BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN I was on a call with a Filipino friend this week. Richie is a good mate. We have been in some interesting places and tight squeezes together across the Philippine archipelago. Richie (R) and me (excuse the workman’s crack) on a scanning adventure, 2012 We reminisced about the time our scanning gear was stolen at gunpoint by natives. We chuckled about the … Continue reading Manila Madness
BY MARGARET ASHWORTH Early in the morning of August 29, 1930, 92 years ago yesterday, a way of life came to an end after at least 2,000 years. The last 36 residents of St Kilda, an isolated group of granite islands 100 miles off the west coast of Scotland sometimes called ‘the edge of the world’, were evacuated to the mainland at their own request … Continue reading Farewell to the Edge of the World
BY ROGER WATSON My wife and I had not taken a significant journey from Victoria Station for 40 years. On that occasion we were heading to Paris for our honeymoon. We had spent our wedding night at Victoria Square in the home of our good friend Bunny Austin (the best player who never won Wimbledon). While I lagged with our cases, Bunny was keeping my … Continue reading Pullman Pleasures
BY JAMES BEMBRIDGE ‘Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.’ – David Livingstone I recently saw the scenes described by Livingstone – by flight, as it happens – and they were indeed lovely. But lovely seems too modest a word to describe Victoria Falls. Today, with helicopter tours on offer, we can view the Falls as Livingstone imagined the … Continue reading Victoria Falls
BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN I am not fond of business meetings on Saturdays. I treasure the weekends – time to spend with the family. Nonetheless, a trip to Buxton did seem appealing. The elegant town that is Buxton has been welcoming visitors to enjoy its natural thermal springs and superb setting three hundred metres above sea level since Roman times. Known then as Aquae Arnemetiae, or … Continue reading Beautiful Buxton
BY SOLÈNE PINHOAT Géraldine and Mark Whitcombe-Power welcome all those who love Nature – but specifically those who have not had the good fortune to experience it – at their Domaine des Escavalins where they produce Extra Virgin olive oil. In fact, they are the first ever to be nominated best “Value of the Park” in the National and Regional Park of the Massif de … Continue reading Paradise Hidden in a Provencal Forest
BY AMELIA GRACE As you may already know, Hull is this year’s City of Culture. But a lot of people who have never visited Hull before in their life may be wondering why should I visit Hull? What kind of tourist attractions and events are there for me to do there? As a matter of fact, Hull has a lot of interesting tourist attractions and … Continue reading Reasons to Visit Hull
BY JON ALEXANDER Ballina/Killaloe, a place I have so much time for. We started coming here as a family in 2007, although my parents had been here twice before already. It’s two small towns located on the border of County Tipperary and County Clare, joined by a bridge over the River Shannon. A charming little part of Ireland that reminds me of all the best … Continue reading The Magic of Ireland
