travels with an ageing punkrocker/publisher
Wrapped up our time in Laos this morning, with L choosing the chicken soup for breakfast and discovering why I’ve been sweating so early in the day (the chilli fish sauce packs quite a kick). Wrapped up with a stroll around the block and along the river, and finally bravely took the plunge and had a Laos coffee. FYI, Laos […]
Read moreToday’s rather accidental theme was water. After another good bowl of chicken noodle soup and too many chillies for breakfast, we headed into the jungle, aiming for the Tat Kuang Si bear rescue centre. This is home to a couple of dozen moon bears, beautiful creatures that wander around like big dogs until the stand up, and then you realise […]
Read moreIt’s okay, while today was about food, especially chillies, there’ll be no episodes or descriptions involving Laos plumbing (which is, so far, as good as anywhere). Laotians like it spicy. Some menus have a grading of 1-4 or 5, with 2 being “European spicy”, 3 being Laotian regular, and 4/5 roughly translates to “it goes to 11”. So far I’ve […]
Read moreDay started too early and too painful. Not sure if it was the Laos whisky, the soft pillows, the hard bed, the dehydration of flying, the change of routine, but I was awake before 5am with a headache that has buzzed me all day. Hotel breakfast was surprisingly pretty good: fruit, chicken noodle soup, good bread, and strong coffee from […]
Read moreThe day started way too damn early, up before dawn. It finished with a good meal, fine company, some booze, and with an extra hour thanks to these time zone things. The first leg, PER > SNG, was generally uneventful. L did the booking, so it was business class, but an older airplane so not super shiny and swish. Still, […]
Read moreAll up at 0324. Immunities injected in preceding weeks. Essentials (laptop, books, underwear) packed. Loved ones kissed goodbye. The heart of darkness beckons. I really shouldn’t blog before I’ve had coffee, or whatever local equivalent L and I are heading for. The long awaited trip is here: 3 weeks, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, with a bounce each way at Changi. Adventures […]
Read moreYup. Due to Life, the universe, and everything, I haven’t used my passport in over 2 years. I’ve lost my gold frequent flyer status, and have 6 months to rescue my silver. Some days it feels the furthest I’ve been lately is Mandurah, and regardless of what my ipod plays it doesn’t look like the cover of Born Sandy Devotional […]
Read moreLate checkout arranged. New suitcase bought. One Rueben on rye consumed (the Rueben weighed almost as much as the suitcase). Time for a brief pause as the sounds of New York assert themselves through the open window. Should probably catch up on the blogging. This is it, the last day in NYC. It’s been an amazing trip, seeing iconic landmarks, […]
Read moreFeel free to skip this one, it’s just a few random snippets for me to look back on maybe later. My ribs hurt. At first I thought it was because of my internal organs expanding to fit all of the food, but then I remembered the morning I woke up from a coughing fit, that seems more likely. Still coughing […]
Read moreThis is brought to you by a grant from the Western Australian Government Department of Culture and the Arts. This isn’t quite a convention wrap-up, but I am writing this as the train speeds south to New York City along the Hudson River, with Saratoga Springs behind me. But I’ll do a proper wrap up later. I’ll start by saying […]
Read moreWFC Day 3 Brought to you by a travel grant from the Western Australian Department of Culture and the Arts. There’s no hiding from it: the dealer room this year is quiet. Too quiet. The talk around the room is that it’s among the quietest ever. It’s not that people aren’t buying, more that people just aren’t coming into the […]
Read moreDay 1 of the World Fantasy Convention, brought to you by a grant from the Western Australian Department of Culture and the Arts. Itwould be fair to say that I was alittle slow this morning. Late night + alcohol + early morning = not the best start. It toof a full breakfast, with extra bacon and a very deep bottomless […]
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