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 […]
Air Astana flight review – Bangkok to London with a stopover in Almaty and Astana
Air Astana is the national flag carrier of Kazakhstan, with bases at its former capital (Almaty) and new capital (Astana). With international flights distributed between these two cities, Air Astana offer a unique stop-over opportunity when travelling from East/Southeast Asia to Europe. Most national airlines around the world fly out of their home base (usually […]
Notes on Osaka – A city break dedicated to eating and urban wandering
My first visit to \Osaka in 1999 was as a stopover en route to the USA. I was there for less than a day, so it barely counts as a visit. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was the first day of my expat life. I was on my way the the […]
The case for direct Hanoi to Havana flights
[Vietnam Airlines A350 at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport.] Wherever I travel I read the local news to get a feel of what’s going on in the land. While you’re not going to get hard-hitting political analysis from state-controlled media, it’s good for finding out about current affairs and development news. And then there are […]
Notes on Luang Prabang: Soups, trains, bad bikes, and waterfalls
The last time I visited Luang Prabang I remember leaving sooner than I would have preferred. It might just be the most charming town in Southeast Asia. Since that trip in 2010, I’ve often thought about if it would be a good base to stay for a while. It ticks the boxes of having plenty […]
