Deep below ground are wonders of ancient Roman engineering One and a half millenia ago, when Istanbul, then Constantinople, was … More
Author: Hey Loons
My mum the pilot flies again
A few years ago I wrote a blogpost titled My Mum the Pilot, the true story of my mum Dhira Chaliha … More
Lessons in Life from a Motorbike
How learning to ride became a journey of self discovery.
Getting the ring fixed
A cunning plan with a golf ball | A sunny riverbank | Nudists After that proposal in Paris 12 years … More
The best places to watch the London marathon
A spectator’s guide to the London marathon.
The tablecloth sellers of the Nile
The boatmen of the Nile have a unique way of selling their goods.
Top 10 travel tips for a day trip to the Golden Temple in Amritsar
One of the great religious sites on earth, the Golden Temple at Amritsar in Punjab, India, is the preeminent spiritual … More
“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 … More
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 … More
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 … More
Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the summer of ’89
Travel memories | Helping a stranger up the Leaning Tower of Pisa | Having the last laugh It was the … More
Just one of those days when the travel stuff goes wrong
Kuala Lumpur | Ubud to Gili Trewangan | Inventing the Lost Phone Dance I knew that my travel expertise, if … More
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 … More
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 … More
The cat café of Borneo
Meow Meow Cat Café | Kuching | Sarawak | Borneo | Malaysia On our second day in Borneo, Life-boss said … More
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 … More
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 … More
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 … More
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 … More
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 … More
No cash, no gas, 40 kms from home
A spot of bother running out of gas in Mexico
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 … More
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 … More
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 … More
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 … More
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 … More
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 … More
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, … More
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