Let’s start by learning how to say hello in Russian! “Does your arse fit ya.” Say it out loud (you know you want to!) Now say it a bit quicker and mumble it slightly in the manner of having downed a few too many potent Russian vodka shots: Diz yr arz fitya = Здравствуйте = hello! FUN FACT! There was once a beautiful old church in the centre of Moscow built on brick and marble. Enter Stalin and his quest to rule with a communist iron fist and he destroys the church to build the ‘largest building the world has ever seen.’ Unfortunately for Comrade Stalin, architects declare that due to the river being so close, a building of such monumental scale could not be built, so instead the world’s most expensive swimming pool was constructed. ... read more

Our trip to Ulaan-Baatar from Beijing was long to say the least. 30 hours of countless card games, reading, scattegories, root shoot or marry’s and endless staring out the window at the unchangeable Gobi desert scenery all while under the influence of one of the many bottles of alcohol we smuggled onto the train. I loved Ulaan-Baatar instantly, despite being told by countless travellers and even Lonely Planet that it is one of the dirtiest, unsafe and grottiest places on earth. Sure it is all those things but I loved it nevertheless and thought it was fabulous! I think especially coming from China, the first thing I noticed was that no one stared, only about 20% of the population spat, the driving was slightly (only just) better than in China and we said goodbye to pot ... read more

It’s been four months to the date since I left on my one-way flight to India. I’ve since developed a love of beer and eggs, have a strange desire to ride a horse, can now dance the “Low” dance (are you proud Ang?) and wish I never took a clean Western toilet for granted. I’ve had so many awesome and memorable experiences so far on my journey that I thought I’d gather all sorts of fun travel information in a little list, because clearly I have far too much time on my hands! Favourite Moments: *Having a picnic at the foothills of Mt Zhora, China while listening to Billie Holiday. We had monks join us for a chat, we ate delicious roasted, chilly coated peanuts and had the most spectacular view overlooking the golden monastery and ... read more

When I arrive home after 8 months of travelling, and if I never see the inside of a bus ever again I will die a happy person. Another day, another 8 hour long bus journey in a beat up old vehicle filled with people who have never heard of that nifty invention we like to call deodorant, and at least 6 of them who light up cigarettes every 15 minutes INSIDE the bus where there are no windows to let fresh, breathable air in. All I can do is roll my eyes, mutter useless curses under my breath and bang my head against the bolted down windows. I don’t mean to completely whinge about the journey, the scenery was actually spectacular, we passed about 30 little villages all painted white except for massive murals on one ... read more

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and possibly the most beautiful and most photogenic city in the world, with it’s sparkling gold and emerald wats at every corner, orange clad monks walking the streets and the most awesome night market I’ve ever been too. I loved it here and cannot wait to come back and explore more of it. We had left Vang Vieng in the morning and took a minivan to Luang Prabang. Along the way we stopped off at a restaurant with amazing valley and mountain views, where we took multiple jumping photos! It was so much fun, and such a leg workout considering how many times we had to make the jump to get a good photo! We drove passed so many villages settled alongside the road, and one particular image ... read more