Bollywood movies and butter chicken
The fabulous Hong Kong has come and gone in a flash. Now, on an Air India flight, I’m having a few qualms. Not least because the toilet doors don’t lock […]
NOTEBOOK
Canter past Patagonian icefields. Sail the tranquil waters of Lake Como in Italy. Sip coffee in a Palestinian village. Listen to the ancient voices of Australia’s Arnhem Land. Climb the mountain paths of northern Albania. Let’s go!
The price is (not) right in Hong Kong
The hottest story in Hong Kong right now – after the discussion about the unseasonal smog on the city this month – is about its property prices. Yesterday, the real […]
Feeling low but seeing Hong Kong on high
Ohhhhhhh the comedown. I am in a hotel in Hong Kong, and all in front of me I can see the harbour and my lovely ship – which is sailing […]
Snoozing and cruising on the Seabourn Oddity
Today is the last day before we reach Hong Kong, where something like two-thirds of the ship gets off. There are about 130 world cruisers – those travelling from go […]
Brunei and the logistics of eating
Well, here they are: the gold domes of Brunei’s Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin mosque with its gold domes, in the country’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB for short). With its […]
Cruising in the South China sea
The longer you stay on a cruise ship, the harder it is to get off. Champagne and corned beef hash at breakfast? Why not? Not me, but I’ve also seen […]
Equators, evil spirits and the power of silence
We’ve just crossed the Equator, and people, can I tell you, there was no red line. I think that might be an oil rig on the horizon, but other than […]
Maidens at sea: Seabourn Odyssey
The Indonesian island of Bali has just slid into view, complete with halo of puffy clouds. As you might have guessed, we’re not in Australia anymore, Toto. Sorry for the […]
Psst, King Tut going cheap
Learn to keep mum when shopping in the mother country of civilisation. ‘Let me give you some advice for shopping in Egypt,” said the elderly Cleopatra on my second day […]
Because you asked…
Well it’s been three weeks since I hit home after almost a year in Egypt. There’s a definite pattern in the questions I’ve been asked since I’ve been back, so […]