Turkey
The reason Istanbul is on my list is because visiting here last year was the moment I decided I would quit my job to go travelling. So I felt like I needed to visit it whilst I was on my travels. I…
By Trip
Backpacking
The 777 round-the-world trip and the Interrail adventures that followed.
50 entries, oldest first
Cairo, Egypt
Having survived Jordan, I sat apprehensively on the plane for my next destination: Egypt. Land of the pyramids. I had heard mixed reviews from friends and family that had been. Many had been multiple…
South Africa
South Africa was a fully pre-booked destination for me. For the most part because friends, family and housemates had warned me how unsafe the area could be. I didn’t want to believe it but I thought…
Japan: Tokyo and Nikko
Japan was the first place I was expecting to really experience some culture shock. I didn’t know anything about the place other than their love of manga and anime and all things cute and techy. I’ve…
Japan: Hiroshima, Kyoto and Osaka
Hiroshima, Kyoto & Osaka, Japan
I arrive in Kyoto earlier than I otherwise would have on the recommendation of a good friend. Apparently there’s a lot to do here. I also find out that the JR Pass I got covers not only the bullet…
China: Beijing and Shanghai
After a fantastic time in Japan, my visit to China is off to a bad start when I peruse through the on-flight magazines to find an article that feels less-than-slightly propagandize. To make it more…
Hanoi, Vietnam
It’s been a while since I’ve had those proper nerves about arriving in a new destination. I didn’t know what to expect in Vietnam though and this is the first time I’m really travelling overland.…
Ho Chi Minh
As I arrive in Ho Chi Minh after an incredibly long train journey (two nights and three days, of which I’m the only person I saw who brushed their teeth!), I’m feeling pretty groggy and unwashed.…
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia is somewhere I knew nothing about. Literally nothing. Even when I planned the trip all I knew was that I had to somehow get through Malaysia to get my flight from Singapore.
Malacca
Malacca, often see “Maleka” too though I’m not sure what that refers to(?), was off to a strange start. I had arranged to stay with a couch surfer host which always makes me slightly anxious. As…
India: Delhi
On arriving at the airport I felt a lot of anxiety, presumably given to me by horror stories which travellers who have been to India have shared with me. Part of me assumed, almost knew, that these…
India: Agra
Arriving in Agra I’m once again accosted by a magnitude of tuk tuks. I ask a local Indian chap from the bus, who speaks good English, to help me figure out where I need to go and ask him to negotiate…
India: Jaipur
Myself and my Karl Pilkington companion, Jonathan, arrive in Jaipur to another barrage of tuk tuk drivers. We hop on one, agree a price of 150 (very reasonable for the distance) and hope for the…
Dubai
Dubai was always going to be an adventure. I had pre-booked a luxurious hotel, with roof top swimming pool and a desert safari. It got off to a fun start when the man waiting for me at the airport…
Ireland
Ahhhh, Dublin. The Republic of Ireland. You feel like home, yet you’re not even park of the UK. Your expensive hostels (and scarcity at the weekends), expensive travel and expensive food. It hits me…
New York, USA
My first destination on my second half of the trip. I thought I would be dying for this moment to come. Instead, I find myself upset at leaving a great job in London and being able to continue…
Montreal, Canada
Way back in China, two fellow travellers said I should come to Montreal when I’m in Canada. They were sure I’d have somewhere to stay. Now a few days before I arrive in Toronto and Veronica has said…
Toronto, Canada
Arriving in Toronto was one of the most nerve-racking experiences entering a city so far. My sister was helping set me up with a friend of a friend for a place to stay but nothing was concrete just…
Los Angeles, USA
LA, baby! I came expecting sunshine, attractive people and everything being super expensive. It’s a god send that Marvin, from our BIGAM gang, has kindly agreed to put me up for the week. That’s one…
Las Vegas, USA
Las Vegas! This is one of the most spontaneous parts of my trip and I didn’t think I would actually make it here. Yet, after one day in LA, here I am, on my way to Las Vegas. To Sin City.
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City. Not a place I originally planned on coming but it was a stopover on the flight so there was no reason not to stop for a few days and explore.
Cancun Valladolid Tulum, Mexico
Cancún, Valladolid & Tulum, Mexico
Cancun was the beginning of something special. Going to my room to change for the pool (yeah, the hostel has a pool!) I notice a man lingering behind. Let’s call him Mr. S. He follows me in and it…
Panama
Panama City. I only have two points of reference for this place. Panama Canal. Though I’m not even sure where I heard about that and also on Prison Break, the TV show. I may even be wrong here. I…
Rio, Brazil
Brazil was always destined to be good. One of my friends from back home decided to fly out and spend two weeks with me. It’s also the final wonder of the (modern) world left for me to visit.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires started off and kept continuing to be exciting. It was the final days with Becca and our two pals from Pantanal, Alan and Steph, also messaged me to say they’d be there too!
Antarctica
To try to describe my experience in Antarctica to you would not do it justice. It is a surreal place. There’s a different colour scheme out here I haven’t witnessed before. There are whites whiter…
Brussels, Belgium
So, how did this happen. I’ve been home all of five seconds and I immediately booked my weekends up with flights and trains away. Good work settling down in London, I know. But this is fun. That’s…
Luxembourg
— Covers 998 square miles (smaller than Oxfordshire!) — French / German / Luxembourgish — The only Grand Duchy!
Lille, France
This was my first trip since not having commitments Mon-Fri, so it felt odd leaving on a Friday only to have to return on the Sunday, simply because that’s what I had previously booked the ticket…
Dusseldorf – Germany
Another day, another trip out of the country. I arrived in Dusseldorf later than I planned. So late in fact that the hostel I had booked for two nights didn’t have anyone on reception.
Lyon, France
Oh, Lyon. You started off so well. I got on the Eurostar to find I had my own private seat of which to relax in.
The Netherlands
Unfortunately my diary was washed away. Here’s some lovely photos with a few captions to wet your appetite for The Netherlands!
Berlin – Germany
So this is it, I’m on the road again. It’s a strange feeling on the run up to it and the same as last time. There’s no fear. Equally, there’s no real bubble of excitement. The week running up to it,…
Prague, Czech
The first thing you notice in Prague is all the stag parties (and the odd hen party). It doesn’t seem to matter what time of day it is, there’s always a few of them drinking beer and roaming the…
Krakow – Poland
Although I’m only a few countries in, I’m already blown away by the beauty that Eastern Europe has to offer. The history of it is so rich, varied and emotional, that it is a trip that I really needed…
Bratislava – Slovakia
Slovakia wasn’t the luckiest of countries for me. It started off with a train having its running time changed without me knowing. Which meant I had to get an overnight train instead (paying for the…
Budapest – Hungary
When I arrive in Budapest I’m not feeling my usual ‘top of the morning to ya” self. I wouldn’t say I was ill but certainly not healthy. As is the way in my life, I’ll conk out, recharge and move on.…
Timisoara – Romania
Arriving in Romania for what was meant to be my final weekend of party before I make it to France for school next week but, although in much higher spirits, still with a need for sleep. Thankfully,…
Belgrade – Serbia
Some days it becomes blatantly obvious to me that my ignorance can so easily become a hindrance. Today is one of those days. My stubbornness, seemingly, exists only to exacerbate the hindrance into a…
Ljubljana – Slovenia
The night train to get here was fantastic. I met two awesome people from the Netherlands on it. One of whom was reading my favourite book at the moment: Sapiens. They taught me a great game called…
Switzerland
I’m going further West. The trains are getting better. I like this. Thanks to a gregarious gentleman inspecting the tickets, who seemingly had a bit of a thing for me, I got upgraded to a single…
Montpellier, France
Visiting my Brother (2015) I first came to Montpellier way back in ~2015 to visit my brother who would occasionally come to Montpellier for work.