If you’ve been following my spaces, you probably noticed that I finally managed to get my hands on an electronic eagle! A Mavic Mini drone which I have added to my tiny collection of photography and videography equipment. The Mavic Mini by dji is a 249g ultralight drone which I purchased with the idea to pass some time and eventually focus on building some new content consisting of local and foreign landscape captures. I’ve always been fascinated with aerial shots and the different perspective of having an aerial lens. An extra eye in the sky.

After a considerable amount of research it became clear that the weight was particularly important. Many countries actually require a drone-pilot license to pilot devices exceeding 249g; so it made sense to start out with an unproblematic device which did not require too much paperwork and bureaucracy to fly. Having such a small weight means that I can also carry my Nikon DSLR too without breaking my back.

I managed to find a pretty good deal on a bundle known as the Combo. I’m now equipped with a carry case, a drone with a 12MP camera capable of shooting 2.7K Quad HD videos, a remote controller with the ability to maintain a HD video feed at a distance of up to 2km and three batteries! At around €500, the bundle wasn’t exactly cheap but considering the goodies inside the box and company support, I believe it was worth the expense. The Combo also comes with spare propellers, a micro USB cable, a gimbal flight protector, spare screws, RC cables and a screwdriver too. The price did not include the micro memory card, which needs to be purchased separately.

Any unforeseen problems?

I’m obviously no pro with the drone. I am still learning. I have used the drone a handful of times and yeah, I have naturally bumped into a few problems, the bulk of which can be avoided. Here are a few things that I’ve learnt till now:

1. Do not fly the drone indoors – to experiment a bit, like a kid, I did the mistake of flying it inside a narrow apartment corridor and bashed it against the wall. Avoid this if possible or at least install the propeller protectors before you do to avoid damaging the drone.
2. Launch the drone in an open field – find an open space where you can learn to maneuver the drone. Give yourself time to get used to the system of hovering, tilting, rotating and general functionality. Sometimes even syncing the controller with the drone takes some getting used to!
3. Confidence comes gradually – I still get a bit concerned about the drone getting attacked by a seagull. Joking aside, the device offers a number of features to help you increase confidence gradually. For example you can set a limited distance or altitude.
4. Drone auto-return feature: Always make sure the auto-return altitude (height) of the drone is above any buildings, trees and street lights or cable. In case the connection between the controller and the drone is lost, it will come back automatically based on the settings you give it. Avoid areas with many satellites and cranes due to interference.
5. Not particularly ideal for Malta: Being a small island, I’ve bumped into numerous issues on the locations where I can fly the drone. Due to the airport being centrally located, a big ‘X’ crosses much of the island creating multiple spots which are no fly zones. Don’t be discouraged though, it means you will need to find places which are not frequented by loads of people. A new Maltese regulation also requires you to register the drone. Refer to the following site for more information. Hunting season gives a new reason to worry about it too.

Reach out if you’re looking for some guidance and stay tuned for some new captures and some videography projects that I am currently working on.

Sicily has always been popular with Maltese people. It is located extremely close by plane/ferry and it is relatively cheap in comparison to other European cities and the word agritourism has become one of the most preferred activities on this Italian island – why?

Agritourism locations are usually found very close to popular towns such as Catania and Taormina, they provide visitors with amazing local food and the accommodation options are usually quite affordable. Taking into consideration the 40-minute flight to/from Malta, these three factors tend to make the island extremely popular with Maltese people – this is why I have never actually considered Sicily as a place to visit – until a close friend of mine recommended a place along the border of Nebrodi Park – a few kilometers from the city of San Piero Patti – totally isolated, in a forest of hazelnut, walnut and chestnut trees.

I immediately knew that I would enjoy the place when I saw a couple of photos of potential trekking paths which are very close to the lodge. Agriturismo Il Capitano is located in the Province of Messina, a drive which takes around two hours to get to from Catania’s airport. You need to understand that this lodge is located in a mountainous area, so you can safely assume that roads are continuously curved. I will not lie to you – if you are not the driver, the serpentine highways and roads could easily make a sailor sick and “yes”, you will need a car. I would however go back in an instant; allow me explain why.

What to expect

The agritourism lodge is run by an ex-captain who is also a farmer, an arborist, a forager and a shepherd. After entering the property it was clear that this place could not be run by one man alone. A team of individuals do in fact contribute to the daily running of the premises by working in the orchards, taking care of livestock, cooking, cleaning and patching up the one road which leads to the lodge. The lodge operates extremely efficiently. They are truly like a small family – and they treat their guests like family, too. This is what makes the experience totally amazing.

The lodge has a very limited number of rooms available, all of which contain relatively comfortable amenities – beds, a decent bathroom and a wardrobe. Let’s be honest – what else do you need? If you plan to go during Winter, it will get cold – very cold. Luckily, the rooms are all centrally heated with a furnace which was purposely built to do just that. It might come as a surprise to also experience the large heated swimming pool which is also located on the same premises, a short walk away from the rooms. The lodge also offers a place for archery, darts and a sauna which is located next to the pool area. A lounging room with sofas and a big fireplace is also present – ideal for socializing or playing board games while having a few carafe’s of wine.

Wine and dine

One of the highlights of the place is without a doubt, the food. Generally people stay for breakfast and dinner. In between you may go and explore the area or visit some other locations. You may stay for lunch but keep in mind that you will need to inform The Captain before, so he and his team can cater for your gluttonous needs. Do this ideally a day before.

Breakfast is usually relatively basic since this is not your typical hotel – with most of the food being home-made, such as jams, juices, butter and some form of cake/sweets – enough to kick start your day. If you plan on having lunch in the afternoon, I recommend that you eat something small.

Dinner is prepared in the lodge’s kitchen and most of the food is grown and foraged on the premises. You start off with a starter of local bread, cheeses, jams and wild boar. Way too good to miss out on, till you realize that the starter is also made up of another two to three plates of locally grown or foraged goodness such as local mushrooms in bacon, asparagus, lightly fried broccoli or aubergine bruschetta (to mention a few). It’s different every time and the cook will keep you craving for something new. Pace yourself so you get to enjoy the full meal each and every time.

The next plate is the pasta. Like most Italian households, at Il Capitano the cooks prepare their own pasta. A few pasta dishes that really stood out were a creamy ravioli with mushrooms, a delicious asparagus risotto and bucatini with a ragu sauce. Trust me, you cannot miss out on this. Just when you thought that you cannot eat anymore – here comes the meat. A meat dish is offered after the pasta – a few portions of either beef, lamb or chicken with a side-dish of vegetables (and some gravy!). All were extremely delicious and reminded me of a home cooked Sunday meal. The final plate is dessert – I want some of that lava chocolate brownie now.

To be clear – you do not get to choose what food comes out – they serve whatever is available. If you do not like it, pass your plate to your friend or significant other.

Il Capitano Advantages

• Extremely well kept lodge with clean rooms
• Friendly owner and staff
• Extremely good food (including wine and juices)
• Isolated for those who prefer to get away from it all
• Great for outdoor activities
• Best value for money (Depending on season ~€65/night)
  

Il Capitano Disadvantages

• You need a vehicle
• 2 hours away from Catania Airport
• Dangerous foggy roads in the area (4×4 recommended)
• Totally GPS dependent when driving

Just off the southern tip of Malaysia, Singapore is one of the easiest places to explore thanks to the efficient transport options available. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system spans most of the city-state, allowing locals and travelers alike to get to places in a relatively short amount of time. The buses and taxis are also extremely efficient and always on time, however I personally preferred the MRT.

My personal best views of Singapore’s skyline were reached via the inexpensive MRT system (and some generous walking). Go ahead… board an MRT train and check out the best views this island has to offer.

Marina Bay Sands Skypark

Chances are you’ve seen some photos on your favourite social network. You’ve craved going for a dip in the infinity pool with a corona in hand, amazed at the view in front of you. The Marina Bay Sands resort potentially has one of the best views of Singapore’s panoramic skyline. Needless to say, there’s generally a price to pay for the view and you may only use the pool if you have booked accommodation in the resort – a price well worth it if you ask me. If you are not a resident though, don’t worry. A separate entrance fee for the observation deck is still available and you will get to see the same panoramic view which includes seeing the Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Barrage and the Singapore Strait to mention a few.

Gardens by the Bay

The Marina Bay Sands Skypark is amazing. The Gardens by the Bay are fucking awesome. As the name implies, you are in a massive garden; but not just any garden. This iconic place offers one of the best vantage points of Singapore. From the Skyway you will get to see a good part of the skyline along with the pretty buildings known as the Cloud Forest and the Flower Dome. The Super Trees, as they are known, are incredible and in the evening they are lit in different colours, making you feel like you’re in an Avatar movie!

Marina Barrage

When I visited, the Marina Barrage wasn’t as busy as the other places. Truth be told, the sound of working drones could ruin the ambiance, but I doubt it, especially when you have one hell of a skyline in front of you. The Marina Barrage is practically a dam and a reservoir which connects five rivers, providing water storage and flood control to mention a few. The skyline gives an extremely good view of the Singapore Flyer (Ferris wheel), the Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay Sands Skypark too. This isn’t all though. Looking on the right hand-side of the Singapore Flyer, you will also see the east side of Singapore known as Marina East which includes the Gardens by the Bay East. Behind the Barrage you will get the chance to see the blue, endless Singapore Strait which is very often filled with huge tankers due to the Indonesia-Singapore border which is considered a main trading route.

Merlion Park

If you are in the area, you probably just finished your shopping spree. Before the amount of cash you just spent hits you, drop by Merlion Park to pass away peacefully under a spitting Merlion statue (yes, a combination of a mermaid and a lion). The Merlion is a very well known tourist icon and this isn’t the only one in Singapore (I will not ruin the adventure for you). The skyline from Merlion Park is also beautiful, with views of the Jubilee Bridge, the Waterfront Promenade and the Esplanade Outdoor Theater. You may also see the Louis Vuitton Maison, the architectural beauty of the Art Science Museum and an amazing light show if you head there in the evening.

Esplanade Waterfront / Theaters on the Bay

Opposite Merlion Park, the Esplanade Waterfront is worth visiting too. Grab yourself an ice-cream in a coconut shell and enjoy the skyline which includes views of Merlion Park, the Art Science Museum, the Skypark and the business centre sky scrapers. I suggest you go here in the evening. If you’re lucky you might even be able to enjoy these views while watching a concert or a small performance.

Chinese Garden Pagoda

If you prefer a more laid back, less social place away from the crowds, another beautiful and certainly unique skyline can be seen from the pagoda located in the Jurong garden islands. The skyline is very different from the other ones I mentioned, in fact the building blocks are actually resident and business buildings which are located in the areas of both Jurong West and East. From the top of the pagoda however you will also manage to see a 360-view of the beautiful park which includes a massive Chinese and a Japanese garden including The White Rainbow Bridge, a stone boat and tea house, a bonsai garden and the Pagoda Twins. Simply beautiful. Did I mention that you will need to climb the 7-storey pagoda to enjoy the view? Oh ye, there’s also a live turtle and tortoise museum.

What is Travel Insurance?

 

Why do you need it?

Lost Luggage: You’ve been travelling for well over 15 hours and you arrive at your destination. It takes you ten minutes for the planes’ doors to open and another fifteen to pass through security. You spend another ten minutes waiting for your luggage. Suddenly you realize that all the people on your plane have picked up their luggage and left. You keep waiting a little longer until you realize that your luggage never made it to the baggage claim conveyor belt. Travel insurance could help you greatly with this.

• It is possible that the Insurance company provides the insurer the sum applicable to the insurance cover level chosen on accidental loss, theft or damage to baggage.
• Certain agencies may provide an emergency replacement of critical day-to-day items, such as medication, toiletries and even a replacement for clothing.
• You may also be reimbursed for the accidental loss, damage and also theft of personal money. This may apply to the country’s local currency.
• Additionally, the agency could cover the costs for travel and accommodation which have been incurred to obtain another passport abroad.

Medical Expenses: Imagine you’re somewhere in Asia and a couple of friends suggest quad biking. The idea sounds amazing and you need an adrenaline rush. Twenty minutes into what started as a fun activity, suddenly turns chaotic – your quad bike hits the curb and you end up needing medical attention.

• Insurance generally covers any hospital, nursing, surgical and medical costs.
• It may also cater for the treatment of dental care.
• To make things easier for family members, an insurance cover can cater for the cost of body transportation and funeral expenses in case of death.
• Accommodation and transport costs if you have no choice but to return after a scheduled date.
• A hospital benefit, which is usually a fixed sum, may be given to patients which are in a hospital abroad up to a maximum amount.
• A cover may also be provided for the costs if you are caught up in an unforeseen event like a civil war and you have been given some form of medical aid.

Trip Cancellation: Interruption insurance or trip cancellation insurance also fall under a travel insurance policy. Although airline companies try their best to avoid this, it is very possible that something unforeseen occurs which will require a reschedule. Trip cancellation reasons may be one of the following.

• A technical problem that could easily result in a massive flight delay.
• It is also possible that a personal problem forces a traveller to cancel the trip. Illness or death of a family member for example.
• It may be the case that police need you to immediately return to your home country or remain at home and miss a flight, due to some serious case such as theft.
• Insurance will also cover situations which involve bad weather which could ground a plane.
• An airline strike may force a trip cancellation.
• A delay in connecting flights.
• Due to massive home damage, like a fire or a flood which render your home uninhabitable.

Flight Accident: They are rare, yes, but flight accidents happen and it is good to have some form of insurance cover just in case.

• It may cover accidental death.
• It may also cover disability costs, like loss of limbs or eye sight.
• A few take care of costs related to emergency medical evacuation.

For a very detailed insurance study, I highly recommend that you take a look at the article The Best Travel Insurance by Reviews which provides a well written and balanced overview of Insurance Companies and the coverage details they offer. The article goes into detail on custom insurance packages such as insurance packages for families or for solo travellers like myself.

Reliable Insurance Companies

International:

World Nomads

Local (Malta):

Atlas Insurance

Elmo Insurance

Middlesea Insurance

One specific characteristic that resonates among travellers who have been to Madrid is the food. In general, Spain is known for having one of the best food scenes within Europe. I always enjoyed the dishes which were served in other Spanish cities, however something about Madrid’s food scene left its mark on me. I’m going to absolutely honest; when I visited Barcelona I was ALWAYS surrounded by a ridiculous amount of tourists. I loved Barcelona, don’t get me wrong, but it felt different in Madrid. I felt that I managed to ‘connect’ directly with Spaniards – from the vendors behind the stalls selling tapas, to the barmen behind the bars selling beer, to the confectioners selling sweets and chocolate. Yes, it felt different. It felt more authentic. It was more authentic.

Madrid’s foodie scene is amazing. Whether you’re searching for a Michelin-starred restaurant, a gourmet market or you’re out with a few friends searching for tapas; you are definitely going to find something to satisfy your cravings. Best of all, most of the food is very affordable and very well priced. You could easily walk away very satisfied, sampling numerous small dishes, after spending around €20 or $23.

During my stay in Madrid I tried various dishes at different eateries, way too many to list here but having said that, here are the one’s I highly recommend.

Tapas

You’re spoiled for choice. The options with tapas are so great that it is impossible to try everything during your stay in Madrid. You could definitely try your best though. Tapas are generally considered to be appetisers or snacks which pair extremely well with a beer or wine while socialising the day/night away – and that is exactly what’s great about them. Tapas vary from simple small dishes like the famous calamares which are rings of battered squid to different types of rice dishes known as paella.

Bocadillo de Calamares

“Don’t forget to try the Bocadillo de Calamares” were the words that came out of my friend’s mouth before I left for Madrid. A simple yet delicious treat, no visit to Madrid is complete without trying one of these local famous sandwiches made from fried squid and a simple bread bun. Generally found in tiny bars, these sandwiches are usually paired with a small beer and olives. The best one I found was under the arches next to Plaza Mayor.

Churros

Churros are basically fried dough made from flour, salt and water that are eaten at any time of the day, typically eaten during breakfast time. While there are different variations, the one I tried in Madrid was accompanied by a large mug of hot melted chocolate. Damn son. Treat yourself to a a few of these sticks at the much visited Chocolatería San Ginés. You will also find the occasional street vendor next to parks too.

Paella

While many non-Spaniards consider paella to be a national dish, it is really a Valencian rice dish. Possibly my favourite dish, paella doesn’t always contain the same ingredients. It can be treated as the Spanish variation of an Italian’s pasta dish. There are therefore many recipes with different ingredients and yes, expect to find numerous variations in Madrid. The top ones you should try include the most famous seafood paella, the vegetarian or vegan paella and my personal favourite –  mixed paella which usually includes chicken, chorizo and shrimp too. Amazing. Most restaurants in Madrid serve paella but if you’re up for a quick snack, I enjoyed the three types that are available at the Mercado de San Miguel.

Jamón

While exploring Madrid I came across numerous shops and even a museum dedicated solely to this delicious cured ham. I also tasted a number of tapas which included jamón too. The most famous ham is known as jamón ibérico (ham from the Iberian black pig). This prime-quality ham tastes particularly unique due to its acorn-based diet. In comparison to other cured hams, typical characteristics in jamón include a darker colour and marbling  (due to a higher fat content).

Overall, the dining experience was amazing – varied, always delicious and affordable. The best three factors in any meal. You are bound to find something you like and my suggestion to you is the following: Walk around Madrid and spend a few evenings exploring different neighbourhoods. Do visit a few restaurants or markets that are marked on travelling sites but don’t limit yourself to these eateries alone. There are some truly authentic places in the small winding alleys and pedestrian streets that are not necessarily mentioned online. You have a better chance of tasting unique dishes in these places and obviously a better chance of interacting with the locals. This is what makes Madrid extra special. ¡Buen apetito!

I had the opportunity to visit the Spanish capital city of Catalonia last year in the beginning of October. I had seen my friends’ photos and I was intrigued by this beautiful capital. Its rich architectural heritage is known worldwide and even though I had researched numerous points of interest prior to arriving to this city, I was specifically interested to see the intricate projects designed by Gaudí.

Antoni Gaudí was a Spanish Catalan architect, known mainly for his unique (many say eccentric) projects. I say projects because Gaudí isn’t only known for designing buildings. In fact, Gaudí kicked off his career designing and working on furniture. A number of these beautiful artifacts can be seen in the local National Museum in Barcelona.

Many people are not aware that the designs such as the Sagrada Família were indeed started in his final years. After visiting the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, I found out that Gaudí was actually intrigued by numerous design styles throughout his life time. In fact, he is known for working on three specific types of projects: 1. Projects focusing on the Orient or East Asia; 2. Projects focusing on Gothic style architecture and art; and Gaudí’s personal favourite and perfected style – 3. the Naturalist period.

Needless to say, Gaudí’s works have been identified as World Heritage and with reference to the UNESCO’s website “Seven properties built by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) in or near Barcelona testify to Gaudí’s exceptional creative contribution to the development of architecture and building technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These monuments represent an eclectic, as well as a very personal, style which was given free reign in the design of gardens, sculpture and all decorative arts, as well as architecture. The seven buildings are: Parque Güell; Palacio Güell; Casa Mila; Casa Vicens; Gaudí’s work on the Nativity façade and Crypt of La Sagrada Familia; Casa Batlló; Crypt in Colonia Güell.”

If you have time to visit them all, consider yourself lucky and fit them into your itinerary. If however you’re planning a trip to Barcelona and time is an issue, the following places are a must-see:

La Sagrada Familia

Visiting Barcelona just to see this incredible construction is worth the trouble. If you are into architecture, look no further. La Sagrada Família is the most famous of Gaudí’s projects. This Catholic church is still under construction and it is estimated to be finished around 2028. There are numerous characteristics that will leave you in awe, three of them being the façades. You enter the church through the Nativity façade which depicts the scene of the birth of Jesus. The Passion façade, which resembles skeleton bones, is dedicated to the “Passion of Christ” and his suffering during his crucifixion. The third façade is known as the Glory façade and it is going to be the largest and possibly the most magnificent out of the the three. Works are currently ongoing and this façade aims to be the entry point through the central nave. This façade will be dedicated to the Celestial Glory of Jesus.

While the outside is incredible, wait till you get inside. I bet that from an architecture point of view you have never seen something so beautiful and intricate. There’s a story behind ever little detail and I suggest that you do pick the entrance package that includes the audio guide.

My personal (ticket) recommendation: Go for the Top Views ticket which includes a ticket to the Sagrada Família, an audio guide which you can control and listen to as you walk through the complex and a visit to one of the towers. I went up the Tower on the Nativity façade. A ticket which covers all these requirements is generally around €29. A basic entry ticket (which does not include a guide, audio guide or a tower visit) will cost around €15. Group tickets and School tickets are also available. The most important thing to do is to book ahead of time. You may do so from here.

Parque Güell

Located on Carmel Hill, this public park is basically a large garden which includes a museum and a few buildings conceived and designed by Gaudí. The Casa del Guarda (Caretaker’s House) which may be found at the Carrer d’Olot entrance will probably be your first stop. I recommend that you go inside and follow the small exhibition which will allow you to understand how the three floors correspond to Barcelona’s three standpoints – the House, the Park and the City. Laie Park Güell Shop is a tiny shop/bookstore that specialises in Gaudí’s works in modernism. This may be a good time to buy a few souvenirs for home. Apart from these buildings and a restaurant inside the park, you will also get the opportunity to see some amazing stone structures, mosaic seating, a great panoramic view and the famous Gaudí lizard which is also covered in mosaic. There are three main entrances into the park. The main entrance is next to Casa del Guarda and it is usually the point where a taxi will drop you off. The second is next to the main ticket booth and the coach parking lot. Buses or coaches generally drop you off here. If you decide to catch a train you will have to stop at Lesseps or Vallarca station – be aware that if you decide to walk it, there’s a pretty strenuous walk uphill.

Casa Vicens, Casa Batlló, Casa Mila & Casa Calvet

Roughly located in the same neighbourhood (not more than 45 minutes between Casa Vicens and Casa Batlló on foot); these houses are all worth checking out. If you don’t have time to go inside, at least catch a glimpse of the architecture from the outside.

Casa Calvet was designed by Gaudí for a textile manufacturer called Pere Màrtir Calvet. The building was divided into two parts – the top floors were used as Calvet’s private residence while the ground floor and the basement were used for his textile business. The building was built from stone quarried on Montjuïc. It is considered to be one of Gaudí’s earliest buildings. Today Casa Calvet is used as a restaurant and it offers diners a sensual experience which aims to blend Gaudí’s work with the state of the art of cuisine.

Casa Batlló was built between 1904 and 1906 and it is located in the centre of the city. Apart from designing the façade with stone and glass, Gaudí ordered all the external walls to be redesigned, giving them a wavy look before plastering them with lime mortar and covering them with mosaic pieces similar to the style seen in Parque Güell. Today the house serves as a museum and for about €29 you can skip the queue and enjoy a tour inside this UNESCO World Heritage site accompanied by a SmartGuide system. Locally, Casa Batlló is known as Casa dels ossos – the House of Bones due to the skeletal and organic characteristics which may be seen throughout the building. Be on the look out for the chimneys, the inner blue courtyard, the stained glass and the ‘dragon’ roof.

Casa Vincens was also designed by Gaudí and it is considered to be a modernist building and one of the very first houses styled in Art Nouveau. Casa Vincens is actually the first house designed by Gaudí and in its 132 years of history, this building has solely been used as a residence. The building clearly shows that Gaudí was extremely fond of nature and one may find numerous decorations inside and outside of the house including birds, flowers, fruit, vines and ivy models. While the building is privately owned, a plan to open it to the public is in motion – possibly for Easter ’17. Until then, you will have to appreciate the building from the outside.

Casa Milà known as ‘The Stone Quarry’ was designed with a façade that looks like an open quarry. In 1984 the building was put on UNESCO’s World Heritage list and this modernist building is currently used as a headquarters which promotes Catalonia through various activities and exhibitions which are organized inside. Throughout the year free exhibitions are held inside and this gives locals and tourists the opportunity to see the inside of Casa Milà. While parts of the building are inaccessible to the public, you will get the opportunity to visit the courtyard, the roof terrace, the attic, The Pedrera apartment obviously the exhibition hall. The price for a tourist visiting during the day is approximately €22.

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”. If you are like me, visiting a new country will require some form of basic planning. I have my own favourite process when travelling to the unknown and I find that it always helps me maximise my time in a town or a city, apart from also helping me save money and also reduce the stress of planning everything on the fly. The key to this process is to utilise the very popular Google Maps web mapping service. While you’ve heard and probably used this service through the 3G mobile service or at home, you probably haven’t heard about the offline feature.

Imagine yourself in a country with a really expensive mobile data plan. You prefer spending money on food or a better accommodation choice. Some of us have also been to a place where the Internet is snail-like; web pages take ages to load and you keep getting disconnected while enjoying that video conference through Skype with your family and friends back home. Have you ever tried getting online to search for a restaurant or a particular street and you simply cannot get online? The good thing is that Google Offline Maps helps you deal with these problems and you don’t even need a connection to access it! Like anything that functions through technology, there are a few steps that you need to follow.

Let us assume that you are visiting Barcelona and you’re at home planning your trip.

1. An Internet connection is required.
2. Access the Google Maps app either from your tablet or mobile device.
3. Confirm that you are signed into Google Maps. If you aren’t, note that you need to sign into your Google (Gmail) account first. If you have already access Google Maps, simply click on the blue Sign In button located on the top right of the screen.
4. Search for Barcelona and click Enter. You should be redirected to the exact location of Barcelona.
5. The yellow stars that appear in the screenshot above are all points of interest which I wanted to visit while planning my trip. To mark them, simply search for the place you would like to visit in the search field (top left) and once you click enter, a red marker will pinpoint the exact location of the place. Click on the star or Save icon to the left of the screen. This will mark the place for you for future reference.
6. More of a note than a point – since you have marked the stars directly on one device, do not worry about losing them across your other devices. Once you have saved them and you log into Gmail/Google Maps on any other device (be it a PC, a tablet, a mobile and irrespective of the type of Operating System you use – Android, iOS etc…), the stars will still be bound to your personal Google account forever, unless you manually remove them through Google Maps.
7. Now click on Options (those 3 lines on top of each other next to the search field) and select Offline areas.
8. Under the text Download an offline area you will see an option called Custom area. Click it.
9. You may now zoom in and out of the area you want to save for offline reference. Once you manage to fit the area in the blue box, you may click the Download button to download the offline map locally to the device. Easy right?
10. Now simply wait for the download to reach 100% and once that’s done you may physically test it out by disabling the Internet connection (wireless and 3G) and search for one of the points of interest you previously marked with a yellow star. If the point is located within the offline map (blue box area) that you previously selected before downloading, then you will be able to lock onto the point.

Important information

• Google Offline Maps doesn’t offer this service on every city, town or country. For example I couldn’t use it for Tokyo but I managed to use it with no problems in Athens.
• Google Offline Maps is an ongoing side project to the larger Google Maps app, so updates and changes are continuously being done to the application/web service (which is a good thing).
• Google Offline Maps expire unless they are updated on a given date. This date is provided in the Offline areas section of Google Maps.
• If you need to visit a place that Google Offline Maps doesn’t support, don’t worry. There are numerous other applications which you may use. My second favourite is MAPS.ME which apart from offering decent worldwide maps, the app also helps with navigation via a router planner and directions. Maps are also regularly updated.

Even the most experienced travellers have become lost among the heavenly shorelines, islands and waters of the Bahamas. From the wild swashbucklers to British colonists to today’s vacationers, the Bahamas have since offered guests various opportunities to explore the archipelago state by land and sea. With well over 500 islands, islets and cays, the best way to explore the Bahamas is by kayak.

The Bahama Islands provide a few of the world’s most prominent ocean kayak-experiences for both master kayaks and novices alike. Whether you’re travelling solo or with a group of friends, an awesome spot to start your itinerary is in Georgetown, the capital and the largest city located in a district known as Exuma. Arriving is simple. Flights from Europe usually depart from Heathrow in the UK and stop in Miami. American Airlines has a number of flights daily which leave directly from Miami. Going around by kayak will allow you to visit the numerous picturesque beaches which boast some of the clearest water anywhere in the world. Having a kayak will also give you the opportunity to stop and experience some breathtaking coral reefs. You should also consider casting a line and try your luck with some fishing! How does swimming with pigs or nurse sharks sound?

Here’s a detailed map which will allow you to explore the Exuma Cays by kayak! It is recommended that you use the specialised services of one of the local companies to maximise your kayak experience. Check out Exuma Cays Adventures and Exuma Water Sports to see what special packages they offer.

At a length of 40 feet and a weight of some 47,000 pounds, on average, along with a mouth which is filled with some 350 rows of teeth, Whale Sharks are the world’s biggest mammals and certainly the scariest ones too. Swimming with Whale Sharks could be the ultimate experience some of us yearn to have in our lifetimes. There are many places where it is possible to catch the Whale Shark in all its glory, if the urge to take flash photography or touch the beast can be controlled that is. The natural habitats of these gentle giants are seas with warm temperature so there should’ve been virtually endless number of places to swim with these however the numbers of Whale Sharks are rapidly declining. This curated list of places can ensure that you have a successful swim with the fish.

Syntagma

Acropoli

Plaka