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New York

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of…..as the song goes. And so much more, restaurants, bars, sporting events, music, theatre and of course the people. I simply love this place, I have stayed here whilst working on cruise liners, brought my wife here for long weekends, been to “the garden” to see a Lennox Lewis fight, played basket ball in a cage with scary looking locals (just like in the movies), music concerts, theatre, comedy shows museums and of course the food and drink.
Every kind of food you can imagine in the most diverse city on the planet, simply wonderful.
A great place to hang out and get an insight into what is happening in the city are the Irish bars spread across all districts and on every street. My wife and I decided on a nightcap in one such bar after a fabulous meal in Little Italy. We ended up leaving at around 4am despite the fact we were catching a train to Boston at 8am which by this time was the same morning. The Amtrak coffee despite being good, does not cure hangovers.

No more New York stories you simply must go…….

The Avenue of the Giants, California USA

The Avenue of the Giants takes the route of the old US Highway 101 and runs through the stunning Humboldt Redwood National Park.
I was fortunate enough to cycle through the 31 miles of huge Redwood trees starting at Pepperwood in the north and finishing in Phillipsville in the south.
The route is basically a road running through these huge Redwood trees, passing through small villages many of which were closed as I happened to be cycling the route on Thanksgiving Day.
The route itself is quite eerie because the Redwoods are so big, they overhang each other and block out the sunlight from above which means you are riding in almost darkness along parts of the road.
An essential stop off is the aptly named Immortal Tree, aptly named as it has beaten the loggers saw, a forest fire and had 100 foot knocked off the top due to a lightning strike. The base of the tree has a nine foot gap which you can actually drive through. I did not get the chance because a Japanese tourist was struggling to get his six-foot wide car through the nine foot gap, so I decided to go around.

It was really quite humbling to cycle through these huge trees which were in the forest way before you were born and will still be there long after you have gone.

Managua Nicaragua

Despite a troubled past of revolution, earthquakes and economic depression, Nicaragua has almost risen from the ashes as it is still a fabulous place to visit. Managua the capital, situated on the south shore of Lake Managua is a wonderful city. The Plaza of the Revolution is a great place to hang out, overlooked by Santiago of Managua Cathedral which is now a stunning shell, having been destroyed by an earthquake in 1972.
Some great museums highlight recent troubles however, you would not think so when talking to the Managua locals. I found them so friendly and welcoming, I had many a great night chatting over a beer in the many bars and restaurants of the city. It is chatting to locals in bars and restaurants where you find some great places to go, the best tip I ever had? Without doubt, the pacific beach resort of San Juan del Sur, where I later spent a fabulous week.
Managua, the name is far scarier than the place…..

Antigua Guatemala

My first experience of Guatemala was from Airport Camp in Belize, whilst serving with the Royal Air Force many years ago. Guatemala has long claimed territorial rights over Belize, the now independent Commonwealth state and until recently, British Armed Forces have had a detachment protecting Belize. When I was there, it was two Harrier jets with a small RAF support team and an army detachment, this ended in 1994 when Guatemala recognised Belize as a sovereign state.
My most recent visit to Guatemala was a few days in the capital Guatemala City followed by a week learning Spanish in the former capital of Antigua.
Antigua is a fabulous colonial type city, a world away from the rest of the country. Along with its beautiful buildings and the Acatenango volcano which at nearly 4000 metres towers above the city, the old capital has an abundance of quaint bars and restaurants along with the more modern bars which cater for the many young gringo gap year students learning Spanish. Indeed, the city is built around Spanish schools offering a week of one-to-one tuition at very reasonable prices. I had a fabulous week learning Spanish at one of the schools before heading back into the crime and poverty of Guatemala.
A true oasis away from it all if ever there was one and a great place to learn Spanish.

Legal Seafoods Boston MA

I heard Legal Seafoods was the place to go for seafood in the Boston area and wow what a recommendation that turned out to be.
Being a massive seafood fan, this place tops everything else in Boston. The menu was just heaven, shrimp, prawn, clams, oysters, chowder, scallops, you name it, it was there on the menu. You could even have a fish burger, not just a piece of fish in a burger roll, but you could choose your fish, salmon burger, lobster burger and the list goes on.
Being with my wife, the oysters were a great start, followed by the legendary chowder and obviously the big boy lobster, the lobster came in various sizes and the staff even gave you advice on how to break it up before eating. Being from a council estate in the north of England, not something I had previously come across.
Whenever I am in Boston, this place It’s always on the to do list.

The Blyde Resort Pretoria South Africa

It’s easy to think that Johannesburg and Pretoria are quite close. If an hours drive in heavy traffic is quite close, then I guess they are. The Blyde resort is just to the east of Pretoria and about an hour north of Johannesburg. I found the resort on Airbnb and I have to say, judging by the pictures It looked pretty spectacular, indeed it was.
I was playing golf in the Blind South African Open in Johannesburg and decided on a few extra days either side of the tournament to explore the Johannesburg area. A Three bedroomed apartment at the Blyde came up on Airbnb for around £50 a night, what a bargain this turned out to be.
I can personally say the security on the resort is excellent, at the time I would have said excessive, as I was refused entry because I did not have a key code to the barrier, despite having my reservation in paper and electronic formats. Eventually I managed to sneak in using another persons passcode which I overheard and eventually made my way to the reception.
My apartment was not ready, so I was forced to enjoy the clubhouse area overlooking the fantastic man-made lagoon and have some lunch with a few social beers. The lagoon is huge and provides a range of water sports for the sporty types. Having just spent 16 hours on aeroplanes and after navigating my way through Johannesburg airport, I preferred the less sporty option of a pizza and a few beers.
A new three bedroomed ground floor apartment, fully furnished with patio and garden overlooking the lagoon was as good as it gets for £50 a night. The good thing about the area was Uber SA would arrive in minutes to pick me up outside the main gate, half an hour journeys to the areas great bars and restaurants cost a fraction of what a taxi in any big city would cost.
My son and I really enjoyed our tine at the Blyde, as after a day exploring wildlife parks and some of the sights of the area, once we had dinner, we just chilled out in the apartment. All the tv and excellent WiFi a 15 year old boy could need and all the fabulous cold South African wine I needed, whilst sitting on my patio looking out over the now beautifully lit up lagoon. Great place…..

San Juan del Sur Nicaragua

Situated about 10 miles west from the Costa Rica border and about 80 miles south east of Managua the Nicaraguan capital, San Juan del Sur Is a small beach resort on the Pacific Ocean. I heard about this place in a little Irish bar in Managua, the capital a few weeks previously. Apparently It’s a favourite weekend break for some of Managua’s locals and I can certainly see why, the place is simply stunning. A picturesque bay on the Pacific Ocean with an abundance of small bars, restaurants and hotels, it really is an escape from the hustle and bustle of Nicaragua. My favourite spot was Ricardos bar, a lively beach bar with many locals and a few American expats literally on the beautiful sandy beach.
There were. some great stories on how some of the expats found themselves living in San Juan. One of the expats came to Nicaragua to report on the revolution many years ago, in his words he simply stayed. Another explained his pension would not stretch to somewhere in Bala or indeed mainland Mexico, so he ended up travelling south until he found somewhere he could afford to live.
Sitting on the outside deck of the bar is simply wonderful, the sunset is one I will never forget, I can think of worse Places to retire.

Zizzi Worcester

Without doubt one of my favourite places to eat in Worcester. It’s great for a nice meal for 2 or equally as good for bringing the whole family. The menu is great with a good selection of starters, mains and stunning desserts however, what makes it for me is the fact there is something for everyone or every occasion. My kids love this place as does my wife “happy wife happy life”.
The staff are great, really friendly and attentive without being overbearing, the restaurant is well laid out with a great atmosphere.
The happy hour prices make this place a real bargain given the excellent quality of the food, however, even normal prices are reasonable.
Always top of my list when eating out in Worcester.

Banff Springs Golf Course Alberta Canada

If you ever see the Banff Springs golf course on a simulator option, play it. I have been fortunate enough to play the simulator and the real thing, and yes, the actual course really is that spectacular.
My day at the Banff Springs was an experience not just a round of golf. I turned up at the pro shop in the hope of getting a game and luckily enough there was a slot. Not bringing my clubs was not a problem, I hired one of the many sets of new top of the range Callaway’s which were lined up outside.
On getting my clubs the first stop was the driving range, a thing of beauty in itself. Tree lined with stunning background views of the mountains, the range tapered in to a point at about 300 yards, there were elk wandering across the range about 220 yards away, almost arrogantly daring you to try and hit them.
I got talking to a few young golf professionals who were practicing on the range. Talk about living the dream, they explained they golf all day in the summer months, taking a few lessons, and in the winter, they literally headed for the hills, rather large hills, namely the Rocky Mountains and became ski instructors during the winter months. Unfortunately, I was not good enough to do either let alone both.
I am not even going to try and describe the course, it simply needs to be seen, imagine a course with 18 signature holes, this is it…..

Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka

Another place where I have not stayed but simply enjoyed the hotels fabulous facilities as a non resident, great bar and restaurant, a snooker room and swimming pool which I unfortunately did not try out.
The hotel is located on the outskirts of town very close to the golf club where I played a few times during my stay, set in huge grounds, the hotel would make for a great break in peaceful beautiful surroundings. I was staying in the town centre at a guest house costing substantially less than the Grand, however, the fabulous restaurant and bar at the hotel was fairly well priced. That old travel rule, eat and drink well, sleep easy.
I happened to be drinking in the hotel bar and it turned out the manager was English and also manager of the hotel staff football team. After many beers I reluctantly agreed to turn out for the team the following day in a local match. No football kits here just shorts and tee shirts, I did happen to have my Sunderland shirt (which travels everywhere with me), shorts and trainers and arrived as a “ringer” for the hotel team. The word ringer was an understatement, at 6”2 tall I was probably a foot taller than all the other players and after scoring a hattrick in a 5-3 win, controversy followed along with a great night and many beers in the hotel bar that evening.
On the downside of a great evening, I parted company with my beloved Sunderland shirt, I was asked to sign it and leave it hanging on a wall of the bar. Perhaps I will reclaim it one day when I return in my retirement……

APA Capsule Hotel Shinjuku Tokyo

Location, location, location, this place is bang in the middle of Tokyo, come out of the hotel front door, turn left, and your then on that massive crossing in all the TV and movie adverts in the middle of Shinjuku.
The hotel is amazing value for central Tokyo, I paid about £60 for two pods around four years ago. A word of advice however, if you are over 6 foot tall, don't spend a week here. I managed two nights in my large baked bean can with a curtain for a door and I have to say, it was one of my worst hotel experiences ever.
My son was in the pod above me and we ended up having an early night at around 11:00 pm, given we had been on the go for 36 hours after flying in from England. At around 1110pm, the music from the bar above the hotel started blasting out, Japanese grunge music, not really my thing. After lying awake for about four hours in my claustrophobic baked bean can the music stopped. Thinking I might finally get some sleep, karaoke begun with Japanese versions of Madonna now gracing the airwaves. By 6:00am I had enough and went out to explore Tokyo. I found an amazing little coffee shop right opposite the main crossing in Shinjuku, No bacon sandwiches here I'm afraid however, the coffee and hot dogs where just fine.
It was really interesting watching the young Japanese revellers making their way home, no shouting, screaming, fighting, being sick here, just polite young people quietly going about their business making their way home with the occasional wobble.

Despite my dislike of the pod, the hotel facilities were awesome, spotlessly clean and tidy, the male washrooms had hot showers, a jacuzzi and even a small swimming pool. The hotel also had a small café in the communal area and a few pc’s available to rent for a minimal charge. There was a nice sitting area, with free wifi also available, an absolute bargain in central Tokyo.

The YMCA Colombo Sri Lanka

The YMCA in Columbo Sri Lanka may not be five star or even one star coming to that, however, a great place whilst in Columbo watching cricket.
One of my travelling trips whilst on a budget especially in Asia, is to sleep cheap eat and drink well and the YMCA was certainly a place to do that. In actual fact this had everything you needed, primarily a bed to sleep in, a bar downstairs serving very cheap beer and of all things, two full size snooker tables which were full most of the time, as the locals were Snooker mad. Another good thing about the YMCA was its location, smack bang in the middle of Columbo, the second best thing about the location is the huge Hilton hotel just across the street which had very good happy hours in the bar.
The only real difference to my cricket tour and the big travel agents 5 star everything, was my sleeping arrangements. My $2 basic room with shared facilities and free iguana running up the wall was simply somewhere to sleep however, I ate, drank and watched the same cricket in the same places as those in five-star luxury.
The happy hour at the Hilton was from 5 pm till 7 pm however, by the time we got back from the cricket, it was almost the end of happy hour. My cunning plan which worked every night was to tip the waiter well for my first pitcher of beer and just before happy hour ended, buy quite a few more, these would last all night. The waiter would simply bring a new cold one when the previous one finished. The result being, they were purchased at happy hour prices and of course he got another big tip.
When all else failed, there was also the basic bar in the YMCA, plastic tables and chairs, the infamous devilled chilli chicken strips (a Sri Lankan must do) and cheaper beer than the Hilton happy hour.
Spoilt for choice.

Penzion Gremium Bratislava Slovakia

Location, location, location, right in the centre of Bratislava, the Penzion Gremium has dramatically evolved over the 30 plus years I have been staying here.
I love Bratislava it is one of my favourite cities, certainly small by European standards but the Penzion Gremiium is right in the heart of the city. I first found this place in a lonely planet guide book 30+ years ago and I stayed there simply because it was cheap and very central, having said that, everything is central in Bratislava, that’s why I like it so much.
The rooms were upstairs and I have to say bared no resemblance to those of todays hotel. Shared bathrooms in the corridor opposite your room and if you were lucky enough to get an on suite (I say that term loosely), the bathroom door would not close properly so I will leave the rest to your imagination if you were not staying in the room by yourself.
In the early days, the pension had a somewhat rugged bar downstairs which was great if you loved live punk/indie music and cheap beer (that’s why I loved the place). I spent many a great evening drinking with friendly locals talking music, football and anything in between. Live music was somewhat underground before independence in 1993 and certainly before the end of communist rule in 1989, so the Slovaks were certainly making up for lost time. Many a drunken night into the early hours would end up with me leaving the bar and letting myself into the pension entrance next door, taking a very old soviet style lift to my floor and falling into my spotlessly clean 1 star room.
More recently however, the pension has dramatically changed, now a 3 star hotel with on suite modern facilities. The bar downstairs is a pleasant restaurant/café where a latte and a nice quiet chat have replaced the cheap beer and live music of years gone by.
A little sad on a personal level however, still a great place in a great location, in an even better city….

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Alberta Canada

If you can find a better resort in a better location, please let me know…. The stunning back drop of the Rocky Mountains situated withing walking distance of the fabulous town of Banff, with one of the best golf courses on the planet, no it does not get any better. Five star luxury in a five star setting.
The hotel has everything you could wish for, fabulous restaurants, shops, a bowling alley, an amazing spar and fitness area, organised tours of the area and a golf course that is just off the charts. Despite all of this it is the simple things that make the resort so wonderful, great staff who will go that extra mile, and of course the location. Apart from the golf which I will never forget, having lunch on the patio looking out at the fabulous mountains will stay with me for ever, it does not get any better. I visited in summer, I will return in the winter at some point as This is up there with the best on the planet……

UFO Reštaurácia Bratislava Slovakia

Despite being modernised somewhat since my last visit, the UFO Reštaurácia is a pretty awesome place to enjoy a drink or a meal.
Situated 95 metres above the banks of the River Danube, the views of the city are spectacular. I visited and spent a fabulous evening here shortly before Slovakia swapped the Korunas for the Euro and it was ridiculously cheap compared to prices in my home city at the time, London.
So much so, on my visit there was only me and a large group of middle aged men in suits having what appeared to be a celebration of some kind, given the amount of champagne which was flowing. It was only the next day when having breakfast, I noticed the front page of a national Slovakian newspaper with pictures of the same men. I asked the waiter and it turned out this was most the government, obviously celebrating some kind of political victory. The closest I have ever been to the ruling classes……
As with many things in Slovakia, the UFO Reštaurácia has been modernised somewhat and it has now become part of the tourist trail with 35 Euro main course meals. I don’t think my whole night of food, drink and tip came to anywhere near half of that.
Still a fab place and well worth a visit even if just for a 5 Euro coffee, the views are worth it.

Hard Rock Café Dubai International Airport.

If you have 4 hours to kill at an absolutely manic Airport, then this is the place for you. I stopped off in Dubai for four hours on route to Johannesburg, I’m have to say, for the first time ever it wasn’t enough time in an airport.
Although slightly pricey, (having said that, nothing on the £40 beer and sandwich in Copenhagen Airport oh my previous trip east), it was worth every penny as this place had it all.
A huge screen playing great music videos, excellent food and drinks great atmosphere and really good friendly staff. Just the perfect place after a nine hour flight and before another 8 hour second leg to Johannesburg.
The staff were so friendly I had a beer at the Hard Rock Café in Sun City later on my trip, to say hello to one of the waiters friends who had recently moved there.
Next time I am travelling with a stop off in Dubai, I will certainly know where to go, unless of course the Emirates first class lounge offers me a complimentary. Great place.

Pashawar PAF Golf Club Pakistan

Well if ever there was an example of millionaire golf this was it….
I discovered this little gem whilst eating and drinking in the 5 star Pearl Continental Hotel (the one recently blown up by the Taliban). My friends refuse to go anywhere in the world I have previously been, as I have drank in the night club blown up in Bali nightclub bombing quite a few years ago and also in the bar in one of the Twin Towers before the tragic events of 9/11.
Unfortunately, I only had the budget to stay in a $2 a night place in Peshawar however, I did have the fabulous buffet breakfast at the Pearl Continental and given the hotel had one of only three bars in the country where westerners could frequent, it was an obvious place to hang out of an evening.

The Peshawar golf club is adjacent to the hotel and welcomes guests. The green fees are minimal and the course is immaculate, when I played, I pretty much had the course to myself. It is a military course (PAF) which I assume is Pakistan Air Force and there were no buggies or caddies as there are in most golf clubs in Pakistan. The 3 hours walking and carrying a bag was really pleasant but tough in the heat. A fabulous experience I would certainly repeat if the situation ever allows.

The Kittocks Golf Course, Fairmont St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Having played many great courses in Scotland this has to be one of my favourites as the scenery is simply stunning. The lesser known of the 2 courses,on the fabulous Fairmont Resort the Kittocks course is outstanding. The clubhouse is very welcoming as is the pro shop with a range of high quality merchandise. When you get onto the course and on your way down the first, its only you, the golf, and the fabulous landscape.
The views from the seventh fairway over the fife coastline are brilliant, however even this is eclipsed by the 15th green which almost hangs over the clifftop looking out to sea. The amenities at the clubhouse are superb, and this is before you step into the resort hotel with a wide range of facilities from restaurants to swimming pools.
I will certainly be back to the Fairmont St Andrews resort, and might even play the Torrance course if I have the time, after another round on the stunning Kittocks course.

Shinrinkouen Golf Club, Saitama Prefecture, Japan

Shinrinkouen Golf Club was the host of the 2016 Blind Golf World Championships which I was fortunate enough to compete in (finishing 3rd).
The welcome we received was simply phenomenal. We arrived at the clubhouse which was a huge modern affair with fantastic facilities and from there we were then taken off for a welcome reception. We were all given a locker in the immaculate locker room for the duration of the tournament whilst our clubs were put on to our golf buggies.
The course itself was in great condition however, the most interesting thing about the whole place was the buggy paths around each hole. The buggies had to stay on a stone path which took you right around the course, you were given a remote control which meant you could get off the buggy, play shots and meet your buggy further up the hole by using the remote control. On reaching the green, same thing, putt out, walk off the other end of the green towards the next tee and your driverless buggy would catch you up with a press of a button.
The golf club was simply brilliant, the course, the clubhouse and especially the staff, it really was an awesome 6 days of golf.

Pakistan Railways golf club, Lahore, Pakistan

Pakistan Railways golf club in Lahore is now known as the Royal Palms golf club after it’s redevelopment in 2001. Originally established in 1927, I played this course when it was the Railways golf club, a few years before it’s fantastic new clubhouse and all the modern facilities had arrived.
I stayed in Lahore for a few days and ended up eating and drinking in the International club, Lahore, which was situated just behind the national hockey ground where even the taxi drivers did not know of the place. It was certainly word of mouth, I only found it by chance having chatted to an American teacher whilst playing golf at the Gymkhana golf club the day before. The international club was pretty much frequented by expats from all over the world who happened to be working in Lahore and the surrounding areas, teachers working in International schools, bankers and a few engineers working on the new airport development. Effectively a private members club who met and socialised at the club, one of the few places in a strict Muslim country where westerners could get a beer. Every Sunday they all headed off to the Railway golf club for a knockabout, I got an invite to this very social event on a really nice course, a great way to spend a Sunday, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
A very traditional golf course with some great holes, I thoroughly enjoyed my morning with the expats and it would be interesting to see what the course is like now in its new format and its new name, The Royal Palms Golf Club.