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…
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,…
How to visit Angkor Wat
The best known temple in Cambodia, and possibly all of south east Asia, Angkor Wat is an atmospheric and awe-inspiring structure to visit, but did you know it is only one of several enormous temple complexes in the Siem Reap area? Here are my tips on how to visit Angkor Wat. Plan your visit to the temples Some of the Angkor temples are better known than others, but there are over a dozen temples, and some of them are vast complexes that take a few hours to explore thoroughly. With a bit of research, you can decide which temples are your priorities and make sure you don’t miss ‘the best…
Singapore, so much more than a stopover
I have a terrible confession to make. For several years now I have considered Singapore’s Changi Airport to be my preferred stop on long haul flights between Europe and Australia, but do you know what? It was only a few days ago that I arrived in Singapore and actually entered the country. Isn’t that ridiculous? I know the airport so well yet have never been able to make visiting Singapore a priority on any of the journeys made. Well, all I can say is more fool me. Singapore is amazing; here’s why. The culture of Singapore Since becoming a republic in 1965, Singapore must be one of the best examples…
Mermaids – making a splash in the Philippines
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve done on your travels recently? Ever wish you were a mermaid when you were a child? In the Philippines recently a friend and I came across a business hiring mermaid tails. It looked fun and, as it turns out, was too daft an opportunity to pass up on. Getting our mermaid on (literally) We were prepared to leave our dignity at the door as we indulged ourselves in our mermaid fantasies. It didn’t take long. The woman in the shop took one look at us both and proclaimed we would need size large. Getting into the tails was the first challenge. We walked across the…
