Going global down in the Brum

Birmingham is renowned for its apparent discovery of the Balti; and with the city's Balti Triangle (Ladypool Road, Stoney Lane and Stratford Road) hosting hundreds of top-notch Balti restaurants and takeaways there's no need to lick the armpits of fellow passengers on a flight to India for a hit of tasty curry. Al Frash (186 Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, B12 8JS, 0121 753 3120), one of Brum's most popular Balti hang-outs, saves you the plane ticket and hassle.

No city would be complete without its very own Chinese Quarter and Brum's China Town is situated around the Arcadian Complex, home to tons of authentic Chinese restaurants and supermarkets. If you're up for something a little more sophisticated and genuine than the canteen atmosphere and regular tacky 'Happy Birthday' renditions found at buffet belter Big Wok (5 Wrottesley Street, B5 4RT, 0121 666 6800), then pay a visit to China Court, (24 Ladywell Walk, B5 4ST, 0121 666 7031). It's often packed with the local Chinese community, which means one of two things:

a) the food/décor is bang on 10 in the authenti-scale

b) Big Wok was full again.

Birmingham hosts the 3rd largest St Paddy's Day parade in the world (only beaten by Dublin, of course, and New York), and the city's Irish Quarter is crammed with enough Irish pubs to have you swimming home in a sea of Guinness in no time. The Irish Club (16–20 High Street, Deritend, B12 OLN, 0121 622 2314) is the central hub for Irish dancing, music, language and drama. Every Tuesday night the Kenny School of Dance hosts adult Irish dance lessons from 8.30pm–10pm for just a fiver so once you've filled your belly with pre-class booze down at the recently re-opened Dubliner (57 High Street, Digbeth), go and shake it all out with Kenny and co.

Ok, so paying £6.50 to wander around some pretty flowers may not sound as exciting as jetting off around the world to see them in their natural habitat, but The Birmingham Botanical Gardens (Westbourne Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3TR, 0121 454 1860) is nearly just as good. And it'll only take an afternoon as well, so you won't miss Eastenders.

The Gardens is home to the courtyard Japanese Garden, or 'tsubo-niwa', which translates to 'garden between buildings' (they don't mess about do they). It leads the way to the National Bonsai Collection, and let's be honest, who isn't fascinated by a whole real tree you can fit in your hand? No? Well ok then, we'll see you in the Dubliner.