The lake is a flooded gravel pit and in the middle is a spit of land where there may be anything from a few dozen to a few hundred water birds going placidly about their business – gulls, geese, ducks, swans – even black swans – Read more…
1) Guilin – Venture outside Guilin to Yao Mountain for panoramic views of the city. Don’t miss a visit to the Tea Research Institute which was the Royal Tea Garden in the Ming Dynasty. It’s less commercialised than the Tea Institute in Hangzhou and you can have a Read more…
As soon as we put the blanket on the ground he showed up, followed by his mates, who turned out to be his girlfriends. We counted five in total. He was the Alpha male standing out from the others by his size, long neck and attitude. He Read more…
On the way to Weymouth we were bombarded with so many signposts for the tank museum that we couldn’t avoid it anymore and decided to go. The Tank Museum is located on a military base and as well as seeing tanks you can see soldiers on regular exercises. The Museum has an arena attached and on certain dates you Read more…
Today, 15 June 2013, marks the 798th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. We went to the small and charming Runnymede in Surrey where King John signed the Magna Carta on the 15th June 1215, prompted unwillingly by the barons in order to protect Read more…
In 1428 the Turkish Empire was at war with Hungary and sent a demand to Djordje Brankovic, ruler of Serbia, to sever all connections with Hungary, to send an army to join Turkey and to hand over his daughter Maria with a dowry of Serbian land. Read more…
The oldest-known love poem was written in Mesopotamia 4,000 years ago and can be found inscribed on a slab of stone in Istanbul’s Archaeological Museum. It was probably written by a priestess, Enlil, to the ruler of Babylonia, Shu-Sin, to celebrate their sacred marriage which represented Read more…
Burford, one of England’s prettiest small medieval towns in Cotswolds is exclusive places to shop, eat, drink and stay. The name Burford is said to mean a defended settlement by a ford. Burford is situated 20 miles west of Oxford at the crossing of the A40 with the Read more…
The narrow-gauge steam train Sagano Torroko Ressha or Romantic Train is one of Japan’s most scenic journeys, and can be combined with an exciting boat trip back on the Hozu River to make a wonderful day trip from Kyoto. The scenery is beautiful all year-round, with Read more…
Are you flying to South East Asia with a stopover in Hong Kong and you have half a day to kill before your next flight? Or, you’ve been to Hong Kong already and seen the major sights, and want something different? Then read this, and keep Read more…
Mathematical formulas are my forte, and I can solve most daily riddles with ease. The amount spent on my weekly shop are in my head before reaching the checkout desk, surprising the cashier with my accuracy. Numbers were my friends. Until now. Sitting in front of Read more…
“I was here, I saw this and it mattered to me.” Alain de Botton How many times have you been seduced by reading an article on the 10 best things to do at the destination you always wanted to see? The flawless writing full of Read more…