The month of January is named after the Roman god Janus, god of new beginnings and doorways, said to have two faces, one looking backwards and the other forwards. And so as 2009 draws to a close we all do as Janus did – reflect on the past year and make plans for the new […]
Continue ReadingChristmas in Africa
There is something special about this time of year. No matter what your religious denomination, I think most people look forward to the Christmas season. Not only because you finally get to wind down and relax and spend some much-needed quality time with loved ones, but also because there is a certain undeniable magic in […]
Continue ReadingTimeless Carcassonne
It is as if time has stood still in the little fortress town of Carcassonne in a tucked-away corner of the south-west of France. While wandering through the twisting cobblestone alleys, it is easy to imagine that I have stepped into a time paradox where donkey-driven carts and high-tech internet cafés rub shoulders, where the […]
Continue ReadingA Dream Holiday: Three Weeks in a Camper Van Through Europe
Having asked various people what they would consider their “dream holiday” to be, the variety of answers were equal to the number of people questioned. It stands to reason that everyone would have a different response, since we are all unique individuals, after all, and what one person would consider pure holiday bliss, another would […]
Continue ReadingMy Travel Bucket List
Although I’ve seen my fair share of the world so far, there is still so much more that I haven’t seen. It was very difficult to limit myself to the top 10 places I still want to visit (in fact, I could only cut it down to the bare minimum of 13), but listed below […]
Continue ReadingHakuna Matata: A Week in Zanzibar
In June this year, I turned 30. I had vowed I would pass this milestone sitting on a tropical beach somewhere, basking in the sun and drinking something that had a little umbrella in it. So, a week before D-day, we whisked off to the island of Zanzibar, just off the coast of Tanzania. We […]
Continue ReadingA Collection of Thursdays
For the past few months I’ve been working in an office adjacent to the airport. And every time I see a plane take off, a small thrill of excitement tingles down my spine and I can’t help but wish I were on it, even if it were headed for Harare. Why is this? What is […]
Continue ReadingFond Memories (Part 3)
Cape Town, South Africa The sun shimmers on the azure ocean waters at the V&A Waterfront. I feel like a Hollywood movie star, eating at a restaurant in the bay of this cosmopolitan city. It is a beautiful day, seagulls soar overhead, a cool breeze blows in off the sea and the mountain looms over […]
Continue ReadingMalta’s Historic Highlights
Cast your mind back to the dawn of civilization, to roughly 5200 BC if the archaeologists may be believed. A group of Sicilian settlers are the first to set foot on the tiny island of Malta. To these farmers and fishermen, the little archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea undoubtedly promised a new […]
Continue ReadingFond Memories (Part 2)
Salzburg, Austria With the sound of the church bells ringing throughout the square, I gaze up in rapt fascination at the fortress above me. I am only 18 years old and this is the first time I see a real medieval castle. We walk the steep path up to the gates, rather than taking the funicular. […]
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