Ubud is a treasure trove of the ultimate in cultural delights, is an amazing blend of old with the new, ranging from ancient palaces to majestic temples, all conveniently located near the cool upland district of Bali. The town itself is famous for Balinese arts and crafts and in addition,…
Have you ever thought about what life would be like if you moved? And, I don’t mean to move town or city, I mean really move, to a place far away from where you know no-one, where the language, food, culture, people will all be far removed from anything you…
Elephant tourism in Thailand is hugely popular with thousands of people travelling to South East Asia each year wanting to spend time with these loveable animals. However, not all attractions are equal. Some still allow elephant riding, others make these beautiful creatures perform to the gawping tourists in the hope…
Having earned the nickname of ‘the island of a thousand temples, whittling down which of Bali’s awe-inspiring religious sites to visit can naturally be quite tricky. Take just a moment to amble through the backstreets of Ubud. You’ll soon notice that around every corner religious offerings line the street and…
Wonky floorboards, low roof beams, and door hinges that squeaked just enough to make it charming rather than annoying. These were the first things I noticed when walking into the Luang Chumni Village Guesthouse in Ayutthaya. It was the dark, teak wood of this impressive-looking traditional Thai-looking property that originally…
Intrigued by all the hype around The Lonely Hearts Travel Club trilogy and still pining for Thailand, a trip that has definitely left its mark, I was drawn to Destination: Thailand by Katy Colins. Not because I am a lonely heart myself, or because I particularly favour chick-lit as a…
One of the main reasons people visit Kanchanaburi is to go and see the Bridge on the River Kwai and the Death Railway. Made famous by the film of the same name, the bridge you see today is mostly reconstructed due to allied bombing during the Second World War. There…
After an hour of travelling on the tired looking train, the wooden benches the only form of seating available in 3rd class, the click-clack of the runners colliding with the railway track had become quite therapeutic. Opposite sat a gentleman that was clearly comfortable propping himself up against the aged…
When To Visit Tokyo For Cherry Blossom Season With Japan’s world-famous cherry blossom season fast approaching, Japan’s Meteorological Corporation has released – as they do every year – the first national cherry blossom forecast. Yes, that’s a thing. A forecast that predicts when the first cherry blossom buds will begin…
Have you ever thoughts about where your clothes come from? I mean really thought about who is sewing that pattern together, what their working conditions are like and how much they are getting paid? Well, reading this book made me do exactly that. I have always been one to consider…