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Nov 29

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X Marks the Spot – Sintra to Belém, Portugal.

Early on a Sunday morning, a red van pulled up to our hostel for the beginning of a 7-hour adventure. The weather was finally beginning to clear up and we had booked ourselves on the “X-Day Trip”, run by an alternative tour company with the best name I’d seen in a long time. Headed by Bruno, a graphic designer turned tour operator, We Hate Tourism Tours was hatched when he noticed that young visitors were leaving Lisbon without having seen many of its best parts. Read more

Nov 21

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No Rain on This Parade – Lisbon, Portugal.

As the train crossed the border from Spain to Portugal, we began to get the sense that we had passed over into the unknown. Not only was the language different, but the scenery was turning increasing shades of green and our train began to rock from side to side. Read more

Nov 10

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At the Walls of Ávila, Spain.

The Spanish call it the “City of Song and Saints”. Situated in the wilds of Castilla y León, and within easy reach of Madrid, the historic town of Ávila is a prime destination for a weekend day trip. Recently a friend of mine described it as a miniature version of Carcassonne – that legendary walled city in the south of France – and within 30 seconds I was sold. Read more

Oct 26

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Tales from the Golden City – Salamanca, Spain.

It’s 10am on a chilly Saturday morning and I am standing in the middle of Plaza Mayor, at the heart of Salamanca’s historic centre. Under a cloudless sky the morning light falls gently onto the carved stone facades and wrought iron balconies. Composed, elegant and lavishly decorated, it is the ultimate Plaza Mayor, easily besting the more famous one in Madrid. Read more

Oct 1

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Chasing the Dragon, Hong Kong.

As I write this I am sitting in a friend’s flat in Madrid. It is hard to believe that less than three days ago I was on the other side of the world, rounding up a long and unforgettable summer vacation.

After 2½ months spent relaxing in Hong Kong, the grand finale was last week’s Mid-Autumn Festival. No doubt one of the most important events of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, it is a harvest celebration characterised by family moments, good food, and swathes of bright colours. Read more

Sep 27

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The Little Mermaid and the Bund, Shanghai.

Long before I arrived at the World Expo, I decided that the Danish Pavilion would be near the top of my wish list. Not only was it a beautifully elegant structure, but the Danes had also moved their beloved statue of the Little Mermaid to Shanghai for the duration of the Expo. Read more

Sep 26

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38 Degrees and Rising – Shanghai, China.

“Flight attendants, please take your positions for landing.” The captain’s voice crackled over the aircraft’s PA system and we looked out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the scenery below us.

Through the thick pall of smog only the faint outlines of fields and fishing boats were visible. This was my third trip to Shanghai and I was here to see the 2010 World Expo. Titled ‘Better City, Better Life’, its focus was on green urban living. Read more

Sep 13

Not your ordinary jam session, Hong Kong.

4 friends, 4 canvases and 3 hours of speed-painting. As part of a unique birthday celebration, I was invited to an artjamming session in Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan district. Read more

Sep 10

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Beyond the concrete jungle, Hong Kong.

When I first returned to Hong Kong both my immediate and extended family members were quick to point out a drastic change in my outward appearance.

After a month of eating my way through Madrid, Brussels and finally Scotland, I was going to have to do something to kick-start my very own battle of the bulge. Enlisting the help of my friend Phil, an experienced hiker, we set a date for a 3-4 hour hike with the promise that it wouldn’t be too strenuous. Read more

Aug 21

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Honey-coloured sunsets – Bath, England.

The end of my whirlwind tour around Western Europe was a signal that my life was about to take a very different course. After 4½ years of study, I was going to leave England for good. Read more

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