Harvard AMP – Module 1, Week 2
Storms, Snow, and Finding My Place When the blizzard hit early in the week, it felt almost symbolic. Snow piled high across campus, cars struggled to move, pathways disappeared, and...
Harvard AMP — Module 1, Week 1
Arrival, anxiety, and finding my people It was a warm Saturday morning in Canberra when I woke at 6:00 am. The day had finally arrived. I was about to embark...
Day 01 Dubai: 20 Hours in Dubai
Much like the West Wing episodes 20 Hours in America and 20 Hours in L.A., we’ve just spent 20 hours in Dubai. And wow. This is a mega-city built on the edge of...
Jordan Day 05: Hitting the Road
Today was our final day in Jordan. The previous four days had been packed with archaeological wonders, long drives, ancient cities, fabled biblical landscapes, Roman engineering, desert vistas, sounds, smells,...
Jordan Day 04: Jerash, Amman, and an Oasis
Another big day awaited us on the Jordan agenda. Today we would leave Petra, where we’d spent two nights at the Mövenpick, and finish our Jordan journey in Amman, staying...
Jordan Day 03: Petra is to Jordan what the pyramids are to Egypt
Our day begins early, leaving the hotel at 8.30am for what is widely regarded as one of the modern wonders of the world. Petra is an ancient city, carved directly...
Jordan Day 02: From Fabled Landscapes to Petra at Dusk
We left the Dead Sea hotel at around 9:00 am today, heading south toward Petra. It’s a long drive, but Jordan rewards patience. The landscape changes slowly, then all at...
Jordan Day 01: A New Country, A Rough Landing, and the Lowest Place on Earth
Egypt Leg Complete. Chapter Two Begins. Well, that was an early start. 2:30 am wake-up. Bags outside the room by 3:00 am. One last look around the InterContinental Citystars. One...
Egypt Day 13: Farewell to the Nile, One Last Walk Through Time
Today was the day we disembarked the Viking Aton. After seven days aboard this beautifully designed Scandinavian river ship, it was time to say goodbye. Goodbye to the crew. Goodbye...
Egypt Day 12: Edfu and the Long Goodbye
We arrived in Edfu at about 9pm last night. Our cabin was dockside, and the area adjacent to the dock felt like the centre of town. Loud music blared well...
Egypt Day 11: Creation, Water, and the End of an Age
Aswan → Philae → Kom Ombo Today was our final full day in Aswan, and fittingly, it felt different. Less time on buses. More time on the river. More time...
Egypt Day 10: Stone, Sun, and the Edge of Eternity
Each morning since we’ve been cruising, I’ve been woken by dogs. Around 3.00am, they start. Howling. Barking. Deep barks. Light barks. Happy barks. All kinds. It’s not aggressive, just… communal....
Egypt Day 09: Lost, Found, and Buried Beneath the Street
24 January We were docked overnight in Esna, and for the first time on this trip our cabin was dockside rather than riverside. The difference was immediate and dramatic. At...
Egypt Day 08: Beneath the Mountain – The Valley of the Kings (and a Queen)
23 January Today everything we’ve seen over the past week finally came together. We started the morning with breakfast in the restaurant and, for once, what felt like a leisurely...
Egypt Day 07: When the Wind Says No, Egypt Says Yes
The early mornings keep coming. Today it was a 4.00am wake-up for a 4.45 departure. The prize at the end of the effort was meant to be a hot air...
Egypt Day 06: South to Luxor, the Long Road into Deep Time
21 January Our adventure shifted gears today as we travelled south to Luxor, with a 4.00am wake-up that felt entirely appropriate given what lay ahead. At moments on this trip...
Egypt Day 05: Touching Eternity – The GEM and the Pyramids of Giza
Today, I touched the Great Pyramid of Giza. I stepped off the raised wooden walkway and moved slowly, almost hesitantly, towards its base. There was no rush. No need for...
Egypt Day 04: Not a Tick Box, a Lifelong Dream
19 January – Day One with Viking Today we officially joined our Viking cruise, though in truth this journey started nearly two years ago. Almost two years ago, Mardi asked...
Egypt Day 03: From Street Chaos to Dynasties, and Onward to the Nile
Our three-day stay at the Marriott Mena House in Giza, overlooking the pyramids, has come to an end. But before we packed up and moved on, it’s worth reflecting on...
Egypt Day 02: Fog, Fast Roads, and Five Thousand Years by the Sea
Up early. 5:00 am. We were asleep almost as soon as our heads hit the pillow last night. Yesterday was a big one. Six hours of travel, from the Great...
Egypt Day 01: First Light over the Pyramids
We both slept incredibly well after checking in to the Marriott Mena House in Giza. After more than 24 hours of travel, that bed felt like a gift. Coming from...
Egypt Day 00: Crossing Half the World to Begin an Egyptian Adventure
Thursday, 15 January We arrived at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport around 7:00 pm and departed at 3:30 am. About eight hours in a hotel room, most of it spent...
Day 13 – Sea Day Three, Happy and Sad
The final day of a cruise is always a mix of emotions. We love travelling and we love cruising, but we also love our home and, most importantly, we love...
Day 12 – Sea Day Two, Calm Seas and Sunset Skies
Thursday was our second sea day on the run back to Sydney, and it couldn’t have been more different from the day before. The sea was calm, the wind light,...
Day 11 – Sea Day One, Wind, Trivia and a Bit of Luck
Wednesday marked the first of three sea days as we began our journey back to Sydney. The slower routine continued, although the weather had clearly turned. Following the forecast we’d...
Day 10 – Bay of Islands, A Change of Pace
Today was our final port of call before beginning the journey back to Sydney. We arrived at the Bay of Islands, right at the northern end of New Zealand’s North...
Day 09 – Auckland, Family Time and Trivia Wins
Our arrival into Auckland Harbour was a bit of fun. As Discovery Princess entered the harbour, we were greeted by water cannons and a small fanfare. The skipper joked over...
Day 08 – A Perfect Day in Tauranga
Tauranga is one of those places that just works. It’s beautiful, relaxed and, when cruise ships are in town, very busy. We visited here in April when we sailed on...
Day 07 – A Long Sea Day North
Day seven was another sea day as Discovery Princess made her way up the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. After departing Picton, the ship first headed south to...
Day 06 – Picton, Wind, Wildlife and the Sounds
Picton was our port of call today. It’s very much a working port, and that’s obvious from the moment you arrive. One of the first things we noticed, even standing...
Day 05 – A Gentle Sea Day
We love sea days. They’re a perfect opportunity to slow down, relax and enjoy everything the ship has to offer. Discovery Princess has plenty happening, but this morning we deliberately...
Day 04 – Dunedin Wildlife and Steep Hills
Today was our first port of call. Discovery Princess docked at Port Chalmers right on time, but we had only an hour to spare before our excursion started. Because it...