The Happy Wanderer

Travel journalist. Photographer. Outdoor enthusiast based in Victoria, Canada. Get inspired to explore the world.

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Vietnam: Phu Quoc Island on a scooter

When I first read about Phu Quoc Island in a guidebook, it stirred up images of a wild tropical landscape virtually untouched by tourism. I pictured rustic beach huts scattered along miles of deserted white, sandy beaches swamped with palm trees. The warm turquoise water is calm and clear, providing endless hours of snorkeling adventures. Phu Quoc Island was the final stop of a three-week backpacking adventure through Vietnam with my best friend Lex. After constantly being on the move, it seemed like the perfect place to unwind before we made the long journey back to Canada. Located in the Gulf of Thailand 15 km south of the coast of Cambodia, Phu Quoc is Vietnam¹s largest island and less than an hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City.The majority of the land is dedicated to a national park and protected marine environment, so the island is relatively undeveloped, providing a good place for those who want to get away from it all and connect with the local people. ...

B.C. travel: Off the beaten path in Bamfield

Pachena Beach near Bamfield. It’s not easy to get to, but that’s part of the appeal. The first time I tried driving to Bamfield from Victoria in my Suzuki SX4, I turned around after 10 minutes. The 80-kilometre dusty logging road west of Port Alberni felt more like driving through a rocky farmers field, giving my poor little car a beating. Several months later, I returned to Bamfield by boat on the MV Frances Barkley after completing a short paddling adventure through the nearby Broken Group Islands. I had an hour to wander along the village’s boardwalk and get a feel for the place before the four-hour journey back to Port Alberni. All that experience did was make me want to come back since I knew Bamfield’s beauty lies beyond the village’s borders. Now here I was three years later, bouncing along the rough logging road that had previously forced me to turn around for the health of my car. I finally managed to convince a friend with a Nissan Xterra and heavy...

The towering cliffs of Iceland's Westfjords

Located in Iceland's Westfjords, the breathtaking Latrabjarg sea cliffs are the most western part of Europe. "Come on, just take my hand," says my boyfriend Chris. My legs feel weak. My heart is racing. I'm paralyzed with fear. "No that's okay," I say as I sink to my knees and choose instead to crawl cautiously to the edge of the cliff towering high above the churning sea. I peer nervously over the grassy ledge hovering 440 metres above the Denmark Straight. The waves below crash against the rocks in a fit of rage. I grip the grass nervously with my hands, hoping it will prevent me from rolling over the edge and falling to my death. "Oh don't be such a chicken," Chris says as he snaps endless photos. He isn't just standing near the edge of the cliff, he's on it, attempting to capture the perfect image. "I can't even watch you. It makes me uncomfortable," I say, as I slide away from the edge, ris...

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