Reset search
My Big OE
  • Belinda Olds
Mar – May 2017

My Big OE

A 53-day adventure by Belinda Read more
+3
FollowInsightsCalendarShareShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Trip start
    March 26, 2017
    Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    1
    1

    It all begins...

    March 26, 2017 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    The day is finally here. My bags are packed and I'm all checked in for the first flight Wellington to Melbourne. Nervously excited about the adventures ahead and happy it's finally starting. I look forward to many new places and experiences along the way.

    My lovely daughters gave me a gift of a punga greenstone necklace. It is to give me security, stability, peace and strength to endure in the days ahead.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    113

    ... in Dubai

    March 27, 2017 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    After nearly 18 hours of flying (with about 7 of sleep) I arrived in Dubai. I was impressed by the sheer size and luxury of the buildings, even the airport. My hotel is on the other hand nice and small with staff that go out of their way to help. I arrived way before check in time so they upgraded me to a suite on the top floor for free so they could get me into a room early. My only criticism would be that the coffee cost 20 AED (or $7.70 NZD). After a quick shower I headed off to the Dubai Mall...Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    1
    2

    Dubai Mall

    March 27, 2017 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    The Dubai Mall lived up to its reputation for being more than a shopping destination with an aquarium, an ice skating rink, a beautiful waterfall and a great fountain. It had a very American, Las Vegas feel to me with just the odd different looking shop and some Arabic signs setting it apart.Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    2

    Desert Adventure

    March 28, 2017 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    I got picked up for my desert safari by Ahmed driving a plain 4 wheel drive and the adventure began from that moment! As we collected more people and drove to our destination in the desert he drove like an absolute maniac! As we sped at up to 140 km/hour he wove around the lanes (no indicators of course,they seem entirely optional here) while tailgating those in his way and simultaneously having furious conversations in Arabic on his phone. He asked us with a wicked glint every now and then if we liked his driving. What was it going to be like on the desert!

    It actually was so much fun hooning around the desert, as we had realised he was actually in full control all the time (or was a good bluffer!).He delighted in making us shriek and often took a path with no other tire marks to add to the adventure. We stopped for photos and eventually made it safely to the desert camp We had some surprisingly yummy food (given it was a touristy affair) and some great entertainment with belly dancers and fire eaters!. I made friends with three lovely young Swedish girls and was so glad I went on this little adventure.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler

    Old Dubai

    March 28, 2017 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    This morning I went on a historical and cultural walking tour of the older part of Dubai. While I waited for the tour to start I went into this lovely tea shop and had a "blooming" tea. The waitress dropped what looked like a ball of dry grass into a glass teapot of hot water. As I watched the ball opened and bloomed into a bunch of flowers that flavored the tea. So lovely and refreshing.

    The tour started at the Dubai museum which is housed in the restored Al Fahaidi fort. We then walked through the old town and visited a coffee museum. We tried some freshly brewed coffee and Mohammad (the guide) talked to us about Dubai history and cultural practices. A short boat ride across the creek, took us to a gold souk (market) and a spice souk. A fascinating tour that took almost four hours to complete and contributed to the 16,000 steps I walked today!    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    1

    The Burj Khalifa

    March 28, 2017 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    This afternoon I went up the tallest building in the world. The lift ride was smooth and ear popping fast. I went up at 5:00pm so that I could see the view in daylight, catch the sunset and then enjoy the lights. It was truly spectacular.Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    1

    Dubai Night Lights

    March 28, 2017 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    After my trip up the Burj I managed to catch the fountains music display in the lake by the Dubai Mall.I had seen them from the top looking down but it was much more rewarding at ground level. Set to Bond 007 theme music, it was a spectacular show. The Burj was twinkling to one side and the lights were all very pretty. A great day!Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    11

    Dubai to London

    March 30, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Time to leave Dubai and head for London. I went for a walk around the hotel area early in the morning before it got too hot. It was nice to visit some of the local businesses and see the less commercial side of Dubai. I had time to laze by the rooftop pool at the hotel and read a book before heading to the airport.

    The Emerites terminal was enormous and full of travelers but check in was very efficient. I was offered an exit row to my delight and it ended up being the very front row of the plane. Lots of legroom and I was close to all the drama. We were delayed takeoff while a very privileged young Arabic man insisted he should be in business class and that someone with the same name had stolen his seat! The front seat drama continued when an elderly lady collapsed and a makeshift bed was made at the front while they gave her oxygen and took her blood pressure etc..

    Finally made it to Heathrow and after speedy customs (thank you British passport) I was on my way via train and taxi to my hotel. The room in my London hotel is tiny with a single bed but very cute and the location looks very good.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler

    London Wandering

    March 31, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    I was up early on my first day in London (time keeps shifting around!) so I decided to walk to my first booked activity. I had read about the free Sky Garden and had luckily seen it early enough to book a time slot for late morning. Mr Google told me the walk was about 80 minutes and it went close to Buckingham Palace and then around a waterfront walk by the Thames.

    It was a lovely fresh spring day and just perfect for exploring. The palace was very impressive and wasn't crowded that early in the day. I then made my way through the picturesque St James Park where the spring flowers were starting to bloom all around.

    Nearby Trafalgar square was chaotic and busy as I think everyone was trying to get to work! I loved seeing all the names of the streets so familiar after playing Monopoly. My walk then veered off to a path along the lovely embankment park by the river. I passed by the Savoy, which had only been my second choice of Hotel!. I passed the "border" to the city of London guarded by some Lion Statues and finally reached the impressive building housing the Sky Garden. I'll post a separate footprint for my time there.

    I next headed for the other side of the Thames, braving the underground to save time and my feet, before walking over a foot and rail bridge to where the London Eye sat dominating the skyline. I had fast track tickets to avoid the large queue of tourist waiting in the very warm sun (getting a better summer in London). There will be a separate footprint for this stop too.

    After a nice lunch in the park, bought from the huge range of prepared food in a local Tesco's, I headed to Covent Gardens and wandered around exploring the area. By now it was about 6:00pm and I had exceeded 20,000 steps, so I found a bus to my Hotel and called it a day with a takeaway burger and a glass of wine for dinner.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    1

    London Skygarden

    March 31, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    This was a hidden gem that I only read about a couple of weeks before I left for this trip. Free entry but you reserved a time slot in advance. An impressive building with amazing views from the greenhouse like gardens up the top. Several cafes to choose from with lots of seating near the views. I had a nice flat white and on the coffee price index it was a medium ($5NZD so cheaper than Dubai's $7).Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    1

    The London Eye

    March 31, 2017 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    The London Eye can be seen from all over London and I decided the lovely spring weather was perfect to see the views from this famous wheel. A fast track ticket zoomed me past the large queue of other people with the same idea and I was in a capsule with only 8 others for some reason. The views were certainly very good and the ride was slow enough to enjoy London from every angle.Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler

    Windsor Castle

    April 1, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Two short train rides from London and you can be in Windsor. I arrived just in time for the changing of the guards and it was much easier to see than at Buckingham Palace. A short walk up the hill and Windsor Castle can be seen in all its glory. I headed straight for the tour of the State Apartments. This was really worth seeing (again no photos allowed). A fascinating insight into Royal life both past and present. I especially liked the China room showing a huge variety of the beautiful sets. There was also a room that had a sheild for every knight of the royal order on its ceiling.

    The grounds of the castle are beautiful with gardens filling the disused moats. Definitely worth the time to visit    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    11

    The Tower of London

    April 1, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    This was one of my favourite places to visit in London. I had not realised it was so big and I ended up spending several hours exploring this landmark. I joined a talk by one of the Yeoman Wardens. It was an hour of humerous theatrics mixed with interesting facts about traitors, murderers and beheadings performed in the Tower.

    I then went to see the Crown Jewels and was happy it was spring so the large queuing area wasn't required. The jewels were absolutely stunning and I found it hard to believe they were real as the security seemed low key (no bag scanners like most of the other tourist attractions). No photos were allowed unfortunately.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler

    The Tower Bridge

    April 1, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    This beautiful old Bridge was surprisingly interesting to visit and not just look at. I took a tour which meant you could walk across the top walkways, enjoy the view and take the classic glass floor photos.

    The most fascinating part was when you go below the bridge and see the lovely old boilers and steam engines which operate the lifting of the spans.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    2

    Westminster attack

    April 2, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    I'm visiting the area around Westminster this morning. There are some very somber reminders of the things that are happening in the world right now. I loved the letter from one Londoner who wrote with pride and defiance that they would not give in to fear. I feel this way too and will continue to travel and visit the places I want to see.Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    11

    The Tate Modern

    April 2, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    I decided to visit the modern art museum The Tate even though I am not the biggest fan of modern art. The building the museum is in is another repurposed one as it used to be an electricity plant. I love that they do this and it made it an interesting space for the art. As to the art, I still don't understand most of it despite reading the explanations and examining my reactions to what I was seeing. To me the yellow triangle was just that and I found the long winded analysis a bit pretentious.Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    23

    Camden Markets

    April 2, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Having well and truly mastered the underground by now I went a little further afield to the Camden Markets (as recommended by Nat!). The area was definitely a little grittier than Central London. There are several markets here and I visited one called The Stables Market. It is another example of the repurposing of lovely old buildings in London. Based inside an old Stable and Horse hospital, it was full of unusual people and stalls selling all kinds of things on a busy Sunday afternoon.

    After a quick lunch of prawns cooked three ways, I wandered around the Market. Luckily I'm limited with space so no big purchases but I did buy myself a couple of necklaces (I know.....) before heading back to London Central.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    11

    Cruising the Thames

    April 2, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    The London Pass I bought included the use of a hop on/off river cruise on the Thames. I decided to use it instead of the underground to get to the Tower Bridge. It was better than I expected with the boatman who gave the commentary being witty and interesting so I stayed on to the end stop of Greenwich. I hopped off for a wander around and bought a lovely coffee from a cart that also sold alcohol!

    It was fascinating to see all the buildings that had been converted from warehouses into apartments. They all looked very high end and according to the guide most London workers cannot afford to live in them. A new apartment building called "Legoland" by the locals was designed to give every apartment a river view.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    11

    Jamie's Italian Victoria

    April 2, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Celebrated my last night in London with dinner at a Jamie Oliver Restaurant just down the road from my Hotel. I ate off a special evening memu that was £15.95 for any two courses! Yummy food and excellent service meant an enjoyable evening for me. It's off back to the hotel earlier tonight than the last two evenings to pack and catch up on things.Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    11

    Pimlico and the St George

    April 2, 2017 in England ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    The hotel I chose in London was actually more of a traditional bed and breakfast in a beautiful old converted terrace house. It was perfectly located for me within 20 minutes walk of Trafalger square or an easy bus ride. The surrounding area was lovely with the occasional little square with markets or gardens. So rewarding to walk around places if you can. You can even stop for a drink in an old English pub as a bonus!

    As you can see from my London photos I was blessed with lovely spring weather with only the occasional cloudy spell. Better than the Wellington summer we just didn't have!    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    1

    Stonehenge

    April 3, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    I picked up a rental car at Gatwick Airport (I fly out of there in a few days) and headed for Stonehenge. The traffic was pretty bad on the motorways with lots of holdups and roadworks. Google maps was a saviour taking routes to avoid traffic when it could.

    Stonehenge was crowded with bus loads of people and cars everywhere. I downloaded the audio app and decided to walk the 20 minutes to the stones while listening to the history commentary. It is quite remarkable that it has stood for so long without being damaged. I took a few photos and also snapped some French karate black belts jumping around.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    1
    111

    Driving to Penzance

    April 3, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    After leaving London and the stop at Stonehenge, the driving got much easier. Less traffic and pretty countryside and towns to pass through. I stopped at one little village and grabbed a coffee from an old hotel. It had a fire roaring in a snug like room and I was tempted to just sit for a while. But the road beckoned and I was happy to get to Penzance just before dark. The bed and breakfast is very nice and the owners welcoming. A quick meal at a local Thai restaurant and then I was soon tucked up in bed.Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    1
    1111

    Where it really all began

    April 4, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Some of you may know that I was born in Penzance Cornwall fifty mumble mumble years ago. This morning I visited Penzance hospital and also the house and village that my dad grew up in called Pendeen. I remembered the address somehow and found the lovely stone terrace house nestled in the narrow lane just as I recalled it (from a visit at 10 yrs old). I chatted to a newer resident and she said many of the old traditional houses were being bought by "city folk" who can telework these days. I know nana would have been pleased that her old house is still the original stone and not painted bright blue or reclad like some of the neighbours. Apparantly the old ways of village life is disappearing as it is in many places as technology shrinks the distances.Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler
    12

    Lands End

    April 4, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    No visit to Cornwall is complete without going to Lands End. It is a little more commercial than when I went as a ten year old but I managed to have a photo taken in the same spot as an old family one we have. I found out from the signpost photographer that I was 12506 miles from home! It was a very chilly spot with wind blowing harder than a Wellington southerly and I was grateful for the layer of merino under my jacket. The rugged Cornish coast was a treat to see despite the cold.

    A warm lunch was in order and my Uncle Nick had messaged me from Perth to tell me the best place to get one. He was spot on and the pasty from Philps was close to one my nana used to make.    Read more

  • Belinda OldsMy Big OETraveler

    St Michael's Mount

    April 4, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Looking out in the bay from Penzance you can see the small island topped by a castle that is the Cornish St Michael's Mount. It was home to the same order of Monks as the French Mont Saint-Michel (I'm hoping to visit this one later in my trip). The island is accessible via a cobbled causeway at low tide only, at other times a fleet of boats wait to ferry people across to the Island. The castle was built back in the 12th Century and was inhabited by Monks and Military until the 1600s when the St Aubin family moved in. They in partnership with the National Trust, still own and live on the island.

    I arrived when the causeway was covered with water so caught the boat to the Island. I explored the Island and went inside the Castle for a look around. It was very interesting especially learning about the past history of the Island. By the time I left the causeway was walkable and it was a pleasant walk back to shore..    Read more

  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice