Random Travel #79 with Damo and Diarmo of Exploring South-East Asia and Oceania

Posted on 23. Jul, 2012 by Poi in Meet A Random Traveller

Welcome to round 79 of ‘Meet a Random Traveller’. The series dedicated to bring attention to fantastic people all around the world doing their thing.

Random Traveller 79

Damo and Diarmo, The Tiger Kingdom, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Who are you?
We are Damo and Diarmo, we’re from Dublin, Ireland. Our travel story dates back to April 2010. We were doing a masters together and one night we were having a few drinks when Diarmo said ‘hey do you wanna get out of here for 18 months?’. After a few drinks, it was an easy yes, it always is. ‘South-East Asia, Australia, yeh sounds amazing!’ The following day I woke up and groaned to myself. I didn’t really want to go anywhere, bit of a home bird back then. I will always thank Diarmo for really pushing me into it. We finished our Masters in September and on November 17th we packed our bags and flew to Hong Kong, on the brink of an amazing adventure.

What’s the deal?
The blog was originally set up to record the weird and wonderful stories that would take place on our travels. And to this day it has done us well as a travel log, but I think it also became an effective guide for other travelers. We weaved our way through Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand over a 4 month period. We then embarked on a year living in Australia. Much of the year was spent in Perth and Melbourne and to finish it off in style we travelled across Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. We had always talked of coming home to Ireland via North America. However, something called us back to South-East Asia. We had a brief but brilliant stay in New Zealand before returning to Thailand and Laos with some of our best friends.

Like us you’ve spent a lot of time in SE Asia but where is the number one place you would like to return to and why?
That number one spot is so hard to call in a part of the world which is truly inspiring. I would have to say as a country Vietnam was fantastic. We spent 40 days there and when leaving, it really felt like we were leaving a second home. From Sapa to Halong Bay, from Hanoi to Hoi An, this country is beautifully diverse in its landscapes, its cultures and customs.

The most beautiful sunset of our travels, Kho Tao, Thailand

If you could start your journey again would you change anything?
We spent only two weeks in Laos and two weeks in Cambodia and while we certainly saw some magnificent parts of each country, Luang Prabang and Siem Reap in particular, I know that there is much more to see further down the roads less travelled.

What’s the weirdest food you’ve tried and would you have it again?
I am a complete sissy when it comes to trying new foods. In Vietnam, Dog is a common dish. One night we dined at a fantastic restaurant in Hanoi and dog appeared at the table next to us. How did we know it was dog? it was literally cooked in its entirety, it’s angry face peering at us. I just couldn’t do it to a poor defenseless puppy!

Damo and Diarmo, Mount Cook, New Zealand

What’s the plan?
We arrived back from Thailand at the end of April and being thrown back into real life is certainly uneasy at first. It’s always good to come home and reconnect with family and friends. But traveling is an addiction. I don’t believe there is a greater rush than experiencing new cultures, trekking through new lands, meeting people from across the world. It’s going to be South America next for us in the next couple of years. And one day I truly hope the blog name ‘Exploring South-East Asia and Oceania’ will become ‘Exploring the Whole Wide World’.

A big thanks to Damo and Diarmo for taking part, great to have you.

Be sure to check him out:
Blog: Exploring South East Asia & Oceania
Twitter: @oceallaigher
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Tags: Meet a Random Traveller