From the bus station, I got a (CUC) “colectivo” taxi to my next casa particular. I had asked Débora if she knew any casas particulares in which I could stay and she arranged for me to go and stay with her “great friend” Isobel. Isobel lives near to the Universdad de La Habana with her daughter and elderly mother. They all seem very friendly. I was introduced to Juanita, Isobel’s cousin who they employ as a house keeper. I had dinner at the house, then Isobel told me that today was the anniversary of the foundation of Havana, and everyone in the town went to walk three times round an old tree around midnight to make three wishes because supposedly if you do it then, they will all come true. Well, I was travelling, and up ... read more

Well, as tourist attractions go, it’s a bit of a weird one. But I wasn’t going to pass up the chance to see one of the most famous and controversial places in the World right now: the US Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay. It took a lot of arranging. When I was at Sofía’s in Santiago, I had asked her if any of her previous guests had been and how I could go. To my surprise, no one had been but she made some phone calls and we found out that you have to get special permission and there are only two ways of getting a glimpse: the town of Caimanera, which is next to the base at one side of the bay, or Mirador Malones, a viewpoint overlooking the bay at the other side. Caimanera ... read more

My promised “10-12” hour journey from Havana, to Santiago de Cuba in the South East of the country actually took 16 hours! Cuba is Long! It’s longer from tip to tail than the British mainland and my journey was similar to London to Aberdeen. Not much to say about the journey really. We travelled first along an empty motorway, stopping at a few places on the way, and then the roads got smaller and more confusing as there were no sign posts. From my bus window, I saw countryside and towns full of tiny, dirty houses with as much poverty as I’ve seen in India or in those parts of Latin America in the “US Empire”. I finally arrived at Sofía’s house at 1.30 am, four hours later than predicted. She seemed non-plussed. Had a lie ... read more

Koenig Solutions Pvt Ltd So, that was the end of my four months travelling! I returned to Delhi where I was to start five and a half weeks study for a professional IT qualification. I’m studying at a company called Koenig Solutions. They are a bona fide IT training outfit which offers programmes to westerners. I was there for an intensive 40 day programme to become a “url= http://www.koenig-solutions.com/training/mcsd_training.asp?currid=7&CourseId=20&CityName=Delhi&hStatus=Budget&k=Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer” (MCSD) in C#. Joining me on the course is my friend: “other” Nick from London. He’s just quit his job to go to live with his woman in Ireland. Meanwhile, he’s taking the opportunity to re-skill before looking for a job over there. Nick had brought my laptop over from London and was a litt... read more

Yet another country! My flight from Bangkok was full of Indians as it had previously come from Mumbai (I didn’t want to cause offence and was careful to use the new name but was told to call it “Bombay” - now I’m confused!) Anyway, it’s very exciting to be in Hong Kong SAR! It’s like a bonus prize to be here as it was not on my original shortlist of destinations for the trip. I’m staying in a tiny room in an apartment in the massive Mirador Mansions apartment block in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. I awoke the next morning to no sunlight as my room overlooks a square 3x3m. I’m on the 12th floor of 18. On my first morning, I took the famous Star Ferry over to Hong Kong Island. These ferries are ... read more