#one place has a slideshow of different vegan celebrities

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vegan restaurants love to have little TVs playing slideshows of vegan propaganda like babe i’m already here who are you trying to convince

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The Future of Events: Evolution, Trends, and Navigating with Expertise

Let’s face it: the world as we know it has drastically changed. From the way we communicate to the way we celebrate, the last few years have witnessed a whirlwind of shifts, especially in the realm of events. Virtual get-togethers? Check. Hybrid events? Absolutely. Drone deliveries at parties? Why not? 

As we keep pace with these dizzying transformations, it’s essential to stay ahead of the game. Whether you’re planning a corporate retreat or your big day, this blog post delves into the latest trends in the world of events and offers tips on how you can adapt effortlessly. Stick around, because it’s going to be one exciting ride.

. Virtual and Hybrid Events: Here to Stay

The world of events was once synonymous with grand ballrooms, bustling venues, and the hum of hundreds, if not thousands, of voices. But the winds of change brought in an unexpected guest: virtual events. 

Remember that first Zoom birthday party you attended? Or that global conference you participated in from the comfort of your couch? These digital formats, initially a necessity, have now found a firm footing in our lives. And as restrictions ease, we aren’t just saying goodbye to virtual gatherings. Instead, we’re innovating. Enter hybrid events.

Imagine attending a wedding where you have remote family logging in from different continents, sharing the joy in real-time, while you’re dancing away at the venue. Or a business conference where the keynote speaker beams in virtually, while the attendees network in person. 

Hybrid events are the best of both worlds, offering unparalleled flexibility. For attendees, this means no FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). For organizers, it’s an opportunity to reach a wider audience. With these events, the globe truly becomes a village.

Sustainability: More Than Just a Buzzword

Raise your hand if you’ve attended an event and were dismayed by the heaps of waste left behind. The post-event clean-up paints a not-so-pretty picture. 

But there’s good news. The world is waking up, and sustainability is taking center stage. Events today are not just about the glitz and glamour; they’re about making responsible choices. Gone are the days when a few recycled banners would earn you a green star. Now, it’s a holistic approach.

Local produce for event meals? A huge yes. This not only ensures fresh and delicious food but also cuts down on those hefty carbon footprints. Digital invites over paper? Not just trendy but eco-friendly. 

And it’s not just about the environment. It’s also about creating an event with a legacy, an event that attendees can feel proud of being a part of. Because let’s face it, an event that respects the planet earns a special place in everyone’s heart.

Personalization: Tailoring Experiences

Remember when events used to feel like a routine? A standard procedure, repeated time and time, irrespective of the attendees? Well, the era of generic events is coming to an end. Now, it’s all about you. Personalization is the buzzword, and the trend is all set to redefine our event experiences. No two individuals are the same, and neither should be their event experience.

Enter event management services equipped with technology to track preferences. Love jazz over pop? Your event app might just curate a playlist for you. Vegan or on a Keto diet? Voila, a custom menu is on your table. 

Personal touches, like a hand-written note or a bespoke gift, can leave attendees feeling cherished. It’s the era of tailored experiences, where every detail, no matter how small, is crafted with love and care. Because in the end, it’s these little moments and memories that make an event truly unforgettable.

Tech Integration: The Magic Wand for Events

Remember the days when a slideshow was the pinnacle of tech at an event? Oh, how times have changed. Today, the event space feels like a scene straight out of a futuristic film. 

From virtual reality headsets that transport you to distant lands to augmented reality apps that turn your surroundings into interactive playgrounds, the tech game is strong. And we’re not just spectators; we’re players.

Think about the last time you attended a product launch. Did they just show you the product, or did you interact with it in a whole new dimension? Maybe you put on a pair of VR glasses and felt like you were inside it. And who could ignore the rise of AI-powered chatbots? 

Gone are the days of waiting in long queues for queries. Now, instant responses with a touch of personalization are at your fingertips. It’s like having your personal event assistant. Tech is not just adding layers of dazzle; it’s transforming the very core of experiences, making them richer, deeper, and yes, a lot more fun.

Safety Protocols: Non-negotiables in the New Era

In our pre-pandemic days, who would’ve thought that sanitization stations would be as crucial as the main stage at events? Or that temperature checks would become our new normal greeting? But here we are, adapting and evolving. 

Safety, which was once tucked away in a small corner of the planning phase, is now taking the limelight, and rightly so. It’s not just about keeping viruses at bay, but about creating an environment of trust.

Attendees want to let their hair down without a constant cloud of worry. They want to mingle, network, dance, and laugh, knowing that their well-being is a top priority. And that means wider layouts ensuring everyone has their personal space, health teams on standby, and constant monitoring. 

An event today isn’t just measured by the entertainment or the food; it’s evaluated by how safe attendees feel. And in this trust lies the foundation for truly memorable events.

CFS: Meeting Today’s Event Demands

We at Client Focused Solutions (CFS) have been front-row spectators to the evolving world of events. And we haven’t just watched; we’ve actively shaped experiences. Why? Because for over 30 years, we’ve been in the business of not just providing services but creating solutions. Today’s events are dynamic, unique, and brimming with expectations. And that’s where we step in. For more details visit us at https://cfsinc.com/.

Did you know our journey with many of our clients started with a simple question: “Do you provide this service?”. And our answer, always driven by our commitment to excellence and innovation, was “We do now”.

Whether it’s crafting high-quality print materials for your event or creating a seamless digital interface for attendee interactions, our team is on it. Our 60,000-square-foot meticulous warehouse ensures everything is managed to perfection. And it’s not just about what we offer; it’s about how we offer it. Personalized, professional, and always with a touch of CFS magic. So, when the world of events throws a challenge, remember, we’ve got your back.

In Conclusion

The landscape of events is in flux, shaped by technology, environmental concerns, and the ever-evolving needs of attendees. But one thing remains constant: the human need for connection and meaningful experiences. Whether you’re dipping your toes into the virtual world or taking a stand for sustainability, remember that at the heart of every event is the desire to bring people together.

For those in need of seasoned support, remember that agencies like CFS aren’t just offering services; we’re offering partnerships. Here’s to the vibrant future of events, and here’s to navigating it with expertise and grace. Read More:Event Support: The Magic Behind Elevated Corporate Gatherings

Mastering the Art of Event Planning: Top 5 Tips from the Pros

How Professional Event Support Transforms Your Conference Experience

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WHAT IS FALAFEL? RECIPES AND FACTS CONCERNING THE DELICIOUS GARBONZO OR FAVA BEAN STAPLE CELEBRATED IN GOOGLE DOODLE

Google is taking an opportunity Tuesday from its recent Women's tournament football game Doodles to honor another ball several get a kick out of. The falafel! The animated Doodle serves up the tasty cooked balls that, as Google puts it, ar "the smartest thing that ever happened to chickpeas."

As the Doodle demonstrates, felafel is formed with herbs, spices, and onions and normally served during a flatbread. it has been enjoyed for many centuries and by several cultures around the world, though its origin could be a bit hazy and debatable. It's widely thought to own been fabricated concerning one,000 years past by Egyptians, United Nations agency use ground fava beans for what they decision "ta'amiya."

As the dish unfold north to the Levant section of the jar Mediterranean, fava beans were replaced by chickpeas because of the main ingredient, and it noninheritable the Levantine Arabic name felafel. Still, different theories hold that it had been fabricated by the Arabs or Turks.

Where ever it came from, it has been on the move ever since. It unfolds to North America within the Seventies, primarily in Arabic, Coptic and somebody neighborhoods, however, has since become a standard street food. it is also become common in a European country in recent decades, wherever it has been tailored by the Arab social group to incorporate pickles, vegetables, and sweet mango sauce. 

This isn't the primary time Google has place food within the Doodle spotlight. In 2017, Google sauteed up a slideshow to honor the rice noodle, and last year, Google celebrated the Fourth of July with an interactive map highlight food from across the country.

Chickpea-based felafel, which may be ready in many ways, is high in supermolecule, complicated carbohydrates and fiber, creating it common among vegetarians and vegans trying to find an alternative to meat-based foods. Chickpeas are low in fat and contain no sterol.

You can conjointly create them as massive as you prefer. In 2012, ten chefs in the capital of Jordan, Jordan, worked to make largest felafel ball ever -- a 164-pound mammoth.

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Top Things to do in Bali

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Sunrise Trek to Mount Batur (Bali) 

Chantell from Travel For Your Life

Mount Batur in Bali has one of the most incredible views you can find on the whole island.

It’s best to do the trek to arrive just in time for sunrise. On a clear day you’ll even get to see Mount Rinjani in Lombok from the top. And since it’s an active volcano you can see steam coming from the rocks.

If you’d prefer to organize the trek yourself, just go to Kintamani and ask at the tourist station at the base of Mount Batur to book a guide for the next day. There’s plenty of accommodation in town to stay for the night and you’ll only be sleeping a few hours before starting the trek anyway.

You have to have a guide to do the trek otherwise you’ll be blocked from starting the climb.

Another option is to book a tour from somewhere not too far away like Ubud which will mean your transfer to Batur is included in your ticket price, as well as the guide. They’ll pick you up the night of the trek and drop you back straight away afterwards so it removes the hassle of having to organize anything else like additional accommodation.

The climb itself is relatively short and easy for such a spectacular view.

View from the top of Mt Batur during Sunrise

Riding the waves at Kuta Beach (Bali) 

Lydia from Lydiascapes Travel

If you are someone who loves the sun, sand, sea and most importantly surfing, then Kuta Beach in Bali is the place to visit!

There are many great surf spots around Bali island to ride the waves, but I would recommend Kuta Beach if you are between a beginner to intermediate surfer, as the waves are not too high and there is a decent number of surfers around to not feel isolated or too remote from other people in the event something happens to you.

Given this is a rather popular beach amongst locals and tourists alike, there are multiple surf shops and beachside bars along the entire beach that you can compare the prices to rent a board with a rashguard provided too ( this is a wet suit you should put on to keep you from getting injured or hurt by the board – very important especially if you are a beginner surfer).

There is always the option of getting a personal coach to train you on the basics and safety tips to note before you head out. Mind you, surfing is a very tiring sport and requires a degree of technique mastering, balance, endurance and loads of energy. So don’t neglect on the refueling of water or fresh coconut before hitting the waves Cain.

Do some prior research on when is high or low tide, and do try to avoid the hottest time of the day between 12-1pm to surf to minimise the chances of getting burnt or worst still, suffer a heat stroke.

Kuta Beach is a great place also due to the convenient continuation of activities you can enjoy at night. The sun sets right over the horizon at this beach and the restaurants, bars and cafes along this beach comes alive at dusk.

So after a full action day of surfing, it’s great to relax and unwind with a drink at your choice cafe and listen to the waves while watching the sunset. The perfect type of experience for all outdoor adventure lovers!

Witnessing a cremation ceremony (Bali) 

Wendy from The Nomadic Vegan

Ngaben, which means “turning into ash”, is a cremation ceremony that is part of the intricate Hindu funeral ritual followed in Bali. If you ever have the chance to attend one of these ceremonies, don’t miss it. They take place in villages all over the island, usually once a year.

The one that I attended was near the fishing village of Padang Bai. All of the people from the village who had died in the past year, which in this case was 153 people, were cremated together.

The families placed the bones of the deceased in a multi-tiered, tower-like structure called a waddhu. It looked very much like a pagoda but was a temporary structure made from bamboo, paper and wood.

Dozens of men then carried the waddhu to a cemetery, where the bones were transferred to a sarcophagus, called a lembu, which was in the shape of a giant lion. Then the lion was set on fire and the bones of 153 people and all the offerings placed inside for the gods went up in smoke.

A ngaben is a spectacular sight, and foreigners are usually welcome to attend as long as they are respectful. It’s actually quite a festive celebration, so expect lots of music and dancing.

Tirta Gangga (Bali)

Clare from Travels in Peru 

One of my favourite places I visited while in Bali was the Tirta Gangga Royal Water Garden.  It is a former royal palace and was built in 1948 by the Raja of Karangasem.  The translation means water from the ganges.

As you first walk in it is an amazing site, very beautiful.  There are water fountains, bridges and stepping stones that you walk along to cross certain parts of water.

On a sunny day it is beautiful and certainly a place you can spend some time, whether just sitting on a chair and looking at the fishes swimming or the beautiful flowers or enjoying lunch in the restaurant overlooking the gardens.

If you do not want to do a tour then there is a bus that runs from Kuta to Tirta Gangga daily, normally departing Kuta at 7am and takes around 2 and a half hours.   I personally decided to stay 2 nights in Tirta Gangga village so that I could explore the gardens and also the area, which is beautiful.  I managed to explore when there was not bus loads of tourists which was great and to see at sunset too with the reflections on the water is amazing.

If you are in Bali then make sure you visit this magical place.

Tirta Gannga

Cafe hopping in Canggu (Bali)

Maire from Temples and Treehouses

Canggu is a laidback beach area renowned for its surf spots and cafe culture. It’s more relaxed than neighbouring party hotspots Seminyak and Kuta, but instead you’ll find trendy coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Canggu is all about dreamy beach vibes and cafe and bar hopping. The focus is on smoothie bowls, vegan treats and Instagram-friendly decor.

For brunch, visit Monsieur Spoon, Crate or Cafe Organic. Or if you’re looking for a fashionable bar for cocktails and seaside chic, you can’t go wrong with La Brisa or The Lawn, where you’ll feel a bit like you’re in a music video. My favourite was La Laguna, a Spanish-style beach bar that features incredible views and photogenic gypsy caravans.

Cafe Organic Canggu

High or Afternoon Tea (Bali)

Jacklyn from Get Lost With Jackie

One of the best things to do in Bali is indulge in the British tradition of high or afternoon tea. While it may be a bit confusing (British Tea – in Bali?) the fact that Indonesia is the sixth largest world exporter of tea – might connect some dots!

Many of the luxury hotel properties have taken a “Balinese spin” on the British tradition and serve up small Balinese desserts such as “Godoh and Pisang Rai” (fried and steamed bananas) or Bantal (pillow cake) instead of the classic scones and chocolate cake bites that are traditionally served with Afternoon Tea. Being that Bali and Lombok can be hot and humid, you can also expect to be able to order various iced teas, as opposed to the traditional hot teas.

While the Tea services are typically offered as a service alongside a hotel booking – almost any of the hotels that offer the service for their guests, are more than happy to welcome daily visitors to indulge in their High or Afternoon Teas!

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces (Bali)

Arnav from HighONHimalayas.com

If you are looking for an authentic Indonesian experience with less crowds, Jatiluwih Rice Terraces is the place to be. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Sight in June 2012, The Jatiluwih rice terraces located in the middle of Bali near Ganung Batukaru, are the best example of Bali’s outstanding picturesque rice fields.

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The Jatiluwih rice terraces comprise over 600 hectares of rice fields following the flowing hillside topography of the Batukaru mountain range. These are well-maintained by a traditional water management cooperatives dating back to the 9th century and passing down the generations, known as the Subak irrigation system.

  Luwak Coffee Tasting (Bali)

A lot of people don’t have this on their list, but it gets added somehow. There are plenty of small coffee plantations scattered around Bali, where one can not only go and taste the most expensive coffee in the world – Luwak coffee, but also a variety of different teas, and coffees.

For beginners Luwak coffee is basically cat poo coffee. What basically happens is that the civet cat, feeds on the best coffee berries in the wild. These beans remain intact, but pass through the cats digestive system, where fermentation occurs. When the cat poo’s, the beans are intact, and are collected by locals. After a thorough cycle of washing, cleaning and drying off, the beans are pounded, and dry roasted. And thats how the most expensive coffee in the world is made.

  Kecak Dance At Uluwatu Temple (Bali)

Mariza from Hop On World

Uluwatu might be most famous for its centuries-old Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple, stunning clifftop views and remarkable sunsets, but one thing to add to your list of things to do whilst here is to watch a Kecak Fire Dance. 

The mesmerising performance depicts a battle in which a prince and his helpers defeat an evil king. With more than 75 dancers, it’s a great performance which will leave you sitting at the edge of your seat whilst enjoying the chants, traditional dance and fire tricks. 

Tickets can be bought right at the ticket office on the grounds, so there’s no need to book through a third party. Sales start at 17:00 and tickets go for IDR 70,000 – IDR 100,000 (USD$ 5-7),  depending on when you visit. The show starts promptly at 18:00, so if you want to get a good seat in the little amphitheatre try to head in a bit earlier. 

Oh and travel tip – there are a few sneaky monkeys outside the amphitheatre, so keep your valuables safe in your bag or backpack!

  Sunset at Tanha Lot (Bali)

Ferna Mae Fernandez from Everywhere With Ferna

Sunset in Tanah Lot is one of the best things to do in Bali, Indonesia. This is why it is packed with tourists during sunset time because of the rich in colour with a bright light that disseminates over the water. In addition to this, Tanah Lot is also the most sacred temple in Bali which is formerly known as Tengah Loh that means “in the sea”, thus the beauty of the temple behind the ocean gives a different feeling when visiting. Exceptionally a sunset backdrop that gives a spectacular silhouette image.

It has a huge size in the area so being the most visited temple in Bali, no matter how crowded, a traveller can still do a lot of the things as there are so many spots to stop by and corners to get the full view of the sunset. Like their cave situated at the base of the temple where a donation is a way to get the priests blessings, apart from which a Clifftop restaurant is also open to grab some beers, sit and relax while waiting for the sun to set. This and more are just one of those that you can do while embracing the beauty of the sunset in Tanah Lot.

Sundowners at La Plancha, Seminyak (Bali)

Mariza from Hop On World

It’s no secret that Indonesia has some of the best islands in Asia to add to any destination hit-list. And, one of the most diverse islands not to miss here is Bali. With plenty to do, see and love, it’s the perfect getaway for solo travellers, couples and even families. 

One of my favourite things to do in Bali is to enjoy the sunset, right on the beach! And the perfect place to do just that is at the trendy La Plancha – a hipster bar in Seminyak. 

The bar has plenty of seating both inside and on the beach. But the best spot to enjoy the vibe is undoubtedly stretched out on one of the many brightly colored bean bags, feet in the sand and cocktail in hand! 

La Plancha gets very crowded just before sunset, so be sure to grab your spot early. They have a wide selection of tasty meals and platters, as well as an extensive drinks menu (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). 

USS Liberty Wreck Dive – Tulamben (Bali)

Henry Wu from This Life of Travel

The USS Liberty Wreck is one the most famous dive sites in Bali for good reason. If you come to Bali and are an advanced diver, this one is a must! Some history on this ship – The Liberty was a United States Army cargo ship torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-166 in January 1942 and beached on the island of Bali. In 1963 a volcanic eruption moved the ship off the beach into the water, making it the dive site it is today – lying on a sand slope in 9 to 30 m of water.

The wreck is approximately 130 m long with the shallowest part at about 5 m deep and the deepest on the other side of the wreck at about 30 m deep. 

If you go very early in the morning, you will see Bumphead parrotfish who sleep there overnight. It’s also the best time to see Mola-Mola, Manta rays, turtles and any Whale Sharks passing through. 

Otherwise, the ship is completely covered with anemones, gorgonian fans, and coral. There is an amazing variety of marine life everywhere here such as anglerfish, nudibranchs, ghost pipe fish, shrimp/goby, eels, reat barracuda, Giant groupers, batfish, sweetlips, batfish, fusiliers, and butterflyfish.

 It is also an excellent place for a great night dive where you’ll see Spanish dancers, sleeping Bumphead parrotfish in their cocoons, flashlight fish, Bobtail squid, and possibly even phosphorescence!

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  Monkey Forest Santuary (Ubud) 

Cazzy from Dream Big Travel Far blog

If you love monkeys, then you’ll love Monkey Forest in Ubud. A visit to the amazing Monkey Forest will give you a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with various monkeys, including cute baby monkeys! This is quite an interactive experience and there are around 700 monkeys in the forest.

You can purchase some bananas and the monkeys will eat them out of your hands, or they’ll even sit on your head or shoulder whilst eating. Monkeys can be random creatures so move slow with them and don’t try and touch the babies or their mums won’t like it. It’s such a fun experience and something everyone should do. Don’t wear any glasses or have anything on you that a monkey can steal- they are crafty!

The Monkey Forest itself is considered sacred by the locals, so definitely treat it with respect. You could easily spend up to two hours here walking around and playing with monkeys. You’ll probably spot other wildlife there too and there are over 150 species of trees. There are lots of eateries, coffee shops and souvenir shops if you need a bite to eat afterwards. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Bali and you’ll get some awesome pictures.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces (Ubud)

Amanda from Fly Stay Luxe

No doubt you’ve seen the photos on Instagram of beautiful Balinese rice paddies, stepping down a steep mountain with early morning sun rays peeping through the tall palm trees, and a beautiful lady twirling around wearing a flowy tropical maxi-dress. There are literally hundreds of rice terraces dotted around the mountains of Ubud, but the Tegalalang Rice Terraces are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in all of Indonesia.

Located 20 minute’s drive north of the artisan town of Ubud, the Tegalalang Rice Terraces are easily accessible by car or bike and is a wonderful place to explore in the heart of Bali. The best time to visit Tegalalang is early morning. The tourist buses tend to start arriving after 10am. 

To enter the rice terraces, you will need to pay IDR 15,000 per person (approximately USD 1.20) plus IDR 5,000 for parking. As you explore further into the terraces, you will also be encouraged to pay a small donation (equivalent of 50c) to the farmers that work in the fields. 

If wandering around the steep rice terraces is not your thing, there are also many small cafes located on the side of the road, where you can savour a traditional Indonesian meal while enjoying beautiful views over the rice terraces.

Yoga Barn(Ubud)

Amanda from Fly Stay Luxe

If there’s one thing Bali is well known for, it’s the relaxing and mindful practice of yoga. Located in the heart of Ubud, Bali’s cultural centre, Yoga Barn offers a calming respite from the bustling streets and markets. A place that is focused on bringing together community and giving back to the island, Yoga Barn has become a popular hotspot amongst local expats and travellers passing through.

Yoga Barn offers 10+ yoga classes daily, including Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Beginners Yoga, Power Yoga, meditation classes, workshops and much more. There is also an onsite Holistic Healing Centre and they host weekly community events, such as movie nights and community buffet dinners. The delicious organic Garden Kafe is one of the best places to eat in Ubud. Guest House accommodation is also available.

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or absolute beginner, Yoga Barn offers something for everyone, with world-class teachers from countries all over the world. So, if you’re looking for an authentic, cultural experience during your visit to Bali, be sure to check out the Yoga Barn.

Diving with Manta Rays and Mola Mola ( Nusa Penida)

Campbell and Alya from Stingy Nomads

Nusa Penida is one of 3 islands separated from Bali on the east side by The Bandung Strait.  The nutrient rich upwelling here brings exiting marine life over the beautiful coral reefs making for excellent diving. The water around Nusa Penida is fairly cold and the deep-water trench here is renowned as one of the top places in the world to spot mola mola, the giant oceanic sunfish. The strange looking mola mola looks like a big head swimming around without a body and is the heaviest known bony fish in the world. These fish usually live very deep but they come up to shallow waters from August to October to be cleaned of skin parasites, divers from all over the world come to see this. Nusa Penida is also an excellent place to dive or snorkel with Manta rays.

We saw plenty of Manta Rays every time we went to the famous dive spot, Manta Point, they often swim close to the surface and I enjoyed snorkeling with them more than diving. Mantas can be seen here all year round, with the peak season from August to October. The pumping currents around Nusa Penida makes for excellent drift dives with beautiful scenery floating over hard and soft corals, gorgonian sea fans and amazing marine life, we saw turtles, reef sharks and some big marble rays.

A Trip to Nusa Lembongan

Ron and Michele from Legging It Travel Blog

The perfect getaway from the Bali Mainland is a trip to Lembongan. This can be done as a day trip through many of the transport companies where you go over and spend the time mainly on the boat but also get the opportunity to explore small parts of the Island.

However, to really take in the island it is well worth getting the ferry across from Sanur, and staying for a few days. Ferry companies will pick you up from your hotel and drop you back on your return. Transport around the island is minimal as there are no cars on the island, so you can get the taxi/ buses (open topped trucks from place to place or it really is the perfect place to try a scooter (I do recommend you check your travel insurance).

It costs about $6 Aus to hire a bike for the day and this gives you the freedom to see the whole island. If you do not feel confident enough to do this, there are days trips available as well. Renowned for its surf you will see plenty of bikes rigged up to carry surfboards to the waves but there are many other interesting places to see as well, stunning temples, amazing beaches and really quirky bars.

During the day the Island is busy with day trippers but after about 4pm the area becomes much more relaxed and there are plenty of lovely restaurants and bars to enjoy a cocktail and the stunning sunsets.

  A trip to The Gili Islands (Lombok)

Sharon from Dive Into Malaysia

Visiting the Gili Islands is the perfect thing to do when you are visiting Bali or Lombok. Located between these two islands, they are convenient to get to from either location but they are much closer to Lombok. There are ferries and boats to take you across. You can take a day trip, especially from Lombok, but I recommend you stay on the islands and explore them all.

There are three Gili Islands: Trawangan, Meno and Air.

They each have their own vibe and I recommend visiting all three. There are many boats between them or you can hire your own. They all have nice beaches, water sport and diving opportunities and plenty of places to eat and stay.

Gili Trawangan is the most popular and known as a party island. It’s the place to go for action and lots of choices. They even have a night market and stick fighting tournaments. Gili Meno is the least busy and populated. It is calm and peaceful and has some extra attractions like a bird park and turtle sanctuary. Gili Air is in the middle of the two. No island is a bad pick and it’s best to base yourself on the island that has the level of popularity that you will most enjoy.

Scuba Diving in the Gilis (Lombok)

Arnav from Eat Travel Live Repeat

The three Gili Islands, are literally a scuba divers paradise. With around 30 dive sites surrounding the three Gilis, you can have all sort of dive experiences here. Be it diving and finding yourself surrounded with 20 odd turtles, or seeing some reef sharks casually swimming around, or getting swayed in a current and discovering what flying in water is like!

You can have all sort of amazing experiences here in the waters surrounding the Gilis. There’s definitely a reason why you’ll find that almost every one on the island is a scuba diver, and has experienced the joy of exploring the pristine waters surrounding the three Gilis.

Some of the popular dive sites are Marlin Hill (for turtles), Shark Point (Wreck and Sharks), Seahorse Bay (Macro stuff), among 20 odd other dive sites.

While you are there, I would definitely recommend diving with Manta Dive Gili Air.

Mt. Rinjani Trek (Lombok)

Michelle from Full Time Explorer

The best thing I did in Indonesia was the 3 day/2 night Mt. Rinjani Trek on Lombok. Mt. Rinjani is a volcano that stands at 12,224 ft. To this day, it’s one of the most mentally and physically challenging things I’ve ever done. The first day is a steep uphill climb to the crater rim. I’d only seen volcanos from a distance, and now, I was standing on the rim of an active one! The following morning, we climbed to the summit. I was told that not everyone makes it and people are known to cry at the top. I couldn’t understand why. It didn’t look that difficult from afar.

Sunrise during the Mt Rinjani trek in Lombok

We woke up at 2:00am ready to climb the remaining 3,370 feet to the summit, and it was brutal. The entire trek is made of volcanic ash. Each time I took a step forward, I slid two steps back. I felt like I was on an elliptical made out of dust. It took nearly four hours to walk a distance I could normally do in less than one hour. Every single step I took I wanted to give up, and I had to mentally fight myself to keep from stopping. When I made it to the top, I looked out over the volcano and the view was stunning. The sun was just starting to hit the mountain and tears formed in my eyes. I’d made it to the top.

  Trip to Komodo National Park

Sara from Our Kind of Crazy

One of the most exciting experiences we had near Bali was going to see the Komodo Dragons. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can see them in the wild, and they are very cool.

First, you fly to Labuan Bajo island to stay the night, and take a boat to Komodo National Park from there. You can choose between several tours to get there. We recommend taking a few stops along the way to check out Flores, the pink beach, and swimming with manta rays on a full day tour. 

When you get to Komodo Island, you purchase your ticket, and you decide which hike you want to go on. We did the easy hike, since we had more stops on the way, but that was enough. We saw 5 and even saw a couple babies as well.

The tour guides were great and taught us a lot about them. They also posed us by the Komodo Dragons and got some great pictures for us. These beasts were awesome to watch in the wild, and even more exciting when they were walking through the trees. It’s definitely a stop to add to your list! 

Take the ferry across to Java and see the “blue fire” (Ijen) 

Chantell from Adoration 4 Adventure

One of the most memorable and exciting activities I did while in Indonesia, was seeing the “blue fire” of the Ijen Crater. The colored flames are caused by sulfur gas and can only be seen at night. They burst out over the top of the volcano, which sits beside the world’s largest acidic lake.

This phenomenal experience is only a half day trip from Denpasar, Bali by bus and ferry to Banyuwangi in East Java. You could either book an all-in-one package from Bali or travel to Banyuwangi yourself and then book a guide once you arrive.

As you will be hiking in the dark, a professional guide is highly recommended. However, if you join a group tour you can negotiate your entrance and tour fee for as little as 270,000 IDR (approximately $20 USD). We paid 13,000 IDR each for the ferry from Gilimanuk, Bali to Banyuwangi, Java then (less than $1 USD).

After two hours of trudging uphill, the guides provide gas masks to make it easier to breathe while staying close to the volcano. The groups descend down into the crater, passing local miners carrying sulfur on their backs. After witnessing the spectacular night-time show, visitors will be further amazed by the sunrise over the turquoise-colored lake.

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Best Things To Do In and around Bali Indonesia Top Things to do in Bali Sunrise Trek to Mount Batur (Bali)  Chantell from Travel For Your Life…

[simona-a-marinkova]

This year my friend and I have picked Budapest as the place to celebrate our birthdays. Great way to try something different and be away from London for couple of days. It was pretty good decision, and I was excited to get the flight from London Heathrow to Budapest – Ferenz List Airport.

It was sunny July evening when we landed – 1st sight of Budapest is Danube, green neighbourhoods, blocks of flats and not so big, modern airport. Cool city. And definitely very well maintained and tourist-friendly. Few quick tips to keep in mind below.

  Transport & Getting around

It is easy to get from the airport to the city centre – just get the shuttle bus 100E and get off at Kalvin Ter M (in the heart of the city). Ticket price is 900 F (around £3). Bus ticket can be bought from a machine at stations or service desk. Staff usually speaks English and are happy to help if needed. Other option is to get Uber.

The bus is a cool way to get a sense of the city – I noticed wider streets (compared to London), mix of houses and blocks (left from Soviet time), new modern buildings and green spaces / gardens. The city reminded me of Sofia and also of Berlin in terms of architecture and some shops / brands.

Also, a good sightseeing tip is – take tram Number 2, which is following Danube. Ticket cost around £1 and you could sit and enjoy the view on the way. Danube is a pretty evening view 🙂

  Accommodation

We stayed in Pest (the flat part of Budapest) and almost everything was walking distance from our place. Our Airbnb studio flat was near the main tourist high street, Danube bank and Vörösmarty tér (Square).  It was so handy and there was no need to take public transport. I also enjoyed biking one day by the river – it was quicker way to explore the bank and also chill out. Streets are full of cyclists so definitely worth trying.

The city has plenty of Airbnb, hotels and hostels – so good choice for any type of travel. I’m fan of hostels and next time I go – I will try this option. Budapest is perfect for sightseeing, partying and meeting other travellers.

  Cash or Card

I am not big fan of cash and normally prefer to pay with a card. Luckily, in Budapest in most places to eat and all thermal baths you can pay with card. Cash is required if you purchase a ticker for some attractions or at local markets. Be aware – sometimes it is not possible to split a bill if paying with card. Also, there are ATMs almost everywhere – at the airport, near major stations and banks.

  Budapest – My favorite thing about the city is the sightseeing places and thermal baths. If I was living there, I would stop going to gym and focus on swimming in the baths instead. I enjoyed chill in the water on a hot day. Here’s what we did over the weekend…

  Walking Tour & Sightseeing

If you visit the city, I strongly recommend trying out any of the free walking tours available. They are fun and at the same time you can learn more about the city and local history. This is the tour we attended:

Budapest Free Walking Tour

It starts every day at 10:30 am – meeting point is in the city centre, Vörösmarty square (at the lion fountain). It is free and at the end of the tour, you tip as per your budget. The tour covered some of the top sights in the city like – St.Stephen’s Basilica, Chain Bridge, Royal Palace and Fisherman Bastion. Our tour guide, A. was funny with great sense of humour and she told us more about the local history with some “politically incorrect” insights. This is what I like the most! It’s cool to hear that the Change Bridge is the biggest in Budapest or Vastagh Gyorgy and his horse’s statue (it is in Buda) is famous for the balls of the horse! Apparently, before exam local students come to the statue and touch the balls for good luck. Another interesting insight is from the communist times – after Hungary was “liberated” from the Nazis by the Soviets, “Soviets wanted to make sure that Hungary is Nazi free that they forgot to go home for the next 45 years”.

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Also, you could learn several Hungarian words, which is fun as the language is nothing like any other language in Europe. Well, apart from Finnish and Estonian – apparently the 3 countries have common ancestors, who have split after arriving in Europe. In any case, I remember the essentials:

beer is shur 

wine is por 

Other cool place to visit in Budapest is the Liberty Statue – located on one of the hills in Buda and watching over the city. This is Soviet monument, and because it looks cool it was not destroyed after the collapse of communism. It’s popular spot for young people to have a drink at sunset, and enjoy the view of the city.

Not to miss is also the building of the Parliament – the working place of the Prime Minister of Hungary. It is the 3rd biggest Parliament in the world, and its architecture is absolutely beautiful! It stands at Danube’s bank and it’s a gorgeous view in the evening with all these lights.

I wanted to visit the National Museum as well, however I did not have enough time (got distracted in the baths!). As I heard, the museum has pretty interesting artefacts around local history and pagan / nomadic past of Magyars (Hungarian ancestors).

Not to miss is also the Catholic Cathedral, St. Istvan (or Steven) which has the sacred remains (piece of an arm) of the saint, who is the 1st official king of Hungary. The cathedral is beautoful and surely would be appreciated by art lovers.

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  Jewish district and the hipster Budapest

Obviously, the Jewish district is known for the history during WW2. It starts with the Great Synagogue at Dohany Street. It is the 2nd biggest synagogue (after the one in Amsterdam), though locals claim it is the biggest. It is an interesting monument and it is worth visit – just be aware of its opening hours and dress code. Also, in its garden there is a silver tree, whose leaves contain names of Hungarian Jews killed in WW2.

I’d say the district is my favourite part of the city – it is artsy, hip and young. It reminds me of London’s Shoreditch. I like the idea of using old stuff in a creative way and creating outdoorsy places, where people can socialise over a drink.

We visited very cool place – Szimpla – like a beer garden / bar open day and night. The definition of hipster place! Also, I bet it is great spot for live music in the evenings. No wonder is popular with tourists.

We enjoyed couple of Soproni pints (local beer) before moving on to the near by street food market Karavan. Here we tried the local “communist pizza” – Langos. You could also have touristy burgers and even vegan options are available. Karavan is a cool place, good to have local fast food and some beers.

This area is also popular with the many bars, garden restaurants and night life.

Thermal Baths

This is a must experience in Budapest! The city is known for its thermal baths and so I wanted to try at least 2 of them over my short stay. Baths are increasingly popular, and as I saw sometimes you have to queue to get in. I imagine this is annoying for locals because of queuing and higher prices. We visited 2 baths – Rudas and Szechenyi.

Night swim at Rudas Bath

Rudas is located on Danube bank, near the bridge. It has several sections – thermal baths, wellness and swimming pool. Entry is around 5100 F (or £15-£16). We tried out the night bathing from 22:00 to 04:00. It was busy Saturday night, and we queued for around 25 mins until we got it. The bath is well equipped with lockers, changing rooms, showers and laundry dryer.

The wellness part has 2 big pools with different temperatures – 26 C and 33 C (if I remembered correct). There are also 2 smaller pools – very cold and very hot 42 C. I tried to get in the hot one, and my feet was burning so I gave up on it. Some people manage to stay there for several minutes – admirable! I would feel like boiled chicken if I had to get it there! I was mostly in the bigger pools, which I thought are perfect place to have a nap whilst enjoying the jacuzzi effect. Really nice massage for your back or feet.

The thermal bath part on the other hand is located in an ex mosque. The mosque built in Ottoman times was regenerated and now its beautiful building is used as a bath. The night vibes are so relaxing – lights shadowing, beautiful ceiling and light blue watered pool. The bath here has 1 major pool (I assume it should be around 34 C).Once I felt hot, I was jumping in the other smaller pools – these are 4 more pools between 28 to 42 C. After hot pool, 28 feels freezing. Not to miss is the steam room too – how long could you stay in 50 C steam?

And the best bit of the bath is the rooftop! Smaller warm pool on the roof, with view towards Buda and Danube. It was beautiful! Imagine chilling there with a drink in the pool? A dream, and I quite enjoyed it. That night was even more beautiful as it was thundering and we could see the lightening in the sky from the pool. I am not sure how safe this is, but experience is worth it.

Szechenyi Bath

This bath is different – it is actually outdoors and is located outside the city centre, next to the zoo. The best way to get there is by Metro for several stops. Again, the bath is in a beautiful yellow building. It needs some renovation, however it still looks great. It has a swimming deep pool and 2 more big warmer pools. I spent my bday day there – sunbathing and chilling in all pools, trying out the bubbles and jacuzzi. Perfect place to float. Entry is again around 5400 F. There is also restaurant when you get hungry / thirsty.

Speaking of food and drink…

Places to eat and drink

One flag here – Budapest city centre is full of Italian places. I love Italian food, however I would not eat it when in Hungary. To me – this is a tourist trap, and may suit well if you fancy pizza and burger (oh yeah, burgers everywhere). I am a fan of trying local dishes, so we were looking for places to have more Hungarian meals. Of course, in tourist areas prices are 3-4 times higher than the normal for locals. We were advised to eat in Pest, as Buda is more expensive and food is not greater.

So first – what is actually Hungarian food? Meat. Loads of meat. If you are vegetarian, or worse – vegan, you will struggle and you will not try locals meals.

Hungarian dishes

Goulash (Gulyás) – this is a soup with beef and paprika. The traditional version is soup, however tourists tend to have the stew version (which is the touristy option).

Paprikash – this is a stew with chicken, sour cream and paprika sauce, and also Hungarian version of dumplings. It is very tasty and goes well with red wine for dinner! Actually we have Paprikash in Bulgaria too, but ours is more tomato focused and no dumplings.

Langos – this is very popular street food. It is actually what Hungarian eat when drinking. It is fried fatty bread topped with sour cream and cheese. Other versions include paprika. I even saw Nutella Langos. It is very similar to our mekica – which we eat for breakfast.

Cake – Budapest has a plenty of bakeries or coffe houses and you can get delicious cakes. The traditional cake is a type of Sponge cake.

  Hungarian drinks

Alcoholic on top of that.

Wine – Hungary is a wine region, so when visiting definitely try some loal wine. Red wines are particulartly good.

Palinka – Hungarian spirit, they say up to 70% alcohol. It tastes like fire. If you tried other Eastern European spirits like rakia you know what to expect 😀

Unicum – is a traditional herbal liqaur and they say is good to have a shot when getting a cold.

  Where to eat?

Depends on your taste. We tried mixture of street places and nice restaurants.

Street food places – we tried Karavan market and the Central Hall Market. The Central Market has a range of grocery stands, souvenirs and up stairs it has several street food and Cafes. I got a chocolate truffle cake for 300 F and it was the best cake I had in town.

For breakfast, we tried to very good places: Kuglof and a French bakery Amber. At Kuglof I really liked the French toast with fried eggs and Paprika, and the massive chocolate latte. At Amber I gave a try to another chocolate cake.

For dinner, I enjoyed soup guyash at Hungarian bistro. I also tried chicken paprikash at another garden restaurant Borze Kavehaz, which was pretty good. Portions here are quite big, so I was struggling to finish my meal.

  Budapest is one of my favourite cities, and I will be back. I have always wanted to visit around NYE – as it’s beautiful and why not anjoy thermal bath again when cold?

Definitely great place for weekend trip and / or solo travel!

        Weekend break in Budapest -this is why it’s a good idea!

This year my friend and I have picked Budapest as the place to celebrate our birthdays. Great way to try something different and be away from London for couple of days.

Weekend break in Budapest -this is why it’s a good idea! This year my friend and I have picked Budapest as the place to celebrate our birthdays. Great way to try something different and be away from London for couple of days.

[stevescoles]

Paula of Vintage Retreat recounts the story of the emporium’s journey from idea to reality…

Like Alan Moore, an elephant is a well-known resident of Spring Boroughs…If you look up at the sky, somewhere between the tiptoeing towers of St Barnabas House,  the New Life building and Castle Station; you will see this rogue pachyderm perched atop the Northampton Business Centre, trumpeting its call:  Shoe town folk, visit Vintage Retreat!

Vintage Retreat opened its doors back in February 2013, when the owner of the Northampton Business Centre, having long admired Northampton’s Art Deco architecture and possessing a passion for Vintage and Antiques, decided the space would be transformed (initially) into a small Vintage and Craft emporium. The business model was beautifully simple: offer a collective of traders and small business owners a means of selling to the public, within a warm, accessible environment that not only generated a sense of community, but crucially, didn’t require the trader to be present; as a team would be employed to manage sales on their behalf.

The vision for the store’s design and layout was to offer something unique and exciting – a place where visitors could while away the hours. Equally important, was to offer a shopping experience that not only offered amazing one of a kind purchases but also made every aspect of visiting a real pleasure. We believe this ethos greatly contributes to our continuing success and our loyal following of visitors.

As the emporium began to take shape the newly appointed management team were busy approaching local small business owners, crafters, collectors and Antique dealers and encouraging them to come and join us. This was no mean feat as at that time, there was very little to show in terms of a finished shop space and many traders joined us based on our vision and a touch of blind faith. We are very proud to say that many of our original traders are still with us today, almost 5 years later.

That said, after the initial excitement, in the weeks that followed our grand opening, we had our quiet days where takings barely covered staff wages and overheads. Despite this everyone involved, having given so much energy and effort in making Vintage Retreat a reality, knew we had something unique and were determined to make a success of the shop. After all we had convinced around 30 traders to believe in us and we had their businesses at stake too.

Persistence paid off. It was not long before the shop quickly outgrew its original footprint and we expanded into what was an old disused function room within the Business Centre. The acquisition offered us an opportunity to take a different aesthetic approach to the design and build:  we decided to create self-contained shop units; each shop being unique in size and with different shop fronts echoing the look of shop fronts in the towns Market Square and St. Giles Street. This approach was a huge success and we still have long waiting lists for traders wishing to occupy spaces.

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Whilst social media no doubt played its part in promotion and reaching a wider audience, we feel our greatest success has come from actually getting out and talking to people about the shop: flyering, attending vintage fairs, putting on fashion shows and good old-fashioned word of mouth.

In early 2014 we expanded further still using what was originally a car parking port below ground level and turning this space into our Cellar dedicated to vintage and retro furniture and larger pieces that we were struggling to house in the ground floor. This new space was much more simplistic in design due to the nature of the items sold here, however we still wanted to retain the open, bright, airy and inviting feel of the rest of the shop.  By the end of 2014 both the shop and tearoom’s reputation were growing. So much so that it was decided to extend our opening hours to 7 days a week. As a result, we saw a real turning point in trade and our weekends were exceptionally busy. This increase in trade led to the expansion and relocation of our tearoom, which by January 2015 would be managed by a separate dedicated team.

2014 saw other changes too.  A change in management led to a period of transition for the shop and it took a while for things to re-adjust. Some traders moved on and vacant spaces made way for a ‘pop up’ shops giving the shop less stability as sales and rental income ultimately suffered. That said the shop has always been in a constant state of evolution and its ever changing atheistic is in part what keeps us moving forward and growing.

Having represented the emporium at numerous events and fairs across the county to promote the shop, we realised that we had been missing an obvious opportunity. So, in 2016 we opened The Retro Room: a dedicated space which in addition to the shop and the tea room, enabled us to host a greater range of events; including live performance, fashion shows and private functions. The room is decorated in a beautiful Art Deco styling and is made using our trademark woodwork. Subsequently, we’ve employed an Events Manager and held a number of events and whilst the learning curve has been steep, the experience has been invaluable.

In April 2017 a new team were employed to run and manage the Tearoom giving a fresh approach to the menu and a diversity which has proved extremely popular with our customers. The focus is on homely freshly prepared food catering for all dietary needs with a large proportion of the menu being Vegetarian and Vegan. The tearoom refresh has coincided with a new look and feel to our flyers and promotional material and our overall aesthetic.

Today, the shop continues to be vibrant and exciting destination in Northampton; attracting visitors from across the UK and beyond. With now over 100 traders over 5000 square foot, we have just had our best ever month of sales in October. Vintage Retreat continues to explore new and interesting events.

Before the year is out we will have hosted our first Vegan Fest on the 18th November. Championing local vegan businesses and celebrating and increasing awareness of the vegan life style. Followed by a Vintage Christmas Fair on the 10th December.  Despite being a community that celebrates the past, our focus is firmly on the future. An elephant never forgets.

Cafe and community are key for Vintage Retreat

Paula of Vintage Retreat recounts the story of the emporium’s journey from idea to reality… Like Alan Moore, an elephant is a well-known resident of Spring Boroughs…If you look up at the sky, somewhere between the tiptoeing towers of St Barnabas House,  the New Life building and Castle Station; you will see this rogue pachyderm perched atop the Northampton Business Centre, trumpeting its call:  Shoe town folk, visit Vintage Retreat!

Cafe and community are key for Vintage Retreat Paula of Vintage Retreat recounts the story of the emporium's journey from idea to reality... Like Alan Moore, an elephant is a well-known resident of Spring Boroughs…If you look up at the sky, somewhere between the tiptoeing towers of St Barnabas House,  the New Life building and Castle Station; you will see this rogue pachyderm perched atop the Northampton Business Centre, trumpeting its call:  Shoe town folk, visit Vintage Retreat!

[nqbuddy]

Paula of Vintage Retreat recounts the story of the emporium’s journey from idea to reality…

Like Alan Moore, an elephant is a well-known resident of Spring Boroughs…If you look up at the sky, somewhere between the tiptoeing towers of St Barnabas House,  the New Life building and Castle Station; you will see this rogue pachyderm perched atop the Northampton Business Centre, trumpeting its call:  Shoe town folk, visit Vintage Retreat!

Vintage Retreat opened its doors back in February 2013, when the owner of the Northampton Business Centre, having long admired Northampton’s Art Deco architecture and possessing a passion for Vintage and Antiques, decided the space would be transformed (initially) into a small Vintage and Craft emporium. The business model was beautifully simple: offer a collective of traders and small business owners a means of selling to the public, within a warm, accessible environment that not only generated a sense of community, but crucially, didn’t require the trader to be present; as a team would be employed to manage sales on their behalf.

The vision for the store’s design and layout was to offer something unique and exciting – a place where visitors could while away the hours. Equally important, was to offer a shopping experience that not only offered amazing one of a kind purchases but also made every aspect of visiting a real pleasure. We believe this ethos greatly contributes to our continuing success and our loyal following of visitors.

As the emporium began to take shape the newly appointed management team were busy approaching local small business owners, crafters, collectors and Antique dealers and encouraging them to come and join us. This was no mean feat as at that time, there was very little to show in terms of a finished shop space and many traders joined us based on our vision and a touch of blind faith. We are very proud to say that many of our original traders are still with us today, almost 5 years later.

That said, after the initial excitement, in the weeks that followed our grand opening, we had our quiet days where takings barely covered staff wages and overheads. Despite this everyone involved, having given so much energy and effort in making Vintage Retreat a reality, knew we had something unique and were determined to make a success of the shop. After all we had convinced around 30 traders to believe in us and we had their businesses at stake too.

Persistence paid off. It was not long before the shop quickly outgrew its original footprint and we expanded into what was an old disused function room within the Business Centre. The acquisition offered us an opportunity to take a different aesthetic approach to the design and build:  we decided to create self-contained shop units; each shop being unique in size and with different shop fronts echoing the look of shop fronts in the towns Market Square and St. Giles Street. This approach was a huge success and we still have long waiting lists for traders wishing to occupy spaces.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Whilst social media no doubt played its part in promotion and reaching a wider audience, we feel our greatest success has come from actually getting out and talking to people about the shop: flyering, attending vintage fairs, putting on fashion shows and good old-fashioned word of mouth.

In early 2014 we expanded further still using what was originally a car parking port below ground level and turning this space into our Cellar dedicated to vintage and retro furniture and larger pieces that we were struggling to house in the ground floor. This new space was much more simplistic in design due to the nature of the items sold here, however we still wanted to retain the open, bright, airy and inviting feel of the rest of the shop.  By the end of 2014 both the shop and tearoom’s reputation were growing. So much so that it was decided to extend our opening hours to 7 days a week. As a result, we saw a real turning point in trade and our weekends were exceptionally busy. This increase in trade led to the expansion and relocation of our tearoom, which by January 2015 would be managed by a separate dedicated team.

2014 saw other changes too.  A change in management led to a period of transition for the shop and it took a while for things to re-adjust. Some traders moved on and vacant spaces made way for a ‘pop up’ shops giving the shop less stability as sales and rental income ultimately suffered. That said the shop has always been in a constant state of evolution and its ever changing atheistic is in part what keeps us moving forward and growing.

Having represented the emporium at numerous events and fairs across the county to promote the shop, we realised that we had been missing an obvious opportunity. So, in 2016 we opened The Retro Room: a dedicated space which in addition to the shop and the tea room, enabled us to host a greater range of events; including live performance, fashion shows and private functions. The room is decorated in a beautiful Art Deco styling and is made using our trademark woodwork. Subsequently, we’ve employed an Events Manager and held a number of events and whilst the learning curve has been steep, the experience has been invaluable.

In April 2017 a new team were employed to run and manage the Tearoom giving a fresh approach to the menu and a diversity which has proved extremely popular with our customers. The focus is on homely freshly prepared food catering for all dietary needs with a large proportion of the menu being Vegetarian and Vegan. The tearoom refresh has coincided with a new look and feel to our flyers and promotional material and our overall aesthetic.

Today, the shop continues to be vibrant and exciting destination in Northampton; attracting visitors from across the UK and beyond. With now over 100 traders over 5000 square foot, we have just had our best ever month of sales in October. Vintage Retreat continues to explore new and interesting events.

Before the year is out we will have hosted our first Vegan Fest on the 18th November. Championing local vegan businesses and celebrating and increasing awareness of the vegan life style. Followed by a Vintage Christmas Fair on the 10th December.  Despite being a community that celebrates the past, our focus is firmly on the future. An elephant never forgets.

Cafe and community are key for Vintage Retreat Paula of Vintage Retreat recounts the story of the emporium's journey from idea to reality... Like Alan Moore, an elephant is a well-known resident of Spring Boroughs…If you look up at the sky, somewhere between the tiptoeing towers of St Barnabas House,  the New Life building and Castle Station; you will see this rogue pachyderm perched atop the Northampton Business Centre, trumpeting its call:  Shoe town folk, visit Vintage Retreat!

[magicaldistractions]

If you’re looking to buy sweets for your sweet or indulge your own sweet tooth, you’re sure to find an abundance of yummy choices at Walt Disney World Resort! From the decadent double chocolate brownie sundaes at Ghiradelli to freshly made funnel cakes at the Funnel Cake cart on Disney’s BoardWalk, the selection of sweets is seemingly endless! Today, I’ll cover Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets!

Funnel cake-Photo Credit Disney

Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Series & Other Basic Information

Welcome to the thirteenth edition of my Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? series! February is known for….come on….you know the answer. Sweets, sweets and more sweets! I’m here to give you the scoop on where to find sweets for your sweet (and yourself too). This article is titled: Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets!.

Links to previous articles in the series will be provided later on in the article.

Basic Information

The intent of my Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? series is to help you plan a fantastic and memorable trip to Walt Disney World Resort. It is my hope that both first timers and seasoned Disney vets enjoy the series and the information that I post.

Magical DIStractions is dedicated to providing our readers with the most accurate and up-to-date information that we possibly can. Walt Disney World is a vacation destination that is always changing and expanding. So, there is a possibility that some of the things that I write about in this article may change location or change in style before you visit.

How to make the most of this article’s tips and links

You will notice as you are reading along and as is reflected above, some of the wording in this article is highlighted in light pink. My fellow team members and I write about our experiences, upcoming events and things to do while at Walt Disney World, and when you click on the highlighted wording, you’ll be taken to articles and pages that refer to certain topics. There is no need to go anywhere but to Magical DIStractions to find the information that you seek.

‘Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets for my Sweet!

Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets!

Caramel, Caramel, Caramel

Presented by Werther’s Original, Karamell-Küche  is a shop in the Germany Pavilion of  World Showcase. The moment you step inside, you are surrounded by everything caramel.  There are pre-packaged goodies from Werther’s Original such creamy caramel-filled hard candy, or caramel covered popcorn. In the cases, you’ll find a large selection of fresh candy, caramel candy, caramel and chocolate dipped strawberries and pineapple spears and other delectable treats.

One of the more unique offerings found at Karamell-Küche are the Caramel Bacon Squares. Each square contains Werther’s Original caramel and bits of bacon both inside and out. My personal favorite is the Turtle candy which is caramel with pecans with both covered in chocolate. Yummy!

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Cronut

What exactly is a cronut? A cronut is a fried delightful snack that’s a cross between a croissant and a donut and it is oh so very good! “It’s sweet, it’s warm, it’s deep fried and topped with cinnamon and sugar,��� says Epcot Executive Chef Jens Dahlmann. “Simply delicious.” (Excerpt Disney Parks Blog)

At a price of less than $5 and a snack option on the Disney Dining Plan, a cronut is a very budget friendly sweet for your sweet! These delicious goodies can be found at Refreshment Port in Epcot.

Cronut-Photo credit Disney Parks Blog

Cupcakes

Cupcakes. in a variety of flavors and sizes, are found all over Walt Disney World Resort.  No matter if you are in the parks, at one of the Disney Resort hotels or at Disney Springs, you’re sure to find the perfect cupcake for your sweetheart. Today, I’ll talk about just a few of the cupcakes available. Magical DIStractions has menus for most Walt Disney World Restaurants.

Be Our Guest

Some of the most delicious cupcakes that I’ve ever had were those served at Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom park. The Master’s Cupcake is a scrumptious chocolate sponge cake topped with Lumiere’s special “Grey Stuff”. The pretty “pearls” are actually edible as is the pretty chocolate square! And, yes, the “grey stuff” IS delicious!

The Master’s Cupcake Be Our Guest Restaurant-Photo Credit Lisa McBride

If you want a little something tart but still sweet, the Lemon Meringue Cupcake is for you! The cupcake is a vanilla sponge cake with a lemon custard filling and flamed meringue icing.

Be Our Guest sweets-Photo credit Disney

While The Master’s Cupcake and the Lemon Meringue Cupcakes were so very good, the Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake was divine! This vanilla sponge cake has a strawberry mousse filling and cream cheese icing. Topping it off is a fresh strawberry slice and a small bite of chocolate.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake Be Our Guest Restaurant-Photo Credit Lisa McBride

Creature Comforts

In Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, stop by Creature Comforts for their specialty cupcake, the Cotton Top Tamarin Cupcake. DIStracted Tip: When you order a Starbucks Flat White Latte, a portion of the sale helps preserve the Cotton Top!

Cotton Top Tamarin Cupcake Creature Comforts – Photo Credit Disney

Contempo Cafe

The pastry team at Disney’s Contemporary Resort creates beautiful cupcakes, each one a work of art and are oh so flavorful!

Contempo Cafe cupcakes-Photo credit Disney

ABC Commissary

The cute and tasty Olaf Cupcake is available at the ABC Commissary in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The yellow cake is moist and delicious and the icing is smooth and creamy. You may notice that the actual cupcake that I received was slightly different that the one on the sign but it was still great.

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Olaf Cupcake from ABC Commissary-Photo credit Lisa McBride

Old Port Royale

Old Port Royale in Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort serves a fan favorite cupcake! The Monkey Cupcake is a chocolate or vanilla cupcake with creamy filling and sliced bananas in the middle. After just one bite, you’re sure to see why Guests go ape over it!

Monkey Cupcake at Old Port Royale at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort-Picture by Lisa McBride

 Sprinkles

“Treat yourself to sought-after, gourmet cupcakes baked fresh daily with unique flavors and high-quality ingredients. You can also succumb to late-night cravings with a visit to the perky, pink Cupcake ATM nestled outside.” (Excerpt Walt Disney World website) Sprinkles is located in Disney Springs and is the perfect place to stop and treat your sweet to a sweet! Guests can indulge themselves with a gourmet banana, chocolate marshmallow, carrot, or salty caramel cupcake. Gluten free, sugar free and Vegan options are available.

Sprinkles-Photo Credit Disney

Funnel Cakes

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a freshly made funnel cake! Some of the toppings include your choice of powdered sugar, chocolate syrup, apples, strawberries or vanilla ice cream.  Some locations even sell a funnel cake gift kit to take home! With this purchase, you can relive your sweet funnel cake moment after you get home. Guests will find Funnel Cake served at the Oasis Canteen in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Funnel Cake Cart on Disney’s BoardWalk, at the Funnel Cake shop located in the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot and at Sleepy Hollow in the Magic Kingdom.

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Ghirardelli Everything

The world-famous chocolatier delivers decadent sundaes smothered with hot, house-made fudge as well as chocolate treats and drinks. Strike It Rich with specialty San Francisco-themed sundaes, shakes and floats. One of the chocolately of chocolate delights that they serve is the Ghiardelli Double Chocolate brownie.

If you want to really indulge your sweet tooth, order the Earthquake Family Favorite: Eight scoops of Ice Cream, fresh Bananas and eight delicious toppings. Finished with Whipped Cream, chopped Almonds, Ghirardelli® Mini Semisweet Chocolate Chips and Cherries! The Earthquake is large enough it can feed 4!

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Stroll along the seashore till you stumble upon this quaint stop where you can entice your palate with a host of freshly made house favorites—from baked goods, soups, salads and sandwiches to a selection of beverages, both hot and cold.

Pastries

Some of the best pastries on Walt Disney World property can be found at Les Halles Boulangerie in the France Pavilion in Epcot.  There, you can sample delectable treats and tempting delicacies from a traditional French bakery. The menu includes: Napoleon, a puff pastry layered with cream; Framboise, a raspberry mousse cake; Frangipane, almond filling between puff pastries. There are all sorts of delightful goodies served at Les Halles Boulangierie!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

  Specialty Cakes & Pastries

Amorette’s Patisserie, an artsy yet sophisticate pastry shop, is located in Disney Springs. The shop sells a wide array of exquisite goodies such as elcairs, New York style cheesecake, gluten-free macaroons and even signature cakes! Surprise your sweetheart, birthday boy or girl or celebrate any special occasion by placing an advance order for one of Amorette’s Patisserie eye-catching cakes. To pre-order, call (407) 934-3500. You can also stop by their shop in Disney Springs at least 72 hours in advance and place your order in person. For additional information, use this link.

Disney  Cake Hotline!

There’s no better way to surprise your sweetheart than with a specialty cake! Disney chefs can help bring your dream surprise to reality when you order a custom cake. While there is no official website that you can visit to view the cakes that are available,  there is a thread on the Disboards that is kept up-to-date by the wonderful lurkyloo.  Pictures have been posted by many who have ordered the cakes.

Cakes range from the standard “podium cake”  to gorgeous grand confections that come in a variety of flavors and decorative styles.

How far in advance should you order? If you have a specific design in mind, you should contact the Disney Cake Hotline abut 3 to 4 weeks ahead and absolutely no less than 48 hours ahead. As a matter of fact, some locations require 72 hours’ notice.

Can I send in a picture of what I want? Once you make contact with a Disney cast member through the Cake Hotline, you can work with them to e-mail photos to the pastry chef.

What number do I call? Call the Cake-Ordering Hotline at 407-827-2253.

A previous Magical DIStractions writer wrote about her experience with Disney’s Cake Ordering service and she gave it a great review.

Disney Floral and Gifts

Disney Floral and Gifts offers cakes and even packages that include celebration cakes.  For ordering information and to view the other offerings, visit the Disney Floral and Gifts site.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Let your sweetheart know just how they special they are to you by ordering a celebration cake through Disney Floral and Gifts. The Celebration Floral Cake is stunningly beautiful! Looking for something a little more romantic? How about their Two Day Romantic Experience package?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Just the tip of the icing!

The sweets for your sweet options that I’ve covered in this article are just a very few of what you’ll find on your trip to Walt Disney World! There are so very many options to choose from. If you  want to tickle our sweetheart’s taste buds, try some of the suggested sweets that I’ve written about or search our website for other possible options!

 Links to previous articles in the Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Series

The series began with Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? The Drinks & Snacks: Park Edition which posted in April, 2015. The next two articles were also food themed, The Counter Service Parks Edition and The Table Service Parks Edition. In honor of National Ice Cream Day, National Margarita Day and then International Waffle Day, there were respectively, The Cool Treats Edition, The Margaritas Edition, and The Waffles Edition.

I decided to veer off the food course and the next article was Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? A Place to Put My Stuff which gave readers tips on where to store their things while in the theme parks, water parks, etc. The next two articles focused on resorts. Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Everything at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Everything at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort.

For those cruising with Disney Cruise Line, I wrote Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Everything on Disney’s Castaway Cay! Readers wanting to know all about being pampered while at Walt Disney World, can find all that they need to know in the Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Spa Services.

Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets!

If you’re looking to buy sweets for your sweet or indulge your own sweet tooth, you’re sure to find an abundance of yummy choices at Walt Disney World Resort!

Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets! If you're looking to buy sweets for your sweet or indulge your own sweet tooth, you're sure to find an abundance of yummy choices at Walt Disney World Resort!

[simona-a-marinkova]

This year my friend and I have picked Budapest as the place to celebrate our birthdays. Great way to try something different and be away from London for couple of days. It was pretty good decision, and I was excited to get the flight from London Heathrow to Budapest – Ferenz List Airport.

It was sunny July evening when we landed – 1st sight of Budapest is Danube, green neighbourhoods, blocks of flats and not so big, modern airport. Cool city. And definitely very well maintained and tourist-friendly. Few quick tips to keep in mind below.

  Transport & Getting around

It is easy to get from the airport to the city centre – just get the shuttle bus 100E and get off at Kalvin Ter M (in the heart of the city). Ticket price is 900 F (around £3). Bus ticket can be bought from a machine at stations or service desk. Staff usually speaks English and are happy to help if needed. Other option is to get Uber.

The bus is a cool way to get a sense of the city – I noticed wider streets (compared to London), mix of houses and blocks (left from Soviet time), new modern buildings and green spaces / gardens. The city reminded me of Sofia and also of Berlin in terms of architecture and some shops / brands.

Also, a good sightseeing tip is – take tram Number 2, which is following Danube. Ticket cost around £1 and you could sit and enjoy the view on the way. Danube is a pretty evening view 🙂

  Accommodation

We stayed in Pest (the flat part of Budapest) and almost everything was walking distance from our place. Our Airbnb studio flat was near the main tourist high street, Danube bank and Vörösmarty tér (Square).  It was so handy and there was no need to take public transport. I also enjoyed biking one day by the river – it was quicker way to explore the bank and also chill out. Streets are full of cyclists so definitely worth trying.

The city has plenty of Airbnb, hotels and hostels – so good choice for any type of travel. I’m fan of hostels and next time I go – I will try this option. Budapest is perfect for sightseeing, partying and meeting other travellers.

  Cash or Card

I am not big fan of cash and normally prefer to pay with a card. Luckily, in Budapest in most places to eat and all thermal baths you can pay with card. Cash is required if you purchase a ticker for some attractions or at local markets. Be aware – sometimes it is not possible to split a bill if paying with card. Also, there are ATMs almost everywhere – at the airport, near major stations and banks.

  Budapest – My favorite thing about the city is the sightseeing places and thermal baths. If I was living there, I would stop going to gym and focus on swimming in the baths instead. I enjoyed chill in the water on a hot day. Here’s what we did over the weekend…

  Walking Tour & Sightseeing

If you visit the city, I strongly recommend trying out any of the free walking tours available. They are fun and at the same time you can learn more about the city and local history. This is the tour we attended:

Budapest Free Walking Tour

It starts every day at 10:30 am – meeting point is in the city centre, Vörösmarty square (at the lion fountain). It is free and at the end of the tour, you tip as per your budget. The tour covered some of the top sights in the city like – St.Stephen’s Basilica, Chain Bridge, Royal Palace and Fisherman Bastion. Our tour guide, A. was funny with great sense of humour and she told us more about the local history with some “politically incorrect” insights. This is what I like the most! It’s cool to hear that the Change Bridge is the biggest in Budapest or Vastagh Gyorgy and his horse’s statue (it is in Buda) is famous for the balls of the horse! Apparently, before exam local students come to the statue and touch the balls for good luck. Another interesting insight is from the communist times – after Hungary was “liberated” from the Nazis by the Soviets, “Soviets wanted to make sure that Hungary is Nazi free that they forgot to go home for the next 45 years”.

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Also, you could learn several Hungarian words, which is fun as the language is nothing like any other language in Europe. Well, apart from Finnish and Estonian – apparently the 3 countries have common ancestors, who have split after arriving in Europe. In any case, I remember the essentials:

beer is shur 

wine is por 

Other cool place to visit in Budapest is the Liberty Statue – located on one of the hills in Buda and watching over the city. This is Soviet monument, and because it looks cool it was not destroyed after the collapse of communism. It’s popular spot for young people to have a drink at sunset, and enjoy the view of the city.

Not to miss is also the building of the Parliament – the working place of the Prime Minister of Hungary. It is the 3rd biggest Parliament in the world, and its architecture is absolutely beautiful! It stands at Danube’s bank and it’s a gorgeous view in the evening with all these lights.

I wanted to visit the National Museum as well, however I did not have enough time (got distracted in the baths!). As I heard, the museum has pretty interesting artefacts around local history and pagan / nomadic past of Magyars (Hungarian ancestors).

Not to miss is also the Catholic Cathedral, St. Istvan (or Steven) which has the sacred remains (piece of an arm) of the saint, who is the 1st official king of Hungary. The cathedral is beautoful and surely would be appreciated by art lovers.

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  Jewish district and the hipster Budapest

Obviously, the Jewish district is known for the history during WW2. It starts with the Great Synagogue at Dohany Street. It is the 2nd biggest synagogue (after the one in Amsterdam), though locals claim it is the biggest. It is an interesting monument and it is worth visit – just be aware of its opening hours and dress code. Also, in its garden there is a silver tree, whose leaves contain names of Hungarian Jews killed in WW2.

I’d say the district is my favourite part of the city – it is artsy, hip and young. It reminds me of London’s Shoreditch. I like the idea of using old stuff in a creative way and creating outdoorsy places, where people can socialise over a drink.

We visited very cool place – Szimpla – like a beer garden / bar open day and night. The definition of hipster place! Also, I bet it is great spot for live music in the evenings. No wonder is popular with tourists.

We enjoyed couple of Soproni pints (local beer) before moving on to the near by street food market Karavan. Here we tried the local “communist pizza” – Langos. You could also have touristy burgers and even vegan options are available. Karavan is a cool place, good to have local fast food and some beers.

This area is also popular with the many bars, garden restaurants and night life.

Thermal Baths

This is a must experience in Budapest! The city is known for its thermal baths and so I wanted to try at least 2 of them over my short stay. Baths are increasingly popular, and as I saw sometimes you have to queue to get in. I imagine this is annoying for locals because of queuing and higher prices. We visited 2 baths – Rudas and Szechenyi.

Night swim at Rudas Bath

Rudas is located on Danube bank, near the bridge. It has several sections – thermal baths, wellness and swimming pool. Entry is around 5100 F (or £15-£16). We tried out the night bathing from 22:00 to 04:00. It was busy Saturday night, and we queued for around 25 mins until we got it. The bath is well equipped with lockers, changing rooms, showers and laundry dryer.

The wellness part has 2 big pools with different temperatures – 26 C and 33 C (if I remembered correct). There are also 2 smaller pools – very cold and very hot 42 C. I tried to get in the hot one, and my feet was burning so I gave up on it. Some people manage to stay there for several minutes – admirable! I would feel like boiled chicken if I had to get it there! I was mostly in the bigger pools, which I thought are perfect place to have a nap whilst enjoying the jacuzzi effect. Really nice massage for your back or feet.

The thermal bath part on the other hand is located in an ex mosque. The mosque built in Ottoman times was regenerated and now its beautiful building is used as a bath. The night vibes are so relaxing – lights shadowing, beautiful ceiling and light blue watered pool. The bath here has 1 major pool (I assume it should be around 34 C).Once I felt hot, I was jumping in the other smaller pools – these are 4 more pools between 28 to 42 C. After hot pool, 28 feels freezing. Not to miss is the steam room too – how long could you stay in 50 C steam?

And the best bit of the bath is the rooftop! Smaller warm pool on the roof, with view towards Buda and Danube. It was beautiful! Imagine chilling there with a drink in the pool? A dream, and I quite enjoyed it. That night was even more beautiful as it was thundering and we could see the lightening in the sky from the pool. I am not sure how safe this is, but experience is worth it.

Szechenyi Bath

This bath is different – it is actually outdoors and is located outside the city centre, next to the zoo. The best way to get there is by Metro for several stops. Again, the bath is in a beautiful yellow building. It needs some renovation, however it still looks great. It has a swimming deep pool and 2 more big warmer pools. I spent my bday day there – sunbathing and chilling in all pools, trying out the bubbles and jacuzzi. Perfect place to float. Entry is again around 5400 F. There is also restaurant when you get hungry / thirsty.

Speaking of food and drink…

Places to eat and drink

One flag here – Budapest city centre is full of Italian places. I love Italian food, however I would not eat it when in Hungary. To me – this is a tourist trap, and may suit well if you fancy pizza and burger (oh yeah, burgers everywhere). I am a fan of trying local dishes, so we were looking for places to have more Hungarian meals. Of course, in tourist areas prices are 3-4 times higher than the normal for locals. We were advised to eat in Pest, as Buda is more expensive and food is not greater.

So first – what is actually Hungarian food? Meat. Loads of meat. If you are vegetarian, or worse – vegan, you will struggle and you will not try locals meals.

Hungarian dishes

Goulash (Gulyás) – this is a soup with beef and paprika. The traditional version is soup, however tourists tend to have the stew version (which is the touristy option).

Paprikash – this is a stew with chicken, sour cream and paprika sauce, and also Hungarian version of dumplings. It is very tasty and goes well with red wine for dinner! Actually we have Paprikash in Bulgaria too, but ours is more tomato focused and no dumplings.

Langos – this is very popular street food. It is actually what Hungarian eat when drinking. It is fried fatty bread topped with sour cream and cheese. Other versions include paprika. I even saw Nutella Langos. It is very similar to our mekica – which we eat for breakfast.

Cake – Budapest has a plenty of bakeries or coffe houses and you can get delicious cakes. The traditional cake is a type of Sponge cake.

  Hungarian drinks

Alcoholic on top of that.

Wine – Hungary is a wine region, so when visiting definitely try some loal wine. Red wines are particulartly good.

Palinka – Hungarian spirit, they say up to 70% alcohol. It tastes like fire. If you tried other Eastern European spirits like rakia you know what to expect 😀

Unicum – is a traditional herbal liqaur and they say is good to have a shot when getting a cold.

  Where to eat?

Depends on your taste. We tried mixture of street places and nice restaurants.

Street food places – we tried Karavan market and the Central Hall Market. The Central Market has a range of grocery stands, souvenirs and up stairs it has several street food and Cafes. I got a chocolate truffle cake for 300 F and it was the best cake I had in town.

For breakfast, we tried to very good places: Kuglof and a French bakery Amber. At Kuglof I really liked the French toast with fried eggs and Paprika, and the massive chocolate latte. At Amber I gave a try to another chocolate cake.

For dinner, I enjoyed soup guyash at Hungarian bistro. I also tried chicken paprikash at another garden restaurant Borze Kavehaz, which was pretty good. Portions here are quite big, so I was struggling to finish my meal.

  Budapest is one of my favourite cities, and I will be back. I have always wanted to visit around NYE – as it’s beautiful and why not anjoy thermal bath again when cold?

Definitely great place for weekend trip and / or solo travel!

        Weekend break in Budapest -this is why it’s a good idea! This year my friend and I have picked Budapest as the place to celebrate our birthdays. Great way to try something different and be away from London for couple of days.

[magicaldistractions]

If you’re looking to buy sweets for your sweet or indulge your own sweet tooth, you’re sure to find an abundance of yummy choices at Walt Disney World Resort! From the decadent double chocolate brownie sundaes at Ghiradelli to freshly made funnel cakes at the Funnel Cake cart on Disney’s BoardWalk, the selection of sweets is seemingly endless! Today, I’ll cover Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets!

Funnel cake-Photo Credit Disney

Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Series & Other Basic Information

Welcome to the thirteenth edition of my Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? series! February is known for….come on….you know the answer. Sweets, sweets and more sweets! I’m here to give you the scoop on where to find sweets for your sweet (and yourself too). This article is titled: Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets!.

Links to previous articles in the series will be provided later on in the article.

Basic Information

The intent of my Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? series is to help you plan a fantastic and memorable trip to Walt Disney World Resort. It is my hope that both first timers and seasoned Disney vets enjoy the series and the information that I post.

Magical DIStractions is dedicated to providing our readers with the most accurate and up-to-date information that we possibly can. Walt Disney World is a vacation destination that is always changing and expanding. So, there is a possibility that some of the things that I write about in this article may change location or change in style before you visit.

How to make the most of this article’s tips and links

You will notice as you are reading along and as is reflected above, some of the wording in this article is highlighted in light pink. My fellow team members and I write about our experiences, upcoming events and things to do while at Walt Disney World, and when you click on the highlighted wording, you’ll be taken to articles and pages that refer to certain topics. There is no need to go anywhere but to Magical DIStractions to find the information that you seek.

‘Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets for my Sweet!

Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets!

Caramel, Caramel, Caramel

Presented by Werther’s Original, Karamell-Küche  is a shop in the Germany Pavilion of  World Showcase. The moment you step inside, you are surrounded by everything caramel.  There are pre-packaged goodies from Werther’s Original such creamy caramel-filled hard candy, or caramel covered popcorn. In the cases, you’ll find a large selection of fresh candy, caramel candy, caramel and chocolate dipped strawberries and pineapple spears and other delectable treats.

One of the more unique offerings found at Karamell-Küche are the Caramel Bacon Squares. Each square contains Werther’s Original caramel and bits of bacon both inside and out. My personal favorite is the Turtle candy which is caramel with pecans with both covered in chocolate. Yummy!

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Cronut

What exactly is a cronut? A cronut is a fried delightful snack that’s a cross between a croissant and a donut and it is oh so very good! “It’s sweet, it’s warm, it’s deep fried and topped with cinnamon and sugar,” says Epcot Executive Chef Jens Dahlmann. “Simply delicious.” (Excerpt Disney Parks Blog)

At a price of less than $5 and a snack option on the Disney Dining Plan, a cronut is a very budget friendly sweet for your sweet! These delicious goodies can be found at Refreshment Port in Epcot.

Cronut-Photo credit Disney Parks Blog

Cupcakes

Cupcakes. in a variety of flavors and sizes, are found all over Walt Disney World Resort.  No matter if you are in the parks, at one of the Disney Resort hotels or at Disney Springs, you’re sure to find the perfect cupcake for your sweetheart. Today, I’ll talk about just a few of the cupcakes available. Magical DIStractions has menus for most Walt Disney World Restaurants.

Be Our Guest

Some of the most delicious cupcakes that I’ve ever had were those served at Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom park. The Master’s Cupcake is a scrumptious chocolate sponge cake topped with Lumiere’s special “Grey Stuff”. The pretty “pearls” are actually edible as is the pretty chocolate square! And, yes, the “grey stuff” IS delicious!

The Master’s Cupcake Be Our Guest Restaurant-Photo Credit Lisa McBride

If you want a little something tart but still sweet, the Lemon Meringue Cupcake is for you! The cupcake is a vanilla sponge cake with a lemon custard filling and flamed meringue icing.

Be Our Guest sweets-Photo credit Disney

While The Master’s Cupcake and the Lemon Meringue Cupcakes were so very good, the Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake was divine! This vanilla sponge cake has a strawberry mousse filling and cream cheese icing. Topping it off is a fresh strawberry slice and a small bite of chocolate.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake Be Our Guest Restaurant-Photo Credit Lisa McBride

Creature Comforts

In Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, stop by Creature Comforts for their specialty cupcake, the Cotton Top Tamarin Cupcake. DIStracted Tip: When you order a Starbucks Flat White Latte, a portion of the sale helps preserve the Cotton Top!

Cotton Top Tamarin Cupcake Creature Comforts – Photo Credit Disney

Contempo Cafe

The pastry team at Disney’s Contemporary Resort creates beautiful cupcakes, each one a work of art and are oh so flavorful!

Contempo Cafe cupcakes-Photo credit Disney

ABC Commissary

The cute and tasty Olaf Cupcake is available at the ABC Commissary in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The yellow cake is moist and delicious and the icing is smooth and creamy. You may notice that the actual cupcake that I received was slightly different that the one on the sign but it was still great.

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Olaf Cupcake from ABC Commissary-Photo credit Lisa McBride

Old Port Royale

Old Port Royale in Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort serves a fan favorite cupcake! The Monkey Cupcake is a chocolate or vanilla cupcake with creamy filling and sliced bananas in the middle. After just one bite, you’re sure to see why Guests go ape over it!

Monkey Cupcake at Old Port Royale at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort-Picture by Lisa McBride

 Sprinkles

“Treat yourself to sought-after, gourmet cupcakes baked fresh daily with unique flavors and high-quality ingredients. You can also succumb to late-night cravings with a visit to the perky, pink Cupcake ATM nestled outside.” (Excerpt Walt Disney World website) Sprinkles is located in Disney Springs and is the perfect place to stop and treat your sweet to a sweet! Guests can indulge themselves with a gourmet banana, chocolate marshmallow, carrot, or salty caramel cupcake. Gluten free, sugar free and Vegan options are available.

Sprinkles-Photo Credit Disney

Funnel Cakes

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a freshly made funnel cake! Some of the toppings include your choice of powdered sugar, chocolate syrup, apples, strawberries or vanilla ice cream.  Some locations even sell a funnel cake gift kit to take home! With this purchase, you can relive your sweet funnel cake moment after you get home. Guests will find Funnel Cake served at the Oasis Canteen in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Funnel Cake Cart on Disney’s BoardWalk, at the Funnel Cake shop located in the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot and at Sleepy Hollow in the Magic Kingdom.

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Ghirardelli Everything

The world-famous chocolatier delivers decadent sundaes smothered with hot, house-made fudge as well as chocolate treats and drinks. Strike It Rich with specialty San Francisco-themed sundaes, shakes and floats. One of the chocolately of chocolate delights that they serve is the Ghiardelli Double Chocolate brownie.

If you want to really indulge your sweet tooth, order the Earthquake Family Favorite: Eight scoops of Ice Cream, fresh Bananas and eight delicious toppings. Finished with Whipped Cream, chopped Almonds, Ghirardelli® Mini Semisweet Chocolate Chips and Cherries! The Earthquake is large enough it can feed 4!

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Stroll along the seashore till you stumble upon this quaint stop where you can entice your palate with a host of freshly made house favorites—from baked goods, soups, salads and sandwiches to a selection of beverages, both hot and cold.

Pastries

Some of the best pastries on Walt Disney World property can be found at Les Halles Boulangerie in the France Pavilion in Epcot.  There, you can sample delectable treats and tempting delicacies from a traditional French bakery. The menu includes: Napoleon, a puff pastry layered with cream; Framboise, a raspberry mousse cake; Frangipane, almond filling between puff pastries. There are all sorts of delightful goodies served at Les Halles Boulangierie!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

  Specialty Cakes & Pastries

Amorette’s Patisserie, an artsy yet sophisticate pastry shop, is located in Disney Springs. The shop sells a wide array of exquisite goodies such as elcairs, New York style cheesecake, gluten-free macaroons and even signature cakes! Surprise your sweetheart, birthday boy or girl or celebrate any special occasion by placing an advance order for one of Amorette’s Patisserie eye-catching cakes. To pre-order, call (407) 934-3500. You can also stop by their shop in Disney Springs at least 72 hours in advance and place your order in person. For additional information, use this link.

Disney  Cake Hotline!

There’s no better way to surprise your sweetheart than with a specialty cake! Disney chefs can help bring your dream surprise to reality when you order a custom cake. While there is no official website that you can visit to view the cakes that are available,  there is a thread on the Disboards that is kept up-to-date by the wonderful lurkyloo.  Pictures have been posted by many who have ordered the cakes.

Cakes range from the standard “podium cake”  to gorgeous grand confections that come in a variety of flavors and decorative styles.

How far in advance should you order? If you have a specific design in mind, you should contact the Disney Cake Hotline abut 3 to 4 weeks ahead and absolutely no less than 48 hours ahead. As a matter of fact, some locations require 72 hours’ notice.

Can I send in a picture of what I want? Once you make contact with a Disney cast member through the Cake Hotline, you can work with them to e-mail photos to the pastry chef.

What number do I call? Call the Cake-Ordering Hotline at 407-827-2253.

A previous Magical DIStractions writer wrote about her experience with Disney’s Cake Ordering service and she gave it a great review.

Disney Floral and Gifts

Disney Floral and Gifts offers cakes and even packages that include celebration cakes.  For ordering information and to view the other offerings, visit the Disney Floral and Gifts site.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Let your sweetheart know just how they special they are to you by ordering a celebration cake through Disney Floral and Gifts. The Celebration Floral Cake is stunningly beautiful! Looking for something a little more romantic? How about their Two Day Romantic Experience package?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Just the tip of the icing!

The sweets for your sweet options that I’ve covered in this article are just a very few of what you’ll find on your trip to Walt Disney World! There are so very many options to choose from. If you  want to tickle our sweetheart’s taste buds, try some of the suggested sweets that I’ve written about or search our website for other possible options!

 Links to previous articles in the Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Series

The series began with Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? The Drinks & Snacks: Park Edition which posted in April, 2015. The next two articles were also food themed, The Counter Service Parks Edition and The Table Service Parks Edition. In honor of National Ice Cream Day, National Margarita Day and then International Waffle Day, there were respectively, The Cool Treats Edition, The Margaritas Edition, and The Waffles Edition.

I decided to veer off the food course and the next article was Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? A Place to Put My Stuff which gave readers tips on where to store their things while in the theme parks, water parks, etc. The next two articles focused on resorts. Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Everything at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Everything at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort.

For those cruising with Disney Cruise Line, I wrote Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Everything on Disney’s Castaway Cay! Readers wanting to know all about being pampered while at Walt Disney World, can find all that they need to know in the Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Spa Services.

Where in Walt Disney World Can I Find? Sweets! If you're looking to buy sweets for your sweet or indulge your own sweet tooth, you're sure to find an abundance of yummy choices at Walt Disney World Resort!