Bako National Park is one of the best places in Sarawak to see rainforest animals in their natural habitat. The park touches the ocean and is famous for its spectacular coastal scenery, only 37 km away from downtown Kuching. Established in 1957, Bako is the oldest national park in Sarawak covering an area of 2,742…
After a sumptuous breakfast at the Waterfront Hotel, we explored Kuching on foot with our excellent local guide from Wendy Wu Tours. We visited China Town, Gambier Street, a Malay Village on the north bank of the Sarawak River, Waterfront, Spice markets and Borneo Cultures Museum. Kuching was founded by the representative of the Sultan…
Following six weeks in Sri Lanka in February and March 2026, we flew to Borneo to explore Sarawak over two weeks with Wendy Wu Tours. Borneo, the world’s third-largest island, surpassed in size by only Greenland and New Guinea, is renowned for its ancient rainforests, immense biodiversity, and unique wildlife. The island is shared by Indonesia (Kalimantan), Malaysia…
After very pleasant six days at Exotica Bungalows at Hikkaduwa, we came to the Red Parrot Beach ‘Villa’ at Ambalangoda for five nights of rest and relaxation. The little Air B&B villa is right on the beach off the busy Colombo Road and has an open varanda, sitting and dinning room, a well equipped kitchen,…
The car from Exotica Bungalows picked us up in Colombo and drove us to the delightful little hotel by the sea at Hikkaduwa – a vibrant, tourist-friendly coastal town in southwestern Sri Lanka, renowned for its golden beaches, bustling nightlife, and excellent surfing (especially from November to April). Located about Located about 100km south of Colombo, it is a…
A walk in the Kleinbottwar vineyards Kleinbottwar village in the Württemburg wine region Germany is known principally for wines from the Riesling grape. There are three adjoining Grosse Lage – classified vineyards on a southwest- and south-facing hillside to the northeast of the village, on low-yielding, stony Keuper soils. In the middle of the three, Süssmund (“Sweetmouth”, referring to…
We drove to Meknes from Rabat after breakfast. The drive, initially through oak forests, took two hours and thirty minutes. Mekenes is one of the most fertile areas of Morocco and is the principal wine region of the country. Mild temperatures, sunshine, moderate rainfall and sandy clay-limestone soils create ideal conditions for growing grapes. The…
We left Marrakesh after breakfast and drove 245 kms. on the A3 to Casablanca and then to Rabat. We visited the Hassan II Mosque and its ablutions hall in Casablanca with an excellent English-speaking local guide. The mosque is one of the largest in the world and sits on an outcrop jutting over the ocean.…
In March 2025, we visited Morocco for the first time, and spent two-weeks on an extensive tour with Exodus Adventure Holidays. That Sunday morning, Freedom Airport Taxis took us to Leeds/Bradford Airport from Harrogate to catch the 07.25 am Ryanair flight to Menara Airport in Marrakesh. It is the only direct flight from Leeds/Bradford to…
Early in April, we were delighted to accept an invitation from John Fells & Sons to visit Hambledon Vineyard for a tasting. We drove to London, took the train to Petersfield and a taxi to the vineyard. We could see the South Downs ancient chalky soil as we neared Hambledon. The welcome at the winery…
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