ards northern ireland

Top 10 Backpackery Things to do in Newtownards, Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️: The Town Where I was Born!

Life may take you on many roads and to many towns and cities around the world but one fact is true: you can only have one birth town. You are born in one place and we must try and be proud of our roots. I certainly am, and I owe a lot more to my Read more about Top 10 Backpackery Things to do in Newtownards, Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️: The Town Where I was Born![…]

china chongqing

Backpacking in Chongqing, China: 10 Things to See and Do in the World’s Biggest City

“Hundred mile high city” – Ocean Colour Scene. If you read my post about my journey to Chongqing this week, you’ll know how much visiting this colossal city in China was a huge huge childhood dream of mine. When the time finally came round, I was completely inspired by it. I haven’t given a decent Read more about Backpacking in Chongqing, China: 10 Things to See and Do in the World’s Biggest City[…]

working wednesdays pjs

Working Wednesdays: A Tribute to My Friends and Heroes of PJs Parramatta, Australia

“If you really want more shout it out louder” – Usher. OK so before I launch into a tribute, the story begins, and this one needs a bit of an introduction. Even those that once worked with me in PJ Gallagher’s Irish PubI’m not sure I’ve told it all before in this much detail on Read more about Working Wednesdays: A Tribute to My Friends and Heroes of PJs Parramatta, Australia[…]

jonny blair backpacking chongqing

Backpacking in Chongqing, China: Living my Travel Dream in the World’s Biggest City

Hi everyone! I’ve been wanting to get this story typed up for about 9 months now!! It was in June last year that I first visited the city of Chongqing in China. It was a childhood dream of mine, and when the moment finally arrived, I was just in awe of this astounding monster. I Read more about Backpacking in Chongqing, China: Living my Travel Dream in the World’s Biggest City[…]

trabzon walls turkey

My Top 5 Things to see and do When Backpacking in Trabzon, Turkey🇹🇷

Trabzon in Turkey is a completely cool city to check out, despite the fact that most travellers seem to “use it” as a means to their onward travels. The reason being it’s ideally located for onward travels from Turkey to Iran or Georgia. Trabzon sits on the Black Sea so leaving by boat is an Read more about My Top 5 Things to see and do When Backpacking in Trabzon, Turkey🇹🇷[…]

Monday’s Money Saving Tips: Cook Your Own Food

It’s been a long time coming with this one, I know, but it’s not something I actually do a lot – generally eating out is cheap for me anyway. But I used to cook my own food all the time, and I started doing it again on my latest adventure. Cooking your own food is Read more about Monday’s Money Saving Tips: Cook Your Own Food[…]

durty nellys

Staying in Amsterdam’s Red Light District: Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub, Amsterdam, Netherlands

It was an odd but yet refreshing feeling when I headed back to Amsterdam in the Netherlands earlier this year. It completed a total full circle for me in life and in truth freaked me out a bit. The story dated back 23 years… I first visited Amsterdam back in 1991 – in fact it Read more about Staying in Amsterdam’s Red Light District: Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub, Amsterdam, Netherlands[…]

jonny blair on pavilion bar bournemouth

Working Wednesdays: Barman at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, England

I admit my working Wednesdays series is months behind – I was writing so much stuff recently about travel that I neglected my usual regular features and lifestyle posts. My return to the town of Bournemouth after a 5 year absence recently made me think of my time there working as a barman in Bournemouth Read more about Working Wednesdays: Barman at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, England[…]

jonny blair hunan china changsha

Top 5 Sights When Backpacking in Changsha, Hunan Province, China

In my ongoing quest to visit every Province in China, I recently headed to the Hunan Province which is probably most famous for the fact that Chairman Mao Ze Dong comes from this province. Also famous is the scenic area at Wulingyuan which was made famous by it’s inclusion as the location for the film Read more about Top 5 Sights When Backpacking in Changsha, Hunan Province, China[…]