Borobudur sits on the island of Java in Indonesia. It is quite simply the largest Buddha Temple in the world. So it just had to be seen…and it was of course included in my top 7 sights in and around Yogyakarta. We were on a full day tour of the area around Read more about Borobudur: The Biggest Buddha Temple In The World, Java, Indonesia[…]
Concentration Camps, Killing Fields, Battlefields, Prison Cells etc. all these places conjure up sad horrific images of course. But the fact remains, as humans we must love and respect each other. We must rise above regimes of mass murder, political violence, torture and genocide. BUT we must NOT forget the past. It’s important therefore Read more about Backpacking in Cambodia: Tuol Sleng – S21 Concentration Camp, Phnom Penh[…]
The three places that this report will be based on are Sheung Shui, Lo Wu and Shenzhen. All three of which are basically the border between Hong Kong and China. A busy border, and of course the closest border to where I live here in Hong Kong. I had never been to any of those Read more about Hong Kong To China Border: Sheung Shui, Lo Wu and Shenzhen[…]
I remember back in 2007 on my first visit to China how I tried to avoid eating dog and was actually a bit worried about it, in case it was sneaked into some random dish I ordered. However, having travelled a fair bit since, and returned to Asia a few times, including to live Read more about Friday’s Featured Food: Bosintang (Dog Meat Soup) in Seoul, South Korea[…]
So having been reunited with cousin Chris in May 2011 when I arrived in Singapore (for the second time), we had originally planned to go out for a few jars in the city. However my flight was getting in late afternoon so we gave the pub a miss and had a barbecue instead. I mentioned to Chris Read more about Thirsty Thursdays: O’Bama’s Irish Pub, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore[…]
Our ongoing day tour of central Java in Indonesia continued to delight. We were mainly focused around the city of Yogyakarta (which is also sometimes spelt Jogjakarta). Just after visiting the Sultan’s Palace, housed inside the Kraton (City Walls of the Old City), we arrived after a very short drive at the Tamansari. Which is Read more about Backpacking in Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia: Tamansari – The Water Castle[…]
Oh the joys of random travel, flight connections, transit visas, overnight stays and bonus visits to new cities, as Manila was for me on this trip. I flew by Jumbo Jet from Hong Kong, arriving late on a Saturday night, a day which had seen me work in Yuen Long, Hong Kong and meet girlfriend Read more about Backpacking in the Philippines: One Night In Manila[…]
My final few hours in Taiwan in 2009 ended in the same way as the entire Taiwan experience had been – sleepless. I shed a tear as I said goodbye to Millwall Neil outside a Korean Restaurant in a downstairs shopping mall in central Taipei. This was ironic in itself as Neil now lives in Read more about Goodbye Formosa: Leaving Taiwan[…]
Memories are emotional. “Saudades” as the Portuguese, Brazilians and Angolans say…that lingering, sentimental emotion associated with a place, a time, a person, people, a memory, which but for the invention of a time machine, WILL NEVER BE REPLACED. That’s a globe of planet earth above, one which I found on my first day in Shinying, Read more about Leaving Shinying (Sinying/Xinying) Behind For This Lifetime…[…]
Manic Street Preachers first came into my ears about 20 years ago, in 1992 when on a chance radio listen, I was enthused by their hit single “Suicide Is Painless” (Theme From M.A.S.H.). At the time I didn’t realise it was a cover version, nor knew anything about this band. As the 90s progressed I Read more about Manic Street Preachers – International Treasures: Tokyo, Japan🗾🇯🇵18.05.2012[…]