Imagine if the Great Gatsby was your uncle, and he was Peruvian, and invited you over for the summer….if this were true, your Hudson might have been the Pacific, and your room a lofty dream surrounded by great artists.

This brand new hotel (its first guests were welcomed in May 2013) is known as ‘The House of Barranco’ (La casa de Barranco), and this is exactly what the management aims for: a home away from home, but also a celebration of life and all things beautiful.

Barranco has always been known as the bohemian district of Lima, but up till now it never had a real ‘art hotel’. The art is as eclectic as its international visitors, and some of it is for sale, but mostly it is there to create a place of wonder, as a complement to the grandeur of the French classic architecture.

From the moment you set foot in the hotel, you’ll also see large coffee table books everywhere: ‘we want to spark people’s curiosity, inspire them and make them feel part of Peruvian culture but also of the whole world’ says Carlos Jimenez, a Spanish arts historian who now works for the hotel.

Iguazu Falls is at the top of the list for any traveller to Brazil or Argentina, or indeed, South America. This thundering collection of waterfalls is twice the size of Niagara, and being surrounded by lush tropical rainforest makes it quite a sight to behold and no surprise it was named one of the world’s New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Argentinean side versus Brazilian side
There is a lot of debate as to which side of the falls provides the best view. From my research, the consensus is: Brazilian side for the big picture; Argentina for close-up action.

How I did it
I was travelling up from Buenos Aires so I visited from the Argentinean side, waiting to see whether I felt I needed to go to Brazil, too. As it was, I was more than happy with what I saw and experienced, and being on a tight budget, skipped Brazil. In Argentina, you stay in a town that has grown up by the falls – Puerto Iguazu – which has plenty of good quality hotels, restaurants and tour operators.

What to expect at the Argentinean side of the falls
It’s very well organised – you pick up one of the regular buses that leave from Puerto Iguazu’s bus terminal to the entrance to the site, a journey of around 18km. Once you’re through the ticket offices, stop in the visitors’ centre for useful background knowledge and an introduction to the falls and their position in the rainforest.

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is full of beautiful and diverse natural landscapes to enjoy. Because it has only recently been opened up to visitors, this Southeast Asian paradise is largely untouched by tourism. Traveling here, you can experience a tranquil getaway almost impossible to find elsewhere.

Although there are several pristine beaches with white sand and almost impossibly clear water to choose from, the best to pick for a pampered stay is Ngapali Beach. Not only is it easy to get to from other cities in Myanmar, it also offers the best luxury resorts that the country has to offer.

Amazing Ngapali Resort

An amazing retreat indeed, not only is this hotel located right on the most gorgeous beach in Myanmar, so are all the rooms. Actually, room is not the correct word. There are no guestrooms here… only private villas, each with its own seaside terrace and Ngapali awaiting you just paces away.

All the villas combine traditional decor with all the modern amenities. The Beach Front Suite Villa also has a sun lounge and the Amazing Suite Beach Front Villa, well worth splashing out for, is… well… amazing. It’s two stories and includes an open sea view Jacuzzi, an outdoor private shower (in addition to the one inside) and kitchen facilities for those who can’t be bothered leaving to dine in the delicious onsite restaurant.

Resort amenities include a restaurant, bar, outdoor swimming pool, billiards and volleyball. Bicycles, fishing boats and golf clubs are also available and you will be close to the local course. There’s also a spa so when you’re tired out from all that relaxation, a yummy massage awaits you. While you may not want to leave the resort (ever), shuttle bus service is available to the nearby towns.

Yeterday attempted to make a significant start to 2013's Christmas Shopping and came acoss these cool items. Firstly a very cheap wicker heart shape from dunelm. Not really sure where I would put it but for 1.99 how can you go wrong ?

So then this also led to a walk through the related stores such as Staples (UK) and B and Q (a uk DIY place)..

Office Chairs (slight digression but I need something for my derriere) The following office chairs all fitted my needs which were leather or faux leather and decent price. Spending 8 hours a day on it I needed also a firm support - I recommend sitting on the chair you end up buying. A lot (not pictured here) seemed to rock or roll on the central pivot and I wondered if this was due to the demo models or indeed if they were broken which in the latter case would also signify a weakness. The follwoing seemed very comfortable, and I also wanted more than just and up down control. Some tilt was desirable.

The Leap Pad 2 and Leap Pad Ultra

The Leap Pad Ultra [review]
It's around 129 pounds exclusive to John Lewis in the UK however we saw Argos also advertising it for much less we think they may be confusing the models so check ! Of note the Ultra has the following feature set:
Strong enough for a toddler.
11 apps out of the box with access to 500 more online to buy.
Child friendly controls (our 2 year old has some grasp of an iphone but lets face it you want something a little easier)
Headphones
Up to 9 hours battery life.
7 inch screen with a good 1024x600 resolution
Safe ring fenced internet and chat apps that are limited to set dialogues to choose from.

I’ve been on the hunt for my own personal winter holy grail – a fashionable and affordable winter jacket that is going to keep me warm no matter what.  Whether it is snowing, drizzling or blowing freezing arctic winds I want to know that I can step out of the house without feeling like I am carrying my own body weight. Also, I want to make sure what I am wearing looks good.

Thinking of Your Winter Jacket as an Investment

Sure there are plenty of jackets out there that will keep me warm, almost fool me that its not really as cold outside as it is.  But, and I will take the liberty of generalising – they rarely ever pass fashion muster. That is from years of experience of shopping for a winter jacket with my budget conscious mother.  Every time she bundled me in yet another sleeping bag with buttons masquerading as a jacket, either my facial expressions gave me away or a small groan of disgust passed my lips. It was at this point I was reminded that life was not a fashion parade. 

Oh, but it is!!

Although I didn’t inherit her disdain for fashion over function I did inherit her quest for value for money. I wouldn’t say I was tight with money – I just like to know that I am getting what I’m paying for.  And over the years I’ve applied it to my wardrobe and its worked without fail.  So of course I’m taking that approach to my quest for a winter jacket.  I know I’ll be able to find a jacket that is stylish and functional, will keep me warm and will be totally affordable.  Just look at the jackets like the one in this great little article – trendy, super functional and you just know that is going to keep you warm, all at a reasonable price.

To Each Their Own