Backpacking in Shinying/ Sianjing/ Shinjing/ Xinying, Taiwan

Ask an average traveller where Shinying is and they probably won’t have a clue. Spelt in many different ways by different people, I’m not even sure if my spelling would be understood by the locals here. The city itself is situated on the south west region of Taiwan, it is in between the mountains and Read more about Backpacking in Shinying/ Sianjing/ Shinjing/ Xinying, Taiwan[…]

Arrival in Taiwan: “Hong Kong is present, Taipei awakes…all talk of circadian rhythms”

It was fitting and sentimental that I listened to REM’s 1998 hit “Daysleeper” as our aeroplane soared through misty smoky skies and landed on the island of Taiwan. The band I had forgotten about suddenly became the most important one on my iPod dukebox. I delved into the “Monster” album once again (“you know with Read more about Arrival in Taiwan: “Hong Kong is present, Taipei awakes…all talk of circadian rhythms”[…]

Jonny Blair in Bangkok

99 Minutes in Bangkok Airport, Thailand

Hardly enough time to class yourself as a citizen, an illegal immigrant, a resident or even a tourist…but the history books do reveal that I spent 99 minutes on Thai land, albeit in transit at the airport. It was the Sunday just gone, our flight left London, England late on the Saturday (getting bags packed Read more about 99 Minutes in Bangkok Airport, Thailand[…]

Backpacking in Sark: Europe´s Last Feudal State

Sark was a place I had always wanted to visit, ever since September 2007 when I read all about it in a flight magazine from Iceland Express. Its a mystical, magical island, off the coast of France. It has its own government and was Europe’s last ever feudal state. But where is it? And why Read more about Backpacking in Sark: Europe´s Last Feudal State[…]