The West Lake in Hangzhou China is an excellent place to relax

Visiting the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

Hangzhou in the Zhejiang Province is a Chinese city which attempts to mix the past with the present, at least that’s the impression I got from my visit. Hangzhou has a decent influx of foreigners due to the University, its proximity to Shanghai and its touristic appeals. Hangzhou ranks a lot higher with me than Read more about Visiting the West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China[…]

silver factory tour Yogyakarta

Silver Factory Tour in Kotagede, Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia

Sometimes the more “minor” parts of day tours are the ones you remember more. On my tour round central Java in Indonesia, I was pleasantly surprised by the silver factory tour  in Kotagede. The reason that most people visit Central Java is for the volcano Mount Merapi, Borobudur the largest Buddhist temple in the world Read more about Silver Factory Tour in Kotagede, Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia[…]

Eating at Batu Caves

Friday’s Featured Food: Malaysian Curry on a Leaf at Batu Caves

Today’s Friday’s Featured Food comes from Malaysia. It wasn’t just the food that made me want to write this post today – it was the location too! I visited the Batu Caves in Malaysia in 2009 after a night train from Singapore, and checking into our hostel in Kuala Lumpur. Just before heading into the Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Malaysian Curry on a Leaf at Batu Caves[…]

Tapioca Tea in Taiwan

Thirsty Thursdays: Tapioca Tea in Shinying, Taiwan

First up readers, bloggers and internet users, I owe an apology but it ain’t my fault thankfully! Being a travel blogger is glammed up as being an awesome job and I do my best to make it sound double cool, but believe me that’s only because we only cover the good stuff – when we Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Tapioca Tea in Shinying, Taiwan[…]

Relaxing at the historic town of Chikan in Guangdong in China

Kaiping Diaolou Tour: The Historic Town of Chikan, Guangdong Province, China

My recent China adventures have been wide, varied and definitely “off the wheaten craic“. I feel blessed by my visits to the country which houses a sixth of the world’s people and I’m happy that I can share all these stories with you. This will be the first of an installment on the incredible Kaiping Read more about Kaiping Diaolou Tour: The Historic Town of Chikan, Guangdong Province, China[…]

Tai O Fishing Village in Hong Kong

Visiting Tai O Fishing Village, Lantau Island, Hong Kong

When people think of Hong Kong they often think of the typical stereotypes associated with this global location – huge skyscrapers, office blocks, people in long queues, traffic jams, a busy commercial city. But in actual fact that view of Hong Kong is just one of many faces this country has to offer, yes I Read more about Visiting Tai O Fishing Village, Lantau Island, Hong Kong[…]

Jonny Blair in Vientiane

Things to see and do in Vientiane, Laos: A Top 5

I loved the relaxed charm of Vientiane in Laos. It’s got to be one of the less well known capital cities in the world. It was my first port of call when travelling in Laos (after arriving at the border point of Thanaleng) and I met up with a travel buddy there (Chaz – a Read more about Things to see and do in Vientiane, Laos: A Top 5[…]

eel fried rice in Kaiping in China

Friday’s Featured Food: Eel Fried Rice in Kaiping, China

Today I head back to China (a country I LOVE visiting) for Friday’s Featured Food. I was loving the Kaiping Diaolou Tour in and around the city of Kaiping (called Hoi Ping in Cantonese) and it was time to eat. China with its endless range of foods needs to be sampled. I admit to not Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Eel Fried Rice in Kaiping, China[…]

Jonny Blair in Pinnawala Sri Lanka

Thirsty Thursdays: Having a Beer in an Elephant Souvenir Shop in Pinnawala, Sri Lanka

As Thirsty Thursdays go this ranks as one of the most obscure! I had spent a week or so in Sri Lanka, touring around. It was a special trip because my parents had joined me and my girlfriend – I only see my parents once at year at most these days. It got to the Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Having a Beer in an Elephant Souvenir Shop in Pinnawala, Sri Lanka[…]