Inspiring you on your own journey . . .
The chilly late-morning air of Dotonbori cuts through your heavy winter jacket. The smell of grilling king crab legs keeps your spirits up as you stumble through the promised land of fried Osakan cuisine. Takoyaki vendors call you to their octopus caricature decorated stalls with persuasive pitches. Huge neon signs that are famous throughout Asia […]
Your tired workhorse trudges slowly along the bank of the Irrawaddy. To your left and right, spires peek out from behind trees that are somehow still green in the dry dusty heat of the Burmese plain. The road is flanked by zedis (stupas) and as you near an ancient tumbledown city wall, your driver stops […]
The colourful wooden framed songthaew bounces you along the road. The splintered and worn army-style benches in the back bash your bones and bruise you a little on the short ride from the new town to the ancient. As your journey takes you out of the unremarkable small city you head to a much emptier […]
Strolling along what could be mistaken for a seafront, were it not for the bank on the other side, you move away from the centre of the sleepy capital city. Vientiane doesn’t seem like the major city of any country, but here in Laos, it is what passes for the height of cosmopolitan. It’s a […]
Since the dawn of civilization, humans have felt compelled to raise structures to their gods. Before this, they modified things in nature and worshipped Mother Earth. This chain of events explains the development of votive structures. Starting with simple offerings placed in nature, places of worship evolved into small shrines, then large stone structures and […]
Spotting a standout on the spire studded horizon, you anticipate what is coming. Your cart driver encourages the tired looking horse by gently cooing her name. The rutted sandy track resists the traditional wooden wheels of the buggy as the horse strains to haul you towards the gold painted target of your trajectory. The bouncing […]
The river ululates and flows in a pregnant torrent. The brown water is fierce and powerful. Small fishing boats fight against the rush of water to get to the best spots. The tropical flora grants you some shade as you look out across the river from one country to another. The Mekong River runs through […]
Your xe ôm (motorbike taxi) flies through the ancient streets of the Old Quarter passing hawkers trying to pass off nylon as silk. The narrow streets are disorienting and you feel like you have been taken up in a whirlwind. Breaking through to a more open space you approach a large body of water. To […]
The dense jungle swaddles your tuk-tuk as it hobbles along time-worn dirt tracks. The beauty of your surroundings is astounding. Every nook and cranny seems to hold hidden secrets. Occasionally a red sign pops into view informing you of the danger of stepping off the path. The whole area was a mine field during the […]
The road from Ubud snakes through the sweltering jungle. Tropical flora flickers past your eyes as your car tunnels through the humidity. The sun splinters through the canopy and makes tiger stripes of shadow on the tarmac. Your driver is a little skittish. He has been informed by his boss that the police have set […]
