Intrepid Cities and Cultural locations

Paris and the Louvre Museum
I have visited the cosmopolitan capital of France on a number of occasions and am always struck by its beauty and monuments. It truly is one of the world’s great …
Backpacking through Syria’s Northern Cities and Tourist Highlights
As part of my overland journey from India to Egypt, I would take the opportunity to visit and explore Syria, which in 2009 was stable and peaceful. My Belgium travelling …
A Guide for your Trip to the Munich Oktoberfest – Hints, Tips and Advice
The Munich Oktoberfest is held over 16 to 18 days in the final weeks of September and early October and is regarded as the largest beer fest in the world, …
Marrakech on a Budget
Little and lasting is better than much and passing. -- Moroccan Proverb
Israel’s Cultural Heart, Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Near-by Dead Sea
Jerusalem is the capital and largest city in Israel and is holy to three of the world’s great religions (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism) and is considered as one of the …
Siem Reap and the World Class Ancient Wonder of Angkor Wat
Having spent a few days relaxing on Cambodia’s southern beaches, it was time to get back to some serious sightseeing. What better place than the northwestern town of Siem Reap …
Oslo Norway’s Capital
When I arrived into Oslo, Norway’s capital, by plane on a warm summers evening I instantly got excited; a different language, scenery, warm air and blondes instead of redheads! I …
The Backpacking Mecca of Bangkok
Bangkok is an enormous modern city that is alive with nightlife and energy. It is Thailand's spiritual, cultural, political, commercial, educational and diplomatic centre. Many intrepid travellers may initially be …
Crossing the Iranian Border to the Middle Eastern Town of Yazd
For over 2,500 years Persia (modern day Iran) has been home to various Empires, including some of history’s greatest, that was until January 1979 when the ‘Glorious Islamic Revolution’ overthrew …
Awe Inspiring Historic Palmyra, an Ancient Wonder and Treasure of Humanity
Situated near the center of the Syrian Desert, Palmyra - the former desert oasis trading hub - dates from as early as 200 B.C. and thrived for hundreds of years, persisting …
Overland from Bangkok to Singapore via Malaysia’s Penang
After a busy few days in Bangkok, I headed south, straight past the lures of Southern Thailand's beaches (they’d have to wait for a future trip), directly to an island …
India’s Northern Desert Cities
One of the great things about travelling is that two neighbouring countries can be so different, even within a country like India from North to South (India’s incredible South) the …
Philadelphia to New York City
As our Coast to Coast adventure across the United States headed further up the east coast from Washington DC towards New York City, we’d stop into Philadelphia for a Philly …
How to Travel and See the World Famous Taj Mahal in Agra
No trip to India is complete without visiting the world famous Agra. If you’ve arrived into New Delhi, Agra is conveniently only 200km to the south so depending on the …
The West Coast, Stavanger and Hiking to Norways Iconic Preikestolen
Stavanger on the south-western coast of Norway is the home of Norway’s North Sea oil industry and its third largest city. As a result, Stavanger and the surrounding region, has …
Experiencing Sweden – The Year I Lived in Gothenberg
Gothenburg (known in Swedish as Göteborg) city, located on the west coast of Sweden and on the mouth of the Göta älv (Göta river) is the second-largest city in Sweden …
South Korea’s Heart and Seoul; What not to miss
Most of the following pictures are from a week I spent in Seoul for a work trip, they may offer you some ideals or inspiration to visit yourself!
Mumbai and India’s West Coast
India is approximately 11 times the size of New Zealand (my home country) and as of 2008 has 270 times the population. If New Zealand had the population density of …
Lao’s Historic Plain of Jars near Phonsavan
Not far from the geographical center of Laos, I had made the journey (by local bus from Luang Prabang) to Phonsavan, a relatively backwater town, for one reason – to …
Danish Escape and Perfect for a Weekend Break – Copenhagen
The capital of Denmark and home to over one million Danes, Copenhagen is beautiful and friendly city which is big enough to offer any of the advantages of a world …
How to Visit the World Famous Petra, Jordan’s Best Attraction
Jordan’s most popular attraction is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra, located in the southwest corner of the Hashemite Kingdom. Petra was once the thriving trading hub and capital …
Overland to Oman’s Capital Muscat and Interesting Day Trips
On the penultimate day in Dubai, I opened Derrek’s Arabian Lonely Planet and started to read about Oman. Towards the bottom of the first page it read:"Oman is not the …
Hong Kong an Interesting Destination or Entertaining Stopover
Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It's a place with multiple personalities as a result of being both Cantonese Chinese and having been …
Fishing with friends in Bergen
With my week in Oslo behind me and the journey over the Hardangervidda plateau via the Bergen Line complete, I was met in Bergen by our family friend Reagan; I …
Poland’s Warsaw, Krakow, Sopot and the CNH Plant in Plock
It was meant to take 13 hours and three trains to get to Krakow in Southern Poland from our time in the Czech Republic, however, we did have a small …
Egypt’s Capital Cairo and the Eternal Giza Pyramids
Travel to and from the coastal town of Alexandria and Cairo can easily be done by train as it’s a three and a half hour train ride across the fertile …
Sweden’s Jokkmokk Winter Market
Held for three days from the first Thursday in February, every year since 1605, the Jokkmokk market (Jokkmokks Marknad) is a fascinating and unique cultural experience. The town of Jokkmokk …
Cruising California’s Los Angeles and San Francisco
Not long after returning to work after a recent trip around the former Yogoslavia, I thought to myself as I stared out the window that 'if I didn't do it now, I …
Iran’s Must See City – The Eternal Esfahan
No trip to Iran is complete without venturing to Esfahan; Iran’s most scenic city. The central city is awash with beautifully maintained parks delightful hand-painted tiling and a magnificent public …
The World Famous Wagah Border Closing Ceremony (Between Pakistan and India)
A 45 minute drive by shared taxi from Amritsar (the most convenient way of getting to the border), is the Wagah border between India and Pakistan; site of the world …