I’ve never entered a mosque. I wasn’t sure what to expect, how to act, or what to wear. As a woman did I need to cover my head with a scarf? Would I be allowed in if I didn’t?

It wasn’t just any mosque that I was about to visit. My very first visit to a mosque happened in Istanbul when I entered majestic Blue Mosque.

The Blue Mosque is called blue from the Iznik tiles that line the walls. It was built in 1609 and was designed by Sultan Ahmet I to be the greatest mosque in Istanbul – larger and more ostentatious than the Aya Sofya. It stands in the heart of Sultanahmet – the old town of Istanbul – and is only metres away from the Aya Sofya.

The Blue Mosque has six minarets (towers pointing to the sky) and boasts the largest courtyard of all the mosques built in the Ottoman empire.

Upon entering the Blue Mosque you’ll be asked to take off your shoes and carry them in a plastic bag. I also covered my head loosely with a scarf.

Tip toeing into the mosque, I was astounded by the lights illuminating the tens of thousands of Iznik tiles. I had to stretch my head back to appreciate the domed ceilings and the stained glass windows. For my first time in a mosque I was captivated by the immensity of the prayer space, the openness of the interior and the soft light which added to the atmosphere. It was certainly a grand mosque, but how would it actually compare to the Aya Sofya?

My tips for visiting the Blue Mosque in Istanbul:

• Arrive early and avoid prayer times
• Show respect – try to make little noise and turn off your flash on your camera
• Dress modestly, keep your shoulders and knees covered. I noticed that not all women cover their heads with a scarf when entering the Blue Mosque but it is a sign of respect to do so – after all its in the ‘official rules’!
• Wear socks – you’ll have to take your shoes off when you walk on the carpeted floors and it’s always more pleasant walking in socks than in bare feet…at least it is for me!
• Don’t take photos during prayer times

Princess Diana Wallpaper in Kensington Palace, London

The beautiful images of an amazing royal life captured by the Princess Diana wallpaper in Kensington Palace, London. These sketches were drawn by fashion illustrator Julie Verhoeven before being turned into wallpaper. The Princess Diana wallpaper lines the hallway leading up to an exhibition of her famous gowns in the recently refurbished Kensington Palace, London.

The beautiful city of Bonn, Germany charmed me with its cobblestoned streets and pretty cherry blossom lined streets. The birthplace of Beethoven, this small city has a tranquil vibe. No one appears to be in a hurry over here, the locals go about their day slowly – whether they’re browsing Saturday food markets or savouring tea and cake in the afternoon.

Bonn, Germany is about 30 minutes by train south of Cologne. The city sits on the Rhine river and used to be the capital of West Germany.

What are the best things to do in the beautiful city of Bonn, Germany?

Walk around the Old Town or Aldstadt

Bonn is a much smaller city than Cologne and is home to about 300,000 people. It’s very easy to explore the central area on foot. The city is incredibly clean and well kept with buildings featuring immaculate, colourful facades. In spring the city is blooming with cherry blossoms.

Visit Beethoven House

The house that Beethoven was born in is a small three storey building which features a museum showcasing pieces of Beehoven’s life and career. Beethoven House also hosts classical performances paying homage to Mr Ludwig Beethoven.

Ludwig lives! This slogan is plastered on t-shirts in the souvenir shop in Beethoven House. It’s best to visit Beethoven House early as its only a small house not exactly designed for hundreds of visitors at a time!

Enjoy lunch in Bonn’s market square

On Easter Sunday the rain finally stopped and it was actually sunny! Perfect weather for enjoying a long leisurely Easter Sunday lunch in the main square of Bonn. Sitting in the shadow of the historic old town hall of Bonn, where many tourists were posing with their best queens waves, was lovely thing to do in Bonn particularly at First Flush Tearooms which I visited not once but twice in two days!

Take the tram to check out Bad Godesburg and climb the medieval fortress

There’s nothing bad about Godesburg! Sorry for the bad pun but its true. A short 10 minute tram ride from the centre of Bonn, Bad Godesburg used to be a small village with baths or bad the German word for bath bit is now integrated into Bonn. The Godesburg fortress is an easy climb for views over the region. It was destroyed in 1583 during the Cologne war but now features a hotel and restaurant!

Visit the Museum of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany

The museum mile of Bonn in the area of  features a number of museums however the House of the History of the Federal Republic of Germany is a great museum which offers a unique insight into the history of West Germany from 1945 to the present. Best of all its free to enter the museum! Although many of the exhibits are in German the information desk has English guidebook which will ‘translate’ the exhibitions. The museum is large and covers in great detail many facets of German history in a way that makes you feel like you’re walking through history due to the multimedia displays and exhibits, I only wish I had more time to spend there!

All in all there are many things to do in the beautiful city of Bonn, Germany but the best way to enjoy the city is slowly, taking time to marvel at the impressive architecture of its churches and wander the streets to find cute cafes and marvel at the cherry blossoms.

Tulips in Bad Godesburg, Bonn, Germany – spring was definitely blooming in Bonn during my visit to this park in the area of Bad Godesburg.

The fourth largest city of Germany, Cologne is a city that offers glampackers a great taste of German culture and history. There are many fun things to do on a budget in Cologne including eating and drinking your way around the city.

Whist glampacking in Germany during Easter weekend I was very glad I packed my warm weather gear! The temperature was around 10 degrees and was often quite cold and windy from the afternoon onwards. Regardless of the weather there are a lot of fun things to do in Cologne.

What are the fun things to do in Cologne, Germany? Explore the city – by foot, bus or tram!

Cologne is very easy to explore on foot. The old town or ‘aldstadt’ has many squares framed by restaurants and cafes. Cologne still has many Roman relics including a large part of the old city walls and Roman gates. Although much of the city was destroyed in World War II, Cologne was meticulously restored. Hopping on a city bus tour gives you a better feel for the size of the city which was much larger than I originally thought! Keep an eye out for the giant ice-cream cone on top of the shopping mall Neumarkt Galerie designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Brugge.

Climb the Dom – Cologne Cathedral

The Dom towers over the city of Cologne. Building of the French Gothic style cathedral started in the 1300s but wasn’t actually completed until 1880. The majestic structure has tall spires reaching 157 metres and features beautiful stained glass windows – including a modern rubix cube like stained glass window on one of the restored windows.

You can climb to the top of the Dom for three Euros. You just need to conquer the 509 steps up a very narrow staircase which leads up to the spire. Once you reach the top you’re rewarded by the sweeping views of Cologne.

Interesting fact about the Dom – in the old town of Cologne it’s illegal for any building to be taller than the Dom!

Visit Museum Ludwig

There are plenty of museums in Cologne such as the Roman-Germanic museum and even a chocolate museum right on the Rhine river.

However for a different arty experience I highly recommend visiting Museum Ludwig in Cologne. The modern art museum houses artworks by Kirchner, Kardinsky and Max Ernst and ceramic artworks by Picasso. There are various installation artworks that will blow your mind – imagine seeing patchwork quilted octopuses and soft toy clams! Cosima von Bonin’s interpretation of Cologne is definitely a sight to see with your own eyes!

An interesting way of interpreting the artworks is asking yourself – would you want to have the piece of art in your own house? I’m not sure where I would put the octopus to be honest.

Party in Barissoplatz

You can’t say you’ve done all the fun things to do in Cologne without sampling the nightlife! The Cologne locals go partying at the many bars and clubs near Barissoplatz station. Most clubs may have a small entry free to enter. Luckily the trams run all night long to get you back to your hotel/hostel!

Eat and drink your way around the city of Cologne

Start off a day of sight-seeing by enjoying a hearty German breakfast of eggs and ham or smoked salmon on rye bread. Cologne has many breweries, restaurants and cafes where you can sample traditional German cuisine at it’s finest and enjoy a koelsch beer or two.

German food is not just sausages and pretzels! When I visited the charming cities of Cologne and Bonn, I felt I needed to eat and drink like the locals to taste the authentic food of Germany. As a result, I have to admit that I did a lot of eating during my Easter weekend in Germany!

There are so many delicious, traditional food to try in Cologne, Germany that I sampled a bit of everything – from currywurst to scrumptious cherry cakes and even white asparagus. When I’m glampacking, trying the local food is all part of the ‘cultural experience’. After all when you’re in Cologne you can walk all the calories you’ve consumed by climbing the Dom, Cologne Cathedral, to make yourself feel less guilty afterwards! You only live once, right?

What are the best traditional food to try in Cologne, Germany?

Decadent German Cakes from a Traditional Patisserie

German patisseries hit you with their sweet aromas as soon as you enter the door. This is artisan baking at its most spectacular, there are so many cakes to look at that your stomach wishes it could eat them all! German cakes are a mix of gateaux and tortes with lots of fruits and cream. The BFG – black forest gateaux is the kaiser cake of them all. However the cake that won my favour was a simple cherry cake or kirsch torte. This contained a heap of cherries on top of a sponge cake with a layered base of chocolate and biscuit.

White Asparagus in Hollandaise Sauce aka Spargel

Asparagus is huge in Germany! Its a popular vegetable sold at markets, it’s also white because its grown underneath the soil. Known as spargel in German, the asparagus is usually boiled and accompanied with hollandaise sauce. I enjoyed my spargel as a side with pork cutlets. White asparagus is incredibly tasty despite its somewhat bland appearance. Next time I’m in Germany, I’d like to try spargel soup!

Jaegaerschnitzel with creamy mushroom sauce

Pork schnitzel Bavarian style is covered in creamy mushroom sauce. It’s a hearty, comforting dish served with golden fries and a side salad. It’s best washed down with a koelsch beer – the local beer of Cologne which is served in narrow 200 mL glasses. At Hofbrau, a beautiful brewery with stained glass windows, the koelsch house brew is surprisingly light and easy to drink for non-beer lovers like myself. Cheers, or as the Germans say, prost!

Currywurst

Currywurst is a fried, sliced sausage doused in ‘special sauce’ which contains curry powder, onions, paprika and ketchup. Despite the curry powder, it’s not at all spicy, its salty with a slight tangy taste to it. A visit to Germany is never complete until you’ve eaten currywurst!

Italian style German ice-cream sundaes

In Cologne, Germany, the ice cream parlours aren’t just for gelato. Ice-cream sundaes are gigantic concoctions of fruit, ice-cream and whipped cream. The most creative ice-cream sundaes are the Italian style gelatos! The ice-cream is rippled to appear like spaghetti drizzled with raspberry sauce and topped with lots of fresh fruits. It may not be a ‘traditional’ German dish per se but at least the fruit makes this German dessert aka ‘Spaghetti Speziale’ healthy right?

Have you been to Germany, if so what are your favourite German foods?

Beethoven in Bonn, Germany. Or rather his broody, alter-ego embodied in street art outside Beethoven House in Bonn. Beethoven was born in Bonn and lived there until he was 22. Interestingly, he never returned to his hometown.

Looking for things to do in London on a budget? The dilemma of every Australian on a UK working holiday living in London is – how do we enjoy the great city of London and still manage to save money for trips to Europe and other travel adventures?

There are so many things you can do on a budget in London (and many other things you can do to stretch the budget!). Many museums are free and there are so many markets like Borough and Portobello which are all fantastic for eating and shopping on a budget.

As a Glampacker, I’m always searching for things to do on a budget in London. London is after all an expensive city!

When I first moved to London I created my London Glampacker List – the ultimate bucketlist for an Australian temporarily living in London and now I’m trying to do as much as I can before I leave London in August 2012.

So here’s my London Glampacker List of great things to do on a budget in London – with some optional extras for when you feel like a splurge!

• Walk around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens as often as possible in summer or winter

• Have a picnic in Hampstead Heath on a rare 30 degree day in London

• Sample gourmet food at Borough Market

• Go on the London Eye and see amazing London views

• London splurge: Eat at Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant – Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental

• London splurge: Enjoy afternoon tea at the Ritz and eat scones and drink champagne

• Experience Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and drink mulled wine

• Go to a summer festival in London – or at least a food festival

• Walk across Abbey Road like a Beatle

• London splurge: See as many musicals as possible: so far I’ve seen The Lion King, Shoes, Matilda, Wicked and I must see Phantom of the Opera before leaving London!

• Live in a London Hostel run by nuns and make friends from all over the world

• Learn how to survive flatsharing, the tube and living in a crazy city like London on a UK working holiday visa

• Get onto the grass courts to see a Wimbledon match and eat strawberries and cream

• Watch a Royal Wedding in Hyde Park

• Browse the vintage clothing, food and  antique stalls at Portobello Markets in Notting Hill

• See Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

• Visit the beautiful Kew Gardens on a sunny day

• Hire a ‘Boris bike’ and cycle around London town

• Explore Kensington Palace and have afternoon tea like a royal

• Hire a paddle boat and float around the Serpentine in Hyde Park

• Eat a lot of food and browse the fashion, jewellery and vintage stalls at Spitalfields Market

• London splurge: party like you’re friends with Prince Harry at Mahiki or Kensington Roof Gardens

• Discover secret London cafes in Marylebone and Westborne Grove and my favourite Italian bakery in Soho

• Go to the Tower of London and be amazed by the Crown Jewels

• Visit as many free museums as possible like the British Museum and my favourite art gallery in the whole world, the Tate Modern

• Check out Madame Tussaunds and pose with celebrity wax figures

• Get a vintage fix at London’s best vintage fashion fairs

• Celebrate Chinese New Year in London and see the free parade and lion dance

• Be enchanted by the Sensational Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum

• Go to lesser known but still fascinating London museums like the Sherlock Holmes museum

• Take a ferry ride to Greenwich, see the observatory and have lunch at Greenwich markets

• Go to a London 2012 Olympic event

Venture out of London on a UK trip to small towns or even Scotland, Wales or Ireland!

• Take a day trip to Oxford and see the gargoyles

• Channel my inner Jane Austen and visit Bath multiple times

• Go to Edinburgh and try to find Loch Ness in Inverness on a weekender in Scotland

• Hire a car and go on a UK roadtrip to Wales and party like a student in Swansea

• See Stonehenge and still be uncertain about how those rocks got there

• Head to Brighton to eat fish and chips, walk on the pebbly beach and check out Brighton Pier

• Go punting in Cambridge and see the historic university

• Visit the Queen at Windsor Castle

• Drink Guinness in Dublin at the Guinness Storehouse and check out views of the city

What’s missing from my London Glampacker List? Let me know of your favourite things to do in London on a budget!

Where can you find the best cafes in Perth for breakfast, lunch or coffee? The secret to finding the best cafes in Perth is to head out to the suburbs. There are great cafes in Perth CBD but to find out where the locals really go for coffee catch ups or leisurely lunches you have to discover the pockets of Perth.

Perth often gets compared to Melbourne for its café scene, but I like to think that Perth cafes can definitely hold their own not just for barista brewed coffee and fantastic food but also for the café culture. Sidewalk dining in the sunshine or people-watching in bistro-style cafes, Perth has lots of vibrant cafes on offer!

Here are my favourite glamorous yet budget friendly cafes in my beautiful hometown of Perth, Western Australia.

Halo Espresso, South Perth
Most visitors to Perth would flock directly to Mends Street and the many great cafes for brunch with views of the Swan River. However just a few blocks away lies the leafy Angelo Street which is a bustling neighbourhood with charming cafes and shops. Halo Espresso is a new addition to the bustling neighbourhood of Angelo Street in South Perth. It’s a minimalist café with a menu full of fresh food – I chose the mushroom and fetta bruschetta which was very a simple but bursting with flavour. Best of all, the coffee is great!

Tarts Cafe, Northbridge
Visiting Tarts Café on Lake Street, Northbridge feels like entering someone’s living room for a cuppa tea. This café is a mix of eclectic boutique selling gifts, accessories and even clothing and offers a menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner and of course – sugary baked goods like multi coloured cupcakes! It’s a bit off the main drags in the lively Northbridge area on a quieter side of Lake Street. Tarts Café is a good pit stop for a coffee refuel or for a freshly made juice.

No. 44 King Street, Perth CBD
Whenever I have lunch or a coffee and cake at No.44 King Street Café, I feel like I’m in Paris. It’s on Perth’s most stylist street, King Street, home to many designer stores that would bust your credit card. For this reason alone, the people-watching from this café is lots of fun! Sitting by the window is a great spot to enjoy a long lunch. The menu changes monthly and is paired by wine recommendations. If you’re feeling more like coffee and cake, there’s are decadent cake options all freshly baked in house. The café has a definitive French bistro like charm and gets pretty busy in the evenings but is also a little more expensive.

Coffea Fine Espresso, Applecross
Breakfast is taken very seriously in Australia! I’ve been to breakfasts all over the world but I have to admit that there’s no place like Australia for a wicked French Toast. I used to visit Ardross Street for its charming village of gourmet shops, cafes and restaurants quite regularly on a Sunday morning for a coffee. Coffea Fine Espresso is an open kitchen style cafe with a seasonal brunch menu with hearty Aussie dishes including mushrooms on toast, full English breakfasts, and my favourite – French Toast. A sweet breakfast option, at Coffea Fine Espresso French Toast is cooked using brioche bread which was moist and delicate and served with plum compote, lashings of cream and a sprinkling of almonds. Divine!

Café Elixir, Wanneroo
In Perth, you’re either from ‘north of the river’ or ‘south of the river’. You don’t usually venture too far from one or the other! So when I was invited to venture to the northern suburb of Wanneroo for afternoon tea I was in for a treat. Café Elixir hosts afternoon teas complete with teapots housed in tea cosies! Each afternoon tea for two is a lavish array of sandwiches and petit fours. The scones and cakes are all in miniature form so you don’t feel guilty for eating every thing on your plate!

Do you have any recommendations for the best cafes in Perth?

The Perth city skyline is a menagerie of glass skyscrapers, buildings from the 60s and 70s and smaller historic structures dating back to the colonial era. There are many places to get the best views in Perth, Western Australia. On my recent trip home, I had lots of fun exploring my city as a tourist and captured the best views in Perth.

1. Kings Park
Kings Park and Botanic Gardens sits on top of Mount Eliza perfectly positioned for the best views in Perth, Western Australia. You can spend a day exploring Kings Park and the lush bushland in the middle of the city. Along the main drive into Kings Park along Fraser Avenue, the views of Perth skyline and the Swan River are stunning. You get a sweeping panoramic view from the Perth skyline right across to South Perth foreshore. It’s like watching a moving postcard!

2. South Perth foreshore
South Perth foreshore offers directly the best views in Perth, Western Australia. From the sandy shoreline of the Swan River you can see right across to the skyline of Perth city. South Perth is a great place for a picnic, a long walk along the river foreshore or for hiring a catamaran and sailing in the sunshine.

2. Perth Hills
The view of Perth city from Pickering Brook, a 30 minute drive from the CBD is a lot further than Kings Park or South Perth! On a hazy day, the views may not be as clear. However Perth hills is a great drive into Aussie bushland taking you into apple orchard territory and to the nearby waterfalls of Lesmurdie Falls.