When did you first go abroad?
Went to Spain when i was 8, then Morroco and Gibralter when i was 10, France ,Germany, Holland and Belgium when i was 11, Spain again when i was 14 to 18, Turkey when i was 20, Ibiza at 21, Rhodes at 22, back to Turkey for my 25th, Austria for skiing when i was 26 and 27 then Le Mans since i was 28 with a couple of other trips to France, Germany and Holland wedged inbetween ! Must get out of Europe but i've no intention of visiting that rubbish dump full of ignorant terrorists - America !
source
All-time Favorite Vacation?
Hehe, you look great, and the scenery is awesome! I always wanted to do a trip like that where you kind of just turn left, turn right and end up where you end up. I think it is definitely something to do without kids, or with older kids.
source
What was your 2009 travel year like?
I think 2009 was a challenging year for me, but nevertheless I have managed to do some excursions to some of the beautiful places in the region like Bali, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Nangyuan and Phuket. So all in all, 2009 was amazing and can't wait for my travels in 2010.
source
Good but reasonably-priced luthiers in or near London?
I'm not sure which models they are, but I have played a few Jay Haide instuments and have a friend who owns one as her primary instrument, and they seem brilliant. Probably the only reason I don't own one was that I specifically wanted an older cello.
source
Is Transylvania Hungarian or Romanian?
Transylvania is a region, not a person or cultural artifact. Whatever it was in the past, during the formation of the Balkan nation states it was a region of majority Romanian people that was joined to Romania by the Allies.
It can only be considered Hungarian when discussing it as a historical presence as a part of the Crown of Hungary, but this should not bleed into modern definitions and internationally recognized borders. The Czech Republic is no more Austrian for having been ruled over by Austrian kings and inhabited by an Austrian elite than Transylvania is Hungarian.
source