Author: Tom Rooney

The glory of Angkor

It’s such a thrill to be back in Cambodia after all these years. One noticeable change is the hostel chain Onederz which certainly wasn’t around twenty years ago. The first hostel n the chain opened in the capital in August 2013 and has since spread … …

A close call in Laos

I have fond memories of the inaugural trip to Laos twenty years ago. A big part of the travel experience is meeting wonderful travellers, two of whom I am still in touch with to this day. To be honest I almost lost my heart in … …

Amazing Thailand

Perhaps a mysterious gravitational force is what draws me inexorably back to amazing Thaiand. This beautiful country and her kind and gracious hosts never fail to disappoint, and there are always more beautiful islands to explore for the first time. After all, this is one … …

Famous islands for good reason!

Well then dear reader, it’s time to fly over Spain in order to continue the island hopping adventures. To be honest this is the first time I’ve gone from a destination in the Atlantic Ocean to arrive at an island in the Mediterranean Sea. How … …

The fabulous Macaronesian Islands

It was way back in 2019 while travelling in French Polynesia that a fellow traveller planted the seed of a visit to the Azores. Mind you, many years have passed since embarking on that incredible adventure, but like all committed travellers when a destination is … …

A return to beautiful Europe

It’s a privilege having the opportunity to revisit Europe after a long six-year hiatus. I had almost given up on the thought of coming again to explore the old continent, with all that has transpired in recent years. But here I am, flying with China … …

Exploring with conviction

The travel journal continues, dear reader, from where we left off on the beautiful island of Maafushi. I’m now in the third week of my travels in this intriguing country. Maldives consists of a series of atolls just south of Sri Lanka and close to … …

The fabulous Maldives

It’s been five long years since my last opportunity to add to the visited countries tally. After such a long time without a new travel experience, I got to thinking the chosen destination deserves to be somewhere special. So then, which country remains at the … …

Palawan … a dream come true

Well, here I am in Palawan for an inaugural visit after all these years, it truly is a dream come true. This marvelous destination is one of the most sought-after places to visit in the world, and I’m absolutely thrilled to be here. Although it … …