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.

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...

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...

Hot and Spicy in India!

The colours and flavours of spices conjure up images of exotic lands and ancient times. Today, many of our favourite global cuisines use spices unique in texture, aroma, and taste. India is the birthplace of...

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...

A Spiritual Experience In Varanasi and Sarnath

There’s no doubt that Varanasi is as compelling as any trip to Delhi, Agra or Jaipur. In a single visit, you can witness life and death side-by-side while Varanasi’s residents carry on with their...
Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat

Day 1 – 6 April 2011 – Slumdog Millionaire, Rickshaws and Spicy Paneers

  Updated October 2021 After all of the planning and hype and nearly 24 hours flying, Rhys and I were finally in the city that Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire propelled to world fame.  But in the...
Putting the I in Wellington

Insider’s Guide to Things to See and Do In Wellington

Rough Guides recently named Wellington one of its must visit cities in 2023. There are so many things to see and do in Wellington and is ideal for a mini break. My wife and I...
Karni Mata Temple’s ornate marble entrance displays Rajputana architecture

Exploring Karni Mata Rat Temple

Introduction India is well-known for its numerous religions, countless gods and goddesses, rituals, and many myths. Would it surprise you that it has a rat temple? No, I’m not kidding. It has! It’s estimated more than...

The Gold Coast: A mecca for adrenalin rush & super-heroes

Australia’s Gold Coast boasts an endless playground for families and has become a mecca for theme-park addicts.  If you’re looking to brave some of the world’s tallest & fastest rides, interact with nature’s finest...

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...