Bachelor's Break 2012 : Sweden

Last month, a group of us decided to go on a boys only trip! It was fantastic, ten days of living it up as bachelors – drinking beer, eating junk and just hanging with the guys. It's not that any of us wishes we were single, but we just love some guy time! Women are exactly the same! The girls have their own trip planned in September. Four our 'Bachelor's Break' we went to the beautiful country of Sweden. Sweden is of course part of Scandinavia I north Europe and it is perhaps best known for being eco-friendly and progressive. It probably isn't that common a holiday destination in comparison to Spain or Greece, but there is still plenty to see and do. Here are my top 5 recommendations for things to visit in Sweden.

1. Stockholm Museums – I am grouping several attractions together here, but the city of Stockholm is home to some wonderful museums. Vasa Museum presents the seventeenth century warship of the same name – or what's left of it. The resurrected skeleton is on display along with many recovered relics. There is also the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Modern Art and the Nordic Museum.
2. Liseberg Amusement Park – Bachelor's Break would not be complete without a trip to an amusement park and Gothenburg is home to of of the largest in Europe. We had an absolute blast on the rides, especially the star attractions 'Atmosfear' which is Europe's tallest freefall ride and 'Balder' one of the world's biggest wooden rollercoasters.
3. Gothenburg –While in Gothenburg for the rollercoasters, why not take advantage of the other attractions the largest port in Scandinavia has to offer. We went for a walk around Castle Wood Park and stopped by the Museum of Art. The music scene is also alive and kicking and we caught a gig by death metal band Dark Tranquillity.
4. Hiking & Boating – Of course, the Bachelor Break is also a good opportunity to pursue more manly activities and the largely untouched expanse of Sweden's northern regions is perfect for hiking thanks to its rugged beauty. The 100,000 lakes and rivers also make it a perfect place for boating.
5. Skiing – The Arefjallen Resort offers over one hundred kilometres of ski runs and is the host of many snowboarding championships. In the Spring months 24/7 skiing is available.

Last Tango In London?

After my trip to Poland last month for the Euros, my girlfriend has been making noises about maybe hopping over to London to catch some of the Olympic fever! I really don't know if she can get time off work or if we can manage to afford the trip just yet, but I decided to take a look around and see if I was able to price up a few cheap flights to London. During my research I came across a blog which was reporting that SAA are looking at dropping their London to Cape Town route because it is not profitable. Thankfully for us they are still (at the moment anyway) running the London to Johannesburg route, so if we are able to swing it we would still be able to get a direct flight to the UK.

It seems like such a shame because I know South African Tourism are putting a huge amount of effort into promoting our nation as a tourist hub. However, it seems that our visitors are no longer coming to South Africa from the United Kingdom or from North America. The focus is now very much on Asian visitors especially those from India and China. It seems that the main reason why the London to Cape Town route was dropped was to do with the high Air Passenger Duty being charged on flights coming here from the UK, this has led to a decline in the number of travellers and because of soaring fuel prices, the airlines just cannot afford to keep the flights running without passenger demand. It's sad in a way. People think oh it doesn't affect us, but it does. Think about it logically, if they aren't flying here from London, that means that they are not flying back either.

5 Places Your Kids Would Love in Paris

Paris, France’s capital and largest city is located at the Northern part of the country, by the Seine River. It is a beautiful city, rich in history and art, and ranks among the top ten most liveable cities in the world. Popularly referred to as the world’s most romantic city, Paris is a magnet to over 27 million tourists annually. 

From its picturesque landscape to the horses and carriages, the roadside painters and the museums, Paris plays host to thousands of historical monuments including four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The wide range of available places can overwhelm a visitor to the city, particularly when travelling with kids. Kids have a way of not being impressed by the things which impress their parents. Thankfully, there are several places that kids would have fun in Paris. 

When visiting, plan to stop by any of these places, you kids would absolutely love it.

1. The Eiffel Tower: When people think of Paris the Eiffel tower is often what comes to mind and for a very good reason. It is one of the architectural wonders of the world and the kids would especially love going up the tower. The base of the tower is also filled with a lot of activities; make sure you buy some souvenirs to take home with you.

2. Disneyland Paris: Though not in Paris itself, Disneyland Paris is only a few miles outside the city. This Disneyland has two theme parks; Disneyland Park and the Walt Disney Studios Park. It would also be an experience to visit the Disney Village to catch an interesting show at the end of the day.

3. Paris Beach: Known as the Paris Plage in French, this is an artificial beach right in Paris but a great place for kids to have fun in summer. It is located on the banks of the Seine river and there are lots of activities for kids right there.

4. The Kids Museum: If you are in Paris, what you should be looking for is the Cite des enfant and it is part of the museum of science and industry. But this particular one is tailored for kids with hands-on activities to introduce them to science and technology. It is divided into several age groups and kids from ages 2 to 15 will find it fascinating.

5. Parc de la Vilette: If you are looking for musical concerts or exhibitions this park is a place you should consider. It is melting point of different cultures and concerts are scheduled all year round for local and international artists among other activities including the annual open air film festival. 

There is so much in Paris for the whole family to do. While it is okay to visit places like the Notre Dame Cathedral, if you insist on dragging the kids solely to these places you would soon have a mutiny on your hands. Spice up your visit; go to the places above, where you kids would have a fantastic time and help them build wonderful memories about this beautiful city.

The Day I Grew Up...

Have you ever had one of those moments in your life when it suddenly hits you like a bolt of lightning. A light bulb pops over your head and the penny drops. You suddenly drop whatever you are doing and shout...

'Oh My God! I have become my father!'

Fear not. It happens to us all, it's that one irrefutable sign that despite our very best efforts, we have in fact matured into responsible adults. I had one such moment today. Here I am, sitting in a Polish bar watching Portugal secure a place in the next round of Euro 2012, when I am struck by a moment of panic. I suddenly asked myself 'Did I shut off the water before I left home?' I started to fret so much that I actually rang my dad to go round and check that I had done it! I'm pretty sure there was a hint of pride in his voice when he agreed to do it for me!

Of course the incident earned me no end of ribbing from my buddies, but I brushed it off because it is actually an important thing to do if you will be away from home for an extended period of time. It is a great way to minimize the risk of any water damage while you are away enjoying your holiday. So laugh they might, but they will not be the ones laughing if they return to a basement flood now will they?

I learned my 5 step checklist from watching my dad as a kid and its become something of a holiday ritual, so I thought I'd share it with you all!

1. Check the plumbing and water heater for signs of leaks or damage. This includes appliance hoses.
2. Make sure gutters and drainpipes are clear of debris. Do the same for the sump pump.
3. If it's winter insulate the pipes in case of freezing.
4. Ask someone to check in every few days.
5. If no one can check the house while you are gone, turn of the water main.

So there you have it! Johannes' Dad's top tips for avoiding waterdamage while on holiday.

Wandering in Warsaw

As I mentioned a few days ago, I made the journey to Poland this weekend to soak up the atmosphere of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament. Funnily enough, I never cared too much for soccer until we hosted the World Cup in 2010 and from then on I was hooked! So when my buddy Renier suggested we hop over to Poland for a little break I jumped at the chance. We haven't actually got tickets to any matches – we might pick some up here in Poland, but we really just came for the atmosphere.

We flew into Warsaw, Poland from Johannesburg on Friday night via Amsterdam. It was a 17 hour trip with a 4 over stop in Amsterdam, but it was actually worth it! This is my first time in Poland, and aside from the football there is actually plenty to see and do. We have already been to visit the Chopin Museum and have plans to take in the Palace of Culture and Science, The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and the Royal Route over the coming week.

The strange thing is, if it hadn't been for soccer I would most likely have never added Poland to the list. And yet here I am having a lovely time and browsing through tourist information for cities other than Warsaw with a view to coming back later with my girlfriend. It has really made me think about what other countries or cities I might be missing out on. I need to rethink my strategy when it comes to thinking of places I would like to visit! Just for example, a friend is just back from Israel and loved every minute, yet I would never consider it as a holiday destination. I need to start thinking outside of the travel agent box and broaden my horizons. There is a whole word out there ready for me to explore!