The name Hoi An translates as “peaceful meeting place” — and it has been much more peaceful for us than Hanoi was, or (I expect) than Ho Chi Minh City will be. After a peaceful night’s sleep, we wo…

ALT: Pinocchio's Nose Grows After a Lie

I would have liked to spend another day in Hué, but we have places to go. After breakfast we pile into the bus and begin the long and winding road over the mountains and through the Hai Van Pass, p…

ALT: HAL 9000: I'm Afraid I Can't Do That Dave

We’ve checked in at our hotel, the beautiful and aptly named Asia Hotel, in Hué. Getting here was an adventure. After our brief moment in Ha Long Bay, we boarded the bus back to Hanoi. We’d already…

The lime green water shimmers in the sunlight like leaves in a morning breeze. We are motoring quietly through the bay, along with other similar boats, towards Sung Sot Cave, a large-ish limestone …

We woke early and had breakfast at the hotel. Pho ga, Vietnamese donuts, hard-boiled eggs, fruit and coffee, for me. Then, shortly after 9 am, we boarded the bus to Ha Long Bay. We have a local gui…

ALT: Always Be Closing - Glengarry Glen Ross

ALT: Milhouse Throwing Frisbee

After a good night’s sleep, we woke feeling refreshed. The air con helps. Our room is clean, comfortable and cool. Everything I want and need. We’re staying at La Dolce Vita Hotel, in the old quart…

Hanoi is hot. Sticky hot. Over 40C with the humidity. Between that and my jet lag, I haven’t done much exploring yet. After arriving at the airport, we met up with the contact we’d arranged to get …

There is so much waiting involved in travel. So much time spent standing in queues or sitting in waiting areas. And that’s after the journey begins. It doesn’t contemplate the weeks and months spen…

ALT: South Park: Underpants Gnomes' Phase 1

YouTube video by BizarreTrek