Tag Archives: Travel
Dancing on the Ceylon
Allow to me to introduce Mr Ambakubura; 80 years old, a lifetime of stories and a handshake that lasts almost as long as the three hours we shared sat next to one another on a bus. He spoke like a Sri Lankan Rowley Birkley QC – mostly rapid inaudible mumbles interjected by sudden bursts of […]
Java and out
Life as a celebrity? No, it’s not for me. I knew there was a reason why I had never excelled enough at anything to the point it would bring me fame, and I realise now that I have lived a life content in mediocrity for a reason. I just can’t handle the attention you see. […]
King of the swingers
It’s a peculiar feeling the first time you look into the eyes of an Orangutan. Mostly because you know they’re probably thinking the same as you – “Well he’s an odd looking chap” – is the immediate thought – “odd, but I can definitely see something of myself in those roguish good looks“. The likeness […]
Beauty and the beasts
As a boy, I used to feed my imagination with books. Poring over the pages I’d discover the depths with deep sea divers, soar with winged dinosaurs and clamber through ruined jungle temples and lost kingdoms. I could travel into space, march with mighty Roman empires and battle with medieval knights, all from the comfort […]
Over Land and Sea
My four rules of travel: 1. Never miss the opportunity to wind up a Canadian by asking them where in America they are from. This can then be further enhanced by stating upon their reply that ‘Canada is one of the northern states, isn’t it?” 2. Eat as the locals do. 3. Travel as the […]
Into Indo
Wedged snugly between the handlebars; the baby lies asleep, oblivious to it all. Oblivious to the shrill drone of engines roaring, oblivious to the engulfing toxic fumes around her and perhaps gratefully, oblivious to their own frantic path through the rush hour traffic. In an instant the motorbike disappears into the sea of motorbikes as […]
Ah yeah, see ya!
“You like New Zealand bro?” “Yeah, nah – sweet as bro, eh?“ “Eh, bro?“ “Eh?“ “Ah yeah, bro, eh?“ “Eh?“ “Bro?“ “Ah bro“ “Ah yeah, it’s choice eh?“ “Choice bro!“ “Eh?“ “Good as gold bro, eh?“ “Sweet as bro!“ “Ah yeah bro!“ Well, exactly. Today we leave New Zealand, and while our grasping of the […]
Islands, sand and the end of the land
Lost in the woods at night. It’s the scene of nightmares isn’t it? Bound with the fact that it’s a situation which will only develop from running in bewildered, snotty nosed circles to an untimely but all too inevitable demise, it’s one we weren’t overly keen in experiencing. Huge Kauri trees loomed over us from […]
Surfin’ Safari
Surfing. Pastime of the effortlessly cool, sport of the effortlessly coordinated. Neither of which I am, and these being attributes that you tend to just have rather than acquire, I am destined to always fail at surfing. Not that it’s a bad thing entirely. Surfers are eaten by sharks more than most, as are they […]
Māori, Whales and Colonial sails
“Go waaaay out East” – grinned the man at the info site – “as far as you can go“. Out to a part of New Zealand that’s less trodden than most, out to a blueprint of its past. Out East to see the new day before the rest of the world, where the ways of […]
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