If you’ve ever wondered how to ride a tricycle — or what it’s like to ride one in the Philippines — traveller Henry Bateman has some pointers.
Travel
Experiencing Vietnam, old school style
These days it seems almost unheard of: no mobile phone. No internet. No email. But there were rumours and maps — and traveller Jay Martin experienced unforgettable sights in Vietnam the old school way.
A visit to the world’s biggest fetish market
In Lome, capital of the tiny West African nation of Togo, traveller Claire Chaffey visits the world’s biggest fetish market to learn about their religion — and to pick up a couple of fetishes herself.
An expat opinion: lessons learnt from a year in Hanoi
With the new year just past, traveller Tabitha Carvan, situated in Hanoi, reflects on the unusual lessons she learned in 2011 — including that your eyeballs can sweat and it’s amazing how hard it is to die of food poisoning.
Christmas without the tradition and religion? Welcome to Vietnam
As a Christmas hater, Tabitha Carvan thought Vietnam would be a perfect place to skip it. Except, every year, come December 1, the whole of Hanoi is instantly festooned with fairy lights, fake snow, and electric Santas playing saxophones.
Madame Bessiere and the gypsies
Travelling from Rome to Barcelona, entranced by the idea of embarking on a Gypsy pilgrimage to Les Saintes Maries, John Newton made his way to France and checked into the lush and “engagingly eccentric” Nord-Pinus.
Who advised your trip? Reviewing the top travel review sites
As the year winds up, the Christmas holiday season kicks off. But how do you pick one hotel over another? Which travel sites do you trust? Jess Gregory has some pointers.
PHOTO GALLERY The stars, baby, the stars…
Bob Gosford went camping at the Gippsland lakes and pointed his camera towards the sky. This is what he saw…
Visiting Japan’s tsunami-devastated towns eight months on
During the One Day on Earth project — held on 11.11.11 — Paul Johannessen headed into Ishinomaki, eight months since Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Dios mio, these tacos are worth a trip to New York
Chavela’s is one of the hubs where the hipsters in New York congregate. Great Mexican food, a motley collection of clientele and unfailingly attractive and friendly staff make it an unforgettable eatery, writes Caroline Regidor.
Halloween in the Mormon capital
Ringed by mountains, Salt Lake City is picturesque and the cleanliness of the streets and the architecture and lack of people made it feel like a movie set. It was an odd place to spend Halloween, says Julia Gardiner.
Summer reading: So long, and thanks for all the sour cream
After living in Warsaw, Poland for three years, Jay Martin moves back home to Oz. She bids farewell to her adopted home and reviews how successful her expat life was.
I cock-a-doodle-do
As an Aussie expat living in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tabitha Carvan was super excited for her traditional Vietnamese wedding. Until she learnt that she’d be sharing the space with a cock-fighting tournament…
On the road: travelling through Nevada’s sun-scorched Death Valley
In the lagging hours of a slow afternoon last year, Julia Gardiner agreed: “let’s do a road trip in the US.” With a picture of a half-naked Bruce Springstein hanging from the back of their SUV, Gardiner and a friend headed to Nevada and Death Valley.
Tales of summer from an American Girl Scout camp
Never having camped before and possessing zero outdoor skills, Laura Burgoine decided she was as suitable a candidate as any to be a camp counsellor in the United States after finishing high school.
W H Chong’s Elements of Roman Style: VI
W H Chong, travelling through Rome, writes about the locals response to Silvio Berlusconi’s departure and the astounding wealth of St Peter’s Basilica.
W H Chong: pleasuring the palette in Rome
Savouring the sights, sounds and tastes of Italy, W H Chong saunters between cafes and restaurants. On the menu: pumpkin pizza, degustazione di baccala and salami and cheese.
The post-modern bogan: not so poor after all
Young people travel to Europe, drink too much wine and have too much sex. What is concerning is how Australians are increasingly being linked to the more shocking acts of vandalism, theft and general stupidity, says former tour guide Ben Oliver.
A visit to Joyce’s beloved Trieste, the ‘mongrel city’
Its multi-national melting pot of rulers and ruled arguably explains the reputation of Trieste, Italy as a haven for distinguished exiles, misfits and eccentrics, notably writers and thinkers — of whom Trieste has hosted its fair share, says Grant Doyle.
Colour me Brooklyn
In the melting pot that is Brooklyn, Australians are considered exotic. Living there is like traversing through different worlds, says traveller Caroline Regidor, who soaks up the borough’s diverse culture.
Oman: where dolphins and turquoise water meet camels with birth control bags
Venise Alstergren headed off to Oman to see if it lived up to the glowing praise Lonely Planet had given it. She found deserts, mountains, arty coffee shops and a fascinating political state ruled by an aging Sultan with no heirs.
Just 50,000 of my closest music loving friends and a small hurricane
The season-ending Bestival on the Isle of Wight is a smaller version of Glastonbury. Weather forecasts for the weekend had Nicola Heath in a frenzy of sun-loving, Antipodean dread.
New York, how do I love thee
There are 14 million people in the United States currently looking for work. But that’s not enough to stop Caroline Regidor moving to the city of dreams to hang out with artists, hipsters and Occupy Wall Street protestors.
Battling it out with Colombia’s CIA
Colombia’s new tourism slogan “the only risk is wanting to stay” is so true traveller James Salmon landed himself in an encounter with the dreaded DAS.
The blood, sweat and fears in riding an elephant
Deep within Thailand, north of the city of Chiang Mai and near the Burmese border, is a Mahout Training School. Matt Smith recounts his adventures riding an elephant with his wife Justine.
