During my trip to Cape Town, the two day trips I had planned were for Robben Island and the Cape Peninsula. I didn’t realise that you could also do a safari from Cape Town in a day if you are pressed for time, but I have already been on a safari so that was not […]
Motorbike taxi comparison in Saigon (Xe Om, UberMOTO, GrabBike)
Ho Chi Minh City is famous for its motorbike traffic, which is not exactly what cites want to be famous for. For new visitors the swarms of motorbikes is one of the most noticeable features upon arrival. Once you get over the initial shock you will see that the bikes aren’t going too fast, drivers […]
Visiting the former apartheid prison of Robben Island
Cape Town has a range of museums and memorials remembering the era of apartheid. The most well-known symbol of apartheid is Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. Robben Island is about 7km off the coast of Cape Town at its closest point, and it has served as a […]
A list of the best cafes in Cape Town
On my trip to South Africa I spent two weeks in Cape Town which gave me enough time to visit the best cafes in Cape Town without getting over-caffeinated. I didn’t know what to expect so I was happily surprised to find a burgeoning cafe scene here. I was also surprised that there were no […]
Notes on Cape Town
Cape Town is a place I have been wanting to visit for years. I’ve read Cape Town as being described as a cross between San Fransisco and Sydney, and a few long-term travellers I know have called it their favourite city in the world. With such endorsements, I was curious to see what it is […]
Lake St. Lucia – home to the largest hippo population in South Africa
When it comes to the big animals of Africa the hippopotamus lives in the shadow of the Big Five: African lion, African elephant, cape buffalo, African leopard, and rhinoceros. The term “Big Five” was coined by game hunters for being the five most difficult animals to hunt on foot. It has since become a check-list […]
Ko Phayam: “like Pai, with a beach”
On my quest to visit some new islands in Thailand, I ended up at Ko Phayam; an island in the Andaman Sea in Ranong province, close to Myanmar. The most distinguishing feature of the island is that it is car-free. Apart from some tractors, the only motorised transport is motorbikes. The island has a network […]
Notes on Battambang
Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia and is considered the artist capital of the country. It also has one of the best preserved colonial quarters in Southeast Asia. It’s an easy-going city that gets relatively few visitors. It doesn’t help that it shivers in the shadow of the tourism goliath of Angkor Wat/Siem […]
Visiting the aircraft graveyard of Bangkok
In an unassuming suburb of Bangkok is an empty lot that has become small airplane graveyard. I have been meaning to visit this site on my last few visits to Bangkok and I finally got my chance when a friend organised a trip. The highlight of the this aircraft boneyard is a 747 which is […]
Cholon Wanders – Visiting Saigon’s historic Chinatown district
For visitors to Saigon the most popular sites are in a compact area around District 1 and 3. If you have time though I recommend making a visit to Cholon, which is the old Chinatown area, most of which lies in District 5. Cholon used to be a city in itself until it was merged […]
