“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” -Bilbo Baggins, Fellowship of the Ring I never wanted to go backpacking. I had no interest in staying in hostels. An introvert by nature, I found the peace and privacy of a hotel room necessary, not only for the enjoyment of the trip, but for my mental sanity. Then the cheapskate … [Read more...]
Dispatch: Kentucky Fried Moa
Bumbling into a Big Bird better than Popeye’s in a primary rainforest on a remote New Zealand isle, John M. Edwards raves, “Don’t mess with dinner!” Part I In Auckland, New Zealand, I was roosting in the common room of this crap budget flophouse, perusing my guidebook and gearing up to fly to Fiji soon despite a recent military coup, when the heated roundtable discussion of the relative cleanliness and cheapness of Kiwi backpacker hostels … [Read more...]
Investigating Legendary Party Thrower Jim Haynes
It was through my fellow American expat friend, “The Famous Zack,” a black Christian science-fiction writer originally from Ohio, with a short story coming up back then in the now-defunct “AMAZING STORIES,” that I first heard about the wild parties thrown by the legendary Jim Haynes, whom some sour-grape artists deemed an apocryphal “traitor.” So well known was Haynes as a manic socialite host that he even felt propelled to write a … [Read more...]
Enjoy the Fresh Air: Top Outdoor Activities in Edinburgh
A visit to Edinburgh doesn’t just include exploring the culture, history and entertainment. The city may be famous for its majestic castle, impressive Hogmanay celebrations and the incredible Fringe Festival but it’s also a gateway to the great outdoors. With hills, rugged landscapes and miles of adventure on the city’s doorstep, it’s a perfect place to base yourself if you want to discover what the surroundings have to offer. Check out any … [Read more...]
Pre-Christmas Break Vs. Post-Christmas Break: Which One Is Right For You? Guest Post
Christmas is a magical time of year. Family, friends, neighbours and strangers all gather together to share wonderful memories, delicious food and exchange thoughtful gifts. The kindness and generosity that is generated in people at this time of year is admirable. However, with our generosity towards others and our selfless giving, we often forget to make time for ourselves and treat ourselves to something special. We think there is no better … [Read more...]
Visiting London for first timers with an eye on Scotland
This post is about London, one of the world's major International cities. With two major airports (Heathrow and Gatwick) and two smaller ones (Luton and Stansted), there is no shortage of flights to and from here from all over the globe. Once in the city, the famous red double decker buses will take you anywhere you need to go within the city limits - and some of these run all night. The also famous "tube" looks like a birds nest when you see it … [Read more...]
Northern Ireland: Terra Titanicus
The only thing Belfast does in moderation is moderation. Always, it has been Brobdingnagian in spirit. Always, it has lived large. Belfast, reaching for the sky, Photo by Didrik Johnck Once it was the largest linen producer in the world. And had the largest ropeworks. It was the largest manufacturer of fizzy drinks; largest shirt maker; had the largest flax machine works; largest tobacco factory; largest handkerchief factory. … [Read more...]
Exploring the United Kingdom
"Exploring the United Kingdom is more affordable you think, with discount voucher sites giving you more for your money." The lure of overseas travel can provide a wonderfully satisfying way to dream away the colds winter months but sometime it's worth considering the options closer to home. In these harsh economic times were all watching our budgets so it's a great time to explore the depths the our country has to offer... In the UK we're … [Read more...]
European Getaways – Paris and London and everything in between
Vacation time is any time in the climate of today's world travel. Just hop on a plane and in no time at all, or maybe a little bit more than that, you can be anywhere your heart desires. How does London with its fascinating history sound? Or Paris, the city of Light? Both cities boast super shops for inveterate shoppers; restaurants featuring every type of cuisine; museums, nightclubs, theatre the list goes on and on. Just footing around … [Read more...]
Puffins in Pembrokeshire, West Wales
As an international holiday destination, Wales is a little way off the beaten track. All the great cities of the UK- London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow- are far away. While Wales has a rich culture and history of its own, they are much less well known than those of England or Scotland. Pembrokeshire lies in the extreme south-western corner of Wales- it's a quiet and sparsely populated even for a part of Wales, but those visitors who … [Read more...]