Shortly after boarding in Fethiye (southern Turkey), we were shown our private double cabin with ensuite. This was used mainly as a storage room and the weather was so hot, it was more comfortable to sleep under the stars on the front deck!

We set off for our 4 day, 3 night adventure with 5 other guests and I couldn’t believe my eyes once we’d reached our first stop: Crystal clear turquoise water perfect for swimming.

The day was spent diving off the deck, reading books, playing chess and jumping into the water again once you’d become too hot. Our only interruptions were from the captain and his deckhand ringing the bell for “breakfast!!”, “lunch!!” and “dinner!!!”

At each meal time we were treated to a feast of fresh, organic Turkish food. From freshly caught seafood, to breakfast buffets, salads and (my favourite) BBQ night where we were served freshly made kofta and marinated steak.

Everyone’s dietary needs were catered for with the majority of guests being vegetarian and I was even treated with freshly baked brownies on my birthday!

Someone remarked “how is it possible that 2 men on a boat have served us with food more spectacular than our hotels!!?”

The whole boat has such a laid back feel with an honesty system for drinks, and all meals and snacks included in the boat fare, your wallet stays in the cabin the whole time.

The following days were spent swimming, swimming and swimming – I couldn’t get enough!

I was able to finish a book (a rare luxury) and learnt how to play chess again.

Living on the Ocean is very calming and spending so much time on the water gives you no distractions or worries.

Having no wifi adds to this by forcing you to literally disconnect – this was the ultimate way to relax.

On our last day we were surprised by a treat from the main land: A small speed boat was zipping from yacht to yacht shouting “ice cream”, “ice cream”!

I couldn’t believe it!

I instantly ran to find some coins and wave down my new best friend. His ice cream was protected from the blazing sun by liquid nitrogen and was popular with all the guests on board.

When it was time to disembark, I was sadly greeted with the reality of every day life: bustling streets, shops and internet. But mainly, the realisation of just how relaxing my time on the boat had been.

With my sea legs and sunburn, I arrived at my next hotel hoping the ice cream man would visit here as well.

To book yourself on this heavenly cruise in Southern Turkey, call Rosie on (03) 5275 4583!

The post My time cruising the Mediterranean 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.

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.