GoingRoundBackwards

Vietnam - A few more days on the back of a bike

2008-05-30T22:44:00.001-07:00

Vietnam's father of poetry - Nguyen Du Rice, lots and lots of rice At the mouth of Phong Nha cave Inside the cave. Can you see the ghosts? Mood Lighting The soldier to war, assured never to return. His wife cuts his wrist and blood drips into the wine filled cask held aloft by the child. The family will drink this as a tribute to his soul. Rescued and released

When 'Chance' gets involved in VIetnam - My Top 5

2008-05-25T04:20:00.001-07:00

5: Arriving on the scene of an accident involving 2 mopeds. One had 2 passengers and the other 3! 2 people were killed and the mourning started before the bodies were removed. The air was heavy with burning incense. It was a sobering reminder that Vietnam's roads can be quite dangerous. 4: Meeting a cop who had just filmed what a bunch of local tribes people did to an elephant. The elephant

Easy Riding in Vietnam - the first 3 days in pictures

2008-05-20T21:01:00.001-07:00

The smoky hills and lush green countryside west of Hanoi Whatever your poison, it's unlikely it comes in Scorpion flavour. A hangover is guaranteed. Yes, he did stop his moped in the middle of the road. And yes, he did beg me to take his picture. He would be so proud. Showing Scotland what Green really is. Has anyone seen my chopsticks? Heading home after a long

And that was Hanoi...

2008-05-11T03:52:00.001-07:00

And I didn't even go to Ha Long Bay. Some would say I am crazy, and others would say I am just plain stupid. But quite frankly, if your having a great time already, why question it. In Hanoi, people watching really is king. From the the street vendors to the cyclos ferrying their chubby tourist clients, to the moped passengers who think it is a good idea to get on a different moped, in

From Bangkok's Blandness to Hanoi Heaven

2008-04-30T07:59:00.001-07:00

I'm doing my best to see a bit of the world I have always wanted to travel to, and today it feels like I hit the big league. If I'm honest, Bangkok was a bit of a damp squid, a very large damp squid. The city is far from the glamorous vision of the East I had. True, it served as a great introduction and a good place to acclimatize to the urban intensity in this part of the world. But, it's

No Pictures of Elephants I'm Afraid...

2008-04-28T18:40:00.001-07:00

A quiet day in Bangkok's suburbs The 'Sleeping Buddha' I bet he hates this... Down river side Tuk-Tuk!

"Must get money" in Bangkok

2008-04-27T04:34:00.001-07:00

Imagine you're walking along the side of small lane. Mopeds and cars are flying past you, there are more street stalls than you can imagine, and your senses are working overtime. You're looking around, at everything and nothing - the cacophony from the road, the glare of headlights, the Deep smells from street food vendors and the myriad of faces are a delight to the senses. And the next thing

Ever feel like a cat in a washing machine?

2008-04-24T21:28:00.001-07:00

So, can you say, mind blown?? Yes, I think you can. I found myself in Sunny Bangkok (though today is like a rainy day in Cumbernauld - if you add on 30 degrees that is) battling a major case of jet lag and a sense of culture shock that feels a little bit like raw oysters sliding down your throat. You want to do it but feel slightly sick as a result. In a city where almost anything goes, I

The Portland Adventure. And the Invisible Mountain too.

2008-04-24T01:06:00.001-07:00

Portland has a secret. Everyone has heard the rumour, but many don't believe it to be true. Apparently, there is a large Mountain overlooking the city. My immediate reaction was 'no, you must be kidding. That's preposterous.' But, if you ask the locals, they will all swear by the fact that Mt. Hood, does in fact, exist. The only problem is, I never saw it and consequently, I can't be sure.

Its a compliment when...

2008-04-18T19:24:00.001-07:00

It was nice of Simon / Molly and at TravelBuzz to take an interest, though I may have caused some controversy by describing New York as 'Past it' - Perhaps I was a bit unfair to NYC, after all, I said it myself, I avoided the things I like the most about it, the 5th Avenue glitz. So, I'll eat my words somewhat, but the East Village is no longer for me.Go to NYC and indulge in the things you love

Polygamists not only drink beer, they have a sense of humour too...

2008-04-17T20:26:00.001-07:00

What can happen in 24 hours?

2008-04-17T12:28:00.001-07:00

The Mariners hammer Kansas City Heading through the mountains after leaving Seattle Waking up in Leavenworth (yes, the sign is in German) On the road to Oregon Feeding squirrels in the Columbia River valley The Multnomah Waterfalls What the 'Sam Hill' is going on here?

Please Seperate Plastics from Paper

2008-04-16T00:25:00.000-07:00

Um, can anyone say laid back? My impression of Seattle is that it marches to it's own beat, it's decidely lovely and there seems to be little of the usual passive aggressive undertones you find in many cities.Perhaps temper that with the fact that this is literally 'the end of the line'. Long distance freight trains that come here end here. If you happen to be a railroad hobo, there isn't much

Seattle's Pike Place Market - Where Fish Can Fly

2008-04-14T16:46:00.001-07:00

The craziest fishmongers I have ever seen. Definitely worth a visit as they are the spirit of this bustling (and large) downtown market place.

Where it all began....

2008-04-14T16:45:00.001-07:00

The world's first Starbucks. Opened in 1971 in Seattle's Pike Place Market. If you have ever wondered why the logo is a mermaid, this coffee shop sits along side the wares of the local fisherman. Though though have decided to save the mermaids blushes and cover her up these days.... The original The modern day logo

The Seattle Water Garden

2008-04-14T12:27:00.001-07:00

Nestled within the centre of Seattle, this small public space was a real surprise...

I'm Not the Most Important Visitor in Town

2008-04-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

Apparently, the Dalai Lama is also here. And wacks of security accompany him....

Escape from Minneapolis: Just in Time

2008-04-12T12:28:00.001-07:00

I spent 3 very chilled days in one half of the Twin Cities. I ventured out only to wonder through the University of Minneapolis campus, conveniently located right next to my hotel. Oh, and it won't be news to any of you that I also went to the mall. Though, not just any mall. Mall of America, the biggest and brightest of them all. It was a rest break more than anything else, and a welcome

The world according to Amtrak.

2008-04-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

Do not expect speed. Passenger rail plays second fiddle to freight. Pound for pound, we just aren't worth as much, even after you account for the generous poundage of the average American. The US railways, long the great arteries of this nation continue to ferry all manner of goods across it's vastness. No ramshackle group of weary travellers will get in the way.Car or coach travel might well be

Hey, how's it go'in?

2008-04-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

The windy city wasn't so windy, and the village wasn't so kitsch

2008-04-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

howdy,You'd think u had spent a week in Texas but no, apparently they all say it.Chicagoans are a little less in your face than new yorkers. This is not a bad thing.Generally very friendly and as a city, Chicago is fabulous. Its got to have one of the best skylines I have seen in the US, and provides ample opportunity to find places used as locations in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.My latest find was

It's like Canada, eh?

2008-03-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

Its Sunday and I am sitting in one of the bars in the Royal York hotel in downtown Toronto. Its rather nippy outside and they say snow is coming. Time for me to leave I think.I've had an absolutely wonderful week. It is one thing seeing old friends, and I'm lucky to have been able to see many, but to see all the children that my friends are raising has been fabulous! I found that I'm pretty