The long hangover: returning from an around the world adventure

I came back four and a half months ago. These four months have felt longer than any of the year that preceded them. The reason is simple: I’m back to routine.…


West Kalimantan, the place that time forgot

The warm Pontianak air hit me with a hard, humid slap. Touts jostled for attention at Bandara Supadio, vying for my money. I flew in from Kuching, my home city…


They used to call me Pineapple

There are several ways of travelling and scarce ways of remaining in a nation’s conscience. But I did for more than 45 years. Here’s my story. They used…


Bali and Indonesia, a renewed perspective on paradise

When I first travelled to Bali, Bali meant so many novelties in my life. It was a first time in Asia, a first time in a surfing mecca, a first time in what my…


The power of spontaneity

The bus from Ho Chi Minh took around 6 hours, seems to have come straight out of the seventies and doesn’t have air conditioning. Once I got to the…


Bad weather is a state of mind

Bad weather is something we humans have made up. It’s a bad way to start the day, giving clouds, strong winds or rain an unnecessary negative connotation.…