South Island, New Zealand

3 weeks, 3,500 km in the camper van, great way to experience NZ at its best! Not a day went by that we didn't stop hundreds of times to take photos, driving here will always please whatever the weather. Walked for 3 days in Mount Cook National Park. Trekking through snow and scrambling up rocks we were ever the prepared in our trainers and raybands nevertheless making it to the top of Mt Ollivier to a mountain hut where we were met by serious walkers with poles and thermosts in hand. Would absolutely recommend anyone to spend a few days here, walks well signposted and views worth every step! 

Spent Howards birthday swimming at Abel Tasman National Park where we were surrounded by blue water and golden sands. Stayed in a great little place called Kaiteriteri hidden away down windy narrow coastal roads (always fun in a 20 year old camper).

Hands down best day was swimming with the playful NZ fur seals in Kaikoura. A magical hour in the water. These mammals are not even close to being as lazy as they look on land. Agile and fast they left us in their bubbles as they soared underneath and twirled around us.

Can't rave about this country enough, you'll just have to see it for yourself.

Sydney

Packed a lot into our 4 days in Sydney. Of course a visit to this city would not be complete without a stroll along the waterfront to see the iconic opera house and bridge. With a ceiling of blue sky above us it really was the most magnificent day, chips in hand and live music on the terrace bars. Spent a day on Bondi beach, great waves crashing over the far rocks and surf to big for our liking. Got up at 6am Sunday morning to attend the 9am service at Hillsong church. With a capacity of 3,500 people and this service being full to the rafters it was a service like I've never seen before! Beautiful walks in the botanical gardens, flying foxes (bats) hanging from all the trees. Lots to do in this city if you take the time to travel around it, we can see why people fall in love with it.

Christmas Cheer

Bit of a different christmas this year, although Father Christmas still made it to our hotel in Singapore. Spent most of the day in our swimmers relaxing by the roof top pool and instead of mums delicious roast we ate surf and turf by the river at clarke quay. A lovely day made even more special by seeing family on skype back home. Merry christmas!

Malaysia

Getting into the backpacker mode now, with only 2 weeks in Malaysia Howard and i got our skates on. Managed to travel from north to south via 10 buses, 2 boats, 2 taxis, 1 scooter and our own 2 feet! Great few weeks. Malaysia is such a varied country, we started in the old town of Malacca, then walked in the Cameron highlands and wandered through tea plantations as far as the eye could see. From highlands to islands we spent some well deserved rest on Langkawi island. Saw fireflies twinkling in the mangroves (just like a christmas tree) in Selangor and ended in Kuala Lumpur to see the well known petronus towers.

Singapore

All you need is a big budget and an empty tummy. Shopping is expensive but the food is cheap. Singapore is delicious! Great city to walk around and explore and the cityscape once night falls is a must...a jewel of lights

Bali, Indonesia

Great place to hire motorbikes, managed to get lost for the day, not a bad country for this to happen though, beautiful landscape with rice terraces around every bend.

Staying at a hostel in Ubud at the moment, comes with pool and breakfast what more does one need. Markets are a bit of fun although quite an experience with the local Balinese, off to some temples tomorrow. Looking forward to moving onto somewhere with a flushing toilet, after 3 weeks without it will be quite a luxury.

Gilis, Lombok

Just as you'd imagine an island postcard. Hard not to relax in a place like this, water the colour i only dream about, friendly locals and the best banana pancakes around! We were swimming in the sea one day and got slapped in the back by a school of small sardines jumping out of the water...much to everyones amusement! Great times spent on the Gili islands

Swam with more turtles on the Gilis than in my whole life