We recently watched a fascinating documentary about Kumamoto Castle on the Curiosity Stream channel. This impressive Japanese dwelling for six generations of Japanese monarchy has survived battles, earthquakes . . and more earthquakes, the most recent by another Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016. The last quake unearthed unexpected damage to the building, to the point of…
The Thinking Traveller
A traveler's dream is to find an honest, unspoiled and inexpensive place to go. As the world gets smaller, this remit gets harder to fill. But, read below about Namibia. You might be delighted.
"Arguably Namibia’s main attraction is nature—it’s a country of spectacular scenery and plentiful wildlife, from camping amidst the stunning orange dunes of…
When people outside of Asia think of Buddhism, they tend to think about just philosophy and meditation. Buddhists are often said not to have gods, wars or empires. Their religion isn’t about ritual or belief, but a dedicated exploration into what causes suffering and how to end it through meditation and compassion. Although there’s some…
Emirates airlines, one of our affiliate partners, are known for their fleet of top-of-the-line aircraft: one of the youngest fleets in the world made up entirely of Emirates A380 and Boeing 777s. Emirates fly to over 135 destinations every year. But, the prevailing winds are blowing, and for a number of reasons. First, aircraft of…
Regular readers of this site will know that we are history freaks: the older, the better - and the more amazing. In every corner of the world, historical delights can be found around every corner. But, some locations in the world specialise in history: their efforts to delight and inform visitors range from the basic…
We're really happy to welcome Lastminute to our family of travel providers.
One of the earliest travel "warehouses," Lastminute.com established the template for how self-serve holiday shopping can be. And they still have a broad offering, with accompanying great prices.
Lastminute are a publicly traded multinational Group and operate a portfolio of well-known brands such as lastminute.com,…
During the Nazi occupation of France, 14-year-old Colette Marin-Catherine joined the French resistance alongside her family. ‘We were playing cat and mouse. And playing with fire. Or rather, fire was playing with us,’ Marin-Catherine, now 92, recalls.
Sadly, not everyone in her family would live to see France liberated. Her brother Jean-Pierre was just 17 when…
Chances are, if you're on our website, you love to travel and see the world. But, as of this date, with the Covid 19 pandemic still not yet under control, you're concerned about venturing out. Well, our affiliate friends VRBO have an interesting concept - it's called Affirm. From their site: With a unique selection…
It will com as no surprise that Hong Kong is big - nearly 8 million people call it home. And, as a central hub for global business, it needs to be world class (which it is) and have the facilities to be a part of the crème de la crème of world leaders, which it…
A king who offended the all-powerful Emperor, and then rebelled against him, but failed. How do these dramatic events in China's history link to the finding of 4000 buried miniature terracotta warriors discovered in Jiangsu Province, China? The ancient city of Pengcheng was located near today's Xuzhou in Jiangsu province, and the museum displays 190…
Hope springs eternal, and this idea almost made it. But the winds of change, and the tides – literally – sealed its fate. It’s a long and winding tale.
The Hotel Haegumgang is a floating hotel that began operations in Queensland, Australia, was moved to Vietnam, and is currently docked at Mount Kumgang on the east coast of North Korea. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, it…
If you are one of those "I've seen it before and I've done it before" tourists, we may have something for you, especially if you find the Cold War alluring.
Ukrainian travel consultant Yulia Kulyk would like to tell you a little bit more about the Soviet era in modern Ukraine. Ukraine today is an…
Thailand has everything you want from a holiday paradise – golden sandy beaches, year-round warmth, exotic cuisine and culture, friendly people and a low cost of living. It’s also easy to get to from anywhere in the world and has close and friendly ties with the West.
Thailand was part of the “hippy trail” from the 1960s…
Chances are good that you've heard of the National Geographic Society. It is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society. The operational management is handled by Walt Disney Television. Their programs are known around the world.…
At the time of this writing, visiting Iran may not be an adventure that can easily be undertaken. But, as always, that will change - and you should not miss the ancient and beautiful city of Yazd. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Yaz is located in the middle of the Iranian plateau, 270 km southeast…
Having created the artwork for all of Ill Considered’s previous albums, the Dutch artist Vincent de Boer took on a unique project to invert the role of music and images in his collaborations with the London-based improvisational jazz ensemble. First, Boer hand-drew thousands of images to create an abstract animation, with the visuals giving the…
Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and memorable locations in Mexico is in Quintana Roo. There you will find, Tulum, Cancun, Cozumel and so many other unforgettable places. And we welcome our new affiliate friends, Casai, who offer spectacular rentals there and all over Mexico. Casai is a hospitality concept designed for the…
The country of Malta has been very successful in its efforts to manage Covid-19. It is one of the safest places to be right now, and it is cautiously opening up its borders to responsible travelers. But, Malta is still a mystery to many. And here's your chance to discover all of its wonders. The…
Now, here's something exciting. If you visit this site often, you'll know that we have a thing for flying - of any type.
Well, XOJets have selected us to offer their private jet service! They've been featured on CNN, Robb Report, Travel & Leisure and more.
XO’s group-owned fleet of 130 aircraft and the XO Alliance Fleet…
May we introduce to you our new travel affiliate friends Vacanceselect. Based in Geneva Switzerland, they have been providing luxurious and exceptional European camping experiences for over 35 years. Families, of course, are provided for, but they also have exquisite villas for couples and groups. There’s nothing like the feeling of booking your next vacation,…