Chambers at Large

Whenever possible I fly in and out of Belfast International Airport in order to access Europe, and from George Best Airport (named after the city’s legendary soccer star) to go to London.  On my return from Turkey I decided to spend a couple of days in the city and I couldn’t have chosen two better days.  Sunshine, blue skies and unseasonably warm weather encouraged me to walk almost 15km on the first day alone. Belfast is a very accessible city and I set off early to explor

Around Black Friday in December Jet2 offered a very good deal on a trip to Antalya: five star hotel on the Med, adults only, all inclusive.  Doing a quick search of what there was to see and do it didn’t take long to discover there was plenty to explore including a castle in Alanya and a fabulous Roman amphitheatre in Aspendos.  Those who regularly read my blog know I’m a sucker for castles and I love Roman ruins. My flight was on Friday 13 th which did not deter me, nor ma

I grew up in Greater London and therefore had the opportunity to visit the city’s art galleries and museums whenever I wanted.  I am well acquainted with the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, so when I have a layover in Heathrow I like to explore some of the lesser known museums England’s capital city has to offer. One such is the Money Museum situated in the heart of the financial district next to the Bank of England.  I

One of the highlights of my journey around Kerala was an overnight boat trip on one of the many rivers that make up this lush state.  I was told the rooms were basic and small, which wasn’t true.  The bedroom was the same size as many hotel rooms, and the bathroom had a western toilet and a shower with hot running water.  It wasn’t the Ritz, but it certainly wasn’t a hovel. I spent most of the time on deck admiring the numerous birds that inhabit the area.  Fortunately one of

Munnar is a region of Kerala about 1600m above sea level and is gloriously scenic, with deep valleys, verdant tea plantations and rolling hills. The mountains are home to an endangered wild goat, Nilgiri Tahr, and I was lucky enough to see one when I took a walk around Eraviculam National Park.  He came very close to me, having been disturbed from his grazing by noisy visitors. Unfortunately, their constant, loud chatter scared off much of the other wildlife, but I did spot a

The drive from Kochi to Athirapally Waterfall was an eye-opener. It revealed the wealth of India and its transformation into a first-world country. The houses along the way were large, almost like mansions, set in beautiful gardens filled with numerous plants and trees. Every driveway seemed to host a vehicle, whether it was a car, motorbike, van, or moped. As we continued, the houses gave way to lush forests. This area boasts a biodiverse ecosystem teeming with wildlife. An

Friends recommended I visit the state of Kerala in south west India as it is very different to north India and its cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Amritsar, which I visited last year. I flew into Kochi airport, which is solar powered, and was immediately struck by how much cleaner the streets were, that there were coloured cars, (not a sea of monochrome black and white) and there were no cows wandering the streets.  The reason why became apparent as my stay progressed. Kerala has

Coming to the end of my safari I was very excited as I had a great deal planned.  A balloon ride across the plains, birthday celebrations and the chance of seeing the Big Five: elephant, buffalo, lions, rhino and the elusive leopard.  My travel companions and I had seen four, but I sent a plea to the universe asking for us to see a leopard, (although I had seen a couple in India). Before arriving at Masi Mara National Park we stopped at a Masi village, which is not very far o

I recently saw a documentary concerning evolution and learned that the Great Rift Valley is the “cradle of humankind”.  Evidence has shown it is where man first walked on two legs, had multiple resources to make tools and use fire. It was a hazy morning the day my travelling companions and I drove into the valley, but I spotted Mount Longonot in the distance, a volcano, and possibly a landscape which inspired the computer generated imagery seen in the film The Lion King .  Ke

I’ve crossed the equator a few times when travelling, but never actually stood on it.  In Kenya I had the opportunity to stand astride the invisible line that divides the northern hemisphere from the southern and bought a certificate to prove it! A young man called Charles was earning a few dollars by demonstrating the Coriolis Effect, which shows air and water is deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere, to the left in the southern hemisphere.  However, when directl

Before going on safari in Kenya I did a wee bit of research which, as regular blog readers know, is not like me.  I chose to go in November as (a) it is my birthday month and (b) I was more likely to see a plethora of wild animals as the grass is shorter. I saw little of Nairobi, which seemed to be like many busy up and coming cities with modern, tall buildings alongside shanty towns constructed from corrugated iron.  Throngs of people stroll along the pavements and it seems

I hadn’t gone to the Isle of Man for the weather and it is thanks to sunny spells and downpours that trees thrive and the fields are...

Learning there were castles in the towns of Peel and Castletown, I  braved the wind and the rain when setting out to the east of the Isle...

Deciding where to go on holiday in the height of summer (June/July) needs careful thought.  I didn’t want to go somewhere too hot, nor...

I set myself a mission in 2025 – to see tigers in the wild and my first two excursions were in Ranthambore National Park.  It was a misty January morning and I wore two hoodies, thus having two hoods to keep my head warm, but then I couldn’t hear the guide!  I decided to forgo the hoods, but not the blanket to put around my knees.  I managed to secure a front seat in the jeep, which was a little more sheltered than the seats in the rear of the vehicle and a little less bumpy!

As a child I visited almost all of the sights in England’s capital city: The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral,...

Following my night flight to India’s capital, which I documented in a previous blog, I was in need of sustenance and recuperation before...

Thanks to Queen Victoria’s son Jaipur is known as the Pink City.  The Prince of Wales, (later King Edward VII) visited in 1876 and was...

Once in a while when travelling I come upon places that take my breath away.  When touring north India I came across two such places....

Shimla, in the foothills of the Himalayas, is the capital city of the province of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. It is a colourful...