The draw of mountains, coastline, desert and history had cemented Morocco as an intended destination for several years. However, I hadn’t envisioned a scenario where I’d spend much of my time there doing yoga classes …
I had secured some voluntary work in Luizhou, China. Whilst I waited for my visa in Hong Kong, I took the opportunity to do some research on the place. According to some …
The recent protests in Hong Kong demonstrate the kind of collective commitment to voicing discontent that most people in the UK are incapable of. But the demonstrations have seen a tumultuous genesis, …
Conspiracy theories usually prompt immediate dismissal when I hear about them. Yet, the recent Sri Lanka attacks stirred something in me: a mixture of confusion and scepticism about almost every …
The first stop on the Shimanami is the jetty in Onomichi where you get a ferry the short distance to Mukaishima: the first island and the start of the route proper. As the …
The Shimanami Kaido cycling route offers a great example of how infrastructure can serve everyone. Cars, lorries and bikes thrive in a harmonious and efficient system. The route comprises 75 km of roads, 6 islands, 6 …
I grew up in the heyday of computer games. Sega and Nintendo were battling it out for the hearts and minds of kids and the wallets of their parents. Fast forward 25 years and I’m on …
The hills to the west of the lake are off limits to foreigners. This is ostensibly due to ongoing conflict in the region involving the Kachin Independence Army and various illegal gold …
A mainstay on the Burmese backpacker trail, Inle Lake draws many baggy, cotton trouser wearers to its picturesque shores and hiking trails. A distant second in terms of visitor numbers, but still mentioned in various aspirational, …
As with many places in Myanmar, there are no official tourist attractions in Katha. But this is one of Myanmar’s charms. You are spared the enthusiasm-draining experience of shuffling around a …
Among the many dominions in the British Empire, Burma (as it was called then) can seem overshadowed by the Raj HQ in India. During the late 19th century the Indian immigrant population …
I came to Melaka, because I’m interested in places with some colonial heritage. In some ways, being Scottish – and therefore also British – gives me some kind of distant connection to around a quarter of the …
I accepted the invitation to the Reggae Bar that evening in Kuala Lumpur. This in mainly because two of the girls were staying in the same dorm as me. And, it’s always good to build …
When I think of the great cities of the world like Istanbul, London, Tokyo – or even KL – it is their features, history and landmarks that evoke different feelings. Their names and etymology very often …
Sceptic Overseas
- YOGA CLASSES IN CASABLANCA
- THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF KIF
- A RIVER OF LUIZHOU SNAILS
- HONG KONG: THE PAST AND THE PROTESTS
- SRI LANKA ATTACKS: WERE THE GOVERNMENT AND BUDDHIST EXTREMISTS BEHIND THEM?
- PEDDLING PERFECTION: CYCLING THE SHIMANAMI KAIDO ROUTE, PART 2
- PEDDLING PERFECTION: CYCLING THE SHIMANAMI KAIDO ROUTE, PART 1
- RETRO GAMING IN JAPAN
- WHEN INDAWGYI, PART 2
- WHEN INDAWGYI LAKE, PART 1