Deciding that you want to travel is easy, and most of us get to that point relatively quickly!  The difficulty comes in determining what exactly to do next.  Over the coming weeks, I will be posting a series of travel tips aimed at helping you when planning a big trip.

When you read through the blogs of other travellers, it soon becomes apparent that there is no rule in relation to the question of “where to begin”.  Everyone has different circumstances, reasons for travelling, and their own story.  The one consistent theme is that everyone had a plan.  I’m not talking about a plan that requires a novel’s worth of detail and strict adherence; I’m talking about a focus to build your travels around.

Nate from Yomadic had a plan to travel the world indefinitely, and spent a good year setting himself up to be able to do this.  Where he has travelled, how long he has spent in each city, what he has done in each city, and where he is going next are all very fluid things, however the initial plan to travel the world indefinitely provided the focus needed to get things started.

Earl from Wandering Earl decided to travel around South East Asia for 3 months after graduation.  After the 3 months had passed, Earl had well and truly caught the travel bug and has been travelling continuously for over 12 years!  The life that Earl lives now is a life that he couldn’t have imagined when he first left the USA for South East Asia, however it was that initial 3 month plan that gave him a focus – something manageable to kick-start things.

As for myself, I’d known that I’d wanted to explore the world beyond the confines of my hometown Perth since the 7^th grade.  As I reached my university years, a solid plan to move to the UK after I graduated from law school developed.  I would live and work in London and use the UK as a base from which I could explore Europe.  Perhaps “Australian moves to London to work and travel around Europe” isn’t the most unique of stories, but it is my story.  For several years, I worked full time and studied full time, knowing that I had this goal in mind.  2 months after graduation, and one way ticket in hand, I was on a plane to London.

The 3 stories above are all different.  From a plan to go to South East Asia for 3 months, to a plan to move to London and see what happened next, to a plan to indefinitely travel, the one common theme is that there was a plan.  The plans were all flexible, and all lead onto things that were not planned at all.  What having a plan does is to provide you with a focus.  It makes your dream tangible, gives you something that you can work towards, and is the first step towards making things happen.

Throughout my travels, one thing that I have noticed is the number of people who choose to eat at sub-par establishments.  All over the world, there are countless cafes and restaurants located in prime tourist areas.  While you can, indeed, find some gems in these areas, more often than not the places that you’ll find in these areas serve food that is passable at best, and most certainly overpriced for what it is – a typical tourist trap restaurant.

Why do people continue to eat at these places then?  The answer is simple – location.  Foreign city, hungry, there’s food, done.  Even the most seasoned of travellers, and those who know all the best places to eat in their home towns  can fall into this trap – it’s very easy to do.  The thing is, with just the smallest amount of research, you’ll find that there will always almost be something amazing very nearby – something that isn’t aimed at tourists and isn’t overpriced.

A false assumption that a lot of people make in relation to food, not just when they travel but in general, is that anywhere good must be expensive, and that the better the food is, the more expensive it must be.  The reality, in fact, could not be further from the truth.  More often than not, the good stuff will actually cost you less than the tourist traps!  Let me give you one example to illustrate this point.

In London, all the tourist guides talk about having a curry in Brick Lane.  Brick Lane is a great area to walk through, full of character and life, and there are some great markets, Rough Trade East (one of my favourite record stores), and some great bars and food places.  Brick Lane, however, is not the place to get a curry in London.  You’ll arrive there and be greeted with the sight and sounds of individuals standing at the front of restaurants, inviting you to come in and have a feed.  The windows of these establishments are stickered with claims of the numerous awards and accolades that their food has received over the years.  “Come in”, “have something to eat”, “very tasty” and the ubiquitous “I’ll give you a special price”.  Everyone trying to encourage you to come in for a meal will make you offers – “30% off your meal”, ‘40% off”, “50% off and drinks are free!”

It all sounds great, and in you.  Will you have a good time?  Sure.  No matter where you are, as long as the food isn’t absolutely terrible and the company is good, you’ll enjoy yourself.  The fact of the matter is however, that you’ll walk out of the establishment having eaten a very ordinary curry and, despite the “deal” that you got; you will have still paid too much for what you ate.

Just around the corner from Brick Lane, not more than a 10 minute walk away, on the other side of Whitechapel Road, are 3 of the best curry houses in London.  Tayyabs, Lahore Kebab House, and Needoo Grill.  They are separated from their Brick Lane counterparts by a few key things:

1. There is nobody standing out the front trying to entice you to enter – they know their food is great and have a steady stream of customers every night.
2. The price is fixed – despite the lack of “special prices for you”, a full price meal at any one of these three establishments will cost you less than a “special discount” meal anywhere on Brick Lane.
3. The menus are focused – These establishments don’t offer every combination of every sub-continental dish imaginable under the sun.  They offer a great range of curries and grilled meats.  Very authentic, and done to perfection.
4. The clientele is local – These places aren’t full of tourists.  There are some tourists who have discovered them yes, but mostly the clientele is local, including many Indians and Pakistanis.  They know what’s good, and come here time and time again for the good stuff.

It is plain to see then, with just a little bit of research, you can get an amazing meal, of high quality, in a place aimed at locals, for cheaper than anything you’d find in a touristy area.  Every single city that I have visited has had examples like this, and more often than not these places are only a short stroll from the tourist spots.

If you look at the “food” category in the sidebar of this website, you can find links to some of the places I’ve eaten at and written about.  Over the coming months, I will be looking to supplement my travel photo updates with posts containing food recommendations.  I believe in integrity and will only write about places that I have eaten at myself, or have heard good things about from trusted, reliable sources (I.e. friends who are as passionate about good food as I am).  I will state which is the case each and every time.

In the current case, I have eaten at all 3 of the curry houses discussed, and my preference, in order, is:

Tayyabs:                         83-89 Fieldgate St  London E1 1JU, United Kingdom

Lahore Kebab House:   2-10 Umberston St  London, Greater London E1 1PY, United Kingdom

Needoo Grill:                 87 New Rd  London E1 1HH, United Kingdom