Travel – One Rainy Monday

Drums and Warriors in Xi’an

Well, we survived the first overnight train. I think survived is a key word. Crammed into a four berth ‘first-class’ carriage, it was definitely not the best night’s sleep either of us has ever had. However, it was an efficient use of time in terms of travel. Also, cheap. We made it to Xi’an aroundContinue reading “Drums and Warriors in Xi’an”

Ni Hao Beijing!

Beijing is an incredible city. In one place, you feel the concrete might of the Chinese government next to the towering skyscrapers of modern China, all surrounded by a healthy dose of smog. Our first activity in Beijing was to try and orient ourselves with the Forbidden City. After walking several kilometres, we found theContinue reading “Ni Hao Beijing!”

Back to the Middle Kingdom

Sometimes in life, fate strikes and it become clear that certain things were just meant to happen. This trip to China was one of those moments. My little brother (Tom) and I had been planning an end-of-HSC backpacking trip around China since June. We’d booked almost everything, timed it to be across the Schoolies periodContinue reading “Back to the Middle Kingdom”

Back in my happy place

Vietnam has got to be one of the most incredible countries on earth. One minute you’re walking through Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) surrounded by a whirlwind of colour, noise and people, assaulted by the smell of street food on every corner, ducking and weaving in and out of traffic. The next you’re floating downContinue reading “Back in my happy place”

Backpacking round the world

So in amongst all the coming home, finding a job stuff I never finished blogging about my round the world adventures from summer last year. I spent nearly 3 months backpacking around the world over my summer break (winter for all of you in Aus) – went to a heap of countries, most of which I’veContinue reading “Backpacking round the world”

Funky Monkey in Nha Trang

Off to the second destination on our Vietnam itinerary – Nha Trang, the resort town located in the south of Vietnam. Sandy coastlines and turquoise beaches greeted us as we stepped off the aeroplane ready for some beach time and one of the highlights of the Vietnam trip – Funky Monkey boat cruise!

Good Morning Vietnam!

Phew. We’re finally at the halfway point of my South East Asian adventure and boy has it been an incredible two weeks. New experiences, new countries and best of all some amazing new people. Sadly we had to say goodbye to about half our group in the morning who weren’t doing the Vietnam half of theContinue reading “Good Morning Vietnam!”

Cambodia

Cambodia was possibly one of the most confronting, fascinating and sad countries I’ve ever visited. It’s very much a country that’s still rebuilding after the atrocities that occurred under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in the 1970’s and in Cambodia you get a real sense of the struggle to rebuild a country after war.

Laos, Please Don’t Rush!

Or so our local guide told us. Laos is actually called Laos PDR which our guide told us stand for Laos, Please Don’t Rush! And boy does that sum up our time in Laos. After the hustle and bustle of Thailand Laos was like a breath of fresh air.

The rest of Thailand

So I’m really bad at blogging on the move. Which you’ve probably all realised by now. I think it’s because when I do get a spare hour in my hotel/hostel I’m sleeping most of the time. Anyway I’ve decided to condense my South East Asia trip into country specific posts (except Vietnam which will beContinue reading “The rest of Thailand”