travels with an ageing punkrocker/publisher
Today’s the heading out of NYC to Saratoga Springs Day. Go north young man and all that. I didn’t necessarily feel so young dragging all my suitcases across the road to Penn Station, and through the crowds to where I had to board. When it comes to finding and boarding cross country trains, I think the UK does it better: […]
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I’m writing days 1 and 2 out of order because, basically, day 1 got a chunk written off in a migraine (then again, given I crossed about 13 time zones, it was a pretty long day). Dragged myself out of my migraine stupour and headed west in search of breakfast. I succeeded in the form of a ye olde style […]
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Weird to think that I’m on my way to New York City. Boarding is not for a while, I got through security etc in very little time so I’ve got a moment to chill in the Qantas lounge. The place could use an extra power point or two, but the air con is good and the peach iced tea is […]
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It’s been a while, and there are a few posts missing. And somewhere an update crunched the template I liked so there may be some further changes to how it looks around here. But enough of the boring stuff, a new trip is on the horizon! Next Sunday I’ll hop into a big ol jet airliner that will take me […]
Read moreMonday morning is hereby cancelled by order of hangover. We struggled down to the restaurant for lunch, thought a laksa might bring me to life but hotel version not the greatest. Back upstairs for a nap and a massage: I got the wonderful gentle one, L got tortured. Boarded a metro train to the next stop, a weird busy mix […]
Read moreRose early for the big fat Chinese wedding. The plan was for the boys to be on the road to the bride’s house by 9, but some things are cross cultural: when the bride’s hair and make-up isn’t ready, everyone waits. The cars for the groom’s party arrived and we piled in, briefed for our roles but still not prepared […]
Read moreI think it was the Pabst that gave me the crappy head, as I only had three very small measures of baijo. The hotel breakfast took most of this away, with all the staples plus some chicken noodle broth and some loal cardamom-flavoured doughnuts. The breakfast buffet does offer a wide selection, including broccolli/cauliflower, taro cakes, pumpkin balls, black rice […]
Read moreChina is a magnificent, ancient, land of culture. I am, if nothing else, maybe slightly above the average base grade western barbarian tourist. I don’t speak the local lingo, save for a handful of words (thank you, hello, pork dumplings, fire water/Chinese ‘Whisky’) and can read nothing in Chinese script. So I’m obviously prepared. The good news is that L […]
Read moreThis trip takes L and I behind the great firewall of China, and then across the alleged land of the free, the USA. Kind of in Nixon’s footsteps, so to speak, especially given the final stop of my itinerary is the World Fantasy Convention in Washington D.C., and I figure if anyone had world fantasies in D.C., ol’ Dickie Milhous […]
Read moreQantas lounge, Perth Airport. Next stop, London, to start the Ticonderoga takes on the British Isles tour. First stop is Loncon 3, the World Science Fiction Convention, where we’ll wheel and deal. Then it’s a few days down time in Plymouth with L’s aunt, before Dublin and Shamrokon to wheel and deal some more. L is already on the road, […]
Read moreToday was our last full day in HCMC, my last proper day of holidays (at least for now). L feeling a whole lot better, not 100% though, so after a pretty good hotel breakfast (pho, and lots of other little bites — and unlike the last hotel, no baconfail) we headed out for a wander and last shop. L got […]
Read moreFull day in HCMC/Saigon (actually no one calls it Ho Chi Minh City, it gets used for official things, but everyone still calls it Saigon). I’ve lost count of what day we’re up to on this trip, but it was Thursday (I think). Had breakfast with the few remaining members of our tour, same wretched hotel breakfast made palatable by […]
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