Switzerland...

So...my plans for Europe went a bit wide this summer after I met Hannah earlier in the year. So instead I find myself spending the summer in Switzerland, where Hannah was been spending her year working for a multinational company as part of her year in industry.

Basle is a beautiful city, much to see, and the people are friendly to the point of silly. Architechturial the city looks amazing; beautiful buildings everywhere, and some of the countries best museums. Add to that that we`re on the border where three countries, France, Germany, and Switzerland meet, and it`s a great chance to explore around.

Hannah & myself

Hannah and myself plan on seeing a few of the major cities this summer, and hopefully we might even skip to a different country when she gets the time off work. It`s about the chance to see her before we go back to university, and I`m glad I`ve got the chance.

Anyway, off to get a solid day`s work done now. Bye bye.

Basel Market Square

The River Rheine

Would you believe its the town hall?

Summer 2007 (Part 1)

Well I'm in the process of finalising my travels for this forthcoming summer, and it's something a bit different from Australia and the Pacific this time.

I was going to go over there and spend the summer in Surfer's Paradise with a few of the old friends, but I think I'm going to try Eastern Europe and hopefully something a bit weird and lurid.

My exams are to finish in June, so I'll be setting off at the end of that month (resits pending). I've already booked an open flight to my first destination, which is going to be Athens (not very Eastern I know but I have my reasons). I've got a few friends over there, so I'm looking forward to seeing a few of the islands and maybe continuing my learning of diving.

I'll be backpacking as usual, not flying, so I'll be heading north through Greece and into Bulgaria where I've been told the trade industry is really booming in the past couple of years. It should be something unusual. Bulgaria recently joined the EU so passport control isn't a problem and I don't envisage any border fee's. Man this is going to be cheap compared to last time out :)

From Bulgaria it'll get a little bit more weird. Romania is next on the path, and a visit to Bucharest should be one of the highlight's of the whole trip without a doubt. The Danube Delta, or Delta Dunarii flows right through to the Black Sea and is something I've been told is an amazing sight at nightfall in the summer. Of course Romania is pretty famous for it's Medieval new-Renaissance architecture. They've got some pretty sh*t hot castles and villages, none more so than the Peles Castle which lies amongst the Bucegi Mountain range, which I'll try and get into the tour.

I've not quite worked out the route for Ukraine and Poland yet but I'll be visiting both countries as much next two stops. Kiev is a certainty, however I'm still undecided between Warsaw and Krakow. Tis a tough choice. Lithuania and Estonia are also on the agenda however I'm yet to get information through from the home office there about safety of travel regulations at the moment, so at this point it's still indefinite on whether I'll be able to go, which is a shame.

Inevitably I'll end up Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. I've got a friend there I met whilst in Australia so I've got a place to say. Dare I say that Eli Roth's rendition of what is becoming a cult horror Hostel isn't enough to put me off going there. Although I've been told that the women are very beautiful, and the hospitality of the locals is unrivalled; I'm looking forward to Bratislava over all other destinations. This aside Slovakia also offer the High Tatras, a mountain range that has incorporated almost secret villages into its myst, picturesque beyond belief. Sadly I won't be there to see the snowfall, however I'm sure it'll still be spectacular.

Other stops on my summers trip will be: Hungary; Austria; Czech Republic; Germany; Netherlands; Switzerland & Italy. My travel plans on those countries to come later this week...

From the frying pan and into the freezer.

Arrived in New Zealand three nights ago. Wow. Touched down in Christchurch on the South Island, I wanted to avoid all the tourism of the North Island this time of year; I'm told it's quite hectic with Maori Festivals going on. As much as I'd like to see them, apparently the place is overrun with tourists at the moment.

My plan is quite simple really, I've got six weeks here. I'll be doing a complete route around the island, and most of it will no doubt be hitching. I'm told it's relatively safe here though.

Looking forward to seeing the "Southern Alps", of which Mount Cook is supposed to be an amazing view. There are base walks that take three days, and I've already booked one. I'm told it's going to be the most demanding challenge I'm likely to ever take it my life. Reassuring.

Christchurch so far has been pretty laid back. Spent last night at a cruisy little jazz cafe with a couple of german girls from Gladbach. It's been snowing a little for the past week, still can't get over snow in April. It's insane. Then again I can't get over a beach Christmas.

I move onto Mount Cook on Tuesday, and with it a different type of challenge.

Simply Fiji

Despite it's rising popularity amongst tourists, "over 200 [of the islands] are uninhabited" I'm informed by a local as I'm shuffled into the back of his 1960's Ford, sounding like a tourist guide trying to make a quick Fijiian dollar.

And if it's true, I pray it stays this way. After touching down in Nadi, I'm quickly immerved in the colourful Fijiian culture embraced best by they're marketplace. Trading amongst themselves I notice quickly a tendency to group up in two's and three's and try to lure the unknowing tourist towards them, offering them all sorts of goods ranging from fruit, to local jewelry, to local delicassy.

It was a taste of what was to come; no sooner had I headed out of the Nadi area, and had accumulated myself a tourist bus, had the bus driver started flying to flog us goods during the ride south to our ferry port.

My destination at this moment is the wonderful group of island known as Kadavu. A dutch couple I met three night's ago at a hostel in Nadi suggested the island as an ideal place to see some of Fiji's best beaches, without having all the tourism of the main islands.

Coastline near Matana

Apparently however the weather has been quite vigorous in recent days, with a fair amount of rain. I'm told however that it's quite a feeling to be in the nearby Astrolabe Reef (miles and miles of clear lagoons, like something out of the Beach) when it happens though, as all the marine life comes to the top to feed.

Hostel at Matana

When I leave Kadavu I'm due to head back to Nadi, to continue onto Australia, but there's something about the lure of Fiji's capital Suva that makes me think otherwise...

Touchdown Bali!

Limited internet access, so apologies over the abruptness.

Touched down at 4 this morning. Thirty-something hour flight from Heathrow, but worth it already. The locals here are magnificent; this place is thriving from tourism at the moment, however there is a fair amount of political unrest in the country towards foreigners from some factions.

In terms of accomodation, food and ammenities though, wow. The accomodation is often in the form of beach houses, which are generally bamboo huts on the beach, but they are fantastically kept, and the views are amazing. Living costs for a week here amount to around £45, and that is including accomodation, and lunch and dinner each day. Too be fair I'm spending more than I should as well.

street Market & Festival

So far I've only travelled a short journey outside the capital Denpasar, but have seen some magnificent costal lines, and some great scenery. The sun setting here on a full moon is one of the most amazing sight's I will no doubt ever witness.

Penida Island is my next stop, it's the largest of the Bali Islands, and I heard the diving is great there so I'll complete a diving course there before moving on.


I've been warned that internet access, and to a certain extent, communications on the area are limited so I guess I'll see you in Fiji...

My goodbye's.

Leaving Surfer's in a couple of day's time. Heading off to the Aussie island of Tazmania before I move onto New Zealand, just to see what it's like.

About 90% of the island is a world heritage area so I'm expecting it to be amazing. Hopefully i'll get the chance to see a fair bit in only five days, but at least I can say I've been there.

I've had a great time here, no doubt I'll be back in the future. The night life is amazing, the day's are so cruisy. I could live here without a care in the world.

Spent the day on a yacht...

The weather here's been amazing this past week. Mid 30's, not overly hot, and spent an unusually high amount of time on the beach while the girls have been manning the bar.

Went out on the yacht with Tai and a couple of friends yesterday, spent the day cruising around the harbour and pulled up at a couple of bay's and had a few beers. Had the change to drive it a little. Was very cruisy.

Some nice pictures to come. Keep an eye out.