January 28, 2019
If you are planning on visiting Myanmar and you are short on time (as I was), here are my suggestions for the top things to do in each location. I visited Myanmar in 2018 and spent 8 days there — 2 nights each in Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake. I’l be honest and say that I wish I spent…
June 9, 2018
I loved Inle Lake. Thank God, because I was beginning to wonder why people raved about Myanmar so much (and was pretty much over it by this time). During my stay at Inle Lake, I discovered my Myanmar mojo — and not before time, because this was the last stop on the itinerary. The people were friendly and kind —…
June 2, 2018
Like Mandalay, Bagan was one of my least favourite places in Myanmar and I think being there in low season may have been the reason, although I can’t be entirely sure. With fewer tourists, and less earning capacity, money was tight, which meant we were hounded to buy, buy, buy everywhere we went. It was more than irritating — the…
May 26, 2018
I have to be honest and say that Mandalay was one of my least favourite places in Myanmar. It was hot, and challenging in a number of ways. It was here that I started to wonder where the lovely Myanmar people were that everyone raved about (and this was from tourist services touch point perspective). I found there was a…
May 19, 2018
> When I visited Yangon the first time, I wasn’t impressed with the capital, but to be fair, I did no sight-seeing because I just went from meeting to site visit to meeting and spent a lot of time in taxis on Yangon’s gridlocked roads. When a friend wanted to tick Myanmar off her travel bucket list and asked me…
November 26, 2016
I arrived in Penang from Bali on Friday, 18 November, exhausted from a (very) early start and a long day of travelling, mostly spent hanging around waiting for my flight at Changi Airport. I’d arranged for a driver to take me to my hotel, and it was with much gratitude I saw my name when I exited into arrivals from…
November 18, 2016
Despite the stressful start to my journey, my two weeks relaxing in Bali have been a gift, aside from a bout of diarrhea that I always seem to get while I’m here. Here’s a rundown of what I got up to, which actually hasn’t been very much except writing, writing and more writing! Ubud I spent the first couple of…
By this time tomorrow, I would have checked into my hotel in Changi Airport, foraged for food, maybe caught a movie and prepped for a restful night’s sleep (hopefully!) before flying out to Delhi early on Thursday morning. By this time Thursday afternoon, I would have checked into my hotel in Amritsar, Punjab, up near the Pakistani border. It will…
August 27, 2014
I have been fascinated with India since, well, forever. From what I’ve read, and seen on TV and in the movies, it’s a country of many contrasts. Modernity is slammed right up against tradition, causing all sorts of cultural dilemmas and reinventions. The rich history, the spirituality, the vastness – not unlike Australia in that regard – and the people…
March 28, 2014
I wanted to embed my custom Google map of where I am going in Japan and where I’ll be staying, but WordPress (unfortunately) doesn’t allow this functionality and it’s an ongoing issue. So. Into problem-solving mode I go. You can access my map two ways: by clicking on the link above, or clicking on the picture. Either way, you’ll be taken straight…
Have just started the research for my #EuroDisey2015 trip. I’ll start off with three weeks in the north of Italy in March, which coincides with the Stresa Half Marathon. I plan on running this event, and will begin training for it in the New Year. Then I’d like to walk the Camiño de Santiago, which will be an awesome way…
In a few short weeks, I’ll be jetting off to Europe. Again. Tough job, I know, but someone has to do it! Cruising the Mediterranean for three weeks last year gave me a taste of where I wanted to spend more time. For those of you who followed my travels last year, you will remember that I just loved the…
I have been on the road for nearly a week, and I have to say that even with all the living out of a suitcase thing, I much prefer this sort of travel to cruising. I have breakfast, lunch and dinner companions. I have a dedicated tour director, Guiseppe who, quite frankly, is amazing. Impeccably dressed, he is super organised…
In less than three weeks, I’ll be leaving this sunburnt country of ours and flying out to Europe. I’ll be cruising the Mediterranean for three weeks, followed by a two week tour of Italy. Jealous much? This is my third overseas trip in as many years, and I must admit I am starting to feel quite the seasoned traveller. Airports,…
I am hardly back from the last trip before I start thinking about next. One of the key experiences and highlights of my China trip was a cruise down the Yangtze. It was so relaxing, I didn’t want it to end. On that same trip, a lovely young(ish) married couple who had lived in Europe waxed lyrical about a Mediterranean…
July 30, 2011
I’m doing a Travel Indochina (Insider Journeys) tour of China. I travelled with them for my first ever trip overseas to Vietnam, and I couldn’t be happier with how that adventure went. I was such a nervous Nelly! So without further ado, here is my itinerary for China… my second overseas trip ever… and the obligatory map. I’m so excited! Your turn!…
I am just about to go on my second adventure of a lifetime: China. I had no real interest in going to China – on a slow boat or otherwise – until I went to Vietnam last year. While I was there, the further north we went, the more Chinese it got, and the more fascinated I became with Chinese…
December 5, 2010
Inspired by my Twitter friend @_kerrym I have decide to make a list of where in the world I would like to go. These are in no particular order, by the way: The UK, with special emphasis on Ireland and Scotland Italy Spain & Portugal (Cruise 2012!) Northern Africa: Morocco and Egypt South America: Chile & Patagonia Northern Vietnam China…
So excited! I got my travel documents today (they were delivered to my work address). Can’t wait to get home and go through them properly. It’s getting close!!!!
Travel Indochina has costed a 14 day tour (including airfares, transfers and travel insurance) for me to Vietnam, with exactly the dates I’m after. I’ve just got to get the amounts itemised and check individual costs. And I’m going for my own room because I’m really bad at sharing my space! I’ve checked the reviews / forums and haven’t found…