One of the most magical experiences I’ve had was arriving at the top of the Great Wall of China. The landscape unfolds into the distance in all directions, obscured after a time by the Beijing haze. Stood at the top, it is still possible to imagine what it must have been like for a Chinese […]
BLOG
Is flying really that bad?
We know flying is bad for the environment, but is it really that bad? Yesterday I wrote an article on Medium here examining that question. It was part of my attempt to explore some of the travel conundrums we face and better understand my impact as a traveller. In fact, I had made a new […]
A Literary Stay in Paris’s Fifth
PARIS — For centuries creatives have flocked to Paris. Its cafe culture, beautiful cobbled streets and joie de vivre have been a magnet for the greatest writers, artists and thinkers of their day. The Fifth Arrondissement Among its many neighbourhoods, Paris’s Fifth Arrondissement is its oldest. It is steeped in history, dotted with the remnants of Roman temples and […]
One year, seven cities
It’s one year ago today that I left the UK to kick off living in a different city every month – from Mexico City to Jakarta. I’ve been back in the London for a few months now, but the memories of each of these places is still vivid in my mind. I thought it would […]
Want a career in international development?
Last week I spoke at Kings College London’s International Relations Career Challenge about my winding road into the international development sector. I spoke at the same event the previous year and published this blog with my top tips: https://medium.com/@jjtoale/want-a-career-in-international-development-8bdb0c8415e6 Follow the link there or read more below. I’ll be writing an updated version soon! Want a […]
Speech: My optimism about the SDGs
Last week I gave a keynote address to United for 2030 country ambassadors. In it I spoke about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and my optimism about our collective ability to achieve them. Read my speech here. … In 2013 I travelled to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). On my way I met […]
Why Travelling Well Matters
Now that I’m fully ensconced back in London, it’s been an opportune time to reflect on some of the experiences I’ve had over the past year. Of course, the last few months in Asia stand out most clearly in my mind. And in particular, a couple of experiences have left me considering the impact that […]
My New Years Resolutions
I love New Year’s. When I was younger it was a chance to wear a sparkly dress on a night out and write out my list of resolutions for the year. To be honest, not much has changed. As I fly back to London after an incredible year overseas, I thought I’d reflect on what […]
Cambodia’s Killing Fields: What brutal histories can teach us
It’s always instructive to learn from history. It feels particularly so now, given the rise of extreme divisions in political debate around the world. Last week I visited the Choeung Ek Genocide Centre – aka Killing Fields – in Phnom Penh. Today butterflies flit around the former orchard site. But between 1975 and 1979, almost […]
Jakarta: Can it keep growing?
Jakarta is a paradox. Of all the places we’ve lived this year it has been our least favourite. The air is heavy and hard to breathe for the pollution. A thick grey haze obscures the horizon most days. Traffic clogs the city at all times of day and spits out engine fumes at anyone who […]