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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The best cafes in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage city that is filled with cool cafes in beautiful old buildings. It’s an ideal place to stay and work, or recombobulate after roughing it through provincial Laos. I was there for a week so I got to visit most of the cafes. These were the highlights of my […]
The re-emergence of Bangkok Chinatown – get there before the metro does
Bangkok Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, and it’s as old as the city itself. Chinatown is at the bottom of Rattanakosin Island, which is the historic part of the city by the Chao Phraya River. Even without the Chinese-themed stores there is a distinct feel to this area compared to […]
Flight 1 – The most prestigious airline flight number
Flight 1 is the most prestigious flight number assigned by airlines. It’s used to denote a historic route, or one that an airline regards as their flagship service. For example Qantas designate QF1 on the historic Kangaroo Route from Sydney to London. This service began in 1947, where it would hop (like a proverbial kangaroo) […]
