We thought it was a hell of a joke. We lived in a small country highway siding town in southern Australia, what was known then as the ninety mile desert. The problem was there wasn’t a lot to do at night. But my brother and I figured it would be the highlight of our week if we nicked one of those solid wooden white posts from the side of the highway. Better still we’d sneak ...…[read more]
Author: Chris
Thailand has been a special part of the gap year journey. Enjoying the tropical beach areas south of the country with some of my family members has been extra special. I was seeking a visionary look into the future. So before we all departed, I asked my young granddaughter what she would like to be when she’s old, like Poppa. Not sure I should take it as a compliment or not, but a super hero ...…[read more]
I’ve always had this theory. No matter how grandiose or want for nothing palatial home you’ve got, you still need to get away. And we’ll typically go to great lengths to achieve that. As a child of the fifties and sixties it was the family caravan. That half moon shaped dome on wheels. Towed behind the family car to the favourite beach side resort. Ah, yes. The great Aussie getaway. There we parked ourselves in ...…[read more]
I like trains. It’s like flying used to be. Turn up at the gate five minutes before departure. No security hassles. No having to unpack your bag to discard that stray oversized shampoo bottle, drag your laptop out. Get undressed. Take your shoes off. Belt. Empty your pockets. Be intimidated with arms out stretched while you’re xrayed. Then get dressed again, stuffing your travel essentials back in your pockets, while now playing the game of ...…[read more]
Everyone had given up hope. The prolonged drought and scorching heat year after year had parched every conceivable amount of life out of the land. There seems no hope. But something amazing happens. Out of no where the rains come. And what was lifeless and useless land, suddenly flourishes to the most amazing bountiful landscape of plants and flowers. It’s like a miracle. Such is the life of the Australian outback. This reminded me of ...…[read more]
In the last post I reported suddenly finding myself penniless. I was waiting, waiting for MasterCard’s “Emergency” Cash. As the days slipped by, the prospect of living under a tree in a foreign country eating nuts, berries and leaves was a daunting one! But what happened next was like one of those rags to riches stories. This time I was living it. Laos was never on my destination list. You think of South East Asia ...…[read more]
Yesterday are memories. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. Taken from a saying discovered in a Cambodian market. Great gap year principle. Completely unplanned. Free wheeling from day to day. Or at best week to week. Picking up advice from other travellers and planning as you go. Such is the reason I ventured to Cambodia. What was tomorrow’s mystery, is today’s gift visiting. But also reflecting on the yesterday memories from the time ...…[read more]
Have you ever noticed people sitting alone in a cafe. Their faces long and expressionless. All of a sudden, from out of nowhere, their face will light up. A smirk appears. It grows, from ear to ear. Aaah you discover. They’re tapping away on their phone. The cycle of smirking continues with each bling bling sound bringing the next message. Sort of like remote control smiling. Fascinating to watch! I made up my own version ...…[read more]
It was every person’s dream. It wasn’t just the tranquil setting of the generously appointed home, but the almost endless lush gardens. An enviable taste of paradise. Centerpiece a waterfall. With crystal clear water tumbling over a backdrop of rocks, making its way down to the well stocked fish pond below. Not only peacefully picturesque was the garden, but bountiful in what it produced for its guests. The owner was a generous man. He demanded ...…[read more]
“Another champagne?” the waiter asked with courteous attentiveness. The captain had joined our table for dinner. We were dressed in our finest attire as we sat at the pristine white tableclothed table, silver cutlery and crystal glasses clinking as we chatted about our day of leisurely activities. By contrast the portholes revealed a drastic contrast to the serenity we were enjoying inside our cruise ship. A raging storm had come from no where as the ...…[read more]