Take the opportunity to meet the locals
Remains of the fortress-city in Gondar
Fasilada's Bath used during Timkat celebrations in Gondar
Fasil Ghebbi remains
One of northern Ethiopia’s highlights is Gondar, a historical town that is home to some significant and truly unique sights. It is also a town where, depending on the time
Visit the remains of this old prison
Brett & Kate Goulston on our recce
French colonial building
The toughest penal colony of all time
Interesting old buildings to explore
Nature taking its course
Welcome to Devil's Island
When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I watched the movie Papillon with my parents at the local drive-in theatre in North Ryde. The Steve McQueen/Dustin Hoffman classic left a
St George's Cathedral
Inside the Cricket Club bar
Meet the locals selling fish
Stabroek Market in Georgetown
The famous Georgetown Cricket Club
The gentle giants - Manatees in the Central park
I arrived with Kate into cricket-mad Guyana from Panama City. The airport at Georgetown (named after King George III) is about an hour’s drive from the city. Our driver, Patrick, talks the entire
Troop of gorillas with silverback on the left.
Avoid direct eye contact with a silverback
Do you think they saw us?
Brett and the gorilla. Brett's the one with the camera.
Riding on mum's back
Looking right at you. Such amazing faces
Lunch anyone?
Along with my small group of 8, I crossed the border into Rwanda from Uganda with the typical level of bureaucracy expected in a developing African nation. After an hour
Patriotic brands in NYC
New York Police on the job
Marnie, Holly and Kate Goulston in New York City
Big city lights
Lots of places to eat in NYC
I still have my “L” plates on when it comes to parenting my teenage daughters. At 13 and 15 they are into stuff that, well, I simply will never understand.
Old Cuban architecture
Meet a Cuban Dandy man
Take a ride in a beautiful old car in Cuba
The Conversation, by French sculptor Etienne, Plaza San Francisco de Asisi
Holidays in Cuba are colourful, to say the least
Many tourists come to Cuba to seek out the gorgeous beaches on the north coast but for me, it was the unique vibrancy of the people that drew me to
Young Mursi girls
Mursi tribesman carrying kalashnikov rifle
Mursi women, known for the plates worn in their lower lip
Young Mursi warriors
Mursi women wearing clay plates in their lips
You probably know them by sight if not by name – the Mursi is one of the most fascinating tribes in Africa, widely recognised for the clay plates the women
The Cheetah the fastest mammal on land
Trio of hippos
Jackals are nocturnal, omnivorous scavengers
Burchall zebra grazing in Etosha
Loins spotted in Etosha National Park
Incredible to see a leopard climbing a tree
You will see a lot of varieties of these in Etosha
Black rhino in Etosha National Park
Many people who have travelled to Namibia’s Etosha National Park rate it as the best wildlife-spotting destination in Southern Africa. Having taken a trip to Namibia on one of our
On safari in Kaziranga National Park
The unmistakable Himalayas
The colours of India
Add a bit of spice to your life
Witness everyday life in India
Houseboating in India
Picking tea
India is a place that stays with you long after you have boarded your flight home. A place where the more you see, the more you realise there is to
Zebra at a watering hole can be a sign of lion nearby
Those long legs making eating the treetops easy ... but getting a drink is another matter!
Desert lions in Etosha National Park
Deer abound in Etosha
Desert elephants in Damaraland
An old bull elephant in Damaraland
Damaraland is a huge, untamed and ruggedly beautiful region in Namibia. We stayed at the Mowani Mountain Camp, hidden among some of the region’s massive red granite boulders. The scene
Meet the local tribespeople
Climbing the sand dunes in Sossusvlei
Wreck of a classic car in the desert town of Solitaire Namibia
Red sand dunes of Sossusvlei
Delivering your luggage
Dramatic scenery of Sossusvlei
Wreck of a classic car in Namibia
Sometimes described as Africa for beginners, Namibia unexpectedly assembles in one place many iconic experiences: the highest sand dunes in the world; the deepest canyon in Africa; one of Africa’s richest
Welcoming committee
Boats along the river
Kate and the kids around the village
You have arrived
Entrance to the lodge
Suriname River view
In Surinamese (a combination of Dutch and local language), danpaati means “dam on the parting waters”. The eco-resort is in the middle of the Suriname River, surrounded by thick jungle and small villages mainly inhabited
Zion Church in Ilulissat
Blue iceberg formed from old glacier
Colourful houses of Greenland
Brett and Kate Goulston in Greenland
Icebergs near Ilulissat
Bucket lists were pretty much invented for places like Greenland. Perhaps it is because of the immense sense of magic and wonder is present in every moment of every single
Camels in the desert - no better transport
Marnie and Holly Goulston around the indoor kitchen with the locals
Amazing colours of the desert
Brett Goulston hanging out with the locals
Wadi Rum and its lunar landscape
A moment with one of the locals
Jordan had a little surprise in store for us: we came to tour Petra but it was Wadi Rum that blew us away with its special kind of magic. It
You can see forever
Ovoo at the top of the Flaming Cliffs
Flaming Cliffs also known as Bayanzag
Erosion occurring at the cliffs
Our 4 wheel drive waiting at the bottom of the valley
Spectacular formations
Joanne starting the climb down the cliffs
Amazing cliffs, amazing scenery
The Flaming Cliffs is an escarpment on the edge of the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia, by road some 660kms from the capital Ulaanbaatar. The cliffs became famous in 1923
Fishing Cambodian style
Meet the local children
Selling traditional clay stove pots
Bridge over the Mekong River
Exotic fruit of Cambodia
Local village
Village built over the mighty Mekong River
Without a doubt, Cambodia is a poor country – probably the poorest of the region. Some of the rural areas face particular struggles, lacking in basic infrastructure. But regardless of
Sanctuary of Monserrate dates back to 1640
One of the many exquisite pieces in the Gold Museum
Enjoy the funicular ride up to Monserrate
Meet the locals playing chess in Bogata
Courtyard of the Botero Museum
The best gold museum in the world
Beautiful imagery at the Botero Museum
After three days enjoying Colombia tourism, I expected more tropical weather in Bogota but the first thing I notice on arrival is the temperature. No … it’s not blistering hot
Galapagos land iguana
Coming aboard
The famous blue-footed booby - not to be confused with the red-footed equivalent!
Sally Lightfoot crabs everywhere
Easy does it for this old tortoise - who could be a century old!
Fabulous views from above
Hard to resist taking their photo
Cruising around in the zodiacs
Told you the red-footed booby was different from the blue-footed one!
How cute am I?
All the documentaries I’d seen on the Galapagos Islands inferred that it’s one of the foremost wildlife experiences on the planet. Friends and family members who had travelled there only
Colourful costumes in Cartagena
Colourful and inviting street cafés abound
Courtyard at Convento de la Popa
Get your fruit here
Castillo San Felipe in Cartagena
Tour the mangroves in a simple boat
Cartagena's vibrant streetscape
Meet the locals
I’d heard and read a lot about Cartagena, Colombia’s UNESCO-listed old capital on the Caribbean coast. My travel friends kept telling me I had to travel to Columbia and when
The Jagalchi Fsh Markets of Busan, South Korea
The busy port of Busan
You can buy just about anything at the Busan markets
Fish markets in Busan
Busan is South Korea's second largest city
Someone has to open the shells!
A cornucopia of sea creatures in Busan!
There are fish markets and then, there are fish markets! The Jagalchi Fish Markets in Busan fall into the latter category. Markets are not every traveller’s “thing” but I have
Trendy Gdansk at night
Like the sign says - Just good strong coffee
Gdansk Harbour on the Vistula River
The working harbour of Gdansk
Old cobblestone street in Gdansk
Old Baltic boat in Gdansk harbour
In the north of Poland on the Baltic Sea lies the beautiful city of Gdansk. Take at least a full day – more if you prefer to move at a
Bonifacio citadel
Autumn is in the air
Corsica Calanques
The dramatic coast of Bonifacio
Calvi's beautiful bay & harbour
Autumn in Corsica
A visit to the traditional port in Bastia
Corte in the heart of Corsica
What an island of surprises Corsica proved to be. It may not have been on your radar as a destination but having visited, its many delights deserve to be shared.
Ark Fortress Bukhara
Handmade carpets from Bukhara
Chor Minor Madrassah
Meet the local Bukhara ladies
Some of the delicacies on offer in Bukhara
Mir-i-Arab Madrasa Bukhara
Folk show at Nodir Devon-begi Madrassah
Plov cooking demonstration
Poi Kalyan complex Bukhara
Suzanni at the museum
One of my favourite Silk Road cities is the town of Bukhara, located a few hours west of Samarkand. Like Samarkand, Bukhara is also home to significant and stunning
Intricately carved stone figures
Colourful India
The coastal town of Puri
Handsome local
The colour of India
So India!
Bhubaneswar temple
Our local guide in India
From behind the veil
Over 40 million people live in Odisha (pronounced Orisha) – one of India’s 29 states. Sitting in the northeast on the Bay of Bengal, it is generally regarded as India’s poorest state, but don’t let this
The popular destination of Trakai
Rowing boats near Trakai castle
'Egle' Queen of the Serpents - Palanga Botanical Sculpture Garden
Art in the park
Seaside flowers
Sailing ship in Klaipeda port
Visit the Hill of Crosses Lithuania
Visit Trakai Island Castle
Rowing boats near Trakai Castle
Allow at least a week to see the best of what Lithuania has to offer, including the following highlights.
Without a doubt, the capital city Vilnius, is a treasure. The
Travelling through the locks
The train runs alongside the canal between Colon and Panama City
The new enormous bridge under construction near San Lorenzo National Park
Ships passing through the locks
Three locks over the canal's 80kms lift ships up or down about 26 metres
The biggest of ships can fit comfortably through the canal
Ships take about 8 hours to navigate the length of Panama Canal
Since I was a small kid, I’d always wanted to visit Panama and see the Panama Canal. The notion of watching huge cargo ships glide through the nearly 80km of
Express delivery to the market
Famous Kolkata River Ghats
Strings of yellow and gold marigolds at the Kolkata flower market
Kolkata flower market seller surrounded by beauty
Potters' quarter near Kolkata flower market churn out wonderful statues
Strings of yellow and gold marigolds at the Kolkata flower market
One bunch or two?
Busy market stalls
Kolkata has a dark history from the days of it’s formation by the British East India company in the late 1600s to the early Bengal insurrections such as the Black
Stroll down the quaint streets
Old wooden Lutheran church in Turaida Park, Latvia
Latvian National Opera House Riga
The Old Town of Riga and its market square
Sigulda New Castle
Riga Latvia's Capital
Street art in Latvia
Latvia, part of the Baltic States (a term used by the locals), is a small country with a small population. But there’s much to see and do, around the capital
Catch the street performers in the square
Inside Kumu Museum
Riga's Central Market is located in old German Zeppelin hangars
The pretty cityscape of Tallinn
Meet your friends in the old town square Tallinn
Arriving on the ferry from Helsinki, two things grabbed my immediate attention about this small, sophisticated, medieval capital city. First, it is one of the most charming and beautiful cities
On the Mekong river with Irrawaddy dolphins
Everyday life in Kratie village
Brett & Kate on the Mekong River
Local volleyball team
Stroll among the wooden houses north of Kratie
The local kids are always up for a chat
Loading the wagon
Without a doubt, Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s immediately recognisable national icon but there is much more to this beautiful country. If you want to see the real regional Cambodia where
Bukchon Hanok Village where there are hundreds of traditional wooden houses
Night food markets in Seoul
Korean drum outside Gyeongbokgung Palace during the changing of the guard ceremony
Buddhist Prayer Ribbons at the DMZ site
There are markets everywhere and for everything in Seoul!
At the DMZ outside Seoul
Years ago in the advertising industry, we used to joke that if a manager did a lousy job, they’d get a “promotion” to run the Seoul office. Well, things have
Magnificient Valletta Harbour
Local boatman in Valletta Harbour
The most famous building in Mosta is the Rotunda
Fort Saint Elmo in Valletta
The Blue Grotto in Gozo
The motto of the village is 'Non Nisi Per Ardua' means 'Only with Ability'
Walking in the cool laneways
Love Malta - we sure do
Mosta Rotunda ceiling
Living the simple life in Malta
Valletta Watch Tower
Malta is definitely the mouse that roared. It is tiny yet impressive enough for the country to be awarded the George Cross for bravery in World War II. Blue Dot
Napolean versus Paoli
San Michele de Murato church
The turquoise waters of Corsica
Wonderful cheeses to sample
Famous Corsican hams
The story of Napoleon Bonaparte is known around the world. A successful military leader, born in Corsica and became emperor of France. But lesser known and more of a Corsican
Church of St John
View of Lake Ohrid
View from Samuel Fortress
On the banks of Lake Ohrid
The ancient theatre of Ohrid
Go for a ride on Lake Ohrid
There’s often confusion when Macedonia is discussed because – depending who you talk to – there are two Macedonias. There’s Macedonia, the small independent country on the Balkan Peninsula which was part of the
Small islet of Sveti Stefan
The fortifications of Kotor
Magnificient Bay of Kotor
Wonderful old towns to explore
Church of St Archangel Michael Herceg Novi
Medieval clock tower in Kotor
Old town of Kotor
If you didn’t know that Montenegro was a country, don’t despair – you’re not on your own! While many travellers from Australia have discovered neighbouring Croatia as a fabulous destination, not so
Naga tribal elder
Wonderful faces of Naga tribes
Wrestling Naga style
Pulling of the monolithic stone
Tribal costumes you will see at the Hornbill festival
Impromptu dancing at the festival
Vibrant colours of Hornbill Festival
Tribal head gear worn at Hornbill Festival
The north east frontier of India has always been a remote outpost even during the rule of the British Raj. Whilst the famous Assam tea plantations saw early colonial interest
Welcome to Guatemala
Making tortias at the Chichicastenango markets
Something is wrong with this picture?
Atitlan volcano
Guatemalan masks
Meet the local cowboys
Local Antigua women selling colourful items
We all travel for different kinds of reasons. Some people like ancient history, others prefer more recent colonial history. Some folks love to photograph wildlife, while some would rather eat
Ruky mosque near Ashgabat
Flag of Turkmenistan
Visit the ancient city of Merv
Local Turkic family
Ministry of Happiness
Sheep pen
Colourful salad bar
Wishing tree - tie a ribbon for good health
Ancient city of Nisa
UNESCO's ancient city of Merv
Turkmenistan – Land of the Turkmen – could best be described as an odd country. The former Soviet state became independent in 1991 and was until 2006 ruled by Niyazov,
Valetta skyline
Mdina - Silent City
Love Malta
Nice way to see the harbour
Azure window in Gozo
Valetta harbour
I am lucky to have travelled to Malta on quite a few occasions. The more I go, the more I love it. Area-wise it’s a tiny country with two main
Bear Rock Porto Cervo at Capo d'Orso
Orgosolo painted mural
Sardinia vineyard
Su Gologone Hotel
A wonderful feast at Pabillonis
Castlesardo's castle at the top
Bosa one of Sardinia's most attractive towns
Suckling pig Sardinian style
Picturesque Su Gologone hotel
Mural at Orgosolo
Wonderful countryside
I came to Sardinia with few preconceptions, except about its reputation for brigands and kidnappings. Our itinerary included a visit to the mountain village of Orgosolo, a headquarters for the
Blossoms in bloom
Kimono ladies
Kumamoto Castle
Birds are out in spring
Daibutsu - The Great Buddha
Nara Todaiji Temple
Hakone Open-Air Museum
The Japanese are obsessed with the short-lived beauty of these fragile blossoms. They pay to reserve spots in the best parks where they can sit and appreciate their surroundings. The
Black volcanic sands of the southern shore
Thingvellir National Park
Icelandic horses
Icelandic fish lunch
Brett & Kate at Skogafoss falls
Gullfoss Falls in Golden Triangle route
The Great Geyser on the golden triangle route
Vic on the south coast of Iceland
We visited Iceland on a recce in 2013. The brief to ourselves was to develop an itinerary providing a “best of” and some lesser-known parts of the country for our
A model of the Arc of the Covenant
Blessing the water
Christians showered with blessed water
Priests chanting
Dancing and drumming as part of Timkat
Tabot is wrapped in cloth and carried through the crowd
Priests dance and shake their clappers during the procession
Priests holding Lalibela crosses
Colour of Timkat
Waiting for proceedings to begin
Day 2 of the Timkat Festival, we reach the special ground where the waters are blessed for the Baptism rites. The whole area was crowded, and locals waved lighted tapers as the priests
Cliffs play host to thousands of breeding pairs of guillemots
An icy home for these gulls
Cautious yet inquisitive walruses
Every ledge is precious to these Guillimots
Thousands of Glaucous gulls
Magic
The magestic polar bear
Our trip was all about the Arctic wildlife. The best opportunity to photograph a bear surely had to be the site where the remains of a sperm whale had been
Feel the serenity
Zodiac excursion
Arctic Rainbow
Blue glacial ice
Spend time watching the amazing birds
Waiting for the ice to carve
Ship ahoy
Kayaking in the Arctic
Arctic bergy bits
It’s coldish up here in the Arctic, ranging from daily maximum of 1 degree celsius to an incredibly warm 10 degrees. On the warm days, we shed layers like reptile
Dressing for the ceremony
Hamar women dancing prior to ceremony
Looking cool
Becoming a man
Face paint part of ceremony
Becoming a man today
Young boy ready for initiation
Young men from many cultures must endure rituals to enter manhood. The young Hamar men of southern Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, prove their manhood by eventually succeeding at ‘cattle-jumping,’ a challenge
I do!
Full bloom in Shinjuku Gyoen park - FINALLY!
Blossoms everywhere
Everyone's welcome
Kanazawa castle
Vibrant blossoms
Tokyo with the sakura blooming
Chasing cherry blossom in Japan is well worth it
Take a tour named Japan in Spring and it’s perfectly reasonable to expect to see cherry blossom … and lots of it. What I didn’t expect was the fervour that came with
Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Magnificient waterfallsa
Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik
Hardy Icelandic horses
Old whale watching ship in Iceland
Whale watching
Quaint farm houses in Iceland
Huskavik port
Cutest puffins in Iceland
Stunning scenery everywhere
Erupting hot springs
Iceland conjures up images of a remote island in the arctic, with freezing temperatures and a small population. After all, who could live on an island in the middle of
What do make of all these Australians
Meet the locals
City view of Tehran
Flag of Iran
Brett at a local restaurant
Local Tehran students
Visit the carpet museum in Tehran
View of Tehran
I cannot recall visiting any country in any part of the world where the people are more welcoming than in Iran. This might sound like a big statement but it’s true. Within my first 24
Nalychevo National Park - Kamchatka
Travertine Creek Kamchatka
One of the many carnivores to be found in Kamchatka
Ex-military helicopter is the standard mode of transport
Valley of the Geysers
A Kamchatka brown bear
One of the many volcanoes in the UNESCO-listed area
I’m fortunate enough to have visited the land of fire and ice on a few occasions. It’s a destination that few people can pronounce and even fewer know where to find. Kamchatka