It was a cold and rainy night in the Belfast, Northern Ireland. I was tucked into a wood paneled booth in the serendipitously named Bishop Restaurant. In front of me was a plate of fish and chips, a side of mushy peas and a hot cuppa tea. I took a deep breath and a tentative … [Read more...]
Learning to Value Every Grain of Rice
The scene was incredibly beautiful from afar. The fields were sparsely dotted with villagers wearing traditional straw hats and wielding machetes by hand. The glowing, radiant tones of the early morning sun flooded with fields with gold. The rice dried in perfect bundles while … [Read more...]
The Sweetness of Sharing in Split, Croatia
Using a rusty, dirt-caked knife, she sliced a perfectly ripe pear and passed me a piece dripping with juice. In the space of a split-second, I was caught between craving the connection and fearing the lack of sanitation. My desire to experience, to interact, to connect grew … [Read more...]
Subsistence Fishing on the Mekong River, Laos
I stumbled across the deck feeling my way over to the wooden railing. As my eyes started to adjust to the darkness, I could just barely see the river gently flowing passed. I relished the absolute silence of the predawn. None of my fellow travellers were awake and yet I … [Read more...]
A Land of Outdoor Adventures: Central Laos
Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng & Vientiane, Laos Initial Thoughts: Driving into Luang Prabang on the back of a converted pickup truck after two days aboard a boat felt like waking up on a new continent. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Luang Prabang boasts gorgeous French … [Read more...]
A Journey on a Slow Boat: Mekong River, Laos
Mekong River, Laos Initial Thoughts: I'd had visions of a quaint wooden boat shared by locals and travellers alike drifting slowly along a busy trade route. What I got was 100 drunk foreigners crammed into a boat retrofitted with seats from a minivan. In particular there were … [Read more...]
A Place to Recharge: Southern Thailand
Krabi, Railay & Koh Lanta, Thailand Initial Thoughts: I arrived to Krabi a solo traveller once again after spending three weeks in Malaysia with my boyfriend. I wasn't having a good day. I'd nearly missed my flight out of Singapore due to a transit delay. The sole of my … [Read more...]
A Land of Temples: Northern Thailand
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai & Chiang Khong, Thailand Initial Thoughts: I arrived to Chiang Mai after a 12-hour overnight journey on a train that I had boarded on a whim. I'd just spent 12 days in Kanchanaburi province and my plans to travel south to Malaysia where interrupted by … [Read more...]