“Are you looking for workers?” asked a weary looking couple at a guesthouse/restaurant in Koh Rong, Cambodia. “Not at the moment” was the reply from the offbeat Italian owner, and on they went. I heard this conversation twice in the 5 nights I spent there. I wanted to get to the bottom of why she was turning down free labour, as everyone else on Koh Rong seemed to be lapping it up; in pretty much every bar and guesthouse I saw travellers happily plying their trade.
Travel Playlist: A Musical Journey Around the World
One of the things I love about travel is getting onto a bus (or train) headed somewhere new, putting my headphones on and watching a new world go by. It’s the sense of freedom I imagine someone in the throws of a midlife crises feels when he hops into his newly purchased Porsche, cranks the stereo up and hits the road.
Music has been a big part of my travels, and everyone loves a good playlist! If you need some travel inspiration, check out these songs about (or sometimes just named after) places around the world. Click on the title to listen to the song on YouTube or just watch the whole playlist below.
Climbing the Lion Rock in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Take monkeys, a huge rock, ruined palaces and a patricidal king, and what do you get? It could be the premise of a new movie starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, or it could be the Lion Rock in Sigiriya. While that movie does sound pretty cool, the experience of climbing to the top of the … Read more
The Perils (and Perks) of Getting a Haircut in a Foreign Land
The Perils:
They might forget to cut one side
Maybe the guy had been having a few beers, or hairdressing wasn’t really his passion in life, but still, getting half a haircut for the price of 1 isn’t such a good deal. This was in Singapore, and arriving home for the customary post-haircut mirror check was a horrific experience. In his defence, the haircut did cost about $3, so I couldn’t complain too much, and it didn’t look as bad as the above photo, from the TV show Nathan Barley.
Travelling to the Maldives? Spend a Day in Malé!
Walking the streets of Malé, I felt like I’d somehow slipped into another dimension: Everything was almost as it should be, but something felt off, like there was always a mystery waiting around the next corner. Just like an episode of Quantum Leap or Sliders, the atmosphere and feel of Malé is familiar but different, … Read more
Asdu Sun Island: A Mid Range Maldives Experience
Welcome to Asdu Sun Island, one of over 1000 tiny islands in the Maldives. The beaches are white, the colour of the water is mind blowing, and just like Shakira, what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in beauty. It takes about a minute to walk across the island, maybe 5 … Read more
10 Reasons to Teach English in Asia
Do you want to earn some money, see the world and escape your comfort zone? You should teach English in Asia! Here are 10 reasons why you should give it a go: You’ll save a lot of money Assuming you don’t drink it all away, chances are you’ll save a decent amount of money when … Read more
Are Kuang Si Falls the Best Waterfalls in Southeast Asia?
Yes. I could end this post right there and just point you towards the photos, but since I’ve already abused the photo essay phenomenon in a previous post, I’ll spin you a story about this wonder of Southeast Asia. Heading out onto the Laotian highway, with a faint idea of which direction I was going, … Read more