josworld

After shedding buckets of tears, I can’t let myself drown in melancholy (it's against my constitution). Like a wounded soldier, I soldiered on …Instead of catching the flight back to Australia, we decided to stay. I thought I can recuperate in NZ whilst still on holiday. With medication, the aches and pain from the accident are manageable. I feel 90% fine, well enough to do a little bit of sightseeing and exploring. I can even force a smile and think that it's all good. New Zealand has promoted itself as the adventure capital of the world. I was really looking forward to hiking in the glaciers. But with my condition, glacier hikes, shotover jets and bungy jumping are off the menu (ok, definitely not the bungy … maybe if I’m crazy or suicidal and wants to ... read more

I am just starting to get used to my new wonderful alpine environment and it’s already time to leave. But with very tight schedule and pre-booked accommodation, it’s time to leave for Queenstown. I'll surely miss everything about the village - the snowy mountains, forest, friendly people and general ambience in the alpine village. Eventhough I’m not yet ready to leave Mt. Cook, there's something to be excited about going to Queenstown. I’ve heard a lot of nice things about Queenstown from friends and friend’s friends. A friend of mine calls it “A Slice of Heaven”, the others "The most beautiful town" they've been. Built on the shore of Wakatipu lake surrounded by the Southern alps, Queenstown is no doubt one of the most beautiful town on earth. It started out as a farming land and ... read more

Ahhhh . There’s nothing like ------ ! Australia’s new slogan to promote its tourism industry. A step up to the controversial "Where the Bloody Hell Are you" I reckon. It is hard to resist the call of Byron Bay when you hear a lot of people rave about the place. Byron Bay has been at the back of my mind for a while now. I always wondered, "what’s so special about this place ?" Perhaps it’s the white sandy beaches on the foot of the lush green hinterland, the rugged cliffs and green rolling hills; or perhaps the humpback whales and dolphins frolicking in the bay. But quite frankly, they say it’s the party scenes and easy access to “happy high herbs” and weeds that draw tourists and backpackers in this little coastal town. I’d like ... read more

2 couples, 2 kids, 2 teens and 2 not so young castaway in an island for 5 days. Mission: Who will survive it and have the most fun ??? First Challenge: Setting up camp in the storm ! Second Challenge: Roughing it ! Third Challenge: Getting bogged ! Fourth Challenge: Tipping over on the inland tracks ! Fifth Challenge: Catching the most fish ! The likes of Bear Grylls will thrive on this island. There are plenty of fish to catch, bugs to munch on and fresh water to quench the thirst. The breathtaking scenery and natural wonders anywhere you turn are just a bonus. Day 1: Surviving the First Day The city is still asleep whilst society is snoring in slumber when we hit the road at the crack of dawn. We arrived in Hervey ... read more

I can spend my last remaining breath watching the sun’s dying blaze change colour every minute on Cable beach, frolic with the wild dolphins in Monkey Mia, swim amongst the fishes and turtles of Coral Bay in its crystal clear turquoise waters and get lost in an alien like environ of Numbumg National Park amongst the pinnacles. From the wildflower country of Pilbara, to the bays and city of Perth, one can have a sensory overload with such diverse natural wonders. The vibrant colours, stunning scenery, coloured dirt roads, beautiful sunset, white sandy beaches, turquoise water, breathtaking coastal cliffs, red river gorges, marine and native wildlife attract people from all walks of life to western Australia. There are loads of fun activities to do. I got hooked on quad-biking. It is a must-do when in Coral ... read more