Peter Gifford – Travel Diaries

Three Weeks in Sri Lanka

February 20, 2025

By Peter

Columbo

Columbo

February 21, 2025

By Peter

Anuradhapura: Dagobas and Buddha’s Bo Tree

February 22, 2025

By Peter

Kuttam Pokuna

Anuradhapura: Ruined Monasteries

February 23, 2025

By Peter

Mihintale

Mihintale to Nilaveli: Buddhas and Beaches

February 24, 2025

By Peter

Dambulla

Trincomalee to Sigiriya: Temples and Caves

February 27, 2025

By Peter

Polonnaruwa: Rain and Ruins

February 28, 2025

By Peter

Hurulu Eco-Park: Elephants!

March 1, 2025

By Peter

Sigiriya: Rock-climbing at Dawn

March 2, 2025

By Peter

Sigiriya-Kandy: Mesolithic Burials and the 3 Temples Loop

March 3, 2025

By Peter

Kandy: Temple of the Tooth, Drumming and Dancing

March 5, 2025

By Peter

Kandy-Ella: Tea and Terrible Tourists

March 6, 2025

By Peter

Ella-Tangalle: From the Hills to the Beach

March 7, 2025

By Peter

Mirissa-Galle: Packed Beaches and a Weaving Mill

March 10, 2025

By Peter

Galle Fort walls

Galle: Exploring the Fort

March 12, 2025

By Peter

Galle-Negombo: Architecture and Insect Bites

March 13, 2025

By Peter

Four Weeks in South India

February 9, 2024

By Peter

Mumbai: Gateways and Museums

February 10, 2024

By Peter

Mumbai: Shopping and Arabian Sea Views

February 11, 2024

By Peter

Mumbai: Food Poisoning Hits Early

February 12, 2024

By Peter

Mumbai to Goa

February 13, 2024

By Peter

Stall at Agonda Beach

Goa: Agonda Beach

February 14, 2024

By Peter

Badami caves

Badami: Caves and Temples

February 16, 2024

By Peter

‎⁨Pattadakal⁩

Badami to Pattadakal to Aihole to Hampi

February 18, 2024

By Peter

Malyaranta Hill sunset

Hampi: The Royal Centre

February 19, 2024

By Peter

Virupaksha Temple from Hemakuta Hill

Hampi: Virupaksha Temple and Surrounds

February 20, 2024

By Peter

Up to the temple of Hanuman

Hampi and a Sleeper Train to Hyderabad

February 21, 2024

By Peter

Charminar, Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Minarets, Mosques and Palaces

February 22, 2024

By Peter

Golconda Fort, mortuary baths

Hyderabad to Chennai

February 23, 2024

By Peter

Arjuna’s Penance

Mahabalipuram

February 25, 2024

By Peter

Pancha Rathahs, Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram to Puducherry

February 26, 2024

By Peter

Sick in Puducherry

February 27, 2024

By Peter

Dharasuram Airavatesvara Temple

Puducherry to Thanjavur

March 2, 2024

By Peter

Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur

Thanjavur

March 3, 2024

By Peter

Rock Fort Temple, Tiruchirappalli

Tiruchirappalli

March 4, 2024

By Peter

Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai

Madurai

March 5, 2024

By Peter

Business class

Madurai to Bengaluru to Home

March 8, 2024

By Peter

Luang Prabang

Three Weeks in Cambodia and Laos

November 21, 2019

By Peter

Royal Palace

Phnom Penh: Royal Palace and Waterfront

November 21, 2019

By Peter

S-21

Phnom Penh: S-21 and the Killing Fields

November 22, 2019

By Peter

Drive to Siem Reap

November 23, 2019

By Peter

Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom

November 24, 2019

By Peter

Banteay Srei, Banteay Samré, Landmine Museum

November 25, 2019

By Peter

Beng Mealea, Roulos, Prasat Kravan, Pre Rup

November 26, 2019

By Peter

Angkor Thom’s south gate

Angkor Thom, Ta Nei, Ta Keo, Pre Rup sunset

November 27, 2019

By Peter

Angkor Wat bas relief

Battambang: Cliffs, Caves and Homestays

November 28, 2019

By Peter

Family Bat Cave homestay

Battambang: Bicycling and Walking

November 29, 2019

By Peter

Luang Prabang airport

Flight to Luang Prabang

November 30, 2019

By Peter

Luang Prabang wat

Luang Prabang

December 1, 2019

By Peter

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang: Royal Palace

December 2, 2019

By Peter

Luang Prabang monks

Luang Prabang: Wats Over the Mekong

December 3, 2019

By Peter

Bear Rescue Centre

Luang Prabang: Bear Rescue Centre

December 4, 2019

By Peter

Elephants bathing

Luang Prabang: Elephant Conservation Centre

December 5, 2019

By Peter

Elephant

Luang Prabang: Elephant Conservation Centre

December 6, 2019

By Peter

Elephant looking for treats

Luang Prabang: Elephant Conservation Centre

December 7, 2019

By Peter

Hut on the trail

Luang Prabang: Trekking

December 8, 2019

By Peter

Huoy Fai morning

Luang Prabang: More Trekking

December 9, 2019

By Peter

Pha That Luang

Vientiane

December 10, 2019

By Peter

Breakfast

Back to Phnom Penh

December 11, 2019

By Peter

Vietnam

Three Weeks in Vietnam

November 14, 2018

By Peter

Hanoi: rooftop bar view

Hanoi

November 15, 2018

By Peter

Temple of Literature

Hanoi: Temples and Citadels

November 16, 2018

By Peter

Hoan Kiem lake

Hanoi: the Old Quarter

November 17, 2018

By Peter

Lan Ha Bay

Hanoi-Lan Ha Bay

November 18, 2018

By Peter

Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island

November 19, 2018

By Peter

Lan Ha Bay

Lan Ha Bay-Hanoi

November 20, 2018

By Peter

Hoa Lo Prison

Hanoi: Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Train to Sapa

November 21, 2018

By Peter

Sapa

Sapa

November 22, 2018

By Peter

Muong Hoa Valley

Sapa: Trekking

November 23, 2018

By Peter

Trekking

Sapa: More Trekking

November 24, 2018

By Peter

Delicious

Hanoi to Hue

November 25, 2018

By Peter

Imperial Enclosure

Hue: Imperial Enclosure

November 26, 2018

By Peter

Tu Duc's Tomb

Hue: Imperial Tombs, Da Nang, Hoi An

November 27, 2018

By Peter

Japanese Covered Bridge

Hoi An: Old Town, Merchant Houses

November 28, 2018

By Peter

Hoi An

Hoi An: Solo Cycling, An Bang Beach

November 29, 2018

By Peter

My Son

Hoi An: My Son

November 30, 2018

By Peter

Street market

Hoi An: Breakfasts and Dinners

December 1, 2018

By Peter

Mekong Rustic Hotel

Hoi An to Can Tho

December 2, 2018

By Peter

Floating markets

Mekong: Markets and Villages

December 3, 2018

By Peter

CoCo Riverside Lodge

Mekong: Vinh Long

December 4, 2018

By Peter

Vinh Long to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

December 5, 2018

By Peter

Reunification Palace bunkers

Saigon: Palaces and Museums

December 6, 2018

By Peter

Saigon street

Saigon: Temples

December 7, 2018

By Peter

Japan

Three Weeks in Japan

October 10, 2016

By Peter

Senso-ji

Tokyo: Senso-ji and Yanaka

October 11, 2016

By Peter

Tokyo National Museum

Tokyo: Ukiyo-e, Kagurazaka, Tokyo National Museum

October 12, 2016

By Peter

Honke Bankyu

Tokyo to Yunishigawa-Onsen

October 13, 2016

By Peter

Nikko

Yunishigawa-Onsen to Nikko

October 14, 2016

By Peter

Nikko

Nikko

October 15, 2016

By Peter

Takayama

Takayama

October 16, 2016

By Peter

Kanazawa

Kanazawa

October 17, 2016

By Peter

Arashiyama

Kyoto: Arashiyama

October 18, 2016

By Peter

Kiyomizu-dera

Kyoto: Temples and Shrines

October 19, 2016

By Peter

Sumo

Kyoto: Sumo

October 20, 2016

By Peter

Fushimi Inari shrine

Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine

October 21, 2016

By Peter

Jidai Matsui festival parade

Kyoto: Jidai Matsui Festival

October 22, 2016

By Peter

Okunoin cemetery

Kyoto to Koya-san

October 23, 2016

By Peter

Osaka

Koya-san to Osaka

October 24, 2016

By Peter

Miyajima

Miyajima Island

October 25, 2016

By Peter

Miyajima

Miyajima to Hiroshima

October 26, 2016

By Peter

Hiroshima

Hiroshima

October 27, 2016

By Peter

Himeji Castle

Himeji to Nara

October 28, 2016

By Peter

Nara

Nara

October 29, 2016

By Peter

Tokyo: Shibuya streets

Nara to Tokyo

October 30, 2016

By Peter

Friends in Tokyo

Last Night in Tokyo

October 31, 2016

By Peter

Morocco

Three Weeks in Morocco

September 27, 2009

By Peter

Fez

First Day in Fez

September 28, 2009

By Peter

Fez

Fez: Wandering in the Medina

September 30, 2009

By Peter

Dar Attajali rooftop

Fez: Tanneries and Dar Attajali

October 1, 2009

By Peter

Chefchaouen

Fez to Chefchaouen

October 2, 2009

By Peter

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen: Mint Tea and Ice-Blue Alleyways

October 3, 2009

By Peter

Chefchaouen to Meknes

October 4, 2009

By Peter

Volubilis

Meknes: Mud-Brick Palaces and Roman City Ruins

October 5, 2009

By Peter

Rabat and El-Jadida: The Road to Recovery

October 7, 2009

By Peter

La Citerne Portugaise

El-Jadida: Back on Our Feet

October 12, 2009

By Peter

Marrakech at night

El-Jadida to Marrakesh: the Jemaa el-Fnaa

October 13, 2009

By Peter

Marrakesh: Mosques and Medinas

October 14, 2009

By Peter

Marrakesh: Shrines and Souks

October 15, 2009

By Peter

Two Weeks in the United Kingdom

October 17, 2009

By Peter

London to Windsor

October 18, 2009

By Peter

Winchester Cathedral

Wandering Winchester

October 19, 2009

By Peter

HMS Victory

Portsmouth and Nelson’s Victory

October 21, 2009

By Peter

Salisbury Cathedral

Salisbury

October 22, 2009

By Peter

Stonehenge

Stonehenge, Castles, and Bradford-on-Avon

October 23, 2009

By Peter

Chepstow Castle

Bradford-on-Avon, Chepstow Castle, Caerleon

October 24, 2009

By Peter

Raglan Castle

Caerphilly Castle, Abergavenny, Raglan Castle, Tintern Abbey

October 25, 2009

By Peter

Lacock Abbey

Castle Combe, Bath, Lacock

October 27, 2009

By Peter

Avebury

Averbury, London

October 28, 2009

By Peter

Turkey

Two Weeks in Turkey

September 6, 2001

By Peter

The Blue Mosque

London to Istanbul

September 7, 2001

By Peter

Sunken cistern detail

Istanbul: Palaces and Cisterns

September 8, 2001

By Peter

Aya Sofia

Istanbul: Mosques and Galata Bridge

September 9, 2001

By Peter

Bazaar

Istanbul: Wandering the Bazaars

September 10, 2001

By Peter

Galata Bridge

Istanbul: The World Changes

September 11, 2001

By Peter

Dolmabahce Palace

Istanbul: A Turkish Bath

September 12, 2001

By Peter

Goreme

Ankara to Goreme

September 13, 2001

By Peter

Goreme’s Open-Air Museum

Goreme: Church Caves and a Mystical Tailor

September 14, 2001

By Peter

Caravanserai

Goreme: an Underground City and Selime Monastery

September 15, 2001

By Peter

Turkey

Selcuk

September 16, 2001

By Peter

Ephesus

Epheseus

September 17, 2001

By Peter

Turkey

Selcuk to Ayvalik

September 18, 2001

By Peter

Hellespont

Ayvalik to Canakulle

September 19, 2001

By Peter

Anzac Cove

Gallipoli

September 20, 2001

By Peter

Turkey

Istanbul to London

September 21, 2001

By Peter

Temple on the hill

Six Weeks in India

November 22, 1997

By Peter

Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

November 23, 1997

By Peter

Delhi hotel

Delhi, India: Culture shock

November 24, 1997

By Peter

Red Fort

Delhi: Forts and Mosques

November 25, 1997

By Peter

Train to Shimla

Delhi to Shimla

November 26, 1997

By Peter

Shimla streets

Shimla: Hill Station Strolling

November 27, 1997

By Peter

Temple of Hanuman

Shimla: Monkeys and Colonial Architecture

November 28, 1997

By Peter

Street printer

Shimla to Mandi

November 29, 1997

By Peter

Sick in bed

Mandi

November 30, 1997

By Peter

McLeod Gange

Mandi to Dharamshala (McLeod Ganj)

December 1, 1997

By Peter

Prayer wheels

McLeod Ganj: the Tsuglagkhang

December 2, 1997

By Peter

Villages around McLeod Ganj

McLeod Ganj: Local villages

December 3, 1997

By Peter

Bajreshwari Devi temple

McLeod Ganj, Kangra, Nagar Kot Fort

December 4, 1997

By Peter

McLeod Ganj

McLeod Ganj

December 5, 1997

By Peter

McLeod Ganj

The train to Jaipur

December 6, 1997

By Peter

Jaipur Observatory

Jaipur: Palace of the Winds, Jantar Mantar

December 8, 1997

By Peter

Amber fort

Jaipur: Amber fort

December 9, 1997

By Peter

Pushkar

Jaipur to Pushkar

December 10, 1997

By Peter

Pushkar dawn

Lazy Day in Pushkar

December 11, 1997

By Peter

View from the hill top

Pushkar: Hilltop Temple

December 12, 1997

By Peter

Pushkar to Jodhpur

Pushkar to Jodhpur

December 13, 1997

By Peter

Jodhpur

Jodhpur

December 14, 1997

By Peter

On the train to Jaisalmer

Jodhpur to Jaisalmer

December 15, 1997

By Peter

Jaisalmer sunrise

Jaisalmer: Wandering around the Fort

December 16, 1997

By Peter

Walls of Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer: A New Hotel and a Jain Temple

December 17, 1997

By Peter

Jaisalmer Fort at night

Jaisalmer: Lost Days

December 18, 1997

By Peter

Carving

Jaisalmer to Udaipur

December 20, 1997

By Peter

Udaipur from the hotel roof

Udaipur

December 21, 1997

By Peter

Monkey on the hotel roof

Udaipur

December 22, 1997

By Peter

Udaipur lake at sunset

Udaipur

December 23, 1997

By Peter

Udaipur lakeshore

Udaipur: Lake Palaces

December 24, 1997

By Peter

Udaipur lakeshore

Last day in Udaipur

December 25, 1997

By Peter

Ellora Caves

Udaipur to Aurangabad, Ellora Caves

December 26, 1997

By Peter

Ajanta caves

Aurangabad, Ajanta Caves, Jaigaon

December 27, 1997

By Peter

Great Stupa at Sanchi

Jaigon to Sanchi to Jhansi

December 29, 1997

By Peter

Khajuraho carvings

Jhansi to Khajuraho

December 30, 1997

By Peter

Rail car

Khajuraho to Satna to Varanasi

December 31, 1997

By Peter

Boats on the Ganges

Varanasi: Ghats by the Ganges

January 2, 1998

By Peter

Varanasi

Varanasi

January 3, 1998

By Peter

Varanasi

Varanasi to Agra

January 4, 1998

By Peter

Fatehpur Sikri

Agra: Fatehpur Sikri

January 5, 1998

By Peter

Taj Mahal

Agra and the Taj Mahal; Return to Delhi

January 6, 1998

By Peter

Sanchi

Delhi, Bangkok, and Home

January 7, 1998

By Peter

Monument Valley

Six Months in the Americas

October 14, 2000

By Peter

Rockies

California, Spokane, Seattle, Denver

October 15, 2000

By Peter

Valley of the Gods

Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah

December 4, 2000

By Peter

New York

Las Vegas, New York, Harvard, Boston

December 15, 2000

By Peter

Atacama Desert

Antofagasta, San Pedro, Arica

February 2, 2001

By Peter

Local market

Chile: Santiago and Southern Chile

January 15, 2001

By Peter

La Paz

Bolivia: La Paz

February 10, 2001

By Peter

Sorata hill trek

Sorata Hill Trek

February 14, 2001

By Peter

Street advertising

Copacabana, Isla del Sol

February 17, 2001

By Peter

Cuzco wall

Peru: Puno, Cuszo, Pizac

February 21, 2001

By Peter

Macchu Piccu

Inca Trail, Maccu Piccu

February 26, 2001

By Peter

Nazca from the air

Peru: Cuzco, Lima, Huacachina

March 2, 2001

By Peter

Me among the sea lions

Ecuador: Quito, The Galapagos

March 22, 2001

By Peter

Galapagos flamingos

Galapagos

March 27, 2001

By Peter

Galapagos

Galapagos

March 30, 2001

By Peter

Egypt

Ten Days in Egypt

October 19, 1991

By Peter

The Pyramids

Naxos to Cairo

October 20, 1991

By Peter

The Pyramids

Cairo: the Pyramids

October 21, 1991

By Peter

Ibn Tuloun mosque

Cairo: Citadel and Mosque

October 22, 1991

By Peter

On the train to Luxor

Cairo to Luxor

October 23, 1991

By Peter

Cruising down the Nile on the Nile King

Luxor: Nile Cruise and Markets

October 24, 1991

By Peter

The Mortuary Temple of Ramesses III

Luxor: Tombs and Temples

October 25, 1991

By Peter

Ali's African Restaurant

Luxor: Getting Money and Making Friends

October 26, 1991

By Peter

Karnak

Luxor to Cairo

October 27, 1991

By Peter

Cafe near the Hotel Windsor

Cairo: Cairo Museum

October 28, 1991

By Peter

Camels and guides near the pyramids

Cairo: Back to the Pyramids

October 29, 1991

By Peter

Egypt

Packing List: 3 Weeks

January 16, 2018

By Peter