Tupapaus – Ghosts, Spirits and Strange Encounters in Tahiti
Tupapaus, the spirits I heard about on Tahiti and Moorea, and an unforgettable night with a mysterious torch. A Night in Paradise It was November 1996, and I …
Moments In A Frame
Some journeys stay with us long after we’ve unpacked. Here are the places, people and unexpected encounters we still remember—from the South Pacific to the Philippines, with a few detours along the way.
These are the stories behind the photographs: beautiful views, changed plans and small moments that turned out to matter more than we expected.
Start here: Tetiaroa
A famous name, an extraordinary lagoon and a place I never quite left behind. Explore my guide to Tetiaroa, then follow the stories into the old hotel years, island adventures and a rather unexpected beach clean-up.
Venice on a Shoestring: 56 Deutsche Marks, Ten Hours and a Love Affair
Venice on a shoestring, August 1990. One overnight bus, a Walkman full of Venetian music, and just enough money to get myself into trouble. What could possibly go …
Across the Sea of Time: Ten Days in a New York That No Longer Exists
In loving memory of my beloved mother, with whom I shared these New York memories. This story is for you—with all my love, always. New York, Easter 1999. …
Travels in Outback Australia by Andrew Stevenson – A Book That Took Me Back Down Under
Some travel books make you dream of visiting faraway places. Others bring back memories of adventures you’ve already had. Andrew Stevenson’s Travels in Outback Australia did both for …
Unforgettable Travel Encounters: Is the World Really This Small?
Some people bring home shells, postcards or a suspiciously heavy suitcase. I seem to collect people — and then bump into them again when the world has absolutely …
Dahican Beach: Our Favourite Escape, Now With More Comfort and Fewer Hotel Bills
Dahican Beach is one of our favourite escapes in Mindanao—a road trip from Davao, with no airline tickets required. Just a little patience for the bus journey. We …
The Philippines Was Never on My Bucket List — Until Lizz Was There
In my last article, I told the story of the strange chain of coincidences that eventually led me to Lizz: Fiji, German friends, Skype, and one unexpected “hello” …
Back to Fiji: The Island Paradise That Quietly Rewrote My Future
In May 2005, I returned to Fiji after ten years. Not because I had planned some beautifully organised “spiritual journey back to the South Pacific,” with a notebook …
Return to Hawaii: Passport Control, Polynesia, and the End of a Dream
One might think that my return to Hawaii, after weeks in the South Pacific, would have felt like a grand finale. A beautiful last chapter. A soft landing …
Fiji: Lost Days, Low-Flying Jumbo Jets, and Sailing Through Bligh Water
Another night flight. This time from Rarotonga to Fiji. On the evening of May 17, 1995, I left the Cook Islands and flew west across the Pacific. The …