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Low Island Great Barrier Reef I ended up in Byron Bay after a recommendation, but it wasn't really my scene. Full of people with dreadlocks sitting around campfires smoking weed and playing didgeridoos to drum and bass beats. Then there were the jugglers, fire spinners, and people who generally just looked like they needed a good wash. The whole thing was far too New Age for me. So I headed up to Brisbane, a cosy little city famed for its artificial beach . I'm not a gambling man, but the Treasury Casino is worth a visit because it's located in a gorgeous Edwardian-Baroque building and has a nightclub too. Next stop Noosa Heads. The YHA Halse Lodge there has a lot of character and friendly atmosphere. I enjoyed a comfortable stay. Noosa boasts a renowned coastal walking trail  from which you can take in the scenic views and watch the surfers, who flock into the area for the world-class surfing conditions. My final stop before heading inland was Port Douglas. The most

Coogee Bay Next stop was Sydney, where I passed the first day in the harbour and visited the Opera House . I only spent a short time in the city centre, which I didn't find nearly as attractive as Melbourne. So after a day, I went on an ferry trip to Manly before finally settling in Coogee Bay for a couple of weeks. The suburb is a world away from the centre. I passed the days sunbathing and swimming in Giles Baths , and the nights frequenting the many bars on offer. One night I ordered a round of drinks and was mortified to find I didn't have enough money to pay (I was about $8 short). The girl waiting behind me kindly paid the balance because it was quicker than waiting for me rustle up the funds from my friends. I thanked her profusely and she said I was welcome. It was a good night, well mostly. On the way home I was propositioned by a guy who pulled up in a car and offered me $50 to go for a ride with him. Luckily I was very close to home so I politely declined and

Flinders Street Station, Melbourne 2007 was the year I turned pro. A colleague had told me about Australia's Working Holiday Visa scheme so I applied for it. I flew to Melbourne via Singapore, and to this day Changi is my favourite airport. I was able to take advantage of the free city tour , but it was so humid that visibility from inside the coach was very low. I didn't take a single photo! My first few days in Melbourne were spent in the suburb of St Kilda . Strolling around on an exploratory jaunt I spotted Lucky Diamond Rich (he's quite distinctive so I knew 100% it was him). At the time I was really into getting tattooed, and had seen Rich in a magazine not long before. Star-struck I approached him and asked for a picture, he was friendly and we had a little chat. I told him he was famous to which he replied, "famous in me own back yard." From St Kilda I moved onto Melbourne Central  YHA . Another backpacker recommended the association's ac

Notre Damme cathedral I stayed at the Hotel Madrid Opera  close to the metro. The Paris Métro entrances are iconic, with many done in decorative Art Nouveau style and themselves worth a visit. I spent most of the first two days in the Lourve  and whilst the museum is impressive, I couldn't help feeling disappointed with the Mona Lisa (it's tiny and covered by a protective case). Looking back, I was fortunate to visit Notre Damme before it was later ravaged by fire in April 2019. It was serene to bask in the sunlight filtering through the huge rose windows . The modern Grande Arche de la Défense and surrounding area was another highlight for me. I took the elevator to the top, which offers great panoramic views of the city. On the final day I went on an excursion to the Palace of Versailles . Fortunately a friend had made sure I knew the correct pronunciation before travelling (ver-sy, and not ver-sales), which saved me any embarrassment when booking the trip. Unfortuna

Little old lady posing in Havana Cuba was mostly a relaxation holiday. Varadero's white sand beaches and cobalt sea were stunning and it was the first time I ever swam in the sea during a rain storm. Good food, plenty of Havana Club to drink, Cohibas and Romeo y Julietas to smoke whilst lounging in the sun. I got into the habit of dipping the cigar head in rum, but apparently the practice is frowned upon by connoisseurs. I took a two day excursion to Havana. When I arrived a sun-baked little old lady cajoled me into taking her photograph. She posed with a big cigar and toothless grin, and immediately after I had taken the picture she thrust out her hand demanding a fee! The trip included tickets to see a show at the famous Tropicana Club , where each table had a bottle of rum and two cigars. There were many people who didn't smoke or drink so I did the rounds collecting the excess bottles. I remember being quite sick that night. Follow @zacharia_uk

Giza Pyramid Complex Egypt was another Vampire Chronicles inspired destination. I stayed in the Mӧvenpick Cairo to be close to The Pyramids. The resort was the last drop for the airport transfer. I'd been talking with the travel rep en route who'd offered to show me somewhere decent to eat as he'd finished for the day. I was waiting to cross the road, adhering to the strict guidance of The Green Cross Code. He laughed at me and said that's not how it works here, "you just run." And that's what we did! Weaving through chaotic traffic comprising cars, trucks, mopeds, bikes, and donkeys drawing carts. The only thing missing was order. We ate kebabs, and when I got back to the hotel I booked a trip to the Egyptian Museum . I was to be picked up at 9:00 a.m. the following morning. The arranged time came and went with no sign of the tour operator, so I got reception to call the company. There had been some mix up and I'd been forgotten. But they were v

Bergen viewed from Mount Fløyen For my Norway trip I based myself in Bergen as it's the perfect place to start a fjord cruise. Even though this was my third country in a year, I was still a novice traveller. Before setting off I bought a brand new pair of hiking boots and hadn't done a single walk in them. I had zero outdoor experience. After riding the Fløibanen  then walking several kilometres I found myself on Mount Fløyen with a pocket full of money (I thought there'd be shops), but with no food or water, cold and with blisters on my feet. I survived, and the next day I took a cruise along  Sognefjord to Flåm . Most passengers then took the train back to Bergen, a journey which is said to be very impressive with stunning scenery. However, I was too scared and imagined myself getting lost without being able to properly explain myself in a foreign land. So I stayed with the ship and returned to Bergen through the fjord. With hindsight that's another of my t

The Colosseum, Rome. The first memory I have of Rome is queuing for ages to see the interior of the Colosseum and being very disappointed. Of course it's impressive from the outside but there isn't much to see inside, and what remains of the original structures did little to evoke imagery of gladiators battling tigers. Ridley Scott set the bar high. The Sistine Chapel was easily my favourite experience. At the time I was mad on Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles . One of my favourite characters was Marius de Romanus, who was born in Rome in 30 BC and lived to be over two thousand years old. Rice's vivid descriptions of his life in ancient Rome and passion for the arts got me interested in the city and Renaissance artwork too, so I was excited about seeing Raphael's School of Athens  (one of my favourite paintings). In the Vatican City I managed to tag along with a free guided tour and found the chapel breathtaking. The frescoes are exquisite and it was interesti

Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History. I started travelling as opposed to going on holiday in 2005. The difference (in my opinion) being the former is done more in the spirit of exploration and personal development, while the latter is primarily for relaxation. After reading an article about the iconic Flatiron Building  I decided to book a trip to New York. A friend and I spent a week there, in the Edison  located just off Time Square. On the first day we saw an immersive show at Hayden Planetarium  which took the audience on a journey into the outer universe, before returning to Earth and plunging under the ocean to explore the Great Barrier Reef. I was blown away, and remember turning to my friend to ask if he was enjoying it, only to find he was asleep! I've been to other planetariums around the world trying to match the experience, and so far nothing has come close. I also heckled a stand-up comedian. I can't remember the name of the comedy club, just