The Mango Road

Putting the life back into lifestyle

  • More Travel Features
    • China
      • All along the Watchtowers
      • The Fire Carts of Xishi
      • Walking the Line
    • Hong Kong
      • Hiking: Ghost Brides and Haunted Villages
      • Ping Shan Heritage Trail
      • Salt, fish and the Battle of Tai O Bay
      • The waterways of Tai Tam
      • The Tai Tam West catchwater
      • Veggies and Rebellion
      • Violet Hill and The Twins
      • The Green Hub
    • India
      • Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: The little blue train
      • War, subterfuge and a nice cup of tea
    • Indonesia
      • Botanical Gradens, Bogor
      • The sweet smell of steam
      • Sunrise over Gunung Bromo
    • Laos
      • Watching the river flow
    • Malaysia
      • The Jungle Line
      • Penang’s Living Art Gallery
      • Climbing Mt Kinabalu
      • North Borneo Railway
    • Nepal
      • High as a Kite
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok on foot
      • Historic towns of the Sukhothai Kingdom
      • Sukhothai, The Cradle of Thai Civilisation
      • Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam
      • Simian City
      • Ko Kret: Potters Island
      • Wat Pariwat aka Wat David Beckham
  • A Postcard from …
    • Bagan
    • Cambodia
      • Angkor
      • Silk islands of Koh Dach
    • Darjeeling
    • Hanoi
    • Hong Kong
      • An abandoned Hakka mansion
      • Devil beating in Causeway Bay
      • Nong Ping and Big Buddha
    • Kolkata
    • Krakatau
    • Singapore
    • Thong Pha Phum
  • Airports
    • Cambodia – Phnom Penh
    • Hong Kong – Chek Lap Kok
    • Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, KLIA2
    • Thailand – Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi
    • Thailand – Bangkok, Don Mueang
    • Vietnam – Noi Bai, Hanoi
    • Vietnam – Da Nang
  • Food
    • Tai O Lookout – Hong Kong
    • Beer Republic – Bangkok
    • Glenary’s – Darjeeling
    • Shanak’s – Phnom Penh
    • Som Tam – Some Like it Hotter
    • Chops – Hanoi
    • 80/20 – Bangkok
    • Coliseum Cafe & Bar – Kuala Lumpur
    • Guppy’s – Bangkok
    • Kunga – Darjeeling
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Thailand

Thailand, Vietnam opening up Bangkok by foot - Temples, Palaces and Parks
Features Thailand 

Bangkok on foot – Temples, palaces and parks

4th April 20207th October 2024 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

Bangkok by foot – Temples, Palaces and Parks as well as ornate bridges and shophouses. On foot is by far the best way to see this awesome city

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Historic Towns of the Sukhothai Kingdom
Features Thailand 

Historic towns of the Sukhothai Kingdom

29th February 202020th January 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

Historic Towns of the Sukhothai Kingdom Two locations close to Sukhothai that form part of the same group of UNESCO

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Beer, burgers, ribs and chips
Eating Thailand 

Beer, burgers, ribs and chips

15th February 20206th November 2023 The Mango Road 0 Comments air_eat

Trying to review a pub with over a hundred beers on the menu is asking for trouble. In my youth I would probably have seen it as a challenge, these days I’m a little more cautious.

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Sukhothai, the cradle of Thai civilisation
Features Thailand 

Sukhothai, the cradle of Thai civilisation

8th February 202014th December 2024 The Mango Road 2 Comments Stories

The Sukhothai era is regarded as the cradle of Thai civilisation. It had originally been a trade centre and part of the Lavo Kingdom which was under Khmer rule

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Elephants lead the way
News Thailand 

Elephants lead the way

2nd February 20202nd May 2023 The Mango Road 0 Comments

Eco-tourism Recreation Koh Lanta in southern Thailand, has re-invented and rebranded itself as Following Giants.

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Elephant boats on the Chao Phraya
News Thailand 

Elephant boats on the Chao Phraya River

24th January 202029th January 2020 The Mango Road 0 Comments

Move aside dragons, elephant boat racing is here. From February 28 to March 1 the second annual Elephant Boat Race and River Festival will be held on the Chao Phraya River

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Simian City The monkeys of Lopburi
Features Thailand 

Simian City: The Monkeys of Lopburi

30th December 201910th August 2024 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

It’s early morning in Lopburi, and a monkey has grabbed a bottle of yummy looking yellow liquid and is scampering off along the cables attached to the side of a building.

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Som tam: Some like it hotter
Eating Thailand 

Som tam: Some like it hotter

17th December 20193rd April 2025 The Mango Road 2 Comments air_eat

Som tam: Some like it hotter I asked the internet what the national dish of Thailand was, it came up

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The art of walking
Events Thailand 

The art of walking streets

12th December 20192nd May 2023 The Mango Road 0 Comments

The art of walking From December 13-15th Yaowarat in Bangkok’s Chinatown (above) will become a walking street from 19.00 until

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Ten out of ten for 80/20
Eating Thailand 

Ten out of ten for 80/20

25th October 201931st October 2023 The Mango Road 0 Comments air_eat

“Ingredients,” said the waitress, answering my query about the restaurants name. “We source 80 percent of all out ingredients locally, only 20 percent are imported.”

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CONCERTS AND SHOWS


FESTIVAL The Rainforest World Music Festival will take to the stage in Sarawak, Malaysia, from July 20th to 22nd. The event, now in its 28th year, showcases traditional and modern music from around the world, as well as local artists.

The theme this year is “Connections: One Earth, One Love” and heading the show will be Al McKay, Guitarist and Musical Director of the highly acclaimed funk/Soul/Jazz outfit, Earth, Wind and Fire. Also on the bill will be Otyken from Siberia and, representing their home, At Adau, who blend ancestral traditions with contemporary world music.

There are also workshops to encourage greater participation in culture and creativity as well as music and dance. And, of course, there will be some awesome food. More info here and tickets here

My latest project is now available in bookshops ac My latest project is now available in bookshops across Hong Kong.

Unlike most guidebooks on Hong Kong, this one delves deep into a region that is often ignored yet is replete with ancient monuments and temples, picturesque monasteries, abandoned villages and a network of excellent, well-maintained hiking trails.

Most of the attractions are free or very inexpensive and can be easily accessed using Hong Kong’s excellent public transport systems, details of which are included.
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The Cotai Strip, Macau. Sometimes referred to as t The Cotai Strip, Macau. Sometimes referred to as the Las Vegas of the East, Cotai is a parcel of reclaimed land given over almost entirely to casinos and hotels. The replica landmarks make it popular place with instagram enthusiasts and wedding photographers.
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#cotaistripmacau #london #paris #venice #casino #hotels #lasvegasoftheeast #instagrammers
A-Ma Temple, Macau. The temple was built in 1488 t A-Ma Temple, Macau. The temple was built in 1488 to honour the sea goddess, Mazu aka Tin Hau, the most revered deity along the South China coastal regions.
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#macau #macau🇲🇴 #macautravel #macauig #macau_ig#china #amatemple #tinhau #mazu #temple #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #travel #travelphotography #travelgram
Notice the scale of the clouds against the trees. Notice the scale of the clouds against the trees. 
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Sunset at the Laban Rata rest house, 3,272 metres (10,375ft) above sea level on Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
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The imposing outer walls of San Wai, a walled vill The imposing outer walls of San Wai, a walled village in Lung Yuek Tau which was founded in 1744. The houses within have all since been rebuilt to modern standards with electricity and plumbing, but the village still retains its original layout. 
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A central lane leads from the gatehouse to a communal shrine on the rear wall. The houses on either side are tightly packed into narrow alleys but along the inner walls at the back and sides, there is still room for trees, garden areas and small vegetable plots. The moat, which once surrounded the village, has since been filled in to create space for villagers to park their cars.
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Chapel of Our Lady of Penha The church built in 1 Chapel of Our Lady of Penha

The church built in 1622 by the crew of the Portuguese ship São Bartholomeu who, after escaping from Dutch pursuers, vowed to build a church to commemorate the Virgin Mary if they made it back to Macau.

#macau #macau_ig #macau🇲🇴 #macao #church #citynights #addicted_to_nights #nightphotography #nightimages #nightlights #nightphoto #dusk #cityscape #urbanlandscape #urbanromantix #buildings #buildingporn #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #travel #travelphotography #travelgram
Lantau Peak looking dramatic. At 934 metres (3,064 Lantau Peak looking dramatic. At 934 metres (3,064 ft) above sea level the mountain is the highest point on Lantau island and the second highest in Hong Kong.
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#lantaupeak #鳳凰山 #lantau #lantauisland #southlantau #landscape #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #naturelover #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #hongkongphotography #countrypark #wonderful_places #peacefulplace #bythisriver #estuary #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveldeeper #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere
An old tree catches the bright, early morning ligh An old tree catches the bright, early morning light in Shap Long. I've no idea what kind of tree but it is a rather attractive one. It also serves as a reminder, on my morning walks, that another steep hill is imminent.
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Shap Long is a small village on the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula in southern Lantau.
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The chrysanthemums, among many others, are in bloo The chrysanthemums, among many others, are in bloom at the Wun Chuen Sin Koon Taoist Temple in Hong Kong’s New Territories.
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#wunchuensinkoon #temple #monastery #chinesetemple #shrine #religion #hongkonghistory #pingche #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #travel #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict #themoderndayexplorer
Water buffalo. . . . #waterbuffalo #buffalo #herd Water buffalo.
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This fellow turned up on my balcony Tuesday, he's This fellow turned up on my balcony Tuesday, he's been residing in one of my potted plants since then. It's a bit late in the season really, the neighbourhood insects have already started shutting up shop for the winter, so I don't know what he's going to eat.
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#prayingmantis #giantasianprayingmantis #hierodulamembranacea #prayingmantisofinstagram #mantis #bugs #insectsofinstagram #mantidsofinstagram #bug #mantids #insectphotography #insect #insect_perfection #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #creepycrawly #abugslife #nature #insectworld #bugsofinstagram
The throne hall at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, The throne hall at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Its official name is Preah Barom Reacheaveang Chaktomuk Serey Mongkol and was built between 1866 and 1870 after the capital was relocated to Phnom Penh and, except during the Khmer Rouge period, has been the residence of Khmer monarchs ever since.
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Hire a bamboo raft and cruise down the spectacular Hire a bamboo raft and cruise down the spectacular Li River. towards the ancient village of Xingping, near Yangshuo, China. Towering limestone karsts, sculpted by the elements, rear up from an otherwise flat plain. The riverbanks are fringed with bamboo and the occasional hamlet.
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Tian Tan Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Pin Tian Tan Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping
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#tiantanbuddha #bigbuddha #天壇大佛 #天坛大佛 #lantau #polinmonastery #ngongping #昂坪 #hongkon
It’s amazing what a lick of paint can do. I last It’s amazing what a lick of paint can do. I last visited the charming little Luen Wo Market a little over two years ago. Then the gates were closed and fastened with rusty chains. The building was in a very sorry state indeed. A gentleman wearing a yellow hard hat did assure me that it was about to be renovated so today I went back to take a look. 
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Inaugurated in 1951, the market thrived for 50 years, finally closing in 2002 when the stalls were moved to a new location.
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The building looks much happier now. Its structural integrity has been preserved and veggies, organic this time, are for sale along one side while the stalls on the other now have chairs and tables for guests of the Wake Up Bistro - who are, in fact, open all day.
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#heritage #history #market #luenwomarket #fanling #architecture #building #oldbuilding #hongkongphoto #oldworldcharm #newterritories #hkig #hkiger #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #visualhongkong #hongkongphotography #wonderful_places #traveling_photographs #peacefulplace #postcardplaces #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveldeeper #globetrotter #exploringhongkongsnewterritories
The prows of pinisi rear up along the old harbour The prows of pinisi rear up along the old harbour front at Sunda Kelapa in north Jakarta, Indonesia. Pinisi are a type of two-masted schooner built by the Bugis of South Sulawesi. Most of them are motorised now but they are still used to transport cargo around the Indonesian archipelago. In previous times that included bringing timber from the forests of Sulawesi and Borneo to Jakarta and returning with everything from bags of cement to bottled water and anything else that is not readily available on the islands.
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The art of building Pinisi was recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in December 7, 2017.
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Main altar of the Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay, Main altar of the Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay, Hong Kong.
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One of the oldest and largest temples dedicated to Tin Hau. It was built in 1266 by two brothers who were salt traders from Fujian province. One day their boat was caught in storms and as they were swept overboard they appealed to Tin Hau for help. To show their gratitude they built the temple on the spot where they came safely to land.
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Well before breakfast there was a tremendous pound Well before breakfast there was a tremendous pounding of drums and clashing of cymbals as a pride of lion dancers came prowling the village, chasing out bad spirits and bestowing luck and prosperity on our little community. I saw the last two but I'm sure there were at least another two before I even made it out of bed. Kung Hei Fat Choi; Happy and prosperous Year of the Dragon to all.
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#chinesenewyear #lunarnewyear #yearofthedragon #kungheifatchoi  #恭喜發財 #gongxifacai #liondance #liondancing #festival #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong  #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk #exploringhongkonkgsnewterritories #travel #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict
A hefty strand of spider silk stretched across the A hefty strand of spider silk stretched across the footpath slammed into my face as I set off on my walk this morning. A reminder that Summer is just around the corner and that soon the trees in my neck of the woods will be festooned with nephila pelipes or golden orb weavers. Their name comes from the yellow sheen on the webs of mature spiders.
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They are quite majestic beasts but for those unfamiliar, they are the stuff of nightmares. Fully grown the body is about the size of my thumb with a leg span a little wider than my outstretched hand. The webs are commonly about a metre across, though I have seen some that were easily 1.5 metres, and are spun from some of the strongest silk known. Though they do look very pretty when caught in the sunlight. Multiple spinnerets at the blunt end of the spider mean they are quite capable of making spider rope and they are also able adjust the composition of the silk according to their environment. 
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These huge spiders are always female. The males are a rusty brown color and little bigger than a fingernail. They hang about on the edges of the web waiting, presumably until she has a meal large enough to hold her attention so that he can dart in, do the business and retreat without becoming a light snack himself. I’ve read that a bite can be quite painful but the venom itself is not considered dangerous. I have no plans to put it to the test.
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Diwali in Kolkata . . . #diwali #festivaloflights Diwali in Kolkata
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