What began as a trading port in the 15th – 19th century has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and is exceptionally well-preserved.

The prized old town is made up of markets, alleyways and lantern clad streets which are easy to walk or cycle through. The ban of cars during certain hours adds to the city’s charm and will make draw you back for a 2nd and 3rd visit.

After 2 visits (so far!), here are the top 5 reasons I LOVE Hoi An:

1. Banh Mi

Hoi an is the home of Banh Mi – a quintessentially Vietnamese dish! A warmed baguette filled with pate (thanks to the French influence), delicious pork, pickled vegetables, chilli sauce and herbs.

These sandwiches are rich, spicy and just incredible! Don’t be afraid to order a second, my record is 3.5 over 24hours.

When it comes on where you should dine, there are two front runners:

Bánh Mì Phượng. My score: 7/10

Rising to fame after being featured on television series “No Reservations” by the late Anthony Bourdain, there is always a line out the door here.

Serving the traditional banh mi along with several variations, you should expect to enjoy this tasty roll on a table shared with backpackers and other travellers.

Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen. My score: 9.5/10

Being dubbed the “Queen” is a pretty good hint that these sandwiches are going to be good!

Madam Khanh has been selling street food for almost 50 years, with 30 of those at her Banh Mi store front. It’s a family affair here with her husband, daughter, granddaughter and sister in law all involved in the day to day workings of the business.

She’s a street food icon and welcomes the attention that comes with it! You’ll find the gracious Queen more than happy to pose for a photo, lovingly holding her sandwich.

Letters from previous travellers are displayed in a glass case behind her work station and help to create a much more humble feeling than the previously mentioned shop.

The menu is also a lot simpler here with only two options: traditional or vegetarian. With the addition of a fried egg standard in her sandwich, this is a great spot for brunch matched with a delicious iced coffee!

Other famous Hoi An dishes include “White Rose” (prawn dumplings) and “Cao Lau” (pork noodles).

2. Tailors

If you want any item of clothing (including shoes) made, Hoi An is your place!

With 400+ tailors it can seem quite overwhelming. They vary from high end boutiques with air conditioning, complimentary bottled water and comfortable seating to talk over your fabric choices, to an undercover market stall where you get changed behind a sheet!

Unsurprisingly, prices are charged accordingly.

Clothes are ready for their first fitting the following day, and if you’re on a tight schedule, you may even get a scooter ride back to your hotel!

3. Lanterns

Beautiful coloured lanterns are strung up high throughout the old town, zigzagging their way down the already picturesque streets.

But, it gets better!

After the sun sets, the temperate drops slightly and it’s time to prepare to be wowed by the river side! Vendors line the banks selling floating lanterns ready to join the hundreds already released – it is simply a beautiful sight.

Lantern shops come to life displaying their wares, and a simple stroll through the old town is instantly enthralling.

4. Cooking schools

With so many fantastic dishes to sample here, a visit to a cooking school to learn how to make them at home is a fantastic activity!

Classes start with a guided tour of the local market where you’re encouraged to ask questions, taste and take photos. This itself is an eye opening experience!

Once back in the classroom, traditional dishes such as rice paper rolls, papaya salad, grilled pork and prawn pancakes are created and eaten all together as a feast with your fellow chefs!

5. Bicycles

As the old town is closed to motorcycles and cars for the majority of the day, bicycles are the best way to get around! Not just practical, they’re also what create such a refreshingly relaxed feel in the town.

No hustle and bustle here!

Cycling tours are readily available and provide a great opportunity to explore the near by countryside with rice fields, farms and fishing ports.

Bikes are available for hire from most hotels in Hoi An, but if you’re not in the mood for a light work out, a cyclo taxi will is the perfect (and fun) alternative!

It was so hard to only list 5 reasons why I love Hoi An, and I’m sure that if you make the journey there yourself, it will be easy to see why!

To book a trip to Hoi An, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post The top 5 reasons I keep coming back to Hoi An, Vietnam! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

The girls shared a liver and were connected from chest to pelvis before being successfully separated in November by a team of 25 surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

For most of us, the story ends here when the girls left Melbourne. But for 2 lucky Mosaic Travellers, their introduction to Bhutan was enriched by a chance meeting with the family and an unexpected invitation.

Travellers G and R were lucky enough to be on the same flight to Bhutan as the twins and their Mum Bhumchu and can be seen pictured in the Herald Sun at the emotional reunion with their Father.

“Being there at the time was great but not as good as the next event which follows.”

Immediately after the flight had landed, the girls, parents and the rest of the family visited a near by 800 year old monastery. Coincidentally, this is the same monastery as G and R were scheduled to visit during their first hours in Bhutan!

After being noticed again by the family, they “included us in the ceremony at the monastery celebrating the return of the twins to Bhutan. Just TWO beautiful little girls, the family, G and I and the media.”

“A magic time in this magic country.”

“What a beautiful & emotional beginning to Bhutan (which we are loving).”

To have your own incredible experience in Bhutan, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post A magical Bhutan experience! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Here at Mosaic Travel, we know that there are countless destinations to visit around the Globe and will jump at any opportunity to travel, but if you’re looking for another reason, here are an extra 12! 

January:

Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, CHINA

It gets seriously cold in North East China and Winter gets made the most of with this month long festival. During the day, see the Worlds biggest ice sculptures and by night, visit “Ice and Snow World” featuring illuminated full sized buildings made from blocks of ice.
 

February:

Lantern festival, TAIWAN

Originally used in the Pingxi District to notify others that the town was safe, these lanterns are now decorated with well wishes and images relating to their owners before being released into the night sky. It is a simply beautiful sight.
 

March:

Rio Carnival, BRAZIL

Arguably the biggest festival (and party!) in the World, this week long event attracts nearly 5 million people per year who are all excited to join in the street parties and samba parades!

There is fierce competition among the fun, with 70+ Samba schools competing in mind-blowing costumes (roughly 3000 participants per school) to make it to the final extravaganza at Rio’s “Sambadrome”.
 

April:

Songkran, THAILAND

The Thai New Year is celebrated with a 3 day water fight using water guns, buckets, fire hoses and even elephants! Hawaiian shirts and dancing in one of the many street parties are highly encouraged at this time of year. You’re guaranteed to get soaked and have an amazing time!
 

May:

Cooper Hill’s Cheese Rolling Festival, ENGLAND

Every year, locals tumble 650 feet down to the bottom of the hill chasing a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese which reaches speeds up to 100km/h!

This tradition dates back several hundred years making the race a World-famous event with competitors travelling from across the globe to compete.
 

June:

FIFA Women’s World Cup, FRANCE

The eighth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be played in 9 cities across France this year. 24 teams will come to compete in what is quickly becoming a widely popular event on the sporting calendar.
 

July:

Running of the bulls, SPAIN

Whether you’re watching or running, this event is sure to up your heart rate! Every morning, 2000+ people run the 875m with 6 bulls through the city. This event is the highlight of the 8 day festival “Sanfermines” and was born from the need of  getting the bulls from outside the city, into the bullring.

DISCLAIMER: WE STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST RUNNING WITH THE BULLS DURING THIS FESTIVAL!
 

August:

La Tomatina, SPAIN

This festival is like no other! Since 1945, it has been held on the last Wednesday of August, during a week of festivities in Buñol, Valencia.

Legend has it that in 1945, some young boys joined a parade of musicians and performers on stilts before knocking one over. The performer flew into a fit of rage and a market stall of vegetables fell victim! This has grown to 20,000 people participating in one of the most bizarre and fun festivals every year!
 

September:

Oktoberfest, GERMANY

Oktoberfest: the Worlds largest beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany sine 1810. A 16-day festival running from late September to the first weekend in October with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year!

Apart from beer steins and bratwurst, you can also enjoy amusement rides, sidestalls, and games. 
 

October:

Diwali, INDIA

The 5 day Festival of Lights is the most celebrated event on the Hindu calendar. During the celebration, temples, homes, shops and office buildings are brightly illuminated.

Diwali symbolises the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.” 
 

November:

Dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead), MEXICO

Mexico’s most important and widely celebrated holiday! A colourful display of costume and culture, this holiday is all about getting together with friends and family to remember and celebrate ancestors who have died in order to help them on their spiritual journey.

It was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008 and since 2016, a parade has occurred to celebrate The Day of the Dead. This came after the James Bond film, Spectre, which featured one in its opening scene, however, the parade did not exist when the movie was made!
 

December:

Whirling Dervishes Festival, TURKEY

One of the Worlds greatest spectacles is the Rumi or Whirling Dervishes Festival in Konya, Turkey. The ritual pays homage to the Sufic Saint Mevlana and is so unique that UNESCO labelled it as one of the “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.”

To organise a trip around one of these fantastic events, 

call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Event Holidays, around the world in 12 events! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

When you start planning your once-in-a-lifetime Amazon adventure, you’ll come to a crossroad: should you choose a lodge-based adventure deep in the heart of the rainforest or would it be better to cruise along the Amazon River and its numerous branches instead?

Every decision you make about your tour of the Amazon will be consequential to this first choice. Both travel methods offer sensational benefits unique to each other and, as expected, there are also a few downsides.

To decide which option is best for you, ask yourself these questions before planning an Amazon adventure:

• How much comfort do you need in the Amazon, one of the most challenging ecosystems on Earth?
• What is your budget for your Amazon adventure?
• How active are you normally, and how active would you like to be on your trip?
• What time of year will you travel? In the Amazon, water levels are crucial to choosing your travel style.
• How flexible can you be in regards to your travel dates?
• How immersive would you like your Amazon experience to be?

Experience the Amazon by River Cruise

The Pros

Amazon cruises have become increasingly popular, given they offer the kind of luxury and comforts most travellers used to fantasise about.

The Amazon is amazing, that’s true, but it’s also extremely harsh. It can be unbearably hot and humid and an unrelentingly challenge, where a million creepy crawlies constantly remind you that this is a place governed by nature, not man! Amazon river cruises offer a respite to all that, in between phenomenal excursions and adventures.

At the end of a long day exploring the wilderness by canoe or on foot, searching for sloths, toucans, monkeys and anacondas, it’s just heavenly to come back to an air-conditioned cabin, have a refreshing shower and enjoy a gourmet dinner in absolute comfort.

On a luxury cruise boat, you can enjoy a magnificent Amazonian sunrise from the comfort of your bed, as the scenery glides past your floor-to-ceiling window as if on a film reel. 

The Cons

So, what’s the downside? Well, all this comfort and luxury comes at a cost: Luxury Amazon cruises are certainly more expensive than many lodge-based adventures.

Cruises also depart on certain dates, follow a certain itinerary and can’t be changed. Your independence, in this sense, is compromised and you have to plan your travel around the cruise dates and accept their itineraries.

Experience the Amazon by Lodge-based adventure

The Pros

Many travellers dream of an Amazon adventure their entire life: of being surrounded by wild animals and overwhelming wilderness, of feeling like a true adventurer exploring the jungle with a machete in one hand and a bandana in the other, swinging from vines while roaring like Tarzan!

If this sounds like you, then a lodge-based Amazon adventure has your name all over it! 

The lodges are gorgeous places to stay, some of them set in stunning remote Amazonian locations.

Lodge-based journeys are immersive to the max, making you feel at one with nature and giving you an unfiltered Amazonian experience, bugs and all! Choose to stay in a lodge and you’ll be surrounded by it on all sides, seeing monkeys as you enjoy your breakfast and falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

Your adventure will be when you want and for however long you want. You’ll have total travel control following whichever itinerary you wish.

Lodge-based Amazon adventures can be the stuff of lifelong dreams.

The Cons

No matter how luxurious the lodge, a few basic rules remain: electricity is limited, insects are not, air-con is hard to come by and meals are a lot more basic than the kind you’re served on cruises. 

Eco-lodges in the Amazon build their beautiful thatched-roof huts with sustainable natural materials, which unfortunately allow insects to crawl through, although mosquito-netting and fans will ensure you won’t be feasted upon at night.

Top-end lodges still won’t give much reprieve from the Amazonian conditions and come in at a steep price!

Amazon Adventures – Other Things to Consider

Water levels can vary dramatically throughout the year and determine which way you will experience the Amazon despite your personal needs and wishes.

During high water levels, on-land excursions are curbed and here is where cruising reigns supreme. You can reach deeper into the Amazon rainforest than ever before, exploring various river off shoots and regions where no lodges have been built.

If you manage to reach a remote lodge to stay in, you simply won’t be able to get around much on foot, leaving you to explore by canoe.

50/50 There are also options for a 50-50 compromise, where you spend a few nights in a beautiful lodge to soak up that wondrous wild experience and then cap off your adventure in style on a cruise for a few nights. What a wonderful way to experience both!

It (almost) doesn’t matter! I’ve never met anyone who’s travelled to the Amazon and regretted the experience, no matter how much they spent or how much they suffered the heat and humidity.

The Amazon is the South American bucket-list destination that has the ability to change the way you think about the World, the way you consider nature, our planet’s wilderness and all the wonderful creatures that inhabit it.

It is an astounding place to visit, no matter how, where and when.

So choose for you: for your level of fitness and budget, for your priorities and your necessities and for your dreams and desires.

Then enjoy the magnificent Amazon!

To enquire about a trip to the Amazon, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Lodge VS Cruise – What’s the Best Way to Explore the Amazon? appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Northern Territory to the East.

Great Sandy Desert to the South.

Indian Ocean on its Western edge.

Located on the northern-most part of Western Australia and covering some 421,451 square kilometres (an area three times the size of England) you find the Kimberley.

Being home to only 40,000 people means that there are fewer people per kilometre than almost any other place on the planet!

Over 60% of this population are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander who have given this region one of its most prized attractions: Indigenous rock art.

To truly appreciate the beauty and brilliance that dominates this region, navigating the Kimberley by 4WD is the way to go!

When to travel

The Kimberley has two seasons: the dry and the wet.

During the wet season – from November to April – monsoonal rains fall and rivers flood, making large areas of the Kimberley impassable.

The dry season typically has clear blue skies, Easterly winds and warm days with occasional cool nights.

If you’re wanting to see water fall’s at their prime, a visit at the end of April or May is ideal after they’ve been replenished from the wet season.

History

This is one of the earliest settled parts of Australia, and provides important geological and fossil evidence (dinosaur footprints!!) of Australia’s evolutionary history.

The Kimberley has been occupied by over 30 Aboriginal tribes for at least 40,000 years and continues to be home to Aboriginal groups practising traditional law in the World’s oldest continuous culture.

People have been drawn to The Kimberley for centuries. Firstly to grow crops, then to herd cattle in the mid 19^th  century. There was the gold rush in 1886 bringing an influx of Chinese and Europeans before pearling boomed in the late 19th century.

Today, people from all over the World come to visit the Kimberley’s National and World Heritage listed parks, its dramatic and beautiful landscapes, pristine beaches, ancient gorges, waterfalls and rugged outback.

Must Sees

Art

The Kimberley is home to hundreds of thousands of rock art paintings and drawings known as “Bradshaw” or “Wandjina” rock art. These beautiful and mysterious paintings are hidden in outback bush galleries on the huge escarpments and terracotta rocks of the North Kimberley.

Coast

More than just the red dirt dessert, the Coast is one of Western Australia’s biggest assets.

Cable beach: beautiful turquoise water for 24km’s.

Broome: World famous for pearls!

Buccaneer Archipelago: A group off Islands just off the Kimberley’s North Eastern coast (a 35minute flight). Rugged red cliffs, cool waters and white sandy beaches.

Waterfalls

You’ll find the most incredible waterfalls in Australia (if not the World) here. Fly above, swim and explore over half a dozen of them!

Purnululu National Park

World Heritage Purnululu is home to the incredible striped ‘beehive’ domes of the Bungle Bungle Range.

The rounded rock towers are made of sandstone and other finer materials moulded together by rainfall over millions of years. Their stripes are the result of oxidised iron compounds and algae.

To the local Kidja people, “purnululu” means sandstone.

Mornington Wilderness Camp

Part of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the superb “Mornington Wilderness Camp” is as remote as it gets!

Sitting on the Fitzroy River, it’s a scenic 95km drive across the savannah from the Gibb’s 247km mark. Nearly 400,000 hectares of gorges and savannah are devoted to conserving the Kimberley’s endangered fauna and there’s excellent canoeing, swimming, birdwatching and bushwalking here.

Threats

The Kimberley faces a number of serious environmental pressures, including climate change, large wild fires, feral animals, weeds and cattle grazing degradation.

Cruise

Not sure what to see or how to fit everything in while still having a relaxing holiday?

Take a 12 day luxury cruise that includes all the highlights!

You’ll see 6 fresh water waterfalls, Bradshaw and Wandjina art, Buccaneer Archipelago, Montgomery reef, and the list goes on! 

If you’re wanting to explore more, take an optional helicopter flight or fishing trip!

Easily accessible with most Australian capitals flying directly to Broome, the Kimberley is one of Australia’s most under rated holiday destinations packed with so many beautiful landscapes and history that you won’t want to come home!

To enquire about the stunning Kimberley, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Australia in Focus: The Kimberley appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

What can BT&T Travellers expect on their tour of Uzbekistan?

Many layers of a long and fascinating history and a rich culture of the Silk Road and the melting pot of people.We learn the history of invasion from before Kublai Khan to more recent time when Russia dominated the area.Now, it is developing and changing while hanging on to cultural traditions that include a wonderful array of handcrafts.

Step out your door and you are in the midst of thriving market places, old trading domes, mosques, squares, madrassas and minarets covered in blue and turquoise tiles reflecting the light and life of the area.

 

 

What can BT&T Travellers expect on a textile tour of Uzbekistan?

We meet many wonderful Master artisans (in weaving, suzani and ceramics), some of whom have travelled and presented at the famous Sante Fe Folk Art Market.

Be prepared to be overwhelmed by the quality and volume of the work and leave caution behind – you will not be able to resist!

 

Can you tell me more about the style of tours BT&T offer?

Our small group travel is a perfect option for travellers keen to explore beyond the tourist track, and many are like minded in their dreams to travel this part of the Silk Road.

 

Accommodation is in boutique hotels throughout the trip, treating ourselves to a luxury hotel at the beginning and end.

Most meals are included in the tour.

 

In your opinion, what are the absolute ‘must-sees’ for a first time traveller to Uzbekistan?

Our guests tell us that our whole tour is complete with ‘must-see’ and must-do’s’ starting with the Fergana Valley with its embracing hospitality and fabulous textiles. Also the ancient walled city of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand.

Is there anything travellers need to be aware of when travelling to Uzbekistan?

There are many WOW moments along the way, it is truly wonderful.

 

When is the best time to visit Uzbekistan?

Autumn is wonderful, the weather is constantly warm but can get a little cool towards the end of the season. Spring time! The flowers are beautiful and the pastures are greener after winter rain and snow.

 

The post Uzbekistan appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Here are the reasons why I think Sri Lanka should be on everyone’s holiday list for 2019.

Beautiful Beaches

Sri Lanka has beautiful, unspoilt, white sandy beaches! Unlike some neighbouring countries, Sri Lanka’s beaches are free from rubbish, and the water is clear and inviting. There are beautiful beaches in the west, near Galle, in the south around Mirissa and Tangalle, in the east near Trincomalee, and even in Negombo, 10kms from the airport!

The best beach depends on the time of year you’re visiting, so as to avoid the monsoon. Give us a call for the low-down!

Hill country 

Only a few hours’ drive inland from the coast takes you to spectacular, green hill country. With mountains as high as 2000 metres, the weather here is usually humid and wet – perfect for growing tea! The first tea plantations were planted by the British in 1824, and since then, tea has quickly become Sri Lanka’s greatest export. The central highlands region still has a distinct British flavour, with Nurawa Eliya town nicknamed ‘Little England’ for its stately homes, hedge gardens, and a colonial ‘Grand Dame-esque’ hotel serving up a very British afternoon tea.
Taking a local train through the hill country is an absolute must. It’s a chance to mix with the locals and stick your head out the window to feel the breeze in your hair, while you watch the most beautiful green, rolling tea plantations pass you by.

It’s a slow journey – timetables mean nothing – however a passing parade of food sellers will help to keep hunger at bay, offering spiced nuts, fried dhal and hot masala chai.

“Ella” is a great little town with a handful of quirky cafes and shops, and if you venture just a few kilometres out of town, you’re deep in tea-country.
There are beautiful walks you can do in this region, across the Horton Plains too. There is plenty in this region to keep you entertained for a few days!

Safari

Did you know Sri Lanka has the highest population of leopards in Asia? Arriving at Yala National Park is like being transported to a completely different destination – it’s hot and dry, with vast plains – perfect for spotting leopards in the wild. As well as leopards, you can see elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, monkeys, and plenty of birdlife in the National Park.

There’s nothing like going on a jeep safari at dawn or dusk, cameras at the ready, hoping to spot animals in their natural habitat!

In the centre of the country (near Sigiriya), a visit to either Minneriya or Kawudulla National Parks is a must, for their huge Elephant population. Where else can you visit an ancient historical site in the morning, go on safari in the afternoon, and have a cocktail by the pool at your hotel in the evening?!

Food

Sri Lankan food is fresh, spicy and full of flavour! The main spices Sri Lankans use in their foods are cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Curry leaves are also used often, and of course, everything is flavoured with fresh coconut.
Egg hoppers are a fantastic start to the day – a type of crepe made from rice flour and coconut milk, with an egg in the middle. These are topped with a dhal curry, and fresh, grated coconut.

For other meals, curry is the order of the day, with plenty of lime and coconut milk. Coconut sambal accompanies everything – this is a mixture of fresh grated coconut, chilli, garlic and lime.
Dessert is crème caramel, or a coconut and honey mixture, either deep-fried, or rolled up in a crepe.

Travellers to Sri Lanka certainly wont go hungry!

The people

Sri Lankans are some of the friendliest people I’ve met! They’re genuinely proud to show off their beautiful country, and will go out of their way to help travellers.

In our week-long trip through the country, we were not hassled once, nor pressured to buy anything. On the road, all timings are quoted in ‘Sri-Lankan time’, ie, a 100km journey will take ‘3 hours, Sri Lankan time’ , always said with a cheeky grin, meaning it will probably take 4 hours! This however, is no cause for angst, and we didn’t encounter any erratic driving, road rage or excessive tooting.

Direct flights from Australia

If you live in Victoria like me, we’re lucky enough to have direct flights from Melbourne to Colombo, with Sri Lankan Airlines! The service encountered onboard is difficult to fault, with good food (Sri Lankan chicken curry for dinner), a decent selection of in-flight entertainment options, and comfortable seating.

With a flying time of 10 hours, Sri Lanka has never felt more accessible!
For those with frequent flyer memberships with other carriers, or those looking to fly from Australia’s other Capital cities, there are plenty of other great options, with Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways or Cathay Pacific, among others.

Sri Lanka makes for a great holiday destination combined with a stopover in Singapore, Bangkok, or perhaps even the Maldives?

An undiscovered gem, for now

Sri Lanka is distinctly un-touristy. There are very few tourist shops and restaurants, and almost zero souvenirs. Beaches are free from hawkers and you don’t see many other tourists wandering around.
However, this will almost certainly change in the near future. Lonely Planet has just named Sri Lanka the #1 destination to visit in 201 9 and it is the destination on everyone’s lips.

I think some of Sri Lanka’s pristine, beautiful charm may be lost in the next 5 – 10 years, so if you’re considering a visit to beautiful Sri Lanka, I recommend going now!

To enquire about a fabulous trip to Sri Lanka, call Rosie on (03) 5275 4583!

The post 7 reasons why you should visit Sri Lanka NOW! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

To book an incredible tour to Iran, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Mystical Iran; an interview with small-group tour operator, Anoush appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Food plays such a huge part in Thai culture, it’s more than just a meal, it’s a time for friends and families to cook, eat and spend time together.

It provides a livelihood for so many:

Village famers

Cooks

Street food vendors

The lady on the foothpath selling bags of limes and chillies!

Street food can be found anywhere at any time on food carts, motorbike BBQ’s, smoothie stands, tropical fruit carts, ice cream bicycles, foot path restaurants… the list goes on!

All the food I’ve eaten from these places has been 100% safe to eat and more delicious than the hotel restaurant! (Sorry to my Doctor back home in Geelong!)

While having so many options may seem overwhelming, a lot of stall holders are able to tell you the English name of what they’re selling. If not, point, smile and enjoy what you’re served – it’s more than likely going to be delicious!

These are my top 5 street meals:

BBQ fish

Salt crusted fresh whole fish (similar to snapper) stuffed with herbs and BBQ’d to perfection!

These fish come with noodles, lettuce and a hot pungent sauce (think lime, fresh herbs, chilli and garlic).

Take a lettuce leaf in your hand to form a cup, fill with fish, noodles and sauce then roll – it can get messy.

Expect to pay up to $10 for 1 fish with all the accompaniments (pricey for street food, but worth it).

**Don’t be put off by the look of these fish, they are my absolute favourite! Please don’t be afraid to try it!!

Pork leg on rice

Pork is king in Thailand, and this simple dish is an absolute winner.

The pork has been slowly braised in a delicious broth (soy, garlic and herbs) until juicy and tender then is served on rice with fresh herbs.

A large pile of the stewed pork can be seen at the front of the shop to help you know you’ve found the right place – it’s a great reason to stop and have a quick plate!

This costs between $2 and $4 depending if your dish comes with boiled egg or not.

Mango Sticky Rice

Street dessert! Mango’s are abundant here and enjoyed in salads, smoothies or the classic “mango sticky rice”.

Rice cooked with sweetened coconut milk is matched with fresh mango, a creamy coconut/pandan sauce and crunchy mung beans (don’t be put off by the name, they’re just like crushed peanuts!).

This simple dessert is creamy, sweet and fresh and is a reason itself for coming to Thailand!

Chicken/pork skewers

After a quick snack? BBQ skewers can be easily found in stalls or on the back of a motorbike BBQ.

Sticky grilled pork or chicken with a soy based glaze are a delicious snack for $0.50C to $1 each.

Chicken noodle soup

Similar to “pho”, this delicious soup is a staple in a Thai and expat diet!

For $2, you get a bowl of noodles, tender chicken and broth made with daikon (Asian white radish) bought to your table. Also available with duck! Yum!

At the table, you can customise your bowl with a choice of fresh ingredients:

Thai basil

Bean shoots

Boiled eggs

Lotus root

Cabbage

Snake beans (Similar to green beans)

Then add your seasonings:

Fish sauce

Sugar

Peanuts

Chilli (in 3 different varieties: dry flakes, wet flakes and chilli vinegar)

If you’re not sure what to add, just watch a local!

This lunch follows the rule of thai cooking by including something sweet (sugar), salty (fish sauce) and hot (chilli).

It’s fresh, flavoursome and a steal at $2 per bowl.

Once you’ve enjoyed your street meal, leave your empty plate and cutlery (spoon and fork) on the table and let the cook know you enjoyed it by saying“aroy mak!” (arr-roy muck)– it gets a smile every time.

The post Bangkok Street Food – By Mosaic correspondent Holly Richardson appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

These were the endearing sentiments of my husband’s Baba (now passed) when she first met me. Of course, I didn’t understand it at the time because I didn’t speak Croatian and she didn’t speak English but it was later translated and will be a sentence that stays with me forever.

Five years later and at times, it feels as though there is no other explanation for it. I look around and am still struck by the natural beauty of Croatia; the climate, history, tradition and culture… it all still has me spellbound. And now, I get to share my love and passion with guests sailing up and down the Dalmatian coast. So, how did a kiwi come to live and work on a yacht in Croatia?

I first came to Croatia almost six years ago, I had just finished a 2-year stint in London and my soul was in need of sunshine, freedom and adventure. I knew nothing about Croatia at the time, I had only seen a few dreamy pictures from my friends who had been sailing in Croatia and that was enough.

After travelling around Europe, through a series of coincidences, I ended up working on a boat in Croatia as a tour guide for young aussie and kiwi travellers.

I instantly fell in love with the country, something about it made me feel home. While the turquoise waters and coastline held me captivated, it was the people more than anything who really made me feel welcome. Once I got to know the locals, it didn’t take long before they all started telling me that I was Dalmatian at heart, that I would find love and end up moving to Croatia. I figured this was just a line they used on all of the young, enthusiastic travellers but it turns out, they were right.

This is where the story gets a little cliché, I met Mirko – my now husband, on a boat in Croatia. Not just any boat either, it was a replica pirate ship! To cut a long story short, Mirko and I got together (in my second summer in Croatia); then I moved to Australia for work but inevitably booked a one-way ticket back to Croatia and married my man of the Adriatic.

Since then, we have been working on luxury yachts together, Mirko as the Captain and I work as the hostess. A lot of people think it is a dream to be living and working together on a yacht but I will say this now, working with your partner, in a small confined space is not for everyone. Restaurants taught me a lot of valuable lessons but no matter how difficult, at the end of the day, you still get to go home to your own space. Not so on a yacht. You cannot fake working in this industry, living and working in the same space can be intense, so you really need to be in it for the right reasons and love what you do. Thankfully, we do.

Sailing and the sea has been Mirko’s passion for more than a decade; he loves raising the sails and showing people his country. As well as being the Captain, Mirko is also a – carpenter, electrician, plumber… all of these traits come in extremely handy when you live and work on a boat for 4 – 5 months. My background is in hospitality, for the better part of a decade, I worked in and managed restaurants in NZ, Australia and London. This passion for hospitality, gastronomy and more importantly – people, was the perfect foundation for life on a boat.

I may sound biased when I say this – but after working on yachts in Croatia for a few years now, I can hand-to-my-heart say that when you are booking a sailing holiday, the crew are one of the most important factors. Think about it for a second, you could book the most beautiful yacht but if the crew are incompetent or even just that bit miserable, it will impact on the energy of your holiday. For better or worse, the crew become a part of your travel memories. I have been lucky enough to work among some fantastic crews and it was something that our guests always commented on.

This year, Mirko and I are moving away from luxury cruising vessels and are instead managing and crewing (just the 2 of us) a gorgeous, classic 72-foot sailing yacht. Mirko is thrilled because it means he will be able to hoist the sails a lot more than in previous years and I am excited for the clientele I believe this yacht will attract. While luxury cruising was all good and well, we both have so much passion for Croatia that we want to share with our guests – rather than just ‘serving’.

Croatia has a rich history and culture, the food and wine scene is only just being discovered and for those who want adventure or to get ‘off-the-beaten-path’, we know exactly where to take you. I think this is the beauty of being a foreigner in this role and why Mirko and I make such a great team. For me, the awe of how special Croatia is hasn’t worn off, I see this in our guests and get to guide them through their experience, all while understanding an international traveller’s expectations. Whereas Mirko is from Croatia, he knows the coastline like the back of his hands and can share genuine experiences of growing up here.

Our motto is “SEA it different”; we want our guests to have a beautiful, relaxed sailing holiday but we also pride ourselves on customising our itineraries to match our guests’ interests and expectations while showing them ‘our’ Croatia – rather than a copy-paste tour.

Like I said, the job itself can be challenging but waking up on the water, in a new destination every day and showing people around a country that we both love, really is a dream job to me, to us. We are already excited for the summer sailing season ahead and cannot wait to create new memories for our guests. See you in Croatia!

If you’re interested in joining Tash and Mirko in Croatia, or have any questions about sailing in Croatia, get in touch with us on (03) 8609 7499 or send an email to rosie@mosaictravel.com.au

The post How did a Kiwi come to live and work on a yacht in Croatia? appeared first on Mosaic Travel.