Thirsty Thursdays: Drinking North Korean Blueberry Wine in Seoul

Officially at least, I made it across the border into North Korea a year ago, the same week that Kim Jong Il died. We did the DMZ tour, crossing the border from North to South in a sky blue hut in Panmunjom. Just before that however, we were able to visit two shops inside the Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Drinking North Korean Blueberry Wine in Seoul[…]

Working Wednesdays: Travel Writing

Hold on a second, you’re a travel writer and now you’re writing about travel writing??!! Yes I am. While my “Working Wednesdays” series aims to detail stories, tips and ideas for working your way round the globe, I also talk about my own jobs and experiences. So this week, I thought I would do my Read more about Working Wednesdays: Travel Writing[…]

maps are a travel essential

Tuesday’s Travel Essentials: Part 4: Maps

You arrive in a new town or city, what’s the first thing you need? A drink? a hostel? a taxi? NO – it’s a map!! Yes this simple and often free piece of paper with writing and drawing on it is the single most important first thing to have in a new town or city. Read more about Tuesday’s Travel Essentials: Part 4: Maps[…]

local food in Taiwan night markets

Monday’s Money Saving Tips: Part 8 – Eating Locally

Today’s money saving tip is food related. Now I know some ‘local’ food places may not be the healthiest or tastiest cuisine. BUT you came here to travel and sample the local life and culture, so you need to start off with food. Eat locally. 5 Quick Money Saving tips when eating locally: 1. Listen Read more about Monday’s Money Saving Tips: Part 8 – Eating Locally[…]

Taiwanese style pork sandwich

Friday’s Featured Food: Taiwan Style Pork Sandwich

Today’s Friday’s Featured Food comes with a hint of sadness. It’s also another example  of life going full circle on me, again. Today was the last day I will have lunch in my favourite local sandwich shop in Tsuen Wan in Hong Kong. This Taiwanese style sandwich shop has been my lunchtime haunt since I Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Taiwan Style Pork Sandwich[…]

Guinness Gates in Dublin

Thirsty Thursdays: The Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

At some point in life I realised that Guinness is my favourite drink. I can’t remember when. My first legal Guinness was in a pub called Wolseys in Bangor, Northern Ireland. My first trip to the Guinness Brewery in Dublin was in 2003. But earlier this year I decided it was time to head to Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: The Guinness Storehouse, Dublin[…]

Jonny Blair working on the gangway on cross channel ferries in 2009

Working Wednesdays: The Easiest Job In The World – ‘Gangway Man’

When you move around a lot, you jobs change often and perhaps the best job I ever had was when I worked on ferries – being paid to travel must be good! So this week’s Working Wednesday comes from my time being ‘Gangway Man’ on the ferries. While some people hate thinking about their jobs, Read more about Working Wednesdays: The Easiest Job In The World – ‘Gangway Man’[…]

Dont forget your travel adapter

Tuesday’s Travel Essentials: Travel Adapters

Right so you’re heading to Africa with a laptop, an iPod and a camera. You’ll need to charge them. No problem? You’re staying in a hostel. Oops you forgot to check what type of plug sockets they have there, so unfortunately when you get there you then have to spend a few quid or dollars Read more about Tuesday’s Travel Essentials: Travel Adapters[…]

jonny blair dont stop living car at airports

Monday’s Money Saving Tips: Sleep In Your Car

For a start you will need to actually own a car to do this (or rent one) – but once you’ve bought one, suddenly you don’t need to stay in hostels, rent a flat or cart your stuff around with you. Make your car your home, as I did for 5 months back in 2010. Read more about Monday’s Money Saving Tips: Sleep In Your Car[…]

Backpacking in South Africa: Top 5 Things to do In Soweto

Soweto is an amazing place and I must recommend it to everyone out there. It is one of the most famous townships in South Africa. Situated in Gauteng near Johannesberg, this place has so much history, you’ll end up enhancing your world history knowledge without even noticing it. It’s hard to do a top 5 Read more about Backpacking in South Africa: Top 5 Things to do In Soweto[…]