Spirit of Tasmania ferry 2010

World Borders: Sailing from Melbourne to Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry, Australia🇦🇺

I have always loved ships. Ever since the days of getting the St David or the Galloway Princess from Larne to Stranraer or from going out boating with my mate Peter Bell and his step -Dad Ken Taylor on the Impala yacht in Ringhaddy. Then in 2008 I worked on the Isle of Wight ferries Read more about World Borders: Sailing from Melbourne to Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania Ferry, Australia🇦🇺[…]

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: Leura Cascades, Bridal Veil Falls, Lyre Bird Dell, Pool of Siloam, Golden Stairs

The village of Leura is the next stop down from Katoomba, our base while trekking the Blue Mountains. We visited Leura twice, once just to walk around the town and a dubious area called “the everglades”, and on this occasion we did the treks round Leura, which included a few waterfalls, many hikes and some Read more about Backpacking In Australia: Leura Cascades, Bridal Veil Falls, Lyre Bird Dell, Pool of Siloam, Golden Stairs[…]

Backpacking Then Living In The Land Down Under: Sweet Home Parramatta

Ask me a year ago if I knew where Parramatta was and I’d not have had a clue. That’s why life is so unpredictable, and now I’m living in a city called Parramatta, in New South Wales, Australia!! Parramatta doesn’t even appear on most maps of Australia. It’s hardly part of Sydney, though some class Read more about Backpacking Then Living In The Land Down Under: Sweet Home Parramatta[…]

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![…]

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[…]

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[…]

World Borders: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore (Malaysia – Singapore train)

Knowing we had made it to the correct terminal in Kuala Lumpur Sentral was such a relief. I had already swapped a few Malaysian Ringitts in Taouyan Airport rather than aimlessly spend my final few Taiwan Dollars on junk at the airport. This barely gave us time to buy anything for the train. Natalja managed Read more about World Borders: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore (Malaysia – Singapore train)[…]

Backpacking in Taiwan🇹🇼: Blood Taipei

  OK its a joke and a ridiculous pun. Something that in 2004, either myself or Lock In Lee would have been proud of. “What blood type are you?” someone asks. “I’m blood type A” I reply. Without the pun, I ended up in Taipei for the final leg of our Taiwan adventure. I had Read more about Backpacking in Taiwan🇹🇼: Blood Taipei[…]

Jonny Blair living a lifestyle of travel in Shinying shrimp fishing

Backpacking in Taiwan🇹🇼: Shrimp Fishing in Xinying

It was another random Friday night in Shinying and surely this one has to be one of the most enjoyable Friday nights of all time. We went Shrimp Fishing in Taiwan! Really! It was suggested to us on the Thursday night, whilst at the night market with two of Neil’s workmates – Binh and David. Read more about Backpacking in Taiwan🇹🇼: Shrimp Fishing in Xinying[…]