Category: travelogue
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A Boxing Day escape to Lismore
The long inland route from Melbourne to Lismore has become a ritual, especially during Christmas when coastal routes transform into parking lots of misguided hedonists. Boxing Day found us at the Star Lodge in Narrandera, a grand railway hotel constructed in 1916. The two-storied red brick building dominates its corner site with substantial double-storey verandahs…
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Crabby in Krabi
My adventure in Thailand took an unexpected turn during the monsoon season, which disrupted my plans for a ten-day motorcycle journey on the Mae Hong Son loop in northern Thailand. By the seventh day, the nagging rains had turned the roads into dangerous paths, preventing me from taking any side trips. I decided to return…
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Pai in the sky
The ride from Chiang Mai to Pai was a breeze, contrary to my initial apprehensions. The road, slicing through the lush jungle of Northern Thailand, was in good condition. I even saw 18-year-old nubiles on scooters, confidently navigating the many curves in the way to Pai parties. Plus, being in Thailand, there were always pit…
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Thailand afresh
Bangkok is an addictive and chaotic symphony of contradictions. The city has morphed from a 15th-century trading post into a sprawling urban jungle where ancient temples stand shoulder-to-shoulder with horrible shopping malls. The city’s complexity is its charm. You can lose yourself in the labyrinthine of the markets, where every stall offers a consumer overload,…
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Time and nature: an exploration of Maria Island
On a severe Wednesday morning, we embarked on an expedition to Maria Island, situated off the east coast of Tasmania. The ferry from Triabunna was conspicuously devoid of visitors, save for us and a couple of scruffy rangers, setting the stage for an intimate and undisturbed exploration of this historically dark and ecologically profuse island.…
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Through contrasts: A motorcycle journey to Kosciuszko
Sometimes, the best motorcycle journeys aren’t just about riding, as fun as this is. They’re about contrasts, surprises, and moments that stick with you long after the engine has cooled down. My recent four-day trip from Melbourne’s Fitzroy to Kosciuszko National Park ticks these boxes. I began the first leg of my journey with a…