Destinations

Lake Bled in Autumn (Fall): Fairy Tales and Rain Clouds

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The church on the island in Lake Bled, Slovenia

You’ve probably seen Lake Bled somewhere on the internet, most likely in one of those “10 Fairy tale Places That Are Actually Real” articles, where the sun is always shining and the lake’s water looks like it’s been flown in from the Maldives.  You can imagine royals from centuries past getting married in the island … Read more

Old Towns and Castles: A Week in Transylvania

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The Black Church in Brasov, Transylvania - the base for our week in Transylvania

After a month travelling in Europe, I’ve reached an insightful and possibly world changing conclusion: There are lots of old buildings in Europe. Do people get sick of seeing old town after old town? I haven’t yet, but it’s going to be hard to beat some of the places I went during my week in … Read more

Searching for Robert Pattinson at Bran Castle, Transylvania

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Bran Castle in Transylvania - apparently it's Dracula's castle!

Vampires used to be cool. Gary Oldman was great in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, as were Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in Interview with the Vampire – even old timers like Bella Lugosi portrayed the undead in a far more interesting light than we’ve seen lately. Teenage girls are to blame, and even though I’ve only … Read more

A (Pop) Cultural Tour of London

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A pop cultural tour of London - Greenwich (filming of Thor 2)

London is huge, both in real world terms and also in the influence it has had on western pop culture. Iconic bands, literary geniuses and acclaimed actors have all called London home, as has a little bespectacled wizard called Harry Potter, but more on him later (actually, there isn’t much more I can say about him … Read more

Luang Prabang: The Land of Temples and Rivers

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The palace near the National Museum in Luang Prabang, Laos

Laos is full of lazy river towns where you can lose yourself in hammocks for days. You’ll overhear people moaning about having to leave or frantically cutting out places they’d planned to go just to spend a bit more time away from the bustle of the Southeast Asian tourist trail. Luang Prabang isn’t quite as relaxing as Don Det, Nong Khiaw or Muang Ngoi, but its mix of history, culture and stunning river views makes it one of the nicest (and most popular) towns in Southeast Asia.

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Muang Ngoi: An Idyllic Village in Northern Laos

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Before my current trip to Laos I’d spent about 6 weeks in the country and hadn’t even come close to seeing everything I wanted.  Muang Ngoi (also known as Muang Ngoi Neua) was one of the towns I reluctantly skipped last time, so I decided to make it the centrepiece of this 2 week trip.

To say Muang Ngoi is laid back is a huge understatement. It’s the very definition of a sleepy Southeast Asian village, complete with playful dogs, roaming chickens and curious kids. I was in Muang Ngoi in September, so it might be a bit busier in high season, but I’m sure you’ll find peace whatever time of year you visit.

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Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi, Laos: An Awesome Boat Ride

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Boats on the river on the journey from Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi

Laos is full of idyllic riverside towns and taking a boat between 2 of the most beautiful ones, from Nong Khiaw to Muang Ngoi, was one of my favourite experiences in Southeast Asia’s most laidback country.  This stretch of the Nam Ou River is particularly stunning; the only problem is that the boats aren’t built with photography … Read more