As one of the most popular day hikes in Washington, Maple Pass Loop makes nearly every "best of" and "top hikes" list, grabbing my attention fairly instantly with promises of autumn colours and alpine lakes set against the backdrop of the snowy North Cascades. Maple Pass was therefore an early pick[...]
More than 3 million voting-age Americans are currently living overseas— and yet, for the majority of expats, voting in the American federal election is something we routinely put in the 'too hard' bin (or perhaps the 'not our problem' bin). As much as we may want to distance ourselves from the s[...]
Located in the far northeast of Washington State, about 1hr from the Canadian border and just beyond North Cascades National Park, Pasayten Wilderness is a protected mecca of snow-capped alpine peaks and sparkling glacier lakes. Hoping to savour some of the vibrant autumn colours (and possibly even[...]
An indisputable Seattle icon and Washington's best-known peak, the snowy summit of Mt Rainier (originally called Tacoma by native Americans, meaning “the source of nourishment from the many streams coming from the slopes") provides a dramatic backdrop for countless local adventures, international[...]
On what would originally have been our penultimate day circumnavigating the Bull's Tooth before returning back to Stevens Pass but has now become our last day on the trail due to nearby bushfires, we hike the short distance to Frosty Pass before descending steeply to Whitepine— not without a[...]
Our second day of what we've termed the Bullseye Traverse (in the spirit of all the bull-themed waypoints) brings us over Bullseye Pass, past the Bull's Head, and to the base of the Bull's Tooth, our summit for this trip through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. There's not a great deal of trail kilomet[...]
After an incredibly painful 6 months of lockdown in Melbourne that recently restricted all outdoor activities to 1hr per day within 5km of home, I packed up and flew (fled) to Seattle last week to spend the remainder of 2020 enjoying relative freedom stateside. First on the agenda was just getting[...]
There are few better ways to acquaint yourself with a new country than through its cuisine, and sampling traditional street food is always my favourite way to experience unique flavours and local delicacies as soon as I arrive. Unfortunately, I found myself fairly underwhelmed as I travelled throug[...]
After an agonising 19-month wait (and absolutely zero communication from Home Affairs), I finally became an Australian permanent resident this week, receiving my 820 (temporary) and 801 (permanent) Partner Visa grant about 30 seconds apart. I was so surprised that I burst immediately into tears—[...]
Situated between the balmy Caribbean coast and the soaring Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, you'll almost certainly find yourself passing through Colombia's oldest surviving city during your travels. And while it's far from the prettiest or most exciting destination in and of itself— easy[...]
Winding along the southern Victorian coast just a few hours out of Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most popular attractions, a sea of tourists cluttered around every beautiful viewpoint and an alarming number of signs reminding visitors to drive on the left in Australia. It's[...]
After 4 long days on the trail, today's undemanding 16km stage will deliver me right to the grand finale and one of Victoria's premier coastal vistas, the Twelve Apostles. It's a spectacular way to wrap up what's been a real whirlwind adventure on the wild Great Ocean Walk, already my new favourite[...]
The most challenging day on the trail both in terms of terrain and kilometres, my 4th day along the Great Ocean Walk sees me navigating up and over countless steep headlands and sea cliffs between Johanna Beach, Ryan's Den, and eventually on to Devil's Kitchen. Limited daylight hours contribute to[...]
Passing the Great Ocean Walk's halfway point today as I journey nearly 24km from Cape Otway out to Aire River and along popular Johanna Beach, I am well and truly into the swing of things. Being accustomed to the heavy rain and spontaneous sun-breaks that have characterised the trip thus far just m[...]
After a leisurely introduction to the Great Ocean Walk yesterday, the hike begins in earnest today with a slippery 12km from Elliot Ridge to Blanket Bay before lunch and a further 11km onwards to Cape Otway for the night. The wonderful winter weather hasn't quite held, but there are still plenty of[...]
Stretching 105km from Apollo Bay to the famed Twelve Apostles through Victoria's Great Otway National Park, the Great Ocean Walk is one of Australia's most spectacular multi-day hikes, allowing for a slow-paced and more in-depth exploration of the Great Ocean Road coastal region long-beloved by roa[...]
The crown jewel of Colombia's Caribbean coast, few places in the entire country are as beloved and highly sought after as the richly diverse Tayrona National Park (Parque Tayrona, en español). Surrounded by vibrant coconut palm jungle, flanked by the world's highest coastal mountain range, the lus[...]
There are always going to be some Americans living overseas who don’t want to get involved in US politics because they believe it’s simply “not our problem anymore”. I know I’ve been guilty of this in the past. Historically, that's meant that a majority of expats, whether it's du[...]
Minca is an absolute paradise of jungle waterfalls, lazy afternoons spent in a hammock, spectacular sunsets over the Caribbean, and locally produced chocolate and coffee. But despite rising popularity among backpackers, this lush spot in the forested mountains above Santa Marta has managed to retai[...]
With Cartagena acting as the main entry point for most visitors to Caribbean Colombia and nearby Santa Marta one of the best hubs from which to explore the jungle, beaches, and national parks of the region, it's very likely that you'll find yourself transiting between these coastal cities at some p[...]