Globetrooper Travel Blog Page 9

A visit to Bolivia’s salt flats in Salar de Uyuni is a once-in-a-lifetime event.  It all starts with one of the most painful bus rides on Earth, but gets better very quickly with stunning lunar landscapes and possibly the quirkiest travel photos you’ll ever have the … Continue reading →

It began over pizza and beer, just like many expeditions before it. We all sat there, poring over topographic maps, tracing steps to come, completely mesmerised by the uncertainty of it all. I quickly interrupted to show-off my (exceedingly rudimentary) comprehension of Spanish, ‘Did you say … Continue reading →

We had just handed over a hefty amount of money to pay for a month’s rent (extortionate for Cusco). We thought it included everything (hot water, electricity, internet…) when, ’Excuse me, but the stove doesn’t work’. ‘Oh yes, you have to buy gas. You can buy … Continue reading →

Most of us avid travellers are fit enough to enjoy most adventure treks. Maybe we’re not ultramarathon’ers, and maybe we can’t do 100 military pushups without stopping (hey, there’s a challenge), but you know, we tend to take care of ourselves because we love to … Continue reading →

For years we’ve heard stories of the infamous tours of San Pedro Prison in Bolivia. By law, tourists are strictly not allowed in the prison, but there’s a well-worn path of contacting English-speaking inmates to take you in as their relatives for an illegal tour. (Yes, you … Continue reading →

When Lauren and I climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in 2008, we forgot to book a hotel for the following night in Cairo. So with a thick beard (me, not Lauren), dirty clothes and trekking gear, we stumbled into Egypt at 2:00am without a place to sleep. … Continue reading →

There we were, strolling slowly home from our afternoon Spanish class, the main Plaza looking a lot more crowded than usual. Then suddenly, an unmistakable sound: the melodious ‘crackling’ and ‘whoooosing’ of rally cars. There are a lot of things I love about travelling to … Continue reading →

This coming March, a global anti-poverty agency is organising a cycling adventure to Cambodia and looking for enthusiastic participants. It will be fun, physical and charitable aimed at getting you out of your comfort zone. For years, ActionAid Australia has been working with communities in Cambodia … Continue reading →

When I first stumbled upon Huacachina as the sand-boarding mecca of Peru, I added a new must-do in my bucket list. And then came the images of soaring sand dunes, the legend of a mermaid princess who created the natural oasis that is Huacachina, and the … Continue reading →

If Peru is in your bucket list of places to see before you cark it, it’s likely to be a bit more specific: Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. But what many people don’t realise is that there are a number of Inca trails … Continue reading →

When it comes to coffee, you either love it or hate it. But coffee-lovers around the world can remember in a flash where they’ve had their best cuppa. A quick survey question on the Globetrooper Facebook page and Twitter stream exploded into an international debate on where … Continue reading →

What does the cost of living in various cities have to do with your next two-week vacation? Well, nothing really. This post is for those of you with a dream. A dream that involves long-term travel OR anything that requires your undivided attention (and no income). By … Continue reading →