Travel Photos of the Week: Sunsets over Magnetic Island, Australia

Magnetic Island is one of my favourite travel destinations having visited there twice now. It’s the perfect destination for a relaxing family holiday in Queensland. Both times we stayed at Arcadia by pretty Alma Bay where it’s an easy 5mins walk to the beach. One thing we notice about visiting during May, is it’s off-peak and very peaceful but more than that, there are sensational sunsets like these to enjoy.

Highlights your Holiday Adventures!

‘The Australia Map Journal’ collection by Linda Fairbairn, owner and founder of Journey Jottings,  is a must have for any national or international visitor trooping around Australia.

These beautifully presented maps in Australian earthy tones, allow the traveller to jot their experiences, encounters and thoughts as a visual keepsake of their trip.

We use a couple of the fridge magnets to display postcards received on our fridge!

Journey Jottings product range include:

Map Magnets

Join Linda and Journey Jottings

You Might Also Enjoy The Following Australian Travel Destinations

Food is part of the travelling experience.

A guest post by Julie from Melbourne, Australia.

I’m just back from a trip to Morocco and the food was wonderful too, though with temperatures in the low to mid 40s, I did not eat a great deal at times. I lived on orange juices. These were freshly squeezed in front of your eyes and readily available everywhere. Along with ubiquitous mint tea, wonderfully refreshing. Moroccan food is full of fragrant and unusual flavor and aroma combinations, achieved through the use of cinnamon, ginger, saffron, cumin, pepper and coriander. For me three Moroccan dishes define the cuisine: couscous, tagines and bisteeya.

I was rather “tagine’d” out by the end of the trip, but I did make one wonderful food discovery – bisteeya (sometimes also spelt “bastillas” or “pastillas”). A fine crisp flaky pastry (rather like our filo pastry) wrapped around shredded velvety melting chicken and ingredients. I particularly loved the chicken and almond pastillas I ate. I also tried the tradition Fez dish of pigeon pastilla (pigeon pie!). Very gamey and rich. Wonderful for a special occasion or a feast.

The aspect that makes pastillas so special is the unusual combination of savoury and sweet, as the top of the pastry has a lines of aromatic cinnamon and fine sugar on top. The sweet cinnamon and savoury chicken mixture are a super and exotic combination and the textures of crisp flaky pastry and soft casserole-like filling is divine.

I come across a fabulous small restaurant in Essaouira. I had two wonderful lunches, so if you’re passing that way do drop in. It’s called ‘Restaurant des Reves’ (“Restaurant of Dreams”), 2 Av Side Med Ben Abdellah, Rue Sidi Ahmed Ouharoon, Essaouria.

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Morocco

Cooking at the Kasbah: Recipes from My Moroccan Kitchen

One Great Reason to Visit Morocco

One great reason to visit Morocco is the experience Moroocu cuisine first hand – wonderful Moroccan food can be found in a variety of settings – from roadside cafes, a delightful restauants,night-time stalls in the great square in Marrakesh ‘Djemaa al Fna’ … and if you’re lucky enough to be invited into a family home for some home-cooking consider yourself truly fortunate.

Chicken Pastilla (accompanied by great, local music)

For More Information

You Might Also Enjoy The Following Travel Destinations

Mystical Music with Celtic and Moorish Influences

Loreena McKennitt is from Canada and most well-known for her music with Celtic and Moorish themes. Loreena incorporates visiting such travel destinations which inspire her music. Places such as Ireland, Spain and Morocco.

Loreena was introduced to me when I heard “Huron ‘Beltane’ Fire Dance” playing early one morning on the ABC radio in the very early 1990s. I was awakening from a deep sleep and the celtic sounds shook me to attention! I have since seen Loreena in concert and had her sign a couple of my CDs. The concert was magical. Candles lit the stage and the talent of this woman, left me in awe. She sang, she played the harp, the accordion and various other instruments and it totally drew you in. I hope you enjoy this piece as much as I do.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennitt – The Book of Secrets

For More Information