Thirty-somethings' gap year - going around the world before we're too old and settled!

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About this blog

We've packed in our jobs, packed up our house (and rented it out) and now we're off on our BIG adventure. We've been talking and dreaming about it for so long, and now we're actually on our way... over the next nine months (maybe longer?), we'll explore South East Asia, OZ/NZ and South America. Not too old yet to go backpacking! The advance entries show our current scheduled flights.

• 1

  Closing shop   Edinburgh, United Kingdom on May 14, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 2

  A cheeky pre-holiday... and an engagement   Tuscany, Italy on May 16, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 3

  Final week - counting down, gearing up   Edinburgh, United Kingdom on May 19, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 4

  China overland   Beijing, China on Jun 4, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 5

  First two days in Beijing   Beijing, China on Jun 6, 2005 3 pictures 1 comment
• 6

  Walking the Great Wall   Simatai, China on Jun 7, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 7

  Forbidden City and farewell to Beijing   Beijing, China on Jun 8, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 8

  8th wonder of the world   Xian, China on Jun 9, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 9

  Two more days in Xi'an   Xi'an, China on Jun 11, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 10

  Those big black and white bears we love so much...   Chengdu, China on Jun 14, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 11

  Exploring the holy mountain   Emei Shan, China on Jun 16, 2005 5 pictures 1 comment
• 12

  Cruising down the mighty Yangzi river   Yichang, China on Jun 19, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 13

  Yangshuo   Yangshuo, China on Jun 23, 2005 9 pictures 0 comments
• 14

  Fly from Hong Kong to Bangkok   Hong Kong, Hong Kong on Jun 26, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 15

  Ahoy from the newly qualified Day Skippers!   Koh Phi Phi, Thailand on Jul 2, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 16

  Don't hold your breath!   Koh Phi Phi, Thailand on Jul 6, 2005 5 pictures 1 comment
• 17

  A stumble in the jungle   Khao Sok National Park, Thailand on Jul 9, 2005 4 pictures 1 comment
• 18

  Chill-out zone on the east coast   Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand on Jul 12, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 19

  Being bad in Bangkok   Bangkok, Thailand on Jul 14, 2005 0 pictures 1 comment
• 20

  Heading north   Chiang Khong, Thailand on Jul 16, 2005 3 pictures 1 comment
• 21

  Slow boat down the mighty Mekong   Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Jul 18, 2005 7 pictures 0 comments
• 22

  Getting active in lazy Luang Prabang   Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Jul 20, 2005 7 pictures 0 comments
• 23

  Mysterious ancient monuments and the scars of war   Phonsavan, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Jul 24, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 24

  Beautiful but busy bay of islands   Halong Bay, Vietnam on Jul 26, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 25

  What a crazy capital!   Hanoi, Vietnam on Jul 29, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 26

  Look out, it's the Intrepid biker gang!   Hue, Vietnam on Jul 31, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 27

  Beach bumming and a slithery encounter   Hoi An, Vietnam on Aug 2, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 28

  War remnants and another meeting with the Mekong   Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon, Vietnam on Aug 4, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 29

  Raw wounds of Cambodia's cool capital   Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Aug 6, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 30

  Amazing Angkor   Siem Reap, Cambodia on Aug 9, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 31

  A 'dancing road' brings us back to Bangkok   Bangkok, Thailand on Aug 11, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 32

  A stop-over in super-slique Singapore   Singapore, Singapore on Aug 13, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 33

  Huffing and puffing through the oldest rainforest   Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia on Aug 18, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 34

  Addicted to underwater photography!   Pulau Tioman, Malaysia on Aug 24, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 35

  Exploring Borneo's natural bounty   Sungai Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia on Aug 29, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 36

  Diving over the edge   Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia on Sep 1, 2005 4 pictures 1 comment
• 37

  On the summit for sunrise...   Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia on Sep 4, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 38

  Singapore to Bali via Hong Kong....   Denpasar, Indonesia on Sep 6, 2005 0 pictures 1 comment
• 39

  One day in Kuta is enough....   Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia on Sep 8, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 40

  South Africans on dragon safari   Komodo and Rinca, near Flores, Indonesia on Sep 10, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 41

  No room at the inn...   Ruteng, Flores, Indonesia on Sep 12, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 42

  Colourful crater lakes... and a robbery   Moni, Flores, Indonesia on Sep 14, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 43

  Motorbike riding in the sun and the wind..no rain!   Lewoleba, Lembata island, Solor-Alor Archipelago, Indonesia on Sep 17, 2005 1 picture 1 comment
• 44

  Village of the whale hunters   Lamalera, Lembata island, Solor-Alor Archipelago, Indonesia on Sep 21, 2005 3 pictures 1 comment
• 45

  A beach haven and a wreck dive   Maumere, Flores, Indonesia on Sep 23, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 46

  Diving and motorbiking on the east coast   Padang Bai, Bali, Indonesia on Sep 28, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 47

  Unplanned bonus time on Bali!   Lovina, Bali, Indonesia on Oct 1, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 48

  Great Barrier Reef dive overdrive!   Cairns, Queensland, Australia on Oct 5, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 49

  Crater lakes, a wary cassowary and a croc   Daintree, Queensland, Australia on Oct 8, 2005 2 pictures 0 comments
• 50

  Quality time with family and friends in Sydney   Sydney, Australia on Oct 11, 2005 7 pictures 1 comment
• 51

  Visit to rellies on their farm in the bush   Kyogle Shire, northern New South Wales, Australia on Oct 13, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 52

  Best of Kiwi: Fish and wine   Christchurch to Kaikoura and Marlborough wine region, New Zealand on Oct 22, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 53

  Kicking back at a good old Kiwi 'bach'   Port Underwood, Marlborough Sounds, South Island, New Zealand on Oct 25, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 54

  Sandy coves, pancake rocks and mighty glaciers   West Coast, South Island, New Zealand on Oct 27, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 55

  Pouring like hell, sounds like heaven   Milford Sound, Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand on Oct 29, 2005 6 pictures 0 comments
• 56

  A meeting with mighty Mount Cook   Mount Cook, Mackenzie Country, South Island, New Zealand on Nov 1, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 57

  Beautiful beaches, big trees, bad bread...   Bay of Islands and the Kauri coast, New Zealand on Nov 4, 2005 6 pictures 0 comments
• 58

  The fish ain't bitin' but the geyser's blowin' ...   Rotorua and the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand on Nov 8, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 59

  A BIG salmon and more big trees!   Chiloe and PN Alerce Andino, Los Lagos, Chile on Nov 12, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 60

  Lovely lakes and a volcano climb   Lago Panguipulli and Pucon, Los Lagos, Chile on Nov 15, 2005 6 pictures 0 comments
• 61

  Monkey puzzle trees and a mighty trout   Parque Nacional Lanin, near Junin de los Andes, Argentina on Nov 17, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 62

  An arid coast bursting with marine life   Peninsula Valdez, near Puerto Madryn, Patagonia, Argentina on Nov 19, 2005 6 pictures 0 comments
• 63

  Go West! A leisurely drive back to the Andes   PN Los Alerces and Villa La Angostura, Patagonia, Argentina on Nov 23, 2005 4 pictures 0 comments
• 64

  Scuppered by the weather.. farewell Chilean lakes!   Puerto Montt, Los Lagos, Chile on Nov 25, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 65

  Rendezvous in Santiago... and plenty of good wine!   Santiago, Chile on Nov 30, 2005 3 pictures 0 comments
• 66

  Puffing up Cotopaxi, shopping mad in Otavalo   Quito and Otavalo, Ecuador on Dec 4, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 67

  Islands in splendid isolation, teeming with life   Galapagos Islands, Ecuador on Dec 13, 2005 18 pictures 0 comments
• 68

  Jungle adventure - caimans and card games   Bataburo Lodge, Tinguino River, near Coca, Ecuador on Dec 19, 2005 1 picture 0 comments
• 69

  Saying goodbye in Quito   Quito, Ecuador on Dec 20, 2005 0 pictures 0 comments
• 70

  Disaster and the devil's nose   Riobamba, Cañar and Cuenca, Ecuador on Dec 25, 2005 7 pictures 1 comment
• 71

  Feliz Navidad means too much rum!   Vilcabamba, Ecuador on Dec 27, 2005 5 pictures 0 comments
• 72

  Reed boats and adobe ruins   Huanchaco, near Trujillo, Peru on Dec 29, 2005 7 pictures 0 comments
• 73

  Pisco Sours and sweet sea creatures   Pisco, Paracas and the Ballestras Isles, Peru on Dec 31, 2005 6 pictures 0 comments
• 74

  Bad wine and dune boards...feliz año nuevo!   Huacachina, near Ica, Peru on Jan 2, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 75

  Stunning symbols in the sand... and not much else!   Nazca, Peru on Jan 3, 2006 8 pictures 0 comments
• 76

  A canyon, a condor, a convent   Arequipa and the Colca Canyon, Peru on Jan 8, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 77

  Killing time in Cusco... ruins, ruins, more ruins.   Cusco, Peru on Jan 12, 2006 7 pictures 0 comments
• 78

  Walk like an Inca, sleep in a puddle   Inca Trail and Machu Picchu, near Cusco, Peru on Jan 16, 2006 8 pictures 0 comments
• 79

  Sunburnt on Isla del Sol   Copacabana and Isla del Sol, Bolivia on Jan 19, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 80

  Yeee-ha! The world´s most dangerous road by bike   Coroico, Bolivia on Jan 21, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 81

  Waters of life   Las Pampas, Rio Yacuma, near Rurrenabaque, Bolivia on Jan 27, 2006 6 pictures 1 comment
• 82

  Brush with death aboard a Bolivian bus   On the road from Potosi to Uyuni, Bolivia on Jan 30, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 83

  Flamingoes, fumeroles and wide open spaces   Salar de Uyuni and Laguna Colorada circuit, Bolivia on Feb 3, 2006 11 pictures 0 comments
• 84

  A setback in Santa Cruz   Santa Cruz, Bolivia on Feb 5, 2006 0 pictures 0 comments
• 85

  Uphill slog in Samaipata   Samaipata, Bolivia on Feb 7, 2006 3 pictures 1 comment
• 86

  Bonus day in Santa Cruz   Santa Cruz, Bolivia on Feb 8, 2006 0 pictures 0 comments
• 87

  Howlin´ good time in the Pantanal   Pantanal region, near Corumba, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil on Feb 14, 2006 11 pictures 1 comment
• 88

  Bonito by name, beautiful by nature   Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil on Feb 16, 2006 10 pictures 0 comments
• 89

  Border-hopping to see the 'Big Water'   Foz de Iguaçu and Puerto Iguazu, Brazil on Feb 18, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 90

  Whirlwind visit to Rio   Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Feb 21, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 91

  Bahia beach holiday   Caraiva, Trancoso and Arraial de Ajuda, Bahia, Brazil on Feb 26, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 92

  Diving on Colombia's Caribbean coast   Taganga, near Santa Marta, Colombia on Mar 2, 2006 6 pictures 0 comments
• 93

  Picture-perfect paradise   Parque Nacional Tayrona, near Santa Marta, Colombia on Mar 5, 2006 4 pictures 1 comment
• 94

  Wallowing in mud - our last days   Cartagena, Colombia on Mar 10, 2006 5 pictures 0 comments
• 95

  What? No booking?!   Caracas, Venezuela on Mar 11, 2006 0 pictures 0 comments
• 96

  Touch-down, reunions and a change of plan...   London, United Kingdom on Mar 13, 2006 5 pictures 0 comments
• 97

  We deserve a holiday   Cape Town, South Africa on Mar 17, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 98

  Oldies and young 'uns   Mosselbay, South Africa on Mar 25, 2006 4 pictures 0 comments
• 99

  More babies galore in the windy city   Port Elizabeth, South Africa on Mar 29, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 100

  A bump and a botched crossing   Pringle Bay, South Africa on Mar 31, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 101

  Final days and farewells   Cape Town, South Africa on Apr 6, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 102

  First Easter egg hunt   London, United Kingdom on Apr 18, 2006 3 pictures 0 comments
• 103

  Return to Auld Reekie - our first month back   Edinburgh, United Kingdom on May 17, 2006 0 pictures 0 comments