Blog
Stay up to date with our latest travels and antics.
Palau Break
Palau Where to start. We have for many years wanted to go snorkelling in Palau – but in the past too hard to get to.
Short Thai Break
Quick stop off for some R&R and lots of rain… Rain, Rain and more Rain After the disappointment of our Jordan trip being cancelled we
Mighty Nature
A brief visit to Brazilian Falls, Rivers and Wildlife A new (but short) adventure – more organised than our normal as we have organised this
Wildlife and more
On shore and underwater The best way to see the Galapagos is by boat – luckily we have the freedom to book late –
Birds, Bugs and Scary River Trips
Rainforest, Snow and Volcanoes Landing in Quito there was great views of a snow covered volcano. Going firstly to pick up our hire car
Mainly Birds, but some other stuff
Colombia Firstly forgive the number of photos in gallery – so hard to choose but hope you enjoy as much as we did. They
Ruins and Birds
Guatemala Brief stint in Guatemala was surprisingly interesting. Coming overland from Belize was by far the easiest border crossing to date – no need
More Ruins & Snorkelling
Belize The smallest ever plane( Cessna Caravan ) for an International Flight (max 14) and then a similar size plane to the Ambergris Caye
Ruins & Snorkelling
Honduras The second flight from El Salvador was late leaving and quite scary. A massive electrical storm with lots of thunder and lightening was
Quick trip through Nicaragua
Nicaragua Another interesting border crossing. Very hard to find out where to go but luckily the car hire company was on hand to help. Lines
Costa Rica, Pacific to Caribbean
Coast to Coast Crossing the border on foot is fun, dragging your bags on uneven ground a few hundred metres to the check point.
Islands of Panama
Snorkelling Caribbean and Pacific Today our friend Chris arrives, theoretically around 6pm after customs, taxi to BNB etc. It will be so great to
Mountain Jaunt in Panama
Mountain birding This story really starts on the border in Costa Rica. Arriving at the border at the place we had to leave the
A Month in Costa Rica
Wildlife and more Arriving late at night we have one night in town, found a hotel that says it has lots of birds –
Puerto Rico Jaunt
10 day’s around the island Starting with a 2 hour plane delay, again… Must be something about this side of the world where all
Hispaniola East
Dominican Republic A great start, late arriving plane in Kingston, Jamaica – then an other long wait (why we wonder as no announcement). Eventually
Music Island
Home of Reggae Montego Bay – Great song. Staying in a lovely airbnb with lots of plants and bird. Colourful slug among other things
Aloha Hawaii
Oahu A quick stop over in Hawaii – just because the plane lands there. Might as well have a look see. We really would have
Cyclone’s, Peacock’s and Turtle’s
Turtles, Whales & Surf Hello Sri Lanka again. Arriving with a welcoming mat in form of Tropical Cyclone. Luckily we decided not to fly out
Snorkelling & Old Mansions
Underwater to Old Buildings Before starting our new adventure a little funny missed from previous. The taxi that drove us around some of the
Jungle to Mountains
Mountains & Birds Leaving the forts behind its back to Delhi for a night and Yippee a choice of food. Much as we love chicken
Delhi and Beyond
INDIA, Delhi & Desert Hitting a city is quite a change from the nature, partly great to be people watching and somewhere busy and
City, Caves & Safari’s
Another adventure So for our 11 hour train ride (if it keeps time) from Goa to Mumbai. We have upgraded this time to 1st
Kochi to Goa, India
UK to India After a 3 week sojourn in the UK to see family and friends we arrive in Kochi India (last visit 1988).
Sri Lanka escaping the cold
Escaping what’s left of the Adelaide winter 2 years after first getting a contractor organised to re-coat our fibreglass pool and after we had
North Sulawesi, fish & birds
Islands and Parks of North Sulawesi A little recovered from 2 days with hot water and a choice of food we are off again to
Raja Ampat at long last
Raja Ampat Islands Finally off on our adventure – not without yet more disruption’s. A couple of weeks before leaving we find out that
Bali & Flores, post Covid
Trip Resumed, feels like a long time ago when trip abandoned due to Covid At last back where we had to leave off in
Islands Thailand and Malaysia
Islands – the last leg Now for the long train ride to Bangkok which I have been looking forward to – should be really
Central & Northern Thailand
Thailand – the centre and up And so to the next leg and how a 5 hour journey (327km) turns into 9. Thailand’s road system
Southern Thailand Post Covid 19
SOUTHERN THAILAND, Beaches and Forests First week chilling out in Ao Nang Beach, Krabi, weather is very stormy but warm. Whole place is so
Wildlife and more Sabah & Peninsular
BORNEO AFTER COVID (Well a small part of it anyway) 7 weeks Sabah and 2 on Peninsular Malaysia The start of our trip already
North of Perth & back to SA
SNORKELLING AND MORE Our first night camping after the islands and we have to leave by 6am to get to Kalbarri for our flight to
Two very different tropical islands
Crabs,Turtles, Ramadam and more Crabs Off to Cocos Keeling & Christmas islands, part of Australia, islands in the Indian Ocean. Get to domestic but flight
SA/WA Road Trip
On the road again – hope we avoid catching the dreaded Covid On leaving Steve goes to put garage remote in new keysafe – only
Cape York and back Part 5 – Final
Final days Heading South to Mamu Skywalk and Paronella Park – both fantastic attractions (twin tickets make it better value if you want to do
Cape York and back Part 4 of 5
Continuing down Atherton TablelandsA diverse fertile plateau that covers nearly 65000 square kilometers. We spent a long time in this area and could easily have
Cape York and Back Part 3
Back down Cape York and Beyond List of identified species will be at the end of the last part of the whole trip (Part 4).
Cape York and back, part 2
Final leg on the way up to the tip List of identified species will be at the end of the last part of the whole
Cape York and Back Part 1
SA to NT and QLD At last, after 3 changes of route due to COVID and borders we are on our way. Plan now is
Winter Break Broome
BROOME WINTER BREAK Hating the cold and the rain. Half price flights announced around Australia to boost tourism. Hours later we and our normal travel
Sunshine Hit – 10 Day Jaunt to Alice Springs
Soaking up the sun and getting out and about Its interesting to be flying again, arriving at the airport I was surprised to see how
Birding day trips around Adelaide
OUT AND ABOUT As we are all going mad at home during COVID we thought we would get out and about locally and practice our
Alternate travel – Renovating
COVID 19 – Unexpected Renovation Our story for COVID 19 – I am sure much better than for many people, we are lucky here in
Retrospective, 6 weeks, 3 countries
CAMBODIA, VIETNAM & THAILAND Highlights of 2 brief earlier visits to Vietnam in 2003, well worth the visit (don’t laugh at the old photos, they
Indonesian journey interrupted by COVID19
Indonesia cut short but COVID19 Bali, first port of call. A lovely 28 degrees on landing and no rain then a 3 hour drive for
From fires to floods – Australia
OFF WE GO AGAIN After the fires from the last trip, we hope this one will go better. There is rain forecast for where we
Australian Outback Drive Part 2
A trip through NT, QLD and SA Arriving back from Thailand at the ungodly hour of 5am ish, got picked up and taken Howard Springs
Hua Hin and National Parks
MAD DOGS, ENGLISHMEN & GEESE Slow, slow and slower – that is the cheapest way to travel we are discovering, BUT can we do
Koh Yao Noi & Koh Yao Yai
ISLANDS: We had joy, we had fun, we had islands in the sun, well mostly. IDYLIC comes to mind on our stay in Ko
Phang Nga & Krabi
PHANG NGA & KRABI AREAS Adventure awaits with lots of mountains, scenery, waterfalls and hikes. In 11 days we have climbed more trails and
Phuket 27 years after our first visit
PHUKET Spot the difference. Karon viewpoint 1992 and 2019, incredible number of new buildings. Furthest beach is Karon, then Kata and the closest is
Australian Outback Drive Part 1
RETIRED AND FREE – Alice to Broome We are now officially homeless – or nomadic is a preferable title. Steve retired 30th June and my
Alice to Birdsville Big Red Bash & Back
MUSIC & DESERT, Here and back to the Big Red Bash Planning as usual behind the eight ball with only 4 hours till we pick
South of England visit
FAMILY & FRIENDS This will be a short blog as it was mainly a visiting family trip, not the kind of stuff anyone else want
Red Centre Ramblings
The Red Centre is the real outback with a host of attractions to visit .Also lots of events for all tastes.
Singapore Layover
4 DAYS IN SINGAPORE There are so many more green spaces now – along the old train line. Singapore surprisingly is a great place
Milne Bay
Milne Bay Great arrival, flying over the coral and islands of Milne Bay, arriving about 10 mins late. Treetops lodge owner – Warren, was waiting
Madang & Inland
MADANG & ADELBERT MOUNTAINS So great to catch up with Chris on the way to Madang, her flight flew into PM just before ours did
Highlands
MOUNT HAGEN AND ENGA PROVINCE Now to see if the local travel agent I found on trip advisor (and paid in advance) did
New Britain
KIMBE BAY IN WEST NEW BRITAIN – We stayed at Walindi Plantation Resort not cheap but the only option in accommodation since they have stopped
Port Moresby Area Birding
PORT MORESBY AREA BIRDING We arrived in Port Morseby after a very scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef. Now would our Guide/Driver turn up
Darwin Short Trips 2016 & 2018
2 TRIPS IN ONE BLOG Darwin Easter 2016 Great place and time of year to visit with family. We came up with our daughters, partners
Gold Coast wedding? or not
WEDDING THAT WASN’T We were asked to attend a wedding in the gold coast and so although it would be expensive we felt the couple
60th birthday with family on Kangaroo Island
WILDLIFE AND BEACHES Caution:- When driving in KI there is a lot of wild life large and small so keep a sharp look out. Planned
Rome Highlights in 3 days
3 DAY WHISTLE STOP TRIP We love a stopover on long flights, breaks the journey and gives the holiday another perspective. This time we chose
Bali Break
OFF TO AN OLD AUSSIE FAVOURITE This is a 2 week mix of family and doing our own thing, the perfect mix. Menjangan National Park
Kenya Part 3, The end of our Africa journey
THE END OF THE AFRICA TRIP back to Mombasa and drive up the coast to Watamu – 100 km took 4 hours (madness). I don’t
Zanzibar, Colonial History and Beaches
LEAVING KENYA Today we fly to Zanzibar, not sure why but it has always sounded like a fascinating place. We get to our hotel Warere
Kenya Part 2, Parks & Coast
LEAVING TANZANIA Heading back to Kenya through Arusha and to change back to our Kenyan driver Paul. We will be sorry to say goodbye to
Tanzania, Serengeti and other places
ARRIVING IN TANZANIA Once over the border into Tanzania we are going down a single width dirt track road that goes from the border to
Kenya Part 1 Lakes & Masai Mara
FROM MAURITIUS TO KENYA Off to Nairobi, only a 4 hour short hop from Mauritus. Then came the next hiccup. Steve had mislaid his printed
Mauritian Short Break
RETURN VISIT AFTER 33 YEARS For me this is a return visit, having visited in 1983. For the others a new experience, and a way
Sri Lanka Part 2, National Park Circuit
OUR JOURNEY NOW BECOMES 3 We had ordered a taxi for 11.30pm to pick Chris up fromairport. When we went downstairs, no taxi came, manager
Sri Lanka Part 1, South
SOUTH COAST We arrived at 12.00 only 10 mins late. Amazingly everything is organised these days, no hassle by drivers or anything. Weather was cloudy
Dubai 3 Day Stopover
SHORT STAY Dubai was not really on our list but worth a look as we have to go through it anyway. The main sights we
Volcanoes, Relics, Beaches
TROPICAL PARADISE First visit to pacific island, tropical paradise, palm trees, beaches and lush vegetation. Arrived at Blue Pango, our accommodation for now. No beach,