One of the lesser-known attractions of the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam is the Tra Su Forest. The forest is a former plantation that is now a wildlife reserve. There are canals which are flooded (usually between November to March) and there are boats that will take you on tour. The forest is about 20km […]
Notes on Tana Toraja: Torajan homes and traditional funeral ceremonies in South Sulawesi
Tana Toraja (also referred to as Toraja) is a region in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is a landlocked regency and it is famous for the Torajan homes (Tongkonan) and traditional funeral ceremonies. For the purpose of this guide I have listed the region rather than an individual town, as most of the sightseeing involves driving […]
Notes on Bira: A beach town in South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Bira is a beach town at the far south of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It’s popular for its beautiful beaches and great diving spots. Given its isolated location it’s not an over-developed beach spot, which for some people this is part of its charm. Unless you are going to Selayar Island this is the end of […]
Notes on Makassar: The largest city in Sulawesi
Makassar is the largest city in Sulawesi and a major hub for travel in Indonesia. I flew into Makassar for onward travel to Tana Toraja and Bira Beach. These are my notes of things to see, where to stay, cafes, and food to try. Makassar travel map I have marked a map with cafes, food […]
Food to try in Makassar, Indonesia
Makassar is the gateway to Sulawesi and is considered as a major culinary destination of Indonesia. Even if you are a frequent traveller to Indonesia you may be surprised to find cuisine here that is not found anywhere else in the Indonesian archipelago. During my visit I sampled a selection of local dishes as well […]
Bus Review: Eurolines from London to Amsterdam
I’ve previously travelled from London to Amsterdam by air and rail+ferry but I had never taken the bus, so for this trip I thought I would try Eurolines. They are always advertising great deals to Paris and Amsterdam and I found a ticket for £18.00 all up (the ticket was £13.00 plus a £5.00 booking […]
A monolith and a meerkat – camping at Namibia’s highest mountain
Brandberg Mountain is Namibia’s highest peak, standing at 2,606 metres. It is also a monolith, so when you cross the northwestern Namib Desert you will know when you see it. I was in Namibia visiting the Mad Max filming locations, which was mostly shot near Swakopmund (this was a press trip on behalf of the […]
On the trail of Mad Max in Namibia
Visiting the filming locations of Mad Max: Fury Road in the Namib Desert Mad Max: Fury Road heralds the return of the Mad Max franchise thirty years after the third film was released. While the Mad Max world is still set in a post-apocalypse Australia, there is a new Max (Tom Hardy replacing Mel Gibson) […]
Notes on Galle: The fort city of Sri Lanka
Galle is a city on the coast of southwest Sri Lanka and is most famous for its fort. The Galle fort is the largest remaining European-built fortress in Asia and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old colonial buildings and little lanes are utterly charming, even if it has calcified into a full-blown tourist […]
Propaganda posters and a parade – the 40th Anniversary of the reunification of Vietnam
April 30, 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the day the North Vietnamese Army arrived in Saigon and ended the war. The day is known in Vietnam as liberation day, in the US as the fall of Saigon, and to overseas Vietnamese as Black April. In Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon) there are hardly […]
