Articles written by Justine Southwick

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About me - Justine Southwick

Justine is a highly trained and experienced journalist who writes about a range of topics but specialises in travel.

Her first overseas trip was to Australia when she was five. The travel bug firmly caught, she had no option but to continue. Now in her 30s,

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Self-realization: 2 of 71
I'm going through a self-imposed exile from the dating world at the moment. After many years of jumping from one man to the next, trying to be everything to each of them and forgetting who I was in the process, I've decided enough is enough. I'm thoroughly enjoying my own company and am really happy being on my own. It's abo... More..
Travel > Asia Travel experiences: Asian adventures: 3 of 36
Cows with vicious-looking horns munch contentedly on grass in their owners' tiny yards, children wearing the traditional clothing of their hill tribes run laughing in our wake, and a haze lingers over the rice paddies in the valley, lending the area a mysterious air. I'm in Sapa (Sa Pa to the locals), a chilly, French-influen... More..
Travel > Destination Guides (Other) Travel destinations: Your home town: 4 of 27
It's a clear day in Rotorua and, driving into town from the northwest, Lake Rotorua glitters as the winter sun hits it. It's good to be home. Winter brings many such days to Rotorua, and it's a great time to visit. It's cold but, with steam rising from the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley contrasting sharply against the blue sky... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice What to know about traveling in the UK: 2 of 12
Planning an overseas holiday can be stressful and planning a working one can be doubly so. Aside from the big worries finding work and accommodation there are dozens of little things you need to worry about. Pick your travel agent carefully - one who's up to date with the latest visa requirements. There can be pitfalls s... More..
Travel > Asia Travel destinations in Thailand: 5 of 22
Kanchanaburi should be on everyone's must-see list when in Thailand.Close enough to Bangkok to be an easy day trip, Kanchanaburi is a quaint little town packed with history. It was here that, in WWII, the Japanese army forced its Allied prisoners to build the Bridge on the River Kwai, part of the Death Railway that joined Tha... More..
Relationships & Family > Online Dating Can you trust the honesty of online dating site participants?: 5 of 21
Online dating is pretty commonplace these days. I've tried it; so have a lot of my friends. People are busy, and not everyone wants to frequent the traditional places to meet potential partners.So to the dating sites they turn.Now, there are two sides to every story and I can see both. There are always going to be people on t... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Spiritual Insights Spiritual awakening: Thoughts shared: 27 of 104
I went to church yesterday for the first time in nearly four years. I've never been sure whether I believed in God or not. Despite going to an Anglican high school, a private school that demanded its students attend three morning chapel sessions a week, as well as once a term, religion wasn't something I'd ever given more tha... More..
Relationships & Family > Break-Ups & Exes Ex-love: The haunting nature of past relationships: 15 of 57
I had a text from my ex-boyfriend/best friend last Christmas. Six months since our break-up and not a word, and I get a text? Took me completely by surprise. I'd been contemplating dropping a Christmas card off at his place, because Christmas without him seemed so weird. I still didn't know if I wanted him back in my life bu... More..
Travel > Australia & South Pacific Travel experiences: New Zealand: 5 of 15
When a friend invited me along on a trek up Raglan's Mt Karioi recently, I jumped at the chance. After walking my first marathon, I was feeling on top of the world; no challenge could be too big. So I happily set out for the five-hour tramp, confident I could conquer this mountain I'd rarely heard of. But mountains aren't ea... More..
Relationships & Family > New & Old Friends My best friend's betrayal: 4 of 12
It's been four months to the day since my best friend and I 'broke up'. Used to sharing all the important stuff with him, I still find it inconceivable that he's out of my life.I'll start at the beginning. He (we'll call him Sam) met one night through friends at a bar. He'd just started work at the newspaper where I worked. H... More..