I am often asked where I have been. But over the years I have done so many oodles of trips that the answer is blurry- several countries I have been to several times, with little rhyme or reason- sometimes I’d need to travel for work, sometimes I followed my heart someplace and sometimes my heart yearned for someone I’d met on a distant continent. I make this list as a little catelogue of memories and moments as much for myself as for you.

Please note I have defined a visit in the most literal sense of the word. I have noted in the list below if it was just a few hours or a transit.

That’s the most beautiful sunset I ever saw, thought I. But hang on a second. Where am I again?

1. Australia

Born and raised in Sydney, you can take the boy out of Australia but you can’t make him drink… or something like that. Comfortable with the Australian wildlife despite several unfortunate encounters.

The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, Australia

2. USA

Lived and worked in Portland for 18 months and did research in Delaware for 6 months. Went on an Alaskan cruise. If you are where you’ve been, then I’m approximately 8% American, based on time spent there.

America…… America….

3. Mexico

Only visited Tijuana once as a kid. I remember having fun though. I must rectify this situation.

4. England

Too many visits to count. Probably the place I was least interested to travel to but a revelation of history and culture and now one of my favourites.

London, England

5. France

Three or four visits. Met friends there that I will never forget but will never see again.

The eerie underground tunnels of the Paris Catacombs

6. Belgium

Visited once; got notification of my TER (final highschool grade) here.

7. Netherlands

Visited once as a kid, walked through the red light district of Amsterdam with my parents.

8. Germany

Worked for several German companies, too many visits to count. Visited for Oktoberfest. One of the most historically interesting places and home to one of my favourite capitals- Berlin. Doing my best to learn the language.

The Berlin Wall, East Berlin

9. Switzerland

Three visits for work and play.

Looking over Jungfrau from Thun, Switzerland

10. Italy

Three visits and home to Venice and Rome, probably the most exotic places in all of Europe.

The Grand Canal. Venice, Italy

11. Austria

Visited three times. Broke my wrist here snowboarding. I can recommend the hospital system.

View from a little cottage in the Austrian Alps near St Anton, with a barn attached that smelled of cows. Stayed here for 2 nights

12. Thailand

Three visits. All of them completely crazy and resplendent with unexpected adventures (both good and bad).

Thailand adventure time. Ko Phi Phi Leh.

13. Norway

Two visits, travelled extensively. Coming from Australia, I was intrigued by this other-world of mountains and ice. I’ve been almost everywhere from the party South to the wild North, during both the cold dark winter and the glorious summer.

Flåm, Norway

14. Sweden

Visited once, extensive travels there as well. Many good parties.

Camping in the rain and a crappy tent in the Stockholm Skärgård (archipelago), Sweden

15. Spain

Four visits including an epic roadtrip adventure from Malaga to one of my favourite cities, Barcelona. An acquired taste for me, like a good red wine.

The isolated abbey of Montserrat, Spain

16. Singapore

Too many visits to count. Stopovers, friends living there, work colleagues living there. Check out Confiscated Toothpaste’s definitive guide to the island city-state.

Colonial Singapore. View of the Arts House and Asian History Museum

17. Maldives

Visited once, spent 10 days living on a boat and surfing.

Having fun after a day of motoring from surf break to surf break, Maldives

18. Denmark

Visited Copenhagen once and drank a lot of Danish beer.

Christiania in Copenhagen, Denmark

19. Finland

Having a Finnish ex-girlfriend meant several visits including living there for brief periods. And extensive travels, from Helsinki in the South to Inari in the North. Had my best Northern Lights experience here and also went dogsledding.

Somewhere near Juorkuna, in the north of Finland

20. Estonia

Visited twice. Tallinn is a wonderful city and very interesting due to its modern history.

The walls of Tallinn, Estonia

21. Tahiti

Visited once, threw coconuts around. I was supposed to be there for a couple of days longer, but my flight from LA had to turn back midair due to a cracked windscreen. So instead I spent some more time in LAX instead. Joy.

Island men, Tahiti

22. Cook Islands

Short transit while on my way home from Tahiti hungover and tired early morning, but wow! Imagine a stunning forested volcano with the runway on the beach and the breaking waves right next to you as you taxi to a terminal the size of your loungeroom.

23. Scotland

Visited once, loved it.

Riding in the late, late, summer sun on the Isle of Skye, Scotland

24. Japan

Visited twice, the last time for an epic snowboarding trip. Was here during the 2011 9.0 earthquake. Also had one of my strangest travel experiences here.

Niseko, Japan

25. China

Worked with several Chinese companies, 4 visits, and stayed with a family in a regional area a few hours drive from Shanghai.

A barge packed to the brim with coal on Lake Tai, Wuxi, China

26. Brazil

Fiancee is Brazilian. Four visits and will get married there in 2014! Rio is one of my favourite cities and has some great surfing.

Looking towards Leblon and the Two Brothers mountain as the sun sets over Ipanema beach. There is plenty of football kicking going on all day

27. Czech Republic

Visited Prague once for the weekend, incredible place.

Prague, Czech Republic

28. New Zealand

One visit, roadtripped both islands with an ex. Plenty of amazing places but Queenstown is my favourite.

Despite what you may have heard, New Zealand really is full of sheep and mountains

29. Canada

Been twice to Vancouver. Does that count?

The Capilano suspension bridge, British Columbia, Canada

30. South Korea

Visited 3 times for work, but South Koreans know how to party and there was plenty of that done as well.

If anything, I think Seoul could use more neon.

31. New Caledonia

Visited once on a South Pacific cruise from Sydney.

Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

32. Argentina

Transited on way to/from Brazil.

33. Chile

Transited on way home from Brazil.

34. United Arab Emirates

Visited twice and found the more traditional Arab areas fascinating. Check out my 10 Cool Things to Do in Dubai.

The incredible Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE

35. North Korea

Only visited North Korea by crossing to the the North side of the UN conference room in the Joint Security Area in Panmunjeom. Would love to visit properly some day.

Looking towards North Korea from the UN Joint Security Area, Panmunjom. South Korean soldiers guard the border, which is the concrete threshold between the huts.

I would love to know if you have been to any of the above, what your favourite countries are, and where I should travel to next??

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