402. Rome eats.

1. Gelateria Cecere Antonietta - via del Lavatore 84, Rome, Italy (Trevi)

A friend who'd been going to Rome for many years recommended this place. Just round the corner from the trevi fountain, this area is filled with gelateria's so I was glad I had this place recommended to me. And it didn't fail to deliver, we opted for a lemon sorbet and double chocolate. Oh me oh my, the lemon was perfectly crisp, moist and refreshing. Not sour but softly sweet that it didn't become sickly. Then the chocolate, that was so perfectly creamy and indulgent. A definite must when visiting the Trevi Fountain. About 4 euros a pop.

2. Il Fornaio Via Dei Baullari, 5, 00186 Roma, Italy

Another recommendation from my friend. This was such a little hidden treasure, traditional and small. With a mixture of sweet and savoury treats to choose from we decided to try their foccacia and a slice of the pizza displayed in their window.

3. Pizza Zizza Roma

A great lil restaurant (teeny tiny) that's worth coming as soon as it opens. It has two tables outside and one inside, that's about it. Round the corner from St Peter's Basilica, I've heard queues can be rather lengthy. Luckily we got there just as it opened. Friendly service, we were offered the tasting menu and agreed to tried all the delights. Whilst waiting we were treated to trying one of their arancini balls which were deep fried cheese rice, so crisp on the outside by moist on the in. Mmm mmm. Then came the platter of pizza slices, just the right size for seven different varieties, the base was lovely and crisp and the ingredients fresh and tasty. My favourites were the pesto topped ones! Highly recommended and for a mere 18 euros for two people, you can't go wrong.

4. CamBio Vito

Another day another gelateria! I delved in for the Stracciatella (vanilla with chocolate shavings) and a hazelnut one. So fresh and creamy! Rather filling after scoffing my face with pizza, great size portions for 4 euros. A must.

5. Market At Campo Dei Fiori

One of our last stops before we left Rome was a place we happened to stumble across. This market was filled with all the goods. Men will try and lure you to try their array of truffle infused saucey things, and you must embrace it. Because as soon as you try one, you want them all! We stoked up on truffle infused pesto (7euros), big ol' wedges of parmigiana (price by weight), sticks of garlic salami (also price by weight) and obviously penis pasta (a bargain a 2.50euros a large pack). It's really pretty and quite fun and such stunning location.

397. Paris eats.

 1. Marche D'Aligre

A gorgeous little french market is the best place to visit for a local experience. Filled with the most amazing fresh produce you can find almost any vegetable for bargain prices. Also you can find some little treasures as there is also a little flea market filled with lots of bric a brac. Be sure to taste the Mara de Boi strawberries, they are incredible.

Nearest metro: Ledru-Rollin

2. Hero

A gorgeous little Korean restaurant, it's set an intimate dimly lit setting which as well felt rather trendy. With soft electric tunes playing in the background, there's a huge cement sink set in the middle of the small room to wash your sticky hands post chicken. I ordered the pork bao buns which were incredibly flavoursome and filled with kim chi salad, so zesty and fresh. Followed by a trio of fried chicken, one being sweet chilli chicken (bloody spicy but kept going back for more), second being garlic and spring onions then the third being plain. This plate was a mere 18 euros. Would definitely recommend this place a lovely little romantic eat or somewhere for a girly catch up. Great cocktails too!

Dinner for two plus cocktails - Roughly 50 euros.

Nearest metro: Strasbourg Saint-Denis

3. E'clair de Genie

This place will come up on every single blog, website recommendations and guides for where to eat in Paris. Number one for E'clair lovers and all things sweet. Located in the heart of the Marais, it has a slightly futuristic feel, almost as if it was designed in Japan. I tried the praline and vanilla flavour and it was deliciously light and indulgent.

E'clair: 5,50 - 6,50 euros

Nearest metro: Saint-Paul

380. Top travelling tips.

Whilst travelling there some things which I wish I had bought with me, stuff which I wish I left behind and so fourth so below are some things which I think you should pack and additional tips.

1. Pack an extension lead - Some hostels may have a couple of plug sockets, so when there's about 10 of you in one room life's easier with some additional plug sockets.

2. Passport pictures - When applying for visas you need passport pictures, it's just very handy to have.

3. Don't bother with miniatures - You'll end up spending more money, my friend and I would just buy one normal size bottle shampoo/toothpaste and carry it between us. Money was scarce.

4. If you can get wheels on your back pack then do - I didn't have a wheely backpack but Nikki did, people helped her a lot more than me. Everyone carried her bag for her where I was always carrying it mine on my back, hers had bloody wheels! I didn't loose any weight or got fitter by this. So get some wheels.

5. Get a go pro - If there's one thing I wish I had on this trip it's a GoPro, I carried my massive DSLR but it's heavy, big and not waterproof.

6. Leggings - Screw the harem pants, they are fucking ugly and leggings last longer, more versatile and generally less offencive.

7. J Pillow - You're travelling a lot and always have a coach or plane journey round a corner, you need to invest in a good pillow. I wish I'd known about the J pillow before hand because they are so much better than the C shaped ones.

8. Deet - I got bitten to shit, and it hurts. Opt for the deet 100% that does the shit. Don't listen to any hippy that bangs on about how bad it is for your skin. Because it's worse when you have about 50 red itchy splurges all over your body which wake you up at night because they are fucking irritatingly itchy and sore.

9. Anthisan - That shit that gets rid of the bites, you might still get bitten. That one time you forget to spray on the deet, it's a bugger. So make sure you have the cream to heal that pain.

10. Antihistamins - For the time when you have a really bad allergic reaction. For some reason in New Zealand I mysteriously had the worst allergic reaction ever, the cause is still unknown. I had to take antihistamines for a month to make sure it didn't make a surprise appearance. Also they help with bites.

11. Hip flask - Because you're poor and can't afford the drinks in the club.

12. Socks - There are dirty places, there are cold places and there are places that only give you a pillow to sleep with.

13. A giant square of fabric - I call this a sarong, some call it a blanket, some call it a scarf and perfect if you're visiting temples. Therefore extremely multifunctional.

14. US dollars - In asia when paying for shit like visas they lurve (require) the US dollar. Will work out cheaper compared to any other currency.

15. Those giant clip things - You know the type that abseiling people kinda have or trekkers have to clip their water bottle to your rucksack. Well they are super useful when all your stuff doesn't fit in your bag. 

I didn't advise all the obvious ones because you can figure out that yourself. Those are my top tips. Enjoy.

379. Travel diary. Thailand.

Chiang Mai

The Doi Soi temple has to be one of the remarkable temples I have ever seen. We did the tour all the way up the mountain and back for 180 baht each. Stopping at the traditional town at the top their's a beautiful waterfall and gardens. Secondly you stop at the Royals palace which has the most exquisite gardens. And lastly the temple. It was a full day out and a great way to start your trip in Chiang Mai.

1. Elephant foundation

Chiang Mai is also known for it's extensive amount of sanctuaries which help orphaned, old and working elephants. Some are amazing and some are bad, we were always recommended to pay no less than £50 for a visit. We visited one of the most well known sanctuary called "The Elephant Foundation" run by a lady called Lek. We were always reminded that our visit was for the benefit of the elephants and less for us. We had a full day of feeding, bathing and admiring the elephants. They were let to run free within the grounds with no chains and no work. The stories which were told were amazing, elephants had adopted one another as family and helped one another. It was amazing to see it happen. Would highly recommend it!

Phi Phi

1. Boat trip

Viewpoint in Phi Phi, a hot and sweaty walk it was.

Having only two nights on Phi Phi, the island itself was dirty and not too pretty. We arranged a boat trip to see the places which weren't built up. We booked a half day trip (1pm - 6pm) for 300baht including lunch. I can happily say it was amazing!

Maya beach where "The beach" was filmed.

Advise to stay at "The tropical garden bungalow".

Koh Lanta

1. Boat trip

After a successful boat trip on Phi Phi we decided to book another on Koh Lanta. There's quite a few different ones you can choose from but we decided to do the four islands tour, this is a lot more expensive than Phi Phi. Your look at more between 700-900 baht. However it's still dead cheap. Lunch and taxis are included as usual. With lots of snorkelling it was incredible.

Koh Hai - As clear as it gets!

 The last stop of the tour are the Emerald caves. It was the most amazing experience ever. You have to swim through a practically pitch black tunnel in a cliff face and it opens up to this secret beach in the middle. Hundreds of years ago it use to be a smugglers cove. Pretty cool.

Koh Toa

1. Pub crawl

If you like the kind of awful shit then do it, but I wouldn't recommend anyone to do it. There were a lot of pricks out that's all I can say.

2. Sai Nuan

A quieter beach and smaller, it's a bit of a walk but well worth it. More chilled, intimate and untouched and you can even go snorkelling. If you're look for something a little more luxury with deck chairs then close by is Jansom Bay which is equally as beautiful but comes with a fee of 200 baht.

3. Na na's kitchen & Central backpackers

I don't have a picture but located practically next to our hostel which I too would recommend staying at. Na na's kitchen was super cheap and tasty, at about 70baht for a curry it was bang for your buck. We stayed at central backpackers run by some english guys with the theme of the London Underground running throughout the hostel. It had air con and was very cheap, highly recommended!

4. Boat trip

We still hadn't got enough of the boat trips, this is just a great way to see the beautiful untouched areas of the island which is what you want to go there for. I probably did some of the most incredible snorkelling off Koh Tao, with stunning reefs and lots of colourful fish at this point I wished I had a go pro. Another highlight was the last stop Nang Yuan island. It is incredible, just take a look at the pictures below.

Bangkok

So having been here many times I tend to do my shopping here and zero tourist shit. This was also because we were at the end of our trip and didn't want to do anymore sightseeing. Bad I know, but we ate on street markets and chilled with the locals anyways.

Shopping Guide

Siam square - Very upmarket kinda area, there are about 5 massive shopping malls selling everything from Chanel to Boots No 7. You aren't going to find any bargains here. However come here at night and there is a rather large night market selling all kinds of clothing for cheap cheap.

Platinum fashion mall - If you're looking for some serious shopping then this is the place. Not at cheap as the markets but still a hell of a lot cheap than England there are lots of fashionable attire. With about 8 floors of fashion you can buy everything. This is more of a wholesalers so the more you buy the cheaper it is.

Pratunam market - Just round the corner from the Platinum fashion mall is Pratunam market, this is where all the Thai people shop so it's extremely cheap. However it is also super busy and is the ultimate hustle and bustle.

TOP TIPS

1. Do not have a tattoo of Buddha, this is ridiculously disrespectful. All you backpacking idiots who have them are stupid.
2. Be respectful, cover up appropriately in temples and never raise your head above Buddha or point your feet towards him.
3. Haggle for taxis, about 100% of the time you can half their price.
4. Shop a fuck load. You'll regret that you didn't buy that dress for £4.
5. Eat the banana fritters they are fucking incredible.

378. Travel diary. Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh

Not my favourite place in Vietnam overall, but was the most commercial place out of what we visited. Its great for shopping and is really cheap, one big markets with all kind of things

. We decided to take a break from being a backpacker whilst we were there and went to New World hotel and used their pool. It was really expensive (£10) but we needed a bit of luxury for a day a very different change of scene compared to our hostel. We stayed at "Vietnam Inn Ho Chi Ming", would definitely recommend it. If you get the bus in its a five minute walk. You literally cross the park and your there (right next to chucks burgers). Staff are helpful and you can book everything through them.

De Lat

After a 5 hours night bus from Ho Chi Ming, which was surprisingly easy we arrived in the very cold De Lat at 5am. We stayed at Wolf pack hostel, and I'd have to say the best and cheapest hostel we stayed in. They greeted us with tea, biscuits and a big blanket. Thinking we wouldn't be able to check in until midday they gave us a bed to sleep in until the morning, then moving to our actual room once the others checked out. The beds were huge and comfy, given a big old duvet too. Each bed had a light and plug socket. The rooms were big and spacious, so although its 8 to a room with an en suite it didn't feel crowded. Super clean too. They also put on the most amazing dinner in the evening for a couple of dollars each. It's basically and giant banquet, and every at the hostel sits around together so its nice and sociable but also a great way to eat real Vietnamese food.

Crazy House

A sight you have to see in De Lat. It really is a crazy house, with the coolest architecture it's something you'd imagine from Alice in Wonderland. Everything is organic and natural looking as if it's made from a tree or plants but it's actually a hotel. It's honestly the coolest thing ever. If you can stay there, do!

Canyoning

Not something I would naturally choose to do, but everyone recommended that this was a must in De Lat. It was $25 for the day which included everything. We abseiled down two cliffs first after a crash course in abseiling. However it did feel super safe and the guys we were with knew what they were doing. After the two cliffs we were then thrown into the deep end (literally) and had to walk down a waterfall. In which below you can seem i'm obviously not shitting my pants at all. It all looks very easy, but it AIN'T. After we were told we had to do the famous "washing machine" waterfall, which was known as the scariest but to be honest it was totally fine. You lowered yourself down to the waterfall off a cliff, let go and then go underwater for two seconds until the waterfall pushes you out. Fine. 100% would recommend it, even if you're scared.

Hoi An

The prettiest town we visited during our stay. It's very quiet and calm, traditional and colourful. Definitely my favourite place. In the ancient town there were lots of amazing little places to eat and cute tea houses.

Reaching out tea house

This was one of our highlight in Vietnam, it was truly a beautiful place. A little tea house, you are asked not to speak but either to be silent or whisper. Communicating to the staff through pen and paper, the staff are in fact mute or deaf. They embrace the idea of serenity and appreciating the tea you drink and not rush but take it all in. The interior was so pretty and traditional and there was such a beautiful vibe and aura about the place. The tea and coffee was delicious and came out in the most ornate sets. You could easily spend hours there,

A back alley where we ate delicious Pho.

Ha Long Bay

When choosing which cruise to go for, we wanted obviously the cheapest but with good reviews. Have researched it was basically you get what you paid for. We ended up paying about £90 for two nights with the party cruise. It wasn't majorly party, just depends on what you want to do really. The first day you cruise through the beautiful bay (unfortunately we came at winter so it was really foggy) and you can go swimming and kayaking about. Sleeping in a two bed cabin the beds were hard as rocks but it was fine for one night. You get fed lots as well. Pretty yummy food too. 

The next day we arrived at Freedom island which is teeny tiny, really pretty though. And we kayaked to a private cove which was amazing. Definitely well worth a visit if you want to see the beautiful wonders of the world.

Hanoi

A lot different from Ho Chi Minh, it's an old time which has kept its traditional sense about it and its hustle and bustle down small alleys. Everything is higgldy piggldy, but really cool. Each road is dedicated to a type of product, one might specialise in herbal remedies another will just be kids toys etc. Really fun to explore. 

There's a lot of good museums to go to as well as delicious places to check out. 

Fanny's Ice cream it's delicious and elaborate.

Griang's cafe for the traditional egg coffee.

Banh Mi 25 for the best sandwiches ever, made from fresh baguette and off the bone ham.

Hanoi Fusion for a slightly more upmarket but cheap dinner.