Ani sits about 45 kilometres east of Kars, close to the modern border with Armenia. The vast ruined city spreads across a plateau beside a deep gorge, with medieval churches and city walls still standing across the landscape. If you are visiting this part of Turkey, Ani should be high on your list. For historical […]
Category Archives: Asia
12
Mar
Mar
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anywhere quite like this, I remember thinking as our minibus navigated the icy road. As far as the eye could see, snow, nearly a metre thick, throttled the landscape like a plush duvet. In the background, the outlines of peaks thrust upward into the milky clouds, but at times […]
28
Feb
Feb
The endless snowy landscapes stretched for miles as we made our way over the Anatolian plateau. We were close to Erzincan, a key stop on the 26 hour slow train across Turkey. “Do you want a kebab at Erzurum?” we were asked, which we shook our heads, no, in response. “I might order another lentil […]
20
Feb
Feb
Here are all the Google Maps locations from my Istanbul video! Click through on their names to go to their Google Maps locations. Van Kahvaltı Evi A well-known breakfast spot serving a traditional Van-style spread with multiple cheeses, honey, kaymak, olives, eggs and endless tea. It’s one of the best places in Istanbul to experience […]
19
Feb
Feb
Since 2021, prices in Turkey have been, for want of a better word, dynamic. They’ve been rising quickly since interest rate cuts led to a sharp fall in the lira and rapid price rises across the country. Inflation officially peaked at around 85% in October 2022, and although it eased slightly through 2023 and 2024, […]
08
Dec
Dec
I’ve been to Istanbul five times. On the first time, the call to prayer ringing out across the streets and the aroma of Turkish coffee got me hooked. The second time, I gazed at the city sprawling from the top of Galata tower and a boat on the Bosphorus, and vowed to return to more. […]
22
Aug
Aug
This year, Sri Lanka travel is being mentioned more and more in the news. “Everyone I Know Is Heading To Sri Lanka” Suitcase Mag says. “The winter sun island luring back visitors with heritage wildlife and low prices” iNews proclaims. Tourism in the south of Sri Lanka is booming. But in the north, in areas […]
13
Aug
Aug
From the top of Sigiriya, a sea of green forest stretches for miles. “This area’s all protected”, our guide told us. “You can see how lush Sri Lanka’s nature is”. Clouds gathered on the horizon, and the sun started to set. After an arduous climb up 1,200 steps to the top, taking a breather here […]
“We were divided for many years. Our country’s not perfect. But we are uniting, and tourism can help with this” our guide Dhanoushka told us as we drove to Sri Lanka’s once war-torn north. The South Asian island nation, often known as the “teardrop of Asia” is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of […]
All Destinations, Asia
Not flying is best for the environment. But the cost of not visiting could be greater.
29
Jul
Jul
Few countries have had to contend with situations like Sri Lanka’s last 40 years. First came the civil war, a brutal 26 year conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (otherwise known as “Tamil Tigers”). Of course, the victims in it were innocent civilians – on both sides, but […]