Archives: Places to go

 Maymyo: An Introduction The former British Colonial hill station of Maymyo, also known as Pyin Oo Lwin, sits at an altitude of 3510 feet, offering a respite from the intense heat of the lowlands during summer months. The town became a permanent military post in 1896, and acted as the summer capital during British rule. … Read more

Philippines – Getting to know Siargao With its laidback lifestyle, picture-perfect beaches fringed with coconut palm trees and invitingly warm turquoise waters, the island of Siargao is about as close to an iconic tropical paradise as it’s possible to find. Although this idyllic island has a world-renowned reputation as a surfing destination, Siargao has thankfully … Read more

Philippines – Getting to know Southern Luzon There’s much more to the main Philippine island of Luzon than the capital city of Manila. The south of the island is still largely off the beaten tourist track and for us that’s a great reason to explore it. Southern Luzon is studded with jungle-covered mountains and volcanoes, … Read more

Philippines – Getting to know Bohol & Panglao Island Bohol is an island province best known for its remarkable beaches, coral reefs and other geographical formations such as caves, waterfalls and the enticingly named Chocolate Hills (of which more later). The main island is roughly 90 kilometres across and eminently explorable, surrounded by more than … Read more

Philippines – Getting to know Palawan & El Nido Palawan is known as the Philippines’ ‘last ecological frontier’. This 650km sliver of an island lies at the heart of an archipelago of almost 2000 more islands that trail off leisurely towards Malay Borneo in the south west. Palawan is unspoilt, sparsely populated and studded with … Read more

Philippines – Getting to know Borocay Over the past 25 years Boracay has been increasingly hyped as one of the finest island destinations in the world. It is undoubtedly special, with long white-sand beaches and an ever-growing checklist of attractions and nightlife opportunities, but its compact landmass (7km by 2km) is becoming highly developed. Boracay … Read more

Philippines – Getting to know Manila From the moment you arrive in Manila – the Philippines’ sole soaring metropolis – there’s no doubt that this is the country’s dynamic hub, its beating heart and soul. From the modern skyscrapers and malls to the quaint environs of the Colonial-era walled city, the teeming streets of ‘the … Read more

Sri Lanka – Getting to know Uda Walawe High in Sri Lanka’s secluded, mountainous interior, a breathtaking range of wildlife awaits, undisturbed. It’s a wonderful privilege to observe Asian elephants in their natural habitat, and at Uda Walawe you’ll experience none of the creeping doubt that can sometimes accompany activities sold under the banner of … Read more

Sri Lanka – Getting to know Nuwara Eliya and Tea Country Much of Sri Lanka’s southern-central region is known as ‘Tea Country’- nearly everywhere you look in this highland area, you’ll see glossy green fields full of tea plants, often dotted with tea pickers in bright saris. Sri Lanka Nuwara Eliya and Tea Country Travel … Read more

Sri Lanka – Getting to know Kandy A sacred destination for Buddhist pilgrims since the 16th century and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the ancient city of Kandy used to be capital of Sri Lanka, ruling the island from deep within a green valley in the central hills. The city is vibrant, full of … Read more

What to do on Sri Lanka’s east coast The closest resort to the Cultural Triangle and Kandy is Passekudah, with its fantastic sands, diving, and little development. Also well located is Trincomalee, the main city along this stretch of coast, and one of the island’s main Tamil-speaking communities.   The city’s famous Koneswaram Temple is … Read more

Sri Lanka – Getting to know Minneriya National Park Providing the perfect respite from becoming ‘templed-out’ during your stay in the Cultural Triangle, Minneriya National Park sits aside an ancient rainwater reservoir, which is famous for attracting hundreds of thirsty elephants, and other wildlife. Minneriya’s 8,889 hectares consist mainly of grasslands, evergreen forests and, closer … Read more