Tag Archives: solo travel
Spare change will not save the life of a child
A woman wearing a large sun hat pulled her small speed boat up to the side of the longboat we were on. She stared at me, pointed at her child, and out with monotony, “one dollar.” Her words were echoed with the same monotony by her two children in the boat, a moaning, almost crying […]
The way to see the true Cambodia
When you first meet Channa, she will tell you that she is not a good Cambodian woman. She says that she talks too much, is too noisy, and she walks too fast. Indeed, not a good, traditional woman at all; one who is expected to be reserved, demure and compliant at all times. Women in […]
Blitzing round on the bikes
I watched as the fourteen traditional longboats made their way along the Chao Praya, nearly thirty people on board each one, all dressed in the same colour on each boat; a bevy of pink, orange and blue rowing in unison down the river. The chanting became clearer, a song specifically for the King to be […]
A farewell in Bangkok
The days after a night of rain and storms are the hardest in Bangkok. The air is thick, heavy and soup-like and the sweat rolls off your skin, regardless of whether it’s the middle of July or December. Trust me, I’ve seen both. The heaviness of the air was probably felt double because of the […]
Words of Caution: On Teaching in Dubai
In the past, I’ve written about an average weekday as a teacher in Dubai, and noted that it wasn’t really all that different from one in Australia. There’s teaching, a brief break for the internets, planning and wandering about chatting to colleagues. You get to work with a wondrous variety of students, tapping into a […]
How much can you eat in one sitting?
Brunch. Not quite breakfast, not quite lunch. That’s how I learned it when I was young. It was that kind of event that you had to skip your breakfast for – a time where I would develop from hungry to ‘hangry’, as I don’t like to be kept from my food. You would gather with […]
How My Solo Travels Are Different
I’ve travelled a few times without Andrew now. My first post from this India trip shows you how far I’ve come in being able to manage the perils and joys of travels as a solo female, and in the meantime, I’ve made a few observations about my own habits while I am sans fiancee. Some […]
Do It Again, Just One More Time
My time here in Mumbai is rapidly coming to a close. I made my way to most of the places I wanted to see today, leaving off the art galleries for tomorrow, so I get home smelling at least a little tolerable, thanks to the wonder of air conditioning. There was only one more place […]
Not Another Paneer Makhni
Let’s get this straight from the outset; Indian cuisine is not my food of choice. I’d much rather take up some South-east Asian delights or Arab food any day. On my last school trip to Mumbai, there was absolutely no choice in what I could eat, and we were regularly plied with buffet-style Indian dishes […]
And Not an Elephant in Sight
Warning: This post is not a positive one; it portrays a popular Mumbai tourist attraction in a fairly negative light. If you do not wish to go to Elephanta Island with preconceived notions of what you will find there, stop reading. If you want to hear about monkeys and stupid tourists, read on. It’s also […]
While the City Sleeps
Flying into Mumbai at 4am is actually quite charming. The flight itself is a nightmare, with its token noisy, intoxicated Westerners, screaming children, and mothers who are louder and more annoying than their children in their attempts to silence them. The decision of whether or not to sleep from the 11.30pm departure is a tricky […]
Check In For One
I have a love/hate relationship with the long Summer break. I love the prospect of it: I love the relaxation, rejuvenation and recharging that my body gets as school’s pressure is relieved. I love the new adventures ahead, and I love being able to sleep in, eat whenever I want and generally dispose of the […]
