Hold Stirling Castle and you control Scotland
There’s no better time to visit Stirling Castle than early morning when the mist is rolling over the hills and the cold air is still grabbing the breath from your chest. Stirling Castle was the favourite residence of the Stewart kings and queens, arguably the …
What do sharks have to do with toasters?
Toasters kill 400 people each year. Sharks kill between five and 10. Why then does a shark cage resemble the internal mechanics of a toaster? Is it a cruel joke to make me even more nervous than I already am? It’s a cool late September …
Where to find the best Pawn shops in LA
AN Aussie accent in America is not always an asset _ especially if you are looking for the best pawn shops in LA. I was staying at the luxurious Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills and asked the concierge for directions to some pawn shops. You see …
Finding Banksy on a Melbourne street art tour
I’M STANDING in front of the 7-Eleven at Federation Square looking for Michael Fikaris, my Melbourne street art tour guide. I have his number but, rather than take the easy option and simply call, the challenge is to try to pick him out of a …
Richard Porter. The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour
Richard Porter is the smartest man in Britain — at least when it comes to The Beatles. In reality, considering the Sixties pop scene was a hotbed of sex and psychedelic drugs, he probably knows more about The Beatles than the remaining members of the …
Time to fly to the Great Barrier Reef
It’s 7.30am in Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef awaits. Just for today, I’ve deliberately bypassed the buffet. It’s not that I’m worried about the consequences of what might happen if the flight is bumpy, it’s got more to do with another weighty issue. …
Downhill disaster at Winter Park Colorado
I’m poised, standing in the gates at Winter Park Colorado rocking forwards, sliding backwards. Below me as I look down the mountain slope are nine sets of slalom poles and a finish line. Beside me is Handsome Rob. The enemy. The starter counts down. Three, …
Hidden Hanoi
THE Hidden Hanoi Cooking School really does live up to its name. It is so hard to find that our local driver took three trips around the congested block before apologetically arriving at the front door. Hidden Hanoi, well the cooking school part of the business at least, …
Local guide to Hong Kong
Who better to ask? Here’s a local guide to Hong Kong from five people who know the city better than most. Olivier Moies-Delval Manager, Novotel Hong Kong Nathan Road, Kowloon OLIVIER Moies-Delval is from Belgium, married to a Dutch woman and has two sons. He has …