WHERE I’D RATHER BE ...
SHORT HAUL
The Nelson Buskers’ Festival brings four days of street performance to town from this Thursday. Gather on Trafalgar St during the day, or the Church Steps in the evenings for family-friendly shows, or visit The Boathouse on Wakefield Quay for ticketed R16 performances.
EATING: In this coastal town, I’d be on the lookout for the best seafood on offer, and the Urban Oyster Bar & Eatery the perfect place to start. urbaneatery.co.nz
DRINKING: In one of New Zealand’s sunniest regions, I’ll take a cold beer thanks. The Workshop Bar & Brewery brews on site, and welcomes guest brewers from around the country. theworkshopbrewery.co.nz STAYING: A short drive from town is Cable Bay Lodge with gorgeous treehouse cabins overlooking Wakapuaka Inlet. Grab one of the lodge’s kayaks if you’re feeling energetic — there are private beaches to be discovered. cablebaylodge.co.nz
MID HAUL
The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is the world’s largest free-entry arts and culture festival. Held every year in south Mumbai, this year’s festival will feature street events, films, architecture and dance. Kalaghodaassociation.com
EATING: Biryani at the crumbling and historic Britannia & Co. Founded in 1923, the cafe serves Parsi food — pulavs, biryani and their famous creme caramel. There is no website but the cafe is at Wakefield House, 11 Sprott Rd, South Mumbai.
DRINKING: Aer on top of the Four Seasons offers panoramic views of the city from 34 floors up. And happy hour runs for three hours from 5.30pm. fourseasons.com/mumbai STAYING: Khotachiwadi is an historic area of Mumbai with architecture from Portuguese rule in the 1500s. Here you’ll find the 200-year-old Ferreira House, a unique three-roomed B&B (with no website) owned by a local fashion designer.
LONG HAUL
Sweden’s incredible Gothenburg Film Festival has been running since the 1970s. Over 10 days more than 500 films from nearly 90 countries are shown as well as features music, art and seminars. goteborgfilmfestival.se
EATING: Sweden’s traditional fika roughly means “to have coffee and a snack” but it’s much more than that. It’s a ritual observed in cafes and workplaces around the country, to allow people to slow down and reconnect.
DRINKING: Stranger is a low-lit underground bar that draws on classic cocktails, then serves them up with some wild twists. I dare you to try the Belarus Sour, which contains Zubrowka’s famous Bison Grass vodka, pickled cabbage and birch sap. strangergbg.com STAYING: At the boutique-feeling Hotel Bellora, you’ll be at the centre of the action. The city’s nightlife is at the doorstep, or there’s a lively bar attached if you’d rather stay in. hotelbellora.se