Going travelling? How to pick the perfect backpack

I have been lucky enough to do a lot of travel in my life, from interrailling across Europe to backpacking across South Africa and camping on the West Coast of Scotland, I've have travelled in a variety of ways including backpacking for long periods of time so I felt it would be useful to share some of my expierence and put together a  guide to selecting backpacks .  The trusty backpack, if you pick the right one, it can be a game-changer when it comes to travel, esepically when you are travelling from city to city or doing a big hike-thru trail. I've done 3 backpacking Interrail trips, two before having kids and one with my kids , and I know firsthand how important it is to pick the right backpack as it can change how you experience travel in terms of logistics, comfort, and ease. Firstly, be practical . Pick your backpack for the purpose and length of the trip. If you are only going away for a weekend, then just opt for something small, durable and practical, and if you are ......

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Dining in Phuket, here is what you need to know

We all know that food speaks to the soul, and the one thing I love about travelling is trying out all the local food delicacies and through the food, learning more about the culture, to me, that experience is intrinsic to why I travel and I like to think many people feel the same.   Having grown up with two parents from not only different countries but different continents has always meant my home has had a variety of influences when it comes to what we eat and I bring that passion with me when I travel. So have you ever wondered what food tastes like on the other side of the world? The following contains golden nuggets on just how good it is. Enjoy! Dining in Paradise Dining in style is definitely not a myth in locations like Hotel Buffet Phuket , where we not only eat the finest food on earth, but also do so in exotic settings throughout the magical island. Restaurants in the location are incredible, and many hosts live cooking shows in fabulous cooking stations surrounded b......

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Maximising Australia: How To Make The Most Of A Trip Down Under

Australia is a country that is on many people’s bucket list. Because it’s so far away from everywhere else - and not the cheapest country in the world - it can often end up being a once-in-a-lifetime trip for a lot of people. Making sure that you maximise your adventures down under is therefore essential. Below are some tips on how to pack as much in as you can without making it too exhausting or too expensive. Leave yourself enough time You’ll need to spare at least two weeks to visit Australia. Four of those days could be taken up travelling, depending on where you’re journeying from, and jet lag could eat up extra days, so ideally three weeks is what you need to give you plenty of time to explore. Some people visit Australia for several months, but this generally requires having no commitments and lots of money (or being willing to work). Consider the season Visiting at different times of the year will provide a different experience. For those in the Northern hemisphere, it’s import......

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Why You’re Always Anxious When You’re Tired (and What to Do About It)

It’s common to think of anxiety as a kind of mental loop - a spiral of “what if” that we can talk ourselves out of. But often, anxiety is less about what is happening in our heads and more to do with what’s going on in our bodies. And one of the most common triggers is exhaustion. When we are short on rest, everything feels that little bit sharper, square pegs won’t go into round holes. Sounds, emotions and even little frustrations hit that bit harder. It’s not a sign of weakness - it’s simple biology. The physical connection between sleep and anxiety During deep sleep, the body runs an overnight repair program. Damaged tissues heal, our immune system rebuilds, stress hormones drop, our neurotransmitters reset, and emotional memories get filed away. Miss that window for maintenance, and like any mechanism, there will be an overload before too long. This is why, after a few restless nights, even a minor stressor can feel like a full-blown crisis. Elevated cortisol and adrenaline make yo......

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