Sunset on the Calf of Man by Tee Cee (CC-by-2.0) https://www.flickr.com/photos/tcee35mm/15388495356

Volunteering for Paradise Island on the Calf of Man

Daniel Woolard pulls back the curtains and looks out onto the one-mile square he calls home, the Calf of Man. “Wow, I’m in paradise” he says. On other days, he recalls, it would be close to bag-packing time. The BBC News website has a wonderful story about how Daniel, having volunteered to work on the Calf of Man, has now become it’s only full-time resident … Continue reading Volunteering for Paradise Island on the Calf of Man

Secret Garden Kent: Restaurant review for Brunch

Beautiful food that tastes as good as it looks, delivered within a stunning hidden retreat from the world – a walled secret garden straight out of the storybooks. Secret Garden is one of the two great restaurants based at Mersham le Hatch Business Park, a tranquil collection of small ‘artisanal’ businesses including a Day Spa, a Cookery School, a Wine Bar, and many more. Tucked … Continue reading Secret Garden Kent: Restaurant review for Brunch

Michael Palin North Korea

North Korea: Michael Palin’s new travel adventure

Can you truly understand a culture from your armchair? Michael Palin, the man who has opened up the world in 80 days, pole to pole, the Sahara, the Pacific Rim countries, the Himalayas, and ‘New Europe‘, is back with a new documentary travelogue series from Channel 5: ‘Michael Palin in North Korea‘. North Korea has long been a country of mystery, secrecy, and fear. Since … Continue reading North Korea: Michael Palin’s new travel adventure

Oktoberfest by Manuel Joseph

Oktoberfest Munich: The Supreme Beer Festival

The autumnal weather may have changed overnight in the UK this week, but there are other more positive signs of Autumn in October, and one of them is liquid gold; Oktoberfest is back, and with more and more satellite events happening all over the world, we thought we’d go back and check out the original. In the UK, I have distant memories of putting tinned … Continue reading Oktoberfest Munich: The Supreme Beer Festival

TripAdvisor: Typing on the floor of the airport (Photo: Bruce Parry)

TripAdvisor: Can they keep us angry and writing for free?

If you are running a travel business, or a tourist spot, or a hotel, restaurant, cafe, or nearly any other small enterprise where you have to interact physically with other human beings, then I’m sure you are aware of the mighty TripAdvisor review site and how one has to bow before them. But should it be that way? At what point does scale become a … Continue reading TripAdvisor: Can they keep us angry and writing for free?

Travel Magazine Clouds

Wobbling over world’s longest glass bridge

If you are afraid of heights, look away now! The world’s longest glass bridge is located in China, and is supposed to represent a dragon flying through the valley – I think it actually represents all of my fears in architectural form! It was opened in Hebei province, near Beijing, during December. Chinese tourists celebrate the new lunar year by walking across the world’s longest … Continue reading Wobbling over world’s longest glass bridge