Friday 18 May 2012

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR INDOCHINA HOLIDAY


Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam - the population wakes early so work is done before the heat of the day takes hold. To capture the people of these fascinating countries at their best you will have to be up and about early as well. Experiencing the cities and towns as they slowly come to life is something to behold. Gradually the quiet pre dawn - punctuated by crowing roosters, yes even in the cities, makes way to the gradual hum of traffic and horns, building and building to a frantic pace. 
An early stroll through the local parks has you seeing many people going through their morning exercise rituals exercising both body and mind. In a stark contrast there are thousands of people making their way to work, either hanging out of crowded buses or two, three or four people crammed onto every motorbike. Replace your wake up morning coffee by immersing yourself amongst the traffic with a cyclo ride, an in your face early morning heart starter !

Watching the markets prepare for yet another busy day is a great way to begin your morning -  witness the steady stream and mind boggling variety of vegetables, herbs, meats and fish arriving before dawn ready for sale from first light until sundown. stand back and watch the locals haggle for the freshest and best quality produce to take home and cook for their meals. People usually shop every day at the markets and the range of fresh food on offer would make your local western homogenised supermarket blush with embarrassment.

Try an early start to your day, see Indochina at its best - You can always go back to your hotel for breakfast and a good lie down after the experience.

Sunday 13 May 2012

TRAVEL MOMENTS TO SAVOUR


  •   Standing along side the Colorado river at the base of the Grand Canyon, looking up in dread and exhilaration at the task of taking the steep and narrow winding trail back up to the canyon’s rim…
  •   Negotiating the many locks on a European river cruise.
  •   Sitting down in an unfamiliar restaurant somewhere in the world with eager anticipation to smell and taste the local cuisine.
  •   Taking your seat to watch a match on centre court Wimbledon… Ball boys ready, linesmen ready, players ready - Play
  •   Stumbling on an unexpected and enchanting village or town that tickles your fancy, and as you explore it’s architecture & laneways  you smile knowing that it is so remote that it has not been endlessly featured in guide books or travel brochures.
  •   Taking a group of friends to a country you find fascinating and watching the looks of wonder, amazement  and then beaming smiles overwhelm their faces...exactly as you thought it would.
  •   Flying to a destination within Australia and feeling relieved as you don't have to queue up to go through customs and immigration.
  •   The feeling of being pushed back into your seat as your aircraft begins to roll down the runway for take off.
  •   Seeing lion, elephant, giraffe, zebra and pink flamingo while on safari in the worlds largest natural animal amphitheatre, Ngorongoro crater Tanzania.
  •   Wearing a pith helmet while travelling in a vehicle emblazoned with zebra stripes as you take in the well known sights along with  the  city’s human wildlife, on an Urban Safari around San Francisco. Definitely a city tour with a fun and quirky twist.