My first trip to Bangkok was on the tails of my hubby’s golf group. They were making their pilgrimage to overseas putting greens. The golf widows didn’t intend being caddies so we were left to our own devices for 4 days. Surprisingly, we didn’t miss them much! We travelled on Thai Airways for the first time and I compliment the attendants for their...
If you hear Western Australians talking about going Douth, you can conclude they’re heading Down South to Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup, Margaret River or Albany. They are all coastal towns south of the WA capital, Perth, with incredible seaside locations. Many city-dwellers have holiday homes here while others book accommodation in hotels, serviced apartments...
Fremantle is a port city with a long maritime history. It is an attractive location with two aquatic boundaries – the Swan River and the Indian Ocean. The arrival of Italian and Greek migrants in the late 1800s was a contributing factor to the establishment of the local fishing industry. The harbour is now a vital channel for imports, exports and cruise ships...
Our last stop in South America before heading home was Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Every big city boasts a main square and this one has the Plaza de Mayo. You can feast your eyes on the impressive Casa Rosada or pink house, the presidential palace. The musical Evita springs to mind as I picture Eva Peron addressing the people from the balcony during her...
Machu Picchu is a Peruvian highlight and topped our wishlist. With this as our key destination, we weaved in other cities we wanted to visit in Peru. It meant criss-crossing the continent from Rio in the east to Lima in the west and back. Cusco To get to Machu Picchu, we first travelled to Lima, the capital of Peru. Then it’s an hour’s flight to Cusco in the Andes...
The first time I heard about the Iguazu Falls was through a couple we met when travelling in Canada. They raved about how spectacular it was, a destination not to be missed. I filed that remark in my memory bank. A few years later, when a trip to South America was on the cards, I made sure we added it to our itinerary. And it definitely did not...
The unusual topography of Rio is striking as you drive from the airport along the coast. It is a dramatic sight of mountains which seem to emerge from the water. The city derived its name from the month it was discovered by the Portuguese – January River or Rio de Janeiro. Copacabana Copacabana Beach stretches out in a long curve, with numerous ocean-front hotels and...
Of the Southeast Asian countries in our geographical neighbourhood, we associated Vietnam mostly with the war of the 60s and 70s and the international campaign to end it. The country emerged from that dark period and rebuilt itself into a strong economy and popular holiday destination. This trip provides us with an opportunity to learn a bit more about its history...
We’re covering Cambodia and Vietnam on this trip, starting in Siem Reap, Cambodia, then travelling north along the coast up to Hanoi. Cambodia is one of the oldest countries in SE Asia and best known for its ancient temples complex. Siem Reap When we arrive in Siem Reap, the temperature is in the high 20s, humid but bearable. Two wheelers / cyclos...
A visit to the Holy Land has been on our bucket list for a while. However, the time was never right, political situations were tense, and it got postponed to the next year and the next. Some months ago, we decided that come what may, we would make it happen in 2017. The pieces fell into place … we found an experienced tour leader, an ideal time of year...