01Jul 2020 by Adriana Petkov
Paella, Por Favor – Foodie Tips in Valencia

Paella, Por Favor – Foodie Tips in Valencia

Travel
Paella. The rice dish made famous by Spain, by Valencia specifically. You heard me right, Barcelona and Madrid, the unique bomba rice is grown and hand-picked only in this part of the world, adding a unique grainy texture, yet full of flavour. The Valencianos take great pride in making this labour intensive culinary delight over a slow-burning fire and nothing will upset them more than seeing slices of chorizo in the mix or you squeezing lemon on to it. But what makes a paella a quintessential paella? Conspiracy theories are rife on this and have torn many a friendship apart, ranging from the type of rice you use to the stock (and the water in the stock) to the sacred trilogy of ingredients always being snails, rabbit, and vegetables. It's…
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13Jun 2018 by Adriana Petkov
Oman – The World’s Best Kept Secret

Oman – The World’s Best Kept Secret

Travel
The Sultanate of Oman is a nation on the Arabian Peninsula blessed with warm weather year-round, friendly locals and a myriad of gorgeous natural landscapes from desert dunes, rugged mountain peaks, a verdant oasis and azure blue sea. In an era of turbulence in the neighbouring Middle-East and even further afield, Oman is serenely beautiful and peaceful. Many attribute the region's stability and prosperity to its leader: Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said who has been in power since 1970. If you expect Muscat, the capital of Oman, to be similar to Dubai (which is just a 30min plane ride away) - you will be disappointed as the laconic, ancient port town is more akin to Disney's version of Arabia with pastel coloured minarets, prettily lit up palaces and forts. Popular…
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20Mar 2018 by Adriana Petkov
Beyond Patagonia in Chile

Beyond Patagonia in Chile

Travel
Welcome to the land of weons, people who add in “po” at the end of every word and throw your school taught Spanish out the window. Chilenismo is best drank sober, a tough challenge considering you have touched down in a long and narrow nation rich in grapes used in wine and dare I say it, the national drink pisco. Chile is a South American country occupying land between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, and Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far south. Its 756,096.3km2 worth of territory is topographically unique and rich in minerals (Chile is the world’s number 2 producer of lithium) with a very varied natural climate.…
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17Oct 2017 by Adriana Petkov
Montenegro, The A-List Place To Be

Montenegro, The A-List Place To Be

Latest News, Travel
There is a reason why Conde Naste Travel named Montenegro as one of the year’s emerging destinations. It takes up less space than Connecticut and has a lower population than Stockholm but the tiny Balkan nation should not be overlooked – especially since it’s quieter and more unspoiled than neighbours, Greece and Croatia. My advice? Start packing before everyone else starts to catch on. Mountains The heroic kinfolk of Montenegro are known as the Djetići and has years of folklore associated with the strength and dynamism of its people, who have climbed the steep Dinaric Alps for centuries. Perched atop one of the highest peaks in Lovcen National Park is the Njegos Mausoleum. It houses the remains of the most loved poet, philosopher, and icon in the region - Petar…
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19Sep 2017 by Adriana Petkov
The Rose of Europe – Sofia, Bulgaria

The Rose of Europe – Sofia, Bulgaria

Latest News, Travel
Despite it being the 21st century, mention Sofia or Bulgaria, to the average Westerner, and you either draw up a blank facial expression followed by a despairing ‘Where?’ or a standoffish stance visualizing a grey, drab Iron Curtain communist country. How different is the reality of this hidden Eastern European gem? Located at the foot of 2209m high Vitosha Mountain, is the historic capital – Sofia, an area of human habitation since at least 7000BC. Sofia, also known by the Ancient Greeks as Serdika and by the Slavs as Sredets, was fondly known as ‘my Rome’ by the Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great. Located on the Balkan Peninsula between the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea, the nation has always been part of the important East-West trade routes from the…
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18May 2017 by Adriana Petkov
Hua Hin – Thailand’s Secret Paradise

Hua Hin – Thailand’s Secret Paradise

Travel
Thailand has long been a popular holiday destination for Australian travellers. Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui – all have regular flights, filled with couples, families and solo travellers seeking the delights of a tropical country with delicious cuisine, affordable shopping and indulgent Thai Spa centres. Amazingly Hua Hin has managed to evade the hordes of tourists despite all its beauty. Easily accessible from Bangkok – just a 3hr drive south, the city has always been popular with those keen to escape the stifling heat of Thailand’s capital. In the 1920s, Rama VI (King Vajiravudh) and Rama VII (King Prajadhipok) built summer residences here. The enormous Phra Ratchawang Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries Palace) remains a royal residence. In the 1980s there was a construction boom, which put the area on…
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