We were slogging through the steamy tropical heat with twelve o'clock sun beating down on us. One of my companions muttered something about Englishmen, mad dogs and the midday sun. We'd been exploring Wat Phra That Doi Suthep all morning and we were hungry. I could tell my … [Read more...]
A City of Extremes: Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand Initial Thoughts: As my flight begins to descend and we break through the cloud cover, I see the patchwork of green fields below. Suddenly it hits me - I’ve survived my fight, I’ve survived 24 hours of travel, I’ve survived a heartbreaking week of goodbyes. I … [Read more...]
Eat, Shop, Repeat: A Taste of Thai Life at a Saturday Night Market
After the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, Chiang Mai felt to me like a gentle pastoral town. Instead of skyscrapers, I found temples. Instead of oppressive heat, I found the cool temperatures of northern Thailand. Instead of mega malls, I found a Saturday Night Market. Chiang … [Read more...]
Fête des Châtaignes: A Community Chestnut Roast in France
It was late November and I was once again in a field in the south of France. This time the sun was setting and the field was filled with revelling Frenchmen. Freshly harvested chestnuts were being roasted over a decidedly unsafe fire pit while we all drank homemade fig wine. I … [Read more...]
Surprisingly Sustainable Seafood in Scotland
Surprising. That's the word to describe my weekend in Scotland. Surprisingly beautiful. Surprisingly peaceful. Surprisingly delicious. During a road trip from Edinburgh to Fife with two friends, I didn't read the guidebook, I didn't review the map, I wasn't responsible for a … [Read more...]