Bali I was given an indication of what to expect in Bali while in Sydney waiting to board the flight. Every flight I normally catch has a cosmopolitan mix of cultures and purposed however today my fellow passengers seemed to be exclusively australians going on holiday, giving me a vivid recollection of the few package holidays I have taken in europe. Pre 'Gen Y', 'Ryan Air' 'Easy as you like' world when one packaged foreign holiday was perceived a luxury - squadrons of brits would head to a crowded Gatwick to catch a delayed flight to a Spanish or Greek resort [View Full Entry]

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Booming Perth Perth is one of the most isolated cities in the world and is actually closer to Singapore than Sydney. A geographical connivence given Asias exponential growth is quite literally built with the natural resources bestowed on WA. It is impossible to visit Perth and not hear think or see 'commodities boom'. Perths skyline could compete with Dubais for the number of cranes as it too experiences a construction boom to satisfy the demand from an influx of workers. The most notable points of interest on a boat trip down the Swan river were private residences one of which the [View Full Entry]

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It’s probably cheating a little to blog a business trip but Singapore took me by surprise. I had expected a clinical, high rise uncharming city to be a sort of Hong Kong with all the fun taken out -and while Singapore has these element to degree it is certainly has some life, soul and a character of its own... yes it is true that chewing gum is illegal and public nudity is an punishable offense (think Nick Leason) but these really minor details. Singapore is a hybrid of a of democratic and authoritarian system where since gaining independence in the late [View Full Entry]

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Perhaps it’s because I still think I’m a traveller but for holidays I really don’t like to make plans, scheduled itineraries and most of all bookings. Sometimes this works for you and sometimes it doesn’t - Unfortunately my Fiji experience was a case of the later. We’d done plenty of research on Islands we liked resorts that looked nice and expected to play everything by ear when we got there. My reasoning that Fiji is a big backpacker destination must make it an easy place to improvise. Upon arrival though it seems that most backpackers like to pick a package to [View Full Entry]

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Touching down on Bangkok tarmac once again seemed very different to intrepid solo journey I made 7 years ago. For this trip being my fifth to Thailand islands and is now well rehearsed... even still i was a little anxious to make my connecting flight to Samui and from there a little disappointed not to find no means of transport for my final leg to koh p and the Sanctuary. The first night I settled for the cheapest room in Samui I could find but Samui is no longer cheap and upon realising what the room was like I decided my [View Full Entry]

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Memoirs of a Best Man Although other engagements had fitted in nicely, the primary reason for my trip back had been Pauls wedding. I can remember quite clearly talking to Paul two and half years ago before he was going to propose and then his stipulation that not only keep the 07/07/07 free but to be prepared to be Best Man. Back then it had sounded ages away and even though I had made my plans to come to Australia i really didn’t have any idea where I would be in the world. Being Australia, as i’ve already blogged, you have [View Full Entry]

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With a two week visit containing one 80th Birthday, one Christening and one wedding, where i would be best man, I was certainly going to be busy back home. Landing on Friday and finding a typical British summers day, just not quite warm enough for shorts & t shirt and intermittent showers. Jet lag fully upon me I only had to wait to the next morning for yet another flight however this time only to Glasgow and not crossing time lines. The Purpose of this visit was my first ‘official function’ which was my Grans 80th Birthday Party. Concerning as it [View Full Entry]

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Breaking our Virginity…….. again - V 2007 Sydney I broke my festival virginity at V Festival in Chelmsford 2004 with Dave and Keys. This year Mr Branson (who I actually shared a bottle of Veuve with in Bondi) decided to extend the franchise to Sydney. With ‘me mate dave’ in town it seemed a perfect opportunity to reminisce and compare. Festival’ing in Sydney though quite a different affair from back home. It seems that without the threat of non stop rain and fields full of mud Sydneysiders would still rather just do one day festivals so they get b [View Full Entry]

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Sydney Big Days out Big Day Out is perhaps the most sought after festival ticket in Sydney and a bit of an Australian institution as it will typically get the best acts and tours round the country. The Sydney fixture it is held in Homebush and was formerly the Olympic village for the 2000 games. Sydney is blessed with many stadiums but this really is an amazing venue everything is build to hold thousands of people and the arenas themselves vary well for size and purpose. The main arena was in one of the stadiums and had two stages so [View Full Entry]

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Weekend in Palm Beach Esther and I had decided to take a weekend break to Palm beach made famous as Summer Bay in Home and Away. Given my last trip in the Mini I really wanted something convertible and a little special. I got it in the TT….. what a dream machine!!! We had it for the weekend although Friday night it lay dormant in the bear cave. Up early Saturday morning we headed over the bridge to the northern beaches - first stop Fresh water beach ,a couple up from Manly, for breakfast. Freshwater is a really nice beach [View Full Entry]

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