Nauru - the Country with the mostest, and the leastest

In 1968 Nauru was the world’s wealthiest country per capita. It was all due to phosphate, droppings of marine birds reacting with the coral limestone. Ros Freeman discovers the fascinating history of this Pacific micronation.

Nauru is a nation of superlatives. It’s the world’s least visited country. Once it was the world’s wealthiest country per capita. It has the highest proportion of smokers. There is no tax. How the country exists is a miracle. A limestone island in the middle of the Pacific, it has no fresh water. No crops grow on Nauru. However, there are plenty of fish. The name Nauru means ‘I go to the beach’. Perhaps it was the word uttered when a hapless boatman came ashore and asked the question ‘What is the name of this island?’ Nauru!

South Africa’s Blue Train - it’s the Ritz on Rails

It's one of the world's most famous luxury train journeys offering a combination of unsurpassed luxury travel, five star-accommodation, fine cuisine & wine, personalised butler service and breathtaking views of the countryside. All aboard!

You are on the shortest tour in Africa,” John, our megaphone-mouthed, trumpet-wielding guide informs us, “the bus will turn left, because it cannot turn right!”

Cruising New Zealand with HAL Noordam - Art Deco Napier

Cruising in New Zealand is an often-overlooked pleasure. But it is also a reminder of past events.

 It was the first day of school for little 5-year-old Gordon Vogtherr and a day he’ll never forget as long as he lived.

Vietnam Revisted

Nearly 25 years ago, our inveterate correspondent, Ros Freeman, took a trip with her pal to the once forbidden land of Vietnam. Now she's back to relive some of those memories.

After being in Hanoi for 12 hours, I decided to face my fears. I’d put it off as long as I could, but it was inevitable; at some stage I’d have to cross the road. Memories of my first Vietnamese road-crossing 24 years ago still haunt me. Midway through crossing the road, a pillion passenger grabbed my handbag. Fortunately, I was grabbing harder. These days there are traffic lights and, amazingly, the traffic actually stops. Mostly.

Beyond Barcelona: A delicious madness

Catalonia’s capital, Barcelona, is one of the world’s flashpoints for the so-called overtourism phenomenon, but just a short ride by fast train will see you in delightful Girona - or its famous neighbour, Figueres.

Travel Flashback: True grit in big cities

Seen Slumdog Millionaire yet? The much-acclaimed movie, directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle, is a gem set in the slums of India. It intersperses shots of India’s tourism icon, the Taj Mahal, with seamy, steamy sections of India’s cities that tourism promoters generally prefer to keep out of the limelight. Slumdog Millionaire also gives insights into India’s underworld, the abode of ‘dacoits’ (as India terms armed bandits), organisers of professional begging rings and other exotic lowlife.

Travel Flashback: Twitter travel freebies beat media munching

An Englishman has flitted his way around the world, flying top airlines and rubbing shoulders with scintillating people, for practically nothing. He used the social media phenomenon Twitter to obtain free travel from fellow users.

Cruisey Cambodia

World traveller, Ros Freeman, lies back and lets the Mekong do its magic.

Sitting on the Sun Deck, sipping a welcome cocktail, I immediately slipped into cruise mode. Surrounding me was an excited contingent of travellers, ahead the adventure of nine days cruising the languid waters of Cambodia and Vietnam.