The Latest News and Blog of the NoMad Rush Podcasters and Adventure Travellers www.nomadrush.eu
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14. Phillip Island (NoMad Rush Travel Podcast)
In this episode we talk to Phillip Island resident Katrina Knight about Penguins, the Koala and food.
To listen please click on the link: Phillip Island Podcast
4 Great Fundraising and Charity Websites
At NoMad Rush fundraising is very important to us, we have raised money for worthwhile charities since our very first challenge in 2006. In this day and age there are so many charities appealing to you to part with your hard earned cash. We have picked four very different charities and organisations and explained why we support them. I invite you to join us supporting these worthwhile causes and make a difference. For the full article please click on the link to our blog:
http://nomadrush.org/blog/4-great-fundrasing-and-charity-websites
Diary 2000 Pt.1 - London to Bangkok
In 2000 I took a year out from work and joined the backpacking community on a mission to ‘find’ myself. Well that’s not exactly true, I took a year out to visit some countries of interest and attended the Olympics in Sydney. However, I did learn something about myself, I love to travel. In the early stages of my trip I struggled to escape my comfort zone, settling down on relaxing beaches rather than exploring and moving on to the next place. It soon dawned on me that the year away would be over before I knew it, so I picked myself up and headed off for an unforgettable adventure. Click on the link below to read more....
13. The Holy City of Varanasi (NoMad Rush Travel Podcast)
Please note that NoMad Rush has a new site at www.nomadrush.org.
Simply click on the below link to access the podcast:
http://nomadrush.org/blog/ipadio-no-13-the-holy-city-of-varanasi-nomad-rush-travel-podcast
Take 5 Questions with Justin Morris (48 Hour Adventure)
1) Air, Sea, Road, Trail or Rail? and why?
Rail for sure. Taking a train across a country is the least stressful way of travelling. You eliminate having to travel all the way to the airport, going through the security rigmarole and being cooped up in a plane for 2 hours. Taking a train from the centre of one city to the other in comfort, with no electronics or liquid restrictions wins out every time in my opinion. Plus you get to see the countryside fly by you at 200 mph.
2) Your biggest surprise on your travels?When we arrived in the medina in Marrakech, I had absolutely no idea how to get to our hostel. We got our backpacks from the boot of the taxi and we were instantly approached and asked where we needed to go. I said the name of the hostel and this rough looking Moroccan bloke says "I take I take!" and storms off down a laneway that looks exactly like the 3 others deviating from the carpark. We follow him with haste and he takes a left down an alleyway and another few turns before stopping in front of a large nondescript wooden door and says "here it is, this is the place". When the door was answered, I couldn't see a thing inside, it was completely pitch black. The person that answered was a little Moroccan cleaning lady who only spoke French. When we finally managed to get an English speaking person to the door he was so softly spoken that it did nothing for my confidence in everything leading up to that point. We were so convinced we'd been led some random house of a bloke the guide knew and were about to get kidnapped. The softly spoken guy returned with a business card that had the name of the hostel I'd booked on it, so we had to just take his word for it and step inside.After we walked through the pitch black foyer we were presented with a bright central area of the Riad, beautifully decorated with colourful tiling and luscious fabrics. We were told to relax on the couches, were given mint tea and the British lady that owned the place came out to greet us. It was then we knew we were ok and were totally safe.
3) Where are the special places you have stayed and the one that disapointed?I did a trek with some mates through the Atlas Mountains in Morocco in Summer of this year and got the opportunity to stay in local Berber villages. The people that live and work up there still farm and hunt the same way they have for hundreds of years. The way the children reacted when we entered the villages was awesome; they'd run up and start saying "hello how are you im good" in French or would be all shy, hanging out behind their mums, watching us pass with curiosity. Was definitely a place I won't forget anytime soon.One place that was disappointing was Phuket, specifically Patong Beach. It was the most commercialised, touristic, exploitative hole I've ever been to. Everyone is trying to get a baht out of you and you can't step foot out of your hotel without being harassed to buy a suit, DVDs, a taxi or a whore. It really ruins the perception of Thailand for people if they only visit Phuket.
4) What's on your travel wish list?The Tran-Siberian Railway. I'm a massive rail fan and taking this epic trip is really high on my list. There's really no other journey like it and the chance to see three countries and multiple types of landscapes is amazing. I'm planning to do it in August next year with one of my mates from back home in Australia - meeting in Beijing and then taking the east to west route through Mongolia to Moscow.
5) One tip to take from your experiences?Whenever I travel, regardless of where or for what reason, I have a quick "on my person" items check. When I get off a plane or leave a hostel, I check I have my wallet, keys, phone, passport and camera. Then I'm good to kick on. :)Thanks Justin. Please check out Justin's website www.48houradventure.com where you can read about Justin's adventures and learn lots of useful info for a weekend break.We now have a Facebook fan page at the NoMad Rush Network and please follw us on Twitter for interesting tweets and building friendships.
El Rinconcillo, Seville – The Oldest Tapas in Town
After several trips to Spain I maintain that I have never tasted decent Tapas. Well I have now, but not at El Rinconcillo. No, that’s a little unfair. The food is traditional, simple and promptly served.
The word Tapas relates to small dishes typically served with drinks at a bar. The food doesn’t even have to be Spanish; it could be kebabs, cous cous or anything broadly Mediterranean. Originally these dishes were given free and placed covering the glass or carafe, but these days of free Tapas have mostly passed. More's the shame.
El Rinconcillo claims to be the oldest tavern in Seville, dating from 1670 and it seems that nothing much has changed in over three centuries, except the perhaps the prices. The bar changed hands in 1860 and is now owned by the 7th generation of this family. Located in the Barrio Santa Cruz area, the tiled frontage is both evocative and inviting and didn’t take us too long to find.
The décor, as one might expect, is mostly Moorish tiling and mahogany panelling and is dimly lit throughout. For the best experience, lean up at the bar beneath ageing hanging Hams and watch the bartenders scurry around. There are old barrels forming tables dotted around and patrons often battle for prime areas. The bar is always busy and swarming with a mix of locals and tourists and maybe suffering a bit with its popularity and guide book exposure; you have to bear in mind you are not visiting an undiscovered gem.
The service is best described as frenetic and grabbing the bartender’s attention can be challenging. Also having a grasp of Spanish may help as we found out, resorting on occasions to pointing at food passing in front of us. We ordered Tortilla and didn’t realise this was omelette, but was delicious nonetheless. Prices are reasonable, so fill your boots.
Your bill is chalked on the long mahogany bar by perspiring bartenders as they dance behind the bar passing dishes and drinks in all directions. The more you eat and drink the more they scribble away. When you have settled up your tab is wiped away ready for the next customer.
As with all Tapas bars, the key is to enjoy a drink and move on to the next bar. Don’t visit with a view to staying here all evening, experience the ambience and atmosphere of this authentic centuries-old institution and move on to the next bar to continue the search. If anyone finds good tapas, do share.
El Rinconcillo, Gerona 40 y Alhondiga 2, 41003 Seville - www.elrinconcillo.es
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Si Salter's Posterous
