Continents

I’m at Mandina Lodges, an exclusive forest retreat nestled in the tranquil riverside mangrove reserves which run the length of this riverine nation, and my friend and I rock up to find we’re the only female guests amongst a large party of British tree surgeons, here to scope out the surrounding forest as a potential […]

I often evangelise about the saving grace of apartment rental as opposed to hotel stays for a certain type of trip. Usually I’m preaching to the converted but some people would need a miracle of water-to-wine proportions before they’d give up 24-hour room service, the breakfast buffet and a decent concierge (though perhaps not the in-room […]

I arrive at Romdeng restaurant ten minutes late as is my wont, but on this occasion I can’t blame the Northern Line. Rushing through the streets of Phnom Penh on foot has left me a lot more sweaty than my usual subterranean dashes to London restaurants and I’ve never found my dining companion to have taken the liberty of […]

This week a brand new tax year started, and those in traditional jobs have been running year-end assessments and shuffling spreadsheets left, right and centre. So I thought I’d do some rather taxing assessments of my own and calculate the 10 best things I’ve done this financial year, and their real value – monetarily and of course in […]

Like everyone else, I take my shoes off and leave them in the pile before entering the last place Pol Pot ever lived, out here in the Northern Cambodian district of Anlong Veng, nestled against the Thai border. But this small and typically Asian behavioral detail, usually meant as a form of respect, is going against every fibre […]

I make no secret of my somewhat controversial love affair with Belgium. Where others see Belgium as an ugly sister to France’s more deserving glass-slippered mademoiselle I see the destination as the unsung heroine; rather cute and easy-on-the-eye but distinctly self-aware and modest to a fault. But outside the classic fairytale looks of Ghent, Bruges and any […]

Recently, while travelling without a set plan around Asia, one destination kept coming up time and time again – if there is such a thing as a tipping point, then for me, Burma has just tipped. Everyone I talked to who’d been couldn’t say enough positive things about it and I began to formulate a plan in […]

East meets West, British order overlaid on Chinese culture, perpetually expanding upwards into the sky and outwards into the ocean. Grab an eyeful of the confluence of capitalism, colonialism and communism on this photo tour to one of the most densely populated corners of the planet, the Cantonese for ‘fragrant harbour’ – Hong Kong… There may be no […]

I’d call Belfast Ireland’s underdog city. But let’s not forget that it’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, rather the size of the fight in the dog. And while Belfast’s history is all about that fight, it’s the city’s present on which I’d rather shine a light – with this list of […]

I say The Cosmo is the perfect place to stay in Hong Kong but frankly my dears I’ve never actually stayed anywhere else. Once I found The Cosmo with its boutique concept, ice-cream sundae colour-pop rooms, super-efficient shuttle service about town, and 24 hour check-in policy I simply never bothered to look elsewhere.

If you want a cosy cafe-bar in a super-cool hotel whose complete hipsterness shouts ‘we stock soya’, this is your place. And if you want to take some nice photos over coffee like I did while I was there, it’s even more perfect.

Can you think of a single city as synonymous with über-cool street life as Berlin? On my recent trip to the erstwhile divided capital this coolness extended its grip to the elements, with a sub-zero snow-covering lending an extra dimension to the urban landscape. Shooting in the snow with frozen toes kicking fresh drifts and tingly […]

I’d always wanted to visit The Sultanate of Brunei but somehow it had never happened – until circumstances brought me to the Brunei capital Bendar Seri Begawan on a great value Royal Brunei Airlines flight from Bangkok to London ‘via’ Brunei. Of course it’s hardly on the way, in fact it’s just over two hours in the wrong […]

If you have only a short time in which to experience Manila you might think that a visit to a cemetery shouldn’t be at the top of your must-do list? But a trip to the sobering and thought-provoking American Cemetery and Memorial in Manila will pull The Philippines’ part in world history sharply into focus and underline how privileged we are to be […]

The Filipino Island of Bohol is best known for two things: tarsiers and what I came to think of as an exaggerated teletubby land known as The Chocolate Hills, a strange landscape of 1,268 eerie and bizarre conical mounds dotted a round the centre of the island…

The Philippines’ sprawling capital may not be the first place that springs to mind for a gastronomic city break – understandably most tourists who fly to The Philippines are headed for one or more of the 7107 islands and islets to kick back on an idyllic white sand beach. But it’s a big mistake to overlook […]

Think Asian street food and you’ll probably think of stalls selling delicious and mysterious local delicacies cooked up by a smiling old lady on a dirty street corner. Street food can make us feel excited about the thrill to our taste buds and apprehensive about the danger to our tummies in equal measure, but they’ve […]

The huge unspoiled Cambodian temple complex at Preah Vihear has long been the scene of animosity and fighting between Thai and Cambodian forces, but happily for those seeking an unspoiled temple experience it’s currently safe to visit. And due to the contentious history of this site there’s just a tiny sprinkling of tourists here even today, […]

I don’t mean to pry but are you gay or are you straight? And how would you feel about staying in a gay-friendly resort if you’re the latter? I’m a straight gal, so why have I been feeling completely at home at a self-proclaimed gay hotel? In true Carrie Bradshaw style I got to thinking…

Warning: negative post! If being given shot glasses of paint-stripper by a grumpy man then being yelled at and chased away for not buying bottles (of the worst wine you’ve ever tasted) is your idea of a wine tasting then do visit Sterna Winery. If not, I recommend you try one of Cyprus’ many other boutique […]

If you’re looking for the perfect luxury beach resort on Cebu’s Mactan Island, it has to be The Crimson Resort Cebu. With stunning Asian-inspired decor and manicured grounds it makes a great retreat after exploring The Philippines’ bustling second city.

I love Cambodia, I love Siem Reap and I love Angkor Wat. But as well as playing the same game as everyone else and trying to get pictures of the famous temples sans tourists, I decided to embrace the scenes created by my armies of fellow snappers. Here are my top 5 photos of random […]

But Christopher Robin is nowhere to be seen. And instead of bearskins you can witness the guards or Sumungun (meaning gatekeepers) dressed in their own traditional brightly coloured costumes and armour as they perform a ceremonial re-enactment of the changing of the royal guard.

How much food can one girl eat (and photograph) during a single day on a food tour of Seoul? Let’s find out…

I’m just going to come right out and say it, Manila’s Fairmont Makati is my new favourite hotel in the world. In fact it isn’t really a hotel, it feels like a destination in and of itself. Manila may not be the first place that springs to mind for a relaxing break, but after a stay […]

For a city of 22 million people, 10 million cars and seemingly a million coffee shops (plus a million and one Gangnam Style souvenirs) Seoul is pretty short on boutique hotels – but Seoul’s original boutique hotel, the IP, is just what you need for a short stop in the city.

* Disclaimer* This post tackles a sensitive subject so I want to be clear about the fact that I’m not on the side of anything here, except peace.* I went to Belfast to enjoy the city, to shop at the Christmas Market, drink in the bars, see the Titanic exhibition and explore the Antrim Coast – […]

Turin might be best-known for Winter Olympics, Fiat and Lancia factories and that eponymous Shroud but it turns out that the once-industrial hub is hiding an artistic secret, for nestled in the Alps of Northern Italy is a contemporary art epicentre bursting with challenging and inspiring contemporary art. Here are the top 5 modern art galleries in […]

I’m in Seoul for just 36 short hours and with an 11 hour overnight flight direct from London and a 9 hour time difference, I know I’m going to be pretty jet lagged the entire time. There’s no way I can even begin to skim the surface of Asia’s 24 hour mega-city in such a […]

Hawaii might be all about sunshine and fresh air in the warm waters of the Pacific, while London is more drizzle and dirty air alongside the polluted waters of the Thames – but you can say aloha to an entire day of island life in the capital, here’s how to do it…

Think of Northern Ireland and you’ll probably think of Guinness, stunning green scenery, Game of Thrones tours and the Giant’s Causeway. But the famous Unesco World Heritage Site isn’t the only natural wonder this stretch of Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast has to offer. There’s a wealth of Ireland attractions here in County Antrim, so come […]

When I booked my flight to Belfast I was looking forward to a pre-Christmas weekend of shopping at the Continental Market and drinking Gluhwein and Guinness in equal measure whilst discovering the Yuletide side of the Northern Irish Capital. I had no idea that my trip would fall on the most contentious weekend Belfast has […]

You’ve probably written off Cyprus as a pure sun, sea and sand destination – full of Brits wanting to see the view from a sun lounger, the inside of a few bars and little else. That’s what I imagined  – and why despite being a short flight away from its year-round sun I’d eschewed Cyprus […]

Paris may be known as the City of Light, but Turin is making a bid to be the City of Lights, as its avenues and squares, its Roman walls, and even its public bicycles are adorned with light installations for the Winter. But these are no mere gaudy Christmas baubles, they’re an all-encompassing city-wide endeavour to make […]

These days there’s far more to the King’s Cross than Eurostar and Champagne Bars of the station complex, so dip your toe into the coolest canalside area in London with this list of 10 things to do in King’s Cross – try them out one by one or join them all up to make a […]

After nearly four years in the making, and at nearly twice as high of any other London viewpoint, The Shard allows you to see the greatest city on earth in all its 360-degree glory. Here’s my report on The View From The Shard – plus I’ll show you the secret viewpoint that paying visitors will […]

I’m the first to be picked up for today’s boat trip to go snorkeling in Sharm el Sheikh, so I get chatting to the rep as we take the minibus to the next hotel. Like the rest of the staff at Emperor Divers – and as I soon realise the clients too – my guide is a Brit. I ask […]

The third series of cult Danish crime drama The Killing has just hit British TV screens – complete with yet another cosy knit for the heroine. As she chases down more murderous Scandinavians, the main line of questioning I’d like to pursue is whether we should all be donning our woollens and heading to Denmark’s capital? Read […]

Just outside the UNESCO World Heritage City of Evora in Portugal’s sleepy Alentejo region lies the Iberian Peninsula’s largest Megalithic monument, the mysterious and enigmatic Almendres stone circle. Built 7,000 years ago – and  2,000 years before Stonehenge  – it’s still attracting visitors, if you can find it down a quiet dusty road that is… I’m in Evora and I’ve just […]

*Update May 2019: Check out the latest post on things to do near The Shard* Imagine a building so tall the view from the window is like looking out of an aircraft. Imagine standing on a floor so high that helicopters are below you. And imagine 40 miles of London views, from the Olympic to Wembley […]

I’d never heard of either the comic-book anti-hero Corto Maltese nor his creator, graphic novelist Hugo Pratt when I walked into the latest exhibition of drawings of this traveller-extraordinaire in Portugal, and I’m guessing perhaps neither have you? But once you realise this is a character on a quest for excitement and diversity, choosing worldwide adventures, freedom and imagination […]

Buckingham Palace’s Queen’s gallery unveils more artistic treasures this week with the opening of The Northern Renaissance: Dürer to Holbein exhibition, a collection of Northern European art which includes the painting that defines the world’s image of Henry VIII, plus a painting freshly unveiled after a two-year-long conservation project and a collection of prints by the art world’s original […]

I must be really addicted to soya lattes, because at 9.30 pm on Friday night I was attending the grand opening of the Arabica coffee house Paphos to get what promised to be the best (and as far as I could determine, save Starbucks, the only) soya latte in Cyprus – and a little thing […]

Think of Cairo and you’ll imagine Tahrir Square, mob rule and flag-carrying protesters. But Cairo and Tahrir Square has changed in the last 20 months – at the end of September the Egyptian authorities pushed forward with a major clean-up of the city’s revolutionary hub. Having turfed the square they made the controversial decision to whitewash the political graffiti which adorns […]

Learning a few key words and phrases of a language always helps your trip to go more smoothly. Unlike some countries where your best linguistic efforts go unappreciated – or worse you’re answered in perfect English –  Egypt and other Arab countries smile on those who try a bit of Arabic. A few words and […]

Real Egyptians don’t spent their time hanging out at the pyramids or shopping in Khan el-Khalili, obviously. So where should a girl head to on a Saturday afternoon for a spot of retail therapy and a gossip with friends, as well as a soya latte to keep up the shopping spirits? If you want to know where to shop […]

You’ve heard of Lisbon and the Algarve but what about the sleepy swathe of Portugal which lies between these two areas? The road joining Portugal’s main tourist hubs may be well-travelled, but not so the towns, beaches and farmlands of the Alentejo region itself. Here we explore Portugal’s best kept secret in photographs… I hope these photographs will inspire you to […]

I had last visited Lisbon in 2005. Back then I did the usual touristy stuff, walked around the right neighbourhoods, rode the 28 tram and visited the flea market. I hired a car to see Sintra and some of the beaches outside town, I adored the tile-fronted houses and shabby chic neighbourhoods and ate my fair share […]

A selection of my favourite examples of Lisbon photography from my time in the city, with images of Lisbon street life from a variety of angles.  p.s. I left my camera on the wrong setting for some of my favourite shots (don’t you hate it when that happens!) so I had to get creative with […]

I’ve been to Portugal twice before and both times the food was a major sticking point for me, so I knew my recent trip round the country would be make or break for my relationship with Portuguese cuisine. I’m happy to report that from green wine to roast chicken, Port to quince jam, via fresh […]

Olympic President Jacques Rogge hasn’t been the only Belgian in town over the last few weeks. I’ve been busy showing some Belgian friends round my home city of London recently, so today I’m going Team Belgian on you with a brief but impassioned 5 point guide to why I Love Belgium – and why Belgium, […]

Italy obsessives seeking-out their next Mediterranean weekend away should look no further than Genoa, where the palatial Melia Genoa hotel provides the perfect refined and romantic base from which to explore this port town‘s twisting caruggi, waterside attractions and enticing culinary delights.

No-one goes to the Canary islands just to shop but come evening a consumer fanatic such as myself has only one thing on her mind. Hot country equals shopping opportunities after 9pm. It’s the only thing guaranteed to get me away from the buffet…

Looking for a 5 star resort hotel with real design flair to set it apart from the droves of other properties lined up along the same stretch of beach? The Seaside Palm Beach Hotel at Gran Canaria’s Maspalomas has all the facilities you’d expect from an upmarket resort property, with a dash of South Beach […]

It’s hard to capture the brilliance, exhilaration and atmosphere of London 2012 in words. So here are my favourite London 2012 pictures – 10 images of London’s Olympics all taken with my own camera or iphone and all making me brim with pride at the amazing show London is putting on…

A safari really is the holiday of a lifetime, so that means staying in just the right spot; and having the perfect safari guide makes that trip into the bush even more memorable. I stayed at Thakadu River Camp, one of the area’s most exclusive lodges. “Here comes the McDonalds of the bush, showing us his […]

Want to feel virtuous and enjoy walks in the outdoors one minute – then devour entire home-made lemon cakes from a quaint tea room the next? Here’s my guide to the perfect New Forest weekend break…

Today is Mandela Day – the 94th birthday of the man himself, and a symbolic day when everyone around the world should stop and remember what has been achieved in South Africa – as well as what is yet to be achieved. All over South Africa in honour of Mandela Day people are donating their […]

London has more global cuisine than anyone could hope to eat in a lifetime including a bewildering array of around 450 Japanese restaurants, but how can you find the most authentic Japanese restaurants in the capital if you don’t know your sushi from your sashimi? In this guest post Japanophile and Japan Journeys expert James […]

You’ve heard of the Big 5 now meet the unsung heroes of the bush – The Little 5…