Marked by ancient trade and a maritime past, with evidence of civilization dating to 3000 BCE, Oman was a crucial centrr for the frankincense trade, with routes connecting to Egypt, Rome, and other ancient civilizations . After embracing Islam in the 7th century, the region became a major naval power, with trade routes reaching as […]
Always looking for somewhere new to explore, when my other half popped over to Spain to visit a friend who’d flown in from Australia, I looked for somewhere I could travel to for a few days. Having not done much of the Baltics I landed on Riga in Latvia. Latvia has an incredible, and not […]
I was last on a safari in 2011 when I went to Namibia, so when my travel buddy suggested this I thought why not. This time we were off to the Serengeti to catch up with the great migration of wildebeest as they head north to the Masai Mara. June was an ideal time to […]
Each year, through my use of a particular airline linked credit card, I get a couple of free return flights to elsewhere in Europe. This year, as the airline had just launched a route to Malta my partner and I decided to head there for a week. I had been to Malta before but I […]
This wasn’t my best trip by a long shot. We started off heading South East from Tirana towards Lake Ohrid and the days were long without much to see. It wasn’t until we arrived in the south – from Gjirokaster onwards that things started to pick up. Albania is desperately trying to shake off its […]
This was my second time in Prague in what is now Czechia. I was last there in 2008 and the difference was stark. Despite both times being over the summer, this one early summer, last time late summer, visitor numbers seemed far higher this time. The main old square (containing the famous Astronomical Clock) and […]
Algeria, a North African gem bordering the vast Sahara Desert and sparkling Mediterranean Sea, boasts a rich history waiting to be explored. From ancient Berber kingdoms and Roman influence to the vibrant era of Islamic dynasties, Algeria’s past is etched in its architecture, traditions, and breath-taking landscapes. In May 2024 I visited, exploring the coastal […]
As a benefit of my credit card I got two return flights within Europe so decided to head to Budapest for a long weekend as I’ve never been to Hungary. The city, sat on the Danube, is split into two – Buda on the westerns side of the river and Pest on the Eastern side. […]
In 2023 I travelled to Pakistan. The day before I was due to leave I was a little nervous as the ex-PM had just been arrested there and all sorts of violent protests were kicking off and the police had blocked many roads, including in Islamabad where I was flying in to. However things had […]
I got married in October 2022 and my partner and I travelled to Mauritius and then Reunion for our Honeymoon. I didn’t take many photos as it was mainly a relaxing, chill by the beach type of holiday. However we did explore the southern part of Mauritius and take a helicopter flight over the cirques […]
On returning from Uzbekistan I realised I had a load of leave to use before the end of June otherwise I’d lose it. So after a quick search of places to go I opted for a trip to the Balkans – mainly North Macedonia with a small bit of Bulgaria and Kosovo through in for […]
Part of the ancient silk road between China and Europe. The ‘stans are somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for a while and there’s still a few others to explore. Many Persian cities took advantage of the commerce between East and West as the Silk Road developed and in Uzbekistan Bukhara and Samarkand eventually became extremely […]
Wanting to get away for a Christmas break we drove to West Ireland and travelled down part of the Wild Atlantic Way to Killarney. From here there’s a great drive called the Ring of Kerry which passes through some stunning scenery. We did the whole ring in one (very long) day, but I’d recommend doing […]
After being stuck at home due to the Covid pandemic, this long weekend getaway from Dublin to County Donegal was very welcome. The scenery there is stunning – from large coastal cliffs to the beautiful Glenveagh National Park. Although I only had a short time there its definitely somewhere I want to return to and […]
I’ve wanted to visit Sweden for along time. Strangely despite my travels, Scandinavia is one area I’d not really got to. So I was more than please to spend a long weekend visiting Stockholm. I loved the city and will definitely be back, but also want to explore the region further. Just need to find […]
Sudan, a country with more pyramids than Egypt but which few people travel to. The country is full of amazingly well-preserved sandstone temples, tombs engraved with images of the pharaohs and pyramids, including the stunning Royal Necropolis of Meroe. At times this trip felt like you were a Victorian era explorer, cresting a dune to […]
The Faroe Islands, part of Denmark and situated halfway between Norway and Iceland, are becoming very popular with photographers, mainly for their remoteness, towering cliffs, fjords and waterfalls. In October 2017 I visited for 3 days and now I’m hooked and definitely want to go back!
Some shots taken over a long weekend getaway to Denmark.
Before I moved to Ireland permanently I spent a few days visiting Galway. A harbour city on Ireland’s west coast, it sits where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city’s hub is 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by shops and traditional pubs, often with the sound of live Irish folk […]
In 2014 Wanderlust travel magazine named Mongolia its number one emerging destination. I was quite happy as a few months earlier I’d booked a trip to go stay with a local family of Eagle Hunters (they hunt with Eagles, not for them) and to attend a remote local Eagle Festival. It turned out to be […]
Over the centuries, Georgia was the object of rivalry between Persia, Turkey and Russia, before being eventually annexed by Russia in the 19th century. Following the collapse of communism in the USSR in 1991, Georgians voted overwhelmingly for the restoration of independence but it has at times been a rough road to get there.
Situated along the route of the Great Silk Road, Armenia has fallen within the orbit of a number of cultural influences and empires. One of the earliest Christian civilisations, its first churches were founded in the fourth century. In later centuries, it frequently changed between Byzantine, Persian, Mongol or Turkish control, as well as periods […]
I’ve visited Lisbon a few times and always enjoyed my time there. Its such an easy city to relax in and with its little hidden tree-shaded squares, amazing food (who doesn’t like the traditional Pastel de Nata!) and sights to see its always high on my list for a weekend getaway!
Myanmar (or Burma as it was previously known) is predominantly Buddhist. Whilst there are other religions Buddhism has been around far longer as evidenced by the many amazing temples, stupas, pagodas and monks you see in the country. Until recently (2010) it was ruled by the military and most the people were very poor. As […]
Most visitors to Turkey stay in the West, visiting Istanbul, Ismir, the South-West on the Mediterranean coast around Antalya or sometimes exploring Cappadocia. Very few people explore further East. But with amazing palaces, bustling bazaars, archaeological sites that have rewritten the book on human settlement and stunning views of Mount Ararat or from the top […]
Iceland – the land of fire and ice. Situated on the boundary between the Eurasian and North American Plates, it’s defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. On this short trip I only managed to see the South-Western corner and definitely want to explore more. However I did see […]
After visiting Chile and Bolivia on a trip to South America, I ended by visiting Peru. Of course no visit to Peru would be complete without seeing Machu Picchu, the famous Inca city hidden in the mountains that the Spanish Conquistadors never found. Because of the main Incan sites Peru is a popular destination for […]
A country of statistical extremes, landlocked Bolivia is the highest and most isolated country in South America. It has the largest proportion of indigenous people, who make up around two-thirds of the population and though rich in mineral and energy resources, is one of South America’s poorest countries. That said its stunningly beautiful and probably […]
Chile has a long and varied history and having a Chilean friend several years ago, it was somewhere I always fancied going. I suspect most people visit the capital, Santiago, and then go South to the spectacular Patagonia region. However on this trip I headed North to the Atacama Desert before crossing into Bolivia.
The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than 7,000 years – predating recorded history. Lebanon was the home of the Phoenicians, a maritime culture that flourished for nearly 2,500 years (3000 – 539 BC). Its location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland has also dictated its rich […]
Namibia is one of few countries in the world to specifically address conservation and protection of natural resources in its constitution and it shows. The lodges are superb and the fact we were able to see so many animals (as you’ll see in the album) is testament to the good management of the various national […]
“Why go there? Isn’t it dangerous?” was pretty much all I heard in response to telling people I was off to Iran. Whilst the west today has a bit of a confrontational relationship with Iran, it is in fact quite safe and the people are some of the friendliest and most hospitable I’ve ever met! […]
Istanbul has a diverse and rich history. The fact it’s known by so many names (Byzantium, Constantinople) is testament to this. It has served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empires and many of its rich historic sites are on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is also the only metropolis […]
After my initial trip to India a couple of years ago I thought I knew what to expect. However choosing to head to the far Northern Jammu & Kashmir region, specifically an area called Ladakh is not like visiting other parts of India. The area is also known as Little Tibet as it is where […]
Mention Morocco and most people think of Marrakech and the bustling medina and souks. However the country has far more to offer for those wanting to explore a little further afield. From the imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes and Fes in the North to Erfoud, Rissani and Tinerhir in the South. Even beautiful coastal towns […]
To date I’ve only managed a short trip to Prague mainly for work, and when I was there the weather wasn’t great. However its definitely somewhere I’d like to explore more. Although it has a reputation for bachelor parties and boozy weekends, in truth this is confined to a very small area and the old […]
In a scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade they ride down a narrow gorge and discover a huge temple carved into a rock face. This isn’t some fancy Hollywood CGI, but Petra, a UNESCO heritage site in Jordan. But there’s more to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan than the ancient city of Petra. […]
Venice was somewhere I’d always wanted to visit but had never managed to get to. In the summer of 2007 I finally booked a short trip there and instantly fell in love with the place. I’ve since been a few times and this gallery reflects shots for several trips. With no cars allowed the best […]
India – synonymous with gap year travelers, crowded markets and cows wandering the streets. It had never been somewhere I had particularly thought of going so when a friend suggested it as the next destination for one of our trips it came as something of a surprise. On this particular trip I did the Delhi, […]
Stretching from the Pacific Ocean in the West to the Gulf of Mexico in the East, Guatemala offers a stunningly array of things to see. Of course the country is littered with Mayan ruins and due to a certain George Lucas film Tikkal in the North East is probably the best known (all be it […]
Egypt – land of the Pharaohs and pyramids. Hot, dusty and mysterious! Egypt was somewhere I’d wanted to go for a long time and I finally managed to get there over Easter 2005. I started my trip in Cairo and slowly travelled to the South by train and boat to Abu Simbel. Strangely, the pyramids […]
One of my first major trips with camera was to Cambodia in 2004. I only had a basic camera back then but I still came back with hundreds of shots! Starting in Phnom Penh we of course traveled to Siem Reap to see the massive collection of temples and ruins there. The country is beautiful […]
