Tag: Asia
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Laos, Part 2: Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane
Luang Prabang Arrive at nightfall in the town of Luang Prabang. Our hotel awaits us on a quiet side-street. Polished wooden floors and wooden stairs gleaming within and a pleasant little outdoor area in front with chairs and pinkish flowers on tables. Welcoming sort of place. A tidy walk from the centre though. Several of…
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Laos, Part 1: The Mekong River
Considering that I have been up for a substantial number of hours from the morning’s first blush, the mood is sparkling. First an early breakfast overlooking the Mekong from Nam Khong Riverside café on the Thai side of the border. So early that the sun still reflects orange in the river. Having spent much time…
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Thailand, Part 2: The Bridge over the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi
Valentine’s Day. Not exactly a romantic outing planned for today, more of a sad, sombre and thought-provoking one. I am embarking on a tour to Kanchanaburi where the Bridge over the River Kwai is located, along with the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and the JEATH Museum. This will be followed by a journey along the infamous…
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Thailand, Part 1: Bangkok
I have often wondered what Thailand, called Siam until 1939, is like. I had heard tales of its splendid golden temples, white sand beaches and vibrant street markets. Some ex colleagues of mine have even bought apartments here. Once I went to a theatre production of the musical ‘The King and I’, set in Siam…
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Singapore
Singapore had been on my wish list for some time. I applied for a job there once but didn’t get it. Some friends were working in the country once but I didn’t manage to visit. All in all, a regrettable omission, which required rectifying. I am met at Changi airport by a mighty waterfall. Known…
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India, Part 3: Kerala
I am on a journey across southern India with my driver, Nishad, in a white Toyota. We have driven from Chennai on the east coast viewing the astounding temples of Tamil Nadu. The last of these was the holy temple of Meenakshi Sundareswarar in Madurai. Time now to take the long weary road westwards towards…
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India, Part 2: Temples of Tamil Nadu and Land of the Chettiyars
Accompanied by my imperturbable driver, I am heading away from the Coromandel Coast now through unremarkable villages and busy roadsides. Hanging on branches of trees on strings are bunches of bananas or coconuts touted by roadside hawkers. An old man sits in front of his tiny hovel, and sleek black goats pick through the rubbish.…
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India, Part 1: Coromandel Coast, Tamil Nadu
India had not been on my radar particularly. But once rooted in my head, nothing could stop me from planning a trip there. You know how it is sometimes when the name of a country keeps popping up: a friend mentions she had a cracking time there, a documentary about said country appears on the…
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Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Part 1: Ancient Sites of Amman, Jerash and Petra
Jordan. The name has connotations. To some it means the Holy sites, for example, the River Jordan where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, and Mount Nebo from where Moses saw the Promised Land. To others it conjures up images of the rock cut tombs of the Rose City of Petra, built by the…