Ashmockabroad takes flight
My Journey begins……
In September 2016 I sold my house, closed my business and decided to say farewell to the UK.
Always wanting to see Asia and Australia, I entered my journey on 18th October 2016 from London to Bangkok. A single 42 year male, travelling alone. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy but I was ready for a new challenge.
Monday 19th February 2018
It has been a few months since I have updated here. I spent New Year in Tokyo which was INSANE!!!, I’ve been to Nagano in the north to see the Snow Monkeys in an Onsen, Matsumoto to see the famous Black and White Castle, Mount Fuji, Kyoto which is by far my favourite place I’ve visited on my travels. I even met a Maiko (a traineee Geisha), Osaka, Nara (a town of wild deer roaming the streets), Kobe (where the beef comes from), Hiroshima which I truly found a very touching place, so full of lively, enjoy and happiness, Okayama (where I experience 2000 naked men in loincloths fight for a 20cm stick) and now I’m in Nagasaki and experiencing the Chinese New Year Celebrations together with the Lantern Festival.
Honestly visiting the only two places on the planet that have had an Atom Bomb dropped on them is a humbling experience. Words can not describe how I feel.
My planned 2 week trip round Japan has turned in to a 7 week adventure so far and still so much more to see. I love this country, the people, the food, the culture, and the history.
Wednesday 27th December 2017
Leave Melbourne, Australia and get an early morning flight to Toyko, Japan for a totally new adventure
Wednesday 20th – Wednesday 27th December 2017
Staying back at Summerhouse, St Kilda for the Christmas Season.
Wednesday 20th December 2017
Flight from Auckland to Melbourne.
Tuesday 12th – Wednesday 20th December 2017
Travelled round the North Island of New Zealand.
Friday 24th November – Tuesday 12th December 2017
Travelled round the South Island of New Zealand.
Friday 24th November 2017
Fly from Brisbane to Christchurch, New Zealand.
Wednesday 15th November 2017
Scuba Diving at The Great Barrier Reef. Omg 2 amazing Dives to 20m. Saw plenty of fish but the 1m GIANT TURTLE was amazing!!!!! Tomorrow I leave to Airlie Beach.
Tuesday 14th November 2017
Checked out Cairns. Wondered down to the Lagoon, would of gone for a swim but windy and rain (for a change!). Seriously excited for tomorrow. Finally get to ticked off another bucket list item… Scuba Diving at The Great Barrier Reef.
Monday 13th November 2017
Flight from Brisbane to Cairns. Finally managed to upload all the remaining pictures to the site and update things.
Sunday 12th November 2017
Glorious day of sunshine spent at the man made Southbank Beach.
Saturday 11th November 2017
Made my way up to Brisbane.
Wednesday 8th – Saturday 11th November 2017
Came to revisit Byron in Sunshine, but that didn’t go to plan. 3 days of rain unfortunately. I did get to visit Nimbin (pretty cool man).
Sunday 5th – Wednesday 8th November 2017
Awesome few days in Yamba. Finally got to do the WORLD FAMOUS SHANES TOUR…. WOW INCREDIBLE!
Saturday 4th November 2017
Leaving Sydney on the nightbus up the East Coast to Yamba for a few days of surfing.
Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd November 2017
Did the last few sights around Sydney .
Wednesday 1st November 2017
My Plans to leave Sydney in the next few days and carry on up the East Coast to Cairns.
Tuesday 31st October 2017
Drove to see The Wedding Cake Rock (2 hours south of Sydney)
Monday 30th October 2017
Went to visit Palm Beach, the home of Summer Bay. Watched them filming Home & Away. Then went to see a few other little beaches and bays.
Sunday 29th October 2017
Checked out Canberra. Visited the Old and New Parliment Houses, The Royal Mint, The War Memorial and the Australian Institute of Sport. Then drove to Jervis Bay and checked out Hyams Beach (meant to be the whitest sandy beach). Drove back to Sydney in the evening
Saturday 28th October 2017
Hired a car and drove to Canberra. Spent the night
Thursday 26th and Friday 27th October 2017
Relaxed in Sydney. Caught up with friends
Wednesday 25th October 2017
Got the night bus from Melbourne to Sydney, a short 12 hour bus ride.
Saturday 21st – Wednesday 25th October 2017
Sight seeing around Melbourneincluding doing the famous NEIGHBOURS Tour (got to visit Ramsey Street, the studio and got to meet a past star). Also visited the MCG Stadium, The Rod Laver Arena and the Olympic Park.
Friday 20th October 2017
Finished my incredible Road Trip Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road to Mount Gambier, then back to Melbourne. Spent nights in quiet, gorgeous places. Highlights included The Great Ocean Road Arch, The Grotto, Twelve Apostles (although theres only actually 8!), seeing a Koala crossing the road at night and having dinner in a Golf Club watching Kangaroos jumping across the golf course.
Friday 13th October 2017
Today I start my Road Trip Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road. Hired a nice Jeep and look forward to exciting adventures.
Monday 9th – Friday 13th October 2017
Staying back at Summerhouse/Hotel Barkly, St Kilda. Been nice to catch up with friends and see how the venue is progressing.
Monday 9th October 2017
Flight from Adelaide to Melbourne.
Saturday 7th October 2017
Finally finished uploading the pictures from the Perth to Exmouth Trip… All now ready for viewing.
Friday 6th October 2017
Finding Adelaide a little boring. Such a quiet place and not much to really do or see in the City. Most of the sites to visit seemed to be an hour out of town. Going to check out the Beach tomorrow and see if I can hire a car for Monday so I can start my journey down the South Coast line.
Managed to upload about 80% of the pictures from the Perth to Exmouth Trip… Worth checking out as amazing stuff to see and an incredible adventure. Hope to get the rest uploaded over the weekend.
Sunday 1st – Thursday 5th October 2017
Arrived in Adelaide after an incredible trip in Perth. Needed a few days to recover and recharge before my next road trip down to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road.
Monday 11th September – Sunday 1st October 2017
I arrived in Perth, Australia and prepared for a road trip up the Coast. Work out a nice route from Perth to Exmouth. Incredible 20 days with over 4000 Km travelled, not alone this time. More to follow when I have wifi.
Friday 8th September 2017
Staying in a little Guest House round the corner from Walking Street. Did a little shopping (I think a few of the ladies in my family will be very happy with today purchases).
FINALLY THE WEBSITE HAS ALL THE PICTURES UPLOADED FROM THE DAY I LEFT RIGHT UP TO CURRENT DAY. Text and blog to still be added
Wednesday 6th – Thursday 7th September 2017
My last night in the amazing STAYOVER HOSTEL in Ao Nang, Thailand. Thank you to the incredible owner Ammo and her family for making me feel so welcome. I’m going to miss this place.
Getting a taxi at 8am to Krabi Airport to fly to Bangkok then Ho Chi Ming, Vietnam for a few days. Having been before, this is a few days rest before I fly to Perth around 10-12th Sept 2017.