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In Armenia

Driving in Georgia and Armenia – Your ultimate guide

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Amazing views from The Cross in Mestia

Driving In Georgia And Armenia – The Road Trip Of A Lifetime! Doing a road trip through Georgia and Armenia has definitely been one of our travel highlights. As tourism to the Caucasus grows it is only natural that more and more travellers will take the option of self drive trips through this fascinating region of the world. Driving in Georgia and Armenia gives you the freedom to explore areas that would otherwise be unaccessible. Naturally there are challenges that come with doing this however driving in both countries is generally very safe. Driving in both Georgia and Armenia may seem like a crazy idea initially. However with reliable car rental services springing up in Tbilisi and Yerevan it is becoming more and more accessible.Take advantage of it now! The main thing you need to be aware of the quality of the roads and the occasional speeding driver. Is it…

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In Japan

Visiting the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks

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Sunset over Lake Kussharo

Two of Hokkaido’s most beautiful National Parks Hokkaido is Japans last wilderness, here you will find dramatic mountain peaks, rugged coastline and maybe the odd higuma (brown bear). Very few people make it this far north, which is a blessing for those that do. Offering some of Japan’s most spectacular scenery the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks are well worth the time and effort. Although this article is full of great photos, we have another article of photos from Hokkaido. Getting There and Getting Around Renting a car is the best way to get around Hokkaido. The JR network, whilst being extremely reliable does not cover the entire island. Also public transport in and around the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks is very limited. The size of both National Parks also contributes to the necessity of a car. We have an article on renting a car in Japan with all…

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In Uzbekistan

Exploring the Aral Sea – What to see and do

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Jeeps parked in the desert

Welcome to the Aral Sea It has been called one of the greatest man made disasters in history. The Aral Sea was once the 4th largest lake in the world and home to a thriving fishing industry. An industry of such importance that it apparently provided all of the canned fish for the red army as they fought in World War 2. However it is now around 10% of its original size and the only evidence of a fishing industry is the rusting ships on seabed in Moynaq. Getting to the Aral Sea is not easy. The nearest major town is the capital of Karakalpakstan, Nukus. A town of classic Soviet design, Nukus feels like the end of the line. Wide streets lined with buildings that hark back to the glory days of the Soviet Union. It is from here that all Aral Sea tours depart. Therefore getting to this…

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In Japan

What to do in Kyoto

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Inari Shrine, Kyoto

Welcome to Kyoto Another of Japan’s ancient capitals. Blessed with some of the countries most stunning temples, kimono wearing locals and tourists and wonderful cuisine, it is no wonder that Kyoto is a popular place for anyone visiting or living in Japan. Tourist numbers to Kyoto are growing at an ever increasing rate. As a result this can feel like the city is swamped by visitors. Sadly the large numbers of tourists are causing problems. Follow the customs and rules according to the signs that are displayed and if you’re not sure ask. Sadly when we visited we saw a lot of tourists unable or unwilling to do this. A crying shame in one of Japan’s most beautiful cities. We have a “know before you go” article on Japan, with a few additional tips on Kyoto for you to check out! Getting There and Away Kyoto is well serviced by…

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In Georgia

What to do in Svaneti and Kazbegi

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Some of Mestia's stunning mountain scenery

Visiting Svaneti and Kazbegi in the spring Kazbegi and Svaneti are justifiably two of the most popular destinations in Georgia. Both offer spectacular mountain scenery and excellent hiking. The best season for hiking in the greater Caucuses mountains is the summer which begins around mid May/early June. However that does not mean that these two destinations are off limits outside of this time period. We ended up visiting Kazbegi at the beginning of April and Svaneti at the end. Major hiking routes close to Kazbegi itself were free of snow however this was not the case in Svaneti. When we were planning our trip to the Georgia traveling to these two regions outside of the summer seasons was one of main concerns. By the looks of some of our google searches it seemed we weren’t the only ones that were asking questions. Here we will give you all the tips…

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In Food

Eating in Sri Lanka

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Eating Lamprais in Sri Lanka

Eating in Sri Lanka Eating is one of the highlights of any trip to Sri Lanka. Fresh fruit to piping hot curries there is enough variety and flavour to satisfy the foodies fo this world. As is noted in many guidebooks and travel articles, eating out is not as common in Sri Lanka as it is in other parts of Asia. As a result it is not uncommon for homestays, a common form of accommodation in Sri Lanka to provide delicious home cooked meals. However if you fancy eating out restaurants are easy enough to find. Especially in popular places. Breakfast The vast majority of accommodation options in Sri Lanka include breakfast or offer it at a very reasonable price. Breakfast usually consists of a wide variety of dishes, this can be a lot of food. Usually breakfast will consist of a variety of the following: eggs, coconut roti, hoppers…

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In Australia

What to do at Cradle Mountain – Your complete itinerary

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Blue skies over Cradle Mountain

What to do at Cradle Mountain Located in the north west of Tasmania, Cradle Mountain, part of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is one of the islands most celebrated destinations. With stunning scenery, excellent hiking and abundant wildlife it should be on every Tasmania itinerary. Here are a few tips to get the most out of this incredible national park. If you want more information on what to do in Tasmania check out our article on exploring Tasmania’s East Coast! Travel Within the Park There is one main road in the national park that takes you past all of the hotels and down to the visitor centre. This main road leads all the way to Dove Lake, which is at the base of Cradle Mountain. It’s here you can get the iconic boat shed shot. There are regular shuttle buses that run visitors from the visitor centre down…

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In Sri Lanka

Whale Watching in Mirissa

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Sunrise over Mirissa's coastline

Whale Watching in Mirissa Mirissa, a small town situated on Sri Lanka’s southern coastline is considered to be one of the best places on earth to see our planets largest living animal; the blue whale. Having the opportunity to catch even the slightest glimpse of one of these magnificent creatures is a truly rewarding and humbling experience. For the two of us, this was one of the things were most excited for in Sri Lanka. If you’re interested in checking out Sri Lanka’s safari’s check out our article on visiting the Udawalawe National Park. Cost In the grand scheme of things, whale watching in Sri Lanka is surprisingly affordable. We paid 1000 rupees more for this than a 4 hour safari at Udawalawe, 6000 rupees per person. However that being said, it is an expensive activity in comparison to Sri Lankan prices. Ethical Concerns This concern is valid. Sadly there…

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In Japan

Japan Hacks – Know Before You Go

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Turtles in Shukkei-en, Hiroshima

A Guide to Travelling in Japan Japan has an unfair reputation for being expensive with a confusing transport system. To be fair both of these can be true, getting your head around the JR lines, private lines and metro lines in the major cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto needs some serious skills. We’ve put together a list of hacks that are very useful for anyone planning a trip to Japan. Tax In Japan tax is added at the counter so just expect to pay more that it says on the label. Some restaurants will have tax included in their prices, but this is usually stated on the menus. If you spend over 5000 yen at any one time in a shop you will need to have a copy of the receipt taped into your passport and stamped if you want to claim the tax back. This is to prove…

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In Japan

15 Photos That Will Make You Want To Visit Hokkaido

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Photos that will make you want to visit Hokkaido Hokkaido is without doubt one of the most beautiful places we have ever been. With wild untamed wildness, incredible food and barely any people, this really is the complete opposite of most people’s image of Japan. This is the least visited of Japans four main islands, but making the effort to get this far north is definitely worth it, as you can see from the photos below. We have some other Hokkaido specific articles to give you some more information on visiting this stunning island. Check out our article on renting a car in Hokkaido for everything you need to know when planning a self driving holiday in Japan’s norther wilderness. Also to experience two of Hokkaido’s most stunning and remote destinations check out the Shiretoko and Akan National Parks. Finally check out our article on budgeting in Japan, helping to…

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In Hong Kong

Hiking Stage 1 and 2 of the Maclehose Trail

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Sai Wan on the Maclehose trail, stage 2

Hiking in Hong Kong Hong Kong is home to hundreds upon hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails. The vast majority of these hiking trails barely even get a look from visitors. In many ways this is a blessing. On the weekends Hong Konger’s jump on buses, boats and trains as they had out to the territories rural areas to escape the city centre. Many believe that Hong Kong is the worlds best city for hiking, and from our experiences it would be hard to disagree. In addition to this article, we also have one on hiking Lantau Peak. Do be aware that Hong Kong is both very hot and very humid, so plan accordingly. What is the Maclehose? For those who are unfamiliar, the maclehose trail is a 100km trial divided into 10 stages that crosses the new territories from Sai Kung in the east to Tuen Mun in the…

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In Myanmar

Myanmar Hacks – Know Before You Go

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Myanmar Hacks – Know Before You Go Myanmar is a country of outstanding beauty and culture. Our trip to Myanmar was fantastic and we would recommend it to everyone, however are a few little pieces of advice that we would like to pass on. Myanmar’s Buses Transport between Myanmar’s major locations is convenient and expansive. Many tourists choose to take night buses to maximise their time and save on accommodation costs. However there is one thing that you should all know. Night buses in Myanmar have an rather strange habit of arriving much earlier than scheduled. For example; we left Yangon around 8:30pm on a bus that was scheduled to arrive in Kalaw at 6:00am. When our bus pulled up in Kalaw at 3am we were rather surprised. At that point we had 2 choices, sit at a little roadside restaurant for 3 hours while we waited for our guest…

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