Greek back-up: it doesn't sound Greek, does it?

The strikes and natural disasters have all come and gone, but the chance to go and have a Greek holiday isn't over yet.

Take that chance!
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Greek back-up

Government promises free room and board for travellers affected by strikes, natural disasters

Greece has offered to cover the costs of tourists who are stranded as a result of industrial action or natural disaster in what is effectively a free "insurance policy".

The move is designed to repair the damage done to its important tourism industry as a result of industrial action and the ash cloud caused by Iceland's volcano.

Athens issued the undertaking as the country faced a wave of protests called by unions against government austerity cuts.

Pavlos Geroulanos, the Culture Minister, announced that the government would "guarantee" extra room and board payments if return flights are cancelled or postponed.

"We are certain that it will be a calm summer, and that there will be no major strike disruptions," an official said. "But just in case something happens, the Greek state is prepared to cover these costs."

Tourism generates almost one-fifth of the Greek gross domestic product but bookings have collapsed by 10 per cent since the onset of the financial crisis.

Budget cuts have provoked stoppages and strikes among public sector workers. Unions have called a general strike, the fifth since the start of the year, on June 29.

Public life has been met with continual disruption since the Greek government hit the financial buffers last year.

But Mr Geroulanos said there were indications that visitor numbers would be better than forecast.

"The numbers are not really as gloomy as they were with the first cancellations," he said. "Some destinations have suffered greatly due to the crisis, but others are doing better than before."

Greece has moved to ensure that the cost of visiting is reduced. It has suspended landing fees at all regional airports and relaxed visa rules for Russians and Ukrainians. The Daily Telegraph


From TODAY, Travel - Thursday, 24-June-2010
Greek back-up
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A taxi ride on a holiday

Image via Wikipedia

This is a very simple story, but enough to make you realize that even for a ride on a holiday, it can be enjoyable with things at their simplest.

Read on!
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Taxi ride most memorable

One cabbie, two passengers, six days in Western Australia

GOING on a road trip doesn't make one a celebrity, but the Singaporean winners of Tourism Western Australia's Extraordinary Taxi Ride contest, 33-year-old Ong Jing Yi and her brother Jason, 35, got a taste of stardom when a film crew followed them around during their road trip in Western Australia. They even got to meet the mayor and attend a radio interview at Geraldton town.

"No matter where we went, people waved and talked to us. I was really happy. I felt like a VIP," said Jing Yi.

In April, the siblings embarked on an all-expense paid road trip in a taxi driven by gregarious Australian taxi driver Doug Slater, a mini-celebrity himself after he was selected via a nationwide voting contest.

During the six-day tour, they visited destinations including Lancelin, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia and Shark Bay. At the end of each day, they blogged about their experiences and uploaded photos. A highlights video was also posted on the Extraordinary Taxi Ride website, www.extraordinarytaxiride.com.au, at the end of the trip. The siblings talk to Today about their experiences. Terence Lee


What were some of the most interesting places you visited?

Jing Yi: The town of Geraldton is actually the lobster capital of Western Australia. There, I got a chance to go down to the dinghy to collect lobsters.

Jason: The Pinnacles is a very special place. The vast landscape consists of piles of limestone, and over time, the wind will change the surface. A couple of years from now, it might not look the same.

Jing Yi: We even took out a Singapore flag and took a photo with it. The landscape is like the moon!


Was the taxi driver helpful?

Jing Yi: He's like a walking encyclopedia! He knows the country well, having travelled all around Western Australia for more than 20 years. He's wary of kangaroos jumping onto the road because knocking into one could destroy the car's engine. He told us to keep our eyes on the side of the road and look out for places where bushes are sparse, since kangaroos are more likely to jump out of those.


What did you learn about Australia on this trip?

Jason: We try not to drive around at night, especially in the rural areas. Many wild animals come out to roam then, so it's dangerous.



From TODAY, Travel - Thursday, 10-June-2010
Taxi ride most memorable
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Air Travel: Travelling safe

This may not be very timely, but the idea presented can be of use anytime any type of delay in air travel happens.

I'm not saying that another volcano eruption is imminent, or whatever, no, I'm not saying that. it is just that anything can happen while you are on travel, by air, water or land.

Read on...
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Travelling safe

Will the volcano in Iceland leave you stranded in Europe? Is this really the best time to visit Greece? We have the answers

Eruption disruption

IF WE want to fly, we have no option but to grin and bear the risks of delays. The good news is that any further disruption due to Icelandic ash looks as though it will be intermittent and short-term.

The bad news is that it could prove impossible to predict: The fact that there were cancellations in Spain, Italy and Morocco last week, but that most of Britain was unaffected, is proof of that point. It's essential to know what you are entitled to in the event of being stranded or delayed.

Greek philosophy

The problem here is that, while the European Union may have shored up Greece's finances for the immediate future, the level of discontent in the country is clearly extremely high. Further disruption and protest seem likely, and Athens does not look like an attractive option for a summer holiday.

You might reason that the most popular holiday islands are a long way from the tensions in the capital. But we have already seen strikes affecting air-traffic control and ferry services, and a long-lasting general strike would have an impact all over Greece.

Our advice? Not to deprive Greece of vital tourist income this summer but keep watch on the political situation there and be wary of booking too far in advance.

If you spot a last-minute bargain (and there will be many), however, you might do well to snap it up.

Bargain hunting

In the immediate future, the travel industry faces another issue - the World Cup. Traditionally, many of us put our holiday-booking plans on hold during the competition, consumed apparently, by a fear that we might miss out on the atmosphere in a bar if our teams do well. Since June is always a good month for holiday bargain hunting, the World Cup effect this year will make it better than ever. The Daily Telegraph


From TODAY, Travel
Travelling safe
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Johor: To Land's End... in a day

The saddest thing that can happen is to live in a place where tourists are easily coming in and going out, and enjoying their stay - but not be able to go there yourself while it is a stone's throw away.

I'm talking about being in a country where tourist destinations abound, but they become like common things to you, simply because they are in your country.

May it not happen to me anymore... but then again, do I have the time and money to take a vacation? Hopefully!

Read on...
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To Land's End... in a day

Get to know Johor's rustic gems. Tanjung Piai and Kukup Town make a good weekend getaway from the urban hustle and bustle

by Michelle Ann Kwara
michelleann@mediacorp.com.sg

GONE FISHING

What: Seafood in Kukup

Kukup is a small fishing village located about 40km south-west of Johor Bahru, in the district of Pontian. Visitors from Singapore and Indonesia flock there for the open-air seafood restaurants built on stilts over water.

At the seaside New Kukup Restaurant, next to Kukup International Ferry Terminal, you never have to worry about the freshness of the seafood. The restaurant has an alfresco dining area that extends over the water and gets its seafood fresh from large fishing nets positioned below. The food has the stamp of approval from celebs such as Phyllis Quek, Felicia Chin and Chen Hanwei.

The salted egg yolk crab (RM45, or $19.50, per kg) is sweeter than the average haunt's, and the gravy is finger-licking good. The marriage of prawns and cereal (RM38) is familiar to most Singaporeans, but these prawns are fresher than those found in Singapore, though the cereal topping was a bit on the scanty side.

The stretch of sea between Kukup Fishing Village and Pulau Kukup is home to aquaculture farms. These "floating farms" use a modern farming method where fish are reared in large cages suspended from wooden floating platforms. The farmers move around the platforms with ease, but make sure you keep an eye on the children, as these planks are quite slippery and narrow.

Get there: New Kukup Restaurant, No 1 Kukup Laut; tel, +607 696 0216; opening hours from 10am to 9pm


THE LAND ENDS HERE

What: Tanjung Piai

This cape in Johor is part of Tanjung Piai National Park, which covers 5.26 sq km of mangroves and another 4 sq km of inter-tidal mudflats.

A 653m boardwalk trail leads visitors into the heart of the mangrove and to the southernmost tip of mainland Asia. Known as Land's End, it is reportedly the inspiration behind the "At World's End" tag of the third Pirates Of The Caribbean movie.

Tanjung Piai National Park offers guided tours, fishing, bird-watching from its three observatory towers, and camping on platforms underneath the mangrove.

The best period to visit is between September and March, during the bird migratory season.

Pulau Kukup is an island entirely covered by a mangrove forest and surrounded by mudflat. The second largest mangrove island in the world, it is an ecological treasure trove that has 50 per cent of the world's true mangrove species, 76 bird species and 12 species of fauna. A 12m suspension bridge across Sungai Ular is one of the main tourist attractions on Pulau Kukup.

Stand in the middle of the bridge, and drink in the picture-perfect view of Kukup Village and the boats at the quay. Observation towers can be found on either end. Each is 10m high, and is perfect for bird-watching.

Both parks are on the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands.

Get there: Tanjung Piai - From Johor Bahru, take the Jalan Skudai Highway and head for Pontian/Pontian Kecil. At Pekan Nenas, turn left at Sri Bunjan, follow the rural road and take the right turn at Jalan Tenggayun. Thereafter, follow the signage for Tanjung Piai. Kukup - The island is near the south-western tip of the peninsula, about 20km from Pontian Town and 62km from Johor Bahru. From the North South Expressway (NSE), take the Skudai exit (Interchange 254) through Pontian Kechil (Highway 5 and 95) towards Kukup.

HOW TO EAT A HONEYCOMB

What: Honey Bee Farm

Get up-close and personal with the bees at the Tanjung Piai Honey Bee Farm, and have a taste of the honey - fresh from the honeycombs.

Established in 1996 by owner Pak Mat, the honey bee farm is definitely off the beaten track. The only way to get there is to drive until you spot the weather-beaten arch.

Pak Mat harvests his honey the old-school way, no bee suits for him. The bees are "familiar enough" with him and will not sting him even if he is dressed in a T-shirt and shorts.

When eating the honey pieces, suck out the honey from the honeycomb and chew the wax as you would gum.

Get there: Perepat Timbol, off Tanjung Piai, Serkat, Pontian; tel, +6013 797 2842.

For information on guided tours, contact JB-based Prima Sierra Holidays at +607 521 7087.

BRAND NEW RESORT

What: Nusajaya

Johor Bahru will have a brand new resort town in 2012. With plans to have indoor theme parks in collaboration with Legoland and Sanrio, the company behind Hello Kitty, Nusajaya looks set to be a fun-filled holiday destination for families looking for a quick break.

Nusajaya also aims to be Asia's foremost fully integrated city comprising a financial district, medical and wellness village, creative park, as well as a waterfront and marina.

Getting there: Visitors can hop onto the Bas Iskandar Malaysia No. IM06 which runs from Bukit Indah to Kota Iskandar and back. Bukit Indah can be reached from Singapore by taking the Handal Indah Bus from Jurong MRT Interchange.


From TODAY, Travel
To Land's End ... in a day
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Travel Tips - including Being Safe

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

This will be my last post for the day, and it is one that concerns travellers and tourists, since the coming months are holiday months.

With little introduction needed, here's to say that let us all be safe, at home, or abroad.

Enjoy your vacation, but equally important, too, is to be safe at all times.

Read on!

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33 Travel Safety Tips

Traveling to unfamiliar destinations can bring to you the sort of troubles you do not want to experience while on the road namely: robbery, rape, or murder. Tourists often fall prey to perpetrators because they do not prepare properly before embarking on a trip. Let's examine some things you should do to prevent your travels from becoming a tragedy.

1. Never list your home address on the luggage tag. If on business, put the company's address on the tag; if visiting friends you can list their address. Use covered luggage tags as well.

2. Stay with your luggage until the luggage is checked. If you must put your bag down, keep one foot on the handle.

3. Carry important papers with you; NEVER check anything that you simply cannot afford to lose. Photocopy your passport, driver's license and credit cards.

4. Bring a small flashlight. You never know when you'll suddenly be "in the dark" and find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. At night, keep your flashlight by your bed.

5. Make sure that your prescription medicines are filled properly and labeled accurately. In some countries certain prescription medicines are forbidden.

6. Never wear anything that projects affluence. No gold chains, expensive watches and rings, luggage, or other paraphernalia should be in easy view. Better yet: leave your jewelry at home.

7. If possible travel with only one or two credit cards.

8. Women particularly should never accept a drink from a stranger. Keep an eye on your drink at all times.

9. Vary your schedule; try not to come and go at the same time everyday.

10. Only stay in a hotel that uses cards to open room doors and make sure your room has a peephole and a deadbolt lock. Secure the chain and secure the door by pushing a rubber stop under it.

11. Stay in a room near a stairwell. Never take the elevator if a fire or smoke is detected. Always stay in a hotel where the doors enter the hallway and not directly from the outside.

12. Do not wear name tags in public.

13. Do not use unmarked taxi cabs.

14. Sit behind the driver so you can see him, but he cannot see you.

15. Pay the driver upon arriving at your destination and while you are still sitting in the vehicle.

16. If you must rent a car, rent only from a reputable company. Any operating problems that occur could signal sabotage.

17. Be aware of 'staged' car accidents meant to catch you off card.

18. Back into your parking spaces to facilitate a quick exit.

19. Park only in well lit and well traveled areas.

20. If your cell phone does not work outside of the country, consider renting one that does for the duration of your trip.

21. If detained for whatever reason by an official, ask for identification. If in doubt, tell them that you want to see his superior. Keep your emotions in check.

22. If traveling with children, bring along an updated photograph of each child in the event that you become separated from them.

23. Write your child's name and your hotel number on each card; include a close friend's or relative's contact information on the card. Give a card to each child which they will carry with them as long as you are away. Destroy once home.

24. Discuss with your family what they would do in event of an emergency while away from home, e.g. whom to call, how to contact emergency personnel, etc.

25. Do not discuss travel plans, your room number or any other personal information in public within earshot of strangers.

26. Bring along a basic first aid kit with bandages, iodine, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, alcohol packets, dramamine, pepto bismol, diarrhea medicine, etc.

27. Familiarize yourself with train and bus schedules before traveling. Have an alternate plan in place in the event your transportation plans change.

28. Do not flash your passport in public. Discreetly show important documents to officials only.

29. Consider purchasing portable alarms that emit a loud sound.

30. Watch for scams on the street. Children working with adults are notorious as pickpockets.

31. Never flash your money in public. Exchange funds with reputable and recognized exchangers only.

32. Have tips ready in advance for service personnel.

33. Consider renting an escort [security] service if traveling in areas where crime is high.

The key to safe traveling in any area is situational awareness. Distractions because of luggage, children, hotel personnel, strangers, etc. can put you at risk. Know your surroundings and stay in control of every situation.

Matt manages the Corporate Flight Attendant Community a comprehensive resource center for business flight attendants who travel throughout the world. You can visit the community at http://www.corporateflyer.net or http://www.cabinmanagers.com

Article Directory: EzineArticles

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Taken from Ezine article directory:
33 Travel Safety Tips
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Essouira, Morocco: Natural beauty

Image via Wikipedia

Morocco is not a place that is often heard when travel destination or a vacation place is being discussed. perhaps, it is time for that to change.

Hopefully, this short article on Essouira, Morocco helps.

Read on...

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Natural beauty

Rustic and whitewashed, Essaouira is a breath of fresh air from the resort towns of Morocco

by Carol Pucci
traveller@mediacorp.com.sg

Maybe it was the kebabs smoking on sidewalk grills, or the layer of fog that coloured the afternoon sky a pale gray, but when I walked through a stone archway into the walled city of Essaouira, being in Morocco began to feel as mysterious and unfamiliar as I had hoped.

It was a feeling that had eluded me in better known Marrakech, where boutiques and luxury guesthouses are transforming the ancient medina into a chic resort town popular with European tourists.

Rougher around the edges but more authentic is Essaouira, a weathered and windy port city on the Atlantic coast, three hours by bus through the desert from Marrakech.

With its whitewashed ramparts and buildings set off by blue doors and shutters, Essaouira could be a seaside town in Greece or Brittany. Brittany probably makes more sense since it was a French architect who was hired by the sultan to lay out the town's 18th-century medina.

Beaches and cheap hotels lured hippies travelling the North African bohemian trail in the '60s. Now, stalls stocked with leather bags and carpets open early for day-trippers arriving on the morning buses from Marrakech. The rewards come to those who linger. Check into a guesthouse and wander the streets in the late afternoon, and Essaouira begins to feel less like a shopping mall and more like the small-town fishing village it once was.

At Cafe de France on the Place Moulay Hassan, European expatriates in shorts and Muslim men wearing knitted skull caps share tables on the terrace and talk over glasses of mint tea. Women in flowing robes walk arm in arm. The air smells of sea salt, spices and grilled fish.

Nearly every guidebook recommends a meal at one of the outdoor seafood restaurants near the docks. Icy displays of fresh crabs, oysters and sardines were tempting, but prices seemed steep, and the sales pitches too hard-sell. We wandered instead to the "fish souk", the fresh fish market that takes place each day inside the medina. Sardines are the speciality, grilled on the spot and served with olives, bread and salad for about US$4 ($5.60).

Dinner was at a little white-tablecloth restaurant called La Decouverte, where we found couscous with camel on the menu and a lentil salad sprinkled with oil from the argan nut trees that thrive in this part of Morocco.

The restaurant's owners, Frederique Thevenet and Edouard Pottier, also run Ecotourisme et Randonnee, an ecotourism company that specialises in walking tours in the desert countryside.

Olive trees grow here, but it's the hearty and heat-resistant argan tree that's most treasured. Unique to south-western Morocco, the trees produce a hard wood, called ironwood, used for fuel. The leaves provide food for goats that climb into the spiny branches. But the argan tree is most valued for its nuts, the oil of which is extracted by hand by women working in cooperatives.

Our tour began at a country market where villagers arrived by donkey. A snack of tea and bread dipped in oil fortified us for several kilometres of walking along flat, desert donkey paths. Eventually, we reached the Marijana Cooperative. There, we talked with women working assembly-line style, cracking argan nuts between two stones, removing the seeds, roasting and grinding them into a paste which they then squeeze to extract the oil.

Marketing the oil as a healthy source of vitamins, and antioxidants has been an economic boost for desert dwellers like Fadna Bella and her family, who hosted our group for lunch in their house surrounded by argan groves.

Fadna met us in her courtyard, and led us into a windowless room decorated with pillows and carpets. We sat cross-legged on the floor, sharing a tomato salad, chunks of bread and her homemade tagine, a traditional Moroccan stew made with potatoes, carrots and lamb.

When we finished, she passed around a bowl of pomegranates and glasses of mint tea. She smiled. We smiled. Our appetites make up for our lack of Arabic words to express what a treat it had been to experience authentic Moroccan hospitality. She knew no English or French, but it mattered little. When we left, she blew us a kiss goodbye. MCT

Trip notes

Essaouira is 117km west of Marrakech on Morocco's Atlantic coast.


Getting there: Supratours (www.supratours.ma) runs comfortable, air-conditioned buses between Marrakech and Essaouira several times a day. The trip takes about three hours, including a stop for tea. Tickets are 65 dirham ($11). Buses leave from Supratours' offices near Marrakech's new train station.


Lodging/tours:

Essaouira has many nice hotels and guesthouses in restored riads, traditional Moroccan homes built around an interior courtyard. Prices are less than in Marrakech and usually include breakfast. See www.tripadvisor.com for riads that rate highly with guests who have stayed there. Many riads are owned by French, Spanish or Italian expatriates.


Ecotourisme et Randonnee (www.essaouira-randonnees.com) offers half- and full-day walks through the argan woods, nearby dunes and villages. Prices range from 200 to 400 dirham per person, including transport and a snack or lunch.


More information: visit www.visitmorocco.com

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Taken from TODAY, Travel - Thursday, 15-April-2010;
Source article is here: TODAYonline | Travel | Natural beauty
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AUSTRALIA: Two sides of Sydney

Image via Wikipedia

A sparse land with not big a populace, Australia is a welcome place for a vacation, especially for those whose second nature is nature itself.

Be enthralled. Be amazed. As the TV ads says, "So what are you waiting for?"

Read on...

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Two sides of Sydney

Pick a side and be pleasantly surprised

by Mark Malby
traveller@mediacorp.com.sg

"PLEASE walk on the grass!" invites the park sign, with trademark Aussie affability. "Smell the roses, hug the trees, talk to the birds and picnic on the lawns."

This is the kind of comforting welcome you'll get in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, a 30-hectare swathe of greenery alongside the harbour, bordering both the downtown and the iconic Opera House. As for roses, trees and birds, you'll see plenty. Sometimes, hundreds of white cockatoos fill a single tree.

The Gardens make for that sort of green, quiet respite you may need, given the frantic, fun-loving pace of a city visit Down Under.

For the traveller who has already checked off the trademark tourist tasks: Gawked at the view from atop Sydney Harbour Bridge, snapped requisite shots of the Opera House, stood nose to nose with sharks in the Sydney Aquarium and bared (or ogled) bikinis at Bondi Beach, the time comes to look for other, less well-trodden paths in the city.


The Rocks

Just a short stroll from The Gardens and not far past the Opera House, you'll find The Rocks, a pocket of historic Sydney which narrowly escaped the wrecking ball last century and was gentrified instead. This area of former warehouses and residences is now a vibrant stretch of restaurants, shops and pubs (two with competing claims of being the oldest in Sydney.)

Weekends are good for open-air markets - starting with the Farmer's market on Fridays, where food stalls boast an array of local delicacies, from barbecued salmon to lamb kebabs and paella. On Saturdays and Sundays, more than 200 stalls exhibit everything from housewares and linen to pottery and jewellery, along with plenty of good eats.

Oh yes, and the views of Harbour Bridge are spectacular.


Kings Cross

On the other side of The Gardens, just up the hill, you'll find a seamier if no less vivid side of Sydney life. This is King's Cross, the city's de facto Red Light district. It's not for everyone, but most tourists wander through it at some point, if only to see how another side of Sydney lives.

King's Cross is also the centre for budget accommodation in the city. Some sections, like Pott's Point, have gone positively upscale in recent years. Trendy cafes have also sprung up between the naughty bits, attracting a more wholesome sort of clientele. You'll still want to be on your guard, however, and touts outside the adult clubs can be particularly annoying.

Like much of Australia, Sydney has a raw and youthful energy about it. Visitors will find it easy to get caught up in the action on both sides of the park. Just don't forget to stop and smell the roses along the way.


April in Sydney

Darling Harbour Hoopla, April 2 to 5 (Free)

An open-air showcase of acrobats, jugglers, buskers and comedians performing at Australia's annual circus and street theatre festival.


Winter Fashion Showcase at The Rocks Markets, April 17 and 18 (Free)

Not quite seasonal wear for Singaporeans, but check out the latest avant-garde winter collections on sale at The Rocks.


The Sydney Comedy Festival, April 19 to May 9

A gaggle of international stand-up performances descend on Sydney for a few chortling weeks. Tickets, and myriad other events, available at www.whatsoninsydney.com.au.

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Traken from TODAYonline | Travel | Two sides of Sydney
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SPAIN: Olive country life Trip notes

Image via Wikipedia

Olive country life Trip notes

Hippies as well as villagers live as one in Spain's deep south

by Nellie Huang
traveller@mediacorp.com.sg

A KIND of Shangri-La lies tucked in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, deep in the heart of Andalucia.

The Alpujarra region is one of the most fertile areas in Spain. Water from the mountains and Mediterranean sunshine feed fruit orchards while the dry air helps cure that Spanish staple, serrano ham.

The scenery, too, is pretty. White-washed villages, remnants of Muslim communities, cling onto the slopes.

While the Alpujarras is off the tourist trail in the way that cities such as Madrid and Barcelona are its stars, the region's bucolic way of life tends to attract travellers who want to stay.

My partner and I took a tour into the mountains to see this bohemian enclave for ourselves.


Olive groves

As we drove to the peaks, we watched brown, rugged landscapes give way to silvery olive groves, as the smell of pine and citrus permeated the air.

Our tour guide, Roberto, an olive cultivator in his 50s, told us what he loved about life in the Alpujarras: "Nothing thrills me more than reaping the fruits of my labour. Every season, I go out into the fields to collect the olives when they're ripe. That is the best part of my job."


Natural springs and holistic centres

The pastoral life he described is an enticing one. In his 1957 book South of Granada, British writer Gerald Brenan detailed his seven-year stay in this area in the 1920s. Since then, it has become a veritable destination for hippies, and now, New Age practitioners.

The gateway to the Alpujarras, the town of Lanjaron, is home to a Buddhist meditation centre, yoga halls and holistic stores. It reverberates with spiritual energy, drawing artists and writers from all over the world.

We drove on to Cortijo Amapolis, a retreat in the shape of a Mongolian yurt hidden in the valleys. The retreat programme combines meditation, yoga and massages.

One of the guests, Ruben, a Brazilian dancer, said: "Waking up to the mountain air, meditating in the tranquillity and being surrounded by fellow artists - that's what makes me feel alive. I've been here for only a month, but I know this is now my home."


Organic living

We left the hippie trail behind us, with the slopes carpeted by meadows of wildflowers. Mushrooms and herbs found in the wild are used in local cuisine and what people can't pick, they grow in their backyard - one reason why Alpujarran cuisine is gaining fame for its organic origins.

Farmhouses, or cortijos, abound, serving food in its purest form. We stopped at Cortijo Garin to sample a typical item, the Plato Alpujarreno - a mixture of jamon (cured ham), morcilla (congealed cow's blood) and patatas a lo pobre (pan-fried potato), tossed in locally produced olive oil and condiments. Naturally, the ingredients came from the restaurant's own farm.


Casa rural

Twelve kilometres away lies the Poquiera valley, the backdrop to the famous trio: Pampaneira, Capileira and Bubion. The three are reportedly the most stunning of the Alpujarras' white-washed villages. Each is a phalanx of twisting mule tracks, steep cobbled paths and wooden balconies draped with bright red peppers that invites hours of exploration.

We pushed further to the other end of the highlands, 20km away, to get to Pitres. The town has a bundle of rustic holiday homes, or casas rurales. Poised on the slopes, these guesthouses have an unobstructed view of the gorge and outdoor terraces to while away the time.

As the sun set, we settled into La Oveja Verde, a traditional country-style guesthouse, to enjoy a glass of wine.

The beauty of the place inspired a fellow guest, a middle-aged British writer, to use Pitres as the setting for his next novel. "I want to use the romance of the Alpujarras in my novel," he said. "A place like this is rare these days."



Go: The nearest airports are in Malaga and Granada. Lufthansa and British Airways fly to both airports for about $1,500. For optimum mobility, rent a car at the airport. The rate is about ?50 ($94) a day. Road signs are in Spanish but it is easy to find your way with a map. Most locals speak only Spanish, so learn some words before you go. The other option to book a tour. Olive Oil Tours (www.oliveoiltour.com) depart from Granada. A six-hour excursion including lunch costs ?55.

When to go: The best time to visit is in spring (April to June) when the climate is pleasant and flowers are in bloom. Temperatures can drop drastically at night, even in summer. Winter is best avoided as roads might be closed due to snow.

Eat and stay:

• Cortijo Garin (www.cortijogarin.com). The average price of a meal is $10.
• Alpujarras Holidays (www.alpujarra-holidays.com) has homes furnished with a kitchen and swimming pool. Rates from $40 per person.
• Cortijo Los Iberos (www.casaibero.com) is an excellent farmhouse for travellers to experience rural living. Rates from $22.5 per person.
• La Oveja Verde (www.laovejaverde.es) has panoramic views. Rates start from $30 person per night.
• Cortijo Amapolis (www.armonia.tantrika.net). Retreats that include accommodation in a yurt, meditation sessions and three meals daily cost $150 a day.

Taken from TODAYOnline.com; see the source article here: TODAYonline | Travel | Olive country lifeTrip notes
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