With the excitement of my speaking engagement at the now concluded Malaysian International Tourism Bloggers Conference & Awards (MITBCA) not fully subsided, I was further enlivened by additional surprises of the most pleasant kind. Since I have previously purchased Royal Selangor pewter as christening gifts for my nephew and niece, I decided to visit their Visitor Centre. Fi, (who has been travelling for four months) joined me for the tour, and this was the tenth country we had met - a fine achievement – despite this occasion being dictated by the necessity for me to carry her broken Nikon camera to Australia for a warranty repair. Arriving at the Visitor Centre, we were conducted on a brief, but interesting tour which involved admiring everything from the delicate finery of intricately designed tea pots to the imposin ... read more

Twenty years ago today, there occurred one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. Whenever I recount my tale, people often comment on the serendipity of that day, but such heartening words are tempered by knowing that the person who made those moments so memorable has long since departed this world. In Turkey there lies a slender peninsula that separates the Aegean Sea from the straits of the Dardenelles. To the Turks, this is known as Gelibolu, but it is more renowned by its Anglicised name of Gallipoli. In 1915, the largest invasion force in history until that time assaulted the peninsula in order to capture the Dardenelles. Included in this invasion force were soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps – the ANZACs. The date of their invasion on 25 April – ... read more

Though Myanmar is becoming an increasingly popular destination, there are still experiences not touched by tourism’s tenacious tentacles. Since I gravitate towards the road even less travelled when journeying on the road less travelled, I was thrilled by a certain prospect on offer at Inle Lake. My arrival at the undistinguished town of Nyaungshwe was via a half-hour flight and bumpy 90 minute car journey; immensely preferable to the ghastly minimum 12 hour bus alternative. I transferred to an elongated boat that contained a single column of seats, where each passenger sits directly behind the one in front. The driver settled at the stern where he controlled a ridiculously noisy motor that propelled all occupants at speed. My first voyage on the lake revealed delightful surrounds, the vast waters mostly encircled by thickly wooded emerald hills. ... read more

Barring nations mired in active armed conflict, countries with the most problematic travel considerations are usually the most rewarding. Myanmar adds to this catalogue of nations where once the restrictions and conditions are successfully surmounted, the rewards are immense. Due to financial sanctions placed upon Myanmar, where credit cards and travellers cheques are effectively useless, it necessitates all travellers obtaining a collection of clean, crisp, unfolded and unmarked US notes. This appears easy in many countries, but in Thailand, where banks are fond of marking foreign currency with all manner of notations, this proved to be a difficult task. After visiting a least half a dozen banks and money changers with eraser in hand in order to remove any pencil marks, I was able to successfully obtain the necessary funds. Visas must be obtained prior to ... read more

Visitors to Thailand will often encounter elephants at tourist attractions, either for riding or some other form of entertainment. But what happens to these elephants when they become too old or sick to undertake the tasks demanded of them? To uncover this answer, I undertook a rattling third-class train ride to Kanchanaburi in Western Thailand. The journey is supposed to be completed in two and a half hours, but on this fine Thursday afternoon, it was almost double that time. The following morning, I travelled to Elephant’s World. Established in 2008, this project is the inspiration of Dr. Samart Prasitphol, a veterinarian and livestock officer of the Kanchanaburi Province who sought to provide a refuge for unwanted and neglected elephants who may wander the streets of Thailand with their mahouts begging for food and money. Other ... read more