Articles
Every place gets a story. The newest ones have the films in them.
-
Paris
Sparrows landing on our hands outside Notre-Dame, a slightly starstruck hello to the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and a balcony view over Paris rooftops.
-
Haman
A July evening in Haman for nakhwanori at Mujinjeong pavilion: charcoal-rope embers raining over the pond, plus a friendly stop at the festival tents.
-
Tokyo
Two Tokyo trips, one post: wading through teamLab Planets, a micro pig cafe, Shinjuku neon, a katana dinner, Nintendo Tokyo and a tiny Golden Gai bar.
-
Seoul
Inside Olive Young N Seongsu, the biggest Olive Young in Seoul - a full K-beauty universe of skincare, makeup and wellness. We spent ₩225,000 and gave it away.
-
Dubai
Dubai across two trips: gliding under the Burj Khalifa in August 2024, pharaohs at Wafi, then Global Village and a Ramadan drone show in February 2026.
-
Petra
Petra beyond the postcard: the Siq, the Treasury, hidden viewpoints, the colourful chambers of the Royal Tombs, and the candlelit magic of Petra by Night.
-
Amman
Two day trips from Amman into biblical Jordan: Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptised, and Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Promised Land.
-
The Dead Sea
Floating in the Dead Sea at the lowest point on Earth: water so salty it holds you up like a deckchair, a newspaper for the photo, and a sunset finale.
-
London
Inside London's most iconic shops - the Harrods Food Halls, Liberty's Tudor building and Fortnum & Mason - plus Chinatown stops and honest impressions.
-
Aqaba
From Aqaba into Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon: red dunes, 2,000-year-old carvings, the Hejaz Railway and Bedouin tea with a local guide.
-
Guam
A weekend in Tumon Bay, Guam: the Dusit Thani resort, a boat trip with tawny nurse sharks, Chamorro Village night market and a late-night Kmart run.
-
Singapore
Singapore in two days: the Night Safari at Mandai, Mustafa Centre's six 24-hour floors, Arab Street and the Sultan Mosque, and Changi's calm Terminal 4.
-
Nha Trang
Nha Trang in December 2025: monsoon-grey skies, a nearly empty seafront square and the lotus-shaped Tram Huong Tower rising all to ourselves.
-
Vientiane
Vientiane in October 2025: the gold of Pha That Luang, sunset colours behind the Patuxai arch, and a first hello to Laos at the arrivals wall.
-
Bangkok
Front-row at Rajadamnern Stadium for RWS 162: seven real Muay Thai bouts, a new bantamweight champion, and the energy of Bangkok's legendary fight night.
-
Melbourne
Melbourne in August 2025: koalas and snakes at the zoo, a city wine flight, Flinders Street Station at night and hungry emus on a Pearcedale day trip.
-
Sydney
Sydney in August 2025: the Opera House in every light, a breaching humpback offshore, high tea under the QVB clock and a crash course in Aussie jerky.
-
Shanghai
Summer 2025 in Shanghai: the Pudong skyline from a Suzhou Creek bridge, and a shopping crawl down the Nanjing Road pedestrian street.
-
Almaty
Three visits to Almaty: Big Almaty Lake, the wooden Zenkov Cathedral, a golden eagle at Medeu, the Green Bazaar, tandyr bread and a smoking garden samovar.
-
Jaipur
Jaipur in August 2025: the Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell, a hillside temple in Amer, and a roadside thali stop on the long drive out of Rajasthan.
-
Agra
Agra in August 2025: the Great Gate mirrored in its long pool, monsoon-green lawns, and the two of us at the Taj Mahal in full Indian dress.
-
Colombo
A 2018 summer in Colombo: a covered vegetable market, a paper dosa longer than the tray, a Malinga sticker on a bumper and tea tasting at a Dilmah t-Lounge.
-
Galle
Sri Lanka's south in two stories: elephants in Yala, Dilmah tea and turtle hatcheries - plus an off-season market hunt for woodapple, soursop and king coconut.
-
Yala
A July 2025 jeep safari in Yala National Park: an elephant that strolled straight up to our jeep, a painted stork at a waterhole, and dust everywhere.
-
Namhae
Namhae, Korea's "Treasure Island": feeding sheep at a seaside farm, quiet traditional villages and sea views - slow travel at its most peaceful.
-
Beppu
Walking all seven Hells of Beppu - cobalt ponds, bubbling mud, blood-red water and a punctual geyser in Japan's most geothermally active town.
-
Fukuoka
Riding the Yufuin no Mori, one of Japan's most scenic trains: 2 hours 15 minutes of forests and countryside between Yufuin and Fukuoka, captured authentically.
-
Yufuin
Yufuin Floral Village: a fairy-tale European lane at the foot of Mount Yufu, complete with cobblestones, themed cottages and an owl sanctuary.
-
Busan
Busan on foot, no commentary: the colourful hillside of Gamcheon Culture Village, Seomyeon's neon nights and the harbour streets of Nampo-dong.
-
Jinju
The Jinju Lantern Festival: glowing rivers, an unforgettable dragon and an illuminated fortress - plus KTX tips, a budget hotel find and a pedal rail bike.
-
Beijing
Walking the Forbidden City: why the 604-year-old palace was off-limits to commoners, its 1925 rebirth as the Palace Museum, and the story of the last emperor.
-
Jinshanling Great Wall
Hiking the Jinshanling Great Wall in September 2024: restored towers, crumbling ramparts and the wall snaking over green ridges to the horizon.
-
Hong Kong
Hong Kong in September 2024: a ding ding tram bound for Happy Valley, and Lee Tung Avenue under a canopy of red Mid-Autumn lanterns and goldfish.
-
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park
A day trip east of Ulaanbaatar into Gorkhi-Terelj National Park: Turtle Rock looming over the ger camps, a swaying footbridge and rows of prayer wheels.
-
Ulaanbaatar
Landing in Mongolia in May 2024: a selfie at Chinggis Khaan airport, then Sukhbaatar Square at night with the Genghis Khan statue lit in gold.
-
Kharkhorin
Kharkhorin, once Karakorum, capital of the Mongol Empire: temples and a gilded Buddha at Erdene Zuu monastery, plus a picnic on the Orkhon steppe.
-
Steppe Ger Camp
A night with a herder family on the Mongolian steppe: baby goats at golden hour, the evening round-up, and a ger with painted roof poles to sleep in.
-
Geoje
A slow March afternoon on Geoje's south coast: a breezy terrace above the sea and the islands of Hallyeohaesang National Park layered in the haze.
-
Jigokudani Monkey Park
Japan's snow monkeys in February: the walk through a frozen forest above Nagano to Jigokudani, where wild macaques soak in a steaming hot spring.
-
Taipei
A December 2023 Taipei trip: Yehliu's Queen's Head rock, Jiufen's lantern-lined steps, a sky lantern at Shifen, Taipei 101 and the zoo's giant panda.
-
Jeju
A week on Jeju in August 2023: the Mysterious Road illusion, an ivy-covered garden hideout, a proper Jeju City lunch and sunset from a sea-view balcony.
-
Bohol
Bohol in March 2023: drifting the green Loboc River, meeting a tarsier, quad bikes by the Chocolate Hills, a cave lagoon swim and Alona Beach shakes.
-
Cebu
Cebu City at street level in March 2023: a tartanilla clopping past old shopfronts, a chrome-nosed jeepney at dusk, a sunrise down the coast.
-
Osaka
Osaka was our base for Christmas 2022: winter sun at Osaka Castle, the Glico man over Dotonbori at night, and the retro streets of Shinsekai.
-
Hiroshima
A December day in Hiroshima: the rebuilt castle, the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park, a local No Nukes sign, and the floating torii of Miyajima.
-
Kyoto
Christmas Day 2022 in Kyoto: the torii tunnels of Fushimi Inari, gold at Kinkaku-ji, the lanes of Higashiyama and a sake toast in Nishiki Market.
-
Gyeongju
An evening walk through Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital: the 7th-century Cheomseongdae observatory at dusk and Woljeonggyo bridge lit over the river.
-
Changwon
Changwon, April 2021: Inga's go at clay shooting on the city's international-grade range, wooded hills behind the traps and an instructor close by.
-
Kanchanaburi
A December 2019 road trip west of Bangkok into Kanchanaburi province's hill country: dusty pit stops, tinsel-trimmed stalls and blue-hazed ridges.
-
Hoi An
Hoi An by night in September 2019: a tailored ao dai, a full moon and a golden temple gate reflected perfectly in its lily pond in the old town.
-
Hanoi
Hanoi in August 2019: backpacks on outside Ga Ha Noi, the city's grand old railway station, at the start of our first journey through Vietnam.
-
Sigiriya
Climbing Sigiriya in June 2014 with Dileep's parents: the frescoes, the lion paw staircase, wild bee combs on the rock face, and a summit with a view.
-
Trincomalee
Trincomalee in July 2018, where a casual dinner order turned into a dosa longer than the table and the kitchen watched us work out how to eat it.
-
Jaffna
Jaffna in July 2018: walking the tracks of the railway yard near Kankesanthurai, past rusted carriages left over from the years the northern line stood still.
-
La Manga
Spring 2018 on La Manga del Mar Menor: sunset runs beside the lagoon, a walk to the end of the breakwater, and a produce raid inland in Murcia.
-
Ceuta
A photo diary from Ceuta, the Spanish city on Africa's shore, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic.
-
Gibraltar
Gibraltar in February 2018: walking in from the Spanish side down Winston Churchill Avenue, into a very British corner of the Mediterranean.
-
Málaga
Christmas 2017 in Malaga: the giant cone of lights over Calle Larios, warm December crowds, and supermarket produce that shamed our fridge back home.
-
Santander
Our December 2017 base in Cantabria near Torrelavega: a log burner, a decorated mantelpiece and dinner on the stove, half an hour from Santander.
-
Brighton
The Color Run on Brighton seafront: foam, powder paint and the happiest 5K down Madeira Drive, September 2017.
-
Otrar
Otrar in June 2016: the excavated ruins of a great Silk Road city, its rebuilt gate, the Arystan Bab Mausoleum and a yurt welcome out on the steppe.
-
Shymkent
Shymkent in June 2016: a hotel with a serious taste for gold, lunch on a carpeted tapchan, sizzling dinner plates and our launchpad for Otrar and Turkistan.
-
Turkistan
Turkistan in June 2016: the tiled mass of the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Mausoleum under its turquoise domes, plus one very patient camel in the rose garden.
-
Astana
Astana in June 2016: the Bayterek tower glowing at night, the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, Norman Foster's glass pyramid and a capital built at full volume.
-
Macao
A May 2016 day out in Macao that ended at the Giant Panda Pavilion on Coloane, watching a panda demolish its bamboo lunch one branch at a time.
-
Calais
A February 2016 hop across the Channel to Calais: rows of shuttered white beach huts, empty winter dunes and a wide grey-blue sea all to ourselves.
-
Oxford
Oxford in November 2015, spent mostly indoors: skulls and skeletons under the glass roof of the Natural History Museum, then the packed cases of the Pitt Rivers.
-
Leicester
October 2015 at the National Space Centre in Leicester: a Soviet craft stamped CCCP, a gold-visored astronaut statue and a British Aerospace badge.
-
Old Sarum Skydive
A 15,000 foot tandem skydive at Old Sarum with GoSkydive, booked as Inga's birthday present: the nerves, the freefall and the instructor with jokes.
-
Gloucester
A July 2015 afternoon in Gloucester: the cathedral and its cloisters, mosaics underfoot, a tall ship at the docks and the ruins of St Oswald's Priory.
-
Prague
Prague in March 2015: chocolate-filled trdelnik by the Old Town, a witch outside a marionette shop, and a serious tasting dinner plated like art.
-
Kutná Hora
A day trip from Prague in March 2015: the skull-and-bone artistry of the Sedlec Ossuary, then the soaring Gothic nave of St Barbara's Cathedral.
-
Antwerp
Two snapshots of Antwerp: a stencilled girl hiding on a broken wall, and a night when the whole city seemed to squeeze onto the Scheldt quays.
-
Aachen
Aachen two days before Christmas 2014: Gluhwein by the Rathaus, gingerbread hearts on the Katschhof, and a bratwurst that outgrew its baguette.
-
Ella
Ella in June 2014, before the crowds: village lanes and corner shops, Ella Gap from a guesthouse lawn, Ravana Falls, and tea bushes in every direction.
-
The Hill Country Train
A June 2014 ride on Sri Lanka's hill country railway: blue carriages curving through tea, token loops, station name boards, heads out of every window.
-
Maalu Maalu
Maalu Maalu at Pasikuda in June 2014: sunrise over the infinity pool, a catamaran out to the reef, a wave from the fishing crews and a banana-stall town run.
-
Pigeon Island
Pigeon Island in June 2014: a small boat from Nilaveli beach, snorkelling over coral gardens full of butterflyfish, and one souvenir scratch to show for it.
-
Kandy
Kandy in June 2014: the white walls and moat of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, then a working tea factory, from withering troughs to the tasting cup.
-
Dambulla
Dambulla in June 2014: a shaded climb past stalls of brass curios, and the giant golden Buddha of the temple gazing out over the green plains below.
-
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa in June 2014: brick ruins of the medieval capital, rows of carved stone pillars, faded shrine murals and the rock-cut Buddhas of Gal Vihara.
-
Minneriya
An afternoon safari in Minneriya National Park in June 2014: wild elephant herds around the ancient tank, tiny calves, sparring young bulls and golden light.
-
Portsmouth
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in April 2014: HMS Victory's gun deck, HMS Warrior at her berth, and a walk through the submarine HMS Alliance in Gosport.
-
Whipsnade Zoo
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in April 2014: free-roaming maras, white rhinos on the hillside, a brown bear in the long grass, and a bird and butterfly finale.
-
Woburn Safari Park
Woburn Safari Park in December 2013: eland and white rhino from the car, Amur tigers in the winter sun, and a great grey owl meeting Inga nose to beak.
-
Zurich
A September 2013 weekend in Zurich: the Grossmunster towers, the Fraumunster clock, sailboats on the lake and a first cheese fondue done properly.
-
Luxembourg
Luxembourg City in September 2013: the Adolphe Bridge over the Petrusse valley, ramparts and gardens, a war memorial, and painted elephants everywhere.
-
San Francisco
Three days in San Francisco in June 2013: cable cars over the hills, the Golden Gate on foot, a sobering trip to Alcatraz and shrimp at Pier 39.
-
Sacramento
A stop in Old Sacramento in June 2013: wooden boardwalks and Gold Rush facades, a candy kitchen mid-pour, and a cowboy hat we regret nothing about.
-
Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth Lakes in June 2013: an out-of-season ski village all to ourselves, bear statues, island signposts and a well-earned Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.
-
Yosemite
Yosemite in June 2013, crossing the park on Tioga Road: snowy meadows, Half Dome from Olmsted Point, El Capitan up close and Lower Yosemite Fall.
-
Las Vegas
Two June days in Las Vegas: gondolas at the Venetian, machine guns before lunch, Excalibur turrets, Bellagio fountains and showgirls under the Fremont lights.
-
Hoover Dam
A June day trip from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam: the full sweep from the overlook, the bypass bridge over the Colorado River, and us dwarfed by the concrete.
-
Grand Canyon
Two June days on the South Rim: first sight of the Grand Canyon, the Bright Angel tunnel, Maricopa Point, the Powell Memorial and evening light in the gorge.
-
Seligman
Seligman in June 2013, the town that kept Route 66 alive: jalopies at the Snow Cap, mannequins on the Rusty Bolt, and meeting Angel Delgadillo.
-
Williams
Williams, Arizona in June 2013: Route 66 neon, an evening shootout show on the main street, Grand Canyon Railway steam engines and homemade pie.
-
Scottsdale
Scottsdale in June 2013, with dinner at Rustler's Rooste across in Phoenix: a live country band, checked tablecloths and a plate of fried rattlesnake.
-
Sedona
A red rock pit stop in Sedona in June 2013: cowboy hats at the overlook, buttes above the treeline, and a wander down Uptown before the Grand Canyon.
-
Palm Springs
Palm Springs in June: the aerial tramway up Mount San Jacinto, a picnic above the desert, hotel pool time, Marilyn on the corner and palms everywhere.
-
Hollywood
Hollywood in June 2013: Spielberg's star and the Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios stunts and sharks, and a downtown LA detour.
-
Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel in May 2013: the abbey and its cloister, a walk on the bay at low tide, and the whole island lit up gold long after the crowds left.
-
Blue Lagoon
Wading through steam at the Blue Lagoon in March: milky water, silica handprints under the bridge, and winter sun over the lava field.
-
Geysir
Standing in front of an erupting geyser on Iceland's Golden Circle: steam, sulphur and impeccable photo timing at Geysir.
-
Reykjavík
Reykjavik in March: a northern lights boat from the old harbour, the full aurora show, and a food scene of whale counters, bread-bowl soup and Opal shots.
-
Bruges
Bruges at Christmas: the Belfort glowing over the market stalls, a wobbly lap of the ice rink, Brugse Zot at De Halve Maan and far too much chocolate.
-
Amsterdam
Amsterdam in November 2012: canal walks, the Anne Frank Huis, coffeeshop neon, cheese by the wheel, clog carving and windmills at Zaanse Schans.
-
Lille
Lille from the rooftops in late November 2012: the old town skyline, three gilded goddesses, and the Marche de Noel pouring vin chaud below us.
-
Brussels
Brussels in November 2012: the Grand Place in gilt, Manneken Pis, Tintin on the walls, Mini-Europe with Dileep's brother, and a Chimay to finish.
-
Rotterdam
A family day out in November 2012: the windmills of Kinderdijk in wind and rain, then Rotterdam's cube houses, a harbour tour and a car up a wall.
-
Ghent
Ghent in November 2012: belfry views over the Graslei, oysters on the Groentenmarkt, a window full of Belgian beer and the ramparts of Gravensteen castle.
-
Torquay
Torquay from the water in July 2012: the Livermead seafront, a rainbow of beach huts, a breakwater lighthouse, one rusty trawler and a bird in the ropes.
-
Eden Project
The Eden Project in July 2012: bubble-wrap biomes in an old Cornish clay pit, a rainforest indoors, strange waxy flowers and a giant made of scrap.
-
Isle of Wight
A June 2012 day on the Isle of Wight: across the Solent with Wightlink, the brick arches of Quarr Abbey, wallabies, a kookaburra and clifftop paths.
-
Betws-y-Coed
A wet June 2012 morning in Betws-y-Coed with Dileep's brother: the Gateway to Snowdonia welcome sign, the park boundary marker, and honest Welsh rain.
-
Chester Zoo
A June 2012 day at Chester Zoo: red river hogs at the waterhole, sparring zebras, a cheetah in the buttercups, and Sumatran tigers with name boards.
-
Silchester
Silchester in Hampshire, May 2012: walking the Roman walls of Calleva Atrebatum, the North Gate, St Mary's church and meadows full of dandelion clocks.
-
Nottingham
Nottingham in May 2012: hard hats in the sandstone caves, the Robin Hood statue beneath the castle walls, and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, England's oldest inn.
-
Peak District
A May 2012 day in the Peak District at Buxton: the lit chambers of Poole's Cavern, the climb through Grin Low woods, and the view from Solomon's Temple.
-
Sheffield
Sheffield in May 2012, with the Peak District on the doorstep: cycling the Monsal Trail near Bakewell, a riverside dale walk, and a moor-edge pub.
-
Lake District
A May 2012 week in the Lake District: out on Windermere by motorboat, a heritage railway, Beatrix Potter's world in Bowness, and the stones at Castlerigg.
-
Our Wedding
The day we got married, 7 October 2011: a vintage Rolls-Royce, a flint church, bridesmaids in pink, a harpist playing Cavatina, and one white footbridge.
-
Greenwich
The oldest photos on this whole site: our University of Greenwich years in 2006 and 2007, coursework on a laptop, a server rack and a late bowling night.
-
Leeds Castle
The day Dileep went down on one knee on the moat bridge at Leeds Castle in Kent, and a plane spelled out the question overhead. August 2010: she said yes.
-
Canterbury
Canterbury in July 2010: the painted heraldry of Christ Church Gate, the cathedral filling every viewfinder, and a summer when Kent felt like home turf.
-
Dover
Dover Castle in July 2010: working the switchboard in the secret wartime tunnels, then long grass beside the Roman pharos and St Mary-in-Castro.
-
Bath
Bath in July 2010: the green Great Bath and its statue-lined terrace, Bath Abbey next door, a sweeping Georgian curve and organ pipes under fan vaulting.
-
Sentosa
A lazy day on Sentosa in May 2010: fish and chips on Siloso Beach, a shared pina colada on the loungers and front-row seats at the dolphin lagoon.
-
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur in May 2010: the Batu Caves and their golden guardian, cheeky silvered langurs, lorikeets at the Bird Park and a night of Malay dance.
-
Kuala Gandah
A day at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre in Pahang, May 2010: feeding time at the rail, watermelon by the chunk and a bottle-fed baby.
-
Rochester
An April 2010 day in Rochester with Dileep's parents: the cathedral's painted organ pipes, blossom on the green, and the view from the castle keep.
-
Inchcolm Island
Inchcolm in July 2008: a boat across the Firth of Forth to a mediaeval abbey, a climb up the tower, and wartime defences out on the headland.
-
Glasgow
Glasgow in July 2008: George Square bus stops, a walk along the Clyde past Bell's Bridge and the Clyde Arc, and the Armadillo on the waterfront.
-
Windsor
Windsor Castle in March 2008: a Royal Weddings exhibition poster by the castle walls, the Round Tower over its rock garden, and orange date stamps on every frame.
-
Capri
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Chiang Mai
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Coed Tregib
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Da Nang
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Edinburgh
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Gwangju
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Ho Chi Minh City
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Johor Bahru
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Kilinochchi
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Miazzina
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Milan
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Pattaya
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Rome
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Silfra
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Snake Island
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
St. Moritz
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Stonehenge
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Talley
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Tirano
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Vatican City
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
Veľký Klíž
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.
-
New Delhi
Story coming soon, we were here, and the write-up is on its way.