Philadelphia Grand Jury Live in Katoomba

Live music often helps you have a good night – but this was an unexpected rock gig in the middle of The Blue Mountains – one that we didn’t even know about as we paid to get in. We were staying in Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains Central Backpackers and had been out one night Read more about Philadelphia Grand Jury Live in Katoomba[…]

Backpacking in Taiwan: A Night Out In Kaohsiung

We caught a bus back to Kaohsiung from Kenting after an eventful day in Kenting and Eluanbi. We watched an awesome sun go down on Kenting beach on the south tip of Taiwan and then it was time to catch the sleepy bus to Kaohsiung. That’s where Natalja and I met Eva at Kaohsiung main Read more about Backpacking in Taiwan: A Night Out In Kaohsiung[…]

A Night Out in Taipei, Taiwan: Watching Rock Music in the Underworld

On my last weekend in Taiwan, I ended up in the capital city of Taipei. We had spent the full day sightseeing (and also went to the thermal spas) and returned to our hostel for the night out. Jenny had gone back home after the sightseeing, so there was just me and Neil for the Read more about A Night Out in Taipei, Taiwan: Watching Rock Music in the Underworld[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: Halloween Night in Sydney, Australia

Halloween in 2009 crept up very slowly and took us all by surprise, especially in this new land and new environment – life in Sydney. As a child Halloween had always been special. Living in Kilmaine in Bangor, Northern Ireland Halloween meant Church Services, Remembrance Day, Harvest, School Plays, Guy Fawkes Night and fun for Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Halloween Night in Sydney, Australia[…]

Blackheath, Govett’s Leap, Evan’s Lookout, Pulpit Rock

Blackheath was another planned day out in our last few days in The Blue Mountains. We had pretty much exhausted the entire area of a hat-trick of villages: Leura, Katoomba, Wentworthville. Next one down on the map was Blackheath. Living in Australia I have noticed so many different place names stolen from the UK. I Read more about Blackheath, Govett’s Leap, Evan’s Lookout, Pulpit Rock[…]

Halloween party at Chilli Blue Hostel in Sydney with Jonny Blair a lifestyle of travel

Chilli Blue: The Best Backpackers Hostel in Sydney, Australia

It was all a bit unorganised getting to and arriving in Sydney. Just a few days before the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney, I had to book a hostel, as I wanted to be sure where we would stay the first few nights. As it turned out, the pressure and randomness of booking the Read more about Chilli Blue: The Best Backpackers Hostel in Sydney, Australia[…]

Witches Leap, Landslide, The Ruined Castle

While in The Blue Mountains, and in particular the Jamison Valley region, we wanted to do every trek we could in the timescale. The two furthest away and toughest treks were to the “Ruined Castle” and “Mount Solitary.” Both were basically day treks, starting off from Katoomba. We decided we would rather see the Castle, Read more about Witches Leap, Landslide, The Ruined Castle[…]

Backpacking in Australia: Touring Wentworth Falls Village, Blue Mountains

When you spend time in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales there is an endless list of walks, treks, hikes, points, peaks, waterfalls, gorges, valleys, rocks, forests, caves to see. During the week that we spent there we tried to bung as much in as we could. This meant constant hiking through the main Read more about Backpacking in Australia: Touring Wentworth Falls Village, Blue Mountains[…]

Getting My RSA and RCG: Becoming a student for 2 days in Australia!

I have only lived in Australia for 6 weeks or so and already I have three qualifications to my name! (the two mentioned here, and a “publife” certificate) I didn’t expect that to happen! I thought my days of studying were well and truly behind me. Over the years I’ve spent too much time doing Read more about Getting My RSA and RCG: Becoming a student for 2 days in Australia![…]

“Its hardly Ballyholme, but it’ll do” – Bondi Beach, Australia

As a visitor to Sydney it was slightly obvious that in the first week we would go to the famous Bondi Beach. The weather wasn’t amazingly hot during the first 7 days however, but the night before the 8th day, we were led to believe that next day would be the ideal day to “do Read more about “Its hardly Ballyholme, but it’ll do” – Bondi Beach, Australia[…]