Most Commented Travel Blogs (264)

okay, only a photon but - the first manned flight was not particularly impressive. It would have been impossible to guess, watching the Wright brothers fly 120 feet in their first attempt in 1903, that Lindbergh would, in 1927, fly the Atlantic. Completely impossible to guess that Lindbergh would be a guest of honour watching Apollo 11 head to the moon in 1969.

So a photon this week could be a mammal in - how long?

I want to know when I can teleport from London to Edinburgh - an hour and a half, flying time, usually. Because yesterday I got to Stansted at 6 pm and I got to Edinburgh at 11 pm and I'm a bit bored with the conventional ways of getting from A to B.

It's so disheartening to write a blog and then watch it sink steadily down the page and finally disappear into the wilderness behind that little square box labelled 2, and beyond. So, why condemn yourself to that very same fate by creating this one, you may well ask.

Because I can, that's why.

I had the dream again last night; the same dream I have had for countless nights; the dream that haunts my waking hours. I am on a packed rush hour bus travelling through a busy city centre and I am naked from the waist down, save for a pair of muddy walking boots. All the seats are occupied and I am forced to stand in the aisle, right next to an attractive young woman whose thumbs are moving like lightening on the keys of her smart phone. Is she snap chatting about me? She gives away no sign of even noticing my presence, but what must she be thinking?

I didn’t really have that dream, but I know I will, one night.

I have never traveled abroad before and I am planning a trip to the Philippines in January. I will be arriving in Cebu and taking a ferry to Bohol. Upon my research on the internet, that seems like the typical tourist trip taken.

Of course, my research and my inquiries have turned up even more questions about traveling abroad that I can find answers for. For one, how safe is it to travel to the Philippines? I have discovered that kidnapping does indeed happen there and that theft and robberies are commonplace. Of course, being a smart traveler will help safeguard against dangers, but there is no guarantees in life either. In order to be a smart traveler, I felt I needed to write this blog to hopefully get some tips on traveling abroad from the more experienced than myself.

Here are some additional concerns that I do have, that I have heard from some other people...not sure how true they are or not. Any other things I should watch for would greatly be appreciated.

...My first hold over will be in South Korea. (I was told that I would have difficulty making it out of that airport because they are huge and very busy and that the signs will be written in a language other than English). That really does not make sense because it is an international airport. But, I have never been there so I don't know for sure.

...This leads to another concern. I will be traveling by myself...and of course being new to this experience, I myself am also responsible for any language barriers. Not everyone I am going to need to associate with will know English. How do you communicate or deal with situations like that?

...I was also told that security at airports look for people who are nervous and will take them for questioning. Sometimes that questioning can go bad really quick, especially if there are language barriers. There is a good chance I will be a little nervous at times being an unseasoned international traveler. Any advice about that?

...I was also told to be very careful in international airports, especially the Philippines about employees slipping things in your luggage and then asking for money from you to not report it. I was told to not have luggage with pockets on its outside and if you can, wrap your luggage. Also, don't help anyone carry their luggage because this is how drugs get transported and if you get caught carrying that luggage, of course you will be responsible for its contents.

...Also, are there any tips on getting great airfare rates?

...Anything else that a new international traveler should be careful with or it would be helpful if it is known about?

Thanks all for your advice.

I’m looking for a specific kind of vehicle, and suddenly noticed a certain familiarity about my list. See if you can spot it.

Not too young - they’re too expensive.
Not too old - they’re too high maintenance
Number of owners - lots is a definite eyebrow-raiser
Fuel consumption - how heavy a drinker?
Performance when the going is tough
Comfort - definitely important
Looks - don't mind a bit tatty or dented, but not rusty

And I wouldn’t really want a vehicle which coughed, spluttered and emitted clouds of smoke when started up on a cold morning.

Yup. Very like a singles checklist

At least with vehicles I can check them on DVLA (our vehicle website) and see when they last had a roadworthy test. One possible turned out to be 10 years older than the ad said, and had 100K more on the clock. That’s a bit familiar too

Any advice? On vehicles, I mean, but all the funnier if they relate to singles too

Yesterday on the news I heard about the happiest cities of Europe complied by the E.U.’s Eurobarometer.
One of my favourite places in one of the 5th happiest cities of Europe.


Which city makes you happy ; that you enjoy visiting or living?

Friends, has anyone traveled? Can you recommend it? I am very afraid that I may get seasick.

Pago Pago airport has apparently stopped pre-booking seats and started weighing passengers they think are overweight.

Way to start your holiday? Hey, you, fattie? On the scales please. Okay, we have to change your seat or you'll tip the plane sideways ...

Tactful!

Why not instead allow some wider seats in the middle of the plane, and make stating weight (including cabin luggage) part of the on-line checking-in process, then you can offer the seats available to those with unusual needs.

If you were huge, you wouldn't mind that, much better than being wedged and squeezed into the average tiny space? Hell, the international SPCA wouldn't allow animals to travel in the allocated space we get crammed into for hours. A bigger seat would be bliss for a bigger person.

(Any time the airlines want to allow for passengers over 5 foot tall, and offer more leg room, would also be seriously ace. )

Right now, that's only targeting larger passengers and we've all had that moment when you see someone who can barely squeeze down the aisle towards where you are sitting and you start the traveller's prayer, please not next to me please not next to me oh bugger!

But airlines, sure you have to adjust the trim of the plane, sure if you get a team of rugby players you want to spread them around the plane. But fair's fair. Offer slightly roomier seats to plus-size passengers, don't just ruin their holiday before it started?

Real estate prices should be dropping sharply in the Gaza Strip by this time next week. The population density will probably also be a lot less which means you will have plenty of room at the beach to spread out your blanket if you don't mind the smell of not collected corpses.

Yesterday I was in Orgiva, a small town in the Alpujarras and did have my camera. I'm not a good photographer, though.

Pics - Orgiva is hot enough to shade its main street - I do enjoy the effect when towns do.



This particular bit of road is watched over by this gent. I have no idea who he is. I did walk round him looking for a plaque.



The reason I was in Orgiva was to put my 9-year-old UK car through the first and vital stage of becoming a 9-year-old Spanish car - the ITV test. Since its last MOT in the UK it has driven to and around Spain, been used as a mini truck for building supplies, lived in the street and been bumped and scraped and peed on by dogs and crapped on by birds and not had a single service. It passed. Damn I love this car.



The ITV station is not in Orgiva, but nearby in the mountains. I don't know what other advantages the site may have but the view is good while you wait your turn



and now for something completely different. I live in a town, without a garden, and the townhouse has 10 foot walls. I have some plants in my atrium, at least 40 yards from the nearest garden, and they have been there a couple of months. These chives have died and I think this is the culprit but - how the hell did he get here?



I did say I'm not a good photographer.