TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

When I am travelling/holidaying somewhere, alone, with the Dutchman, family or friends, I always employ some due diligence beforehand. Research is key because I want to maximise every trip I make. I want to see and experience many things without having to compromise comfort (no rushing), maximum enjoyment and value for money. It is really all about good planning and giving yourself enough time for a little bit of downtime and spontaneous activity to discover new things and places outside the crafted travel program guideline without breaking the bank. But do take note that TRAVELLING DOES COST MONEY. It is ‘HOW YOU TRAVEL’ that distinguishes the difference between cheap, affordable, comfort and luxury. Take your pick. Everyone is different. Everyone has his or her own budget and style as well. Everyone has an idea what is acceptable to them. And everyone definitely has his or her own interest in mind. So every travel experience is different. Getting to Helsinki Amsterdam to Ta...

Before wrapping up my holiday in Porvoo, Finland, I visited this cafe with a boat terrace on the river. It is difficult to miss this cafe as it is located at the end of the picturesque red shore wooden houses beside the main bridge. From this bridge you can actually have the best view of the proposed UNESCO world heritage  red shore wooden houses . Cool place to chill out right? Porvoon Paahtimo Bar & Cafe Website: Porvoon Paahtimo Bar & Cafe My flight back to Amsterdam is scheduled later in the afternoon and I have an hour or two before I take the bus to Helsinki Airport. I just wanted to sit down somewhere and enjoy the nice weather and Porvoo for the last time. Porvoon Paahtimo Bar & Cafe was just the right place to enjoy such day, at their boat terrace. When your holiday is coming to an end what better way to spend the last day relaxed in a cafe sipping coffee or tea while enjoying the moment, right? It is also a great time to look back at the holiday...

While looking for a place to eat lunch in Porvoo I stumbled upon this home-style restaurant-cafeteria. Finland is not a cheap country, nor any Nordic/Scandinavian country that is, but this surprisingly is the cheapest meal I had during my visit, which made me wonder if this restaurant-cafeteria is subsidised by the government one way or another. Hanna Maria Open daily until 17:00 | Website: Ruokapaikka Hanna Maria The cafeteria-restaurant sits on a corner of one of the main shopping streets in Old Town Porvoo. It has an outdoor terrace for warmer days. The restaurant caught my attention because there were people coming in and out continuously compared to other restaurants in town which were a tad quiet. Curious, I checked the menu. They serve Finnish home-style cooking and the prices were so darn cheap. They serve a standard set menu which is priced between 8 and 13 euros based on the main dish. A set menu consists of a main dish, carb side dish, salad (with herring if you wi...

On my last day in Porvoo I had a lavish  breakfast of champions at the Onni boutique hotel I stayed and afterwards I went out for a late morning stroll. This is what greeted me outside: TOURISTS! Tourism Website: Porvoo, Finland Because Porvoo is a very small place, not many tourists visting the country wishes to stay here. Instead many come on a one-day visit or group tour. Bus loads after bus loads of international tourists alight town carrying with them massive cameras hanging from their necks. I am sure they come in masses during summer. As you can see, Old Town Porvoo is like Venice, Italy and the lovely villages of Santorini, Greece (Fira and Oia). During the day the place is busy with people and there are certain hour intervals where crowds literally gather in a particular street or area, but during the night, it is deserted. Well, I have seen it. I wanted to see every bit of Porvoo before I leave town. I have already walked around the village on my first day bu...