Richard and Miranda, Author at A bear and a pig

In Armenia

How useful is Russian in the Caucasus?

September 9, 2018 No Comments

Russian in the Caucasus The Caucasus is one of the most linguistically diverse regions on earth. However from the mid to late 1800’s all the way through to 1991 Russian became a language that initially infiltrated and then completely took over the region when Lenin and his Bolshevik buddies put the Soviet Union together. Despite the Soviet Union’s collapse, ties with the west and the influx of English, Russian still remains a very useful language in the region. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have had varying relationships with mother Russia. After Russian intervention in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Georgia is pulling away from its former master with aspirations of joining the European Union. Armenia retains reasonably good relations with Russia, whilst at the same time balancing warm ties with the United States, Iran and China. Azerbaijan is now much closer to Turkey…

In Armenia

Driving in Georgia and Armenia – Your ultimate guide

August 30, 2018 5 Comments

Driving In Georgia And Armenia – The Road Trip Of A Lifetime! Doing a road trip through Georgia and Armenia has definitely been one of our travel highlights. As tourism to the Caucasus grows it is only natural that more and more travellers will take the option of self drive trips through this fascinating region of the world. Driving in Georgia and Armenia gives you the freedom to explore areas that would otherwise be unaccessible. Naturally there are challenges that come with doing this however driving in both countries is generally very safe. Driving in both Georgia and Armenia may seem like a crazy idea initially. However with reliable car rental services springing up in Tbilisi and Yerevan it is becoming more and more accessible.Take advantage of it now! The main thing you need to be aware of the quality of the roads and the occasional speeding driver. Is it…

In Chinese Social Media

Not Getting Pregnant

August 29, 2018 No Comments

Having a child is central to Chinese culture with newly weds often under intense pressure to pop out a baby as soon as they are married. However one couple from Guiyang in Guizhou province were having real difficulties conceiving. The young couple had been married for 4 years and for the majority of their married life they had desperately tried to conceive. This was in-spite of the fact that love making was very painful for the wife. Finally after 4 unsuccessful years of trying they decided to go to the hospital to check if there was a reason why they couldn’t get pregnant. The doctor took the wife away first as he was naturally concerned at the pain she was experiencing during sex. Initially the doctor believed she could have a sexually transmitted disease or another serious issue. It was here he discovered that she was a virgin. However the…

In Japan

What to do in Hiroshima and Miyajima

August 28, 2018 No Comments

Welcome to Hiroshima and Miyajima Hiroshima and Miyajima go together like sushi and wasabi. Most people that visit Hiroshima will combine it with a visit to the beautiful island of Miyajima. Most people will stay in Hiroshima and visit Miyajima as a day trip. There are hotels and guesthouses on Miyajima, however they are very expensive, and you it is possible to see everything in a day. Hiroshima is very well connected to the rest of Japan with direct trains from Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka. Most people are will come by train, and we have a handy section on JR passes in our article on budgeting in Japan. However if like us you flew in, we flew down from Sapporo having spent two weeks in beautiful Hokkaido, do be aware that the airport is a 40 minute bus trip from Hiroshima. Buses are very regular and they will drop you…

In Japan

Visiting the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks

August 26, 2018 No Comments

Two of Hokkaido’s most beautiful National Parks Hokkaido is Japans last wilderness, here you will find dramatic mountain peaks, rugged coastline and maybe the odd higuma (brown bear). Very few people make it this far north, which is a blessing for those that do. Offering some of Japan’s most spectacular scenery the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks are well worth the time and effort. Although this article is full of great photos, we have another article of photos from Hokkaido. Getting There and Getting Around Renting a car is the best way to get around Hokkaido. The JR network, whilst being extremely reliable does not cover the entire island. Also public transport in and around the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks is very limited. The size of both National Parks also contributes to the necessity of a car. We have an article on renting a car in Japan with all…

In Food

What to eat in Georgia – Some of our favourites

August 15, 2018 No Comments

What to eat in Georgia Georgian cuisine relies heavily on meat, bread, cheese and root vegetables. However in spite of this rather simplistic description you will find a wide variety of flavours that create sumptuous dishes. Knowing what to eat in Georgia can be the difference between a good trip and great trip. Do be aware than many of these dishes change from region to region but the vast majority can be found almost anywhere. Where to get restaurant recommendations Good restaurants are easy to find. Every guesthouse or airbnb we stayed at was able to recommend a couple of fantastic eateries. Alternatively, if a place is full of locals and doesn’t have a huge sign outside saying “we have English menu” there is a good chance you’re onto a winner. English menus, whilst being reasonably common are certainly not always a given. For more information on potential language barriers…

In Fiji

Diving on the Rainbow Reef

August 11, 2018 2 Comments

The rainbow reef in between the islands of Taveuni and Vanua Levu is considered to be one of the best soft coral dive spots on the planet. Even with our rather limited diving experience we would be hard pushed to disagree. Which island is best? If you wish to dive from Vanua Levu you will need to fly to Savu Savu directly. From here it is then a long bus ride to the resorts that are on close to the reef. Staying in Savu Savu means long boat trips out the reef itself. I dived around Savu Savu back in 2008 and whilst the diving was very good it was not at the level of the rainbow reef in my opinion. If you are planning on staying in Savu Savu check with dive operators first if they do go out to the rainbow reef. We chose to fly to Taveuni…

In Armenia

Exploring some of the best monasteries in Armenia

August 7, 2018 No Comments

Best Monasteries in Armenia As the first country to adopt Christianity as its national religion it is unsurprising that Armenia is littered with stunning monasteries; many dating from 1000AD. We were lucky enough to visit some of the best and most famous monasteries in Armenia. Getting Around Visiting some of Armenia’s most spectacular monasteries is much easier if you have your own set of wheels. There are a number of tours and private taxis making these sacred sites accessible. However these tours can be quite expensive and can limit the time you have to explore. We rented our car with travelcar.com and if you would like more information about the 18 day road trip we took across Georgia and Armenia please click here. As a quick note, driving in Armenia can be a daunting experience at times as you deal with poor roads and erratic driving from the locals, but…

In Uzbekistan

Exploring the Aral Sea – What to see and do

August 7, 2018 No Comments

Welcome to the Aral Sea It has been called one of the greatest man made disasters in history. The Aral Sea was once the 4th largest lake in the world and home to a thriving fishing industry. An industry of such importance that it apparently provided all of the canned fish for the red army as they fought in World War 2. However it is now around 10% of its original size and the only evidence of a fishing industry is the rusting ships on seabed in Moynaq. Getting to the Aral Sea is not easy. The nearest major town is the capital of Karakalpakstan, Nukus. A town of classic Soviet design, Nukus feels like the end of the line. Wide streets lined with buildings that hark back to the glory days of the Soviet Union. It is from here that all Aral Sea tours depart. Therefore getting to this…

In New Zealand

A Few Great Hikes in New Zealand

July 8, 2018 No Comments

New Zealand is a country of outstanding natural beauty, friendly people and activities galore. You could be there for years (not necessarily a bad thing) trying to do everything. Hiking, or tramping as it’s called in New Zealand is popular and accessible almost everywhere. The 9 great hikes get a lot of attention from books, blogs and guides, but there are hundreds of other excellent hikes all over the north and south island. I-sites as well as DOC (Department of Conservation) information centres are usually good places to pick up information on local walking routes. Naturally New Zealand’s National Parks are full of excellent trails that range from short and easy to challenging multi day treks. Particular favourites of ours were the Tongiriro, Abel Tasman, Aoraki and Arthurs Pass National Park. Below are a few of our favourite hikes from our 5 1/2 week trip. Bay of Islands: There…

In Sri Lanka

Beach Hopping in Southern Sri Lanka

July 7, 2018 No Comments

Beach Hopping in Southern Sri Lanka Southern Sri Lanka has been a mainstay for holiday makers for years. Despite its popularity there are still a few hidden gems along this stunning coast line. We stayed in Marakolliya, Hiriketiya, Mirissa and Delawella moving in that same direction, west to east. Any other beaches we visited we did so by either renting a scooter or taking a tuk tuk. We spent 10 days beach hopping along Sri Lankas southern coastline and below are all of the beaches we visited with a rundown of the things we liked and didn’t like. Marakolliya Located 2.5 hours south of Udawalawe Marakoliya is a stunning expanse of sand close to Tangalle. Many travelers end up in Tangalle for couple of days before heading on to some of the more popular beaches along the coast. Due to the fact that it is bypassed by the majority this…

In Japan

What to do in Kyoto

June 7, 2018 No Comments

Welcome to Kyoto Another of Japan’s ancient capitals. Blessed with some of the countries most stunning temples, kimono wearing locals and tourists and wonderful cuisine, it is no wonder that Kyoto is a popular place for anyone visiting or living in Japan. Tourist numbers to Kyoto are growing at an ever increasing rate. As a result this can feel like the city is swamped by visitors. Sadly the large numbers of tourists are causing problems. Follow the customs and rules according to the signs that are displayed and if you’re not sure ask. Sadly when we visited we saw a lot of tourists unable or unwilling to do this. A crying shame in one of Japan’s most beautiful cities. We have a “know before you go” article on Japan, with a few additional tips on Kyoto for you to check out! Getting There and Away Kyoto is well serviced by…