While looking through my photographs in order to participate in this week’s #FriFotos, which has the theme of ‘Peaks’, I realised something.
I have not spent nearly enough time in the mountains.
I love mountains, but tend to migrate more …
Five Fabulous Natural Wonders (And three I’d Like To See)
There are so many different lists about the Seven Wonders of the World that it is pretty difficult to remember which ones are actually on the official lists, but this post is not about the official lists—it’s about my personal …
How to Avoid Saigon’s Rip-Off Taxis: A Comprehensive Guide
Whenever anybody asks me for advice about an upcoming visit to Saigon I always start with the same tip: be careful which taxi you choose to get in.
[mks_boxquote align=”right” width=”200″ arrow=”0″]”Never take a taxi from directly outside a …
The Life of an International School Teacher
7 months ago I wrote the post ‘Goodbye Classroom, Hello World!’ because I was taking a break from teaching in order to travel. Now I reflect on the profession that I have temporarily left behind.
I became an International School …
How to do Saigon (even more) Cheaply!
Brooke vs. the World has asked travel bloggers to put together their best thrifty and resourceful travel tips for a helpful, free ebook. If you think you’re thrifty and would like to participate, check out the official rules.
It’s …
Jungle Fever in Dalat
It’s 10pm, dark and raining. Four friends and I huddle on the cracked leather of an ancient sofa, playing cards. A few beer cans sit on the table and our muddy, rain-sodden clothes of the day hang dripping from the …
Goodbye Classroom, Hello World!
Four years ago I was in an auditorium in Vietnam alongside my teaching colleagues and we were listening to a lecture that only served to strengthen my already iron-clad resolve to travel. I don’t think that this was the point …
Top 3 Beaches in Vietnam
When most people think about travelling to an exotic beach, Thailand is often high up on their wish-list. But did you know that next-door Vietnam has some equally spectacular beaches to rival many of those offered by its more frequently …
Free to Travel – How I Broke Free From Debt
On the evening of March 15th 2007 I sat in a small bar in Northampton confessing to a friend of mine that I was struggling with debt. I didn’t know how I had reached that stage but all …
A Close Call in Nha Trang, Vietnam
“Careful. Bad people around” whispered the aged street-vendor who had just sold me a banana for an extortionate price, making me wonder if she might be one of the ‘bad people’ that she was referring to. It was 3am and …
Ha Long Way from Home
I have read many blog posts about visiting Ha Long bay in Northern Vietnam, some recounting positive experiences but many negative. I almost decided not to write about my own experience as I feared it may become a cliche. …
My Saigon Ink
Getting a tattoo while travelling. Great souvenir or terrible mistake?
Personally I think that it is a great idea and I had one done while I was in Vietnam. The downside of travelling for prolonged periods of time is …
The Working Women of Vietnam
Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman. Especially in Vietnam.
But they do it with a smile…
And the men of Vietnam?
Please do not think this post is intended as sexist in any way. I will even up the …
My Top Five Asian ‘Chill-Out’ Destinations
Travelling is all about taking time out of the craziness of modern life to experience new cultures, meet new people and to reflect. Here is a selection of my favourite places for peace, tranquility and some much-needed soul refreshment. So …
Miss(ing) Saigon
I was inspired by a post about Saigon that I read on another travel blog recently. So here is my very own tribute to the place that I once called home. These are some of the things that I loved, …
Beating the January Blues
Christmas is over, the New Year’s resolutions have already been broken, and the beautifully glistening snow had turned to brown mulch – January has well and truly set in but things are not all bad. We are now embarking on …
2010s Best Bits
What an awesome year this year was. In honour of a great year this blog post recalls some of my favourite moments of 2010
January
We welcomed in the New Year with elated cries of Chúc Mung Nam Moi on …
Need a place to stay? Check out these wacky hotels!!
Last weekend I went to prison. I was to spend the night in a cell at the infamous Långholmen Prison, Stockholm.
The hallways were long and narrow with row after row of bolted and numbered doors harbouring their confining cells behind. As expected my …