My last visit to Dubai was in 2007, just before the Global Financial Crisis. There was so much construction going on that I knew I would have to return to check on its progress. I finally returned 11 years later, at what feels like the peak of another financial bubble, and like last time there […]
A sweaty summer stopover in Sharjah
There is a saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result. I thought about this saying when I found myself back in the United Arab Emirates in the summer, when I said I would never again visit in the summer. The last I was in the […]
Hotel Review: Oxley Hotel, Singapore
Hotel Name: Oxley Hotel Address: 44 Lorong 6 Geylang, Geylang, Singapore. [Edit: Oxley Hotel has now rebranded as Hotel Duke. This review is left as an archive.] I stayed at the Oxley Hotel in Singapore. I booked online and picked it for its price and location in Singapore. The rate was 41.72 SGD ($30.35 USD) […]
Rebuilding the new Beirut
Sometimes you get a good feeling about a place even before you step foot on its soil. This was the case for Beirut when I first caught a glimpse of the city. The airport is close to the city centre, and if the flights are arriving from the north the flightpath goes over the old […]
Nicosia – the divided capital of Cyprus
During my trip to Cyprus I included a stay in Nicosia. Most visitors do day trips from the coastal resorts, but I wanted to stay and have a proper look around. Its inland location wipes out any interest of visiting for most foreign tourists, who come to Cyprus for sand and sea holidays. I’m more […]
Notes on Cyprus – Roman ruins and a future global business hub
When I announced I was going to Cyprus it elicited differing reactions from friends online. For some English friends, Cyprus is associated with cheap package holidays, and the holiday makers that go with it. At some of the places I visited I did see that element, which reminded me of the Australian bogan culture in […]
Flight Review: Emirates – Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City
Flight: Emirates EK 392 From: Dubai (DXB) To: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) I flew with Emirates from Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City. This was a booking with points from Qantas, who are their partner outside of the Oneworld Alliance. I’ve flown with Emirates a few times before I like their service, so this […]
Hotel Review: Royal Falcon Hotel, Dubai – UAE
Hotel Name: Royal Falcon Hotel Address: Salah Al Din Street, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I stayed at the Royal Falcon Hotel in Dubai, UAE. I booked it online at the rate of 146.48 AED ($39.88 USD) per night and selected it for its price and location in Deira, which is one of the best […]
Notes on Astana – the futuristic capital of Kazakhstan
When I was looking for a flight from Bangkok to London I kept seeing deals with Air Astana with a stopover in Almaty and Astana. With the flight being as much as a direct flight it seemed like a good opportunity to visit a new country. Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan, and I happened […]
Ryanair Flight Review: “Low Fares Made Complicated”
Flight: Ryanair FR 2436 From: London Stansted (STN) To: Krakow (KRK) It had been nearly 10 years since I had last flown Ryanair, and after my most recent flight it might be 10 years before I fly with them again. I had forgotten when exactly was the last time so I looked it up on […]
