There is something timeless about Greece and her welcoming people. Even as a citizen of a young country one can’t help but be caught up in the glory of classical Greek culture. The Greeks were the leaders of the ancient world, and were so admired that even their Roman conquerors protected the magnificent culture for several hundred years during the height of Roman rule. In fact the Greek speaking Byzantine empire of the east ensured the culture and traditions of Ancient Greece would stand the test of time. I arrived back in Athens on a flight from Santorini, and it was time for further exploration as the Greek travels continue. I have to say it was with some degree of…

A week spent on the Greek Islands is to experience a magical part of the world. I’ve had the chance to add my footsteps to the countless thousands who preceded me, to post this journal from the iconic Santorini Island. The middle of a northern hemisphere winter means ferry connections have been problematic, so I've just had the one overnight ferry trip from the port of Piraeus to Rhodes town. There's no choice but to use island hoppers of the aerial variety to keep moving, as time continues to march on during this trip. So let’s get to it… You haven’t lived, dear reader, until you’ve been shouted at in Greece! I may have felt like the Colossus of Rhodes…

To view the Parthenon spectacularly lit up at night is to bear witness to the glory of Ancient Greece, and the timeless temple perched atop the Acropolis is the best sight I've experienced in my life. I'm aware of course that Socrates could quickly change my mind with brilliantly constructed rhetorical questions, inevitably leading to a contradiction of my original premise. But hey, this is a democracy brother ... and I'm sticking to my guns! Athens in fact is the birthplace of democracy, where the ultimate gift was bestowed on mankind by the ancient citizens of this famous city. That is a very special gift for any country to lay claim to, and on behalf of you, I send my…

In the midst of the current maelstrom unravelling with alarming speed around the world lurks a seemingly unstoppable monster, who is gobbling up entire financial systems without mercy. However, it's with a sense of relief I note some things haven't changed, despite the ongoing mayhem taking place in global stock markets. Singapore is still the can do island of South East Asia, and having just completed a 24 hour stopover the little city-state provides a sense of certainty in an increasingly uncertain world. So despite all the chaos, the lovely reader, the effortless efficiency of the Singaporeans comes as a great relief, and helps reinforce the positive impression gained from a previous visit to this Asian tiger a decade ago.…

As I flew into Brunei for an overnight stopover, I got to thinking it's been far too long since the last visit to Asia, a region in the world that has long been a personal favourite of mine. But nothing lasts forever, and it's great to have an overnight stay in the Sultanate of Brunei. This small country on the north west coast of Borneo enjoys a very high standard of living, thanks to the oil and gas reserves located just offshore. Somehow it feels familiar to experience a taste of Asian culture again, and the opulence of the capital Bandar Seri Begawan after many years spent travelling in other continents. But let's get the journal up to date then,…

Liverpool has her ticket to ride after the city became the European capital of culture for 2008. Everything is going gangbusters for this historically important seafaring capital, which for two hundred years was at the centre of transatlantic shipping. Liverpool provided the last glimpse of Europe for many millions of people emigrating to the new world, as they sailed off to North America or Australia to start new lives. The level of construction at the site of Liverpool One is on a monumental scale, and the original catalyst for the rebirth of this magnificent city has been the world renowned renovations to Albert Dock, completed in the early 1980's. If you pay a visit to Albert Dock there's plenty to…

The Scottish Highlands are dead sexy, and at the heart of all this wild and sexy stuff is a 1,500 year old mystery, featuring a legendary monster who lurks within the depths of Loch Ness. We were at the end of day one on an awesome Scottish Highlands tour, and our group was looking forward to a boat trip on the most famous loch in the world, when we were told that our skipper had mysteriously vanished. Had this ever happened before, we asked our guide, and the answer was no. The following words may be of international significance, but the only plausible explanation is the skipper was taken by Nessie, thereby providing incontrovertible proof of the existence of the…

The occupation of Northern Ireland by British armed forces turned out to be the longest in British military history, and stretched over an unimagined period of thirty five years. What started as a limited intervention to quell unrest in Derry turned into an ongoing nightmare for all involved, whether your sympathies lie with the republican or the unionist cause. Sectarian violence exploded in Belfast during 1969, and made this city world famous for all the wrong reasons. The British completed a withdrawal of their forces in May 2007, and finally locals and travellers alike can pass unimpeded between the Republic in the south and Northern Ireland. Massive amounts of investment money have poured in from the EU, Britain and the…

The Galway races are one of the premier annual events in Ireland, and it's fortunate my visit coincides with the week long festival taking place in this city on the west coast of Ireland. The fillies are out for a canter on the streets, with several dutifully escorted by dapper gents. Everyone in town looks a million bucks, er ... except me that is, but nevertheless I'm happy to join in the fun. The actual racing is comprised solely of hurdling, and Irish stayers are world renowned jumpers. I was fortunate to be in the pub on thursday to watch the biggest race of the week over a pint of guinness. The last journal left off, dear reader, at the…

Belgium has proven to be quite the surprise packet, dear reader. The country is famed for the quality of the home made chocolates and beers, which guarantees a special place in the hearts of male and female travellers alike. The most impressive feature for us, however, is the beauty and elegance of the architecture as we strolled around the cities. It all adds up to a superb travel package, and Brussels is also the home of the European Union parliament ensuring the country is at the heart of what is happening within the EU. Belgium is a somewhat surprising detour, when the plan for this trip is to explore the UK and Ireland, but it's all good! Let's recap briefly,…