Travel Guides

From festivals in India to white water rafting in New Zealand, we round up some of the best destinations on the planet to visit.

Rafting group navigating through a narrow volcanic gorge on the Upper Navua River, surrounded by rugged rock formations and lush greenery in Fiji.

Upper Navua River Rafting: A Fijian Adventure

After years of apprehension, my wife and I finally plucked up the courage to tackle an Upper Navua River Rafting adventure. Several years ago, we tackled New Zealand's Tongariro River and Queenstown’s legendary Shotover...
Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat

Day 1 – 6 April 2011 – Slumdog Millionaire, Rickshaws and Spicy Paneers

  Updated October 2021 After all of the planning and hype and nearly 24 hours flying, Rhys and I were finally in the city that Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire propelled to world fame.  But in the...

A Spiritual Experience In Varanasi and Sarnath

There’s no doubt that Varanasi is as compelling as any trip to Delhi, Agra or Jaipur. In a single visit, you can witness life and death side-by-side while Varanasi’s residents carry on with their...

August Absurdity: A Whirlwind 3-Day Shimla Escapade

Namaste, Shimla. Ever wondered what happens when you mix a dash of India’s August heat, a sprinkle of hill station charm, and a spoonful of peculiar travel instincts? Well, buckle up, fellow adventurers, because I've...
tapu

72 Hours in Taupō, New Zealand

There’s so much to see and do in and around Taupō. Where do you begin? How much time do you need to visit Taupō? To really experience Taupō you should plan for a minimum of...

Day 20 – 25 April 2011 – Clean Air, Green Grass and Tranquillity

Updated October 2021 As today was ANZAC day, we caught the extremely efficient train (MRT) to Kranji and then walked the short distance to the War Cemetery to mark our respects. As this was our only...

Day 13 – 18 April 2011 – “Blob Out” Day

Updated October 2021 We officially declared today a “blob out” day – government buildings and monuments were still closed and we had some packing to do. Feeling a bit under the weather today, I had breakfast...

Day 18 – 23 April 2011 – Farewell Mumbai

Updated October 2011 What an experience last night at the game.  Mumbai Indians won a close game and the atmosphere at the stadium was excellent.  Certainly the best of the venues we’d been to. But what...

The Algarve – Portugal’s Winter-less Region

Ever considered Portugal’s Algarve for a winter break from Northern Europe’s chilly winters? So what makes The Algarve an ideal winter destination? For a start, temperatures consistently reach the high teens during daylight hours. And...

Day 8 – 13 April 2011 – Our Quest to spot Shere Khan

Updated October 2021 We had an early start this morning as we had a 6 hour road trip for an appointment on an afternoon safari to spot a Royal Bengal Tiger.  Arriving just after 12:00...