In movies about conspiracies there’s always a moment when the main character finds the clue in the stack of evidence and rushes off to tell someone. Read more…
The Battle for Schloss Itter
Tucked away in a forested hillside in Austria’s Tyrolean alps is a château called Itter with a long history and one remarkable footnote. Read more…
Atomkraft? Nein Danke
As a nation with a large reserve of uranium but no nuclear energy industry Australia is periodically subject to op-ed pieces designed to drum up support for a domestic nuclear power industry.
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The Hordes of Mt Doom
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing on New Zealand’s north island has a reputation as one of the most dangerous hikes in the country. On a good day it’s a hard slog across 20km of rock and scree taking you up onto the desolate but spectacular plateau that forms the base of Mt Ngauruhoe.
The Devil’s Staircase
Despite the spectacular views on offer around Mt Howitt it’s clear from the map that early European explorers had a rough time surveying the region.
Unfinished Business
Our first day on the bikes took us up the west coast from Negombo to Puttallam. It was a busy stretch of road and we were still a few days away from getting comfortable with the traffic so progress was slow.
Sea Tigers of the LTTE
In a lagoon north of Mullaitivu is a gold-painted ‘victory monument’. It presides over the area where the ‘Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam’ (LTTE) made their last stand against the Sri Lankan army in 2009.
Riding the Whitewash
It’s hard to know when to visit Sri Lanka. December to April is officially the dry season but the weather conditions are somewhat complex with various monsoon seasons affecting different parts of the island at different times.
Conflicting Stories in Sri Lanka
A couple of chance encounters highlighted the dueling narratives of Sri Lankan history and the tensions that still remain following the end of the civil war.
The Art of Amistics
Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag paints images of suburban Sweden in the 1980s transformed by some unexplained technological breakthrough.
Osaka and the Dekasegi
While wandering Osaka looking for the famous Umeda Sky building in Osaka I met my first talkative local.
Tsukiji Fish Market
One out of every five fish caught on planet earth is sold at Tsukiji fish market. Every day more than 2000 tons of fish pass through the market in Tokyo’s Chūō district.
Pasona 02, Tokyo
Right in the center of the biggest city in the world an experiment in agriculture is being conducted.
Tokyo’s Indestructible Skytree
2015 led me back to Tokyo. This time I spent most of my time in the district of Sumida in Tokyo’s Northeast.
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Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo
The Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo is a run-down testament to the ambition of some of Japan’s most celebrated post-war architects.
The Dogs and Demons of Joetsu
The small coastal city of Joetsu on Japan’s north coast highlights some of the problems facing modern Japan.
Adrift on Mt Myōkō
Earlier this year I tagged along with the Australian/International off-pissed ski team to the slopes of Myokokogen. Matt chose Myoko because the guidebook gave it four and half snowflakes out of five in the ‘powder’ category. Also because our plan called for us to go from there to Kyoto and then onto Tokyo and we wanted to make sure our itinerary doubled as a tongue twister.
Kyoto, Japan’s Spiritual Capital
The old capital of Kyoto is home to about 1600 temples and countless smaller shrines.
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South Coast Track
Tasmania’s southern coastline is one of the most wild and remote parts of Australia