What a surreal first quarter! I feel like we've been playing dodge ball with the fast spreading Corona virus; been incredibly lucky to date. As I write this, the US government has just announced a 30 day ban on travel to Europe; the Indian government has also put a stop on foreigners traveling to India …
Three days in Venice and the Carnivale
When we decided to go to the Dolomites to ski, we also decided to spend a few days in Venice. After all, the last time either of us had visited was more than a decade ago! My enduring memory of my trip there almost two decades ago was the floods - half a foot of …
A day in Verona, Italy
Coming down from the mountains, we spent a day in Verona, a quiet (relative to Venice) town just an hour and a half from the coast. View of the Adige River We arrived on Valentine's Day, and we were initially dismayed at the realisation, because we hadn't thought to make restaurant reservations in advance. But …
2019 in the Rearview
Writing a look back on the past year hadn't crossed my mind this time, not to mention my complete overlooking of the fact that another decade had just flashed by. I only realized this after the deluge of posts by friends online, listing their accomplishments, highlights and lowlights. Photographically speaking (since this is technically a …
Borobudur at Sunrise
Diwali long weekend = another opportunity to explore the region around us. Our aim this year - and the next - is to visit as many South East Asian cities and historical sites as possible while we live here. So that's how we (Jeff and my old primary school mate Kate) found ourselves in Yogyakarta …
San Francisco in October
I got to go to San Francisco recently for work. It must have been about 10 years since I've been there, but happily, I now have a bunch of friends who have moved to the area over the years. So I had the good fortune to catch up with them over the two weeks I …
A week kayaking in Greenland
I’d been anticipating our Greenland kayaking trip all year (we’d put down deposits last December), but as we made the circuitous travel to Greenland via London and Copenhagen, I tried not to set my expectations too high. Would the group be a great bunch? Would the weather turn out fair? Would we get to see …
Long weekend in Angkor Wat
When I mentioned to my contractor I was headed to to Siem Reap this past weekend, he remarked, "The temples are nice but I have to admit I was a bit underwhelmed at the end. It's just a pile of rocks. The Colosseum, the pyramids, Notre Dame, and the English castles are much more impressive." …
Week back in Sydney
We'd the opportunity to spend a week in Sydney. Work during the day, catch ups with friends over meals in the evening. And on the weekends, we did what we loved best in Sydney - exploring the outdoors. Our original plan to kayak the first Sunday we were back was scuttled due to gusty winds …
A week kayaking in Palawan, Part 2
What makes a trip? The scenery, the weather, of course. But gorgeous scenery abound. At the end of the day though, it's the fuzzy, warm feeling that you get when you look back. Feelings borne from the company we keep. There's TS, a grandfather of four, but more fit and strong than I could ever …