2016 was a quieter year of travel for me. I spent close to half of it in Vietnam, working hard on becoming a professional travel blogger and living cheap in Hoi An. I came to love this historic city and its laid-back countryside surrounds. On a few occasions I rented a bike, grabbed a map and … Read more
The cenotes near Valladolid are magical underground water worlds and exploring them quickly became a highlight of my time in Mexico. The translucent water, the streaks of natural light and the rocky enclosures make for some of the most surreal swimming holes you’ll ever see — no wonder the Mayans once believed them to be portals … Read more
Cars represent freedom in New Zealand. When you’re a teenager they open up a whole new world of parties and lunchtime drives to KFC. When you’re 32 they are vessels in which to explore the country — hubcap thieving gravel roads, overrun tourist sites, deserted beaches, iconic mountains and all. The most I’d spent previously on a car … Read more
One of the highlights of any trip to South America is exploring centuries old Spanish colonial cities. These little pieces of Europe are scattered all over this wild continent, and Arequipa is one of the nicest. We spent a few days relaxing in Arequipa before and after our trip to Colca Canyon (make sure you … Read more
I spent the first 10 years of my life in Timaru, a nondescript little city about halfway between Christchurch and Dunedin. Oamaru is about an hour away from Timaru, and we always regarded it as our ugly, boring little brother. That is the case no more; Oamaru has reinvented itself as one of New Zealand’s best … Read more
I can safely assume that if you’re travelling to Nepal that a trek is high on your list of things to do. If you’re planning on trekking in the Annapurna Range you’ll most likely pass through Pokhara, a small city on the shores of Phewa Lake. Pokhara is a great destination in its own right … Read more
They say if you can survive in the mean streets of Old Delhi you can survive anywhere. The heat, pollution, poverty and constant noise put many people off, but the incredible historic sights make it a city not to be missed. I spent two days in Delhi during my trip last year — it was … Read more
Most people who travel to northwest Vietnam opt for the comforts and commercialisation of Sapa, while the much better looking Ha Giang Province gets almost entirely overlooked. I guess some people aren’t so fussy when it comes to mountain towns. Not me though. I preferred Ha Giang Province — the scenery is incredible, the locals … Read more