10 latest experiences http://www.hereorthere.com/members/sj_chambo en-us Bangkok is an amazing city with crazy traffic, chilled-out people, superb massages, and vibrant markets selling absolutely everything from second hand Levi jeans to one of a kind designer furniture. For me, the most exciting element of a visit to Bangkok is the prospect of eating amazing food- the fresh, zingy, spicy, sour and sweet flavours are unsurpassed. Taking a Thai cooking class whilst in Bangkok is a great way to get a real taste of the culture. Food is central to the Thai lifestyle, and the local people are justifiably proud of their cuisine. So, whilst in Bangkok, I decided to try my hand at Thai cooking, in an attempt to unlock the secrets of my favourite dishes. Bangkok, Thailand sj_chambo Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:41:45 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/sj_chambo/experience/1465 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/1465 One of the more bizarre experiences I encountered in Turkey was a visit to the hammam in Istanbul. I confess, after investigating a ‘local’ hammam, I decided to choose one of the more upmarket establishments on offer. I’m always up for a bit of adventure, but when nakedness is involved; I prefer to play it safe. So off I went to Cemberlitas, near the Grand Bazaar in Sultanahmet, for an authentic, yet sanitary experience of a Turkish bath. Istanbul, Turkey sj_chambo Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:10:22 +0000 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/sj_chambo/experience/1276 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/1276 After a long day of delayed fights, we arrived excitedly at Athens airport at 3am, although our bags were not so lucky. It wasn’t the best of starts to a month long journey, but we were determined to make the most of our first stop. Athens, Greece sj_chambo Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:07:28 +0000 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/sj_chambo/experience/1201 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/1201 We decided to brave the expense (and the early morning wake up) to see the sun rise over the surreal landscape of Cappadocia in central Turkey, from hot air balloon. The bus picked us up bright and early from our hostel and transported us to the take off point, where there were about 3 other balloons with the same idea. Before we knew it we were climbing into the large basket, and were being whisked smoothly and swiftly up, up and away. Kayseri, Turkey sj_chambo Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:42:34 +0000 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/sj_chambo/experience/1104 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/1104 It had always been my dream to visit Positano, and visiting there with my Mum last year surpassed all expectations. Yes, Positano is a popular tourist destination, but past that facade is the heart of Positano - its people. Sharing experiences with the locals of this glamorous holiday destination made my time there interesting and worthwhile. Of course the outstanding food, wine, service and spectacular scenery didn’t hurt either! Positano, Italy sj_chambo Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:00:17 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/sj_chambo/experience/917 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/917 We went to Marrakech in late May to celebrate my boyfriend’s birthday, and stayed at the Riad Chouia Chouia, just off the main square, Jma El Fna. What a perfect choice! Chouia Choiua is run by friendly, relaxed English and French speaking staff, and is situated in the most convenient location, close to the souks and other major attractions. The riad is a calm oasis, offering lovely rooms and a splash pool, necessary in the hot summer months. A large roof terrace allows you a perfect vantage point to watch the sun setting red and large over the city, whilst listening to the call to prayer echo over the roof tops. Marrakech, Morocco sj_chambo Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:10:54 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/sj_chambo/experience/915 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/915 It would be a crime not to overindulge in the delicious offerings of Tuscany. With years of tradition and toil contained within every bottle of Brunello, Tuscany is a place to be savoured and enjoyed by all the senses. It had always been a dream to visit Tuscany and experience Italy's famous wine region first hand. So with images from films playing over in our minds, we set off in search of our Tuscan villa in Stigliano, about 15km's from Siena. It would have helped if we remembered that opening hours of car hire companies did not extend to Saturday afternoons, but alas, our spirits were not to be dampened, as we hurtled through the winding streets towards our destination in a taxi. Luckily our Villa wasn't too far from town! Stigliano, Italy sj_chambo Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:45:20 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/sj_chambo/experience/794 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/794