I’m Jim, an Australian bloke for whom a midlife crisis triggered an odyssey around the world. I write travel stories that entertain, inform and inspire. Looking for a list of the top ten cheapest party bars in Phuket? You won’t find it here. But if you love travel, enjoy thoughtful writing, and have ever found yourself questioning the big picture, then there’s something here for you. More about me
Popular Posts
The Acropolis, Greece
Rising majestically from the centre of Old Athens, the Acropolis mesa supports an extraordinary collection of ancient structures, and an even more extraordinary collection of myths and legends
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Searching for Kiwis, New Zealand
I discovered that due to both luck and good management, the kiwi is relatively common in the forested hills behind the town of Whakatane. And when I say ‘relatively’, that’s in comparison to places that don’t have any at all
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Stromboli and Etna, Italy
Around midnight the island of Stromboli loomed out of the darkness. We sailed our way around to the north side of the island, where we got our first smell, sight and sound of the volcano
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Identity
If you are sure of who and what you are, it gives you a firm foundation upon which to go about your business. Losing touch with one’s identity is an unsettling state of affairs
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A Chance Meeting in Wadi Rum, Jordan
When I pulled up to help a bloke in a broken down vehicle, I had no idea it would lead to an amazing night as a guest of the Bedouin
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From Refugees to Volunteers, Ukraine
Kateryna hurries through the crowd towards me. She is wearing a heavy jacket and a beanie, beneath which a thick blonde plait descends and rests on her shoulder. She is one of many Ukrainian refugees who have chosen to stay at the border to help others fleeing Putin’s war
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French Stereotypes, France
Having spent a couple of months in France, I think it’s fair to say I’m now an expert in French culture. Considering this, I feel it’s my duty to address a couple of stereotypes of French people, both of which were popular when I was growing up. I have discovered that one of these is indeed true, whilst the other is demonstrably false
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Diving the S.S. Thistlegorm, Egypt
The wind was gusting over 20 knots, and the dive boat lurched in the choppy seas. Geared-up and ready, I have to admit I was feeling nervous. It didn’t seem all that long ago that I had done my first scuba dive, and now I was waiting to descend to the bottom of the Gulf of Suez to explore the S.S. Thistlegorm
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Strange Meeting, Poland
After seeing the main areas of Birkenau Concentration Camp, and learning of the horrors that had occurred there, it was a relief to find a tranquil patch of nature. Whilst enjoying the quiet and the late afternoon sun, I had a strange meeting.
‘Not all who wander are lost’, but some of us definitely are. It’s reassuring to know it’s all about the journey, not the destination, when you don’t know where you’re going.
‘Hey Jim, I just love reading your posts because all of what you go through resonates with all of our experience I think’
Ros
Australia
The Statues of Skopje, Macedonia
‘My girlfriend and me are going to visit Skopje the day after tomorrow. We almost p*ssed our pants laughing at this blog entry about the statues =D
Absolutely hilarious. We’re gonna love it even more!’
Rob
Germany
Searching for the Blockhouse, Egypt
‘What a fantastic article! Thankyou for your research and time you spent finding the blockhouse’
Phil
Australia
Popular Podcasts
Bull Leaping, Greece
Tired of the gimmicky, Johnny-come-lately sports appearing in the Olympic Games? Support the return of the ancient, spectacular and potentially lethal sport of Bull Leaping!
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Evacuation, Ukraine
Explosions rumbled, boomed and whumped as the Russians shelled the city from their positions just across the river. It was no place for an old lady bed-ridden with a broken leg
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The Cemeteries of Gallipoli, Turkey
The cemeteries of Gallipoli hold tens of thousands who died in 1915; every one a story of a life cut short by the tragedy that occurred here in this beautiful place
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Driving the Nordschleife, Germany
Armed with a completely inappropriate car, I embarked on a lap of one of world’s most feared and revered motor racing circuits
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Popular Videos
Exploring Marrakech, Morocco
The ancient Moroccan city of Marrakech is a fascinating place to explore
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Inside the Trabant, Germany
Whilst visiting the Trabi Museum in Berlin, I took the opportunity to climb inside the tiny East German motoring icon
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Searching for Black Forest Cake, Germany
When I was a kid, I loved Black Forest Cake. When I visited Germany’s famous Black Forest, I went to see if I could find one in the wild
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Panathenaic Stadium, Greece
I went to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens to soak up a little Olympic history. After touring the impressive structure, the only way to complete my visit was to run a lap of the Stadium. To be authentic to the original Games, I nuded up for the run.
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Do you have a particular interest in World War I, II and the Cold War? Check out my other blog Ghosts of War. If you enjoy military history, and want to know what it’s like to visit both significant and lesser-known wartime locations today, there’s something there for you.