As every story has 2 sides...

There are some places you visit and you have a fairly good idea what to expect. Going to Istanbul I was very uncertain what I would see, things I would experience and how I would feel about it.

The city definitely reminded me of Budapest and Vienna, but also had the hustle and bustle, markets and feel of Bangkok. The mixture of European influence and Asian atmosphere was an interesting combination for the senses, in many ways it felt like the best of both worlds, since I loved Bangkok but enjoy the style of European cities. 

I went for a 4 day break and definitely could have spent an extra day or two in the city if I had the time to spare. I was fairly out of season (the weather was sunny but it wasn't super warm), yet on the Saturday the city was packed. From what I heard people come from outside the city to do their shopping on the Saturday, so prepare for Bangkok- level busy. 

Take 5: 

1. Wondering around the city at night; beautiful buildings, lively atmosphere and warm enough to wear a light jacket.

2. Climb to the top of the Galata tower for incredible views over the city. 

3. We experienced quite a mixture of food, but by far the most enjoyable thing was the selection of baklava on offer.

4. The Spice Market- a sensory overload, where you are invited to try things first. 

5. A boat trip up the Bosphorus (Istanbul Strait); windy, but a must-do, you get to see both sides of the city.

5 of the Best in Budapest

Budapest is another interesting European city; capital of Hungary, it is neatly nestled in Central- East Europe. With the river Danube flowing straight through the middle, Buda is the name for the area on the West Bank and Pest the name for the East Bank. They estimate 20 million tourists visit the city each year, and visited for a few days, myself, I can see why. Temperatures in the winter can be bitterly cold between -4C (24.8 F) and 1C (33.8 F), but in summer they can experience blue skies and very warm weather, with highs of 28C (82.4 F).

It's always difficult to sum up all the great things to see in a city if you only a couple of days to visit it, but I've put together my top 5 below. This list takes in my personal favourites and things not to be missed.

1. Gellert Spa and Bath. Go on, spoil yourself.

2. Take yourself to Gerbeaud Cukrászda for a coffee and cake. Spoil yourself some more. The sweet treats here are delectable, delicious and divine.

3. Sit by the Danube and watch the world go by for an afternoon or evening, or even take a boat trip along the Danube.

4. If you're looking for somewhere to go out I suggest 'Rio del cafe' overlooking the Danube river. It's open air so only an option in the summer, but it has a very cool vibe, not too expensive and is a bit different to the other clubs in the city.

5. Go to Castle Hill (Varhegy) for incredible views over the city.

Budapest is a great place to wonder around and get lost in the city. Truly, one of my favourite European destinations.

They call this place 'rad'...

... and if you don't know what 'rad' means, it might just be too cool for you!

New Zealand is a wonderfully varied country, the North Island, the South Island, the warm summers, the cold winters. There are incredible places to visit all over the country from Hot Water Beach, to trekking in the glaciers and spending time shopping in Wellington. However, there is one place which always seems to rank particularly highly with anyone I ask and that's Queenstown. Having been fortunate enough to visit, I can agree this is a great town and a fun place to be, but it's not for the faint hearted.

So, here are my top 5 things to do in Queenstown
1. Ferg Burger
42 Shotover Street is a must visit, speak to anyone who has visited before and they will agree, best.burger.in.the.world.

2. Bungee jump/ sky dive/ canyon swing
You have to take the opportunity to do some adrenaline sports whilst in Queenstown. It would be wrong not to.

3. Take a walk up the Queenstown Hill, to the summit of Te Tapu-Nui.
This walk will take a few hours, but the views are incredible and it is well worth the effort!




4. Take a boat ride.
The Shotover Jet is world famous, but any boat ride is worth doing. It's a gorgeous part of Queenstown to see.




5. Go for a drink at World Bar. It's sure to be a fun night.

Queenstown is an incredible place with lots of fun to be had. So get out and enjoy it!