Hotels: 10 Predictions | Business Life
Ten top predictions for hotels was written for Business Life in 2007. It’s interesting now to see which predictions were on the ball, and which . . . well, weren’t. … Continue reading
The Narky Sea | Somewheresville
Blog post from somewheresville hot (www.somewheresville.org), a series of posts about life in the remote Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. I hate the sea. I’ve been thinking about it a lot … Continue reading
Sierpe: A Trip to Town | Somewheresville
Blog post from Somewheresville Hot (www.somewheresville.org), a series of pieces about life in the wilds of the Osa, Southern Costa Rica. The first place you come to when you take … Continue reading
America: What Was It? | Somewheresville
Blog entry from somewheresville (www.somewheresville.org). It’s vast, a load of different countries tied together with strings of Arbys and Taco Bells. In some, people are very busy accumulating more and … Continue reading
Motels & Shootings | Somewheresville
Blog entry from somewheresville (www.somewheresville.org). The road trip was initially east to west. That was so nice, I added west to east. The minute the car was turned to face … Continue reading
The Greatest Show on Earth | FT
Hot ferrets sleep in boxes, low-slung sheep dogs drive ducks over an obstacle course in the sportsfield, and traders do a roaring trade in tripe sticks, candy floss, PVC coated … Continue reading
Sailing for Boys | FT
Having been a decent parent for a dozen years, my powers are inevitably dwindling. My boy and I were constant companions, initially because he was an infant and couldn’t walk, … Continue reading
Primate Tourism | BSpirit
Few tourists would see the misty mountains of the Virunga Conservation Area, the dense forest, hanging vines, orchids, giant lobelias, volcanic peaks (two active, six extinct) and crater lakes and … Continue reading
FARC Hostage Released | The Times
It’s vaguely European, Bogota, with its malls, brick buildings, drizzle and commuters in suits. The two of us sit about talking romance, London and kids; boys specifically, and their thing … Continue reading
Child Soldiers
As a 13-year old soldier in Sierra Leone shooting someone was “as easy as drinking a glass of water” says Ishmael Beah. But given a place at a UNICEF rehabilitation … Continue reading
Town to Call my Own | FT
“You wouldn’t believe how many people want to buy a town” says Rudy Nielson, who has bought and sold a few. “Mainly to say they own one”. With towns, mountain … Continue reading
Right Royal Wedding Business | Business Life
Outgoings Moments after Prince Charles twittered engagement congratulations on Nov 16, the nation was busily totting up the potential costs and profits of a Royal Wedding. Charles’ own wedding (the … Continue reading
Macau Fusion | High Life
Perched on a volcano at night, I’m watching helicopters crisscross the Pearl River Delta and reflecting on a day which involved haggling in Chinese street markets, studying the work of … Continue reading
Michael Morpurgo | FT
As children’s laureate, the author Michael Morpurgo travelled far and wide like a literary missionary for two years, persuading children of the importance of books, the power of great literature to … Continue reading
Simple | FT
Minimalism: It’s the haute couture of housing: striking, radical, beautifully clever, not designed primarily for comfort and generally expensive. But where do you sit your filthy kids? Where do you … Continue reading
45 Minutes from Panama City | The Times
Flanked by 60-storey glass towers in Panama City you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in Miami, Singapore or the year 2020. But just 45 minutes gets you to other … Continue reading
Online Self-Prescription | FT
It took me three minutes to drop 180 Xanax, 180 Ambien, 90 Zocor and 160 Soma into my shopping basket and proceed to checkout. Like most of the online pharmacies … Continue reading
Panama: Designer Communities | FT
The steamy glamour of Panama, and that air of infinite possibility that lures people here in search of a new life is not exclusive to the capital, Panama City. High … Continue reading
Panama’s Pacific Coast Communities | FT
The steamy glamour of Panama, and that air of infinite possibility that lures people here in search of a new life is not exclusive to the capital, Panama City. High … Continue reading
Toronto Hotels: 6 of the Best | The Times
The Drake Hotel: This place has glam rock and lush style. It’s nonchalant, sophisticated, artfully retro and an air of cheeky naughtiness. It is, in short, where the party’s at. A … Continue reading
The Real Costa Rica | The Times
Costa Rica has its Marriotts, Four Seasons, beach resorts and casinos but to experience it at its best you need to grab your rubber boots, slap on the Deet and … Continue reading
Costa Rica Property Investment | FT
Ask any foreigner who has lived in Costa Rica over ten years why they bought property here, and they’ll say they came on holiday and fell in love with the … Continue reading
Watching the Workers | Business Life
Fifty years ago a manager knew when his team clocked on and off. Now employers are using hidden cameras, GPS and RFID tags, keystroke logging and emergent technology to monitor … Continue reading
Secret Life of Desks | Business Life
The position of a person’s desk whether on a podium, down a dust-blown corridor, facing the corner is tacitly understood to signify the difference between success and failure but office … Continue reading
Trans-Siberian with George | High Life
A veteran of the London to Yorkshire rail commute, George was blasé at the prospect of the 19-day journey through Russia, Mongolia and China on the Trans-Siberian Express. The assurance … Continue reading
