Top 13 experiences. (because 10 wasn’t enough!)

1. Learning to dive
Diving has been such an exciting adventure, our underwater passport. From nervously anticipating day 1 of our PADI course to seeing turtles 30 metres down in the Gili’s, diving has been a huge challenge but one that has been consistently exciting and ever changing. The beautiful corals of Koh Tao, and most recently the manta rays at Nusa Lembongan have been a real wow.

2. Horse riding in Mongolia
I had very little expectation of Mongolia so visiting the national parks and sleeping in the Gers was an amazing experience, one shared with lovely people! Riding the small Mongolian horses stands out as a moment where lots of giggles were shared!

3. Walking the Great Wall of China
The bucket list accomplishment. Walking the Great Wall was stunning, but also so filled with history and such an iconic site.

4. Halloween in Japan
The best night out ever. The Japanese outdid every expectation I could have had for Halloween. The street parades costumes were incredible with people spending 6 months on their costumes. And of course the lovely Japanese people welcome you into this with open arms, Kawaii!

5. Easy rider tour of Vietnams central highlands
The ultimate non tourist, tourist experience. When travelling you always want to learn about the local people and to be invited into their homes and meet people who have never seen a white face before and are fascinated with you was an incredible experience.

6. Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Just a stunning view. Angkor Wat is structurally beautiful and seeing it at sunrise is mesmerising.

7. Nighttime at Hong Kong’s harbour
We love Hong Kong! The warm evenings, beautiful financial district on Kowloon illuminated during a light show. I’ll be back!

8. Crossing 1/6th of the worlds land mass on the Trans Siberian railway
I love this one partly because I cannot believe we did it, partly because of the reactions it gets from other travellers… YOU WENT TO RUSSIA?! Yes we did, and we survived!

9. Seeing wild orangutans in Sumatra
These beautiful creatures are wild in only two places in the world, Bukit Lawang and Borneo. To see these monkeys manoeuvring the trees isn’t light and graceful like other monkeys, but you can’t help but want to hug them!

10. Kuangsi waterfall, Luang Prabang
The pictures of this place do not lie, it is dazzling turquoise and breathtaking in both sight and temperature. I think we felt a great accomplishment biking the 30km journey each way.

11. Full moon party
Not entirely cultural but a lot of fun. 30,000 people is a mega party!

12. The winter palace and hermitage, St Petersburg
The winter palace was home to the Tsars until their untimely end in 1917 and now hosts one of the largest art collections in the world, the hermitage. The scale of the place is huge, the grandeur is incredible but it’s historic significance was its draw for me.

13. Universal studios in Singapore
A really fun day out. Screaming our heads off at The Mummy Returns and watching shows, dancing and street performances. It was awesome!