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Special Interest

Special Interest

How to say Thailand is my land

Over the centuries, travellers from Western Europe have been spellbound by the alluring cultures of the Far East. The ancient adventurers who arrived on the shores of Siam were instantly besotted, and there is ample evidence that a name change has done little to dampen the appeal of this remarkably captivating country. In the 21st…

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Kyoto thatched-roof dwellings transport you back in time

Located 1 hour 40 minutes by bus from Kyoto Station, the town of Miyama offers a view into Japan's rich agricultural heritage. Designated a semi-national park, the town is home to some 39 thatched farmhouses where people still live today. Miyama spans multiple hamlets that are scattered throughout the mountains and valleys, about 50 kilometers…

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Senior train travel tips from the Man in Seat 61

For background, Mark Smith, the man behind seat61.com,  was an employee of British Rail.  Starting out in rural Kent on what was then BR's Southern Region, he was the Station Manager for London's Charing Cross, London Bridge & Cannon Street stations in the early to mid 1990s.  After a spell as the Customer Relations Manager…

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The new best way to see where airlines depart from

Minimise the frustration of planning flights with this new tool. FlightsFrom.com has an easy to use web interface and in addition to having all non-stop destinations from every airport on every airline, also has schedule information with about 90% coverage. So not only do they show what airlines fly between sets of airports, for many (most)…

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In Pakistan, it’s always been “waste not, want not.”

The Memon predisposition towards frugality is iconic within Pakistan, but they celebrate their stereotyping as an achievement; a tribute to their enduring prosperity and resilience. The concentration ­and preservation of wealth, as the last vestiges of power and dominion that the displaced Memons clung to, has been integral to their quest for identity. And while…

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You can have your cup and eat it, too

Do you ever wonder why, with our human capabilities, we can't sometimes solve the apparently overwhelming problems of waste management,  recyclables,litter and the future of our planet?  Some organizations and individuals are taking this quite seriously though, and this article describes an airline that actually serves cups that are edible. It makes sense and hats…

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Ireland. 200,000+ books. What’s not to like?

The Trinity College Library houses some of the world’s most precious manuscripts and artifacts dating back to 800 A.D. This colossal hall is a book lover’s paradise. Known as the Long Room, this magnificent chamber was built between 1712 and 1732 nearly 65 meters (213 feet) in length and home to over 200,000 rare books. Why so…

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The longest walkable distance on Earth

Just in case you have seen and done everything in the world, perhaps here is something that you might want to try. Maybe you might wish to use it for a charity event. If, perchance, you do, let us know how it goes.   Joseph Pisenti of RealLifeLore (previously) offers a “brief overview” of the longest pedestrian distance…

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Go where the action isn’t in Europe

People all around the world just love Europe.  With so many countries, and their individual styles and personalities, it's hard not to be drawn in. But, as in many places in the world, Europe is starting to creak with the sheer number of tourists annually - an impressive 6% growth in 2018 - and sometimes…

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