TravelBlog » Tommy Rooney

Tommy Rooney - Tom

Hello Friends

Welcome to my travel blog. During this visit I encourage you to take a walk in my shoes while exploring these entertaining and informative travel journals. My weblog features journals, photos and videos from many of the world's beautiful countries. I have over two decades of travel experience ... and feel blessed to embark on regular trips abroad. I believe there are endless delights to be had while exploring foreign countries. After all, how else can you meet so many of the world's proud people and experience as much wonderful culture? Travel is developing into a lifetime passion and I believe I'm making a positive contribution to global society, thanks to the bountiful gifts bestowed on us by Mother Earth. My journals from around the world commence in 1986, and are written for you to read sequentially as a travel book if you have the time. Otherwise dear reader, feel free to pay a short visit until next time to catch up on my blog. I'm confident you'll enjoy viewing recommendations on places to stay, locations to visit, and things not to be missed for the traveller in all of us.

Enjoy!

Tom

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Joined on: September 8th 2005
Last Login: November 19th 2009

Blog Entries: 107
Photos: 507
Recommended by 1, Recommends 2

TB Code: [blogger=6687]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Tommy Rooney, order by Date newest first.

By Tommy Rooney
May 5th 2009

Chasing the salsa beat ... all the way to Phuket! Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Phuket

James Bond Island, Thailand
Wonderful colours on the rock in the late afternoon.

One of the few benefits to arise during these grim economic times are the bargain airfares currently on offer. I'd recently received an invitation from a friend to attend a salsa dance weekend in Phuket, and happily snapped up a cheap ticket to board the flight for a week in amazing Thailand. Bangkok is one of the great international travel hubs in the world, but I hadn't stepped outside the airport in a decade and it was great to have the chance to revisit one of my favourite holiday destinations while catching up with good friends, which is always a special [View Full Entry]

By Tommy Rooney
March 20th 2009

Never ending sunshine in Cyprus Middle East » Cyprus » Nicosia

St Sophia cathedral, Nicosia
This cathedral has a pristine white interior, and features Ottoman minarets added to the exterior.

Turkish girls are very mysterious. I flew from Van to Istanbul to catch a connection on the next flight bound for Cyprus. So anyways, the girl at the airport check in does her thing on the computer with passports and stuff, then while looking straight at me without talking she reaches towards my face. Self consciously I started flicking at my chin, as I'd just spent three days in Van without a mirror and god only knows how I looked. She keeps looking at me silently, reaches out further and lightly touches my hair with her hand. It was all very [View Full Entry]

By Tommy Rooney
March 16th 2009

On the explore in Anatolia Middle East » Turkey » Eastern Anatolia » Van

The Happy Couple
Recently married in Sydney, they celebrated their honeymoon in Greece and Turkey.

This journal from Van is dedicated to my brother and his new bride. Recently married in Sydney, they spent their honeymoon in Greece and Turkey and I’m now following in their footsteps. Despite my brother’s initial wish during the planning stage they made a joint decision not to visit Van during their honeymoon. But never mind, cause your travel-obsessed family member has made it to this exotic destination guys! Van is situated in South Eastern Anatolia close to the border with Iran. I’ve been going great guns in Turkey since last sharing travel adventures with you, dear read [View Full Entry]

By Tommy Rooney
March 9th 2009

Where East meets West Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Gallipoli

Aya Sofia Cathedral, Istanbul
The cathedral with it's impressive dome dominates Sultanameht, along with the equally impressive Blue Mosque directly opposite.

Turkey is where Asia meets Europe. The astonishingly complex history of this ancient region is probably the world's longest running clash of civilisations. The more I learn about Turkey and her rich history, the more I begin to realise that Turkey is and always has been at the heart of the world's affairs. The Turks are extraordinarily proud of their great history, and equally proud when it comes to the creation of the modern Turkish state under the national hero Ataturk following the conclusion of World War 1. They are also amazingly friendly and just this instant while typing away a [View Full Entry]

By Tommy Rooney
March 2nd 2009

The glory of Ancient Greece Europe » Greece » Central Greece » Delphi

The Sanctuary of Athena, Delphi
One of the most recognized ancient ruins in Greece set amidst spectacular scenery.

There is something timeless about Greece and her welcoming people. Even as a citizen of a young country one can’t help but be caught up in the glory of classical Greek culture. The Greeks were the leaders of the ancient world, and were so admired that even their Roman conquerors protected the magnificent culture for several hundred years during the height of Roman rule. The Greek speaking Byzantine empire of the east ensured the culture and traditions of Ancient Greece would stand the test of time. I arrived back in Athens on a flight from Santorini, and it was time for [View Full Entry]

By Tommy Rooney
February 25th 2009

Life on the Greek Islands Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

Santorini in the morning
Everyone looks down from the summit to the caldera, but look at the beautiful morning sky above!

A week spent on the Greek Islands is to experience a truly magical part of the world. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to add my footsteps to the countless thousands who preceded me which gives me the chance, dear reader, to post this journal from the iconic Santorini Island. Being in the middle of a northern hemisphere winter means the ferries have been problematic, so aside from the overnight ferry trip from the port of Piraeus to Rhodes town, I’ve had no choice but to use island hoppers of the aerial variety to keep moving as time continues to march [View Full Entry]

By Tommy Rooney
February 19th 2009

Socrates and the art of the rhetorical question? Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

The Parthenon atop the Acropolis
This photo features the magnificent temple to Athena on a perfect winter's day.

To view the Parthenon spectacularly lit up at night is to bear witness to the glory of Ancient Greece, and the timeless temple perched atop the Acropolis is the best sight I've experienced in my life. I'm aware of course that Socrates could quickly change my mind with brilliantly constructed rhetorical questions, inevitably leading to a contradiction of my original premise. But hey, this is a democracy brother and I'm sticking to my guns! Athens in fact is the birthplace of democracy, where the ultimate gift was bestowed on mankind by the ancient citizens of this famous city. That is a [View Full Entry]

Statues of Erechtheion atop the Acropolis

By Tommy Rooney
February 15th 2009

Singapore Sling Asia » Singapore » Little India

Singapore skyline
Photo taken from the bridge at Boat Quay.

In the midst of the current maelstrom unravelling with alarming speed around the world lurks a seemingly unstoppable monster, who is gobbling up entire financial systems without mercy. However, it's with a sense of relief I note that some things haven't changed despite the ongoing mayhem taking place in global stock markets. Singapore is still the can do island of South East Asia, and having just completed a 24 hour stopover the little city-state provides a sense of certainty in an increasingly uncertain world. So despite all the chaos, the effortless efficiency of the Singaporeans comes a [View Full Entry]

By Tommy Rooney
August 17th 2008

A taste of Asian opulence Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Jame 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, Bandar Seri Begawan
This magnificently opulent mosque is less than twenty years old, but will surely stand the test of time.

As I flew into Brunei for an overnight stopover I got to thinking it's been far too long since the last visit to Asia, a region in the world that has long been a personal favourite of mine. But nothing lasts forever and it's great to have an overnight stay in the Sultanate of Brunei. This small country on the north west coast of Borneo enjoys a very high standard of living thanks to the oil and gas reserves located just offshore, and it feels so familiar to experience a taste of Asian culture and the opulence of the capital Bandar [View Full Entry]

By Tommy Rooney
August 15th 2008

Love, love me do. You know I love you... Europe » United Kingdom » England » Merseyside » Liverpool

The Beatles appearing at the Cavern
Photo of photo taken in 1961. It features John and Paul doing their thing, and doing it better than anyone else in the rock n roll industry!

Liverpool has her ticket to ride after the city became the European capital of culture for 2008. Everything is going gangbusters for this historically important sea faring capital, which for 200 years was at the centre of transatlantic shipping. Liverpool provided the last glimpse of Europe for many millions of people emigrating to the new world as they sailed off to North America or Australia to start new lives. The level of construction at the site of Liverpool one is on a monumental scale, and the original catalyst for the rebirth of this magnificent city has been the world renowned renovat [View Full Entry]

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