I had no idea that Malta was so a picturesque island with so many stunning landscapes and as rich a history it has. Valletta, the capital city, boasts more monuments per square mile than any other city globally, reflecting its history of conquests and control by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, French, English, Italians, Sicilians, Romans, and various other powers. This led to be declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO. Today half a million people call the 316km (200sq miles)that is Malta home making it the fifth most densely populated country on the planet. My…
Place Reviews (Thursday)
Category Archives for Place Reviews (Thursday).
Journey to the Isle of Man: A Wonderful Adventure
Let me take you on a journey around the Isle of Man (or Mann), a unique destination that offers visitors a rich history, stunning natural scenery, and a huge variety of activities. Located in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland, the Isle of Man is a self-governing British Overseas Territory with its own government, parliament, and judicial system. Therefore, I counted it as the 84th country/territory I have visited! The Isle of Man is most known for the annual TT Races, one of the world’s most famous motorcycle races, attracting thousands of visitors yearly.…
Australia’s Lakes District- an Introduction
The Gippsland Lakes system is the largest network of inland waterways in Australia. It is a popular tourist destination known for its stunning natural beauty, majestic lakes and pristine beaches. Lakes Entrance is the picturesque coastal town located (unsurprisingly) at the entrance of those lakes! The Gippsland Lakes system consists of lakes, lagoons, and rivers that stretch over 600 square kilometers (360 miles). The lakes are surrounded by lush vegetation, including banksia woodlands, eucalypt forests, and coastal heathlands. The clear, blue waters of the lakes reflect the surrounding landscape, creating a stunning vista that is…
More food than I can eat- riding a Thai Train
The in-transit catering on Thailand trains is amazing. Streams of salespeople hop on and off at every station on the “all stops” trains. They are usually selling hot and cold coffees, ice cold sweetened Thai teas, and fresh fruit, meals, snacks, and take-home goodies. Basically if you want anything from a sliced apple to a Phad Thai, they will find it for you! The first time I rode a train in Thailand, I went to the supermarket to buy snacks beforehand, little knowing that every part of the 4,044 km (2,513 mile) rail system has…
Video: Chefchoen, the Blue Pearl of Morocco
Chefchoen شفشاون one of the most Instagrammed places in the planet is a city of 43,000 in the Rif mountains northwest of Morocco. It’s about two hours south of Tangier and four hours north of Fes. Known as the “Blue Pearl”, the city is painted blue for reasons no one really remembers. There are many, many theories as to why. It definitely brings the tourists in now. I could not resist creating this Blue Blue world Tiktok video…. TikTok link: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS82W2R64/ Related Posts:
Ten Amazing Days in Morocco
A dream for 41 years became a reality with a recent trip across Morocco by bus, car, and train. This beautiful and diverse country, with its rich history and culture provided me with one of the most unique and exciting experiences, I have ever had as a traveller. Morroco was also the 80th country I have ever been to. Arrival I started by flying into Marrakech. I was very impressed with my arrival at the modern Marrakech airport which has flights to and from 78 airports. It is also possible to fly into Casablanca or…
Out of Dili’s Terrible History emerges a Terrific Travel Experience
While it may not be as popular a tourist destination as some other cities in Southeast Asia, I found Dili had some interesting options and is one of the most authentic places I visited last year. Dili is the capital city of Timor Leste a small island nation located in Southeast Asia on the island of Timor (which is divided between Timor Leste and Indonesia). I have wanted to visit since Timor Leste’s Independence. Transport options to this island nation have been few and pricey. It does take a lot of work to organise travel…
Is there anything nicer than enjoying a fresh coconut?
One of the absolute delights of my time in the fascinating city of Dili in East Timor was discovering these beachside coconut stands. Approach a seller with his or her cart. Pick out your coconut or let the seller choose. The seller wields a formidable machete and whack whack, off comes the coconut’s top; in goes a straw and one refreshing drink is ready! I was kicking myself that I had left my metal straw at the hotel. I hate adding to disposal culture. When the fresh coconut milk is finished, one goes back to…
Singapore’s Beautiful Rail Corridor Trail
This is Walking in Singapore! Not what you’d expect from a city-state which measures just 733 square km (283 sq mi)??? The country has an area that is just 1/8th the size of Rhode Island or one-third the size of London yet manages to squeeze over five million people in! Green spaces are vital to the country and there are some stunning spaces across Singapore. The newest one which opened in 2021 is Rail Corridor SG which runs for 24km (13 mi) from Tanjong Pagar railway station in downtown Singapore northwards to Kranji, near the…
I have now travelled to 84 countries!
In 2020 and 2021, I added no new countries to my “collection”. In 2022, I did a little catching up, visiting Timor Leste, Morocco, Qatar and Gibraltar! I had previously been to Doha Airport, but never gp off the plane. Check this link for a comprehensive look at the places I have visited. My overall goal is 99 countries, and I had hoped to add two new places each year until I get there. This means that goal is about nine years away! Between my flights and boat trips I have looped the earth around…
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