Perhaps a mysterious gravitational force is what draws me inexorably back to amazing Thaiand. This beautiful country and her kind and gracious hosts never fail to disappoint, and there are always more beautiful islands to explore for the first time. After all, this is one of the world's premier travel destinations. The only change I would note since my last visit is the recent obligation for travellers to complete an online form prior to arrival, but it's a breeze and only takes a few minutes. To the best of my recollection the immigration official didn't even look at the QR code, and it seems a drama free entry is still pretty much a formality. Anecdotally I had heard a lot…

Well then dear reader, it's time to fly over Spain in order to continue the island hopping adventures. To be honest this is the first time I've gone from a destination in the Atlantic Ocean to arrive at an island in the Mediterranean Sea. How awesome an experience is that!I I boarded an Air Iberia flight from Tenerife which featured a stopover in Madrid, and then headed on to the legendary island of Ibiza. I'm thrilled to be here after all these years, this is most certainly a dream destination for your intrepid travel correspondent! I can finally cross the world famous party destination off the bucket list. With its somewhat notorious reputation I didn't really know what to expect.…

It was way back in 2019 while travelling in French Polynesia that a fellow traveller planted the seed of a visit to the Azores. Mind you, many years have passed since embarking on that incredible adventure, but like all committed travellers when a destination is put on the bucket list it's only a matter of time before it inevitably gets checked off! My friend, a remote worker, advised if there was anywhere in the world she would like to settle it would be the Azores, now that's some recommendation and always stuck in my mind. Well, finally I have the opportunity to see what all the fuss is about, and the chance to visit the Macaronesian Islands proved to be…

It's a privilege having the opportunity to revisit Europe after a long six-year hiatus. I had almost given up on the thought of coming again to explore the old continent, with all that has transpired in recent years. But here I am, flying with China Eastern via a stopover in Shanghai, and then catching an onward flight to legendary Madrid. I jumped on the subway and with one change of lines was close to my hostel, and as soon as I reached street level the scene hit me like a thunderbolt. The elegant street pavements and classical architecture of the old buildings in Central Madrid are so beautiful it nearly makes one's heart fit to burst. Wow, was all I…

There have been long periods of solitude during a month of island-hopping in the beautiful Maldives. Although I am a seasoned solo traveller, we all crave the company of fellow travellers when on the road. The weather has been prefect, the sea views sublime, and the marine life totally out of this world. Getting to know the local people has been a real treat, but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come on the final island visited during the trip. Kamadhoo is a beautiful island in Baa atoll and a highlight of the trip so far; the perfect destination to bring my trip to a close with a full week of downtime booked. The views from the…

The travel journal continues, dear reader, from where we left off on the beautiful island of Maafushi. I'm now in the third week of my travels in this intriguing country. Maldives consists of a series of atolls just south of Sri Lanka and close to the equator. Of course the world knows the destination as a famed tropical paradise for the rich and famous. However, the country is opening up to local hosts on the islands who will benefit from the pristine marine environment that has attracted tourists over the years, and not just for the resort island operators. I'm here partly to investigate whether it is practical to visit the Maldives for an extended period of time and not…

It's been five long years since my last opportunity to add to the visited countries tally. After such a long time without a new travel experience, I got to thinking the chosen destination deserves to be somewhere special. So then, which country remains at the top of the bucket list? It proved to be a bit of a no brainer, and the winner is... the Maldives! From extensive experience flying here and there during my travels, it was a pleasure to fly out from Sydney with Singapore airlines again after so many years. I'm pleased to say that the service is still superb, this is without doubt one of the best airlines in the world. The flights took off on…

Well, here I am in Palawan for an inaugural visit after all these years, it truly is a dream come true. This marvelous destination is one of the most sought-after places to visit in the world, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be here. Although it is considered a remote destination in the Philippines, Palawan is only 90 minutes flight time from Cebu with most flights going direct to Puerto Princesa. The capital of the province is in the south of the main island, and after arriving safely I advised some locals I needed transport to Port Barton, my first scheduled stop on the island. A local took me to a bus shelter, where I waited with a pair of Spanish…

The island hopping adventures have kicked in to full gear, as I continue my travels in the wonderful Philippines. Soon after arriving in the islands, a lot of the talk has been about Siargao. To be honest, I had never heard of the island but it seems to be the happening spot now for travellers and locals alike. Well, this mysterious island will remain a mystery no more as I flew in from Cebu for a week's stay. All of the reviews online were raving about a particular hostel, and although a little way off the main road and requiring some off road motorbiking, Hiraya Surf hostel proved to be one of the most enjoyable places I have stayed in…

How could it be so many years since I last visited the wonderful Philippines. It's a travesty, there is no doubt about it! Now that the long radio silence is coming to an end it's time to prepare for a month in these magnificent islands. The flight from Sydney to Manila is a lazy eight hours, everything is super close and convenient for Aussies heading out to South East Asia. After an overnight stopover I boarded a domestic flight down to Cebu reasonably early in the morning. This was my second visit, and I booked a top rated hostel online for the stay before the trip. To my surprise, the hostel was not in Cebu City but further south, however…