Welcome to a new regular feature, the Friday photo. Every week I’ll feature a photo from somewhere in the world, usually taken by me but sometimes by other travellers.
The photo this week is one that I took many years ago while travelling around the Catlins area at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand.
As I sit here in the departure lounge at Melbourne airport quietly downing a beer and contemplating yet another international flight, it seems like a good time to ponder the question that ultimately occurs to every long term traveller. Why do I do it? Why have I spent the last 12+ years in an endless procession of new cities, languages, homes, jobs and friends? When the people that I went to school with all seem to be buying houses, having kids and financing their next SUV, why am I not? Why is it that my friends and colleagues are busy planning for their retirement while I’m busy planning for another round the world trip? What has driven me to live my life like this so far, and what drives me to keep doing it?
I’ve had an article published on one of my favourite topics – sailing a yacht around the Greek Islands – over at Indie Travel Podcast. It focuses on the various options that you have when looking at sailing holidays and how a bareboat charter really is the way to go if you can manage it. Oh, and it might possibly mention sun. And sea. And food. And beer. Which, coincidentally, happen to pretty much be my four top things in the world.
Summary below – click the ‘read more’ link to check out the full article, and also take a look at my Destination: Greek Islands section for the down and dirty on one of the best weeks of my life…
Long lazy days sailing around the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean with the sun on your back and the wind in your hair. Tying up each night in small fishing villages and chatting to the locals, sampling seafood that was caught only a few hours ago and washing it down with a few ice cold beers before being rocked to sleep by the gentle motion of the waves. Sounds like a dream, right? Something attainable only by the rich and famous? Well, it’s not! Gather a few mates together and prepare for the holiday of a lifetime…
If you’re looking to start a good argument in any hostel bar, discussing the pros and cons of organised group tours would be a great place to start. Some people love them, some people hate them and nearly every traveller seems to have an opinion on them.
Popularised by the likes of Contiki and Top Deck, there are now a seemingly endless range of companies offering variations on the group tour theme. Party buses, cultural trips, eco tours – the list goes on, with seemingly something for everyone. Many people shun organised tours completely, however, much preferring to go solo or travel with a small group of friends.
There are benefits to either approach, and some people may find themselves taking a combination of both during their travels. While I personally much prefer travelling independently, there are certain places and situations in which I would happily consider taking a group tour.
So, the big question: are organised tours the right choice for you?
Just a quick note to point out that there’s a new section on the website now – Destinations. For those of you who have been reading my ramblings since my last round the world wander in 2008, there’s not much that’s new in the way of content, but for everyone else – this section just brings together my posts (and associated photos) for a few parts of the world that I have found particularly great for one reason or another, into nice, tasty, easily digestible portions.
The first four destinations are Vietnam, the Greek Islands, Singapore and Tasmania. I’m sure there’ll be more to follow…
Questions, thoughts, whatever - let me know!
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