Outside Context travel writing has been featured on some of the world’s top websites. Articles have been purchased by Airlines, featured in iPhone Apps, published as questions in degree level English examinations and comments have been posted by everyone from Lonely Planet writers to US Special Forces Lieutenant Colonels!
Laos PDR – history & heart
Our Journey continues into the Heart of South East Asia: Laos!
The American War
They say the better part of travelling is meeting the people from the countries you visit. They do not say how much that meeting will affect you, neither how heartbreaking such encounters can be. The first time I met a one legged man in Laos, while visiting COPE – the charity for the war injured, I asked him how he lost his leg? “The American’s took it,” he replied.
An Island Nation
Existence by virtue of land and sea
Lets go tubing! A Basho Film
"Lets go tubing!" This video highlights the crazy day my friends and I had while tubing the legendary Mekong river in Vang Veng, Laos, South East Asia in November 2008.
Malaysia: Highlands to Langkawi
The Cameron Highlands, well named that they are, are the tea growing centre of Malaysia. The temperature up the top is a good 4 degrees less than in the cities and a nice breeze helps take off a few more. It is a place of gentile rolling tea fields under mountainous peaks. I found this much more to my liking!
Malaysia: Melaka to Kuala Lumpur
Our first port of call in Malaysia was the UNESCO town of Melaka, which is nestled on the west coast of the peninsula below Kuala lumpur. The journey from Singapore to the town was uneventful being mainly two good roads (the 1 and the 5), but I was feeling an increasingly vivid sense of excitement about truly getting into SEA and taking that first footsteps on our journey.
Singapore: Gateway to SE Asia
The hottest cold One of the first things that hits you on arrival to Singapore airport is the intense cold. Litres of Icy cold air is blasted at you from almost all directions from a myriad of air-conditioning machines the size of skyscrapers and it is quite nice to get outside and experience a little heat for a while. Air-conditioning has been taken to new heights by the Singaporeans, indeed the entire Tube system is frosty cold conditioned, as is every single mall and many of the pavement steps surrounding them. To walk around Singapore is to be blasted by heat and cold at such extremes you wonder if you have wandered into a new form of torture.
James and Cesca’s Xmas message!
Happy Christmas everyone! Here is a short film of Cesca and I giving all our Christmas greetings from sunny Cambodia! http://www.youtube.com/v/C_jtC3RFBHI We have been away for 6 months now - halfway! - and are [...]
New Zealand WWOOFing at Furneaux Lodge
Will the second time be any better than the first?
New Zealand : A Basho Film
A short (10 minute) film highlighting New Zealand. Includes whales in Kaikoura, Fjords, Glaciers by Helicopter, The far north, the Volcanic heart, the sounds and a trip through the forests of this magical country!
The Volcanic Heart
Central North Island simmers and steams, bubbles and spews...
Mountains of New Zealand
Bilbo: "I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf!
Northland: Part Two
Basho and Cesca meet Tane Mahuta - The God of the Forest
North to Cape Reinga
We visit New Zealand's great beach - 90 miles of freedom!
Fear is the mind killer
Cesca skydives 15,000ft and Basho jumps the 134m highwire Nevis bungy!
Welcome to New Zealand
New Zealand is a country Cesca and I have longed to visit for many years. Tales speak of this island and its seemingly unique people. That they are more friendly than the most sociable of Australian’s, more “outdoors-loving” than even Scottish highlanders and more into extreme sports than anyone outside Cirque-de-soleil! Moreover, all of the “Kiwis” I have met have been the most persuasive of ambassadors as they have a deep and abiding love of their country, a great love of sporting life and and all of them stand a pint.
Travel Blogging Kit List
A writers guide to what to take!
The Great Ocean Road
A driving journey of great beauty
The Ghan train, finding Franco and Adelaide
A train ride to remember!
A Basho Film : Australia
A short fun film highlighting our trip to Australia, showing some of the fantastic things we saw in this wonderful country. A tribute to the nation before we move on to New Zealand... http://www.youtube.com/v/R7Lufe7EwfU [...]
Kangaroo Island WWOOFing
WWOOFing for the 1st time on KI
A Basho Film: Colours of Uluru
Welcome, Here is the latest short film for your enjoyment. This one shows our amazing time at Uluru over sunset and sunrise. See how the colours of the rock change in response to the light! [...]
The Sanctuary
We find bliss in the rain forests of Australia
























