INSTA INSPIRE // @ASHLEYTKIM

They say a picture speaks a thousand words.

Whilst I adore reading, and remain loyal to both quality blogs and print publications, I love a good scroll through Instagram. @Ashleytkim is one of my favourite new finds, sharing images of herself predominantly taken by her husband against a backdrop of great American scenery.

TRAVEL // DAWN ON THE ROAD

There's nothing better than being on the open road, the wind whipping your hair through the open window, watching the world speed by. Perhaps that wanderlust I have for driving off into the sunset, to discover isolated rivers and steep canyons, is why I can't get enough of Christy Dawn.

TRAVEL // THE HIGHLANDS

It's funny how people crave to travel to the far flung corners of the globe, yet dismiss what is right there on their doorstep.

TRAVEL // OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: BERLIN

I'd move to Berlin in a heartbeat; everything about the way of life there sings to me. Relaxed bars, endless flea markets, countless green spaces, a plethora of independent galleries, bustling food halls, incredibly cyclist friendly - the list goes on.

For this most recent trip, we set up home right by the canal in Kreuzkolln, smack bang in the middle of my two favourite neighbourhoods. I'm not one for sight seeing, I prefer to get down to the nitty-gritty and get stuck into life as a local, so (besides whizzing around the main 'sites' one evening for a friend who was a Berlin virgin), we stuck to whizzing around the city on our bikes, discovering hidden nooks and crannies.

TRAVEL // HOLIDAYING

Is it weird that I enjoy planning holidays almost as much as I like going on them? I get excited months in advance, purchase every travel guide going, sift through thousands of blog posts, start stalking people on Instagram, and accost every person I know who has previously been to my upcoming destination.

These analogue shots are all from last year's European jaunt with a group of friends. We traveled by train from London - Paris - Aix en Provence - Barcelona, living off a diet of avocados and cava. We lazed in parks, drove up terrifying roads to witness terrific views, swam in icy lakes, partied all night, and attempted to sleep on trains. I'm off to Berlin with the gang one month today, and there will almost certainly be more photos to share upon my return.

THE TRAVELLING LIGHT

I love a good travel blog. It's been a while since this space could really be called a 'fashion blog', as travel and photography have been my primary sources of inspiration for some time. So much so, that I've decided to branch out and start another blog based entirely on travel (but more about that in an upcoming post).

Travel blogs can be pretty hit and miss. It's relatively hard to find one that goes beyond the obvious and details places that I would actually want to visit. The Travelling Light does just that.

Scrolling through the feed of recent posts, I naturally chose to read about places that I have visited myself, before skipping to new and intriguing destinations. As soon as I had covered Paris and Berlin, I knew that I was on to a winner. Not only had Katie wrote about one of my favourite ever bars (Le Comptoir General in Paris), but she'd ventured into Grunewald Forest in the outskirts of Berlin and broken into Teufelsberg. My kind of gal.

If you're into reading interesting posts about travel, are looking for inspiration for the next place to visit, or just fancy discovering a selection of great photography - I couldn't give you a better recommendation than The Travelling Light.

MY TRAVEL WISHLIST 2015

2014 was a good year for travelling; I broke away from my standard retreat of skipping off to Berlin for a few days and managed to tick off several previous wish-list destinations. I briefly revisited Paris; drinking on the bank of Canal Saint Martins and in the eclectic surroundings of Le Comptoir General at night, and exploring side streets by day. We then took the TGV to Aix-en-Provence where we ate the best pizza by candlelight when subjected to a power-cut, drove around the surrounding villages and took a day trip to Gorge du Verdon, where we peeked over the edge of the precipice to take in the views and swam in a crystal clear yet freezing cold lake. Next, we headed to Barcelona for four days of debauchery, music and drinking plenty of cava at Primavera festival. Barely a month later, I flew to Budapest where I discovered a collection of down-to-earth bars that fused art and music, and an array of interesting architecture. We then jumped aboard yet another train and headed for Zagreb, where the stifling temperatures saw us retreat to the shore of Lake Jarun; also taking in a day trip to the splendorous Plitvice Lakes. Jump forward four months (dashing through a series of UK-based festivals scattered in diversely stunning locations), and I finally made it to Scandinavia. A short break was just what I needed prior to Christmas, taking in the scenery, architecture, culture, nightlife and food of Copenhagen and Malmo.

Now, I'm making lists of where I would like to visit in 2015. Several of the locations I'm dreaming of stretch far beyond my bank balance, so bear with me as I fuse the realistic with the if-only. 

2014: THE ROUND-UP

2014 was a great year; packed to the brim with exploring new places, enjoying festivals and hiking in the countryside. Read on for my round-up of some of my highlights from the past year. All photographs are my own.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: COPENHAGEN

Three weeks ago, I hopped on a plane with one of my best friends and headed somewhere that's been on my travel wish-list for a while: Copenhagen. 

I'm used to travelling in the heat of summer; lazing in parks, searching for swimming spots and generally not wearing many clothes. It was a completely different experience wrapping up against the sharp wind and exploring a new city in winter. We balanced out exploring unique urban parks, graffiti-covered alternative communities and magical Christmas parks with a lot of time spent keeping warm in the cities wide array of stylish and cosy bars, cafes and restaurants.

Read on for some of my highlights.

THE L.A DREAM

I'm a West Coast girl at heart. Drawn to the perfect meeting place of nature and city; where rolling hills and crashing waves meet bright lights. I know that I would feel right at home travelling up the coast through California, Oregon and Washington; I imagine that I would never want to leave.

L.A has never really factored into that dream. I spent a jet-lag fuelled 24 hours there seven years ago, temporarily stranded between flights. Memories of orange hazed skies, terrifying concrete highways and carb-orientated fast-food put me off wanting to return. A recent post on the Urban Outfitters blog, detailing the friendship between two of my Instagram crushes is seeing me reconsider. 

I want to hike up to the Griffith Observatory, admire the city skyline during magic hour, laze on rooftops, shop in all of the stores I follow on Instagram and mess around in the photobooth in the Ace hotel. I want to live in Silverlake, start my day with yoga on the beach and hit up all of the health food cafes that I somehow completely overlooked during my one day lay-over.

When I imagine myself in L.A, it's with long wavy beach hair, big bug-eyed sunglasses, wearing oversized cotton dresses and zip-up ankle boots. Summer lasts forever yet winter's within grasp, just on your doorstep. There's a myriad of landscapes surrounding you, just waiting to be explored.

Images by Chantal Anderson featuring @claggie and @skinnybmel

PLITVICE LAKES ON FILM

Yesterday, I collected the developed film from our recent holiday and immediately felt a rush of the holiday blues. Literally; crystal clear, aquamarine, turquoise, azure blues. Plitvice Lakes was one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited - partially down to the incredibly hued water that fills its lakes and pools. 

Based in Zagreb, we caught an early morning coach to the World Heritage Site, admiring the scenery as we swept through the countryside and began creeping up mountain roads. As soon as we arrived at the park we were awestruck by the lush green surroundings - the woods and mountains appeared to go on forever and I was itching to explore them. 

We only had six hours to see as much as possible, regretfully meaning that the woods and mountains on the horizon would have to wait for a future trip. Out of the eight routes that circuit the lakes and waterfalls, we chose route H - I would highly recommend this route, as the waterfalls and scenery become more and more spectacular as you walk and the climax of the experience is a steep climb upwards that is constantly rewarded with breath-taking birds-eye-views of the paths that you have spent the day walking.

If you are visiting Croatia, it is more than worth going out of your way to visit Plitvice. You won't regret it.

All photos, my own.

INSTAGRAM LOVE: JULY

Be prepared for an onslaught of tiny squares and feast your eyes upon the most aesthetically pleasing Instagram accounts on my roster. I could wax lyrical about lighting and colour and contrast and effortless personal style - but instead I will leave you to admire.

Follow me @kissesxstitches

Above: @rima_rama

@brittanybathgate

@claggie

@visionsofjoanna_

@seaandpattern

@lucywilliams02

@maryavocado

@claireamiller

@guidedbycereal

@melissasonico

@katekipley

@lucylaucht

@sara_moschini

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: BUDAPEST

What would you think if I told you that I visited a city best known for it's thermal baths and natural spas, yet neglected to experience any of them? Truthfully, I would love to return and spend a long weekend languidly traipsing from one baths to the next but this trip was not about soaking in hot pools - if anything, it was too hot for that. A quick paddle in the Danube was all of the water we saw during our four days in the Hungarian capital. Read on for my Off the Beaten Track travel guide to Budapest - just don't expect the mention of the spas!

THE PRACTICALITIES

Currency: the Forint (Ft or HUF); although most places did seem to accept Euros. The exchange rate is crazy - expect to pay about 500 HUF for a pint of beer (about £1.30).

Tipping: In restaurants, tip 10% if you are happy with the service.

Language: Hungarian isn't the easiest language to pick up but don't worry, everyone speaks English and German.

Hello/ Goodbye - Szia

Please - Kerem

Thank you - Koszonom

Getting Around: There's an extremely efficient public transport network, incorporating the metros, trams, buses and trains. We bought a handful of single tickets from the metro station and these could also be used on the trams. Don't forget to validate your tickets or you can be stuck with a hefty fine. Alternatively, you could slip on a pair of comfy shoes and walk everywhere; that way you will see more of the city. The street names very conveniently point you in the direction of the numbers at each road intersection (useful as not all numbers opposite each other are in the usual sequence).

Where to stay: We stayed on Akacea Utca but any of the streets running through the Jewish districts of Terezvaros and Erzsebetvaros (the offical boundary is Kiraly utca, where the world-famous Ruins bars are centred) are great locations. There's a never-ending supply of great bars, kerts and cafes, fun graffiti to spot as you are wandering around and good transport links on all of the surrounding main roads.

FYI: Budapest actually used to be two separate cities - hilly Buda is situated on the western bank of the Danube and is an older and more affluent location whilst bustling Pest thrives with art nouveau architecture and unique nightlife to the east.

THE BARS, CAFES AND KERTS

Budapest is famous for it's Ruin Pubs (also known as Kerts) that have sprung up in the courtyards of condemned buildings or in the ragged ruins where apartment blocks have been torn down to reveal cavernous gaps in between buildings. We tried not to visit the same bar twice, hopping between several each night in a mission to see as much as possible and to stay one step ahead of gaggles of young backpackers. Most of the Kerts, as well as an endless supply of more traditional bars and cafes are centred around Terezvaros and Erzebetvaros, although Jozsefvaros also has a great cafe and bar scene.

A Grund, 32 Nagy Templom utca, Jozsefvaros

This clean-cut Kert is quite out of the way of the rest of the bar scene but it ties in nicely with a visit to the Natural History museum or botanical gardens. During the day expect chilled vibes with children playing on the adventure playground but at night the gravel-floored beer garden turns into a party den.  

Cafe Bobek, 53 Kazinczy utca

A small kert much calmer than its contemporaries, making it ideal for relaxed outdoor early evening drinks. Order the pitta bread with an extensive selection of dips to line your stomach for the evening ahead.

Cat Cafe, 3 Revay utca

I could barely contain my excitement when we discovered this one! There's no admission charge as is usually the case to sip your drink in the company of our feline friends, just settle yourself down on a table (we chose a seat beside a snoozing kitten) and the friendly waitresses will take your order of bottled beers, soft drinks, hot drinks and cake. There's two floors of comfy seating created from pallets and cushions and an array of cats both great and fluffy and tiny and cute.

Csiga, 2 Vasar utca

Recommended by a friend, this was my favourite cafe in Budapest. The menu was full of delicious-sounding meals and snacks with a comprehensive list of milk shakes and jugs of lemonade flavoured with various fruits and herbs. Potted plants scattered every surface and I found myself wishing I could fit the framed posters in my bag.

Garzon, 24 Wesselenyi utca

We happened across this seventies themed bar after retreating from the noisy student area of Kazinczy utca. Expect awesome patterned wallpaper, leather corner sofas, a sweeping mustard yellow vinyl bar and various household objects protruding from the walls and ceiling. Try to bag a spot in the 'living room' or 'kitchen' areas to the right of the bar and marvel in your surroundings.

Instant, 38 Nagymezo utca

One of the major kerts, Instant is a matrix of whimsically themed rooms, dance floors and open courtyards. Expect rabbits flying through the air, trees growing inside the garden areas, animal themed art work and owls everywhere. Regrettably, we only frequented Instant for late afternoon cocktails but there are three dance floors playing different genres of music into the early hours every night. 

Kiado, 3 Jokai ter

We sampled our first - and best! - goulash in this cosy little bar with a great food menu. Settle yourself into one of the small alcoves for the best atmosphere.

Kuplung, 46 Kiraly utca

I was sold on this kert the second I saw the huge mural of a blue whale on the courtyard wall. Enter through a graffiti emblazoned tunnel to the bustling courtyard with a long sheltered bar all along the right hand wall. If you don't fancy sitting outside, there's a huge bar and dance floor area to the back but we found it the perfect place to sit outdoors and get chatting to the locals.

Most, 17 Zichy Jeno utca

One of the more 'fancy' kerts, Most appears to be a bustling restaurant at first glance, with it's cavernous indoor room offering rows of communal benches on which to sit and feast. We hopped out to the back to shelter from the rain under humongous umbrellas; enjoying the romantic lighting of tea lights in jam jars and fairy light lit walkways. The food menu looks great here, although sadly we had already eaten.

Szimpla, 14 Kazinczy utca

The daddy of all kerts, Szimpla was recently voted the third best bar in the world. Chose to perch in a handful of indoor rooms situated off the main corridor or to laze in the gigantic garden area - or just dance to the pounding beats in the corridor itself. Try and bag yourself a seat in one of the old cars dotted around the garden or just grab a drink from one of the numerous bars and pull up a chair and admire your surroundings.

Sirius Tea Rooms, 13 Brody Sandor utca

This one is quite hard to find but definitely worth it. Walking down Brody Sandor utca, keep your eye on the house numbers; they confusingly don't correlate across the road from each other as we are accustomed to. There's just a tiny sign outside number 13, only alerting you to the presence of Sirius if you were already looking out for it. Once inside, take off your shoes and explore the labyrinth of hidden carpeted and cushioned rooms, through wardrobes, up and down ladders and along mirrored passages before settling down with a teapot steaming with one of their many unusual varieties. 

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Whether you prefer wandering the streets on the hunt for excellent architecture or relaxing in parks, Budapest has something for everyone.

Lipotvaros - wander around this eighteenth century area of the city and delight in some of the finest buildings that Pest has to offer. Slip inside St Stephen's Basilica to be awestruck by the interiors, admire the view of Buda as you saunter down the Danube or simply let go of your map and explore which ever side street appeals to you - there's bound to be an enticing statue, fountain or facade waiting around the corner. If your legs are getting weary at this point, slip off your shoes and dip your feet into the refreshing water that covers the ceiling of the Godor Klub just off Erzebet ter park.

Margit-Sziget - described by many as the 'playground of the city', this is the perfect place to unwind on a scorching hot day. Hire pedal cars to explore the surrounding area, admire the musical fountains and visit the petting zoo before strolling up to the north west of the island to Palatinus lido. There's a vast expanse of green space to sunbathe or shelter but we preferred to climb down to the rocky beach by the Danube and wade in the surprisingly clean and instantly refreshing water.

The Var - Cross over the famous chain bridge and climb up the never-ending flights of steps (or cheat and ride the funicular!) until you reach castle hill. You'll find a bombardment of incredible buildings up here, including the Royal Palace, Fishermen's Bastion and Matyas Church. It gets pretty crowded and is incredibly touristy but the views of Pest are spectacular. If you're heading back to Pest via the metro, don't miss the Church of St Anne just to the south of the station.

The Varosliget - if you're searching for a place to relax, you can't go wrong with the city park. Admire the castle and the monuments, hire a pedalo and drift up and down the lake or simply find a good spot and lie down on the grass. The cities most famous spa, Szechenyi Baths is also located here.

All photographs my own, taken on my iPhone 4s and Canon 600D with a 50mm 1.8 lens.

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