iftravels

Walking to Pakxeng

June 12, 2003

Luang Prabang June, 2003 I had been in Laos a few days, in the town of Luang Prabang and could not wait to explore the countryside. Being severely allergic to tour groups meant going on a solo walkabout. So I set off from Luang Prabang, heading north-east, thinking to go walking for week or so. … More Walking to Pakxeng

Tourists of Another Stripe

June 3, 2003

Bangkok, Thailand June 3, 2003 Bangkok is chock full of tourists, the SARS scare notwithstanding. They fill up the cafes, bars and restaurants in town, crowd the beaches in the south and stream to the hills in the north. They travel here in couples and groups but the majority of the tourists are men. Young … More Tourists of Another Stripe

Hog Heaven

May 27, 2003

Banglamphu, Bangkok May 27, 2003 Bangkok swelters under blazing sunshine and the humidity is off the charts. I duck under some shade but there is no respite from the heat. It is the kind of heat where you slowly melt into a puddle simply sittng still. I am in the Banglamphu area of Bangkok sitting … More Hog Heaven

Have You Eaten my Mother’s Tagine?

December 27, 2002

Marrakesh, Morocco, Dec 27th, 2002 “Ca va?” I heard as I walked past the shops heading toward the square. It came from the trio of young men as they lounged in one of the park benches placed at intervals along the pavement. A common practice in this part of the world to strike up a … More Have You Eaten my Mother’s Tagine?

Music of Marrakesh

December 25, 2002

Djemma-El-Fna Marrakesh December 25th, 2002 I am sitting at a café overlooking the square called Djemma-el-Fna enjoying a glass of mint tea. The vast quantities of sugar take some getting used to, but it is hot and the taste and fragrance of fresh mint is habit-forming. Of course, I may well be bouncing off the … More Music of Marrakesh

Up the Wall

June 5, 2002

Huang Hua, China June 4, 2002 Despite the dire forebodings of Jing, back at the guesthouse, I had made it to the Dong Zhi Men bus station successfully on bus number 416 and now I had to find the 916. I sputtered out the Chinese phrase I had been told to say, sounding – at … More Up the Wall

In Sierra Nevada Parque Nacional

January 3, 2002

Merida, Venezuela December 29, 2001 It is just as well that I did not set out for the trek today; I couldn’t have. I have been paying for the revelry last night and hanging out in the hammock for most of the day is just the recipe. That and stocking up with food and fuel. … More In Sierra Nevada Parque Nacional

Yenni’s Tale

June 29, 2001

June 29th, 2001 Arusha, Tanzania I met a woman tonight. She is from the Netherlands, fifty eight years of age and calls herself Yenni. Gray haired and soft-spoken she is. I had noticed her the first day I stayed here at the Meru Inn. But I had not spoken to her then. Tonight we sat … More Yenni’s Tale

On Safari

June 16, 2001

Masai Mara, Kenya, June 13th, 2001 I am on a safari-bound jeep heading toward the Maasai Mara National Reserve. There are five others in our group. Sofie and Michel are from Sweden. Henny and his father are from the Netherlands. Gary is from Scotland and there’s myself. Steve, our Kenyan driver seems taciturn at best. … More On Safari

Peligroso!

January 20, 2001

Ventilla, Bolivia January 20th, 2001 There are mountains on all sides of La Paz, but there is one in particular that has caught my eye. I wanted to go trekking along a trail in the Cordillera Real. The topographic map that managed to buy at one store shows a trail that starts from a Quechua … More Peligroso!