Troy: Myth and Reality at the British Museum
A new exhibition at The British Museum Troy: Myth and Reality is the first major Troy exhibition in the UK. Irene Caswell reviews it. The Trojan War lasted for 10…
Travel Topics
A new exhibition at The British Museum Troy: Myth and Reality is the first major Troy exhibition in the UK. Irene Caswell reviews it. The Trojan War lasted for 10…
Visitors to Angkor might struggle for ideas of things to do in Siem Reap away from the temples. Mark Bibby Jackson suggests going on a Siem Reap Art Tour. It…
Forty years this December The Clash released London Calling, UK punk’s greatest – or second greatest long player (depending on your poison) – and an LP as famous for its sleeve…
A frequent visitor to the Cambodian capital where he lived for several years, on his latest trip Mark Bibby Jackson stays at the Pacific Hotel Phnom Penh and finds it…
Las Vegas is known as the Entertainment Capital of the World because of its entertainment options including nightlife, shows and exhibits. It is also famous for its mega-casinos. Majority of…
From horse-drawn sledges on a frozen lake to the world’s biggest camel race in the Gobi desert, Travel Begins at 40 has selected five great Mongolia festivals for 2020. Tsagaan…
Mark Bibby Jackson pays a visit to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, a stately home that is steeped in history associated with the country’s most famous son. I first visited Blenheim…
A large open air art event in downtown Scottsdale, the Canal Convergence features local and international artists. It begins in the late afternoon and continues into the night. Scottsdale Public…
Billed as America’s oldest folklife festival and hailed as one of the country’s top celebrations, the Kutztown Folk Festival is a veritable journey back into time with plain, good old-fashioned…
Travel Begins at 40’s Johan Smits shares his love of the brilliant rickshaw art in Bangladesh with a series of colourful photos. To foreign visitors in Bangladesh, the ubiquitous and…
In the lead up to the 100th anniversary of the discovery the tomb of the boy king a new exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh…
Mark Bibby Jackson makes a long overdue visit to see essential Antwerp, the city of Rubens, to visit his first Belgian beer festival and drink in the culture. My stepfather…
Mark Bibby Jackson finally gets to grip with the Swedish capital and its rather awkward relationship with alcohol, while discovering some Stockholm craft beer bars. One thing I had never…
The magnificent Royal Barge Procession in Thailand, a very rare and grand event with much splendour, will take place again this December after a seven-year-long hiatus…
Jonathan Hiltz travels to the Canadian – US border to discover a bewitching combination of the beautiful and the kitsch that should be enjoyed together when visiting Niagara Falls. There…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise stay at the Royal Horseguards Hotel London in the heat of the capital’s political turmoil and discover it a most appropriate venue. It was a…
After visiting some Loire Valley Chateaux and the Apocalypse Tapestry, Mark Bibby Jackson continues his French cultural Odyssey to Fontevraud Abbey and Saumur. The Loire Valley isn’t solely about wine…
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to France to traipse around Loire Valley chateaux, sample the local wine and stand in amazement. There are moments in your life when you enter a…
On his most recent visit to the Swedish capital, Mark Bibby Jackson visits Fotografiska Stockholm, and emerges from the wonderful photographic museum with more questions than answers. I have a…
Travel Begins at 40 has teamed together with Altovita.com to give you some tips on what to do when you visit Stockholm, from its culture to its food and spectacular scenery…
After visiting Rotterdam, Mike East planned to spend just a few rushed hours in Maastricht; however, the city trapped him with unexpected charms. It was supposed to be a hop…
Antwerp, one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities in 2018 and unofficial capital of Flanders, belongs on everyone’s bucket list. Home to Belgium’s best nightlife and filled with historical monuments…
Each March, residents of Mongolia’s Khövsgöl Lake area celebrate the Khövsgöl Ice Festival with horse-drawn sleighs, elaborate ice sculptures, traditional food and vibrant competitions including ice skating…
Rome is a city rich with history and culture. A destination filled with things to do and places to see, which can make choosing exactly what to do a little…
For many an appreciation of the culture of the country or community that you visit on your holidays is a major part of the travelling experience, especially for the more mature traveller.
Whether you are taking a short city break to Amsterdam or Paris, or going on a longer trip to a distant and exciting land, your experience is enriched by an appreciation of the local culture.
Ideally, time your trip to coincide with a major festival. At Travel Begins at 40 we have a whole section devoted to some of the most colourful and spectacular festivals from around the world. So whether it is the whirling dervishes of Konya, Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, the Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia or Benin’s Voodoo Festival that tickles your cultural fancy, let us guide your way.
Visiting an unfamiliar country can lead to a bit of a cultural shock, but don’t let this put you off making that special journey. Often it is when we leave our comfort zone that we reap most rewards.
Not that we always have to travel that far to have a rich and rewarding cultural experience. Hull is the current city of culture in the UK, and a trip there can be a surprisingly rewarding experience. Enjoy it.