During the month of June I enjoyed a variety of what France had to offer. A French perspective of Paris, visiting a friend in the Alps and then moving south toward the Spanish border, to the edge of the Pyrenees for a volunteer project. I have not shared anything since I first stepped foot on …
From One Capital to Another
It’s a strange feeling, able once again to drink water from the tap, put toilet paper in the bin and stand in the rain without it burning my eyes. Hanoi leaves a lasting impression, encouraging you to take life less seriously, let things just happen, let irritations and challenges rebound from you instead of dragging …
Reaching the End of a Chapter
It has been nearly two months since my last blog post, as I have failed to feel inspired to sit down and share how my time has passed. It is not that nothing noteworthy has happened, on the contrary, I have had both a wonderful weekend at a local national park on a yoga retreat …
In and Around Hanoi
In a new vow to make the most of our weekends, to find enjoyable ways both to stay in the city and opportunities for short escapes, Laura and I have made a running start over the past two weeks. The first weekend of April was an adventurous one. I borrowed a motorbike from a housemate …
Koh Chang and Cat Ba – Tet Holiday Island Adventures
Not long after my arrival in Hanoi , Vietnam was celebrating Tet holiday (Lunar New Year). Everything was closing and many people were leaving town for a week. This resulted in two mini adventures I had not expected. The first, was spending just under a week in Thailand on Koh Chang island. A blissful retreat, …
A Resident in Hanoi
A couple of days after the peace of Taman Negara I was boarding a flight to Vietnam, returning to Hanoi, the starting destination for my travels three odd years ago. It was an odd sensation, feeling as though my journey had come full circle and, knowing the many changes that have occurred within during the …
Taman Negara
Taman Negara (possibly the oldest jungle in the world) is beautiful, secluded, free from noise pollution, wonderfully green… I think I need not say I fell in love and became more smitten every day! Here I faced challenges I had never come across before, crossed mental barriers doing so and met some great people, backpackers …
Pulau Penang
Pulau Penang, an island in the north west of Malaysia is famous for its food and the wide range of attractions it offers to tourists. The most populated area, also the most touristic, is Georgetown, the city on the east of the island closest to the mainland. I arrived feeling optimistic about the experiences that …
Ipoh
My stay in Ipoh was short and sweet. A forty minute search after my initial arrival in town had me staying at a reasonably priced hostel with beds including towel racks, charging points, free cold drinking water and a rooftop terrace from where it was possible to view the city, surrounding hills and wonderful sunsets …
The Cameron Highlands
I arrived in Cameron Highlands just after lunch and at first, it’s fair to say I was a little disappointed. I’d created a picture in my mind similar to where I had just left in Australia and of course, this was not the same. Instead, the touristic town where I would be staying was a …