Azerbaijan is known as the ‘Land of Fire’; indeed its ancient Persian name of Aturpatakan roughly translates to ‘a place where the sacred fire is preserved’. It lies in an oil-rich part of the world with intense geothermal activity that includes mud volcanoes and natural-gas fires that blaze continuously on hillsides. The region was also … More Hotel review: Fairmont Baku Flame Towers
If you’ve read my Baku post, you’ll know I found the city pretty mind-blowing. It is super unique and off the main tourist trail – and is worth several days of exploring in its own right. But if you can spare the time, Azerbaijan also boasts a number of varied experiences beyond the capital. Some … More Travel memories: 6 fascinating day trips from Baku
‘Azerbai-WHAT?’ Tell most people you’ve chosen to holiday in Baku, Azerbaijan, and you’re likely to be met with glazed eyes or, at best, quizzical looks. While it does resonate with a small handful of Eurovision or Formula 1 fans who have seen the city host those respective events, it’s fair to say it is not … More Travel memories: What to see in Baku
At one point I thought I may not even make it to Beijing, given the debacle we had flying in there. What was supposed to be a 2-hour flight from Shanghai saw us on the plane for 7 hours – 5 of which were spent sitting on the tarmac at Shanghai airport with no idea … More Travel memories: Beijing
China is one of those countries you hear so much about on the news, especially here in Australia. It is a global economic powerhouse, a heavyweight in manufacturing and trade with countries all over the world. And I must admit I had been intrigued by it for quite some time. So when an opportunity came … More Travel memories: What to see in Shanghai
The first time I visited Kuala Lumpur as a young child from Australia, having only heard the city’s name aurally, I was mystified as to why it it had been (in my thinking) named after a furry, grey, tree-dwelling marsupial native to my homeland. In somewhat of an anticlimax, it turns out ‘Kuala Lumpur’ is … More Travel memories: Things to see in Kuala Lumpur
I could have just stayed at the airport. After all, Changi Airport has been repeatedly voted among the world’s best, and it’s certainly one of the most impressive I have ever been to. With lush indoor & outdoor gardens (including a butterfly garden), a plethora of dining and shopping options, a movie theatre, hotels, a … More Travel memories: 2 nights in Singapore
A one-hour TurboJet ferry ride from Hong Kong across the Pearl River Delta is another Chinese Special Administrative Region: Macau. The tiny territory has regularly done the rounds on social media, featuring in numerous apocalyptic images showing the looming tower of the Grand Lisboa hotel, whose design is based on the feathered headdress of a … More Travel memories: Macau
The Chinese Special Administrative Region (and former British colony) of Hong Kong encompasses thousands of islands and the Kowloon Peninsula. It is a veritable fusion of East and West, and has long been a popular layover for intercontinental travellers. But it is also well worth a stay in its own right. In this post, I … More Travel memories: Visiting Hong Kong
