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Anglesey: A Foreign Perspective
Returning to the UK following an extended stint living in Asia, many things I once took for granted suddenly began to reveal its charms. The eccentric people, the familiar culture and the undeniable familiarity of home were all suddenly that much sweeter. Though the UK in general has a common thread running through each individual nation’s collective culture, nothing could compare to my beloved homeland of Wales. The rolling valleys and countless sheep were what I was truly longing for. Though many aspects suddenly have new meaning to me, my Taiwanese partner was in an even more unique position. She had never been to Wales before, let alone my true…
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Backpacking in The Outback – My Australian Fever Dream
Along the long storied tapestry of my journeys, oftentimes there are moments I look back on in disbelief and confusion as to what the hell had happened. More often than not, they were spontaneous moments born from a combination of fate and being at the right place at the right time. One peculiar event leads into another until I arrived at a parallel reality of disbelief. One of those mind-altering moments occurred early in my travels, a moment in time which I still struggle to understand to this day. This is the story of my time in Australia’s mighty Outback. This article may contain affiliate links which I may be…
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Brighton: A Birthday On The Beach
Having only been in London for about a month, Jess and I were far too broke to travel internationally. Turns out that the big city is even more expensive than people say. But never thee mind, nothing can beat a good old-fashioned British summer holiday. But the age-old question remained – where we should go. Jess had already explored considerably more of the English South than I had, and seeing as it was her birthday, she had a majority say in the matter. Luckily for me, it was a choice I was hoping for – Brighton. This article may contain affiliate links which I may be compensated for at no…
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Miaoli: A Final Farewell to Taiwan
Here we are again, at the end of an extraordinary long-term adventure in an Asian country about to begin a new life somewhere else. In a matter of weeks, before we left Taiwan for good, we thought it would be good to get away from it all one last time. We wanted to explore one lesser corner of this fascinating nation, and we chose to do just that in Miaoli. This article may contain affiliate links which I may be compensated for at no extra cost to you dear readers! A Promise To Keep Over a year ago, I told Jess that I would take her on a glamping weekend…
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Sexy Ladies and Traditional Taiwanese Birthdays
The thing with travel is that you’ll find yourself realising that all people are the same. Children from America and China both whine to their mothers for more candy, and young adults are all struggling with the concept of love. Though grandparents very much would behave much like any other, as I learned, Taiwanese grandparents don’t celebrate their birthdays in the most traditional of ways, the same… So, this lone foreigner discovered what makes traditional Taiwanese birthdays so special! This article may contain affiliate links, for which I may be compensated at no extra cost to you, dear readers! An Invitation It was the end of April, and I had…
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Hanoi: The Cultural Crucible
Never before have I visited a place with so much to write about. Many of my experiences in Hanoi were worthy of their own story. Yet along the way, there were several sites and peculiar moments that were equally fascinating and worthy of a tale, though not quite meaty enough to earn a whole post to themselves. As such, this is their story. These are the unsung and wonderful tales of all the sites and everything else Hanoi has to offer. This article may contain affiliate links which I may be compensated for at no extra cost to you dear readers! Finally Arrived in Vietnam As the first 2 days…
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Hanoi: Reaching My Travelling Peak in Sapa
I’ve been blessed with some unforgettable travelling moments. From swimming alongside manta rays to living with nomadic tribes and walking along the Great Wall thrice! With the COVID pandemic putting a 3-year hiatus on my travels during what should have been the prime of my life, it affected me quite a bit. Little did I predict that the first real international trip I would take after that involuntary break would be the best travelling experience I’ve ever had in my ENTIRE life. The universe and its divine powers culminated in what would become the pinnacle of my life, a moment that I would cherish for the rest of my days.…
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Hanoi: A Snake’s Heart For Dinner
Exploring jaw-dropping landscapes and sampling mouthwatering local cuisine is an important part of the travelling experience. Yet, there’s a lesser-known side to travelling, one with a far more morbid tone – dark tourism. As the name might suggest, this is not everyone’s cup of tea, far from it in fact. While many are content staying snug within their comfort zone, others prefer venturing into the murky waters and experiencing the darker side of life. For better or for worse, I am one of those people. Vietnam had just the kind of experience I was looking for. It was one that would garner disapproving looks and vitriolic anger from some, particularly…
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Hanoi: Discovering a Lost World
Fresh off the boat from Halong Bay, Jess and I headed back to Hanoi for our first real evening in the city. With no time to lose, we had another tour booked for the next day to make the most of our time in Northern Vietnam. Naturally, it would be one of the other highly touted spots that has gained quite a reputation in the region – Ninh Binh. Renowned for its outstanding natural beauty, this region of the world has plenty of jaw-dropping locations. Ninh Binh is one of those must-see experiences amongst travellers, so it was time to jump on the bandwagon. This article may contain affiliate links…
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Hanoi: Halong Bay For the Holidays
Before I ventured out into the world as a full-fledged backpacker, there’s always been one nation that has always illuded me. Ever since I was a teenager, there was one country that has found itself placed firmly at number 1 on my must-see list – Vietnam. Now that where I currently reside – Taiwan – had FINALLY relaxed its COVID regulations, it gave me a golden opportunity to travel to some of the nearby countries. So where better to start than my dream destination? So, let’s get started. This article may contain affiliate links which I may be compensated for at no extra cost to you dear readers! A Bit…
