• Panama City bus

  • UNESCO old town cathedral

  • Portobelo Spanish Fort

  • Frank Gehry designed Natural History Museum

  • UNESCO site Society of Jesus, Casco Viejo

  • Black Jesus in Portobelo

Panama City – a cultural cocktail of contrasts

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

After a three-day visit to Panama City, I can confirm that Panama is not just about the Canal!  Panama City is the most cosmopolitan capital in Central America where many

  • Victoria Memorial

  • Artisan making clay statues in Potters Lane

  • Flower market in Kolkata

  • Sunset over Hooghly River

  • Bath time by the Hooghly River

  • Waiting for the train

  • Waiting for the next ride

Kolkata – India’s second biggest city

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Kolkata is very loud and very busy and some parts (but not all) are dirty. It could be best described as chaotic, but its utterly fascinating and if opening your mind

  • Ancient city of Petra

  • Camels in Jordan

  • Cool off in the pool

  • This might be your camel

  • Desert sunset

  • Brett Goulston and guides in Jordan

  • Ready for your camel ride?

Two of the best in Jordan

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Often it’s a country’s capital city that offers a tourist the best things to see and do with the most important places of interest usually located there. This is not

  • Ovoo - made up of rocks and blue ribbons

  • Flaming Cliffs Mongolia

  • Yol Valley frozen river

  • Brod standing on frozen river with ovoo behind

  • Ovoo looking across Flaming Cliffs

Sacred Ovoo’s of Mongolia

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

According to Wiktionary an Ovoo is a shamanistic cairn found in Mongolia, usually made from rocks or wood and found on or around mountains.  These large piles are found on mountain

  • Rhino out in the open grass

  • On safari in Kazaringa

  • Sunrise over Kazaringa National Park

  • Salient features of Kazaringa

  • Up close to one horned rhino

  • Early morning elephant safari

  • Sneaking up on a rhino

  • Hunting leopards in Kazaringa

  • Mother and baby rhino

Kaziranga National Park – Assam, North East India – UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

The rays of the early morning sun bounced off the water drops on the giant elephant grass as our mahout steered his 37-year-old elephant on our 5.00am morning safari. The

  • Bonifacio Citadel

  • Wonderful Corsican cheese

  • Bonifacio port and marina

  • Kings Aragon Steps

  • Seagull and the cliffs of Bonifacio

  • Bonifacio atop its Limestone promontory

  • Azure blue water of Corsica

  • Corsican olives anyone?

  • Meet the locals

  • Dramatic face of Bonicacio

  • Stunning Corsican cove

Bonifacio – Corsica – A wonder to behold

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

One of our best experiences was a day trip from St Teresa di Gallura on the northern tip of Sardinia on a ferry to Corsica.  Bonifacio  is a town on the

  • Japanese geisha girl

  • Sado Island taiko drumming

  • Anyone for squid

  • Japanese shrine

  • Quaint wooden buildings

  • Taiko Centre for a hands-on drumming experience

  • Cherry blossoms in the spring

  • Spring in Japan

  • Blue Dot Travel clients learning to drum

  • Japanese girls in traditional dress

  • Bamboo forest in Japan

Sado Island – Japan’s most precious gem

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Sado Island, one of Japan’s smaller islands, is rarely visited by the European Tourist. In fact, it’s very difficult to find anyone – even in the hotels – who speak

  • Buddhist statue in ancient city of Polonnaruwa

  • Sigirya an ancient rock fortress

  • Warthogs on parade

  • Deliveroo Sri Lanka style

  • Elephant safari in Sri Lanka

  • Crocodile alert

  • Sigiriya fresco wall paintings

  • Leopard up a tree in Sri Lanka

  • Road side fruit stall

  • Sail away from Negombo Beach

  • Ceylon spotted deer

Sri Lanka

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

It’s no wonder that Lonely Planet recently named this island-nation the “hottest destination on the planet to visit”. And they weren’t talking about the weather! There are so many reasons

  • Lip plates worn by Mursi tribe

  • Hamar women in traditional clothes

  • Ritual face painting of Hamar boys

  • Typical houses made from acacia wood

  • Modern take on Hamar tribe boys gear

  • Hamar women at market

  • Karo men like to dress up

  • Young Hamar man in traditional costume

  • Painted face of Hamar boy

The Tribes of the Omo Valley – Ethiopia

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

The Omo Valley, in the remote south-west of Ethiopia, is a vast river basin fringed in the far distance by mountains. Life here has largely stood still.  No Ethiopia trip is

  • Burchell's zebra

  • Lioness kicks back and relaxes

  • Small ears ... small eyes ... big mouths!

  • Time to head home late in the day

  • Brett & Holly Goulston ... cute hats!

  • Tranquil lands provide sanctuary to much wildlife

  • Baby elephant after its bath

  • Wildlife is abundant and in close range

Botswana – It’s as good as it sounds

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Just saying this country makes you feel like you are on an exotic safari! Recently I camped in Botswana with my teenage daughter. It was a never-to-be-repeated daddy/daughter experience. There

  • Beautiful Split Harbour

  • Harbour of Hvar Island

  • Rooftops from Dubrovnik wall

  • Walls of Dubrovnik

  • Terracotta roof tops

  • View from Castle Hvar

  • Dubrovnik Church Tower

  • Dubrovnik Harbour

  • View from Hvar Castle

Croatia with its picture perfect coastal towns

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Croatia could be described as the “new” Italy for Australian travellers. The people, the pace of life and the food are considered “similar but different”.  If you haven’t visited

  • Gorilla eating tree bark

  • Walking to find the gorillas

  • Two juvenile gorillas

  • Brett and Kate ready for ultimate gorilla experience

  • Magnificent siverback gorilla

  • Mother and baby gorilla

  • Tranquil Uganda landscape

Trekking with the Gorillas in Uganda

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

There are just 880 mountain gorillas left in the wild. They exist in three countries; The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, has over 400 living in the mountains, almost half

  • You may be lucky to see a tiger in Southern India

  • Bath time by the river

  • Enjoy House a boat experience on the tranquil backwaters of Kerala

  • Boatman with bamboo pole

  • Everyday life along the river

  • Kerala houseboat

  • Local transport on Kerala backwaters

  • Back waters of Kerala

House Boating on the backwaters of Kerala

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

The South of India around the Kerala Backwaters, could not be more of a contrast to the North. If your view of the North conjures up images of overcrowding, huge

  • Ancient citadel - Tower of David

  • Ultra orthodox children

  • Israel's Negev desert is magic

  • Dinner Tel Aviv style

  • The Bell Caves have a unique sound

  • Explore the landscape of the Negev Desert on camel

  • The Dead Sea - lowest point on earth

  • Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

  • Palestinian man enjoying his lunch

  • Fascinating ancient ruins of Beit She'an

Why you simply must visit Israel

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Israel has many unofficial names including The Jewish State, The Promised Land and the Land of Milk and Honey. But it could also be called Iswowl! There is so much

  • The famous Bikini Girls mosaic

  • Images from the Great Hunt

  • Inside Villa Romana

  • Bringing back the wild boar

  • Gentlemen hunting scene

  • The cheeky embrace

  • Elephant boarding a boat

  • Fishing from a boat

  • Lion kill mosaic

  • Most likely created by north African craftsmen

Villa Romana del Casale – Wonders of Sicily

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

A major highlight of our visit to Sicily was Villa Romana del Casale, a Roman Villa built in the first quarter of the 4th century and located about 3km outside the

  • The origin of nuraghes is uncertain

  • Nuraghes from prehistoric Sardinian culture

  • Each nuraghe is different from the other

  • Each nuraghe contains hundred of stones

  • Stand only by virtue of the weight of the stones

  • Large stones on the base of nuraghe

Nuraghes from prehistoric Sardinian culture

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

No one can visit Sardinia without becoming aware of the island’s ancient Nuraghes, built between 1500-1200 BC. They are Bronze Age circular towers built with local rock without mortar of

  • Iranian women

  • Ancient city of Bishapur

  • Beautiful places to visit in Iran

  • Dried herbs used in Persian cuisine

  • Friendly locals in Iran

  • Turquoise tiles of Iran

  • Persian gardens

  • Beautiful eggplants for sale

  • Rolling dough for dinner

  • Architectural columns with blue tiles

  • Want to buy a carpet?

Iran – Gem of the Middle East

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Often when you mention to a friend or family member that you plan to tour Iran or have an interest to, it is often met with a question of “Why?”

  • Local fishing boats

  • Dried fish at the market

  • Colourful sign

  • Fresh produce at the markets

  • Beautiful old wooden buildings

  • Beautifully restored building

  • Locals going to work

Paramaribo, Suriname

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

I’m on a research trip with my wife Kate, doing our homework for a tour to what is collectively knows as The Guianas. We travel from Guyana to Suriname, flying into the

  • One of the Naga chiefs

  • Naga tribes related to SE Asian people

  • Tribal dress accessories

  • Tribes at the Hornbill Festival

  • Naga tribe ladies

  • Naga tribesman

  • Red is the dominant colour of Naga tribes

  • Tribal dancers

  • Cowrie shells used for decoration

Hornbill Festival, North East India

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Located in north-east India and bordering Myanmar (Burma), the state of Nagaland is one of the last frontiers of India and is home to sixteen major Naga tribes – the

  • Timkat Festival unfolds

  • High priests carrying the church Tabots

  • Deacons in a rhythmic dance

  • Orthodox Christian priests bless the water

  • Christians showered with blessed water

  • Annual site of Timkat in Lalibella

The Festival of Timkat

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

The Timkat Festival is a highlight of any visit to Ethiopia. Celebrating the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, it is one of the most important religious events in the Ethiopian

  • The Big Tsingy

  • One of the many lemurs

  • Crossing the suspension bridge

  • At the river crossing

  • Rafts are pulled across the river

  • Ring-tailed Mongoose

  • Climbing up through the gorge

  • Tsiribihina River crossing

  • Everyday tasks along the river

  • Using carabiners to hook on and off

  • Crossing suspension bridgs

  • River crossings on the way

The Big Tsingy – Madagascar

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

The highlight for many of us on our Madagascar trip has been the trip to the Big Tsingy. Just getting there is an adventure! After passing through ancient baobab forests we finally

  • Three Brothers rock

  • Valley of the Geysers

  • Native wildflowers

  • View from your helicopter

  • Cute ground squirrel

  • Brown bear looking for salmon

  • Fishing for salmon in Kamchatka

  • Brett hiking up Mutnovsky Volcano

  • Looking for wildlife

The wilds of Kamchatka in Far East Russia

Posted on by Joanne Coughlan

Not many people know where Kamchatka is. And not many people can pronounce it, let alone spell it. For the record… it’s a peninsular at the southern end of Siberia,

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