Holiday-wise, travel books will tell you that the young Middle Eastern city – one of the richest cities in the world  – is very modern, American and excessive; a liberal playground for wealthy magnates that fly in, hit the highways in sleek rides and flock to the high-rise hotels for big pimpin’ and spendin’ cheese (Just ask Jay-Z, Drake , DJ Khaled et. al who consider the DXB their spiritual home).

But for some of us who are less inclined to pop swanky bottles or make it rain with our rent money, there’s a Dubai for us too – one steeped in  more history and alternative culture, less shopping malls and boozy brunches. And, if you go in January and February, you can get a flight for under £200: not bad  for guaranteed sunshine (average 24 °C) in the winter.

So for things to do in Dubai – quirky things, arty things, foodie things, value for money things – who are five activities I managed to tick off on my recent Christmas holiday (NB: Dubai is a driver’s city, but car rental is a doddle or you can cab /Uber it everywhere.)

A mooch around Alserkal Avenue

This industrial compound of revamped warehouses is the hub for edgy art galleries, regular festivals, music nights, pop-up shops, a cinema, cafes and everything else you’d find around Boxpark in Shoreditch (but much better).  Free to walk around, Alserkal Avenue is where you’ll find the hipster expats hanging out with Emirati cool kids, and the moneyed art set bringing a fresh wave  of creativity to the masses.

The gold souk in Deira 

If crowds give you anxiety, this probably isn’t for you. And real talk, I thought I was gonna have a panic attack the first time I visited the legendary gold souk. But, once you can tune out the relentless salesmen asking if you want a watch or their other wares, it’s bearable – especially if you want to buy a bit of bling aka gold. Just make sure you have the current market price of the precious stuff committed to memory so you can work out how to get value for money and what you can afford. It’s sold by karat and weight, so you’re basically haggling on the labour cost.

An ‘Abra’ boat ride

For 30 dirham (£6-£7) each,  we took a private, 30 minute boat ride from Deira on an Abra – a traditional wooden boat that is a cheap way to see the old Dubai via the creek. If you don’t want to do the whole private thing, it’ll only cost you 1 dirham for a quickie ride across the river. Do it before sunset for a charming end to an afternoon of haggling at the nearby gold souk.

Lunch at the Arabian Tea House

For foodie things to do in Dubai, There’s a branch of the Arabian Tea House in the quaint Al Bastakiya area, and it’s so popular they don’t take reservations. But it only took 15 minutes on a Saturday to get seated at this lovely restaurant which serves traditional and affordable Arabian fare.

Hitting JBR beach

There’s something very Beverley Hills about the Jumeirah Beach Residence – a glossy,  residential, waterfront community near the Dubai Marina. Still, the JBR beach is free. This one’s pretty popular given it’s easily accessible, but there’s plenty of sun, sea and sand for everyone.

Looking for things to do in Dubai? Or maybe you’ve already been? Let me know in the comment!

The post 5 things to do in Dubai (on a budget) appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Well, mission accomplished. On August 14th, I hopped on a British Airways flight by myself to a destination I’d never heard of before in my life (not Spain obvs but Arenys de Mar – a Spanish fishing town with a name I embarrassingly still can’t pronounce properly). It was one of those Lastminute.com flight and hotel deals and I believed them when they said it was a family-friendly destination. In other words, I wouldn’t come across any lager louts on their stag do or naive uni grads committed to misdemeanors and poor life choices. Don’t they just love Spain!?

Anywho, second mission accomplished. I had a relaxing, enjoyable two-night stay for the most part at the beautiful, 4 star Sa Voga hotel. Sure, there was a lively, local village festival going on until like 1am  and I somehow managed to not get even a whiff of my beloved paella – but the beach delivered, the sangria flowed and I had a really happy birthday. That’s all I could ask for.

And here are a few lessons I learned from travelling solo:

• If you’re arriving late (like I did) to a foreign destination take the hit and pay for a proper taxi transfer from the airport. I organised this a day before, mind you, and while I hated how much I had to spend, it was better to be safe than sorry.
• Keep the friends and family aware of your movements via social media, at least. Trust me, I planned for my insta to be LIT this week.
• Pack light so you don’t have to check in your luggage and can breeze through the arrivals and get to where you need to be. It also makes it less obvious you’re travelling alone (no one – and by that I mean weird people who hang around airports – needs to know).

Check out pics from my trip below:

Have you been on holiday for your birthday? Or travelled solo? Let me know in the comments!

The post Birthdays abroad: a little city break to Arenys de Mar, Spain appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

But while I’m looking forward to swaying along to the likes of Jamiroquai, Erykah Badu, Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper Experiment, I’ve set aside plenty of time over the weekend for a bit of exploring. Here are at least three things on my itinerary:

A post shared by Rotterdam Sight running Tours (@toursrotterdamsightrunning) on Apr 9, 2017 at 10:53pm PDT

Jog through the city on a ‘running tour’

I love cycling (as do the Dutch, obvs), and my original plan was the go on a cycle tour. But all the good ones are booked up or don’t work with my timings, so what’s the next best thing? Running. Rotterdam Sight Running Tours offer a 7km run around all the modern and historical bits of the city.  Fingers crossed we’ll get to jog past those infamous cube homes (for the ‘gram!)

A post shared by Tante Nel Rotterdam (@tante_nel) on Feb 16, 2017 at 10:09am PST

Pig out at Tante Nel 

I’m committed to shamelessly devouring everything on this trip, so one of my foodie stops will be Tante Nel. This popular fast food joint is known for their incredible chips served with lavish, mouth-watering toppings. I hear the milkshakes are divine too (see why I’m on that running tour?)

A post shared by Kunsthal Rotterdam (@kunsthal) on May 16, 2017 at 8:47am PDT

Wander around the Kunsthal Museum 

You gotta love a modern museum and since 1992, the Kunsthal has developed a rep for presenting fun and innovative exhibitions around art, design, photography and fashion. Current shows include a tribute to Prince and a large-scale retrospective of the work of influential 20th-century photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.

Have you been to Rotterdam? Got any tips? Let me know in the comments! 

The post Three things I can’t wait to do in Rotterdam next month appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The post My weekend in pictures: November 27 appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

I stayed in Chungking Mansions on Nathan Street, Kowloon, home to hundreds of guest houses and ideal for travellers on a tight budget. On average, a single room will cost around $200 HK (approximately £18) a night. The accommodation is cell-like, just room for a tiny bed, a TV, and nothing else, though there is usually space under the bed to store your belongings. The rooms are generally clean, but you get what you pay for.

As for food, there’s no shortage of good Indian food in and around Chungking, but I was craving some greasy noodles and dumplings. The area surrounding Jordan Station is great for cheap local food, especially if you visit the night market. For awesome wonton and beef noodles, I highly recommend Mak Kan Kee. I also have to give a shoutout to Ned Kelly’s Last Stand Pub in Kowloon for inviting me to play drums with their phenomenal jazz band.

Pic: Carys Jones

If you find yourself in Hong Kong, a trip to Lantau Island is a must. On my second outing there, I took the subway to Tung Chung Station then rode the cable car to the Po Lin monastery and the gigantic Tian Tan Buddha, more colloquially known as the ‘Big Buddha’. From there we took the number 21 bus to Tai O Fishing Village where I was told we could see pink dolphins if we were lucky, but unfortunately we didn’t spot any.
I’ve been told that one of the must-see attractions is The Peak. The best way to get there is by tram, but when I attempted to visit there was over an hour wait. I began to hike alongside the tram route, but as summer dresses and sandals don’t make for good hiking gear, especially in 34 degree weather and 69 per cent humidity, I eventually gave up and went to the nearby botanical gardens instead.

Pic: Carys Jones

My next destination will be Shanghai. Word of advice, if you’re travelling to mainland China you will need a visa. These are easily obtainable from most travel agents in Hong Kong, but don’t make the rookie error I made and leave it until the last minute (I applied on a Friday, I needed the visa for the following Tuesday) as you could end up paying up to quadruple the base price.

The post Rediscovering Asia: Hong Kong appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Before I visited Cambridge, I’d prefer to jump on a plane to more foreign climes than take a train to a destination I only ever associated with the world’s greatest brainiacs – but in the last month, this charming city has stole my heart.  The expansive colleges steeped in centuries of history are just the backdrop to luscious green landscapes, quaint boutiques and  idyllic cobbled lanes, where cyclists weave through the many tourists who year-on-year contribute hundreds of millions to the city’s economy.  And it’s little wonder – named one of the “most beautiful cities in the world” by Forbes two years ago, Cambridge is a refreshing destination for anyone in search of a bit of peace and relaxation or a quaint, yet contemporary English experience that contrasts from the hustle and bustle of our capital.

How to get there

You can catch a non-stop train from King’s Cross every half-hour during off-peak hours, and it will take you roughly 50 minutes to get into Cambridge.  An off-peak return is £32.30 (while day returns start from £22.20).  Once you arrive, city centre is about 15-20 minutes away from the station by foot, so you can always walk, catch a cab (more straightforward) or get a bus (less straightforward).  The buses in Cambridge are run by a number of operators so figuring out which one to catch can be a little confusing. Just know that they don’t run as regularly as they do in London, the Citi 1, Citi 2, Citi 3, Citi7 and Citi 8 (not to be confused with the plain ol’  1, 2 and 8) gets you into city centre and the total fare is £1.50.  To catch a bus, come out of the station, take a left towards the car park and cross over to the road in front of you.  You should see a number of bus stops along the road, on your left.

What to do

If you’re only spending 24-hours in the city, start off  by marvelling at the architecture of the 30-plus colleges that make up Cambridge University.  These medieval schools date as far back as the 13th Century and are magnificent in size and structure – so make a beeline for the likes of  King’s College,  Queens’ College or Trinity and pay for a guided walked tour around their grounds (£16 for 2 hours).  Then hang out along the King’s Parade, a popular central street that offers views of  King’s College Chapel, Senate House and Great St Mary’s, and small shops on the east side, which leads to the bustling Market Square. I spent hours here as you can get  everything from tourist T-shirts and Jamaican patties to fresh herbal tea and thai food.  You should also pick up a map from the Cambridge Tourist Information Centre just a short walk away from the Market on Peas Hill to help you plan the rest of the day.

For a little more history, it’s worth visiting the Fitzwilliam museum, which holds art and antiques on behalf of the University of Cambridge and is free to visit.  Gallery-wise, you can enjoy more art at  Kettle’s Yard on Castle Street which holds a lovely collection of modern works, as well as  Byard Art on the King’s Parade.  For a more peculiar sight, feast your eyes on the Corpus Clock.  Based outside the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College, it’s a freakish sculpture which features the Chronophage “time”eater – a very grim-looking grasshopper that look like it’s related to a Gremlin (!).   If you’d like more ideas of things to do in Cambridge see the “where to play section” below or visit the Lonely Planet‘s helpful guide.

Where to eat

As with any modern English city, restaurants chains and pubs abound – so you’ll stumble upon all types of cuisine options, especially if you’re on a budget.  However, my personal faves were Nanna Mexico on Regent Street (the only independent restaurant Mexican restaurant in Cambridge) and Hong Kong Fusion on St John’s Street (you can get the tastiest bubble teas here) – and both are short walks within the city centre.  And although it’s a chain, Bill’s on Green Street is a nice choice for lunch if you’ve never been (try the freshly made cinnamon donuts for dessert) and if you like your kebabs with loads of salad , you can’t go wrong with the Gardenia on Rose Crescent. This Greek outlet is hugely popular with students whose pictures adorn their wall of fame.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, get some free, homemade fudge samples – or have a go making it – at Cambridge Fudge Kitchen Shop on King’s Parade – or make haste to Hardy’s Original Sweet Shop on St John’s Street for those good old fashioned sweets you grew up with.   TripAdvisor offers a decent guide to top restaurants and and confectionery spots in Cambridge, which you can check out here.

Where to sleep

What’s unique about Cambridge is that you can rent rooms at the colleges from around £34 a night if you’re after a quirky experience  which will cast you back to your uni days (without the notorious food thieves).  I enjoyed a few nights at Bishop Bateman Court on Trinity Lane (part of Trinity Hall College), which was clean, peaceful – and my room even came with a piano!  Alternatively, if you ‘d like something more upmarket,  you might want to stay at the stylish boutique hotel right opposite BBC known as The Varsity Hotel & Spa.  I got the opportunity to spend the night there and really loved the modernised Brit-inspired interiors, the jacuzzi at the Glassworks spa next door and  the roof terrace which offers a picturesque view of the city. Breakfast in the morning was also a plus, served at the River Bar Steakhouse & Grill  on the Quayside which overlooks the river.   The Varsity also runs a rooftop cinema every Sunday until September 10th.  If you’re after a great deals on hotels, visit hotels.com.   

Where to play

Walking around the city is great, but hiring a bike is a must. Cycle along the various winding lanes and the  infamous Trinity Street  – www.cityhire.com has a base that’s just a short walk from the market and offers bike hire for just £7 for 4 hours, £10 a day or £12 for 24 hours.

As the River Cam runs through Cambridge, punting is the recreation of choice for locals and visitors.  There’s a few companies that offer excursions and lessons like Granta Punt & Boat, The Cambridge Chauffeur Punts or Scudamores.  Expect to pay in the region of £12 upwards for a 45-60 minute guided tour or around £18 for a lesson.  Alternatively, you can go for a punt and dining option, offered by  The Varsity.

If you’re sticking around in the evening, see  a theatre show at notable venues such as ADC theatre on Park Street which features a late-opening bar, the Cambridge Arts Theatre for more traditional productions or the Corn Exchange which also offers music and comedy. For more recommendations of things to do, check out www.visitcambridge.org. 

Do you have any tips for visiting Cambridge or have a lovely holiday experience you’d like to recommend and share with The Cultural Exposé? Email info@theculturalexpose.co.uk – we’d love to hear about it!

The post Something you should do… visit Cambridge appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

London to Paris, Paris to London. All for £69 with Eurostar.

 A casual Skype chat turned into booking-a-holiday-chat. I was delighted, but fearful. With little cash, could I still have a decent holiday in expensive Paris?

 I relied on Travelzoo’s weekly top twenty email to find me a hotel deal. As much as we wanted cheap, we didn’t want scummy. When Hotel Gat Folies popped up, I was relieved.  It was in a cool area called Opera, way less than half its usual price, far enough from the tourist traps, but close enough to still feel involved.

Free champagne and chocolates every night were thrown in for free too.  Isn’t that a wonderful way to start an evening?

 The all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet conveniently doubled up as lunch.  Bon appetite – yes indeed.  We dined on eggs (anyway you liked), toasted sandwiches, Madeira cake, fruit salad and cereal.  We sneakily stuffed croissants with jambon et fromage and let the warm Parisian day melt the cheese.

We shared our feast at the top of the Le Sacré Coeur (The Sacred Heart)  and joined the crowds to marvel at the view.  Free entertainment was provided by an amazing Ghanaian footballer, who climbed up a very tall street lamp to show off his amazing skills.

Being cheap wasn’t depressing; it was all wonderfully fantastic.

 Transport options were limited to legs and bikes. Walking meant we spent most of our time wondering where we were.  We found gems like Derrière (French for bottom or backside) on Rue des Gravilliers, a beautiful, alternative restaurant beyond our budget. But we oooo’d and aaaah’d, went in for a chat and I left knowing I’d be back.  I figure you can still appreciate the good things without having to have it.

The temporary beach created down by the Seine was a treat.  It gave us the opportunity to stop and watch Paris go by and remind ourselves we were actually here.  In Montmartre, an artist told us about the Paris he knew as he helped us find the man in wall – Marcel Ayme.

We peeped inside vintage shops, resisted buying souvenirs and took a few too many pictures at the love wall where “I love you” is written in hundreds of different languages – nice.

To see the great sights you don’t have to get your wallet out.  Just stroll.  We passed under the Arc de Triomphe and did a happy dance at The Louvre – just to lighten things up. The Eiffel Tower looked better from a distance with a chocolate crepe in hand.  Nutella – not champagne –  seems to be the national treasure so we fitted in fine.  

When we weren’t walking, we cycled. 1 euro for 24 hours. Once you master the system and realise you’re allowed to cycle on the pavements – you can’t help but go downhill and shout whooooopeeee. The bikes come in handy at 2am. We had a magical ride through the streets, weaving in between cars as part of a cycling convoy of newly found friends.  Oberkampf street was the street with some groove.  Some shop windows and doors were left wide open and good tunes hit you as you walked past.  Next stop –  Chez Moune nightclub in Pigalle. Monday to Friday is female only.  At the weekends it’s free for all.  The vibe’s decent and the drink prices remained a mystery, as the cheap bottles of supermarket plonk we’d sipped back at the hotel still danced merrily through our veins.

Our last meal was in sophisticated-looking MacDonalds (What we ate was determined by how much money we had left in our purse). Staring out into the streets we munched on French fries, never wishing we could be anywhere else.

My friend Carolina spent about £55 over 3 days.  I squandered a little more as I couldn’t leave Paris without buying a vintage French frock.  I found a pretty one for a whole 10 Euros (about £8).  I love it now and when someone asks “where did you get that dress from” I smugly reply “oh it’s just a cheap thing from Paris.”

They say money can’t buy you happiness and it certainly didn’t when Carolina and I invaded Paris. But with lack of funds we still managed to create a happy bubble we now seriously miss. (Words: Ena Miller) 

Do you have a lovely holiday experience you’d like to recommend and share with The Cultural Exposé? Email info@theculturalexpose.co.uk – we’d love to hear about it! 

The post Something you should do… visit Paris (on the cheap) appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

The post Our highlights of the year no. 3: Flow Festival, Finland (August 2011) appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

TCé’s Tina Remiz is a London-based multimedia reporter and visual artist from Latvia. Brought up in Riga, she spent two years studying in Bristol before relocating to London, where she’s been developing her documentary-style of photography. She’s a keen traveller, and while abroad, she loves meeting people to be inspired by their traditions, culture and lifestyle.

Destination: Lhasa, Tibet

“I visited Lhasa as a part of a month-long journey across the South-East of China last winter. From Kowloon Island – the world’s most densely-populated area situated in the heart of Hong Kong – I took a 59-hour (!) train ride to the Roof of the World. It’s hidden in the vastness of the Himalayas, and quite mysterious. I’ve always been a avid support of Tibet (I joined “Free Tibet!” marches at the age of 14 lol) so I finally decided to see the place for myself.”

Click here to see Tina’s images on our Tumblr and click here to read her travel tips to Lhasa!

The post InterNational: Lhasa | photos by Tina Remiz appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.

Designer by day, photographer by night and traveller by nature, Aimo Javier’s photography reflects the way he sees the things, people and places that he visits. He tries to steer away from the stereotypical travel photography as much as possible and is currently residing in Malaysia until it gets warmer in Europe.

The Destination: Ibiza

“Initially I wasn’t too keen to see the island, but I decided to visit Ibiza after the party season had ended to visit some friends who are convinced that it’s the best place to live!”

Click here to see Aimo’s images on our Tumblr and click here to read his travel tips to Ibiza!

The post InterNational: Ibiza | photos by Aimo Javier appeared first on The Cultural Exposé.