Archive for 2012
Beer coasting.
Sunday, May 13th, 2012
It’s Part Two of Travels in my Shoebox and I’ve dragged out a few coasters from my impressive and, some may say, worryingly large collection of beer coasters (it’s so large that I need two shoeboxes). Coasters are one of the few souvenirs that I actually collect in my travels – okay, and maybe that has a lot to do with the fact that they are FREE. I’ve picked my way through them (or should that be pickled my way) and pulled out the coasters that have a story behind them (mind you, there are many that I can’t remember the stories – and the beer brand on the coasters may have something to do with that). Incidentally, the pic on the left is not part of one of my stories – well, I don’t think it was at least. So, pull up a bar stool and enjoy… (read more)
Travels in my shoebox.
Saturday, May 5th, 2012
I have a cupboard full of shoeboxes. But they’re not filled with shoes. They are filled with mementos from my travels. Inside are maps, coasters, matches, restaurant and hotel receipts, napkins, badges, stickers and… well, all kinds of crap. I’m so organised (or have a good dose of OCD) that I even have allocated separate boxes for certain items including beer coasters, bank notes and boarding passes. There’s all kinds of interesting bit and pieces in my boxes, so I’ve decided to do a semi-regular blogisode on the contents of my travelling shoeboxes. And I’m starting with my boarding passes. Yes, it may be a little sad, but I collect my boarding passes and I have a rather impressive collection even if I do say so myself. I won’t show them all… (read more)
أنشأت هذه المجموعة باللغة العربية لهو
Sunday, April 29th, 2012
I’ve got no idea what that headline means, but I do know what that sign on the left means. In October I’m heading to the Moroccan desert to run a travel writer’s retreat (find out all about it here), so for old time’s sake I was flicking through my old photos of the trip I did to Morocco many moons ago. Amongst my shots of snake charmers and bedouin shepherds I took a bunch of photos of well-known brands in Arabic. Even though they are pretty much squiggly lines you can tell what most of them are. I’ve also added a couple more that I’ve picked up in my travels – can you pick the brands below? (read more)
Your last chance to win!
Friday, April 20th, 2012
There has been some great group shots posted on my Facebook page, but there is still one more day to post a pic for your chance to win a signed copy of the original Rule No.5; No sex on the bus. And for some inspiration I’ve dragged out a few more old group photos from my Top Deck days. The pic on the right was from 1992 on a 16-day European tour called ‘Highlights of Europe’ – and what I dubbed ‘Highways of Europe ‘ because we sped through 9 countries in 16 days. This is Schutzenbach campsite in Lauterbrunnen… (read more)
It was 20 years ago today…
Friday, April 6th, 2012
Although it seems more like only six years ago, it was 20 years ago today that I set off for London to take part in a ‘training trip’ to become a tour leader with Top Deck. In an old English double-decker bus – which was converted into a cosy motorhome to sleep twenty-four sweaty, smelly, sexually hyperactive 18-30 year olds – I joined a bunch of other hopeful tour leaders and drivers for a three-week, intense trip from hell. Out of the 15 wannabe tour leaders only three of us had that perfect mix of tinpot dictator, incorrigible smartarse and… (read more)
Sleeping around in China.
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
There are certainly enough Chinese people to sleep around with, so I’m very excited that my book Sleeping Around – A couch surfing tour of the globe is currently being translated into Chinese and should be out later this year. Add that to my German and Slovenian editions and I’m slowly taking over the world. Well, China does make up almost a fifth of the world’s population. China might have 1.3 billion, but they only come in tenth for couch surfing members (88,987 members) on the couch surfing website. Even little ol’ Australia (which comes in at No.9) has more members with 102,760. Topping the list… (read more)
Join me in Morocco!
Thursday, March 8th, 2012
I’m going to Morocco in October and I’d love you to join me. I am facilitating a writer’s retreat in an oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert. It’s been 23 years since I last travelled to Morocco and I look forward to all those delicious tagines and couscous and mint tea and pigeon pie. Included in this incredible 12 day retreat are visits to the ancient city of Fes and iconic Marrakech and a camel trip to the giant dune of Erg Chebbi for an overnight camp followed by breakfast the next morning with a local Berber family. The actual writer’s retreat (which runs for six of the twelve days) takes place at… (read more)
Table service with a view.
Friday, February 10th, 2012
On my recent trip to the States I went to Encounter Restaurant in the ‘Theme Building’ at LAX for dinner with my daughter Jasmine (although the Theme Building was built in 1961, the restaurant didn’t open until 1997). I’ve always wanted to go there after seeing photos of the bizarre Jetsons-esque interior, with groovy bubble motifs in the ceilings, spacey retro mod tables and chairs and a ton of lava lamps everywhere. Rather appropriately we went there after a day at Disneyland (the restaurant was designed by Disney imagineers). The experience begins when you catch the elevator up to the restaurant… (read more)
Travel highlights of 2011.
Friday, January 20th, 2012
I’m only just doing my travel highlights of 2011, because my travels from 2011 stretched into 2012 and I’ve just got home. It was another great year of travelling adventures – although there is always never enough travelling. Highlights included visiting the colourful (and tourist free) mountain markets of north-west Vietnam, getting hopelessly lost in the backroads of central Bali, seeing the delight in my daughter’s eyes as we walked into Main Street Disneyland and swimming with dolphins in the Caribbean. So, in no particular order, here are my Top Ten Travel Highlights from 2011… (read more)