Why visit Tbilisi? Exploring the Old Town on foot Working in the humanitarian sector meant that I have met and liked quite a few Georgians in my time. They have all raved about Tbilisi and said it would suit me. We were based in Cyprus enjoying a warm October, with dusty kitchen renovations taking place,…
A less well known part of Cyprus, so I have written a northern Cyprus travel guide to help you see more than the average tourist. The Cyprus Situation Cyprus is a divided island, and references to “North” and “South” Cyprus can still be sensitive, depending on who you speak to. In 1974, a conflict split…
Based on my own experience of living and working in Cyprus, this is my personal guide to the places I still love returning to. This is not a “tick off the top 20 attractions” list. These are beaches, restaurants and villages I discovered before Google Maps told us where to go, sometimes by following the…
Is Cyprus Worth Visiting? Cyprus is one of those places that quietly gets under your skin and it slowly draws you in each time you go. Where is Cyprus? Cyprus is an eastern Mediterranean island split between Greek south and Turkish north. Geographically it is between Europe and Asia and this is reflected in its…
Why the Norwegian Fjords? It was my friend Sara’s special birthday and she had wanted to see the Norwegian fjords since she was 15. So we looked into the different options available. We wanted a small ship that could travel as far into the Norwegian hinterland as possible, without crowds, children and (sorry, as I…
Vanuatu is a sleepy collection of 83 islands in the Melanesian area of the South Pacific. It retains much of its intrinsic charm and tourists seems to be the more discerning Australians. It is visited by cyclones from time to time and due to Cyclone Ivy in 2025, our cruise ship wasn’t able to access…
Things to Do in Colombo – top attractions, food and chill out experiences. Colombo makes a great central point. You fly in, stay a few days, travel to Jaffna, return to Colombo. Then take the train out to Badulla, come back and do a few more things. Then pop down to Galle and see elephants…
Sri Lanka stretches 432 kms long and 224 kms wide and there is plenty to see all over the country. Here is a guide to Galle in the south and the reputed best national safari parks (Yala for leopards and Udawalawe for elephants) in southern Sri Lanka. How to get there? We arrived in southern…
Halpewatte Tea Plantation in the Uva district near Badulla. Choose from a factory or plantation tour or blend your own tea
When to go? When visiting Sri Lanka, you may consider juggling the time of year with the monsoon seasons. The northeast monsoon, which affects Jaffna and the north east regions occurs December to February. We went in October/November and it was perfect Is Jaffna Safe to Visit? Jaffna feels quite different from other towns in…