Exploring the world, one place at a time
Amid a deep, steep valley on the banks of the Conwy River, to the east of Snowdonia National Park, lies the beautiful, sprawling Bodnant Garden. One of the finest gardens in Wales, it's an 80-acre estate of woodland, Italianate terraces, formal gardens, lily ponds and wildflower meadows packed with trees, flowers and shrubs from all... Continue Reading →
Nestled among the trees and woodland of the Carmarthenshire countryside, Dinefwr is a grand estate boasting a medieval castle, a stately home and a 100-acre nature reserve that's home to a host of wildlife including deer, otters and badgers. Looking for somewhere to stop on my drive back to Cardiff from Pembrokeshire, I stumbled upon... Continue Reading →
Of all the places I visited in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio – the final stop of my trip – was possibly my favourite. Partly because of how close I got to the amazing wildlife, partly because of its divine, golden sandy beaches, and partly because I had so much fun snorkelling in the Pacific Ocean. I knew... Continue Reading →
With swathes of cool, misty tropical rainforest, known as cloud forest, and exceptional biodiversity, Monteverde is a great place for hiking and wildlife watching. Situated in the mountains in the north-west of Costa Rica, Monteverde has a much cooler climate than the area around Arenal and is home to a number of national parks that... Continue Reading →
If I had to guess, I'd wager that Petra is the reason most people visit Jordan and it was certainly why I booked my trip. I'd long been keen to visit the ancient Nabatean city, but little did I realise it's just one of a number of incredible places to see in this fascinating country.... Continue Reading →
When I was doing my research looking for things to do in Lisbon, the one place that consistently received top billing was the Oceanarium. Oceanariums aren't typically top of my to-do-list (castles usually are), but this one had such great reviews I was keen to experience it for myself. And so, on my first full... Continue Reading →
In July, I made my annual trip to Dyffryn Gardens, a grand Victorian manor house in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales. The house is surrounded by extensive gardens and is a really pleasant place to go for an afternoon stroll. I like going back at least once a year to see how the... Continue Reading →
Deep in the south of Vietnam, you'll find the laid-back Mekong Delta, an expansive network of water famous for its floating markets and traditional way of life. I'd arranged to spend a night in a home stay in the Delta to experience a slice of traditional Vietnamese hospitality and having spent almost two weeks touring the... Continue Reading →
Halong Bay is possibly the most iconic, most picturesque sight in Vietnam, and in person, it doesn't disappoint. The 1,500 km2 bay, dotted with some 2,000 oddly shaped limestone rocks, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and legend has it, it was created by a dragon's tail when the creature dove into the Gulf of... Continue Reading →
We had a spare day in Alsace and looking for something to do, we had a choice of either visiting the Ecomusée d'Alsace or Staufen-im-Breisgau, which is on the edge of the Black Forest and famous for its association with Doctor Faustus. The Ecomusée won. Partly because it was closer, and partly because our hosts... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 