The A to Z Journey

Visiting every country in the world, one step at a time

Travel Blog

Kosovo: Where people’s spirit and warmth leave a lasting impression

"What do you know about Kosovo?" I remember asking a few friends before I set off. The responses were almost universally just that of the conflict in 1999 when Kosovo dominated the media. The Kosovo War was the first conflict I remember watching on the evening news, aged 10 when I secretly stayed up past bedtime with my grandfather. While its...

Monaco: Playground for the Rich and Famous?

"You're going to Monaco on a budget trip?" my friend asked incredulously. "Don't people just go there for yacht parties and to gamble in casinos? What on earth will you do?" There was still a chill in the air at 07:30AM as I stood on the promenade behind the Opera House, remembering this conversation. I regretted not bringing a thicker jacket - I...

A 9 hour transit in HK: Time to climb a mountain?

For whatever reason, sitting in the airport and reading during my 9 hour transit in Hong Kong wasn't as appealing as hiking up Lantau Peak and racing back against the clock to make my connecting flight.

Slovakia outside the capital

I've often found that to feel, see and hear the real beauty of a country, you need to leave its capital city. In Slovakia that's especially true given its incredible mountains, national parks and caves. So with the pull of Košice - Slovakia's second city in the east - I set off on the 5 hour train journey to see what adventures lay ahead.

36 hours in Bratislava

"Bratislava? That's the city they had those unbelievably cheap drinks in the movie EuroTrip, right?" a friend asked before I left. Having spent 2 days in the Slovak capital, I can safely say that while cheap drinks are abound in the city, it's a far cry from what the slightly dubious teen comedy portrayed it to be.

Slovenia: The Julian Alps and the Adriatic Coast

Slovenia surprised me in more ways than I expected. Whether it was strolling through the glacial landscapes by Lake Bohinj, or visiting the world's only underground post office in the Postojna Caves or sitting at dusk in the courtyard of a monastery by the Adriatic Sea as a violinist started to play, this country was a hidden gem for me.

The A to Z Journey