Five countries, multiple cities, a round-the-world routing, a hen party, and two weddings on opposite sides of the globe — all squeezed into three weeks, with flights booked just a fortnight before departure. This is what travel looks like when you stop waiting for the perfect moment.
The Route
The catalyst was a wedding in Australia. Rather than fly direct and fly back, the itinerary grew — as it tends to do. The final route took in Qatar (21 hours exploring the city), Hong Kong (steak, cocktails, Victoria Peak), Singapore (the world's largest indoor waterfall), and finally Sydney for the first of two celebrations.
- London → Qatar (21 hrs)
- Qatar → Hong Kong (26 hrs)
- Hong Kong → Singapore
- Singapore → Sydney (Wedding #1)
- Sydney → Tokyo → Kyoto → Tokyo → London
Sydney: Wedding One
Sydney delivered on every front — the Opera House, a dinner riverboat cruise for a special anniversary, and Taronga Zoo. Then, just 30 hours after landing, came a five-hour drive to climb Australia's tallest mountain, Kosciuszko, for a hen party. Three guys, four girls, 18km of hiking, snow, wind, rain, hail, and fireball shots. Not your typical hen party — and entirely unforgettable for it.
The trip continued to Bundanoon for the wedding itself — tears, laughter, and everything a celebration should be.
Japan
A red-eye from Sydney to Tokyo, then the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Two days planned; three days spent. Temples, bamboo forests, monkeys, and the best tempura at 10 10 10 had a way of making the schedule expand. Back in Tokyo, a last-minute booking at a ryokan with outdoor bathtub views of the Sky Tree. Matcha runs, temple visits, omakase dinners offset by daily 7-Eleven hauls — the quintessential luxury-on-a-budget approach in practice.
The Shibuya Crossing, the Golden Gai District in Shinjuku, and a direct flight home to London closed out the journey.
Wedding Two
Back in the UK, the adventure wasn't quite over — five suitcases, three rucksacks, two handbags, and a car full of friends heading to wedding number two. Old stories, new connections, and a well-earned early night brought three remarkable weeks to a close.
The Takeaway
Last-minute bookings, flexible routing, and a willingness to say yes to the unexpected — that's what makes travel memorable. Five countries, two weddings, a mountain hike, and omakase dinners don't require a year of planning. They require curiosity, adaptability, and a good deal-finder.
