See the World Differently
As soon as we stepped out of our minibus, the man appeared. He had wild black hair and piercing eyes and held out his hand as he waited impatiently for payment. With a fist full of dollars, he set off along an overgrown path into the jungle. We followed. After a short but sweaty walk […]
Partway up the hill we came across a small, grassy plateau. A row of people stood in silence, bent double with their heads between their legs. Coloured banners flapped in the breeze, each adorned with a cartoon-like character demonstrating the same inverted pose. We joined the line, turned our backs to the sea and assumed […]
Escaping the chaos of the main street, with its tacky souvenir shops, crowded cafes and taxi traffic jam, we weaved through a restaurant and out onto the steps behind. The silence enveloped us as we stood in awe of the view. Golden rice terraces stretched the length of the valley, as far as the eye […]
Bright flowers bobbed down the Ganges in leafy baskets, each with a tiny flame flickering in the centre. The incense from the offerings wafted across the water to the crowds seated on the riverbank. The devotees raised their arms as one, chanting along with the preachers. Across the river, holy men crouched on the steps […]
“Um, what? Where?” was my response the first time I heard about Tayto Castle. Despite being one of the UK’s largest crisp manufacturers, I’d never even heard of Tayto, let alone their castle. I was assured this was a highlight of Northern Ireland, right up there with the Giant’s Causeway. It was only when we […]
The timid young girl carefully extracted a strip of the pink, fish-flavoured treat from the bag. Every furred head turned, with envious green eyes transfixed by this highly coveted reward. They moved as one, a wave of fluff and claws sweeping across the floor of the cat cafe, enveloping the hapless girl’s feet in a […]
The French knight screamed in agony as his arm was hacked off, fingers still tightly curled around the shaft of the English standard. Thomas D’anyers wasted no time in retrieving the Black Prince’s standard and rushing to his aid. Sir Thomas’ reward for this act of bravery included the land now occupied by Lyme Park. […]
The Fujikawa Maru is widely regarded as one of the best wreck dives in the world. We had fun looking through dozens of artifacts and delving deep inside the ship. Built in 1938, this cargo ship was requisitioned by the Japanese Navy for the war effort just two years later. The vessel and her crew […]
Strips of squid blister and curl on the hot plate while tightly packed skewers of chicken sizzle and spit over an open flame. Hungry patrons hunch over piping hot noodle soup, served in disposable bowls. With a blur of chopsticks, they inhale the noodles noisily. Nearby, freshly grilled fish-shaped cakes are nibbled with care lest […]
As the lid was lifted off the basket, the snake’s head wove upwards. Its beady unblinking eyes were cautiously alert, its hood flaring out in a defensive display. The head continued to weave in time with the haunting tones of the pungi, a curious wind instrument made from a gourd. The snake charmer was clad […]