Travel came to me quite late in life, with a trip to Cuba in my mid-twenties, but that sparked a passion that has since become a huge part of my life. Since then I have been lucky enough to have lived for a year in Australia, learnt about ancient Rome in Italy, and enhanced my knowledge of tequila in Mexico.
However, when I first visited Indonesia back in 2018, it started a life-long love for the area. Seeing blue sulphur lakes in Dieng Plateau, wandering around the world’s largest Buddhist temple, snorkelling with wild manta rays near Bali, or seeing wild orangutans in Borneo — there is so much to discover in this diverse region.
Fast forward to 2024 and I am now working at Audley, with the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion of Southeast Asia with others.
![Audley specialist David](https://media.audleytravel.com/-/media/images/home/specialists/sea/david-wa/portrait_5x7.jpg?q=79&w=80&h=112)
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Q&A with David
![Mt Ijen, Java](https://cdn.audleytravel.com/350/249/79/15978454-mt-ijen-java.jpg)
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
At first, the idea of waking up at 11pm the night before and spending several hours hiking before having to put on a gas mask and descending into an active volcanic crater, may not have been the most appealing. However, seeing the blue flame phenomenon of the Ijen Volcano in Java, was one of the best things I've ever done. Not only was the experience a chance to a see a rare natural occurrence, the Balinese massage I booked myself afterwards was particularly enjoyable.
![Northern lights in Iceland](https://cdn.audleytravel.com/350/249/79/15975416-northern-lights-in-iceland.jpg)
Where would you love to travel next?
For me it has to be Iceland. I have always been fascinated by the Northern Lights, the hot springs and the culture. Being an avid follower of the strongman competitions, I'm also very curious to understand how they are all so strong.
![Female orangutan, Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo](https://cdn.audleytravel.com/350/249/79/1016710-female-orangutan-kalimantan-indonesian-borneo.jpg)
Your best piece of travel advice?
Being a specialist in Borneo, I would always recommend taking a pair of good quality binoculars with you if you are venturing into a nature trip. I did not take any along with me on my first trip, and it was a massive regret. Fortunately, my guide let me use theirs on several occasions, and I was blown away by how much more wildlife (birds, monkeys, insects such as butterflies…) that you could see.