Saudi Arabia has long been in my sights as a unique and difficult country to visit, especially as a non-muslim. Having only heard stories of the mysterious country I had no idea what to expect. The first challenge was gaining access aka getting a visa. As Saudi Arabia does not have tourist visas, the only … Continue reading A Week In Saudi Arabia
With my limited knowledge on Sudan, I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of accommodation in the capital city of Khartoum. I found there was a Corinthia Hotel which surprised me. The luxurious Corinthia brand is based out of Malta and I did a feature for them during my visit then. Could the Corinthia … Continue reading Experience: Corinthia Hotel Khartoum
Dili in Timor L’este isn’t known as a major tourist destination so I was curious to see what kind of hotel offerings the city had. I found Novo Turismo centrally located and had great reviews, so I contacted them and arranged my stay. Coming from Darwin, I had a quick flight to the capital city … Continue reading Experience: Novo Turismo Resort and Spa, Timor Leste
Time to tackle country 189, Iraq. Though this sounds daunting, Iraq has a little secret called Kurdistan. Like Somaliland in Somolia, Kurdistan is a self governed state within a state. Internationally it is recognized as a part of Iraq but for all intents and purposes it is a separate country. As much as I’d like … Continue reading Peaceful Iraq Egypt Revisited
From Montego Bay I spent a day driving down to Kingston with an afternoon visit to Ocho Rios. The route south on the new highway was a breeze and took just under two hours. I was headed to the country’s largest and capital city. Arriving in the evening, I checked into the Courtyard Marriott Kingston. … Continue reading Kingston, Jamaica
Montego Bay Montego Bay was the first destination of my Jamaica Mon trip. The fourth largest city by population, Montego Bay has developed to be the premier tourist destination of the island. Massive resorts and duty-free shops cater for tourists arriving by cruise ships or plane. It is very convenient and inexpensive to fly from … Continue reading Montego Bay and Ocho Rios
Espiritu Santo was an important base of operations during WWII. The Allies used the island as a support and supply base. Santo eventually became the second largest US base in the Pacific with 40,000 troops stationed there. They had airbases, repair facilities and a naval harbor. Today reminders of the war are scattered throughout the … Continue reading Espiritu Santo WWII Tour
I’m back on the road, destination Norway! November will be a cold time to travel to Scandinavia, but country 186 is waiting! I’m expecting plenty of snow and low temperatures, hence the trip name Winter Wonderland. Reaching Norway means I will be on my last 10 countries. I’m really excited and so grateful to share … Continue reading Winter Wonderland
Next stop on the Pacifying the Pacific Tour is Palau, country 177! With four days to explore the beautiful islands and Palau top sights, we had a packed schedule to see the highlights of this magnificent country. Koror Most visitors are based in Koror, the largest state and city. Koror also use to be the … Continue reading Palau Top Sights
A review of Palau Royal Resort on the island of Palau from the trip Pacifying the Pacific. Highlights Stunning location with private beaches and dock. Modern design rooms. Spa and onsite departures for activities. Friendly and accommodating service. Background The Japanese managed Palau Royal Resort is set on a peninsula surrounded by white sandy beaches. … Continue reading Experience: Palau Royal Resort