My travel blog

Who doesn't love a theme park? Particularly, one set in a castle? Luckily, a castle theme park in Rakvere fills our 2-hour wait between the bus from Kasmu and the bus to Tartu.

I will remember Kasmu not for the views and the hospitality, which were lovely, but for the bugs the size of birds.

We walk and cycle Tallinn to experience one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and learn how Russian occupation has impacted it.

Helsinki brings sea fortresses, island boat tours, stunning cathedrals and reindeers for dinner.

A free Dublin walking tour and the Guinness Brewery. It's a perfect day to be an Australian.

The last family reunion with the family matriarch. Along with the rest of Michael's family, we were set to converge on the small seaside town of Tramore.

A day in Cardiff is full of castles, TARDISes and brains.

A family trip to England taking in the Royal Forest of Dean, Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Tewkesbury and Gloucester Cathedral.

I've never been on a beach holiday, so when my friends said they were going to Thailand

From Hanoi to Halong Bay and Hue to Ho Chi Minh city, our trip to Vietnam took us to beautiful waters, snake villages and ancient capitals.

The official definition of craic is enjoyable time spent with other people, especially when the conversation is entertaining and funny. The perfect description for the Shamrocker team, the sister company of the Haggis tours across Scotland. From history to dancing

Striking architecture, flipping churches and a complex history. This is Riga, the capital of Latvia.

From the moment you arrive in Saint Petersburg, the culture and history seep from the wide-lined streets and stunning architecture. Where Moscow was drab and dreary, Saint Petersburg brought light and shade in a warm, welcoming, upbeat hug.

Moscow in winter is a delicatessen of architectural style. Simultaneously dreary and delightful, it slowly drew me in, one cathedral, ballet, train station, city wall, mausoleum, cemetery and ice skating rink at a time.

Dog sledding, sleigh rides, Russian babushkas, long train rides and victims of war.

The Ulaanbaatar to Irkutsk trip started with flying colours with the arrival of a Mongolian family on the Mongolian side of the Russian-Mongolian border, where we had arrived at some point in the middle of the night. Arriving at Irkutsk

The first leg of the famous Trans-Mongolian train journey, winding from Beijing in China to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Monasteries, Ger Camps and train bogies were all in my future.

My last trip in China. I packed up my stuff and heading to Beijing via Xian. Not only did I manage to see the Terracotta warriors, but was lucky enough to head to Hua Shan for an amazing hike and

To everyone I worked with, travelled with or taught. I'll miss you, you're forever in my memories.

In an attempt to say that I have been everywhere in Wuhan, I dragged Brittany and Jennifer along to see a few places that I hadn't yet been to.

An invite to a friend's wedding took me to Shanghai during Chinese National Day. What a city, strangely European while distinctly Chinese.

A much needed visit from Mum and Dad combined with a trip to Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen, China.

The exquisite Yunnan province, from Kunming to Dali to Lijiang and the Tiger Leaping Gorge.

A boat trip through the Three Gorges, finished up with a tour of the dam.

Pandas, ancient Chinese carvings and modern Chinese history. All in a weekend away to Chongqing.

A weekend trip to Beijing, the capital of China. On the itinerary, a trip to the Great Wall, and a tour of the Forbidden Palace and the Summer Palace.

My first Christmas away spent with friends around Wuhan, including two of the main Buddhist temples, Guiyuan Si and Dongshan Temple.

A summer holiday through the beautiful Li Jiang, and into the tourist holiday town of Yangshuo.

A trip to Lhasa, the Barkhor pilgrim circuit, Johkang Temple, Drepung Monastery and the Potala Palace.

My first Chinese trip away took me to Chongqing, and the Wuhou Memorial Shrine, Jin Li, the People's Park and the Sichuan Opera.

A day trip to East Lake, Wuhan and Wuhan University.

I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last two days witnessing the marriage of two TDM teachers to their Chinese brides. Whilst neither wedding was traditional, both were considerably different to a Western wedding.

A ferry trip, century egg salad and the two bridges of Wuhan. A lovely way to spend one of my first days off work.

Arriving in Wuhan, to a modern city with a long history. And very little English. Today is the first day of my Chinese adventure.

My 3 months is over and I'm going out in style.

Party hats, roti pizza and party games ensured my last Saturday at the orphanage was celebrated in fine style.

It was the first day of the dark fortnight of Gunla, and every family who lost a relative this year is leading a cow through the streets of Bhaktapur.

A visit to the zoo seemed to be the only way I could see a one-horned rhino and a bengal tiger while in Nepal.

Travelling the Prithvi highway took us to the Manakamana temple, Gorkha fort, Siddha's Cave and the picturesque Pokhara.

Thanks to James and Dina, the scabies are gone!

A guided tour of Patan Durbar Square taught me a lot more about religion in Nepal.

The peaceful, calming influence of the Kopan Monastery and the arrival of Taryn.

My 24th birthday is spent dancing with Nepalis, bathing with elephants and rafting on rapids.

My first impressions of Nepal shift from hatrid to love in the first two days with a trip to the local street market.