In my ongoing series of World Borders, I aim to provide essential tips for crossing borders and immigration checkpoints all over the world. Today we look at the “border” between Italy and San Marino. Yes, San Marino is a landlocked country which is completely inside Italy. Italy seems to like these types of places as…
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As travellers we visit a lot of countries, but it’s also nice to get out there and experience some places that are often called “countries” but yet they are not. It’s actually a huge topic for debate amongst travellers as to what is a country and what is not, I mean is Podjistan a country?…
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I first went snorkelling when I was about 6 or 7 and growing up in Northern Ireland. But all there was to see in places like Castlerock, Portrush and Cloughy were crabs and shells. Here in Balicasag Island off the coast of Bohol and Pangalo Islands in the Philippines you can get a really good…
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It’s time to get inspired on Don’t Stop Living!! If you are sitting in a dull office job right now, or working on the till in a supermarket, stop for a moment and think – is this really how you want to spend your life?? I’m guessing it’s not!! So in an attempt to get…
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Today my Thirsty Thursdays feature comes from New Zealand. They know how to party there as I found out!! After settling into my new “home for 2 days”, I had noticed a flier advertising a Pub Crawl of Christchurch that very night – there’s one every Friday. The flier was in the visitors guide brochure…
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My Working Wednesdays series covers stories from my constantly changing career. For today’s post we head back to January 1998, exactly 15 years ago this week I was working for the local newspaper, the County Down Spectator in Bangor, Northern Ireland. Now obviously writing is something I love doing, so this seemed an obvious job…
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I was once described as a “football nut” and I’m not sure what that entails, but basically I LOVE football. Ever since I saw Norman Whiteside score for Northern Ireland against Algeria in the 1986 World Cup on a black and white TV, I have been a football fan. Firstly I played it – at…
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OK, so in travelling the world, it’s always nice to reflect back to your homeland. Although I was born and bred in Northern Ireland, I also have an affinity with the south of England. I spent 6 years living in Bournemouth, London and Dartford and loved every minute of my time there. Back in the…
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I have been asked a few times “What is your most crazy or outrageous travel story?” and to be honest there are a few contenders, however being naked in the waters of Antarctica has to be pretty nuts, right? So have you ever gone for a swim in the Antarctic Ocean? I have, and I…
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As a cheapskate, budget traveller, backpacker etc. staying in hotels is not something I normally do or am used to. So tonight for my thirsty Thursday I thought I would change the scene a bit and talk about the night I was drinking bottles of beer for 80 Hong Kong Dollars each!! Yes, it’s not…
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