UNITED KINGDOM | Thursday, 17 Jul 2008 | Views [638] | Comments [8]
No toilet too dirty, no room too squalid, no food too weird and no insect too big...even when it's in my food. What an amazing diversity of landscapes - mountains stretching into the clouds, castaway island beaches, crystal clear blue seas, humid overgrown ... Read more >
Tags: conclusions?
IRELAND | Wednesday, 28 May 2008 | Views [362]
For one night only...with the time difference from New York it became one night and 3 days. 36 hours without sleep, continual rain, a pint of Guinness or 3, and so it's fair to say Dublin is a bit of a blur. I remember talking politics with a lady ... Read more >
USA | Tuesday, 27 May 2008 | Views [296]
New York What a crazy and awesome 4 days. It didn't go with the best of starts, as I forgot to write down the name or address of my hostel - I then couldn't find an internet cafe to look up this slightly useful information. It took nearly 2 hours ... Read more >
MEXICO | Thursday, 22 May 2008 | Views [541]
-Que Paso? -Yo quisiera poder una acta de un robo In English that translates as -What's up? -Would you believe that some b@stard has just robbed me? I got hit by a camera bag snatcher in the late hours, and was then too stunned and sandal laden to ... Read more >
Tags: diving, ruins
BELIZE | Monday, 19 May 2008 | Views [2504]
I didn't really have the time for this, and i couldn't really afford this...but there was no way i was missing out on this. The blue hole is a 122m wide, 305m deep, now completely submerged, collapsed cave. I had been looking forward to this for months ... Read more >
Tags: diving
GUATEMALA | Thursday, 15 May 2008 | Views [241]
I opted for a flight from Guatemala city to Flores - i didn't fancy the 10 - 12 hours on the bus this time. As i step off the plane the heat slams into me - 90+F and the humidity to match. I will now sweat non-stop for the next 2 days, I've become ... Read more >
GUATEMALA | Wednesday, 14 May 2008 | Views [259]
Nestled in a valley, and surrounded by volcanoes is this rabbit warren of multi-coloured houses, earthquake damaged churches and cobbled traffic filled streets. All streets are straight and run north to south and east to west around a pleasant central ... Read more >
GUATEMALA | Tuesday, 13 May 2008 | Views [376]
I didn't want to leave this place...so i didn't... I extended my stay yet again for as long as i physically (time travelling each day) and financially (bus v plane) dared. I have a flight booked from Mexico to the States next week. Alas i feel i must ... Read more >
GUATEMALA | Saturday, 10 May 2008 | Views [263]
So it's been 2 and a bit weeks of semi-immersion. I opted not to stay with a family; right now i value my own space more than anything. Besides everything is in Spanish, my lessons, my meals, my shopping...everything. At times it's bloody difficult, ... Read more >
GUATEMALA | Thursday, 8 May 2008 | Views [316]
Xela is an interesting city, although i didn't think so at first. I Arrived late at night by a bus with some locals, a long journey and a long, slightly painful lesson in how little Spanish i actually do know. Xela's dark and seemingly dingy alleyways ... Read more >
HONDURAS | Monday, 21 Apr 2008 | Views [280] | Comments [1]
It feels as if my time is running out and yet my days are getting longer. Is this a side-effect of spending more time in places? A sort of 'more haste, less speed' scenario that I've never really understood - does that saying really make any sense? ... Read more >
Tags: ruins
HONDURAS | Thursday, 17 Apr 2008 | Views [435]
Whale sharks...that's the only reason for me being here. A chance to dive or snorkel with the elusive beauties. It's probably people like me that have scared them off - this is one of the so-called whale shark seasons, and they haven't been spotted ... Read more >
Tags: diving, island
NICARAGUA | Thursday, 10 Apr 2008 | Views [284] | Comments [1]
"Some things change" (my plans), "and some things do not" (my lack of time). It's a strange series of events that sees me not staying in Nicaragua any longer - as I'd envisaged doing. Due to a mix of timings, border crossings, costs, ... Read more >
Tags: conclusions?
NICARAGUA | Monday, 7 Apr 2008 | Views [613]
I think I've been travelling too long. Last night i watched the film Nottinghill and from my laughter you would think it the funniest film ever made. Earlier in the day my dive group was circled by more reef sharks of about 3m length than i could count ... Read more >
Tags: diving, island
NICARAGUA | Saturday, 29 Mar 2008 | Views [309]
Around 3 times a week we go on activities, and a few of us have paid for extra trips too. Butterfly and seed collecting, walks around the laguna seeing monkeys and birds, trips to nearby towns and museums, a fiesta in Masaya with lots of dancing and ... Read more >
Tags: diving, volcano
NICARAGUA | Sunday, 23 Mar 2008 | Views [303] | Comments [1]
Nicaragua is a very religious country - the state is very much tied to the catholic church. As such it has great laws such as no abortions - not even in the case of a raped child. It's a common scenario here, so it's fortunate that there aren't illegal ... Read more >
NICARAGUA | Saturday, 22 Mar 2008 | Views [2139]
A scorpion in my shower, a tarantula in my bedroom, ants in my bed, flies in my soup (seriously), 3 flea ridden, but lovable dogs, a tame wild pig that thinks it's a dog, lots of trees and wildlife including hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and bats...plus ... Read more >
NICARAGUA | Sunday, 9 Mar 2008 | Views [292] | Comments [1]
I was looking forward to Granada, described by some as the jewel of
Nicaragua - my first impressions aren't so good though. A heaving
market, lots of rubbish, squashed vegetables and fruit in the street, a
jostling crowd dodging fume spewing vehicles, ... Read more >
NICARAGUA | Tuesday, 4 Mar 2008 | Views [589]
A small island made up of two volcanoes in the middle of a big, freshwater lake that contains bull sharks - it sounds a bit surreal right? I couldn't miss the opportunity to see this place, my mistake was heading for the beach area called Santo Domingo.... Read more >
Tags: island, volcano, trekking
NICARAGUA | Monday, 3 Mar 2008 | Views [383] | Comments [2]
My blog is an edited, condensed account of what has happened on my trip. I miss out a lot of stuff as it's long enough already, and besides i forget a lot of things because I've been travelling a while, and most things become normal - hence not worthy ... Read more >
COSTA RICA | Sunday, 2 Mar 2008 | Views [374]
It's a not as quick as it should be jeep-boat-jeep journey to Monteverde as we have to pick a man up on a horse? You have to say jeepboatjeep as quickly as you can like the locals so they understand you - my Spanish is improving no end. Arriving to ... Read more >
Tags: wildlife
COSTA RICA | Friday, 29 Feb 2008 | Views [352]
Arenal volcano is the most captive one in Costa Rica - it was a tough decision to come here and not head east to climb Costa Rica's highest one - Cerro Chirripo. After an easy 4.5 hour, $3.5 bus ride and I'm liking my choice. Arenal is one of those ... Read more >
Tags: volcano
COSTA RICA | Wednesday, 27 Feb 2008 | Views [343]
A fair chunk of my time has been spent either moping or trying to locate Bob. As the airport never answers the phone i have little luck with the latter. I'm also a bit fed up from wearing the same clothes for over 2 days. I can't say that i like ... Read more >
COSTA RICA | Tuesday, 26 Feb 2008 | Views [564]
Fed up of being treated like a piece of baggage, Bob my trusty backpack has decided to leave me in Phoenix on route to Charlotte, north Carolina. Bob I`m sorry i crammed you to bursting, dragged you through the dirt and then looked at those sexy, young ... Read more >
Tags: On the Road
USA | Tuesday, 26 Feb 2008 | Views [412]
How do you spend your last few days in a place that has become like a second home? You are aware that soon you´ll be in dorms again, sharing your personal space with strangers, that you´ll become a master toilet inspector and a connoisseur of bad smells.... Read more >
Tags: conclusions?, island
USA | Sunday, 24 Feb 2008 | Views [545]
Well, I've been travelling over 18 months now and i thought I'd better let you know how I'm doing and show you a couple of pictures to ease your mind. I've spent the last month sleeping on an air mattress in the apartment of a male nurse. I don't think ... Read more >
USA | Saturday, 23 Feb 2008 | Views [373]
My time in Hawaii is coming to an end - I've already extended my onward flights twice. I really didn't want to leave, and Darren and his girlfriend Kalei have been extremely generous and obliging hosts, considering my disruption to their lives. Darren ... Read more >
Tags: volcano, island
USA | Wednesday, 13 Feb 2008 | Views [380]
Maui is a small island with a big volcano. Haleakala may only be 10,023 feet (3055m) high, but it would be a lot taller than Mt Everest if measured from the ocean floor. The road up also allows the biggest change in elevation in the shortest distance ... Read more >
Tags: island, volcano, diving
USA | Monday, 11 Feb 2008 | Views [422] | Comments [1]
It's been dark an hour, I'm clambering over volcanic rocks in the middle of seemingly nowhere. A little LED torch with the power of a baby glow worm is lighting my way, the noise of the ocean is to my right, the glow of flowing lava is up ahead - i ... Read more >
Tags: island, diving, volcano
USA | Friday, 8 Feb 2008 | Views [396]
Da-da da-da daaaa-da, da-da da-da daaaa Hawaii five-o? - no? I never originally thought I'd reach here on this trip, i wasn't even sure I'd make it here after catching my flight from New Zealand to Sydney (bizarrely it was cheaper to go this route).... Read more >
Tags: island, volcano
NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 1 Feb 2008 | Views [521] | Comments [1]
Perhaps more than any other country, New Zealand was the one i wanted to visit. Yet for all its beauty and dramatic landscapes I've been ready to leave here for a couple of weeks. NZ caters for the backpackers incredibly well - travel, bookings and ... Read more >
Tags: conclusions?, island
NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 30 Jan 2008 | Views [285]
I said I'd give Wellington another chance - what were we thinking not to like it last time Tony?! This place is great! I'd needed to use a flight credit somewhere, and I've been rapidly running out of time to use it. To get to New Zealand i had to ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 27 Jan 2008 | Views [316]
They are quite a mouth full for such little places. Seaside villages, just up the coast from Wellington. I'd hoped to go to Kapita island, a 'nature reserve' full of some nice birds - I'm sad i know. It was not to be though, if it wasn't busy i could ... Read more >
Tags: island
NEW ZEALAND | Wednesday, 23 Jan 2008 | Views [290]
Watch the whales, swim with the dolphins, picnic with the seals or catch the tail end of a cyclone and spend a day dodging showers and cowering from the wind. It was REALLY windy. The strange thing is - I'm not that upset. But more of that another time! ... Read more >
Tags: wildlife
NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 19 Jan 2008 | Views [853] | Comments [1]
I know my sense of direction isn't that good, so I'm not surprised i couldn't find the steepest street or my way to the Otago peninsula. I remember I'm in the southern hemisphere, rotate my head around and it all eventually works out... the peninsula ... Read more >
Tags: wildlife, island
NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 19 Jan 2008 | Views [378]
A record breaking town...allegedly. I've heard so many claims to fame that i take them all now with a pinch of salt. My best claim is joint first place, as overall 'athlete' on a sports day when i was 7. For this impressive achievement i won a gold ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 17 Jan 2008 | Views [363]
It's strange to be back on the road again. Stewart island has been my 'home' for nearly 4 weeks and it's been a year since I've stopped in one place for that long. Adjustment and fitting in become middle names when travelling for so long though. My ... Read more >
Tags: conclusions?, island
NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 8 Jan 2008 | Views [916] | Comments [1]
Quote: This track is suitable for fit, well equipped and experienced trampers. Mud is widespread and often deep and thick on the track, regardless of the season. Track times are an indication only and extra time should be allowed in adverse conditions.... Read more >
Tags: trekking, island
NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 6 Jan 2008 | Views [452]
Described as a 3 day moderate to difficult track, this was my chance to get out in the bush and see kiwi's - the brown flightless bird kind i should add. The first walk went quick - the signs give generous times and i had the weather with me, it wasn't ... Read more >
Tags: trekking, island
NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 6 Jan 2008 | Views [446]
I came to Stewart Island for some quiet time with nature, my books and to catch up on some sleep. So it didn't quite go to plan. New mates, Christmas dinner with some locals, golf lessons from experts, a lovely stay with an Octogenarian (I'm currently ... Read more >
Tags: island
1 2 3 4 5 Next >
