You&meTraveling2

One volcano, two lava lakes. Ambrym, Vanuatu A few months ago, on a   Maya pyramid in the middle of the Guatemalan jungle , we met Sam Cossman, a young guy from the States who had done a crazy thing: Dressed in a special suit he descended into the crater of one of the world's most active volcanoes, Mt Marum on the island of Ambrym in Vanuatu. Since so long we've wanted to go to Vanuatu, that small pacific nation with lots of volcanoes and where, supposedly, the happiest people on earth live. Vanuatu has a lot to offer: Culture (what we know as bungee jumping is actually an old ritual called land diving, practiced on the island of Pentecost), nature, and volcanoes (the world's most accessible volcano, Mt Yasur, is a major tourist draw on the island of Tanna). That day on El Tigre pyramid in Guatemala however, was the first time we heard about Mt Marum. And, since it's much less known and much more difficult to access than Mt Yasur on Tanna, it's much more interesting...

Vanuatu Efate is Vanuatu's most populous island, has an international airport, and is home to the capital city of Port Vila. Port Vila may be the capital of Vanuatu but that doesn't mean it's a metropolis. Probably the only thing to do here - and that's a must-do! - is a visit to the central market. The produce is wonderfully presented, for the most part super cheap and there are some good eateries that serve typical Vanuatu dishes. For other activities than eating or shopping, it's necessary to leave town. Hideaway Island A short bus ride from Port Vila is Hideaway Island, a tiny private island and a resort. It's also a marine sanctuary and has really good snorkeling. Nothing comes for free in Vanuatu though, and the entrance fee to the island (the ferry to and from the island is free or, actually, included in the price) isn't cheap. But it's worth it; it's probably the best and safest snorkeling spot around Port Vila - the island is located in a tr...

Australia Rumor has it (at least in Europe) that Australian roads are straight as if drawn with a ruler. That's not true. What is true however, is that the roads are long and you can drive literally hundreds of kilometers without turning or stopping. From Darwin to Alice Springs You don't need a GPS on the Stuart Highway between Darwin and Alice Springs. It's almost impossible to get lost if you just stick to the highway. And it's easy to recognize: It's the only paved road. Which means that, unless you hire a 4WD, you're strictly not allowed to leave the highway with a rental car. That's a shame, really, because there are some great sights off the Stuart Highway which are only accessible by 4WD. Along the Stuart Highway there aren't that many places of interest, so we ended up driving the road in much less time than expected. However, there are still some worthwhile stops others than the necessary petrol station stops. Daly Waters Daly Waters is a very ...

Australia: Sydney and the Blue Mountains Contrary to what many people all over the world think, Sydney is not the capital of Australia. Nope. But it's Australia's most populous and probably the country's best known city. Who hasn't heard about Sydney and seen pictures of the iconic Opera House? Postcard pictures however, only show you one side of the story. We had to go and have a look ourselves. Sydney City Center Sydney is huge - over four million people live in this city - and, as you can imagine, there's a lot of traffic. It seems that the major roads are always jammed but away from those roads, in the suburbs, it's surprisingly quiet. We had the amazing opportunity to stay at a friend's place (thank you once again!) and to get to know Sydney a bit differently than most tourists. Unsurprisingly for a city the size of Sydney, the center is big. You walk, and walk, and get nowhere. A better and more relaxed way to get around and see the city from a differe...

Driving along the wild coast of Victoria, Australia The Great Ocean Road was built after WWI by Australian soldiers who had returned  from the war. They used picks and shovels to build a road along the rugged coast. Even at the time, their methods and equipment were considered outdated. Nevertheless, they managed to build the road (it was opened in 1932) that today is one of Australia's main tourist attractions. Beautiful Coast We drove the Great Ocean Road in September - spring time in Australia - and the weather was, well, mainly cold and windy although we did have a few sunny days. At that time of the year there weren't many tourists around. Still, the famous sites like the 12 Apostles got a bit crowded and it wasn't easy to find a parking spot (Chinese people always seem to be on vacation). The grotto Officially, the Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay and finishes in Allansford. However, the whole coast between Melbourne and Adelaide is beautiful and makes for a ...