Category Archives: Travel
Saved from myself in Sapa
The difference in less than twenty-four hours was utterly astounding. As I walked, all I could hear was the rushing of water in the river beside me heading towards the crashing waterfall, heavy from the rains. I plodded, one foot in front of the other, in no hurry, savouring the sound of the rain hitting […]
Hanoi Downer
I’d felt weary before, when I was in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, and downright exhausted in Ho Chi Minh City, but things picked up from there and the photos kept churning, the smiles broadening and a whole lot of fun was had. However, in Hanoi, a feeling of deep depression took over. Despite my initial concerns about […]
Kayaks and chaos on Halong Bay
For the duration of my time on Halong Bay, I only drank a can of Coke. Ice cold, full sugar, and I didn’t even finish it. I felt nearly every bubble creep down my throat as I drank, absorbing the sugar but avoiding the very thought of anything else while my kayak partner dripped ice […]
The cold winds of the Netherlands
The sunset creeps through across from the Escher Museum, The Hague Ever since the incident in the cold of a Nepalese winter, all the way back in 2010, I’ve been monstrously afraid of the cold. I see low temperatures forecast, and I think of the icy saline solution pulsing through my left arm, cutting cold slices […]
The Next Generation of Travel Writers: Part III
A year ago now, I posted a piece of work written by a talented young man as the culminating task of learning about travel writing. Now, the time has come for my next phase of brilliant young minds to finish up their travel narratives*, and I have even more amazing experiences to share. I have […]
The Next Generation of Travel Writers: Part II
A year ago now, I posted a piece of work written by a talented young man as the culminating task of learning about travel writing. Now, the time has come for my next phase of brilliant young minds to finish up their travel narratives*, and I have even more amazing experiences to share. Not only […]
I really love the internet
A young girl sits sprawled across the carpet on her bedroom floor, a pillow under her elbows propping up her chin, and head tilted towards the open pages of the book. It’s her sixth book this week, and another library trip will soon be in order. She’s not too worried though; she has the special […]
Citadels, Imperial Cities and a Hefty Zoom
I’ll admit, the lens had been a little clicky of recent past, jamming up a little if I was swinging across its full range. I felt a little guilty for a few moments, knowing that my camera does not live in a case, but often lens cap-less and fancy free in my backpack. Sometimes it […]
Lunch with the local nuns
I peered into the rice soup, looking past the scattering of coriander to its thick texture. I spied sweet corn among the grains and spooned through, glancing at what I thought were the egg threads so commonly used to bind Asian soups. I waved-slash-flapped to my guide, calling him in for the fifty-billionth time to […]
Tailoring Time in Hoi An
I didn’t bank on visiting the tailor when I was in Hoi An. It was promoted as the place to have clothes made in Vietnam, but I had told myself that I was on an adventure, didn’t need the clothes, and I was looking ahead to stocking up on work clothes once I had returned […]
Mud baths and motorbikes
I’m not sure about you, but I’d never shared a bath with seven others before. I’d opted out of the onsen experience in Japan, ardently avoided the hammam in Turkey and generally try to make my bathing experiences a personal affair. And yet, there I was, with all these newly found travel companions, sitting in […]
Monday Moment: Spot the Accent
Coming from Australia, I have heard many an Australian-Vietnamese accent. A good number of Vietnamese citizens settle in Australia looking for a different, new and possibly better life, and so it was not unusual to hear that familiar twang. Even as our guide introduced himself, I had a feeling that much of his language development, […]
