A special guest post by Barbara Weibel. A Vacation Where No Building is Higher than a Coconut Tree I stepped off the speed boat that had whisked me from the mainland of Thailand to Koh Mak, a tiny island in the far eastern Gulf of Thailand near the Cambodian border and realized I’d found paradise. [...]
Nadaam – the Nomad Olympics in Mongolia
This is a guest series called “Unforgettable Travel Moments“. We all have our special travel moments: a memorable meal, meeting someone, an embarrassing faux pas or simply being awestruck by scenery. With this new series, I hope to uncover the moments, the anecdotes and the tales which make travel special. This week’s guest post and [...]
Phuket: a sweet and sour harmony
Thai cuisine is based on a simple philosophy: the harmonious mixing of the five basic tastes – sweet, sour, salty, spicy and bitter. In that same manner, the Island of Phuket is a fusion of all these flavours and represents, in its own unique manner, the essential Thailand. Sweet Urban Life If this is your [...]
Confusing cuisine in Cambodia
Delicious curries, soups and rice dishes are first to spring to mind when thinking of Cambodian cuisine. Often described as ‘Thai without the heat’, Cambodian, or Khmer, cooking has a lot in common with its neighbouring Southeast Asian cuisines, however, below is a list of some of their more unique delicacies: Prahok Prahok, or fermented [...]
Now is the time to visit Burma
A special guest post by Nick Pulley, founder of Selective Asia. For the last four decades, the people of Burma (Myanmar) have withstood one of the harshest regimes in modern history. The country’s military rulers, a cabal known as “the Generals”, have been unquestionably corrupt, imprisoning members of the opposition and refusing to acknowledge overwhelming [...]
Ten things to do in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of the most fascinating cities in Asia. With its awe-inspiring skyline and cosmopolitan buzz, Hong Kong lives up to its billing as the ‘Manhattan of Asia’ with true verve. To many visitors, Hong Kong may seem daunting at first but once you get past the gleaming skyscrapers, sprawling malls and neon-lit [...]
Confusing cuisine in China
Confusing cuisine: from stinky tofu to century eggs in China! Have you ever wondered what the equivalents of some of our stranger delicacies like toad in the hole and jellied eels are across the world? What better place to start exploring slightly strange and confusing foods than China – here are just a few examples [...]
Dubai: desert to dream
The definition of a desert is: an excessively dry region of extreme temperatures with little or no life. The definition of Dubai is: a fully air-conditioned region of ultimate comfort, overflowing with life. But isn’t Dubai a desert? It is, but an unconventional one. Let us try and define it in more detail. Dry [...]
Velvet moments: travel photo of the week – East meets West in Penang
Penang is a melting pot of Eastern and Western influences and this is aptly reflected in its cuisine. From delicious breads to mouth-watering laksa, Penang is a true culinary paradise! Read the accompanying post: “Ten Things To Do in Penang“. Search for hotels in Penang.
My velvet escape travel tip: Goa
“My velvet escape travel tip” is a guest series about what the name ‘Velvet Escape’ evokes and what that would be in the hometown or favourite place of the guest writer. With this series, I hope to uncover travel tips from places around the world to help visitors have a truly local experience. Today’s guest [...]
About Keith Jenkins
I'm Keith Jenkins. In July 2008, I left my ten-year banking career to travel around the world. I've not looked back since.
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