Zeche Zollverein – the Metropolis of the Coal Mines
Mark Bibby Jackson visits UNESCO World Heritage site Zeche Zollverein, Essen to discover an amazing transformation that would have impressed Fritz Lang. As I ride up the escalator to the…
Istanbul City Break: An Enigma in Time
On an Istanbul city break, Mark Bibby Jackson discovers a vibrant place on the cusp of Europe and Asia that is perpetually re-inventing itself. As a Liverpool fan, memories of…
Visit UNESCO’s Latest Site in Osaka
On 7 July, the latest UNESCO World Heritage sites were unveiled and the Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan – 49 ancient burial mounds dating from the 3rd to 6th century (the…
Things to Do in Harwich: Ships, Submarines & Seals
Taking a short break from their native Suffolk, Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise discover a plethora of things to do in Harwich, a surprisingly historic town with links to the…
Marching Against the Tide in Transnistria
On his trip to Moldova, Mark Bibby Jackson visits the Victory Day parade in Transnistria, meeting a hospitable people at odds with the rest of Europe, yet clinging on to…
Durga Puja Festival 2024, India
Durga Puja, one of the most important festivals for Hindu Bengalis, is the biggest yearly event in Kolkata and known as the Carnival of the East. Usually taking place in September or October…
Celebrate San Diego’s 250th Birthday
July marks the 250 year anniversary of San Diego, California. The first European settlers to arrive on the west coast sailed into San Diego Bay in 1542, naming the land…
Hampshire: Cricket, Dockyards and the D-Day Story
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Hampshire where he learns of cricketing tales of yore, seafaring adventures and discovers a most poignant reminder of man’s follies in the D-Day Story. Although…
Onam Festival 2024, Kerala, India
During the days of the Onam Festival, the biggest and most spectacular festival of Kerala, the entire Indian state goes on a spree of celebrations, music and dance performances, elaborate…
Naadam Festival Mongolia 2024
Also called the Olympic Games of nomads, the spectacular Naadam Festival in Mongolia is the country’s biggest event and its national pride. Taking place every July, men and women compete…
Dhaka, Bangladesh – the World’s Most Crowded City
Johan Smits takes a deep breath before plunging into the world’s most crowded city, Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka. I’m a fan of Sci-Fi films. And often it’s the atmospheric, non-tech parts…
Zythos Bierfestival 2024 (Zythos Beer Festival)
The Belgian university town of Leuven turns into a mecca of beer when the country’s largest beer festival, the Zythos Bierfestival (ZBF), returns traditionally in the last…
Pampered in Pangkor Laut, Malaysia
Concluding their Malaysia travel adventures, Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise leave the tranquil Cameron Highlands to head to the island of Pangkor Laut. For the final few days of our…
Losing Yourself in the Cameron Highlands
Continuing their Malaysia travel adventure, Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise, escape the heat of the capital KL and journey to the northern Cameron Highlands. British involvement in Malaya goes as…
Malaysia Travel : First Stop KL
On the first leg of their Malaysia travel adventures Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise discover the capital Kuala Lumpur’s food and art scene, as well as some cricket. We sat…
Things to Do in Ubud: a Town Hiding in Plain Sight
A firm fixture on the tourist trail, Ubud upholds its integrity as Bali’s cultural hub, finds Johan Smits looking for things to do in Ubud. “You can’t just go in…
White Nights Festival 2021 Saint Petersburg, Russia
During the period of the White Nights Festival from June to July in Saint Petersburg, the sun never sets and the city never sleeps. Russia’s cultural capital…
Rocket Festival Thailand (Bun Bang Fai) 2024
Home-made rockets roaring into the skies, dirty humour, cross-dressing parades, mud fests and lots of rice wine – the centuries-old Rocket Festival Thailand, or Bun Bang Fai, held in May…
Phi Ta Khon Ghost Festival 2024, Thailand
The immensely popular Phi Ta Khon Festival – also known as the Ghost Festival – is the best reason to visit Loei, a Thai province rarely frequented by international tourists. This three-day event…
Setouchi Triennale 2022, Japan
Every three years the Setouchi Triennale, one of Japan’s biggest festivals of modern art, takes place in the south-west of the country. Come spring this exceptional celebration…
Winter Golden Eagle Festival 2022, Mongolia
At Mongolia’s Golden Eagle Festival in winter, ethnic Kazakhs show off the breathtaking skills of their trained hunting eagles, alongside cultural displays of Kazakh…
Camel Festival Mongolia 2022 (Temeenii Bayar)
During the Camel Festival, held in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, nomadic herders show off their skills during the biggest camel race in the world, alongside cultural activities……
Chinese New Year 2025, Global
Chinese New Year is undoubtedly China’s pre-eminent and most intense festive period characterised by sumptuous family meals, the colour red, paper lanterns and lots…
Reliving History at The Swan at Lavenham
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise fill their boots on local history while staying and dining at The Swan at Lavenham in Suffolk, as well as enjoying the most blissful spa…
