tartantraveller

"The only trophy we won this day, was the blood and sweat we left on the pitch.... and it was enough" - unknown This (and I can't quite call it a holiday as I am in serious need of one now) trip, has been quite simply, Epic. I'm bruised, battered, deep fried, and generally discombobulated from the most inner part of my soul through to my 'see you jimmy' hat. Flying home in 2 days from now, with just enough time to see an old school friend, Duncan Shouler, for a trip to my second favourite NZ takeaway, Yes Noodle. I am pretty confident to lay claim that Fergburger will always be my global number 1. So, Sir Bodly and I got intot the car and headed to Rotorua to see Whitey. Our second chance on ... read more

Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision. - Muhammad Ali, American Boxer After so many months of waiting, over a 30 hour period of travel, my luggage finally arriving and eventually putting on the kilt to go to the Fan Zone for the opening ceremony, after queing for 3 hours patiently in line, getting sunburnt and full of excitment, the police came down the line and told us that the venue was full and the doors were closed :-( In my dorm of 8 were two Canadians - Kaylee and Krystin Ross, an Englishman (boo) - Steve Corps, A Frenchman - Jean Bernard and the 3 crazy Irishmen, Eoin, Mike and Mark Smith. You're either lucky or not with whom ... read more

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware. - Martin Buber Ok, so this doesn't really consitute as travelling, but it is going to be one hell of an amazing holiday. 30 hours ago I was in Leith, getting another whooping on Mario Kart from Miss Muir before heading off to the airport. First flight delay inevitably meant that my bag didn't make the connection that I did and is somewhere around Singapore right now. I stink. Now most of you know that I am often a walking advert for the Isle of Jura, and the way accross my puffer was again flying the flag and am glad it was too. First thing into Auckland and was approached by a fella from the neighbouring Islay. Detective Seargent George Campbell no dought. Got chatting ... read more

Your true traveller finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty - his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure. - Aldous Huxley I have mentioned a bit about what you see on the roads here. And thought it a good idea to dedicate an album to just that so you might get an closer understanding if you have never been too this part of the world. It is fascinating! I had seen some ridiculous and scary things in South America, but this was different. Where here the roads are in a , much better state of affairs, the mentality on them isn’t! Ok, so Mexico had held the number one slot for craziest people on the road I have ever ... read more

They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason. - Ernest Hemmingway We had an abrupt start to our trip onwards to Phnom Pehn. Our taxi bus was early and we had to jump up halfway through breakfast and pay and leave to hotel. We thought we were being ripped off but it turned out that wasn’t the case. Our bus was, well, interesting. We were taken to the depot on a rickety thing will holes in the floors. Our onward journey wasn’t that fun, as there was only nine of us they piled us all into a mini bus and the driver floored it ... read more