Have you ever felt you would love a travel destination even before arriving? It may seem strange and I admit I've visited Spain before, but as soon as I landed in the Basque country this destination fit me like a glove. Friends and colleagues have given the region rave reviews, and I was excited to board a Qatar Airways flight to Paris to commence five wonderful weeks in Europe. I spent Christmas Eve relaxing at my favourite hostel in Paris near Gare du Nord. St Christopher's Inn is a big and impressively run hostel, and features a great bar where I commenced the traditional process of letting my cares from home slowly slip away. The beauty of travel ensures the…

The countries of the former Soviet Union hold a special appeal for your intrepid travel writer, partly due to the difficulties Australians face in obtaining a visa. The life of a traveller includes destinations that are more challenging to get to, which can add to the allure of travelling there. To be honest I knew next to nothing about Moldova before I began chatting with an online friend over the last few months, but once my interest was piqued I did some research into the country as a potential travel destination. To my surprise Australians don't require a visa in advance to visit Moldova, as opposed to the other countries of the former Soviet Union. This proved the catalyst for…

It doesn't matter how good a swimmer you are, it's an inescapable fact humans struggle to keep their heads above water. We display none of the grace and elegance of our sea dwelling friends, who must consider us clumsy with all that flapping and flailing about. So imagine being in the water and floating effortlessly, with the only concern keeping the salty water out of your mouth and eyes. Would that not rival the best sensation you've experienced? Yes my friends, it most assuredly does, and a visit to the Dead Sea is a travel experience like no other. The desert surroundings and the reality of being at the lowest place in the world add to the otherworldly feeling of…

The shekel is a currency that stretches back to biblical times, and has been resurrected to drive commerce in modern day Israel. Although the State of Israel was only proclaimed in 1948, this is an ancient land with a powerful sense of history and a deep religious significance. It's a wonderful thing to witness a country embrace it's past with pride, and the Israelis reintroducing the shekel helps bring that rich history back to life. Israel today is a modern, innovative and technologically advanced country, but steeped in the history and tradition of their forefathers. Located within the bustling metropolis of Tel Aviv is the ancient port of Jaffa, continuously inhabited for 5,000 years and the oldest port in the…

The long and difficult history of Lebanon has led to a sizeable Lebanese community in my home town of Sydney. In fact I went to school with a bunch of Lebanese boys, so it's great to finally have the chance to explore the country for myself. There has been much written and spoken over the years about the interminable conflicts in the Middle East, and I'm pleased to say I can now gather a little perspective on the life of these friendly people. I've booked over a week at the Hostel Beirut, and am intent on making the most of my visit to this small but strategically important country. Beirut has always had a magical appeal for travellers, and it's…

I've become quite the celebrity on Instagram lately, don't you know! My account is so popular it's got to the stage I can message a girl from a destination I plan to visit, and an invitation to meet could well be on the cards. While planning this trip to Europe and the Levant one girl has been corresponding regularly for several months. She has been unfailingly polite, positive, and enthusiastic about meeting up in Europe. She lives in Budapest, and it's been ten years since my last visit so I organised to fly in to meet her at the start of my adventure. My friends and family at home have been aghast at the idea of meeting a foreign girl…

The highway from the airport in Mahe is festooned with signs to promote Seychelles. Written in Creole, French, and English the fluttering banners proudly proclaim: I love Seychelles. When I first arrived in the country over a week ago I thought it was a clever marketing ploy, but perhaps a bit forced. Now, however, I don't need any signs to remind me of the beauty and unique feel of these tropical islands near the equator. Cause right about now you can count me as another convert to shout out, I love Seychelles! And I'm sure there are countless other visitors to these beautiful islands who share the same sentiments. The journal left off at the conclusion of my first week…

Seychelles is one of the most desirable couple destinations in the world. This beautiful pearl of the Indian Ocean is an international magnet for romantics, honeymooners, and families. The idea a solo traveller should be in their midst has thrown my fellow European holidaymakers into a spin, and some of the reactions I've received over the course of the last fortnight are hilarious. Couples walk along the beach and suddenly stop by my towel in deep conversation; European ladies face their bikini bodies towards me and preen themselves for minutes on end; and couples at restaurants simply race to sit next to me. Who is this strange person, where is his partner, and what on earth is he doing here?…

Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, and this amazing country has no rival when it comes to unique flora and fauna. Situated off the east coast of Africa, the national language Malagasy is spoken exclusively throughout the land, and Madagascar lives up to a billing as the place that time forgot. It's one thing to watch the famous animated movie and marvel over this wonderful place, but I'm delighted to fly in for a week long explore. As time is limited, I decided to base myself in Antananarivo, known as Tana to all, and so began one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life. There are some destinations that live on in the memory, and…

How can you visit the Mascarenes without stopping by to say hello to the inhabitants of Rodrigues. Although the island is technically part of Mauritius, it's a 600 kilometre flight east across the Indian Ocean before touching down at the airport. My host Jerry was there at 11:00pm to greet me, and drove me to the north of the island where his three bedroom house was on offer courtesy of AirBnb. Jerry showed me around the house, left the keys, and then headed home to his place around a kilometre away. This was the start of an unforgettable visit, as there are only a few neighbouring houses in this isolated area of the island. Jerry came to check on Tom…