BOHOMAROON

Sao Tome

The Chocolate Islands Reading A trip to Sao Tome & Principe had been on the shortlist for a few years but had been put off, mostly because from the outside looking in, the tourist infrastructure seemed as if it still needed time to develop. Many of the reasonably priced places to stay were on Sao…
Algeria

Africa’s largest country Reading/Listening Music My Route: Algiers-Djemila-Constantine-Ghardaia-Timimoun-Beni Abbes-Taghit-Algiers Algiers Visa confusion is probably the best description of our arrival in Algiers. The Lonely planet guide and other sources warn you, but it was still confusing for the uninitiated. Still, 135 Euros and 30 minutes later, we headed off and, in all fairness, the airport…
Yukon

Wilderness in northwest Canada Reading / Listening The bucket list events by Rat Race always give me an opportunity to explore something new, the trip to the Yukon was no exception. This was a test pilot, and the idea of these excursions is to see what’s possible and whether it would be good for a…
Faroe Islands

18 volcanic islands in the North Atlantic, part of the kingdom of Denmark A group of 18 Islands between Scotland and Iceland in the North Atlantic Sea, the Faroe Islands was simply a place I never really imagined I would be going to. Then came the opportunity to join a team of test pilots with…
Zanzibar

The Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa Listening Just the name Zanzibar sounds exotic, perhaps that’s what first captures the imagination when thinking about coming here. This island, part of Tanzania, is as you might imagine it. Warm in every way, both the daytime temperature and the greetings and interaction with local people.We…
Greenland

The largest Island in the world Reading/Listening List The idea of travelling to Greenland got me excited from the very beginning. I recall, years ago, watching a “homemade” documentary of someone’s ski trip there and being in awe of the vast scenery. Greenland is the world’s largest island and an increasingly high-profile autonomous territory of…
Panama

The vibrant land connecting North and South America Reading The path to Panama was a bumpy one. We had originally planned to travel there in March 2020, but the Covid pandemic put that plan to rest quickly. Then again in 2021 but once again Covid was still an issue. In 2022, work commitments meant that…
Pakistan

The fifth most populous country in the world Reading My knowledge of Pakistan was shaped by cricket, or at least the knowledge that along with India they are a big cricketing nation. Setting that aside, with a population of more than 241 million people, it’s the fifth most populous country in the world and has…
Armenia

Where the Caucasus mountains meet history Formally part of the Soviet Union, Armenia is sandwiched between Turkey, Georgia and Iran. Part of Azerbaijan is on the southwestern border of the country and with a population of around 3 million people, it is one of the world’s oldest centres of civilisation.One of the motivations for heading…
The Hebrides

Where land, sea, and Gaelic soul meet the edge of the Atlantic Well, I grew up listening to the shipping forecast and wondering where on earth some of these Islands were. Many years later, I had the chance to see for myself where the lighthouse was. The Butt of Lewis…This was a Ratrace test pilot…