The World’s only Ice Music Festival: Geilo, Norway

The World’s only Ice Music Festival: Geilo, Norway

13 FEBRUARY, 2017 The World's only Ice Music Festival: Geilo, Norway February 2017 sees the 12th consecutive Ice Music Festival being held in Geilo, Norway. Originally conceived by eminent Norwegian percussionist Terje Isungset in 2006, this isn't simply the only Ice...

Northern Norway – an Arctic Adventure

Northern Norway – an Arctic Adventure

09 DEC, 2016 Northern Norway - an Arctic Adventure   The word 'Antarctica' has extreme connotations, and many people probably conjure visions of windswept icy plains, severe weather conditions, and isolated research posts. However, fewer have even actually been...

Running the Rift

Running the Rift

05 NOVEMBER, 2016 Running the Rift Valley Marathon, Uganda. Running a marathon had always been an ambition of mine. But as with a lot of people, I sometimes doubted I would ever get around to it, or felt I wasn't up to it - or worse: that I might fail. So, when I was...

Great Wall of Europe

Great Wall of Europe

19 JUNE, 2016 The "Great Wall of Europe", Ston, Croatia. Second only in length to the Great Wall of China (a stretch of which I have also walked), this defensive wall in Croatia lays claim to be the largest in Europe. Although only around 5km in hiking length, the...

Dear Ellie – A Rough Guide to Tokyo

Dear Ellie – A Rough Guide to Tokyo

15 MARCH, 2016 Dear Ellie - A Rough Guide to Tokyo The following is a letter I wrote to my sister, Ellie, and her husband in March 2016 when she asked if I had any tips for their upcoming visit to Japan in the April. I know Tokyo well - although the rest of the...

Icelandic ‘babymoon’ – VW style

Icelandic ‘babymoon’ – VW style

13 SEPTEMBER, 2015 Icelandic 'babymoon' - VW style I've always been a fan of camper vans. The idea that you're still camping - still 'roughing it' - yet fully able to get out and about, choose to move on (or not), can be warm if you like; to me the vehicle has always...

Mauritius: Indian Ocean Adventures

Mauritius: Indian Ocean Adventures

15 MAY, 2015 Mauritius: Indian Ocean Adventures Nestled discreetly in the middle of the Indian Ocean, but close enough to Madagascar to be geographically a part of Africa, you might be fooled into thinking that this tropical idyll is a luxury destination only within...

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China

21 SEPTEMBER, 2008 The Great Wall of China Built (and subsequently rebuilt and maintained) between the 5th century BC and the 16th century AD, there are few man-made structures on Earth which can inspire more than the Great Wall. It is so large it is now part of our...

Walking the Yamanote Railway Line, Tokyo

Walking the Yamanote Railway Line, Tokyo

15 JULY, 2007 Walking the entire 40km circular route of the Yamanote Railway Line, Tokyo The Yamanote Line is an urban railway line which loops around Tokyo. Unlike the subterranean Tokyo Metro, the Japan Rail ("JR") Yamanote is often elevated on stilts or simply sits...

Heading ‘Back East’: Crossing the Nullarbor

Heading ‘Back East’: Crossing the Nullarbor

21 MARCH, 2003 Heading 'Back East': Crossing the Nullarbor TODAY IS THE DAY I turn my back on Perth, although for the first time, it wouldn’t be the last. It’s an early start, before boarding the train that is to take me to Adelaide, South Australia, through the...