If you find yourself in London, at a loose end, fancy something just a little bit different, then give the Mandalay a go.

It can be found at 444 Edgware Rd Tel: 020 7258 3696. The nearest tube is at Edgware Rd.

The London and New York Globetrotter chairs went to dinner there earlier in the year (with their friend Rob of Grand Canyon fame!) and they had a great time saying the food was fantastic and the owners really friendly and interesting about their country.

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This was our first trip to Bali and I have to say that the Balinese are in general the loveliest people, very gentle and welcoming.

Driving out there was a real experience though! It appears that the traffic laws (where there are any) don’t apply to the thousands of motor bikes on the road. It was common to have them coming at you in a one way street!

Prices are fantastic, it cost us about a fiver to tank up a big people carrier, they thought we were mad driving ourselves but once you get used to it and remember to use your horn as much as they do it’s not too bad.

Certainly a destination I’d recommend and will definitely be going back. Kuta is very touristy but get out of town and it’s a whole different world.

Joanne is from Canada and works with the Beetle. She has not been in the UK very long. She had never been to a bonfire night!

We explained to her that on November 5^th, 1605, the Catholic Guy Fawkes and some fellow conspirators, crept into the Houses of Parliament and stored lots of barrels of gunpowder in an attempt to blow up the houses of Parliament.

He and his associates were caught and taken away to the Tower of London and beheaded. Since this time, each year, on November 5^th, the entire country celebrate the foiling of this event (I know, it seems strange!) by having a bonfire with an effigy of Guy Fawkes and we have huge organized and private firework displays.

The public firework displays are always stunning! One of the best ones in London is at Primrose Hill and starts at 7.30pm on the closest Saturday to 5^th November.