Of all the islands in the world, Piss Island probably sounds like one of, if not THE least appealing. Yet right now, there’s nowhere I’d rather be heading to more.  That’s because Piss Island is the (affectionate) name given to the floating toilet facilities on the canals of Amsterdam today and, well… I’m bursting. It’s […]

So in the last few weeks it’s gone from bloody wet to bloody freezing. And we’re still only halfway through January. All of which really leaves me pining for the warmer climes of a recent trip… Morocco. In fact, as it’s Blue Monday today – ‘the most depressing day of the year’ – I’m particularly […]

Of all the wonderful sights awaiting me in Morocco – the sands of the Sahara, the sunsets of Essaouira, the red-mud Berber towns of the Atlas Mountains – there was a less obvious spectacle that I was perhaps more excited about seeing. I don’t know why the thought of witnessing the tree-climbing goats of Morocco […]

It’s 11am and we’re in a taxi heading along Budapest’s Route 4, on our way from the airport to The Hive Party Hostel. I’m hanging out of the passenger window, passing cold beers to a friend through the window of another taxi that’s driving parallel. At 60mph. The beers have come from the fridge at […]

Visitors to the Philippines are often faced with the tough task of choosing which islands to include in their Philippines itinerary. There’s over 7,000 of them after all. And two islands that often end up going head-to-head are Boracay and Bohol. Both popular destinations, each with their own individual appeal. But if you’ve only got […]

Deciding to visit the Philippines is easy – what with its paradise beaches, world-class diving, majestic volcanoes and more… Deciding where to visit in the Philippines is where things get difficult. Especially when you’ve limited time, and 7,000+ islands to choose from. I recently found myself with that very decision to make. I was heading to Manila […]

In the hour I spent wandering around Saint-Benoît-du-Sault – a village in the Loire Valley region of France – I saw a grand total of seven people. Three of them I was with. Three of the others were local men having a drink outside one of the village’s bars. The final one was a lady setting […]

I doubt there’s ever a bad time (rainy season aside, maybe) to visit Hoi An – Vietnam’s jewel in an already sparkling crown. But if there’s a particularly good time, or shall we say even better time to visit this perfectly preserved colonial port, it’s on the night of a full moon; Hoi An’s Lunar Festival. […]

I wake up and put my hand to my head. Just where I feel the ache is a slight lump. I must have been out cold – judging by my lovely dream… We were passing through a picturesque market town called Oundle. All limestone buildings, cosy pubs and cute churches. Just beyond the town a peaceful lane ran alongside a […]