Yarns
My Egyptian Dentist
I remember those little details of our first meeting so clearly. The way he stood over our little group, a mix of misfit travellers and local Egyptians. I remember first…
Naked and Afraid: Transcending the Comfort Zone in Japan
Alone, naked and undeniably trapped is how I found myself spending my first night in Japan on my own. I had never imagined I’d be dipping into matters of deeply-rooted…
Why My Open Relationship Didn’t Work Out
First, it was a convenient option for Brianna and I – we’re both bi. A pill-fuelled conversation about how it can suck being in a committed hetero relationship when you’re…
Life’s Little Joys
The finest and best restaurant on Koh Tao is a cosy little place called Mama’s. The eponymous Mama is a middle-aged blob of a woman, chubby and churlish, who makes…
A Month at Moria Refugee Camp
“They put you on a night for your second shift? Bit harsh, but don’t worry: nights are generally quiet. Mostly we sleep unless someone comes knocking”. Moria Refugee Camp is…
When Your Travels Are a Shit Storm
They say that opposites attract, but every day, I’m realising that shit attracts shit. For example, I’m using Notepad to write this because Word isn’t working on my computer –…
Stitched Back Together in Thailand
A harsh light pierces my eyes from a low swinging globe above my face. I am lying on a bed. No. It’s a gurney. It creaks in rhythm with the…
WWOOFing in the North Thai Wilderness
I abandoned my job teaching at a school in Thailand to volunteer at an organic farm. I’d heard about a beautiful property outside this place called Chiang Rai; it was…
Brigitte & Otto
I guess you could say my family has always been fairly open to having guests stay in our home. There are eight children (chill – not all from the one…
What It’s Like to be a Second-Generation Italian
I grew up second-generation Italian. This means I am just removed enough from my heritage to feel like I can’t claim it without being a fraud – an uncouth Australian…
Why ‘Blue Shirt’ is a Dickhead and I’m Better at Pub Crawls Than You
“Duuuude, the craziest thing happened the other day,” Blue Shirt said in his typically slow and monotoned voice, before proceeding to tell the most un-crazy story in human history. It…
Travelling With My Dead Grandmother
I’ve never been very good at following traditions. I don’t have any annual family meetups, Saturdays are almost never for the boys and I can’t even dedicate myself solely to…