The magic of Myanmar- Part 4 Trekking into 2010
(Continued from last week- Part 3 Boats, Bicycles and Balloons in Bagan)
It’s difficult to top hot air ballooning as a mode of transport, after our experience in Bagan I envisioned car and bus trips as a thing of that past. Why deal with insane drivers and potholes when you can jump into a basket and be whisked away in a balloon? Birds never seem to suffer road rage or queues of bumper-to-bumper beaks.
24 Hours in Hanoi
The Vietnamese capital has long been on my destination shortlist and when the boyfriend came to visit I didn’t think twice about telling him how vital a visit to Hanoi was on his first trip to Asia. (After a visit to Angkor Wat first- of course). On the 10th of October this year Hanoi will be turning 1000, it’s a good thing cities don’t get cakes with candles them. Having spent 5 days getting to grips with it, I have taken the highlights and compiled the ideal day in Hanoi.
The Yumi effect
There has been a certain buzz in the air, one that has been in circulation for a while now. In the eye of this flurry of excitement is a Londoner, a Japanese style eatery and the Cambodian capital.
I have seen smiles spread across faces like wildfire at the mention of the name Yumi and overheard highly animated conversations dance around it too. In a city that has a substantial number of eating venues – this is saying something.
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Hong Kong je t'aime
Whether it’s a stopover or a destination, Hong Kong is not to be missed. Zig zag the city by train, tram, ferry or cable car but be sure to experience even a few of its must-do’s.
Hong Kong is a city unlike any other and one that won me over from the word ‘go’. The sheer number of contrasts that vie for space on its various surfaces is the stuff of magic – which makes my favourite activity here getting lost and then found again.
For those new to the city there are some boxes that simply have to be ticked and for those more familiar with it, the number of quirky chic places and experiences just keep growing.
Here are a few suggestions for a day in Hong Kong, conjured up from my own experiences and curiosity:
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Girl walks into a restaurant...
“What are you going to eat!?” are the words that somersaulted from my flatmates mouth, closely followed by a bemused/incredulous expression when I told her that I was going to be writing a review of Fish Restaurant this week.
A bit of background is necessary at this point in time, for what I was telling her was hardly an uncommon exchange between people. Her aerobic facial response was however, not unfounded.
I am my own lab rat and inspired by my surroundings I recently blurted out a desire to abandon meat for an entire year while sitting at a vegan restaurant with friends.
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Le Quay to post-work unwinding
There were a few suggestions for this week’s piece; one of them involved needles, my face and the word ‘botox’. Another involved fish and being nibbled in a spa-like environment in the name of exfoliation. And neither of them elicited any response from me. Not of the verbal kind anyway.
The unbearable weight of being
Travel and new environments bring with them many new experiences, knowledge and memories. And extra weight- of the personal variety. When will we learn that a holiday itinerary does not equate a passport to an unlimited kingdom of calories?
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Think of the Small Things...
As with everything in life, there are pluses and minuses. And when it comes to fashion - life in a tropical climate holds no exception. The trick is to only focus on the pluses. So instead of bemoaning the versatility that mittens, scarves, boots, tights and coats offer us, let's embrace the friend of the light dresser: accessories.
Russian Market made easy
Anyone who has ever set foot within Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh will be familiar with the words 'Russian Market'. It has its own little box to tick on the city's must-see list. I'm even reminded of it when I'm shopping in London. All I need to do is pick up a t-shirt at H&M and read the Made In Cambodia label to be instantly transported to the smells and sounds that make up the tourists favourite market in Phnom Penh.
Olympic Market Comes Under the Spotlight
It's big, confusing and smells of incense (in places). I'm at the market- Olympic Market to be exact- to see what, if anything, it has to offer wardrobes around the capital. Phnom Penh's markets are always entertaining and I have done the circuit enough times to know that I'm not going to unearth any vintage Yves Saint Laurent on this expedition. However, there are many degrees between: designer collector's pieces and "yes-I-can-see-myself-going-out-to-dinner-in-that"...