When my April flight to Paris via Qatar was cancelled, finding another way to visit my family without selling a kidney became a real challenge! Eventually I found an affordable flight from Brisbane with EVA Air via Taipei. There was just one catch… Simon wasn’t coming. It was going to be my first solo trip in over 17 years. I’ll admit, I was a...
Seeing the Komodo dragons had been on my bucket list for years, so when I started planning an Indonesian trip, visiting Komodo National Park was non-negotiable. Stunning beaches, crystal-clear water, colourful coral reefs, incredible hikes and rare wildlife. It sounded like absolute paradise, and I couldn’t wait to experience it all. Of course, our trip to...
After four wonderful days on Gili Air, we transferred to Gili Meno for a two-night stay. We had absolutely loved Gili Air and had heard Gili Meno was just as incredible for turtle spotting and snorkeling but only even quieter, which suited us perfectly. Nicknamed the “honeymoon island”, Gili Meno is especially popular with couples looking for a slower, more peaceful...
On our recent trip to Indonesia, we wanted to explore somewhere we hadn’t been before. We’d visited Bali a couple of times years ago, but lately all we seemed to hear was how busy it had become and how much it had changed. Lombok appealed to us far more. It had always been on the list, and with quick and affordable direct flights from Sunshine Coast Airport to Bali...
After having to cut our Everest Base Camp trek short due to a nasty bout of altitude sickness (thanks, thin air), we found ourselves with an unexpected extra week in Nepal. Changing our international flights wasn’t an option, so the question was—what now? Thankfully, our amazing trekking agency, Nepal Hiking Team, came to the rescue yet again. They suggested a side...
After a year of planning our Everest Base Camp trek, we were finally en route to Nepal to turn a long-held dream into reality. Our first stop: Kathmandu — the bustling, vibrant capital that offers a sensory overload in the best possible way and is well worth exploring before heading into the mountains. Following a long, chaotic journey from Brisbane (complete with...
Let’s be honest — I’ve got some pretty wild dreams on my bucket list. And trekking to Everest Base Camp? That’s been right up there, screaming for attention for years. There’s just something magnetic about the Himalayas — the crisp air, the towering peaks, and of course, standing in the shadow of the legendary Mount Everest. Trekking along the Everest Base Camp Trek...
Updated September 2026 A 90-minute flight from Manila, Bohol is one of the Philippines’ most fascinating islands. It has a little bit of everything: the famous Chocolate Hills, tiny tarsiers, spectacular waterfalls, coral reefs, beautiful beaches and plenty of opportunities to get away from the crowds. Bohol has become a popular tourist destination, and it’s easy to...
Updated September 2026 With its towering limestone cliffs, turquoise lagoons, hidden beaches and spectacular islands, Coron is one of the most beautiful places we’ve visited in the Philippines. It’s the kind of destination that looks almost unreal in photographs and somehow is even better when you’re actually there. But there is a catch: Coron can get very busy. The...
Last updated: September 2026 On our recent trip to the Philippines, we had a short stopover in Manila after exploring Coron and Bohol. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure about the capital. I’d heard Manila was mostly about shopping and traffic, and as someone who prefers exploring over retail therapy, I almost skipped it. But then I read about Intramuros, the historic...