Known as Ho Chi Minh city since the late 70’s the city is still often referred to as Saigon by pretty much everyone…even VC vets we’ve spoken to! Saigon is a busy, bustling, crazy kind of place, it almost makes you feel like you can’t get your breath at times. With the worlds largest number of
Asia

Paragliding off Babadag Mountain and landing on the stunning Blue Lagoon Beach in Oludeniz, Turkey!
Back in 2006 I visited Oludeniz for the first time, this picturesque beach town on the south coast of Turkey was somewhere Shorty (Paul) had visited many times growing up and we were keen to check it out! Of course, being over 10 years ago and a family holiday it was VERY different to our

Things to do in The Cameron Highlands: A guide to Hiking the Dramatic Tea Plantations, Dense Jungles & Incredible Mountains of the Region. Plus Some Relaxing Activities Too!
Malaysia is such a diverse country and one of the places that really illustrates that is the landscape of the Cameron Highlands. Whilst the rest of the country is baked in sun and sweating in the humid conditions, up here the temperature and climate is totally different. The landscape, wildlife and the lifestyle is unique

Learning to SCUBA dive in Borneo: Completing our PADI course in the most stunning and unexpected place!
When we set off backpacking around South East Asia, doing a PADI course to become qualified open water SCUBA divers was one of the first things we added to our list of things to do! After doing a taster session over 10 years ago on a family holiday to Turkey and also having friends who

Things to do in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Borneo: The Ultimate Kota Kinabalu Itinerary
The small but lively city of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah on the Malaysian side of Borneo is a world away from KL! The distinct culture and history of Bornean Malaysia combined with the dense jungles, unique wildlife, stunning coastline and the towering 4000m Mt Kinabalu makes it an enchanting place to visit. Having already fallen

Seeing Orangutans in Borneo: A magical experience seeing this fascinating endangered animal in its natural setting.
Flying over to the Malaysian part of Borneo most have one main objective: To see the endangered Orangutans in their natural environment in the only place in the world where they exist. With dwindling numbers over the last few decades this bucket list item is even harder to tick. However with many amazing conservation areas

Things To Do In Vang Vieng: A Guide To This Beautiful & Adventure Filled Backpacker Paradise!
Vang Vieng was once a byword for backpackers excess and the devastating effects it can have on a place. In the past this wonderful village surrounded by mountains and stunning rivers was described as a “Paradise Lost”, engulfed by the drunken backpackers who would pass through without a care for the culture or indeed the

Visiting the awe inspiring Leshan Giant Buddha in China, the largest pre modern Buddha in the world! A perfect day trip from Chengdu.
A magical and mysterious place, this ancient wonder left us in awe and made a perfect day trip from Chengdu to Leshan. The sheer scale of this enormous place almost too much to take in, the 90 year project of a dedicated monk it is still one of China’s most sacred Buddhist locations. It draws

How to Avoid the Mui Ne Police Trap, Vietnam…For Mui Ne Motorbike Rental & Backpackers Touring Vietnam
So, you are riding your bike through Vietnam and having the time of your life on this epic journey. Along the way you have been greeted with smiles, waves off Police and generally been treated well. Now you come to Mui Ne to take a break by the sea, explore the huge sand dunes and

Tea Ceremony in Tokyo: The Beautifully Serine Hamarikyu Gardens Tea House, Japan
When we visited Japan we were keen to try out a tea ceremony in Tokyo, to soak in all that tradition and observe the preparation and presentation of “The way of Tea”. But upon researching these ceremonial and ancient services we discovered that many were quite expensive and also a little too full on for

Experiencing the unique culture of Borneo up close and personal at the Mari Mari culture village. Plus, Where to stay in Kota Kinabalu!
When we decided to head over to Borneo, specifically the Malaysian side, we were keen to take the opportunity to soak in all this magnificent and mysterious island had to offer and especially to visit a Borneo cultural village. From trekking through the jungle in search of endangered animals to embracing the rich tribal culture of

Vang Vieng Tubing, Laos: Why its still a fun way to see this beautiful town!
When you think of backpacking excesses, debauchery, drunkenness and generally the sort of behaviour that gives us more cultured travellers who happen to carry their belongings on their back a bad name the place Vang Vieng won’t be far from a mention. Over the past decade or so it has built up a reputation for all

Travelling around Thailand: Bangkok to Chiang Mai bus or the overnight train Bangkok to Chiang Mai or even a flight?
Thailand is an incredible place to travel around whether on holiday or on a backpacking trip around the world you will find it one of the easiest countries in Southeast Asia to navigate! However, it is still a relatively large country with great distances to be covered from one region to another. Chiang Mai and

Alternatives to the crowded Blue Mosque: The incredible Suleymaniye Mosque and it’s authentic neighbourhood!
Strolling around Istanbul, the intoxicating air of history, the well worn streets and the breathlessness of the electrifying hum draws you into its endless energy. A city split between two continents, a city of sharp contrasts and diversity, a beacon of symbolism for Turkey, its modern incarnation and long historic enduring historic past. It’s a

The ultimate guide for backpacking Sri Lanka: Exploring this beautifully diverse country on a budget
Sri Lanka is a magical place to visit, full of beautiful beaches, ancient wonders, friendly locals, amazing food, wonderful culture and all on an incredibly low budget. The small island nation offers so much to see and do for its modest size which makes it easy and affordable to travel around. Mix this together and