pool, sauna, jacuzzi and group exercise studio.

The tour providers

Cradle of Christianity: Jesus and Bethlehem

Travel Israel helpfully do all the work for us offering flights from Edinburgh to Tel Aviv (you can also go from Glasgow and London Heathrow) and accommodation for £1,255.

With the excellent SWISS International Airlines.

And they list out a number of excursions you can add on.

Like Christmas (well, this is the Holy Land) you can go mad ticking off the trips you want.

And the excursions

The Jerusalem Day Tour we imagine does what it says on the tin, and at a competitive £63 for two.

You will drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city.

And stop at Mount Zion to visit King David’s Tomb,Room of Last Supper and the Dormition Abbey.

No visit to Jerusalem would be complete without a visit to the Jewish Wailing Wall.

And channel your inner Jesus at the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of Holy Sepulchre.

Before you’ll then proceed to the New City and a visit to Yad Vashem, the Memorial to the Holocaust.

But seeing you’re here you really should tick off as much as you can.

Two unforgettable days

And the 2 Day Tour of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Masada & the Dead Sea Small Group Tour does just that.

You’ll depart on Day 1 and take in Jerusalem (obvs) and the Old City; Western Wall; church of Holy Sepulcher and Bethlehem. And overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 2 will take in Massada, a swim in the Dead Sea (been there, but would always go again).

Of course as comprehensive as this is there’s always more.

So check out their Galilee offers and in Jesus’ Steps packages.

And so let’s celebrate Israeli clear of Covid regs.

America, Asia, Countries, Europe

Jet lag cures

2nd May 20222nd May 2022 funtime65

I was spooked at the movement in my en-suite, I was home with The Scary One… I should have checked my own Holidos and Don’ts. Jet lag cures.

And then I could have orientated myself on my return from my mini-odyssey to New England.

Earth to Jimmy

Granted your fellow passengers or hosts might look at you funny but..

You might want to take off your shoes and socks and jump about on the earth.

Bare feet and earth: Who says so… only biohacker and Bulletproof founder Dave Asprey who discovered the trick when doing yoga in California.

Of course he did.

Turn on, switch off

In flight entertainment: And you can always catch up on your sleep on the plane.

There’s the more relaxing last film which you can nod off through.

Or classical music or easy listening. And it’ll make you forget you’re up during the sleeping hours.

Water cooler

Hydrate: And yes that means staying off the booze… so resist the temptations of airport drinks.

On board now you will have to pay for your alcohol anyway.

And rehydrate so stay off the coffee, tea and sugary drinks.

That’s the business

Lounge back: And take in a Turkish Airlines movie in their airport business lounge

Business class: Of course if you’ve been saving your pennies, you’ll be able to treat yourself to business class.

I’ve been fortunate enough to avail of Aer Lingus, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Turkish Airlines (there are other flyers).

And the reclining seat-beds will make you feel like you’re at home in bed.

Until you turn around for a cuddle on your trip to the Maldives and Island Marketing’s stubbly boss Brian is looking up at you.

Homing in

The home run: And when you get home after you’re through the all-nighter then you need to get home.

If you’re disorganised like me then it’s better not to have bought a return public transport (tram, bus, train) ticket.

Maybe leave the keys too with the neighbours.

All because these things can get lost in transit.

Get in, get a glass of water and get to bed. Will you sleep later? You bet.

And I think I’ll copywright this… Holidos and Don’ts jet lag cures.

Asia, Countries

St George and Cappadocia

23rd April 202223rd April 2022 funtime65

He’s still slaying them so on this his saints’ day we celebrate St George and Cappadocia.

Come again… surely there’s nobody more English than St George.

Well, actually everybody, which is why we’re shining a light on Turkey’s showpiece.

Cappadocia’s popularity has, well ballooned with the growth of social media.

All those shots of underground cities and Instas of sunsets and, yes, all those balloons.

Be expedient

Expedia offers all-inclusive holidays to allow you to concentrate on melding into your cavernous village experience.

And here in Anatolia, Asian Turkey (the big bit) you can go old school and travel on horse or camel back.

While you’ll munch on local sweet delicacies or haggle your way around a Turkish bazaar.

Crave a cave

The Hera Cave Suites in Nevsehir do what they say on the tin.

You want to know more about Nevsehir and the Hera Suites and its 28 accommodations.

Well, they’re in the city centre and in a national park.

While Göreme Roman Castle and Roman Castle are local landmarks.

And the area’s natural beauty can be seen at Göreme National Park and Aydın Kırağı.

All for £80 per night. And with the airport just 39 minutes drive (or balloon) away you’re ideally situated.

So get yourself out on your peerless Turkish Airlines flight.

Cappadocia caps it

Cappadocia has come a long way since the days when the Dragon was the biggest thing in the sky.

And anyway St George, whose tales the crusaders brought back with them to England, slew him.

Have a great national day today whether you’re English, Ethiopian, Georgian, Catalan, Aragones or a Muscovite.

But remember that it’s St George and Cappadocia and reach for the skies in Turkey’s Balloon region.

Asia

Genghis can In Mongolia

14th April 2022 funtime65

Easter is traditionally the time to visit the relatives and nobody has more than the world’s biggest ever seed carrier… yes, if anyone Khan, Genghis can in Mongolia.

One in every 200 men alive today are said to be related to Oul’ Genghis.

And being of the swarthy and beardie variety I daresay I’m one.

And so Ghengis is probably due a visit from his great-great-great-great etc (phew!) grandson.

The Grand Pavilion

Our friends at The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts international dream providers have given us a prod about Mongolia reopening for international tourism.

Mongolia no longer require any Covid testing, quarantine or self-isolation for tourist arrivals.

And that is regardless of age or vaccination/recovery status.

Pavilion are steering us in the direction of the annual Genghis Khan Retreat in the Mongolian Steppe and Pavilions Mongolia.

There’s more to it than just putting on your best shouty voice and aggressive stance you know.

The Pavilions Mongolia is now accepting bookings for the Genghis Khan Retreat, from 20 June – 30 August.

Another string to my bow

Guests booking a Curated Journey: Into The Wild at The Pavilions Mongolia can look forward to four days of channelling their inner Khan.

And that means thundering across the spectacular Okhorn valley on horseback and mastering the legendary Mongol bow.

You’ll kayak down the Okhorn river and camp on the great plains in a luxuriously equipped traditional ger.

Now if I am indeed one of Genghis’s spawn then that would explain my derring-do around the world.

Horse whisperer me

And I am sure I am ready to step up from my ride around the Colorado Plains with Issy to a Mongolian chaser.

And my whitewater rafting expertise (clinging on to the side of a bath tub!) will hold me in good stead for Khan kayaking.

Curated Journeys: Into The Wild give you four nights’ accommodation and all meals at The Pavilions Mongolia with activities and excursions.

From $2400pp (approx. £1835pp)

For further information and reservations, email info@pavilionshotels.com.

Yes, if anyone Khan, Genghis can in Mongolia. And BandanaKhan!

Asia, Countries, Food & Wine

The Football Feeder and the Maldives

12th April 202212th April 2022 funtime65

Wellington insisted an army marched on its stomach and so it follows athletes must do too which is where The Football Feeder and The Maldives come in.

The fact is I could have done with someone telling me what to eat and when when I was one of Scotland’s promising athletes.

You’ll not be surprised to hear that a Chelsea Bun an hour before a six-mile run gives you a stitch.

No such problem for the English champions Manchester City though and the players of the national team.

And that’s because of one man, personal chef Jonny Marsh, the Football Feeder.

Carbonara chaser

Kevin sent: Jonny Marsh fan Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne swears by Raymond Blanc’s former assistant and his spaghetti carbonara.

While Manchester United’s Luke Shaw loves his spag bol… must be all that red tomato puree.

Now your own personal chef won’t guarantee you’ll become an elite footballer but it doesn’t help to try.

Jonny will share his expert nutritional tips with Amilla Maldives resort guests via a series of hands-on masterclasses and bespoke wellness menus.

Gala evenings

Alongside these masterclasses, Jonny will hold two gala dinners and a pop-up breakfast combining mouth-watering flavours and nutritional ingredients, whilst also showcasing Amilla’s Homemade@Amilla concept.

The bespoke wellness menus will champion nourishing, fresh ingredients grown in Amilla’s organic and hydroponic gardens.

And the resort’s ever-expanding selection of homemade produce, from pickles and sourdough to yoghurt, kefir and palm oil-free Nutella.

Now the Maldives are we know atolls south of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean and face challenges of their own.

Both from climate change and creating produce.

And I have seen first hand how they grow their own on islands which you can get around in a couple of hours.

And this approach is to their credit and also has benefits in the athleticism of those who work and live full time on the island.

Playing with the staff

Hot, hot, hot: Kuramathi in the Maldives

Like the Sri Lankan footballers and cricketers who gave this wannabe the runaround in our games there.

It’s Atoll tale and here’s a reminder.

The gala dinners for the Football Feeder and the Maldives will take place on May 20 and 27.

And the nutritional masterclasses will take place on May 21 and 28. For more information visit amilla.com.

The deal

Inspiring Travel Company offers seven nights at Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences from £3,857pp.

That’s a saving of £2,090 per person.

The price is based on two adults sharing a Treetop Pool Villa.

And that includes a 30% discount on accommodation, complimentary half board, reduced shared seaplane transfers.

And return economy flights from London Heathrow.

Price based on May 18 departure. Minimum seven-night stay applies.

America, Asia, Countries, Europe, UK

Our own world bank of foreign exchange

20th March 202220th March 2022 funtime65

Over time we can all build up our own world bank of foreign exchange.

My Dear Old Dad, in his dwindling years, would count out his own chest of pesetas, escudos, drachmas, francs, lira and deutschmarks.

There are, of course, glass cases in airports where we can now donate our left-over foreign money for charity.

But if you’re resourceful, and have a winning smile (Daddy’s Little Girl), you can walk off your plane with foreign money.

And in these straitened times we need all, and every kind of legit money, from wherever it comes.

The Queen’s coin

The most trusted coins in the UK are, of course, those with the Queen’s head on it.

And a roaring trade is done too on commemorative coins of the monarch.

With this Platinum Year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign marked by the release of a limited number of coins to mark her 75 years.

They range on the Royal Mint from the UK 50p Brilliant Uncirculated Coin at £7 for the most pressed subject.

To the gold bullion Queen’s Jubilee Sovereign Set at £1,800, but be patient they’re awaiting stock.

Pawn Stars

Money shot: Miss America meets Mr Scotland in Vegas

Now if you think that that’s extravagant in these cash-strapped times then remember that gold appreciates in value.

Not that I’m advising you to scour your jewellery box and head for the pawn shop.

Although having seen the prices of old artefacts in the most famous pawn store in the world, the Pawn Stars shop in Vegas.

My fellow Britons famously and sneeringly accuse the Americans of having no history.

But here in the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and across any number of fairs across the States specialising in music, war or whatever disproves that.

Coining it in

Bandanaman and the Bandanettes In Denver

And if you can’t afford a Confederate coin then you can always buy one of those say Buffalo Bill coins from the souvenir shop in Lookout Mountain in Colorado.

Coins have been with us since Roman days and before, the Lydians in modern-day Turkey credited with the first in 600BC.

And we always live in hope that all that digging that The Green-Fingered One does in our back garden will yield some treasure.

For now I’ll just hope that my commemorative C$2 Calgary Winter Olympics coin has appreciated in value.

Because I’m not holding out much hope for my Jordanian dinar note in our own world bank of foreign exchange.

Saddam hucksters

I did dodge a bullet (maybe even literally) when I body swerved the hucksters trying to sell Saddam Hussein Iraqi notes outside Petra.

Best stick to the coin-pressing machines and the money-making exercise that is The Royal Mint Collection.

It’s about time, is it not, that that wealth dripped down to us.?