After a last minute decision to have a week in Ukraine I immediately signed up for a tour of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster site. It’s now a 30km no-go ‘exclusion zone’ with nearly 200 deserted villages and towns. I was inspired by a great book I read recently by Dom Joly about ‘dark tourism’,…… Continue reading Exploring the site of the worlds largest nuclear disaster – Chernobyl, Ukraine
How to visit 12 countries in 12 months – while working full time
So, there was this very brief period when I decided I might want to ‘settle down’ and I ended up staying in Bristol, England for a whole eighteen months (although I managed to have three different jobs and live in three different houses during that time!). It didn’t end well and I quickly went back…… Continue reading How to visit 12 countries in 12 months – while working full time
38 years old and still backpacking – my favourite travel adventures
So, I’m a few days back from a three month trip around Central America and I’m already thinking about where to go next year. I’m lucky enough to travel every year for a few months, mainly because I choose to take seasonal work contracts as I hate working for a living! Although there are lots…… Continue reading 38 years old and still backpacking – my favourite travel adventures
Eating my way around Central America – street food for vegetarians
So I’m sitting here, twiddling my thumbs at Mexico City airport waiting for my connection to Heathrow. Hmm, what to do to pass the time? But wait, I’m an actual blogger now, so obviously I’ll write a blog post of course! I was thinking about what I’m going to miss about Central America and the…… Continue reading Eating my way around Central America – street food for vegetarians
A volcano hike, a food festival and 5 days of falling off a surfboard – my last week in El Salvador
It’s quite hard to write this knowing I’ll be on a plane back to Britain tomorrow. I’m not sure I’m ready for such mundane things as sorting out my car insurance and updating my CV! I’d always planned to have the final week of my trip at El Salvador’s famous surf beach El Tunco, but…… Continue reading A volcano hike, a food festival and 5 days of falling off a surfboard – my last week in El Salvador
Ten days of backpacking, adventure and relaxation in Belize
Belize is completely different to the other Central American countries I’ve travelled through on this trip. It’s my 77th country (not that I’m counting!) and I was really looking forward to exploring it. While El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico all have their own distinct identities, they still have a lot in common. Belize…… Continue reading Ten days of backpacking, adventure and relaxation in Belize
10 everyday Belize sights you can’t help but love
Belize is my last new country on this trip, so this is my final ‘everyday sights’ for a while. But, check out what makes El Salvador a little bit different to Honduras and what differentiates Guatemala from Mexico. Belikin The beer of Belize fills every fridge in every supermarket and graces most store and restaurant…… Continue reading 10 everyday Belize sights you can’t help but love
Tarantulas, tayras and recycled trash – two weeks volunteering at Belize’s first Earthship
Nestled in the jungle in the southern Toledo district of Belize, an area of Mayan villages and dirt tracks, next to Lubaatun ruins, is an three storey earthship. An earthship for those who don’t know (I didn’t) is a building made from recycled waste, such as bottles and tyres. Instead of using bricks, you simply…… Continue reading Tarantulas, tayras and recycled trash – two weeks volunteering at Belize’s first Earthship
Dos and Don’ts of backpacking Belize
Okay, so I’m only eight days into my Belize trip so I’m no expert, but here’s what I’ve learnt so far about this fascinating country… Don’t expect everyone’s first language to be English Although the official language is English, Belize is a wonderful mix of distinct cultures. On the bus there’ll be a conversation…… Continue reading Dos and Don’ts of backpacking Belize
San Cristobal to Chetumal – ten fantastic days backpacking Mexico
Being a shameless new country bagger, I decided to cross into Mexico from Guatemala, travel west to east through Chiapas and Yucatan states, then start my Belize adventure. The border crossing was dead easy from Huehuetenango in Guatemala – a chicken bus to the border, a shared taxi between immigration posts, a shuttle bus to…… Continue reading San Cristobal to Chetumal – ten fantastic days backpacking Mexico
TOR GOES TRAVELLING AGAIN 