My Journal

The Strange Things That Become Normal When You Live Overseas The Funny Side of Adjusting to Everyday Life Abroad When you first begin living overseas, almost everything requires concentration. Crossing the road becomes a strategic operation. Buying milk requires careful study. Ordering lunch involves pointing, translating and hoping the photograph bears some relationship to what […]

The Suitcase Economy: What Actually Earns a Place in My Luggage What years of travel taught me about what to pack, what to leave behind and the things I apparently can’t live without. I have been travelling long enough to know better. I know I don’t need six pairs of shoes. I know there will […]

Finding Yourself and Your People Who You Are When Your Career Is No Longer Your Identity For most of my adult life, I was introduced by what I did. My work, responsibilities and involvement in the community gave me purpose, surrounded me with people and shaped the way I saw myself. When those roles ended, […]

Bali, You’ve Changed — But So Have I Some things I love. Some things I miss. I have been coming to Bali since 1976, which is a slightly alarming thing to write because it makes me sound ancient. Over those years, I have certainly seen Bali change. Some of those changes have been wonderful. Others, […]

When Going Home Doesn’t Quite Feel Like Going Home Anymore For most of my life, Perth was simply home. It was familiar, predictable and filled with the people, places and routines that shaped who I was. But after spending so much time travelling and living in Vietnam, returning to Perth now feels different. It is […]

When Kindness Doesn’t Need an Audience In a world where compassion is increasingly measured in likes and views, two unforgettable experiences in Vietnam reminded me what genuine kindness really looks like. Somewhere along the way, kindness became content. Every day our social media feeds are filled with videos of strangers handing money to someone in […]

So, is Melaka worth visiting? Absolutely and maybe even more than you expect. A personal Melaka travel story with cheap flights, an inexpensive luxury apartment, local experiences, and hidden surprises. Discover why Melaka is perfect for slow travel. Travelling around Southeast Asia is usually easy, affordable, and if you’re a bit savvy full of great […]

Tourist Beware: Real Travel Stories That Shouldn’t Happen (But Do) Lost Phone. Wrong Passport  International Recovery Mission. I can organise the itinerary, the limousine, the driver, the hotel and the meals and to a certain extent, I can organise the people. But when it comes to their possessions that’s where my job description very clearly […]

DMZ Vietnam Travel Experience: Khe Sanh, War History & The Duck Stop A powerful and personal journey through Vietnam’s DMZ, including Khe Sanh, Vinh Moc Tunnels, and a surprisingly funny visit to The Duck Stop. One of the best things about staying in one place for a while is the people you meet. Not just […]

Why We Behave Differently on Holidays (And What Travel Reveals About Us) Have you ever noticed how you become a slightly different version of yourself the moment you leave home? Not dramatically different. Just shifted. You eat things you would never order at home. You talk to strangers in airport lounges.You wear colours you don’t […]

Tet in Da Nang – When a City Stops and a Nation Comes Home There are moments in travel when you realise you are no longer simply visiting a place you are being invited into its heart. For me, Tet in Da Nang was exactly that. Tet, short for Tết Nguyên Đán, is the Vietnamese […]

 Arrived in Da Nang? A Calm Guide to Settling In What to sort first, what can wait, and how to feel at home without the stress You’ve been travelling for a while now and you’re ready for a break. Not from travel entirely just from constantly moving. You want to stay in one place, unpack […]