Every backpacker has a special relationship with their backpack. Packing it and repacking it becomes somewhat of an art after those weeks and months, with each item in its own special place, and a million ideas on how to improve the packing system. Here is my list of things I would optimise for next time. Obviously, this … More What to pack for a year or travel (and what not to)
The banana pancake trail: a nickname given to the popular tourist routes through South East Asia, where foreign influence has shaped that place to cater for foreign taste (ie. banana pancakes for breakfast in Asia!).
It seems scary, applying for the Myanmar visa, with many rules and limits and strictures, just like ordering a soup from Seinfeld’s ‘Soup Nazi’. But don’t worry, it’s dead simple.
We were an hour too late. The market at Vinh Long took place on the waters of the Mekong Delta, the dramatic labyrinth of rivers, canals and islets that signal the end of South East Asia’s longest river, the Mekong. Boats heavily laden with fresh produce congregated near Vinh Long. But it was over.
Jeff and I were sunbaking under the hot Vietnamese sun, passing a large plastic bottle of clear liquid around the deck of the boat. Inside was tonic, with a considerable amount of cheap gin, and we were sharing it with the other passengers to celebrate my 26th birthday. What better way to celebrate than to … More Ha Long Bay – An Illustrated Visit To Vietnam’s Limestone Karsts
I had been dreaming about visiting New York for a very long time, and I was bouncing up and down on my seat when the bus arrived at New York City’s Port Authority bus terminal. Just like a restless dog who just found out he was about to be taken for a walk, I couldn’t wait … More New York City: A First-Time Visitor’s Impression
I visited the amazing, stunningly beautiful Victoria Falls in Zambia a few years ago. Of several walking paths, one (the wettest) path led us across a narrow bridge just in front of the falls, basking in the rain-like spray as rainbows painted themselves against the furious rush of the waterfall with no end. Just epic. Niagara … More Niagara Falls Is A Disappointment
Stone sentinels stood on guard, their watch lasting nearly a thousand years. They growled with fierce monkey heads, armed with swords, helmeted and armoured in stone scales. Apsara, Angkor dancers, added their watch over the temples.
The trek begins We were in the mountains surrounding Chiang Mai in Thailand’s north. C had returned from a short stint in Malaysia, joining me in Thailand for another adventure. The first day’s hike was not for the faint of heart, and as the thin path reached up into the mountains, our knowledgeable, resourceful, and occasionally … More A three day trek in the mountains of Chiang Mai, through rain clouds and bamboo forests
It’s true that you meet a lot of new people when travelling. Especially when staying in backpacker’s guesthouses. I checked into my hostel last night and within a few hours had gone in thirds with a Dutchman and a German in a bottle of vodka, and after finishing it with the help of a few … More Feeling at home in a backpacker hostel
StickyMangoRice 