Highlights from a year of Travel Blogging

I can’t quite believe it, but it has actually been an entire year today since I launched this travel blog with this post. I was so excited about starting my own travel blog that I dived head first straight into it without knowing a lot about it. Probably something that most travel bloggers can relate to.

Luckily enough I had a lot of content to put out since I had been travelling on and off for six years, and even after a year and 134 posts, I still have a lot more to write about.

I have learnt a lot about travel blogging over the past year, and I still have a lot more to learn. There have been highs and lows including landing a press trip to South Africa, and then having to decline it due to other commitments. I have learnt how much time needs to go into maintaining an active travel blog, and how much of my personal life I have to give up for it. I have learnt the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between working full time, building this blog and still spending time with my lovely wife, while also taking care of myself. I have also learnt the importance of doing the things that I love.

I am pleased that I have stuck with it for this long, and I have to say that starting this blog is one of the greatest things I have done with my life, and I plan on keeping at it for the foreseeable future.

To celebrate my year of travel blogging I thought that I would look back and highlight my favourite posts from the last 12 months. You will probably find some that have been hiding in the archives that you never knew existed. So here are my picks and I hope you enjoy them. Thanks for reading 🙂

Mount Everest Base Camp Adventure

This is a five part series about my trek to Mount Everest Base Camp and Kala Pattar in Nepal. This is without a doubt my most memorable adventure and one that I will never forget and would love to do again. The series starts with My Scariest and Most Spectacular Flight and ends with Going Face to Face with Mount Everest.

The Tongariro Crossing – Trekking on Volcanoes in New Zealand

This post goes way back to 2005 when I completed one of the greatest day hikes in the world, trekking over the volcanic terrain of the Tongariro Crossing – The Tongariro Crossing – Trekking on Volcanoes in New Zealand

In Luang Prabang, Laos, Photo Opportunities Are Everywhere

This is one of my more recent posts from my trip to South East Asia in 2011. It is a photo essay showing my favourite shots from one of my favourite cities in the world, Luang Prabang, and it has quickly risen to become the most popular post on this blog – In Luang Prabang, Laos, Photo Opportunities Are Everywhere

A Walk in the Tuscan Countryside and an Afternoon in Florence, Italy

Tuscany is one of my favourite places in the world, and this post is about a lovely day that we had making our way to Florence – A Walk in The Tuscan Countryside and An Afternoon in Florence, Italy

Off Track Hiking on Mount Greville in Moogerah Peaks National Park, Australia

I have lived in Brisbane, Australia for the past six years and do a lot of hiking in the beautiful national parks nearby. This post is about a remote day hike that I did to the top of Mount Greville – Off Track Hiking on Mount Greville in Moorgerah Peaks National Park, Australia

Playing With Baby Elephants in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Playing with baby elephants…what more can I say? This post brings back some good memories of an amazing experience in Nepal. I just love elephants! – Playing with Baby Elephants in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

What will a 20 Baht Tuk Tuk ride get you in Bangkok?

This is a story about getting scammed by a tuk tuk driver in Bangkok, that turned out to be an interesting experience and a very cheap day out! The post also became a little controversial with some of the comments and tweets that it received – What will a 20 Baht Tuk Tuk ride get you in Bangkok?

Siena’s Historic Centre

An old post, but this one is about one of my favourite towns in Italy. Siena is a beautifully preserved old medieval town with great history, architecture, art and culture. If you want to know what to see and do in Siena then this is a great post to read – Siena’s Historic Centre

Photo Essay: Venice Flooded

When we were in Venice, Italy, it flooded. This post is a photo essay showing a different side of Venice. Funnily enough, the city still remains beautiful even when it’s flooded! – Photo Essay: Venice Flooded

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand – A Tropical Island Paradise…with rubbish

This post highlights my annoyance at tourism gone bad. Koh Phi Phi is an incredibly beautiful island in Thailand, but the beautiful beach was covered in rubbish when I was there, and the tourists were all laying among it! – Koh Phi Phi, Thailand – A Tropical Island Paradise…with rubbish

A Dream Come True: Trekking the Milford Track in New Zealand

This is a story about achieving one of my Father’s dreams with him, by completing the Milford Track in New Zealand. This is one of the greatest treks in the world in one of the most beautiful places I have been to – A Dream Come True: Trekking the Milford Track in New Zealand

Going Local in Nong Khiaw, Laos – A Location for Independent Travellers

I had an incredible local experience in the small town of Nong Khiaw in Northern Laos, and this post shares why I love independent travel – Going Local in Nong Khiaw, Laos – A Location for Independent Travellers

I hope you enjoyed these posts and I would love to hear which ones are your favourites. Here’s to another year! Cheers!