Backpacking In Australia: Attending the Medibank International Tennis Tournament in Sydney

On Tuesday night in January 2010 and I walk in the door from work to be greeted by Neil and Dan saying “are you up for the tennis tomorrow?” Well I had a day off but I didnt even know there was tennis on! It turned out there was what is known as the “Medibank Read more about Backpacking In Australia: Attending the Medibank International Tennis Tournament in Sydney[…]

The Night I…Got Pissed For Free at a Gay Rights Lecture (The Annual John Marsden Memorial Lecture)

It was mid November 2009 and we were in our first few weeks in Parramatta, Australia where I worked in the awesome PJ Gallagher’s Irish Pub. We lived with Ruben and Rebecca. Rebecca was working for the local government in New South Wales. When she mentioned she was organising a public conference in the last week Read more about The Night I…Got Pissed For Free at a Gay Rights Lecture (The Annual John Marsden Memorial Lecture)[…]

Backpacking in Australia: Cronulla and not meeting Jarvis Cocker in Sydney

Cronulla was another of the famous beaches in and around the Sydney area. It wasn’t on my list of must sees, but we decided to do it anyway. My current pub job normally means I have two full days off (or one over Christmas and New Year!), and so at the start of December I Read more about Backpacking in Australia: Cronulla and not meeting Jarvis Cocker in Sydney[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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![…]

Backpacking in Australia: Watching Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar and Dwight Yorke and Terry McFlynn

I didn’t exactly expect to watch live football in my first 2 days in Australia, but as an added bonus I did! On arrival at Sydney Airport, I noticed a light blue Sydney FC kit being sold in one of the shops, and with it a fixture list for the local team, which revealed they Read more about Backpacking in Australia: Watching Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar and Dwight Yorke and Terry McFlynn[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: The Beatles Bar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Its amazing you know where and how you find things. This one was random – I found a “Beatles Bar” slap bang in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! It was by chance. I mentioned before how English traveler Niki Whitley spent a day with Natalja and I and helped us firstly by loaning Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: The Beatles Bar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia[…]

Night Safari Singapore Zoo 2009

Backpacking in Singapore: Night Safari

You’re thinking what the hell is “Night Safari”? But it’s obvious. The answer’s in the title. Singapore had the world’s first night safari. So while there and with one of the world’s most famous zoos so close, we couldn’t resist the temptation to do the “Night Safari” in Singapore. It would mean being up close Read more about Backpacking in Singapore: Night Safari[…]

Thirsty Thursdays: Drinking a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar, Raffles Hotel, Singapore

Thirsty Thursdays: Drinking a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar, Raffles Hotel, Singapore

It had to be done. It was so obvious. There we were in Singapore, Asia and staying in a hostel just 25 minutes walk from the world famous Raffles Hotel. The Raffles Hotel is possibly the most famous hotel in Asia. It began life in 1887 and was founded by the Armenian Sarkies brothers. Monarchs Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: Drinking a Singapore Sling at the Long Bar, Raffles Hotel, Singapore[…]