So I have missed 2 weeks on entries and basically it's just a whole lot easier if i go back and write those later. I prefer to write in the here and now. So, we arrived in Livingstone after a massive ferry delay as the border between Kasane in Botswana and Zambia is notoriously slow. We did get to see some live smuggling action but the 3 hour wait in insane heat made that excitement a short lived novelty. Livingstone was the half way point for me. Here, we loose 8 of the original gang and gain 5 newbies. This parting of ways is hard, hard, hard. No one really wants to leave our amazing group. I will be especially sad to farewell an Australian couple (but hopefully they will come and visit me next year). ... read more

Hello Africa!!! I arrived safely and relatively rested after my 24 hour Emerites journey. It was a thrill to fly with a full service airline after all those AirAsia flights. The free socks, eye mask, toothbrush and hearty meals (including wine) were not wasted on me! everything went to plan and I checked into my backpacker's with ease. The next morning after breakfast I decided to use the Hop On, Hop off bus and for about $20 I took in the sights of Cape town. It was a glorious day and the commentery onboard was really interesting. My favourite stop was Camp's Bay, a beach where all the action is... but where the water is like ice. Interestingly enough a young girl sat down next to me and we started chatting. Yes, of course the coincidences ... read more

I've been home for exactly 2 weeks now but I needed some extra time to process my thoughts on what I would write for the time I spent in China. Bascially, I think I spent 90% of my time there praying to God. Generally it went something along the lines of: "God, please help me find my way home... God, please let me catch my flight on time.... God, please let this man not be a physco killer". All of these prayers were said at least once during my 5 and a half day stint in China. So, what actually happened I hear you say. I will write a brief account of my China dramas as I intend to catch up with most of you in the next week or so and I have to leave ... read more

I have to write this entry more for my own memory than anything else. The journey to Koh Chang was something else and I don't want to forget all that we went through to get to this island known to most as a tropical oasis, but to us has been something quite different- but that is another entry altogether! We left Pai at 2.30pm on Wednesday afternoon. We had bought a direct ticket to Koh Chang for 1000b. Slightly overinflated but worth it for the convienience. The drive down from Pai was always going to be curvy as the hairpin bends seemed to be never ending. That wet afternoon our driver must have had a grudge against those mountains and decided to taken them on at crazy speeds. We buckled our seatbelts and held on for ... read more

This is our third day in Pai and we're having a blast! Pai is very much like a Margaret River without the beach. It is much cooler here (guessing about 26-29 degrees), and there are loads of mozzies but that is all I have to complain about. Otherwise, it is cheap, small enough to walk in 20 minutes, artsy and... has good food! I decided to make the most of all this wonderful town has to offer and signed up for a yoga course. Lisa and I spent yesterday with our body in knots and as a result yes, today the muscles are a little tight. It was a great day and we are now pros at breathing- who knew we were doing it wrong! We are now certified yoga do-ers and have made a vow ... read more