Travel: it’s evolutionary, Watson!

I really didn’t need a Harvard psychologist to convince me of the fact that the only predictable thing, in life, is its unpredictability. However, as I watched Dan Gilbert’s Ted Talk, The Psychology of your Future Self the other night, … Continue reading →

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Overlanding in Low Season?! You bet!

We’re currently travelling through Southeast Asia at a time of year when many fellow travellers are keeping well away. The weather is crap, the heat unbearable and humidity stifling. As most overlanders know, the trick to keeping up this luxurious … Continue reading →

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Germany to Thailand-TRIP STATS-Day 960

After just a little bit of nagging, zee in-house accountant has finally found some time to get some new trip stats together. Yey for nagging! If you recall, when we left Germany on 12 September 2012, we estimated that we … Continue reading →

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Stories from Phnom Penh

There’s a dead man lying in the gutter. A red cloth napkin covers his face. He’s wearing a colourful floral shirt, the kind which seem to be a big hit here with foreigners. I can tell he’s a Westerner because … Continue reading →

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Letters Home from Africa: Sudan, December 2009

I almost can’t believe it. I read and re-read the message posted online, yet after further research, it seems to be true. The car ferry between Sudan and Egypt, crossing Lake Nasser, is no longer. The road is now open. … Continue reading →

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Overlanding China: the most rewarding trouble you’ll ever go to!

Something’s not quite right. As I slowly awaken from my slumber and notice the day’s first light peeking through our window, the only thing I hear are birds chirping. Even though we’re staying in a guesthouse…there’s no shouting, no slamming … Continue reading →

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Overlanding China: what you need to know BEFORE you go

I received a lovely email yesterday, from a fellow overlander who referred to his own recent guided tour of China as ‘the old fashioned way’. It made me smile Indeed, China is opening up to foreign overland tourism and although … Continue reading →

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‘Things I Would Tell My 20 Year Old Self’ (but question is…would she listen?)

Here I am, back online. I know I’ve been rather quiet on the writing front these last two months but let me assure you that all is as fine as can be.  Chris and I have taken a hiatus from the … Continue reading →

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Kyrgyzstan: Where Central Asia Revealed Her Soul

Kyrgyzstan is a land of unexpected surprises. One certainly wouldn’t know it by just looking at it on a map or by basing one’s assumptions on visits to any of the other Stans in Central Asia. Everything from the culture, … Continue reading →

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Karakalpakstan: the Stan the World Forgot

It must really suck to be a Karakalpak. Once upon a time, you were one of Central Asia’s most avid farmers, then your land was prostituted, polluted and destroyed beyond recognition and, even after your livelihood was obliterated, you were … Continue reading →

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Lao and its dirty, evil, little secret

We spend leisurely days in Luang Prabang, the reputed tourist hub of Lao and our official gateway to South East Asia. We’ve already been in the country for over a month and are only starting to feel well rested. China … Continue reading →

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Travel with a cause: right or con?

If you were to add a social cause or a humanitarian aid project to your vagabonding venture, you could pretty much avoid any kind of criticism from ever reaching you. Mention your noble cause first and foremost and the only … Continue reading →

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Travel…life’s ultimate therapist

Far be it for me to judge why anyone wants to travel; whenever I hear of someone setting off on a journey, my instinctive reaction is to simply hail a quiet hallelujah and wish them a heartfelt bon voyage. I … Continue reading →

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Overlanding China: what you need to know when IN China

Hi again everyone, hope this finds you well, happy and (half-way) informed about the ins and outs of overlanding in China independently. With this post I hope to answer all the remaining questions you may have about your own adventurous … Continue reading →

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OVERLANDING CHINA: SELF-DRIVE AND WITHOUT A GUIDE…IT’S NOW POSSIBLE!

After our unforgettable and blissfully unguided self-drive traverse of China (and countless requests for more details from fellow travellers) it is now time to finally introduce you to the man who made it all possible. A man willing to go … Continue reading →

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Elephant Antics & Monkey Business – Zambia

Facebook has all the photos for this part of the trip – click here to have a look. Chipata, Zambia 9th – 10th December 2013 Having left Lilongwe that morning, I had crossed the border without any hassle. Passing acres of neat tea rows, the tar was smooth and the drive was easy going. I arrived in Chipata on […]

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Route Through Zambia

A Chipata / Mchinji Border to B Chipata – 20kms, half an hour with the border, easy driving and good tar   – read about this section here B/D Chipata to C South Luangwa – 160kms, 2.5 hours, this road used to be awful but they have tarred most of it now and were finishing off the final stretch in December 2013 […]

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Living off Mangoes – Central Malawi

Facebook has all the photos for this part of the trip – click here to have a look. Nkhata Bay, Malawi 2nd – 4th December 2013 After agreeing to transport one oversized mama Malaiwan traffic cop who had requested transportation to Rumphi, I scrambled to clear the passenger seat littered with things I need at arms reach when driving. […]

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Getting Sick up the Mountain – Livingstonia, Malawi

Facebook has all the photos for this part of the trip – click here to have a look. Livingstonia, Malawi 30th November – 2nd December 2013 Livingstonia is a town set high up on the Nyika Plateau, towering 900m above Lake Malawi and is just a few kilometres west of Chitimba – straight up. Not to be […]

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Camp Drama – Chitimba, Malawi

Facebook has all the photos for this part of the trip – click here to have a look. Chitimba Camp, Malawi 28th – 29th November 2013 Squeezing the Beast in between the hundreds of trucks jostling for space in the Songwe border, I eventually found a place to park and hopped out. At any African border, you’re greeted […]

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