If you are heading by road from India into Nepal, you will probably cross borders from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. The city is located in the foothills and is a fairly large town. Since most of the people crossing into Nepal are not interested in spending the night, they come into town by mid day and are on the bus out by evening.

This means that you usually just need to cater for a quick lunch in Gorakhpur. Here are a list of some reasonably good restaurants that you can visit. The quality of food is fair to good and you will not get an upset tummy. Although you must not drink the water served, but order a sealed mineral water bottle.

Bobbi’s

Located at Gol Ghar this is a nice place to get a typical Indian meal, or grab some junk food. They have pizzas, burgers, pastries and puffs available. Veg and non veg dishes on order. Grab an ice cream for dessert.

Kabeer’s

If you are looking for some Chinese food, this is the place to be. You can not expect authentic Chinese, but if you like the Indian Chinese version with some extra spice, you will enjoy the food here. It can be a bit oily and heavy, so watch out.

7 Days

Located in the City Mall on the top floor, this fast food joint has junk food from the east and west. Try a South Indian Dosa or a burger. You can even test the Chaat, typical Indian  street food. Self service and a bit slow service during the evening rush hours.

Bunbury is well worth the 175 kilometer drive down the new Forrest Freeway from Perth.  It lies in the heart of the Geographe region of Western Australia and offers many natural experiences to the visitors who make that trip.  Once there make the trip to Koombana Bay where you can visit and swim with the Dolphins at the Dolphin Discovery Centre.

The centre’s strict on focusing and minimizing any disruption to the dolphin’s natural lifestyle and environment. Therefore they have restrictions on feeding the dolphins, and these wonderful mammals are responding by returning to be fed.  There are often over one hundred bottle nose dolphins that shelter and feed in that area.

Bunbury offers the tourists a variety of holiday experiences to enjoy as the peninsular has water on three sides. Many of these can be seen within walking distance of the CBD.

Visit the Big Swamp Reserve if you are a bird lover you will not be disappointed.  Or enjoy the tranquility in spring and see the beautiful wildflowers at Manea Park.  You can see the Kangaroos and other native animals on the outskirts of Bunbury.

There are several Caravan Parks, Motels, Hotels and Restaurants in which to relax and unwind after a busy day touring about Bunbury.

From Bunbury you could take a short drive to Collie which lies in a scenic valley surrounded by the Darling Ranges. This is situated approximately 200 Kilometers from Perth.  In spring it comes alive with the color of wildflowers as they start to bloom.

It also has a heritage of mining and encourages visitors to learn more about the underground miner’s way of life.  You can go underground at the replica underground coal mine which is situated next to the visitor center.  Visit the miner museum, the lovely lakes, and take a drive through the large Jarrah, Blackbutt and many other forests of trees.

Walk the Bibbulum Track which is in actual fact 1000kilometers, if you are not that keen then enjoy a short walk or even cycle along it.

 Collie also boasts a range of accommodation, which includes farm stays, caravan parks, bed and breakfast facilities or motels of your choice.

Fremantle as a port has welcomed passengers to our gateway to Western Australia for over a century.  Millions of pioneers to Australia caught there first glimpse of Fremantle and their future home after travelling on ships for weeks on end.  In those days they hadn’t the modern comforts of luxury liners of today.

 It has definitely changed from those times although it still retains some of that old fashioned charm. Fremantle is and has been the major port where our import and exports of sheep, cattle and wheat first left from.  It can even cater for the largest of passenger liners the Queen Mary 11 which came in a few days ago and still had enough room to turn around.

Fremantle is also known for its fishing fleet, where hundreds of fishing boats bring their catch back to sell. Then there is the humongous assortment of luxury boats moored inside the fishing boat harbor. Hundreds of people enjoy the walk around this area.  People often stop for a feed of fresh fish, crayfish and many other types of seafood from a large selection of restaurants.

 Rottnest Island

This is the main island just off Fremantle where many visitors spend quality holiday time on the beautiful Island. A favorite with visitors is the small marsupials which live here otherwise known as quokkas. Many spend hours there fishing, swimming and diving off the reefs and bicycle riding right around the island.

 Fremantle Goal

This is another place to visit, and from all aspects I hear that it is scarier to visit this in the evenings.

Other places of interest are the Maritime museum, the Arts centers and many other historical places well worth a look.

There are many hotels, restaurants, caravan parks and motels where everyone can spend quality time to relax with beautiful ocean views close by.

Rockingham is a City in its own right and is situated approximately 45 Kilometers South from Perth.  It has increased in size over the last few years to support a continual growing population of 87,000.  Rockingham has been very popular for many years as a wonderful place to come for the whole family to swim, fish, dive and picnic on its wonderful foreshores and white sandy beaches.

It has many offshore islands adding to its attractions.  In fact you can walk across to Penguin Island early in the morning and visit the penguins and walk back by lunchtime before the tide comes in.  Or if you would prefer you can take the ferry over and walk around the island and return by ferry.

We also have quite a large shopping centre full of the normal shops, cinemas and sporting facilities. You could enjoy a leisurely ride on horseback or play either ten pin bowls or lawn bowls.

The council has done a wonderful job on the foreshore with playgrounds and loads of picnic areas with barbecues for the public to use.

Plus we now have joined the many towns with high rise buildings with great restaurants to cater to your culinary delights.

Rockingham also has a history, as being used for a port to ship the Sandalwood overseas. In fact during the WW11 troops were stationed along our beautiful coastline. Nearby Garden Island was used by our armed forces.   We now have a bridge going over to the island and are used as the HMAS Sterling fleet base.

Rockingham is probably known by most of the locals as an Aquatic Playground.  This is mainly because of the relaxed atmosphere and opportunities to enjoy its coastline for both boating and fishing enthusiasts.

We also have several Caravan Parks, Motels, and great accommodation facilities.

If you want a place where you can dress up or dress down, and where you can get the freshest seafood in Dallas, don’t miss Remingtons Seafood Grill. This family-owned and operated restaurant has been in business for over thirty years, and never fails to meet its own exacting standards.

You are greeted as you walk in with a beautifully-maintained saltwater aquarium, friendly staff and a wonderful selection of seafood dishes. The restaurant features tables and booths with crisp black-and-white linens, a nice contrast to the colourful murals that decorate the walls. Even with a lot of tables, you manage to feed uncrowded, and the restaurant, even with children around, is normally quiet and relaxing. If you are looking for the freshest seafood away from the coast at great prices, look no further than Remingtons!

Phone Reservations: (972) 386-0122, or reserve by email at RemingtonSeafood@aol.com.

King’s Inn Restaurant Review.

The King’s Inn Restaurant is one of my favorite restaurants in South Texas. It is not easy to get to, has a limited menu and no wine, but other than that it is a great place to eat. There is no menu, only a verbal one that your waiter tells you. The fare is seafood, and lots of it. Specialties are fried shrimp and black drum, which is a locally caught fish. The restaurant sits on the edge of Baffin Bay, a little over a half hour drive from the college town of Kingsville Texas. The closest town to the restaurant is Riviera, TX.

Directions To King’s Inn Restaurant Near Riviera, TX.

Take U.S. 77 south from Kingsville and go left at FM 628; keep going until you hit the water.

Use the map below and locate Loyola Beach, south of Kingsville on the water. King’s Inn is in Loyola Beach.

The building is not anything fancy, in fact it looks a little weather worn and windswept. It has withstood countless gulf tropical storms and hurricanes.

Inside you’ll notice lots of memorabilia and photos on the wall and large dining areas where you can bring a whole wedding party. Groups are welcome at the King’s Inn Restaurant.

For reservations call (361) 297-5265.

If you love good seafood it is well worth the drive to the King’s Inn Restaurant.

A Sunday Morning Respite

The biggest “town” in MA, Framingham still bustles on a Sunday morning, but cross over the line to 236 Pond St. in Ashland, and you’re taking back Sunday: It seems like a little town in NH. Even at 10:30 AM, the Honey Dew parking lot is nearly empty, the Boston Herald awaits in its yellow stand, the service person has a day-brightening smile, and the coffee…ah well, you know the great, piping hot coffee they serve at Honey Dew! Combine that with your favorite donuts from a bountiful choice, settle comfortably at a clean table, and you’ve got a bit of an oasis, a great start to your day of rest before your busy week to come. Order ahead if you have a multi-person order, or to have your treat ready to take out, at 508-881-9227. Here, this busy writer enjoyed taking back Sunday, as she hopes you will, also.

Gabriola Island is located in the Gulf Islands along the eastern side of the larger Vancouver Island. As the crow flies the island is about 40 miles from Vancouver, the largest city in British Columbia Canada.

Gabriola Island is uniqe in that it is a thriving artist colony. There are many kinds of active artists including sculptors, iron work, pottery, glass, jewelry and more. The main tourist season is during the summer when mainlanders flock to the island.

The closest major city is Nanaimo.  There is a car and passenger ferry about 6 times a day so getting back and forth to the “Mainland” as the locals refer to larger Vancouver Island, is quite easy.

Some of the local attractions are Drumbeg beach and Malaspina, where the ocean has carved out unique overhangs where sunbathers can relax or swim on a warm day.

Gabriola features a couple of nice marinas for boaters. At Silva bay on the east end of the island there is a boat yard and marina and nice restaurant overlooking Silva Bay.

There are art gallery tours several times a year, the “Dancing Man” music festival, bathtub races, barbecue cookoffs, and much more.

For more information on Gabriola Island see: Gabriola.org

Below is a map of Gabriola Island.