Hội An, Vietnam
Hội An is a small town that sits on the Thu Bồn River, a few miles inland from the South China Sea. A warren of old buildings layered in crumbling yellow paint, Hội An comes alive at night, when the streets are illuminated by thousands of silk lanterns. Now a Unesco world heritage site, Hội An used to be one of Vietnam’s main trading ports … Continue reading Hội An, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City was our first stop on a trip from the south of Vietnam to the north. Formerly known as Saigon, the city is home to eight and a half million people, and is chaotic, vibrant and bewildering. More so when you have just stepped off a plane into 35°c heat and it’s 7am. After a short bus ride from the airport to … Continue reading Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Valletta, Malta
Visiting somewhere for a stag do is very different to a normal holiday. You become semi-nocturnal, and spend more time in bars than you would on a regular sightseeing trip. But it’s a good way to see a different side to a city; in this case, it was Valletta. Chris (regular readers may remember him from camping) is getting married to the lovely Heidi-Lee (also … Continue reading Valletta, Malta
Prizren, Kosovo
Kosovo, at the time of writing, is the world’s second newest country. I was visiting Macedonia with my friend Dave, so it seemed a good chance to cross the border and explore Kosovo, a place largely overlooked by guidebooks and travel blogs. Our destination was Prizren, a town in the south of the country. The main road from Macedonia to Prizren is varied. Giant potholes, … Continue reading Prizren, Kosovo
Skopje, North Macedonia
Skopje isn’t a city that attracts many tourists. Many Eastern European cities are busy with stag dos, couples on city breaks and backpackers, but Skopje seems to get overlooked. So, my friend Dave and I headed off in early Spring to find out more about the city. By late March, the temperature starts to climb in Macedonia. We had chosen Skopje with a vague itinerary … Continue reading Skopje, North Macedonia
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Europe’s oldest inhabited city, Plovdiv has been ruled by many and invaded by many more. Revival Bulgarian houses sit alongside stark soviet concrete buildings. Modern roads follow the alleyways of an old Ottoman bazaar. Europe’s longest pedestrianised street is interrupted only by a cavernous Roman stadium. And it’s also a pretty affordable place to visit, so what better place to take Nicola for her birthday? … Continue reading Plovdiv, Bulgaria
10 reasons to love the airport
People are always saying ‘flying isn’t what it used to be’. And too right, it isn’t. For a start it’s cheaper, more fuel-efficient and it’s certainly much safer. And the airport is a great place to sit, watch the world go by and tick off everything on this list. 1. Wheeled suitcases The click, click, click of wheeled suitcases on the tiles, and that person … Continue reading 10 reasons to love the airport
Dinan, France
Dinan shouldn’t be confused with Dinard. Although they sound similar, one is a lovely little Breton town near Saint-Malo, while the other is a lovely little Breton town near Saint-Malo. After leaving Perros-Guirec, we passed through the oyster fishing port of Saint-Brieuc, navigating through road closures, cobbled streets and a few one way signs that were almost certainly pointing in the wrong direction, before arriving … Continue reading Dinan, France
