I’d been to Kuala Lumpur once before. However, this time I was going to Malaysia on the invitation of the Prime Minister – who I wasn’t able to meet – and the Deputy Prime Minister – who generously had dinner with me. Getting to mix with Malaysia’s political and cultural elite at various ceremonies and events is one of the…
Leave a CommentI didn’t really visit Hong Kong. I just had a 12-hour layover on my way to Malaysia, and thought I’d make the most of it by doing a little bit of sightseeing. I’d packed my camera in my luggage and didn’t have access to it. (Rookie mistake!!) So only managed to take just a handful of pictures with my phone……
Leave a CommentOK, so here’s the thing. I went to Doha, the capital of Qatar, for professional reasons and took quite a few photos. However, I’d ordered a cheap SD card off ebay and… surprise! It failed dramatically before I could even get my photos off it. The lesson here is: BUY YOUR MEMORY CARDS FROM AMAZON! Only one photo survived. I…
Leave a CommentThis was the LAST Sri Lankan Kingdom, before it was captured by the British Empire about 200 years ago. Today it’s known as the country’s cultural capital. The city of Kandy sits on a plateau in central Sri Lanka, surrounded by mountains, and is famous for its many temples, with the main attraction being the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth…
Leave a CommentAbout 50 miles outside of the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, is the village of Pinnawala. It’s known for one thing only: Elephants. Because it’s home to an elephant sanctuary, and a popular tourist stop when exploring the country. The souvenir shops sell all kinds of knick-knacks made of elephant poop – seriously! Pinnawala Elephant Sanctuary Riding an Elephant I was…
Leave a CommentOnce again, I had a big chunk of airmiles burning a hole in my virtual pocket, and it was time to explore the most efficient way to use British Airways’ generosity to my own advantage. I had a hankering to explore South Asia. Unfortunately, I was banned from India and had no desire to see Pakistan again. However, I could…
Leave a CommentI lived in the UAE for just a few months, and my time there was almost exclusively dedicated to working on a science festival project. There was little time for sightseeing and exploring the city. However, I did get a few hours here and there to explore the city and take some photos. WARNING: there are a lot of photos…
Leave a CommentI’d left the best until last for the final leg of my Far East tour – celebrating the New Year on the island paradise of Bali. I was flying in from Jakarta. While they’re technically part of the same country, the contrast between them couldn’t be greater. The island didn’t give me the best first impression, however. On exiting the…
Leave a CommentAfter spending Christmas in Singapore, the next leg of my Far East tour was a visit to Indonesian capital, Jakarta…. I honestly couldn’t wait to leave. The air smells foul, there are flying insects all over the place and trying to get anywhere by road is a nightmare. I pre-paid for my taxi from the airport to the hotel. Which…
Leave a CommentA few days before Christmas 2010, I took a flight from Kuala Lumpur airport – which may not look like much, but is now one of my favourites – over to Changi airport in Singapore – which is definitely the world’s number one! Tripadviser had confidently confirmed to me that the “Pan Pacific” was the best hotel in Singapore and,…
Leave a Comment
