As a keen swimmer, the idea of spending a week on a bike was always going to be more appealing if it meant being close to water. Lake Constance, nestled at the borders of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, turned out to be the perfect spot for my first cycling holiday. My mum and I decided […]
Category Archives: Destination
Exploring Armenia and Georgia: From Soviet Secrets to Ancient Wonders
I once read that Armenia has the largest diaspora in the world, which got me wondering: were they just great travellers, or was Armenia not that appealing? Recently, I got to explore the answers on a G-Adventures small group tour through Georgia and Armenia. Our journey began in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The first […]
Journey through Jordan: From Ancient Ruins to Desert Dreams
Shalom from Tel Aviv! Relaxing at the Hilton, looking out over the beaches, though it felt a cool 31°C compared to previous days scorching 41°C at the Dead Sea in Jordan (my phone insisted it felt more like 46°C!). Jordan was amazing. In just 6 days, we covered a lot, from Jerash in the North […]
Sailing the Heart of Southeast Asia: A Journey on the Mekong River
I once made the long, tiring journey from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Siem Reap in Cambodia by road – it was a long journey. So, when I got the chance to do it again by river, I jumped at it. Vietnam and Cambodia are amazing places, and this time, I’d be on […]
Discovering Japan’s Hidden Trails: Our Journey Along the Nakasendo
Japan is a popular destination for Kiwi visitors. Having had the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the delayed Olympics being held in 2021, Japan’s profile has never been higher. Many travellers use the Japan Rail network to zoom from one big city to another on the Shinkansen (bullet train), but some are now looking […]
Land of the Midnight Sun: Take a Journey through Land, Sea, and Legends Iceland
Keflavik Airport in Iceland has really changed since I first went through it. It’s much bigger and more impressive now, probably because Iceland has become super popular with tourists. Iceland expected 2.5 million visitors in 2018, which is a lot for a country with a population similar to Christchurch. Reykjavik now has direct flights to […]
Pedals and Perspectives: Cycling through Former Soviet Lands
Growing up in the UK during the 70s and early 80s meant living with the backdrop of the Cold War and the Iron Curtain, which divided East and West Europe. Evenings were spent glued to the family wireless, listening to European football matches involving teams like Partizan Belgrade and Torpedo Moscow. I’d hear stories of […]
Discovering the Charm of Luang Prabang: A Whirlwind Adventure in Laos
As a big fan of Southeast Asia, I was thrilled to finally get the chance to visit Laos, even if I only had three days to spare. My destination was Luang Prabang. The trip started on a high note with a friendly airport manager who welcomed us right on the tarmac and chatted all the […]
Cruising the Galapagos Islands
I recently had the incredible chance to cruise the Galapagos Islands for four nights on the lovely yacht, La Pinta. What an amazing experience! I’ve seen wildlife in places like Africa and the Arctic, but the Galapagos is definitely up there. The animals and birds here aren’t scared of people at all, and you can […]
Adventure to Antarctica: Aboard the Greg Mortimer!
Arriving in Ushuaia with the excitement of boarding The Greg Mortimer Ship the next day, I could hardly contain my enthusiasm. With a morning to spare before meeting my fellow travellers, I decided to explore the area on foot. It didn’t take long to spot others who would be joining me on the ship—everyone was […]