Author Profile: Dearbhaile Ni Dhubhghaill

Growing up, Tomb Raider was one of my favourite films. At ten years old, watching Lara Croft wander through jungle ruins taken over by trees and vines struck me deeply and cemented Cambodia as a must-visit place in my mind, even more than Thailand or Vietnam. Though the country is often overlooked, with visitors heading to its more popular neighbours instead, Cambodia has one major draw that brings millions of tourists every year: Angkor Wat. The largest religious structure in the world, Angkor...   view more

My first thought upon walking down the streets of Luang Prabang was ‘where is everyone?’. After the crazy hustle and bustle of the streets of Hanoi in neighbouring Vietnam, I couldn’t believe just how quiet Laos’ old capital was (granted, it’s tiny in comparison, but SE Asia continuously taught me how crowded places can get). This sleepy, temple-strewn city sits at the meeting point of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers and was one of my absolute favourite places I visited during my...   view more

Okay, I knew Bruges is a beautiful city, but until I stepped foot on its winding, cobbled streets, I didn’t realise just how stunning it really is. I spent every moment of my brief trip there staring in awe at everything around me, from the beautiful brick buildings, to the gently flowing canals, to the ornate palaces and churches. Because of its small size, Bruges is incredibly walkable, and unless you want to wander around multiple museums and spend hours sitting in waffle-filled cafes, you...   view more

Though it’s the largest city in Canada, Toronto isn’t the country’s capital (that would be the less-visited Ottawa). It is one of the Top 10 most liveable cities in the world, however, which isn’t surprising given its cultural diversity, many sports teams, competitive universities, good healthcare system and iconic skyline. Whether you’re just visiting or planning to move there, this big city has plenty to...   view more

Copenhagen began as a humble Viking fishing village in the 10th century, with rapid growth and prosperity during the time of the Kalmar Union leading to its adoption as capital city of Denmark around 1416. Today, it is an internationally-recognised metropolis, being award the title World Capital of Architecture for...   view more

Before I arrived in Split, all I really knew about this city was that it was a tourist haven. Beaches in summer, yachts flitting between islands, a hearty nightlife scene – none of which really enticed me, if I’m being honest. My thoughts all lay ahead to Dubrovnik, the “real jewel” of the Croatian coast in terms of culture and history. Or so I thought. Three days in Split was only enough time to scratch the surface of this amazing part of the...   view more

I was so surprised by Plovdiv. The second largest city in the country, it’s the cultural capital of Bulgaria, and was the European Capital of Culture in 2019. It’s also one of the oldest cities in the world, with the area being inhabited for over eight thousand years, seeing multiple civilizations and empires rise and fall. So my expectations were fairly...   view more