Feeling down? The wonder stuff: what I learned about happiness from a month of ‘awe walks.’ You need to experience more awe, psychologists say. So I set off every day to explore my local area, leaving my phone behind. Read more here courtesy of TheGuardian.com
You can walk anywhere, anytime and, boy, does it feel…
The Thinking Traveller
This Mirrorfield installation was designed within the framework of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial development, which aims to rebuild the memories of the tragic events that happened in the area on September 29-30, 1941, the largest massacre of the Nazi regime. During those days, over 30.000 Jews were murdered by the German forces, while almost…
There are places in Europe that are well-known: Rome, Paris, London etc. They're all wonderful, but you really begin to fall in love with the hidden places. One such place is Wales - specifically North Wales, and even more specifically Llangernyw. Here there is a church that has a tree, and that tree is special.…
Halloween is just around the corner, which makes the cold heart of any horror fan beat faster. Dressed in spooky costumes, little ghosts go trick-or-treating from house to house, while mature vampires, monsters and ghouls choose to imbibe and dance the night away. Halloween is an American holiday and like many American traditions, was brought…
Some things are easier to comprehend. But, when governments - especially those who may not agree with each other - make decisions, sometimes you just have to scratch your head and go back to bed. May we present two islands in two countries, two miles and twenty-one hours apart. Not much else to add here,…
Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, but they should throw caution to the wind — especially in this shiny glass palace that you'll find just outside of Joshua Tree National Park.
Known as the Invisible House, the elongated 22-story “horizontal skyscraper” is like a shiny, dreamy mirage in the sand. This once-in-a-lifetime stay is one of the…
You're in the clouds!
China has never shied away from big projects, and this is just one. Visit Shimian County and drive this amazing feat of engineering yourself.
Ganhaizi Bridge is located in Shimian County, Ya'an, Sichuan on the Ya (An) Lu (Gu) Expressway. It has a total length of 1811 meters, a bridge width of 24.5…
If you like Europe (we sure do) you may often find that when you visit for a long time, even ninety days (the current limit) might not be enough. There's just too much to do. Of course, you can maximise the rules by staying within the ninety day limit, take a rest for a short…
It must be evident now that our planet's climate is changing, and not for the better. Are we culpable for this? Likely yes, in many ways. Can we do something about it? Yes, but it appears that our governments (most of them) are in no hurry to address the problem - with lack of money…
With almost no exceptions, many of us are able to help others - and so many of us do. And, there are so many ways to do it. One organisation that we here at Matouring like is Novica. Ostensibly supported by The National Geographic, Novica started with a dream to create a better world for…
Do you cry when you look at the price of flights, and are forced to take the 2:00am option? Do you find yourself with a black cloud over your head when you are compelled to stay at a 2-star hotel? And is sitting on a park bench eating out of a bag enough to make…
Egypt’s High Speed Railway Project Takes-off As we often talk about here (until we're blue in the face,) rail travel is the future. In a world of diminishing resources and rising populations, the solutions that modern rail travel can bring for us all are too good to ignore. That's why we're happy to see governments…
You'd better get busy . . . Where more than half the country is forest, saunas have a 4,000-year history, and the world’s largest choral festival happens every five years... Welcome to Estonia. Often underestimated as being a small Baltic country sandwiched between Scandinavia and Russia, Estonia is undoubtedly so much more than that. Read more…
Peruvians living in one of the world's driest areas may have a solution to their water crisis - "fog catchers" that catch droplets through thick, swirling blankets of mist. It's a beautiful, but tough environment to live in. But, as always, humans will improvise and improve. And, in this case it doesn't involve complex technology. …
If you like to cruise, you've probably been on a few over the years. Cruise lines are always refreshing their fleets, or looking for new thrills - such as roller coasters - while you're aboard. However, some lines opt for a more refined approach to being on-board. One of which - Fred. Olsen lines (and…
David Lynch may have been here, but we can't be sure. Many people visit the rather awesome Glacier National Park, but did you know that Waterton Lakes is right across from Glacier National Park, and this is why you should visit: two for the price of one. Alberta is utterly stunning and the Canadian Rockies…
In the pursuit of freedom, mankind has created borders. Okaay. But, in some places (such as San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City, Liechtenstein and Canada etc) there is a level of trust that the surrounding countries are friendly and non-threatening. Surprisingly / not surprisingly, Canada and the USA have an arm's length agreement about borders. You…
English wait staff are tiresomely polite. The French are radically rude. They’re the two stereotypes, anyway. What tourists don’t understand about ‘rude’ French waiters... They’re not being ‘rude’ – they’re being real… Is that the case? Or is it that some patrons are annoying? Or all of the above. How should one handle situations…
Art is a most wonderful thing, but it also is very subjective. Obviously, there are masters of all strains of art, and there are some are that simply strain. Have you ever seen performance art and just wondered, “Why is this art?!” You’re not alone, and deciphering performance art is not as difficult or mysterious…
A major European destination just banished Airbnb. Will others follow suit? AirBnB has had a somewhat chequered past when it comes to the neighbours. Most renters are polite and responsible. But it doesn't take too many incidents for the love to sour. A recent crackdown in Barcelona portends stronger laws against short-term rentals across the…