Travel Tales: Analee Matthews
Name: Analee Matthews Age: 38 Occupation: Editor, Fitness First magazine. Favourite travel destination?: Vietnam. Worst travel experience?: I think every experience is valuable even if it’s not enjoyable at the time. Best meal you’ve ever had while travelling?: The street-fare in Vietnam (pho/noodle soup, rice paper rolls). Best/scariest/funniest drive?: The old route 66 in the US – [...]
Packing Guide for Thailand and Vietnam
There are certain idiosyncrasies that it’s worth knowing about before you head off to South East Asia, particularly for the ladies, as there are quite strict standards of dress at some religious sites. Here’s my foolproof guide to not looking / feeling like a total d*ckhead in Asia: 1. Cover up It might be 35 [...]
Asian vs Western Attitude: Jai yen yen (cool heart)
Thai and Vietnamese people are fundamentally hospitable, friendly and almost a little bit innocent. I know I am generalising and that is always dangerous but this has been my consistent observation over two trips to both countries or, put another way, 13 months of waiting for someone to lose their cool. So far, it hasn’t [...]
Pretty in the city: A guide to Hanoi and Bangkok
I am a low maintenance kind of girl most of the time. I would like to be prissier but it takes a lot of time to get your hair and nails done. Fortunately, in South East Asia you can indulge your wildest princess urges without having to max out your credit card or spend every [...]
The best things about fancy hotels
My family used to go on camping holidays. One memorable night, it rained so heavily that there was a river of water flowing under our tent. Fortunately, we were on airbeds so we floated right on over it. Camping is so much fun because it takes you waaaay outside your normal life. You fall asleep [...]
Tipster Tuesday: Thailand and Vietnam
Guess who’s going to Thailand and Vietnam in two weeks’ time? Uh, that would be me. The utterly delightful people at Thai Airways are sending me on a little adventure. To say I am excited would be like saying the Dalai Lama is a good bloke. I am beside myself. I am travelling from 3rd [...]
Weird foods of the world
One thing that simultaneously amuses and horrifies me in other countries is the menu. I love that you can waltz up to a street vendor only to discover that your options are stuffed cockroaches, deep-fried crickets or pickled centipedes. That is something you most definitely cannot get at home. When I lived in Thailand, eating out [...]
Hungry in Hanoi
Hungry in Hanoi By Maggie Videan Hanoi is a wonderful city, busy and bustling, with a feast of fabulous local eateries that are well priced and boast wonderful fare. As such, my short sojourn in Hanoi was enhanced by the fact that I am such a ‘foodie’; I was in my element out and about savouring [...]
