Stories behind the stories. By Travel Writer, Amy McPherson
While in Limoges, we had the opportunity to take part in the Le Journées Gaulouises de Saint-Gence, (The Gaulouises Day of Saint-Gence), a festival dedicated to the ancient history. This year’s theme was the Roman chariot and military splendors and the entire town was there (which, for Saint-Gence, a small village in the region, isn’t a lot …
Limoges doesn’t usually make that big a fuss. It is a relatively quiet and sleepy city, and doesn’t attract that many tourists besides the odd few that are driving through this region of France. However, one day a year, the city becomes alive with music. One this day, Limoges holds a giant street party …
When I was in Yogyakarta a week ago, I had the opportunity to stay at EDU Hostel, who was kindly enough to host my stay. I have not stayed in a hostel for eight years, since our Peru trip, we’ve stayed more in hotels or guesthouses than hostels. I guess it isn’t something you want …
We have settled into our Bonn apartment, our home for the next two and a half months. The excitement of moving somewhere new gave us a wave of adrenaline rush as we battled with jet lag, and as soon as we dropped off our bags, shook hands with the landlord and had a quick bite …
I’ve been eating too much. Oh but I have been in food heaven. Not only have I had the opportunity to sample some regional Javanese snacks with Agata from Withlocals where we zigzagged the back alleys of local communities in search of her favourite street snacks and eating at some of the best local eateries. In …
Our flight had to circle when it got to Yogyakarta (locals affectionately call it ‘Jogja’), that’s how popular the place is. From the window I can spot the pointy tip of Mount Merapi in the distance, tall and mighty like a volcano would, with a lush green landscape sprawling from it. “There are a lot more …
I am in Indonesia to see if we can get sponsors for the Asian Women’s Empowerment Conference. I thought I’d mix business with pleasure and check out the area too. A friend from Jogjakarta warned me about this. “I prefer to avoid Jakarta at all costs,” she said, “you’ll never get anywhere.” I was determined …
There is a large patch of green on the banks of the Isar that extend from the centre of Munich all the way up north west of the city’s boundaries. This is one of Munich’s little surprises (well, not so little) and a place to escape to from the chaotic tourist scene of the city …
When I was in London last month, I had planned to just sit around, drink Earl Grey and chill. I’ve been to London so many times and have exhausted most of the tourist activity options that I was out of news things to see and write about. Then, something caught my eyes on this wonderful …
One of those things that excite me about Europe is the abundance of its history and heritage that surrounds the everyday life, especially from a time when no one can no longer ‘remember’ (seriously, no one is that old!), the time of kings and queens, prince and princesses, and their elaborate castles and palaces. Castles …
If you have been following on Facebook, you’ll know that the Crazy Cat Lady (me!) was at it again, stalking local cats wherever she goes, and in Munich, she has definitely found her spot, at the Cafe Katzentempel. <queue: purring from Amy> The cafe is located on a popular cafe street near the university (where …
I promised that I’d give you a review, however I’ve decided not to keep to my usual review template but to simply write to you about this experience instead. Remember I have been on Air Asia Premium seats? That’s was the budget option and this is the first time ever I travelled in a full service business …
Hallo. Grüsse aus München! It has been ten years since I last set foot in Munich. Not much has really changed but at the same time it is now a different place. The city is still beautiful, with Marienplatz and its Rathaus-Glockenspiel the centre of it all, with the exception that now I must share the cobble-stoned …
Like anywhere else in the world, you have to come to London with an open mind. It is a city that is old and new at the same time, and it is constantly evolving, and that is what makes this city so fascinating. The current skyline is dominated by buildings of various nicknames: the gherkin, …
Along the Masarykovo nabiezi at dusk, Prague felt magical. It is the City of a Hundred Spires, and even in this ordinary shot, mini spires rise from the top of the buildings pointing to the sky. My memories of Prague is filled with such images. Outside the Prague Castle, the architecture – Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance, dashed …
“To all the girls who have faced injustice and been silenced. Together we will be heard.” Such was the opening of this book, a dedication to all the girls of the world. It has been a while since I read a book this powerful. The attempted assassination of Malala made international news in 2012, and …
[Feature image source: Morgue File. Credit to: muvuca] Some people like sunrises, some people prefer sunsets. Some, doesn’t understand why anyone would be impressed by either, as our trekking guide in Thailand wondered “why you tourists always want to watch sunrise and sunsets? It happens everyday. If you miss today, it’ll be there again tomorrow.” …
It’s been a while. A whole month in fact, since I last wrote. Sorry. The years of planning for the big international move (as a couple) is finally in rapid motion and in this past month I’ve…. Sold our unit Gave away most of our furniture and other odd stuff Sent the cats away to …
Before I met my husband, I have always been the solo traveller. I loved the freedom, the independence and the possibilities of solo travel and I have had no regrets. I was loving it so much that it didn’t occur to me, until last year’s Asian Women’s Empowerment Conference, that many women don’t travel solo, …
Yes, you knew this was coming. I have always taken pictures of cats when I travel but not so much as this trip to the Philippines when I decided that I’d start posting them on the blog. So here it is! The Crazy Cat Lady album, Philippines Edition!
We are experiencing heat waves here in Australia, and I am trying think cooler thoughts. So, that got me thinking about Stockholm when I visited in winter of 2003. Stockholm is a beautiful city and it was particularly beautiful when I visited in winter. They’ve had some light snow falls and made everything powder white, …
It wasn’t immediately apparent what we should be trying in the Philippines. Filipino cuisine is not like that of the Japanese, Chinese, Italian and India, where there would be a restaurant dedicated for them on every street corner. No one hardly ever hear of trying Filipino cuisine unless you know someone who knows where to …
Manila was our last destination for the Philippines, and what a chaotic end to our journey! From the air Manila sprawled across the horizon like any other city, with sprouts of modern skyscrapers in all directions. Metro Manila comprises of 16 cities with an overall population of just over 11 million people, and the traffic …
At the entrance to Manila Bay lies an island that has seen the battle lines of World War II. Due to its strategic location Corregidor Island was used and re-used by American and Japanese forces as a battle base for their Pacific and Asia campaigns during the war and has since become an important piece …
