4 Minutes in Antarctica [VIDEO]
’4 Minutes in Antarctica’ is a video summary of our time on the frozen continent! Magnificent icebergs, penguins, whales, birds and seals all feature in our unique time on Antarctica!
Backpacking Packing List
Our backpacking packing list is complete! Its one of the hardest decisions any aspiring nomad has to make, and we’ve decided on our worldly possessions for a year! Take a look and let us know if we’ve missed anything!
4 Minutes In New Zealand [VIDEO]
’4 Minutes In New Zealand’ is a short video summary of our time in this beautiful country documenting our adventures across both the North and South islands!
4 Minutes In Asia [VIDEO]
4 Minutes In Asia is a short narrative of four stunningly beautiful countries: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia. All footage shot on a hand held, second hand camera.
More Stories
Ziplining in Bocas del Toro, Panama
So far on our travels we’d driven, cycled, trekked, climbed, sailed and swam through many incredible national parks, so when we discovered we could zipline our way around the lush jungle of Bastimentos national park in Bocas Del Toro archipelago, we were up for the challenge!
Deep Boarding in Bocas Del Toro, Panama
“If you want to go deeper, tilt the board downwards. If you want to go to the surface, tilt it upwards. And try not to let go!” Sage words of advice from our guide as we had our first taste of deep boarding off the coast of Bocas del Toro, Panama!
Happy Gringo Tours, Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos islands are on many peoples bucket lists, but deciding which islands to visit and whether to do a cruise or not is a difficult choice! After much research, check out our tips for making the most out of your time on these beautiful islands!
Holy week celebrations in Antigua, Guatemala
Antigua in Guatemala has arguably some of the best celebrations of Holy week, or Semana Santa in all of Latin America. We were lucky enough to be in town for the celebrations, and the numerous processions along its ancient cobbled streets…
Under the sea, Galapagos Islands
The best part of the Galapagos islands is arguably what happens in the waters surrounding the islands. We were lucky to snorkel a number of times on our trip, swimming with turtles, sea lions, sting rays and even (gulp) sharks!
Flying Dolphins! Galapagos Islands [VIDEO]
As we sailed on our catamaran, we encountered a pod of over 200 dolphins who swam alongside us and began launching themselves out of the water! Possibly our favourite part of our Galapagos experience!
Galapagos Sea Lion Attack! [VIDEO]
When we landed on the island of Sante Fe, we picked our way through hundreds of sea lions lazing on the beach, and found a safe spot near some bushes where we could safely observe these incredible creatures. Or so we thought…
South Plaza Island, Galapagos
Enjoy our photo journey through South Plaza Island, a stunning part of the Galapagos Islands group! Relaxed iguanas, birds and beautiful scenery!
Welcome to the Galapagos Islands! [VIDEO]
As we surged through the green waters surrounding the island of Sante Fe, our zodiac driver cut the engine to a slow speed as our beach landing came into view. A beach full of sea lions enjoying the afternoon sun…
Sand Dune Surfing, Peru
Picture the scene: somewhere in the Peruvian desert, the blisteringly hot, small oasis town of Huacachina surrounded by huge sand dunes beckoned us to spend a few days. We had come to do two things: relax, and attempt some sand dune surfing!
Peruvian Cooking School, Arequipa
With our love for Peruvian food growing by the minute, it didn’t take us long to sign up for a ‘Peruvian Cooking Experience’ in Arequipa and get our chef hats on, literally! On the menu today, ceviche and pescado a la macho!
Bolivian Jeep Rally! Days 2 & 3
Days 2 & 3 of our journey across Bolivia, as we see some more incredible rock formations, sleep in a hotel made of salt and finally reach the other worldly salt flats!
Bolivian Jeep Rally! Day 1
After leaving San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile, we took a dusty and bumpy 3 day jeep journey through the northern highlands of Chile into Bolivia en route to the famous salt flats!
Tango Lessons in Buenos Aires!
There is no doubt that Buenos Aires is the home of tango, so we couldn’t wait to witness our first authentic Argentinian Tango live performance, and try it our for ourselves! I just didn’t expect Barry to be up there tangoing with the experts after only 1 lesson!
Valle de la Luna, Chile
Basing ourselves in San Pedro for a few days, our first trip was to the famous Moon Valley nearby, a stark and barren landscape which is said to resemble, yep you guessed it, the moon. NASA even tested its Mars rover here before sending it to Mars…
4 Minutes in Antarctica [VIDEO]
’4 Minutes in Antarctica’ is a video summary of our time on the frozen continent! Magnificent icebergs, penguins, whales, birds and seals all feature in our unique time on Antarctica!
Antarctica: Day 5
Our fifth day on the continent saw us visit Deception Island, where we marvelled at the rich history of the area and took a polar dip in the icy cold waters! There was also time to hang out with humpback whales and meet yet more penguins on Half Moon island!
Whales of Antarctica [VIDEO]
Whilst cruising the waters of Neko Harbour, we were intercepted by two curious Minke whales who got very close to our zodiac, and circled us for 10 minutes! Check out the (shaky) raw footage as our interested friends swam around us!
Antarctica Polar Plunge! [VIDEO]
‘This is totally stupid’ we thought to ourselves as we stood on the volcanic brown sand beach of deception island, our bare feet cold in the sand. Two minutes earlier, we’d made our decision, we were going to do the polar plunge, a breathtaking run into the icy waters of Antarctica!
Antarctica: Day 4
Our fourth day on the continent brought the most stunning weather of our time in Antarctica, with clear blue skies and calm winds! We visited beautiful penguin colonies, saw crabeater seals chilling on icebergs and Skua birds stealing (and devouring) defenceless penguin eggs.
Antarctica: Day 3
Our third day on the continent saw us visit a penguin colony, where one particularly cheeky Gentoo caught our eye with his antics! We also visited Port Lockroy, an ex British Antarctic research station and Paradise harbour, a beautiful place where we climbed our first Antarctic peak!
Camping On Antarctica!
We’re not your typical outdoor types, but when we were offered the chance to camp on Antarctica, we couldn’t resist! In our infinite wisdom, we chose to camp without a tent, in a simple sleeping bag and bivi bag! Needless to say we didn’t sleep much…
Antarctica: Day 2
Our first full day on the continent, we spent our morning on Plenau island and cruising through the iceberg graveyard! The afternoon saw us visit Peterman island, where we met our first seals of the trip!
The Ice of Antarctica
One of the most magical parts of our time in Antarctica was marvelling at the incredible ice sculptures that formed around the peninsula. Huge chunks of ice would break off from the melting ice sheet, and buffeted by the harsh Antarctic conditons would form into some incredible shapes and sculptures!
The Penguins of Antarctica
The highlight of our time in Antarctica was undoubtedly meeting the locals! We fell in love with the penguins, the way they waddled on land and glided through the icy cold waters! Here are some of our favourite anecdotes and photos of our time with them!
Welcome to Antarctica!
Arriving in Antarctica was the most exciting thing to happen to us in all our travels, and we’ll never forget opening the curtains of our room to reveal our first glimpse of the continent! Read on for our first day, including penguin and whale spotting!
Las Torres base lookout trek, Torres Del Paine
After our one day bus tour around Torres Del Paine, we were hungry to get a bit closer to the incredible granite towers of Las Torres, so we signed up for a full day trek to the base look out point just below the towers!
One day bus tour of Torres Del Paine, Chile
For those who would love to visit Torres Del Paine national park but aren’t keen on the long treks available, a one day bus tour of the park is a perfect chance to see much of the park without all of the hard work!
Journey to the end of the world
Route planner for those travelling south from Santiago to Ushuaia! Check out the highlights along the route including Pucon and the Villarricca volcano, the Navimag ferry through the Chilean fjords and the incredible Torres Del Paine national park!
Sailing the Chilean Fjords with Navimag
With our impending 10 day boat journey to Antarctica edging ever closer, we decided we needed to get some sea leg training in beforehand! We spent four days sailing down the Chilean fjords on the Navimag ferry!
Climbing Pucon Volcano, Chile
Gluttons for punishment, after only 3 days in Chile we signed up for our second volcano climb of our journey! What followed was four hours of tough climbing with ice axes and crampons up the Villarrica Volcano of Pucon!
White Water Rafting: Pucon, Chile
Pucon is a great place for those who like adventure sports, and after climbing the Villarrica volcano nearby, we set our sights on the river rapids of Pucon! Article with video and photos!
North Island Route, New Zealand
After three weeks on the South island, we crossed the Cook Strait and set foot on the North Island, ready to continue our New Zealand adventure! Here is our guide to the North island, including our route and key things to see and do!
Escape Rentals Campervans, New Zealand
Thinking about hiring a campervan in New Zealand? Check out our experience of a month in New Zealand and some tips for making the most of this beautiful country!
South Island Route, New Zealand
Chugging along in our trusty campervan, we spent 2 weeks travelling around the south island of New Zealand, taking in many incredible sights along the way! Here is our guide to the south island, including our route and key things to see and do!
Glow Worm Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
To be honest, we’d not heard about the Glow Worm caves of Waitomo before we arrived in New Zealand, but if you’re heading up the West coast of the North Island of New Zealand, it’s a great place to stop for a couple of days! The caves are beautiful and the Glow Worms are an incredible sight!
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village, Rotorua
Imagine being able to have a free thermal spring bath whenever you want, and be able to steam cook your food over natural vents! This is what the people of Whakarewarewa Thermal Village in Rotorua experience every day, and we went along to check it out!
The Jailhouse, Christchurch
It’s not often you find yourself in jail a mere hour after arriving in a new country, but that’s exactly what happened to us when we landed in Christchurch! It’s not what you’re thinking…
Ice Bar Queenstown, New Zealand
There’s nothing better than an ice cold drink, so we couldn’t resist a visit to an ice bar whilst in Queenstown! Everything in the bar was made of ice, from the chairs, to the tables and even the light fittings!
Rebuilding Christchurch with Re:START Mall
Before we picked up our campervan for a month, we took some time to walk through Christchurch and see for ourselves the devastation caused by the earthquake in 2011, including the unique re:start mall made from shipping containers.
Hiking the Fox Glacier, New Zealand
We’d always wanted to hike a glacier, so when we arrived in New Zealand we headed straight down to Fox glacier for our first experience! After layering up, and slipping on some crampons, we were ready for our half day hike through the valley and up onto the glacier!
One day in Abel Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman National Park is top of most people’s list of things to see in New Zealand, so naturally we decided to check it out! We only spent a day in the park, walking along the coastline and sailing in the crystal clear waters. No wonder it comes highly recommended!
4 Minutes In New Zealand [VIDEO]
’4 Minutes In New Zealand’ is a short video summary of our time in this beautiful country documenting our adventures across both the North and South islands!
Marlborough Region Wine Tour – Bubbly Grape
When we put together our list of things to do in New Zealand, unashamedly one of the first things on that list was visit the Marlborough region on the south island! If you’re into wine, you’ll know the Marlborough region is highly regarded for its wines, in particular the Sauvignon Blanc which we both love!
Climbing the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park
Trekking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing was easily the best experience of our time in New Zealand! Snow capped mountains and active volcanoes, combined with an 8 hour trek made this the one of the most challenging and reward days of our travels to date.
Barry’s Bushtucker Trials
Arriving in Australia, we were thrown straight into the thick of the action in Perth! First up, sampling the delight of a Witchetty Grub! Urgh. Followed by Barry attempting to crack a whip…neither of which ended particularly well.
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
As our train pulled in to Circular Quay, right in the heart of Sydney, we got our first glimpse of the incredible bridge we were about to climb! We couldn’t wait to climb the bridge for an amazing (and unique) view over the city we’d never seen before!
Balinese Cat Poo Coffee
Arriving in tourist mecca Bali was our first experience of reverse culture shock! All would be forgiven though as we travelled North into the heart of Bali, and had our first experience of Balinese Cat Poo Coffee! Perhaps we should explain…
Wine for Dudes, Margaret River
Having just arrived in Australia, we were keen to taste some of the delicious wines on offer in Western Australia, so we headed south to Margaret River! Take a look at our wine, beer and chocolate filled day!
Castaway on Gili Meno Island, Indonesia
Our week on Gili Meno was as close as we’ll get to a Robinson Crusoe experience! A week of turquoise waters, turtles, isolated beaches and fresh fruit juice, Gili Meno was a place we didn’t want to leave!
The Killing Fields of Cambodia
Following on from our experience at S-21 prison, our tuk tuk driver took us to our second destination of the day, the infamous Cambodian killing fields on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Things to do in Nha Trang & Mui Ne, Vietnam!
We loved our time travelling down the coast of Vietnam, and following on from our previous article on Hoi An comes our experiences of two further coastal towns of Vietnam: Nha Trang and Mui Ne!
Phnom Penh Prison S-21, Tuol Sleng
Continuing with our Cambodian experience, it is almost impossible to avoid learning more about the atrocities that took place in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The S-21, or Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum spells out in graphic detail the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime.
Charming Hoi An, Vietnam
On our journey down the coast of Vietnam, we experienced the huge contrast between the vibrant and exciting cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and Vietnam’s amazing coastal towns, all of which boasted very different atmospheres and highlights! First up, Hoi An!
Amazing Angkor Wat: Day 2
Day 2 of our Angkor Wat adventure led us to the temples at Bayon, Angkor Thom, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm and of course Angkor Wat!
Food Heaven in Vietnam
Vietnam was our favourite foodie place so we’ve decided to share some of our best Vietnamese culinary experiences with all of you! Enjoy looking at these pictures and apologies in advance if we make you hungry!
Amazing Angkor Wat: Day 1
Our journey around the mighty Angkor Archaeological Park, visiting Preah Kahn, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Bantay Srei and Pre Rup. We saved Angor Wat for our second day!
Trekking in Sapa, Vietnam
After hearing about the amazing scenery and treks in the Northern highlands of Vietnam, Barry and I decided to embark on a 4 day trip to Sapa, involving two overnight trains, two 7-hour treks, two local homestays (including lots of homemade rice wine!) and a nail-biting cliff edge mini-bus journey!
Welcome to Cambodia!
Swelteringly hot, noisy and exciting, we arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia ready to explore another new country to us. Phnom Penh was the perfect introduction to Cambodia for us, allowing us to meet the people of this beautiful country for the first time, and try some of the local delicacies!
Bushtucker Wine Tour, Margaret River
Our first experience of a wine tour in Australia, we travelled south from Perth to Margaret river to taste some delicious wines, cheese and chocolates!
The bombs of Laos
Laos was heavily affected by the Vietnam war, and continues to suffer the after affects of unexploded bombs across the country. We visited two charities doing their best to clear the bombs, and help those who suffer the affects of an unexploded bomb.
Remnants of the Vietnam War
Remnants of the war in Vietnam are evident all over the country, and during our stay in Ho Chi Minh City, we took time to visit the War Remnants museum and Cu Chi tunnels to better understand the horrors of the Vietnam war.
Delicious Halong Bay
After a few weeks of street food, we were treated to exceptional cuisine on our Halong Bay cruise! Have a look at some of our favourite meals, warning this may cause you to salivate!
Mighty Mekong River Cruise: Thailand to Laos
Probably our most unique border crossing to date, we decided to spend two days sailing down the Mekong River as we crossed from Northern Thailand into Laos!
4 Minutes In Asia [VIDEO]
4 Minutes In Asia is a short narrative of four stunningly beautiful countries: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia. All footage shot on a hand held, second hand camera.
Beautiful Halong Bay, Vietnam
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Halong Bay captivated us as we sailed through its magnificent limestone karsts and green waters. Read on for our experience and favourite photos of this wonderful bay!
Louisiane Brewhouse, Nha Trang
Possibly Barry’s idea of heaven: a microbrewery with delicious beers, on a beach, with a pool and sunbeds! We spent some serious time here reading, sleeping and sipping beers in Nha Trang, Vietnam!
Chiang Mai – Thai Cooking School
I love Thai food, mainly for its fresh, zingy, punchy but sweet flavours. So I couldn’t wait to sign up for a cookery course to learn some culinary tips from the local experts in Chiang Mai! Have a look at what I cooked up as a novice in the kitchen!
Luang Prabang Trekking & Homestay
Laos is famous for its natural beauty, and we knew this was the place to go trekking and experience a homestay! What followed were two days of breathtaking scenery, arduous trekking and welcoming villagers – a highlight of our trip so far!
Thai Kickboxing, Chiang Mai
Despite being a little apprehensive about witnessing my first Thai kickboxing match, I put my fears aside and took up a ringside seat for a night of action! What followed was a mixture of brutal male and female fights, and video footage of a blindfolded group fight!
The Temples of Thailand
Thailand is renowned for its many temples and wats, and we spent some time in the North of Thailand exploring some of the best in the country! Have a look at some of our favourite temples from our time in Thailand!
Chiang Mai Prison Massage
Ever fancied a massage in a jail? Us neither, until we heard about a female prison in Chiang Mai which rehabilitates its inmates through massage. We decided to check it out and had an interesting experience!
Things to do in Koh Tao, Thailand
The first destination of our round the world trip: Koh Tao! We spent our time there recharging our batteries after an eventful few weeks of getting married and packing up our flat for the year! Have a look at some our favourite photos and highlights!
Female Backpacking Packing List
Deciding what shoes to wear on a night out is difficult enough, so deciding what to bring with me for a year of travelling across different countries and climates was one of the hardest decisions in planning our round the world trip! Take a look at what I’ve taken with me!
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao
We spent a long time deciding how to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao island, there are so many ways to do it! In the end, we chose a taxi, bus and boat combination. For anyone thinking of doing the same take a look!
Koh Tao, Thailand – First Impressions
That’s it, we’re off and running on our exciting round the world trip! Our first stop is Thailand, and the amazing island of Koh Tao. After a few days of checking the place out, here are our first impressions!
Backpacking Packing List
Our backpacking packing list is complete! Its one of the hardest decisions any aspiring nomad has to make, and we’ve decided on our worldly possessions for a year! Take a look and let us know if we’ve missed anything!
Peru Homestay: Living Like a Local
Interacting and meeting locals can be difficult when you’re travelling and short on time. We decided to take a Peru homestay experience when we visited Lake Titicaca, and it turned out to be our favourite part of the trip!
Peruvian Food
From guinea pig to sashimi, we absolutely loved our Peruvian food experiences. Have a look at some of our favourite Peruvian food dishes from our time there, as well as our obsession with coca leaf tea, Inca Cola and Pisco Sours!
Top 10 Photos of Peru
Peru is a country we fell in love with when we visited it, and its definitely one of our favourite countries in the world. We’ve collated our 10 favourite photos of Peru from our time spent there, from the Luquina community at Lake Titicaca, to the Inca Trail and Machu Pichu!
Meeting a real life Shamen
Our fantastic experience of the Amazon Jungle and our visit to a Tambopata Lodge, Puerto Maldonado. We were treated to piranha fishing, spider hunting, jungle trekking and a visit to a local tribe where Barry was treated by a real life Shamen!
40 destinations, 7 flights booked!
It’s getting closer! Only three months to go until we pack our bags, say goodbye to loved ones & begin our round the world trip! Planing a wedding & round the world trip has been difficult, have a look at what we’ve achieved so far!
South East Asia Backpacking
After testing a number of different routes, we’ve finalised our plan for backpacking South East Asia! Find out how we plan to fit Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia into 11 weeks!
Wrestling a donkey & getting engaged
Peru is probably our favourite South American country we’ve visited so far, and we got engaged whilst experiencing a Peru homestay on Lake Titicaca! We thought we would share our engagement story, from the proposal, to the unexpected donkey appearance!
Peru for busy people
Peru is a big place, and deciding where to go can be challenging, particularly if you are short on time. We had two weeks to see Peru, and managed to see a lot! Find out more about how we managed to see many of the classic Peruvian experiences in two weeks!
Eliminating entire continents…
We’re putting our careers on hold and travelling the world for a year! Not an easy decision, but one we took after thinking long and hard about our honeymoon. In the end we couldn’t decide where to go, so chose ‘everywhere’. Find out where we’re going!
And so it begins…
We’ve decided to blog about our travels this year, mainly so we can keep up with those who want to know where we are and what we are doing! But we’re also writing this for posterity, as a place to bring together all of our stories, photos and memories. We look forward to sharing the adventure with you!
