After our wonderful few days in Armenia, we were raring to go for Part 2 of our Caucasus adventure. There were various random thoughts swirling around in my head as we crossed the border into Georgia – was it going to be very different from Armenia, would our guide be as good as the lovely Katar, would the portions sizes be as humongous… Continue reading Georgia (I) – A Piece of Paradise (Tbilisi – Mtskheta – Kazbegi)
The highlight for the next two days in Kazbegi was the view from our room…would we see that picture-perfect sunrise…or not… Continue reading Georgia (II) – The Church in the Clouds (Kazbegi)
We leave Kazbegi today for Tbilisi, with many stops on the way, including Stalin’s birthplace and a cave town. Continue reading Georgia (III) – Clear Skies, Caves & Communism (Kazbegi – Ananuri – Gori – Uplistsikhe – Tbilisi)
A day of walking today, around Tbilisi. Absolutely no driving, so Gogita gets to spend Red Friday with his family, while Nino unfortunately has to spend it with us… Continue reading Georgia (IV) – Tbilisi on Red Friday
To the desert today, and the story of David (Gareja) continues. Continue reading Georgia (V) – A Georgian Desert (Tbilisi – David Gareja – Tbilisi)
Our last day in Georgia… Continue reading Georgia (VI) – Home Again, Home Again
Armenia wasn’t on my bucket list. However, it turned out to be well worthy of being high on anyone’s to-go list.
It was a history lesson in 3D…the first Christian country in the world (since 301AD), a victim of one of the largest pogroms in history, its borders redrawn countless times, its people and culture a peaceful east-west blend. Continue reading Armenia (I) – History in 3D (Yerevan)
Day 2 in Armenia – today we’ll be out of the city, travelling in an anticlockwise loop from Yerevan to Khor Virap, Geghard, Garni and back. Continue reading Armenia (II) – History in 3D (Khor Virap – Geghard – Garni)
Easter Sunday in Armenia – a journey back in time…throwback Sunday? Continue reading Armenia (III) – History in 3D (Etchmiadzin – Zvartnots)
We leave Yerevan today – north bound, then to the Georgian border tomorrow. Continue reading Armenia (IV) – History in 3D (Lake Sevan – Haghpat – Sanahin – Dzoraget – Bagratashen)
A surreal, out of this world journey to the remote Turkana region in northern Kenya, with Oryx Photographic Expeditions. #oryxlive(beyond)your(wildest)dreams. Continue reading Off the Grid at Lake Turkana…where the donkeys are flexible… (2018)
Zanzibar has always been the place on the stamps on the last page of my stamp album. It was a name that conjured all manner of exoticness – so when Marius of Oryx suggested we add a few days in Zanzibar post-Mara, of course the answer was YES! Continue reading Zanzibar – the last page of my stamp album (2017)
The Greatest Show on Earth – the Mara Migration – didn’t disappoint. ORYX Worldwide Photographic Expeditions outdid themselves once again with the organisation of this trip. Penny Robartes, our photographer guide, was a gem – we learnt and laughed in equal measure 🙂 Continue reading Mara Magic (2017)
Cuba has been on my bucket list for ages – I can’t pinpoint a particular reason for this “I must go to Cuba” sentiment. Those cool cars? Cigars and rum? JFK and the Cuban missile crisis?? The pictures in magazines and those from the few friends who’d been?
Whatever the reason, 2017 is the year for Cuba. Continue reading The Cuban Missive sans Crisis…mostly (2017)
A short, much needed getaway after a rough start to the year… Continue reading Brief Shining Moments (2017)
Since I sadly couldn’t go to Mongolia (too remote), I decided to meet my Mongolia-returning friend in Beijing. We both hadn’t been, so thought it might be fun. After booking the flight and hotel, I realised it was the National Holiday week in China – and every website I looked at (after making the bookings) said ‘avoid travelling to China from 1 – 7 October. It was too late to change our dates so we braced ourselves for the crowds, and loads of ‘atmosphere’. Continue reading Beijing in Lieu of Mongolia (2016)
This was a trip I knew I’d be making since 2013 when V started university in Brighton. A health nightmare last December, sent a few ‘doubts’ my way. The high point of recovery was being given the all clear to travel (“though not to remote places”…so there went the Mongolia plans). I figured that UK was ‘safe’ enough…though some might argue otherwise… Continue reading A Salubrious Summer Sojourn – with a Touch of Brexit (2016)
Three seemingly disparate trips in 2015, which I didn’t write about earlier as they weren’t exactly holidays. But after the third trip, I did much journeying in my head, and so these musings … Continue reading The Ties That Bind
The big trip for 2015 was South Africa – with a bit of Zambia and Zimbabwe thrown in. We have Sunil to thank for this trip – the destination for this year was his choice, to celebrate his 21st birthday. And what a trip it was 🙂 Continue reading Rendezvous with Rainbows – an African Adventure
A royal reverie with India newbies, Brian and KF Continue reading Royalty, Religion & Lamb Biryani – R&R in Rajasthan
