We’re driving from Beirut to the ruined Roman city of Baalbek, shadowing Syria’s war torn border into Hezbollah territory, a journey defined by its panoply of imagined risks. In newspaper reports about Lebanon, death morphs into mercenary configurations, stretching beyond car accidents into kidnapping and mortar attacks and bombs. Images that taint adventure and raise … More The Journey to Baalbek, Lebanon
Going to the Isle of Wight is like stepping into a holiday drawn from fading seaside postcards. An enclave of convertible cars, thatched cottages, guest houses and chalky cliffs – hallmarks of a sophisticated past – have been preserved long enough to feel fashionable again; Queen Victoria’s preferred holiday destination remains a tranquil place for … More Isle of Wight
Nurtured by magical isolation, Borneo’s jungle is wondrous, heartwarming and irreplaceable. Dipterocarp trees shoot straight to the sky like giant rockets, burst open and spray branches into umbrella frames; orang-utans snap boughs into nests before curling up for the night; flying squirrels snooze in hollow trunks. Borneo can be strange or familiar, western or oriental, … More Sabah, Borneo
Tiree is the catwalk model of Scottish islands: slim, blonde, gorgeous and so lacking in lumps and bumps that clouds drift over her admiringly, and burst on the mainland. White sandy beaches – draped with rock pools and seaweed – flounce around a twinkling sea. Designer crofts pout next to country roads, with roofs so … More Tiree
So here we are, hot and humid. It’s May in Sri Lanka. Not the best time of year to visit this beautiful island in the sun. Everybody is waiting for the monsoon rains to arrive, and they will – but just not yet. There’s a full moon this week, celebrated as quite an important Puya … More Full Moon in Sri Lanka
A recent public holiday meant a long weekend in Dubai and this was a chance to spend some time out of the apartment, if the weather wasn’t too hot. The decision was where would we go and, as usual, expat-grandad chose his favourite place. Old Diera and down by the creek to the old spice … More Souk Shopping
As I write this from my apartment on the banks of the recently opened canal in Business Bay, Dubai (I am told it is Dubai’s Manhattan), my thoughts go once again to my three grandchildren. My husband and I are lucky to have two girls and a boy, growing up fast… … More Cutting The Umbilical Cord
Sahara, aged 5, shares her thoughts on Lebanon’s Jeita Grotto, the teleferique to Our Lady of Lebanon and Baalbek’s Roman ruins. There is some caves in Bayreuth. You can go in two caves and the second cave that you can go in you can go on a train or you can walk cos it is … More An Amayzing Cave That Looks A Bit Liyke Goo
The sea has nibbled Cornwall into intriguing coves, ideal for smugglers and cool cafes. England’s spiky heel is a hilly, curvy couture of palm trees, high hedges and beaches. When the sun’s shining and you can find somewhere to park, there’s nowhere hipper for an English beach holiday. And when the wind’s gusting, you’re never … More Cornwall, England
Fifty-five hours third class across Siberia was a mistake. At Irkutsk train station, I was told, in Russian, that spacious, comfy second class was full. My booking whittled down from three beds to two. I asked, in English, about first class. The girl answered in Russian. I booked in Russian. Took the tram back to … More Across Russia Third Class
You Can't Take A Baby 