Forty days into my stay in Greece, with just five left to go, it’s safe to say this has been a truly relaxing and rather wonderful experience. I’ve never considered myself much of a “beach holiday” person, but it turns out I’m quite good at doing very little—swimming, walking, reading, sleeping, and (of course) eating. One of the unexpected joys of travelling at this slower pace has been the chance to reflect. As I wander, memories from earlier in the journey drift back: Chri

The last time I wrote, I was leaving Java in 10 days after a wonderful four months far from home. I was heading back for a short stopover before starting the European leg of the adventure. Those two weeks at home were a whirlwind of leaflet delivery, voter ID duties, catching up with friends (and drinking far too much), and trying to work out exactly what damage I’d done to my knee in Java. After an MRI, it turns out I’ve worn away the cartilage on the back of my kneecap—some

Our late‑afternoon flight from Medan to Yogyakarta (Jogja) on the eve of Eid al‑Fitr felt more like stepping into a flying cake shop than boarding a plane. I’ve never seen so many boxes of cake in one place — certainly more than any bakery stockroom. We were the only westerners on board, surrounded by families rushing home for the holidays. As the sun dipped below the horizon mid‑flight, the cabin suddenly came alive: everyone leapt up to retrieve food from the overhead locke

After a quick catch‑up with Mark in Kuala Lumpur, we hopped over to Sumatra—the first of our two Indonesian stops. A short flight and an easy train ride brought us into central Medan, where a lively swarm of tuk‑tuk and taxi drivers eagerly vied for our attention. We climbed into one who we later fondly named the Pirate of Medan —only realising afterwards that we’d paid roughly four times the going rate. Still, for £5, hardly worth shedding a tear. Our studio apartment, compl

Next it was high tea country, beautiful, cool, incredible views of mountains with clouds beneath us. We stayed in the excellent Nilowin Guesthouse, and drank beer and gin on the balcony, constantly alert to the troupe of monkeys that like to join us and see what they could steal. Rebecca did a cookery lesson and we made friends with all her fellow students. The next day was a 5am start to Horton Plains National Park for a 9km walk in the on the highest of Sri Lanka’s mountain

Special Guest Blog, Sri Lanka Edition, by Nicky Philpott, aged 57. I met Rebecca when she wanted more excitement than to be in the NSPCC's governance team and she seconded herself to the sexy campaigning side. And here we are, 22 or 23 years later. Memories are vague, we were usually drunk. But when she announced last that she was taking a geriatric gap year I knew I had to join her for some of it, I mean, we'd normally meet up once a month and put the world to rights, whi

Life can’t be all play and no work. So, after nearly nine weeks on the road swanning around doing exactly what I fancied every single day, it was time to give something back. I was met at Colombo airport by the Asha House team and whisked off to Unawatuna for two weeks volunteering on a turtle conservation project. The two-hour journey introduced me — and a minibus full of German and Dutch 18- to 23-year-olds — to the unique thrill that is Sri Lankan driving. There were aroun

Back in South East Asia Every so often I have to pause and remind myself what a wildly fortunate position I’m in: drifting around Australaisia and South East Asia doing whatever takes my fancy. No deadlines. No meetings. No responsibility beyond deciding what to eat next. It’s easy to forget just how lucky that is — but goodness, I’m trying not to. One of the first things I booked for this whole adventure was a two‑week turtle conservation project in Sri Lanka. As things unfo

“ What team do you support? ” If you’re from the UK, every Kiwi asks this the moment they learn where you’re from. As a rugby fan, I never know what to say. They’re not obsessed with football—they just assume we are. My time on the North Island was shaped heavily by the weather. The South Island hadn’t exactly been tropical, but everyone promised things would warm up once I headed north. Instead, I arrived just in time for extreme storms that caused real devastation. Any inc

New Zealand may be vast and impossible to “do properly” in one trip, yet I keep being reminded of how tiny the world can feel. In a hostel in Greymouth, a group of British and Dutch travellers were chatting when the British woman made a joke about how awful Luton is. I had to stop this outrageous slur and mentioned I was born there, and the Dutch guy immediately asked if I knew Harlington. His friend went to Harlington Upper School and he is the whole reason he’s travelling

Travelling solo is great —until you’re crouched in a dorm room at midnight, trying to pack quietly by torchlight like a burglar in hiking boots. My life in hostels is basically a cycle of packing, unpacking, and wondering where on earth my socks have gone. But here’s the thing: despite the chaos, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Pack, unpack, hunt for things I’ve packed, discover things I haven’t packed yet! Why? Because in a dorm room, someone is always asleep—no matter t

The time has come to leave Australia, and honestly, what a way to kick off the adventure! Some time with Mark and the chance to catch up with an old friend has left me thoroughly relaxed—yet itching to head off solo and explore New Zealand. Fun fact: NZ was the first country to give women the vote and, importantly for me, the first country on this trip I’ve never visited before. It’s fair to say my living standards are about to nosedive as I enter the hostel dorm phase of the

G’day from Gerroa: Prawns, Poms, and Peculiar Sleeping Arrangements The roar of the ocean and the sweeping sands of Seven Mile Beach greeted us in Gerroa. We were there to spend Christmas with my childhood friend, Estelle, her husband Scott, and their son Nick. It has been 38 years since Estelle and I lived together on the edge of the Thamesmead Estate in South East London, and it’s fair to say that Gerroa is about as far from those days as you can get—both geographically and

We head off from Laos to Australia for Christmas in Gerroa with Estelle and Scott. This should be a short flight from Luang Prabang, a four hour lay over in Bangkok (time to make use of the airport lounges priority pass gifted to me by my wonderful work colleagues), then an 11 hour flight to Sydney. As we check in at L.P we are asked for copies of our Australian digital arrival card. For all the planning this is one thing that has slipped through the net, and neither of us

Leaving Laos is hard, mainly because it means saying goodbye to the food. The idea that I may never eat some of these dishes again is genuinely upsetting. Succulent grilled meats at the night market, fat dripping down your chin with zero shame. The crispiest pork I’ve ever encountered. Green papaya salad so hot and citrusy that your eyes water, your nose runs, and your life choices briefly flash before you. And yet, the moment you finish one, you’re already asking when the ne

Sleepless Nights, Great Food, and Locking Myself Out of the Apartment After nearly 20 years, it’s time to revisit Laos, and was excited to see if it still has the peaceful charm, stunning beauty, and food that left me dreaming about it. Spoiler alert: it does. The journey from Bangkok to Vientiane was a breeze, thanks to the shiny new China-Laos Railway. This railway has been a game changer for trade and tourism, though it's come with a hefty price tag—debt to China, that is.

Bangkok gave us less than 48 hours to play, so we wasted no time. First stop: breakfast on the street. For just £1, a plate of pork fried rice appeared— with my love of food, this was proof that happiness really can be bought for pocket change. A tuk-tuk ride zipped us past shining Buddhas, and suddenly we were fully tuned into the Southeast Asian rhythm. The palace visit had to wait, though—the city was in mourning for the Queen Mother. By evening, we were back in indulgenc

"Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. But it’s always worth it." – Anthony Bourdain After more than two years of planning, it’s finally happening – in just three days, I’ll be off on my big adventure! I wrapped up work over a week ago, and I’ll admit, it still feels strange not checking my emails every five minutes. But don’t think I’ve been lounging around – trip prep has kept me busier than ever. The journey kicks off with one night in Bangkok , then it’