Why Everyone Should Travel with a Guitar

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As you know by now, I am of the opinion that image plays a huge role in defining us as travellers. If we go quietly about our work and don’t take every opportunity to show people how awesome we are, how will anyone know? It’s not good enough to simply be cool these days – … Read more

The Colourful Crater Lakes of Kelimutu, Indonesia: Jon Vs the Volcano

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The blue lake on Mt Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia

After reading the title of this post you might be thinking that climbing Kelimutu was a really difficult and harrowing experience. That couldn’t be further from the truth, although waking up at 4 a.m is always a little traumatic for me. Getting to the crater lakes of Kelimutu requires a 40 minute motorbike or car … Read more

The Rat Factor: What is the Cleanest Country in Southeast Asia?

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The rat factor: What is the cleanest country in Southeast Asia?

Everyone says not to judge books by their covers, but if you’re lazily looking for a quick way to review them then there really is no better way. I took the same attitude when trying to decide the cleanest country in Southeast Asia. Sure, I could have done a whole lot of research and bombarded you with facts and figures – but to be honest, the only figure I really care about is the number of rats I see (I have a fear of rats, check out this post to find out why). The rat factor may be a flawed system, but it’s as good as any other and could 1 day be the official cleanliness yardstick in respected publications like Lonely Planet (as long as they pay me for using my idea!).

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Rote Island, Indonesia: A Gem Hidden from the Tourist Trail

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Nemberala, Rote Island, Indonesia- far from the tourist trail

“Bule, bule, hello, bule!!” screamed young and old as I passed through their tiny village. Bule means foreigner – I’m not sure if they were really saying hello or they were just alerting their friends that a tourist was in town. I’d wandered a few kilometres from Nemberala, the tourist epicentre of Rote Island, and by … Read more

Are all those Selfies Shrinking Your Soul?

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Certain tribes around the world believe that every photograph taken of a person steals part of their soul, a part they’ll never get back. It sounds like the premise of a low-budget horror movie starring a washed up Tara Reid anxiously taking selfies to improve her self-esteem while unknowingly killing herself in the process. The question is – are they right? This narcissistic trend of constantly taking photos of ourselves to show other people that A: We have at least 1 hand (to hold the phone) and B: A functional face – is brought about by our new found need to appear more awesome. But is it having the opposite effect?

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The Beaches of El Nido, Palawan

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Nacpan beach, one of the beaches of El Nido, Palawan, The Philippines

The Philippines is home to over 7000 islands, but ask anyone who has been (or is planning to go) about their trip and they’ll probably mention El Nido, on the stunning and sparsely populated island of Palawan.  Most people come for the island hopping tours, but spend a bit of time in and around El … Read more