I'm not going to lie - I was a little bit nervous about my latest trip - a visit to Istanbul. It was only about six weeks after the recent military coup after all. There were very few tourists around during my visit, but there was no trouble at all while I was there. Turkey … Continue reading 5 must-do experiences in Istanbul
Category: Asia
Vivid memories of Vietnam
Backpacking in Vietnam It's hard to believe, but in February it will be seven years since I had my first experience of travelling in Asia - a visit to Vietnam in 2010 when I was 21. At the time, I was teaching in Abu Dhabi, and I went on this trip with around 12 other … Continue reading Vivid memories of Vietnam
Stranded in the South China Sea: Travel Disasters Part 2
Back in February of 2010, at 22, I went on my first 'holiday of a lifetime' - two weeks exploring Vietnam. There was a group of about 12 of us, all working as teachers in the same school in Abu Dhabi at the time, determined to make the best of a mid-term break. We covered … Continue reading Stranded in the South China Sea: Travel Disasters Part 2
Getting deported: Travel disasters and what I learned from them
There's a side of travel that people don't talk about so much... You rave on Facebook about the new cultures you encounter, Instagram shots of stunning sunrises on mountaintops and Tweet about amazing experiences that happened spontaneously in exotic places. You just don't hear so much about the days people lost luggage, felt homesick and … Continue reading Getting deported: Travel disasters and what I learned from them