How happy are high, Hamlet reading hippies on holiday in Himachal Pradesh? That’s just one of many deep, existential questions you’ll find yourself mulling over while hanging out in one of north India’s hippy enclaves. But which one is best? I boldly went where dozens, possibly hundreds, of travel bloggers have already been in an attempt … Read more
When I hear the word “mountains” I instantly conjure images of hikers dressed in North Face Gear, lung shredding high altitude climbs and grand, panoramic views of soaring peaks. You won’t find any of that at the Marble Mountains, a small group of limestone hills located between Hoi An and Da Nang. There will be … Read more
We spent a month in Mexico during our trip around the world and barely scratched the surface of what this country has to offer. From its giant pyramids to its stylish colonial towns, Mexico is full of throwbacks to a colourful (and often horrific) past. Add in plenty of delicious food, great beaches and unique … Read more
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