Vietnam’s Thien Mu, a Temple with a Political History
On the north bank of the beautiful Perfume River in Hue, the Thien Mu Pagoda is a place of peace and reflection. Historically however, the temple was closely associated with politics, predominantly the opposition to Vietnam’s oppressive regime during the 1950s. This edgy and unique characteristic of Thien Mu makes it fascinating to visit. The temple is dedicated to Buddha and was originally constructed in the 1840s, but most recently restored in 1953. It is a working temple with meditation halls, drum towers and several shrines. It is also home to a sangha of Buddhist monks, whose presence was only indicated by several trays of chillies left to dry on…
Things to see in multicultural Chinatown, Singapore
Arriving in Singapore’s Chinatown was a stark contrast to the rest of the city. Emerging from the underground system onto Pagoda Street, ultra sleek and modern Singapore seemed miles away. Instead the narrow street was flanked on both sides by low buildings stuffed with shops and traders. Just as I spotted chop suey in one shop my attention was grabbed by souvenirs, massages, and jewellery offered in others. With decorative lanterns strung between the different coloured buildings, delicious food smells wafting and the constant chatter of busy trades people, Singapore’s Chinatown is an absolute feast for the senses. Here are my favourite things to see and do in Chinatown. Singapore’s…
How to Travel without Flying
The quote ‘Focus on the journey, rather than the destination’ represents a popular slower approach to travel. While anyone can jump on a plane these days, slow travel offers a more involved experience, where the traveller gets to interact more with locals, experience new traditions, and build a greater understanding of another culture. Whether you seek to travel without flying because of a phobia, environmental concern, or because you fancy a new challenge, here are my suggestions on how to travel without flying. Cruise ships Cruise ships offer an increasingly popular alternative way of travelling. Cruise vessels vary enormously in terms of itinerary, dining and entertainment, so it is essential…
Flower art at Floriade, Canberra
Every year Canberra’s Commonwealth Park becomes a botanical wonderland when it hosts an incredible floral display called Floriade. The month-long event displays an incredible number of blooms, arranged in artistic displays across numerous flowerbeds. A wander through Floriade is not to be missed if you time your trip to Canberra right. It’s a rare person that worries about being in the presence of flowers but, I must admit, it was with a sense of trepidation that this chronic hayfever sufferer headed to Floriade, I needn’t have worried though. The flowers were mostly ‘blooms’ rather than ‘blossoms’ and, dosed up to the eyeballs with some strong hayfever medication, I was fine.…
What to see in Hoi An Old Town
Stepping on a dead rat may not have been the best start to our walking tour of Hoi An but it did mean it could only get better. Walking is really the only way to explore Hoi An, since much of it is pedestrianised during the day, making for some very pleasant strolling (expired rats aside). The history of Hoi An Hoi An dates back to the first century but the town developed significantly between the 15th and 19th century when Hoi An was the main trading centre in central Vietnam. The local architecture blends many influences and ideas. During Vietnam’s French rule trade moved to Da Nang and Hoi…
Vintage Shopping in Melbourne, my favourite places
Melbourne is an absolute paradise if you enjoy exploring second-hand shops and discovering treasures like unique items of clothing, interesting jewellery, knickknacks or home wares. The city is a vintage shopping wonderland! Here’s my guide to the best places to go vintage shopping in Melbourne. There are lots of individual vintage shops in Melbourne but there are also a few bazaars, where several shop owners team together to provide lots of vintage wares in one place. Lost and Found Market 511 Lygon Street, East Brunswick Lost and Found Market offers several different vintage stores (I didn’t count precisely but there are probably around 30). The indoor market has a large…
The Australian War Memorial, a humbling experience
What do you think of when you read the words ‘war memorial’? Probably a statue or the memory of a remembrance ceremony, no? The Canberra War Memorial is certainly an awe-inspiring building, constructed to honour fallen ANZAC soldiers, but it is also so much more than that. Even if Australian military history is not a subject you are especially passionate about, the inspiring, and often heart-breaking, stories you can uncover on a visit to the museum are truly humbling. The Australian War Memorial The walkway from the main entrance leads through an arch to the main memorial area, the commemorative courtyard. In the airy rectangular courtyard the names of thousands…
Visiting Parliament House in Canberra
After several years in the country, Australia’s ‘warts and all’ style of politics still intrigues me. The headlines of the Julia Gillard vs Kevin Rudd tussle to lead the Australian Labor Party and the aggressive campaigning ahead of the 2013 federal election that featured some outrageous allegations about both sides have been part of my Australian experience. So, when an opportunity came to visit Parliament House, I was keen to see the politicians in action. Before you get anywhere, there are high levels of airport-style security screening, which you have to complete before entering the building, and again if you wish to enter the two chambers: the House of Representatives…
The best sushi in Melbourne
Having previously lived in London, where everything is available just about all of the time, moving to rural Australia has meant some serious adaptation in terms of the availability of, among other things, favourite foods. For this sushi addict, living in a town without a sushi restaurant, has been challenging! So, on a recent trip to Melbourne I delighting in feasting at several different sushi outlets. Here’s my guide to the best sushi in Melbourne. I admit it. I went to a variety of restaurants and ate lots of sushi! Here I have compared a serve of salmon sashimi and a roll in each. One was a restaurant rather than…
Land of culture, land of curiosities – Embracing Thailand
Thailand is an amazing place to visit. With its food, landscape and interesting cultural experiences, not to mention some nice beaches to relax on, it’s an intriguing place to explore. Full of curiosities, this is a country that blends cosmopolitan high rises with the farming community, fishing villages and Buddhist temples. How could a place like this fail to capture your attention? Then there’s the culture, which is wonderful to learn about and even better to experience. Of course, you have only one way to experience the country and that’s to head to the airport, board one of the many flights to Thailand and live it. The King The monarch…
