Smiler86

With me only having very little experience of skiing and Jacob none, we were both keen to get stuck in to a blanket of snow so headed to Wanaka, Oueenstown's junior sibling. Wanaka, an activity filled town but quieter than pumpin' Queenstown is wedged between awesome rolling hills and cliffs of the Mt Aspiring region. After a night in a few of the towns local watering holes we woke early and drove 30km out of town up to it's renowned ski resort of 'Treble Cone'. If we weren't awake as we set off that morning at 8am we sure were by the time we began the slow and terifying winding mountain road to the top. Lets just say thank god Jacob has the ability to be the most chilled out motherf*^ker I've ever come across because ... read more

Sticking to one of my life motos: 'it's all about balance' (although granted i've failed miserably to follow this on many occasions), I've managed to strick up a reasonable balance between work and play. I began with 6 month travelling followed be six months of work in Melbourne so as my year away from London decends apone me, Jacob's email prompting us to begin the next chapter within my journey was timed to perfection. With little stress and only a few emails pinged between a life long friend and I, plans were put in place for a couple months travelling starting in New Zealand. I was more than happy to tell work i was taking to the road again. I couldn't wait to get beyond the four walls of a rather grey and shabby office, however, ... read more

KUALA LUMPUR: With a population of 1.3 million LK is the largest city in Malaysia. It's home to Malay's, Chinese, Indians and tons of backpackers. The ethnic diversity gives the city a great feel with it's various cultural customs, religious beliefs, languages, cuisines and architecture making it a really unique city with its mix of history entwined beneath the shadows of its skyscrapers and modern office buildings. The streets are bursting with life and even more so at the time of my arrival. Totally unplanned I arrived in Kuala Lumpur in time to catch the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and the beginning of the Hindu festival of Thaipusam 'a test of faith'. Held in the Batu Caves on the outskirts of the city this annual 3 day festival is for Hindus of all ... read more

BANGKOK: After just under 4 months I had managed to complete a loop round much of SE Asia and it was time for me to head back to Bangkok before going South to the Thai islands. It was a good feeling arriving in a familiar town. The place was certainly busier than when I first landed but it still held its charm and at the end of the day you have to appreciate the madness of the city for what it is. Nadav was also in town stocking up on a few things before heading North so we hooked up and did what we do best...hunt out the local markets and feast! We took the river boat down to China town and little India where we walked for miles ending in a massage centre for a ... read more

*Warning, rather long blog but there was no avoiding it* Opps ok sorry guys I haven't fallen off the face of the earth but its clear to say I've joined what's known as the Mui Ne Madness. When i arrived in this tiny coastal town mid way through Vietnam I definitely didn't think my plans to stay 4 days would turn into 4 weeks. But when Niamh, Maude, Turlough and I hopped off the bus from a rather dull and drizzily north Vietnam and stumbled across these cute huts precisely 30 Hannah size steps from the sea shore where I can hear the raw of the rough sea, where the sun shines continuously and with Christmas and New year creeping up we figured it'd be nice to be somewhere familiar with other long term travellers rather ... read more