Last week, we ruminated over things to do in London. In keeping with the English theme, this week Alyssa James of Alyssa Writes gives us some options for London day trips – getting out of the city and seeing the surrounding countryside. There is enough going on in London to keep anyone occupied for a lifetime, but, if you’re looking for a change of pace and can only spare a day or two, here are some day trips you can make to see more of England.Read More →
18 Cool Things to Do in London
“Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”
— Samuel Johnson
Thus spake Johnson to his distinguished biographer James Boswell, and though the words are over 200 years old, they might equally well apply to any age. For London is and has always been one of those places where you can experience the complete spectrum of human possibility. Centre of an empire for centuries, from history to the arts to the sciences, London is a place where you can see, do, and find anything- a world unto itself. If you however, unlike Johnson, will measure your stay in London in the days rather than the years, you’ll want to quickly sort the wheat from the chaff and avoid the touristy riff raff. This list par excellence will help you decide what to check out.Read More →
Sydney Harbour in Lights
If you were ever in any doubt that Sydney possesses the world’s most beautiful natural harbour, adorned with the world’s most innovative architecture, this year’s Vivid light festival would surely have reassured you. Now in its 5th year, the Vivid festival encompasses music performance and an ideas forum, but the real drawcard for the visitors in their millions is the light display. Designed and choreagraphed by artists and technical wizards, the lights are breathtakingly projected onto the city’s most prominent landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, Customs House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I rarely need an excuse to check out Sydney Harbour so I thought I’d get on down with my DSLR and take a good old gander. Read More →
11 Cool Things to Do in Dubai
I don’t care what you’ve heard of Dubai. The fancy attractions, the hotels, the impressive buildings, it’s all well and good. But if you want to see the real Dubai, you want to see the area around Dubai creek. The city was founded here, not really so long ago, in the early 19th century. Until the 1960s the city remained a small fishing village, centred around the Creek, an oasis in an unhospitable desert. And then they struck oil. What happened next is one of the most stunning transformations of a city in modern history. Now a giant metropolis and air hub, Dubai is a convenient stopover on the way from Australia or Asia to Europe. But it’s also worth stopping for a look, despite its huge size, oppressive heat, and obscene displays of wealth and unsustainability, if only you plan your days there well. Here’s what to do.Read More →
Recent Comments
List of Countries I Have Visited … Plus a Photo for Each
Surviving an Earthquake in Japan
18 Strange Observations of America (from an Australian Living in the USA)