Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea… …that was my sneaking worry as we headed toward the Okavango Delta, clutching the single bag of worldly possessions that we were permitted to take with us on our overnight stay. The Okavango is a wild, sprawling wetland in Botswana and popular stomping ground for cantankerous hippopotamuses – one … More Overnight in the Okavango
The Carretera Austral is not your average road. Weaving past the natural obstacles of Patagonia’s rugged landscape, it forges a path through some of the most beautiful and remote parts of southern Chile. As our truck carefully navigated the winding way, I attempted to peer through the shifting veil of mist which obscured much of the wild scenery. … More The Carretera Austral
Boat night – the night that shall never be forgotten. When I look back on our journey across the Golfo de Corcovado, I always think of that infamous line from Fawlty Towers – “don’t mention the war!” Only in this case, it was a night of sleepless hell that would become the forbidden topic; an episode of … More Crossing the Golfo de Corcovado (“don’t mention the boat!”)
“Fin del Mundo”, or “The end of the world” in English – that’s how they describe Ushuaia, the Earth’s most southern city. Located on Argentina’s curling tail, it’s the launchpad for trips to Antarctica and would become the finishing point of my adventure down the spine of Chile and through Patagonia’s legendary wilderness. With twenty-four … More Overlanding to the end of the world
Uluru. The big rock. After several teasing glimpses and one false alarm, today was the day that we would finally get up close to one of Australia’s most iconic symbols. We cleared our camp site, leaving behind the sprightly little mice that had run rings around our sleeping bags all through the night. But before … More Adventure in the Outback (part 2)
“So what’s a monster flap?” That was the question on everyone’s lips, when our guide was discussing our sleeping arrangements for the Outback. In front of him, he laid out a dusty old swag – a type of tough bedding used in the bush. Smiling mischievously, he explained the flap was designed to fold over our faces and stop … More Adventure in the Outback (part 1)
This time, I was determined to take the plunge. Due to my unease with being in a swimming costume (or more precisely, being out of one), I’d missed several opportunities to visit thermal pools in the past, including the onsens in Japan and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Budapest, famous for its baths, was my third time lucky … More Széchenyi Baths – Taking the plunge
Like many people, I had dreamt of discovering my own tropical paradise; of stumbling upon a deserted beach with soft, white sand and swaying palm trees in some far flung corner of the world. However, I knew it was unrealistic to find a place that was both free from heavy tourism and convenient to reach, so I opted … More Aitutaki – Escaping to Paradise
I’d been looking forward to seeing the Giant Sequoias for a very long time – ever since one first caught my eye in a magazine I bought some ten years ago. There was a picture of a person perched on top of an enormous tree stump, leaning back with their legs comfortably crossed, gazing up at … More In the Shadow of Giants
STOP! CONSIDER TURNING BACK When these words greeted me partway through the trek, I admit I wasn’t inspired with the greatest of confidence. I stared at the bold blue warning sign and asked myself – was I really prepared? Wearing cheap, questionable trainers, I wasn’t convinced I met the criteria for “right equipment and clothing”. However, as several … More Tongariro Alpine Crossing – the best day trek in New Zealand?
Free-Spirited Travel 