Mumbai Memoir 123- The surreal calm of Quarantined Mumbai!
It is been 7 days, since Indian government announced a complete ‘lock down’ of the nation that nurtures 1 billion plus people! My hometown Mumbai started shutting down since...
Champagne Rosé, the most elegant drink for festive moments – Meanderings through France n° 214
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny White Champagne was created in the 17th century but it was not until the second half of the 18th century...
Malta Diary In the mists of time did the Maltese Islands have an importance far exceeding their miniscule size?
It is an indisputable fact that in terms of size, being one of the world’s smallest countries, on a per square metre (or mile) comparison, the volume of historical...
Karl’s Chronicles no 27 Cameroon: The Sultans First Stand
Heralding back to 1334 and founded by Prince Nchare Yen, who came from the Tikar tribe. The Bamun Empire established its first and brief capital at Njimom, twenty kilometres...
Steve’s Sojourns : Variety Cruises Mega yacht cruise
If you want to see the best of Greece and Turkey in 2021 have a look at this stunning 9 night package holiday from Variety Cruises Welcome to classic Aegean...
Trevor’s Wildlife Week. Sparrowhawk inside St Mildred Church Tenterden.
VIDEO: With Logo: Without Logo: A sparrowhawk became trapped inside a church in Tenterden this morning after chasing a pigeon inside for lunch. Chris Brown was in...
Malta Diary. Is this The Apocalypse or have we been through it all before?
Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Cholera, Black Plague – the Maltese Islands have suffered all these before … and survived This is a bad, sad, sorrowful and morose time...
Harry’s Ramblings Chuff Chuff to Eastbourne
by Harry Pope I use the expression chuff chuff because in the old days of steam railways that was the sound made as the steam exited the chimney on...
Mumbai Memoir 122- The duality of a city like Mumbai!
When tourists visit any world-famous city, they are taken to the historical corners of the town or to the famous tourist spots by the tour guides. The visitors innocently...
The “Invalides”, a witness of French history since 1670 – Meanderings through France n° 211
ByAnnick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny We all know the “Invalides” museum for being the place where Napoléon’s tomb is, but this huge place has much more to...
Normandy cider, fit for demanding connoisseurs – Meanderings through France n° 210
By Annick Dournes For many people Normandy is synonymous with white and black cows, Camembert cheese, half-timbered houses and … apples! It’s a long-term love story...
Karl’s Chronicles. Article 23 Sao Tome: If These Walls Could Talk
Sao Tome, though a capital falls drastically short of being credited a city as we would know it. A third the size of Eastbourne and where the entire island...
“Courtyard Paris Gare de Lyon”, a room with a breathtaking view – Meanderings through France n° 209
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny The Courtyard Paris Gare de Lyon hotel is the very first Parisian Courtyard by Marriott address and this first...
A Place to Stay, Ibis, Southampton
If you’re considering a pre or post cruise stay in Southampton, then do have a look at the Ibis. Its location is very good for the cruise terminal and...
THE MAD MUSEUM
Photos by Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography Ann Evans introduces us to a museum that runs like clockwork – Stratford upon Avon’s MAD Museum. If you or...
Wrapped up in the Cotswolds House Hotel & Spa
It’s a cold January weekend and I’m wrapped up in a warm woollen coat. Quite fitting really as I’m in the heart of the Cotswolds, once a rich trading...
Mumbai Memoir 120- Orissa Diary Part 2- Arabian Sea to Bay of Bengal!
Around 8:15pm, after a very fulfilling visit to the Sun temple at Konark, I decided to leave for Puri the same evening. Since I had to attend an urgent...
A city-break in Paris side by side with Napoleon
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny When Napoleon took power as France First Consul in 1799 he already knew that he wanted Paris to become the most beautiful...
Steve’s Sojourns: The Azores, Portugal’s Atlantic gem.
Put quite simply the Azores are stunning. I had never visited before and I guess like most people I only knew about them from the weather forecast with the...
Charles Rennie Mackintosh house to be extended.
Photos courtesy of 78 Derngate and Rob Tysall Changes coming to the famous Charles Rennie Mackintosh house, 78 Derngate, Ann Evans reports. Following on from...
Karl’s Chronicles. Article 20 Ghana: House of Three Colours
A plump lizard lay just behind a python, all coiled up like rope down at the harbour. In front walked a contented crocodile, tail in the air with a...
A real feel of Elizabethan splendour
By Ann Mealor Taking the time to read up just a little about the history of Billesley Manor will reap genuine reward. This 16th century Elizabethan manor house in...
Go off the beaten tracks, go to Oman with Al Nahda Hotels (Part three) – World Meanderings (n°80)
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Photos ©Frederic de Poligny & Annick Dournes Back to Oman to continue our discovery of this incredibly varied country set...
78 Derngate
Photos by Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography Tucked away in Northampton is a gem of a house that is totally unique. Ann Evans goes along to visit 78 Derngate. ...
Mumbai Memoir: Orissa Diary Part I- Seeking blessings from the Sun God at Konark
Being a travel buff, its always fun to explore places even on a work trip. Late last year, when I was invited to conduct a workshop & lecture at...
Volkswagen recalls its past more judiciously these days
IAIN ROBERTSON Although the German car-producing giant, Volkswagen, may have been ‘in denial’ for five-and-a-half decades post-WW2, highlights Iain Robertson, at the turn of the New Millennium, it faced...
Taxi Noir: Back 2 Skool
I’ve been trying to get out of the cab game for some time. To this end I’ve been working towards becoming a Health & Safety Adviser. I gained the...
Karl’s Chronicles Article 19 Benin: Four of a Kind Part II
…cont 3) Scorched yellows, rust reds, tobacco browns with splodges of green. The parched landscape looked like a Turner painting left out in the rain. Swathes of savannah embedded...
Go off the beaten tracks, go to Oman with Al Nahda Hotels (Part one) – World Meanderings (n°78)
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny With its impressive desert and mountain landscapes the Sultanate of Oman offers a wide range of destinations. Set between the endless...
My grandmother’s grandmother
by Harry Pope My grandmother was born in south London in 1891. She wrote these words as family history when she was 74, which I transcribed onto my computer....
Steve’s Sojourn’s : Allier France
Cradle of the Bourbon dynasty the department of Allier, in the Massif Central in the most northerly part of the Auvergne, is famous for its landscapes. Its also has...
Nimes boasts its Roman heritage – Meanderings through France n° 207
By Frédéric de Poligny & Annick Dournes Nimes is a French southern town created in ancient times by the Roman invaders. At only a few miles away from...
Ultimate automotive arrogance, or a viable future proposition?
IAIN ROBERTSON As one of the largest vehicle and technology companies in the world, Toyota has an important responsibility to fulfil, highlights Iain Robertson, but he also questions the...
Malta Diary Malta and Gozo – islands packed with ancient treasures
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: Malta and Gozo comprise one of the smallest island groups in the world. However,...
Taxi Noir: Billionaires Row
I occasionally find myself driving my cab along one of London’s most upmarket streets; The Bishops Avenue. Some people say it’s in Hampstead, others Highgate. While it’s close to...
Karl’s Chronicles Article 17 Benin -Twelve Kings
A column of grey gunpowder was discharged into the air like the venomous spit of a cobra, but where the defensive attributes of a serpent came silent and cunning,...
Rachel´s Wanderings in Spain 14 New Year, New Century and Day of the Kings
Happy New Year to you all. Red underwear or not (see previous article Christmas in Spain Then and Now for clarity) we´re into not only a new year but...
Steve’s Sojourns : Victoria Capital of the Seychelles
The Seychelles are thought of by many as the ultimate all year round paradise holiday destination and rightly so. However, they are not as expensive to get to and...
Walking in the foot path of Salvador Dali, the Spanish Master of Surrealism – World Meanderings (n°77)
By Frederic de Poligny What could be the future of Catalonia, Cadaquès, Figueras and Putbol will forever stay as the Salvador Dali’s country. These three places are...
My Year’s Favourite Article. A Stranger in Vegas. The Golden Nugget Hotel Casino
In 1946, project Diana bounces radar waves off the Moon proving that communication between Earth and outer space is possible. In 1946, the current US President Donald Trump was...