Author Archives: David Murray

Forbidden City

28th January, 2016 | Article By David Murray

CultureGood ValueShoppingTravel


On a recent business trip to China, I had to spend a couple of weeks in Beijing.  What struck me immediately, was how everybody seemed so content meandering around each other, all with a purpose and clearly with somewhere to get to, yet untroubled by the inability to go from A to B without the constant need to weave in and out to avoid all those obstacles (bodies) in their way.

Considering the population of the place, government statistics suggest 20.5 million people in 2013, I did not experience any rage or animosity during my stay.  It did make me wonder how intolerant people living in the UK have become.

There are a fair few bicycles, buses, and other forms of transport on the roads but for tourists, undoubtably the easiest way to get around the city is by Taxi.  I calculated, due to the traffic congestion, the average journey time was around an hour which cost about £2.30, hard to believe I know, but true.  For westerners this is a cheap option, not so for the Chinese, leaving only the reasonably wealthy affording this luxury.

There is so much choice when it comes to shopping, you wouldn’t want to be one of those people that can’t make a decision about what to buy without visiting every retail outlet, otherwise you’d be shopping for weeks. Still, if one shop looks busy, there is the advantage that you can simply pop into another, selling exactly the same items.

What I love about Beijing is the hustle and bustle of it all and the variety of restaurants available.  Yes of course you need to be careful about where you eat, but I never had a bad meal, the food was great and really inexpensive.  The one thing I will do when I return again to this magical place, is take time to see a bit more of Beijing’s historic sites.  Nevertheless, I did get to meet the architect who designed the Airport terminal building, a really nice unassuming character.

Elevated Dining

5th April, 2015 | Article By David Murray

EntertainmentFood and DrinkOccasionsRestaurantsViews

The Shard Oblix Restaurant – with my wife’s birthday on the horizon and with reservation in hand (2 months in advance) I was very much looking forward to an evening at The Shard Oblix Restaurant and a menu devised by founder and renowned Chef Rainer Becker.

The lift accelerates us up to the 32nd floor which seems to take no time at all, where we are welcomed by staff and escorted to the lounge bar for pre-meal drinks.

The view from this now famous landmark and prominent feature on London’s skyline is something very special, one can’t help but admire this amazing feat of engineering, which took just over three years to complete. Viewing London from this perspective is not something everyone gets a chance to see that often and I was pleased that we had been catapulted past the long queues for the general viewing platform and into a fashionable and sophisticated setting floating way above the frenzy of Friday night commuting. Our first cocktail was soon consumed whilst admiring the cityscape and before we new it our table was ready and we were handed the wine and food menus.

The impressive wine selection available didn’t make our choice particularly easy so we enlisted the help of the head sommelier Daniel Murray, a fellow Scot, who was brilliant. His recommendations throughout the meal were nothing other than spot on, I certainly was impressed. Having eaten in some of the world’s best restaurants touting michelin stars, he certainly new his stuff.

My starter, a really interesting squid dish, was delicious, followed by beef tenderloin and ultra smooth mash which was perfect. I shouldn’t have stretched to a dessert, but could not resist after browsing the selection on offer, this was washed down with a small glass of Italian dessert wine.

As we were not quite ready to depart, we returned to the lounge bar, to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening listening to the live band, who by the way were very good. Modern jazz playing in the background against a backlit London view – had I died and gone to heaven and could fine dining get any better than this?

Fantastic night out, bring your credit card with a decent credit limit on it, you’ll need it!

Palais des Papes

23rd March, 2015 | Article By David Murray

AttractionsHistoric BldgsHolidaysSightseeing

You can’t holiday in Provence without a visit to The Palais des Papes in Avignon.  This magnificent monument was constructed in 1335 and finished in under twenty years and is still proving to be one of the most visited attractions in France.

The building itself, stands proud in the centre of the city, unfortunately, there’s not a lot to see internally as nearly all of its artefacts and furnishings were removed back in the twelfth century. Still, it is an architectural feat and oozes history from it’s extremely thick walls.  Years of tourists trundling up and down the corridors and stairs have worn away the stone in places, yet this enormous historical statement hasn’t lost any of its bygone patina.   

As you leave the building, immediately opposite is the Pont d’ Avignon, a lovely old stone arched bridge spanning the Rhone River.  Most tourists like to take a walk across what is left of this well-known bridge (partially destroyed when Louis Vlll laid siege to the city) kind of seals the end of a rewarding day’s sightseeing. 

Hotter than the pot!

1st March, 2015 | Article By David Murray

Food and DrinkRestaurants

I was one of the first to visit this now famous Indian Restaurant in London’s fashionable borough of Kensington, when it opened its doors back in 1982.  Thirty two years on and it’s still serving delicious, authentic, Bombay influenced food.

This is not your average run of the mill indian food establishment, the kind you get on most every high street in Britain, this is a carefully infused, gastronomic experience of the highest order.  From the moment you arrive, you feel like you have been transported back in time, where the service is spot on and you are made to feel that your custom is most valued.  Nowadays, the spices of India tantalise our taste buds at every turn and our senses have become somewhat dulled to the exotic and more extraordinary dishes, people preferring to stick to their Friday favourite – Chicken Tikka Masala.

Today, at the Bombay Brasserie, chef is serving such delights as pan fried chilean sea bass, on a base of spinach and mushrooms, followed by saffron and pistachio rice pudding, with a rose cream biscuit – tempted to try something different – you should be!

Under the Provence Sun

27th January, 2015 | Article By David Murray

BoatingFood and DrinkHolidaysRelaxingScenery

On a recent visit to Cassis, I was totally blown away by the amazing light contrasts that seemed to change and enhance the ambiance of this beautiful fishing port, famous for its cliffs or Calanques as they are known in France.

You can hire a small boat for an hour and enjoy cruising around the inlets, getting glimpses of caves eroded by the sea over thousands of years. By the time I set foot back on terra firma, I was ready for a glass of locally produced rosé, together with a huge bowl of Bouillabaisse and half a baguette, the perfect end to a leisurely morning. The waiter in the restaurant recommended that I take a trip along the coastline to Bandol, 30 kilometres from Cassis.

This is a region known for producing probably the best rosé in France. My wife and I were delighted to taste several varieties, one that stood out for us was from CHATEAU DE PIBARNON, producteur de très grande qualité, served chilled of course, simply outstanding.  Less than one hour south of Aix en Provence, this whole area is a must see for anybody who loves the sea, wine and fine cuisine.

Ride like the Wind

18th December, 2014 | Article By David Murray

EntertainmentShows


Our children had all read the novel by Michael Morpurgo and were really keen to see this highly acclaimed stage production, so I booked six tickets and we waited with anticipation for our special night out.

The contemporary venue, not notably special, as are some of the more illustrious in London’s West End, yet the New London Theatre served its purpose and opened it doors to a wonderful evening’s entertainment. 

The stage sets were amazing and the horse puppetry was astounding, the atmosphere of war consumed the auditorium and the audience was transfixed throughout the performance.

It is a stark, realistic account of WWI with some graphic, sobering scenes not often portrayed on stage, punctuated by gripping emotion that can only be felt in the flesh.

Medieval Splendour

23rd July, 2014 | Article By David Murray

CafesHistoric BldgsHistoryHotelsParks-Gardens


In the medieval period, Lavenham in Suffolk, was rated as one of the top twenty wealthiest settlements in the Country.  Having just visited the village again, its not hard to understand why this was the case.  The whole look and feel of the place just oozes quality, from its thirteen century market square, the Guildhall built in 1529, to the swish Great House Hotel located in the centre.

There is an abundance of tea rooms and the odd antique shop, so plenty of opportunities to indulge in one of my favourite pastimes i.e. drinking tea and eating large slabs of cake!  On the day of my visit, the gardens that adorn this beautiful village were opening their doors to the public, so we could all get a brief glimpse of their labours of love, the smell of climbing flowers was amazing, following me down the winding streets.

With regard to activities, a what’s on guide is produced from April to December.  I will be looking forward to re-visiting in August, when the village will be hosting the popular rare breeds classic car show.  Parking can be a bit of a problem, so make sure you get there early.

The US army air force 487th bombardment group manned the airfield at Lavenham during the second world war from March 1944 to August 1945, flying 185 missions and over six thousand sorties, a fantastic achievement.  The control tower has been preserved and continues to be well-maintained unlike the remainder of the buildings which have fallen into disrepair.

I have it on good authority that the Lavenham Brook Vineyard is producing some of the UK’s best wine, winning awards in 2012/13, so I know where I will be going after the car show!

Eat First Talk Later

| Article By David Murray

Food and DrinkGood ValueRestaurants

Where does one eat in a City where there are thousands of restaurants?  Good question. Sometimes a recommendation is often the best endorsement and the reason why I decided to try a trendy upmarket restaurant, just a short taxi ride from the city centre.

With the majority of the clientele being wealthy city workers and foreigners, I was beginning to think this could be an expensive night out. The menu was vast, offering an extensive array of authentic dishes from in and around Shanghai, with an amazing selection of European wines to compliment the food.  Apart from the meal, which was just the best, the other reason I loved this place so much was the way in which I was received on arrival and throughout my time there.  The manager, a guy called Zen, made me feel extremely welcome and helped me choose some of my dishes.  He was also very knowledgeable about the wine being served.  He really was genuinely warm in his approach.

The biggest surprise was when I asked for the bill, it was a third cheaper than I was expecting.  I ate in Lynn’s Restaurant for five of my seven days in this fantastic city, a great testament to the quality of this eatery.  So if you are ever in Shanghai don’t forget to pay Zen and his team a visit.

Shout it from the Rooftops

| Article By David Murray

AttractionsFunViews

The London Eye located on the South Bank of the River Thames, facing Westminster Abbey, is now becoming one of the most frequented tourist attractions in London, with visitor numbers now in the millions and its not hard to understand why.

It’s always best to book in advance, so you don’t have to queue up for your ticket, this will speed up the boarding process and the continuous rotation of the wheel also helps to keep the flow of tourists moving.  It is always better when you don’t really feel like you are having to wait at a standstill.

The 30 minute journey takes you up to the dizzy heights of 135 metres, on a clear day you can expect to see as far as 40 kilometres in all directions, simply stunning!

One doesn’t always get the chance to see low level aerial views of London, for this reason, as with all ferris wheels, it will always prove to be a popular means for tourists to see the sights.  I, like many others, have a real fascination with heights, but even if you are a bit nervous, the whole experience feels really safe and therefore, eliminating any fear factor.

If you haven’t already done it, be sure to get ROUND TO IT!

Roar of the Lions

21st July, 2014 | Article By David Murray

EntertainmentShows

Every once in a while, a musical production is brought to the stage without really knowing whether it will be a success or not.  The Lion King on the other hand is proof that it is worth the gamble.  Off the back of the highly successful film version, which was released back in 1994, this theatrical production brings everything to life at The Lyceum (commonly known the Lyceum Ballroom back in the fifties) just off The Strand in Covent Garden.

For anybody that has children and has watched the movie, you will know doubt have hummed, or even sung, your way through the many extremely catchy songs that embellish this fantastic sound track.  The drums beating out from the balconies created a real sense of African atmosphere.  I could literally feel the rumble of the jungle resonating through my body.  The family and I have seen it twice in London and we plan to go again very soon, only this time I will book well in advance.

My two youngest daughters attend a dance and performing arts school at the weekends, so this is right up their street.  When we leave the theatre, we can’t wait until we get into the car, so we can all sing along with the CD.  It really is a must see, especially for the children.