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[…]
When Chinese New Year 2012 came round, I found myself living in Hong Kong, my new home. It would almost have been too obvious to spend the new year at home in Hong Kong, and when I found out I had 8 days off work, it meant booking another trip. I toyed with the idea Read more about From Teaching in Yuen Long🇭🇰To Drinking in Manila, Philippines🇵🇭[…]
Having just stepped across the border into North Korea as casual as you like, it was time for a rare sight. Something that you won’t see often in your lifetime. The third highest national flag on a single flag pole in the world, FLYING HALF MAST. The reason? Kim Jong Il had just died. Read more about DMZ Tour Part 9: Flag at Half Mast, North Korea🇰🇵[…]