For years now visiting Chernobyl and the post apocalyptic abandoned soviet town of Pripyat had been a dream. There is something eerily alluring about the idea of a town trapped in time, as the world has moved on this time capsule of the soviet era has been slowly crumbing. Twisting this once idealistic Utopian dream
Off the beaten path
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
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
Ayutthaya Thailand: The lost world of ancient Thailand & a treasure trove of temples
Ayutthaya Thailand is the one time ancient capital of the Siam, the precursor to the modern-day kingdom of Thailand. Founded in 1350 it is Thailand’s answer to Angkor Wat or Bagan, a huge complex of crumbling ancient temples awaits the intrepid to explore this historic gem. Easily accessible from on the Bangkok to Ayutthaya train it can
The incredible Rakaia Gorge hike, the best day trip from Christchurch, New Zealand!
Living in Christchurch and using it as our base to explore the incredible country of New Zealand we were desperate to get out and experience the incredible scenery. Working and saving for our road trip around the country we were itching to explore, so we began searching for the best Christchurch walks and happened upon Rakaia Gorge.
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
Ella to Kandy train, Sri Lanka: One of the best train rides in the world!
The Ella to Kandy train is one of the absolute highlights of a trip to the incredible country of Sri Lanka. One of the most diverse and beautiful countries we’ve had the pleasure of visiting, from crystal clear blue waters and white sandy beaches, to dense jungles and weaving tea plantation lined mountains, it has it
How to spend the most incredible day on Mornington Peninsula, from Melbourne
Melbourne is an incredible city, full of life, energy and people! However sometimes you might want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and head out into nature. Melbourne is blessed with some incredible landscape within a relatively close distance (I’m talking in Australian terms!). You have the Great Ocean Road, Torquay and
Discovering the floating village of Kampong Khleang and the local way of life, Cambodia
After visiting Angkor and the amazing temples of Siem Reap you might be wondering what else there is to do in the small city. The temples might dominate most visitors agendas and indeed the majority of their time here, and rightly so, but if you want to escape the flashing lights of Pub Street and
Adelaide, Australia: History, Wineries, Incredible coast line & an amazing vibe!
When we decided to head over to Adelaide from Melbourne, an 8 hour drive, one of the biggest questions was why? It seemed that even most Australian’s had no idea what this off the beaten track state capital had to offer and hardly anyone of the fellow backpackers we met had ventured that way either!
Snapshots of the wild Australian outback from a 7000km trip through the Red Centre
The Australian Outback is a strange and mysterious place. It stretches out for miles and miles of nothingness. Heading down the famous Stuart Highway that runs pretty much down the centre of Australia was at times like playing one of those old car games on the mega drive, where it’s just the same scenery repeated
Why you should add the often overlooked Perth to your Australia adventure!
Being all the way over the other side of the country in the huge expanse that is Western Australia you could be forgiven for skipping the state capital of Perth and heading straight for the East coast! But hold up for a moment there. Before diving into the busy streets of Sydney, the packed bars
The unbelievable paradise Gili islands between Lombok and Bali where you can swim with turtles! Indonesia!
The Gili islands Indonesia are three small Islands (Gili actually means small island in the local language of Lombok) off the coast of Lombok in the sea between it and Bali. These three islands are complete paradise, no cars, continuous immaculate beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters filled with corals and amazing sea life, little cottages
