Osaka is a large metropolis in Japan which can be compared to Tokyo’s bustling energy. It has busy subways lines, restaurants on every corner and the flashing neon signs of Dotonbori. But there’s more of a relaxed pace here. And, it is still packed with great things to do. The attitude is different, too – … More Osaka – tourist traps and favourite gems
Near the top of the mountain, we walked into a perfect view of Fushimi Inari’s torii gates. We turned a corner, and there it was waiting for us, with no tourists or anything. A long tunnel of vermillion was being illuminated by a perfectly angled sun, turning every gate a different shade of bright orange, … More Fushimi Inari, Kyoto’s wonderful torii gate mountain
I came across a quote by Leonardo da Vinci the other day, which I quite like: For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you long to return.
You may not have heard of the Pont des Arts by its real name – but you might have heard of the ‘love lock’ bridge in Paris. It’s the pedestrian bridge known for its railings covered in padlocks, locked there by loving couples who sign their initials and throw the key into the Seine river … More The story of the Paris love lock bridge
The southern section of Vatnajökull National Park is called Skaftafell Nature Reserve, a wild area that is on the edge of Europe’s largest glacier. Skaftafell is surrounded by glacier tongues and glacier lakes, volcanoes, and some truly magnificent waterfalls. From the visitor’s centre, there are a range of walks that visitors can do. Some of … More Easy hikes in Skaftafell Nature Reserve
The perfect day trip out of Reykjavik is called the Golden Circle. It has three of the most astonishing sights that the entire country has to offer: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. It’s easily done as a self-drive tour, which is a fun and easy way to do the journey. And … More Self Driving The Golden Circle – a day trip from Reykjavik full of natural wonders
Kuta, the party beach on the island of Bali, might be the worst place I’ve travelled to. Aggressive touts stalk people down the street, souvenir shops sell sexist and homophobic slurs on bumper stickers, and Balinese culture as a whole has been twisted into a sleazy, cheap, tourist-pleasing circus.
Every backpacker has a special relationship with their backpack. Packing it and repacking it becomes somewhat of an art after those weeks and months, with each item in its own special place, and a million ideas on how to improve the packing system. Here is my list of things I would optimise for next time.
The banana pancake trail: a nickname given to the popular tourist routes through South East Asia, where foreign influence has shaped that place to cater for foreign taste (ie. banana pancakes for breakfast in Asia!).
It seems scary, applying for the Myanmar visa, with many rules and limits and strictures, just like ordering a soup from Seinfeld’s ‘Soup Nazi’. But don’t worry, it’s dead simple.
