Bangalore has a slight traffic problem. The city has turned into an Indian powerhouse, and is the hub of the IT and telcoms explosion that is driving unprecedented growth in southern India. However, I'm sure the founding fathers never imagined their native town would become a major city on the subcontinent. As such, the streets of Bangalore weren't designed on a grid, and the city centre is a mishmash of one way streets that wend their way around town like a sinuous snake. The traffic is the worst I've experienced in India, and the inevitable result of the chaos makes for some prodigious traffic jams. So what does an Indian do when their car or bike has their progress impeded,…

Goa is the richest state in the mighty country of India. This tourist mecca attracts foreigners in their millions, who enjoy the relaxed living and beach life the West Indian state is famed for. The peak season is from November to January, where the party seriously rocks! After arriving in Goa it's hard to believe that one is still in India as the maddening crowds, filth and squalor that can be so overwhelming at times in North India are suddenly a thing of the past. The state was conquered and ruled by the Portugese for 450 years, and only annexed by India in 1961. As such there is a discernable European feel to visiting, and the Goans are hospitable hosts…

So what about India, then? I suppose I should squeeze her in on my dance card, and not before time to be honest. Indira Gandhi once said of Mother India she cannot understand how one can be an Indian and not be proud. It's great to finally arrive in Incredible India; a country that will shock, titillate, enthral and enrage in equal measure. To gain an understanding of India one must compress the concept of a close call by a factor of ten. Two guys being knocked by a bus, but not knocked down. A guy being sideswiped by a car's side mirror, a guy having his foot run over by a motorbike. There's no real harm done, but that's…

If I can't even rack up the almost mandatory fifteen minutes of fame, does being in close proximity to someone famous count? While at Bangkok airport during a stopover, the passengers waiting to board the flight to Dhaka were in awe of a Bengali, and I was more than curious as to who he was. It seemed everyone wanted to shake the gent's hand and pose for a photo, and he was extraordinarily gracious with his time. There was such reverence on display, surely he couldn't be a politician! After arriving in Dhaka I found out from the hotel owner it was Dr Muhammad Yunus. I described the scene in Bangkok and she pointed to the map of Bangladesh on…

Sigiriya Rock Citadel is a world heritage listed site in central Sri Lanka. The imposing rock structure is surrounded by a crocodile infested moat, and the ruins and artwork at the summit of the rock date back to the 5th Century AD. There are 1600 steps to tackle in the hour long climb to the summit, in a part of Sri Lanka that is fiercely hot. There is the added concern of giant wasps that are ready to attack if disturbed by tourists. However, the views of the ruins and the surrounding countryside from the summit are absolutely magic, and rank amongst the premier tourist experiences I've been privileged to enjoy. Day trips to Sigiriya can be organised out of…

I've just had a startling revelation, dear reader. It's suddenly dawned on me this part of the world is absolutely teeming with people. Wherever you go in Sri Lanka the situation is the same, it's a case of people here, people there, there are people everywhere! While at a bus stop in Colombo I stuck my arm out to hail a bus, and accidentally stiff armed a guy behind me who just happened to be walking by. And if you change direction while walking on the side of the road, you'll more than likely end up with a tuk tuk up your bum. However, us human beings are adaptable creatures, and as I enjoy my second week in the country…

I'm delighted to greet you from Colombo, the lovely reader, as I commence five weeks of travel on the Indian subcontinent. I've long been told this part of the world can be an assault on the senses, and my introduction came barely five minutes from the airport when I was shocked to witness a dead body lying on the road. There were plenty of cops on the scene, but they weren't attending to the body as it was clearly too late. His limbs splayed at an impossible angle, the poor man's life ended after a moment of horrifying impact with a vehicle. Sri Lanka is one of the most densely populated areas on earth, and in a high speed clash…

The historical figure Vlad the Impaler was a prince from Wallachia in the 15th century, and gained a reputation as the stuff of nightmares for his hideous method of executions. He was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's famous novel Dracula set in Transylvania. The book features terrifying creatures of the night, and continues to fascinate readers and moviegoers all over the world. In fact, the very thought of a vampire swooping down to sink their fangs into the tender skin of my neck leaves me close to panic. So it was with some degree of trepidation that our hostel group headed out to Transylvania, a mere two and a half hours on the train from Bucharest. We drew some comfort…

For those about to rock, Bulgaria salutes you! As a boy who loves rock and roll I think I've just about died and gone to heaven in Sofia. The country has a rich history stretching back many centuries but one thing is clear as soon as you arrrive ... they love to rock! From the first taxi ride, and in the hostel, and on to the clubs; it's 100% ear splitting, bone jarring, head banging rock and roll that's guaranteed to get the blood pumping. Everyone seems to know the words to the classics, and it's like being in the middle of a neverending rock concert. My first night started with stimulating conversation in the company of a group of…

Whether his intention was to enhance his own personal glory, or the glory of the party, or perish the thought even the glory of the Romanian people; Ceausescu left the capital city of Romania a far different place than it was before he came to power. Bucharest was at the centre of his grand obsession to outdo the French, with it's main boulevard built slightly larger than the Champs D'Elysees, and the Arch of Triumph also larger than the famous Paris attraction. The sheer scale of the work recently undertaken in Bucharest may never be matched in Europe, and could only have occurred under a communist dictator. Sixty thousand houses were flattened and their tenants evicted to clear the land…