Life is in the detail

Trek up to Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan. Arriving at the monastery you may be given a cup of yak butter tea and be blessed by the head monk.

Miranda - Original Traveller

Miranda Boord

Original Travel Expert

I have extensive travel experience throughout Indian Subcontinent and Japan.

My travels

Travel Things I Want To Do Before I Die

Go to the jungles in Borneo to see the Orang-utans
To go back to Ladakh and do a proper expedtion in search of the ellusive snow leopard
To give something back - I would love to go and assist at one of the Original Travel Foundation projects, especially the one in the Sundabans
To search out a clouded leopard in North Eastern India
To see giant pandas in the wild in China
I am desperate to go to the Kumbh Mela in India
To snorkel with whale sharks on the Ningaloo reef in Australia
To swim with manta ray in Hannifaru Bay, Baa Atoll
To explore Canada in the summer once the bears have come out of hibernation and are fishing in the rivers for salmon

Best Moments

Bhutan - a land of happy mistakes - you never know what is going to happen, on my first visit we had a pretty tough trek to Tigers Nest, I am a little scared of heights and it was very slippery as there was snow all over the ground, but coming back down the mountain having visited the monastery and been blessed by the Head Rinpoche (which was very special) we bumped into a group of young monks and although they didn't speak much English they spied that we were game for some fun and we ended up having a huge snowball fight running back down the mountain - it was extraordinary.
India - taking time out from the usual touristy sights and sitting and sharing chai with ladies at a dhaba (roadside chai shack) who spoke no English
The FOOD in Japan - I just couldn't get enough, well until I wasn't sure what I was eating then I was a little more suspect
Living out in India at Kipling Camp in Central India. This is where my love of India all started and I will never forget the wonderful staff or Tara the elephant, and taking her down to the Banjaar river every afternoon for her daily bath. While here I also saw a tiger in the wild for the first time, which made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and sent shivers down my spine.
Ladakh - I've never seen scenery quite like it
New Zealand - where do I start? Sublime scenery, incredible food and wine, amazing people and truly wonderful hotels and experiences
Coming (almost!) face to face with a bull elephant when on a walking safari in Zambia - a serious adrenaline rush
A safari in Botswana for my fathers 60th. We were camping in the national parks and didn't see any other vehicles for days. It was incredible and we saw so much game.
Flying into Bhutan - it's the most scenic flight in the world and you get a running commentary from the pilot as you fly past Mt Everest, landing into such a small valley you feel like the wings are about to touch the valley sides

Toughest Travel Moment

Accidently deleting all of the photographs off my memory card whilst in Ladakh
Having my knee cut open by a Croatian doctor who spoke no English and all he could say was 'doctor clean aha, doctor clean' when I left his surgery I noticed a lot of people walking around with the same gauze on their legs - they probably had the same experience
Unsurprisingly, getting ill in India and spending three days in hospital on a drip in the middle of Central India - fortunately I was wonderfully looked after by my driver from Kipling Camp.

Weirdest Travel Moment

Leaving the Indian jungle after five months of near solitude and silence and pitching up in Varanasi - a serious assault on the senses, a fascinating city, but completely chaotic and extraordinary after the seclusion of having been in the middle of nowhere for months.
A lost train in India - Turning up at Varanasi station to take a train to Central India and being told 'I'm terribly sorry madam, but the train is lost', we questioned how long it would be lost for 'I am no idea madam - the train is lost, come back tomorrow'.
Being made to do a sky dive over Lake Taupo in New Zealand
Flying from Wellington to Auckland and then onto Queenstown with a huge bulbous prosthetic nose that had been put on me at the Weta Workshop - I got some very odd looks and the lady next to me on the flight from Auckland to Queenstown could not stop staring and eventually asked if she could touch it as I had to tell her it was fake.

Explore my blog posts

The Inside Track: India

Why do I love India so much? From the rich historic culture to the huge geographical diversity - they have it all from the snow-capped Himalayan Mountains to the deserts in Gujarat and Rajasthan. It doesn't matter how many times you visit India, there is always something new to discover;…

Six Reasons Why We Should All Go to China Right Now

China is a fascinating country in which to travel. However, I am not going to lie and say it will ever be my favourite destination; it is a tough country to travel in. There were times that I absolutely loved it and others when I was wondering what on earth I was doing there. However, I do…

Eight Reasons To Go To India Right Now

India has long been a favourite amongst Original Travel staff and clients alike. It's the kind of country that inspires a lifelong affinity and, once people catch the India bug, they tend to go back again and again - there is always more to discover. With that in mind, here are eight reasons…

Deepest Mani, the unexplored cradle of ancient Greece.

Fears of driving on uncertain roads melted away in the midday Maniot heat, as we climbed through mountains that tumbled into the crystal blue sea. My reward for braving the hairpin bends from Kalamata to the Mani, was the breathtaking vistas glimpsed in between Cyprus and Olive trees on the…

Tiger Tourism in India

Here at Original Travel, we love to stay ahead of the curve and keep up with what's going on in our favourite destinations. Myself and Milly, representing Team Asia, recently attended the TOFT (Travel Operators for Tigers) Wildlife product update talk given by chairman Julian Matthews, which…

A Tiger Safari in India

Asia specialist Miranda is truly passionate about tigers. Here she shares her once in a lifetime tiger safari holiday in India - one of her most memorable travel experiences to date. Originally Published August 2013.

Fun Family Holidays To India

India is a feast for the senses for all, what can be more exciting having read Kipling's Jungle Book than seeing all the animals come to life in the Indian Jungle; ride Colonal Hathi trying to track Sher Khan, if you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of Baloo or Bagheera going about their…

Thai Salmon Recipe

Check out this Thai salmon recipe, the perfect meal for a cosy night in whilst planning your next trip to Asia...

Vegetable Samosa Recipe

This vegetable samosa recipe was picked up by our Asia specialist Miranda, during a visit to her favourite hotel in Jaipur, India - Samode Hotels!

Spanish Recipe: Ham Croquettes

Love Spain, Love Tapas? Here is a Spanish recipe for ham croquettes. These are absolutely delicious, but be warned, a bit of a fiddle to make….

Ginger and Honey Tea Recipe

This one is delicious… especially to warm you up on a chilly day after a long trek to Tigers Nest in Bhutan, also delicious after a hot stone bath and amazing massage at the Uma Paro spa. Let me introduce to you all...

Whistler Ski Holidays

Canada is, for many people, the ultimate ski destination. Whether its quantity and quality of snow, the mountainside conditions and facilities, or even the in-resort features and standards; Canadian ski resorts are unbeatable on virtually all fronts. And none more so than Whistler. The…

India: Something for Everyone

Such a vast and vibrant country, India has a huge amount to offer visitors. 2012/13 are certainly no exception to that; with new modes of transport, new accommodation, holy and musical festivals, plus a whole host of other cultural events taking place, India really does have something to…

Tiger Tourism Faces it's Biggest Court Case to Date

A tiger safari is the epitome of a memorable and unique holiday experience. But at the end of July 2012, the Supreme Court in India imposed an interim ban on all tiger tourism within the core areas of the National Parks in India. This ban is due for a hearing tomorrow.

Big Cat Safaris: Go Wild!

After a once in a lifetime holiday? Nothing beats spotting a big cat. Yes, yes, we all love a lumbering elephant or a cute orang-utan, but for the ultimate in wildlife watching it has to be one of the magnificent moggies that prowl around the wilder parts of almost every continent on Earth.…

The Best Exotic Hotels in Rajasthan

An 'absolutely definitely' must see...The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel currently out in the cinema is a heart warming story of a group of Brits from all different walks of life, heading out to India for retirement. Arriving at the hotel, it is not quite as it has been described in the…

80 Senses: #69 - The Tiger's Nest, Bhutan

Into the tiger's den...

80 Senses: #60 - Salvatore Maraschio, Concierge at Hotel de Russie

The man who makes the impossible possible... We at Original Travel send our clients off on city breaks with a detailed dossier containing our recommendations of the best restaurants, bars, places to shops and generally all the info you could need to make for the perfect Big Short Break. We…

80 Senses: #47 - U Bein Bridge, Lake Inle at Sunset

The ultimate photo opportunity. Burma is back, and Inle Lake is a very tranquil and relaxing spot after the hustle and bustle of the cities of Mandalay and Rangoon.

80 Senses: #37 - Things to do in Gozo, Village festas

Big bang fact, not theory... According to legend, Odysseus fell under the seven-year spell of the sea-nymph Calypso on the Mediterranean island of Gozo. Nowadays the smaller sister island of Malta basks in relative anonymity, and diving and spas have replaced sea-nymphs as the main lures for…

80 Senses: #20 - Incense at Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu

The aroma of spirituality.

80 Senses: #14 - The Great Room, Southern Ocean Lodge

Here's a fun game. When staying on Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia, ask the nearest local how the island got its name, then wait for the exasperated - and possibly swear word-laden - response.

80 Senses: #3 - Hear the Tigers in India

A tiger's prey FEELS the roar and is - literally - scared stiff... Pedants, beware. Technically this should probably go down as a 'sound' but when you actually hear the roar of tigers in India, you realise it's so much more than a noise. Semantics aside, you might think roaring would be…