Marble Mountain, Da Nang, Vietnam - June 2026

I got up early and caught a Grab to The Marble Mountains. It's an easy 20 minute drive from where I am staying.

First I went into a cave which was great and cost VND20,000....

Looking back outside...

It was a steep and dangerous climb up...

But I got up and outside...

Looking towards the sea...

Looking back down...

Hello Buddha...

Then I came carefully back down...

Then I went into the mountain which cost VND40,000 plus VND15,000 for the lift up...

I nearly didn't see it, but there's a path behind this which leads up another steep path to the outside...

Fortunately we could go back down another way...

That was it. Very enjoyable. Got a Grab back to the hotel.

Brisbane - May 2026

Went to Brisbane for my regular trip. Worked in the office and then checked into the Marriott.

I had a nice room on the executive floor with a good view of the Storey Bridge...

I had dinner in the executive lounge and as it was still early, I walked to a cocktail bar in Fortitude Valley called Savile Row...

I had a cocktail and met some locals...

Walked back to the hotel and called it a night.

Melbourne - May 2026

I went to Melbourne for work for a couple of days. Flew on Wednesday night. Got an Uber to the Voco where I have stayed before.

I walked to Chinatown for dinner. Weather is a bit miserable...

On the way back, I went to a bar in the lane near my hotel where they were playing jazz. This was a really nice cocktail...

The next morning, I had breakfast at a cafe near my hotel called Ten Square Cafe...

That night I had dinner and drinks in the hotel bar called Blacksmith. Started with a cocktail...

This is the hotel pool which is on a terrace right outside the bar...

Madrid to Sydney - May 2026

Flew back from San Sebastian for the first leg of my long trip home. It's a very small local airport. Short flight on Iberia. It's an A319 and looks small...

Leaving...

Goodbye San Sebastian...

Coming into Madrid...

I'm staying at INNSiDE by Melia Madrid Valdebebas near the airport as I have an early flight tomorrow. Caught the hotel shuttle and checked into the hotel. It's very new, and I got a nice room with balcony, overlooking the airport...

I wanted to go into the city, so I caught the shuttle back to the airport and then the airport train and then subway to Sol. It cost EUR3.60.

It was a sunny but cold day in Madrid. I went to Global Blue Exchange to get the tax refund on my new sunglasses. However the queue was outrageous so I left. I hadn't had lunch so I headed to an early dinner. It'd it's a public holiday in Madrid so very busy...

We had tried twice to get into a restaurant that I had been onto on my last trip here. They don't take bookings and are always busy. However, I turned up about 6pm and got a seat. It's a nice place called Entre Santos...

I ordered the stuff portobello mushrooms which were superb...

And the beef tartare was great...

Caught the subway back to the airport which took longer than the airport train. Then got the hotel shuttle back to the hotel. I went up to the rooftop bar and had a vermouth. It was very cold so I didn't stay long.

The next morning it was a 6am wake up for a 9am flight to Brussels on Iberia. It was effectively a domestic flight and therefore now passport control, so I was happy about that as Spain is a bit slow and they have implemented this new ESS which is the electronic collection of fingerprints.

I got a seat at the front of economy which was good. Larger than a regular seat...

I got to Brussels and went to the non-Shengen section. Had to clear passport control which was easy. Found The View lounge as there's no Cathay Lounge here. It was fine and I didn't have long but I had tome for this very nice lunch...

I went to the gate and saw my plane. I think it's the one I came to Rome on as it has the 80 year, retro livery...

Landed in Hong Kong at 0650 after a very long 11.5 hours in Premium Economy. I made my way through transfer which is annoying in HK. Passport control and full security screening. Got to the lounge foe a jounce and a coffee before boarding my 8am flight to Singapore. 

Quick flight to Singapore and landed about 1130. Got my bag and headed out of the airport to Yunimori Onsen for a steam and a massage. Headed back to the airport about 4pm and went to the Qantas First Class lounge which is my favourite. Had the Qantas Sling which was very nice...

I then had the prawn wontons which are my favourite, followed by the pork chop...

Then the sorbet and a Noble One...

Short trip home and it was only 6.5 hours. We landed at 5am and I was home by 6am.

What a great trip!