Ever wondered what it’s like to explore the wild beauty of Darwin with your own personal tour guide (who also happens to be your sister)? From sweating your way through tropical humidity to swimming with turtles in thermal springs, this trip had it all. Think crocs snapping at your boat, ancient rock art in Kakadu, and a sunset so stunning it made a crowd of strangers clap. Join me as I recount my unforgettable adventure in Australia’s Top End, complete with crepes at 1 AM, a jump-scare from a crocodile, and a whole lot of laughs along the way. Spoiler: my sister is basically a travel legend now.

The final stop on my European adventure - Naxos! This island, located in the Cyclades of Greece, turned out to be my favourite destination among all the places I've visited (I know I've probably said that about all my stops). There was something extraordinarily beautiful and laid-back about Naxos. Everyone appeared to be in a state of relaxation, the locals were abundant, and the island itself was a natural marvel.

I've been on the road for a month now, and Santorini welcomed me with open arms as the place where I decided to indulge myself. As you might have seen in my previous blog post, this marks my thirtieth country, and I'm going all out to celebrate. Just like others celebrate the birth of a baby or their wedding day, I'm celebrating my journey around the globe - specifically, visiting thirty countries. What a bloody achievement!

I won’t bore you with a checklist of thirty things to do before turning thirty. Although I, myself, have that exact list tucked away in my notes app. Instead, I’m here to share a reflective celebration of my journey, one that’s taken me to incredible destinations around the world. I set a goal for myself — to experience thirty countries before my thirtieth birthday. As I landed in Santorini, Greece just over a week ago, I realised that I had achieved this dream.

Zagreb, in many ways, resembled a miniature Prague, boasting a compact, pedestrian-friendly layout, expansive main squares, and architectural similarities. If I'm being entirely honest, as this European adventure unfolds, the cities are beginning to blur into one another. Each place even seems to host the same types of stores, and all they seem to eat in Europe is meat, potatoes, and desserts. I’m certainly not complaining about the latter…

The journey from Budapest, Hungary to Ljubljana, Slovenia was the longest, an 8-hour train ride to be precise. Amongst all my 2, 3, and 4-hour train rides, this one seemed daunting. Once aboard, it became even more daunting as I quickly realised that this train didn't have any of the facilities that all my previous trains had, such as a cafeteria to grab lunch. So, I had eight whole hours to endure with just a small bottle of water, a packet of cheese sticks (like pretzels), and a mini block of hazelnut chocolate…

If you read my last blog post, you know that I've been battling an illness lately. It hit me in Bratislava, Slovakia and has persisted, casting a shadow over my stay in Budapest, Hungary. However, fear not, for I managed to summon enough strength to explore some sights and engage in a few low-key activities. I attribute this resilience to a pivotal life decision: opting for a private room (rather than a bed in a dorm) for the three nights I spent in Budapest. It provided the peace and space I needed to rest and recuperate.

Here I am, lying in a bed somewhere in the vicinity of Hungary, Slovakia, or Slovenia. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure where I am at the moment because, well, I'm sick, once again. For those who know me well—my closest friends, family, and even my colleagues at work—this isn't an unusual sight. But for those of you who don't know me as intimately, I've been grappling with illness for quite some time, although it tends to come and go.

Oh, what a journey it was to get here, but Prague has rewarded me with an unforgettable adventure. If there's one piece of advice I'd offer to fellow travelers venturing through Europe by train, it's this: always, without exception, book a seat reservation. I had heeded this advice, luckily, and secured a seat for my four-hour journey from Berlin to Prague. However, the train was a chaotic scene, with many passengers standing in the aisles or perched on their suitcases in any available nook. It was a lesson in preparedness.

The train journey from Amsterdam to Berlin kicked off with a bit of a hiccup, as my train had a late start, causing me to miss my connecting ride. Fortunately, I found myself on a train bound directly for Berlin and decided to stay aboard in the hopes that no one else had reserved my seat. I struck luck, and made it to Berlin without any further hassles. Berlin marked the first city on my European adventure that I hadn't explored before, and I can't emphasize enough how eagerly I anticipated this leg of my journey.

On Monday, I embarked on a short train journey from Paris to Amsterdam. Seated next to a Parisian businesswoman, the trip was a breeze. As the train doors swung open, a flood of memories from 12 years ago rushed through my mind. But first thing was first, I needed to get my luggage to my accommodation. I decided to take a leisurely stroll, taking in the city's sights along the way. Little did I know that navigating a suitcase over cobblestones for a three-kilometer stretch would be such a workout.

As any Australian or New Zealander will attest, embarking on a journey to Europe is no small feat. The arduous trek typically demands a minimum of 23 hours in transit, factoring in the time spent traveling to and from airports, not to mention any extended layovers. Thus, for those well-acquainted with this adventure, touching down in Paris after enduring a 30-hour journey last week was a sight for my tired eyes.

The days are long, the golden alcoholic juices are flowing and the the end of 2019 came and went. It’s 2020 now; are you feeling overwhelmed? That’s okay, don’t stress out, just be you and let yourself be ready when you can be. Here’s a minuscule paragraph of my own thoughts on the new year and just a wee bit of what I did to close off Chapter 2019.