After a short flight from Korea, It soon became apparent that any expected regional similarities ended somewhere in the departure lounge. The sight of red-roofed ochre buildings peppered across a broad sweep of vivid green rice paddies sent chemicals of joy flooding through my body in anticipation. In retrospect these undistinguished fields and dishevelled dwellings won't even rouse a reaction in the following weeks. But after six months in Seoul, seeing the world through grey-tinted glasses, my captivated mind feasts on the colorful banquet in feverish desperation. It is not by chance the colour green symbolizes nature, life-energy, vitality and ...GO! The taxi driver pulls up to the entrance of our requested hotel, and as I open my door I'm pounced on by a smartly dressed man who informs us it's full, though of course they ... read more

Sweat stings my eyes; it's dark, polluted, hot and hectic. "How many blocks now?" I plead with Jennifer, who has the 'book'. "Five - six maybe?" she shrugs trying to peer at the map as we attempt to sneak a way through the traffic. Flustered, I wave frantically at an oncoming cab "Let's get this, or we'll never make it!" We've been in Taiwan for all of an hour now, and here we are dashing manically through the streets of nocturnal Taipei in search of an English bar in the midst of the slightly seedy 'Gigi-gig area'. Why? Well why else would there be such a pressing need? England v Portugal of course, which kicked off exactly 7 minutes and 23 seconds ago. I know you watched it, and if you didn't, I can tell you ... read more

Standing outside an internet café in the seedy part of town long after Cebu’s respectable citizens are safely tucked up in bed a sleaze ball eyes me from across the street. He flashes me that fraudulent smile common to con-men, pimps and confidence tricksters the world over, and having made ‘contact’ he takes his cue to cross over towards me. Just as he begins his pitch I try to save him the effort with a firm “No!” since it was pretty obvious what he’d be selling in this part of town. I’m on the defensive since I must look like a potential customer standing here in this squalid street stealing a quick smoke. This knocks him slightly off his game and he decides to stop a respectable distance from me before pitching again “You want girls?” ... read more

Buzzing away from the jetty, waiving goodbye to the Burmese customs official, we’re on our way back to Thailand. We share our boat with three male tourists, sporting sickly pallor's and a curious reluctance to engage us; all the hallmarks of my English country folk. 15 minutes later our boat is nestled in amongst the dozens of other long tails bobbing and tussling in their moorings. I hurry excitedly through the bustling murky market area fronting the pier and out into the car park to be confronted by silver Japanese made SUV's and 4x4's dazzling boldly on the gleaming tarmac. Despite having spent only 5 weeks in Burma, and knowing exactly what I could expect to find back in the developed world - it still astounded me. These contrasts exist throughout the world, and even within ... read more

The arctic zephyr plays sweetly across my hot and clammy skin, momentarily transporting me from hot and dusty Mandalay to a cooling mountain meadow. I stand in bliss as the air conditioner artificially aids my body’s sweaty-messy attempts at natural temperature regulation. We’d arrived in the late afternoon after a day’s travelling down from the cooling hills into the steamy plains. Then after only a short AC fix we reentered the furnace, the body once again preparing for battle as beads of sweat appeared almost instantaneously and quickly formed a defensive layer of moisture. After commandeering a cycle rickshaw we were on our way around the Royal Palace’s 4sq. km moat, to catch the sunset atop Mandalay Hill. At the foot of the hill we shed our shoes and began frantically dashing up the 700 plus ... read more