TheRamblingWombat Beijing

Days Inn, Forbidden City

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Days Inn, Forbidden City

When I book accommodation, after basic cleanliness, my number one criteria is location which in most cases has to be traded off against cost. Whether the front desk staff are friendly and can speak English or otherwise is of secondary importance as I am very self sufficient when travelling. Indeed I am becoming fond of check-in and check-out machines which are becoming increasingly common in countries like Japan.

I digress, back to Days Inn Forbidden City. Continue reading “Days Inn, Forbidden City” →

TheRamblingWombat St Helena

A Most “Uncastle” looking Castle

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The Castle from Jacob’s Ladder

The Castle, which actually bears no resemblance to what one imagines a castle to be at all, is as it always has been, the main government building on St Helena. The building includes the Governor’s office (if you want to send him a letter pop it in the special post box), Council Chambers, the Island’s archives, the police station, court buildings, a library and other offices. Continue reading “A Most “Uncastle” looking Castle” →

TheRamblingWombat St Helena

The Consulate Hotel: “Varied Lunch Menu”

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Consulate Hotel

When I was in St Helena I stayed at the Wellington House Hotel (across the road from the Consulate). It was more than adequate for my needs and indeed I really enjoyed it there. All accommodation on St Helena is expensive and the Consulate charge around GBP200pn for double B&B – hard to justify the hefty premium, though from chatting to those who stayed there it is good.

Anyway this review is a restaurant review. On my last day I had lunch at the Consulate – not in the formal guest dining room but rather a casual lunch in the coffee shop cum gourmet food shop, cum art gallery. Continue reading “The Consulate Hotel: “Varied Lunch Menu”” →

TheRamblingWombat St Helena

St Paul’s Cathedral

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St Paul’s Cathedral

In 1859 the Anglican Diocese of St. Helena was established by Queen’s Order in Council, and included the islands of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and until 1869 the British residents of Rio de Janeiro and other towns on the eastern seaboard of South America as well as the Falklands Islands. The first Bishop, Piers Claughton, was consecrated in Westminster Abbey in London. Continue reading “St Paul’s Cathedral” →

TheRamblingWombat St Helena

St Helena – The World’s Most Expensive Coffee

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St Helena Coffee

I am certainly someone who enjoys a good cup of coffee but prior to getting to St Helena I didn’t realise that coffee was grown there and I certainly didn’t realise it was one, if not the only product exported by St Helena. St Helena coffee is one of the world’s rarest and most expensive coffees – the former perhaps accounting more for the latter than the taste though I don’t mean to underrate the quality. This coffee – St Helena Green Tipped Bourbon – retails for around US$90 per pound or over US$200 per kilo, of the island. Continue reading “St Helena – The World’s Most Expensive Coffee” →