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Endings and Beginnings – Basho and Cesca return home from their adventures

2016-10-18T18:50:19+01:00

Endings are actually beginnings too. This is what I told myself as I sat in the tiny, oh so tiny, room in Osaka. It's one of those glass half empty [...]

Endings and Beginnings – Basho and Cesca return home from their adventures2016-10-18T18:50:19+01:00

Tsukiji Fish Market, Adventures in Sushi and the Edo-Tokyo Museum

2016-10-18T18:50:30+01:00

4am in Tokyo, Japan trickled around and we were ready to go. We skipped breakfast and headed down to the famous Tsukiji Fish Market. It opened at 5:30am and back [...]

Tsukiji Fish Market, Adventures in Sushi and the Edo-Tokyo Museum2016-10-18T18:50:30+01:00

China’s National Treasures – Pandas and the Terracotta Warriors

2021-03-29T11:05:20+01:00

Everyone loves Pandas and at the Panda Conservation Centre near Chengdu, China is probably the best place to see them in the world. Watching them reminded me of the [...]

China’s National Treasures – Pandas and the Terracotta Warriors2021-03-29T11:05:20+01:00

Yaks for tea and Tibetan Temples. Living the high life in Shangri-la

2024-06-06T16:59:50+01:00

"You have to imagine," said the man in broken English, "that this..." he gestured his hands at the view in front of us, "big lake... flood wide and deep... great water!" He broke into a wide toothy smile.

Yaks for tea and Tibetan Temples. Living the high life in Shangri-la2024-06-06T16:59:50+01:00

Gandhi

2016-10-18T18:51:02+01:00

Very little survives a man’s death. I have commented before that most of the “Great’s” from history did not write much down for themselves and Gandhi is no different. For [...]

Gandhi2016-10-18T18:51:02+01:00

Shimla mountains and a happy meeting

2016-10-18T18:51:17+01:00

When you travel through a country, especially if you are using a published travel guide, you are walking a well trodden path. Indeed maybe a thousand people are doing it with you simultaneously. This has a very strong effect over time, as more and more guest houses start catering only to the backpacker and spring up all along the route, which had myriad knock-on effects. Such as: taxi services who know the guide books better than you do and hordes of travellers at ever corner all "experiencing" the local atmosphere; all the time failing to realise that they are in a "bubble" like a Disney theme park ride.

Shimla mountains and a happy meeting2016-10-18T18:51:17+01:00

Jodhpur

2016-10-18T18:51:28+01:00

Cesca left me snoozing in our room and went out to the roof top café/restaurant to take some photos of the city. The city is blue, blue of the Brahmin [...]

Jodhpur2016-10-18T18:51:28+01:00

It Shouldn’t Happen to a Backpacker: The Moth Story

2016-10-18T18:51:34+01:00

As a traveller you know, and even expect, the unknown to occur. You want this; for some it’s the whole point of leaving their home in the first place. It’s usually to do with the fun stuff like walking the Great Wall, eating Sushi in Tokyo Fish Market or jumping off a bridge in New Zealand with only an elastic band to prevent your death.

It Shouldn’t Happen to a Backpacker: The Moth Story2016-10-18T18:51:34+01:00

Udaipur

2024-06-06T17:03:29+01:00

Udaipur is famous for many reasons. To those in the west it is mostly known for its gleaming white Jag Niwas hotel found in the [...]

Udaipur2024-06-06T17:03:29+01:00

Bodh Gaya Part 2 and onwards to Sarnath

2016-10-18T18:51:47+01:00

Eating food in India is no joke. On one hand there are high-end coffee cafes that have prices that could only make sense to the gainfully employed. High-end coffee needs to be carefully metered out as it is too comforting and familiar a western experience to eat in such a cafe. Not only does it take you away from your local-encounters in this mighty country, but also takes a large amount of Indian coin from your purse and that directly affects how much you have to spend on the fun things.

Bodh Gaya Part 2 and onwards to Sarnath2016-10-18T18:51:47+01:00

Mysore

2016-10-18T18:52:11+01:00

In India, catching a tuk tuk and negotiating the fare – or even the simple existence of the destination – is a national pastime. Not one driver, in three months, took us where we wanted to go without comment, argument or an all out fight. At first, this grates on the nerves and then you cant help but be brought down by it. Then you feel victimised for being western and (relatively) rich. You start to think that they are all out to get you personally. However, it is none of these; it is an official sport. Take it as a sport, a sparring match, and you suddenly find it fun.

Mysore2016-10-18T18:52:11+01:00

Goa: The Beach Life

2016-10-18T18:52:20+01:00

I lay on my back and tried to relax. The sound of rolling waves crashed back and forth in the distance, which helped. However, the sun was beating down, heating [...]

Goa: The Beach Life2016-10-18T18:52:20+01:00

The Ellora Caves

2016-10-18T18:52:20+01:00

One of the unique things about India, and one that you never quite come to terms with, is the trains. I would even go as far as to say that [...]

The Ellora Caves2016-10-18T18:52:20+01:00
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