Can I still do that?
For travellers with curious minds and overactive imaginations.
At some point on a muddy hill in Thailand, surrounded by twenty-something backpackers effortlessly bounding uphill while I concentrated mainly on staying upright, I found myself wondering what exactly I was doing there. Not because I didn’t want to be there. I did.
But I wasn’t the youngest, the fittest or the most adventurous person on that hill. I certainly wasn’t carefree. I was too busy worrying about slipping, falling and making a complete fool of myself.
Then I reached the top. It occurred to me that this wasn’t the first time I’d worried my way through an adventure. Somewhere along the way, I’d become a reluctant adventurer.
Welcome to Tales From The Road Ahead, a travel blog for travellers with curious minds and overactive imaginations. Here I share honest travel stories, practical advice and adventures from around the world through the eyes of someone who often wonders if she’ll cope, fit in or make it to the top, and goes anyway.
You’ll find glaciers, safaris, chaotic cities, group tours, comfortable adventures and the occasional questionable decision. You’ll also find plenty of pre-trip anxiety, because half the battle is often convincing myself to leave home in the first place. Come along and find out what happens when curiosity wins the argument.
More about me and what to expect from this blog
Latest adventures
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Smart spending in Thailand: the upgrades that are worth paying for
Thailand can be surprisingly affordable, but some upgrades make a much bigger difference than others. Here’s where spending a little more improves comfort, saves energy and reduces hassle—and where you can confidently save your money.
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Memorable places to stay in Thailand that are worth the detour
Comfort, character and unforgettable settings: these are the places to stay in Thailand that I believe are genuinely worth seeking out.
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Going to a Harry Styles concert with my adult daughter: practical tips, crowd survival and unexpected feelings
From ticket-buying battles and concert etiquette to earplugs and exceptionally well-dressed giraffes, here’s what I learned from going to a Harry Styles concert with my adult daughter.
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Erawan Falls: exhausting, humid and completely worth it
Erawan Falls is one of Thailand’s most beautiful waterfalls, but reaching the upper levels is far more exhausting than many travel blogs admit. Here’s what the climb really feels like, how difficult it is, and why I still think it’s absolutely worth visiting.
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Driving to Poland without a passport: a study in disproportionate panic
A forgotten passport, a rising sense of doom and several jokes about Polish jail cells: here’s what happened when I accidentally crossed into Poland without my passport, and what travellers in the Schengen Zone should know.
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The Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train: magical experience or sleepless night?
When my twenty-something backpacker daughter casually announced that she’d taken the overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, she made it sound wonderfully simple. You book a bunk, climb…
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“Will I fit? Will I cope?” The realities of travel in a non-whippet-shaped body.
Travel media would have us believe everyone hikes mountains at sunrise in matching linen sets while effortlessly carrying a 40-litre backpack. Meanwhile, some of us are wondering whether our thighs will fit in the safari jeep. If that sounds familiar, this post is for you.
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Can I still walk on an Icelandic glacier in my fifties?
If you’re 55 or older and wondering whether you can still safely step onto glacier ice, the answer is yes. With the right tour, preparation, and mindset, hiking a glacier can be one of the most rewarding adventures of your life—no extreme fitness required.
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A Chiang Mai cooking class: can I still be trusted with a wok?
A Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai, with a market visit, lots of cutting and stirring and a feast at the end.
Not sure how fast you want to travel anymore?
A short quiz to help you plan trips that feel enjoyable — not exhausting.