I write The Mango Road because I got tired of travel blogs and magazines that seem more interested in telling me about the ten or fifteen things I must buy/eat/do. I travel because I'm fascinated by the places I visit, their history, landscapes and the people I meet there. |

The North Borneo Railway: Steaming Back in Time
The fireman throws logs into the already roaring fire, a whistle blows, and in a cloud of steam and smoke, locomotive number 6-016 chuffs out into a sun-drenched

A bicycle ride around Koh Kret: Island in the city
Despite the trappings of modern life around it, the island has remained steadfastly rural and is an oasis of peace just a short hop from the city.

Anak Krakatau: A giant slumbers
As the sun went down Anak Krakatau woke up. The activity increased surprisingly rapidly and by nightfall I was treated to a firework display like no other.

A formula for crossing the road in Hanoi
The hotel I stayed at in Hanoi offered this advice with regard to crossing the road: Be relaxed and confident. Look both ways. Walk slowly. Never step backwards

Art walking in Penang’s living gallery
One of the joys of exploring Penang’s street art is that new works pop up with no announcement while old works fade or are painted over as buildings are renovated

Hiking in Hong Kong: Violet Hill and The Twins
“Violent Hill, I call it,” remarked a former colleague of mine. She didn’t say what she called The Twins, she doesn’t approve of strong language.
Simon Winchester, struck by a sudden need to discover what was left of the British Empire, set out to visit the far-flung islands that are all that remain of what once made Britain great. He traveled 100,000 miles, from Antarctica to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean to the Far East, to capture a last glint of imperial glory.
His adventures in these distant and forgotten ends of the earth make compelling, often funny reading and tell a story most of us had thought was over: a tale of the last outposts in Britain’s imperial career and those who keep the flag flying.
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