Sitting at my desk job after recovering from major surgery and reflecting on my life and career, I made a quarter-life-crisis (though some have coined it the opposite of a crisis) decision to spontaneously book a flight to Bangkok, Thailand. I had no plans and no idea what to expect. I’d always been interested in visiting Southeast Asia, and Thailand being known as the most LGBT welcoming destination in Asia made it an easy choice.
My solo experience in Thailand was transformative to say the least. I came home with a renewed desire to see more of the world and to help others do the same.
Since joining the team at Audley, I’ve had the opportunity to extensively travel both Australia and New Zealand. This has turned my hobby of planning unique experiences for my youth group and my own personal journeys into a gratifying and exciting career, and I can’t wait to plan your next adventure.
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Q&A with Peter
What’s the best local dish you’ve tasted?
Food is arguably one of the most important things about international travel. Something that you’ll notice quickly in both Australia — but especially New Zealand — is bakery cases full of savory flaky treats such as sausage rolls and miniature hand-held pies. The small town of Farlie, New Zealand is home to Fairlie Bakehouse and their signature salmon and bacon pie. One bite in and I understood why people drive for hours to get them fresh out of the oven.
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
While walking through Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand I was stopped by a local man who pointed at me, ‘You, you are American?’ I figured this was going to be some sort of scam, so I slowly walked on responding, ‘Yup, I am.’ But excitedly he reached out his hand for a handshake — which is very unlike a Thai person to do, as handshakes aren’t part of their culture — and exclaimed to me that his son must be about my age and was at university in New York City. He went on to tell me all the things his son has done in the United States since leaving home, and it struck me how proud he was of his son, and to be able to give me a firm handshake. These small things one can take pride in are what keep us all going.
Your best piece of travel advice?
It’s common for anyone to want to see all the iconic sights of their vacation destination — and both Australia and New Zealand have enough wonders to fill multiple trips. My advice would be to determine what is most important to your experience, and to spend more time than you might first think in each area to really be able to say you have covered it, instead of feeling like you’ve only seen it from a distance. While doing it all can be possible, it can be quite stressful constantly being on the go — the last thing you want is to feel like you need a vacation from your vacation. Australia is roughly the size of the United States, with destinations far apart — and while New Zealand may appear small, roads are small and winding, creating much longer drive times than you may think at first. Considering these factors from the start will help to ensure an exciting and memorable journey.