Author Archives: John Rose
Travelling 9 to 5
I must be dreaming… Why else would Peter Gabriel be singing to me…oh crap that’s my alarm ringing. For the last week my guest alarm song has been ‘Big Time’! “Karen…Karen wake up” I scream. “Wh…what day is it?” “Moving day!!” I reply. A rush of activity follows. No jumping in the showers or cups […]
The Island of Dr. Mor-Koh
“Hello Poor Island…..Hello Rich Island” We were dropped at the office in Sihanoukville for Palm Beach Bungalows and greeted by a big South African Man named Kevin, the owner. Luckily I had his business card as his booking system was all messed up, so he had to fit us in. With the boat pickup an […]
City of Ghosts
It is hard to imagine that this sleepy town was once a thriving port. Then Sihanoukville was founded in 1959 and Kampot started a period of decline that it is slowly crawling out of. Before the Civil War there were hundreds of Pepper Plantations surrounding the town. Demand was high as restaurants in Paris had […]
Little Bhaktapur
Sorry I have fallen behind with these. When we were in Bhaktapur (Nepal), we witnessed a film crew shooting some scenes for some local production. This jarred a memory from the previous year….. Sitting in the living room of our apartment in Greenwich with Karen’s Aunt Rez (visiting from Brussels), when she told us of […]
I like to ride my bicycle…
I like to ride my bike! We took a break on Day 4. Not from temples, but from the TukTuk. With very flat terrain and a great road network we decided to rent some bikes for the final day. Not Mountain Bikes, with their abundance if gears and good brakes. Instead we chose girly bicycles […]
Angkor Who? Part 3: Return of the Camera Shy!
Day 3 was upon us and we once more jumped in the TukTuk that we were slowly to label, “The Red Baron”! Today we would finish the temples that straddle around Angkor Wat. This would include one of the big hitters in Ta Prohm as part of the journey. First stop was …. Prasat Kravan […]
Angkor Who? : Part 2 ‘The Angkor Empire Strikes Back’
Day 2: Skirting the big temples A slightly later start was allowed for day 2 as we would not be travelling as far. Today we would be concentrating on the temples to the North and East of Ta Prohm, tightening the perimeter around our final days sights. First up on the menu was Preah Khan. […]
Angkor Who? : Part 1
We arrived in Siem Reap and quickly secured lodgings in the Shadow of Angkor II Guesthouse, across the river from the Old Market Area. That afternoon was spent in search of a TukTuk driver for the next few days. Why? There is only one big reason to come to Siem Reap. Not for what the […]
10000 Strong
During the last few days our blog has hit 10000 views so now would be a good time to crunch the numbers and see what trends we have seen on our trip so far. Travel So far we have been travelling for over 2 months or to be precise 66 days and 19 hours and […]
South of the Border I think you oughta*
*Sorry Robbie but we are going East of the border actually. —————————————————— We jumped out of bed and quickly packed up our bags and went down to reclaim our £40 deposit from the front desk. This was a hostel with delusions of grandeur. After our 4th attempt at negotiation we managed to get a sensible […]
Chinatown
Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown Inspired by our visit to the weekend market at Chattachuk we decided to spend our last full day in Bangkok in Chinatown and it’s sprawling maze of stalls and shops. It took us about an hour to reach The outskirts of Chinatown. Our first clues were the red lanterns and […]
Palaces, Posers and Pad Thai
After a much needed lie in we set off on foot to the Grand Palace. After 10 minutes we wish we had got a TukTuk as it was hot hot! But no. We are travellers and not tourists so we continued á pied (as the French say). We eventually made it to the walls of […]
One Night in Bangkok..
The author reflects on their visit to Bangkok, arriving amid civil disturbances. They stayed briefly at Chillax Resort, enjoying local cuisine and rooftop pool views. Their nostalgic exploration revealed changes on Khao San Road, now less vibrant. Ultimately, they opted for Villa Cha Cha for its pool and location, planning visits to local landmarks.
The Stupas Have Eyes
With one day left in Nepal, the choice between Swayambhunath and Bodhnath Stupa was influenced by Bodhnath’s size and surrounding monasteries. The massive Stupa, rich in symbolism and history, dates back to 600 AD. After exploring and enjoying local food, the group prepared to head to Thailand amidst visa concerns.
From Ayr With Love
After a filling breakfast, the group embarked on a journey to Patan via overcrowded mini vans. They navigated the bustling market, purchased tickets, and met Arun, a helpful guide from Ayr. Arun showcased Patan’s Durbar Square and its temples. Following their tour, they enjoyed authentic Malaysian cuisine before returning to Kathmandu.
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