Author: Leighton

A Royal Afternoon at London’s Regent’s Park.

The Regent’s Park, London. May 2019. It was a grey afternoon in London and the lazy wanderings of the day had led me to The Regent’s Park, one of London’s eight royal greens. As with all of London’s royal parks, there was much history to grapple with. Thus I wasted no time in grabbing a […]

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Catching up with Steppers at Hampstead Heath.

Hampstead Heath, London. April 2017. There are worse things one could do in London on a sunny Sunday afternoon than stroll around Hampstead Heath with an old friend. Due to my nomadic lifestyle, I only get to see my old friend Steppers every two to three years. Sometimes I go to him, with a visit […]

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An April Afternoon in London’s Greenwich Park.

Greenwich Park, London. April 2017. I’m all about the parks whenever I return to the English capital. After all, they’re incredibly beautiful, not to mention merciful on the old wallet. Typically, I return home after another long spell in Asia. Thus I cannot get enough of that fresh English air, even if it’s often a tad […]

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Cool Spots Around Hue, Vietnam.

Cool Spots Around Hue. April 2018. As I come to the end of another Vietnam location, it’s tricky to avoid simply repeating myself. But hey, what can I say, this was yet another wonderful chapter of my cross-country adventures. In fact, in terms of memorable places and experiences, Vietnam is the gift that keeps on […]

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The Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc, Vietnam.

Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc. Hue, Vietnam. April 2018. The city of Hue really is a goldmine for those looking to wade deep into Vietnam’s historical waters. At the very least most visitors spend a half day exploring The Imperial City, once home to the country’s Nguyen emperors. If that doesn’t quite quench the thirst, […]

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Vietnam’s Oldest High School: The National School in Hue.

The National School, Hue, Vietnam. April 2018. It was my second full day in the Vietnamese city of Hue and I was felling a little run down. By this point I’d been on the road for several weeks. And my legs were feeling the effects of the previous day’s efforts exploring the majestic remains of […]

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The Imperial City of Hue in Vietnam.

The Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam. April 2018. Following my adventures in Hanoi, Cat Ba Island, Halong Bay, Dong Hoi and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, I finally arrived in the pretty river town of Hue. Home, among other delights, to Vietnam’s wondrous Imperial City. As one of the country’s historical highlights, I couldn’t wait to […]

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Paradise Cave & Phong Nha Cave, Vietnam.

Paradise Cave & Phong Nha Cave, Vietnam. April 2018. After a few relaxing days in the understated outpost of Dong Hoi, it was time for my much-anticipated day trip to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Home to tropical forests, underground rivers, UNESCO caves and Asia’s oldest karst mountains, I could have easily based myself here for […]

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Off The Beaten Track in Dong Hoi, Vietnam.

Dong Hoi, Vietnam. April 2018. When on a cross country adventure, I always love stopping for a few days in some nowhere town deemed unworthy by the masses. In fact, these off the beaten track locales often throw up some of my favourite travel memories. The Vietnamese coastal city of Dong Hoi isn’t exactly off […]

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Cruising Along Halong Bay in Vietnam.

Halong Bay Cruise, Vietnam. April 2018. Cat Ba Island had served up an amazing four days of adventure. In fact, with its pretty harbour and beach, World War II Cannon Fort, Vietnam War Hospital Cave and stunning national park, I’d been left nonplussed by how few people actually bother to go there.  Now, at the […]

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Exceptional Experiences on Cat Ba Island.

Cat Ba Island. April 2018. It was a hot and humid overcast day in Vietnam when I finally left Hanoi for four nights on Cat Ba Island. I’d had a wonderful time in the Vietnamese capital, but it had all been a bit full-on. Now, I figured, it was time for a little rest and […]

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The David Bowie Mural in London.

The David Bowie Mural, Brixton, London. May 2019. I didn’t get into David Bowie until I was in my early thirties. In fact, I’m not sure how his unbridled brilliance escaped me. Obviously I knew who he was and had become familiar with a handful of his biggest hits. But it wasn’t until I bought […]

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