An almost deserted beach in Tasmania, Australia
No surprises for my friends and colleagues that I flew, railed, rode ferries and drove the equivalent distance of about five times around the world. My focus was predominantly on Asia, Australia and New Zealand with visiting 24 major cities in ten countries at least once. I also dropped in on many smaller towns including Bringalbert, Australia which has a population of 12!
Where did 2018 take you?
Aboard a Hong Kong Airlines Airbus 350- not even a year old. They were a new airline for me
My year started with a fabulous New Year’s Eve in Shanghai, China now one of my top 20 cities in the world. I took 5000 photos through the year. Here are 34 moments from my travel adventures. Thanks for joining me.
Slipped out of Shanghai by High Speed Train to see a beautiful Water Town
I also added Beijing and Chongqing through the year, to my arsenal, neither of which I had ever been to before.
In the same region, came visits to Hong Kong and Taiwan. Taipei remains my favourite city in the whole of Asia and is a must for anyone seeking warm hospitality, easy accessibility, clean facilities, amazing food and fascinating museums and sights.
A fun few days in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was spent enjoying the end of Ramadan while we had short but fun sojourns in Bali and Singapore.
I ranged up and down the East Coast of Australia including the island of Tasmania combining work with leisure as much as I could. This included two brief trips across to New Zealand’s Auckland and Christchurch.
Street seller in Chongqing, China
Trying to Make a Difference
Slept “rough” in the cold on a cardboard mat to help raise $1million for homelessness. The team I was part of raised $34K
Ran 10km to raise funds for Children’s Hospital in Thailand.
I joined 10s of thousands on The Cancer Council NSW Seven Bridges 28km walk across The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Pyrmont Bridge, ANZAC Bridge, Iron Cove Bridge, Gladesville Bridge, Tarban Creek Bridge and Fig Tree Bridge. Raised almost $2,000 toward cancer research.
Travel takes one to the Bright Lights
The Sydney Opera House during Vivid when the city’s key buildings are lit up accompanied by music, and food
Christmas lights in Bangkok
Christmas Lights in Taipei
Christmas Lights in Melbourne, Australia
Lego store opens in Bangkok with a superb lego rendering of the Grand Palace
Travel includes Peaceful Moments
Hua Hin on the Gulf of Thailand. The seaside resort area is two hours south of Bangkok
Tranquil moment whilst hiking on the edge of Taipei
One of Bangkok’s beautiful parks: Chatachuk- an oasis in the midst of corporate headquarters, tourist markets and shopping malls
The Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west from the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is 40 kilometres wide at its broadest point
Wandering the Streets of a foreign city, you never know what you mind find or see
Menorah at the Rachel Synagogue in Shanghai, China. The peaceful synagogue became the spiritual home for 1000s of Jews who were given haven in China in the 1930s.
Travel is also about checking out the food
Romantic Dinner opposite the stunning Temple of the Dawn in Bangkok
The Qantas First Lounge Calamari is renowned. I can never say “no” to it when I passed through Melbourne and Sydney
Accompanied by heirloom tomato salad and mixed greens. Perfect. Thanks Qantas!
Vietnamese Pho in Brisbane, Australia
Dumplings…always delicious
Cabbage and pork dumpling in rural Taiwan
Fresh fish and chips by the water just outside of Melbourne
World’s best pancakes are found in Melbourne, Australia in the suburb of Seaford
French Cakes in Shanghai
Coconut ice cream with dragonfruit and mango in Bali, Indonesia
Sweets in Bangkok
Travel is also about making new friends
A tame lion in Taiwan
Taiwanese Dance Group in Jiji, Taiwan
Chicken at the Red Cross Fair in Bangkok
Squirrel in Chatachuk Park, Bangkok
2019 Beckons
I am already planning return visits to Auckland, Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore. Hope to see new spots in Thailand and Malaysia. Europe beckons with Croatia, Slovenia and Romania being my new countries in 2019. I will be helping with a homelessness sleep-out in Melbourne, Australia.
To you and your family, I wish you peace, hope and love in 2019. May we seek to use what we have to improve our planet.
Related Posts
Leave a Reply