Hey U.....

If you’re in your thirty to forties or even twenties you’re the lucky one because U by Uniworld have the newest and most stylish ships cruising the European rivers of France, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany and The Netherlands with U in mind.  

The concept is similar to its mother cruise company Uniworld. U have the joy of cruising the rivers in style and have the delight of only having to unpack once!  This is no just get aboard and laze about holiday, although it can be if that’s what U wish. The wine tasting, beer mixology, local celebrity DJ parties or yoga sessions are just a few of the on-board activities included, depending on your itinerary. U by Uniworld will have U in good stead to embrace your memorable European holiday.

Balcony Suite - unpack once!

Of course, U will go ashore and have the opportunity to explore and discover local attractions. Walk inside a medieval castle, visit a national museum of contemporary history or take a selfie at Eberbach Monastery with its 12th century architecture - which made it the perfect film location for ‘Game of Thrones’ and whilst there taste the abbey’s Riesling, as well as a scenic bike ride.  If U have not experienced a silent disco before, give it a go it’s so much fun. U choose your tune and then groove away. There are also evenings onshore and the U Hosts are on hand to give local insight and recommendations. The excursions have been perfectly selected and vary depending on your chosen itinerary and are there to enhance your European holiday – cheese tasting, hiking within a winery, rock-climbing and the list goes on.

Let's dine....

Breakfast. What? It’s brunch that is served and it’s available at your leisure with delicious eggs and bacon, salads and pastries and wholesome chia seed smoothies at arm’s reach.  Dining also is flexible with U choosing what time U would like to eat within the open hours and how U would like to be seated.  That is, U can dine at a communal table one day and then at a smaller high or low table the next, change it around as you establish new friends or simply choose to dine with your special someone.  The restaurant menu changes daily and consists of fresh and locally-inspired farm-to-table cuisine that is served as shared plates. Vegetarians and vegans are also catered for with scrumptious cuisine. After dinner relax on the rooftop lounge or enjoy a drink from the rooftop Ice Bar where tapas and after-hour snacks and a cocktail or two can be enjoyed.

The boutique floating hotels feature three different room styles ranging from "I just need a comfortable place to sleep" to "it’s all style and we’ll stay in a suite”. Flying solo? Not a problem; there are single and triple rooms, as well as the special request  twin-share room if U are travelling on your own and want to share the boutique cruising experience with a like-minded traveller. Whichever room you choose, you are guaranteed to have the best waterfront views, right from your room, in the centre of each city you visit.

Lounge Food 

U by Uniworld has two ships and 8 day itineraries that can be combined giving U a “super cruise” of fifteen or twenty-two days..  The maiden voyage set sail in April this year with much joy and excitement shared amongst the guests. The custom designed U by Uniworld itineraries will be cruising until October and then there are limited unique December departures allowing U to be away and enjoying the celebrations of Christmas and New Years Eve making for a memorable and special holiday.

The Rooftop Lounge - see you there!

Hey, so call us at Travel With A Difference for a brochure or to make a time to meet up to discuss and coordinate your holiday arrangements, so U have a wonderful European holiday!  Contact telephone: 03-5254 1279 and via social media - Facebook    Instagram    

U by Uniworld - yes, please!

Cook Islands – a cuisine experience...

Six days at Rarotonga in the Cook Islands is not enough time to experience the variety of wholesome eating options around the Island.  My first visit in 1997 it was Trader Jacks that was the main dining place where expats, locals and tourists could enjoy a substantial meal and a refreshing beverage.

Twenty years on and Trader Jacks is still standing, although it has been rebuilt a couple of times due to cyclones.  But, today there is over fifty cafes and restaurants to experience.  My recent visit to Rarotonga, I did experience Tamarind House lunching on a delicious corn fritter with an avocado salsa and on leaving I also got to meet Sue Carruthers the co-owner of Tamarind House, The Rickshaw Café offering Asian cuisine and La Casita Mexican Café.  Her second and more recent recipe book South Seas Cuisine was on display and it got us chatting. 

She was born in Nairobi, lived and studied in London whilst working in hospitality during the sixties.  She’s travelled Europe, India and South East Asia and lived in Cape Town, South Africa where she set up several pizza places with her then husband.  In 1979 with her husband and daughter set sail from Cape Town and sailed and worked their way to Rarotonga arriving in 1984. This is so much more to this woman I could possibly fit within this blog, but Sue did tell and gave me the recipe to one of her favourite recipes.

Fabulous Fish Curry

Ingredients

Fish Curry

750g fish fillets

1 tablespoon garam masala or mild curry powder

1 teaspoon salt

4-5 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon mustard seeds

1 large onion, finely chopped

2 cloves crushed garlic

1 teaspoons grated ginger

1 teaspoon crushed bottled chilli or 2-3 fresh red chillies, seeded and chopped

Spice Blend

1 teaspoon turmeric

2 teaspoons ground cumin or cumin seeds

4 teaspoons ground coriander

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch cloves

¼ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Mix the spices together in a small bowl

Sauce

4 large fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped or use 1 x 425g can tomatoes, crushed

2 cups coconut cream

Salt to taste

1 teaspoon garam masala

2 level teaspoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander or basil

Juice of 1 lemon

Method

Cut fish fillets into large cubes.  Stir the 1 tablespoon gram masala and salt together.  Toss fish cubes in the garam masala mix.  Keep aside or refrigerate while preparing sauce.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan and cook mustard seeds until they start to pop.  Remove the seeds and put aside on a plate.  Heat 2 tablespoons oil in the same pot and cook onion and garlic until soft.  Add the ginger and crushed chilli and cook for 2 minutes, stirring. Stir in the spice blend and cook until aromatic.  Add chopped tomatoes and popped mustard seeds, and cook 5 minutes.  Stir in 1 cup coconut cream and cook for 5 minutes over a gentle heat or until sauce is reduced.*  In a separate frying pan heat remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and seal the fish cubes on all sides until golden.

Add the fish cubes to the curry sauce and simmer until just cooked through.  Stir in the 1 teaspoon garam masala, remaining cup of coconut cream, brown sugar, fresh coriander and lemon juice.  Stir only once and then serve immediately.  Serve with rice and/or chapatti and the chutney of your choice.

*Hint

Recipe can be prepared in advance to this stage, cooked and kept refrigerated, ready to finish at serving time. 

Tamarind House - ocean view dining

Fabulous Fish Curry - Sue Carruthers 

Good bye Rarotonga until next time...

Other fun holiday activities:

Storyteller eco cycling tours

Snorkelling

Aitutaki Day Tour

Night SUP

Stroll through Hidden Secret Garden

Raro Safari Tour

Complimentary use of bikes, snorkelling equipment, SUP and kayaks when staying at SeaChange Villas

Exclusive offer:

Book your Cook Island holiday with Travel With A Difference during 2017 and receive a complimentary $50 dining voucher for Tamarind House.

Read on:
Discover more of my time in the Cook Islands on page 142

Margaret River Gourmet Escape...

A planned long weekend away with a loved one or friends always has the expectations that is going to be fun.  Well, at Travel With A Difference we're thrilled to have partnered with Gourmet Escape Margaret River for their 5th festival presented by Audi. 

This is an unique experience to taste wondrous produce and world-renowned wines, as well as meet internationally celebrated chefs. This year there is over 50 culinary super stars from around the world who will share their knowledge and passion for food over this enticing weekend.

The hassle for you has been taken away. That right, a simple call and we can coordinate your flights to accompany your long weekend package including transfers, accommodation and tickets to the Gourmet Escape plus events such as the sort after Audi Gourmet Beach BBQ and the Feast in the Forest.  Of course if there is any other events you wish to pre-booked to avoid disappointment we can arrange that.

Ashley Palmer-Watts - Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, UK

Dominique Crenn - Atelier Crenn & Petit Crenn, USA

Discover more on our packages here and do call us to book sooner than later to avoid disappointment. The region of Margaret River, WA is a spectacular part of Australia and a long weekend with great food, wine and company is sure to be memorable. Enjoy!

Andrew McConnell - Cutler & Co, Melbourne