Oceania

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Australia

Fiji

New Caledonia

New Zealand

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Time will be your enemy. Plan ahead, go slowly and fly.

5

Oceania

There’s no wonder the mention of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific inspires wanderlust in the minds of wannabe visitors.

Eternally exotic and replete with white-sand pristine beaches, barren deserts, tropical rainforests, active volcanoes and solar smiles, a visit to the 14-nation continent is akin to being in paradise. With a bounty of vibrant reefs and marine life, divers flock all over Oceania, adventure-seekers who are also presented with pristine conditions.

But there’s more than mere superficial beauty to the island-continent: with a legacy of traditional culture spanning more than a century, opportunities exist to escape contemporary society and experience modesty, respect and immense kindness as it exists among the indigenous people. The only currencies you’ll find here are solar smiles and unwavering hospitality. So, what are you waiting for?

A boat on sand in Double Bay in Sydney Australia

Ta-Sua-ocean-trench-Samoa

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Top Experiences

Ben covered in mud at Hellsgate Geothermal Park Rotorua North Island New Zealand

Getting covered in mud at Hells Gate Geothermal Spa near Rotorua in New Zealand

Ben inside Turtle Airways plane returning to Nadi Fiji

Flying, in a small seaplane, from Turtle Island to Nadi over the tropical paradise that is Fiji

Arch of trees above a road on Ile des Pins New Caledonia

Visiting New Caledonia's Ile des Pins and walking under the island's tree canopies

Leeuwin Vineyard in Margaret River Australia

Exploring the Margaret River region of Western Australia and visiting various wineries

Mud pools Wai-o-tapu Geothermal Wonderland Rotorua North Island New Zealand 3

Watching mud erupt from the earth's surface at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Hidden cave in Yasawan Island group Fiji

Swimming several metres under the ocean's surface to enter a hidden cave in Fiji

Overwater bungalow in New Caledonia

Exploring the heavenly coastline encircling the French territory of New Caledonia

A long white sandy beach near Byron Bay Australia

Passing days strolling along the white-sandy beaches of Byron Bay in Australia

Ben standing at the highest point of Tavewa Island during sunset Fiji

Watching the sun set over the horizon from the highest point of Tavewa Island in Fiji

Sandcastles on The Spit Gold Coast Australia

Playing all day in the sand on the long stretches of beach on the Gold Coast in Australia

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Travel with me on Instagram

Half a year has slipped past since Silke and I fou

Half a year has slipped past since Silke and I found ourselves in the embrace of Liechtenstein, that 99th gem in my mosaic of nations visited. It was a day when the sky donned its greyest cloak and wept upon the world, our journey a dance with the elements, our windshield wipers defiantly still against the downpour.

Yet, within that deluge, Silke’s deft hands steered us through, her resolve as unyielding as the mountains that cradle the heart of this small nation. Our plans were reshaped by nature’s whim, leading us to the warmth of a gallery café where the rain’s rhythmic patter against window panes provided the backdrop to conversations that meandered like the rivers outside.

And so, a reminder in retrospect: even when draped in storm’s curtain, Liechtenstein bore a tranquil kind of beauty, its cloud-kissed peaks and rain-soaked streets a stage for the unexpected. It was not the day we planned, but it was one we wouldn’t trade.

Here’s a look back at the city’s quiet streets, the greenery’s glossy sheen, the timeless architecture standing stoic against the weather’s mood. These vignettes, captured within frames of memory and lens, are proof that sometimes, it’s the journeys taken in stride, amid the tempest’s roar, that linger longest in the heart.

Lichtenstein, August 2023
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#liechtenstein #rain #wetweather #country99 #memorylane #europe #europetravel

Zurich, through a lens unexpected: * A straw hat

Zurich, through a lens unexpected:

* A straw hat against the horizon, where water meets the whims of the city. Not a statement, but a whisper, “Ease into the scene, blend with the blues of Zurich’s veins.”
* An overcast sky drapes itself over the cityscape like a soft, grey cloak. It’s not gloom, but a canvas, urging colours of the mundane to speak louder.
* The flags flutter, each a character in a silent play, a symphony of stories unfurling along cobblestone paths. They’re not just emblems; they’re bookmarks in a traveller’s diary.
* A moment in monochrome. The city, often bursting with hues, now paused in time, whispers in tones of an era when colour was a luxury.
* And there, the soloist on its concrete stage, a bird contemplates the waters. A single note in Zurich’s symphony, yet a reminder - every role, however small, sings in the chorus of the city.

With @_eastendstudios_ , every step is an unwritten stanza, every shared silence a verse in our ongoing journey.

Zurich, Switzerland, August 2023
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#Friendships #Zurich #Switzerland

In the gentle cradle of Basel’s history, where t

In the gentle cradle of Basel’s history, where the Rhine carves a path through the heart of the city, a reunion unfurled like the vibrant pages of a well-thumbed book between Silke and me. A testament to the enduring symphony of friendship that began in the fragrant alleys of Chiang Mai, our paths crossed again, this time amid the dignity of Swiss tranquility.

Basel, with its medley of medieval charm and contemporary verve, became the canvas upon which our shared memories added new hues. The city’s cobbled streets, lined with antiquity, echoed with our chatter as we recounted tales old and new. We wandered through the market square, a mosaic of colour and life, where the local fare is as rich in history as the city itself. The centuries-old Rathaus, its red facade a bastion of civic pride, stood witness to our ambling progress.

Our days were spent in the pursuit of simple pleasures. We sipped Pimm’s by the river’s edge, the sun setting behind the silhouetted spires of the Munster, casting a golden glow that danced upon the water

Silke, ever the gracious host, introduced me to Basel’s hidden gems – from quirky cafes that percolated with the aroma of roasted coffee to the tranquil banks where we sat, our feet dangling above the Rhine, lost in the kind of deep conversations that can only be had with someone who truly knows you.

In Basel, history whispers from every corner, a reminder that while buildings may age, the human connection is timeless. The city mirrored the crossroads where Silke and I found ourselves – different lives, different countries, yet the same unspoken understanding that transcends boundaries.

Our time together was a celebration of the enduring bonds that form when two people share a slice of their journey. In the end, it’s not just a city that makes an experience memorable, but the company we keep and the friendships that continue to bloom, regardless of the miles between.

In every laughter-etched corner of Basel, @_eastendstudios_ , you’ve painted our canvas with enduring friendship – for this, and for all the balconies we’ve yet to stand on, my heartfelt thanks.

Basel, Switzerland, August 2023
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#switzerland #friends

Exploring Luxembourg: A blend of contrasts, from a

Exploring Luxembourg: A blend of contrasts, from ancient castles to vibrant cityscapes.

Luxembourg (city), Luxembourg, August 2023
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#luxembourg #history #europe