Best way to see LA in a day
From the skyscrapers of the CBD and iconic Hollywood sign to the mansions of Beverly Hills and sweeping Pacific coastline that stretches from Santa Monica up to Malibu, taking to the skies to see all the major sights of LA by helicopter is an awesome way to spend an afternoon. It’s certainly not cheap [...]
Magnificent Mojitos
Cuba is the home of the Mojito and what better place to indulge in a couple of these refreshing, minty treats than a visit to what is reckoned to be their birthplace – La Bodeguita del Medio. Said to have also been one of Hemingway’s favourite bars back in the day, this atmospheric haunt makes [...]
Mayan Ruins,Tulum, Mexico
The ruins themselves I didn’t find all that interesting, they just don’t compare to the magnificence of Tikal, but the location is incredibly picturesque so it is definitely worth the visit. Their proximity to Cancun & Playa Del Carmen see they get plenty of visitors….. OK, so it’s pretty much over-run with hordes of tourists [...]
Magnificent Mayan Ruins of Tikal
The Mayan ruins of Tikal are simply magnificent combining both archeological greatness and atmospheric wonder in a wild jungle setting. The air thick with humidity has a light yet pungent, damp soil and rotting foliage smell, as the sounds of this living organism wind their way up to a cacophony featuring dueling howler monkey clans [...]
Swimming with the sharks and rays in Belize
The weather was less than ideal from the moment I arrived on what can only be described as a Caribbean island paradise off the coast of Belize. The non stop rain put a bit of a damper on pretty much every outdoor activity, but despite this I headed out as planned for a few [...]
Cave of the Crystal Maiden, Belize
Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre or the ATM (Actun Tunichil Muknal) cave is a must do if you are floating around Belize, and in particular San Igancio. Getting there is a bit of an arduous journey over a bumpy road for a bit more than hour, and once at the carpark you need to hike [...]
Magical Havana, Cuba
The old city of Havana literally took my breath away with its beauty! Streets and streets of grand architecture – some restored, some faded and crumbling – but all absolutely gorgeous and alive. Small shady public gardens peppered with monuments are tucked away amongst the spectacular array of buildings, giving residents (and visitors) a place [...]
Moving on from Cuba
Arriving in Guatemala City after spending some time in Cuba was like a huge slap in the face by commercialism. An endless stream of billboards, fast food restaurants and American retail chain stores seemed to line the roadside giving a real modern and racy feel. In Cuba the only billboards that could be seen [...]
First Impressions of Cuba
Wow, how fantastic is Cuba! It has always been on the list of places I would love to visit but apart from the promise of gorgeous architecture and cool looking old cars I was not really sure what to expect, and have been so busy over the past couple of months I didn’t do a [...]
Lovely Luang Prabang
So frequently it happens that visiting a place which you had enjoyed many years before, you are disappointed when returning to find the masses have discovered your once much less trodden haven, sapping its former wonderful atmosphere and cultural authenticity. Before returning to Luang Prabang recently I feared the worst after having read many comments [...]
Tak Bat (Giving of Alms), Luang Prabang, Laos
A damp coolness lingers in the air as a sea of vibrant saffron seemingly floats along a deserted narrow road in the faint early morning light. Framed by lush greenery and traditional wooden architecture a smattering of locals patiently sit with their bamboo baskets filled with sticky rice as they wait to give alms. Witnessing [...]
Wonderful Wutaishan, China
With a name that translates to literally mean “five plateau mountain” Wutaishan is one of the 4 sacred Buddhist peaks in China. Home to more than 50 temples and monasteries, Wutaishan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. With some of the temples dating back to the Yuan dynasty and a few of [...]
On the Streets of Yan’an, China
Yan’an in China’s northwest gains its fame for being near to the end point for Mao Zedong’s Long March, with the town serving as the Communist capital in the revolution. For me it was definitely one of the more interesting stops on the tours I led in China, resulting in what was generally a very [...]
Jiuzhaigou National Park, China
Jiuzhaigou is scenically one of the most spectacular landscapes I have ever seen, however I have realised I need to qualify this a little. I grew up in an area that was very flat and dry, so in a way I find mountains, snow and the whole alpine scenery thing to be all quite exotic. [...]
Lovely Langmusi
Straddling the Sichuan / Gansu border is the simply wonderful little village of Langmusi. The first time I visited this remote outpost was back in 1997. The location is simply stunning, located up on the sweeping grasslands of the Tibetan plateau. There have been big changes since I first visited, apparently the roads in town [...]
Koi Feeding Frenzy, Qingxiu Mountain, Nanning, China
Nanning is a vibrant, dynamic modern city with some 40% of its land mass dedicated to green spaces thus earning its reputation as China’s premier “green city”. Getting a genuine taste of this relaxed and friendly destination is simply a matter of venturing into one of the many parks or gardens. Qingxiu Mountain is affectionately [...]
Guangxi Medicinal Herb Botanical Garden, Nanning, China
Imagine strolling through a verdant, well maintained garden and being wowed by the range of uses each plant has in traditional healing methods. The meticulously maintained Guangxi Medicinal Herb Botanical Garden is the largest facility of its type in Asia and is the place to see around 4,000 varieties of plants. The garden is [...]
Lion Dance at the Wong Fei Hung Memorial, Guangzhou
A lion appeared at the opposite end of the courtyard. Standing for a few moments then dramatically jumping up onto the first set of poles which looked to be around a metre high. Within moments he had bounded a further two or three times in perfect unison to the beating drum. This initial burst of [...]
Hualin Temple, Guangzhou
You don’t often find many “special” temples in the more populated cities of China anymore. Most are over-touristed and lack any authentic atmosphere. The Hualin temple in Guangzhou’s old Liwan district definitely managed to impress me. To be more accurate, the 500 Arhat Hall was the standout for this entire ancient complex. Walking inside the [...]
Latest Article Published
My latest published article has just been released in the June 2011 issue of Qatar Airways inflight magazine – Oryx. It is a short introduction to one of my favorite areas in Guangzhou. To read the full piece, My Favourite Street, Guangzhou – click here.
Randomness
Having been in China for quite some time now I think I might have become almost immune to the unexpected or unusual sights. One afternoon recently when strolling across a bridge over the Pearl River, duly accompanied by cars and buses whizzing past I saw this guy pushing his fully laden bicycle along the far [...]
Exploring Liwan district in Guangzhou
Recently I was asked to share my favourite part of Guangzhou and without doubt it has to be the old Liwan area. The sheer diversity and extremes remind me of why I love to travel as well as really being in many ways a great glimpse into the old and new China. As soon as [...]
Guangzhou’s Architecture Favorites
I have literally passed through Guangzhou dozens of times but have been yet to discover any real charm amongst its mammoth sized urban sprawl. This all changed when I stumbled upon a few classic streets in the city’s old quarter which have thoroughly revived my interest. The stunning qilou that line the peaceful En Ning [...]
Guangzhou’s New TV Tower
Stretching some 450 metres into the sky on the banks of the Pearl River is Guangzhou’s newest icon. Nicknamed the “Supermodel”, the tower is said to mimic the body of a sexy woman. The elevator to the top is a special ride that brings dizzying but intermittent views across the city as you whizz your [...]
