Going Global

Out of Africa

Neil Radley takes us on a trek around South Africa

‘Bump bump. Ouch my ass, my balls, my ass, my balls. But ooh wow, what amazing scenery’. This is generally how my journey through South Africa, on pony-back, proceeds. Nonchalantly we wave to fellow musketeers and others whose path we cross, smiling…

A Polish Adventure

A mini-trip to make you fall in love

As the anticipation builds for visiting an unknown foreign land, my brain often starts making its own mental images. These are usually a deconstructed, or reconstructed, mish-mash of images already gleaned from travel brochures, the internet and similar…

It's A Weird World

A round-up of autumns most interesting global events

Woolly Worm Festival in North Carolina, Cabbage Festival in Germany, Bald-Headed Men of America Convention, Gorilla Run in London, Rubber Duckie Race in Surrey, Santa Claus Championships in Switzerland

Sweden's Jumbo Jet Hostel

It's a little easier to get to sleep on this plane

Jumbo jet heaven isn’t a nice place. The poor jumbos are torn limb for limb and their parts are used for scrap metal. It’s enough to bring a tear to a glass eye. But this jet has a happier tale, because Swedish entrepreneur Oscar Diös took pity on this…

Africa

Deciding that he needed a radical change of scenery, Neil Ratley travelled to Africa in search of adventure - and he sure found it. Here’s a snapshot of his escapes

Pamplona Bull Run

The Pamplona Bull Run takes place at 8am every morning over the course of a week. It may be early, but if anything’s going to get you moving in the morning it’s some big burly bulls running towards you. Runners, dressed in the traditional white and red…

La Tomatina

What would you do with 100,000 kilos of over-ripe tomatoes? Here at The Midgie we quite like tomato soup, with a wee bit of basil. But each year, on the last Wednesday of August, the Vanecian town of Bunol plays host to the biggest food fight in the…

The World’s Most Dangerous Road

To this day, I still can’t understand why I thought that cycling down the World’s Most Dangerous Road was a good idea. I’m terrified of heights and failed my cycle proficiency test, despite my mother being the teacher. It was a recipe for…

Seattle

It’s mid-afternoon and I haven’t slept for twenty-four hours. I’ve travelled right through the night and as my bus finally rolls into Seattle, all I can think is: “I want a really strong cup of coffee”. Luckily I’m in the right place, as Seattle is…

Spring Break

Dublin Dublin's fair city is ranked as one of the top tourist destinations for backpackers and students alike. World renowned for its pubs and Irish charm, today you’ll find it’s a city where youth has visibly taken charge of tradition, resulting in a…

What's going on in the rest of the world?

WILDFOODS FESTIVAL Wildfoods is not really the place for picky eaters or those with delicate dispositions, as it is essentially a festival designed to test the limits of your palate (and perhaps your gag reflex). With magpie burgers, fried lamb’s…

Sisters are Doing It For Themselves

Back in the summer of 2001, a friend and I travelled to Italy. But in the interests of saving a little bit of money - but not necessarily scrimping on luxury - we decided to stay with nuns. I had heard that many convents have rooms to rent and these are…

Snow Chasers

Since I left school in 2001 I've only experienced three summers, and for two of those I was rehabbing after major knee operations and had no choice. I have friends who've done 15 back-to-back winters, some even more. We are winter chasers and ski bums…

What's going on in the rest of the world?

Busker Festival For 'buskers', read extravagant street performers and various freaky people who really would be more at home in a circus atmosphere. Lovely folk though. The pick of the bunch are Bendy Em, who proclaims to be able to twist, turn and…

Crossing the Rockies

This Autumn, Debbie Martin decided to fulfil a lifelong dream and visit Canada’s magnificent Rocky Mountain range. From paddling in ice-filled lakes, to braving bear attacks and the Canadian cold, she embraced a particular type of North American grit.

Talk to the Tour-Guide

There’s many tour guides that have been doing this a lot longer than me, and they always get asked ‘What’s worn under the kilt?’, and these old guys will say, ‘Nothing’s worn under the kilt. It’s all in perfectly good order’,

Great Escapes

Belfast and Paris

Fancy a trip away but haven’t got much time or money? Not to worry, we have two fantastic holidays away from Scotland costing a meagre £50. Ben Connor and Eileen Heuston make a break for it to discover the charms of Belfast and Paris.