Vietnam’s Thien Mu, a Temple with a Political History
On the north bank of the beautiful Perfume River in Hue, the Thien Mu Pagoda is a place of peace and reflection. Historically however, the temple was closely associated with politics, predominantly the opposition to Vietnam’s oppressive regime during the 1950s. This edgy and unique characteristic of Thien Mu makes it fascinating to visit. The temple is dedicated to Buddha and was originally constructed in the 1840s, but most recently restored in 1953. It is a working temple with meditation halls, drum towers and several shrines. It is also home to a sangha of Buddhist monks, whose presence was only indicated by several trays of chillies left to dry on…
Things to see in multicultural Chinatown, Singapore
Arriving in Singapore’s Chinatown was a stark contrast to the rest of the city. Emerging from the underground system onto Pagoda Street, ultra sleek and modern Singapore seemed miles away. Instead the narrow street was flanked on both sides by low buildings stuffed with shops and traders. Just as I spotted chop suey in one shop my attention was grabbed by souvenirs, massages, and jewellery offered in others. With decorative lanterns strung between the different coloured buildings, delicious food smells wafting and the constant chatter of busy trades people, Singapore’s Chinatown is an absolute feast for the senses. Here are my favourite things to see and do in Chinatown. Singapore’s…
What to see in Hoi An Old Town
Stepping on a dead rat may not have been the best start to our walking tour of Hoi An but it did mean it could only get better. Walking is really the only way to explore Hoi An, since much of it is pedestrianised during the day, making for some very pleasant strolling (expired rats aside). The history of Hoi An Hoi An dates back to the first century but the town developed significantly between the 15th and 19th century when Hoi An was the main trading centre in central Vietnam. The local architecture blends many influences and ideas. During Vietnam’s French rule trade moved to Da Nang and Hoi…
Land of culture, land of curiosities – Embracing Thailand
Thailand is an amazing place to visit. With its food, landscape and interesting cultural experiences, not to mention some nice beaches to relax on, it’s an intriguing place to explore. Full of curiosities, this is a country that blends cosmopolitan high rises with the farming community, fishing villages and Buddhist temples. How could a place like this fail to capture your attention? Then there’s the culture, which is wonderful to learn about and even better to experience. Of course, you have only one way to experience the country and that’s to head to the airport, board one of the many flights to Thailand and live it. The King The monarch…
My Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel, Singapore
Who doesn’t love cocktails? To me, cocktails scream ‘holidays’! So when I had the chance to explore the origins of the now infamous Singapore Sling at the beautiful and historic Raffles Hotel in Singapore, I couldn’t resist. The Singapore Sling Bartender Ngiam Tong Boon created the Singapore Sling, while employed in the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel in 1915. The cocktail is famed for being sweet, sharp, smooth and thirst quenching, perfect in the Singapore humidity. It was originally meant as a cocktail for ladies, hence the pink colour, and contains gin, cherry brandy, pineapple juice, lime juice, Cointreau, Dom Benedictine, grenadine and Angostura Bitters. (I’m not sure how…
Hue’s Impressive Imperial Citadel
Little did we know that visiting Hue’s old fortified city, known as the citadel, was going to involve so much guesswork. Tragically, not much of Vietnam’s one-time royal domain and capital city remains in tact today, but that makes it all the more interesting to explore. Home to the Nguyen dynasty, at the time of construction, Hue’s citadel would have been a city fit for a king. It covered about five square kilometers on the north bank of the Perfume River and featured an imperial enclosure and the Forbidden Purple City where only emperors, concubines and invited guests were permitted. There were also temple compounds and residences. However, what visitors…
The Tailors of Hoi An, Vietnam
It doesn’t take long in Asia for the average westerner to feel enormous. The average Asian body shape is simply more slender than the ever-growing western shape. If clothes shopping, you quickly learn that cries of “This good size for you” are not to be trusted and you need the largest size of trousers. So, what should you do if you are in desperate need of some new threads while in Asia? Definitely head to Hoi An and get yourself to a tailor! The streets of the small centre of Hoi An are lined with tailors offering to create just about any outfit imaginable. Mannequins stand in shop fronts wearing…
Highlights of Little India, Singapore
Singapore’s colourful Little India can seem like a chaotic attack on the senses with bursts of colour, noise and fragrance greeting you around each corner. This vibrancy is key to the area’s identity, making it feel like you have stepped onto a street in Delhi, and makes Little India a unique stop on any trip to Singapore. Little India Arcade The first stop for many visitors to Serangoon Road is the Little India Arcade. The shops catering mainly to Indians, sell sari fabric, fruit and vegetables, Indian confectionary, sweets and snacks, religious artifacts, garland offerings, Indian music and clothes, but also offer handicrafts and souvenirs. There are a few specialty…
Why you should visit Banteay Srei
One of the less well-known temples of the ancient Angkor complex, Banteay Srei offers an interesting contrast to the typical architecture found at Angkor. The pretty little temple is a short distance further from Siem Reap than most of the other temples, but is definitely worth the extra effort. While Angkor Wat is the most famous temple of South East Asia and Angkor Thom was made famous by the Tomb Raider movies, Banteay Srei has been somewhat overlooked. How is Banteay Srei different from the other Angkor temples? Unlike most of the Angkor structures, Benteay Srei was not built by a king, but by a courtier. Constructed in the 10th…
Angkor Thom – An Ancient city in ruins
While Angkor Wat is the most famous of the ancient ruins at Angkor, there is also an enormous historical city. Featuring a royal palace, a Buddhist temple, the terrace of elephants, four impressive gateways and incredible bas-relief carvings, Angkor Thom is not to be missed. It was our first day exploring Angkor and we started with a big day. Angkor Thom is the largest of all the areas of the ancient Angkor sites, and in many ways, the most interesting. King Jayavarman VII built Angkor Thom in the late 1100s and parts of the area were developed, rather than constructed new, indicating the historic significance of the site. Angkor Thom…
