See the Best of the World by Rail

On a previous trip, I had the pleasure of taking a group of Australians to Singapore who had never experienced it before, and from the very first moment, the city delivered.

To kick things off, we swapped the usual city tour for something a little more adventurous: our own version of an "Amazing Race", created with the help of the tourism bureau.

The goal was simple... help everyone discover the different pockets of Singapore so they could return to their favourites later, but have fun along the way and get to know each other.

Clue by clue, the teams navigated the city like locals, hopping into taxis, boarding a ferry and even gliding across the harbour on the cable car. Along the way, they found themselves in Chinatown searching for a "cure" at a traditional Chinese medicine shop, learning the art of dumpling making (and enjoying the rewards), and sipping the iconic Singapore Sling at the iconic Raffles Hotel.

In little India, fortunes were told by a charming parrot, while elsewhere, guests created their own signature perfumes. 😍

We wrapped up the day with a cable car ride over to Sentosa Island, followed by dinner surrounded by the incredible Oceanarium. Over dinner, everyone looked back through the photos they’d snapped on their polaroid cameras throughout the day (proof they’d made it to every stop along the way).

So, give yourself a little extra time when visiting Singapore, and set off on your own version of an "Amazing Race". It's a city that reveals itself in layers, and the more time you give it, the more it gives back! 🧡

- Carolyn ...

For our honeymoon, we knew one thing -we didn’t want to just sit on a beach. We're always up for something a bit more adventurous… a cultural immersion, a chance to experience a completely different way of life. So we chose Vietnam and we loved it!

From the mountains in the North, to the dramatic limestone karsts of Ha Long Bay, to the colourful, high-energy streets of Ho Chi Minh City - every stop had a new story to tell. We mainly travelled by road, but also managed the overnight train which was an experience!

Some of our favourite moments were the unplanned ones. Hiring motorbikes, getting a little 'lost', and relying on locals to point us in the right direction despite not understanding a word (usually with a smile and a laugh).

I had a minor mishap while bushwalking and sprained my ankle - within minutes, a local had me on his back, carrying me up to the road, where his friend whisked us back to our hotel on a motorbike! He was smaller than me, but as strong as an Ox - you'll see him in the photo holding me up (husband totally amused and relieved he didn't have to carry me)!

What really stayed with me was the generosity, kindness and hard working nature of the Vietnamese people.
Our local guide was the perfect example of this. Quietly humble, endlessly kind, and always looking out for us - nothing was ever too much trouble.

Everywhere we went, people were busy - farming, fishing, running their shops, cooking up incredible street food, or crafting things by hand on the side of the road. We brought home a few pieces of artwork and other little treasures - things we’d actually seen being made (oh... and a pearl necklace that I simply wasn't allowed to say no to and still wear to this day). A trip we will never forget!

-Annette ...