After backpacking through Chiayi it was time to head south and check out all the big/tourist places down there – Tainan, Kaohsuing, Kenting, Eluanbi which we’ve done in the last week or so. Neil and his friend Eva (from Taiwan) played a big part in our next move, as they invited us to a live Read more about Backpacking in Taiwan: Anping[…]
After spending our first 24 hours in Taiwan getting buses, acclimatising and checking out the city of Shinying, it was time to head north on the train to the larger city of Chiayi. It’s pronounced “shy ye” in Northern Irish English, which I enjoyed. Neil had some time off that day and accompanied Natalja and Read more about Backpacking in Taiwan: Chiayi City![…]
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[…]
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”[…]
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[…]
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[…]
Since I was a wee boy back in the streets of Marlo, Bangor, Northern Ireland I enjoyed reading about the world and looking at maps. Its a big world you know. I’m 29, ain’t getting any younger, the world ain’t getting any smaller…so it’s off to see the world I go. I’ve been in 34 Read more about The Land Of Eastern Promise…[…]
Northern Ireland 1-0 England 7th September 2005. David Healy 74 I was of course there in Windsor Park in the Kop the night we beat the England. I attended every Northern Ireland home match from January 1997 to September 2009. I had written a report on this match for a magazine in 2005 which was Read more about Away In A Manger – The night we bate the England[…]
As well as working on the Wightlink Ferries, I have spent quite a bit of time backpacking on the Isle of Wight in England. I organised a crazy SOENISC day out there in 2006 and in 2008 made several trips to the Isle of Wight and toured the Needles. Here are a few photos from Read more about Backpacking in England: Touring The Needles, Isle of Wight[…]
This post warps us back to Wednesday 20th September 1995, and a football match, which is potentially the biggest footballing upset in my lifetime. Manchester United, who had finished as Premiership Champions in 2 of the previous 3 seasons, and had also won the FA Cup twice in those two years, were at home to Read more about Manchester United 0-3 York City FC[…]