Travels in Nha Trang
Backpacking around Vietnam and getting down with the locals
A pack of Craven A’s sits on the tiny table in front of us, surrounded by a group of robust, aromatic Vietnamese Coffees, which stood next to their respective iced green tea partners. We all sit pensively, sipping our coffees and staring out into the Rung Duoc Bay at the sporadic marine activity.
Becoming a dengue veteran
Now we can trade war stories
Dengue fever is one of those things that I hadn't heard of previous to coming out to Thailand. It is the topic of cautionary tales of people being debilitated for weeks, plagued with a fever, unable to move. Nicknamed the Bone Breaking disease. Fellow teachers and expats who have been here for long enough each have their When I had Dengue stories akin to the Back in ‘Nam tales of an army veteran.
The world is full of great people
Postbox letter from Damien
Well, I was happily getting my connecting bus to the North when I realized that my wallet had gone - pick-pocketed. Now here's where real humanity kicks in.
Watching the pennies in Thailand
Keeping a tight hold of those purse-strings
Before coming to Thailand, I never thought it would be expensive here. After traveling in Vietnam, we arrived and I was aghast at our first night's attempts to find a cheap place to stay and all the while comparing the room prices here to what you would get in Vietnam.
A ticket to happiness
How saving bus tickets can save your day
In the past I never paid any importance to my environment. Whenever I rode buses, I would crumple up bus tickets. I would play with them like a ball, fold them into a paper plane and let them fly. Sometimes I would fold the ticket into a neat triangle and insert it into the back of someone’s seat. But I guess I’m not the only one who does this right?
No work, all play!
vacation time as an English teacher
There are many perks to teaching English abroad and my absolute favorite is the amount of paid vacation alloted to foreign teachers.
My Chiang Mai
People, places and events and all things Northern Thailand
I guess for my first blog I should talk about my journey to become a teacher in Chiang Mai. It started way back in 1990 when I travelled from Australia back home to the UK.
Biking blunders
Man and machine in not so perfect harmony
When a group of experienced motor-cycling friends suggest hiring powerful bikes to explore the beautiful Chiang Mai region and you know full well that you've never ridden a motorbike in your life, that crazy sense of adventure takes over.
Travel phrasebooks - blessing or curse?
Sometimes a phrase book can be the one thing you wish you had left at home.
I’ve been doing some travelling in China lately so I dusted off my travel phrasebook to make sure I’d be able to practise some useful language and not feel too alien in this country with more than one billion locals.
Ni Hao
Travels in South-west China
visited Southwest China for the first time some five years ago and was surprised how advanced and modern China had become. As a traveller, my first impression of China was quite positive.
