MORE ISLAND HOPPING AND A BIT OF THE CITY… Across the boarder and into Malaysia we reached Langkawi, Malaysia's tax-free haven, a popular holiday destination for Malays, but a less frquented spot for backpackers. We spent the first 3 hours there walking around getting hot and bothered (Claire in particular!) looking for somewhere to stay that was within our budget. Eventually we found a bed for the night and with it being late evening we needed to feed our h...

BEACH BUM… Touching down in South East Asia, it was the sizzling heat and humidity of Bangkok we had to navigate first.But wanting to make it down for the famous Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan it was a brief visit.So with the purchase of a dashing new pair of boardies from Khao San Road street market we boarded a night bus which would take us, with the help of a two hour ferry to the party island of Koh Phangan.Unfortunately as we arrived, so did a troical s...

JUST A LITTLE STOPOVER… A slight change in plan, largely due to a lack of money, Australia being too expensive and wanting to stay away for as long as possible, the Australia leg of my trip has been cut short to just three days in Sydney. From here Claire and I fly to Bangkok, with no guide book and no real plan.Our thinking is to travel Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, maybe Malaysia, maybe China. The total time in South East Asia…until the money runs o...

BULA! So, Fiji.You wont be surprised to hear that I haven't got a lot to tell you! Our days were spent lazing on the beach, topping up our tans, watching the sunrise and watching it set. Flying into Nadi, the mainland, we spent a few hours in the airport before boarding the Yasawa flyer, the boat that would transfer us around the 5 islands we visited within the Yasawa group. Our first stop was Beachcomber, a tiny island that you can literally walk around in...

ALL ABOARD THE BUS… Arriving in Auckland I had mixed feelings, sad to leave South America behind but excited by the prospects of a few home comforts (real cheese and baked beans!) and of course the chance to explore a whole new country which I had heard so many great things about! Our first night consisted of a lot of beer taking us through to the early hours, watching the final matches of the Six Nations. The usual hangover commenced a few hours later bu...