Blog
The curse of the mosquito (or being caught out by climate change)
The plan was straightforward: Pack bags, travel to remote valley, hike to virgin peak. Climb! So was the plan for my recent expedition into the remote Naar-Phu valley in Nepal, which came together on short notice. But just when you think its simple, it always turns...
Hiking to Everest Base Camp with a 6yr old & what I learned about the right mindset
Nepal, what a magical country- With delight my thoughts go back to my recent trip to this wonderful country. In April this year I found myself in the Khumbu valley (the area in northern Nepal which encompasses Mt Everest). The goal: To hike to Everest Base Camp...
A Mystery in the HK Jungle (finally solved!)
It’s a while that I have posted on my website – and I hope that my dear readers haven’t come to conclusion that procrastination or even early retirement had set into my life. Far from it – let me tell you more about my most recent expedition. An adventure that...
My Heroes
We live in very special times – all over the world specialists, professionals and volunteers are battling to keep our healthcare and the lifes our loves ones alive. One thing the COVID-19 pandemic makes us more aware of are the countless professionals all over the...
Breaking two World Records on crutches!
This morning the post brought an unexpected surprise: Two certificates acknowledging Esther and myself as new Guinness World Record (GWR) holders. A little summer project – visiting the major touristic sites of Belgium and the Netherlands in a day has been awarded the...
Taking Action – the Adventure Clean-Up
How far would you go to pick up some trash? Sacrifice your free Sunday? Rappel down a cliff face? Ever since launching the PollutionmapHK.com back in early 2018, there was discussion about what would be the best next action step. Mapping trash along Hong Kong Islands...
“The Loop” – finally launched
Some projects just take longer - just like great wine takes some time to mature, my latest film projecttook way longer then expected to complete. Countless deadlines were missed, scripts rewritten, missing scenes filled. But two years after Esther and me have held up...
Little Steps (or why recovery is just like an expedition)
Last week was “ground zero day”. The first time my right foot touched the ground since my accident back in December. And while it was just a tiny small step (I still need crutches to take most of my weight) it was huge leap for my recovery - despite the long way still...
Turning bionic
Monday, 17 December 2018 Beautiful blue skies are greeting Esther and me as we hike towards Sharp Peak in Sai Kung Country Park (Hong Kong). I have been fascinated by the peaks steep, rocky West Cliff since years and over the last year we have made multiple attempts...
What Matters To Me
In 2017, to my total surprise, I was featured in Tatler's Gen T List - according to the magazine the "definitive list of young leaders shaping Asia’s future." Last month the magazine showcased a portrait in its column: "What Matters to Me" Full article can be found...
Searching for T-Rex
As part of the Chapman Andrews Centennial Expedition I was searching dinosaurs in the Gobi desert. Our team used latest technology - infrared and hyperspectral imaging cameras that were deployed with drones to find new fossil sites. More than 100+ were detected - we...
The Wonders of Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum, a mythical area of sandstone mountain in midst the Arabian desert have fascinated me for years. I ended up there on a trip through Jordan and Syria back in 2005 with my good friend Armin. Sadly we had no time to climb any of the impressive rock towers This...
Adventures on Robinson Crusoe Island
The howling of the engine was overshadowing everything as Kevin pressed the throttle down – we were speeding with 30knots + towards the Hong Kong harbour. The owner of HK operation Zoomribs had kindly agreed to give us a lift to the tiny island of Kau Yi Chau, thats...
Hammerheads!
It was on my Dive Wish List for a long time - to see a hammerhead shark - this truly spectacular fish, in its natural habitat. These sharks with their very distinctive heads prefer strong current and can only reliable seen in a few places around the planet. Two...
Hong Kong Pollution Map – now live!!
Back in spring, when we set out on the "Round the Island" adventure we set our goal to create Hong Kong's first pollution map. 9 months later, having recorded 163 trash hotspots and having taken 51 water measurements - we finally present all the findings on:...
Our Adventure on RedBull.com
"Round the Island" is continuing to make news. Sending over a great thanks for the guys at Red Bull for featuring the adventure: https://www.redbull.com/au-en/coasteering-hong-kong
MISSION COMPLETED & but only the first step on a long journey…
So here the hard facts - over the course of 6 days we climbed more than 80km of coastline, we mapped 125 trash hotspots, we took 50 water samples, we faced black rain and lots of other challenges!! [gallery type="slideshow" columns="2" size="large"...
Latest Adventure: Round the Island Hong Kong
A long held dream of mine - to climb the entire coastline of Hong Kong Island, will soon come true. End of May I will start together with my wife, to a unique adventure that will see us coasteer - climb, scramble, swim, jump - around the entire 85km coastline of Hong...
Summit Success in the Alps of Tibet
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: The mountain ranges of East Tibet, part of Sichuan province, China, were described by the legendary Japanese explorer Tomatsu Nakamura as the “Alps of Tibet” and are considered as one the last frontiers of mountaineering. Inspired by his work...
Back to the Shangri-La
Last September I ventured with friends into a remote corner of Tibet (https://dev.neilmatthews.com/paulniel/exploring-eastern-tibet/) - it was an expedition into the unknown - we had no maps, no guides, no porters and literally no idea! It was an amazing trip, but in...
A journey of Zen
Its August - and with horror I realize that this forum has not seen a message by myself since almost three months. My sincere apologies! I (or better Esther and me) have however not been quiet- we have been travelling the world, meditated in...
Luck
Last week I talked in front of a group of finance professionals about achieving big dreams – I illustrated the story and my concept through my journey to climb Mt Everest - the highest mountain in the world and how it developed from the dreams of a...
Childhood Dreams
In the early morning of 8 August 1786 two tired Frenchmen ventured onto the summit of Mont Blanc – with 4810m the highest Mountain in Western Europe right on the border of Italy and France. Its white top, endless glaciers and rocky spires dominate the western end of...
“Three Wheeling” – straight from the Post
Last weekend the Post Magazine of the South China Morning Post, brought a feature about our India trip - I posted already some of the stories previously but hope its still a good read:...
It’s Diversity that drives Innovation!
Cordoba, these days a sleepy city in Southern Spain used to be largest city in the world. Around the turn of the first millennia Córdoba, which had fallen under Muslim rule became the capital of the caliphate Al-Andalus. Doctors, Engineers, Intellectuals from all over...
Make it Happen – Educating Girls reduces poverty
Last Sunday, March 8 marked International Woman's Day. This years theme was: Make it happen! In time for this event, my last project: Education Explorers, has released the trailer of the upcoming documentary about girl education in India – check it...
Education Explorers – we reached Jaisalmer but the mission has only started!
The misty fort of Jaisalmer, like a gigantic sandcastle rising out of the desert, marked the end point of our rickshaw journey. With its last breath of life, both vehicles managed to get over the finish line. It was with mixed feelings that we handed over the keys and...
2000km of potholes, crazy buses and quite a few sharp corners
Key turned, Choke on, clutch pulled, Neutral in, then a heavy pull (a very heavy pull) on the Lever! …. and off we go: In the last ten days Sofia, Phil, Clare, Tom and myself have travelled more than 2000km - through 6 six states of India, over tiny country roads and...
per Rickshaw through India…
Two weeks ago I posted about my upcoming adventure in India… Yesterday we finally started - after preparing, pimping and tuning our Rickshaw Clare, Tom, Sofia, Phil and myself are off - 3000 km from Cochin, Kerala to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Already, after having covered...
What a year… for Tim
Checking my Facebook Update the last few days I realised a lot of friends are posting their year… in photos. Now here is my opportunity to give a quick review for Tim. Tim arrived in my postbox exactly 365 days ago - to clarify: Tim is my...