There I was, nervous again, fidgeting over my notes, like a first day back at school, checking my hair was OK and my shoelaces were done. In a foreign land here I was now, faced with the task of trying to learn some basic Cantonese. Cantonese is one of many Chinese dialects. It is spoken Read more about Studying Saturdays: My Short Course in Cantonese at the Chinese University of Hong Kong[…]
“Travel blogging chilled the radio star” – tweaking of a lyric by The Buggles. If you have followed my journeys or indeed known me back in the early days, you’ll be aware of my passion for radio. What began as a “bit of craic” in a blue hut in Belfast’s Belvoir Park estate in 1997 turned Read more about Working Wednesdays: Back on the Air at Radio 3, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong[…]
Mong Kok translates nicely into Yingman/English as “Busy Corner” and if I was a first time visitor to Hong Kong, I would make sure that I base myself in Mong Kok for my first few nights. The reason is – this is the pulsating heart of the Kong. Street life in Mong Kok is what Read more about Backpacking in Hong Kong: 24 Hours Exploring Mong Kok, Kowloon[…]
Hong Kong remains a firm favourite for me on my travels. It really has a lot offer in almost every department I look for – ease of movement, good base, fast Wi-Fi, huge range of foods, vibrant nightlife, mix of culture, night markets. It’s a country I’ll never tire of exploring. I’ve stayed in a Read more about Staying at the Dorsett Mong Kok Hotel, Kowloon, Hong Kong[…]
It’s a beautiful world sometimes and we need to pinch ourselves and remind each other of this, more often than we do. As I backpacked my way through the streets of Hong Kong back in May 2011, I had no idea what effect this city would have on me. While on that journey back in Read more about Staying at the Magnificent Cityview Hotel, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, Hong Kong[…]
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Hong Kong has endless corners to explore. My recent journeys through this mini country of 8 million people took me to Yau Ma Tei. It’s an area those unfamiliar with Hong Kong will hopefully want to get to know. I was actually there for my Read more about Backpacking in Hong Kong: 24 Hours Exploring Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon[…]
“Street’s like a jungle, so call the police” – Girls and Boys (1994) Conceived in the 70s, born in the 80s, teenage years in the 90s made me a Britpop teenager into my Indie Music. What is BritPop? What is Indie music? Brit – British Pop – Popular Indie – Independent Record Label “The Queen, Read more about Reminiscing my Youth: Watching Blur Live in Hong Kong[…]
Even the most touristic towns and cities in China continue to be epic and inspirational. I’ve mentioned many times before that China is probably the best country in the world to really feel like you’re backpacking in. This is what you dreamed of China to be like before you ventured here, even in popular Yangshuo. Read more about Backpacking in China: Top 5 Things to Do in Yangshuo, Guangxi[…]