Sights on the Sites

26/11/2019

It's almost 100 degrees here, which makes it hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner, but it is! How many of your friends and family need handmade (by ME) unique gifts?
Custom "Wee Me" amigurumi, made to your specifications.

Don't give more money to a billionaire, give it to meee instead!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/703242058/real-person-wee-me-custom-amigurumi?ref=shop_home_active_26

Heading off for some extended travel, I was sad to be leaving my (soon-to-be) husband behind, so I made a Wee Phil as my travel companion. He was photographed in all sorts of fun places, and trying all kinds of new foods, that the Real Phil would be less keen to try. Friends were jealous, and

15/11/2019

Our new Panjim hangout is the apparently, the Lawrence & Mayo optician.Today was our 5th visit in just over three weeks. Phil got new lenses in glasses, sunglasses and night-driving glasses; I got new lenses because mine were all scratched to hell; we took Pauline because she had also scratched up her treated lenses, AND, it turns out, needed a new prescription; then I went and broke the arm off my frames the other day - unrepairable. [ 85 more words ]
http://planwhatplan.com/2019/11/15/i-can-see-clearly-now/

Our new Panjim hangout is the apparently, the Lawrence & Mayo optician.Today was our 5th visit in just over three weeks. Phil got new lenses in glasses, sunglasses and night-driving glasses; I …

19/10/2019

When you prepare yourself for a trip to India, everyone talks about the cows - how they are free to wander at will, and are most often found in the streets, looking for food, or even bedding down for the night right in the middle of a junction. They're harmless enough as long as you aren't driving like an idiot, and run into a black one in the dark. [ 736 more words ]
https://sightsonthesites.wordpress.com/2019/10/19/pick-your-battles-carefully/

When you prepare yourself for a trip to India, everyone talks about the cows – how they are free to wander at will, and are most often found in the streets, looking for food, or even bedding …

31/08/2019

We've finished out relocation to India, and are ready to lead you on your adventure! We will be doing this tour monthly throughout the season, with optional shorter 4-day tours to Hampi, and will be expanding our offerings next year.
The first one is a fundraiser for cancer research, in honour of Phil's mum. We ride out October 1, for 10 days. Please support us by sharing this brochure across social media and maybe even emailing your traveling/motorbiking friends. Or maybe you've lost someone to cancer, too, and want to support Cancer Research UK - follow the link, all money goes to them.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/karanatakacoffeerun?fbclid=IwAR3Gd9y7XHB6A5hd_mdFOqajli9kg9F25_4oovdFZuSRUwTxNZn43E5fte8&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_content=KaranatakaCoffeeRun&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_source=Facebook&utm_term=nPZK3A8QN

10/08/2019

Always stay up to date on changing laws when you are traveling, and I think common sense tells you not to light a campstove on a Venetian bridge for coffee - it's Italy, for crying out loud! Great coffee is available everywhere!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/rome-spanish-steps-fascist-style-measures-against-tourists?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0Qg-5hCkB07O8t07dEzgYrpWHtxjbFnkiSb3jURYGUv9wfn7x3ua_TW4k =1565192364

Police patrol 18th-century marble steps, blowing whistles at visitors sitting down

04/06/2019

Robusta blossoms and berries ('cherries') in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India.
In February, we spent a relaxing two nights at a Homestay in the heart of India's coffee growing country, and it smelled amazing. The blooms are of the jasmine family, my favourite. With meals home-cooked by the family matriarch, a private guided tour of the plantation, and getting to see firsthand the harvesting and drying of the cherries, it was one of the best stops of our whole two-week trip.

01/06/2019

The kitchen kit is everything you need for dining on the go: reusable/washable tea towel (to use as a napkin, placemat, picnic blanket...); reusble cutlery and straw (bamboo is ideal, but I've had this plastic spoon/fork for ages and no need to replace yet); a couple extra heavy duty plastic baggies for storing leftovers; some bag clips; a corkscrew or bottle opener, depending on your baggage check options (corkscrews sometimes are an issue, but this one has made is through loads of times); a couple emergency teas or coffees, based on your caffeine needs; snack bar; a few scavenged sugars, salts, peppers as desired; superfood snack for the times you feel like rubbish from eating so much pasta and meat; tums to combat all the strange spices and foods you'll be sampling; and a travel pack of wet handwipes.

I make the bags, which are ideal for documents and itinerary/reservation paperwork, too.
https://squareup.com/store/sights-on-the-sites/item/document-money-bag

31/05/2019

Traveling this summer? Then you need to read this.

Carryon, Carry Less and Carefree   When going for long trip (3 months or more on the road), it is important to travel as light as possible. If you take one thing away from this lesson, let it…

19/02/2019

I'm not an art connoisseur. I've never taken a single art history or art appreciation class. My personal art 'training' consists of several Paint 'n Sip parties, and some hands on experience whilst helping Pauline with her big volunteer projects. I just know what I like when I see it; and I like Van Gogh. Several years ago I saw my first piece in person on a trip to visit a friend in LA, and he dragged me to the Getty. [ 335 more words ]
https://sightsonthesites.wordpress.com/2019/02/19/vincent-and-me/

I’m not an art connoisseur. I’ve never taken a single art history or art appreciation class. My personal art ‘training’ consists of several Paint ‘n Sip parties, and s…

04/02/2019

Day One exploring the Group of Monuments at Hampi just finished. We are staying on Hippie Island, and took the boat over (and coracle back at the end of the day), hiring a guide and his tuktuk for the afternoon. Pampa was born in the old bazaar, and lived with his family behind their shop there, until the government cleared them all out several years ago, in the name of conservation. He still lives in Hampi, in the 'new village', and works hard to teach others about this amazing place

12/12/2018

Go see the world. Try new things. Meet new people. Don’t be afraid.
Backpacking on your own won’t kill you; it will define you.

Nor did Tinder.

10/12/2018

I think I’ll try a Scots language course next year; if nothing else it’ll help me understand my mother-in-law without need my husband for translation. 😉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

05/12/2018

19/08/2018

The famous casas colgadas (hanging houses) of Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain, A UNESCO WH Site since 1996. Visited 13 August, 2018.

05/07/2018

19 new Sites inscribed this year, bringing the total to 1092. This is one reason why, when you travel, always expect to come back that way one day - as I had previously ‘finished’ Denmark. Whoops!

The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Manama since 24 June under the chair of Shaikha Haya Bint Rashed al-Khalifa of Bahrain, ended today. The next session çof the World Heritage Committee will be in Baku, Azerbaijan. During the session, the Committee inscribed 19 sites on the World Heritage Lis...

02/07/2018

25/06/2018

Spent a sunny Sunday afternoon spelunking down at the Wemyss Caves, in coastal Fife, just across the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh, checking out the largest collection of Pictish inscribed symbols in europe. These seen here are at least 1500 years old. Amazing history just on our doorstep.

The tv show Time Team did some archeology work there a few years ago, and you can watch that episode on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp_TLZwKVtc

21/06/2018

I'm headed back to Spain for a week in August (I know, I know, it'll be hot, but we plan to spend most of our time up in the mountains), and this is our tentative route.

Hoping to see "Rock Art of the Iberian Mediterranean Basin (over 600 locations, so we'll HAVE to be near one at some point!), Llotja de la Seda, The Historic Walled Town of Cuenca, The Alhambra and Generalife, Renaissance Towns of Ubeda and Baeza, and the Palmeral of Elche.

Along the way, enjoying the Wine in Iberia, and Olives from the Groves in Andalusia (both on the Tentative list).

Phil has arranged a VW camper van, so we are free to wander as we please. Any tips?

05/06/2018

05/05/2018

I *finally* created my own youtube channel, because all the kids are doing it, and I wanted even MORE ways to share my travels with you. Check it out here, and subscribe, because more great stuff is on its way.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz84zFbXEdyx3ZbHwx55YVw

04/05/2018

Throughout my month in India, there was a constant chorus of "selfie?!" (the international language) and pics of Phil and me with complete strangers are scattered across the country. It was fun, and it was tiring, and only a few times was it just too much and I felt hassled. And only occasionally was I overwhelmed the closeness and lack or personal space.

But I experienced that all through the privileged lens of my white skin. This piece shines a light on a whole new version of a similar experience, and gives a lot to think about.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-43877568?SThisFB

Ashley Butterfield has been around the world - but a visit to India brought home the challenges of being a lone black female tourist.

03/05/2018

I find this hard to believe, as every toilet on every train I rode in India had an open toilet to the track - both Asian and Western toilets. There was no "toilet water" to use to make chai.

I had no issues spending a month in India, in remote parts of the country with very few western tourists, stopping at roadside restaurants (hotels) for meals. But still, stick to the bottled water for everything from brushing teeth to washing fruit.

Incident follows recent scandal of meat from rubbish dumps being sold in Kolkata

20/04/2018

After 3 continents and 14 countries, it looks like it might be time to retire my boots. Oh, the adventures we've been on together: motorbike crashes in India and climbed up to remote ancient stone circles in Scotland; stepped in farm animal p**p in Hungary and p*e splashed in China; beignet powder sugar splatter in New Orleans and wandered along the Seine in Paris.

When offered a new pair of 'proper' hiking boots, I declined and swore to wear these boots until they fell off my feet. Well, they've been melted by scooters, and burnt on bonfires, stitched up and glued back together, and worn some more. But it is time.
I'll be switching their duplicates I stockpiled in both black and burgundy, but they will never be replaced in my heart. ❤️

15/04/2018

Cheers to you from the Shanghai Grand Prix!

11/04/2018

As Imperial Tombs go, this was pretty impressive. Chang Ling is the oldest of the thirteen royal tombs here, with scores of craftsmen, wives, and concubines also entombed or buried nearby. Through the centuries of dynastic turmoil, fires and storms, and the revolution, only this ones still has it’s original wooden gates standing since 1424.

The Yongle Emperor’s tomb itself has not been excavated, and the relics seen here are from the Wanli Emperor’s (1620) tomb.

08/04/2018

What should you do with an 8-hour layover in Amsterdam?
Well, leave that bag checked (or use the locker storage at Centraal Station €7/day) and enjoy the sunshine and canals.
We used the Hop-On/Hop-Off boat as a water taxi (with audio tour) and headed out The Avocado Show (all avocados, all the time restaurant). Wandered to the Rijksmuseum, smelled the tulips, scoped out some street art, and drank wine in a Royal Delft teacup.

02/04/2018

What are YOUR summer travel plans?
Get off the standard tourist path, and explore somewhere new.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/07/europes-beauty-spots-plot-escape-from-the-too-many-tourists-trap

Tourism bosses are testing ways to soothe local anger while keeping the visitors coming

27/02/2018

Pretty sure THIS is what we saw being hauled on trucks whilst we were on our road trip this month.

I was on the train to Pune just last week, and I can tell you even in second class there IS room in trains to drink tea and relax. However, that tea is chai (hope you like it, only tea on the trains), the windows are quite dirty and on the small side, so view is limited, and like most of the world, the scenery from a train is not the best. With 3k kms traveled by train in the last month, I can also tell you it gets old fast, and I would def try the hyperloop.

23/02/2018

Our last day in India, and we fit in one last WH Site: Churches and Convents of Old Goa. The main church was built in 1605, and was the first in Asia with the European Baroque art and architecture. The Sé Cathedral is the largest church in Asia, and the belltower holds Asia's largest bell. Oh, and that first pic is the glass coffin and mummified body of St. Francis Xavier (died 1696), buddy of Ignatius Loyola and co-founder of the Jesuit order.
The second pic is the Miraculous Cross, that apparently keeps getting bigger and bigger.