Travel | Islandbell.co.uk

erin.niimi / 15th May 2016

Cane & Grain, Manchester

Last weekend I popped up to my university town of Manchester for a rather messy reunion with some friends.

The weather was absolutely glorious, and in Manchester, you can always be sure of a good night out. A little too good, in my case – I was feeling particularly fragile after dancing the night away, and was in desperate need of a hangover cure.

We’d heard great things about Cane & Grain, but it was when we took a look at the menu that we knew it was just what the doctor ordered – fries with delicious toppings, wings, burgers, shakes – the works.

The cocktail list also looked good, although we were in no state to be ordering anything of the kind, and stuck to coffee.

Between the two of us, we had the hot wings, smoked corn on the cob, truffle cheese fries, and jalapeno hush puppies – a fried jalapeno and cheese ball. We decided to be vaguely healthy, too, and ordered the sauteed greens and beans as an afterthought.

Everything really hit the spot – the truffle cheese fries were a highlight, as were the sauteed greens and beans, which are definitely worth getting!

It was all absolutely delicious, and a brilliant hangover remedy – between us, the meal cost £12 each, which was a total bargain. I’d definitely recommend you pop in for an American-style meal if you’re ever in the Northern Quarter!

We also popped into Fig & Sparrow for a coffee, which was lovely – although prepare to be tempted by all the amazing stock in their shop, it’s all very hard to resist.

Have you been to Manchester? Where are some of your favourite places to eat? Be sure to comment below, or let me know on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

erin.niimi / 14th March 2016

A Weekend in Wales

When the team at Visit Wales invited me to spend a weekend in Bangor, I was very excited – but I don’t think I could have pictured just how amazing it was all going to be.

My holidays are usually based around food, beaches, museums, and architecture – I’ve never really gone on an adventure holiday before, and really wasn’t sure what to expect. In the original brief, I was going to be spending a weekend in Bangor, going on a high-speed RIB ride around the Menai Strait – and it was only as an afterthought that an afternoon on a zipline course was added, too.

I hadn’t really appreciated how stunning this part of the world is. Dramatic, snow capped scenery surrounded us on the RIB ride – a high-speed journey that had our hearts racing.

I really enjoyed the ride, which combined a little bit of local history and sightseeing along with some manoeuvres that had me digging my nails into the seat! I managed to snag the very front of the boat for the last few minutes, and was fully convinced that I was going to fly out of the boat at any moment.

After a windy trip we headed for a bite to eat at Ye Olde Bulls Head Inn in Beaumaris, where we tried some of the amazing locally sourced seafood.

It was only over dinner that I looked at the itinerary for the next day – and my heart almost stopped.

I was expecting something along the lines of what I’d experienced a few months before at Go Ape. What I was not expecting was that Penrhyn Quarry is home to Zip World, the longest zipline in Europe. Not only that, but I would be five hundred feet in the air, at 100 miles per hour. As someone who is terrified of heights, the thought of what I had just signed myself up for filled me with total, utter fear.

It was only with a lot of encouragement from my boyfriend that I even managed to get there at all, I was so petrified. Even once I arrived, I remained unconvinced – I burst into tears around three times just at the thought!

First up was the Little Zipper (which is still the fifth biggest zip line in Europe!) I was so, so scared, but the staff at Zip World were so professional, and really reassuring, that once I got going I was able to enjoy zipping over the trees, and I felt like I was flying.

The biggest challenge, though, was the Big Zipper – even the drive up to the top of the quarry was making me feel dizzy, and once I got up to the top I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it.

Despite all the tears, and all of the fear, I did it! It was definitely one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and I still can’t quite believe I managed it.

I keep finding myself watching the video of me doing it over and over again – it is something I will never forget.

I had an absolutely amazing weekend in Wales, and had such an incredible time! It was truly unforgettable, and I can’t wait to go back.

I was invited to Wales, and to try the zip line and RIB ride for the purposes of review – all opinions are fully my own!

erin.niimi / 25th February 2016

The Ship Tavern, Holborn

One of my favourite things about living in London is its rich history. I love the fact that the barbershop down the road from my house is over 100 years old, or that the fact that I work by a 17th century galleried coaching inn, almost directly under the Shard.

So when the team behind The Ship Tavern asked me to drop by, I was intrigued. Tucked away in an alleyway behind the chaos of Holborn station, The Ship Tavern is a 16th century pub filled with a rich and vibrant history. It was used to shelter Catholic priests at the height of the reformation, and was also a masonic lodge at one point, too!

Our important business took place in their upstairs dining room, where we got to sample some of their Valentine’s Day menu.

Although it was my first visit to The Ship Tavern, it wasn’t my boyfriend’s, who had actually arranged a welcome lunch there previously for colleagues who had just moved to the UK. I think it’s a brilliant choice for taking tourists, or people from out of town. It’s steeped in rich history, and the oak panelled room and decor means you can get the full pub experience without compromising on ambience or the quality of the food.

We kicked the meal off with two starters – the scallops with rabbit and the deep-fried soft shell crab served with caviar. I preferred the former – the scallops were beautifully done, and the rabbit was such an unusual addition, and was really delicious. This was actually the first time I had soft shell crab dish that wasn’t tempura, and while I enjoyed the combination of flavours with the caviar, I missed the light crispiness of the Japanese batter.

My boyfriend went for the Beef Wellington, which came with truffle mash and kale in a red wine jus. The truffle mash was incredible – the portions were extremely generous. It was the ultimate comfort food dish for someone nursing a particularly brutal hangover!

I went for the venison steak au poivre, which was served with a haggis and potato pithivier and buttered green beans.

The portions were unbelievably generous, and I couldn’t manage the entire thing, but the venison was perfectly cooked – just the right amount of pink.

Just when we thought we couldn’t possibly manage any more, the chef popped out to convince us otherwise – and a chocolate creme brulee with raspberry sorbet, and a passionfruit pannacotta magically appeared before us.

Both items were part of the Valentine’s menu, although I think they need to seriously consider adding the latter to the a la carte menu – pannacotta is my favourite dessert, and passionfruit is one of my favourite fruits, so I was a massive fan of this (and I’m not a dessert person usually).

The service was wonderful – the staff were all very friendly and attentive in the dining room, and we had a really lovely meal.

On our way out we left through the pub – which, compared to the dining room upstairs, was much more familiar. Match of the day, pints, old men – the works, but in a really charming and rustic setting.

I had a really wonderful meal at The Ship Tavern. While it’s a higher price point than the usual pub fare, I think you do get what you pay for regarding the atmosphere and the quality of the food. It’s not necessarily a place I’d recommend to go with little kids, but for visitors to London and history buffs I would definitely recommend it.

Have you ever been to The Ship Tavern? Be sure to comment below, or let me know on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

I was invited to The Ship Tavern for a fair and honest review – I wouldn’t blog about it if I didn’t like it!

erin.niimi / 9th February 2016

Kyoto

The unfortunate timing of our trip also meant that all the restaurants that were recommended to us – all fifteen – were closed. So we probably didn’t experience the best food that Kyoto had to offer, either.

Looking back on our trip, we did have a lovely time there, despite our initial frustrations. For one thing, it’s a fantastic city to cycle in. You’re allowed to cycle on the pavements, which are large enough for several bikes, and the drivers there really respect cyclists, so you feel safe on the road, too. It was really fun going from temple to temple, and exploring the city on two wheels (thanks, AirBnB rental!)

We also saw some stunning sights – I’ve listed some of my favourites below.

Gion

We headed toward Gion to see the famous Yasaka Shrine, and check out the nightlife. Gion is the famous geisha district, so you’ll find a lot of tourists there, but there’s lots to see and do – you can get some great coffee around there, too.

Kinkakuji

Kinkakuji temple was one of the most beautiful buildings I’ve seen in the entire world – it just looked like something out of a painting. It was stunning. I was in total awe, and the surrounding gardens were also idyllic.

A top tip for tourists – if you don’t want sleep deprived, hungry and grumpy half-Japanese ladies to scream and chase after you in near hysterics, it’s best to avoid dumping several unwanted receipts from your bag in front of something as beautiful as this. Some people are just unbelievable. Unfortunately the tourists in question sheepishly ran away, meaning I had to carry around other people’s trash for a while. I also shot daggers at the people in question, so I hope I ruined their tour by being totally insane. However, I still have no remorse about my behaviour that day. NO REGRETS.

Luckily, matcha tea and a traditional Japanese sweet was the perfect way to blow off all that pent up, trash-related anger – it was really peaceful and tranquil in the shade.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine is famous for its thousands of torii gates – thousands and thousands of bright orange structures, which line the mountain trails.

It’s very impressive, and it has a great atmosphere – unsurprisingly, it’s a lot nicer the further up you go, as the other tourists drop off earlier once they’ve taken their selfies.

Just walk a little further up to get a better view (and you can take yours up there, too).

There are also some great street food vendors just outside, too – I recommend the chicken skewers and the fish-shaped cakes with custard cream filling in particular. Absolutely delicious!

While our trip didn’t quite live up to my expectations, I did think there were some stunning sights to see in Kyoto.

Have you ever been to Kyoto? What did you think? Be sure to comment below, or let me know on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram!

erin.niimi / 6th February 2016

A Day Out in Tokyo

A lot of my time in Japan was spent running around like a headless chicken – it was new year, so a lot of things are closed, and I spent most of my time hanging out with family and friends. I did spend some time doing some touristy things, though, and here is my list of what to do for a day out in Tokyo:

Harajuku

The fashion in Harajuku is as bizarre and wacky as you imagine, and is excellent for clothes shopping. We went along just after new year, which was a bit of a mistake as all the sales were on, and it was totally rammed. Crepes are an absolute must – they’re really famous, and Marion Crepes are definitely the best.

The main street in Harajuku is Takeshita Dori, which is just across the road from the station, and is filled with clothing and accessory stores mostly. It’s brilliant for people watching, as you see people wearing totally different styles of clothing – from Lolitas to punks, and everything in between.

As you turn onto Takeshita Dori, on the right you might see a little sign pointing down to a basement that says ‘Purikura’. DO IT. Purikura photo booths are unbelievably popular, and they are actually quite addictive – they automatically make your legs look longer and skinnier, and your eyes a lot bigger, in an attempt to give you a more ‘desirable’ look. The actual end result is that you look positively terrifying, and you can edit the pictures after with nonsensical stamps and messages. It is so much fun, and for 200 yen it’s a great keepsake (that you can share with your friends on Facebook, too).

Asakusa

Asakusa is really famous for the Sensoji Temple, but it’s got a nice promenade and some interesting architecture, making it well worthwhile. There’s also some pretty great street food there, too – and although I didn’t go up the Sky Tree skyscraper close by, my boyfriend did, and got some incredible views of Tokyo.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend picking up any souvenirs here, as it’s really expensive, but it’s got a great vibe, and the temple itself is beautiful.

Shibuya

It would be a crying shame to go to Tokyo and not swing by the famous Shibuya crossing. It’s pretty manic, but Shibuya has some great bars, and is where I usually go out drinking with my friends when I go back. Bic Camera is also a great place to get great deals on cameras and electronics – I had to really behave myself as I was really tempted by the white and beige Olympus Pen!

Honorable mentions: Akihabara, or ‘the Electric Town’ for electronics and maid cafes; the Owl Cafe; Tsukiji Fish Market (go before it changes location!); and Karaoke.

Have you ever been to Tokyo? What are your favourite things to do there? Be sure to comment below, or let me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram!

Cane & Grain, Manchester

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A Weekend in Wales

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The Ship Tavern, Holborn

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Kyoto

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A Day Out in Tokyo

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Where to next?

JIZAI by Haruo Mitsuta

One Year of Japonisme

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JIZAI by Haruo Mitsuta

One Year of Japonisme