Location

I'm sitting here in my little hotel room just off the main square in Cesky Krumlov in the south of the Czech Republic.

I've just finished a week of ''new leader training'' with Intrepid Travel. In a couple of weeks I begin my training trip from St Petersburg through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and across the width of China to Beijing. It is this, and the Trans-Mongolian that I will be leading other travellers on until November.

Because of time constraints I attended the training session with the European leaders, a great and diverse group of people. Any doubts I had about this job vanished the second I met these people and everyone else from Intrepid. All week I was on such a buzz hanging out with others that had such a passion for travel, culture and interesting cuisine.

During the day we filled our heads with knowledge about Intrepid, travelling, leading groups and scarier topics such as crisis management and accounts! In the afternoons we marvelled at the stunning Art Nuevo facades of central Prague. In the evening we bonded over a promptly served pivo or dish of food that came forcibly recommended by the waitress. Now I''m kind of sad. Such an intense experience with a group of people, most of whom I won't see until the end of the season, if at all. On the other hand I can't wait to meet the Intrepid crew that I will be doing trips with. Either in St Petersburg or Beijing I'm sure these guys are just as fantastic. I do miss everyone back in Oz. I hope to get back there by the end of the year. Either that or see you in Russia or China.