Down to my last Guinea

Globetrotter, Ros Freeman, continues her quest to visit the lesser-known countries of the world.

Guinea is just as you’d imagine an African country to be. Jungle-covered mountains tumble down to a myriad of waterways. It’s the source of three major rivers and home to elephants, leopards and monkeys. In the rainforest, an abundance of brilliant butterflies and iridescent dragonflies flitter by, while thundering waterfalls enveloped us in fine mists.

Be enchanted by Borneo

Few islands in the world evoke the sense of mystery and fascination that Borneo does. Throughout history, the world’s third-largest island (after Greenland and New Guinea and excluding the continent of Australia) has attracted a rich array of merchants, adventurers and entrepreneurs, and now intrepid travellers and tourists can be added to the list of visitors as they pursue their own personal adventures in Borneo.

Travel Snapshot: Canary Islands

Today we are in Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands, of which there are seven main islands about 100 km northwest of the African continent. Tenerife is probably the best known and there are many smaller islands in the archipelago. 

Travel Snapshot: Casablanca

Casablanca. Sounds exciting doesn’t it - particularly for those of you who remember the famed film. 

Sadly, though, it is far from being a destination icon - in fact, it's the sort of place you get out of as quickly as possible. 

Travel Snapshot: Spain's Alhambra

 

Spain's Alhambra is a lesson to us all about the power and beauty of simplicity and the importance of blending architecture with nature. In a beautiful hilltop setting of natural gardens, this haven for Sultans that dates back to 1238 takes you into another world - where architecture joins with nature to create one of the world's wonders. 

Travel Snapshot: Tasmanian Touring

You can really spend and head for the Pump House or Stillwater. We have experienced both properties and give them a high five. However, if you are looking for a very comfortable inner city property with a great restaurant, I would recommend The Sebel Launceston. 

Scoot into Vienna: Low Cost Travel into Austria's Flamboyant Capital

Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), recently began direct flights between Singapore and the Austrian capital, Vienna. David Bowden investigates. 

Scoot is the only airline offering direct flights between these two key destinations, with three weekly services operated by Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners between Vienna International Airport and Changi International Airport. This aircraft has a capacity for 329 passengers in two cabin classes. 

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!