The boatmen of the Nile have a unique way of selling their goods.
My mum, the pilot
Once upon a time, a little girl was told that women shouldn’t fly airplanes … I grew up knowing ‘mum…
The tablecloth sellers of the Nile
Top 10 travel tips for a day trip to the Golden Temple in Amritsar
The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, is a must-see spiritual site for Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike. If visiting on a day trip from Delhi, take an early flight, dress modestly, and follow temple customs. Prepare for a queue to enter, explore the Central Sikh Museum, volunteer in the kitchens, and consider visiting the Partition Museum and Jalianwala Bagh.
“Vine leaves! We just want vine leaves!!”
Why do some tourists act differently in restaurants on holiday? The other day I was at a beach cafe with…
So, what does it mean to be ‘acting suspiciously’?
A few days ago I was surrounded by four policemen with automatic weapons who were asking me what I was…
Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the summer of ’89
A climb up the Leaning Tower of Pisa and helping a stranger to the top.
Just one of those days when the travel stuff goes wrong
The day had started so well, but the travel mishaps came one after another. It was a bad travel day.
The F*** word, the trickiest word in the English language
F word is perhaps the most varying and interchangeable word in the English language. Mesmersing, confusing, even bamboozling, sometimes cool in the right company and nearly always crude and vulgar.
“So, where are you REALLY from?”
This week the headlines in London were about a royal aide who continuously asked a British woman of colour where…
How the cenotes of Mexico cured my deepest fear
We all have fears right? Some fear the dark, some fear flying, small spaces or spiders. For me though, ever…
No cash, no gas, 40 kms from home
A spot of bother running out of gas in Mexico
Similar objects of Assam and Myanmar: some travel notes
A couple of years ago I visited Assam, a state in north east India, and Myanmar on the same trip and noticed several similar objects.
The awkward incident of the cat in the afternoon
The lengths I go to to protect my cat. Honestly. It was so embarrassing I haven’t seen my next door…
Bird talk: how an innocent childhood hobby got the whole class laughing
Preface: in the 1980s the word bird was used as British slang to mean a girl or a woman. It…
Flying in the time of Covid
It’s not all bad news. The airport queues are short, bookshops are a breeze and even wearing a face mask…
A hike in the Himalayan snow
We left the glimmering lake at Dodital to climb another thousand metres, ascending pine forests, crossing streams and meadows to…
Spending half a day at the bank
It wasn’t quite how I imagined the start of my Himalayan adventure. This is the second part of the blog…
A Merry Assamese Christmas (repost)
Man, those Assamese really know how to party. Here’s something I’m reposting from a couple of years ago, fond memories…
Crossing a special sea between Bali and the Gili Islands
It was a day that started serene, went chaotic and became serene again. A chaos sandwich, if you will This…
A funny incident in the men’s loo
Men’s bathroom protocol | What goes on in the men’s loos? | What is a loo? | A funny incident|…
To Bali and Beyond…
The final week of our amazing 90 days backpacking in southeast Asia arrived far too soon. In search of some…
Thoughts on returning home after backpacking around Southeast Asia for 90 days
Or … why you can never really ‘do’ a country We’ve been back now for six weeks after our 90…
Photography: Sunset over the Sulu Sea
Selingan Island | Sabah Province | Malaysia
Things that can go wrong when travel-blogging
How to blog on the go when you’re in a relationship | when your thumb decides to blog without you…
Photography: Landscapes of Bagan
Last month we were in Bagan, a dusty plain in Myanmar, where there are over 2,000 temples and pagodas, some…
Turtle island, Selingan Island, Borneo
The islands between Malaysia and the Philippines must be some of the loveliest islands in the world. During the day…
How to see orangutans in Borneo
We arrived in Sepilok in Borneo, the world’s third largest island, famed for its wildlife. We saw orangutans at play…
Finding the perfect perfume in Singapore
We’d landed in Singapore, our 6th country and 28th place on our 90 day travels around southeast Asia We immediately…
Things to see on Lake Inle in Myanmar
After a one hour flight from Bagan, a 45 minute taxi and a 50 minute boat ride, we were in…
What to see in Bagan, Myanmar
Imagine over 2,000 ancient stone temples, the fruits of devotion that have lasted almost a millennium. Some grandiose, topped in…
What to do in Mandalay
The lay of the land can be a great tell about a people just like a first view of Myanmar…
Landing in the sea at Halong Bay, Vietnam
We arrived via seaplane, landing in a sea filled with spectacular limestone cliffs rising out of the water. Hanoi to…
What to see in Vietnam: Hoi An, Hué and Hanoi
We visited the ancient trading port of Hoi An and the old royal capital Hué, and then on to Vietnam’s…
Getting over a fever in central Vietnam
We’re now half-way through our 90 days backpacking in south east Asia and we had just arrived in central Vietnam…
Visit the Saigon Opera House
Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam There are many tourist activities to do in Ho Chi Minh City but we…
Goodbye Laos, you beauty
In the south of Laos, we climbed a World Heritage Site called Wat Phu and relaxed on river islands in…
On our way down south in Laos
A beery game of boules, realising the growing pains of middle-aged backpacking and a flight to the deep south of…
Caves, a jungle trek and the mysterious turquoise lake
We arrive in central Laos; take a jungle hike; visit caves and a mysterious lake; enjoy a Mekong sunset Thakek…
In the laid-back city of Vientiane
We arrived in what must be the world’s most laid-back capital city; temples; national monuments; a moving rehabilitation centre, and…
A slow and unintended minibus to Vang Vieng
We made our way on a tricky bus journey to Vang Vieng, a town in a lush setting of towering…
Luang Prabang in Laos: the jewel on the Mekong River
We arrived at a picturesque town of French colonial architecture, swam in clear blue waterfalls, ate local food in night…
Replanning our route, re-routing our plan
A Street cafe breakfast of omelettes and rice | Chiang Mai | Northern Thailand This post is part of the…
Chiang Mai, pretty little temple town
After 20 hours of travelling from the Himalayas we got to the laid-back town in north Thailand, Chiang Mai; we…
Kalimpong and a Magical Himalayan Wedding
We woke early to see the world’s third highest peak and there she was, Kanchenjunga, at dawn, ready to witness…
A tale of a dry day in India (it must be election time)
Departure Lounge Bar| Kolkata Airport | India We’re just about to leave India and go to Thailand on our 90…
A time of unbridled joy: the Assamese bihu
Man, those Assamese know how to celebrate. It’s the spring festival of Rongali Bihu and when we arrived in the…
How to sleep on a flight (Aches on a plane).
Overnight flight from London to Delhi. 9 sleepless hours Sleeping vertically has never been a human trait unless you’re Spider-Man;…
I’m backpacking around South East Asia for 90 Days
When a rare opportunity for extended travel arrives, you just have to grab it with both hands I’m going backpacking…
Unexpected hosts: gorillas after the mist
After noon, we started the descent in to the mists of Mount Karisimbi, the highest peak in the Virungas, a…
Climbing Mount Karisimbi
CLIMBING MOUNT KARISIMBI , a snow-capped volcano between Rwanda and the DR Congo, the tallest peak in the Virungas, was…
Kivu: The Shimmering Lake in the Shadow of the Volcano
In the very heart of Africa, between Rwanda and D.R. Congo, is a silvery, majestic lake framed by breezy palms…
Mastering the art of spectating: Your guide to cheering on your runner in the London marathon
A spectator’s guide to the London marathon.
End of the onboard liquid restrictions is in sight for air travellers.
Soon there will be no more need to cram those little 100 millilitre liquid bottles in to small plastic bags…
Another new word from India
Today I was walking down a road in India and I saw this road sign. It turns out after a…
The cat café of Borneo
Meow Meow Cat Café | Kuching | Sarawak | Borneo | Malaysia On our second day in Borneo, Life-boss said…
First impressions of a second time in Borneo
When you think of Borneo, what do you think of? Rainforests, mountain mists and orangutans? We saw all of these…
A Rainy Friday Night in Singapore
Enroute to Borneo | Sitting next to a very nervous flyer It was great to be back in Singapore, I’ve…
Words of comfort in a time of war: my father’s Polish family
Soon after my father arrived in London from India, his homeland was invaded. Solace and comfort came from an unexpected…
The rose bush that didn’t give roses
See that rose bush above? Beautiful isn’t it? It is ever so deceptive and if you enlarge the picture you…
Flying like Darth Vader with the people in white coats
Heavy breathing under a mask and wearing a visor. I’m now feeling like Darth Vader on a flight. I’m off…
Virtual London Tour: From St Paul’s Cathedral to London Bridge
This virtual online walk along the Thames, from St. Paul’s Cathedral to London Bridge features google Earth images, photos and…
Virtual London tour: Canary Wharf and Limehouse
To book this tour please click here ( via the Eventbrite website) Using google Earth images, photos and a real…
Virtual London Tour: Whitechapel, East End
Bring your own cuppa, put your feet up and enjoy this virtual walk from Let’s Discover London. Using Google Earth,…
Virtual tour of the Assyria gallery of the British Museum
Virtual tour of the Assyria gallery of the British Museum Virtual tour of the Assyria gallery of the British Museum —…
My mum, the pilot
Once upon a time, a little girl was told that women shouldn’t fly airplanes … I grew up knowing ‘mum…
The whirling dervishes of Istanbul
The Galata Mevlevi Museum | Istanbul | February 2020 *** A few months ago I had the good fortune to…
Hey Loons 