My passion for all things foreign stemmed from an early age poring over the much-loved pages of the home Atlas. National Geographic magazines were piled in stacks around my room and my father’s obsession with European history (especially Icelandic and Scandinavian) was infectious.
At 18 I was out the door, out of the country and off to Paris where I lived in a little apartment and worked in a café while studying French.
I can say with utmost confidence that my exposure to European culture planted an insatiable craving for the new, the strange and the wondrous parts of this planet of ours.
By 24 years I was living on a little island in Panama, and a few years later committing to a 2 year Travel and Tourism diploma back in Canada. I had found my calling!
Graduating from this program in early 2012, I set my sights on New Zealand as the most desired destination to start my career in. Since moving to Christchurch I have worked full time (or more than full time) planning and bringing to life the travel dreams of others. I was quite successful in the store environment, but I felt that I could be providing a superior service away from the “bricks and mortar” model. A change was needed…
In 2018 I decided I was ready for the next big step as I opened my own Travel Management company, in partnership with TravelAdvocates New Zealand. It has been a wonderful success, with those clients I have been helping for years remarking time and again that the new business model took the experience from being good to being great.
My first foray into Southeast Asia was a wonderful eye opening experience for me. Starting in Taipei, Taiwan I travelled with a group for a quick whirlwind journey, taking in the Taiwan and Chinese culture (there are differences from mainland China!), before flying off to Vietnam.
Hanoi, Halong Bay, and Ho Chi Minh went by in a flash as our group explored the history and natural sites of this lovely country.
Before long the group tour was over, and I took to local transport with a friend as we made our way through Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge regime’s atrocities were a real awakening, and the majesty of Angkor Wat and her sister temples still gives me goosebumps to this day.
Lastly we were back to Vietnam to relax in Hoi An before enjoying a motorcycle journey through the highlands around Delat.
In 2016 my best mate and I bought a Tuktuk (Auto Rickshaw) and travelled over 2400km from New Delhi to Ahmedabad in India. Along the way we had vehicle support from Total Holiday Options, and they really helped bring this dream trip to life.
Looking back, the three memories that are the most vivid even now are:
1) sitting in a village elder’s home in Rajastan, being served home made chai and learning about their lives
2) sitting in the back of the tuktuk, cruising along at the “hectic” speed of 60km/h with the tunes blasting, wind blowing, and taking in the sights along the way
3) sitting in the common room of the Best Marigold Hotel, local beer in hand, watching the Best Marigold hotel movies.
It is not an understatement when I say it was the adventure of a lifetime and set the bar really high for me going forward.
India…I shall return!
ITALY
A Globus tour through Italy seemed like the right way to maximize the short time I had in this brilliant country… and it really was.
Bright and early the next morning we had VIP entry into the Vatican City and Sistine Chapel, and later that day the same privileged access to the Colosseum. After one look at the queue for general access I can’t see any way we would have weathered the wait for both of those in one day. VIP access is a must!
From there we were off to Lucca, Florence, Pisa, and the Cinque Terra before making our way to famed Venice.
Now Venice is a city where location matters…what a maze. Tip: Get a hotel near a major tourist attraction because the signs indicating the way to that attraction are very clear. My hotel was right by St Marks Square, so even after a big day out I didn’t have to think too hard to make my way back. Do be aware that Venice is a day time city and pretty much goes to sleep at night, so if you want a night out save it for your next city destination.
