Nov 10
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
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
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
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
“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 10
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
After two days of exploring Edinburgh, I was ready to seek some form of relief from the tourist hordes. So we jumped aboard a train bound for Stirling, a small historic city just 50-55 minutes away. Read more
Aug 11
After the tranquility of Oban and the Western Isles, Edinburgh seemed like a world away in comparison. Scotland’s pulsating capital is often regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, so it comes as no surprise that it is such a major tourist draw. Read more
It is a damp Sunday morning and we are down at the pier, amongst a crowd of weekend day-trippers from as far afield as America and New Zealand. We are boarding the 9:50 ferry out of Oban, on what is the first leg of a 2-hour journey to the fabled island of Iona. Read more
Just 3 hours away from the hustle and bustle of Glasgow is the little town of Oban (OH-bin), Scotland’s self-proclaimed seafood capital and the ‘Gateway to the Isles’. I am here with my mother on a week-long trip through the land of bagpipes and haggis, where people speak with a burr and the lakes are all called lochs. Read more
