Soaring through Europe at low altitude is the freedom to fly like the bird, and less complicated than you would think. This summer’s adventure went from Norway to the beaches of Southern France in a 4-seater propeller plane, with yours truly behind the controls. Continue reading
Riding elephants in Sri Lanka
Having your eyes set on a top attraction when traveling is often a good idea, but it can backfire. My son was resolved on riding an elephant during our vacation in Sri Lanka, and had been talking about it for months. But finding an elephant to ride in the south coast of Sri Lanka was actually more difficult than imagined. Continue reading
Ascending Mt. Kazbek 5033 m
After hiking up 2000 vertical meters, and spending a sleepless night with a very present headache in a decrepit old meteo station (3700 m) I was questioning why on earth I would want the pain involved in climbing another 5000m+ peak again. Continue reading
Oslo – the day after the bomb
Yesterday Oslo was hit by an unbelievable tragedy. A large bomb went off just next to the prime ministers office, and a madman went on a killing spree on a youth camp for the Labour party. The city centre looks like a war zone today. The bomb went off only 150 metres from my office. Continue reading
Sunset Village Camp CD
In 1999 I was staff at a CISV summer village in Perth, Australia. Recently one of the leaders, Rasmus from Denmark, created a facebook group, and now people are trying to remember the good old days (of friendship true). Guess what, I found the Camp CD, and it’s here for download. Continue reading
Udaipur wedding
I’m on my way to India as I write. This is going to be a good year for travelling. I’ve been skiing and eating Khachapuri in Georgia, visited Fidel’s Cuba, and Azerbaijan has gracefully granted me a visa.
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First bath of the year in Norway
The Easter holidays have turned out with better weather in Oslo than anybody could have hoped for! Thankfully we ditched the planes to head up in the mountains to ski. Instead we are enjoying the Oslo sun and strange heat. Continue reading
A volcano cancelled my honeymoon
Plan A: Take wife on (very belated) honeymoon to Cuba. Cancelled – due to volcanic eruption on Iceland. Plan B: Take wife to Nice, France. Cancelled – due to more volcanic ashes. Plan C: Just be with wife somewhere. Also cancelled. What to do? Take a short trip to Azerbaijan. Alone. Continue reading
A long lost friend
Going to Barcelona I had no idea I would encounter an old friend of mine from University. One I hadn’t seen since I moved from Australia. But low and behold. Wonderful busy Barcelona tapas restaurant Ciudad Condall serves my favorite Australian beer: Coopers. Continue reading
The highest mountain in Europe
When our new friend Albert just suddenly appeared out of nowhere, landed at our table and took the role as our tamada – or toastmaster – we knew this trip was going to be a winner. We were in the village of Zhankhoteko in Kabaradino-Balkaria, eating dinner on our way to conquer the 5542m high peak of Elbrus. Continue reading