Ms Jet Lag is a strange creature. She creeps up on you at strange moments like just after you’ve downed a double double expresso Americano. Hey – what the hell was that? I am loaded up with caffeine…. back off already! Oh but she’s a determined dame. Before you know it waves of fatigue are… Continue reading The seductive powers of Ms Jet Lag
Category: Asia
Sticky rice in Saigon
Well I thought I had seen it all in Hanoi; streets packed with motorbikes, traffic lights a mere suggestion, pedestrians with nerves of steel. Take all that and multiply by 10 when you arrive in Saigon – or Ho Chi Minh City as it is now officially called. Rush hour is crazy and don’t think… Continue reading Sticky rice in Saigon
On our way to Saigon
As we wait in the lounge onboard the Amalotus I have been going through my photos. I love reliving the days we have enjoyed so far and remember the highlights, like the Tai Chi on board our junk in Ha Long Bay early in the morning, or meeting one of the hill tribe people at… Continue reading On our way to Saigon
Killing Fields
A visit to the Killing Fields of Cambodia and the infamous S21 detention centre is not a pleasant experience. It is traumatic. It is upsetting. It is incredible how again and again these atrocities occur – despite the fact that we believe we learn from history and recite the mantra – Never Again. The… Continue reading Killing Fields
Phnom Penh’s best dry martini
Sipping a dry martini in the roof garden bar of the Foreign Correspondents Club in Phnom Penh I could not help thinking back to what it must have been like in ’93 when Cambodia opened its doors to foreign journalists and diplomats. The country had been through hell and the FCC as it became known… Continue reading Phnom Penh’s best dry martini
Contrasts of Cambodia
We have cruised overnight across Tonle Sap lake and are now on the Tonle Sap river. Recent floods have widened the river which is dotted with floating hyacinth, stilted houses and the odd small island. We disembarked this morning to visit the floating village of Kampong Chhnang by small motor boat. As we cruised the… Continue reading Contrasts of Cambodia
Ooodles of Noodles
I am not an adventurous eater – heaven forbid I should ever get invited to participate on Survivor or the Amazing Race. I just couldn’t do it. I can see that I would totally let my team down by not being able to scarf down fried grasshoppers or live bugs. I was therefore a bit… Continue reading Ooodles of Noodles
Junking in Vietnam
Junk – the word has bad connotations for North Americans – so the idea of spending a night on a junk in Ha Long Bay was received with mixed feelings. “Don’t worry”, said Huy our guide “You will have a soft mattress and a small private shower.” In fact what we had was a beautiful… Continue reading Junking in Vietnam
Shop till you drop – your pants……
Girls just love shopping – so when my sister arrived to join me in Hanoi it was a given that we would hit the shops. Well this is a little different to heading over to Chinook Mall for a dose of retail therapy followed by a Vente skinny latte. Nevertheless we knew what we wanted… Continue reading Shop till you drop – your pants……
Zebras in Hanoi
….. as in crossing that is. Our guide was very specific about instructions for negotiating the streets of Hanoi. “Always cross at the zebra crossing. Once you start crossing the street keep going but slowly. Do not run. Walk slowly so motorbikes will have a good chance to avoid hitting you.” Now that’s pretty good… Continue reading Zebras in Hanoi
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