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
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
The Ma Pi Leng Pass is a part of the 22 km stretch of road connecting the towns of Dong Van and Meo Vac in Ha Giang Province, Vietnam. Most people hire a motorbike and ride the pass as part of the “Extreme Northern Loop”, but since I can’t ride a motorbike (and the winding roads … Read more
A very warm (and possibly fake) Columbia jacket An alpaca wool hat bought from an old woman in a market in La Paz, Bolivia An alpaca wool jersey bought from the same woman A thermal top (which I carried with me for over a year and never wore) After reading that little list you must … Read more
December has been my laziest travel month since finishing my teaching contract in Singapore back in April 2014. After a hectic year I needed a break, and choosing a place to be lazy (and get some work done) for a month was tough. I almost went down that typical travel blogger road – Chaing Mai … Read more
I spent over an hour at a travel agent in Hanoi. Not by choice, but because to get a good deal in Vietnam you really have to work for it. You can rarely take the first price offered; instead it becomes a game of Deal or No Deal, trying to inch out every last dollar … Read more