Geo: -45.0311, 168.663It's no secret that New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world, but Queenstown is the adventure city of New Zealand with views to fall back on. It's a place that is active all year round and doesn't disappoint.I have been here quite a few times but this was the first time for Anna and the minute we stepped off the bus and looked out the view from our accommodation, she had fallen in love with it too.This time we weren't able to benefit from the use of my parents car, so we boarded the Naked bus to Queenstown for an all day ride via Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, this time with marginally better views of Mount Cook than last time. We stopped briefly at Lake Wanaka, on a glorious warm day ... read more

Geo: -42.4023, 173.681The problem with New Zealand is that there are too many amazing places and I believe that Kaikoura is high on the list. Being able to use my parents car and them not working worked well for us, so we decided to hit the road for two days and stay one night in Kaikoura. The plan was to visit Hanmer Springs, known for their hot pools, and then continue on to Kaikoura for a nights camping and see what it had to offer the following day.We set off early in the morning with a two hour drive to Hanmer Springs, nestled in a valley in the Southern Alps. It is a nice little town but it was quite busy, seeing as it was just after New Years and holidays for a lot of people ... read more

Geo: -44.0933, 171.243On the road down to Queenstown from Christchurch is a hidden little gem of farmed rolling green hills backed by the Southern Alps. This area is known as Beautiful Valley, 15 minutes west of Geraldine. Here is where my Dad and extended family lived and still live.We came down for a day trip from Christchurch, a 1.5 hour car ride in to the small town of Geraldine where we visited one of my dad's aunt's and the resting place of my grand parents. We proceeded westwards to my aunt and uncles farm for some lunch and a catch up.Anna and I took a trip up the top of the farms hill which opens up on the other side for some amazing and stunning views that I never get sick of. Seeing the views from ... read more

Geo: 13.7308, 100.521The final stretch on this amazing two and a half month trip was to cross the worst border I have ever encountered from Siem Reap to Bangkok. We arrived at the border crammed in a bus and that's where the waiting began. Big queues exiting Cambodia and bigger queues entering Thailand and afterwards being transported to a restaurant where further waiting was required. Total time at the border was around 3 hours before leaving in a mini bus when our numbers were called up to Bangkok. The ride in to Bangkok wasn't the safest in the world, although the roads were in good condition from previous countries and the mini bus was pretty new, it didn't alter the drivers perception on speed and safety. Pulling on to the motorways and intertwining through traffic at ... read more

Geo: 11.5588, 104.917This is going to be a short and sobering blog but something that is important to know.While in Phnom Phen, people will most probably visit the killing fields of Choeung Ek, where horrendous killings happened under Pol Pot in the 1970's. Here lay hundreds people. It is fitting to see that a memorial stupa has been erected and it is important to understand the horrible history behind this horrifying occurrence.The fee included an audio guide which was very informative but leaving me with depressing thoughts.3 million out of 8 died, ranging from all ages and done by their own people.Only up until one year ago where some people implemented in the killings were bought to some justice. Pol Pot only had one year of house arrest before dying after 30 years of avoiding any ... read more