Author Archives: tawit

Getting on the flight on time to fly north from Addis Ababa to Gondar in northern Ethiopia can be a challenge. The problem is that Ethiopian clocks start at sunrise with 1 o’clock being the first hour after sunrise using …

In the jagged arid mountains 30 kilometres out of Gondar in northern Ethiopia, baboons and leopards still lurk amongst the hidden valleys. At least, that’s what we are told when visiting the splendid but empty eco-resort of Befikir Kossoye on …

The name ‘Addis Ababa’, conjures up thoughts of genies in bottles, bright bazaars and tall elegant people clad in flowing colourful robes. And the reality of Addis is not so far from such dreams. The women with their slim tall …

When Jane and I decided to accept a tour of Virgin Gorda with “Elvis”, a tall large black man with long dreadlocks we should have realised we were in for a treat! We were on our first day exploring the …

There’s a bunch of strong sailing women (some might say scary Alpha women) from around the world whom I met when I participated in my first Caribbean regatta at Antigua race week with On Deck in 2009. Every year since …

Have you ever been in a team where almost every one of the other players could have been your child? That’s if you’d remembered to have children of course! Well, that’s how I felt when I boarded The Spirit of …

I stopped off in Dallas for a night on my way to the Caribbean to get a taste of Texan life.  I arrived early afternoon after the long flight from Australia (now direct to Dallas from Sydney) to stay in …

March 2013 In just over two hours from Brisbane you feel like you are in the heart of France, but before the latest ice age when there was a tropical climate, lush sprawling green vistas and glassy emerald seas. It …

February, 2013 The streets of Bogor in Indonesia are like many other South East Asian urban areas: crowded with people of every shape, size and dress; snarling with the noise of a myriad of different vehicles; and full of the …

My biggest fear with all this tramping is not the weight, or not being able to sleep or night, or even my dodgy knees. It’s fear that I’ll keep Helen (who is much fitter and more experienced than me) waiting …