Travel Guides

From festivals in India to white water rafting in New Zealand, we round up some of the best destinations on the planet to visit.

Day 18 – 23 April 2011 – Farewell Mumbai

Updated October 2011 What an experience last night at the game.  Mumbai Indians won a close game and the atmosphere at the stadium was excellent.  Certainly the best of the venues we’d been to. But what...

Day 10 – 15 April 2011 – Elephants, Forts and Food!

  Updated October 2021 I freely admit to being a “Jaipurite”.  And it was the perfect place to spend with my son. I’d arranged an early morning rickshaw (we’d given our driver the day off) out to...

The Algarve – Portugal’s Winter-less Region

Ever considered Portugal’s Algarve for a winter break from Northern Europe’s chilly winters? So what makes The Algarve an ideal winter destination? For a start, temperatures consistently reach the high teens during daylight hours. And...

Dunedin – Chocolate, Hops and Albatrosses

Update: Cadbury World closed permanently in May 2018 We only had two days and chose to focus on Cadbury World’s Tasting Tour, Speights’ Brewery Tour and a guided tour at the Royal Albatross Centre. Yet, Dunedin...

The Best Places to Visit in Kuala Lumpur

From Skyscrapers to Street Food: Why Kuala Lumpur Offers Something for Everyone Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital, is vibrant. It's a bustling city offering visitors a unique blend of modernity and tradition.  It’s a melting pot of cultures...

Chasing Rainbows – Holi in Jaipur

Ah, Holi 2024 in Jaipur.  A kaleidoscopic carnival of colours that I've danced through umpteen times! Picture this: me, a seasoned Holi enthusiast, diving headfirst into the riotous sea of hues that wash over...

Day 19 – 24 April 2011 – From One Extreme to Another

Updated October 2011 I was looking forward to Singapore.  I feel a strong connection with her as I was born there and have been fortunate to visit several times since. We left Mumbai at 10:05 this...

The Magic of Hobbiton – Exploring Middle Earth

Nestled in New Zealand's North Island’s rolling hills, lies the magic of Hobbiton.  It has captured the hearts of J.R.R Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" film and book fans all...

Udaipur – Venice of the East, 007 and Saris

India is a vibrant country steeped in tradition, culture and contrasts.  She boasts mountain ranges, sweeping plateaus (deccans) and deserts, and modern sky-scrapers developed next to slums and temples. Udaipur nestles in the south western...

Day 14 – 19 April 2011 – Sleep Deprived

  Updated October 2021 Arrived just after 06:30 this morning from the overnight train from Jaipur and felt a tad groggy.  This perhaps had something to do with trying to sleep on a noisy train in...