lake
leɪk/
noun

1. a large area of water surrounded by land.

When I go to the beach, I react a bit like Rowan Atkinson in Mr Bean's Holiday when he finally found La Mer... 
The sea is exciting, with all its big and small waves, sand, pebbles (plenty in Brighton) and shells. Comparatively, lakes may seem a bit boring and cold. But if you think about it, they just have a different personality altogether: still and less noisy. 

​Like mountains, certain lakes have left a lasting impression in my mind, whether it's the colour, the size, the surroundings, the view of/from them, or simply the biases of my personal experience. 

Another one from Central Asia, but it's the best USD 30 I have spent on a visa. Tajikistan was generally a scorching, dry city in my opinion, but the outskirts were the total opposite. Sparse villages with friendly Tajiks accompany the lake, making it a homely, scenic pit-stop for travellers (especially after a long, dusty journey from Dushanbe, in an old saloon car fit for a museum). 

Once I got there, I took a round trip of this triangular lake on a local motorboat. I was by myself, next to a man who was asking me why I was by myself, and a couple who were being photographed for what I think (and hope) was a swim suit advert. 

The lake itself is just over 2100m high and a bonus for those trekking the Gissar Range or Fann mountains. The best views are in the morning when it perfectly mirrors the image of the mountain range and clouds. 

​Rating: 9/10

My parents love Switzerland and I've been hearing about it since the first time we visited the country, which was almost 20 years ago. Considering it's a country that's not short of mountains, Lake Lucerne being one of the bigger lakes in Switzerland is quite impressive. 

The best views of the lake are probably from Mount Pilatus or somewhere up on a hill like Chateau Gutsch. But if you're on a budget (which is likely as like the Nordics, it's not a cheap country), walking alongside the lake, through the parks where the local Swiss residents go for runs and walks, and then occasionally dipping your feet into the water, or saying hello to the green-faced ducks, is another nice way to enjoy the lake. 

Rating: 7/10

I wouldn't say this is the most beautiful lake, but ​it's the largest in Africa, and is a shared baby of 3 countries, 2 rivers and the Equator, which makes it quite special: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. 

I have seen it while we lived in Uganda, so my opinions may be skewed towards what I saw. Pollution from nearby cities has taken some of its colour and clarity away, but it is still a grand water body, keeping East Africa hydrated.

Rating: 6/10

I really did not expect to find such jaw-dropping beauty so close to home. We drove five hours from London to the North of Wales, near Snowdonia National Park. The weather was in our favour and we managed to find parking in one of the parking lots that provide bus rides to the base of the six main routes. We went for the hike that was the second easiest (out of shame), and in under three hours we made it close to the top at around 800m, then walked down the rocks to the steely green coloured glacial lakes a.k.a. 'tarns'. With snow on the mountains and a not-so-tricky walking path, we had time to appreciate the beauty. 

I have to say, I fell a little bit in love with Wales after this... 
​
Rating: 9/10

This trek gets better over time... just keep walking and carry a flask with hot tea and some cake or donuts and you'll be fine. My full review on Zakopane and Krakow is here, but the highlight was certainly the mountains and the lake that is surrounded completely by mountains in Tatra National Park, shared between Poland and Slovakia. The colour of the lake can change from slate-black in colder weather, to aquamarine blue when it's warmer and sunnier. Chameleon lake! 

Rating: 8/10

caffeine
ˈkafiːn/
noun

1. an alkaloid compound which is a stimulant of the central nervous system.

I have to say, I do struggle to find a good cup of coffee when I’m not in London, but that’s probably because I don’t know the right places, or my taste buds have become biased by the city of coffee addicts. I remember (almost) shedding a tear of joy when we found a nice coffee made with condensed milk in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam after what felt like weeks. I think I had half a dozen terrible coffees on that trip, before I had a good one.

Note: in South East Asia stick to tea. 

A health adviser from BUPA told me recently that ideally, caffeine should be avoided altogether as it's a stimulant and can tamper with your heart rate, but two to three cups of tea or coffee should be fine. Working life in London typically involves a lot of caffeine (and alcohol). When you're slaving away in your job all week, and wise people tell you not to drink 'too much' tea or coffee, you need to make sure that the few cups you do have are good ones and guilt-free. 

According to BBC Health, 400mg* of caffeine is 'safe' per day. So we could have 1-4 cups of coffee as long as we don't have any other energy drinks, chocolates, tea, etc. (Hurray!) 
*200mg for pregnant women

And if you care about how 'fatty' your coffees are, a small flat white, latte or cappuccino with full-fat milk is around 100 calories and 5-7g of fat. There's a quiz from The Guardian to test your coffee-calorie knowledge, which covers the high street coffee chains: Starbucks, Pret, Costa, Nero and good old Greggs. 

Health aside, I'm sure many of you have your personal favourites for the quick and easy coffee, whether they get your name right or change it completely (I once got my takeaway Frappuccino with "FAN" written on it). But if you don't mind waiting a bit longer for what's usually a (much) smaller portion of coffee for what you usually pay, here are some 'artisan' coffee shops to check out in the city on your lunch break:

These guys need to thank me for at least 50 cappuccinos consumed in 2 years and now this blog. And I can thank them for all the good cappuccinos and loyalty stamps I have enjoyed. Step out of Artigiano and there's the grand beauty of St Paul's Cathedral. What more could you possibly ask for?

The staff are quirky, friendly and sometimes they may even give you an extra stamp for your loyalty and a big Cheshire smile. What's more, they serve beer, wine and cocktails (with happy hour) after 12pm. Genius. 

Another one near St Paul's station and cathedral. My only issue with this cafe is that it's tiny. The photo below was when I got one of the three stools facing the window. A takeaway may have to do the job, but otherwise, you can get a pack of biscotti to go with your fine drink.

Arty coffee in arty cups and saucers. If you're having an 'I don't care, I will eat whatever the hell I want' day, they have quite a selection of cakes, macaroons and pastries too. 

I know, I'm pushing it with coffee shops in St Paul's, but I feel like they have all congregated in one area (or I've started to drink too much coffee since I started working in the area). The coffee was good, but not sure about the service and both the size of the shop and the coffee are half the size of others, which I wasn't too keen on. 

I was obviously too engrossed in my coffee from Taylor St. that I didn't even get time to log it on my Instagram. This place has an Aussie vibe, with songs ranging from Kylie to Sia and sometimes you could even get Tim Tams to dip into your latte.

They serve a decent brunch (except that one time they ran out of avocados and basically ruined my day) and everything is served on chopping boards from what I remember, which seems to be a 'thing' at the moment, along with cocktails in jam jars and men with beards and pony tails.
You could even have to share your table with random people... I'm never quite sure if I like sharing tables with strangers, but it's part of the experience. 

Anyway, the coffee is amazing.

I only discovered this coffee shop two years ago while walking past Holborn. The best part was that there is a tiny seat for one! The cafe is slightly below the street level which gives you a lovely view for 'people watching' in a non-creepy way. 

The coffee is great, served in rustic heavy duty cups and they have random baked goodies every other day (last time I had a tiny cinnamon cake for 80p). Sadly it's old (since 1882) so the seats are all falling apart, but I don't care. Mmm coffee. 

baby
ˈbeɪbi/
noun

1. a very young child.

In 2016 I was introduced to a new member of the family: my nephew. I'm not naturally very maternal, so when I had to interact with a baby in the family, it was a bit confusing and at times, awkward. Several months later, I think me and my nephew have come to some form of mutual respect. He doesn't talk just as yet, but he certainly gets his point across and since his existence, he's reminded me about a few things that could make life a bit easier: 

My nephew doesn't 'fake smile' or cry for no good reason. When you try to make him laugh, if he didn't find it funny, he won't laugh. As cold as that sounds, when he does smile and laugh, we know that he really meant it. Equally when he cries, we know something is up. 

I wouldn't suggest spitting the food in your mouth out when you're full, or throwing it on the floor like he does, especially in public. But when your stomach is full, there is no benefit from overeating to anyone, including yourself and at times, those around you. 

I personally love a good hug, and I can swear by the effect it has on your mood (this depends on who you're hugging). My nephew loves a cuddle from his approved list of people who can come near him. According to Virginia Satir, who was an American therapist:

“We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth." - mindbodygreen.com 

So keep giving and receiving those free hugs. 

Last week, he gave all of us a bit of a shock when he climbed all the stairs in the house. I watched him attempt the stairs a few times before, measuring up each step with his little legs, gradually increasing the number of steps that he covered. There was no rush, no panicking, just slow, individual baby steps that helped him reach his ultimate goal: his grandma, who gives him lots of hugs. 

He's already a bit of an explorer, having been to 7 countries before the ripe old age of two. It's a shame he won't remember any of his trips as a baby, but his Instagram account (where_is_arjun) can do that for him. Hopefully he will carry on traveling when he's older to explore different places, people, food and culture and perhaps relive the trips he can't remember. 

Especially when you're watching an episode of CSI, when they're about to reveal the mystery murderer, or the last few overs of a tight match of Cricket. And in that moment you're interrupted by meerkats or a loud man singing about insurance. My nephew starts screaming in protest when an advert comes in between him and LBB (Little Baby Bum). I don't blame him. Thankfully, we can now 'Skip Ads' on YouTube and fast forward on Sky TV, so there is hope. 

The little one is generally quite careful, but if he does bump his head on the same bar stool more than twice, we would be surprised. He carefully avoids the obstacle afterwards, and carries on with a new route. It's an example of perseverance and learning from mistakes.

It's very infectious. When babies laugh, you need to be dead inside if you're not smiling, at least. Sometimes there is no reason whatsoever. Or there's a bird, a bulb, someone's hair... anything can set my nephew off on one, with an inevitable domino effect on the rest of us around him. Laughter, like hugs, is another free source of endorphins, so we need to let ourselves 'LOL' at every opportunity we have.    

I'm sure there are other things to learn from babies, like eating and sleeping on time, making sure you keep some time aside in your schedule to play (all work and no play is not good for anyone), asking questions, crying for help when required... the list is endless. The bottom line is, we were all babies once, and those were good times, when everyone did everything for you. But just because we're all much older and independent doesn't mean the rules have changed. Just have a conversation with the next baby or young child and you'll get the reminder you may need. 

cocktail
ˈkɒkteɪl/
noun

1. an alcoholic drink consisting of a spirit or spirits mixed with other ingredients

Cocktail bars sometimes come as a surprise to many. You could go to the most fancy or expensive bar and still come out disappointed (and poorer), or you could go somewhere that looks shady and run down, but end up leaving at 3am when they kick you out. The first lesson I have learnt when judging a bar by its cover is: don't judge. 

For me, it's as simple as good atmosphere + mixologists = good cocktail bar.

Living in London means that many of my favourite bars are in the city, but I have found some hidden gems abroad and have made sure that I remember to write a review on tripadvisor or add them to my instagram, just so I can relive the memory, possibly go back and recommend it to other cocktail-thirsty travellers. 

Sometimes I do get distracted by beer, which may explain why I haven't found amazing cocktails in some of the cities I have been to, but what's the rush? Here are my five personal favourites, but when I struggle, I do look up some options on TimeOut to be safe. 

Top 5:

1. ​Ayahuasca, Lima, Peru
2. Royal Exchange, London, England
3. Lebua Sky bar, Bangkok, Thailand
4. Merchant House, London, England
5. Chowringee bar, Kolkata, India

There are some other interesting places that are worth a mention, such as Absintherie in Prague, the home of Absinthe with a pianist playing the latest songs from Top of the pops, right under the staircase; as well as Coq d'argent, in the City of London, well-known for a notable number of people trying to jump off the top (for personal reasons, nothing to do with the drinks at the bar), as well as well made classics. Can't go wrong with a pornstar martini here. Finally, I have to mention Be at One and their Blueberry Muffin cocktails as well as their hyper and borderline crazy bar staff... plus they have happy hours, so it's a guaranteed fun, tasty night out.

I love this place. Each room has a different vibe, one with Peruvian rugs rolled into glass jars, another secret room with a few rocking chairs and couches, another with a modern bar, and then an outside area. The Pisco Sours had a number of variations and the bar staff were very welcoming, which makes this the one bar you shouldn't miss if you're going to Peru.  

Atmosphere: 10/10
Price: 7/10
Cocktails: 8/10
​Overall: 8/10

The Royal Exchange Grand Cafe & Bar is very close to my heart since we went to university in London. I remember strolling in a Pineapple branded tracksuit, with my coursework with my friend and the bar staff were pleased to serve us that one cocktail that we made last a couple of hours (student budget-permitting). A decade later, I still work nearby, thankfully, and you can always count on them to make you a bespoke cocktail, hot or cold. It's also pretty cool that it used to be a Stock Exchange (hence its name) and a Theatre before the great Fire in 1666. 

Atmosphere: 10/10
Price: 7/10
Cocktails: 10/10
​Overall: 10/10

A.k.a. the 'Hangover Bar' where the film was shot, this bar has the best panoramic views of Bangkok, especially stunning at night. The cocktails are smooth and interesting, however, you'll probably blow your entire evening (or holiday) budget in this bar if you're not careful. The drinks are very (very) expensive. Having said that, if you're in Bangkok, it's a must see. 

Atmosphere: 10/10
Price: 5/10
Cocktails: 7/10
​Overall: 10/10

First of all, good luck finding this bar as it's hidden away in a tiny alleyway near Bow Lane. If you walk past, you'll probably think it's someone's  living room. This doesn't really change while you walk down the wooden stairs, but then you are greeted by friendly members of the staff.
It's a good idea to book, but we usually find a seat for two or three without much trouble, probably because others couldn't find the bar. The music is very chilled out and the sofas make you feel like you are actually in someone's home. We have a personal favourite: the Cuban Zombie which is served in a giant beer mug, involves 7 different types of rum and absinthe, which is set on fire before you drink it. 

Atmosphere: 9/10
Price: 7/10
Cocktails: 9/10
​Overall: 9/10

I probably liked this bar more because of the contrast between the busyness of the streets outside, near New Market and the pool-side silence inside the walls of this grand hotel. The waiters are dressed in traditional Indian attire, which is part of the hotel uniform, which reminds you that you are most certainly in Kolkata. The cocktails are made bespoke, are reasonably priced and you'll be made to feel like a very special guest. 

Atmosphere: 8/10
Price: 9/10
Cocktails: 8/10
​Overall: 8/10

que sera sera
ˈkeɪ sərɑː sərɑː/
explanation

1. future events are out of our control. 

2017 was a weird year for me. Career, friendships, principles and my life purpose were all tested and questioned. 

In the end, what I have learned from last year is that nothing is permanent. The sooner we make ourselves (relatively) comfortable about this, the better. People, money, health, youth, physical appearance - these are all factors that many of us work hard to achieve and sometimes take pride in. That's all fine, but if any of those are suddenly taken away from us, how would we react? Would you crumble or acknowledge the loss and move on with life? Easier said than done, I know. But one can only try.

Some level of detachment from people and things in your life and being self-contained are some ways of preparing for the best and worst times. That's my personal view. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that we should turn our hearts into stone, but the less needy and dependent you are on people or possessions, life situations, the less likely you are to have a long-term life crisis. 

I read a lot of books last year, which is slightly out of character for me, as when I was in school I used to read the introduction, the back of the book, a random chapter or two in the middle and the end to get the gist. I am the queen of short-cuts. However, this one book I read stuck with me: 

Make Your Bed: Small things that can change your life 

The book is a very real view of life from an ex-Navy SEAL, William H. McRaven on what helped him overcome challenges in his career and his life. Doing one task, first thing in the morning, such as making your bed perfectly, can kick-start your day on a good note, as you feel like you have already achieved something. In summary:

1. Start each day with a task completed
2. Find a life companion to help you through life
3. Respect everyone
4. Life isn't fair and you'll often fail
5. Take some risks 
6. Step up when times are tough and never give up
7. Face down the bullies
8. Be around people who make you happy 

Quite a few people I know have lost important people in their lives last year. I have therefore seen the strength required by humankind to deal with death of loved ones, job losses, broken relationships, and so on. Yet people move on. They have to. 

One of my best friends, a very talented Psychotherapist suggested that I listen to some of the talks by Tara Brach, an author and teacher of meditation and self-awareness. She categorised the source of happiness to 3 main categories defined by Buddhists broadly as Dharma, Sangha, Buddha: 

1. Consciousness: living in the moment. Focus on now, rather than the past or future. 
2. Good company: find people who help you grow
3. Truth: be honest about what matters to you

Taoism, which originates from China, similarly suggests that the past and future are not part of who you are. It is only the present moment in time that matters and should determine your mindset, mood, happiness, and so on. Que sera sera... finally makes more sense. 

Having said all that, my focus for 2018 and beyond is to live. I would like to spend my time and resources doing things that I enjoy: traveling, exploring different parts of the world, trying different types of food, cocktails, beers and developing new skills. In 2016 I started learning Spanish before my trip to Peru, last year I took up boxing lessons (and even bought a punch bag and gloves for our shed!). In 2018, who knows.... maybe I'll climb the Kilimanjaro. 

Interesting ideas: 

Spanish (and other language) lessons: http://www.ihlondon.com 
Boxing: https://www.1rebel.co.uk 
Book: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

travel
ˈtrav(ə)l/
verb

1. make a journey, typically of some length.
   
   

Like many of you, I have a regular job and a fixed number of days of annual leave that I can take. But if you love traveling as much as I do, you will make it happen.

I have found that when time poor and budget constrained, taking organised tours to see the key highlights of certain parts of the world through tour operators like www.gadventures.co.uk or www.tucantravel.com can be a good option. For those who are more independent, you can always choose tours that have some days when you can do your own thing. 

And if you would rather organise and travel as you please, or even free-style it, my respect goes to you. I am incredibly lazy when it comes to admin and paperwork so when someone tells me they will sort out accommodation and transport across five countries, I am at peace. Although, when I hear stories of people who spontaneously took a few months off and jumped off some random cliffs in isolated beaches, I try to reconsider my laziness. Either way, it's totally up to you.

1. Feeling Anti-social? 
   Depending on how social you want to be on your time off, you may need to consider if you would want to hang out with a group of people of different ages and personalities, more than a few times during the tour. 
2. Age
   I felt this as I moved closer to 30 years of age and further from 20. I struggled to keep up with the partying and drinking that the 18 year olds in my "YOLO" tours in the more recent tours. These tours are usually great fun, but you may need to make a conscious effort to go see the countries you're visiting, rather than nursing a hungover for the whole trip. 
3. Early-bird?
   Sometimes, you will be asked to wake up at ridiculously early times for various reasons (hangover or not), such as watching the sun rise from Angkor Wat, Cambodia or just catching the earlier (cheaper) train because you chose the cheaper tour. If you prefer a lie-in on your holidays, you may wish to reconsider. Alternatively you can practice sleeping on buses, boats, trains, the floor to make up your hours of sleep, if you had a late night. 
4. Who are you traveling with?
   If you're traveling alone, I would recommend these tours as you'll probably make friends, won't get bored on your own and there are usually more solo travellers in the group, who are in the same position as you. As for those traveling with an other half, I have met both friendly and unfriendly couples on some tours. If you are the latter, it's probably best you book a holiday on your own. 
   There are tours that are family-friendly, but it's worth looking into the daily itinerary to see if it works for children, elderly members, and so on. 
5. Location
   Obviously if you are going somewhere like Honduras, in Central America that is considered slightly dangerous, and/or if you don't speak the local language, having a tour and a tour leader to help you navigate around safely, can be a good way to see a place you didn't think you could. Also, if you're planning to go somewhere like South East Asia, which is very tourist-friendly and cheap, it may make more sense to go on your own. 
6. Diet
   Vegans, Vegetarians and those with other specific dietary needs may wish to check with the tour operators on how flexible the meal options are. 
7. What's included
   It's quite important to see what activities, meals, transportation and accommodation are included in the price you pay the tour operators. There have been times when I have had to fork out quite a bit of extra cash in every other place we went, in order to get the "full experience" of that location. When you're there, it's usually a good idea to just go for it, or else you may suffer from serious FOMO. 
8. Reviews
   I know many people fill out reviews when they are emotional or angry about a negative experience, but I would like to believe that many also give positive feedback when well-deserved. It's worth double checking the reviews for some of the hotels and tours on TripAdvisor or other similar sites. If you're bored, you can read some of my (good and bad) reviews here.
   
   Having said all this, I have been to six organised tours in the last four years, through three different tour operators, and apart from one (that shall remain unnamed), every one of them were very much worth it, memorable and fun. ​
   ​