Author Archives: Chris Desmond

Bahrain, Manama, 23-29 November 2012

Posted on Thursday, 29-November-2012 by Chris Desmond

I arrived in Bahrain and everything was closed for the first 3 days, Muharram. So I wandered the streets some of which had crowds dressed in black, with people cutting themselves up and bleeding all over their white robes, I … Continue reading →

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Qatar, Doha, 17-23 November 2012

Posted on Friday, 23-November-2012 by Chris Desmond

Qatar, Doha, 17-23 November 2012 The time zone has gone backwards another hour so it gets dark at 1730 and once the sun goes down it gets cold. There is always a breeze blowing which keeps things pleasant during the … Continue reading →

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Oman, Muscat, 10-16 November 2012

Posted on Friday, 16-November-2012 by Chris Desmond

Oman, the home of Frankincense, its tree sap and has been traded for over 5000 years. Very different from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, its mountainous and with its commanding position on the Strait of Hormuz it has been a cross … Continue reading →

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United Arab Emirates, Dubai, January 2011 & November 2012.

Posted on Tuesday, 13-November-2012 by Chris Desmond

Dubai is bigger than Abu Dhabi and the infrastructure is state of the art. The Metro is one of the best, driverless trains, spotlessly clean and cheap. Again it is populated by Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos, if you see a … Continue reading →

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United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, 1-5 Nov 2012

Posted on Monday, 5-November-2012 by Chris Desmond

Abu Dhabi, big modern city with 8 lane roads and not a lot of traffic on them, no traffic jams here. There are 1.5 million men and 0.6 million women in this Emirate, 21% locals and 79% Immigrant workers mainly … Continue reading →

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Seychelles, Mahe, 25-31 Oct 2012

Posted on Wednesday, 31-October-2012 by Chris Desmond

Home of the Coco de Mer (it’s the biggest seed on the planet, looks like 2 coconuts stuck together) Another idyllic tropical island paradise, any more of this and I could develop an allergy to City air. The people here … Continue reading →

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Mauritius, Mahebourg, 16-25 October 2012

Posted on Thursday, 25-October-2012 by Chris Desmond

Home of the Dodo (it’s an extinct bird) A slightly bigger dot in the southern Indian ocean, roughly 40×50 km, population 1.3 million, 80% Indian origin, 20% African, European and Chinese origin. Being further south means it’s a bit cooler … Continue reading →

Posted in Mauritius | Tagged | 2 Comments

Maldives, Male, 30 Sept – 7 Oct 2012

Posted on Sunday, 7-October-2012 by Chris Desmond

The Maldives looks pretty from the air, the first thing you see at the airport are signs which say among other things “No Dogs”, No Pork” and “No Alcohol”. Resorts are exempt from the Alcohol ban, if you try and … Continue reading →

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Sri Lanka, Galle, 29 Sep 2012

Posted on Saturday, 29-September-2012 by Chris Desmond

Last day in Sri Lanka, drove from Galle to the Colombo Airport stopping at the Galle Fort and a Turtle Hatchery. At the Hatchery they collect eggs from the beach before they get stolen, rebury them in the hatchery, wait … Continue reading →

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Sri Lanka, Tissamaharama and Galle, 27-28 Sep 2012

Posted on Friday, 28-September-2012 by Chris Desmond

Descended from Nuwara Eliya 2000m to sea level at Tissamaharama in the south east where you have the famous Yala National Park. From lush green mountains to a dry flat landscape by the ocean. Went on a Yala Park Safari … Continue reading →

Posted in Sri Lanka | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments