My Top Ten Countries [Part Two]

Or if you prefer, my top five as I started the top ten last week with numbers 10 to 6. You can find that post HERE. But here are, or should I say were, my top five when I listed them a couple of years back. I would (and plan to) revisit the list at …

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First Taste – St Petersburg, Russia

I’m not sure I have been quite as excited as I was about arriving anywhere as Russia for the first time in 1999. The idea of going behind the old iron curtain to a country that was hard to imagine that much about was more exciting than even Egypt or India for my first big …

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First Taste – Lahore, Pakistan

Okay. Pakistan is probably not first, second or third on your list of places to go, but it is worth considering these days I’d say even if you just fancy a quick look there to see what it’s like. If you do that, you’re city of choice is likely to be the one that was …

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First Taste – Accra, Ghana, West Africa

Ahhh Accra. Like a pie in the face, it hits you with some serious humidity not dissimilar to Bangkok. I challenged myself to go to West Africa, and despite reservations (mostly revolving around diet) I ended up getting there for the first time in 2006. I’ve been back to the region twice since and back …

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Rangitoto Island – Climbing a Volcano (New Zealand)

Before I headed to New Zealand I did a bit of research. There was an island, a short ferry ride from Auckland with a volcano on it that people happily climbed! ‘Yes!’ I thought, that sounds bloody awesome! I’ll do that! And so I knew straight away the thing I most wanted to do when …

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First Taste – Delhi, India

Welcome to another ‘first taste’ post, which have proven, thus far, to be quite popular! (Thanks readers!) Today I want to recount my first taste of India, back in 1999. Even for the traveller who’s been to a few places, India can be a bit of a shock when you first arrive. For me, I …

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Mitai Maori Village Rotorua

Before heading to New Zealand, my wife was very keen to see one of the Maori Cultural Shows. Rotorua I was told was the best place for them, so we had it on our ‘to do’ list for Rotorua. Funky Green Voyager Hostel recommended the Mitai Maori Village, although they had discounts to another two …

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First Tastes – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

It’s been simply ages since I wrote about my favourite African country, Ethiopia. Today in ‘first tastes’ I will refer back to 2009 when I flew into the capital to begin an amazing three weeks in Ethiopia. For those flying into Ethiopia, odds are you will be flying into the capital, you’ll be landing at …

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The Colours of Waiotapu

The Waiotapu Thermal Springs is one of the most amazing places we saw in our short stay in New Zealand. Done on a short trip/tour from Rotorua, we took half a day to explore and walk around the springs. As for most of the attractions around but not actually in Rotorua, transport is a bit …

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