The first e-postcards have arrived from me as I embark on a two-week adventure exploring the wonders of South Africa! Our journey began as soon as we landed in Cape Town. Without missing a beat, we headed straight to Franschhoek, nestled in the heart of the Western Cape Winelands. Our home for the next few […]
Category Archives: Trip Reports
Discover the Unexpected: A Christmas Week in Japan
Japan is really popular right now! My last visit was in April 2019 when I walked the Nakasendo Trail, so I was excited to spend a week there with my family before Christmas. We flew with Air New Zealand, and on our approach to Narita, we got great views of Mt Fuji. We then took […]
A 500m cruise on Ponant’s luxury icebreaker in Lyttelton Harbour
Living in Lyttelton, I see a lot of cruise ships arriving and departing each summer, but Ponant’s luxury icebreaker the ‘Commandant Charcot’ is unique, so when I was offered the opportunity to enjoy a overnight aboard in the harbour, I jumped at the chance. The Charcot had just voyaged from Antarctica and was turning around […]
Savouring San Sebastián: A Foodie’s Delight and Cultural Escape
After our whirlwind tour of Barcelona, we decided to slow things down a bit. We caught a short flight to San Sebastián and settled into an apartment in the old town for four nights. It was a welcome change of pace and a perfect opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local culture. San Sebastián is […]
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 […]
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 […]