The Khmer Empire once spread its wings through much of modern day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as a small portion of Southern Laos. Siem Reap, and the world-class temples of Angkor, is the epicentre for Khmer ruins tourism, but some of the smaller sites scattered around the region are also worth a look. Wat … Read more
“Paradise Cave is a long way from here” warned the woman in the travel agency. We had enquired about renting bicycles to get there but she was adamant it was a bad idea. We did it anyway, as we don’t know how to ride motorbikes and we didn’t want to shell out for a tour. … Read more
Don’t you hate it when travel bloggers make wild claims about something being the “best” or “most beautiful” place in wherever? Surely they haven’t been to every vegan restaurant in Paris or every island in Thailand. You’ll see that I subtly phrased my own wild claim as a question, but in all honesty I can’t … Read more
Muslims, Jews and Christians once lived together peacefully in a city described by a famous Saxon poet as “The Ornament of the World”. That city was Córdoba, one of the grandest cities in Muslim Spain (Al-Andalus). Architectural gems from this enlightened period remain, as well as more recent Spanish buildings and even a relic from the distant past, when Córdoba was … Read more
I could hear the hum of a motorbike as it drew closer. I moved to the side of the road as it rounded the corner and came to pass me. It didn’t pass me though…it crashed in the soft bushes on the opposite side of the road. The driver and I both started laughing once … Read more
After a fairly relaxing February, I hit the road hard in March, travelling from the very south of Laos to the far north of Thailand. There were plenty of stops in between, and most of those stops included chances to witness some truly beautiful sunsets. Here’s a quick rundown of what I got up to … Read more
The Mekong River winds its way through Asia, from its source in the mountains of northern Yunnan Province in China to the very south of Vietnam, where it empties out into the South China Sea. One of the most scenic stretches of the Mekong is in southern Laos, and it was there that we decided … Read more
The night bus from Hanoi to Sapa arrived at about 3.30 am. Too tired to venture into the cold black abyss, I continued to sleep until dawn. By the time I left the bus a small gang of local Hmong woman had gathered outside, waiting for weary travellers to pitch their homestays and handicrafts to. … Read more