Have you ever reflected on the beauty of the mucus-lined fishing nets of larval gnats? As a purveyor of bioluminescence in all its forms, these glowing snot-lines – formed by Kiwi “glow worms” – were on my must-see list for New Zealand. Waitomo Caves are one of New Zealand’s most impressive tourist destinations. However, if you want…
Category: To do in…
Mt Rinjani: the terrible dichotomy (Part 2)
This post is divided into two parts. Check out photos and stories from the first half of the hike. After the summit I woke up from my post-summit nap to some spilled tea and a conversation between Adam and the guide regarding the day’s plans. Suddenly the guide had decided that he didn’t want to move camp that…
Mt Rinjani: the terrible dichotomy (Part 1)
Spending the last eight months in the sun has cooked my brain to the extent that a couple of weeks ago I thought it would be fun to go climb a 3726 meter (12.224 foot) volcano. Actually – turns out – it was a lot of fun, and I didn’t even murder my travel companion…
Asia to America, via Hong Kong
Asia to America – where do I fly from? Hong Kong seemed as good a place as any, especially since I had to book my flight months before I had any idea where I might be in June. Turns out in June I was in Indonesia, followed by Thailand and then onwards to HK. Before…
A coffee village in Northern Thailand
If you’re around Chiang Rai for over a week, like I was (no, I didn’t consume this much coffee over a long weekend!), you will probably want to take a day or two to escape the city and enjoy the surroundings. Nearly every coffee brand I ran into in Thailand had doi in the name. What does…
Siquijor: the mystic island
There are a number of famous islands among the 7.000 + that make up the Philippines archipelago. Boracay is popular among Western package tourists and immediately pops to mind. Palawan is known for the crystal diving, Bohol has the Chocolate Hills. Mindanao Island in the south is known as a place to avoid, as there is a strong…
Bus transfers & breakfast pizza in Moalboal
There is a pocket on the western side of the Filipino island of Cebu called Moalboal. It is far from the biggest tourist destination in the Philippines, but a number of wayward backpackers float in and out for the schools of sardines, the pleasant drift dives along Pescado Island, the sea turtles and the breezy…
Shark diving in Malapascua
One of the great aspects of being self employed is that I no longer wear a watch, and I rarely have to set an alarm. So when I woke up at 4.40 am my body was just confused. I rolled out of the bottom bunk and grabbed my swimsuit and toothbrush before shuffling into the…
Ten ways to pass the day in Pai
There is a pocket in Northern Thailand where time falls between the cracks in the hills, which are inexplicable opening up. Luckily generous portions of homegrown roselle tea and banana chips are served, with jam on the side, so there are worse places to trip into a temporal oblivion. Though Pai is pretty clearly on the Thai…
Motorbike malfunctions and mishaps
After India I swore I would never be that idiot Westerner who shows up in some random tropical country, hops on a motorbike and finds myself three days later on crutches in an internet cafe arguing with with the British Airways call centre about why my flight simply must be changed to accommodate my broken…
The Kampot Junket
The bad part first: we rented motorbikes. I had never driven one before, but was quickly taught by a guy who didn’t even have his license. Then we drove them all day, and after dark. Without lights. I dropped mine. And then drove it into a barbed wire fence. Sorry, mom. But then there is…
Sailing Koh Rong, the Monkey Island
Last week I channelled my inner Andy Samberg for my very own “I’m on a boat!” experience with some Cambodian flair. No nautical theme pashmina afghan, but I did have my flippy-floppies! Koh Rong is, quite frankly, enormous. The tiny stretch of beach that hosts the vast majority of the island’s food & accommodation abuts steep…
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