Angkor Thom – An Ancient city in ruins
While Angkor Wat is the most famous of the ancient ruins at Angkor, there is also an enormous historical city. Featuring a royal palace, a Buddhist temple, the terrace of elephants, four impressive gateways and incredible bas-relief carvings, Angkor Thom is not to be missed. It was our first day exploring Angkor and we started with a big day. Angkor Thom is the largest of all the areas of the ancient Angkor sites, and in many ways, the most interesting. King Jayavarman VII built Angkor Thom in the late 1100s and parts of the area were developed, rather than constructed new, indicating the historic significance of the site. Angkor Thom…
Saint Remy de Provence – the essence of Provence
For the ultimate Provencal experience you can’t surpass Saint Remy de Provence. From the tree-lined boulevard leading into town to the charming historic buildings, magnificent local produce and reputation for having inspired Impressionist genius Vincent Van Goph, there really are lots of things to do in Saint Remy de Provence. Saint Remy’s Old Town While slightly challenging to navigate, Saint Remy’s historic centre is charming. Although no longer surrounded by ramparts and a moat (the moat was transformed into the town’s ringroad), the maze of beautiful but narrow streets, decorated with shuttered windows, shady squares and cooling fountains, is a delight to wander around. Amidst the picturesque scenes in the…
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
One of the most famous temples in South East Asia, and arguably the world, Angkor Wat is best visited at sunrise. Inspire by the countless photos of the temple silhouetted against glowing skies, we opted to do just that and were not disappointed. The first few irritable moments of waking were quickly replaced with excitement as we stumbled into a taxi. The usually lively streets were quiet except for others making the same pre-dawn journey. The uneven surface of the bridge over Angkor Wat’s moat was the first challenge, especially as a ticketing official had just shone a torch directly in our faces. We hadn’t thought to bring a torch.…
Kampong Glam – Singapore’s Arab Quarter
I was surprised to find so much of Istanbul in Singapore; in one specific area of the city, to be exact. Kampong Glam, also known as ‘Arab Street’ is the area that was originally settled by Malay immigrants and, as such, is the muslim centre of Singapore and many immigrants from other countries have since set up business there, including Turks. I got a strong flavour of Turkey during my visit to Kampong Glam probably because, having lived in Turkey, I am very familiar with Turkish products and ways, so I spotted Turkish elements quickly. However, there are many other flavours of the Middle East in the area too and…
Meet the Faces of Chinatown in Singapore
As Asia’s true cultural melting pot, Singapore is home to citizens from many backgrounds. I wanted to know more about the people that call the city home. Chinatown was the obvious place to go to learn about the modern lives of the Chinese in Singapore, but to understand what life was like in the early days, a visit to the Chinatown Heritage Centre is unbeatable. The centre hosts an exhibition called ‘Faces of Chinatown’ that tells the history of the Chinese in Singapore through the personal experiences of early settlers. The display of old photographs from the 1950s and personal artefacts is touchingly poignant and, at times, confronting. Thanksgiving prayers…
Delights of the Siem Reap Night Markets
“This good size for you” said the smiling lady in the market as I handed over a few dollars for a pair of elephant trousers (the standard loose cotton trousers of Asia). I had found a pair I liked the colour of, and with no changing room available thought they looked about right; they were meant to be loose, so an exact fit wasn’t necessary. It was only when I got back to the hotel and tried them on that I realised that, while I could get into them, they were only a good size for me if I didn’t move, eat or breathe. Ah! Well aware of the clothing…
Learn about Buddhism at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Singapore
It’s a strange name I grant you, but Singapore’s Buddha Tooth Relic Temple while on one hand being exactly what it says on the tin (a temple that houses a tooth relic believed to belong to Buddha himself), is also a fascinating museum. Whether you already have an interest in Buddhism or feel like you know nothing about it, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is both an educational experience and an impressive work of art. Religion is a controversial topic anywhere you go. Having grown up surrounded by Christian norms and traditions, Christianity is the religion with which I am most familiar. However, the little I knew about the principles…
Water Puppets in Vietnam
We were in fits of giggles from the appearance of the first water puppet on stage. As the puppet shot across the stage, alternately raising one arm after the other in quick succession, to the cries of hectic musical accompaniment, my brother hissed “Look out! Drunk!” Humorous similarities aside, water puppet shows are a traditional but fun-filled art form in Vietnam and the puppeteers are revered and referred to as artists. More than 400 stories are told through Vietnamese puppetry and one of the best places to see the puppets is the Thang Long Water Puppets Theatre in Hanoi, on the north eastern shore of Hoan Kiem Lake. With an…
Offspring tour of Fitzroy, Melbourne
While living in Australia, I quickly picked up the habit of watching Channel Ten’s show ‘Offspring’. The characters appeal to me, the script is laugh-embarassingly-loud funny but also touching, and it is set in a bohemian and interesting suburb of Melbourne. When I had the opportunity to visit Melbourne, I knew I had to see this neighborhood for myself. For those of you who are not familiar with this fantastic show, Offspring’s crazy characters live their lives around quirky Fitzroy. The series follows the many dramas of obstetrician Nina Proudman, her mostly dysfunctional relationships, and crazy but supportive family. Here’s my guide on where to go if you want to…
Magical ‘Must-See’ Halong Bay Vietnam
What do you imagine when you think of Vietnam? I’m going to take a wild guess that Halong Bay comes to mind. Magical Halong Bay was high on my list of places to visit when I visited Vietnam and it didn’t disappoint. One of the most magnificent sights in Vietnam, and possibly the world, UNESCO World Heritage site Halong Bay should absolutely be visited if you get the chance. When we visited it was overcast and grey, but the area was still stunning. However, I can easily imagine how amazing it would be on a clear day. Halong Bay – Place of legends Halong Bay is not only incredibly beautiful,…
