Brasilia is not usually regarded as one of the world’s beautiful cities. Spawned in 1956 from dusty red-dirt surrounds almost identical to the Australian Outback, the planned capital of Brazil resembles a curved white concrete dystopia in the middle of a desert- a vision perhaps of a future that never eventuated. But in the middle of this metropolis stands the world’s most beautiful church.
It was probably the last place on Earth I ever expected to get married. Read More →
I love Americans and I love visiting the US. The people are friendly, talkative and (mostly) clever, and they love Australians, so why shouldn’t I love them back?! There’s just one problem- and that’s that American airline companies and airport security don’t love me. At all. A case in point is the day US Customs found nitroglycerine on my cell phone. Read More →
Although I love to travel and had a good old time at the Olympics in Sydney in 2000, I have very rarely travelled for a major sporting event. This all changed recently when I headed to Brazil to get married to my Brazilian girl. We timed the wedding for the week after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, so that we and the guests could have a second reason to visit Brazil. So.. how was the World Cup in Brazil? Read More →
With airports supposedly a model of organisation, checking in, passing through security, reaching your gate and being cleared to board the correct plane is a walk in the park, right? Um, well actually… Read More →
As the world’s eyes turn towards Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, I’m getting excited not just for the football on display but for a passion of a different kind. I’m heading to Brazil for the World Cup Final, and the week after that, I will be getting married. In Brazil. To a Brazilian. Read More →
Something is troubling me as I land at Kuala Lumpur late at night. It’s not nervousness at being in a new city, or wondering how I’m going to get from the airport to my hotel. I’m worried about how I’m going to get to Malacca. By the time we my driver Roger and I stop at the 2-and-a-half hour mark, palm trees all around, Roger again asking “you need piss?”, I’m beginning to wonder if we will ever arrive in Malacca. Because Malacca is where I really want to be. Read More →
Towards the end of 2013, I needed to take yet another work trip to visit a company in Singapore. Now I love Singapore, but….. I have just been there too many times! And I shook my head and thought “this time I am going somewhere I have never been before”. So I took a look at the map, let my eyes trail north of Singapore and began Malaysia dreaming. Malacca caught my gaze. I’d always wanted to see it- something about that olde world spice of the colonial age. The romance of the Malacca Straits. The Orient of yesteryear. But to get there I’d have to first fly to Kuala Lumpur- the Oriental megalopolis of today. Read More →
Last week, we heard about Vince’s Moroccan adventures in Part 1: Intimidation, Mint Tea, and Hammams. It was nothing if not a heavy read, and this week’s tale’s both heavy and light in equal measure, as a good adventure often is. Vince is a mid-20s Aussie backpacker who recently spent 6 months in Morocco working as a surf instructor and got more than he bargained for, which he’ll continue to tell us all about in Part 2. Read More →
I first entered Morocco as an escape from my expiring Schengen zone visa (basically the European Union), but soon decided to stay for 6 months to teach surfing just outside the city of Agadir, in a small fishing turned surfing village named Taghazout, in Morocco’s South. The place was just too good, too crazy for an “escape”. Home to the Western Sahara desert, Atlas Mountains, delicious spice infused meals, world class surf breaks, various deadly animals and amazing people, I got more than I bargained for when I set foot in this North African country. Read More →
I had been in bed not longer than an hour when I crept out of the room to visit the bathroom. Though I had arrived only an hour ago at Scott and Sam’s home in London, I figured they would probably already be sleeping. The house was silent and the chill London air was still outside. I was quiet as a mouse as I quietly opened the creaky bedroom door, careful not to wake my hosts. What happened next is perhaps the most terrifying tale of woe and whimsy in the history of travel-writing. Read More →
Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Fireworks Photos
The Last Place on Earth I Expected to get Married- Our Quest to Convince the Catholic Church to Marry Us in the Most Beautiful Church in Brazil
The Time US Customs Found Nitroglycerine on My Cell Phone
Watching the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil
Sydney Harbour Illuminated- Sydney Vivid Festival 2014
Matt, this is a great read for me, I've been living on and off in San Luis Obispo, CA for the last 3 years and... 
