Stories behind the stories. By Travel Writer, Amy McPherson
Is there a secret London many of us don’t know about? I recently read Charles Dickens’ Night Walks and The Uncommercial Traveller, a series of essays based on his walks around London. Known to be an insomniac, he described the London he saw, from Haymarket, which he describes as “the worst kept part of London” (Uncommercial …
I loved a recent article on Traveller listing the 13 best cities you’ve never thought of going to, listing Taipei, the place of my birth among the other exotic and fantastic cities around the world. Personally the idea of visiting places that may not be on the mainstream travel itineraries gives you an alternative view …
Having lived in this city for almost three years now and it has never ceased to surprise me. There is always something being transformed, being created and re-created and the way Londoners are so blase about stuff happening around them seems to indicate change is nothing new. Try wearing your loudest shirt or a pikachu …
I am not biased, but having experienced Taipei as an adult and as a tourist, it really is an exciting city to visit. Here’s a little guide to Taipei on getting in, getting around and essential information about travelling in Taipei. Why you should visit Taipei (and the rest of Taiwan while you are at …
Taipei is getting ready to host this year’s Universiade, and earlier this year has launched a double-decker, hop-on, hop-off city sightseeing buses around the city. Although, personally, I’ve never really enjoyed these fixed destination tourist buses, and everywhere we go, we try to use local public transport to get around. Just like in London’s red …
I don’t deny I have issues. I have compulsive urge to click [BOOK] on travel websites, the idea of spending any free days at home generates a nervous twitch in the eye. Then there’s the issue of cats. My own, and other cats. Any cat that comes my way gets a coo’ing and I mean …
The night markets are the essence of Taiwanese culture. The markets are on everyday and is where you’ll get a feel of the diversity of food and games of this fascinating country. However, what exactly do you do at a night market? Eat everything from things on a stick to sticky sweets Well, most obviously …
It was with much persuasion and parental bullying (just kidding mum and dad!) that we flew the 17 hours to Taipei to celebrate Lunar New Year (or, more commonly known as Chinese New Year). I was born in Taipei, but left to grow up in Australia at the age of ten. As far as I …
Tourists generally come to London and spend a few days battling crowds of their own kind in and around the major attractions: Westminster Abbey, the Big Ben, London Eye, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the entire strip down Regent Street from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Circus, maybe venture to St Paul’s, maybe nose around Soho …
I have always been a big advocate for public transport, whether at home, or on the road. Public transport to me, is a way to travel and to experience a place like those who live there. We are always complaining about being treated like tourists wherever we go, yet, many still book themselves onto tour …
I have previously told you about Surbiton, the little corner of London I have called home for the past two years. I love it, and one of the reasons is that I was close to Kingston upon Thames, a ‘town’ with Saxon roots that make it feel more German than Britain. From Surbiton, we can …
I am procrastinating (a fancy word to use when I hit the writer’s block), so I thought I’d use this time to tell you about my life in Surbiton. Surbiton is on the train line to Hampton Court and is officially a suburb of London, but besides the great transport links into the city, it feels as far …
We’ve just had the opportunity to visit my (favourite) German city Saarbrücken, for a friend’s wedding. I lived here 13 years ago as a student for a year, and surprisingly have always had an inkling to come back. Saarbrücken is not too well known, in fact, when I mentioned that I would be spending my weekend …
So, as you now know, that it has been a year since our formal move to the UK. While we don’t actually live in ‘London‘ proper, we do spend a load of time working, studying and entertaining in London. While having explained myself numerous times, there are still questions about what exactly what I like …
I’ve been daydreaming more than usual lately, because I haven’t really done that much travelling in the past ten months. Right now, I am thinking of Saarbrücken, a German city I studied in for a year, a city that will forever remain somewhere special for me. And the reasons are not what most people think: …
Summer is when Sydney really shines. As the weather gets warmer, organisers are busy doing their last minute preparations to the many festivals to come. Now is the time to really enjoy this harbour city. October Starting with Crave Sydney International Food Festival, which began earlier this month and will run until 31 October 2012. …
