Thus from this humble beginning, Karges’s desire to visit every country in the world, does this book derive, growing and expanding and taking on its full meaning only after most of the real work, the travel and simultaneous writing, had already been done. That’s when he realized that the entirety of all these episodes seemed greater than the mere sum of the individual parts. As a writer who decided only late in life to “get serious about writing,” it comes as something of a revelation that maybe his best effort so far came about only when he was doing something he loves, traveling, so that in effect two major facets of his life are coming together as one.

These are the tales of Karges’s travels in that intense period of “hyper-travel,” a combination guide and narrative, with only one qualification—he doesn’t tell how to do it. That’s your job. He tells how it’s done, by someone who’s done it for most of his life. This is a guide for people who hate travel guides. This is the one-stop guide that will give you both glimpse and insight into half the world’s countries, all recently visited, all applied to the same criteria of critique. This is the guide that tells you the cultural, geopolitical and historical context of a country, not where to eat or where to stay. This is the guide that tells you which countries just plain suck. The happy ending is right around the next corner.

Veteran blogger and traveler Hardie Karges made his first trip out of his home country USA at the age of twenty-one, a trip to the neighboring country of Mexico in the winter of 1975-1976. The next year he went to Central America and stayed almost three months, the following year South America for almost four. He was hooked. Thus began a career in the import and export of folk art and handicrafts from around the world. He has now been to some one hundred forty countries, has published poetry, made videos, and writes blogs on travel and world music, in addition to his personal blog.

Hypertravel: 100 Countries in 2 Years is his first full-length book.

It also has a vibrant art scene, so it is well worth taking a tour of the most famous galleries in the city.

However, guests staying in cheap London hotels may not always know where to start when it comes to deciding which venues to visit, so why not read our list of the top five galleries to explore while in London this year?

The National Gallery

One of the most famous galleries in London, and with good reason, as it is home to paintings ranging from between the 13th and 19th centuries.

Visitors can now come to the venue free of charge, which will make for a budget-friendly day trip. It is also open 361 days of the year, so you have a good chance of being able to head to the gallery at least once during your holiday.

There are more than 2,300 works of art in the National Gallery, making it one of the best places to see the history of western European art in the world.

Some pieces that you might have heard of include Sandro Botticelli’s Venus and Mars and Leonardo da Vinci’s The Virgin of the Rocks.

Tate Modern

For fans of contemporary art, there is perhaps no better place to visit than the Tate Modern. This was opened in 2000 and, since then, it has become one of the most important art venues in the country.

You will be able to see international works from the 1900s, in addition to modern British art.

Walk through different rooms and learn more about Surrealism, Minimalism, Post-war innovations in abstractism and figuration, as well as Cubism, Futurism and Vorticism on a visit here.

You will also have the opportunity to see some of the many temporary exhibitions that are held here, with 2012 seeing the Photography: New Documentary Forms display, among others.

Serpentine Gallery

The Serpentine Gallery might be another venue you want to visit if you like to look at contemporary art and more than 800,000 people head here every year.

If you join the crowds and attend the free gallery, you will be able to see permanent exhibitions by Ian Hamilton Finlay, while there are a number of temporary displays put on here all the time.

This year, the gallery will showcase work by Yoko Ono, with the widow of The Beatles’ John Lennon putting on a show with a collection of her pieces.

The Queen’s Gallery

For a memorable experience, a visit to the Queen’s Gallery could make for the perfect day out.

Located in Buckingham Palace, this is a unique type of exhibition centre, showcasing displays from the Royal Collection, in addition to pieces by world-renowned artists.

You might want to peruse the paintings and treasures held by Her Majesty, or you could take a look at temporary displays. One exhibition being put on at the gallery this year is Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist.

Visit the gallery between May 4th and October 7th and you’ll be able to see some of the artist’s famous anatomical drawings.

National Portrait Gallery

To finish your trip to London, why not head to the National Portrait Gallery? This exhibition centre was opened in 1856 and now has more than 160,000 portraits from the last 500 years.

This is one of the largest collections of art in the capital, so you are sure to find something that interests you here.

As well as permanent displays, you may wish to head to the gallery in 2012, as a number of temporary exhibitions are being held. Imagined Lives: Portraits of Unknown People, for instance, will be held until July 22nd giving visitors the chance to see 14 portraits of people painted between the 16th and 17th centuries, whose identities remain unknown.

There are so many opportunities to enhance your knowledge of art history, so why not book a trip to London today and you can walk around some of the city’s best galleries with ease?

With London Summer Olympic Games 2012 around the corner, Rio Olympics 2016 are getting closer.

Egyptian food tends to include a lot of vegetables, mostly because the fertile lands surrounding the Nile make for rich crops. Main dishes often include beans and legumes and are seasoned heavily with garlic and onion, which dates from ancient cooking styles.

1. Bread. Bread has been a mainstay in Egyptian diets since ancient times. Meals are nearly always served with bread and this is considered to be the heart of the meal. The main bread is a thick pita style called Eish Balad, which roughly translates as ‘alive’.

Bread is seen as a central food for life and an essential item in Egyptian Cuisine. One of the reasons for the popularity of bread is that it can be used as a utensil. Pitas are convenient for holding other local dishes, such as falafels or kebabs.

2. Falafel. Not only eaten in Egypt but common in many parts of the Eastern Mediterranean. Falafel are deep fried chick pea balls that fit perfectly in a pita and make an ideal starter or side dish.

3. Kabab, also known as Kofte. Kabab traditionally involves lamb cuts grilled on skewers. It is common for this meat to then be enjoyed in a pita bread.

4. Mahshi Hamam is made by stuffing pigeon with rice and then roasting the bird. This dish is very popular in all parts of Egypt.

5. Mashi Waraaenab. Instead of putting it inside meat, the rice in this dish is mixed with either beef or vegetables and the stuffed into grape leaves and heavily seasoned. It is then topped with a tomato sauce.

6. Alexandrian Fish. In Alexandria, fish is very common and famous fish dishes from this are include Samak Mashway, which is simply grilled fish and Samak Makly, which is fried fish.

7. Tagin. This dish can be found all over North Africa. It derives its name from the pot (tagin) in which the food is cooked and can include a variety of ingredients such as beef, lamb, chickpeas, broad beans and a selection of vegetables.

8. Tahin is a sesame paste made from ground sesame seeds and is so prevalent that it is used where the British may have butter or mayonnaise as a moistening agent.

9. Koshari is a very popular dish in Egypt. It is traditionally made using lentils, rice, garlic and onion and then topped with a tomato sauce. Koshari doesn’t date as far back as ancient times, but it thought to have been brought to Egypt from India by British troops.

10. Basbousa is an example of a popular Egyptian dessert, although it can be found in many other countries in North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Basbousa is made from semolina and is enhanced with spice and sugar syrup

A country so rich in history is almost certainly going to offer a wide selection of local delicacies that are created with traditional and age old cooking techniques. The widespread use of bread from ancient times and classical techniques such tagin cooking can still be experienced today. Making good use of seasoning, age old styles and local crops, Egyptian cuisine is rich in both flavour and history.

Luxor and Aswan, Egypt Private Tours

How Rio Carnival began…

It was the ancient Greek spring festival in honour of Dionysus, the God of wine, that started it all off. The Romans liked the idea and took the festival as a great excuse for some drunken revelry. The Roman Catholic Church turned it into a festival for Ash Wednesday and it quickly evolved into a week-long celebration of indulgence before the 40 days of abstinence before Easter. Since then the Carnival has developed from once being a street fight with brawls and riots involving mud, water and food, to a masquerade ball to a costumed street parade. All these influences have ended in the Rio Carnival as we know it today.

Rio Carnival is now a huge event that’s televised around the world. The country stops for a week and the festivities run all day and night. Reports state than 80% of the country’s annual beer consumption is washed back during this week and it’s also when 70% of the country’s tourism happens too.

The Samba dance off

One of the main aspects is the Samba school dance off. Each participating school nationwide chooses a theme for their production and the costumes, floats, music and choreography interpret this. Each school could be made up of thousands of participants and a good few floats uniting in their quest to tell a story with their production. As they progress in the school they’ll be put nearer the front with the ‘comissão de frente’. These are the people who set the theme for their school-mates to follow. There will usually be one or two dancers on top of the floats while more will stay on the ground dancing around and working the crowd to impress the judges in their allotted 80 minutes.

The samba schools are not just musical groups – they are neighbourhood associations providing a variety of community needs, including health and educational resources.

When and where is the Carnival held?

The Carnival begins as soon as the year’s King Momo is crowned by Rio’s mayor on the Friday. That night a children’s parade starts things off innocently before the dance, theatre, arts and music get going on the Saturday. Sunday and Monday are the big days, culminating in the top six Samba schools competing on the final day.

The main parade is in the Sambadrome in downtown Rio, but there are always local events in the streets, including a huge ball at the Copacabana Palace and Beach. Everyone joins in in whatever way they can. They bring their percussion instruments to join with the batucada style of samba that is danced in Brazil and they all know the moves to dance along.

Getting around

Taxis are the simplest way to get around Rio during the carnival, although it could be quicker to walk with the amount of people in attendance in the centre. You can of course take the subway to the Sambadrome too. Admission to the Sambadrome is anywhere between $200-1000 – although there are some agencies that can arrange for you to actually be part of the parade, making it free.

The carnival is much safer than it used to be with security stepped up a notch. Plain-clothed police and security officers will be everywhere, but of course, make sure you still keep to the usual safety rules that you would in any situation full of people.

Mr. Zhaojian was the first national ski champion in China, and has been dedicated to the winter sport ever since he began sliding on snow. Now he serves as a national level director of skiing in China, and has dug deep into the origins of skiing in China. With the help of his colleague, Mr. Wang Bo, the pair have collected enough evidence to put forward a claim that the first skiers were actually Chinese.

Now, this may seem a bold claim, given the status of China as a skiing nation. It is not often that you see last minute ski breaks to China advertised, even though there are many ski resorts in the country. The focus of skiing as conventionally been centred on Scandinavia and the European Alps, and in more contemporary times the mountains ranges of North America. But the case for skiing originating in China is put forward with some strength in the book, ‘ The Original Place of Skiing – Altay Prefecture of Xingjiang, China’ published at the beginning of 2011, the high mountain range towering in the west over the Silk Road route of ancient China.

Ancient rock drawings hold the key

Rock drawings of skiers dating back to around 3,500 BC have been discovered in Norway, and an ancient ski thought to be 4,500 years old was found in Sweden. But a relic of skiing was also uncovered to the east of the Ural Mountains in Russia, at a place called Vis. The ski that was dug out of a peat bog there was analysed, and later confirmed to be at least 8,000 years old. This alone is strong evidence against the traditionally held view the first skiers were from the Nordic regions.

But it is rock drawings found in China that lend the most weight to the opinion that the world’s first skiers were from Asia. Carvings in rock have been discovered in the Dundebulake river valley, located within the Altay, sometimes referred to as Altai, region of northwest China. These ancient pictographs depict men sliding on skis, and one even shows a figure with rockered skis and a pair of ski poles in his hands. After analysis of the rock carving by specialists, it was confirmed that the drawings were at least 10,000 years old, and maybe even older.

Skiing in the Altay region

The Altay region of China has a long history of skiing, which has been revived with the newly introduced ‘Ancient Fur Ski Race’ held in January each year, in which all the competitors must use traditional skis and no modern equipment is allowed. The traditional form of skiing stills survives in the remote areas of the Altay Mountains, and many people still use the crude but versatile skis that were used thousands of years ago.

There is no abundance of ski resorts or lifts peppered all over the mountains here though. Still very much an isolated region of Asia, the Altay region has fantastic skiing potential for skiers that want to slide across fresh powder with no-one else in sight. It’s just getting to the top of the mountains that is the problem here.

China as a ski holiday destination

China has been often overlooked as a ski destination, but this situation is changing as more and more ski resorts pop up around the country. The Yabuli Ski Resort, in Heilongjiang Province, is China’s largest dedicated ski area, and has groomed ski runs that total up to around 30 kilometres of skiing and snowboarding terrain. There is something for all levels at Yabuli, and it is the training area most used by the Chinese national skiing teams. Another of China’s best ski resorts in the Alshan Ski Resort, a resort nestled within a forest and often used by the Chines Olympic ski team.

There are also resorts located very close to the capital Beijing. For people living in the city who want to ski on the weekend, the Beijing Nanshan Ski Resort is largest and often regarded as the best ski terrain within easy driving distance of the capital. Another option for skiing near to Beijing is the Beijing Huabei Ski Resort, located just 70 kilometres from the city. This resort is best suited for beginners, and enjoys having the Great Wall of China as its back drop. For something different to the usual European or Canadian ski holidays, consider heading to China for your next ski adventure.

For some people, a holiday in the Caribbean can be a once in a lifetime trip, as
flights aren’t exactly cheap, so most people try and take advantage of the all inclusive holiday deals on offer. Below is our guide to some of the best festivals and events in the Caribbean that you might be lucky enough to see if you’re on holiday at the same time.

The two-day Carnival (or Carnaval) at the end of February in Port of Spain, Trinidad, was originally a time of celebration before Lent, but has become much bigger than that. Preparations start months ahead of the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. There are street parties, parades and calypso and soca dancing.

Steel drum bands rehearse constantly at mas camps, open to the public. This is also where they build their fantastic, bright floats, on which ride the festival king and queen for the street processions. Apart from this festival on Trinidad, many other islands have their own Carnival at different times of the year, celebrating different things.

Junkanoo, or Jonkonnu, is celebrated in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas and other originally British islands. Said to be named after the 17th century African prince John Canoe or Konny, this celebration commemorates a man who cleverly outwitted the British and Dutch slave traders. He became the hero of all slaves.

Shirley and Bay Streets in Nassau are packed by party-goers from two in the morning, who watch and partake in the parades, dancing and bands playing until dawn. Local groups called shacks prepare for months by making masks and fabulous costumes and floats, hoping to win the prize for best group.

Barbados has its turn for five weeks in July and the beginning of August with the Crop Over Festival. This festival originated in the late 1700s, when the sugar cane harvest came to an end. Sugar cane production here was among the most prolific in the world and therefore of the utmost importance to the entire Caribbean.

Today, the focus of the festival has shifted and it is similar to a Mardi Gras type of celebration. The best calypso bands entertain the revellers in tents around the city, competing for the Pic-Of-De-Crop award. Numerous street fairs and parades occur at all times, culminating in large parades on Kadooment Day, a national holiday.

In the beginning of May the St Lucia Jazz Festival, also called “Paint it Jazz”, draws many famous names. During its ten days, international stars such as Lauryn Hill, Smokie Robinson and Herbie Hancock entertain audiences in an open-air auditorium surrounded by a stunning natural landscape.

Jazz, R&B and calypso compete with fusion, mainly on Pigeon Island to the north of St Lucia. Many fringe activities feature local musicians playing in venues around the city and these are often free of charge. This festival started in 1991 and has grown to a world-class event on the musical calendar.

The Reggae Sumfest in mid July is celebrated in Montego Bay, Jamaica, birthplace of the legendary reggae king Bob Marley. For four days, top musicians and thousands of fans commemorate the legacy of Marley’s genius in the largest of the many annual reggae fests on the island.

With an all-festival pass, one can attend events such as the beach party on the Sunday night, the Dancehall Night and shows featuring international artists on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Non-reggae artists performing have included Mary J. Blige and LL Cool J.

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Montserrat on 17 March. Originally celebrated by the many Irish Catholics who came to the island around 1630 in pursuit of freedom of religion, it has become a festival lasting an entire week. The locals also remember the day in 1798 that African slaves revolted against their masters.

The festival is a blend of African and Irish, calypso and emerald green, with cheerful bands and partying. Many guest lecturers also visit the island and people take part in historical walking tours, visiting places of importance to the history of the little island.

The Jump Up in St Lucia is a weekly occurrence and famous in the whole of the Caribbean. On a Friday, night people in the town of Gros Islet are to be found in the cordoned-off streets, having barbeque and tropical fruit drinks bought from street vendors. Local musicians entertain party goers dancing on the pavements.

The Dominican Republic’s Festival de Merengue draws thousands to its street party of pulsing musical rhythms in July, with open air stages along its ocean front drive. In late July, Loiza Aldea on the coast of Puerto Rico celebrates its patron saint, Santiago de Apostol, with street parties, concerts and parades. Fabulous masks are for sale as souvenirs.

In January, the Tumba Festival in Curacao sees drumming bands competing for the opportunity to play the official Carnival Road March song. Dancers in costumes gyrate on an elaborately decorated stage and entice the audience to dance along. The Aruba Hi Winds windsurfing and kite surfing event in July features freestyling by day and partying by night.

From Vac the most convenient way to get to downtown of Budapest is with a suburban train running every 10 to 15 minutes from Estergom to Nyugati railway station, also known as the West Station, the final station of the suburban line ending in north-central part of Pest.

Nyugati is a convenient starting point for a walk that will take you past several key landmarks to the Danube, then across the Szechenyi Chain Bridge to the west bank and uphill to the Buda Castle Hill and its Old Town dominant landmarks, the Matthias Church and the viewing platform of Fishermen’s Bastion, the best place in Budapest to savor the skyline of the city, most well-known for the finest views across the Danube at the impressive edifice of the Parliament. But being at the Buda Castle Hill also offers nice views in the opposite direction, toward the residential districts of Buda Hills, opportunity to stroll the pleasant alleys of the Old Town, visit the Royal Palace, and a number of good museums.

While on such a short visit you will have hardly enough time to sample all of Budapest’s history and cultural legacy of the Magyars, Romans, Mongols, Turks, Habsburgs or Communists, with some small detours you could see at least one representation of Budapest’s most diverse architectural styles, from the Roman period to baroque, neo-Classical as well as Art Nouveau eras.

From the Nyugati station walk south to Terez boulevard, a major city artery. Walk some 1000 yards until you reach Andrassy Way. Those with ample time could turn left here and walk along Andrassy all the way to the City Park first. Along this route you can see number of prominent attractions including the Museum of Fine Arts.

With less time or to keep the walk to some six miles total, turn right on Andrassy, walk past the neo-Renaissance Budapest Opera until you reach a large intersection where you will turn right. Some 400 feet on your left you will see the monumental neo-Classical structure of St. Stephen’s Basilica. In front of its front entrance starts a nice pedestrian zone, where a wide plaza in front of the church leads into Zrinji ucta, a narrow pedestrian street lined with cafes and restaurants that will bring you all the way to Roosevelt park on the bank of the Danube.

You can cross the park in front of the luxury Four Season’s Gresham Palace Hotel, a striking Art Nouveau landmark which is worth a close look.

Beyond the park you enter the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, a mid-19 century structure and the first bridge to span the Danube and connect Buda with Pest, definitely one of city’s most recognized landmarks. Crossing the bridge allows for fine photos up the Danube looking north towards the neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance Parliament and the bridges beyond.

Once on the Buda side of the river you can opt for taking the funicular railway up to the Castle Hill or pick the slower option which is to walk up through the wooded hillside. Walking up allows for a bit better appreciation of the elevation of the castle town on your way to the actual and final destination of the whole walk, the neo-Gothic Matthias Church and the wonderful viewpoint at the Fisherman’s Bastion.

Visegrad offers the finest panorama of the Danube Bend as it snakes through the Börzsöny and Visegrad hills. Its beginnings date back to the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries. The original structure was destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century thereafter which it was reconstructed by the subsequent kings of Hungary, coming to prominence under the reign of King Mathias.

While Visegrad can be visited as part of your day cycling Vac to Estergom, it may be you’ll end up wasting some time on account of needing to wait for the ferry and will then have to hurry to get to Estergom before it gets dark. Although the ferry boats should run every hour they often wait until there are enough cars and trucks to ferry over to make the crossing worth their time and you may end up wasting more time than you wanted to.

On account of the possible delays with the ferry and to have ample time to enjoy the area, a trip to Visegrad is best done as a day trip from Vac. Nice trial of some 25 km follows the river with Danube on your left. The bike path leads through some dense vegetation at times, occasionally passing by nice villas near the waterfront. There are nice views of surrounding hills all the way until the castle comes up above the right bank. The ferry crossing is at Nagymaros.

Once on the other side of the river, you’ll first cycle through the peaceful Visegrad village with a number of cozy restaurants and cafes, then begin a steep winding climb toward the castle. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to ascend to the castle where you can dismount, enter the citadel and walk around the ramparts of the stronghold. The hills around the castle offer some nice cycling and more fine views of Visegrad and the Danube Bend.

Eventually you can cycle back downhill, stop for a snack at a cafe before taking a ferry the other side and follow the bike path to Vac for overnight.

There are two possible towns, both very low key, very scenic being located right on the Danube river, that make for a very pleasant base from which to explore the surrounding countryside and sites along the Danube. These two small towns are Vac and Szentendre. Vac is on the left bank and Szentendre on the right bank of the Danube, and both are essentially the gateways to the so called Danube Bend, where the river winds between hills towards Ezstergom, your exit point from Hungary on the way to Slovakia.

Vac was founded in the 11th century, when the town became an episcopate, a period from which date some of its earliest churches, namely the Vac cathedral, though most of its Romanesque architectural features were destroyed during the Mongol conquest. The surrounding general vicinity around Vac has been settled for centuries before that on account of good natural conditions, abundant forests, fertile soil along the mighty river and its usefulness as a navigable trade route.

Vac has a fascinating history. Sacked by the Mongols in 1241, Vac began to prosper again in late Gothic and during Renaissance periods. But then Turks invaded Hungary and for over a century until 1686 Vac had suffered neglect and destruction. Vac reemerged by the second half of the 18th century and some of its finest architecture dates from the late Baroque period and the Neo-Classical era that followed.

During the 19th century period of industrialization, the building of the original railway line in Hungary in 1846 between Vac and Budapest provided significantly to Vac development. Unfortunately as a result of the turmoil by World War I, Word War II and subsequent annexation of Hungary into the Soviet block, Vac had to endure major setbacks and suffering. Since the fall of communism and return of Hungary to democracy in 1989 Vac has came forth as one of the region’s most desirable locations where to live and its return to newly found prosperity shows in its refurbished monuments and pleasant ambiance of street life.

From Asia to Africa and all around the globe, while we are in our winter doldrums, others are sunning themselves and drinking mojitos. Here’s a look at five of the best places to go to find fantastic January weather.

When it’s cold at home, there’s somewhere you can guarantee it will be warm and that’s down under. The island continent of Australia enjoys its hot summers during December, January and February. Average high temperatures in Sydney are around 78F in January.

When it’s hot, many Australians head to the beach to cool down. The Bondi Beach area in New South Wales has long been considered one of the world’s best surfing spots. Visitors can enjoy the surf or just watch from the comfort of a sun lounger.

Mexico is a popular place for January holidays. Great places for beach holidays include the Baja California peninsula, home to the famous Cabo San Lucas resort. Average highs in January are around 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you want sun with a bit of culture thrown in, then Mexico offers many archaeological treats. The famous Mexican ruins of Teotihuacan, dating from over 2000 years ago, are located close to Mexico City and are considered by some to be the best ruins in Mexcio.

Although it’s their cool season, January is the ideal time to visit Thailand. The weather is warm and they get the most hours of sunshine and least rainfall during January.

If its beach life you’re after, then the party islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan are popular destinations. Koh Phangnan is home to the famous Full Moon party held each month.

For a more laidback Thai holiday, then Chiang Mai on the mainland is a wonderful place to enjoy the wildlife and taste the very best of Thai cuisine. Cookery classes and elephant rides are some of the popular activities at Chiang Mai.

During January, South Africa has average high temperatures of around 79F. It’s hard to decide the best place to go in South Africa, but the Western Cape area, with its Table Mountain and great beaches, has become increasingly popular with holiday makers.

Over the New Year period, Cape Town celebrates New Year like nowhere else on earth, with a huge carnival. Other South African highlights are the many safari experiences, most famously in the Kruger National Park.

For a perfect blend of culture, good weather and great activities, then the ever popular country of Egypt has it all. Attractions such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Temple of Luxor and the Abu-Simbel Temples are all big pulls for history lovers.

Nile cruises are a fantastic way to appreciate the beauties of Egypt. With average temperatures in January around 78 degrees Fahrenheit, where better place to be than on the deck of a boat?

If you’re after cheap holidays, then Egypt is an ideal location. Beach culture in the Red Sea resorts such as Sharm el Sheik is alive and kicking during January. The Red Sea is famous as an excellent deep sea diving destination. By night, the bars and clubs of Sharm El Sheik keep going till the early hours.

When New Year has been celebrated and Christmas is a memory for another 12 months, if you live somewhere chilly, January can be a miserable time. Finding sunshine during January is a guaranteed way to lighten the winter doldrums.

With warm places a plenty in January from Asia to Africa, Australia to South America, you may end up wishing Christmas away so that you can start your holidays in the sun.