Visit Kolkata: Top sites you shouldn’t miss in India’s former capital
The name Kolkata is woven into the history of India. Formerly known as Calcutta, and[…]
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Visit Kolkata: Top sites you shouldn’t miss in India’s former capital
The name Kolkata is woven into the history of India. Formerly known as Calcutta, and once the capital of the British Raj, this sprawling city is located in the north-eastern state of West Bengal, close to the border with Bangladesh, and buzzes with energy and life. Kolkata has a reputation for extreme poverty and overwhelming sensation. Whilst the former is definitely true – poverty is[…]
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Ulster travel: Discovering the highlights of the nine counties of Ulster
Ulster. The name of the province is synonymous with Northern Ireland, but did you know that Ulster province is made up of more than just the six counties of the north? Having visited every county in Ulster for myself, I know that each one has its own character and highlights. If your Ulster travel knowledge needs a boost, here are some great suggestions for what[…]
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Slemish: Discover St Patrick’s Mountain in Northern Ireland
I have been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland over many years, visiting the town of Ballymena, County Antrim. And anyone familiar with the approach to Ballymena will recognise Slemish. Towering over the surrounding flat landscape, Slemish is unmistakable and, when the mists clear, unmissable. It is also St Patrick’s mountain. The story goes like this: at the age of 16, the teenager who would[…]
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The farmyard in Bajawa: adventures on Flores Island, Indonesia
It’s a Wednesday night, and I’m tucked up in my bed, unable to sleep. It sounds like there’s a farmyard outside my window. I’m in the small town of Bajawa on Flores Island, Indonesia. A bit of a geography geek since childhood, I pride myself on having a very good grasp of where places are on the map, but even I had never heard of[…]
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6 Incredible Reasons to visit Tamil Nadu
I make no secret of the fact that I absolutely adore India. I love the colour, the bustle, the curries and the history. I love the temples and the weather. But in all my Indian travels so far, the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu remains my absolute favourite. Located on India’s eastern coast, along with the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, it is[…]
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Nicosia: A day in Cyprus’s divided capital
When I decided to go to Cyprus, one of the places I was most keen to see was Nicosia. Known as Lefkosia by the Greek-speaking population and Lefkoşa by the Turkish speakers of North Cyprus, Nicosia is a city divided, and one that has only been openly accessible to both sides of the line in the last decade. Despite its long history, the city was fundamentally altered[…]
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Taroko Gorge: Discovering Taiwan’s marble mountains
I set out from Taipei early in the morning. My base in Taiwan’s capital city was in the far north of the country, but Taiwan is absurdly easy to get around. An extensive rail network takes you all over the country, but I had a specific destination in mind that morning: Taroko Gorge. Taroko Gorge is one of Taiwan’s highlights, and with just cause. Located[…]
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Sofia Airport transfer on a budget: Using the metro
Sofia, Bulgaria’s historic capital city, is definitely an up and coming destination. With an increase in low-cost flights from other parts of Europe, as well as some serious investment in tourist sites and infrastructure, it may still be a little off your radar – but it’s time to look a bit closer! With affordable accommodation to match the great airfares, it’s the perfect budget destination;[…]
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Cyprus in winter: why is it the best time to visit?
Cyprus is a popular holiday destination for European travellers. Boasting a hot, sunny climate, a long coastline and a status as EU and Eurozone member (in the south and west of the island, at least), its beaches fill during the summer months with work-weary tourists wanting nothing more than to stretch out in the sun. But what about the winter months? Is a visit to[…]
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Bethlehem: Visiting the birthplace of Christianity
Growing up in the UK, I was raised a Christian. Going to church was just part of the routine of our Sundays, and school assemblies still included hymns and prayers. So it wasn’t surprising that, as a child, Biblical place names were often more familiar to me than those of towns even twenty miles from my home. As I got older, the faith didn’t stay[…]
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