I am supposed to be writing this post from Tokyo while sipping sake and nibbling on sushi. But as is becoming the pattern of my family's life in 2015…never assume things will go the way you plan them. Taking our change in holiday dates as a 'sign' it was out with Japan and in with a trip I like to call; "All the places we always wanted to visit while living in Timor but thought we would run out of time to visit…!" Maybe this trip is meant to be? I never lik...

I had wanted to visit Vietnam ever since my days as at University student in Melbourne where $5 could buy me a noodle soup (Pho) and a plate of Spring rolls down Victoria St Richmond. The food was always so memorable and fragrant, how good must the country be to visit? I came close many times and somehow something always got in the way, so finally landing in Saigon I was quite thrilled to be in a car from the airport while motorbikes screamed past me down busy r...

Hong Kong is everything I love about Asia wrapped up for me like an early Christmas present that looks so interesting and full of colour I need to tear it open quickly! Our friend Andrew, who had lived in HK for over 8 years, warmly greeted us at the airport. Now, many tell me that I am a 'high energy' person who never stands still - well next to Andrew I sometimes feel like I am motionless while he moves on a super charged treadmill. Andrew led us down to a bu...

We moved to Dili just over nine months ago and throughout this time there have been three constants in my life: 1. Its always hot 2. I always smell like 'RID' (mossie repellent) 3. I am always studying the local language - 'Tetum' (or Tetun) I am relieved that the latter constant has come to an end, as I have just completed an Intermediate course through a local language school. That's 100 hours of face to face Tetum language classes since January...

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" Hunter S. Thompson. It's been a while since I tapped the keyboard with my traveller's perspective on our new home and since I last wrote we were fortunate enough to zip over to Darwin and Bali for a beautiful rela...