Radisson Blu and Cebu City

Last week, I found myself back in Cebu, almost a full year since my last visit, when I went swimming with the whale sharks; an amazing experience! On this occasion, I returned to the Radisson Blu and spent 6 very enjoyable nights there, taking in as much as I could from what was on offer.

Fuji Five Lakes and Hakone

Another work trip to Japan, one of my favourite countries in the world! Once the work was over and done, my fiancée flew in to meet me at Narita airport. We had arranged a couple of nights in the Mt. Fuji area; neither of us had seen Fuji-san in all its glory before, so this was a bit exciting!

Matt and Mum Do Ireland, Part 9

PART NINE: The Heart and Soul of The Republic

2016-04-05 to 2016-04-09

Dublin's Spire reaches to the heavens.

Well, it had been a pretty full on five weeks, touring around Ireland and Scotland. And what better place to finish off for the last few days than in the well-known capital of the Republic of Ireland: a city with a history almost as long as Ireland itself, Dublin.

Matt and Mum Do Scotland, Part 3

PART THREE: In The Burgh Of Ed

2016-04-01 to 2016-04-04

Edinburgh Airport.

To start off April, we had a nice long drive planned out. Our time in the Speyside was done, and we had one more stop in Scotland before heading back across to the Emerald Isle. A reverse sea-change took us from rolling hills and farmland back down to civilisation, to the “Inspiring Capital” of Edinburgh.

Matt and Mum Do Scotland, Part 1

PART ONE: Welcome To Scotchland!

2016-03-25 to 2016-03-28

View over Loch Duich from Shiel Bridge.

After four weeks touring around Ireland, both the Republic and Northern, it was time for a detour across the Irish Sea to visit the Scots. I'd never been to Scotland before, so this was a new and exciting experience for me. We were hoping the rain, for which Scotland is so famous, would be kind to us and not be too frequent!

Matt and Mum Do Ireland, Part 8

PART EIGHT: Crossing The North

2016-03-22 to 2016-03-24

The Giant's Causeway.

Our final stop on our circumnavigation of Ireland (except for the return to Dublin at the very end) was the capital of the North: Belfast. A city with a proud history in manufacturing – specifically ships – it has also seen its share of problems over past few decades. While Derry had Bloody Sunday, Belfast saw many associated issues to do with the Troubles. But since the mid-1990s, it has slowly rebuilt itself through investment and opportunity to become the bustling hub it is today.

Matt and Mum Do Ireland, Part 7

PART SEVEN: Donegal, Derry & the Downtrodden

2016-03-19 to 2016-03-21

Stunning mural in the Bog Side of Derry.

Bidding Galway a sad farewell, we piled back into our little Škoda to continue on with the journey. It had been a great couple of days full of scenery, good food and fantastic traditional music; something of which we had certainly had our fill as we circumnavigated the Republic. This had also been our last stopping point within the Republic, as we left from Galway to drive all the way up to Londonderry, crossing the border into the UK.