Chiang Mai Rating 91/100 Chiang Mai is often referred to as the Rose of the North.  It is touted as being Thailand’s cultural hub, filled with history and a more sedate way of life than the more touristy areas of the South. These descriptions and the photos on the net however paint a far more... Continue Reading →

Rome's big ticket attractions like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Vatican and Trevi Fountain, just to name a few, should definitely be on everyone’s ‘to do list’, but there are surprising sights that you may never have hear of, but will amaze you. 1.      Capuchin Crypts At first this can be quite a grotesque and confronting place. ... Continue Reading →

Images of the cruise ship, MSC Opera, careering into the quay in Venice is symptomatic of a broader threat: greed. Venice is a UNESCO world heritage site, a beautifully unique city, adored by the 30 million visitors it attracts each year.  However, it is fragile, and we are in danger of killing it.  The footage... Continue Reading →

Why not engineer your life to create the adventure you crave? It’s not as outlandish as it may sound.  According to various studies in USA, UK and Australia we will change our career several times over our working life.  These studies from Linkedin, Investec and ABS show that reinvention on a global scale is the... Continue Reading →

Why Italian Cuisine is a Myth Spaghetti Bolognese, lasagna, pizza:  Of all the cuisines, Italian is probably the one people feel most comfortable with in their own home.  However, it can be a different story when you’re in Italy.  For a start, spaghetti Bolognese doesn’t actually exist and there is no such thing as Italian... Continue Reading →

On a recent cruise, March 2019, pirates in several speed boats hurtled at full speed towards the cruise ship as we sailed off the coast of Somalia. Their goal:  to hijack the vessel, crew and passengers for a handsome ransom. It was mid-afternoon on a clear day, when between 8-13 speed boats could be seen... Continue Reading →

The pitfalls of a week-long cruise are well documented:  weight gain, alcohol overload and altered sleep patterns are among the top symptoms.  But what happens when you triple the dose?  What pitfalls can you expect on a longer cruise and how can they be avoided? In the true spirit of experimental living I put myself... Continue Reading →

Rooftop bars are the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a breath of cool air and a few moments of serenity, much better than yoga. Chiang Mai can be a challenging place to live, particularly when the traffic and air quality is ghastly.  You sometimes just need to step... Continue Reading →