Bangkok
Bangkok: a city with much expectation, which should of been its downfall. I made that mistake with Bali, such high hopes for somewhere which had been given so much hype as a paradise. Pegged as a highlight before my arrival, only to be thoroughly disappointed by the bleak mark of the tourist trade. Hordes of…
Being an English Teacher: Pros & Cons
5 months in, I’ve finally settled into the daily life of teaching. Now that routines have been set and the initial clouds of misconception has settled, it’s time to reflect on whether this is a positive experience or not. There appears to be significant advantages as well as competing disadvantages which separate those who keep…
The DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), Korea
Backpacking follows a predictable set of events; first follow the well-beaten tracks, before seeking a unique adventure not many get to see. The DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) marks the fragile divide between the borders of both Korean countries. The heavily guarded separation between the two keeps the fragile illusion of peace while on the edge of…
Seoul
Seoul; the capital of South Korea, kimchee and K-pop. This city has lived up to its big name as a booming 24-7 city nestled beside the madness of its eccentric neighbour. Vibes of historical Chinese influence with waves of modern Japanese technology, this city stands out as a major Asian capital. The city is…
Becoming an English Teacher
Planning too far into the future appears to be pointless. Considering that over a 2 years period my life-ambition changed from becoming a doctor to becoming a backpacker. This transition was a great success, before becoming broke after 3 short months. The curious thought of becoming a teacher did cross my mind at some…
Life in Beijing
3 months after making the big move to Beijing, the initial cloud of culture shock (or smog) has finally settled, and life as a Beijinger has become the norm. As I sit in my very own hutong (traditional Chinese house) nestled among the stereotypical narrow streets across the way from the mighty Forbidden City right…
Life in China
It’s fair to say that that I had no real idea what to expect of life in China. All I really had to go off were a few misinformed suggestions, second-hand stories and inaccurate stereotypes. However, nothing compares to dropping yourself there and seeing for yourself what the country’s about. Now that the initial dust…
Indonesia – Top 10 Highlights
Indonesia is the most underestimated country found in the ever-popular backpackers paradise of South East Asia. The enormous array of activities and spine tingling moments are limitless and scattered throughout its multiple islands of varying personalities. Over 2 months, many unbelievable moments were spent between 5 islands. It was difficult to cut the list…
Australia – Top 10 Highlights
I covered a hell of a lot of ground in my time in Australia; from the entire East Coast, the agonisingly long bus-ride to the red centre and back out all the way to the Northern tip. This incredible country provides a hell of a lot of bucket list moments, backpackers flock here for a…
A New Adventure Awaits
So, what’s the next adventure? The last 3+ months of travel (almost exactly a year ago) has started a fire to say the least. Well and truly infected with the travel bug. Despite the last tour coming to an abrupt halt, it can be considered a very good test run. Lessons learned for future travels.…