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Tandoori International South Shields
This place has been the first choice for curry connoisseurs for many a year, whilst curry houses have come and gone on the famous South Shields restaurant row, the Tandoori International has stood the test of time. My recent trip with my mum was really pleasant. No longer just good food, but well presented good food, with knowledgeable and attentive staff. Still as good as it gets in the world of a great curry.

Eagle Creek Golf Club Orlando Fl

Eagle Creek epitomises Florida golf, great weather, well kept courses and fabulous facilities. I played Eagle Creek 5 times in a week whilst winning my category at the 2018 US Disabled Open. A wide course which winds its way around the fabulous houses on this Phillip Jones designed gated community.
The community is fabulous and just the sort of place I could retire too. A huge driving range and practice area and somewhat typical of Florida golf, a course with a good amount water to avoid. Some great holes, but my favourite was the 18th, despite finding the water in front of the green a few times during the week. An absolute beauty of a hole which you can sit and watch others do what I did from your seat on the clubhouse patio after a round, I love this place….

Hussar Grill Morningside Shopping Centre Johannesburg SA

A fabulous steak hose in Johannesburg. I had this on my places to eat list before arriving, and it was well worth the trip. The restaurant was very quiet when I visited which was a shame, however, the food was great and the wine list was awesome. I had one of the nicest glasses of Sauvignon Blanc ever, well a few actually and it was superb.
My 16 year old son who was with me, does not like a hint of fat on his steak so he went for the fillet. His face was an absolute picture when he tasted his steak, he still talks about the flavour of that one. Despite his age, he has been around the steak block a few times, apparently it was even better than his previous favourite, Longhorn. A recommendation in itself.

Rick’s on the River Tampa Fl

After a day in Busch Gardens with the family we headed for Rick’s on the River for dinner. A place you will never find by accident, as it is somewhat tucked away in not the nicest area of town, however we had a great time. Being English we sat outside over looking the river and after a long day in the park we should have sought air conditioning in the bar/restaurant area which had a great atmosphere, almost sports bar like.

Being in Florida oysters are a must and 12 soon became 24 as they were that good (Rick’s will be in my coming soon Top 5 best Oyster league). My wife had a few but I finished most before an OK fish dinner, forget the main course, the oysters and cold beer make this place the “must do” it is. Since my visit there is now an oyster bar, I will check that out on my next visit as I will definitely be back, great place….

Victoria GC on the outskirts of Kandy turned out to be an amazing experience and that was nothing to do with the golf.
I was out in Sri Lanka following the England cricket team for a few of the games and I also brought my golf clubs along, for a few rounds in the Sri Lankan sunshine in between the cricket.
Back in blighty before setting off for Sri Lanka, David “Bumble” Lloyd suggested during his cricket commentary, Victoria golf club was well worth a visit. So in between games I took a rickshaw to the course from Kandy where I was staying.
I checked into the clubhouse and was asked to sign the visitor’s book, on looking at the visitors book, there were the names and signatures of cricket legends who had booked in the day before. Having resisted the temptation to remove the page from the visitors book I headed to the first tee.
On arrival at the tee there were about 12 players waiting to tee off, one of them was Sir Ian Botham. Ian Botham, one of my sporting heroes came over and suggested I go off the 10th tee, as there were about four groups in front who had already teed off. I teed off on the back nine and played 27 holes before heading back to the clubhouse.
I arrived back at the clubhouse ready for a cold beer and sitting on the patio were some of England’s finest ever cricketers, wow does it get any better than this. All really friendly and Sir Ian must have remembered suggesting I start at the 10th, as he even asked me how I got on …
I went to the restroom and who should be standing a few feet further up from me, England legend David bumble Lloyd. I got chatting as you do, standing at a urinal and explained to Bumble, I heard about the Victoria golf course from his commentary of the previous test match back in England. I sat back on the patio enjoying a beer with such amazing company all around me and Bumble said, can you just tell this lot what you told me in the toilet. It turned out to be pundit rivalry, as when I repeated what I said in the toilet, Bumble got a great deal of stick off all of the others.
It must be pretty good being a former England captain and a sky pundit, travelling the globe commentating on cricket, however, what a really nice down-to-earth group of people they all were, and what an amazing experience, one I will never forget. Oh and the golf course was pretty good also…..

Johannesburg is a pretty scary place however, Glendower golf club is an oasis away from it all. You enter via a manned security gate at the front entrance and it’s like stepping into another world. A fabulous clubhouse with a huge patio running parallel to the 18th green and the practice putting area. A great test of golf and you are treading where European tour and Sunshine tour Professionals have been before you. One can see why big events have been hosted at Glendower. A beautiful course, immaculately maintained, its long and a tough challenge. I was fortunate enough to have four rounds here, playing in the 2019 South African Bind Open, what a place, and I’m not just saying that because I won my sight category……

Nuwara Eliya GC

A fabulous course in the Sri Lankan countryside east of Colombo the capital, and a short distance south of Kandy. The course itself was in great condition and the facilities were fabulous, a traditional clubhouse overlooking the course and the aptly named par 8 cottage offering accommodation, yes for upto 8 adults. I was in Sri Lanka for the cricket series however, I also managed to bring my golf clubs. After a great round of golf, I managed to watch the cricket in the bar with a few cold beers. The people are so friendly and welcoming what a place.

I travelled to Lhasa from Kathmandu with a few friends, at the time there was an abundance of travel agents promising to provide a trip and many of these fell through for one reason or another. I was fortunate, as one of my friends had lived in Kathmandu previously and knew a travel agent. Whilst that effectively secured out trip, we still had to spend 4 hours in the China embassy applying for a visa. Our package was a China South West airlines flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, a 3 day stay and a 4 wheel drive road trip from back from Lhasa to Kathmandu via the original Friendship Highway.
Arrival at Lhasa airport was an absolute free for all, with the airport arrivals area and subsequent customs checkpoint being absolutely manic. Once through customs we met our guide in Lhasa airport and were loaded onto a minibus which took us to the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
What a place, set in a valley surrounded by stunning mountains with the imposing Potala Palace, looking out over the city. An abundance of shops and markets with an array of unusual items being sold and the obvious, statutes of the palace and Buddas of all shapes and sizes freely available. The street food was off the charts, my motto has been “if its hot, its normally ok”. A visit to the Potala Palace was amazing however, what made Lhasa for me was the people, be it a rickshaw driver or a market trader, a smile was never far away. If this place as suggested by many, has been oppressed since the annexation of Tibet by China in 1950, I can’t imagine how wonderful it must have been before 1950.

I visited San Antonio, Texas almost 5 years ago now whilst playing in the US Blind Open Golf tournament. The tournament was hosted by American Blind Golf (http://www.americanblindgolf.com), a wonderful charity supporting blind golf in the United States and making a huge amount of money for many other deserving charities such as Lighthouse for the Blind and Wounded Warriors to name but a few.
San Antonio is a great city and one I have been itching to get back to, fabulous weather, the amazing Riverwalk which is exactly what the name suggests, about 2 miles of restaurants, shops and bars around a manmade river. The boat trip on the Riverwalk is a must (do this at the start of your trip as it recommends some great places to see and of course, eat and drink). The Alamo is worth a visit, probably just to say you have been, as the history is far better and bigger than the place itself. Then of course, if you bring the family you have Sea World San Antonio. I played some decent golf at the Republic course however, I believe the course has now made way for real estate, still there are many great golf courses in the area.

When I retire and just want to eat, drink and play golf, San Antonio might just be my retirement heaven….

I love this city

Las Vegas could be my favourite city in the world, I have been to Vegas quite a few times, the weirdest one however, was shortly after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre. I was about 1200 miles into a 4000 mile cycle trip from Vancouver to Panama City down the Pacific coast when I reached Los Angeles. My friend was meeting his girlfriend for a week in LA so I decided to fly to Vegas for a week of relaxation after about 1200 miles on a bicycle.
My return flight from LA to Vegas cost around US$50 as Americans were simply not flying after 9/11. A suite in a strip hotel was around US$40 a night as they simply could not fill the rooms. Unfortunately, unbeknown to me, I had arrived in rodeo week. All the tribute acts had gone home for a weeks holiday and everything country music and rodeo took over.
Not the Vegas I was used to, that said, it was still a pretty good week all around, with amazing food shows and entertainment at a fraction of the price it cost me on previous trips.
My next trip a few years later was for a Lennox Lewis fight and a Days Inn hotel off the strip cost me $100 a night, clearly by this time, Americans had decided to travel again.
What a place, great food great entertainment great golf courses. Vegas has pretty much anything you could desire.

The clue is in the name of this one, Paradise Island, Nassau, is what it says, paradise. I managed a week at the Atlantis resort and it was without doubt, one of the most special places on the planet. The Atlantis resort simply has it all, a fantastic beach a waterpark which is amazing, a dolphin sanctuary and some of the most fabulous restaurants anywhere. Steakhouses, Caribbean, Indian, Chinese restaurants and cafés overlooking the harbour watching ships sail by, it just doesn’t get any better. Throw in amazing accommodation ranging from villas to hotel suites, beautifully maintained swimming pools, a casino and a golf course, my idea of Paradise......

I spent a fabulous chaotic two weeks in Kathmandu, staying in the Thamal region of the city. The taxi ride from Kathmandu airport to the city was an indication of what lay in front of me, absolute bedlam. Perhaps my introduction to Kathmandu was not fair, as there is an absolute abundance of things to do. The city is full of shops, restaurants and travel agents and you can buy pretty much anything your heart desires. My two weeks included treks into the mountains, Visits to various monuments and temples, shopping, rounds of golf at Gymkana Golf Club, a pretty amazing course on the outskirts of the city and a 3 day bike ride into Langtang National Park. What a place.

Bakubung Bush Lodge, Pilanesberg National Park

Your arrival takes you through a manned security gate and your there…. Pilanesberg National Park
Pilanesberg National Park, what a place. Normally way out of my price range however, after winning the South African Blind Golf Open and as a reward for my 16 year old son, guiding me around a golf course for best part of a week, I bit the bullet. A deal on Expedia which included a 3 hour safari and a night time dinner barbeque in the middle of the park for about £300 a night.
The hotel has a nice pool area but the main event was the restaurant. The restaurant was huge and very nicely decorated to give that bush lodge feel. The large terrace coming from the restaurant which overlooked the park was stunning. We had a drink and some food whilst waiting to check into our room, the best food we had in South Africa since arriving 2 weeks prior. Whilst eating, my son didn’t see what all the fuss was about until I suggested he turn around. At the bottom end of the field, I use the term loosely, were 3 elephants with a baby close to its mum, wandering across the bush.
Our safari started in daylight around 4pm and by the time we finished exploring in our safari vehicle, it was dark and we headed for the barbeque. The all you can eat barbeque buffet was not great however, the setting was amazing, local cultural music and dancing included, a pretty special experience.
We drove the 30 minutes back to the resort in convoy and in darkness. By about 10pm the restaurant, terrace and bar were deserted. All that was left, was for me to grab a cold bottle of South African Sauvignon Blanc from the about to close bar. I had a seat on now deserted terrace, looking out into the bush and glimpsing up at the bright stars. I enjoyed the quiet of the bush and my own company, before heading back to the room about an hour later.
Wow what a place………..

The Bridge of the Americas, (Puente de las Americas) is an enormous bridge which spans the entrance of the pacific side of the Panama Canal. I was fortunate enough to cycle cross the bridge on route to Panama City. You come round the side of a mountain and there it is, right in front of you, a pretty amazing sight, Purnte de las Americas. The bridge spans the entrance to the Panama Canal with all of all the ships. yachts and boats of all sizes, waiting their turn to go through the canal. This was the culmination of a 4000 mile cycle trip which started in Vancouver a few months before, what a way to finish. Breakfast at Balboa yacht club overlooking the Panama Canal was pretty special also.

The Friendship highway stretches from Lhasa in to Kathmandu in Nepal. The 12000km Journey can be completed in three days. We used a reputable travel agent in Kathmandu and picked up a Chinese Visa from the embassy and flew from Kathmandu to Lhasa using Southwest China Airlines.
The flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa was pretty spectacular over the Himalayan mountain range, passengers on the left hand side of the aircraft had a stunning view of Everest.
Arrival at Lhasa airport was an absolute free for all, with the airport arrivals area and subsequent customs checkpoint being absolutely manic. Once through customs we met our guide in Lhasa airport and were loaded onto a minibus which took us to the Tibetan capital Lhasa.
After three amazing days we boarded a four-wheel-drive vehicle which would take us all the way back to Kathmandu. Out trip would take us over the Himalayas, through the Tibetan plateau and eventually back into Kathmandu.
We left Lhasa and followed the aptly named Lhasa river and off onto the Tibetan plateau, the journey was quite stunning. We travelled in a convoy of four Toyota land cruisers, reaching a high of around 16,000 feet on the plateau. Two of the land cruisers headed off to Everest base camp one, we carried on over stunning mountains onto our first stop for the evening.
An early start the next day and another long day of travel through amazing scenery brought us to the China/Nepal border. On arrival, we found the border crossing had closed 20 minutes beforehand meaning we had to stay overnight at Zhangmu. After an amazing night in the border town, we set off on the final part on this amazing journey back into Kathmandu. We navigated through landslides, waterfalls which crossed over the roads and the various amounts of livestock which also took the route back into Kathmandu. All in all, a pretty spectacular six days.

Creston is a small town at the base of the Rocky Mountain range in British Columbia Canada. Getting there is a journey and a half to say the least. A flight from London to Calgary, then on to a tiny plane carrying 16 passengers. The plane was so small, even hand luggage needed to be put on hold for the 45 minute journey over the Rockies. A truly scary and breath taking experience rolled into one. We arrived at Cranbrook “the gateway to the Rockies” and its tiny airport, before an hour long drive to Creston through beautiful countryside.
Why Creston you may ask, I was playing in a golf tournament representing the rest of the world against North America at Creston golf club so I had a fabulous 10 days in Creston. The journey itself was worthwhile just to play on one of the best golf courses I have ever experienced. This small town the base of the Rockies was a fabulous experience. Many great nights at Jimmy’s bar and grill, the fabulous food at the golf course and the wonderful breakfasts in the courtyard of the Retro Cafe on Main Street.

Creston Golf Club, BC Canada
An absolute gem, located on the outskirts of Creston, a small town about a 1 hour drive from Cranbrook which is at the base of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia Canada.
I was fortunate to play here for 4 days as part of the Rest of the World team competing in the 2017 Vision cup against the best golfers from North America. The scenery just blew me away, having played golf at some of the best resorts and courses in the world, this was right up there. Stunning mountain backdrops, huge tree lined fairways, par 3’s over lakes and an amazing par 5 where you tee off from the highest point on the course and make your way to the green at the bottom of the valley.
The Creston Golf Club members hosted 24 of the best blind golfers in the world and 24 guides for the 4 day competition and made us so welcome. On the first day I spotted a few members having breakfast in the sunshine on the clubhouse patio area and decided to do the same. By day 4 nearly all the competitors were having breakfast in this picturesque, stunning setting before a round of golf.

“4 days was simply not enough of this wonderful place, it does not get much better than Creston Golf Club”.

My trip to the Khyber Pass was a long time ambition and I was fortunate to do this before the events of 9/11.
I registered my itinerary with the British Embassy in Islamabad before heading off to the wild west town of Peshawar. A half a day trip to the Khyber Pass was arranged through the Pakistan tourism office.
I was picked up at 7 am from my hotel by an English speaking guide and driver, in a nice four wheel drive Toyota Landcruiser. We then headed to the outskirts of Peshawar to an Army barracks, to pick up our security escort from the Royal Khyber Rifles Regiment. Whilst I was not expecting a special forces soldier, I certainly did not expect uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses with the beret and AK-47 assault rifle, that was my security escort.
The route from Peshawar towards the north-west frontier and on up to the Afghanistan border was pretty stunning. The road took us into tunnels passing through the mountains which where be built by the British Army around 100 years previous. Some of the villages on route where quite intimidating, many of the shops manufactured handmade weapons, if you needed the weapon of choice, an AK 47, this was the place to be.
We stopped at a local village for a cup of tea and the local children soon appeared, keen to see this new arrival. I had nothing to hand out to the village children but I did however, have a book of UK first class stamps in my wallet. After a game of charades with the children guessing what a stamp was, they all ended up with one each.
The Khyber Pass with the British Army regimental badges paraded on the hillside was spectacular however, the whole area right up to the Afghanistan border was also pretty stunning.
After arriving back in Peshawar an hour before my scheduled trip finished, I was able to fit in a visit to a military cemetery, where many of the soldiers who build the roads and railways in this area were laid to rest, a pretty poignant moment to finish off an amazing day.

My four days in the Indian city of Varanasi was organised by a friend of mine back in Kathmandu. She thought it would be hilarious to let me go to Varanasi without telling me there was a religious festival taking place and very few restaurants and bars would be open and those which were, banned alcohol for the duration of the festival.
It takes more than a religious festival to stop me having a beer after a day of sightseeing. Local children assured me they could find cold Indian beer, indeed they did and at around 50 cents for a large bottle, and they were making a profit on that. Word spread pretty quickly to backpackers in the hotel where I was staying. The young children sourcing beers made a fortune, as I suggested they charge the Australians and Americans a dollar rather than the 50 cents that we were paying and they duly obliged.
Varanasi was a typical Indian city in terms of hustle and bustle however, a pilgrimage for millions to the Ganges in order to bathe in the filthy polluted river, was a quite a spectacular sight. Seeing bodies burnt in front of you and the ashes being deposited into the Ganges is something which will stay with me forever.
A boat trip on the river with views of all the Ghats was pretty spectacular however, I certainly made sure I made no contact with the water. Varanasi was pretty spectacular, and 4 days was more than enough time. The Flight back to Kathmandu on a very small single engine plane over Himalayas was pretty scary and awesome at the same time.

If your thing is a friendly sport's bar with great food and happy hour beer all day, you've just found your nirvana. If however, you want a meal with the family outside on the terrace with views across a beautiful lake, then this is also the place for you.

I'm reluctant to tell of this place as I want it all for myself, that good. We first came here on Mothers Day about 4 years ago and "mom's eat free", we have been many times since, just a great sports bar with a family twist in a great location.

Love this place....