I'm at 35,000 feet with a beer in my hand and another seven under my belt, on my way to the Democratic Republic of South Africa. It's there that my journey will truly begin - not only will I be wrestling rhinos and gulping malaria tablets so that I don't die, but I'll also be … Continue reading Reflections on Dubai
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, which means it's their version of Canberra. But instead of being freezing cold and overflowing with brilliant footballers, it's blazing hot and loaded with skyscrapers. Oh, and the beaches are a bit better than Canberra's, too. The city is a two hour bus ride from Dubai, and … Continue reading Capital Punishment
Yesterday I took on Dubai's ancient streets, and today I explored the newer side of things. The symbol of this rapidly-evolving desert metropolis is the Burj Khalifa, an 828m-tall skyscraper that is the tallest structure on the planet. It really is an incredible building, and standing at the bottom and looking up at it left … Continue reading Sheikh, Rattle and Roll
My plane touched down in Africa just as the dirty orange sun was slinginging itself over the nearby skyscrapers, and proceeded to battle jetlag as I battled the crowds onto the train that would take me into the heart of the city. As it sped through modern buildings and past beautifully-manicured gold courses, I couldn't … Continue reading “Dubai… is that in Africa?”
This story starts the way all epic adventures do, in the midst of a four-day cask wine and prostitute bender. I was guzzling a schooner glass of Berri Estates' finest and checking to make sure my PlayStation hadn't been pinched when I received an email from none other than Prince Imotep Bobongi of Nigeria. I'm … Continue reading The Drunk and Jobless World Tour hits Africa
With paragliding's State of Origin Championship heating up, I knew I had to make the second day of competition a big one. After bombing out into a field of evil thistles on the first day, I needed a big flight if I was going to win the thing. But the conditions were rubbish in the … Continue reading Manilla Mayhem Part II: The Mayheming
The last time I tried to go on an overnight hike above the tiny riverside village of Wondabyne, I was somewhat less than successful. Alright, that's an understatement - I had to call my mum to come and get me because I was at risk of being flooded out. So when I set out once … Continue reading Girra-kool? No, Girra-wet!
I grew up on the hill above Forresters Beach, and one of my most vivid memories from that time is watching hang-gliders cruising through the clear blue sky while I played on the sand. I never grew up dreaming of flying, but those memories obviously had an effect on me, because when I got older … Continue reading Mr Flying Man
When I woke up to the sounds of birds frolicking and Khancoban trailer trash bickering, I didn't know that I was mere hours away from paragliding immortality. Alright, maybe that's taking things a bit too far, but I was about to smash my own personal best and have a bloody good time doing it. But … Continue reading Breaking barriers: My record-busting paragliding flight through the Victorian wilderness
There's something brilliant about waking up in the country, and so it was with a smile on my face that I climbed out of bed to greet another beautiful Khancoban day. The birds were singing in the trees, the cows were mooing in the fields, and there was a violent domestic dispute in the caravan … Continue reading Flying off Elliot for the hell of it
The Drunk and Jobless World Tour 